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