The Almost Tinted Moisturisers

The amount of categories of base products is pretty amusing really isn't it? We have tinted moisturisers, BB creams, CC creams and whatever is developed next. Today I want to talk about those 'almost tinted moisturisers' or moisturisers with a 'hint of tint' as they like to call themselves.

The Underneath/Mixed in Product - When I first used Soap and Glory's Glow Job I tried to use it as a base straight away, which didn't really work out for me. I've since found that it works best applied underneath a foundation (only a tiny amount needed) or mixed in with a pale foundation.

The Original - Ah, Origins VitaZing the product that begun my craze in the almost tinted moisturiser area. I really love this product, from the application all the way down to the smell. It really evens out my skin tone but my skin still has a natural look to it. The only thing wrong with it is the price, some a not quite tinted moisturiser it is £27, a bit pricy in my opinion.

The One with Skincare Qualities - The most recent addition to my almost tinted moisturiser stash is the Garnier Miracle skin Cream which boast skin care qualities alongside the a skin tint. It is really hydrating as well as giving a good boost of colour to the skin too. Alongside this it also aims to reduce signs of ageing and is only £12.99, score.

What are your favourite almost tinted moisturisers?

Laura xoxo

Review: Garnier Miracle Skin Cream

So this product is another hopeful Origins VitaZing dupe. I purchased it just a few days after getting the Soap and Glory Glow Job as I wanted to see how the too compared.

Firstly this one contains SPF which the Glow Job didn't, so it already had my attention due to that. Again I first used it in this video, and as you can see I definitely preferred it to the Soap and Glory one.

This products boasts many more skin-care qualities too. It aims to hydrate your skin whilst removing signs of ageing over time. Now I am young, but I don't see any harm in using this product now, prevention is much better than a cure after all.

Hydration-wise it definitely is above and beyond the Soap and Glory offering. As soon as I put it on my face I can feel the hydration sinking in. It also has a nice fresh smell, which I tend to associate with Garnier products. I will say that it doesn't last 24 hours, especially in these cooler months. Some times in the after it does start to rub off my skin due to dryness, and I would say I have slightly oily skin; something to consider if you have a dry complexion.

Pigmentation wise, it can look a little orange at first, but does blend out well and is definitely a fierce contender for my loved Origins VitaZing.

This is me with this moisturiser, some concealer and a bit of powder on.

Overall I'm really happy with this product and would most likely buy it again.

What do you think? Have you tried it?

Laura xoxo

Review: Soap & Glory Glow Job

Whilst I do love a good scrub or body wash, Soap and Glory make-up has never really called to me for some reason. One weekend I was reading a post by Vivianna Does Makeup (which I'm usually doing to be fair,) and saw her mention this product. From the description she gave it sounded a little like the Origins Vita-zing moisturiser so I decided to pick it up, as I'm always looking for a cheaper alternative. 

The Soap and Glory Glow Job describes itself as a 'sunkissed tinted morning moisture flash'. Basically it's a moisturiser with a bronze tint to it.

When testing it out on my hand I noticed that the pigments in it where quite orange, but after a bit of blending seemed to smooth themselves out.

You can see my first impressions and application of this product in this video as this was the first time I'd used it on my face. Oh boy, did it not really go right. As I said in the video I definitely looked like I'd escaped from Wonka's chocolate factory, it was not good.

I have tried it since and definitely believe that less is more. The second time I used it underneath a foundation and think that it's definitely the way forward with this product.

If you're lucky enough to have foundations too light for you, or once summer approaches want to add a bit of tanned glow to your skin I definitely suggest giving this a go, but in the winter on your face, I'm going to have to give it a miss.

Have you tried this? What did you think?

Laura xoxo

Body Basics

I'm not really a body care person. Hair and skin, check! Taking care of my body though is something I can't really be bothered to spend the time on. There are a few things I like to do and keep in rotation.

Garnier Body Intensive 7 Days - I've talked about this product many a time, and when I do use it, it's pretty darn good. It's great at locking in the moisture and keeping skin soft and hydrated.  

Soap and Glory Flake Away - For me a good scrub is a must. I have pretty rough skin and this is great at removing the dead skin cells and leaving me with smoother skin.

Soap and Glory Rich and Foamous - This is my favourite for two reasons: 1) It smells like Yankee Candle Christmas Cupcake Candle and 2) it's bloody huge and lasts forever. It foams amazingly and the smell lasts for ages.

What are your body basics?

Laura xoxo

Top Moisturisers

I do love a good moisturiser! Each of these from my top three has a different purpose and I'm sharing them with you.

The Daily - My daily moisturiser is the Origins Gin-Zing. It's really light and refreshing and feels lovely on the skin. 

The Evening - Another Origins product, and this one is great at rejuvenating my skin and when I wake my skin feels and looks so much better. 

The Treatment - This Avene Cleanance K is perfect for clearing up blemish prone skin. If I'm having a breakout this clears it up in a matter of days. Make sure your face is fully dry before apply though as it stings like hell.

What is your favourite moisturiser?

Laura xoxo

Review: Origins GinZing Moisturiser

Are you sick of hearing about this yet? No? Good!

It may come as no surprise but Origins is by far one of my favourite brands. I find their products to be some of the best and my skin seems to lap it up. When I heard about this beauty being released, and with a load of bloggers backing it, I couldn't wait to grab my hands on it. However, it was a tad difficult. Finally secured, I'm pleased to report, it's a good'un.

It has a really light weight consistency that just blends beautifully into the skin. Perfect for oily skinned girls! Even with the fine texture a little goes a long way, and I find that I'm using way less product daily then I am of my High Potency night moisturiser. It also has a delicious fresh orange smell, perfect for waking you up in the morning.

Now this would've been a complete rave review, until last week. Now last week we put the heating on at work, and I noticed by the afternoon my skin wasn't feeling as hydrated as it usually was. Nothing had changed, my water intake or skin care routine. So i guess this guy isn't going to be heavy enough to see me through a cold winter and indoor heating. Something you should consider if you have dry/dehydrated skin.

So whilst I do love this product, maybe it was just a summer romance! I guess only time will tell, but if you have really oily skin, or are looking for a lighter moisturiser, give this guy a go!

Have you tried this?

Laura xoxo

Hydration Heroes

Although I'm quite an oily person, I definitely think that a good boost of moisture can do wonders for my skin. What many fail to realise is that their skin is probably dehydrated, and in need of some moisture, so today, I'm sharing with you my faves. (You're welcome!)

The Instant Fix - If you're lacking time and your skin is parched, slap on a layer of the Super Facialist by Una Brennan Rose Hydrate Intense Moisture Mask. You only need to leave it on for about five-ten minutes for an intense moisture boost and a leaving of your face going 'ahhhhhh!'

The Overnight Fix - If you need something a bit more intense and a bit more luxurious, then the Origins Overnight Drink-up Intensive Mask should be your go to. Aside from the fact this spells delicious, it leaves your skin plumped and full of life. (Imagine you just eaten something really salty, you're dying of first, and down a bottle of water. This product is the water!)

The Lock In - Moisture levels, like any level go up and down dependent on many factors, and Hydraluron keeps them maintained. Popped on underneath your moisturiser, it locks in any of the moisture particles and boost your moisture levels in your skin. Definitely a product you don't realise is working till you stop using it.

I just want to leave all you other oily skinned peeps (I'm like a granny using the word 'funky' aren't I) I had to bring the Origins High-Potency Night - A - Mins moisturizer to your attention. Perfectly light, blemish fighting, and smells amazing. 

What are your hydration heroes?

Laura xoxo

Throwback Thursday: Garnier Ultimate Beauty Oil Skin Perfector

Whilst my face is quite oily, the rest of my body is actually quite dry. I try to moisutrise as much as possible, but to be honest find the task to be quite a chore. However on one of my many browses of Boots I spotted this guy and thought I'd give it a go.

Basically, it's a spray oil that you spray over your body and pat in. I used this loads when I first got it, but after a while I just stopped. Not because it's a bad product per se, I just got bored. I recently got it back out to test it out against the Vaseline spray moisturisers, and have to say that I prefer the Vaseline version. They are more refreshing to use.

If you do use this product, or any spray moisturiser, make sure you put a towel down first, or else things may get slippy. (You may end up falling down the stairs...)

Whilst I do like this product, I won't be repurchasing and can see why I stopped using it.

Have you got this? What do you think?

Laura xoxo

Review: Origins Vita Zing

I'm sure most of you are aware of this product. It definitely carries a beauty blogger buzz and something that has always intrigued me. I first picked this up last November in a box of Origins I got in their Christmas boxsets. At the time, I was definitely left disappointed with this product; but now things have a changed.

For those of you who don't know, Vita Zing is a moisturiser with a 'sheer tint release.' Not quite a tinted moisturiser, but not a normal moisturiser, it's some kind of in between product. Now, when I'm doing an extremely good caspar look, this makes me go from the friendly ghost to being carted back to the chocolate factory. Orange overload. This put me off greatly. However, I persevered, tried different ways of working with it, and now me and Vita Zing are getting on rather well.

As you can see, I think I've managed to work it without looking tangoed, and you can also see that it really holds no coverage, which is why it isn't a tinted moisturiser. What I do hope you can notice is, however, how it evens out my skin tone, and adds a slightly 'healthy' look to my skin.

I use this moisturiser on days where my skin is behaving, I'm not doing a lot, but still want to look presentable. This with a bit of concealer is the perfect combination.

So here it is in action. No foundation, just Vita Zing and concealer. 

So whilst me and Vita Zing and having a bit of a fling at the moment (it also increases the coverage of my Bare Minerals foundation on those, 'bleugh' days) my final quarm with it, is the price. £27!!! I don't know if I can part with that much cash for this product. I suppose only time will tell. For now, I'm rationing. 

What do you think of this product? Do you like it?

Laura xoxo

Review: Origins High-Potency Night-A-Mins

I tend to shy away from skincare reviews on my blog. I'm not very good at the sciency stuff behind products, and I like to back up my points with photos, which is hard with skincare. However, after I've included many skincare products in posts, a couple of people have asked for singular reviews, so today I'm sharing this.

First up, I love this product and I recommend it to everyone. I wish that could be my full review, but instead I'm going to give you three reasons why I think you should part with your cash, and get this.

- It has an ingredient which removes removes dead skin cells and renews the skin by doing so.

- It leaves the skin feeling fresh and moisturized.

- I wake up in the morning and my skin is fresher, clearer and brighter.

As I said skincare is harder for me to review, with make-up I can comment on how pretty it looks and the longevity of the product, but with skincare it's a lot trickier. Honestly though, I wouldn't be posting this if I didn't 100% love the product.

Have you tried it? Let me know.

Laura xoxo

Review: Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Skin-Brightening Moisturiser

I like to make sure I always have at least one moisturiser with SPF in it, and I ended up picking this one up from Aveeno, as who doesn't want bright healthy looking skin?

This Aveeno moisturiser comes in a plastic tube with a pump dispenser which I really like, as it means product comes out easily, and its fairly indestructible.

The conistency of this product is quite thick, without feeling heavy on the face. You can see a hint of shimmer in it on the face, but no where near Edward Cullen like. The one thing I do dislike however is the smell, it reminds me of my nan...

Overall a lovely moisturiser, fairly priced, I think I picked it up for around £6.

Have you tried this?

Laura xoxo

The Body Shop - Vitamin E Nourishing Night Cream

This is my final Body Shop purchase, a night cream. I loved my Garnier one I was using, but been as though this was in the offer, I thought I'd give it a go. However, when it runs out I will go back to my Garnier one as I just preferred it. 

This moisturizer is lovely and thick which is probably why it's called a cream, and feels lovely when you put it on, however after a while it starts to sting a little bit, maybe that's just my skin though? It definitely nourishes my skin, as I still feel it in the morning, but I don't like the stinging and I'm not a massive fan  of the smell. It smells like baby products, and I'm just not a massive fan, which is why I'm going to go back to my Garnier one when it runs out.

Aside from the smell, and slight stinging,  I have no complaints about this product, it does what it says on the tin. So yeah, probably not the most exciting read or the most infomative, but it's a moisturiser, what do you expect?

Have you tried this? What are your thoughts? What's your favourite night cream?

Laura xoxo

Also, yesterday I hit over GFC 200, and I am so happy and overwhelmed by it. Thank you all for reading, and commenting, it really means a lot. I love blogging, and the fact that people read it is just amazing. So thank you so much.

The Body Shop - Vitamin E Face Mist

I've been wanting to try something like this for a while, I don't really know why, it just always looked cool (such a good reason to by something, yes?) It is meant to give you some added moisture and help prolong the wear of make-up.

As you can see, I picked it up from the Body Shop as they were doing a three for two on skin care, however I never realised that the Body Shop wasn't exactly cheap (maybe it's just me?) Anyway, this is the first of three things I'll be showing you, but decided on this first as it was the main reason I was in The Body Shop in the first place.

So I spray this on top of make-up and it makes me feel like my skin is able to breathe, and my face feels nice and fresh. I wouldn't say it helps my make-up last, but it does give it a slightly dewy finish (very slight) and my face feels nice and fresh.

I think it is a great thing to have in your bag if your feeling slightly sluggish or need freshening up throughout the day. It's not the nicest smell for me, personally, and make sure you keep your mouth shut 'cause it don't taste too good either, but overall it's a really lovely product and a nice little pick me up!

Do you use this, or something like it?

Laura xoxo

Moisturiser

I've recently been trying out two new moisturisers, one for morning, one for evening. I've been using them for the past two weeks, and would now like to share them with you, (aren't I kind?)

First off, the morning one. This comes from Nivea Visage and is called Natural Beauty Radiance Boosting Moisturiser and is meant to brighten the skin, leaving it looking radiant.

This moisturiser is a light to medium one, it doesn't feel heavy on the skin, and is quite light to apply. It has tiny little shimmery particles in it, which you can't see when it is on the skin. It could be used on its own and a day you don't want to wear any foundation, however it doesn't give any coverage. I like this moisturiser, but don't think I will be re-purchasing it, mainly as I don't find it does anything for me really, but this is a perfectly ok, moistriser to use.

For night time I use a Garnier moisturiser called Garnier Skin Naturals Youthful Radiance. I've thrown the box away so not 100% what it states it will do. My guess is rejuvenate your skin overnight?

 I love using this moisturiser. It leaves a nice heavy feel on my face, but in a good way, and I kind still feel the remains of it in the morning, which I really like. It is quite a thick consistency and blends into the skin really easily. It has a lovely fresh, almost cucumbery smell, and I will definitely be re-purchasing this.




I hope you found these reviews useful. Have you tried either of these?
What day-time moisturiser would you recommend?

Laura xoxo