Full coverage foundations without the cake!

When I was in my teens and early 20s, I always favoured a full coverage base but actually I probably only needed a full coverage concealer and a medium base. In more recent years, I've worn mainly light to medium bases, depending on how my skin is looking but there are also occasions when a full cover base is called for. That being said, I hate the way some full cover bases look and feel on the skin - I don't want to look like I'm wearing a mask! I have five foundations to share with you today that will give decent coverage but still look fresh on the skin.

Review: Omorovicza Revitalizing Scalp Mask

Regular readers will know that I am a massive fan of Omorovicza skincare and have been for a long time, so when they release a new product,  I instantly want to try it! I was kindly sent their two latest releases - Revitalizing Scalp Mask and Daily Vitamin C. I need to test the Vitamin C product for another few weeks before I can give you a full review but today, I want to share my thoughts on the scalp mask.

The ultimate guide to treating textured skin

Regardless of skin type, texture is something that most of us deal with, whether through dry patches, acne scarring, blackheads, ageing skin, pores, milia etc. Because I have dry skin, my skin is prone to dullness but I would say that the issue I work hardest (or expect my products to work hardest) against, is texture. It may seem like a never-ending battle but with a few simple changes or additions to your skincare routine, improvements can be seen quite quickly and as a result, makeup applies more evenly, less makeup is required or you may even choose to go makeup free - I know that leaving the house without makeup is something I wouldn't have even considered for a number of years but I do it without even giving it any thought now (not every day as I love makeup too much but because I feel more confident in my own skin, I sometimes choose to do it!). There are a number of ways to treat texture and I want to share them with you today (I'm talking products rather than tools or procedures) - there is something for everyone, no matter how much or how little time you have on your hands. With products starting at £6.30, there is sure to be something for all budgets. This is going to be a long post, so grab a snack! I also have a Cult Beauty discount code to share with you too if you want to treat yourself to any of these products although it can be used site wide with some exceptions, listed at the bottom of the post. The code is CBBLMSKIN which will give you 15% off orders over £20, valid until midnight on Sunday 24th.

Jo Loves fragrances have stolen my heart!

I have declared my love for Jo Malone fragrances so many times on the blog but now that I have tried Jo Loves (created by the actual Jo Malone herself!), I am hooked! If you are unaware of the back story, Jo Malone created the brand Jo Malone London in her kitchen, with Lime Basil & Mandarin being her breakthrough fragrance. It wasn't long until her brand became a worldwide hit. In 1999, she sold the company to Estée Lauder Companies and after a period of ill health, she left the company completely. When her health improved, she began to play around with fragrances again and Jo Loves was born.

Winter-proof your skin!

Did you have snow recently? We just had a light sprinkling but the drop in temperature prompted me to up the ante and make sure that my skin was well protected from the elements. We have an open fire daily so between that and the central heating, I really should resemble a shrivelled prune but thankfully, I don't! It's not necessary to switch up your routine completely but a few small changes can make a big difference when it comes to winter-proofing your skin.

Laura Mercier Flawless Lumiére Radiance Perfecting Foundation

I seem to be on a foundation roll recently! I probably (definitely) didn't need another new foundation but I am almost finished two bottles so pre-empted the 'one in, one out' mantra that I should be following with this Laura Mercier Flawless Lumiére Radiance Perfecting Foundation. It's a few years since I used a Laura Mercier base - Silk Creme was the last one and I really loved that and repurchased it twice but then just moved on to other foundations. Everything about this one just screamed my name - the description said that it's undetectable, natural-looking, hydrating and with an illuminating finish. But does it live up to the description?

Caudalie Premier Cru Serum

Harper's Bazaar UK magazine voted Caudalie Premier Cru Serum 'The Best Of The Best' for mature skin with the beauty director, Katy Young, describing it as 'The most powerful product for improving the skin's health and appearance'. Quite the accolade, given that it has only been on the market for 12 months! So what makes it so special?

The Hype Is Real #4 Sarah Chapman Overnight Facial

Welcome back to another installment of The Hype Is Real (see parts 1, 2 and 3) and this time it's all about a product that I loved from first use - Sarah Chapman Overnight Facial. Described as having 'magic hands' by Victoria Beckham, Sarah Chapman is both a trained facialist and cosmetic scientist and her products all focus on achieving glowing, radiant, healthy skin. I have tried a good number of her products and repurchased several - the one that I always have in my skincare stash is Overnight Facial and if you are new to the brand, it is the product that I recommend you start with.

REVIEW: Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream

Another day, another hyped product! Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream was released late last year and I couldn't resist buying immediately! There is also a mini B-Hydra Serum in the box, which is a very welcome addition as it adds some hydration to the skin. Retinol (Vitamin A) is widely lauded as being the only proven anti-ageing ingredient but it is also known to improve acne. I have quite sensitive/reactive skin and I can tolerate retinols but I think that if you have extremely sensitive skin, it would be best to start with a very gentle form rather than this product. Drunk Elephant say that you can create a cocktail using a number of their products mixed and then applied to the skin but that just isn't how I like to do my skincare. They also say that this cream can be used both morning and night but my preference is to use it at night only.