30.10.14
My Spot Fighting Skin Prescription
27.10.14
Laura Mercier Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer // Review
I have been having a bit of a makeup base revelation this year, I have found a couple of bases which are hard to beat; bareMinerals Original Foundation and Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation and it’s fair to say that Laura Mercier’s Tinted Moisturiser has very quickly become another firm, face base favourite. After just one use I was instantly impressed and I knew I was onto a winner when both my Mum and my Sister commented on how good my makeup looked.
In terms of application I find this product works best when it is applied with my fingers, as my brushes soak it up. On the back of my hand the tinted moisturiser appears quite thick and creamy, but it applies beautifully, smoothing over my skin effortlessly.
The lightweight formula is pretty magical. Unlike other tinted moisturisers I have tried, this tinted moisturiser is true to its word and is really hydrating. It is the perfect blend between skincare and makeup. It gives my dehydrated skin that much need boost, whilst giving my skin a soft hint of colour that evens out my skin tone. It has an SPF of 20, is non-comedogenic (meaning it won’t clog pores) and has been allergy tested, so is perfect for those of us with sensitive, spot prone skin.
Being a tinted moisturiser, this product doesn’t mask my complexion, my freckles are still visible, but surprisingly it does cover minor imperfections and the coverage is buildable. The longevity is quite good and I have noticed it wears evenly and doesn't cling to dry patches - which gets a big thumbs up from me! Although this product is oil-free it leaves a gorgeous glow. However, I do find I can get a little shiny after a couple of hours, so on greasy days I skip moisturiser and apply the product onto bare skin and finish with a translucent powder.
Now, the price might make you wince, but you get 40ml of product, but thats 10ml’s more than your average foundation, plus you only need a pea sized amount, so I can see this lasting a while. This tinted moisturiser is available in three formulas - oil-free, original and illuminating. It also comes in an amazing 10 shades, so there is something for everyone! I love a low maintenance product that delivers and Laura Mercier's Tinted Moisturiser hasn’t disappointed.
24.10.14
HOW TO: Fuller & Longer Lashes
For me one coat of mascara doesn’t cut it.
I’ve always been big on lashes, applying coat after coat. Don’t get me
wrong, I’m not a fan of clumpy tarantula lashes, but who doesn’t want giraffe
like lashes?! Getting past the animal references, I will start by saying that
there are a lot of products and tips and tricks out there when it comes to
lashes. But, in all honesty I don’t have the time, or patience, to dip a cotton
bud into baby powder and apply it to my eyelashes after each coat (saying that, I wouldn’t even say that really works?!), or apply
false lashes on a daily basis! Do you? Understandably our eyelashes
are genetically programmed and we aren’t all
blessed with killer lashes (blame Mum & Dad), but there are a few basic things you can do in
order to create the illusion of having fuller & longer lashes, without baby powder, or falsies.
1. CURL YOUR LASHES:
1. CURL YOUR LASHES:
Skipping this part is the
biggest mistake you can make. Curling your lashes can really help open up your
eyes and make them appear bigger, by flipping your lashes upwards. If you have
flat lashes, they may not even be short, so investing in a good pair of eyelash
curlers is vital. I really like the Shu Uemura Eyelash Curlers, they have a well deserved reputation of being one the best on the market, they don’t pinch, hold a curl and are quick and easy to use.
HOW:
Please do this carefully and gently, we are trying to create fuller and longer
lashes, not pull them out. So, hold the curlers at the base of your upper lashes and tilt the
curler upwards. Next create small pulses, by pumping the curler. Repeat this a
few more times, working your way up lashes. This will create more of a curl rather
than that ‘I blatantly just curled my lashes crimp.’ And please avoid curling your lashes after applying mascara. I state the obvious here for many, but
I made this mistake when I was younger and I pulled half my lashes out.
2.
APPLY EYELINER:
Tightlining as it is
formally known in the beauty world, is the technique of applying eyeliner
to your upper waterline. This step can really make your lashes appear much
fuller and darker and is one, which I have only recently come to realise really
does work! Now, this technique is super simple, but it can take a little practice especially
if you don’t have the steadiest of hands. You can use gel, cream or pencil, I wouldn’t advise using a liquid liner as it would be too wet. Remember you are trying to create the illusion of a fuller lash line, so if you use brown mascara, opt for a brown liner etc. I personally like to opt for a waterproof black eyeliner, like my Benefit BADgal Waterproof Eyeliner, but a cheaper alternative would be Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Khol Kajal Eye Liner. But I wouldn’t mind trying a flat liner brush and gel liner if anyone has any suggestions? Finally, I really like to wear eyeliner on my upper lash line too, but keep in mind that wearing bold liquid liner on the upper lash line can cut your lashes in half and make them appear shorter.
HOW: With one hand lift top lid and apply
eyeliner onto your waterline. I find going over it a few times works best and stop before
you get to the inner and outer corners to prevent your eyes from looking beady.
3.
APPLY MASCARA:
I could talk all day about
mascara, yep I really could. But for the time being I will keep this simple.
The type of mascara you use will obvious have an impact (or not) on the
outcome of your lashes. If your lashes refuse to hold a curl, opt for a waterproof mascara - you’ll be surprised! If you haven’t quite found the mascara that works for you, don’t be scared to double up on mascara. Use one for lengthening and one for volume. And if you find your mascara is clumping, you may have too much product on the brush, or maybe it has expired? Read more about this here.
There are hundreds of mascaras to choose from, including fibre mascaras that you brush on prior to your regular mascara application (they are like mini hair extensions but for your lashes). Now, these may work for some, but I’m not the biggest fan, as I find they fall of and drop onto my nose throughout the day. I have tried and tested so many mascaras and my favourites are - SEVENTEEN Doll’d Up Mascara (review), SEVENTEEN Falsify HD Mascara, Max Factor False Lash Effect (review) and Rimmel London Lash Accelerator Endless Mascara that already has fibres incorporated into the formula.
HOW: Remember slow
and steady wins the race ladies, so take your time! Firstly make sure
you’re looking down into a mirror (to really get to the base) and place the
wand underneath your top lashes, next gently wiggle the wand in a zig-zag
motion as you begin to drag it upwards towards to the tips of your
lashes. I personally like to wait a few seconds between each coat,
but this is dependent on what mascara you are using (you may find it works
better when applied this way). Make sure you apply mascara to the top
of your lashes not just the underside as this insures even distribution and
full coverage. And don’t neglect your bottom lashes, they love a coat
of mascara too! And lastly pick up any mascara thats on your skin with cotton bud, if need be comb through lashes with lash comb and pinch the tips of the hair to get rid of any clumps.
19.10.14
Face Time #1
16.10.14
Mitsis Blue Domes Hotel, Karadmena, Kos, Greece
The Mitsis Blue Domes Hotel in Karadmena, Kos, Greece is like
something out of a brochure (or, on triangleswimwear's Instagram account!) it was breathtakingly
beautiful...
My boyfriend Ben had booked the holiday with Thomas Cook and kept the location secret, I have never been so excited! I could talk about my holiday and the hotel for hours on end, so I will try and keep this short and sweet! The Mitsis Blue Domes Hotel, sits on a backdrop of rocky Mountains and overlooks the sea and is situated just 20 minutes away from Kos airport, 30 minutes away from Kos town and just 10 minutes away from Karadmena, a walled town full of bars and restaurants, with a boat filled marina.
The hotel itself was pretty darn fabulous. Let me
start by saying, I have never had the pleasure of staying in a hotel, that has
functional swimming pools, that are just for show... that’s right, pools that
sparkled in the sunshine undisturbed. The complex had many large outdoor swimming
pools that although a little chilly, you can take a dip into (and we did!),
surrounded by decking, pretty gardens, bridges and many sun beds. In fact,
there was never a rush for a sun bed, no need to be a sun bed reserver
and there were no mosquitoes, as the pools are salt-water pools. The beach was
pebbled and very pretty, with a bar serving drinks, ice cream and snacks.
Water sports and beach massages were also available.
The complex was beautifully decorated and every little
detail had been very well thought out. It’s a large hotel, but it was never
crowded, or loud. I cant fault the staff, they were professional, friendly,
and welcoming. The animation team wasn’t too in your face and although the
lip-syncing was a little questionable, we stayed through a whole performance of
Mamma Mia and actually quite enjoyed it!
The hotel has 10 restaurants; the main restaurant is a
buffet style and had the most beautiful outdoor seating area overlooking the
sea. There are also 6 smaller restaurants around one of the larger pooler
areas, that all serve different food such as, burgers, pancakes, ice
cream, greek cuisine, german cuisine and fish. And not forgetting the
3 restaurants on the sea front which you had to book; Italian,
Mexican and Greek. The food was really nice and Ben’s beer often came in a
frozen glass in the main restaurant (the little things)! It's
probably worth mentioning we went all inclusive and boy was it worth
it.
Every evening, bar one (no pun intended), we sat in the
main bar (open every evening until 1am) where I drank a few piña
coladas and Ben drank a few beers. There was always a bit of a queue for
drinks, but nothing like my local Weatherspoons! However, a waitress would come
over and take our order and we found that was much quicker than queuing.
We met some lovely people whilst on holiday and spent most evenings in the bar
with them laughing and chatting away. The Wi-Fi was only free in the bar and it
was pretty poor. But myself and Ben left our phones back in our hotel room
and all things considered it was a breath of fresh air not being
connected to everything and everyone. It was just what I needed.
Unfortunately I have no pictures of our room (so
you’ll just have to take my word for it!), but the room was spacious and
beautifully decorated, with a wooden ceiling, marble flooring, a balcony
overlooking the sea, a mini bar (that was refilled daily), two showers, a bath,
large sink area and super comfy beds - probably the best I’ve ever slept in! My
only negative comment would be that the hairdryer was pretty useless, but in
all honesty I didn’t expect anything different! Have you ever been abroad
and had a decent hairdryer?
So much for keeping it
short! But all in all, (minus the delays on both our inbound and outbound flights
*cough* Thomas Cook *cough*), I have never really wanted to visit
the same hotel twice, I have a list longer than my arm of places I want to visit and like going to new places. But I would make an exception with this hotel
and Ben has said the same.
Take me back...
10.10.14
Duty Mind If I do...
Is it okay to be just as excited about the shopping potential in the duty free, as you are excited for the holiday? Well, once the holiday was booked, I started dreaming of Gatwick North Terminal and filling my basket! So once me and Ben had checked in, it didn’t take me long to do exactly that! In all honesty, I didn’t spend as much as I thought I would and although I went with a few things in mind, I didn’t pick any of them up, I was so overwhelmed by the beautifully lit counters that I didn’t know what to do with myself! So here is what I got my hands on instead.
RRP: £40.00 30ml | DUTY FREE: £32.00
There is just something about Jo Malone fragrances. They are hands down, like nothing else I own, or have ever tried before. This is my first Jo Malone fragrance and I’m certain it won’t be my last. The packaging alone makes me swoon! But the scent is divine it’s described as 'A burst of deep, tart blackberry juice, blending with the freshness of just-gathered bay and brambly woods. Vibrant and verdant.’ If I’m honest that description doesn’t sell it. I say, get to a Jo Malone counter and give it a sniff for yourself.
RRP: £72.00 50ml | DUTY FREE: £57.60
Ah! Tom Ford where have you been all my life! This fragrance is quite simply wonderful. I will attempt to describe it to you, but yet again, I feel this may be one you will need to try out for yourself! It’s a dramatic, spicy, sensual scent with a ‘blend of Black Truffle and Ylang mingled with fresh Bergamot and delectable Black Currant.’ It’s a very distinctive scent, unisex intact and when I wear it, I can’t stop sniffing myself and thrusting my wrists into peoples faces. In fact, it changes on my skin, initially when I sprayed it in duty free I wasn’t all that impressed, walked away, spent some money, asked myself what that lovely smell was, realised it was Tom Ford black Orchid and consequently went back and bought it! It is a little on the pricey side and not something I will be spraying willy-nilly! I have worn it a couple of times since and can’t get over how beautiful it smells. I would say this is an evening scent and not one for the faint hearted. I also must mention how gorgeous the bottle is, oh so sophisticated.
RRP: £17.00 | DUTY FREE:£14.15
I have been meaning to buy a new bottle of MAC Fix+
for months. But it had been out of stock etc, etc. So, I headed into the MAC
counter in duty free in the hope of buying a new bottle, but surprise,
surprise, it was out of stock! So instead, I opted for the MAC Mineralize
Charged Water. It is described as ‘a refreshing, hydrating mist that
replenishes skin and enhances makeup application and wear. Spray before makeup
to create a dewy canvas. Re-apply as needed to relish moisture or re-set
makeup.’ This charged water is also infused with green tea and citrus scents,
but it isn’t overpowering, it’s light and very refreshing. In terms
of enhancing makeup application I haven’t quite tried it yet. So I will
have to update you all.
RRP: £19.00 | DUTY FREE:£15.80
The brush every eyeshadow lover needs, well so many
beauty blogger and shadow lovers say! This brush is renowned to be the best of
the best of the blending brushes and as an eyeshadow lover, I have forever
wanted to put it to the test! The brush has fine, densely packed fibers, which
are ever so soft to touch and all the MAC professional brushes are hand-sculpted
and assembled using the finest quality materials (and so I should think for
£19.00!). Someone pass me some eyeshadow.
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