Etude House Dear darling tint water gel tint PK003 review

When I first got into Asian beauty, probably around 8 years ago,  lip tints were my shit. Like seriously,  I had so many tints from different brands that were all essentially the same colour and thing. A red water tint is a red water tint whether it's from A or from B, I learnt that the hard way.

The Dear darling water gel tints are a new line from Etude House, they're an upgrade from the old dear darling tint which many people weren't fond of. I think that the water gel is a better formula choice for those of us that don't like water tint.

The collection has a pretty wide shade range, from dark vampy reds to bright oranges. I picked the shade PK003 as it was a MLBB shade which a lot of people like myself love. But it's pretty clear that etude house edit their colours onto a models lips. So the swatch is no where near accurate. In the photo I posted the tint looks red, in the etude house photo its like dusty rose colour. But actually i find it to be more of a brown toned pink. I find this colour really flattering on my skin tone.

The texture is water gel, so it's easy to spread like a water tint but has more pigmentation due to the gel like consistency. But I do find that it takes a long time to sink in, as I've found my lips can still be sticky an hour later. This can also mean that some people may have difficulty with application, but personally I don't find it to be patchy :) I also find the tint to be very long lasting which I love because I am not about the reapplication life.

For anyone wanting a long lasting mlbb shade I would recommend this, but would I repurchase? probably,  I'm kind of over lip tints but I do love this product and as I've never finished a tint it will definitely last me ages!

The ordinary Niacinamide 10% review

In the past you may have seen my review of The Ordinary azealic acid suspension cream, which I really enjoyed thus making me explore more the ordinary products, so stay tuned for in depth reviews of a few more items :)

Niacinamide is an ingredient that has been proven effective in helping with skin concerns such as uneven skin, large pores, dull skin, and aging skin. However as this is a high strength formula, it is always advised to patch test it first to avoid a bad reaction to the amount of niacinamide in the serum.

Whilst I had previously raved about the Azealic suspension for lightening dark spots, the Niacinamide formula is one of my favourite the ordinary products because it has transformed my skin. After using the serum for about a 2 weeks, I had already noticed a huge improvement in my skin texture and pores as well as the over all evenness of my skin. I also have way less break outs, and no longer have the large under the skin bump kind of pimples - not sure whether this is because of the nit

There are some potential issues I've encountered. Firstly, my overall face "whitening", this is because Niacinamide surpasses melanin from reaching the surface, great for dark spots, not so great when your entire face is naturally brown and you want to keep it that way. Also any products you use before the serum may interfere with it and cause a slight burning sensation so its best to keep your routine minimal when introducing this.  The serum can also be drying, so for those of you with dry skin, you might experience some more dryness but nothing that can't be combatted. And also the fact that it can sometimes cause products you use after to pill, which is why I advise to keep your routine minimal for best results.

Overall , I really enjoy this product and the improvements it has made to my skin. I will definitely repurchase this and as part of a good routine it can really help your skin get to where you want it to be.

Petitfee oil blossom Lip mask review

My lips have been extremely dry as of late and no amount of water/lip balm/exfoliation seems to be helping. So I decided to look into getting a lip mask and came across the Petitfee one which was considerably cheaper then the laneige one so I decided to give it a go!

The Lip mask is a highly enriched overnight treatment which you slap onto your lips generously and sleep, so it hydrates and moisturises your lips throughout the night. The mask is enriched with 5 nutritious plant oils including camellia seed, jojoba oil and vitamin e.
The mask has a light scent to it, which I personally really enjoy, it reminds me of sweet cranberries for some reason although I'm assuming that it's a "blossom" smell (no idea what blossoms are meant to smell like though).  It's a fairly thick consistency which quickly melts into a thick oil onto you lips and can also be used as a lip balm throughout the day when applied lightly. After using the mask only on days when my lips felt extra day (not daily) I found that in the mornings my lips were extra smooth, moisturised, plump and any rough skin patches were soothed, so this made applying lipstick smoother in the mornings when I was getting ready as I wouldn't have to worry about needing to exfoliate my lips or wait for my lip balm to sink in.

The lip mask also comes in a luxurious glass jar with a small spatula to scoop the product out for hygiene reasons, although sometimes I make the mistake of scooping too much out due too this but it's not a huge issue.

Overall, I do like this product as it provides overnight moisture which leaves my lips soft and plump in the morning/throughout the day and would definitely repurchase it if it ran out, as I'm enjoying using it for the winter months. However if you're on a budget it's not an essential as you could just layer on and lip balm before bed and use it as treatment too.

Cosrx ultimate moisturising honey overnight mask review

Cosrx is one of the leading Korean skin care brands right now. They're ingredients are all killer no filler whilst remaining relatively affordable. Of course it's not dirt cheap, but after trying a few products I can agree that they're definitely worth both price and hype.

The overnight Honey mask is a very light weight almost watery consistency overnight mask which deeply hydrates your skin leaving it very plump and dewy in the morning. Because of it's light weight formula it can also be used as a moisturiser before makeup.

The mask has 85% bee propolis which is very beneficial for healing scars and having anti bacterial properties. So whilst you sleep the mask not only hydrates, but combats dirt and bacteria whilst also brightening the skin.

Overall, if you are looking for a overnight mask I would highly recommend this mask and in fact prefer it to the previous sleeping packs I have tried such as the laneige one. My only gripe with the product being the lack of a spatula or tube packaging.

Too Faced born this way foundation review

I recently picked up the born this way foundation, two faced's biggest foundation release to date. It's an oil-free, "undetectable" medium to full coverage foundation. When I first applied this I honestly thought I would need to conceal my dark spots after as they can still show through with foundation but suprisingly even though this foundation gives a your skin but better natural look, it still has such good coverage that I didn't need concealer at all. It's very light weight on the skin, as it's infused with coconut water, alpine rose and hylarunic acid which moisturise and brighten the skin. Price wise, it's on par with high end brands such as Make up forever, Dior and Nars however for £29 I would go as far as to say it is worth it.

I would definitely recommend this to anyone who wants a natural looking foundation, that doesn't require too much work and blur's imperfections. 

Chanel rouge coco shine - Liberte review

Chanel lipsticks are one of the most iconic chic lipsticks out there, however they're not something I can ever just go out and buy. I was thrilled a few weeks ago when my mum kindly surprised me with a few high end beauty products, which included the Chanel rouge coco shine lipstick in liberté.

The consistency of the lipstick is lovely, it applies so smooth and is glossy, hydrating and even which is pretty much expected of the lipstick. The colour is quite unique, the bullet is a light peach/orange with specks of shimmer - which may seem off-putting - but when on the lips the shimmer is not at all obvious. The shade itself also differs from person to person, it can look like a peach shade when used lightly or a brown toned orange when applied more heavily. I think this shade will definitely compliment all shades and cannot recommend it enough! I might be getting ahead of myself when I say this but it is approaching christmas kiiiiind of soon, so you know...add this to your list ladies.

Make up Forever HD foundation review

Whilst in Spain, I visited sephora which I had been dying to do..although the brand selection wasn't huge I did manage to get the MUFE HD foundation and let me tell you ... it's amazing!

The HD foundation is meant to give you a flawless look in flash photography/studio lighting - by blurring imperfections on the face it's supposed to achieve that soft focused flawless look.

It's a medium coverage liquid foundation, I apply this with a real techniques brush and it does seamlessly blend it to my skin perfectly and give good coverage yet it doesn't feel heavy or cakey so -sometimes I don't even use concealer and this baby has got it all covered well. Now as for the flash photography aspect, I do agree that the face looks significantly more flawless and even when a flash photograph is taken, this is definitely a foundation for times when you'll be having your photograph taken. And since it lasts for about 8 hours on me, it definitely lasts the whole night so there's no worries there.

If you have dry skin be warned it will stick to dry patches and accentuate them unfortunately! another downfall is that this isn't the best foundation for oiler girls though it is oil free it still has a slight dewy finish and the sales assistant did tell me that they also have a matte foundation which would be better suited.

So the MUFE HD foundation is definitely a new holy grail for me, it's the perfect foundation for going out and when I want that flawless finish because on a day to day basis i'm fine with just bb cream. The shade selection is great and there is definitely a shade for everyone! If you have a make up forever near you I definitely recommend you go see the foundation for yourself but the downside might just be the price tag! 

Hourglass corrective concealer review

This was a totally on a whim purchase in a haul a while ago, as I wasn't shade matched so I picked warm and hoped for the best, obviously trusting that hourglass are a luxury brand and know how to do concealer right.

Anyway onto the concealer, it looks darn beautiful and has quite a tight lid so it will never come open unless you prise the lid off. It is really creamy, but quite firm at the same time. When I apply it straight to my under eyes it's clearly medium to full coverage. I've stopped using it that way as it's just un hygienic and apply it with a concealer brush from the bullet on a moisturised/primed face.The lasting power is about 4-5 hours. The full coverage is great especially for anyone with acne, or trying to look like they've got 10 hours of sleep. As it's a corrective concealer it works well for people who have dark under eyes or those who need to counteract some colour they have. I personally have acquired some dark and slightly red eye circle due to exam period, so this has been my go to.

So to conclude, it's a lovely creamy good coverage concealer. But honestly for the money, I doubt I would repurchase it, the Nars creamy concealer is a tad cheaper and I prefer it because it's liquid and i get more use out of it - but I do still like this and feel I am getting my moneys worth.

Soap and Glory - Feel good factor review

I've been wanting to try out soap and glory's beauty bits for a long time now. So on a recent visit to boots I decided to pick up the Feel good factor aka they're translucent BB cream.I've been using this quite a lot recently and I'm quite taken by this little product.

Straight off, I would not consider this a BB cream as it gives absolutely no colour (being translucent). They do however jointly market it as primer, moisturiser and UV protector - this part of significantly pleases me. It's pretty much a do it all product. When used alone it gives a slight sheen to the skin which I love for no makeup days and lazy days. I can go out or stay in and my skin is still protected with the spf 25 and moisturised, whilst having a subtle glow and very slight colour correction.

The feel good factor can therefore also be used as a primer/makeup base since it smoothes out the surface of the face. I personally don't have a major issue with pores, however my mum tried it and it did improve the appearance of her pores but nothing too major. I love how the product is quite thick and creamy with a nice soft scent, yet it doesn't make your skin oily, or heavy or leave the 'sunscreen cast'.  It just leaves a nice canvas for you to apply your makeup. It's definitely a product for all skin tones and types.

I feel like this a handy little multi-purpose product to keep with you especially whilst travelling or for the up coming festival season, since it combats 3 areas at once. It's also handy if you don't always remember to moisturise, prime and put on spf - or if you just don't have the time.  However for the price of £12 it does seem a little pricey. Luckilly I got this on offer for £8, and I probably would purchase it again if it's on offer. But for the full price? I already have some spf, primers, and moisturisers that I should use up..

Mac Brave review

Kylie Jenner's lipstick is just something I adore, whether her new found full lips are surgical improvements or skill full makeup results. I can't deny that I really want the same results. In particular the shade is something that I am head over heels for. That mauve-y, deep burnt rose is just delightful. 

I found Brave by Mac which on first swatch was pretty similar to hers. It's a satin finish lipstick so is matte but not the overly drying type - it's a comfortable matte. But it does accentuate lip lines, chapped lips and so on so be sure to prepare your lips!. 

Colour wise, on the bullet it's like a deep pink with brown undertones - although my camera picked up more of the brown and mauve tones. On my lips which I would say are fairly pigmented it comes up as a mauve pink, which is fairly similar to Kylie's look. But obviously depending on your skin tone and lip pigmentation it will vary.  It is also quite shimmery when swatched which I was quite cautious of but on the lips I can't seem to see any shimmer which is what I had hoped.

The downside for me is the lasting power, the colour wears around the centre of my lips fairly quickly which is quite annoying as it needs maintenance and I'm a forgetful person. I find this lasts around 1-2 hours on me before I need to re-apply, if I don't re-apply then the lipstick's faded but left a dark pink tint to my lips which isn't too bad as it does leave some colour.

Brave is a colour that suits all skin tone in my opinion and it's definitely one to pick up if you're thinking of buying a new lipstick.

Kevyn Aucoin creamy glow duo #2 review

Here's the first review from my latest haul!. I've been lusting after the Kevin Aucoin products (aka candle light and sculpting powder I'm lookin' at you). Buuuut, I did notice this on the SpaceNK site for £19 which I thought was just such a steal. Because first off, I couldn't decide which "creamy glow" I wanted, so why not try to colours whilst I'm at it?! It'd be rude not too...

So as you can tell from the title, this is cream blusher, it feels like butter - way creamier then other cream blushers I've tried and actually it's more like the lip & cheek products consistency, very smooth and balm like. Pravella is the deep rose pink and Janelle is the peachy pink with slightly darker undertones. These are such dreamy colours which I'm sure would suit most if not all skin tones. Don't be intimidated by the strong swatch colours, when they're on your cheeks they're very sheer and need building up, so you can get the exact amount of colour you want. 

For the price of £19, 4.5g of product does seem quite expensive since the product is very small, about half the size of an iPhone 4s for reference.  But to travel or just to try the Kevyn Aucoin creamy cheek blushers without paying the full £30, I would highly recommend this. I cannot fault the product, both colours look and feel lovely on the skin. They have good lasting power, and really give you the dewy look which I, personally, adore. They apply easily too, with your fingers works best in my opinion.

The only major qualm I have with this product is the difference in sizes, I mean why? what would happen if I preferred pravella and not Janelle? what then Kevin Aucoin.

The creamy glow duo has become an instant hit!

The Body Shop : All in one BB Cream review

This is one of the first makeup products I've tried from the body shop, and so far I'm content with the purchase.

The consistency of the BB cream, is light weight and liquid so it pretty much feels like skin, therefore it's no surprise that this is a light-coverage-hydrating-dewy-finish bb cream. You can build this up on certain areas you need a tad more coverage, however all you need is a bit of concealer and you're good to go if you're going for a natural look. But for people who need full coverage, this can work as a great base but unfortunately won't perfect and cover the face like a foundation or heavy duty bb cream would. I think this is a great BB cream for anyone that's looking for a natural dewy bb cream, or something to wear to school to even your skin tone and hide some blemishes without looking to obvious( if your school is strict) cakey or heavy. It's really hydrating and personally I love it. My only qualm is that sometimes, I'll put it on and because there's no immediate difference like with a foundation, I literally wonder "Is this even doing anything?" because I think I'm used to dramatic effects, where as this is more subtle and natural.

I would recommend this to anyone who's looking for a decent western BB cream, but for anyone who's looking for something with higher coverage (to cover up scars, acne, pigmentation etc)- this isn't the one. Also, as it's supposed to adapt to your skin colour, it might not mesh well with really pale skin tones as it can tend to look too orange and dark even in shade one. 

Best of all, this wasn't tested on animals as it's from the body shop (yay)

Sleeping mask/pack 101 : Laneige water sleeping pack & Naruko night gelly

Sleeping masks or packs, are pretty popular in Asia and as you might know Asian beauty and skin care is supposedly meant to be 5 years or so ahead of western beauty (think how the bb cream trend only came in a few years ago). 

What is a sleeping mask?

Sleeping masks are essentially enriched moisture masks which you put a layer of on to your face 1-2 times a week after your normal skin care routine and allow it to sink in as you sleep. Once you wake up just wash it off with water and you'll have clean, hydrate and plump skin. At night your skin regenerates itself and absorbs products much better

Now this might seem quite weird or unhygienic, but honestly the mask sinks in pretty fast and just feels like you have a layer of moisturiser on so it won't go onto your pillow cases or anything.  

The Laneige water sleeping pack is such a famous sleeping mask a lot of Korean actresses and celebrities use this and if you've seen their skin you'll definitely want to try it. It's a light water like gel consistency mask that's enriched with snow water and is actually supposed to help encourage sleep as well. This product helps brighten, repair and hydrate your skin which I firmly believe it does do. I can put this on and sleep for 4 hours and when I wake up I'll still have radiant bright skin that looks like I've had 12 hours of beauty sleep (yay). A little goes a long way with this and I've never experienced break outs with this. I just think that the ingredients are really nice in this product, and the product is very effective for a sleeping mask as it does hydrate my skin more then some moisturisers.  I would recommend this to anyone who is wanting to try a sleeping mask or has dehydrated skin

The Naruko job's tear night gelly is another popular sleeping mask, as 1 night gelly is sold every 2 minutes in singapore according to Naruko. This product is way more jelly like as the name suggest. It feels heavier on the skin and more 'mask like' in my opinion. Unlike the laneige sleeping pack which is water based this mask is more plant based and has 11 plant extracts within it. It has pretty much the same aim as the laneige mask i.e. to brighten, repair, soothe, hydrate etc and I do think that this mask also has great benefits and my face does look brighter in the morning.

The only difference between the two products are the consistency, other wise I think they're very similar products however I do prefer the laneige sleeping mask just because I feel it does more for my skin. The only down side is that you might have to order these online if you don't live in Asia, or have an Asian supermarket near you. But lots of Asian supermarkets do stock brands such as laneige or naruko so do look.  Brands such as origins have brought out their own sleeping masks, but the benefits and ingredients as well as the size of the Asian ones in my opinion out do them, in many ways. The facts that they're sold every minute does say a lot.

Have you ever tried sleeping masks? I'd love to know your opinions on them

PeriPera peri's tint water #1 cherry juice review

Peripera peri's tint water - £5

Peripera is just an amazing yet affordable and cutesy makeup brand, I've tried a few of their lip products before and I absolutely adored them, so if you'd live to read a review on them please click here. 

Peri's tint water, is a liquid lip tint that stains your lips, they come in pink, purple, orange and fuchsia but I have the red "Cherry Juice". It's a vibrant pigmented red that gives your lips a strong colour, you can apply it sparingly and blend it out for a natural rosy lip glow or take one swipe and have red stained lips. As you might perhaps be able to tell from my posts, I'm an advocate of the natural look so I tend to dot this onto my lips and blend it out with my finger to achieve a subtle glow. You can also dot this onto your cheeks and quickly blend it out to stain your cheeks like a cheek tint as it looks great like that too - just make sure you swirl it around the opening to wipe the excess off the applicator and apply gently, since you can layer it up but once it's on - it's on. It's a great dupe for the benefit benetint, in my opinion. Also the lasting power is great! it stains your lips but if you're going to be eating/ drinking a lot there'll be signs of it fading near the centre of your lips.

There are some cons, I've noticed. Unlike most lip tints, there is no stopper in the opening so if you knock this over well I'm not too sure what kind of havoc this will create but it aint gonna be pretty! also because there's no stopper it doesn't squeeze out the excess water itself and instead the applicator actually absorbs the tint water so you have way too much on it and need to manually wipe the excess water off. Also this can be quite drying on the lips, it tends to seep into lip lines and accentuate them which is quite irritating, but if you prep your lips well beforehand it shouldn't be a problem.

Packaging wise, it's so cute! it has sturdy glass packaging so it doesn't look or feel cheap. I also love how you can see how much product your using. 

So, if you have dry, chapped lips this is not the one for you - instead opt for the peripera cream tint which is more moisturising in my opinion. However if you're looking for a multipurpose lip and cheek tint and possible dupe to benetint then i'd highly recommend this!

Personally, I prefer the cream tint as I don't think the cherry juice colour suits me very well! but I can see it suiting a variety of skin tones.

P.s I decided to go for a different set up for this post, I'm not sure if I prefer it to my usual photos would love some opinions! 

Lioele active therapy ampoule whitening review

Lioele active therapy ampoule -£10

Ampoule's are pretty popular,  they're concentrated serums and essences that help target specific problems like dark sports , skin elasticity, moisture and so on. The lioele ampoule, is a Korean brand, ampoule targeted at evening the skin tone and whitening dark spots.

Consistency wise, this is just like a tad thicker then a regular oil - scent wise it's not too strong but definitely quite 'oil like' (i'm so rubbish at describing scents).  As it's an ampoule, it comes in dropper form.

Well, I do have acne scarring and dark spots since I'm a scratcher and popper (sigh), I use this when I need it like sometimes I'll put it all over my face but other times I'll just dab it onto the actual dark spots. It's not your everyday treatment, but If you do use it frequently or during the day, please wear SPF as your skin is way more sensitive to sun damage. 

So finally, I think the ampoule has definitely helped with my dark spots, pigmentation and scarring! I've been watching a specific dark spot from acne scarring to see whether it has any effect, and it has considerably gone and is now barely visible which I think goes to show that it works.

I really like this and would totally recommend this to anyone looking to even out their skin care or to target acne scars, dark spots etc however some other more easily accessible in the UK products would be the Kiehl's corrective dark spot solution , Decleor excellence de l'age  and Clinique even better clinical dark spot corrector. Although these aren't as cost effective as the Lioele ampoule.

Benefit : World famous neutrals - most easiest nudes ever

Benefit world famous neutrals - most easiest nudes ever - £23.50

If you're looking for an easy go-to neutral palette but don't quite want to pay for a naked palette or perhaps you're looking for an easy and simple palette that helps you create an 'easy nude look' - well then may I suggest the benefit world famous neutrals! whether you're looking for a glamorous look, a sexy look or an easy look there's 3 palettes to cater to your tastes.  I have the most easiest nudes ever, a lovely little palette, which I wonder why I didn't pick up sooner!

First off, I'll mention the packaging. The palette comes in the form of a small (slightly bigger then) palm sized book with a fortune teller mystic meg type lady on the cover. Not only is this adorable but it comes with a mirror on the inside and if you've finished up the pans then you can use it as a small trinket box or something. Some people may argue that the packaging makes it hard to travel with but I'd argue that because it comes in a small box it's fine to travel with as it's protected and it provides a decent shade range.

Secondly, let's talk colours. There palette leans more towards shimmer city as the 2 creaseless cream shadows are shimmery as well as thanks a latte and call my buff whilst only pinky swear and quick look busy are matte. I do like the colours especially the browns like lots o latte ( a lovely taupe brown), quick look busy, and no pressure.

The kit comes with two make up looks 'day time' and 'play time' - day 'n' nite looks. In my opinion, the looks are similar however there is a variety of looks the palette itself offers as the creaseless cream shadows also look lovely by themselves.

So, I would recommend this and I'm loving it so far, I think if I were to buy another one I'd like to try the most glamorous nudes ever which is even shimmerier but does look rather divine.

Hair care routine

Credit: mulberry ss14

Tigi S factor silky smooth moisture serum - £16 , John Frieda full repairing oil elixir - £10 , Vo5 nourish my shine - £6

These 3 products are my go to, what I would call, treatments as I'm currently treating my hair with them currently and I'm really pleased with the outcomes. I use all of these on damp hair, but they can also be used on dry hair to smooth fly aways and tame your hair/ give shine.

I use the tigi silky smooth moisture serum, mostly when I'm going out as it makes me hair feel moisturised and look really smooth and well put together which is great since it makes my hair looks silky smooth and straightened although I didn't straighten my hair. This also smells delicious and like apples! I love the scent of it.

I have a review of the John Freida full raping oil elixir here , if you'd like to read it in detail, but of the two oils I use, I must admit that this is my favourite! and it's also more value for your money.

The vo5 nourish my shine miracle concentrate, is an okay product, I don't love or loathe it. I don't like the dropper design of this as you can pretty much just spill the whole product, but because of the small size of it, it's great to travel with. I do use this quite a bit to mix up my routine, but it's nothing special. 

bumble and bumble thickening hair spray - £7.50 , bumble and bumble (un) dressing creme- £10 , liese juicy shampoo - £8

On to my hair styling products, these are my three most used products. 

Bumble and bumble thickening hairspray needs to introduction or explanation. It's great. It works. I love it.

The bumble and bumble texture creme, isn't one of their most hyped products in my opinion, I have the surf spray which everyone knows about but I don't particularly get on with it. So in my opinion the un dressing creme is far superior in creating textured, lifted, bed head hair.

Finally, the juicy shower is just a little something I use to give my hair a little mess around with, in essence it's like a hydrating mist for your hair which helps with frizz and manageability whilst making your hair smell like fruity berries. So if I'm off out, I will spritz some into my hair (great for second or third day hair) and it smells like i've just got out of the shower!.

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This is just a brief routine, if you'd like more in depth reviews on any products then please feel free to comment below, other then that thanks for reading and have a good day!

Smashbox O-Glow intuitive cheek colour review

Smashbox O-Glow - £21

I've been trying out the smashbox o-glow cheek colour, smash box I believe is an american brand that's stocked in boots lately - although it's in boots I wouldn't count it as drugstore, as it's a bit pricey for some bits and is located amongst the higher ender brands such as clarins, benefit etc.

In essence, this is a clear gel that upon contact with your cheek/skin it adapts to your PH level to create a perfect berry coloured glow to suit you.  On my skin it's a rosy colour, which you can build up for more intensity but as I go for a natural look 1/2 layers of this is great to give me a pop of colour and a healthy rosy glow that is reminiscent of Victoria's secret.

I would really recommend this product to anyone who is able to try it, yeah the price tag is high for a cheek tint, but it's an absolute favourite for me and you can play around to get the kind of blush you want with this also, a little goes a long way so I don't think i'll finish this any time soon. I am loving the healthy look this gives me! I know some cheek tints are more red based which doesn't suit me, but this gives me a lovely pink glow as the name would  suggest.

There is a slight downfall ,which is that it can get kind of powdery when on top of one of my foundations, nothing that some careful blending can't fix ..but if you wear high coverage make up everyday then this might not mesh well with it.

I'm hooked, and I am dying to try some more smash box products...If only my bank would let me!

Skin saviours

 

Lush mask of magnaminty - £9.95 // Spot patch £3-5 // La roche posay effaclar duo - £13

Since the new year has begun,  I've noticed a lot of people including my friends are focused on detoxing their skin / treating their skin etc etc basically just getting rid of impurities and trying to maintain clear and fresh skin. So here's 3 simple products that can help with acne, breakouts and pores to help you clean up your skin this year, and I must add that I do not in any way have perfect skin but these are 3 products I constantly reach for as they are of course my skin saviours.

The lush mask of mask of magnaminty is, like the name suggests, a minty multipurpose mask that helps treat your skin in terms of acne, pores and sebum production. It also has exfoliating properties so you can use it as a scrub when you rinse it off your face (or back as it can also help those who have bacne).  This mask isn't a miracle product but I definitely find it helps when I'm breaking out or am getting oily and it isn't harsh plus the ingredient are natural and definitely will help with acne if used continually. I personally use this once a week if i need it, and I'm always pleased with the soft glow it gives me. They retail for around five pounds for a smaller tub and nine pounds for the bigger one which I own and I do think it's worth the money as you get a lot of use out of it.

I haven't seen spot patches/treatments in the UK, but in Asia they're quite popular as theres almost an immediate effect. The patches are basically either clear or skin coloured (like a plaster) round stickers which you stick onto your spot and the sticky side will stop your spots from spreading, absorb the acne secretion and soothe any burning or aching. I usually put one on at night if I have a particularly big spot or one that's sore and red and the next morning it'll have reduced in size or gone. I've also found that sometimes the lush make doesn't help sore spots to go whilst this does.  You can buy these online from taiwan or other asian countries and they ship within a week, give them a try!

Finally, la roche posy effaclar duo needs no introduction or explanation as to why it's a skin saviour, this stuff is amazing! 

John Frieda : Full repair repairing hair oil elixir - review

John Frieda Full repair repairing hair oil elixir - £9.99

You've probably heard of the hair oil hype whether it's the Moroccan oil or mythic oil - basically hair oils can help revive your dull, damaged, dry hair. At one point, when I was a naive 14 year old I straightened my hair everyday...and..without heat protectant. Then I had the realisation point that straightening my hair was 1. effort and 2. damaging or maybe the straighteners just broke. Either way, I stopped straightening my hair and to this day the oily heat I put on it is blow dryer heat and even that's on the cool setting.

Prior to using this hair oil, I was using an old Moroccan oil serum which I didn't really care for and I don't think it did much for my hair. There's a lot of hair oils on the market, and they begin at around the £5-10 mark.  

I thoroughly enjoy using this hair oil, it doesn't leave your hair looking greasy which some oils can do  - my hair is fluffy and soft with no signs of having used a hair oil. Also the small pump helps deliver just the right amount of oil, I find for my mid length hair one pump is enough for mid shafts. I've found my hair looks healthier and fuller with this oil and it's not heavy on your hair like my previous Moroccan serum.

I love this oil so much I actually look forward to using it after I've washed my hair!