Two Masks For Dewy Skin.

Two Masks For Dewy Skin.

I think out of all the skincare products on the market, face masks are by far my favourites to buy. They are the perfect skin pick-me-up and complete any relaxing night-time routine. I try to apply a face mask at least once or twice a week, and 99% of the time I will do a good multi-mask which involves applying a couple of masks on the skin at a time, depending on which areas need what. Today, we’ll be focusing on a couple of masks which give the skin a lovely glow and add that extra dose of hydration - my favourite kinds of masks personally. One you can use overnight, and the other is one you can leave for about 15 minutes and rinse away.

For a more intense, overnight treatment I’d highly recommend checking out the Watermelon Glow Mask from Glow Recipe. As the name would suggest, this is a lovely smelling mask which really refreshes the skin, as well as nourishes. If you don’t have a lot of time in the evenings to apply and mask this is a great time hack as you can apply it before bed, then rinse away any excess in the morning. The formula of this is very gel-like, it feels very light-weight on the skin and sinks in beautifully. When I wake up my skin feels so soft and it looks very radiant. I think this would be great if you have dehydrated/dry skin.

If you’re after something which feels a bit more luxurious, and something to add to your pamper routine, the Fresh Rose Hydrating Mask is fab. This is one of my favourite ever masks. It smells great, feels amazing on the skin, and most importantly it leaves my skin feeling and looking amazing. The rose hydrates the skin and the formula feels nourishing and really helps to perk up my lack-litre complexion. This does dry down into the skin, then once you rinse away you'll be left looking very healthy and glowy. Fresh masks overall are great, they are pricey, but you get 100ml of product so they do last a while. I've also got my mum hooked on this, she loves it!

Four To Try.

Four To Try.

I always love to talk to you guys about the products in my collection I can't get enough of. These kinds of posts are great as I don't have to talk about one specific category, or a collection, I just throw in some random bits and bots and let you know why they're great. I have a couple of skincare items, and a couple of makeup bits too. I've been using all of these pretty much everyday, and they're very summer appropriate as well. 

We'll go in some kind of order here and kick things off with skincare. The first step in my evening routine is removing my makeup. The Thank You Farmer Cleansing Water is a fabulous micellar water which is really gentle on the skin, yet does a great job at breaking down makeup. I will always go in with a second cleanse, just to make sure there's no traces left behind, but I love this as an initial step! I simply take some of the product on two cotton pads and gently massage over my eyes, then move on to the rest of my skin. I don't find you have to tug around the eye area, and it doesn't sting at all, which is a problem I find with most other micellar waters. 

Sunscreen is super super super important in the summer. You should use it all year round if you want to look after your skin, but in the summer it's absolutely vital! I always reach for a high SPF on my face, at least SPF30. French pharmacy brands seem to have the sunscreen market covered, they have some really good formulas on offer. I've been using the La Roche Posay Anthelios XL SPF50 which has been a staple in my daily routine. It is fairly reminiscent of a traditional suncream formula, but I don't find it clogs my pores or sits on the skin. If you're looking for a new facial SPF, give this one a go! It's also under 100ml, so it's perfect for sticking in you hand luggage when traveling. 

My first makeup must-have has got to be the Benefit GALifornia Blush. This is the perfect peachy summer blush which leaves the cheeks with a gorgeous sheen. This isn't a matte formula, so it's really brightening and I love the way it makes my cheeks glow. This also smells amazing, as do all Benefit blushes. The only drawback is the packaging, everyone knows the box blushes aren't the easiest things to store and they are bulky, buuuut if you can get over that they are a lovely formula.

Mascara wise I have a new fave. I've heard amazing things about the L'Oreal Lash Paradise Mascara, so I was super excited to give it a go for myself. It's meant to be very comparable to the Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara, I haven't tried that, but the wands do look similar. I find this doesn't smudge, and the applicator gives tonnes of volume without clumping. The wand it pretty big, so you have be a bit careful when applying this to ensure it doesn't go all over your eye lid. For the summer months I always try and find a long-wear mascara that won't smear all down my face, and this one certainly ticks those boxes!

What beauty products are you loving at the moment? 

Summer Beauty Swaps.

Summer Beauty Swaps.

I love switching up my routine when a new season rolls around, and Summer is no exception. The legs are out, the toes need to be painted, and the dewy skin trend is in full swing. With all those factors in mind, there are a few changes I like to make, and some products I like to switch out.  

I’m going to start with some body care favourites I’ve been slathering on my limbs. The first is a fake tan, and it’s no shocker that I’m mentioning the Isle of Paradise Tanning Water in Medium. This seems to be Instagram’s favourite fake tan at the moment, and I can see why so many people rave about it. When I first tried it out I wasn’t thrilled with the results I got – I have a huge streak on my thigh and a few patches of tan which I had obviously missed in the blending process. As it doesn’t have a guide colour, it can be a bit scary on your first use, and learning from experience you really need to spend a bit longer blending it all in with a mitt. I braved it, and went in for a second try and I have to say I did really love it. The colour is the most natural bronze shade I’ve ever received from a fake tan, and it seems to stick around for good 5 days. The initial smell is gorgeous, very fresh and fruity, although that pesky fake tan smell does seem to creep in the longer you leave this on the skin. I leave it brewing overnight, then rinse in the morning and I’m so happy I persevered with it.

To keep my limbs soft and moisturised, there are a couple of products I reach for. The first is a lotion from &Other Stories – if you haven’t tried any of their body care products, you’re seriously missing out! This body lotion is their Pearl De Coco scent and it smells oh so lovely, very sweet and full of coconut, vanilla and caramel – what a combo! I also love that this comes with a pump, that makes it really fuss free to use. The formula of this is lovely, it leaves my skin super supple after every use and it sinks in really well, so you can use it AM. I get a lot of compliments on how I smell when I wear this, so that’s a sign it must be alright! 

Next up is the Kiehl’s Body Oil, an absolutely gorgeous product which is in a handy dandy spray. I personally think every oil should come with a spray cap, it’s genius and makes it a lot less messy. The smell of this is glorious, it’s quite sweet again, but those are the scents I love in the summer. This is a great one to use in the evenings before heading out as it gives your skin a gorgeous glow, as well as been really moisturising at the same time.  The fact this also comes in a mini size is amazing, makes it the perfect travel buddy. 

On my skin, I don’t change too much, but I do like products which are going to give me an extra bit of glow. Oils are a great way to give your skin a dewy finish and an extra dose of moisturisation. I still don’t like anything too heavy which may clog the skin, so the Kiehl’s Daily RevivingConcentrate has been a dream to use. It has nice a fresh scent, and it applies beautifully to the skin. You can either use it on it’s own, or mix in with your daily moisturiser or foundation for that added nourishment. Kiehl’s do oils so well in my opinion, and my dry skin absolutely laps this up. If you’re worried about oils being too much for your skin, try this one out as it’s more of a lightweight formula.

As an added step in my PM routine, I've been reaching for the Charlotte Tilbury Bronzing Overnight Mask to ensure my skin isn't a million shades lighter than the rest of my body. I find this a really subtle, and natural, way to give my skin that beautiful sun-kissed look, but without the harmful rays of the sun itself! I take around a 20p sized drop and work it in the skin with my fingers. Make sure you get every nook and cranny, you don't want any strange pale patches! Always wash your hands after using a product like this, there's nothing worse than fake tan hands. I really love this as a facial fake tanner, it gives my skin a boost of radiance, a boost of bronze, what more can I ask for. 

My makeup preferences lean more on the light-weight, creamy side, which you probably all know by now. I love reaching for my ChanelVitalumiere Aqua Foundation, it has beautiful buildable coverage that never looks too much on the skin. It’s a natural, dewy finish which still lets your own skin shine through. For an everyday foundation, you can’t go too wrong with this one. Plus, if you’re in a hurry you can apply with fingers and it will still give a flawless finish to the skin. Complete with SPF, this is the perfect summer base.

On my cheeks, I’ve rediscovered my love for the StilaGerbera Convertible Colour. This is a multi-use product, so can be applied to both your cheeks and lips to give a flushed, seamless effect for your makeup look. This specific shade I can’t personally pull off on my lips, it’s a bit too pale for my liking, but as a cheek colour it works really well. I simply bop my beauty blender in, and dab on my cheeks. You don’t need a lot of this, so start small and build up. The rosy pink shade gives off such a gorgeous natural sheen to the cheeks, and the formulation of these last really well on the skin. To top that off, I go in with a few dots of the Charlotte TilburyLight Wand on the high points of my face, and blend! This has quickly become a favourite of mine, the golden champagne shade works wonders on my skin tone and the glow it gives off is truly stunning. If you love a cream highlight and you don’t yet have this, you need to pick it up!

Four Summer Lip Options.

Four Summer Lip Options.

Summer is one of my favourite times for makeup, more specifically, lipsticks! You can play it really simple with your skin and eyes, but as soon as you add a bright lip it looks like you've spent hours on your look. I mean, who doesn't love that?! I have a couple of repeats from last year, buuut I do tend to reach for the same types of shades year after year. 

After putting this post together, I've realised that every lip option I'm sharing today is a different formula, so hopefully there will be something you like the sound of. Price wise, they all fall within that mid-highend price point, but I'm keen to share some more drugstore lippies with you all soon! Keep your eyes peeled for that. 

I always seem to come back to lip pencils in the summer. I find they last really well throughout the warmer weather, and you rarely need to touch them up. I have a few formulas that I love, but this MAC lip pencil in Trust In Red has been my go-to. Don't let the name fool you, it's not a red at all, at least on me. As you can see from the photo below, it's a gorgeous raspberry pink shade. These last super well on the lips and they are a really easy-to-use formula which isn't drying. 

Charlotte Tilbury kills it when it comes to lipsticks, I love so many of the shades that woman has released. She can do no wrong in my eyes! Miranda May has been become a shade I go back to time and time again, especially in the Spring and Summer. If you love a good coral, this will be right up your street. It leans more on the pink side, so I find it looks extra brightening on the skin. It's a matte formulation, but not drying and applies like a dream. 

I'm always up for a balmy lipstick, they feel great on the lips and add so much more hydration than other lipsticks on the market. The Fresh Sugar Balm in Berry is such a beautiful purple shade. I'm not one to go for a shade like this, it's very bright and falls more on the true purple/berry side, as the name suggests. I've been adoring this paired over the top of the MAC liner I previously mentioned. I find the balm adds a lovely glossy touch and bit gives my lips a bit more nourishment. These smell amazingggg, and glide on like a dream.

I use the term 'liquid lip' loosely here as it's far from your traditional, very matte formulation you may think of. The Nars Playpen Velvet Lip Glide is such a unique formula, and I find the shade range a really nice curated selection that are all perfect for this time of year. This shade in particular is a lovely pinky peach which looks beautiful on the skin. This is pretty much my summertime nude, it's certainly not as bright as the other products I've talked about today, but it's still a gorgeous dose of colour. It's definitely worth giving these a go if you like the idea of a liquid lip, but find them way too drying on the lips. These apply quite glossy, and as they don't fully dry down they remain creamy throughout the day.