Sleek – Santorini Blush

Sleek – Santorini Blush
Oh my lord this is bright!
The Santorini Blush is part of the summery Mediterranean collection which was launched on the 6th June. 
 


When compared side by side to Sleek’s other bright pink offering, you can see the difference isn’t quite so vast but on use, it becomes shockingly apparent. I had initially thought there wasn’t going to be that much difference but I sure was wrong!
Swatched in daylight, in front of the window
The dolly pink shade is a nice buildable bold pink, it’s forgiving and super blendable. Santorini on the other hand is bold, super pigmented tricky customer.
Swatched in bright daylight
From swatching, I knew I’d have to have a very gentle hand to get this look to work without looking like Aunt Sally from Worzel Gummidge!!!
With one very light tap of the blusher brush on the pan, you are rewarded with a super bold flush of colour that is quite hard to blend. It certainly does need blending to make it look wearable.
Top of my hand – 3 light sweeps over the pan with a brush and then blended out with fingers 
I’d definitely rate this as a blusher for the summer as you’d need a tan to pull this off, or it’s perfectly suited to the more olive + darker skinned ladies. I think you’d look a little clown-ish if you wore this on pale skin, there’s only so much blending you can do! That might be your thing of course!
For a highstreet brand, the pigmentation and longevity is just astounding, especially considering the price!!

You can buy the Santorini Blush from Sleek in the following ways….

In Superdrugs stores – the added bonus of using the Superdrug Beauty Card


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Review : The Katie-sonic – A budget beauty Clarisonic alternative

Review : The Katie-sonic – A budget beauty Clarisonic alternative

When the Clarisonic’s came to my attention I was desperate for one but I just couldn’t afford to take a risk on purchasing one, when it could ultimately result in me buffing the top layer of my super sensitive skin off (Which is likely ha ha!) and it’s not the kind of item I’d want to sell on as used 2nd hand! Ick!

I researched around for a while and found a cheaper similar version made by Champneys. It was around the £5 so I thought it was better to get that one and give it a whirl before I comitted to the £150+ of a Clarisonic, especially as it’s not something you can go and try before you buy really is it!




Mr Tramp has named it my Katie-sonic and the name has kind of stuck!

In the Champneys kit, you get 2 mini foam applicator discs, a small brush and a large brush. I like to ‘get my moneys worth’ and use as many as I can.. in one go!

Excuse the grubby mini brush  – i was FAAAAR too impatient and foolishly used it dry on a fully made up face!

I have read many tutorials and FAQs about using the actual Clarisonic and this is how I use mine…..

1. First I remove the majority of my make up with eye make up remover / face wash as if you don’t, the heads just get incredibly gunked up far too quickly and they just don’t look very nice! Ick!

2. After washing the large part of my make up off, I click in the small foam applicator pad, dampen it slightly and add a pea size glob of a foaming face wash (or whatever cleanser you prefer!) and then I swirl it over my face to get the wash on my skin and start it foaming up. Alternatively, if I’m using my Elemis melting gel cleanser, I apply it to my made up face, rub it in, let it eat away at the make up and then lather it up with water before going straight in with the small brush like step 3.

3. I then switch to the small brush head and again dampen it. I focus this head around my nose and t zone area and all along my hair line. I use the small one as I find it gets in closer to my features, meaning I don’t miss anything out.

4. After I am sure I have worked the skin, lightly with the small brush head I click on the large brush and take it round and over the larger expanses of my skin – Forehead, cheeks, jaw line and neck. I find the larger head gives a quicker exfoliation without being too harsh to the skin.

I follow this by rinsing off all the face wash with a few splashes of water to my face before patting dry and continuing with my skin care regime.

I give each attachment a good wash with running water as hot as my hands can stand with an anti bacterial face wash, making sure I rinse all make up and soap residue out of the bristles and foam. To dry the attachments I swirl them on a clean hand towel just to take the bulk of the moisture out then I dry them upside down, bristles down on a piece of tissue.

I only use my Katie-sonic once a day, just before bed as I like to feel like I’m cleaning the entire days dirt off before bed and I find my skin looks fresh, red and rosy after using the brushes which I don’t want to be trying to cover on a morning when applying fresh foundation.

It does certainly make me feel much cleaner than my usual routines and I haven’t had any bad reactions or sensitivity to using the brushes. I know the range offered by Clarisonic themselves is obviously wider than the 3 types of head with the Champneys but if you are in 2 minds about trying the Clarisonic, or if you just want
to get the same kind of effect on a budget then I really recommend trying the cheaper alternative.

Hopefully this should help you make a decision one way or the other!

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Calling all beauty bloggers…. Youngblood needs you!

Calling all beauty bloggers…
 
 
 
 
 
Relative newcomers to the make up scene, Youngblood UK are looking for beauty bloggers, to work in conjunction with them.
What a fab opportunity to get involved with a brand. Hopefully any comments and feedback would be acted upon and it’s both an excellent opportunity for us bloggers to ‘make a difference’ but also for Youngblood to get ‘in the field’ reviews, suggestions and honest feedback. Seems win win all round?!
 
 
I love the idea of mineral make up and as my lovely readers know my main face concerns are v. sensitive skin and high colour which requires covering. I’ve tried most of the main contenders to the mineral crown and i’m yet to fall in love with any of them, reverting back to my heavier liquid foundations.
 
The wishlist i’ll be working my way through, in case you’re nosy… is this : 
and on an upside, before my shipping list, the liquid foundation is oil, talc and paraben free – MARVELLOUS!
 
 
 
Mineral Primer – £30
Hi Def Hydrating Mineral Perfecting Powder – £32
Mineral Rice Setting Powder – £21
Liquid Mineral Foundation – £35

And to top it all off, the Ultimate Foundation Brush looks lovely!



Will you be submitting yourself to help out Youngblood? Have you tried their brand already? What do you want to try?

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The cost of beauty?


Imagine walking down the high street and you see an amazingly beautiful, decadent luxe spa. You look at their prices to see a full body massage is only £5.

What do you make of that? Do you equate higher beauty prices with higher quality of service? Do you avoid it because ‘something must be amiss’?

I happened upon an article on the Daily Mail website today – CLICK HERE TO READ that highlighted the fact that most beauty treatments cost the salons next to nothing to carry out, product wise, so what prompts them to hike up the price hugely? Well profits obviously but surely dropping from £60 to £30 would probably
encourage more people to have go for one?

We have to consider what the average overheads and wages could be, but do salons really need to hike up a massage from £2 > £60? I suspect not.I think we all know deep down that the few drops of oil and scenty candle in a basic treatment room isn’t entirely worth the £30/40/50 they charge but it’s a cross we have to bear for our vices right?

For a long time I equated a higher price from a high end salon to be of greater quality than a smaller salon.I soon learnt my lesson and judge the treatment on recommendations and not their price tags.

Would you be happy paying £3 for a full body massage? Or would you still prefer something higher priced to reflect the quality and ambiance?

I know I have looked in to local training colleges who charge cost, to let their final year students loose on the public with head massages from £2, who wouldn’t want to give that a try? It’s a much more savvy way to get that weekly/ monthly pampering
we’d all love.

I’d love to know everyone’s views on this.

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Fangirl Friday : Nail Art by Amy Blair

Fangirl Friday : Nail Art by Amy  Blair
For the 2nd part of Fangirl Friday, I’d like to introduce you all to the wonderful blog called Nail Art by Amy Blair.

I know her designs might not be to everyones taste but I absolutely adore browsing her pictures and it certainly does provide a lot of inspiration and looks to try out, whether it’s on all 10 nails or just statement nails. I keep this blog book marked and have a trawl if I fancy something new but don’t know what. 5 minutes on here and I have come up with a snazzy idea, theme or plan!

Amy is sadly not based in the UK otherwise i’d be there at the front of the queue getting my nails prettified!


So without further ado… here is a showcase of some of Amy’s wonderful work.
^^ Amazing blues with stars, I love this look

And this is my personal favourite… I definitely think I will be recreating this for my holidays… the perfect holiday nail art!


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