Loving Lately #

1. Avon Colour & Contour Powder in Rose Glow
The colour and contour powder is a lovely duo it has a bronzer and a highlighter that looks wonderful on its own or swirled tighter for a radiant glow. The duo is easy to use and works well with my skin tone. Sturdy and practical compact that is perfect for on the go.

2. Rimmel Union Jack Eye Palette Heart of Gold

My friend gave me this palette and I’ve been using it ever since. I swirl all the shades together to make a lovely shimmery brown shade. The powder is soft and packed with pigment which I wasn’t expecting for a drugstore eye shadow. It lasts all day and I can see myself wearing these eye shadows all through autumn. 

3. Rituals Volume Mascara

This mascara was a sample that came in last month’s edition of InStyle Magazine. I was really excited to try it out because I’m a huge fan of Rituals bath and body products and never tried their make-up products before. The brush is traditionally shaped and has long soft bristles that collect a good amount of product from the tube. I find the mascara nice to apply but that maybe because the wand is smaller as it’s a sample version. I get amazing results every time I use this mascara, which is why I keep going back to it. It gives me long thick lashes that stay looking good all day, and I will be investing in the full size tube once I run low. 

4. Rimmel Scandaleyes Kohl Kajal Eyeliner Nude

I absolutely love this eyeliner because it very pigmented, waterproof and lasts all day long. This nude shade is perfect for everyday because it’s not as bold as white eyeliner but none the less beautiful. There are many other shades available which I’m dying to get my hands on.

5. MAC Studio Fix Powder Foundation NC15

This is my go to foundation when I’m having my morning rush to get ready because it’s so quick and easy to apply. It’s a shade darker than my Studio Fix Fluid Foundation but it’s not massively noticeable. It has a decent medium to full coverage, long lasting, breathable and looks flawless. 

6. Avon Supershock Gel Eyeliner Flash

Flash is a lovely pearly pink that looks flawless on the waterline. It has a soft creamy gel formula that glides on with ease and is packed with pigment. Once set it lasts all day. Unfortunately these eyeliner are now discontinued but the original black and silver eyeliners are still available.   

7. La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo 

I purchased this because my skin was breaking out really badly and I heard really good things about it. The serum has a very mild fragrance, it sinks into the skin quickly and it makes a nice base for make-up. I honestly don't think it’s all it's made out to be because I still have pretty bad blemishes, but it does calm my spots and they look less angry and red, It also calms the redness on my skin and that's why I've been liking this product. Works well for my skin but not so much for my blemishes.  

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July All Used Up

Hello everybody! It’s that time again to finally give the bin man my used up junk, well actually I’m a little early but I can’t stand having junk laid around so I thought I would get it posted and out of the way. Once again it seems I have gone through a fair amount of stuff, it’s actually quite surprising. So here goes.

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Elemis Freshskin Skin Clear Mattifying: Moisturiser I have been rationing this moisturiser like crazy because I absolutely love it; it has to be one of my favourite moisturisers ever! It’s a mattifying moisturiser and is specially formulated for oily and blemish prone skin. It changed the look, feel and behaviour of my skin for the better, really helped with spots and kept my oily combination skin at bay. You can read my full review about this product and some others from the Freshskin range from Elemis HERE. I will be buying this in the future without a doubt. Simple Kind to Skin Eye Make-up Remover: Sometimes when I run out of things, I have a change and buy the product I need from a difference brand, and boy did I make a bad decision with this product. I picked this product out from a choice of others because I’ve heard amazing things about Simple, and Simple claim that their products are kind to the skin and this product would be kind to the eyes. I will give them 10 out of 10 for this product being kind to the eyes, it didn’t irritate or sting my eyes but by the time I managed to remove half of my eye make-up my eyes were red and sore. This eye make-up remover seriously fails for me, it is gentle on the eyes at first but it’s incredibly bad at removing anything, and I made my eyes red and sore just trying. I will not ever by this product again, it’s not for me. Avon Anew Skin Transforming Primer: Is a white cream with a soft light texture that applies to skin very easily leaving a transparent finish. This primer contains light reflecting particles and ingredients that are beneficial for the skin as it is an anti-ageing serum. My make-up stayed on day and helped to control my skin form becoming as shiny. It’s a good primer but I wouldn’t buy this particular one again because it’s aimed for mature skin and doesn’t benefit me all that much. Collin Resultime Anti-Age Signnes Visibles Eye Contour Cream: This eye cream uses specific active ingredients to fight the five signs of ageing the eye contour area: dark circles, puffiness, fat pockets, wrinkles and sagging. This light cream has a soft texture and is easily applied to the eye area and instantly making the area feel softer and cared for. I have to somewhat agree with the companies claim because I saw a difference in the first couple of uses. My eyes looked less tired and dark, and it generally made me feel good about myself. I can’t say too much about this product because I only had the sample size but I had no problems using it and I was a little sad to run out. Unfortunately I won’t be buying this product any time soon because I find it be quite expensive. However It is an amazing eye cream. 

 Avon’sBlackberry and Vanilla Bubble Bath: I love Avon bubble bath to start with because you get a lot of product for the money and the bubble bath is very bubbly and they all smell divine. I like how the bottle is ribbed if that’s the correct way of putting it because it’s easy to measure how much product you’re putting in the bath, and seeing how much is left.  I love Avon Bubble Baths and I will continue to purchase them.

  

AvonMoroccan Argan Oil:  Comes in glass bottle with a pump dispenser and holds 30 ml of product. It’s thick golden oil which can be applied to dry or damp hair and is not sticky at all nor does it make my hair greasy. It leaves my hair looking sleeker, shiny, and soft and keeps my hair from becoming dry. I’ve also noticed it helps with drying time which is a bonus because I have super thick hair. I have already repurchased this about seven times and I will continue to do so. All in all I love this product just wish it was available in a bigger amount, as 30 ml doesn’t last me very long. Avon Dry Ends Serum: Again this comes in a glass bottle with a pump dispenser holding 30ml of product, and again I do wish it was available in a bigger amount.  The product is a clear serum and isn’t sticky nor makes my hair greasy. Since using it my hair feels softer, sleeker and my dry spit ends for bleaching have drastically improved. To me this product is my little life saver and I simply love It and I will continue to repurchase this over and over. Avon Naturals Shea andApricot Detangling Spray: Oh my god this smells gorgeous and I knew I would like it before I even bought it as I’m addicted to Shea Butter. It detangles any knots or tangles in the hair while leaving the hair smelling amazing. However I do prefer Avon Naturals Kids Crazy Hair Tamer because I find it to tackle my knots better, so for that reason I won’t buy this product again, I will stick to my favourite one. But It does smell amazing!!

So there you have it, all the products I have used up this month. 

What have you been using up lately?

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Drugstore Haul

Hello lovelies, I hope you’re all having a lovely evening. About a month ago I had a huge clear out and I was shocked at the amount of beauty products I own, so that’s why I haven’t done a Haul post for a while. But being me I decided to treat myself, just a little the other day. So this is what I bought.

Barry M Gelly Nail Paint in Blue Grape & Lyche I’m a fan of the Barry M Nail polish’s but hadn’t yet had the chance to try the Gelly polishes so I decided to pick some up to try. I painted my nails the shade Blue Grape later that day and I have to say I LOVE the formula, it’s easier to apply, super shiny and seems to be long lasting. I will be trying out more shades soon. Barry M Nail Art Pen I picked this up because I really wanted to give it ago to see how well it works, If all goes well I will try other shades. L'Oreal Lipstick Rouge Caresse Cheeky Magenta I already have one of the Caresse Lipsticks in Fashionist Pink which I’ve been wearing a lot this summer. They give a tint to the lips and are very moisturising; I like these lipsticks because they are like tinted lip balm and perfect to keep the lips hydrated in warm weather. MUA Intense Colour Eyeliner Lovely Lilac I’ve been looking for a lilac eyeliner to create a look I have in mind. The sales assistant recommended this to me and I was wowed by the color pay off and the effect it gave. Glamour & Lash Studio False No real reason for buying these lashes, I just always seem to pick them up when I’m shopping. 

Single Synthetic Hair Extensions in Pink, Black and Purple I buy these from time to time because I like to add a bit of colour to my wigs for make-up looks. They are extremely low quality but are perfect for what I used them for. 

Freederm Overnight Clearing Serum I decided I could no longer use the night product I had been using because I really didn’t like it nor did it do anything for me. I choose this product on whim, I’ve never used any of the Freederm products before so I’m hoping this works for me. Johnsons gentle eye make-up remover I’d just used up the last of my make-up remover and fancied a change, my friend recommended me this one, and I’m so pleased she did. I used this the other day when I had heavy eye make-up on and it removed everything superbly, I will be buying this again once I run out. Nail The Habit I have a gross habit of biting the skin around my cuticles; it’s something I’ve done for as long as I can remember. Hopefully this product will help me beat the habit.  

What have you been buying recently?

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Murad Pore Perfection Starter Kit*

Hello my lovely readers, today I’m doing a review on products by Murad. I had never used any of Murad's products before, so as you can imagine I was pretty excited to try them. I chose the Pore Perfection Kit because I have combination spot prone skin and Murad claim this kit will clear pores and embrace beautiful, radiant skin. Being a blogger I have lots of skincare products to review, and I like to finish off products before I start to use something else, unless I don’t particularly like it. So I came to an end of one set of products and decided to try out the Pore Perfection Kit. I’ve been using these products none-stop and I’m near the end of them, so it’s time to get my opinion out there.

Pore Perfection Kit £49.99

Energizing Pomegranate Cleanser - Full size 150ml £25.00

The cleanser comes in a pump bottle which I really like because it’s simple to use, and the bottle is transparent displaying the product to be water like. Once you press the pump the product is already foamed. The duel-action foam cleanses and exfoliates the skin but is extremely gentle and there is no grittiness at all, just smooth foam. The cleanser contains powerful antioxidants that defend skin from free radical damage, ensuring maximum skin health. As well as cleansing and exfoliating this cleanser also tones. Just half a pump per cleanse is enough to remove trapped dirt and impurities. Witch Hazel keeps pores clear and oil production under control for a perfectly matte, shine-free complexion. It also works as an anti-ageing treatment both preventatively and proactively so you can enjoy youthful, smooth, beautiful skin every day! I enjoyed using this cleanser because it’s a foaming up cleanser, and I personally feel I get a better cleanse with those sorts of cleansers to oppose cream cleansers. It leaves my skin feeling clean, fresh and super soft. However I don't find it to be any better than other cleansers I have used. So I doubt I will buy this cleanser in the future. But I think this cleanser would be great for people with normal to combination skin that are prone to one or two spots. I get a lot because of my age.

Energizing Pomegranate Moisturiser Broad Spectrum SPF15 - Full size £29.00

This moisturiser is lightweight and oil-free and it infuses the skin with powerful antioxidants while stimulating healthy cell function to leave skin with a healthy and radiant glow. It absorbs quickly and leaves my skin feeling soft and refreshed. It also has added SPF15 which I love because everything I need is in the one product. What I like most about this product is that it makes my skin feel alive in the morning and it’s a great base for makeup. I would buy this product in the future because it does everything it is supposed to do and I like it very much.

Pomegranate Exfoliating Mask – Full size £25.00

Dissolve tired cells and frees skin from trapped impurities for a refreshed, revitalised and balanced complexion. I absolutely love this mask because I can feel it doing its job. Once washed off my skin feels super clean and refreshed. It smells really nice just like all the products in this range. It doesn’t dry out my skin but it does tighten, I like to wear this mask while I sleep because it helps dry out spots and makes a huge difference the next morning!

T-Zone Pore Refining Gel - full size £50 

Shine free complexion by dissolving blackheads, balancing oily and dry zones and gently exfoliating dull skin cells for that impeccable Murad Glow. This really does help with blackheads and large pores; I've noticed a visible difference already! I like to use this product in the morning before makeup, because it takes care of my skin through the day and helps to prevent me from breaking out. However make sure you leave to dry before applying makeup. I really like this product but I won't be paying the price for it. 

Have you tried Murad? What do you think of their products?

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Glossybox June 2013

The time has come for another Glossybox post, and this month’s box is pretty much what I was expecting. The April and May boxes were the best I've received so far, so I guessed June's box would not be as impressive. I was right June's box was nothing special but I love it all the same. A lot of people really hate it when they get something they don't like, but I don't mind so much because I'm keeping everything I don't like or use for a giveaway...so keep posted if you interested in winning some freebies.

So this is what I received in my box this month:

Figs & Rouge Cherry Blossom - full size  12.5ml £5.00

I have about ten lip balms, but I wasn't disappointed about receiving another. I always have them at hand, in my bag, bedside drawer, pockets, everywhere. I just like to keep my lips soft, supple and kissable. This lip balm is 100% natural, packed full of antioxidants and is tinted. This lip balm can also be used on the cuticles, elbows and knees which I find a little strange as it’s a tinted lip balm. I'm not sure how tinted this lip balm is because I haven't tested it yet because I have far too many lip balms open to start with. 

  

Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse OR 10 ml sample - full size 100ml £34.00

Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse is a muti-tasking dry oil with six precious plant oils and vitamin E. It is formulated to be easily absorbed and illuminate all skin and hair types with a subtle golden shimmer that looks like it comes from within. I was really happy to receive this product because I've heard about it before and really wanted to try it. I swatched a little on my hand and it looked beautiful. I think this product would really compliment any skin tone and add illumination to the skin. 

Paul Mitchell Curls Full Circle Leave in Treatment - 15ml sample - full size  200ml £14.95

Paul Mitchell Ultimate Wave Beachy Texture Cream Gel - 15ml sample - full size £11.95

I'm looking forward to trying this two product because I've been having my hair naturally curly lately. So I'm excited to see the results of these products. 

Monu Professional Skincare Hydrating Moisturiser SPF 15 - 30ml sample - full size 50ml £29.95

I'm very fussy with moisturisers but I'm looking forward to trying this one by Monu because of the SPF 15 and because its supposed to hydrate the skin. I've used Monu's Clay mask and that is absolutely divine so I have high hopes for the moisturiser. 

Q Body Spray - full size 100ml £2.29

Probably the most un-exiting product I've ever received in my Glossybox. I'm all for luscious scents but this spray is far to floral top notes for me, and is not a luxurious product in the slightest. 

Subscribe to Glossybox yourself click HERE. 

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Elemis Freshskin Range Review*

Burts Bees Stuff*

I've only been using these product for a week and I thought I would do their reviews 5 weeks early because they have given me fantastic results!!

Intense Hydration Cream Cleanser 99% Natural £9.99

Burts Bees Intense Hydration Cream Cleanser has a very thick consistency to it, but feels extremely luxurious on the skin. The cleanser has a soft herbal scent, it is pleasant and really calming. I like to use this cleanser when my skin is drier than usual because it is very moisturising, and a lovely treat for dry skin. This cleanser can be used to remove make-up as well as dirt and oil, but I always remove the majority of my make-up with remover and wipes, then I use cleanser to remove any last traces. (leaves your Muslim cloth covered in make-up and I don't like that). Although I did put the cleanser to the test and removed a full face of make-up with it, and it worked superbly but it did make my eyes sting a little. So far the only cleanser I can use on my eyes is Liz Earl's Cleanse and polish. 

All in all I think this is a nice cream cleanser, it leaves my skin feeling soft and supple and I don't get the dry tight feeling afterwards. Its everything I want in a cleanser and I will probably buy this product in the future as you get a really good clean and its not a bad price at £9.99 for 170mls. A little goes a long way making it economical. 

Anti-Blemish Daily Moisturising lotion. 100% Natural £14.99

Burts Bees Anti-Blemish Daily Moisturising Lotion is scientifically proven to protect against blemishes without irritating the skin. Its formulated with Lemongrass, Witch Hazel, Golden Seal and Hops to reduce redness, resulting in smooth healthy looking skin naturally. The lotion is very lightweight and absorbs into the skin beautifully without leaving the skin looking or feeling greasy. The lotion contains Salicylic Acid and is gentle enough to be used everyday, morning and night. 

So far I've really enjoyed using this lotion because my spots and blemishes have decreased dramatically. My skin feels so much fresher and I feel a lot happier in myself because my face is virtually spot and blemish free. I use this everyday, morning and night and I only need to use two dollops each time. The bottle contains 55g of lotion for £14.99. The only negative thing I have to say about this lotion, is that I don't like the bottle packaging as you end up wasting product because you cannot get it all out. It would be a lot more practical if the product was in a tub/jar because it enables you to use all the product you have bought and prevents wastage. I will most likely buy this in future because the product is fantastic. 

Peppermint Foot Lotion. 100% Natural £12.99

Burts Bees Peppermint Foot Lotion is super creamy and very lightweight. It provides a triple treat for dry overworked feet. It has an extremely strong scent of peppermint, so If you don't like the scent of peppermint then this product is not for you. It is so strong it made my eyes water and my feet tingle. Although I really like the tingling sensation as it really cools and calms my feet after a long day. The lotion contains a botanical blend of oils and extracts made from Witch Hazel, Tea Tree, Parsley, Rosemary and Sodium Bicarbonate to help neutralise mild foot odour. Peppermint Oil and Menthol invigorate tired overworked feet, while Sunflower, Wheat Germ, Coconut Oils nourish and moisturise rough, callused feet and heals.  

All in all this is a really refreshing lotion for the feet, which leaves my feet feeling soft fresh and pampered every day. Its really easy to use and will be great to use in the summer as it leaves the feet smelling great as well as caring for them. Its very important to wash your hands after applying the lotion as the scent will linger and will make your eyes sting if you touch them. I have never used a foot lotion that has left my feet smelling so good for this reason I will probably buy this product once I run out because It has transformed my feet. However you get a 100ml of product so this is also economical. 

Ultra Moisturising Lip Treatment. 100% Natural £4.99

Burts Bees Ultra Moistursing Lip Treatment is hands down a really good lip treatment. Its made with replenishing Kokum Butter and it instantly moisturses and soothes sore and chapped lips. The treatment is of a liquid consistency and applies smoothly onto the lips leaving a lovely natural shine. 

I like to use this lip treatment on a night time after I have exfoliated my lips, to lock in moisture overnight. I then apply in the morning before I apply make-up, then by the time my make up is done my lips are soft and smooth ready for a perfect lip finish. I will buy this lip treatment in future. 

Refreshing Lip Balm - Pink Grapefruit. 100% Natural £3.69

Burts Bees Refreshing Lip Balm in Pink Grapefruit is surprisingly a really nice lip balm. I have never been a fan of grapefruit because I don't like the taste. The balm has a thick consistency and stays on the lips for a long time. The balm doesn't have an over powering taste or smell, its has a mild citrus flavor and does not taint food or drink. 

This is my everyday kind of balm as its easy to use and is bursting with Vitamin C and E to soften and condition my lips. I would buy this balm in future but I would like to try other balms form the Burts Bees Range. 

Have you tried any of these product? Whats your opinion?

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Where to buy:
Burts Bees Official Site
Boots

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