A Timeless Pink

I seem to have suddenly fallen in love with a pink lipstick completely out of my comfort zone. I'm not one to usually go for brights or pinks or mauves and the like- and so when I became absolutely infatuated with this lipstick, I thought it apt to dedicate a blog post to it:

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in SUSPENSE 80 £25
Let's start with the lipstick, since that's why most of you are here. I received this as a gift for Christmas but hadn't really worn it until recently, but I knew from the minute it reached my lips, I was going to be completely besotted by it. First of all, the colour is absolutely stunning; now, I've said I don't usually go for pinks of this sort- (they always look a bit cheap or distasteful) but this, this is quite something. I think it would suit so many skin tones and shades, cool or warm toned, fair or tanned, this colour will look elegant and sophisticated. I think the colour would be enough, but just as an added bonus, the formula of these is quite unique I think: it's creamy and glossy but the colour is still there, kind of like the Clarins Instant Light Perfecters, but with better colour payoff. I hadn't tried these before but I know a lot of people love them. And yes, I know it's expensive, especially for a lipstick, but you're really investing ing a quality product, so at least go and have a swatch in store.


 L'Oreal True Match Foundation £9.99
After much babbling on the lips, a lipstick like this deserves a great face to match. As it's so bold, a flawless base will really help you pull it off. This foundation is good, full coverage and there is such a variety of shades. This blends quickly into the skin and then stays all day, the texture is quite dewy so if you have oily skin like me, a powder will help to set it, but sometimes I can get away without one.

Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer £22
Since the foundation is pretty good coverage, I just take this concealer in the shade VANILLA to highlight on the eyes and on the nose. This acts like a highlighter so you don't need to add anything extra because for such classic look like this: the simpler, the better.

Benefit Hoola Bronzer £23.50
This has just been my go to bronzer recently; it's the perfect colour for my skin tone and so it's great for some serious cheekbone-faking. I think it just looks so model-esque, which matches perfectly with this lip.

Maybelline Colour Tattoo in ON AND ON BRONZE £4.99
For the eyes, nothing too fancy, just take the maybelline colour tattoo in this lovely shimmery bronze shade and sweep all over the lids, blending well for a subtle wash of colour across the lids. Now it looks like you've made an effort but still doesn't take attention away from the lips.

Bobbi Brown Intensifying Long-Wear Macara £19.50
And finally, to top it all off, this Bobbi Brown mascara is one of my favourites for real definition in the lashes. The wand is so small so it lengthens the lashes without any clumps and it's great for the bottom lashes as well. I don't think this is declared as "waterproof" but it's pretty budge-proof; I can wear it all day without worrying about smudging.

I can't believe I've never tried this formula of lipstick before, any other colour recommendations?

Lots of Love,
Sophie
xxx

Current Skincare Routine

We all know that good skin can give a girl all the confidence in the world and recently, my skin has been looking so much better; less acne, less redness and overall just a better texture and I think it's down to these products. My skin is very acne prone and very oily, so if you think that you and me are in the same kind of boat, keep reading:

*I'm not saying that everyone needs to suddenly buy a bunch of skincare just for the sake of it, but i do think that if you're acne prone or have a problem with your skin, a careful routine will help. Entering those dreaded teenage years, efficient skincare is a good idea, especially if you start wearing makeup.*

1. Makeup remover
I actually haven't included these in the pictures because my makeup remover changes a lot. Just because it changes though, does not mean it is okay to just use a makeup wipe. I do, however, know a few people that literally just use a makeup wipe or two at night and they are fine, but like I said, I'm very acne prone, so any thing clogging my pores will definitely break me out. Using an oil based product will help to break down the pigment and eye makeup gently. The one I'm loving now is the Body Shop Camomile Cleansing Butter.£12

2. Face wash
Next step is face wash and this really depends on what type of skin you have. I have very red, irritated skin but also very sensitive so a creamy, cooling face wash is great. This one is the Body Shop Tea Tree Cool and Creamy wash £5. It has tea tree and witch hazel which balances redness and heals spots. A gel face wash is great for oily skin also but my skin is very sensitive. Creamy, buttery textures are great for dry skin as it won't dry it out.

3. Exfoliate
I know most people skip this step because, it's not a necessity but, it does leave a your skin soft and smooth and, for oily skin, it's just an extra step for making sure the face is clean. I really like the St. Ives exfoliators £4.29, this one is "Blemish fighting" because it has salicylic acid in which fights blemishes.

4. Deep cleanse
I might be starting to sound a bit paranoid now, but I'm going to again stress cleansing using something like and astringent. It basically contains strong ingredients that really go into the skin for a deeper cleanse, this could be unnecessary for some, but for me I find it really helps to remove the final traces of dirt. I use the Clean and Clear deep cleansing lotion £2.97 which contains salicylic acid which helps to reduce blackheads. *try to find one for sensitive skin as it's less stripping and harsh*:)

5. Clarisonic
Recently I purchased the Clarisonic Mia 2 £125 because so many people have gone on about it, and I was really willing to try anything to improve my skin. The clarisonic is basically like a giant electric toothbrush ^_^ which spins and vibrates quickly. There's been a noticeable difference in my skin and people have really noticed. I used to have a lot of whiteheads, like little bumps, on my forehead but the rest of my skin was always clear. Whiteheads are basically excess sebum (oil produced in the pores of the skin) or makeup clogging the pores causing bumps or redness. The Clarisonic has definitely improved these problems for my skin but i still occasionally get an angry red spot here and there but it's good to remember that acne on the forehead can be due to: poor blood circulation, dehydration, too much greasy food, stress, lack of sleep, blocked digestive system.

6. Moisturiser
Last step is to remember to moisturise. Even if you just splash your face with water, moisturiser is always important in the end. And if you don't have problem skin any moisturiser will do, but even if you think you don't need it because you have oily skin- trust me- you do. I love the Imperialis £13.50 from lush because it's a great all round moisturiser that balances combination skin and sinks in quickly to prep before makeup.

I hope this was helpful for some, any questions?

Lots of Love,
Sophie
xxx

How to Control Oily Skin: Tip #5

Well hello there and welcome back to my fifth and final edition of How to Control Oily Skin- this week: CLAY MASKS

So there are loads of different masks, all claiming to be the best for your skin, but in terms of oily skin, a clay mask is the best choice.

This is one example of a clay mask I find that works great for me: Super Facialist Tea Flower Clay Mask £8.99

Clay masks are literally masks made of clay, and though it seems a daunting thought, the benefits are endless: unclogs pores, purifies skin of toxins, rebalances skin balance, refreshes skin, etc. This one in particular has Salicylic acid which unclogs congested skin which is great for people with oily skin, it has Dead Sea Mud which is rich in magnesium, calcium, potassium and iron which can help skin build barriers against unwanted substances, honey which is a great anti-bacterial, as well as loads of oils including avocado which are rich in vitamins which refresh and rebalance the skin.

I would recommend using this regularly, and not just when a those blemishes appear. A few months ago, I started using this all the time and my skin was looking better, but then I got a bit cocky, and just stopped using it, and then it went bad again. *sigh* Don't go through that and just keep using it, it's not expensive and laziness it not an excuse.

Hope this series was helpful. Any other suggestions?

Lots of Love,

Sophie

x

November Favourites

I sat down, as every other month, and began to plan my monthly favourites. I left it till late because I didn't really think that I had any new products that I'd been loving this month and none worth talking about. Ha- I was wrong... all I needed to do was open that drawer on my dresser and products were practically jumping out at me for a place in my much awaited favourites post.

Revlon Colourstay Foundation £12.49

I reviewed this foundation more in depth here but basically this is an all round great full-coverage foundation suitable for combination/oily skin.

The Body Shop Cleansing Oil £10

Any old-time reader of my blog will remember that a few months back I was obsessed with the cleansing butter from the Body Shop, this is the same kinda drill, just in oil form. I don't really notice the difference other than the fact that the oil is less milky/creamy when water is added. This removes any makeup from your face and is really great at breaking down waterproof mascara or pigment and is great for dry/ sensitive skin.

Maybelline Great Lash Mascara £4.99

Now this, this is one hell of a mascara. It tops the list of my trustee mascaras: builds great volume, adds length, not clump and so waterproof you could literally go swimming in it. (oh yes- I've tried) This kind of reminds me of the Benefit They're Real because they have the same small wand and same fibres in the formula that add volume.

L'Oreal Colour Riche Lipstick in 302 Bois de Rose £8.19

Bois de Rose- Rosewood- in french if my french classes serve me well. Don't quote me on that. I've not tried these colour riche lipsticks but honestly, the formula is great: it's matte but not drying, in fact, surprisingly creamy and smooth. This colour, this colour, it's me in a lipstick. Its so so so gorgeous, a perfect deep nude pink colour, ahhh I could rave and rave. It just makes the lips look so full and perfect, ahhh, if one could marry a lipstick, I'd be mrs Rosewood.

Nuxe Rêve De Miel £9.50

Shall we try the French again?- I believe it's something like "Dream of Honey"- or not... anywayyyyy, this lip balm is the creme de la creme of lip balms. I've heard of this before, obviously, every beauty blogger and her dog has raved about this but I could just never find it anywhere. But the other day, as I was scouring the shelves of Mark&Spencer when I found this little pot. Just sitting' there, all pretty like and I just pulled it into my basket. This is so moisturing and creamy and I literally put so much on and it still looks good under lipstick.

I'm actually really interested in the Nuxe brand. Any recommendations of products I should try first?

Lots of Love,
sophie
xxx

How to Control Oily Skin: Tip #4

Tip #4: Astringents as deep cleansers as exfoliators

Astringents are really great because the contain strong cleansing ingredients like salicylic acid which will leave your skin super clean. Even on my rather irritable and sensitive skin, I find that I can just about stand this if it's a small amount on a cotton pad. I do,  however, recommend to use this sparingly; on a nightly basis. Cleansing with this in the morning might be a bit harsh and it would be stripping away all the good stuff your skin has worked so hard to rejuvenate over night! 

I know what you're thinking: "astringents as exfoliators?" 

Well, if some of you rather common types had read my last post, it was about exfoliating to unclog pores. That was a great way to prevent blackheads, but if you, like me as well as many others, have allowed your skin to get just a smidge on the bad side of things, then a physical scrub probably isn't in your best interest. Advantages of a liquid form means that it will unclog pores and chemically make new cells come to the surface without irritating spots or spreading bacteria.

I would definitely recommend using this regularly, even if it's just for prevention- don't leave it till it's too late- right? I mean, I've used a whole bottle, as you can see, and I plan to purchase more. It's affordable and easily accessible in Boots.

Clean and Clear Blackhead Clearing Cleanser £3.50

Lots of Love,

Sophie

xxx

How to Control Oily Skin: Tip #3

Hey everyone,

Here we go into another post on How to Control Oily Skin...

If you haven't read the others, this is basically a series of posts telling you how I deal with my oily skin which can lead to problems like acne or shininess.

This week: EXFOLIATORS

If you have oily skin, an exfoliator will make a world of a difference. It will take off the layers of oil and dead cells that build up on the surface which will allow the skin to breathe and it will unclog the pores of any dirt; meaning less blackheads to deal with. Using an exfoliator often will reduce the oil build up on the skin leaving clearer, brighter skin.

This is the St. Ives Blemish Fighting Apricot Scrub. £4.29 This one is one I recently bought but it's great and affordable so would definitely recommend.

*Word of Warning: if you already have a lot of spots, try not to use a gritty exfoliator because it might irritate blemishes, causing more spots or redness, leaving scars and it might spread bacteria around. *

Lots of Love,

Sophie

xxx

Stick around for my next post where I address exfoliating but without the physical headiness of the St Ives ones.

How to Control Oily Skin: Tip #2

Hey everyone,

I'm back with another tip on How to Control Oily skin; today's contender- moisturising.

A lot of people who have oily skin feel like they should scrub their skin squeaky clean and then just leave it; completely avoiding moisturiser. This will dry out the skin; causing it to produce more oil and, if they have sensitive skin, the skin will become angry and irritated.

I like to use an oil-free moisturiser like this one by Neutrogena: this is oil-free which means it doesn't clog pores while hydrating the skin. This is quite thick but applies easily and skins in quickly. Under makeup, it stays matte and gives an almost velvet texture; perfect for controlling shininess. Grapefruit is a fruit which has the perfect acids for counteracting oily skin and so cleansers with grapefruit are also great. This means that as well moisturising the skin, it combats acne under the surface.

The main thing to take away, is that it's important to moisturise, no matter how oily your skin is.

Lots of Love,

Sophie

xxx

How to Control Oily Skin: Tip #1

Hey everyone,

So I today, I wanted to address something that affects me, and probably many others.

I have very oily skin, especially on the forehead and t-zone (basically above your eyebrows and down your nose; the T shape down your face)

It becomes a problem because:

1. The oil clogs my pores which can result in many whiteheads appearing on the skin (basically small, colourless bumps on the skin) which are a pain to get rid of. And when you have oily skin, they are pretty much unpreventable because they just keep appearing.

2. Makeup looks fine in the morning but as the day progresses, it either gets shiny or just disappears. When makeup gets mixed with oils, it blocks pores even more and can cause more painful; more red spots on the skin.
If you have oily skin, you will probably always get some blemishes, and I know for me: I never don't have blemishes to worry about. Even if you don't wear makeup, during those teenage years as people call them, skin will just get oilier, creating more blemishes.

An obvious solution would just be to keep washing your face throughout the day - if you don't wear makeup but, if like me, you have sensitive skin on top of that, then your skin can feel tight and irritated and uncomfortable.

Oil absorbing sheets are a good solution: you can get them from most Boots or Superdrugs. They're basically thin sheets, sometimes soaked in salicylic acid (which can kill bacteria and clear skin). Because they absorb the oil, they will instantly remove the oil and any shininess on the face. These are great for a quick fix in the day and will keep the skin clearer and less oily.

I will be writing some more posts on how to keep the skin clear if you have oily skin.

Lots of Love,
Sophie
xxx

Autumn Colours: the Beauty Trends

A couple of days ago I wrote the Fashion Trends of Autumn so one could only guess that today's post is going the be another Autumn Colours but this time the Beauty Trends:

 the Metallic Touches

A flashback to the seventies brings you this over-the-top eyeshadow for this season: full on colour from the lash line to the brow, a clean sweep of a winged look plus a hint of metallic in the inner corner. And Rodarte, Libertine and Emporio Armani have all flourished a metallic lip to match this bold eye statement.
Keeping a flawless, natural base will help you pull this off.

the Bottom Lash Line

Autumn means the emphasis returns to smoky eyes. Whether its the heavy smoky eyes from Nicole Miller (left) and Tom Ford, or the softer variations from Marc by Marc Jacobs (right), the bottom line is key. Take any dark eyeshadow and smudge all over the eye or take a wash of colour over the eyelids and an eyeliner to define the shape.

the Colouring Books

 This fall we are pushing all the limits when it comes to colour. Just think of the blue flashes of line are Kenzo (left) and the neon pink brought to you by Altuzarra (right). A strong contour is all that’s needed to compliment these colours, no blush, no lipstick, just take that bronzer and get those model high cheekbones.

Lost and Found #3- Cleansing butter

Well hello and welcome to another of my LOST AND FOUND posts.

In case you're new around these parts, this is a chance for me to explain to you what I'm looking for and what I've found. 

In the last edition, I mentioned I was looking for a cleansing butter because I was trying to get into them without splurging on the expensive ones. 

This is the Body Shop Camomile Cleansing Butter. £12 This is one of the first I tried so it took a bit of getting used to. The idea is that you take some of clean fingers and massage into a dry face. You can immediately see it breaking down your makeup and I think it does a pretty good job at removing mascara too. I suppose if you're using EXTRA waterproof mascara then something like BIODERMA might be useful as this requires you to rub at you eyes and lashes. 

I really like this because it's a good one step makeup remover and doesn't strip the skin of any moisture. If you're a heavy makeup wearer, you might like to repeat the steps. Of course, after this, i still use an astringent or deep cleanser to keep my blemishes at bay.

Overall I really like this and would definitely repurchase until I found another one. Any suggestions?

Lots of love,

Sophie

xxx

Goat Milk Brush Shampoo

NATURAL BRUSH SHAMPOO £16.00

Don't worry, we aren't brushing goats or any of that type of thing- just merely a new discovery for me. Now, in terms of Brush Cleaning, i had never been much of a fan, until I heard a few beauty bloggers talk about this.

This is £16 if you purchase from Liberty online, is this expensive for a brush shampoo? I wouldn't really know, but at least this is more expensive than I expected. Anyway, I accepted the small splurge to try and test this out. 

This says it is a pure goat milk solid shampoo. The basic idea is that you wet the brush, swirl it round in here and work it into the brush, then, you just rinse it off. Simple, easy and quick. I find that this really cleans the makeup of my brushes and even my forever foundation stained, used-to-be white brushes have shown their true colours again- and boy, is it satisfying...

The goat milk is meant to soften the brushes and keep the bristles conditioned and strong and I use this for spot cleaning she I need a clean brush, or a whole day of brush cleaning. Either way this is great to use.

I recommend cleaning your brushes often: obviously it depends on the type of brush- foundation brushes probably need to be cleaned at least once a week and then maybe powder or eye brushes once every two weeks.

I think I might want to try a liquid cleanser. Any suggestions?

Lots of Love,

sophie

xxx

Una Brennan Face mask | Skincare June

Hey everyone,

So this month, I thought I would do something different and put all skin care posts in this month.

First, to start it all off is this SUPER FACIALIST BY UNA BRENNAN TEA FLOWER DEEP CLEAN PORE PURIFYING CLAY MASK. 

This is one of a few face masks I've been trying recently. I picked this up in Boots for £8.99 which is a pretty good price. 

I have to say that this product immediately called out to me because it says " a detoxifying mask to unclog pores & restore skin balance". I wanted this is to help get rid of blackheads and make my skin feel really clean. It also helps if your skin is sometimes oily, sometimes dry because it has plant oils like avocado oil and flower oil. It also has salicylic acid which helps calm spots and redness. It's a clay mask so it will draw out any impurities and you basically leave it on for 5 minutes and then wash it up.

It is great especially if you have oily skin but my skin is a bit sensitive so it kind of stung but it was bearable. A tip would be to just focus this on problem areas like the nose so it doesn't irritate sensitive parts of the face.

Any specific posts I should write this June?

Lots of Love,

Sophie

xxx

Empties #1

Here it it, my first EMPTIES post.

I'm sure most people know what an EMPTIES post is, but for those of you who don't, it's basically where I tell you about the products that I've used up and tell you whether or not I liked them…

This photo is probably not the most helpful as on some of the lush products, the writing has rubbed off… but still…

The ones at the back are:

Clean&Clear blackhead clearing cleansing lotion, this is actually a new bottle but I have gone through quite a a few of these. This is really strong and leaves your skin feeling definitely clean, I have sensitive skin and sometimes it feels like my face is BURNING but then again, everything does that to my face. £3.50 click here 

The next one is the l'oreal SKIN PERFECTION 3 in 1 Purifying Micellar Solution. This says that it dissolves makeup; clears skin and unclogs pores; tones and soothes the skin. I like this because it is really gently and it's kind o like the BIODERMA but loads cheaper. £3.74 click here to buy

I've almost come close to finishing my SIMPLE MOISTURISING FACIAL WASH. I use this every morning because it's more gentle than the cleanser but still refreshes and cleans my face. It also hydrates and moisturises my face for the day…£3.25click here

The writing has completely rubbed off on this one but this is the LUSH TEA TREE TONER. This is the tall bottle on the left. It comes in a spray bottle and is supposed to soothe skin and prevent spots because of the tea tree in it. This is really nice and I'll definitely be getting it again. £7.50 click here

The writing has also rubbed off on this one, this is the: LUSH GREASE LIGHTNING. This is one of the lush spot treatments that are supposed to prevent spots if you feel like you're about to get one, but can also help any existing blemishes on their way. This is really really effective and I would recommend it to anyone who know that they are prone to acne. £6.25 click here

More lush…this is the IMPERIALS face moisturiser which I have mentioned in many posts before…I don't know if I would recommend this to everyone as moisturisers have specific ingredients suited to different people. For example, this has cocoa and shea butter and not too many oils for sensitive skin and also lavender oil to balance combination skin… etc, I may do a separate post on ingredients for different skin types. This is, however, an all round great moisturiser if you don't really know what your skin needs. £12.95click here

Final product, the LUSH RUB RUB RUB shower scrub. This is basically a salty grainy mixture acting like a body exfoliant. This has many minerals and effectively cleanses the skin. I got this as a gift and so  I enjoyed using it but I don't think I would by it again. £8.50 click here

How often should I do these posts?

Lots of Love,

Sophie

xxx