Monday 27 February 2017

EMPTIES LATELY: MAKEUP HITS & MISSES FEAT. HIGH END & DRUGSTORE


It's truly a sign of spring coming when we start clearing out our wardrobes, houses and makeup vanities. I thought I'll come to you with my recent empties (and couple of - can't use this stuff anymore's). We've talked skincare empties last week - POST - and today, we'll concentrate on makeup. There's a lot to go through so without further blabbing, let's have a look what I loved (and not so much) in the recent months. 

PRIMERS

I have couple of primers to share with you today. Primer is an important step for me, it preps the skin for foundation and should extend the wear of your makeup. I say should, because none of the examples below did that. 


I liked it but didn't love it. Yes the gel formula glides on the skin and smoothes it out slightly but I expect the primer to extend the wear of my makeup and this one just did not. There's a lot of better ones out there, Too Faced Hangover and Becca Backlight Priming Filter to name the two that work so much better on my dry skin. I didn't find Laura Mercier smoothed my pores too well either. It's a very basic primer with a hefty price tag. I may try a different one as this one will probably more suited to combination skin, but for now, I love my current primers too much, too even consider getting a new one.


Obvious duper for Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Water, this fine mist refreshes before makeup application and even takes away the powdery textures when applied over makeup. I didn't think this extended my makeup wear, but I loved using it especially in warmer months. For dry skin types you should enjoy the extra level of hydration it gives. I personally used it quite a lot and quite enjoyed it. I really want to try Smashbox one next, but with quite a few face mists currently in my drawers, I probably should wait. Freedom Priming Water also worked as a mist to moisten the eye brushes for pigment application and at this it was excellent. It's very comparable to MAC Fix + in this aspect. Thoroughly enjoyed using and at the price point, very recommended.

FOUNDATIONS

I have a couple of super lightweight formulas to share with you, both of which I enjoyed using. There's one that disappointed me a little, due to how quickly I've used it up, but both have a light formulas which will suit dry and dehydrated skin. None will offer you an incredible coverage, but are great as a daytime base.


I adore this stuff. For days where I'm into minimal makeup or for hot summer days, this is the formula I always choose to go for. Super lightweight, it also works as a moisturiser. It has a super light coverage but with right tools it's build able to light medium. I find a fluffy flat top works best with it and offers better coverage than any other method of application. It evens out the skin tone well, but for redness cover you'll need a concealer. For those minimal makeup days and when my skin is looking particularly well, that's my go to base. I went through few of these already and already have a new one which was kindly gifted to me during an event. 


(SAVE 15% with Feel Unique - CODE 2F6KMW43VB)

I've waited for what seemed a long time for this foundation to launch in UK and got it super quickly when it has. I loved the build able medium coverage with a super dewy finish which I prefer. It's really a great foundation for every day use. The shade was ever so slightly too dark (shame on you L'Oreal) but due the sheer formula it was easy to make it work. I love the packaging and application was a joy. I used the same brush as I would with Complexion Rescue - POST - as I prefer this particular brush for sheerer finishes. Let me explain why I don't think it's worth it's price and consequently why I will not repurchase. There's very little of the foundation in the cushion and I kid you not there was none left after 4 weeks of use (not even every day!). Because of the sheer formulation, I used to built it up ever so slightly but that's still not excusable for the foundation to finish in less than a month. Shame as I really enjoy the finish it gave my skin.

POWDERS

This little pot was a true joy to use and lasted surprisingly well. I remember getting it from America having watched one of Tati tutorials and never looked back. 


It's with the true sadness I say goodbye to this little guy which served me so well in the past. It's a super finely milled brightening under eye powder. The price is incredible as the formula is actually really good and sets under eye concealer well. There's a little bit of micro glitter within this powder, which sounds worrying but it's never showed on my skin. Great for baking or gently sweeping the under eyes with. It's so inexpensive but totally worth trying. If your budget's low but you want a quality setting powder for your concealer, I highly recommend giving this little gem a try, especially given E.L.F is now widely available in UK.


BROWS

It can't come as a surprise that I'd have not one but five brow products emptied. I rarely do makeup in my empties for one and second I use a lot... LOL. I love good big brow and have been blessed with natural brows that are actually quite amazing (especially given the horrendous plucking in my teens, right of passage right - looking at you crazy beautiful teens of today with perfect contouring skills and I sigh).


This is where my real journey with brows begin. I used cheap & cheerful pencil before this until one day I saw it being used in a tutorial. I managed to buy it (it was constantly sold out) and started my journey with learning to fill in my brows. It's not as easy as it sounds and I only just recently became happy with my brow shape. So if you're struggling with your brows, my advice is, don't give up. Formula is perfect and waterproof and colour will suit blondes well as it's truly greyish taupe. I haven't finished this one up but it's now old and dry so I decided to let go. I'll remember it with fondness as at the time, there were no brow pomades available in drugstore. 


Sadly I can't recommend any of the two sides of this brow pencil. The shape reminds me a lot of ABH or recent Benefit launch and the shade was also perfect, light taupe. However that's where it all ends for me. The pencil side was super dry and keep breaking. I must have used it a total of 3 times until it just broke and that was the end of it. It's a real shame and maybe I had a bad batch here, but it really put me off trying anymore. It's not the cheapest product at the end of the day. The second side hides a clear brow gel. The brush is small enough and makes for an easy application. However this gel isn't strong enough to keep my long and unruly brows at bay. As you can see, in theory this is a perfect product , sadly in practice it just didn't work for me. 


I have received a sample of this pencil included in one of magazines before the launch of the new brow range by Benefit. The formula is creamy enough and coats the brows well. What I'm not a huge fan of is the shape of the pencil, I prefer the thin ended ones and sadly the shade. I got mine in 02 and whilst light enough, it's also very yellow in tone. I would have preferred more taupe in this. It's definitely not a bad product and would suit someone with really light brows much better. Mine are very cool toned and this was visible a bit. I used it up, as again, it's not a bad product, but I won't be repurchasing. I loved it for a bit but after a while it stopped working for me.

Benefit Gimme Brow - RPR £18.50

I never understood the hype behind this product. That is until I tried it. I get it now. It definitely earned the cult status. As with the pencil Gimme Brow was included in one of the magazines and I got mine in 01 Light. I adored this. It's a brow gel formula that works great at brushing the hair due to super mini wand and it coats the hair with fibres, making your brows appear fuller. I loved to use it at the front of my brow, brushing upwards. Brilliant little product that's certainly worth the hype. Is it worth £20.00 mark? Probably not but I'll surely repurchase it as some point.

ModelCo More Brows - RPR £13.00

A cheaper version of Gimme Brow with the formula similar as it coats the brows with lots of fibres making them appear fuller. It's also pretty great at keeping them at bay and I loved using it. So much I have now a new one, this time in the Light shade which is more suiting to me, but I remember using Medium and I made it work. The wand is also small making for a precise application and I really thoroughly  enjoyed using it. Worth checking out, if you fancy Gimme Brow but not willing to splurge on it just yet.

EYES

As usual few mascaras and even a liner in my empties. I loved one of the mascaras and liked the other so it's mostly positives here. Which ones will I re-purchase, if any?


Must be a first black liner I've ever finished up. I don't use black liner too much, I prefer beige in my waterline and rarely do a line on my lids due to how hooded my lids are. However this was the most pleasant liner. It smudged perfectly and also kept at bay all day long. I tend to use it in the outer corner as a way to make my eyelashes appear fuller and also as a base for darker colours. I really enjoyed using it but I'm still on a lookout for something which would last on my waterline a tad better for intense evening looks and this is not it. I liked it but I won't be re-purchasing it. If you have any recommendation for super lasting waterline black liners, I'm all ears :)


Surely not the cheapest drugstore mascara, nor is it the best out there. Mascaras are such personal choice and what works for one, will not for others, however this mascara, whilst ok in general, didn't wow me entirely. It had the luck of being used at the time, I preferred to keep my lashes very natural and it works great as such. Lashes are super defined, there's a slight lengthening action going too, but simply not enough volume. To be fair to it, it's not really advertised as such and as I mentioned before, it's your personal choice, so I'll leave it up to you. It's just not enough for me.


(SAVE 15% with Feel Unique - CODE 2F6KMW43VB)

Slightly cheaper than No7 and simply the best mascara I've used in a while, drugstore wise. It coats the lashes entirely making them appear fuller, it lengthens slightly too plus given your steady hand you can easily sightline with it due to the original plastic brush. It's funny how wowed I was when I first used it, but I found that you need to change this mascara ever couple of months tops, as it stops wowing the moment it goes a little dry. I'd still repurchase if I had the need but with few mascaras still waiting tests, it won't be for a while.

LIPS

I only have one contender here and sadly it's a disappointing one. For a lipstick hoarder, a total miss in this category is truly hurtful, especially when you actually like the formula and the shade. 


Super creamy and opaque formula should make this gloss a perfect one to use. Sadly this was not the case. I've gotten in in one of the beauty boxes but what a true disappointment this was. The crayon stick broke all the time. The formula was too creamy and soft to make it in this format and I think Urban Decay knew that as it's not available anymore. You'd expect more from the brand and it's probably the biggest disappointment in terms of lip products from the brand. I love their lippies usually so it's such a shame this one couldn't work better. I'm not the one for using lip brush when it's not really needed and glossy formulas need to be re-applied easily throughout the day, so it's a huge no from me.


Happy Monday my lovelies <3

Thank You For Reading,
Love


Let's Be Friends:





Friday 24 February 2017

EMPTIES LATELY: SKINCARE HITS & MISSES

Happy Friday your gorgeous beauty queens! I'm in an excellent mood this week. My blog has finally gone under the knife and got a little nip & tuck! I'm very pleased with how it turned out, it's still not perfect but so much more in the direction I want to take it! I got some amazing feedback but as always, please do let me know, what you think, what you like and what things you want to see here! 




New blog, new me and all, so I decided it will be fitting to do a little clear out of my empties pile! I'm coming to you with part 1 - skincare or what Drama Queen's love most :) I had to cut It in half as even I wouldn't read a post that long. If I included Makeup, we'd be here for a while! Without further blabbing, let's have a look at what products I've used up recently and if there's any I'd repurchase!

Let's start with masks and I have quite a bit here to talk to you about so please bear with me. Firstly the very quick mention to Lush Oatifix. It's not really a big secret that I'm obsessed with Oatifix and use it pracically non stop! For all you dry and sensitive types, it's one of the best I've used if you're looking for a Moisturising effect and a bit of gentle exfoliation. It's gentle so can be used daily, I normally use it couple of times a week. It's not something that will miraculously make you 10 years younger but it'll give you a moisture fix + it's the best scent ever, so feels really good when applied! At £8.00 it won't break the bank either! Repurchased? Obviously! 

Few Sheet Masks I've used recently and really enjoyed. I normally do Sheet Mask on a Monday or Wednesday depending on my schedule, so once a week. I look for hydration, radiance, plumped skin full of life. I've used few masks recently and one definitely deserves a huge shoutout. Skinfood Broccoli Sheet Mask which I loved for the light scent and the pleasure of wearing it! It made my skin plumped and really radiant and if I wasn't a skincare freak, I'd probably could go without following with anything afterwards! Really enjoyed using and already added Skinfood to my ever growing 'wish list'.

The second best would be a Masque Bar Brightening Sheet Mask which doesn't come with a whole great list of ingredients but it didn't hurt my sensitive skin plus it has a really nice brightening effect! My skin needed a moisturiser afterwards yes, but it felt very smooth and I had an instant glow! Highly recommend using before an event, like a little facial at home! It's widely available in Boots and costs £10 per 3! 

Lastly I really nice Mask from Missha. Missha Green Tea Sheet Mask was a nice and refreshing one. It felt a bit like a Toner masks I like to do. For that reason, I don't see a point in repurchasing as it's cheaper and probably more natural to do with your fave toner and condensed Sheet masks from eBay :) It's not bad tho, I found my skin nourished and hydrated with a little glow but the consistency was very watery, which I found a little strange. Never the less, it's a nice and refreshing mask and maybe it'll be better suited to combination skin. 

Cleansing wise I finished a few products, two of which didn't wow me at all and took ages to finish up as they were my last point of call if that makes sense? Let's start with them maybe? 

I like Garnier duo phase eye remover, just don't love it! It's very gentle on my sensitive eyes, it removes makeup well enough, but the film it leaves is super oily and I'm just not a fan. I rarely use waterproof mascaras anymore and plain old Micellar water or coconut oil is more than enough to remove makeup for me, so I don't find myself reaching for the duo phase cleansers. If you like to remove makeup quickly and don't follow a 5 step cleansing routine (like some people, ahem... me?lol) it's a really great eye makeup remover and I would highly recommend it, it's just not for me right now. 

L'Oreal Micellar Gel gets a most resounding no from me, one product can get. It's useless at removing eye makeup and considering it's marketed as such, it's just not good enough. It takes ages to break down the product and I end up having to rub it all of, which is not something I recommend doing at any age. Given I'm not in my 20s anymore, I don't want to risk it. I tried using it as a face makeup remover and it blocked my pores badly. It's crazy as I really enjoyed the Micellar Water from the same series! No from me, never again! 




I hate being negative about the products, so I'm happy to announce my next Cleanser which I was super sad to let go. Merumaya Melting Cleanser is a definite favourite of mine. It smells lovely, has a great formula that removed makeup (eyes too) easily! It's a pleasure to use both as first or second cleanse and I can't recommend it enough. I wrote about it HERE if you'd like to know more and I already have couple of more deluxe samples to keep me going! It's reasonably priced for what it is and a huge tube at just over £18 is a steal! Highly recommend you give it a try! 

I also managed to finish the Clinique Pep Start Eye Cream. I really enjoyed using it for the morning. It sinks in quickly, moisturises the under eyes well and the applicator makes for a lovely massage in the morning. It brightened the eye area and was great at reducing puffiness which I suffer with due to the medication I take at night. It's really reasonably priced and lasted forever, given I only really used it in the morning as I prefer richer formulas for the evening. Would I repurchase? I would, however I have quite a few of eye creams waiting their turn, so it's a not right know kinda repurchase. 

I only recently ran a giveaway on my blog together with Silidyn! I know the winners already received their products and I hope you'll enjoy using this Silicon Supplement as much as I did. The bottle lasted 10 weeks for me and in the time it improved the appearance of my skin and hair. It worked briefly for my nails but sadly I'm a bitter so I didn't enjoy the effects for too long. There's no scent to it and comes together with so much information about the product, importance of Silicon in our diet and general information! I already re-purchased this as I really enjoy the effects it's having on me! 

I must have told you about hundred of times that I'm super lazy in terms of body care. Skincare wise,  I can spend 20 minutes cleansing my face in the evening (including facial massage) but I'm too impatient to wait few minutes for a body butter to sink in. Therefore I always choose lotion sprays. Easy to use and sink in super quickly! My favourite so far is Vaseline Spray & Go Cocoa Radiant. It moisturises really well and literally takes seconds. I use it at least once daily and I don't suffer with dry skin on my body, so it works well enough on me. No you want get that body butter effect with it, but it's really brilliant for a busy (and body lazy) girl like me! I'm currently testing a new body moisturiser spray from E45 but will probably repurchase at some point as I really like the scent of it. 

I don't know how many bottles of this I went through already but it's the best! I have waist long hair and tend to get a lot of tangles so Schwartzkopf Gliss Liuid Silk works brilliantly for me! It's a leave-in conditioner that works not only at giving my dry ombré ends a little life but also hydrates, reduces split ends, detangles and doesn't weigh it down. At £2 per pop you really can't go wrong! Already got a new bottle on the go! 

I wasn't sure which part of empties to include Freedom Pro Studio Priming Water because I use it both as skincare and makeup... So I decided to talk about it twice :) It's a really nice face mist and reminds me a lot of MAC Fix+. It's supposed to be a dupe for Smashbox, however I didn't try the Smashbox one, so I can't really comment. It provides an extra level of hydration, can be used under and over makeup and works great as both. It won't extend the wear of makeup but it will give your skin a little glow. I really enjoyed using it and if I didn't have at least 4 other mists going at the time, I'd give it a go again! 

Lastly Sure Invisible Body Spray. I thought I'll mention it as it's a great travel friendly deodorant. The bottle is compressed so you get a full size product in a mini form which I find works great if you rather be protected throughout the day and keep it in your purse. It's not the longest lasting one and will need a top up after 7-8 hours though. It doesn't stain your clothes but you still have to be careful with black clothes, as it does leave a bit of residue. I won't be repurchasing at present as I went back to using my fave Mitchum one but it's certainly a great purse friendly option.  


Comment below if you survived all the blabbing & didn't fall asleep whilst reading this rather long empties post! I wish you all a great weekend! 

Thank You For Reading,
Love


Let's Be Friends:




Wednesday 22 February 2017

WHAT HAPPENED WHEN I'VE TRIED ALDI'S LACURA CAVIAR ILLUMINATION RANGE FOR A WEEK



The Story starts with a girl and a prince.... Nah, thanks I enjoy having a bed to myself too much. What's important to me is a good healthy glow and I think I found us all a real miracle for under £10! I've been using Lacura Caviar Illumination Day & Night Creams and their 3-Minute Peel Mask for just over two weeks now and here's what happened to my skin.

I had no real hopes for a skincare range from Aldi, but seeing all the glowing reviews I just had to try it! I thought I'll use it for a week, it'll break me out and I'll trash it in the most polite way. Colour me shocked, because it did not break me out and after a week long wear people at work started to compliment my skin! Firstly I thought it must be my foundation but let's face it dry skin & foundation do not go together that well, so I dogged deeper. Only after few days I realised what changed in my routine! I thought of it last because I never in million years excepted any kind of results from a couple of creams at £7 each! 

Lacura Caviar Illumination range has been called a dupe for La Prairie Caviar range and I wish I had the money to try the original but even I'm not crazy enough to spend £300 on a moisturiser! I can't really comment on the above, but what I can tell you is that my skin has never looked better , at least according to my co-workers (cheers guys, no one could ever tell me I looked like shit before???). When I finally realised these two creams were making such difference, I started to observe my skin a little better. 




I think the main difference is the radiance my skin seems to go for these days. I don't get overly oily & the formula sinks in almost instantly, which makes me think Lacura Caviar Illumination would also work on combination skin, maybe even oily? I look in the mirror and see this gorgeous glow, which is a finish line of many, many products that I use but for the sake of testing, I put them all away and the glow continued! I also find that Day Cream is a great makeup Primer and works for me brilliantly as such. I've been using L'Oreal Pro-Glow foundation over the day cream and it lasted well and didn't cake up after few hours. 

Now that we have my preliminary facts together, let's have a look at both moisturisers separately and talk those pesky ingredients shall we? 
Aldi's moisturisers come packed with active ingredients like Caviar, Snow Algae, Hyaluronic Acid, AHAs, peptides, Globularia flowers extract and papaya enzymes. These are usually found in super expensive skincare and I was truly shocked to find them in a moisturiser priced like a Friday night cocktail! I talked about importance of AHAs in daily skincare many times. I find that using acids helped my dry skin regain its forgotten radiance and I can't imagine a skincare routine without them. Here, they are supported by the use of anti-aging peptides and papaya enzymes, which again work great at gently exfoliating the skin layers and uncovering a more youthful complexion. Globularia Flower extract works like a spring cleaning for your skin. It detoxifies by eliminating damaged proteins and other accumulated environmental wastes. It provides further protection from environmental factors and slows down the process of ageing. Caviar extract is another miracle active ingredient known for it's regenerating, brightening, lifting and moisturising properties. Caviar is a mixture of proteins, amino acids, vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids (lipids) known for their regenerating and anti-wrinkle properties. Finally the Snow Algae has been proven to stimulate collagen production, provides protection from environmental factors such as UV rays and improves skin elasticity whilst being a strong antioxidant. Lacura Caviar Illumination Day Cream has been formulated with SPF15 which is also a plus for daytime moisturiser. It's not the protection you can wear on it's own, unless you're in for truly gloomy days but a welcome addition to this already incredible formula.

Lacura Caviar Illumination Day Cream SPF15 ৷ £6.99

I found the cream to work great as a daytime moisturiser with the formula sinking in almost instantly and prepping the skin for makeup. Actually I find there's no need for a primer when using this, as it worked great in conjunction with my current foundation fave, L'Oreal Infallible Pro-Glow. The formula hasn't got any scent in particular other than your usual moisturiser scent. It feels light when applied, sinks in quickly and does't leave any residue. I find that I'm using a little more than my usual moisturisers though I barely made a dent in the two weeks of use. It's gentle on my sensitive skin and didn't make me break out or caused any redness. I think it's a great moisturiser and you should really give it a go, if you can.

Enter blog's 3rd birthday giveaway to win over £150 worth of makeup (ends 30th June 2018) here

Lacura Caviar Illumination Rich Night Cream ৷ £6.99

I really enjoyed using the night moisturiser. The formula is only slightly richer than that of the daytime moisturiser and sinks in quickly. I find that it works great over my usual serums (one water based and second oil based). I also add a little oil on top of my moisturiser and it didn't counter react to any of my other skincare picks. Again the formula didn't break me out or caused any reaction. I enjoy using it at night and find that I wake up to a nice glow in the morning. As with the daytime version, I tend to use a little more of it than my standard moisturisers but only because I'm used to richer formulas. The formula here is creamy but also quite light and makes me think it would suit most skin types. I honestly can't praise these two individually more than by the effects they give, as the usual application and the feel of them is pretty standard, but the effects are extraordinary.

Lacura Caviar Illumination3-Minute Cell Renewal Peel Mask ৷ £6.99

I actually really enjoyed using this mask packed with AHAs and Papaya Enzymes to really exfoliate and reveal brighter complexion. It works similarly to my fave Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Mask but does not have any mechanical peeling agents. I actually find this one's gentler on my sensitive skin as it skips the mechanical exfoliants. Try and do not exceed the given time (3 minutes) for the first 5-10 uses as the burning sensation is something you just have to get used to. I now keep it for 5 minutes tops. I find that it works beautifully and after the use my skin is so much smoother and ready for another treatment or just evening skincare. The redness does not linger and after washing it off I don't find my complexion reddened at all. It does go red during the use and must be treated with caution. I use it once a week and find it to be a great alternative to the PTR Pumpkin Enzyme Mask which is over 4 times the price. If you're on a look out for an affordable enzyme exfoliator, give this one a go.


In overview I really enjoy using my Lacura Caviar Illumination range. It changed my skin in matter of days as the results are almost instant. It's quite miraculous to find it in the skincare full stop, especially one that costs so little. I think you should really give it a go when you're next in Aldi's. Skincare is a very personal choice and what works for me, may not work for you, but given the price point this is a safe bet. 

Enter blog's 3rd birthday giveaway to win over £150 worth of makeup (ends 30th June 2018) here

Have you tried any of the Lacura Caviar Illumination skincare? What are your thoughts? Let me know in the comments below.

Friendly blogger section:


Thank You For Reading,
Love


Let's Be Friends:



Beauty Bay

Monday 20 February 2017

NEW IN MAKEUP: ZOEVA MATTE PALETTE REVIEW WITH SWATCHES

Birmingham, UK


The moment I laid eyes on new palette launch Zoeva Matte palette , I knew it'll be mine. Sadly Zoeva Matte launch is not available on the usual UK selling outlets and it's exclusive to Zoeva website. The good news are, the delivery is dead cheap and comes at £2.50 whatever your order. Palette is priced at £17.50, so slightly cheaper than our usual pricing here and all came at £20.00. Delivery took 5 days and I missed a day due to being at work first time, they've tried to deliver. That's pretty decent considering it's coming all the way from Germany. You can buy it here.

Wednesday 15 February 2017

BATTLING DARK CIRCLES: PEACH CORRECTOR TIPS & TRICKS FOR BRIGHTER EYES



Whatever you're a busy #girlboss, new mom, recovering from a night out or insomniac, dark circles are probably one problem we all battle at some point in our lives. There's many reasons for it and sadly some of us are just genetically unlucky, but there are plenty of ways to diminish dark circles quickly at home. 

Monday 13 February 2017

VALENTINES DAY SINGLES EDIT: CINEMA GIRL DATE, PAMPER EVENING & ICONIC BEAUTY.


Single and not ready to mingle on Valentines Day? I hear you! I'll be spending the day with one of my girlfriends, we're off to the cinema to watch 50 Shades Darker and do some 'couple watching'. Couple watching is a term I invented during my trip to the cinema when 50 Shades of Grey originally premiered. Seeing all these couples, especially watching guys reactions, made me really want to see that again:) It's just a movie you probably better see with your friends than a date, I mean pretty awks right? To each their own, of course and I'm not judging! In the evening, I plan to just pamper the hell out of Valentines Day. Why? Because that's what I love the most, relaxing evening at home and a great pamper session.

Wednesday 8 February 2017

GLOWING COMPLEXION WITH BECCA FOR DEHYDRATED/DRY SKIN - PROS AND CONS


From left: Concealer in Fair, Primer and Foundation in Porcelain
Becca may just be that one brand that can do no wrong in terms of their superb formulas, designed to give you THAT glow. You know which one, one that's only seen on red carpets, glowing complexion worthy the Oscar Ceremony red carpet. 

Monday 6 February 2017

MY GUIDE TO 30+ ANTI-AGEING EVENING SKINCARE FOR DRY, DEHYDRATED & SENSITIVE SKIN


The idea of turning 32 this summer makes my skin crawl. I take care of my skin and I don't think I look 31 but it takes time to find a routine that works for you. To give you a better understanding of my skincare needs, I feel like I have to talk to you about my skin needs. I have a dry skin, that used to be very dehydrated, but thanks to acid peels and 10+ step regime, it's been blessing me with more dry to normal skin these days. My main skin concerns are dullness, fatigue, redness, sensitivity and sadly couperose skin. I'm prone to hormonal breakouts around chin area when I'm ovulating and PMSing. My forehead is prone to fine/dehydration lines and I see some smile lines around my mouth.  Let me show you my guide to a more youthful complexion.

Friday 3 February 2017

I BROKE MY SPENDING BAN!!! DRUGSTORE SKINCARE HAUL FEAT. FACE INC, LACURA & MORE


I've lasted 27 days on my spending ban. I didn't go full on crazy, as you can expect but I just needed to make myself feel better and I went for a little browse at Boots. I have two of these posts, as I also picked up some new makeup bits, but for now let's talk skincare and I bought a bit :)

The first counter I always visit in my local Boots (Birmingham High Street branch - huge love!) is the sheet masks counter. I love that sheet masks are now widely available as I just love a good sheet mask and my collection keep growing. There were few promos happening at the time and I managed some savings :) I picked up 4 masks from Boots own brand Boots Ingredients & 2 from Face Inc (brand owned by Nails Inc).



Boots Ingredients Luminous Youth was the first one I grabbed and I'm super excited to try it. This mask is enriched with the extracts of Safflower and Peony. Peony Seed Oil nutritions skin, and also has the effect of improving the circulation function of skin epidermis, helps capillary microcirculation, delays skin aging, battles wrinkles, helps retaining moisture and has skin whitening purposes. Safflower seed oil contains beneficial linolenic acid, that can help diminish signs and occurrence of dry skin. 

Boots Ingredients Energising & Revitalising is infused with Rooibos plant. It has a high flavonoid content, therefore is a powerful anti-aging ingredient. Since much of skin aging is caused by environmental factors, rooibos’ abilities help to protect skin and maintain a more youthful look. Rooibos is also known to be helpful for sensitive skin  as it has soothing properties and is known to not cause reactions on the skin. I'm really looking forward to using this, as dry skin is always in need of a little pick me up and being sensitive on top of this, I am very careful with what I put on my face.

Boots Ingredients Radiance & Brightening is infused with Lotus Flower & Tiger Lily. Lotus Flower is rich in antioxidants and acts as a skin conditioner. It intensely hydrates and moistures the skin and helps improving skin elasticity and complexion, erasing fine lines, fading brown spots and wrinkles. It also have oil control abilities so should be great for both drier and oilier skin types. Tiger lily has moisturizing and soothing properties of the skin, softening and to relieve itching, reduce inflammation on sensitive skin. I love a good brightening mask as dullness is something dry skin suffers with badly and I'm a proud owner of one. Again this mask should be great for sensitive types and I'll report later with how I got on. 

Boots Ingredients Cleansing & Purifying enriched with Charcoal and Willow Bark is advertised to have deep cleansing and pore purifying properties. I picked this one up for a friend who suffers with oily and problematic skin. Charcoal is well known to act like a magnet to attract and absorb dirt and oil and the extract from Willow Bark contains natural beta hydroxy acids, including acne-fighting salicylic acid. It works as a natural skin exfoliant to help cleanse pores and it has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties.



Face Inc CAT NAP Revitalising & Fatigue Fighting is advertised for tired looking skin as an instant pick me up. It's supposed to wake your complexion and make you look radiant as if you've had a good 8 hours sleep and didn't party till 4am. I picked this up as a post insomnia filled night or a good night treatment. Enriched with Green Tea to balance, restore, moisturise and cleanse. Also contains Chamomile, Propolis Wax & Rice Bran Extract it will brighten, refresh & nourish skin. Really looking forward to using it especially with a work do coming up in February. 

Face Inc 40 WINKS Anti-ageing & Firming is meant to be a pick me up for a more youthful look, a little cheat for a younger looking skin within minutes. Enriched with Collagen & Multivitamins to plump the skin, reduce the visible signs of ageing, brighten and even out the skin tone. Also contains Hyaluronic Acid and Ceramide for ultra hydrating purposes. I'm a sucker for anti-ageing masks and love to use one once a week or so, usually on a Wednesday night for a hump day pick me up. I have high hopes for this mask and can't wait to use it.

I also picked up some new bits in terms of cleansing as I love testing New In cleansers and still hoping to find one, that'll steal my heart at a high street price point. I'm a bit of a cleansing buff and I'm always on the hunt for bigger and better :)

I've been praising Garnier Micellar Water for years now. It's brilliant at removing eye makeup and it's what I mostly use it for. Given my few step cleansing routine it's always great to have a good micellar water to hand. I saw Garnier Micellar Cleansing Gel wash in the New In section at my local Boots and I could not pick one up. It has a pump which should be ideal at dispensing the product and I look forward to replacing my current Simple Micellar Water with (also a huge fave!). It's currently on offer and priced at £2.66 for 200ml makes for quite an attractive deal.



Another super praised fave of mine is L'Oreal Pure Clay Detox Mask so when I saw brand came up with L'Oreal Pure Clay Foam Wash Black, I knew I have to give it a go. I love the detoxing properties of the mask and love a good foam cleaner (although most can be a little drying!), so I am really looking forward to trying this one out. Could it be the one cleanser I can count on? We'll just have to wait and see. It's also on offer now and priced at only £3.99 is a true bargain.


Being in the queue to pay, I also picked up new to me and I'm assuming a pretty new release of E45 Intense Recovery Fast Acting 24H Spry Moisturiser. I'm a huge fan of spray moisturiser and I don't really use any other. I'm too lazy for body oils, body butters and milks. I prefer something super easy and fast application and I've been a fan of Vaseline Spray Moisturisers since their launch. I've heard a lot of good about E45. It being one range for super sensitive skins and even eczema sufferers, so I really have high hopes for this one. Let me know if you're interested in compare review between Vaseline and E45 and I'm sure I can make it happen :)

I also shopped at my local Aldi store, just getting my weekly groceries shop and I came up fully stocked (shockingly!) Lacura counter. For those of you not sitting and reading blogs or watching Youtube, Lacura is a Aldi's own brand of skincare which Caviar Illumination range has been compared to moisturisers my La Mer and La Prairie. This range is priced at £6.99 per product and I managed to pick up nearly all of them and saved a bit in the process too. 



I bought Lacura Caviar Illumination Set (£12.99) which contains the bestsellers from the range: Caviar Illumination Day Cream SPF 15, Caviar Illumination Night Cream and two vials of Intensive Day and Night Treatment. Anything that promises illumination and hydration is a winner in my book and I am super excited to try the whole range as soon as I finish with my current night moisturiser. I also picked up their 3-minute Cell Renewal Peel Mask (£6.99) and I plan to use it soon. The active ingredient Caviar contains many beneficial fatty acids which have strong anti-ageing and moisturising properties. It also contains Snow Algae which helps to increase the longevity of skin cells (anti-ageing and hydration) and helps to restart the production of collagen in epidermis. Globularia cordifolia callus culture extract has strong regenerating properties and helps preserve stem cells in the epidermis level of the skin. It also have specific moisturising ingredients like glycerin and panthenol, with the latter having soothing properties as well. I have such high hopes for the moistirisers both day and night and I'm pleasantly surprised to see the SPF added. I haven't tried the formulas yet, but looking forward to testing if all the claims have been true and I just found myself a superb moisturiser for the price of a cheap cocktail. 

Thank You For Reading,
Love


Let's Be Friends:

Beauty Bay

On Instagram

© Beauty Drama Queen. Made with love by The Dutch Lady Designs.