Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm Review

After reading a lot of reviews of the Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm I was sold and wanted to purchase it so badly! However I already had a cleansing balm by Balance Me which I was using and the Emma Hardie Balm is quite pricey at £34 (especially on a student budget). However a few weeks ago the cleanser was on sale on FeelUnique.com for only £19.80! I had to buy it and try it out for myself.

My First impressions of the product were good. It has nice simple packaging and the cleanser also comes with an Emma Hardie face cloth that has a muslin side and a side that is similar to a usual face cloth. Also you get 100ml in the tub which is quite a decent size. Then when I tried the product out I certainly wasn't disappointed! The balm has such a luxurious (but not overpowering) smell that reminds me of spa products. The balm also has a nice texture to it that isn't too thick or oily. You only need a small amount to cleanse all of your face. I usually use a small scoop of it in my palm and then add some warm water so it turns to a milky thinner liquid consistency. Then I massage all over the face, paying special attention to my eyes to make sure all the mascara and eyeliner is removed (this balm is really gentle on the eyes too). Then I rinse of with warm water and use both sides of the cloth to make sure all my makeup has been removed properly.

This cleansing balm is so good! I've fallen in love with it after only using it for a few weeks. It melts makeup away and leaves skin feeling fresh, clean and moisturized. I've noticed a definite improvement in my skin already. It's great for my oily skin and isn't harsh or dehydrating like most cleansers targeted towards oily skin. The only downside to this cleanser is the price however if you can find a good deal like I did then definitely buy it! I have a feeling I will re-buy this product if it continues to impress me like it has so far.

Have you tried the Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm or thinking of trying it? Comment below to tell me your thoughts on this cult cleasner. 

My Skin Saviour - Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask Review

You can probably tell from the title of this post that this is going to be a positive review; over the last few months it has done amazing things to my skin so I though it was time for a little mini review...

This face mask is a cream that you apply a thick layer to your face as the very last step in your skincare routine just before bed, overnight it serves as an intense moisture mask that quenches skins thirst and dehydration. The bottle recommends using around twice a week however to be honest my skin is so dehydrated I tend to use it four or five times a week. In the morning my skin feels hydrated and dewy with no pesky flaky dry patches and looks plump and healthy; what more could you ever want from a hydrating face mask?

I was worried it would break my out as I was apply thick creams onto my face most nights of the week but there has been no sign of that what so ever, it also works wonders on long haul flights and at soothing and hydrating sunburn if you are lucky enough to be jetting off on holiday this summer. It is around £20 for 100ml which I think is great value for such a high-quality product; the smell is also delicious and fruity!

If you have dry skin or just need to give it a bit of a hydration boost, I would 100% recommend this. 

Charles Worthington Salon At Home Review

I have been using the Charles Worthington Salon at Home range for a good 9 months now and I can honestly say it's the best thing I've ever used on my hair. I use the Straight and Smooth shampoo, the Shine Booster conditioner and the Style Setter dry shampoo from the range. I used to use Charles Worthington products before their big formula and packaging re-vamp (remember when they were in them really awkward shaped bottles?) and thought they were average, not amazing so I stopped using them. They then caught my eye last year when I was going a little crazy in Boots and chucked them in my basket to give them a go and I am so glad I did so I thought I would do a little review for you.

First up some general points, I personally think these products are really reasonably priced, especially for a salon brand: the shampoo and conditioner are £5.99 each and the dry shampoo is also £5.99 (RRP is £5.99, it can differ slightly depending where you buy). They all smell amazing, I won't try and describe the smell as I'm extremely bad at doing that - just give them a sniff yourself when you are next in Boots- and finally the packaging is nice and sleek, a really big improvement on the old bottles.

I use the Straight & Smooth shampoo as I have really thick wavy, frizzy hair which can go very much out of control if I don't use the right products. It really takes the frizz out of my hair and leaves it feeling super soft, sleek and smooth. Apparently it has an 'innovative 3D-Straight complex'- I have no idea what that means, but whatever it is, it works and is also apparently perfumed with red berries, vanilla bean and patchouli.

Now the frizz in my hair is controlled I use the Salon At Home Shine Booster conditioner do add some extra shine to my hair. I decided to use a shampoo and conditioner from the different ranges as I wanted to try and get the best of both worlds - I feel like the shampoo does enough frizz-taming so I don't feel like I need the matching conditioner and when I have used both the shine-booster shampoo and conditioner together it can feel a bit heavy on my hair. It leaves my hair feeling ultra-soft, really shiny and smooths out any tangles- what more could you want from a conditioner?

Finally I use the Style Setter dry shampoo on second or even third day hair, it absorbs oil really well and doesn't leave white chalky residue which is hard to rub in like some other brands. Other brands like Batiste tend to make my head itch quite a bit, but this one doesn't, it also smells amazing and is really good at adding volume and texture to the hair 

Have you tried anything from the Salon at Home range?

Product Review: Charlotte Tilbury The Vintage Vamp Palette

Ever since the incredibly talented make-up artist Charlotte Tilbury launched her debut cosmetics range last year I have been dying to get my hands on the whole lot, however as we all know, money unfortunately doesn't grow on trees. I am (very) slowly building up a collection and so far have the beautiful palette in The Vintage Vamp thanks to a very generous sister and the Colour Chameleon eye shadow pencil in Champagne Diamonds from an equally as generous Sophie. 

All the palettes in the range are colour coded and have a 'Prime', 'Enhance', 'Smoke' and 'Pop' shade which all work beautifully together. In The Vintage Vamp the 'Prime' is a gorgeous light shimmery pink- it reminds me a bit of MAC's Naked Lunch, the 'Enhance' is a sort of rustic looking reddy-brown, perfect for blending through the crease, the 'Smoke' is a dark crimson colour which can create a dramatic smokey-eye effect. Lastly, the 'Pop' shade is this amazing glittery gold - it is so beautiful I could sit here and stare at it all day.

All the shades are soft, velvety, and highly pigmented. They blend together like a dream and just such a pleasure to use. The packaging is classic and elegant, although it is on the pricey side at £38 I would definitely say it is worth it. 

I have a trip to London planned in a couple of weeks so I think a little trip to Selfriges is needed to build up the collection a little bit more - any recommendations?

p.s Charlotte Tilbury also has step-by-step tutorials for each of her palettes on YouTube, click here to see The Vintage Vamp

Blogmas Day 2: Product Review - Chanel Le Volume De Chanel Mascara

A few months ago I bought a new mascara to try out- I have commitment issues with mascara, I can never stick to the same one for long and have been through many brands over the years including Benefit, Rimmel, Soap and Glory, Clarins, Clinique and many more. But this time it was time to try out Chanel’s Le Volume De Chanel mascara.

To begin with I adore the packaging on all Chanel products and this is no exception, its elegant, sleek and classic with the signature Chanel logo on the lid. 

The actual product is no disappointment either, the brush has what Chanel call ‘Snowflake’ bristles which have a combination of long and short bristles which really separate the lashes and make sure each lash gets a generous coating.

The formula is what Chanel describes as ‘innovative’ and ‘pumps lashes to their fullest’ and I probably would agree with this statement, I only need one coat of this mascara to get super long full lashes. Also, it never smudges throughout the day on me and is surprisingly easy to take off at the end of the day. 

The only negative thing I would say is I have to apply it really carefully to avoid clumping but apart from that it gets full marks.

This is definitely a luxury product at £24.00 a pop but if you are looking to treat yourself or a friend, or if you are a make-up snob like me, I would definitely recommend this mascara. 

Product Review: Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer

A few months ago, at the Selfridges Autumn Beauty event (see the blog post for more info!) I picked up the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer which was launched earlier this year. I decided to purchase this particular concealer as I felt it was time to leave the concealer comfort zone of my Benefit Boi-ing and I am so glad I did! I have also read really good reviews on many other beauty blogs so decided to try it out for myself.  

The formula of this concealer is really rich, creamy and alcohol free which is always a plus. It creates a flawless finish and is slightly luminous, the coverage is full and disguises blemishes like magic. Even though the product is really rich it still manages to stay really hydrating and long-wearing. The colour range is also great; my colour is 'Vanilla'. Nars claim the concealer is crease-proof however, I do disagree with this statement as it does tend to crease under my eyes. Whilst we are on negative points, my only other criticism is the doe-foot applicator; I find these really unhygienic and hate using them, I always put it on the back to my hand first then use my finger instead of straight onto the blemish.  I mainly use it for blemishes and occasionally when I have really dark under eye circles, and gently pat it onto the desired area with my finger. 

This product is definitely at the luxury end of the market at £21 for 6ml, however a little goes a long way. Many other beauty bloggers have suggested that Collections Lasting Perfection concealer is a much cheaper alternative, however I've not tried it so couldn't tell you.

Overall I think this concealer is amazing - a little on the pricey side, but in my opinion worth it. It has definitely knocked Boi-ing off my concealer top-spot! 

Product Review: Laura Mercier Silk Crème Foundation, £33

This Laura Mercier foundation is definitely not a cheap option at £33 for 35ml, however it does deliver flawless results and I do think you are getting what you pay for. The formula is rich and creamy and is suitable for pretty much any skin type- I have very dry skin and it works perfectly for me and my sister has oily skin and also loves the foundation. It is oil free and according to Laura Mercier it ‘leaves skin hydrated and protected with a radiant, timeless glow’.

The coverage is full and buildable and leaves skin feeling smooth and flawless. Laura Mercier recommends applying the foundation using a sponge or your fingers, however I prefer to use the Real Techniques Stippling Brush and buff the foundation gently into my skin to create an airbrushed finish. The foundation is highly concentrated and pigmented so a little really does go a long way, I’ve had mine for about six months and I’d say there is still over half left. The packaging is great to slip easily into your make up bag and is easy to dispense the correct amount of foundation.

The only criticism I would have about this foundation is the limited colour range, mine is in Soft Ivory which is too pale for me at the minute (I bought it in mid-winter and I've been on a few holidays since then!) so I have to mix with a dark tinted moisturiser when I want to wear it. Other than that I think this foundation is one of my favourites to date and would recommend to anyone wanting a full coverage foundation. 

Products Mentioned: 

Laura Mercier - http://www.lauramercier.com/store/shop/Apply%20Foundation_Silk%20Cr%C3%A8me%20Foundation_prod210057

Where to get in UK:
House of Fraser -http://www.houseoffraser.co.uk/Laura+Mercier+Silk+Creme+Foundation/D114407,default,pd.html
John Lewis - http://www.johnlewis.com/laura-mercier-silk-cr-me-foundation/p37673
Space NK- http://uk.spacenk.com/silk-creme-foundation/MUK163440553.html

Real Techniques Stippling Brush- http://realtechniques.com/shop-collection/your-finish-perfected/stippling-brush