Origins face masks.... Winner or Loser?

Iv given 3 popular origins face masks a try to see how good they are, do they do what they claim to do? and are they worth the £23 price tag. My answer is yes, keep reading to find out why!




Winner - Origins 'Out Of Trouble' Mask
This is my favourite out of the 3. Its white and thick in consistency, almost like if you mixed toothpaste and chalk with a bit of charcoal (if that EVEN makes sense) I spread an even layer over my face usually when in the bath but ensuring I don't touch my face with wet hands as this stuff needs to dry. I leave it for around 10 minutes which is the recommended time, then take it off with a warm damp muslin cloth - skin feels really refreshed and smooth and the next day looks so much clearer - I LOVE it! I'm at the end of my tube and probably have about one use left!


Origins 'Intensive Drink Up' Overnight Mask
This one smells like a delicious fruity peach drink that you could just gulp! (but don't) as the name suggests this one is better for dry skins. Its weird because to start with this broke me out and I wasn't a massive fan. Then I went back to it and loved it, I don't use it everyday though usually about 1-2 times a week. I put it on just like I would a moisturiser in the evenings, its a very thick consistency but it does dry - I wouldn't put it on just as you are about to get into bed though because it will annoy you with the wet thick residue, having said this it does glide on the skin like butter. When I wake up my skin is smooth, soft and supple!


Origins 'Clear Improvements' Mask
This is a charcoal mask that claims to unclog pores. This is my least favourite out of the 3 but for this reason its also my most least tried one. This one is designed to rid skin and pores of everyday dirt and pollution. I don't have much to say about this other than it does make your skin feel very clean afterwards.




You can buy all of these from boots, house of Fraser or the Origins website!
Buy Origins facemasks

Why I love coconut oil as a beauty product - what can you do with it?

Coconut oil - what is it?


Its extracted from the kernel or meat of matured coconuts harvested from the coconut palm. Its edible and a great healthy option for regular oils BUT its also an amazing multi use beauty product!


Face
I use coconut oil for its moisturising values, its suitable for body and face.  Its takes the name 'oil' but is a thick consistency almost like wax but it melts on contact with your skin. This isn't going to create a really oily face and it hasn't caused spots for me (obviously every ones skin is different) I use it sometimes in place of a moisturiser or as a base before make up for a nice subtle glow and it helps the make up glide on. I recently got a tip from a friend to use it as a cleanser to remove make up so gave it a try and it took my make up off like vanish! Use a warm face cloth to remove.




Body
I use it on dry patches on my body such as knees and elbows - I rub it in whilst watching TV or just chilling out and it makes it nice and supple. Also, good for feet! especially coming up to summer when its nearly time to get the flip flops out.


Cuticles.


Self manicure anyone? Cuticle oil can be expensive especially from some of the leading brands so you can substitute this with coconut oil. Just rub into your cuticles and hands like you would an oil or hand cream.




Hair
The other day I covered my hair (dry) in coconut oil and left it for an hour or so. when I washed it out I shampooed it twice just to make sure all the product was out! I used shampoo and conditioner as normal - The softness it gave me was lovely. My next plan is to leave it on over night and then wash it out in the morning for an extra coconut masque!


I did spread a tiny bit through the ends of my hair when it was dried and straightened but in all honesty it did feel a little oily - maybe I got carried away?




I think it is all trial and error with most at home products like these and its just finding what works best for you. E.g. more for dry and frizzy hair as apposed to thin and limp hair......


You can find coconut oil specifically for hair or skin in Holland and Barrett or online but I got mine in the hair department at Superdrug for £2.29.Buy Superdrug Coconut Oil





As I am completely obsessed with this product please share how you use your coconut oil or any tips and tricks?












Annie x

Estée Lauder double wear review

Iv recently been using Estée Lauder double wear and I just completely forgot how good it is!



I used to wear this foundation religiously but I think I switched over to mac and just totally abandoned it, I recently picked up
A sample for a promotion and rekindled my love instantly!



This is a funny foundation because it runs out of the pot yet when you put it on your face it can feel quite thick - I find the most effective method is to use a foundation brush for maximum benefit, I pat it in with a sponge after just to ensure no brush marks.



At the moment because I'm tanner I use the shade 'tawny' but when I'm paler my shade it dessert beige (I'm an nc20 In mac for reference) this stuff really does stick like glue! Even if I mix it with my Laura mercier primer, it spreads evenly and lasts all day! And I mean ALL DAY not ones that claim to last 'ALL DAY'! When I get home from work my foundation still looks perfect - and even though I have dry/combo skin, I'm not lucky with my staying power usually..



I use a light dusting of setting powder but that's more through habit and reassurance than need.

Have you tried double wear light or maximum coverage? How does it
Compare?

Best wishes!

Annie x

Current favourites

Firstly, apologies for my lack of posting due to being CRAZY at work and home. To make up for it here is a HUGE post listing my current favourites for the month of August going into September....

Vichy derma-blend liquid foundation £15
This. Is. My. Holy. Grail.
I first bought this when I read a blog that it could cover tattoos, it was then I had to try it out in boots. Now I don't have any tattoos so I can't judge on that one, but it doesn't cover a multitude of sins including scaring, uneven skin tone and blemishes. I use this alternately with my mac studio fix fluid, it's especially good when I'm having a bad skin day (week) if you don't like heavy coverage then this isn't for you, you can sheer it down with some moisturiser for a more medium coverage or just use it as concealer if you wish. This is available from boots and I believe it comes in 5-5 shades.

YSL baby doll mascara £26
Now if I Said I wasn't coaxed into buying this by the counter assistant in house of Fraser I'd be lying.. But I'm glad i was!!! I love this mascara.. It separates my lashes but lengthens them at the same time. I would suggest though when the mascara is quite new it's very wet, so wipe it on the outside of the tube as you bring the wand out or you will get way too much product! No one likes a tarantula eye!!! :-)

MAC Fix plus £14
This product has so many different purposes, you can use it to 'foil' your pigments and eye shadows to make them stand out more or use it under/over your
Make up. My main use for this is to spray over my make up when I'm finished like a setting spray. This doesn't set your make up or help with longevity in my opinion
But it does stop you looking cakey. I have dry skin but it still needs setting with a powder in my T zone, and even if I don't use a powder I still look cakey because I'm so dry! I use fix + to merge the powder into the liquid to get rid of the powdery look and get more of a dewy look! You only news a few spritz over your face and I promise it doesn't ruin your make up!

Sally Hansen nail polish £6.99
Now a few people (including my boyfriend) may say these two polishes look exactly the same? Well they aren't. They are actually very different, one is a pink tone and one is a peach tone but they both look white in some lights -
I love that!!! It's taken me SO long to find an opaque 'white/nude' colour. I have tried my way though loads of nail varnishes to find this but they are all so sheer!!!! That's why I love these Sally Hansen polishes - they ate opaque but glossy and elegant at the same time. I will definitely be buying more of these!


MAC Soft and gentle highlighter £24
Being a dry skin girl, I love a good highlighter! Soft and gentle by mac is my favourite so far because of the colour, it's not a fake disco ball highlight like a silver! I guess it's kind of a golden brown with a slight pink tinge (???) it's finely milled to create a subtle highlight but a little goes a long way so be careful... I apply this on my face last across the top of my cheekbones, tiny bit on the forehead and chin and Cupid's bow. You can also use this as a brow highlight!

Indeed indeed hydraluron moisture booster £24.99
I have dehydrated/dry skin - this means no matter how much i moisturise, use expensive creams and exfoliate, my skin still looks dull and lifeless :-( So when i saw this on a blog i decided to give it a try! You get about 30ml in the tube and you only need a small bit. I use about 2-3 pea sized ammounts under my normal moisturiser. It sinks into the skin almost instantly like nothing was ever there so you need to put your nomal topical moisturiser over the top. This has definately helped my make up apply smoother and look more radiant! Some people say that they couldnt live without this and it has changed their skin completely! I wouldnt go this far but its definately a good buy - i got it when it was on offer too for £16.99 in boots!

Alberto VO5 Give Me Texture Instant Oomph Powder £4
Love, love, LOVE this stuff!!!! Its Iike dry shampoo, mixed with OOMPH mixed with SEXY. I cant go a day without this to boost my roots and give me the 'just out of bed' look. A lot of the time when I have freshly washed hair it goes flat and looses all life, so every morning i shake a bit of this (just like a salt shaker) on top of my head and over the fringe area - I then take my fingers and push my roots upwards (and maybe throw in a bit of a backcomb for extra measure) it makes my hair look BIG - and bigger is always better!!

I am still LOVING my previous favourites but didnt want to repeat all the same things by putting them in again, so these are my ADDED favourites of the moment!

Hope you are all having an amazing transition from summer to autumn (fall) !

Annie

5 Best Make Up Hacks (Tips and tricks) that will change your life!(well.... ish)

I thought I would kick start the start of spring with some handy tips and tricks, especially ones for making our make up last longer or my "secret" tweaks to get the most out of our make up and tools to enhance the beauty that we already have :-)




1. For extra curly eyelashes.


We all want sky scraper lashes which is why eyelash curlers can be a girls best friend. But what about half way through the day when your lashes start to droop and all of a sudden aren't as perk and fluttery as they were before you left for your commute? My tip is to blast the curlers with your hair dryer before curling (not for too long - we don't want to fry them) a few second is fine (saves buying fancy heated curlers) When we curl our hair using a barrel, the cooling down period is what sets the curl in place so hold your curlers until they start to cool down. This sets my eyelashes for the day and ensures no drooping! For extra reinforcements use a waterproof mascara!



2. Sealing your gel/liquid liner.
To stop your gel liner from fading or cracking, set it in place with a really black eye shadow. Use an angled brush or whatever your eyeliner application weapon of choice is and go over the gel to sandwich it in place. This will 'set' it just like a powder over foundation and will keep it in place a lot longer! My favourite product for this is Urban Decay 'Crave' from the Naked Basics Palette.




3. Longer, Thicker Lashes.
To make my lashes extra thick strand by strand I follow my routine in Tip 1 (above) then follow it with this...
Before adding your first layer of mascara, Coat your lashes in powder. You can use a black eye shadow (tap off excess) or a translucent powder (even baby powder). The powder will make your lashes thicker and your mascara stay on because it wont slide off as easily, this trick is especially good if you suffer from oily eyelids. You can also use this step between coat's, but be careful.... less is more.



4. Make your Kohl Eyeliner Extra Dark.
Ran out of eyeliner and only have the crappy back up plan? Don't worry, with this trick you can make your eyeliner extra black and soft, perfect for smudging and blending a smoky eye! Take any eyeliner and a naked flame (candle lighter or match) wave the eyeliner in the flame for about a second. Leave it to cool for around 10 - 15 seconds, not too quick so you burn your eye but not too long so it dries! (trial and error to see what works best for you and your brand of eyeliner) and then apply to the eye. Smudgy, Black Perfection!



5. Make your base last longer.
Especially good for oily skins but also combination to dry. We all face humidity and sweat throughout the day so this is good for most skin types. After applying your liquid base (foundation) take a tissue and pull it in half so you have only one thin layer (if that makes sense). Use the tissue to lightly blot your face, you don want to take the foundation off so this is literally like tickling the face to take off the excess moisture and oil. Less oil in the skin will prevent your make up from sliding off through-out the day. You can then continue your routine with powder, blush, bronzer or whichever you choose to use!



What are your beauty tricks and tips?

YSL Youth liberator foundation review

Iv fallen in love...

With a foundation. Is that possible? Yes.

Ysl youth liberator foundation £34
Shade B30


I first tried this foundation after seeing some really great reviews about it! I was torn between this one and the touch éclat foundation but decided to give this a try as I had herd it was more medium to full coverage (my preference).

I had it applied with a paddle foundation brush by the sales assistant and it was beautiful! I decided I wouldn't buy it there and then but I would wait to see what it looked like when the day was finished. Well that was it, I was hooked!

The foundation gives SUCH a glowing finish which is something unheard if for us dry skin girls. The glow doesn't fade either it just seems to stay! The coverage is definitely buildable but that's okay because a little goes a long way.

Extra brownie points:

Smells like perfume and the packages is gorgeous!

Why not give it a try and your nearest YSL counter?

My full coverage best friends - for bad skin days!!!

We all have those days where nothing goes right, all your clothes are in the wash, your hair is going the wrong way and your skin is under attack! So I'm going to share my favourite full coverage products that I keep on my make up table ready to go for when my skin is behaving badly...

Vichy dermablend foundation
Boots £15

This foundation is thick. It covers well. And it's not moving. You won't find this foundation in the make up isle, it's location in the skin Care section of boots with the other Vichy products. The reason I love this base is because you can just put it over your face, not have to worth about concealer and your good to go. This will cover a multitude of sins. The only downside is there are only 4-5 shades so what I usually do is mix opal (the lightest shade) with nude (a slightly more warm shade) and I find it gives the perfect shade!

Mac studio fix fluid
Mac £21.50

This is my everyday foundation, the coverage is full but it's not cakey and I love the finish! This stays on all day and doesn't look patchy or oxidise after a few hours wear. This covers all my blemishes (sometimes I put another layer in stubborn ones) but I usually find one does the trick. This is so bendable and of course comes in loads of shades!!!!! My colour is nc20.

Estée Lauder double wear
Most department stores £28.50

This is one of my favourites because again, it is full coverage. You don't need. Powder to set this and it's still going to stay on all day! This comes in quite a few shades and also different types. If you prefer a lighter feel on the skin then get double wear light, if you really want a full coverage then go for double wear maximum hold.


Origins brighter my nature skin perfecting make up
House of Fraser £26

Moving onto powder. I don't think origins make up gets enough love! I first tried this when I had my make up done at the origins counter after a facial and I really liked the finish. As we know I have dry/dehydrated skin so I do be careful with this powder. If too much is applied it does feel dry! But sparingly this adds great coverage! What I usually do is pat this over my foundation on troublesome areas such as a breakouts on my cheeks or chin to add more coverage (I don't use this as a setting powder) but if your foundation and concealer just isn't cutting it or your face looks patchy then I swear by this! Iv just hit pan so I can tell I like it!

Mac Pro long wear concealer (left)
Mac £15.50

This is a lightweight concealer with medium to full coverage. Its raved about so much and rightly so. I love it because the consistency isn't thick but it does cover extremely well under the eyes and doesn't crease! My colour is nc20 again.

Mac studio fix concealer (right)
Mac £14
This is fantastic when it comes to hiding blemishes! You can apply it with a brush or tap it in with your fingers. This is really thick and creamy and really is fantastic! My favourite concealer for covering blemishes. Warning: this will cake under the eyes so stay clear of that area. But it performs brilliantly on other areas! Even the most angry blemishes will be covered.



What are your favourite bases for full coverage?

Thanks for reading

Annie

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