The Glueless Scr4pbook.

This is a review that I have been meaning to put up for a while now,so sorry it is no longer a new launch but I thought I would share what I thought about the product anyway.

Kiehls Micro Blur Skin Perfector (30ml/ £23)

"Lightweight skin smoother to instantly refine skin texture + minimise the appearance or pores while improving skins quality over time."

"Lightweight, non greasy, oil free."

"Instantly skin appears perfected as the number, size and depth or pores is visibly minimised. In just 4 weeks, even bare skin appears transformed and virtually flawless. Pores appear significantly diminished for a fresh healthier looking complexion."

So it comes in a sleek white tube, which is great for hygiene reasons and for controlling how much product you want. The product itself is a nude coloured mousse very light weight,it needs shaking up every now and then as it separates into a watery liquid and a mousse type which are supposed to be as one. It's also almost scent free which is good for those with sensitive skin.

As for the results, I haven't noticed any long term differences, but the instant result is the skin looks smoother and feels soft, it layers well with make up which is great because some primers can look cakey when layered with make up, the best way I can describe this is, the Skincare version of Benefit Porefessional, the texture and colour are the same, the results are the same. If you love the Porefessional you are sure to love this too, this also benefits from some natural ingredients such as Lipo Hydroxy Acid, bark and lentil extracts, it also comes in a 30ml tube as opposed to Benefits 22ml for the high price of £24.50.

Have you tried this?

My haircare routine has been pretty much the same for a good few months now, and there are some staple items that I constantly gravitate towards when washing and styling so I thought I would share what I've been loving.

Cleansing & Conditioning

Redken All Soft Shampoo (300ml/ £9.90)

I absolutely love this range, I was recommended it by my hairdresser around 4 months ago and I've been using it ever since, it truly does what it says on the tin, produces the softest healthiest feeling hair ever! I have recently been alternating my shampoo so that my hair is not too fly away. (I keep the conditioner the same because I still want to keep some of the softness).

Kerastase Bain Divalent Shampoo (250ml/ £13.60)

I had been alternating with my Garnier Ultimate Blends but when it finished I ordered this, yet another recommendation from my hairdresser, this shampoo is designed for oily roots/ hair that gets greasy quickly, it basically gets rid of any extra oils from the roots without stripping any moisture from the ends. It really does work, I find my hair lasting longer than usual and it hasn't dried out at all.

Redken All Soft Conditioner (250ml/ £10.85)

Much like the shampoo, this does what it says, it's super nourishing and leaves the hair soft and healthy looking. Only a blob the size of a ten pence piece is needed so it lasts for ages.

Philip Kingsley Daily Damage Defence (250ml/ £22)

I got this in a beauty box a few months ago and I've really been enjoying it, it's almost finished so I think I will order the full size soon. It is basically a leave in conditioner that protects and de tangles at the same time, plus it smells lovely.

Styling

Tresemmé Heat Defence Spray (300ml/ £5.25)

I have been using this for years, it's just one of those products I always have in my drawer, it smells great, lasts for ages as it's such a huge bottle and has a great nozzle so sprays a nice fine mist.

Bumble & Bumble Defrizz (50ml/ £12.50)

Another product I have used for years, it is extremely thin in consistency so you only need a tiny amount, I use this on wet hair before I blow dry and on dry hair just after I have straightened it to keep it smooth and sleek.

Label M Salt Spray (200ml/ £13.75)

I have had this in my stash for ages but I have only really started using it in the last few months, I use this before blow drying on damp hair and after straightening for a bit of volume. I love the clean scent and the fact that it creates a great messy look without the stickiness.

Aussie Miracle Dry Shampoo (180ml/ £4.99)

A really lightweight dry shampoo that soaks up any excess oil without leaving that horrible 'overloaded with product' feeling.

Charles Worthington Texturizing Spray (150ml/ £6.99)

This is supposed to be a good dupe for the Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray (I haven't tried it), so I picked it up a while ago to try out. This is pretty sticky but it works well for adding volume at the roots when used in short blasts.

Bouffe Dry Spray (200ml/ £5.99)

I love this for when my hair needs colouring, it's a tinted Texturizing spray that covers my roots whilst giving a bit of volume and hold too.

What are your haircare staples?

Soap & Glory Drama Clean (£6/ 200ml)

"5 in 1, for face, lips, eyes with peach extracts and natural cucumber juice, for all skin types. Get ready for lift off -no rubbing required, saturate a cotton pad, swish across your face, closed eyes and décolletage - and this super-cleansing water swiftly 'magnetises' make up, dirt and dead cells away."

I love everything thing Soap & Glory, so when I saw that they had a Micellar water in their skincare line I had to give it a try. The first thing I noticed was the very strong scent of cucumber which I am not keen on to be honest, it's a shame the peach ingredients couldn't have taken over the scent side of things. This water removes make up really well and leaves skin squeaky clean but unfortunately it does feel ever so slightly stripping, the skin feels a little dried out and stiff. I don't think I would repurchase this as I think there are some better options that I have already tried, it's not bad just not my cup of tea.

Have you tried this? What's your favourite high street cleanser?

As my Christmas present to the rest of my team at work I decided to make cupcakes instead of going with the traditional buying alcohol or chocolate, I just thought it would be a bit more personal if I did something with a bit more thought. I took a few photos whilst I was making them so I thought I'd show you.

The recipe I used was the 'Fairy Cake' one by Mary Berry

100g softened butter

100g caster sugar

100g self raising flour

2 large eggs

1 level teaspoon of baking powder

Pre heat the oven to 200 degrees, mix everything in a bowl for 2-3 minutes, divide into cake cases and bake for 20 minutes. For the chocolate cakes, she says replace the 100g of flour with 75g flour and 25g Cocoa powder (Bourneville is the best).

I picked up all my toppings at Asda, I wanted to steer clear of the traditional rainbow coloured hundreds and thousands so I went for some tiny marshmallows, some white chocolate stars and some milk chocolate chips. The icing I use almost every time is the Betty Crocker Vanilla Icing but this time I picked up the Chocolate Fudge too.

And here are the final results...

Have you tried this recipe before?

As part 2 of my Winter Wonders post I am sharing a few skincare products that are great all year round, but especially in winter time.

Masks & Scrubs

I will start with the most obvious, moisturising is even more important during winter than any other time of year so moisture masks such as the BodyShop Vitamin E Moisture Mask are great, this one is perfect because you can cater to your own needs, for example I am quite oily so I take it off after say 10 minutes but if your skin is very dry you can leave it on all night if you want. This is very similar to one that I've just recently started using, the Origins Drink Up Intensive Mask which is actually designed to be left on over night, I like this one as its slightly lighter so leaving it on all night doesn't leave me with an oily mess in the morning, most of it sinks right it. As for scrubs, I like body scrubs but the exfoliating gloves work really well too, one scrub I do recommend however is one for your lips the Lush Popcorn Lip Scrub is great and tastes amazing too.

Cleansing & Moisturiser

I prefer cream cleansers at night time and in winter too, an amazing one that I discovered this year is the Ren Rosa Centifolia Express Make Up Remover, it removes any make up perfectly and leaves the skin feeling soft plump and really healthy, I love it. Moisturiser wise, I try to test new ones whenever I can, but something I always use all year round is the BodyShop Vitamin E Face Mist, I love it for the mornings to wake me up, and for over make up during the day to keep my skin hydrated.

Lips & Eyes

For lips, even though there are thousands of gorgeous products out there, I have to go for the original Lanolips 101 Ointment just because it is so thick and stays on the lips for ages keeping them smooth and saving them from cracking, the tinted ones are also a great alternative to lipstick. Lastly the eye cream I would recommend from the few I have tried has got to be Kiehls Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado because it's just so creamy and luxurious.

Do you have any winter recommendations?

Clarins Instant Concealer (£21/ shade 01/ 15ml)

"Fatigue fighting, smoothing and long wearing concealer. Want refreshed radiant eyes all day? Instant concealer provides customised correction for all types of dark circles. It is tinted to mask the colour of dark circles while restoring the skins natural tone. It's fluid texture blends flawlessly. This skin smoothing formula visibly conceals dark circles for a brighter, even and refreshed look throughout the day. Medium to full coverage."

So this concealer comes in a small tube which is great for controlling how much product comes out, the only flaw is that it's not clear so you can't see how much is left. This is a very creamy, moisturising concealer but it's dries fast so blending needs to be done quite quickly. I would say that this is definitely more on the full coverage side but of course it can be sheered out depending on taste. Although the this is designed solely for dark circles and does seem to contain reflective properties I actually find it works really well on blemishes. I found this didn't work too well with a brush and definitely applied better with fingertips or a beauty sponge. This concealer doesn't seem to crease badly and the 'long wearing' claim rings true, I would say the only major downfall is that there are only 3 shades in the range. 

I highly recommend this concealer if you can find a shade to match your skin, it's worth the high price tag in my opinion, the coverage is almost comparable to that of MAC Pro Longwear. A potential holy grail right here.

I have decided to do a series of two posts about a few of the products I would recommend for the winter months, this is the first which is the 6 make up pieces I would use to get a wintery, festive look.

Base

For base I definitely recommend a little bit more coverage to hide those red patches we all end up with in winter time but I also recommend keeping it as natural as possible. I have chosen the Chanel Perfection Lumiere Velvet Foundation as it is a very thin consistency with high coverage and a powdery matte finish with a natural glow, I know the powdery finish isn't for everyone so I have also included a newer release the Dior Star Foundation which has the same light consistency and coverage but leaves a slightly more dewy finish which would be better for those with slightly more dry skin. In winter, a nice chiseled cheek tends to look really strong with a good brow and a bold lip, so I have also included a contour product by the name of Kevyn Aucoin Creamy Duo #4 I chose the cream contour because I think the creams give a bit more of a natural look and adding too much powder in the winter can dry the skin out even more, the cream highlight in this duo is gorgeous and natural too.

Lips & Eyes

For lips of course I have to go with the reds, so first of all a true matte red is the L'oreal Colour Riche Lipstick in Blakes Red this is a bright christmas red that I think would look good on almost any skin tone for day or night, and then there is the dark plum option in the form of the Bobbi Brown Creamy Matte Lipstick in the shade Razzberry which is a super creamy lipstick that feels great on the lips and is really moisturising (perfect for winter time). Lastly for eyes I picked a palette that I have been loving for the last few months, the Nars And God Created The Woman Palette which has such a gorgeous mix of browns in mattes, shimmers and glitters which are perfect for the party season but also perfect for work in the day time.

I hope you liked this post and look out for the skincare version which will be up in the next few days.

It's Christmas Goodie Bag time again, I did a post last year too but for any who missed it, the Christmas Goodie Bag is something I do for my immediate family every year as part of their Christmas present. It's basically a huge pick'n'mix personalised to each member of my family and wrapped up in a Christmas gift bag. 

I have picked up most of the bits I need now so I thought I would take some pictures of all the great stuff I managed to find in ASDA, I have a few little rare american bits to pick up from a vintage sweet store near me called Hardys so I will be doing that on Christmas Eve.

I don't know if it's just me (I'm sure it's not) but I get really excited down the sweet aisle when I start to spot things that I haven't seen for years or that I had completely forgot about like the Chupa Chups Cotton Candy Bubblegum and Pop Rocks (both below).

I also found this amazing pizza right at the end of the aisle which is made purely of pick'n'mix sweets, the strawberry laces, blackberries, eggs, pizzas and gummy bears. Such a cool idea, my brother will love it.

Do you have any strange festive traditions in your household?

On one of my recent visits to Lush to pick up all the new Christmas goodies, I also asked for a few samples of some bits I had been wanting to buy for ages.

Ro's Argan Body Conditioner (£15.95/ 225g)

"Use like you would a hair conditioner, smooth over wet body after bathing or showering, rinse off, then lightly towel yourself dry."

This is such a strange idea, a conditioner for the skin, but in actual fact it's really great especially for morning when you are in a rush but don't want to skip the moisturiser, you can do it all in the shower. The sample was quite small so I only got two uses out of it but I have had a sample of this before, I just rub it all over clean skin, leave it for a few seconds and rinse it off. It's a weird feeling when rinsing it off as you can feel the product being left behind on the skin, but once everything is dry skin just feels soft, smooth and smells gorgeous for amazing. (This has the same scent as the Rose Jam shower gel and bath ballistic). I am definitely going to purchase this next time.

Jackie Oates Colour Supplement (£9.25/ 20g)

"You may wish to use this product neat as a cover all foundation or a spot concealer. Alternatively, you may want to mix with your usual face moisturiser, to act as a lighter covering to even skin tones across your face."

This is a very sheer, lightweight foundation, more like a tinted moisturiser really. It has a very dewy finish and therefore doesn't seem to layer up well for more coverage, but concealers do work well with this foundation. I found that applying this with a damp sponge gave the best finish as fingers and brushes seemed to move the product around and look patchy. I would say this is aimed more at dry skin, as it has such a dewy finish I don't think an oily person would get on very well with this without a lot of powder. This also has a natural oath scent which isn't particularly pleasant but doesn't lurk around for a long time. Being an oily girl, I won't be purchasing the full size but I'm glad I finally tried it.

Have you tried either of these products?

Aesop Chamomile Concentrate Anti-Blemish Masque (£33/ 60ml)

'Astringent masque to minimise blemishes and breakouts. After cleansing, apply a thin layer over skin, excluding eye area, leave for ten minutes then rinse.'

This mask has a tea tree/ herbal scent which is quite calming and relaxing. It goes on as a pale pink paste but dries hard and white on the skin. This mask leaves my skin looking tight and clean with no redness or dryness. Pores do appear smaller after using this but it's not a miracle worker it definitely won't clear all your blackhead but it will sooth any major blemishes and help to prevent new ones from arising. It is also dual purpose as the assistant told me it can also be used just on affected areas instead of as a maque which is great when I don't have time to get messy.

This mask is very gentle as it contains lots of natural oils that have astringent or antiseptic properties such as tea tree leaf oil, lemon peel oil and evening primrose oil to name only a few. This was my first Aesop purchase and it has really got me wanting to try more from the brand. Can you recommend anything?

Here are my full thoughts on the Jouer Matte Moisture Tint (£29/ 50ml). I chose the shade 'Nude' because I was buying online and went only by swatches from other bloggers and it is a tiny bit too dark for me so next time I think I will go with 'Linen' which is just one shade lighter, I'm probably an inbetweener so mixing the two could be an option.

So this is a tinted moisturiser which is oil free, it's hypoallergenic, has SPF 15 and is also fragrance free. It comes in a tube which is nice and hygienic and helps control the amount of product which comes out so that nothing is wasted. This product applies seamlessly, very easy to blend and layers really nicely, doesn't cake or become patchy either. It has a matte but luminous finish, it is matte but by no means flat, you can see the natural glow of the skin beneath and is velvet to the touch so powder isn't always necessary either. The Matte Moisture Tint does not sit in pores or gather in fine lines but it does cling to dry areas a little bit because of the matte formula. The coverage is medium on first application but can definitely be built up to full I'd say, without feeling heavy or looking dull.

I am so glad I decided to get this finally, I think this could be holy grail status. Also do not let the price put you off as it is a 50ml tube which is almost double any other foundation size, it's definitely worth the pennies. Have you tried it?

Vitamin E Aqua Boost Sorbet (£12/ 50ml)

'Shine free. Drenches skin with.moisture for 24 hours and leaves it feeling silky-soft. Massage a small amount into face and neck using upward circular motions. Suitable for all skin types.'

As always, firstly the packaging, it comes in a clear glass jar which is somewhat unhygienic as they say but I rather like it. This moisturiser dries in quickly because of the water base and has an almost matte finish on the skin. It is a light fluffy gel consistency which gives a soothing refreshing sensation and leves he skin feeling really hydrated and smooth. This, like all other Body Shop products is scented, but it's not as light as the traditional Vitamin E range it seems to smell a lot more floral which I didn't like at first but it has grown on me so this is something to consider if you are thinking about buying this. 

Overall I really like this, it's totally different to anything I have tried and I originally thought I would only be able to use this at night because of its super hydrating properties (I'm an oily gal) but it dried in so quickly I can actually use it straight before make up with no problems.

Have you tried this yet?

Percy & Reed Perfectly Perfecting Wonder Balm (£18/ 75ml)

'This is, as they say, the cream de la cream. A miracle leave-in balm, to be exact, which helps give you moisture, shine, smoothness, definition, softness, light hold, high humidity protection and manageability. Or, short version, all you need for beautiful healthy looking and flawless hair.'

This can be used on both wet and dry hair as a primer for styling or a finishing product. I have only used this on dry hair as a styling product and I find it works great as a serum to keep my straight hair straight but also to add a bit of oomph at the roots. It is not sticky and doesn't leave my hair feeling crispy or greasy either. The one above actually came free with a magazine some time ago but it's a great size for throwing in my bag when I have straightened my hair and I actually use it quite a lot. I would definitely purchase this but I am also sure there are other cheaper alternatives available.

Hope you enjoyed this mini review.

Today, since we are in the middle of December (the most expensive month of the year for those of us celebrating Christmas), I wanted to share my thoughts on which products I personally feel are worth spending the extra cash on. 

I had a long think about it, added up all my pros and cons along with a quick rifle through my own collection to see what I spend the majority of my money on and here's my thoughts...

Skincare

Splurge. Cater to your skins needs, and even if it's a bit more pricey, go for it. Someone once told me its better to get your clothes at Primark and your skincare at La Prairie, if I could afford La Prairie I would agree, but you get the idea.

Base (Primer, Foundation, Concealer)

Splurge. As flawless skin makes any blush, lipstick or eyeshadow look a thousand times better. Your skin takes up the majority of the face so it makes sense that you should spend the majority of your pennies on it. In my experience the shade choices alone are worth paying extra for, but you also need less when you buy high end and therefore it always lasts longer too.

Powder

Save. This was tricky as my first thoughts were Nars and Mac but my high street favourites swayed me, the Rimmel Stay Matte, the Soap & Glory One Heck Of A Blot and the Maybelline Fit Me powders are all great high street options, all finely milled, soft and not heavy or cakey, they last just as long as the ones 4 times the price.

Blusher/ Bronzer

Spend. For blush there is always a lot less shades, a lot more fall out and a lot less pigment on the high street, which means they run out a lot quicker and your not necessarily buying the best shade for your skin tone. Bronzer is a tough one considering the Bodyshop Honey Bronzer and the Soap & Glory Solar Powder, but again I'd say spend especially if you use it every day, the high end ones have more pigment so last a lifetime, they also tend to have less glitter helping them to look a lot more natural.

Mascara

Save. As mascara has a shelf life of around 3 months, spending £20+ seems crazy, it's nice for a treat, but for everyday there are some amazing high street mascaras from Bourjois, Maybelline, L'oreal and Rimmel.

Eyeshadow

Spend. Cheaper ones tend to have a lot less pigment, which means putting more on and running out quicker, they also tend to be harder to blend and have a lot of fall out which creates mess and waste.

Lipstick

Depends. I think it depends on your addiction level, I personally love high end lipsticks or middle of the road ones like Mac, but there are so many high street ranges and new launches all the time so it's really touch and go with lipstick.

Lipgloss

Save. All glosses have the same lasting power in my experience, a few sips of coffee and it's gone, the only difference is consistency, the cheaper ones tend to be sticky and gloopy, but with the likes of NYX Butter Glosses around these days, I would say save for sure.

Nail Polish

Save. I think a good top coat will solve most problems so even though I love the YSL polishes, I would still say save your pennies and go for a great high street option like Barry M.

I hope this was helpful, what do you spend most of your money on?

Since my beloved Hourglass Arch had run out I decided it was time to purchase the super hyped up Anastasia Brow Wiz to see how it compared and if it could take the top spot away from its Hourglass Rival. Here's my conclusion.

So, unlike the Hourglass packaging it's very drugstore-esque, thin and plastic and in no way as luxurious as the Arch's glossy chic metal tube, it's very lightweight and can be slipped into your bag easily which is good but I still prefer the luxury of the Hourglass version. The price reflects this though, the Anastasia Brow wiz is priced at a mere £15.50 compared with the Hourglass Arch at £26, it's almost double... You get what you pay for as they say.

Anyway, on to the actual product, it has a tiny spooly on one end which I really like because you can reach all the hairs and it doesn't brush all the product half way up your forehead. Always a plus.

The other end has an extremely slim nib which a lot of people love because it is easy to get really fine natural looking lines but I personally find it a little too small. I think this is designed for people with not a lot to fill in and for that it is great (I carry this in my bag now just incase I have any brow mishaps through the day) but for those who have very sparse or very short brows (like me) I think the Hourglass is better suited as you can cover bigger areas quicker.

The colour range for these is great though, I think there is around 8 shades so you really can get a close match to your natural shade. I am glad I tried this out and as I say it's great to just pop in my handbag but its too time consuming for me to use alone.

Final say- Hourglass wins for sparse brows, Anastasia is good for those with fuller natural brows.

Have you tried them? What did you think?

I managed to find this little gem on sale at Boots a while back so I snapped it up, I had previously been using the Avene Thermal Water religiously but after using this for a month or two now I think I can safely say I prefer this one.

La Roche Posay Eau Thermale, Thermal Spring Water from £3.50.

I know what you are thinking, how can one can of water be better than another right? Well it can and there is literally one small thing that does it for me.... The spray action. The Avene one has more of a spray, which leaves quite a wet feeling all over the face, whereas the La Roche Posay offering has what I would describe as a mist, when sprayed it is so fine and covers such a wide area, it just feels cooling as opposed to wet. I think I will be converting full time tips the La Roche Posay way of life from now on.

Have you tried them before? What do you think?

Today I'm reviewing the Jouer Tint in the shade Honeysuckle (£16/2g). 

"With fingertips, apply Jouer tint on apples of cheeks as a blush or on lips for a flush of colour. Loaded with Vitamin E and Shea Butter to nourish and moisturise skin. Paraben free."

The formula of this is ultra creamy, almost oily to the touch, it's super blendable with fingers or with a brush and its very highly pigmented which explains the tiny packaging, no need for a lot of product at all. On the cheeks it dries to an almost powder finish but has a healthy glow to it and on the lips it stays creamy feeling ( I advise using a lip balm because I do find it settles in the fine lines on lips). It is scent free and lasts all day on the skin, I don't think there is a bad word to say about it, in fact I think I need more shades.

I chose honeysuckle because I like the peachy tones in winter to warm up the skin when it's uber pasty, this looks very extreme in the swatch but it blends out to a really natural peach tint.

Have you tried the Jouer Tints?

I thought it was about time I talked about a few of the primers I have tried from MAC since I don think I have ever mentioned them on the blog, so here you go...

MAC Strobe Cream (£10/ 30ml), (£24.50/ 50ml).

This is a very lightweight thin texture with an extremely glowy pearlescent finish, this soaks into the skin but it does leave a slightly tacky residue, ( I prefer to use it under a matte foundation to stop this happening). As I mentioned it has a really pearlescent glow but somehow still manages to look somewhat natural at the same time. This can be used under (my personal preference) or mixed in with foundation, and can also be used to dot on specific areas as a highlighter which is lovely in summertime with a natural tan. This product is scented with the same aquatic scent as the rest of the MAC Skincare range.

MAC Oil Control Lotion (£10/ 30ml), (£23/ 50ml).

This is to be used underneath foundation, as the last step in your skincare routine. Again it is also scented and an extremely lightweight formula, this dries into skin very fast and leaves and invisible finish and feel on the skin. It is a very thin consistency almost like a serum which feels really soothing on the skin. I would say it helps with oil control for around 4 hours, so nothing amazing, but 4 hours more than usual. It's nice to use with a full coverage foundation because it is so thin and won't add any extra weight to your face.

These travel size tubes are great value considering the price of the full sized tubes, and are much more convenient for travel and storage etc. I would definitely recommend these, but the travel sizes are often sold out so get them quickly.