Emma Hardie - Amazing Face Natural Lift and Sculpt Moringa Cleansing Balm

I know I may be a bit...or actually, very late to blog about this, but it took me a while to get my hands on this little gem as it was constantly sold out at my nearest Space NK. Then of course I had to give it a couple of months to try it out before being able to give an honest unbiased opinion!

Every Youtuber and Blogger – and the skincare genius that is Caroline Hirons (definitely have a look at her blog – she knows her stuff) - was raving about this, so I was very intrigued to give it a go.

The full product title is ‘Emma Hardie: Amazing Face Natural Lift and Sculpt Moringa Cleansing Balm’ ...bit of a mouthful! Not sure about the lifting and sculpting, but it’s certainly changed my skin for the better. After use, my face is soft, hydrated and I don’t have to make a mad dash for my moisturiser because I feel as if my face might crack (anyone else get that feeling, especially in this weather?). My skin also appears much smoother and thoroughly clean after using but not dry, even after double cleansing in the evening (basically means cleansing twice!).

It’s slightly strange using a balm to start with, you only need a 10 pence piece amount mixed with a little warm water to make an emulsion consistency.

It literally melts your make-up, face creams and all the day’s dirt away as you massage your face - it even removes eye make up. Then just wipe if off with warm water and a soft flannel and you’re done. You can also double it up as a hydrating face mask if you leave it on your skin for 10 minutes.

It smells very natural which I like, probably as it contains extracts of Moringa seed, Wild Sea Fennel and Vitamin E - fancy! I actually look forward to taking my make-up off as it feels like a bit of a treat each evening.

So if you’re looking to venture into the facial balm world, or just looking to try something different to cleanse your face, I’d suggest giving this a go. At £34 it is pricey but I would say on par with other high end brands, and so far it’s lasted me four months with still a bit left to go. Good skincare does cost but it’s more than worth it in my opinion.

Available at EmmaHardie.co.uk and Space NK. Will be putting this on my Christmas list!

My Top 3 Autumn Lip Products

Autumn is one of my favourite seasons, an excuse to put on cosy jumpers and socks, light spicy and sweet smelling candles, getting ready for Halloween and Guy Fawkes night, and being that extra bit lazier after a day at work! It’s also the season that I like to switch up my make up routine. Out with the corals and bright pinks and in with the berries, reds and plums.

I've been using quite a few different lip brands this month with a mixture of higher end and high street brands (which I find are really giving the more expensive names a run for their money - great news for the purse!)

Here are my top 3 that I'm currently enjoying- in no particular order (just depending on my mood):

1. Revlon Color Burst lip butter in Berry Smoothie.

I used this lip butter in shades Juicy Papaya and Wild Watermelon all summer, so it was no surprise that I gravitated towards them again now that it's Autumn. The Revlon lip butters are great if you're not confident in wearing bolder "I'm wearing lipstick" colour. You can just whack them on with out even looking in a mirror as they are quite sheer. The consistency is a cross between a lipstick and tinted lipbalm, depending on which shade you buy. The pay off varies, but I find that the Berry Smoothie shade does last a good couple of hours before having to reapply. They come in an amazing range of 20 colours so a shade to suit everyone, although I find the high street chemists tend to only stock 5 different shades at a time which is a shame, but also good news as I'd otherwise buy them all.

Although the colour does not last particularly long I still love this little hybrid as it's so hydrating for my lips which is just what I need at this time of year. The colour is a gorgeous berry and at £7.99 and 3 for 2 on in Boots why not treat yourself?

2. MAC Lipstick: Syrup- Lustre

I always have a MAC lipstick lying around in my handbag. It's like having a reliable friend on hand. Whatever the occasion, you can never go wrong with it, and all the finishes are high quality formulations. MAC's lipstick in the shade Syrup has a Lustre finish which MAC describes as a demi-sheer with wet-look lustre finish. Very slick. Makes lips look soft, smooth, ultra-moist.

If you're not familiar with MAC lipsticks they come in different finishes such as lustre, amplified, creme sheen and frost to name a few. Some are stronger in pigment, creamier etc.

Syrup is what I would describe as a plumy, pink mauve, a great everyday 'your lips but better' colour that can be applied quite sheer but can be built up for a slightly more intense look. Very similar to the Revlon lip butter which is probably why I love it. This was one of my favourite lipsticks last autumn/winter and has made it in my collection again this year. My only complaint would be that I wish it would last a bit longer as, due to it being slightly glossy, it wears off quickly - but still one of my favourites this season.


3. Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick Kate Moss 107

A friend of mine recommended this and it looked so fab on her I had to try it. When I swatched this in store I thought this could be a bit dark for me as I can be a bit hesitant when it comes to wearing bold colours. However, I must have been feeling adventurous, and I'm so pleased I bought it and went out of my comfort zone. This is such a great colour if you're looking for a full-on modern matte deep berry colour.

It really is long wearing as the name suggests, although after eating it can leave an unsightly ring of colour around the outer edge of you lips once it's faded slightly (be sure to check once in a while how it's holding up!). It can also be quite drying as it's a matte colour, so make sure your lips are in tip top condition - I'd recommend using a lip scrub and moisturising lip balm before hand. It's more of a weekend colour for me as I find it may be a tad vampy for work but I quite like having a different routine for the weekend anyway.

This really does look classy for autumn, especially teamed with a simple feline eye flick. My only problem is that on application it feels strangely grainy? It may be just be on me as I don't think my friend experienced the same thing, but I have found this with another Kate Moss matte lipstick. I can quickly forgive and overlook this as it really is a stunning colour and would look amazing with most skin tones if you're looking for that punchy, striking look.

As with any make up product I would always recommend to try it out first on your own skin, as your tone will alter how a shade might look compared to in the container.

What's been your go-to makeup so far this autumn?