A Beautiful BB Cream- Full Coverage Mineral Makeup!

For those of you that have been reading my blog for a while now you would be aware that I have used Jane Iredale’s mineral powder for a good few years, I haven’t switched to anything else as that powder is my Holy Grail product! 

After seeing my mums skin look amazing with Jane Iredale’s Mineral BB Cream called ‘Glow Time’ I knew I had to get my hands on some- I have been reluctant to try this for a while now as I have previously only used the powder and I was afraid that I would glow too much since it's called 'Glow Time'

After buying and using this product I can raise my hands and say that I LOVE IT, it gives me everything that I could want in a BB cream! Carry on reading and I'll tell you all about it...

Coverage and appearance 

With this BB Cream a little goes a long way, so for £40 (which I know isn't cheap) you are really getting your money’s worth, it gives you an amazing flawless glow whilst doing a really good job of covering any imperfections and fine lines. 

For someone with naturally oily skin the word ‘glow’ initially put me off as I was worried it could make my skin even oilier but instead it gives me a healthy glow and doesn't bring out the oily parts of your face. I would recommend setting it with a little bit of powder on those areas that are prone to oil- this helps it stay on even longer and avoids it going patchy!

 I would personally put this at high coverage however for the amount of coverage it provides it feels so light on your skin and it still allows your skin to breath. 

The Feel

Although you can feel that it's there, this BB cream feels so light on the skin and doesn't have that heavy, caked on feel to it, instead It has a nice consistency that applies and blends easily on to the skin. It doesn’t feel like it’s drying or capable of clogging pores which is what you want in an everyday face product- especially when you have sensitive skin! 

Skin Protection

Another amazing thing about this BB cream is it has an SPF of 25- so you don’t need to worry about applying sun cream, or threat about getting wrinkles! It is also water proof for up to 40 minutes so if it rains (it most likely will in England) then you don’t need to worry about it wearing off and going patchy. 

The Colour Range 

There is a good range of shades to suit every skin tone- BB5 is the one I picked up and it is described as light/medium with yellow undertones. I found that this is a perfect match for my skin tone! 

Natural Ingredients, cruelty free & vegan

Glow time BB cream is made from many different minerals and extracts including:

grapefruit extract: which claims to minimise the appearance of wrinkles and pores 
and also Apple extract: a skin smoothing antioxidant that exfoliates, refines and rejuvenates the skin! 

I am delighted to say that Jane Iredales’s products are certified 100% cruelty free by the CCIC Leaping bunny programme! So you don’t need to worry about the use of animals for testing when ordering these products!

This product is also completely vegan friendly so you won’t miss out on this amazing product if you're vegan.

My Verdict: 

If you want a high end, high quality and high coverage face product that is suitable for sensitive skin then I would definitely recommend trying this BB Cream! It is on the pricier side of the scale at £40 but...one tube will last you a long time and in my opinion you definitely get your money's worth with all the benefits it brings to your skin.

You can find this BB Cream linked HERE

I hope you enjoyed hearing about my new favourite beauty product If you did then please say Hello in the comments! 

Question of today is: What is your favourite face product?

I will see you soon with another blog post!

The perfect party shade...

So there's two exciting parts to this blog, firstly I actually won a competition and I NEVER usually win anything, secondly I have found my perfect Christmassy shade that I happened to win in the competition! 

I was so excited when I won the give away that Sally, a Younique makeup representative, had put together!  Go and check out her Instagram: @nailsandbeautyboutique and her Facebook page: Sally M Turk where she shares loads of the latest Younique makeup deals, demonstrations of the amazing products and more! 

I was so excited when I saw that I had won an opulence lipstick in Pretentious as its such a gorgeous sparkly pink shade and I instantly loved it. When I got a parcel through the door I had completely forgotten about the lipstick that I had won, so opening it was a lovely surprise. I opened it straight away and tried it on and I fell in love with it, I knew that I would be wearing it to all the christmas meals and parties that I would be attending.

This photo doesn't even show how sparkly this really is, it is a gorgeous pinky/purply shade with glitter running through it, in my opinion it's definitely the perfect party shade! 

Moving on from the colour of this lipstick it has a really nice consistency, It feels light on your lips but at the same the colour stays put on your lips for hours and hours which is always great! 

I can't fault anything with this lipstick and I would recommend it to anyone that likes a good sparkly party shade. 

I will link it HERE so that you can go have a look at it if you wish!

I will be back soon with another blog post!

LUSH Skin

So you probably know by now that I have been experiencing some break outs recently due to my hormones (I am sorry I keep going on about this) and for someone who is normally blessed with good skin it is SO annoying and I now I know how lucky I am to have good skin!

Anyway, although I love my skin care routine, I needed something a little more to really fight these breakouts I'm having so my first thought was- Face mask!- Lush! After popping into lush not only did I come out with a Christmas bath bomb, a Halloween bath bomb and an Autumnal bath bomb... but I came out having purchased a cleanser and a gel spot treatment, these products are the ones that were recommended to me when I moaned to the lovely person in lush about my skin troubles!

The cleanser I was told to get is called Herbalism it is different to any other cleanser I have used before, this is because instead of being creamy or in a liquid form, it is intact a spongy solid consistency. You simple place a bit in your hand and add water before applying it to your face. Besides looking like a 'Green witch' as my mum said, I love this product. It leaves me feeling refreshed, my pores feel clean and it's as if I can feel it working on my skin instantly, which I love.

The spot treatment I purchased is called Grease Lightning and I LOVE IT. Firstly it comes in a pump so it is so easy to use and apply, it contains both Tea Tree and Witch Hazel- both of these ingredients are great for tackling spots quickly. I put this on morning and night on my spots and I can honestly say that this gel shrinks the spots over night and also prevents any more nasty breakouts from occurring! All I have to say is thank you Lush.

So that's all I have to share with you today, I hope you all have a nice weekend and I'll be back soon with another blog post!

My skin care routine!

After coming back from my first ever gym session (and loving it) I thought I would share my current skin care routine with you as at the moment I am using a variety of different products rather than using all Liz Earl like before.

So after using a wipe to take my makeup off I go straight in with Clinique's Clarifying lotion for Oily & Combination skin, you can obviously get this for other skin types but I opted for the one to eliminate oil!

This is obviously a high end product at £16.50 but this leaves my skin feeling so refreshed, clean and so bright. I have definitely noticed a difference in how glowy my skin looks when using this product.

I know that you aren't meant to use this first however I think this is the perfect product to take your makeup off before using a face wash, I do use this in the morning on its own before applying my makeup.

The next product I use at the moment (I bought this a few days ago) Is Freederm's sensitive face wash, I picked this up In Superdrug as I have left my Tea Tree face wash at my dads, however this also combats oil and at the moment in Superdrug you get this face wash for free when you buy the Freederm gel, so really its a winner! I like the consistency of this face wash and how refreshing it is on my face, I would particularly recommend this to teenagers who are just starting to get a few spots as it is so affordable yet effective. 

I then go on to using my Liz Earl light moisturiser for Oily/combination skin, This is the only moisturiser I really like as it is so light and doesn't make my skin feel more oily than it already is! It makes my skin feel soft as well as healthy and vibrant.

The last product that I have been using in my every day skin care routine is also a new addition, Freederm's gel, as I said earlier I when I bought this gel I got the face wash for free! This gel is amazing, you can notice a different over night, it really does make spots become less inflamed and noticeable just with one application. You don't get a lot for your money however it is so good for battling spots! 

To finish, the face mask that I use when I want a good, deep cleanse is Liz Earls' Deep cleansing Clay mask, this comes in a bottle and you get SO MANY applications from each bottle, Like all Liz Earl products this is perfect for sensitive skin and I have found that it helps with fighting excess oil and preventing spots! 

I hope you enjoyed my current everyday skin care routine and I will see you soon with a video on my youtube channel: Life of a Blonde Be sure to Like and Subscribe if you enjoy my videos!

First impressions of Makeup Revolution's Flawless Matte palette!

Yes, I spent my last little bit of money on an eye shadow palette, It now seems clear I have a fully fledged shopping addiction... All I can think about is how close it's getting to PAY DAY, the reason being so I can do lots more shopping, whoops.

Anyway I'll get into the review and first impressions! So after walking into super drug and establishing that I've never tried anything from Makeup Revolution I decided I wanted to try something from their range, so I picked up this Flawless Matte Palette for just £8:00!
The Packaging

Firstly the packaging is nothing special, which is obviously expected for such a reasonably priced product, however it is neat and presentable in it's simple black case.

The shades

The first thing I looked at, even before purchasing it, was the colour range of the palette. I instantly liked the idea of a whole matte palette as I didn't already own one and this palette consists of some beautiful colours; ranging from neutral taupes and browns to greeny/greys and pale pinks, I love the colours this palette has to offer. If this palettes not for you, I noticed Makeup Revolution have so many different palettes!

How they apply

These eye shadows are very fine powders so they apply very smooth and glide on, however as they are so fine I would definitely recommend using a primer before applying them, this will prevent fall downs, they will stay on better and they will appear more pigmented.

Pigmentation

For the price I wasn't expecting these to be as pigmented as they are, and I tried them without a primer! It is hard to appreciate the pigmentation over a camera but you can still see these are pretty pigmented for £8.

From top to bottom these shades are: Taupe, Matte, Stone, Earth and Charcoal,

I also created a neutral but defining look with this palette using a variety of the shades.

The Verdict

Overall for £8 I really like this palette, my favourite thing about it is the variety of different colours, 32 to be precise, and how soft they are, I think I will use a primer with them next time as it will make them even more pigmented and stay on better, as well as preventing fall downs.

I hope you enjoyed this little review and first impressions and I will link this palette below!

Ultra Matte Palette

Clear your skin for summer!

I am very lucky in the sense that I have never really suffered with lots of spots or acne on my face, however I do suffer with fairly bad acne on my back and it does make me conscious of the clothes I wear and how I expose myself in summer, as well as that it is very irritating and uncomfortable at times.

After searching online and reading various reviews I came across a product with around 700 positive reviews and a 5 star rating: Natural Tea Tree Soap, I was instantly drawn in and I had to try it.

I have only been using this for about a week and already my back has cleared dramatically, I feel instantly refreshed and clean when I use it, I have also used it a little on my face as I currently have a few blemishes and again it's worked wonders for my skin!

It is so easy to use, you simply wet your hands and use up to a pump of the soap, however a little goes a long way, which is great considering it was a little pricey at £14 for a small bottle.

This can be used by girls or boys as it is just natural, unscented soap and I really would recommend it to people suffering with acne, irritated dry skin or even if you want to keep your skin clear from any blemishes! apparently this natural Tea Tree soap is good for other things such as infections and odour, however I haven't required it for those uses but it really is a great, versatile product that I would definitely invest in.

Amazing HD Brow Transformation!

Okay so recently I decided that I could no longer ignore my brows and that I wanted to make more of an effort with them, I normally get them waxed however after seeing people really pull off the fuller, more defined looking brows it really enticed me into investing in the HD brow treatment, and I am so glad that I did!

So here is a picture of my eyebrows prior to the HD brow treatment, I had deliberately not got them waxed for a long period of time as I wanted to grow them out a bit more. Looking back at this selfie my brows really don't do anything for my face; they are fairly light, shapeless and hair in all the wrong places, critical, but true.

I barely have any makeup on in this photo hence why I look different to the selfie below!

Here is what my eyebrows look like now, I am so pleased with them and I would recommend anyone to get HD brows done! I personally got them done at Simpsons beauty spa near Branston Hall and received amazing customer service and an exceptional transformation! It is fairly pricey at £35 but I 100% recommend it.

Look at the results! I purchased the HD brows BrowTec which is essentially a spoolie brush on one side and a soft, thin twist up pencil on the other, it is perfect for lightly filling in tiny gaps where you need to grow hair; this product really is amazing and the shade Bombshell matches my brows perfectly.

Finally the HD Brow treatment consists of 5 stages: Waxing, threading, trimming, tinting, applying makeup

My neatly refurbished eyebrows have definitely cheered me up through this very intense period of exams, that and Chad (Thanks- okay enough cringe)

I hope everything is going well for those of you sitting your exams! Good Luck.

DIY Healthy Hair Mask

I am a lover of Pinterest and I'm one of those people who could sit there on it for hours, i just think it has everything! Last night I was having a little search on it and I came across a very popular DIY hair mask, it sounded simple and loads of people had saved it; so I had to give it a try.
The mask consists of 3 ingredients: Raw Coconut oil, 1 Egg, and Olive oil. I am aware there are many of you who are thinking who the hell would want an egg in your hair.. but believe me it's so nourishing and gives great results.

The egg is great for adding extra protein to your hair, this helps to strengthen it and helps with growth! The Coconut and Olive oil both help to give your hair a nice healthy shine and make it extra soft! I left it on for an hour whilst revising and then washed my hair as normal.

Despite the awful lighting and the fact I'm still in my uniform (blame it on revision) you can see how healthy and shiny my hair looks, this simple DIY hair mask has completely rejuvenated and pampered my hair!

The best thing to apply the mask with is a glazing brush as the hair mask has quite a runny consistency and I found it so much easier to apply with this brush!

Loving Liz Earle!

Last week it occurred to me that except from using a face wash at night time, I had more or less no set skincare routine, and I decided that I should start one, because at the end of the day you only have one face for the rest of your life and so you should look after your skin! After watching a few beauty youtubers skin routines I decided that I was going to invest in some Liz Earle products.

I got the March essentials deal, which consists of a Cleanse and polish, a toner, and a suitable moisturiser, then you get to pick a complimentary problem solver, I got the deep cleansing mask! As a botanical treat I also got a free mini cleanse and polish which is so useful for travelling. I got all of this for £45 which is so good in my opinion, for the quality of the products! I got the combination/oily moisturiser as I suffer with more oily skin than dryer skin.

I started using these products straight away in the order of Cleanse, tone and moisturise! I have also tried out the clay face mask too, however you only need to use this about once a week!

I am so so impressed with these products, my skin is looking and feeling better than ever and this is just after 1 week. I use these products morning and night and they leave my skin feeling fresh and soft, and my skin is very sensitive and I have had no issues with them irritating my skin! They are 100% worth the money and I really would recommend these products for anyone as they cater for every skin type and also have a massive range of different products. You also get 2 muslin cloths to use with the cleanse and polish which work really effectively in removing any grime or stubborn bits of makeup!

From using these products I have noticed that my skin has become brighter and healthier looking, my blemishes along my hair line have cleared! I have had less oil appear on my face and also my skin is feeling so soft and rejuvenated, do not hesitate in buying these amazing products, I love them!

Thanks Liz Earle!

2016 Spring beauty trends!

When not revising it can be hard to fill in free time that you find on your hands, i find myself experimenting with my makeup and looking at 2016 beauty trends for Spring; as i want to see what's out there and what's to come.

In New York fashion week one of the biggest trends was a bright, bold, blue eye. I was very sceptical about this at first but after trying it out on myself i realised how it really adds a fresh pop of colour to a makeup look.

A second prominent up coming trend is natural, air dried hair- This is obviously really easy as it means simply washing your hair and leaving it to dry!

New York fashion week highlighted the return of the red lip, i think a red lip is both timeless and sophisticated, and there is the right shade for everyone. I think many people (including me) will be thrilled to see this trending more widely throughout Spring!

There is definitely a chilled, chic feel to all the beauty trends that were presented at New York fashion week. If you're not one for intricate up do's- then this ones for you! A natural esc, chilled messy up do, this is super easy to recreate as the look consists of merely grabbing your hair and tying it with a bobble!

Okay so after looking at some of these 2016 beauty trends i thought i would incorporate all these looks into one and capture it as one look.

Featuring the blue statement eyes, the bold lip and natural looking hair-

I think this is such a bright, fresh look to embrace in the spring months, and it can easily be pulled off. I altered my bold red for a more pink toned red as it suits my skin tone better!

Incorporating the messy up do, the blue eyeshadow, and again the bright lip!

Personally i think that the simple, messy up do contrasts the statement makeup look perfectly- i think it's an effortless look that is great for a casual day! I really do like this look.

 I really enjoyed writing this post and i will definitely do more of these featuring more fresh, new trends!

|Avon blue eyeshadow/kohl liner| Revlon Colour burst lipstick Red Velvet|

Luscious lipsticks!

My latest makeup obsession of 2016 has been lipsticks, i have found myself experimenting with different brands and colours! I thought i would share my top 3 recent favourites with you tonight, as i have been absolutely loving them!

1. One that i have been loving and wearing frequently throughout January is Macs Velvet Teddy it's such a great, versatile, every day shade that goes with so many different looks! It is a beautiful warm, mauve tone and it goes lovely with Macs Whirl lip liner. I love the pigmentation of Macs lipsticks and it has a nice, lasting consistency; however i would prefer the formula to be more creamy as i find myself having to apply lip balm before applying this lipstick.

2. Number 2 on my list has to be my new lipstick from Younique, this brand is fairly new to the UK and if you haven't already tried their products i would definitely recommend it as they are amazing quality! This lipstick is a Mood Struck Opulence lipstick in the shade Upscale,

 it's a pearly, shimmery pink/ nude shade and i think it's absolutely stunning! It's perfect for everyday wear and it really does brighten up your makeup look.

I love love love the formula of this, it is super creamy and nourishing on your lips- i am definitely going to be buying more of these lipsticks- amazing.

3. To finish- Is also a new purchase, a Revlon Colour burst lip butter in Red velvet, i have been meaning to try these lipsticks for ages, as i have heard so many good review on them; and they have 100% lived up to their name. This is a beautiful deep red/maroon shade, it is so so nourishing and long lasting- i have to say this is my all time favourite drug store lipstick and i will have to get some of the other colours.

This picture causes it to look more pink than red, but it really is a beautiful colour, i will definitely be wearing it for valentines day!

I hope you enjoyed this post and enjoy some time to yourselves over half term! I am sorry about the photo quality as my SD card for my camera has gone missing i have had to use my phone camera-hence the quality.

Sleek Solstice- Highlighting Palette!

For a while now I've wanted to try out a highlighting palette, just to define certain features on my face more prominently and give me more of a glow! After debating about which one to buy i couldn't resist Sleeks Solstice Palette, it is so gorgeous and only £10- so i had to try it!

Today i got home and it had been delivered, it was definitely the HIGHLIGHT of my day( i know that wasn't funny) and i was straight on to opening it and having an experiment with the palette.

Firstly look how gorgeous and luxurious the packaging is- and it just gets better!

My only reaction when i opened this palette was 'wow' the 4 shades are so so pretty.

There are 4 shades, two baked powders- Subsolar (bottom left), and Equinox (bottom right)

One cream formula- Ecliptic (top left) and a silky shimmer powder-Hemisphere (top right)

For my first attempt of applying this palette i thought i would just follow the steps on the back of the box- just to get an idea, i took some pictures for you but honestly you can't appreciate this palette through a selfie!

I applied all the shades but very subtly just for the first time- I highlighted my brow bone, down my nose, my cupids bow, the inner corners of my eyes, and down my cheek bones(which you literally can't see in these pictures)

The camera quality of these do not do this palette justice- but take my word when i say this palette is beautiful and i would definitely recommend it!

I love this Sleek highlighting palette especially as we're getting slightly closer to Spring! What's your favourite beauty product recently?