Skincare Empties I already have a back-up for!

Empties I will always repurchase and in fact I already have a back up for!!

These are the products I love and use so much, I have already bought a new one before I reach the end of the bottle. 
You know the ones I mean..... You start getting towards the end and you panic a little bit inside, reminding yourself not to forget to order another. These are products that work for my skin and I don't want to be without, not even for a day!

Bioderma Sensibo Micellar Water Cleanser

I've lost count how many bottles of this I have gone through!  I am so glad this is easier to get here in the UK. I get mine from escentual.com fast and friendly service and they pop in a nail file as a little added bonus!
It is just so effective at removing my make-up ...from waterproof mascara to that lip pencil that doesn't budge (NARS lip pencil I'm looking at you!) and of course foundation. It is gentle enough that it doesn't irritate my sensitive eyes but works hard at removing all the dirt and grime of the day. Contains cucumber extract so is also mildly soothing and doesn't leave my skin feeling stripped or tight at all. Makes taking the day's make-up off quick and easy.

Cetaphil Cleanser
This is usually my second cleanse if I am feeling lazy. (i.e, don't want to trapse to the bathroom sink to use a flannel and water). I'll just swipe a few pumps of this cleanser all over my face to remove any left overs from my micellar water cleanse. Doesn't sting, dry out my skin or irritate or leave it feeling tight either. A lovely gentle cleanser that is gentle enough for my children to use on their precious skin (No they aren't babies... they are 13 and 11 but will always be my babies!!). My 13 year old is starting to get breakouts and this is perfect to ensure that the skin stays relatively clean and bacteria free. 

La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo+
This is a moisturiser with a spot treatment in it to treat current breakouts but also with regular use helps to prevent future ones too. Doesn't sting or feel greasy to apply and is gentle enough for my 13 year old to use. It also helps to reduce the redness and in turn help prevent scarring that can occur. Helps also with reducing the shine by having a slight mattifying effect.

La Roche Posay Redness serum
It seems everything from La Roche Posay I try I absolutely love. Their skincare is just so perfect for my sensitive skin. I have redness across my cheeks and I find this serum helps soothe. Feels lovely and slightly cooling to apply. I use this both morning and night, mainly concentrating on any redness. It really is such a lovely serum, has a tint of yellowness to it too. Doesn't feel greasy and sinks in quickly so you don't have to wait too long to apply foundation or spf over the top.

Have you any skincare empties you panic about when you get to the end of them?

Stila One Step Correct Primer Review

Stila One Step 'Correct' Primer

I have been after this primer for  aggeeees! No really! Everytime I went into boots it was always sold out!!

A chance pop in to the m&s beauty counters before Christmas resulted in me snapping up the last one on the shelf!!

At last I could try this popular primer for myself.

Here's my thoughts;

First of all Can we just take a minute to admire the helix Dna shape to it inside the bottle! It is a super fun design and interesting to look at!

It has shades Green, Peach and Lavender...

Don't worry as they are actually very subtle once applied.

GREEN Is to reduce any redness, which I definitely need for my cheeks.

LAVENDER Helps to counteract any dullness or sallowness, adding a bit of illumination to your face.

PEACH Helps to brighten, illuminate and even out the skin tone.

Left is one pump, on the right it is blended in.

As this is a primer I find one or two pumps spread over my face helps to prepare my skin for the next stage of foundation. I like to concentrate mainly on the areas I know will get oily throughout the day such as my t-zone, chin and forehead first. Then I concentrate on my cheeks ensuring the redness is nicely primed. I would imagine you could also wear this alone as it helps to even everything out but I wouldn't say it was a full coverage more of a subtle preparation ready for the foundation. I has a green tint to it when blended in which if worn alone may make you appear ill? 

As for the primer itself, it feels lovely and nourishing once applied, it's light and not sticky at all feels like a slightly thicker green moisturiser. It gives a really good base for your foundation to cling to with the added bonus of helping with the colouring too.

Overall I am so glad I snapped this up, I have been using it every-time I wear liquid foundation and can see me getting lots of use in the future, especially during the winter when the cruel wind ensures my cheeks are permanently red!!

Have you tried Stila's Colour correcting Primer? What are your thoughts?

Take time for you. Take care and look after yourself.

Thanks for popping by luv acesparklestar xoxo

Ben Nye Banana Powder Review

Ben Nye Banana Powder Review

I originally was hoping to pick this up from my trip to London, however it was unfortunately out of stock.

 I got an email a few weeks ago - it was back in stock so I ordered it from the gurumakeupemporium website. Excellent service and super fast delivery.

So back to the powder...

MAC CC Neutralize Powder Review

MAC 
Prep + Prime
'CC' 
Colour Correcting Compact 
in
'Neutralize' 
Review

I picked up the yellow toned powder, simply because I suffer from redness on my face especially my cheeks. Yellow counteracts this and helps to neutralize pink or red tones.

 

You would be forgiven for being a bit scared when looking at the colour in the pan as it is a very yellow colour....think simpsons!! 

However when swatched and applied onto the skin it is a lovely finely milled subtle shade almost transluscent that helps cover up and counter act any redness or discolouration. Don't worry you won't end up looking like Marge Simpson!!

It is sheer, almost translucent so doesn't really add much colour but instead creates an invisible veil that helps illuminate, neutralize redness and prevent oiliness throughout the day. So can be used as a setting powder or finishing powder.

Is in a pressed powder form, within a compact which houses a mirror so is absolutely great for touch-ups when out and about.
So if like me you suffer from redness, rosacea then this would be a great finishing powder to set your make-up.
I like to use my Real Techniques Stippling brush to apply this to my cheeks, nose area and chin. Sort of push the powder onto the skin. 
Doesn't go cakey and can be touched up throughout the day.
It was difficult to take a swatch picture that showed up clearly, as it is so sheer and almost translucent!

Have you tried any of the MAC prep and prime CC powders? What did you think?

Take time for you. Take care and look after yourself.

Thanks for popping by luv acesparklestar xoxo

Vichy Dermablend to cover a Multitude of Flaws!!

Vichy Dermablend

How I use the Foundation, Concealer stick & Setting Powder.

Who knew these little hero's were hidden away in the skincare isle of Boots?
Not where they should be... pride of place, on display in the make-up section!!

These little gems from Vichy do a fantastic job of disguising unwanted flaws or imperfections. The foundation is light to wear, that even if you dislike the feeling of foundation on your skin, this one is worth a try. There is no mask effect and is very comfortable to wear.
When used with conjunction with the Vichy setting powder, sets to a smudge and water resistant finish.

So here's how I use them...

La Roche Posay CC Rosaliac Cream Review

La Roche Posay

CC Cream

Rosaliac

Daily Unifying Complete Correction cream

Spf 30

"For redness prone and sensitive skin, this provides instant coverage and correction of all types of redness.

Whether occasional, persistant, dispersed or localised. Varying intensity and origin".

This tells me it would be helpful for Flushing and sudden redness of the face too.

My Night Time Beauty Favourites featuring Bare Minerals Skincare

My night time beauty favourites

I thought I would share with you guys my favourite night time beauty products that I use and have found that work really for me. 

Especially when I'm finding it difficult to drift off to sleep, I find this routine helps me get in the mindset for sleep.

So here goes......

Firstly I'll start with a facial cleanser.

BareMinerals Left to Right: Purely Nourishing Moisturizer, BareMinerals Eye Cream & Bare Minerals Purifying Facial cleanser

 It's only the past few years I have really regularly cleansed and looked after my skin on a daily basis, morning and night. Shocking -I know!! Mainly due to the fact I never really found the perfect cleanser that didn't leave my sensitive skin feeling tight or shiny. 

I suffer from redness on my cheeks and it was only when Bare Minerals brought out their 'Purifying facial cleanser', I was truly happy with the results. I have been using this for a good few months now and have definitely seen an improvement in my skin's condition.