NOTD: O.P.I Kermit Me To Speak

It's been a very long time since I last did a Nail of the Day post, but frankly when you're interning (or just living life really) the strong talons you once had tend to transform into pathetic flaky stumps. In between coating them with rose hip oil at night to destroying them with sellotape and frantic typing by morning, a no fuss nail colour was needed and Kermit Me to Speak from the Muppets Most Wanted Collection caught my eye.

This duochrome formula can lean pink in some lights and olive green/gold in others. I am a sucker for these shades, but this O.P.I offering is by far the most wearable. One coat is enough for a subtle sheen, but I used two for a more intense look. It applied evenly and faultlessly, so I feel less bad about not having long nails any more as the variation in colour from my little finger to the index leaves a cool, quirky effect.

For someone who used to wear Topshop nail polish in Moonshine religiously, this is a more sophisticated version and looks amazing with my skin tone. I find it hard to pull off versatile nail colours but this to me is work appropriate with a bit of play thrown in for good measure. What do you think?

Candice x

The Perfect Pair: Toners

It is fair to say that I am a complete skincare junkie, so I am having a bit of a quiet patch on the blog while I test out a few skincare bits. I rarely ever get an instant result after using something new; the gratification always comes as a bit of a surprise but with these two the difference was clear after around two weeks.

Clarins Gentle Exfoliator and Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist

Chemical exfoliators have become ever popular and the one I've been using for the last few months is the Clarins Exfoliating Toner. Containing glycolic and salicylic acid, this product is gentle enough to use around the eyes yet effective enough to slough away dead skin cells and improve the texture of your skin. It has helped enormously with fading away stubborn scars and cystic spots over time. For someone who is scared of overdoing it, this has become a permanent addition to my daily routine.

To balance the skin's pH, a liberal spritz of the Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist soon follows. It is, in my opinion, highly fragranced yet not as drying as other spray toners can be. I adore the heady rose scent and the inclusion of marshmallow and aloe helps to calm the skin. It also comes in handy when I need a pick-me-up during the day or my makeup needs a bit of a refresh with a sponge. Despite containing alcohol, this spray is hydrating and delivers a cooling effect to irritated skin.

These toners work wonderfully together, as I find my skin to be a lot smoother with this combination. I did enjoy using the Antipodes Resurrection Toner, but since I bought it my skin type has become drier and these options are a much better fit for me.

What toner combination do you use?

The Perfect Pair: Base

Revisiting my Perfect Pair series much later than planned, I had a seemingly foolproof foundation concoction ready to publish maybe 2 weeks ago. Then the weather changed. I found myself in an office situation where my make-up had to be long-wearing without looking too glowy. I used to only reach for the powder on nights out whilst layering on the liquid foundation during the day with a stippling brush. Then, I rediscovered two past loves which happen to work really well together.

YSL Le Teint Touche Eclat in BD60

When I first got my hands on this foundation, I did have a love-hate relationship with it. At the time I was between shades and this made me uncomfortably pale faced. After a year, my skin seems brighter and needs less coverage so that I can rock the perfect 'no makeup' look for a day at the office. This foundation works by blurring imperfections and is based on the same technology as the cult Touche Eclat highlighter. But I'm sure you knew that already.

The downside to this is that sometimes it can get a bit too luminous by the time 5pm rolls around. The consistency is thinner than other foundations I've tried in the past and for me, flat foundation brushes tend to give the best finish and less product is wasted.

MAC Studio Fix Powder in NC50

Ah, my trusty MAC powder of choice to the rescue! I favour these over the Mineralise Skinfinish Natural compacts mainly because of the more precise shade range and that the Studio Fix Powder is much more buildable. It doesn't leave things too matte and I've never had the misfortune of cake face when layering over the YSL foundation. Surprisingly, my base doesn't lose the glowy finish after applying this on top and I can build up the coverage for those bad skin days.

I have a few more Perfect Pair posts to come, but I'm probably more chuffed about this as the YSL foundation is something I've really gotten into, and the MAC powder has always been a favourite of mine. Don't you love it when things work out?

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.

Organix Awapuhi Ginger Shampoo Review

For anyone who has read my high praise for Ojon Damage Reverse hair products and balked at the high price, I've managed to find an alternative that is kinder to your hair and your purse strings! The Organix Awapuhi Ginger range is free of parabens and sulphates, and is currently on a 2 for £10 offer at Waitrose. Normally the shampoo retails at £6.99 for 385ml, which is better value for money than spending around £20 for 250ml of product.  

Awapuhi Ginger extract and keratin protein acts to revive and strengthen the hair, according to the blurb on the front of the packaging. Yet, other natural inclusions like cocoa seed butter, avocado oil and aloe leaf juice also help to tame the frizz and came as a welcome surprise when reading the ingredients list.  

Over the last few months, I've been using this in various combinations and it works so beautifully with the Philip Kingsley Elasticizer as a pre-wash treatment that I could skip conditioner if I'm really pushed for time. This formula is really nourishing to my thick hair with minimal tangles left behind when drying. Unlike other sulphate free shampoos I've tried, this one really foams. After 2 months, I have noticed a lot less breakage and my hair is much healthier with a noticeable shine. If you have dry, coarse hair like me this has to be on your 'to try' list.

I'm considering the idea of doing a wash day diary once a month, so you can see what products I use on a regular basis more quickly (I'd been using this shampoo since Christmas and it's only made an appearance now). In fairness, once I find something that works well it rarely changes, but I thought it would be nice to take you with me on my hair journey. Let me know what you think.

Candice x