No-Heat Curls with Sexy Healthy Hair Soy Tri-Wheat Leave In Conditioner

No-Heat Curls with Sexy Healthy Hair Soy Tri-Wheat Leave In Conditioner

 

Have you ever woken up, looked in the mirror and exclaimed: "Holy cow, my hair looks gorgeous!" Well, it has happened to me. My hair has been suffering lately, with temperatures reaching as high as 39°, the heat hasn't exactly been beneficial to my locks and it dried out like a sponge. While Orofluido Sahara is an absolute god sent for dry hair, it is a dry oil, and I wanted a leave-in conditioner that makes the hair damp, I'll explain why later. I always turn to Makeup Alley when I'm researching products and Sexy Healthy Hair Soy Tri-Wheat Leave In Conditioner comes very highly recommended by so many reviewers. I've heard promises of less frizz and more hydration - honestly, how can I hair junkie like me resist such praises.

I'll start with the good hair day story, the actual review can wait a bit. I washed my hair with Kérastase shampoo(which is flippin' fabulous, I should repurchase it), conditioned it with Dove Nourishing Oil Care, used Kérastase Nectar Thermique (another hero) and then sprayed a very generous amount of Soy Tri-Wheat Leave In Conditioner. After blow-drying my hair still felt a bit dry and a bit frizzy, so I mixed Orofluido Elixir and some more Soy Tri-Wheat Leave In Conditioner to make it slightly damp again, put my hair in a high bun as I always do after blow-drying and slept with it. Once I took out the pins in the morning, I had the most amazing voluminous messy curls, I was literally gob smacked. They don't usually look as good and I've been using this technique for a long time. I have years of experience with (almost) no-heat curls, which can look great, but they have one massive fault - they last about a half a day. And that's if you use tons of hairspray or mousse. I prefer to use a curling iron as the curls last 2-3 days then, especially if I use all Kérastase products.

I took some pictures, but I had to make them smaller because they where really blurry:

Bourjois Lip Crayon Peach on the Beach

Bourjois Lip Crayon Peach on the Beach

 

The long awaited Bourjois Colour Boost Lip Crayons finally reached our shops. I've kept away from the lip chubby sticks/crayons/jumbo pens craze and never found it even remotely interesting, but I caved when I saw Peach on the Beach. Now, granted every (British) blogger and their mother swatched this colour, but what's one more. 

This is my first such product if I don't count NYX Jumbo pencil in Deep Red that I've had for ages, and I bought one more since (Catrice if you're wondering). I'll just say it - I don't get what the fuss is about. It's not the easiest application and though I agree it looks practical, it feels odd. 

Texture is very creamy and the tip melted in the heat wave we're having. I had to store it in the fridge. It feels sufficiently moisturising on my lips. Pigmentation is nice for such a light colour, a couple of swipes is enough for a semi-transparent application. The finish is quite glossy at first, but becomes creamier in time. 

Peach on the Beach is a light peachy pink shade and it looks great swatched on my hand. However, on my lips it looks very pink, basically just a warm pink with a hint of peach. My cousin, who owns the same colour, commented that it looks more orange on her. It does stain my lips into a medium pink shade after an hour and latter applications look much darker compared to the first. I had difficulties taking pictures, not just because my camera can't handle coral or peach, but also because it looks so different after an hour. Staying power nice, but not ground breaking. The stain lasts up to a half a day, but usually less.

Sun Dance Mattifying Sun Fluid SPF 30

Sun Dance Mattifying Sun Fluid SPF 30

 

Honestly, I feel a bit uncomfortable writing a review for this sunscreen. The thing is that ingredients-wise it pretty much a disaster, however, it is the most comfortable sunscreen I've had to date.

It was released this year and Müller's brand Lavazon does a similar product, but I believe it is slightly more expensive. It is very light for a sunscreen and very runny. It blends easily into the skin and there is not much of a white cast (but then I'm pale as a ghost, it might just not show on my skin). It doesn't feel tacky or sticky, it's almost dry to the touch and feels very comfortable. Of course, it feels a lot heavier if you apply a recommended amount of one teaspoon/5ml, which I'm sorry, but I'm not prepared to do (not only that it's unbearably greasy no matter what sunscreen you use, it's also expensive since I'd use it up in weeks. Judge me all you want). It's not a matte finish and it still has that sunscreen glow, but it is a lot less intense that at regular sunscreens. I just use powder over the top. It works great with all foundations I own and doesn't flake. It doesn't dry out my skin at all.

I don't spend much time in the sun, mostly less than 15 minutes a day and I'm not planning to go on a holiday, so I will use it up. For the exposure I get, it's good enough me. The scent is quite a strong chemical sunscreen one. Personally, I don't mind it, I actually like it. The packaging is a nice sleek tube and very travel friendly. 

What can I say. If you have a problem with octocrylene, alcohol and heavy fragrances, give it a pass. But if you're desperate for an inexpensive light sunscreen, it's not bad. The SPF could be higher, though. I'm not aware of any decent light sunscreens for such an affordable price. 50ml costs only 2.95€ in DM's.  

Which sunscreens do you use? Feel free to drop your recommendations for a light sunscreen with more decent ingredients in the comments. Have a great day!

Balance Me Cleanse and Smooth Face Balm

Balance Me Cleanse and Smooth Face Balm

 

This is my first cleansing balm and I don't have a habit of buying expensive cleansers, but I did splurge this time to see how much better they perform in comparison to cheap cleansers that I tend to use. I've been using it for about a month now and the answer is much, much better. My face always felt so tight after cleansing and I had tons of dry patches appearing everywhere until I first started using L'Oreal Miracle Cleansing Oil (which I adore, but sadly it's clogging my pores) and now this one. Now my skin feels much better. 

It has a very runny texture, like an oily gel of sorts and I have to be very careful when opening the lid or it gets everywhere. I want everything clean and perfect like it just came out of a shop, so this bothered me a lot from the beginning, but I learned how to get the desired amount without spilling the product everywhere. It comes in a basic tube with a flip top, which makes it not just practical, but also more hygienic than those in a pot.

It feels like a thicker oily cream when applied to the face. I massage it on dry skin for about 30 seconds. When water is added becomes smoother, though doesn't emulsify like the L'Oreal oil and I massage it for a few more seconds. It has oatmeal scrub particles in it, which are not too coarse, but still do their job. I remove it with a damp flannel that I soaked in warm/hot water. It needs to be wiped off with something, otherwise it will leave a film on the skin. It leaves the skin feeling clean, soft and moisturised, the effect is very similar to L'Oreal oil. There are no dry patches, my skin doesn't get tight and it feels very comfortable. After cleansing, I continue with my regular routine.

It doesn't sting my eyes and I can open them while the product is on my face. It also doesn't make my vision cloudy, for comparison the L'Oreal one does.

To do a proper test, I used it for removing a full face makeup with Estee Lauder DW Maximum Cover and waterproof mascara. It removed all but mascara, so I use a separate oily remover for eye makeup before cleansing.

The scent is not particularly strong and it's quite sweet. If you're from a country where Kraš candy is sold, you'll be familiar with  Kiki candy,  this smells very much like it.

You get a muslin cloth with it, which is rubbish. It's like one of those cloth handkerchiefs and so odd to use with this cleanser. I don't like it one bit. I just use my flannels. For those who aren't familiar with British English, flannels are mini "glove" towels, in American English called washcloths  I have them pictured here. (Confusing, I know. I guess most people think of shirts or fabric when they hear the word flannels). When I run out of flannels, I just wet the end of a regular towel. It's the same thing, so you don't need to buy flannels if you don't want to, but they are easier to use.

It's not cheap at 20£ (23€/30$ at the moment) for a tube and I'm still not a fan of flushing my money down the drain, though technically this doesn't exactly wash off completely, so I do forgive it a bit. I got mine on Look Fantastic and you can also get it on Naturisimo. Both have free worldwide shipping. If you want something cheaper and don't mind mineral oil, L'Oreal Skin Perfection 15 Seconds Miracle Cleansing Oil is nice as well.

NARS Sheer Glow Foundation Review!

NARS Sheer Glow Foundation Review!

 

I have been trying to get my hands on this for AGES but I couldn’t find anywhere that had the palest shade, Siberia, in stock; that was until recently.  I’ve been wearing this foundation pretty much daily since getting my mitts on it so now I can give my honest thoughts on this much raved-about foundation! 

 
Colour: The shade Siberia is the lightest available and is pretty much perfect for my ghostly pale skin.  I wasn’t expecting it to match so well; it leaves my skin looking natural, but still leaving me looking glowing rather than a grey-white shade.
Formula/Texture: I’m sure you can see from the images above just how wonderful this foundation is; it covers imperfections perfectly leaving my skintone looking natural, yet even and flawless.  The texture is a creamy thick liquid which dries to a nice powder once applied, leaving my skin dewy without being overly greasy looking.  I find that it can be a little heavy for hot summer days and my skin does get super oily around mid-day (after applying  at 7am in the morning) but a little bit of powder helps this.  I do also find that I need to re-apply concealer on problem areas after a while but this isn’t a massive problem as I carry one around anyway.
Price: This retails for £29.50 for 30ml and I’m hoping it’ll last me a while as a little goes a long way.
SPF: This doesn’t contain an SPF which is disappointing but I wear sunscreen daily anyway.
What I Think:  I really like this foundation, a lot.  I wouldn’t say it is a ‘sheer’ foundation at all, I think of it as being more of a satin-matte foundation with buildable coverage.  This is a pricey product and it took me a very long time to decide whether I wanted to invest in this, but I’m very glad I did.
I also have the Sheer-Matte foundation which I will be reviewing and comparing shortly!
Have you tried Nars Sheer Glow?  What are your thoughts?

Illamasqua Sacred Hour Collection Review & FOTD!

Illamasqua Sacred Hour Collection Review & FOTD!

 

Everytime Illamasqua release a new collection, I absolutely can’t wait to see what they have in store for us.  Not only is the makeup very obviously beautiful, but there is always some fantastic meaning and conceptual idea behind the range, which I love to lap up.  For this A/W, Illamasqua are back with the Sacred Collection.  

 
 
  

The Sacred Hour Collection is inspired by two important parts to the day; the sacred hours of dawn and dusk.  This collection allows us to ‘embrace our inner warriors, enhance our features and express our inner fire and strenghth.  I had an incredible chat with Alex Box (Illamasqua’s Creative Director and a personal hero of mine) about the range, and we ended up discussing the notions of ideal beauty, and what it is.  Why do we feel insecure if our makeup has smudged a little, it shows that we have got through the day (each day makes us stronger) and those little imperfections make us, us.  It’s all about self-reflection, appreciation & empowerment, ladies!
Firstly, I’m going to talk about  Shard, the blood redish purple lipstick which I can’t get enough of it.  It can be applied heavily for a dark, pigmented lip, or can be patted on and built up to create a sexy ‘just bitten’ look, which makeup artist Alex Box adores.  I love the idea of wearing a lipstick which looks like I’ve just had a passionate snog round the back of the building (so naughty) and this lippie does just this.
Next up, the New Reflection Palette which made my eyes light up like a magpie.  This contains 4 creamy, silky shadows which are light which makes them a dream to blend and layer up.  In the photo above I used the lightest shade to cover my entire eye, and then pended up Acute (the ash taupe) in the crease of my eye.  The look is simple but up close it’s mesmerising (and quite literally dazzling).
I also have to rave about the Velvet Blusher, Peaked, described as a Dusky Rose, I would never have looked twice at it but it’s the only blusher I’ve been wearing over the past week.  It adds the most gorgeous, mature blush of colour to my cheeks.
Finally in the range are false lashes (and bloody big ones at that, as well as two nail polishes (I have Hemlock above, a pale opal green shade which looks stunning layered over darker shades).
The Sacred Hour Collection is out now from Illamasqua stores & stands!
Do you have your eye on anything in this collection?

Clinique Super Primer: Colour Correct Review!

Clinique Super Primer: Colour Correct Review!

 

Primers are always something I have a love/hate relationship with; to me, if they don’t have an added benefit other than ‘helps your makeup stay on longer’ it just seems like an extra, unnecessary step to add to my daily makeup routine.  When I heard that Clinique were bringing out specific face primers for specific skin concerns, I became intrigued… read on to hear my thoughts!
 



My main skincare concern (which I’ve spoken about a lot on my blog over the years) is of course my acne-prone skin.  I’ve suffered with it since the age of 18 and it’s finally calmed down a bit this year (with the help of GP described medication).  I still get the occasional blemish (my skin is not yet perfect) and when I do they tend to linger and scar, leaving me with a very unattractive dark red marks.  The only way I’ve found to cover these are to layer on the foundation and apply concealer on top, finally adding a coat of powder to set, although by lunchtime they are always visible again.
One of Clinique’s Super Primer is the Colour Corrects Face Primer; a yellow/orange toned cream which helps colour correct discolorations and blemish marks, leaving you with a silky soft, even base to apply the rest of your makeup.   In a sentence, I’m pretty smitten with this primer.   I can’t tell you how (I’m not scientific enough) but this really does leave my skin looking even with even greater results after applying foundation.  I’m not saying it will fade blemishes, but it definitely makes them less visible after applying foundation and for that, it’s become a staple in my daily face routine!
The NEW Clinique Superprimer Face Primers are available in one universal formula and five tinted formulas designed for specific skin care needs. 30ml RRP £20.00 / €27.00   

Shop now at www.clinique.co.uk or visit a Clinique counter to discover your skin type.  Ask for a foundation fitting and you will receive a complimentary 5-day sample of your chosen formula.

Rimmel Scandaleyes Eyeshadow Paints–Review & Swatches!

Rimmel Scandaleyes Eyeshadow Paints–Review & Swatches!

 

I’ve really been experimenting with different types of textures & formats on my eyes recently (as opposed to plain powder eye shadows) and recently I have been opting for cream & crayon types of products to add a bit of colour to my eyes.  

Enter the new Rimmel Scandaleyes Eyeshadow Paints…  

 
 
 
L-R: Mercury Silver, Slate Grey, Rich Russet, Golden Bronze, Maganese Purple.
I’ve already featured the silver shade on my blog in this look of the day here – http://www.katiesbeautyblog.com/2013/06/makeup-of-daysilver-black-liner.html where I used it to add a soft silver line above my usual black liner flick, which added a dazzling flick of colour when I blinked, but I’ve also been using these as an eyeshadow base – patting some onto my eyelids and blending quickly.  You d0 need to work quite swiftly with these as after they dry they do not budge.
In terms of colours – I think they are all stunning but would love to see a champagne gold shade which would look incredible for wearing as a daily base blended out (and highlighter).  My favourite of the shades is Rich Russet as it’s a wearable, neutral taupe-based brown which will look flattering on all skin tones.
These are available now on Rimmel stands for £4.99 each.  A little goes a very long way so these work out to be super affordable.
Are you a fan of cream shadows?  Which is your favourite colour from the above?

Bourjois Laser Toppings Nail Polish Review & Swatches

Bourjois Laser Toppings Nail Polish Review & Swatches

 

‘Top Coat’ nail polishes have been super popular recently with lots of brands bringing out different formulations (such as confetti, glitter & opal top coats) to switch up your usual plain nail style.  The most recent is by Bourjois with their new Laser Toppings, to add a bit of sparkle and glitter to everyday nails.
Very sorry for this picture heavy post – I just think they are too beautiful not to photograph! 

 
  
Without an undercoat 


 
So Laque Glossy in BC Beige & Laser Toppings in Sun Scale 

 
So Laque Glossy in Adora Bleu & Laser Toppings in Blue Neon 
  
 
Violet Couture &  Laser Toppings in Aqua Purple 

The Laser Toppings include tiny little shiny, metallic strips in a clear base which remind me a little of the Nails Inc Feather collection.  These can be used alone & built up to create a full-on opaque glitter nail, but as you can see above these toppings really stand out and come alive when paired with a base coat of the same shade.  The Beige & Sun Scale combination is my current favourite for an everyday nail art look.  I recommend these if you’re looking to jazz up basic blocks of colour on the nails with something a little more interesting than just plain glitter.
These are available now for £5.99 each in your local Boots & Superdrug stores.
Will you be purchasing these babies?  What’s your favourite current nail top-coat?

Diorskin Nude BB (plus Guerlain's Lingerie de Peau BB)

Diorskin Nude BB (plus Guerlain's Lingerie de Peau BB)

 

I am a fan of foundations/BBs that give that skin-like finish and Dior's BB is exactly that. A while back, I had a sample of this BB cream which really impressed me. So as soon as I found a nice offer I snatched  a tube for myself.

It is a medium thickness BB cream that blends into the skin so well. I find it looks best applied with a brush, I like Real Techniques buffing brush the most for applying this BB, but fingers work ok too.

The finish is semi-matte and there is some healthy radiance to it. It looks like skin and you can't really see that your wearing anything, it just sort of melts in. It reminds me of Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum, but less radiant andBourjois BB cream. Much like Bourjois HM serum, it leaves the skin (almost) dry to the touch, which is a huge plus for me. I set it with powder in this hot weather otherwise my T-zone gets shiny, but I probably won't have to in colder months. It looks fantastic in combination with Mac Mineralize Skinfinish natural. My skin doesn't get flaky during the day and it wears off nicely. Staying power is nice, there is a lot left on the cotton pad when I take my makeup off at the end of the day. I also find it works fantastic if you reapply it over existing makeup to freshen up.

It has light coverage, even lighter than Bourjois HM Serum and less than all other foundations/BB's I own. It doesn't cover circles and my freckles are still visible, but you can build it up a bit with more layers. Basically, it just makes the skin looking more even, like you have naturally great skin. For any imperfections, I use concealer as would with any other foundation/BB.

Every time I find a really light shade sold in my country, I get really excited. 001 is a very light, pink-toned shadethat is a nice match for me and blends very well with my skin tone. I have more or less a neutral skin tone and Bourjois 51, which is yellow toned, also matches me nicely because it has low coverage. But as far as undertones go, my absolute best match is Missha Signature Real Complete BB in 13, which is neutral. There are tree shades of Diorskin BB available, 002 might be most universal.