Simple Skincare: Back to Basics for Blemish-Free Skin

Recently, the condition of my skin has been on the up, and while there are several factors I feel have contributed to this, skincare is right up there at the top of the list. As you'll probably know, I'm quite the skincare conoisseur, always adding to my collection, trying out new things and generally trying to do the best for my skin. I like to keep myself educated about what I should and shouldn't be using, and generally try to avoid brands, or at least products, which contain too many chemical nasties. But for months, my skin had been at its absolute worst, and it didn't seem to matter what I used on it - nothing was making a positive difference.

Until I decided to make quite a big change.

For a long time, I have found myself steering clear of gel cleansers, often without even giving them a chance. Usually, they contain sulphates, which create the foam so many people believe is necessary to get their skin clean. Actually, all they really tend to do is dry out the skin, stripping it of its natural oils. The result? Tight, uncomfortable skin, and over-active oil glands. The complete opposite of what you probably want.

The Origins Zero Oil Deep Pore Cleanser with Saw Palmetto and Mint is one of the few gel cleansers I've come across in which there isn't a sulphate in sight. Containing salicylic acid to stimulate exfoliation and unclog pores, and Aloe leaf juice to calm and soothe, this leaves my skin feeling clean, smooth, and best of all, oil free. I must admit, however, that it does leave my skin feeling ever-so-slightly tight after use, but it's nothing a bit of moisturiser doesn't sort out, and certainly doesn't seem to have had any detrimental effects on my skin - quite the opposite.

While Zero Oil makes the perfect morning cleanser for anyone with slightly oily skin, in the evenings I am usually in need of something a bit more heavy duty to get all of my makeup off as well as getting in there for a deep-down clean, and lately I've been turning to the Clarins Pure Melt Cleansing Gel, which I picked up in duty-free on my way back to the UK last month. A gel in the tube, this becomes an oil when applied to the face, and emulsifies into a milk when water is added. The changing texture makes this the best of both worlds in all senses of the expression, leaving skin clean, soft and radiant. A definite winner in my book.

've really simplified down my skincare routine of late, and where before I was reaching for all manner of toners, serums, oils and masks, I'm now literally going straight from cleanser to moisturiser. Yes, I know, Caroline Hirons would give me a slap, but something I've really come to realise about my own skin is that less really is more. I wish I could keep on chopping and changing, trying out new products and using several in one go, but quite honestly, it has never done me any good, and my skin was always near-on

flawless until I started bombarding it with all those different ingredients. Funnily enough,  now that I am going straight for the moisturiser - namely Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief - my blemishes have become few and far between, and my whole complexion is generally looking miles better. I do think a lot of that is down to the moisturiser itself - a gel-cream that sinks into the skin immediately, without leaving any greasy residue. Normal creams are just too rich for my skin, and tend to do more harm than good, but this little beauty is giving my it all the nourishment and hydration it needs, no negative effects included.

Do you believe in simple skincare, or does layering up lots of goodies work better for you?

xx

The Weekly Selection

If you watched my recent Beauty Haul Video, you'll know that I've made more than just a couple of beauty purchases lately, and choosing my very favourites for this week was a tough call, but I've done my best and I'm thrilled to bits with all of these lovely products.

When roaming Boots the other day in search of a new foundation, the new Liz Earle stand caught my eye, and so excited was I that I almost did a little dance. For most of you, this is probably nothing new, but having been away for quite some time, I wasn't aware that the lovely Liz had now made it into stores. I couldn't not get my hands on the Limited Edition Grapefruit and Patchouli Cleanse and Polish, and I'm so glad I did pick it up, as when I popped in today there were no longer any in sight. It's been a while since C&P was last a part of my skincare routine, but only because, like a typical blogger, I got distracted by other things. This one smells amazing, and seeing how well it gets off all my makeup in one go has made me fall a little bit in love with it all over again.

Not one but two skincare products in this week's favourites, the second of which being the Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Search Relief. I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with moisturisers, finding most of them too rich or heavy for my skin. They often seem to do more harm than good, leaving my complexion blemished and a little bit too greasy, so I was really excited to find that this little beaut does none of the above. It's a gel-cream, which sinks instantly into the skin, leaving it feeling smooth and hydrated, with no residue at all. I've just come to the end of the travel-size pot my mum kindly gave me, and I am without a doubt going to be buying the full-size. At £32, it's a bit of a kick in the wallet, but I see moisturiser as an absolute necessity. 

I mentioned the Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions Liquid Makeup and Revlon Photoready Perfecting Primer earlier in the week, and they are still doing a sterling job, when used together, of smoothing out my complexion and hiding my blemishes. There is nothing not to love about either of these, and I am so glad to have found them.

Last but not least comes the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Crush, a gorgeous wine-coloured lip balm and stain in one. I'm sure that most of you are no stranger to these little beauts, and neither was I, having been a huge fan on the shades 'Rendezvous' and 'Honey' for some while now. When the weather took a turn for the worse earlier this week, I decided to embrace the dropping temperatures and grey skies and go for more of an autumnal lip, and after picking this up on a whim I am completely hooked.

Have you started changing your routine up for the colder months yet? What products have you been loving the most this week?

xx

The Daily Face: Changing it Up

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Monday Wishlist

Crop Tee, Topshop  -  Peach Studded Shorts, Miss Selfridge  - Necklace,  Miss Selfridge  - Aztec Ring, Miss Selfridge  -  T-Zone Balancing Day Fluid, Ren  -  L'oreal Paris Nude Magique CC Cream, Feel Unique  -  ClearCalm 3 Clarity Restoring Mask, Ren  -  No.1 Purity Cleansing Balm, Ren  -   Moisture Surge CC Cream, Cllinique

Wishlists are usually reserved for weekends, but with Mother's Day taking front seat this time around, there just wasn't time, unless I wanted to post twice in one day, which I didn't, as I was sure nobody would be back to read a second post. So instead, once again we are breaking the rules, and I've saved all my goodies for this dreary Monday morning. Now, if I was actually buying these then it would be a great way to start the week, but instead I'm going to have to make do with admiring from afar.

Having gone through a phase of trying out some skincare products that didn't agree with me, my skin has not exactly been looking its best lately, so I want to get settled into a regular regime and not bombard it with too many different ingredients at once. That said, I still stand by not wanting any nasties in my skincare, so I'm going to try and switch my day-to-day routine over to Ren. Of course, I'll still reserve the evening slot for trying out new products, but I'm going to be a lot more careful about checking out the ingredients first and making sure there are no comedogenics (pore cloggers) in there before forging ahead.

I'm intrigued by CC creams at the moment. Having been thoroughly disappointed with BB creams, I'm hoping that this time, there really is something to shout about. Two of the best I've heard about are the L'oreal Paris Nude Magique one (available in three varieties - anto-fatigue, anti-redness and anti-dullness) which rings in at just £9.99, and the Clinique Moisture Surge CC, which I can't actually find for sale anywhere as yet.

Besides that, I'm lusting after some Spring clothing and accessories. and could have included far more here, but I decided to exercise some restraint. These items are my top picks from the lot, and it's torturing me.

Well, that's it for this week's wishlist, I hope you've seen something you like.

Have a great week.

xx

New Video: Current Skincare Routine

Hi lovelies, I'm back with my second Youtube video after a few disasters with making it! I actually originally filmed this last week, but it was too long and therefore rejected by Youtube - proof if ever I needed any that I can talk for England! Anyway, being the inexperienced video editor that I am, instead of managing to cut out the bits I didn't want I only succeeded in butchering it, and it's taken until today for me to find some daylight and some free time at home in order to try again! In fact, it took me another three attempts today - the first time the radio started blasting halfway through, and the second my laptop ran out of battery! Clearly not my day for filming, but we got there in the end! :)

I'm aware that some of you might possibly be interested in hearing about my skincare routine but won't fancy watching the video. Well, if that's you then please don't feel left out, as I will be doing a blog post about the very same on Monday. I was going to include some info about the products now, but as you can imagine, having made three attempts at producing this video, I now need a little break from talking about them!

Hope everyone is having a lovely weekend so far, possibly doing a bit of Christmas shopping and getting into the spirit of things. Some say it's too early. I am not one of them.

Whatever you're doing lovelies, enjoy yourselves!

xx

October Empties

Apologies about the slightly bleached out photo here. It was extremely sunny when I took these, and despite trying to edit this one in order for the products to be more clearly visible, this is the best I could get it.

Anyway, on to this month's empties.

Benefit Erase Paste in Shade 02 Medium

Finally, after ten months, my trusty little pot of Erase Paste is no more. This was my first time trying this concealer, and it fast became a staple in my daily makeup routine - in fact, I wouldn't leave the house without it. It's quite a thick, salmon-toned paste, and in my case it has been mostly used for concealing the dark under-eye circles which you have all heard me complaining about of late. It does do a pretty good job, better than anything else I'd tried before. But alas, it's still not concealer perfection. I'm seriously starting to doubt if there is actually one in existence that can completely mask dark circles. It does also tend to settle into the expression lines under the eyes.

Would I buy it again? Actually, yes, I would - I'm scared to be without it. But in spite of this, I am keen to try some other concealers, and have actually just bought one from a brand I'd never heard of before, so keep your eyes peeled for a review on that one in the coming weeks, and to find out if it was able to outdo Erase Paste.

Benefit The Porefessional

I got this little treat free with Glamour magazine a few months ago, as I know many of you did. While I have seen mixed reviews, personally, I really like this and have started to incorporate it into my daily makeup routine. I actually don't really use this to disguise my pores - instead, I use it as a primer. I pat some onto my t-zone before applying my foundation, which seems to prolong the wear-time and prevent my makeup from sliding off my face after a couple of hours (I don't generally have oily skin, but my t-zone does play up at times, and could do with a bit of extra help). The Porefessional gives me a nice smooth,  matte surface to work with on those areas, and I have already repurchased another little tube.

I'd just like to point out that if you use The Porefessional in the same way as I do then despite this tube being a tiny 7ml in size, it will actually last you several months! Just use it sparingly.

Percy and Reed Splendidly Silky Moisturising Shampoo

Although we got off to a bumpy start, I actually ended up really liking this shampoo. I did review it on here only a couple of days ago, so rather than repeating myself all over again and boring you silly, you can click here for more information on the product and to find out some more of my thoughts.

Herbalife Skin Activator Day Cream

This has been my daily moisturiser for the past four or five months, and again, I've enjoyed using it. It does make my skin feel nice and soft, but it's not really anything out of the ordinary. It's supposed to prevent the signs of ageing and when used regularly, improve skin firmness, clarity and luminosity, but I really couldn't tell you if that's been the case with me, because I have been trying out so many different skincare products of late! My skin actually has started looking nice and clear and glowing within the past couple of weeks, but given that I've been using this cream for a few months now, I'd say it's more likely to be down to a couple of new face masks I've been using.

I would repurchase, but at the same time I'm happy to try out other products. As a beauty blogger, this is so often the case,so a product has to REALLY impress me to stick around.

Liz Earle Energising Body Wash

Containing the active ingredients Damask rose flower water, sweet orange oil and vitamin E, surprisingly this shower gel has quite a strong, astringent scent. I usually prefer fruity scents in the shower, but this was actually quite invigorating when used as part of my morning shower routine. This is the second bottle I've got through, but not because I purchased either of them - they were both sent to me as free gifts when I was making bulk purchases of some of Liz's other products online.

I don't think I'd repurchase, just because at £11.50 a pop it's a bit pricey for a shower gel. Plus, as I mentioned, I do tend to prefer fruity fragrances. But if I happen to receive one as another free gift next time I'm making a purchase then I will happily use it up.

Clinique Sparkle Skin Body Exfoliator

Again, this was a free gift with some Clinique purchases, although I must admit, this was about two years ago! And yes...yes, I have lost the lid. Again.

This product left my skin feeling really polished and smooth, but I probably wouldn't repurchase because there are plenty of other good exfoliators for a fraction of the price.

Can you tell that I'm a bit of a cheapskate when it comes to body products? I don't know why, but while I'm happy to splurge on facial skincare if I see fit, I hate to do so on things like shower gels and scrubs. There are just so many fantastic products and brands available at affordable prices, and in my eyes, they really do do the job just as well, while with facial skincare I believe that you generally get what you pay for.

So, that's it for October Empties. Do let me know if you've tried any of these products and what your thoughts were.

What have you used up this month?

xx

Desire of the Day #7: Clinique Even Better Eyes Dark Circle Corrector

My regular readers will know that for the past couple of months, I have been suffering from frustrating dark circles under my eyes (if you don't then you can read about my struggle and my quest for a solution here and here). I don't know what's causing them, as I eat very healthily (other than when tempted by cake), drink absolute gallons of green tea and water, and get some exercise several times a week. I am also being sure to get enough sleep, and haven't  been going out or drinking either, as I am at a point where I fancy a break - you do eventually get a bit fed up with hangovers after many years of them! I now haven't had one since the end of March, and I must admit, it feels pretty good, although that's not to say I have become permanently teetotal - I'll still enjoy a good girls' night out from time to time.

Anyway, went off on a bit of a tangent there, but never mind - I do enjoy a bit of mindless chitchat about irrelevant things at times!

The point is, nothing I have endeavoured to find myself an amazing product that would combat my dark circles and mild morning puffiness, and I have to say, I've failed miserably. Or rather, the products I've tried have. Concealer doesn't cover them, and eye creams don't cut it.

Enter, Clinique Even Better Eyes Dark Circle Corrector.

" NEW Even Better Eyes has the power to brighten the appearance of the entire eye area. Plumping hydration makes thin eye-area skin appear less transparent, and the cooling massage tip refreshes tired looking eyes. Optics instantly brighten all skins, fair to deep".

Now, I am not expecting miracles. I have tried a little sample pot of the Clinique Even Better Eyes cream, and I'm not sure that it had much of an effect. It's hard to tell really, as I find that the darkness and puffiness I experience beneath my eyes does tend to subside a little bit after a couple of hours of being awake awake anyway. However, I do really enjoy Clinique as a brand, and I am intrigued by the cooling massage tip. Add that to my desperation to find a solution that works for me, and I am all over this product.

Clinique Even Better Eyes is available for £28 (eeeek - bit off-putting!) from the Clinique website, which you can find here.

Do you have any fail-safe dark circle solutions? If so, PLEASE let me know in the comments below! I will be eternally grateful.

xx

Lipsticks I Can't Live Without!

(L-R) Tracta Hydrating Argan Lipstick in 01, L'oreal Color Riche Serum in Radiant Rose, Topshop Infrared, Mac Amplified in Vegas Volt, Revlon Lip Butter in Cherry Tart, Clinique Ciderberry

I have been going a little bit mad for lipsticks and other lip-related products over the past six months, especially nice bright, zingy shades, and don't seem to be able to stop buying them! There are so many gorgeous options out there, and I'd happily buy up the whole selection in Topshop or Mac without a second thought, if my bank balance was that way inclined (and that full of pennies!)

But despite my recent panic-buying of gorgeous shades and formulas, as always, there are definitely some lip products that I just keep going back to again and again, and I don't seem to be able to find anything to beat them. So I present to you, ladies and gentlemen, my six absolute favourite lipsticks in the world, ever. Ok, so maybe that's a little bit extreme, but I do love them, so I thought I'd share.

I'm not going to do full reviews of all of them in this post, purely because the post would end up being a million miles long and I doubt you'd ever make it to the bottom! But do keep your eyes peeled, as I will be posting separate reviews for some of these very shortly.

Topshop Infrared

First up is Topshop's Infrared, a gorgeous bright orange with a hint of red. This is definitely not one for shrinking violets, and may not be very flattering to the absolute palest of skintones, but aside from this it is actually a very wearable colour, and as an added bonus, makes your teeth look whiter. Win!

I love Topshop lipsticks and find them to be excellent value for money. The formula is fairly moisturising, although with this colour, I do recommend a good exfoliation and a slather of lip balm before you apply, as it will show up any flakey or dry bits you may have. In terms of wear, I'd say it's not that great, and I have to reapply it several times throughout the day. But it's a deliciously bright and juicy colour and looks great with a tan!

Mac Amplified in Vegas Volt

My favourite of the lot. This is a gorgeous bright coral, and any regular readers will know that I absolutely adore a nice bright coral lip. Being an Amplified lipstick, this is really creamy and glides on like a dream. It doesn't cling to any dry bits and is reasonably long-wearing (I've mentioned before though, that no lipsticks I've ever tried seem to have lasted more than about two minutes on me!) It's highly pigmented, but buildable, so you can go for a statement lip by layering it up, or rub one coat in with your fingers for more of a stain effect. This one will take some beating.

Revlon Lip Butter in Cherry Tart

This one is brand new, but has already made it onto my favourites list, which I'm sure many of you Lip Butter lovers will find unsurprising. I'm not going to say too much about this one, as I shall be doing a full review of it over the weekend, but as you can see, it's a lovely shade of cherry red and is so, so wearable. I am completely loving this as a pretty day-time red for summer. I do know it's not, strictly speaking, a lipstick, but that's fine by me - it just had to be included because I can't stop wearing it!

Tracta Hydrating Argan Lipstick in 01 

I picked this little beauty up in Brazil, and surprise surprise, it's another coral. This is actually very similar to Vegas Volt, but is slightly more orange-toned. Again, it's creamy and moisturising, thanks to the Argan oil it contains, and last reasonably well. I also wanted to point out that the packaging of this one makes it feel like quite a luxurious purchase, as it looks quite expensive, but actually, it only cost me about £6.

Clinique High Impact Lip Colour SP15 in Ciderberry

This is a product I have had for an absolute age, but haven't used in a really long time. In fact, I had completely forgotten about it until I moved house recently, and found it while I was packing things away. Clinique lipsticks are actually pretty pricey, at £16, and I don't usually pay that much for lip products. I don't even remember it costing that much really, but a quick browse on Clinique's site has revealed that to be the case!

Ciderberry is a lovely rich deep red. It's a nice alternative to really bright, pillar-box reds and I would imagine it to be more of a wearable shade for all skin-tones. I feel like I am repeating myself here, but I assume you will want to know that yes, again, it is moisturising, and yes, it is also long-lasting - in fact, I'd say that this is the best of the bunch in that respect.

L'oreal Color Riche Serum in Radiant Rose

A stunning medium fuchsia

I have not long reviewed this beauty, so if you would like to know a bit more about it then you can do so by reading this post. I don't want to bore those of you who've already read it by repeating myself again, but I will say that it is just the perfect shade of pink, and looks particularly pretty with really dark hair! When I first bought this, I had just dyed mine a gorgeous deep chocolate colour, which has sadly now faded (but I'm planning on doing it again over the weekend!)

L-R: Clinique Ciderberry, Revlon Lip Butter in Cherry Tart, L'oreal CRS in Radiant Rose, Mac Amplified in Vegas Volt, Tracta 01 and Topshop Infrared

(As above)

I hope you enjoyed reading, and that perhaps I've given you an idea or two if you're on the hunt for a new summer shade, or if you're finding yourself stuck in a bit of a lipstick rut!

What are your favourite lip products this summer? Is there one shade in particular your lips are just too embarrassed to be seen without? I'd love to know, as I am always looking to build up my collection, and sometimes I find I have been missing out on some absolute gems when I see them on you lovelies and read about them in your posts!

Hope everyone is really well and has a fantastic weekend planned! If you don't have anything planned at all, then worry not, as I find that those often tend to end up being the best ones! And who doesn't like a bit of relaxation!?

Enjoy!

xx

Weekend Favourites

So, being the weekend, it's time for another Weekend Favourites post, and this week I have chosen my favourite clothes and accessories from across the online stores' 'New in' sections, as well as some of my current makeup must-haves.

S

Floral Drop Arm Top, Topshop. £26

I love this gorgeous drop arm top, and seeing as I already own a similar one from Topshop (the same, but black with white palm tree print) I know how lovely it looks on. These cropped tops can be worn loose with a pair of high-waisted shorts, which is my favourite look, but for those of you who prefer a tighter fit, it does have a tie at the back which enables you to change it up a bit.

Studded Bralet, Topshop. £38

I never get bored of black studded things! The rock chick look is still going strong in one way or another.

I haven't tried a bralet yet, and there are loads of pretty options out there for Spring/Summer. I'd love to get my hands on this one, along with a more colourful tropical print version. 

What do you wear your bralet with?

Frog Drop Earrings, £14

Cute! Enough said.

Moto Tapestry Contrast Hot Pants, Topshop. £38

Gorgeous. High waisted. Printed. Comfy.

What's not to love?

Tie Front Cropped Shirt by Oh My Love at Topshop, £25

Another of my current obsessions is cropped, sleeveless, tie front shirts, and this one would be more than welcome to join my collection, with it's mint green and coral combo - incidentally, two of my favourite colours of the moment.

Paisley Print Shirt, Miss Selfridge. £38

                                          I must have this. That is all.

Aztec Triangle Earrings, Topshop.£10

                                     Lilac Maxi Skirt, Miss Selfridge, £38

Clinique Long Last Lipstick in Runway Coral (Limited ed.), £16

This one will come as no surprise to the majority of you, who will be well aware of my love for all things coral, particularly where makeup is concerned. I just cannot get enough of coral lips and cheeks, and I am getting excited just looking at this one. I really need to get out more.

Benefit 'The Porefessional' Pro Balm, £23.50

I have been hearing SO many good things about this of late, that I just have to empty my piggy bank and give this a try. I think me could probably all do with a bit of pore reduction, and I know I could on my nose. I am usually a bit skeptical of these 'wonder products', as they often don'tlive up to the hype, but we shall see.

Topshop Nails in Eclipse, £6

Clarins Instant Light Liquid Blush in 02 Coral Tonic, £19

I think after my explanation for the Clinique lipstick, you're pretty clued in on the whys and the wherefores of this one!

As you can see, if I was to buy all of this little lot then I might be left with quite a substantial dent in my bank balance, so for now, they shall remain on my 'Wishlist', especially after my recent splurging on Ebay! Seriously, I am actually dreading not being here when the packages arrive and the Mr having to sign for them, he is going to want to have a word with me! Haha. Before anyone gets the wrong end of the stick about that one though, no, I am not a kept woman, and yes, I do work hard for my money. But you know what men are like, they never see the need for half the things we buy!

What is on your wishlist at the moment? I'd love to know what your selections would be!

Did anyone get to see the Olympic torch today?

xx