MAC Prep + Prime Skin Refined Zone Treatment

I'm always looking for new primers that will help control oil and keep my skin looking shine free for longer. I’ve been pretty faithful to my Benefit POREfessional which has lasted me quite some time now, but on my last visit to MAC I spotted this and decided to give it a try.

MAC Prep+Prime Skin Refined Zone Treatment (£16) is a light, oil free primer designed to be worn under make up, which minimises the appearance of pores while controlling oil and shine. It has a wet, fluid like texture that you dab onto the t- zone, which then dries instantly to create a natural looking matte finish. I'm so impressed at how much smoother and naturally matte my skin looks after I apply this;  the overall texture of my skin is improved and once I buff in my foundation over the top, my skin looks so flawless. My make up always seems to slide off my nose after a few hours, but this really helps my foundation stay on for longer and keeps my make up looking so fresh. I know this is going to be one of my most essential make up products once summer hits. 

I'd really recommend this if you suffer from oily skin and are looking for a primer that will increase the longevity of your make up, while keeping shine under control. It's really improved my complexion and has made me feel so much happier about my skin. 

Have you tried this?

Clarins Ultra-Matte Rebalancing Lotion

Clarins definitely top my list as one of my favourite skin care brands. I was drawn to this moisturiser as I absolutely love their Lotus Facial Oil – in fact it’s become one of my most essential skin care products in recent months. So after trying a few other products from the brand and not being able to fault a single one of them, I decided to give one of their moisturisers a try.

Clarins Ultra-Matte Rebalancing Lotion (£26) is an oil controlling moisturiser that aims to  purify the skin and balance it, whilst tightening pores and helping to obtain a long lasting matte appearance. I can be pretty hard to please when it comes to moisturisers; they have to be oil free, light and hydrating and not feel greasy or too rich on my skin. I adore this as is sinks in nicely and doesn’t feel heavy on the skin at all. It feels lovely and refreshing once applied and gives my skin a healthy, natural glow and evens out my complexion, giving it a matte appearance. It certainly wakes my skin up and makes it look so radiant! Like all Clarins products, it smells beautiful too.

I would say this is a great moisturiser for the warmer months as it leaves skin feeling so fresh and does such an impressive job at keeping my complexion shine free for hours. I’ve been using this every morning for the past few weeks and my skin has been looking all the better because of it. As much as I do love this for it’s oil control and ability to purify my pores, I don’t find it as hydrating as I would like it to be. This is probably me being just being picky! It is enough for daytime though, but I always make sure I apply a night cream and use a facial oil along with it for a bit more nourishment come evening. Saying that, it won’t stop me from using it as I do love the results, but I am still looking for something that’s a bit more hydrating. If any of you have any recommendations let me know!

Have you tried this? What do you think of Clarins products? 

Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay In Place Make Up

I’m always searching for the perfect foundation and looking for new brands to try. There was a lot of hype around this foundation when it was first released and it sounded right up my street, but for the longest time I never got around to trying it. The 'double' description really put me off at first, it brought me to the assumption that the finish would be too heavy and look unnatural on my skin. I'm more of a fan of foundations that offer light to medium coverage, but after reading several reviews praising it for it's light weight, flawless finish, I changed my mind and decided to pick up a bottle. 

Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay In Place Make Up (£28.50) is a long wearing foundation that offers medium to full coverage that looks natural and stays fresh all day. I've tried many foundations that claim they are long lasting, but they always seem to sit on top of my skin and look cakey rather than blending in to create a natural finish, so I was pleasantly surprised. It's one of the only foundations that I've ever come across that lasts so well on my skin, I don't have to top up my make up as often when I'm wearing this, all I need is touch of powder on my t-zone as my skin is a little on the oily side. 

This is my ideal finish from a foundation - it's light so feels comfortable on the skin, and creates an almost matte,flawless complexion. I am so impressed with the coverage too, I normally need to use concealer under my eyes and around my nose to hide any redness, but this conceals imperfections like a dream! I use my Real Techniques Buffing Brush to apply, the formula of this foundation makes it really easy to blend and makes skin look really lovely. The formula is also oil free and non-comedogenic too so it won't clog your pores. 

I'm so impressed with this foundation, it's perfect in every way! If you are looking for something that will create a beautiful, natural finish that lasts all day, this ones for you. Just ignore the eye watering price tag....

Have you tried this?

Hair Care for Stronger, Healthier Hair

I've always been pretty good when it comes to taking care of my hair, but not so long ago I was having a lot of problems with my hair snapping off at the ends, and on the whole my hair just looked damaged and felt weak. The products I was using on my hair before just weren't working, so I switched up my hair care routine and started to use products that would strengthen my hair and restore it's health. My hair has been looking so shiney and healthy recently and I know it's down to these amazing products!

For the past few months I've been using the John Frieda Full Repair Hydrate + Rescue Shampoo (£5.99) along with the conditioner from the same range. I absolutely love this range, the shampoo works to reverse damage with every use by deeply nourishing and strengthening the hair so it's always smooth and soft. My hair was very dry and brittle before I started using this, but I've noticed such a difference in it's overall condition; it feels and looks so much stronger and healthier. I would definitely recommend this range if your hair has been damaged from colouring and heat and is in need of some tlc. 

Another product I've been using for a while now is the Bumble and bumble Deeep  (£22.50), a weekly deep conditioning hair mask that repairs damaged, chemically treated hair. It's packed full of proteins that help to soften and revitalise the hair, as well as improving it's elasticity and making it so manageable. I love how amazingly soft and smooth this mask leaves my hair, while giving it the most incredible shine. Like all Bumble and bumble products it doesn't come cheap, but this mask is worth the investment as it's so effective and leaves my hair feeling so nourished. 

To protect my hair from heat styling, I use the Dove StyleCare Replenishing and Heat Protect Spray (£4.59). I use this everyday before I dry and straighten my hair, it always leaves my hair feeling softer and smoother, and the formula helps to strengthen and protect against heat. I really love Dove's hair care range, I've used their shampoos and conditioners in the past and they've always really impressed me, they do such an affordable range of great quality hair care products. 

Finally, I use the Redken Extreme Anti-Snap (£13) which also offers heat protection but I use it mainly for it's repairing properties. It's a leave in treatment that strengthens the hair and helps to reduce breakage and split ends.  I've always had issues with my hair snapping off at the ends and I am happy to announce that this has really worked miracles. I apply this to the mid lengths and the ends of my hair and it feels and looks so much stronger and healthier. Plus this product doesn't feel greasy or heavy in the hair, it's so light and makes my thick hair more manageable while blow drying and styling, making it look beautifully smooth and shiny.

Have you tried any of these products?

MAC Mineralize Rich Lipstick in Good Taste

If you've been following my blog for a while you'll know how much I love a bright lip; to be honest I hardly wear anything else. I’ve been looking for a juicy pink shade for the spring and summer months so naturally I headed straight to MAC; I knew they would have exactly what I was looking for.

MAC Mineralize Rich Lipstick in Good Taste (£20) is an eye catching, bright pink with a lovely shine finish. The lightweight formula of this lipstick instantly leaves lips feeling incredibly nourished which I just love, and glides on effortlessly leaving gorgeous colour that lasts for hours. These have the most perfect, glossy finish too that looks so flattering and really plumps up the lips drawing so much attention to them. This is a great choice if you have quite dry lips as this lipstick keeps your lips moisturised and feeling oh so soft, as well as hiding any chaps and flakes.

I’ve been wearing this shade most days since I got it, it might not be an everyday shade for everyone as it’s very pigmented, but if you’re looking for something to make your lips stand out then I’d recommend this. I keep the rest of my make up pretty simple by keeping my eyes low maintenance with just a few coats of mascara and choosing an understated pink blush for my cheeks. I’m wearing it with my Benefit Hervana blush in the photo above which this lipstick goes perfectly with.These are quickly becoming my favourite kind of MAC lipsticks!

What do you think of this shade? 

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Cleanser

I’ve been pretty loyal to my Origins Checks and Balances Cleanser for months now; infact I rarely ever stray from it. However the skin care obsessive in me wanted to try something different, cleansers are my favourite when it comes to skin care products, so with my current cleanser running low I picked up the Kiehls Ultra Facial Oil-Free Cleanser (£15), one of the brands best selling products.

It has everything I look for when I purchase a new cleanser - it's oil free, has no fragrance and controls shine by reducing oil on the skins surface. Packed with lovely ingredients such as Lemon Extract, this cleanser helps to remove impurities and deep clean congested skin, while leaving the complexion looking more balanced. The lightweight formula is sulphate free and non stripping, which leaves the skin feeling impeccably clean and fresh without that over dying and tight feeling that you can often get from using foam cleansers. Some can really strip the skin of moisture, but this one just leaves my skin feeling so soft and super cleansed.

I've been using this in the mornings and as my second cleanser in the evenings after using a cleansing balm first to remove my make up. It leaves my skin feeling so clean and revived, and gets rid of any remaining dirt and grime. My skin wasn't bad before, but after the first few days I noticed such a difference in my skin; it looked brighter and so much more refined. The clogged pores on my nose and chin are my biggest skin complaint, so I was impressed at how much clearer and smoother my skin looked in such a short period of time. I didn’t notice much of a difference in terms of oil control between this and my last cleanser, which isn't a bad thing - I was happy that this cleanser was just as effective at regulating oil production as the Origins cleanser. 

Overall, this is a great cleanser that does an incredible job decongesting my skin and controlling oil, therefore making my skin balanced and clear. This is the perfect cleanser if, like me, you have combination/oily skin. I think it's worthy of the price too as you only need a tiny amount and the big tube means it will last me quite some time. I’m so pleased with it!

Have you tried this cleanser?

The Skin Detox

I really do love to indulge in a bit of pampering on a Sunday night; it's the perfect way to end a busy week and have some much needed 'me' time. In addition to a lovely bubble bath, hair mask and painting my nails, I have a few trusty skin care products that work incredibly well to detox my skin, leaving my complexion looking beautiful and healthy.

I start by gently cleansing my skin with the Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm (£21) to remove grime and any other impurities. I spend a few minutes massaging this into my skin, the balm transforms into a silky oil once applied and melts away all traces of make up like a dream. I love how it doesn't feel greasy or leave a horrible film over my face afterwards, it just makes my skin feel impeccably clean and soft.  

After cleansing, I use another Clinique favourite of mine, the Clinique Exfoliating Scrub (£18.50). I've had this scrub for so long now, the tube is never ending. This scrub is aimed at those with oilier skins, it contains menthol with gives this amazing cooling sensation, it's like no other product I've tried, my skin feels so unbelievably refreshed when I use this! It removes dead skin cells to reveal a brighter and more radiant complexion and doesn't feel harsh on the skin either. If you suffer from oily skin like myself, I highly recommend this.

I follow this with one of my favourite clay masks, the Elemental Herbology Facial Detox Purifying Face Mask (£28). This has worked wonders for my oily skin, it does an amazing job at detoxifying and unclogging my pores, leaving my skin feeling less oily and looking beautifully refined. It contains skin friendly ingredients that help to eliminate toxins from the skin surface, balance sebum production and protects against environmental extremes. I also find this amazing when hormones are playing havoc with my skin or I've been feeling a bit run down, it's so effective for decongesting the skin and leaving it looking clear.

I then use a few drops of my Clarins Lotus Face Treatment Oil (£32). For so long I thought facial oils weren't for me; as someone with oily skin, I assumed that applying a facial oil would just make my skin even more greasy and clog my pores. It works by regulating the oil production of your skin, therefore balancing it and making your skin look more refined. My skin loves this stuff, it's light and absorbs beautifully giving a sheer glow to my skin; not a greasy or shiny appearance which I always expected from applying an oil to my skin. I see so many good results from using this facial oil, my skin always looks so much more hydrated and smoother. It truly is such a lovely product to use and smells divine too. 

I finish with a good amount of moisturiser, I normally go for the Korres Wild Rose 24 Hour Moistursing and Brightening Cream (£20). This completely transforms my complexion, making it look radiant and glowing. It feels so lovely and light, and leaves my skin feeling nourished and hydrated. It really helps to keep my skin looking it's best. 

Have you tried any of these products?