B for Bullshit?

Estee Lauder are one of the many, many brands to launch their own version of the infamous BB Cream (Blemish Balm). Latest in Beauty are currently offering their subscribers a 5ml sample of the cream for just £1.50 which I think is great - I've never got the whole 'BB' thing but I thought this would be the perfect chance to try one!   

(For those who don't know what Latest in Beauty is, have a read of this post: http://elefont-at.blogspot.com/2011/12/latest-in-beauty.html)

Bearing in mind that Latest in Beauty is a 'try before you buy' website that recommends products specifically aimed to your personal preferences (which are first recorded when you join the website) I was a  bit pissed off that I received the BB cream in the shade: light! Do they expect everyone to have fair skin ? I know there are only two shades but surely they could have given us the option to choose?

Estee Lauder Day Wear BB Anti-Oxidant Beauty Benefit Creme

£32.00...30ml 

What Estee Lauder claim about their BB Creme: 

- Moisturises, protects and gives flawless perfection. 

- Instant even-toned healthy looking skin.

- Powerful protection with Super Anti-Oxidant Complex and SPF35

- Oil-free hydration. 

- Helps to control excess surface oil. 

- Available in 2 shades to suit a wide range of skintones.  

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How to use the BB Creme: 

- Apply as a last step in your skincare regimen. 

- Wear alone or under foundation. 

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The Formula Facts:  

- Oil-free

- Dermatologist-tested.

- Non-acnegenic. 

(Literature taken from: http://www.esteelauder.co.uk/product/688/20671/Product-Catalog/Skincare/By-Category/Moisturisers/Daywear-BB/Anti-Oxidant-Beauty-Benefit-Creme/index.tmpl?cm_re=MainMerch-_-Rotation2-_-B.Bcreme )

The Verdict:

For the purpose of this review I did give the BB Creme ago despite the shade being totally WRONG! I dared not go out in public with it on though, therefore I can't give my opinions on the durability and ability of the BB cream lasting a full day's work etc. The cucumber scent was a bit off putting - I normally associate this scent with cleansing type products however had the product been outstanding I would have got passed this. 

The consistency is quite light, although I found it hard to blend in. If your looking for a full coverage look this product may not be for you - its a very sheer coverage however if your just looking for an extra something, something for your skin its worth getting a sample to try. You would definitely need concealer to cover up any problem areas such as scaring or under eye circles and a setting powder is a must! It didn't even out my skintone but this may be due to the colour and overall I wasn't impressed with this product. Like I said I couldn't give you guys a full review due to the shading issue, but its hasn't given me the urge to go and try any other BB creams so I won't be rushing out to the shops for one just yet!

Don't waste your pennies on this one!!!

Has anyone tried this BB cream ? If so, what are your views on it? Any recommendations on good BB Creams?x

Waiter: There's A Hair In My Soup!

As a creative person if I can find a use for something I'll keep it and make something from it - I absolutely hate throwing things away. My room is my personal space, a place where I can just chill out and have peace and quiet (we all need a bit of that,don't we?),so I like to put my own little touches to it!

As weird as this looks, I store my make-up brushes (not that I have many) in a old soup can. Heinz celebrated their 100th year as a company and for a limited time sold their soups with the old label design. I really liked the style of it and I was originally collecting them to grow some plants (does that make me sound old?) but in the end I decided to use one as a brush holder. 

It shows you don't have to spend a lot on storage and your doing your bit for the environment by recycling. I just sealed the outside with some PVA glue to give it a glossy finish and its really easy to clean if you need to. 

How does everyone store their brushes / make-up? Let me know down in the comments section. Hope everyone is having a great day. x

Soap & Glory-ious

My Mum went crazy with the Soap & Glory Gift Sets at Christmas, but I'm so glad because it has given me the chance to try out more products. Although the Thick & Fast Mascara wasn't a complete success for me I have to say overall I have had a pretty good experience at using Soap & Glory products. I love the quirky names, funky packaging and love the fact that theres somethings for almost every beauty and skin care purpose. 

The products above are from the Higher Shower Gift Set that normally comes out during the Festive period however individually they are available throughout the year at Boots and Harvey Nichols (I've just found that out - they do say you learn something everyday)! All the products are scented with 'Mist You Madly' and I highly recommend that you guys give them a go... you won't be disappointed.  

The Daily Smooth Body Butter: £8.50...250ml

This body butter has Rosehip oil and Cocoa butter scented with the 'Mist you Madly' scent. Its really good for those with dry skin and has really helped in the cold winter months. It sinks into the skin quickly and leaves your body feeling smooth. It lasts for ages and you only need a tiny drop as its luxuriously thick. Value for money with this product!!!

Mist you Madly Body Spray: £6.50...250ml

A really quick alternative to a perfume. 'Mist you Madly' contains bergamot, blackcurrant, magnolia, freesia, vanilla and musk. Its really sweet smelling with hints of floral notes with handy nozzle to distribute the scent easily and is available in a travel size version for your handbag.  

Clean Girls Body Wash: £6.00...300ml

This is a lovely creamy body wash, again it contains bergamot, blackcurrant, magnolia, freesia and vanilla like the body spray. Its really moisturising so if you do happen to forget to put body cream on or your in a rush it doesn't really matter too much.

What products do you like from the Soap & Glory range? Comment below and let me know xxx

Eye Eye with my Little Eye

I never used to be big on using eye make-up removers but now I couldn't go without one and I'm on the search for the perfect one. Previously I used Simple's Eye Make-Up Remover but I found it stung my eyes despite it claiming to be 'kind to eyes'.

Having almost finished using the The Soothing Eye Make-Up Remover I thought it would be a jolly good idea to share my thoughts with the folks of the blogging world.The Soothing Eye Make-Up Remover is from the Botanics Range from Boots and currently retails for £3.05 for 150ml. 

Claims To: 

- Keeps the delicate skin around the eye area in good condition.

- Removes eye make-up gently but thoroughly.

- Effortlessly removes eye-makeup, even waterproof mascara. 

- Comforts and soothes the eye area.

Directions: Shake well. Dampen a cotton wool pad and gently sweep across closed eyes.

Initially when I first started using this product I was very wary that it had received mix reviews on Makeup Alley so I was definitely keeping an open mind. For reference I have been using the Primark Cotton Wool Pads with the remover AND I have to say they are completely and utterly SHIT (pardon my French) - they tear really easily so girls don't go wasting your money on them!

The remover comes with two separate liquid that you have to shake in order to get an even mixture of both. One of the liquids is oil based and the other I believe is 'Iceland Moss',which has soothing benefits that help hydrate & calm the skin.

I was really put off by oily liquid at first, however I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly and gently it removed my eye-makeup, so I soon got over it! It was really moisturising and it didn't leave a stinging sensation like the Simple's Eye Make-Up Remover. It removed every little scrap of eyeliner and mascara and in the Morning there was no sign of any residue. The skin around my eye area has generally been looking in much better condition and I do think its to do with the oily liquid in the remover in conjunction with the Bio Oil I use as a night treatment.

Unfortunately like the gimp I am I accidently sat the bottle on the floor and most of the oily liquid spilled everywhere of course! So not only did the carpet get ruined but I lost half of the remover. I was left with mostly the Iceland Moss liquid which I have to say was a lot harder to work with on its own and I definitely (I say definitely a lot) think the oily liquid makes the remover what it is!

If your looking for a reasonably priced remover that does an alright job I would recommend this to at least try. I don't see it being my perfect remover so if anyone has any recommendations of removers they think are good please let me know. I just bought the Garnier Simply Essentials Soothing 2 in 1 Make-Up Remover so I will see how I get on with that. Again if anyone has used this one or the Botanic's Soothing Eye Make-Up remover let me know your thoughts.X

Soap & Glory: (Not So) Thick & Fast Mascara

I have now used the Soap & Glory's Thick & Fast Mascara (which I received free in the March issue of Elle Magazine),enough to give you guys my thoughts on it. 

I was excited to try the Thick & Fast Mascara as I've had nothing but good things to say about other Soap & Glory products. However its current retail price of £10.00 (for 10 ml's) didn't really impress me - so when I saw Elle Magazine were giving one away with their March Issue I jumped at the chance! 

This 'false lash effect' Mascara claims to create amazingly longer, fuller, fabulous lashes and features SUPERFILL™ false lash fillers, shine amplifiers, NOFLAKE24 technology and super-fine-no-clumps natural wax film formers. 

(I tend to ignore the 'Blurb' on products - if its a good product & it works I don't give two hoots what the ingredients are - unless they have been tested on animals!) 

(You can see the build up of product on the bottom of the wand)

(Without Mascara)

As much as I wanted to love this Mascara, when it came down to the crunch I have to say unfortunately I didn't. Not to say that I disliked it nor did it do anything amazing for my lashes. The wand is quite big and I found that the actual formulation can sometimes catch the skin above my lashes if I'm not careful. The wand also collects too much product which makes it hard to separate the lashes. Despite using eye-lash curlers before hand the overall effect the Mascara had on my lashes was clumpy looking and I found that my lashes were sticking together because of the wet and gloopey consistency. 

(With Mascara - I found the outer lashes stuck together because of the gloopey formulation)

The Thick & Fast Mascara kind of reminds me of Benefits Bad Gal Lash Mascara which has a dry formula only Bad Gal was easier to apply as it separated lashes quickly and easily whereas with the Thick & Fast Mascara I found it was harder to work with. 

If both Mascaras were up against each other Benefits Bad Gal Lash Mascara would hands down definitely win the battle. 

In my opinion having tried this Mascara I would say it isn't worth the money, it has quite a high price point for drugstore and has failed in my view to deliver what it claims to do. 

I hate saying bad things about Soap & Glory, because I love their products, but if I wasn't fully satisfied with the product I have to be honest. If you have tried the Thick & Fast Mascara let me know what your experience of using it was like. x  

Want Beautiful Ends?

In general my hair is quite dry and very wavy, so once a week I like to give it some TLC by using a hair mask of some sort. I have to admit that sometimes I do get a bit lazy and don't take care of my hair as much as I should so I have decided that at least once a week if not twice I am going to use a mask regardless of how busy I am or how lazy I'm feeling. 

Many brands have their own intensive treatments so it was hard for me to decide what to go for so I thought I would start with the Herbal Essences beautiful ends Split End Protective Intensive Mask - for Dry / Damaged hair.  This mask retails from £4.07 for 200 ml from Boots but if you shop around you can usually get a good deal from your local supermarket. 

What Herbal Essences beautiful ends Split End Protective Intensive Mask claims to do: 

- Leaves your hair stronger against damage and keeps your hair

  feeling 'voluptuously velvety'.

How to use the mask:

- First pamper your hair with Beautiful Ends Shampoo. (I don't) 

- Lavish the mask from root to tip.

- Leave for 5 minutes.

- Then rinse out and use once a week. 

The beautiful ends Split End Protection Intensive Mask has a lovely fruity, summery scent with Red Raspberry and Silk Extract (not that I know what silk extract it supposed to smell like). Its of a thick consistency and it really leaves my hair smoother, silkier, and moisturised until the next time I wash it. It has made my hair more manageable and in general it has kept my hair in good shape. I find that I get around a months worth of usage I either leave it on for the 5 minutes recommended or leave it on over night and wrap my hair up in cling film for a really deep treatment. 

I definitely recommend this product for anyone that has similar hair type to me, its done wonders for me but I want to see if I can find something better (if there is) ! Does anyone have any suggestions ??? 

Don't Believe What You See

  

Left to right: Original and Retouched
Young girls are constantly being bombarded with images that give us the impression that Celebrities look flawless and lead 'perfect lifestyles'. Although we all know that the images we see are retouched we still can't help ourselves from making comparisons. 

When I was 16 I lost 2 stones from just skipping and doing step up's on the garden wall. I did it religiously everyday and if ever there was a day I missed I would do double the amount the next day. I got obsessed with what I ate and drank and completly stopped eating crisps and chocolates (which I loved). I led a very strict diet regime.  

Looking back on it I guess I didn't go the right way about it but I did loose 2 stones. Now I'm a bit more lenient with what I eat and now I think more about proportions rather than the actual type of foods I'm consuming, never the less I'm still conscious about how I look and still find that I compare myself to other girls.

Left to right: Original and Retouched

When I decided that I was going to diet 8 years ago I was heavily influence by the media, I had got it into my mind that I wanted to look like the images I saw on the magazines and television in order to be liked more and to lead a similar lifestyle. Very naive but very true.

Its amazing and very disturbing what retouching can do! The images in this post are of the originals and of the retouched outcome. I used photoshop which is a program used in Design and one that is commonly used for retouching. In the first image you can see that I have uneven skin tone, my eyebrows look sparse and fair and I have a few scars on the top of my head. The second image is completely retouched - I've filled in my eyebrows more, given myself more lashes, made my skin look even and flawless and slimmed down my nose ... I look completely different. 

What are your thoughts on retouching, and magazine images in general? How do these images make you feel? Do you think its just magazine images that make young girls and women feel inferior and like there not good enough? Or do you think there are other factors that play a part?

I hope you like the post, it will be good to hear your thoughts x

The Graphic Design Doctor ?

So a slightly different post today. As some people may know, I studied Graphic Design at University just over two years ago and I have found it extremely difficult to find a career in the creative industry ... it totally sucks! Is anyone else in this position? I now feel like I wasted 3 years at University even though I attained a 1st Class Honours in my degree. It sometimes gets me really down, because I feel like some of my relatives judge me, based on the fact that I didn't choose to study a typical subject a 'Indian' would choose and the fact that I can't find a job in my field. 

I have to remind myself though, that I'm lucky to have a job - even if its not in my field! 

When I was in my final year at University I decided to create an alter ego to promote myself as a Designer, so I choose to go by the alias; 'The Graphic Design Doctor' as it makes fun out the stereotypes I grew up with as a young British Indian. 

I was constantly told that I should find a career in being an Accountant, Dentist, Solicitor, Lawyer or a Doctor - not that there's anything wrong with those careers, but it just wasn't me! 

Why should I be told what to do? Especially by people that don't talk to me half the time!  Luckily I have very supportive Parents that told me I should study whatever I wanted to and I did just that. 

The most common thing I used to get asked is: 'Why aren't you studying to become a Doctor dear?' which totally used to piss me off! (Pardon my French) Its not only Doctors who use scalpels!!! Us Designers preform major Design operations that involve scalpels in order to create a beautiful world.  

Is this just an Indian thing or have any of you guys experienced this? (I'm hoping to start adding my design work and other creative things I've been doing.) x

Tag (Your It) 11 Questions

I was tagged by the lovely Pretty Paper Dolly to take part in the 11 Questions Tag. Thanks for tagging me. Please check out her blog, its great : http://prettypaperdolly.blogspot.com/. 

The Rules For the 11 Questions Tag:

- Each person must post 11 things about themselves on their blog. 

- Answer the questions the tagger set you in their post & create

  11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.

- You have to choose 11 people to tag & link them on the post.

- Go to their page & tell them you have link him or her.

- No tag backs. 

- No stuff in the tagging section about 'you are tagged if you 

  are reading this'. You legitametely have to tag 11 people.

  

11 Things About Me: 

1. I love eating dry Instant Noodles. (I know this is weird).

2. I am a very tidy person. I would say I have OCD.

3. I use to play for a girls Football team when I was younger.

4. I'm very shy when I first meet someone.

5. I attend Zumba Classes twice a week.  

6. I love to cook when I get the time. 

7. Lipstick is one of my favourite pieces of make-up. 

8. I wish I was more confident. 

9. I am a very creative thinker. 

10. My Mum and Dad call me Cuckoo. 

11. I over think things. 

Pretty Paper Dolly's Questions: 

What is your favourite make-up brand?

I buy from different brands. For now I would say Bourjois, their products have never failed to deliver. 

High Street or Designer? 

Definitely High Street, there's so much more out there. 

Opinions on Vintage Shopping? 

The great thing about vintage is that you know its very rare that someone will have the same item as you.

What's your favourite movie?

Marnie & Frenzy (Alfred Hitchcock).   

Where do you buy the majority of your clothes from? 

Topshop and Primark. 

What's your make-up essential? 

Foundation and Mascara.

Your stuck on a Island...What is the one object you bring?

Food ... Nandos Yummy. 

What is your wardrobe staple? 

Leggings and Scarfs. 

How do you organise your make-up?

I have a storage unit from Ikea. 

Quiet Village or Buzzing City?

Buzzing City 

Do you buy Fashion Magazines? If so which is your favourite?

A bit of a cliche' but Vogue.

Continuing the Tag:

Here are the 11 people I'm tagging to answer the following 11 questions: 

Es-Jay Make-Up, Peace, Love and Fashion, Canotier, Oh So Belle , Rosey Blushes And Beauty Crushes, Just Lola , Kitsch 'N' Sync, Jetley Mess, Legs Eleven , Foxy Unique , Beautiful Me Plus You 

1. Would you rather have Messy Hair or No Make-Up? 

2. Movies and Dinner or Night On The Town? 

3. What's your most worn item? 

4. What's your favourite meal? 

5. Do you prefer Lipstick or Lipgloss? 

6. What are your opinions or the online Beauty Community? 

7. What's your most amount you've spent on a piece of make-up?

8. Are you a Flat's type of girl or Heels? 

9. The one thing you would change about yourself? (If anything)

10. Describe your dress sense ? 

11. What's the one piece of advise you would give someone that

    was lacking in confidence? 

Fancy a Freebie?

www.elleuk.com

As soon as I heard that Elle Magazine were giving away the Soap and Glory Thick & Fast Mascara in their March issue, I quickly dashed to my local WHSmiths to grab a copy and luckily they had a few left. 

I've wanted to try this mascara out for a while however I wasn't too sure because of the price! The Thick & Fast Mascara currently retails at £10.00 (available from Boots) and the magazine is £3.90 so go figure, you've got yourself an absolute bargain. 

I will definitely give you my thoughts once I've used it and even if I don't like it, it won't have been a total waste! 

Go get yours quick x

The Rise of the BB Creams

In recent weeks I have seen many different make-up brands come up with their own versions of the 'BB Cream'. Blemish Balms's or BB Creams as they are most commonly know as are a cosmetic mainly used in East and South East Asia, but are firmly making a place on make-up counters all around the U.K. 

BB Creams are of a much lighter formulation than a foundation , they work to moisturise, conceal and treat skin in one simple step, some people use them as primers and others wear them alone as a foundation. Here are just a few that are on the market now: 

Clinique Age Defense SPF30 BB Cream / Super BB Triple Function Cream / Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector Daily All-in-One BB Cream / No7 Beautiful Skin BB Cream / Loreal Paris Nude Magique BB Cream

Has anyone tried BB Creams before? If so what did you think? Are they worth the hype? Anyway the main purpose of this post was to make you guys aware that Latest in Beauty are offering people the chance to try the Estee Lauder Day Wear BB Creme SPF 35. 

For just £1.50 Latest in Beauty will send you a 5ml sample of the cream so if you have been wanting to try a BB Cream this is the perfect chance for you to do so.  

If you don't know what Latest in Beauty is, I did a whole post on it so heres the link: 

http://elefont-at.blogspot.com/2011/12/latest-in-beauty.html

I use the Estee Lauder Double Light Foundation which I love - it has great coverage and lasts all day but I can find it a little too heavy sometimes! So I've ordered a sample of the BB Cream myself to see if it will give me the same amount of coverage but of a much lighter consistency. 

Once I've got it, tried it & tested it I will let you know what I think. In the mean time if anyone has any questions about Latest in Beauty or anything else feel free to contact me x