WHAT'S NEW AT THE DRUGSTORECURRENT AFFORDABLE FAVOURITES

August 1, 2016, 3:27 am

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It does annoy me when people are too snobbish to set foot in a drugstore, or highstreet purveyor of most things health and beauty if we're speaking UK talk. I'll be the first to admit that I love my high end makeup, and I'm just as much of a sucker for the aesthetic as the best of them, but something that gives me a boatload of satisfaction is finding hidden gems that are stupidly affordable. I've been having a good play lately with drugstore makeup and I'm here today to report some real finds (and a dud..)!

MUA Luxe Velvet Lip Lacquer in Halcyon £3 | I've seen so many photos of this online that, even though I'm not a big matte lip wearer, I had to pick it up. The pigmentation of this liquid lip is excellent, it's really bold and strong, and dries down to a full matte. Lasting power is pretty amazing too, I reckon I could get at least 12 hours out of this if I wanted to, and still have it looking pretty. For me, it's pretty drying, but I like really moisturised and hydrated lips so I'm perhaps not the best to comment. Halcyon is a summery apricot-y-salmon-pink with a tinge of nude and orange, very wearable.

Collection Brow Powder Pen in Brunette £4.19 | This is genius. Very reminiscent of the old style liquid liners I used to use, the handy pen format this time contains brow powder. The applicator is firm, thin and tapered, and pretty much the perfect tool to shape and fill in your brows, whether that means drawing on hairs or shaping the top and bottom. I was concerned that it would only pick up a measly amount of powder, or perhaps too much and there would be fallout, but it's a happy medium that let's me do my whole brow before dipping back in. An excellent, travel friendly product that's less than £5, and I've been using it everyday.

Gosh Volume Lip Shine in 07 Burgundy £7.99 | I've never paid too much attention to Gosh products but they've got quite a few winners in their collection at the moment, the blush stick being one and this lip'gloss' being another. I suppose you would call this a lipgloss but it seems to have a slight tweak to the texture and finish that I really enjoy, sitting somewhere between a traditional lipgloss and a lip oil/Lancome Juicy Shaker. There's not too much slip or shine and it's immensely comfortable on the lip. Burgundy isn't a burgundy shade at all - it's a much more muted, cool-toned rose that I think all 'darker nude' lovers would adore. And worth mentioning, not that the scent is at all obvious but it smells of holidays and pina coladas.

Sleek Cream Contour Kit in Light£10.99 (here for the US) | This is the dud, although I haven't written it off just yet. I wanted to experiment with cream contours and thought this kit would be perfect as an entry level piece (I should just invest in Anastacia right?). On first impressions though I'm not that impressed.. the shades all feel a bit waxy and cheap, and the darker shades are just a bit too warm for acheiving a natural, imperceivable shadow. Maybe it's because I've been spoilt with Kevyn Aucoin's Creamy Sculpting Duo (which is absolutely HG) that it puts this to shame.

Gosh Giant Blush in 02 Shy £6.99 | Chanel's Les Beiges blush stick (still top drawer) kicked off my love for cream stick blushes, and I've since been playing with many of them, from drugstore to highend. This one from Gosh, I feel, is hugely overlooked and is one of the best formulas, and possibly best colours I've found for the price. The texture is slick and creamy, although it dries down to a velvety skin-finish and 02 Shy is a beautiful dusky, rosy pink that makes your cheeks look healthy and youthful.

MUA Brow Define Gel in Dark Brown£2 | I'm out of my Anastacia clear brow gel so picked this up on a complete whim as it's so affordable. It does everything I could ask for; it holds my brows in place, it doesn't smudge or crumble, it lasts throughout the day and the wand isn't too big and cumbersome. I also like that the shade is cool toned and matches excellently with my brow colour.

Essence Longlasting Lipstick in 06£2.30 (here for the US) | Honourable mention goes to the next couple of products. I'd already taken the photos for this post by the time I got hold of them but just had to tuck them in at the end because I'm so thoroughly impressed. Put this lipstick in some fancier packaging and I honestly wouldn't be able to tell it didn't cost £25. The texture is smooth and creamy, it glides on without effort. It's not patchy, nor sticky, nor drying. The pigmention is even and not too brash, and looks beautiful full on or sheered out. It's comfortable on the lip and lasts as long as any of my high end cream-finish lipsticks. And all this for under £3, what better an endorsement.

Essence Liquid Lipsticks£2.50 | Louboutin's Loubilaque formula hasn't been getting the rave reviews we all might have thought for such an expensive lipstick but if you're after a similar (well, frankly identical) concept without spending $85, which I think is an utterly ridiculous price, then try these ones by Essence for a mere £2.50. Each of the 6 shades is even, pigmented and glossy with a decent wear time. I actually think even the packaging looks really nice.

What are you loving at the drugstore lately? 

P.S Have you seen my Easy, Heatproof Makeup??

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ANOTHER KOREAN BEAUTY HAULft. BUTTERMILK SKINCARE

August 2, 2016, 11:00 pm

≫ Next: WHAT'S IN MY TRAVEL MAKEUP BAG.

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I'm almost literally swimming in Korean skincare at the moment and I'm not even the slightest bit unhappy about it.

Today's haul comes about after UK based online store Buttermilk Skincare reached out to me asking if I'd like to sample a few of their Korean skincare items. Having rifled through their website, I was happy to see they stock a few brands that seem easy to find in the US (Aromatica, Klairs, Benton etc), but unfortunately not for us poor saplings here in the UK. Their site has a really nice aesthetic, and everything arrives presented thoughtfully and with a quietly modern style (they also actually offer international shipping for those who have already asked!) I'm really picky with what goes onto my face, so I'm grateful that Buttermilk were kind enough to let me select the items myself - so let's get into the nitty gritty!

I don't use a 10 step routine myself, as I feel it's really unnecessary for my skin (it's a bit of a Kbeauty myth tbh, but that's opening a whole can of worms that this post doesn't need - read more from Fiddy if you want to delve into the drama!) but if it's something you want to pursue or try, Buttermilk include a nice infographic on one of the ways you could go about it - it would great for the first time buyer/user who finds the world of Kskincare a little overwhelming - and I actually really like the little graphics.

Aromatica Sea Daffodil Aqua Gel Cream£30

I think it's hard to find a good moisturiser. For my skin at least, I want something that's not too rich, not oily nor greasy, lightweight yet occlusive, made up of predominantly skin benefitting ingredients and as hydrating as possible. Getting the right mix of all criteria is a challenge. Aromatica is a brand I've wanted to try for a little while, pretty much ever since I heard about their Rose gel, although it's not all that popular a brand in Korea/Seoul if I'm honest. Gel creams are my favourite type of moisturiser so finding out that Aromatica produce one, and that Buttermilk stock it, I immediately knew what my first item was going to be. From one of Korea's 'non-toxic' brands, the Aromatica gel cream is really lightweight but still has a plumpness and volume to it that means it doesn't melt completely away like a softener or thin serum. A translucent gel that turns completely clear, it has a zesty herbal scent (like lemon verbena) that I find really 'appetizing'. The formulation seems to have changed over the last couple of years (if you were thinking about running the ingredients through Cosdna for example) and it no longer contains skin brightening wonder, arbutin (sob!). It is however made of 84% aloe vera leaf extract, which we all know is soothing and hydrating. With only 16% of the formulation left for other ingredients, most of which is taken up with glycerin, hyaluronic acid and babassu seed oil, I'm not too worried about the rest of them, as they'll be in such tiny proportions, although this cream is not completely free of alcohols, in case that bothers you. The top four ingredients are really indicative of a majorly hydrating product, which is the biggest priority in my stage of life, so I'm excited to give this a good run. A quick note on packaging too, the frosted glass bottle and pump dispenser both get a big thumbs from me.

Klairs Illuminating Supple Blemish Cream SPF 40 PA++£17

This next item is an interesting one, claiming to be a BB for all skin tones and most skin types? Frankly I think it can only mean all Korean skin tones.. and I'm immediately dubious of a one-kind-fits-all ethos, which is why I wanted to investigate, try it myself and let you know. The BB arrives in a slim, plastic tube, not dissimilar to toothpaste and the nozzle is actually very user friendly - the packaging makes it a perfect option for travel. On first impressions, the colour immediately seems quite fair, and the texture very moisturising - definitely more of a tinted moisturiser than a moisturising foundation, although the scent starts off like something between Sudocrem and hair removal cream?! It dissapates almost immediately, but slightly odd. The best way I've found so far is to apply and blend with fingers, and having done so, the finish is incredibly beautiful and natural - Klairs claim both men and women could wear this and I can see how. What concerns me slightly are the ingredients in this. I'm definitely not nearly as stringent on ingredients in makeup as I am in skincare but the inclusion of silicones and ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate high up the ingredients list doesn't fill me with joy - with the potential to cause skin congestion and cell damage. I generally create a good base with my skincare layers anyway, so this may well not be an issue but I'll be reporting back with any adverse effects!

Benton Snail Bee High Content Sheet Masks£2.50 per sheet

Of all the sheet masks on Buttermilk, it was these from Benton that caught my attention, for the best ingredients list. I am most definitely a snail believer - my Mizon snail gel and Cosrx snail essence for example are products I have and will be repurchasing. Another product I really enjoy is the Neulii Snail Bee serum, with it's really limited but concentrated ingredients list, so to find a similar idea in a sheet mask is exciting! The water free formula contains 20% snail secretion filtrate as well as a base of green tea leaf water, and a host of other extracts in small concentrations. With these masks you should experience brightening, skin repair and fortification, soothing and hydrating. As it's the ingredients in these masks that I'm interested in, let's do my usual highlighting session and show you what I mean by 'a good ingredients list':

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Snail Secretion Filtrate, Glycerin, Arbutin, Pentylene Glycol, Bee Venom, Sodium Hyaluronate, rh-Oligopeptide-1, Plantago Asiatica Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Ulmus Campestris Extract, Bacillus Ferment, Azelaic Acid, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Aloe Vera Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, Beta-Glucan, Betaine, Xanthan Gum, Adenosine, Panthenol, Allantoin, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Usnea Barbata Extract, Pulsatilla Koreana Extract.

Botanical extracts (and snail and bee) we have in purple, other skin benefitting goodies we have in bold. After them, there's not a lot left. It'll be hard/nigh on impossible to give you much info after just the one use but I can see myself purchasing more.

Lindsay Vitamin Rubber Mask£5

I've so far steered clear of rubber masks because, well, I'm lazy. I like my face masks to be as simple as they come, with no residue or washing off to do! It was actually Jenna of Buttermilk that urged me to try these and it may well turn into one of those things you love, but had to be pushed into trying for the first time. The appeal of the rubber mask is that really provides an inescapable, occlusive film over the skin that traps in nutrients and prevents evaporation of the mask, forcing your skin to absorb any beneficial ingredients. You get the powder (mostly diatomaceous earth - which incidentally you can eat/drink as a supplement) in a little plastic pot, to which you add water until it forms a paste. The Vitamin version contains ascorbic acid and niacinamide for brightening and anti inflammatory Portulaca Oleracea extract. Each pot holds enough product for a single use, which is nice as once you've opened and use it, you can throw the whole lot away. If all goes well, I'd like to try the Tea Tree version.

I got a few little samples to try too, very in line with Korean retail custom, except updates on Instagram!

Have you tried any of these products? And those of you in the US/elsewhere, I'd love you to share your thoughts on other Aromatica products!

And if you're into Kbeauty, here are a few other posts that might interest you:

Shop Korean Beauty Within The UK

Huge Korean Skincare and Makeup Haul

Kbeauty Definitions Explained

7 Kbeauty Dupes For High End Faves

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WHAT'S IN MY TRAVEL MAKEUP BAG.

August 4, 2016, 11:00 pm

≫ Next: GROWN ALCHEMIST SKINCARE.

≪ Previous: ANOTHER KOREAN BEAUTY HAULft. BUTTERMILK SKINCARE

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My travel makeup bag is a series of carefully considered pieces. When I'm going abroad, I don't want to be lugging around a trunk of makeup (let alone all the brushes..) with me, telling myself 'at least I have options!', nor do I want to be spending my vacation applying it all. I want quick, I want portability, I want multi-tasking, and I want ease of use. So here are a handful of my current travel faves that make the cut.

Elizabeth Arden Prismatic Highlighter £25 (here for US) | Of all the highlighters from Summer 2016 so far, and although it's a tough choice, I think this is my favourite. I love cream stick highlighters for their ease of use, and this one is done exceptionally well. The texture is so smooth and slick and creamy, without looking greasy on the skin. The shimmer is super fine and refined, and the colour is probably my favourite thing - the perfect mix of champagne, bronze, rosy-gold and beige, check out my full review here.

Tom Ford Correcting Pen£35 (and here for the US) | I love this concealing pen. I've been using it for around 5 weeks and it's quickly become a front and centre product. A double-ended stick, containing a peachy corrector and skin-toned precision concealer, it's the perfect space-saver for travelling. The concealing end is so iddy-biddy, you can pinpoint conceal without a brush and with ease. It's expensive but the portability, multi-tasking factor and excellent formula make it worthwhile for me.

Tom Ford Cream Colour For Eyes in Sphinx £30 (here for the US) | I suppose the point I'm trying to make with this item is my love for cream shadow pots that you can smudge effortlessly onto the eye for a one and done look - my go-to for travel. Let's talk about this colour though. It's so pretty and unusual, a peachy, golden shade that has a warm, pink duochrome in certain lights. If you're looking to save your pennies, whilst I don't have a dupe for the colour, I thoroughly recommend the Kiko cream shadow pots, Shade 06 is a beautiful coppery bronze that I love. (Also, you can still get the TF duo shadow pot in Golden Peach here from Sephora?! Those is the US, take advantage.)

Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Multi Colour £43 | As you'll see further down, we're taking plenty of highlighters on this trip! Although this is my only blush, and a gorgeous one it most certainly is. Some say this isn't different or unique, and maybe not, but it's special. Applied really sparingly, ideally with a stippling brush, it's the most genuinely natural flush I think I've ever achieved with a makeup product - rather like the provocative glow you get after a naughty moment (oo-er) - there's no discernible shimmer on the skin, it's beautiful. Not the easiest thing to get hold of, you can still find it here on eBay.

L'Oreal Nude BB Powder£6.99 | I'm so thoroughly impressed with this powder - it definitely performs like a high end product. In fact I'd go as far as saying that it's like the pressed, slightly tinted counterpart to the Laura Mercier loose, translucent powder. The compact makes it great for travel, as I wouldn't want to carry around a loose powder with me. You get a mirror and applicator sponge inside and the powder itself is so fine and elegantly formulated, it doesn't cake up on my face at all - how is it close to £5?! I've been wearing this almost everyday at home, it's excellent.

By Terry Ombre Blackstar£29 (here for US) | You might remember this from my Beauty Products For Hot Weather post, and it's budgeproof-ability is partly why it's made it's way into this post too - I think these are worth the money in any weather but for a hot climate they're perfect. The slimline packaging doesn't take up much space either and you can quickly draw on a gorgeous eye and blend out with fingers - no brushes needed!

M&S Liquid Highlighter £8.50 | Why have 1 highlighter when you can take 2? (or strictly speaking 4 in today's case) This lovely liquid highlight has a sheer but buildable coverage, mottled with fine shimmer particles that have a beautifully elegant lustre on the skin. I love the small, compact packaging for travel and you don't need an extra brush as it comes with it's own doe foot applicator.

L'Oreal Lumi Magique Concealer£8.50 | Frankly, if I'm going abroad, I'm not really going to have the patience to bother with proper concealing, unless it's a really bothersome blemish, in which case I'll reach for the super quick and tiny pen of Tom Ford, as mentioned above. For some natural highlighting, this concealing/highlighting pen though is so dreamily lightweight and an excellent consistency - it brightens up my undereye area a treat.

Kevyn Aucoin Creamy Sculpting Duo£22.50 (here for US) | This little 'palette' is the perfect travel piece - it's so dinky and has your contour and subtle highlighting requirements completely sorted. I'm still yet to find a more realistic contour shade than the dark, ashen brown - it looks utterly indetectable, and is the perfect texture to blend seamlessly with fingers.

M&S Metallic Liquid Eye Gloss in Bronze £8.50 | This liquid shadow is such a versatile product, and that's why it's made the travel bag. Fairly thin in consistency, you can sheer the colour out for an all over eye wash or build up for something more intense. 'Bronze' is a gorgeous mid-bronze hue with a rosy undertone. For a more evening appropriate look, I like to smudge something dark and bronzey all over the eye then dab this into the very centre of my eyelid like a halo-eye highlight.

Etude House Real Powder Cushion£30 | I'll admit it, I can't kick the cushion addiction, so here I am featuring them in yet another post! For travelling though, they're perfect - portable, compact, and with your mirror and applicator all inclusive. This one from Etude House has a demi matte finish that's ideal for hot weather if you're going abroad, and doesn't look cakey should you want to touch up throughout the day.

Etude House Face Blur £12 | This primer is ideal for travelling. The plastic bottle is pretty hardy and the contents within blur, smooth and perfect your skin, to the extent that I'll happily wear this alone on hols. With SPF 35, it's actually a great one to wear to the pool if you don't want to do a full face of makeup (or in fact, any makeup..).

Pixi Endless Silky Eye Pencil £12 | Like the By Terry Ombre Blackstars, these Pixi pencils are travel-perfect for their slimline packaging and long lasting formula. Bronze Beam is the most excellent colour to smudge into the lashline for an easy, sultry but defined eye, and Oysterglow is a super pretty, soft, shell colour which makes a great inner corner highlight.

Whilst we're on the subject of eyes, I've got to give a quick mention to this Etude House Multi Brush, a 4-in-1 makeup brush that comes with a small pointed brush, flat oval shader, smudgey sponge and angled liner brush, ideal for travel and less to lose.

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P.S Have you seen my heatproof summer makeup look?

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GROWN ALCHEMIST SKINCARE.

August 7, 2016, 11:00 pm

≫ Next: DIOR SKYLINE FALL 2016 SWATCHES & FIRST IMPRESSIONS

≪ Previous: WHAT'S IN MY TRAVEL MAKEUP BAG.

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As many of us are, I'm guilty of falling for the androgynous, minimalist apothecary aesthetic of Aussie brand Aesop. But unfortunately, some of their products leave me wanting after scrutinising the ingredients list, their Parsley Seed Serum and Hydrosol Mist for example, filled with alcohols and potentially phytotoxic irritants - all a bit fur coat and no knickers. Thankfully, there's another antipodean skincare brand to consider in Grown Alchemist, with equally uber-cool packaging. It's a brand I've not previously tried so I thought I'd gather a few items to test out. Let's see how it stands up..

Vanilla & Watermelon Lip Balm £14 | A metal, slimline monochrome tube makes this just about the most Instagram-able lip balm out there. And what's on the inside doesn't disappoint either. The top ingredient is castor oil, which is plainly obvious from the thick, oily texture, followed by a vegetable-derived, sustainable emulsifier and quite a few fruit/plant oils. I can't discern any vanilla scent whatsoever frankly, but the watermelon is lovely and summery, and not at all overpowering. Most importantly of all, this balm does it's job, leaving my lips happy, hydrated and moisturised.

Ingredients: Castor Seed Oil, Bis-Stearyl-Ethylenediamine/Neopentyl Glycol/Stearyl Hydrogenated Dimer Dilinoleate Copolymer, Beeswax, Parfum (Hypoallergenic), Tocopherol, Watermelon Seed Oil, Tangerine Peel Oil, Sweet Orange Peel Oil, Rosehip Fruit Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Jojoba Seed Oil, Shea Butter, Vanillin, Limonene.

Balancing Toner £22 | A soothing and refreshing toner, this contains aloe vera, cucumber and glycerin to soothe and hydrate, as well as ginseng, lactic acid and vitamin c to envigorate and brighten. Some people report a sensitivity to the preservative phenoxyethanol, although it's considered one of the least irritating for use in skincare, far better than parabens - but obviously go with what works for you. Although not an exfoliating toner, this feels like a similar but much more toned down version of Pixi's Glow Tonic, and makes a great second toner if your first one leaves your skin feeling a little stripped or tight.

Ingredients: Purified Water, Aloe Vera Leaf Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Glycerin, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Cucumber Fruit Extract, Ginseng Root Extract, Lactic Acid, Kola Nut Extract, Green Tea Leaf Extract, Olive Leaf Extract, Chamomile Flower Extract, Rose Flower Oil, Bergamot Fruit Oil, Chamomile Flower Oil, Geraniol, Citronellol. 

Gentle Gel Facial Cleanser £26 | A lightly foaming gel cleanser predominantly consisting of water, aloe and two gentle surfactants. It's got the texture of an asian peeling gel, with a subtle, herbal scent. The ingredients list in my view is ok but not overly inspiring, and it's definitely only second cleanse suitable, as this is certainly not going to remove makeup effectively. Once again, beautiful packaging though, and the full size comes with a pump, perfect for standing alongside your sink.

Ingredients: Aqua, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Aloe Vera Leaf Extract, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Aminomethyl Propanol, Potassium Sorbate, Geranium Leaf Oil, Sweet Orange Peel Oil, White Willow Bark Extract, Mandarin Peel Oil, Bergamot Peel Oil, Rose Flower Oil, Chamomile Flower Oil, Linalool, Limonene, Geraniol, Citronellol.

Hydra Repair Day Cream £29 | This cream claims to be a bit of a wonder product, improving hydration, balancing oil production and protecting against premature aging. There's a lot of talk about polysaccharides and phytosterols, triglycerides and flavanoids, all having magical effects on the skin. In reality I'm not 100% sold - it's definitely 'nice' but there are better out there. The base of aloe and oils are sure to moisturise, which you can feel from the rich, creamy texture. It settles to a matte but not dry finish though so would be a more than viable option for combo skins. The packaging, again, is one of it's best selling points - a slimline, cream, metal tube.

Ingredients: Aloe Vera Leaf Extract, Purified Water, Sweet Almond Oil, Cetearyl/Sorbitan Olivate, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Rosehip Fruit Oil, Dimethicone, Benzyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Lactic Acid, Tocopherol, Geranium Oil, Sweet Orange Peel Oil, Mandarin Peel Oil, Sucrose, Carrot Root Extract, Camellia Seed Oil, Jojoba Seed Oil, White Willow Bark Extract, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Chamomile Flower Extract, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Linalool, Limonene, Citral, Geraniol, Citronellol.

Antioxidant Rosehip & Camellia Seed Facial Oil £25 | A rich, certified organic and 100% natural (apparently) facial oil, this contains very few ingredients - predominantly a base of rosehip and camellia with some essential oils, and I've had no irritation from them so they must be in very small quantities. I love rosehip, with vitamin A and omegas to improve fine lines, and camellia retains moisture excellently, with more oleic acid than olive oil, and contains a multitude of vitamins and minerals. Whilst I've found this oil to moisturise and hydrate, it sinks in rapidly, and without leaving an oily film on the surface of my skin.

Ingredients: Camellia Seed Oil, Rosehip Fruit Oil, Lavender Oil, Geranium Oil, Sandalwood Wood Oil, Linalool, Limonene, Citral, Geraniol, Citronellol, Farnesol.

Desert Lime & Amino Peptide Hydra Mist+ £18 | Who doesn't love a good facial mist? I'm becoming a little obsessed with them in the summer months, either to prep and hydrate my face before makeup, or as a refreshing spritz throughout the day. This one contains a whole host of lovely ingredients, such as lactic acid, sodium hyaluronate, kelp and hibiscus, and it feels incredibly refreshing and almost zesty on the skin, but it contains alcohol (as so many facial mists seem to do) which I'm not pleased about. Bergamot can be an irritant aswell so that's also something to keep in mind, especially if you have sensitive skin. I think due to the alcohol content, I'll continue to use this as a spray-throughout-the-day - the small bottle is perfect for throwing into your handbag - and probably use it to house the Balancing Toner when I've used it up.

Ingredients: Aloe Vera Leaf Extract, Purified Water, Camellia Seed Oil, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Lactic Acid, Sodium PCA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Bergamot Peel Oil, Wheat Amino Acids, Kelp Extract, Bilberry Fruit Extract, Fucus Algae Extract, Hibiscus Flower Extract, Desert Lime Fruit Extract, Pomegranate Fruit Extract, Olive Leaf Extract, Echinacea Extract, Ylang Ylang Flower Oil, Lime Peel Oil, Patchouli Leaf Oil, Vanillin, Linalool, Limonene.

Let's just sum things up then. Toner, lip balm and facial oil get a big thumbs up, as does the packaging in general - how can you resist the minimalist, monochrome beauty? Hydra mist, day cream and cleanser are a 'meh' from me, although the Facial Kit is a handy one for travel and includes just about everything you need for a basic routine. I'm definitely wanting to try their Vanilla Orange Hand Cream and Deep Cleansing Masque next (and they have particularly beautiful packaging!). I think to call themselves a 'green' brand is a little farfetched - I know that true, hardcore natural beauty fans won't fully approve of the ingredients, but I'd definitely recommend Grown Alchemist to those looking to transition into a more natural skincare routine.

Have you tried any Grown Alchemist products?

P.S Have you seen What's In My Travel Makeup Bag??

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DIOR SKYLINE FALL 2016 SWATCHES & FIRST IMPRESSIONS

August 10, 2016, 11:00 pm

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I literally cannot believe that it's already time for Fall makeup. Does anyone else think this summer is really flying by?! I'm starting off the autumnal collections today with Dior's Skyline Fall 2016, an incredibly beautiful looking array from Chanel's ex-beauty director Peter Philips. So let's get into my first impressions and collection swatches!

I wasn't ecstatic with the colour palette of the summer Milky Dots collection (review + swatches here) but Skyline looks more moody and autumnal, which is precisely up my street. The range includes two new 5-colour eye palettes, 5 mono shadows, 4 nail colours, 4 colour correcting sticks, a powder highlighter, 3 contour and highlighting sticks, 3 new lip glosses, some new brow products and some new highlighting concealers (although there's always some discrepancy between what the US and we in the UK get). Righto, let's get cracking.

5-Couleur Skyline Eyeshadow Palettes£43.50 (here for the US) | These palettes are rather beautiful. Whilst the summer palettes had no design on the shadows, the fall variations are beautifully embossed with a filigree-style latticework of the Eiffel Tower - as if you're standing underneath it looking up. All the shades are even, a good mix between dry and creamy, and have a decent level of pigmentation (not intense but not namby pamby). I think you'll either like or dislike these based on whether you're looking for pretty, or whether you're looking for unique - as with all the affordable, good makeup that's around now, most of the shades are dupe-able.

With 806 Capital Of Light (my preferred palette of the two), you get a metallic ivory, a golden beige, a rosy pink, a deep aubergine with gold microglitter and an olive-grey with lots of glitter. Whilst you can argue that the shades aren't coherent within the palette, I rather like that, as you get a nice mix of different hues, good for travelling for example if you want options. Saying that, this palette definitely reminds me of the Backstage Eye Reviver 002, and the Rosie For Autograph shadow quads (have a look at all the swatches here) - so depending on what shades you like, there are definitely dupes out there!

506 Parisian Sky includes three shimmery neutrals from champagne-beige to deep dark brown, as well as a pale, metallic sky blue and a blue-toned silver-grey.

Diorblush Light & Contour Sculpting Stick Duo£32 (here for the US) | Available in 3 shades, Light, Medium and Intense, these cream contour and highlighting sticks are super creamy and emollient. The highlighting shades are gorgeous, Shade 2 in particular has a peachy gold tone which I find really flattering, and I think the darker one, an antique-ish gold, is really well chosen for deeper skin tones. I personally find the contour shades a little warm, as I think I'd prefer something ashier like the Kevyn Aucoin Cream Contour (review here). Even on my hand, I found these didn't blend well on dry skin so make sure your skin is prepped and moisturised first, and there are plenty of similar products available that it may not be worth the £32 pricetag to everyone.

Dior Fix It Colour£23.50 (here for the US) | Dior have joined in on the colour correcting trend, with 4 dual-function stick correctors. A soft-focus, almost priming, core is surrounded with rich, pigmented colour, blurring imperfections and neutralising colouring in one swipe. To Dior's credit, they're delightfully smooth and blend beautifully, and I think the orangey-apricot shade in particular is a perfectly balanced choice for dark undereye circles.

100 Blue - a pale, cornflower-lavender shade to neutralise sallowness and enliven skin.
200 Apricot - a spot on apricot shade to correct dark under eyes.
300 Yellow - targets redness on a yellow-undertone skin tone and blue tinged undereyes.
400 Green - redness and blemish corrector.

Dior Flash Luminizer£29 (here for the US) | I absolutely love the formula of these, and favour them to YSL's Touche Eclat. They're fine, creamy, silky and blend beautifully, giving oodles of light and brightness wherever you apply them. The Skyline collection comes with two brand new shimmery shades which I think are exquisite - it's hard to choose between them?!

001 Pink - a pale pink cream finish.
002 Ivory - a neutral, fair shade, suitable for the majority of skin tones.
003 Apricot - a darker neutral with warm undertone.
500 Pearly Vanilla - a diffused, shimmery champagne gold.
800 Pearly Pink - a cool toned shimmery pink.

Dior Skin Nude Air Luminizer£39 (here for the US) | I expect any self-confessed highlight obsessive to zone right in on this new powder highlighter. Although I find the formula to be a little dry and powdery, the colour is admittedly gorgeous, a pigmented, neutral champagne-rose-gold. On the cheeks, it's pretty bold, akin to Becca highlighters, so you'll definitely get on with it if you like a strong glow. It's not completely dissimilar to their Spring Glowing Gardens highlighter (which looks far prettier in the pan) and I've actually managed to find a pretty good dupe already from Kiko's new line - priced at only £12.90, they're not identical but pretty darn close!

Dior Vernis£19 (here for the US) | It seems like the US here get 2 colours but we in the UK get 4?! All the shades are nude tones in a rich coffee coloured palette (all hail the 90's), have a high lacquer shine finish, good colour pigmentation, decent wear time (Skyline is actually holding up pretty well on my nails after 3 days) and a great brush. I never thought I'd like brown nails but I've been wearing Skyline and have actually fallen in love, there's a spicy, reddened undertone that stops this from being muddy and it looks great whether you have pale or tanned skin.

112 Minimal - a creamy, peach-nude.
818 Obscure - a deep deep chocolate brown.
552 Abstract - a chic, camel tone.
848 Skyline - a rich, chilli-chocolate brown.

Diorshow Mono Lustrous Smokey Eyeshadow£24.50 | Dior recently came out with an array of new mono shadow shades and for the Fall collection they've added half a dozen more. These to me have the same dry texture as the highlighter but are exceedingly pigmented and have a multitonal and sophisticated shimmer/glitter running through them.

094 Gravity - a smokey, blackened base with blue metallic duochrome and blue microglitter.
184 Temptation - a rich, purple with purple microglitter.
564 Fire - a neutral gold with gold and silver microglitter.
684 Reflection - a mid toned brown base tinged with olive, with silver and microglitter.
764 Fusion - a candy rose shade with golden microglitter.
794 Fever - a mauve-taupe-griege base with purple, green and gold microglitter - this one is very similar to Cosmopolitan in colour but the base is more sheer, less metallic, and the glitter is more present.

Dior Addict Ultra Gloss£23 | Promising a mirror shine and 'hydra plumping volume', the Ultra Glosses are available in 3 new colours as part of the Skyline collection. I'm not a huge gloss wearer so these didn't excite but the two pigmented shades are pretty unusual.

041 Famous - a clear gloss with silvery, almost holographic glitter.
339 Gorgeous - A milky peach.
929 Scandalous - a cool toned, purpley bungundy with subtle golden shimmer. I expected this to be as rich as it looked in the tube but actually it looks a lot sheerer swatched/on the lips.

Diorshow Brow Chalk£20 (here for the US) | The powdery formulation of these brow pens gives a lovely, natural, soft finish to the brow. The shape and size of the product, a big rectangle in cross section, means I think this would be great for those with an already decent brow, that just needs a quick filling in and tidy. Available in three shades, 001 Blonde, 002 Soft Brown and 003 Dark Brown.

Apologies for the couple of little bits I missed (they sadly weren't in my stores!) but that's the collection! I'm giving it an overall thumbs up (lots of highlighters were always going to get into my good books), what are your thoughts?? 

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KOREAN SKINCARE TIPS FOR ACNE & ACNE SCARRING.

August 11, 2016, 11:00 pm

≫ Next: MID-YEAR SUMMER FAVOURITES 2016.

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I get asked so much, especially recently, about acne, how to deal with it and the scarring, the hyperpigmentation that's left behind and how to prevent blemishes and have clearer skin. I'm one of those lucky sods that had nigh on perfect skin throughout my teens, but my twenties have brought with them an onslaught of blemishes so I've really paid attention over the last few years on trialing and finding gentle results that work. I've collated all my thoughts and tips into today's post so let's get started.

There are different types of acne, from comedogenic to cystic to hormonal, and I have to say that for me at least, the hormonal ones need a deeper attention than just skincare - they're a bit inevitable unless you sort out the root cause in the hormonal imbalance. Today, I'm going to talk about preventative methods, rather than Roaccutane etc, the way our skin breaks out, and what measures we can take to prevent that. So, understanding acne in it's most simplified form, it's all about sebum - the oily secretion of our sebaceous glands that moisturises our skin but provides a nice, cushy environment for bacteria to grow and thrive.

Cleanse Twice Daily

Taking off your makeup properly is probably the easiest and most obvious thing you could do for your skin. It's a given that throughout the day your face will be accumulating makeup, sunscreen, dust, pollution, oil, excess sebum, sweat etc, so removing all of that as soon as possible gives your skin the chance to breathe. And that's why I think double cleansing in the evening is so important. Start off with an oil based cleanser (remembering that like removes like - this one is my current faves) to remove makeup, any buildup or impurities before following up with a second cleanse to clean your skin. A low pH cleanser (around 5-5.5 is ideal) protects your skin's acid mantle, there to prevent the growth of bacteria. I recently posted a lengthy post all about cleansers, my cleansing routine, a Korean dermatologist secret, and my top 5 cleansers which you can read here. For acne-prone skins, a cleanser containing salicylic acid or betaine salicylate (a gentler version) is a great bet, another reason why I love the Cosrx Low pH Gel Cleanser.

Low pH Toner

The Cosrx AHA BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner is one of my most effective products when it comes to preventing blemishes. I've done a whole post about it's secrets with a Before & After here - it lowers the pH of your skin, which in itself is beneficial, but also increases the efficacy of actives you use after like the following..

Vitamic C, AHA's and BHA's

Any and every time I get a blemish, it's guaranteed to scar. That's mostly a genetic thing for me, so I don't concentrate on prevention but I'm borderline obsessive about cure. Having tried most things, a vitamin C serum has been by far the single most effective lightener of my scarring. There are a lot of expensive ones out there (Drunk Elephant for example) but I've been trying this one from Korean brand Ciracle lately (read more in this post) and I really like it - the Klairs Freshly Juiced serum is also great, especially if you're new to vit C as it's lower in strength and a little more gentle. Vitamin C serums are pH sensitive so apply either straight to freshly cleansed skin or after toner.

AHA's are really good at dealing with pigmentation too, aswell as chemically exfoliating your skin. I've found that Lactic Acid works really well with my skin, and if I had to name a couple of products I covet most, it'd be the amazing Blithe Citrus Honey Splash Mask (review here) and Sunday Riley's Good Genes.

BHA's (or beta hydroxy acids) are oil soluble so are really good at cutting through your sebum and getting deep into the pores to clear them out. I love these BHA masks from Innisfree, containing salicylic acid, as well as grapefruit, lemon, green tea and orchid extracts. They're so gentle on the skin and the cooling effect of the sheet masks really soothes my skin aswell as tighten my pores - these are my favourite way to use BHA's.

Exfoliate Gently And Often

I have three favourite exfoliators at the moment - I stick to mostly gentle, chemical exfoliators as I think scrubs can leave micro lacerations on the skin and are just a little bit too aggressive for me. The first are the Wine Gauze Pads from Neogen, a tub full of single use pads, soaked in a concoction containing red wine (a natural and fermented source of AHA's) as well as Glycolic and Lactic acids. The specially designed pads deliver a manual exfoliation on one side and are super soft and smooth on the other. Considering how effective they are, they're incredibly gentle - I use mine around 2-3 times a week. These smell like Korean grape sweets too - my Korean childhood in a nutshell, and another reason why I love them so much.

The Skin & Lab Gently Vita Exfoliator is an amazing peeling gel. It contains niacinamide, retinol, panthenol, vitamins C and E, as well as plant and fruit extracts to brighten and exfoliate skin. Gently by name and gentle by nature, I've had no irritation whatsoever using it, it doesn't sting or tingle and my skin feels fresh and hydrated after washing it off. I think the key to this is allowing it to sit on your skin after application for a few minutes until the gel has thickened slightly. Then massage, causing it to ball up, before washing off. Such a beautiful product, I've not heard many talk about it and I think it deserves more recognition.

The Neogen Lemon Green Caviar Essence & Tox Tightening Pack is a new skincare concept combining the hydration of essences with a gentle, and often natural, form of exfoliation - most commonly using fruit extracts, enzymes and natural sources of AHA's. They use the same specialised gauze pads as the Wine exfoliator above and promise a multi-functional skin treatment, claiming to remove dead skin cells from the surface of your skin, brighten, hydrate, moisturise, cleanse pores, reduce pigmentation and gently resurface for smoother skin. The ingredients list for this product is vast (which I can only imagine means everything comes in small quantities), containing niacinamide, sodium hyaluronate, caffeine, seed oils, vitamin E, retinol and around 50 plant extracts (I'm not kidding), although the formula is not alcohol free for those that want to avoid that. I've been using this for around a month (2-3 times a week) and am really enjoying them so far - my skin feels so hydrated and smooth after using them and the single use pads are so convenient and feel so good, you just pick one out, swipe over your face with the rougher side, then the quilted side, pat in the essence, and simply throw away - it's the ultimate lazy girl product.

Pore Control.

Keeping your pores as contracted as possible limits the space available for bacteria to cause blemishes. Small pores also indicate a smaller oil gland size and less sebum production. Of all the products I've tried to reduce pores, relatively unknown Korean brand Neulii has come up trumps, with their Green Tea BHA Pore Tightening Serum. Containing natural sources of BHA and green tea, the serum works to purify and cleanse your pores of excess sebum and bacteria, whilst wild mint extracts cool the external layers of skin to physically, albeit temporarily, contract pore size. I also like to use a BHA sheet mask, usually in the evening when the effects of the serum have worn off. We mentioned above that BHA's are oil soluble and penetrate the oil within pores, so the mask leaves my skin feeling super fresh. A tea tree rubber mask or clay mask like this one would also be a good option if you want something a little more hardcore.

Hydrating And Skin Fortifying Ingredients

Dehydration can be an underlying cause of spots as your skin overproduces oil to compensate for the lack of hydration. In and around your 20's, hydration should be your number one focus against anti-aging too. Products that contribute to hydration and skin repair lead to overall skin improvement and have an underlying effect on spots and blemishes, and so are an important step in your anti-acne regime. I've been using this Hydra B5 Source serum from Ciracle, which is supremely hydrating but really light - I'm really enjoying it. I'm a real snail believer, as well as some fermented ingredients, I've found them to have such a positive effect on my skin. My favourite is actually the Mizon Snail Gel, which is about as affordable as they come, and the Cosrx Galactomyces Essence - it boasts 95% of the very same galactomyces ferment filtrate you'll find in the obnoxiously priced SKII Facial Treatment Essence. These two products are incredibly light and comfortable to wear, especially in our current warm weather situation, and pack a real punch when it comes to results. One of my favourite ways to hydrate is with sheet masks. I'm the kind of person that will layer a hydrating ampoule (like this one from Scinic) with a sheet mask (I really like these from Freeset) and then lock everything in with a silicone mask cover that helps everything absorb into my face, prevents evaporation and stops things from sliding around so I can get on with my day.

Leading A Healthy Lifestyle.

I'm only going to touch upon this because it's probably the most utterly boring point to mention! All the usuals of drinking water, sleeping well, eating healthily, and everything else your mum always told you to do contributes to a healthy overall lifestyle and healthy skin. I'm definitely no saint in this regard and could do with upping my game so any tips you may have are gladly welcome! Let me know your favourites in the comments below.

Contamination!

Another more boring point that not all of us remember to do, myself included, and that's practising thoroughly hygienic methods. What I mean by this is not touching your face, wiping down your phone regularly, washing your pillow often and ensuring you remove all traces of shampoos and styling products from around your hairline. If you find your strict skincare regimen is still leaving you with spots, then some of the above might be things you should consider.

I just wanted to finish up with a reminder not to get too bogged down in all of this! Blemishes are par for the course and even stringent, obsessive methods can't ensure you'll be 100% blemish free all of the time - everyone gets them now and again! Hope you've enjoyed my tips and recommendations, and let me know what you like to do to prevent acne in the comments below!

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MID-YEAR SUMMER FAVOURITES 2016.

August 13, 2016, 11:00 pm

≫ Next: PEACH MINT ICED TEA.

≪ Previous: KOREAN SKINCARE TIPS FOR ACNE & ACNE SCARRING.

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I don't really partake in monthly favourites here on BTB but I thought it apt and timely to do a huge roundup of my very favourite products that I've discovered, used and loved lately. I didn't really know what to call this post - a July/August/Summer/Mid Year favourites?? - so please regard this as some of the best of the best makeup, skincare and lifestyle faves that I have to share with you.

Makeup

Chanel Les Beiges Multi Colour Duo | I spoke about this in my Travel Makeup Bag post and it's made it into my bumper favourites edit for being incredibly beautiful. Yes ok it's Chanel so that's bonus points from the off. Although the packaging is exquisite as always, you may not think it's anything special - but I'm definitely inclined to disagree! The blush shade especially is one of my all time favourites (ever) and once you've had a play around, you can achieve the most stunning, natural flush, it's really well worth picking this one up if you still can.

Etude House Real Powder Cushion Foundation in Natural Beige £15 | I mentioned in my full review + try on that I liked this quite a bit but it's really grown on me since, to the point where it's now my top cushion for the hot weather we've been blessed with (see what other meltproof makeup I'm loving in this post).

Chanel Les Vernis £18 (here for the US) | Even though they're not necessarily the best formulas I've ever tried, I love Chanel nail polishes. The bottles are gorgeous, almost as gorgeous as the shades, and I can't keep my mitts of the nude-y pinks lately.

L'Oreal Nude BB Powder £7 (here for US) | This is another product that really feels high end. With uber fine particles, it smoothes over my skin, blurring fine lines and imperfections without feeling at all cakey, even if I go in a little heavy handed. Even though it doesn't sit on the skin and look powdery, I sometimes like to spray over a luminous facial spray, such as the one mentioned further down, for a glowy finish without the shine.

Givenchy Poudre Universelle£55 | I came across this stunner on a bit of a whim and am I glad I did as there's absolutely nothing about it criticise. A unique, subtle, pale pink powder, this provides lightness and brightness in the most sophisticated way, leaving my skin with a satin-matte finish. Rather than use it all over, I sweep over my cheekbones and down my nose for a subtle ethereal quality that's difficult to describe let alone photograph. A beautifying powder, it's qualities show far better IRL - full review here for you.

Stila Convertible Colour in Camellia £16 (here for the US) | One of the first, good cream blushes I ever tried, the Convertible Colours still remain a favourite and Camellia has now become one I reach for almost daily. A beautiful mix of warm apricot, nude and bronze tones (not dissimilar to MAC Gingerly), it's so flattering on warm/olive skin tones and is ideal for the 'draping' technique in which you apply blush almost as you would contour.

M&S Autograph Metallic Liquid Eye Gloss in Bronze £8.50 | Whilst it was hard to choose what eyeshadows made this post, I had to include this one as I've been wearing it so often and I think it's wildly underrated! A beautiful, slick formula that comes in just the one shade, Bronze is the most gorgeous, iridescent pinky, copperish, brown that would be flattering on the majority of skin tones.

Innisfree Face Designing Duo £12 (full review here) | I first mentioned this last year in this post, and I admit it got put to one side whilst I was distracted with trying new things (so many Spring & Summer collections to play with), but there are 'those' products that you always go back to and this is one for me. Both shades are subtle, creamy, seamlessly blendable, look completely divine in person, and are available in separate, larger pans - highlighter here, and the bronzing shades here.

Touch In Sol Light & Bright in License To Kill £8 (here for the US) | I think these twist up liquid highlighters are amazing, particularly this shade. A definite dupe for the new Becca Slimlight Highlighters, these give a shiny, not too bold finish, with the perfect amount of glisten. License To Kill is an ideal warm champagne shade with a teeny hint of rose, this has shot up to become one of my favourite highlighters, alongside the vastly underrated Elizabeth Arden Prismatic Highlighter I talk about and swatch in this post.

Essence Long Lasting Lipstick in 06 £2.30 (here for the US) | I came across this on a complete whim when running errands but it instantly made my New At The Drugstore Favourites, and it's so good that now it's wound up here. With absolutely no exaggeration, this feels like a high end lipstick, especially in it's formula. A traditional, creamy texture, it sits beautifully on the lips, lasts well and gives good colour payoff.

Gosh Giant Blush in 02 Shy £6.99 (here for the US) | This year has definitely been the year of the cream stick product - my collection of stick highlighters and blushes has grown at a somewhat alarming rate! Whilst the majority of my collection remains high end, this little number from Gosh is a superb drugstore find, with a creamy, pigmented but easily blended formula. Have a look at this recent post for my other current drugstore finds and faves.

Collection Brow & Define £4.19 | Another one from my new drugstore faves post, I think this idea is really innovative, although it reminds me somewhat of cheap makeup from my childhood?! With packaging like a liquid liner, the tube actually holds a brow powder, and the pointed applicator allows you to draw on a precise, sharp brow - although you could use this as a powder liner too.

Skincare

The Saem Luminous Real Radiance Mist £8 | I've really got into facial mists this year, obviously especially during these hot summer months, and I think this one is my favourite of them all. So refreshing, alcohol free, smells divine, gives a nice level of moisturisation without feeling oily, greasy or heavy and smells of peaches - read more in this haul.

It's Skin Prestige Eye Gold Patch£28 | I've finally found some eye masks that work! These hydrogel slivers feel so refreshing under the eye, especially if you pop the tub in the fridge beforehand, and I really love using them before an evening out or event to hydrate and plump up the undereye area. Head over to my full review for a before and after.

Grown Alchemist Watermelon & Vanilla Lipbalm £14 | With contents as good as the chic, minimalist packaging and a summery watermelon scent, this lip balm was bound to be a favourite. It really hydrates and moisturises my lips. Merely the tiniest amount is enough to provide a plump look - this tube is going to last forever! Check out my Grown Alchemist brand focus with ingredients for more info.

Neogen Wine Gauze Pads £20 | These exfoliating pads have a special place in my heart for the delicious Korean grape candy scent of my childhood, but regardless of reminiscent aromas, their function and efficacy warrant them a place in my Mid Year favourites. A specially created gauze pad holds a gentle concoction of acids and extracts to chemically exfoliant your skin without any irritation, leaving it feeling and looking smooth, soft and rejuvenated. I love this kind of exfoliator to combat acne - read more in my Korean Acne Tips post.

Blithe Citrus Honey Splash Mask $45 | How could I talk about skincare favourites without including this innovative Kbeauty facial treatment from Blithe? I was definitely skeptical before trying, but I can attest to it's promise of brighter, resurfaced skin in 15 (yes literally) seconds. Immediately after using the mask, my skin feels ridiculously smooth and soft, check out my full review here.

Cosrx AHA BHA Treatment Toner £22 | I'm almost out of my second bottle of this elixir and I grow to like it more and more with time. A two-fold enabler of healthy skin, it lowers the pH of your skin post-cleanse to keep that acid mantle intact, and aids the efficacy of actives I use after, meaning I get so much more out of my expensive (or otherwise) serums and treatments that are in someway affected by pH. If you're using a lactic acid or vitamin C serum for example, this really helps them perform better on hyperpigmentation, it's like my secret weapon against acne. Have a look at my Before & After's here.

Cosrx Galactomyces Essence £25 | Sticking with Cosrx, I had to talk about their Galactomyces Essence. If you've wanted to try the SKII Facial Treatment Essence, save your money and try this instead. With the very same fermented active ingredient, as well as niacinamide, sodium hyaluronate and panthenol, I achieve the same fortifying, hydrating and preventative anti aging results, but for a fraction of the cost.

Neulii Green Tea BHA Pore Tightening Serum £25 | In my experience, once pores are enlarged, I think they're really hard to remedy. Of all the clay masks, serums, exfoliators and salicylic treatments I've tried, I think this is the best one (let me know if you'd like a full review!). Wild mint extracts physically cool your skin's temperature, causing enlarged pores to contract, for an instant, albeit temporary effect, whilst natural BHA's and green tea purify skin and gently clear out pores for longer term results.

Freeset Donkey Milk Whitening Sheet Mask £15 | Who else is a sheet mask addict? Whilst I've got a handful of favourites within my 'Sheet Mask Library' (they're literally stored in a bookcase like the best type of skin benefitting books ever), I wanted to talk about these beauties today. A hybrid of traditional fabric and more advanced hydrogel, these masks hold onto the essence so well and distribute all of that goodness into your skin. Even after just the one session, I notice an intense hydrating effect as well as some subtle brightening.

O&M Know Knott£20 (full review here) | I'm going through a bit of a prolonged Hair Journey this year and as part of that I've really stripped back what I use on my hair. Although I've generally said goodbye to heat and styling products, I wanted to find a really good leave in conditioner/detangler and this one from aussie brand O&M is excellent. It's lightweight, detangles effectively and smells somewhere in between peaches and pear drops - I've been using mine after every single wash.

Lifestyle

Nunuco Day Planner £12 | This little planner is both adorable and functional in equal measure. With a whimsical rose design on the outside, the inside is set out to help run your daily tasks, including a 'Most Important Tasks Of The Day' section and water count. I really like the smaller-than-A5 size, good for carrying around with you but not too small, I only wish it was either hardback or had a sleeve to keep it crisp and clean.

Burberry Body Tender£61 (here for US) | I'm not usually one to like perfumes from 'mainstream' brands but fell in love with this last year and stocked up whilst I was in Gibraltar, and I'm no less enamoured with it over a year later. It's a really fresh scent, with a lot of rose in the middle, and warmer sandalwood and musk hints.

Persian Love Cake | This cake is so delish, I'm completely in love. I was playing around with the recipe a little and love the final result - it's beautifully scented with rose and cardamom and the topping has that sweet, floral note of honey - it's a perfect one for summer.

Shura | I don't think I've ever mentioned songs that I like here on BTB. There's been a lot of balmy night driving with the windows down this year which I absolutely love - it's such a time of peace and relaxation for me, and Shura's 2Shy and Touch, and Niel Binias' remix of Yuna - Lullabies have been the theme tune of those moments - they're pretty chilled out tunes with a little rhythm and really very easy to listen to and sing along.

Phew! I hope you enjoyed reading and let me know some of your favourites so far this year down in the comments.

P.S Have you seen What's In My Travel Makeup Bag?

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PEACH MINT ICED TEA.

August 17, 2016, 11:00 pm

≫ Next: CIRACLE VITAMIN C-20 & HYDRA B5 SOURCEACNE SCARRING BEFORE & AFTER

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I've been drinking this by the litre lately - it's the most moreish and delicious of drinks. And whenever we have friends over, they want it too, in fact, if you've been to my house this summer, you'll already have had it.

There are a number of ways to go about peach iced tea, depending on how lazy you're feeling, I mean heck, buy a bottle of Liptons and stick some fruit and mint into it if you want! But I've been playing around with the recipe and I think I've finally tweaked things to a tee.

Here's what you'll need for a big jug:

4 large peaches or 6 smaller + extra for garnish
250ml or 1 cup of water
100ml agave syrup (more if you like it sweeter)
A bunch of mint
2.5l of water - use less if you like a stronger flavour.
6 black tea bags
A lime

First up you'll need to make a peach syrup, which thankfully is no hard task. Tip a cup of water and the agave syrup into a pan on a medium heat. Chop up 4 peaches (irregular shapes and skin on is fine, although I peel mine) and add to the mix. Bring your pan to a simmer and give everything a good stir before turning off the heat and letting the mixture steep and cool down - anything from 30 mins to an hour - throw in a few mint sprigs now to subtly spike the syrup with a minty twang, and you can add a tiny squeeze of lime here too.

Onto the tea part, boil up your kettle and throw in all 6 teabags (you can of course use loose tea leaves but bagged tea is a little less faff). Leave to infuse for 4 minutes, remove the teabags and leave the tea to cool.

Once everything's cold, it's just a matter of combining and serving up. Strain your peach syrup into the tea through a muslin cloth without squashing or pressing the mixture through and you'll get a clearer drink - and definitely reserve the sweet, sticky peaches for eating! Give everything a mix and add ice.

To serve up, I like some sliced peaches in my glass - use frozen peaches for a great, flavoured ice 'cube' - and some lime and peach on the side of my glass. Don't forget a mint sprig to act as stirrer and play thing, and enhance the minty flavour.

All that's left is to drink in copious amounts. Infusing the serum with mint gives it a fresh twist, delicious. I feel like I'd be happy at a peach themed dinner party. Roasted peach salad, lots of jugs of peach iced tea, peach sorbet, I even found peach marshmallows the other day which I'm now addicted to eating.. And if strawberries are more your thing, you definitely need to try my Strawberry Mint Cooler!

P.S Have you seen my bumper Mid Year Beauty & LifestyleFavourites?

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CIRACLE VITAMIN C-20 & HYDRA B5 SOURCEACNE SCARRING BEFORE & AFTER

August 19, 2016, 11:00 pm

≫ Next: SULTRY, SUMMER DATE NIGHT MAKEUPFOR ASIAN/HOODED EYES

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I first mentioned these two products in this Korean Skincare & Makeup Haul after Jolse kindly let me choose a few items from their website to review. After a really thorough testing, I'm finally back with a full review and Before & After on Ciracle's vitamin C and hydrating serums. Let's see how they've performed..

Hydra B5 Source ($20 for 30ml)

A hydrating serum, which although seems fairly basic, should be one of the cornerstones to your skincare regimen. For those of us in our early 20's, hydration is king, and one of the best things we can do for our skin with regards to preventative aging. Ciracle's B5 Source is a vitamin B5 enriched, hydrating serum, that keeps skin plump, hydrated, youthful and prevents dehydration lines or crepeyness.

Coming in a glass bottle with pipette, the serum is viscous like a fluid gel. It smoothes out beautifully on the skin and the visible hydration is instant - you can see it plumping out your skin, like giving a thirsty plant a good watering. It's extremely lightweight and therefore great for hot weather or as a layering product underneath other moisturisers. A little goes a long way and I like to take this down my neck and onto my chest. Vitamin B5 is able to penetrate the skin and help reconstruct it's moisture barrier, as well as helping to maintain fibroblast reproduction - the cells that create collagen. It doesn't clog pores and so is suitable for dry to oily skins. This serum is actually a pretty good dupe for the far pricer B5 Gel from Skinceuticals.

Having spent a day barefoot on the beach, it's fair to say my feet were horribly dry and chapped from the sand, but I thought this was ideal to show you how well this serum hydrates. The photo below is 20 minutes after application - warning those of you with a very sensitive disposition!

Ingredients

Water, Pentylene Glycol, PEG/PPG 18/4 Copolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Soybean Extract, Mandarin Orange Peel Extract, Carrot Root Extract, Benzyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Allantoin, Adenosine, Beta-Glucan, Niacinamide, Polyglutamic Acid, Glucosamine HCL.

Vitamin Source C-20 ($30 for 30ml)

As I mentioned in my bumper acne tips post, Vitamin C serums are one of my favourite things to use for acne scarring. This one from Ciracle contains 20% L-Ascorbic Acid, a pure and unadulterated form of vitamin C. Aside from fading pigmentation, Vitamin C helps to tone and firm skin, prevents and helps with sun damage and evens out skin tone and texture.

Due to the high concentrations of pure vitamin C, it's important you a) keep the bottle stored in the fridge and b) use this as quickly as possible, pure vitamin C isn't very stable and is very sensitive to light and air degradation. (I only apply mine once a day, in the evenings, straight after my Cosrx AHA BHA Toner as vitamin C serums are pH sensitive.) The packaging is perfect for a product of this nature, a dark glass bottle with pipette that arrives separately to keep the contents fresh and unexposed to the environment prior use. A runny liquid, far less viscous than the B5 serum above, the vitamin C serum is a pale yellow/orange in colour - once it starts turning dark and brown, that's a sign of spoiling. The serum is light and fluid in texture, and I find that patting this one in really benefits the absorption - it sinks in far better, although it still leaves a slightly tacky film on the skin - fine if you're applying moisturiser on top and going to bed. This isn't an alcohol-free formula so I was initially skeptical of how it would affect my skin - I've been using this for around 6 weeks (and my bottle is almost done, I think I've got around 2 weeks left) and I've seen no adverse effects. My skin feels and looks just as hydrated as always, and I'm pretty bowled over at the results on my hyperpigmentation for such an inexpensive product.


You'll know from my acne tips post that any and every blemish I get, will scar, and those scars will stick around for months. Below, I've got a Before & After of my chin (sigh at hormonal spots..) after just over 3 weeks of daily use. You can see that it's lightened the scarring next to that lovely zit sunstantially!

Ingredients

Water, Ascorbic Acid (19%), Alcohol, Sodium Lactate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid (1%), PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Safflower Flower Extract, Rosa Davurica Bud Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lethicin, Ubiquinone, Beta-Glucan, Tocopheryl Acetate, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Orange Oil, Glucose, Adenosine, Panthenol, Zinc PCA, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Sodium Metabisulfate, Ethyl Hexanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Diisopropyl Adipate, Phenoxyethanol.

Overall, I definitely have to recommend both of these serums as a good, affordable option to those wanting to try often very expensive skincare concepts. It's recommended that you use them together, but both provide results that you may be happy with alone, depending on your skincare needs. The formulations aren't as 'clean' as I may like, so definitely keep that in mind, especially if you have reactive skin, but on my slightly sensitive skin, I've had no problems. You can buy the products separately or together, from Jolse, and a big thank you to them for reaching out to me!

Have you tried any Ciracle products?

P.S Have you seen my Korean Skincare Tips for acne and acne scarring?

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SULTRY, SUMMER DATE NIGHT MAKEUPFOR ASIAN/HOODED EYES

August 20, 2016, 11:00 pm

≫ Next: CHANEL LE ROUGE COLLECTION NO.1FIRST IMPRESSIONS + SWATCHES

≪ Previous: CIRACLE VITAMIN C-20 & HYDRA B5 SOURCEACNE SCARRING BEFORE & AFTER

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For me, date night makeup is some of the prettiest, with a special focus on beautiful skin and eyes. I posted a photo of a look I wore a few weeks back on my Instagram, with a sultry, bronzey, smudgey eye, flushed cheeks and subtle everything else, so today I'm bringing you the tutorial - let's hop in.

For base, I think it's really imperative to get a light, seamless application of something that's just going to completely meld with your skin. You're going to be in close proximity to your beau, whether it's long term or a first date, and I want my skin to look as naturally pretty as possible. Turning to any cushion I've mentioned here on BTB is a safe bet for me but in the photo I used Tom Ford's Traceless Stick Foundation (here for US), worked into the skin with an Artis Oval brush dupe - read my review of the set here. I found that with fingers or different kind of brush, the Tom Ford foundation was too thick and heavy on my skin, but you can use such little product with the oval brushes, that I can get a much thinner, seamless application that dries to a naturally dewy finish - it's really expensive but it's such a beautiful foundation, I'm really liking it.

For concealer, I've chosen Tom Ford's Correcting Pen in Light (here for US), a dual end concealing stick with a beautiful finish, much like it's foundation compatriot above. The peachy pink end is perfect for under the eyes, whilst I spot conceal any blemishes with the teeny-tiny, yellow toned end.

On my combination skin, the foundation doesn't need powdering but I do like to just whisk a teeny bit through my forehead, between my eyebrows and a little on the chin to prevent excess shine as the hours pass by. My current favourite is L'Oreal's Nude BB - it really smoothes out any fine lines and doesn't look powdery or cakey.

Onto cheeks. In the photo I used the beautiful Neo Bronzer from Kevyn Aucoin in Capri (full review + try on here) but today I wanted to go a little more 'brickish' in tone and I wanted a cream product so I've opted for Stila's Convertible Colour in Camellia (see more of it in my Bumper Summer 2016 Favourites), which I apply with fingers on my apples and blend back up towards my temples.

For highlight I'm going reasonably subtle. The M&S Liquid Highlighter, a golden, champagne liquid highlight with doe foot applicator, is nice and natural and gives that 'candlelit glow' that makes you look healthy and internally radiant. I'm skipping contour or bronzer today - my skin has a natural colour from being out in the sun and I want to go for a more youthful, 'babyface' rather than sculpted out look - but if you want a little colour, one of my favourites is the Honey Bronzer from The Body Shop, it's a beautiful formula.

Onto the eyes. I'm opting for something soft, easy and bronzey, and all of the products have excellent lasting power. It's also a good look for anyone with hooded/Asian eyes or doesn't like heavy crease looks. I'm using my Marc Jacobs Lolita palette (here for US) to create a base, so a sweep over with the cream shade, then taking both the tan and dark brown shades lightly through my crease, and blending everything together. I'm then taking Kiko's cream shadow pot in 06 on a short, flat shader brush and smudging that quite close to my lashline. I also run that underneath the eye, sheering it out towards the inner corner. Then it's just a case of drawing on winged liner with Stila's Stay All Day (best liner ever) and doing a little inner corner highlight with Mary Loumanizer.

If you've got good lashes, just use mascara but as mine are pretty rubbish, I want some extra lash. I'm using these Eylure lashes as they remind me of super hyped lashes like Huda but are really affordable. They look pretty lashy on me but whatever, I'm into it. I'm using Chanel's Volume mascara on the bottom lashes for some extra kick too.

For lips I have options. I really love the formula of Revlon's Colourstay Moisture Stain's (here for US), and Stockholm Chic is a super pretty, brick red shade that compliments the Camellia blush beautifully - and that's what I'm sporting in the Insta pic. But alas, today I've gone for luxury, plumping for Tom Ford's So Vain (here for US), which doesn't look half as dark on the lips as it does in the bullet. Although you can sometimes feel the tiny flecks of gold glitter, they give the lip colour a really interesting edge, it's a beautiful shade.

And that's the look! Let me know your date night favourites below.

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P.S Have you seen my Bumper Mid-Year Favourites?

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CHANEL LE ROUGE COLLECTION NO.1FIRST IMPRESSIONS + SWATCHES

August 23, 2016, 11:00 pm

≫ Next: NEW IN BEAUTY | WISHLISTING

≪ Previous: SULTRY, SUMMER DATE NIGHT MAKEUPFOR ASIAN/HOODED EYES

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The first collection from new creative director of makeup, Lucia Pica, Chanel's Le Rouge Collection No.1 recently launched in a shower of flame, showcasing 'the many facets' of their iconic red. Another fairly tight and compact collection, I can't wait to share my thoughts, and of course as always, my swatches of the range. Let's hop in!

Le Rouge Collection No.1 is a sumptuous palette of autumnal shades, circling around red and it's complimentary tones. It consists of a eyeshadow quad, a blush, 2 Illusion D'Ombre eyeshadows, 6 lipsticks, 2 lipliners, 2 eyeliners and 2 nail polishes.

Joues Contraste Blush in 320 Rouge Profond£28 | I really love Chanel blushes. It's no secret that No.21, Alezane and the almost obnoxiously bright shade in their summer palette are amongst some of my very favourites of all time for example. I love their more bright or dark shades as the formula is so exquisite, you can really blend them out for the most beautiful, flushed look, so Rouge Profond is a definite win. A strawberry, rosy red-pink with signature, subtle golden shimmer, sheered out it just looks like you've been for a jog on a frosty morning.

Stylo Yeux Waterproof £19 | I love the formula of these in general, and always pick up a limited edition colour when a special one comes around. 928 Eros is a beautiful, purpley-aubergine shade with golden shimmer - I'm so drawn to this kind of colour so it's hard not to love. 929 Agape is cool toned dark brown with golden shimmer that doesn't excite me as much. It's limited edition but the colour feels a little ordinary and too easily dupable so it's a pass.

Les 4 Ombres in 268 Candeur et Experience£40 | I know this seems to be selling out everywhere, and I've seen many other bloggers gush about it, especially over Instagram, but to me, this palette is just ok. Yes the shades are soft and silky, matte but not powdery and very easy to blend, but there's no intense pigmentation and I find the neutral shades a bit boring and sand-like. The red in the palette is beautiful - a deep, dusty, brick red shade that I think would look pretty amazing fluffed into the crease, but would I pay the premium for that one shade? Arguably not.

Illusion D'Ombre in 128 Rouge Brule £25 | I was really disappointed with the shades of the Illusion Ombres in Spring, as vivid blues and greens just aren't colours I wear, and Summer 2016 didn't have any at all so I've been dying for some new, more neutral shades to come out! Rouge Brule does not disappoint, and definitely quenches my thirst. A beautiful, pigmented, metallic copper with subtle shimmer, it's no New Moon but it's really up my street nonetheless - although if you picked up the Sable eyeliner from Summer 2016, it swatches almost identically, so no need to have both.

Illusion D'Ombre Velvet in 132 Rouge Contraste £25 | I definitely overlooked this at first, in favour of the more shiny (#magpie) Rouge Brule, but Contraste is actually a gorgeous, deep, intense brown with a slightly purple undertone. The colour and pigmentation is so rich with this one, it's clearly been expertly formulated.

Rouge Allure Lipsticks£26 | Coming in two new shades, 168 Rouge Ingenue is a creamy, midtoned beige with peachy undertones. The pigmentation and texture is nice and even, with a creamy sheen, but for me this is far too pale, I get a bit of the dreaded 'concealer lip', mannequin look, so personally one to avoid. 169 Rouge Tentation is a rich, raspberry red with cool/blue undertones. This one is gorgeous, it's nicely pigmented without being over the top, comfortable on the lips and the colour is supremely flattering.

Rouge Allure Velvet Lipsticks£26 | I'm not a matte lipstick lover as my lips tend to dry out so easily, but the formula of these almost-mattes impresses me. They've got an elegantly smooth pigmentation and texture, a good colour payoff and feel surprisingly comfortable on the lips as they don't really dry past a satin finish.

56 Rouge Charnel - a medium-dark, pinky red with cool, strawberry undertones.
57 Rouge Feu - a vivid, orange-red.
58 Rouge Vie - a more muted, plum-red and probably my favourite of the bunch, this one's gorgeous.
59 Rouge Audace - a dark, vampy burgundy, with brown and wine undertones.

Le Crayon Levres£17.50 | Handily, Chanel have brought out two lipliners to match two of the Allure Velvet lipsticks. These have a good texture, somewhere in between creamy and firm and are strongly pigmented. 97 Desir is a perfect match for the orange-red of Rouge Feu, and 98 Seduction, for Rouge Vie.

Le Vernis £18 | 528 Rouge Puissant is the signature Chanel, true red with neither a cool nor warm undertone. I adore the formula of Chanel's polishes and this is no less brilliant than normal. With rich, creamy pigmentation that needs just 2 coats to look like deep, intense perfection, it settles on the nails to a glossy, shiny finish. 530 Rouge Radical Nail Gloss is a tomato-red jelly gloss polish that I absolutely love! Although it's called a gloss, and you might think it's a top coat, the polish is actually surprisingly opaque, and you can get it almost fully opaque with 2 coats. I love this, although I'd have preferred it out with the summer collection, as the shade of red is definitely more summer than fall.

Overall, I'm giving the collection a big thumbs up. The textures and formulas are as exquisite as ever, something that really keeps me hooked on Chanel as a brand, and the colours are stunning for autumn/fall and so up my street.

Have you tried anything from the collection? Thoughts?

P.S Have you seen my Sultry Summer Date Night Makeup??

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NEW IN BEAUTY | WISHLISTING

August 24, 2016, 11:00 pm

≫ Next: BLOSSOMING GIFTS.

≪ Previous: CHANEL LE ROUGE COLLECTION NO.1FIRST IMPRESSIONS + SWATCHES

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1. Chanel Le Teint Ultra Tenue Compact Foundation | I'm so happy that Chanel are releasing some new foundations, as I really didn't think a lot of their Healthy Beiges foundation we had over the summer period. I actually really enjoy powder foundations, if they're good, and I have high hopes for this one as I adore Chanel powder formulas - a lot. It comes in 13 shades, which I think is pretty good going.

2. Chanel Le Teint Ultra Tenue Liquid Foundation | If matte isn't so much your thing, there's a liquid version that promises to give you the same, flawless coverage and finish you're looking for. This one comes in 16 shades.

3. LOV Iconyx Eyeshadow Palette | This is for those of you on the continent - well, specifically Germany. How much does it look like the Hourglass eyeshadow palettes?! Fortunately for you guys though, this is a drugstore brand, meaning prices are going to be super affordable.

4. Dior Capture Totale Cushion Foundation | Obviously not content with Lancome and YSL bringing out a cushion, Dior have launched their own in the Capture Totale Dreamskin range. Infused with their skincare, and with the obligatory SPF 50+++, this retails at £60 - I'm really intrigued to see if it really warrants that price tag!

5. Kevyn Aucoin Bloodroses Palette | There are a lot of eyeshadow palettes in this edition.. and the first is this gorgeous jewel toned number from Kevyn Aucoin. I love the warm, pinkish theme to the shades and knowing Kevyn Aucoin, the formula is going to be just as sumptuous.

6. Cle De Peau Eye Colour Quad in Stellar Gaze | Not new to the market but these quads from Cle De Peau have been lingering on my wishlist for a little while now and I'm popping them into this edition in case you haven't seen them! Although they come in a number of shades, Stellar Gaze is a gorgeous array of golds and purpley tones that I can't ignore.

7. Charlotte Tilbury Dreamy Look Eyeshadow Palette | I'm always excited when there's something new from Charlotte Tilbury makeup, and the latest is this gorgeous eyeshadow palette containing 4 light, shimmery shades, including both warm and cool tones - that pinky shade in the top left looks ridiculously pretty.

8. Urban Decay Naked Ultimate Basics Palette | I haven't been that excited about any of the Naked palettes frankly, but this new release seems like a really versatile, basics palette, full of matte shades with varying undertones, and including a couple of gorgeous warm, orangey, burgundy shades so I'm really excited about this one!

9. Diptyque Lip Balm | Diptyque have added a couple of new items to their skincare range, and I'm a sucker for lipbalms, so this immediately caught my eye. Whether it's any good or not, it's hard to resist the fully-instagrammable packaging right?

10. Tom Ford Lip Contour Duo | Love love love the concept of these. Another travel friendly and multifunctional product (I love their double ended correcting pen), these lip products come with a liner/shaper in one end with a creamy lipstick in the other. Available in 8 shades, I can't wait to try Show It Off.

11. Fresh Vitamin Nectar Face Mask | I've seen this doing the rounds on Instagram and I want it! A glucose based face mask chock full of citrus extracts to brighten and exfoliate skin, this is exactly the kind of mask I lust after, so really excited to try this one out.

12. Diptyque Infused Face Oil | Another item from the new additions at Diptyque, this face oil is infused with rose and rose petals, much like the Neogen rose cleanser that I've fallen a little in love with. Rose seems to work really well with my skin, and I can't pretend that I'm not attracted to the aesthetics of this bottle..

Alright I'm stopping there before my list snowballs into a silly length! Let me know, what's on your current wishlist?!

P.S Have you seen my Bumper Summer Favourites?

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BLOSSOMING GIFTS.

September 2, 2016, 8:16 am

≫ Next: BLOSSOM JEJU SHEET MASKS.

≪ Previous: NEW IN BEAUTY | WISHLISTING

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As you'll well know from my photography style - I. Love. Fresh. Flowers. I'm forever buying bunches at markets, or picking a bounty of hand cut blooms from the garden, just having them in the room brightens my day and lifts my mood.

 So when Blossoming Gifts reached out, offering to allow me to choose a bouquet for review, I was as thrilled as can be, dropping what I was doing to hop straight onto their website. A relatively new, British brand, they're exactly the type of company I like to support.

I know we all want to skip forward to photos of the flowers! A big bunch of Bubblegum Pink Avalanche Roses, whose pale pink hue were set off beautifully with a few sprigs of greenery - completely loving the subtle, simplicity of this bouquet.

Obviously imperative to the whole nature of this kind of service is the packaging, and my flowers arrived gently but firmly secured within a large box. Inside, they're double wrapped in a cellophane-like paper, alongside a courtesy box of Belgian choccies - yum.

The flowers arrived pretty open, whereas I'd perhaps imagined them to be more bud-like. This means they may not last quite as long (mine only lasted around 4-5 days but our house is full of glass and rather greenhouse-ish so you should get a good week in a more normal environment) but it also means that you're not having to try and guess how many days in advance you'd need them to arrive, to be in a perfect stage of opening for an event or occasion. My roses were a bit crinkled and starting to brown around the edges but the enclosed info guide does state to remove the guard petals, which leaves them looking fresh, blousy and in excellent condition.

I'm overjoyed with this bunch of blooms. They're a simple arrangement in a lovely shade of delicate pink, and the heads are a generous size - and who doesn't love big, lavish roses?

A couple of other things I really like, the first being the delivery process. There are a number of options on the website, most of which are next day delivery - and this includes Sundays - a big tick. There's free delivery, as well as the choice to have them arrive pre12pm the next morning, so I like the versatility there. The packaging also gets a thumbs up from me. The plain white cellophane is simple, chic and lets the flowers shine.

My bouquet is priced at £34.99, although Blossoming Gifts have been lovely enough to indulge us with the discount code BGIFTS33 for 33% off - so let's all chant together - thank you!

Why not treat a loved one, if not yourself, to a bunch? With 1/3 off, you'll almost certainly see some more Blossoming Gifts blooms in my future photos!

P.S Have you seen my Smokey, Date Night Makeup?

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BLOSSOM JEJU SHEET MASKS.

September 5, 2016, 11:00 pm

≫ Next: BLUSH CRUSH

≪ Previous: BLOSSOMING GIFTS.

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I can barely contain my enthusiasm as I type up this review - these sheet masks are my new favourite thing, sorry to spoil the suspense so early!

The Blossom Jeju sheet masks are a 2-part mask kit that contain 100% pure Jeju Camellia oil, and an essence-soaked sheet mask. The 3 available 'flavours' were sent to me by Glow Recipe to try out, and it was after just one use that I knew I had to write about them. 

These masks come in adorable, petal-shaped packaging, with perforations to divide the 2 steps. Step 1 is a generous sachet of 100% pure, Jeju Camellia seed oil, a thick and viscous oil that feels really fine and silky smooth. Full of antioxidants, vitamin E, oleic acid and polyphenols, it can help to reduce collagen depletion in the skin. There's enough oil in the sachet to completely cover your face, neck and decollete - you can even save any remainder for another day if you like, but I like to slather mine on any skin I can spare. The oil isn't occlusive so won't block out the goodness of the essence that's to follow. 

Step 2 is a thin sheet mask made from Cupro, a cellulose fibre derived from cotton production. It adheres really well to the face, even on top of my generous slathering of oil, and stays damp for such a long time. The mask is soaked in a delicious essence (with slight variations across the 3 'flavours'), so let's look at the ingredients:

Red Soy + Nourishing Mask

Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, 1-2 Hexanediol, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Panthenol, Betaine, Trehalose, Sage Leaf Extract, Lavender Flower Extract, Rosemary Extract, Matricaria Flower Extract, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Extract, Licorice Root Extract, Matricaria Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Beta-Glucan, Pea Extract, Soybean Seed Extract, Malus Domestica Fruit Extract, Rosemary Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Blueberry Fruit Extract, Rose Canina Fruit Extract, Broccoli Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Allantoin, Polysorbate 80, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Triethanolamine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Fragrance

Pink Marine Collagen + Lifting Mask

Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, 1-2 Hexanediol, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Panthenol, Betaine, Trehalose, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Fig Fruit Extract, Morus Alba Fruit Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Nut Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Extract, Licorice Root Extract, Matricaria Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Beta-Glucan, Malus Domestica Fruit Extract, Rosemary Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Blueberry Fruit Extract, Rose Canina Fruit Extract, Broccoli Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Allantoin, Polysorbate 80, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Triethanolamine, Adenosine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Fragrance

White Vitamin + Brightening Mask

Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Sodium Hyaluronate, 1-2 Hexanediol, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Panthenol, Betaine, Trehalose, Hippophae Rhamnoides Water, Pearl Extract, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Licorice Root Extract, Polygonum Multiflorum Root Extract, Phellinus Linteus Extract, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Sophora Flavescens Root Extract, Cimicifuga Racemosa Root Extract, Sesame Seed Extract, Angelica Gigas Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Extract, Matricaria Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Beta-Glucan, Malus Domestica Fruit Extract, Rosemary Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Blueberry Fruit Extract, Rose Canina Fruit Extract, Broccoli Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Allantoin, Polysorbate 80, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Triethanolamine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Fragrance

I love most of the ingredients in these masks. Rather than put a lot of emphasis on brightening, or other specific skin concerns, all I want from a sheet mask is hydration and nourishment, for my skin to feel wonderful and supple after, and for a mask experience that I enjoy. With over 20 botanical extracts per mask, and other skin-benefitting ingredients like sodium hyaluronate and sugars, these certainly fulfill my sheet dreams - and the oil really ramps up the hydrating and moisturising properties, it's a genius idea, done really well. Most masks list water, butylene glycol and 1-2 hexanediol high on the list, they're not 100% ideal, but also really hard to avoid.

I've got to give a mention to the scent because although there is a strong fragrance, it's completely divine. I haven't come across anyone who doesn't love it. Whilst everyone says jasmine, to me it smells like an old honeysuckle perfume I had way back when, it's a scent that's really heady and floral and lingers for a long time.

The packet instructs a 20 minute wear time but I think you can push this a lot more, I generally leave all of my sheet masks on for as long as possible and this one stays damp and saturated for eons - I probably leave it on for a good hour. On removal, my skin feels delicious. Really plump, hydrated, moisturised, supple and radiant (I don't actually think there's really any difference in what each mask does, all hydrate really well and I haven't noticed any special firming or brightening that distinguishes the 'flavours'). The oil melds with the essence whilst you're wearing the mask, and it does leave a vaguely oily coating on the skin - which is why I use this mask at night. It's recommended to seal in the effects of the mask with a moisturiser but I've really found the mask alone is enough for my normal-oily summer skin. These masks would be great for dry skins too as they're really lovely and rich.

If you haven't given these a try already, I highly recommend you do so! They're up there with Whamisa for me - utter love. 

Blossom Jeju Camellia Sheet Mask $6 a piece 

P.S Have you seen these 2 fantastic Korean serums?

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BLUSH CRUSH

September 8, 2016, 1:02 am

≫ Next: 7 NEUTRAL LIPSTICKS TO TRANSITION YOU INTO FALL.

≪ Previous: BLOSSOM JEJU SHEET MASKS.

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It's a quick post today - I wanted to give a little mention to fashion, as it's something I rarely talk about on the blog! I'm obsessed with blush tones at the moment. It's a colour that will take you from Summer to Fall - a floaty teadress or lacy crop in the warmer weather and a cream knit tucked into a blush leather skirt (isn't the little wrap one below just divine?!) when the temperature starts to drop. Today I'm sharing some nude-pink inspo to quench your blush appetite.

I'm totally in love with the leather wrap skirt, the sporty bra and Jasmine-esque pyjamas!

What are your faves??

P.S Have you seen my new favourite sheet masks???

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7 NEUTRAL LIPSTICKS TO TRANSITION YOU INTO FALL.

September 11, 2016, 2:27 am

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As much as I adore summer, and I'm already getting sad at the shortening daylight hours, I'm so excited for autumn. I love the light, I love the weather, I love layering, and I love autumnal colours in fashion and makeup. Now that we've hit September, today I'm bringing you 7 beautiful lipsticks, to transition you from summer to fall, for every budget - whether you're looking to splurge, save or spend.

Tom Ford Lipstick in So Vain £39 | I suppose we'll start with most expensive first! I get so many compliments when wearing this lipstick. I actually bought it a while ago and was a bit on the fence, but it's such a supremely beautiful colour, I feel like I've refallen in love with it again. A dark, rich, mauve-y shade with reddened undertones and golden microglitter, it wears a little lighter on the lip than you might think - I'm sporting it in my Date Night Makeup look if you're curious.

NYX Liquid Suede in Soft Spoken £6.50 | I am certainly not alone for having fallen in love with this warm toned, deep, pinkish nude shade from NYX. Soft Spoken is a creamy, buttery liquid lip that's uber flattering for almost all skintones. I'm really not a liquid lip lover but the formula is comfortable to wear and you still get a good 5-6 hours of wear time.

Etude House Dear My Blooming Lips Talk Chiffon Lipstick in B110 £8 | I picked out this shade with Jolse, in my Korean Haul, and have been waiting for the autumnal weather to come around so I can wear it. This one is a lovely, muted brick red with pinkish undertones - super duper flattering on fair to mid skin-toned brunettes especially. It's really creamy and pigmented, setting to a demi-matte finish, and has a sweet mint scent that I really like.

Aerin Lipstick in Poppy £26 | The Aerin lipsticks are some of my favourites - I have a bunch of them. Inside simple and elegant metal packaging, hides an equally elegant lipstick formula - with a traditional cream-sheen finish, and deep, even pigmentation. Poppy is a deep, dark berry red - the sophisticated way to do vamp. There are teeny specks of microglitter, which are more refined than the Tom Ford above, and these lipsticks wear off just as beautifully as they apply, a low maintenance feature I love.

Rosie For Autograph Lipstick in Lady Rose £14 | You'll know from my review + swatches of the collection, how much I've gushed about these lipsticks. Creamy, opaque, even and soft, the formula of these really rivals any of my high end lippies. Lady Rose is deep rosey mauve, more pink than Soft Spoken - a perfect 'September Shade'.

Revlon Colourstay Moisture Stain in Stockholm Chic £7 | These lippies have a deliciously buttery texture, that isn't at all sticky, and look just as good sheered out as they do full impact. Stockholm Chic is a gorgeous reddened brick shade with fiery undertones - I really like to wear this one sheered out with my finger as a beautiful warm tint - as you can see on my Instagram.

Essence Long Lasting Lipstick in 06 £2.30 | I think for the price, these are some of the best lipsticks around. Featured in my Summer 2016 Roundup Favourites, it's creamy formula and even pigmentation could definitely warrant a higher price tag. Shade 06 is the lightest of today's picks - a muted, dusky rose pink with neutral undertone.

What are you favourite Summer to Fall lippies?

P.S Anyone else with a crush on Blush?

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AS-HEALTHY-AS-THEY-ARE-EASYRASPBERRY CUPCAKES.

September 15, 2016, 1:10 am

≫ Next: HIGH END BEAUTY WORTH THE SPLURGE.

≪ Previous: 7 NEUTRAL LIPSTICKS TO TRANSITION YOU INTO FALL.

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Sometimes, something a little sweet and unnecessarily dainty is just the thing we need. These little cakes are not only delicious but pretty damn healthy too, and will impress at any occasion.

Especially since my floral, rose-spiked Persian Love Cake, I've been really enjoying playing with cake and dessert recipes that are totally scrumptious but promise to be a little healthier for you, so today I wanted to share this recipe, adapted from my Nourish book, that really hits the spot. These cakes are nutty, sweet with fruit and full of nuts and fibre. They're an absolute doddle to whip up, and are gluten and refined-sugar free too!

Here's what you'll need for 12 little cakes and their pretty little toppings:

150g ground almonds
65g dessicated coconut
2 eggs
A medium banana
80g natural or greek yoghurt
6 medjool dates
2 tbsps butter
1 tsp baking powder
1tsp vanilla extract
2 tsps rosewater
Pinch of salt
Handful of fresh or frozen raspberries or raspberry jam
Freeze-dried raspberries (optional)
1 tub of double or whipping cream

Method

Preheat your oven to 190C and line 12 cupcake moulds with baking paper - I've cut mine into squares and folded them into my favourite silicone mould to get little tulip cases.

This is a simple all-in-one cake so take the the ground almonds, coconut, eggs, banana, yoghurt, dates, butter, baking powder, vanilla, rosewater and salt and blitz until well combined in a blender - I sometimes use my smoothie maker which is great for small quantities.

Pour the mixture evenly between the 12 cases and bake for 12-15 minutes. Check that a skewer inserted into the middles comes out clean, remove from the oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool fully.

In the meantime, prep your toppings. Whip up the cream to soft peaks in one bowl. Mash or blitz the raspberries (sieving to remove pips if you like, although I haven't bothered) before folding them through the cream to create delicious ripples. Once the cakes are fully cool, top with a splodge of raspberry jam and a dollop of the marbled cream before decorating with freeze-dried or fresh raspberries.

These cakes are so moreish, and 100% delicious! You can leave off the toppings and eat them as breakfast muffins, the dates really give them that sweet kick, and use a really ripe banana or add a couple more dates if you've got a real sweet tooth.

P.S Have you seen the rest of Milky Dots Summer 2016?

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HIGH END BEAUTY WORTH THE SPLURGE.

September 17, 2016, 4:13 am

≫ Next: 6 TIPS TO REBOOT YOUR SEPTEMBER.

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I'm sure I'm not alone when I say I'm a sucker for high end beauty. But sometimes, the quality doesn't necessarily match the high price tag, so today I'm sharing a handful of my favourites that I think are really worth every penny.

Marc Jacobs Nail Polishes £15 (Here for US)

Although these aren't super pricey, and incidentally they're cheaper than say Dior or Chanel, the formula on these are exceptional. They're everything I want in a polish - a super opaque colour, a decent wear time, a shiny, almost plasticised finish and an array of unusual and beautiful shades. You may well have seen me talk about Petra from this post, a stunning and complex purple with gold and silver sparkle, but Delphine, White Snow and Le Charm round off my top four, Delphine especially.

Chanel Illusion D'Ombres £25 (Here for US)

It was these that kicked off my one-and-done eye look obsession way back when, and years later I'm still in utter love with them. Whilst the odd, spongey texture may be nothing new now - Colourpop and Maybelline do good, affordable alternatives, Chanel still manage to outdo themselves with the formula and exquisite shades of these 'cream' shadows. Those of you in the US who haven't already, be sure to get the limited edition New Moon from 2015 (my all time fave), which you can still purchase from Chanel here. Same goes for Ebloui, a deep and sophisticated burgundy-bronze. I also definitely recommend Rouge Brule from the latest collection (review + swatches here), it's really intense and pigmented and a great transitional shade into autumn.

Nars Yachiyo Brush£43 (Here for the US)

I'm not one to splurge on brushes. I'm not the biggest eyeshadow wearer, and I think all foundations look better applied with an airpuff, so brushes just get pushed down the priorities list, after base, cheek palettes, mascara, nail polish etc.. but this beautifully crafted little number is an exception. Of all possible brush shapes, tapered is my favourite for applying highlight/blush/bronzer - the Yachiyo brush has a beautiful shape that makes it incredibly versatile and easy to use.

Dior Nude Air Powders (Here for US)

Every Nude Air powder I've had from Dior I love. Whether it's the loose setting powder, or the limited edition highlighters or the Nude Tan powders, each are so finely milled, look ethereal and creamy on the skin, and have a beautiful colour to them. They usually release a couple of compacts with the seasonal ranges, and I highly recommend you pick one up when they do.

Chanel Liners£19 (Here for US)

I don't hear many people talk about the Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof liners, but I think they should, as they're most definitely worth the splurge for me. Aside from a super smooth, long-lasting formula that sits well in the waterline, the limited edition colours are so beautiful, and often unusual - Beryl and Or Rose from 2013, Sable and Eros from this year, for example.

Marc Jacobs Style Eye Con Palettes£45 (Here for the US)

I mentioned above that I'm not a big eyeshadow wearer, but after swatching the MJ palettes in Mount St, I knew Lolita was coming home with me. It's the perfect neutrals palette - a mix of matte and shimmery shades, with both warm and cool undertones, all with great colour payoff and silky texture, in sleek, compact packaging. I always take these abroad with me as they slip right into my makeup bag and take up such little space.

Estee Lauder EE Cream£35 (Here for the US)

There was quite a bit of hype with these when they first launched due to the retail-equivalent-of-'clickbait' name but I don't hear many people talk about them anymore. I still love this tinted moisturiser, and even after the countless number of tinted moisturisers that have been release, it's still my fave. It primes and smoothes over my skin whilst giving me an elegant glow and the tiniest hint of colour, perfect for no-makeup-makeup days.

By Terry Ombre Blackstars£29 (Here for US)

I love cream stick shadows. They're easy, longwearing and travel-friendly, and I think By Terry make my favourite ones. The Ombre Blackstars come in the most beautiful metallic shades and the formula is excellent - smooth, pigmented colour that lasts as long as you need it to. Frozen Quartz is my fave shade.

Chanel Les Beiges Powders£39 (Here for US)

These powders are really stunning. Much like the Dior mentioned above, it doesn't seem to matter which product you get, the quality of the powder is the same. The Multi Colour Duo is a strong favourite - it's a sublime blush and highlighter, and the pressed setting powders look smooth and light on the skin.

Stila Stay All Day Liner£14.50

At just over £14, this isn't much of a splurge but it's hands down my favourite liquid liner. I've had mine for yonks and it hasn't dried out, still drawing on the same black, crisp line as always. With a saturated, felt tip, and even flow of liquid, it's really helped me get better at liquid liner application.

What high end beauty products do you think are worth the spend? Encouraging all enablers to leave their faves below!

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6 TIPS TO REBOOT YOUR SEPTEMBER.

September 19, 2016, 11:00 pm

≫ Next: J ONE JELLY CUSHION.

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January might seem like the most obvious time of year for new resolutions but in practice it's quite possibly the worst! You feel the pressure of 'New Year New Start' and 'ruining' that if you slip up, you're mourning the festivities and comfort of the festive season and you've got a to-do list the length of your arm. I don't know if it's a school thing but I've always felt a natural opportunity to reconvene and reboot in September, so today I'm sharing 6 tips for making the most of the rest of your year.

Take an opportunity to let go.

If you think about this as a new start, now is the time to draw a line on the past, things or people that have bothered you, and any excess baggage you can afford to offload. Letting go of negativity or even projects that have been on the backburner for months, which you secretly know you'll never finish, allows you to start things afresh and be more productive, motivated and organised. Take the time to clean the slate.

Implement a self care plan.

It's important to take good care of yourself, and I think we all know that - even more so as our immune systems get a knock from colder weather and our moods are affected by the waning daylight hours. But when we're busy, stressed or down putting yourself first can sometimes fall by the wayside. September is a great time to overhaul your mind and body, and keeping a list of self-beneficial ideas handy to throw into my routine gives me things to be happy about when the chips are down, and gets me charged up for autumn, winter and the new year. Your list will be personal to you but it could be anything from a 5 min yoga session in the mornings, indulging in some facial massage, complimenting yourself, having a healthy breakfast, buying yourself something frivolous or indulgent, taking the dog to the park or giving yourself a new, creative project.

Learn a new skill.

It's easy to have gotten bogged down into a mundane routine over the last 8 months, especially with the responsibilities of a mortgage/rent/work etc. Now that summer is coming to an end, why not take this as a chance to do something new? Whether it's a new skill or experience, something you've always wanted to try, or something really spontaneous, it could be just want you need to stop things feeling humdrum.

Gather some fresh inspiration.

The winding down of summer and beginning of a new season strikes in me a chance for change, development and a change of path. Something I find really helpful is to gather up a fresh batch of inspiration, whether it's for my home, my diet, my blog or my life goals, to help me figure out where I want to go.

Book a holiday!

I always like to go away in October. Yes it happily coincides with my birthday but sometimes it's a break you need to properly reconvene and come back to the rest of the year afresh.

Reassess your goals.

If you made any resolutions in January, look back on them now that we're in September. Are they goals you're a) sticking to? and b) even still relevant? 8 months have passed and things could be quite different now than you might have imagined, so take the opportunity to think about where you want to be, and draft out some new ideas.

Do you feel more motivated for change in September? What are your favourite ways to reboot?

P.S Have you seen my High End Beauty Picks Worth The Splurge?

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J ONE JELLY CUSHION.

September 22, 2016, 11:00 pm

≫ Next: KOREAN SKINCARE DUPES FOR HIGH END FAVOURITES #2

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From the same line as the coveted Korean 'wonder product', the J One Jelly Pack (review here), I've high hopes of today's subject matter, the corresponding J One Jelly Cushion foundation. I am a hardy cushion addict and this promises radiant, nourished, flawless skin, so let's see how it fares pitted against my cushion collection.

Formalities first, the cushion comes in 'standard' cushion packaging - a deep, plastic compact with mirror and tray for the airpuff. The outer is plain and unadorned, par the logo, the same simple, minimalist aesthetic as the Jelly Pack. These cushions come with a refill, and each holds 15ml of product. 

Claims

This cushion promises a lightweight, easy to blend formula that provides nourishment, SPF 50, and radiance to the skin, with full coverage.

First Impressions

The formula immediately feels light, thin in consistency and the radiance is apparent from the get go - not necessarily a good thing for my combo skin. There's an extremely light, floral fragrance but it's pleasant and not at all strong or lingering. The airpuff is just like any other I've used, and the shade 21 seems to be a pretty good match for my MAC NC 20-25 skin. 

Ingredients

Water, cyclopentasiloxane, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dimethicone, ethylhexyl salicylate, Niacinamide, dicaprylyl carbonate, butylene glycol dicaprylate/dicaprate, pentylene glycol, Silica, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Royal Jelly Extract, Honey Extract, Lupinus Albus Seed Extract, Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Extract, Propolis Extract, Triceteareth-4 Phosphate, Glycol Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Polysorbate 60, PEG-100 Stearate, PEG-2 Stearate, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Aluminum Hydroxide, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, ethylhexyl glycerin, Isohexadecane, Adenosine, Polysorbate 80, Sorbitan Olivate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, PVP, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tocopherol, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Fullerenes, Cetearyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499

Just a couple of thoughts on the ingredients. You may have seen me mention in this post about my hesitancy towards the sunscreen active ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate - I don't think it's something my skin reacts well to and has the potential to cause cell damage, so I'm not enthralled to see it listed so high in the formula. Further down, it's nice to see some natural extracts, including sea buckthorn, honey, propolis and royal jelly, as I love honey in my skincare, although I would have liked to have seen a 'nicer' oil being used, rather than sunflower. Overall, I'm not going to linger on the ingredients for too long as I think of this more as a makeup item, which I don't judge as astringently as skincare. 

Performance

I'm going to come out pretty early and say that this cushion is not my favourite. My expectations were pretty high, as I love the innovative, bouncy texture of the Jelly Pack, I was hoping the 'jelly' element would come through in this cushion, leaving you with smooth, bouncy skin, but unfortunately it falls a little short of that. The Jelly Cushion isn't the best match for my currently combo skin, as it just looks far too dewy, bordering oily. The texture of it between my fingertips feels a hint greasy, like it hasn't properly emulsified, when I wanted it to feel light but creamy like my Hera cushion for example. On the skin, this isn't full coverage at all, more of a light to light-medium (although it is definitely buildable), which for me isn't a bad thing. It's super lightweight but it just doesn't sit right. You'll see in the photos that it seems to sit in my pores, exaggerating them, and give my skin a somewhat unflattering sheen that I didn't want. Rather than being water-attracting and plumping, that slick, slightly oily texture doesn't really dry down but manages to leave my skin a little deflated and lacklustre. I've experimented with this a lot over the last couple of months to try and get it to work for me and to be fair, the oiliness didn't get much worse as the hours passed by but it certainly got no better. Powdering it starts to turn things into cake batter and mattifying primers seem to have no real effect. The one thing that does make this a lot better is actually using it in conjunction with the J One Jelly Pack, but I feel that it's the pack that's doing all the work, prepping and priming your skin, plumping it up so that it's taut and hydrated. Using a really good cushion on top of the pack would yield even better results than using this one. I'm not saying that this makes my skin look bad, but I've so many cushions in my collection that I just probably won't reach for this.

Overall?

If you have dry skin that needs moisturisation, you may like this, especially used with the jelly pack. If you favour a dewy look and a light coverage, you may also really like this. For me, it just didn't live up to it's 'jelly' expectations - on my combo skin it felt more like a tinted dry oil, and I kind of just wanted to get it off. I've not really heard of Recipe cushion foundations and maybe this is why.. For some cushions that I do love, read reviews and try ons of my favourites, the Hera UV Mist here and the Etude House Real Powder here. 

J One Jelly Cushion Foundation | Available here

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