The Perfect Way to Remove your Eye Makeup this Party Season

During this time of the year there are a lot of family get togethers or parties to go to & if those events tend to carry on way into the night, the last thing you feel like doing by the time bedtime comes around is removing your makeup, right?  (And especially if you have decided to wear that sparkly glittery eyeshadow you have been saving all year to wear!  There is no shifting that!!)  

Well, I think I may have found something that can remove even the most stubborn of eye makeup off in a flash!

Now, as many will know, I have a bit of a penchant for eyeliner ('a-la Claudia Winkleman!') & I don't need a party to go to, to wear it.  I wear it everyday - so I really need something good to remove it.

Going back to a few weeks ago - my mum gave me a free sample of an Yves Saint Laurent eye makeup remover she had received with her mascara (their mascara is amazing too!). I tried it out & I was sold!

That was it; I purchased a larger bottle.  The name is Yves Saint Laurent Top Secrets Expert Makeup Remover with Gentle Biphase.

And it's pink! 

All you need to do is shake the bottle up (so the 2 phases mix together), apply to a cotton pad & gently press & sweep over your eyes & sure enough it removes all your eye makeup.  As quick as that!   It can even remove waterproof mascara & lip products effectively.

It is also suitable for contact lense wearers (which I am!) & suits sensitive eyes too (ditto!).  It doesn't leave your eyes feeling like an oil slick either! 

It has taken me a long time to find an eye makeup remover that not only actually works but also doesn't sting my eyes!

Really happy with this product - a luxury brand that actually is worth the money.

Thank you YSL!  No more waking up with yesterdays mascara on my pillow & panda eyes!

Bee x  

The BEST Facial Moisturiser I think I've ever owned & it's by Olay!

This blog as you may know, is dedicated to my wonderful Grandmother, Mabel.  I'm sure it's from her that I inherited my love for all things beauty (my love of makeup comes from my mum!) & from what I can remember, when I was a child, her love of the brand Olay was very evident.  Without fail, she used their classic Beauty Fluid everyday (another great product I love!) & her skin always looked amazing.  Now, whenever I smell the unmistakable scent of Olay's Beauty Fluid, it evokes fond memories of my time spent with her.

Onto present day & I'm also a massive fan (as seen in other posts here & here) of Olay, so much so, that I think one of their moisturisers is the best I've ever tried.  I consistently repurchase it.  Whenever I deviate to another cream, once I'm finished, I always end up coming back to this!

What's it called?  It is Olay's 2 in 1 Hydration & Radiant Glow moisturiser with SPF15.

It glides onto the skin really easily - it's lightweight & doesn't clog your pores.  With light reflecting particles & really improves the look of your skin, making you look more revived & radiant! 

And the smell reminds me of being on holiday! 

It doesn't break the bank either - always a good thing in my book!

What's not to love?  I'm sure Mabel would have loved it too! 

I really don't think I can find a better moisturiser. Thank you Olay! 

So, do you have a favourite brand or product that you keep going back to? I'd love to know!

Bee x 

The Only Makeup Brush Bag You Will Ever Need!

I love all things beauty - no surprise there!  I am a full time mobile beauty therapist & a part time beauty blogger after all!  And, I also love to be organised, so when I heard about the lovely makeup bags that YouTuber Gracie Saunderson (https://www.youtube.com/user/GracieSaunderson   ) handmade herself, I thought it would be perfect to ad one to my collection!

Now, I do have many a makeup bag (see, organisation!) but I'm lacking in bags for my brushes whenever I go away.  I find that I have to just shove them in with my other makeup & they can end up getting all sorts of products on them! 

So, when the opportunity came for me to purchase a lovely bag from Gracie, I decided to opt for a brush bag.  They all come in different ranges but I opted for the NOIR collection.

The NOIR collection looks very chic & 'high-end' in a black quilted leatherette (very 'Chanel'!) with a lovely bright pink lining.  As well as the brush bag, the range includes a makeup bag & a larger cosmetic bag.

The brush bag is the perfect size to store all my brushes that I need to take away with me, with a generous size of 22.5cm x 12cm.

I must say, not only was I very impressed by the look of the bag when it arrived, but also how well packaged it was!  It came in a bright pink outer packaging & inside it was beautifully wrapped with pink tissue paper, cellophane, a bow & a lovely card thanking me for my order.  

Its the little touches like these that will make you want to order again.

Now for the actual 'road test' of the bag....

I recently visited my parents in Norfolk & dutifully packed my new brush bag.  And it did the job! 

As I have already said, it fitted all my brushes in perfectly, with a good quality zip closing & the fabric held up to my 'foundation covered' fingers - a quick wipe & it was as good as new!  It looks so smart & glamorous!

I am so impressed with this bag, that I may consider the other sizes too! 

Now you've heard what I think, take a look for yourself on the website - www.graciesaunderson.com

Well done Gracie, I love my brush bag! Thank you! 

Bee x  

  

Grab a Perfect Cuppa with Beanies

I've been meaning to do a post on these coffees for a while now.  I didn't need to keep 'testing' them - I knew straight away that I would love them!

The company is called 'Beanies' & these instant coffees are only 2 calories per cup! Perfect. 

I am a self-confessed coffee addict & when some dear friends discovered these coffees (yes, all credit goes to them! Thank you!), they had to buy them for me!

And, I've been adding to the collection ever since.  (There's so many flavours I want to try!)

The flavours I have so far are;

Amaretto Almond (would go great with cake!)

Hazelnut (Perfectly nutty!)

Chocolate (Lovely choccie flavour)

Chocolate Orange (Just like 'Terrys'!)

Cinder Toffee (Just fab!)

Irish Cream (Lovely flavour)

They are all absolutely delicious (I drink them with either Soya Milk or Almond Milk due to my cow's milk intolerance) but I have to say I'm torn between 2 favourites - Amaretto & Cinder Toffee!  Yum!

Beanies started back in 2009 & are constantly creating new flavours; they've even created a coffee with added vitamin D!  

Their website is amazing; full of recipes of how to 'pimp up' your coffee & other fun things.  Their aim, they say, is to 'revolutionise the average coffee & fill the world with flavour' & they are doing a very good job of it!  I've never tried such lovely instant coffee before. 

There is 3 on my list that I definitely want to try next - Cinnamon & Hazelnut,
Coconut Delight
& 
Cookie Dough!

So, who will be kind enough to buy these for me??

Anyone?!

Bee x


PS...As I type this, I've just been sipping on the Hazelnut coffee....delicious! 

  

Skincare I have been loving lately...Olay,The Ordinary & Skin Chemists

....or should I have titled this post, skincare I'm using up?!

No, because I am genuinely loving them! 

First up, Olay Complete Everyday Sunshine...

Now, this is a classic.  I've always been an Olay girl & every summer I reach for their Everyday Sunshine (In fact, I have reviewed this before, here); whether it be to help my existing tan along or to give myself a bit of colour.  I use both shades (light & deep) & I'm currently using their light shade.  

I've been desperately clinging on to the last bit of my tan from my holiday & I've almost finished this tube, so maybe I will embrace the winter paler look or I will purchase another one & continue to be a bit more colourful...who knows?!

Anyway to give you a bit of a lowdown on this product; it's a tinted moisturising cream & I use it every morning (& sometimes evening) before I apply my makeup.  It sinks into my skin well, gives me a lovely glow (it never looks streaky) & smells lovely.  I have never had a breakout with this either, which is a plus! 

Oh & it is SPF15 too! 

It is such a great product & works so well, that I will continue to purchase this for many years yet!

Onto another moisturiser I have been enjoying...

This brand seems to be getting quite a cult following; it has simple packaging & the price point is amazing too.  It is of course, The Ordinary. 

I have their Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA cream.  And it definitely does what it says - it is a 'surface hydration formula'.

I have combination skin, so I wasn't sure if it would suit my skin, but I'm pleased to say, since using this on a regular basis (mainly in the evening) it hasn't effected my skin at all.  It's not greasy & just provides the moisture that my skin needs.

I will say it's not the most amazing moisturiser I've ever used but it's basic & does the job!

It's also great to know that The Ordinary are vegan & cruelty free.  

And the price of this product?  It's £4.90.  Bargain!

My final product is a serum.  I'm really starting to love serums these days.  As I get older, I'm really becoming more aware of my skin & taking care of it.  As part of my day job, I advise my clients about the best skincare & how to look after your skin all the time, but its only been in the last few years that I've properly taking care of mine - I wish I could tell my younger self about the dangers of putting your face in the sun without sun protection for example!

Anyway, enough of that, now that I am more aware, I'm doing my best to hold onto what I've got!

So, onto the serum...

It's by Skin Chemists London & it is their 24hour Aqua Repair Facial Serum.  And let me tell you...it is fabulous!

As soon as you press it into your skin, it sinks in & feels wonderful.  It has definitely helped with the texture of my skin & feels like such a lovely base along with one of my moisturisers before applying my makeup.

And you only need a tiny bit, so it will last you ages.  It smells lovely & fresh too!

So, there you have it; the skincare bits I've been loving lately....

Over to you! What  are your faves?  I'd love to know!

Bee x  

Getting my 'glow' on with Pixi

If you are like me, you love it when you discover a product that really excites you & more importantly works....

As usual, I've been pretty late with trying out the Pixi Glow Tonic (everyone seems to have tried it before me!); not that I've not wanted to, I have. But, I was just a bit cautious of trying out something new on my skin incase I didn't like it.  So, when I found out Marks & Spencer sold travel sizes, I just had to try it!  I mean, first of all, who doesn't love cute travel size packaging anyway?!

Ok, the lowdown first...

The Pixi Glow Tonic is an exfoliating toner with 5% glycolic acid, aloe vera & ginseng.  It says on the bottle that it evens out your skintone; brightens & clears your complexion & exfoliates to remove skin cells to reveal healthy glowing skin.

It also advises you to use both morning & evening all over your face & neck but avoiding your eye area.

Now, onto my personal review...

As I said before, I like products that excite me & work.  The Pixi Glow Tonic does not disappoint! 

In fact, WOW!

I have never tried a product that is SO amazing & works from the very first time I have used it!

I was so shocked after I had briefly swept a cotton pad across my face & found so much grime come off my skin when I thought I had adequately cleansed (Yuk!)!  Afterwards, my skin felt tingly clean & the texture felt wonderful.  

I have noticed a difference in my skin already & I'm so pleased with the result.

I honestly cannot rave about this product enough.  I will definitely be purchasing the larger version!

The packaging is very neat & sleek.  The pale green lid & label looks slightly retro in a way but looks good on your bathroom shelf.

So, all in all, if you are late or hesitant in picking up the Glow Tonic, please do so!  It really is outstanding!

Well done Pixi!

Bee x 

Primers on test from Primark

I've never been that bothered about primers if I'm honest.  I always thought, surely my makeup will stay on all day?  It's meant to, right?

Well, I hadn't used a primer in ages so I thought, as I didn't want to spend too much money on a primer, I'd risk it & buy one from Primark.  I wasn't expecting much at all as it was so cheap.

Well, I was wrong!

From Primark's PS...Pro range was their mattifying primer.  I have combination skin, (part oily, part dry) so this was perfect for me. 

On application, it had a silicone type texture but felt nice on the skin.  And yes, it did work.  I didn't become shiny throughout the day & it did help to make my makeup last.  In fact, my makeup looked as fresh at the end of the day as when I first applied it.  I was shocked! 

On to my more recent purchase; their colour corrector primer with SPF30.    

I'm quite into colour correcting at the moment especially for under my eyes; I'm always wanting to look fresher & brighter! (Yes, I've mentioned it before!)  So, for brightening my complexion, I went for their yellow primer.

I will say, this primer has a more creamy texture (not as silicone like as the other one) & it does make my base last all day, but even though it says it's for brightening, it doesn't seem to have as much of an effect as I thought it would.  However, considering it only cost me £5.00 I can't complain! 

Do you use a primer?  What would you recommend?  Comment below!  Thanks!

Bee x   

Soothe your aching muscles by doing some 'Liquid Yoga'

So you've read the title of this blog post & you are wondering what on earth I'm on about?

No, it's not a new exercise fad, but a bath soak by Mio skincare called Liquid Yoga.  And, as it says on the label, it assures that it will 'relax, restore & remineralise'.  I must say, it definitely does!

I've been plagued with back problems since a car accident in 2003 & I'm always on the look out for natural pain relief & this little bottle does indeed help.

It's full of essential oils, arnica (perfect for bruising) & magnesium.  It has a lovely fresh minty fragrance & it really does soothe your muscles as you soak.

The quality of the product is excellent & having looked at other products in the Mio range, I am really interested to know more about this brand.

I really don't make enough time to relax & I know I should, so I think I will be using this bath soak more often - as it says on the bottle, it's your 'personal masseuse'.

It really does work! 

Right, I better purchase a bigger bottle then! 

Bee x  

New Concealer to try from Maybelline!

If you read my blog regularly, you will know my love for concealers (see a post here) & hiding my under eye circles!  Yes, I seem to mention them rather a lot! (Sorry!)

Anyway, I don't know where I heard about it first, but I noticed somewhere that Maybelline Eraser Eye, which I adore, had a few different colours out & of course, I had to try it!  

So, I purchased their 'brightener' shade.   And yes, it does what it says on the tin! 

Other colours are - 
Nude
Light (my regular shade)
Honey
Neutralizer (may try that next!)

I made the mistake of putting on far too much on my first attempt to use it!  It is a pinky shade & looked very bright.

However, having applied it properly since, the product does give really good coverage & makes you look rather refreshed.  It blends in really well with my blending sponge & feels smooth on your skin & not at all drying like some concealers can.  And because it is a 'brightener' shade, you can use it as a highlighter wherever you want to highlight! (Great on cheekbones & nose!)

Priced at £8.99, I feel this is a pretty competitive price for a quality concealer!

This 'eraser eye' does of course have a drawback like my regular shade does....you get through it way too quickly!!  It's just fab!


Bee x 



Side note: Currently on Boots website all Maybelline products are on 3 for 2. Go, go, go! 



   

A Bargain Highlighter by Essence

People always say that you get what you pay for & that of course can be very true, but sometimes some products can surprise you.  And I've definitely been surprised by a new highlighting palette by Essence.

I received this in a beauty box but the Essence brand can be purchased in Wilkinsons.  It is the bargain price of only £3.00!  Amazing!   It is called 'Light Up Your Face' Luminizer palette.

It has 3 different shades - 
The first is a nude highlighter, which is very sheer with a slight glow.
The second is a rose shimmery shade.
The third is a beige/bronze pearly highlighter.

On the back of the palette is a guide to where best to apply each shade, which is very handy! 

The colour pay off is actually really quite good & gives a subtle sheen & shimmer in all the right places! 

Have you ever tried any Essence makeup?  What do you think?

Bee x 

The Contents of my Face: My Summer Look

I've recently come back from a lovely holiday on the Greek island of Rhodes & I'm loving having a bit of a tan.  So, I thought I'd share with you how I changed up my makeup on holiday & how I've kept up this look while I still have my tan! 

Having a more sunkissed look means you need to change your base & make the most of that 'glow'.  So, I went for a gorgeous radiant primer by Studio 10 called 'Glow2Go'.  

It says it's a 'youth lift glow-plexion', which gives such a boost to your skin.  It can be worn on it's own or as a highlighter, but it can also be mixed with your foundation.  It has such a lovely light bronzy colour - not at all glittery - & the texture is creamy & feels really comfortable on your skin.  It contains anti-aging properties (that's always great!), hyaluronic acid & vitamins C & E.  It is a really great product. I definitely recommend you try it!

Now, as I say, 'Glow2Go' can be mixed with a foundation & as it's summer, I wanted a lighter base, so I used Rimmel's 'Instaflawless'. 

 I used this product last summer too & find it great to even out my skintone.  It isn't too heavy either, so no chance of covering up your tan.  Rather, it adds to it, giving you a natural glow - yes, I'm all about that 'glow'!!

'Instaflawless' contains SPF 15, provides 24hr moisturisation & really brightens your skin.  I played it safe & chose the shade light-medium & at only £6.99, it really is a bargain! (And a little goes a long way too!) 

Finally, to give my summer face a really bronzed look, I went for another product by Rimmel.  It's their 'Radiance Brick'. 

 As you can probably tell by the photos, this bronzing powder is getting a lot of love right now! 

It's a multi-tone powder graduating from a light highlighter shade down to a deep bronze.  It is so easy to use, without going overboard.  The colours are so lovely that you definitely don't look orange, just gorgeously tanned! 

It comes in 2 shades, but as I'm quite fair naturally, I went again for 001 light.  That way, once my tan has faded, I will still be able to use it without looking 'false'.  Perfect! 

How do you change up your makeup for the summer? 

Right, anyone fancy taking me on holiday?  My tan is fading!

Bee x 

For more 'Contents of my Face', see here & here   

How to get yourself fabulous thick tresses with OGX

As previous posts will show, I do anything to have thick luxurious locks!  Well, a few weeks ago in my local Boots, I was on the lookout for a new shampoo & conditioner combo & I found 'Strength & Body + Bamboo Fiber-full' by OGX*.

These shampoo & conditioners contain bamboo fibers & soy proteins to give your hair body & strength.

On first use, I noticed straight away once I had dried my hair, that it appeared thicker & felt really soft.  And since then after every use I've not been disappointed!  I've finished the conditioner & I have a small amount of the shampoo left.

They do have quite a 'perfume-y' fragrance which I'm not a total fan of, but nevertheless this has not put me off.  And I'm so pleased with the results of my hair, that I would definitely purchase again.

So, do you want thick, strong & healthy hair?  Look no further than OGX!

Bee x  

*Currently on off at Boots - 2 for £10

A bit of Radiance by Codage Paris

Who would like radiant skin?  I know I would & now, I think I've found it! 

As readers of my blog will know, the majority of the year I'm a bit pale & tend to fake my glow with more than a few strokes of my bronzing brush! 

Well, now I can get a bit of radiance without the need of makeup.  It is serum no. 3 radiance & energy by Codage Paris.

From the first time I used it, I did really notice a difference in my skin.  It's very hydrating but not heavy (it won't break you out - it's so light & not oily).  It really brightened my complexion & smelt amazing too! It also has anti-aging properties - which is great with me!

I've only been trying a small sample bottle but as you only need a few drops, it seems to last for ages! 

There is a drawback though - to me, it is on the pricey side, which has got me thinking....do I splurge as my skin is looking really healthy & radiant at the moment? Or...do I save in the hope of finding a cheaper alternative?

What do you think?  Have you tried this product before? I'd love to know your thoughts! 

Bee x  

Fresher Skin with Rimmel

I always love trying out foundations and so I thought I would give you my thoughts on my latest one! 

When I was a teenager I didn't have the greatest skin and the faint scars that I still have all these years later are a reminder of those days when I would try any product that, a) I could use to hide those horrid spots & b) could afford!  And one brand that was always guaranteed to be the most affordable at the time was...Rimmel!

And here we have come full circle.  Again, I am trying a foundation by Rimmel.  It's called 'Fresher Skin' & I must admit, while it brings back memories of when I first got into makeup, at least I don't need quite as much coverage! 

I have seen a review on this foundation on YouTube saying it gives patchy results but I personally think that the lady had very dry skin, so maybe it wasn't the best for her.  However, I have combination skin, so was interested to see if it would make a difference on me.  I will get into that in a moment, but firstly here's the lowdown on this foundation....

It apparently comes in six shades (I think there was only about four in my local store), it contains aloe vera, chamomile and sea algae and also has an SPF of 15.  The size of the product is 25ml and comes in a little cute glass pot, which is very different for Rimmel as they normally have their foundations in tubes.  It says on the front that this foundation is breathable, with a natural finish, shine free and doesn't clog pores.  It also comes in at a reasonable price of £7.49. (current offer is 2 selected Rimmel products for £10 at Boots)

Now, here's what I think!

On first opening it smells very fresh and clean which must be from the natural ingredients.  I've never had that sort of smell from a foundation before (it's more like skincare) and it really is lovely! 

After applying the product on the skin it feels as fresh as it smells, it's very lightweight but also buildable if you want a bit more coverage.

It does seem to wear well (it didn't go patchy on me) but if I want it to be extra perfect and not move at all in any natural lines then I just apply a primer underneath.

Rimmel says that it leaves you shine free; well, I never think any foundations are totally perfect.  However, I will say I didn't look totally shiny by the end of the day, just maybe a tiny bit on my nose - but nothing that a bit of powder won't fix!

All in all, I think this foundation is really good and good value for money.  I think the shade I chose (I went for 103 True Ivory) is pretty close to what I would currently use.  And if I did need to adjust I could mix it with another in the range.  So, yep, well done Rimmel!  A really good product and if I could bottle the fragrance that's in the foundation I would!  It definitely does what it says on the 'tin' - it gives you 'Fresher Skin'!

Have you got a foundation that I should try?  Let me know! 

Bee x     

My In-Flight Essentials

It's a new year and if you didn't go away during the holiday season I'm sure you will be thinking about or planning your next holiday in the coming months.  So, I thought I would share with you what I take in my carry-on bag for the flight!  

First of all, you need to decide on the bag itself.  I always have a small cross-body bag for my purse, passport etc., but the main bag itself is a small case on wheels (within the size guidelines of the airline) from the brand ITLuggage which I purchased from Primark.  And it is perfect to wheel along (has 4 wheels) in the airport instead of lugging a heavy bag on your shoulder!

Now, onto what to take! 

Two main essentials that I wouldn't risk skipping on, especially if you go on a long haul flight are a big blanket style scarf (I purchased this 

from New Look in a sale - it actually doubles up as a kaftan/robe) which is great if you feel cold or want to wrap up to snooze on the flight and a travel pillow (mine is from Primark) which again, is great for nodding off & not ending up with a stiff neck! 

Other essentials I would definitely recommend are headphones - there is nothing worse than being on a long flight & having the airlines own uncomfortable headphones rammed into your ears for several hours trying desperately to enjoy your in-flight films - so bring your own comfy headphones - they are a must!  Mine are from Ebay - so they don't have to be expensive!

And another essential if films aren't enough to entertain you, is a good book (two I'm currently loving are by Joan Khurody & Cressida McLaughlin) or magazines. 

For beauty essentials, some people do go the 'whole hog' and give themselves an in-flight facial, but if you are like me and find being without makeup in public truly horrific then these few bits are all you need....

Lip Balm - Your lips will get dry while in the air and some of the best around are, Vaseline lip tins, Palmers Cocoa Butter Formula (tinted balms are great if you are skipping lipstick), Burt's Bees, Aloe Lips (blog post here) & eos. (blog post here)

Shine Control Powder Sheets - To stop shine & to look fresh on landing.  These from Superdrug are cheap, cheerful & do the job! 

Hand Cream - Like your lips, your hands are bound to get dry, so slather it on!   Great brands include Soap & Glory Hand Food & Palmers Coconut Oil Formula.  Both are very rich & moisturising.

Hand Gel - As well as keeping your hands moisturised with hand cream, you also need to keep them clean!  There are always pesky germs flying about even at several thousand feet in the air, so it is vital to bring a hand gel along.  I particularly like mini ones from Bath & Body Works but ones by Cuticura here in the UK are great also.

Finally, before I forget, another tip worth remembering is to take a spare set of clothes and underwear (swimwear and sunglasses too if going somewhere hot!) as you never know if your main suitcase will be delayed or go missing!*

*Side note - Obviously never pack jewellery, money, phone, tablet or chargers in your main case!! 

So, that's about it! 

Have you got a trip planned for this year?  I hope my list of essentials will help you pack easier but if all else fails there's one essential you most definitely can't be without.....

your passport!!

Bee x