Mont Bleu Glass Nail Files Revie

I'm pretty sure you are all aware of my love for glass nail files by now. I have mentioned them more than once. I am a complete fan of the Leighton Denny ones, but less in awe if the price!

A new brand (well new to me) approached me to see if I would like to try their ones out an give an honest opinion on them, obviously I jumped at the chance. 

I went for the blue ombré effect nail files and they are gorgeous, they look really pretty in your bag or on your dresser.  But most importantly though, they work. They are exactly the same as the Leighton Denny ones but they are much cheaper and come in a multitude of different styles and colours. If you like a bit of sparkle then you will love this brand as they specialise in decorating their products with Swarovski crystals.

The prices are REALLY good even without the 20% discount code that they also let us all have (see end for details)

Clear & Ombre Nail Files 

Small (90mm)   -   £3.38 after discount £2.70

Medium (135mm)  £4.22 after discount £3.38 - Leighton Denny one is £12.50

Large (195mm)      £6.34 after discount £5.07 - Leighton Denny one is £15.50

The Swarowski Elements Files

Small (90mm)   -   £6.76 after discount £5.41

Medium (135mm)  £8.45 after discount £6.76 

Large (195mm)      £6.34 after discount £5.07

These are really hygienic as they just need washing and they are good to go again, they also come with a lifetime abrasive surface guarantee.

I also got to try their tweezers and was again really delighted with them, they have excellent grip on the tips (so no painful multiple attempts on the same hair) and the slanted tips make it easy to be precise. They also have rubberised handles to make it easier hold. Again they come in either plain colours (£3.38 with discount) or jewelled versions (£8.12 with discount).

I will be doing a seperate post on the glass foot file as this really intrigued me, here it is though and it costs just £13.52 or £10.82 with discount, which for an everlasting file is pretty cheap. The general gist of the post is that they are great.

They also kindly threw in some cute rose gold studs £5.40 (with discount) that are great for every day neutral wear. They come in loads of different colours but these I thought were really pretty to just add a bit of sparkle.

Here is the Mont Bleu website. You will need to choose £'s in the top right corner to see the prices in our currency. P&P is only £2.53 or free if you spend over £32

Mont Bleu very kindly offered all my readers 20% off which means that it is even cheaper so you can get nail file exactly like the standard Leighton Denny medium one for £5.91(inc P&P) instead of £12.50!

Just type in "BLOG" at the checkout to get your 20% off.

I think I know what my friends will be getting for their birthday presents and Christmas!

*This is not a sponsored post but the products were given to me free to test.  The opinions expressed are completely my own, I have no interest in trying to encourage people to buy things that I think are pants.

Best Facial Sunscreen for Oily Skin

As I have mentioned before (ad naseum) I have oily skin.  It is a royal pain in the ass to buy sunscreen for as you can imagine, as most sunscreen are formulated with moisturising ingredients in them to counteract the drying effect of the sun.  Now there is one thing my skin doesn't need and it is more moisture.  I have been using Cellex C Suncare for the last couple of years and it's not bad, it does however cost a bomb and is still a little more greasy than I would like.

Until I found this little beauty I always sported a natural sheen every summer when sunscreen season came round, or more likely I just skipped it and hoped the pitiful SPF in my foundation would suffice.

Then one day I was browsing my favourite ever skincare range in a old fashioned pharmacy near me and saw this offered as samples.  I took one expecting it to be the usual old slick, shiny cream, I fully intended to keep it in my handbag as a backup for the kids. I was ridiculously surprised to find it was exactly what I had been looking for.

I guess if I had bothered to read the package rather than just going "ooooh free stuff" then I would have noticed that is said "melt-in" but even if I had, I probably would have thought it sounded waxy rather than the lovely texture that it actually is.

Now like all sunscreens it isn't perfect as it leaves a slight (and I mean slight) white tint to your skin after application, but nothing that can't be solved with a quick slick of foundation and a touch extra bronzer.

The best thing about it is that it is SPF 50 so no need to keep reapplying during the day, unless your swimming etc... Anyway enough of my waffle, check it out here La Roche-Posay Antihelios XL

I hope you all have a lovely weekend, and the sun shines so we can all get to use some sunscreen for once!

Edit:  I bought the full size version of this at the weekend as it is on offer at Boots at the moment with a third off so just £10!  I went for the tinted variation and it leaves no white cast what so ever, it is a bit tacky upon application, but this is gone within seconds. If you have very pale skin I would stick with the original formula though as the tint in the cream leaves a nice glow that may look weird on very pale skin.

12 Best Beauty Buys in Supermarkets

If you have spent the last half an hour trawling around you local supermarket slaving away putting broccoli, bin liners and milk in your trolley then you deserve a treat.  

These products are all under £10 and can be added onto the weekly shop for a little pick-me-up without breaking your budget.

Lidl

Cien Nail Varnish Remover- £1.49

I have mentioned this stuff before.  It is hard to be excited over a nail varnish remover but this one removes all traces of nail varnish easily, it doesn't leave a white residue and it has a pump top to stop spills, best of all it is only £1.49!

Suddenly Madame Glamour- £3.99

A great dupe of Coco Mademoiselle.  This is a great everyday scent, the silage and the longevity aren't as good but for the price you can't go wrong. 

Sainsbury's

Phil Smith Total Treat Argan Oil Cream £4

This is a great finishing product or just something to brush through your hair after a shower and before drying to make it more manageable.  They also stock Phil Smith Total Treat Argan Oil which I haven't tried but at £4 might be worth a punt.

L'Oreal Ever Pure Colour Care and Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner £5.99 each

I received a sample of both of these as I love sulphate free products and was really impressed.  They are beautifully packaged and feel a real treat to use.  My only bugbear with these is that it is not easy to figure out which is shampoo and which is conditioner from the bottle.

Morrisons

I'm not going to list anything for Morrison's out of protest at it's terrible excuse for a beauty aisle.  It has nothing of interest, just items you can get anywhere.  Save your money and shop else where for beauty supplies.

Asda

Real Techniques Brushes - From £6.98
I'm not sure any more needs to be written about these brushes.  The only point worth adding is that you can buy them in Asda!

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer £4.18
Beauty bloggers favourite, enough said.  Make Up Alley 4.1 - Their liquid Liner is worth a look too.

Tesco

Along Came Betty Porefectly Clean £5.99

If you fancy trying out a balm cleanser this is a great one to start with.  It comes with a muslin and does what it says on the box.  I have read a lot of reviews comparing this favourably to Liz Earle Hot cloth cleanser.

Barbara Daly Oil Free Foundation £7

Really good foundation for oily skin, stays all day, only problem is limited range of colours.

Make Up Alley 4.3

Waitrose

Baby Bottom Butter £2.89

This has a cult following by the dry skin brigade.  It is formulated for babies and is very gentle yet effective. I would personally use this as a balm cleanser along with a muslin, as it is mainly olive oil and chamomile which would be too much for my skin as a moisturiser but would remove makeup like a dream.

Korres Jasmine Lip Butter £8.00

Cute cult beauty product, the only downside is the unsanitary container. Make Up Alley 4.0

Aldi

Lacura Q10 Anti Wrinkle £4.99 

For drier skin and highly fragranced but if you are fine with that, it is a beauty steal.

It contains - retinol (wrinkle reduction), glycerine (moisturiser), linoleic acid (anti-ox and repair) and Ubiquinone (Q10) Make Up Alley 4.4

Lacura Wrinkle Stop £4.99

This is one of those serums containing syn-ake (see what they did there) which is a chemical that mimics snake venom and temporarily freezes the face.  This is a good dupe for the Nip+Fab Viper Venom Wrinkle Fix and for the price is worth a go.  

So no matter where you do your next shop, you can fling a little something for you in your basket too, well unless your in Morrison's.

Products EVERY Beauty Blogger Owns

I have been an avid beauty blogging fan for about 3-4 years now and I've seen a lot of products come and go.

Some things though, just keep on giving.

Here are the ones I seem to see again and again and again.

I'm pretty sure every one of these has won awards in their own right too.

• Bioderma Crealine Micellar Water - never has anything been so hyped in all the years of beauty blogging as this.  It is a good product, but I think has fallen out of favour as the pancea to all your skin care worries.

• Soap & Glory Body Wash - I have pictured the Sugar Crush version as that is what is in my shower, but it represents all of them.  I still love this, even my Husband loves this. A treat without breaking the bank as it is nearly eternally on 3 for 2 at Boots

• Batiste Dry Shampoo - Again I have pictured the tropical as this is my favourite smell, but all of them have been reviewed and reviewed again on nearly every beauty blog ever.

• Real Techniques Brushes - A product design by a Beauty Vlogger, that is a must-have in most people collections.  I really like the blusher brush, but I could take or leave the stippling brush.

• La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo - On many people Holy Grail lists, and for good reason, I believe.  This has really lessened the frequency of breakouts for me and deserves it's place in the Beauty Blogger Hall of Fame

• Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation/Serum - I think Lisa Eldridge was the first on the scene with this great everyday foundation.  It suits dryer skin better than oily but still a lovely foundation for the price.

• Clarisonic - I think this may actually knock the Bioderma Crealine off the top spot for hypedness (not a real word.) At £120 it is not cheap either.  I bit of a disappointment for me I'm afraid.

• Seche Vite Top Coat - This is a evergreen favourite among the community with good reason, nothing works as well, long live Seche Vite

• Revlon Lip Butters - You couldn't read a blog or watch a blog without being harassed by these last year, luckily the furore has died down and they have been replaced in most beauty bloggers hearts, but I bet every blogger owns one (at least.)

• Urban Decay Naked Palettes - Sigh, need I say any more, whether it's 1, 2 or 3, they are here to stay.

• Sleek Contour Kit/Face Form - The first foray for many into the world of Kim Kardashian Contouring. Put your hand up if you haven't over done it with this baby one day and ended up looking like a russian prostitute.

• Bourjois Bronzing Powder - The chocolate smelling bronzer ubiquitous to all blogs.  I personally prefer Benefit's Hoola but for price, this can't be beaten.

• Maybelline Color Tattoo Eyeshadows - whether it's Permanent Taupe or On-and-On Bronze these are a firm favourite with good reason, they last like no other and don't break the bank.  Shame about the limited range of colours that they are available in.

What have I missed?

What did you feel you could never read another review, haul or favourites post of again?

My Healthy Nail Dream Team

I love nail products as much as the next blogger, but sometimes overzealous usage of said products can result in flaky peely nails and so here are my pick of the bunch when it comes to looking after my nails.

Best Base Coat

OPI Nail Envy

I can't believe there was ever a time when I didn't use this!  It is easy to apply, and even on it's own looks good.  You can apply this everyday as a nail repair product, or just 1 or 2 coats under your polish to stop staining and help strengthen your nails.  It isn't cheap, but the brush can actually get nearly all the product out so you should get a lot for your money.  I like that it gives my nails a finished polished look for everyday whilst also doing them some good.  This is usually about £18 yet Amazon have air for under £10 at the moment.

OPI Nail Envy Nail £9.65

Best Ever Top Coat Ever in the World Without Doubt

Seche Vite

This is such and obvious winner, but there is a good reason for that, it works! It's super shiny, it helps your nails dry quicker and it seals the ends well to help avoid chipping.  I never ever wear polish without it and it has the power to make cheap polishes look good. It is super cheap at Amazon at the moment, just £5.61 so if you have never bought a bottle, get yourself over there now and do so, you will not regret it.  Important note, this needs to be applied on top of wet polish or it is just pants.

Best Nail File

Leighton Denny Crystal Nail File

I know your thinking "crazy lady, a nail file is just a nail file" well your wrong. Normal nail files, even the salon quality ones are just fine sandpaper, they do a good job of neatening ragged edges but at a price.  The nail end is left damaged as it has lots of tiny cuts in it and this allows water to get in and then they split.  The crystal/glass version have such a smooth abrasive surface that they don't create anywhere near the same level of damage and so your nail ends stay intact.  I have 2 versions of this, the Leighton Denny one and a small Paname one, both are equally good.

Paname Glass Nail File £5.36
Leighton Denny Nail File £12.50

Best Cuticle Product

CND Solar Oil

I don't have cuticles on my hands so this os not needed there but on my toe nails, well the less said the better.  In summer I brush a small amount of this on my toe cuticles everyday I am wearing sandals, and it gives your toes a much prettier finish, i softens and moisturises so your cuticles become invisible. I got 2 mini bottles off eBay so I have one next to my bed and one by my computer downstairs.

CND Solar Oil Mini Size 3.7ml x 2 bottles £5.50

What do you use when you need to get your nails back in good condition?

How to Custom Mix Foundation

This is a post I have been meaning to write for a while.  I often blend foundation for one of two reasons, sometimes both;

• To alter the colour 
• To alter the finish/properties 

When I start getting a tan as Summer progresses I have no desire to keep buying new shades to get a good colour match. Another reason is that when I apply fake tan, I don't know exactly what shade I may be in the morning (neon orange anyone?)

I get around this by having a very light "Winter" shade of foundation and MUCH darker "Summer " shade.  The difference in my lightest and my darkest foundation is pretty stark.  My summer colour is for at the end of a 3 week holiday in the Sun and I tan easily so it's pretty dark. I also have at least one medium one on the go at any time, so that I don't have to mix too much.  Lets be honest I have 5 foundations on the go at the moment, but they will all be used up within a year max.

Yesterday I completed my first fake tan of the year. I did a thin layer of St Moriz on Tuesday night and then repeated Thursday night ready for a party on Saturday. My face had changed quite a lot, but as the colour will vary each day as the tan wears off/is reapplied then I start to mix my own custom colour.

My go-to foundation is always Revlon Colorstay as NOTHING lasts as well and it controls oil too.  The only downside to this foundation is that it can look overly matte on your cheeks and forehead.  To combat this I mix it with a small amount of one of my more luminous foundations (Bourjois Healthy mix or Rimmel Perfect Match) to give a more pretty finish.  Today I used my Rimmel Perfect Match in 400 (told you it was dark) I used perhaps a fifth of the darker shade but it changes the colour quite dramatically so only use a small bit.

Here is my skin using the 2 tone foundation.

Once I have applied the new "custom" colour I then use the lightest original shade to highlight, so it goes under my eyes and on my forehead and above my top lip (I have hyper-pygmentation there so any extra lightening is good.)  I guess I could then also use the darker shade to contour, but I have such a phobia of people seeing tide lines in my foundation that I nearly always don't do this.

It always seems to me that people are always searching for the perfect shade match when they buy foundation, whereas I just get a close match then adjust.

Another reason why I don't make an extra special reason to match my foundation exactly is because Bobbi Brown suggests that if you have pink undertones (that would be me) then you should use a yellow shaded foundation to balance your colour and avoid you looking florid.

Does anyone else do this and have any tips?

Giveaway! La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo Set

Giveaway Time!

Hurrah, time to get something for nothing!

I thought hard about what to offer, and figured it had to be Effaclar Duo, as I LOVE this, it has made such a difference to my skin that I have blogged about it several times.  This is one of those times that the beauty bloggers are right. So here's your chance to try it if you don't usually, or stock up if you do.

I decided that it was a bit of a pants giveaway on it's own so I have added bottle of the matching Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel- which is great stuff as it's foaming yet has a PH of 5.5 which (if you read Mrs Hirons blog is a rare thing) and some of their Thermal Spring Water which is great for setting make up and rehydrating your skin in dry environments.

So all the usual ways of entering below, the giveaway runs for 1 month so feel free to keep tweeting to up your entries.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

PH Levels of Skincare Products and Why it Matters

I have been immersing myself in Caroline Hirons amazing blog recently and was introduced to the concept of our skin having an acid mantle.  Now although that sounds (to me at least) like the hard crusty mantle of the Earth, I have been reassured it is not, and is infact an outer (invisible) layer on our skin that keeps everything in balance.  This mantle is usually at under PH 5 hence the name Acid Mantle. Common Knowledge puts the PH at 5.5 but this is a figure based on readings taken after people have showered and used cosmetic products. (see this article for more info)

Why Does it Matter What PH your Skin Care Products Are?

If you alter the PH balance of your outer skin then you can encourage acne to grow as it likes an alkaline environment in which to thrive.  It can also encourage other bacteria to grow and create skin infections, there are studies linking your skin's acid mantle to a whole host of skin issues such as Psoriasis, dermatitis etc..

What Can You do to Protect your Acid Mantle.

The number one rule is don't use soap, or anything foaming.  This applies equally to the skin on your body too.  I was a lover of all things foaming for my oily skin, as it feels as though you have removed every last trace of oil which is a good feeling after a day of shining like a light house, but I have been informed that this will leave me prone to acne and other nasties.  I don't still believe in the hypothesis that moisturising oily skin helps regulate oil production.  Every time I try it, it just gives me more oily skin (even if I stick at it for a month, same goes for my hair)

Also washing with water more than necessary can be harmful as tap water regularly has a PH of 7.5 - 8 (I bet mines about 8.5 based on the amount of limescale on my shower screen - runs off to check...ok only 8 but still!) One shower a day is plenty.

So armed with this new knowledge I decided to do some GCSE Chemistry and ordered myself a pack of PH strips so I could see what PH all the products currently residing in my bathroom are.

Here are the not very surprising results.

Well you learn something new everyday.  Note to self - give foaming face washes to husband or use to clean the bathroom with.

Hand Cream Round Up

I have kids, I have 3 kids, one is only 3; therefore I spend A LOT of time cleaning, so my hands are dreadful.  I know I should wear gloves while cleaning, but I should also not snack between meals, or drive above the speed limit, but I still do.

So... I am always on the lookout for any cream that stops my hands looking like a Somali riverbed in a drought.

I have tried many, many wonderful potions from hemp cream to Clarins.  Not many are really up to the job, but here is my humble opinion on all of the ones I have tried.

• Flexitol Hand Balm £5.10- This contains Urea (which is the main chemical in urine. nice!) it is really good but smells dreadful, reminiscent of old ladies in a care home. 5/5 for efficacy, 1/5 for usability because of the pong.
• E45 Cream £2.39 - Everyone with kids has some of these supposed wonder cream lurking around, I can't see it's appeal, maybe if you have super sensitive skin. 2/5
• Body Shop Hemp Hand Protector £5.00 - This stuff is amazing, it is so good at repairing chapped hands that even my Dad uses it.  Again the smell isn't it's strong point, but at least it's better than Flexitol. 4/5
• Body Shop Wild Rose Hand Cream £5.00 - Royally pants, this stuff has a pleasant old fashioned scent but it is so watery, it even slides off my hand whilst I am replacing the cap, and does nothing for your hands. 1/5 (just because it has SPF 15
• Nivea Cream £1.49  the stuff in a blue tub - Again I really dislike this, it is in no way moisturising enough, I can not ever imagine putting this on my face! 0/5
• Neutrogena norwegian formula, concentrated £3.68 - This is almost impossible to rub in, it takes some serious elbow grease, and on the subject of grease leaves an unpleasant film on your skin.  I does do what it says it does though so 3/5
• Clarins Hand and Nail Cream £21.00 - I really like this, it smells great, moisturises well and has a lovely texture that sinks in fast.  The only downside is obviously it's price £21 seriously!!! 4/5
• Soap and Glory Hand Food £5.00 - I have several bottles of this easy to apply, great smelling hand cream.  It sinks in quickly and does a good job but it doesn't last past the next hand wash and is more of a quick fix 3.5/5
• Molton Brown Hand Lotion Naran Ji - £20 - I absolutely love the smell of this and it absorbs super quick but like the soap and glory it is more of a quick fix, the smell is divine though (and has been renamed Orange and Bergamot) 3/5 due to price
• Derma Guard Skin Protector £5.99 - The main function of this is a barrier cream which means you apply it before doing tasks that would damage your hands (gardening washing up etc...) it works great at what it is designed for but only survives about 2 or 3 hand washes (which equates to about 30 mins for me) I always have it in though for when I am doing things that would really attack my hands. 4/5
• Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream - £26 - this is too greasy for use on my hands as they remain slippy after application, but I love this for my cuticles, elbows, heels and lips, it reminds me of Kiehls lip balm. 3.5/5
• Sanctuary Hand Cream - £3 - Again I love the smell, and always have this around as a nice pick me up in my handbag but it is quite a bog standard formula nothing special 3.5/5
• La Roche Posay Cicaplast  -£6 - My new Hold Grail Hand Cream.  I apply this after cleansing my face both morning and night and the benefits last a good few hours.  It is easily absorbed has no smell and really sorts your hands out.  If it had a gorgeous smell it would get a 5/5 but for now a 4.5/5 will have to do

See, I told you I have tried a lot, I have had even more hand creams than buggies, and I have had 6 of them.

It may sound like I do nothing but wash my hands but I love to cook so I have to wash my hands all the time when doing that and with a dog, 3 kids, a large house and garden, I am kept pretty busy with housework.

I can only honestly recommend 2 of them for efficacy, the rest may smell nice, have cute packaging or feel nice to put on, but they are intended for people who work in offices not people who limescale remove showers and clean up after mini people.  If you have ever have the joy of washing and sterilizing bottles, only you can understand the utter ruin it can reek on your hands.

The conclusion has to be La Roche Posay Cicaplast or The Body Shop Hemp Hand Protector.

Has anyone else tried as many hand creams and have some recommendations?

Travel Beauty Kit

Yeah! nearly the weekend. I have a Christening to attend this weekend, which means travel and therefore travel beauty.

I have meant to do one of these posts in ages, but couldn't figure out how to get a photo of the copious amount of beauty paraphernalia I take, without it looking like clear-out day at the Cats Protection League Charity Shop.

Unfortunately I have not actually fixed the previous issue I was having and so you will be treated to me and my most cack-handed attempts at photographing my kit.

I spent a good hour fiddling around in my bedroom figuring out what to take (whilst watching Youtube videos) and I reckon this should cover most eventualities.

My new Travel Wash Bag is packed to overflowing with travel sized goodies, and rather than list them all out and bore you to tears, I will let you have a visual scrabble around and see what I have taken.  A lot of these things are my second best items or ones that are nearly finished, very few of them are must haves.

This photo is so poor, none of the labels are even facing up!  Obviously there are boring things like cotton pads and buds, earplugs, eye mask, shower cap (gotta love a bit of granny chic) deodorant, brush, razor, toothbrush etc...

I have stolen the MUA palette in Undress Me Too from my £30 Bargain Make Up look along with the foundation, powder and mascara.  This is because the products are really that good and I am enjoying using them so much that I refuse to leave them behind at the moment.  In addition I have taken;-

• Urban Decay De-slick - I always take this when my makeup has to last, I don't know if it works but the placebo effect reassures me.  
• Clinique Pore Minimiser - this is slightly tinted and siliconey, but it gives a smooth base for foundation application
• Daniel Sandler Watercolour Blush in Flush - this is really long lasting and such a pretty colour 
• Maybelline Colour Tattoo in Permanent Taupe - great base for my eye look and can be used on brows too
• Benefit High Beam - got in a set, just the right size for a travelling highlighter
• Revlon Lip Butter in Juicy Papaya - still obsessed, sorry

I only really need 5 brushes to achieve most looks (see this post for more info) so I just added on an eyebrow comb, black eyeliner and my new La-tweez tweezers.  The tweezers are seriously good for the £5 I paid in TK Maxx.  My last 2 pairs were Space NK  and Tweezerman (both £20 a go), but when one of my little darling lost them for me, I decided to give a cheaper pair a go.  These have lovely handles too, they came with a travel case and are great for detail work!

So there you have it.  I have also taken my ladybird paddle brush too but it doesn't fit in either of my cosmetics bags, so is just dumped un-ceremoniously in with my undies.

Feel free to sign up with Bloglovin above for more inane ramblings

Most Effective & Cheapest Beauty Tip Ever

If there was only one tip I could pass on to every woman I know, it would be this.

Take the time to use all the items you already own.

It is so simple you can do it now.

Take the time to pamper yourself with the items already in your home. You will notice the difference immediately and what's better won't have spent anything at all.  Instead of searching for the latest "it" products, use what you have. Paint your nails, moisturise your hands before bed, use the divine smelling body lotions and take the time to style your hair.

As you can see from my previous de-cluttering post, I am more than guilty of not doing this, but it's easier to buy something new and believe you will use it, than to actually go find your unloved products and use them.

I guarantee you'll feel better and people will notice too.

That is it.

Why I Love Retinol & Indeed Labs Retinol Reface Review

I'm sure I have mentioned it before but I love a good retinol cream.  I love how much difference it can make to sun-damaged skin.  What I love most though is that there is actual, real tangible scientific evidence that it works.  Most skin creams on the market are a jumbled up mess of misinformation and blatant lies. Retinol however works, like really works. It's a fact!

There are 2 types of what is commonly called Retinol.  True Retinol is actually called Retinoic Acid or Tretinoin (marketing as Retin A) and is an extremely potent acne and anti wrinkle treatment. It is  prescription only as it's so strong that it can cause extreme peeling and redness if applied without following carefully prescribed plans.

The retinol that we can buy over the counter is a derivative which converts to retinoid acid when in contact with enzymes in your skin.  These derivatives can also cause severe irritation and don't suit everyone, you usually have to build up your use of them so that you don't look like you have just gotten badly sunburnt. These commercial versions come in many forms such as; Retinol Palmitate, Retinol Retinyl Acetate, Retinyl Linoleate and Hydroxypinacolone Retinol.

Reasons to Love Retinol

• Increased collagen production - which makes skin more plump and tight
• Decreased Pore Size - makes skin look more flawless and stops as many nasties creeping into your pores and clogging them
• Reduced Wrinkles - not just the appearance of wrinkles, the actual wrinkles themselves.
• Prevents Future damage by upping the levels of protective substances in your skin
• Improved Skin Tone - evened out dark patches
• Decreased Oil Production - Yeah! for me, but if you have dry skin you will need a good moisturiser.

Words of Caution

You must wear a sunscreen when using retinol otherwise it negates all the good effects. I always apply it at night so it doesn't get any access to UV.  You must also keep it in it's original packaging as the ingredients degrade if exposed to light or air, so no small pots for travel.  Retinol is also not suitable for those with Rosacea or Eczema.

How Does it Work?

As we age or get sun damage, or skin cells stop functioning correctly which creates wrinkles or acne. Retinol works by "telling" your cells to behave in the correct way. Retinols aren't chemical exfoliators even though they may cause peeling, they change the entire way the skin functions. It usually takes about 12 weeks to see any noticeable differences in your skin.

Indeed Labs Retinol Reface Review

My usual potion of choice is ROC Retinol Correxion, but I dislike the price, it usually comes in about the £25 mark.  However the Indeed Labs version is currently on offer at Boots and costs just £13.33.  This is actually annoying for me as I bought mine a few weeks ago and it cost £20.

My first impression is that I really like the packing, it is a pump on a tube so it's nice and compact.  It is really important that any retinol cream is shielded and air cannot get too it or it looses it's potency, so no clear bottles or jars.  The pump dispenses what I consider to be the right amount in each press.

The Retinol Reface claims to have 3 sorts of Retinol, yet only lists 2 and then another "retinol like" ingredient. Looking through the ingredients I can find these two - Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate and good old Retinol.  These derivative versions convert to Retinoic Acid on the skin and then they can start work.

The texture is creamy, as it is silicone based (which I know will not suit everyone.) It is fragrance free, so no unnecessary ingredients added and does not feel too thick on.  The cream sinks in quickly and leaves a matte finish, though I wear this at night so this is not essential

So far I am presently surprised as to the results, I will have to wait about 20 years to really know if it's working, but it keeps my fine lines at bay for now and hasn't caused any breakouts.

I have tried all the following creams and my favourites are the first two.

• Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti Wrinkle - great but only available in US, can be bought on eBay though
• ROC Retinol Correxion Night Cream - great but expensive
• ROC Retinol Correxion Sensitive Night Cream - too mild
• Boots No7 Protect and Perfect Serum - too mild

Does anyone else use retinol creams, and have an suggestions for well priced ones?

Help! I've left my makeup bag at home. Full Make Up Kit for £30

We've all done it, arrived at our destination to find we have left our carefully packed makeup bag on the dressing table at home.  Obviously you still need to look good, you've gone away for a reason, usually a wedding or party so no makeup isn't an option.  But neither is blowing £150 + to completely replace your existing kit.

This is what I would choose if stuck between the prospect of no make up and still having some money to enjoy the weekend/holiday . It is also useful for those of you just starting out on the slippery slope of wearing makeup, or looking for a fresh look.

You don't have to spend a lot to get a great result as it matters more about choosing well and finding the right colours than it does spending lots.  

Foundation - I have to go with Rimmel Match Perfection £6.99 It is one of my top 3 budget foundations anyway.  It gives a luminous soft finish and has a good colour choice. I often grab one of these when my skin is between shades so I can warm up or cool down an existing foundation (blends great with Revlon Colorstay as it extends the time you have till it sets).  This is a good foundation for both dry and oily skin, though it definitely needs powdering on the t-zone as it has a dewy finish.

Powder - Another Rimmel choice, their Stay Matte Powder at £3.99.  This is a a standard beauty blogger pick.  I use it in the shade "transparent", which although slightly too pale on my skin, works as a highlighter too, as I only powder my t-zone.  Minus points for lack of powder puff, so I have to invest in a brush, but I can at least use said brush for blusher and highlighting too.

Concealer - Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer in medium - £4.19  this is actually very light (I dread to think how light their other colours must be) so better suited to under eyes than blemish hiding, but can do both if you have pale skin  - I use this for my everyday face it's so good, 

Eyeshadow - MUA - Undress Me Too - £4, This is a high street dupe of Naked 2 by Urban Decay (check out the name).  I choose this as it has a good mix of matte shadows for use on brows and for lining, and sparkly ones for highlighting.  I use shadow as eyeliner anyway as I find it lasts longer and blends better.  The quality of these shadows is amazing, they are really soft and there is very little fall-out from the powder onto your cheeks.

Mascara - MUA Extreme Curl Mascara £2- This is amazing, it is very similar to Maybelline Great Lash.  I imagine if you need a mascara for volume primarily, you probably won't get on with this, but I prefer a lengthening mascara so I am majorly impressed for £2.  The applicator is curved and quite dainty so good for the lower lashes. 

Blusher - MUA Blush in Bubblegum - £1 - I use one of these on most days, they are highly pigmented with really cute colours, they are a bit annoying in that they create quite a bit of dust when used, but so do Benefit ones and they are 20 times the price!  Go steady as this stuff is potent.

Lip Colour - Maybelline - Baby Lips in Cherry £2.99 -  This isn't just a lip balm it's a lip colour too, it is buildable so just add more for a darker colour.  I would have chosen a Revlon Lip Butter, but at £7 a go, it will have to be these, I find these similar to Kiehl's Lip Balm as they give great shine without any tackiness, but they suffer from seriously naff packaging.

Eyeliner - MUA Intense Colour Eyeliner in Jet Black £1 Another top quality product from this budget line.  I use this to line my waterline with, but you could skip this step if you want to save a £1 or spend more on a lipstick.  The one in the picture is actually a different liner as I have lost my MUA one (bloody kids!)

Brsuh Set - Ecotools Mini Essential Brush Set £5.99 - I have a couple of their full size brushes and the quality is really good for the price, the fibres are super soft and they are good at getting the right amount of movement (or lack of it) in a brush. This set contains -

• Powder brush (used for powder and then blush, and you can even highlight with the eyeshadow too) 
• Eyeshadow Brush - Ecotool's brushes apply colour and blend well too, you will need to wipe between colours though, obviously!
• Angled Liner Brush - to apply eyeliner, choose a dark shade from the palette and tight line your lashes and blend out with the eyeshadow brush or you can use a drop of water to make a more liquid consistency if you prefer cats eyes.  You can also use this to fill your brows using a suitable colour from the eyeshadow palette.

Total £30.19 (damn 19p over)

I applied the whole look yesterday and this is how it turned out. Not too bad for £30 including brushes, plus you'd get a few new items to add to your kit.  The only thing I'm not very happy with is the brows, maybe I could use hairspray or something to fix them better and use more colour.

The best buy has to be MUA Undress Me Too palette, this is an absolutely great little palette, and ideal if you have Urban Decay Naked but still want to try Naked 2. 

Makeup Brushes - Best Brushes on a Budget

I can't believe it is eventually Spring! I m so excited that I have cracked open the the coral nail polishes and the inappropriate footwear already.

I thought I would try photograph my brushes outside for a change, so please excuse the bizarre choice of backdrop, but I couldn't help myself.

Here are my favourites.  As you know I love a bargain so a lot of them are the best quality you can get a reasonable price point.  I consider £6-8 per brush to be my sweet spot but I will spend extra for a specific brush if needed.

Please excuse the slight snipped away bits on some of my brushes, this was not an attempt to hone each brush to perfection, rather my son just got busy with my hairdressing scissors one day, Thanks Little Man!

Face

Ecotools Powder Brush - I got this in TK Maxx for £5,  It is really soft and great for applying a dusting of powder to set your foundation.  This stops you getting that cakey look that powder puffs give you.

Real Techniques Blush Brush - £7.19 Amazon - I just got this as a gift for my birthday I like the size of it and that it is great at giving me a soft blush or bronzer finish, I wouldn't recommend it for contouring though as the head it just too big for me, but then I'm hopeless at contouring so I'm not sure I should be doling out advice on that!

Real Techniques Stippling Brush - I paid about £10 for this but they are cheaper on Amazon at the moment - I bought this to apply foundation with, as everyone was raving about it, but it sucks up all your foundation and leaves a streaky finish...not good.  However, I love it as a smoother after I have applied my foundation with my fingertips.  I just buff this in circles over my face and it gives it a very even streak free finish, it is ideal to ensure there are no lines or uneven patches.

Eyes

Sephora Pro Crease - I bought this in Vegas and it cost about £16 after conversion from USD.  This is an amazing brush, you can use it to blend all the different shadows together at the end of application and it leaves such a professional finish.  I also like using it to apply face powder in small areas like to set concealer.  Now that Sephora ships to the UK there's no need to wait till a friend goes there.

Laura Mercier Smudge - Another splurge brush, this cost me £20 from Space NK (UK equivalent of Sephora) - this is my all time favourite brush because it is such a specific tool but it works perfectly.  I love the smoky eye look and this brush is ideal to push a dark eye shadow into your lash line and then you can blend it out.  I have had this a few years now and it was well worth the money.

MAC 213 SE Fluff Brush - Free in a palette - currently 10% off at Debenhams - My brother kindly bought me a gorgeous MAC eyeshadow palette when he visited New York and this was in it, I have had it for about 10 years and I use it everyday unfortunately this brush suffered the brunt of the scissor attack and so I have had to replace it, it is still usable but nowhere near as good :(

Real Techniques Shading Brush - I paid about £6 for this - I have only had this about a week and was bought to replace my beloved MAC brush.  I like it so far, it applies your eyeshadow with more precision than the MAC but only by about 20% more.  I like that it is really soft and it blends much better than my old brush.

Ruby and Millie Eye Brushes - I have 2 of these both came free in makeup sets I was bought as Christmas gifts - I really like these brushes.  I use one for shading my eyebrows (it has a navy band round it in the picture, which I did with nail varnish.)  The other I use for eyeliner, it is so good at getting right into the lash line but still sift enough to use on your waterline.  The brand has been sadly discontinued but this is supposed to be very similar and at $10 (about £7) I would say is surprisingly good value.

Maybelline Liner Brush - this came free with their gel liner that was only about £8 - It is great for detail work but I wish it had a longer handle.  I use this on the waterline and for cats eye liner.

Body Shop Blending Brush - I have had this since University so about 15 years it cost about £6 - They no longer make it (God knows why?) but it is a really good brush for putting on your base colour of eyeshadow as it is so broad it is really quick.  Here is something similar though the price is nowhere near as good.

Concealing

Body Shop Eyeshadow Brush - Again it cost about £6 and I have had it for years - It is a truly terrible eyeshadow brush as it is too thin and the bristles are too firm BUT.. it is a very good concealer brush for applying concealer over blemishes (spots.) It is great at depositing cream concealers without taking it back off again. This has now been discontinued as well.

Body Shop Lip Brush - ditto cost, age and discontinuege (not a real word) - I never use lip brushes so I have no idea whether this is good as a lip brush but like it's sister above, it is great at concealing.  I use this for detail concealer work.  This has now been discontinued and not replaced by anything remotely similar.

Last but not least

Disposable Mascara Wand - I got these on Ebay they were about £1 for 10 - I use these to brush through my brows after applying my foundation to ensure there is none hanging around there waiting to look all grubby.

Hopefully this gives a good overview of my prices, I have a couple of kabuki's that I occasionally crack out for blush but other than that this pretty much sums up my everyday tools.

Is there anything else I'm missing?  What are your Must-Have brushes?

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