Event: La Roche Posay | Effaclar K + Launch

Earlier this week I dropped into the Effaclar range event by La Roche Posay, which include the launch of a brand new product to the line: Effaclar K (+).

I couldn't stay too long due to another commitment, but I had a great whistle stop tour of the entire range to learn more about each product and their uses. I've tried and tested a few before including the mattifying moisturiser, Serozinc and micellar water which I love and was excited to learn more about the newest addition to the range.

Effaclar K (+) is a moisturiser formulated for combination to oily skin that is prone to blackheads, irregular texture and shine. Unfortunately, my skin is all those things so this seems like a fantastic product for me to test out. During research, La Roche Posay found that external factors such as pollution cause oily skin to oxidise which in turn causes excess sebum production and therefore more imperfections. Effaclar K (+) aims to target and tackle all these problems and leave skin mattified and purified, feeling clean and he

althy rather than stripped.

It can be used morning and night so I am going to be testing this religiously for the next few weeks to see if it makes any difference for me - so keep your eyes peeled for a review coming up in a month or so!

Have you tried any of the Effaclar range from La Roche Posay? xxx

New Skincare Additions

Over the Christmas period and my birthday I was lucky enough to accumulate some new skincare products that have been on my wishlist for far too long and I also took the opportunity to shop my stash when certain items ran out.

In December I got an amazing facial at Matt's Mum's salon in Exeter and the beautician used all Tropic skincare which is natural, vegan and animal cruelty free. I adored the products and was so happy when she got me a big basket of the range for my birthday. At the moment I've incorporated the Eye Refresh roll on, the Face Smooth scrub and Smoothing Cleanser into my regime and I am thoroughly enjoying all of them. Look out for more in-depth reviews in the next month or so once I have tested them further. Spoiler: the scrub is so different to any others I've tried and the Eye Refresh is amazing!

I still love The Body Shop Tea Tree Toner but for days where I don't have any blemishes I like to use something soothing and gentle. This Fresh Face Water from L'Occitane does just the job. It smells like a spa and is so refreshing. It's strange because I much prefer it to the Liz Earle face tonic even though they are quite similar.

In terms of radiance boosting products I purchased my first product from Nip + Fab after finishing up my REN Radiance Renewal Mask (see my All Used Up video) I've heard good things about the Glycolic Fix Pads and have enjoyed using them so far. The pads are soaked in product and you get 60 in a pot so quite cost effective considering they are just over the £10 mark. 

A cult product I've been after for a while is the Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado. Matt got me the large pot which will probably last me a life time as it is huge and you only need a teeny tiny bit! I've been using this in the evening as it is much more rich and takes a while to sink in.

A day time serum I've been using is Hydraluron from Indeed Labs which is a moisture boosting and hydrating serum. This sinks in really quickly but I am holding back judgement for a few weeks to see if it really does what it claims too. Lastly the Clear Difference serum from Estee Lauder. I love an Estee Lauder serum and this now brings my total to 3, so I am hoping to do a comparison post in the near future of what I have tried. I've used it a few times and the formulation is lovely and light, but I will have to report back with how it aids blemishes.

Have you got any new beauty favourites? Let me know in the comments below! xxx

Review: The Body Shop | Tea Tree Flawless BB Cream |

The Body Shop - Tea Tree Flawless BB Cream - £8 - 40ml

The Tea Tree BB Cream is the first make up product I've bought from the Body Shop in years. The first BB cream that they bought out just wasn't right for my skin type so it was great when they bought a version out suitable for oily and blemish prone skin, and I decided to give it a go seeing as it was under a tenner.

A lot of high street BB creams are much more like tinted moisturisers and I tend to be a satin finish, medium to high coverage kind of girl. The texture of the product is a lot thicker but not stiff in anyway and blends out to be quite sheer and skin like while still evening out skin tone very well in addition to being buildable. I tend to use my fingers, a buffing or a stippling brush to blend this in depending on how heavy I want the coverage to be. You will need a concealer for extra coverage on blemishes and under eyes.

The shade range is pretty poor with only 3 colours - I picked up the lightest which I was afraid would be a little too pale but once it's blended out it adapts to your skintone, so even when I was more tanned in the summer this still suited me just about! Not only is the coverage impressive for a BB cream, I love that it is really long wearing too and also quite good at oil control without being drying. A lot of BB creams either oxidise or slip and wear unevenly throughout the day but I've never had any problems like that with this product.

I normally tend to mix all my bases with a liquid highlight, purely so my face isn't flat or dull. For the purpose of this picture I didn't do that so you could see the true effect of how it looks on the skin, but you can see this post here where I'm wearing it mixed with Seventeen Skin Wow.

I've used the Tea Tree BB Cream practically every day since the beginning of the year on both weekends and long work days in the office (think bright lights, air con etc) and it's been a really reliable base without being heavy or detrimental to my skin. If anything, the inclusion of tea tree oil has helped keep my skin as blemish free as possible.

It is one of the best BB creams and bases that I have used from the drugstore and I would recommend it to anyone who has the same skin type as me.

What kind of base to you like best - foundation or BB cream? xxx

Skin Care Series | Part 1 | My Morning Routine

Hello!

I've finally found the time to film, which I am really excited about because it is one of my favourite hobbies. Filming videos is way more time consuming than I first thought but its great to have another outlet to talk to the beauty community and I think some topics and ideas work better in video format than a long rambled post. 

Today's video is my morning skin care routine from start to finish, so hopefully you will pick up some new product suggestions. There will be two other parts to this series; my evening routine and skin care extras which will have their own separate videos.

I hope you enjoy watching it as I love these kinds of videos! Please subscribe to my channel if you like watching me xxx

Event: Vichy | Normaderm Launch | Night Detox

Earlier this week I was lucky enough to attend the launch of a brand new product by Vichy. Night Detox is the newest installment to their Normaderm skin care line which is tailored to oily/combination and problem skin. I was so excited about attending, not only because events are such fun and a great opportunity to meet new people but also because this whole line and particularly this product is perfect for me and my skin type.

The venue was the Hamyard Hotel in Picadilly and was just incredible! It was so quirky and different and the perfect space for a blogger event - it even had its own bowling alley which I will definitely have to go back and try out. Upon arrival we were greeted with the most delicious food - mini fish and chips, mini sorbets, mini chocolate pops (everyone knows I love anything mini!) and more as well as complimentary mojitos to enjoy. I got to mingle with some other bloggers and ended up spending the night with Layla from Sprinkles of Style, Hannah from A Day in The Life of a Northern Girl and Zoe from Face Value Beauty who were so lovely and let me join their group haha. We also got to view the new product and test it out before the presentation which would tell us some more details about the product.

The presentation occurred in the in-house cinema and we managed to grab a bag of popcorn before we sat down. We were given a short talk about the product, what skin type it is for, how it works etc and I learnt some really interesting skincare facts, for example, did you know that sebum production peaks at 12am and 12pm?

Although I aim to publish a full review post of Night Detox, the main aim of this product is to stop that dirty feeling in the morning that oily skin gals know all too well by controlling sebum production, tightening pores, and evening your skin texture by both detoxing and purifying your skin at night.

After the talk we were kindly shown the film Grease, one of my fave films, but unfortunately I couldn't stay for this (sob) as I had to get the train home (the con to not living on a tube line anymore!)

I also received the daily moisturiser from the range and a cleanser of my choice, which was the Unclogging Exfoliating Gel. I've already started testing them out and am really enjoying the products with an aim to have a full review up in a few weeks once I have tested them properly.

Thanks again to the team at Vichy for such a fab night! xxx

Take 3: Pond's Institute Skincare

Pond's Institute is an iconic brand made famous for their simple and affordable beauty products, so it was really exciting to receive a few of their products at the recent event they hosted. My skincare routine has been Pond's-centric for the last few weeks using the three products we got, which included the Cold Cream Cleanser, Green Tea Moisturiser and Eye Contour Cream. Below are my thoughts on each product, in the order I use them in.

Cold Cream Cleanser* // £4.07 //

The cult classic which many of you will recognise from your mum or grandma's dressing table, I've been using it in the pm to cleanse my face. It is a multi-tasker and can be used as a hand cream and hydrating face mask as well as a general cleanser. The consistency is a thick white cream featuring a delicate rose scent which is cooling when massaged in and I normally leave it on for a minute or so to hydrate my skin. I find it effective at taking off face make up but not so great with eye make up. It is recommended to remove the formula with cotton pads but I find it needs a warm muslin cloth or flannel to remove the product properly or you are left with a film on your face which I didn't like too much (I think that is down to the high mineral oil content). My skin is left feeling really smooth but I did find the texture to be a little heavy for my oily/combo skin so I would recommend it for normal to dry skin, although it didn't break me out at all. 

Eye Contour Cream* // £7.99 //

Fragrance free, this light weight cream is delicate enough for the sensitive skin underneath your eyes and great to use both at night and day underneath your make up. The targeted nozzle and squeezy tube makes it easy to control how much product you want to use. The formula is enriched with vitamins A, E and B5 which is meant to improve skin structure and hydration. I found that I could feel my eye contour tighten and firm once the cream was dry which I really liked but I didn't feel as though it gave me loads of hydration. It is also meant to be reduce puffiness although that is something I luckily don't suffer with so can't really comment on.

Natural Beauty Moisturiser* // £5.10 //

This was my favourite of the bunch and a new launch. A slightly pink tinged and fresh scented cream that features green tea antioxidants to nourish the skin, this moisturiser had a light weight formula which sunk in easily. I've been using it morning and night and I like that it provides the moisture I need without feeling heavy and makes a great base for under make up as well as the right amount of nourishment at night. For people with my skin type I would highly recommend this affordable cream as it lasts ages, is cost effective and is an all round great product.

Out of the three products I tried the moisturiser was most definitely my favourite, but there are also other creams being launched which target different areas of concern including mature skin, dry skin, anti-wrinkle and normal-dry skin. Pond's Institute prove that luxury can be done on a budget so I suggest having a perusal at their range next time you are in Boots and giving something new from their range a go.

Have you tried any products from Pond's Institute before? xxx

Review: Vichy | Normaderm Micellar Solution |

Vichy Micellar Solution for Acne Prone Skin // £10.50 // Available from Boots

Over the past year I've been trying out quite a few different micellar waters, some which I really didn't get on with (for example, the L'Oreal version), while others have been quite good. None of them have reached 'Holy Grail' status just yet though - not even Bioderma - but I prefer them 100% more to face wipes to take off the majority of my make up before cleansing properly and as a means to freshen up.

The only product I've tried from Vichy before is a thermal water spray, which I enjoyed during summer, so I decided they would be a good bet as the next version to try. At the time of purchase I didn't realise that they do different versions for varying skin types but as luck would have it I picked up the one for acne prone skin which is probably better suited for me as I have combo/oily skin which is prone to the odd spot or two. It also states that it is suitable for sensitive skin too.

One of the best points about this particular micellar solution is that it contains no parabens or alcohol. I'm not majorly fussy when it comes to ingredients normally, but in regards to my face I'd rather be as kind to it as possible. I also really like that its easy to dispense the product, meaning no waste or spillages and it smells nice and fresh. When tackling face make up and grime (yum) this is pretty good at getting most of it off but pretty weak at taking off eye make up, especially mascara. I've just repurchased a new eye make up remover for that which isn't the end of the world, but ideally to keep costs and my skincare routine down I would have liked it to be able to be good at taking off eye make up as well. Although there is a lack of alcohol in the ingredients, I have also found it a little drying however I think this may be down to the changing seasons too so the jury is out on that point for the moment. 

Overall, this product isn't ground breaking but it is rather nice and actually find it really similar to the one by La Roche Posay. I'm starting to feel like all micellar solutions are pretty similar bar a few bad ones, so if you like these products as part of your skincare routine this is a good one to try out. 

What products do you recommend from Vichy? xxx

Review: Clarins | Lotus Face Treatment Oil |

Oily/combination Skin // £30 // 30ml

Considering I have combination to oily skin, my skincare routine was always focused on using products that would strip the oil away. That was until around a year ago when I realised that this only made the problem worse and so started to switch up the products I was using. Even though I made those changes it was still weird to consider using an actual oil on my face but after seeing positive things about the benefits of using a facial oil I put this one from Clarins on my birthday list.

Clarins do a range of three different oils depending on your skin type - this one in particular is focused on oily/combination skin. This oil contains 100% natural blend of lotus, geranium and rosewood which are supposed to be naturally astringent and the claim is that they help to purify and refine pores as well as refining skin's texture. Hazelnut oil is also present to seal in moisture and prevent fine lines. The blend of these oils leads the oil to smell like citronella candles which is quite strong but it isn't unpleasant at all. The pipette for dispensing the oil is also really useful and enables me to get just the right amount of product. 

I apply this on damp skin (from toner) and sometimes layer on a night cream afterwards or mix it in with the cream. From the first use I could tell this worked wonders - my face in the morning was matte (something which never happens), smooth and even textured. It has also really helped with dehyration too. Only a few drops are needed as a little goes a long way - you can see a few months usage from the pictures above. This has definitely become holy grail status and something which will be a staple in my skin care. I rotate it every other night with my ANR and always see a positive difference after applying it. I loved it so much I even bought the formula for dry skin for my Mum and she loves her version too! Clarins are really on a roll at the moment and I am enjoying using quite a few of their skin care and make up bits (reviews to come!) 

If you suffer from combination/oily skin I really urge you to pick this up. It is a bit pricey but is definitely worth it. What are your skin care holy grail products? xxx

Review: Neal's Yard Frankincense Hydrating Cream

Frankincense Hydrating Cream // £24.75 // 50g // All skin types

A while back I posted about my winter skin saviours and the products which are helping to battle my dehyrated skin during these cold months. This moisturiser is one of those products mentioned and now I've used it for a few months its a good time to do a review on it.

I chose this particular moisturiser as I wanted something hydrating yet which was suitable for oily skin types too. After doing some research and reading countless reviews I thought this would be a safe bet as it is formulated for all skin types, is organic, with a supposedly light texture. The packaging is lovely, although some people might find it unhygenic, I love the iconic blue glass pot which personifies Neal's Yard and it isn't too large for travel either.

When I first used this I wasn't bowled over for a number of reasons. Firstly, I wasn't the biggest fan of the Frankincense smell and I found the cream quite heavy and left a slight film on my face therefore only being suitable for use as a night cream. However, I persevered and have grown to like this. I only need a little bit of product to cover my whole face and as you rub it in you can feel the plant oils sinking into your skin. I sometimes use it in the day before make up if my skin is particularly dehydrated to create a smooth base but it is worth noting this moisturiser took a while to sink in before I can apply make up. This has definitely worked to hydrate my skin, but sometimes it can feel a bit too heavy. In regards to fine lines, I can't really comment as I don't have any yet luckily!

Overall, this is a nice cream but I definitely think it is more suited to normal to dry skin types rather than combo/oily. I prefer using this as a night cream as it hydrates my skin over night well but won't be suitable in the day when the weather warms up. 

Have you tried this product before? What do you like from Neal's Yard? xxx

The Weekend Face #1

As you may or may not know, Matt and I met at Uni but he has since graduated and got a big boy job in London, meaning our relationship has gone from seeing each other every day to every weekend. We are quite lucky its not too far to travel, however I am an appalling packer and find it virtually impossible to pack light. I've been making a conscious effort therefore to try and squeeze down my make up bag for the weekend and plan ahead (although I am still terrible at this!) Among making my case a little lighter (the amount of skincare I take is not ok) trying to condense my make up bag has lead to me using well loved things I had forgotten about again and mixing up my make up routine. So I thought it might be interesting to show you what I take as a mini series on the weekends I go down to visit, but leaving out the standard staples as that would get boring!

Lets start with the base. I chose Healthy Mix as it gives light to medium coverage, which is buildable and also helps to perk up and hydrate my skin in this horrible weather (review soon) with the usual culprits of Benefit's Erasepaste for under eyes and Collection's Lasting Perfection Concealer for any redness or blemishes. My new powder of choice - Rimmel's Stay Matte - was put to the test to set my foundation and keep oil at bay, but I'm not seeing much difference between this and my previous 17 Miracle Matte powder. Finally a dusting of 'London' from my Fashionista palette (amazing for travel) along my cheekbones combined a blush and highlight in one.

For my eyes, I chose to go for a natural look and began by lining the waterline with Rimmel's Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl in 'Nude' and swept 'Naked' from my Urban Decay Naked palette all over the lid. This palette is amazing for travel as it has shades for every occasion so I take it with me everywhere as you can probably see from the battered packaging! I took 'Virgin' also from this palette as my brow highlight and used Bourjois Intuitive eyeliner to deepen my lash line - still not too sure on this one but a review will be coming soon. Lastly, lashings of my two favourite mascaras completed this look. 

For lips I took two lipsticks - Kate Moss for Rimmel 107, an amazing deep red which I have been obsessed with recently and wear for both the evening or day and Barry M lip paint in '101' - a milky nude shade. As my eyes were pared down I either went for a bright pop of red or combined both of these together in the style of Lisa Eldridge to brighten up 101 which can be a bit dead by itself.

Hope you all had a lovely weekend! Let me know what you think of these products xxx

Review: No7 Beautiful Skin Cleansing Water

No7 Cleansing Water for Normal/Oily Skin // £9 // 200ml

After seeing loads of rave reviews on various cleansing waters, I thought I would ditch the face wipes (which are a beauty sin to use anyway) and try them out. I chose this one to try first as I had a £5 off voucher from Boots so it was only £4 for me. I like the pump action of the bottle, however it really isn't travel friendly as although the pump is meant to lock, if it is tipped slightly I found that the bottle leaks quite a lot.

When I bought it I wasn't aware that you can't use it for eye make up as well so that was a disappointment as well as I don't want to have to add an extra product into my routine. The liquid smells a bit like simple face wipes and was gentle and cooling to apply - it is hypo-allergenic so also suitable for sensitive skin. However, I found that even with barely any make up on I had to use a lot of liquid and cotton pads to take it off and even then this product sort of pushed the product around my face rather than taking it completely off. Luckily, I like to double cleanse, so the use of face wipes and waters for me are to take away the excess of my make up and then I follow up with a thorough cleanse using Liz Earle's cleanse and polish. I wouldn't recommend using this by itself as it didn't take off my make up effectively and after use instead of leaving my face refreshed it felt like it had an oily film over it. I also havn't noticed any difference towards oil production or the tightening of pores either.

Overall this product really disappointed me and wasn't the best start into the world of water cleansers. I wouldn't recommend this product as it had a lot of cons for me and not a lot of pros - the only good thing was the pump action.

Have you tried this product before? What cleansing waters would you suggest? xxx