Simply the Best Face Mask: Milk of Magnesia

I have used Milk of Magnesia (MOM), as in the stuff used for indigestion, as a face mask for over a year, after seeing a recommendation online as a solution for oily skin.  I have a vague recollection of the YouTube clip recommending the unflavoured kind and seeing a demonstration of MOM used as a primer, underneath makeup, and the way I use this as a face mask.

When I bought this I could only find the traditional mint flavour, fortunately the minty smell of MOM only lasts for as long as I have this on my face as a mask.  To apply I either pour a small amount in a cupped hand, or on to cotton wool and apply to my face.  It is a liquid, but sets on the face in a thin layer in a chalky white colour.  It instantly tightens the skin, lasting temporarily.

I apply this for about 10 minutes, usually whilst I’m using a deep conditioning hair treatment and then use a strong cleanser to remove. I find this is an instant pick me up treatment for my skin.  It shrinks enlarged pores, blemishes seem to skip a few days worth of healing time and my skin just feels generally smoother.
As with all face masks, it’s probably not a wise idea to use this every day, this seems to work better once to twice per week.  I have tried using this on two consecutive evening and it felt too harsh.  Also,I have never used this as a primer, mainly due to the minty flavour and lack of motivation to track down the unflavoured kind.

This is something I rave to all my friends about and I am always wanting them to try, as it works so well on my skin.  It’s also not that crazy an idea, Epsom salts containing magnesium sulphate are accepted as having a positive impact on the skin.  Also, incase your still doubtful magnesium can travel through to the lower layers of the skin and heal damaged skin cells and protect the skin from rashes caused by allergies. 

The only down side is the ahem potential stigma of using this as a beauty product and it’s not the kind of thing to display on a dressing table!



Feet in Need of Summer Shoes: A Look at what's on Offer!

Since the "heat wave" began, 2 days ago, I have allowed myself an extra 10 min of snooze time each morning, as a direct result of the ease of summer clothing.  My summer wardrobe consists of mainly dresses, I have an abundance of them,  I love them because; my brain only has to consider one item, there aren’t multiple items of clothing/tights for my morning brain to process and you can literally throw them on.

This morning, however, I quite simply nearly missed my train due to lack of shoe choice, what did I wear on my feet last summer?  Did I wear shoes?  Did I wander the streets barefoot, like a Diana Vickers wannabe?


That was a complicated way of letting you know about, and to justify spending some £$£, the gap in the summer footwear section of my wardrobe.  This has lead to a little bit of research of day worthy, walk-in-the-park, lolly eating kinda shoes.  Any of these would brighten up my day!

Top, L/R:

beige multi coloured stud sandals £35.00, River Island, pink print knot front strappy sandals, £25.00, River Island, Safari sandal Off white/zebra, £50.00, Office. 

Middle, L/R:
Cyclone sandal Bright multi pu, £28.00, Office, Culture vulture Blk/wht/grey lt, £40.00, Office,ASOSFlatforms, £65.00.

Bottom, L/R:
River Island Diamante Espadrille Sandals, £45.00, ASOS FLIX Leather Flat Sandals with Deco Stones, £35.00, Office Cape town Black pu/studs, £58.00.

The Easy Way to Remove Glitter Nail Polish

Something has happened to me, I have developed a glitter nail polish obsession!  Glitter, like wearing white during summer, has a limited window of opportunity.  It can only be worn over the festive period, in my mind, without looking a bit misplaced.  However, nails are different. 

Before! Nails George 3D Glitters, No 1 Ice Queen

On the last eve of my recent holiday, I decided to spend a significant amount of time pampering myself, to make the transition between play and work less painful, this resulted in testing my new and current favourite nail polish, I’m afraid it’s another of the Asda 3D Glitter Nails, no 3 Starfish.  I have a confession, I went back to Asda, following this post, to purchase the rest of this glitter range.  I am currently rocking the blue polish.  It’s just so pretty! And coverage is great! 

During! Quality Street fingers

With this new obsession has come the problem of removal!  Glitter nail polish is just so awful to remove, until I came across this post.  To summarise: Cut 5 cotton wool pieces in half, soak them in remover, secure to nails with foil, leave for five minutes and wingle free resulting in the way nature intended nails.  My initial thoughts were, oh gees, what a lot of messing!  But as it works so well, my nails have never looked cleaner, it is totally worth the faffing about!

A sly morning commute train pic, I rename this polish Monday blues! Asda 3D Glitter, no 3 Starfish.

Silky Locks on a Budget of 99p, Henna that doesn’t Colour Hair: Henna Hair Treatment Wax

I have used various hair masks, but always return to Natural Classic’s Henna Treatment Wax, as I find it’s the most effective.  This particular  brand of treatment wax  was recommended to me by a hairdresser, years ago at a time when I had blonde highlights that had damaged my hair.  I had only heard of henna as a colourant but on the front of the tub it states ‘will not colour hair’.  I have never coloured my hair using henna, but I was intrigued to use this product as a way of sussing out my hairs suitability to henna based products and gaining an insight into why so many people seem to love henna.

I have long hair, which is uncoloured, after a very long process, I have managed to grow out highlighted hair- yah!

The back of the tub states:

‘Pure Henna is extracted from Henna (Lawsonia) leaves; and makes an excellent ingredient for deep penetrating hair conditioners.  Natural Classic Henna Treatment Wax revitalises all types of hair particularly hair which has been damaged by bleaching, perming or tinting; use it regularly to make your hair lustrous, stronger and beautiful to look at’.

I use this once a week, after shampooing, I cover my head with a warm damp towel and leave for about 30 min and the steam activates the reconditioning process.  This product feels like a really thick conditioner, is a pink/grey colour and smells a little like a baby lotion. 

I like using this conditioner as my hair looks super shiny, glossy and mega soft and it even works on the dry ends of my hair.  I have found the key to using this conditioner well is by using it once a week, extended use leads to a built up of product.  It’s so important to make sure all conditioner is removed from hair, as hair looks greasy when dry if it isn’t.  I’m always surprised I’ve never seen this featured in a magazine. 

A slight drawback of the product is the wonders it does for my hair are short lived, by the morning after a night out my hair looks a little greasy.
Body Care have started selling this for a mere 99p.  I used to buy this from this linked website.

As Tough as Nails: Sally Hansen, Green Tea and Bamboo Nail Strengthener

I was attracted to the Sally Hansen, Green Tea and Bamboo Nail Strengthener, when looking out for a topcoat.  I picked this one due to its dual purpose of being a strengthening base and top coat. 

The Claims: 

Instantly stronger and resililent nails.                                                                                                                       

                                                                               

How it works:  The green tea and bamboo seals weak nail layers to resist breaking and peeling.

I have used this solidly for a 2 month period, as a base coat and a topcoat.  Initially I was more concerned about its purpose as a topcoat/ability to improve the life of my nail polish.  With the  strengthener my polish lasts for aprox 5 days, I would say at least an extra couple of days, which is a great achievement due the amount of typing I do within a week.  This polish also adds a great finishing shine.

My nails have definitely broken less with the use of this product, as I am finding that I am now only having to file nails to shape, rather than repair broken nails.  I became aware of its strengthening results when my nails ripped some of my clothing the other day and my nails now feel like they have a similar strength to acrylics.

The only negative is that the strengthening aspect of this polish only last for the duration of time I am wearing the polish.  They become instantly weaker when product is removed, oh and the fact I didn’t discover this polish sooner.  I love this!

Oil be Gone: Simply Pure Oil Balancing Serum from Superdrug

For a while I have had a vague awareness of the negative associations between parabens (preservatives) used in lots of products and of the unknown health implications.  Therefore, I would like to try and discover some good paraben free products.  Superdrug have gone to some effort to make this easy to achieve.

On a morning I sometimes use, from Superdrug’s Simply Pure range, the Simply Pure Oil Balancing Serum, priced £3.99.  In case you aren’t familiar, the Simply Pure range promotes itself as suitable for combination skin and free from oil/fragrance/parabens and is hypoallergenic and dermatologically approved.

The claims: leaves combo skin hydrated and mattified without clogging pores.

The science: formulated with zinc gluconate, natural willow bark, and Alpine willow herb extracts which work to help prevent blemishes, regulate sebum production and minimise pore size.

Directions: Use alone, or before applying the moisturiser, from the same range.

I have used this serum alone, or with a light translucent powder after cleansing.  I have mainly favoured alone, as was keen to discover the short term impacts of using paraben free skincare products and have used this product since its launch in February.  I understand the limitations of using one paraben free product as my skin is still influenced by the other products not screened for parabens. 

The serum is a pearly white colour, is really easy to apply and blends into skin effortlessly.  Skin does feel instantly hydrated, in the same way a moisturiser feels on the skin.  Overall, it is very unobtrusive as it is non-sticky, has no fragrance on application and doesn’t react when layered with a powder.  It does not irritate blemished or broken skin. 

To consider the claims of Simply Pure; skin is less shiny at the end of the day, it’s not 100% shine free but is better than without.  Pores are not influenced; they’ve not worsened or improved.

I have repurchased this product as I feel it is uniquely light, gentle and hydrating.  I use this instead of a moisturiser.  It also has a 12 month use after opened guideline, which I was not expecting.  I would like to try more from this range.

Three Sprays and I'm Good to Start the Day: Umberto Giannini's Instant Beauty Makeover Spray

I’m away this week and have packed light, honestly.  I felt I couldn’t go a full week without Umberto Giannini’s Beauty Secrets Instant Beauty Makeover Spray.  I bought this as part of a set, last January during sale period, with a hairspray and an overnight moisture balm, so it was a surprise to find a product that I really like without prior research.  The label on the bottle is pretty, a smudged animated woman with flowing locks.

I have long hair and I’m addicted to the feel of just washed hair, but get annoyed with the time it takes to dry hair.  I now wash my hair every other day, to help maintain healthy oil levels and a healthy scalp.  I use dry shampoo on my roots and this on other sections of my hair whilst dry.  It dries within a few minutes and has a lightly perfumed smell, similar to the other products within this range, I then brush my hair through to detangle and then viola hair feels fresh, hydrated and smells lightly fragranced.  This is a time saver on a morning and a little goes a long way.  This costs £5.61 for 200ml, from Boots and was part of their 3 for £12.00 offer last time I was in store, they no longer have this on their website, hope they aren’t fazing it out!  Nooooooooo ............

Meet the Star of the Show…… Vitamin E, Line Smoothing Eye Cream, by Palmer’s!

Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula, Line Smoothing Eye Cream

I was attracted to this product by the words VITAMIN E and non-irritating.  I understand that we all probably get enough vitamin E from vegetables and fruits etc.  However, an additional dose applied topically must be beneficial, right?

From my reading vitamin E has antioxidant properties and is able to protect against free radicals.  The bad side of free radicals damage collagen and cause bad stuff to happen like wrinkles and facial lines.  Free radicals kick in from exposure to; UV rays, stress, processed foods etc.  Vitamin E sounds like the superhero of wrinkles!

On closer inspection this product also states with retinol, a form of vitamin A, also found in the famous Boots Protect and Perfect range.  This works by increasing the cell production in the top layer of skin; improves collagen production (as the skin uses retinoic acid in the production of collagen) and it also improves pigmentation.

Palmer’s claim this product is; hydrating, soothing, anti-aging, moisturising, softens appearance of fine lines and is non-irritating.  They direct to apply in a gentle tapping motion twice per day.  With that description does it matter what it looks and smells like?  But just for the record the cream has a faint odour of cocoa butter and in my opinion not enough that I’d know it was a cocoa butter formula.  It is very easy to blend, which is important when applying in a tapping motion as directed (also helping with circulation).  This is perfect for under makeup as after a short period of time the skin looks and feels normal enough to apply foundation.

My under eye area often looks dark, feels dry and I have a few small lines.  Other creams have caused very bad irritation.  This varies largely depending on amount of sleep and is changeable.  I have used this product for about a 2 month period.  I initially noticed that my under eyes felt very moisturised and after about 3 weeks this area did start to look noticeably less darker.  My skin did not find this irritating.  I am now on my second tube of this, bought for £6.95 (15g) from Superdrug, and believe for me it really does help on nights where eight hours shut eye is not possible.  This is easily the best eye cream I have ever used.  I have recently started using a night cream in the same range due to the success of this product.  Hope it works for you also!

Woah, pass me some shades, your 3D nail glitters are blinding!





Honestly, I rarely visit supermarkets, let alone on a bank holiday, however I did!  All in the name of Kylie Showgirl style nails.  I visited George specifically to check out their new George 3D Glitters nail polishes, which are likened to the Nails inc. London, Special Effects 3D Glitter Nail Polish. 



They come in 4 shades with shiny sounding names.  I refrained from buying all 4, only because I had my hands full with a host of amazing other things.  I felt impulsed by the gold (No 1 Ice Queen) and teal (No 2 Aquarium).  The bottles themselves are cute, with a shiny silver 3D glitter effect lid, which is a similar texture to the polish itself.

I have loaded my nails with 3 coats of this polish, mixed the 2 together and also tried a coloured basecoat, (see my thumb in the post about Sleek silicon foundation), although they look prettiest alone.  They look amazing when they haven’t quite dried, super shiny!  Why can’t some scientist person bottle that up?

The gold polish has specks of holographic-esq glitter throughout and the teal has noticeably different sized glittery pieces.  The texture is scratchy and nails do require lots of remover to de-glitter.

Kelly Rowland inspired accent nail

These are a winner for £2.00, although the contents of the bottles are a small 5ml, as opposed to the Nail inc. competitor priced at £11.00 for 10ml.  To think I was going to put a ban on my nail polish buying- ptttsh.  Happiness in a bottle!

Hoardaholic Syndrome: Keep Me Looking Younger For Longer …

During my teenage years I became susceptible to products in relation to anti-blemish/oil control and it was only natural that as soon as I hit an acceptable age to be a target for anti-aging products I would be hit hard.  So far as a twenty-something these products tend to tug at the logical part of my brain and preservation is my buzz word.  How can I preserve the face I’ve just accepted as an adult? 

Like the people from channel 4’s ‘The Hoarder Next Door’ I have -hmmm- a selection, dare I say hoard, of articles dotted around the place stored in my favourites and in my Blackberry, in relation to products claiming to be the latest thing to prevent; fine lines, frown lines, laughter lines and every other kind of lines.  I just can’t throw away a good magazine article about beauty and aging.  A strange part of me feels the same satisfaction keeping these features as I do when buying the products they promote.

Sleek New Skin Revive- 981 WHITE ROSE

I came across an article about a month ago called ‘Look Younger for Longer’ written by anti-aging experts who run Harley Street Skin Clinic and they promote the use of a silicon-based foundation, as it doesn’t clog pores and is gentle.  This type of foundation is sometimes known as a second skin, as it sets in a thin layer that acts as a moisture sealant. 

I was a little uncertain about using a moisture sealant on parts of my face that are oily, due to bacteria build up, and in turn spots, but when I came across the Sleek New Skin Revive, oil free silicon-based foundation in Superdrug (£7.30, 35ml) I thought I’d give it a whirl.  I have used this foundation for a few weeks.  Application is great and can be used without a primer; my skin looks and feels very smooth.  I love the texture of this foundation, it’s easy to layer for extra coverage and the fact this also contains SPF15, however I would like to see higher SPF.  This product is great for the dryer parts of my face, but troublesome for an oily T-zone.  I am prepared to over look the drawbacks of this product and use it on the not so oily parts of my face.  Also it acts as a great barrier to protect skin against harsh climates. 

As for if it shall keep me looking younger for longer?  That’s the beauty I’ll get back to you as a thirty- something when I’ve spent several more £7.30s on this foundation!

Primer Addiction Explored: Primer from a shopping basket

Last night I wore the face primer by Asda’s brand George, simply named Face Primer.  I recently repurchased this product after using the whole tube last time, but struggled to remember if it’s any good due to the excessive range of primers I use.  Doh!  Just as well it’s a tiny £5.00 for 30ml.

I like the no nonsense description displayed on the front of the tube; ‘George, Face Primer, g moisturising, non-sticky base coverage, holds make-up in place’ and on the back of the tube ‘apply prior to make-up application for a longer lasting effect’.  Roulette is played with regards to what skin type the creators had in mind with this one though- eek!

The colour is peachy and the texture has a visible oily residue, this made me nervous as I do favour oil free products.  On application it has slight coverage, like a tinted moisturiser, and did feel moisturising and non-sticky as claimed. 

I have recently started using a silicon based foundation and this silicon based primer did not react well.  Foundation looked mega patchy.  Double silicon on this occasion was terrible, or possibly it was the oil from the primer and the silicon from the foundation.  It just looked bad!  I did persevere and tried using an oil free foundation which looked fairly good, but I did have to use a mineral finishing powder to seal my makeup, a step I can usually miss out.  I was happy with the finished look.

I applied this at 21:15 and by midnight I became conscious of the desire to top up my makeup, but didn’t.  By 2:00 my face did feel oily, foundation did remain in place, and however my blusher had disappeared.

In the past I have used this one like a tinted moisturiser, just with a mineral based powder over the top, for a lighter day time look.  This primer was not the best on my oily/combo skin, and may suit dryer skin types.  Not the best I’ve used, but it does live up to the claims of George.

Prime-me up! The Primer Challenge

To hide imperfections I just love a good primer.  My first, and most loved, primer of all time is the oil free Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer Light.  This primer is my benchmark.  The primer is priced at £25.00 (30ml), not too bad, but other cheaper primers on the market have tempted me, but are they a false economy?

The Body Shop, Skin Primer Matte It (£11.00- 25ml), claims to create a smooth base for foundation and to deter shine and make make-up last longer and is also aimed at oily skin types, but more interestingly it contains peptides that promote collagen production which helps with hydration, skin elasticity and firmness.  Collagen sounds like something I should be making the most of, in the name of anti-aging!

On a night out I tested The Body Shop primer, applying the product and my regular makeup at 20.30.  The texture, similar to the Smashbox primer, was light and non-greasy.  This primer made my foundation far easier to apply, skin looked smoother and pores smaller.  I did not have to top up my makeup through out the night and by the end of the night at 3.30 my t-zone looked only very slightly oily, however, my blusher and foundation remained intact.  A very good product and helped my makeup stay put for 7 hours!  I like this primer and its similarities to the Photo Finish Light.