L'oreal Rouge Caresse in Dating Coral

Left: Lightly Swatched / Right: Heavily Swatched

 L'oreal Rouge Caresse in 301 Dating Coral: Available from Boots and Superdrug for £7.99

Whilst in Superdrug yesterday buying a few make-up essentials, I decided to make the most of the 3 for 2 offer (it’s still on now!) and pick up this lipstick from L’oreal that I have heard so much about, seeing as it was technically free!

I have been loving coral lips recently, and my favourite has to be MAC Costa Chic, but I find it quite hard to wear day-to-day, and as this is more of a balmy texture I thought it would be perfect.

This product range is described as a mix between a lipstick and lipbalm and applies like a dream, giving a lightweight and moisturised feel to the lips. For me it is perfect for this time of year when I try to stay away from make-up heavy products.

The shade is a gorgeous sheer coral colour with orange and peach tones. I find it really easy to wear as it looks quite natural, due to the finish, and adds a very subtle pop of colour to the lips. As you can see from the swatches, it gives a light coat of colour, but it is build-able if you like it a bit brighter. I find this a nice change from my usual pinky day time colours and looks much more sophisticated.

For me, the glossy finish wears off during the first hour of wear, and the colour stays for about 3 hours on my lips, which I think is acceptable for the type of product it is. I think the price is also quite reasonable as it is still more of a lipstick than a balm and I think the quality is worth it. I am definitely a fan of the packaging too. It looks sleek yet feels secure when closed, so the lid won’t pop off in your bag.

This was the only shade that really stood out to me, as I was on the hunt for an easy to wear sheer coral lip product, but I am really happy with it. I know that these products are similar to the Revlon Lip Butters, but when looking in the store and comparing the two products I found that I preferred the look and colour range of these. In my opinion, the packaging on the L'oreal product is much nicer, and for a similar price these feel and look much more expensive!

What are your thoughts on the L'oreal Rouge Caresse lipsticks? Are they better than the Revlon Lip Butters? 

Handcreams...

 Left: Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula (£2.25 from Superdrug), Right: Soap & Glory Hand Food (£2.50 from Boots)

Dry skin is usually a winter problem for me, but recently, even throughout this beautiful weather I have been suffering from dry and chapped hands! Taking care of my hands and nails is something I have always done, and can be found painting my nails most days - using protective base and top coats as well as cuticle oils. As I was in need of a new hand cream, I decided to try out the Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula and the Soap & Glory Hand Food.

I have used Palmer's Body Butter before and found it to be really moisturizing and great value for money, so when I saw this in Superdrug, I had to give it a try. As with all Palmer's products, this hand cream contains Vitamin E which is what attracted me to buy it to tackle my dry skin. However, I was really disappointed with this product as I found it to be extremely greasy, preventing me to do much after applying even after it was rubbed in thoroughly. I also found the smell a little overpowering for my hands! It was quite moisturising but I only feel that I can apply this at night due to the residue it leaves on my hands.

As I didn't get on with the Palmer's hand cream I decided to buy the Soap and Glory Hand Food as it was on a 3 for 2 offer in Boots and only cost £2.50 for the smaller size, which is perfect for me to try before buying the larger one. I have found this to be great for my skin - It is soaked up by my skin really easily and leaves no greasiness or residue after application. The small is also really subtle but is still fragrant and pretty.

So...is Hand Food the most astonishing hand cream ever? It is definitely a contender - the cheap price, great texture and moisturising effects all work together to create a great product!

What product is your hand cream savior?

Summer OOTD

Shirt: New Look

Shorts: H&M

Sandals: From Spain
Bag: Topshop

The sun has finally come out again, after weeks of miserable cold wind and rain in Sheffield, so I thought I would do an outfit of the day post! I bought these floral shorts from H & M a couple of weeks ago for £14.99, not thinking I would be able to get them out until I was on holiday in a few weeks! They are made of a really light chiffon material which is really cooling and perfect for hot days spent outside. I love the print on them as they will go with so many of my bright tops and shirts! Here I decided to team them with a black shirt with a dipped hem at back, my black sandals and my trusty topshop bowling bag! I also think they would be nice for a summer night out.

I hope everyone is enjoying the sunshine and has a lovely week!

Benefit High Beam Dupe

Recently, I went into my local Bodycare shop to restock on some toiletries and came across this - Its made by a brand called 'Technics' and seems to be an almost exact replica of Benefit's High Beam.

I was quite dubious of using a product on my face from a brand I had never heard of, however, for the price of only £1.99 I had to give it a try and see whether it compares. It can also be bought for as little as 50p from amazon!

The packaging is so similar to High Beam, but the brush applicator feels a lot cheaper and doesn't apply quite as smoothly. The resemblance between the effect on the skin of this product and High Beam is quite alike, it gives a subtle highlighting shimmer and if dabbed lightly on the skin it gives a good effect which you can see in the picture above. To apply, I gently dabbed a little bit of the product under my brows and onto my cheekbones with the brush over the top of my foundation and blended it in with my fingertip.

Benefit High Beam has a price tag of £18.50, making a difference of £18 between the two products and I think that if you are a lover of High Beam this is definitely worth a try - even if only to compare!

Would like to hear anyone elses thoughts on this if you have tried it, or if there are any other good cheaper dupes out there!

Estée Lauder Advancer Night Repair / Concentrate

 Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex (£54 for 50 ml) and Advanced Night Repair Concentrate Recovery Boosting Treatment (£70 for 30ml)

The award winning Advanced Night Repair is one of Estée Lauder's prized products and this skincare gem has been passed down to me from my Mum who swears by it! I am definitely one who enjoys a good night-time skincare routine and this is a product I can see myself using for a long time.

The Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex helps reduce the appearance the visible signs of aging, especially lines and uneven skin tone.  It also provides continuous hydration by creating the optimal environment for skin renewal with its key ingredient, Hyaluronic Acid. As it reduces skin redness, I find it excellent for reducing the appearance of any blemishes and my skin looks much more radiant in the morning. I apply this as part of my evening skincare routine, smoothing a few drops onto clean skin over my face and neck. I absolutely love this product, I find that it melts into the skin and the formulation is lovely to apply. It leaves my skin feeling gorgeous and more importantly keeps the signs of aging at bay. I would definitely recommend anyone to add this product into their skincare routine - you won't look back!

If you feel like your skin is in need of an extra boost then the Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Concentrate Recovery Boosting Treatment is for you! This product is an intensive boosting serum claiming to help the skin repair the signs of past damage. It is formulated with 5 times the concentration of the normal Advanced Night Repair serum and immediately relieves skin redness and rebuilds the skins moisture barrier. This product is meant to be used in addition to your regular skincare routine every 3-4 months. When used, you should apply 2 full droppers over clean skin for a total of 21 days, followed by your usual moisturiser. This product can also work wonders after excess sun exposure which is perfect for the upcoming months! Having said that, this is on the pricey end of the spectrum, at £70 for 30ml, but as it is a concentrate is does last that bit longer. I am currently in the middle of my first use and I have found my skin to be improving but I am still unsure whether it is worth the money considering the wonderful effects of the Advanced Night Repair and may be a little unnecessary for me.

What do you think of the Advanced Night Repair? Are there any other great face serums?

Recently..

 - Walk home - Rivelin Valley Walk - New Glitter Nails - Lovely Cherry Blossom Tree - Essie Finally in Sheffield - New Recent Beauty Buys - New Necklace - Interesting Graffiti in Sheffield - Pretty View -

I thought I would post another quick update and a few of my photos from the week. Along with every other student I have been sooo bogged down with my final assignments so  I haven't been up to that much aside from spending my days in the library but I have managed to take a couple of snaps.

What has everyone else been up to this week? Good luck to any other students with looming assignments and exams!

Dr. Nick Lowe Skin Care Range

From left to right: Cooling Menthol Facial Scrub (£11.22), Hydrating Foaming Cleanser (£10.20), Purifying Foaming Cleanser (£10.16), Sebum Control Clenser (£10.20) and Oil Control Day Cream (£15.31).  All of these products are available from boots, or the Dr. Nick Lowe website here. 

Oil Control Day Cream (Anti-Blemish)

 Cooling Menthol Facial Scrub (Anti-Age)

Hydrating Foaming Cleanser (Anti-Aging), Purifying Foaming Cleanser (Anti-Blemish)

 Sebum Control Cleanser (Anti-Blemish)

I have become quite skin care obsessed at the moment and found a brand which works wonders with my skin so I thought I would share this with everyone!

Hydrating Foaming Cleanser: This is a gorgeous face wash, and it is the one I tend to use on a day-to-day basis. It has a really light foaming consistency which cleanses my skin beautifully whilst keeping it moisturised at the same time! I find it easily takes away any left-over make-up and is such a lovely product to use on my face. I find it brightens and refines my skin tone, leaving me blemish free! Some of the major-up sides to this product are that it contains plant derived exfoliators to gently refine skin, alongside vitamins A, C and E and it has an allergen free fragrance. In my opinion you can never start too early with anti-aging products and this is from the anti-age range which is great to keep the wrinkles at bay! I sometimes suffer from sensitive skin and this is so gentle on my face that I would recommend it for lots of different skin types as a daily face wash to use morning and night.

Cooling Menthol Facial Scrub: This product is also from the anti-age range. I use this once a week because as much as I find it is a nice addition to my skin care routine, I also find that exfoliating too often is a bit harsh on my skin. This product helps to improve my complexion, leaving it softer, brighter and more radiant. It is menthol scented which I find really cooling on my skin - hence the name! It is of quite a creamy consistency and contains gentle micro beads to smooth and exfoliate the skin. I also find this is great to use to get rid of any existing skin blemishes or to prevent any new ones from arising. It also contains pomegranate and raspberry to help protect against damaging free radicals. What more could you want from an exfoliator!

Purifying Foaming Cleanser: This cleanser is really similar to the hydrating foaming cleanser, but comes from the anti-blemish range instead of the anti-age range. It has anti-bacterial qualities which help to clean pores and impurities on the skin. This cleanser leaves my skin feeling beautifully cleansed, refreshed and my complexion much brighter. It contains Salicylic Acid which is aimed at targeting blemish prone skin, Willow Bark for its anti-bacterial properties and Arnica to help soothe and reduce skin inflammation caused by blemishes. I often switch between the two cleansers as my daily face washes, depending on how my skin is and how many blemishes I have as my skin can be quite unpredictable!

Sebum Control Cleanser: With similar ingredients as the purifying foaming cleanser, this product is just as effective at controlling spot prone skin. This is a one-step, alcohol free anti-bacterial cleanser aimed at refining, purifying and cleansing pores whilst maintaining the skins moisture. This product is really easy to use, you just apply with a cotton pad and wipe over the oily parts of the face.

Oil Control Day Cream: I apply this cream in the morning, but you can use it at night too. It is has a really light formula as you can see from the picture and is easily absorbed into the skin. It is a really lovely daily moisturiser and helps fight blemishes too!

I hope you have found this post useful - I know it is a lot of  text but I really would recommend you to try these products and the Dr. Nick Lowe skin care range. I do think skin care is a personal choice as so many people are different but it worked for me so it might be worth a try! I was introduced to this by my Mum who loves it too and I don't plan on switching products any time soon. Each product has a really light fragrance and apply really smoothly to my face. As I said before, I have quite sensitive skin and these have worked really well on my face. I also think that for the price they are such good value for money and there is something for everyone throughout the ranges!

Does anyone have any skin care recommendations? Or have you tried this range - what do you think?

My Favourite Highstreet Primers

Left: Rimmel Fix and Perfect

Right: L'oreal Studio Effects

Applying a good primer is the first step in my daily make-up routine and I find it so important to give a good base to apply my foundation. My ideal primer is one that can smooth the appearance of my pores, increase the staying power of my foundation and give a soft polished finish.

Initially, I was surprised at the size of the L'oreal Studio Effects soothing resurfacing primer, and for the large price tag of £14.29 for a small 15ml I didn't think I was getting much for my money. Having said that, a little of this product goes a long way! I find I only need a small amount to cover the necessary areas of my face - I usually apply this on my T-Zone, and on the top of my cheeks where I have a few larger pores. The consistency of this product is really different to a lot of other primers, including the Rimmel Fix and Perfect, but I love it. As you can see from the picture, the L'oreal product is much less liquid, and has more of a mousse consistency whereas the Rimmel one is more like a daily moisturizer. It makes my skin feel velvety and soft, and gives a perfect base to apply foundation. L'oreal say "the combination of soft, light powders gives a matte look and a silky finish" and I would definitely agree! It really does make my make up last all day and the matte finish means I don't have to use a powder which is great.

The Rimmer Fix and Perfect primer is priced at a more affordable £6.99 and is double the amount of product than L'oreal. Rimmel state that this primer gives 5 in 1 results as it smoothes, resurfaces, brightens, mattifies and protects the skin. I find that it does help my foundation last that little bit longer, but compared to the L'oreal primer, it doesn't minimise my pores and it doesn't give much of a matte or brighter finish. On the plus side, it is quite light-weight and feels a lot more mousturising than the L'oreal studio effects primer.

I would recommend Rimmel if you are looking for a cheaper primer because for the money you can't really go wrong! If you are looking to reduce the appearance of pores I would go for the L'oreal primer as I find the effects similar to Benefit Porefessional and it does work wonders. I also think that for the price it is a perfect mid range primer and I agree with all of the claims made by the product, which can't be said for Rimmel. I am currently switching between these products, both prolong the wear of my foundation, but on the days I feel I need a bit of added moisturizer, I go for the Rimmel primer and when I want to minimise my pores and provide a perfect smooth foundation base I go for the L'oreal.

What primer do you use? Are there any other good highstreet primers that you would recommend?

Wish List: Orange

Necklace - Accessorize £16

Cami Top - Topshop £24

Scarf: Topshop £16

Jeans- Topshop £38

Jacket - Zara £59.99

Nail Polish - Essie £9.95

Shoes - Topshop £65

I am absolutely loving the colour orange at the moment, in all shades and styles - so here is my current outfit wishlist!

I think Leigh jeans from Topshop are perfect for this time of year as they are quite lightweight yet not too much like leggings. They are also really flattering and I love them in this colour! I think they will go perfectly with a plain colour T-shirt, such as white or grey. I also think this scarf is fab, it has a delicate Aztec print with different shades of light orange which would brighten up any outfit! The pretty summer cami top in a beautiful peach shade and the suede orange heels are gorgeous. They are both perfect for a summer night out, however, if I was wearing this outfit in the day I would probably wear some pretty ballet pumps or wedges in a nice neutral colour. With a subtle hint of orange, the aztec coin necklace would tie in perfectly with the other items. I am really loving this style of necklace at the moment!

My favourite piece in this selection is the Zara jacket. I have always been a fan of Zara jackets and this one in white would go with so many pretty spring and summer outfits. I also think for the price it is quite reasonable too!

I always need a nail polish to finish off any outfit and this delicate shade from Essie  called "a crewed interest" is great. I am yet to try an Essie nail polish so I think I am going to give this one a go!

What do you think? What are you currently loving at the moment? I hope everybody is having a lovely week!!

Bourjois 123 Perfect Foundation

 

I often like to switch between a more expensive foundation and a good, yet cheaper high street foundation in the effort of saving money - I am a student after all! I knew it would take something special to lure me away from my current favourite but I didn't expect it to be so easy! I decided to give this one from Bourjois a try as it was on offer and was I quite intrigued, yet slightly dubious of its claims.

This is the latest foundation from Bourjous - ‘123 Perfect’ which claims to perfect your complexion with three different pigments: Yellow for dark circles, Mauve for dull complexions and Green to tackle redness.

The consistency of this foundation is medium, possibly leaning towards the heavy side yet it melts so easily onto the skin and feels so lightweight and smooth - which I find unusual for the amount of coverage it gives you. The formula is enriched with cotton flower giving 24 hour hydrating benefits and allowing the skin to breathe. It also contains SPF10 to shield the skin from UV rays which is always a plus. The results of the 123 Perfect Foundation boast an even, flawless and anti-shine complexion, and I definitely agree.  I found that the effects last all day on my skin without the need for any extra powder touch-ups. I have also found that I need to wear less concealer when wearing this, especially under the eye, leaving me with radiant skin which is the perfect mix between a healthy glow and matte finish.

One downside to this foundation range is that it only comes in 5 shades yet on the up-side they are super blend-able and I find it really matches my skin tone so maybe there is one there for you too! I use number 52 Vanilla.

I am looking forward to trying the concealer to see whether it matches up to the foundation! Overall, a great product and what a bargain!