M&S Bitter Orange Rejuvenating Wonder Oil Review

M&S Bitter Orange Rejuvenating Wonder Oil with Moroccan Argan Oil for Skin and Hair

I was browsing Marks and Spencers' beauty range when this caught my eye. I liked the bottle, it's not quite sleek but it does have that 'simplicity done well' kind of look to it, which I find rather charming (yes when it comes to packaging I can be quite shallow, aesthetically pleasing things draw me in, I'm the same with books.) I'd heard about all the argan oil hype but had never given much thought to trying it until seeing this product. When I read it could be used for hair and skin, I was sold, as right now both mine could use a little nourishment. 

Argan oil is rich in vitamins and fatty acids, and over the last couple of years has become very popular. Famed for it's moisturizing properties, it is suitable for all skin types, being of particular benefit to people with very dry skin. This rejuvenating oil also contains orange oil, which soothes dry skin. 

On the product label, it says you can apply it damp hair to moisturize and encourage shine, put a few drops in your bath for moisturized skin or apply directly onto your skin to maintain moisture balance, rejuvenate and nourish. I've been applying it to my hair before blow drying and have noticed a difference. My hair feels less brittle and damaged and looks healthier, which I'm delighted with. I've also been using it directly onto my skin after a shower in place of my usual body butter. It applies easily, as you would expect from an oil and feels gentle on the skin. It look a little while to soak in properly, but didn't leave any sticky/oily residue after it had. My skin felt soft and hydrated and was lightly scented all day after application. I was really pleased with the results, I think it'd be great to take away on holiday, where my skin and hair tend to feel slightly frazzled from sun exposure and need some extra TLC.

My only minor gripe with this product is that it is difficult to get the right amount of product because of the lack of some sort of dispenser on the bottle. I was really wary whilst pouring it into my hands, as I didn't want to end up spilling it and it kept dripping down the side of the bottle. I feel that a spray pump would have been really useful for using the oil on your skin and hair, making application a bit less messy. The lid also doesn't screw up tight enough and I had a tiny bit of leakage when transporting it home, so when going away I will decant it into a travel bottle. 

Overall, I'm impressed with Marks and Spencers' offering of an argan oil product and would recommend it for anyone with extremely dry skin or hair, or anyone who just wants to add a little luxury to their routine. 

£9.50 for 100ml here

Ellie xo

Saturday Skin Care Haul

As I mentioned in a previous post, I was looking for a facial mask and moisturizer with spf to complement my skin care regime. So when I saw feelunique were having a 15% off Easter promotion, I definitely could not resist ordering myself some goodies. The service was good plus I received free delivery as I had spent over £10 and some samples, lovely! 

Deep Steep Honeydew & Spearmint Body Butter:
When it comes to body butters, I'm after something rich, nourishing and non-artificial feeling. I usually go for Palmer's Cocoa Butter but I fancied a change and deep steep's honeydew & spearmint body butter seemed to check all the boxes. Deep steep's products really appealed to me because they are all natural, cruelty free, chemical and preservative free and also use organic shea and cocoa butter. When applied to the skin, the body butter feels luxurious, it's very thick and salves on nicely. My skin felt really smooth, soft and hydrated and I adore the refreshing scent. Trying some of their other products is definitely on my beauty bucket list. £7.95 for 177ml

Dead Sea Spa Magik Mud Mask:
I wanted a facial mask to use once a week for a really deep cleanse and since this one got good reviews, I decided to give it a whirl. The product boasts mud, salt and mineral extracts from the dead sea as well as certified organic ingredients, which I like. It claims to deep cleanse, remove impurities, soften skin and give it a healthy glow. I can't say I'm completely sold. My skin did feel squeaky clean but I was disappointed that the mask didn't manage clear out my clogged pores around my t-zone and my skin felt a little tight after using it. However, I did get receive comments saying my skin looked very refreshed. I think this may be a product which requires weekly use over a period of a few months to notice any difference so I will persevere. £7.70 for 75ml

Green People Day Solution Cream SPF15:
Out of all the products I bought, this is probably the one I am most pleased with. As I said, I was looking for a moisturizer with SPF to protect against premature aging. I'm only 19 but I think it's very important to protect your skin against harsh environmental factors to keep it in tip top condition. I chose this product for a number of reasons. Firstly, it is vegan, contains 85% certified organic ingredients, alcohol free and as a company Green People donate 10% of their net profit to charity. Secondly, the Day Solution Cream claims it protects, nourishes and balances the skin and is rich in minerals and essential fatty acids. Lastly, the green tea and chamomile in the cream have powerful antioxidant activity which defend against free radicals, which are thought to be a contributing factor to aging. This cream is on the thicker side and applies very well. The light scent is nice and it leaves my skin feeling velvety soft. On the whole this product gets a huge thumbs up from me. £14.35 for 50ml

Samples:
Because I spent over a certain amount, I got to choose a couple of samples to try. I chose Vichy Skin Idealizer Serum, Glow Overnight Resurfacing Serum and Ruby Crystal Retinol Hydracreme. I haven't tried the latter two yet but the Vichy serum is lovely. I've been thinking about needing a serum for a bit and using this has shown me that it'd be a great addition to my regime. I definitely noticed a difference in my skin and loved the slight iridescence it had. At £29.95 for 30ml it's a bit out of my price range so I'll be looking for something a bit more affordable.

Ellie xo

Essential Every Day Work Look

I wear this subtle, barely there makeup look a lot for work or interviews, when I want to seem natural but polished. Personally, I feel this look shows you've made an effort to be presentable, but haven't gone over the top. I prefer to wear more earthy colours on my eyes, such as browns and bronzes, as an alternative to black which I find too harsh looking on me.  In addition, this can easily be worn in the evening, I tend to pop on some more blush, some highlighter and a soft berry lip colour in order to feel a bit more made up. 

For my eyes, I use Benefit's big beautiful eyes.. palette, following the tutorial but not blending the darker brown eye shadow around the outside corner of the eye and pop on No7 amazing eyes pencil in brown for a slightly more defined look. To finish off I slick on Clinique's High Impact mascara, for elongated, clump free lashes.

On my eyebrows I use Benefit's brow shaping wax from their smokin' eyes palette, to keep them in place and fill in any sparse areas.

On my face I use Clinique's moisture surge CC cream in light, Benefit's boi-ing concealer in 02 and MAC's powder blush in springsheen. 

Ellie xo

O.P.I Spring/Summer Nails

Doing your nails is a great way to experiment with colour, without it being too risky or in your face. In Spring/Summer I like using pastels, pinks and oranges as they tend to compliment a tan. In honour of the lovely weather today, I thought I'd post about my favourite nail polish for the warmer seasons. 

O.P.I 's 'Are we There Yet?' is an iridescent pinky shade of coral and a gorgeous addition to anyone's nail polish collection. I spied this nail polish at the airport and instantly fell in love with the super summery colour. The brush is flat and wide, making for a no fuss application with 3 strokes easily covering the nail. 2 coats of the polish gives an even colour but does not give completely opaque coverage, so if that's something you're after I suggest you apply 3 coats.

Ellie xo

My Two Favourite Spring/Summer Fragrances

Before I started working with perfume in the cosmetics department, perfumes baffled me. I knew what smells I liked, but talk of Eau de Parfums, notes and floral groups all went sailing over my head. So here's a quick jargon buster, for everyone, who like me, is perplexed by perfume.

Fragrances most commonly come in Eau de Parfums (EDPs) and Eau de Toilettes (EDTs) Most come in both forms so there are a few differences that are useful to know.

EDP: An EDP is more concentrated than an EDT and therefore longer lasting and more expensive. An EDP lasts roughly 4-6 hours on the skin, the scent is stronger and tends to differ slightly than that of the EDT.

EDT: An EDT is less concentrated than an EDP and lasts around 2-4 hours on the skin. The top notes are perceived more than the heart or base notes, which makes the fragrance evaporate more quickly and gives it a lighter scent.

When people refer to 'notes' in perfumes, they are essentially talking about the layers of smells in the fragrance. The top notes are the first layer of scents in the fragrance, these are perceived immediately after the perfume has been sprayed. Heart notes are the middle layer of the fragrance and are smelt after the top notes have dissipated, which can be 2 minutes-1 hour after the perfume has been applied. Base notes are the last layer in the fragrance and appear around 30 minutes after application. 

Okay, so now onto my two favourite spring/summer fragrances and why I love them!

Honey by Marc Jacobs (EDP)

Honey was released in Summer 2013, adding to Marc Jacobs' already thriving collection of delicate, floral fragrances. The bottle features a more dainty top in comparison to Jacobs' other fragrances such as Lola or Dot, but still manages to capture the charming and playful essence of the range. On first spritzing this fragrance, you get beautiful top notes of orange blossom but as the base notes come through notes of honey add a real depth to the perfume. What I adore most about Honey is when wearing it, throughout the day I always catch wafts of rich honey scents. Honey is a fresh, fruity but intense perfume which is truly unique and perfect for daytime.

Si by Giorgio Armani (EDP)

Si by Giorgio Armani was released in 2013 into the well established compendium of Armani perfumes. The sleek, minimalist bottle oozes elegance, which is exactly what this perfume is. Elegant. Si boasts top notes of mandarin oil and heart notes of Egyptian Jasmine, but for me the most striking scents are amber and vanilla in the base notes. I find this perfume to be full bodied and sumptuous and it's aromas always evoke images of a sunset stroll through Mediterranean villages for me, pure luxury. This is always my go to evening perfume for the spring/summer. 

Tip: Apply your perfume whilst your moisturizer is still tacky, as perfume lasts longer on moisturized skin. 

Happy Easter!

Ellie xo

Mix 'n' Match Skin Care Regime for my Combination Skin

I have very combination skin and have struggled for a while to find a skin care regime that meets my needs. My forehead and nose are very dry, yet my chin is oily and prone to breakouts. So for me skin care is a bit of a balancing act, trying to moisturize one area whilst minimizing oil in another, but I think I've finally cracked it. After some trial and error I have found a basic routine that works well for me when used both morning and evening. 

Clinique Liquid Facial Soap Oily Skin Formula:
Because of my combination skin I had to make some compromises, I couldn't use a routine that was purely for oily skin, as it would work well for one area of my face, but not another. So whilst cleansing I decided to use an oily skin formula to target the areas of my face prone to oiliness and breakouts. Clinique's Liquid Facial Soap Oily Skin Formula is, as the name suggests, for combination oily to oily skin types. The facial soap lathers up really nicely and is gentle, but provides a deep cleanse. After using the product, my skin looks clean and doesn't feel tight, as other oily products have have left it feeling in the past. The menthol in the facial soap leaves me feeling refreshed and invigorated, so is great to use in the morning. However, it does dry my nose and forehead out a tad, which I combat by using the 7 Day Scrub and my moisturizer so it's not much of an issue. 

Clinique 7 Day Scrub Cream:
I use this exfoliator 2-3 times a week to help remove dry patches and prevent my skin from looking tired and dull. It is a cream based formula with fine grains which is suitable for all skin types and like all of Clinique's products, is allergy tested and 100% fragrance free. Personally, I find that a lot of exfoliators scrimp on the exfoliating beads, but this product doesn't which I really like. It contains lots of small grains, but isn't harsh and is very effective at keeping skin looking smooth and radiant. 

Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+: 
Because I use my cleanser to combat oily areas in my face, I use my moisturizer to target dryness. Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+ is for very dry to dry combination skin and has recently been redeveloped give all-day hydration and strengthen the skin's own moisture barriers. Even though the formula is for dry skin, it's still light weight, non-greasy and doesn't make my chin oily. The texture of this product is lovely, it smoothes onto the skin easily, absorbs quickly and makes my skin feel soft and plump. Previously I was using Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel, recommended for oily skin but found that it was not providing enough hydration in my forehead area. 

Price wise, I'd say these products are mid range. The Liquid facial wash is £15.50 for 200ml, 7 Day Scrub £18.50 for 100ml and DDML+ £29.50 for 125ml. On a student budget they can seem pretty pricey though, but I feel that my skin is worth the investment. This time I bought them myself, but I'd usually pop them on my Christmas list and hope that my relatives are feeling generous! 

I'm currently looking for a reasonably priced face mask and moisturizer with SPF to complement my routine, any recommendations?

Ellie xo

Lime Crime Suedeberry Velvetine review

Ever since discovering Lime Crime on instagram I've been lusting over their products and couldn't wait to get my hands on some. Lime Crime are a US company and their products are highly pigmented, vegan and cruelty free, which really appealed to me. I found an online company in the UK called Cocktail Cosmetics who stock Lime Crime products (which you can find here) and decided to treat myself to one of the Velvetine range. I ordered Suedeberry which is described by Lime Crime as a "matte coral red" and was really impressed by the speedy service from Cocktail Cosmetics.





















As for the Velvetine itself, I was definitely not disappointed! The packaging is really nice, I find the sort of frosted glass effect on the tube and the pretty pink roses on the lid rather attractive. It is small and light, so easy to pop into your hand bag or pocket for makeup on the go. The applicator is fairly petite, making it easy to follow the shape of your lips accurately when applying the colour which I like, as I'm not the most light handed of people and usually end up with lipstick smeared around my lips as well as on them! 

What's interesting about the Velvetines is that they are applied as a liquid and then dry to a matte, waterproof finish as demonstrated by the swatch below. 

(left: freshly applied, right: dried)

Once dried, I found Suedeberry to be extremely long lasting. Through eating, drinking and chatting it didn't budge and only needed topping up around the corners of my mouth every 3-4 hours. The colour payout is fabulous, it's very vivid and bright yet I still find it wearable and love the coral hues which seem to be in this spring/summer. When wearing this product, I  get really positive comments saying how lovely the colour is, which is always great to hear! 

My only minor complaint about this product is that I find it tends to be a bit drying. My lips are very dry anyway and are prone to unsightly cracking unless I religiously apply lip balm throughout the day. Before using my Velvetine, I try to condition my lips by exfoliating and moisturising a few days before, so when I apply the colour I get a smooth finish. If I feel that my lips are in danger of drying out whilst wearing the lipstick, I take it off, apply a bit of balm until my lips are feeling more nourished, and then reapply the colour, but I generally only need to do this once if I am wearing it all day. (Note: it is best to remove this colour using an oil based makeup remover, I use Clinique's take the day off makeup remover for lids, lashes and lips)

Overall, I'm in love with this product and am planning on adding more to my makeup bag, which at £13.50 each won't break the bank. I think the colour is stunning and look forward wearing it, whether in the evenings or as a summery daytime look. I'd definitely recommend! 

Ellie xo

A little about me..

Hi, I'm Ellie and this is my first time blogging, so sorry if I get off to a shaky start! I've always loved makeup and beauty, I enjoy experimenting with different looks and trying out new products. From when I started dying my hair black and lining my eyes with kohl at 13, I was hooked. 6 years later, with now blonde locks and a more natural approach to makeup, I still relish in putting my face on every morning and pampering myself with gorgeous products.

I've been thinking about starting a beauty blog for a while, as beauty bloggers are always my go to guide when looking for reviews on products I'm interested in. I've finally plucked up the courage to have a go and share my own views!

To give you a bit of insight behind the name 'Balance Me Beautiful' personally I believe that the most important thing in life is to have balance. I'm currently studying to be a counsellor whilst working in a department store, so I find having balance in my life is key to my peace of mind. If I work too much I get stressed, study too much I get pounding headaches, sit around at home too much I feel lethargic. But a steady equilibrium of all three, plus spending some time with friends and family, and I'm a rather happy bunny. So for me balance=happiness and I think we all look at our best when we're feeling good (yes I know it's cheesy, but there must be a reason Audrey Hepburn believed that happy girls are the prettiest girls) 

I have a few ideas lined up which I'm pretty excited about and some new products I'm saving up for. My next post will be about Lime Crime's Suedeberry Velvetine so please check back and have a read!

Ellie xo