Want to WAKE UP looking PRETTIER?

I always, always take my make-up off before going to bed, following a disciplined cleanse, tone, moisturise ritual. My smugness about how much care I'm taking of my skin, usually disappears however, when I wake up the next morning and look at myself in the mirror. I still always look so damn dull and dehydrated and just...blah.

Research has made me realise that it's just simply not enough. Our faces are exposed to so much sh*t even if you don't wear make-up, so they deserve extra tlc. Even if you don't have any problems right now, it's much better to prevent future forseeable problems (ageing, wrinkles, thin skin, sagging, under-eye darkness, etc), rather than dealing with them when they come.

WHY SHOULD YOU USE A NIGHT CREAM/SERUM/TREATMENT?
* During the day our skin and bodies use their energy towards protecting itself against environmental and
   psychological stress.
   During the night, our cells focus on repairing themselves from the damage sustained during the day.
- It's thus v.important to have a different product for overnight use as our bodies differing natural functions require specific care.

There's a huge market out there for night serums and creams and treatments, it's so easy to get overwhelmed. I certainly have been - I've been on the hunt for the perfect night treatment for my face for the last year or so and haven't bought anything despite researching options because there's just too much choice.
Recently, I have been steering towards natural beauty products - I have switched to an SLS/paraben/silicone free shampoo (review to come soon), using natural oils on my hair, loving Liz Earle naturally active face products, and so I decided to look into a company that is geared towards this 'natural' consciousness.

MY SKIN TYPE:
* Dry, sensitive, dull
* Dark under-eye circles - not bags
* Pigmentation around my mouth (slightly darker there)

WHAT AM I LOOKING FOR IN A NIGHT TREATMENT?
* You should always pick a treatment that is tailored towards your skin type. All skin needs moisture
   and hydration (yes, even oily skin types), but my dry skin needs more, so my number one priority is to
   choose a product that hydrates and moisturises my skin overnight
* Replenishes what my skin loses during the day from exposure to sunlight/wind/pollution etc

After doing much research, I decided to buy Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate. 30ml. £36.00.

VITAL INGREDIENTS:

* Jojoba Seed Oil

* Evening Primrose Oil

* Coriander Seed Oil

* Lavender Oil (smells like this)

* Rosemary Leaf Oil

* Cucumber Fruit Extract

* Rose Flower Oil

* Jasmine Extract

* Sunflower Seed Oil

* Rosa Canina Fruit Oil

* PARABEN FREE. 

Clearly, the whole product is made up of a bunch of oils that have varying properties, all of which are soo good for our skin. 

I can't speak for people with oily skin types, I don't know if this would work for you, BUT despite the fact it has so many oils - this product does not leave the skin feeling oily or greasy at all. 

Gorgeous, luxurious packaging. A glass bottle with a glass stopper that looks pretty sitting on the dressing table. It's not travel friendly though at all - it would shatter in an instant if dropped!

  

WHAT DOES IT CLAIM TO DO? (according to the Kiehl's website - link)

* One night. A few drops. Younger-looking skin by morning.

* Replenishes skin with moisture

* Helps to recover radiance by morning

* This readily absorbed elixir helps the skin to recover radiance by morning, with skin feeling smoother and softer

* The formula instantly penetrates the skin surface to help replenish it with moisture. Our concentrate is designed to work at night; with skin hydrated, supple and soft, rest assured you can say goodnight to a tired-looking complexion. 

WHAT DO I THINK? HAS IT MADE A DIFFERENCE TO MY SKIN?
* Yes, yes and YES! Oh my goodness, my skin drinks this stuff up like it's been dying of thirst for years (which it probably has)!
* How I use it: Cleanse and tone using Liz Earle, on a dry face take a couple of drops of this and lightly press onto my skin focusing on cheeks with this oil. Do not rub it in. Wait about 30mins and then I apply my usual moisturiser although this step is optional. 
* Okay, so the first few nights I used this, I woke up in the morning and felt a little disappointed - I couldn't see any difference.
* Obviously, with any skin treatment, you have to be patient and disciplined, and so I continued using it every night.
* It was about a week into using this every night that I noticed a difference when I woke up. My skin looked very calm and balanced out if that makes any sense. I also didn't look like Darth Vader - my skin had a natural sort of radiance like I'd drunk a gazillion mls of water.
* Continued use over the last month has meant that I wake up with soft, smooth, even skin. And more importantly, my skin does not look parched. It definitely looks hydrated and moisturised and overall much healthier.
* I highly, highly, highly recommend this to people with dry, dull, dehydrated skin!
* One more thing to mention, yes it costs a little bit of money, but, you only use about 2 drops each night and so far it looks like I haven't touched it - a little goes a long way, this will last you forever, such a great investment. 

OTHER PEOPLE WHO USE IT AND LOVE IT
* Ruth aka A Model Recommends - link and link and link
* Ingrid aka Miss Glamorazzi (she has oily skin and loves it) - link
* MakeupAlley rating of 4.1 out of 5 - link


Woah, well that was quite a moutful. Overall, I am LOVING it, and I highly recommend you go to your nearest Kiehls counter and see if you can get yourself a sample to try if not the whole thing!
Have you tried this product or do you recommend any other by Kiehl's? What are your favourite night treatments?

Love, Emma xo
Currently Listening To: Hey There Delilah - Plain White T's

Attention Seeking with YSL Rouge Volupté 11 'Rose Culte'

I'm going through a bit of a phase of collecting hot pink lip colours (full post on comparisons coming soon) and so it was only natural that when I saw one of my good friends wearing one of the YSL Rouge Volupté lipsticks in a serious, rich, gorgeous, gorrrgeous hot pink shade, I knew I had to own it. RRP £23.50.

I present to you, YSL Rouge Volupté, Shade 11: Rose Culte. Little bit fallen in love.

(Please click on the photos)

Packaging: It really should be illegal to make packaging this beautiful, I mean who doesn't just die when they see it?! Luxurious and stunningly high quality, it makes you want to whip it out of your drawer/bag just to stare at it lovingly. 

Pigmentation: Incredibly pigmented, this was only one swatch! It is as pigmented when applied straight onto lips and so I have found the best way for me to use this is to dab it on to my lips and then pat/blend with my fingers, building up the colour as I wish. This is a serious, bright, hot pink lipstick that really brightens up your face and really doesn't require much else make-up. 

Long Lasting: This lipstick and my other Rouge Volupté lipstick last foreverrr on my lips. A good 3hours, even after I've eaten, without any need of a touch-up, which is definitely good enough for me!

Tip: Lisa Elridge mentioned in one of her videos that with darker/more pigmented lip colours, you should apply a bit of the product in the middle of both top and bottom lips and then spread it with your finger - this warms up the product, spreads more evenly on your lips and helps it wear longer. 

Texture: This is deliciously creamy on my lips, I don't need to apply a gloss on top. I find that I like to use a lip liner with it but I don't think you have to! It wears nicely and doesn't do that wrinkly/crinkly thing that some lipsticks do when they've been worn for a couple of hours. 

Blush: Nars Deep Throat

Absolutely loving this shade right now. It's easy to soften out for a more Spring time look, and easy to build up so it looks punch-y for Summer. Highly, highly recommend you go check it out at your nearest YSL counter!! This little luxury is very much worth the price! 

Do you own any Rouge Volupté lipsticks? What do you think of this shade, is it too bright or up your street? If you have any other shade recommendations for my skin tone please comment and  let me know, I'd love to check them out!! 

Love, Emma xo

Currently Listening To: Alors on Danse - Stromae 

Laura Mercier Illuminating Tinted Moisturiser

It makes me physically cringe to think of the days I used to walk around my university library with Revlon Colorstay foundation slapped on my face *shudders*. It's taken me a while, but I've realised that less really is more with my skin type. I don't have bad skin, my main problems are pigmentation around my mouth, dark circles and very dry skin - all of which are very manageable and so I enjoy using a skin product that has light-medium coverage for day time.

I've been using the Laura Mercier Illuminating Tinted Moisturiser for about 4 months now and I have really been enjoying it. Before this, my go-to day time foundation was Chanel Vitalumiere, another truly fantastic skin base.

I thought it would be interesting to do a review of the tinted moisturiser and compare it with the foundation - I think you'll be surprised at some of the results! As this is primarily a post to showcase the qualities of the tinted moisturiser, here is how it looks on:

Click Photo
Laura Mercier Illuminating Tinted Moisturiser

CHANEL:  £33.00 | SPF 15 |  30ml
LAURA MERCIER: £33.00 |  SPF 20 |  50ml

Consistency: The first thing that is noticeable is that despite the fact that the Laura Mercier is a 'tinted moisturiser', it is actually much thicker in consistency to the Chanel foundation. One would assume that a foundation would be thicker than a moisturiser, but it can clearly be seen here that the tinted moisturiser is less runny than the foundation. The foundation has spread out a little more and faster, while the tinted moisturiser has stayed where it was first squeezed out.

Coverage: Both of these products are very easy to blend and buff into the skin. I would say the Laura Mercier Illuminating inted moisturiser requires a little more buffing because as can be clearly seen, it has heavier coverage than the foundation. It is noticeably thicker but definitely not in a cakey way. Don't be fooled into thinking that because it has been marketed as a tinted moisturiser that it won't provide 'enough' coverage. The Chanel foundation blends effortlessly and skins into skin to provide a very natural, polished finish. The tinted moisturiser does the same, but with it I require less concealer. 

Finish/Long-Lasting?: As seen be seen above, they have both blended beautifully into my skin, the foundation leaving almost no sign of presence! This is the kind of coverage that is so perfect for day-time and I think they can both be built up coverage-wise a little bit for an evening look. As this particular Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser is the illuminating one, you can see that it leaves a dewier finish than the foundation - something I personally love. Neither of them look shiny in a bad way, but look healthy and give off a somewhat iridescent glow. However, I don't think I would recommend the illuminating tinted moisturiser for people with oily skin, I think they should check out the normal tinted moisturiser! But for us girls with dry skin types this is incredible!
The Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser lasts longer on my skin than the foundation (I don't use powder, ever), and I think this is because it is thicker and less runny in consistency but the Chanel foundation lasts a decent amount of time too!

I don't think I have a favourite from the two - I genuinely enjoy both of them and would recommend them both to anyone who is in the market for a good amount of coverage for day-time but doesn't like too much. With this post I aimed to clear any misunderstandings people may have about tinted moisturisers, if you choose the right one, it can be a great alternative to a foundation and you don't have to compromise on quality, finish and coverage!

What do you think of tinted moisturisers? Have you tried this one? The next one on my list to try is the new Nars one!!

Love, Emma xo
Currently Listening To: Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home) - Usher

Revlon Lip Butters

Feel free to skip reading this post, I totally understand how boring it must be to see these infamous lip butters grace on your computer screen again.

I am a big fan of moisturising, conditioning lip products; I love my MAC tinted lip conditioner and my Sleek Pout Polishes, and so it was perfectly natural for me to feel the need to test out these Lip Butters. I don't always feel like wearing a heavy duty lipstick and especially during spring/summer I enjoy using sheerer, more natural looking lip products.  As the name would suggest, these aren't lipsticks, or glosses, they are supposed to be more moisturising than a balm and more pigmented than lip conditioners - they are, quite basically, butter for lips, packaged to look like a lipstick. RRP £7.99. 

PACKAGING: I really like the packaging; they are bright, simple, sturdy, not tacky & travel friendly! Win! 

My favourite one! 

TEXTURE: They feel very soft on the lips, although I wouldn't go so far as to say that they are buttery soft - the texture is a little too thick for that I think. I do enjoy the feel of them however and think they are perfect for spring/summer when you don't want to slap on a matte, drying lipstick, but don't want your lips to look dead either. They aren't sticky or gloopy, but leave a pleasant feeling of un-chappedness! 

The most pigmented one - so vibrant and loud!

PIGMENTATION: You would expect balm/butter consistencies to be quite sheer, but I think the Lip Butters are very pigmented and could easily pass as a sheer lipstick. I sometimes pat the colour and blend it in with my fingers to sheer and soften it out, but for evening the colour pay off is perfect. They last a surprisingly long amount of time on my lips without need of a touch up which is always a good thing! 

The one I could easily live without. 

MOISTURISING? I was quite surprised to find that these aren't in fact very moisturising at all. I would not say that you should use these instead of your regular lip conditioning treatment. Blistex and Carmex actually change the texture of my lips and make them visibly smoother and softer. The Lip Butters do not have the same softening treatment qualities and I feel they have been marketed in a way that is slightly misleading. They aren't buttery, but are more comparable to a non-sticky lip balm or a moisturising sheer lipstick like the Benefit ones. 

Overall, I'm glad I tried them out and I will definitely get use out of them in the months to come. I don't think that at the moment they are must-haves in my collection but I do enjoy using them. I do think they have a (fairly) good colour range and I plan to try out a few more, namely Candy Apple and Tutti Frutti. Do I think you absolutely need them in your life? No. Do I think they make for a nice alternative to a lipstick for summery weather? Yes. 

What are your thoughts on them? Did you get sucked into the hype and try them out? Overrated? Let me know what you think! 

Love, Emma xo

Currently Listening To: Boyfriend - Justin Bieber

My 411 on NARS The Multiple

For about three years now I've been enjoying a very successful, long-term, committed and stable relationship with NARS (boys, take note), in particular with their face products. I got my first NARS blush in the shade Torrid back in 2009 and the rest was quite simply, history. My collection has grown a fair bit and to be completely honest I don't really use any other brand for blusher or bronzer (except sometimes Benefit).

As with all relationships, risks are often taken to get a bit excited again, or to re-ignite the lurrrve so to speak. I took a bit of a risk when I forked out a fair bit of money and thought, in the name of adventure, I'd buy myself some Multiples. Okay, more-like I was walking past the counter at Selfridges and got sucked in and had a major impulse-buying moment.

Anyway, The Multiple if you don't know, is according to the Nars website, "The original multi-purpose stick for eyes, cheeks, lips and body. It's unique, creamy formula blends effortlessly to provide sheer colour for creating shimmering accents, contours or dynamic highlights on all skin tones".
I bought three for myself well over a year ago now, and got one as a sample in a NARS gift set, and tbh as beautiful as they are, I just don't reach for them as much as I thought I would - I automatically reach for my normal NARS blushers and bronzers. If you're interested in The Multiple keep reading...

(Please click on the photos to see them larger and clearer. Also please note that I use my phone to take photos so the quality isn't always amazing). 

£ 29.00

So these are the shades I own, as you can see they all look pretty damn gorgeous in their tubes. Orgasm is more of a highlighting shade (unlike it's powder counterpart), St. Barts is more of a bronzey colour but is still categorised by NARS as a blush and not as The Multiple Bronzer. Portofino and Riviera are both normal blush shades. I often use them as a blush base - so I blend these directly onto my cheeks and then apply normal powder blush on top to make the colours 'pop' and to give the powder blush something to stick to hence making it last longer.

TEXTURE: As they have a cream to powder finish I personally find them a bit drying to use on lips although on the rare occasion I used Portofino or Riviera for such, I did get compliments.
Despite the fact that NARS describes them as creamy, I was quite disappointed when I used them on my cheeks to find that they weren't as creamy as they look. They slide on easily but when it comes to blending they don't seem to have quite the consistency that the cream blushes I own from NARS or other companies do. I wouldn't say they were difficult to work with at all, but if you are expecting an incredibly creamy, dewy finish, you will be disappointed. For people with oily skin who want to try creamy cheek products but are afraid they'll slide off and look greasy however, I think you would really enjoy The Multiple!

PACKAGING: I love the uniformity, sleekness and 'understated coolness' of NARS packaging. What I don't love though, is that as soon as you get your mitts on them or as soon as they've lived in your make-up bag for a while, they look grubby. Over the years however I've learnt to live with this minor drawback because of the quality of the actual products. The packaging of The Multiple is sleek and very easy to throw-in-your-bag-and-go and unlike the usual blushers/bronzers, I think The Multiple is way more travel friendly - the powder formulas usually crack if they are dropped even just once, but these feel sturdy and are very easy to use. They also have a fair bit of product in them so would last you a while!

PIGMENTATION: The NARS website describes them as delivering a "sheer natural finish". I think their formula allows them to be extremely buildable; if you want a sheer natural finish apply them lightly, but if you want more colour you can easily apply more layers without looking like a clown, except perhaps for St. Barts which is a little less buildable. They are well pigmented and also have little flecks of gold shimmer running through them which translates very nicely onto skin to make it look a good amount of 'glowy' - even though the shimmer is obvious when you look at them in their tubes, I promise you will not look like Edward Cullen/glitterball. 

ORGASM: This is The Multiple I got as a sample in a gift set, and I think it's a pretty good size!! Unlike it's powder counterpart, The Multiple form of Orgasm is much more sheer and is more of a highlighting shade. It is my favourite one and the one I use the most. It delivers a very pretty, iridescent, natural finish and looks pretty on eyelids too. The subtle shimmer catches the light in a beautiful way and this is such a good shade to own if you are going on holiday and want that fresh, healthy, natural glow and not much else. If you only want to buy one Multiple, this is definitely the one you should go for!

ST. BARTS: This is easily my least favourite Multiple. I bought it thinking it would substitute as a natural looking cream-bronzer but I find that it comes across on my face as very frosty and it definitely isn't the warm shade it appears to be. If you look at the swatches on my fingertips above, you will see that this particular Multiple also looks a little chalky and that definitely comes across when I use it on my cheeks! I rarely reach for it and wouldn't recommend it at all, except perhaps as a cream eyeshadow. 

PORTOFINO: After Orgasm, Portofino is favourite Multiple. It is a gorgeous pink with coral undertones that is very flattering on my skin tone. It makes me look very healthy and fresh and works beautifully when paired with Torrid or Orgasm in their powder forms. I think this would look great on all skin tones and the sheerness/heavyness is very easy to tailor to your personal preference.

RIVIERA: This is beautiful cool toned pink that is quite sheer at first, but after a few layers can look very pretty. For some reason though I don't find myself reaching for this one that much but I think on fairer skin tones this would deliver a very rosey, natural flushed look. This one also looks the prettiest on lips! 

All in all, do I think you need The Multiple in your life? No. Would I recommend The Multiple over the Powder Blushes by NARS? Definitely not. If you are a Nars newbie and don't know what to pick, I would strongly recommend you buy a powder blush from them first. If however, you own a few NARS blushes and like their colours, I think it'd be nice to own at least one Multiple (I recommend Orgasm). I think most of the shades would look pretty on eyes and lips, but I use them primarily as cheek products. They are good for sunny holidays as they give a slightly more creamy/natural/sheer look than powder blushes but aren't tooo creamy so they wouldn't slide off as soon as you hit the sun.  

Have you ever tried any Multiples from NARS? What do you think of the concept? What are your favourite NARS cheek products? If you have any more questions please feel free to write me a comment! 

Love, Emma xo

Currently Listening To: I Want It That Way - Backstreet Boys 

My NOT so conventional review on the Clarisonic Mia

Anybody who's anybody has heard of it. Everybody has read and watched rave reviews on it. Googled it. Added it to your online basket and maybe even pressed check-out. And then closed the tab and reprimanded yourself for considering buying what is essentially a face brush for £120.00. And then probably argued with your inner beauty-obsessed-alter-ego that it is an investment that is worth it seeing as you spend so much on make-up anyway and what good is all that make-up if your skin underneath isn't at it's greatest and cleanest? And then decided you'll wait a little bit and someday in the future....
(And if you haven't heard of it...well I'm sure the hole you live in must be very deep indeed.)
Yes I am talking about the Clarisonic Mia. The skin cleansing brush system that has so much hype surrounding it. 
Well, naturally and unfortunately, I got suckered in to the hype. Bought it. Used it. And regretted it so bad. 
(This is a long post and I feel it is necessary to give you a bit of background on my skin so you get a better picture.) 

I got the baby pink one because proceeds from the purchase went to Breast Cancer Awareness (probs the only good thing that came out of the buy!)

What type of skin did I have before using the Clarisonic Mia?
I do not want to sound showy-offy, but thankfully I have never had any major skin problems on my face (I suffer from eczema on some parts of my body). I never suffered from acne, or even mild breakouts. It is only at that time of the month that the odd tiny spot would set up camp on my forehead - never anywhere else - and even these ones would leave after literally a day or two. My skin concerns have always been pigmentation, uneven skin tone, dark under-eye circles and dry skin but I was able to deal with these without much hassle. I had normal to dry skin and was able to try out new products and such without fear - my skin was not sensitive.


If I had good skin why did I buy the Clarisonic Mia and what were it's supposed benefits?
I had heard such good things about it from people with all types of skin and I was going through a skincare phase and was really focusing on cleaning my skin deeply. I researched the Mia for over a year and a half and kept it on my wishlist. 
I know you must all have seen or heard these a billion times before, but for those of you who haven't, here are it's claims:
*Cleanses 6x better than with your hands alone in just 60 seconds
*Works with skin, not against it, to gently message away impurities trapped within pores
*Prepares skin for better absorption of creams, serums and moisturisers
*Helps reduce oily areas, dry skin patches and blemishes
*Helps reduce the appearance of visible pores
*Reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
*Gentle enough to use 2x a day 
What struck me as particularly interesting was that it claimed to cleanse 6x better and promised a good deep clean. I was looking at it as a strategic buy for prevention rather than to solve any skin issues. I thought of it as an investment that would help me sustain good skin, develop a squeaky clean base that would lap up all the goodness of my other skincare products and essentially help my skin look healthy and young when I am a grandma.  


So, what happened after I started using it?
So I bought mine in August while I was holidaying in America (I got it in a Nordstrom sale for $119).
First time: 
*I followed all the instructions on how to use it. Won't type them out but link you to the official website - link. 
*I was using the Neutrogena Visibily Clear 2-in-1 Cleanser and Mask cleanser at the time (Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish please forgive me) and I used this because I hadn't heard good things about the cleanser Clarisonic provided.
*My skin felt soft, smooth and very fresh, albeit a little bit dry. I applied moisturiser and went to sleep.
*I woke up the next morning and noticed that the skin around my nose felt a bit dry and patchy but I thought nothing much of it.
*By the next evening I had 2 spots on my forehead. I remember this v.clearly as I was extremely surprised as it was nowhere near that time of the month.
*So I googled this and found lots and lots of people saying that they had an initial 'purge' from using it. I assumed this was what was happening to me and despite being a bit grossed out I continued to use it.

One week later:
*I now had weird bump things on my forehead and chin - somewhere I have never ever everrr gotten any spots or problems. A bit worried that they were not going, but all the reviews said to keep going with it until all the gunk is out from the pores - to allow the purge.
*I was only using it once a day as twice a day proved too harsh for my dry skin which was now much dryer.

Increasingly self-conscious and worried about these bumps I decided to stop use for a little while to see what would happen. 
*Skin clears up. 

A month or so later:
*I decided to stop being wimpy and brought it out again to use.
*Dry patches around my nose reappear and they look horrible underneath foundation
*Bumps on forehead and chin re-appear and are worse than ever. They are underneath my skin - not fully-fledged popable spots, but weird cyst like bumps. Gross I know.
*As I had never suffered from anything like this before I got very upset, self-conscious and paranoid. It was only then that I realised how much for granted I had taken my skin before.
But I persisted and was sure that it was still a purging period and that afterwards my skin would look great.
*The bumps just get worse and worse and worse.
*Little spots started appearing in random places like my temples and underneath my eyebrows - WTF! 
*Broken capillaries around my nose which I still have to put up with now. (I didn't even know what broken capillaries were before the Clarisonic!)
*Skin is dryer than ever
*Aside from all these bad side effects I didn't get any of the good effects it claims to give!
*I stopped using it but my skin didn't clear up. I used various spot treatments and they would work for a couple of days untill bam the bumps and spots would re-appear in exactly the same places.
*As someone who could previously leave the house with a bit of under-eye concealer, blush and lipstick, I was now someone who couldn't leave without a full face of foundation. It was really horrible and for once I understood how hard it must be for people who suffer from acne.

What did I do to clear my skin up?
*As I said earlier, I used various spot treatments, but all of them yielded results that were only temporary.
*So I went on a complete detox - I used nothing on my skin at all to calm it down. (yes, I hibernated).
*This period also made me buy a long-term-lust which was Liz Earle's Cleanse and Polish hot cloth cleanser. So after a couple of weeks of skin detox I started using this.
*AH-MA-ZINGGGG!! This worked like nothing else and really helped my problematic skin!!
*No they didn't disappear overnight but redness was reduced and the bumps slowly started shrinking and properly disappearing.
*Most importantly, unlike before, they didn't reappear *touchwood*!!
*It's been ages now since I've stopped using the Clarisonic on my face but I still have blemishes where the bumps were but these are easily covered with concealer.

What do I do with my Mia now?
*As I bought mine from America and was having all these problems long after I arrived back in London, I couldn't return it and felt bad about the money wasted.
*I probably could have continued using it and waited for the purge to finish, but it was getting ridiculous, was way too long and I'm clearly not brave enough slash am a very vain person lol.
*SO I now use it on my body! I use it daily with my various body washes and have found that it works much better there and leaves my skin feeling very smooth and clean with no purges!


Phoawr that was some essay huh? So overall, clearly, the Clarisonic Mia did not work for me. I now have sensitive skin on my face and am prone to break-outs and have to be careful about what products I slather on. I still don't understand why my skin reacted to it so strongly and badly but it was a headache and a half and really not worth it.
But I speak for myself only. This is how my skin reacted, it does not mean that yours will react in the same way. There cannot possibly be so much hype over a product for no reason - read the reviews on Makeup Alley here - link. Google it. Youtube it. Decide for yourself.
I just thought it was important to draw attention to the possible/potential side effects and cons incase you have been blinded by the hype and think that it can do no wrong!
I hope this has been useful to some of you! Please let me know what your thoughts on it are - Have you tried it? Thinking of trying it? Your experiences with it? Do share!!

Love, Emma xo
Currently Listening To: Paradise Lost - Brand X Music

Review: Nars Jungle Red Lipstick

Hey Hey Heeeeyy

So, if you ever read my old blog you'll know already that I'm a bit of a Nars addict. Okay bit of an understatement; I'm a huge Nars obsessed freak. My love affair with Nars began when I bought their blush Torrid back in 2009 and now my Nars family has become...well big. I only own three lipsticks from them but I use them aalll the time.
Jungle Red is a hot red (obviously) colour that has a slight orange tint to it, but this orange tint does not translate onto your lips..well it doesn't for me anyway. Without further ado....:

Please click on photos to see them bigger and clearer!

Please excuse the horrible creasing concealer under my eyes and ofcourse my ridiculous poses (once again)

LOVE:
 - How bright the colour is and how pigmented....this was only one application
 - How long lasting Nars lipsticks are...considering the colour, I only had to touch up 2-3hours later!
 - Very smooth consistency
 - The packaging. As usual, Nars packing is sleek, elegant and non-fussy = lovee!
 - How many compliments I get when I wear this! Is such a statement colour!

NO LOVE:
- Is smooth but can be quite drying as you can see from the pictures. Apply balm before this!
- Colour slightly cracks around the edges of my mouth but this may just be because my lips are quite dry naturally!
- The price tag. At £17.50 is quite pricey, but I think it's worth it!

Overall, I lovee this lipstick and recommend it to anyone who dares to go red! I would recommend doing a lip scrub (sugar and olive oil are all you need!) before you apply it though as you dont want it look crackley.

Have you tried any Nars lipsticks, what do you think of them? What are your favourite red lipsticks?!

Emma xo
Currently Listening to: Mohombi - Dirty Situation