Are you enjoying the heatwave we have been having in the UK lately? I do feel that I should be making the most of it & sunbathing in my garden but I just can't. I'm not going away on a summer holiday this year, so I should be getting a British tan but as I don't have a swimming pool nearby to stop myself combusting in the heat, I'm retreating inside & grabbing my Palmers Natural Bronze body lotion (see post here) & my new bronzing powder to give me a summer glow!
I've been very faithful to the Bourjois chocolate scented bronzer for a few years now, but I decided to branch out recently & I tried out the Body Shop's Honey Bronzing Powder. Having heard good things about this bronzer, I was keen to try it out.
I went for the 01 light matte shade, as I'm naturally pretty fair.
On first glance the product looks great. The packaging has a honeycomb pattern on the lid (a great mirror inside too!), with this pattern continuing on the actual bronzer. The bronzer comes in 5 shades & contains community trade honey. In fact, The Body Shop have a whole 'honey bronze' range. Must check it out.
I was really pleased straight away with the colour payoff - the shade was perfect for me & gave a really nice matte glow. Not at all glittery. Perfect for either contouring or an all over bronze-y look! (Great if you are in a rush & want to look 'put together' quick!)
It costs £14, which is more than my Bourjois bronzer but I must say....I think I slightly prefer this Body Shop one! Sorry Bourjois! It's very close. I love both!
So, I definitely think that once I come to the end of this product, I will be repurchasing.
A great glow without having to sweat it out in the sun!
(Although, if anyone does want me to come on holiday with them, I won't say no!!)
Bee x
....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
We are into August, but here is my favourites from last month...
A Tattoo From Maybelline...
How could I not include Color Tattoos from Maybelline? I reviewed them in my last blog post here & if you read it (I hope so!), you will know that I absolutely loved them! They make your eyes look amazing with hardly any effort.
Definite winner!
Rimmel Lippie...
Now, I love a good nude lipstick, but I have to be careful, as if I go too pale with my colouring, I could look like what you would find on a mortuary slab! So, its all about getting the right shade.
I tend to stick to the pinky 'my lips but better' nudes but this time I went for a beige peachy '1960's' tone & I came across one from Rimmel in the Kate Moss collection. And I must say Ms Moss picked very well with her range & number 43 seemed the perfect shade for me. It's a really lovely colour, as I've already said & goes on very well & lasts quite a while. A lovely creamy feeling & smells gorgeous - like sweets! A great price point too at only £5.49 - whats not to love?
A Bit Of Sunshine From Olay...
So, I know I just said in my Rimmel lipstick review that I am a tad on the pale side, but I have been trying to get a bit of glow back in my face. I know we're experiencing a bit of sun this summer in England but I haven't been on away on holiday yet, so I've had no time to 'full on' sunbathe, so I have to resort to the fake variety! And this is where my next favourite comes in. It's Everyday Sunshine by Olay. It's an oldie but definitely a goodie! I reach for it every summer without fail!
The shade I currently have is light (if I'm tanned I go for 'deep' to emphasize my tan) & it's great to give your skin a bit of a warm up & glow.
It contains SPF15 which is a plus too - its so important to protect your skin! It glides on easy, feels wonderful on your skin & just smells of holiday!
I will always love this! More than just a moisturiser!
Forever Soft Lips...
I have reviewed this before (see here), so I won't go on but just to say it is still going strong & I love it!
It's the Forever Aloe Lips with Jojoba which was gifted to me.
With Aloe Vera, Beeswax & Jojoba, it keeps my lips super soft. It's perfect & that is why it had to be included as a favourite this month - I just keep reaching for it!
And finally....
Brightening My Eyes With Origins
In a fairly recent beauty box, I received a little 5ml sample of Origins Ginzing eye cream.
I love beauty boxes - they are packed full of mini samples of beauty items you probably always wanted to try but don't want to fork out for the full size product incase you don't like it! So this gives you a great opportunity to test them out.
So, back to the eye cream. I'd always wanted to try the Origins Ginzing range but wondered if I wouldn't like it. Well, this eye cream didn't really disappoint.
As it says on the packaging - it is refreshing on the skin. It also promises to brighten & depuff. The skin around my eyes isn't really puffy but is very dark & this cream did brighten it up a bit. I do think that if I got the full size product & used it over a longer period of time, I would definitely notice a difference.
I will say though, that it does feel wonderful on my skin & really does wake up my eyes in the morning!
A lovely product.
So, what did you love in July? Have you tried any of these items before? I'd love to know!
Bee x
So, if you are a regular reader of my blog, you will know my skin is rather on the pale side, so I will do anything to make myself look more 'alive'. And while there isn't much sun outside & I don't have enough patience (or time at the moment!) to apply fake tan, I need something to make my face look like it's been kissed by the sun!
And what better than one of my favourite make up brands at the moment to give me that glow - Makeup Revolution!
I'm always hearing (& reading) so many good things about their collection & slowly creating quite a collection for myself, so I had to try their vivid baked bronzer in the shade 'Golden Days'. It's an amazing £4.00 & comes in 3 other shades - 'Ready to Go', 'Rock on World' & 'Fame'.
I apply it either as a contour for the hollows of my cheeks, or I give a general dusting all over my face. And I always apply down my neck (now, that IS pale!) to give it a subtle glow.
It really is a lovely easy shade to wear without making you look orange. And, if you are pale like me, you don't want a dramatic orangey look & you definitely don't with this. If you do fancy a more dramatic look though, & have the skin tone to take it, I have read that you can do this by applying the bronzer with a wet brush.
So, for me, I think this is one of the best bronzers I've tried out lately. I've used it lots already & it still looks almost like new as my photos show. The packaging is smart but simple, it gives a good colour pay off & at a bargain price too....what's not to love?
Have you tried this or any other of the shade range? Or is there another bronzer you like or even prefer? I'd love to know!
Thanks!
Bee x
