Braun Silk Epilator

Having such sensitive skin means I've never been able to wax or use hair removal products. So, after many years of Shaving a few friends of mine advised me to try and epilator.

 

Braun Silk-Epil 7

 

 

Pros: Simple to use (ideal for beginners or experienced users), two epilation speeds, a light underneath to show up all unseen hairs, massaging rollers, long battery use, wet or dry use, 3 different heads, washable, great on short hairs and aesthetically it looks good.

Cons: noise control and the first use is painful!

 

 

First of all this product is not for the faint hearted. If your really serious about looking for an alternative solution to smooth, hairless skin then this is probably the one for you.

With summer on the horizon, i had that dreaded feeling of knowing i was going to have to shave everyday again. When a couple of my friends suggested to try using an epilator instead i jumped at the chance. After scouring the Internet for the best reviewed product i came across this. I have to admit although the reviews were great i was completely swayed by the look of it. Many of the other epilators looked old fashioned and ugly but in comparision this one looked feminine and modern.

When the epilator arrived i followed the instructions and put it straight on to charge. Within an hour it was fully charged and ready to go. I was surprised at how many little accessories you get with the epilator. Inside the box were 3 different heads, a bag, some wipes, a brush and a charger.

The instructions advise you to use the lower setting for the first few uses so after hearing about how painful the first use can be i chose to follow this. For my first use i tried using it in the bath. I switched the button to the first setting and the light came on. It struck me straight away at how noisy this was going to be. 10 seconds later i forgot about the noise as the pain took over! Ok, so on my legs the pain was bearable and i did get used to the sensation. The light proved useful, showing all unseen hairs. The feeling is similar to plucking your eyebrows, just about 100 tweezers more. It took me about twenty minutes to do both legs and by the end the pain had completely subsided, it's amazing how quickly you get used to it.

Next i decided I'd be brave and tackle my under-arms. This is the part the majority of people would give up on. I changed the head and started to glide the epilator upwards. The pain was almost unbearable. So different to the sensation on your legs, as your underarms are so much more sensitive. I pushed through and finished both arms within about 10 minutes and i was so pleased with the results! Was it worth the pain you ask? COMPLETELY!

My legs and under Arms were smooth, flawless, not a hair in sight. After use i applied moisturiser to both parts of my body, My skin had no redness, inflammation or reactions which is a miracle for me!

After about a week the hairs started to grow back and i went in with the second use. The hairs had grown back thinner then before and this time the pain had halved. Ultimately it was bearable.

For anyone with a very low pain threshold i wouldn't recommend this to you. Once you've got passed the first use your on to a winner but if you can't, its a lot of money wasted!

I brought the Braun Silk-Epil 7 from Debenhams For £71.00 but usually it retails in at £119.00. This is now sold out on their website but there are plenty of other retailers that still have it in stock.

Please let me know if you have any other questions about this product.

 

Thanks for reading,

Alys

x

Skinetica Product Review

Last week i was kindly gifted a few products from the lovely people at Skinetica. I've heard lots of amazing comments from other beauty bloggers and was excited to try something new. Because i am currently seeing a dermatologist and have strict instructions of what i can and cant use, i tend to shy away from anything other then what I'm prescribed. So i ran this past my consultant and she gave me the go ahead! I trialled this product for just under a week and here are the results.

Skinetica is a clear, toner like lotion that claims to soothe, calm and clear blemished skin. It's kind to skin (perfect for my sensitive skin) and has known no side effects which is very uncommon for acne clearing products! Skinetica advise you to apply to clean dry skin. generously pour the product onto a cotton wool pad and sweep over the worst affected areas. Let your skin air dry for at least one minute and you can then either apply moisturiser or foundation. Skinetica can be used as a base to makeup but claims to work better when nothing is applied over the top.

First Impressions:

Pros and Cons :

• It didn't irritate my sensitive skin, i actually found that it calmed the redness alot!
• Skinetica Has a unique smell alot like some of the lotions I've been prescribed before but on first application i found that its not harsh like those products at all.
• i wasn't that keen on the packaging, its eye catching but does look quite cheap and fairly old fashioned.

 

Day One

This week was possibly the best week to try a acne clearing product as days before I'd suffered with  a  huge breakout. The night before my skin felt tight, raised, angry and very painful.

So after my first day using skinetica i wasn't expecting any results yet but my skin did feel slightly different. The redness was less noticeable and my skin didn't feel so taught. No new spots today.



Day Two

 Woke up this morning with my skin feeling calmer, slightly less red and raised. Red marks are starting to fade, spots seem dry and less prominent.

 

 Day Three

 Today i had a turn for the worse! Second phase of my big breakout has erupted. Three new spots have appeared in my jaw and neck area. Very prominent and sore. As you can see in the picture the spots in my jawline have made it look quite swollen and bumpy, which has changed the shape of it. Applied Skinetica and i'll wait till the morning to see if it helps to calm them.

 

 Day Four

 Just woken up, The spots are still there but a lot less inflamed and swollen. Jawline looks slightly flatter and more normal looking. No new spots over night which is great news!

 

Day Five

Having a good skin day today, skin feels smoother, flatter and hydrated. No new spots and the redness that's there seems to be either scaring or spots that are on their way out.

Day Six

Skin feels great today, the last of the redness is scaring and even that looks like its starting to fade. No new spots today so i think I'm over the worst, skin feels soft smooth and supple.

 

 

Final Verdict

After Six days of trialling this product and suffering from two fairly big breakouts, in my opinion this product did an excellent job. Throughout the week i found it helped at calming and soothing my skin and stopping the breakouts from getting out of hand. As you can see from the evidence above, each day the blemishes looked flatter, less angry and in general felt a loss less painful. Even some of my scaring had started to fade.

Overall i think this is a great product for any type of acne sufferer. Over the past nine years i have tried a ridiculous amount of products that have had either a small impact or very extreme results. Skinetica seems to fit right in the middle of these. Although it has helped in the process of caring for a breakout it isn't something that i feel would completely clear my skin forever.

For me this isn't my final solution, but for many other people this may be all they need. I do believe that everyone skin is so different its about finding that one product that balances it out correctly. I do however think it will be helpful to control my skin as new spots start to appear and i will be adding this to my skin saviour list for emergencies. I would definitely recommend this to anyone suffering with any kind of breakout or just to add to your skincare collection. Thank you so much Skinetica for sending me these products, i couldn't of asked for a better company to work with.

 

Skinetica Retails in at only £9.99 and you can buy on their website here.

I'd love to here any feedback of any other people that have tried and tested Skinetica and the results they have found. Email me at alysholder@yahoo.co.uk for any questions or queries relating to this post.

 

Thanks for reading,

Alys

x

Smash Box CC Cream Review

Smashbox

 

Camera Ready CC Cream SPF 30

Dark Spot Correcting

 

Whilst Flicking through my recent edition of Glamour magazine i was shocked to find a sample of Smashbox's new camera ready CC cream. Glamour quite often have samples included but not usually products that I'd get excited about! So i thought I'd give it a go and let you see the results!

 

As you all know i suffer with acne and my main problem is finding something to cover previous and recent scaring. I haven't yet tried many products to fade my scaring as i wanted to concentrate on clearing up my skin before conquering the underneath.  So I'm not quite sure if this will work on my skin. Smashbox CC cream claims to fade post acne scars over time i thought this would be perfect for me. I've tried smashbox camera ready primer before and loved it so was very excited to try this.

 

On first glance the cream looked a little too dark for me, but that's fine as it comes in 5 different shades i can always try a lighter one at a later stage. As i started to apply the cream onto my cheeks i found that a little really did go a long way. The texture is light, non-greasy and definitely more of a cream consistency. In my opinion the finish is semi-matte and buildable which is great if you need a touch up throughout the day.After applying to my problem areas i found that i wasn't quite happy with the coverage. This might be great for summer skin but this time of year i like my skin to have a bit more dewiness as it tends to get dry easily. A matte finish tends to cling on to my dry areas and  for me this product wasn't a high enough coverage to wear just on its own. Below, the picture on the left is my skin with just with the cc cream.  as you can see overall its not a bad evenness but you can still see my most prominent spots. In the right picture I've applied a small amount of Dior Air flash foundation and Chanel 'pink explosion' blush on my cheeks. this now has give n me my desired finish.

As a base i thought it was good, i'd probably try it again in the summer but for me personally i couldn't wear this just on its own. However as you can see with foundation the final look is actually almost flawless. I also don't think the shade was quite light enough for me so I'd love to try the lighter shades of this product before making a final decision.

 I used this product for about a week and a half and it showed little improvement towards fading and redness of marks but as a cc cream and a base to foundation i would definitely purchase this. I'd love to know how you all get on with this!

 

Thanks for reading

 

Alys

x

Liz Earle Product Review

Liz Earle

 

Recently whilst taking part in a live bloggers chat i was recommended by quite a few Beauty Bloggers to try Liz Earle skincare Range. The products i decided to choose were :

 

Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser

and

Deep Cleansing Mask

 

A few days later they arrived  on my doorstep and i  have to admit i was so impressed with the customer care Liz Earle Provided. They arrived in lovely packaging and each product came in their own individual bags. They also sent me another small sample size tube of the cleanse and polish with a muslin cloth, which i sent to a friend of mine that also suffers with acne. The full size bottle comes with two white muslin's which i wasn't expecting, and the mask also has two small sponges in the pack. Lastly they also sent me a sample of a body cream to try. I was so surprised by the extras included, such a generous company!

 

 

I know its sad but i get so excited over skincare, straight away i ran a bath ready to try them. Its Recommended to use the cleanser first then the mask, so after taking my makeup off i pumped out a small amount onto my hand and smoothed all  over my face, neck and shoulders. As soon as i started to apply this i could smell the gorgeous aroma of the cleanser, so calming. and made me feel instantly relaxed! Cleanse and Polish is made with rosemary, chamomile, cocoa butter and eucalyptus oil, so combines to make a beautiful natural scent. I left this to soak into my skin for a few minutes the rinsed the muslin's under some clean hot water. I then placed the Muslin over my face and exhaled, inhaling  in the warmth that was radiating off of the cloth. I used the second muslin to wipe away the remaining product left on my skin. Already, my skin felt smoother, soft and calm.
 

Before washing my hair i decided to apply the mask, as you need to leave it on for at least 5 minutes. The mask i found is applied better to dry skin, so you might want to use a dry flannel or clean towel to softly dab over your face and neck beforehand. You don't need to use a huge amount of this as it spreads quite far and evenly. I found the consistency completely different to any other mask I've used in the  past. The texture is smooth and creamy but not thick like most clay masks. Once applied  i washed my hair and lay back for a few minutes. This Product also has a unique scent with naturally active ingredients including Manuka honey, Propolis and Rose scented Geranium. Geranium's are my favourite flowers so this was already a winner for me. It wasn't too overpowering either, which i think comes with the fact its all natural ingredients.

The mask then dries to a  lighter grey shade and doesn't flake or crumble like many I've used before. Following the instructions i soaked the two sponges in warm water and placed over both eyes, then removed the mask from the middle  of my face outwards leaving my neck until last. The sponges made this very easy to remove and again my skin instantly felt beautifully smooth and calm, which is really hard to achieve with having such sensitive skin!

Overall I'm delighted with this recommendation. The hot Polish Cleanser has now replaced my current cleanser but I'm only using this at night as it takes a little longer then my normal routine. The mask i use one to two times a week as its not too harsh on my skin. I usually use this on a Sunday as a treat.

If your looking for something luxurious and not wanting to spend a fortune this is the product for you. Definitely worth buying through the Liz Earle website as well, (I'll write the link to this below) as you receive so much more with your order. They know how to treat a customer that's for sure! I'd loved to know if any of you skincare addicts have tried anything from her range and what you thought of them!

The Cleanse and Polish Retails in at £14.75 for a 100ml bottle and comes with two muslin cloths.

The Clay Mask retails in at £14.50 for a 75ml tuble and comes with two sponges.

 

The Liz Earle team are excellent if you need help with finding the perfect products to suit your skin to don't be scared to send them an email. They reply extremley quick and are very proffesional is helping you to understand each product.

http://uk.lizearle.com/

Thanks for reading,

Alys

x

Chanel Perfection Lumiere

Product Review

 

I've tried to be really good recently and only buy products that i know i really need and use on a regular basis. But, along came Valentines, and i felt like i deserved a little treat! I decided I'd have a little splurge and try a Different Chanel foundation for my winter 'pale days'. The truth is, days when i can't be bothered to tan.

So when i got to the Chanel counter i did my normal speech about needing something with a high coverage for acne and combination skin and the Chanel rep recommended Perfection Lumiere . I had already seen a few positive reviews on this particular foundation it so i asked if she could apply it all over (as you can never really tell how well it goes onto your skin otherwise). She advised me on applying with a brush to get better coverage. I have heard mixed reviews on using brushes, and for me personally i have gone off using them. Because i have certain areas that need more attention when applying, i find by using my fingertips i can apply it more evenly and i have more control over how much i use. I also find it gives it a more natural finish when applied skin to skin, but that could just be my personal preference because of my skin type. When i have used brushes in the past I've found that my skin gets worse and worse as it spreads bacteria back and forth every use unless you have time to thoroughly clean them everyday. 

The foundation smelt so fresh as she brushed it on and blended it from the middle outwards. The texture was very luxurious and creamy but still so light on the skin. Usually i need to use concealer on my chin area on top of my foundation but this was such high coverage i didn't need anything extra. The finish looked dewy (which is almost impossible to find with high coverage foundation) and at the same time it also felt like i had dusted over the top with a setting powder. The colour was possibly the best match I've ever had as i usually go for something to match my tan and not my natural skin tone. The foundation Lasted a good 6-8 hours which is good for me! The rep also gave me some under eye gel samples to try and persuaded me to get the blusher she had applied afterwards. Lets face it i don't need much persuading! The eye gel felt amazingly refreshing under my eyes, and soaked in so quickly. The little tubes that she gave me have lasted ages and although i don't really suffer with bags under my eyes, they do feel slightly tighter and less puffy in the mornings.

The next day i applied the same look with my fingers and was really happy with the results.  So if your looking for something with a flawless and dewy finish this is definitely the foundation for you. I wouldn't perhaps recommend this to someone without blemishes or uneven skin as it it would be far too heavy for you. The selling point for me wouldn't just be the lasting coverage, but the buildable layers. Throughout the day you can apply thicker layers on precise areas to ideally control your complexion’s perfection.

Perfection Lumiere retails in at £36.00

The Products;

 

PERFECTION LUMIÈRE

Long-wear Flawless Fluid Makeup

12 Beige Rose

 

 

Joues Contraste

Powder Blush

64 Pink Explosion

 

 

The 'Pink Explosion 'blusher comes in a cute little velvet pouch.

Hydra Beauty

Radiance Eye Gel

The Look

For this I also used:

Lancome Hypnose Mascara

Eyeko Liquid Eyeliner

Clinique Eyeshadow- Super Shimmer 35

Illamasqua Eyebrow Cake- Motto

Nars Lipgloss - Paris Follies

Dior Lip Glow

 



February Favourites

Beauty Bloggers We're almost half way through February already! So, before it's over i want to share with you a quick run down of my favourite products that i've reviewed in the last few weeks. Enjoy!

Bioderma Sensibio H2O 100ml

My first item is a french skin product that has been all over the Internet recently. I may be a little bit late in discovering Bioderma, but I've completely fallen head over heels in love with it! Bioderma is aimed at people with very sensitive skin, for me it for filled this role one hundred percent. It gently removes all traces of makeup and leaves my skin feeling soothed soft and hydrated. Its not often i can find a product that my skin doesn't reject immediately. During the first application, i appeared to have zero itchiness, redness or irritation and my skin didn't feel sore in the slightest. The liquid has such a light consistency it doesn't feel like a normal cleanser. For the majority of people, i would recommend to use this as an alternative to face wipes, which I personally don’t think are very good for your skin. I do sometimes use a cream afterwards if I want to double cleanse, then follow with a toner, but with this product it's not essential to your routine. I brought a smaller 100ml  bottle to start with as i have so many cleansers, toners and makeup removers that I've brought over time and they haven't been suitable for me. So I'm grateful that you can buy this as a smaller size to try first, also would be great as a travel size option. Although, its safe to say i will be purchasing the larger 500ml bottle as soon as possible!

Aveda Dry Remedy

Daily Moisturising Oil

This a new product for Aveda, and not something I've seen them do before. Dry Remedy is a very very light moisturising oil. A saviour for all those split ends and to give your hair a little bit of love when it starts to get a bit dry and frazzled. Ive been using this on my hair everyday for the past two weeks and can't get over the change already. You can use it on dry or freshly washed hair i sometimes apply to both if it really needs it.

Aveda has only recently come into my life in the past 12 months. A friend of mine introduced me to a hair salon called 'The Angel' which is in the heart of Ludlow(Shropshire). I had heard of the brand Aveda before but not ever tried any of their products. The first time i had my hair cut coloured and blow dried i was completely astonished at the difference it made, i felt like a new woman! Of course i give a huge amount of credit to my amazing and very lovely Aussie stylist Amanda, and i am so grateful to her for introducing me to the brand. Over the last 12 months I've made my way through quite a few of their products ranging from shampoo, conditioner, hair protectors, and a range of serums, and to my surprise loved every single one of them. This has got to be the best so far though. As my hair is naturally quite dry and frizzy i usually need oil or serum to smooth it down. After using Moroccan oil for so long when i changed to this i realised that Moroccan oil wasn't actually treating my hair. It seemed soften temporarily but after every wash it would revert to its frizzy dry self. The dry remedy isn't as over scented and is reconstructing to the strands of your hair. I  would describe it as more of a long term treatment. Aveda is very gentle on your hair and i don't think my hair has ever been in such good condition as it is at the moment. Its thick, shiny and looks naturally healthy. The only downside is the hefty price tag to go with them. I see it as more of an investment though as I'm really trying to look after my hair!

Here is the link for my very talented hair dresser.

http://angelhairstudio.com/contact.html

La Roche-Posay

Effaclar duo

Corrective unclogging care

Anti-imperfections

Lastly this is a product I am currently trialling and reviewing but i just wanted to share with you all what I've brought this month. This is a new Acne based product by La Roche-Posey. Recently, I've read so many good reviews on this product and when you have suffered with problem skin for as long as i have, you'll give anything a go! I have quite a lot of redness and unevenness to my skin which is caused by scaring from previous acne combined with new blemishes. The main aspect of this corrective cream is to Unclog pores and Fight against marks so i was hoping that it would start to fade my scars and make my skin look slightly more even. I started using this product about a week and a half ago and have noticed a few small differences so far. My skin feels slightly flatter, it hasn't made any spots disappear but they seem less angry. My scaring is still very prominent but over all my skin feels smooth and hydrated. I'm not convinced that this has anything to do with this product yet though! The cream itself has a smooth light texture and soaks in very quickly. Once applied on to your skin you can moisturise over the top and then apply makeup. I'll keep using this morning and night and re post in a few weeks with the results.

Essie

'Lilacism, Ballet Slippers and Instant Hot'

 

I've always been a huge fan of Essie nail polish, but for some reason recently i cant stop buying their new pastel coloured collections.  I'm unsure if its my taste changing or if its the sad fact that I'm just growing up, but I've had a change of heart when it comes to nails. Nowadays i only seem to wear light pinks nudes or pastel shades. My favourite so far has got to be 'ballet slippers' . You have to apply several coats, but it has such a natural glossy look and I've been given so many lovely compliments whilst wearing it, i just cant get enough! I brought some whilst i was in America recently as they are so much cheaper, but these i brought from a website i discovered called: Nail Polish Direct. They were very cheap compared to the normal UK prices in store, the delivery was free and i received them within two days. on the website they have pretty much every Essie collection there is. And  to top it off, if your a member of Facebook, you can receive £1 off of your order! Definitely worth a look for all you Essie addicts.

Bumble and Bumble

Thickening Shampoo and Conditioner

This is a product i have wanted to try for a while but, as I've previously stated I'm a very loyal customer to the brand Aveda and I've been reluctant to try anything else! So whilst talking to some other blogger's online and reading their reviews on it, i decided I'd give it a go! When i received the bottles i couldn't believe that they were 250ml in size, they are so little so i decided i would be very sparing when using them! I already have fairly thick hair but this collection had the best reviews, and anyway what girl doesn't want thicker hair! It does say on the back of the bottle that you only need to use a little. So, when i applied the shampoo and it didn't foam up like a normal shampoo i was really worried i hadn't used enough and that it wouldn't of thoroughly washed it through. I carried on regardless hoping that it had. After conditioning i combed out my hair and applied some oil to tame the frizz! I used my large barrel hg styling brush to blow dry and about half way through i could tell slightly that it felt like the strands were thicker. My hair dried well and it had washed through fine, phew! After the first time of using it, it didn't necessarily look 'thicker' but the strands appeared stronger and more structured. It felt extremely glossy and the colour looked radiant. I felt like i had just stepped out of the salon! Since using it i have noticed my hair feeling stronger right from the roots and it doesn't seem break off as easily as it would before. For me, i would love to try some of they're other products before buying this again as i don't feel it had a massively life changing effect on me but , I would definitely recommend this if your hair is very this and and limp. The products are definitely worth the hefty price tag that comes with it!

Thank you for reading

Alys

x

Clean Room Clean Mind

...As my Mum tells me often.

Thanks to my lovely Dad, i now have a shelf, double the size of my old one to hold and display all of my products on. Whilst i was sorting through my rediculous collection, i decided to give my bedroom a little makeover. Having such a small room i am constantly trying to find different ways to organise and store everything. This is the end result, let me know what you think!

I've organised all of my products into groups ranging from eyes, brows and lips to tools,moisturiser and hair. In total i used 15 old glossy box's to arrange them in, and then any over spill or larger items I've placed in order of use next to the correctly labelled box. I Don't think I've ever been this structured and disciplined, i wonder how long it will last!

The Large Stopwatch and ribbon (above my mirror) i got from an Accessorize window display a few years ago, still not quite sure what to do with the stopwatch as it so big but i love it so much i cant seem to depart with it! The wicker basket is from a group of three i brought from a Laura Ashley warehouse in Newtown. I use the largest for washing, the middle for hair appliances and the smallest as a bin! They are so useful in a small room, especially as they have lids, you can easily hide away anything messy.

Ive been looking out for some new lights to go around my bed post for a while now. Just before Christmas i was down in Kent visiting family and my auntie kindly gave me this set. they are made to look like glass with a gold layer on one side of the shapes (hearts, diamonds and stars). They give such a pretty effect at nighttime and its so nice to not have to have my main light on all the time!

Anyone that's visited my room will know i have a slight obsession with hearts! I'm not sure what it is about them, i just seem to love them haha. This one in particular i was given to by a friend so i love it even more and the quote written on it is so cute!

My mum recently brought me this new bed collection from Ikea. I love it so much. the material feels silky and theres nothing quite like getting into a freshly made bed! The duvet set comes with four pillow cases, and the spread has little flowers over the middle part. It looks so beautiful on and it goes with the rest of my room. I feel so old getting excited over bed linen! If your reading, Thanks Mum!

I absolutely adore these two paintings, they are my favourite flowers and look gorgeous just sat on either side of my window. I've wanted to put them up for a while but wasn't quite sure where to place them! So delighted that they are now part of my room.

This Beautiful Lamp i inherited, I'm not quite sure where it was from when it was first brought but i know that its had a few different lamp shades. I'm in love with the glass and metal stand. The lampshade gives it a classic feel and i know its boring but i love cream! The mix between vintage and modern materials are possibly my favourite mix/design to buy.

Thank you for reading,

Alys

x

My Weekend Routine

This is the last thing i ever thought i would be doing, but here goes! I've never quite gone completely naked (without makeup) in front of strangers or anyone for that matter! For people that know me well, will know that this is a huge deal for me!

 

As you can see my chin area is my worst affected part of my face. I suffer with acne mainly around my jawline and chin area. I have a really bad habit (my dermatologist constantly reminds me of) in which i touch my skin when I'm anxious or worrying about something. For me this is probably one of the main reasons my skin hasn't ever really properly cleared up!

During the week while I'm at work i don't tend to wear full coverage makeup, as i feel i need to let my skin breathe. So i usually just apply a small amount of tinted moisturiser. But, By the weekend when I'm out and about i like to use this routine for  my face and lips. 

So first of all in the shower i wash my skin with the Clinique redness solutions, which starts to calm and soothe the affected areas by the time I'm out the shower and dressed. Then, when its started to look less inflamed i apply La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo (I will be doing a post on this very soon so keep your eyes peeled). I let this soak into my skin for a few minutes and then i apply a small amount of Benefit Pore Fessional to the worst areas. This Makes my overall skin tone a little more even for when i apply the foundation. Afterwards I use the tips of my fingers to apply about a pea sized amount of Laura Mercier tinted moisturiser.  Then Again i go over the worst affected areas with my Lancome Long Lasting Softening Concealer. I use this as its not too drying but has a good full coverage. I tap on the concealer with my fingers as it gives a more natural finish. Lastly, on the foundation front, i spray a small amount of Dior Air Flash Spray Foundation onto my Flat edged foundation Brush, and dab onto my skin all over. First i concentrate on my chin and jawline, then all over to merge the colours and make the whole look a little more even. This Foundation is a new find of mine  that i fell in love with as it gives such a flawless finish.

In the daytime i like my lips to look subtle and moisturised. So for this look i apply some of my Clinique chubby stick which gives a very natural colour tint then i go over the top of this with the Dior Lip Glow for the moisture and Shine. I realise this isn't my whole makeup look, but i wanted to show you a before and after of my worst affected areas. Please let me know what you think and let me know what you use on your skin:).

 

Thanks for reading,

Alys

x

A Guide to Luscious Lips

One of my main addictions in life has got to be lip balms. I have a constant need for moisturised luscious lips, and as i cant use anything scented on my skin normally, i try to find something heavenly smelling to make up for it! so here are just a few I've been trying recently.

Crème de Rose

'The must have care for damaged lips. The lip balm allies the expertise of Dior research in nutrition to the delicate smoothness of rose petals. All its nourishing power comes from the rare and precious Damask Rose essential oil extract together with an anti-ageing complex and Shea butter. Lips are instantly soothed, moisturised, beautifully plumped and soft. Totally addictive!' http://www.dior.com/beauty/en_gb/fragrance-and-beauty/make-up-and-cosmetics-by-christian-dior-lipstick-m/lips/lip-balm/pr-lipbalm-Y0026470-smoothing-plumping-lip-balm.html

I purchased this a few months ago when it first came out as a little treat for myself. I was extremely excited to try it as I'd read lots of good reviews on it. The balm comes in a cute little Dior box and the packaging itself is unique and looks luxurious. When first opened you can already smell the balm, it has almost a Turkish delight essence. the balm itself is solid so seems to last a long time. I've had it about 4 months now and i am only about half way through, considering i reapply throughout the day ALOT I'm surprised its not empty yet! So if your looking for something special and luxurious i would definitely recommend this. it has now gone down considerably in price so is worth the buy!








Eos


Recently on a trip to New York, my cousin and i came across these cute little sphere shaped lip balms. we'd both seen them advertised everywhere over instagram but not yet been able to try one. We brought one in nearly every colour in order to try them all and loved the look of them! The balm itself is a very light moisturising balm, so wouldn't be very beneficial to very dry lips. it has a very waxy texture which may not appeal to the majority of people. They all individually smell lovely, but have no real long term effect on your lips. You have to apply quite alot of the balm to create a desired effect. The only other con would be the shape of the packaging. originally i like the uniqueness of it, but its not very practical. I usually keep an emergency lip balm in my pocket but this is almost impossible to keep discreetly. overall i wouldn't recommend this to people looking for a long term solution for dry chapped lips. I wanted to love Eos so badly but unfortunately, the product did not work for me.






Nivea Lip Butter

This has got to be my favourite product I've found so far. At first glance it has a hard waxy look about it, but once applied its almost completely opposite. The texture is luxurious and creamy and everything you need in these dark winter months. In just under a day i could see a huge improvement. The vanilla and macadamia flavour smells divine i almost want to eat it every time i apply it. I found the balm lasts quite a while as you don't need to use alot. The only thing that lets it down is its packaging. I think it cheapens the product and don't show it off to its full extent. overall, i would recommend to anyone! It is extremely moisturising and although its very thick and creamy, its a long term solution to cure those dry peeling lips.




Dior Addict Lip Glow

'A made-to-measure lip balm that beautifies and durably enhances the lips’ natural colour. A customised colour result : thanks to its Colour Reviver technology, Dior Addict Lip Glow reacts directly with the unique chemistry of each woman’s lips before releasing its colour ingredient. Lips seem revived from within, amazingly fresh, full and radiant. In addition, its formula enriched with wild mango and luffa cylindrica continuously protects and moisturises. A universal balm for all lips.'
http://www.dior.com/beauty/en_gb/fragrance-and-beauty/make-up-and-cosmetics-by-christian-dior-lipstick-m/lips/lip-balm/pr-lipbalm-Y0027010-colour-awakening-lip-balm.html


Whilst having my makeup done by a Dior rep recently, she recommended i tried this on top of a lipstick. I absolutely loved it! It kept my lips moisturised for a long period of time and kept the colour looking natural and subtle. even without lipstick underneath it gives your lips a soft pink boost, giving anyone a  natural colour an upgrade. Although i don't believe it has any long term effects and it's not going to solve any chapped lips problems, its a short term solution if your wanting to wear lipstick and have very dry lips.

Body Shop Shea Butter Balm

I brought this recently as an emergency substitute when i ran out whilst out shopping. The product itself smells amazing, which is what had drawn me to begin with. When i first applied the balm i really liked the look on my lips, its shiny smooth and almost as good as a gloss. However, after a few applications my lips started to feel sore and they got even more chapped the more i used it. The butter melted quickly and turned into a liquid making it very greasy. This product is ok on the odd occasion when you need a fix but i wouldn't recommend this as a product you can re apply again and again throughout the day. Its a shame because the body butter pots are completely different!


Lastly;

Yu-Be Moisturising Skin Cream



This multi-functional concentrated yellow cream is a cult product from Japan containing natural ingredients such as glycerine and a variety of vitamins especially formulated to target dry skin. It is perfect for use on knees, elbows, feet, and face etc.  I found that you can also apply to chapped lips during the winter, the results were instant and better than using a lip balm. The cream, itself, is non greasy, sinks into the skin and smells slightly medicated. This moisturiser is gentle, soothing, and ideal for sensitive skin types or even someone that suffers with eczema. I also tend to use this on my hands and feet after i've painted my nails as its great for your cuticles. A little goes a long way and you notice an improvement in the texture of the skin almost instantly. A definite staple for the bathroom cabinet! 


Thankyou for reading girls,

Alys
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