Top 12 Beauty Products for 2012

Without trying to sound cliched, I can't believe another year has been and gone. I caught the beauty bug quite severely this year and I'm not sorry, although my debit card is.  I've tried out a lot of different products and I think it's safe to say this years list looks a lot different to last years.  I've divided my favourite products into three sections, skincare, haircare and make up.  This is a hefty post so I suggest you make a cup of tea and take a break from your New Years Eve beauty prep. 

SKINCARE 

Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micelle Solution - A beauty blogger phenomenon and for good reason, Bioderma really is worth the hype. I use this to take off stubborn eye make up by soaking a cotton pad and resting on my eye for around 30 seconds before wiping clean. It's also good for an easy morning cleanse if you don't have time to faff with a cream cleanser.  

Embryolisse Lait Creme Concentrate - At the beginning of the year, I was sworn on a complete Liz Earle skincare routine and that has since changed.  Embryolisse is a french skincare brand and this moisturiser is one that comes model recommended.  It's a simple formula which leaves the skin hydrated but not greasy and my skin really enjoys it. 

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish - An old favourite that does the job. I use this when my skin is behaving to take off my make up in the evening.  It's creamy and soothing on the skin and the muslin cloth gives a light exfoliation as you rinse of the product - an added bonus.  

Origins Out of Trouble Mask - Whenever I'm having a bad skin day or moment, I turn to this face mask.  Not only does it dramatically reduce skins redness, it helps soak up excess oil and banish breakouts.  

HAIRCARE

L'Oreal Paris Hair Expertise EverPure Colour Care & Moisture Shampoo - The next three products have made it into my top 12 because they are amazing products both together and alone.  The shampoo cleans the hair thoroughly whilst leaving hair feeling like it has been conditioned too.  It contains rosemary and juniper, giving it a gorgeous herbal scent which lingers in the hair long after you've washed it.  The range itself doesn't contain sulphates, a chemical that is known to being quite harsh on hair.  

L'Oreal Paris Hair Expertise EverPure Colour Care & Moisture Conditioner - I can't get away with just shampooing my hair, thanks to years of bleaching and using heat on my hair, so I always follow up with conditioner.  This leaves my hair silky to the touch and easy to detangle.  Unlike the shampoo, this has mint rather than juniper so can feel quite cool on the hair too.  

L'Oreal Hair Expertise EverPure Reinforcing Intense Mask - Once a week, I like to give my hair a treat, in the form of a hair mask.  When you use heat or chemicals such as hair dye on your locks, it's important to put back in the moisture that they have striped out. It has a thick, paste like consistency which you're advised to leave on for 10 minutes, although I find it works better by leaving in for an hour.  Once you wash it out, you're left with smooth, frizz free, moisturised locks.

Ojon Instant Restorative Hair Serum - 2012 has been the year of the hair oils and although I discovered this product at the tail end of the year, I wont ever look back.  I run it through the mid lengths and ends of my hair, which helps reduce drying time and give a gorgeous shine as well as helping to restore the goodness into my locks.  I've seen a dramatic improvement in the condition of my hair since using, as has my hair stylist.  

MAKE UP

Liz Earle Signature Foundation* - This year I found my holy grail foundation thanks to Liz Earle.  While I've found formulations I've loved, the shades have never gone pale enough to fit my Snow White complexion.  This product is the perfect shade and has a medium, natural, long lasting finish.  If you're not a fan of the dewy look, a dusting of powder works a treat to set the foundation and make it more matte looking.  

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer - Another one of those beauty blogger phenomenons but possibly one of the best concealers I've ever used. I've recently repurchased my fourth tube of this product and choose it over any high end concealer.  It's got great coverage as well as great staying powder, concealing blemishes perfectly.  I go through phases of using this under the eye, sometimes I find it to be too cakey but for blemishes it does the trick (and it's only £4.19).  

NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base - I think this product could be my overall favourite for 2012, it's that good. I never got on with the infamous Urban Decay Primer Potion, it made my eyeshadow slide off rather than stay on. The NARS primer however keeps shadow in place for hours without smudging (hence the title) or sliding.  If there's one product I recommend you try, it's this one.  

Jemma Kidd Hi-Shine Hydrating Gloss Stick in Hibiscus - My favourite lip product came down to two contenders but ultimately, Jemma Kidd won.  The Hi-Shine Hydrating Gloss Stick forumla is beautiful, smooth, silky, pigmented and easy to apply - not to mention it also smells amazing.  Hibiscus is a coral shade which can be built up depending on preference and is easy to maintain throughout the day.  

What products have made it into your 2012 favourites? 

Product reviews: Embryolisse Lait-Creme Concentrate; Origins Out of Trouble Mask; L'Oreal EverPure Colour Care & Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner; L'Oreal Paris Hair Expertise EverPure Reinforcing Intense Mask; Ojon Instant Restorative Hair Serum; Liz Earle Signature Foundation; Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer; NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base; Jemma Kidd Hi-Shine Hydrating Gloss Stick in Hibiscus

Christmas Beauty Checklist

It's finally Christmas Eve and whilst today is mostly about cleaning the house from head to toe and some festive baking, I'll also be completing my beauty checklist, Christmas style.  Every year I seem to do exactly the same routine, in preparation for the big day. I usually leave washing my hair for Christmas morning, so I can enjoy a bath with some Lush goodies but before that I like to take care of my skin, brows and nails.  

When it comes to skin, I go all out.  Firstly, to get rid of any dirt, I cleanse with my favourite cleanser right now, REN's Clearcalm 3 Clarifying Clay cleanser. It says to use around one to two pumps and wash off with warm water, but for an extra exfoliation I use a muslin cloth.  Now that my pores are open, I find it best to tweeze my eyebrows.  Once my face is clean and my brows are groomed I then move on to a proper exfoliation, using Liz Earle's Gentle Face exfoliator. I like this product as it uses jojoba beads rather than a more abrasive exfoliant, which can sometimes leave my skin completely stripped. Next comes a face mask, I told you I go all out.  My skins playing up at the minute so I'll be using my trusty Origins Out of Trouble mask.  This product smells odd but really does the trick when it comes to pesky blemishes.  By now, my skin could do with a good douse of Embryolisse moisturiser for rehydration, after a quick spritz of my Liz Earle Skin Tonic.  

After working on my skin, I like to relax a little and paint my nails. I'm currently undecided whether to go for Chanel's Rouge Noir or Particuliere (let me know your choice in the comments!).  I file and shape my nails using a nail file before moving on to polish.  As I'm currently trying to grow my nails, I've been using OPI's Nail Envy as a base coat. I have mixed feelings on this product.  Some of my nails have really taken to it and have never been so long, but my thumbnails are quite different. They have been splitting at the sides, which they never did before I started using Nail Envy.  I'll persevere for a little while longer in the hope for long and strong talons. After the base coat, I apply two coats of the chosen colour and follow up with a top coat.  

Once my nails are dry, I usually just relax for the rest of the evening.  
Do you have a pre-Christmas beauty routine?

How To: Beat Bad Skin Days

There's nothing worse than a bad break out.  My skin has never been perfect, but I've managed to find a routine, along with some tips and tricks that helps my skin in its time of need.  I have normal to combination skin, so the majority of my break outs happen around my T-Zone. Although it sounds obvious, making sure your make up is taken off properly is essential to clearer skin. We're all guilty of turning to the face wipes after a night out but nine times out of ten, face wipes are just not enough.  I'm currently using Bioderma and loving it but another affordable and easily available option would be the No7 Cleansing Water.  

After I've removed all of my make up, I then go in for a second cleanse using the REN Clearcalm 3 Clarifying Clay Cleanser.  This is a lovely product, which helps soothe skin and helps clear up any break outs.  Once a week after cleansing, I will turn to my favourite face mask. Origins Out of Trouble is great at drawing out all the impurities and sucking up any excess oil which may lead to further out breaks.  I would then follow up with a toner and a moisturiser. I've been enjoying Embryolisse Lait-Creme Concentrate, which is a simple, non greasy moisturiser, recommended by make up artists and models.  

If my skin is particularly bad I will pop a bit of PanOxyl Aquagel 2.5% on angry areas.  This gel dries up the spot and helps reduce the redness in just a few hours.  After a couple of days with this routine, I find that my skin clears up pretty quickly. I also try to drink as much water as I can during the day, which also helps when it comes to break outs.  

How do you keep your skin clear?

Embryolisse Lait Creme Concentrate

During the change in seasons, my skin has been a bit up and down and it's only a matter of time before the winter weather dries it out completely.  I was finding that my current moisturiser wasn't helping at all, so I ordered a 30ml tube of Embryolisse from Love-Makeup, to see if it really lived up to the hype.  It's a wonder product according to make up artists and models often request it at shows or on shoots. 

It comes in a metal tube, the kind that dents when you apply pressure, which I find is great for squeezing the last of the product out when the time comes. The moisturiser is a creamy milk formula unlike some others which can be extremely thick and rich.  I use around about a pea size, which is more than enough to cover my face. It blends in leaving your skin feeling cooled and moisturised without a greasy film.  It's simple formula is great for people with sensitive skin as it is made with water and rich fatty acids which leaves the skin plumped up.  It's also paraben free, which is a plus point to many.

Embryolisse Lait Creme Concentrate is also a great product for travelling as it's multipurpose. It can be used for its primary function of moisturising or you can use it as a make up primer, make up remover, nappy cream and even an after shave balm for men.  Other than a moisturiser, I've also used it as a primer and it creates a smooth base for foundation.  For such a highly acclaimed product, it's reasonably priced at £10.00 for the 30ml tube and I've yet to make a huge dent in the product. 

Have you tried Embryolisse? 

New In: Skincare

What a day I have had! I needed to pop into town to get a few bits but also had a parcel being delivered so had to rush out before I missed it. Miraculously, I managed to get most things on my list and get in home about an hour before the delivery arrived! I haven't done a haul for a while and thought I'd show you some new (and old) skincare products I've picked up both online and in store.  

Earlier this week I finally caved and ordered myself a bottle of Bioderma (from this eBay seller). It's not  the easiest of things to get your hands on in the UK, but I ordered Monday afternoon and it was despatched straight away and arrived with the Postman this morning.  I find my eye make up is the trickiest to get off, so I'm excited to see if this is as good as the hype claims.  

Another online purchase was the Embryolisse Lait-Creme Concentrate, which I picked up from love-makeup.co.uk.  This moisturiser has been hailed as most models favourite product and they always request is on shoots/catwalk events, so if it's good enough for a model, it's worth trying in my eyes! I ordered the 30ml which was the smallest size.  

I popped into Liz Earle whilst frantically running around town today, to pick up a back up of my favourite cleanser. It's the only cleanser I've found myself repurchasing time after time. It's a great everyday cleanser that removes make up with ease.  The lady who served me also gave me a complimentary Skin Tonic spritzer, which is so refreshing on the skin.  

Lately my skin has been all over the place, so I wanted a cleanser that targeted towards blemish prone skin. I picked up the REN Clearcalm 3 Clarifying Clay Cleanser from Space NK after hearing good things from other bloggers.  I was pleasantly  surprised with how big the product is, as you get 150ml.  I'm looking forward to trying this out tonight and seeing if it helps my skin out.   

What have you been up to today?

Skincare Wish List

Skincare has been an important part of my daily routine for about two years now, since I started to take it seriously.  Lately, I've been bitten by the skincare bug, stepping away from my beloved Liz Earle products and trying something new.
  

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 

1. Bioderma Crealine/Sensibio H20; £15.50 (500ml) - Recently this product has had a change in name but that has by no means changed it's popularity. First used by MUAs, the blogging world has now got hold of this make up removing secret and wont stop talking about it. I've had this on my wish list for a while as I like the fact it's supposed to remove all traces of make up and it's good for the skin.  

2. Embryolisse Lait-Creme Concentre; £17.50 (75ml) - Apparently models request this wonder product on shoots and at Fashion Weeks. This is a multipurpose product which can be used as a primer, make up remover or most commonly as a moisturiser.  I've been looking out for a 'simple' moisturiser to try for a while and this one happens to be suitable for all skin types. If it's good enough for Naomi...

3. REN Clearcalm 3 Clarifying Clay Cleanser; £18 (150ml) - Although I absolutely adore my Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish, I find it doesn't really help my skin when I have an active breakout.  While I've been using an Origins mask (review here) to help fight the battle of the breakout, I'd also like a cleanser that would also help.  REN has been talked about quite a bit lately and is a brand I've previously used and loved. 

4. Origins GinZing Eye Cream; £21 (15ml) - I suffer with puffy eyes in the morning, especially on those days where I'm woken up with an alarm. My current eye cream doesn't really do anything to wake my eyes up and after dabbling into the Origins world, I'm ready to try something new. 

Have you tried any of the above products?