Charlotte Tilbury WONDERGLOW PRIMER Instant Soft-Focus Beauty Flash REVIEW

I’m a huge fan of make-up artist Charlotte Tilbury so I was beyond excited when my cousins bought me the hugely popular Wonder Glow Illuminator for my birthday this year.

Unlike other illuminators such as my now-neglected Mac Prep and Prime, this won’t sit on your skin or mess up any existing foundation you have applied. I found it melted into my skin and gave me a subtle glow all day.

I have worn this a number of ways over the past few months – as a primer before my foundation (YSL Le-Teint-Touche-Eclat  in BD50), mixed with BB Cream (Bodyshop in no.2), and as a highlighter on cheeks over my foundation. It all worked beautifully. If you’re having a really good skin day it is good enough to get away with worn alone.

I should add that Wonder Glow smells divine with floral accents of rose hip and camellia oil. I really loved this stuff and can’t wait to extend my Charlotte Tilbury collection. 

Peak - How beautiful it can make your skin look and feel, especially in photo's!

Pit - The price tag can be a little steep (R.R.P £38.50)

http://www.charlottetilbury.com/uk/wonderglow.html

What not to do ... Top 10 Skin Myths

As we grow up we pick up through no fault of our own beauty myths that are neither questioned nor doubted. Over the years we find ourselves believing countless beauty habits just because someone’s aunts’ sisters’ daughters’ friends’ mum said it worked for them!

In order to set the record straight I’ve put together a list of the top ten most commonly believed skin myths … How many did you deem true? 

1. Myth: You need to wash your face twice a day

Truth: Actually, washing your face just once a day is sufficient. Cleansing at the end of the day is most important to wash away make-up and dirt from the day. Unless you slept with your make up on or were digging in your sleep, cleansing in the morning is unnecessary. Gentle exfoliation with a muslin is better for your skin than rougher creams.

2. Myth: Toothpaste gets rid of spots

Truth: Although toothpaste will often dry spots out the irritation it can cause to the skin can make them stick around much longer than they would have if you'd left them alone.

3. Myth: Always splash out on expensive products

Truth: If you really are interested in taking good care of your skin, you should look at the ingredients rather than the price. Good quality ingredients are most important. But that doesn't mean that you should regularly be dishing out £100s on products. Good ingredients are widely available at reasonable prices.

Look for vitamin A as its retinyl palmitate form, Vitamin C as Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, and Linseed and Kiwi Seed, which are incredible sources of Omega 3. These ingredients all help the functions of the skin which in turn makes it look good.

4. Myth: You need separate creams for around your eyes

Truth: In most cases, if you are using good quality skin care, you can simply massage that product closer to the eye area. That being said, if you have a particular concern only associated with eyes for example, dark circles, puffiness, or thinning, then a specially formulated cream for the area may be advised.

5. Myth: You need to wear sun cream at all times all year round.

Truth: This all depends on where you live. In the UK, we are not exposed to such high levels of UV exposure in our winter months, like countries such as Australia, South Africa. There is no UVB exposure in the winter months in the UK but there might be some exposure to UVA.  The need to apply a SPF just to protect us from the chance of some UVA exposure is quite unnecessary in the UK in the winter months. It would be safer for the skin to use skin care ingredients that are known to have UVA protection such as vitamin A.

In the summer, aim to include skin care with vitamin A, C or green tea in as these ingredients prevent UV damage in the skin cells whilst you’re SPF prevents absorption of the rays.

6. Myth: You should exfoliate at least once a week

Truth: A new and deeper understanding of how the skin sheds naturally shows us that certain abrasives can be detrimental to the skin in the long run. It is better for the skin to use muslin cloths and soft face towels after cleansing as well as massage to aid skin desquamation. This can be incorporated into your daily cleanse. The days of scrubbing our face are long gone. 

7. Myth: ‘Natural’ means gentle and hypoallergenic

Truth: Natural is such a widely used term now, it's difficult to decide on an explanation. I like to describe a 'natural' product as something that helps to promote the skin's natural processes. These products are gentle on the skin and do not include irritating ingredients.

But 'natural' ingredient can be strong so just because they're not synthetic doesn't necessarily mean that they'll be the best option for sensitive skin. Sunbathing may give you temporarily better skin, but long-term it's a bad idea.

8. Myth: The cleaner skin the better

Truth: Skin has a natural barrier of oils, fats and water to protect it against the elements like bacteria and environmental pollutants.

Washing with soap based products strips away that protection, and it can take up to eight hours for this barrier to rebuild!

9. Myth: Use the same line of products for best results

Truth: Companies would love this to be true, but in truth different products will always act differently so there's no reason to think that every product from one brand will work best for you.

10. Myth: Junk food leads to acne

Truth: Although it's not good for you, there's no serious medical evidence to prove that this is true.

So basically from now on we'll be throwing away our eye cream, washing our faces LESS and keeping an eye on those ingredients.

Hope this helped clear up any misconceptions :)

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!