Birthday Beauty Haul!

So I picked up a few items for my Birthday recently whilst on my travels to both Meadowhall and Belfast. I'm trying to save my money at the minute (don't expect any giant Mac hauls just yet) ;)  However, you have to have a few treats around your Birthday, right?!

1. Liz Earle Limited Edition Cleanse & Polish


Now you all know how much I love Liz Earle! Unfortunately though for some reason, the limited edition version of my trusty staple cleanser badly reacted with my skin. I actually thought I had gotten really bad sunburn until I twigged it was this causing it everytime I applied it! A great shame, but thankfully Liz Earle offered to swap me it for the same size of the regular C&P. A warning that the limited edition one whilst it smells lovely, may not be suitable for sensitive skin. 

2. Liz Earle Shampoo (All hair types) 

Onto a much better find from LE! I had been wanting to try this shampoo for ages, as it's one of the few available on the market that is totally sulphate free. I shall keep you posted how I get on with it, but so far so good. You do have to use more water than normal to get any kind of foam - however the smell is lovely and fruity and is so far yet to irritate my scalp - yay for that!

3. Aveda Intensive Hydrating Masque

After my face disaster with the Limited Edition C&P, I needed something to take the redness down and really soothe my skin. I popped to the Aveda counter in Belfast's House of Fraser that Google maps kindly lead me too, and was also given a couple of samples of the moisturiser from the same range too! Win win!

4. Redken Smooth Lock

Although technically a purchase for my Mum, I borrowed this pre-flight after washing my hair. It really kept the style well and also gives a lovely shine. Not the cheapest of hair serums (definitely buy online to get the best deal) but is great for giving that salon finish.

5. Carmex Lip Balm

My battered, bruised and nail polish stained tub of Carmex is more of a rediscovered find than a new purchase. However, it's really come in handy these last couple of weeks when my lips went super chapped and normal lip balm wasn't cutting it. I forgot how much this stuff really works! 

My Skincare Routine - Dry/Sensitive yet Blemish Prone!

Firstly, allow me to give you a little overview of my skin. Apart from being rather pale, it is often quite dry, and sensitive to alot of products and ingredients. It's also got a tenancy to be incredibly spot prone, especially during hormonal times or if I have used something my skin doesn't agree with.

Often, to cure a dry skin many counter assistants have sold me thick, rich heavy creams. Whilst at first they may feel nice, it soon becomes apparent that the blemish prone side of my skin is not happy and seems to take great pleasure in showing me just how much. Therefore, it's been a real struggle to find products and get into a routine which keeps my blemishes at bay, yet doesn't aggravate my dryness or worsen my sensitivity. 

It's taken a good 10 years of trying countless products from every brand under the sun, but I finally think I've cracked it! The following items I have been using religiously morning and night for over 6 months now, and now I feel ready to share it with you.

(P.S: I have reviewed the majority of these products in dept on their own before, so have a snoop through my blog if you want more info on them, or just leave a comment below!)The full (current) product list:

CLEANSERS:
Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water
Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish


TONER: 
Pixi Glow Tonic

SERUMS:
Hydraluron
The Body Shop Vitamin E Overnight Oil

MOISTURISERS:
La Roche Posay Effaclar K Moisturiser
The Body Shop Vitamin C Moisturiser

LIPS: 
Dove Lip Balm
Carmex


EXTRAS:
Fresh Cucumber
Sanctuary Clay Mask
Nspa Brightening Detox Scrub 


And now onto when I would use said products....

In the morning I keep things nice and simple with just a light cleanse followed by Glow Tonic (suitable for both AM/PM use). I also follow up with a moisturiser, and tend to use the Body Shop one if going out in the sun with no make up on, i.e for my morning run. However if it's a normal day and I intend to put make up on, then I use Effclar K.

There's nothing worse than dry skin, especially if you are going to be putting foundation over the top. The steps I use to combat this is to add in cucumber after toner before serum/moisturiser. I use about 1 inch thick chunks which I buff into the skin, and I also slice thinner sections to place on my eye area. I promise if you have dry skin this will feel so nice you will never look back!

At night, I keep the momentum up by adding my Vitamin E serum before moisturiser to really leave my skin feeling soft.

The curse of the dreaded spots! Thankfully, since using Glow Tonic and Effaclar K in combination with my other products, I've noticed a huge reduction in the amount and frequency of my breakouts. 

Twice a week I will also add in the Nspa detox brightening scrub at night. Every few weeks I will also use the Sanctuary 5 minute detox mask which is a clay mask that warms up on contact with the skin. This can bring blemishes out a little the next day, but this is because the clay has drawn out the impurities.

My one tip with having blemish prone skin when you also have dry/sensitive skin is: Don't overscrub or use overly harsh products (especially any more than the packaging advises you too). I have been at that stage where you are super frustrated and nothing seems to work -  but believe me overdoing things can be just as bad. Get into a good, gentle cleansing routine and follow up with the *right* aftercare and I promise things will get better.

The Body Shop Vitamin E Overnight Serum

Seen as skincare is ever becoming my main obsession, it was only a matter of time before I introduced a serum into my routine! This time it was the turn of the Body Shop Vitamin E Overnight Serum.

I had been reluctant to use serums in the past, as I am so careful about not overloading my skin and causing it break out, particularly with anything "oily". Whilst in the body shop recently, they had a 3 for 2 on all skincare so this was one of the items I picked up. I did ask the assistant whether this product was suitable for blemish prone skin, just incase.

I've now been trialling this for the last few weeks, using it after cleanser and toner, and before moisturiser in the evenings. To use, it has a pipette (love that word!) style dispenser, and I tend to squeeze a couple of drops into the palms of my hands before pressing it into the skin, applying any excess to the back of my hands/neck. I then usually follow with a *light* application of my Effaclar K moisturiser, as the serum is quite heavy (although not in a clogging feeling way).

The next morning, my skin is always noticeably softer and I haven't found my skin has broken out anymore than normal, which is considerably less these days since I have found a routine that works for me. I'm also impressed that you barely need any of this product to literally cover the whole face, so the bottle will last and last. 

The price of this serum is £12 for a 28ml bottle, which I feel is quite reasonable considering the majority of serums out there seem to be £40+... something which is way out my price range and seems daft if you are new to them and are not exactly sure what you are looking to get out of one just yet.

Overall, I would recommend this product for anyone who feels their skin lacks softness and like mine is typically dry/sensitive whilst also being blemish prone. I also feel it's a nice introduction to serums as it doesn't have a scary price tag and also doesn't make aload of silly claims other than to replenish and recharge moisture - which in terms of how soft my skin feels the next day I definitely feel it delivers on.  Give it a try!

 

Pastel Nails!

Now, whilst it's unusual for me to get so hyped up about new trends, this new found love for pastels is definitely worth sharing. In terms of pale skin, from my own experience pastel shades within clothing and makeup especially, are the easiest to pull off. Whilst pastels generally suit all skin tones, with pale skin they just really work effortlessly with instead of against your skintone.

Here's my pick of some of the best on the market, and do be sure to click to the top picture of this post to be taken to a special video I made for the occasion! 

P.S: Not necessarily my neatest application in the pics as I was painting and removing the polish in quick succession, however I promise they are all give beautiful finishes when you do it properly!

Model's Own Hyper Gel - Pink Veneer

This shade is a pretty dolly mixture pink. It's not bright, but by the same token not dull either. As the formula is gel, it goes on much thicker than a regular polish. You can still add two coats however, and it gives the nail a much fuller and healthier look. This is definitely a shade for girly girls! 

 Rimmel London - Pillow Talk

Pillow Talk is one of the new shades picked by Rita Ora as part of her collab with Rimmel. It's a cool, muted tone that surprisingly I liked alot even though it's not a shade I normally go for. I also found the formula dried fairly quickly compared to other brands I have used in the past.

Barry M - Peach Melba

I think this is one of those shades if like me orange isn't your first choice when it comes to make up. It's a much gentler introduction and not as in-your-face as you might think. At £2.99 it's also the cheapest of the 5 polishes featured within this post. This does mean a couple of coats are required as standard, although once dry it's definitely got that cocktail by the pool feel!  

(The shade is actually much paler in real life than it would photograph for me, so definitely have a look next time you're passing a counter!)

  

Essie - Mint Candy Apple

Ok so this is a bit of a beauty bloggers classic, but that doesn't make it any less fabulous right?! It's not always easy to find a green shade of nail polish that actually looks nice on, and this is one of the only green toned polishes I've owned which fits the bill for me.

I personally like Mint Candy Apple because it's understated, and the colour goes with almost anything. The brush is also quite wide, meaning it's easier to paint and you get a much smoother and even result overall. Although it's the most expensive of the bunch, you do see the quality in the formula as you apply it.

Barry M - Prickly Pear

Out of all the shades I have worn out recently, Prickly Pear is the one I've had the most compliments on, even from strangers at the tills!

It's such a beautiful and unique shade of purple, and is simplistic yet really flattering against pale skin. As it's not a dark purple, it's much easier to wear for day to day, and is sure to perk up even the dullest of office wear. The gel formula is also nice and longer lasting too. I think out of all the polishes I have tried for this post, Prickly Pear is my favourite.

 

 

And Voila! I hope I've inspired some of you out there to embrace the pastel trend... afterall it's pale skin friendly! If you have some other suggestions of great shades, then feel free to leave a comment below. It's always nice to hear from you so don't be shy!

Oh, and have you checked out my channel yet?! #subtlehint

Pixi Eyeshadow Palette in Buff Blizzard

 
I have long thought the packaging and colours available within the products at Pixi look so incredibly pretty.  Incase you haven't heard of Pixi, they are a brand specialising in makeup and skincare founded by Swedish born Petra Strand. Their mission statement is clear "We want to make women look like themselves, only better".
 
Recently, Pixi kindly sent me this beautiful eyeshadow palette after an order I made of their infamous glow tonic was delayed by a few weeks. Coincidentally, they happened to send me a product I had been wanting ever since I first saw it on their website before Christmas... their Icy Eye Palette in Buff Blizzard.

I have been using this palette almost on a daily basis since I got it, including to my visit to YouTube in London. What I like about the range of colours, is they are very much everyday yet can be played up or down depending on how you feel. Brown is also notoriously less harsh than black, so acts as a great way to define the eyes without it making them look smaller or being too much for everyday. There is also a great white colour for highlighting the inner corners of the eye and brow brown. Overall, the shades work great in combination with each other and also look polished when black mascara is applied to define the lashes.

As for the pigment quality, I find they do give good pay off. I first like to apply a neutral toned base from my sleek storm palette, as I find that like with most eyeshadows, sandwiching products works best. As they are pressed you can also really pack the product on, yet because the tones are fairly neutral you don't end up overdoing things. 

I am also impressed that they don't crease as easily as other "lower end" eyeshadows. When you think about it, as this palette is £12 that means each shadow is technically £2... where as with higher end you are looking at a minimum of £10 per shadow colour. Honestly, the Pixi shadows are of really good quality and last well throughout the day, and best of all are easy to blend. 

Just a heads up that the range of Pixi eyeshadows seems to chop and change quite often and I've noticed they don't sell this particular palette on the website anymore, although other vendors seem to sell it. However, they do very similar palettes and are always bringing out new ones. 

Going on from the experience I've had with the Buff Blizzard palette, I'm inclined to try more eyeshadows from Pixi. Oh, and in terms of this blog they do work very easy against my very pale skin! 

 

White Glo Coffee and Tea Drinker's Formula

Today I bring you a slightly different kind of beauty item... yes as you might have guessed it's toothpaste! In the last few years the teeth whitening phenomenon has gone a little crazy, with many of us now opting to get our nashers professionally whitened or use strips and other home whitening kits. Whitening toothpastes are becoming ever popular, however you may have noticed there are so many to choose from that it can seem a little overwhelming. 

For my New Years resolution, I gave up tea and coffee completely. Whilst this has prevented my teeth from further discolouration, I still wanted to ease up some of the damage my 4-6 cups of tea a day for nearly 2 decades had done to my teeth. Although my teeth weren't super yellow, they were bad enough that it bothered me, y'know?

Before I begin, It should be noted that products that bleach the teeth will whiten the tooth enamel deep down, and whitening toothpastes/mouthwashes etc will only remove surface stains.

I have on occasion used Crest Whitestrips, however these don't exactly live up to the claims and also the results fade within a few months. In addition to this, you can only use a batch of Whitestips for a maximum of twice a year. Hence, whitening toothpaste is the much safer and convenient way to go for everyday whitening. It's also a more viable alternative for those who have sensitive teeth and aren't a great candidate for bleaching.

So it's White Glo to the rescue! White Glo are a brand not many people have heard of. They don't advertise on TV with celebrities with porcelain veneers telling you that you can "replicate their smile by using this product"... infact it's all rather low key. Ironically, out of all the whitening toothpastes I have used over the years including the big guns, White Glo is by far the most impressive brand for how it delivers on actually whitening/stain reduction. 

They have several varieties of their whitening toothpastes, with everything from a smokers formula to ones that contain a 2 in 1 mouthwash and toothpaste. However, for me it was the coffee and tea drinkers formula that really interested me.

Most of us dislike the colour of our teeth when they look more yellow that white. The beauty about a toothpaste that is aimed at coffee and tea drinkers, is that it is designed to eradicate these tones especially... hence why it's so good even if like me you no longer drink tea or coffee, or only have it occasionally.

Honestly, no toothpaste will make your teeth a crisp linen shirt shade of white without bleach. However, I believe this toothpaste really does make a visible difference, especially compared to it's competitors. I find myself going back to it quite often and even after trying another White Glo toothpaste, I prefer this one. I've now been using it over the course of a few months, and feel it is the best whitening toothpaste on the market that I have tried so far.

Definitely give it a try if you are looking to remove some surface stains or want a more gentle alternative than bleaching. It may also save you from shelling out for more costly whitening treatments if your tooth staining is fairly recent or minor.

White Glo Coffee and Tea Drinker's Formula is currently £3.99 in Boots. It can also be purchased on Amazon if you are not from the UK. 

A Guide To Buying Pale Foundations

Click the above picture to watch my latest video on tips for buying foundation when you have ultra fair skin!

Hopefully my points will help, and again I want to stress I am not deliberately trying to insult any counter assistant's out there. However, I can only go on my past experiences and I feel as if I have been royally conned on many occasions, and I want others to avoid the same fate.

Having said that, as mentioned in my video some of the best companies I have had a good match to are: Bobbi Brown, Laura Mercier and Illamasqua. I feel these three companies best cater for pale skin, although of course there is always room for a greater spectrum of shades from these brands and others alike.

Over the years, my pale skin has been "colour matched" everything from Illamasqua skin base in 02 (the lightest shade as pictured above) to Estee Lauder in Desert Beige...

It just goes to show how different each beauty counter and company can massively mis-judge your skintone, especially when you are pale (and these people are supposed to be the experts!)

N.B: Although I have tried fake tan once in the past, never when going for a foundation fitting incase you were wondering. I have *only* been "matched" to my natural celtic skintone! </foundationpolice> 

I wanted to address a few points I feel are really helpful when shopping for foundation when you have pale (lighter than NC15) skin. Afterall, how much money do we actually waste on products we can't wear because they are too dark, or the wrong undertone... or just plain orange looking?!

Here are some of my top tips. Remember, if you'd like to share some of your counter experiences (good or bad) then please leave me a comment below or on my accompanying video linked at the top of this post!

1. Lighting

Remember that shop lighting, particularly in department stores is artificial. This means it can massively distort the colour of both your skintone (I always look tanned in Boots!) and also the colour of the foundation you are swatching. Always swatch the product and then have a look outside in good natural light to see both it's true colour, and the level of oxidisation that's occured once the product has reacted with the air. 


2. Research

Whilst computer screens and photography can give a slightly different picture, always google swatches of foundations you are interested in trying. It may take the fun out of it a little, but believe me... a counter assistant is unlikely to inform you they don't make shades light enough for your skin tone if they don't. I've been told "wow this shade is perfect for you!" when I trust them, end up parting with my cash only to get it home and see it is way off, to know this isn't the case. 

Better safe that sorry, and apologies if you are an honest counter assistant reading this, I know you are not all bad!

3. Always have contingency plans

Buying a white foundation is a must if you are pale, or perhaps only tan partially throughout the year. More on the art of mixing here. 

Remember, if a brand doesn't make a shade pale enough for you, as long as you get the undertone right you can cancel out any orange or yellow tones with just a drop of a white foundation. This means you can get the coverage and finish you want, but also at the right shade too. 

4. Look out for phrases such as "this will warm your skintone up a bit"

Foundation should be your skintone and your skintone only. Nobody looks good in foundation that gives them tide marks or is clearly too dark, so don't be fooled by such gibberish. How can you have a really warm toned face but a pale neck?! Exactly....

5. Don't be afraid to walk away

If you are matched at a counter and really don't feel comfortable, or want the second opinion of a friend, or even to look outside first and have a look in good daylight, then don't be afraid! You are the customer at the end of the day, and you should feel 100% confident in your purchase.