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Wednesday 28 May 2014

Depotting Lipsticks for Dummies


I'm a massive fan of DIYs and all that creative stuff because it brings me back to those childhood days where making cards and bracelets were more special than buying them, etc etc. I'm not a particularly good artist (even my stick men end up with dodgy legs) but I do love a DIY challenge (not that depotting lipstick is a challenge haha)...

The point is I've decided to throw some DIY posts into the mix and see how it goes.



Have you ever had moments where you've lost the lid of your favorite lipstick or you ran out of storage slots? Or maybe you own about 200 different lipsticks and have no space for all of them?


Tuesday 27 May 2014

Bare Minerals Get Started Kit


I purchased one of the Bare Minerals kits a couple of years ago but I felt like it wasn't really for me at the time. Recently, they introduced some new products to their range which I had tried and liked so I thought I'd give the foundations another go!

I purchased the Get Started Complexion kit in Tan and also bought a full sized Original Mineral Foundation in Golden Tan (W30) to compare the differences in colour.



BARE MINERALS GET STARTED COMPLEXION TAN KIT:

Original SPF 15 Foundation in Tan(N30) and Medium Tan(C30) (2g each)
Tinted Mineral Veil finishing powder (2g)
Prime Time Foundation Primer (15ml)
Warmth All-Over Face Color (1.5g)
Full Flawless Face Brush
Flawless Application Face Brush
Light Stroke Brush
How-To DVD (I threw mine away 'cause I'm badass haha)


Saturday 24 May 2014

Say No to Summer Skin Blues


Ice-creams, oily T-zones and a battle between sun & rain can only mean one thing.. British Summer has started!

Symptom of the Summer Skin Blues:


- face too oily
- sweating like a beast
- makeup melting off

... and pretty much everything else that could go possibly go wrong.


Invest in some pre/post beauty babies that can help your makeup adhere to your skin and last longer during summer!


Wednesday 21 May 2014

Sleek Makeup Staples

Last year, I had a massive haul on the Sleek makeup website but ended up giving half of it to my mum when I went on holiday (I'm just so nice ). The other half stayed in it's packaging because I thought I didn't have any purpose for it.. Boyy was I wrong!!

Sleek cosmetics are available in the UK at Boots, Superdrugs & the Sleek website.

Sunday 18 May 2014

Bronzed and Beaming Day Look


Instead of expensive fake tans and overpriced makeup, us girls can still look gorgeous with a few drugstore essentials! Recently, my flatmate asked me to help her complete her make-up collection as she was looking for some quality products without breaking the bank.

Image heavy post!

With these products we came up with a daytime look that took less that 10 minutes & under £10 (most items can be purchased at Boots & Superdrug on 3 for 2 offers).

Friday 16 May 2014

Benefit TropiCORAL



Exams are OVERRR so this means blog blog blogging. In my previous post, I reviewed and swatched Benefit's The Bronze of Champions kit and NOW (drum roll please) it's time for some coral loving..

RRP £25.50
After trying out the Bronze of Champions, I was hooked and decided to purchase another two kits, one of which is the TropiCORAL kit. I also purchased TropiCORAL as a gift for my friend and she loved it so there's a plus for anyone stuck on gift-giving ideas.


As always Benefit are winning with their packaging & these products actually smell amazing too. The tray is removable so the box can be used for keepsakes & little treasures (how amazing are Benefit?! or am I just addicted...)

Thursday 15 May 2014

Benefit The Bronze of Champions



For beauty junkies on a budget, it's always pretty risky paying for a product without knowing the outcome. That's how I felt about Benefit products until I decided to finally purchase Benefit The Bronze of Champions. 


RRP £26.50
Found on the Benefit website, Debenhams, John Lewis. Look Fantastic & more.


I got myself this kit for Christmas last year as I had never tried anything from Benefit and was really eager to since so many people raved about their products.

The packaging is so cute (Benefit never fail when it comes to their packaging). The kit comes with a protection film over the top but I've thrown mine away :/















Bronze of the Champions comes with 6 deluxe-sized sample products, a small blush/contour brush, a product 
application guide and a mirror.

Friday 9 May 2014

Graze Healthy Snack Box & FREE BOX FOR READERS!



Woke up yesterday morning to find a little brown box in front of my door. Needless to say how excited I was, I've been waiting to try my first Graze box for ages. 


Box is slightly larger than an A5 piece of paper and fits perfectly through the letterbox


Retails at £3.99 per box
Each Graze box comes with 4 snack punnets based on your recommended preferences.

Thursday 8 May 2014

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer Review



The Collection (formely Collection 2000) 16 Hour Lasting Perfection Concealer claims to 'conceal flaws and blemishes for up to 16 hours'


RRP: £4.19 
(left to right) With flash, without flash

I had seen a few Youtubers raving about this concealer but I wasn't too fussed at first as I had my trusty old Mac Studio Fix. However when I ran out, I decided to purchase it during Superdrug's 3 for 2 offer. This concealer is now one of the most favorite drugstore products, hence the multiple backups. 



Tuesday 6 May 2014

Being Comfortable in Your Own Skin

I used to suffer from extremely dry flakey skin since I was young. When I was around 17 years old, I started developing acne and an oily T-zone and I lived in my foundations and concealers. I'm strongly assuming the acne developed because I was on contraceptive pills to regulate my cycles (taking those pills was the worst decision & I will update you guys about my experience). 

The acne progressed over 2-3 months until I would have at least 3-4 huge pimples at a time, little bumps on my forehead and acne-scarring. I wasted a lot of money trying out new products claiming to be good for the skin (Garnier, Clearasil, Clean & Clear, you name it) that never worked and I couldn't understand why. So I started researching about acne, how it was formed, etc.

So where was I going wrong? 

FRAGRANCED PRODUCTS
We all want a moisturiser  with a pleasant smell because who WOULD want to put foul chemically smells on our faces? However, I promise you guys it's not the way. The smell of a product should not determine whether you buy it or not as it doesn't determine how good the product is. In fact, adding fragrance to a product is just another unnecessary ingredient which is probably causing more damage, especially for sensitive skin.




CONSTANT YO-YOING BETWEEN PRODUCTS

Most of us won't trust a product as much if it breaks us out within the first two days; however alternating between different products often won't give us the results we are looking for. To test the effectiveness of a product, I've learnt that you must give it time (at least a week) before you make your final judgement. If you see that the product is breaking you out mildly, take a break from it and try again in the holidays when you don't have to be out and about everyday. However if you are getting heavy breakouts from a new product, it's best to stop altogether.


PRESCRIPTION PRODUCTS & MEDICATION
I had always imaged GP's as the solution to anything. However, as the patient, we also need to be aware of the ingredients or effects of a prescribed product and decide for ourselves whether it is worth using the product. GP's are here to provide quick effective solutions to a large number of patients on a daily basis, they will not take the time to assess your individual needs. I have had some good GP's in the past; however, I have mostly had worst experiences. Many people get prescribed contraception pills to clear their acne; however it is such a strong product with many possible long-term side effects and risks which could be avoided. Furthermore, once you finish the course of tablets, your acne is most likely to come back. Prescription products may be effective but only if you are educated about the doses, risks, aftercare and all that jazz.


Google Images (click for source)

COMEDOGENIC INGREDIENTS
Products including comedogenic ingredients aggravate acne and also cause lots of blackheads. Google 'Comedogenic Ingredients' and you'll be sure to find a huge list of ingredients which are used in our everyday toiletries.


HARSH EXFOLIATORS
I love the way my skin feels soft and plump after a good exfoliation but at what cost? Rubbing harsh grains on to sensitive and acne-prone skin will provoke pimples on the outer AND inner surface of our skin. It's like boucing a ball - the harder you bounce it, the harder it bounces back in all sorts of directions (if that makes sense). Exfoliating is beneficial so those with sensitive or acne-prone skin should use alternatives such as pore strips, a gentle exfoliator or a warm face cloth. Let your skin steam in the shower and rub the cloth in circular motions gently around the areas required. Rinse with cold water after to close your pores.

Google Images (click for source)


NOT DRINKING ENOUGH WATER

What goes into our bodies is equally if not more important than what goes onto our skin. Moisturisers will penetrate through one or two layers of skin, however what we consume takes it a whole lot further. If you're a sucker for junk food like me, at least increase your daily water intake, take a bottle with you wherever you go or dilute fizzy drinks/squash with water to ensure you're drinking as much as you can. Did you know that by the time you feel thirsty, you're probably already dehydrated? 


EFFECTIVELY REMOVING MAKE UP

It's a never ending cycle of torture. We get spots, we wear foundation, we get more spots from wearing foundation... It's so hard to leave the house without makeup when going to school or work on a daily basis. So set yourself a target. Go bare face during the summer holidays, Easter holidays, weekends or whenever you can. Trust me, letting your skin breathe does have its benefits. Also ensure you are taking your makeup off properly. I'm extremely lazy when I'm getting ready for bed and I often find myself reaching for the wipes but we all know... it's never enough!



There are so many other factors which contribute to skin problems (hygiene, the environment, constantly touching your face throughout the day, etc.). Granted some of us don't have the flawless face or the money to invest in one but all we need is the right guidance and a few changes.


(P.S. Just a disclaimer - I am not a professional and the information in this post is from previous experience)


This is the clearest photo I could find around a month or two after my acne started improving.
However as you can see, there are still loads of dry and flakey acne scars and also little bumps and spots which took a couple more weeks to clear up.
Foundation - Mac Face & Body C6


This was taken a while after (eurgh I hate my frown lines). My forehead cleared up quite well considering, however my cheeks
still had some scarring from when I'd been picking up my spots.
Foundation - Mac Face & Body C5


Do you guys have any tips or experiences to share?
Keeks xx


Monday 5 May 2014

The Awkward Introduction

My name is Malika (Mal, Mals, Maleeks, Keeks, whichever you prefer..) and I'm 20 years old. I've been considering blogging for some time now (not going to lie I've wanted to start since 2011 shame on me) but have just being putting it off due to life.. I guess.

HOWEVER, I do have an exam in 3 days and I feel it is impeccably necessary to create a blog as of this moment.. deary me.


I've decided that since I spend all the money I have in my life (which is practically nothing, trust me, I'm a student) buying makeup and clothes, the least I could do is share my experience with those interested so without further ado...


WELCOME TO MY BLOG :)


Essie Silken Chord, MAC Rub Woo and my beloved Michael Kors

Keeks xx