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Foundation Matching Database


Have you ever attempted to buy foundation online from a new brand ? Probably not. 
And that's due to a lot of reasons and I can bet one of them is the fact that you don't know what shade you'll be...

Well, the website Findation has got you covered. One of my friends let me know about this gem and I thought I'd share it with you all...
It's an online foundation matching database that uses information based on the current shades you wear in other foundations to present you with recommendations for different brands.

How it works
Simply enter your shade in any foundations that you've used before and that you believe to be accurate and then Findation will load up your recommended matches across different brands.

For best results:
- Try and enter as many colour matches that worked well on your skin
- I always google the recommended colour that I'm presented with to see other people wearing it before I purchase

Happy foundation shopping guys :) 

Lush Review: Natural Skincare Alternative

This post will probably be useful to you if you're the same skin type as me which is combination-oily skin. 

My skin is also quite sensitive and spot-prone. I’m a skincare junkie meaning I’ve tried most products out at some point. I’m a big fan of Clinique (review to follow) I use their anti-blemish solutions 3 step system a few times a year when my skin starts playing up. However, I do always revert back to using Lush products as my skincare staple. 

About Lush
Lush is a company known for hand making their products using 

“effective ingredients from fresh, organic fruit and vegetables, the finest essential oils and safe synthetics.” 

I like using their products because I like giving my skin a break from chemicals found in other skincare brands and also their products are quite effective. They also list all the ingredients used in their products so you know exactly what you’re getting in the bottle. 


Here’s a breakdown of recent Lush haul and some products I think may be handy for you too:


Morning Routine

 ♥CoalFace –Facial Soap

I use Coalface first thing in the morning as part of my morning routine. I like the fact that it’s a gentle soap that leaves the skin feeling smooth and clean. 

Key Ingredients: 
- Liquorice root – I’ve read somewhere online that this ingredient can be helpful towards removing old acne scars so I thought I’d give it a try. 
- Rosewood oil – known for its antiseptic and soothing properties 

♥Full of Grace – Moisturiser/Serum 

I use this serum as a moisturiser after I’ve washed my face both in the morning and evening.

Now, I have oily skin so I was tempted to steer clear from this product but I thought to give it a try and I haven’t been disappointed. This facial serum moisturises enough to keep your skin looking healthy but without the heaviness which means no more greasiness during the day (yay). I can put my makeup on top of this serum and it stays on looking matte for the whole day.

Evening Routine

♥Angels on bare skin – cleanser/exfoliator 

Angels on bare skin is advertised as a cleanser however, because of the ground almonds in the product it is slightly exfoliating as well. I’d recommend this product if you have particularly sensitive skin like me. It scrubs your makeup off and cleanses your skin whilst also being gentle and mild. 
If I’ve got a lot of makeup on, I also use this alongside my Olay facial brush – review here. 

Key ingredients: 
- Lavender oil and rose – which help to calm and soothe the skin 

♥Tea tree toner water 

Tea tree is a treat for the skin as its antibacterial, anti-fungal and antimicrobial. I use this product in the evening to wipe off any remaining makeup and dirt that may still be left on the skin. It’s a really effective toner and leaves the skin feeling fresh. 

♥Don’t look at me – Face Mask 

This face mask works a treat and leaves the skin feeling brand new. Because of the fresh ingredients used the face mask has to be stored in the fridge. I use this twice a week in the evening and leave it on for about 10-15 minutes before removing with water. When you take the mask off your skin feels refreshed and rejuvenated. The masks works well as a scrub and doesn't leave the skin feeling too dry or stripped of its natural oils – which is why I love this product so much. 

Key ingredients:
- Lemon – lemon is known to even out complexion and brighten the skin 
- Ground rice - this gives the product a nice scrubby texture which I like. 

If you’ve used any particularly good Lush products share your skin secrets and leave a comment below to let me know! 

For more information on how to use the products or buy your own take a look at Lush's website here

Christmas Gift Guide: His and Hers


There’s not long till Christmas now. 
It can be hard deciding what to get anyone at this time of the year; whether it’s a friend, parent, sibling or partner. I definitely think the best type of gift is something that someone can actually use and won’t just get left on the shelf. I've listed some ideas to make your Christmas shopping that little bit easier: 

Gifts for her 
♥Skincare set 
Beauty and skincare is usually the top of most women’s list. Why not buy her a skincare set? If you know her very well you could get her a basket of her favourite skincare products – you can create your own basked by buying individual items or the easier option, just pick up a ready-made basket.

I’d suggest going into a big department store such as John Lewis or House of Fraser and seeing what sets they have to offer. Cheaper, alternative stores are; Lush and Body shop. 
Us women usually like anything beauty related so it’s unlikely you’ll go wrong with this. 

♥Makeup 
Makeup is sooo expensive these days so receiving it as a gift is a treat. Popular brands include; MAC, NARS, Bobbi Brown, Elizabeth Arden etc.
I’d suggest buying her a lipstick, blusher or make-up brushes. I’d stay clear from buying foundation and concealers as girls can get picky about these types of products. 

♥Jewellery 
A girl is always in need of new jewellery. The good thing about jewellery is that it doesn't go out of style and can last years. Focus on buying the classic pieces such as simple bracelets, necklaces or even a watch. 
You could go that extra mile and get personalised jewellery for that special finishing touch. 

♥Bags
Handbags, clutch bags and purses. All essential, and all make good presents. There’s loads of variety to choose from on-line and in-store to grab her a nice ( and fashionable) bag.
Popular stores include Zara, H&M, Topshop and River Island.

Gifts for him
♥Shoes
You can't go wrong with a good pair of shoes. Whether the guy in question loves urban-type trainers such as Jordans, or he’s more of a Toms or smart-suede shoe fan – shoes is a good option. 

♥Fragrance
Its a fact; guys love smelling good just as much as us girls do! There are soo many good fragrances for men at the moment; Hugo Boss, Cool Water by Davidoff, and One Million by Paco Robanne. If you're not sure what scent to go for, ask the shop assistant what the best sellers are.

♥Watch
This can be abit more of an extravagant option. Buy him a statement watch to make a big statement this Christmas. Wrist candy has a range is wide so make sure you pick the perfect watch for him.

♥Bag/Briefcase
Whether he’s going to and from the office or if it's quick trips to the gym - a handy bag is always an essential. Bags can make a big statement for a guy so choose something that’s suitable for the intended use but also fashionable. 
JimBags’, Nike and Adidas are all popular brands for bags – this is because they're usually spacious enough for sports equipment and toiletries.
 
♥Headphones
If he doesn't have a good pair already, or he’s thinking about buying one – beat him to the chase. A good pair of headphones can be lifesaver and a fashion statement. Dr Dre’s Beats, Bose and Sennheiser are all good, high quality brands. Sony and Panasonic can offer cheaper alternatives.

Hopefully this lists taken some stress off your shoulders. Good luck and happy gift-hunting!

Skin brushes: Olay Regenerist Exfoliating Face Brush Review



For me, cleansing my skin with a face cloth just doesn’t cut it anymore. I’ve officially switched to a face brush and there’s no looking back.
-
Using a facial brush has been said to remove more dirt and get deeper into the pores than  you can with you face cloth alone. Skin can appear brighter and healthier when a face brush has been added into your skincare routine. Cleansing brushes can deep clean your face and help to exfoliate and remove dead skin.

When I was looking for a face brush I did a lot of research and similar to you, read up on a lot of blog reviews.

I wanted something that was powerful, but also affordable and gentle enough for my sensitive skin. I didn’t wanna go straight into a big investment because I wasn’t sure if it'd actually be worth it.

I decided to go for the Olay Regenerist Cleansing Brush and it’s been a few months since my purchase and I wanted to write up a review to help someone else who may be trying to figure out which brush is best for them.

This little bad-boy managed to appear in the top spot for the under $50 range in the Good Housekeeping Seal Holder, so you can guess it’ll be quite a good product.


How  I use this in my skincare routine
I use this brush as part of my evening skincare routine, alongside my Clinque products. I find that it works really well to remove all of my makeup and any oils and dirt that would’ve built up during the day. It leaves my skin feeling refreshed and clean.

PROS: 

-         Gentle but effective – this works particularly well for me as it removes all the dirt and makeup but isn’t too harsh on my skin
-  2 different speed levels: You can set your cleaning at two different speeds, this gives you more choice over how you use the product depending on your skincare routine
- Waterproof – This is really handy as it means I can use it in the shower and just makes it more convenient for me
-   Has been proven to remove make up four times more effectively than manual cleaning*

CONS:

- Battery operated –I know some other brushes just require charging which means fewer trips to the store to get batteries, but for me this is a minor problem
-  One brush size – The kit only comes with one brush size which can be limiting.
Overall, I’m happy with this product and I’ll probably look into upgrading to Clarisonic in the near future. I can see the difference in my skin since I’ve started using it; it’s a great alternative to other expensive models on the market and also works really well considering the price.
You can buy your own brush on Amazon or at Boots for around £25.

Getting the best deals this Black Friday


We’re officially a few days away from the infamous Black Friday (27th November). If you’re anything like me, you’ve been patiently waiting for these sales but it’s important to not get lost in the hype and still be smart about your shopping. I’ve rounded up my best tips to make sure you don’t get ripped off this weekend.

♥Shop Online
There’s the constant comparison – Black Friday vs Cyber Monday.
A little history lesson - Black Friday is historically the first Friday after thanksgiving.  Cyber Monday follows Black Friday as the first Monday after thanksgiving. Cyber Monday is said to be the busiest online shopping day of the year before Christmas. However, the two shopping days have probably been blended together so that stores that are based online can also have their own “day” of sales. In my opinion, either of these days will give you an equal opportunity of bagging a good bargain.
You’re just as likely to get a good deal online on Black Friday as you are on Cyber Monday. I recommend shopping online just because of how much easier it makes your life. Honestly, online shopping is a dream. You get to see all the stock that the stores have without even leaving your house. You also get to shop from several stores that may be out of reach locally.
Save yourself the bruises and manic of trying to shop in person this Black Friday.

♥Bookmark / Make a list
Think about it this way; what would you buy right now if it wasn’t on sale? 
I can’t stress how important this is. Instead of being a compulsive shopper and buying a lot of random stuff that you don’t really need, make a list of what you do actually need and then make use of it.
You could even bookmark the items you want from specific stores, and once Friday’s here; go to  your bookmark, add to basket and checkout.
That way you’re sure to only buy things you actually need.

♥Compare current prices
Another key point to note. Some prices are actually not reduced. Don’t be fooled by false advertising. After you’ve made your list of what you want to buy, make sure to make a note of what the current price is. Remember “up to 30% off” means it can be anything from 5% all the way to 30% , make sure that you’re not fooled by the big red stickers and flashy signs that stores use.

♥Shop Early
Most companies, such as Amazon, have started ‘Black Friday Week’. Essentially, their promotions are running the whole week. I’d be a bit cautious with this tip as some companies will have discounts during the week and then up their discounts on Friday.

♥Sign up for emails
Make sure you’ve signed up to all the stores that you want to shop on. Email vouchers and codes could help you save a lot. Sometimes you could even get pre-release deals on products.

Lastly, enjoy the deals. There’s a lot to of savings to be had! Happy shopping :)

Limecrime Velvetines Lipsticks

Like most other girls - I’m a big fan of make-up and getting dolled up. A full face of makeup is never complete without a good lipstick. At the moment, matte lipsticks are my favourite. I just love the matte effect and how strong it looks!

MAC is usually my go-to brand, but recently I've been experimenting with new brands and seeing what else is out there. I came across LimeCrime lipsticks when a friend of mine kept telling me how good they were and that was enough to convince me to try it out for myself,  and I must say, I’m really impressed.

Before I tried this brand out, I must admit - I thought the packaging looked abit tacky... Like something you'd buy from a random hair shop. However, the phrase "don't judge a book by its cover" couldn't apply more than it does here. I did my research and Limecrime is actually well known and popular in the States. I think their whole brand is supposed to be quite edgy and alternative, which explains their choice of packaging and their brand message.

 I have the two different colours below:
 1. Pansy (Purple)

 2. Salem (Brown)

♥What I love about them:
• The lipstick is fully pigmented 
• Long lasting wear and I definitely mean this – This lipstick stays in place for the hours
• Soft texture – When you apply the lipstick, it’s initially liquid based then quickly matte’s out
• The price – for £13.17 I think they’re amazing and you can order directly from their website. The only downer is that shipping from the US to the UK is a flat rate of £10.95 – so it may be worth purchasing more than one at a time to get good value for money.

If your lips are quite sensitive, try their other sheen or glossy alternatives :)

Know any other brands that sell good matte lipsticks? Let me know your favourite brands and colours below.
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