DIY - Facial Oil

When I started looking for healthier, more natural skin care I was intrigued by all the DIY recipes that were popping up all over the internet. It was about that time I began using olive oil to cleanse at night (which works brilliantly by the way). However, I wasn't too sure about the facial oils people were using along with - or instead of - moisturiser. 

I have combination skin, with an oily t-zone and a tendency towards hormonal spots. It's not always a pretty site, and I sometimes struggle creating a smooth base for makeup. So I started using jojoba oil in the morning and found that my skin became a lot less oily during the day. 

For those who don't know how fabulous jojoba oil is, it's great for skin. It's the closest match to our skin's natural sebum, helps the over-production of oil and feels great on the skin. 

So after the good results, I decided to get creative and mix my own facial oil. At first I was taken back by all the possible combinations, but to put it simply it's just a mixture of carrier oils and essential oils. I decided to use a mixture of jojoba oil, lavender oil and geranium oil. Both the essential oils are great all rounders, so I couldn't really go wrong with using them. 

You have to be careful with essential oils. They are strong and can possibly damage skin if applied undiluted. I use a dilution of 4 drops per 10ml, so 20 drops were used above. 

I had still to order a bottle for my oil here, so I used a glass jar. It's not the most hygienic solution - I'd recommend using a pipette or a bottle with a dropper attachment for your oil. It prevents waste and, more importantly, the oil becoming dirty. 

I love facial oil and it's so easy to use. Just massage a few drops into your face in the morning and let it sink in. If applying make-up, make sure to wipe away any excess oil with a tissue. 

Although they say that it should take a few weeks before your skin adjusts to new products, I noticed a difference in my skin right away. I have much less spots, and I'm now at the point (months later) where I'm sporting a clear face more days than not. 

PS. Keep up with me on instagram here.

Dusting and Deodorant Powders, Lush - Review

I'd like to introduce my readers to a type of product I wish I'd discovered years ago - deodorant powders.

Dusting/Deodorant powders are one of those products in Lush that you would first study with a raised eyebrow. "Powder deodorant? That'll never work". I've been using both their deodorant and dusting powders and let me tell you, they are amazing products.

Pictured above is: (From left to right) Fairy  Dust Dusting Powder, The Guv'ner Deodorant Powder and Silky Underwear Dusting Powder. 

So what's the difference between dusting and deodorant powders? Firstly, deodorant powders seem to have been formulated for the single use of deodorant. Although I'm all for embracing creativity and finding alternative uses for products, something tells me that the strong, earthy scent and dark colour of "The Guv'ner" is best suited to a deodorant. 

Dusting powders are advertised to be used on the body; to soak up massage oil, soften skin, or give your skin a light scent and glow. I find these work just as well as a deodorant, and often have a much sweeter smell.

There are several ways to use dusting powders. They can be used on the body to soak up lotions/massage oils or sweat. They can be used as a dry shampoo, and add a lovely scent to the hair. They can be rubbed on the under arms as a "deodorant" to help soak up sweat. They don't actually prevent sweat - Lush is against this as it is a normal and healthy bodily function. Instead the powder absorbs what you do sweat, therefore keeping you dry. I'll admit that no deodorant - from store or on prescription - has ever fully worked for me. I'd wash and be sweating again by the time I walked back to my room. Cream, gel, roll on or spray deodorants never seemed to dry in and just made me worse. These powders instantly absorb my sweat, and as long as I reapply when needed during the day (depending on my activities) it works perfectly well. I have heard of people layering these on top of other deodorants, but the powder alone has been enough for myself. 

Firstly I'll look at my latest purchase, Fairy Dust. 

Fairy Dust has the sweet, candy floss scent of the limited edition Snow Fairy products, which I'm sure any Lush fans have guessed by now. It has a glitter to it that really makes the body/hair shimmer and is coloured a pale pink which disappears on skin. It was limited edition, so I was unable to link to the product. Sorry :(

                          

The Guv'ner has a strong, deep and earthy scent. I like it, but it's definitely a love-or-hate product. This is what I use if I'm doing any strenuous activities, as I believe it is the most effective. 

It is a dark, stone grey colour, but surprisingly can disappear on skin if only a pinch is used. I tend to need more than that, so I only use it when wearing long sleeves. 

                         

Silky Underwear was the first dusting powder I bought, and is my most used. Its light colour and lack of shimmer means that it disappears on skin, and it has the same jasmine scent as my "Lust" solid perfume. 

If you've ever struggled with sweat, want to try something more natural or need something to layer with your normal deodorant I'd definitely reccomend the Lush deodorant and dusting powders. There are several more scents that I haven't tried, so if none above suit you have a nosey on their website!

Eyeshadow in Dark Pearly Gold, Kiko - Review

When visiting Italy I discovered a cruelty free brand called Kiko Cosmetics. They have a massive range of products and it was hard not to go crazy. In the end one of the few things I settled for was this gold shimmery pressed eyeshadow - shade 102 "Dark Pearly Gold".

                   

                   

It's pigmented, but not too pigmented if, like me, you prefer a subtler look. Above you can see it swatched both dry (bottom) and wet (above). Both were done in light layers, so as you can see it's completely build-able. 

I swept a little on to brighten up my eyes for work. It was "Christmas Jumper Day" and I wanted to look festive. 

I wasn't going for any particular look here, just a little sweep of colour. By the end of the day it had faded a little, but admittedly I never wore eye shadow primer, fixing spray or any sort of similar product. I'd say it lasted pretty well.

I'd definitely repurchase one of their eye shadows, and with their huge range there's probably something for everyone :)

PS. Keep up with me on instagram here.

Mineral Make Up, Lily Lolo - Review

Discovering Mineral Make-up is one of the best things that has happened to my skin. It's helped my acne and redness heal, never looks "cakey" like heavy powders and liquids and always blends brilliantly with my skin tone.

When people hear mineral make-up they usually think of Bare Minerals. I started off with Bare Minerals, but then moved on to higher quality and less expensive brands. Lily Lolo is one of my favourites, and a brand I think everyone interested in make-up should try.

I'd say their stuff is around half the price of Bare Minerals. I've loved every product of theirs I've tried already. 

Pictured above (from left to right) is the Blush Away Colour Corrector (£8.49), Mineral Foundation SPF 15 (13.99) and Peepo Colour Corrector (£8.49).

Lily Lolo are also completely cruelty free and their products are kind on skin. You can pick up cheap samples from their website, and they do great kits if you already know your shade. Speaking of the shade range, they cater for a lot of skin types - from the fair porcelain to the deep tan. Check out their shade guide.

Pictured above (from top to bottom) Eye Primer (£8.99), Eyebrow Duo (£7.99), Mineral Foundation Sample (£1.49).

They have a great range of products covering staples such as foundation, blusher and lipsticks. If you are more adventurous with your make-up, they do great eye shadow pallets, setting sprays and shimmers.

Mineral Make-up is much kinder on your skin, as long as you ensure you are using minimal ingredient formulas. I'd opt for makes like Lily Lolo, Barefaced Beauty, Honeypie Minerals, Everyday Minerals or Meow Cosmetics over brands such as Bare Minerals or Mac. They are cheaper, have minimal ingredients and tend to have a superior quality. 

Always make sure you are applying mineral make-up correctly, especially foundations, or they will not work. Build in light layers by "buffing" the product into the skin. I like to start from the outside of my face and work inwards. The reason for this is because my T-zone can become oily, and I find the less product I put there the better it looks. Product is usually applied with a kabuki brush. I use eco tools, but many mineral brands sell their own. The brush can make all the difference with mineral make-up, so I'd make sure it's a good one. 

If definitely recommend looking into some mineral make-up brands and trying out some testers if you haven't already. The brands praised above are cruelty free, have minimal ingredients and most can be purchased online in the UK. They have saved my skin!

Ocean Salt, Lush - Review

My skin wasn't at its best last month when the temperature was creeping closer to the negatives, so I hit Lush for some advice. I wanted a "heavy duty" exfoliater to use on my body, and asked the assistant in Lush what their most effective exfoliater would be. "Ocean Salt" was their answer.

This is a strong exfoliater as it contains lots of fine and course sea salt, along with ingredients like lime and grapefruit.  There are currently four version of this available - "original", "self-preserving", "alcohol free" and "alcohol free and self-preserving". I went for the original, but would probably opt fort the "alcohol free and self-preserving" in future. 

The look of this scrub remind me of breaking waves, which I have no doubt was intentional due to the name. The salty smell helped too, but the citrus is just as strong. I wouldn't recommend using this on your face as it is harsh, but it was great for scrubbing  up the rest of my body. I think a good exfoliater and lotion combo can work wonders for the skin. 

If you're looking for a strong exfoliater for the face, or have sensitive skin around your body, I'd opt for the "alcohol free and self-preserving" formula as it would be a lot kinder on the skin. Saying that, I would still recommend a softer facial exfoliater before this (and there's plenty in Lush's cleanser and face mask range). 

I wouldn't say this product is bad for the skin in any way, only that it is strong and shouldn't be overused. Aside from that, it feels like a treat straight from the sea.