Super Facialist Sunday....

This is a relatively new brand to my huge Face Mask collection called Super Facialist, its created by a woman called Una Brennan who is pretty big in the world of Beauty. She looks after the skin of the beautiful people such as Sienna Miller and so on, I wasn't expecting miracles but even a slightly more 'celebrity polished' look to my skin would be great.

This mask is called the Tea Flower Deep Clean mask which is designed to purify the skin, its supposed to drag out any nasties that block your pores and balance your skin. The texture and smell of this is no different to any other clay type mask I've tried, it has that typical green/brown shade to it and is thick and mud like as most are. This type of mask I used to think was the best for my oily skin as it is slightly stronger and does leave your skin squeaky clean. However after years of using them I have realised that i was wrong, I actually think my skin hates it and rebels badly. I have started only using these every 1-2 weeks and use a milder one in between.

This I usually apply straight after cleansing my face, I apply it pretty much to where my skin is serious need of help (usually my tzone) and then leave it on for 5 minutes and wash off with a hot flannel. Now I have to say the first few times I used this it made my face a bit sore and I was seriously considering chucking it away but I kept going and its actually pretty good. I don't get any tight sore feeling after and my skin feels smooth and its brighter. The celebrity polished look however is still nowhere to be seen, but you cant blame a gal for having some (deluded) hope!

I haven't tried anything else from the range yet, are there any you guys can recommend?

17 Holo Nail Polish....

So we all know how much I love nail polishes and when a new nail trend comes out I'm always there. The Holographic trend that has started is something I wanted to try straight away. I love nail colours that change in different lights, it takes a matte colour and makes it pop and catches your eye. This 17 nail polish for me does exactly that, it goes on great, non streaky and is definitely a winner for the holographic trend. At £3.99 you cant go wrong, it may not be for everyone but if you want to try then this is the best high street option I have seen so far. I do quite like the 17 range as an affordable high street brand, they are always on point with trends but keep it purse friendly. Hopefully we will see many more nail 'trend' polishes coming through from 17 over Christmas. Have you all tried this? did you like it?

MAC Mineralize

MAC Mineralize Skin finish in Light Plus £21 (MAC at Selfridges)

This isn't anything new or exciting to blog about I know but I just thought I would talk about my favourite face powder at the moment. (I say at the moment because we all know I'm fickle). As I moan about constantly I have oily, sometimes blemish prone skin and my makeup never seems to hold up against the dreaded midday oil. I always need to use a powder to hold my foundation and to add an extra cover to my daily makeup. The problem with powder and especially oily skin it can often look slightly chalky and mask like. I have had this problem for years and after trying many powders I do always tend to go back to MAC as I love the finish they give. I normally go for Studio Fix which Is technically intended to be used on its own but  always layered it over my foundation. Now this worked fine but if I needed to touch up during the day it would sometimes leave a thicker layer around my Tzone that from a far looked fine but up close did look slightly dry.

So during my last trip to MAC I decided to take the plunge and try the Mineralize Powder, and I'm glad I did as I love it. It leaves a lovely slightly candle lit glow on the skin and holds my foundation on perfectly without looking over done. Now obviously I still get the midday oil but it doesn't cake over the top it mattifys it slightly and recovers any part of my makeup that has faded due to weather and so on. It also comes in many shades ranging from light to dark but you can have the added 'Plus' which leaves a slightly darker colour on the skin, now I really like this as it doesn't leave me looking whiter than Michael Jackson but healthy and awake.

Are you a fan of the Mineralize range? Or are there any other powders you think I should try?

Gobsmacked

Butter Nail Polish in Gobsmacked £12 (Selfridges)

Now anyone who has read posts on my blog before knows I'm a sucker for nail polishes especially from Topshop, but occasionally I like to branch out and try new ones. I have heard of Butter quite a few times before but never really gave it a thought as my love for Topshop varnishes has been so strong!

Ive been after a dark grey varnish for a long time but most I find leave my hand looking corpse like, so when I was in London I spotted this and had to have it. Its the perfect shade of grey for me and the added texture and slight shimmer takes it from being boring to amazing. It looks a lot more glittery in the picture than it actually is it has a slightly more matte look and a rough texture to it in the daylight which I really like.

I have to say I actually really enjoyed wearing this and find Butter varnishes to be a really lovely quality and the colours are pretty much all delicious and I will 100% be needing to stock up on more.

Have you tried this brand? Is there any colours you think I need to get?

Antipodes Grapeseed Butter Cleanser

Antipodes Grapeseed Cleanser £24.99 (Feel Unique)

So a couple of days ago I blogged my new found love of all things Antipodes, well not long after buying the Resurrect Toner which I blogged about HERE, I decided to take the plunge and try the Grapeseed Butter Cleanser. Now I know I have really oily skin that is prone to getting blemishes around my tzone, butter cleanser sounds like hell for my skin type but Its actually the opposite. This cleanser is great its helped to draw the not so nice stuff out of my pores when taking my makeup off after having it on all day. It really softens on the skin making it easy to take all my makeup off in one hit. Another plus as I said before is that it is organic and although it isn't necessarily something I go for every time I definitely feel better about what I'm putting on my skin. I have been using Micellar waters and I do love them but I feel like I'm using so much cotton wool when I take my makeup off its insane!

I was surprised when it arrived from Feel Unique as its actually quite a small pot and for £24.99 my initial thought was 'oh' but actually its plenty big enough. It comes with a tiny spatula to remove the product without having to get your fingers in and making the whole process messy. My first reaction was to scoop a wedge out, although I was so wrong as you really only need a pea sized amount. You warm it up in warm dry hands and it suddenly spreads and you end up with loads. I basically apply it from dry hands to a dry face and then massage it in till I feel its ready to come off, then I wipe it away with a flannel and hot water. After doing this I have to say there isn't a scrap of makeup left on my face and it feels amazingly soft and clean, no heaviness or residue.

I don't tend to use this in the mornings as I'm not sure if it would affect the staying power of my makeup, I generally use it as a part of my night time routine. This has helped my skin no end I feel like along with the toner it has helped to take the redness away and calm down any blemishes that pop up and keep my skin clean and detoxed.

I am seeing a lot of talk about the Honey mask and I think I may have to cave and buy this next! Has anyone else tried this?

Everyone Loves A Drama..

Lancome Hypnose Drama Mascara £21 (Selfridges)



I always struggle to find a good mascara as my eyelashes can be a bit unruly and sometimes stick out all over the place for some reason one side grows straight!? I need a mascara that can control them and make them look normal instead of uneven and in places non existent. I have tried them all but this Lancome Hypnose Drama mascara has been my favourite so far, I cant fault it as it lasts all day it doesn't run and keeps my lashes in good condition. The brush is light and curved so it can coat every lash easily and lift them without leaving blobs everywhere. The colour I have is jet black and is really true to colour, for some maybe too much for an everyday look but as I don't wear eyeliner during the day I think it looks fine. I have heard a few people say that its clumpy and sometimes too heavy but I personally feel this is down to there being too much on the brush, you really only need a small amount to get a great result. I love that you can really build it up for the evening and not have to use the dreaded false eyelashes, I'm really not a fan of these as they always fall off when I wear them!

Now I know the one thing that may put people of is the price, at £21 it is in the higher price bracket when it comes to mascara. I know there any so many good high street brands out there that do a great job, but for someone who needs their eyelashes tamed this is brilliant. I would definitely recommend this to anyone out there who is looking for a mascara that does that little bit extra.

Have you tried this? What is your favourite mascara brand?



Clinique or not to Clinique?



Clinique Anti Blemish Solutions Cleansing Bar £14 (Boots)

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Clinique is another brand that hasn't appeared on my blog before as its not usually my go to brand for skincare. Its not that I don't think they are any good, I hear a lot of great things about them but I have also heard in the past that the products are full of chemicals. After hearing a few bad things about them I stopped buying from Clinique and never really even thought about trying it again. Recently over the past week or two my skin has flared up due to a hormonal imbalance and my face has needed some serious attention especially around my Tzone. I have suddenly started to suffer with really painful blemishes around my chin and jaw, they have been very stubborn and wouldn't budge no matter what.

I decided to bite the bullet and stop listening to hearsay and go back to Clinique as I know the Anti Blemish range has pretty good results. Facial soaps are normally very drying and harsh and to be honest unless you are suffering from painful blemishes I wouldn't recommend this. It is quite abrasive when it comes to the skin but It has helped to calm down the areas that needed treating. Its not an everyday soap I will use this only when I have a severe break out, recently I have been using it in the mornings in the shower and then using an antipodes cleanser at night.

I think as long as you use this carefully (its a serious no go on the eye area) then I think you will achieve good results with any stubborn lumps and bumps. Its also great on the body too as its refreshing and really leaves you skin clean without drying it out.

How do you feel about Clinique? I would love to get back into trying Clinique products are there any you can recommend for my oily skin?

Gelly & No Ice Cream



Gelly Hi-Shine Nail Paint by Barry M £3.99 (Superdrug)

 

So finally I know its a shock but I have been branching out from Topshop Nail Varnishes, its hard as I love them and feel like I'm cheating on them when I wear a different colour (dramatic I know). I have had Shellac nail manicures in the past and couldn't fault them for the result it was shiny right up until I took it off and lasted for weeks. When I saw that Barry M were doing a gel version of their beloved nail paints I new I had to try it, Shellac is great but it damages your nails and can be really pricey. I thought wow shiny gel nails for £3.99 Il jump straight on that band wagon please!

Now it isn't because I'm biased or because I'm negative but I have to say this just didn't really do it for me. I found it patchy and sticky when applying and after using my normally top coat It chipped not long after. Maybe it was applied to thickly or I rushed it I'm not sure as I have seen some reviews where people loved it, for me it wasn't an immediate love. I will be using it again as I want to love this as the colours are lovely and I really love glossy nails, but I feel it may have to grow on me.

How did everyone feel about these? Did you love them or feel the same as me? 

Antipodes Resurrect Toner

Antipodes Clarifying Toner £19.00 (Selfridges)

I have heard of this brand Antipodes a lot over the past few months but I never really took notice or felt compelled to try it. When I was down in London visiting a friend I went into the Beauty Hall at Selfridges and for some strange reason I was drawn into this brand straight away. Its funny because usually you find the ones you don't expect anything from infact become the brands that you love forever, and this is what has happened with this. Ive been converted to this brand and have since bought other products from the range, I just find that it does exactly what it says which is very rare. I find a lot of products preach about how amazing they are but very rarely do they actually do what they claim. Obviously another big plus for this is that its organic and doesn't contain any nasty chemicals that although work also cause severe damage to your skin especially the delicate areas on your face. Anyway after my overspill of love there for the brand.....

This is the Resurrect Clarifying Toner which claims.... " this active clarifying toner helps reduce the appearance of visual and open pores". I have to say my pores aren't really too much different in size as I have always struggled and don't think even the most amazing products will be able to help. Although It does help to refresh and tighten my pores and leaves my skin feeling amazing, It has also helped to balance out the oil production around my very oily Tzone. It feels like its working from the minute it hits your skin, and has definitely improved and faded any redness that usually appears around my nose and cheeks.

I usually apply this in the morning and night after cleansing, I spray across my face and neck and then leave it to dry before applying the rest of my routine. It doesn't affect any of the other products I use in my routine it actually adapts and works alongside them. I love the fact that its a spray bottle, you get an even layer of the product without having to use cotton wool. I do find when you use a toner with cotton wool you often end up wiping half the product away before its worked its way into your skin.

I cant rave about this toner enough it is amazing I think it would be great for any skin type, I would definitely recommend this to anyone who wants to try this brand. Have you used this before? What do you think of Antipodes?

London Baby...& Cake

Last week I took a trip down to London to visit a friend for two days, I got a little snap happy and thought I would share these little photos with you. I went to see Michael McIntyre at the O2 and on the way home we got the boat up the Thames, it was absolutely freezing but the sights were lovely at night everything is lit up and looks wicked. We also went for a Pret A Portea at the famous Berkley Hotel, it was AMAZING as you can see by the pictures we had a feast. Each cake is inspired by the catwalk of S/S12, I have to say although they were beautiful masterpieces I ate them all and they were delicious!

After I ate my body weight in cake we went to check out the new Beauty Hall at Selfridges, Ive heard so much about it and couldn't wait to get there. I was like a kid in a sweet shop and ended up buying a few things that obviously I will be reviewing on the blog over the next week. I wouldn't say its glamorous to look at and you got pounced on as soon as you entered but I did love the fact that everything was more accessible. The beauty hall in Birmingham is great but it doesn't feature as many of the brands as the London one does, its annoying but it does gives me another excuse to pop down to LDN again.... Enjoy!

She Said Beauty October....

This months October She Said Beauty box was definitely dedicated more to skin health than past ones I have received. I really like that most of the boxes I receive include brands I haven't heard of before, I'm a fan of cult brands but I am always searching for something new to try.

My favourites from this box have to be the Biao Beauty Rejuvenating Night Creme and the B.liv Off With Those Heads Gel. I used the Biao Creme every night along side my antipodes toner and I have to say I loved it, my skin was blemish free and soft. Now with the change in the weather I tend to get dry patches around my Tzone and this sorted them out a treat without any greasiness or spots. The B.liv gel is also a great primer for the Tzone I do suffer pretty badly with black heads especially as I do wear makeup most days, this has definitely helped to stop them looking so prominent under my makeup. I have to say I haven't used it for long enough to see any change in appearance concerning my pores/black heads, It has helped to keep the ones I have under control and I haven't seen any more appear.

I did also like the Cellinique Advanced Bio Renewal Masque although you only get a very small sample so its hard to determine exactly how great it is. I have heard of the brand before I know it isn't easily available but the products I have tried and heard about before get great reviews. The Herbacin Wuta Kamille Hand Cream was also a good full size product, now the cold weather is here its helped my dry hands but I am not overly keen on the scent. I am a massive fan of the Bliss hand creams and I find it hard to let go of them!

The only two products I wasn't as bothered about were the Palmers Cocoa Butter and the MyVitamins, I find Palmers a bit heavy for me (I gave it to a friend who loves it) and the Vitamins are something I wont be using I'm not a fan of adding anything unnecessary to my body.

Overall I thought this was a great box and I will be purchasing the Biao creme and the B.liv gel, so they will get full reviews later on my blog.

How did you feel about your box? Did you like the vitamins?

Aye Eye....brows

Rimmel Professional Eyebrow Pencil 'Dark Brown' £2.99

Ive always been obsessed with makeup and I'm always searching for products that helpme to achieve a perfect everyday look. Ive tackled most areas of my face apart from my eyebrows, for some reason I have always left them out. I think its a mixture of my changing hair colour and fear of getting that 'scouse brow' I see on too many people. The thing is since changing jobs I now travel quite far everyday so getting up and doing a full face of makeup is too much effort for me. Ive cut down on my everyday makeup quite a lot recently but I always regret it when I get to work and I look tired before Ive even started.

As everyone knows a quick way to brighten and frame your face is paying attention to your eyebrows, so I had to take the dreaded plunge and purchase an eyebrow pencil (I broke into a sweat when I bought it). There are some brands out there that do some amazing Eyebrow kits, but the problem is they are quite expensive and for a newbie I wanted a high street, purse friendly pencil to try. This Rimmel pencil ticks all the boxes for me in terms of price, packaging and colour its really easy to use and at £2.99 you cant grumble. It comes with a handy brush on the end of the lid which helps to blend the colour without leaving any patches or lines. Overall I have had good results from this so far, and not a 'scouse brow' in sight.

 There is one slight downfall as there isn't a huge array of shades, I would mainly recommend this for people with a darker brow. Even though my hair is a red tone I decided to go for the Dark Brown, I think you should go slightly darker with a pencil its slightly more forgiving. I find if you go too light with a pencil you end up with that orange glow around each brow, trust me Ive been there many a time....

I'm not sure how I feel about my eyebrows at the moment, I know they look better since using this pencil but its taking some time to get used to. Its not even a drastic change to my makeup they just look fuller and not quite so patchy but Im still on the fence about whether its really necessary? Im not even sure if a pencil is the best product for me to use as I hear great reviews about the gels and powders.

How do you feel about eye pencils? Is there a better product out there I should try?

Black Velvet...




Estee Lauder Pure Color Velvet Lipstick In 'Black Cassis' £19.50

This of course is a lipstick from the Violet Underground Collection from Estee Lauder, I picked it up in Debenhams last week while I was meant to be browsing for perfume. I don't usually go to this brand for my lipsticks but I have to say I was impressed with the range they have. They are quite pricey to be fair I did feel a bit guilty as I definitely don't need another lipstick, I also know there are so many high street versions that are cheaper. The thing is as a girl who LOVES makeup I like having a few nice pieces in my makeup bag to reach for when I want a change from my daily makeup. I mean come on who doesn't like shiny gold fancy cases?!

Ive seen this on a few blogs over the past few weeks so I know its not new, I usually I try my hardest not to cave into a hype but obviously I did (nothing new there...) I love dark lipsticks especially in the winter, I usually swap my summery brights for darker matte lip colours when it gets colder. Lets face it summer has gone now and so its time for the winter hauls to come out, plus this shade will detract people from looking at my shiny red nose.

excuse the hair it wouldn't behave that day....

The one thing I do have to say is it is no where near as dark as it looks, as you can see on the picture above its more of a deep red. Don't get me wrong I will be wearing this a lot over the cold months, the shade is lovely but I have even seen it darker on other bloggers pictures.

Have you tried this? What do you think of the colour?



Hanging In The Green Room....

Now we all know my obsession with Topshop varnishes so I wont go on too much....But this is a new colour I picked up a few of weeks ago. I went in for jeans and came out with jewellery and nail varnishes as usual. I love this colour 'Green Room' Ive worn it a lot since I got it, I used to hate blue and green nail varnishes but now I seem to have a new found love for them. Its a lovely sea green/aqua shade that pops and adds a bit of brightness on these new rainy days that have appeared.

I wasn't sure if this was going to be more of a summer colour but to be honest as its got a cool tone to it I'm going to drag it out through the winter too. It also looks great next to silver jewellery and surprisingly goes with most outfits Ive worn despite it being a distinctive green/blue. Ive also worn it with one of the Louise Gray blue glitter varnishes over the top and it looked amazing.

What do you think is this the kind of colour you would choose? Can you recommend any other Nail varnishes out there I should try?