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!

Portable Skincare 2: Eyecreams

Hello guys! Here's installment number two of my travel skincare routine. I haven't managed to finish even one eyecream yet, so unfortunately the Strivectin set remains untouched. Some may wonder why it is effectively necessary to have three of these on rotation. Some call it obsessive, but I call it a working skincare wardrobe.

L-R: Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream, Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus, REN Active 7 Radiant Eye Gel

Just for reference, these are all past magazine samples, but some have been quite generous in terms of size and I will be looking to repurchase at least one of these when these are finished.

Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream -  £20 full size

If I had to pick only one, this would be the main contender. The Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream is good for night time as its creamy formula sinks in effortlessly and only a small amount is needed. This gets an outing if my eyes are tired, irritated or just needs a pick me up. Having used this since June, my dark circles have significantly reduced but the fine lines still haven't shifted (apart from a laughter line above my nose which has been smoothed). The 7ml Glamour sample is still going strong, but I fully intend to purchase the full size afterwards because it's just THAT good.

Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus - £39.50 full size

This is my go to for smoothing wrinkles despite it being officially marketed as a face serum. Apart from the aforementioned laughter line at the top of my nose I only have wrinkles under my eyes, so those are the only areas I can use this. After application, fine lines appear softened, but in terms of long-term use, the lines under my eyes haven't faded at all. It contains the wonder ingredient of the month, hyaluronic acid, and claims to tighten pores, help reverse UV damage and fade dark spots, so it is a good multi-tasker to have in my travel kit. But all this aside, with no permanent results this is quite average as its gel-like consistency doesn't sink well into the skin. The formula also contains a retinol compound which makes the formula drying and potentially irritable to those with sensitive skins. I'll report back when I try the Strivectin, but this only serves as a temporary measure.

REN Active 7 Radiant Eye Gel - £20 full size     

A tingly treatment for puffy eyes, this REN eye gel is perfect for reducing any eyebags in the morning. It gives a cooling sensation when applied and is very effective in smoothing the area around the eye also. This gel can be hydrating when the right amount is used, as the formula absorbs well into the skin. The radiant part of the product is down to REN's natural ingredients which also in this case contains hyaluronic acid. This also helps to reduce the appearance of dark rings around my eyes if I apply it where the tops of my cheekbone meets the beginning of my eye socket. Not a lot is needed and this 3ml sample has been used every morning for at least 4 months. The full size packaging has a pump and the only gripe I have of repurcasing is that many have complained of wasting too much product.   


So that's all my travel picks, I wouldn't recommend the Clinique one but I just feel the need to use it up rather that throw it away. Please remmber that everyone's skin is different and my bad experiences shouldn't put you off something you already love. Next post in the series is face creams and moisturisers, so let me know if any favourites in the series so far have made the cut!

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?     

NOTD- Nails Inc's Bluebell

Have you ever been against the idea that absolutely any colour can be worn on the nails? I used to reject this theory, only wearing black, purples and dark greens as I knew they worked well for me.  After slowly coming round to the effect of neon orange on my nails earlier this year, I'm trying to buck the trend - albeit with little baby steps. Throughout spring and summer I've been tempted by pastel blue shades that I feel are far too stark to work for my skintone (Topshop's Pool Party and Essie's Absolutely Shore spring to mind). Luckily, I managed to get my perfect blue shade thanks to a freebie in June's Instyle magazine.

Nails Inc's Bluebell is a tad purple toned, but still looks bright enough on its own to be considered a true blue pastel shade.  To get the purple to show up more, I layered the polish on top of Essie's Chinchilly, which despite its hyped status, is itching to get more use as it looks extremely muddy next to my golden toned skin. I always use Sally Hansen's Double Duty as base and top coat as it makes my polish super durable, sometimes lasting a whole week without chipping! This has been one of my favourite nail colours this summer and I think I've found the perfect combination for a low maintenance girl like me.

I always recommend Nails Inc polishes as they are long lasting and I have always been impressed by their formulas. What are your manicure must haves? Have you been making the most of the magazine freebies this season?