My new mani

Check out this months' Instyle magazine, they are giving away exclusive Nails Inc polishes in 3 bang on trend colours...my favourite is You're a Peach, a gorgeous pastel peach that will look great with a tan! 
I prepped my nails with Sally Hansen Double Duty base & topcoat, then applied two coats of colour.  To compliment the colour I painted the tips in Rimmel 60second nail colour in Grey Matter, then finished with two coats of Sally Hansen.  To make your mani last longer take your top coat over & under the tips of your nails and neaten the edges using an eyeliner brush dipped in nail polish remover.

  I'm loving glitter polishes and girly pastels which were everywhere on the SS13 catwalks and both are so easy to wear...which is great for me cause I am no good with complicated nail art!  Nails Inc and Ciate are my current favourites but both Rimmel and Barry M do some gorgeous colours and are affordable so you can dip your toe into the trends without it costing a fortune!  Try clashing your mani/pedi colours for another up-to-date look.  What's your favourite nail colours for spring? 

Pregnant girlies...this one's for you x

During pregnancy, along with the obvious changes that your body goes through there may be some that you weren’t expecting such as problem skin – those with previously oily skin may notice dry patches and those with dry skin may find themselves fighting breakouts!  If this is the case it may be worth altering your skincare regime until things settle down by following some easy to follow tips to help you through.

If you have or develop oily skin try to use a gel cleanser like Simple Oil Balancing Exfoliating Cleanser applied to damp skin followed by a light oil-free moisturizing lotion. For dry skin try massaging a cream cleanser such as No7 Soft & Soothed Cleanser onto damp skin and removing with damp cotton wool pads and then apply a rich creamy moisturiser with high oil content.

You may also find that you develop a combination of an oily t-zone (forehead, nose and chin area) with dry patches around your cheeks and eyes.  If this happens, don’t despair!  Simply look for products for a combination skin tone which when applied alter to the needs of your skin, try the Simple range.

The good news is that prior skin conditions such as eczema and acne have been known to improve during pregnancy. I had quite severe eczema prior to having my second child but it cleared up considerably whilst I was pregnant and I rarely have any problems now!

There are certain ingredients that can be found in cosmetics and skin care which may have adverse effects in pregnancy, the most notable are listed below but you should speak to your midwife for a full list.

·         Retinoids – Often found in anti-aging products. Also known as Retin A, Retinol, Retinyl.

·         Salicylic Acid – found in acne treatments and exfoliates.  Also known as BHA, Beta Hydroxy Acid, Willow bark.

·         Fragrance/Phthalates – found in many cosmetic/skin products.  Always opt for a fragrance free version

 

Make-up can make us look and feel better but during pregnancy your routine should be kept simple, particularly during the 1^st/3^rd trimester when tiredness is likely to be an issue.

To start always ensure you cleanse and moisturise your face thoroughly to remove all traces of oil and dirt, this gives you a clean slate on which to work and makes the finished look more polished and it will also last longer!

For a fuss free look firstly apply a yellow based concealer to cover any dark circles under the eyes, gently pat the concealer into place using your ring finger – this also has a temporary tightening effect as extra blood is brought to the surface and so blurring fines lines!

Dark spots can be a problem during pregnancy but they can be covered with a yellow/orange based corrector cream, Apply with a concealer brush and then blend until no visible lines can be seen.

Tinted moisturiser and BB creams are ideal multi-tasking products; they have a lighter feel than foundation and are easy to blend when you’re in a rush. If you prefer fuller coverage try a mineral foundation, always a good option in pregnancy when skin can react unexpectedly as they don’t contain ingredients known to irritate the skin.

Try to choose non-comodogenic products to avoid clogging your pores and causing breakouts!

Blusher is a must for brightening tired looking skin.  Try applying a soft pink/coral shade on the outer edge of your cheek bones and flicking it up at the temples for a natural flush of colour.  If you apply to much colour, don’t worry, simply sweep a large brush loaded with translucent powder over the area and then brush of the excess.

Keep eyes natural with a wash of taupe over the eyelid and finish with a coat of lengthening mascara onto your upper lashes.  For a wide awake look try running nude coloured eyeliner along your bottom inner lash line.

Lip gloss is great for a natural, quick and largely mistake proof application!  Simply apply straight from the tube or with your finger to complete your look!

Tried & Tested in April

I have been busy trialling lots of new products recently and there are some which I think deserve a mention.
First up is the new buzz word in beauty circles, BB creams' big sister the CC cream!  I have tried two of the formulations currently offered by L'Oreal, the ant-fatigue and the anti-redness formulations.  Personally I preferred the anti-redness one but each one tackles a particular skin concern.  As with their BB cream I found the consistency very thin and it can be hard to blend if not applied quickly, but when it is on it does leave a lovely soft focus glow to the skin.  I didn't find the coverage enough but I put my usual BB cream over the top and I got loads of comments on my skin that day!  Overall it is a good product but I think it works better as a primer.
B.Beautiful is the latest skincare offering from Superdrug, a range which offers different products in phases for individual skin types.  I have been using the B.Pure Micellar water, B.Ready day cream and B.Nourished night serum.  The micellar water is promoted as an all-in-one make-up remover, cleanser and toner and I have got to say it leaves my skin feeling really clean and it easily removes make-up (even waterproof), although I did find that it stung my eyes a bit but only for a second.  The day cream is quite thick but it absorbs quickly.  I have found that the moisturising properties don't last long enough for me and I have to reapply so not sure if I will buy this one again.  The night serum on the other hand is lovely, it has a gorgeous texture and glides easily onto skin plus because it is packed with hyaluronic acid my skin looks great the next morning.  The only down side is that it smells of bananas and I can't stand them!
My new favourite eye cream is Olay Instant Hydration.  I have been searching for a decent moisturising eye cream for yonks and this one ticks all the boxes.  It is a lightweight gel which instantly cools and de-puffs eyes, it hydrates the sensitive eye area, it is anti-ageing and it is purse friendly plus it absorbs quickly so is an ideal base before make-up.
Finally another micellar water, L'Oreal Skin Perfect Micellar lotion.  I really liked this one as it left my skin feeling really clean and nourished but unfortunately it struggles with removing make-up so I had to use a separate remover, which kind of defeats the object but it is good for freshening the skin so I would probably still buy it to use when I'm not wearing eye make-up!
I love trying new products and I love to tell you about them so if there is any products you think I should try let me know and you night just see them on here or on my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/BecksBeautyBuzz/ !
Until next time.....
xx

Becks Beauty Buzz: My make-up bag must haves!

Becks Beauty Buzz: My make-up bag must haves!: I am constantly trying new products and as a consequence my make-up bag is filled to overflowing, but there are certain items that I couldn&...

My make-up bag must haves!

I am constantly trying new products and as a consequence my make-up bag is filled to overflowing, but there are certain items that I couldn't live without regardless of how many brands I try!
My everyday make-up is very natural and fuss-free and I rarely spend more than 5 minutes on it!  I like a sheer base, liner, mascara and a hint of colour on my cheeks & lips.
Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector BB cream gives me natural coverage whilst still disguising imperfections. I have tried lots of different brands (see previous post) but still return to this every time!
To reduce any shine I turn to Collection 2000 Sheer translucent loose powder.  I buff it over my face with a large powder brush and it provides me with a velvety feel and look instantly, plus at only £2.99 it doesn't break the bank.
For my eyes I put a thin line of Avon Glimmerstick for eyes in cosmic brown (£6.00) as close to my upper lashes as I can get.  This liner goes on smoothly without dragging my skin and the colour lasts all day without smudging.
I like to use a swipe of Rimmel Scandaleyes Kohl Liner in nude (£3.99) along my lower waterline to reduce redness and give me a wide-awake look.
I have tried many mascaras but the one I rely on is No7 Exquisite Curl Mascara (£11.00) in brown/black.  A quick wiggle at the base of my lashes & then a sweep of the specially curved wand through to the tips and I have done away with the need for eyelash curlers, and opened up my eyes in a flash.
To finish I simply rub a little Vaseline Lip Therapy in rosy (£1.99) onto the apples of my cheeks and and lips for a natural, healthy flush of colour and smooth lips into the bargain!
I like to experiment with my evening look and therefore don't really have favourites but there is one product definitely worth a mention and that is MUA Pro Palettes for eyes - at only £4.00 and with 12 complimentary colours per set they are a real bargain so you can afford to play with your look!  Plus the colours are buildable and blend brilliantly so you can create loads of individual looks from a single palette!
What are your make-up bag heroes?  Let me know, and if you try any of the products mentioned let me know what you think.
xx

THE RISE OF THE BB CREAM

Readers of my earlier posts will know that one of my must have products is Garnier Miracle Skin Protector BB Cream – it moisturises, has SPF15 protection, covers imperfections & blemishes, provides natural looking coverage, smells gorgeous and makes my skin glow....all for a very purse friendly £9.99 (avg RRP) – whats not to love?

But what exactly is a BB Cream and are they different to a tinted moisturiser?

According to Wikipedia, a BB (Blemish/Beauty Balm) Cream is promoted as one facial cosmetic product to replace serum, moisturiser, primer, foundation and sunscreen.

Originally created in the 1960s by German dermatologist Dr Christine Schrammek to apply to patients skin after peel treatments, but they soon became popular in Korea and other eastern markets as the original formulations suited the skintone of asian women but were often deemed to pale for the western population.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BB_cream

The western market has since exploded and now virtually every cosmetic company has it’s own selection of BB creams offering a massive choice of formulations and shades to suit every different skin type.

All these new offerings made me wonder if Garnier was still the best one out there for me so I decided to trial a few of the other brands and here’s what I discovered...

First up was Maybelleine Dream Fresh BB cream (£7.99) which comes in 4 shades and promises 8-1 skin benefits including SPF30 protection, all day hydration and perfect looking skin in an instant.  I really liked the gel-like texture of this cream snd it left my skin velvety smooth but it didn’t really provide the coverage it promised although my skin did look healthier and the SPF 30 is definitely a bonus, so overall I would score this one 8/10.

Secondly it was the turn of L’Oreal Nude Magique which comes in 2 shades and contains smart pigments which break on application and self adjust to the skintone to leave flawless looking skin.  Personally I didn’t really find much to like with this one – it had a really runny consistency which made it very messy to apply, and when on it left my skin looking chalky and patchy with nowhere near enough moisturising properties so unfortunately I would only score this 4/10! 

Next came GOSH BB Cream (£9.99) which comes in 5 shades and claims to provide natural coverage that adapts to skintone and leaves skin soft & smooth.  This one has quite a thick consistency and felt comforting and moisturising when applying it but unfortunately the effects wore off quite quickly and my skin began to look patchy.  It did offer good coverage though aswell as offering the widest range of shades of the products i tried, it would maybe be more suited to someone with combination or oily skin and I would score this 7/10.

Lastly I tried Olay Total Effects Touch of Foundation (9.99) which comes in 2 shades both of which contain a combination of their Total Effects moisturiser and Max Factor foundation, offering 7-1 skin & anti-ageing benefits and a perfectly even skintone.  I really liked this one although the cream felt a bit heavy when I first applied it and it takes a while to blend evenly but it definitely offered the best coverage and moisturisation of those I tried, although it is best suited for mature skin.  I would score this at 8/10.

So after trialling some of the other brands on the market I have discovered that formulations have much improved since these wonder products first appeared on the scene and it is definitely worth trying more than one to get the best one for your skin type.

But for me I will still be sticking to my Garnier Miracle Skin Protector (Superdrug offer now £7.49) which now comes in 4 different formulations for including sensitive, oil-free, anti-ageing and the original each in 2 shades so there really is now one for everyone.  Although I will still be trying others when the chance arises so if I change my mind you will be the first to know!

So there you have it, my guide to BB Creams, I hope you enjoyed reading it and if you find a BB cream that is perfect for you let me know which one and why you like it....here’s to peachy looking skin in 2013!

Speak to you all again very soon

xx

I'M BACK!!

A massive apology to my readers for being off radar for so long!  To cut a long story short I kicked a drink over my laptop a while back and I have only just got it fixed (thankyou to bankofdad.com!), so I haven't had internet access long enough to post but i'm back now and have got a backlog of stuff to put up so keep checking back in the next week or so.

I haven't been sitting around idle all this time though, I put my time to good use by enrolling at college and I have now qualified as a make-up artist (with distinction too!), plus I loved it that much,  i'm now on a course for fashion and photographic make-up so I will keep you updated on how it's going and post some pics of work i'm doing so you can let me know what you think (be kind please!).

I have also been trying lots of products in my quest to bring you the best beauty buys around...it's a tough job but hey someone has to do it!  I will be letting you know what I have discovered in the next few posts so stay tuned.

And finally, check out my Facebook page....becksbeautybuzz, where I will be putting daily news, tips and reviews to entertain you all!
https://www.facebook.com/BecksBeautyBuzz?ref=hl

Speak to you very soon ta ta for now xx