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 

Urban Decay Naked 1 Palette Review

If you’re not one to buy a tonne of eye make up, and haven’t the patience to scour over swatches of different eye shadows and different brands to create your perfect palette, then just invest in this one! It’s been a much hyped palette for a few years now and is still ever popular, even with newer editions (Naked 2, Naked 3, and Naked Basics palettes).

Even when I wear other brands and love them, I never forget the Urban Decay Naked 1 palette - it’s my go to eye shadow that will always be in my kit and personal make up. Normally when you buy an eye shadow palette there may be only a few colours that are wearable, or, that you like all of the colours but they are usually very similar. With the Naked 1 there is a whole range of colours to create different looks. You can create a beautiful pink/ natural look to a full on smokey dark dramatic eye.

It’s priced at £37, which I find amazing value for money for 12 different shades and a mini sized sample of Urban Decays famous primer potion. A little goes a long way and really will last years. I have yet to hit pan! The only down side is, whilst double checking the price online, it seems rather difficult to find it in stock - but hunt for it ladies, it’s worth it.

The colours are all beautiful, and as you can see from the swatches, are buildable, smooth and highly pigmented. I find as long I apply a base colour first, such a MAC paint pot or any sort of base for the eye shadow to then cling on to, it does last all day and doesn’t fade or crease. I find the best way to apply is not to swirl your brush in the product but to use a flat brush and use a small rubbing motion, then pat over the eyelid. Brushing it over the lid will cause the eye shadow to flick all over your face!

Most of the colours are warm toned bronze hued neutrals, but I would say they would suit most completions (Although if you are very fair maybe take a peek at the Naked 2- these are cooler tones) My only complaint would be I wish it had one more matte colour that I could use to blend out within the crease, but that would only be me being a little greedy as I already have 12 colours to play with! Also to watch out when blending more than one colour as at times they can just blend into one if you’re not careful.

Enjoy!

My Top 5 Beauty Picks for £5

It’s been a while since I’ve blogged due to so many distractions over Christmas and probably, let’s face it, some laziness! I hope you all had a great time over the festive period.

But it’s a new year and I’m excited for all the new beauty products that are due out soon, especially Tanya Burr’s new lip and nail range!

As it’s January and probably most of our pockets are under a squeeze this month, I thought I’d do a post on 5 things for under £5 that I feel give me a little winter pick me up – let’s face it with all this weather we could all do with it. So here goes…

1.      Collection lasting perfection: £4.19

This concealer is amazing!!! It comes in 4 great shades - currently I'm in between two, so having to mix but it seriously lasts all day. I never have to re-apply once I’ve powdered over it. If you have any pesky pimples that just won’t be covered, this will do the job. It’s quite a thick consistency but I suppose that’s what makes it last, it isn’t perfumed, and blends beautifully.

2.      Zest magazine: £4.50

I’ve been an avid reader of this magazine for years now and was so disappointed today (when I picked up the January issue) that this was going to be their last one!

Although most health magazines churn out the same tips each month I found that Zest didn’t give you unreasonable goals or unachievable recipes but practical advice for mind and body. Pick up this month’s issue for an uplifting read instead of the usual bombardment of “perfect” celebrity bodies.

3. Barry M Hi Shine Gel Effect Nail Polish £3.99

I always gravitate towards the Barry M section at any high street pharmacy simply as I cannot resist buying another Barry M nail polish. My current favourite in the range is the Hi Shine Gel Effect as it applies thickly and you could possibly get away in some shades with just the single coat. By now I’m starting to tire of the plums and darker shades and I’m looking for a pop of colour. My favourite shade is Green Berry - it’s an amazing bold green and perfect for the dark damp days!

4. Lush lip scrub £5.50

 

Ok, so with this next one I cheated a little going 50p over but I couldn’t leave this lip scrub out. It’s been a staple in my skincare routine this winter. I bought the bubblegum flavoured one which might not be to everyone’s taste but I love it. I’ve been using it at least three times a week followed by my blistex lip balm and no chapped lips this winter- yey!

5. Fresh Air: £ free!!

This one is absolutely free! A simple brisk lunch time walk either with a friend, work colleague or just by yourself can completely uplift your mood at this time of the year. Wrap up warm, wear some practical footwear and get out there! It’s easy to slob over your desk lunchtime but getting out into the fresh air it will give you a mental re-charge, increase metabolism and an immediate de-stress.

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So there you go, those are my ‘5 for under £5’ treats! Let me know if you’ve found any gems for under £5.

See you soon

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?