I Thought I Hated Wipes?

Yes I know, I know. I've said it before and I'll say it again - I'm not a fan of make up or cleansing wipes - but these are a GAME CHANGER.

Garnier have released some new cleansing wipes that actually work! Although I would never rely on just wipes to remove make up etc. these are the first wipes I've come across where it feels like they're doing what they're supposed to. I can feel my make up lifting and my face being refreshed and I'm not left with a horrible sticky feeling after using them.

On top of the fact they actually wok, they're a great price. These wipes are the 'Start A Fresh' wipes and I picked them up from Boots [here] at £4 for 2 packs in a special offer! £4 for 50 wipes is 8 pence a wipe a I really cant grumble at that considering it takes 2 wipes (16 pence worth for anyone loving the price updates) for full make up removal and a 'fresh face' as promised on the pack!

As well as these wipes, Garnier have a whole selection of others to suit all skin types and required use!

All wipes can be found [here]!

1. Natural Cleansing Quilted

2. Oil Infused Micellar

3. Start A Fresh

4. Simply Essentials Facial

5. Active 2 in 1

6. Micellar Extra Gentle


There are literally wipes covering the Garnier stalls top to bottom in Boots so if you are interested in buying some of these, definitely don't go in blind like I did and be completely over whelmed where you grab whatever you see first and leave before the wipe madness becomes too much! Do some research on which wipes suit your skin and lifestyle best and will fit your intended purpose and budget! Just because I was lucky finding these that I love I think I still may go back and try out some of the others because they may provide me a better, more effective use.

So yes; to finish maybe I don't hate all wipes after all and maybe (just maybe) I can admit I've found wipes I love but no, I still don't and probably never will rely on wipes to completely remove my make up, I feel so much better after an exfoliator and cleanser washed off with some warm water, so maybe I wasn't entirely wrong...


Do you like wipes? Would you rely on a wipe solely?

Happy shopping wipe and non-wipe fans!


Until next time, Toni. xo

Shopper Savings

Happy August! Everyone loves saving money or even better being given free products, so I've gathered together a few of my favourite loyalty rewards cards this month that help save money and reward shopping for products I love with even more of those same products!



1.   The Boots card is by far my favourite card of those I’ve included. It’s a free membership you sign up to online at http://www.boots.com/en/Advantage-Card/ when you receive your card through the post with your name on you can start collecting 4 points every £1 you spend online and in store. Eventually these points will start to add up and allow you to use them like money – when you have enough points to pay for an item you wish to buy you will get the option to use them – effectively getting the product free! You also receive vouchers through the post allowing you to earn double points or even hundreds more than usual with a certain amount spent. It is by far the easiest card to use and own, rewarding you regularly, all for absolutely no price.

2.   The Body Shop card is equally as rewarding giving you 10% off all purchases for a year, free products when you have collected a certain amount of stamps, a free birthday present every year, exclusive offers, event accessibility and discounts as well as being the first to see new products. However, this card is not simply a reward scheme but a membership meaning it is a cost of £5 for sign up. I don’t think this is a large price to pay for what you are given and the exclusives you have access to for this quality product range. Sign up here: http://www.thebodyshop.co.uk/loyalty/love-your-body/

3.   Debenhams rewards card is a card you can pick up in store and register over the counter or online here: http://www.debenhams.com/beauty/beauty-club/about-your-beauty-club-card . It works much like the Boots card as when you shop throughout the store on beauty products you collect points which amount to monetary rewards. The rewards include discounts, free samples, make over opportunities and even free online shopping delivery!



4.   The ‘Beautycard’ from Superdrug is offered over the counter with registration in store or online at: http://www.superdrug.com/beautycard?gclid=CPeDzOOFxcoCFWj3wgodJ8wBYg&gclsrc=aw.ds . The card gives you £1 to spend for every 100 points earnt; allowing you to be rewarded with discounts, exclusive offers and specialist pricing, free online delivery and even birthday gifts every year. There are also often online offers for card holders allowing triple points to be earnt with every purchase. This is one of the most popular cards on the market with the user friendly access and availability to start earning points straight away with no upfront costs or long winded sign ups.





5.   House of Fraser also offer a recognition rewards card that can be picked up in store and registered online here: http://www.houseoffraser.co.uk/Recognition+Rewards+card/recognitionLoyalty,default,pg.html  . This is a free membership points card that can be used online or in store with card and cash transactions. You are given 1 point for every £1 spent and when you collect 500 points you are given a £5 reward to spend how you like. The card also allows access to exclusive offers and discounts, events and even bonus points throughout you birthday month. With easy online management and tracking of your card you will always know how many points you have and any upcoming events and offers.

I would recommend all 5 of these beauty rewards cards to anyone who shops regularly for new products, keeping up to date with the newest beauty trends. Before you know it you will have enough points to earn yourself something free and you will be receiving offers and discounts from nearly all the leading cosmetic shops on the high street. Having vouchers, free testers and exclusives sent to you through the post to try before you buy is always helpful for any cosmetic enthusiast.

Until next time, Toni. xo

My Top 3 Mascaras

I think its fair to say that without these mascaras I would be lost when it comes to my lashes as these are what I like to call my holy grail products.

On my top lashes I always love to go OTT on the mascara, using several coats to thicken and lengthen every lash. The bottom I keep simple but effective with evenly coated and separated lashes. I never curl my lashes as I'm lucky to have naturally curly hair and lashes but do coat the back and front evenly which I find helps to lengthen and thicken.

On the top: I always go in first with the Soap and Glory Thick and Fast HD Mascara all over the lashes; front and back, several times to build up length and initial volume. I find this mascara an absolute dream to use with a perfectly shaped brush, long wand and smooth consistency. I think this mascara is great on its own and does exactly what it says on the packet but for personal preference I bulk it up with more.

On top of the first few coats of Thick and Fast, while still slightly wet, I go in with the Benefit They're Real! mascara. This is where the volume starts to build! After a few coats on the back and front with this, my lashes are looking long, thick and evenly coated. However, I do find the benefit mascara to be slightly clumpy on the tips of my eye lashes so go back with the thinner brush from the Soap and Glory mascara to separate the lashes to finish. The benefit mascara is very fast drying which I love so I don't smudge or run any of the product.

On the bottom: My bottom lashes are much more simple than the top in that I use one product only and coat the top side. I don't use too much product as my lashes are fairy long and I try to avoid the spider leg-look! For this I use the Nars Audacious Mascara. This mascara comes with the most perfect sized brush for my bottom lashes with small, thin bristles and a short wand which allows me more control. With 2/3 even coats of this mascara on my bottom lashes I'm finally finished and left with long, thick and separated lashes on both top and bottom!

Until next time, Toni. xo

Garnier Make Up Removal

Garnier has always been one of my favourite lines for skin care with creams and facial scrubs etc. so when I found out they were releasing a new make up remover and cleansing water I had to get my hands on it and give it a go!

 

It's fair to say I now love it and couldn't be without it.

 

The 2-in-1 Eye Make-up Remover product is made up of two parts, one slightly oily and the other a less dense, clear liquid. I've seen some people saying it leaves a greasy residue however I find that comes only if you don't shake the bottle which is the whole idea of the product. By shaking the bottle the two liquids mix and form a non-greasy, efficient and soft make up remover- DREAM!

 

The thing I love most about it is how gentle it is on my eyes. A lot of make up removers sting or irritate the skin around my eyes but as this is specifically designed to remove make up easily and quickly its not exactly 'heavy duty'. Although it removes all make up I wouldn't rely on this on it's own and still use other products to cleanse and tone my skin afterwards.

The Micellar Cleansing Water works wonders for quick and easy make-up removal which means it literally takes me a minute to soak a cotton pad in the formula and wipe the day's face away. Depending on how much make-up you're wearing it may take you a couple of cotton pads worth of the cleanser to remove all make-up and freshen up your face. Again, I don't rely on this as my cleanser and use it more as a make up-remover only, using my trusty No.7 products that you can see [HERE] after these products have done all I need them to.
 

 I have quite sensitive skin and find these products don't irritate or affect it in any way. I also have a 'combination' skin consistency which is neither solely greasy or dry

 but a mixture of both and I think these products work well across my entire face- yay!

These products have not only made my night skin routine 10 times quicker and easier, but also helped to maintain my skin condition keeping acne at bay and helping to increase the hydration level which I find to be a big chore: how bad of me! I would recommend these skin care items to anyone like me who loves make up but hates taking it off at the end of the day and just wants the process to be as quick and easy as possible; however, if you're looking for a 30 minute rejuvenation process these are not for you.

Until next time, Toni. xo

 



Beautiful Skin: Winter Routine

 

Usually winter time for my skin is bliss, the cold dries out any impurities and the crisp air keeps me feeling fresh and awake. However, this year my skin hasn't reacted so well to the change in weather conditions. The cold seems to have dried out my skin a little too well leaving me feeling tired and washed out, yet the odd spot still appears! This called for emergency intervention: No.7 came to hand.

 

I have always loved the cleanser but needed something stronger that would really clean off any dead skin cells and make me feel fresh and awake like normal. After looking through the endless product choices at the No.7 stand, I opted for the 'Radiance Exfoliator' from the same 'Beautiful Skin' collection as my usual cleanser.

 

My daily routine (morning and night) consists of 3 steps, wash/rinse face with warm water, cleanse with the No.7 Cleansing Gel and finally gently scrub with the No.7 Radiance Exfoliator. This not only leaves my skin feeling clear, fresh and awake but I have noticed a drastic improvement with the dryness and blemishes.

 

No.7 have yet again provided me with a holy grail skin care product I'm sure to repeat buy and from now on, swear by. If you are looking for a cleanser and exfoliator this winter I would highly recommend both products for anyone with normal/dry skin consistency. If you are in the market for something for oily skin go down to your local No.7 stand as their extensive product range is bound to hold something to solve all your skin related problems this winter! Happy hunting.



 

 

Until next time, Toni. xo

Smashbox Contour Sticks Trio

These have been at the top of my must have list for a while now and since opening the box I haven't put the Contour Sticks Trio back! It's clear to say I'm loving these products. They have a smooth and silky, cream texture making them so easy to apply and blend.

 

The box also comes with a sharpener to fit the pencil sticks so worrying about ever being left with an unusable product is not necessary! I had heard some great things about these sticks and wanted to try them as soon as I got my hands on them.

 

I find that the contour stick works best for me with the bronze stick as a touch up for the top of my head. However, the highlight is surprisingly too dark for me but it will be perfect for if I get a tan or want just a tiny touch of highlight on a basic make up day.

 

As well as the sharpener, the trio comes with an instruction sheet including guides on where to apply the different colours and how to use the sticks depending on your face shape and how you want to look. I found this very useful as I was able to see exactly what shapes to draw, where and with which sticks.

 



 

 

A lot of people I know and those that use the sticks, blend the product with a flat, buffing brush but I prefer to use a beauty blender purely because I feel like I have more control over the product on my face and the finish is a lot more flawless. Since using the product I've really got into getting a good contour on a night out or even just a bronzed touch on a day-to-day basis for a slightly more defined shape.

 

The product is £35 which I personally think is very reasonable for the quality of product. I've had this product nearly two months now and have used the contour stick every day, I am yet to need to sharpen it more than once! You don't need a lot of product per application as it is so well pigmented and blends so well, therefore the trio will last a long time and probably save you money in the long run in comparison to your usual product that may run down quickly, due to you needing to use a lot of it per day.

 

I would recommend the trio to people who are already into make up and want to explore and venture further into face sculpting as this is quite a complex, heavy product for someone just beginning to get into make up. Alternatively, I would recommend a simple bronzing powder not to irritate or harm the skin and gradually build to using heavier products such as this one. The staying power is fantastic so they can be used day and night, any weather, any occasion to give you the extra pop to your face structure! The hype is totally worth it and I'm so grateful I can finally say I own a set of these heavenly products. You can find the sticks trio here.

 

 

Until next time, Toni. xo