Three make up staples that I can't do without...

Hello,
I've been meaning to write this post for a while as I bought 3 make up products a couple of months ago and I'm not sure how I ever did my make up without them before.

The first of these is a new powder purchase. I've never really been a big fan of powder, I do have to wear it because of my big shiny forehead but I've always found that it dulled my skin. I wanted a powder that would get rid of the shine but still keep my skin looking natural. I read a few reviews and splashed out on Chanel Les Beiges powder in 20 and wow it is amazing.
The powder does come with a little brush but I like to apply with a big powder brush all over my face after foundation. This powder doesn't dull but gives a healthy glow. It also takes away the shine and helps my foundation to stay put- amazing!
I think Les Beiges costs around £30 but I've been using it everyday for the past couple of months and it is still going strong so you definitely get your moneys worth. The Brucie bonus with this is that on a minimal make up day you can wear it on its own for a natural, no make up, good skin look. I think everyone needs this powder in their lives!

The second can't do without product that I recently bought is L'oreal Brow Artist Plumper. If you've read previous blogs you'll know I have eyebrow issues. After years of super thin brows I've been trying to grow mine for a slightly thicker look. I use Soap and Glory Archery pencil to fill them in which I think is great but I needed something to keep them in place.

This plumper is a brown gel (it does come in different colours) that promises to give fuller looking brows due to the fibres in it. I picked this up on a whim during a random trip to Boots and haven't gone without it since! The applicator looks like a very small mascara brush that I lightly apply to my brows after filling them in. It helps to set and does also help me to achieve matching eyebrows, its so easy to use and not too heavy, perfect!
(Apologies for the ridiculous close up of my eye but wanted to show a picture of a finished eyebrow!)

The final product that I'm loving is a mascara! Not only that, a reasonably priced mascara! This was another purchase that I didn't really have high hopes for but now I'm absolutely loving. It's Max Factor's (I never buy anything from Max Factor) Clump Defy mascara in black. This mascara does exactly what it says, applies evenly with no clumping. It also holds the curl and I'm sure my lashes are the longest they've ever looked! I was a little unsure of the wand at first as it is curved but I soon got used to it and I think the formula is just fab! It was also about half the price of They're Real and is just  a bloody brilliant mascara, yey! 

So there you have it 3 purchases that have made my make up bag a much happier place to delve into. Please let me know if you've tried any of these products or have any other revommendations , I'd love to hear them!

Thanks for reading,
Becky xx

Tackling Problem Skin

Tackling Problem Skin

Step 2

Step 3

Step 1

Hello!

I've been quite lucky with my skin in general as apart from the odd hormonal breakout during my teenage years, I've never had to deal with acne.

I would say that I have combination skin: an oily t-zone and dry cheeks and I do have issues with sensitivity. Unfortunately, over the past few weeks my forehead has erupted into lots of lumps and bumps and blocked pores. I'm not sure why this has happened but I've tried a LOT of products to try and get rid of them as they're driving me mad!

Before I start detailing the products that I've been using I should confess that I am a squeezer, I love it! But I know that its not good for my skin so I have been trying to limit the squeezing sessions as hard as it is!

My outbreak began when my skincare routine consisted of an Aveda face wash, Sanctuary pore refining toner, Indeed serum and Chanel Hydra Moisturiser. I don't think that any of these products have caused the breakout, however I do think that my quest to keep wrinkles at bay may have added extra grease to my skin resulting in blocked pores and a shiny face.

I recently decided to try and combat my problem with a brand new routine and visited the Clinique counter. I know people either seem to love or hate Clinique but I have used their 3 step system previously (about 10 years ago) and loved the outcome. So that is why I decided to go back.

Firstly, I thought the service was great. I told the assistant what I was after and she sat me down to talk through my skincare woes and hopes. She put all of my information into an iPad app in front of me and told me the products that would work best for me.

I bought the Mild Liquid facial soap which I use first thing in the morning with a hot flannel or muslin cloth and at the end of the day after removing my make up with The Body Shop cleansing oil. It promises to be non drying and its great, my skin never feels too tight after washing.

The second step is Clarifying Lotion in number 2. I know a lot of people don't like this because it feels very astringent on your skin, but for me at the moment its exactly what I need to exfoliate and clear up my pores.

Step 3 is Dramatically Different Moisturiser + which I apply after cleansing twice a day. I didn't like this at first because I found it quite greasy, I think because it's a lotion rather than a moisturizer. But, I've started using less and this seems to be working much better. The assistant did tell me that because I have combination skin, the lotion wouldn't be enough on its own but I've found that it's just right. I think if I applied another moisturizer after that one I would end up resembling an oil slick.

I bought all 3 products in the medium size and it came to just over £60. I think considering the Chanel moisturiser that I was using was £55 alone, that's not a bad price! I think that the clarifying lotion will run out first but it will still have lasted a good couple of months, if not longer.

At the moment I do still have a few lumps and bumps popping up on my head but I can definitely see a difference, they are calming down. My skin feels smooth and I'm finding it easier to apply make up. I would recommend using a flannel or cloth with the cleanser as the assistant demonstrated how much more easily the products sink into the skin after exfoliation.

So, if you fancy mixing up your skin care I would without a doubt recommend giving Clinique a go. And, if you're worried about forking out a load of money and having a reaction, the assistant said you can bring your products back and receive a refund no problem.

Thanks for reading,
Becky xx