New In Beauty: June 2015

Clinique anti-blemish solutions 3 step system. Everyone's heard of this by now, it's infamous. Clinique's 3 step program for problem skin. Mine was a little freebie from when my mum bought a load of makeup from there a few months ago. I think the only difference between this one and the one that the sell in store is that I got a little bar of soap, instead of a foaming cleanser. But the steps are the same. 1. Cleanse your face with the cleanser. 2. Exfoliate with the clarifying lotion (feels more like a toner but I'm guessing there are miniscule beads in there). 3. Moisturise with the all-over clearing treatment. Honestly, this stuff has rescued my skin. I think it really does work to help clear and clarify everything and I'd say that it works best for those in their early to mid twenties who maybe have a few blemishes here and there. I notice a difference when I stop using this and then start again. I will definitely be repurchasing these items and keeping them in my skincare routine
I'm afraid I can't find the mini set that I have ( but I think you can get it from airports) so here's the separate products:
Cleansing Bar
Clarifying Lotion
Clearing Moisturiser

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara. Oh my god, this stuff s incredible and I'm so glad I found it. Whilst in Paris (if you didn't know I was check this out) I walked into Sephora on the Champs Elysee, whilst I was mesmorised by the fact it was a Sephora. I was a tad underwhelmed, at first I thought it was just like the one in Prague where pretty much everything was available in the UK. But not in Paris. I found the Too Faced counter. And as Ben was getting a tad bored, I chose just one thing from there. And oh my am I glad I chose this. . It volumises, it lengthens, it blackens, it does everything. I would say it's just as good if not better than Benefit's They're Real. I am considering writing a blogpost comparing the two with pros and cons, if you want to see it, let me know! I previously thought you couldn't get Too Faced makeup in the UK, HOWEVER, Debenhams have recently launched it. So beware, there will be a Too Faced haul coming this way.
Link here

MAC 129 Powder Brush. I have needed a new powder brush for so long and this really does the trick. It has the perfect consistency in bristles and is really soft, it's easy to apply powder with. The brush itself isn't too big or too small and it doesn't hold an insane amount of powder after its use. It also washes really well.
Link here

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Light Plus. After a good few months without my favourite powder when I went back to it I fell in love all over again. And EVERYONE commented on how good my base looked once I had this back in my life. It's so good, applied in the right areas it gives perfect coverage to your skin, and mattifies but also doesn't take away the dewiness. Just apply in T-zone, chin, upper lip and apples of the cheeks instead of all over. I also think MAC powders have a really good colour variety

MAC Lipstick in Brave. This was an impromptu purchase when I was out getting my other MAC stuff. I hadn't bought myself a lipstick since September and the last one I got was for Christmas! Sooooo I thought I needed a treat. This is a satin finish and I would consider it to be in the same family as Velvet Teddy, Honeylove, Kinda Sexy and you get me. Such a nice nude/pink colour

MAC Lipstick in Plumful. Unlike Brave, this wasn't an impromptu purchase, in fact, I've been after it for ages. It is such a nice May colour! It's a pinky purple colour, a lustre finish so it just glides on. It doesn't have the staying power of Rebel or anything like that, but that's not what you need in Spring. Just a lovely wash of colour. If you want me to do an updated MAC lipstick collection let me know. I'm currently on 16 so just comment below if you're interested.

Essie Nail Polish in Cute as a Button. Oh Essie nail polish, you have my heart. My collection is growing fast and I couldn't resist this one. It reminds me of a slightly watermelon pink (albeit not the actual watermelon colour from Essie). It's a reddish pink but not too bright. Just beautiful for May and June.
Link here (there's a free gift when you buy 3 Essie products from boots!)

Maybelline Superstay 7 Day Nail Polish in Uptown Blue. I realised my obsession with Essie was a bit much (and also a bit expensive) so I purchased a drugstore polish on a whim. I have to say, I was so impressed with this Maybelline one! One coat gave enough colour and a good consistency, although it didn't last 7 days (I wasn't expecting it to), it did last a good 3 without chipping
Link here

Garnier Ultimate Blends Hair Oil. This is the Sleek Restorer one. I am a real sucker for a good hair oil, I love how soft and nourished this one makes my hair feel. It smells amazing, it feels great on the hair and you can use it in 3 different ways. I think you can use it on wet hair before drying, dry hair before styling and after styling too.
Link here

The Body Shop Illuminating Moisturiser. I was using the Garnier Moisture Match illuminating moisturiser but purchased this one when the Body Shop was doing a 3 for 2 and I couldn't decide what to get as my third item! I do love this, it leaves your skin with a subtle pink glow (different from the Garnier one which leaves a yellow glow). Still haven't decided which one I prefer but I might compare and contrast them in a future blogpost.
Link here

St Tropez Tan Booster. Oh my gosh I love this stuff. You can use it on your natural tan or your St Tropez tan and it just prolongs the tan for an extra few days. So if you're like me, and can't be bothered applying fake tan every day or every other day, just use this stuff and it lasts up to 3 days longer!
Link here (currently 1/3 off at boots!)

Not extremely exciting, but there are a good few new purchases on here! I've tried to keep my reviews as unbiased as possible, if you would like to know more about any of these products, just leave a comment below! I'll speak to you in my next one.
CJ x

New In Beauty February 2015

Hello!
I've been on a little bit of a beauty product splurge recently, there's just so many undiscovered products out there that I just couldn't resist! Furthermore, once I find a brand I like, I really love it and have to have multiple products/colours so there are a few of these on here.

Lush
Firstly, Lush brought out their Valentine's day collection and it was so cute! I didn't get everything, but I picked up these 3 things as they were calling to me. Lonely hearts bubble bar, lonely hearts bubbleroon and unicorn horn bubble bar. Just look at how sparkly they are.

L'Oreal
I've been mooching at the L'Oreal counter for a while now, and every time I find myself drawn to their Color Riche Exclusive Reds Collection. So I took the plunge and went for Blake's red, it's such a lovely red with slight blue undertones, perfect for fair to medium skin with yellow, pink or peach undertones. And it's a really good dupe for MAC red too! It definitely has the staying power.
Buy this lipstick here.

NARS
Just one new purchase from NARS this month, and that is the Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Sex Machine and oh my god I am obsessed. The colour is what's described on the website as an 'Innocent Pink Mauve'. These lipstick pencils are incredible. The pigmentation is great, they are super easy to apply (and make it ridiculously easy to get those desired Kylie Jenner lips) and there is a huge range of colours! I went for the perfect dusty pink in my opinion, just right for Spring! I can't wait to try more of these.
Check this lipstick out here.

Essie
To those of you who have been reading for a while, it's no surprise to you that I have bought yet more colours. I really fancied some brighter, spring/summer colours. I went for lilacism, which is the perfect pale lilac. Lovie Dovie, which honestly, was on my nails throughout the whole of February. It's the most gorgeous bright but muted pink, it just brightens my day. I also went for a lovely coral colour called Tart Deco.
Essie's Full Colour Range (from shops) here.

Kardashian Beauty
I popped in to Liverpool recently and as I was battling my way against the wind, a light at the end of the tunnel appeared. And that light was a Kardashian Beauty pop-up store. Not only that, but as it was closing and moving a few days later, everything was 50% off! Unfortunately, they didn't have the bronzer I was after, so I played it safe and bought 3 lip products. I got their joystick lip lacquer (kind of a mix between a lipstick and a lipgloss) in a name that is so tiny I can't read .... Love something (sorry!). I also bought two lipglosses; the lip plumping shimmer gloss in Revved Up Rose Gold is such a gorgeous colour, and because of the shimmer it definitely makes lips appear fuller, but it's honey flavoured. I do like honey, but the smell and the taste is just a bit too strong for every day wear, it makes me reluctant to reapply it. I also bought their Honey Stick (this one, ironically, is not honey flavoured) in Natural Honey, which is the exact colour that Kim K herself wore to her wedding in Italy, this is a beautiful, slightly dark nude lipgloss. Also, I need to add that the white and rose gold packaging of the Kardashian Beauty collection is to die for!
Joystick Lip Pen.
Lip Plumping Gloss.
Honey Stick Lip Gloss.

Burberry
Aaaaaahhh Burberry, why must you be so beautiful?! On the same trip to Liverpool, I came across the only Burberry beauty concession stand outside of London (or maybe it was the only one in Debenhams outside of London?) Regardless, it was the only one that I had ever seen so I knew I had to visit. I'd heard a lot about Burberry's new wet and dry eyeshadows and how gorgeous and pigmented they were so if I was only going to buy one product, it was this one! These weren't even out on display yet because they were that new and not even advertised in the slightest, if a customer wanted one, they had to request one! I settled for the colour Rosewood, which, as the name suggests, is a slightly Rose taupe colour and once again, I'm in love with an item of makeup.
Rosewood eyeshadow.

There isn't a product here that I regret buying, and I am over the moon with my luck on the purchases, please let me know of any recommendations of products that I haven't mentioned here as I am always looking to try more. And guys, you need to try that burberry eyeshadow! How many people can say their eyeshadow comes with a duster bag? Exactly, point proven
CJ x

The Soap and Glory THE NEXT BIG THING Box

Hello all!
As always, Soap and Glory brought out a limited edition box set for Christmas 2014 and I must say, this year's was bigger and better than ever before. At only £29 this box included 10 full-sized products with a total value of over £70!
I was lucky enough to receive this as a Christmas present, but I was considering buying this for myself. This product is STILL AVAILABLE for only £30! I would get it while you can as it's such amazing value and all of the products really are worth getting. Find it here

 

 

 

First up is the Orangeasm Body Wash (£6.50). This is a product that I've never tried before, but I'm not new to Soap and Glory body washes as I'm a sucker for Clean on Me. However, the Orangeasm is completely different! The scent really does make you feel revitalised and energetic so I really love using this if I'm showering in the morning. Scented with fresh green mandarin, Sicilian lemon and orange peel, this wash really does smell and feel fresh and energising.

Next is the Whipped Clean Shower Butter (£7). This really is a 2-in-1 product, it doubles up as a shower gel and a body butter! It goes on like a cream (or a butter) and then bubbles up slightly as you massage it into your skin. This has the typical Soap and Glory scent (which I adore) of pistachio, almonds and sweet vanilla. If you don't always have time to moisturize, this is the product for you!

If you do have time to moisturize however, there are products for that too! I found the Butter Yourself Moisture Lotion (£10) really unique (albeit hard to get out) as it has a pump. This stuff has a really creamy and buttery texture, a little like the Righteous Butter but with a more citrusy scent. I can see this really working well with the Orangeasm wash as the fragrances are quite similar. This has shea butter and orange waterjuice in it as well as almond, mango and moringa oils and it leaves your skin feeling super soft.

More in the way of body butters is my personal favourite one to use; The Righteous Butter (£10.50). I love using this after Clean on Me as it's the same signature scent that is just to die for. This formula is for extremely dry skin so it's super nourishing and leaves your skin softer than the others (but it does take longer to dry). This is the ultimate pamper evening butter in my house.

A real cult favourite seems to be the Sugar Crush Body Scrub (£8) and having tried a few of Soap and Glory's scrubs, this one definitely reduces the roughness of skin the easiest, I'm not overly fond of the scent as it seems a bit overpowering but I can see why other people love it as it is a nice smell. It has brown sugar, sweet lime, almond oil and macadamia grains and a little really does go a long way with this product.

Next is the Heel Genius Foot Cream (£5.50) which I swear by! If you walk, exercise or wear heels a lot, this stuff is a life saviour! It leaves your heels (and the rest of your feet) feeling really soft and smooth even if they were previously cracked. Use this once or twice a week to keep that feeling, it's recommended to use it every night or as often as you can remember on the tube, but once again, a little goes a long way! It has macadamia oil, menthol (which you can get the hint of in the smell, and I also hear helps sooth colds?!) and bilberry, orange and lemon fruit acid smoothers. I was over the moon to find this product in the box as I love having spares of it!

A product that's always raved about in magazines and reviews is the Hand Dream Super Cream (£7). This is a definite winter staple if you're getting these cold months! It helps dry, cracked hands feel super moisturised and evens out skin tone (which I have noticed as my veins are certainly less purple). Enriched with macadamia and shea butter to give it that signature scent.

I'm not much of a makeup wipe user, however I am really impressed with the Off Your Face purifying cloths (£4,50). At a first glance, I thought it was a little expensive for 25 wipes but I've been using them after removing my makeup as they are a 3-in-1 cleanser, toner and moisturizer and even exfoliator if you apply enough pressure. They are meant to be pore minimizing and help prevent blackhead build up so I will report back on this! They're also currently on offer at boots for £3.60!

Two things that I've heard so much about in the blogging world and I've been dying to try are the Thick and Fast Mascara and the Sexy Mother Pucker Lip Lacquer (in Charm Offensive). First of all, the Mascara (£10) is in my opinion, one of the best drugstore mascaras I have ever tried. There are a few variations of this including a collagen coat and a lengthening one. The original is super volumizing and really makes your lashes look longer and fuller - a definite repurchase. Secondly, the Lipgloss (£7) is a real 'my lips but better' (and shinier) colour. I felt a slight tingling sensation when I applied it but didn't notice much in the way of plumping, however it really is a lovely product. It comes off easily, but then again, it is lipgloss!

Even though I am already a loyal Soap and Glory user, I am really impressed with the quality, quantity and price of this box! I have never used the majority of these products before and I will be repurchasing a few of them! Also, I am new to Soap and Glory makeup and I already love it, I will certainly be buying more so let me know of any recommendations!
CJ x

 

Garnier Micellar Water

Long time, no blog! I'm sorry I've been M.I.A. lately but it was my first week at a new university (more on that later), but for now - beauty.

If you're in the UK, I want you to head to a drugstore or big supermarket and purchase the Garnier Micellar Water! I got this stuff just over a week ago and I have been officially converted.
If you haven't heard, it's basically like the Bioderma makeup remover except that it's available in the UK (yay!). It's a makeup removing water, there is no scrubbing or extra water to be involved. Just put some of this stuff on a cotton pad, hold it on each eye for a few seconds (or so I do) and then just rub around your face, not excessively though, to remove the rest of your makeup.
I use this mainly at night and I've seen a very noticeable difference in my skin! It's so much clearer and it just feels fresher and cleaner overall! I would highly recommend this product to anybody looking for a new makeup remover as it seems so much better for your skin than scrubbing it to death with makeup wipes.
I would however like to point out that I have heard that the Bioderma product can make dry skin worse in a few cases, and as this is a more or less perfect substitute so I wouldn't be surprised if it had similar effects.
But I personally haven't suffered from any escalated dry skin, I think this product is the perfect all-in-one cleanser and will definitely be part of my daily routine in the future!
The price is £4.99 for a 400ml bottle which equates to about 200 uses apparently, which I think is pretty good value anyway! But it's also 3 for 2 on skincare and Beauty at Boots at the moment, so take advantage!

CJ x

Skincare Routine

I used to be someone who just took their makeup off with a wipe, washed their face with whichever cleaner I fancied buying that month and be done with it. But, as this year has gone on, I've branched out and really begun to love skincare products! (mainly thanks to the Body Shop). I am getting older now, and I'm definitely noticing that some products and brands work better than others, so I thought I'd talk about my new skincare routine!

Every Morning

• Simple Kind to Skin Makeup Wipes - the first thing I do every morning is use a makeup wipe to make sure I've got rid of any excess makeup that I may have missed the night before (usually a bit of mascara - damn you benefit!)
• The Body Shop Tea Tree Foaming Cleanser - I cannot recommend this stuff enough! I have combination skin and I don't find this drying at all. My skin cleared up so much after using this stuff for about a week, and it feels foamy and incredible
• The Body Shop Seaweed Exfoliator - my skin feels so nice and smooth after I use this, it gets off all the dead skin on my nose that I tend to get and just gives a really glowing feel
• Nivea Everyday Moisturizer - as my skin doesn't tend to get overly dry (yet) apart from my cheeks, I find that a cheap, everyday moisturizer works perfectly to keep my skin hydrated

Every Evening

• Garnier Cleansing Lotion and cotton wool pads - I find that a cream cleanser is so much quicker to take your makeup off and it's much better for your skin than makeup wipes! This stuff really does the trick, however it's the first one I've tried to I'm open to suggestions of more!
• The Body Shop Tea Tree Foaming Wash (again)
• The Body Shop Vitamin E Night Cream - again, this was the first night cream I've purchased so I'm a bit unsure of it. The Tea Tree night serum has been recommended too and I have a tester so I'll be giving that one a go! The Vitamin E one however, works really well to moisturize the skin at night (obviously) and made my skin feel much softer!

Twice a Week

I use The Body Shop (shocker) Warming Mineral Mask twice a week. This was actually my first purchase from the Body Shop and this is what got the whole obsession started. This mask is perfection. You can actually feel it warming your skin up and after you've taken it off, and applied a bit of moisturizer, your skin feels like a dream! Love this.

Twice a Month

The Glamglow Youthmud mask is honestly the best mask I have ever tried in my life! It goes on almost black and dries grey, but where it's pulled out the excess oil from your skin remains black so you can really see how well it's worked! I wouldn't recommend using this mask any more than once a week as I feel like it's too harsh a treatment (and too expensive) to be used more than that.

As I've said, skincare is my new obsession and I'm open to suggestions of any sort, I'm looking into eye creams and cream cleansers at the moment if anyone has any recommendations! Thanks!

CJ x