1. Origins Make A Difference – So this is actually a combination of two products, but am classing it as one! If you read my post on these two products you will know I have already raved on about them, so I won’t go off on one again. However as an update, my skin is still soft, smooth, hydrated and not at all angry.
2. RMS Beauty lip2cheek in Smile – After wandering into ABC Home the other day (always a bad idea) I picked up a few bits from RMS Beauty and haven’t looked back. This lips2cheeks in Smile is my absolute favorite and I’ve been carrying it round with me wherever I go. Perfect for a rosy glow when blended onto the apples of your cheeks as well as a hint of pink on your lips. Made from all raw ingredients this adds nourishment to your skin, blends so easily and as it is so highly pigmented you hardly need any. Full reviews coming soon.
3. Benefit Dallas Face Powder – After popping into Sephora to repurchase Benefit’s Hoola bronzer I also picked up Dallas and I can’t quite believe I have only just found it. It’s not as matte as Hoola so it gives a lovely glow to the skin, but not in a shimmer/glitter way. A sweep over the cheeks, forehead and nose and I look like a healthier me – it’s my new daily go to.
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Petal pink lips are so pretty, so easy and a great pick me up. I prefer lip products in a balm or tint form, generally to minimize the mess – below are few of my picks!
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Right keep up, now it’s all about CC creams, well also DD’s which I found out from Refinery 29 but for now let’s focus on CC! I didn’t really get on well with BB creams, they were a little too sheer for me and I just couldn’t find the right one for my skin – at the time it was misbehaving badly , so that added to them not working as well on my combination, blemished skin. However I am pretty blown away with Clinique’s offering and my first try of the new cult creams.
CC, which stands for colour control or complexion corrector, has all the same benefits of the BB creams (fades scars, evens out skin tone) but also works on discoloration, fine lines and wrinkles as well as brightening the skin. Another great benefit is that it contains sun protection factors ranging from 10 to 30, Clinique being on the higher end at SPF30.
I picked up Clinique’s Moisture Surge CC cream in light medium and this matches my skin tone pretty well, especially as we are entering into warmer weather. The surprise factor for me was that it comes out looking like a foundation; it is a lot thicker than I expected however I think I was expecting a BB cream type product. It goes on so smoothly and blends in well – give it 30 seconds and it truly sinks into the skin, so much so that when you touch your face it doesn’t feel like it’s there. When I tried this for the first time I kept catching my reflection in the mirror and thought wow, you look well – not a you look well that your mum would day, meaning you’ve put on weight, the kind of well where you have lived on a diet of vegetables and water for the past month! It also ticks the box on the dewiness factor, and really is your skin but better. As for the long term benefits I will have to wait and see, I do have some scares and fine lines for sure so hoping this will work its magic.
For me this is a no make-up day look; add some concealer, and I’m ready to do the coffee run, add mascara and bronzer and I could head out for dinner (which I did at the weekend and it lasted well!) If you don’t go for heavy coverage this is a really “good for your face” base – and as said, add setting powder and you have a winner.
The final point for me was my boyfriend’s comments of “Your skins looks good, really improved hasn’t it!” SOLD!
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So following on nicely from my previous post, these two products from Origins Make a Difference Range have completely saved my face last week. My skin this time last week was dry, sore, uncomfortable, bumpy, flakey and generally just very angry. My make-up wouldn’t hide the flakes and around 2 hours after application it would look pretty crap, which I later found out (from consulting the skincare goddess that is Caroline Hirons) was because my dehydrated skin was drinking up any water it could find within my foundation. So, after doing further research on line I went to my nearest origins store specifically to buy the Make a Difference Plus ultra-rich rejuvenating cream and skin rejuvenating treatment lotion.
The Make a Difference range is for dry to very dry skin and contains “lychee and watermelon hydra-sustain complex which helps repair the natural moisture deficiencies in dehydrated skin”. The ultra-rich cream is very thick, but not heavy when on the skin, just smooth and soft. For my very dry skin it is perfect for both day and night, I don’t find that I am greasy or oily throughout the day and have since got comments that I am glowing! I’ll see how it holds up in the New York summer though, but currently my skin is drinking it up. The toner is extremely hydrating, again leaving skin soft but not tight. I don’t feel like I have used this enough to pass comment on the long term effects, but it is a welcome step of adding extra hydration, so I’m a fan.
I have been using both products day and night, sandwiching Indeed Labs Hydraluron between (which I generally use every day anyway) but the combination is wonderful. Now my skin is just so comfortable, I don’t have that awful tight feeling and the face dandruff has disappeared! All is all a very happy, comfortable Se1Girl!
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As I have already said before, my makeup collection isn’t actually that big, but when it comes to blushers I have a small weakness. A subtle hint of pink really does make you look healthy when sick, awake when hung over and generally a healthier you! I like to experiment with tints, stains, creams and powders, however currently on rotation is a blush I have repurchased a good number of times now, Benefit’s blush in Dandelion. Described my Benefit themselves as a ‘sheer ballerina pink’ this has a subtle shimmer to add some glow as well as colour to your cheeks. I love to keep it subtle, but this can be built for a stronger pop of colour.
Benefit have an amazing selection of blush colours, but Dandelion has to be my all-time fav. It is great on winter skin to get that “I’ve been on a walk in the hills and am now naturally flushed” look, as well as the summer when layered on top of bronzer for an even more delicious look!
I have also been testing out some creamier blushers for those in favor of the dewy glow, namely RMS Beauty and Becca, so will keep you posted and reviews coming soon! So if you don’t already, go get your blush on!
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We all know that skincare can only go so far, it is also about what you put in your body that helps our skin look its best. Super skin starts with water, water and more water, but when it comes to fruits, veg and protein what are the best ones? Well I have done the research for you, so for glowing spring skin read below:
Watermelon: It’s 92% water, so it is perfect to keep your skin hydrated and plump. It also contains vitamin C which is amazing for collagen production, reducing inflamation and keeping skin supple
Berries: Such as blueberries, strawberries and raspberries are full of antioxidants (blueberries being the winner here) as well as vitamin C again.
Kiwis: Chocked full of vitamin C – if you don’t already get it, Vitamin C is VERY good for your skin!
Leafy Greens: Packed full of B vitamins as well as many other nutrients and vitamins which all aid in reducing inflammation and clearing the skin, the winners are Kale and Spinach – take a handful of each, a lemon, half an orange, half a cucumber and a splash of olive oil, juice and you have a tasty (yes trust me) nutritious, skin cleansing drink!
Sweet Potatoes: Now not a veg that springs to mind when I think skin, but sweet potatoes contain beta-carotene (a natural inflammatory) which helps heal and prevent acne.
Carrots: Yes they also help you see a night, but carrots are high in Vitamin A which prevents the over production of cells in the skins outer layers
Tomatoes: Now tomatoes contain lycopene which is known for its anti-aging properties, but all the goodness of a tomato is actually better absorbed when they are cooked or processed, so tom juice is the way forward here!
Avocado: We all know this is a skin saver and a super source of vitamin E. It also contains the good old vitamin C to help reduce inflammation
Salmon: Just a 3oz serving (around the size of the palm of your hand) 2 – 3 times a week is all you need to get clear and glowing skin from salmon thanks to it being rich in omega-3 fatty acids and zinc
Almonds: Such a good nut, a small handful a day will help protect your skin and keep it glowing due to vitamin E, potent antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids
Flaxseeds: Another amazing source of omega-3 fatty acids to keep that skin glowing. Add a sprinkle wherever you fancy, cereal, salads, smoothies!
If you want to get deeper into good food check out Madeline Shaw, a qualified nutritional health coach with a passion for making tasty, healthy food exciting and understandable. I found her a few months back now and am hooked on her advice as well as cooking up her tasty recipes.
Get your skin glow on!
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