Evening Skincare Essentials

 

I've always tried to take really good care of my skin so since hitting my teenage years I've consistently stuck to three main rules of maintaining healthy skin: Cleanse, Tone and Moisturise. Its taken me a while to find a routine that really clicks and works for my skin but finally I think I've found all the right products that work to leave my skin feeling refreshed and hydrated. I wanted products that weren't too strong and going to strip my skin of all the goodness and I preferred to have natural ingredients like essential oils to keep my skin looking healthy. So some of these wont be of any surprise to you as there are a few cult classics but also you'll find a few hidden gems. 

1. I didn't include this in the picture above but I always start off by removing the bulk of my make up using the Garnier Fresh Essientials Eye Make-up Remover, this just helps to make the other products work in a more effective way as there isn't as much make-up on the face that they need to tackle. 

2. Next, I fill my sink with warm water and apply my beloved Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish to my face (no more than the size of a ten pence piece) by massaging it through my lashes and leaving a creamy layer on the skin. I wet my TreSonic Facial Cleanser (Review here) and move it round the whole of my face, excluding my eyes, this just helps to lift off the rest of my make-up but also gives a much deeper cleanse to remove any dirt or oils hidden inside my pores. Once I've finished with my TreSonic I'll use a muslin cloth to remove the remaining residue and wipe over my eyes to clear away any excess mascara that my make-up remover didn't get off previously.

3. Then, I'll spray my Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic onto a cotton pad and wipe it all around my face this includes ingredients like Aloe Vera and Cucumber which help to soothe and refresh the skin. Toning is by far the most underestimated step in a skincare routine but is actually really important as it ensures that no remaining bits of dirt are left behind but also restores the skins pH level.

4. After I will put a few pumps of my Liz Earle Skin Repair Moisturiser Combination/Oily into my hands and apply it to my skin focusing mainly on dry patches and under my eyes. I always apply my moisturiser under my eyes with my ring finger as it is the weakest finger which will prevent any stretching or scratching as the skin under the eyes is very delicate. Then I'll slide a bit of the Ultralip lip balm onto my lips, which is the best lip balm I've ever used, this is coming from a lip balm addict, it's ridiculously moisturising, I apply it at night and my lips are still smooth by the time I wake up in the morning. This will definitely cure your winter chapped lips ladies AND it has SPF 15 for the summer *round of applause for the best lip balm ever*, yes I went there.

5. Now its for the finishing touches I quickly sweep Revitabrow through the start of my brows this is a clear gel that encourages them to grow in the areas where they look a little lack lustre. This really works and I recommend it to anyone who hates their thin, sparse brows. However, don't expect to have thick Cara Delevigne-esque brows overnight, I'm still waiting, waaaah:( But you will see results within the first two weeks of use. Finally, if I find I have any blemishes on my skin I roll on a bit of Liz Earle Spot-on which is a 'rescue treatment' for blemishes, bites and cuts. I have a bit of a love hate relationship with this product but I'm currently in love and its just helping to heal and clear up my pesky blemishes a lot quicker, hooray!

What are your evening skincare essentials? ♥

Amy

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TreSonic: Facial Cleansing System

I woke up really excited this morning as I knew I would be receiving something in the post that I'd been dying to get my hands on for months. That little delight being The Facial Cleansing System from TreSonics. Very similar to the Clarisonic it uses sonic technology to loosen dirt and oil deep within your pores making your skin cleaner and a lot smoother. It comes with four interchangeable heads a bristle brush with a blue ring for sensitive skin; a bristle brush with a black ring for normal skin; a deep hydration applicator allowing you to apply moisturiser and a massaging head. I've only had the chance to try it out once, but so far so good. They recommend you use the bristle brush for sensitive skin first so I applied my Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish to my skin and started to move the TreSonic around my face (20 seconds for your forehead, 10 seconds on each cheek and 20 seconds for your chin and nose). Already I could feel a difference in my skin it was a lot smoother and looked more radiant. After I pumped my Liz Earle Skin Repair Moisturiser for Oily skin to the deep hydration applicator and again moved the TreSonic all round my face penetrating the moisturiser through the skin. I'm really impressed with this so far and for £38.00 you can't really go wrong.

Have you tried a sonic facial cleanser? Have you got a TreSonic? 

♥

Amy

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My Everyday Makeup

So I thought it was about time that I show you what I put on my face on a daily basis. As you can see its pretty simple because I have to be able to get away with it for school, don't want to get myself told off. But also I cant say I'm a fan of the caked on foundation, that is two shades darker then my natural skin tone, and mascara that makes my eyelashes look like spiders legs, haha!

Dr Renaud Apricot BB Cream in Natural - £25.00

This is my chosen base product, its light and natural giving you a natural glow without making you look too oily and the best bit is that it smells of apricots. I apply it with my Real Techniques Expert Face Brush, although it also has a nice finish just by using your fingers, and it goes on beautifully, giving me just enough coverage without looking too overdone. You can buy this online and it is also available in the Marks & Spencer Beauty Hall.

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in Shade 2 Light - £4.19

I don't even need to introduce this product, yes, its the cult concealer from collection that every beauty blogger has tried and fallen in love with. It is undoubtedly one of the best products I've used and the fact that it is under £5 makes it even more worth buying. Its a full coverage concealer which helps me tackle my dark under eye circles and covers those pesky blemishes. The only downside to this product is the packaging, as you can see the black writing has rubbed off and actually went all over some of my other beauty products which I was not best pleased about. But I still love it.

PUR 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Foundation in Golden Medium - £24.00

I use this is a powder and sweep it over my t-zone to ensure that I don't look to oily throughout the day. It provides good coverage and feels very light on the skin. Plus, it contains SPF 15 which is so important because even on those gloomy, grey days you must protect your skin.

Benefit Hoola Bronzer - £23.50 or St. Tropez Bronzer - £20.43

Benefits Hoola Bronzer is another cult beauty product it gives you a natural, effortless bronzed effect without looking orange. Its great used as a bronzer or a contour colour as it contains hints of grey. I've used this product for years and will continue to buy it because its one of the best bronzer I've tried. St. Tropez is the alternative to my beloved hoola bronzer. Now I must admit when you first open this product it's really scary as it is ridiculously dark and orange, however it creates a beautiful bronzed glow for those days where you feel like being a little more tanned and it looks really good when you've already got a bit of a natural tan. I love this for adding warmth to my face but also for adding depth by putting it into the hollows of my cheeks, so girls don't be afraid of the colour, work with it. I don't recommend this to girls with really pale skin as it will look a little too overpowering.

Benefit Browzings in Medium - £23.50

I started filling in my eyebrows at the start of last year and began using a Rimmel eyebrow pencil which was way too intense for my liking, I wanted a product that would make my eyebrows look natural and filled in all areas where my eyebrows were a little sparse. And this is exactly what  Browzings does, it contains a wax that you apply first and a powder which sets everything in place plus two brushes you can use to apply it with and a mini set of tweezers to pluck any unruly hairs. Since using this I've had so many compliments and even with the expensive price tag I wouldn't think twice about buying it again. But for any of you who aren't comfortable with paying that much for a brow product drugstore brand Sleek do a good dupe.

Benefit Girl Meets Pearl Highlighter - £24.50 (for a full sized bottle)

This is a pink highlighter that adds a subtle pearlescent shimmer to all the high points of the face. I apply this to the tops of my cheekbones, browbones and down the centre of my nose to give off a nice dewy glow that helps to brighten the rest of the face. This is a new favourite of mine as I had been using Benefits High Beam religiously the past year but after receiving this in one of their little make up sets I've been in love ever since.

Rituals Perfection Volume Mascara in Black - £15.50

I got this as a sample from magazine InStyle a month or two ago and have actually really enjoyed using it. Its a bristle brush which helps to grab onto each and every single lash creating lasting volume. Normally I prefer using plastic mascara applicators as I found they create more of an impact on my eyelashes giving them more length and volume however this product has surped me and separated each lash making my eyelashes more dramatic.

Benefits They're Real Mascara - £19.50

Mascara is the one product I could not live without. And now after repurchasing this mascara three times I can now not live without this one. There's a reason why it the UK's no.1 best selling mascara. It does everything lengthens; curls; volumises; lifts and seperates. Everything you want your lashes to be like this does. I cannot fault this product in the slightest, I absolutely love it and will continue buying it for years to come. I apply it after my Rituals mascara to give my lashes extra volume and length.

What do you apply to your face everyday? Do you love Benefits

They're Real Mascara as much as I do?

Let me know ♥

Amy

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My Beauty Wishlist #1

 

Limited Edition Bobbi Brown Rich Chocolate Palette £39.50

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder £38

Stila Colour Balm Lipstick in Elle £16

Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation £33

Mac Mineralised Skinfinish in Soft and Gentle £22

Nars Bronzing Powder in Laguna £26

Nars Orgasm blush £21.50

Nails Inc Kensington Palace Gardens £11

MAC Prep+Prime Beauty Balm SPF 35 £23

Benefit Watts Up £24.50

Hello my lovelies, just a quick one today. This is my beauty wishlist filled with some beauty products I'm lusting over at the moment, which unfortunately I cant afford, any offers anyone?;) I'm doing this as a bit of trial run as I can assure you there's plenty more beauty products where that came from, so let me know if you like this sort of post and I'll maybe do it as a monthly thing!

What are you lusting over this month? Have you got anything that's on my 

wishlist?♥

Amy

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Gatineau Review: Masque Aqua-Ressourcant

Hello my lovelies, I'm back with a review for you today. Gatineau is a French skincare brand that creates products ranging from moisturisers to exfoliants and masks. My mum uses a lot of gatineau skincare along with her beloved Liz Earle and the Masque Aqua-Ressourcant (moisturising cream mask) is a new addition to her collection, which she hesitantly allowed me to try. It claims to leave your skin extremely hydrated and for the elder lady it reduces the appearance of fine dehydrated lines, giving a more plump appearance to the skin, this is certainly what it does. I applied it to my face and my first thoughts were that it smelt AMAZING, it went on really nicely and certainly felt like it was going to leave my skin looking plump and hydrated. It contains hyaluronic acid, marine extracts, sea fennel and brown algae which brings immediate relief to the skin. It has a very rich, creamy consistency which helps to create an even layer. The instructions tell you to leave it on for 10 minutes but I actually left it on for 30 minutes, hoping that it would give an even more glowy appearance and it was completely fine. I rinsed it off with a warm muslin cloth then quickly wiped my skin with cold water to close the pores and patted my face dry with a towel. After using it my skin felt as soft as a baby's bottom and gave my skin a beautiful dewy glow that every women wishes for. I'm really impressed with this mask and I intend on using it frequently when my skin is craving a little moisture.

Amy

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I'm back

Hello my lovelies its been a while, but I'm finally back after 8 months and as you can see I've come back with a whole new look by revamping my blog and I hope you all like it just as much as I do. This post is mainly just to inform you that I'm back and that I will be blogging regularly again as of now. There were many times throughout the past 8 months where I felt like I really wanted to start blogging again as my love and knowledge of beauty products continued to grow, however, I couldn't quite think of what to write about. But I've finally plucked up the courage and thought that a simple hello would be a good start. From now on you can expect lots of beauty reviews and hauls with the occasional fashion post and I can genuinely say I'm really excited to hop back onto the blogging bandwagon again.

 

My 2012 Beauty Favourites

Over the past year I have become more and more beauty and fashion obsessed and have managed to amass quite a large collection of beauty products. So I thought I'd show you a small selection which I really enjoyed using throughout 2012.

Benefits Hoola Bronzer♡
I absolutely love this bronzer, it gives you a really nice tanned look without looking like one of Willy Wonka's Oompa Loompa's. It's easy to apply and has a mini mirror and brush to use for on-the-go application. Although it's expensive at £23.50 it's completely worth it as I have been using it for around 8 months now and I've only recently reached the bottom.

Sarah McNamara Miracle Skin Transformer♡
This is what's called a 'tinted skin enhancer' it is quite possibly one of the best beauty products ever known to man kind. It comes out as a thick liquid formula and as you apply it to your face it sets as a powder and gives your skin a 'smooth, airbrushed and luminous finish'. A little goes a long way so you only need what they describe as a 'pearl sized' amount for your whole face however you can apply more to build coverage and customise your own look. I am completely in love with this product because it just leaves my skin looking absolutely flawless and I recommend all you lovely ladies out there to go and purchase it.

Benefits High Beam♡
I've used this product for a very long time and it was one of the very first beauty products I ever used. Its pearly pink colour gives you a really fresh, radiant look leaving your skin looking dewy and moisturised without seeming like you've just been dunked into a bowl of glitter. Like all Benefit products it too does come at quite a price however it also lasts a very long time as you only need to apply the smallest amount.

Stila Concealer Brush 33b♡
This brush is an absolute god send. When ever I have a horrible blemish, in need of a little coverage, I know I can count on my stila concealer brush teamed with my nifty no7 concealer. It has really soft bristles making sure it's not too harsh on the skin during application and it also is the perfect size, allowing you to cover the targeted area of skin easily.

Collection Skyscraper Mascara♡
After seeing many positive reviews on this mascara I decided that I had to try it especially due to its amazingly cheap price tag. As I'm a girl who prefers plastic applicators it was an instant thumbs up. It left my eyelashes looking really defined and voluminous. I hate seeing girls with really clumpy looking eyelashes so trying to get each and every single little lash looking defined is an absolute must for me. And I must say this mascara certainly does the job.

Nina Ricci Nina L'Elixir Eau De Parfum♡
I only got this perfume in December for my birthday. But when I went on holiday, during my summer holidays, I sprayed this perfume on myself, whilst I was looking around the duty free fragrance department at Gatwick Airport, and I absolutely loved the smell of it. I am completely useless at describing a scent so I'll just say it smells wonderfully sweet and glorious. And if you like to smell like that then you must buy it, haha.

This Christmas I got Benefits Brow Zings which is something I've wanted for a very long time. As I only got it Christmas Day I didn't necessarily want to put into my 2012 favourites but I definitely wanted to mention it, as like most benefit products, it certainly didn't disappoint. I love how sleek and compact the packaging is and I love the fact that it literally has everything a girl could ever need to shape her eyebrows. For those of you who don't know it contains: a wax, a setting powder, mini tweezers, a hard angle brush and a blending brush which all help you achieve a perfect look for your eyebrows. I used to use an eyebrow pencil and I now wonder how anyone could possibly let me leave the house looking like that as my eyebrows appeared to get bigger and a lot darker by the minute (thank god I have now seen sense). But I've certainly learnt my lesson now, haha!

Before I go I just wanted to quickly apologise for the layout of my blog posts at the moment as I am using my iPad to type them as its just a bit quicker and easier and I am yet to work out how you can format the post. Technology these days, aye haha!

What's your 2012 beauty favourites? Have you used Benefits Brow Zings? Do you prefer it to using an eyebrow pencil? Let me know!

Amy
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