The Miracle Worker

Sorry I have been a little negligent recently and I have no excuses. However I have been finding new gorgeous products to test and review specially for you! (Aren't you lucky?) 

I'm starting off this mini series of miracle products with a rather odd one. I came across this product when I got a free sample with a Space NK shop and at first wasn't really sure how to use it.

The product is rose water! 

A secret wonder product in my opinion. The reason that I wasn't sure how to use it is as my little bottle came with no instructions but being the diligent beauty lover I am, I did some research on how to use it. Turns out you can use it anyway you want! Rose water works as a cleanser, toner, anti-inflammatory, moisturiser... You can use it on your hands, feet, hair, face, arm, legs... You can put it into water or cook with it... Just about anything!

I started out squirting a couple drops into my shampoo and conditioner. This is meant to make your hair smooth and silky... And it did. However the reason why I am calling it a miracle product is what I noticed about 4 weeks after I started using it. I noticed my hair had grown about an inch in those 4 weeks and was completely shocked. This rose water returns your hair to a naturally healthy state and encourages hair growth! What more could you want? 

Rapunzel, Rapeunzel, let down your hair!

Rose water will definetly be on my shopping list and although pure version are a little hard to come by you can get variations at boots, feel unique, space nk etc.

Give it a try!! And please tell me if you use it in a different way that works wonders too (or maybe works terribly???)!

Skin types/Pimples

Not a long blog post today but just something that I felt needed to be addressed in the skincare industry, skin types.

You hear if all different skin types and to be honest I don't think anyone really has a clue what their particular type is. Getting spots does not necessarily mean you have oily skin and dry patches doesn't mean your whole face is dry. Remember everyone skins different and some people find it difficult it fit into a particular category or their skin type changes with the seasons (like mine).

Here is a simple guide to skin types without needing any special towels that soak up oil.

Oily skin - In some cases this means you are able to feel a thin film of moisture on your face. More common in summer and can lead to blemishes. Mainly linked to larger pores and young/teenage skin. However, you may think you have oily skin as you are breaking out but this may be from you having dry skin and your skin is over compensating for the dryness by over producing oil.

Combination - Usually associated with black heads/white heads/ pimples forming around the t-zone. Sides of nose can be particular bad with blemishes.

Normal - Lucky you! Your skin produces the perfect amount of oils and therefore tends to be linked to smaller pores, less breakouts and smoother looking skin.

Dry - Skin often feels tight and it becomes harder to show expression in your face. More common in winter. Can be produced by the air on planes, air conditioning and dehydration. If your throst is feeling dry, you skin probably is too.

Remember, getting major breakouts and getting bumps under the skin are two very different things and should be treated in different ways. If you're a girl, major breakouts may usually appear around particular times of the month... If this happens to you unfortunately there isn't much you can do other than making sure you eat healthy and drink lots of water as spots caused by hormones are quite hard to treat at a skin deep level. Other large pimples are usually a product of dirt getting into your pores, these can be prevented with a good skincare routine and good spot serums although everyone gets them once in a while so don't worry! Bumps under the skin (sometimes accompanying slight red tone to the skin) are mainly linked to hormones or oily skin. If these really bring down your confidence then checkout the doctors/dermatologist and see if they can prescribe you any help.

For spots the two best ingredients to check out at salcyclic acid and benzoyl peroxide. So check out any products with those ingredients in small doses for particularly bad/persistent blemishes.

If you buy one thing this month...

If you buy one thing this month, it's has to be 

The Liz Earle Superskin Concentrate

This little miracle from Liz Earle literally gives you flawless, regenerated and bright skin overnight. Although a little pricey (around £40 for the average size) it is worth every penny and if you are a bit wary you could try it out with the smaller £20 size which is marketed towards travel. 

The travel size comes as a roller ball which is helpful as it ensures you don't waste an excess oil. I apply it by rolling the ball around the palm of one of my hands and then rub my hands together. I then take a deep breath whilst smelling my hands and follow by rubbing it all over my face. It absorbs almost instantly and leaves your skin feeling healthy.

I use it after moisturiser and before bed. I never use it in the morning as it can leave a film which is hard to apply makeup over and the moisturising effect means that if you have oily skin then you can use this miracle concentrate instead of moisturiser.

It contains Tocopheral which is a source of vitamin E. Vitamin E is super duper good for your skin! It's a natural antioxidant (bye bye blemishes) and also produces a protective layer for you skin. Along with a basket of other miracle ingredients it contains one of my favourites of all kernel oil. I know kernel oil is an odd thing to look for in a product but it's not specifically what I was so excited to see. Kernel oil is a natural moisturising factor (NMF) which means that it keeps your upper layer of skin healthy and intact by keeping water in your skin making your skin look glowing and radiant, not to mention youthful. 

March Favourites

My monthly favourites this week is going to be a little shorter than my previous longer posts but hopefully it will keep your interest!

I am going to start off with my only non beauty related favourite and that is Miranda! I first watched Miranda on television when I was ill in bed one day. I had been ill for a week and completely lost my voice so I was feeling rather miserable. I switched on the TV waiting for something interesting to come on... flicked through the channel until I saw a ridiculously tall rather awkward woman on the TV screen. I stopped flicking because she reminded me of myself. Embarrassing, I know, but I am very tall and can be rather awkward and inelegant at times so Miranda and I have a few things in common. In fact, my best friends boyfriend used to call me 'Queen Kong' after one of Miranda's nicknames. Miranda the TV show was the first thing to make me laugh all week and since then I have been hooked. I loved watching her weekly awkwardness on a TV show which is weakly based around her life! Last Christmas my Dad got me 4 tickets to go see her live at the Leeds First Direct Arena. I invited my mum and best friend (saved a place for my sister who never showed up!) and anticipated a night of laughter. I was a little nervous as although I find her hilarious I have never seen her do stand up but once I was there, I was not disappointed! I laughed the whole way through and realised that her life was truly just like mine. Would definitely recommend a watch! Buy tickets if you can!

Laura Mercier, one of the holy grails of beauty comes next on my list. I am usually raving about the foundations and concealers which are a much beloved part of my makeup stash but this month I have a new love from the Laura Mercier family! The almond bath salts smell divine in a bath and completely melt away into the warm steamy water in your bath and the body creme is a perfect finale to a pamper evening. Nuts have been known, for a long time for their health benefits when digested but recently they have been placed in skin care for their fabulous anti-oxidant properties and being packed full of the wonder vitamin E. Almonds are rich in protein and therefore these bath and body luxuries will help repair your skin at the same time as relaxing your body, mind and soul.

Net-A-Porter has BEAUTY!!!! I was browsing for the perfect mothers day present on Net-A-Porter and stumbled across a section which some how I never knew existed! The beauty section! They have all sorts of secret lovlies such as; haircare with brands such as Serge Normant, Philip B and a personal favourite Rahua, a small fragrance section with Joya and Mary Greenwell, makeup with the most coveted brand of the moment Hourglass, Laura Mercier and Burberry and a well stocked skincare section with my love Eve Lom, this works, Caudalie and my other love Omorovicza. Check it out! WARNING: may lead to a severe decrease in disposable income and a severe increase in Net-A-Porter love.

My final favourite is the rise of the no make up selfie! Not only is it for a fantastic cause but it also encourages women to go bare and love their skin. This is a fantastic message to send out to women and encourages everyone to feel comfortable with themselves and allows them to feel a sense of family with other girls and women which I feel is needed and lacked in modern society. Text BEAT to 70007 even if you don't want to bare your skin and remember that you are helping women and men alike love their skin even when they are not feeling their best.

Next post soon lovelies!!

Filmore and Union

Short post from me today just to say if you live in Leeds, Wetherby or York in England and have not tried Filmore and Union you should be ashamed of yourself. Filmore and Union serve super healthy food that tastes delicious and leaves you feeling full and satisfied.

I have been 4 times in 2 weeks and plan to go at least once a week whilst I'm on my summer diet. They do breakfast, lunch and dinner and have lovely sweet treats in the window which taste like they are naughty but they are not! They also do the best smoothies and juices where you can have an extra shot of goodness for a little extra money. It's a tad expensive but all healthy food is and you can get take out if you don't want to eat in!

These photos are from a breakfast trip into Leeds with my mum. This Filmore and Union is situated in the Victoria Quarter.

CHECK IT OUT!!! http://www.filmoreandunion.com

Banana, Apple, Blueberry and Oat smoothie

Shot of hoodia. (Super healthy not so tasty - pour into smoothie)

Smoked Salmon and Scrambled egg on rye.

Daily Makeup Routine

I have been a very naughty blogger this week and not posted when I said I was going to (yesterday). Here is my belated daily makeup routine. Apologies!!!!

My daily makeup routine varies as to what season it is, what I feel like, what my skin looks like and how much time I have in the morning but the base stays the same. As I LOVE my bed I often feel pushed for time but have managed to perfect my daily makeup in under 10 minutes giving me time to concentrate on other things in the morning (like sleep).

This is what my desk looks like after my routine is finished. I know it looks like a bomb has exploded but trust me tidiness isn't the most important thing for me if I am in a rush. You can see the majority of the products I use day to day but I will go into further detail about them individually and how I apply them specifically.

I always start with my Guerlain L'Or Radiance concentrate with pure gold. This primer gives me a base for my makeup to ensure my foundation doesn't settle into my pores and gives my skin a glow before I start. The gold fragments are invisible on your face but allow a slight glisten when the light catches them. They light up your complexion and have a moisturising effect on your skin. However if you want a primer which ensures your makeup stays put the whole day I would not recommend this product as although it does its brightening job perfectly I haven't noticed it increasing the wear of my makeup.

Next I apply my vitalumiere aqua foundation from Chanel. This has been my number one foundation for almost two years and although its sister product the vitalumiere is one of the most raved about products of the decade you will always hear me talk about this little beauty. The vitalumiere aqua is a lot thinner and has less coverage than the vitalumiere which is what I want. As I have quite young skin and am more interested in skincare than makeup I prefer to let my skin breathe than mask it in a heavy foundation. This foundation is perfect for the 'my skin but better' look that is raved about by off duty models and actresses alike. The added benefit of SPF 15 makes this product the perfect foundation for the not trying to hard but still trying look. I use the shade '20 beige'.

After my foundation, I go onto trying to cover up any nasty pimples or blemishes that may have developed. The Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage is the best of the best. It has two colours in it so you can blend to ensure it matches your skin colour and you can go on holiday and get a nice tan but still have concealer that matches your skin tone. It is very thick, oil free and super long wearing but DO NOT be tempted to use this under eyes as it will sit in every pores and just make your eyes look dull and heavy. Even though this concealer has very heavy coverage it still looks natural and maintains the barely there makeup look which I always go for. I use colour SC-3.

I then go onto my under eye concealer. Unfortunately I do not have a picture to show you but I use the Bare Minerals Stroke Of Light eye brightener. I have the dark circles curse and therefore any under-eye concealer I buy is completely aimed at brightening up under and around my eyes. This concealer immediately brightens the under-eye area and ensures that I look like I've slept for a full 12 hours when really I have slept for about 5! I use shade luminous 2.

I then go onto my contouring and here I either pick to do one or both of the following depending on my mood and time.

This chanel blush is one of my favourites and as you can see I am still using it even though it is all cracked from dropping it numerous times. This blush is no longer available from Chanel but I am sure you can find it online somewhere else. The mixture of red, pink and highlighter ensures that it makes a flawless colour when swirled together however you only need the smallest amount to get quite a strong pigment. I use a large brush, the one in the picture from bare escentuals, to simply sweep along my cheek bone and the apples of cheeks very lightly to give a sense of colour and health to my complexion.

My other commonly used contour creator is the Guerlain terracotta bronzer in 03. This bronzer is raved about by many of my favourite beauty bloggers so I thought I would give it a try. Its light, easy and can be built up by using a few layers, infact its one of my favourite beauty buys ever. It gives you a natural tan and reflects the sunlight whilst lightly moisturising your skin. Perfect for an extra glow in summer or to make you look slightly less like a ghost in winter.

I then get to work on my brows. My eyebrows have a life of their own and when they are good they are goooooood but when they are messy, trust me, they are messy! At the moment I am trying to grow out my eyebrows as I have waxed/threaded/plucked them far too thin and I want to get them back to their natural shape and this Urban Decay Brow Box has been my saviour into making my eyebrows a little less chaotic. It contains a gel to ensure the colour stays on, two shades to make sure you have the perfect colour for you, a small brush (although I like to use my own larger brush) and a pair of teeny tweezers for last minute emergencies. Apologies for my brow box being so messy but I use it so often that eventually it becomes a tad chaotic. I put the gel onto my brush first and then mix the two colours together into the colour which I want and then apply in sweeping brush movements onto my eyebrows. Saviour in a box.

Lastly I sort out my eyelashes. 'Eyes are the nipples of the face' is one of my favourite quotes from the movie House Bunny because it is so true! It is the thing which everyone focuses on and draws attention to. This is why I use 5 different mascaras just on a day to day look to ensure my eyelashes are as long as they can be. I start of by curling each set of lashes in pulses of 10 twice and then apply my first coat of benefit thick and fast mascara. This is just my base and allows me to see my eyelashes more clearly and ensure that I have covered every little lash. Next is the main event, the incredible Lancome Hypnose Drama, by far my favourite mascara ever! It gives your lashes the false lash effect in seconds and ensures they do not clump in any way. Any of the Lancome mascaras are recommended 100% by me and are suitable for all ages and any time of year. I then finish off with a quick coat of either the eyeko lengthen and strengthen if I want to give my lashes a treat or eyeko long and tall if I feel like they still aren't as long as I want. I always wear mascara that is the blackest of black (just my preference).

Lastly I am going to end with a couple of before and after shots of my makeup. The before shots were taken just after I had washed my face and therefore the photos taken with flash are reflected by the oil on my face making me look incredibly shiny!

Guerlain L'Or Primer - http://www.escentual.com/guerlain/guerlain_terra065/?gclid=CPeXiuaMkL0CFQnpwgodF7QA4g £43.50
Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua foundation - http://www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10701_10001_123152000099_-1 £32.00
Laura Mercier Secret Coverage concealer -http://www.houseoffraser.co.uk/Laura+Mercier+Secret+Camouflage/148245920,default,pd.html £26.50
Bare Minerals Eye Brightner - http://www.bareminerals.co.uk/Stroke-of-Light-Eye-Brightener/UKMasterSOLEyeBrightener,default,pd.html#productDetailsSection £22.00
Chanel blusher - no longer sold
Guerlain Terracota Bronzer - http://www.houseoffraser.co.uk/Guerlain+Terracotta+Moisturising+Bronzing+Powder/D278244,default,pd.html £34.50
Urban Decay Brow Box -http://www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10701_10001_123932987499_-1 - £17.00
Benefit thick and fast mascara - http://www.soapandglory.com/thick-fast-mascara £10.00
Lancome Hypnose Drama - http://www.boots.com/en/Lancome-Hypnose-Drama-Instant-Full-Body-Volume-Mascara_982845/ £22.50
Eyeko lengthening and strengthen mascara - http://www.eyeko.com/mascara-eyeliner-shop/mascara/eyeko-eye-do-mascara £20.00
Eyeko long and tall mascara - http://www.eyeko.com/eyeko-skinny-brush-mascara £15.00

Bloglovin

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I always follow my favourite blogs on bloglovin! It lets you read all your blogs in one place and helps you keep up to date easily.

I'll be posting my daily makeup routine on wednesday so follow me on bloglovin to ensure you don't forget!

Daily Skincare Routine

I know this is pretty soon after my first post but I wanted to show you guys the basics I use in skincare on a day to day basis. This doesn't include any fancy masks I put on once in a blue moon or when my skin needs it but products which I use daily or weekly.

This ESPA hydrating cleanser I have been using for the past couple months and if I am being brutally honest it's... 'okay'. Nothing special, it does its job. I am not a huge fan of milk cleansers in general as I feel that when I put them on my skin they simply sit on top rather than have any action deep down but this cleanser takes my make up off and soothes at the same time. This cleanser will probably not be replaced.  http://www.espaskincare.com/new-to-espa/hydrating-cleansing-milk £22.50

Next I have a Liz Earle hot cloth cleanser. An absolute staple in my skincare routine. I have been religiously using it for at least the past 5 years and it is works like a wonder and leaves my skin feeling cleansed. This cleanser comes with a muslin square which very lightly exfoliates as you rub your cleanser off and leaves your skin feeling smooth and clean. A lot more creamy than the ESPA cleanser. WARNING: it does feel like it has left a light layer on your skin. http://uk.lizearle.com/cleanse-tone-moisturise/cleanse-and-polish-hot-cloth-cleanser.html £14.75

This is my daily goto exfoliator and it is a BEAUTY! Dermalogica have really excelled themselves creating this product. This 'daily microfoliant' exfoliator comes completely dry (sounds weird I know, check out the picture) and you add water to make it into a creamy exfoliating paste. This idea is simply ingenious as it means that you can change the level of abrasiveness that you want from the product. Whether you want a strong exfoliator (hardly any water) or a more creamy relaxing exfoliator (lots of water) this exfoliator will leave your skin soft and smooth. HINT: all you need is a few drops of water. http://www.dermalogica.co.uk/uk/html/products/daily-microfoliant-11.html?type=function&cat=exfoliants £40.30

My second exfoliator is a more purse friendly buy but still has excellent results. This Neutrogena daily scrub has a bit more abrasiveness than the Dermalogica microfoliant but does not feel rough on the skin and does not leave your skin red or sore like some of the cheaper exfoliators. As budget beauty goes this is one of the best however, I would be wary to say you will notice a decrease in your blackheads or your pores as I find it is more of a brightener than a deep exfoliation. http://www.boots.com/en/Neutrogena-Visibly-Clear-Blackhead-Scrub_16122/ £3.79 (BARGAIN!)

As a self proclaimed face mask addict it is pretty impressive to say that only one face mask has found itself into my regular skincare routine. This Eve Lom rescue mask is simply THE BEST! It brightens your skin and helps with blemish, breakouts or if you've had late nights or a heavy weekend. I use this once a week but I thought it deserved special mention for this blog. HINT: SHAKE WELL, an important active ingredient is dissolved in water and this separates like salad dressing. WARNING: the smell is very.... poignant (not best to use in the morning).
http://uk.spacenk.com/rescue-mask/MUK154010009.html £35.00

This toner is a matching set to the ESPA cleanser but I must say is 100 times better. This toner leaves your facing feeling completely free of product and really fresh. The smell is just divine and perfect for use in morning or night. http://www.espaskincare.com/face/tone/hydrating-floral-spafresh £22.50

As a teenager I am prone to the odd pimple or blemish (who isn't) but these Cane + Austin Acne treatment pads completely stop any existing pimples or future ones in their tracks! These little pads are completely drenched in this miracle formula and you can either wipe them all over your face or just on those pesky spots to ensure clear skin forever!
 http://uk.spacenk.com/acne-treatment-pads/MUK300003638.html £48.00

Last but certainly not least is my favourite product of all time. My glorious ESPA 24-hour replenishing moisturiser is such a luxury and I use it every night! Not best to use in the morning due to the slight smell of seaweed, this moisturiser is thick and creamy and completely replenishes any lost moisture and keeps your skin hydrated for 24 hours as claimed. Perfect for dry, combination or normal skin. Would not recommend for oily skin as it might cause slightly too much oil leading to breakouts.
http://www.espaskincare.com/24-hour-replenishing-moisturiser £41.00

Sorry for the extra long post! Thought I should explain the basics first before going into the reviews of particular products/beauty hauls. Feel free to ask if you would like to know more and please share what your staple skincare items are! I'll post again very shortly. Let me know what you would like to know!!

First Post

Hi Guys!

I'm very new to blogging and have never blogged before in my life but I was inspired by the beauty bloggers Amelia Liana (http://liana-beauty.com) and Lily Pebbles (http://www.lilypebbles.co.uk) and when I saw Lily Pebbles and Vivanna Does Makeup youtube video about how to make a blog I decided to give it a go. 

Obviously I am not expecting the success of those beauty bloggers but I felt like I had nothing to lose and at worst no one would read my blog (not the end of the world). 

This post is just and introduction to me and what I am about. I love all things skincare!! and that is where the majority of my posts will lie. However I will also do some makeup tips and reviews and maybe even some fashion hauls (we'll see where it takes me).

Clem

Me through the ages!