Barefoot SOS Repair + Renew Intensive Treatment Oil

Up until recently, I have been using Algenist Advanced Anti-Aging Repairing Oil (see review), which is amazing but not wanting to pay out 60+ pounds, I have turned to Barefoot SOS Repair and Renew Intensive Treatment Oil.

PROS:

• Oil absorbs into the skin quickly but skin still feels moisturised. 

• I can use it under makeup and my makeup stays put (I do use primers) 

• I haven't had used other moisturisers with it

• Not overly greasy

• Sensitive enough to be used around the eye area so I haven't been using eye cream

• Thick enough to use on the body and hands

• Good value for money – £28 for 25ml 

• Vegan 

• All ingredients are naturally derived, so I feel all at one with the Earth! 

• This has made my skin tone more even and toned down some of the redness

• A little goes a really long way

• My wrinkles seemed to have plumped up

CONS:

• The applicator does not hold the oil when it is taken out of the bottle. It immediately starts dripping, which is annoying.

• I am unsure how those with oily skin would find this. I have dry to combination skin, which the product has moisturised but not made oily or caused any breakouts. However, people with oily skin might find this too much. 

Despite the applicator irritation, this is a really good product and one that I wasn't expecting to like very much. I thought it would be a gap filler until I forked out for the Alegenist Advanced Anti-Aging Repairing Oil again but I was wrong. I am going to buy another bottle to use as a body moisturiser and now I have got a handy flick technique sorted, there shouldn't be oil dropping all over the carpet! 

www.naturisimo.com 

Halloween Makeovers at selfridges

If you're in London then head to Selfridges on Thursday, Friday or Saturday for some serious Halloween makeup inspiration! Talented makeup artist (and NYX Cosmetics UK Face Awards winner) Vanity Venom will be demonstrating some frightful makeup looks to get you ready for Halloween. You can see more of her work on Instagram: @vanityvenom

Thursday 29 and Friday 30: 6-8pm, Saturday 31st: 12-6pm
0207 318 3647 to book, £25 redeemable on products

www.selfridges.com

Illamasqua are also hosting their own 'ghoulishly glamourous' makeovers from the 29-31st at 9.30am to 9pm in the Selfridges Beauty Hall.

0207318 3114 to book, £75 redeemable on products

www.selfridges.com

Alternatively you can pick up Illamasqua's 'Halloween look in a box' and do it yourself! The Dead Vintage beauty box contains:
• Pure Pigment eyeshadow in Android
• Glamore Lipstick in Vampette
• Bat Lash false lashes
• Hydra Veil base and Powder Blusher in Naked Rose

£45

Kay's Beauty Wish List

I've been starting a list of beauty products that I wouldn't mind getting my paws on and the following are my top 5. I think I need to start a Christmas list and perhaps Santa will do the honours...

1. FARMACY SLEEP TIGHT FIRMING NIGHT BALM – $48 for 1.7oz
This is to be worn overnight, which tightens the skin and with extract of the South African acmella plant, encourages collagen production, evens skin tone and minimises wrinkles. Best of all it's a balm that transforms to an oil-gel, which dry skin will definitely appreciate. It's super duper ingredient is Echinacea GreenEnvy, which, from the blurb seems to protect the layers of the skin....similar to a heat protective spray for hair! It's also formulated without paraben, sulfates and phthalate and the packaging looks all hippy dippy spa, which is thoroughly appealing! 

2. HOURGLASS AMBIENT LIGHTING EDIT PALETTE – £65 

I love Hourglass, especially the Ambient Lighting Palette. I have hit pan on all three powders but this time....there are six! Strobe Light (new) Dim Light, Diffused Light (as per the original) and Luminous Flush, Mood Exposure and finally, Luminous Bronze Light. 

3. COLBERT MD ILLUMINO BODY OIL –  £90 for 75ml
See review for the face oil. Seriously, it's amazing! I can only hope that the body oil is equally as luxurious and works just as well. 

4. BURT'S BEES CITRUS FACE SCRUB – £10.99 for 55g
Made from all natural ingredients, such as ground almonds, oats, pecans and rose petals to gently exfoliate skin. For the price and the ingredients, I'm sold! 

5. AURELIA PROBIOTIC SKINCARE – £45 for 50ml
The Night Repair Oil is my first port of call. Initially, the word probiotics in the title reminded me of some kind of supplement or maybe even Actimel! However, the range is 100% natural and is designed to soothe dehydrated skin. Ingredients include: 100% pure botanicals (which helps the absorption), Kalahari oil providing essential fatty acids, Mongongo oil, which restructures and regenerates the epidermis, Kigelia, which tightens the skin, Baobab, which provides Omega 3, 6 & 9, and Hibiscus, which is used to fight free radicals and reduce stress. 

If you have tried any of these products I would love to know what you think of them!

The Body Shop – Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil

If you're prioritising where to spend money on skincare, then I personally feel it makes sense to spend on the products that stay on your face (serums, moisturisers etc.) and save on the ones that don't. With this in mind I've been looking at various high street makeup removers, and the Camomile Cleansing Oil by The Body Shop has been on my 'to try' list for a long time. It is only £11 for 200ml and frequently receives rave reviews from beauty journalists and bloggers.

THE PRODUCT
The Body Shop website states that this cleanser will effortlessly remove makeup from the whole face quickly and effectively. It also states that it is suitable for sensitive skin and contact lens wearers.

APPLICATION
I have normal/combination skin and find this product removes all my makeup (including waterproof mascara) very easily. It dissolves makeup on its own and then you can add water and use a face cloth to remove everything quickly. If you are lazy about makeup removal and resort to using the dreaded wipes, I would encourage you to try this instead. It makes the whole process incredibly hassle-free, no matter how late at night it is or how many glasses of wine you have consumed!

RESULTS
Regardless of how much or how little makeup I am wearing this cleanser always does a great job. I think it would be suitable for any skin type – even oily skin – as it removes makeup thoroughly and leaves no trace of oiliness when followed by a cleanser.

THE VERDICT
Fantastic value for money, I've been using it for several months now and I'm not even a third of the way through the bottle. The only downside is that it is not ideal for travel. I have taken it on several trips and even when the pump has been turned to the closed position, I still find an oily film coating all the cosmetics in my wash bag! The Clinique Take Off The Day Cleansing Balm is definitely better suited for travel as it is a solid balm.

£11 for 200ml, www.thebodyshop.co.uk

That autumn feeling...

I am a fan of this time of year. I like snuggly evenings, fleecy pyjamas, leaves falling, candles burning and good tv (Sherlock, Luther and Peaky Blinders are all back soon. Eeek!) So I thought I'd share a few of the things that are giving me that autumn feeling.

First, candles. I know it hasn't been that long since my last candle post but that's because burning candles in the autumn and the in the run up to Christmas is one of my favourite activities. Some may say that I need a hobby!

   £34-44 for a two or three wick candle

£17.49 for the mosaic crackle glass 10oz 

Woodwick's Pumpkin Butter is a yummy autumnal scent. Obviously, pumpkin is an ingredient but there are spicy notes in there too. Because of this, it's the perfect autumn to winter combination. I'm not going to lie, it is expensive but there are good deals on Amazon and despite burning it nightly, it lasted from September to February last year. 

However, Jo Malone's Incense and Embers is a great companion. 

£42 for 200g 

It is one of the Home Candles, which was designed as one of four candles that represents aspects of a Sunday. From the name, this is the Sunday evening, around the fire. The smokey embers scent, mixed with amber makes it seem as if I have installed a fire place in the living room. 

On the subject of Jo Malone, I have been wearing Blue Agava and Cacao Body Creme and Cologne. It's a rich scent that suits colder weather and it always gets good reviews when I wear it! 

£42 for 30ml Cologne 

£50 for 175ml Body Creme 

It reminds me of coco butter but is a far more sophisticated than my description! Sea salt mixed with cacao (raw chocolate) cinnamon, grapefruit and blue agava flower makes this the best smelling type of coco butter ever! 

www.amazon.co.uk

www.jomalone.co.uk 

NARS x Steven Klein 'Fantascene' Holiday Collection

I do love a good makeup collaboration, especially when it is with a fashion photographer. I'm a sucker for packaging and there is no doubt that the makeup sitting on your dresser becomes even more appealing when it is adorned with beautiful photography. So naturally I was very excited when Nars announced that it was teaming up with the one and only Steven Klein for its Fantascene holiday collection.

For those of you who are not familiar with Klein, he is an American photographer with a taste for the subversive. You have probably seen his shoots (such as the iconic 1999 images of Brad Pitt in his role for Fight Club) or even his music videos (directing credits include Lady Gaga's Alejandro).

Knowing his conceptual and often highly sexualized style, this was always going to be a fun collaboration. The collection comprises 23 pieces, most of which are entirely new shades/formulas. Individual products include a range of new lip colours and single eyeshadows, while for palette junkies highlights include the Dead of Summer eyeshadow palette (below) and Despair cheek palette.

All items in the collection are limited so if you are interested you'll need to move fast!
Available now, prices start at $19. Find the full collection here: www.narscosmetics.com/steven-klein