Tag Archives: Skin Care

Soap & Glory Hand Food Review

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The most astonishing hand cream ever? You Decide!

This is the question posed on the packaging of the Soap & Glory Hand Food hand cream, right at the top. Who can not accept that challenge? I’d also seen lots of people doing the September Beauty Blog Challenge post about this last week. I couldn’t post about my favourite because I’d run out, sobs! However, this did mean I tried a new hand cream and found a new favourite!

It contains Shea butter, Macadamia oil and Marshmallow, yes Marshmallow. It smells as sweet as it sounds. The function of the Marshmallow is a mystery to me but I love it nonetheless.

I love that this hand cream soaks in really fast but that doesn’t mean you have to keep reapplying it, oh no twice a day is fine! It isn’t greasy but really is super-hydrating. After just a week of using it as and when I remember (about once over the weekend but more during the week) my hands are softer than ever. I’m prone to dry patches and this has battled them right into history in just 7 days.

So in answer to their question, yes it is the most astonishing hand cream ever. It smells great and works even better, what more do you want from a hand cream. I’ve been the envy of the office this week with this delicious smelling formula and I’ll 110% be repurchasing!

Try it: £5, Boots

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#SBBC Day 5 – Good Skin Starts From Within

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Foods for healthy skin

As the daily prompts are optional and I wasn’t having any inspiration for either today I decided to do a post that was suggested by our very own Megan on foods that are super good for your skin. It doesn’t matter how many lotions and cleansers you use your skin will always be better if you eat well. Taking care of the inside will naturally take care of the outside.

Water

First up and the one I feel most important is water. Your skin needs to be hydrated to be healthy. Hydrated skin not only has fewer spots it has a natural glow and tans easily and safely when using sun screen. Water will keep your skin young, soft and beautiful.

Yoghurt

Yoghurt contains vitamin A which is vital for good skin. Just be sure to make it a low-fat version.

Blueberries

Blueberries are my personal favourite super-food. They are rich in antioxidant which fights the anti-aging process and helps to protect your skin from the effects of pollution in the air.

Salmon

I’m not a fish eater, I can’t stand it but I wish I could. It’s rich in Omega and Essential Fatty Acids, these are responsible for healthy cell membranes and the general healthy of cells throughout the whole body. If the cell walls are tough cookies they’ll keep more water in and thus give you healthier cells and healthier skin.

Almonds

And no I’m not talking about the sugar-coated variety! Almonds are jam-packed full of vitamin E and are rich in monounsaturated fat (good fat!). This also keep cells strong and lowers cholesterol too.

Spinach

I love spinach. Mainly in fresh mixed in with mash potato so it is just lightly steamed. (My recipe for the day!) Spinach contains beta-carotene which  helps to repair skin and maintain its youthful appearance.

Avoid!

Too much milk, bread, pasta, cakes – These are all linked to causing acne.

Salt – This can cause your skin to look puffy and can also cause acne.

Candy – This can damage the collagen and elsatin in your skin. These both keep your skin firm and wrinkle free so ditch the candy and hit up the blueberries!

Alcohol – It dries out your skin and causes so many problems and can also lead to more serious skin conditions.

#SBBC – What I Take When I Travel

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Day 3 of the September blog-a-day challenge started with the exciting news that I now have 300 wonderful followers. I think I’ll do another giveaway at 500 followers. I’ve been blogging 10 and 1/2 weeks and I still can’t get pver the fact that people actually read what I write!

Anyway, into today’s post. I take so many things when I travel so I decided to just show 7 of them. I tend to over-pack and take everything including the kitchen sink, you just never know when you’re going to need that bright pink eye liner you bought when you were 13.

  • The Body Shop All-in-One BB Cream is multi-purpose, I use it in place of my moisturiser and foundation in the morning saving my precious space in my bag and time for enjoying my time away.
  • I always have a concealer with me, I’m currently using an MUA one and it’d be one I took travelling as it’s cheap and easily replaceable.
  • Nail polish, I always take the nail polish I’m wearing seeing as I’m prone to chipping and I’m guaranteed to need to touch them up.
  • They’re Real – this mascara literally goes everywhere with me, I may be busy travelling but that doesn’t mean I can let my lashes go!
  • L’Occitane Hydration Cream – I always take a sample size moisturiser with me for night time skin-care. I take a full skin regime but this is the most important part for me as I get really dry skin.
  • DKNY Be Delicious Perfume – This is my all-time favourite perfume and it holds a lot of memories from weekends away so I always refill and take along my sample size one whenever I travel.
  • Lip Balm – The Figs and Rouge Lip Balm is a current favourite as it works really well but can also double up as a cheek tint,

There are literally so many more products I take but we’d be here all day! Hope you’re all having a good Tuesday!

August 2013 Heroes

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How the heck did September get here?! This year has gone so fast it’s unreal and I’ve officially been married 6 months today 😀

I’ve tried so many products this month that it was really hard to decide which were actually my favourites but I’ve whittled it down to theses ones. August has been a fantastic month beauty wise and I could go on all day if I was to mention all my heroes  of this month.

Benefit Rockateur Blush

This has been my perfect blusher for the summer, it is rose gold so is the perfect blend between a bronze and flushed result for my fair skin. It has a beautiful shimmer to it and parties all day and night without slipping. This blusher is seriously hardcore and I’ve worn it nearly every day in August. You can see my full review here.

Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy Noir Perfume

This one only made it into August for the last week but it has landed itself straight into my favourites, originally I promised my self it was for special occasions due to the price, well going to work, the park and church is special right?! Full review here.

Anatomicals Spray Misty for Me

This face spritz has been a total heroine for me in the humid UK heat. It’s set my makeup into lasting all day, it’s cooled me down in our melting office and it’s done it all with some humour and an amazing smell. Full review here.

L’Occitane Hydration Creme 

I reviewed this a while back but rediscovered it about a week into August and fell in love with it even more than the first time. It leaves my skin with a gorgeous dewy glow fit for the summer. I also noticed a huge improvement to the quality of my skin. I couldn’t afford to invest int he full size this month as much as I wanted to, so my wonderful husband managed to get his hands on another sample for me, that’ll keep me going another few weeks!  Full review here.

MUA Undress Your Skin Flawless Primer

This primer has been used every single day since I bought it, it’s soft and velvety and provides an amazing base for a day’s makeup. It feels amazing and performs wonderfully. Full review here.

MUA Lipsticks

These are my favourite budget find of the month. At £1 each I still fully intend to get the whole collection. They last well and don’t dry out my lips. The colours are also lovely. Reviews here, Red, Nude.

I’m looking forward to seeing which products rock my world this month and I’ll be sure to let you know at the start of October!

 

Soap & Glory The Ferminator Body Contouring Gel Review

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I won some Soap & Glory goodies recently and this was among them, they sent it out in the old packaging but it is still the same formula as the new packaging.

The Firminator is a body contouring gel that firms and tones problem areas with no hassle and no fuss. It contains Multi-fruit smoothers, Detoxing Sea Weed extracts and elasticity-boosters to diminish the appearance of cellulite. It is advertised for upper arms, tummy and thighs and states that it firms and slims. It also claims to start working after just 2 days. You use it morning and night.

It doesn’t have the nicest smell in the world, it’s very menthol but it doesn’t hang around. It feels all nice and tingley when you put it on which I love.

I have been using this for about a week now and I have already noticed a difference. I’m quite slim anyway so I haven’t noted much change on the slimming side but the firming I most certainly have. My upper arms feel much more toned and my tummy and thighs slightly more so. It is recommended to use it for 56 days for maximum effect so I’ll see how it goes.

I’m very impressed with how firm and toned my arms feel right now, I do press up’s etc regularly anyway but this has really boosted their tone over the last week. I don’t see how a cream can slim all on its own though so I wouldn’t recommend it for some miracle solution instead of healthy eating but if you just want to tone and firm then I’d absolutely suggest this along with some exercise.

Try it: £12 from Soap & Glory

L’Oreal Paris True Match – The Powder Review

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I bought this at the same time that I bought the liquid True Match foundation, which seems like an age ago now. You can see my review of that here. It wasn’t the best foundation I’ve ever tried unfortunately.

I don’t often use powders as they can look so caked on. This one can be built up or used as sparingly as you like which is great. But I still don’t really like powders, I only bought it to use to set my makeup but it just makes it more obvious that I’m wearing it! I just don’t think I can pull off powder foundation, my skin does not agree with it.

It’s a real shame as it does seem a really good product, my skin wasn’t shiny at all but it did highlight my dry areas, the curse of combination skin. I’d definitely recommend it if you have oily skin as it would probably be an ideal product.

It also comes in a handy little compact which includes a little application sponge and a mirror. It’s a really useful handbag item and I think I’ll pass it onto someone who will get the use out of it. I’m disappointed it didn’t work out for me but I do maintain that it probably is just my skin causing th problem! Has anyone else tried it? What did you think?

Try it: www.superdrug.com, RRP around £8.00

UPDATE: In last week’s It’s in the Bag Maisie loved the liquid version, I promised to revisit it and I did so last week and I still had the same problems 😦

MUA (Makeup Academy) Undress Your Skin – Flawless Skin Primer Review

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This baby proves that makeup primers do not have to cost a fortune. I wanted one that I could use every day as I prefer to keep my expensive ones for special occasions so that they last longer. After dropping a white one all down my black skinny jeans whilst testing out a few in my local drugstore I decided to go with a clear one. My favourite more expensive one is also clear and has served me well.

I have not had any problems with any MUA products as yet so it seemed the ideal purse-friendly choice to go with. This is one of their new ones and as yet it didn’t have a tester so I went in blind. At just £5 I was never going to lose a great deal if it was no good. Fortunately, it rivals every single primer I’ve tried.

I like the clear ones, often primers come in restricted shades and it’s so difficult to get one that matches your skin and really why do they need a shade anyway? This one comes out like a gel and is fairly thick. It is amazing at blurring out imperfections. It felt smooth and silky on the skin and it wasn’t heavy either. It also has a handy pump which stops you dispensing too much.

My foundation glided on a dream after using this and it stayed there, it turned out to be a very late night and so I must confess I was awful and didn’t remove my makeup last night, this morning it was all still there in perfect condition except for the lipstick.

It is also good to wear alone. I was only nipping to the shops this afternoon so after my bath I just used this to disguise the imperfections and still left feeling confident. So far my skin has remained healthy and moisturised, my skin in way better shape than it usually as after a night of wearing so much makeup.  This photo shows how my makeup looked over the primer, my skin looks pretty darn flawless I think so it definitely does what it says on the packet!

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Try it: £5, www.muastore.co.uk

Yves Rocher – HYDRA VÉGÉTAL Instant Anti-Wrinkle Moisturiser Review

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Now clearly at 24 I don’t have much in the way of wrinkles but I received this a while ago so thought I’d try it anyway, maybe it’ll prevent them appearing so soon who knows! Targeted skin care isn’t usually my thing, I generally don’t have the time to use a different product for each area of my skin. This is aimed at wrinkle-prone areas. I use it round my eye area as although I don’t have wrinkles it works really well at waking my eyes up. It perks up dark circles and fills my eyes out to a more healthy look when I look more like a zombie than a human!

My 40-something year old mother has also given it a go and reported back that it did reduce the appearance of the couple of wrinkles she has. It also provides a lovely long-lasting moisture, it feels silky and smooth all day.

It has a very natural, barely-detectable scent which I quite like, it also works well combined with the use of my ordinary moisturiser. I’d love to hear from someone older who’s tried it, did it work for you?

Try it: £18.50 (Currently £9.50 in their sale), www.yves-rocher.co.uk

Garnier Simply Essentials – Soothing Vitamin-enriched Toner Review

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I’ve been using this toner for about 3 weeks now so figured it’d be a good time to let you know how I got on.

First up is the thing that drew me to try it in the first place, it has no perfume, alcohol or colourants. When it comes to skin care I like to keep it as natural as possible, my skin gets enough toxins from pollution without anything extra. The formula contains water-lily and is perfect for sensitive skin.

Sometimes, I can find that natural products don’t really work that well, however, that is not the case when it comes to this toner. It feels refreshing on the skin and doesn’t burn. According to the age-old myth – if it stings it’s working this is completely untrue. Your skin needs a little TLC and in this case no pain is a huge gain. It softly tones the skin and evens out the skin tone. It closes up the pores after you’ve cleansed, preparing the skin for moisturising.

My skin has definitely improved since I started using this, I’ve had less spots too. My skin feels nourished and wonderful. It’s also an absolute bargain at £2.99 in Superdrug.

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Bourjois Paris – Healthy Mix Foundation Review

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Reviewed by Tams

This is one of my golden-oldie favourites. I’ve been using it ever since it came out. It’s my go-to foundation for days when I look tired and pale. I have it in shades 51 and 52 as I use a darker shade when I’ve caught the sun a little. Today is one of those where my skin looked ill, until I applied this foundation.

It blends effortlessly into the skin and creates a gorgeous glowing, healthy complexion. It also last up to 16 hours. This foundation also made it into my Top 5 Affordable Foundations recently. It made it in for a reason. It covers the big black bags that form under my eyes when I’m stressed and overtired.

It also feels really silky and soft of my skin when I apply it but feels like I’m not wearing anything for the rest of the day. It doesn’t transfer onto my phone either. It hasn’t got the heaviest coverage so it’s best use when blemishes aren’t at the peak of their existence. It also contains apricot for radiance, melon for hydration, apple as an antioxidant and ginger for energy. With all that in there your skin can’t fail to come alive.

Try it: www.bourjois.co.uk

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