An addiction...

As you can probably guess from the title of this blog, I develop addictions to products really easily.  In this blogpost, I wanted to share one of my addicitions with you!

Quite a while back, I heard alot about EOS balm throughout the beauty blogger and youtube world..

If you don't know about EOS balm, it is:

"95% organic, 100% natural, and paraben and petrolatum free. Packed with antioxidant-rich vitamin E, soothing shea butter and jojoba oil, eos keeps your lips moist, soft and sensationally smooth."

Aside from the fact that it was not available in the UK, I wasn't very interested to be honest.. but then, when travelling last year, I gave in and bought one! 

The first one I got was 'Summer Fruit' ....and that's it, i was hooked!

Then, one of my amazing sisters, (who lives in Shanghai), got me the 'Honey Suckle Honey Dew' - which I am equally in love with!

And now.... She has spoiled me greatly! and bought me the  'strawberry sorbet' and 'lemon drop' !

I am a fully fledged EOS balm addict now!  :-D  I know I now have enough lip blam to last me forever, but I still really want the other 2 flavors which I don't have  - 'sweet mint' and 'medicated tangerine'

I cannot decide which one I like most!  They really are great lipbalms!

Have you tried these?

Megan xxx 

The best Cleanser ever??

For a long time, I was on the hunt for the most perfect cleanser.  3 years ago, I found it!

The laneige multi-cleanser is without a doubt, my holy grail face wash!  Since the very first time I used it, I have not tried, or even wanted to try anything else. 

Laneige is a Korean brand, which focuses strongly on water and natural elements in their beauty products.

The Laneige multi-cleanser comes in a user-friendly 'squeeze tube' packaging, and the product itself is a thick cream.  On a damp face, this lathers up amazingly leaving my skin feeling clean and refreshed. It removes every hint of make-up from my face, without my skin feeling dry or 'tight' (for reference, I have normal to combination skin - I therefore cannot vouch for how this will work with drier skin types). There is also a definite difference in the appearance of my skin - I very rarely have any pimples anymore and my pores around my nose and cheek area are much less visible.

Overall, I cannot fault this product!  The only issue is, that is quite difficult to get your hands on!  I normally have to ask a family member to buy me a couple at a time from Hong Kong.  But, you can get it online from here and here.

I highly recommend this product, as well as the Laneige brand itself!

Have you tried any of Laneige's skin care?

Megan xxx

25 Questions Tag!

I love reading this tag when other bloggers have done it, and thought it would help you to get to know me!

1. Do you apply your foundation with a brush, sponge, or fingers?
I have never actually used a sponge to apply my foundation.  I usually use a brush (the elf flat top powder brush) or my fingers.

2. Do you apply your eyeshadow from light to dark? or dark to light?

Always light to dark.

3. Do you prime your eyes?

On a day to day basis, no – as I don’t wear any eyeshadow (I just sweep some foundation lightly over my lids to keep them mattified.  But if I’m going on a night out or when I do wear eyeshadow, yes – (I use the NYX eyeshadow base).

4. Concealer first, or after foundation?

Foundation first – then concealer.  Or when I’m rushing, just concealer and face powder.

5. Go for manicures, or manicure yourself?

Manicure myself – I love to do it whilst watching youtube videos. Unless it’s a special occasion and I want to treat myself, then I will go for a professional one.

6. Exfoliate lips, face or both?

Both

7.    On average, how long does it take you to do your makeup?

For day to day - less than 10 mins. But if it’s for a night out, about 30 minutes.

8. Do you wear makeup everyday and everywhere?

I wear very light, basic makeup to work and for day to day wear (concealer, eyebrows and mascara), and the full sha-bang if I’m going out for dinner/drinks/partying etc.  But if I’m simply going to the supermarket, hanging out with friends or just running errands on a random day – then I am happy to be make-up free

9. What release are you most excited about? (Makeup)

I don’t really follow collections...

10. What's your weakness? Shoes, purses, clothes, jewelry, eyeshadow, lipstick or other?

I would say lipsticks.  I have a large number of them, some which have never been used once.

11. Do you whiten your teeth?

No, but I want to try the Crest whitening strips.

12. Wax eyebrows, or pluck?

Pluck

13. What do you use to contour?

Benefit Hoola bronzer

14. False lashes, or natural?

Natural for day to day, but for certain events I wear false lashes.  

15. Favourite makeup brand?

I don’t have one specific brand that I can call my favourite.  I use a range of brands that each have something that stand out to me.

16. Liquid eyeliner, pencil or gel?

Liquid and pencil – gel is too fussy for me.

17. Lipstick, lipgloss or chapstick?

Lipstick and chapstick.  I cannot handle lipgloss.  (am I cheating by always choosing 2? Haha)

18. Pigments, pressed or cream eyeshadow?

Pressed

19. If you had to wear only one thing, excluding foundation; what would it be?

Hmmm…Eyeliner.

20. Favourite colour?

In terms of eyeshadow..i would say browns.

21. Favourite colour combination?

I love sweeping a champagne-ish colour over my lid (like Urban Decay’s SIN), and adding an intense deep Taupe to the outer corners and crease of my eye.

22. Natural? or Dramatic? (Eye Makeup)

It depends on where I’m going – but I’d say dramatic

 23. Do you care more for quality or name brand?

Quality

24. Do you enjoy using face masks? If so which ones

I love face masks. I especially love hydrating masks.  I use the Origins Drink up Intensive overnight mask (whenever I remember to).  I also love my Laneige Water sleeping pack (my skin feels so amazing in the morning!). 

25. What is your current addiction? (example: lipsticks, eyeshadows, earrings..)

Lipbalm! I am currently alternating my EOS balm and Burts bees chapstick.  I literally cannot stop myself from buying new lipbalms, even if I have 4 in my handbag at time of purchase! J

I tag anyone out there who is interested to do this! Just leave a link to your blog in the comments below!

Megan xxx

Lip plumper or torture device?

I’m all for full lips, but have recently stumbled across a product which I’m not too sure about.  The lip plumper.

This device claims to “physically enhance and stimulate your lips. It does this by gently drawing fluid into the lips – increasing blood flow and stimulation of your lips natural collagen production”

The device is made from light weight plastic, and has rhinestone decoration.  It comes with an attached pump which you control manually. It basically works by placing the mouthpiece over your lips, pressing the pump 2-3 times (which creates a suction on your lips), and keeping this ‘vacuum’ on for 10 seconds (no longer).  This is then repeated 3 times, every day.

You can find more information about this product HERE

There are numerous positive reviews about this device, and it claims to be non-invasive - with alot of dedication put into explaining the product's safety. 

There is also a similar product available from Luscious lips which has also has positive reviews. 

However, I am still not sold on these products and find them quite scary!

Has anyone tried the lip plumper?  What are your thoughts on this?

Megan xxx 

Tips and Tricks!

Here are a few beauty tips and tricks I’ve picked up in the past. Thought it would be interesting to share them with you!

-        Want to keep your face mattified and even? Dab your finger over a stick deodorant and pat it onto the areas that you want to appear more matte and where you want the pores to be less visible.  It works!

-        Want to create a matte lip? – apply one coat of your chosen lipstick, then lightly dust on some face powder.  Follow with a second coat of lipstick.  The powder draws out the oil from the lipstick – giving a more mattified effect. This trick also makes your lipstick last significantly longer.

-        Have hard to curl eyelashes? – run your eyelash curlers under hot water or blast them for a few seconds with a hair dryer to make your own ‘heated eye lash curlers’.  You can also opt to use waterproof mascara as this formula dries faster than the regular one, and will help set the curl.

-        Do you get red patchy skin (like between your brows/chin/cheeks?) – steep a bag of green tea for 1 minute, then remove it from the water and let it cool down. Dab it all over your face, concentrating on your problem areas – the antioxidants in the tea reduce the redness/inflammation.

-        Run out of shaving cream? – use conditioner! I think this is actually better than shaving cream. The conditioner softens the hairs making it easier to shave, and also allows a closer shave.  As an added bonus, your legs are left silky smooth.

-        Tired of your perfume wearing off?- Dab some petroleum jelly (Vaseline) on the areas that you want to apply the perfume to (wrists, sides of neck etc) then spray your fragrance on top. The perfume adheres to this and doesn’t disappear as fast as it would from dry skin.  Also – if you’re wearing a dress/skirt, spray your perfume onto your knees and ankles, as scent rises.

-         Want thicker eyelashes? – With an eyeshadow brush, lightly dust a face powder or matte eyeshadow onto the tops of your eyelashes, then apply your usual mascara over this.  This instantly makes your eyelashes appear thicker.

-        Want to get rid of rough/dry skin? -  Cut a lemon and rub onto the areas you want to improve – (elbows/heels). The citric acid helps remove dead skin.  Be aware that this can also have a lightening effect.

-        Want your make-up to last?  - Typically it is advised to use a primer before and a setting spray after applying your make-up.  But if you don’t own or want to buy expensive primers/setting sprays there are other options: use aloe vera gel as a primer (which you can find cheaply anywhere e.g. here) this works well as a base for makeup. To set your face (now, have an open mind…), open the freezer after you have finished applying all your make-up, close your eyes and put your head close to let the cold air hit your face.  This will help set your makeup. You can also spray a fine mist of hair spray over your face.

-        And my final tip is not to always follow the rules with make up.  Use lip-stick on your cheeks, blusher/bronzer on your eyes etc.  When you start experimenting with your make up and using it in different ways, you will discover so many new looks.

I will update on tips/tricks regularly when I come across more!

 Are there are tips/tricks that you know of?

Megan xxx