A Festive Violet

As Christmas approaches, we all sit apprehensively by the windows, all waiting for some sign of a white christmas. But while hoping for snow is all very festive and puts everyone in high spirits: snow means ice and ice means it's too cold to even think about going outside.

Fortunately for us, this rather festive shade of purple defrosts our hands and adds a little Christmas-sy warmth to our grip around the eggnog. 

 Ladies and Gentlemen: Nails Inc. in Kensington High street £14 (I couldn't find the non-gel formula online)

This is a lovely deep pink/purple colour which is perfect for the winter holiday. I have and olive toned medium skin colour and the deep pinkish side really compliments a darker, warmer colour. I also think that this would look great on fair skin but probably towards the neutral-yellowy side of the spectrum.

As all Nail Inc. Nail polishes are, this is a great formula and hasn't chipped for me after  almost a week of wearing it. (This is using a Barry M top/base coat). Because the colour is so dark, I had to use two coats to even it out, but I think you could easily just do the one.

Oh, and mine has these purple rhinestones on-I don't really know why, I thought it might've been for better grip, in which case is a smart idea because the lid is quite wide, or maybe it's just to look nice. Hm well- what do you guys think?

Lots of Love,

Sophie

x

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

Monthly Thoughts #5

I'm doing this a bit late this month, but y'all know how it is: christmas shopping, tree decorating, party going etc.

So my teacher hands me this: "Meeting to discuss project on 8th January 2015"

I mean, I'm sure you're going to be reading a lot of these "oh how quickly years go by" posts, but honestly, 2015?! 

But before we head off into the new year, reflecting on the year gone by is a good place to start. Half way through this year, in June actually, I started this little thing I call a blog, since then I've written 55 or so posts and gained 40 or so followers, but most importantly, I've realised a newly gained respect for those who write those incredible blogs with interesting posts everyday. When I started this blog, boy, I didn't know how hard it would be: to be consistent, to write good quality, interesting posts.

I know a lot of people are just starting off, and I think it would be great if we all supported each other.

Would love to email and talk to some of you if you have any ideas for how to improve my blog or if I can help with yours.

Lots of Love,

Sophie

xxx

Perfect Winter Lip

Can we all just take a moment to appreciate the up and coming season of WINTER. And what better way to welcome it with the perfect soft lip to warm up your smile.

This is the L'Oreal Colour Riche in 302 Bois de Rose £6.99 and the Rimmel Exaggerate lipliner in Eastend Snob £3.99

I love that these products are both so affordable on the high street. I actually bought these two separately, but one day, while rummaging through my drawers to decide what lip colour to indulge in that morning, my fingers fumbled across this heavenly duo. I have been wearing this everyday since last week.  

The lipstick from L'Oreal is a deep, rosy nude-y pink, which goes great with a warm or darker skin tone. The lipliner from Rimmel is really great because it's got a tiny tip that can give you the precision you need when lining your lips. I mainly just enhance my cupid's bow and then the corners of my lips to create an illusion of fuller lips.

I like to use lipliner because, I dunno, my lips don't end, they kinda just bleed out- anyone else with me here? no, okay, well even if lipliner's not really your thing, try this and you'll completely be converted.

In fact, I really want to scout some more, any suggestions?

Lots of Love,

Sophie

xxx

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

First Impressions: Revlon Colourstay Foundation

Last week, I stumbled across this rather popular beauty product that I had never seen in Boots before. I've scoured the Revlon counter times-a-many but I never thought to try this before. 

So, anyway, here we go, first impressions:

I've been using this for a couple of days, and I've not really worn it for longer than 12 hours, but from what I can tell, it's going to stand a firm favourite on my makeup table.

This is a great colour match; it's also on the yellow side which counteracts any redness that I have. It's quite thin but I would say it's medium coverage. The only annoying thing is that it doesn't have a pump so everything just POURS out ... 

This says it's specially made for combination/oily skin, and I agree that it applies generally matte with just a hint of dewiness to add back that healthy glow. Sometimes i find that throughout the day I have to re-powder but otherwise I find it stays quite well.

I think they do a dry/ normal skin type and the different types so I think I'm going to try those as well.

Have you guys tried any of them?

Revlon Colourstay Foundation £12.49

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