New In: DHC Beauty Lift Range

DHC is a cult Japanese brand that I've heard so many good things about but I haven't tried anything until now. They have just released a new range to hydrate, smooth and give the skin a lifted feel and appearance, with a lightweight and calming formula. A clinical study in the USA found that 100% of the participants reported smoother skin in only seven days.

- *DHC Beauty Lift Essence Hydration Facial Serum (£35, 50ml): Firstly, let's just take a moment to appreciate the gorgeous, spring appropriate and gorgeously simple packaging. The serum contains botanicals, peptides and olive oil. We all know that I love a good serum, serums are some of my favourite skincare products and I have a lot of faves! This serum is lightweight, it doesn't have a scent and it has a more gel like texture compared to the other serums I use.

The gel like texture makes it feel so light, refreshing and incredibly smooth on the skin, perfect for the upcoming warmer months when my skincare doesn't need to be so heavy or rich. The serum leaves the skin so smooth, soft and hydrated - a perfect base for moisturiser and makeup. It doesn't irritate my sensitive skin and it doesn't cause blemishes. Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5.

- *DHC Beauty Lift Facial Moisturiser Milk (£34, 100ml): Another skincare product that would be perfect for my spring/summer routine. I haven't tried a moisturising milk/lightweight moisturising lotion before but I love it. The moisturiser doesn't have a cleansing milk texture or appearance, as I thought it would, it has a gel texture.

The lotion feels lightweight, smoothing, fresh and moisturising on the skin, like the serum. Both products are a perfect spring/summer skincare pairing that would be great for normal/dry/mature skin types, in my opinion. The lotion leaves my skin so smooth and hydrated without being greasy or heavy on the skin - both products absorb quite quickly. Overall rating: ★★★★☆, 4/5.

- *DHC Beauty Lift Cream (£41, 50g): As with the other two products I've tried, the packaging is gorgeous, the product doesn't really have a scent at all and claims to be hydrating, anti-ageing and smoothing. The cream is thick and very moisturising so I have only been using it as a night cream - my skin is behaving really well recently and none of these products irritate my skin.

The cream leaves my skin so moisturised and smooth but it is quite rich and heavy so I would only use it as a night cream, otherwise it would be too much for my skin *although it would be fine during the freezing winter months*. I love all three products and I'd highly recommend the serum and milk for normal and dry skin types but the cream is richer so I would only really recommend it for dry or very dry skin types. Overall rating: ★★★★☆, 4/5.

Have you tried any skincare from DHC? 

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DHC Double Protection Mascara

When it comes to the one product in my makeup bag that I can't live without I'd usually say foundation but since sticking to a vegan diet, my skin and eczema is so much better and I couldn't be happier with my skin so I'd like to change my answer to mascara. Foundation, mascara and brow pencil are three products that can instantly change your appearance and in my case, my mood. I couldn't think of going out without at least some foundation, brow pencil and mascara!

However, there is one downside to mascara...taking it off! I have sensitive eyes and all of the mascaras that I have ever used have been a bit of a pain to remove at the end of the day or they can feel really heavy on my lashes with just one coat. In comes, DHC to the rescue *cue the superhero music*.

DHC is a Japanese skincare and makeup brand that I've tried a couple of products from in the past but this is the first makeup item and I'm impressed! The *DHC Double Protection Mascara (£15.90, 5g) is Emma Watson's favourite mascara as revealed in a recent interview as she says it's gentle, comes off with warm water and she likes the mascara brush (interview with www.intothegloss.com).

I like the packaging, it's very lightweight so it would be perfect for travelling and I'll probably take it to York with me next month. I also love the brush, it is very thin compared to all of the other gigantic mascara wands on the market now which means that it can get right down to the roots of the lashes and into the hard to reach corners easily.

It instantly gives my lashes a very fluttery, natural and wispy appearance which I love for everyday but if you are used to massive lashes then this won't be for you. One of the main points I love about this mascara is that you have time and the right brush to really apply it well and right into the lashes. I find it is long wearing and it is easy to remove although it comes off in flakes on me which isn't fantastic; however it doesn't flake throughout the day and it is almost unnoticeable feeling on the lashes which is a big plus for me as other mascaras weight my lashes down so much that I can see my  heavy clumpy lashes constantly, like my own blurry filter.

Overall, I'm loving this mascara for how lovely it is to apply and how it gives my lashes a naturally fluttery look that lasts all day. I also like the packaging and how gentle it is on my eyes as well as how easy to is to remove compared to my other mascaras which I need to scrub at my eyes to remove! The only negatives for me is that the price is higher than my usual hughstreet mascaras and when removing it does come off in flakes. Overall rating: ★★★★☆, 4/5.

Have you tried Emma Watson's favourite mascara or anything from DHC? What is your current favourite mascara? 

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Christmas Gifts For Her: Botanics

Today's post is another festive gift guide (I've been loving writing them and reading them on other blogs!) but it's a little different as I'm focusing on natural, floral or botanical inspired products which is related to a post I recently published in collaboration with The Hut Group about AW17 beauty trends of which botanicals is one.

I was very kindly sent the products in this gift guide from the lovely people over at DHC, Bodhi & Birch, Bolsius and Bloomtown so thank you! I already have posts featuring a few of these products on my blog already if you want to see more.

*DHC Double Cleanse Set (£19.95)

Skincare, especially skincare with a good reputation and some fantastic, natural ingredients, are great gift to give. I think gift sets like this one are great opportunities to try new brands and products for a fraction of the cost and this one comes with a free gift of the DHC Olive Virgin Oil Swabs (there are 50 in the box so it's a substantial free gift). 

The set also contains the famous DHC Deep Cleansing Oil which always receives rave reviews from bloggers and apparently one of these cleansers is sold every ten seconds worldwide! The cleanser contains olive oil, rosemary leaf oil and it's rich in vitamins and antioxidants. It's a double cleanse set so along with the oil cleanser, the DHC Mild Soap is also included to complete the double cleanse. Additionally the DHC Olive Virgin Oil Swabs can be used for eyeliner or mascara touch ups or for cleansing delicate areas such as the eyes using high quality cosmetics grade, ultra-gentle olive oil. This set would be great for teens or anyone really, who's new to the world of skincare and in need a good but also simple skincare set to start with. 

*Bolsius Frosted Garden Candle 

I've already reviewed a couple of Bolsius candles and tea lights, both of which are fantastic especially for the low price point. This candle smells so subtly fresh, wintery and floral that would be perfect for this time of the year and I think the colour of the wax and packaging could fit with our living and kitchen decor perfectly. 

It's a three wick candle which I haven't tried many of but they're be great for reducing tunnelling and wasted wax. The candle is part of the new limited edition range from Bolsius including other scents such as autumn walk, celebrate and home comfort, the latter I definitely want to try. Candles are such safe and easy gifts and they'd be ideal for a cosy Christmas hamper too. 

*Bloomtown Limited Edition Luxury Christmas Bauble (£9)

I obviously don't have a favourite product out of the items in this post but one that I think looks amazing and festive is this cute geometric bauble from the wonderful Bloomtown. It's a fantastic, natural and ethical brand with lovely products that are perfect for self care and pampering Christmas hampers! 

There are three baubles available in a range of three colours including navy, kraft and plum as well as marbled versions - I have the marbled plum bauble. You also have a choice of three products from a lip balm, sugar scrub and roll on infused oil, the latter is the option I have and it's the one I hoped I'd receive.

I adore the packaging, it's so photogenic and beautiful especially with the ribbon. The infused oil I have is in The Hedgerow scent which is sweet and fruity containing blackberry and honeysuckle to brighten a dreary winters day. The oil is a massive sample size of 9g so it will last a while and it's a great introduction to the brand and their amazing natural products. I cannot recommend this brand enough so definitely check out their Christmas gifts. 

*Bodhi & Birch Mini Body Oils Collection (£20)

I've reviewed a gift sets and products from the wonderful Bodhi & Birch and their Christmas gift sets are some of my favourites as they look so pretty, the products are all natural and it's a great way to try a range of their products and product scents. This set contains three body oils in the scents: 'Sicilian Rose', 'Chinois Blue' and 'Nordic White', all of which are 15ml so they're great sizes to trial each product. 

I've tried these three scents previously and I adore all three although if I had to choose a favourite then it would be tied between Nordic White and Chinois Blue but they're all so gorgeous. Body oils are such an overlooked product category; however they can be fantastic at this time of the year to give your skin some TLC and you can't go wrong with Bodhi and Birch body products! 

*Bodhi & Birch Bath & Shower Oils Collections (£30)

Last but not least is another heavenly set from Bodhi & Birch containing three 15ml bath and shower oils in the scents: Rosa Verde, La Botanics and Jasmin de Lune, none of which I've tried before. They are all natural, made in England and over 90% of the ingredients are organic. 

The Rosa Verde scent to me is a really unique rose scent as it's floral and rose scented but it contains lime, geranium and frankincense as well so it's floral, musky and rich. Next up, the Jasmin de Lune option which is a very unisex scent and I love it as to me it is so rich, deep and musky as well as a little floral. The final scent, La Botanica, might be my favourite as it's a very sweet and uplifting scent containing lemon, juniper, rosemary and eucalyptus. A wonderful set that would be great for men or women in need of a little pampering and TLC this Christmas.  

Have you tried any of these products or brands? 

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July + August Favourites 2018

When I first started blogging, I used to write monthly favourites posts but over the past couple of years, I have stopped writing them as frequently however I personally love to write and read them so I'm making a conscious effort to write more about the products, items and experiences I'm loving! Today's post is mostly beauty and skincare items with a couple of lifestyle items.

*Hempz Ultra Moisturising Lip Balm

Let's start with my favourite lip balm of the moment and it's the Hempz Ultra Moisturising Lip Balm which contains natural hemp seed oil to condition the lips, hydrate and nourish. I love that it's in a squeezy tube as it means that I can take it on the go and I don't have to use my fingers to apply it. It's a very moisturising lip balm even for my occasionally extremely dry lips and it doesn't irritate either, as some lip balms can with me.

*Hempz Sensitive Skin Calming Herbal Body Wash

Until I received these two items to review, I hadn't tried anything from Hempz but I'm so impressed with not only the products themselves but the ingredients. This product is my favourite of the two as it's a lovely body wash that is effective, natural and great for my sensitive skin but it also smells so heavenly. The scent reminds me of something, maybe another product I used years ago, but I can't put my finger on it. If you're looking for an effective but gentle body wash then look no further.

*DHC Face Wash Powder (£10.50)

I have tried a couple of products and gift sets from the lovely people at DHC previously so I was interested to try out these two products. DHC skincare is always raved out so I knew that I'd like this face wash powder. It's something I haven't ever tried as it's a face wash in powder form which you then mix with water to form a creamy, foamy face wash. It would be absolutely perfect for travelling or camping as it's a powder rather than a gel or cream that can leak in your suitcase or bag. A little goes a very long way and the first time I used it, I used enough for about six people! I would definitely recommend this gentle but effective and super travel friendly face wash!

*DHC Dry Skin Cream

The final product from DHC smells even nicer than the Hempz body wash, it's a lovely body moisturiser that has the most wonderful scent. To me, the scent is sweet, floral and earthy but it is very subtle so if you don't like heavily scented products then you'll probably be fine with this. It is very rich and hydrating so I think it would be ideal for the upcoming cooler months.

*Elegant Touch Nails 

Earlier in this year I was kindly sent a range of gorgeous, colourful and unique false nails from Elegant Touch. Recently I was sent a few more (surprise blogger mail is one of my favourite things to receive) and I'm loving them. I love the fantasy mermaid magic nails and some of their more 'normal' designs. My nails seem to be quite unusual shapes so I do have to spend quite a while finding the right sizes, shaping them and discarding most of the largest sizes as they just don't fit my teeny tiny nails.

*Burts Bees Tinted Lip Oil in Whispering Orchid 613 (£9.99)

The only makeup item on my list is a gorgeous and very luxe feeling tinted lip oil from Burts Bees. Burts Bees has been one of my favourite brands for a number of years and I always love trying out their products whether it's makeup, skincare, bodycare or their gorgeous gifts. The lip oil I have is in the shade Whispering Orchid (613) which is a bright pink in the tube but on the lips it is very subtle and offers minimal colour. I like the subtle shade, the very nourishing feeling and the moisturising effect which my lips always seem to need.

*Burts Bees Moisturising Lip Mask (£4.99)

I love using hair and face masks but one type of mask then I haven't used, until now, is a lip mask. Burts Bees recently came out with a one use lip mask which contains meadowfoam seed and almond oils, it's 100% natural and cruelty free. The lip mask comes very cutely packaged, it smells so lovely (it's very sweet and honey-like) and it is very quick to use.

The lip mask is a thin sheet, similar to a very small sheet mask and it is covered in moisturising and nourishing oils so it does feel a little odd on the lips but it isn't irritating, it stays on the skin very easily and once removed and rinsed, my lips and skin feels so nourished, moisturised and deeply hydrating so much so that my dry lips feel very soft and smooth. I'd definitely recommend this lip mask as a lovely pampering treat.

*Cotton Bag Co - Selfie Bag (£9.99) 

The final item in todays favourites post is a unique selfie bag which is basically a cute large tote bag that features pockets for your phone and selfie stick. Additionally, it contains a fold out reflector sheet that is great for selfie and photo taking. The bag is huge so it would be great for a range of items and it's very durable. My favourite thing about the tote bag is the size and the design as mine is black with copper/rose gold detailing including stars (one of my favourite designs), hearts and more. I love how practical and multi-use it is and the quality is fantastic - some tote bags are very flimsy but this one isn't at all.

Have you tried any of these products? What products have you loved recently? 

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2017 Beauty Favourites

It's finally time to publish my 2017 beauty favourites post which was so difficult to narrow down but here it is! I have some brand new favourites and some from 2016 as well which have been consistently my favourite products so I couldn't leave them out even if they have appeared in other favourites posts. Let's start with the best category, makeup:

Makeup

I'm not going to rank any of the products but one of my very top favourites has to be the fantastic Temple Spa Concealer which was sent as a surprise blogger mail package and I've loved it since I received it. If you have dry skin as I do then you'll know how difficult it can be to use a foundation or concealer that doesn't emphasis dryness which this one doesn't so it's been perfect for the colder months!

I have two palettes that I've been loving in 2017, one of which is an old favourite and it's the Too Faced Semi Sweet Palette which has pretty much everything I need in one palette! I've also been loving TheBalm Meet Matt(e) Palette which is great too and I cannot recommend them enough. A mascara that has wowed me this year is the DHC Double Protection Mascara as it is so gentle and easy to remove with just warm water.

Lastly for the base products, the first is the Real Techniques Miracle Sponge (from face.co.uk) which is a great alternative to the very expensive Beauty Blender. My favourite foundation of the past couple of years as been the Bourjois 10 Hour Sleep Effect Foundation and I ran out of it while I was half way through my makeup for New Years eve! Now that I'm having to use other foundations, I'm realising how much I loved it and how wonderful it made my skin look. The final makeup is my much loved Essence Fixing Powder which has been a favourite of mine for the past two to three years.

Skincare 

I only have two new skincare favourites this year, the first being the Eucerin AtoControl Cream which I'm using now and I'm loving it for my eczema prone skin and secondly the Merci Handy Facial Mists which were essentials during the ridiculously how summer days we had last year. I've also been loving all of my Antipodes skincare and I cannot recommend their products enough!

Bodycare & Misc 

My final category is body care, haircare and miscellaneous products but I'll start with the most impressive semi-permanent hair colour I've ever used which is the Joico Colour Butters! 2017 was the year that I bleached the ends of my hair and dyed it a range of colours. The Jocio Colour Butters were the most incredibly vibrant, quick (less than ten minutes to develop) and long lasting semi-permanent hair colours ever!

For my other haircare favourites, I've loved all of the Colab dry shampoos I've tried and I've just bought a few more as they're fantastic. I was very kindly sent the GHD Ruby Styler last year and it's been one of the few few hair tools I've used and I cannot recommend GHDs enough.

Finally onto the bodycare products, a couple of essentials that I loved in 2017 include the Organii Lavender Liquid Soap which smells heavenly, the Cetraben Lotion that is a miracle product for the eczema on my hands and the Bomb Cosmetics Hand Treatment which is one of my favourite and creams ever!

Another heavenly product has to be the Crabtree and Evelyn Lavender and Espresso Body Butter which is the most relaxing and unique smelling body butter and one of the most moisturising. I also have to mention the Feather and Down Pillow Spray which I've been using for a while now and I cannot recommend it enough and finally for my favourites, the Lush Get Closer Dusting Powder which is a great multi-use talc.

Honourable Mentions

I obviously have to include a few honourable mentions in this post as there were so many wonderful products from 2017 such as the Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dolce Vita, the Antipodes Manuka Honey Eye Cream, the Essence All Eyes On Me Waterproof Mascara, Eylure Brow Gel and the Bumble and Bumble Pre-a-Powder.

Have you tried any of these products? What were your favourites from 2017? 

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Latest In Beauty: October Edit 2019

I love subscription boxes, particularly when they are beauty themed and especially so when I can choose the items. Latest In Beauty have some of the best limited edition beauty boxes, such as the new India Knight Edit (which I will be reviewing very soon) but their monthly boxes in which you can choose the items, are fantastic. I've been lucky enough to receive a few of their monthly boxes now and I've been very happy with each one, from the presentation and delivery to the item selection and brands available.

*Latest In Beauty - October Edit (£22, Beauty Enthusiast Box)

The October edit contains so many wonderful products, from more unusual items including an exfoliating hand cream and biodegradable baby wipes to CBD lip balms, collagen shots, insect repellant and tanning sheets masks, among others. I was very kindly sent the 'beauty enthusiast' box in which you can choose up to six items although there are other sizes available. The 'beauty novice' box is £16 and you can choose up to three items and the 'beauty guru' box is £25 with the option to pick nine items.

*SportFX Game Changing Mascara 

Let's start with my favourite item from the box and it's probably by favourite mascara ever, closely followed by the DHC Double Protection Mascara. The mascara packaging not only looks amazing with textured water droplets on the tube but it is such a long lasting mascara that's waterproof and it doesn't require countless coats or an eyelash curler. The mascara is unusual as on one end of the tube, there's a built in mascara remover...yes! The remover when brushed through the lashes, left for 20 seconds and then gently removed with a damp Makeup Eraser cloth, almost instantly removes the mascara. It's very impressive and perfect for me as I had laser eye surgery a couple of months ago and I still want to be a little more gentle with my eyes.

*Ciate Glow To Highlighter - Moondust

Another favourite product is the Ciate highlighter! I've wanted to try something from Ciate, besides their nail polishes, for a while and I'm glad that this item came up on the October selection. The highlighter is a great little travel size, the shade is utterly beautiful and thankfully it isn't filled with very chunky glitter. It is a little pink toned but it looks pretty on the skin and while it isn't as finely milled and minimally glittery as I wanted it to be, I still love the result.

*Dr Hauschka Lipstick in Chessflower 09

I haven't tried anything from this brand so I had to choose this lipstick when it came up on the Latest In Beauty selection. The lipstick contains moisturising botanical ingredients and mineral pigments including rose petals, almond oil and camauba wax. The shade is 'chessflower' which is the most beautiful crushed purple velvet colour that is ideal for this time of the year. The texture is so nourishing and moisturising but the longevity is there too.

*Sure Ultimate Fresh Deodorant

One of the things I love about the Latest In Beauty boxes is the wide range of items, from fragrance samples and skincare to makeup, unusual items and everyday essentials. There are a few beauty subscription boxes on the market that have lovely items but they can be quite repetitive or have mostly one category of items, such as skincare but the Latest In Beauty range is much more practical and convenient with the inclusion of everyday toiletries in it's line up.

*The NF Co Biodegradable Toothbrush 

Speaking of everyday items is this very unusual biodegradable cornstarch toothbrush...yes, it's a toothbrush made of cornstarch. I'm aware of wooden toothbrushes but I haven't come across one like this before! You can recycle the toothbrush head and the packaging as well as the handle are biodegradable. I think that the addition of a biodegradable, zero waste and non-plastic item is amazing!

*Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water

Last but not least, I wanted to choose this mini micellar water from Garnier as I have the larger bottle and I thought the mini version would be perfect for travelling. I've been using this product since it was first released and I think it is fantastic. I'm glad it's part of the selection for October and it's still available on the site if you are looking to create your own box in October.

I cannot recommend the amazing Latest In Beauty boxes enough, either their monthly subscription boxes or their limited edition boxes as the range of brands, wide variety of products and the packaging/presentation is fantastic. My favourite items from the October selection have to include the amazing SportFX mascara (which I cannot recommend enough), the Ciate highlighter and the Garnier micellar water. The selection is fantastic this month!

Have you tried any of these products? What do you think of the October selection? 

*gifted

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July Beauty Favourites

How is it the end of July already, this year is going by so fast! Another month ends which means it is now time for my monthly favourites roundup. This month I have been lucky enough to receive quite a few amazing products, a lot of which I have been loving and using constantly throughout July. 

Makeup

Lets start with my favourite category, makeup! I was very kindly sent a range of products from the Australian company, Eye of Horus and their Dynasty Dual Brow Perfect pencil and gel is my favourite product from the range. The pencil is a perfect shade for me, the gel has amazing hold and it is perfect for travelling - I took it with me on our mini staycation in York earlier this week and it was so handy! Next up, another new addition to my makeup collection, the MeMeMe Correct and Perfect Concealer Kit which is actually a great shade for my super pale skin. I thought the concealer would be quite waxy and cakey on my dry skin but it isn't and it blends so well; the powder is great too. I will have a makeup look featuring a lot of lovely MeMeMe products on my blog soon. Lastly, in the makeup category is the Spectrum Atlantis Flat Top Buffer Brush has been my go to foundation brush; it looks so pretty and it is perfect for blending foundation without those annoying streaks.

Skincare

I've already posted my review of the two new Antipodes additions to my skincare routine and I have been loving both since I received them earlier this month. I use the Antipodes Vanilla Pod Day Cream everyday and I use the Antipodes Worship Serum on days when my skin is extra dry; they work so well and they are all natural. Another product I have been using almost constantly is the Skin and Tonic Steam Clean Cleansing Balm which is a luxe but basic cleansing balm that is perfect for my dry, sensitive skin.

Bodycare

Lastly a couple of products I've been using on my hands, the first is the Sweet Cecily's Soothing Skin Cream which to be honest doesn't look or smell very nice but it great for soothing and moisturising the eczema I have on my hand. Lastly, the hand cream I have been keeping on my desk is one from last Christmas, The Body Shop Glazed Apple Hand Cream; it smells lovely, it absorbs quickly and it doesn't irritate my eczema. 

Just a couple of honorary mentions to a few products that I used over the few days of our mini staycation in York earlier this week which came in so useful. Firstly, the Fancy Witch Brushes (available at Beauty Crowd) are fantastic, very smooth and the foundation brush is a dream. While away from home the DHC Blotting Papers were so useful, I didn't know my t-zoe as that oily but they really helped control shine. Lastly, my favourite foundation/powder combo is the Max Factor Smooth Effect foundation and the Essence Fixing Powder - they look so natural (but have good coverage) and make my skin look so much more even. 

Have you tried any of the products I've mentioned? What products have you been loving through the month of July?

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June Beauty Favourites + Hayfever Helpers

Another month has gone by, how is this possible! It feels like it was new year last week to me! Anyway, I have some beauty favourites this month, including some old favourites and a few new products that I haven't been able to put down - apart from the past week when I've been ill and I haven't been able to wear any makeup.

Makeup

Let's start with the makeup, earlier this month I won a competition with House Of Coco in which I won £150 worth of makeup! One of the products I won was the Rimmel Oh My Gloss in the shade lucidalabbra - I don't know why my tube seems to have the Italian shade name on...Anyway, it's a gorgeous my lips but better shade and it lasts on the lips too! I will be looking out for more! A rediscovery this month has been the amazing Max Factor Smooth Effect Foundation which is my safe, go to foundation all year round, I cannot rave about it enough - I need to stock up as I believe it's being discontinued. 

Beauty Tools + Brushes

My makeup brush favourite for the month has been the Real Techniques Sculpting Brush from the contour set but I've been using it for foundation and it's amazing! Sticking with the makeup theme, I've been using my DHC Oil Blotting Papers a lot recently due to the heat wave and they work so well, I didn't know my skin was that oily! I received them in a My Little Box so I don't know where I can re-purchase but they are on my list. The last beauty tool is the Tweezerman Grip + Snip Cuticle Nipper which does look scary but it is pain free and helps make my nails/cuticles look so much neater. The last item in this category isn't really a tool but it's a cuticle oil from Essence and it's been a lifesaver recently as my nails and cuticles have been SO dry and this oil is very quick/easy and mess free to use. 

Skincare + Bodycare

First up, I wrote a rave review of the Dermatique Recuperating Cream already and it is definitely helping the eczema on my hand. I've also been loving Nourish Kale Biometic Anti-Ageing Eye Cream over the past month as it really helps with dehydration lines and instantly makes me look more awake - as does the AA Refreshing Eye Gel. My final favourite is the AromaWorks Serenity Bath Oil which is so heavenly and indulgent. 

Lastly, I just wanted to mention a few hayfever and heatwave helpers that I've been loving over the past week including the Caudalie Beauty Elixir, Nasal Guard Allergie Block Gel, Vicks Inhaler Stick and the Jurlique Balancing Mist. 

Which products have you been loving over the month of June? Have you tried any of the products I've featured?

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Five Minute Makeup Options + Tips

Most of the time and especially during the summer months, I always opt for time saving, quick and easy products as well as easy and effective makeup so here are some of my favourite products to create five minute makeup looks with, featuring natural, glowy and summer ready products along with some basic tips on how to save time getting ready in the morning! 

Luminous & Radiant 

When it comes to base products, foundation, concealer and powder, I need moisturising, radiant and natural looking products to combat my dry and uneven skin. My top luminous foundation include the Lancome Miracle Cushion Foundation, Max Factor Skin Luminizer Foundation and the gorgeous Giorgio Maestro Glow Foundation which is the perfect radiant foundation for summer, for those with dry or dull skin. There are many annoyances when it comes to having eczema, especially around my eyes and that's when it comes to concealer, the vast majority of them look so drying and cakey but thankfully the Clinique Airbrush Concealer and the fantastic Essence Stay All Day Concealer are perfect for light to medium coverage without making me look like I haven't slept or moisturised in a week!

Sticking with the radiance theme, the Freedom Strobe Cream is fantastic to add into your primer at add radiance along with the Stila Smudge Crayon in Antique which makes my eyes look so much brighter in one swipe - it's also great as a emergency highlight too.  For mascara, summer calls for fluttery lashes with a formula that's easy to remove and the DHC Double Protection Mascara is an essential as it can easily be removed with just warm water, yes, just warm water! Lastly for lips, tinted lip balms are a great to add moisture and a wash of sheer colour that you don't need to worry about. 

Natural, Long Lasting & Summer Proof 

In the UK recently we've had a couple of heatwaves (31 degrees celsius in Manchester which is unheard of!) as well as very humid, muggy weather and my makeup has been suffering, until I started using these quick, easy and long lasting products together! 

The LA Girl HD Long Wear Illuminating Foundation and the Vichy Dermablend Powder stay all day even through hot and humid temperatures, facial water sprays and sweat - they are well worth checking out as well as the fantastic Perricone MD No Foundation Foundation for a more matte option. 

For brows, there are a few pencils that I've been loving lately as they make filling in and defining my brows so quick and fuss free including the Benefit Goof Proof Brow Pencil, Eye of Horus Pencil and Gel and the very inexpensive Eylure Brow Pencil which has a spoolie on the end so it would be great for travelling. 

Contouring can be a bit of a time hog when it comes to quick makeup but the NYX Blush in Taupe when used with the Real Techniques Multitask Cheek Brush makes it a 10 second process. Easy lip products that you don't need to think about are also time savers and the new Burts Bees Lipsticks are perfect (and the packaging is so cute!). Lastly, for waterproof mascara you can't go wrong with options from Rimmel or Essence. 

Now onto some time saving tips:

• Lighting Direct have conducted research into makeup application and lighting, some of which is a bit shocking like the statistic that women over their lifetime will spend an average of £22,000 on makeup and did you know that 75% of women apply their makeup in poor lighting? You'll never apply your makeup well or quickly in poor lighting and that's my first tip. Apply your makeup in an area with good lighting or invest in a light up makeup mirror. I always apply my makeup at my desk as it's in front of a large window with my makeup mirror and where all of my current makeup is together; which leads very nicely into my second tip!
• Keep the makeup you're using currently in one place so you don't need to waste time searching around for your products! I keep all of my skincare together and all of my current makeup in one drawer at my desk so it's in easy reach and I have everything to hand. 
• Multi-use products and two in one products save time and money, for example, I use skincare that contains SPF, foundations that don't need powder as they are quite skin like and mattifying and brushes that can be used with numerous products. Also why not try bronzer or highlighters as eyeshadows, tinted lip balms as blush or eyeshadows as eyeliner? 
• Make sure your skin is well prepped in terms of skincare and primer before you start your makeup as then you won't have to waste time and start again (which is something I do end up doing often because of my dry skin!). 

There are my current favourite quick and easy products and my time saving makeup tips! What are your favourite easy products or time saving tips? 

*This is a sponsored post

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New In: Real Techniques

Real Techniques has been one of my favourite makeup brush brands for so long, I have a couple of sets and individual brushes that I've had for ages and they're still going strong so when these new and limited edition sets and sponges came out, I had to try them!

The lovely people at face.co.uk kindly allowed me to choose a few products to try and obviously I picked the new Real Techniques products because they're not just designed by the lovely Pixiwoo sisters but they are amazing and affordable brushes.

*Real Techniques Ready Set Glow Brush Set (£19.99)

How adorable is this set! I love the packaging of this limited edition set which is comprised of three makeup brushes with a cute candy stripe design and a multiuse makeup sponge too. The set is designed 'for natural radiance' but they can be used for so many uses and with so many products.

Let's go through the brushes individually, the first is the 'multitask cheek brush' which is what I've been using for contouring recently and it works really well for contouring but it could also be used for powder. This brush is so soft and I love the cute pink stripy design.

Next, the 'strobing fan brush' which can be used for, as the name would suggest, strobing and highlighting. I have been using it with my TheBalm Mary Lou Manizer, which is my favourite highlighter ever and it's great although not a brush I'd use as much as the other two in the set.

The final makeup brush is the 'targeted blending brush' which is definitely the most unusually shaped and sized brush in the set. It's like a contouring brush in miniature or a mini version of the expert face brush. I've been using it for concealer or just applying foundation really precisely. Definitely an interesting and great addition to my brush collection.

Lastly in the set you get the 'miracle sculpting sponge' and it's been great to use with my newly acquired Perricone MD No Foundation Foundation as it blends like a dream. I love that it's multisided meaning that there's always a clean side to blend with. Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5.

*Real Techniques Dual Ended Expert Sponge (£5.99)

I love the Real Techniques miracle complexion sponge (although I do prefer the original Beauty Blender) as it's great for the price and this one is equally as good. It has a orange side and a pink side, I hoped one of the sides would have a different texture but it does't - the only difference is the colour. You're meant to use the sponge dry which I love as it applies and blends primer, foundation, concealer and even powder really well. Definitely a makeup sponge that I'll get a lot of use out of and it's well worth checking out. Overall rating: ★★★★☆, 4/5.

*Real Techniques Miracle Blotting Cushions (£8.99)

The heatwave we had back in June was ruining my makeup as 31 degrees celsius isn't great for keeping your makeup on your face. My skin is usually sensitive to dry but recently it's been quite oily so these blotting cushions have been really useful!

I love my DHC blotting papers but these looked new and really interesting as I haven't seen blotting 'cushions' before! They seem to be made of the same material as the sponges so they are great for blotting and then re-blending foundation and even eyeshadow that has creased or faded. You get four in each pack and I guess you can wash them to clean them as you can with the Real Techniques sponges. I'll definitely be taking some of these products and brushes on holiday with me in August. Overall rating: ★★★★☆, 4/5.

I'd definitely recommend checking out face.co.uk as they offer free 1st class delivery which is amazing and a lot of products are currently discounted. As well as new Real Techniques products, they also stock Beauty Blenders, lashes and other branded makeup brushes!

Do you use Real Techniques brushes or sponges? Have you tried any of these products? 

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Vichy Dermablend Foundation

Vichy Dermablend stick foundation is a much raved about product for it's high coverage even for burns, scars and tattoos. I've wanted to try it for a while but stick foundations tend to be cakey and heavy on my dry skin however Vichy have launched a new product which I have been loving recently! 

The *Vichy Dermablend Fluid Corrective Foundation (£18, 30ml) in the shade 05 Porcelain which is the perfect match for my super pale skin  - very impressive. The foundation claims to be high coverage, lightweight and natural looking. It also claims to have 16 hour wear! It is suitable for even the most sensitive skin types. 

The foundation shade is definitely pale enough for me and it has a yellow tint which is fantastic for covering the natural red/pink tones in my skin. The foundation is relatively easy to apply and blend with my Fancy Witch foundation brush although it takes a little longer to blend than my other foundations. The foundation doesn't highlight dryness apart from the very, very dry areas but it also doesn't make my more oily t-zone oily or greasy. It strikes the fine balance between being radiant, moisturising and covering without being oily or mask like.

The finish of this foundation on my dry, sensitive skin is gorgeous and it covers most of my redness, pores and imperfections. It lasts all day on me although on warmer days I do have to blot my t-zone with the DHC blotting papers. Although now that the colder months are here, I will have to scrub, moisturise and prep my skin very well before using this foundation but I still think I will get a lot of use out of it!

Overall, I love the travel friendly packaging, the shade match and the overall finish. The longevity is also great and it doesn't feel greasy, heavy or cakey on my skin. If you are looking for a medium-high coverage foundation that isn't mask like then definitely check this one out although if you have very very dry or flaky skin then keep in mind that you will have to prep your skin very well before using this foundation! Overall rating: ★★★★☆, 4/5. 

Have you tried anything from Vichy? Have you tried the Vichy dermablend range?

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