Review of the B. Make up brush cleanser

Hi everyone

Over the last few months I've been finding myself turning to the brand B. quite a lot and so far so good so when looking for a make up brush cleaner this seemed like the obvious choice. I've always washed my brushes previously, I'm prone to break outs so I have always wanted to keep my brushes clean but I've been using shampoo which can leave a soapy residue and also ruins the brush.

I am so far very impressed with this product, it's quite a big tube so should last me a while, it's a very easy to use spray which I like as it is none mesey or doesn't lead to waste. 

It's really simple to use, you spray it on to your brush and then use a tissue to wipe the brush to remove make up, dirt and bacteria. I sprayed it twice on the brushes I use everyday and it got them completely clean. There is no soapy residue, not mess and no harsh smell. It's also really inexpensive at under £5 so I will most certainly be repurchasing this product.

How do you clean your brushes, do you have a favourite product?

Thanks for reading

AKL

My favourite shower gels

Hi everyone

Shower time....... I am a big fan of Origianl Source, they are not tested on animals and they are vegan. It's not often that there isn't one in my shower so when I saw these at £1 in Superdrug I really couldn't resist. In fact the issue I had was which one to buy so I went for all 3. 

Firstly I have the pink Grapefruit in the Orange tub, this smells amazing it is literally like opening a bottle of fruit juice. It actually brightens my mood both in colour and smell. 

Next I have the Vanilla and Rasberry and if you have read many of my post you will know that vanilla is my favourite fragrance followed closely by berries so as you can guess this is my favourite.

Last but most certainly not least is the Mango one, this one makes me feel like I should be on a. Balcony with a. Mango cocktail over looking a beach, it's a nice vision at 6:30 in the morning getting ready for work.

My only critics of Orignal source is that they are gel like rather than cream which means that I get through them really quickly. I literally go through them about 1 a week. However they smell so amazing that it is totally worth it.

What are you favourite shower or bath products, do you have any recommendations?

Thanks for reading

AKL

My new hairbrush

Hi everyone

I think I've mentioned before that I am constantly in persuit of more volume in my hair, I have fine hair but a hell of a lot of it which if I don't be careful the middle tends to be frizzy but because it's long it drags down at the roots leaving it a little flat. I have roots sprays, I blow dry my hair upside down and I blow dry the roots from the underneath but I'm still not happy (will I ever be?) so I decided to invest in a barrel brush.

This one is from Superdrug and it is very inexpensive at under £5. They have a small, medium and large size and so I went for medium as a starting point.

I use this as you would rollers but without leaving them in. I brush through the the hair and then lift my hair from the roots over the brush and twist so it curves around the brush, then I apply heat. It's really quick and easy to do before work, it lifts my hair for the root and gives my hair the volume it needs.

I have to be very careful when applying heat to my hair because it is so fine it can damage easily. To combat any drying out I use Superdrug Hair Therapy oil with Argon, I've mentioned this so many times and while I don't apply this directly on the top of my roots I do apply this through my hair as often as possible so if I am applying heat to my hair to give volume it stays in good condition.

Over the past few weeks I've also been trying to style my hair in different ways using my hair grips so adding volume to my roots means my hair styles much easier either pinned back or in a a small plait.

What are your favourite hair styles and hair products. I would love to hear.

Thanks for reading

AKL

My new nail varnishes

Hi everyone

My official favourite beauty product is nail varnishes, they are such an easy way to brighten up a day and make you look and feel more dressed up and ready for the day. So I have of course been buying new ones recently.

I feel we are in a really weird nail varnish season (did you know it had a season?!?! what I mean is that it isn't summer or even Spring, it snowed this morning, but I feel like I'm ready to get rid of the winter colours. So I've kind of done bright colours that would look great in summer but they are still cold colours for winter.

Firstly there is the B. Complete nail varnish. It is slightly lighter than it looks in the picture. I really like the B. nail varnishes as they go on really well with only a couple of coats, it is really shiny and it last really well.

Next I have a Collection nail varnish in the colour Sonic Blue. It is really bright and while blue is a cold colour this would look amazing on a beach holding a cocktail. I really like Collection nail varnishes they do last really well and go on nice and shiney which I like, my only criticism if there was one of that they tend to dry up really quickly.

The next colour is proberley my favourite of the three and it is a Collection nail vanish in the colour Ice. I had to put a few more costs on this one than the Sonic blue but once done it looks great.

I love nail varnishes, what are your favourite brands and colours? What's your go to nail shape?

Thanks for reading

AKL

My bargain flip flop haul

Hi everyone

So in 74 days (not that I am counting I am going to Sal, Cape Verde for 2 weeks with my boyfriend and I am very excited. This is the first summer holiday we have been on as we normally go out of season in January. Now as much as I desperately missed the sun in January I am very excited about being able to actually in to shop to buy summer clothes whereas in January believe me unless you want to wear a jumper on the beach you have no chance.

So when I walked through Primark and saw these absolute bargains I just could not resist. First I have 2 pairs of day time flips flops in dark blue and blue and white stips. Believe it or not they were 90p each, crazy affordable. At first glance I was concerned they would be made badly as they are so cheap but they actually feel quite sterdy. They are cushioned and the toe grip is softer than expected.

Next I have the pink and gold chain pair. I do have heels to take on holiday with me but I thought these would be really good to wear at night if I don't fancy heels. These were slightly more at £1.80. It still massively affordable. I was tempted to buy the whole rail but seen as I need to take more than just flip flops in my luggage allowance I managed to control myself.

If you live in the uk I would 100% recommend you got to Primark for your cheap holiday essentials. I'm sure I will be back with another Primark haul very soon.

Are you going on holiday any where this year, have you find any bargains?

Thanks for reading

AKL

Make up I wore last night

Hi everyone

My favourite part of going out has to be getting ready, most of the time I'm out straight from work so I'm rushing and most of the time it's a brush through my hair and on a good day some lip gloss so when I do get chance to get ready I really enjoy it.

Here is all the make up and tools I used. It looks like a lot when you lay it out. So let's go through it.

First things first, once I've moisturised it's time to prime. I'm still using my good old faithfuls Barry M Flawless primers. They are really inexpensive and work really well. I've got the Brightening one in purple and the corrector one in green. I try and see what I need on my skin each day but most of the time I use a combination of both.

 

Next it's my base, I'm continuing with a theme here with the Barry M Flawless foundation. I use Ivory and it's a very white foundation compared with many others that are orange or pink. It goes on really smoothly and doesn't cake or smudge. I apply it with my foundation brush (bottom of the picture) then use my fingers.

Next I have my Collection concealer which as you can see is well used. It has a little brush so you can be really precise with where your concealer goes.

Next I have my powders and for face powder I use the Collection translucent powder. I use my big fluffy brush for this as its so soft. For bronzer I have my contour brush and the Collection bronzer. I use the none sparkly bronzer and I have shiney skin so I don't want any addition shine. I don't truly contour although I do love that look, I tend to apply bronzer on my temples, cheeks and chin and then blend with my fluffy brush.

Lastly it's my eyes and let's start with eye shadow, I have my 2 collection eye shadows in Ice Queen and Rosy Gold. I use the Rosy Gold one in my crease and the white one on my lid, below my eyebrows and in the very corner of my eyes. I use a few tools to apply them I have my fluffy brush on the left for the crease, my eye shadow applicator at the bottom for the lid, then my angled brush for under my brows and my bottom lashes. 

Next I use 2 black eyeliners a pencil one and a pen both from Collection. The pencil I use in the corner of my eye as its thinner and the pen for the rest of my eye. I really like the pen as it doesn't drag or pull.

Then as I wanted something a bit fancy I use the gold glitter, I got this as a Christmas present and I don't believe it's cruelty free, as soon as it runs out I need to replace it with a cruelty free one.

For brows I have my brown pencil first, this is Rimmel so not cruelty free as soon as it runs out I will replace with cruelty free. Secondly my elf eye brow gel in clear, it keeps my eyebrows in place and looking more groomed.

Last but not least is my mascara, it's the elf mascara in black. I curl my eye lashes first then add a few layers of mascara. I really like this mascara as its similer to the False Lash mascara from Mac.

I haven't included my lip products so I might do another post on this. 

What's your favourite products to wear on a night out.

Thanks for reading

AKL

How I sorted out my sore chapped lips

Hi everyone

Hope you are all very well. I'm a little late with this post or at least I hope i am and that Spring is here. I wanted to talk about how I repaired my sore and chapped lips. Winter has taken its tole on my lips this year and it seemed no matter how much moisturiser I used they got worse. So I decided to up my routine once and for all and these are the products that helped me do it.

Firstly I have my elf lip exfoliator, I wouldn't have gone for an exfoliator previously as I'd always go for something soft not exfoliating but I would have been wrong. I highly recommend this product and I use it now every morning and every evening. It's got a balm in it too and smells lovely, I rub it around in circular motions in my lips paying particular attention to my bottom lip because this is the driest. 

Then I have a combination of 2 lip glosses, the first one is the Lush Passion Fruit lip balm and I use this one in the mornings before work. It's very smooth and silky and also has a tiny shimmer to it which is nice and actually disguises any dry patches.

Next is the Body Shop lip butter and it has cocoa and shea butter in it. This is a much thicker balm and also a bit sticky, it really coats my lips. I find this a little sticky in the day but over night it's perfect. I sometimes put this on before I use the lip exfoliator when my lips are really dry.

Through this routine I am happy to say my lips are much better, they are no longer sore and while they do get dry I keep to my routine and that sorts them out. 

I have to say though that as much as I love these products I am looking forward to summer, bring on the cocktails, BBQs and no more chapped lips.

Thanks for reading.

AKL