bareMinerals Original SPF 15 Foundation £25

In recent months I have been having some issues with my skin being really sensitive (more on this later) so I thought it best to switch fully to mineral make up. After doing some internet research I decided to give bareMinerals a try and test out the award winning foundation.

Unlike most foundations, bareMinerals contains no harmful chemicals, which if you have sensitive skin or skin prone to breakouts, means it is so much kinder to your skin. No more break outs, dry patches or rashes. In the longer run your skin will be much healthier and radiant.

The light powder has a creamy texture when you apply it, I hate feeling like I am wearing a lot of foundation and this feels like you aren't wearing any. It is so light and soft on your face you forget that you have it on except when you look in the mirror and see how nice your skin looks. A truly adaptable product, you can buff on a light layer to refine pores and provide a sheer coverage or build layers for a fuller coverage that easily handles areas of redness or dark circles under the eyes. For perfect application use the flawless application face brush (£24) to perfectly buff and blend. It does work best with a primer and as I have yet to get a chemical free primer I have been using coconut oil, which works just as well. You do have to leave it on longer to soak into your skin but if you are low on time you can leave it for 5 mins then dab with toilet paper.

Another thing to love about this foundation is the packaging. The pot has a plastic cover with a section that slides over allowing you dispense the powder into the lid, when you have enough slide the cover back over. Normally with loose powder, after a while you end up getting too powder into the lid so every time you open it it falls onto the carpet. With pressed powder it only takes you putting your handbag down too quickly to have a powdery disaster in your handbag.

At £25 it needs to be a product that last for a good length of time in all respects. Firstly how long the product last on your skin so that you don't have to reapply throughout the day. Secondly how long the product lasts as a whole so that you get good value for money. With a primer it lasts all day, I only had to reapply when I was going out in the evening. You do get a fair enough in the jar so I think it will last for a healthy amount of time, though it is such a good product it once you have used it the price won't matter.

Designer Fragrances from Impulse

Back in my early teens when I went shopping I always went to Boots to try out as many different Impulse scents as possible before picking one. A creature of habit, I nearly always settled on the same one, but the brand was a staple amongst my friends. 

Over the years I have graduated to perfumes but when I found out about the recent reformulated range I felt a fondness in my heart and wanted to try out the latest range of designer fragrances. Impulse recruited the help of Dior and Calvin Klein (among others) to create a new range containing real perfume oils.

Out of the ones I tried Sweet Smile has been my favorite and perfect for the summer, if it ever arrives. With scents of pear, mandarin and jasmine it is really light and fresh, perfect for the days at the beach or lunches out. The limited edition Secret Smile is also another winner, with raspberry and gardenia it strikes a balance of floral sweetness perfect for country walks or picnics.

For the evenings Romantic Spark hits notes of white wood and violet, which is not how I would expect it to smell. I've tried violet soap before and although I hate to admit it it's a smell I associate with grannies, I mean I love grannies but I don't want to smell like one just yet. However Romantic Spark smells enticing and warming, like curling up in front of a fire with a glass of red wine.  

Finally very pink, with roses and grapefruit, is the one that is staying in my sports back as it's up lifting and fresh giving me an energy boost and counterbalances the smelly men in the gym.

Now I have been using the body sprays for a few weeks I'm not really sure how I manged without them. The smell stands up to any perfume, as does the wearability. It's the price though that makes it such a such a great daily product, currently on offer for 99p you can have one in your bag, one at work, one in the car. I've broken two bottles of perfume and ruined two bags by carrying the former in the latter, so not having to carry one around has been lovely.

Up until a few weeks ago I would have said my days of wearing Impulse were over, now I think they have only just begun.  

Bencos Nail Polish in Wild Orchid £6.95

New to the UK, Benecos is a fun, natural and affordable makeup and skincare range. With its bright and Eco-friendly packaging and simple products it looks set to be a winner with beauty buffs. All products are certified natural by the international organic and natural cosmetics standard BDIH (with the exception of the nail polishes), which means ingredients are from a plant or mineral source, are free from petroleum and GM or synthetic ingredients.

The range of nail polishes has some gorgeous dark colours and a selection of reds. I tried wild orchid, a sophisticated pink with a hint of red, that looks great on long or short nails. On application it has quite a strong nail polish smell but that quickly fades. It took two coats for an even and seductive finish that only began to chip after five days, I think a topcoat would extend this time though. 

B. Glowing Shimmer Block - Just Peachy £8.99

 

B. at Superdry has a great range of makeup and skincare that provides designer results at realistic prices. Nail varnish for £5, eyeliner for £4.50 and cleanser for £7, looking amazing is cheaper than ever. The packaging is really sturdy so no cracking or breaking of plastic and the products don't disappoint on beauty factor either. Dermatologically tested and it's suitable for vegans and vegetarians. 

The glowing shimmer block in just peachy that I tried is gorgeous collection of coral colours that can be used individually as eye-shadows or highlighters, or all together as a blusher. As eye-shadows the coral colours are bang on trend and perfect for the summer months. The lighter shades are perfect to highlight brow bones with a hint of golden shimmer to catch the light. I even mixed some of the powder with clear lip gloss to create a cute sheen for my lips. 

The pinks are great for waking up tired skin, gently sweep the soft powder over the apples of your cheeks for a cute English rose look. For days when you are really tired (or hungover) take an eyeshadow brush and carefully blend at the corners of your eyes for a wide awake look. I'm so impressed with the shimmer block I am going to get it in the bronze version.  

Introducing New Luxury Figure Sculpting Denim Line

BC JEANS®

From

 BEAUTY IN CURVES®

 

Beauty in Curves, founded by Alice Dogruyol, creates sophisticated, well cut clothes that flatter women’s curves. Beauty in Curves uses renowned fashion designers, finest quality fabrics and innovative tailoring techniques to secretly sculpt a streamlined silhouette. Every design detail is carefully considered to make women look and feel their best.

 

The Beauty in Curves denim line BC JEANS uses a SECRET-SCULPT SYSTEM™ to create the perfect jeans:

 

Tummy Flattening - Hidden panels to help flatten, firm and smooth your tummy.

Bottom Lifting - Perfectly placed discrete pockets to create a bottom lift effect.

Hip Smoothing - Triple stitch seams to help create a smooth line from hip to thigh.

Thigh Slimming - Dark colours and snug fit to contour and flatter thighs.

Waist Defining - High rise waist line to eliminate or minimise muffin top bulges.

Gape Preventing - Contoured waist band to help prevent gaping at the back.  

 

BC Jeans use the finest quality soft-stretch denim with just the right amount of stretch to retain their shape longer.

 

Alice Dogruyol, Beauty in Curves founder says:

 

“I developed BC Jeans so that every time a woman puts on a pair she instantly feels good, looks great and experiences an extra surge of confidence to go out and live life to the fullest”.

 

 

Available online at www.beautyincurves.com

BC Jeans Boot Cut, Ankle Slim, Skinny, £145 in UK Sizes 10 – 22

 

Sheida Kohl Powder £9.95

My first makeup purchase was a black kohl eyeliner and ever since then it has been one of my makeup staples. Until now I had never tried kohl in a powder form so when I heard about Sheida Kohl I just had to try it. I have quite sensitive eyes, things like glitter tend to irritate them, which causes my eyes to water. I also wear contacts and as kohl is a completely natural product its safe to use. The benefits to using kohl powder instead of a regular eyeliner or liquid liner is that it is so versatile and can be used just like the other products. You can build up the powder for a hint of colour, using it as an eye-shadow. Build the colour up and blend it just as you would a normal eye-shadow and even mix the colours together to create your perfect shade.

To get the Egyptian inspired cats flick use the applicator and steadily drag it over your eyelids, blending the powder into your eyelashes. For a thicker, more dramatic line damped a liner brush to create a liquid liner effect. The possibilities really are endless with these powders, which are long lasting but gentle enough so that they are easy to take off. 

He-Shi Luxury Gift Set £25.50 (worth £49.50)

Like everybody else I am yearning for some sunshine and the chance to wear my summer dresses. Before that happens though some serious attention needs to be paid to my skin, which is presently so pale its nearly translucent. Step forward He-Shi with a luxury gift set containing all I need to get gorgeous glowing skin.

The key to getting an even, long lasting tan is exfoliating and so the gift set includes a full size He-Shi exfoliating body wash with micro-dermabrasion crystals. Its a really thick scrub with a really generous distribution of crystals so it gets every last bit of dead skin and grime off your skin. An added bonus to get you in the summer mood is that it smells like fresh strawberries.

So with my skin clean and smooth its time to start step two and apply the express liquid tan. After all my years trying different fake tans I am now at the point where I favour liquid tans as I find they dry in just the right time. The He-Shi express liquid tan is testimony to that, you can buff the product on leaving an even distribution but it dries quickly enough so that you can get dressed 2 minutes afterwards. The tan lasts for just over a week and you can build up the colour with more applications (but I would suggest limiting it to two) for a sunny glow.

He-Shi tans now contain Youth Revive Opti Tan formulas that contains a moisture lock technology. Vitamin A & E, Aloe Vera and Pro-Vitamin B5 moisturise the skin, which helps the skin to look youthful and extends the wearing time of the tan and stops it flaking off in unattractive patches.

For best results use a tan mitt, He-Shi have one for £4.50, which is ultra smooth and helps to get the tan lovely and even.

Vaseline Intensive Rescue Range

Vaseline has been the nations go-to-favorite for lip care for years but there is more to the brand than the little metal tins we know and love. Vaseline also have a great range of body care products and I was lucky enough to try some of the intensive rescue range. Now that the weather is retreating from subzero temperatures it will soon be time to expose winter neglected skin so an intense pampering session is required.

First up I tried the moisture locking cream (£4.49) which accelerates dry skin's ability to repair itself. The area I was most concerned about was my shins as these become particularly dry in the winter months. I find that any product with perfume in it can dry out my skin and irritate it after shaving so always opt for an unfragranced product like this one. It has the thickness of a body butter but soaks into skin much faster than a body butter would meaning all the product stays on your skin and doesn't transfer onto towels or clothing. It only took one or two applications on my shins for the skin to look and feel smoother and got rid of all the dry skin patches. I also found it was great for softening the skin on my ankles and feet which is great as I find when applying fake tan these areas really soak up the tan and can end up orange. Now I just need to remember to apply the moisture locking cream before tanning for a longer tan and no orange patches.

I also tried the hand cream (£3.49) as the cold weather has really done a number on my hands. Not only is the skin on my hands suffering but also my cuticles are in a pretty dire state. The soothing hand cream instantly softened my cuticles and the round patches around my knuckles. It's non greasy but leaves an invisible protective coating on your hands which means you can carry on with tasks as normal as you don't have to wait for the cream to soak into your skin. I like it use it last thing at night so that I wake up in the morning with lovely soft hands. All the products in the range are really great prices, you get a luxury feel from the products without a heavy price tag. Every bathroom needs this range in the cupboard to banish any dry winter skin and reveal the soft skin underneath.

Nads Brazilian Bikini Wax £9.39

Body hair removal is one of those annoying yet necessary tasks that I have to find time for every month unless I want to turn into a small monkey. The most annoying and painful of them all is bikini waxing and normally I go to a salon to have it done but decided to try Nad's kit after I was assured that it was simple and quick to use.

There are four shapes to choose from, a heart, a strip, a triangle and for the more daring a lightening bolt. The shapes are four stickers that you can cut to size and use for a template. The wax is scented with mango and peach which is lovely, I've used hair removal cream that smelt like a punishment whereas this makes you feel like you are treating yourself. You need to heat the wax until it has the consistency of honey and test it on the inside of your wrist to make sure it's not too hot, the last thing you want to do is burn yourself.

Rather than use strips to take the wax off you leave a small curl at one end to pull the strip off. It took me a few goes until I got the hang of it and at first I underestimated the amount of wax I needed to put on. If you don't use a thick layer it comes off in smaller pieces rather than one strip. I started off applying very small sections and slowly built up the surface area the braver I got. It took me longer than it would at the salon but I think I would get the time down each use. I am not going to say it was painless as that would be a lie but it isn't as bad as you think it is going to be. It's a sharp pain but over in a fraction of a second and totally worth it for a salon finish at an at home price. 

Blend Collective Unwind Handcream £12.50

 

Blend Collective is a team of leading aromatherapy and perfume experts that have combined their passion and skills to produce a range of body care products that are 99% - 100% natural. My love for hand cream and natural products is well documented on this blog so I won't go on about the benefits of natural products or remind you that the hands age in a way that can never be corrected. Of course it's not just your skin that benefits from using hand cream, your nails will thank you for it as well. I get asked quite a bit how I keep my nails in such good condition and my answer is always apply hand cream at least once a day. 

First up they have the natural credentials, no parabens, sulphates or petroleum derived chemicals and they are also against animal testing. The packaging also seems to have been thought out so that the least amount of packaging has been used. Apart from the actual product I also really love the design on the bottle. Rather than a lid or flip cap, you gently twist the silver top round and squeeze a small amount into your hand and then twist the silver top back into place. Flip lids I tend to be against as I am always breaking my nails on them and the amount of times I have lost a lid or its slipped out of my hands and rolled under the sofa / car seat / table and I've ended up spilling lotion all over the place. So before I have even tried any of the product I am already sold.

Being a team of aromatherapy and perfume experts you would expect a pleasant scent but I was a little worried by the thought of sandalwood, frankincense, cedarwood and neroli as they are all powerful smellsand quite masculine but the blend of them has been done exquisitely. It is also very nice to have a relaxing product that doesn't smell of lavender, which I am a little bored of now. The lotion melts into your skin quickly and because there is no silicone in the lotion it doesn't create that greasy layer on top of your skin so you can go about normal function as soon as you have put it on. I keep this product in my kitchen as I think it is perfect for applying after doing the washing up. Not only does it give my hands a much needed moisture boost but the smell makes me feel like I am treating myself after some hard house work. 

Superdry Mascara £9.50

I was a little worried when this Superdry Mascara arrived for me to try because I usually prefer natural brushes rather than silicone wands. However, I found the wand to be really great at coating my lashes and separating them as the same time. It's a jet black colour so it only took two coats to make a dramatic impact. I found that the only product that completely removed it was Pond's Cold Cream, everything else I tried left me with panda eyes the next morning.

The packaging is great, nice and chunky so its easy hold. Being the clumsy person I am little fiddly mascara wands tend to fall out of my hands, which is why I'm always cleaning mascara streaks off my mirror. It's easy to undo, before I have resorted to opening mascara with my teeth as I've just used moisturiser and can't get grip on a plastic lid.

Overall I think for the price its good value as it looks like it is going to last for a long time.

Valentines Beauty

For me the first step for any beauty routine is to run a hot bath and for the romantic occasion I used Affinity Bay Bath Shimmer (£18). The scent is soft and desperately romantic with wild roses and cassis, not too overpowering but just enough to tickle your senses. It  filled the bath with moisturising bubbles thanks to the vitamin E it contains and the bubbles lasted until I got out the bath an hour later. I really hate it when you have a bath full of bubbles and then as soon as you get in it the bubbles burst so the staying power of bubbles is important for me. It also adds a shimmer to the bath water so it makes it feel slightly magical. If you are really in the romantic spirit you could share the bath with your loved one but on this occasion I decided I wanted to relax on my own.

 

I’m still in a love / hate relationship with my hair, at the moment its most hate I as am missing being brunette, but to get my hair super smooth I used Simply Argan Oil shampoo and conditioner (£17). Argan Oil is rich in vitamins, particularly vitamin E, which deeply nourish your hair and leaves it soft and strong.  Argan Oil isn’t just good for your hair, I also use it as a body oil as it isn’t greasy and before bed on my hands and nails. It improves the texture of your skin making it luxurious and with regular use will help to improve stretch marks and scars. 

To get my nails in shape I used this really cute file from Beauty Secrets exclusive to Sally stores (£1). I’m giving them a break from varnish at the moment so perfectly shaped nails are a must to keep them looking nice. The large size of this file makes it perfect for creating a natural soft curve or squared off nail. To give my nails a cute sheen I use a dap of Argan Oil for a polished look. 

I don’t want to wear too much makeup so decide on a slick of Lush’s Independent Eyeliner that is one of the easiest to use and longest wearing out of all the liquid eyeliners I have tried (and that’s a lot). Eye Candy 50s Style Dramatise 016 Strip lashes (£4.79) are the perfect way to add a touch of flirtatious lashes that won’t scare a man off. 

 

 

 

Finished with GOSH BoombasticXXL mascara (8.49) that allows you to build up volume without clumping your lashes together. The wand is easy to use and control and the black really intense and eyecatching. With some wands I find they can leave mascara on my eyelids if they are too big but this one is just the right size. As with all GOSH products they are really reasonably priced as as this tube is bigger than most I think it's going to last for ages.

 

 

 

I’ve had redness around my nose for a few weeks now and the best foundation I have used to cover it is Image Skincare I Conceal. It’s mineral based and soothing rather than drying out your skin. It melts onto your skin making blending smooth and flawless. It has the right balance of concealing but not smothering your skin. It has been specially formulated to rejuvenate and calm irritation.

For the perfect scent to accompany a romantic evening Nina Ricci has released Nina L’Eau (£48). The soft pink apple bottle is beautiful and holds the most delicious smell of apple, citrus and cherry. It might sound quite sweet but it has a musky base that creates a delicate balance of feminine and sensual. 

Superdry Beauty

I'm unbelievably excited about the new Superdry beauty range out this Friday

Nina Ricci - Nina L’eau

Here at Beauty Truths we love Nina Ricci scents so are very excited by the new release Nina L'Eau.

A new chapter of the story of Nina opens with a fresh, new offering for Spring – Nina L’Eau.

Captured within a soft pink “apple” bottle with delicate frosted gradation and a luminous silver cap, this delicious new fragrance is inspired by the magical world of fairy tales but aimed at a new, modern day princess - a princess with attitude! Fruity top notes include the iconic Nina apple accord, joined by citrus notes and neroli, at the heart lie juicy cherry, gardenia and watery accords and the fragrance is rounded with a sensual, musky base.

Top notes – Apple, Grapefruit, Mandarin, Neroli

Heart notes – Watery accord, gardenia, cherry

Base Note – Musk

Perfumer: Olivier Cresp

Prices - 80ml - £48/ 50ml - £35/ 30ml - £25.50

On counter- 28^th January 2013

Frontcover Cosmetics

We all know January is one of the most miserable times of the year. It's cold, money is tight after Christmas and going anywhere is made that much more demanding because of the snow. I don't know about you but I need some serious cheering up and what better way to do it than to buy some new makeup. 

Frontcover Cosmetics have come to the rescue with their incredible sale. Frontcover has always been friendly to those on a budget but their sale  is really giving us girls a treat. One of the products I would recommend is the Shadowline (reduced from £8 to £4!!!!) this little product really makes a big impact by turning any eye shadow into a liquid liner. You can drag the wand over an eyeshadow to create a subtle line or for a more dramatic look mix the eyeshadow into a paste with the wand and create lines in any colour you want. The more pigment in the eyeshadow the stronger the effect so you might want to play around with different eyeshadows until you get the look you like. I used the depth eyeshadow (£3.20) with the shadowline to sweep a small line of colour around my eyes, which worked really well to bring out the green tones. I have yet to find an eyeliner with green hints so it's perfect for customising your look. You never need to have to get the eyeliner that's most like the one you want you can get the exact one you want by using the shadowline with an eyeshadow of your choice.

Even without the sale the products are great value so with the sale it's practically stealing. Other great finds in the sale are eyeshadows for £3.20, lipsticks for £2 and nail art at £3.25

OPI 3 Piece Kardashian Collection QVC Price: £19.75

One of my New Years resolutions was to look after my nails a bit more and to never leave the house with chipped nail varnish again. I know it's not even a week into 2013 but already so far my nails are in pristine condition. Of course this could be more to do with the lacquer I have been using then anything I have done. Just before Christmas I got sent some gorgeous colours that I have been testing out. You only need one coat and like all OPI lacquers they are long lasting and chip resistant. You can change your colour everyday if you wish but you can easily get a weeks wear out of one application if you look after your nails.


The three colours are great mix, I like to wear the pink 'all Kendalled-up' during the day as it's a soft and girly colour. The dark green (Khole had a little lamb) is a great alternative to black for rock-chic evenings. My favorite has to be the 'rainbow in the S-kylie' a clear varnish filled with multicoloured glitter pieces that sparkle when the light hits your nails. It's fabulous to wear on it's own but can also  be used as a top coat for the other colours for a magical sparkle. 

Schwarzkopf [3D]Mension Texturizing Cream £7.82

I did vow never to date a man with hair better than mine but somehow I am ending up marrying one. I am so jealous of my fiance's think and strong hair, mine in comparison is a bit limp and lifeless. Whenever I tell my partner this he goes on about how unmanageable his hair is and how difficult it is to style. Pretty much since we have been together he has been using the same hair wax so I thought it was time to mix things up a bit.

I made him try [3D]Mension Texturizing Cream and after a bit of hesitation he agreed. Thankfully he really liked the product. The texture isn't too thick or sticky so you don't have to spend ages washing it off your fingers afterwards but still gives a strong hold. He found that he really liked the matte effect, men do look a little funny with super shiny hair, and it also means that he didn't have to worry about his hair looking greasy. For someone who always uses the same product I was really surprised to how easily he adapted to using a new product and how happy he was with the outcome.

The Bluebeards Revenge Post Shave Balm £9.99

The Bluebeards Revenge provides the ultimate shaving experience for men and as someone who appreciates a freshly shaved man I needed to feel for myself. Luckily I have a very willing fiance to trial on. The first thing you notice is that inside the box there is information on male specific cancers. As men are less likely to talk to other people or their doctors about their men parts I think this is a great way to help reduce the embarrassment and provide potential lifesaving information.

The smell of the post shave balm is the ultimate man scent, fresh with a hint of the ocean. There is a lot of nuzzling into my fiances neck after he uses this. The balm has a soft texture that melts into your skin to soothe, calm and refresh after shaving. The balm contains a secret ingredient that helps to reduce hair growth so with regular use your man can be as fresh as he was when he left for work when he returns home. Keep your man looking and smelling his best all year round.

James Brown London Hair Revive Dry Shampoo £7.19

In recent years dry shampoo has become a permanent fixture in most peoples fight against flat hair. My hair is really fine so the day after washing it I find I have to give the roots a lift. James Brown London dry shampoo from his signature collection is swiftly becoming one of my favorites. First up the packaging is sleek and looks professional, and the scent is lovely and suitable for men and women. My fiance keeps borrowing my dry shampoo and got slightly annoyed when I got a really floral smelling one and waited until after he had sprayed it all over his head to tell him. It contains rice starch to absorb oil so there really is no excuse for greasy, flat roots. Unlike some dry shampoo's it doesn't leave a white powdery residue on your hair that can make it dull so you hair keeps it's shine. It's saved me vital time in the morning getting ready which means more minutes in bed on these cold mornings. Simply spray at the roots, leave for a few minutes and then brush out for revived hair that looks like it was washed that day. I keep a travel sized one in my handbag for those days when I go straight out from the office, which is a must when rain is constantly flattening my hair at this time of year.This is an essential in any girls (or boys) bag at the moment to make sure you are party ready at any given time.

Charles Worthington Secrets Collection

Overnight Ultimate Hair Healer £14.99: At first I was a little suspicious of using a product that you leave in overnight. What worried me was leaving a load of residue on my pillowcases and having to spend lads of time rinsing the product out in the morning. Luckily both my fears were unwarranted. I can honestly say that I have never used a product like it, it has an almost gel like quality that's smooth rather than sticky. It soaks into your hair instantly and doesn't feel wet at all so leaves absolutely no residue on the pillow.  It has a soft scent to it as well that isn't overpowering but gives your hair a fruity scent. In the morning my hair felt thicker and as soon as I had rinsed the product out of my hair my hair felt super smooth. After using it twice a week for two weeks I am really happy with the improvement of the condition of my hair. My hair feels softer, stronger and healthier. I think my hair has pretty much fully recovered from my bleaching fiasco thanks to this. I will certainly be using this product regulary now to keep it my hair at it's best condition. 

Diamond Shine Gloss Treatment £12.99: One thing I noticed after going from brunette to blond was that it was much harder to get my hair to really shine when it is blond. You leave it on for 10 minutes on dry hair before you shampoo and condition. It took a couple of applications before I saw a real improvement in the shine of my hair but when I did I was really happy with the results. By the end of the first week my hair looked like I had had a professional treatment, my sister even asked if I had gone to the hairdresser.


The only negative I found, and it really was a niggle rather than an issue, was that there wasn't a recommendation for how much product you should use in each case. For both I ended up using the same as I would do for shampoo and that seems to work well for me. Other than that the packaging is really great, looks like a luxury product with a high street price tag