M&S Pure Super Active Face Serum Review

Happy Bank Holiday everyone! It's pretty gloomy here in London, so I thought I'd sit down to do some blogging about my newfound skin care gem from Marks & Spencers. I've been considering purchasing a serum for some time now, since hearing that they penetrate the deeper layers of the skin, essentially nourishing it from the inside out and thinking "yep, my skin could definitely use a hit of that". So whilst in M&S I thought I'd have a little peek at what was on offer in their skin care range (I actually went in to help my nan shop for a scarf, but somehow managed to end up in the beauty section.. it must be like a gravitational pull) I picked up the Super Active Face Serum from the Pure range and it took me no more than about 10 seconds to decide I wanted it. The serum promises to smooth and firm the skin for a more radiant complexion, but equally as important, it contains 95% ingredients from nature, 100% essential oil fragrances, British grown ingredients and is manufactured in a British eco factory. It is also free from the usual nasties such as artificial fragrance, parabens and mineral oil. Great, right? But it wasn't until I got home to open the packaging that I was truly impressed. 

The Pure range supports the Bee Friendly Project and explains on the inside of the packaging why bees are so vital to the production of much of the food we eat. The Bee Friendly Project aim to help create the right environment for healthier, more sustainable bee colonies throughout the UK. In using Starflower oil in their products, the Pure range is assisting the Project in achieving this, as the Starflower plant cannot exist without pollination and farmers encourage bee keepers to erect two hives per acre. Another impressive factor is that using British ingredients allows the Pure range to support the UK farming community and reduce their carbon footprint.* Okay, so it's clear I am in awe of the ethics of the Pure range, but what about the product itself?

As with all the products in the Pure line, the Super Actice Face Serum contains four main ingredients, starflower oil, blackcurrant oil, camelina oil and oat oil. The packaging doesn't say a great deal about the properties of these oils, other than this is an anti-aging product, so I did a little research on google and here's what I came up with. Starflower oil is known to infuse moisture and smoothness into the skin, whilst helping keep signs of aging at bay, blackcurrant oil is an anti-oxidative, camelina oil increases skin elasticity and oat oil soothes and aids the skin's moisture barrier (it may be best not to quote me on this info though, my research wasn't thorough) I have been using the serum twice a day under my moisturiser for a couple of weeks now and have noticed my skin feels smooth, supple and looks in better condition. I can't comment on the anti-aging claims of the product as I'm only 19, but my skin certainly does have a plumpness about it and my dry patches have been reduced. The serum is very light, glides over the skin easily and absorbs quickly with no residue, in fact after it has absorbed you'd barely know you had put anything onto your skin, it is that lightweight. Consistency wise it is quite thin and feels like it is water based (it may be, I'm not 100% sure) because of this is does have a tendency to drip off your fingers if you're not careful but since the consistency is possibly what lends such a feather light texture to the serum, I'm not complaining. My only gripe is that I dislike the smell, but as it is fairly subtle I have stopped noticing it with continued use. 

Overall I'm a bit in love with this product and it has quickly become a staple in my routine. Since I haven't tried many serums, when this one runs out I think I'll experiment with some different ones, but if they don't live up to this M&S offering I'll be repurchasing! I wouldn't hesitate to buy anything else from the Pure range as it all looks lovely and I'm sure a few more products will make their way into my regime soon. 

M&S Pure Super Active Face Serum 30ml for £11 here

Ellie xo

*all information from packaging

MUA £1 Lipstick

Having tested out MUA's Power Pout Tint and Balm (review here) I couldn't go back into Superdrug without picking up one of their £1 lipsticks. If this product hadn't been any good, I wouldn't have been heartbroken nor even shocked, but I was pleasantly surprised to find out that this is in fact pretty decent. I opted for the Juicy- Shade 15, which is a fairly bright, coral toned pink. Right lets get to it, firstly the packaging. I think MUA made the right decision in going for this black and silver understated packaging, it doesn't look tacky and I reckon people would probably assume you paid more than a pound for it. Just now as I was fiddling with  the product I discovered that the bottom actually unscrews to reveal a little pot of the lipstick, a quirky feature handy for when you run out. However, when you pick it up the plastic does feel cheap and much like the Power Pout, the lid is not tight fitting.





















Now I'll be honest, the formula is not great. Although fairly opaque, it applies a bit patchy and requires a teeny bit of work to get an even coverage. But once this has been achieved (and it really does require minimal effort) the product sits well on the lips. And in all fairness, at £1 we weren't really expecting a formula to rival the likes of Estee Lauder or MAC now were we? I find the colour to be very pretty and flattering on my skin tone and my mum liked it so much she sent me back to buy her one! I also think the contrast against darker complexions would look stunning. In the bullet and swatch the colour does have definite has a coral tint, however, when on my lips I find it takes on a more baby pink shade. I get a good hours wear out of this lipstick, which price considered isn't all that shabby. I probably wouldn't wear this if I was going out for the night or wanted something to stay in place all day, as I'd be constantly touching it up, but I think it's great for adding some interest to my makeup if I'm only popping out for a few hours. 

Overall, this lipstick is truly excellent value for money. Yes it has some flaws, but nothing that I can't live with. When I next pop into Superdrug I'm sure more of these will be sneaking their way into my basket. 

Have you tried any of these bargain lipsticks, what did you think?

Ellie xo

Boots Botanics All Bright Foam Wash and Day Cream review

Whilst perusing the skin care aisle in Boots, I came across the Boots Botanics range. The bright green and pink flower on the front of the packaging caught my attention and I was interested to see they had a line of products promising to brighten your complexion. My skin can often look congested, dry and dull so I was instantly captivated and for a combined price of £5.98 I didn't have much to lose. (Boots are currently doing an offer here and here, but they are very reasonable at their original prices) Both the Cleansing Foam Wash and Hydrating Day Cream contain hibiscus, the ingredient that lends it's brightening properties to the products and natural AHA's, which work to gently exfoliate the skin, leaving it smoother and brighter. Both products are lightly scented which is pleasant but not overpowering. 

All Bright Cleansing Foam Wash 150ml:
I bagged this cleansing foam as my skin has been very dry recently and my usual facial wash has been leaving it too dehydrated. In all honesty, I'm happy with this product but don't have a great deal to say about it, as I don't feel that it does anything special. Although it does cleanse nicely, leaves my skin feeling fresh without any dryness and lathers up well, it's not something I'd rave about. It meets all my basic cleansing needs whilst being budget friendly. I'd recommend it to anyone who simply wants a product to clean their skin, with no thrills and no large price tag. Would I repurchase? Yes, when going on holiday I think I'll be popping this in my bag. 

All Bright Hydrating Day Cream SPF15 50ml:
As well as hibiscus and AHA's this product also contains Hyaluronic Acid to boost skin moisture levels and SPF15, to protect against the sun's damaging rays. For the past couple of weeks this has been my go to day moisturizer and I must say that I have noticed a difference. My skin has been looking more healthy, radiant and dewy recently, a definite result. Although this product is hydrating and sits well under my Bourjois CC Cream, I do find my skin is looking a little dry in the forehead and nose region by the end of the day. 

I'd say this product is medium thickness consistency wise, not too think nor too thin, somewhere in the middle. Because of this, you really do not need much of the product and I envisage it lasting me absolutely ages! I'm really glad I bought this product and will be repurchasing it when I'm running low, for those weeks where my skin needs a helping hand. 

Overall these products are effective and certainly excellent value for money. I'm hoping to add more from this line to my collection in the future and am thrilled that I won't have to break the bank to do so. 

Lastly, I must apologise for the fact I've been slacking on the blogging front lately, I've been super busy at work and college but hopefully next week I'll be able to post a bit more. Thanks for taking the time to read this and being patient! 

Ellie xo

Lily Lolo Mineral Blush Review

I love putting on blush, trying (unsucessfully) to sculpt some cheekbones and add a pop of colour to my pale complexion is probably my favourite part of my makeup routine. So when I was doing some browsing on feelunique and spotted Lily Lolo's mineral blush collection, I didn't have the will power to deny myself purchasing one from their beautiful range of colours. I went for the shade Rosy Apple, described as a pink-brown with shimmer, as I was after a blush that would give me a flush of natural colour, whilst affording a more sunkissed look. Since I usually opt for peaches and light pinks, it also made a nice change. 





















The packaging is simplistic, a patent black lid with the Lily Lolo logo and frosted glass base. I like it, it's understated but chic. At first I was surprised at how small it was, but seeing how little powder you need when applying it, I'm confident it'll last me just about forever. The lockable sifter minimizes the risk of being enveloped in a cloud of blush when opening the product and is pretty handy for preventing spillage.

The colour reminds me of rose gold and I adore the healthy glow it gives me. Being quite pale, I'm a bit wary of bronzer but for me this product is almost a cross between a blusher and a bronzer, perfect for me to dip my toe into the water. The powder is fairly pigmented and gives a smooth finish, with just enough shimmer to catch the light but not so much so that you look overdone. In terms of longevity, I get around 6 hours wear without a primer. 

Having never had a loose powder product before, I'm finding it a bit difficult to use. It's easy to pick up too much powder then end up looking like a rosy cheeked clown and this paired with the fact it's a tad hard to blend, doesn't make for the easiest of applications. However, these issues may be more of a reflection on my lack of experience with this type of product, rather than a reflection on a product itself, so I will keep trying to hone my skills. 

Would I buy this product again? It's a tough one. Personally, I prefer a pressed powder but if I can get to grips with using a loose one, then yes I probably would purchase another as the shade range is so stunning. Despite a few hiccups, I'm glad I bought this mineral blush and am really pleased with the colour, which I'm confident will look gorgeous with a tan. 

£7.99 for 3.5g here

Ellie xo 

Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream Review

I know that this CC Cream has been reviewed a lot. In fact so have the whole range of CC Creams that are available now and some of you may be raising your eyes to the heavens and thinking 'oh no not more of those'. But personally, I'm really grateful that these colour correcting, hydrating products have emerged into the world of cosmetics. I'm not a big foundation fan, with my combination skin and problems with clogged pores it's just easier to steer clear, but I really like CC and BB Creams for their light and natural coverage. Having sampled offerings from Estee Lauder and Clinique (which were both lovely but a bit too pricey for me) I opted for the much raved about Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream.

This product boasts three pigments, which each target a particular problem. Apricot pigments counteract fatigue, green for anti-redness and white to even out dark spots, claiming to give a 'luminous complexion and smooth skin'. 24 hour hydration and SPF 15 are an added bonus. Bourjois offer four different shades in this product, ivory, light beige, rose beige and bronze. The range is by no means extensive and doesn't cater for deeper skin tones, which is a shame. I went for the shade light beige, which best matched my skin tone out of the four options. I find it a little too yellow when first applied but once blended you'd be hard pressed to notice that it isn't an exact match. In terms of consistency, this product is thin (and prone to dripping as demonstrated by the above picture) it is beautifully lightweight and applies easily, affording a sheer 'my skin but better' coverage. This product lasts for around 6-7 hours on my face without a primer. 

To give you an idea of the coverage, I've done before and after photos. Apologies for looking a bit rough, I'd just hopped out of bed and quickly snapped these pictures as I really wanted to get this post up today. 

After application

Before application

As you can see my skin looks brighter, fresher and more even after applying the CC Cream, which I'm delighted with. If you are after fuller coverage or want to mask severe imperfections, this product is probably not for you. But if, like me, your main skin concern is combinationess (a technical term if ever there was one) a bit of redness and the odd blemish, this is perfect for using everyday to give a natural, dewy glow. At £9.99 for 30ml this product is great value and I'll definitely be repurchasing. 

Have you tried this product, what did you think? 

Ellie xo

MUA Power Pout Review

MUA Power Pout Colour Intense Tint & Balm in Justify

I've read a few reviews about these and at £3 each I felt compelled to try one for myself. I like the idea of the new coloured balm craze, hydrated lips and a wash of colour all wrapped up in an easy to apply crayon, what's not to love? The packaging of MUA's Power Pout pretty much resembles Clinique's Chubby Sticks and the multitude of other similar products on the market, so no big thrills there. 





















I picked up the shade Justify, which I hoped was going to swatch the same colour as the packaging (a bit optimistic I know) it didn't, but I wasn't disappointed. It's quite a sheer colour and does definitely have coral undertones, but on my lips looks more like a muted berry. I didn't find it to be either moisturizing or drying, but did like the pop of colour it gave to my lips and the pleasant smell of mint. I gave this a trial run at work (no eating or drinking but plenty of talking to customers) and found that the slickness of the balm lasted roughly an hour, before wearing off to leave my lips stained a berry hue. Overall I got about 2 hours comfortable wear out of it. 

My only teeny tiny gripes about this product are that the lid doesn't fit snugly, therefore has a habit of coming loose in my handbag and on dry lip days this wouldn't be the product I'd be reaching for as I don't find it particularly nourishing, but at £3 I really can't complain. 

Would I repurchase? Yes. This is perfect for lazy summer days, where low key and low maintenance looks are what I long for. 

I've also purchased a £1 lipstick from the MUA range, which I'll be reviewing soon! Have you tried any of their products? 

Ellie xo

Date Night: Get Made Up with Me

So I thought it would be fun to do a 'get made up with me' post, me and my boyfriend went out for dinner yesterday evening and this brown almost-smokey eye look is what I went for. I love neutrals, bronzes and golds as I feel they bring out the blue in my eyes and suit me more than other colour palettes. 

Okay so this is how I started off, sans makeup and fluffy hair. I got out the shower (hence the redness) cleansed my face, applied Green People Day Solution Cream SPF15 to my face, popped Estee Lauder's Advanced Night Repair Eye on my dark circles then M&S Rejuvenating Wonder Oil to the rest of my body. I also smoothed some of the oil onto my damp hair before blow drying. 

Next I pulled my hair back, applied Clinique's Moisture Surge CC Cream in light to my skin as my base and filled in my eyebrows using Brow Zings Brow Shaping Wax from Benefit's Smokin' eyes palette. I prefer using a CC Cream rather than a foundation because it sits better on my combination skin whilst affording a sheer yet natural coverage. 

I then applied Laugh from Aerin's Holiday Style Palette all over my lids, up to my brow bone. Love from the same palette was used from the inner corner of my eye outwards up to the crease and Glow (again from the same palette) was blended into the crease and outer corner of my eye. Benefit's boi-ing concealer was put under my eyes.

 

To finish off my makeup I applied Mac's Sheertone Shimmer Blush in Springsheen to my cheeks, Clinique's High Impact Mascara on my lashes and used Benefit's moonbeam as a highlighter on my cheek bones. 

Finally I curled my hair using my GHD straightners, added a spritz of Si by Giorgio Armani and I was good to go! 

I hope you enjoyed this post as it was slightly different from normal, what colours do you use most on your eyes? 

Ellie xo