Showing posts with label The Body Shop. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Body Shop. Show all posts

2014 Favourites

First things first, Happy New Year!! I'm going to try and keep this as short and sweet as possible as I know no one will be feeling fab today. Here are my absolute favourite products of 2014.


Skincare
Spot treatment: Epiduo


Make up

Concealer: Benefit Boi-ing
Bronze/Contour: Benefit Hoola
Coloured lip: Topshop Brighton Rock

Hair care


 Shampoo: T Gel
Conditioner: Herbal Essences Bee Strong
Leave-in Conditioner: OGX Coconut Oil Mist
Heat Spray: Dove Heat Protect Spray
Brush/Comb: Tangle Teezer

Other

TV Programme: Breaking Bad
YouTuber: InTheFrow

Follow me on:

Empties #1

I've been storing up my empties for a while and keep meaning to do an empties post! I'm going to let you know what products I've used up and whether I'd repurchase them or not.



The Body Shop Skin Clearing Tea Tree Lotion - repurchase
I absolutely adore the tea tree line from The Body Shop. It's great for anyone who has problems with blemished skin as the tea tree helps to soothe spots, reducing size and redness. I use this during the day over the top of my Simple moisturiser as my skin gets really dry in the winter. I've actually already repurchased this!

Korres Citrus Shower Gel - won't repurchase
This is a sample that I got in either a Birchbox or a Glossybox a few months ago and I have only just got around to using it up. Although it claims to be a citrus scent, I think it's quite a manly scent sort of like a typical aftershave smell. As I don't particularly want to smell like a man, I won't be repurchasing this. It's also £8 which is insane, I definitely don't have £8 to be spending on shower gel!

Neutrogena T Gel - repurchase
If you read my haircare routine you'll know I have problems with eczema on my scalp and this is the only thing that controls it. It's pretty expensive for a shampoo and it absolutely stinks (it's made of coal) but it's a lifesaver for me. Anyone with dandruff or scalp eczema/psoriasis I would definitely recommend trying this and seeing if it helps! I've already repurchased this one too.

Rimmel Fix & Perfect Pro - unsure
I've had this primer for quite a while now and use it in circulation with a few others. It's one that I can't really make my mind up about. It claims to smooth, resurface, brighten, mattify and protect which is quite a lot of claims. Maybe once I've used up all my primers I'll repurchase this but there's definitely better performing ones out there. However, for a drugstore primer this one does perform pretty well and it's only £6.99.


Maybelline Fit Me Concealer Shade 10 (Light) - repurchase in a different shade
For a drugstore concealer, this is amazing. I've heard that it's a dupe for the Nars Creamy Concealer which I really want to purchase but my student budget doesn't stretch that far. The coverage is excellent and it blends amazingly well. When I first bought this the shade range was miniscule. I have shade 10 and it's slightly too dark for me so when I repurchase I'll buy shade 15 (fair). At £5.99, I'll definitely repurchase.

Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation Shade 51 (Light Vanilla) - unsure
This is another product I'm unsure about. Somedays I absolutely love this foundation and others I hate hit. The coverage is quite sheer so it probably performs better at those times where I'm fairly blemish free. It gives a dewy finish which doesn't work so well with my oily skin as after a few hours I end up shining like the sun. If you like sheer coverage with a dewy finish, this is one to try out. Blemished oily skin doesn't work that well with it.

Mac Studio Fix Fluid NW20 - won't repurchase
So first things first, this is the completely wrong shade for me. My skin is basically translucent and the woman in Mac matched me completely wrong. If you're buying a foundation from Mac (or anywhere high end), I'd recommend getting matched and trying the foundation on for the day to see what it looks like in different lights before you purchase this. I have to mix this with a really pale foundation to get the right colour and even then I'm not sure if I'd repurchase. It does have really full coverage which is what I look for in a foundation but... I'm just not convinced. It's £21.50 which isn't too expensive for high end. Maybe I'd repurchase if it was the right colour.

Hope you enjoyed this post!

The ultimate winter face mask


It's the weekend!! When I spent an insane amount of money in The Body Shop, I got a free goodie bag that included a sample of their Vitamin E Sink In Moisture Mask. As my skin gets dry in winter and I'm gonna be honest, I've been neglecting my skin, I decided it was time to try this out and inject some moisture back into my face. I'm a big fan of the Vitamin E line. If you're a frequent reader, you'll know how much I love the Serum-in-Oil.

I'm normally a clay mask kind of girl as I like to target my pores, so this is something completely new to me. The mask itself is white with a creamy consistency. You apply to the skin in a thin layer and leave to sink in for ten minutes before removing. The creamy consistency means it's easy to apply and you don't need much. The tester sachet says enough for one mask but I probably could have got two out of it. It's quite strange to remove as it sets to a sort of think cream but that doesn't put me off.


My skin is SO SOFT. I genuinely don't think my skin has ever felt this soft and hydrated. I'm really looking forward to applying my make up tomorrow and seeing if it applies any easier. This is one that you really need to try out if you have dry skin. If you want to test it out before buying a whole tub, the sachet I had was only £2! At £13 for a 100ml tub, it's so inexpensive and will go a long way (almost 20 applications). I'm planning on purchasing a tub when I finally have some money again!
Recommend me some face masks in the comments!

Battle of the Primers


Since discovering primers I have become a huge fan and now don't go a day without wearing one. I do have quite a large collection, as I'm sure most beauty addicts do, but there's two that really stand out to me as amazing. Both of these primers have made quite a fuss in the beauty world but which one to buy?!


Benefit Porefessional
"Quickly minimise the appearance of pores & fine lines for smoother-than-smooth skin! Apply this silky, lightweight balm alone, under or over makeup. Translucent, oil-free formula complements all skintones and helps makeup stay put. Contains a Vitamin E derivative, known to protect skin from free radicals."
Porefessional is probably the Holy Grail of primers in the beauty world. Everyone has been raving about it and it's the UK's top selling primer for the past 3 years. Impressive right? Retailing for £24.50 for 22ml, it's quite pricey and, I don't know about you, but I would definitely struggle justifying the spend. That being said, mine is a tester size and has lasted me a pretty long time as you only need a tiny amount.
The packaging is so cute, as with all Benefit packaging (although mine is covered in liquid eyeliner). This product is so creamy and a dream to apply as long as you've moisturised your skin. I find that if my skin is at all dry then this can be quite difficult to apply and doesn't blend out that well. It sinks into your skin amazingly well and you wouldn't even know it was there. The formula has a beigey tint but it blends out to colourless on your skin.
I'm not sure I'd agree that it minimises the appearance of my pores but my make up goes on so smoothly and blends out really well. My foundation definitely lasts better throughout the day and the shine is kept at bay for longer (something I really struggle with).


The Body Shop Instablur
"This all-new face perfector blurs imperfections, giving you flawless photo-perfect skin in an instant! With Community Fair Trade marula oil. Shine controlling 12h, reduces appearance of pores, blemish hiding, complexion unifying and make-up extending"
I think this is my favourite ever primer (a bold claim I know). Instablur is the cheaper of the two at £14 for 25ml and, in my opinion, the better. I actually think I prefer the packaging of this one but that wouldn't affect which one I buy!
The texture is much more siliconey than Porefessional and can feel slightly greasy on the skin until it has sunk in, but after your skin is amazingly smooth. It's a translucent formula which I personally prefer and feels a lot more velvety on the skin. If I compare the two, my make up definitely looks best at the end of the day with this one although I might be a bit shinier. The same as Porefessional, you only need a tiny amount so the tube goes a long way.

 Which one is for you?
After convincing a couple of the girls to buy Instablur and try it out, I was discussing which they preferred and we agreed this sums it up in one - Instablur is best for the day time, it prolongs the wear of your make up and smooths out your complexion without making you look too matte. Porefessional is fantastic for nights out because it really mattifies your skin and helps to control shine.
If you're on a budget or have dry skin, I'd definitely try the Instablur first to see how it works for you. Personally, I don't think I will ever purchase a full size of Porefessional but I will definitely repurchase Instablur.

Autumn/Winter Skincare Update


It's been quite a while since my last skincare post (it was actually one of my first posts, read it here) so I thought it was time to do a skincare update. Now it's getting colder and very windy, my skin is a lot drier and I also tend to suffer from eczema in winter around my nose and on my chin. A few months ago I made the decision to stop taking antibiotics for my acne as although they were making my skin clearer, they were an absolute pain to take and to be perfectly honest, I can't afford the prescription. My skin is by no means perfect, I still suffer with acne but my skincare routine is really helping to control it to a certain extent.


As you can see, I still have a lot of blemishes but the number and size of them has dramatically reduced. 

Morning
I start the day by cleansing my skin with the Garnier Micellar Water on a cotton pad, just to get off the leftover product from the night before and any other rubbish on my face. If I'm having a break out, I will sweep The Body Shop Tea Tree Skin Clearing Toner over my skin. I moisturise with the Simple Kind to Skin Rich Moisturiser as I have a number of dry patches on my face at the moment although the majority of my face is still oily. If my face is extra dry, I'll also use my The Body Shop Tea Tree Skin Clearing Lotion. Before I put any primer or make up on my skin, I put tea tree oil on any spots I have to try and calm them down a bit!

Evening
I always take my make up off before I go to the gym. I live in the hope that sweating at the gym will get some of the impurities out of my skin and that can't happen if my pores are clogged with make up! A year or so ago, I would never have gone to the gym without make up on but now I couldn't care less. I take my make up off with the Garnier Micellar Water and if I have any waterproof mascara or liquid eyeliner on I'll use The Body Shop Camomile Gentle Eye Make Up Remover. When I get back from the gym and shower, I wash my face using my The Body Shop Tea Tree Skin Clearing Foaming Cleanser. If I'm washing my hair (normally every other day usually), I will use the St Ives Blemish Fighting Apricot Scrub. Before I go to sleep I use my trusty The Body Shop Vitamin E Serum-in-Oil and let that soak in a bit before using The Body Shop Tea Tree Blemish Fade Night Lotion and Benefit It's Potent eye cream. I think I need to branch out from The Body Shop...

I can't stress the importance of finding a skincare routine that works for you, it's honestly makes such a difference to my skin, both blemish wise and how my make up applies. 

Which skincare products do you swear by?

October Favourites!

Credit to the Boohoo Instagram for this gorgeous picture
This year is going scarily fast, it's now week 6 of my 11 week semester! In 38 days I will be home for Christmas and I cannot wait. October has been such a busy month for me but there's always time to squeeze in a favourites post!


Sleek Face Form, £9.99
This is a staple in my make up look, everything else can change on a daily basis but I always use this palette. Mine's in the shade Light but I've just been on the website and seen there is a Fair palette too which is tempting for winter as I am paler than pale. The bronzer in this palette is a perfect colour, it's matte so really good for contouring or just warming your face up a little. The highlighter is also gorgeous and gives your cheekbones the perfect highlight. I can't decide how I feel about the blush, it's really quite glittery but I still use it every now and then! I think this is such a good price for the quality. I've had this for absolutely ages and have barely made a dent in it.

The Body Shop Wild Argan Oil Solid Lip Balm, £4
The Body Shop brought out their wild argan oil range not too long ago but it has taken the beauty world by storm. The scent of all the products is absolutely amazing. I'm quite picky with lip balms but this one hits the spot. It's really moisturising without being sticky or thick and it's so cheap for The Body Shop.

Maybelline Matte Maker, £3.99
I bought this when I fell out of love with my Rimmel Stay Matte Powder, I wanted a powder that would set my foundation without any coverage. For a long time I was really undecided about this until I started realising the effect it was having on my face. I have very oily skin so get shiny really quickly, when I put this on in the mornings it delays the shine and I can top up easily throughout the day to make my face more matte. If you're a Stay Matte fan but want less coverage, I'd definitely recommend checking this out.

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer, £5.99
As you can see, mine is very very empty which is heart breaking. I'm in love with this concealer, we're a match made in heaven. When I first got this, there was only about 4 shades but there's now 6, including a paler shade than mine (10) which I'll pick up now it's winter. This has amazing coverage, isn't really thick and has really good staying power.

New Look Scarf, £14.99
I featured this in my Bristol haul a little while ago and it's been stuck round my neck since. The only issue is that it sheds a lot of fluff and I'm a bit too scared to wash it. However, it does keep me insanely warm and looks hella cute.

Hot water bottle
I have no idea where this is from, my parents got it for me for Christmas a few years ago. I'm a big snuggler and in the absence of my boyfriend or my cat I turn to this. Never underestimate how snuggly a hot water bottle can make you feel!

What have you been loving this month?
Subscribe to: Posts ( Atom )
Powered by Blogger.