Botanics Rosewater Toning Spritz

I always used to use a toner after cleansing as a part of the '3 steps' cleansing regime, but I was told that it was a pointless product that did nothing but strip the skin. So for years now I have left it out of my routine thinking I wouldn't need it, but I have to say since stopping my pores have enlarged and become more prominent around my nose and cheeks. I'm not saying this is an exact cause but I have noticed a difference over the years. Ive tried everything to shrink my pores from face masks,serums and dreaded pore strips but nothing changes.

Hence my decision to introduce it back into my daily routine, now I have seen the Caudalie ones everywhere and I know that they are amazing but sometimes I like to go against the grain. I try my best not to jump on the band wagon but to try and find an alternative to try which in turn makes it better for my blog. Nobody wants to read the same review 1000000 times over, I have jumped on a few some times you have to but I try very hard not to!!!

As you can see I went right off track so anyway, this toner is from Boots Botanics range which has been around for years. They have had a revamp with the packaging and it is a huge improvement from the last design. The products look chic and more inviting on the shelves which is probably why I decided to buy something (I'm a sucker I know).

The toner itself is pretty good I have to say I'm impressed its refreshing, smells great and doesn't dry out the skin at all. I haven't noticed a significant change in my pores but my blemishes are clearing and the redness has calmed down a lot. The spray is also something I love as it covers the whole face in an even layer, which I then wipe away with a cotton wool pad and apply my moisturiser. I'll never get rid of my oily skin but this does help to calm my skin and keep it at bay for a while, along with my new favourite No.7 T Zone Rescue which I blogged about HERE.

Another great thing about this product and the whole range is the price, this toner comes in a good size bottle and at under £4 you cant complain. Next to a lot of the Botanical/Organic products out on the market this is very purse friendly compared to the Caudalie range, which I do love but have to justify it sometimes when buying!

Have you tried this? Can you recommend anything else for me to try from the range?

Murad Review

I received this Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser in my Latest In Beauty Box a couple of weeks ago and was definitely excited to try it. I have tried a couple of Murad products before and always hear good things about the brand, so this was the first thing I tried from the box of samples I blogged about HERE.

I love a good exfoliator my oily/combination skin gets a build up around my Tzone that needs to be exfoliated twice a week without fail. I like quite abrasive scrubs that lather up and give that clean feeling, my skin hate products with added oils or moisture as my face produces enough as it is.

So as part of my usual routine I used this in the morning hoping for a great result but I'm afraid I wasn't so impressed. Don't get me wrong it leaves your skin smooth and clean, the problem is I couldn't feel the exfoliating side of this product much at all. It felt more like a cleansing face wash rather than an exfoliator. I think as its part of the age reform its targeted more for ageing skin that needs a light exfoliation. Its definitely something I would recommend to somebody worried about being to harsh with their skin whether its sensitive or ageing I think it would work well.

For me I think so far my favourite exfoliator I have tried is the No.7 Beautiful Skin Purifying Exfoliator I have preached about before HERE. I am finding a lot more high street products out there that are purse friendly and work just as good if not better than the premium branded ones. This No.7 scrub is around £8 (depending on whether you have a trusty £5 off voucher) and is perfect for me I don't feel like I have to justify the purchase!

Have you used this or any other Murad products before? Do you rate them?

She Said Beauty Box No.2

The Vintage Cosmetics Company Eyelash Curlers, Stylefile S-File, Murad Time Release Blemish Cleanser, Freeze 24-7 Ice Crystals Anti-Ageing Prep & Polish, Miners Bronzer & Blush Blend

This is the second beauty box I have received in the past week and yet again I'm really happy with what I have got. This is the July She Said Beauty box and its full of goodies I cant wait to try, I'm really impressed with these boxes so far. I know I am only on my second box from She Said Beauty but I have to say I have had much better luck than with previous boxes.

I'm most looking forward to trying the Miners Bronzer as its a matte formula and looks like it would be great for my pale skin, also I love Murad products and this cleanser is made for my skin type. I have to hold my hands up and say I am probably the only person in the UK that doesn't watch the apprentice, I haven't tuned in to a single program so its wasted on me in that way. Although as a nail file I am definitely interested in this, I always struggle to get the perfect shape for my nails so hopefully this will be easy to use.

The Freeze 24-7 sounds great too and the eyelash curlers look like they may become a new staple in my beauty regime, I always wanted the Shu Umera ones but I'm still trying to justify the price so maybe these will do the same job?

I'm not sure why we have had a Debenhams beauty card but I will try and use it, I don't always shop for my cosmetics at Debenhams but since seeing certain products are now at duty free prices maybe I should....any excuse to buy more cosmetics.

I will review each and blog about them over the next couple of weeks, I like to test each product a few times before giving an honest review. Sometimes I feel certain products need to be used over a number of days to see any difference.

Did anyone else receive this box this week? Was you as happy as I was?

A Beauty Box With A Difference....

Etat Pur Micellar Cleansing Water, Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser, L'Occitane Angelica Hydration Cream, Melvita Moisturizing Rose Nectar, Balance Me Moisture Rich Face Cream, Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate.

This box is from Latest In Beauty which is a Beauty Box website with a difference as you can create your own custom boxes to suit you. I have seen this website before and thought it was a great idea but had always been a Glossy Box subscriber, that was until recently I cancelled and jumped ship to She Said Beauty. I suppose It could ruin the surprise element of getting a beauty box and not knowing whats in it, but I never get what suits me so I love the idea of making it my own and getting products that apply to my skin type.

I read about a collaboration with YOU magazine where they were giving away a box for £8.95, this included a full size Etat Pur cleansing water which I use already. I was just about to order another when I saw for the same price I could get all of these goodies too, so I had to get it (well I didnt have to but I think for the good of the blogging world I needed it....)

I was really impressed with the samples as I have wanted to try these for ages, the box I will say wasn't up to the standards of the others it was thin and there wasn't a luxury element to it. I didn't bother me to be honest though it was cheaper and with a full size product the packaging wasn't an issue to me.

Im looking forward to trying all of these especially the Melvita Rose Nectar and Kiehl's concentrate, I usually find I only like 2 maybe 3 samples at a push in beauty boxes but I love all of these. I do have oily skin so the Murad Exfoliator will be great to try and budge the excess oil and build up on my face. Also my skin is so dehydrated even though its oily so any of the hydrating face creams will be great to try, I usually use them at night so I will definitley be trying these over the next few days and blogging about them.

Did anyone else receive one of these boxes? Do you think a 'build your own' beauty box is a good idea?

No7 Beautiful Skin T Zone Rescue

In my quest to find the right products to help control my oily skin I have come across many serums, moisturisers and more that claim to 'Mattify'. I have tried literally 100's but I've never been successful, I have come close with Benefits Dr Feel Good Balm and also Clarins Beauty Flash Balm but nothing perfect for me. I know I wont ever get completely matte skin all day or eliminate the problem forever, it isn't possible but there has to be somethingout there that helps!?

So on to the next mattifying product I have purchased, this is No7 Beautiful Skin T Zone Rescue it claims to help control excess oil production. As I had one of the many £5 vouchers (which made it £7 from £12) I decided to try it. I am usually cynical as most of these claims are never right, although I have to say this is actually pretty good. I applied it first thing before moisturising and left it to dry for a few minutes, it went on easily without any piling although It looks thick and white in the picture it is actually more clear and gel like. I carried on my usual routine of moisturiser and makeup and it seemed to have smoothed out the area around my T Zone. I usually find after an hour I'm already showing signs of oiliness but it actually didnt break through for a few hours and when it did it wasn't too bad. This is a miracle for me as I can't go more than 3 hours without having to apply more powder, but it battled its way through and helped to keep it away for a while.

I'm not saying this will cure your oily skin, if your like me and it's pretty bad it will probably just help to reduce it. If you suffer with mild oil control issues I think this would work wonders, it doesn't clog or have any drying qualities you find in some oily skin products. Ive even used it on its own without moisurising and just applied my foundation over the top and it worked just as well.

I haven't really been a huge fan of the No7 skin care range over the years but I recently tried the Beautiful Skin Purifying Exfoliator which I blogged about HERE and loved it. When you find something you love within a brand you always feel you have to try it all, so I will probably continue reviewing the 'Beautiful Skin' range till I have nothing left to pile on my face. With these brilliant £5 vouchers from Boots I think its a purse friendly way to try these, although I do wish they would maybe do them for the premium brands as money off these would definatley help!

Have you tried this before, did it work for you? Or is there another great oil controlling product I dont know about?

Sail La Vie

I know your probably thinking I'm a bit late talking about this, Ive had the 'Sail La Vie' MAC lipstick for a while now but have only really just got round to wearing it. I love red lipstick I think its an all round suits everyone kind of colour, obviously it comes in a whole range of shades and I think theres a perfect one for everyone out there. I know its not for the faint hearted as red stands right out on your face no matter what skin tone, but it can really lift your face and brighten your skin and teeth.

This lipstick was from another one of MAC's many limited edition ranges that's still in store, I don't always buy into the hype of these as they are always sold out and aren't always great colours for extra pale types like me. I also find that in the past I have fell in love with a limited edition product only to find Ive ran out and it has literally disappeared off the face of the earth.

Although as I said I stay away from the hype, when I was browsing in MAC I saw this and knew I had to have it. I managed to get my hands on the last one they had, so I know its probably become a staple in everyones makeup bag by now. The packaging is amazing I love the nautical stripes and it looks great when I whip it out on a night out. Its a satin finish which is great as it doesn't dry out my lips and has a good wearing time, I can usually go a good while without reapplying it. Its not a true red shade its wavering more on the orange side of red and is a pretty bright shade that goes with everything. I have put this with my night time lipsticks as I have tried it in the day but I find its a bit much for me, especially when I'm doing my Tesco shop. Do you buy into the limited edition hypes?

I'm also wearing my sample of the Ginvera BB Cream in this picture which I will blog about later. Its a little darker than I would usually use so excuse the slightly strange mask look to my skin.

REN Moisturisers

While in Space NK a week ago buying my new favourite Eve Lom Dynaspot which I blogged about recently HERE, I was given two sample size REN moisturisers to try. I have heard so many good things about REN, but I have never actually used any of the products before. When I received these I was excited to try them as I battle with my oily skin everyday and have actually never found a moisturiser that controls it and keeps that dreaded shine at bay. Everyday I go through my skincare routine and apply my makeup only to find two to three hours later I have a pretty decent amount of oil around my Tzone. It does get me down at times as I do feel that I might as well not even bother applying anything, but its a terrible circle as my oily skin brings spots that need treating and covering. The upside to my skin type is that the oil helps to keep my skin moisturised so its great for anti ageing concerns, well that's what I console myself with anyway!

The first moisturiser I tried was the T-Zone Balancing Day Fluid, It claims to be a "A mattefying fluid that will leave combination skin looking balanced, clear and beautifully healthy", with rresults that "Balances combination skin, Reduces shine/mattefies, Antibacterial, Protects against free radicals to combat the signs of premature ageing". I did find that it applied well without the awful surgical smell and had a matte effect when absorbed, but unfortunately as always my skin battled its way through and it only lasted two hours.

The second was the Hydra-Calm Global Protection Day Cream this claims to be "A moisturiser formulated to leave more sensitive skin optimally hydrated, calmed, soothed, protected and looking beautifully healthy". Claiming to give rresults that "Hydrates and replenishes, Skin feels calmed and soothed, Protects against free radicals to combat the signs of premature ageing". My skin is also sensitive as well oily, I do find my skin doesn't agree with a lot of the harsh spot fighting facial products so I thought this would be great. It was a slightly thicker consistency and definitely had a hydrating feel when applied to the skin. Yet again I'm afraid my oily skin did beat it, but it did take a little longer to get through to my skin and didn't give the sliding effect I get with my makeup.

I think if you want to combat moderate shine both of these would work well, but if you are like me and have serious shine then I would say it might not be for you. Out of the two moisturisers I did much prefer the one that wasn't for oily skin, which sounds weird as you would expect to prefer the one for your skin type. This one definitely hydrated and softened my skin a lot, which gave it a good base for my makeup. I definitely think REN is a good skincare brand as the two samples I tried were lovely, I know they didn't work for me but I think they would be great for combination skin types. They are hydrating and leave the skin soft enough to provide a smooth base without the piling effect when applying your foundation. The only downside may be the price as the Hydra-Calm is £27 and the T-Zone Balancing is £26, so if your after a purse friendly product you may not be so keen to try.

Does anyone else out there have problems with excessive oil? Have you got any great recommendations for skincare that combats this?