FRICTION FREE SHAVING

WANT SILKY SMOOTH LEGS?

Sounds too good to be true right, friction free shaving, silky smooth legs... Well, I thought so too until I tested it out. In a nutshell, Friction Free Shaving (FFS herein) is a subscription service that deliver a razor handle and blades straight to your door every month for a small charge. And when I say a small charge, I mean a very small charge. 

FFS offer 3 different beautiful razor handles; Faye, Frankie & Samantha. The difference being the number of blades. I opted for the Samantha razor. I don't know if it was the shiny gold colour or the fact that each head has 5 blades and a Vitamin E strip that enticed me to pick her but she is a beauty and only costs £7 per month! 

I honestly think I've tried every razor in the market. All of the Venus razors, mens razors and disposable ones and every single one (except the Venus razors) left me with an awful red bumpy rash where I had shaved, not nice at all! I loved the Venus Breeze razor, it had 3 blades and a built in gel bar to ease the friction and I was quite happy with it but the day after I had shaved, I felt I needed to shave again. I was always convinced that my hair growth was ridiculously quick. When I did attempt to re-shave over freshly shaved skin it would burn like hell and leave my skin feeling sensitive and sore. But when you don't know better you just put up with it, don't you? Well ladies, not any more. Let me tell you my 5 reasons why you need to stop using your current razor and switch to FFS!

• It does what is says on the tin. No friction = no nasty red lumps and bumps.
• The price point. I feel like Venus have robbed me since my teenage years. I'd pay about £18 for 4 blades which is double what FFS charge AND you get 5 blades!
• The fact that they deliver straight to your door with FREE POSTAGE AHH. No more last minute shopping trips because you forgot to pick up the £18 Venus blades. Well..you didn't forget more like you grudged paying the price and decided you'd rather be hairy.
• FFS look so luxurious and are such high quality you will display yours proudly in your bathroom. No more hiding your ancient, plastic, bright orange disposable razor..
• And lastly, Samantha, my trusty FFS razor has given me the closest, smoothest shave I have ever have. I don't feel I need to shave every day. Hallelujah!

In my opinion FSS is a genius and cost-effective way to purchase razors. Hassle free and amazing value for money, what's not to love? 

Still not convinced? Check out the FFS website www.ffs.co.uk where they have lots of information on the different payment plans they offer; the razors and a billion other reasons why you need a FFS razor in your life.

Let me know if you are thinking of purchasing a razor and if this blog review helped. 

Have a great day and thanks for reading.

#meetyourshaviour #ffs #frictionfreeshaving #razor #samantharazor 

BATTLE OF THE CONTOUR!

Anastasia Beverley Hills VS Smashbox Shape Matters

I've had my ABH palette for about 1 year now and I've always been pretty happy with it. To be honest I had nothing else really to compare it to. I feel like Anastasia was the first to bring out highlighting and contouring products to the makeup world and then out of nowhere all other brands started bringing out their own version. Now anytime I wear makeup, I HAVE to contour my face. Who doesn't want that perfectly chiseled Kim K face!! The fact that you can give yourself cheekbones or slim down your nose without surgery is amazing... and cheaper!! It just gives a bit dimension to your face so it doesn't look so flat. The pictures below show how I've used the contour & highlight shades to create the illusion of a slimmer nose and cheekbones.

My sister bought me the Smashbox Shape Matters for Christmas and I've been LOVING it and have found myself reaching for that over the ABH contour palette. Why? Well here's my opinion on the both - see what matters most to you before you fork out on a new contour kit.

• The pigmentation in the Smashbox palette is insane. The colour pay off from the shadows, the contour etc - its SO good and a little goes a long way.
• I like the fact that the Smashbox palette has eyeshadows, eyebrow powders and contour & highlight shades. If you are travelling or going away you could easily just take this 1 palette and nothing else! 
• Price of ABH is £39 and the Smashbox Shape Matters is £60 - quite a difference in price but I think you get more for your money with the Smashbox palette, they even supply you with a dual ended eye shadow brush!!
• I like the fact that you can now customise the colours in the ABH contour palette and there is now pre-made light, medium and dark palettes. When I got mine it was the first palette she released so there is some shades I have never used which feels a bit of a waste. 
• I like the packaging of the Smashbox palette better. It's heavier and you get this giant mirror - again perfect for travelling. My ABH palette got dirty very quickly and I can never get it clean! I hate grubby makeup ha ha.

Smashbox Palette Swatches of Contour/Highlight Shades

ABH Palette Swatches of Contour/Highlight Shades

Ahhh the power of make-up!! 

As I said though, I was always pretty happy with my ABH kit. If my sister hadn't bought me the Smashbox kit for Christmas I wouldn't be looking to buy a contour kit until I had hit pan on the shades I constantly use. There are so many brands creating contour palettes it is hard to choose which one to go for. I definitely recommend doing your research by reading reviews and looking at swatches before you fork out on a contour kit. At the end of the day you only need 1!! 

Hope this helps!

As always, thanks for reading xo

FIRST IMPRESSION - NARS VELVET MATTE SKIN TINT

Nars - Velvet Matte Skin Tint

"An oil-free skin tint to protect and perfect with a soft-matte finish"

Ok, so I am a full/matte coverage kinda gal when it comes to foundations. Yes yes, dewy skin is so youthful and beautiful but unfortunately for folk with oily skin like myself, you end up looking like a right hot mess with makeup sliding all over your face! It's not a good look....trust me! I am always very apprehensive when it comes to trying any base makeup that is not a matte full coverage foundation but I read soo many good things about the new Nars Velvet Matte Skin Tint online that I just had to try it. 

There are days where I wake up and I cannot be bothered with a full cake-face of makeup. Sometimes that extra 20 mins in bed is more appealing than making myself look, well... alive but then I tend to regret that choice when you get the questions from your colleagues such as "What's wrong?", "Are you ok?", "You look tired!" ...First world problems I know.  

Basically, "Velvet Matte Skin Tint" is just a fancy way of saying "tinted moisturiser" but I think Nars get away with calling it a fancy name because I have never used a tinted moisturiser with coverage as good as this! I'd say it is medium coverage but definitely buildable. I think it looks like my skin only better...and it evens out skintone.  It's so lightweight on the skin you forget it's even on!  

I mean seriously - look at the coverage - no shine, no redness - all over even base!

This is the perfect "foundation" for taking on holiday, it's lightweight and has an SPF30. It's always daunting not wearing much makeup on holiday so this would be able to give the appearance of perfect skin, even during the day if you were going on trips etc. I'm 27 and still insecure about people seeing my naked skin so this is a huge deal finding something that can make you feel and look a better version of yourself without too much effort. 10/10 from me Nars!

Shade: Alaska

Where To Buy: Nars Cosmetics, Asos, Feel Unique, John Lewis, House of Fraser

Price: £30

Thanks for reading! 

PROBLEMATIC SKIN!

Real-U Australia

I've always had problem skin, ever since I was a teenager. Yup I was always the spotty one out my group of friends (I know, poor me!!). My self esteem was pretty low and even now at 27, if I have a massive breakout I feel so insecure and hate people looking at my "horrible" skin. I thought I'd tried every skincare brand for acne-prone skin until I read online about Real-U Australia. The reviews online are insane with people showing off their incredible results, sometimes even after just 1 use so I knew it had to be good. 

I love the Real-U motto - "Real-U's is all about keeping it real. Real people; real stories; real results" - a company who are genuinely interested in feedback from their customers are a winning company in my eyes. Ebony (who has been a skincare professional for 20 years) is extremely friendly and helpful. There is a link on the website "Asky Ebony" where you can ask her skincare questions which I think is brilliant! 

The Real-U products work as a 3 step system: 

1. Cleanser

2. Control Serum

3.  Moisturiser 

I was very lucky to have been sent the control serum from the lovely Ebony to try out and considering it is part of a 3 step system, the difference in my skin by using the serum alone is amazing. It's not a thick heavy serum like some that I've previously used and it doesn't dry out my skin either. It has dramatically reduced my pores giving me a more even skin texture. I've been putting it on twice a day after cleansing my skin and not only does my skin look good, it feels good too which is always a nice confidence boost! 

Real-U's hypo-allergenic products don't contain any damaging benzoyl, peroxide or salicylic acid in them which can irritate your skin so if you are a "Sensitive Sally" like me - your skin will thank you for this.

I would definitely recommend checking out their products and giving them a try if like me, your skin breaks out. It really is worth investing in good skincare because no amount of makeup can truly hide problematic skin. The better the base, the better the makeup will go on and in my opinion, the better it will look. And hey, like my mum always says, you'll thank yourself when your older for looking after your skin when you were younger! 

My skin before using Real-U

My skin after using Real-U

My skin is SO much more brighter, the redness has completed died down, my pores are less visible and my skin is a lot smoother. I feel much less insecure now when I don't wear makeup as none of the nasty spots or pores are out!!

If you're still unsure whether to try out a new brand - read more reviews on Instagram @realuaustraliafeedback - you will be amazed at the results!

Check out the website https://real-u.com.au/ for more reviews and other Real-U products which I've not mentioned in my blog

I hope you find this review helpful. 

As always, thanks for reading!

Lx

LIP SAVIOUR!

Dr Lipp's Original Nipple Balm 

I suffer from really dry, cracked/chapped lips all year round. The amount of lip products/balms I have is ridiculous, some are even "medicated" but nothing ever works for me. I am constantly having to re-apply any product to keep my lips hydrated and smooth. I'll admit, I am a bit of a picker as well so if there is any dry skin I tend to pick it off leaving my lips raw and bleeding!  Eww, I know, gross right but I HATE the feeling of flaky skin! It's never a good look rocking chapped lips, especially under lipstick so I am super excited to share that I have found my little lip savior - Dr Lipp - Nipple Lip Balm!

BEFORE

Don't let the name puzzle you - the balm was originally designed for new mothers to use to soothe their nipples after breastfeeding, although now it has been tried & tested all over the world it is renowned as a multipurpose product! 

DR LIPP ON LIPS

The balm is 100% natural with only 1 ingredient called Lanolin. I'm not going to babble on about why Lanolin is great as I am no dermatologist but what I do know is (once I researched it he he) that Lanolin oils are very similar to our skin’s natural oils meaning they easily penetrate and absorb deeply into the skin.

I was seriously impressed with the results after 1 use. I put it on before I went to bed as I thought it would be good to soak into my lips through the night. I got up for the loo 5 or 6 hours later and I kid you not, the balm was still on!!! When I woke up in the morning I noticed my lips looked much more healthy and pink, not dry or flaky at all. It has such a nice sheen to it as well so if you wear it alone it really makes your lips look juicy and plump. 

AFTER

In my opinion, the balm is a staple multipurpose product that I think everyone should own. £12 is not a lot of money when you think of all the things it can be used for. This one little tube has the answer to all your problems; cracked lips/nipples, eczema, sunburn - the list is endless!! 

Top 20 beauty & skincare uses

1.     Long-lasting lipgloss

2.     Cheek shine

3.     Eye gloss for a dewy look

4.     Eyebrow shaping

5.     Lip primer – helps prevent blotching

6.     As a mixer for pigment

7.     Perfect for adhesion of glitter for lips, eyes & diamantes

8.     Skin primer – smoothes flaky skin before foundation

9.     Smooth fly away hair

10.   Gloss nails naturally

11.   Chapped lips

12.   Dry cuticles

13.   Dry skin patches

14.   Fine lines under the eyes

15.   Split ends

16.   Eye lashes

17.   Itchy & sore skin

18.   Small cuts, burns & abrasions

19.   Sore noses from blowing

20.   Sore nipples from breastfeeding.

Links where to buy Dr Lipp:

• https://www.drlipp.com
• http://uk.spacenk.com/en_GB/original-nipple-balm-for-lips/MUK200000768.html
• http://www.lookfantastic.com/dr.-lipp-original-nipple-balm-for-lips/10804751.html
• http://www.beautybay.com/skincare/drlipp/originalnipplebalmforlips/ 

Let me know what your lip saviour is in the comments box. 

Thanks for reading!

Hugs
Lx

Do Brightening Masks really work?

 Liz Earle Brightening Treatment Mask

So I’ve used this little gem a few times now and I must say, I am seriously loving the results that I am seeing. It does what it claims to do – revitalise dull looking skin.

Being 27 weeks pregnant, a good night’s rest is just not happening right now and my skin is showing the effects of sleepless nights. So with the help of this product, I can “fake” a good night’s rest and enhance my pregnancy glow.

It works within a few minutes, by drawing your impurities to the surface, which feels sort of tingly on the skin. Once removed you are left with a glowy flushed complexion leaving you with youthful and healthy looking skin. It leaves my skin feeling really soft as well! The mask itself has a creamy texture and smells pleasant and fresh.

It does state that it is not suitable for sensitive skin, which unfortunately I do have BUT it contains ingredients such as Aloe Vera and Witch Hazel; 2 ingredients that I use daily on my skin anyway so I knew it wouldn’t irritate my skin too much. The first time I used it, it did  leave my skin a little dry but I left it on my skin too long. Now I just leave it on for a minute maximum.

BEFORE & AFTER (no filter or enhancements made to either pic!)

As far as I am concerned, Liz Earle has smashed it again with this little beauty! I am hooked on the Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser (I mean, who isn’t?!) so paired together they are a match made in heaven! 

Links where to buy Liz Earle Brightening Mask- RRP £15:

http://uk.lizearle.com/brightening-treatment-mask.html 

http://www.boots.com/en/Liz-Earle-Brightening-Treatment-Mask-50ml-Starter-Kit_1550462/

http://www.johnlewis.com/liz-earle-brightening-treatment-mask-starter-kit-50ml/p231417734

Have you tried this product? What did you think?

Lx

DAYTIME GLAM

The lazy girls guide to daytime glam....

Being an expectant mummy, the last thing I can be bothered doing right now is my usual full face makeup routine. 

These are my Holy Grail necessities that I find myself reaching for most mornings to give me that fresh dewy faced look rather than I've just rolled out of bed, still half asleep look! 

• Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Water - a few squirts of this to awaken and refresh  my skin.
• Makeup Forever Step 1 Primer - to lock in moisture and keep my pores at bay.
• Maybelline Instant Anti Age Concealer - to hide those under-eye bags and give the         appearance of a good night’s rest (which  by the way, is pretty rare to have a good nights rest at 26 weeks pregnant!!!)
• MAC strobe cream - for glowy youthful looking skin.
• Loreal Brow Artist Plumper - to fill in my sparse brows and lock the brow hairs in place.
• Benefit Roller Lash - for wide-awake looking eyes.

And although not makeup related, this is probably my favourite "time-saver" EVER -

• Redken Extreme Anti Snap Leave In Conditioner - it helps keep shower time to a minimum so  I can have that extra 5 minutes in bed he he.

What are your Holy Grail “quick-fix” products??