L'oreal Studio Secrets Primer.

For a long period of time I never bothered with primers I skipt them whilst browsing in Noots or Superdrug and just generally didn't feel the need for one. Even when I was given a sample size of Benefits 'That Girl' it lay at the back of my drawer collecting dust, I always found that my simple day cream done the trick at keeping my make up in place. However that being said when my Mum came home one say with L'Oreal Studi Secrets Proner I thought i'd give it ago I did have great expectations especially with it being priced at near on £15 not the cheapest for a high street product especially considering it forsn't cone one in the largest pot. I had just purchased the raved about high street foundation Bourjous 'Healthy Mix' so decided it was the perfect to team both together. I applied a small amount of primer evenly distributing it over my face. Then applied my new foundation. The first thing I noticed was that my foundation felt cakey and not radiance boosting as the foundation states I then I found after I'd completely the application that it all most immediately started to go peely around my T-Zone making my skin look quite horrible. When applying the primer it felt like a paste rather than a smooth application. I firstly thought it was perhaps I had a bad batch of foundation so the next day I applied the foundation again with no primer and I loved the results. Overall I won't be using this primer again and certainly won't be purchasing it. Have you tried this Primer what did you think? 
Lot's of love.
Claire

Xo

Night time pamper routine.

My maternity leave has finally started and the countdown has begun 10 weeks till babycakes arrives, which also leaves me plenty of free time to take proper control over this. I have been eagerly waiting the start of the Autumn season due to being a massive fan of warm rich colours, but more so because I can begin to purchase more baby clothes which babycakes will get most wear out of in the winter. So, whilst strolling (or waddling) through town at the weekend I noticed that Next had changed the window displays this brought me the up most excitement. Not only for Autumn but for the fact that when Autumn reaches it means Christmas is on the way. So here I am writing this blog post with ‘The Holiday’ playing on my dvd player in the background and a cinnamon candle burning on my drawers, I'm aware I may have peaked too early but can you blame me?

As soon as the dark nights begin to draw in I have an over whelming urge for pamper nights sometimes 2-3 times a week so I thought this blog post would be dedicated to my routine on each of these nights. First of all I like to begin with a long shower taking in with me these few products. 

        

     

My shampoo and conditioner of choice at the moment is L'oreal Elvive Nutri Gloss, I find it works wonders for my hair leaving it feeling weightless and with a glossy shine. Once a week I also like to apply an intensive hair mask treatment I like to alternate between the mask available with the L'Oreal Elvive range and one availble in the Soap and Glory Collection entitled 'Hair Supply' (All soap and glory products are available at Boots- http://www.boots.com/en/Christmas/Gifts-for-her/Beauty-gifts/The-Beauty-Boutique/Soap-Glory/ ) 

Next I like to scrub my skin from top to bottom with Soap and Glory's 'The Breakfast Scrub' it has the most amazing smell and leaves me skin feeling so soft and refreshed and finally I have a final soak and lather up using Soap and Glory's 'Clean on me'.   

              

  When I finally emerge from the shower I gently ring out the excess water from my hair and apply a heat protective spray the one I'm using at the moment is the simple GHD 'Heat Defensive Spray' I also then apply V05 miracle concentrate oil concentrating on the mid length and ends of my hair, this product is absolutely raved about in the beauty community and with the results it leaves there's no prizes for guessing why. It just leaves such a beautiful shine to the hair and controls any frizz or pesky fly aways that crop up during your day. After a quick dry and straighten I throw my hair up and move on to my skin...

Soap and Glory 'The Righteous Butter'

After using the Soap and Glory 'Breakfast scrub' I feel my skin needs some much needed moisture put back into it and for this I like to use Soap and Glory 'The Righteous Body Butter' I tend to only use this body butter at night time due to it being quite a thick consistency and therefore it takes a while for it to properly sink into the skin to avoid it sticking to my clothes I use it before bed, If I am moisturising in the morning I tend to use body lotion I found at Body Care which cost me a whole 99p and is a much lighter formula not to mention it leaves my skin smelling lovely of coca butter. I used to apply fake tan religiously but with being pregnant and it finally coming into the colder months I've put it to the back of my drawer and started to embrace my pale skin.

I then like to use a Johnsons dreamy skin face whipe to give my skin a rough clean then apply The No.7 radiance boosting hot cloth cleanser massaging it into my skin in circular motions and gently exfoliating with my muslim cloth, after this I tone my face. Recently I have been using the Boots Botanic's Rose water cleanser. It smells beautiful and leaves me skin feeling as fresh as ever. My final two steps are applying 'This Works Eye Serum' and Johnsons night cream.

I then jump into bed and by this point I'm usually falling half asleep but make a point of painting my nails. My mum told me when I was younger to always make sure I had nice nails it's something she always had and it's something i've religiously stuck to, however I'm not to adventurous when it comes to nails and like to keep them simply french manicured.

Leaving this finished result:

After this I'm soon asleep and wake up feeling fresh only to start a completely separate skin care routine all over again but I'll save that for another post....

Hope you enjoyed reading girlies.

Lot's of love

Claire

xo

Introduction and Review. xo

Last October I had very good intentions of making a blog. 

I signed up, picked my template and published my first post.

But once again, I failed to keep it up or maintain it. After watching many Youtube Guru's videos

and reading numerous beauty blogs, my motivation has kick started all over again and I am determined to see it through this time, So shall we begin?

I feel I should break myself in easy with a simple review on a few products, I've recently purchased.

No.7 Skin Illumiator in Pink.

The first product in line for review is the No.7 skin illuminator in pink:

This product works as a good all rounder for make up lovers, it serves as a highlighting base for under your foundation, achieving a dewy finish rather than a matte.

It can also be used as a eye brightening cream or as a cheek highlighter. It comes in two shades 'Peach' and 'Pink'. 'Peach' is perfect for lighter skin tones whiles 'Pink' is better suited to darker more olive skin tones. Both are available from your No.7 counter at Boots stores.

The application is easy, it is applied with a small black brush and you simply blend it all over your skin. The only negative about applying this product is squeezing the product out of the tube

can be quite difficult and when you apply too much pressure you end up with too much product coming out. 

An other little advantage of this product is Boot's often give out £5 off No.7 purchases at the tills. The product retails at £11 but with your £5 off voucher you can purchase it for £6- Definitely worth a look.

Benefit's 'That Girl' Face Primer.

Until reecently I don't think I ever once used a primer, but none the less was always exasperated when my foundation would melt off throughout the day

leaving my skin lookign patchy and uneven. But with the application of this before hand my make up has lasted more or less the full day with little need to touch it up. 

The packaging says it's a face brightner, I didn't find it brighten my face, that much and I would still rely on my No.7 illuminator for that job. It did make my foundation application a lot easier that normal however.

Mac Studio Fix Fluid NW 20

My foundation of choice for many years was Elizabeth Arden, most likely through my mum repurchasing it over and over and after watching many make up reviews and monthly favourites I decided to purchase and try MAC Studio Fix Fluid in the shade NW 20.

I'd heard great things about this foundation and I prefer a matte coverage which this foundation definitly offers and I didn't have to touch it up throughout the day which I had to do previously with my Elizabeth Arden foundation. However I do feel it to be quite drying on my skin especially around my T-Zone. 

My other only negative is the packaging it does not come with a pump for the foundation, this has to be purchased seperately and without it, it can make application quite difficult, Although this product is a good all rounder, I think I would be keen to look at the different MAC foundations before repurchasing this one.

Ebay 88 Colours Neutral Eye Palette.

I love neutral eye colours whether it be from creams to browns and black. I wanted to find a product that could offer all of this and whilst searching interent I found this on ebay.

It offers every colour you need for creating a neutral eye. From your high light colours to your crease colours. The only downside I have about this product is the lack of matte eye shadows available most are shimmers, but despite that all eyeshadows in this palette are very very pigmninted. 

It comes in at £8.00 and includes free postage. I do really like this palette and can create so many different looks with, it was a great purchase.

Lots of Love, 

    Claire.

         xo