21.9.14

Let’s Talk Cleansing...

Let’s Talk Cleansing...
Makeup removal and cleansing often feels like mammoth task. But I can't express how important it is to cleanse. If you don’t remove your makeup thoroughly, it can lead to congested skin, resulting spots and blackheads. In fact, it doesn’t matter how good your skincare routine is, or how clean your brushes are, if you don’t remove your makeup properly, you skin will suffer.

I’m sorry to say, but a makeup wipe and a splash of water just won’t do! There are hundreds of cleansing and makeup removal products on the market from lotions, milks, foaming mousses, oils, gels and wipes, so it can be a little daunting when choosing the right product for you. But in all honesty, you only need a couple of products and some of the best out there are easy to get hold of and relatively cheap. Just make sure you choose a cleanser for you, depending on your type of skin, not  necessarily the cleanser everyone is taking about, or recommending. You can choose skincare products that do not contain oil (oil-free), won’t block pores (non-comedogenic), won’t cause acne, or make it worse (non-acnegenic) and will not irritate (hypoallergenic). 

There is often a debate about how often you should cleanse. If I’m honest just use your common sense, if you’ve been out all night and worn a foundation like Estée Lauder Double Wear you need to double cleanse, whereas if youve been all day and not worn any makeup, you won’t need to double cleanse. Simples. And don’t tell me you don’t have the time, even on nights out with the girls, when I arrive home a little tipsy at 3am, I still accomplish a basic cleanse (dont ask me how, but I do!). So ladies, no excuses.

Let’s Talk Cleansing...

When I cleanse, the first thing I like to do is wash my hands and tie up my hair (basic, but necessary). Now, cleansing is a two step process, take the easy stuff off first, then wash your face. For my pre-cleanse I like to use Garnier Micellar Water and then if I’m wearing waterproof eye makeup I will minimise irritation and go in with something pacifically for the eyes, like Nivea’s Double Effect Eye Makeup Remover. I take two cotton pads (cotton balls leave fibres behind) soak them and then hold them over my eyes for 10 seconds - don’t rub, you loose lashes.

Next I take my cleanser.  I’m currently using a mix between my Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm which is an oil based cleanser, which is great at breaking down any makeup and Cetaphil which is a creamy and simple cleanser without any nasty stuff. I always apply my cleanser to dry skin, careless of what the label tells me to do (rebel!). I massage the product all over my face, along my hair line, eyebrows, front of my ears, sides of my nose and I don’t rush to rinse. Massaging the product is really beneficial to your skin and once a week I like to use my Magnitone Pulsar. But don’t scrub, as it can make skin conditions like acne far worse. Next, I leave the product for about 30 seconds to let it dissolve all my makeup. Then I take a warm flannel (acts as a mild exfoliator) and gently wipe the product away. I like to use a warm flannel as I have quite pink skin and hot water can exacerbate redness and I don’t fancy looking like a beetroot! Also, don’t be  don’t be filling a sink, as you’ll be splashing dirty water back onto your face (I’ll admit now, that I did that for years! Oops!). Finally if you wore lipstick that has stained or was richly pigmented, exfoliate your lips with a toothbrush or a lip sugar scrub. 

There you have it, my go to guide for cleansing! 
Do you enjoy a good cleanse?
Emily

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18.9.14

Beauty Wishlist #1

Beauty Wishlist #1

New season, new wardrobe beauty buys! Autumn has arrived and I’ve bought my boots and coat(s) and now I have a desire to fill my vanity with some new beauty bits. I have been holding back on the spending (well, kind of) and in recent weeks I’m feeling the urge to spend. Like most, I have a wishlist the length of my arm and today I’m going to share with you my autumn beauty, luxe wishlist.

[1] GlamGlow Thirstymud Hydrating Treatment £49.99:
I’ve read so many rave reviews about the GlamGlow face mask range and now I’ve had enough of reading about it and want to try it for myself! And as autumn arrives, so will the cold weather and in turn dry skin, so this is where this mask comes in! The Thirstymud Hydrating Treatment, claims deliver instant, extreme hydration, using the newest and most advanced hydration active technologies. It also moisturizes, restores, replenishes, and calms the skin. It is also formulated without all the nasties like parabens (cheap nasty ingredients). So, surely it’s worth the £49.99? No?

[2] bareMinerals bareSkin Pure Brightening Serum Foundation £22.88:
The bareMinerals Serum Foundation isn’t the only foundation on my wishlist, but I cant get enough of my bareMinerals Original Foundation, so it only seems right to try out their new serum foundation! The 2 in 1 mineral foundation and skincare serum is ultra-thin and claims to be skin perfecting - not surprising it has won a place in The Glamour Beauty Powerlist 2014.

[3] Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Palette (Not Released):
The Hourglass Blushers have been on my wishlist for far too long, but, I’m glad I waited, as this autumn Hourglass is releasing a blusher palette (swoon)! Three of their beautifully marbled blushes will be in the palette; Luminous Flush, Incandescent Electra and Mood Exposure. I own one of the ambient lighting powders and frankly it is quite wonderful and these blushers combine the soft focus radiant finish that the powders have, but they are marbleised with a pop of colour. I can’t imagine this palette will disappoint! But with the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder Palette costing £56, I know it won’t come cheap.

[4] Paco Rabanne Black XS For Her £33.15:
I haven’t bought myself a perfume in a while. I will admit that is mainly due to the fact that I have a rather large stash that I’m making my way through! But, I fancy something new and I popped into Boots recently and picked Paco Rabanne XS up, sprayed it, walked away and consequently loved it! The fragrance is described as a radiant, fruity, floral and woody fragrance. Which in my opinion doesn’t really sell it! Try it next time your in store.

[5] MAC Prep & Prime Fix+ £15.50:
Its an oldie, but a goodie! I have gone without this product for over 4 months. And it has pained me. I didnt realise quite how good it was until Ive been without it! Fix+ sprays out in a fine mist and really helps to diffuse and fix your makeup. Another bottle is due and then maybe a review too? 

[6] Sachajuan Leave In Conditioner £22:
I must admit the packaging doesnt excite me, but the five star reviews and the fact its sold online at Cult Beauty does! It sounds like the perfect leave in conditioner (although I do love my CW leave in conditioner!). Sachajuan is a renowned hair salon in Stockholm, Sweden and their products claim to have the most beautiful and immediate effects on your hair. I have read that it smells incredible and The Cult Beauty team say expect miracles! Well, I’m Sold.

[7] Charlotte Tilbury Colour Chameleon Eye Shadow Pencil £19:
Charlotte Tilburys range is a winner. There isn’t one product I don’t want to try! I have The Dolce Vita Eyeshadow Quad and the Film Star Bronze And Glow and now I want to expand my tiny collection and buy the Chameleon Eye Shadow Pencil in Black Diamonds. The range of pencils have been designed to bring out the natural colour of your eyes and make them pop (I can hear Charlotte Tilbury saying that herself!). They claim to be smooth and give the perfect finish. The shade I have picked is for blue eyes and is a smoky, sparkly colour. It looks divine. 

[8] NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil £18:
If you read my last post, you will know I have recently divulged into the world that is NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencils! They are effortless to apply, last for hours. Red Square is the shade I’m after, an orangey red. They are pretty much the perfect lip pencil for my pout this autumn.

What’s on your autumn beauty wishlist?
Emily


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16.9.14

NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencils // Dragon Girl & Damned

NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencils // Dragon Girl & Damned

Red lips always make a triumphant return come autumn and the NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencils do just the trick. Yet again another purchase which has been heavily influenced by Vivianna from VDM, that has made its way into my muji storage and onto my lips and I must say I’m impressed. 

These matte lip pencils know how to pack a punch, with rich pigmentation paired with a creamy texture. Despite being matte, these pencils glide on rather nicely and dont tug or pull, they last for hours (literally hours!) and leave a nice stain on the lips. In terms of transfer, I wouldn’t worry, drink and eat till your hearts content, you’ll see hardly any transfer. Although they are enriched with vitamin E, they aren’t moisturising, but they’re not drying either, so I like to prep my lips before with a little Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream. also love the convenience of these jumbo pencils, as it makes it makes it easier and more precise to apply. The one downfall however of lip pencils, is that at some point they will need a sharpen, meaning you will potentially loose some product; my tip would be to freeze them first, then sharpen (good tip huh?!)

NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencils // Dragon Girl & Damned
NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencils // Dragon Girl & Damned

First up we have Dragon Girl which is a bright bold red, with pink undertones and a blue base. Out of the two I own, this shade is particularly opaque and my teeth look like they have been whitened beyond all belief (know we all know why this lip pencil is Taylor Swifts signature red lip!). Although these pencils have a matte velvet finish, I do find that this shade has a nice sheen once applied on the lips, which is down to the fact it is so bright. Dragon Girl has been compared to MAC Ruby Woo, but personally I would say that Dragon Girl is far brighter and lighter. Depending on how patient I’m feeling I like to apply MAC cherry lip liner before hand and then clean up around the edges with a touch of concealer and voilà you a red lip ready.

Next on my NARS lip pencil list is Damned, which is a purply, plummy colour, with mauve undertones. When applying Damned I feel I need to apply more cautiously than with Dragon Girl, as  I find that unless you apply this shade with a light hand, it can appear quite dark and vampy. It also feathers far more than Dragon Girl (as pictured), so I defiantly need to pick up a liner in this shade. Although I would say this shade isn’t as creamy as Dragon Girl, it still doesn’t tug or pull on the lips.  I have read that this shade is similar to Rimmel Kate Matte Lipstick 107 and although they are both matte, I would say that 107 is lighter and more of a deep berry shade and Damned is far more purple. Despite the application being a little more tricky, I still love this shade and would say it’s pretty perfect for this autumn! 

NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencils // Dragon Girl & Damned
NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencils // Dragon Girl & Damned
NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencils // Dragon Girl & Damned

At £18 a time, these lip pencils aren’t particularly cheap, however if your a red lipstick lover and fancy trying something matte and new, I would highly recommend you pop these into your shopping basket for this autumn! I bought mine online at ASOS when they had 25% off everything (I just couldn’t help myself!), they often have discount codes available and if your a student you can get 10% off all year round! NARS Red Square Velvet Matte Lip Pencil is next on my wish list.

Have you ever tried the NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencils?
Emily



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14.9.14

The Topshop Boot Dupe #FeelingFrugal

The Topshop Boot Dupe #FeelingFrugal

Say hello to my new booties! I haven’t had them long and I’m already head over heels (pardon the pun)! After reading Amelia Liana’s post where she expressed her love for her new Topshop boots, I wanted them and listen up ladies, I bought them.... but at a third of the price.

I bought these boots (pictured above) online from eBay here for £22.99 plus £3.99 p&p, a total of £26.98, that’s a saving of over £50! I couldn’t believe my eyes when I found them online, they might not be real leather, but they are exactly the same! The cute strap, buckle detailing, the fact they are slip on, elasticated and with the gold heel, a pretty decent dupe for Topshops MINE Leather Buckled Ankle Boots which are on sale for £80.00! Madness. I didn’t even think twice about buying them.

I received them in the post within 4 days of ordering them (from UK seller) and I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of these boots, they are just as good, if not better than previous boots I have owned from high street stores, such as New Look. They heel isn’t that high, so are comfortable to wear throughout the day and they look pretty good when worn with jeans, skirts and dresses. They are the perfect A/W boots. Love them. Looks like #FeelingFrugal paid off.

The Topshop Boot Dupe #FeelingFrugal


The Topshop Boot Dupe #FeelingFrugal

The Topshop Boot Dupe #FeelingFrugal

Are you #FeelingFrugal too? Get a pair here (and thank me later!).  
Emily
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13.9.14

#FeelUniqueFriday // ghd Limited Edition V Coral Styler

#FeelUniqueFriday // ghd Limited Edition V Coral Styler

It seems I’m feeling a little lucky. The third pair of straighteners I have ever owned die on me and within three weeks I receive these... the most beautiful pair of straighteners I have ever seen. How? Well, Instagram thats how! I entered a competition on Feel Unique’s Instagram #FeelUniqueFriday and I won and I got to pick any product of my choice from the site and I’m now the proud owner of  a ghd Limited Edition V Coral Styler! I have never owned ghd’s before and they have always been something I have lusted after, no other straighteners have ever compared and whenever I get the chance to use a friends, I don’t even consider using my own! It didn’t take me long to get them out of the box and give them a go and when I opened them I was in ore at how pretty they where and 10 minutes later my hair looked and felt amazing! 

#FeelUniqueFriday // ghd Limited Edition V Coral Styler When I looked online I was surprised to find out, that in the last 11 years, ghd have donated a whopping £8 million to breast cancer charities from worldwide sales of their pink stylers. And for every pair of the limited edition V Coral Styler sold, £10 will go to Breakthrough Breast Cancer, which I feel is really commendable (even more reason to go out and buy a pair!). 

The award wining V styler has had a catwalk makeover, as these coral straighteners are 1 of 3 limited edition stylers from the new bird of paradise collection and I must say they are stunning, even more so in real life, than online in pictures! The ghd’s come beautifully packaged with a black lid and foiled tropical coloured, feathered printed box (that was a bit of a mouthful!). Not quite sure what I’m going to do with the box yet, but I won’t be throwing it away - it’s too pretty! The ghd’s in keeping with the box, have a pink and coral ombré design and if I haven’t already said it before, they are b-e-a-u-tiful! The plates are a little glittery and even the switch is coloured pink and the ghd logo lights up when on (easily pleased!). I must say the design is very well thought out and is by far the prettiest limited edition ghd design I've seen. You also receive a coordinated heat-resistant travel mat, which is always very handy, as no one wants a hole in their carpet.

#FeelUniqueFriday // ghd Limited Edition V Coral Styler

Stripping back to the practicalities, it’s safe that no other straighteners compare in terms of quality and the professional finish that ghd’s give, which is why they are so widely renowned. ghd’s have advanced ceramic heat technology and smooth, contoured, floating plates with a gloss finish, for salon shine and snag-free styling. The barrel is much rounder, allowing you to create curls, waves and flicks and of course, perfect for creating a straight do that lasts for days. These straighteners have a long length power cable (2.7m) and a swivel cord (and we all know how important it is, not to end up wrapped up in a cable when attempting to curl your hair!). One thing I particularly love about these ghd’s, is how quickly they heat up, 3-5 seconds to be exact and that sleep mode switches on if the straighteners are not used for 30 minutes. They are so quick and easy to use, no need to go over sections of your hair again and again, as they are very hot, so make sure you always use heat protectant ladies! And you get a two year warranty. 

#FeelUniqueFriday // ghd Limited Edition V Coral Styler

#FeelUniqueFriday // ghd Limited Edition V Coral Styler

All in all, I’m throughly impressed and wish I had got my hands on a pair sooner. The price may be a little high at £129, but taking everything into consideration these are well worth the price. These stylers are perfect at creating loose curls and great at taming those pesky baby hairs along my hairline. I love how my hair feels after using these ghd’s and it is much more manageable. To be honest I can’t fault them and I will be forever grateful to  Feel Unique for being so generous - thank you! Make sure you follow Feel Unique on Instagram, you never know, maybe you will win the next #FeelUniqueFriday. 

Do you own a pair of ghd’s?
Emily
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4.9.14

Clarins Liquid Bronze Self Tanning For Face And Décolleté // Review

Clarins Liquid Bronze Self Tanning For Face And Décolleté // Review

The summer months many be coming to an end, but your tan doesn’t have to! This award winning self tanner from Clarins for your face and décolleté (the upper part of a woman's torso - credit to Wikipedia for that one!), delivers the most natural healthy looking tan without any streaks, all year round! Its the perfect beauty cheat, disguising any redness and imperfections, whilst giving you that sun kissed glow we all rave about. 

The product itself is light and milky in texture and the application is effortless. In the evening after I have cleansed, I like to apply a 2 pence amount onto a cotton pad and then sweep it over my face avoiding my hair line and eyebrows (like ya do!). It doesn’t leave a greasy film, absorbs quickly and leaves my skin feeling lovely and soft - which is down to the fact it’s packed with vitamin E.

It’s a gradual tan, so you won’t wake up in the morning looking like you’ve dipped your head into a bucket of St Moriz and it doesn’t have that dreaded biscuit smell. Instead I wake up with a subtle glow and the colour is great, you would never know I had applied fake tan. When I use this product on a regular basis (2-3 times a week), I don’t have to wear half as much foundation and I feel much more comfortable when not wearing any makeup. And unlike other face tanners, it doesn’t block my pores, or irritate my skin. If you wanted to achieve a deeper tan I would re-apply every other day. 

This product has been a favourite of mine for over a year and has featured here before on British Beauty Addict. I have and will certainly be purchasing it again and again. You may think the price is a little dear at £19.00 a bottle, but it lasts forever and is a great investment skincare essential! If your currently in the midst of writing your autumn beauty wish list, don’t forget to add this.

Have you ever tried this product? 
Emily
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