10 May 2013

Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask *review* Skin saviour for dehydrated and acne prone skin?

Over the past few months, my skin has been in relatively good condition as far as breakouts go.... but instead it was replaced with dry flaking skin on my face which was really hard to control! Eyelids, neck, temples, hairline.... all these places were unbearably red and dry from the weather. Nothing I tried seemed to work, products seemed to moisturise, but then when the product had sunk in the flakiness returned! Not good when wearing foundation etc! 

I'd been wanting to try some products from Origins for a while, but had no real reason to try anything (they can be quite pricey!) so when I was struggling with the dryness I went ahead and purchased the Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask. The mask claims to: 

Helps skin feel smoother and hydrated
Skin depends on water for its youthful functioning. But all day long, skin loses vital moisture. And the busier you are, the more it loses. This intense moisture replacement mask deeply quenches compromised moisture reserves and builds a reservoir for tomorrow. Japanese Seaweed repairs skin's barrier to prevent future dehydration and signs of premature ageing.

How to use:
'Twice a week or as desired, gently massage onto clean skin at bedtime. Tissue off excess.



Their products are always in lovely packaging anyway, but it was even nicer when I was sent the Limited Edition packaging (this is in aid of planting trees, a nice little touch!) and the fact that some of the proceedings go to charity is great too.

The actual product:



The product is cream coloured, and is quite thick as it's supposed to be a mask which you leave on, and it will sink in to the skin overnight! It smells great, kind of fruity which I like, and the smell lingers which I also like (it's not overpowering or anything). I have read mixed reviews on this product, some love it, some think it doesn't really do much, but what do I think?

I LOVE IT! This product has seriously rescued my skin. I use it a couple of times a week (three or four) as it's a nourishing mask, and not like other masks which can strip your skin (for example a pore refining mask). I put a thin layer on most nights (as it doesn't sink in that quickly, so it can be hard to lie down with it all over your face!) but if I've got an evening where I can do the mask properly with a thick layer then I will leave that on overnight as it will have sunk in by the time I go to bed :)

The instructions do say to 'tissue off excess' but I'm not really sure when they mean..... as if I were to tissue off excess before bed then it's surely pointless? And the product has gone in the morning so again, pointless? Anyhoo.... My skin has never looked more supple and clear! For me it's a brilliant night cream, and my skin is incredibly soft (and spot free!!!) in the morning. The fact that it doesn't break me out is amazing, as most heavy night creams get oily in the night and leave me with whiteheads which is not a good look!!!

This product retails at £20, but I definitely think it's worth it as it's all I've been reaching for at night time! Amazing stuff!

Which night creams/overnight masks have you been enjoying?

Lucy xx

29 April 2013

Fragrance Direct Shopping Spree! Rimmel, Essie, Dainty Doll!

I've rediscovered Fragrance Direct!! I used to look on here quite regularly to check the offers, but recently I've been doing more 'real life' shopping rather than on the internet! Someone I'm following on instagram put a picture up of some Rimmel Lipsticks and Essie nail polishes she got for next to nothing, so I went and had a look! I checked out my basket with two Essie polishes, two Rimmel Lipsticks and Three Dainty Doll by Nicola Roberts blushes! Keep scrolling for pictures and swatches of what I bought :) Prices will be listed at the bottom of the post! I got all of this for £16.92 inlcuding P&P!

Lasting Finish by Kate in 07
Lasting finish lipstick in Sweetie

I really like Rimmel lipsticks, one of my favourites is another lasting finish one in the colour 'asia' which is similar to the Kate one, sort of a dusty muted pinky colour (although the kate one here is more of a dusty peach)

I'm dissapointed in 'sweetie' though, as I already have it!!! This is what happens when a girl has too many lipsticks to keep track of... oh dear! I should be more careful next time :)






Here are the swatches of the two Rimmel Lipsticks! I love the formula, even though they're long lasting they're very creamy and highly pigmented which is great! I can tell I'm going to enjoy wearing the Kate one.













Next up are the Dainty Doll blushes!

I was really excited to try these with being really fair, and reluctant to pay full price for them in Boots, I'm glad I came across them on Fragrance Direct!

002 My Girl

This first one is a lovely pale ish pink, which looks like it will have enough pigmentation for a nice colour pay-off! It's super cute and girly, and would look nice with a light pink lip  colour.








004 You Are My Sunshine


This one looks quite scary in the pan! But I'm thinking it will look nice when I've got a little bit of colour in the summer :) I think a light hand during application will be the key!











003 Money Talks

This one doesn't look to me like a blush.... but I think it's more for a hint of colour without looking too rosy. My plan is to use it as a bronzer, as being pale I find it hard to find one which doesn't look totally orange or muddy! Hopefully this will do the trick! I suppose it could be used as a contour, which I haven't tried too much myself, again being scared I'll turn out looking like I have a dirty face!








Excuse my freckly arm... but here are the swatches for the Dainty Doll Blushes, from left to right, 002, 004, 003. Just from the swatch they seem really pigmented and appeared to apply quite nicely even just with my finger! As you can see I have very pale skin and they show up nicely :) as I said, maybe a light hand will be needed to avoid looking like a clown!

I'll probably do a review of these on their own at some point and tell you my verdict! :-D








Here's a picture of the packaging, which I'm in love with! I love that it comes in a box, and the actual compact is so sleek and travel-friendly! The blushes are a decent size and they're great for on the go because they have a mirror! Overall I'm impressed (initial impressions of course) I just hope they live up to my expectations!:)












Last but not least, the reason I went on Fragrance Direct in the first place! I was thrilled to find out they have started selling essie on there, as I do think the polishes are quite expensive. I've never been overly thrilled with the formula of essie polishes, but I adore their colour selection so I can look past that.... I find that you have to build their polishes up, and also make sure you put a top coat because they chip on me like mad! I picked these ones up because I'm looking for more 'spring' type colours... I have too many burgundy's, greens, purples etc!

Left - cascade cool
Right - Neo Whimsical

The colour on the left is absolutely gorgeous, and the sort of shade I've been looking for to brighten up my spring polish collection! The other one I'm thinking will be good for work, where we're allowed to wear nude-ish colours only!


Prices:

Rimmel Kate lipstick - £1.99
Rimmel lasting finish - £0.99
Essie polishes - £1.99/ea
Dainty Doll Blushes - £1.99/ea

That's it for now! Please leave a comment below if you've tried any of the dainty doll range, I've heard some mixed reviews, and I don't think it's been as popular as it was anticipated! I'm looking forward to trying all my goodies out! Bye for now, Lucy xx

p.s Upcoming post - Boots Haul!

19 March 2013

Mini Superdrug Haul! Including MUA, Maybelline

Some products I've been wanting for a while, finally managed to get my hands on them! I'm excited to try them out :) here are the pictures!

MUA undress your skin shimmer highlighter
Maybelline colour tattoo in 40 permanent taupe
Garnier skin naturals pure self heating sauna mask

Let me know if you've tried any of these products! :) Lucy xx













27 February 2013

Wedding guest simple make up!

It's almost spring, but as its a bit on the chilly side, I'm finding that I'm reaching for the pastels and corals already, to brighten up my looks! This make up look I'm planning on wearing on Saturday when I attend my aunties wedding, I feel that it's quite fresh, but the eyes make it a bit more special than an every day look, and also I'm in love with this lipstick!! A list of products will be at the bottom! 

 


Liz Earle skin repair moisturiser normal/combination
Bourjois Healthy mix serum in 51 light vanilla
Maybelline 24 hr concealer in 02 light
MAC mineralise skin finish natural in light
Sue Moxley famous baked bronzed in shade 1 Miami 
MAC beauty powder in play it proper
Body collection blush palette - I used a peachy shade for my cheeks
ELF eyebrow kit in 'light' 
Rimmel eyeshadow trio colour rush in 760 elements
- purple shade on the lid
- brown shade in the crease
Rimmel scandaleyes eyeliner in 001 black
Miss Sporty mascara - pump up booster with collagen in 001 extra black 

First picture - l'oreal rouge caresse in 04 rose mademoiselle 
For more drama the second picture I've used Sleek sheen lipstick in 773 candy cane! 

Hope you like the looks, I think they're quite simple and can transform from day to night quite easily, especially with the change of lipstick! Do let me know your thoughts and leave a comment! :)
Lucy xx





20 February 2013

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum: Initial thoughts!

So I'm always on the lookout for a foundation that claims to provide coverage, and recently I've been looking for foundations that claim to help the skin to look more radiant, and a 'barely there' appearance! This is usually hard to find, as the thinner foundations don't provide enough coverage for breakouts (which I have all the time) and thicker more full coverage foundations just tend to look cakey and unflattering. So I have been trying the Vitalumiere Aqua from Chanel (*Chanel foundation review here*) but I was looking for something more within my price range (being a student and all...) so here are my initial thoughts on the Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum. Here's me wearing the foundation:





Initial thoughts are:

It feels and applies quite like the Vitalumiere Aqua for me, though with more coverage.
Seems to even out my skintone
Provides a dewy appearance - which is nice, but can powder if needed to achieve a semi-matte finish.
I didn't have to use a lot of concealer - bonus! My skin is quite bad most of the time so a foundation that will reduce the use of concealer shows it is half decent for me!
Here I have used two layers of the foundation, and it doesn't seem cakey or anything like that. It still feels light and breathable!
It looks quite dark on my hand on the picture, but it blends in really nicely! I don't usually go for the lightest shade in foundations, despite having pale skin, as I usually want to look a bit warmer. But I've learnt to bronze/blush for that.... rather than having a slightly orange face, not a good look! Embracing the pale is definitely the way forward :)


Now the test is to see how it holds up all day! I'll do an updated review on this for you guys :)

I'm wearing:

Clinique Moisture surge extended thirst relief (good moisturiser to minimise oil in the day)
Benefit Porefessional primer
Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum in 51 light vanilla (two coats)
Maybelline 24hr concealer in 02 light
Collection 2000 lasting perfection powder in 1 fair
MAC beauty powder as a highlight in 'play it proper' (creates a nice finish after powdering)
MAC mineralize blush in 'gentle'
ELF cream eyeshadow duo (pink shade, not sure of the name)
Bourjois eyeshadow in 03 (pink sparkly glitter, really brightens the eye area over the cream shadow)
Dior Diorshow iconic mascara in 090

have you tried the Bourjois healthy mix range? please let me know what you think!

Lucy xx

19 February 2013

Technic lipsticks: go-to lip product!

I was dubious about these lipsticks, with it being a cheaper brand, but I am quite impressed!! £1.99 and under, I picked up this one in my local bodycare store in the colour fuschia rose and it was well worth the small amount paid! The formula is quite creamy, and the colour payoff is decent! It is quite a pale ish pink, as far as pinks go, but it doesn't wash me out - result! I have been on the lookout for a wearable pink shade, and as my creme cup from mac doesn't work for me unless I'm slightly tanned, this one is great for my pale skin!! Really impressed with this and I would definitely buy more if I could find more shades without shimmer (all I can find are shimmer ones now!) It can definitely be hit and miss with cheaper brands but for me this was a hit!!
Thanks for reading! Luce xx

5 February 2013

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish vs Cheaper hot cloth cleansers!

Just to remind you, you can subscribe to me on YouTube if you like hauls, reviews and all that good stuff! Just click HERE to go straight to my Channel :)

Being a student, I was reluctant to shell out for a full size Cleanse & Polish.... instead, I found an alternative in Superdrug. Their Naturally Radiant skincare range is a similar concept and you can find my review of some of the items in the range HERE

Having used the naturally radiant hot cloth cleanser in conjunction with the day and night creams (and alternate nights using bio oil all over the face) my skin certainly did start to look brighter and just generally in better condition! Here is the Superdrug hot cloth cleanser: 


It comes with a muslin cloth, but I don't find these types of cloths to be very effective in exfoliating or removing every bit of make up, so I tend to buy packs of face cloths from Primark for about £3! This cleanser is usually about £6 but it was on offer when I got it for £2.99!

I came across the Liz Earle range in Boots, and they are doing some little sample packs that you can buy, and I just had to go for it, as then I could try a number of products at the same time rather than splashing out on one product which may or may not work out for me. Here is the set that I got: 

The only product in this set that I have gone out and purchased full size is the skin tonic (like a toner) it is so refreshing and calming, I love using it after cleansing morning and night! It hasn't broken me out or anything like that. The cleanse and polish, which was the reason I bought the kit, was slightly dissapointing. It doesn't leave my skin as 'cleansed' as I think the superdrug one does.... and also I think it might be irritating my skin from the way it feels after cleansing. 

Overall, I find myself reaching for my Superdrug Naturally Radiant brightening hot cloth cleanser every single day, and using it in conjunction with the skin tonic (Liz Earle) and the Naturally radiant moisturisers. It's all down to preference, but I just wasn't impressed with the cleanse and polish, the moisturiser or the face mask that came in the little kit. It is good value for money in order to try the products, but they just haven't worked out for me.

I'm looking to find another hot cloth cleanser to try when my Superdrug one has run out... I know that soap and glory do one...and if there are any other's you could recommend then that would be great!!

Thanks for reading! Lucy xxxo


29 January 2013

foundation routine & mini product review. The Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua hype.......

Hi guys, long-time no-posts! I've been bogged down with Uni work, and I'm hoping to get back up and running with more exciting posts when I'm all done & graduated (scary!!!) 

If you'd like to watch a video review of the Chanel foundation then click HERE :) 
here you can take a look at my YouTube Channel!

For now, seeing as my foundation review was such a hit with you guys (it continues to get views even a year later..) I thought it might be fun to review a few face products that I've been using recently. My skin has changed a lot over the past year, going from very dry, to oily, and back to combination/dry again. That's British weather for you! 


www.chanel.com
The massively hyped 'Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua' foundation caught my attention late in 2012.. and I was looking for something that would be lighter for my skin, and perhaps not be so clogging or 'mask' like. 
www.cafemakeup.com

This product is water based, and must be shaken before application. You can use a brush or fingers, and looking at the reviews in the blogging world it seems like most people prefer fingers. I use my real techniques buffing brush, and this is my favourite brush of the moment, so I generally use this with all of my face products as I feel it gives the best coverage (and is sooo easy to use!) I'm colour B10, the lightest shade for reference!

Using this product on its own turned out to be the worst way for me to wear it. It went on lovely, and gave a nice natural coverage which could be built up. The staying power of this on my skin was shocking.... within around an hour, even with a primer and setting powder it was sliding all over my face, and I could visibly see it separating...not a good look! I was quite worried by this, as it's so expensive (not a price I would normally pay) so I had to try and make this work.................


www.polywore.com
The best way I find is to layer the Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua with my Garnier BB cream for oily/combination skin. I purchased this BB cream after the disastrous time I had with the original one (horrible... greasy... just no!) So I was excited to use it. I adore this BB cream, and it's the only one I've tried (amongst other brands such as DR Jart...) that actually evens out my skin tone and makes it look half decent, like I have no make up on at all, result! 

Anyway, I was browsing YouTube and saw that Midnight Violets had done a post about her foundation routine for a flawless finish, and she used a BB cream underneath her foundation... so I thought why not try it? 

This seems to work for me
++ Thin layer of Garnier BB cream oily/combo using fingertips
++ 5p sized amount of Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua in B10... really work it in to the skin, buff it in really well. This foundation looks great if not a lot is left 'sitting' on the skin. And this will also reduce it sliding over your face.
++ set with a powder if you have oily skin (I've been using MAC skinfinish natural in light, however I think this might be breaking me out so I may have to reconsider this powder. Miss Sporty blemish powder and Collection lasting perfection are great alternatives (and cheap!)


Overall, it's quite annoying that the only way I can get my Chanel foundation to work for me is with another product, but I do love the finish it gives! I think that the BB cream makes an excellent base for evening out the skin, and also to prevent the Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua from sliding. I probably won't repurchase the foundation as it's not been a 100% success for me.. please feel free to leave any comments on your thoughts on either of the products mentioned! 

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my posts :) xxx Lucy