Beauty Savings

Some of my favourite deals and offers available this week:

Daniel Sandler Watercolour Blush - I love these and always recommend going to Daniel's website to try samples if you don't know which colour to get. I love Rose Glow which has a bit of shimmer and Chelsea which is a lovely peachy matte. 

Dior Star Foundation - this is one of the medium-full coverage foundations. Gives you the cover without making you look like you are wearing a ton of makeup - has a beautiful finish

Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm - this was my go-to cleanser years ago but it just became more and more expensive. Here it's a bit more affordable and it's lovely for anyone with dry, normal, or mature skin and the face cloth it comes with are fabulous too

Top Cleansers for Dry Skin

Let's not limit ourselves, these cleansers would work for all but oily skins, but dry skin recommendations I get asked for a lot so that's where I thought I would start. All three of these I use myself regularly, I have dry, sensitive, often reactive skin. This is not in order though possibly it accidentally is.

1. Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Balm
I love this though I can't exactly pinpoint why. Full of antioxidants, brightening but not astringent, easy to use. Good value for money, cruelty free. I'm 90% sure this would also work on oily skins but I haven't tried it on a client with oily skin so I can't confirm. Good enough for make-up and grime removal I mostly use this in the morning to prep my skin with antioxidants and because it has never caused a reaction and works well under make-up. £31

2. The Body Shop Camomile Cleansing Butter 
When people finally want to move away from a foam cleanser (step away from the foam cleanser people) this is the place I send them. It's affordable, easy to find and use and feels great on the skin. Once they have tried this there's no turning back. I've yet to find someone who doesn't love this. Use morning and evening I like to use as my PM cleanser as it's sooo easy and not too expensive so I can wearily slap it on without being too frugal. £10

3. Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm
This used to be my number 1 and I still love it but of late Oskia has slightly edged it out of the running. A tub of this will last you a long time. It feels incredible on the skin and gets all the make-up off. But this has made my skin react when it is at it's most sensitive, not irrevocably, I carried on using it once a day and it is, for me, the original balm cleanser. The one that really changed my skin and made me realise that what you use on your skin really can make a difference.

What's your skin type?

Christmas Gift Bags for Friends

If you have girl friends that you buy Christmas and birthday presents for every year it can be hard to come up with ideas and it can get very expensive. I always love the idea of putting together goodie bags (or hampers) for friends which include lots of lovely little treats and if you are clever you can do lots of friends at once and not break the bank. I've come up with a lovely goodie bag, some ideas of what to go in it and then some budget options to help you out.

Morning Cleansers

The move to our new bathroom made me realise that I probably have a bit too much skincare. I tried to rationalise it but really I like to use products depending on what I feel my skin needs at the time. I love cleansers and sort of feel like I could never have too many. Here's a look at my current favourite cleansers to use in the morning and a little bit on why I like them. My skin type is combination normal/dry/dehydrated. It's in fairly good nick at the moment as I've been testing lots of lovely oils and serums. Still not drinking enough water though.

Tata Harper Regenerating Cleanser
Really lovely as a gentle exfoliating cleanser. Has never irritated my skin even when it's been feeling sensitive and just nice to have something effective that doesn't make me a tomato. I haven't tried the other cleansers from Tata Harper but I want to based on this. Read my original review here.

Evening Skincare

A month or so ago I did my morning skincare routine, this is my evening one. As I explain in the video I go for it a bit more in the evening, partly because I have more time and partly because I have make-up to remove and my skin will have more time (i.e. overnight) for the products to do their thing without having any make-up, pollution etc over the top of it.

All products are linked below as are any full reviews of products from the blog. If you haven't already then please subscribe to my channel and if you haven't already seen my morning skincare video you can watch it here.

Coconoil
Nude Perfect Cleanse Cleansing Oil
Lush Ultrabland Cleanser
Pixi + Caroline Hirons Double Cleanse
Emma Hardie Amazing Face cleansing balm
Darphin Intral Toner
Origins Mega Mushroom Skin Relief
Amelia Moss Rosehip Oil
The Ordinary Lactic Acid
Aurelia Night Cream
Origins Make A Difference Plus
Sukin Purifying Masque
Neutorgena Norwegian Formula Moisturiser
Mama Mio The Tummy Rub Oil

Mother's Day Gift Ideas

God, gift idea posts are so tricky. The PR emails start coming in before Christmas and to come up with suggestions that are going to be right for everyone is an impossibility. I know Mother's Day like Valentine's Day, Father's Day and any other day may not be everyone's cup of tea.

But some people like it and struggle with what to do so here are my suggestions. As always I've decided to basically go with things that I would like, or that my mum would like, and hope that there is something here that either fits the bill or inspires you.

Some links are to specific websites that you should definitely have a proper look at... Blue Bowl being one of them. I just picked some of my favourite things but you'll no doubt find the perfect present somewhere on there.

How to get perfect bridal skin even in hot weather - Friday Video

I recently had the pleasure of doing a wedding in Greece. It was so much fun to do but at 38C it was hot, even for Greece in July. I needed to pack a basic kit that would have all eventualities covered, would suit the bride and that would travel well. Nothing to heavy, nothing that would leak and most importantly products that if they melted could still be useable. No double-faced palettes this time.

Long-lasting make-up is not only down to which products you use but how you apply them. I know a lot of people want to apply their own make-up when they get married so I thought it would be useful to show how I ensured Maria had perfect make-up all day (and night!) even when it was pretty hot.

Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm
Bobbi Brown Hydrating Face Cream
Laura Mercier Foundation Primer 
Make-up International Supermatte Anti-Shine
Niod Photography Fluid 
MAC Face & Body Foundation
Louise Young Concealer Trio
Daniel Sandler Watercolour Blush (in Rose Glow) 
Daniel Sandler Invisible Veil Blotting Powder 
Hourglass Diffused Light Powder 

April Giveaway Winner

Thank you so much to everyone who entered. The lucky winner is Olivia Logie (hope I've got that right). Huge congratulations to you (this is one of the prizes I was hoping to keep!!), I'll be posting your prize to you as soon as I get your address.

I'll see you back here in a couple of days for the next giveaway!

In the Kit - Cleansers

I carry two types of cleanser in my kit; a misceller water to remove make-up quickly and clean up after application and a lovely balm to prep the skin properly before application and to give whoever is in the chair a bit of a pamper too.

My misceller water of choice is Bioderma Sensibo H20. In all my years of using this, from back in the day when you used to have to bulk it when in France, I've never found anyone who has had a bad reaction to this. It removes make-up really well and dries quickly making it the perfect thing for ensuring your flicks and lips are really precise and any drop-down from shadows or glitter is removed. If you don't have time to cleanse with a balm cleanser this will get every scrap of make-up off the face without you having to scrub - it's also great for waterproof mascara. Would I use this on myself everyday? No, although I do have some for tough make-up removal and a quick first cleanse but repeated use causes irritation on my skin (that's when I use it every day for years...)

LMB Turns 10 - April Giveaway (NOW CLOSED)

Well, that March Giveaway had to run itself in the end. We moved house on 10th March and as I write this on 30th March we still have no Internet which is a massive pain. Anyway, there were a huge amount of entries to win the Louise Young Blushers which was wonderful but if make-up is not really your thing but you are into skincare then April could be the month for you. I have two amazing prizes up for grabs this month. Neither of which need any introduction for regular readers but for those who are new to the blog there'll be more on both throughout the month - Internet permitting.

Automatic Re-Buys

I've been thinking about this post for a while and I think it's just going to have to be one that is ever expanding. But there are some things that I have spares of in reserve or re-buy as soon as they run out, automatically, without thinking about the things you usually think about when buying products - cost, reviews, necessity. As soon as they look a bit low I re-buy. Writing me has also made me realise there are certain products for which I have nothing on the re-buy list - for example mascaras. I really like a couple of mascaras but I'm still on the hunt for the perfect one so whatever I buy when I need to is usually a new one that I want to try out.

Emma Hardie Amazing Face Moringa Cleansing Balm - if you have read this blog at all you'll know how much I love this product (see my full review here and my quick review video here)  This is the cleanser I use every evening unless I am trying other cleansers out and if they make my skin react then I go back to this and it sorts it out. If I've worn a ton of make-up this gets it all off. If I'm not wearing any this feels like a moisturising treat.

Pixi Glow Tonic - the toner that got me really back into toning (see my full review here). Slews away dead cells, brightens, moisturises and firms. If you are thinking about adding a toner to your skincare routine this is a great place to start.

Origins Make A Difference + -this is a moisturiser I come back to again and again (see my full review here). It just seems to suit my skin so well. And, bizarre as it sounds, it is totally buildable in that, if I'm feeling well-moisturised and its the morning and I'm going to be adding an SPF and some make-up then a really thin layer of this is great. If I need to slap it on to dry, or a bit irritated skin in the evening I can and it feels deeply moisturising and luxurious.

Neutrogena Norwegian Formula for Dry Skin - I have incredibly dry skin which can get itchy so I have tried a lot  of moisturisers. This is the one product I've found that keeps me feeling moisturised for the 24 or so hours between applications. And it's incredibly reasonably priced (see my quick review video here). Why try to find something high end when there is a fantastic product available on the high street?

Lavera Soft Eye Pencil - why they stopped putting a smudger on the end of this I'll never know but it's my second favourite soft liner pencil and, for me at the moment, easier for me to get hold of than my No 1,  Smoulder by MAC (they sell it in the shop next door). A truly soft eye pencil, vegan, non-irritating, truly black, goes on the waterline (see my full review here). What's not to like?

MAC Eye Kohl in Smoulder - always in my pro-kit and, ideally, always in my personal one too. For a '90s teen a smudgey black liner will never go out of fashion and this is the ultimate. Goes on the waterliner, properly black, long lasting and, for me, the perfect consistency.

Sleek Makeup Luminous Pressed Powder - another high street hero. Love that it will fix my make-up in place without taking away all the dewiness and radiance I spend time (and money) putting in. A must for those of us naturally prone to dullness.

Benefit Sugarbomb - a blusher I have been using for years and years (see my full review here). Its personal preference but the colours for me are perfect and, though it's expensive, it lasts for a long time. 

Avon Supershock Gel Liner - the best black waterproof liner you can get, as far as I know (see my full review here). Incredibly reasonably priced, goes onto and stays on, the waterline.

Real Techniques Shading Brush - a great eyeshadow brush. Good length bristles, easy to use and keep clean, synthetic and very well priced. I always have a couple of these in my personal brush collection. I wish they did the base shadow brush separately too, it's fantastic for blending.

Butter London Flawless Base Coat - loved it from first use and still love it now. (see my full review here). No yellowness, nice strong nails, nothing nasty in it, lovely base for your colour to go onto.

Japonesque Solid Brush Cleanser - smells great, easy to use, cleans brushes perfectly, no nasty chemicals (see my full review here and my quick review here).

Christmas Gift Ideas - Skincare

These would actually be great presents for a girlfriend/sister-in-law/sister… the list goes on but I always get a bit scared giving skincare products to people I don’t know love it, in case they think I’m being rude… again. With the make-up suggestions I wanted there to be something a bit special about them – the Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar packaging is wonderful and the price prevents a lot of people getting it for themselves – but with skincare you need to get something that is going to work. So that’s what I’m suggesting. 

• Emma Hardie Amazing Face – there's a great Emma Hardie gift set that will be in the gift set post but this cleansing balm is a permanent fixture in my cupboard and everyone I have recommended it to loves it. Not that easy to track down on in shops (Space NK stock it here) so a fab present for those who aren't too keen on Internet shopping.

• Ole Henriksen Truth Serum – another brand that will feature in the  gift set post but their Truth Serum is a wonderful gift on it’s own. Available in three sizes the smallest 15ml one is only £18 so is great if you are doing what I like to call a ‘random boy purchase’ this could be the one to go for.

• Origins – One of the brands I have been consistently using for over a decade. It’s hard to whittle it down to one recommendation as it depends on what you are looking for so here are my suggestions for exfoliating, dry skin, the traveller and a more general day cream. I’ve tried, re-bought and loved them all.  Never a Dull Moment – I usually use acid toners to gently exfoliate a couple of times a week but every now and again I use this and love it for it’s natural ingredients and incredibly gentle but noticable exfoliation. Make a Difference + - my go-to moisturiser for the winter months when my skin is dryer this works a treat and smells divine. This range also does a night cream and variations suitable for all skin types. The All Purpose High Elevation Cream – the moisturiser to get for those who travel a lot. I take with me when flying as it does everything and is so deeply moisturising that you can feel it (in a non-oily way) even after you’ve landed. A Perfect World – If I need to buy a moisturiser in the spring/summer I’d go for this one (it is available with an SPF25 if you want) it’s lighter than the Make A Difference so if you are buying for someone with normal skin this is the one to go for.

In terms of things for the body I am finding it difficult to find products that I love enough to recommend as Christmas presents but I've got some and I've had a bit of help.

• Ren Body Oil - as recommended by my friend Bree who says this feels really luxurious and even though it's an oil doesn't leave the skin feeling greasy.

Quick Product Review: Emma Hardie Amazing Face Cleanser and Pro Cleansing Cloth

The first of my 'Quick Review' videos and not only is it one of the longest I plan on doing but it's also one of the products I rave about the most.

Friday Video - March 2014 Favourites

I haven't done a favourites video for a while and this one is short but hopefully sweet!

Emma Hardie Amazing Face Dual Action Cleansing Cloths

As regular readers of this blog will know I am in love with the Emma Hardie Amazing Face Cleansing Balm and just when I thought things couldn't get any better I was sent one of the Dual Action Cleansing Cloths to try with it. I've always found muslins a bit too rough on my face so I've stuck to using an old reliable flannel but the microfibre side of the Emma Hardie cloth is perfect for removing your cleanser, gets everything off without removing the top layer of skin - they are super-soft.

I was bereft when someone (that's you JOE HARROD) threw away my cleansing cloth when we moved and so  I ordered one up from Space NK. It was £10 which I was happy to pay (even though it took an actual month to arrive and I would have done better just ordering it online) in fact, I ordered two so I could have one for my kit. But when it appeared it was actually a box of three - £10 for three cloths. That's £3.33 each which is a total and absolute bargain and I defy you to go out right now and get a box for yourself.

Some of my favourite things from 2013

Thank you so much to all those who took part in my huge Christmas Giveaway. I have to say I was slightly daunted by giving something away for 24 days in a row but it actually went really well and I was really pleased I did it so thank you everyone who entered. Due to the giveaway and Christmas and powercuts I failed to film any videos over Christmas and was about to fail to do so again due to poor-hair-maintenance related vanity and my forgetfulness (me in London, camera tripod in Hampshire) but I thought 'that is no way to start 2014' so here it is in all it's bad hair and rambley glory.

If you don't already do so I would love it if you'd subscribe to my channel and leave me a comment either on what you loved in 2013 or letting me know what videos you'd like me to do in the future. I hope that you are all having a wonderful start to your year - I know there's a lot of resolving and detoxing going on but I personally think you can decide to make a change at any time of year and you get a new do-over ever day so if you haven't had a great beginning to the year then just shake it off and start again.

For those who are interested in Give and Makeup their website is here and anyone wanting to join in the New Year New You Style Project check out all the details on Modern Mummy.

Products Shown:

MAC Retro Matte Lipstick in All Fired Up (sadly no longer available but you could try eBay)
Elizabeth Arden 8hr Lip Protector in Berry
Liz Earle Signature Lip Colour in Hibiscus and Damask Rose
Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick in Rose
Bobbi Brown Foundation in 3.5 Warm Beige
Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Glow
Inglot Gel Liner in 77
Emma Hardie Amazing Face Cleansing Balm
Nuxe Crème Fraiche de Beaute Enriche - 24Hr Soothing and Moisturising Rich Cream 50ml
Darphin Intral Toner
St Grape Aqua Bliss Scrub
Nip + Fab Tummy Fix
Pukka love tea

Unclaimed Prizes from Christmas Giveaway CLOSED

Right - so I still haven't heard from some of the winners from my Christmas Giveaway so I've decided to offer them up one a comment request basis. Click on the prize to be taken through to the original post.

THE PRIZES: L'Oreal Superliner and MeMeMe Nail Varnish, Amazing Shine Lashes and Duo Glue, Anatomicals Scrub and Waitrose Baby Bottom Butter, Collection Cream Puff, BareMinerals Lip Glaze and Art Deco Lip Gloss, Along Came Betty Blusher Duo and Mattifier and Batiste Dry Shampoo

HOW TO ENTER: Leave me a comment below telling me which you'd like to win. Good Luck

Friday Video - November Favourites

I've been really busy so not a lot of time to squeeze in filming this video but these are my favourite things I've been using in November

St Grape Aqua Bliss Scrub
Butter London in Snog
Accessorize Exposed Palette
Emma Hardie Dual Action Cleansing Cloths

Debenhams Beauty Buzz

It's that time of year where there are a lot of Christmas launches going on. I know that if you work in journalism you are so over Christmas by now and probably just past Valentines Day but for us bloggers we're basically Christmas from July to 24th December with a little bit of Spring thrown in for good measure.

This week we were given a little insight into Debenhams Christmas 2013 with lovely giftsets, new ranges and exclusives.

One of the new ranges going into Debenhams is Emma Hardie who regular readers will know I LOVE... more on that in another post (I got a mini facial from the lady herself) and Arch Angelz are expanding their fantastic walk-in brow treatments.

Benefit are offering this huge advent calendar available in Debenhams from November. Yes it's expensive at £50 but it has so many treats it is more than worth it. Mini's of their classics along with other little accessories this is Christmas come early. 

 There will be loads of perfumes on offer and some are in exclusive limited edition bottles just for Debenhams including the most beautiful bottle (pictured center) of Opium, a true classic.

Cargo are an American brand that is expanding in Debenhams with these lovely face palettes and  wearable eye colours this is a range worth checking out for all skin tones.

Nails Inc.,are doing some lovely gift sets as are Benefit (A Whole Lotta Lovin' £25), Elemis and Astalift.

A gorgeous exclusive palette from Bare Minerals - An Affair to Remember is £35, eight shadows in a beautiful gold case.

Emma Hardie Amazing Face Cleansing Balm

A couple of weeks ago I had the Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm as my Product of the Week and it may well have to be my product of the year (yes yes I know we're only in July... ) as I am totally in love with and very evangelical about it.

I heard about the Amazing Face Cleansing Balm through the wondrous Caroline Hirons of BeautyMouth fame who recommends balm cleansers if only because they make you actually wash your face rather than naffing around with cotton pads and never actually cleaning it properly. This made sense to me and as 30 looms and the baby continues to be well behaved but exhausting nonetheless, I thought maybe it was time to kick my skincare routine up a notch. No more scrubbing away with Bioderma Crealine Micelle Solution and slapping on any old moisturiser I'd been sent. Well that still happens but there are now so many more stages in-between involving toners, face oils, serums and most gloriously of all... the Amazing Face Moringa Cleansing Balm.

Love the packaging but cracks already beginning to show

First off though I would like to say that the lid on mine has cracked and broken and that is incredibly annoying as little bits fall off all the time and sometimes it's hard to get the lid off but I DON'T CARE really because what is in the pot is so lovely. I just felt I should mention it in case that's the kind of thing that's going to piss you off... (UPDATE 2017 - they've changed the packaging and this is no longer a problem)

This cleanser is recommended for mature skin and although I don't have that yet it's also great for sensitive skin which I do have in some places and it's not at all harsh so there's really no harm in using this on younger skin. The texture is absolutely gorgeous, especially if you have dry or dehydrated skin, you can feel it moisturising, so I leave it on for as long as possible - applying it after removing most of my make-up with Bioderma Crealine Micelle Solution and washing it off last thing before I get out of the bath. If, however, you only want to cleanse once this will get your make-up off which is pretty wonderful.