Clinique Sonic Cleansing Brush

'I am a big believer in that if you focus on good skincare, you really won't need a lot of makeup'- Demi Moore. 

I live by this quote!

Growing up through my teen years my skin was always pretty good. I never really got proper breakouts until I was about 18. This is when I'd say I actually started taking better care of my skin as before I would just use makeup wipes and be done with it. 

Aside from the occasional breakout that feels like I have boulders on my skin (it always looks worse to yourself!), the one thing that bothered me about my skin was how dull it always looked and that I often got blotchy discolouration here and there. 

I was given the Clinique Sonic Cleansing Brush as a birthday present back in June this year. I have used it every day since and have really noticed a difference in my skin. I had read reviews on these kind of facial brushes before and been put off by people saying it made their skin worse before better as it takes a bit of getting used to. Luckily, I didn't experience this. My skin is much clearer, less oily and much more even toned as well as being more radiant and glowing! 

I've never suffered from really noticeable blackheads but obviously everyone has a slight build up or discolouration around their nose (gross, I know, but let's face it, we've all been there with nose strips and various blackhead removing tools!! Cringe!). Cleansing brushes are great for helping get rid of this and I love how this brush has the green bristles at the top for getting into those hard to reach places. 

The brush that I have came with 3 clinique miniatures inside which was great as I was looking to try a new skincare brand anyway at this point. It came with the foaming sonic facial soap, clarifying lotion and the dramatically different moisturiser. The moisturiser didn't really suit me and felt quite oily and sticky on my skin which is a shame as I know loads of people swear by it and love it. I wasn't particularly fussed by the lotion either and prefer my Liz Earle skin tonic still. I loved the facial soap and when I ran out, couldn't get it in full size as it was out of stock everywhere!:O. I went back to using my Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish and even tried using it with the facial brush but it wasn't the right consistency as the brush works best with foaming cleansers. After a few weeks I managed to get my hands on the facial soap and have used and loved it every day since! 

I think the skincare routine I have right now will be the one I continue for a long time as I have found it to be the best for my skin yet!

What is your favourite skincare product?

Abbie x

August beauty favourites

Hello September! I'm boring myself keep thinking or saying this but seriously how the heck is it September already?! It really does only feel like yesterday I was chinking glasses with my family saying 'HAPPY NEW YEAR!!'-crazy! Before we know it, it'll be Christmas (eeeek!).

Here's a little peek at what beauty products I have been loving over the month of August (I am aware the perfume isn't really in the 'beauty' category but shhh, it smells gorgeous!'.

OLYMPEA EAU DE PARFUM-50ml

I have loved this fragrance for a long time now (this is my second bottle). It is still the perfume I pick up every morning without fail. It's the kind of scent that smells strong enough without being overpowering and lasts all day. I always look for Eau de parfum as they tend to have the lasting power over eau de toilette sprays. When I first started using this fragrance, I got lots of compliments and people asking me what it was (this is always a good way to know a scent suits you ;)). You don't need to spray a lot for the smell to be strong enough- I tend to spray once on my neck and once on each wrist. 

LOREAL FALSE LASH TELESCOPIC MASCARA

Again- I have been using and loving this mascara for a good year now and still reach for this one over other mascaras in my drawer every day. I have repurchased this many times and I think it will continue to be a favourite of mine for a long time. I have tried other mascaras in between but always found something wrong with them and gone back to this one which for me personally, is faultless! I love the way this gives my lashes amazing length and volume all at the same time. It is also amazing at separating my lashes to really give me that true falsies effect. 

MAC MINERALIZE SKIN FINISH- LIGHTSCAPADE

I hadn't ever got into highlight until a few months ago. I had various cheaper drugstore ones that were in a blush form (more pinky tones) but they never really worked for me. I am by no means amazing at doing makeup and I think I wasn't ever putting my highlight in the right places. I had seen lots of reviews on the Mac mineralize skin finish in soft and gentle but as I am quite fair skinned thought this may be a little too bronzy for me. I decided to try lightscapade and absolutely fell in love. It is the perfect shade for slightly paler skin tones but would also work for darker skin tones. It is the perfect amount of shimmer and I don't find that I end up looking like a disco ball like I have found with other highlights. A little does go a long way so this product will last agessss!

BODY SHOP HONEY BRONZE DROPS OF SUN

I got this for my birthday back in June and have pretty much used it every day since. I add one or two drops to my everyday moisturiser and mix the two together on the back of my hand. I then apply it to my face before makeup and it provides a beautiful glow that really does look like you have just stepped off of the plane from a week in a sunny country. If used every day, this will of course build up and you will start to get a better colour on your face. I have found that this gives me enough colour to brave going out with just a little concealer and powder without looking like a ghost. 

ZOEVA 102 SILK FINISH BRUSH

Again- I have had this brush for about a year now and have used it every day. (I apologise for the fact it isn't clean *slaps wrist*). I had always used the real techniques brushes- which don't get me wrong are still great and I do still use these too. However, this Zoeva brush is super soft, washes amazingly and blends foundation and concealer amazing- what more could you want?! I will continue to reach for this brush every day for a long time and I am hoping to get my hands on some more of the Zoeva collections (the rose gold ones are beautiful!!). 

Abbie x

Current every day face

I'm not a big lover of the feeling of lots of makeup on my face and never have been. The recent (and unexpected!) summer we have had, has meant that I actually have a little bit of colour on my face and I am not totally pale!
However, I am still very fare skinned and have been absolutely loving The Body Shop's 'Honey Bronze Drops of Sun'.

This comes in a little glass bottle with a dropper applicator. I have been mixing a few drops in with my every day moisturiser to get a little more of a glow. I have found that it just makes me look much more awake and healthy and I rarely miss this step in my morning routine now.
As this step adds such a lovely glow, I have found that I haven't needed to use a foundation or bb cream as this combination works just as well!
My skin has thanked me for this and I have found that Mac Pro Longwear concealer provides a perfect amount of coverage for the under eye circles (no amount of relaxing in the sun will get rid of these!) and any blemishes.

Current every day face

What is your current favourite face product?

Abbie x