Sun Damage Saviours - Murad Environmental Shield

I know I've already shared my views on most of this range before, but the Environmental Shield has done wonders over the warmer months to prevent and reverse the effects of sun damage. It was only this year that I took a close look at my skin and learnt the difference between sun spots (which originate at the surface) and acne scarring which occurs on a much deeper level. These products contain a stable form of potent Vitamin C to perk up the complexion and defend against free radicals. These items come in a starter kit complete with an eye cream, which you can now get for £29.50. 

The Essential-C Cleanser is a firm favourite of mine and I always break it out during the summer as a quick morning cleanse. The orange beads contain antioxidants to perk up the complexion and is completely non-drying despite having to work the gel into a foam. It has been a godsend for my dehydrated skin and is excellent for getting rid of pollutants and city grime as a second cleanse.

Despite its anti-aging properties (have you read my thoughts on that yet?) I am finding it pretty hard to find fault with the Advanced Active Radiance Serum. I use it every morning in conjunction with the cleanser and my skin has become brighter within 3 months of use. A lot of dark spots have been cleared because of this serum! It uses AHA's to refine the skin and imparts an effective hit of Vitamin C to help correct any sun damage. I tend to use AHA's during my night-time routine, so this only gets used once daily to avoid overloading my skin. It is mighty expensive (the full price is £100) but it has been so effective that I might just cave. BeautyBay are selling it for £60 here. 

Lastly, if you do use exfoliating acids or want to protect against sun damage, a high performance SPF is a must. Especially in summer. I was originally using another Murad oil free formulated SPF15 from the Pore refiner range, but then again I didn't want to undo all the good things that happened to my face. So as spring turned to summer, I made the switch to the Essential C- Day Moisture Broad Spectrum SPF 30 and never looked back. It protects against UVA and UVB rays and still manages to be non-greasy and natural looking i.e. no white cast for those with darker skins. I have fallen for it, it has a rich texture and my purse is weeping as I will have to replace it shortly. It is £57 here.

I know that the range is pricey, but there is a difference between falling for hyped products and investing in your skin. These starter kits are a great entry point into the brand and if you have to get one item from the range I would suggest the serum, which as also been spotted in TK Maxx in recent months. If you have any experiences or solutions for sun damage, I would love to hear them.

Candice xx

Peachy Tones

After the lacklustre weather we've been having lately it does seem a bit premature to be rocking summery makeup in the rain, but I have been swayed by these peachy offerings this month.

Ok, I admit that the mask is peach- scented and the lipstick is more of a burnt coral, but still they are part of the same family. These were mostly treats for finishing my degree and I've been pretty pleased with them all.

 I have got at least two face masks on the go, but something compelled me to buy the Origins Drink Up Intensive as the high dose of hydration seemed appealing. It has become necessary if my skin is looking flat or dry, and applying a thin layer once a week leaves my skin glowing, plump and velvety in the morning. The Nails inc. shade You're a Peach was a freebie from Instyle in May (or April?) and managed to give a suitable alternative to a nude nail whilst still being work friendly. I have never really veered towards peachy tones on my nails before; but was complemented on the shade many times and it doesn't clash with my warm toned skin (something that orange nails tend to do!). Here's a swatch.

My stubby dinosaur claws fingers, everybody ;-) But you can see how this shade can suit many skin tones without looking too stark. The polish lasts around 4 days on me with Sally Hanson Double Duty Base and Top Coat. The lipstick I picked up is Vegas Volt by MAC. I feel somewhat late to the party reviewing this, but as this is my first bold MAC lipstick this is truly a showstopper. Ravishing looked slightly corpse-like on me, so Vegas Volt is a perfect substitute for deeper skintones due to the amplified finish. I like to mix things up by lightly dabbing on the lips for a peachy daytime look or applying directly from the tube for a neon orange effect at night. 

   
Most of these have been on heavy rotation throughout May and June, so this could serve as a monthly favourites of sorts. But generally I am in a bit of a make up rut as I want to be more bright and summery, but the clouds have other ideas... here's to a bit more sun!

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Topaz VS Benefit Sunbeam

After using the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Topaz non-stop during the summer, it soon became clear that I needed a winter appropriate highlighter as a subsitute to a deeply bronzed highlight. Enter Benefit Sunbeam.

These are my favourite highlighters to date as often I find powder highlighters to look ashy on my warm toned skin. Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector is a cult product with Topaz being the deepest shade of four.  Its creamy consistency means it applies effortlessly, leaving a bronzy sheen that looks more luminous as opposed to glittery. It suits me best with a tan, but for a natural highlight, this is perfect for those with deep skintones.

Sunbeam is a more flattering shade (think more golden than bronze) and helps to give a hint of depth and colour to the face, perfect for winter. It comes with a brush inside the lid, which comes in useful as the product is much more liquidy compared to the Becca formulation. The microparticles seem slightly chunkier, so the effect is less subtle despite appearing much lighter.

Top Swatch- Benefit Sunbeam

Bottom Swatch- Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Topaz

Also, check out my photography skillz! Hardly admirable, but last time I tried to capture Topaz on camera, it didn't go so well.

As the Becca Review is the most viewed post on this blog, I thought it'd be best to upload a proper swatch as it's oh so beautiful.



Unfortunately, Becca seems to be in trouble as it seems impossible to order these online in the UK right now, so I am starting to ration the stuff for special occasions only until summer (or when I can afford the massive £33 bottle). Until then, Sunbeam will fill the void as it is the perfect golden shade without going too bronze. Mine is an InStyle freebie from November, but for the full size 13ml be prepared to shell out £18.50. Considering my 15ml travel sized Shimmering Skin Perfector cost me £10, I can't help but feel like I'd rather invest in Becca. 

I thought I'd do a side-by-side comparison as others consider these as dupes, but they are completely different when applied onto the skin.

Which do you prefer? Or do you have a HG golden highlighter recommendation? Share below!

Forgotten Favourites Part 1

Firstly, apologies for not uploading any posts for a while. My skin and hot weather do not get on, so I haven't been wearing much make-up over the month of August. But during a much needed clearout, I rediscovered a few old gems from my stash. Some have really helped during the summer to keep the oil at bay whilst wearing a full face of slap, whereas some are more suited to the transition into Winter for those forward thinking lasses out there. Enjoy!

MAC Studio Fix Powder in NC50



Not to be confused with the Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation, this powder gives a matte look to the skin over foundation, or worn alone on a good skin day. Ironically, the MAC store in Canada that I visited made this exact mistake when I wanted the Powder Plus on holiday and I got this instead. Let's just call it a lucky accident.



Inside compact (and a glimpse of my camera in the mirror!)

 

The shade NC50 is perfect if you are yellow-toned like me but want to look less orange. I find that NC45 foundations tend to show up incredibly orange on my skin, and as I'm somewhere in the middle between the shades Dark and Deep Dark in MAC's MSF Natural powders, this is a great way to avoid the 'tangoed' look. The powder is very fine and is specially formulated to deal with oily skin as it leaves a very matte finish. The only downside is that it tends to cling to dry areas when used on its own, but on top of a tinted moisturiser it looks incredibly natural and gives a medium coverage. I can't find this on MAC's website, but if they have discontinued this I may have to start using it very sparingly...

Witch Anti-Blemish Skin Clearing Primer- £6.99

I bought this initially when I wasn't sure if primers actually made a real difference to my skin. This was the first one I bought and since then, I have tried out some pricier ones that managed to let my make-up slip faster than usual ( Benefit's The Porefessional, anyone?) Until I dug it up 3 weeks ago, I had genuinely forgotten how soft and moisturising it feels when I apply it. It has the same silicone finish as the Porefessional, but with a creamier consistency and witch hazel to soothe any irritations or spots that may be lurking. I found in the hot weather that it lengthened the wear times of dewy foundations and no touch ups were needed. For oilier skinned girls, this is a must-have in your collection.

Sleek Original Palette - £7.99

Keeping with the "drugstore" theme, this palette contains everything needed for anyone wanting to get adventurous with colour. Mixing neutrals with the colours on the bottom row act as a great combination for daytime to make your eyes pop - supersubtle pink eyeshadow is meant to be a beauty trend this season. For night-time, the top colours are very appropriate for creating an intense smoky eye. There can be some fallout as all the eyeshadows are glittery, but despite this I do see myself using this religiously now I know where it is! The copper and olive tones are my favourite shades.

MUA Eyeliner in Intense Black and Eyeshadow in 01 Black- £1 each 

What I'm going to say next doesn't just apply to these two items from MUA but the majority of the range: The pigmentation and staying power of their products are phenomenal, especially considering the low pice point. I do often tear up when I'm lining my waterline or my tightline, but the Intense Eyeliner still doesn't budge. They also do a range of lipliners and lipsticks for £1 which I also must look ninto as I've heard such great things. I use the two together to create a really intense smoky eye and they blend exceptionally well.

In case there was any doubt, here's a swatch.

Recently I used these two items combined with MAC's duochrome Club eyeshadow (brown/green) patted over it, followed by Embark (matte dark brown) to soften any outside edges. Including the infamous Carbon, this has to be the best matte black I've ever tried. FACT.

Along with a slew of planned posts, I have a part 2 coming up which involves more cheek and lip products, but this just goes to show how many great products eventually get unused and forgotten about. Are you guilty of this? Have you used any of these items when shopping your stash?

 

 Candice xx

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector - Holy Grail Product?

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Travel size in Topaz- £10

Yes, you read correctly, this is easily the best highlighing product I've ever tried - and I've tried a lot! I have heard many established bloggers rave about Becca highlighting products, particularly in the shade Pearl, but I couldn't find any online swatches for Topaz on darker skintones. I took a gamble and ordered the travel size, which for some reason is only available through Zuneta in this shade.

It is the most gorgeous golden shade - subtle yet illuminating. I dot it on the tops of my cheekbones and browbone, creating a C shape around the eye for a more natural highlight. But the Shimmering Skin Pefector has many uses as you could apply it on its own as a base, or mix it with your foundation. It boasts many skin benefits such as spf 20 and is packed with lots of antioxidants, making it suitable as a tinted moisturizer. But if you wanted to get the full size, it has a hefty price tag at £33 for 50ml. The travel size only has 15ml of product and I would probably repurchase the bigger bottle, but frankly how much highlighter does a person need?

Edit: I have since made a comparison to Benefit's Highbeam with better swatches - link here

What are your favourite highlighters? Any recommendations?

Candice xx