The Body Shop Tea Tree Face Mask

Even though my complexion is generally clear most of the time, my skin can be very hormonal- meaning  that during those dreaded few days of the month I break out and have several blemishes to deal with. I first purchased The Body Shop's Tea Tree Face Mask (£10) around six months ago when I was suffering from a particularly bad break out; I had a couple of really large, painful spots and it was making me feel miserable about my skin. I'd read a lot about the benefits of tea tree oil, it's natures wonder ingredient for oily, spot prone skin so I thought I would give it a try.

This mask sounded like the answers to my prayers; it cleanses and soothes the skin, while removing impurities and absorbs excess oil to reveal a clearer complexion. Along with tea tree oil, it's packed with skin loving ingredients including tamanu oil extract which helps to improve the skins healing process by generating new tissue. I adore brands that use natural ingredients in their skin care products; another reason why I purchased this face mask. 

To use, I thoroughly cleanse my skin then take a fairly big blob and smooth a thick layer over my face. This mask is instantly cooling and feels so incredibly refreshing on the skin, I love how I can feel it working! After ten minutes, I remove it with a face cloth under warm water- my skin feels so fresh and I see a difference in my complexion straight away. That's the beauty of face masks, they are so effective and work so quickly. 

I love using this mask when I suffer from a break out, I find that my overall complexion improves so much, and it really soothes and calms those angry, red blemishes. It really helps to get my skin back to it's good old self, and it's such a bargain! 

Have you tried this?

Jurlique Purifying Foaming Cleanser

If you're a regular reader of my blog, you might remember seeing this cleanser in my Evening Skincare Routine post (you can read it here). Jurlique are a brand that I always hear so many good things about- the brand are all about organic skincare that combines nature with science to create high quality products that work so effectively. I've been eager to try something from there impressive range for quite some time now, so I decided to pick this up.

The Jurlique Purifying Foaming Cleanser (£27.50) works to keep the skin balanced and  purified by removing excess oil and surface impurities that clog the skin, leaving the complexion feeling clean and refreshed. The formula is aimed at those with an oily skin type and has a light, fluidy texture which lathers up ever so slightly once applied to damp skin. Most oil controlling cleansers seem to come in the form of foam, but some can really strip the skin of moisture and leave your face feeling tight and uncomfortable. This stuff however is so gentle and leaves my skin feeling super soft and smooth every time I use it. 

It’s packed with all natural ingredients such as Witch Hazel extract, which helps to rebalance oiliness while smoothing the skin, plus Rose Extract and Horsetail which  hydrate, soften and restore the skin. It really is jam packed with goodness! The formula also contains antioxidants that help to protect the skin from environmental aggressors- which is ideal if you live in a big city with lots of pollution.

I’m so happy I decided to purchase this cleanser, it’s left me wanting to try more products from there oil control collection. It leaves my skin looking so much clearer and brighter, not to mention feeling super cleansed and purified! The scent is lovely and it feels so gentle on my skin, and I have to say I adore the cute packaging too!

Have you tried anything from Jurlique?

Office Hush Cross Strap Leather Sandals

I always moan that I struggle to find summer appropriate clothing and footwear- it's definitely not my favourite season when fashion is concerned, but the shops are sure proving me wrong this year! I've managed to pick up some really nice pieces to add to my wardrobe so far, including my most recent purchase from Office, these gorgeous Hush Cross Strap Leather Sandals.

They cost £40, but my boyfriend is a student so I managed to use his student discount to get 10% off. I adore simple summery shoes like this, they have these in white too but tan sandals just go with so much more. I've already been outfit planning and I can't believe how many outfits I can pair them with; they will look cute and casual worn with denim shorts and skinny jeans, and they will look adorable worn with all the summery dresses I have in my wardrobe. 

I wore them for the first time yesterday, they're not the comfiest shoes I've ever worn, though I think they just need breaking in a bit more. Saying that, I probably won't be doing much walking in them anyway- I'll be wearing them mostly when I'm having lazy days soaking up the sunshine in the park, or relaxing in a beer garden with a cocktail in hand....

What do you think of these? 

Jouer Matte Moisture Tint

The Jouer Matte Moisture Tint (£30) is a product that I've been seriously lusting after for the longest time. When it comes to bases, a matte finish is always top of my list and I'm a big fan of light formulas which offer buildable coverage that looks natural, so this sounded like a match made in heaven to me. With summer now here in Glasgow, it gave me the perfect excuse to finally get my hands on one. l adore a perfected, flawless looking finish and this does just that. 

I don’t think I’ve came across a product that has impressed me so much, it’s like nothing I’ve ever tried before. This lightweight moisture tint blends seamlessly into the skin to even out imperfections giving a dewy, matte finish that let’s my actual skin show through. The oil free formula contains antioxidants that allow congested skin to breathe and provides continuous moisture throughout the day, while keeping the complexion shine free. I have a combination/oily skin type so my make up does tend to slip off after a few hours of wear and my skin can feel quite greasy too, but this keeps my skin feeling fresh and comfortable all day, while keeping my complexion looking matte and shine free.

This product really is perfect in every way, I don't have a bad thing to say about it! I love the finish; it covers all without looking cakey, lasts well on my skin all day and gives me the complexion I’ve always dreamed of. I still need to apply concealer to my under eye area, but this gives me flawless, velvety matte skin. I find that I only need a small amount of this and it's so easy to apply. I use my finger tips to blend, and my Real Techniques Expert Face Brush to buff it into my skin where I need more coverage. This is available in five shades, I chose Porcelain which is the perfect match for my pale skin. 

I highly recommend you try this if your skin is oily and a matte complexion is your thing. It's truly amazing and I know I'll be wearing this all summer long. If there's one product to believe the hype about, it's this one.

Have you tried this?

MAC Lipstick in Peach Blossom

I've been a little bit obsessed with this nude lipstick ever since purchasing it a few weeks ago, which is quite odd for me as my signature lip colour is, and always has been, bright pink. Pink shades always work so well to perk up my complexion and flatter my fair skin, while bringing together my whole look and making my lips stand out. I love how nude shades look on others though but I was unsure if I would be able to pull one off - I was concerned I would look too washed out and they wouldn’t suit my skin tone. But on my last visit to MAC, the shade Peach Blossom really stood out to me.

Peach Blossom (£15) is the perfect, pretty pinky nude. Described as a ‘frosted cool nude’, it’s such an understated and wearable colour that almost looks like I’m wearing nothing at all on my lips. The formula is just beautiful; creamsheens are my absolute favourite of all the formulas that MAC have to offer. They’re really creamy and glide onto the lips effortlessly, leaving them feeling moisturised and soft. As you can see, the finish is really flattering with just a hint of glossy shine; I love how natural looking it is! It does last a good few hours depending on eating, drinking and so on, but because it’s so creamy it does transfer and fade when doing either of these.

I definitely recommend this if you are looking for a wearable nude. It's perfect for everyday wear as it's such a lovely shade, I really can't imagine it not suiting anyone. I can't wait to start adding more nude shades to my lipstick collection!

Have you tried this lipstick?

Evening Skin Care Routine

I've been meaning to write a post on my evening skin care routine for a while now, so here it is! Even though I'm always trying new products, my evening routine hasn't changed that much over the last couple of months. I normally chop and change when it comes to cleansers, but I've been pretty loyal to everything else. These are the products that I'm currently using...

I always start by removing my make up with the Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm (£21). This cleanser always seems to be sold out everywhere, you really need to hunt it down if you want it! I really am obsessed with this cleanser though, it's so effective at melting away all traces of make up leaving my skin feeling impeccably clean and purified. I used to be really unsure about cleansing balms, but when I tried this I was sold. It's pretty dreamy stuff.
The evenings always call for a double cleanse, so I follow this with the Jurlique Purifying Foaming Cleanser (£27.50). I've only just started using this cleanser so I won't say too much about it, but my skin is loving it so far. It helps to rebalance oiliness and removes surface impurities to leave the skin feeling clean and fresh. Foaming cleansers can leave the skin feeling tight and stripped of moisture, but this one is so lovely and gentle and leaves my skin feeling oh so soft.

Next, I spritz my face with the amazing Lush Tea Tree Water (£3.95). This feels so refreshing on my oily skin and ensures any remaining traces of cleanser or make up are removed. It keeps my complexion looking so clean and clear, and my skin feels so revived every time I use this. It's super affordable too, I always buy the smaller bottle as it's perfect for when you're out and about and feel like your skin needs freshened up -  it doesn't disturb your make up and the spray bottle makes it so simple to use.

I then use a few drops of the Clarins Lotus Face Treatment Oil (£32)- I feel like I talk about this all the time but it really is such a wonderful product! It's light and absorbs into the skin so quickly giving my complexion a sheer glow; there's none of that greasy feeling afterwards that you associate with oils. I find that using an oil has really improved my skin over time, my complexion is so much more refined and looks so healthy and radiant.  I've been using this oil for almost a year now and there's still a good amount left in the bottle, it's a good investment and well worth the price tag.

Lastly, I apply my night cream of choice, the Origins High Potency Night-a-Mins Mineral Enriched Renewal Cream (£34). This works by sloughing away dead skin cells while you sleep, so that when you wake up your complexion looks bright and healthy. This cream is very rich, but it sinks into my skin beautifully and smells divine too. I'll then finish off with a little bit of eye cream, I love the Clarins Eye Revive Beauty Flash (£29) as it feels lovely and refreshing on application and helps to protect the delicate skin around the eyes while keeping them hydrated.  I use this in the mornings too as it minimises the look of dark circles and reduces puffiness so my eyes always look bright and wide awake.

What products do you use as part of your evening routine?

Lush H'suan Wen Hua Hair Treatment

I'm a pretty big fan of hair masks, they really do make all the difference to my hair and I always make sure to use one once a week to keep my hair in tip top condition. My favourite Bumble and bumble hair mask was running low, so on my last (and very over due) visit to Lush I picked up their H'Suan Wen Hua Hair Treatment  (£9.50). There's actually a new store that's just opened up in Glasgow where I live, so I was excited to have a look around and see what they had to offer. 

Aimed at those with damaged hair in need of repair, this protein rich treatment deeply nourishes the hair and improves it's overall condition, leaving your locks feeling stronger and revived. Like all Lush products, it's bursting with natural ingredients rich in oils such as avocados and bananas, which deeply moisturise the hair leaving it beautifully soft. It also contains cinnamon leaf oil and bay leaf infusion which stimulate the scalp promoting healthier hair. This is the perfect treatment if you have dry hair, or if you colour and use a lot of heat on your hair like I do.

To use, I massage a good amount of this mask through my hair when it's dry, making sure it's covered in a generous, thick coating. I then pile my hair on top of my head and leave for 20 minutes before shampooing and conditioning as normal. My hair is so thick and long right now that I ended up using almost half the tub in my first use! But I guess if you don't have as much hair as me it will last a lot longer.  

This is the first hair mask I've tried from Lush and I have to say I'm really impressed. My hair wasn't in bad condition before, but this mask gives my hair just what it needs to maintain it's strength and leaves it looking incredibly nourished and healthy with a beautiful shine. It feels so lovely and super soft, I'll definitely be repurchasing this as I love the results.

Have you tried any of the hair masks that Lush has to offer? 

Clinique Airbrush Concealer

I need all the help I can get when it comes to the dark circles under my eyes. Even though I use an eye cream that has worked really well to reduce their appearance, they've never gone away completly so concealer is an essential step in my make up routine. I've mentioned my love for Clinique make up before in previous posts and recently I repurchased one of my favourite products from the brand. 

The Clinique Airbrush Concealer (£18) is a light reflecting concealer that aims to hide shadows while illuminating and perfecting the complexion. I apply this over my foundation to my under eye area and to the sides of my nose to mask any redness; it really does become one with the rest of my make up giving me the most flawless looking base. The creamy texture makes application so easy, I brush on a small amount and then use my fingers to gently blend into my skin and build coverage where needed. Even though it’s light the coverage is impressive, it manages to hide my dark circles and transform my tired looking eyes, making them look brighter and helping me look more awake! It blends so easily and looks so natural on the skin too, it doesn't  cake one bit so makes a pretty good handbag staple for touch ups throughout the day.

This product really does live up to it’s name, it's pretty much faultless. My complexion always looks so much more perfected and it's such an easy and reliable product to work with. The price is pretty reasonable too as you only need a small amount and it lasts months.

Have you tried this? What is your favourite concealer for banishing dark circles?

The Perfect Summer Shirt

If I'm completely honest, I've never been the biggest fan of summer clothes. I always think it's easier to dress and look good in the colder months - layers are just so much more stylish if you ask me. Summer is just around the corner though and with my wardrobe seriously lacking in outfits appropriate for the warmer months, I've been looking for some new additions to add to it.

I picked up this Oversized Casual Striped Shirt (£32) from Topshop the other day after spotting it last week and praying it wouldn't sell out in my size before I had money to buy it. I really do love it, it's comfortable and chic, plus it's so light and airy making it perfect for the summer months. I'm wearing it with my trusty black skinny jeans and these cute H&M sandals (14.99) that I purchased recently too. Usually I never find anything I like from H&M so I was really pleased when I came across these! They're so comfy and really good quality for the price, I know I'll get lots of wear out of them. 

What do you think of my latest purchases?