The Best of Murad

Do you remember this post when I bought two Murad skincare sets? Well, four months later, I present to you the gems of the haul and why they deserve a place in your skincare stash. To be fair, the opportunity hasn't been there to test out the Environmental Shield broad spectrum SPF and the foaming cleanser from the Pore Perfection kit was nothing special. I believe that the Vitalic products from the Pore Perfecting range are being rebranded as Pore Reform as I can't find them anywhere. I will keep an eye out for them as these picks have wormed their way into my skincare routine since the beginning of 2014.

Murad Essential-C Cleanser

Ok, this isn't really a surprise as I've sung the praises of this cleanser before. But for me, this has actually limited any oiliness and sun damage on my face during the hot summer months. I got this free with a magazine a few years ago and I've repurchased it every summer since. The Vitamin C is bound in a special complex so it doesn't become inactive as quickly as other vitamin C products. It helps to brighten the skin and protects it from any environmental damage.

Murad Energising Pomegranate Moisturiser (since rebranded as Pore Reform Balancing Moisturiser)

I was really not expecting to like this as it is suited for normal/combination skins, but this has worked wonders for me and it's a shame that it's so hard to find now! This oil free formulation is full of antioxidants and active ingredients to brighten and hydrate the skin. It also doubles as a broad spectrum SPF so it protects against both UVA and UVB rays.

Murad Advanced Active Radiance Serum

Again based on a stable complex of Vitamin C, this contains AHA's that refine and tighten the skin's surface. Although I'm quite young for skin tightening, I know that dehydrated skin is more prone to wrinkles over time. With the added benefits of aiding cell regeneration and reducing environmental damage, this serum is a great start to exploring the world of anti-ageing skincare.

Murad Pomegranate Exfoliating Mask

My main complaint is that there were only 2 sachets available in the the set - again, I cannot see this stocked anywhere. This gel mask uses chemical exfoliants to remove dead skin cells and leave behind plump, glowing skin. I did feel a tingling sensation with this, so it may not be suitable for those with sensitive skin. I will say that this mask tends to bring any impurities to the surface, and left my face feeling polished and glowing.

Needless to say, this was great value for money as I only parted with £14! I'll keep you posted on any more skincare gems that I find.

TK Maxx Bargains #2

Why hello there! Yes, my prolonged absence on this blog is mostly down to the painful transition of jobless graduate with little to spare for new things. Learning not to jump on every beauty bandwagon led me to treat myself on a few goodies after Xmas, some were old favourites but all of them were bargains from TK Maxx.

This wasn't exactly a necessary purchase, but considering how much something similar would usually cost, needless to say I pounced on it for £7. There was also an Environmental Shield one where I picked up my beloved Essential C-Cleanser, but I was too excited to use it and destroyed the box. Sorry Not sorry.  

There were a few O.P.I sets around, but the So So Skullicious was one of the most affordable ones afailable. I won't lie to you, the yellow shade Candlelight was promptly given to one of my friends but A-Rose from the Dead has become a firm favourite as a wearable midtone pink. Mourning Glory is a close second more suited to the winter months, but it's my first black nail polish where I actually like the formula.

I have more posts in store, but just have to find a routine. You can't help but feel that you can't start a beauty blog on a budget these days, but then again, it is more reason to be part of a blogging community when you don't have the funds to try everything out. If all else fails... TK Maxx?

Till next time,

Candice

TK Maxx Bargains

This is a well overdue post! Most of these purchases have been made in the months of October and November, but some items will require a fair bit of rummaging through all sorts of faff. My favourite branches are at High St Kensington and the quieter suburban ones as they are less likely to be completely ransacked through.

Strivectin SD Range

As mentioned previously, I have started developing fine lines under my eyes and had heard many fine things about the Strivectin range, including the £49 price tag. Fear not, there's another way....

Yup, you read right. £18 for a set containing the Strivectin SD Instant Retexturising Scrub, Eye Concentrate for Wrinkles and Intensive Concentrate for Stretchmarks and Wrinkles. On the packaging, it claims to be an 8 week supply but frankly, this could stretch for a lot longer than just 2 months! I am waiting to finish some other skincare tidbits before I pounce on these goodies, but I am tempted to break into the Intensive Concentrate to try and help fade my stretchmarks. I have also seen sets with an antiaging serum for £24, and have heard of others finding the full size Eye Concentrate on the shelves. If you see it in your local TK Maxx, grab it while you can as this set only holds 7ml if you're in it just for the eye cream.  

TIGI Catwalk

I am known to be a bit picky when it comes to hair products. My hair is very dry and brittle, yet very thick, so most moisturising shampoos won't cut it. Some products catered to afro hair have caused problems in the past in terms of leaving residue behind or just not leaving my hair nourished enough. TIGI is a salon quality brand and I never paid much attention until I saw the reviews for the Oatmeal and Honey Conditioner. Unfortunately, this seems to be discontinued, so either online sites or TK Maxx is the way to go.

The tagline "Comfort Food For Damaged Hair" rings true as the formula is really moisturising without weighing the hair down or leaving any residue behind. Pictured above are the smaller bottles for the shampoo and conditioner. In my opinion, £7.99 and £5.99 respectively for a salon brand ain't too shabby. The massive 750ml bottles are usually £11 and last an age, so this is another moneysaving option. Instore, there were many ranges available such as the Bedhead, Foxy Curls and a few SLS free options.

Nails Inc.    

Often I come across nail polish sets but some may leave you feeling cheated , such as Essie's packaged sets of the same polish, or OPI polishes that your poor nana wouldn't be caught dead in. But the offerings from Nails Inc. have been consistently good and TK Maxx is mostly responsible for me owning 10 polishes from there. Individually, the starting price for polishes are usually £10, but I get sets of 3 for £11.99. Yes, most of the time I won't really need a new nail polish, but with prices like these it's hard not to justify it!

L-R: Hampstead Heath, Old Bond Street, Paddington 

Hampstead Heath is a classic pillar-box red, Old Bond Street is a striking bronze with microglitter, whereas Paddington is a dull grey and has wheedled into my rotation this A/W season. As a set the colours are so versatile and I honestly think if any girl woke up to this on Christmas morning, they woud not be disappointed.

L-R: Montpelier Square, Edinburgh Gate, Clifford Street

 Montpelier Square is a metallic silver, Edinburgh Gate is a chunky glitter polish with green red and silver particles, and Clifford Street is a dark purple shade with a mixture of purple and grey microglitter. I have already raved about Edinburgh Gate on here, but Montpelier Square makes an equally loud statement. You'll see swatches of these when I do my Nails inc Collection, which is otherwise comprised of magazine freebies and the odd department store purchase.

The ones that got away

I didn't buy these but other sets I have laid eyes on are from Vera Wang, Lierac and This Works (coincidentally the one Lisa Eldridge mentioned in her gift ideas video.. only it was £15)

I hope this has been somewhat helpful, take care for now xx

Portable Skincare 1: Cleansers

Since moving home, I have gotten into a routine of packing an overnight bag and staying with the bf twice a month. This is where I tend to dig out my samples and firm favourites in an attempt to save space. Most of it (along with my toothbrush) fits into this little Nick Lowe case which was originally part of the Blemish Starter Pack, a steal for a fiver at TK Maxx (More on bargains at TK Maxx at a later post).  Can you recognise any gems in there?

This four- part series will go through what I take with me on a regular basis, as well as some space-saving tips to cram in extras for any skin issues that can crop up. As the title suggests, the first will be on cleansers - yes, plural. Being stressed out, living in an unfamiliar environment, or any changes in diet can cause the skin's condition to change and like a good boy scout, you should always be prepared!

If you've read my first empties post, the L'Occitane Angelica Oil Cleanser will come as no surprise. It brightens the skin whilst having a healing effect on any irritated areas or blemishes. I sometimes get weird skin reactions when travelling and this helps significantly to calm them down. The peppermint and bark oils give it an inoffensive earthy scent which I really like and as the Travel size is highly reduced at £4 online, I will probably order another bottle before they all disappear.

The Murad Essential C-Cleanser is another gel based cleanser based on brightening the skin, but has more citric oils in the formula and works best on oily skin. I got this as a freebie in Marie Claire's September issue when my skin was less dry. It worked a treat for hydrating the skin and giving it a glow without leaving it feeling greasy. In the colder months however, it does tend to strip my skin of moisture (think grapefruit juice dry), so I gravitate more towards the L'Occitane one. It is also more expensive at £36 for 200ml, and as you need a big blob of product for your face, it will probably run out fairly quickly. If you missed out in September, you can get 45ml of product for £10 on Murad's website if you fancy giving it a go and if it happens to be in stock.

Next up will be my choice of eyecreams - again plural. However this may change as I've managed to get hold of some Strivectin SD Eye Concentrate at a reasonable price. Having heard Ruth from A Model Recommends constantly sing its praises I want to see if it'll do anything to help with the lines under my eyes.  Can you guess where I got it from?