Updated Skin Care Routine

So technically I've only been using this current routine for about a week, but so far I'm really liking it, and I'm going to stick with it, because I've used all the products before and I know that they're safe for my skin. A while ago I had a horrible allergic reaction on my face (this post) and for a while after that I hardly touched my face. Now that it's better (thank god) I decided to only use products I was 100% sure on, so here is my updated skin care routine.

After my allergic reaction I went out and bought the amazing Liz Earle cleanse and Polish (review here) which I had been using and loving a few months ago. I've been using this as the hot cloth cleanser every morning, and in the evening I use it with my Clarisonic Mia. Because of my allergic reaction I stopped using the Clarisonic Mia for agesssss, and so now that I've been using it again for the past couple of weeks I've had a bit of 'purging' going on on my forehead, but that's pretty much cleared up now. I'll probably put up a Clarisonic Mia review soon, because I reallllly love it ^ - ^

The only moisturiser I've used in the past 4 or 5 years has been Simple's hydrating light moisturiser. For the price I think it's fantastic, no perfumes or colours, and it works.

Once a week I use my Cure Natural Aqua Gel which is another incredible product. I bought it online (from ebay I think...) and it was around £10. To use it you rub a tiny amount all over your face and it gently buffs away the dead skin...and you can see it coming off...it's kinda disgusting....But once you've rinsed the nasty skin bits off your skin just feels so smooth and lovely!

At the other side of the week (so it's not on the same day as my Cure day) I use a sheet mask. Since going to Korea 8 months ago (I can't believe it's that long! > . <) I've fallen head over heels in love with these. I've been using The Face Shop's Pearl sheet masks (yes I bought so many they've lasted me 8 months - not every week though :P). Over the summer I used more mud masks to combat the oiliness, but now that it's getting colder and my skin is getting a bit dry I've been perking it up with these masks.

Finally at night I use my BareMinerals Pure Transformation Night Treatment (review here). I stopped using this for a while as I thought it wasn't giving me the same results and it was just an added extra to my skincare routine, but for the past week I've started up again, and I've remembered why I first loved it.

I've also been using my free sample of Ren's Radiant Eye Gel to help combat my dark circles and puffy eyes. I like this product, but it's nowhere near as good as Chanel's Beaute Initale Eye (my last eye cream free sample), so I intend to buy the Chanel one once the Ren one has run out, even though it's expensive the sample took me a good couple of months to run out, and it worked so well.

I'll keep you updated about how my skin feels about this (relatively) new routine, but so far (once the purging has completely gone) it's really good :)

Sunny xxxxx

(p.s. my housemates are evil, one of them woke me up with the fire alarm this morning after burning his bacon, then tried to convince me the house was haunted, and then, after hearing thudding noises upstairs I went to check on my other housemates, but their rooms were empty. I was about to head back downstairs when they jumped out of the cupboard...giving me a heart attack and making me hate them a lot > . <)

BareMinerals Pure Transformation Night Treatment Review

Hello :) I've had such an unbelievably long and tiring day today > . < I'm so glad I'm finally home to sit down and relax! I had an eye test booked for today, which meant I had to get into the city centre. Because I can't drive this meant a 45 minute walk to the train station, 15 minute train journey and then 20 minutes to walk to Specsavers. Not too bad, but still a little bit of effort (especially as my legs were burning after yesterdays pilates), when I arrived though the receptionist told me that my appointment was for 2:45 not 12:45... Needless to say I got very bored, I wasn't allowing myself to shop so I went to the cathedral and sat on a bench in the grounds for an hour and a half, it was actually quite nice, just a bit cold :P

Long story short, I got my eyes tested eventually, got a new prescription, went home, ate chocolate. I am now rather happy.

So for the last month or so (I think...) I've been using the BareMinerals night treatment every night before bed. This is a bit of a strange product, but I like it.

When I first started using this I found the concept really odd, it's a fine powder which you buff all over you face as the last step of your routine before bed. At first I was paranoid that I'd have to sleep flat on my back (which I hate) or else the product would rub off, however this product stays on no matter how much a wiggle around in my sleep. The only time I've noticed it rubbing off has been when I occasionally use my eye mask (I don't have curtains).

I have the clear version, there are pigmented ones, but I found those wayyyy too odd :P I'd feel funny about wearing something with coverage to bed. However I can see when I have it on as it gives my face a very light sheen, but you'd only notice if you were really looking.

I can definitely see the benefits of using this powder already. My skin has improved quite a bit, the texture and overall look of my skin just seem better. I still have blemishes, (mainly on my chin because my hormones have been a little bit crazzzzzy recently) but I really think that this treatment helps to fade the red marks faster.

The pot it comes in is half product half brush. The brush is very dense and very soft, perfect for buffing the product into the skin. Despite the product only being in the bottom half of the tub there really is quite a lot of it, mine still looks full after quite a lot of use. I can imagine this lasting me the rest of the year, which is a good thing because it costs £45. I bought this after a lot of umm-ing and ah-ing, and although I do think that it's worth it, and I will repurchase, it is pricey.

Overall this powder hasn't completely magically overhauled my skin, but it has improved it quite a bit, I would recommend this product to anyone willing to pay the £45 price tag. Oh and also, it smells like butterscotch Angel Delight, delicious :)

Sunny xxxxx

July Favourites

Today is my house cleaning day (I live a very wild life style...), I'm planning to hoover all the ginger fluff my darling doggy leaves around the house - _ - and sort the kitchen out *sighs* At least I've been downloading loads of music (some of which I'm listening to right now, and pausing between typing to have a dance and sing a long :P).

I have been LOVING my bareMinerals night treatment this month, I can see a difference, my skin isn't perfect (awful messed up hormones > . <) but it's looking so much better than before I'd been using it :D Very happy with this product, I'll be doing a full review soon :).

Recently I've been actually bothering to use my eyelash curlers (I got mine from Muji), usually I'm really lazy and skip them, but using them this month has reminded me how brilliant this little tool is. With Benefit's Bad Gal mascara I get lovely long lashes. (Btw, this one is a freebie from a magazine, I ran out of the full size so I'll need to buy a new one soon).

Recently I've been using this Vaseline lip balm a lot, it's a little pigmented and really helps me look more lively and less washed out in the mornings :P Great for helping dry lips look pretty again :)

I loved that one week of pure sunshine England experienced this month. I got to wear my sunnies and sunscreen! I almost tanned (I sort of got tan lines :P). It was beautiful AND I got to go to the beach, although it was during the oyster festival so it smelled a bit fishy :P

One of my favourite songs from my massive downloading spree this month has been The Vaccines 'If you wanna', it's featured on the Rimmel Advert with Kate Moss and I can't stop listening to it :P I have sort of seen The Vaccines live in Leeds last year, I say sort of because it was on my birthday and I was smashed out of my skull so I don't really remember it :P Still a great day/evening :P

Finally my absolute favourite bean of the month (and all time too) is the reason why I'm living on my own for two weeks in the middle of the countryside. My little sweetie Tolly dog <3 He's asleep on my bedroom floor right now ^ - ^

Sunny xxxxx

Bare Minerals Foundation Review

I really haven't been up to much this week, I went for a run a couple of days ago... I didn't realise how unfit I was until then > . < Oh dear, after 10 minutes I had an epic stitch, and I only managed just over a mile...*ashamed face* And this coming from a girl who used to run miles every other day (several years ago now...) . Oh well :P At least I have something to work towards now.

So when I went shopping at the weekend I got a couple of freebies at the BareMinerals counter, a cleanser, moisturiser and a foundation. I was really excited to get the foundation sample as I've heard so many great things about it and really wanted to try it for myself.

Firstly I may as well say that I really like this, so you know from the start that this is going to be a positive review :P

Because this is a mineral foundation it comes in a powder form, at first I thought it would leave me with a horrible powdery cakey face, but the foundation sinks in beautifully. With my sample I got a teeny kabuki brush which made application really easy, and this foundation is really buildable without looking like too much.

My sample was the matte version, which I really like because I have slightly oily skin during the summer. It also has SPF 15 in it, so this would make a great hot summer day foundation.

It's also only £25, a fair amount for a foundation, but I honestly thought it'd be more expensive. I'd definitely purchase this (once I get money :P).

It also has a good variety of shades, unfortunately my sample was in medium, which is too dark for me (the sales assistant didn't have any others). In my sample there's more than enough for a few days use, so it's annoying it's not the right shade > . <

Overall I really liked this, it felt light on my skin, looked flawless and had a mattifying effect, definitely on my wishlist now :)

P.s. Not sure how much I'll be posting for the next week and a half (ish). I'm visiting friends (again :P I get so bored at home). I'll be staying with Daydreamer though :D Can't wait to see her it's been agessssssssssssssss. I just hope it'll be sunny...

Sunny xxxxx

Shopping Weekend With Not Much Shopping

I have three things, four if you count my haircut, to show for my weekend of shopping with my mum. Don't get me wrong, I wanted more, but as a poor student I managed to show a lot of self restraint :P I did get a good opportunity to point out my birthday wish list to my mum :P Not entirely sure if she'll remember any of it though :P

Anyway, onto the teeny weeny haul :

First these sandals from Zara were in the sale, very cute and casual, and only a tenner :D Nice.

Next is the sickly sweet Strawberry Buttercream Yankee Candle. I love this smell. I have such bad taste in scents (I am very aware of this) and I love all the ridiculously sweet headache inducing ones :P I'm not sure how my housemates next year will feel about the smell, but I'm just really excited that I'm allowed candles in my house next year!

Finally is the bare minerals pure transformation night treatment in clear. I've been pining over this for months, and it was my 'big' purchase of the weekend. You can buy these with colour, so that they provide coverage, but I found the concept of wearing something with coverage to bed just too weird. I need to have a naked face when I sleep! :P Once I've used this enough to know I'll do a review. So far I'm liking it, and my skin does seem a little better (only 3 days in) but time will tell. Also as this is £45 it's not something to buy on a whim :P

I'm off to curl up for a while, walks with the Tolly dog are tiring :P

Sunny xxxxx