Pai Rosehip BioRegenerate Oil

Winter is the season I really amp it up with my skincare. I like to give my skin that extra boost and little bit of help to fight off the cold weather and give it a little extra lovin'.
I was doing some researching into new products to try and saw a lot of people saying how important an oil is and how much it can make a difference to the appearance of your skin, me being the skincare fiend I am decided to purchase an oil to add into my routine.
Pai is a brand I'd wanted to try for a while, having heard lots of brilliant reviews about their products and knowing they're all organic and vegan made me instantly interested in seeing what they had to offer. I took a look at their website and saw they had a Rosehip oil, and I instantly made a purchase.

Holy Grail High Street/Drugstore Foundation

It's taken me a while to find a high street foundation that I actually love and would repurchase again and again. I've tried quite a few cheaper foundations over the years, and none have impressed me that much, until I tried the Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation.

With no makeup (I have redness and spot scarring)

Wearing only Bourjois Healthy Mix

There's quite a lot of hype around this product, but I put off buying it for a while as it is on the pricer side of high street foundations….it's £9.99, which isn't expensive but considering I'd been using the Rimmel foundations which are £4 cheaper it did seem like a leap.
But I took the plunge and bought it back in the Spring, and I'm so glad I did!

I purchased the Healthy Mix foundation in the lightest shade of Light Vanilla, which actually isn't that pale….that's the only complaint I have about this line, the shade range isn't brilliant.
Light Vanilla is slightly yellow toned, which suits my skin as I have olive undertones, and it's light but not so light that it would work on a very pale skinned girl.
The packaging is great. Pump - check, proper lid - check, non-cheap feeling bottle - check. Winner.
The scent is fruity, but not artificial. Healthy Mix is enriched with fruit therapy formulas; apricot for radiance, melon for hydration and apple to 'protect your youth'.
The coverage is medium, in my opinion. I've seen that most people say it's a light coverage, which it can be if it's sheered down, but on me and the way I apply it (with a Real Techniques Expert Face Brush) definitely gives me enough coverage for everyday wear. The finish it gives is natural, but glowing; not matte but not so dewy that you look sweaty either. I find it particularly great at minimising the appearance of pores and boosting complexion. It doesn't feel at all heavy or sticky on the skin either.
The consistency isn't runny like a quite a few lighter foundations, but it's not thick either. It's very easy to work into the skin, and blends seamlessly.
The wear Bourjois claim is up to 16 hours….who even wears their foundation for that long anyway?! 16 hours wear definitely is not the case on my skin - there's sure signs of fading away during the day, but not enough that it bothers me. By the end of the day (without any touch ups) the foundation is still there, it's just not as strong a coverage. Powdering obviously helps with the longevity.
The skin type Healthy Mix foundation would suit is probably anyone! A friend of mine with oily skin uses this and adores it, I have dry, sensitive skin and I adore it also.

I can't really fault it, and I can't see myself straying from it any time soon. It's a must-have for me!  

Well done, Bourjois. 

A Rimmel Mascara I Can Get Along With

I've never been a fan of Rimmel mascara's…I've just never got on with the formulation or the wand design, they've never done much for me. However, when I was in Boots the other day there was an offer on and I got the Rimmel Lash Accelerator Endless mascara (£7.99) free….I love a good freebee, but I wasn't expecting much from the product, so it did come as a surprise to me when I actually liked it!

The packaging is an eye-catching neon yellow and black, and the lid wins points with me because it needs to click shut - less chance of drying out!
The wand was something I wasn't sure I'd get on with, as it's plastic and looks like it wouldn't do much but I actually love it. The bristles help to separate and define the lashes, and the formulation of the mascara itself adds a fair bit of length and volume.
The mascara is formulated with micro-fibres - procapil, keratin and antioxidants. Rimmel claim this will help your lashes appear 99% instantly longer and 127% longer in 30 days. I never get on with these sorts of things, but we shall see.
The look it creates isn't groundbreaking, nor is it dramatic but for an everyday mascara I don't think you can go wrong with this one, it's pretty great.
I also was really impressed with how well it holds a curl to the lashes…something I struggle to find with many mascaras, and it doesn't smudge at all.


If you're looking for a new everyday mascara that will give you length, volume and definition but doesn't look O.T.T then I would highly recommend the Rimmel Lash Accelerator Endless.

Merumaya Cleansing Balm | Review

I think we probably all know I'm quite big on skincare. If you have good skin then your makeup will look a million times better, you'll feel more confident and it's just generally good to look after your skin for all sorts of reasons, therefore using quality skincare that works for you is very important.
I do like to change up my skincare products, unless I find a complete 'holy grail' product. New cleansers I particularly like to try out, I've never really found one that I completely love, so my latest purchase (after hearing so many rave reviews) was the Merumaya Cleansing Balm.

I'd wanted to try a cleansing balm for ages, the Emma Hardie one was top of my wish list but with the £36 price tag I didn't dare buy it, but then I came across the Merumaya Cleansing Balm at £14.50 for 100ml I thought I'd give it a go.
Cleansing balms are oil based products that are particularly good at removing all makeup and dirt from the face. They're marketed at all skin types, even oily, but I feel dry skin would benefit the most, if you're someone looking for anti-aging properties cleansing balms are the best option also. You warm the product in your hands, then massage it gently all over your dry face and then remove with a warm, damp muslin cloth or flannel.
I can't speak for all cleansing balms, but the Merumaya Cleansing Balm leaves my face feeling more cleansed than any other product I have used before. The balm glides so smoothly onto my skin, it smells quite herbal which I love, it feels soothing and once removed my skin feels refreshed, soft, hydrated and more healthy than it did before.
I've been using this cleansing balm for over a month now and I have noticed a considerable difference in the dryness of my skin - it doesn't feel so tight now and dry patches have almost vanished. Before, I was using Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish which I did like, but all it was doing really was cleaning my skin, rather than improving the condition of it or hydrating it, the Merumaya product is different to this as the hydration in my skin has increased and although I haven't noticed a massive difference in any breakouts I may get I do feel my complexion has brightened and looks healthier.
The packaging of this product is a squeezy tube, which I really like as you can easily control how much of the balm you use (yay, no waste!), which FYI isn't much at all…a little goes a long way!
The only thing I don't like about this product is it stings when it goes in my eyes, it's not horrific but it's not comfortable. I remove my makeup with a micellar water before properly cleansing though, so I'm not too fussed!

I do love this cleanser a lot, and I'd highly recommend it, but it's important to remember everyone's skin is different. I personally think this cleanser would be amazing for pretty much everyone though - if you have dry skin it'll bring you some of that hydration you want, if you have blemishes it will sooth them, if you have oily skin the oils in the cleansing balm will help to balance things out.
The Merumaya Cleansing Balm will definitely be something I'll be repurchasing!

Have you tried cleansing balms?

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A Product That's Made A Real Difference

I have quite dry skin, and get hormonal blemishes, so using nothing in between my moisturiser and foundation often led to either the foundation not going on as smoothly as I would like, the foundation breaking apart on my skin throughout the day or it just left my skin looking quite dull. In the past I've tried different primers, moisturisers especially for dull skin and tried lots of foundations but nothing quite did the trick, until I found the Vitamin C Skin Reviver by The Body Shop.

The Vitamin C Skin Reviver is a serum type product that you apply after moisturiser but pre-foundation. The serum itself has a lovely smooth texture, and once applied to the skin it just feels really luxurious. Although I don't notice a huge amount of difference used alone, when I apply my foundation over the top I really see a big improvement compared to how my skin would look without the serum.
Firstly it's actually great if you're in a rush because your foundation will require less buffing and blending, as the skin reviver really helps to smooth everything out. Rather than my foundation looking so obvious, a bit dry and generally just not the best, it looks amazing. My skin feels and looks velvety soft, and my foundation blends perfectly. As well as this the product contains 'light reflecting particles', which I was concerned about as I hate those products that have glitter in them (Rimmel Wake Me Up, I'm looking at you!), however the skin reviver doesn't actually contain much, if any glitter, or shimmer, it's more of a pearlescent finish and any glittery particles it may contain don't transfer on the skin when blended, so rather than looking sparkly and unnatural you just look glowing, healthy and radiant. The product also contains fruit extracts and brazil nut oil which makes it feel really fresh, perfect for mornings, and will help to keep your skin feeling hydrated.

I really adore this product. I don't quite now how I'd live without it now! Before I would feel quite self conscious about how my foundation might look, and I'd spend ages getting it to look okay, but now I don't need to worry as this little product really helps me out. I've even had compliments from other people when I've used this, so it must be making a noticeable difference!
It's not the cheapest at £14 for 30ml but you only need the tiniest amount to cover your whole face, so it should last a long time, and for the quality and difference it makes I'd definitely say it's worth it!

Best Hair Products Of 2013

During 2013 I experimented with quite a few different hair products. My hair is naturally very thick..there's lots of it, curly, and can get quite dry or frizzy. I wanted to get that under control and have beautiful, sleek, more manageable hair and finally I think I have found products that really work for me.

The first being TRESemme Naturals Vibrantly Smoothing Conditioner . This stuff is amazing. I've never used a conditioner that makes my hair feel so incredibly soft, and look so shiny, I noticed a change after just one wash. The best thing is for a massive bottle it's only £4.50.
Next up is TRESemme Oil Elixir. This is an oil you apply to wet hair after washing it. It contains macadamia oil and grape seed oil which both help to leave your hair feeling soft, looking shiny and a lot healthier. It's a bit pricier at £9.99 but it's definitely worth it. I've had a lot of compliments on my hair after I started using this!
I can be quite fussy when it comes to heat defence sprays, I don't like it when they weigh my hair down, leave it looking greasy or smell chemically. The Aussie Take The Heat spray does none of those things - it works really well and I love it.
As I said before, I have thick hair and it can look very voluminous, however I sometimes find I want more volume on top so my hair doesn't look weighed down. The VO5 Plump It Up Dry Backcomb Spray has been a god send. You spray this into the roots of your hair, rub it in and taa-daa! It gives your roots a boost without the damage that real back-combing does. The can lasts ages as well, so for the mere price of £3.79 you can't go wrong.
After I use the back-combing spray I like to secure my hairstyle with Fudge Urban Iced Raspberry and Vanilla Hair Spray. Hairspray is another thing I'm quite fussy about. Why do they have to make hairsprays smell SO vile and strong? Why do they have to make your hair crunchy? This one doesn't!
The smell is amazing, but not overpowering. Fudge claim this has a 'soft touch finish' - which I half agree with. It doesn't make your hair feel crunchy, but you can feel you have hairspray in, which I overlook because this spray really does hold my hair in place brilliantly!

What's your number one

hair product?

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Winter Skincare Saviour - Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate

Winter is my favourite season - I love Christmas, the colder weather, the jumpers, scarves, boots and coats, but it does play havoc with my skin! The wind and freezing temperatures outside aren't great, and having the heating on at home doesn't do it any favours either. Normal moisturisers never quite give my skin the moisture it needs during winter, but I've found a product that works miracles.

Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate is an oil you apply post-toner and pre-moisturiser. I use about 3 or 4 drops and massage it in all over my face. I leave it to sink in a little for a few minutes and then apply my night moisturiser over the top. The oil is made up of 99.8% naturally derived ingredients (bonus) and is paraben-free. Ingredients include squalane, evening primrose oil, omega-6 fatty acids, essential oils - including lavender, which will help replenish the skin, recover radiance, and leave the skin feeling smooth and your complexion looking brighter.
After just one use of this I noticed a difference in my skin, not only did it not feel dry but my completion had definitely improved, and any imperfections I had looked a lot better. I've been using this every night for a month now and not once have I felt my skin was dehydrated, which is amazing! Normally during this time of year my skin constantly feels tight and dry. I've also noticed it's helped a lot to clear up my skin - although I still have imperfections my skin isn't as bad as it was before and the oil is helping to clear up any spot scarring, as often when I got spots they take months and months to disappear.

This oil is a miracle worker, I'd highly recommend this to anyone. People with dry skin will love it and it'll make your skin feel and look so much better, and I know people who've used it who have oily skin and even they adored it! The only downside to this product is it's expensive at £36 for 30ml, however you only need a few drops per night so will last ages and it really does work amazingly.
You can purchase it here.

What's your winter skincare must have?

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