Back to basics ... Coconut oil beauty benefits

Recently I've been doing some research into going back to basics on beauty.  One product that I've come across time and time again is coconut oil … I call it the magic substance! It’s packed with anti-bacterial qualities, SPF, and a whole lot of vitamins and minerals! It really does seem to be the one stop shop for all things health and beauty.

My Grandma is a firm believer in the powers of this oil and is convinced that her flawless skin and luscious locks have been sustained over the years because of her religious use! She’s always telling me to steer clear of all the ‘chemicals’ we put on our face and warns me that they’ll  ruin me one day … GOD FORBID! Now I know  grans words are a little extreme, but I thought there’s no harm in giving it a go and I am so glad that I did … after some trial and error I've comprised a list of what I believe to be the oils best uses. Of course I still use many of my cult skin products but switching them up for a vegan natural alternative once in a while is really healthy. I’d definitely recommend giving it a go too!

So here's a list of my favorite coconut oil uses 

On the skin as a basic lotion

 melts from
 the heat of your hands instantly!

As an eye-makeup remover

To lighten age spots when rubbed directly on the skin

To prevent stretch marks during pregnancy

To help increase sun tolerance and avoid burning

As a naturally SPF 4 sunscreen

In homemade lotion recipes

As a massage oil

A tiny dab rubbed on your hands and then through hair will help get rid of friz

As an intensive night time facial moisturizer

Mixed with equal parts sugar for a smoothing body scrub (use in the shower)

Rubbed on lips as a natural chap stick

As an incredibly intensive natural conditioner- Rub into dry hair, put a shower cap on and leave for several hours

Can help sooth eczema

As a naturally antibacterial skin cream

As a natural shave cream and after shave lotion

When used consistently on skin it can help get rid of cellulite

Can reduce the itch of mosquito bites

Can help resolve acne when used regularly

Can be rubbed into scalp daily to stimulate hair growth

On split ends to de-frizz

On hands after doing dishes to avoid dry skin

Many use it as an anti-aging facial moisturizer

On cuticles to help nails grow

Rub into elbows daily to help alleviate dry, flaky elbows

I find this to be extra useful in these cold winter months! Sometimes moisturizers are just not enough, coconut oil helps to replenish and nourish the skin to help lock in the moisture.

Peak- Packed with natural goodness and really helps with dry skin.

Pit - Can get a little messy to use.

I bought this jar from Holland and Barret for £11.99 but I'd recommend a super-market as they sell them a lot cheaper!
(Asda -£4!)

Battle of the body Moisturizers!

Baby oil - The old classic, kind to skin and easy to apply. But sometime it can be a little too oily and doesn't really have a amazing scent.

Peak - Skin feels beautifully hydrated and soft

Pit - The spray bottle in this is awful the formula itself isn't as effective as the normal bottle so stay away!

Body Shop Body Butter in Papaya - Oh myyyy this body butter smells DIvine, It’s seriously the best smelling butter that the body shop do, miles better then strawberry and even mango. It makes you wanna eat it, it smells that good! So ofcourse I had to buy it for this reason alone, however the actual moisturiser is disappointing. As a general rule Body Shop Body butters don't have a great consistency for applying it all over the body especially after a shower. Its not easy to apply as it doesn't sink it to the skin well. It works better as a hand or foot lotion and the smell lingers for absolutely ages! YUM

Peak - Yeap you guessed it the smell!

Pit - Takes ages to soak into skin and you need a lot of it to achieve smooth skin.

Soap and Glory spice - I'm not a massive fan of the smell of this body butter, its pleasant but its a little too sweet for me. However the consistency of this lotion is excellent. It soaks into the skin beautifully and dries pretty much straight away so your not sitting around waiting to dry before you can put your clothes on. This is one of my pet peeves I must admit. The S&G formula works really well and is very effective, but for the price I wouldn't expect any less.

Peak - Its effectiveness

Pit - Price (a problem I have with all the S&G shower range)

Nivea in shower Body moisturizer - What a revolution! This saves times and energy. There is nothing worse then standing a steamy bathroom boiling hot trying to moisturize your skin before putting your clothes on. Nivea's creation means that you can save both time and energy perfect for in the mornings. Although skin does feel hydrated it still is not as effective as a moisturizer or body butter would be. However its enough to not make you feel dry and itchy so for a rushed Monday morning that is more than good enough for me.

Peak - Makes life that tiny bit easier.

Pit - Its convenience not luxury.

I hope this quick guide to a few after shower moisturizers I've been using recently helps you pick one that works well for you! xx

The best way to wear a Saree when your 5ft 2 or under!

My Five Golden rules to Rock a Saree ...

I'm about to celebrate my twenty second birthday very soon and I had never worn a Saree before this summer. I'd always been told I'm too small and you need a full lady figure to carry one off. But this time I was determined to wear one and look like a women in it .. so I did some research (basically searched petite famous women who have worn Saree's) to see how I could style one to suit my body shape and this is what I found.

Rule no.1 - Keep it simple.

The heavier the saree the more you'll look like your being drowned with a whole lot of embroidery that your struggling to carry off. Instead opt for a simple design that looks elegant. Remember you want to wear the Saree you don't want the Saree to wear you!

Rule no. 2 - Opt for darker colours.

As a rule darker colours slim and elongate a woman's silhouette so use this to your advantage. I myself wore a black saree but if you want a bit more colour go for a navy or dark green. These colours look really sophisticated and really easy to accessorise and have beautiful smoky eyed make up to compliment it.

Rule no.3- Blouse

Make sure your blouse is fitted to your size properly. A well fitted blouse can make all the difference so take out that extra time to visit the tailor to get it perfect. I bought my blouse from Lipsy the crop top trend at the moment is perfect for finding saree blouses and the fit is so comfortable! 

 Rule no.4- Hair

If they suit you try an elegant updo with big statement earrings the hair helps to elongate your body and the earrings add that extra bit of sparkle.

Rule no.5 Heels

Ofcourse we should all embrace our natural heights and wear it well but a little boost never hurt nobody. I wore pretty big heels myself but I know that a lot of women struggle with this, so I'd recommended wearing the highest that you can manage. But don't forget no matter what size the heel you need good body posture and nothing beats natural confidence. So shoulders back and massive smile before you walk in ... you'll instantly feel inches taller!

Most importantly you need to feel beautiful in what you wear, don't doubt yourself no matter what your size! I hope these tips help you to achieve the perfect wedding or special occasion look xxx

Estée Lauder Double Wear foundation - Review

So recently I decided I was officially bored of my staple YSL Touche eclat foundation, I can't say there was anything wrong with it and can't fault that it has served me well but I felt like I needed a change. So after a fair few trips wondering from counter to counter in Selfridges I stumbled across the  Estée Lauder Double wear range. Priced at £28.50 It is reasonable for a high end foundation and contains SPF 10 which for me is really important as I'm rubbish at applying a sun screen separately.

My first impression was one of pure joy, the coverage was amazing and best of all it didn't dry out my skin like most foundations. It had a more polished look then the YSL but this also meant I could feel it on my skin a lot more too.

I bought it in the colour 'Tawny' which is a good match (although I'm pretty tan at the moment so I don't know if it will bode well during the winter months) and so far I'm liking the coverage and the way it shows up in pictures however unlike the YSL it is a lot more cakey. I can really tell that I have make up on and it tends to crease around the area between my nose and lips which really isn't a pretty look.

I love the way it looks when I initially put it on but throughout the day it does become slightly crumbly which is annoying as it is called 'double wear'! Having said this however I have found a solution; mix it with my day moisturiser. This gives it a much more natural finish for more day to day wear and also feels a lot lighter on the skin but this means a lot less coverage :(

I do enjoy using this product, but I think its more for use on special occasions. So I may repurchase the YSL for the winter months and use double wear only when I'm going for the ultimate flawless look ... maybe even plastic - as I must admit I do like the plastic look on special occasions who doesn't though right ;)

Peak - The flawless finish as long as you prime skin properly (this helps avoid lines). :)

Pit - The heaviness on the skin and the cakey look it develops throughout the course of the day. :(

Long Time No Blog ...

First off I want to apologise for my lack of posts these past few months. Lets just say its been a crazy two months what with the end of Ramadan, Eid, Holidaying and lots of weddings! But I promise it shan't happen again :)

I thought I should give a little beauty update as over the past few months I've picked up some amazing new products that I'm really loving, and here's my ultimate top three ..

I call this my magic mist!

First and foremost welcome to my 'Simple' world! I have officially gone simple mad this summer. A Tesco near me has a whole counter dedicated to Simple products on a 3 for 2 offer lets just say I was in my element! I kinda felt that after using lots of luxury brands on my skin I needed to try something well ... simple. My skin is usually pretty well behaved so when I noticed that breakouts were becoming more and more frequent I knew I had to change things up a little and I haven't looked back since. I'll be posting a simple specific post over the next few days so I'll go into more detail about the products I've been loving then. But I will say the hydro mist is now a handbag must
.

Peak - The fact that its free from harsh chemicals.

Pit - I don't know if it'll be enough food for my skin when winter kicks back in. helloo dryness :(

My next favourite has been a product that's a bit like marmite you either love it or hate it. The much raved about Rimmel Apocalips Lip Laquer. I opted for the colour Galaxy (which looks really dark online but is a lovely pinky purple colour) and I absolutely love it! I wore it to a wedding recently and it wore well all night and compliments olive skin tones beautifully. However a few of my friends aren't impressed as it can feel a little heavy on the lips. If you don't mind that feeling then I would definitely recommend them as there highly pigmented and are so easy to apply even on the go. My only problem is that I don't like most of the colours they do so can't really experiment with different shades.

Peak - The pigmentation is incredible and the shimmer is perfect for all occasions.

Pit - Can feel a little sticky.

My last but by no means least favourite is Mac eye shadows! Oh em gee I've finally jumped on this much raved about bandwagon and it is a good place to be! I've never been much of an eye shadow kinda girl but recently I started experimenting with my Urban Decay Naked 2 palette and through a lot of trial and error (there were times I looked like I had been in a fight) I started to love the looks I was creating. Then by mere fate I stumbled upon my cousins Mac eye shadows and realised that they are amazing! 

Front to back - All That Glitters, Mulch and Woodwinked

The Naked2 Palette  is great but the pigmentations and ease of the mac eye shadows is unbeatable. So I went out and bought the colours 'Mulch' 'Wood Winked' and 'All that Glitters' there all in the bronzy brown category which are very similar to the colours I already had but I instantly fell in love with these shades as I knew I'd use them the most. I'm still not convinced about having bold bright colours on your lids as I've always preferred the more natural shimmery glowy look myself (However this could be subject to change, I'm going through a eye shadow revelation at the moment!)

Peak - The versatility of the shadows - you can achieve so many different looks.

Pit - The fact that I bought very similar colours lol!

So basically, I've gone back to basics with my skin care regime and discovered new products that have become my make up bag staples. If you haven't tried them yourself I would definitely recommend doing so!

Thank you for reading guys see ya'll very soon! 

P.S  Before I go I thought I'd share a non beauty favourite ... The Halal Confectionery sweet shop In Birmingham (https://www.facebook.com/HalalConfectionery)! This is a Gem of a store not too far from Birmingham City Centre, it does all the British sweet shop classics from strawberry pips to cola bottles and even sells some American sweets for very reasonable prices. I love this store it really brings out the inner child in you, I've taken lots of my friends from out of town to visit and we've walked out with bags and bags of sweeties! If you live local I would highly recommend a visit .. Your welcome ;) xx

Make sure you go with a fair amount of time because you want to be able to take your time choosing the best ones!

Memoirs of a Geisha Review

“The world was hers for the reading.” 
- B. Smith

50 Books to read before you die.  1/50

As part of my 2013 new years resolutions (most of which are have been long forgotten) I promised myself I would read more classic literature, so a good place to start would be the 50 books to read before you die series. Most of the books sounded familiar and a lot were on my own personal 'I would love to read that someday' list so I decided to give it a go.

The first book - Memoirs of Geisha.
Like a lot of people I was intrigued by the majestic and oh so secret world of a Geisha I was acutely aware of the controversy surrounding the book. The author Arthur Golden thanked Mineko Iwasaki (the Geisha upon whom the book is loosely based) for her help in creating the story, after promising to keep her identity a secret. She was understandably enraged by this and sued him for a healthy sum. She later went on to write a book called Geisha of Gion which apparently straightens out Golden's misconceptions. Knowing this only made me want to read the book more, lets face it who doesn't love a good old scandal.

The novel is written from the first person perspective of a child called Chiyo Chan. She is sold to a Geisha house where she is to train and become a successful Geisha. Ofcourse she is presented with many trials and tribulations along the way, but it is the sureness with which Golden writes that I find most enthralling. Chiyo has a fascination with much older men, and this is depicted as being a natural emotion. The phrase age is nothing but a number has never been truer then within the context of this book. Being part of the western idealism of what is acceptable many of us would feel very uncomfortable with such a plot, but the way Golden deals with this sensitive issue works well. Once you've accepted the idea that this was normal in  mid 20th Century Japan one can come to appreciate Chiyo's quest to find and love the man of her dreams. Underneath the complicated exterior the story is essentially one about love, and coming of age set within a dramatic theatre of world war conflicts.

Golden's style of writing has received ample criticism, accused of being too flowery. I can appreciate that there is at times an overkill of metaphors and similes which are a little too in your face trying to be oriental. For example -

 

"I felt as a dam must feel when it's holding back an entire river."

"I felt as sore as a rock must feel when the waterfall has pounded on it all day long."

"My poor scalp felt the way clay must feel after the potter has scored it with a sharp stick."

"Like the crisp skin of a grilled fish."

I must admit this isn't really a very 'natural' way of thinking but you can't say it doesn't lead you to picture this alternative universe that Golden is trying to create. Perhaps the superficiality of the story is intentional, and that the book, in a way is supposed to resembles a geisha. Beautiful and eager to please, yet too distant to really learn much from and ultimately little more than a beautiful, well-crafted object to be appreciated. If that's the case, Arthur Golden is remarkably clever. If it's not the case, I still think he does enough for the reader to feel invested in the plot and characters.

The first half of the book is far better crafted then the latter half. With the dawn of the second world war Golden falls into the trap of an American author writing from the perspective of the occupied state. At times the glamorous depiction of the American soldiers is rather snort worthy. Sayuri (Chiyo) ends up happy but not on the soil that she was born and raised, instead all her dreams come true on American soil. Which considering the hatred felt towards the Americans by the Japanese seems rather far fetched.  I'm hoping Golden portrayed this because Mineko felt this way, in which case it is understandable.

All in all if your looking for a captivating story which has the ability to transport you to a mystical world then I would highly recommend this book. As long as you read it with an open mind and regard it as a fictional story I don't see any reason not to enjoy it.

Peak - The development of Chiyo as a character and her relationship with Mameha (her mentor).

Pit - Golden's rather crass depiction of the role of Americans in post war Japan.

“Read the best books first, or you may not have a chance to read them at all.” 
― H.D Thoreau 

Shake it up for Ramadan!

Ramadan Kareem to all those celebrating this beautiful month! In the UK our fasts our 19 hours long and with temperatures reaching 32 degrees this isn't an easy fate (especially as us Brits are complete light weights when it comes to the heat).  Nonetheless we need to ensure that were doing all we can to make sure our bodies are well fuelled and full of the essential nutrients we need. I know this is easier said then done, when all you want to do is gauge on all the bad but oh so tasty foods. To combat the temptation I began searching for some quick and easy options for sehri/suhoor (meal before the sun rises) as I didn't want to eat anything to heavy before bed but I don't want to wake up staaarving either.

Luckily I found this nifty little recipe which has quiet literally been a God send. I've made it everyday since I first tried it and now my entire family is hooked! It's full of healthy foods that will keep you going throughout the day without making you feel like you've eaten a horse. (no pun intended!)  

For this recipe you will need the following (to make one glassful)

Roughly chop the dates to around this size.

1 glass semi skimmed milk

1 ripe banana

3 tablespoons of oats

2 chopped dates

4 almonds

Squirt of honey or agave nectar (which ever you prefer)

Basically what you do is pour the milk into the blender followed by the banana, oats, dates, almonds and honey. Once everything's in blend for around a minute before checking consistency. Blend a little longer if you prefer the smoothie to be very smooth (I prefer mine with a bit more texture).

Once your happy with it, poor into a glass and enjoy!

Tip - Once you've poured most of the smoothie into your glass, give it a further thirty second spin because dates tend to sink to the bottom and I've found this helps keep them afloat.

You can even try switch it up a little by using Almond or soy milk so that its even healthier! 

PUMP up the Volume? My everyday hair routine - How to create volume for fine hair

Eight products later ... I give you BIG hair! 

Were all looking for the perfect way to create beautiful volume in our hair. But some of us aren't blessed with naturally thick luscious locks so after much trial and error I've found some effective and affordable products that can help you create voluminous hair without damaging it. As I have fairly fine hair I'm always looking for natural products bursting with

vitamins that will help  to promote healthy hair and make my hair stronger and

look thicker!

To make things a little easier I've split my daily haircare routine into three sections wash, dry and style. So here goes ..

WASH -  When I was in America a few months back I stumbled across the

Aveda Invati range and fell in love instantly as it sounded right up my street. I wasted no time in carrying out some research, because if like me you have fine hair you'll know that we take no risks in this department. The invati system contains three products all containing Densiplex which is an invigorating mix of ayurvedic naturally derived ingredients. I bought the  Exfoliating shampoo (£20.50) and Thickening conditioner (£22.50)  as these products received the most positive reviews. Aveda also recommends using the 'Scalp Revitaliser' which comes in at £43 I found that this product has the least amount of reviews and the ones it did have were pretty negative hence I wasn't prepared to part with such a big amount before trying out the shampoo and conditioner first.

The Holy Grail for fine hair!

I have been using the two products for around a month now and I've definitely felt

a difference, my hair feels and looks thicker and fuller, but the best part is that my

friends have noticed (yay!) I've even gotten one of  them to start using it herself.

Although the shampoo doesn't feel luxurious and it doesn't lather up like most

shampoo's it leaves your hair feeling clean and fresh which is the most important thing right?!

DRY -  I'll towel dry and spray in some Tresseme heat defence spray all over my hair to protect it from harmful heat nasties. I'll then go in with the Aveda Voluminous tonic which works really well in fine to medium hair, (if you have thicker hair I'd recommend using something a little heavier). I'll spray the tonic straight into the roots then massage it in for a few seconds. Before flipping over my hair to blow-dry upside down. I find this gives my hair a bit of a lift and gives creates Volume that lasts all day.

STYLE - Once my hair is dry I'll brush through it with Michel Mercier Detangling Brush For Fine Hair (reduced on beautybay.com at the moment). I totally recommend buying this brush as I've found significantly less hair breakage and it also separates the hairs to give a fuller and  thicker look. DO NOT use this brush with your hair dryer as I did because it burns really easily and you'll be left with lopsided bristles :(  

Apparently the bristles are precisely placed to cause minimum breakage #fancy

Once I've brushed through, I'll use my Remington Pro Volume Styling brush which I bought from wowcher.com for £19,  sadly this deal is over but you can get it easily from boots for around £25. I tend to use the heated styling brush as this tames any fly-aways but maintains much more volume then a straightner does. It also doesn't get as hot as a straightener so its a little more kinder to your hair! But you have a frizzier mane I would recommend using a straightener instead as you won't get that same sleek finish. I'll then tease the hair using my Babylis teasing comb to secure volume around the crown and top parts of the head. My final step is to squirt  a little Aussie Dual personality Aussome Volume and Gloss hairspray (this isn't the one in the picture as I've run out, but Aussie hair-sprays in general are pretty awesome) to secure all the hard work you've just done and to ensure that volume lasts all day. (the good news is It usually does!) Tip here would be to spray it into the air and walk through it to keep hair looking bouncy and natural!

Do's and Dont's

Do Carry the teasing comb with you during the day to top up any flattened jushz (you know what I mean right?!)

Do invest in Aveda's Invati range (can't vouch for revitaliser just yet)

Don't use too much Aveda Voluminising Tonic it can make your hair look greasy (one to two squirts)

Don't use too much hair sprayer as this is the 'ultimate Volume slayer'

Really hope this helps you achieve that effortless Volume, trust me I know how difficult it is to achieve.

Lets Get Lippy!

Lips are a focal part of the face so its natural to want yours looking great all the time!

Hence the importance of a perfect lip balm can not be under estimated ...  So  as a service to the world of soft lips I've compiled a list of my six all time favourites.

Dr. Lipp Original Nipple Balm for lips

Not the prettiest but oh so effective!

Now I know the name of this one is a bit of a mouthful and lets face it a bit bizarre but trust me when I say this lip balm has changed my life! Its unlike anything I've used before, 100% natural hypoallergenic, this tasteless and odourless balm works wonders. I've found that putting a layer on before bed leaves my lips moisturised and ready for the next day, sometimes I actually wake up with it still on my lips! This formula is very thick and doesn't look very pretty,  but leaves a nice glossy finish. Although it claims to be tasteless I sometimes get this weird taste which I can't describe other then calling it earthy maybe even grassy (this could just be me) But aside from this I really can't fault this product it really is the one for problem lips.

Peak - Made without Parabens, Sulfates and Phthalates in other words all the nasties

Pit - The price and the size (although it does last forever)

Perfect for - Super dry Chapped Lips

Value for money - At £11.99 for a 0.507 oz it can seem a little steep but I would definitely repurchase this as I don't think I could do without

Burts bee's Lip shimmer in fig -

This lip balm adds a hint of glamour and shine to your lips aswell as ample nourishing nourishment as its formula contains sunflower oil, tonnes of vitamin E and natural beeswax (sounds gross but does wonders) along with other natural ingredients. I'm pretty certain it contains some kind of menthol because it leaves a tingly cool sensation on your lips which I really like. However I think this particular formula is more about the colour then the nourishment of your lips, its softens but doesn''t eradicate dry skin. Having said this its beautiful for more warmer months and the packaging is so handy!

Peak - level of pigmentation and the cooling sensation it leaves.

Pit - not super effective on chapped lips

Value for Money ... Averaging around £4 this product is decently priced but I wish it would last a little longer then it does.

Perfect for ... Adding a touch of nourishing shimmer

Korres Lip butter in Plum

The Korres Lip butters are formulated with Shea butter and Rice wax which provide a lasting and deep hydration to the lips aswell as a lovely matt tint. Shea butter originates from Africa were it was used by locals as a protection from the harsh climates and this is exactly what this lip butter does, it works well in summer winter and everything in between!  This Lip butter helps even the most chapped lips and actually feels buttery on the lips! The only negative about the Korres range is the packaging, I find that the tub is too small and you tend to get product all over the place. Its also not shatterproof so if your a bit of a cluts like me and forever dropping things then its best to leave this one at home!

Peak - protects the skin against UV aggression and is excellent for moisture.

Pit - The packaging really isn't ideal.

Value for money ... at £8 this lip balm can seem a little steep but the sheer butter in this product is worth the price and it really does work. If your a student you can get an extra 10% off by buying from Oliver Bonas (link below)

http://www.oliverbonas.com/homeware/brands_1/korres/korres_plum_lip_butter.htm

Perfect for ... dry lips in need of some TLC and is perfect on for a natural finish

Favourites! ps. sorry there a little worn

Good ol' Vaseline

I'm sure you don't need me to go into too much detail over this one. Good old petroleum jelly has helped us all out of our driest moments. A perfect 'always keep in your bag' item. Come rain or shine its always good to have this one around.

Value for money ... £1.89 cheap and cheerful and gets the job done

Perfect for .... creates a soft workable base for lipstick

Sleek Pout Palette in Pink Cadillac

 Besides this beautiful summery shade this lip balm isn't sticky and stays on for absolutely ages. Once it stayed on for an entire night even through dinner! It smells lovely like a vanilla pod and is very easily buildable to create a glamorous look whilst keeping lips hydrated and smooth.

Peak - Contains SPF 15 and is long lasting

Pit - More of a summer product as it tends to stick to drier areas.

Perfect for ... Glamming up lipsticks.

Value for money ... £4.49  decent but I like it more for the colour then its effects as a balm.

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain

This is a perfect get up and go kinda product offersing colour and moisture wrapped into a clever little package. The retractable chubby crayon much like Clinique chubby stick is so handy when your on the go. It leaves lips moisturised and with the same menthol feel as the burts bees formula which I adore.

Peak - The easy to use packaging

Pit - Not pigmented enough for my liking

Perfect for ... on the go

Value for money ...  £7.99 Works just as well as the Clinique Chubby Stick for half the price!

(I find that a white background helps to see the colour more clearly!)

Hope this helps you all in your quest to find the perfect lip balm, please comment below if there's any other fab lip products out there which I could explore :)

I'm wearing a little Nipple balm with Korres lip butter in Plum to achieve this glossy  finish

Clinique Anti - Blemish Solutions Spot treatment gel. Review

I have been on the hunt for a fast working and effective anti spot gel for the longest time. I've tried a few drugstore makes in the past but none of them felt as if they were doing anything. Then recently I used the Origins Super Spot Remover Blemish Treatment gel which unfortunately did nothing for me besides burn my skin leaving behind a horrid dark blemish that I couldn't shift for weeks. The Origins formula really didn't work for me and I've heard a few other horror stories, hence I was a little sceptical and nervous about trying the Clinique formula especially as some Clinique products have been too harsh for my skin in the past. However the Sales assistant convinced me to buy the spot gel which came in at £13.50 which I thought was pretty reasonable especially as I bought it along with the infamous Clinique under eye mascara (review coming soon) and was therefore eligible for a free gift with all sorts of goodies. (I think Clinique is brilliant for freebies so its always worth popping over to there counter to see what's on offer.)

So on purchasing the Anti- Blemish gel I was super weary of the damaging effects of anti spot formula's but I needn't had worried. Apart from an initial sting the Gel has been so kind to my sensitive skin! (The sting means its working!!)

Now, as soon as I feel a spot surfacing I waste no time at all in applying the gel straight on to the effected area. I've found that you have to use the product straight away, if the spot gets comfortable then it'll take longer for it to shift so you got to be real quick! Once the gel is applied it creates a visible clear layer over the spot which looks like a bit of cling film on your skin, I've found that this is visible through makeup and doesn't look very attractive. So I would most definitely recommend applying the gel before bed after cleansing the face.

The packaging for the product is very easy to use and perfect to pop in your bag for weekends away. The nozzle means it applies easily to a cutip, and is no mess no fuss kinda product which is so handy in the midst of a verging pimple problem!

Peak - Works quickly and effectively to calm any menacing spots :)

Pit - Doesn't work as well on a mature spot :(

Emma Hardie Amazing Face Lift & Sculpt Moringa Cleansing Balm Review

The Internet has no shortage of raving reviews for the Emma Hardie Amazing Face lift and Sculpt Moringa Cleansing Balm. It has taken the beauty world by storm soo I felt that I definitely needed to see what all the hype was about and boy am I glad I did!

I had never used a solid based cleansing balm before and was a little sceptical about the 'magical' effects especially as this product  comes in at around £34 which in my opinion is a little steep for a daily cleanser. But I was determined to find a good deal, so I scowered the internet for the cheapest price and found that most sites marketed the product for around £33 with the option to buy the exfoliating face towels separately for around £10. I wasn't prepared to buy the cloth separately as any face towel would do the same job, luckily I came across the QVC website (which I will link below) they were selling the cleansing balm for £34 including Emma Hardie Amazing Face Dual Action professional Cleansing Cloths. Score! I was so pleased to find a retailer that included the cloth! having said this, if you can't find an inclusive deal I wouldn't pay the extra amount for the cloth as Primark do a very good dupe for a £1 so your better off picking up one or two of those.

 

(As you can see I've been digging away at the balm)

The balm itself is a pleasure to use it smells wonderful (almost like molton brown original body lotion) and feels so luxurious on the skin. The instructions suggest that you need to take a small amount into the palm of your hand and mix in some water to make a paste like consistency I don't know if its the luxurious effect of the balm or just me being greedy but I tend to have to use a little more than is recommended to really achieve great results. I also like to keep the balm on for a couple of minutes. What I tend to do is, apply the paste all over my face and neck then I'll set about brushing my teeth and changing into my pyjamas then after a few minutes I'll go back and wash the cleanser off. I find this gives time to really soften the skin and allow the balm to penetrate clogged pores. Then I'll use the face towel to remove the balm which eliminates pretty much all traces of makeup and face oils that have accumulated throughout the course of the day along with it. Literally my makeup will simply slide off, including WATERPROOF yes waterproof eye makeup it really is such a treat!

 

If you have oily skin I don't think you need moisturiser after using the balm, personally I have combination skin so I usually follow it up with a little moisturiser especially around my eyes and the tops of my cheeks as these tend to be my most driest areas. The Emma Hardie team recommend the use of the cleansing balm twice a day but personally I felt this is too much, because in the morning I don't have much time to cleanse so I'm more of a face wash kinda gal but before bed this is super perfect. I actually look forward to removing my makeup with this and love the way my skin glows afterwards. I've been using this product for about a month now and I haven't noticed any breakouts other then the usual hormonal ones which I don't think any product could hinder! I don't get many breakouts but I do have pretty sensitive skin and touch wood this product has been very kind to me so if like me you have sensitive skin I would definitely recommend this cleansing balm as a regular luxurious treat!

 

Peak - The clean and glowy look and  feel of your skin after using the product.

Pit - The price and the fact that you have to use a fair bit to get the ultimate polished look.

 

 

 

 

Link to the page I bought the product from

http://www.qvcuk.com/qvc.product.200897.html