Beauty Products I'm Loving At The Mo...

I thought I'd mix it up a bit today with this post and give you lovely people something different to read other than wedding related posts ha! As much as I'm loving writing about the whole planning process with my wedding and giving out ideas and advice, I'm aware it won't be relevant to all of you and to be honest I've been thinking about writing this post for a while.

I've been loving a lot of beauty products recently and actually felt the need and want to do a post like this. I want to share what I'm loving with you and see if some of you might feel the same love for certain products or feel the need to try something out based on my thoughts :). I'm not going to share absolutely everything that I'm using at the moment here otherwise we'll be here for days but just those products that I'm using constantly and have really stood out to me for several months.

Skincare

A few months back I ran out of my last cleanser that I had. There was a stage where I had a few on the go, some were purchases/gifts and some were samples but the last one I had was the No7 Beautiful Skin Melting Gel Cleanser. Although this was a nice cleanser whilst I was using it and did the job, I didn't feel the need to instantly repurchase it and I still favoured the No7 Beautiful Skin Hot Cloth Cleanser over it. However, this time I was looking for a more purse-friendly cleanser (obvious reason being, with our wedding coming up the majority of our dosh has been spent on that). I went and had a look around Boots and liked the sound of the Garnier Skin Naturals Softening Cleansing Lotion. It was their slogan of 'Goodbye Dry' that attracted me, along with there being no parabens in the lotion and it being suitable for sensitive skin, which I can have at times. I also bought the toner and the Moisture Match Ultra Hydrating Cream so I could use the whole collection as a skincare routine. These products are really working out for me, so much so that I've already repurchased all of them and will continue to do so. They work for my dry, sensitive skin and they make my skin look supple and dewy. The prices are really reasonable and the last time I repurchased they were priced at 2 for £4, so there are often offers on too. If you have dry, rough skin and are struggling to find a product or range that really works for you, I'd recommend giving these a go and at least they won't break the bank!

I was also given the opportunity to sample the Mary Kay Skinvigorate Cleansing Brush around the same time as I found the Garnier products. I received a press release with the opportunity and I was thrilled to be honest because all the rave seems to be about the Clarisonic and although it might be great and have fab reviews, it isn't necessarily going to suit all budgets, including mine! The Mary Kay Skinvigorate Cleansing Brush is a lot more reasonable in terms of price. I think it has a slightly smaller brush than the Clarisonic but it still has the same concept and I absolutely love mine. Around the time I found the Garnier products, after the cold weather, I was feeling a bit 'bleurgh' about my skin because it felt rough and dry at times and so I was also going to get an exfoliator. However, as I received this to test out just before I bought the Garnier products, I decided to use this with my Garnier cleanser and thought hopefully it should do the trick to thoroughly cleanse my face but remove all dead skin cells and keep my face soft, supply and dewy. I keep mine in the bathroom and use in the shower or at the sink. I'd say out of 7 days, there might be 2 where I'll use face wipes or cotton pads with my cleanser but I use this on most days because I love how it makes my skin feel and I no longer have the 'bleurgh' feeling or feel that I must be doing something wrong with my skin because this is sorting it all out for me. I can have sensitive skin at times, so I might get a little bit of redness but most of this is natural, it's nothing too harsh caused by the cleansing brush and used with the Garnier cleanser which is suitable for sensitive skin, I don't feel any discomfort at all. It is said to remove make-up 85% better than if you were to cleanse by hand. It prepares the skin to absorb moisturiser/skin care products better and you'll find that your make-up goes on a lot better too. It's really made a difference to my skin. It comes with two brush heads and I've just looked on the website to see if they sell the brush heads separately and they do, so I'm really pleased about that as mine is due to be changed, so I have one left to use and then I'll have to repurchase.

Hair

Another product everyone seems to go mad for is the Tangle Teezer and fair enough that product won't break the bank but I was sent another product months ago now that has exactly the same concept and is even cheaper and who doesn't want to save money where they can, right?! The Denman Bright Detangling Brush is small, round and bright! I have the purple one (it's a given really, I love purple!) and it sits in my shower so after shampooing and conditioning I can use it to smooth out my hair before I step out the shower. It has extra soft plastic pins so you can give yourself a scalp massage if you wish. You could also use it outside of the shower and for a different use, such as, to distribute gels and waxes a bit better when styling your hair. I love the handle, you can slip your hand in and really get a grip on your hair. I use it every time I shower without fail.

This brings me onto another Denman product that I've also been using for months. The Tangle Tamer is a similar product to the detangling brush in that it smooths out your hair without any pain or a huge loss of hair. I keep mine in the bedroom for when I'm out of the shower and brushing/styling my hair for drying/straightening/curling etc. It's great whether your hair is dry or wet and I don't lose nearly as much hair as I have done using other regular brushes.

Make-Up

I've found that I prefer to use stippling brushes when it comes to applying my foundation. I love that they gives me a flawless complexion. I used to have one that I bought from Ebay or Amazon so long ago now I can't even remember when it was but it broke at the end of last year so I decided to invest in a better one. I opted for the Real Techniques Stippling Brush and I love it. There's not a whole lot to say really about a make-up brush but I love the quality of it and the whole look - it's a lovely pink! I don't have any brush hairs coming off onto my face and the brush is really soft and feels lovely when I'm applying my foundation. Like I said it provides a flawless base and ensures that you can get into all areas of your face and blend in that foundation perfectly.

I've raved several times about the Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream on Twitter and it is definitely one of my favourite found products of last year. I even recommended it to my aunty last year for her wedding as she doesn't normally wear foundation and just wanted a subtle base and now she loves it! A base for me is all about it being light, me feeling like my skin can breathe and something that gives me a fresh, dewy glow. I use this with a little of the Collection 2000 Long Lasting Perfection Concealer (which has been my favourite concealer for quite a few years now) on top and it provides me with the perfect, flawless base that I'm looking for. I love that it's oil free, as I'm not a fan of greasy products and the fact that it has an SPF of 30 in it. Always a bonus with make-up! I've repurchased this a few times now and will continue to do so.

The BB cream is my budget base and for something a little bit more pricier I love the Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Foundation which is light and provides an amazing radiance, this has an SPF of 15 and I'm going to be purchasing this for my wedding/holiday. Mainly as a treat as I have someone doing my make-up for the wedding so I'm not sure what they're going to use. Whilst we are on 'bases', I've never been a massive fan of powder but at the moment I'm using the Miners Cosmetics Fresh Faced Powder in soft sand. I use a little after I've applied a primer and then a little after I've applied my concealer which finalises my base. It's just to set everything in place really and I've found my make-up lasts a lot longer since I've been doing this. I use the Bare Minerals Full Flawless Application Face Brush to apply my powder.

There was a time when I never used to really do anything to my eyebrows, I'd brush them through but that's about it. I've used various eyebrow pencils in the past and just gone with it but since I had my HD Brows Palette in a Glossybox some time ago now, I haven't looked back. I had the 'Foxy' palette which consists of a nude, ash brown, warm brown and carbon. On the HD Brows website they don't seem to sell the palettes as quads like mine any more, but they still have the 'Foxy' type, just in a different palette. They do have other shade types aswell. I use the HD Brows Fine Angled Brow Brush with my palette and they work really well together. I don't tend to go for striking, bold eyebrows I just like to fill them in so there's a full shape there. The powder provides a soft and natural look and is easily removed with cleanser/make-up remover but stays in place as it should. On the website it says that all palettes now come with a finishing wax so that your brow colour can be set in place even more.

I love a nice sun-kissed glow, especially during the summer as I don't tend to tan that easily. My staple bronzer currently is the MeMeMe Shimmer Stack in bronze. It consists of five different shimmer powders/colours and you can use the shades singularly but I tend to mix the shades together. I always try to just apply it where the sunlight would naturally hit but I love the radiance it gives off and it makes me look really healthy. I always feel that little bit better with a tan, so I do really love this. I use it on my décolletage too, more so when I'm going out for the evening.

I have numerous blushes but the one I want to mention is one that I've been constantly reaching for during the past 7-8 months. I'm nearly running out of it as it was a little circular sample blush from a Glossybox, but it's the Mica Beauty Mineral Blush Powder in Terra Cotta. It's a lovely coral/orange colour, but quite subtle and it just provides a lovely translucent glow. It feels light on the skin and not cloggy or too much and I've really been enjoying using it. It took me a while to want to try it out to be honest as I've used powders/mineral foundations in the past and not been overly keen and I prefer the fresh, dewy glow that you usually get with a liquid base, but like I said at the moment it's my go to blusher.

In terms of an eye product, my go to eye liner is the Daniel Sandler Long Lasting Waterproof Eyeliner in grey, which is a soft, velvety formula that glides onto the eyes and stays put until you want to remove it. I love the grey colour for a smoky, smudged kind of look and it is suitable for both day and night. I find if you apply it as it is onto the waterline it's good for a nice, chilled daytime look and if you wet it a bit and apply just below the waterline onto the skin where your lash roots are and smudge it in a little, it's lovely for the evening :).

I love a red lip. Even during the day time if I'm not opting for just a lip balm or a slick of gloss, I prefer to go for bold colours and it almost always ends up being red. I have two main products that I like to use, the first is Nars Pure Matte Lipstick in Vesuvio, which is described by Nars as being a full bodied red. I love it for a really bold colour, however it can be a little bit drying which I find most matte lipsticks to be, but I apply lip balm whilst I'm doing the rest of my make-up and then apply the lipstick on top. Sometimes I leave it like this but sometimes for an added extra, I add the MeMeMe Light Me Up Lip Gloss in Intense. The gloss is high shine and comes with a mirror on the side and lights in the lid so you can even apply your lip gloss in the darkest of places. It also contains plumping agents for volume. I love this overall lip look for a night out.

Are any of your favourites above?

Let me know about your current favourites :).

Thanks so much for reading!

Gem XxOo

Images courtesy of Boots, Mary Kay, Denman, Miners Cosmetics, Real Techniques, HD Brows, MeMeMe, Mica Beauty, Gorgeous Shop and Look Fantastic.

No7 Radiance Boosting Hot Cloth Cleanser vs Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish...

Hello Lovelies, I hope you are all well! :-).

I have wanted to review the No7 Radiance Boosting Hot Cloth Cleanser and the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser for a while now, so I thought it would be a good start to do this for my first proper beauty related post. You will see I have put the two cleansers against each other in the title (vs) and as you read on you will know why.

You may be surprised to hear which is my favourite of these two cleansers, but I will start at the beginning...

If you are subscribed to me on YouTube, you will see in my QVC haul here that I purchased a set from the Liz Earle range. The set consisted of a 100ml bottle of the Cleanse and Polish, a 200ml bottle of the Instant Boost Skin Tonic, 2 Muslin Cloths and a Waterproof Bag. This set cost me £25 from the QVC website, which you can buy here.

I was really excited about using this cleanser as I used to be one of those people that used 4 in 1 make-up remover wipes to get my make-up off every evening and then I used a face mask once a week for a deep cleanse. So I was looking forward to trying something new and seeing how it improved my skin. I don't have the worst skin in the world, I am lucky that I don't have acne prone skin, but there are little things that bother me like I have dry patches in places, large pores (or they seem large to me) and sometimes I feel like my skin tone is slightly uneven without make-up.

I have heard so many good reviews about this cleanser-I had seen it being sold on QVC so many times before I decided to buy it. I saw it being tried and tested by the models/testers/customers on QVC and I saw how good the results were from it. When I started making video's for YouTube I saw many reviews for the cleanser from other beauty guru's and it just seemed anywhere or everywhere that I saw or read a review it was a good one. So after all this I decided to treat myself and go ahead and buy the set, especially as it was made from naturally active ingredients which I am really big on.

When I started to use the cleanser, don't get me wrong it is extremely luxurious and feels amazing when applied. It also smells great and you feel really special using it, like you are using a really high quality product. However, overall I was quite disappointed with the cleanser, because it just didn't seem to be working for my skin. I would say I have combination; normal to dry skin and the skin on my face can be slightly sensitive but these were not the issues for my disappointment in the product. I just thought I would mention it so you know I haven't got that much of a different skin type than a lot of people out there who have used this product and loved it.

I was using this cleanser every evening to remove my make-up and following the correct method of removing all traces of make-up and then splashing my face with cold water, but after just a week (it may have been even less) I started to break out. It wasn't big massive break outs but small ones in different areas of my face and I knew this wasn't normal as I never have this problem (and I don't have the problem now I have stopped using it). I also found I was feeling breakouts underneath my skin. Now don't get me wrong, I didn't stop using the cleanser straight away because I thought well it's a new product that I am using, my skin is just getting used to it and probably just giving me a deep cleanse. This cleanser lasted about two months with a double pump of the cleanser every night (one for my face make-up and another for my eye make-up) and all the way throughout using it I had the same problem. There were no other benefits to my skin from using this to outweigh the fact that it was causing me breakouts and to be honest this wasn't something that I wanted to keep re-purchasing if it was doing this to my skin.

Bring on the No7 Radiance Boosting Hot Cloth Cleanser. I came across this cleanser by chance really just browsing the shelves in Boots, you can buy it here and for £9 I was keen to try it out and collect the points of course he, he.

I didn't have any expectations for this cleanser simply because I hadn't read any reviews on it previous to buying it, so I really didn't know what to expect. However, I liked that it was the same concept as the Liz Earle with the hot cloth (then splashing your face with cold water afterwards to close the pores) and I didn't really want to revert back to using make-up remover wipes, so I decided to give it a go...and how glad I am that I did!!

This cleanser has worked an absolute wonder. It has the same consistency as the Liz Earle, it is a thick white cream and feels really really luxurious when applied. It doesn't disintegrate when you are applying it, it really is a lovely thick, creamy product. It smells very fresh and you feel like you are in a spa when using it (only applying it yourself).

This is what the cream looks like - really thick, creamy and luxurious.

As soon as I started to use this cleanser I noticed results straight away. It made me feel really clean without my skin being tight (it felt really moisturising) and it really does do what it says on the bottle - it is extremely radiance boosting. After I use this it seems like it stimulates the blood under my skin and really makes it glow. I couldn't believe that I saw results like this after using it for the FIRST time! It is not very often that I re-purchase skin care products, simply because if I don't think that something is doing anything for my skin then I would just prefer to try something else until I find something I am completely satisfied with. I have now re-purchased my second bottle of this cleanser, even though I have a fair few pumps left in my first bottle, but with this, I just don't want to be in the situation where I run out because I love it that much!

This is my first bottle which still has quite a bit left. (I love how you can see through the bottle (with Liz Earle you can't) and how the pump is designed to reach the top when there is no product left-it's good to see that no product is being wasted).

                                                This is the box that it comes in.

This is my second bottle ready and waiting to be used :-)

                     and you also get a muslin cloth in the box aswell - bonus!

When you start getting compliments that your skin is glowing and that your eyes sparkle (which can often be the case when using some skin products, even with makeup sometimes), then you know you have found a winner in whichever product it is you're using.

I am just so glad I came across this, as I was really really disappointed with the Liz Earle. I bought my first bottle of the No7 cleanser in the middle of April and it is now the middle of June, so I have had it for 2 months and it is still going. I have been using two pumps in the evening (one for face makeup and one for eye makeup) and then at times I have even been using it in the morning, simply because of how it uplifts your skins radiance and makes you look fresh, dewy and wide awake. It is a great base to prepare your face for makeup aswell. After using it for this long I can see long term results already - it has minimised my pores massively and it doesn't even claim to do this, so this is a big bonus. I have also noticed an improvement in my dry patches (this may be because of my new moisturiser though-review to come), they are awkward on my face as it isn't all over it is just in certain places so if I don't moisturise properly before I apply makeup, these dry patches can sometimes show up. Lastly I have seen a huge improvement in my skin tone, it is now more even and again this is something it doesn't claim to do, so I have obviously been really lucky in finding a really good product here that suits my skin perfectly.

I will definitely be purchasing this cleanser over and over again...

The great thing about this cleanser aswell is that it is such good value for money. I said that it was £9 but it is also 200ml, where as the Liz Earle I got was 100ml (on the Liz Earle website this is £11.75), so I got more for less but definitely not less in quality.

You might be worried that the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish is made from naturally active ingredients and thinking: what is in the No7 cleanser? Well the product packaging makes a point of saying that the cleanser is hypo-allergenic (which means the product is relatively unlikely to cause an allergic reaction) and has been created using only ingredients they know and trust. It also says that the cleanser has been tried and tested by customers with even the most sensitive skin, so you know it will be good for yours. I for one can vouch for that as an individual with sensitive facial skin.

You can of course buy different sizes of the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish and you can find these here. Just in case you want to compare prices as I did purchase a set rather than just the Cleanse and Polish on it's own. However, the No7 Radiance Boosting cleanser is still cheaper at £9 and in my eyes better because it has worked better for my skin.

I really wanted to do this post because of how impressed I was with the No7 cleanser and how much I love it. Also, I thought it would be good to give you guys a little heads up about it, because as I said I only came across it whilst browsing the shelves in Boots, so some of you may know about it but some of you may not. If you feel like you have the same kind of skin as me from what I have said (and please feel free to ask me any questions) then I would really recommend this product. It has worked wonders for me and if you are looking for a cleanser or would like to try a cleanser then this is the one I would go for. You get value for money aswell as quality - like a spa facial in the comfort of your own home!

I just want to point out that I have not been paid or sponsored in any way by Boots or No7 to promote this cleanser. If I am reviewing a product that a company has sent me, then if you know me from YouTube, you know that I will say so :-) I just love this cleanser so much and think it has so much to offer I wanted to let you all know.

Have any of you had any similar problems with the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish?

Have any of you tried the No7 Radiance Boosting Cleanser? If so, what do you think of it?

It would be lovely to hear what you all think and whether any of you have had the same experiences as me.

Thank-you all so much for reading!

Feel free to ask me anything :-).

Much Love
Gem xxoo

Pictures: All pictures are my own. If you wish to use them, please credit my name by them-Gemma Tranter.