EilidhOnline

So I guess contouring has been an obsession for a lot of women out there this year (probably a lot to do with those Kardashian's) and it was something that took me a while to get into. I have very fair skin so was always worried it would never work for me. Contouring for me consisted of very little Benefit Hula bronzer on my cheekbones then a little bit of Mac soft & gentle to highlight... Very basic and probably not very noticeable. 

Last month I was in debenhams picking up some Too Faced Born This Way foundation and the lady at the counter was opening up boxes with new stock they had just got in so of course I asked if there was anything exciting. She then pulled out this palette and let me have swatch of the colours. It was exactly the kind of this I'd been looking for as a contouring amateur.

The palette cost £32 at debenhams so I decided to treat myself!

In the palette you get 4 different shades and to be honest I only really use the light cocoa and medium cocoa. There is a mirror in the top of the palette, also a cute little contour buki brush which is lovely and soft it also works very well.

The first this I fell in love with was the smell of the powders! Too Faced have used cocoa powder in this palette which they do with a few of there other powder products and it smells amazing. It's a very slight smell of chocolate so not sickly or overpowering and once it's on your face you don't really smell it but I'm a sucker for something a bit different. 

All the shades are soft and silky in texture easy to apply, easy to blend and buildable. 3 of the shades are matte and the pop of light shade has a sparkly finish.

I use the light cocoa shade under my eyes, in the middle of my forehead and down my nose to set my concealer then use the medium cocoa around my hairline and under my cheekbones.

I feel the medium cocoa is a perfect shade for contour as it has a cool tone to it (natural shadows on your face would tend to be cool) however I don't find the dark cocoa much darker in colour I just find it has warmer tones... This shade hasn't worked as a contour for me but I do love it as a bronzer.

As for the pop of light shade.. this shade just doesn't work for me I feel the flakes of glitter in the powder are too large to give a natural highlight. I will be sticking with my Mac Soft & Gentle as it really is a must have for me. But this shade would probably work as a lovely eye shadow colour so I'll make sure to put it to good use.

There is quite a handy guide in with the palette which I think is a great idea, although I think we've probably all seen enough about contouring online these days to be aware of how it's done.

I am really happy with my purchase, this palette may not be suited for everyone and may not be right for those who are experts at the contouring thing but for someone like me who wants it to be straightforward without taking too long this is perfect. 

I love how well the powders apply to my skin and how they feel, they last well and look natural (which was very important to me) I was also impressed with the quality of the brush that came with the palette however I have been using a Real Techniques Bold Metals 300 brush as I find it a lot easier. Also the guide that comes with it is a great touch and I found it helpful. I think I will definitely be replacing this when I run out.

Thanks for Reading

Eilidh x 

I picked this mask up at my local boots as the anti-blemish mask I usually use wasn't there. At the moment it is on offer for £7.49 the usual price is £9.99 which I personally think is a great price as you get 3 sachets in a box.

If you have read my review on the anti-blemish mask you'll be aware that I've been having a lot of trouble with my skin breaking out and I really wanted to start treating my skin to a face mask in the hopes of it improving.

What it claims to do: This peel off mask helps to detoxify, purify and deep cleanse. It's deep cleansing ingredients draw out dirt and oil.

I usually use my face masks at night ( I think it's important to make time for myself at least one night a week to relax, have a bath and pamper myself). The directions are pretty straightforward and I had no problem following them. Although please make sure you follow number 2!

So I washed my face as normal, dried my skin and then applied a thick layer as directed. Now the only way I can describe the texture of the mask is a little like shiny gloopy tar, but it's not hard to use and it's not unpleasent. It has a feint smell which I can't really descibe.. I wasn't in love with it but I didn't dislike it either. 

You leave this mask on for 20 to 30 minutes I set a timer for 20 minutes and found some of the thicker patches weren't quite dry so left it for the full 30 then it was time to peel it off....

I started with my forehead at the outer edges and I did find it a bit hard to get it started but once I'd got the outside edges peeled back I was on a roll. I do have to say it was uncomfortable peeling the mask off as it had stuck to all the little fuzz on my face that I wasn't even aware I had until this point. So not only was I getting a deep cleanse I was getting a full face wax too... I was so glad I had followed step 2 and avoided my eyebrows or I would of been missing parts of them.

So after I'd finally managed to bring myself to peel the mask off completely I just washed off what was left with warm water. 

My thoughts: Ok so even though I didn't get on great with peeling this mask off my skin did look better after using it also my skin hadn't felt that soft or smooth in a long time.. (that might be partly to do with some of my hair coming off on the sheet) My skin definitely felt cleaner and it wasn't uncomfortable once the mask was off. I feel like it done a great job of exfoliating my face which is probably something I needed to help unclog a lot of my pores. 

It says to use this mask once or twice a week but I think I will make this a once a month mask for me and will use my anti-blemish mask weekly instead.

Thanks for Reading

Eilidh x

So my first review is going to be on Masque B.A.R Anti-Blemish mud mask as it is on my face right this second (won't be inserting picture of that as I don't want to scare anyone).

What it claims to do: Soothes irritated skin and bumps while helping control excess oil. Non-drying formulation purifies and balances the complexion, leaving skin feeling calm and looking clearer.

I have been having a lot of trouble with my skin over the past couple of months especially around my cheeks and chin, even though I'm not the only person that gets spots I still get down when my skin isn't looking great. So when I was out shopping I wandered into boots to check out some face masks. I have to admit I had never heard of this brand before (maybe I've not been paying enough attention) but they stood out on the shelf and claimed to help with all the issues I was having with my skin and at £7.49 how could I resist... the usual price is £9.99 still not bad.

The box contains 3 sachets and each one has a generous amount. I can apply a thick layer on my face and neck and still have plenty left over. If you were able to find a way to store the rest you could maybe get another use out of it but it does dry quite quick once the air gets to it.

This mask is pretty foolproof really. You will see the instructions on the back along with ingredients and warnings.

I usually use my mask at night. I cleanse my face as normal with my Emma Hardie cleansing balm then apply the mask while my skin is still wet, put a timer on my phone and sit and relax then rinse off with water. It says you can leave the mask on for 15-20 minutes, since my skin has been bad I've kept it on for the full 20 minutes but as it gets better I will just leave it for the 15.

This mask dries to a kind of hard chalky finish which I guess some people might not like the tight dry feeling of but for me its fine. Now I did worry a little that it might be a bit hard to wash off because of experiences with these types of masks in the past but with some warm water and a face cloth it came off really easy.

Then to finish off I use my Clinique Mild Clarifying Lotion, Indeed Hydraluron then my Clinique Moisture Surge.

My thoughts: I have been getting on really well with this product over the last few weeks and have really seen a difference in my skin (FINALLY!) It's not completely clear yet but these things take time. I've been using it once a week and my blemishes are gradually disappearing, also the blemishes that I do have are a lot smaller and less painful. My skin feels smoother and just in general looks healthier. I feel this brand will be a new permanent addition in my beauty drawer.

 Please remember that masks like this can be a little drying so always make sure you moisturise after no matter what skin type you have (even oily skin needs to be moisurised).

This brand have masks suited for lots of different skin types so if this one isn't right for you there might be another one that's perfect. I have also used the Luminizing Charcoal peel off mask which I will be reviewing in another post.

Thanks for Reading

Eilidh x