Una Brennan Super Fan

Super Facialist by Una Brennan Vitamin C+ Renew Cleansing Oil, £10.99 for 200ml.

It's no secret how much I love and trust the Super Facialist by Una Brennan range, specifically the Tea Flower products designed to combat combination and oily skins. I've had good experiences with both the Foaming cleanser and the mattifying moisturiser (I've gone through several tubes of this myself and also carry it in my makeup kit) so when I saw a product that I hadn't spotted before, I had to give it a go.

I am a cleansing oil newbie, and I haven't been disappointed, infact I'd say I am pretty much converted and will be seeking to use them more. Many of you who have oily or combination skin similar to mine might have been worried or put off by the word 'oil', sending you into panic with visions of greasy skin and clogged oily pores, however with the cold weather change setting in, it's important to maintain and lock as much good moisture into your skin as possible, and using a harsh or foaming cleanser is probably not the way to achieve this (though of course there are exceptions).

This cleansing oil lathers a little, into a soft layer of small bubbles when massaged onto the face with warm water. It rinses off easily and doesn't leave a greasy film behind, which is what I was most concerned would happen. Alas, it doesn't! In the evenings I double cleanse with this and my skin is left feeling soft and nourished, not dry or tight. It has quite an overwhelming scent, sort of citrusy, though my fiance did insist the other night that I smelt of oranges. Either way, it's pretty fruity. My skin is never perfect (I'm hoping my new Clarisonic Mia 2 will change this) but this cleanser has certainly calmed my, at times, irritated and sore skin and seems to balance my oily t-zone. It hasn't tightened my pores, which is one of the reasons I like her foaming Tea Flower cleanser, however I reckon they could make a pretty sweet duo. It is gentle, and something I would recommend to all skin types.

As with all of the Una Brennan range, it is free from nasty ingredients such as mineral oil and parabens. The majority of my skincare regime is completely free of these ingredients generally, I have absolutely no desire to go out and buy a £40 Clarins moisturiser bursting with the stuff. This one contains lots of seed oil extracts- sunflower & olive along with more exciting passionfruit, cucumber and rosehip.

PS I've been absent again. Thankyou for putting up with me and for continuing to read my blog, I spent a few weeks back and forth to London (makeup lyf- assisting on a very exciting campaign that I will tell you more about on its release) and then been ill for a week and a half inbetween which has been boring as hell. i.e. not ideal circumstances for blogging, but I am feeling better and looking forward to sharing more stuff with you over the coming weeks!

Thanks for reading,

E.

Etat Pur Review

Etat Pur Express Purifying Mask, £7.50 for 50ml.

I won a couple of products quite a while ago in Sandra's Giveaway. They were both from Etat Pur, a brand I hadn't previously used, but both I have enjoyed using so much.

The mask uses white clay and is therefore white in colour with a fairly thick texture. Clay based masks are great for drawing out any impurities and clearing the skin, and that is exactly what this mask claims to do, along with creating a fresh and radiant complexion.

I find this mask much more comfortable to wear than the other clay masks I own. It does dry and consequently set, but doesn't feel too heavy. I once had it on for hours, I was pottering around the house and completely forgot it was still there until I looked in the mirror! The instructions state that this only has to be left on for 5 minutes, hence the 'express' in it's name, but as always a like to leave it on a little longer to ensure maximum results (normally half an hour to 45 minutes if I can.)

One thing I really notice is how soft and plump my skin feels afterwards. It doesn't feel dry or tight, like my skin does feel after many other clay based masks. It really does seem like it has worked with the balance of my skin rather than stripping it completely, so I would therefore recommend it for sensitive skins too.

The main factor I really noticed when looking on the Etat Pur website is the value for money. For the quality I have noticed with the products, the price point is actually very affordable. This mask costs only £7.50 and the micellar cleansing water Sandra also sent me is £7.40 in comparison to the La Roche-Posay I am currently using which is about £11 in Boots. 

Check out Etat Pur, I know I will definitely be buying from them in the near future as they have surpassed my expectations!

Thanks for reading,

E.

Botanics Cleansing Balm

Botanics Hot Cloth Cleansing Balm, £8.99 for 65ml.

I'm on a budget at the moment, and it has hit me hardest when trying to buy skincare. I've got enough makeup to last me years, but skincare inevitably runs out and needs to be replaced. 
When I spotted a budget cleansing balm, claiming to be 97% organic I thought it sounded promising. From Botanics, Boots' own range of affordable skincare with a nod to the natural, this cleansing balm contains ingredients such as jojoba oil, almond oil and shea butter and comes in a 65ml tub.

Similarly to other cleansing balms I have used, the product is a stiff substance, that massaged into the palms of your hands under warm running water remains thick in consistency but semi melts, ready to massage into the face. It has quite a 'natural' scent that is difficult to describe, not overwhelming like the Emma Hardie balm, that although delicious, smelt too strong for my liking. It is a deep yellow, almost green in colour and comes with a large muslin cloth.

For reviews sake, I tried using this without a muslin cloth. It is so thick that it is near impossible to remove with hands and water, a residue remains. The cloth is essential as the muslin grips and removes the product with ease. My skin feels soft and hydrated after using this, but no matter how hard I try it always ends up in my eyes and although it doesn't sting or feel uncomfortable, it makes my vision cloudy for about ten minutes! 
I still use this every evening, it is nice to use and I would probably repurchase as it is gentle and makes my skin feel supple. Plus it is free from nasty ingredients and is paraben free which is always a bonus in my eyes.

Give this a go if you are interested in cleansing balm or if you are into organic products :-)

Thanks for reading,

E.

Super Facialist by Una Brennan.

Super Facialist By Una Brennan Tea Flower Deep Clean Purifying Cleansing Wash, £7.99 for 150ml.
Super Facialist By Una Brennan Tea Flower Deep Clean Mattifying Moisturiser, £12.99 for 75ml.

I have a combination skin type- my skin is fairly normal but with an oily t-zone with blocked and enlarged pores on my nose and a little on my cheeks. I am prone to the odd blemish and my skin sometimes feels a little sensitive. I saw that Pampered Prince had reviewed a few products from the Una Brennan Super Facialist range, he seems to have a similar skin type to myself and while I had seen the range in Boots I hadn't taken much notice, I made a mental note to look at them in more detail next time I was there. In the same week Jess from Spoiltface recommended I try some products with salicylic acid in as it is effective at clearing pores and maintaining fresh looking skin. On closer inspection I noticed there was salicylic acid in the Super Facialist Tea Flower range. Perfect, I thought, I'll defnitely give these products a go...

Purifying Cleansing Wash:
My love for this cleanser has grown slowly. When I first used it, it seemed so thorough that I was worried it would be too harsh. My skin went red and was squeaky it was so clean! I perservered and saw results within the week, after using it twice a day the squeakiness and redness stopped happening. Applied to a dry face and thoroughly massaged in, it really has cleared out my pores a great amount. Not completely, but significantly. My skin has developed less spots than usual despite me leading a hectic and unhealthy lifestyle the past few weeks. The cleanser is a clear gel that foams up and I find that removing it with a hot cloth or flannel keeps my skin looking fresh. It removes any excess makeup gently, too. I have already bought a new one.


Mattifying Moisturiser:
I loved this moisturiser from first use. I was wary of a moisturiser that claimed to be mattifying but it is one I have fallen for and really enjoy using. It's a fairly light lotion that absorbs into my skin so quickly in comparison to other moisturisers that can feel like they are sitting on my skin for an absolute age before they soak in, and it doesn't leave a residue behind either. Similarly to the cleanser it contains salicylic acid, my skin has become more controlled, it feels more balanced and as said above, I have been a bit less spotty. Despite how light it seems, it is enough nourishment and hydration for my skin, I have experienced absolutely no dryness this winter. It creates a lovely smooth base for my makeup to go on top of and I have been known to apply two layers of it because I love it so much (and probably because I am deceived by it's mattifying properties). I have been using this as my day cream and the only negative I can give this is that it doesn't contain SPF.

Overall I have been really impressed by both products, they're fantastic value for money and great if you are on a budget and/or suffering from oily skin, breakouts or blocked pores. They're also SLS and paraben free.
You can buy this range from Boots, I got mine on a 1/3 off and I know they have recently been half price on the website so keep an eyeout for any other offers.

P.S. I hope all of you had a fantastic christmas and got some lovely presents and quality family time. We had a relaxed day, I cooked an EPIC roast dinner (8 different veg dishes!) and we drank Baileys all day. Ben spoiled me rotten with a new camera and some beauty bits that he must have read off my 'Wish List' tab!

Unless the product is tester sized, I don't review skincare until I have been using it for a month. I feel this gives me enough time for me to develop an honest opinion and to showcase any noticeable results.

Collection 2000 Lasting Pefection Concealer

Collection 2000 Lasting Pefection Concealer in 'Fair', £4.19.

Yes, I gave into both external hype and internal pressure to try, and bought it. For a cheapo pharmacy product, the quality of this concealer is fantastic; high coverage, blends well and comes in enough shades that most people could probably find a near match. As you can see above, the fairest shade is still too warm for my skin, but as long as it's blended well and used underneath my foundation this colour difference is undetectable.

In terms of wear, I find it does live up to it's longwearing claims. I've not worn it as long as 16 hours but it's longevity has impressed me, there's no slip or fading, once it's there, it stays put!

I woudn't necessarily use this everyday, I choose to use this for times when it is really needed- redness, blemishes, or severe under eye circles!

The applicator is that of a typical lip gloss one. However, I wouldn't apply the concealer to my face straight from the sponge, this is where my germaphobe habits come in to play! I always transfer the product onto a clean hand before dabbing it onto my face using either a brush or my fingers, this will help avoid any unnecessary bacteria transfer straight from my face back into a tube of concealer ready to fester for next time (just the thought of doing this makes me shudder!!)

A big thumbs up from me, and I'd certainly recommend this if you're looking for an excellent concealer on a budget.

What concealer is your favourite at the moment? Any other cheap products you can recommend to me?

Summer cupcake NOTD!

Technic 'Carnival' available here for £2.05 for 12ml.

Illamasqua 'Loella' available here for £13.50 for 15ml.

Not one for nail art particularly but like a true magpie anything with glitter and I'm attracted to it! A few weeks ago when my bargainous Technic 'Carnival' glitter topcoat arrived through the post I rushed to my bedroom to pick out the perfect base colour. For the ultimate girly, party nail it had to be paired with Illamasqua's nail varnish in 'Loella'. It's a perfect candy pink with subtle pearl sheen, however the formula of this is gloopy, streaky and takes a long time to dry which is a shame, (however the colour is so gorgeous that I'm never really put off.)

The pictures show (base coat), two layers of 'Loella', two coats of 'Carnival' and a coat of Sally Hansen Mega Shine top coat.

Two TopShop Makeup Brushes; Review

TopShop Blush Brush £8

TopShop Concealer Brush £5

I am a bit of a brush snob, always choosing expensive brands over ones you can buy in Boots or Superdrug because of previous bad experiences with molting Max Factor brushes (the Real Techniques brushes aren't included in this sweeping generalisation).

I thought I'd try these TopShop brushes purely because they were cheap and in the packaging looked like they'd be 'alright' quality. I've been using them for a couple of months now so thought it was about time I shared my thoughts with you.

Blush Brush;

This is a medium sized powder brush that isn't very well rounded in my opinion, it's fairly full in terms of it's head of fibres, but is a peculiar shape and dependant on which way or angle you use it, it can be quite flat.

It picks up little but even product which is an advantage if you wish to build colour, or if you only wear a small, natural amount of blush.

The fibres themselves are quite rough and scratchy to the face, application isn't always a smooth process.

This brush does the job and is good for it's price if you like a full cheek of colour rather than precision application, and if you like a subtle wash of colour as the brush doesn't pick up too much product because the fibres themselves aren't densely packed. I've been using it here and there but if I'm honest I've been really enjoying using the Real Techniques Buffing brush to apply my blusher recently, I love the soft focus finish it gives.

Concealer Brush;

For me, this is a regretful purchase. I often hold an on/off relationship with concealer brushes, sometimes I think they are useful but sometimes I believe you can't beat a bit of finger action to blend that baby in!
This brush picks up product well but doesn't disperse it evenly and offers nothing in terms of blending it in at all. It makes any area concealed fairly obvious which destroys the point of using concealer! The synthetic fibres are too stiff, basically...I couldn't find a way to make this brush work for me!

I like the packaging of these in the plastic slip that they come in, I also like the way the brushes are presented with their black handles. However, my original opinion still remains that forking out money for decent makeup brushes is definitely worthwhile. Some things you just can't do on the cheap!

Sleek Blusher Review

Sleek Blusher in 'Rose Gold', £4.49 for 8g

This blusher is a welcome addition to my collection, it's well presented in black shiny packaging with a lift lid similarly to NARS blushers, except without the matte rubber casing! It's well protected and easy to use, and non- bulky.

It's a pretty pink which is peach in tone that has small gold glitter particles running throughout it. The glitter transfers to the skin to create a sheen or a healthy highlight, seperate particles aren't distinguishable and because it's gold it also adds warmth to the complexion as well as a healthy, rosey glow. It's a subtle wash of colour and is very wearable for day to day looks and can be built up for a more dramatic finish.

It goes well on my skin as it adds a flush of colour and I'd imagine it's a colour that would suit the majority of people. It's also a bit like a '2in1' product as once used, you don't need to use a highlighter aswell!

As with all Sleek Makeup products the quality is outstanding for the price, due to it's high content of talc, the formula of this blush is fine, powdery and therefore very blendable. You can also buy 'Rose Gold' in a blush palette of three at the moment which is about a tenner and is the one called 'Lace', I nearly bought this but I knew I wouldn't really use the other two colours included, plus as you all know I am a lover of singular products over palettes, generally!

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17 'Instant Glow' Bronzer Review & Instagram!!

 17 Instant Glow Powder Bronzer in 'Medium Bronze', £4.59 for 10g

17 are my favourite line for cheap cosmetics products, it's very rare their products disappoint me and items such as their eyeshadow or their BB Cream are more often than not incorporated into my daily makeup. Granted, I've not tried every product in the range, but the fact that they are constantly revamping and creating new products to sell is pretty refreshing and exciting.

They've released a new bronzer which is part of the Instant Glow range and it comes in two shades, I opted for medium bronze.

The packaging is palm- sized and circular, with black and clear plastic casing. The lid lifts easily and clicks shut into place, you are able to see the product through the packaging. When new, the pan has a shooting stars style embellishment. You get a whopping 10g of product!

I really like the fact that this product is matte, and in terms of it's texture, shade and consistency it reminds me so much of the ever famous Benefit 'Hoola'. Similarly to 'Hoola' it doesn't seem to contain any orange pigmentation- a definite plus +++++ !!

The powder picks up onto my brushes really well and I find it blends pretty well as it's soft, but it is better to start with a little and build this one up. It's suitable for an all over sun kissed look or as a contour powder. I find that it doesn't tend to look muddy, which so many bronzers can do (though this is usually due to bad application, over application etc) and the medium shade isn't too dark for my pale skin.

Overall I am really impressed with this product, I've used it a lot over the past couple of weeks. Some factors I like the most are that it is matte, it gives a natural finish and that it is so cheap. I would recommend this!


I joined Instagram this week (username is emilylaurenbethxo), I've only had it a few days but I'm really enjoying it so far, I just need more people's photos to look at, so if you have it give me a follow and I'll follow you straight back! Here's some pics I've posted so far;

Follow me! emilylaurenbethxo

MUA Lovehearts Lip Balm & Single Eyeshadow Review & EOTD.

MUA Lip Balm in 'Sweet Kiss' £2 for 10g

MUA Single Eyeshadow in Shade 30 £1 for 2g

(Available in Superdrug)

I'm not usually attracted to gimicky or girly packaging as I always want to concentrate on the product inside, but something about these lipbalms with Lovehearts designs on the lids made me really want one! I think they're really cute and fun, and will stand out at the bottom of a makeup bag/box, and with it being Valentines week a review of one of them seemed fitting! I bought the shade 'Sweet Kiss' because I'm like a magpie to pretty coral pinks, particularly when in such a sheer form such as lip balm. This lip balm has impressed me with it's quality for the price, the formula is really smooth and glides onto the lips well, it isn't sticky at all but is slippery on the lips with a faint vanilla scent that doesn't linger for long. It adds minimal colour, just a wash of pretty pink over the lips and I really like the outcome.

So far the only downside I can find is also with the packaging, it is what I call a 'dippy pot', I've always found them totally off putting. I absolutely despise Vaseline with a passion and as long as I can remember I've always cringed at the sight of people prodding their fingers around vaseline pots and smearing the stuff around their lips. It literally turns my stomach. We'll see if I can get to grips with this dippy pot and enjoy using this lip balm, or if it will be a short affair.

I love anything copper, metallic or gold, particularly when it comes to eye makeup, so I picked this up. Similarly to my first MUA eyeshadow (EOTD Here) this is a pearl finish thats strong pigmentation is a joy to use and work with. It has quite fine glitter particles in it which makes it a bit more sparkly and jazzy than some of the other pearl finishes. It blends very well and I experienced no fall out, which really surprised me actually. To me, the pay off and the finish on the eye looks more high end than high street, so again MUA have impressed me here and I'll continue to buy their eyeshadows. The packaging seems sturdy enough, and 2g of product is generous considering it's £1!

Below is a FOTD using these two new products so that you can see how I've worn them, let me know what you think.

Eyes;

Benefit Stay Don't Stray Eyelid Primer

MUA Eyeshadow Shade 30 (all over lid and brought underneath)

M.A.C. Eyeshadow in 'Showstopper' (in crease and underneath)

Rimmel London Professional Eyebrow Pencil in 001 Dark Brown on the waterline

L'Oreal Telescopic Mascara 

Lips;

MUA Lip Balm in 'Sweet Kiss'

If you want to know any of the other products used on my FOTD then pop a comment below or tweet me @emilydimplesxo and I'll reply back to you straight away!

I hope you all have a lovely weekend!