July Empties

Herbal Essences Smooth & Soft Sensuously Smooth Shampoo // Advance Techniques Moroccan Argan Oil Conditioner // Batiste Dry Shampoo Tropical // Liz Earle Gentle Face Exfoliator // Anti-blemish Skinetica // La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo // Liz Earle Skin Repair Light Moisturiser // Impulse Tease Body Fragrance Spray // Collection Illuminating Touch Brightening Concealer // Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder

Herbal Essences Smooth & Soft Sensuously Smooth Shampoo & Advance Techniques Moroccan Argan Oil Conditioner - As I have mentioned in previous posts, I'm on a mission to improve my hair. I think my wedding, a year today, has kicked me into gear but also because I'm sick of my own hair and how unhealthy it is. I only want to use shampoo and conditioners which have no nasties in them from now on but I didn't want to waste all the other shampoo and conditioners I had left. The shampoo has a delicious scent and made my hair feel smooth, soft and silky (but that is what the harsh chemicals are supposed to do!) When I first used this conditioner a year ago  I loved it but I wasn't as clued up about ingredients then. I'm not an expert now but I just don't want to wash my hair in parabens and sulfates. 

Batiste Dry Shampoo Tropical - I love Batiste dry shampoo and out of all of the scents I have tried, this is definitely my favorite. It's just so fresh and clean. I have already repurchased this one but I have a few different scents in my collection now. I quite like the blonde one as it does a great job of disguising my roots! I don't use this on a daily basis - it is for emergencies only! My hair is pretty damaged and dry so I only wash it twice a week, anymore and it will become more damaged. However, some days it can be greasier than others (probably down to sulfates and chemicals in my shampoo and conditioner) and if I don't get the chance to wash it, I'll just give it a quick refresh and I'm good to go. (Please note, this is only on occasions and I'm not disgusting! A can of this lasts me forever!)

Liz Earle Gentle Face Exfoliator - I have already repurchased this as it really is gentle on my face and doesn't do any damage to my skin. I try and use it twice a week, usually before a face mask, to remove any dead skin cells. A lot of people are hating on the manual exfoliators these days but this one is full of natural ingredients and it contains fine jojoba beads which gently buff away the dead skin cells. The Liz Earle website states it is not suitable for sensitive skin so please bare that in mind. Sometimes I mix it with my Cleanse & Polish for an even gentler exfoliation.  

Anti-blemish Skinetica* - I received this in a goodie bag from a blogger event that I attended. It contains no harsh chemicals and the active ingredient is a highly sophisticated quaternary Ammonium Chloride compound combined with a Sylyl base. (How scientific does that sound?!) It does contain ethyl alcohol but I haven't found it to be drying on the skin. I applied this twice a day, morning and night before my moisturiser and I saw a difference when using it alongside La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo. 

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo - I caved into the hype surrounding this despite some people saying it did nothing for them or breaking them out, never the less, I purchased it. I have already repurchased it as I was amazed at the difference in my skin. The week or so between, before I managed to repurchase, my skin had returned to it's usual horrible self. This was confirmation enough that I needed to repurchase this baby. I originally purchased this in Boots while it was on 3 for 2 offer, however, I repurchased it from escentual.com when they had 20% off. So it's worth keeping your eyes peeled for offers.

Liz Earle Skin Repair Light Moisturiser - I have been using this moisturiser for about a year now and I have repurchased over and over again. In the Winter, I use this moisturiser in the morning under my make up but opt for Liz Earle Skin Repair Moisturiser for Normal/Combination skin at night. Throughout July, we have experienced some extremely hot days and I have been applying the light moisturiser morning and night. It is a lovely light moisturiser, as the name suggests, which is easily absorbed and doesn't clog pores. You can read my review here. 

Impulse Tease Body Fragrance Spray - Another repurchase of mine. Body spray is something I wear on a daily basis when the occasion doesn't warrant perfume such as work (I work in a school) and popping to the supermarket. This scent is my favourite impulse fragrance and I always pop a few in my basket when they are on special offer for 99p!

Collection Illuminating Touch Brightening Concealer - This concealer isn't as well loved in the 'blogosphere' than the Lasting Perfection concealer but I have been using it for just as long. I use this concealer under my eyes as I find the Lasting Perfection a little to thick for my delicate eye area. This one is illuminating so it doubles as a highlight and it is super easy to blend under the eyes. I find it doesn't crease either but I do set it with powder. 

Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder - I love this powder and so do many other beauty bloggers. I get the shade transparent as I just want it to set my foundation/concealer and make my face matte. I use bronzer and blusher to add colour where I want it. It doesn't appear too chalky on the face and it mattifies my foundation. My only negative is the packaging - it isn't very sturdy which makes transporting it impossible. You can read what I think more in depth by reading my review. 

Which products have you used up this month? Have you been loving any of these products?

Rachel x

Lost In Lipstick

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Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder in Transparent - Review

Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder in Transparent £3.99

I have been using this powder for several months now. I just haven't got round to posting a review on it until now. My skin isn't particularly oily, maybe a teeny tiny bit on my t-zone. But I prefer a matte finish with my make up than a shiny finish. Mainly due to the fact I cannot pull it off. When I attempt a different finish, which includes highlighting, I always feel like my face just looks greasy. Therefore, I stick to what I know - a matte finish. Anyway, I'm blabbering.

This powder claims to control shine for up to 5 hours using natural minerals. I would have to agree but as I said my skin isn't overly oily. It also claims to minimise pores. I suffer from larger pores on my nose, my cheeks closest to my nose and my forehead. I would have to say that these are beginning to disappear but that may be down to my skincare rather than this powder or maybe it's a combination of both. Who knows?

The powder comes in six shades; transparent, pink blossom, peach glow, sandstorm, silky beige and warm beige. I went for transparent as I didn't want a shade with my powder. I want a powder to reduce any shine caused by my make up and to set my foundation. I would say that this shade lightens my face a tiny bit so it may not be suitable for people with a darker skin tone.

I apply the powder with my Real Techniques Powder Brush which allows me to lightly dust it all over my face. It doesn't appear chalky or look like I'm wearing powder. But I think it could do if you applied too much. The art is applying just enough to conceal shine and set your foundation. If you feel like you have to much on your brush, tap your brush to remove excess powder before applying.

The packaging isn't great. It doesn't feel sturdy and the lid comes off easily. I wouldn't recommend leaving it loose in your handbag. Overall, it is a great product with a fantastic price tag. The packaging is the only negative for me so I can't really complain. If you have oily skin and you want something to set your foundation, I totally recommend this product.

Do you have oily skin? Have you tried this powder before?

Rachel x
Lost In Lipstick 

My 12 Favourite Products of 2012

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser

I began my Liz Earle journey a year ago now, when my mum got me the starter kit for Christmas 2011, and I have been using it ever since. I won't go into too much detail as you can read what I think in my review here. I love love love Cleanse & Polish and I use it morning and night without fail. It has improved the condition of my skin so much over the past year. I used to suffer from the occasional dry patch and quite bad acne. My dry skin has cleared up and although I still have a few spots, they are under control with the help of Liz Earle.

Liz Earle Skin Repair Light Moisturiser

Every single step of my skin care routine is Liz Earle. Even though it's all my favourite and I couldn't live without any of it, I didn't want to choose it all in this post as it wouldn't leave much room for anything else. I settled for Cleanse & Polish as I think it is the greatest cleanser ever made, I think it truly deserves all the awards it gets, and the Skin Repair Light Moisturiser. You can read what I think about the moisturiser in more detail here but I feel it deserves more recognition than it gets. My skin is oily/combination as I said I suffer from spots and dry skin. Many people think you need to skip moisturiser if you have oily skin but that couldn't be further from the truth. You need to feed the spots and this light moisturiser is perfect. It sinks into your skin leaving a smooth, supple and moisturised surface for your make up. 

No7 Stay Perfect Foundation in Calico

Before I purchased this foundation, I used Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse and when I ran out I couldn't remember what shade I had previously so I just picked up any! I actually did that for quite a few years and I have no idea why. It wasn't amazing but it did the job. I went along to Boots for the No7 Foundation Made Service. You can read what I thought of the matching service and what I think of the foundation here. I'm so glad I went. I'm currently on my second bottle since August/September but I use it every single day. When I apply the foundation, it's like applying a second flawless skin rather than applying thick foundation. That sounds cheesy but it's true. It gives me the coverage I need without making me look like I've applied my make up with a trowel! 

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer

I'm so glad I jumped on this bandwagon! Everyone has this concealer and for £4-£5 I don't blame them. It provides good coverage and lasts a fair few hours. When I nip into Boots or Superdrug, it's always a mission to find one unused, especially shade 2 which is the shade I use. When I do see my shade, I always pick up at least two to stock up. I only use this concealer on my spots and blemishes as I find it a bit too thick to use under my eyes. Instead, I use the Collection Illuminating Touch Concealer, which is a great highlighter as well. 

Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder in Transparent

I'm not sure when this product first launched but I'm pretty sure I used it years ago when it was in different packaging. For the past few years, I removed powder from my make up routine as I just didn't need it. However, since I am getting older and my spots are persistent in staying I feel I just need a light dusting of powder to take the shine away. The shine stays away for a few hours before I need a touch up, which for a drug store brand is pretty good going.

Clinique Blushing Blush Powder Blush in Precious Posy

I got this blusher two years ago. I have used it almost everyday since and it's still going strong. It's gone up in price to £21 since I got it for £14 two years ago. I'm not sure my wage has increased by a third! Anyway... The colour is buildable depending on how intense of a colour you like. During the day, I apply one or two brush strokes on each cheek where as in the evening, I build up the colour for a slightly more dramatic look. It lasts several hours even without a primer but for a higher end product that is expected.

Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter in Peach Parfait

I have to admit that I only bought this product because of all the hype. I jumped on the Revlon Lip Butter bandwagon and boy am I glad I did! As you can see it made my 12 favourite products of the year. I love the moisturising formulation and the fact it looks and feels like a lipstick. I often find myself reaching for this over a boring lip balm. I would definitely repurchase this, maybe in a few other shades. 

Topshop Lipstick in Rumour Has It

I am a big fan of Topshop lipsticks. I have two shades and I have my eyes on a few others. You can read what I think in depth here so I won't go into too much detail. I have a few lipsticks that I turn to for day to day but when narrowing it down for this post, the formula of this lipstick won hands down. I just love how moisturising and easy to apply it is even though it's a matte lipstick. It is far from drying and the colour lasts a few hours before it needs a touch up.

Rimmel Scandal Eyes Waterproof Kohl Eye Liner in Black

I always wear eye liner, usually on my upper and lower water line, but it isn't a product which excites me. I usually just grab the first eye liner in my reach but I have been choosing this one over any others lately. With it being waterproof, it lasts so much longer and I find it doesn't run as much as my other eye liners. Although I have been using a setting brush to apply powder under my eyes. The formula allows it to glide on smoothly without creating drag, which is definitely a good thing when your eyes are concerned. 

 MUA Undressed Palette

MUA have announced that this is their best selling product of 2012 and I am not surprised. Since I have started wearing eye shadow more often, I wear shades from this palette on a daily basis. I have actually started to see pan on two shades! I reviewed this palette in more detail and you can read it here. I love a neutral eye, hence why this has made my favourites list. The palette is so versatile, ranging from light to dark neutral shades with a mixture of matte and shimmer shadows. I choose lighter matte nudes for the day, adding darker shimmer shades for the evening. A perfect palette.

Real Techniques Expert Face Brush

I have five Real Techniques brushes and to be honest I could have chosen all of them to feature in this post. I chose the Expert Face Brush as it really has changed the way I apply my foundation and my skin looks flawless when I have used it. I have the foundation brush but I now use that to blend my concealer. When I used the foundation brush to apply my foundation, I found that it left streaks on my face. I also have the powder brush, blush brush and setting brush with many others on my wish list.

Bourjois Magic Nail Polish Remover

I can't believe I put up with 'regular' nail polish remover and cotton wool pads for so long! This is a god send. It removes nail polish so quick and easy and there is no mess. (Glitter nail polish is another story!) You can read what I thought by reading my review here.

What are your favourite products of 2012? Have any of my favourites made your list?

Rachel x
Lost In Lipstick

Everyday Make Up #2

Primer - Benefit the POREfessional

Foundation - No7 Stay Perfect Foundation in Calico (review here)

Concealer - Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in Light

Concealer - Collection Illuminating Touch Brightening Concealer in Natural 

Powder - Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder in Transparent

Bronzer - Rimmel Sunshimmer Bronzing Compact Powder in Light Matte

Blusher - Rimmel Lasting Finish Soft Colour Blush in Bronze

Eyeliner - No7 Amazing Eyes Pencil in Black

Mascara - Rimmel Extra Super Lash Mascara in Black

Eye Shadow - MUA Undressed Palette (review here)

Lipstick - Topshop Lipstick in Rumour Has It

My last 'Everyday Make Up' post was posted at the end of September and some of the products that I use now have changed quite a bit. I love finding new products, especially when they are better than the ones I am currently using! The products that haven't changed are my bronzer and mascara. You can read what I think in my last post here so I won't go into too much detail. I am still looking for a new bronzer though. Even though this one is light matte, I find it too dark for my skin. Any recommendations?

I don't always use this primer, just on the days when my pores are looking particularly big! There are lots of primers out there these days and I want to try some others. So if you can recommend a good primer, please let me know. I had a Foundation Match Made consultation at the No7 counter in Boots. You can read about my experience here. I have been using this foundation ever since and I love it! I apply it with the Real Techniques Expert Brush and it provides great coverage with a matte finish. I think everyone who writes a beauty blog owns this concealer, but the Lasting Perfection Concealer is amazing! It provides great coverage over blemishes and spots and is so cheap. I find it's too thick to use under my eyes, so instead I have been using the Illuminating Touch Concealer. This is perfect for covering up dark circles and brightening the eye area. I use the Real Techniques Foundation Brush to blend both concealers. Even though I am using the Stay Perfect Foundation, which is matte, I still find I need powder in certain areas. The Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder is perfect as it really is matte and doesn't appear cakey. I have used my Clinique blusher for almost two years now, but I recently decided I wanted a more neutral blush for the winter. I spotted this Rimmel blush in bronze and decided it would be perfect. I also use it for contouring but I am new to the whole contouring technique and I'm still learning! Any tips? I am honestly surprised at how good this eye shadow palette is. I love neutral eye shadows and you can create so many looks from this one palette. I'm also surprised I haven't hit pan with any shades yet as I'm always using it! This is my second Topshop lipstick and I love them both. The formula is so creamy and moisturising. Rumour Has It is a lovely nude shade perfect for the daytime.

Can you recommend a bronzer for my pale skin? Do you have any contouring tips for me?

Rachel x

Lost In Lipstick