All about the lips

Over the years I think I have owned (and lost!) many lip balms. If there is one product that I reapply during the day, it’s a lip balm. I like my lips looking and feeling super soft and I have recently been using two lip balms which have done just that.

I haven’t really used many products in the Burt’s Bees range but having heard good reviews of the range, I decided to try out their Nourishing Mango Butter Lip Balm.  The product is advertised as ‘A 100% natural lip balm is made with sunflower seed and coconut oil to help moisturise and soften’. You can pick it up from Boots for about £3.69 so it’s quite inexpensive.

Firstly, I quite like the fact that the product uses only natural ingredients as many other lip balms contain many synthetic ingredients which can cause irritation and sometimes leave your lips looking drier than before. As the name suggests, the product has a fruity scent with a hint of mango, it reminds me of summer and tropical weather which is probably the reason why I want to reapply it all the time! It glides onto the lips very easily, instantly hydrates and sinks into the lips so you know it is actually doing something rather than just sitting on top of your lips but it doesn’t feel to heavy or uncomfortable. This particular balm has no colour and is transparent but it does give your lips a healthy and natural looking shine which is perfect for those days when want more of an effortless look and don’t want to fuss with lip colours. As well as during the day, I also like to use it as part of my evening skincare routine just before I go to bed, I lather it onto my lips for an overnight treatment which leaves my lips feeling smoothed in the morning. For the price, there is actually quite a lot of product within the tube and a little goes a long way so I know it will last me while.  All in all, this lip balm is lovely to use and does a good job at keeping your lips nicely conditioned.

 

I have also been using the ‘Maybelline Baby Lips Dr Rescue’ in the colour Pink Me Up (currently on offer for £2.49 at Superdrug). I believe they also have a transparent shade as well as  peach and coral too. I used to have the original Baby Lips and liked it but somehow it has ended up in a black hole somewhere and I haven’t found it since.  This product is slightly different to the original as it claims to be medicated care with added eucalyptus and menthol and provides 12 hours of hydration.

 

When you apply the product and for a little while afterwards, you can definitely feel the cooling/tingly sensation from the menthol which, for me, is quite refreshing. I personally don’t think the smell is too offensive as it does contain eucalyptus and it reminds me of my Liz Earle cleanser, probably due to the fact that it has the same ingredient in it too. I’m not entirely sure how the added ingredients make this product ‘better’ but I rather put something on my lips that has some natural properties as opposed to none. The first time I used it I had quite dry lips which were slightly flaky, I was therefore impressed that when I used the product, it smoothed out the roughness and they felt much hydrated than they did before. I really like the shade of pink that it gives my lips as it’s not too light or frosty for my skin tone, I always keep it in my handbag as it is perfect for every day when you want to add a touch of colour to your lips. As you would expect from most lip balms, the longevity isn’t too great but once it does wear off, it leaves my lips feeling soft to the touch as well as leaving behind a ‘my-lips-but-better’ look. Whilst I could not call it my favorite lip balm of all time, I have paid more for other lip balms which have much more disappointing so I’m pretty happy with my purchase. What do you think of the Baby Lips Dr. Rescue range, have you tried out the other shades?

As always, please feel free to share your thoughts and comments below!

 Xoxo

Review: The Body Shop Warming Mineral Mask

The Body Shop is quite renowned for its face masks and when this mask was available at a discounted price due to a payday sale at my office, I thought I would give it a try (along with some other unnecessary purchases too!).

The product is described as ‘This mask magically warms itself up as you smooth it on. With feel-good ginger, cinnamon oil, and kaolin clay to deep cleanse all skin types’. As the mask contains the ingredient Zeolite, this acts as the warming agent which gently heats on contact with your skin. The sensation is not uncomfortable or intense (at least not for me anyway) and I like to have a like have a lie-down whilst I have the mask on as I find it calming and like to pretend I’m at a spa!

To use the product, you simply wet your clean face and then apply the mask evenly making sure to cover areas such as around your nose, chin and forehead (of course, avoiding your eye area). It’s has quite a thin consistency for a mask so it glides onto the skin well. You can wash the product off after only 5 minutes if you wish but you can leave it on longer if you have the time, I wouldn’t really recommend for more than 20 minutes. The kaolin clay helps to give the skin a deep cleanse and unclogs pores from excess oils and other impurities. I find that it does a decent job of this and my pores do seem more purified, my skin is also left feeling smooth and refreshed too. I  like the fact that it doesn’t dry out my skin or make it feel tight, as some other clays masks can do, but I would still recommending using a moisturiser after.  I tend to use this mask at least once a week as part of my evening skin care routine to help remove any build up on my skin.

 

It’s worth mentioning that as this mask is intended to give your skin a deep cleanse, you may find that you get a few new spots after using it. I have noticed that this happened to me occasionally but I rather have my impurities being drawn out of my skin instead of sitting underneath it. Therefore, I wouldn’t really use this mask if I had an important occasion or event coming up… just in case!

If you are looking for an effective deep cleansing mask which is pleasant to use and affordable too, then give this a go. However, if you are looking for more dramatic or targeted results from your facial mask then this may not live up to your expectations.

I am thinking of trying out their 'Drops of Youth Bouncy Sleeping Mask' at the next payday sale, the lady did quite a job of selling it to me and I have heard some good reviews about it too. Have you tried this mask, what do you think of it? I would love to read your comments!

Xoxo

Current Skincare Favourites

Welcome to my very first blog post!


I'm really excited to share my skincare obsession with you, I hope you find my blog informative, honest and if you're like me, feed your skincare obsession too! I thought I would start off by sharing some of my current beauty favourites that I am loving right now. So here goes!....


Since my Biotherm Blue Therapy Day Cream ran out (which I adored but it's so difficult to and more expensive now) I was on the hunt for an equally amazing moisturiser. Whilst on my frequent lunch break visit to Boots, I walked by the Estée Lauder counter. The beauty consultant was really helpful and talked me through several of the products and which one would be most suitable for me. As I have normal/combination skin and being in my late 20s I wanted a product which would help with the first signs of ageing as well as perfectly hydrating my skin. I therefore decided to go for the Estée Lauder Daywear Advanced Multi-Protection Anti-Oxidant Creme (wow that's a mouthful!). It claims to use its anti-oxidant power to fight the signs of early aging such as dullness and fine, dry lines as well as safeguard the skin.

I have been using it for about 3 months now and it's still a pleasure to use every day. It is calming on the skin and hasn't irritated my skin or caused me to have any major breakouts. While the jar says 'DayWear' it can actually be applied in the evening as well as in the evening. It has a refreshing cucumber scent which I love and it instantly smoothes and plumps up my skin. Whilst it does a great job at hydrating my skin, it doesn't feel sticky or greasy and I find it works really well under foundation. It also has SPF15 which is an added bonus to someone who is very lazy with sun protection! I would love to try the other products in their skincare range, is there any that you would recommend?

My second product is the Mild Clarifying Lotion by Clinique. To be honest, I have never really been a huge fan of the brand and used any product of theirs which did wonders for my skin. However, I was in need of a toner to use after cleansing which wasn't too harsh on my skin but still effective to use in order to get rid of the last traces of makeup and other grime which ends up on my face! I heard that the other clarifying lotions in the range were not the best and after reading some good reviews on this one I thought I would give it a go. The formulation is free from alcohol and contains 0.5% salicylic acid which is proven to help with reducing blemishes. The product is actually aimed at those with very dry skin and gently exfoliates and de-flakes the skin to reveal clearer skin. Unlike most toners, it has quite a thick consistency similar to a light gel. I wasn't really looking for any miracles with this clarifying lotion but it has done a good job of keeping my skin free of the odd dry patches I used to get occasionally and keeps my skin balanced and happy. I would recommend this product if you are looking for a simple, gentle but effective product which can be incorporated easily into any skincare routine 

Lastly, I have to mention my current favourite mask. I have tried several facial masks from own-branded Superdrug and Boots masks which do a decent job in decongesting my skin, to the likes of GlamGlow (I really don't understand why that product is so raved about??). A while ago, after watching too many YouTube videos by my fav beauty bloggers, I decided to try some Michael Todd products. I got the skincare discovery kit which contained the Cleanse and Tone One Step Cleanser, Organic Lemon AHA + DMAE Toner, Jojoba Charcoal Facial Scrub, Citrus Cream Moisturiser and the Pumpkin Nutrient-Rich Facial Mask. I really wasn't impressed by the moisturiser as it left my skin quite greasy after use and the toner, cleanser and scrub were ok but not stand out products for me. 

However, I can't get enough of the pumpkin mask! This product contains active pumpkin enzymes as well as glycolic acid which work together to really brighten and smooth the skin. It also claims to refine pore size and loosen dead skin cells with sugar cane and maple sugar extract.  You simply apply the product onto a clean face and wash off after 10 to 15 minutes (you get used to the weird pumpkin smell, my husband can't stand it haha!) Unlike some other masks, it doesn't dry out my skin and actually leaves it feeling super soft. It also makes my skin look ultra glowy after use so I like to use it when my skin needs a pick-me-up. I have yet to come across a facial mask which works so well at giving instant results. It's work mentioning that you may feel a tingling sensation and while some reviews have said it's quite intense, it is bearable for me. However, I would definitely NOT try this on sensitive skin types! So if you have normal to combination skin like me then I would say give this product a go if you are considering trying out the Michael Todd range. 

I hope you enjoyed my first post, I would love to read your comments, tips and suggestions too! 

Until next time.... Xoxo