Wednesday 28 December 2016

Vitamasques Hydo Face Mask

Howdy,


I got this mask in one of my glossy boxes, so obviously thought I would give it a try! I LOVE the texture of this, it feels like gelly and comes in two parts. One part of the mask covers your forehead, around your eyes and nose. The second part covers your chin and upper lip, it doesn't have a scent and just feels cooling when applied. I do recommend lying down whilst wearing this, at least at the beginning as it contains so much moisture. With it being a gelly texture it starts to slip off our face.

I kept this on for just over 30 mins, I could feel my face soaking up the moisture from this mask and when you peel it off you are left with just two gelly pieces of mask and some residue left on your face which they suggest you rub in. I did this mask before bed and when I woke up the next day my face did feel moisturised and plump. I don't think it felt any softer than usual from using this and I did need to apply moisturiser still the next day. 120 hours of moisture errrrr probably not! Least not for my skin!

It was a very lovely mask to use I now will look out for these gel masks as I have never tried one before and enjoyed it very much.

My rating 6/10

Recommend/ worth the money No, at £7.99 per mask. I find that too pricey, if I could get a pack of three for that price then they might be quite nice for this time of year.

Pros My skin does feel plump and bright

Cons Not readily available on the high street

Thanks for reading
Kara xx





Wednesday 21 December 2016

Diorskin Nude Air Powder

Howdy,


I have had this compact for three month now, here is what I think.

If this product doesn't suck you in with the packaging alone then I have no idea what will. In the world of make up where brands pride themselves on perfect packaging. I think Dior really pulls it out the bag every time and produces some of the finest around. Buying these high end products you do pay a pretty penny for them but you can see where some of your money has gone.


This powder really lives up to its Nude name, it applies over the skin amazingly. Just enough of a light coverage to even out the skin tone but not enough for it to look in anyway heavy. It enhances what you have, it does not cover it up.

This is great even when used as a mirror, I have never used the little brush it comes with. It is quite dense and looks pretty, in a pinch maybe I'd use it. Overall it is a lovely powder to dust over your face or works quite nicely over foundation to set it.

I prefer to use my Sigma F30 or if I am out I use my Lauren Luke small blush/powder brush which works perfect for when you are on the go. It is small and can fit into evening bag easily.

My rating 9/10

Recommend/ worth the money Yes, it is going to last you a long time.

Pros It's light and very natural looking so would suit people of all skin types.

Cons I am wearing the darkest shade in 030 medium beige, it only comes in three shades. I know each shade can be worn by many skin tones but if you are a lady/man of colour (darker than me) then I am not sure how this powder would suit you. They do make a tan sun powder so you may find a colour from collection that suits you. But as it is designed to be a more glowing tanned powder I am not sure how natural it will look.

This has never broken me out or irritated my skin and I would repurchase.
It can be bought from larger boots store or online from Diors webiste.

Thanks for reading
Kara xx












Sunday 18 December 2016

Santa Maria Del Sur

Howdy,


If you love steak then you need to have Argentine steak, you can get the best steak from the Santa Maria Del Sur. This quaint little restaurant on Queenstown Road in London is the place to go.

You walk into the smell of meats being cooked and are greeted by very welcoming staff, then are shown to your table and are given a food and drinks menu. There is so much choice, it may take you a minute to decide, anything you are unsure of just ask your waiter. They are very knowledgeable and can advise you on how each cut of meat should be cooked.



We ordered wine and picked a Malbec, I think it is one of the best wines to have with steak. Its quite a creamy wine and once it has time to breathe, goes perfectly with your steak.

You are given fresh bread and a stilton butter which is incredible, I am not a fan of stilton but this is extremely tasty and not overpowering at all in flavour.




For starter I had Carpaccio De Lomo. I am only human and was incredible hungry, so here is what was left when I remembered haha (big blogging fail)















Main meal I had Bife De Lomo without any sauces added, you don't mess up perfection. I had this cooked medium and it just melts in your mouth! So much flavour.







With my steak I shared a side of Papas Fritas with added garlic and parsley. Crispy on the outside and fluffy in the middle, the garlic just gives them an extra touch of flavour (no vampires will visit after these).

Also a side of Provoleta, this is a cheese you can have as a starter by itself, but I prefer it so be paired with my steak and chips. It comes on a hot plate so stays melted and hot for quite a while.


For dessert Dulce De Leche Cheesecake

This cheesecake is quite a thick and heavy dessert, so could be shared. The dulce de leche is marbled throughout the cheesecake and gives it a sweet taste of caramel. I asked for a side of the dulce de leche sauce as it just adds an extra sweet touch to it and this is by far my favourite caramel sauce.

If want to have a great evening (or lunch) out I can't recommend this restaurant enough, I have lost count of how many visits my husand and I have been here and all have been amazing experiences. Everytime you visit you are made to feel welcome and you will have a great evening. I have been lucky enough to try steak from all over the world including Texas and I still prefer this little red restaurant in Battersea.

Go check out their website or follow them on instagram if you wish to visit them or get a look at the see mouth watering meals they serve. santamariadelsur.com or instagram @stamariadelsur

Thanks for reading
Kara xx





Wednesday 14 December 2016

Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Nail Polish

Howdy,

With my job I am not able to wear nail polish so when I have time off  I love to paint my nails and feel all girly again. As I have never been one to pack light for a trip it's never a good idea to take 3 nail polishes away with me (base, colour and top) the glass bottles add weight to my already pushing the limit case. ooops



This miracle gel formula I tried was incredible, so if you dont mind them slightly growing out then this polish could be great for you. I applied two coats then the top coat from this set, each coat applied pefectly and had no streaks.



After wearing for 10 days

This did not chip or flake off the whole time I wore it, 12 days i wore this. I took it off after my return home. It is not the most desirable colour in the world but will be fun for the holiday period and I will be putting this on when I finish work for christmas.

It cant be bought in many shops like Boots and Superdrug where they all have many different offers and discounts available.

Go treat yourself if you fancy some long wearing polish, its a great product.

Thanks for reading
Kara xx














Sunday 11 December 2016

Christmas Menu at The Oyster Reach Ipswich

Howdy,

I recently went to the Oyster Reach Beefeater pub in Ipswich. Today's post is about my experience and what I chose off their christmas menu.

The day prior to visiting I booked a table for 3 people online with no problems at all. The online system worked perfectly and I received a confirmation email moments after.

On arrival we were greeted by friendly staff, who asked for my booking name and then took us to our table.

The table was clean and had everything laid out ready, glasses, cutlery etc. The only thing we didn't get until after the meal had finished was our christmas crackers... oh well.

You can't have a christmas dinner without a few bubbles so I had a glass of prosecco, this prosecco was very nice and not too sweet. Very reasonably priced too, this small bottle was less than £6.


I opted to have two courses for £15.99, a main and a dessert. For my main meal I had roast turkey with all the trimmings.

This included roast potatoes, chestnut & cranberry stuffing, a pig in a blanket, buttered sprouts, root vegetable mash, Yorkshire pudding and gravy. It was very delicious and the turkey was good quality meat, which you don't always receive in restaurants.

The sprouts were the real highlight for me, incredibly delicious and not over cooked.

The food came to the table piping hot, we were asked would we like any extra sauce, and overall the service was really good.



For dessert I had the Christmas brownie. This brownie comes served warm, with mince pie ice cream, caramel & chocolate sauce. As I don't like mince pies I asked for just vanilla ice cream.

This dessert is perfect for someone with a sweet tooth, the sponge was warm so the ice cream melted around it. The mix of chocolate and caramel sauce was incredible tasty too.

If you are after a hearty Christmas / Sunday meal then I really recommend the Oyster Reach, you won't be disappointed.
The staff were polite, friendly and attentive. In general, the Beefeater chain is not one that I rely on for the best experiences, but this one is by far the best I have tried.

Thanks for reading
Kara xx


























Wednesday 7 December 2016

Luxurious and Cosy Winter Knits

Howdy

Here are 3 jumpers that I am loving and will be wearing this winter!

You can't beat a cosy knit! Since the temperature has dropped, these three jumpers are perfect. Each jumper is made from different materals and I think you might be quite surprised at the quality and affordability of some of them. Don't forget to shop around, I have made some amazing finds from places like TK Maxx. If you are able, during the week is the best time to go and you can find some amazing brands. My favourite TK Maxx stores for designer clothing have to be Brighton and Covent Garden.

Jumper One
Lambswool / Nylon mix - Ted Baker £125

I have had this jumper for about 3 years and it washes up a treat. It is incredibly warm and perfect for these chilly evenings. I am not one for a cropped jumper, so I always prefer to wear a shirt or longer top underneath. I think a thick knit looks great with a pair of knee high riding boots.

Rating: 8/10
Worth the Money: Yes, I have had it years and it looks the same as when I first purchased the item

Jumper Two
Wool / Cashmere mix - Jaeger £160
As this jumper is 90% wool, you have to be very careful when washing it, you have to reshape it as soon as the wash is over and let it dry flat, so yes, that is a faff, but it is worth it. I purchased this from TK Maxx and ended up paying £60. I like this jumper a lot but I don't think it is worth investing the full amount into it. It is elasticated at the bottom so it can be worn as a longer top, or folded up higher like I have in the picture.

Rating: 7/10
Worth the Money: At full price no. If TK Maxx price then yes.

Jumper Three
100% Cashmere - Tesco £45

This jumper was a nice surprise, I went into Tesco and spotted this jumper as I walked past the clothing range. The word Cashmere caught my eye and I had to see how much it was going for! I have never seen a pure cashmere top go for such a good price, and it is so soft comfortable. I don't usually have much luck with supermarket clothing brands, but I had to order this straight away! It comes in grandma pink too if you're interested (no thanks). This is my favourite top of the three and it is also the cheapest, so it just proves you don't have to break the bank to find quality items.

Rating: 9/10
Worth the money: Massive yes, go find cashmere as good as this for cheaper. I bet you can't!

With any of these jumpers I always wash inside out on a synthetic wash, inside a machine washable net bag. This helps to eliminate bobbling and getting caught on any other items.

Thanks for reading
Kara xx







Sunday 4 December 2016

Hand Care In Winter (part two)

Howdy

As a follow-up from my last post, here are some options that may suit you regarding how to keep your hands and nails moisturised.

Daily Moisturiser

I like to use cream by L'Occitane, I find this moisturising and not greasy in any way. You can apply it and then go straight on with your business. There is nothing worse than greasy hands when you need to get on with things.

I keep these everywhere, around the house, in my car and my handbags. I use the 30ml bottles in my everyday bag and car but, as I have quite a few small bags, I prefer to use these small 10ml tubes.

I have visited quite a few L'Occitane shops in England and been told that I was not able to purchase these 10ml tubes unless bought as part of a gift set!

 
So, on my last trip to the US, I asked there and the lady offered me a selection of scents to chose from and said they are available to purchase. Although pound for pound (or dollar for dollar) they do work out more expensive, they are ideal for my small bags so I dont mind.

Once again America saves the day, product-wise. You can purchase these creams from most large department stores or by visiting L'Occitane online.

Hydrating / Instant Relief

Now this cream is good, I personally find this best to use in the evening. It is very thick and almost has a pertrolium jelly type texture and has a medicinal smell. Saying all that, dont be put off, the fact that it is thick means it will soak in slowly and over time has more benefit. The main benefits of this cream are
  • Helps protect, soothe and moisturise skin.
  • Soothes dry skin and provides anti-inflammatory benefits.
  • Soothes and comforts minor weather burns, scrapes and abrasions.
If I have a really dry patch of skin or have a cut, applying this over it helps to hydrate and heal, it helps to take down the redness in your skin and helps the wound to heal quicker.
This is available from larger department stores, boots or from Elizabeth Arden.

For All Over Body

This cream suits any skin type and is suitable for people with eczema and psoriasis. It is great for all over hydration, especially when you get out of the bath or shower. When I go on holiday I no longer use an after sun, I prefer to use this, although I am lucky as I don't burn. My skin seems to benefit more from the moisturing properties found in this cream, compared to an aloe based product thats would be ideal for calming skin and reducing redness.

This product contains some amazing ingredients like oat milk, rose water, cocoa butter and tea tree. All things to help your skin stay hydrated.

I have heard a lot of people (even in my own family) complain about the smells of Lush and although, yes, it can fill up the nostrils (which I love), it has more to offer than people think. They put a lot of thought and effort into their products, so it's not all just sparkly bath bombs and fancy brightly coloured soaps. There are products to suit everyone's individual needs. So why not go in and check the shop out? As soon as your foot enters the shop you will be asked, "Would you like help?" So say "yes" and have a good old chat with the assistant. Why not try a few things out and if its a cream etc that may be £16 or more, ask for a sample. There is no reason why they can't get you one and if you love it you're more likely go back and buy a full size.

I hope this post has been helpful for my readers, these products work very well for me and I'm sure they will work well for many of you too. Dream Cream can be purchased from Lush online or in-store.

Thanks for reading!

Kara xx











Wednesday 30 November 2016

Hand Care In Winter (part one)

Howdy,

This time of year does look pretty and makes you feel very festive but there are many things that are not quite so joyful! The heating goes on and what happens to our skin? It tends to dry out!
A job like mine, where you are washing and sanitising your hands constantly, doesn't help either.

One thing you can do to help with winter skin is to look at what you are using on your hands! If, like me, you don't have a dishwasher (well a working one, thanks previous owner) you will tend to wash up quite a lot. I don't like using rubber gloves! I find it best to use a washing-up liquid that won't be so stripping on your hands, I prefer to use Fairy, the one that contains Olay. It's just slightly kinder to the skin and won't be as drying, it also smells lovely!



Now for hand soaps, we all wash our hands many times a day or maybe too many times in my case. I can't stand dirty hands, even as a child I hated it! I have found foaming hand soaps to be the most gentle, I like to use the gentle foaming hand soaps from Bath and Body Works. They really are perfect and do live up to their name of being gentle! I have them by every sink in the house.



Don't worry though I have thought of a couple of options for those that live in the UK, I have used these before and they are a great alternative. One is foaming which I prefer, but it doesn't last as long as the gel formula. Method is a great brand that can be found in Waitrose stores or at waitrose.com
They use plant based ingedients, do not test on animals and all container materials used can be recycled.

Part two on looking after your hands is going to be going up this Sunday 2nd Dec. This will include what creams can help prevent/heal dry sore skin and what I recommend to get you through these winter months! Nobody wants dry skin, it's not pretty ;-)

Thanks for reading.

Kara xx

Sunday 27 November 2016

Bee Good Facial Exfoliator

Bee Good Honey and Camelina Facial Exfoliator

Howdy,



It is so rare to find a product you get results from with the very first use, but with this exfoliator I noticed a difference in my skin straight away. I'm not sure if it is the honey, beeswax or the lavender in it, but my skin feels very clean and soft after using this and this is before I have applied any moisturiser.

It has such a fresh scent that is quite refreshing and perfect for morning use especially. I used this product 4 times in a row then decided to read the instructions, which said it was meant to be used twice weekly! So for 4 days in a row of continuous use my skin loved it and I had no problems.



 
 It suggests using this product on dry skin after cleansing but my skin hates anything with granules if used on my skin dry! I always make sure my skin is very wet then just massage in a large pea sized amount enough to make sure my whole face gets a covering. After a few minutes I rinse off and you are left with moisturised feeling skin that feels wonderfully clean and soft.

 The ingredients found in this product:       
  • British propolis (extract)
  • British beeswax
  • British camelina sativa seed oil
  • British crambe seed oil
  • Wheatgerm oil
  • Milled lavender flowers
  • British wildflower honey

My rating: 8/10

Recommend/ worth the money: Yes, I recommend this as a little goes a long way and I would repurchase, it costs £10.50 for 50ml

Pros: Cruelty free, contains no parabens, synthetic colour, mineral oil, silicone, SLS or SLES. Made in the UK, its good to support local businesess

Cons: Expensive delivery if you just want one product, the cheapest delivery charge is £3.50 for second class! So almost a third of the price you have to add on again

However, for the Black Friday weekend sale there is a code where you will recieve 1/3 off any order and also receive free UK delivery. The code is LOVE16 which you can enter at the checkout. This code is valid until Monday 28th November. Go to beegood.co.uk

Thanks for reading
Kara xx












Wednesday 23 November 2016

Mulberry Key Holder (SLG)

Mulberry Key Holder

Here is an item in my SLG collection that I cannot be without, some may look at this as an  unnecessary item but to me I love it and would not want to be without it.

If like me you like to take care of your bags and purses then a key holder is a must for you. When you like to invest in good quality leather pieces, the last thing you want to happen is for them to get scratched. I have a goat skinned purse that I would hate to get scratched.

When you are forever pulling your keys in and out of bags, there are many chances for your purse and contents of your bag to get scratched.

I find by having my keys in a key holder that not only are they kept tidy and safe in my bag, but they are easy to find and pull out. It is perfect to pop in an evening bag as you always need your keys and there is also room to put your cards in the slots at the side.



My rating: 9/10

Recommend/ worth the money: Yes and even though it cost £125 which is not exactly pocket change it has held up amazingly.

Pros: Very hard wearing and stood up to everyday use for the last 18 months

Cons: This exact key holder is no longer available and it isnt a cheap item

Thanks for reading
Kara xx








Sunday 20 November 2016

20 Facts About Me

20 Facts About Me


Howdy, want to be a nosey rosie and know more about me? Here are 20 facts  ;-)

1. I am a true home girl, I am most happy when the doors are closed and i'm in the house being cosey under a blanket with my boys (my husband and cat) eating my husbands home made buffalo chicken and triple cooked chips mmmmmmmm

2. I have duel nationality and own a British and an American passport as I was born in New York

3. I specialise in endoscopy and have done so for almost 9 years

4. I am ambidextrous but do more things left handed than I do right.

5. I feel drawn to being in America, as much as I love living in Surrey. When ever I am in the States it gives me a feeling like it's right I should be here.

6. I am an only child

7. I love to cook traditional food from scratch, ie old English desserts, roasts dinners with all the trimmings, roast potatoes, yorkshire puddings, crumbles etc

8. I love travelling and seeing parts of the world I've never been to before

9. I am part American Indian

10. I am a massive fan/collector of face masks (won't say how many I own)

11. I actually enjoy doing housework, keeping a tidy home and caring for my husband, we have a 1950/2013 style marriage and it works for us

12. I find it hard to trust people, but if I trust and care for you I will do anything for you

13. I got married on Friday 13th so no superstitions here, the day honestly went perfectly

14. I have wanted to blog/vlog for years but scared of what people will think

15. I can turn my tongue upside down (did you just try? I've never met a person that could do it)

16.  I enjoy instagram as 9/10 I don't feel judged for what I post and have made some friends from all round the world, which I love speaking to and seeing their lovely pictures of their lives

17. I love my cat more than I love most people

18. I am a massive worrier and have learnt to control it with the support of my husband

19.  I am a feeder, come to my house and you will be rolling out my front door or falling asleep on my couch, that always happens. It's super comfy and there is always a big fluffy blanket near that will help you drop off.

20. I love making lists and writing using pen and paper, not my phone. I find it hard to read black and white writing fluidly so all my own notes I write with coloured pens.

Hopefully you have learnt something new about me? I tag anyone that reads this, tag me on instagram (kara1818) so I can read yours

Thanks for reading
Kara xx
























Wednesday 16 November 2016

The Best and Most Effective Leave in Conditioner I Have Found

Howdy everyone,
Are you still on a quest for the perfect leave in conditioner? Fed up of knots and can't find one that suits your hair type?

Well then you need to try this brand and I love it. My hair is curly and very fine, I alway describe it as hair of a child. Any product I put in my hair needs to not weigh it down and must be very conditioning/hydrating. I have found this fulfills my hair needs, I have no tangles, it smells nice and good to know my hair is always protected if on the rare occasion I use heat.

Its a 10 do many different hair products, so depending on your hair colour and needs I am sure they have a product that would suit you. There are shampoos, conditioners, different treatments and many styling products. If this range was easy to buy here from the UK, I am sure I would have tried many more products but as I am alway limited to weight restrictions on my US visits I always just stick to what I know and love. 

How I use this product:
I shampoo and conditioner my hair first, then after a quick towel dry whilst its still wet I apply about 4/5 pumps of this in my hair and just comb it through.


It's a 10 comes with a ton of benefits and here is what they are
* Repairs dry and damaged hair
* Adds shine
* Detangles
* Controls frizz
* Seals and protects hair colour
* Flat iron spray and thermal protection
* Stops hair breakages
* Creates silkiness
* Enhances natural body
* Prevents split ends

 My ratings: 9.5/10

Recommend/ worth the money: Yes 100%, something that I keep stocked up on at all times. It costs $18 for 4oz or $36 for 10oz from ulta.com or amazon.co.uk for around £26. Some might see this as a lot of money but for a product my hair loves and the big bottle lasts at least 6 months its worth every penny. It is one of those products that you can't skip using as your hair wont feel or act the same.

Pros: Knot free hair, smells good, not a heavy weight product

Cons: Not readily available, more costly

Thanks for reading
Kara xx

Sunday 13 November 2016

Quick and easy way to clean your brushes

Howdy, this really is the one chore I do not enjoy doing, but it needs to be done. I have tried quite a few different products to deep and spot clean my brushes but here is what I find works best for me:

For a deep clean I use my Sigma spa brush cleaning mat, Johnsons baby shampoo and a clean hand towel.


For a deep clean I place my cleaning mat in the sink, run warm water to wet the brushes first (always wet brushes before applying soap, same rule applies when washing your hands) and then add a little baby shampoo to clean them. I use Johnsons baby shampoo, it cleans the brush handles and bristles well. On the cleaning mat you can see it tells you where to clean each brush with the washing and then the rinsing stage. Once I am happy the brushes are clean and there is no make up or shampoo is left on them. I straighten out the bristles of the brush and lay them down to dry on the towel, I usually turn them after a few hours to help them to dry. The shampoo can be picked up from any supermarket and the mat can be purchased for $32 off Sigma or £25 from Cult beauty. sigmabeauty.com or cultbeauty.com

For a spot clean I use a sheet of paper towel and Dior brush cleanser



My favourite paper towel is the Super Strong Thirst Pockets, multicloth. I prefer this brand as one sheet is all you need and it can be recycled when your done (no im not being sponsored haha). I cant stand cheap paper towel or toilet roll because as with both you do not want yout fingers etc to come throught the paper :-/ lol
I spray and few spritz of Dior brush cleanser on to the paper towel then rub the brush in circlular motions. It does a fantastic job at removing the make up, it also contains antibacterial properties which is great for preventing any spread of germs. If you wish to use the same brush for another make up product you can clean it and use it almost straight away. The Dior cleanser can be purchased at dior.com where you will receieve free delivery, free gift wrap and two free samples of your choice. It can also be purchased from most department stores that have a Dior counter. I will let you decide what brand of kitchen towel you use but dont say I didnt warm you if its paper thin ;-)

Thanks for reading
Kara xx

Wednesday 9 November 2016

My Most Used Make Up Brushes

Howdy everyone, we all have our favourite brushes that we reach for the most here are mine.

                                                                   
Sephora Pro Liquid Foundation Brush:


My favourite of them all is my Sephora pro liquid foundation brush in no.63, I find this an absolute dream to use. It blends out my tinted moisturiser or foundation perfectly. It is quite a small brush so does mean more blending but I find it gives you a more even coverage. It easily glides around your nose and the contours of your face. It doesnt seem to pick up too much of the product and can easily blend around your chin and hairline!This can be purchased at sephora.com for $32 and I will be buying more.


 Sigma Brushes:

These two Sigma brushes I have had for over 5 years and look how well they are doing. The smaller brush the E55 I use to pack colour on to the eyelid, it picks up a good amount of product and doesnt give to much of fall out when using basic eye shadows.
The F30 Large powder brush is pretty soft and picks up just a light amount of powder when setting your liquid product. No cake face here!

The E55 now retails for $16 or £16 and the F30 $30 or £30, so obviously works out cheaper for the people living in the US. They can be purchased from sigmabeauty.com who do deliver world wide or if you live in the UK you can go to feelunique.com, lookfantastic.com and cultbeauty.co.uk

These brushes come from the Mr. Bunny essential kit, it now retails for $179/ £179.




My last sigma brush is the E38 defussed crease brush, ideal for blending colour into your crease. Also works quite well to just give a wash of colour accross the eye lid if your in a hurry. Basic but very useful, purchased from Feel unique for £17 (link above)












 
 Fan Brush :

Thought id just try out a none expensive fan brush for putting on highlighter as i'm new to applying this, this brush turned out so well that I am not even go to buy another one. It cost around £1.50 from Hong Kong and does exactly what I need it to and it doesnt shed. I found mine through ebay ebay.co.uk










  
MAC Brush:

The MAC 150 is one of the first brushes I purchased so must be least 6-7 years old, I use this to apply my blusher. It doesn't pick up too much product, just enough to give you a flush of colour across the cheek. I find if I use a smaller brush I end up applying too much, it can be purchased from a MAC counter found in a lot of department stores or online here maccosmetics.co.uk









All the brushes mentioned are all made using synthetic hair, no animals were harmed with the making of these brushes. If you are interested in how I keep my brushes clean and what I use, stay tuned for the next post. I will show what I use for a deep clean and the best spot cleaner I have found so far, till next time :)

Thanks for reading
Kara xx
































Sunday 6 November 2016

GlamGlow Thirsty Mud Hydrating treatment

GlamGlow Thirsty Mud



Winter has definitely made its way to the UK, the leaves on the trees are changing colour and falling to the ground. There is also a definite nip in the air with this cold weather now here to stay, so on goes the heating for the first time. I will now be reaching for this cream more than I have over the summer months.

If you are suffering with dry skin or the occasional dry patch on your face then this is the cream for you. I have not found a more hydrating or calming one, I find it best used once or twice a week to maintain moisturised skin. Moisturised skin also means a better canvas for applying make up and who doesnt want that?




It has a wonderful coconut smell that you actually enjoy, its not too sweet or offensive in any way. 
Its designed to be used as a 10-20 minute quick daytime treatment or as I prefer it an over night mask, I dont feel too comfortable wiping off a $69 cream. The other use I have found this mask fantastic for is for a long haul flight, I am happy to go make up free and have hydrated skin. Rather than starting a holiday with a break out! Got to love that recycled plane air, said nobody ever! ;-)




My ratings: 9/10

Recommend/ worth the money: Yes totally, another staple I will have in my skincare collection. $69/£50 usually (Yet ive just seen it being sold on the Glamglow website for £39)

Pros: Hydration like no other, gives plumped moistured glowing skin, smells great.

Cons: Must leave on for a good 10+ hours as a night mask to ensure its fully soaked in and you dont appear greasy (even after washing your face/ applying make up the next day).

Links below if you wish to read up more or check this wonderful cream out.

Thanks for reading
Kara xx

























Wednesday 2 November 2016

Boscia Luminizing Black Mask

Boscia Luminizing Black Mask





This has the be the best peel off mask I have ever tried, not only does it shrink my pores after every use but it pulls any nasties from my skin. I have never had a mask that gives me the feeling of new skin, the next day not only does it feel cleaner but it helps to lessen any hyper pigmentation. For the next day or two my skin feels happy and refreshed, its also suitable for all skin types.



       
One time I used this mask it made my eyes water, not sure if it was my error of going to close to them or if they were just extra sensitive that day. Take care also to not put this on any areas with hair, even the finest hairs will be waxed off with this (be warned). Baring all that in mind, it's a wonderful mask that I will repurchase and always keep in my skincare collection.



My ratings:  8.5/10

Recommend/ worth the money: Yes it's $34 for 2.8oz or 80g for us UK folks.

Pros: Results after first use, shrinks pores, evens complexion, long expiry date, no sulphates, phthalates or parabens

Cons: Sticks to any hair even the finest, quite a strong smelling (not enough to be put off), not sold in the UK. Can purchase product from sephora.com

Thanks for reading
Kara xx