Emma Hardie Amazing Face Cleansing Balm

This is another raved about product among the beauty community.  I got a Space NK voucher for my birthday and decided to pick this up to see what the fuss was all about.  I was interested to see how this would compare with my beloved Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish.  The cleanser isn't cheap, its £34 but, it has lasted me 5 months so I think that pretty good value for such a good quality product.

the cleansing balm contains Moringa seed extract which is known for being a natural healing properties.  Other key ingredients include Wild Sea-fennel and Vitamin E to purify the skin and help reduce the appearance of pores.  The cleanser smells very fresh and clean, its thick to touch and is really easy to work into the skin, it can even be used around the eye area.

I have used the cleansing balm nearly everyday since I first purchased it in April.  I can notice a difference in my skin when I use this, my face looks fresher, my pores appear reduced and the redress I get around the sides of my nose isn't as bad.  I don't have sensitive skin, but my mum does, and the few times she tried this while visiting she didn't have any skin irritations.

Let me know if you have tried this balm.  I'm really getting into skincare these days and would love to know what you are currently using.

Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask

There's a LOT of hype around this little green bottle of goodness and I decided I needed to test it out for myself to e what all the fuss was about.

I'm quite low key when it comes to skincare and tend to leave face masks as treats for using on holidays.  I have relatively good skin, rarely breaking out.  I do, however, get dry skin especially in colder months so I decided this would be the perfect mask to test out as the weather starts to get cooler.

Over the past few months this has become a staple product. I start by removing my make up, pat my skin dry and take a pea-sized amount of product and apply it all over my face. It's an overnight mask sinking into the skin during the night acting as an intensive moisturiser.  As it's a product that works on the skin throughout the night, it can feel a little tacky when first applied so what I tend to do is apply it at least an hour before I go to bed to let it start sinking into the skin.  In the morning my skin feels super soft and revitalised.

A bonus is definitely the smell! Its absolutely gorgeous, even my husband has commented that my face smells like a smoothie.  I think it smells of passion fruit and peaches, which I adore.

Drink Up retails for £20 at House of Frazer. You get 100ml and only need a small amount of product so it will last a long time.

Have you tried any Origins products?

A Pop of Colour

I'm going to start off by saying that I know how late I am to the lip butter party.  Korres lip butters have been around for a number of years, and I've always passed up on purchasing one regardless of the rave reviews I saw from other beauty bloggers. I like to see a product in person before I purchase it and these aren't readily available in Northern Ireland. I saw them on ASOS a few months back and before I knew it, I had made an order.

 I have 3 little pots of pleasure, Jasmine, Wild Rose and Quince.  They are the softest buttery balms I have ever tried.  They smell incredible and give a punch of colour to the lips. All the shades I got are quite different. Jasmine is a nude and is perfect for during the day when I don't want to be fussy with my make up. Quince is a bright raspberry colour and Wild rose is a darker berry colour. They smell as good as they look, each shade having its own unique scent. My favourite is Jasmine, it smells like cookies (promise I haven't liked my lips as soon as I applied it).

Korres is a 'natural' brand. They use shea butter for its natural healing properties that protects the skin in harsh climates. The balms are moisturising without being greasy, and are perfect for daily use.

You can purchase Korres lip butters from ASOS for £8 each.

Worth the splurge?

Face powders are back. Last year they were briefly replaced with setting sprays but they have since had a revamp and have returned without the cakey texture.  I want a setting powder that doesn't sit in creases or add a large amount of colour to the skin. I hate powders that look powdery and have't had a great relationship with them in the past (mac mineralize I'm thinking of you).

This all changed when I tested the much talked about Chanel Les Beiges face powder. They are advertised as leaving a luminous healthy glow to the skin, without the heavy powder look.  They come in 5 shades and will set you back a hefty £38.  I chose B20 my normal Chanel shade. You can apply this as you would any setting powder over the main t-zone to keep shine away, or all over the face to leave a healthy glow that warms up the face. 

If your still not sure whether forking out the big bucks is necessary let me close the deal for you by showing you the swoon-worthy packaging.

The hunt for the perfect brows

Eyebrows are, in my opinion, the focus point of someone's face. Along with teeth they are the main thing that  I focus on when talking to someone. Tidy brows tie a make up look together, and even if your having a no-make up day doing your brows will always make you look presentable and polished.

I love thick eyebrows, getting my own groomed on a monthly basis. I tend to get HD Brows, and love how they look, but with constant cleansing they don't tend to keep they're colour after a couple of weeks. So in between appointments I like to touch up my brows with Benefit Browzing.

It comes in 3 different shades light, medium and dark. I chose medium. It comes in a sleek black compact with a good size mirror and mini angled brush and tweezers. 

On the left size is the wax and on the right  a setting powder.  The wax is very pigmented so a little goes a long way. I fill them in and then use a tiny amount of the setting powder to lock the wax in place and fill in any small areas I may have missed. 

The only con I have with Browzing is that the setting powder has a red undertone to it, so you really need to be careful to apply a small amount of product or it can tend to look a little unnatural.

You can purchase Browzing off the Benefit website here

Lock it in place

Primers are a product I often thought were pointless and a waste of money. I would rather have spent money on a new lipstick or blush than on a product that was colourless and looked, in my opinon, like a gimmick. Over the past year I have tried and tested out a few different primers, but have never tried the famous Smashbox versions.

Smashbox have always been known for their primers. They have a selection of 10 to choose from so there is definitely something for everyone. I was given a sample of their photo finish primer recently and wanted to share my thoughts.

The photo finish primer is their best selling version. A pea-size amount is enough to cover my main oily areas, focusing mainly on my nose and chin. It has that silicone feel that may bother some people as I know it can cause irritations to the skin but that didn't happen me at all. I actually love the silicone texture, it feels like I'm applying cashmere to my face. It acts as a barrier between my skin and foundation, making the application a lot easier and long lasting.

I can see why Smashbox are renowned for their primers, as I can definitely see an improvement to my makeup when I use this.  

Smashbox is now available in Boots and online at Smashbox.

Lashings of Lashes

What girl doesnt want super long volumious lashes right?  If your like me, your probably wondering how one mascara can differ so much from another. Is it the brush that makes the lashes look fuller? Is it the formula? Or is it the way you jiggle that little brush along your lashes hoping not to poke yourself in the eye. 

Well ladies, Benefit have solved all our problems and it comes in the shape of this little silver bullet.

Meet the UK's #1 selling mascara.  It's been getting rave reviews left, right and centre. They're Real promises to do everything we girls have ever wanted. It lengthens, curls, and gives plenty of volume to your lashes. Its a long-wearing formula, that doesn't clump or go dry like many other luxury brands.

You will see in the picture below how the end of the wand fans out.  This is absolutely PERFECT for getting into the inner corners of the eye.  I love that its a true black colour, and really gives lashes that wow factor.  It's only downside is that its pricey.  Retailing for an eye watering £18.50 this is definitely a splurge product, but its one that I personally will be repurchasing again and again.

Its definitely my HOLY GRAIL mascara.

You can purchase They're Real! mascara from the Benefit website HERE