Magic moisture mist

During the times of desperation to cool down what do you do? It's not always easy to jump into a cool shower or a cold pool - ever heard of a moisture mist ? Well, let me tell you why I love this moisture mist & the benefits of it compared to water - yes compared to water. 

I have sensitive skin, leaning more towards dry-combination type majority of the year it's combination. 

During the warmer weathers my skin becomes sticky and sometimes oily, if I am out in the heat my make up would budge especially when am out on a photoshoot - constantly building up make up does not look good most of the time, not to mention the clogging up pores has a massive afterwards effect. When the skin is hot you need to cool it down before it burns or becomes irritated.

I have tried various brands of a moisture-type mist sprays but this one is my number one. I love the unique filter it is, the dewy finish it gives my skin, the price, it's super long lasting, safe for my family to use, the shape of the bottle and most of all, the way it feels on my skin.

For 250ml it lasts me for a few months and I use it every single day from head to toe. I love using it after a shower and after my hair is washed, it makes my hair feel nourished when it's air dried. Very effective when I use the hair dryer - results are fabulous !

Nu skin has a moisture mist called NaPCA spray - it is my holy grail product all year round! I have been using it for over 2 years now, I take a bottle with me everywhere I go and it's wonderful when I go travelling especially when am on the plane - it can help eyes de-puff! 

Pros:

• holds make up all day

• stops itching skin perfect for people with dry skin

• alcohol free

• scent free

• Suitable for men and women

• Leaves skin feeling refreshes

• Dries within seconds - no need to wipe off 

• Contains hyaluronic acid

• unique filter that releases fine streaks of the product allowing it to distribute evenly 

Con:

• only comes as one size over 100ml therefore cannot take it on the plane - I transfer it to a smaller travel bottle to use on the plane

This beauty contains HA or also known as hyaluronic acid which is a key ingredient in the anti-ageing world. It is an effective humectant that helps maintain ideal moisture levels, better than water hence why sometimes our skin dries after a shower and needing to apply a moisturiser. The moisture mist also contains  humectant sodium PCA which helps to stabilise the moisture levels on the skin.

Simple to use, just a simple spray across the face or arms or body, within seconds the product will dry and help restore that moisture loss on to the skin.

A lot of skin care products contain a mineral oil which is suppose to bind and support the skin, I did an experiment to see what the mineral oil actually does to the skin vs NaPCA moisture mist. By doing this I used 2 dried apricots from my local supermarket and soaked one bottle of bio oil and the other one with NaPCA. Results were amazing, within a few hours I understood why mineral oil was doing nothing for my skin vs NaPCA moisture mist helped restore the moisture loss in my skin. 

These have been in the bottles for over 2 years now - why don't you try it yourself with nothing to lose?

If you're interested in purchasing this product contact me for more details, Nu skin products can only be sold by a Nu Skin distributor and I am one of them. 

I have not been paid to review this, it has all been purchased with my own money and my honest opinion. 

Eyes

Ever woken up to puffy or tired looking eyes and having enough sleep the night before?

The skin around the eyes is very delicate as it's very thin and sensitive, your eyes can tell people how tired your body is or if you have allergies, increased salt intake, not enough sleep or crying. 

The main reason why I had this result in my eyes would probably from the meal I had the previous day...... I had a Christmas dinner from work (Thank You NHS for the free meal) and although even choosing the healthier option, lean meat and vegetables, there was still a lot of salt in that meal. This was my result due to mainly water retention, lack of sleep from the previous nights, and dealing with stress. Even after having 8-9 hours sleep! I couldn't believe for the whole entire day I had to walk around with these tired looking puffy eyes.

14-12-13 top photo
15-12-13 bottom photo

night on 14-12-13 after a face galvanic treatment

I didn't feel tired but I did do 3 x 12.5 hour shifts at the hospital and I was travelling up to Liverpool for lunch but I did ensure I had enough sleep the night before, which was 8-9 hours in total.

In those photos above I had make up on, just my tinted moisturiser, eyeshadow and mascara. I didn't want to over-do the face with too much make up on as it would make me look even more 'tired' when I didn't feel like I was.

So when I got home, I used my face galvanic machine to draw out the excess fluid and draw out the toxins from my face and also draining the facial lymph nodes.

On the right is my face make up free after a facial galvanic treatment. My eyes are less puffy and skin is now completely flawless.
Not only does the facial galvanic give you flawless skin, it also draws out excess fluid and making sure your skin is smooth which is why this is my holy grail beauty accessory!


Please note, my photos have not been altered in any way.

If you're interested in trying a galvanic treatment then feel free to contact me for more details.

XOX

My first Sephora haul

I have never ever been to a Sephora store before in my whole life! But seeing that I am in Utah right now, it was a must that I needed to go purchase a few essentials.

Sephora is one of America's beauty drug store, equipped from every beauty item from top brands to their own collections.

I have hear and seen many reviews on Sephora make up brushes, very popular in the U.S. with good results so I just had to get a few!

I love having a collection of bright coloured nail polishes! Even though I don't often paint my nails, I always paint my toe nails though. 

I managed to get hold of a Marc Jacobs nail polish which I instantly fell in love with the colour which is an orange! I also managed I get hold of Sephora's own collection of polishes in a pinky marble colour with 2 glitter specs.

Super excited to use my brushes as my old ones are literally falling apart! The brushes are soft and look very professional, not so sure how they will be when I start using them though! 

If anyone has any reviews on the brushes, feel free to leave it under my post so I can have a read!

XOX

Nanoblur Review

£19.99 sold at Boots.

We all want miracles for our skin to make us look younger and flawless skin but what do we use or do to achieve that? One product that has been highly raved is this Nanoblur cream and it claims to work in just 40 seconds!! madness!! But I tested it and here are my thoughts!

Nanoblur is a corrector product, used by celebrities such as Cheryl Cole. You either love this or hate this depending on what you can handle on your face.


It is sold in Boots which is a known drug store in the UK, and some high end beauty stores but very rare to find. There are actually 2 versions of this item available, one is the original Nanoblur, and the newer edition can help boost hydration of the skin. This is entirely depending on your skin without the use of any products, will help you decide which one to buy. I have the original item, also my skin varies depending on the climate and products I use on my skin, generally it is dry/normal.

30ml of product

To use:
Apply foundation on the face after your 3 step routine (cleanse, tone & moisturise) then apply the Nanoblur over.


It promises to:

Look up to 10 years younger in 40 seconds or less. This advanced optical cream erases the appearance of skin ageing, lines, wrinkles, crow's feet, sagginess and enlarged pores within seconds without any tint. Essential for meetings, events and dates.


Ingredients:

Water / Aqua / Eau, Adipic acid/Neopentyl Glycol Crosspolymer, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Cyclopentasiloxane, VP/VA Copolymer, Cyclohexasiloxane, Sodium Acrylate/Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Amodimethicone, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Isohexadecane, Polysilicone-11,  Polysorbate 80, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol. 


Pro's:

• tube sits upright on the lid which means gravity helps the lotion come out of the tube
• fills in the lines on the face
• fills in lines/pores
• suitable for male or female
• fragrance free
• consistency is smooth like a primer 
• has a 90 day money back guarantee
• can be worn with or without make up

Con's:

• doesn't work with every single foundation
• not suitable for sensitive/dry skin
• does not make my skin look younger
• not a primer
• makes the face look cakey
• sticky texture
• no SPF 
• no expiry date on the tube
• when the product is dried, it's actually flaky! 
• product is too highly raved
• no clinical tests have been provided

Some people would use this as a primer but it actually isn't, it is more of a corrector.
The texture of this is thick and can be smooth on the skin but it is very sticky and not easy to blend.
I tried this on it's own on the back of my hands and on my face to compare the texture result. I blended it with my BB Cream, tinted moisturisers, and foundations at photo shoots but the skin looks thick and the product ruins the smoothness of my skin.
I have tried :

• using the nanoblur before applying any make up
• using the nanoblur on top of my tinted moisturiser/foundation
• mixed liquid tinted moisturiser with nanoblur
• leaving the Nanoblur to set on my skin for at least 40 seconds as instructed to get the best results. 

But sadly, it made my skin feel heavier, blocking the pores, whitening the face,  however, it did take away the dullness of the face and giving you the younger look by giving the skin the illusion of smoother surface but what does it actually do to your skin underneath?!

You can clearly see the thickness of the Nanoblur when it's blended into my skin

I really dislike the consistency of the product on my face, it literally just sits on my face before or after foundation, and for someone like me who doesn't use liquid foundation but either powdered foundation or tinted moisturiser, this product does not mix well whether it's applied before or after.

I have tried this product in the colder seasons, warm seasons and humid weather, it is far worse in the colder seasons as it makes my skin feel super tight and it is so painful to wash off so I stayed away from it during those climates.

There is no expiry date printed on the product tube therefore you don't know when it needs to be used by or how long you can store it for. Sometimes, products are just left on the shelves and sold at a much cheaper price when it's past it's expiry date! It defeats the object of buying the product as it won't work the way it is advertised so am always conscious of that when it comes to buying products - abit like when you buy food, you need to check if it's in date or not!

Here is my face after I have moisturised my face with SPF moisturising cream as Nanoblur contains no SPF and that's one thing I always look for in a skin product.


Personally it works with no make up on , as it does minimise my enlarges pores but that's about it!
From the first time I used this, it was a disaster but I did continue to use this with different ways of applying products before and after the Nanoblur. I find it doesn't work with any other product including moisturisers which is my major let down as there is no SPF with this product so my skin isn't protected at all!







Here is the Daily Mail article about this product! Quite interesting......



Here I have applied the Nanoblur onto my face before my tinted moisturiser, the skin looks smoother and looks whiter. It doesn't make the skin oily but it does feel thicker and definitely know there is a heavy product just sat on my skin which I dislike!

The instructions on the tube are inadequate. I followed them and found the product too mattifying and lightening for liquid foundation but perfect for mineral makeup?! I disagree!

It claims to make my skin look 10 years younger, my skin was almost flawless at the point of using this product anyway and to make it look 10 years even younger would make me in my teens as I am in my 20's. Total madness as the the claims are pretty outrageous. and I don't expect to look any younger than 18 really! But the idea of looking 10 years younger really did intrigue me!






Here I have applied the Nanoblur, then my tinted moisturiser, as you can see, there is a streak of colour on my cheek, and that was from the Nanoblur not mixing well. In real life, my skin was blotchy and sticky! It felt like glue was on my face and it can be abit tricky to wash off!

I guess this product would work for some and the rest it wont work, one of which is me. I have tried different methods of applying this before/after foundation/tinted moisturiser/foundation powder/no make up.
I was disappointed that it did nothing for me other than make me dislike the product, I followed the trend from celebrities and tried it myself and here is the result!

I won't be purchasing this again, infact I still have a lot of the product left and want to sell it!! If anyone is interested for a fraction of the price - email me!

Laura Mercier Oil Free Tinted Moisturiser Product Review

Tinted moisturisers are a mixture of foundation with moisturiser but, the consistency is not as thick as a foundation, it depends on which brand you are using because some can be the same or heavier. It typically provides light coverage with the aim to be more lightweight than your regular foundation.

 I don't like wearing foundation and haven't used foundation that much in my entire life. I never did believe in using foundation to cover up my flaws, I always believed in skin care more as it is the foundation to good make up for the face. Some may disagree but at the end of the day, I go to sleep without make up on and I want to make sure my skin is as good as I can get it.

Laura Mercier offers quite a wide range of colours for a lot of skin tones and is classes as a high-end brand as it is sold exclusively in known department stores such as John Lewis's, Selfridges, House of Fraser and Debenams as well as online on the website. 

Laura Mercier believes in natural colours in make up, which is why she created the flawless range which includes a  collection of colours for tinted moisturisers and foundations.

I decided to try the tinted moisturiser as it's been popular for a long time and it's always highly recommended on youtube, magazines and people who have used it. 

There are 2 choices of tinted moisturiser, one is for oily skin and other is for normal/dry skin. I bought this during spring and I know my skin tends to be oily when the weather starts getting warmer so I thought oil free option was best for me. I don't like knowing the product has oil and will be sitting on my skin for 8+ hours per day, it can cause break outs and blocked pores. 

It promises to:

• give skin a healthy ‘no-makeup’ look with a soft hint of colour that evens and enhances without hiding the skin. This oil-free lightweight formula provides ideal protection from the sun’s harmful, damaging rays with broad spectrum SPF 20 UVB/UVA sunscreen. Perfect for all skin types, especially sensitive or oily skin.

For £33.00 there is 50ml of product in a long plastic tube.

There are 15 shades available and the assistants at the counter can always help you to find your perfect shade.
For me, Porcelain is a little bit too pale and nude is a little too warm so I picked nude which is slightly more golden but once my skin absorbed some sun, the shade was perfect.
 Did you know that when you apply SPF to the face, and when you take photos with a flash, the face is lighter? This product contains SPF 20 and it made more sense for me to buy the shade that was a little darker than lighter as I take photographs all the time and I want to make sure my skin looks as natural as possible.


The screw off lid is based at the bottom of the tube, and the tube can stand on the lid which means the product can be easier to come out of when you dispense it out. However, when it comes to almost the end of finishing this tube, it doesn't stand upwards anymore so you really have to give it a good shake and roll the tube to get the product out.

I did enjoy using this tinted moisturiser at first, but then it became too thick for my face, it felt like my pores were blocked and you do need a top up during the day. Even with powder on top and mist spray to lock in the colour doesn't help. I find that when my face becomes oily, it becomes patchy therefore not reliable. Am not usually carrying my make up for top ups but I cant go out too long without realising the product strips from my face.
I work long hours (most of the time 12+ hours) and I can't rely on having a smooth flawless look with this product.

Pro's:

• 15 shades of colour
• contains SPF 20 which is difficult to find 
•  gives a natural glow
• available in pink and golden undertone shades which is very important to me as it's not often I find my perfect golden undertone shade
• contains no alcohol
•  matte finish
• buildable coverage
• no oxidation
• evens out skin tone and hides flaws
• quite a hydrating formula

Con's:

• consistency is too thick, it sticks to my make up brush and stains my clothes
• strips off my face after a couple of hours which means I need to top up the product on my face
• consistency too watery and dribbles onto my clothes
• quite expensive for a product that doesn't suit me well
•  the scent is quite strong, especially when you squeeze the product out of the tube. I had this experience since my first use and it put me off using it
• 
  

I have a sheer-medium coverage from this and it does not oxidise straight away, however, the colour does strip off after a couple of hours, especially when its warm. I am a NC30-NC35, which is a golden undertone, the nude colour shade is perfect for me. However, during cold season, it hydrates my skin well but not entirely, purely because the consistency is thick.

It hides my dark spots and redness giving me that smooth natural look. I would not recommend this for people who have large red spots as it will not cover that, this is a tinted moisturiser, not the same as a foundation.
This gives me a dewy finish, matte and natural, but it does become oily on my skin therefore I would not recommend to use this in hot weather.


I have used a stippling brush for this as well as my fingers but it becomes too messy and stains inside my nails. It stains my brush and I have to wash it every single day (which is what I should be doing anyway but am a bit lazy sometimes! aren't we all?! ) but the best technique for me would be to use a stippling brush such as the ELF popular strippling brush. 

I personally would not be purchasing this product again because it hasn't made me feel like it's my holy-grail and it's not really benefited my skin as much as I expected. As you can see from my pro's and con's, there are more con's, and sadly it hasn't been my favourite tinted moisturiser that's lasted. However, I am glad I got to try this to see what the hype was all about, sadly it just isn't for me!

XOX

Graisset Liquid Eyeliner Product Review*

Thanking Graisset for this amazing opportunity to review another one of their products!
I have also had a previous opportunity to review one of their skin care ranges, Graisset Repair Moisture Range back in winter-spring this year.
Graisset is very exclusive to buy outside of Korea due to the Korean law and you cannot buy from a seller unless they hold a licence and have permission from the company, therefore I was very greatful to have this opportunity.


I first discovered Graisset last year as one of my best friends was using one of their skin care collections,after seeing how pretty the packaging was, I was intregued by their collections.
I was contacted by a legit Graisset seller in Hong Kong to review this eyeliner.

I must admit, I don't wear eyeliner anymore, I use to line my waterline and my upper lash line to create the illusion of thicker top lashes but now that my lashes are longer, I decided to stop using the eyeliners.

There are 2 things I look for in an eyeliner, first would be the darkness/pigmentation of the colour, and secondly would be how long it would last for on my eyes. I sometimes would use the liners to create tattoos on my body or create 'beauty spots' which change my look dramatically!

We all use eyeliners in differently ways, I like to make good use out of mine.
You can do a lot of art work with eyeliners, crazy but true! I love creating tattoos with templates and liquid eyeliners.
Just by using a liquid eyeliner, you can create different looks on your eyes 

The box presentation is very neat and high-end feel, a real gift idea for someone who likes make up whether they use it often or not.
Bronzey-gold colour cardboard type box neatly presented, I was very intregued to see what the product would look like!

The text on the box is in Korean, which is very exclusive for the beauty market outside of Korea.


This is priced at $168hk

Isn't this beautiful?
I love the gem at the top of the lid and the gold colour tube. It's not often you see luxurious packaging for an eyeliner! Especially in England!!

It weights 5g/018oz of product.
I have mine in black.

I like the shape of the top half of the bottle, it's non slippery smooth golden coloured casing helps me to precise my line. This is very important to me as I hate re-applying and wasting time on clearing up messed up marks and causing redness to my eyelids. Does anyone else have that problem?

can create thick or thin lines

I used the liquid eyeliner on the top lines only, and as you can see I have created a slight thick cat liner and applied eyeshadow on the bottom and outter corners of my eye to create a dramatic effect.

I love how I can create the sharp defined look on my eyes, usually I find the liquid liners to smudge and consistency too wet to set, then when I blink, it smudges and sets!!

Pro's:

• can create lines as thick or thin as you want
• intense black
• beautiful packaging and box also - ideal for gift

Con's:

• not waterproof
• can smudge, takes a while to dry
• slight scent (but not strong enough to smell it once it is applied to the skin)
• exclusive product and brand, can only buy from certain Korean stores or Korean cosmetic high end beauty stores in Asia
• unavailable to buy in England

Thank You Graisset for the product to review! It's been a wonderful and kind gesture for me to use and share my honest opinion.

You can pay via paypal if you live outside of Hong Kong, shipping will be arranged from the seller. 
click here for Graisset HK link all info on products and purchases can be found here.



* This product was sponsored by Graisset, all this review is in my most honest opinion, I was not given any directions for this review.

Mac Studio Fix VS The Body Shop All In One Foundation Powder

MAC vs The Body Shop

When it comes to covering my flaws, I like to use a powder foundation than liquid foundation. I have never been a fan of using liquid foundation, the first time I ever tried a liquid foundation was when I was 22 years old, I can still remember not really wanting to go out and buying foundation because the thought of clogging all my pores and applying a thick layer of coloured liquid makes made me shiver! Anyway, I had decided to go buy one as it was the University summer ball and I decided to try foundation to make my skin look flawless as there would be lots of photographs involved!

I first tried powder foundation when I was 25 years old, it was recommended by a wonderful counter seller from Debenams. Since then, I was hooked!! It made my skin so flawless and brighter, I could hide my flaws easily and not have a thick layer of liquid over my face made me have more confidence!!

I see an awful lot of people wearing thick foundation, colour that doesn't even match them totally puts me off. Too much make up really hides the face and I don't agree with that. I don't understand why people go over the top with the make up to look better? Natural features is beautiful in itself, you can contour to make your features stand out and if you have bad skin then why don't you do something about it? Maybe you have tried various products but just haven't found the right ones?

I hate going clothes shopping and there are foundation marks on the items, it totally puts me off trying it on and it's not fair on the stores that have to sell the items.
I feel sorry for those wearing foundation when it's raining or if they sweat! The foundation just starts melting - not a good look lol!!

Powder foundation can come in different shades, pink or yellow undertones.
I find it very difficult to find my correct skin tone as my face is lighter than the rest of my body and I am a golden undertone. I have found my perfect shade from The Body Shop and I have gone back to get it over and over again.

The Body Shop do 2 types of powder foundation, their best seller all in one and also another best seller Extra Virgin Minerals™ Loose Powder Foundation . I have tried both and my favourite is definitely the all in one powder.
For £14.00 per compact, there is 9g (0.3oz) of product, it would last me atleast a month and half if I was to use it every day.
In the stores there are 6 shades, I am shade number 6 which is their darkest. Online, they have 3 extra shades which are the in between's but I find the shade number 6 suits me best as I don't want the shade to be too dark or too light.

It claims to give:

Using Body Shops' all-in-one face powder

• Matte finish
• Velvety feel
• No added fragrance
  
  Which I can clarify all is true. 

 Pro's:

• shade for me is as perfect as it can be, but if my face becomes darker I just apply another layer but no more than 2 layers 
• lightweight feel to the skin, it doesn't feel heavy at all
• light and small compact easy for my handbag
• includes a sponge for application when you're out and about
• affordable high street price for a good quality make up product
• can mix this with a wet brush for a smoother and liquid type foundation (this option I don't use but have tried)
• pink and yellow undertones available in the 6 shades

Con's:

• can become bitty at the end of finished product and they fall out and stain the carpet
• when you apply more than 2 layers on the face, it starts cracking on the face and is very visible to the face especially if the shade isn't correct
•  not enough shades available for every skin tone
• when you use it with a wet brush, it's not easy to have a smooth application on all areas of the face, it can become blotchy which is why I chose not to use it wet

The compared item is one from Mac which is also another world wide company, very famous for it's shades and how true the colours are. A lot of celebrities use Mac and also for important events such as weddings.
Mac offer a wide range of foundations from powder to liquid and the choice of shades is amazing!! Usually the staff at the counters are very helpful and give lots of recommendations in terms of your shades to help you find the right shade and the type of foundation you need. I was recommended the NC25 but the shade was far too light for me. I was disappointed and even after trying the NC25 in the store, I was telling the staff it was too light for me but she says for my skin tone it is perfect and give it a few minutes, the skin will react with the foundation and it will blend in?  I trusted her opinion and after about 4 hours later, the foundation was far too light. I then thought I would try it again at home by using my own brushes but still, not the right shade! I went back to the store and was told I couldn't exchange as it's been opened and used?! In America it is exchangeable but not here in England!

Anyway, after buying more than 1 pot of the Mac Studio Fix Foundation I decided to use the shade which I thought was the correct one for me.
For £20.50 there is 15g / 0.52 US oz of the product which is just over an extra half of the product compared to all in one foundation which is pretty good value for money.

I was recommended to try the Studio Fix Foundation by the staff at the counter and hearing the raved reviews on youtube made me go and buy! 
It claims to:

• Studio Fix is a powder and foundation in one that combines good coverage with ease of application. Designed to be used dry, the powder and pigments create a matte, velvety texture. It contains Silica, which helps to maintain a matte finish by absorbing oils on the skin, as well as Talc to provide a smoother, less reflective, matte finish. The talc has been milled to a microscopic size to provide a beautiful texture while allowing the skin to breathe. It is available in a wide range of colours. It can be applied with a brush, sponge, or a powder puff.

Pro's:

• there are 43 shades for this foundation
• can be used dry or wet
• comes with a sponge
• able to put in my handbag for touch ups

  
Con's:

• too powdery on the skin
  
• flakes off within the hour
• when the skin gets wet or oily like my nose area, the foundation melts off
• I have to mix 2 shades to find the correct shade but it is difficult to find the correct shade even with the wide variety of shades
• when the powder is wet, it goes blotchy - doesn't make the face look like it is covered up completely
• powder fades and becomes blotchy within 4 hours and I have normal combination skin
• colour looks lighter on the skin even after it has set with or without a make up setting spray

mirrors

  

I like the fact there are mirrors in both contacts, it means I don't need to carry an extra item in my bag!

hehe do you like my phone sticker at the back of my phone? hehe!!

As you can see, I have completely finished the one on the right which is from the Body Shop. The one that looks used but not even half used it from Mac. I definitely prefer the Body Shop one just from 1 simple coat of it on my face, or even to use it to set my make up , it works brilliantly.
My skin loves it and I get so much compliments about it!

The quality is definitely different .........

I would not buy the Studio Fix powder ever again, but definately have been repurchasing the Body Shop one over and over again as I love using it to countour, face base, setting powder! All-in-one for me at an affordable price!


XOX