Review - Origin High Potency Night-a-Mins Oil Free Moisturiser

Boots -£34

Origins, why must you make the names of everything so long!!!Oh well, if the number of words represented the quality of the product then this one is the bees knees! A couple of weeks ago, I popped into John Lewis to pick up a different moisturiser and was offered a free facial - perfect as I wasn’t busy and am not going to say no! After chatting and chilling with the girl on the counter we got talking night time moisturiser. I went in for the Make a Different + moisturiser, but she suggested that it was too heavy for summer skin care and that the High Potency Night-a-mins oil free would be a better fit - I'm a sucker for taking advice and thought I would try it out.

6 weeks later I can happily report that this is a brilliant night moisturiser! This has changed my skin completely. Packed with loads of Vitamins and Minerals, the oil free formula has a soft, gel like texture which glides across the skin without leaving the skin greasy. In the morning my skin is soft and fresh - it’s nice to see that it has improved. As well as this, my skin appears more even and fine lines less obvious and I put it down to this more than anything.

At £34, it’s not the cheapest on the market but it is well worth it!

I adore it, have you tried it before? Xx

Review - AMIE Morning Dew Matte-Finish Moisturiser

I've finally settled into a routine that I like with my skin, a good double cleanse, tone and then moisturiser, the products used vary depending on the time of day.

Currently, as my day cream, I'm using the AMIE Morning Dew Matte Finish Moisturiser*. AMIE is not a brand I've heard of previously, but a litter research has found that it’s a company that prides itself on producing products which are 'completely free from parabens, sulphates, mineral oils, petrochemicals, animal extracts and are suitable for vegetarians and vegans' I must admit, it’s not normally something I've ever looked into, but I'm glad I've tried it.

For those of us with oily but dehydrated skin, it can be so hard finding something that will hydrate the skin but not leave you looking like an oil slick. This moisturise is matte finish so you are left with soft, dewy skin, perfect for applying make-up afterwards, plus it last really well - no flaky skin for me!

This 100ml bottle lasts ages, I've been using it about 3 months so far and still have a lot left, and a little really does go a long way! My skins not reacted to it, it’s soft and hydrated and my foundation stays put for most of the day. I've recommended this to friends after they tried some before a night out, I know they've both picked them up so it’s well loved!

You can pick this up from HQ Hair for £9.90 along with the AMIE Morning Clear Purifying Facial Wash, a bargain really; I will be picking up another tube when this runs out!

Have you heard of AMIE products before? Do you look into the ingredients that a product contains? Xx

February Empties

I've been on a mad mission in February to use up as much as I could, I will not move all this with us when the time comes! 

- Crazy Colour Semi Permanent Lavender - This wasn't finished this month but it's been laying around and needs getting rid of!

- Tresemme Deep Cleansing Shampoo - Budget version of the Bumble and Bumble Sunday Shampoo, I did enjoy this for a long time, it took ages to use up!

- Lush Olive Branch - Kinda cheating here, this is the boy's favourite, a new bottle every Xmas lasts him nearly a year!

- Lee Stafford Bleach Blondes - Having ombre hair means keeping the blonde non brassy, this is perfect for that.

- VO5 Give Me Texture Shampoo - A good shampoo, that's all I can say.

- Herbal Essences Bee Strong Shampoo - I love this, a double wash with this and my hair is gorgeously soft.

- Soap & Glory Righteous Butter - A lovely tub of loveliness, great for the winter months and  great for keeping skin soft.

- Boots Extract Cocoa Butter - Another one of the boys bits, he likes this a lot because its thick and helps with his skin condition.

- Dove Summer Body - I need some colour at the minute so this is being used! I cut it up to get every last bit out of it.

- Privita Shower Gel - think this came from a hotel, its just a little bottle that the boy used so no idea if its any good or not.

- Soap & Glory Clean Girls - From my Advent calendar, loved this a lot, made my skin so soft after a shower.

- Garnier Moisture Match - A lovely moisturiser, kept my skin soft and clear. I would recommend this to everyone looking for an oil controlling moisturiser that leaves the skin matte.

- Nivea Stress Protect Anti-Perspirant - It does its job, what more can I say.

- Benefit You're Buffing - A really old product (oops) but it cancels out redness on the skin.

- Benefit Total Moisture - Lovely night cream, my skin has never been so soft, tempted by the full size.

- Caudalie SOS Serum - For really dry skin, this really has made the difference between waking up like a lizard, or with peachy soft skin - this is on the list.

- Vichy Norma Derm - A two in one mask/scrub, this was nice, not something I would repurchase but still a nice product.

- Boots Tea Tree & Witch Hazel Pore Strips - I love these, could used them weekly and stare at them for hours! They do the job and wont break the bank

- Tesco Cotton Wool - Need I say more?

- Asda Fish Oil - One a day and I thought I wouldnt notice any differences, but now I've stopped taking them I can tell, my skin is a lot drier.

- Lush Bubble Beard Wand - Working through my Xmas stash, lots of bubbles and loved using it, thankfully I stocked up

- Lush Candy Mountain - 3 baths of loveliness, another one from the stash :)

So there we go, 22 products used up in 28 days, its so nice to have a clear out, however I've already started the March bag! 

What bits have you used up this month? xx

Review - REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask

Try and say the name of this quickly 3 times! Probably one of the longest names in skin care but a product that starts to show some results from the the first usage.

As I'm getting older, I'm noticing my skins not quite as good as it was a couple of years ago, the odd darker patch and bit more dry skin. So I picked this up from Space NK to give it a try, lots of positive reviews meant it was a must have really!

Designed as a mild peel, it aims to improve skin tone and texture. It contains Glycolic acid which is what renews the skins surface, stripping away dead skin cells, leaving the skin much smoother & plumped. I use this once a week as directed and have noticed a big difference in my skin.

There's no tingle which is a good thing for me as I'm a wuss really but after 10 mins its wiped off, leaving my skin looking brighter and clearer.

It's not cheap at £30 but then I think spending more on skincare is worth it really!

What do you think? Have you tried this or anything else from REN? What else do I need in my life? xx

Review - Indeed Labs Hydraluron

Hello passing bandwagon, let me jump on board. I know, every blogger & their mother owns a tube of Hydraluron but one more review can't hurt?

I held off buying this for ages as it is very expensive and I didn't understand what the purpose of it was, how could skin be oily but dry but dehydrated and what was an acid going to do to help it?

After much research I decided to bite the bullet and picked it up when there was a 3 for 2 on skin care. The little tube sets you back £25, a lot for one product I feel.

I apply this in the morning before my moisturiser, it helps to lock the moisturiser to the skin, re-hydrating the skin from lower skin layers. Initially my skin just felt the same, a bit more moisturised but no different. Over a couple of weeks of regular use I have noticed a big difference to my skin, especially the dry bits on my cheeks & between my eyebrows. My skin feels softer and smoother plus things look a lot less dehydrated.

Now is in my life, I cant imagine ever being without it, Hydraluron will always be a part of my skin care I think, until something better & cheaper comes along maybe!

Have you tried Hydraluron? Any of the other Indeed Labs products? Xx

Blog Swap! Guest Post Lost in Lipstick - Summer Essentials

Hey everyone, my names Rachel and I write a blog called Lost In Lipstick http://lostinlipstick.blogspot.co.uk/  I write about beauty, fashion and lifestyle so there is a little bit there for everyone! I was looking for bloggers to write guest posts on my blog and the lovely Sarah suggested we do a guest post swap. I've never written a guest post before so I hope you like it! I have decided to share with you my Summer essentials. These are the products I have been using throughout Summer, even though we don't have fantastic weather here in England! But we did experience a heatwave so we actually had a mini Summer this year!

Avene Thermal Spring Water - This is a relatively new product to me but It has been a Godsend to me during the heatwave we recently experienced. I did debate for a long time about getting a thermal water spray but I am so glad I have this one in my life. It just isn't the same as a regular water spray. As it's in a aluminium can, the water stays cool so it is always refreshing. It almost allowed my skin to breathe in the hot weather.

Liz Earle Eye Bright Soothing Eye Lotion - This has been in my life for about a year now but it became part of my everyday routine in June. I suffer from hayfever and it's the one negative of Summer for me. Every morning when I woke up, I would have to apply this to two cotton wool pads and hold onto my eyes for a while just to soothe them and make the puffiness go away. Even if you don't suffer from hayfever, it has been a lifesaver at those 6am wake up calls! Definitely one for those who are not a morning person!

Apivita Suncare Face Cream SPF 50 - In the past few years, I have become more educated in the effects of sun damage and it's not something I want to experience in my life! It is extremely important to wear sun cream if you're going to be outside for more that 10-15 minutes. I have recently started using at least factor 25 on my body (when I was younger, I used to settle for factor 10! Tut tut!) and at least factor 30, preferably 50, on my face. My face is the one part of my body that is always exposed to the sun when I'm outside and it's the first place sun damage shows so it's especially important to protect your face. 

 

Palmer's Cocoa Butter Natural Bronzer Body Lotion - Since becoming more educated about sun damage, I'm not that bothered about a real tan, it only fades after all but the damage will never fade. Most days I embrace being pale but some days, I just prefer to fake it! Sometimes having a tan just makes me feel happier and more confident in myself. This is a gradual tanner but as I am so pale, one application provides a lovely bronzed glow. It can go patchy on dry areas so my top tip is to apply moisturiser to any dry areas you have like elbows and knees beforehand. 

Clarins Liquid Bronzer Self Tanning - I'm sure everyone has heard of this by now. I bought it in Spring and I have been using it throughout Spring and Summer. I use a cotton wool pad to apply to my face and neck at night time, once my moisturiser has sunk in. When I wake up in the morning, I have a lovely, natural, healthy glow. To maintain the tan, I reapply every other day. I have never experienced blotches or streaks with this tan and it always looks super natural. If you have beautiful skin, it's a great alternative to make up when it's just too hot to worry about foundation!

Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint - I'm sure everyone will agree with me here in saying that during the heatwave it was just too hot to wear make up. However, I am not blessed with clear skin. When I have had to go out and it was a make up occasion, I would opt for this lighter coverage over a heavier coverage foundation. This has been perfect as it feels light on your face and has the added benefit of SPF 15. (Please note, I have not relied on this for protection when I have been sitting in the sun for long periods of time.)

Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine Nail Paint in Blueberry - I am a massive nail polish addict and it's saying something when I have about 70 bottles but I re-apply this over and over again. That is what I have been doing since purchasing this shade. It is a beautiful colour, perfect for Summer, and due to the formula it lasts longer on the nails than regular polish. This is my second bottle of Barry M Gelly Nail Polish and I will definitely be purchasing some more in the near future. 

Bourjois Cream Blush in Rose Tender - Cream blusher is something I had never used before becoming a beauty blogger. My first cream blusher was from MUA to make sure I liked the difference from powder blush. After seeing all the hype surrounding these beautiful round pots of colour, I knew they would be my next cream blush purchase. Also this cream blush turns into powder on your cheeks so it's great for newbies! 

So there you have it, my Summer essentials. I hope you enjoyed reading this and maybe I persuaded you to make a few new purchases! Make sure you pop along to Lost In Lipstick (LINK) and say hello! It would be great to meet some new people. I'm also on twitter if you want to say hello on there I'm @lostinlipstick. Thank you to Sarah for letting me write a guest post for her blog.

Rachel x 

Thank you so much for an awesome post Rachel, I may have popped a few of these onto my shopping list for my holiday! Make sure you check out Rachel's blog xx

Review - Emma Hardie Amazing Face Moringa Cleansing Balm

Yes, that is what you can see pictured, I jumped on the bandwagon, and I landed with both feet buried up to me knees!

After uhmming & awwing for months, I set out to buy the cleanser. No where had it, it felt like hunting for the blooming Holy Grail, as a last resort I turned to QVC and hit the jackpot. For £33 I got the 50ml tub, the 100ml tub and an eye serum. An awesome deal as the 100ml pot normally costs around £34 on its own.

Anna from Vivianna raves about this, and I understand why. You take a pea sized blob out of it and then massage it into a dry face, over the top of make up, working it into the skin. You can even use it on your eyes. Then, using a warm flannel or facial cloth, buff it into the skin before rinsing again with the flannel. I used to be devoted to the Liz Earle Muslin Cloths but now prefer flannels I picked up from Primark.

I find this leaves my skin feeling very clean, looking hydrated & plumped. I love it, the smell is orangey, the texture is amazing however there is a down side. The packaging is awful - the lid appears to be a tad leaky and it arrived with the leakage you can see in the picture. The other issue is that it turns to an oil in the heat so it might not be great for taking on holiday or it will be an oily mess!

Over all its awesome, much love to this & it has really changed my skin tone and how clear it looks.

What do you think - have you fallen from the hype? xx

July Favourites '13

So I don't often ever do a favourites as I always forget what I like, or I use the same stuff again and again, but this month I've been mixing it up. Its only a little favourites whilst I get into the swing of this, but there are things that I've reached for lots this month.

Nail Envy - For some reason, my nails have just been a mess this month. Their peeling, cracking and splitting, so I've gone back to using nail envy as the base for all my nail choices. I love this as a base, it helps the polish last for ages, plus I find the bottle lasts as well.

L'Oreal Colour Sensational in Electric Orange - For some reason, July has been the month of Orange. Orange nail polish, orange clothes, and eventually orange lips. I picked up Electric Orange at the Beds/Hertsbloggersmeet up and it was love straight away. I've worn it so much and always get complimented on it!

Hydroluron - This has been a long time growing love, I have oily but dehydrated skin so this has been great to smooth on before moisturiser to get all the moisture into my skin. I know its expensive, but its well worth the purchase - I bought it when it was on 3 for 2 so its not quite as painful parting with £25!

Origins Make a Difference + Combination/Dry - As I've said, I get very dehydrated skin, so at my free facial a while back the Origins lady suggested this as my night cream. I gorgeous cream that has helped so much to get the moisture back into the skin. I think this will be my day cream come winter.

Protein Works Butterscotch Ripple - Not beauty related, but this is a new favourite. As part of my fitness lifestyle change I've been loving Protein Shakes, especially the ones from The Protein Works. This one is awesome and tastes perfect when mixed with milk, I will happily have two of these a day they are that yummy!

So, those are my favourites, i really need to keep a note of things for next month. Hows your month been?

Review - L'Oreal Skin Perfection 3 in 1 Purifying Micellar Solution

Why wont it just rain already! With the weather reaking havoc with my skin I can't stand make up on my face for very long so the moment I walk in, its all whipped off my skin!

I joined the hype for Bioderma when it first came out & loved it, I just can't justify the cost, so picked up the L'Oreal Skin Perfection Micellar Solution. 

Claiming to remove make up, soothe & tone as well as unclog pores, it has very big claims to live up to, and in all honesty, its nice but its not something to write home about!

Its a nice liquid that does remove make up, it does struggle with the tougher mascaras such as Maybelline the Rocket & don't even try to remove water proof mascara!

My skin always feel much better after removing with this, but its not something I love - would I buy it again? Maybe for when I'm feeling lazy but I might save my pennies for Bioderma.

Oh well, you can't love everything - what do you think? Have you tried this? Compared to Bioderma, what do you think? xx

Review & 250GFC follower Giveaway - La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo

When a blogging hype comes round, I try and fight it for as long as I can, however I normally cave at some points, and I did with the Effaclar Duo.

I picked up two of these as I know that my Boots was empty of these for the best part of a month! 

Effaclar Duo is a serum that helps to correct & unclog any imperfections. Some people choose to use this alone as their moisturiser whilst others use it under their moisturiser. I tried both ways and preferred it under my moisturiser. 

I used it for 2 months, twice a day and did see some improvement in my skin. My skin felt softer, appeared smoother and less red. A nice product, but it didn't wow me.

As I picked up two, I've got one sitting there in need of a new home, plus I recently hit 250 GFC and 175 Bloglovin. I'm planning a big giveaway at 200 Bloglovin, but thought I would give this one away as well. To enter, all you need to do is follow the instructions below.

It will run from today (31/05) until 14/06). I will pick one winner and will let them know by e-mail :) It's open internationally!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good Luck! xx

Origins Clear Improvements Mask - Review

Afternoon lovelies, hope your all wrapped up somewhere warm as its got really cold!

So, with Winter fast approaching, I've been indulging in a lot more skin care, especially as my skin gets a tad confused, especially with the change in temperature.

One thing that I've been loving recently is the Origins Clear Improvements mask. It seems to be the blogger essential, especially after Anna over at Vivianna Does Makeup raved about it.

Clear Improvements is designed for those of us who suffer from congested, clogged up pores as well as oily skin. It works by drawing out all the nasty stuff that clogs up our pores, whilst drying up any oilyness.

I use this once a week, whilst I'm in the bath. First I cleanse and exfoliate my skin, and then apply this, using an old foundation brush so that it spreads evenly without wasting too much product. This dries to a hard mask and you can see it getting into your pores - its quite gross really.

Then everyone's favourite bits, pulling faces to crack in in the mirror before washing it off and applying a layer of moisturiser for overnight loveliness.

I've had this for nearly 3 months now and having used it weekly, its made a big difference to my skin, especially my forehead which gets quite bad due to having a fringe. For £20 you get 100ml bottle, and you really don't need to use a lot so well worth the money. You can pick it up in store or on line from here.

Alternatively, you can get it as part of this set for under £30, and receive this, as well as the Drink Up mask and the Out of Trouble mask - so get that on your Xmas list!

I'm loving playing with skincare at the moment so are there any other recommendations for masks to try? How have you got on with this mask? xx

Dr Bronners Facial wash

Afternoon lovelies, hope you well.


This is a bit of an odd one for me as I don't often write about skin care, because up until the last six months my skin was normal/combination and my skin are system wasn't great. Then all of a sudden, my skin became very multiple personality, one day being dry, the next really oily, then a mix of both and this cycle continued, so I've tried all sorts of products, giving them a month or more to get to work.


Then I saw Emma's post over on Ems mixed bag and remembered I had a bottle of the cleansing oil from a beauty box, but had discarded it as why would I want an oil for my combination skin?!


After she raved about it, I tried it out. It's an oil cleanser that you add water to and it foams up like a normal facial wash, but you need half the product. As soon as its on my skin, I can almost feel it soothing and stripping away the dirt, without stripping away too much of the natural oils. My skin is actually squeaky clean!

It also makes me skin less oily throughout the day, meaning I don't have to keep chopping and changing my moisturiser, plus the one I'm currently using soaks in much better, leaving me with clean, soft skin that looks so much healthier!


I love that it is multi-purpose - I've tried this on my brushes, washed my face cloths with it, the list of uses is really endless!


You can pick this up from feelunique.com for £5.49 which is a great price, plus there are loads of different scents - and you really only need a few drops each time!


Have you tried this? Would you give it a try?


xx

A whole lot of hauling - Boots & Superdrug

Evening lovelies, hope your enjoying your weekend.


I've got a mammoth haul to show you as I earnt some over time and it would have been a crime not to spend it! Problem is its quite big and so I've split it up into smaller posts so that it's not too picture heavy.


First up are my recent acquisitions from Boots and Superdrug. I popped into Boots on Thursday after work and today as I was on the hunt for the Soap & Glory Sit Tight XS Intense as I love the original and wanted to try it out, but I couldn't resist some other bits.

 I picked up a real mix of items, some that I needed and others that I didn't but oh well.

 In Boots, the Models Own stand called to me, and they were running a buy two products and get a nail art pen. I couldn't resist choosing two of the Head Kandi polishes. I picked Headonist and Beach Party to go with the Baleric Cool I picked up a couple of weeks ago, these are really bright colours that will be great for the summer! 


I also wandered into Superdrug and did a little dance of joy when I saw that they had a new Essie stand. I picked up Cute as a Button, Turquoise & Caicos and . I haven't tried any of the Essies yet, but I've heard great things so can't wait! 

In Boots I also picked up some essentials and other bits. I bought the new Soap & Glory Intense XS as I swear by the original Sit Tight so I can't wait to see what happens. 


I picked up some more Simple face was, as well as some Nivea Toner and as its 3 for 2 I picked up the hand gel for in my handbag. I needed the eyelashes for a night out soon and love the way they Kimberly lashes look.


And finally I spent some of my Boots points on Benefits new Sun Beam, I've seen some pictures of the launch so can't wait to use this as I love the Highbeam and Moonbeam products so can't wait to try this out!


So there's part one of the haul, I can't wait to show you the rest, as well as getting some reviews of the products written up.


What have you been hauling this weekend? xx