Category: Beauty

Get Kissable Lips in Time for Valentine’s Day

As Valentine’s Day is only a week away, I’m sure many of you may be marking the occasion with a bit of smooching. So what better time to give those lips of yours a bit of love and make sure they are kiss worthy in time for Valentine’s day. Even if you don’t plan on any kissing this year, these two little Lush products are great for giving your lips the perfect pout.

This first product is the Lush Bubblegum lip scrub. It’s basically just sugar crystals mixed with a load of other goodness to help exfoliate your lips. You rub a small amount onto your lips using your finger and it helps get rid of dead skin to leave your lips feeling smooth and soft.

The best thing about this product (aside from the fact that it leaves your lips feeling super soft), is that it smells delicious. It also leaves a nice candy floss taste on your lips too, so that after applying it, you can just lick it off (or at least that’s what I like to do).

And finally The Kiss. When I was in Lush purchasing my lip scrub I spotted this cute little lip gloss and thought I would give it a go. Again this product smells delicious (like candy) and it feels smooth on the lips as opposed to sticky.

I love this lip gloss’s subtle pink shimmer. It means that you can get away with wearing it even when you’re wearing no makuep and it leaves your lips feeling soft and looking kissable.

And there you have it, kissable lips in time for Valentine’s day.

Samio x

February 8, 2015
My Skincare Routine Video

I finally got round to uploading a video of my skincare routine.

You can read my previous skincare routine blog post here.

Samio x

February 7, 2015
Illamasqua Multi Facet Palette Review

As much as I said I wasn’t going to shop in the sales, some things are just destined to make me fail. Like the Illamasqua sale for example. I’d noticed this delightful shiny Illamasqua Multi Facet Palette when it had first gone into the sale at £22 (if I remember correctly) down from £45. A whole week went by without me making the online purchase of this incredibly tempting item, until a few days ago when the price went down in the sale even further, to £13.50! So I have to admit, this time I didn’t even hesitate. Will power had gone out of the window and this gorgeous little palette had arrived before I knew it.

I have to say though, that this Multi Facet Palette certainly did not disappoint and I definitely got a bargain with this one…
Okay, so what’s inside. Well, the product contains eight different palettes including,a highlighter, blush, contour cream, three eye shadows, a solid brow powder and solid powder eye liner. Not forgetting the double ended brush that comes with it too.

I went for the palette in Semblance. I was a little worried at first that maybe the brow powder might be a little too pale for my eyebrows but it turned out to be the perfect match!

The highlighter is creamy and is really easy to apply. I used it to highlight my cheeks and below my brow. It’s nice and subtle too, so it gives a great shimmery glow without being to shiny and dramatic. So it’s definitely a good one if you’re a first timer at trying out a highlighter.

The eye shadows come in three gorgeous colours. The shimmery nude for the base, the pink for the lid and a pretty bronzed brown sort of colour which I used to define around the eye socket area. The three colours blended onto the eye together look splendid.

The blush is so vibrant, I love it. It’s a really nice shade of pink and it’s easy to blend in to give a nice rosy tint to your cheeks.

The eye liner was probably the product in the palette that I was unsure about as it is a powder and I’m used to using pencil or liquid eye liners. Anyway, I decided to give it a go and I can’t believe how much I loved it. It’s actually really easy to apply and using the angle edged end of the brush that comes in the palette, you can create a great slick line and flick.

The only thing in the palette that isn’t quite right for me is the contour cream as it’s not right for my skin tone. I gave it a go none the less and I’m wearing all of the products in the palette in the images below.

My foundation is also Illamasqua. If you’d like to find out more about that one you can read the review I previously did on that here. Also my lipstick is shade Growl from Illamasaqua, it’s one I’ve had for a while but I think that one is currently in the sale at the moment too.

Overall I’m absolutely delighted with this palette. It’s actually so handy and the large mirror that sits in the inside lid of the palette stands up itself so that you can place it down anywhere and do your makeup. It’s such a perfect travel size palette and I only wish I had had it last weekend when I went to stay in Liverpool for a night out with my best girlfriends. It would have saved me bringing a few different products that’s for sure.

I give this palette a big thumbs up and would definitely recommend it to anyone who is looking for a travel sized multi purpose makeup palette. But I’d say to be quick if you are wanting to purchase this one as it is limited edition and apparently the sale ends on Monday! You can shop the Illamasqua sale and their other products at Illamasqua online.

Samio x

January 30, 2015
P.S. Love: Primark Lip Liner Review

There’s nothing like a good lip liner to keep your lipstick looking on point. However, as much as I love spending money on new and colourful lipsticks I often feel slightly short changed when it comes round to buying lip liners. Although I do see them as almost a necessity when applying my lipstick, I still don’t love the idea of forking out much cash on them, especially when you’ve already purchased a pricey lipstick.

Many times I’ve gone for the more budget buys when it comes to lip liners and still been satisfied but when I came across these P.S Love lip liners from Primark’s makeup range, at such a low price, I wasn’t sure how good they would be. At only £1 per liner, I thought I may as well give them a try and after purchasing all three colours available, I couldn’t wait to get home and try them out.

This is a review that needs very little words so I’ll let the lips do the talking. A few things I will say about these lip liners though, are that they glide on easily and are strongly pigmented. They are scentless and long lasting on the lips.

Nude

I’ve been looking for a reasonably priced nude liner for ages and I’m so glad I’ve finally found one!

Pink

I already own so many pale pink lip liners, it was good to get my hands on a bright one at last.

Red

I get through so many red lip liners. I love this one, so at this price I best stock up.

I would certainly recommend these lip liners, especially if it’s your first time trying out lip liners and you want to buy a few products that aren’t going to break the bank. Also, if you’re like me and often enjoy a red lip, I’d definitely say to try out the red lip liner. I go through so many red lip liners and the cost quickly adds up but from now on I know where I’ll be continuing to purchase mine from. I only hope they start adding more colours to the range! I give these lip liners a big thumbs up!

Samio x

January 29, 2015
Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant Review

I’m sure I’m not alone in saying this but the winter weather wreaks absolute havoc with my skin and at the moment my lips seem to have been suffering the worst. In the past I’ve never really suffered with dry lips particularly but recently Vaseline just hasn’t been cutting it and so I moved onto using Carmex but still no luck. Next thing I knew I started getting dry patches of skin on my chin too, which I then tried numerous thick creams on without much improvement. I knew I needed to try out a new alternative, when I remembered the Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant. I had used this product numerous times before on shoots. Often it’s a makeup artist’s go to product for reliving models dry/chapped skin and lips. It’s a product that for years I said I’d have to buy but never got round to doing so until recently.

Finally I made the long over due purchase and literally after a day of using the Eight Hour Cream on my lips and on the dry patches of skin on my face, my lips were no longer chapped and the dry skin on my face had improved significantly. I don’t know why I didn’t purchase it sooner to be honest. Actually, I do, it’s most likely the price that had been putting me off, as spending £26 on a 50ml tube of product doesn’t seem worth it when your skin is feeling great but as soon as your having an absolute nightmare with it, it seems significantly worth it. However I was pleased to find that after shopping around, I found a couple of places selling the Eight Hour cream for way below the regular retail price. I ended up purchasing mine from Bodycare where I was surprised to see they were selling it for only £13.99. And after that I found it online for only £11.99 here, which is even more of a bargain!

The Eight Hour Cream squeezes out of the tube in a gel like consistency which has a slight orangey tinge on first appearance but then looks clear as it is rubbed in. It has a distinctive smell which I cannot quite describe, however it is not over powering or offensive. The cream is slightly sticky to the touch (similar to that of a lip balm) but absorbs easily into the skin and like I say it doesn’t take long to start working wonders on the parts of the skin in need of that extra TLC.

I couldn’t recommend this product enough. Whether you’re currently suffering from dry skin or not, it’s certainly a beauty must have as it can be used for so many different purposes. You can even use this product on dry hands or on your cuticles and nails and It’s the perfect size for popping in your hand bag, which is where I now keep mine.

Samio x

January 28, 2015
Johnson’s Daily Essentials Gentle Eye Make-up Removal Pads

Finding products that I can throw in my bag and use when I’m on the go, is something I always keep a eye out for, especially when it comes to makeup remover. Whether it’s for before the gym or after a shoot I always like to keep some form of makeup remover in my bag so that I’m prepared. In the past I have used makeup wipes to remove stubborn eye makeup when away from home, however I’m not so keen on them if I’m honest.

I came across these Johnson’s Daily Essentials Gentle Eye Make-up Removal Pads and thought I’d give them a go. Johnson’s is a brand I’ve often used, as their products are usually gentle on the skin and I wasn’t disappointed with these makeup removal pads either.

The pads come in a plastic circular tub with a screw top lid, which is perfect as it prevents the pads inside for drying out. There are 30 circular pads inside the tub and it recommends using one for each eye, however on days when I’ve just been wearing mascara, I’ve found I’ve been able to use either side of one pad for each eye.

The pads are really soft and feel gentle on the skin, which is of course important as the eye area is very delicate. The pads feel slightly damp to the touch and I have found that they do work well at removing even waterproof mascara. They are also very lightly fragranced with a fresh scent and after use they leave my eyes feeling moisturised as apposed to leaving the skin feeling slightly dry like some makeup wipes can.

A great thing about these pads are that my eyes are left looking fresh after removing my eye makeup and don’t leave my eyes looking red. I would definitely recommend these eye makeup removal pads as they are gentle on the eyes and are great for travel use. I give them a big thumbs up.

Samio x

January 27, 2015
Godmorgon – Organising My Makeup

What if I told you that I decided to throw away all of my makeup? Okay silly question, of course you wouldn’t believe me but do believe me when I say I had a huge clear out and when I say I threw the majority of my makeup away, it’s not even an over exaggeration. No I’ve not decided that an everyday bare face is the way forward for me, nor did I just have a moment of madness, I simply had a much needed, long overdue clear out. Now the majority of my makeup resides in this perfectly organised Perspex container with the rest fitting neatly into one medium sized makeup bag.

I had known a makeup overhaul had been needed for quite some time but the arduous task of sifting through never ending piles of mostly unwanted makeup was rarely high up on my to do list. Eventually last week, I got round to the task and I didn’t go lightly on myself when it came to throwing many products away. I’m sure many of us have been guilty of hoarding products we no longer use, using the excuse ‘I might need it one day’. In order to make my clear out successful, I gave myself a few rules; If I’ve not used it in several months, bin it. If it looks old, bin it. If it smells gross, definitely bin it. If it has no place in my daily or night out makeup routine, bin it… You get the gist and with that my makeup clear out was well on it’s way.

The main thing I have to thank for my newly organised makeup, is this fabulous see through plastic organising container from Ikea, called Godmorgon. This is actually an item Ikea have sold for years and I’ve had my eye on it for a while but last time I was in store it was out of stock. Finally, last week I was able to get my hands on it and I’m so happy I did. Never before has my makeup looked so tidy.

After a good while of sorting out and cleaning up my products I was left with a modest amount of makeup in my collection and I have to say I feel so much better for it. No more sifting through a never ending bag of lipsticks or carefully rummaging through a bag of eye and lip liners in fear one of the lids would fall off.

One thing I love about this container is that it has an upper tray at the front which is perfect for keeping makeup brushes and as you see here I’ve used it for my favourite foundation and BB cream too. The top front tray is on a a pivot so that you can pull it up in order to get at the tray below and you can also remove it if you need to.

Surely enough over time my makeup collection will grow again but this time I plan on keeping it organised. If I keep my makeup in a tidy format which makes it easy to see, it should stop me from buying products which I later forget about and also help me to keep track of what I’m using. No doubt soon enough I’ll be buying another one of these and for anyone else wanting to tidy up their makeup collection, I would certainly recommend getting one too.

Samio x

January 21, 2015
2 Easy Methods for Creating a Quick and Easy Frohawk

It’s always good to experiment with different styles with your afro or curly hair, especially if you’re transitioning or are in a process of trying to grow your hair and fancy something different. Some days the regular puff just doesn’t cut it, so why not try out a frohawk if you haven’t done before. It’s actually a rather simple style to achieve and here a my two easiest methods for doing so…

Method 1 – The Kirby Grip/Bobby Pin Method

Whatever you like to call them, kirby grips or bobby pins, using them to pin your hair in place is a super easy way to create a frohawk hair style.

First of all I added volume and fizz to my hair by combing it out slightly with an afro comb. You can do this look with any type of curly hair of course, I just decided to go for a more wild, frizzy look so that I could create a bigger frohawk.

First of all get a bunch of kirby grips. I used around 8 or 10 kirby grips (between 4 and 5 on each side). For a tighter more slick style or if your adding product to neaten up the sides you may want to use more kirby grips.

Make sure all of your kirby grips have their nibs on the end, like the one on the right here. Often I find some of my older kirby grips lose their nib, like this one on the left, which can be slightly painful as well as damaging on your hair when trying to pin it in place. So be sure to throw any kirby grips without a nib in the bin before you get started.

(btw, kirby grips/bobby pins go curvy side down when sliding them into your hair, in case you weren’t sure)

Start by grabbing the lower section of your hair on one side of your head and pull it back before sliding in your first kirby grip to hold the section of hair in place.

Work forward, grabbing the next section of hair and pinning the hair back in place until you have lifted and pinned all of your hair on one side.

Work from the front to the back of your hair if you find it easier and repeat the technique on the other side of your head so that both sides are pinned up.

There you have it, your kirby grip frohawk. Like I said, if you want a slicker, more neater looking frohawk then you can add products to the sides and comb the hair as you pin it to make it look super neat. I however rather like the rough and ready look.

Method 2 – The Bobble/Hair Tie Method

Again, whatever you call these, bobbles (my personal favourite) or hair ties, you will need three of them.

Section the middle front part of hair on your head. This doesn’t have to be neat but try and make it central, then bobble it.

Repeat this with the middle section of hair (behind the first puff), this time also bringing in the hair from the sides, up to round about your ears. Again don’t worry about the sections being super neat.

The first two sections tied up should look like this – a semi frohawk.

Finally grab the remaining lower section of hair and tie in a bobble.

This will create three puffs on your head, which you can tweak around slightly with your fingers to make sure all the hair blends together (if it doesn’t initially).

And voilà, the quick and easy three bobble frohawk.

So if you’re having a bad hair day, or maybe just fancy doing something different, why not try out a quick and easy frohawk using one of these simple methods.

I would love to know some of your thoughts. Have you ever tried a frohawk or do you think you’d like to try out this style in the future?

Samio x

January 13, 2015
Bobbi Brown BB Cream and Corrector for Dark Circles

I love finding products that I love, rather obvious I know but although I’m forever accumulating new makeup and products, it takes a lot for me to find something different that I regularly like putting all over my face. This is where this Bobbi Brown BB Cream comes in. I’ve mentioned before that I discovered this product on a shoot when a makeup artist used it on me and I couldn’t believe how good it was. I’ve used BB creams (referred to as ‘blemish/beauty balms’) in the past but I think due to me trying out some of the budget ones I wasn’t overly impressed and soon reverted back to my trusted foundations.

It wasn’t long after trying out Bobbi Brown’s BB cream that it was added to my makeup collection and now it’s my new favourite thing to use on my face day to day. As I’m slightly obsessed with skin protection (I’m the girl who wears factor 50 during the summer), I absolutely love the fact that this BB cream contains SPF 35, as I feel it’s important to try and protect the skin as much as possible.

This BB cream feels light on the skin and gives a dewy fresh look which I really like. Although the BB cream claims to include a moisturiser, I still like to apply a moisturiser to my face beforehand, just so that my skin feels fully hydrated. At home I use my regular day moisturiser. However when I went to purchase my BB cream, the woman in store applied a base of Bobbi Brown Hydrating Face Cream first, which I have to say felt great on the skin and seemed to work really well with the BB cream also.

This BB cream isn’t the cheapest but for me I found a perfect match with shade, Natural. I love how it evens out my complexion and gives that natural ‘no makeup’ look, whilst feeling light on the skin and blending perfectly with my own skin tone.

Whilst purchasing the Bobbi Brown BB Cream I thought I’d give some of their other products a go and so I got to try out this Bobbi Brown Corrector. It’s made to neutralise dark under eyes and is meant to be applied before a concealer. The shade light to medium peach was the corrector that matched my tone and I could instantly see the difference it made to brightening my under eyes. As I don’t suffer from major dark circles, I’ve found I’ve been able to use the product without applying concealer over the top. The corrector shade I purchased already blends well with my skin tone whilst adding brightness under the eyes so I’ve felt the need to add concealer unnecessary for the time being.

The only warning I can give about this product is that it’s rather thick, as of course it is meant to help correct the darkest of under eye circles. So I would just to say be careful when applying it and be sure not to cake it on, as after hours of wearing it, creases can appear and that will end up looking rather bad. So be sure to apply this product sparingly and after using your concealer, apply a light powder over the top which will reduce any shine and help set the makeup.

(It doesn’t actually look as orangey in real life as in this picture)

Overall I really like both of these products from Bobbi Brown. The packaging is simple yet smart and the products themselves do exactly what they say on the labels. Obviously the BB cream is my favourite and shall be a reoccurring makeup purchase for me from now on. If you suffer from dark circles and want something to help even out the tone of your under eyes, then I would definitely recommend the Bobbi Brown corrector and say it’s worth going in store to find your match. I give both of these products a big thumbs up and definitely recommend them.

Below I’m wearing the Bobbi Brown BB Cream and Bobbi Brown Corrector without any added concealer or face powder, to show the results of using these two products.

Samio x

January 9, 2015
The Body Shop – Almond Hand and Nail Cream

During the winter my hands always need a little extra TLC. Although I wear gloves most of the time whilst outdoors during the winter, I still find there’s nothing like a decent hand cream to keep your hands moisturised and protected. I’ve been working my way through this Almond Hand & Nail Cream I got from the body shop this winter and I have to say it’s been doing a great job of keeping my hands soft and preventing them from drying out in this harsh weather.

This hand cream has rather oily consistency, although it does soak into the skin easily, leaving your hands nice and soft. Also I really like the smell of this product (as with most products I buy they have to pass the smell test first). This product may seem a little on the pricey side for a hand cream but I must say, if you have really dry hands then it will probably do a much better job than some of the cheaper hand creams and so may be worth the investment. Also, like I said it is rather oily, so it means you don’t have to use a lot at a time, which means the entire tube lasts quite a while. I’ve had mine for a couple of months now and it’s still going strong.

The only downside to this hand cream I have to say is the packaging. Although it looks nice and fancy in its silver metal tube, it actually becomes a slight inconvenience after having had it for some time. As I’ve got half way through mine, the tube has split slightly in the middle which is obviously not the best. They do however sell a smaller, 30ml tube of this product as apposed to the 100ml which I purchased, which may help prevent this problem and make it safer to have in your handbag.

Despite the slight tube mishap, I’d still recommend this product. However I’d say if you go for the 100ml tube, save it for at home to prevent any accidents incase the tube splits slightly whilst it’s in your handbag.

Samio x

January 8, 2015