The Skin Saviour - 'Quick Fix' Mud Mask

My skin is going completely crazy at the moment! if you read my 'Current Cleansers - SOS' post then you may recall that I mentioned it then. I have no idea what's causing it?! but I didn't even have skin problems like this during my teenage years. Who knew how stressful spots were?! I am usually extremely lucky with my skin and my only problem is usually blackheads due to my oily/combination skin type, however lately I've had a terrible red, itchy 'pimple party' on my forehead and chin. After trying everything you can imagine, one product that I used which has literally calmed everything down and is slowly starting to clear this mess up - to put it politely - is shockingly a mud based face mask that I purchased on a whim. It cost me £4.99 which is not only affordable but also a fraction of the price when compared to the more well known mud masks that are currently doing the rounds in the 'blogosphere'.

The product I'm harping on about? Let me introduce you to... the 'Quick Fix Facials Anti-Blemish Mud Mask - Link Here, which I think (don't hold me to it!) may be exclusive to Boots. At first glance I made a beeline for the clay mask from that range, however once I studied the back of the bottles I decided that the mud mask was the perfect match for me.

The Problems:
Excess oil, congested, blemish prone skin or a general combinational skin type.

The Solutions:
Dead Sea Mud – helps absorb and control oil production
Salicylic Acid – helps draw out impurities and tighten the pores - which really sold it for me!
Tea Tree Oil – helps to treat spots and prevent future blemishes

I am obsessed with this mask, it states that you should leave it on for 10 minutes at a time however, I was a 'little naughty' and left it on for about 30 mins the second time I used it, then roughly an hour on the third/fourth time. I also used it all over my face and then alternatively just on my problem areas. I felt that this made a great difference as it didn't dry my skin out too much and it saved me some product in the long term - win win situation.

I cannot recommend this mask enough! If your having a unusual breakout, then this is the product for you. It has definitely been my skin saviour anyway.

The Biker Jacket - Zara Inspired

So, you may remember the gorgeous biker inspired coat that Zara was selling during Autumn/Winter 2012. I so desperately wanted to purchase it but I just couldn't justify the price tag *student problems*. At the time, Zara seemed to be one of the only high street shops that was selling this style of jacket, however they are now everywhere! I decided to have a little look online and I've managed to find some really good dupes.

 

Top left to bottom right:

 

1. River Island - £80 (Link here) I love this jacket! Although there are many biker jackets available now, this particular jacket is still quite unusual as River Island has decided to incorporate faux fur. For this reason this jacket would be great for anyone that wants to follow the trend but still wants a unique edge, it also reminds me a lot of the 'aviator' faux fur biker jacket trend that was very in few winter's ago.

 

2. Topshop - £85 (Link here) I decided to include this jacket as I really like the fact that it is textured. It's also oversized which again seems to be a trend that is going to last the winter season (I personally love oversized items - especially tops).

 

3. H&M - £34.99 (Link here) This is my favourite jacket and I'm probably going to purchase it as I just love the simplicity of this particular piece. I also really like the inclusion of leather (probably faux) which gives the jacket a stylish edge.  

 

4. New Look - £29.99 (Link here) This jacket is very similar to the H&M jacket, however it is has a slightly more oversized fit. This is also the cheapest black jacket that I have found so far, so it's great for anyone that's on a tight budget.

 

5. Primark - £25 (Link here) Yes this coat is pink! It's not really to my personal taste but I wanted to include a biker jacket of colour to emphasis the variety that is currently in stores. Pink is also set to be 'the colour' of coats this season...although I think I'll pass on that! ;-)

Millie Mackintosh - The Wedding Dress

How gorgeous does Millie look?!

I love how she's chosen a vintage lace wedding dress, it's so classy and matched with the Christian Louboutin peep-toe heels - I think brides-to-be everywhere will be envious! It's such an effortlessly chic look and I particularly love the lower back detail. The choice of a slightly shorter wedding veil is also interesting, as she has obviously wanted to keep her look traditional but with an updated edge.

I think that she's also got the classic 'bride makeup' spot on, she looks so fresh and dewy (her signature look of course), whilst still appearing sun kissed and luminous.

Her hair also reflects her 'classic' look perfectly and I love how she has adapted the a typical up-do with a chunky braid to keep the look stylish yet youthful.

What a beautiful bride!

Current Cleansers - SOS

Although my skin has a been a little crazy lately to say the least! I have been enjoying switching up my skincare routine, in particular my cleansers. At the moment I seem to switch between The Body Shop, Super Facialist Una Brennan, Liz Earle and Clarins offerings.

To make this post interesting and not too wordy I've decided to list my likes and dislikes about each product below:

Body Shop Aloe Vera Calming Cleaner (£7.99) - I have been using this cleanser for years! I love it, although its aimed solely for use on the face I usually use this to take my eye makeup off. It does the job perfectly and as its aimed for sensitive skin it never irritates them. It also doesn't sting if it accidentally goes into your eyes too, which is always a plus. No negatives to report with this, I will continue to repurchase for the foreseeable future.

Super Facialist Una Brennan Rose Hydrate Calming Creamy Cleanser (£7.99) - This is a great cleanser that I discovered recently whilst browsing the boots website. Although I only purchased this product due to it being on offer, it has turned out to be a real gem. I also really like the fact that you can use it like a facial wash or alternatively remove it with a muslin cloth. The only negative that I can say is that the rose scent is very intense, so it might be slightly overpowering for some people.

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser (£14.75) - A holy grail skincare product! Although there's not as much hype about this product anymore, I think it's amazing and it's also my go to cleanser when my skin is behaving badly (like now). I can't think of any negatives with this product apart from the price, I wish it was more affordable!

Clarins Cleansing Milk (£18.00) - I think this cleanser is great if you can't for whatever reason wash your face with water afterwards (a must in my skincare routine). It removes makeup quickly and doesn't leave residue on the skin, instead absorbing and leaving the skin feeling squeaky clean. It also has a gorgeous scent and a little goes a long way. Again, I can't really point out any negatives with this product (apart from the price), I'm really enjoying using it.

More importantly, thanks to all these cleansers I've also nearly kicked my face wipe addiction once and for all! Apart from those days I'm just far too lazy  tired of course ;-)

The Monochrome Dress - Kourtney Kardashian Inspired

I personally love Kourtney's style, I thinks she is by far the best dressed Kardashian sister. A look of hers that recently caught my eye was her outfit at Kylie's 16th birthday party. I'm really into monochrome at the moment, it's such a classic look. I also genuinely agree with the Chanel quote, 'Dress women in black and white at a ball. They will catch the eye'. In addition to my current monochrome obsession, I'm also loving red accessories, particularly lipstick and nail varnish! So, when I spotted Kourtney rockin' this look, I just knew I had to recreate it.

 

I apologise about the really rubbish photo of me! I've included a larger image from the ASOS website so you can see the exact dress that I'm wearing. I love it! It's currently in the sale at £20 from £40 (I have linked it here) ASOS are also offering an extra 10% off code for any items that are in the sale, so its definitely a bargain! I think this dress is real statement piece and a wardrobe staple as it will never go out of fashion. Plus every girl needs a LBD LBWD (Little Black and White Dress that it!). FYI, my lipstick is Mac's Ruby Woo, which is such a gorgeous matte red lipstick - I always wear it with a lipliner and a slick of Lipcote to prolong it's lasting power.