Disappointing Products

I am a total sucker for reading rave reviews about a product, and then going out and buying it myself. A lot of the time I am really pleased that I did so, but three recent purchases have unfortunately just been a massive disappointment. 

The first is a bit controversial as it is very popular amongst bloggers but I just have not got on with it no matter how hard i've tried, and believe me I have tried. Its Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer in the shade Chantilly. I know, I know, I know this product is loved by so many but for me it just did nothing. I found it to be too thick under my eyes, which is the main area I like to use concealer, and it just sat there in fine lines. It also did not conceal my dark circles at all. The only thing I will say in defence of this concealer is I do think the shade I have is too light for me and I need vanilla instead. Perhaps if I were to try that shade it might be better, but for now this is just a big no no for me.

Next is the Bobbi Brown Long Wear Even Finish Foundation in the shade Porcelain. Again, I do think this is perhaps a shade too light for me, but I just did not notice it on my skin at all. I really like the fact that it comes with a pump, so not too much product came out, but once on my skin it felt quite heavy and did absolutely nothing. It didn't look like I had anything on my skin, and not in a good way. It was also quite drying which is unusual, as if anything, foundation usually makes my skin too oily. After paying £30 for this I am just not impressed at all and know I can get much better ones for the same price or less.

Last is a skincare product that I was really looking forward to using, and it is Indeed Labs Pepta-Bright. This serum is designed to improve skin clarity and tone and is supposed to leave you with radiant looking skin. Since using this product day and night like advised, I have seen absolutely no difference in my skin. Also, when I use it in the mornings, I find it to leave my skin feeling a little greasy under my make up. I have also found myself getting through it quite quickly despite using small amounts at a time, which is very annoying as it is £29.99, although I did get it when it was on offer. I find my Clarins Pore Minimising Serum to do much more than this, and my Clarins serum is only £26. I was also keen on trying Indeed Labs Hydraluron but I am slightly hesitant after being so disappointed with the Pepta-Bright. 

Topping Up

Topping up make up throughout the day is something I hate to do, and to be honest something I usually forget to do. I think i'm just too lazy and I don't want what i'm putting on my skin to affect what I already have on. However, for the last couple of weeks I have been taking out just four products with me for that point in the day where your make up has slid off your face, and they have been working a treat. 

I wanted to keep it simple so that I wasn't just overloading my face with product throughout the day but was instead just perfecting what had come off. Firstly, I take out concealer. At the moment I am trying out Soap and Glory Kick Ass Concealer and so far I am really impressed. It comes with a salmon colour corrector and then a more yellow toned concealer which is great for dark circles under the eye and also taking away redness from a blemish. It also has another little compartment with a brightening powder to make you look more awake, but I haven't really been using this to be honest. I think I kind of just keep forgetting its there and I rarely specifically powder my under eye area anyway.

Next I take out a foundation, which I don't always need to use but it really has been a life saver in recent months when I have found myself caught in the rain. I take out the Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation in the shade Rose Ivory. I don't think that the phrase less is more has ever been more appropriate than when talking about this product. This really is a full coverage foundation and it has taken me a bit of a time to get used to, but now I know how best to use it for me I love it. I kid you not when I say I use a teeny tiny amount of this, and I only use it where I need it. For me this is usually my chin and my nose as that is where I get red, or if I do get a spot, 9 times out of 10 it will be on my chin. I like taking this out as I don't need to faff around with a brush it is really quick and easy, and also doesn't smudge or ruin any make up I already have on. 

The one thing I will always have on me and will usually use at some point throughout the day is powder. I just unfortunately have a really oily T zone so I need a translucent setting powder to keep my base in place (accidental rhyme) and I often need to apply more throughout the day. My go to powder is the Laura Mercier Pressed Setting Powder which I really love and have recently hit the pan with which makes me so sad. This is great because it has no colour but is translucent so just sets your make up in place. I also prefer a pressed powder over a loose powder because loose are just far too messy for me and I end up wasting so much product. In the morning I apply this with a big fluffy Real Techniques Powder Brush but when i'm topping it up, I just use the small sponge it comes with to dab onto my oily areas, which is mostly my T Zone. 

Lastly I take something for my lips. I am not really into lip products and you'll never see me with big bright bold lips or anything like that. Mostly because I have really skinny lips so there is absolutely no point drawing attention to them anyway. If I do go crazy and wear a lipstick it is a nude, but usually I just wear lip balm. One product I absolutely love though is the Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector in the shade 02 Apricot Shimmer. It's a soft peachy nudey tone and leaves my lips feeling so soft. This product is perfect for someone like me who just likes a really subtle hint of colour and some gloss on their lips. It's really smooth but not sticky at all and smells amazing. My mum also recently purchased the shade 05 Candy Shimmer which is also amazing and looks great alone or over lipstick. 

Oh and by the way just incase any of you were wondering my little cream leather make up bag is from H&M and is perfect to carry around throughout the day. There are other colours too, but I just think it is so cute. 

Evening Skincare

I'm a bit of nerd when it comes to a well structured skincare routine and I rarely miss out any stages from my night time routine (unless i've been out and usually just jump straight into bed). I do however change things up a bit every now and then but I thought I would show my current routine as my skin has been quite good lately so I must be doing something right (heres where I jinx myself and breakout this week).

I'm a big fan of double cleansing and while I know so many people are really anti make up wipes, I really like to use them before I go in with a cleanser. My favourite ones to use are the No 7 Beautiful Skin Quick Thinking Wipes, as they're not too dry like I find others to be, and they're great for sensitive skin like mine. They're quite pricy for wipes at £7, but boots give out £5 off No 7 skincare and make up vouchers so often, I always use them on these wipes. I stock up and usually by the time i'm about to run out I collect another voucher. 

Next I cleanse again using the Clarins Gentle Foaming Cleanser for normal/combination skin. I really really love this cleanser as its gentle but effective and only a small amount is needed so lasts ages. I wet my face first, using cool water in the morning and warm water in the evening and then massage this into my skin. It goes from a cream to a more creamy milky consistency and removes every last bit of make up, dirt and oil (yuck) from my face. Its also only £19 which I think is a bargain for this product.

After cleansing I use a toner. I'm currently using the Botanics 100% Organic Rosewater Toning Spritz. I like the fact that it is a spritz so at night time I can just spray it onto my face saving a lot of time (and cotton pads). It smells really really nice and floral, but the downside to this product is that it contains alcohol which can be drying. I haven't had this problem but those with dry skin might do. This toner is fine for now but I think once I run out I might try a new one. I currently have the L'oreal Paris Skin Perfection 3 in 1 Purifying Micellar Solution lined up which supposedly cleanses, tones and soothes the skin, so i'm going to try that next. 

At night time I like to use a treatment before moisturising. My skin gets really red on my cheeks and nose, especially after removing make up and cleansing etc, but I have been loving the La Roche-Posay Rosaliac AR Intense Intensive Serum. I use two pumps of this all over my face and see instant results and my skin feels smooth and plump after use. I then use La Roche-Posay Effaclar A.I Targeted Breakout Corrector on any breakouts I have at the time, which is usually on my chin. This is great for reducing redness and preventing an under the skin spot from rearing its ugly head. I got these on a 3 for 2 so can't remember how much I paid at the time but I believe the serum is about £16 and the corrector is £9.50. I then go in with whatever moisturiser I am using at the time which at the moment is a Nivea one for normal/combination skin.

I like to use an eye cream also, as my under eye area can get a little dry, so I like to keep it well moisturised as it also means my concealer will apply better (and trust me I need it there). I'm currently using the Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus. This claims to be wrinkle reducing but I can't say I have noticed much of a difference so I think I may try a different one next time especially as this one costs £30. 

Lastly, about three times a week I like to really try and hydrate my skin and I love love love (yes I really do love it that much) the Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask. I use a small amount all over my face before I go to bed and wake up with my skin feeling hydrated, plump and smooth. This stuff also smells amazing. It has Apricot Kernel Oil, Avocado oil, Mango Butters and Seaweed in it and it smells good enough to eat. It costs £22 which is a lot for a face mask but it really is great to use and will last ages. I want to try the Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask to clear pores next too as i've read great things about this also.

Sorry this post is pretty long but I really enjoy reading these posts myself so thought I would go all out and explain it all in detail. Please let me know if there are any products you would highly recommend as I love trying out new skincare products.

Space NK, Chanel and Boots Haul

This week it seemed the only thing to relieve me of some of this dissertation and final year stress was a little retail therapy. I just can't help myself and it really does make me feel so much better, shame the same can't be said for my bank account. Although I feel as though I should probably be treating myself after hand in's rather than motivating myself to actually work but hey ho.

Firstly, I went into Space NK and was drawn to the Kevyn Aucoin counter. For months I have been reading so many good reviews on the Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder and Celestial Powder. I decided to try out the sculpting powder as I currently don't have a product like this, other than my Daniel Sandler Sculpt and Slim, but that is a much lighter and also more shimmery shade. The packaging of this product is so sleek and luxurious and the size makes it so easy to carry around. One thing I would say though, is that only a very small amount is needed, which can then be built up if you're fair skinned like myself otherwise a lot of blending is needed. I wipe off any excess product on the back of my hand and then I am good to go. So far I am loving this product and now I understand all of the rave reviews.

Next I bypassed the Chanel counter again and went for another product I have had my eye on for a while. The Chanel Le Blanc has been recommended to me by quite a few people and I have to say that I am definitely now a convert. This is another lavish product that can be used under makeup, mixed in with foundation or on top of make up to highlight, and just leaves your skin looking fresh and dewy in such a subtle way. This product is also really good at lightening a foundation which may be a bit too dark for you. The only downside to this product is the fact that it is in a glass bottle, but i've heard that the Nars Sheerglow foundation pump fits perfectly onto this bottle also. 

The last stop on my shopping trip was boots where I am always a sucker for that 3 for 2 offer. I grabbed myself a Real Techniques Blush Brush and the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge. The bristles of the brush are definitely not as soft as other real techniques face brushes I have, but I really like using this brush with my Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder as I don't currently have a proper contouring brush. To finish off my 3 for 2 I grabbed some No 7 eyelash curlers as I recently broke mine. I think that the 3 for 2 offer is still on for another couple of weeks so I would definitely recommend getting down there.