June 2013 Beauty Favourites

 

1. Benefit They're Real Mascara - A freebie with a previous issue of Elle magazine. This mascara really does lengthen and thicken lashes giving a noticeably fuller effect. I would compare this mascara to Bourjois Volume Clubbing Mascara, similarly the results are not subtle. I love the big fluttery fake look when it comes to my eyelashes. The only downside is if you apply too much the eyelashes can look quite clumpy...it's also a bugger to remove...but the product itself is great. I will definitely repurchase.

 

2. Laura Mercier Flawless Skin Repair Eye Creme - I received this eye cream free when I purchased two products from a Laura Mercier counter a few months ago. I don't tend to use an eye cream but after dabbing this on a few nights before bed I've been using it every night ever since. The product has a creamy, cooling effect on the eyes, it reduces puffiness and keeps skin feeling nourished.

 

3. Pantene Fine Hair Volume and Body Conditioner - This range not only smells gorgeous but also leaves hair feeling soft and smooth. This product made my hair feel conditioned whilst on holiday even though the sun and sea salt was trying its best to dry it out. I thank this conditioner for allowing me to walk around in the humidity without looking like Monica from Friends.

 

4. Clarins Smoothing Body Scrub For A New Skin - My top favourite of the month goes to this body scrub. This scrub leaves skin feeling silky smooth without feeling too abrasive. I was talking to a lady at the Clarins beauty counter who advised to apply this scrub before getting into the shower for a deeper exfoliation, or another tip was to mix with some body oil to moisturise the skin at the same time. A great body product from Clarins, I've yet to come across one I don't like.

 

5. Nivea In-Shower Body Moisturiser - The lazy girl in me loves this product, it allows me to apply moisturiser quickly in the shower after cleansing and means I don't have to apply anything when I've dried off. Skin is left feeling smooth and hydrated.

 

6. Dr Jart Water Fuse Beauty Balm - I wore this on my face every day on my holiday to Spain instead of my normal foundation. The balm has a tinted moisturiser consistency with SPF25 (the main reason why I chose it as my daily base product) - other suncreams tend to break me out on my face but this one worked great. It gave me just enough coverage with a dewy effect whilst protecting my skin at the same time. Love.

 

7. Mac Fix+ - Perfect for freshening up my makeup, I've been using it everyday and twice a day on holiday. I can't rave about it enough, it gives the skin a dewy look on top of foundation, I have also been using this by spritzing a little on my foundation brush before applying my base, this enables me to blend the foundation much more easily and prevent any caky effects on the skin.

 

8. 17 Instant Glow Gold Bronze Shimmer Brick - Another holiday product. Gives the apples of cheeks a glow without too much shimmer, looks great with a tan....not so much without.

 

I love reading peoples monthly favourite posts so link yours below :).

 

 

Duty Free Shopping

I recently returned from a week long family holiday in Spain. One of my favourite parts of travelling is the duty free shopping at the airport! As I was travelling there on my own it was the perfect opportunity to browse the beauty counters and take my time testing the products I've had my eye on. Top of my list were the Dior BB crème and Clarins Self Tanning Primer, it's safe to say I didn't get either as with both they had ran out (booooo). I also wanted to buy a new MAC lipstick but the MUA was so unhelpful I just couldn't be arsed. (sidenote: Can anyone recommend a MAC lipstick shade similar to the colour Hue? - this woman had no idea).

 

So onto the products I did buy. Before departing to Spain I picked up Clarins Hydraquench Cream for Normal to Dry Skin, I've needed to purchase a moisturiser for a while now and after doing some research this product seemed to be a good call. I love Clarins as their products never disappoint, after using the cream for just over a week, so far so good. The moisturiser is very nourishing and I find it perfect for use as a night cream, it's not too heavy so I don't worry about it breaking me out but I can feel the hydrating effects it has on my skin. I also purchased Victoria Secrets Fragrance Mist in Secret Charm, I don't know anywhere else in Birmingham that sells Victoria Secrets Products so I wanted to try one of their fragrances. Secret Charm is described as a honeysuckle and jasmine fragrance - it is gorgeous! Jasmin is one of my favourite scents, it reminds me of holidays and summer. I would say that these mists are overpriced for what they are, this cost about £10 (I think) in duty free and the scent doesn't last longer than an hour, but it will be handy for freshening up throughout the day and the plastic bottle means I can just throw it in my bag.

 

On the return journey I had some Euros left so decided to pick up the L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil that I've wanted for so long but could never justify paying the price for it. I have to say I am SO glad I made the purchase as nothing else has helped my legs feel so smooth after shaving. I'm also hoping the oil will help to keep my skin moisturised in an attempt to prolong my tan. Another fragrance I picked up was Givenchy Play For Her, I had a sample of this and thought it was lovely, a very sweet summery smell. I'm not keen on the packaging as I think it's quite tacky looking but you can't have it all.

 

I'm so pleased with my little beauty bits. Pity I couldn't pick up the items I actually went looking for but I suppose it just gave me an excuse to go looking for other goodies. Do you own any of the products I've bought? What do you think?

Beauty Wishlist

After taking part in Wednesdays ##bbloggers chat on twitter this week I was inspired to create a beauty wishlist.  I am constantly writing down lists of new products I want to try so I thought i'd do a post on my current wants, there were so many good beauty recommendations that it was so hard not to keep adding to my list. Here is just a few items off my wishlist, ones which i'm likely to buy quite soon on payday.

 

 

Nars Luster Blush A subtle peachy pink colour which would look perfect as an everyday spring blush.

 

 

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder I've been looking for a finishing powder which doesn't leave my skin looking to matte and my foundation cakey. This new product aims to give a luminous finish to the skin. I'm unsure as to which shade I would go for as I haven't had chance to swatch them.

 

 

Jouer Matte Moisture Tint I love wearing tinted moisturiser on 'good' skin days but find that many make my skin look oily. This matte moisture tint has had good reviews in the blogging world, worth a try?

 

 Dr Lipp Nipple Balm My lips get SO dry, but i'm yet to find a lip balm that actually works for me. I feel like i've tried them all; carmex, blistex, nivea, EOS etc... I've seen good reviews and heard good things about this product so maybe it will be the one that will work for me.



Louise Young LY34 Super Foundation Brush This brush has been on my beauty wishlist for about a year now, I just don't know why I haven't purchased it yet!

     


Clarins Liquid Bronze Self Tanning for Face and Decollete Everyone looks good with a tan, so i'd like to try this product out as it's specifically created for use on the face. I'm happy with my Xen Tan Dark Lotion for my body but I'd like to use a facial tanner which doesn't clog my pores.




Kerastase Resistance Bain Volumactive This shampoo is targeted towards those with fine flyaway hair who want to achieve volume and body! Sounds perfect.

I've kept my list quite small for now, i'm being quite realistic with what I can buy on payday. What items are on your current beauty wishlist?? If you have twitter and want to follow me click here

Bumble and Bumble Texture Hair (Un)dressing Creme

I used my nectar points to buy this bad boy off Amazon. I am a fan of all the bumble and bumble products I have used in the past, most notably the surf spray and thickening conditioner. This product comes in a 150ml tube where you twist the lid to squeeze some out. I only need a 5p size amount each time I use the product, any more than that will make my hair feel greasy and weighed down.Saying this when you've worked out how much to use on your hair, the results are fabulous. I apply the creme onto my ends of my hair when damp, I then blowdry and style as normal. I have very limp, flat, fine hair and am forever looking for products which will give volume and body. This styling creme gives me that extra oomph when i've blowdried my hair, it no longer lies flat on my head. I would say that this product does give that messy look, but I like that so I love the product & now I couldn't imagine styling my hair without it.

 

 

PROS: Gives body and texture to hair, a little goes a long way so will last a long time

CONS: Too much can make hair greasy, makes hair less shiny, can make hair crispy if using too much

Clarins Lotus Face Treatment Oil

I picked this 30ml sized product up at the Clarins counter at Selfridges for £29. The lady at the counter told me to use 5 - 6 drops each night instead of my normal moisturiser. I was hoping that using an oil on my face would give me a glow and put some much needed hydration into my skin. My skin type is blemish prone oily/combination, which is exactly what this oil is targeted towards.

 

The product is said to 'purify, balance and improve combination or oily skin', quite a vague description i'd say. The oil smells lovely and refreshing with essential oil qualities of rosemary and geranium. Once rubbed into the skin it gives a really fresh moisturising effect, doesn't feel too greasy. 

 

I have used this oil for a couple of months now and it's still going strong, I haven't even used a quarter of it yet. I found that using the oil every single night was too much for my skin and was causing congestion, just making my skin more spotty, so now I only use  the oil about twice a week when it is feeling quite dry. If your skin is oily/combination but not too blemish prone I would recommend thus product as I feel it does balance the oils on the skin. Have you tried this product? Do you have any other Clarins products you would recommend? I am dying to try the Beauty Flash Balm and any of their toners.

 

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Side note: I'm still getting to grips with the whole blogging thing, and have just worked out how to add the GFC, amateur! I have a measley 0 followers so i'm talking to myself really lol. Have a nice sunday if you happen to be reading this, i'm off to clean my room and read the rest of my book, 'Looking for Alaska - John Green' if you're interested.

 

xx