Natural Make Up

Hello!
As promised, this post is about a natural (ish) make up look that I've been wearing almost everyday. As usual there are some pretty hideous close ups but I'm still including them to show you my step by step application.

Step 1:
After cleansing , toning and moisturising I apply Laura Mercier Oil Free Tinted Moisturiser all over my face with my fingers. I don't need a face primer as my face cream works so well with this.

Step 2:
I dot Nars Creamy Concealer under my eyes and Dior Star Concealer on my (many) blemishes. Again, I use my fingers to blend. I do also love using foundation brushes but I find blending with fingers helps the skin to appear more natural.

Step 3:
I fix the base using a dusting of Chanel's Les Beiges powder, focusing specifically on my oily t-zone. I also use a fluffy eyeshadow brush to put a dusting of the powder on my eyelids.

Step 4:
I add a bit of bronzer, applying Chanel's Universal bronzer to the hollows of my cheeks, forehead and temples.

Step 5:
I lightly fill in my eyebrows using a Soap and Glory Archery brow pencil and set them L'oreal Brow Artist. I also use a fluffy eye shadow brush to apply a little highlighter on the brow bones.

Step 6:
I use Dior waterproof eyeliner pencil in black to line my upper inner lid only (this feels a little strange at first but works well to thicken the lashes).

Step 7:
I curl both sets of eyelashes and use quite a lot of Benefit Roller Lash Mascara to thicken my upper and lower eyelashes. I love this mascara!

Step 8:
I apply a small amount of Dior eyeliner on my lower waterline. I don't always do this but have found that some of the eyeliner from the upper lid will transfer to the waterline anyway so I might as well make it look deliberate! An alternative is to use a nude eyeliner but I just can't make this work for me at the moment!

Step 9:
I apply Bobbi Brown blusher in pink to the apples of my cheeks using a Real Techniques blush brush.

Step 10:
I then use my finger to apply No7 highlighter stick to my cheekbones. I just dab my finger in and pat it on. I've found that this gives the most natural look.

Step 11:
Finally I shove something on my lips depending on my mood. Sometimes it's just a lip balm, or one of my Benefit lip glosses or my Estee' Lauder Doublewear lip pencil in pink (I bought this after seeing my friend wear it on her wedding day, beautiful!)

And there you have it! I know some of you are thinking there's a lot of make up going on here but I promise it does look natural, just a polished natural!

Thanks for reading
Becky xx

Make up haul!

Over the past couple of months or so ( I think its been roughly that long since my last post...) I've been picking up bits and bobs to make my skin look better and also to add to my make up bag.
I thought I'd give I run through of the products that I've bought along with a short review to let you know if it's worth spending your dosh!

I'm going to begin with skincare:

L'occitane Comforting Cream Light
I bought this cream after Clinique's 3 step system didn't really help me when I'd had a breakout. It is a very light yet moisturising cream and so far, so good. I can use it twice a day and my skin finally seems to be clearing up. Hurray! I think I've finally found a face cream that I will stick with.

Pixi Glow Tonic
I've been after this toner for ages but because you can only buy it online, I have been putting it off (I much prefer going to the shops to buy and try products). I was running out of my Clinique Step 2 which was beginning to sting my skin (there is a serious amount of alcohol in there!) So I finally went for it and I'm so glad I did. I use the tonic twice a day after cleansing and it feels nourishing but also cleansing. I like to use toners that actually feel like they're doing something and Pixi Glow definitely does, well worth the £18!

Soap and Glory Dr Spot 
It's no secret that I've been battling with some serious spots just lately. So I decided to buy a dab on product to help clear them up. I can proudly say that since using this and my other new skincare products, my forehead has completely cleared up. I have however, developed some new mountains on my cheek which seem to be taking longer to shift... I'm on the fence about this product, it might be totally psychological but I'm going to keep using it twice a day until I run out, or a miracle occurs and I wake up with no spots!

Now onto make up:

Benefit Roller Lash
It's early days in our relationship as I only bought this very  recently but I have been quite impressed so far. The wand is plastic - my favourite - and usually it takes a while for me to warm to a mascara but this I liked instantly. I still use my eyelash curlers and Dior Maximiser with this mascara but it did lift and lengthen my lashes amazingly well. Definitely worth a try.

Laura Mercier Oil Free Tinted Moisturiser
In addition to spotty skin, I have also been suffering with dry, flaky patches (probably because I have been squeezing a LOT) which has resulted in my usual foundation looking cakey and drawing attention to the gross bits. Because of this problem and as the weather is finally getting better, I decided it was time to try a lighter coverage to hopefully help my skin recover and keep it looking more natural. I tried this tinted mosituriser in Space NK after reading lots of reviews and also the Nars one. I'm glad I finally went for this one. It gives enough coverage to give your skin an improved natural look and even though it's oil free, it gives a dewy glow and doesn't dry my skin out. I love this so much, I think everyone needs to try it!

Nars  Creamy Concealer
This is a new concealer for the dark circles that no amount of sleep can get rid of. The assistant in Space NK chose quite a light shade for me which I was unsure of at first but it does seem to lighten up the area without looking unnatural. This concealer gives good coverage without being too thick of drying either. Well worth the investment.

Nars Lip Gloss in Priscilla
I love bright pink lips and own a Nars lipstick but wanted a more daytime friendly gloss that I could build up. This gloss is perfect, not too sticky, just the right amount of colour and I love, love, love it! I will definitely be wearing this day and night.

YSL Lip Oil
I bought this product impulsively and still haven't made up my mind. Its basically an oil- looks like a gloss when you first put it on- that stains your lips. So, when the oil wears off - which it does quite quickly- you're left with the stain. I thought this would be a nourishing product as I do suffer with dry lips but have found that is is quite drying. I also like a shine, so I am constantly reapplying. That said, I do like the colour but I think I'm more of a traditional gloss girl.

The final section is perfume:

L'Occitane Neroli and Orchidee
I fell in love with this scent when after purchasing my face cream, the assistant sprayed it on my bag. I was walking around the shops and this beautiful scent kept floating out from the bag. I went back to the shop and bought the gift set for £32 ( I'm such a sucker). I do still love this perfume but I am a tad disappointed. I should have known when it said Eau de toilette on the bottle because even when I layer the soap, body lotion and perfume, the scent doesn't linger for very long so I'm constantly having to reapply a regular problem with toilettes. I'm really sad about this because the scent is beautiful, I wouldn't even mind paying a bit more for a stronger version, eau de parfum maybe? Sort it out L'Occitane!

Lancome Miracle
I picked up the gift set for £28.14 reduced from £42,from House of Fraser the other day and in it you get a 30ml Eau de parfum, body lotion and shower gel. I really like the scent, its light, fresh and summery and even though it is quite light it lasts on my skin. I'm not madly in love with it but it's a good day time fragrance that was a bit of a bargain.

Oh dear, seeing this long list of purchases is a bit scary but I hope you found this post interesting and helpful in some way. I am planning on writing another post this weekend on a new natural make up look I've been using, so please come back to read it!

Thanks for reading
Becky xx

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

Benefit Advent Calendar

Hello! I can't believe it's nearly Christmas, where has the time gone?

 A product that has made my countdown to Christmas very enjoyable this year is my Benefit Advent Calendar which was an amazing surprise present from the husband. 

So here are the details about the products that I found behind the doors of my candy coated countdown...

A Few Favourites

I've been really pleased with the make up samples that I have received as they are quite decent sizes that will last a few applications. Some old favourites that I've found hiding behind the doors are Benetint, Posie Tint, That Gal brightening primer, Ooh La Lift eye brighter, They're Real Mascara, It's Potent eye cream, Total Moisture face cream and The Porefessional primer.

New Discoveries 

I understand that part of the reason for Benefit bringing out an advent calendar is so that customers can try new products and hopefully go on to buy the full sized versions. I'm a make up sucker so will probably be doing just that! Some new discoveries for me are Stay Don't Stray eyeshadow primer, Stay Flawless 15 hour primer, Watt's Up highlighter, and the Ultra Plush lipglosses which I have in Dandelion, A-Lister and Fauxmance I'm particularly loving Dandelion and Fauxmance.

Random Other Bits

As well as beauty and skincare my calendar had also gifted me hair ties, post it notes, paper clips and a note book. The hair ties are quite cute but as I have short hair now I have no personal use for them. The stationary to me is a bit naff. You don't go to Benefit for stationary so I don't understand why it's in the calendar (apart from to keep costs down). Whenever I've opened a door that has some sort of stationary behind it I can't help but feel a bit disappointed. 

That said, overall I love this calendar and the variety of beauty samples I've received is fabulous so if you're thinking of treating yourself or a loved one next year you should go for it! - Hopefully they won't include so much naff stationary next year! 

Happy Christmas Everyone xx

New Products!

Hello! 

Well I'm not technically sure if these are new, new products but they are new for me so I thought I'd do some little reviews for you. 

1. Indeed Facial Powdered Exfoliator

My face was getting a little bit flakey and I'm not a huge fan of the exfoliant scrubs so I was on the hunt for either a chemical toner/exfoliator in one or something a little different. I found this in Boots and wow, wow, wow I love it! Basically it's a powdered exfoliator so you just wash your face as usual, then pour some of the powder into your hand, add a spot of water and foam up. You then massage it all over your face for about a minute before rinsing off. I use this about twice a week as part of my evening routine and my skin feels so much smoother and brighter since I've been using it. I bought this on offer at I think about £12 and I think it'll last me a good few months. 

2. Aveda Beautifying Set

I recently went for the best massage I've ever had- a chakra balancing massage. It isn't the type of massage I'd usually go for but my local spa was offering a massive 50% off so I went for it. Anyway, to cut a long story short they used some Aveda products on me and I found them to be really relaxing and luxurious with the most amazing scents. I decided to buy this set in my relaxed state but I'm so glad that I did! The set contains a creme cleansing oil which I use as a normal face wash with a muslin cloth. It's gentler than my favourite La Roche Posay cleanser but it's also very effective at cleaning off ALL make up. It also smells of lavender which is one of my favourite scents. 

The other large tube is a body moisturiser which again has a lavender scent and is the perfect texture for me. It's not too greasy yet soaks into the skin quickly leaving a beautiful scent and super soft skin. 

The third product is the beautifying composition which is an oil. You can use this in the bath but I don't often have baths so I've mainly added a few drops to the body moisturiser for an extra boost. Even though it's an oil, it's still not greasy. This set was a little pricey at just under £50 but you do get full sized, luxury products. I will definitely be trying Aveda products again. 

3. Soap and Glory Archery Brow Pencil

You may have read my recent eyebrow blog post and noticed that I have a difficult relationship with my eyebrows. Because of this, I'm always on the hunt for new products that are going to make my life easier when it comes to taming them. I picked up this brow pencil from Boots and I haven't used anything else in the last few weeks. It's a really thin brown pencil that allows you to build up your eyebrows bit by bit resulting in a very natural look. There is a brush on the other end to shape the brows and it's I nice sturdy plastic packaging. I also prefer this to my No7 brow pencil because it doesn't require sharpening so it's always ready to use. This was relatively inexpensive too so if you're on the hunt for a new brow pencil you won't go wrong with this one. 

4. Bobbi Brown Long Wear Cream Shadow Stick

I've been eyeing up eye shadow sticks for a while and decided to go with this Bobbi Brown version because I love the colour which is Golden Pink. I tend to put a primer underneath and then apply the eyeshadow straight onto my eyelid before blending with a soft brush. This is blummin fab! It doesn't crease, lasts all day and is a fabulous colour. It's also great for a quick daytime look or you can apply with a crease colour to make it more dramatic for the evening. I shall be purchasing some more of these! 

5. Benefit Advent Calender

My lovely husband bought this Advent Calender for me and I've been blown away by the wonderful products that it contains. I'm planning to write a separate post on this Calender but if you get the chance to pick one of these up next year is recommend that you do!

Thanks for reading my post. Feel free to leave any comments! 

Becky xx