Lanolips Lemonaid Lip Balm

Hey lovelies!
Simply put, i love lip balm. A few months ago i put myself on a lip balm ban. Mostly because of the whopping 22 i found, some in my collection some lurking in handbags and dotted around the house. So i felt that number was a little bit excessive and started to use up what i liked and binned what i didn't. Now this was a few months back and I've whittled it down to only having 3 or 4 around the house, so surely i could justify a new one, right?

I'd heard quite a lot about Lanolips through the blogosphere, and as Boots were having a 3 for 2 on most items picking one up as i stocked up on moisturiser seemed like a good plan! I opted for the Lemonaid version and I'm so glad i did! It smells absolutely DIVINE, like a sugary cloudy lemonade. Probably the best smelling lip balm I've come across so far. It applies pretty much clear with a very, very fine gold shimmer to it and looks gorgeous on the lips. It has slightly more slip than lip balms I'm used to but that doesn't really fuss me. The only thing that does slightly bug me is the applicator (which i stupidly didn't photograph), it doesn't have a regular plastic applicator like you'd expect from a lip balm, rather a small hole so you have to apply it with your fingers, which I'm not a huge fan of.

So it smells nice, it looks nice, but does it work? Yes, but I'm not hugely blown away by it. Yes its moisturising but nothing that wow'd me. Do i think its worth the money, YES. For the scent alone I'd repurchase this, its a plus that it actually works. If your expecting some wonder balm your not going to get it, but what you will get is a beautifully scented, pretty decent lip balm. I guess i was just expecting more considering its price tag and how hyped this is. But nether the less its a pretty lovely balm.

Have you tried Lanolips? What did you think?

xox

Recent Rediscoveries: Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser

 Heya lovelies!
I've got another addition to my "Recent Rediscoveries" series in store for you lot today! As i mentioned before I've been forced to do a lot more "shopping the stash" lately as my mega saving panic has fully kicked in, my holiday is only just under four months away now so need to get those pennies put away asap! But the upside to this is that I've been rediscovering some real gems in my makeup collection and this has got to be my favourite so far!

Weirdly enough this product was my first ever review here on my blog! I cringe a bit when i go back and read it now, but hey, we've all got to start somewhere!

This was my "getting into university" pressie from my Mum during the summer last year. I'd been lusting after the Silk Creme foundation (still am really) but got talked into the tinted moisturiser at the counter. I absolutely loved this for the first few weeks i had it but i then discovered BB Creams and this has been quite unloved ever since. Now i have around 22 foundations, tinted moisturisers and BB creams (apparently that is too much :P ) so Ive been trying to work out which ones are usable and which ones i really can't work with and sadly there are quite a few in this category. But i am pleased to say i fell back in love with this one!

Generally, i love fuller coverage foundations. But i have come to learn that they are not always needed, and i can get a lovely finish with a sheer / low coverage product and a dab of concealer. I first hooked this out my collection around two weeks ago and slapped it on with my Real Techniques Buffing Brush and was gobsmacked. Okay, the colour isn't a complete match for me, but the sheerness of the product makes it pretty forgiving. It looks AMAZING on the skin. Its sheer but has enough coverage to really even out the skin tone and cover any minor imperfections, anything else i slap some concealer on. For a tinted moisturiser it is not at all shiny, I'd describe it as more of a satin finish. I've been REALLY enjoying wearing this with just a touch of concealer, bronzer and mascara as my quick every day look.

It sadly has one down side, price. At £33 for a 40ml tube its not at all cheap and i do feel myself using a bit more product than I'd like at that price. I'm seriously not looking forward to running out of this but even with its not so friendly price tag i think I'd have to repurchase it! I can see this being a staple for summer seeing as it has SPF 20 and doesn't feel heavy or greasy on the skin. They also have an "oil free" and "illuminating" version so there is something for everyone.
But I'm still lusting over Silk Creme, hmph!

Have you tried any of Laura Mercier's Tinted Moisturisers or Foundations? What did you think?

xox

Monthly Favourites: August 2010

As usual, at the end of the month, a very tough task to choose my favourite products has to be accomplished! I don't necessarily base my decision on which are the products that I have mostly used during that particular month. I sometimes come across products that I have forgotten I own and rediscover them all over again and I include them. Other times, it is new purchases and also sometimes, products that I have been using for a long time. Anyway, enough blabbing. Here are this month's faves :) enjoy!

~ Those two boxes come from The Body Shop. You know how they do those gift-sets with travel-sized products... I used get like 2 or 3 different ones each Christmas and then, after I've used the products, the metal boxes end up as ornaments. Recently I came up with the idea of using them to store my make up and got my bro to spray paint them in black and silver (he has more coming soon haha) to match my room and here they are!! The black one holds my lip stuff while the silver one houses my eye stuff such as mascaras, eyeliners and the likes. Here's a close up before going on to the rest of the products:

~ Marks and Spencer Cocoa Butter & Vanilla Hand and Body Lotion

~ e.l.f. Daily Brush Cleaner

~ e.l.f. Nail Polish in Mint Cream

~ Impulse Temptation Deodorant Spray; I really like the 'blend of musky vanilla scents with amber notes' of this deodorant and besides smelling divine and tempting hehe it doesn't leave any stains on clothes and lasts me the whole day!

~ Fraulein 38 Powder Brush (part of a 20 piece set)

~ Attirance Chocolate Shower Gel

~ e.l.f. Professional Shine Erasers

~ Kate Moss Velvet Hour

~ Guerlain Insolence

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P.S. Clicking on the products' names will take you to my reviews on that particular product :)

5 Bronzer Blunders to Avoid

Bronzers are very sought after these days, but do you know the critical steps to making this complexion-enhancing trick work for you? You should, because everything from skin type to brush type can affect your bronzed look. Read on to find out the five most common bronzer mistakes so you can avoid looking fake and start looking fab!

~ 5: You Forget that Real Tans Don’t Sparkle

Spending time in the sun can give your skin a glow—but it will never, ever make it sparkle! Avoiding bronzers with large flecks of shimmer or glitter will not only make your bronzed effect appear more natural and sophisticated, but you won’t have to worry about the shine flaking.

~ 4: You Choose the Wrong Texture for Your Skin Type

Just like with your foundation or blush, how a product works on your skin depends on the interaction between the texture of the product and your skin type. Luckily, there are plenty of bronzer options to suit every skin type. Dry skin may prefer lotion-like liquid bronzers or prefer to moisturize a few minutes before applying powders, while oily skin will appreciate gels and most bronzing powders.

~ 3: You Overlook the Rest of Your Body

We’ve all seen that woman who has that beautifully bronzed complexion—that ends at her jaw line. When we’re looking intently at ourselves in the mirror it’s easy to forget that our made-up faces are part of a bigger picture. Keep in mind that your bronzer should add warmth and a subtle glow to your face, but it should not separate your head from the rest of your body. If you don’t self-tan, consider adding a bit of liquid bronzer to your sunscreen or body moisturizer to add some color from the neck down.

~ 2: You Apply Way Too Much Product

Bronzer should be used to warm up and accentuate your natural skin tone—not to create your skin tone alone! Begin by using it sparingly, like a highlighter on the tops of cheekbones, the bridge of your nose—places that would naturally get more sun. Instead of a fluffy powder brush, try a wide fan brush (you can even get a large one at the craft store) for applying bronzer. You should apply with feather-light pressure, and remember it’s easier to add more than to remove a heavy-handed application. Another tip is to apply your bronzer before your eye makeup, otherwise it’s even easier to go too heavy.

~ 1: You Pick Out the Wrong Shade and Tone

Unfortunately, there are many bad bronzer shades out there, but selecting the right shade for your skin is absolutely critical. Avoid shades that are too orange, too red, too gold, too sparkly, or too brown. Search for shades that are light latte or caramel brown. Mild pink or really soft red to copper undertones are ok, too, because tan skin often has these undertones naturally. The very best way to see how a bronzer shade will look on your skin tone is to literally test it on your finger. If it has even the slightest orange cast, move on to the next one.

Beach-bag essentials

Today I will share my beach beauty essentials with you ladies :)

This cutesy pink train case was a gift I got some Christmases ago from one of my aunts. It is from the Body Shop and its fairly roomy... enough to carry all my things...

~ Comb

~ Sun Protection Spray SPF15

~ Deodorant

~ Hair Protection Spray

~ Moisturizer

~ Compact mirror

~ Nail file

~ Protecting lipgloss

~ Perfume sample

What do you take with you to the beach ladies?

Lara xoxo

Monthly Favourites: July 2010

July is nearing its end and that means it's time for my favourite products for this month.

And here are the stars for this month:

~ e.l.f. Studio Warm Bronzer (click here for a full review)

~ Nailene Bedazzle Nail Art stickers in Earth Angel (for a review click here)

~ Rimmel Powder Blush in 004 Pink Rose: I bought this blusher a few months ago because I wanted a healthy pinkish colour. It is my fave blusher because it blends in naturally with my skin tone.

~ e.l.f. Waterproof eyeliner pen in Coffee and Black (only one is shown)

~ e.l.f. Eyelid Primer

~ e.l.f. Earth and Water Mascara Duo in Brown (shown) and Black

~ e.l.f. Wet Gloss Lash & Brow Clear Mascara (for a full review of all e.l.f. eye products mentioned above, please click here)

~ e.l.f. Nail Polish in Lilac (click here for a review on e.l.f.'s nail polishes)

~ e.l.f. Super Glossy Lip Shine SPF15 in Goddess (click here for a full review and a sneak-peak at my lipgloss collection)

Lara xoxo

Review: e.l.f. studio Warm Bronzer

When I came to order this bronzer, I was a bit confused which one to get. I settled on the Warm Bronzer after watching a video on youtube by my friend Martina where she reviews all three bronzers in the range. I suggest you see this video too so you don't go wrong. The other bronzers are Cool Bronzer and Golden Bronzer.

First, let's see how it looks:

Like all the other studio line products, the Warm Bronzer comes in a sleek black palette with a mirror (package is the same as for Complexion Perfection). The mirror is quite big so that's bonus points for this baby :)

There are four bronze shades inside so that you can mix them according to your skin-tone to achieve a more natural glow. I use all four of them and what I do is I swirl a big powder brush all over the four shades in a clockwise movement and then apply everything to my face and decollete and finish off by using a contouring brush to blend the colours on my skin. Here is a swatch of the four shades:

Elf classifies the bronzers in this order:

~ Warm Bronzer- The warm shimmer that will bring a glow to your face. Ideal for summer or year-round.

~ Cool Bronzer- The ideal selection of matte colors to achieve a natural looking tan. Ideal for winter or year-round.

~ Golden Bronzer- An illuminating shimmer that is subtle and radiant. Ideal for summer or year-round.

I really love the Warm Bronzer as it gives my skin a healthy sun-kissed glow without being too obvious. It has a soft shimmer to it which makes it perfect for day-to-night make up.

The Warm Bronzer along with the others retail at £3.50 (for 12.3g of product which lasts for 2 years) and you can get yours here.

Review: The Land of Corfu Olive Oil Organic Body Scrub

Last year I made my dream come true when I visited the beautiful and peaceful island of Corfu (Greece). I've been wanting to visit Greece and the Greek Islands since forever mainly because of the scenery that surrounds the lands. Then, when I found out that my great great grandfather was actually born in Corfu I really wanted to go asap to visit the beautiful country. I really enjoyed my whole stay; people are friendly, breathtaking views surround you from every corner, historical sites (one of which is directly related to Malta), etc...

Here's a taste of Corfu before I start the review:

I was really amazed at the quantity of Olive trees in Corfu... everywhere you look it's olive trees, olive trees & more olive trees!! In fact, most of the country's income is from products of the olive tree besides tourism.

When we visited Corfu Town (capital city), there were quite a lot of shops selling gifts crafted from the bark of the olive tree such as photo frames, kitchen utensils, chess boards, jewellery, home ornaments, you name it! There were also a number of shops selling beauty goods made from the products of the olive tree. These shops to me were like heaven :P and I spent a lot of time going round one of the teeny tiny shops to see what to get my hands on and I got *drumroll* not one but two tubs of Organic Olive Oil Body Scrub :D I also bought a lavender scented olive oil bar of soap, some olive oil to take home, a bracelet and a pair of earrings carved from the olive tree bark. Here is a picture:

And now on to the review...

I am a big fan of body scrubs and consequently, I am always on the look out for new ones to try. At the time I purchased these two, I was running out on my previous scrub (I think it was from The Body Shop and it was Shea Butter) so I decided to stock up and bought two (they cost €7 each for 200ml). The fact that the scrub is organic and a natural product made me go for it instantly. It contains (among other ingredients) olive extracts, aloe, almond oil, vitamin E and provitamin B5. We are all aware of the moisturizing properties these key ingredients have on our skin. I also use the scrub as part of my manicure routine since olive oil is known to strengthen nails.

When you open the jar, the smell of kumquat (typical fruit) welcomes you. There is also a protective plastic cover which you can replace when ready. The scrub has a really thick, creamy, consistency with small-sized orangish granules. Thereby, due to its consistency, the scrub is perfect for dry skin. The granules are not that harsh either so sensitive and easily-reddened skin might benefit from this product.

Personally, I use the scrub every other day and it lasts quite a long time (the first one last me like 7 months and this one is still going on). The scrub has a 6 month expiry period but past that, it still carries out its function properly without compromising consistency (at least for 1 month past the expiry date). I like how it smoothes my skin without being harsh and at the same time make it smell lovely.

I found this product so good, I think my hunt for body scrubs will stop here as I intend to buy more of it online from the company's website www.thelandofcorfu.com and probably even try out some of their other products

Protective Hand Care during Summer

All of us are aware that sun exposure facilitates the skin's ageing process. The body parts which show the first signs of ageing are the face and the hands as these are always exposed.

It is therefore very important to protect our hands even during our teenage years because sparing/protecting your hands from damage will keep them unwrinkled and beautiful for longer. To help you achieve this, here are some tips:

1. Smooth the back of your hands with a sunscreen lotion. This will also guard against skin cancer development.

2. Every night, apply a dot of nail strengthener to your nails and then follow with a moisturizing hand cream.

3. Before starting gardening chores, first scrape your nails over a bar of soap or soapy nail brush. The undersides of your nails will fill up with soap, acting as a barrier against dirt, grime and infections.

4. Holidays are a perfect time to experiment with nail polish colours. Tropical colours and pearly polishes look great against lightly tanned fingers.

My Summer Essentials

Hello my beauties :)

Today I'm going to share my summer essentials with you. They cover every area of the body so rest assured you won't miss anything :P. Although, it is not included in the picture below, sunblock is the most obvious product that one looks for the most in summer so be sure to have a good one at hand, not some left overs from last year or the year before that or before that... you get the drift.

From left to right, clockwise:

Hair: - Angel Professional Water Element Nourishing Cream (take a look at the review here)

- Senscience brilliant defense protective spray with UV filter

Body: - Olive Oil Organic body scrub

- Impulse Temptation deodorant

- Veet cold waxing strips for face/bikini line (pink box) and legs (blue box)

- Scholl Rough Skin Remover

- School Cracked Heel Repair Cream

Face: - e.l.f. Professional Shine Erasers

- e.l.f. Super Glossy Lip Shines SPF 15 in Goddess, Malt Shake and Iced Latte

- Rimmel Lasting Finish Loose Powder Foundation in Ivory 001 (I only use this when I really really need it)

- e.l.f. studio Warm Bronzer

- e.l.f. Earth & Water Mascara duos in Black and Brown

- e.l.f. Waterproof eyeliner pens in Black and Coffee

Nails: - Nail polishes for French Manicure

- An array (vast hehe) of brightly coloured nail polishes

I hope you enjoyed my summer faves. Until the next post,

Stay beautiful :)

Lara xoxo

Review: Hawaiian Tropic Aftersun Moisturizer

An aftersun moisturizing lotion is an essential product in every beauty case especially in hot climates to soothe sunburnt skin and control peeling (using an aftersun lotion does not however mean you can bask in the sun)!

Personally I like an aftersun to contain Aloe Vera extracts due to the plant's skin soothing properties. Hawaiian Tropic Aftersun Moisturizer (200ml), which is the product I am going to review, not only contains Aloe Vera, but also Vitamins A and E which further replenish lost moisture from the skin. Another reason why I like this product so much is that despite having quite a thick consistency, it is rapidly absorbed in the skin and has a very nice and fresh smell.

Thick consistencies are the best bet for skin that has been exposed to the sun's rays. This is because the skin would have lost moisture and becomes more dry than usual and thus a thick consistency like Hawaiian Tropic's lotion ensures total replenishment in a short time. I store mine in the fridge and when I apply it feels like a really refreshing, welcoming & soothing treat.

I used to use Hawaiian Tropic Aftersun Aloe Cooling Gel but I found it left me with sticky skin so I turned to its counterpart and I don't regret the move at all.

The bottle is also quite sleek and is therefore ideal to carry on travels.

As a concluding remark, I give this product my thumbs up and will definitely remain faithful to it!

And you ladies, which aftersun do you prefer and why?