How to get flawless, airbrushed skin

Whilst browsing in Superdrug the other day I saw a strange looking pink sponge and went to investigate! It's called the Blend Perfection Sponge which is a copy of the Beautyblender. I have been a huge fan of the beautyblender but I seem to have misplaced it and never got round to replacing it. I decided to try Cosmopolitan's version, which is a fraction of the price (£10 cheaper) and has a slightly different shape to it.

The sponge allows for a flawless application of foundation, using a bouncing or 'stippling' method to blend make-up which leaves an airbrushed looking finish. The fatter round end is for larger areas of the face and the pointed end for those hard to reach areas such as around the nose and under the eyes. The sponge needs to be wet and wrung out before use which helps the foundation glide onto your skin.

I have used the Cosmopolitan Perfect Finish Make-up Sponges before which I found to be ok to blend out foundation on the jawline but the Blend Perfection Sponge is so much better to use to aply the foundation. I personally like to use sponges to apply foundation as you can achieve a flawless airbrished finish and the coverage can be built up really easily and effortlessly. I put the foundation on the back of my hand and 'bounce' or stipple it all over the face with the Blend Perfection Sponge. If I'm using a concealer on top of m foundation then I apply it with the sponge too and build up on the converage if needs be.

Go buy it NOW!!!

The Blend Perfection Sponge is £4.85 from Superdrug (although I can't find it on their website) However I have found it on feelunique for £4.95.
The Perfect Finish Make-Up Sponges can alos be bought in Superdrug or feelunique for £1.95.
There's a 3 for 2 offer on Cosmopolitan make-up tools at Superdrug at the moment too.
The Beautyblender is £14.50 with free postage from their wesite.

July GlossyBox 'Summer'

I'm sure most people have heard of GlossyBox by now, but if you haven't then I shall briefly explain. From their website they say: "Every month we send you 5 exciting luxury product minatures, packed in a beautiful box for you to test at home."

I know theres a couple of other companies proving these type of packages, feel unique's Beauty Box being one, but I thought I'd give the GlossyBox a go, and I'm so glad I did.

Even though they say 'product minatures' I got 3 full sized items. I know that everyone gets something slightly different but I must say I'm pleased with what I received.

In my box were:

1) Ciate - Nail Enamel in mojito (full size)

I must admit that the colour isn't really to my taste I don't tend to wear green on my nails unless it's a mint green, but it's a summery colour and it does look nice on. Ciate polishes are a really nice quality, long lasting and chip free.

2) Illamasqua - Powdered Metal in Ether (full size)

I couldn't believe my luck when I saw this, I LOVE it. If anyone doesn't know what this is it's described as 'Powdered Metal creates anything from a subtle sheen to an extreme metallic finish on face and body. The shimmering pale gold adds radiance to bronzed skin, and highlights your skin where applied.' I got a pink tan at the weekend (aka sunburn but don't want to admit that!) and it's now turned to nicely bronzed skin. I sparingly added this to my decollotage and sholders over my tan and it really made my skin radient and healthy looking. it can be applied sparingly or built up to a full on metallic look (hence the name).  It also looks gorgeous appled lightly to the cheek bone as a highlight.

3) Orla Kiely - Orla Kiely Eau de Parfum

'A charming debut fragrance by the acclaimed designer, the eponymous fragrance's light floral notes, with natural extracts of rose geranium and bergamot, are subtly balanced with fresh fig and a hint of chocolate.' This is divine! I love the scentof this, although I can't smell chocolate but I still wouldn't hesitate about buying the full sized fragrance.

4) Ultra Sun - Face 3

I'll be honest I looked at this and thought it's just suncream, I buy that as an everyday item, not a luxury product, but, I was wrong I'll be glad to say. I like the formula of this and it doesn't have the normal suncream smell. I usually use moisturisers or foundations with an SPF built in, but this was a really nice moisturiser as suncream can be greasy on the face. It's advertised as protecting skin from UV aging but that's what any cream with SPF in will do.

5) Weleda - Pomegranate Regenerating Body Oil (full size) 

'Weleda Pomegranate Regenerating Body Oil contains only pure plant oils. Rich in essential fatty acids and anti-oxidising vitamins, slather on this oil for more elastic, hydrated, smooth and supple skin.' I like body oils as they feel a lot more hydrating than a cream or lotion. I I love the idea that it's supposed to firm the skin, which is something i deffinatley need after having my baby a few months ago. It's also got a lovely scent to it.

I highly recommend the GlossyBox, not only do you get the products but it comes in luxorious packaging, and has offers and discounts on some of the companies whose products are in the box.

All this for £10 a month plus £2.95 postage. Evan at £12.95 I think you'll agree it's a bargain! you can order your GlossyBox here.

(note: all pictures are taken from the internet as i couldnt upload my pictures)

Keeping BaByliss in business!

I seem to have so many BaByliss hair products that I should be on commission! Here are a few of the products that I love and use most.

The Conical Wand

This is a curling tong without a clamp and a cone shaped barrel. It creates gorgeous ringlet and loose curls with variable temperature you can easily and quickly achieve gorgeous curls.

The Waving Wand

This like he conical wand doesn't have a clamp but the barrel is oval shaped rather than round. Having naturally poker straight hair I've always tried different ways of creating waves such as the going to bed with damp hair in plaits and curling it with the conical wand the day before and sleeping in the curls so they fall out into waves. Both ways work but for a near on instant way to create waves the waving wand is amazing. Natalya from filthygorgeousmakeup and Babyliss teamed up to create the look of Lauren Conrad using the Waving Wand for Babyliss' Get the Look series. Watch the video here.

Thermo Ceramic Rollers

I had never used heated rollers before I bought these a few years ago as naively I had visions of my grandma using them sat with a hair net over them watching countdown. I used rollers in my hair before and blasted the hairdryer over them but it took forever to do so I decided to buy these. They heated up so quickly, there's a range of sizes and there's enough rollers for my long, thick hair. Once they are all clipped and clamped into my hair I can get on with my makeup whilst they cool down. So they are a great time saver and give great volume and body to my hair.

Big Hair

Want a perfect salon blow dry at home? Then this is THE product to use. It's a hot brush that rotates and dries your hair in one product. If like me, you find it difficult to use a big round brush and big heavy hairdryer to blow dry your hair then YOU NEED THIS! Want hair like Kate Middleton but don't have the hair entourage she has, then this is the next best thing.

All these can be bought from Boots or Argos or just search the internet as prices vary dramatically.

Way to Glow!

I recently came across collection 2000's shimmer shades which I had seen on a couple of other blogs and spotted it for myself when I was browsing the counters in boots. There is a blusher and bronzer version but only the bronzer was available in my local store. It's called 'Way to Glow' and is described as '4 complementary, shimmering shades for a subtle, radiant glow'.







The shades when swooshed (very technical term!) together create a subtle healthy shimmer that is perfect on my pale skin. It could be applied more generously on darker skin tones than my Casper white complexion to create a summer shimmer.

It feels a lot more expensive than it's £4.19 price tag would suggest. Its a perfect addition to your summer makeup bag and it suits most skin tones. It's also a great multi-tasker as it can be used as eye shadow with the ligtest shade as a highlight, the next lightest on the lids and either of the darker shades as a contour.

Collection 2000 Shimmer Shades can be bought here for £4.19.

A Quick Trick

It's always the way that when you need spot free, perfect skin a dreaded spot appears. This bright red bulging volcano appears on your face and even concealer won't hide how big it is! So what you need is something that works and works fast! Well this won't get rid of your spot immediately (if I knew how to do that I would be a miracle worker!) but it will reduce the size and the redness so you can conceal and camouflage it.

You will need aspirin, water and a cotton bud / Q-tip.

To freshly cleansed skin take an aspirin and add a couple of drops of water, the aspirin will dissolve in the water (if not, crush it) and mix it together into a paste. Apply this to the spot area with a cotton bud / Q-tip or a CLEAN finger and leave it for around half an hour or until it dries and starts flaking off the skin. Et voila your spot should have reduced in size and redness, and all you need to do now is conceal it. If you apply the aspirin to it every day it should disappear within a few days.
The aspirin works as an anti-inflamitary. I have also heard of using anti-inflamitary drugs such as those for hay-fever but I haven't used them myself. They also tend to be more expensive than aspirin which I picked up for 22p!

I have tried so many lotions and potions and treatments for spots to no avail but this really works for me. Everyones skin is different so it might not work as well for you as it does for me but it's well worth a go, non?

What other spot treatments work for you?

Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Foundation

If I'm honest I don't normally choose Collection 2000 as I always thought it was aimed more at young teenagers, those who are trying out makeup for the first time. But, I was in desperate need of foundation one day when I'd gone out without my makeup bag and grabbed this at Morrisons when there was nothing else. I must admit I was very pleasantly surprised with this and have used it many a time and even repurchased it when it ran out.

This is marketed as:

-Ultimate wear foundation provides up to 16 hours of flawless skin
- Lasting Perfection Foundation will take you from dawn to dusk and back again, with no need for reapplication
- SPF20 to keep skin safe in the sun
- Transfer proof and water resistant

It is a full coverage foundation which really does give me flawless skin. I use this as my 'go-to' when I'm having a bad skin day. I don't have the greatest skin I have freckless, moles,and under eye bags when I haven't had much sleep and this covers everything without the need of concealer. Although when I do need concealer I use the lasting perfection concealer as it is a perfect match for the foundation if you get the corresponding shade and is so thick but easily blendable.

I highly recommend this if you are looking for a full coverage foundation that will last all day, and for such a small price tag it's worth giving it a go surely?

Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Foundation is £5.99 and the concealer is £4.19 from boots.

Superdrug Beauty Card

At last Superdrug have launched a reward card - The Beauty Card!

Finally Superdrug have decided to get on the reward card band wagon like their competaors boots with their advantage card. I love my advantage card as I spend on much money on makeup it's nice to get something back and the points add up in no time at all. But Superdrug are cheaper on some products than boots and I  get a lot from them too so to finally get something back from them too is definatley a plus.

Now don't get me wrong I won't be replacing my advantage card with the beauty card as I am in boots 'parenting club' which means that for every pound on baby items, instead of the usual 4 points per £1 I get 10 points per £1. However, what niggles me about boots is that you can't pay part points part money, but with the beautycard you can!

You get 1 point per pound with the Beautycard but there are offers on instore to earn more points with certain products, also you can earn points and spend them online too which is a bonus especially for those of us who live near smaller stores so there isn't too much choice instore.

The Beautycard is also a handy mirror for your purse which is always a bonus for any purse!

You can pick up a Beautycard from Superdrug stores now.