Review: Clarins | Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil in '01 Honey' |

Clarins - Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil - Honey - £19 - 7ml

When these were launched, it was one of those products which went right to the top of my lust list. As you probably know, Clarins is one of my all time favourite high end brands for both make up and skin care. I had just run out of my previous favourite night time lip balm (Nuxe Reve de Miel) and thought this would make a good replacement.

First off, I wouldn't use this during the day as it is not something you can layer other lip products over the top of. Instead the blurb suggests using it over lipstick as a sort of gloss. It has a very thick, almost gel like cushioned texture, and does sit on top of the lips rather than sinking straight in. This is good for when your lips are really sore as it gives them a soft, protective layer. 

The applicator is large and soft, which makes application easy but I would be sparing with the amount you put on. Although the oil is the colour and consistency of honey, the taste and smell is more floral and there is no colour pay off on the lips. Key ingredients included are Hazelnut Oil to plump and soften, Jojoba Oil to nourish and add sheen to your lips and finally Mirabelle Oil to prevent dehydration. I tend to use this in the evening before bed, to protect and nourish my lips over night ready for the next day.

For a lip product, it is very expensive and a luxury product to have in your skin care kit. However, I really enjoy using this every evening and next on my list is the Raspberry version!

What is your favourite lip balm? xxx

Hangover Heroes

As seen from my previous post it was my 23rd birthday recently. I went out with a few friends to celebrate last weekend and I must say that heavy drinking is just not for me anymore. I don't seem to have a middle ground in between being slightly tipsy and full blown drunk and always end up feeling terrible the next morning, with a hangover that seems to last the whole day. An arsenal of super effective skincare on these occasions not only makes me feel better but also look a lot better too.

I am pretty good at taking off my make up before bed even when I'm totally sloshed and my skin always looks so much better in the morning if I remember to apply Estee Lauder's Advanced Night Repair Serum (which I didn't this time doh!) It honestly makes you look like you've had a good nights sleep and helps battle the dullness, dehydration and blemishes that all arise from a late one.

The first thing I do in the morning is wash my face and apply a good clay mask, my favourite at the moment being Una Brennan's Pore Purifying Clay Mask, to mop up the oilyness in my skin due to dehydration and clear the pores from the extra layers of make up. It makes me feel a lot more awake and clean once I've properly cleansed with a good clay mask and makes my pores less obvious and my skin looking refreshed, balanced and more even.

I tend to not wear make up the next day so will put on a layer of Origins Drink Up Intensive mask which is so hydrating and soothing. If I do have to be somewhere and need to put on minimal makeup then I will normally reach for Una Brennan's Rose Radiance Day Cream which is deeply hydrating while giving a very nice glow and radiance to the skin. This stuff really works and looks lovely by itself or underneath make up. I've also been trialing Hydraluron from Indeed Labs which is a thin serum that sinks in very easily before your moisturiser and helps to lock in hydration as pure hyaluronic acid holds up to 1000 times it's own weight in water.

To soothe sore and achey eyes, I have been reliant on the Eye Refresher Roll On from Tropic Skincare. The roller ball is ridiculously cooling and soothing and also helps to depuff the eye area while nourishing with a thin formula.

Lastly I pile on the Nuxe Reve de Miel lip balm, an old firm favourite that is more of a lip mask than a balm. It's super thick so protects your lips as well as hydrating them deep down.

What are your hangover heroes? xxx

January Favourites | 2015

Everyone always says they hate January as the weather is crap, Christmas is gone etc... but I actually love January! Not only is it my birthday month but I love winter and the prospect of what a new year can bring. On that positive vibe, I have been loving so many products this month - some new which I got for Christmas and others that I rediscovered after shopping my stash.

Makeup

001. Eco Tools Angled Eyeliner Brush: Last year I did a review on the set this brush came in but this was one of my least used in the collection. However, I've been favouring lining my eyes with black eyeshadow rather than liquid liner or pencil as it is less harsh and this brush makes it super easy to get a thin even line close to your lashes.

002. The Body Shop Clementine Lip Balm: Years ago back in school I was obsessed with the Body Shop lip balms and butters. I forgot about them but then received the lollipop gift set from my secret santa at work and fell in love with them again. The formula is so nourishing and glossy, the scents divine and they are great for popping in your hand bag. The Clementine scent brings back school memories and has glitter running through it to add a bit of your shimmer to your lips.

003. Benefit Hervana Blush: Again, Benefit blushes bring back memories of my youth and were one of the first make up products I bought. I love the packaging (although its not great for travel) and the recent addition of a tapered brush and mirror in the box is a great bonus. This blush is so pretty both in the pan and on the cheeks and I've been using it every day this month - you can see it in action here.

004. Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette: The original Naked will always have a special place in my heart but I have been itching to add to my UD collection and was delighted to get this for Christmas. It is the more cool toned sister of the original and I adore every single shade in there. The formulation is buttery, super pigmented and easy to blend - just what you would expect from the brand. It's perfect for all kinds of looks and again I've been using this practically every day this month.

005. Anastasia Beverley Hills Brow Wiz in 'Taupe/Ash Brown': This product deserves every accolade it has as it is seriously the best brow product I have ever used! It is the perfect texture and colour -  I will be doing a full review of this but basically you need this in your life.

006. The Body Shop BB Cream in 01: Full review can be seen here so I don't want to go into too much detail! This is my favourite BB Cream it gives medium coverage without feeling heavy, covers pores and imperfections and lasts for a very long time.

007. Bobbi Brown Long Wear Foundation in 'Sand 2' : My favourite base for the latter half of January, this gives medium coverage without being cakey, lasts a long time and gives a 'my skin but better' appearance.

008. No 7 Instant Radiance Cream Highlighter: Cream products don't normally tend to be my thing but I adore this highlighter. It gives a beautiful natural sheen that is not glittery in the slightest and blends in wonderfully.

Hair

009. Paul Mitchell Full Circle Leave-In Treatment*: I got this ages ago (at my first event actually) but for some reason reached for other products in the range instead of this thinking it might be too heavy for my hair. This is actually very nourishing without weighing down my hair and I love to use it on occasions when I haven't used a hair mask or deep conditioner. It leaves hair soft and manageable and I've seen my natural waves/loose curls become more defined.

010. Schwarzkopf Hair Therapy Oil Miracle Spray: This product is a surprise gem. I received it in my stocking at Christmas which was good timing as I was looking for a new spray conditioner to help detangle my hair after washing. This is so light with a fine spray and makes it easy to brush out knots, leaves your hair silky soft and smelling beautiful.

Skincare

011. The Body Shop Eye Camomile Waterproof Eye and Lip Makeup Remover: My favourites always seem to include multiple Body Shop products at the moment, so apologies for that but clearly I am a big fan! I enjoyed the cleansing butter from this range and have just used up the oil so naturally when looking for a make up remover I picked this up. It has two parts so you need to shake it properly and it is oil based so makes removal a breeze, although it doesn't leave the eye area feeling heavy or greasy which is a big plus for me.

012. Super Facialist by Una Brennan Anti Blemish Pore Purifying Clay Mask: Una Brennan are definitely a brand that don't get enough recognition. The quality of the products are so good for the price and this mask in particular is amazing. I loved the teaflower version which I think has been replaced with the salycic acid version. It draws out impurities really well, leaves your skin feeling soft, nourished and more even toned and the inclusion of acid helps to clear up any blemishes that have been hanging around.

0.13 Baby B Browne Tan in 'Medium'*: This featured in a favourites pretty recently at the end of last year but I picked this up again a few weeks ago and was so impressed all over again! It rubs in so easily, the smell is so nice for a fake tan (think vanilla) and the colour develops and lasts so well. It is by far the best tan I own.

What were your favourite items this month? xxx

Ted Baker | I Wanna Be Loved By You |

This cute little set from Ted Baker was one of my Christmas gifts and I thought it would be lovely to share with you. I love Ted Baker and already have their large pink patent plastic make up bag and gold glitter iPad case (which I use as a clutch bag!) so when I opened this up I was really happy! I'd been after a smaller make up bag to contain the products needed for when I'm out and about which can easily be popped into a handbag and this fits the bill perfectly.

Inside there are 4 mini products: a hand cream, a body spray, lip balm and a candle, which I think is a really lovely selection. My favourite is the body spray which I've been using every day as it has quite a strong floral scent it sticks around quite well and is nice and dinky to keep around in case I need to freshen up during the day. I've also been enjoying using the hand cream as it is thick and nourishing without being greasy and manages to sink it well within a minute. 

The lip balm features the same floral notes as the other products and is great for using on top of lip sticks as a top up but it isn't the most nourishing I've used and is quite a similar texture to Vaseline. I've not had a chance to use the candle yet, but I think its a cute little extra which will look lovely burning in my bedroom.

I don't think this particular set is still for sale but there are lots of similar gifts on their website and at Boots.

Have you tried Ted Baker beauty before? xxx

Review: Clarins | Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector |

Clarins // Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector // £17 // 12ml

When it comes to the Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector range everyone and their mum seems to rave about them, most notably the lovely Vivianna. A hybrid between a gloss, tint and balm, this moisturising gel is a perfect choice for fuss free make up days when you don't want to wear a full lip. Not only does the nourishing formula smell and taste amazingly sweet, the inclusion of shea butter and wild mango help to repair and soften while vitamins A and E help to protect. The packaging is also simple but feels luxurious, with a squeezy colour coded tube and soft doe foot applicator for easy application. I own pink shade '01 Rose Shimmer' and peachy '02 apricot shimmer' with the latter being my favourite by just a little. I love how glossy the product is without feeling heavy or sticky and that the repairing and protecting claims are true.

Wear time is quite good for a gloss, but only if you are not drinking or eating, but that was to be expected. I've also found the colour pay off to be quite weak - on the lips you can barely tell a difference between these two shades, and the little bit of difference didn't pick up on camera and that is why lip swatches seemed redundant in this post. For someone who loves a bright bold lip I was underwhelmed with the lack of colour, but I suppose it sticks with the natural theme and although it is only a slight tint, I must admit it does help to perfect your lips. Clarins have recently added 3 new shades to the line up which seem to be darker and have more colour pay off so I would be interested in checking them out and seeing how they compare to their lighter counterparts.

I really love Clarins and think these products fit in well with the theme of the brand. I think the Lip Perfectors would make a lovely gift or as a treat to yourself if you have the money. At £17 a pop (Clarins seem to be hiking up the price) I wish they had a bit more colour payoff but I definitely think they are more than just a glorified lip gloss. If 'no make up' make up is your thing then these would be a perfect addition to your collection.

What are your opinion on the Natural Lip Perfector range? xxx

Review: Nuxe | Reve de Miel Lip Balm |

15g // £9.50

Like nearly every other girl I have a million and one various branded lip balms floating around various handbags/drawers/make up bags... so why did I feel the need to buy another? Well, this one is different and definitely the best I've ever tried.

Housed in a heavy glass pot, this lip balm automatically feels more luxurious than the others. It is quite thick and feels more nourishing and like a balm than any other stick or pot varieties that I've tried. While the formula may be thick it doesn't feel too heavy or cloying on the lips and sinks in really well to a matte finish. I've also found the texture results in it lasting a lot longer than the average balm does too. Lots of reviews recommend this only as a night time balm but on days when you need something extra this has been perfect for the day too. An amalgamation of honey, plant oils, shea butter and grapefruit enable this balm to repair as well as protect from the elements. One of my favourite things about this is the smell - not like honey at all (I would say the texture is more like thick pale honey), instead rather citrusy and sweet like Seville orange cake (specific as always!) I find this pairs really well with my Lush lip scrub too as a nice treatment to follow up with.

This product is a delight to use and it really works - an all round winner! xxx

Review: Balmi Lip Balm

£4.99 at Boots for 10g 

As a girl with many hand bags, I can never have enough lip balms as I am constantly loosing them and rediscovering them a few weeks later. So I was pleased to see a new raved about lip balm in a recent Joliebox. It is meant to be very similar to the US EOS lip balms but I've never tried them so can't do a comparison in this review.

Firstly the packaging is great - it is definitely more chunky than my standard twist up tube but it means it is easier to find  in your hand bag and there is also a little clip meaning you can attach it things for easy use such as maybe your keys. You can either unscrew the top or take off the clip at the back to access the product, and due to the spherical nature of the product you can just pop it on your lips without having to dunk your finger in a tub, which I think is great and makes for easy application. The colour of the packaging also reflects which flavour you have - in case you couldn't guess I received blackcurrant. To be honest out of all the flavours you can get this would be my least favourite which is a shame, and the smell of it is so pungent. I don't normally have an issue with scents and I think if it had been strawberry or coconut it would be fine but this particular smell was a bit too sickly for me and meant that although I think the product is good it puts me off reaching for it.

The actual product contains UVA protection with an SPF of 15 which means it would be perfect for holiday as well as every day use. It is also moisturising which is what I look for in a lip balm, containing ingredients such as vitamin E, shea butter and jojoba oil. The product sits quite thin on the lips as I think the oils sink into them rather than sitting as a protective layer, so for winter time you may want something a little thicker. However, the nature of this product makes it great for under lipsticks. I think the price is very reasonable for the amount of product you get as well - my standard tubes may be a bit cheaper but with them you only get 4g of product and this lasts me ages anyway, so with 10g of product in the Balmi lip balms they will last you forever and are great value for money.

All in all I think the product is lovely, but you can get similar balms for cheaper and it's a shame I didn't like this particular scent. The product does offer the novelty factor of being a unique spherical balm which will definitely appeal to a lot of people and makes it that bit different to your standard balm.

Have you tried these or the EOS balms? xxx

Bits and Bobs from Burt's Bees

Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream - £5.99 for 15g // Nourishing Mango Lip Balm - £3.69 for 4.25g

The other month I did a big haul at the Bullring and bought 2 items from Burt's Bees: the Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream and Mango Nourishing Lip Balm. They are the first products I've tried from the range and I'm pleased to say I've enjoyed my first Burt's Bees experience! All products from the company are either 99% or 100% natural, which I'm not too fussy about but given the option I would rather choose to use natural products that will do what they say on the tin.

Around the blogging community I had heard a lot of great reviews on the Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream and so decided to try it myself as nourished cuticles = stronger, longer nails. I love the tin packaging and it is just the right size for your bedside/bag etc. It has a strong citrus scent which I love and sticks around for ages. A little really goes a long way with this product - I've been using it every night before bed and through out the day too when I remember and am yet to make a dent in the product, so although I thought it was a little pricey this will last me ages and think it is justified. By swirling your finger around the pot, the product melts into a rich oil which can then be massaged into your cuticles with lemon and sweet almond oil and cocoa butter nourishing and moisturising them and the skin around your nail bed. I would recommend this product as it is 100% natural, smells amazing and last forever - there is really nothing to dislike about this.

The Nourishing Lip Balm has a lovely strong scent and taste of mango that I personally enjoy and as the product is quite thick and moisturising, you only really need one swipe and lasts a long time. It is 100% natural and the oils in the product tend to sink into my lips so I can feel it nourishing them rather than just sitting there. This reminds me of the little pots of lip butter from the Body Shop although I think this is better for on the go as the twisty tube makes it hygienic and great for travel, plus the Burt's Bees is slightly cheaper. I would definitely repurchase this and would like to try some of the other flavours such as honey and pomegranate.

Since I loved these products so much, what else would you suggest for me to try? What are your opinions on the two products mentioned? xxx