Beauty SOS! (August)

- Just a random Instagram of me from last week - I feel like I haven't shown my face on here for a while and I think it's sometimes nice to put a face to the name behind the blog! - 

Hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the Olympics! I know I am, which is saying a lot considering my lack of enthusiasm in the lead up to the games. I think it had just been so long since the last one that I had forgotten about the adrenaline of it all, and it's actually proved to be a source of much 'friendly banter' between the hubby and I, who, if you didn't know, is Brazilian. When I say friendly banter, I mean we have been winding each other up something rotten. I got a bit too big for my boots and came over all smug during the GB/Brazil basketball game on Tuesday as it genuinely seemed like we were going to win, and he is always going on about how much better Brazil are at all sports than we are. Imagine my surprise, then, when Brazil made a comeback and managed to pip us to the post in the last quarter. Cue much word-eating for me. However, this was soon rectified when our women's football team panned theirs, although hubby naturally had to put a dampener on it by saying that it 'didn't count because no one cares about women's football', or something equally helpful. Just to clarify though, he is not a horrible person - he just knows exactly what to say to get a reaction out of me, and I always fall for it! Haha.

ANYWAY.

Today is the second instalment of 'Beauty SOS'. If you missed last month's then it's basically a series of posts I am running, where at the beginning of each month, I ask you lovely people for a spot of advice on whatever is troubling me beauty-wise that month., in that I ask for your recommendations of products and tips. I will then share the solutions and tips I have been helpfully given (or have since discovered myself) the following month so that we can all feel smug that we know the answer. For more info, feel free to pop over and have a look at the first Beauty SOS post here.

So, a quick recap of last month's 'issues'. I asked for your wisdom on:

1. Dark circles under the eyes

The lovely Alex over at The Wallflower suggested I try ginseng, although she didn't specify how to use it. Well, I have been taking a multi-vitamin with Panax and Ginseng, and using eye cream religiously, morning and evening, and I have noticed some small improvements. I'm still on the lookout for something else to help with this problem though, so do let me know if you've got any secrets!

2. A good matte bronzer

Lots of you recommended Benefit Hoola and Bourjois Delice de Poudre, so I decided to get myself a Hoola sample in order to try before I buy. Surpisingly, I didn't find this powder to be particularly flattering on my skin tone, which is odd given what a cult product it has become. Weirder still is that Dallas, an unusual sort of plummy-brown shade of powder (also Benefit) which I had previously seen and said I would never buy, has turned out to be a huge winner for me! As I mentioned in my July Favourites post, it's perfect for contouring and looks great alongside the Coralista blush. Some other suggestions were Bare Minerals the Warmth, Bobbi Brown and Nars Laguna, which has LONG been on my wishlist. I WILL get it, eventually!

3. Neutral matte eyeshadows

I have received suggestions of Too Faced Matte Colours Collection and Stila Into the Light for this one, but due to the expensive car troubles I've had this month (which I've already mentioned a million times!) eyeshadows haven't really been my priority when it comes to money. Both have been popped on my shopping list though, so again, I will let you know when I have had a chance to check them out, along with Natural Collection eyeshadows and the MUA Heaven and Earth palette.

4. Blocked pores on my nose.

Alice, one of my lovely readers, suggested that I try Montagne Jeunesse Charcoal Pore Strips, but unfortunately I haven't been able to find them anywhere near me. Alex recommended that I try a homemade baking soda and orange juice scrub, which I had completely forgotten about until now, so I will endeavour to try that out and let you know my thoughts. What I have been doing at home though, is  paying more attention to the area when exfoliating, and use my Caudalie Beauty Elixir after cleansing, and this does seem to have helped a bit. Benefit's The Porefessional also goes onto the area before my foundation, and while it doesn't solve the root of the problem, it does help with the appearance.

Please do head over to the first Beauty SOS post (linked above) and have a read through all the helpful comments my wonderful readers have left. If you are troubled with any of the above then you may well find yourself a solution, although I have tried to summarise all that was mentioned here.

So, onto this month's beauty emergencies!

1. A good clay face mask.

I've noticed that my T-zone has started to become a little oily of late, particularly my forehead, and I seem to have been getting a few more blemishes too :( So I would like a good clay-based face mask that is worth the money it costs.

2. A moisturising face mask.

I'm after a really luxurious one that doesn't cost the earth and will really quench my skin's thirst.

3. Something to banish dry lips once and for all!

Self explanatory really. If you know of any innovative new products then please do let me know in the comments below.

4. An amazing deep conditionng hair mask.

One that truly does the job and doesn't just 'coat' the hair to create the illusion.

That's it for this month, please share your wisdom if you feel that you have some on any of these topics, and if there is anything I could help you with in return then please feel free to ask!

Our car is finally, FINALLY fixed, so we are going on a little impromptu day out today, although we are not sure where yet. It's lovely and sunny, so I'll be sure to take lots of photos to share with you later.
Glad to see that we have won a couple of gold Olympic medals since I first wrote this post! Let's hope there are more to come today.

Hope you're having a lovely day!

xx