Category Archives: beauty look

Everyday Gentle Exfoliating Picks.

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Regular exfoliation can do wonders for the skin, the little and often approach works really well for congestion, dullness and blemishes to keep skin constantly renewing itself. I tend to have reactions to really strong peel masks, ugh, so serums, cleansers and moisturisers that include some mild form of acid or enzyme are my chemical exfoliators of choice.

With these, I never have to worry about overdoing it resulting in an itchy tomato faced reaction or getting out the stopwatch to ensure I wash the product off after 4 minutes exactly. I simply include them in my normal skincare routine and everything is peachy.
My four current favourites pictured above are all extremely gentle and offer different benefits for the complexion whilst gently sloughing off those dead skin cells to brighten and soften.

Double Duty

The Aurelia Refine & Polish Miracle Balm is a cleanser and mask in one. The balmy texture melts into skin and gently buffs away dead skin cells with tiny wax beads and a little fruit enzyme action. To use as a mask simply leave on the skin for 5 or so minutes to really allow the enzymes to do their stuff (you can tell they’re working because of a subtle warming sensation), then you simply rinse away thanks to the emulsifying formula. I like using this as a quick mask most of all because it’s pretty pricy, gotta make it worth the money! The results are peachy soft skin that has the look of using something heavy duty, but without any of the irritation. It’s a good one to use before you hop in the shower as then you can rinse away those pesky scrubby bits with ease.

The Overnight Treatment

Mine is just a little sample tube, but the Elemental Herbology Vital Glow Overnight Resurfacing Cream is, aside from being a wordy one, something that keeps surprising me with its effectiveness. This rich cream sinks into skin easily (I like to mix it with a drop or two of face oil) and leaves skin feeling nourished but not overly greasy – I do have oily skin but normal/dry types would probably find this quite lightweight. The complex blend of malic, glycolic and lactic acids get to work shedding dull skin to leave a brighter complexion come morning whilst a granactive retinoid stimulates cell turnover and reduces pigmentation, combine this with sacha inchi, argan and vitamin-C rich kakadu plum to add nourishment and you’ve got a perfect skin renewing treatment. My skin seems to get on really well with retinol serums so it’s no wonder I like this, I use it just once or twice a week and my skin always looks so calm and fresh in the morning. I would be hesitant to buy a full size though as it comes in a jar… I hate dippy fingers and letting air get into something with so many active ingredients.

Harmonizing Serum

The moss Equilibrium Serum seems to have been discontinued because I can’t find it on their website or any stockists, either, so I’m sorry to tease! This serum was designed to balance oily skin types and could be used either on it’s own to treat and exfoliate or mixed with a facial oil to help mattify it a little so that oily skin isn’t left looking greasy. It contains a whole smorgasbord of ingredients including neem hydrosol, pumpkin enzymes, vitamin B3, willow bark, green tea, gotu kola and so. many. more. The serum is creamy and lightweight and has been a favourite of mine for use in the mornings mixed with my Osmia Purely Simple Face Cream. Hopefully it’s just being reformulated and will be back one day…

Scar-fading Superstar

Saving my favourite for last! The Oskia Renaissance Brightlight serum is a little powerhouse of super active ingredients to fade pigmentation, sun damage and brighten uneven tone. Whilst it’s main job isn’t to exfoliate the skin it does contain fruit enzymes (pumpkin and papaya I think) to leave skin smooth and remove any dead cells that are in the way to let the other ingredients work more effectively. I have a lot of acne scarring on my cheeks and this is helping loads to take away the ugly deep purple-ness of them and has softened them considerably – there’s a long way to go but some progress is better than no progress at all. I love the light gel consistency of this serum, it feels like water on the skin which makes it perfect for layering with my usual moisturisers and oils. I’ll write a full review up once I’ve finished the bottle, worry not.

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Stila Convertible Color

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Convertible Color

Convertible Color

There are some gorgeous new shades of Stila Convertible Color coming up – this time on an M&S exclusive. The shade above is Dahlia – it looks really dark in the pot but is a lovely kiss of raspberry on the cheeks and lips that looks quite natural.

Dahlia

Dahlia

I’m not a huge fan of double-up products – they often do neither thing terribly well, but Stila has got it sorted with their Convertible Colors. I’ve used Dahlia as a lip stain with a sheen over the top and also as a cheek shade – it does need careful blending as it’s slightly on the dry side compared to a traditional formula creme blush which usually just glides. My tip would be to go with a small amount to start with and add more – it’s a proper pain to go too much and then have to blend it down.

I love the way that all the Stila Convertible Color is named after flowers. I don’t have a drop date for the new shades (there will be several) at M&S but I’ll update as soon as I do.

The post Stila Convertible Color appeared first on British Beauty Blogger.

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How to Start Running – Tips from the Top!

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running inspiration

Two weeks ago I attempted to start running. I say “attempted” because I did two runs and then realised that I was totally and utterly unequipped to take on the challenge. As a total non-runner, I had thought that just sticking on some trainers and downloading an iPhone app would be the answer to all of my exercise problems, but what I hadn’t bargained for was a) the sore feet, b) the fact that wearing very tight and shiny leggings is a TOTALLY different experience when you’re outside of the gym with people driving past in vans and c) the way that you need to be in a very specific state of mind to be able to motivate yourself and keep your feet moving.

And so to iron out my running woes (more on them later this week) I have turned to the Queen of Keeping Your Feet Moving, Muireann Carey-Campbell, AKA “Bangs and a Bun”. Bangs writes the award-winning blog Bangs and a Bun and also Spikes and Heels and is also the author of a highly motivational book about running, Be Pretty On Rest Days. She’s a one-woman inspiration stop and I’ve been following her blogs and tweets for over four years; when she agreed to help me out with a bit of running advice I did a little happiness scream.

advice for beginner runners

And so here, for your eyes only, are the Bangs and a Bun tips for people who want to start running. Don’t step a foot outside until you’ve read them! And if you’re one of those humans sitting there thinking “I could never run, I’m just not one of those people”, then you’re not alone. Bangs thought that too, and now she’s run 11 half marathons and travels all over the world taking part in events. She says, “if you’re looking for a cost-effective, time-friendly, easy-access way to get into exercise, you really can’t go wrong with a bit of running action.” When you put it like that, what’s there to lose? Hit me with the handy hints, Bangs…

 “When starting out, be prepared to run-walk

 You’ve got your kit on, you’re energized you imagine you’ll just be smashing it for miles. That’s probably not going to happen. You have to be patient with yourself. If you’re just getting into fitness, running is quite literally a shock to your system – allow your body time to adjust. For your first run, set yourself a target of running for two minutes and walking for one – keep that up for twenty minutes and you’ve laid some decent ground work. Next time you go out, run for three minutes, walk for one and so on. Gradually, you’ll reduce the time you walk and be running 5K like a BAWSE.

running inspiration

For the love of God, get a good sports bra

 No, your regular bra (one half of a flowery set that was on sale at La Senza) won’t do. And don’t try this whole wearing-two-bras nonsense either. Do yourself a favour and invest in a good sports bra. The one that’s right for you, very much depends on the size of your tatas, so do your research. This isn’t just a vanity thing either. If your breasts are bouncing around a lot, it stretches the ligaments in the breast tissue and they won’t snap back, so yup, it’s a recipe for saggy boobs and a generally painful chesticle area. Not to mention, a proper sports bra that straps those puppies down will make your run a hell of a lot more comfortable.

 Get fitted for running trainers

 Those wedge trainers you got at Zara are probably not appropriate. Head to a running shop and they’ll do something called a ‘gait analysis’. This is where they observe you running on a treadmill for a couple of minutes, see how your foot strikes the surface, whether or not your foot rolls inwards or outwards etc and they can then recommend the best kind of shoe for your running style. If you’re in uncomfortable trainers, you’ll never get the most from your runs. Getting this bit right is so crucial.

how to start running

 Music to your ears?

 The temptation is to put your headphones on and blast some beats. While music does serve as a great distraction, it’s just that – a distraction. When you’re blasting your music super loud, you can’t hear the way your foot strikes the ground, you can’t hear your breathing and you’re not paying attention to what’s around you. At least for the first couple of months, ditch the music and get in tune with your body – it will make a massive difference.

 Take a deep breath

 Breathing is probably the hardest thing to master when you first start running. Nobody likes to feel out of breath. Consequently, you’ll probably start taking quite shallow breaths and it’s all up in your chest, which then causes you to be tense up around your neck and shoulders. Learning to breathe deeply will really help. I try to breath and count to ensure I’m getting into a good breathing pattern, so I’ll breath in for three steps and out for three steps, ensuring those breaths come from my belly. Once you get into a good rhythm with your breathing, your body gets into a good flow and your legs will just go onto autopilot.

muireann carey-campbell

 It’s all in the mind

 Running is probably 80% mental. The stories we tell ourselves about what we’re capable of can make or break a run. I’ve done races where everything in my body said ‘stop! I don’t want to do this! I can’t do this! This sucks!’ But if you can program your brain to weed out those thoughts, to overpower them and to keep on truckin’, then you’re really onto something. And discovering that mental strength and the impact it subsequently has on every aspect of your life, is I dare say, what makes running so damn beautiful. So if you’re just starting out on your running journey or you’re getting back into it after some time off, I hope you and the road become fast friends. If it doesn’t all click instantly, don’t worry, that’s natural, just keep going til you find what it is you’re hoping running will give you.

You can download Be Pretty On Rest Days here and follow Muireann on Twitter here. For some seriously good blog-reading, click over to Bangs and a Bun here. Many many thanks to Muireann for taking the time to write this post, I seriously don’t know how she fits everything in!

All images taken with permission from Instagram @bangsandabun and from Spikes and Heels.

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Sunday Tittle Tattle: The Beached Whale

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mr bear british shorthair cat

If you’re reading this then it means that I’m lying somewhere (probably on the bed) in the manner of a beached whale and can’t be bothered to open my laptop to write a proper post. I’m most likely eating something non-nutritious and wearing my new red-checked nightshirt (molto sexy!) as my stomach is now too big to fit into any of my pyjama bottoms. So, sorry about that – third trimester pregnancy problems, etc! As a consolation prize, here are some pictures of the cat.

mr bear british shorthair cat

There’s also a video at 7.30pm tonight about my top winter makeup palettes – it’s sure to get you excited about glitzy Christmas things, so make sure you watch it.

If you can’t be bothered to look me up on Youtube (the link to my channel is here) then fear not, for the video will be embedded into tomorrow’s post, aptly named My Top Winter Makeup Palettes. I’m not slacking off completely, I’ll have you know!

PS: did you know that Mr Bear is now FIVE? Do you remember the first video he appeared in? Here’s a recap – prepare yourselves for all of the cute:

The post Sunday Tittle Tattle: The Beached Whale appeared first on A Model Recommends.

© 2016 A Model Recommends®: all opinions are my own and any sponsored or paid posts will always be very clearly marked. I accept press samples and receive product and services to review as part of my job. Outward links to retailers will usually be affiliate links. Please see here for full “about” section and disclaimer.  A Model Recommends and Ruth Crilly are registered trademarks.

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So Sephora Isn’t Coming to the U.K After All

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Sephora Isn't Coming to the U.K 2017

Late last year, the news unofficially – as in it didn’t directly come from Sephora but rather very trusted sources – broke that Sephora had plans to finally set shop up in the U.K once again; sure it would only be one location (London) but for many it was better than nothing and raised the hope of the possibility for further British branches. For weeks, it was all anyone could talk about and the announcement was received with unprecedented excitement levels, well dear reader I’m afraid Sephora is no longer arriving on the U.K shores anytime soon, if ever.

Why? From what I have gathered no one really knows. Perhaps Sephora felt it was too little, too late? Maybe they decided that that the supposed location of Westfield Strafford was not ideal as it isn’t exactly central, nor somewhere those pushed for time would venture; as a Scot that has been to London several times – with my tourist blinkers on – I would imagine that Oxford Street would be a more fitting address – central and a hotspot for both local and visiting traffic. There is also the fact that a lot of brands that Sephora stock are exclusive to other retailers within the UK – for example Kat Von D is only sold within certain branches of Debenhams and Tarte can only be found on the QVC website. Of course, this is all speculative and the real reasoning most likely will never come to light.

Sephora Isn't Coming to the U.K 2017

Although I wasn’t the hugest champion for the U.K unveiling – despite it’s European roots, I feel that the U.S is the real “home” of Sephora – I am a little sad that the expansion has not been granted the green light – the beauty industry has never been more booming and just about every blogger and YouTuber who as much as wears lipstick has undoubtedly uploaded some form off Sephora haul in their time. I am not deluded enough to as much as hint we alone keep the beauty sector afloat but all that free brand promotion certainly can’t help the brand. I have said in the past that I don’t think the U.K version of Sephora would be as impressive as those further afield but I did agree that there certainly is more than room for a one-stop cosmetic and skincare shop within the U.K – a gap said brand could more than fill.

I also assumed (foolish I know) that with a new international location that a British website wouldn’t be far behind meaning no more costly importation fees, nor lengthy waits for said delivery to arrive (well in theory – we’ve all had encounters with dodgy couriers). An online U.K based Sephora presence would also open up the brand to those who are unable to travel be it to London or elsewhere, and of course allows for those late night and often regrettable splurges. Even if said website only sold own brand products – which I would argue are as good, if not better than some high end products – it would be a start and a move very much welcomed by many.

There are rumbles that perhaps Sephora will go down the concession route within the U.K; opening up small counters in already existing department stores, something that is already in play in hundreds of J.C Penny stores within the states. Again this is better than nothing and also allows customers to see and try products before purchase, and in the long run could serve as a test to how well the company is received within a market it has neglected for so long.

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