Skin Saviours

Skin Saviours

27 Sept 2013

I was recently lucky enough to be a guest blogger for the lovely Lauren at Becoming Beauty  and I thought I would share with you my post!

My daily skincare routine is pretty basic, but I also like to use the following products to keep my skin in tip top condition. My skin type is normal/dry, so my main concern is dry skin but every now and then I also suffer from those horrid blemishes.

Firstly, a face scrub is a must. I like to use a face scrub before I apply a face mask, this helps to remove any dead skin cells allowing my skin to reap the benefits of the face mask. I am currently using the Elemis FreshSkin Skin Glow Exfoliation Face Wash which is a very delicate scrub, perfect for sensitive skin.

I also like to apply a face mask once a week, in doing so I have found my skin has benefited hugely. I currently alternate between the Elemis Deep Clean face mask (purifying) and the Elemis Magical Moisture face mask (quenching). The former really helps to draw out any impurities whilst the latter leaves my skin feeling like a baby’s bottom.

If I feel my skin is still in need of a boost I like to use a face oil or an intense moisturiser. For dull and tired skin I reach for the Balance Me Radiance Face Oil, leaving my skin looking nourished and radiant.  For times when my skin is feeling particularly dry I like to use the Shiseido Skincare Night Moisture Recharge which will always replenish my skin.

To treat any nasty blemishes I use the spot treatment Etat Pur Salicylic Acid 300. I received this in one of my Glossy Boxes and it really helps to soothe and calm any irritated skin. What I love most about this is it is not drying at all, whereas many spot products are which is not ideal for my already dry skin!

Lastly, one of my favourites is a face spray. I currently use The Body Shop Vitamin E Face Mist and have done so for the past few years. I absolutely love using this in the morning after applying my make up, are not only does this help to set it but it is nice and refreshing helping me to wake me up in the morning.

What are you favourite skin care extras?

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Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner in Starfish

Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner in Starfish

24 Sept 2013

Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner // £13.00

The Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner in Starfish is a favourite of mine at the moment. I have been reaching for it most days, using it on my lower lash line to help make my eyes pop. Starfish is described as a black eyeliner with a faint gold shimmer, to me however it is more of an olive green with a gold shimmer. It is highly pigmented and stays in place all day (eye-make up remover is a must to remove this) and it is soft enough to smudge, but as it is waterproof you only have a few seconds to do so! They apply like a dream and I love how they look on the eye.

Unfortunately it seems as though Stila may have discontinued this colour, however the Smudge Stick range comes in a variety of colours, with the majority being a beautiful shimmery colour. I was lucky enough to win this eyeliner, however had I paid for this I would say that my only slight peeve would be the amount you get.  For £13 you get 0.28g, compared to the Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliners where you get over 1g for £14! Having said that, mine has lasted me a while and I do love the shimmery colours and therefore feel it is worth it. I would definitely buy other colours :)

What are your eyeliner recommendations?

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Sure Maximum Protection 48 hour anti-perspirant deodorant

Sure Maximum Protection 48 hour anti-perspirant deodorant

21 Sept 2013

Sure Maximum Protection // £5.20

This is not the most pretty of topics to talk about, however we all sweat – it’s a fact. Deodorant has never really excited me, I mean most just about do their job and that’s that! Having said that, I have never really found a deodorant that lasts all day, especially with a commute consisting of a jam packed train followed by a hot packed underground.

I had heard about the Sure Maximum Protection 48 hour anti-perspirant deodorant, but I was always put off by the price. I just couldn’t bring myself to spend £5 on a deodorant that may be no better than a £2 deodorant. I finally decided to take the plunge when I found a £1 off voucher and here is what I thought.

The Sure maximum protection is based on TRIsolid technology which provides two times more protection than the leading anti-persperant (I can definitely see this!). This cream deodorant is applied the night before, to let it adapt to your body and build a layer of protection before you begin to perspirate, however it also works when applied in the morning. The protection lasts all day, even after having a shower, and although it claims to last a whole 48 hours, I personally would never feel comfortable going that long without applying deodorant.

I truly believe this deodorant is amazing, at the end of the day I still feel as fresh as a daisy.  It is not drying at all, in fact it is very moisturising leaving my skin feeling very soft and smooth when applied. This is the best deodrant I have ever used and I cannot see myself buying anything but this (as you can see I have already purchased another!). Although it is more expensive than your average deodorant, it works. So if you are not happy with your current deodorant, buy this now!

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Croatia Part 1 : Bol, Brac Island

Croatia Part 1 : Bol, Brac Island

19 Sept 2013

At the end of August my boyfriend and I traveled to Croatia for just under 2 weeks (hence the lack of posts recently, sorry!). This was my first time traveling to Croatia and I can safely say I will be going back. It is such a beautiful part of the world and I instantly fell in love, not only with the country but the people as well (who were all . We stayed in a place called Bol, on Brac Island, for a week and then traveled down to Dubrovnik for 3 nights. As you can imagine, over this time we took so many pictures that I have decided to split my adventure into 2 posts.

You may or may not know that Croatia's coastline is mostly rocky and this put me off at first. However, believe me when I say do not let this put you off! The Adriatic sea is so beautifully clear and calm that it is perfect for swimming in and the beaches were my fabourite. There are some sandy beaches in Croatia, but funnily enough I actually preferred the pebbly beaches as not only were they very comfortable to lie on, you didn't end up with sand everywhere - which I really hate!

Bol is famous for its beach, Zlatni Rat, and this is what first attracted me to the island. After a few days of settling in I honestly fell in love with Bol. It has such a relaxed atmosphere and is a very beautiful island, with great transport links. We managed to do a day trip to Hvar Town and you could easily get to Split for the day, or visit other islands with excursion boats. It has everything you need, plenty of restaurants and bars and stunning views. What more could you ask for?

Hvar Town, Hvar

Bol, Brac

Hvar Town, Hvar

Bol, Brac

Zlatni Rat from Vidova Gora, Brac

Zlatni Rat from Vidova Gora, Brac

Zlatni Rat, Brac

Hvar Town, Hvar

Beach Bar on Zlatni Rat, Bol

Zlatni Rat, Bol

Sunrise in Bol, Brac

I have tried to keep the text short and sweet, but if you would like to know more information then feel free to ask in the comments section!

Have you been to Croatia before? If so, where did you go? I would love to hear from you!

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Ciate Colour Smash & Orly Watch It Glitter

Ciate Colour Smash & Orly Watch It Glitter

5 Sept 2013

Ciate - Colour Smash in Black & ORLY Watch it Glitter*

I love to mix and match nail polishes, and here is one combination that I just can't get enough of!  The contrast of the black and the copper is just so beautiful, I often find myself admiring my nails (if only I had the length to match!).  Unfortunately I do not have a plain black nail polish, so I cheated and used Ciate colour smash in Black.  Luckily it didn't seem to crack when applied as a base so I didn't need to purchase a new one!  I then applied 2 coats of Orly Watch It Glitter over the top, obviously depending on how much glitter you want you can apply more or less.  I have tried this as a top coat over a few different colours and I definitely think black is one of the better colours. 

What is your favourite top coat effect?

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The Complete Idiots Guide to Making Natural Beauty Products // Giveaway

The Complete Idiots Guide to Making Natural Beauty Products // Giveaway

2 Sept 2013

After a rave review on Neal’s Yard Remedies Healing Foods book, I was kindly contacted by DK books and asked if I would like to receive a copy of Sally Trews book: The Complete Idiots Guide to Making Natural Beauty Products.  Out today, this book includes over 250 easy-to-follow recipes, covering topics such as bath products, skin-care and make-up.

As you may have seen from my DIY posts, I have always enjoyed making my own beauty products and so I cannot wait to get experimenting! The ones I am most looking forward to trying are: Gentle Cleansing & Hydrating Mask, Acai face butter, Sugar Scrub Shower Cubes and many different make-up products. There are also some recipes for mens products, such as foot cream, shaving foam and after-shave, which would be great as a gift!

It is a very informative book and I have learnt a lot just from flicking through the pages. The introduction looks at all different ingredients, their qualities/benefits, colours and scents and even their shelf life. This is a nice way to understand why certain ingredients are included in certain recipes.

I also have 3 copies of the book to give away, if you would like to be in with the chance of winning a copy then all you need to do is follow me on twitter and retweet my tweet about the competition!

Follow @Vanillacrush1   What beauty products do you enjoy making yourself?

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