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Showing posts with the label beauty products

Elemis - Skin Care

My last post explained where I sit when it comes to brand loyalty.  I'm in the middle. I like to know what I'm using works for my skin be it make up, skin care, or nail varnish.  It's hard for me to find products that work with my sensitivity, so I tend to find a brand and stick with it if it works.  I also however need a back up plan and sometimes I just need to change a product as it's not giving me the results I want.  Right now, I'm experimenting, now this can prove costly unless you know who to ask.  For me I learned a long time ago to try before you buy if at all possible.   I don't want to be left with a product that's cost a fortune but sits on my shelf because it doesn't suit my skin.  There are a number of brands who will take things back - I had such an experience last year with Bobbi Brown, they were great after I suffered a reaction in refunding my purchase but I had to prove my reaction to them before I could get my money back w

Summer Favourites

Okay, I know right now it hardly feels like summer - I'm still wearing jumpers and a coat!  But I do have some summer make up loves that I wanted to share. My first is the Clarins Lip Oil, this has been out for a while but there is a new flavour out now called Red Berry which I'm loving.  I leaves my lips with a light reddish tint, feel gloriously rich when putting it on and last ages.   My lips which can sometimes feel dry especially at the moment as the temperature is all over the place feel moisturised and soft when using this.  one bottle (0.23 fl oz) is lasting me around three months.  At £19 this may seem a bit excessive for a lip balm but it does go a long long, gives a great summer shine and tastes lovely.  The sponge applicator is soft and swipes the product on evenly and doesn't leave a sticky residue. My second Clarins product is the Summer bronzing compact.  I've been using this for the last two months to give a subtle glow, partly to convince my very

Tried & Tested - Fleur De Force Make Up Range

I'm usually very wary about trying new products on my skin, for a long time I've stuck to trusted brands but sometimes even after years of using a product a reaction can develop.  So I decided to start trying new products selectively and hopefully find some new items that will work for me. I've followed Fleur's blog/Vlog for a little over eighteen months now, I find her videos interesting, friendly and informative.  It's like having a conversation with a friend over coffee.  So when she launched her make up line last year I was interested to see how it would work out. Fleur De Force Make Up Line  I didn't purchase her products initially as I wasn't sure they were for my age range.  But after watching her videos where she demonstrates the eye shadows and lip balms and seeing some of the reviews come in I started to think that maybe this would be something I could try. I've been giving my skin time to settle down after having a reaction last ye

Get Ready With Me - Pamper Routine

Life is hectic, stressful and chaotic, it can play havoc with your skin, your health and your general wellbeing.  Sometimes you just have to say stop and take a little time for yourself to give your body a treat and recharge your batteries for the days/weeks ahead. After going through periods of stress and anxiety I found that taking some time to have a mini pamper session could lift my mood, help my skin and lower my stress levels.  I try at least once a week to give myself a mini pamper session to relax and refocus my mind. This is currently my pamper routine; As we move in to Spring I'm exfoliating my skin with Calcot Manor Body salts, this is refreshing my skin and leaving it feeling smooth after months of being hidden under long sleeves and jumpers. I apply to damp skin using a circular motion starting at the feet and working my way up. CALCOT MANOR SCRUB I then shower off the salts which do leave a bit of oil on the skin, I tend to follow up with Treacle Moon

Spring Beauty - Make Up Testing and Routine

The clocks have gone forward, the mornings are nights are growing lighter and the weather is supposed to improve - maybe!  To prepare for the change in season I paid a visit to my local Clarins counter.  I love the Clarins team at House of Fraser, they have been amazing with me since I went in for advice last summer.   I have really sensitive skin, I can be fine with a product for a few days and then suddenly my skin reacts to it or I can try something and within seconds my skin reacts.  It can be a bit of a nightmare, I would love to be someone who can pick up any product and use it without a second thought but that's just not the way my skin is.   It's refreshing to find a brand that takes your concerns on board and isn't always looking for the sale which is why Clarins is my go to range of the moment.  Having been in earlier in the year I called my adviser Katherine and booked an appointment to test out foundation and concealer colours.   I attended for my

Spring Cleaning my Make Up Kit

As we move towards spring, not that it currently feels like it’s anywhere near with all the white snow outside my window, I checked my make box to see what I might need to refresh.   Following a cold but not bitter winter I’m almost out of moisturiser so I booked a facial with the Clarins team to assess my skin needs.   Spring Cleaning my Make Up Kit  As my skin is extremely sensitive to new products sessions like this allow me to talk to a professional about my skin care routine and try products to ensure I have no reaction before I buy.    My advisor was great and we had a lengthy discussion about my skin before she started. For the facial she used One Step Cleanser  Eye Make Up Remover  Hydra Quench Mask Double Serum  Ever Mat Foundation 105 I had been using Multi Active Day and Night Cream for around three weeks by this point and we agreed this was still the right cream for me.   We did however decide that my foundation had become a tad da

Hair Care Haul - Christmas Shopping Event

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and at the start of the holiday season your hair might be beautifully happy and healthy but there’s that chance all the cold weather, blow drying, curling straightening and party hair do’s are going to take their toll on your precious locks so when my Hair dresser Lynn told me she was having a Christmas Shopping event I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to grab a few bargains that might save me and my hair from suffering post Christmas blues.   First off, a great hairdresser is hard to find and I’m lucky I found mine.   Lynne, Emma and Georgia at Hairs and Graces (Durham, UK) are an amazing team.   I have never once been disappointed in the results they’ve achieved with my hair.   Right now I’m a blonde, I say that as I have a habit of changing my hair colour.   Naturally I’m dark brown/blac k with what my dad used to call Heinz 57 varieties, meaning I have bits of multiple colours throughout my hair.   Anyway, currently I’m a full head

Autumn Make Up Haul

I'm an autumn/winter person, bring on the cold weather as far as I'm concerned!  It's not just that the colours are deeper and warmer, the clothing is cosy, layered looks are great, I love boots rather than sandals,  its more beacuase I really don't do well in the heat, I tend to feel uncomfortable and clammy.  In autumn and winter I think I come in to my own. As it's September, I have changed the majority of my wardrobe back to warmer, darker coloured clothing.  I always keep a few lighter tops out just in case there's a few warmer days.   I love the change in wardrobe I start to feel like I have a whole new lot of clothes to wear and it hasn't cost me a penny. I have however needed / wanted to buy some new make up and that is what this post is about. Kate Upton Modelling Bobbi Brown Autumn Collection  1. Foundation & Base I tend to change my foundation if I can from season to season.  This spring/summer I have been using Clarins (spring