Morning Skin Care Routine

Hey Guys and Dolls

Today I'm sharing with you my morning routine.
 (Minus the incessant pressing of the snooze button and gentle screaming encouragement at my boys to GET READY FOR SCHOOL!!!)

It looks like a lot doesn't it?
I guess it is but it's all part of my bid to tame the queen of bitches that is my skin! Seriously it still hasn't decided if it wants to be sensitive, spotty, oily or flaky... often it can be all of those things at once!
LUCKY MOI!

I just know my Grandma will see this and say  (in your best Geordie accent please)
 "eeee al av ever used is watta nd a flannel nd av nivva had a spot yit, folk use owa much noo-a-days"

Clearly Grandma I've not been blessed with your genes!
Anyway...

CLEANSE
So basically I use a gel or foaming cleanser in the morning to freshen my face and help wake my ass up. Currently using Elemis Fresh Skin Gel Wash which is lovely and brightening and satisfyingly tightening! It's also aimed at younger skin so I find it a delightful little ego boost that it works well for me!... makes me feel all young and precious! 

I use the Clarisonic religiously and love the deep cleaning, pore emptying results it gives. That said I really must improve my attitude to replacing the brushes though... oopsie! 

QUIRK ALERT

I ALWAYS ALWAYS splash my face with cold water before allowing a towel to touch it. (or come within 10 metres of it actually... can't be too careful!)
 I've done it for years and it's an odd little 'quirk' but I was told many moons ago that ice water closes your pores and stops any dirt getting in. (I know i know) I'm set in my ways and it's too late trying to change me now :)

TONE

After washing  I give my face and neck a quick sweep of Clarins Exfoliating toner then Yves Rocher Clarifying lotion. I wouldn't be without the Clarins (I have stock) and the Yves Rocher is a mattifying gel that probably doesn't qualify for repurchase status.

OILS AND SERUMS

Tea Tree Oil is always a standard, I'm not sure I ever (EVAAAAH) have a day where there's not blemishes... yes plural *throws self on floor and sobs*  

If I'm having a no make up day then I use my Elemis Cellular Recovery Skin Bliss Capsules or my Decleor Aromessence Neroli Face Oil. I find these boost hydration and leave my skin supple. 

There's certainly nothing in the myth that adding oil to oily skin makes it worse... quite the opposite for me.

(That may of been another pearl of Grandma wisdom)

MOISTURISE

Sakare Eye Cream- I picked this up in London and the story behind it will require a post of it's very own. It's good though. If I can face the ordeal again I'd quite like to get another.

I rotate a few moisturisers at any one time (to keep my skin on its toes) and currently it's Elemis ProCollagen Marine Cream and Decleor Hydra Floral that are floating my boat. They are both UHMEZZING and PCMC is most definitely a holy grail product.

FINISHING TOUCHES

La Roche-Posay sunscreen- I always wear this if I'm doing the bare faced chic 'look' as I find it beautifully mattifying as well as being a shield against all the nasty UVAs and UVBs... apparently those guys penetrate even the darkest clouds on the coldest days so we aren't safe even if it's minus temperatures outside.

Bit dramatic like but that's how I roll!!

Aaaaand finally a bit of Blistex Relief Cream. The perfect lip protector. It smells satisfyingly medicinal so you know it's working. I do about three tubes a month. (excessive) 

So there we go. That's my morning routine which in fairness is keeping my complexion as near clear and flawless as I think I'll ever get, as finding the perfect skin care routine is something I'm yet to conquer. 

I've done it all, from just using face wipes to throwing triple the amount of products at my face!

Maybe there's a magic potion?Is there a miracle product out there? Is there? Is there?

I BET YOU I'VE TRIED IT :)

I know the answer doesn't lie within facial wipes though and I'll leave you with Caroline Hiron's theory about face wipes... they are for the THREE F's... festivals, flights and fannys!

On that note... Taaaaaaraaaaaa

Love 

k xxxxxxx

Ps  remember you can follow me on  bloglovin HERE and do keep in touch by following me on twitter here Oh and come over and see me on instagram HERE

Got The Lip On?? Mood Matching Review

Happy Monday  One and All! What we like today? Counting down the days until the weekend would be my guess... :)

Got a canny little lippy post today in the shape of six (yes six!) Fran Wilson Mood Matcher Lipsticks. Now I hadn't heard of her or these before but when I saw all the bold and bright colours I just had to give them a go. Now baring in mind I never wore lipstick ever ever until last month I think you'll agree on first impressions these were certainly a crazy brave choice.

Not for the faint hearted!

Now these rainbow bullets promise 12 hours of continuous colour and hydration, each shade changing according to your very own body chemistry. (ooh err)

As you can see on the swatches the colours aren't quite as garish as they initially appear. They are a lovely sheer formula that glides and glistens over your lips. No lip brush required but word of warning maybe whip a lip pencil around your lip line just to avoid looking like you've face palmed a beetroot... That photo didn't make the cut :)

Pretty little rainbow swatch

I must be feeling brave as (i'm leaving my dignity at the door) I've got some actual face shots of me wearing the lippy...

DISCLAIMER:
All shots are 'selfies' and taken with face shot on my iphone, so they create that oh so flattering 'looking into a spoon' angle.

Here's my natural lips...

Here are the results... (drum roll drum roll)

Incidently I'm in alreeetish fettle so its matching to a good mood :)

First up is the ORANGE. Now this goes on lovely, the pics don't do it justice really, as in real life its a gorgeous juicy coral that adjusted to flatter my ghostly porcelain complexion perfectly.
Equally would look great with a tan so will have to get mitted out and fake baked up pronto :)

ORANGE

KISS ME?

 Dark Blue... As i was putting this on i'm thinking "yak yak yak" (think it reminded me of a fling with rimmels black cherry lipstick in 1996!) but actually i'm sold. Its a lovely purply plum on me and because its a stain it makes my lips look kinda bitten. I LIKE.

DARK BLUE...   VAMPYish

Look how luchious... :)

The sky blue one... Like the dark blue above it has a definite purple tone to it, this is a softer creamier finish. Its more of a candy pink. The sort you feel pretty wearing... day or night.

SKY BLUE
whats that they say? "like my lips but better" I WISH

YELLOW... Its alright, like it better on my lips than my arms. The gold sheen on the swatch transfers to an almost frosted finish on the lips. 

YELLOW... 

The Pink One. From the bullet the most obvious and easy to wear choice surely. And true to form it feels like it could be my favourite... its a pearly iridescent formula on your lips. Again the photos aren't really catching it but there is a definite shimmer to this one!... promise!

PINK... makes the boys...?

Don't strain your eyes, I promise you there is a pearly sheen!

Green one... Difficult to capture on the photo despite standing in front of, along side and behind natural light. This came up rather bright, with the exception of the orange easily the brightest, a real pinky coral kick to it. 

GREEN... Goddess?? 

With the exception of the yellow one,  i'd say any be could be my bestest one... the orange, dark blue or pink probably are my faves today though. Or the green. :)

They are available from QVC and retail at £21.50 plus p&p.

They've been fun and definitely will wear them again... Oh and they weren't fibbing about the staying power, has been 6 hours and they've survived 3 cups of tea, a bowl of supernoodles, a cream egg, walking the dog and a nap! The swatches on my arms have been scrubbed (and scrubbed) but i'm still left with what looks like a dramatic injury (might see if i can get some sympathy somewhere!)

BYE ZE BYE XXX

So what was your favourite? Which would you choose?

Love hearing from you all

Kate xxxx

Lip Service

Those of you that follow me on twitter will be well aware that I'm yet to try or sample, let alone own a Mac lipstick (cue fellow bloggers recoiling in horror and sympathy). Well thanks to my brother and his girlfriend (I'm giving max credit to her!) that is no longer a problem as I received a Mac Lippy and other Mac goodies for my 30th on Friday. (Wow that's still difficult to type!) Now that surely deserves a dedicated post right??? I sure as hell think so but my lips have been neglected (its all that eye cream talk) and are indeed looking worse for wear.


So in order to get my lips 'mac ready' I thought I blog and review a recent Qvc purchase by the fabulous Mally Roncal. This product is the 'Perfect Prep Lip Treatment System'. The kit consists of a lip scrub, a two lip balms, one being tinted.

I'll start by raving about how wonderful I think this lil set is shall I?? Well the scrub is a lovely creamy consistency with sugary granules and it really did work off all my dry flakey patches (I've been ill ok!) and left my lips plumped up and super smooth within seconds. The lip balms are non greasy and really softening, I enjoyed wearing them and the tinted one has a gorgeous rosy sheen. Plus the packaging is pretty sleek and sophisticated so no shame in whipping these bad boys out for reapplications throughout the day.

So (picture the scene) there I am strutting around with the most spectacularly natural perfect pouty pout (that's how it was in my head anyway!) feeling ecstatically happy about my purchase, literally feeling that nothing could bring me down.... and then I got to thinking that maybe this purchase was perhaps an impulsive (as always) and dare I say unnecessary one....

It's not that I don't love this kit and its not that it didn't work (because I do and it did) its just that £30.50 does seem a tad pricey for what essentially could be done with Vaseline and an old toothbrush!!! (cast your mind back to the beauty features in the shout magazine!) and at heart I'm a bit of a Carmex and Blistex girl as I love the sort of medicinal scent they have. Means they must be working right? Also I can't see the lip scrub lasting longer than an few weeks but on the flip side I guess the lip balms more than make up for that :)

No regrets though! And I'm sure my Mac Lippy will thank me :)

Any thoughts? Lip tips or tricks?

Kate xx