Top Skincare Products of 2015

Part two of my Best of 2015 posts is all about skincare. I'm actually surprised at how many products I use on a regular basis and love, not only that but how many high end skincare products I have, it shocked me. I have an expensive face what can I say ;)

Please bear in mind, I have oily, acne prone skin so not all recommendations will suit your skin. Not every product is targeted at oily skin either, so a look at what might suit you.

Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm

This balm feels so luxurious on the skin, it just melts into a soft oily balm. It melts away makeup with ease and has a lovely relaxing, spa-like scent. A must have in my skincare routine.

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water
I was late to the micellar water party, I was still using my age old face wipes. It's amazing at removing make-up, my skin feels cleaner than if I were to use a face wipe. A bargain buy that is a makeup removing must have.

Simple Kind to Eyes Eye Makeup Remover
When my eyes are feeling sensitive I like to use this to remove my mascara. It's so gentle on the eyes and doesn't sting. I would fully recommend this, I think it's under £2 as well.

REN Clarimatte Toner

I’ve become a lover of glycolic acid after I discovered its brightening effect, which is great for acne scarring. REN is a brand I’d love to try more from, as I’ve been very impressed with this. The glycolic acid helps banish dead skin and refreshes the surface. I’m trying out the Pixi Glow Tonic which is similar, so I’ll write up a comparison soon.

Dermalogica Multi-Active Toner
After cleansing in the morning, my skin just need a quick boost of moisture, this spray toner just livens up the skin. It doesn't add a greasy layer either, so oily skinned people can use it as well.

La Roche Posay Serozinc

For many people, this step might be unnecessary, but having struggled with acne, this antibacterial spray is a useful step. It’s also been created to soothe the skin when irritated, I’ve heard others have used it on shaving rashes and cuts and bruises.

La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo

A favourite of mine for its spot combating properties, it’s a treatment you can apply day or night to reduce those blemishes overnight. Those with sensitive skin, I would recommend you only apply this to the affected areas but for more hard wearing skin like mine, I can apply this all over as a night treatment.

Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream

A new addition to my skincare routine, the cold weather has really made my skin dry out, so I top up moisturise levels at night with this. It’s lovely and light, again with a similar spa like scent which is very relaxing. It’s also anti-ageing, not that it’s my main concern but good to start looking after my skin.

Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré Nourishing Moisturiser
One of the ladies from Pixiwoo uses this before her make-up to keep everything moisturised. I went through a horrible phase where my skin was flaking, so it was difficult to apply makeup. Applying this first really did the trick, so I'd recommend it to those with dry skin.

Dermalogica Oil Control Lotion
This miracle lotion keeps me matte all day long and makes an excellent base for makeup. Anyone with acne prone, oily skin needs this is in their arsenal.

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair

Originally bought on a recommendation from Anna at Vivianna Does Makeup. The repair side of the product really works, I see a difference in my skin, and it looks more even and long term I think it has helped my acne scarring, used alongside other products. It’s pricey but I do feel this serum does help an oils or moisturisers sink in and kick starts their repairing actions.

Clarins Lotus Oil

Accompanied by the Estee Lauder ANR, this oil replenishes my skin. I wake up and my skin looks plump and refreshed. I would recommend this for people with oily skin, it’s light and doesn’t cause any blemishes.

Clarins Eye Contour Gel

When I roll out of bed after snoozing my alarm for 30 minutes, I want to de-puff my eyes, so I look more awake. Que, the Clarins Eye Gel, its super soothing and helps tighten up the eye area. It’s a simple, non-irritating gel that I’ve fallen in love with.

Origins Out of Trouble 10 Minute Face Mask

I reach for this mask over any of my others, it’s just magic. I often have very irritated spotty skin, which leaves me feeling sore and embarrassed at the sight of my skin. Now I just reach for this quick 10 minute mask and my skin seems so much more soothed and calmed, as well as fighting away those pesky spots.

Origins Drink Up Intensive Face Mask

Winter can leave my skin very patchy and dry, Drink Up Intensive mask comes to the rescue. It’s a mask you leave overnight, don’t worry it’s not messy as it’s more of a thick, clear moisturiser. I recommend this to any skin type, even oily, your skin needs to rehydrate.

Shop my skincare favourites below!

What skincare products did you love in 2015?

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New Years Eve Drugstore Makeup Picks - #BootsBeautyBox

Any excuse I can find, I'll get all dolled up. I love getting ready before date night or a night out. There is something so satisfying about applying make-up and looking your best. With New Year's Eve just around the corner, I thought I'd show you some new products from Boots, which will help you to get glammed up.

I was kindly sent their #BootsBeautyBox, sadly this isn't available to buy or subscribe too, but wouldn't that be great if they did release them?! Boots have picked out some of their favourite products, so these items are really affordable and easy to get your hands on.

Starting with eyes, I've fallen in love with this Collection #YourStyleYourMood Eyeshadow Palette, it has a lovely selection of nude shimmers and smokey taupes. You could use any combination of shadows from this palette and always have a great result, they are very wearable and pretty shades. For New Years Eve, I would go for the shimmery deep gold shade all over the lid and blend some of the dark purple shade in the crease to smoke out the eye make-up look.

Next up is liner and lashes, both products I'm already a fan of. I've been using Eylure lashes for years, they are the easiest to apply and have a strong glue included, so you don't have to worry about the corners of the lashes pinging off. These Eylure Party Frozen Beauty Lashes have reflective silver ribbons embellished throughout the lashes, perfect for a glitz NYE look.

A little tip when applying lashes is to use a liquid liner to line the lashes before you apply them, this way you can't see the lash band and they look more polished and finished. I've tried this L'Oreal Paris Super Liner Perfect Slim before, it has a very thin brush, almost like a felt tip, which makes eye liner flicks effortless.

I couldn't do my makeup for a night out without a touch of contour and highlight. I've been dying to try the Barry M Flawless Chisel Cheeks Contour Kit, as it's been mentioned a few times by Gemma (omggemma/hellogemma). As I have such a fair skin tone, I would avoid the darkest colour but the highlight shade and the medium brown have helped me chisel out some cheekbones with ease.

If cream highlighers are more your thing, take a look at this Sleek Precious Metals Highlighting Palette. The creams remind me of the Illasmasqua Precious Metals, so if you need a more budget option, take a look in Boots for the Sleek version.

Finally, the finishing touches like nails and hair can bring your look together. I have so many nail polishes which don't have great longevity but are such stunning colours. I'm glad to get my hands on this Nail Apothecary's Gel Effect Top Coat, I actually had one in my Just My Look Secret Santa too. I've hoping this top coat means I can skip nail appointments at the salon.

Overall, I'm really impressed with the quality of the products included in the box. I would say the Barry M Contour Palette and the Collection Eyeshadow Palettes are my top pick from the PR sample box.

To finish the look off (and what the box was missing) you need a matte lipstick, as it will last longer than a gloss when drinking. I would recommend MAC's Russian Red, which was mentioned in my Top Beauty Products of 2015.

What makeup look will you be creating for New Year's Eve? Have you tried any of these products?

*This post contains PR samples from Boots

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Top Beauty and Makeup Products of 2015

Reading people's yearly favourites often leaves me with a long wishlist. I know that if someone has loved a product for a whole 12 months, it must be amazing, especially because us bloggers switch products repeatedly. These are my 2015 loves, I've always gone back to them and would repurchase each one of them in a heartbeat.

Best Foundation: L’Oreal Infallible Pro Matte Foundation

After many years, I have finally stepped away from MAC’s Studio Fix and replaced it with L’Oreal Infallible Pro Matte Foundation. It’s not as heavy as it’s more expensive counterpart, so much nicer to wear on the skin. They both have a matte finish and longevity when it comes to letting shine through. Get yourself a tube!

Best Concealer: L.A Girl Pro Conceal

If you think Collection’s Lasting Perfection Concealer is a full coverage, you need to try L.A Girl’s alternative. This has a small bristle brush applicator which means you can ‘paint’ it on like war paint – a triangle shape under your eyes, under the contour to make it pop and around the brows to keep them sharp. I would recommend using a Beauty Blender with this as it is very thick, but once blended say goodbye to those eye bags.

Best Powder: Soap and Glory One Heck of a Blot Powder

I’ve been through about 4 or 5 of these, I used to love the Rimmel Stay Matte, but the Soap and Glory one has a finer texture of powder. It’s not at all cakey and helps makeup stay shine free for longer.

Best Blusher: Max Factor Crème Puff Blush

A dupe for the Hourglass blushes apparently, and a favourite of mine. This baked blush adds a lovely subtle sheen, it adds life after I’ve applied my matte foundation base. A beautiful budget option, in lots of lovely shades.

Best Primer: Soap and Glory One Heck of a Blot Primer

I try and avoid using silicone feeling primers on a daily basis, I use this Soap and Glory one, which feels like a gel/cream when you apply it. It’s a new addition to their ‘One Heck of a Blot’ line and it doesn’t disappoint.

Best Contour: NYX Blush in Taupe

Even though it’s labelled as a blush, this shade is perfect for contour. It’s a brown with a touch of grey, an ideal shade to create shadows in the hollows of your cheeks. It’s not too orange and it leaves me sculpted, it’s a must on a night out for me.

Best Highlighter: The Balm Mary Lou-Manizer

Adored by many, this is a pot of gold when it comes to highlight. The payoff is insane, it’s a pearly-gold, which would suit most skin tones.

Best Mascara: Makeup Forever Smoky Lash Mascara

I can’t tell you how happy I am that MUFE products are now sold in the UK. I used to go on holiday within Europe and stock pile them in Sephora, I’m talking buying 6 mascaras at one time to last me until we went on holiday again. This is a high impact mascara that doesn’t smudge or flake, I love you mascara, I do.

Best Brow Product: Soap and Glory Archery Brow Pencil

Another Soap and Glory product that I can’t live without, I ALWAYS have a backup, (there was one time where I drew one eyebrow on and didn’t have enough product left for the other, I’ll never be caught short again.) It has a thin nib which means you can create precise strokes to mimic hair.

Best Eyeshadow Stick: Kiko Eyeshadow Stick

I can’t fault Kiko on their different eyeshadow formulas, these sticks are by far my favourites though. They are super easy to blend and do not crease. This particular shade, Rosy Brown is a dupe of Misty Rock, a fraction of the price!

Best Cream Eyeshadow: MAC Paint Point in Groundwork

Ok, I’m cheating a little with two creams technically, but I couldn’t not mention this staple from my makeup bag. There is something about this shade that makes my green eyes pop, it’s a one wash of colour wonder.

Best Powder Eyeshadows: Makeup Geek Eyeshadows

A very recent purchase for me, but they have knocked MAC and Urban Decay off the top spots. I wish I’d never wasted money on MAC eyeshadows, these are so buttery and pigmented, unlike the chunky formula produced from MAC. You can now buy Makeup Geek via Beauty Bay.

Best Liquid Eyeliner: DHC Liquid Liner

I’m so impressed with this eyeliner, it’s a very opaque black that doesn’t budge. It also has a spring cap so you have to click it in properly to put the lid back on, saving it from drying up. Mine has lasted me ages but I will be repurchasing.

Best Lip Liner: Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in Pillow Talk

This is going to be in everyone’s favourites this year, it’s a perfect pink. I use it to ever so slightly over line my lips, they just look that little more plumped. I’d love lip fillers, but until then I’m counting on you Charlotte.

Best Everyday Lip Product – Clarins Instant Light Lip Balm

This is ‘throw it on and go’ product, it’s a balmy lip colour that just glides onto the lips. It keeps them hydrated and adds a slight colour.

Best Statement Lipstick – MAC Russian Red Lipstick

I’m still a big fan of MAC lip colours, and Russian Red doesn’t disappoint. It’s a lovely matte shade that lasts on the lips. I can wear it on a night out and it will hardly budge. I’m yet to try Lady Danger or Ruby Woo, they are next on the list.

Best Makeup Tool: Beauty Blender
As soon as I used the beauty blender for foundation, I knew I couldn't go back to using brushes for foundation. When I have tried a brush, it's streaky and uneven but the Beauty Blender blurs any edges and gives you a flawless finish. You need one!

What are your beauty favourites of 2015?

I have a 'Top Skincare Products of 2015' post coming soon too, so keep your eyes peeled.

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Vichy Dermablend Foundation in Porcelain and Setting Powder Review

Colour match, finish, formula and longevity are all factors that I look at when testing a new foundation. I want something that can cover my acne scars, give me a matte finish that doesn't look cakey and has a reasonable colour match to my super pale skin.

Dermablend has been recommended across the beauty community as a great foundation for oily, acne prone skin. I have actually tried this foundation before but the lightest shade was so dark that I actually couldn't use it properly to give it a proper test.

When Vichy asked if I wanted to try out their new lighter shade, I jumped at the chance. I thought I'd show you a before and after in photos here on my blog but also give you a first impressions video so you could see me apply it and hear my comments as I go along. My skin has been terrible lately so I was really putting this foundation to the test.

Colour Match

For reference, I am a MAC NW10, the extra pale shade. The Dermablend foundation in 05 Porcelain is just a touch darker than the MAC one but once I applied concealer and the rest of my eye make-up, I think it blended in well. 

Formula and Coverage

This isn't a super heavy foundation, which I was very happy about. I applied a thin layer, which covered most of my acne and scarring. I did apply a touch more over the most troublsome areas but generally, I'm really happy with the coverage.

Finish

I'd say this foundation has a semi-matte finish, with a little glow, so my skin didn't look too flat. You could leave it with a little glow coming through or add their Setting Powder.

Setting Powder

I also received their translucent setting powder, teamed with the foundation, my skin looked flawless and had a lovely matte finish. The powder felt weightless and didn't make my face look cakey. I think it would work with a number of foundations.

Longevity

Wearing both the foundation and the setting powder, I would say the foundation lasted around 6-8 hours before the oils on my face started to 'eat' the foundation and the shine came through. I think with touch ups this foundation could last most of the day.

You can see me apply the Vichy Dermablend foundation in the video below. I've just restarted my channel after a few years away from YouTube and would love it if you could subscribe!

Shop the products I used below!

*PR sample

A Blogging Rethink and Goals for 2016

I've had a blog since 2010, and since then it has evolved no end. In the last year, I've felt like I've really taken it up a level in the last year but I'm working on pushing it even further. My creative juices are following and I can't wait to show off my new content.

I began some self-evaluation on my blog a few months ago, often the harshest critic is yourself, I looked at my blog from a readers point of view but also from a PR point of view. From that I created some guidelines and goals to help me focus on better content.

1. Face Value

Previously I've felt very nervous about publishing photos of myself. I realised when looking up products online I like to see them on someone's face to judge colours and textures better. Sometimes a beautiful flat lay doesn't always give you the colour reference you need, so you'll be seeing more of my ugly mug on the blog!

2. Take Two

With only the weekends to take pictures, I've often published images I'm not 100% happy with, rather than waiting for the next weekend to reshoot. I want to be completely happy and most of all proud of the content I publish, so I'm only going to publish if I'm happy with the accompanying images.

3. Say No

I have been extremely lucky this year, parcels arrive nearly every day with PR samples. They were a bit of a novelty at first, I just felt privileged to have been chosen to receive one. As my drawers of beauty products overflow, I think it's time to be selective with what I accept.

4. Film It

I'm restarting my YouTube channel, you can find my channel here. I don't have fancy lighting or a sponsored backing by companies like Gleam or Mode, it's just me in front of the camera, we all have to start somewhere. Hopefully, I'll pick up some new filming skills and create some great content for you guys.

5. Sort Your Sh*t Out

I'm an unorganised person, and I'm also forgetful, this does bode well for content. This year I'm making a promise to myself to plan ahead and get organised. I think this will really help the quality of my content.

What are your blogging goals for 2016?

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Just My Look Secret Santa

A blogging Secret Santa is something I’ve always wanted to get involved in, sharing gifts with someone like minded. When Just My Look asked if I wanted to get involved, I jumped at the chance. We decided on a £20 budget and soon after a big box was delivered.

I thought I’d show you what is inside, in case you have a Secret Santa in work or between friends that you still need to buy for and need some ideas.

I think my blogger Secret Santa choose a lovely selection of things, there was a Vaseline set with three tins, a cute Cath Kidston hand cream, a Gel Effect Top Coat Nail Polish and a Barry M mascara and highlighter set.

I think lip balm and hand creams made lovely gifts and they are suitable for almost everyone. I’m most excited about the Barry M duo, I love trying out new mascaras and the highlighter crayon will be perfect to brighten the inner corner.

I’ve been looking for a nail polish that is gel effect, I have so many lovely shade that unfortunately chip so I’ll be testing this one out to see how it fairs.

Are you involved in a Secret Santa this year? If you like the items in this post, you can shop them directly below, ASOS offers next day delivery too!

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Christmas Gift Guide #5 - Chocolate Equals Happiness, Right?!

Reading this post you probably wouldn't have guessed that I have recently lost around 16lbs on Slimming World! My love affair with chocolate is endless, and really Christmas is the best excuse to eat chocolate right?!

The house is filled with chocolate at Christmas, you just can't beat a Sunday evening watching Christmas films in your pjs with a box of chocolates.

Not only are they dotted around the house, but I've also bought a number of boxes of chocolates for Christmas presents. They are a fail-safe option and make great gifts for Secret Santas.

Thorntons, (they make the best chocolate), have put together a helpful 'Amazingly Choctastic Christmas Gift Finder' to take the stress away from your shopping. It's a fun way to decide what chocolate to buy someone.

Now I have all my chocolate related presents sorted, I'm off to eat the box I bought for myself...

*PR Sample

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5 Things I Would Tell My Teenage Self

Growing up in the 90s means I have probably experienced every bad beauty trend at some point in my teenage years. I thought I'd write up a little light hearted post on things I'd tell my teenage self.

1. Step away from the tweezers

The 90s were all about pencil thin brows, one friend actually had just one line of hairs and looked permanently surprised. I did hack away at my brows and now they are impossible to grow. Oh how I wished I knew big brows were going to be.

2. Keep your braces on

I needed a hell of a lot of dental work done as a teenager, I even had a head brace to wear at night. I wish I’d stuck with it more, especially my night time retainers, most teeth have moved back now. I’m currently looking into some further brace work, the Centre for Advanced Dentistry have a wide selection of treatments.

3. Stop picking at your skin

As well as braces, I had horrible skin. I actually had to go on Roaccutane/Acccutane, for those who don’t know this is the strongest drug available for acne, but it has horrendous side effects like depression, peeling skin and worst of all birth defects for those who fall pregnant on it. Having such horrible skin really dented my self-confidence. I'm now left with scarring after years of picking, the short term satisfaction has left me with marks on my face, which are sadly hard to fade.

4. You don’t need to put the heaviest foundation on

The acne made me very self-conscious, so I went for the heaviest coverage foundations on the market, most of which probably blocked my pores further. Companies like BareMinerals weren’t widely available in my area when I was younger, but they would have been a god send!

5. You don't need to buy high-end makeup to find quality

I went through a stage where everything in my make-up bag had to be high end, my favourite brands were YSL, MAC and Estee Lauder. I wish I'd experimented more with drugstore makeup, some of my latest favourites cost a fraction of the price of what I used to use. Remember, the price doesn't always dictate the quality!

What would you tell your teenage self?

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Christmas Gift Guide #4 - The High End Accessories Edit

I'm a lover of designer accessories, but they aren't something I can afford every week or even every month. I usually ask for one small designer/high-end item for Christmas, or save any money gifted and shop the Boxing Day sales.

Last year I invested in a designer handbag, I'd been lusting after Vivienne Westwood bags for years, and I'm so glad I finally have one, it was worth the splurge. I just love her jewellery as well, I already have a necklace, but this year I'm going to shop around for some Vivienne Westwood bracelets or watches.

I think any girl would be happy with a high-end accessory for Christmas, I've put together some of my favourite items to get you inspired! The edit is completely shopable so just click the item you like and start shopping!

ALSO: Daniel Footwear, who sell luxury shoes and hangbags have some amazing treats! I particularly like this Lulu Guinness clutch bag and these over the knee boots!

Will you be gifting a high-end accessory to your friends and family, or just treating yourself this Christmas?

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Merry Kissmas! Twig and Dot Christmas Candles

Cosy evenings in your pyjamas aren't complete without a candle or two! I'm not a lover of heavy cinnamon scents, which seem to appear in the winter months, leading up to Christmas, they often give me headaches. Twig and Dot have some beautiful scents, with zero cinnamon in them, great alternatives to the usual Christmas scents.

Merry Kissmas is a has a fruity, tart scent with it's Christmassy combination of Cranberry, Pomegranate and Mistletoe. The large votives like this burn between 30-40 hours, which is incredible. I also think the jars are very reminiscent of Jo Malone's candles with a silver metal lid, -they look so classic and elegant. These candles would look good in any home, on your night-stand or even on your shelves.

They also have mini votives so you can try out all the scents before you decide if you want to buy the larger size, which I think is great as you can't always grantee you'll like the scent when buying online. I thought I'd try out their Sleigh Ride scent in a mini version.

Sleigh Ride has a frosty pine scent, it's a modern update on the traditional pine fragranced candles. Perfect for those dreaming of a real Christmas tree in their living room. The minis also burn excellently, Twig and Dot have a great guide on how to keep your candles burning evenly.

I'm super impressed with Twig and Dot's alternative Christmas candles, but if you do love warming, cinnamon scents, you could always try out the Sugar and Spice scent or the Jing-a-Ling one.

I'm featured in the Twig and Dot '12 Bloggers of Christmas', which I'm so excited about! Each day they are revealing another blogger and the scents they picked, make sure you check it out.

What are your favourite Christmas scents?

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My Favourite Pieces of Jewellery ft Alex Monroe and Vivienne Westwood

I must have given Primark at least £300 for cheap costume jewellery over my teenage years. With every new ‘going out’ outfit came a necklace and some rings, to complete the look.

When I started a ‘proper’ full-time job after university, I decided to invest in jewellery instead of cheap costume jewellery that would fall apart after a few wears.

I thought I’d talk you through my favourite pieces...

Alex Monroe Bee Necklace

I had been lusting after this rose gold beauty for years, I always looked for comparable dupes on eBay but I knew nothing would be quite the same. I finally splashed out this summer and fell in love as soon as it arrived. It’s a treasured item of jewellery that I am so happy to own. I love the tiny details like the bee’s legs on the back, dimples on his body and the weight of the piece. I would really recommend checking out Alex Monroe if you are an animal lover.

Vivienne Westwood Key Orb Necklace

I actually bagged this in the sale and treated myself with my 21^st birthday money a few years ago. Traditionally, you are given novelty keys as a celebration of coming of age. So this was the perfect buy to mark the special occasion. It’s on a beautiful dainty chain, and I love that the orb that Westwood is famous for is subtle.

Oliver Bonas Love Ring

I just adore Oliver Bonas jewellery, this dainty, cute ‘Love’ ring caught my eye while waiting for a train home from London. I think it’s a pretty piece that shows my hopeless romantic side. I think this would make a lovely gift and it was only £18!

Blue and Clear Crystal Ring

I bought this silver sterling ring while after in Cardiff with my boyfriend Rhys. It’s a lovely reminder of the weekend away. I just love how the two ‘arms’ curve towards each other but don’t touch, it’s very unusual. Again, this was from a little craft shop so I can’t link it but Empty Casket has some great pieces on their website which are similar.

Bloody Metal Mary Crossbones Ring

Every Instagrammer and Blogger has one of these, I love how edgy the designs are! It’s quite a hefty sized ring, but it’s very light to wear, I normally just wear this on its own. It’s one of my more expensive ring purchases, but well worth the dollar.

What’s your favourite piece of jewellery?

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