There is nothing better then having an hour or so midweek and/or sunday night for a good old pamper. This has been my routine for the past year which has really been working for my skin and also for myself. I find having a pamper makes me relax and just forget about anything for an hour. I like to light some candles and get some music playing. Having this routine also means that i try out alot of products which help to detox my skin. Elemental Herbology has been a brand i have heard so much about and read alot of great things about the products so i decided to purchase the Elemental Herbology Weekend Facial Kit.
The Elemental Herbology Weekend Facial Kit is a three part routine with an exfoliator, clay mask and a hydrating overnight mask. The three masks work perfectly together in getting the best out of your skin to give you a clearer healthy complexion. To start the routine i tend to use the Facial Glow first as it gets rid of the top layer of dead skin cells. Leaving this on for 4 minutes as its packed with AHAs and taking it off with a muslin cloth. After first use of this mask my skin has never felt as soft like seriously silky soft!! I then move on to the clay based mask which is the Facial Detox Purifying Mask - this mask helps get rid of congestion in the skin, refine the pores and basically get rid of anything and everything that has been building up in your skin. This mask isnt overly drying which i really like and leaving it on for 10 minutes it gets to work so quickly. I find that using the Facial Glow beforehand really helps this mask work even better. After the mask has been removed its time to give the skin a huge dose of moisture which is where the Biodynamic Facial Souffle Intensive Hydration and Repair Mask comes in to play. Its an overnight moisture mask which repairs dry and dehydrated skin to renew overnight and get the skin back to a healthy state. This mask is divine its so soothing and helps to reduce any redness or irritations in my skin like blemishes.
After using these three masks in the evening and waking up in the morning my skin looked so clear, radiant and most of all glowing. Any blemishes or congestion reduced dramatically and a huge plumpness to my skin. I can definately feel that these products are going to be a staple in my routine and im really wanting to try more from the brand now ive seen how effective the products have been and the results it has delievered. I am one happy skincare lover!!
Have you tried products from Elemental Herbology?
I have been wanting to share with you all my makeup look that has been so simple and quick to create just using five products.
Before my makeup i will apply a primer to make sure that my makeup stays put all dont long. After using the primer i will then start on my bases which i have been loving using the Vichy Dermablend Foundation in Opal. As its a good skin day i will dot this foundation as a concealer on the parts i want covering up on a small brush. I find that applying some product to the back of my hand as a palette works best and then i use the tinyest amount to cover any blemishes/scars for a more precise application. This has really been working for me and makes me feel alot confident in baring much much natural skin on a day to day basis. I then use the product has a concealer too which i pay on under my eyes.
I then move onto blusher using the Nyc Cheek Glow which is a gorgeous coral shade with a hint of a glow so its a two in one product with a blush and an added highligher. I like to sweep this all over the cheek bone for a natural flush of colour. Im not too sure if they still have this product as i got this awhile ago.
Moving on from blusher i then go straight into my eye makeup. Keeping it very simple with the colour 'bare' i sweep this all over the lid. As im going to be wearing a bold lip colour im keeping the eyeshadow simple with more voluminous lashes. For my lashes i use Gosh - Boombastic which is the best mascara for volume that i have tried. It creates the lashes to look alot fuller without being too dramatic. I use two coats of this which really opens my eyes.
Finally for a pop of colour on the lips i use another product from Nyc which is the shade 'smooch' its a lovely berry red toned colour which really works on my pale complexion.
What are you five makeup products that you use on a daily basis?
The winter months i find that my skin is alot more parched and dry in certain area so i try and ramp up the moisture on my face aswell as drinking alot more water instead of hot chocolates!! Hydration masks are a god send for a quick fix whether for 5 minutes or overnight your skin will thank you. A new addition to my mask stash is one from Dr Jart - Water Max Sleeping mask. Having never tried anything from Dr Jart i was really looking forward to seeing how the mask would deliver having read so many rave reviews.
The Mask is an overnight one where you apply 10 minutes or so before you go bed and whilst you are sleeping it gets to work by retaining moisture all night long. Its quite thin in texture so depending on what you refer you could use it as a light night moisturiser or as a more heavy overnight treatment. Its fast absorbing into the skin as it locks in nutrients and moisture. The main ingredient which has alot of skincare benefits is hyaluronic acid which helps to feed the moisture to the skin. This is perfect for all skin types and especially great for dehydrated skin. Even if you dont feel like you have dry a good dose of moisture regularly can really help with your complexion.
One of the things that i have noticed with my skin is that when it receives a huge dose of moisture my skin is alot even, blemishes/scars are starting to heal much quicker and my face looks alot plumped and brighter.
If you havent got into the whole hydrating masks then i would highly recommend this as a starting out one as it so so good at helping your skin with moisture and other benefits it has delivered with my skin.
Would you try this mask? or have you tried the dr jart range?
I have been on the hunt for my perfect overnight spot treatment for awhile now which i thought i had found it until another product that i brought took me by complete surprise. A night sent browsing on the cult beauty website which is something i tend to do alot - you can find so many amazing products that really truely deliver. Browsing the site i came across a product called Payot Pate Grise which claims to be an overnight spot treatment.
Only having heard the brand Payot in passing and is a well known french skincare brand i was really hoping that it would help with my unruly spots. The Pate Grise is an overnight treatment that was developed in 1947 which has been a secret amongst french women who used it to battle blemishes. The winning ingredient is Shale Extract which is an antibacterial and has a soothing feel to the skin. It works to slow down oil product and accelerating the spots lifescycle so it matures and disappears faster. The size of the product is 15 ml at £17.00 which may sound expensive but its going to last awhile as only a tiny dap on spots is needed.
The texture of the product is abit creamy and i like to apply the product with a cotton bud just for being hygenic as i dont want to spread it more onto my face. Once dabbed you go to your sleep and in the morning i just remove any that is left with a toner/water. I use this consecutively for 2/3 nights dabbing on the areas that are red spots or under the skin ones.
I cannot even begin to explain how amazing this product is. After used it for 3 nights in a row a spot that was under the skin had completely vanishes and stopped. Other red spots had developed which had gone and on the way to healing. I have never had a spot treatment that has worked so fast and without having a unsightly smell. I am in love with this product and is a magic in my eyes.
Having said that i do think skincare with blemishes is trial and error depending on how well it works for you skin so i would hope if this product sounds a winner to you too then its worth a try as each skin reacts differently to products.
Painful, red angry spots are a thing of the past for me now having found a product that helps to banish them in less time. So worth it!!
Would you try this miracle of a spot treatment?
I thought i would share with you all a few of the things that have been wrote down on my christmas list. (Yes i still do a list) and apart from these four items the other items on my wishlist are all clothes and food. You cannot spend christmas day without watching plenty of films and eating your body weight in chocolate and cake.
Samsung Galaxy Tablet - A tablet is one of the things i have been wanting since the middle of this year and having had a play around with my dads i thought it was time to get one. They are so handy to carry around at uni instead of my laptop and also will be easy to do blogging on the go etc. I think they are such a good idea and im sure i will be playing plenty of games on christmas day with it. Fingers crossed.
Beurer Foot Bath - The foot bath is something that i am most excited about getting. Not sure if it will be this one but something identical. I love doing my sunday pamper nights and making sure that my feet are lovely. This will be so relaxing on my feet especially with the massaging settings. I have brought awhile back some bath salts so i think it would be nice to use them with this for a mini spa pedicure evening.
Boss Orange Perfume - This perfume is one of my all time favourites and having used the last of it middle of this year its been one eagerly on my wishlist to repurchase. Its a lovely fruity scent and i have had many compliments when wearing this scent. Its not too overpowering which i like and i always think of this scent as holidays for some reason.
Laura Mercier Mini Lip Glaze Collection - Who can not resist a bunch of mini lip products? these look so cute and easy for an every day lip and to carry around in my bag. I havent tried any makeup products from Laura Mercier so this would be a good start. The dark red shade looks perfect for Christmas Day too.!!
What is on your christmas wishlist this year?
This post is long over due but i had some laptop issues and it just kept getting further delayed. Me and my boyfriend decided to have a mini weekend away at the end of october for a couple of nights in our home from home log cabin. We call it our second home as we have been going for over 3 years now and its just perfect.
The log cabin itself is based in Worstershire, Kidderminster to be exact and its basically in the middle of nowhere. That sounds rather boring but in fact its heaven. Having one log cabin next door and actually in the countryside is somewhat perfect to us. We have been at every season and being near nature and quietness is bliss.
The log cabin itself is called 'Bluebell Lodge'. Its a cabin for 2 people and consists of a open planned kitchen/living room. A cosey sofa, tv& dvd player and a small fire. The kitchen is fully fitted with everything you need like an oven, hob, microwave, dishwasher.
The bedroom consists of a king size bed, a wardrobe and a set of drawers/mirror. Next door to the bedroom is the large sized bathroom which has a spa jacuzzi bath and a shower that has massaging jets. Also a new addition is an outside hot tub which is just simply amazing and so refreshing.
Near by to the log cabin is West Midlands Safari Park which is a lovely zoo packed with lots of things to do and explore the animals. A nearby town is about 20 minutes away.
This is perfect if you want to just get away from literally everything and just been in the countryside. A nearby forest is so pretty to have a little walk around. Everytime i come and stay here it feels like home and i always feel so relaxed after being here. This is my ideal cosy weekend and you have the freedom to make it your own. Sometimes we will just cudle u and watch dvds for most of the day, half a way, go in the hot tub for abit. Go the local pub for some food at the bottom of the road.
Have you stayed in a log cabin before?
A foundation primer is one of the essentials in my daily makeup routine whilst acting as base for my makeu to stay all day without any slipping or sliding it also can help with any flaws. Alot of primers are aimed at specific things like controlling shine or giving you that added glow. I have heard so much about Laura Mercier Primers and thought that i would give one a go.
I decided to purchase the travel size of the Laura Mercier Radiance Primer to see if it worked for me and also it would be a good size to be kept in my makeup bag too. The primer aims to enhance makeup and foundation wear throughout the day whilst adding a slight glow to your complexion. The primer has a pearl tint which creates a soft base for your makeup. Whilst creating a soft base it also smoothes the skin so that the foundation can glide on easily whilst minimising the pores and creating a healthy radiance to the skin. I find using this mainly on my cheeks works best for me instead of an all over primer as it does highlight blemishes even more but i tend to use a seperate primer for t zone any way so i can still get use out of it.
With a light tinted peachy shade to the primer and a slight glow it is the perfect easy way to enhance your facial features. It doesnt have any traces of shimmer or glitter which i really like and i would say that it would suit most skin types and complexions depending on how you like to apply radiant products. It doesnt add any type of coveage but it does act as a good canvas for products going ontop of it. Its a lovely light texture and doesnt clog pores or feel too heavy on the skin.
I absolutely love the formula and even though it is getting colder and light bases are normally scrapped in my routine i think it is worth it. Im so impressed with the product and really want to try out a foundation from the brand next.
Have you tried this primer? have you liked it?
I love nothing more then treating my hands to a good pamper. They always seem to get dry around this time of year more then ever with the central heating and blasts of cold winds daily. My nails have been horrible for a little while and i needed a couple of products in particular to help get things back on track.
Champneys is a brand i have only recently tried with the body butter that has been in a post recently and with it being such a great product i thought i would try something else from the brand. I noticed in boots that they do a hand polisher so i purchased straight away. The Champneys Softening Hand Scrub is a gentle exfoliator that gently softens the skin and moisturises cuticles and nails. I apply this to dry hands and work it in amongst my nails concentrating on the dry areas that surround the nail. Its not a harsh scrub and smells divine. After i have worked it into my nails i also work it into my hands and then i wash it off with colder water. It has a slight oily residue when washing off which the oil acts as a moisturiser and makes the skin feel so baby soft and smooth. I love using this every week to help battle with dryness and it really works. You dont need to use too much and i think at £6 its a good little product to have.
The next product which i have been using in conjunction with the hand scrub is OPI's Nail Envy Nail Strengthener but the mini version. Its a strengthening base coat which helps peeling, cracking and broken nails to get back into full health with wheat protein and calcium. I have been applying this every few days ontop of each coat as directed and have seen such a good difference in the strength of my nails and appearance. I havent been using nail varnish on top for a good few weeks now and aswell as the base coat and no nail varnish it has given that much needed boost. The base coat dries quickly and it has really helped to build my nails strength back up. So i would really recommend if you have dry brittle nails to give this a whirl.
Do you suffer from dry nails and hands?
It is very rare that i find a book that i can rave about constantly but i think i have found the perfect read that is so beneficial to myself and has made me open my eyes abit more about my life and the way my mind works. The book - Katie Piper 'Things Get Better' is an incredible insightful read where Katie Piper who has suffered a great ordeal shares her personal stories and the letters that she receives to share her key steps that led to her recovery and helps others in gaining strength to move on whether its a break up, self esteem issues or even a more serious trauma. The book starts from the very beginning when you hit rock bottom and deals with the honest reality of overcoming the obstacles you are dealing with.
Sometimes when you are feeling down in your life we start to feel sorry for ourselves and whole cycle seems to happen where we go from being content and happy but as time goes on we start to decrease in ot mood and then go back into the same thoughts of having to try get back into the happy place. We often hear about how to improve our lifes and setting goals for ourselves and then sometimes we have others tell us how to live but at the end of the day its we decide what to do and how to live.
The main thing that i have discovered from this book is that we have to remember that we are loved but also we are human which means that the good times will come with the bad times. Tough things will come our way and there is now way to avoid them but the key is how we respond to them. We can either sit and complain about them or do something about them.
Is this book something you fancy reading?
Being a skincare fanatic im always on the look out for another mask to add to my stash to try out and see if it can help in my imperfections in any way. Scarring for me is my number one enemy and is one of the main issues that i try and battle. I have been loving chemical exfoliators for this job in helping to reduce them which has been working so well but i was after a more powerful mask that i could use weekly or monthly.
Having loved the travel size of the Elemis Resurfacing Facial Wash i thought that i would get the travel size in the same range but instead the Elemis Tri Enzyme Resurfacing Gel Mask. The mask aims to retexturize and smooth the skin with the actuive enzymes whilst targeting blemishes and pigmentation. If using any of the tri enzyme range it is advised to wear spf during daylight hours and no sunbathing/sunbeds either as you are renewing your skin. I would suggest to do a patch test on your inner arm to make sure no reactions do occur.
On application of the mask its quite a thin texture that you spread all over your dry face and leave on for about 10 minutes. Whilst leaving the mask on i felt a cooling tingling sensation which is very powerful but it also means that it really is working. I was a little wary that with the tingling experience that it may sting etc but its not too over baring. Once the mask has been left on i then rinse off with a flannel. My face felt the softest it has ever been and so smooth. Any blemishes had slightly gone done and my pores were less obvious. This mask is amazing especially if you want an even texture to your face or even scarring reducing. With this mask being packed full of enzymes it is alot gentler then an acid peel or a manual scrub so it would be great for people with sensitive skin and inflamed acne but it does suit all skin types.
It honestly is one of the best masks i have used and seen almost immediate results and is a lovely addition to any skincare routine.
Have you tried this mask before or any other elemis products that have won you over?
Another month and so close to the end of this year which has completely flown by!! This month has been fairly stressful with uni work and my skin has taken it badly especially with the colder weather too.
The skincare combo that i turn too when my skin is playing up is one that i am so thankful of discovering this year and its the Lush Ultrabland Cleanser and Tea Tree Toner. This duo works so well together in balancing your skin whilst giving it plently of hydration and calming everything down. I like to use this as a mini detox sort of thing where i use just these two products and a moisturiser for a good couple of weeks. It really sorts my skin out and makes it so clear. I also like using these after my so called 'detox' on odd occasions and together they cost less then £10 for them both so its really affordable. The combo is ideal for this sort of weather if your skin plays havoc.
An autumn blush that is a beautiful peachy shade that i have been wearing non stop this month is Illamasqua's Sophie Blush. Its the perfect colour for this season and creates a natural flush to the cheeks whilst giving a glow to the complexion aswell. I think it really compliments my pale skin tone and perks it up. A little of this blush goes a long way so i tend to swirl it around onto a brush and then tap any excess off. Its so easy to apply and blendable. I want to try more blushers from the brand which is on my christmas wishlist!!
Two things from Rimmel which have been my love affair for this month - Rimmel Precious Stones - 001 Diamond Dust Nail Polish. Its so pretty and mesmerizing to the eye. Its clear varnish with added sprinkles of glitter to it and it looks so nice on top of any bold nail varnish to give your nails a touch of glitz. I think this will be a christmas polish for sure on top of a rich red colour. Who can resist glitter? i know i cant!! Keeping with the rich red colour theme for christmas - Rimmel Apocalips in 'Across The Universe' shade is such a lovely shade for the colder months. Even though recently i have been brave to wear bold lips this is inbetween a lipgloss and lipstick which is ideal as i like to use this on the lips but patted in for a subtle tone of the colour. Its such a simple look wearing this with a bold eyelook which i am loving wearing lately.
What have been your months favourties?
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