Summer Beauty Favourites

I rarely get around to writing favourites posts but the above products have been getting daily use this summer and I decided they are worth mentioning. We have had some rare hot weather up in the Highlands this summer which has caused me to alter my beauty routine and dig out some summer favourites as well as pick up some new products.

Malibu SPF 15 Clear Hair and Scalp Protector

This is my first year of using this product but it will not be my last! I can't believe I haven't had this before; it's such a lifesaver! Every year I suffer with the sun because I am pale and have very Scottish skin which refuses to do anything other than burn. I am careful with suncream and usually manage to stay white rather than red but I always end up with a burnt scalp! Short of wearing a hat everyday, I have never been able to solve this problem and, instead, had a red parting all summer. This product is amazing and has totally fixed my problems! I spray this into my parting when my hair is wet and then blow dry it. This keeps my scalp totally protected from the sun and it hasn't been burnt all summer! It smells nice, doesn't leave my hair greasy and was some brilliant price around the £3 mark!

Estée Lauder Double Wear

I won't go on about this one as you all know what a great product this is! I had stopped using it for a while, simply due to the high price tag, but recently repurchased and haven't looked back since! It's the only thing which will last all day in this weather and that's worth the cash for me!

Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream

I reviewed this recently and I was impressed but not sure how much use I would actually get from it. The answer is: lots! I use this product in two ways. Usually I apply a little allover my face as a base for my double wear. This product evens skin tone like nothing else I have tried and means I can use half my usual amount of DW - saving me money! However, on the particularly hot days I have been wearing this alone; a brave move for me as I usually like a full coverage product. This is light on the skin, allowing it to breath, but also has a decent amount of coverage to hide any imperfections! A brilliant product and definitely on the repurchase list.

 

Phil Smith Be Gorgeous Hot Stuff Heat Defence Spray*

Regular readers of my blog will already be more than aware that I am obsessed with this product. I am now on my 3rd bottle and I just haven't tired of it yet! During these warmer months I actually apply it to my hair before and after blow drying, giving my hair a little protection from the heat of the sun. This smells amazing and keeps my fine hair in great condition without weighing it down or causing greasiness. Get yourselves to Sainsbury's and buy some!

 

Revlon Nearly Naked Pressed Powder

This is my favourite powder at the moment and has been keeping me matte all summer. This is a finely milled powder meaning it isn't obvious on the skin and doesn't become cakey. I also don't need to apply this throughout the day and find that application in the morning is enough. From a packaging point of view, although this is rather bulky I do like that it has it's own mirror and use this when applying it every day.

 

Urban Decay Naked Basics

Not just a summer favourite, I have actually been using this daily since January and I am a huge fan! For a daily work look I use WOS on the lid, Naked 2 in the crease, Venus in the inner corner and Foxy on the brow bone. For an evening look I use Naked 2 on the lid, Faint in the crease, Crave in the outer corner, Venus in the inner corner and Foxy on the brow bone. Given that I have used this every day for 6 months, the small usuage visible is incredible! These last all day, even without primer, and are lovely to apply and really workable. The palette is much handier to use than the Naked palettes due to it's small size and the mirror is also great for quick and easy application.

What have you been loving this summer?

 

 

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W7 - Eyeshadows, Blush and Setting Spray - Reviews

W7 is not a brand I have tried many products of but always hear good things about. I live in a small city and have never seen any shops that stock W7. A few months ago I was shopping in Glasgow where I came across a stockist and bought my first products from the range. I loved the funky packaging and the good quality for the price. I also like that W7 make a lot of dupes for high end cult products.

Recently I was lucky enough to be sent some products to sample and get to know the W7 range a little better.

Perfect Eyes Matte Shadow in Sandy and Silver Bullet £3.95 each*

I absolutely love the packaging of these little shadows and it actually reminds me a lot of MAC. They are a great wee size for slipping in my makeup bag and the casing is very sturdy. These shades were selected for me but are totally things that I would pick for myself. Sandy is a gorgeous light gold, great for either a day time look or adding some shimmer to an evening eye. Silver Bullet is a lovely icy white which is great for highlighting and using in the inner corner. The shadows are well pigmented, apply easily and blend well. They are slightly chalky but still very workable and great for the price.

Smooth Blush in Heart Throb £4.95*

I love the packing of this blush and the pan is such a great size because I like using a big blush brush. This shade looks really different to that shown on the website but it's a lovely colour when worn. This product is a lovely warm shade and can be blended out easily to give a natural, flushed look.

 

The Fixer Face Spray £4.95*

I am not overly keen on setting sprays so will likely give this to a friend. It feels lovely on the skin when applied and is very refreshing. This is heavily fragranced which I'm not keen on for a facial product but it's actually quite a nice scent. If you are looking for a setting spray then this is a great one to get you started as the prize is great.

What's your favourite W7 product?

*PR Samples

 

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MAC Lipstick - Morange - Review

This will just be a quick post but given this is such a talked about MAC shade, I thought it was worth mentioning.

Like most beauty fans, I like MAC lipsticks however I don't actually own many. This is my third with my first two being Shy Girl and Pink Noveau. I love the two I already have and wear them often. Shy Girl is a lovely nude, great for everyday wear and not at all drying on the lips. Pink Noveau is a perfect bright pink which is my favourite for nights out. The colour is also really long lasting.

I picked up Morange because I saw it on Cohorted and thought it was worth the plunge!

As with all MAC lipsticks, the packaging is gorgeous and the formulae is lovely. The colour however, I'm not too sure about! I want to embrace the orange trend but I'm just not sure my skintone can handle it!

I wore this lipstick on a recent birthday dinner for a friend and I just wasn't convinced and haven't worn it since!

If you have any tips on how to make this a little more wearable then please let me know!

 

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Living Nature Foundation and Concealer - Review

I have tried Living Nature skincare products in the past and always really enjoyed them. They are a high quality company with great values and lovely packaging. Recently I posted a photo of their exfoliator on Instagram and was overwhelmed at how many responses I got. Everyone was telling me how fantastic their makeup products were and that I needed to try them! As you can imagine, I was then delighted when I was invited to try some Living Nature makeup products and jumped at the chance. Usually when using products I opt for lipsticks or blush but I decided to be more adventurous and choose a foundation and concealer to review. I am so glad that I did!

Firstly the packaging of the products. I love the foundation bottle, it's a frosted glass which looks lovely on my dresser. The other great thing about this product is the applicator. This bottle has a pump meaning, unlike many foundations at the moment, the product doesn't need to be poured out and a little can be used easily. The pump locks by twisting it, meaning it won't leak in your makeup bag. The concealer is in a small tube with a long thing nozzle which also allows for easy application. I think the concealer would benefit from being clear to allow the shade to be easily seen.

My foundation shade is Pure Buff and my concealer is in Light. I can't remember if I chose these from the website or if they were selected for me but these are an excellent match for my skintone and I am very impressed.

I primed my face using a little SPF moisturiser as usual, rubbing it right into my face so it is totally absorbed. Next I dispensed a little of the foundation onto my fingers tips. The product needs shaken before use yet is still very watery! Beware as I was taken by surprise and ended up with it running down my wrist! When I realised the consistency I started to apply tiny amounts to my fingers tips then dab this straight onto my face. Like I usually do, I spread the foundation out evenly around my face and then used my Real Techniques Expert Face Brush to buff the product to a flawless finish.

As you can see above, my skin is rough at the moment! I have loads of chin breakouts that nothing seems to be clearing up. After one application, I would have gone out but I decided to build it up just to see what kind of coverage this foundation is capable of. I then used the concealer on my spots and under my eyes. The concealer is quite a thick consistency and great for blemishes. It also smells really nice!

I have normal skin which is prone to chin breakouts. This foundation claims to be medium coverage which I would agree with but also say it's buildable. After taking the last photo above, I applied a little setting powder and would say this was probably a mistake. The powder seemed to make the finish a little cakey and the product didn't really need it anyway as it dried to quite a powdery finish.

On initial application of this product I was ridiculously impressed! I would honestly liken this foundation to my Estée Lauder Double Wear in terms of coverage and finish. But I was keen to see how it would last throughout the day.

I had a fairly light day on the first day that I tested this out. I did some housework, ran some errands and was outside in mild and then wet weather. When I came to remove this, some 13 hours later, I found that most of it was completely intact! Had I been going out anywhere, I may have touched up the concealer as the redness of my spots was showing through but the rest of my face was as if I had just applied it!

As I mentioned, I applied the concealer to both my spots and my under eyes. The product is thick and covered the spots well. It didn't feel drying or cakey and, as I mentioned, had a lovely smell. Since the first application I have avoided using this under the eyes as it is just a little too thick for my liking for this purpose.

At £28 for the foundation and £21 for the concealer these are by no means cheap. However you get what you pay for and these are extremely impressive products; high quality and natural!

For more information or to purchase, visit www.livingnature.com and www.botanicalbrands.com

*PR Samples

 

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Bee Good - Cleansing Water, Hand-cream and Lip-balm

If you are a regular reader of my blog then you will have seen my recent review of the Bee Good Cream Cleanser. I was impressed! Firstly the packaging of the product was beautiful but, beyond that, the company is so feel good with it's natural ingredients and commitment to work with British bees. I have been using the cleanser daily since and love everything from the scent to the softness of my skin after use. With all that in mind, I jumped at the chance to sample a few more products from the range.

All of these products came in the brown corrugated cardboard packets as before - different sizes depending on the size of the bottle. They all had the bee ribbon and the label as shown above. The label is one of the nicest touches of the packaging and something I instantly fell in love with. The message is printed on special paper which can be ripped up and planted to grow wild flowers which attract bees!

Now on to the products themselves:

Honey & Wild Water Mint 3-in-1 Cleansing Water £10*

I love cleansing waters and use them every night in my skincare routine. I usually use them to remove my makeup before I properly cleanse my face and not instead of a cleanser. The product claims to remove makeup, cleanse and tone the skin with no need for water. I wear a lot of makeup and I like to complete these steps individually so I don't use this product as a 3-in-1 but it is capable of this and I would perhaps use only this if I was in a rush or had worn little or no makeup that day. I soak 2 cotton pads in this product and sweep it over my face, including my eyes, to remove the bulk of the products from my skin. This cleanser is incredibly sensitive to the eye area and it's honestly like wiping water over my eyes. It's not heavily scented but does have a slight minty smell. This does a lovely job of makeup removal and leaves skin very smooth. I would be tempted to still use eyemakeup remover as it can take a few pads of this to remove stubborn waterproof mascara.

Honey, Borage & Echium Intensive Hand Repair £12*

As I have mentioned before, I am a sucker for a handcream! I don't actually have dry patches on my hands, I just like to keep them soft and hope it will aid me when my skin starts to show signs of aging. I love the packaging of this. It's really compact meaning it would be great for having in a bag, very sturdy and unlikely to leak and has a pump for easy application. Bee Good make a daily hand cream also however the one I have is the intensive hand repair. I keep a hand cream in my bag and one next to my bed and this has become my bedside product. This cream is amazing. On application you can instantly feel this cream working. It's thick but absorbs well and leaves a residue which is waxy but not sticky at all. It has a lovely, light scent which is sweet and floral. I almost wish that I didn't love this so much because it would be a great cream to pass on to my sister. She is a chef and her hands are always suffering from burns and cuts and are looking pretty battered! She is always looking for a decent hand cream and this would definitely be a good one for her!

Vanilla & Honey Lip Balm £4.75*

I love the packaging of this lipbalm and always love a balm that applies in one of these squeezy tubes. It took me a good few days of using this to get it to work for me. The formulae is lovely and this has a nice vanilla scent however I found it absorbed quickly into the lips leaving me feeling like I needed to apply it often. I like my lips to have product on them so that they almost slide together. This product is conditioning and absorbs rather than leaving a residue. To make this work for me I have been applying it as a moisturising base for lipstick or at night time. It works well for both purposes. During the day I use this sparingly, patting it into my lips before applying colour. At night time I apply a thick layer, almost like a mask, and wake up with super soft lips. This is also a great priced product and would make a nice gift.

Having tried a large selection of the range I am completely impressed! These products are high end quality but without the price tags.

For more information or to purchase, visit the webiste:

beegood.co.uk

*PR Samples

 

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Docteur Renaud’s New Mango Hand & Nail Repair Cream - Review

I would consider myself a little obsessed with hand cream. I began using it regularly a few years ago when I read about ageing hands being the first thing to give a woman's age away. I am 26 and this isn't a very relevant problem but, even still, I have been applying it several times a day since. So much so I recently recieved a card from a pupil which read: Keep Calm and Use Handcream ...... they know me well!

Recently I have filled my obsession by using the new Mango Hand and Nail Repair Cream from Dr Renaud*. With impressive ingredients such as mango oil, mango butter and shea butter; this product is guaranteed to nourish the skin. It also contains vitamin B6 and pro vitamin B5 of help strengthen nails. The product is also paraben free and suitable for all skin types.

Packaging is fairly important in a handcream because they are so likely to get carried about. Personally I have one in my handbag at all times and it gets tossed about and squashed by other things and the last thing I want is a leakage! This cream is in a lovely peach coloured tube; sturdy and with a tight fitting lid that hasn't shown signs of budging yet.

The tube contains a large 75ml of product which will last a considerable amout of time, even with my regular usuage, because a little goes a long way. The photo above is actually too much for one application and I ended up having to put some on my friend! Go for a pea sized amount with this one.

I have never been a huge fan of sweet fruity smells and I can't say I am overly keen on this one. My friend however thought it was lovely and I do like that of isn't overpowering. When absorbed into the skin it leaves a lovely subtle mango scent which I enjoy.

I don't actually have dry patches on my hands, just tightness after washing, however I can imagine this would be lovely and soothing for dry areas. The cream applies quite thickly and has quite a waxy consistency when being massaged in which means it instantly soothes the skin. It absorbs quickly and isn't sticky at all. After application I can still feel the product on my skin in the form of a light residue but it isn't greasy and doesn't transfer, not even onto my touchscreens.

At £13.50 this is a fairly pricey hand cream but worth it in that it will last a long time and the ingredients are worth boasting about.

For more information or to purchase, see the website:

www.doctor-renaud.co.uk

*PR Sample

 

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Balance Me Summer Competition - Beauty Voyage

A quick post from me today but I really wanted to tell you all about this great compeition that Balance Me are running for summer! The idea is to take a holiday snap with one of your Balance Me products and post it to Twitter or Facebook! Every week throughout July and August there will be 2 winners picked who will recieve a selection of lovely products! How easy is that!

If you are lucky enough to be going abroad then use the hashtag #balancemeaway and if you are having a wee staycation then use #balancemehome

I would love to see your pics so tag me in them too @thepowderednose

In case I haven't explained it well, see the flyer below!

Balance Me have kindly send me this Cleanse and Smooth Face Balm £10* to get me started on the compeition! I went camping at the weekend but forgot to take a snap so I will have to get my entry in on my next trip!

Good luck everyone!

*PR Sample

 

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