A SUMMER FAUX GLOW

As much as I would love naturally radiant skin, it is often pretty dull and the only sheen I get is when I haven't powdered my face for hours and things are getting a little oily. That's why I seek the companionship of many products in order to amp up the glow in the summer.

Upon purchase, I was never really a fan of the Rimmel Wake Me Up Instant Shimmer Touches, but occasionally I like Radiant Rose on the cheeks as a pink hint of shimmery tint, or Shimmering Sand mixed in with foundation for some serious glow. These don't get used often, but they definitely don't go unnoticed.

A luminous primer was lacking in my makeup collection until I got the Bourjois Luminous Serum Primer a while back. There is no shimmer in this, but it just seems to add a glow without it, and I had a patch of forgetting about this guy but every time I reach for it again I start to use it again and realise why I loved it to begin with.

It's not just makeup that can help your glow out, it all starts with the skincare you use. I have managed to find a duo that gives me the glow without endless steps and more of an overnight glow-giver. The Balance Me Radiance Face Oil* is one I like to slap on in the evening, leave to soak in and  wake up in the morning with a complexion that looks radiant and blurred in tow and literally took me a minute to achieve.
In the same way the Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask is another one step overnight fix that leaves you with plumped, glowing skin and the peach/apricot scent makes me literally want to eat it (Don't worry, I won't).

I look forward to finding more radiance enhancing gems in the drugstore in the upcoming months, and leave you recommendations in the comments too...

ORIGINS CLEAN ENERGY CLEANSING OIL

I do enjoy a good oil cleanser, there's always something about the whole process of cleansing with them that I really love, and my skin seems to be thankful whenever I use them as well. I've had this for well over a month now and I thought it'd be a good time to write a review now I've gathered my thoughts about it.

The scent isn't brilliant, but nothing I absolutely hate, just quite a natural scent. I use this as my second cleanse after a micellar water/eye makeup remover to remove the majority of makeup, and massaging this onto dry skin seems to be the way to get the best results.

I often find that using cleansing oils helps fade scarring, not this one so much but I have seen a slight difference. This doesn't leave a greasy residue nor does it strip the skin - it genuinely leaves the perfect nourished balance to the skin, which is why I love it so much, and I would say that it could work for pretty much all skin types.

I got this in a CCO so didn't pay full price, but I am fairly tempted to do so when it runs out as I use it morning and night as a staple step of my skincare routine and can't imagine life without it (a bit dramatic perhaps), but I have been really enjoying its stay on my skincare shelf.

Do you have any recommendations for cleansing oils for when this runs out?

 

SUMMER HOLIDAY PREP

It's coming to that time of year that some of you may be jetting off to somewhere sunny on a mini break or a holiday, (I am going to Madrid soon, which I am very excited about), and so I have been starting to think about how I am going to prep for the getaway, so why not make it into a post... Brace yourselves, it's rather lengthy.

Tanning: I am quite lucky when it comes to tanning, I tan easily even with SPF50 on, but sometimes if your legs have been stuck in jeans for a long time over the previous seasons you may be reaching for the faux glow in an attempt to avoid blinding everyone with your limbs. I have 2 offerings for you, a pretty hardcore one - the Vita Liberata pHenomenal Long Lasting Tan Mousse Medium*  which supposedly lasts for 2-3 weeks but has a lengthy application process. For me, this is quite dark, but I wouldn't say it isn't natural and it fades nicely anyway.. For something more hydrating and gradual I have been soaking up the Garnier Summer Body Sun Kissed Look Moisturising Lotion (these two get the awards for longest product names), but honestly I love the subtle hint of tint this gives.

Manicure: I hate feet, so this'll make me cringe typing, but there is nothing you want less than cracking out the sandals and having chipped nails, so you want something long lasting. I recently got sent the Fuse Gelnamel Set* but wasn't happy with the results (they looked dull and thick, and I ended up peeling them off in sheets the next morning), so I suggest opting for a good topcoat instead. Throw on some cuticle oil like this Sinful Colours one (which smells divine) and some Soap and Glory Heel Genius and you are good to go.

Body: Removing the hair on your limbs is a good way to start, and I prefer waxing as it lasts longer for me, but if not, take a razor and a mini shaving foam - the Satin Care Apricot offering smells amazing, and you should be able to avoid looking like a yak on your holidays as well as being able to sort out any patches you may have missed beforehand... we've all been there. 

Skin: If your ditching the makeup in the daytime when poolside, you want your skin to be in good condition. Get yourself into a good routine a few weeks before - using a serious mask like the Origins Clear Improvement the night before will most likey bring all the blemishes to the surface, and also use something like Effaclar Duo [+] from La Roche Posay as a further treatment if need me.

So, prep sorted, now time to scour the mini's in Boots and depot all the skincare stash...

BEAUTY HAUL: CCO AND LOCAL

After not spending any money on beauty for a good 6 weeks, Megan and I went to Bicester Outlet Village for her birthday and had a little spend up, and both came out with bags full of bargains. I also popped to my local ASDA and got some clearance and roll back items so I thought they would be included too.

The first thing I got in the CCO was the Bumble and Bumble Classic Hairspray for £7.50. This isn't the largest size but as I am going away soon I thought it'd be more appropriate. I haven't tried anything from the brand prior to this and I'm pretty excited. I must say, the scent is a bit odd, but I'll post a full review shortly.

After running out of my DHC cleansing oil a while ago I noticed my skin was falling back into its bad habits and when I stumbled across the Origins Clean Energy Gentle Cleansing Oil for £15.75 I instantly took it to the till. It is a pretty large bottle might I add, so this will be lasting me for quite some time I predict.

I was also running low of my current Kiko Natural Concealer that I use to brighten the under eyes, so when I saw a Bobbi Brown Tinted Eye Brightener for £13.75 I instantly picked one up, as did Megan. On first impressions I do really like this. I also got the Smashbox Limitless 15 Hour Wear Cream Shadow in Gemstone for £10.50 on Megan's recommendation and it honestly does last such a long time.

From ASDA I saw the NSpa Deep Hydrating Facial Oil for a mere £5 and thought I would give it a go. To be 100% honest, I was sold by the pipette bottle (such a child), but I am looking forward to getting some hydration going on. I also found a Maybelline Colour Show nail polish in Urban Turquoise for £1.87 in the clearance and I have it on now, and I am so impressed. It was opaque in 1-2 coats, dried almost instantly and is such a unique colour in my collection. I have added more of the range to my wishlist already.

Oops, so many purchases. Might I add, I am thinking of getting some Nike Free Runs or Roshe Runs (have you tried them? Let me know your opinions), after seeing Anna style them so well countless times and I think I will be able to get a children's size saving me some money... the joys of tiny feet.

A PERFECTED COMPLEXION

I talk about my bad skin quite frequently on my blog, but all seems to be getting a little better, and hopefully after a recent prescription of some antibiotic treatments, things are looking good, which I thought was the perfect time to be showing what I use when my skin is looking better and how I achieve the perfect base.

Starting on the skincare front, I have started to branch out to more expensive brands because I feel like if your skin looks good, your makeup is almost guaranteed to look good as well. The Origins Clear Improvement Mask gets a use almost every Sunday, and although some people find it tight and drying, I love the effect it gives the next day when I wake up. The La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo [+] has been getting a lot of use from me as a corrective serum product and I have been seeing improvements.

A new love for me is the Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation, and although the colour is a touch too dark for me, I think with blending it looks pretty good because of its natural finish. Blended with the Real Techniques Buffing Brush, it gives such a lovely finish - somewhat dewy without the shine.

I have indeed rekindled my love with the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer. In the winter this is a little drying but now the weather is slightly improving I am in love all over again. I think I could do with repurchasing this again, I'm struggling to get any product out. A slightly less heavy offering (but one that still brings coverage to the table) is the Bourjois Healthy Mix Concealer, which has a satin finish and looks really natural on the skin.

For powder, I'm sure most of us hate the stuff because no-one likes a cake face, but I have discovered that using a light dusting of the Rimmel Stay Matte Powder with a the Contour Brush in precise areas just banishes the shine without looking flat.

What are your secrets to the perfect complexion?

ORIGINS CLEAR IMPROVEMENT MASK

I'm sure you all get tired of me complaining about how my skin is rather bad, but it seems that here we are again. But, I know most of you have heard the story (main characters: my face, and a ton of spots), sI ove I will just get onto the product that I have found to help me out a fair bit.

I love face masks, and when one promises clear skin, I'm all ears. The Origins Clear Improvement Mask has been on my wishlist for quite some time now, and when I got it in a trio last Christmas, I knew it would be love.

At first, I thought this would be a clay like mask, but when you squeeze it out and start applying the mask, it is like a thick gel, but then hardens after some minutes of waiting, but you don't get that cracking, clay effect which I actually like. I'm not sure whether this is meant to happen, or that my imagination has just run wild, but it almost feels a little warming on the skin once it is applied - correct me if I am wrong (I probably am).

The morning after using this, I feel like my skin looks much clearer. If you know me in person, you will know (Megan knows the best), that my skin looks much worse because I have awful scarring, and when you actually touch my face there are barely and bumps which is an annoyance. But this seems to reduce redness and the size of any spots I have and then any new scars (I have finally gotten over the fact that my old scars won't be going anywhere any time soon) and faded slightly too.

I think once I have finished this bottle, I will have to buy another, because using this weekly on Sundays just seems to get my skin ready for the upcoming week...

UPPING THE MOISTURE

Even being an combination skinned gal, I love to amp up the hydration more recently than I ever used to, and my skin most definitely thanking me for it - shout out to Megan for complementing my skin while in our Business lesson. These are the products that have been seeing me through winter with that extra helping of moisture...

After reading my rave review the other week, I think you all know how I feel about the Origins Drink Up Intensive Masks, and these have been my ultimate go-to for any time when my skin is feeling a little lacklustre and needs some plumping, nourishing action.

For a cleanser, the Merumaya Melting Cleansing Balm* has been seeing me through the dull skin days (this 10ml mini is almost out), and you can almost feel your skin drinking up the moisture as you massage it into the skin - I feel a full size purchase coming on...

Then, there is the Dr Jart + Most Moist Water Sure Gel, which basically has the same function as Hydraluron in a pot in my eyes. I use this daily under my moisturiser. It is packed with hyaluronic acid which just does the best job at holding in all the moisture it can (it is known for holding 1000x its weight in water), and my skin has really been seeing the difference. I think that once this is run out, I will purchase the full size.

Finally, I have the Akin Unscented 24HR Moisture* which is a moisturiser that I use lightly in the day to offer hydration and a good base for my makeup, and then I apply it a little more generously in the evenings and I find it still offers enough hydration to last me throughout the night.

If you have any moisture boosting companions, so let me know in the comments... I am always open to new members in the skincare cupboard...

                                                        

ORIGINS DRINK-UP INTENSIVE MASKS

Ah, Origins. Their masks have intrigued me for such a long time, and I never thought I would own any. That was until I got 3 in a set for Christmas, and I think the love will last for a long time.

Even with some oily areas on my skin (we'll say combination), I still want that plumped, nourished skin and these masks seemed like the perfect duo to give me that. Must I say too, the apricot scent gets me weak at the knees every time I slather this on my face.

Overnight Mask: So, this is my favourite out of the two. It is a thick, creamy consistency, which you basically put on after cleansing before bedtime as a really intensive moisturiser, and by the morning it has entirely sunken in and your skin thanks you oh-so-much for the fruity hydration.

10 Minute Mask: This is the same sort of consistency, but slightly thinner and more leaning towards a thick moisturiser texture. I put this on and I find that after the 10 minutes some has sunken into my skin and there is a bit less that I put on to wash off, which is nice to know - especially if you are really looking for hydration reassurance. It washes off like a milk, and leaves my skin looking radiant almost immediately.

I think there is some sort of love going on here. I dread the days when my 3 Origins masks run out (in the set you got 3 75ml masks for £25), because I sense some repurchases going on...