Nars Tinted Moisturiser - used two ways

I do believe there is an eyelash(false) stuck to the bottom of one! - Mucky me!

• My winter/spring ( and most of the summer until I went away - hmph) shade was Finland - Light1 - described as -Lightest with a neutral balance of pink and yellow undertones.   

• When I am warmed up my shade is Alaska Light2 - described as - Light with a neutral balance of pink and yellow undertones.

I apply it with my fingers, I find it rubs in easily and evenly over my skin and it's buildable - important as I can get red chops! It is light weight and makes my skin look healthy and evened out. It smells immense! I get a waft of Terry's Chocolate Orange...that might just be me, never the less it smells goood! It didn't cause me any breakouts, quite the opposite my skin actually loves the stuff! If I'm going to be out all day, I will set it with a little bit of powder, I've been opting for MAC Mineralize Skinfinish and that works a charm. I still use a primer when using this product, the Laura Mercier radiance primer for super healthy glowing skin or Benifits pore primer ( review of both primers coming along soon!) I sometimes even use it as a primer as it acts as a lovely base and has such a high SPF of 30!

I have dark secret shade too...

Cuba Medium3 - Medium with a neutral balance of pink and yellow undertones

This shade is quite a bit darker compared with Light 1+2, but...I use this as a liquid bronzer.!!

I don't tend to wear fake tan on my face as I've noticed recently it breaks me out,  this is a handy alternative! If my skin is particularly good and clear and I have my fake tan on my body, I'll use a PEA SIZE amount all over my face, for an all over bronzed look . 

I loved using  this when I was on holiday! My face and neck refuse to tan ( I don't mind so much my face, but by heck why not my neck?) So this was a great little gem to even myself out in the day and evening so works as an intant tan too. Now I'm home, for a little boost I rub some on my chest and shoulders so I  have a deeper glow and I'm still using a high SPF! I've only needed a weenie amount as a little goes along way! So should last me a ridiculous amount of time! You do have to give it a thorough blending in session if using it  as an instant tan!

When I need more coverage and i'm wearing a foundation ( which tended to be in the evening of my hol ) or the Alaska shade I'll dab a very small amount onto the areas I'd normally have my powdered bronzer. I'm not such a big fan of using powders in heat so I loved using this instead!  As my tan developed on holiday Alaska was too light so I added a tiny bit of the Medium3  to warm it up and then  would dab some more on top to achieve the bronzed goddess appearance. 

Finland Light1  Alaska Light2  Cuba Medium3

Blended in.

Oh its me! Wearing Finland.

If you have combination - oily skin I would recommend either getting a sample or going to a Nars counter and for the MUA to try it on your skin, as some people have found it isn't very long wearing. - Might just need a good primer for oily skin! Never the less have a go even if it's just to sniff it! 

Thing's Nars say about it:

•  Advanced sun protection 
• Hydrates and helps reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation and dark spots for a brighter natural glow
•  Oil-free. Dermatologist tested. Non-comedogenic. Synthetic fragrance free. Consumer Testing Results:
•  84% felt their skin was more radiant and luminous •81% felt the product smoothed out the surface of their skin •81% felt the product gave them immediate hydration

It's priced at £27.00 which I think isn't too shabby considering how much I love it so!

Nars

xxx L.B.T xxx

My Holiday Beauty Wish List

My holiday is just around the corner and so is pay day! Here are a few things on my wish list that I hope to be purchasing!

 

1) I would quite like there to be some sunshine, a happy sun at that! 

2) Benefit - Sun Beam £18.50

3) Supergoop! - Acai Fusion Lip Balm SPF 30 £8.00

4) Kiehls - Superbly Restorative Body Lotion £29.50

5) MAC -Shade&Smoke Shadow/Liner Beth Mask £16.50

6) Paul Mitchel - Awapuhi Wild Ginger Styling Treatment Oil £25.95

7) Chanel - Soleil Tan de Chanel £30.00

8)Institut Esthederm - Adaptasun Sensitive Skin Body Lotion - Extreme Sun £42.50 

I would love some more recommendations to add to the list! - Oh, That could be a bad idea for my purse!...

xxx L.B.T xxx

Emma Hardie - Lighter Hydrating Lotion Moisturiser

A few weeks ago I actually had a Emma Hardie facial! Okay it was a 'retail facial' at work. I got a little star struck as I recognised the lady off QVC who works along side Emma herself, I was lucky enough to have her perform ( I feel like that could be the wrong word, but,  it did make me want to have a sing and dance about it after!) the facial. It was a training session at the same time for the rest of the staff, I promptly jumped at the chance to be the guinea pig! A great way to try out products and have a pamper session!  I had just ordered a package deal of EH products from QVC and that night they were waiting for me at home, impeccable timing!

As I am now such a massive fan of the balm and had such great results I thought it only right to try some of the rest of the products in the range!

In my joyous bundle I received :

• A full size moringa balm jar - 100ml
• A full size Lighter Hydrating Lotion Moisturiser
• Night Cream - 50ml
•  1  trial size of Skin Plumping Serum
  
  
  All for £36.00!! - The Moringa balm is £34.00 on its own! Insane bargain! Oh I do love a bargain me! Good old QVC's TSV!
  
  

  

  
  
  
  
  Lighter Hydrating Moisturiser
  
  
  I've been using the moisturiser for the last month.  Before I started to use it, my skin was definitely dehydrated, felt dry and horrid.  Normally,  I am  programmed into thinking that ' I must have oober thick cream on my face nowww and that it must come from a pot to have hydrated skin again!' However, this is most certainly not the case and has changed my way of thinking. Since using  the lighter lotion I have not had any signs of dryness! - It may be a combination of using the moringa balm as well as this, but, I have not felt like I have needed a thicker cream at any point. This also feels lovely on my sensitive skin. It goes onto the skin beautifully and I have found it a great base for makeup.  It hasn't broken me out either which I'm happy about!
  Another heavenly smelling product!
  I love the packaging of the products and they look rather luxurious in my drawer! I'm still trying out the night cream and have not yet tried the serum! All in due course!
  
  

  

  

  
  
  
  
  £38.00 bought on it's own. Feel Unique has a great discription of this product.
  
  L.B.T xxx

Emma Hardie - Moringa Balm

Oh Emma!

I first tried the 'wonder product' the Moringa balm in Sep 2011. Initially, I did not use it as a cleanser, I was still using my trusty cleanse and polish. I tended to use it as a mask 1-2 times a  week. The balm was an absolute god send in the winter months when my skin would get chapped in the freezing winds! I'd slap this all over my face and lips I would sit back and relax, everything would be calmed, soothed and put right. For the last few months I've been using this as a cleanser. Oh my goodness my skin has never felt so soft  looked so clear and hydrated! I still use it as a mask too during the week.  I'm on my third pot! I'm looking out for that bad boy 200ml pot too!

It's a multi use balm, you can use it as a cleanser,mask, night serum, got a dry patch? Pop it on there too! calms sensitive skin, revitalises dull and mature skins. I love it!

A brand new pot!

I Had to poke it! It's like fresh snow!

When using it as a cleanser I use it morning and night. I scoop a small amount into my hand an add some warm water. I mix it together and it becomes a creamy milky consistency. Then all over my face it goes including eyes (melts makeup away beautifully) and rinsed off using a  muslin cloth or flannel,  I cleanse twice if wearing make-up. Voilà my skin feels soft clean and even a little plumper! If I am using it as a mask I will cleanse my face and then pop the balm all over my face (not adding water) and keep it on there for roughly 30 minutes. It doesn't dry but  it will keep it's balmy feel and then again rinsed off using  warm water with a flannel/muslin cloth ...hydration perfection achieved! Smells good too!

I noted some of the ingredients  from the main site:


Moringa seed extract, Wild Sea Fennel, Orange, Neroli and Mandarin extracts, Jasmine, Cedarwood and Rose.

Emma Hardie

It's priced at £34.00 available at Space NK, feel unique and lots more!

It's been in my life for nearly a year and it won't be going anywhere for a long time! - Apart from on my face!

xxx L.B.T xx

Im back!

Im baccccck and my blog has been decorated with a new fancy pants header too!  Clearly posting a whole five posts took it out of me and I had to take a sit down....a six month sit down! I shall be staying put and hopefully I shall be posting galore. Please bare with me as I am rather rubbish with thee old comp, I will be prodding and poking the layout until I am happy! A massive thank you to everyone that has actually read and looked at my tiny little blog!

 xxx L.B.T xxx (  I thought that was the sandwich when I first typed that..but thats BLT ..PHEW)

Festive Make-Up! Look 1

This time of year it's all about sparkle and shimmer.  I'm fully in the festive spirit!  So I shall share a few festive make up looks to go with Christmas.  I'll start off nice and subtle. Every look will become more dramatic but in keeping with the festive scene so expect to see lots of glitter!

Look 1 

When you think "purple"  you think  " bruise" - that really doesn't have to be the case.  Below is an example of a shimmery purple look that does not look like a punch in the face...unless tinker bell punches with a fist full of her magic dust, then maybe this would be the result!

With the flash.

No flash.

What I used :

• Urban Decay eye primer potion.
• Ben Nye Eye shadow in Vanilla  - all over the lid, up just past the crease of the eye socket. (base colour)
• Nars eye shadow in Daphne  - all over the lid.
• Bobbie Brown shadow palette  " Black Ruby Sparkle Eye Palette"  using three colours Pink Rose - dusted over all over the  lid on top of Nars Daphne.  Black Ruby - Outer corners and lower lash line  and Crushed Silver -  inner corners and brow bone.
• Ben Nye eye shadow in Pearl Sheen ( favourite silver eye shadow!) for  inner corners.
• INGLOT eye shadow  498 ( black shimmer colour) to line the lash line top and bottom.

These Bobbi Brown shades are best used as a ' top layer' shadow, you will need as base colour ( I chose Nars Daphne ) as they need a bit of a boost, add to any look and the shimmer is amazing! 

http://www.bobbibrowncosmetics.com/product/2300/19481/Gifts/Simplify-Organize/Palettes-Sets/Black-Ruby-Sparkle-Eye-Palette/FH11/index.tmpl

If anyone has any requests for make up looks please let me know!

Cleansers - Liz Earle, Elemental, Shu

So I can admit,  I've only just  recently started to get into a really  good skin care routine for myself.

I turned 25 in September and now I'm petrified I may wake any day and find that  I have turned into a prune!!

 

PRUNE.

(Potential me......or what my thumbs resemble when I've been in the bath too long.)

My Skin..

Can be oober sensitive when it wants to be and very much more on the dry and red side.. oh and hello pores.

Life style wise..

I don't smoke,  I do love the sun but I'm that lady with the pair of shorts covering her face by the pool,  always wearing factor 50 on my face and a high factor on the rest of me.  I drink very little alcohol, apart from if it's on a night out with the girl's to have a bit of a boogie,  even then sometimes no drink. ( Speaking in the last two years, in my hay day was a bit different!)

Liz Earle


Cleanse and Polish

I have been using Liz Earle for many many years.  My Mum is a huge fan of QVC and that is how she learnt of the now famous Liz Earle Skin Care range.

I'm a big fuss pot when it comes to things stinging my eyes.  Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish I can say does not.

I like the muslin cloths as you can really see how much make-up/dirt is being cleansed away.  I tend to carry on cleansing until nothing is rubbing off onto the muslin cloths so I know my face is definitely clean.

It's also amazing to take face paint off  (  if you have kids and have a battle with scrubbing away the favourite Tiger face...this will be gentle on their skin and a lot faster than a bar of soap!)

Great for all skin types and all ages.

Also really good value for money starting from £13.75 - bargain!

http://uk.lizearle.com/

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish will always have a place by my sink but recently my eyes have wondered....

Elemental Herbology

( I will be mentioning this range in another few posts too.)

Purify & Soothe

Facial Cleansing balm

It says on the tube to pay special attention to areas of congestion. I get breakouts like most ladies in that special period of time.. . (har har ).

I had a bigger breakout one month and decided to use a different cleanser, after a few days of using this it seemed to do the trick and clear the nasties up!  If you have a severe case of acne consult your G.P and do a little more research on the brand to see if it suits your skin.

The balm made my skin feel really hydrated and I noticed a difference after just one use!  To take off the balm you need to use a muslin cloth.

If you have dry, sensitive or mature skin this is a good one to try.

One of the ingredients is marshmallow!

Priced at £28

Have a look at their website. - Had a good review from Vogue recently!

http://elementalherbology.com/

Shu Uemura


Skin Purifier

Having used a creamy cleanser for so long I was dubious trying an oil.

If your going to try something for the first time you might as well do it right! Voted number one cleansing oil the Skin Purifier is a good place to start.

You spread  the oil all over your face and eyes on dry skin, then add water which turns in into a milky consistency.  The directions say to rinse with warm water but I still used a muslin cloth which worked wonders with this product.

The day I decided to use it I had a full whack of eye makeup on. One pump and a rub all over my eyes.... my make-up had disappeared!! I did a double blink in surprise! There was no stinging sensation either(yey).  Two more pumps for the rest of my face and neck and I was done and clean!

The price is steep at £56.50 but that's for a 450ml which looks huge! £28.00 for 150ml.

It's moisturising  and full of anti oxidants and a good choice if you have ageing concerns.

http://www.shuuemura.co.uk/

I do not recommend mixing all three of these cleansers together. Try one product at a time or your face will get very upset with you!