Product Review | Elemis Anti-Ageing Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm

Ciao ♥ Over the past few months I've acquired quite an array of newly discovered beauty products.
After trying these out for a reasonable amount of time I found there was the odd one or two not worth the hype, a bunch I thought were great and a few golden ones I now can't live without. In today's post I will be discussing one of the latter which is Elemis’ Anti-Ageing Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm.

The worst thing about wearing make-up is having to remove it at the end of the day. It's such a chore and often something I prolong doing until I'm just about ready to hop into bed. Up until two years ago I used to remove my make-up with facial wipes as it was an easy, quick and inexpensive method. I also wasn't really aware of the different types of make-up remover products available on the market (i.e. cleansing balms, facial lotions and micellar water). Thankfully, the blogging world rescued me at just the right time by introducing me to Elemis' Anti-Ageing Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm which has been raved about left, right and centre.

This product is available to purchase from some of the UK’s leading retailers such as Debenhams, House of Fraser and John Lewis for £39.50. Yes! It is a lot pricier than your usual make-up remover but I can assure you it's worth every penny. Hmm! Still not keen on the price? Well I'm hoping you'll be pleased to know my bargain hunting skills have proven worthy. Head over to allbeauty.com where you can purchase this product for the discounted price of £31.55 which equates to 20% off. They also provide free delivery on all orders over £15. Double kerching!

I've had this product for approx. one year now. Although I do not use it everyday, more so every few days, I've only used a little over a quarter of it so far. I use this product by applying half a teaspoon size amount to my face; a little goes a long way. Using my fingertips I then massage the product into my skin, in circular motions, for about 40 seconds. I then remove the breakdown of my make-up with my cleansing cloth ensuring it's warm and damp before doing so. Finally, I apply a liberal amount of Garnier Micellar Water to one or two cotton pads and wipe away any remaining traces of make-up. The last step is optional as this product dissolves almost all traces of your make-up in one go but I like to ensure my face is thoroughly cleansed.

A great thing about this product is that it's multi-functional; it can be used as a daily facial cleanser, an intensive and indulgent facial mask or by simply melting a scoop of this into your bath for a spot of relaxation. It’s also available in a travel size tub (20g) which is perfect to bring along with you when staying over at a friend’s, weekends away or jetting off on holiday. Furthermore, it feels extremely luxurious on the skin and smells divine.

Have any of you tried this product? If so, what are your thoughts? If not, what do you use to remove your make-up? I'd also love to know if you guys enjoy reading these type of posts. If so, let me know in the comment box below so that I can produce similar content on a more regular basis.

Ciao ♥ Xx 

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Secret Santa Gifts - For Her

Ciao ♥ I know it can be quite tedious hearing the same thing being repeated over and over again. I for one find this to be quite annoying so allow me to apologise in advance for once again expressing my surprise at how quickly this year has gone by. December has certainly come around a lot faster than I had anticipated. This is a thought shared by several of my work colleagues and friends who are overcome with festivity and a pinch of stress. The latter being caused by the fact that Christmas is in exactly 20 days and they're nowhere near to being done with their present buying.

Sensing that some of you are also stressed by this, I've decided to dedicate this month to helping y'all out, so fret your festive seasoned socks not. Over the next three weeks I'll be providing you guys with lots of ideas for stocking fillers, his and hers and Secret Santa gifts. In today's post I've put together a selection of goodies that I think will make fabulous Secret Santa gifts for her. All are £10 and under and can currently be found on the high-street or on online. Happy shopping!

Bramley Sprig Make-Up Case - £10 from Cath Kidston (click here to view)

Apron - £7.99 from H&M (click here to view)

Mice Spots A6 Day To View 2016 Diary - £8 from Paperchase (click here to view)

Chalk Mug - £6 from Accessorize (click here to view)

Twinings Tea Selection - £10 from Boots (click here to view)

Lippy Star Wand - £10 from The Body Shop (click here to view)

Burt's Bees Burts Originals Gift Set - £6.79 from John Lewis (click here to view)

Starbucks eGift - £10 from Starbucks (click here to view)

Yankee Candle Simply Home Christmas 6 Votives Gift Set - £6 from ASDA (click here to view)

Fanci Nesting Star Cookie Cutters - £8 from Debenhams (click here to view)

Real Techniques Mini Mus-Haves - £7.99 from Superdrug (click here to view)

Christmas Lip Duo Bullet - £10 from Topshop (click here to view) 

Ciao ♥ Xx 

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My Top 5 MAC Lipsticks

Ciao ♥ It's said that diamonds are a girl's best friend. For a lot of women that's very much the case. For me that couldn't be further from the truth. I'm the type of woman who treasures and finds happiness in the simplest of things. One of those things being lipsticks.

MAC is my favourite brand when it comes to lipsticks as they have a wide variety of shades in many different formulas. Currently, I have twenty-nine of these in my collection. Eek! Do I plan on stopping there? Hell to the no. Some of you will probably think that's a tad obsessive but everyone has something, or a few things in my case, that they cannot help but buy. For instance, guys usually have quite a collection of video games, trainers and comic books. I have a thing for lipsticks, lingerie, jewellery, evening-wear dresses and high-heels. What can I say, I just can't help myself.

In today's post I'll be sharing swatches and a brief description of five of my favourite, go-to MAC lipsticks. These are all part of MAC's core collection so are all readily available to purchase. Let's begin.

Lady Danger
Colour: Vivid bright coral-red
Finish: Matte
Description: Although red isn't a shade I gravitate towards very often, it's a classic colour that every woman needs to have in her collection. The red MAC lipsticks I have are Lady Danger, Diva, Ruby Woo and Russian Red. Lady Danger is by far my favourite as it's bold, vibrant and head-turning. The only downside to this lipstick is that it tends to dry out my lips an hour to two after application.

Mehr
Colour: Dirty blue pink
Finish: Matte
Description: Despite having this shade for the longest time, I never get bored of it so carry it around with me in my bag for those just in case I need to spruce myself up moments. I love it! It stays put on my lips for a good few hours and doesn't require for me to use a lip liner prior to applying it. I've actually written an in-depth review on this product so click here if you'd like to read it.

Faux
Colour: Muted mauve-pink
Finish: Satin
Description: Hands down, this is the perfect nude lipstick as it creates that your lips but better look without drying them out. It's super creamy, glides on effortlessly and lasts for a good few hours. I feel that this will also compliment all skin tones.

Velvet Teddy
Colour: Deep-tone beige
Finish: Matte
Description: Word on the street was that this was the reason behind Kylie Jenner's all of a sudden big lips. Psh! Who was she trying to fool? Ha! In actual fact she fooled a lot of you as this then went on to completely sell out both in store and online for months. I waited a long time before playing up to the hype as I was a little worried that this shade was going to completely wash me out. Thankfully, it doesn't. It's a gorgeous light brown shade that stays put for absolutely ages.

Whirl
Colour: Dirty rose
Finish: Matte
Description: This is a gorgeous medium-dark brown shade and is the most recent addition to my growing collection. Initially, this shade was only available in a lip pencil and was also part of the craze surrounding Kylie Jenner's lip transformation; Kylie mentioned this is one of her go-to lip products. Since then is has recently been introduced to MAC's core lipstick collection.

Do you own any of these shades? If so, what are you thoughts and if not, what's your favourite shade(s)? I'd love to know as I'm always looking to add to my collection. FYI, I'm currently lusting after Stone and Retro :)

Ciao ♥ Xx 

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Product Review | Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water

Ciao ♥ It's been a hot minute or so since I came at you guys with a product review, which is a tad surprising, as I've really enjoyed using an array of products these past few months. In today's post I will be discussing a product you're likely to have heard of before, or even currently use, as it's constantly being raved about. It's none other than Garnier's Micellar Cleansing Water.

Up until a few months ago, my skin used to be super sensitive. This meant I was always cautious as to what products I'd apply to my face, especially around my eye area, as I didn't want to cause any sort of reaction. Due to this sensitivity I was constantly on the hunt for a range of products that were not going to irritate my skin. This certainly proved to be a lot harder than I thought. The majority of products I tried out were not 'suitable for sensitive skin' despite claiming to be so as they'd cause my skin to flare up in red patches, become very itchy and leave me with a burning sensation. Not the most pleasant of experiences I tell you.

Thankfully, I can happily say (*wipes forehead*) that I've experienced none of the irritable-ness mentioned above when using this product. No siree! I'm sure this is massively helped by the fact it is fragrance free and cleanses your skin, lifting away any dirt. I'm also super impressed at how light this feels on my skin as I dislike lathering my face in rich substances. Furthermore, this comes in a generous bottle size of 400ml and retails for an affordable price of £4.99. Better yet, this product is currently on offer at Superdrug for the reduced price of £3.29 (click here to view/purchase).

Another great thing about this product is that you're able to remove impurities and make-up without rinsing. Yes, really. This is perfect if you're on the go and conveniently have their travel size bottle (125ml) at hand. Ooo! Did I mention it's non-oily? Nope. Well now you know :)

Finally, to those who are intrigued as to how I use this product... I apply a liberal amount of product onto three or four cotton pads ensuring that at least three-quarters of each pad is moist. I then gently rub the product into my skin in circular motions, until all traces of make-up is removed. This procedure is super quick and takes no more than two or three minutes. Please keep in mind that when it comes to foundation, I opt for a light-medium coverage. Thereby, what might be enough product for me might not be for you.

What do you guys use to remove your make-up? I'd also love to know if you guys enjoy reading these type of posts. If so, let me know in the comment box below so that I can produce similar content on a more regular basis.

Ciao ♥ Xx 

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Wish List | June

Striped Midi Slip Dress - £36 from Topshop (click here to view)

Sudan Bag - £125/£87 from Pinko (click here to view)

Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow - £49 from Harvey Nichols (click here to view)

Sunglasses - £5.99 from H&M (click here to view)

Mini Oyster Shell Drop Earrings By Patricia Nicolas - £15 from Topshop (click here to view)

Nike Roshe Run Flyknit - £94.99 from Office (click here to view)

Khaki Fedora - £25 from Miss Selfridge (click here to view)

2-Pack Bracelets - £12.99 from H&M (click here to view)

Tom Ford Lip Colour In Sable Smoke - £37 from Selfridges (click here to view)

Chloe Love Story Eau De Parfum 50ml - £64.50 from John Lewis (click here to view)

Ciao ♥ Xx

Product Review | L'Oréal False Lash Superstar Mascara

Ciao ♥ Every once in a while I come across a product that I want to shout from the rooftops about. This time around it’s L’Oréal’s False Lash Superstar which has me losing my voice, and rightfully so. But before I begin and in case anyone is interested, I previously reviewed two other L’Oréal mascaras which you can read by simply selecting: Miss Manga or Volume Million Lashes So Couture. Now the unintentional plugging is out of the way, let’s get on with it.

Every so often I get the odd person or two asking me what mascara I use as they’re super impressed with the length of my lashes. Heck! I’ve even had a few people ask if I have eyelash extensions. I don’t but what I do have is clearly more mascara than sense. I know which ones work and which ones don’t. Now that’s saying something as if you’ve read my previous product reviews you’d know that I don’t usually take very well to new products, especially mascara, upon first application. It’s almost as if there’s an instant dislike button in my head and the product has to do everything in its power to gain my affection. 

L’Oréal’s False Lash Superstar mascara is made up of two wands, on opposite ends, featuring two different products. The first is a primer which individually coats your lashes in a white formula helping to thicken its appearance. The second is a top coat which ‘applies a black fibre enriched formula that perfectly coats your lashes’. Like all mascaras, I find this one works best when you wiggle the brush at the root of your lashes from side-to-side and work it through to the end.

Upon seeing the size of the brushes I was a bit apprehensive as to how much I’d like this product as I’ve NEVER been a fan of a skinny mascara brush. I’ve always said the bigger the brush, the more volumised your eyelashes are going to be. However, after using this mascara for a good month or so, I can happily confirm that it has exceeded my expectations and has become a go-to product in my make-up routine. Not only does it separate and lengthens my lashes but I haven't had a single eyelash clumping together problem. I've also found that it doesn't cause my eyelashes to go hard after application but still leaves them feeling quite soft, meaning that make-up removal at the end of the day is rather easy. The only downside to this product is that although the top coat formula is black, it's not an intense enough black for me. Therefore, I often use it in combination with Maybelline's Lash Sensational mascara which does the job. Overall, L’Oréal has got it right yet again. 

 

Not the best picture or pose but I wanted you guys to see what this mascara looks like on.

Have any of you tried this product? If so, what are your thoughts? Also, what is your current favourite mascara, or beauty product for that matter? I’d love to know :)

Ciao ♥ Xx

Product Review | L'Oreal True Match Foundation

Ciao ♥ How are you? I hope you're all doing well. I'm back today with a review on one of my current go-to make-up products: L'Oreal's True Match Foundation.

This might come as a slight surprise (or not lol) to those beauty enthusiasts who have been using this product day in, day out, ever since you first discovered your love for make-up. So basically foundation is all pretty new to me. Yes! Despite being nearly 23 years of age I've only just recently started to incorporate it into my every other day make-up routine. Initially, I only wore foundation on certain occasions (i.e. going out for dinner or on a night out) as I disliked the idea of caking my face in something that I felt my good skin could do without. Instead I would often opt for a BB cream due to its light and natural-looking finish.

Nonetheless, I still wanted to find the perfect foundation for my skin and so the hunt began. Okay, so foundation is a product that I am willing to spend however much money on. Ha! Go ahead and call me crazy but isn't it crazy not to? After all it's worn on your face which is usually the first thing that people notice about you. I feel it's something that all users should consider as an investment. This isn't to say that you should rule out using a drugstore foundation but more so to promote the importance of trying both high-end and drugstore products. What many people fail to realise is that not every foundation, no matter how much it's raved about, is going to suit or compliment your skin.

Thereby, in order to find the perfect foundation I think it's wise to try out a few to see which one works best for you. Roll your eyes at me not as you don't have to spend a darn penny to do so. Most luxury brands are more than willing to provide you with a sample so you can try the product out before purchasing it :) Gah! I'm rambling now. Long story short, upon being introduced to the market I heard lots of positive reviews on L'Oreal's True Match Foundation. Not only did this intrigue me but it also made me extremely keen to find out what the hype was about and boy am I happy I did.

The L'Oreal True Match Foundation is available in 18 shades ranging from light to dark and warm to neutral to cool. It contains SPF 17, comes in a 30ml bottle with a pump and retails at £9.99. It provides a lightweight coverage which can easily be built up to a medium coverage by using an extra half a pump of product. I start off by applying a few dabs of the foundation (shade C2 Rose Vanilla) around my face and use my Real Techniques Stippling Brush to blend it all in. I find that together these two work like a dream as the foundation buffs into my skin effortlessly leaving me with a natural and matte finish.

This is what my skin looked liked after wearing the foundation for 5+ hours.

Have any of you guys tried this foundation before? If so, what are your thoughts? I'd also love for you guys to suggest any other foundations that you feel are worth a purchase :) You can also read my previous Mehr Mac lipstick review by clicking here.

Ciao ♥ Xx

Product Review | L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes So Couture Mascara

Ciao! ♥ Not too long ago At the beginning of the year I ambitiously declared my desire to start publishing reviews on products, mainly beauty, that I've been using and enjoying. Sadly, I haven't kept to my word as I've only pathetically posted one review in about eight months. That's poo, right? :/ Going along with the saying 'better late than never', I've decided to write up a short and sweet review on one of my current essential make-up products. And, oh boy do I love it ♥

Despite being in my early twenties and at an age where most females have already been there, done that in regard to experimenting with make-up, I've only recently started to wear it on a day-to-day basis. Don't get me wrong, on some days I still venture around the streets of London barefaced as there's something so refreshing about not having anything on. Lol make-up wise of course :P 

When it comes to mascara I have a vast collection that include both high-end (i.e. Dior, Benefit and MAC) and drugstore (i.e. L'Oreal, Maybelline, Max Factor and Rimmel) brands. Despite the fact that I could probably give Boots and Superdrug a good run for their money, I am constantly on the lookout for newly introduced mascaras that I can try out. I guess it's fair to say that I'm somewhat obsessed with mascara.

 

Having always declared my love for L'Oreal's Volume Million Lashes in Extra Black mascara I was super excited to see that the French company recently bought out a new edition, So Couture, to their Volume Million Lashes family. I've used it almost every single day since buying it about two-three months ago. I think it's fair to say that this in itself speaks volume and I'm positive that the majority of you would use it as often as I do. It's definitely a product that I would shout from the rooftops about as it coats and lengthens every single lash from root to tip without causing them to clump together. This is a massive plus for me as I love when my lashes are individually fanned out as they look full, thick and intense. I'm definitely not a fan of the spidery lash look. Yuck! Furthermore, upon first application I didn't find this mascara to be overly wet meaning there was no need for my trusty cotton buds to make an appearance and wipe away any excess product from my eyelids.

This mascara retails for £10.99 at both Boots and Superdrug. I can honestly say that it's worth every penny and would definitely recommend it to you guys. Would I repurchase? Hell YES. Fo' sure! :)

What are your thoughts on this particular mascara and is the end result (as seen above) to your satisfaction? Oh, and please do recommend me your favourite mascara :)

Ciao! ♥ Xx