Brrrrrr!!!!

 It is very very cold!! (not quite as cold as the picture, that was taken way back in January when we had actual snow here)

We came back from a weekend away in beautiful Amsterdam last night to a freezing cold house. We're having the kitchen redone and part of that has been replacing and moving the boiler to knock a wall down. No heating all weekend and below zero temperatures equalled a freezing cold house last night. It required 3 duvets and 2 wheat bags, plus 3 tshirts, a jumper, socks and tracky bottoms to sleep comfortably last night. Thankfully, the new boiler is now up and running, we have heating and hot water again and the house is beginning to thaw out.

Unfortunately the weather also put a bit of a spanner in my plans to shoot some lovely pictures of my fabulous outfits over the weekend as -5 is not really conducive to fabulous so much as layered. Jeans and multiple jumpers were the order of the weekend!!

I did however manage to get my hands on some Chanel Base Beauté at the airport :) The Lancome Cils Booster XL is nice but not as good as the Base Beauté. I'll post a full comparison review shortly.

In other news, I'm going for a makeover at MAC next weekend with one of my best friends - it's always good to get new pointers and tips and to refresh your regime every once in a while. I shall be sure to take some pictures of the results at the very least!

Too much to do, too little time...

Apologies for the lack of posting recently, I've spent most of my non working time with my head buried in my books. I'm part way through a MSc in Development Management with the OU and its hard work. Still, it will all be very much worth it in the end!

I discovered yesterday that Chanel have discontinued their fabulous Base Beauté mascara base and have not replaced it with anything. I am gutted as this stuff makes mascara really pop and it was fibre free, a real must for me as a contact lens wearer. I have bought Lancome Cils Booster XL Mascara Enhancing Base as a replacement, but was a bit perturbed when I read the back of the box after getting it home to discover that it has 'microfibres', even though I had asked that specific question at the counter, and I had tested it on the back of my hand (you can usually see if a base is fibrous or not). Still, the MUA did say I could bring it back if it caused any irritation, even after I'd used it, so I shall road test it and see how I get on. 

I will be back later on in the week with a review, and I hope to have some outfit/make up pics for you next week!

Back to the books I go.....

The green (and teal) eyed monster strikes....

Make up looks of note from the last couple of weeks plus new colours for my nails...

 Lazy Sunday shopping:

All MAC unless otherwise stated:

Eyes:

Paint in Bare Canvas

Paint Pot in Delft (base)

Pigment in Teal (eyelid)

Pigment in Deep Blue Green (crease)

Fluidline in Blacktrack

Eyeshadow in Pincurl (highlight)

Chanel Base Beauté (mascara base)

Chanel Inimitable Mascara in Noir (waterproof)

Eyebrows in Stud

Brow Set in Clear

Face:

Prep and Prime Face Protect SPF50

Mineralize Foundation SPF 15 in NC15

Select Sheer Loose in NC15

Studio Finish SPF35 Concealer in NC15

Sheertone Blush in Pinch O Peach

Prep and Prime Transparent Finishing Powder

Fix+ spray

Lips:

Prep and Prime Lip

Lip Pencil in Subculture

Lipstick in Patisserie

Halloween Fairy:

All MAC unless otherwise stated:

Eyes:

Paint in Bare Canvas

Paint Pot in Blackground

Pigment in Kelly Green

Pigment in Black

Fluidline in Blacktrack

Chanel Base Beauté

Chanel Inimitable Mascara in Noir (waterproof)

Lip Pencil in Burgundy (on eyebrows)

Brow Set in Clear

Face:

Prep and Prime Face Protect SPF50

Mineralize Foundation SPF15 in NC15

Studio Finish SPF35 Concealer in NC15

Select Sheer Loose Powder in NC15

Prep and Prime Transparent Finishing Powder

Fix+ Spray

Lips:

Prep and Prime Lip

Lipstick in Myself

Eyeshadow in Humid

And finally, my new nail polish purchases...

Front: Ruby Pumps

Back: Lubu Heels (left) and Mummy May I (right)

All China Glaze

The quest for perfect skin

For me is a bit of a never ending battle. I had pretty much perfect skin as a teenager - the odd spot of excema thanks to my incredibly sensitive skin, but by and large it was smooth and blemish free. Of course there would the obligatory pre-menstrual spot or two, but never anything major. All that changed when I turned 20. I began a recurring battle with adult onset acne, that I have never been able to determine the cause of.


It appears now that my acne is very much stress related, something correlated by an article in this month's Marie Claire. I also have psoriasis which doesn't help, because the very process that psoriasis puts your skin through doesn't really help with acne.

I think I am finally starting to win the battle though, and even partially winning the battle with the scarring.
I've mentioned my routine briefly, but here it is in full:

Morning: 

Cleanse with Neals Yard Mahonia Clarifying Facial Wash
Use Lavender Water as toner all over face and use Witch Hazel Water on spots (both Neals Yard)
Moisturise with Neals Yard Soothing Starflower Daily Moisture Lotion
Apply Lush Enchanted Eye Cream around eyes
Finish with Neals Yard Hypericum and Calendula Cream on spots (it's an amazing healing cream)

Evening:

Remove make up with Boots Botanics Organic Olive Oil Eye Make Up Remover - this stuff rinses off so it's quick and easy.
Massage Neals Yard Soothing Starflower Cleansing Milk into face and remove with a clean flannel rinsed in hot water.
Rinse flannel in hot water and hold gently over face. Repeat.
Massage Neals Yard Wild Rose Beauty Balm into face well.
Apply Lush Enchanted Eye Cream and Neals Yard Hypericum and Calendula Cream where needed. 


Twice weekly:

Follow evening cleansing routine (if no make up worn then double cleanse with cleansing milk) and apply Boots Botanics Burdock and Clay Face Mask. Leave for 20-30 minutes and rinse off.
Follow up with Beauty Balm etc.

I also take care of myself from the inside, although sometimes it feels like I have a meal of supplements in their own right!! Every morning I take:
Echinacea
Olive Leaf complex
Milk Thistle
A multi vitamin and mineral supplement
Complete Essential Fatty Acids
Evening Primrose Oil
Aloe Vera tablets

One day, my skin will be awesome. And I will celebrate from the rooftops!!