Gone Fishing

The lack of posts lately is due to a holiday back home. I'm currently in not-so-sunny Ireland. Yes, it really does rain that much.

Coming soon will be an update on how my Travel brushes from Sigma fared and lots of No 7 products. With vouchers pretty much every time you buy something, who could resist?

Sigma Travel Kit - Naughty in Black - a win!

About a week or so ago, on a lazy Sunday afternoon, I was casually checking my emails and spied one from Kat at Click & Make-up ( check out her blog at http://www.clickandmake-up.com), I had won a giveaway, woohoo! Now, you must understand two things... firstly, I never win competitions or giveaways, really.. NEVER! Secondly, I have been craving a set of Sigma brushes for the longest time. If you don't believe me, check out my previous Sigma posts. I've had to console myself with the occasional brush purchase, one or two at a time.

 Anyway, this not only made my day, but it made my week. My boyfriend smiled sweetly when I started bouncing up and down, smiling like a Cheshire cat. He didn't quite understand my delight, but attempted to show some enthusiasm, bless.

It arrived yesterday, my new baby:

 http://www.sigmabeauty.com/product_p/tk002.htm/?Click=34607

It includes:

1 Large Powder F30 – This is a dense, round topped brush with natural bristles for applying powder products.

1 Large Angled Contour F40 – an angled brush with natural bristles for contouring

1 Foundation F60 – for liquid or cream foundations and applying moisturisers or concealing larger areas. This is much softer than my Body Shop foundation brush, very interested to see the difference it makes.

1 Pencil E30 – natural bristles for crease work and more precise application

1 Tapered blending E40 – natural bristles, rounded and tapered for blending

 1 Eye Shading E55 – natural bristles, soft and densely packed. For applying colour all over the lid.

1 Concealer F70 – this is tapered, round and flat and is particularly recommended for the under eye area. This is wider than the Body Shop concealer brush I use; I’ll do a comparison soon.

http://www.sigmabeauty.com/product_p/tk002.htm/?Click=34607

 And as an added bonus a Duo-fibre F50 was included in the package separately. This should be perfect for light applications and blending my new NYX cream blush.

The case itself is a smart and compact (sounds like a car advert) imitation leather black textured finish with the Sigma logo on the front. This is a roll style case, with a magnetic fastening hidden within the case itself. Very snazzy.

 http://www.sigmabeauty.com/product_p/tk002.htm/?Click=34607

This kit gets a 5 star customer rating on Sigma’s website and I can see why. It’s a lovely bit of kit. I’m going to take great pleasure in trying all of these out and will post reviews on each brush as and when I can. I’ll be off to Ireland for a week soon to see the family and this will be perfect for my carry-on. I won’t be checking in any luggage, so packing light is essential. The brushes are a good size, not your usual flimsy travel brushes. I’ve had bad experiences with those in the past. I’ve washed them already as instructed, with minimal shedding and am eager to try them out.

 Again I’d like to say a big Thank you to Kat and encourage you all to enter her giveaways, they’re pretty fab:-D

My ROC in sunny climes

With type 1 skin (no tanning, just burning); living in a relatively sunny country like Portugal, good sun protection is a must. Other than the usual vanity related reasons such as premature aging and wrinkles, if I don’t use adequate protection I could literally end up in the hospital. Once as a teen, I got so badly burned on my shoulder that the skin scarred. Not pleasant and not an experience I would like to repeat. So, based on the above, I believe I’m a pretty good guinea pig for SPF.

Last year I used Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream SPF 50, which I loved at the time, but found a little rich for this year. It didn’t make me break out and I didn’t burn, but I thought I should find something a little lighter as my skin has been temperamental. The other concern is that it doesn’t mention anything on the tube about UVB cover, just UVA.

Summer had officially begun for me this year when I purchased Eau Thermale Avene (the orange container) SPF 50. This is recommended for dry and sensitive skin and doesn’t block pores. The consistency is thick and creamy and it has an oddly cooling sensation when applied, which isn’t unpleasant. Again though, I found it a tad heavy and the tube doesn’t last very long, unlike the Elizabeth Arden. Performance was good and again, there were no issues with burning. Furthermore, the tube clearly says this is broad spectrum protection UVA and UVB.

The latest product I’ve purchased in my battle against the burn was ROC Minesol Triple Defense. This, unlike the others is a spray lotion; I actually bought this for the body rather than the face. While this only says UVA on the front of the bottle, on the back it also specifies UVB. One day, after running out of the Avene cream, I tried using this on my face. The result was non-sticky, it sank in within a few minutes and my makeup applied beautifully over the top and lasted all day. I’ve had no issues with breakouts at all; in fact I think my skin prefers this to Elizabeth Arden or Avene. I’ve checked the website and while it doesn’t specify this for use on only the face or body, it does say it doesn’t clog pores and is hypoallergenic.

ROC Minesol Triple Defense has been performing well for me without the need to a separate lotion for face and body. It was less expensive than just one of the specific products for the face and while the others were 50ml in volume, this is 200ml. A bargain!

Bioderma - Sensibio Light Soothing cream for sensitive intolerant skin

As much as I love my makeup, seriously feeling better, more confident and like I can handle whatever the world might throw at me while wearing it, I adore taking it off at the end of the day. Nothing beats getting home to my little pooch (Micki), changing into comfy clothes and taking off the day. It imparts a feeling of instant relaxation; yes... the day is finally over.

In my makeup removal routine, I look for gentle products that leave the skin feeling healthy and nourished. Now, most have heard of Bioderma's cult favourite H2O Micellar water for makeup removal, but fewer have heard of their moisturiser. I love Sensibio Light, it leaves my skin feeling soft to the touch without being overloaded. I suffer from simultaneously sensitive and breakout prone skin. Sensibio doesn't clog my pores, doesn't make my face bright red and tomato-like and appears to give my skin, just the right amount of hydration for summer. No flakes, no shiny face. Perfect!

For winter, Sensibio also have a rich version available, so depending on how dry your skin is, you can tailor your routine as required. Although this product doesn't contain SPF, I've found it works well mixed with SPF or applied underneath, if you really require both products. More often than not, I'll apply just the SPF in the mornings and Sensibio in the evenings. It depends on how my skin feels that day. I also find that this is a great base for under foundation and because of the lack of SPF, this won't give a ghostly caste if you’re photographed on a night out.

It won't let you down

Rexona or Sure, depending on where you live. The warm weather has kicked in, finally. So, the constant worry of dampness and being less than fresh has followed suit. I've tried just about every type of antiperspirant out there, with varying degrees of success. Mitchum was one of the better ones, but it dried my skin out resulting in not so attractive  red, flaky patches. Odaban was an experiment I conducted last summer, let's just say it was less than successful and my underarms were on fire. Not something I wanted to repeat this year.

I had spotted Rexona Maximum Protection in the supermarket a couple of times, but having had so many failures in the past, I was less than enthusiastic about trying yet another product. I am so glad I did.

This product should be applied at night after a shower, 2 clicks only. It's creamy, has a pleasant enough fragrance and didn't sting at all, not even a little. Although the instructions say it isn't essential, this can be repeated in the morning. I decided better safe than sorry and used it again. Low and behold, not only was I odour free all day, but bone dry, this is a first.

Ladies, for those of you who find the common type of deodorant or antiperspirant doesn't cut it in heat, this could be the answer.

I warn you to let this dry before dressing as otherwise white patches are a given. Otherwise you could use this at night and use a lighter deodorant during the day. The manufacturers say this is effective even after a shower.

Bioderma - Sensibio H2O (or Crealine)

Sought after by many, obtainable in return for hefty postage charges and possibly your first born. Well, not quite... I have actually found this in chemist's in Portugal, but I have to admit I am not a fan of the fact that it is still much more expensive than in France and not that easy to find. Apparently, this is the product of choice for professionals in the cosmetics' field, suiting all skin types even the most sensitive amongst us.

Does it live up to the hype? Well, after suffering horrible breakouts for a couple of months, to the point where I was at my wits end, I decided to cave in and give it a try. At first there was no change, but bearing in mind that it can take more than 5 weeks for skin to respond I persevered. I'm glad I did. This is truely a miracle product.

To remove eye makeup, the 'Lisa Eldridge' method must be used. Soak cotton pad, hold gently to eye area and wait and wait, I count to at least 10. Then gently wipe away. Using more cotton, repeat on other eye and finally the rest of the face. I would recommend using something else to clean off heavy foundation first, like a cream cleanser and then using this afterwards. Therefore ensuring every last scrap is gone and allowing this to give a deeper clean. I like to massage the cream cleanser in and then have a refreshing clean with Bioderma at night. In the mornings and on no makeup days (not frequent) I use just bioderma alone.

I have noticed a dramatic difference to my skin since starting to use this, but alas I am not prepared to search high and low for the few chemist's that seem to stock it. In conclusion, I have decided that when this is easily available I'll use it, otherwise I will continue to use other Micellar cleansers as they seem to suit my sensitive, break out prone skin much better than wash off products and cream cleansers alone.

Mavala - Elle nail polish

Normally I'm quite traditional with nail colours, favouring deep reds, nudes or blacks, depending on mood and season. I generally like more natural colours on long nails for summer and more dramatic shades on shorter nails for winter. 'Elle' by Mavala is not a colour I'd have gone for before, right now I'm undecided, but I think later in the year ie. A/W I could love this as a less severe alternative to black. Let's see.

In terms of application, this is pretty fool proof. The Mavala brush is flattish and wide enough so I could avoid streaks and the formula seems to be fast drying. This is tempting me to try some other Mavala colours, which strangely enough I never have before. I was always somewhat put off by the smaller bottles. However, considering how many larger bottles have gone to waste and become useless due to going gloopy, I think I may have to rethink this.

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Red faced and clear skinned (Almost)

First of all, apologies for having been away for so long. It's been a hell of a month, stressful to say the least. I can't say the causes of all that stress have gone, but being a Friday and seeing the light at the end of the tunnel (plus a glass of vino in hand) I'm feeling fit to blog again.



Naturally, stress = breakout and my skin was pretty bad over the past few weeks. I had a full set of hormonal cystic chin accessories, which not only refused to budge, but were determined to multiply. However, after reading another blogger's post (I would cite, but honestly cannot remember which blogger, I'm sorry... if I find it, I'll update or if it was you, please let me know and I'll happily edit) on using fruit as an at home peel/mask treatment, I decided to give it a try. Why not?



Now, I did a bit of research and apparently for sensitive skin, tomatoes are not the best fruit to use, cucumber is better, but this was an emergency. Not being a particularly big fan of veggies, tomatoes were the only thing I happened to have in the fridge and I was a desperate woman. On my face a freshly sliced wedge of tomato was rubbed. I waited about 5 minutes, it was a little stingy, but not uncomfortable. I rinsed well with warm water, cleansed and toned as normal then moisturised.



Results, well this is shocking... there was no adverse reaction; in fact there was a major improvement in my skin. No more cysts, it's heeling. I'm going to try this again this week, but although I may have gotten away with the tomato all over once, this time I'll try using cucumber as recommended. Perhaps a little tomato just on the chin area will suffice.

If you are out there the blogger who wrote about this, you are my saviour and I thank you:-D

Stretch Marks - A girl's worst enemy

As a teen I wasn't in the habit of moisturising after each shower and inevitably with growth spurts, both upwards and outwards, stretch marks were a given. Back then it just didn't seem to be nearly as important as we know it to be now.

Roll onwards to today, yes the stretch marks remain on my upper thighs and hips. Before you ask... yes, I have done the oils, the creams and the massages, only to learn to my dismay that if stretch marks are new, this may help. However, once they turn silvery in colour, it's too late because the damage is too deep for products or massage to have the desired effect. The only improvement you'll see is to the skin itself and the healthier the skin looks, the more forgiving it is of the underlying damage.

Now armed with this knowledge I have sworn that if I am ever pregnant I shall sit for nine months in a tub of coco butter oil and massage endlessly until delivery. Later, I will pass this knowledge on to the next generation before it is too late (slightly dramatic perhaps). Don't get me wrong, I would never advocate encouraging a teen to be looks obsessed, but I think it is healthy to teach girls basic ways of looking after their skin without going over the top. Things like SPF, moisturise, 5 portions of fruit and veg and hydration of course.

In the meantime, I shall continue to use my fake tan otherwise known as camouflage. This, added to good skin maintenance is the only thing that makes stretch marks less visible, short of wearing a sarong.

Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream - A holiday essential

I've read many posts of late on holiday essentials and travelling light; well in my opinion no suitcase is complete without this multitasking gem. It's not particularly glam, it smells medicinal for want of a better word and it doesn't immediately lend itself to images of cocktails, bikinis and lazy days by the pool.

However, I go nowhere without it. This stuff lasts forever. It's a great night time lip balm, hand and cuticle treatment and you know those new sandals, a slick of 8 hour stops the rubbing. A bit of this on elbows and knees and you can say goodbye to flaky skin. Some girls even use this as a highlighter in a pinch (better for night-time use). Yes, there are other products out there, but this one just seems a bit more versatile than most and the tube is very handbag friendly. I've had mine for over a year now and it's still going strong.

Definitely one I’ll buy again, but probably won’t need to for quite a whileJ

KIKO - Eyes Rescue

Described as a 'Total perfection eye contour cream', this was another of the Kiko products I put to the test recently. This was not expensive (+/- €10) for 15ml of product, a little goes a long way and it sinks into the skin pretty quickly. The consistency is more watery than that of a cream and there doesn't seem to be much of a scent, so no irritation. This could be great for those who don't feel they need a full on under eye cream yet or for those who prefer something lighter, perhaps under SPF. However, for those of you who like to feel your under eye area is intensely nourished and moisturised, this might not do it alone. Personally, I like to apply this much like a serum for the face, layered under a moisturiser and that way I feel it works better. If asked would I buy this again, honestly... I'm not sure. I'm a bit fickle and do I really need to add another step to my face regime? Maybe!

Could this be an alternative to the Clarisonic?

I've been reading so many reviews on the Clarisonic lately, which many of you are already familiar with. This nifty little tool is supposed to aid in giving a deeper more effective cleansing and exfoliates your skin to boot. The thoughts of more radiant and healthier skin certainly appeal. Sounds great, well right up to the point where you get to the price. At over £150 for the cheaper version, I believe, it's just way out of my price range right now. However, I have just spotted that Sigma have released their own version, which they have simply labelled the 'cleansing and polishing tool'. At $39 plus postage, this seems much more feasible for my ailing wallet, plus it comes with 3 heads for different skin types. That was an issue that many reviewers seemed to have with the Clarisonic, they found the brush head they used was either too hard or too soft. What I'd like to know is if anyone out there has tried both companies' versions. Now, that would be an interesting comparison, I'd be eager to know their findings.

The only problem I have with the idea of using what looks like a large electric tootbrush on my face is... could this be counterproductive? Is it a good idea to over buff the skin? Could this do more damage than good? I don't know, is the simple answer. With sensitive skin that's prone to redness,  I have to be careful with exfoliation and could easily over do it. I tend to think the muslin cloth method at a meager couple of euros a pop might actually be a much wiser investment for me, at least for now.

What are your thoughts on this?  

Nivea Invisible Black & White - a Sequel

It's been tried and tested by yours truly over the course of about a month and a half. When I last blogged about this product, http://fiction-skindeep.blogspot.com/2011/05/nivea-invisible-for-black-white.html, I had already been using it for a few weeks, during which I wore white blouses to work and out and about in this very scientific trial (scoff). In the interest of science I have used no other deodorant or antiperspirant products and the results are in....

My blouses have stayed white, so far. To those of you who don't suffer from excessive perspiration or don't seem to have the weird body chemistry I do, this may seem like no feat, but I can assure you, it is. Some of you out there will know the frustration of buying beautiful (expensive) white blouses, only to have to bin them a few weeks later when they develop that lovely shade of yellow in the underarm area. Well, no more! At least, that's what I am hoping. 6 weeks is not a life time, but it's certainly an extended one for my white blouses. I'll update again in a few weeks and let you know how the 'research' is going.

Remington Style Professional Pearl Wand update

This is a strange tool for the curling virgin. Don't get me wrong, but this does the job. It curls and they're pretty nice curls at that. However, even with the included glove, watch your fingers ladies. For those of you with longer hair, results might be better and the process itself could be much easier, but with my medium length hair, I was constantly forced to choose between scorched head or burnt fingers. I chose the latter. Mind you, my hair did look quite good afterwards. I'm not sure if the motto for this particular tool should be 'beauty=pain' or 'practice makes perfect'. I'm hoping it's the latter.

KIKO Eyes & Lips

You probably can't tell from the picture, but this is one of those two phase eye cleansers, you know, the type you have to shake well before using. As this is an oil based product, I bought it thinking I could say goodbye to those stubborn bits of mascara that just glue themselves to the base of your lashes.

I shook and shook, soaked my cotton wool, held to my eyes and waited (a la Lisa Eldridge), but alas, those stubborn bits remained. Defeated, I had to do a bit of rubbing as per usual. I might point out at this stage that I don't use waterproof mascara, just your usual black/brown variety.

This wasn't the worst eye makeup remover I've ever used and it didn't sting my eyes, but a miracle product it isn't.

Boticario Eye Primer

After trying an eye primer for the first time and finding there was a significant difference in terms of the time my shadow lasted, I thought I should try another. Hard to believe, I know, but eye primers seem to be something that's quite hard to get over here in Portugal. For some reason, very few of the high street brands seem to sell them. So, this time, it was o Boticario's primer that was selected for the test. I don't know how many of you have this brand in your country, but from what I know, it's Brazilian and ladies, when you enter their shops, you are met with a medley of yummy smelling goodies. They seem to have everything, ranging from hair products to perfumes. Price wise, they're not bad at all, this primer was €10.50. They also have an online shop that could be worth checking out.

So, I've been using this for the past couple of months, I didn't post about it earlier because I wanted to see how it fared when the weather heated up. Being in a squeezy tube applicator with a small nozzel, it's very easy to control the amount of product and very little is required. I find less is more with this. The reason being that the colour is very white and too much means teadeous blending.

That aside, this seems to feel kind of cooling when applied and dries quite quickly. Lasting power is average, while it does make the shadow last longer and gives the colour some punch, it's not infallible and won't keep things from creasing for an infinity, but for a full day of work and the trip home, this works nicely. The fact that so little is needed means this should last for ages:-)

Gone fishing

Hi Ladies,

Sorry for the lack of posts lately, but I have a Uni assignment due by 3rd June. So, there won't be any posts until then, unless I am very naughty. I'll make up for it though with an abundance of reviews.

X

Nivea - Invisible for Black & White

This is an embarrassing problem and one I've had to deal with since my early teens... I perspire heavily, rain or shine, active or not, there's just nothing I can do about it. Over the years I have avoided colours like grey, beige and certain pastels, knowing that they show underarm stains more quickly. I shower at least once daily in winter, twice in summer and delay my showers as much as possible before leaving for work.

I've tried all types of products and I find roll on antiperspirants/deodorants ( it has to be both, deodorants alone don't cut it) are the only way to go with a spray in my bag for top ups later in the day. I once tried crystal deodorant and didn't make it past 3 hours before getting whiffy. It went in the bin that evening.

Problem is, during the summer months, one of the colours I rely on to mask this problem is white and unfortunately, I manage to turn new white tops yellow within a few wears/washes. Just for clarification, I wear then wash, nothing is worn twice before washing. Apparently, this yellowing is due to a reaction between perspiration, antiperspirant and detergent. Obviously, this can work out to be both an embarrassing and expensive problem at this point.

I was delighted to learn recently that Nivea had produced an antiperspirant promising not to turn my whites yellow. This comes in the form of Invisible for Black & White and comes in both roll on and spray. I rushed out immediately to buy this and have been using it for the past 3 weeks. The weather has been in the mid twenties and gorgeous. To date my new white blouses have not yellowed, so yes... this is an improvement. I'll keep you updated, if I manage to get to the end of the summer with blouses that remain white and wearable, I will be officially converted.

Ladies, I have received no samples or anything else from this range. I bought the 2 roll-ons and 1 spray of this stuff in my possession myself. This review is dedicated to any ladies who suffer like myself from this problem. 

Too Faced Lock Down in Bedroom Eyes and Dramarama

Traditionally I have always been a powder shadow girl. I don't know why, but they've always been more readily available and therefore, the colours are were varied. However, having watched a few tutorials, (Lisa Eldridge and Pixiwoo amongst others) where cream shadows were used to great effect, I decided it was time for a change.

After looking at various cream shadows online and weighing up my options, price/colour/availability I settled on Too Faced Lock Down in two colours, Bedroom Eyes ( described as a medium brown) and Dramarama ( described as a dark brown).

The creams arrived in tubes rather than tubs as pictured above, which seems more hygenic and a little goes a very long way, so the small size should not be too worrying. Upon first application I found these hard to master and if I'm very honest, I have to admit I suspect I shall always lean more towards powders when I need a five minute face. I was a little surprised at which colour turned out to be more flattering, as usually I love my dark browns, they're versatile, flattering to my blue eyes and generally a good safe option. However, it was Bedroom Eyes that was the more used in the end. This is a great colour, versatile and undemanding of endless blending. It looks great as a wash, a base or as part of a brown smokey eye. There's some sparkle without looking like the Christmas tree fairy and the wear is quite frankly, amazing. Still there after a full day's work in the heat.

Dramarama was somewhat less impressive. Now, I have to say, perhaps in more dexterous hands this would be better used, but I find it hard to blend and much less flattering, perhaps it's a bit too warm toned. It's too dark and opaque for a wash, too fluid for controlled crease work and too flat. It's been sitting in my bottomless makeup bag for months now, barely used. Maybe it will be resurected one day and put to use, but for now it is not to be.

So, if you're thinking of trying these out, I would suggest starting with Bedroom Eyes, it's a much better investment. If any of you have suggestions for using Dramarama, I would love to hear from you.