Coming Soon: Tarte on QVC

This month we found out that Sephora now ships to the UK.  The only thing that I could possibly think that I needed to try were the Tarte Amazonian Clay Blushes.  I browsed the Sephora website, but couldn't bring myself to splash out £75 on things I might like to get a flat £10 delivery charge.  Luckily for us UK girls, QVC have answered our prayers and a selection of the Tarte range is making it's way to the UK on the 28th March!

Aside from my picks which I'll talk about in a second, there is a really good range to give us all a good taste of Tarte.  The packaging is amazing, the products are said to be perfection and I'm way too excited.  I've never bought anything from QVC before, or anything from the TV in fact, but I just can't bring myself to miss the opportunity to get my hands on some of the most coveted Tarte products!  The Tarte range is priced in the higher end of the scale, as you'd expect, but I think it's a fair price to pay.  There's also some real bargains in there - you can find a set of three Amazonian Butter lipsticks for £20, as well as the Sultry Sunset Amazonian Clay Eight Shadow Collectors Palette for £24!  I could put the entire QVC Tarte range in my basket, but I've narrowed it down to just three products...although one product appears four times - I know, what a cheater!

The Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Air Brush Foundation (£27.34) is "an airbrush foundation which delivers flawless, natural coverage that lasts, while invigorating tone and texture for youthful looking skin."  I've read lots of reviews on this, and it seems to be perfect for my oily skin.  The mineral powder makes this into a mattifying foundation, which is easily buildable on the coverage side.  It also comes with a really stubby, dense kabuki brush designed to really buff this into your skin for a flawless finish.  The only downside to ordering from QVC is that I don't know which shade would best match my skintone, so it'll be a risk that I'll just have to take!

I also picked the Amazonian Clay Waterproof Brow Mousse (£16.20).  I've not been blessed with huge brows, and the ones I've got are a bit patchy because I got carried away plucking them when I was younger.  I usually just use the Rimmel Eyebrow Pencil to fill in any gaps, but I often find that my shade (dark brown) is way too warm and often comes out auburn compared to my actual brows.  Pencils can also be quite harsh and unnatural, so I'm looking forward to having the chance to try a different type of brow filler.  I've never used anything other than a pencil, so a brow mousse would be nice to try and hopefully would be ideal for making a natural brow.

Of course the Amazonian Clay Blushes (£26.50) would had to make an appearance.  If I ever go back to America, I always said I'd pick up two shades which would be Tipsy and Exposed.  However, recently I've spotted Natural Beauty which is a gorgeous red toned blush that I think would be a pretty close match to my natural flush and would be perfect for bringing some colour to cheeks in the colder months and Flush which is an amazing berry toned blush.  Tipsy, a beautiful coral shade is gorgeous for the warmer months and Exposed is an amazing natural toned blush, which whilst it looks pretty brown in the pan is ideal for no makeup makeup days or a natural contour.  

I doubt I will pick all four of these up, but it'l be a tough call to choose which ones make the cut!  Essie Button recently did an amazing post where she swatched all the Tarte blushes she had, and all of these shades are there if you wanted to investigate the shades for yourself!

Will you be picking up anything Tarte from QVC?  What's on your Tarte Wishlist?

Making A Change: Growing To Love The Gym

I'm back with a third update on my 'I'm going to be healthy' journey.  It's not a particularly inspirational one mind, as I am still over the weight I was when I started!  When I started way back in December, I weighed twelve stone.  Despite joining the gym before Christmas to limit the damage, I still ended up gaining five pounds which I was not exactly surprised over, but disappointed none the less.  To make things worse, I then had a week off work, and all efforts turned into a total binge week and I think at the end of the week I managed to weigh a pretty tidy twelve stone ten!

Since then, I have now lost six pounds and am now on the balance of weighing twelve stone four or five so I'm still classed as overweight.  I am currently aiming to go to the gym five times a week, and no less than four.  I am finally in the routine of going to the gym now, and it doesn't feel like such a chore anymore and is just part of my routine.  Liam always says to me that if you do something regularly ten times, you'll learn to love it and whilst I don't want to admit it, I think he might be right!

Recently, I've been finding it so hard to stay motivated to do anything.  I've been going to the gym, training hard, and eating averagely well but things aren't happening as quick as I would like.  How silly does that sound...I know that weight loss doesn't happen overnight, or even over the two weeks where I have been really expecting it.  I just thought I would have seen more changes having gone from doing no exercise, to exercising regularly.

Physical Living 

If you hate the gym as much as I do, I really recommend doing group exercise instead of roaming around the gym deciding what machine to go on next.  It's so much more interesting and, dare I say it, fun working out as part of a group.  My absolute favourites are the Body Combat and Fight FX classes, which involve punching and kicking routines with some pad and mitt work in!  I also take part in HIIT, VIPR, Kettlebell, Body Pump and Yoga classes every week Monday to Friday.  Everyone works together, and the class leaders are really motivational and enthusiastic about what they do, it's hard to not get into what you're doing.

I go to the gym alone every single time and it can be dauting stepping foot into a studio where everyone has come with their friend, especially when you have to do some group work - there has been more than one occasion where I've had to work with the class leader, but I always get the best workouts being paired up in that way!

Putting in all this effort and not losing any weight is definitely saddening.  But I have made a lifestyle change; as long as it comes off eventually, I don't care how long it takes.  Muscle also weighs more than fat does, so even though I have maintained my weight, I have in fact lost inches off my body.  A loss is a loss - don't get disappointed by the scales; keep track of your physical measurements!  Find something to work towards; my Dad is getting married in April, and I am planning a holiday for July so this will also help to keep me motivated!

What are your tips for staying motivated at the gym?  Do you prefer gym or home workouts?

La-Roche Posay Effaclar Duo+

La-Roche Posay Effaclar Duo has always been a product that I've wanted to try, but for some reason or another, never actually got round to buying myself one.  In fact, I sat and watched in jealousy as my boyfriend got his mitts on a tube and occasionally pinched some of his when I went over.  When I was offered the chance to try the new and improved La-Roche Posay Effaclar Duo+*, I obviously jumped at the chance.

Effaclar Duo+ is said to help with acne and blemishes, oily skin and clogged pores as well as correcting and preventing red and dark marks caused my damage to the skin.  Some big claims for such a little tube of product, and a tube of product that is just ideal for my skin concerns.  I am regularly battling break outs, left with red marks because I'm a self confessed picker and across my nose and cheeks I have particularly bad blocked pores and as well as all that, my skin is so oily by the afternoon you could heat my face and fry an egg on it.  Okay, so I might have been a little dramatic with the how oily my skin is, but it's not fun fighting the shine.

I've used this product for around a month now, and I've been really impressed!  My skin really does feel clearer and I've had far fewer break outs than I did prior to use - if I did have any blemishes, they were literally tiny and barely worth anything.  As well as the reduced number and size, they didn't linger for long at all and I feel like my skin is looking pretty damn good on my face at the moment!

As we all know, I get acne and blemishes on my body as well as my face.  In fact, my body is worse than my face.  I used the Effaclar Duo on my chest when needed, and it really helped to reduce the appearance of any spots and blemishes.  It also dramatically reduced the pigmentation left behind from older spots, which I was really pleased with because it's quite embarrassing and saddens me that such a feminine area is ruined by spots and scarring.

From what I tried of the original Effaclar Duo, I think that Duo+ is a little thicker in consistency and feels like a serum on the skin.  It glides on and is absorbed really quickly.  It can be used alone, or alongside your daily moisturiser.  Alone, it makes an amazing base for foundation and acts as an amazing primer for a flawless finish.  I did still get oily throughout the day, but I don't think it was half as bad as what it was before I started using the Effaclar Duo+.  It also has a gorgeous rosey scent that disappears quite quickly, which I'm a little sad about because I really love it!

I've loved using this product, and I'll definitely continue to buy it.  As with everything that helps with acne and scarring, I'd love to have a body product that can help me with my back problems.  I could one hundred percent use this on my back, but because it's a large area and a small tube, I'd be stocking up probably weekly!  Escentual have an offer on all this month across their French Pharmacy which means there's an amazing third off La-Roche Posay.  Effaclar Duo+ costs you just £10.33 instead of the usual £15.50, and I promise you that if you suffer with your skin, this is one hundred percent worth it even without the discount!

Have you tried any of the Effaclar Duo range?  Will you be picking this up?

*Effaclar Duo+ was sent to me for review.

Spring Skin Wishlist with Nuxe

Spring is well and truly on its way!  I can now make it all the way home after work without the need for using the headlights on my car - how sad is that...measuring the seasons on my car lights...get a life, Carly!  Anyway, Nuxe are currently holding a competition to create a wishlist of Nuxe products that will get you ready for Spring!  After lots of thought, here are the products I've chosen to drag myself out of the Winter blues, and get some Spring in my step!

The Nuxellence Jeunesse is first up on my wishlist.  We all make the standard beauty switches, and swap our plum lipsticks for bright corals and pinks, but the first step I think we all need to take is in our skincare.  I find the dark and cold nights really take their toll on my skin, so come Spring, my skin needs a good nudge to wake up a bit.  The Nuxellence Jeunesse is said to be rejuvinating and revitalising, promoting a good glow on the skin.  Without being too technical, this cream repairs mitochondrial DNA which helps to reveal the skins natural youthfulness and radiance.

I have continued the radiance boosting products in my cleanser, and have chosen the Nuxe Gentle Exfoliating Gel with Rose Petals.  First off, the fact that this is a gel exfoliator is already grabbing my attention.  I love gel cleansers in the warmer months, because they're so cooling and refreshing.  Combining this with a growing favourite scent, rose, this cleanser is just calling my name.  Spring skin will be revealed quickly, and will be maintained through use as this is an exfoliator that is gentle enough to be used frequently.

Probably my most lusted after product on this wishlist is the Huile Prodigieuse OR, which is a multi use dry oil.  It can be used on the face, the body or your hair, and I absolutely love the look of this.  I think it will be perfect for adding a three dimensional shine to hair, a hint of colour and sheen to bare Spring legs and would be gorgeous as a golden highlight on the top of cheek bones!  Combine this with a tan...woah, well we had better calm down before we get all Goddess-y.

The NUXE BODY Body Contouring Oil for Infiltrated Cellulite is a bit of a funny product for me.  I've never been too sure on products claiming to get rid of cellulite, or firm up the skin as I think that they are all things that you have to work for by physically doing something to change your body.  Saying this, I have got into such a routine of going to the gym now that (dare I say it...) I think I'm actually enjoying going, and it's no longer a chore.  This is something I'd love to try to accompany my exercise regime, and work alongside my workouts to help get rid of cellulite so I feel a little more confident getting my body out over Spring and Summer!  Even if it doesn't work, I love the glowy sheen you get from an oil, so I'd be happy as long as my skin was nourished!

How gorgeous does the Poudre Éclat Prodigieux look?  This bronzing powder looks so perfect and matte, that I think it would be ideal to bring a natural warmth to the skin.  A natural warmth is perfect, because you can gradually introduce some colour to your skin.  I usually stick with my MAC MSF in Give Me Sun, but I'd love to have a matte alternative.

And finally, it wouldn't be a very good Nuxe wishlist if I didn't include the notorious Rêve de Miel in my wishlist.  This pretty much is a cult classic, and I'm dying to try this little pot of goodness.  My lips are still a little neglected from the colder weather, and from what I have read about this product, my lips will be prepped and ready to be paired with a bright slick of lipstick in no time!

So there we have it!  My, rather large, Nuxe wishlist!  Don't forget that this post is part of a competition, and you can all enter the #NUXEPamperHamper competition by following the instructions here!  Also, if you fancy trying any of these products yourself, Escentual currently have an amazing discount on French Pharmacy including Nuxe!

Have you tried any of the products on my wishlist?

Bioderma Sensibio H2O Solution Micellaire

The Bioderma H2O Solution Micellaire* is very much a cult classic.  Whilst not everybody may have tried it as it used to be quite difficult to get hold of, I could put my money on the fact that every beauty lover has heard of it.

We all should know by now that I am tight with my pennies, and Bioderma isn't the cheapest micellar water on the market right now.  A 250ml bottle would set you back £9.99 compared to say the £4.99 for 200ml the L'Oreal Skin Perfection 3 in 1 Micellar Solution.  But, and this is a big but, I honestly think you'd get more from a bottle of Bioderma than you would the L'Oreal.

Formula wise, the Bioderma feels so much lighter and does feel literally like water.  I didn't notice it at first, but the L'Oreal version almost feels thicker and slightly oilier than the Bioderma to the point that I feel like it almost leaves a film across my skin.  Not an uncomfortable "my skin feels disgusting" film, and as I said, I didn't notice it until I had the Bioderma to compare it to.  The Bioderma is so much more refreshing on the skin, and definitely effectively removes all traces of make up gently as well as leaving no trace of the solution itself behind.  There's no need to rinse Bioderma off, although I do tend to use it as a pre cleanse when removing my make up in the evening.  Bioderma does however recommend drying your skin after use with a clean towel, but I find that Bioderma air dries very quickly.

Onto the bottle.  Bioderma has your standard flip and click cap, but requires a little squeeze of the bottle for the product to come out.  You can really control how much product you get out, so that there is no wastage!  This particular bottle is lasting me forever, and I use it almost daily!  L'Oreals offering however has pretty much zero product control - it kind of just falls out of the bottle, and I find that my cotton pad is completely saturated with the solution so there is a lot of wastage, meaning that I have ploughed my way through bottles of this stuff.

Even though I find it hard to part with my money, I really think that I will be buying Bioderma from now on.  It's not that L'Oreal have a bad product, it's really effective and is a nice product to use, but it just doesn't cut it compared to Bioderma.  Bioderma lasts so much longer and you don't end up using as much on each use making it a bit of an investment purchase.

The Sensibio is for sensitive skin, as the name suggests, and I think that next time I will be looking into the Sebium version designed for oily skin.  You can find Bioderma on Escentual here!  Or if you want to try the L'Oreal version, it is available at most stores and supermarkets, but is currently in the Boots three for two offer here.  This post was supposed to be a sole review of Bioderma, but I thought a high street comparison would be much more effective at showing my point!  I hope you've enjoyed!

Have you tried Bioderma?  What do you think of the High Street alternatives?

*Bioderma H2O Solution Micellaire was sent to me as a PR sample.

Nail Art Tutorial: Gobstopper Nails

When I was having my super week off work, you might have spotted on my Instagram feed that I had dabbled in a little bit of nail art.  Now, I'm not an expert at all in the nail art department and have only just managed to get my nails to a nice enough length to have them painted full stop!  But I got quite a few likes and a lot of interest, so I thought I'd show you what I did and how I did it!

Now you could use this technique with any colours you fancied, but to make Gobstopper nails, I used Sally Hansen Lavender Cloud, Barry M Gelly in Guava, Barry M Nail Paint in Coral and Maxfactor Nailfinity in Disco Pink.

So, imagine you've done the hard bit.  Your nails are shaped and ready to go, your base coat is dry and you're ready to go with "doing" your nails.  I started with a white nail polish as my base shade.  I used my Sally Hansen Lavender Cloud, which is perfect for this nail art, as it's not a glaring bright white, it's a slight off white with the tiniest amount of lilac in!  Saying that though, a bright white would really help the next lot of shades pop.

Your white base doesn't have to be perfect, as it'll be covered with your gobstopper colours.  Don't worry if it's a little uneven in coverage, as chances are you won't be able to tell.  I only one coat of my white base, where as if I was wearing this shade on it's own, I would have probably done three.

When applying the colour streaks, it's essential to have your nail brush with practically no paint on at all.  You will be dry brushing the colour on to get the streaky, edgy effect.  You can wipe excess off on the rim of the bottle, and to be extra careful, you can wipe it off onto some paper.  It's important to wait until your base colour is dry too, or you'll drag the tacky paint with your dry brush.

When applying the colour, just apply it where ever you fancy (technical nail art right here!), but make sure you can still see your white base, and are leaving some room for your other colours.

Because it's dry brushed on, it shouldn't take long to dry at all.  And the next steps are just to do exactly the same with your other two shades!  You can see on the Guava shade that some extra colour ran down the brush and made it not so dry anymore, but it's not the end of the world and just adds to the effect!

When you're happy with your finish, you can leave it as it is or apply a glossy top coat for a high shine gobstopper!  If you try this, don't forget to tag me in your Instagram pictures (@ceejayell_) or tweet me them over at @ceejayell_!

What do you think of this look?  Is it something you'll be trying out?

Kéraskin Serum 4C Yeux

Way back before Christmas, you may remember me posting about some beauty bargains that I managed to bag myself on the Urban Retreat Christmas Quest.  The first one I blogged about was the Laura Mercier gift set which I loved, and the treat I am going to talk about today is the Kéraskin Serum 4C Yeux.

Kéraskin is a brand I had heard of as it is a branch of the Kérastase line, but never really bothered researching into or bothering to look at their products as they are just too far out of my price range.  This eye serum costs £65, which as you get 10mls of product, works out at £6.50 per ml...one milliliter for £6.50 is just insane.  Luckily for me, I managed to get this for just 2p.  Hurray for bargains!

The packaging is a long cylindrical tube which I thought was really nice, and the clear base with the orange is actually a pump.  This keeps the ingredients separated until your first use, after which it is all mixed together and you have three weeks to use it as it has live ingredients.

I was really surprised to see that there was such a short time that I had to use it for maximum effectiveness; if this became a staple in my skincare routine, this would cost me £65 every three weeks, which would work out at over £1100 a year on buying this serum.  If I was rich, this obviously wouldn't be a problem for me but this wasn't a product that I was at all impressed with.

The product itself was a milky orange colour, and was quite runny so I found it a little hard to control the amount of product that came out of the pump and keep to the recommended amount of product (two drops per eye contour).  Despite this, I really liked the consistency as it absorbed really quickly into the skin and felt really light and refreshing.  My skin felt smooth, nourished and moisturised, but no more so than my more standard eye creams.

I was really nervous about trying this in case I loved it and would be gutted that I couldn't buy anymore, but in all honesty I just didn't notice any difference to my eye area.  And for the price, I would definitely expect to notice some changes.  I think this must be a product for people who have really dark under eye circles, so that you really can see the difference, but I think mine must have just been normal as I didn't notice any lightening or brightening.  Especially not for £65.  I keep repeating the price, but I just can't get over it, sorry!

Even though it felt nice on application, I'm really disappointed that this didn't work out for me, as I really did have high hopes for some serious eye miracles, but then again, I probably wasn't the target market for this kind of product!

Would you try this eye cream?  What's your favourite eye cream?