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29.4.12

The Natural Glossybox - April 2012


Hi everyone, hope you are all well :)
I was so excited to receive this month’s Glossybox as it is only the second one which I have subscribed to and the first time I haven’t known what was going to be in the box. I love the idea that this month was all about natural products – even the box is fully biodegradable! 

 So here are the products that I received this month .....
Ayuuri Natural Body Wash
This body wash contains Sandalwood, coconut and vitamin E and I absolutely love the smell of it. I just find it such a relaxing and calming scent and the product leaves your skin feeling lovely and fresh. This is a full sized bottle which I was really pleased about and I would definitely consider purchasing it again in the future.

Inika Cosmetics Eyeliner
Some of the Glossyboxes contained this eyeliner in quite bright colours so I am really pleased that the one which I received was a natural dark brown (no.06 Coco) as I don’t use bright eyeliners very often. I think this is a really nice product which glides on smoothly and stays put throughout the day.

Kai Perfume Oil
 I’m not really a big fan of perfume samples in beauty boxes as you can often find these free is stores etc but I was quite interested to try this one. The scent is a blend of gardenia and white florals and it is quite a light and fresh fragrance. Although I did quite like the perfume, it’s not one which I would normally choose for myself and I don't think I'd buy the full sized version.

Caudalie Vinosource SOS Thirst-Quenching Serum
 I have only tired this product once so far but my first impression of it was very good. My skin felt smooth and hydrated after use and I will definitely continue to use it and see how I get on!

Figs and Rouge Lip Balm
 This was my favourite product in the box as I actually almost bought this lip balm the other day but decided against it in the end. I’m glad I did now although I wouldn’t have minded ending up with two and this is quickly becoming one of my favourite lip balms. Mine is the Rambling Rose flavour which has a lovely scent and I will be looking into getting some of the others in the range as well.
Overall I am really happy with this month’s Glossybox and love the idea that all the products are natural and ethical. I much prefer this Glossybox to the Harrods edition from last month and I am looking forward to seeing what next month’s box brings :)
What are your thoughts on the Natural Glossybox? Were you happy with the products you received?
Thanks for reading,
BBx

25.4.12

Dermalogica Treatment Foundation


I recently purchased the Dermalogica Treatment Foundation as I was looking for a new foundation that would also be kind to my skin. As my skin is quite sensitive I thought that this product might be a good choice as it is formulated without any artificial colours or preservatives, is oil free and quite light weight.

The foundation is available in eight different shades and costs around £29. This is quite pricey for a foundation but the 40ml tube does go quite a long way and you wouldn’t need to buy it as often as some other foundations.

I have been using this product for a number of weeks now and kind of have mixed opinions on it. The formula is very light and although I don’t like my foundation to be too heavy, I think this is too much in the opposite direction for me. As it is so light, it doesn’t provide much coverage and it’s not a foundation which you could build up. I have also discovered that this foundation doesn’t have great staying power and I have found myself touching it up throughout the day. I should point out that I do get quite an oily t-zone and quite a lot of foundations seem to disappear from my skin after a while but this one seemed worse than most others in my opinion.

On the plus side the Dermalogica Treatment Foundation didn’t irritate my skin at all and if you have very sensitive skin then it may be worth giving this one a try. Although there isn’t a huge range of shades, I used colour 1G and thought that the match was spot on. This foundation is also extremely easy to blend and a little goes a long way as you only need a small amount to cover your whole face.

Overall I would describe the Dermalogica Treatment Foundation as being more like a tinted moisturiser than a foundation and although it is branded as  'treatment foundation' I didn't notice any improvement in the condition of my skin. I think that this foundation would be one which I used more in the summer or when I go on holiday and I don’t want anything too heavy on my skin, but it’s not one which I would use on a daily basis.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this foundation if any of you have tried it :)

Thanks for reading,
 BBx

19.4.12

On the sensitive side ...


Hi Guys!
I thought I’d do a post on products which I find are good for sensitive skin as I suffer from this problem and it can sometimes be difficult to find products which don’t irritate it. I’ve tried many different potions and lotions over the years and these are the ones which I find work best with my skin type.
Simple Kind to Skin Cleansing Facial Wipes (£3.99 for 2 packs)
I use these face wipes every morning and night and find that they are really good at removing the majority of my makeup without being too harsh on my skin. They contain no alcohol, fragrance, colour or oil making them extremely gentle but they also leave my skin feeling really fresh and clean.
Clinique Anti -Blemish Solutions Cleansing Foam (£13.50)
I have been using the Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions recently as I had a bit of a spot breakout but the Liquid Facial Soap is also really good if you don’t suffer from spots. I find the majority of the Clinique products are good for my sensitive skin as they are all fragrance free and allergy tested. I do think some of the toners are a little strong for me but the cleansing foam and facial soaps are great.
Dermalogica Skin Prep Scrub (£26)
This exfoliator is a little on the pricey side but the bottle does last quite a long time as I only exfoliate once or twice a week. I love this product as it is gentle on my skin without compromising on the effectiveness. I definitely notice an improvement in the condition of my skin after using it regularly and would recommend it to anyone that suffers from sensitivity.
Simple Kind to Skin Replenishing Rich Moisturiser (£2.99)
This is the moisturiser which I always come back to as it leaves my skin feeling hydrated and soft and doesn’t irritate it at all. Although the description says this is a ‘rich’ moisturiser, it isn’t as heavy as I thought it would be and it is fine to use on my combination skin type. However, there is a lighter version which you might find better if your skin is oily.
Sudocrem Skin Care Cream (£1.65)

I am absolutely loving the Sudocrem Skin Care Cream at the moment and it has quickly become my ‘couldn’t live without’ product. I use this cream every night before bed and use the Simple moisturiser in the morning, as Sudocrem is too heavy for during the day. I have really noticed a difference since using this cream; my skin is softer and smoother and it really helps with any blemishes too.
So there is my list of products which I find are really good on my sensitive skin and don’t cause any irritation at all. However, I should point out that although these products work well for me, not everyone is the same and if you’re unsure it’s best to do a test patch on a small, hidden area of skin first.
Do any of you guys suffer from sensitive skin? Do you have any products which you would recommend for people that have this problem?
Thanks for reading :)
BBx

13.4.12

Perfume Countdown!


Hi guys, hope you’re all well!
Recently I have been a bit obsessed with perfumes and have built up quite a collection so I thought I would do a top five perfumes blog post for you guys. I’m not an expert on the different notes that can be found in certain perfumes and all the fragrance jargon but I have done my best and hopefully you will be able to get an idea of the kinds of fragrances offered by each one. It was so hard for me to pick my favourites but I have narrowed it down to these few :)
1) Calvin Klein - Sheer Beauty     


I got this perfume quite recently and I just love it! It is a floral fragrance with a hint of musk and perfect for the spring season. I’m not usually a big fan of musk in perfumes but it is quite subtle and the overriding scent is definitely more floral. According to Calvin Klein the top notes of this perfume are peach bellini accords, red berry extract and bergamot with the middle notes being pink lily accord, jasmine and peony.
2) Marc Jacobs - Daisy    
Another floral scent which is lovely for the upcoming summer months is Daisy by Marc Jacobs. This perfume has been a favourite of mine for quite a while now and the one which I am always going back to. Daisy contains notes of wild strawberry, red grapefruit and vanilla amongst others, making it a fresh and feminine fragrance. I also love the bottle with the daisy top which makes it really stand out.
3) Gucci Guilty   
I was given this perfume for my birthday last year and have loved it ever since. It is quite a strong scent which is both floral and citrusy and one which I often reach for when I am going on a night out. The top notes of this perfume include mandarin to give it that citrus burst followed by geranium, lilac and peach middle notes to provide the floral scents.  Again I really like the design of the bottle with the gold and glass combination and iconic linked G letters. 
4) Rock ‘n’ Rose by Valentino     

 As you have probably guessed by now I am quite a fan of floral perfumes and Rock ‘n’ Rose by Valentino is no exception. As the name suggests this perfume has on overriding rose scent and is quite a sweet and feminine fragrance.  It reminds me of the smell you get just as you walk into a florist but that might just be me!
5)   Vera Wang Princess   

This perfume comes in a heart shaped bottle with the crown lid which is really cute and girly to match the sweet and fruity fragrance inside. Vera Wang Princess features top notes of apple, water lily and mandarin and for me it is something a bit different to the other perfumes that I have. As you can see I have nearly finished the bottle but it is definitely a perfume which I would buy again and again.
So that’s it for my top five perfumes! I hope you guys enjoyed reading and could get a bit of an idea of what the perfumes smell like from the short descriptions. I didn’t want to go on too much and just tried to keep it short and sweet!
Are there any perfumes which you guys always go back to? I’d love to hear which perfumes you are loving at the moment as well as which ones you would steer clear of!
Thank you for reading :)
BBx

9.4.12

The Glamorous 50's!


Hi everyone!
I thought for my next post I would continue my look back at makeup from past decades and take a look at makeup from the 1950’s. After the rationing of WWII came to an end, beauty brands such as Max Factor and Elizabeth Arden began to regain popularity and demand quickly recovered. Women took inspiration from stars such as Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor and attempted to imitate the glamorous styles which they saw in the movies. This look is easy to recreate yourself or you could take aspects of it and add a touch of the 1950’s glamour to your day to day makeup.
Foundation / Powder
In the 1950’s women aimed for a flawless complexion to rival that seen in the movies. Max Factor’s Pan Cake foundation was designed to completely cover up any blemishes or imperfections and became hugely popular during this era. If you are looking to recreate the 1950’s look, MAC foundations are really easy to build up and provide good coverage. I do find these a little too heavy for my skin and therefore I unfortunately can’t wear them on a daily basis but I love them for a night out or for creating a specific look.
Eyes
One of the most recognisable aspects of the 1950’s look undoubtedly has to be the winged eyeliner. This is something that can easily be incorporated into your everyday makeup and there are so many products out there which make it easy to achieve. A couple of my favourites are the MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack and the L’oreal Super Liner in Carbon Black. If you’re going for a gel liner the Avon eyeliner brush is really good and won’t break the bank! Eyeshadows in the 50’s were kept to a minimum with neutral colours being a popular choice. Add lashings of mascara to create eyes that really stand out.
Brows
Past decades had seen eyebrows plucked exceptionally thin but brows in the 50’s were kept thicker with a definite arch to them. Eyebrows were well maintained, defined and often tapered to a point. I love Avon’s Glimmerstick Brow Definer for creating well defined and groomed eyebrows as well as the Gosh Eyebrow Kit.
Lipstick
Reds and pinks were extremely popular colours for lipstick in the 50’s and women began to extend beyond their natural lip line to create a full and voluptuous pout! Lips were kept matte and nails often painted bright red to match the colour of choice for lipstick. Revlon Colourstay lipliner in red, paired with lipstick in either Lady Danger or Russian Red by MAC are perfect products for creating the 1950’s matte, red lip.
Makeup in this era was all about the glamour and saw women striving for the perfect, pin-up look. I particularly love the bold and bright lip colours and the winged eyeliner! Have any of you guys tried to recreate this look? Which products did you use to help achieve the 1950’s influence?
I hope you enjoyed reading :)
BBx


Images taken from:
1950's makeup - www.ehow.com/how_12129062_1950sinspired-makeup.html
Elizabeth Arden advert - www.vintagefestival.co.uk/blogget-the-look-1950s-make-up
Marilyn Monroe - https://suburbanheresy.blogspot.co.uk/2008/10/1950s-makeup.html






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