The Body Shop Vitamin E Overnight Serum-in-Oil

I don’t know how everyone else’s skin is holding up with the winter weather but until a few weeks ago mine had become dry, tight and looked a bit dull. It needed some oomph when it came to the moisturising part of my routine.

With me being an obsessive blog reader I had read that the Body Shop was soon to launch a Vitamin E overnight serum and oil combo that claimed to “replenish and recharge moisture”.  

On a weekend away in York, I popped into the Body Shop looking for their Honey Bronzer and body butter, but by pot luck that was the day the Vitamin E overnight serum in oil was released. Having spent over £18 between the Vitamin E oil, body butter and Honey Bronzer I also got a free goody bag worth £22!

Since then, I've been using it every night and really have seen a change in my skin. It is softer, hydrated and fresher looking. I apply it after using a toner and before my night cream.

It comes in a little pink bottle which is handy to travel with as it doesn’t take much space, and has a small pipette which is great as you can dispense a small amount.

I usually squeeze a couple of drops into the palm of my hands, rub them together and gently pat over my face, then use an eye cream and finish with my night cream. It’s a lightweight oil so doesn’t really take much time to absorb, and if you’ve tried anything else in the Body Shop’s Vitamin E range, you’ll be familiar with that comforting fresh, clean smell.

All in all I think this will be a staple in my routine, or at least until the central heating is switched off and summer is well and truly here!

http://www.thebodyshop.co.uk/shop-by-range/vitamin-e/vitamin-e-overnight-serum-in-oil-28ml.aspx

Nail painting just got easier!

The Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat has got to be the best top coat I have ever used!

It’s glossy, thick and gives your nails a silky, salon manicure finish. I’ve been searching for a fast drying top coat for a while, and when a review by Lily Pebbles popped up on my Twitter feed I wondered could this be the answer to my nail painting woes!

To be honest, I’ve tried so many other brands only to be disappointed, so I wasn’t feeling too hopeful. However, this turned out to be completely different to any other I’ve purchased.

Pros: it’s relatively cheap, think I paid about £6 for a 14ml sized bottle online but I’m sure it’s £9 at Boots; it dries amazingly fast and doesn’t smudge your nail varnish when applied over wet nail varnish; it leaves your nails super smooth, almost like a gel manicure.

Cons: It has a really strong chemical smell, which I don’t mind too much - just don’t get your nose too close to the vapours! If you don’t seal the tips with the top coat I find they chip much quicker. Also, if you apply a coat too thick it will lift and also peel your nail varnish off.

I must say the pluses do outweigh the negatives. So, if like me you’ve been searching for a quick and fuss free way to dry your nail varnish, this is it.

I apply a base coat, the nail colour that I’m using, wait for that to begin drying for a couple of minutes and then apply the Seche Vite to finish. It’s touch dry in about 5 minutes and completely in about 10. I find that I paint my nails far more often now as it’s taken the hassle and time out of it.

Some people have complained that their nail varnish only lasts for 5 days before chipping with this top coat, but my nails are fairly weak and peel anyway so nothing lasts more than a couple of days on mine before chipping, even when it’s done by a professional. So if you’re feeling the pinch and want to save a few pennies by not booking your next manicure appointment quite so soon, buy this little bottle of magic.

http://www.boots.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10052&productId=1321809

Real Techniques Expert Face Brush Review

What on earth did I use to apply my foundation before the Make up Artist Sam Chapman (one half of the Pixiwoo sisters) came out with the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush!? I honestly can’t remember. All of my friends have received this as either a Christmas or Birthday gift over the last year, which itself will tell you how much I am in love with it.

This brush is what I use to apply my liquid foundation and also what I use in my professional kit. I am never disappointed by the finish it gives which is, in one word, flawless. You can buff right into the little awkward places, such as around your nose, and it makes blending around the jaw line easy giving you a very professional, polished, streak free look to your base.

The Expert Face Brush has synthetic soft and dense bristles that don’t feel scratchy at all. Another bonus with synthetic brushes is that the bristles are easy to clean (I use diluted Fairy or any washing up detergent, Real Techniques HQ may tell me otherwise), and it dries within a couple of hours. Best of all it’s only £10! Or even cheaper on some online retailers - fantastic value for money compared to higher end brand brushes.

I’ve bought cheaper brushes in the past and they’ve usually ended up being coarse bristles which shed a lot (then having to spend a large amount of time trying to flick the bristles off my face…quite annoying!). This brush doesn’t and neither do any of the other brushes in the Real Techniques range.

I cannot sing its praises enough so all I can say is GO GET IT!

Check out Pixiwoos make up channel on Youtube where you’ll find lots of useful make up tutorials that will give you plenty of tips and may inspire you to do different looks (see the Expert Face brush in full swing!). Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/user/pixiwoo