Bedtime Beauty Essentials

The low down on the products I apply to my skin just before I get my beauty sleep...

Whilst researching natural remedies for anti ageing an ingredient that kept popping up website after website was Rosehip Oil, the hype around this ingredient is pretty big with claims that this is the holy grail for slowing down the ageing process. There are lots of facial oils on the beauty market which contain Rosehip Oil so knowing which one to go for can be a little tricky, I decided on Rio Rosa Mosqueta Pure Chilean Rosehip Seed Oil after it was recommended to me by a friend. I love that this is 100% natural and suitable for all skin types. This oil is recommended for dry skin, sun damage, scars, stretch marks, crows feet, fine lines etc.. the list goes on, you can see why it is such a popular ingredient at the moment!

I use this as directed every evening, a little oil goes a long way so one pump is normally enough for my face and then I use any excess oil for my neck. I spend two to three minutes massaging this into my skin making sure the product is evenly covering my skin, next I use my Body Shop facial massager, I gently roll this over my face and down my neck. This helps to even out skin tone and improves the skins ability to absorb moisture. I have been doing this routine nightly for a month now and I am really starting to see results, my skin tone is looking a lot more even and the fine lines around my eye area are harder to see, I think that Rosehip Oil is definitely something that will be sticking around in my evening routine!

To follow up my facial oil I like to use a super hydrating night cream, recently I have been using the Vitamin E Nourishing Night Cream from The Body Shop, this is enriched with Wheatgerm Oil which is great for protecting the skin against pre-mature ageing as well as things like pollution and the environment, like the Rosehip Oil this is suitable for all skin types. The rich cream also contains Community Fair Trade Shea Butter which gives the night cream its thick texture. Again I follow this up with my facial massager to improve the skins circulation.

My skin in the morning looks plump, youthful and hydrated thanks to this darling duo! Have you tried either of these two yet? I'd love to know your current bedtime routine, feel free to leave me a comment below.

Disclaimer - Although I work for The Body Shop this in no way effects my opinion.

The Skincare Series: Part Two

I've talked cleanser, make-up remover and toner but now it is time to find out what products I like to use on a daily basis to keep my skin hydrated...

After using my L'Oreal Velvety Soft Toner I like to prepare my skin for moisturiser by using a serum, my current go to is Hydraluron from Indeed Labs, this contains a pure form of hyaluronic acid - an incredibly moisturising ingredient that holds up to 1,000 times its weight in water which helps to keep skin feeling hydrated and plumped.

To prepare my eyes for moisturiser I like to use The Body Shop's Drops of Youth Eye Concentrate, like Hydraluron this helps keep the skin plump and youthful, it also helps to reduce fine line and eye bags. I love the cooling sensation of the metal roller ball - this is perfect for waking yourself up in the early winter mornings. The active ingredient is Elderweiss - a plant stem cell proven to help with the skins renewal properties.

After my serums have had time to sink in and work their magic I like to apply my moisturiser, the Vitamin E Aqua Boost Sorbet, again by The Body Shop, is perfect for my combination skin type, this lightweight sorbet texture sinks into the skin very quickly so there's no waiting around to apply my foundation, it is enriched with wheatgerm oil so keeps my skin hydrated all day. For my eyes I have been using the Origins GinZing refreshing eye cream to brighten and depuff. The formula is enriched with coffee bean, ginseng, magnolia extract and natural optic brighteners, these ingredients help to reduce eye puffiness and dark circles.

Next week I'll be discussing skin treatments and skin saviors so stay tuned.....

Disclaimer: Although I work for The Body Shop this in no way effects my opinion. 

The Brightening Exfoliator

Not sure what exfoliator to go for if you have sensitive skin? Prone to redness, eczema or acne? I may have found the solution... 

As a girl with sensitive skin, choosing the right exfoliator can be tricky, I want something gentle that still removes dead skin cells and brightens the skin without causing it to flare up. Pai Skincare offers a gentle approach to exfoliation - the Kukui & Jojoba Bead Skin Brightening Exfoliator is perfect for a more sensitive skin type, unlike other exfoliators that can irritate skin this has a micro-sphere system which protects the skin as it polishes. These Jojoba beads gently roll over the skin lifting away impurities and dead skin revealing a brighter complexion. It is also packed with high concentrations of Omega 3 & 6 and Vitamins A, D and E which instantly provide hydration and help to soften the skin.

I apply this to dry, clean skin and massage in using gentle circular motions and then rinse and polish with a warm muslin cloth, this helps to polish the skin and reveal a more youthful, radiant complexion.

Have you tried this beauty yet? What are your tips for problem/sensitive skin?

Super Facialist Daily Moisturiser

Super Facialist is one of those brands that you discover in the aisles of Boots and never look back, I could quite happily devote my entire skincare routine to Una Brennan products.

I have recently been looking for a daily moisturiser that contains a little sun protection but a lot of products I have tried have been too rich for the day time and have left my make up slipping and sliding off... not a good look. I picked up the Super Facialist Vitamin C Brightening Skin Defence Daily Moisturiser as it is lightweight and contains UV protection. I love using this after cleansing, it feels so refreshing, it has a lovely citrus scent to it and the bottle has a pump so its easy to control how much you use.

This product also promises to brighten your complexion with results noticeable after three weeks, I have to say my skin is feeling and looking more healthy after using this, I really recommend this if you are looking for a light day time moisturiser that isn't going to be too heavy and rich. The vitamin C helps to give your skin that added boost making your overall complexion much healthier.

I just cannot get enough of the Una Brennan products, everything I have tried so far has been amazing, what are your favourites? Have you tried the Daily Moisturiser yet? Let me know in the comments.

The Lightweight Base

After my last post on foundation I started to think more about my base, I have a lot of different lightweight products including beauty balms and tinted moisturisers, but which ones would I recommend? Lets see...
First up is the Perfect Look Skin Miracle by This Works, I wanted this product for ages, it is a tinted moisturiser that contains hyaluronic acid for long lasting hydration, the caramel and mica provide a subtle glowy tint to the skin and keep coverage very minimal, I find this to be so gentle on the skin and lightweight it really does feel like skincare as opposed to make up. Next is the Dr Jart+ Water Fuse Beauty Balm, like the this works moisturiser this only comes in one shade, I find it blends into my skin well and the advanced water technology helps keep the skin hydrated, as this is a BB cream I find this to be light to medium coverage so it is perfect for an everyday base. The Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector BB Cream in medium is also great for an everyday base, this covers any blemishes and evens the skin tone giving a natural finish. Lastly we have the Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation, this is the most lightweight high street foundation I have tried and I love it, it does just the right amount of concealing without being to cakey or heavy on the skin. If you are looking for a more lightweight everyday base then get yourselves down to Boots where all the above products are available for you to swatch.

This Works Perfect Look Skin Miracle £28 for 30ml.
Dr Jart + Water Fuse Beauty Balm £18 for 50ml.
Garnier BB Cream £9.99 for 50ml.
Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation £8.99 for 30ml. 

Save or Splurge: Foundations

When it comes to foundations I really like investing in a high end products as I feel that a good base is the most important thing when it comes to make up, having said that there are a few really good drugstore foundations that I have been trying recently that are really matching up to the high end standard, take Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum for example, I have the shade light bronze which really suits my skin tone. This foundation is a gel formula and it applies to the skin really well with fingers or with a foundation brush. I find this lasts really well on my skin and the finish is satin with a slightly dewy radiant look. I need to powder this after around eight hours just around my nose and chin, but other than that it lasts well throughout the day. So all that being said how does it compare to a high end foundation?

Well I think it is only fair to compare it to something similar, and Yves Saint Laurent's Le Teint Touche Eclat foundation is very alike, the finish I find to be almost identical to Healthy Mix Serum, it creates a flawless, satin finish and gives a lovely glow to the skin, again after around eight hours I need to apply a little powder around my oily areas. Both of these foundations cover up my blemishes and create an even skintone.

YSL Le Teint Touche Eclat foundation retails at £28, and at under half of that price you can get the Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum for £10.99, is it about time I become a little more open minded about drugstore foundations? 

NUXE Skincare

NUXE is a luxury French skincare brand that is known for its lovely products and Eco awareness. I wasn't really aware of the brand until my local Marks and Spencer's got a new beauty department which now hosts brands such as Philip Kinglsey and REN. Recently M&S have been having alot of beauty offers with lots of freebies, so after deciding that NUXE was the brand I wanted then I had to choose my products, the offer was buy two and receive a free toning lotion. I settled on the melting cleansing gel and the cleansing milk. After using them for a few weeks I thought I would give you an update on how I am finding them:

Gentle Toning Lotion with Rose Petals - This is such a refreshing toner, I apply this as the last step of my skincare routine to tone and cleanse my skin, I apply this onto a cotton pad and wipe all over my face. This leaves my skin feeling incredibly moisturised too!

Melting Cleansing Gel with Rose Petals - This is a really gentle make up remover, I rub this into my skin when wet and then rinse away with all my make up. It is really effective and because there is hardly any rubbing or scrubbing involved it is perfect for skin that is sensitive. 

Comforting Cleansing Milk with Rose Petals -  This is definitely my favourite of the three products, I love that the bottle has a pump, I just put a few pumps onto a cotton pad and massage into my skin, again this is such a gentle cleanser that does a really good job of removing impurities and make-up.

This whole collection is suitable for sensitive skin, and all the products smell absolutely lovely. Get yourselves down to M&S and check out there wonderful beauty ranges.

Bourjois Bronzing Primer

It's no secret that I like the sun-kissed just stepped off a plane look, so any product with bronze in the title has me from the start. When I first read about the Bourjois Paris Bronzing Primer I was a tad excited to say the least and as soon as it was released I bought it. I'm a little lazy when it comes to primer but I have found myself reaching for this product a lot. It has all the qualities of other primers I have tried; it smooths out skins texture with a velvet finish, it mattifies and helps your make up stick around all day. But whereas most primers are colourless, this one gives a lovely bronzed glow to the skin. The pot it comes in makes it easy to get just the right amount of product, you really only need a little, I smooth it on with my fingers and then make sure it is all blended with my Real Techniques Expert face brush. You can wear this alone, or under foundation.

I like pairing this with the Revlon Photo Ready Foundation, I love this foundation for nights out but I find it doesn't stay around for long, but when I use it in conjunction with my primer it lasts a lot longer. The two together give a really flawless, matte finish with a lovely sun kissed glow.

Have you tried the Bronzing Primer yet?

Bourjois Paris Bronzing Primer 18grams for £9.99 available here.
Revlon Photo Ready Foundation 30ml for £12.99 available here.

Vichy Dermablend Foundation

I love trying new foundations, so I have sampled a fair few in my time. The Vichy skincare range is so lovely and when I found out they also did foundations I was really excited to try it. I picked up the Vichy Dermablend Fluid Corrective Foundation in the shade Nude (25). You really do only need a little bit of this as a little goes along way, for me I find it to be quite full coverage, it conceals any redness and sorts out uneven skin texture leaving a satin finish to my skin. I apply this using my Real Techniques buffing brush, and really work it into my skin.

This foundation is my go to for a night out as it isn't too dewy as long as I use a little finishing powder and it gives a really flawless finish. The foundation itself claims to last 16 hours but after wearing it to work a few times I'm not so sure I can say it lives up to those claims, it tends to get a little oily around my T-zone, nothing that a little powder can't sort out though. It also contains SFP 20, so that's great if your planning to wear this in the day time.

For such a good quality foundation I find the price to be really cheap, at £15.50 for 30ml at boots it really is a bargain.

You can also purchase it online here.

Aloe Soothing Day and Night Cream

The Body shops Aloe Vera range is gorgeous, and the day and night creams are no exception. I have quite sensitive skin and am prone to a little redness if I use certain products so seeing 'for sensitive skin' on a label makes me very happy. I am a firm believer in moisturising both day and night to keep my skin looking nice and healthy.

I purchased the Aloe Soothing Day and Night creams a while ago now so they are certainly well tested, both are a very rich and creamy texture and when applied to the skin it skins in really well, the day cream is light and is great for applying after cleansing and before make up, keeping the skin hydrated all day. The night cream is a lot more intensive and really helps to restore the skins radiant glow, I apply this at the end of my bed time routine so it has all night to work its magic.

They come in 50ml pots and have lasted me a long while, I also think they are great value for money, the day cream is £10.00 and the night cream is £11.00. There is a whole Aloe Vera range available at The Body Shop so if you have sensitive skin then I really recommend taking a look at the website here.