The Stippling Brush & The Blush Brush from Real Techniques

Both these brushes are from the 'perfect finish' collection. 

The Stippling Brush is a flat compact soft brush. It is a multifunction brush that some people love for foundation, other love to use it for blusher, some for bronzer and some for highlighter. If you buy this brush it takes a little while to find out the best way for you. I use this brush with my cream blushers, such as Maybelline cream blush - Plum. Cost: £11.99 / $10

The Blush brush is a large domed shape brush. It can be used for blusher, bronzer and highlighters. Again with all the Real Techniques brushes, there is no fall out and is also really easy to clean. This brush is able to stand which is so useful. I use this brush for my powder blushers, in particular Nars - Orgasm. Cost: £9.99 / $9

• Link to first post about all brushes (+where to buy them) Real Techniques Brushes
• Link to Real Techniques Powder Brush Review

JOLIEBOX (june)

First things first, I know it's now July, but JolieBox had some delivering difficulties so I only received my box today. Its still always a nice surprise to get a beauty box, so I'm always happy on the day I get one. Its JolieBox's first birthday, so they decided to produce a limited edition box. I love the design of the box, it's so cute :)

The items in the box;

1. Elysambre lipstick

2. Institut Esthederm body lotion

3. L'Occitane cream

4. Yon-ka cream

5. Jolie nail file

1) ELYSAMBRE - LIPSTICK IN 108
- Elysambre's gentle Makeup and Nail ranges were made using innovative technologies and features all-natural vegetal active ingredients.
-Its a nude-brown that personally I love but I'm not sure if it would suit all skin tones. I know that other people have received different shades that they haven't necessarily loved. It did take me a while to figure out how to even open this lipstick, and it's definitely an evening lipstick.

2) INSTITUT ESTHEDERN - BRONZ REPAIR BODY LOTION
- This lotion battles damage caused by the sun and reduces signs of ageing, whilst also helping skin achieve a healthy glow.
- This spray can be applied before or after makeup, as well as all over the body. I find it strange that it doesn't have an SPF since its to be used in the sun but apart from its a great product. I am very conscious of the damage that the sun does to my skin, and constantly like to apply suncream to my face and body, so I'm definitely really interested in this product and see its affects. Its a clear spray, that's lightly scented and soaks quickly into the skin.

3) L'OCCITANE - ANGELICA HYDRATION CREAM
- A smooth facial cream that reinforces natural skin hydration and leaves skin looking radiant and fresh.
- I absolutely love L'Occitane, so was thrilled to see something from them in the box! Its a really light moisturiser, so if you have oily skin, this is suitable for you. Its very moisturising and doesn't have a strong scent, so not overwhelming. It contains organic angelica water and essential oil which is the source of why this cream is so hydrating. The results are meant to be plump, smooth and radiant, which I cannot yet comment on.

4) YON-KA - PAMPLEMOUSSE PROTECTIBE AND VITALIZING CREAM
- This lightweight facial cream protects skin from external factors, making complexions look hydrated and bright.
- This facial cream is full size, but I think it is a little strange for JolieBox to put two facial creams in one box. This one is customised (if you filled in your beauty profile) to your skin type. It smells amazing and is a really thick consistency. I'm not sure why I received the 'normal to oily skin' one, when I put in my beauty profile that I have extremely dry skin, oh well never mind.

5) JOLIE BOX - NAIL FILE
- You can't go wrong with a new one. Its your average double sided nail file, one side pink other white.



Also included in the box is...
-A voucher for Codage where you can receive 30% off their products online.
-A free delivery from the Jolie website.
-A free Angelica cleanser (worth £16) when you buy a full-size Angelica moisturiser.

• I love how it comes with a JOLIEMAG full of makeup tips and new products, as well as some articles from the brands in the box.
• You can subscribe for a Jolie box here (£10 + p&p)

The Powder Brush from Real Techniques

This make-up brush is part of the 'flawless bass' section.

It's the biggest brush from the whole line and covers a huge part of the face which means it's perfect to sweep powder/bronzer/mineral foundations.

The bristles are synthetic taklon which are hand cut making them so soft and really easy to clean. I haven't had any fall out, which is good compared to my MAC brushes that fall out a lot. I use this with my MAC Mineralise Skin Finish Natural just to reduce a bit of shine on my face.

The handle is made of aluminium and is able to stand which makes it easy to store on my dressing table.

• Main post on Real Techniques brushes (to find out where to buy them) Real Techniques Makeup Brushes

Advanced Night Repair - Estée Lauder

I have wanted to buy this serum for quite a while but always thought of it as a serum for older skin to reduce ageing. It wasn't until I saw on other blogs and on Youtube that girls my age use it for other reasons and it could possibly reduce the speed at which your skin ages. On the Estée Lauder website, it says the benefits are that it reduces the look of past damage and helps protect the skin's future.

This Complex as the name suggests is applied at night before moisturiser. I apply only one 'pipette full' amount of the product all over my face and neck and it soaks into the skin almost instantly. I do think I could do with another half 'pipette full' but I'm too reluctant to waste any amount of it as its firstly quite expensive, and secondly I don't want to apply too much to clog my pores. It is targeted at ageing skin (which I can't comment on as of yet) but I love it to keep my spots at bay and I also think it helps reduce the amount of Eczema I get on my face. A lot of people may think the serum is too rich to use on younger skin so would opt for a light one but personally I think its perfect for young dry skin (as well as ageing) Its really hydrating which is why I think it reduces my Eczema and I cannot go a day without using it

I love the bottle that it comes in which hasn't changed much since it first came out, and I like that it has a pipette so its very hygienic! The smell isn't the nicest of smells but trust me when I say its worth it! Even though it is a liquid, it has a very thick consistency 

This product have won multiple awards in the past including ; 

• InStyle Award Winner 2011
• She Magazine 2011: Best Night Cream
• InStyle Best Beauty Buys Winner 2012

I cannot recommend Advanced Night Repair enough, its wonderful for all skin types and ages. Its never too soon to start using it and if used for long enough I believe it can reduce the appearance of wrinkles and brighten skin complexions. I have definitely noticed an all round improvement in the way my skin looks and feels just by adding this to my night time skin routine.

• The Advanced Night Repair comes in 30ml - £41.00 and 50ml - £54.00
• You can buy it at Estee Lauder / Boots / John Lewis / Debenhams / Selfridges

GLOSSYBOX (june)

This box is based on travel, containing items for 'summer beauty'. It also has the idea of light weight products when luggage is an issue.

 The items in the box;

1. Glossybox makeup brush

2. Yves Rocher mascara

3. BM bronzer

4. Dermalogica cleansing kit

5. Vichy foundation

1) GLOSSYBOX - SERIE EXCLUSIV PRO BEAUTY BRUSH

    - This classic series natural goat hair blush brush gives a supersoft make-up application.

    - This is the worst makeup brush I have ever used! I actually cannot believe Glossybox thought it was good enough to include in this box. The bristles are far from soft and scratch my face when I've tried to use it. There is no density to the brush, so it just deposits the blush/bronzer onto once part of the face. Very disappointing. (£15.00)

2) YVES ROCHER FRANCE - MINI MASCARA ULTRA-VOLUME SEXY PULP

    - An innovative maxi-brush with generous curves for a lash plumping result. 12-hour wear.

    - I like how its a bristled mascara wand, as opposed to a rubber one which I'm not keep on using. I always like trying out new mascaras so I was pleased to receive one. (£16.90 - 9ml)

3) BM BEAUTY - SUMMER WARMTH BRONZER

   - Multi-purpose pure-mineral bronzer. Add a touch of summer warmth to your face.

   - Wow, I love the shade of this bronzer! Definitely perfect for summer evening makeup looks and I cannot wait to start using it! As it is a loose powder bronzer, its very pigmented so a little goes a long way. I'm not too sure if this shade would suit people with paler skin, but for me, its perfect and I have already used it a couple of times. (£8.00 - 4g)

4) DERMALOGICA - CLEAN START

   - Cleanse, tone and moisturise with the Day/Night 3-step mini kit.

   - This is going to be really good to take on holiday, when I don't have much room or baggage allowance for all my normal products I like to use on my face. Dermalogica are such a well known and trusted brand that I feel everyone knows that whatever Dermalogica sells, is going to be worth it. (£12.00 - kit)

5) VICHY - DERMABLEND ULTRA-CORRECTIVE FOUNDATION CREAM STICK

   - Vichy's expert camouflage foundation stick for minor to severe skin flaws.

    - Hmm.. They seem to have 6 different shades, from Porcelain to Bronze. Anyone with darker skin tones than 'bronze' won't find this sample useful at all, so its not catered for everyone. On the beauty profile on Glossybox, why don't they ask what shade skin you have, and then send you a full size one in the correct shade, instead of potentially wasting 5 of the shades. There is also only enough product to use once, which in my opinion isn't enough to decide if I like it or not. (£19.00 - 12g)

I don't like talking so negatively about beauty products but overall I was quite disappointed with this box. Although there are a few products I like, most are just not cutting it. I know I'm not the only one who thinks so either. Glossybox recently seems to be a bit of a gamble when it comes to their samples.

• You can subscribe for a Glossybox at http://www.glossybox.co.uk/ (£10.00 a month + p&p)

Soothing Hydrating Serum from Eau Thermale Avène

When I went to France recently, I was in dire need for a lip balm and when I went to a pharmacy the lady recommended one from Avène. I loved it and still use it now. 

I then saw the brand was being sold in Boots and I took the opportunity to try out their serum.

..Anyways, long story short I bought the serum and have been trying it for a couple of weeks now.

Background on Avène

- The thermal water comes from springs in the Cévennes mountains in southern France.

- The spring water is valued in treating many dermatological disorders.

- The properties of the spring water have been proven to lower threshold of skin reactivity, improve cellular exchange and optimise immunological defences.

My Thoughts

The serum is made for sensitive skin that's prone to redness. I have been using it every morning, after I've cleansed and before I've moisturised. FYI my skin is very dry and I suffer from Eczema.

I am SO disappointed with this serum :-(. It is meant to hydrate the skin, but for me it completely dried it out and my skin felt very tight after I applied it. Its the first serum I have purchased (since receiving a Caudalie serum in a Glossybox which I loved). 

Although I find it not hydrating enough for my skin, I think it is really good for sensitive skin. When I apply it, it never stings or irritates my skin, which is rare when it comes to skincare for me. So I'm sure this serum would work for other people with slightly different skin types such as normal and combination.

Appearance

It is in a nice glass bottle, with a hygienic pump that dispenses the right amount to use on the whole face. I don't really like the scent, to me the smell reminds me of baby wipes and nappies which isn't a very luxurious smell to be applying onto your face (in my opinion as my mum seems to quite like the smell).

<= Photo of the pump




     Photo of the actual serum (2xpumps) =>

• HOWEVER, this has not stopped me from wanting to try out and test more Avène products! I'm very keen on trying out the Gentle milk cleanser and Gentle toner.
• Remember this is my opinion so don't necessarily take my word for it. Read other review before making up your mind!
• Link to their UK website http://www.avene.co.uk/
• The serum cost £17.00
• You can buy Avène products in most French pharmacies, Boots (UK)

Real Techniques Make-up Brushes

Sorry I haven't blogged in a while!!

The line of makeup brushes were designed by makeup artist Samantha Chapman.

They are colour coordinated according to what job their made for.

- Blue is for 'enhanced eyes'

- Gold is for 'flawless base'

- Pink is for 'perfect finish'

I don't have the full collection but at the moment I have 'The Core Collection', 'Shading Brush', 'Powder Brush', 'Stippling Brush' and 'Blush Brush'.

If I wrote about all the brushes I have in one post, it would be extremely long, so I thought I would do them in sections.

• You can buy these brushes from Boots if you're in the UK, or Real Techniques Website
• You can check out how to use these brushes on the Real techniques Website as well if your not sure what you could use them for.
• Samantha Chapman is also on youtube Pixiwoo