5 Favourites For May

- Vicki 9 Comments

Favourite Skincare

REN Centifolia Hot Cloth Cleanser* £16.00 for 150ml

I just really like how gentle this is and how soft it leaves my skin. Its the perfect cleanser for sensitive skin as it calms and soothes. My complexion is looking bright and blemish free and I’m putting it down to this as it decongests the skin & helps remove impurities. I reviewed this in full last week.

Clarins One Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser £20.00 for 125ml

On those days where I feel like I need to double cleanse this is a great second cleanser option. It is a gentle exfoliating cleanser which leaves your skin feeling ultra clean and glowing. It is great at combating a dull complexion & removing the dead skin cells to reveal your glowing complexion. This cleanser contains; Orange extract softens, refreshes and revives. Moringa Seed extract purifies and refines while preserving your skin’s natural moisture level. Gentle Silica Microbeads tackle clogged pores. I think this is the perfect summer cleanser – especially as I like to have as fresh looking skin as possible during the warmer months so I can wear less makeup & let my skin breath. It smells lovely & summery too, always a bonus.

Origins Super Spot Remover £14.00 for 10ml

This is a little (I mean little) bottle of miracle gel. When you feel a blemish rearing its ugly red head I put a dollop of this right on it & it calms it, dries it out & stops it becoming huge & unruly. I find the earlier you can get this on that spot the better. It just takes the inflammation right out of it. I thought I’d go through this bottle in a matter of weeks but it has lasted me months & I’m still no where near finishing it. Its a handy little pot to take out & about with you if you have a particularly stubborn spot which want to keep re applying this to. I think everyone needs a bottle of this in their skincare arsenal.

MONU Collagen Cream £22.50 for 50ml

This is quite a thick moisturiser so I save it for those days when my skin is feeling dehydrated & when it looks like it needs some extra plumping. I don’t like to wear this under makeup as I find it a little too greasy & heavy. So for those days I’m going base free or just hanging about the house I put this on & it makes my skin feel smooth. This cream over time helps reduce the appearance of fine line & I always need help on that front. So if you need a moisturiser for dry skin this is a great one and it feels like it gives your skin a really intensive boost of hydration.

Organic Surge Sweet Blossom Body Cream £6.99 for 150ml

This has been helping my dry legs get a little more summer ready, the Shea & Cocoa Butter help keep my skin feel soft and hydrated. Its quite a thick body butter but it does sink in to the skin quickly leaving my skin soft all day & night. The scent of sweet orange & cedar-wood give this a luxurious feel and I’m really enjoying using it. I love body butters on my legs, especially after shaving as it just gives them that extra moisture boost & leaves my skin looking smooth.

Have you tried any of these products? Let me know in the comments what you have been loving.

Products that are marked with an * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I’ve received at events. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However if I do, the reviews are 100% my own.

New From Merumaya

- Vicki 5 Comments

Merumaya

June see’s two exciting new launches from British Skincare brand Merumaya. I’m a big fan of their Melting Cleansing Balm, Face Wash & their Iconic Youth Serum so was very very excited to get these pre launch samples in the post. Merumaya asked their customers what they felt was missing from their range and what they would like to see added to their line & the answers were a Bi Phase Eye Makeup Remover & a Treatment Toner – so that is exactly what Merumaya delivered. These products have been over 2 years in the making & will be launching June 30th.

Bi Phase Plus Eye Makeup Remover*

Merumaya’s research told them that their customers preferred a Bi Phase liquid to remove their eye makeup, I have tried a few in the past and many of them left my eye area quite greasy but this one has been in development for over 2 years in order to get the formula just right & I think they have done a wonderful job. I applied the liquid to a cotton pad and held it gently on my eye for about 1 minute just to let it soak in. Then with such minimal effort I swept it across my eye & my mascara & liquid eyeliner and it removed them both effortlessly. I was so excited to try this product when it arrived that I put it to the test & took my makeup off straight away.

If you’re worried about this being greasy, don’t be it is hydrating and gentle and won’t leave your eyes feeling oily at all. No need to rub vigorously, this gentle formula will remove your eye makeup just by letting it gently soak in & then lightly sweeping the cotton pad accros your eyes. It will leave the area feeling soft & hydrated. This product is suitable for sensitive skin & works on my waterproof mascara without leaving it smeared all over my eyes. It removes every trace of eye makeup & I even put it to the test on some stubborn lip stains & they posed no challenge either! I may have found my go to makeup remover! I think this is going to be a very popular product in Merumaya’s range.

Launched June 30th 2014 into select John Lewis Stores – online at www.merumaya.com & www.johnlewis.com £14.50 for 130ml

Treatment Lotion*

I have been getting in to using a toner over this past year and was excited to put this new Merumaya offering to the test. This has that fresh distinctive Merumaya scent. It is packed full of skincare benefits such as,

Hyluronic Acid to give hydration and plumping and help reduce the appearance of lines (this is an ingredient I look out for now in skincare).

A complex of brown & green algae provides a slow and lasting release of Natural Moisturising Factors these help deliver long term moisturisation and softening.

Ascorbyl Glucoside provides a potent slow and sustained release of Vitamin C that only activates on contact with your skin. This evens out skintone, aids the minimising of pigmentation & gives prolonged antioxidant protection.

Natural Betaine to help manage moisture balance and softens and soothes skin.

This toner really focuses on boosting hydration and keeping your skin looking healthy and youthful. It isn’t drying at all on the skin, so no tight feeling after use. It left my skin feeling very smooth, clean and hydrated. Merumaya have developed a Toner that not only gives you instant results in terms of smooth bright looking skin but there are also longer term benefits that come with prolonged use such as minimising pigmentation & giving you plumper skin.This product has slipped itself nicely into my skincare routine & I don’t go a day now without using a toner it just feels like I’ve missed an important step if I do. This is another great addition to the Merumays range & one I would highly recommend, especially if you have dehydrated, tired looking skin.

Launched June 30th 2014 into select John Lewis Stores – online at www.merumaya.com & www.johnlewis.com £14.50 for 130ml

Out of the two products my favourite is the Bi Phase Eye Makeup Remover, simply because it takes the hassle out of removing waterproof mascara! Let me know if you like using a Bi Phase remover & if you have any Merumaya recommendations.

Products that are marked with an * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I’ve received at events. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However if I do, the reviews are 100% my own.

3 Minute Makeup Challenge

- Vicki 10 Comments

OK so I thought I was quite quick at applying my makeup & that If needed I would be able to get ready in under 3 minutes so when Fragrance Direct asked me to take part in a 3 minute makeup challenge I was excited to see how well I’d get on. Well let me tell you once that clock is ticking you almost forget how to work your brushes & I’m sure my 3 minutes passed in double quick time.

I was able to pick 3 products from the Fragrance Direct website & that took me quite a while as they have a huge selection of affordable makeup. I tried to pick products that if needed could be multi use, so I picked the L’Oreal Matte Morphose Foundation*, UNE Breezy Cheeks Blush* & L’Oreal Glam Bronze Sun-kissed Bronzer*.

Makeup

Fragrance Direct

I was optimistic and also looked out a few products from my collection that I wanted to use in this challenge just to finish the look off, I have to wear mascara & I do like to use liquid liner. I wanted to keep the whole look affordable so I picked the Miss Manga Mascara & L’Oreal eyeliner.

Before

My before shot – I look far too calm for whats about to happen, but I do look a little dishevelled though like I have been outside in the wind?!

The 3 Minute Makeup Challenge

This was 100% harder than I’d though it would be. I started with the L’Oreal Matte Morphose Foundation in the shade Rosy Sand – although the shade was slightly too dark for my skin tone right now it applied really nicely. The Mousse consistency was a little odd at first but it was light and went on very smooth. It has a Matte finish and felt like velvet on my skin which I really liked. Although I applied it in a rush it still gave me a nice but natural coverage, if you had more time I think it could be built up to give a more medium coverage.

I then moved on to my eyes, I used the L’Oreal Glam Bronzer as an eyeshadow – I put the darker shade all over my lid just to even out my red eyelids and a little of lightest shade in the inner corner. I then managed to add some eyeliner & I used my trusty L’Oreal Super Liner Carbon Gloss, this stuff never fails me. I was a little wobbly at this part due to the clock ticking but I managed some half decent lines. The nib on this liner is very thin so you have a lot of control and can create nice subtle lines. I added one coat of the Miss Manga Mascara. Not my favourite Mascara but one coat of this on your lashes looks OK so being in a time pinch this was good for making my lashes look black and quite thick.

I then moved on to cheeks & I swept a little of the L’Oreal Glam Bronzer across my forehead & under my cheek bones. This looks quite pretty although I don’t think my camera picks that up, It gave my complexion a little warmth & definition. I then used the UNE Breezy Cheeks Cream Blush in B12 but I was almost out of time so I just dapped a little on my cheeks & swept this across my lips too for some colour.

To save time & the amount of products I used, I thought it would be fun to use the Bronzer as eyeshadow too & the cream blush as lipstick. I will try this more often as the bronzer especially worked out well as shadow.

makeup challenge

3 minute Makeup Challenge

Phew I took the full 3 minutes & could have done with 30 seconds longer. I loved all the products I used but the stand out was the L’Oreal Foundation as it was easy to apply, the texture was light on my skin and it gave good coverage. With the UNE Blush I wish I’d picked a better shade, maybe more of a rosy pink rather than a peachy brown, this colour didn’t show up too well on my skin tone but there are other shades to pick from. Oh & don’t look too hard at my bushy brows. Im growing them so I can get them shaped & threaded.

Have you done the 3 minute makeup challenge? If not I tag you all to do it, tick tock.

Also I have never shopped with Fragrance Direct before but after seeing their huge range of beauty products including quite a few of my favourite brands like Orly, OPI & Essie (at rediculousy affordable prices) I will be making a cheeky order soon.

Products that are marked with an * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I’ve received at events. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However if I do, the reviews are 100% my own.

May Empties 2014

- Vicki 9 Comments

I’m currently living with family & trying hard to not to take over the main bathroom with all my lotions and potions. So I have been trying to use up one thing before opening another. Thats harder than it sounds for a self confessed beauty junkie. May was quite a successful month in terms of empties & here is what I finished,

Empties

Germaine de Capuccini Total Comfort Lotion £24.80 for 200ml- I bought this toner in a local salon where I go for my facials. I bought it about a year ago when my skin was sensitive and quite red in places, this was a great toner for calming my skin and keeping it hydrated. This bottle lasted me ages. I also have a foundation by the same brand which I love too. I would re purchase this again as it lasted so long.

ESPA Zesty Lemon Ylang Ylang & Crushed Tonka Beans hand wash £15 for 250ml – my husband loves the ESPA hand washes (I do too) but this one was in his bathroom and he enjoyed using it. It smells fresh and quite summery, it leaves your hands soft and clean but not stripped of all their moisture. I always put hand lotion on after I wash my hands but my husband said this was OK on its own. These hand washes are a little slice of luxury in the bathroom & the scent really lingers after you’ve used them, they last a good 3 months so I’d say they were well worth the money

The Body Shop White Musk Smooth Satin Body Lotion – I like the scent of the body spray & perfume from this White Musk range but this body lotion wasn’t as nice. The scent wasn’t as fresh, I used it all up but don’t think the formula is as nice as The Body Shop’s Body Butters & it wasn’t as hydrating & nourishing so I won’t repurchase.

Garnier Micellar Water £4.99 for 400ml- This bottle lasted me ages, longer than any other Micellar Water & I really liked using it, I used it as the 1st step in my cleansing routine. To tale off my eye makeup and a little of my foundation too. It was gentle enough to take up around my eyes and it did a good job of taking off my mascara & eyeliner without too much rubbing. I would repurchase this & think its a handy product to have. I always follow up with a Hot Cloth Cleanser or an Oil based cleanser.

Tommy Guns Fig & Plum Shampoo* £5.50 for 250ml – This was a great shampoo for taming frizz and a good first step in achieving sleeking more manageable hair. This also made my wavy hair look glossy & my curls looked more polished & less messy. I also had the conditioner in this range & they made a very good pair. I always use conditioner much faster than shampoo so they never run out together. I would repurchase these & noticed my local John Lewis store had a really good selection of Tommy Guns products so I’m going to try a different combo next time. Maybe a hydrating one.

May's Empties

Baylis & Harding Hydrating Honey Hand Wash* £2.99 for 300ml – This was in our kitchen & was a lovely hand wash, not as luxurious as the ESPA one but I guess the price tag is more affordable (especially if you go through them quickly). This was a gentle formula and sweetly scented always a good combination. It lasted a good amount of time & I would repurchase it again. This is also a Fair Trade product so if that is something you look for in products then give this a go. Its affordable, smells nice & leaves hands feeling soft.

Dr. Organic Aloe Vera Deodorant £5.49 for 50ml – I’ve tried to make the switch to natural deodorant a few times but never found one that worked well enough for me to feel comfortable. Then I discovered the Dr. Organics range & they have quite a good selection, this Aloe Vera one was the first one I’ve tried from them & loved it. It left my underarms soft & not irritated. When I’m really hot I get a little damp under my arms but I’m not worried about being sweaty. This aloe one has a very light fresh scent. I will have to see how I get on during the warmer summer but I have since bought 3 new bottles so I am all stocked up. If you have a natural deodorant suggestion for me, let me know.

Origins Make A Difference Skin Rejuvenating Treatment Lotion  – Loved this toner so much, it helped keep my complexion looking bright & feeling hydrated. I thought it was very good at helping to clear up stubborn blemish scaring & I will be repurchasing, although I think since I bought this it has slightly reformulated & improved so I’m excited to compare them.

Tropic Skincare Vitamin Toner £12.00 for 120ml – This is a really nice refreshing facial mist, it smells quite fruity and is packed full of skin loving vitamins & antioxidants and is alcohol free. I like spraying this at every possible opportunity as it made my skin feel soothed and hydrated. I do recommend using it in the morning before you apply your serum / moisturiser & again in the evening after cleansing & before applying your skincare. The spray action was like a light mist not a full on drown your face in liquid (thats happened before). Id say this bottle lasted me a good 7 months. I would repurchase this again, especially as a summer toner.

Have you used any of these products, did you like them / repurchase them? Let me know.

Products that are marked with an * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I’ve received at events. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However if I do, the reviews are 100% my own.