22.5.16

My Current Evening Skincare Routine

My Current Evening Skincare Routine
I've always been one to double cleanse in the evening, but I've never been particularly loyal to any particular set of products. But as of late my evening skincare routine has remained a constant and every evening I like to take 10 minutes or so to reset my skin; especially since starting my new job in London - sooty skin doesn't make for happy pores! So today I wanted to share my second part to my skincare trilogy; my evening skincare routine... 
Micellar Water has quickly become a cult classic with near enough every skincare brand stock a bottle of the stuff. The party and lazy girls favourite method of removing makeup, with it's no rinse formula. Just a few sweeps of a cotton pad, it removes dirt and makeup quickly and effectively. I use the budget friendly cleanser as the first step in my evening skincare routine. The formula is gentle enough to use on the eyes and lips. And doesn't strip the skin, or leave it feeling tight. 

Regular cleansing keeps the skin clear and Clinique's Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm is great for a deep cleanse. Its functional, no fuss, and non-drying, non-greasy, lightweight, removes even the toughest waterproof makeup, formulated with no nasties, nourishing and suitable for all skin types. Clinique's Take The Day Off Cleansing balm is the second step in my cleansing routine. Taking a small amount, I use my fingertips to massage the balm onto dry skin and rinse with lukewarm water. Once water is applied the solid balm melts into a silky white milk. After patting my skin dry, it feels thoroughly cleansed, clean and amazingly soft. Take The Day Off is just as good as Emma Hardie's Moringa Balm (although EH smells pretty darn good) and the Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel, which had the tendency to leave my skin feeling a little greasy. One word of warning though, try not to open your eyes when removing eye makeup, as you will be left with cloudy vision for the following five minutes!

Some find that toning is an unnecessary step in their skincare routine, but a well-formulated toner can be hugely beneficial to the skin and is an easy step to incorporate into your routine. Twice weekly I like I reach for a liquid exfoliant - Pixi Glow Tonic (contains gycolic acid 5% - AHA). Now I had my reservations, but this tonic effectively removes dull skin cells to reveal a glowing complexion, kicking my dull complexion to the curb. After application my skin feels smooth and refreshed and appears more radiant. And with continued use it helps to gradually diminish signs of imperfections and scarring. But it's important not to overdo it. And personally I find that whilst this exfoliant doesn't leave my skin pink, if used on a daily basis it can be a tad drying. 

My go-to toner is LUSH Tea Tree Water. With blemish fighting and clarifying ingredients, such as tea tree oil and grapefruit, this toner not only removes any traces of cleanser, it also reduces redness, calms and prevents breakouts. Typically I use this toner after cleansing, but it can be used anytime of day. I like to spritz the tea tree water directly onto a cotton pad and swipe all over my face and it leaves my skin feeling clean and refreshed. 

This facial oil has become my go-to nighttime treatment. Used alone on freshly cleansed skin before I hit the hay, the organic, natural and unaggressive orange oil from Pai immediately improves my skins texture, whilst helping to protect and maintain moisture, softness and elasticity of the skin. Concentrated with a blend of natural and organic ingredients, it's a great all rounder and perfect for sensitive skin. With continued use, it helps reduce hyper pigmentation and is affordable to at just £22.00.

What products feature in your evening skincare routine?
Emily
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20.5.16

Too Faced Chocolate Bon Bons Eyeshadow Palette | Review & Swatches

Too Faced Chocolate Bon Bons Eyeshadow Palette | Review & Swatches

The Too Faced Chocolate Bon Bons Eyeshadow Palette £39.00*, is the third palette in the best selling chocolate bar Series from Too Faced. By far the cutest palette in the collection, it's a great addition for fellow makeup junkies and the quintessential girly girl.

The Too Faced Chocolate Bon Bons Eyeshadow Palette consists of sixteen eyeshadows housed in a sturdy polly pocketesque pink tin, with raised love hearts mirroring the heart shaped pans inside. Two of the sixteen pans are larger, rectangular and repeat favourites from previous Too Faced palettes. The palette is generously sized and has a nice mix of warm, neutral and cool tones (and an unexpected pop of pink), with a mix of finishes. All the eyeshadows are infused with Too Faced's famous chocolate-scented, antioxidant cocoa powder formula, meaning they smell (and taste!) delicious. And whilst the palette doesn't house any particularly unique shades, 'Molasses Chip' is my favourite and has a beautiful metallic finish. The majority of the eyeshadows are super soft and blend seamlessly together and although they swatched well, I do find the pigmentation when applied to the lid across the board is so-so. But with a little persistence and eyeshadow primer the colour pay off intensifies and all in all I find they perform well, lasting a good six to seven hours before showing signs or wear. A few other shades that I must mention are 'Mocha' a great transition shade, 'Satin Sheets' which works well as a cheekbone highlight and 'Dark Truffle' which is by far one of my all time favourite deep, dark matte browns. 

Too Faced Chocolate Bon Bons Eyeshadow Palette | Review & Swatches
Too Faced Chocolate Bon Bons Eyeshadow Palette | Review & Swatches
Too Faced Chocolate Bon Bons Eyeshadow Palette | Review & Swatches
Too Faced Chocolate Bon Bons Eyeshadow Palette | Review & Swatches
Too Faced Chocolate Bon Bons Eyeshadow Palette | Review & Swatches

Almond Truffle: cool toned dusty mauve, with a matte finish.
Satin Sheets: light pink/champagne with a gold frosted finish.
Sprinkles: light pink with a soft gold sheen.
Molasses Chip: rich copper with a metallic finish.
Malted: deep brown with a semi-matte finish.
Cashew Chew: muted beige with a satin finish.
Cotton Candy: medium shimmery pink with a blue undertone and a frosted finish.
Café au Lait: icy light brown with a hint of silver and a metallic finish.
Bordeaux:  muted true chocolate brown with a matte finish.
Mocha: medium brown with a matte finish.
Black Current: dark purple with a slight copper sparkle and a frosted finish.
Dark Truffle: deep chocolate brown with warm undertones and a satin finish.
Pecan Praline: taupe with a matte finish.
Totally Fetch: bright pink with a blue undertone and satin finish.
Earl Grey: smoky gun metal teal with a satin finish.
Divinity: creamy vanilla with a semi-matte finish.

What are your thoughts on the Too Faced Chocolate Bon Bons Eyeshadow Palette?
Emily
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18.5.16

My 3-Step Morning Skincare Routine

My 3-Step Morning Skincare Routine
I've never shared my skincare routine here on BBA as I'm often changing it up. But for the first time in a long time, I have three skincare products that I've been reaching for on a regular basis that are working for me, that I'm happy enough to share with you all (the near empty products are testament to this!). So without further a do, here is my current 3-step morning skincare routine... 

Origins GinZing Refreshing Scrub Cleanser £18.50
First things first, I like to wake up, cleanse and energise my skin with a gentle 2-in-1 scrub and cleanser from Origins. The Origins GinZing Refreshing Scrub Cleanser scrub has an uplifting citrus scent and is packed with refreshing, radiance boosting ingredients such as panax Ginseng and caffeine. It also includes Jojoba and Carnauba Wax which exfoliate to help unclog pores. Gentle enough for daily use, I massage the scrub into damp skin and rinse. After use my skin is left looking smoother and brighter without feeling tight - the perfect way to wake up my skin in the morning! 

Vichy Aqualia Thermal Dynamic Hydration Power Serum £22.50
Serum is a product well worth considering adding into your routine if you haven't already. Since introducing the Vichy Aqualia Thermal Dynamic Hydration Power Serum into my routine three years ago I haven't looked back. So why has it been a long-standing member of my skincare routine? This serum is formulated with a high concentration of Vichy Thermal Spa Water and hyaluronic acid. The serum can be used alone, or layered under a moisturiser. Its lightweight runny formula gives immediate relief to my skin taking away that tight feeling, leaving my skin plump and visibly smoother. A product I recommend to many and one I urge you to try!

Antipodes Rejoice Light Day Cream £23.50
Immediately after applying my serum I take a small amount of Antipodes Rejoice Light Day Cream and massage it into my skin. Formulated with normal, combination and oily skin types in mind, the lightweight moisturiser boasts natural ingredients, such as Manuka flower oil to help promote a blemish free complexion, avocado oil for hydration and rosehip oil which is packed with vitamins and essential fatty acids to help correct dark spots and reduce scars. It's also free from any nasties and has added anti-ageing benefits as it's been proven to stimulate collagen production by up to 59%. Applied onto the skin the non-oily moisturiser is surprisingly thick in consistency, but absorbs almost immediately without leaving any residue on the skin. OhI must mention its scent... Whilst not unpleasant I find it odd, it has a heavy natural almond scent which tends to linger on the skin for a few minutes or so. However, whilst I'm not one to get excited about moisturiser, I have noticed a visible difference in my skin. Not only does it look far healthier and plump. I've also had little to no non-hormonal breakouts. Not bad eh?

What skincare products do you reach for in the morning?
Emily
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11.5.16

£8.49 False Nails (That Look Real) From Nailene

£8.49 False Nails (That Look Real) From Nailene
Back in the 90's, I used to apply double-sided sticky pads onto my nails and press on a very stiff rather thick false nail on top - sound familiar? And I honestly can't say I remember the last time I purchased a pack of false nails... until now and boy has false nails evolved! Nailene's 200 Full Cover Nails in oval are not only comfortable to wear, easy to apply, long lasting and ridiculously good value for money, they look real!

Nailene's 200 Full Cover Nails in oval are available to buy in-store and online at Boots for just £8.49. And as the name suggests inside there are 200 plain undecorated nails in 10 sizes. I purchased oval shaped nails which are slimmer and more feminine than the likes of square and rounded (plus I tend to find they slim the appearance of my fingers!) and the length is easy to manage meaning no struggling with picking up coins or debit cards. Also included are nail glue and a nail buffer. 

Application whilst requires a little time (roughly 30 minutes) is dead simple. Ensuring my nails are clean of any polish; I lightly buff them gently removing the nails natural shine. Next I select the nail which fits my natural nail and apply a small amount of glue directly onto the underside of the false nail and apply holding firmly down for around 10 seconds. I then repeat this process and finish with a coat of my favourite colour and top coat (currently Barry M's Gelly Hi Shine in 'Almond' and KIKO's Gel Effect Top Coat).

The result? Natural looking nails, that look professional and well cared for. I have received multiple compliments, which reflects the quality of the product. So how long do they last? I was sceptical at first, thinking they’d ping off one by one within a few days or so. But surprisingly they last a full 5 days until the odd one falls off and the tips start to crack. Yes, full five days! And even after a week they’re a few left standing that require a soak in acetone polish remover in order to remove. And whilst it's tempting to peel and break the remaining nails off DON’T, as you'll be left with painful and sensitive nail beds. 

My only minor gripe with this product is whilst the nail glue is by far the best nail glue I've ever used, you may require a needle after a few applications as the tip of the glue becomes solid. And yes 200 nails are supplied, but unless you file the larger sizes down, one box will allow for 10 applications. But if you're an acrylic nail devotee, these false nails from Nailene may just convert you, just think, no more budgeting for biweekly maintenance which can cost anything from £15-£20. These false nails are perfect for a special occasion, holiday and daily wear and don't break the bank costing under £10. And I for one quite like long talons so will without a doubt be picking up a pack of Nailene's stiletto nails next. 

What are your experiences with false nails? Have you tried Nailene false nails?
Emily
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