Quick Tips | The Best Gel Liner Brush

Ever had trouble applying your gel liner? I know I have. And the silly thing was that it all boiled down to using the wrong type of brush. Simple. I started off using the little brushes that came with the pots.

Although ok, you won't get a beautiful crisp line and it can look a little smudgy.

So then I started using a flat angle brush thinking that this would be the right brush to use because of the slanted angle, and Models Own do an Angled Eyeliner Brush, so I carried on still wondering why my eyes weren't as beautiful and sharp as I wanted.

But trust me you don't want to be using one of these either!

What you do want to use is a thin linear, type brush. I looked everywhere in the drug stores and couldn't find one. I ended up purchasing a pack of nail art brushes from Claire's Accessories for £4.50 because it had exactly what I was looking for. I'm not fussy when it comes to brushes as long as they do what I want them to do and they don't scratch my eyes out! If you are however, after a little googleing I found that MAC do a special Liner Brush for £16.50 

The first time I used this I was amazed at how well it worked! Why hadn't I though of this?!

So what you want is a Liner Brush or do as I did and look at other options. It works amazingly well and trust me you'll get a crisp, long line and flick every time! 

Jeni x

Review | L'Oreal Triple Active Anti Shine Day Cream

Happy Happy Monday!

Today I'm going to share my thoughts on the L'Oreal Triple Active Anti-shine Day Cream

Information

Brand| L'Oreal Paris

Price| £6.49

Size| 50ml glass jar

Purchased at| Superdrug

Would I re-purchase| Yes

 The product has lasted me about 3 months and probably has at least another 2 weeks worth of product left, which isn't bad. I find face cream last me a long time in general. 

It says to use both morning and evening but at night I'm not worried about keeping my skin matte so I only use this in the morning, though perhaps using it both morning and evening would produce better results.

I don't overly love that you have to dip your fingers in the product to use it, its not overly sanitary and I find I end up with horrid bits of fluff hiding out in my cream, which I then have to pluck out. But on the plus side you do get use use up 100% of the product. 

It is a very light cream, with a citrusy fresh scent that I find appealing. On first application skin is appears mattified and looks oil free. The cream contains Perlite - which is amorphous volcanic glass? Say what?! And Salicylic Acid - which is used in lots of skin care but can be a bit hit and miss for some as it can clog pores.

Now I have pretty oily skin so when I picked this up I was hoping it would really work. I've tried several different mattifying moisturisers over the years, including a Clinique one which I was very disappointed with. However the Triple Active has worked pretty well. 

It keeps my cheeks fairly matte all day long, but on the flip side, my forehead is still incredibly oily. 

Another thing that I have noticed is that it doesn't form a barrier from the additional oils/moisture from my foundation (depending on what one I use). So dependenet on which foundation I use will dertermin how matte my skin will stay throughout the day. For example when I use my B. Naked foundation my oiliness is kept mostly at bay, but if I wear my Avon Flawless foundation, because its a very dewy formula my oil levels are, well oily. (Review still to come)

It really is an experimental game when looking for a moisturiser that will keep the skin matte.

Overall I do really like this moisturiser and will purchase it again in the future. And if your skin is like mine its definatley worth a go, but take in to consideration what foundation your using.

Hope this was helpful!

Jeni x

Gum Tree Henna Hair Conditioner Review

Happy Tuesday!

Today I'm going to be sharing with you my thoughts on the Gum Tree Henna Hair Conditioner that I bought way back last year and I'm just getting to the bottom of it now.

So this cost me all of 99p from my local discountUK store, but I've seen it online too.

In general this product is meant to improve the general quality of your hair and be brilliant for dry over worked and over styled hair.

The ingredients list isn't a very long one, which normally is a good thing.

Ingredients| Aqua, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetrimonium Chloride, Benzyl Alcohol, Methylchloroisothiazolione, Methylisothiazonlinone, CI 19140, CI 42090, CI  14700.

Dose it ever intermediate you that you don't understand what half of this stuff is?

The low down on Henna

Henna, in its natural form has many benefits for your hair. It is meant to reduce hair breakage by making the strands stronger, balance the hairs ability to retain moisture, reduce dandruff and smooth the hair cuticle allowing the look of shiny, healthy hair. 

It is also said to thicken hair and promote healthy hair growth due to its antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. But as well as its good properties it can have the opposite affect on some peoples hair by making it more brittle and more prone to breakage. 

Apart from this one conditioner I haven't used henna on my own hair. But it could be something to use in the future after more research. I have read that people do add it into their own conditioners and have seen some wonderful results.

So I've been using this mask/conditioner for quite along time. For a 'Critical Hair Repair Cream' it isn't as thick as other creams/masks/conditioners that I have used in the past and is a little watery. Its a really pale mint green colour.

The scent isn't that easy to describe. Its got quite a strong chemical smell but its not overly powerful and isn't too unpleasant, if that makes sense.

It works ok as a conditioner but its really underwhelming for a repair cream. I don't feel like its really impacted the quality of my hair which I guess for 99p, what can you expect?

Its not something that I would go out and repurchase. 

I've been thinking a lot about starting to take a more natural and organic take to beauty regime, but that's after I've done a bit more research and looking around. But I'll make a full post on that at some point!

Hope you've enjoyed this post!

Jeni x

DIY| Over Night Hair Mask

Hi guys,

today I'm going to share with you one of my favourite DIY hair masks and the best part is that its only one simple ingredient.

Coconut Oil.

This little baby has been doing wonders for my hair. I've been using it for months now, and it has left my hair feeling super soft and looking shiny and healthy.

Coconut oil can range in prices and can be pricey but I found my 500ml tub down the world food aisle at Sainsburys for less than £3. Bargain.

So what is so good about coconut oil?

Coconut oil is one of the few oils that really penetrate deep inside the hair shaft to really nourish and moisturise from within. 

It helps to maintain a healthy scalp, and a healthy scalp equals healthy hair.

Coconut oil has been said to also help stimulate hair growth by getting deep down in to the follicles.

Its intensely moisturising so great for dry and damaged hair, helps to prevent breakages by making the hair stronger and also makes it soft and shiny.

On to the mask!

All you need to make this mask is a bowl, teaspoon, coconut oil, a hair turban or towel, and a microwave.

You will only need 1 heaped teaspoon of coconut oil. It comes as a solid clump like so and will need warming to revert back into its oily self.

So once you have your teaspoon full of coconut oil, pop it in a bowl and heat in microwave until it has fully melted. It turns to a clear liquid.

Allow to cool because you don't want to be burning your scalp!

While cooling brush through your hair to get rid of any tangles. 

Once the oil has cooled sufficiently, dip your finger tips in the oil and begin to work the oil into your scalp.

I like to start and my part and work my way round my head gently massaging with my finger tips.

Once the scalp his covered work the oil down through your hair, you want your hair covered from root to tip, and yes you will look like an oily hot mess, but just think of all the good its doing!

Once covered gently comb through with a wide tooth comb and tie in to a loose pony on top of your head.

Now wrap your hair up in your hair turban ready to sleep the night away. If you don't have a hair turban lay a towel over your pillow to sleep on.

The added benefit of using a hair turban is that while you sleep, under the turban your scalp will be warm which will open up follicles and allow for deeper penetration.

Alternatively if you don't want to sleep with this on, do it an hour to 2 before washing your hair and wrap in a towel.

In the morning simply comb through and wash out thoroughly with warm water, then shampoo and condition as usual.

I like to try and do this every other night and wash it out in the morning. So you can use this as little or as often as you would like and you'll soon be seeing a difference in the happiness of your hair!

:)

Jeni x

DIY| Easy Rice Flour Facemask

Hi guys,

today I want to share with you a DIY face mask that I have been loving recently.

But before we get on the the mask making let me just give you the low down on the ingredients and why they are good for your skin.

Rice Flour| rice flour is widely used as an ingredient to treat blemishes, wrinkles and pigmentation. In fact its used as an anti-aging skin treatment throughout Asia. It can be used as a UV protection from the sun and has great exfoliation properties. I've also read that Kimberly Walsh and Martine McCuteon use rice flour to achieve their flawless, glowing skin.

Honey| honey is naturally antibacterial in which case is great for blemish prone skin. It is also full of anti-oxidants and helps slow down the signs of aging. It gives a great boost to your complexion, is extremely moisturising and soothing. Honey is also clarifying so it helps to de-clog pores and helps create a natural glow.

Green Tea| green tea again is packed full of those lovely anti-oxidants that will both benefit you inside and out. Its another fantastic ingredient for blemish prone skin and is one of the most natural ways to help your skin appear brighter and more flawless.

Now on to the mask!

What you will need:

+ Rice Flour (available at Sainsburys)

+ Honey

+ Green Tea

+ A small bowl or cup

+ Tea spoon measure

+ Table spoon measure

+ Old clean foundation brush

Step 1

measure 1tsp of rice flour and place in to your bowl or cup

Step 2

add 1tsp of honey to your rice flour

Step 3

then add 2tbsp of green tea, you may need to add a little more but this is usually enough

Step 4

then you want to mix to form a smooth looking paste, this is where you may need more green tea.

Once all mixed apply to the face using the foundation brush, I use this one especially for my masks.

Allow to fully dry then gently wash off with finger tips in a circular motion to help exfoliate and stimulate the skin.

After exfoliation skin may look a little red, but that will fade. My skin always feels so soft and smooth after using this mask, I love it.

You can use it up to 3 times a week I would think, but I use it about once a week at the moment.

If you have a little left you can store it in an old container and store in the fridge and use within a few days.

This mask was adapted from this tutorial by BUBZBEAUTY. 

Check out her video too! 

Sometimes you need to tailor home made masks to suit your needs so if you need to do that let me know what you come up with!

Information on the ingredients was found on various websites.

I'm currently working on/experimenting with a new home made mask that I will hopefully post about soon!

So stay tuned, become a follower to keep updated with my new posts!

&

Have a great day!

Jeni x

Happy New Year | 2014

Happy New Year!

Hope you all had a lovely time!

I myself spent it with 3 awesome people watching TV and playing board games.

The coming of a new year brings a chance for a fresh start and a whole year of new and exciting possibilities,

new year resolutions, life plans and the likes.

This year I have 3 main goals:

1] Find myself a new JOB

2] Really SAVE

&

3] Get FIT

Simples!

Along with these I have other little goals like keeping a dairy, continuing my blog and trying to better myself.

I've never been particularly good at keeping to my new year resolutions so lets hope this year I can do it!

I would love to know if you have any new year resolutions or goals no matter how big or small!

I believe that 2014 is going to be a great year, and all we gotta do to make it happen is just believe :)

So may your 2014 be happy and prosperous!

Speak to you next week!

Jeni x