Beauty Rehab

Hey all!

I've been writing these Beauty Rehab posts for a long long time now, even though I started them right at the beginning I still enjoy showing you what I've actually been using throughout the month and what I've finished. I'd like to say I am working through my stash but that would be wrong, my stash seems to have ballooned in recent months so I'm going to try and make more effort between now and Christmas!

Here's what I've used up recently:

Laura Mercier Hydrating Foundation Primer

Hey All

Laura Mercier is a brand we've both loved trying products are. L swears by Silk Creme (review here) and it's one of her top foundations and M loves the Mineral Powder foundation which is one of her favourites (review here).

We've also both tried  and loved the undercover pot! (review here) After loving so many face products from them we couldn't wait to try the hydrating primer. We'd heard lots of many positive reviews about the original one.

Both of us have combination skin which has a tendency to be dehydrated so a few years ago we wouldn't have considered trying a hydrating primer. Even though it's hydrating it's more of a gel formula so it doesn't feel heavy on the skin or leave the skin feeling greasy, it actually feels cool and refreshing. It also sinks into the skin quickly. It also contains vitamin A,C and E which help protect the skin from aging due to the environment.

It's made applying make up so much better and feels like another product we can't live without. It's not like other primers we've tried and it just gives the skin a smooth base and makes foundation sit better and apply easier.

It would be interesting to try the difference between the normal and hydrating one.

M xxx

This primer is so lightweight - it feels just like a gel or serum and sinks into the skin super fast and creates a base without feeling like there is a layer on the skin at all. This was super impressive.
When applying it, it feels like another step to your skincare routine rather than make up.

M would like to try the normal primer but I was lucky enough to get it in a beauty box a few months ago. I like them both and the main factor that I've noticed about the two is that the hydrating primer is just that, slightly lighter and more hydrating.
I'd probably lean towards the hydrating just to add in an extra hydration step for my skin as it really needs it, I actually can't apply any more hydration to my skin sometimes!

Have you tried the Laura Mercier Primers? Which do you prefer?
Do you have a favourite Laura Mercier product?

L xxx

Laura Mercier Artist's Palette for Eyes and Cheeks

Happy Sunday!

I don't know about you but i will be spending my Sunday lazing around and enjoying a free day. There's going to be reading, tv and food, along with some dog walks to get me outdoors but that is it! The last few weeks have been so busy I'm really looking forward to having a quiet weekend or two.

In the post Christmas sale there was one store that I was really looking forward to having a browse of....sadly in Wales we don't have an individual store but we do have access to the wonderful Space NK website, and so I made my very first sale purchase: the Laura Mercier Artist's Palette for Eyes and Cheeks.

Originally this was priced at £45 but I managed to get it for the bargain price of £22.50 - who on earth could refuse that?!

With eight eyeshadows and a super flattering blush in the centre it was sure to be a winner in anyone's make up collection, especially mine. I've long lusted after LM palettes and products in general and having only tried the Silk Creme foundation and the hydrating primer I am yet to find one that I don't like.

And with an animal print exterior I was surely not going to let it pass me by.

Sometimes I think they could be a bit more creative with their names....but nevertheless at least their names make some sense - there's no use in calling something a completely ridiculous name that has nothing to do with the colour, you know what you're getting here.

Opening the palette reveals a sturdy mirror along with the product inside, I love the arrangement and the equality of the palette pleases my OCD tendencies.

I also really like that they're named on the front, a lot of brands do this now and I think it's a lot better than scrabbling around trying to find the box it came in to work it out! I like products with names, feels a lot more personal than '001'.

How do you like my Christmas leggings by the way? I seem to have snapped them in the mirror in the image below - a Primarni special they are my absolute favourite things to wear right now.

The blush in the centre is a Rosegold Shimmer; it does exactly what it says on the tin. It's a beautiful rose gold product that I've been wearing all day every day recently; its extremely flattering and gives me a warm glow kind of look. It also has a really subtle shimmer that does not look glittery in any way and it's great for day and night.

So the colours. Vanilla Nuts is a super matte, creamy textured shadow that I've been using as the perfect base. It glides on and covers my whole eyelid easily. It's almost a bit dark for my (pretty much) ivory skin but it's a great colour.
Stone Taupe is exactly that colour and I love using it in the crease of my eyelid to define it, it blends so smoothly it's like it belongs there.
Pewter is a gorgeous shimmery dark silver and will be great for an evening look, again it blends seamlessly and flatters my skin tone.
Deep Night is a gorgeous dark blue that I've been using as a liner; it's perfect and a pretty change from black which I am otherwise hooked on.

Topaz is essentially a shimmery version of Stone Taupe and again will look great for evening, though I would wear it in day too as they have such a subtle shimmer to them and blend so well.
Morning Dew and Cashmere are again matte shadows and between them they feel so buttery. They create the perfect nude eye look for work and don't seem to fall or slide during the day.
Crystal Beige is the last colour in the palette and is a warm toned shimmer shadow with a touch of gold in it.
I can't describe them any better than this as I'm far too busy playing with them and marvelling at their beauty!

Here are some colour swatches taken in daylight, so these are true to colour. Taking photos in winter is so restrictive don't you think??
The above shows without flash and below shows with:

Here are the first four eyeshadows closer up without/with flash and also the blush, found at the far left of my arm. It blends so well you can barely see it!

And here are the last four, with and then without flash. They are so finely milled that when swatched they almost blend seamlessly into my skin:

Still not convinced? Here are some photos I've taken from the last few weeks:

I absolutely love it, and i love that I got it for £22.50 even more! 

What do you think of the palette and the eyeshadow colours?

Have you tried a palette from Laura Mercier before? Have you bought anything in the Space NK sale?

I can see this coming with me a lot when I start travelling with my job; it has almost every look I could need!

L xxx

Beauty Rehab

Hey there!

I thought I'd end the year on a Beauty Rehab post; I've been working hard to use up my stash over the last few months. Body products suddenly seemed to be taking over my life so I've been working through them and trying not to replace them. I was doing well but now facial skincare appears to have taken its place. Nothing like being prepared though right?!

So let's get started on the mammoth collection of empties I have this time:

Label M Protein Spray: loved using this and as someone who doesn't dabble in many hair products that's a pretty big deal!
Korres Shampoo and Conditioner for coloured hair: Bought in Waitrose, expensive but did last longer than other shampoos and conditioners I've used, would repurchase as a treat or when it's on offer.
Batiste: Nothing better than the original dry shampoo! Always have a stash of this
Philosophy Vanilla Birthday Cake Shower Gel: Bit of a sickly sweet smell for me but extremely thick and luxurious and was a lovely present, wouldn't repurchase though.

Nip and Fab Cleansing Fix Oil: No longer available to buy from what I can gather but actually works well at removing make up - not convinced though as it contains mineral oil so I'm worried it will make me break out
No7 Brush Cleaner: had lots of hope for this but unfortunately you need to use a lot of it to get make up off and sometimes it still wasn't enough. Useful for emergencies but baby shampoo is always the best!
S&G Righteous Butter: Finally down to my last 2 pots of this (eek!) it's a fabulous body butter and smells divine I'm just not patient enough to sit and let it sink in sometimes! Love it.
Dove Summer Glow Lotion: the best one for me and my pale skin, usually go through bottles of this but I've been embracing my pale skin for the last few months. (seeing photos at Christmas parties has brought me back to my senses though...)

Lush So White Shower Gel: Kindly given to me from Lush Cardiff at an event, was a new product to me and I loved the apple scent as some are overwhelming me, I'm so not adventurous with scents!
Nivea Facial Wash Gel: Made my skin drier as I no longer need products for combination/oily skin it would seem! Definitely need something more hydrating nowadays!
Neutrogena Deep Clean Daily Scrub: Unfortunately not a product available in the UK, this was sent to me from a friend in America and I have treasured it until now!
DGJ Berutti Oil: Hair products don't seem to have any effect on my hair, this one smelled lovely and did add shine but didn't seem to help the condition long time. 

Dr Nick Lowe Age Correct Eye Serum: I love an eye serum, this one sunk in easily and I'd consider repurchasing on a Boots 3 for 3 deal.
Laura Mercier Silk Creme: already repurchased; the perfect second skin look, and although it's pricey it does last a really really long time as you use so little.
Clarins Body Wash: A sample given to me, not a fan of the smell so wouldn't repurchase. It smelt herby which was weird!
Origins MAD Cleansing Milk: I prefer a foaming wash but this was great on days where my skin was feeling sensitive so it was good for my gym wash bag.
Nip and Fab Viper Venom Wrinkle Fix: Loved this and would repurchase, probably will when I run out of my other 6 or so serums...(oops)

E45 cream - massive allergic reaction to this, used it for ages so no idea why but won't be repurchasing!
Origins MAD Plus Rejuvenating Moisturiser - love love love! Hoping to get a Christmas gift set of this to fill my stash back up....
Nip and Fab Bee Sting Fix Eye Cream - this was ok, not the best eye cream and I was disappointed with the amount of product inside the pot
Origins High Potency Night A Mins - another love, I have another in the sidelines...
Lush H'Suan Wen Hua Hair Treatment - I thought this worked well but the huge pot only covered my hair 2 or 3 times so the price and value might be a bit off, would like to try others

L'Occitane Shea Lip Butter - this was quite hard so wasn't great on chapped lips but really moisturising when it melted a bit, wouldn't repurchase
Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream - lovely, would repurchase
Benefit Porefessional - love the mini/travel sizes, extremely useful!
Benefit They're Real - again another love, but I wouldn't purchase it on its own, value is much better in a set and it's often in magazines...it's a Boots points kind of purchase!
Lancome Hypnose mascara - love their range of mascaras, their Christmas sets are great (fingers crossed)
Caudalie Polyphenol Detox Oil - loved this, will need to buy it in full size to fully get the benefits!

Rimmel Wonderfull mascara - not sure the Argan oil makes a load of difference but it was a good mascara and Rimmel always seem to be the best for me
Boots Brazil Nut body butter - love these small pots, great for travelling!
Boots Nail Block - the cheapest and the best, always pick these up in 3 for 2 deals
Rimmel Stay Matte pressed powder - Always have more of these, the best pressed powder for the money, would never use any other

Phew what a way to end the year, so many pots and tubs I've gone through and still so many more to go!

Fingers crossed I'll carry on ploughing through at this speed for the rest of the year. What have you been using up over the last few weeks?

L xxx

Laura Mercier Brow Definer

Hey All

It's been a while since I've done a post on my own! Massive thanks to L for holding the fort while my life seems to have been getting busier and busier! After the rather excess Space NK haul and quite a few other purchase I've had loads I've wanted to write about but no time to write them.

Brows are something I can't leave the house without and always want to try and find the latest new product to give them great definition without looking scouse brow esque! My previous favourite was either Gimme Brow (review here!) or the Elf brow kit (review here). I've wanted to try a brow gel type product for ages since seeing lots of great things about the Anastasia brow range. The Laura Mercier Brow Definer caught my eye and was quickly added to my basket!

I went for the shade fair. With my ever changing hair colour it's always hard to know what colour to go for but I tend to keep my brows as the latest shade as possible. 

As with most higher end products it comes boxed. Laura Mercier keep classic colours and the range never looks tacky!

The little pot holds a lot of product! I can't imagine this running out any time soon. Having used it for over a month it doesn't even have a little dent in it. I was concerned at first I would need to buy new brushes as I seem to be lacking a good quality brow brush but I've actually found my H and M brush works perfectly. Where the bristles are a bit longer it doesn't take up too much product. The slanted edge makes it easy to apply and the thin bristles mean definition is easy to achieve! The brush is a bargain £1.99 and double ended!!

Pre brows

Post brows

I love how they look! The brows look soft, not powdering and well defined! It also lasts all day as a gel it helps hold the brow down without leaving them stiff like some brow mascaras can. There isn't any faults I can find with this. I also got the other half to admit my brows look better with make up on (he's always saying natural and no make up is better!) I also think for a higher end product it comes in at a reasonable £16.50.

What's your top brow product? 

Love M

xxx

Laura Mercier Mineral Powder Foundation

Hey All

Another product from my Space NK splurge. I do love having new make up and it's even better when it's even better than you thought.

Lately I've not been wearing as much foundation. Mainly I'm too lazy in the mornings and have been giving my skin a break. I still get oily though so like to use a powder.

After watching Estee from EssieButton's foundation routine I new I had to order this. Her make up always looks amazing. I took a gamble on shade and hoped for the best. Luckily it paid off. Tender Rose is perfect for my pale skin. I remembered watching a video before where Estee had mentioned the lightest shade was too pale for her.

Mineral powders aren't something I've dabbled in before so I wasn't sure what coverage to expect or how easily it would be to apply.

The packaging spins round the cover the wholes so you don't waste product. Loose powders can get so messy so I was glad to see this feature! I've been using a buffing brush to apply it and it seems to give a great finish.

Bare skin with concealer. I have quite a red tone to my skin and it looks a bit patchy.

After the mineral powder. It blends flawlessly into my skin and looks so natural. I love that my freckles still show through (after spending ages trying to cover them for 'flawless' skin the other half has persuaded me I shouldn't cover them!) but my skin tone looks even.

Blushes apply easily over it and I find my skin looks natural and not cakey. I stopped wearing foundation for ages as it kept coming off and looking awful in work. This doesn't last all day but seems to come off naturally. I do get shiny by about 4pm but it's nothing major!

I've also used this over holy grail foundation illamasqua skin base (Review here) and it sets my make up and helps it last better!

I'm so impressed and I've used it everyday since I got it! It even works for bus make up! 

Love M

xxx

Review: Laura Mercier Honey Bath Creme Brulee

Morning All

I can't believe it's Wednesday already. Where is this week going! It's been a busy few days for me and after doing the half marathon on Sunday I feel exhausted already.

After not really training as much as I should have (having not run more than 6 miles/not at all the month before) I finished the race in a lot of pain and after 10 miles some injuries.

I'm still aching now but on Monday nught decided I deserved a proper treat bath.

When the Space NK offer was on I decided to pick up the Laura Mercier Honey Bath as it's not a luxury I'd normally spend on.





I went for Creme Brulee as I'm a fan of sweet vanilla type smells. This actually really reminds me of Lush's honey I washed the kids soap.

Honey baths come with a cute little wooden stick which you use to dip in the produxt and then swirl that under the tap to create bubbles. I wasn't really sure what to expect with this product and whether or not I'd get a bubbly bath or more of a sweet smelling relaxing one.



When run under the tap honey bath creates nice thick bubbles. I tend to use two-three sticks of it for a bath. So far I am loving it. It smells amazing and gives a lush bath. The downside is definitely the price tag. I do think as a present I'd love It.


Are you a bath person? Would you consider splashing out a little? I'm hoping it'll last a while.

Love M

xxx