Autumn Skincare Routine: Discovering Burt's Bees

I absolutely love the season change between summer and autumn. I get all excited just thinking about cosy nights, woolly blankets, comfy pjs, snuggly slippers and yummy hot chocolates. The change of season means a change in lifestyle, and that includes skincare.

In the summer, I like to keep things light. I have oily skin, which is a nightmare in hot weather. When the leaves start to fall and the air becomes cooler, my skin really appreciates richer products.

I’ve never used any Burt’s Bees products before, but these two products grabbed my attention as I saw they were over 99% natural.

The first is the Soap Bark & Chamomile Deep Cleansing Cream. Chamomile is known to help you to relax, which was perfect for me while settling down into a new job. And as it happens, soap bark is just a fancy name for shea butter, which is great for protecting your skin from the environment.

When applying this for the first time, I was initially wowed by the scent. It smells like a cross between Palma Violets, Love Hearts and Fizzers - three of my favourite childhood sweets! The second thing I loved was its creamy texture. It’s moisturising, but also fresh due to the scent.

In the evening, I usually take my makeup off with some wipes before applying the cleanser and leaving it on for around fifteen minutes. This gives it time to really soak into the skin. When leaving it on for longer, it feels cooling and does tingle slightly. Then after washing it off I can immediately see that it de-puffs my face, leaving it bright and radiant.

The second product I purchased was the Burt’s Bees Radiance Day Cream. Like I mentioned earlier, I do have oily skin so I tend to find night creams too heavy for me. Therefore, I use a day cream as a moisturiser, night and day. I went for the radiance cream as I wanted my skin to continue to look healthy going into autumn/winter, when it’s not as easy to eat fruit all day.  

The cream’s main ingredient is royal jelly, which is said to normalise the fat secretion of skin glands to reduce oiliness. It also helps with anti-aging. I apply this morning and night after I’ve cleansed, and love how it moisturises my face without overloading it with oils. My skin seems to drink up and then perk up!

Have you switched up your skincare routine for autumn?

 Twitter | Tumblr | Instagram | Bloglovin'

Life Changer #3 - Fudge Clean Blonde Violet Toning Shampoo

Blondies listen up! This one is a blooming good one! I'm pretty sure that most blondes, natural and dyed, struggle with killing the brassiness. I've been colouring my hair blonde for 8 years (let's forget about the year of the redhead that did not suit me at all), and only since I found this product I can say I have completely banished the brass.

Fudge Clean Blonde - £11-£13.90 on Amazon

Trying to get my hair back to a true blonde from red has taken two years. The last time I visited the hairdressers, I came out thinking the highlights were still too dark and I was desperate to be blonder for the summer. As it had only just been bleached, I didn't want to put any more harmful chemicals on my hair so I decided to try a purple shampoo. I first thought of Lee Stafford's Bleach Blonde's Shampoo which I had used about a year before but found it way too drying for my locks. So after researching other purple shampoos on the market and reading tonnes of reviews, I bit the bullet and bought Fudge's Clean Blonde Violet Toning Shampoo from Amazon. 

I was so intrigued by the product stating that it smoothes and hydrates hair daily because my dry hair can often be a frizzy disaster. I was also quite nervous trying it out for the first time because the shampoo is the colour of the bottle! So I just wacked it on to my scalp and washed it off within a few minutes. The first thing that amazed me was the scent, yummy vanilla. The second was how it turns the water a deep purple so that you feel like a mermaid for the minute it takes to wash out. The third was how soft my hair felt after using it. It already felt like I had used conditioner. 

After drying my hair, I could see it made a huge difference. My colour looked way more natural and it had left my hair feeling silky and smelling divine. The more you use the product the lighter your hair will get so I recommend using once a week to maintain the colour. But don't forget to wash off within 5 minutes or you'll get a purple tinge. Also be aware that this does stain, so use an old towel and move the bath mat out of the way. If you do get a few splashes about the bathroom, it will come off easily if you use a surface wipe or spray quickly. 

Overall this product has become a need not a want and I recommend it to every blonde out there!

Twitter | Tumblr | Instagram | Bloglovin'

Life Changer #2 - Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge

Today I have another life changing product to show you. It's Real Technique's Miracle Complexion Sponge. I am already a fan of Real Techniques make-up brushes and was on the lookout for a drugstore dupe of the over-priced £16 sponge called the Beauty Blender.

Like the Beauty Blender, this sponge is a foundation and concealer applicator that you can pick up from Boots for just £5.99. You just dot your base on your forehead, nose, cheeks and chin and then use the sponge to dab it in. 

It has a rounded body used for big areas such as the forehead and cheeks, a pointed tip for covering any acne or hyper-pigmentation and a flat side to get in the grooves around the nose and eyes.

The sponge blends flawlessly. I haven't experienced any sliding foundation or pore seeping concealer whilst using this. My base now appears more natural with all the tell-tale signs of harsh lines gone. It has really changed the way my complexion looks every day.

So there it is- my second make-up bag staple of the year so far!

 Twitter | Tumblr | Instagram | Bloglovin'

Life Changer! - Topshop's Glow

I'm back with a bang! (and an amazing product). After watching Becca Rose talk about this on YouTube, I had to buy it and see for myself. It's Topshop's Glow- a lovely pearlescent highlighter.

Topshop Glow - £9

I popped into the Cardiff store not once, not twice but three times to get my hands on Glow- but no luck. I was extremely disappointed to be going on holiday to Cornwall without being able to try it out. But funnily enough, whilst I was checking out Truro (what an adorable little city!) I walked into the most teeny tiny Topshop I'd ever seen and there it was! The product comes in two shades- 'Polished' and 'Gleam'. I purchased the shade 'Polished' which is the lightest of the two.

I was so excited to try it, I cracked it open as soon as I got back to the car. My first impression when I looked in the little car mirror was pretty much an 'ooooooo'. The product was creamy and went on top of my foundation like a dream. The champagne colour with pearly pink reflects was perfect for my pale skin. I applied it to the top of my cheek bones, down my nose and above my cupid's bow and it definitely gave my face a glow.  

The downside to the product is that it does separate, but I feel this is due to my slightly oily skin. Once I began to apply the highlighter underneath my trusty Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder rather than on top, the product lasted all day without melting away into my pores. It is a bit on the pricey side at £9 but compared to Benefit's High Beam at £19.50- it's a winner. 

It has definitely changed the way my face looks. And used in conjunction with Benefit's Hoola bronzer I've managed to fake cheekbones! So there you have it, what an amazing find and definitely a new make-up bag staple. 

Twitter | Tumblr | Instagram | Bloglovin'

How To Get Perfect Skin #4

Hello Sunshines! Final step in my How To Get Perfect Skin series.

Step #4 - Powder

Rimmel Stay Matte: Long Lasting Pressed Powder in Translucent - £3.99 

Okay so you've already got primer on to make sure your make-up doesn't budge, but using a pressed powder on top of your concealer and foundation really sets everything as well as keep shine at bay. I recommend Rimmel's Stay Matte Long Lasting Pressed Powder. If you have oily skin, this is a lifesaver! I keep this on me at all times in case my face starts to look like a shine fest. 

Tip! 

While out an about, apply with a clean eyeshadow brush. You get more control over where the powder specifically goes. It also banishes dark circles under the eyes! 

I hope you enjoyed my How To Get Perfect Skin series and I hope I've helped! 

How to get Perfect Skin #3

Hi! This is step three in my 'How to get Perfect Skin' series. Make sure you read step one and step two!

Step #3 - Concealer

Collection Lasting Perfection Ultimate Wear Concealer - Boots - £4.19

This is the one beauty product that every girl needs (yes, this is a need) in her make-up bag. This concealer is called Lasting Perfection by 'Collection' (used to be Collection 2000). It claims to last 16 hours. I have yet to put this to the test (because I need my beauty sleep) but I can say it does last all day long. I've even gone surfing and it's kept my acne scarring from showing through. 

First of all, you need the right shade. There has been a few sunny days in Wales recently, so my hands have tanned, but oddly (and unfortunately) my face never does so I go for the lightest shade which is 01 'Fair'. I also find that I like concealers slightly lighter, especially if your using it for your under-eye baggage because it brightens like a real-life Photoshop! 

I'd say the texture is quite creamy and velvety. It is thick but that's definitely what I want in a concealer- it has to conceal!

Here it is in action! Definitely faking the 'perfect skin' because I have broken out like crazy over this last week! So there's me and my lovely fiancé, Andrew who's turning twenty this week. This was before going out for an early birthday meal with our friends. This concealer is my life-saver! 

Keep checking - the fourth and final step will be up soon! 

How to get Perfect Skin #2

Hello guys! This is post two in my 'How to get Perfect Skin' series so if you want to see step one click here.

Step #2 - Foundation

Bourjois Paris Healthy Mix Serum - £10.99 at Superdrug

Shade 51 - Vanille Claire

After applying my primer, I go straight in with foundation. I used to use the regular Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation which was my go-to throughout sixth form but then they brought out this lovely bottle of delight. I've been using this for about a week and I love it because it feels so much lighter on the skin, which is perfect for summer time and for people who hate cakey faces. 

Because this is a 'gel formula', I expected it to be more of a gel-like consistency, but it just feels like a lighter version of a foundation (can you tell in the picture above?). Some people say the coverage isn't as good as the regular foundation, but I honestly think it covers just as well without blocking your pores and producing breakouts in the first place! 

Bourjois call it a 'treatment' that uses '3 super fruits - lychee, goji and pomegranate'. It's supposed to 'erase signs of fatigue, even out the complexion and revive its radiance'. It even claims to give us '+69% more radiance after 4 weeks of use!' I'm pretty sure they're not lying because I've had tonnes of compliments on my skin recently. I definitely haven't had as many breakouts as I usually do which is such a good sign. 

It's semi-matte so people with extremely oily skin should avoid this, but because I'm middle of the road with my oil-levels, it just gives me a radiant finish.  

Keep your eyes peeled for Step #3 of How to get Perfect Skin. 

Twitter | Tumblr | Instagram | Bloglovin'

How to get Perfect Skin - #1

Hiya lovelies! I'll be doing a mini-series of posts on how to get the perfect skin. Everyone wants flawless skin (but it's very hard to come by naturally!) so over the series I will show you a variety of products that will help you fake it. 

Rimmel Fix and Perfect Pro Primer- £6.99 from Boots

Step #1 is extremely important and if you use this baby it'll make a huge difference! This lovely product is Rimmel's Fix and Perfect Pro Primer. It claims to have 5 in 1 results: 'smoothes, resurfaces, brightens, mattifies and protects' and I agree with all five. 

I use this after cleansing and moisturising using Soap & Glory's Peaches and Clean and Clear Here (you can see a full review of both products here).

When you first squirt it out it actually resembles a moisturiser. Its consistency is thick and creamy (as you can see in the image above) but it really sinks into the skin and enhances it. If I didn't have acne scarring, I'd be happy wearing this without any foundation. It leaves the skin glowing but is also a mattifier. It's a bit like a thick BB cream without colour. 

Downside is the quantity. There's only 30ml in a tube for £6.99, but you don't need a lot of product to cover your face. Upside is that it does what it says on the tin (or tube) and it keeps your make-up in place all day long, which is amazing because if you're like me you either can't be bothered or don't have time to smother foundation on twice in one day!

Keep your eyes peeled for Step 2! 

Twitter | Tumblr | Instagram | Bloglovin'

Manic Monday - A Trip to Oxford with Nails Inc

Hello Guys and hello June! Summer is here! And on this Manic Monday I would like to bring you a review of  a nail varnish by Nails Inc. 

I've tried bits and bobs of Nails Inc. Well, only the freebies that have come with magazines. Because, lets be honest, Essie's £7.99 for a nail varnish is a doubtful purchase, never mind a ridiculous £11!

But me being me (always out for bargains), found this lovely set of four for £14.99 at TKMaxx! Obviously every TKMaxx is different, but it's definitely worth popping into a few local stores to find these babies. There were a variety of different sets, but I was drawn to this pastel quad. I did pick up another set of neons for my teenage sister because I just couldn't leave them. I've tried out one shade so far which is called Oxford.

Colour

How exciting! This is the most gorgeous sky blue colour. Every time I look at my nails, I think of holidays and sun, and pools, and beaches, and laying on lilos, and everything else associated with summer.

Consistency

I was actually quite surprised. This isn't as thick as Essie, but it is still quite meaty. I like to put on 2-3 coats. It glides on nicely and the application brush is not too small or too big. It is quite easy to get on the skin though, so always have a nail varnish remover pad at hand.

Finish

I was so proud of myself when my nails had dried. They actually look salon professional. It is such a sleek, shiny finish that really pops, despite me being fair. I think this would look great on all skin tones.

Wearability

This isn't actually too bad and I didn't even use a top coat (slapped wrist). It lasts about 2-3 days before it starts to chip, but even then its minuscule amounts.

So...

Due to the wearability and application not being as good as Essie's, I would give this 4 stars, just! The colour and finish really did win me over.

  Twitter | Tumblr | Instagram | Bloglovin'

Fresh Face Friday & Real Techniques Initial Reaction

Real Techniques Core Collection Kit - £15-£18 - Amazon

Hey Everyone! Happy Friday! Look what the delivery man came with today! It's the Real Techniques Core Collection Kit designed by beauty blogger Sam Chapman from Pixiwoo! 

I've been wanting to try Real Techniques make-up brushes for a while now. But as they are priced between £6.99 and £12.99 per brush at Boots, they've just been a lustful luxury dream. When I saw this Core Collection Kit on Amazon for a very reasonable price I just caved in. I paid £17 for these 4 brushes, but the prices do go up and down daily. I've heard of people generally paying between £15 and £18 for this set. 

Like I said, there are 4 brushes included. Starting from left to right, first up is the Contour Brush. Sam says this, "delicately applies highlighter to contour or create sheer, soft-focus finish." And yes - it does. I used The Body Shop's Brilliance Powder  as a highlight which comes with it's own brush attached to the product. So, I unscrewed the brush, dusted some product onto my palm and used the Contour Brush instead. This made a huge difference. Before, I hardly used the product because I found the brush hard and spiky. After using the Contour Brush I appreciated the white highlight with golden undertones one thousand times more. 

The second brush is the Pointed Foundation Brush which Sam says to "use with liquid foundation to build custom coverage". I haven't used this yet because I only like to wear liquid foundation in the Winter time. So this brush should stay clean for a while!

The third brush is called the Detailer Brush that Sam has "precision cut to effortlessly conceal problem areas; or, use with lipstick for long-lasting shape and definition." I used this to conceal with Collection's Lasting Perfection Concealer. I will do a review on the concealer soon because it is my all-time favourite, but using the Detailer Brush really enhanced its performance. I have many acne scars that need concealing every day, and this brush felt very delicate on my skin. The last thing I want is to have a spiky brush to irritate my oily skin so this little tool is a delight to use.

The last brush is the Buffing Brush which Sam says is, "ideal for full coverage application of powder and mineral foundation." So, I used Rimmel's Stay Matte Pressed Powder (because I swear by it) with this brush. The brush itself just felt so soft on the skin, and held the powder really well (instead of it poofing everywhere). Overall, I loved using the brushes and there's a huge difference between these and any cheap supermarket brush. 

Here's my Fresh Face Friday FOTD, so that you can see these brushes in action.

Concealer - Collection's Lasting Perfection - £4.19

Powder - Rimmel's Stay Matte - £3.99

Blush - L'Oreal Paris Le Blush in Sandalrose Pink - £8.42

Highlight - The Body Shop Brilliance Powder in Shimmer Gold - £16

Mascara - Revlon's Fabulash - £7.99

Lips - Rimmel Apocalips in Celestial - £5.99

                                            Twitter | Tumblr | Instagram | Bloglovin'

Play Date - Essie Nail Lacquer Review

Boots - £7.99

Hello! I'm excited to tell you about another Essie Nail Lacquer. This is my second ever try of Essie. I was so impressed with Jam 'n' Jelly, I had to go and get another Spring/Summer shade. After standing at the counter for a good ten minutes, I finally went for the shade 'Play Date'.

I've had a tonne of compliments on the colour. Lots of people have said it reminds them of the purple they used in nursery or infant school. It's a perfect pastel that isn't too light and isn't too dark, And just like Jam 'n' Jelly, it's really hard to chip. I've had this colour on my nails for five days without having to do a single touch-up. I find the only downside to these perfect polishes is they do stain your nails. I definitely need to invest in a good base coat. As for application - it applies just as well as Jam 'n' Jelly. In fact,  the more I've been painting my nails the better I'm getting. This is another 5 star product and I can't wait to try out more shades.

Click here to read my Essie Jam 'n' Jelly Review

Twitter | Tumblr | Instagram | Bloglovin'

Spring has Sprung - Outfit of the Day

So yesterday was my Grandad's birthday - and apparently the first (slightly warm) sunny day of the year. It was a whole 13 degrees here in Wales (which meant I could get my legs out and wear shoes other than boots). Not knowing when the sun would next come out, my fiance and I decided to take my dog Louis for a walk before the birthday party.

I'm wearing a floral tapestry skater dress from River Island that was in the sale for £15 from £40. The material is thick, which was perfect for the sunny but chilly weather. At first I thought the thick material would be itchy, but it hasn't irritated me at all. You can find a similar style dress from River Island here and here. 

At the back it has a visible-zip which I don't usually like, but I think it suits this dress. I've cinched in my waist with a brown skinny belt also from River Island (you can find a similar one here).

I'm wearing these classic tan brogues that I had from H&M about three or four years ago. They still do a similar style which you can find here for £12.99. My cardi I've had for a very long time. Navy is a great colour that goes with a lot of things throughout all four seasons. It was from New Look about five years ago and they still sell it here for £9.99!

Thanks for reading and here's to hoping for more sunny days!

Twitter | Tumblr | Instagram | Bloglovin'

Soap & Glory Skincare Review

Soap & Glory Peaches and Clean - £7.00

Soap & Glory The Fab Pore Facial Peel - £8.00

Soap & Glory Clear Here - £9.00

I've always loved the look of Soap & Glory products. The witty packaging just makes me want to buy it, although the products have been hit and miss. I loved the Clean On Me shower gel and the Pulp Friction exfoliating scrub is amazing. But I wasn't so keen on The Righteous Butter body butter. So on a trip in Boots a few months ago, I stopped at the skincare range. I desperately wanted to get into a routine that I felt completely happy with, so I thought I'd try these out.

Peaches and Clean
This is a cleansing milk that is made of a T-Zone formula packed with peach extract (that has skin smoothing fruit acids), quillaja bark (a natural cleansing soap) and jojoba oil (an emollient skin softener). Looking at these ingredients, I initially thought that I'd seen them in 99p cleansers in Home Bargains. It claims to have Detoxyboost technology (to help purify and deep clean) and Poreskrink R2 (for a clearer, fresher, brighter complexion). I wasn't entirely sure what these clever names meant but they sounded good.

I have to say I'm so glad I purchased it because I don't think I could live without it. It has cleared my skin and made my complexion a hundred times brighter. I use one pump and rub it all over my face. It says to rinse off with water but I find you get the best results if you leave it on. It also doubles as a make-up remover as make-up disintegrates at lightning speed.

5 stars from me.

The Fab Pore Facial Peel
I'd call this a face mask. Although, I was gutted that you have to wash it off- not peel! This claims to have an exclusive Poreshrink-R complex (God knows what that means) that is ideal for greasy spot prone or problem skin. Now this stuff works. It says to rub a grape sized amount onto your face and rub until all the green beads have disappeared (this feels amazing). You can then leave it on for either 5 minutes (for a quicky) or 15 (for an intense deep-cleaning facial). To be honest, I leave it on for half hour and it doesn't hurt. After I wash it off (again, I'm disappointed it doesn't peel) my face just feels cleaner, tighter and younger.

4 stars from me.

Clear Here
This is a lovely moisturiser that also works. It is supposed to smooth and protect the skin, prevent blemishes, reduce deep-down pore clogging, shrink visible pore size and fight spot-causing bacteria. I'm pretty sure it does all of those things. I love how it sinks in really quickly and feels cool on the skin. It just feels like it's working from the moment it's applied. It really does dry out blemishes. This is for oily/combination skin so I wouldn't use it if you have dry skin.

I would give this another 5 stars.

Overall, I was amazed at the high quality products that weren't that expensive to buy. They look pretty in my bedroom and I look forward to cleaning my face every day now that I have these in my life.

Twitter | Tumblr | Instagram | Bloglovin'