Simple Morning Skin Care Routine – Spring 2020

It has been a while since I last did a skin care routine.  I have completely changed the products that I use since my last one and this is what I have settled on and been using for a little while now. My skin has improved so much since I found this routine and it is so simple. I do love trying new things so I have got a new toner arriving shortly as I ordered through someone I know who is a Body Shop Rep. 

Tesco Kind & Pure Cleansing Micellar Water 

OMOROVICZA Queen of Hungary Mist

 

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream

 

What products have you found help your skin?

Love, Minnie xoxo 

My Favourite Daily Makeup [updated]

Hello my beauties, 

Since posting my last daily makeup routine, which would have been last year, I have noticed that my makeup has reduced dramatically, especially on the days where I work. If you do not know, I am a lawyer and work Monday-Friday.  I have to be professional at work and therefore, makeup has to appear to be natural.

There is also a couple of other reasons for my reduced daily makeup routine:

1. Moving in with Mark means that we have had to combine two flats worth of stuff into one, this means a lot less storage.
2. It is summer – I went away in spring and actually came back with an amazing tan so didn’t wear makeup for a while, I am back wearing makeup again but I am embracing the warm summer weather and my slight tan.

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So, this is what is currently loving in my makeup bag…

Too Faced Hangover Primer

I have been using this every day for about two weeks, with or without makeup and you can find my first impressions here. 

 

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara 

I have had this mascara in my collection for a couple of months and I am not going to lie, I wasn’t a fan at first.  I let it dry out a little bit and now I am really enjoying using it. It makes my lashes have so much more volume even if it is a little messy to apply. 

 

Clinque Even Better Foundation

This foundation has been a staple item in my collection for a few years now, I don’t wear foundation everyday but when I do it is this one. It is the one foundation that I always go back to and never have any problems with. It makes my skin look even and fresh as well as causing no issues for my sensitive skin.  I am currently using it with a real techniques brush for ease.

No 7 Airbrush Away Primer

I have done a review of this and you will have seen that it is almost empty.  I have stopped using it as my regular primer now it has been replaced by the Too Faced Hangover however, I really do enjoy mixing a very small amount with my foundation. It seems to make the foundation go on effortlessly and leaves a really nice natural effect.  I may re-purchase this just for this sole reason.

What are your favourite every day makeup products?

Love, Minnie xoxo 

 

[First impressions] Too Faced Hangover Primer

Happy Monday!

I hope that you all had a good weekend, Mark was away this weekend so I had the weekend on my own. I met my mum for some shopping and lunch and generally relaxed.

I have been wanting to try the Too Faced Hangover Primer for a while and Mark bought it for me last week while we were in Oxford for the day.  I would have purchased the travel sized to try however, he bought me the full sized at £26.00.  I picked it up in the Too Faced store, Oxford but I know that you can purchase it online at many retailers.

On first impressions, the packaging is very cute and I would have probably been tempted to purchase it even if that wasn’t the reason we went into the Too Faced store.  It has a little pump too which actually better than other primers that I have used where they are squeeze tubes.

I have been using the primer every day since I purchased, especially as my No. 7 Airbrush Away has recently run out.  I have been using two/ three pumps either under my foundation or just all over my face if I am not wearing foundation.

The consistency is thicker than the airbrush away but I feel that it really does make your skin look refreshed – with or without makeup.  Although my skin has cleared up slightly recently, I do not think I would have gone makeup free without this product.

My makeup seems to last longer to and my skin looks and feels great. It is very hydrating too and I have had no issues with my sensitive skin.

I will do a full review once I have been using the product for long however, I have a feeling that this will be a firm favourite of mine.

Have your tried this primer?

Love, Minnie xoxo

 

[Book] Everything I know about Love – Dolly Alderton

Happy Friday!

Once again, I must apologise for the lack of posts this week.  It has been a busy week at work.

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I have been a massive Dolly Alderton fan since discovering the High Low Podcast, which I listen to weekly now.  I followed Dolly on Twitter and discovered that she had also fairly recently written a book, so I jumped straight on Amazon and ordered.  I was so busy that it took me a while to read it but when I started I finished it within 24 hours.  I had seen that she was doing a tour and so as soon as I finished the book, I jumped online only to find that it had sold out.  This will teach me for being too slow.

Dolly was a dating columnist and is more generally a single 20 something living in London.  The book starts with her first experience of boys at school and moves through University and life generally. I laughed and cried at parts of the book and so much of it related to my actually experience with London and spending some of my 20s single. I have recommended this book to so many of my friends who are also going through or have been through the same.  It focus not only on relationships but also how she found herself and the love that she has for her friends, which is also very important.

The book includes life tips, funny dating stories, life with her friends, text conversations and even hangover food ideas.

Where to buy? 

I ordered this book on Amazon.

It is hardback though so may not be best for a beach book.

Who?

Any adult however, I think maybe more females in their 20s or 30s but it is suitable for older readers too.

How much? 

£7.99

My rating? 

5/5

Have you read this book?

 

Love, Minnie xoxo

 

 

 

 

[Review] Revolution Pro Foundation Drops

hello!

You may have noticed or not that I didn’t post yesterday.  I have been posting regularly on a Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and some Sundays.  I have found that it is often too difficult to have a post ready to go for Monday morning after a busy weekend away from a computer so I am planning on changing the upload days to Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday to see how I get on.

So, todays post is my review of the Revolution Pro Foundation Drops, which I did a first impressions of here.  The more I wear this foundation, the more I love it.  I have noticed with continued use that it is easy to wear a little of it for low coverage which can be built up with concealer‎ or it can be built up alone to a good medium coverage. In the last six months, my skin has been on a real journey and for the first time in that period, I am comfortable without the need for foundation everyday so this is perfect for me as it can be applied for a very light coverage or built up on days where it is needed or I am heading out. This may be my new favourite foundation.

It is not a matte foundation and therefore, it leaves my skin glowy and fresh looking.  I have also not had any additional breakouts due to the foundation which is always a good thing for me.  It lasts most of my working day without any touch up – 12 hours of wear- however, if I am heading out after work a small touch up is needed but nothing too drastic. 

It is £7.00 for 18ml of the product and can be purchased at Superdrug. They have 18 shades and it is easy to colour match online however, I recommend a trip to the shop if you can. I will be purchasing the darker shade however, I have not been tanning lately due to the heat and my natural tan is taking a while to appear.

It is foundation drops so can be a little messy.  I drop them onto my hand and use a brush to then apply to the face.  I have seen people apply direct to their face or direct to the brush.  I do think all methods would work.  I really like the packaging, it is small and fits easily into a makeup bag.

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What it claims:

“Create a silky, breathable base with Revolution PRO Foundation Drops. 
In 18 skin-true shades, this ultra-lightweight, water-based formula creates an undetectable finish on all skin tones. Use a few drops for a sheer wash of colour or layer up to build natural looking medium coverage.”

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Pros

• it is very affordable
• easily accessible – Superdrug or online
• good for sensitive skin – no breakouts
• good medium coverage which can be build up
• is not too heavy on the skin
• long-lasting
• easy to apply
• 18 shades in the range
• fresh looking skin

Cons 

• messy application
• only 18ml of product rather than the usual 30ml

 

What is your favourite foundation?

 

Love, Minnie xoxo 

 

Revolution Pro Foundation Drops

Revolution Pro Founcation Drops

[First Impressions] Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter

Hello

This is one of the samples that came with the foundation I ordered a few months ago. I left it in my beauty draw and ended up completely forgetting about it until I had a mini clear out recently. I hadn’t heard much about this at the time but it does keep popping up on Instagram etc. now.

It claims to be

“a customisable complexion booster with the versatility of a primer, the mega-watt glow of a highlighter, and the perfecting properties of your favourite digital filter. Ingredients help to soft-focus, illuminate skin and makes lines and pores appear smoother.”

Essentially, it claims to do a bit of everything.

So, I decided to try this out under my work makeup and see how it held up all day and this is how I found it.  I think you can also wear it over your foundation, however, for me I decided to try it under the foundation especially as I was at work.  The foundation I used was Revolution Pro Foundation Drops.

N.B: I do my makeup for work at 6:15am and I don’t get home from work until 6:30pm so this is about 12 hours of standard wear. 

My sample came in the shade ‘2/light’ which is the shade that I would pick if I was buying and the full size costs £30.00, which means that it has to be amazing for that price for me to consider buying it.

Application 

Okay, so I really didn’t know what to expect but it was a bit like applying a tinted moisturizer. It definitely improved the skin tone and removed any redness that my skin had.  A little also went a long way and I found that I didn’t actually need much of the sample to go under my makeup.  I think that you could use more on holiday etc. without any other face products.  I may try this at the weekend, if I have enough left.

I then applied my foundation, which I don’t think I applied as much as I usually do, given that there was already a layer of something on my skin however, my foundation applied well and I upped the coverage with concealer.  I didn’t notice that the foundation had the WOW factor in applying as normal but I think that this was because I had already evened out the skin tone.

Before work 

My pores definitely appeared smoother and my makeup looked more ‘finished’ and glowy but my skin could still breathe.  It didn’t seem like I had applied an extra layer of foundation or anything like that. The difference wasn’t too noticable and no one mentioned anything.  I work in an office where makeup changes are noticed quickly. 

Lunch time – 1pm 

By this point I am not sure I like how my face looks close up but I do like it from a distance. It looks refreshed and glowy.  My makeup has stayed on all day so no complaints so far.

Home time – 6:30pm 

My make up still looked okay and I probably could have carried on wearing it with a small touch up.  It wasn’t as glowy as lunch time but my skin did look refreshed still.

Overall, I prefer my makeup without this underneath.  I am interested to see if this makes a difference on top of my makeup and I think it would be good for holidays when you I don’t usually wear makeup but need something to even out my skin tone etc. I do not think I will rush to buy the full size version but will maybe look at this again before my next holiday.

Have you tried this product?

 

Love, Minnie xoxo 

 

 

Empties #1

Hello and Hello Friday!

I have been trying to keep hold of my empties recently, it is hard living in a small flat with not much space, so it is something I am working on.  I now have a few things – it seems to take me ages to finish anything – so I decided I would ease myself in gently starting an Empties Series.

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Charlotte Tilbury Magic foundation

I purchased this when my skin was at its worse. I liked that Charlotte Tilbury have the amazing Magic Cream and expected this to be good for my skin.  Now there was nothing wrong with this and I did use it constantly for a while, in that time my skin didn’t improve but I don’t think it caused any more breakouts.  I found that the coverage was not great so I stopped using it so much and mixed it with other foundations. It did not make my skin look amazing either.  I think this would be good for a holiday where you want a light touch of makeup. It is also expensive for what it is.

Re-purchase: maybe at some point but not right away 

Superdrug Coconut Kiss Dry Shampoo

I did a whole review of this on my blog a few weeks ago.  You will remember that I hated this dry shampoo it is probably the worst one that I have tried. It didn’t get any better and I am thankful that it has now run out. I am on the hunt for a new one this weekend so if you have any recommendations, please let me know?

Re-purchase: No !!! 

Superdrug hot cloth cleanser

This is my love! I love this and also did a review which you can find here! I still love it and had a back up even before I had finished. I can’t imagine using anything else on my skin now and I think I use it even more than I did when I wrote my review.  I have found myself craving this when it has been hot or after a night out.  The only negative I have now discovered is that it is hard to travel with as the cloth is wet after use.

Re-purchase: Yes – already have! 

Miss Babyroll Mascara

I think I reviewed this last year and have been using it on and off since.   I have finally used it up. I still like it and the way it makes my lashes look. It is also affordable and doesn’t cause any issues for my sensitive eyes. I am keen to try out other drug store mascaras so I will not re-purchase this one straight away.

Re-purchase: maybe in the future 

I hope that you all have a nice weekend.

Love, Minnie xoxo 

July Birchbox

Happy Sunday my beauties 

This month’s Birchbox came earlier this month as I didn’t have to make a trip to the sorting office.  I am excited to try this months products although, I did ask for the Mannakadar in the Bronzer shade not the blush one which arrived.  I am hoping that this does suit my skin tone but I will give it a try.

I am also excited to try the Beauty Pro Eye Therapy mask as I love anything with Green Tea. I am still also on the hunt for a good serum and the description of the Balance Me Congested Skin Serum sounds perfect for my blemish prone skin.

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BeautyPro EYE THERAPY Under Eye Mask with Collagen and Green Tea extract

A few too many late nights leaving eyes a little tired? This nourishing treatment could be the answer! The hydrogel patch minimises fine lines, puffiness, shadows and dryness while increasing elasticity. Hello pretty peepers!

Balance Me Congested Skin Serum

Yikes – you have a spot, a blemish, a breakout! Don’t panic. Help is at hand in the form of Balance Me’s Congested Skin Serum – a skin saviour that smells so good it feels like a luxury treatment rather than an SOS (and it’s suitable for ALL skin types!). Containing the brand’s bespoke, high grade pure aromatherapy blend of Roman chamomile, anti-bacterial may change, calming lavender and eucalyptus that they’ve expertly suspended in a light, non-greasy petroleum free gel of organic aloe vera and spruce knot, it’s a non-drying, skin fixing must-have. Also great for restoring skin’s natural balance – when you really feel like your skin needs a reboot – this is the serum for that too.

Manna Kadar Paradise Blush

Brighten up pale complexions or add a pop to darker skin with this beautiful blush. The highly pigmented powder glides on smoothly for easy application, and leaves a subtle shimmer for a warm glow.

What’s in it for me..? Shower Scrub

Buff away dry skin with this uplifting shower scrub. Packed full of natural ingredients, walnut shell naturally exfoliates, sweet almond oil rejuvenates the skin, while orange and jasmine flower leave you smelling divine!

Eyeko Fat Eye Stick

Add a little glam to every make-up look with these glossy eye sticks. The twist-up pencils are great for a low maintenance smokey eye or an easy wash of colour – and the shimmering shades are perfect for both day and night!

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What did you get in your Birchbox this month?

 

Love, Minnie xoxo 

 

Superdrug & Revolution Pro Mini Haul

Hello

I had absolutely loads in my Superdrug online basket last week and lost it all before I got around to ordering and then forgot half of the stuff I wanted to buy. Nightmare! This therefore, a smaller haul than I expected but I thought I’d show you what I bought.  I may also remember the items I wanted to buy and actually purchase them so a part 2 may be coming soon.

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Superdrug Coconut Oil with Argan Oil

I saw this recommended on a blog – or YouTube video so thought I would give it a go. I am planning on using it as a hair mask at the weekend so I will update you as to how I get on.  It can however, also be used as conditioner or on skin.  It is usually £2.49 but I purchased it on an offer where it was reduced to £1.65 – either way it is super affordable.

 

Revolution Conceal and Define Concealer

I have only ever heard amazing things about this concealer but every time I have tried to purchase in store it has been out of stock.  I decided to colour match online and luckily I think I did well with C4.  If I like this, I will purchase additional shades too in order to see how they work as a contour etc.  This was £4.00 so again every affordable.

Revolution Pro Foundation Drops

You may remember that I was loving The Ordinary Serum Foundation – I still do love it.  I did find however, that I like a bit more coverage some days! I have now run out of Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation after realising that this worked well with The Ordinary one to provide additional coverage, but I did not want to spend as much by re-purchasing.  I have also only seen amazing reviews of this Revolution Pro Foundation so decided it was time to try.  I colour matched again online and happy with F4 from what I have seen so far. I think I will pick up the shade darker for when I am tanned.  It is only £7.00 so I feel that this is justified having two or more.

I have actually already worn this to the cinema Wednesday night so a first impressions post will be up shortly.

 

Revolution Pro Liquid Drop Foundation Brush

It was three for two on selected make up items at Superdrug when I ordered and therefore, I felt I had to purchase something else.  I really could not remember what was in my basket before so decided to have a look at other things included in the deal.  I settled on this Revolution Pro Brush which is actually designed for the foundation I picked up.  It does look really good and is only £7.00.  This meant that I actually received the concealer for free – bonus!

p.s yes I forgot to take a photo of the brush before using it – it has only been used once in the photo below.

What are your favourite Revolution Pro products?

Love, Minnie xoxo 

[Review] amika Bombshell Blowout Spray

This arrived in my June Birchbox and the first time I used it – I was not impressed.  But, as with all things I know first impressions cannot be accurate so I decided to give it another go!

The second time I used this, I was very impressed.  I didn’t spray direct onto my hair but instead into my hands and rubbed it through my hair.  I then blow dried as normal.  My hair dried straight and quick. It also has a beaut smell.  I noticed that my hair had a lot more volume following this and then as usual, I tied my hair up and went to bed.

I usual straighten my hair the first day after a wash.  However, the best bit about this spray was that my hair did not need a straighten as it looked nice just blow dried. My hair is still super soft too.

I had a free small bottle with Birchbox but they are usually £14.99.  I would say that a little appears to go a long way so I will look into purchasing this when my sample has run out.

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What it claims:

What it is:
A lightweight, volumizing blowout spray with heat protection for massive, long-lasting volume, body, and texture.

Key benefits:
– Creates volume, body, and texture
– Provides heat protection
– Returns moisture to hair

If you want to know more…
Brooklyn Bombshell Blowout Volume Spray delivers incredible volume, texture, and body to hair for the ultimate blowout. It uses lightweight polymers to plump the look of hair and provide body, without the extra weight or stiffness. Use it before blow-drying to create extra texture and lift, with a weightless layer of heat protection. You can also use it on dry hair, as a re-styler. The result is hair with lightweight, touchable hold and massive volume.

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
– Sulfates
– Phthalates

What else you need to know:
This product is free of artificial colors, petrochemicals, sodium chloride, and MCIT. It is also cruelty-free, gluten-free, and safe for color-treated, Brazilian-treated, and keratin-treated hair.

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Pros 

• Adds a lot more volume to hair
• No need for styling as much after use
• Hair dried quick
• Smells so good
• Not too heavy on the hair
• available online
• Not too expensive

Cons

• Cannot use too much or it makes your hair feel like straw
• I have only seen this available online
• It is not the cheapest product – I have used good hair oils for less

Have you tried this?

Love, Minnie xoxo