Bobbi Brown Long Wear Even Finish Foundation Review!

Before I get into this review, I just wanted to say sorry for my absence. It really has been a while since I last posted and that is for quite a few reasons! I'll try not to bore you with the details but the main reason is down to the fact that I recently got a new job and was travelling to Cardiff to work as well a juggling my old job. So I'm now happily settled into my new position and hopefully on my lovely days off I can get more organised on my blog! So without further a-do... 

I like to think I do my best to write honest reviews, the kind of reviews I would want to read because like many of you I research into products before I decide whether I’m going to part with my money. But there is the occasional time when I have an Aladdin moment and turn into Abu in the cave of wonders. And by that I mean starring starry eyed at a product I know has a bad reputation, ignoring this and buying it anyway. 

For me, that product has been the Bobbi Brown Long Wear Foundation. A lot of the reviews out there are incredibly mixed, but almost every person who has taken the time to review this foundation has advised oily skin types to steer clear as it causes breakouts and excess oil throughout the day. But as you have probably guessed by now, I went ahead and bought it anyway!

Bobbi Brown Long-wear Foundation  £30

 Bobbi Brown offer an amazing 18 skin shades, the lightest being Porcelain which I decided to go for. The packaging, as always with Bobbi Brown, is immaculate! The box is an unmistakable shiny black with clear white writing and the bottle is a lovely thick glass which displays the product inside beautifully. 

The product itself is a slightly more creamy consistency than most of its competitors but dispenses cleanly from the pump without any excess spillages. It blended really beautifully into my skin and the shade was an exact match for my skin tone which in itself is something I want to sing from the rooftops. 

Another great thing I found? It smells divine! I know a few people can be put off by scented products because after all, everyone has different ideas of what smells nice but I really did like this smell. It is clean and maybe ever so slightly floral but it does fade so don’t let that worry you! 

So, in terms of how wearable Bobbi Brown Long Wear Foundation is for different skin types, I would say if you have oily skin your going to struggle and it really breaks my heart to say it! It didn’t last very long on my face at all and I found I was constantly trying to blot patches with powder throughout the day. On the plus side, if you are someone who likes a light coverage and a bit more moisture to your foundation, this is the one for you! 

Erin xx

Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micelle Solution (formerly Crealine) Review

There is so so so much hype around this product online... And I’ll happily get behind every positive word that is written about it! Finding a good make-up remover is really important, it’s one thing to know that your skin is clean but it’s another not to have to rugby tackle your mascara off your lashes! The main thing that drew me to trying this was the disbelief that anything could live up to that kind of hype.

Bioderma - Available from Escentual - Prices start from £4.50

 I’ve tried more make-up removers than I care to mention and I have found that where one will be fairly effective at removing my make-up, it’ll near enough burn my eyeballs out doing it! Bioderma is completely different, it is so gentle and looks just like water. You only need to rub a few times to remove even waterproof mascara and there is no burning or stinging! It is clearly made from the tears of a unicorn.

Bioderma’s make-up removing heroics are really well documented online, but I wanted to flag up another quality that I have noticed. As I have mentioned in previous posts I suffer from blemishes and sometimes scarring but since using Bioderma my skin has completely cleared! Spots, blemishes and scarring are no where to be seen. This may be down to my skin being cleansed more thoroughly than usual or it could be an ingredient in Bioderma that is causing blemishes to calm down. Either way I cannot thank this product enough and I'm already looking at what to buy next from the brand!

Has anyone else noticed a similar reaction? What should I try next from the brand?!

Erin. xx 

Estee Lauder Idealist Even Skin Tone Review

Ever since serums really took off and became a vital part of many-a-beauty-obsessives daily routine, I’ve focused a lot of my energy on trying to find one that will help to even out my skin tone. I wouldn’t say my skin is particularly uneven, no, I’m a consistent pasty white all over… andproudofit, but I do suffer from blemishes that always leave scarring and marks. To anyone reading who has the same problem, I’m right there with you and know how much it can damage your confidence.

Estee Lauder Idealist, Even Skin Tone Illuminator - £48

 I’ve been testing out Estee Lauder Idealist Even Skin Tone Illuminator Serum for a few months in order to give it a fair trial and to see if it made any different to my skin. The main attraction with this serum is the idea that it is fast acting and will significantly reduce the look of blemished, marked and blotchy skin. The fact that it is also an oil-free skin illuminator definitely worked in its favour!

As with all Estee Lauder products the packaging is simple, classic and elegant. The bottle itself has a shiney and slightly mirrored effect in the iconic mint colour Estee Lauder typically use for their skin care collections. The product pumps out and dispenses the perfect amount for your whole face which saves a lot of trial and error resulting in product wastage. 

The serum is a really lovely light texture but I was surprised at how watery it was compared to other serums I have used. Despite that it is such a wonderful product to apply, the smell is amazing and it sinks straight into your skin so there was no waiting round. The colour is a beautiful kind of golden pearlescent that when turned towards the light shimmers and shakes. I made that last bit up. But it is beautiful! The colour doesn’t translate onto the face but the slight shimmer does… for a while.

For me, that is where most of the positives end. As I mentioned earlier, I have been using the product for a few months and sadly I have seen no change to my skin. The blemish marks and scarring are no worse or better from using this serum and sadly I can’t say there are any hidden benefits either. One thing that did strike me as odd was how soft and smooth my skin felt after applying it when I had no blemishes, but if I was suffering from breakouts it seemed to make them a lot worse and they became harder to conceal. 

All in all I am a little disappointed by this one!I generally love Estee Lauder products and think anything they do, they do with bells on but this did not work for me at all. I would like to think it was maybe better suited to someone with a more consistent skin type however the packageing says it is for all skin types.

Has anyone else used this serum or a similar one? Have you found a product that really works or really doesn't?

Shower Time Favourites!

Anyone who visits my bathroom would think I’m trying to subliminally brainwash them into buying Soap and Glory products. It would be a problem if I didn’t love them so damn much. And with that said, I have only yet found one product I don’t like which when you consider how hit and miss some brands can be, is pretty impressive! 

So without further a-do here are my Soap and Glory shower time favourites! 

Sugar Crush Body wash 500ml - £6.50, Sugar Crush Body Buttercream 300ml - £10.50, Clean On Me 500ml - £6.00, The Righteous Butter 300ml - £10.50

 Sugar Crush Body Wash

This is the brightest of all the Soap and Glory bottles and one of my all-time favourite things to use in the shower! It smells completely incredible and it is so different to anything else they make. The sweet, sugary lime fragrance is so refreshing and such a joy to use in the morning when I need a pick me up. The consistency is pretty typical of S&G, not too thick so it is easy to pump out and lather, but really moisturising so your skin is left soft and conditioned. 

Sugar Crush Body Buttercream

This Buttercream is unsurprisingly my favourite thing to use after my shower! It smells even more indulgent than the Sugar Crush Body Wash, with a creamy, buttery, sweetness that makes it quite difficult to put down and spot using. I really do have to restrain myself. It is slightly thicker than any of the other S&G moisturisers or body butters which is why I don’t tend to use it all that much. It makes getting dressed a nightmare and can take hours to absorb into the skin, but by God… it’s worth it. 

Clean On Me Creamy Clarifying Shower Gel

I have used this shower gel for years and think I will continue to do so for years to come! It is a bit of a super hero in the shower because it contains a built in body lotion which makes me feel a little less guilty about skipping the moisturising 'process'! There is only one word that will describe the scent of Clean On Me, and that is iconic. It is Soap and Glory’s signature scent… that scent you smell and instantly go “someone’s used Soap and Glory”. Just beautiful. 

The Righteous Butter Body Butter

This lovely body butter is also a bit of an icon and a lovely accompaniment to Clean On Me! It has a smooth and creamy texture with shea butter and aloe vera which makes it so soothing and moisturising for your skin. The smell, again, is just lovely. There is no sharpness to it but it is so distinctive and indulgent that it is perfect for use in the morning and in the evening. It absorbs into skin a little easier than the Sugar Crush Buttercream so it is maybe a better option for daily and convenient use.

What are your shower time favourites?!

Erin, xx