Let's Talk: Toning Mists

If there is a product that doesn't get enough acknowledgement then it's toning mists. Sure a lot of people use them and you'll see people mention them in their YouTube videos or blog posts but sometimes these people are very far and few between. Which is why today I thought I'd talk you through the use of a toning mist/spritz and share a few of my favourites to give you an idea of what they can do for your skin.

Toning mists are similar to toners in that they refresh, tone and hydrate the skin, alleviating any irritation or tightness that cleansing causes. The only difference is that they come in mist/spray form and can also be used as a multi purpose product that can go over top of make up as refresher. There are different types of toning mist as there are toners but they all have the same common goal which is to prepare skin for the rest of your skincare routine.

Most commonly found ingredients in toning mists are Vitamin E, Rosewater/Rosehip and Hyaluronic Acid. These are used to soothe, refresh and hydrate the skin as well as aiding preparation for any serum or moisturiser you place over top. Most toning mists are a very fine spray that don't drench the skin but aren't that pathetic that it feels like it's not doing something. Others come in aerosol form but personally I find them a little less effective than a general mist formula. Quite a few brands have their own take on toning mists both high street and high end but there are some still quite prominent brands that haven't caught onto it yet and here are a few of my favourites.

Let's start with my favourite spritz which comes with a higher price tag but works wonders on the skin. Liz Earle's Instant Boost Skin Tonic Spritzer contains Aloe Vera, Calendula, Vitamin E and Shea Butter and works to soothe skin whilst toning and replacing any moisture that had been stripped from the skin when cleansing. It smells absolutely divine and works well to awaken and soothe skin at the same time. Perfect for layering under make up, it can also be used over top to help refresh skin without disrupting make up. It's slightly pricier at £15 a bottle but you do get a generous 200ml bottle that'll last for a good months.

Another higher end mist comes from Pixi. Their Vitamin Wake Up Mist contains fruit extracts that not only tones and refreshes skin but awakens skin and adds a radiance to it at the same time. It's not as fine a mist as the Liz Earle but doesn't leave skin feeling drenched or wet to the touch. It can be used under make up or over top. It comes in at £16 a bottle but you only receive 80ml of product which is my bug bear with this product. However the smaller sized bottle means it's easier to take on the go and easily fits into handbags.

A brilliant budget friendly mist is this one from Vitamin E. Packed full of Vitamin E as well as Aloe Vera, Horse Chestnut and a Multivitamin Complex including Vitamin A this is packed full of antioxidants that helps create a protective shield over skin from daily skin aggressors such as pollution and UV rays. And the best bit, it comes in at only £2.99 a bottle and it's a 150ml bottle that'll last a while and can be used under make up and over top.

Another brilliant budget spray is this one from Botanics. Containing Rosewater and not a lot else, this is brilliant at soothing skin and relieving any feeling of tightness that sleeping or cleansing can cause. It smells divine and really works at soothing the skin. If you have sensitive skin prone to redness then I'd highly recommend this spray. It helps diminish the appearance of redness and leaves skin feeling softer and smoother to the touch. It comes in at under a fiver a bottle and is quite a decent size bottle. I've been using this for a while now and haven't even reached halfway down.

A holy grail product of mine which is one of the best budget friendly facial mists out there, comes from B. Containing nothing more than Hyaluronic Acid, this sprays adds and retains moisture before slowly releasing it throughout the day when skin needs it most. It's lightweight in texture and distributes evenly across skin without leaving it feeling drenched or disrupting make up if applied over top. It comes in at £7.99 a bottle and isn't a overly large bottle but lasts longer than expected as you don't need a lot to get the full effect of this product.

And the final product recommendation I have doesn't come in your conventional mist formula. The La Roche Posay Thermal Spring Water comes in aerosol form and consist of nothing but water. It can be used in place of a toner but is mainly used to refresh and hydrate the skin, something that has come in handy now the weather's heating up here. It really cools the skin when applied which helps soothe skin and the micro droplets in it's formula work deeper into the skin and slowly work over time instead of a quick hit before leaving skin as it was before. And the best bit it's come in three different sizes which means you can carry it around whenever you need to as well as keeping one with your skincare at home.

Now no matter whether you choose a mist or aerosol formula, toning mists take out the need for a liquid toner and save time during your skincare routine. You don't have to spend the earth to find a decent toning mist on the market but if you do like to spend that bit more then there are plenty of higher end versions that work wonders on the skin. If you feel your skincare routine is missing something I highly recommend you have a look around at the toning mists, you might just find what you're looking for.

August Favourites

To August has been a long month is an understatement. Usually months fly by for me but this last month has taken ages to come to an end. But I'm glad it has as that means September and Autumn are just around the corner. Can you tell I'm excited for the colder months.

First up this month is a product I never thought I'd be putting in a favourites post, Benefit's Porefessional was a product that did not agree with me when I first tried it. It made my make up ball up and come away from my face which was just unattractive. However I pulled this out at the beginning of the month when we were having a hot spell and fell in love. I don't know if my skin has changed and that's why it works better this time round or not. I can say though that this helps prolong my make, creates a smoother base to apply my foundation and minimises the appearance of my pores. It is one of the pricier make up items in my bag but it's well worth the price tag. I've honestly needed this everyday to keep my make up in place thanks to what Britain is calling Summer this year. Roll on the cold weather.

I don't normally talk about vitamins or supplements on here as I literally just take what my mum says will be good for me. But this month I've been taking Vitamin E tablets and the differences I've seen is outstanding. My nails are where I've seen the big difference. They used to flake when they got to a certain length and wearing nail polish was a disaster but ever since I've been taking these my nails have looked healthier, felt stronger and haven't broken or chipped when they've reached a certain length. Painting my nails is a dream now and I don't have to worry so much about them chipping after the first day. If you've got problem nails then I'd recommend taking Vitamin E tablets if you can, there will definitely be a difference.

A skincare favourite of mine this month is the Garnier Moisture Bomb Tissue Mask. Now before this I've never really gotten on with sheet masks. They never really fit my face, the pre cut holes would either be too high or too low and I'd end up getting serum in my eyes or mouth. Not with this mask though. It fits perfectly to my face and I don't end up with stinging eyes or weird tastes in my mouth. It sticks well to the skin and it's Hyaluronic Acid and Pomegranate Extract formula works well to hydrate and soothe my skin. Afterwards my skin feels plumper, hydrated and softer to the touch. A full review of this will be coming your way very soon.

First off please excuse the state of this brush. I forgot to clean it before taking pictures. This is one of the Primark Pro Oval Brushes. It's essentially a ridiculously inexpensive dupe for the Artis Oval Brushes. And if you're looking for a flawless yet still high coverage finish then this brush is definitely for you. Whilst it does soak up product it also spreads your chosen base product evenly across the skin creating a flawless finish without it looking overdone. I like using this with lighter finish foundations as it gives it the look of a higher coverage foundation without being cakey or blocking pores. And at £4 who was I to turn down this brush. A full review of their whole range will be appearing soon so keep your eyes peeled.

And for the final favourite of the month, I'm looking ahead to when it gets colder and lip colours like this are everywhere. This Gosh Matte Lipstick looks like it's straight out of Autumn and I've been loving wearing at every chance I get. This is the shade Cranberry which looks like a deep red shade in the bullet but has some purple undertones on the lips. I love this lipstick not only for the colour but for the finish. It's matte and stays in place all day but it's not ridiculously drying and the creamy formula makes reapplication a dream. I have more of these shades and with September just around the corner you'll be seeing more of these on the blog.

So that's it for my August Favourites. What have been your favourites this month? And are you as excited for Autumn as I am? Let me know in the comments.

Product Empties #4

Every now and again I find myself with a pile of empty products that if I don't put into a post will sit there forever and be forgotten. So before that happens I thought I'd put together post and show you what I've finished lately.

I'm going to start with a product that pretty much features in every product empties post I write. This is my Clean and Clear Deep Cleansing Lotion and I believe this is like the millionth (joking) bottle I've gone through. I use this every morning and some evening to cleanse my face off any dirt, grime or bacteria. It's quite a strong cleanser but is aimed specifically at sensitive skin so it's not going to affect your skin. It contains salicylic acid to help clear away and reduce any bacteria on your skin that could give you a blemish or two. I've been using this for nearly a decade now and I can't find anything else that works as well for my skin. Expect to see a bottle of this in my next empties post as well.

Whilst we're talking cleansers let's talk about my favourite and most used evening cleanser. This is Soap and Glory's Peaches and Clean Cleansing Milk. I've gone through quite a few bottles of this already and I only discovered last summer. It's the perfect gentle yet thorough cleanser to remove all traces of make up including eye make up or just to give skin a good cleanse. A bottle like this can last a while depending on how often I use this but if you do happen to go through it quickly then no worries as it's under a tenner a bottle. I've gotten a full review of this which you can find here.

Let's move onto my favourite face wash. This is the Olay Anti-Wrinkle Exfoliating Face Wash. This is a cream based face wash that contains tiny exfoliating beads that work to remove any dead skin and rejuvenate the skin. I really like how gentle this is on the skin and how soft my skin feels after every use. It doesn't irritate my sometimes sensitive skin and never leaves my skin looking red after I've used it. I don't see any anti wrinkle results from this but as an exfoliator this is better than a lot on the market.

An Olay Anti-Wrinkle product that does actually show anti ageing results is their Firm and Lift Eye Gel. This small pot lasted me month and the results only got better the more I used it. A cool clear gel, this helps reduce signs of puffiness, dark circles and any fine line or wrinkles that you may have. A little bit goes a long way and personally my eyes thanked me every time I used this. Pop a bit on in the morning at the end of you skincare routine and your eyes will look less puffy, more awake and the skin under your eyes will look smoother and line free. The only problem with this product is that it's a bit hard to find to repurchase but for me that's not a problem as I know it works.

Let's continue on the eye cream front. This I like to mix in with my Olay Eye Gel to brighten my under eye area and to help reduce the look of my dark circles. This is the Naturally Radiant Brightening Eye Cream. A small dot of this goes a long way and a tube of this could last a good three months at best. Containing Kiwi and Mulberry extracts this works to soothe the under eye and to blur the appearance of any dark circles you have. I like mixing this with other eye creams to get the best of both worlds but it works well on it's own as well. I've written a full review here if you want to find out more about it.

Another skincare product I've finished lately is this Vitamin E Refreshing Toning Mist. This is like my fourth bottle as I use it every day, two to three times a day. It's so refreshing and hydrating on the skin you can't help but spritz this every chance you get. Containing a mixture of skin loving ingredients this is perfect not only as a toner after you've cleansed but as a pick me up for those warm spring or summer days where you need to cool yourself down. A very fine mist, this won't drench your face and sinks into skin quickly and without disrupting any other products you have on your skin. A product I know I'm going to get a lot of use out in the summer.

Up next we have my Holy Grail night cream. This is the third pot of the Garnier Miracle Sleeping Cream and I can already tell you there will be a lot more of these featured in empties posts. I swear by this cream and have managed to get both my best friends and half my work colleagues addicted to this. A thick gel like cream, this is instantaneously soothing when you apply it to the skin and once it's sunk in all you have to do is sleep and let it do it's magic. When you wake up the next morning your skin will look refreshed, soothed and hydrated. It's like a good nights sleep in a pot. A full review can be found here but I'd recommend checking it out without even reading the review.

Moving onto the only two skincare products that I've finished lately are the Soap and Glory Sugar Crush Body Scrub and the Palmers' Cocoa Butter Body Scrub. I love using these two together as they not only create a divine smell but really give my body the exfoliation it needs. The Soap and Glory scrub is a jelly like scrub that smells like limes and is packed with micro beads of sugar and larger beads of scrub to really make sure skin is soft and smooth after every use. The Cocoa Butter scrub is more of a cream based scrub and hydrates the skin as you use it. The two together give a good deep exfoliation to skin without being too harsh or stripping. The smell as well is delicious and will fill your bathroom for hours even after you've finished your bath or shower.

And finally I have an empty shampoo to show you. I go through countless bottles of this as I have really long thick hair but I never think to save a bottle for these posts. This is the Garnier Ultimate Blends The Strength Restorer Shampoo. Containing Honey, Royal Jelly and Propolis this is aimed at fragile hair or hair prone to breakage. I don't have those problems with my hair but as I wear my hair up everyday I use this to help combat any damage that it causes. Ever since I've used this my hair has looked and felt stronger and less damaged. Also it smells divine and the scent lingers in the hair after you've washed it. I've got a full review of the shampoo and conditioner here if this sounds like a good shampoo for you.

So that's it for my product empties. What are you product empties? Are any of them the same as mine? Let me know in the comments.

Disappointing Products #2

 

Every now and again I try a product that just doesn't work for me or doesn't meet the claims it's advertised with. So today I'm sharing with you some of my latest disappointing products. And I know some of these products may work well for you or may be holy grail products to some but they just didn't work for me.

 Up first is one of the newer releases from Revlon. This is the Ultra HD Matte Lipcolor. It is essentially their version of a liquid lipstick. However it wasn't anywhere as good as a liquid lipstick. It's a very slippy feeling product that doesn't dry down on the lips and feels nothing like a matte lip product would. The colour is lovely and the applicator is a decent applicator but when a product says it's matte I expect a matte finish and that's what really made this a disappointing product to me. If you like more of a velvet finish then this is probably right up your street.

Next is another lip product that I was looking forward to trying and was sorely disappointed with. This is the Makeup Revolution Matte Lipstick in Propaganda. It is such a beautiful colour which was what drew me to it in the first place. When I swatched it on the back of my hand it was a really nice creamy colour which had a matte look even on the back of my hand. However when I went to put this on my lips I had to struggle to even get it transfer from the bullet onto my lips. I really had to drag this across my lips to get any colour pay off and when I managed that it was very light and streaky looking. Since then it's just been gathering dust in my lipstick drawer.

And the last make up product I have is the Loreal Infallible Fixing Mist. I was really excited when they first released this product as there weren't that many fixing mists on the high street. But when I first tried this I was really disappointed. This is a fixing spray that comes in two parts and if left standing for too long the two parts separate and one half settles at the bottom of the bottle. And then there's where your troubles start. If you don't shake this enough then you're going to end up with white dried dots on your face that makes it look like you have toothpaste everywhere. As for increasing the longevity of your make up, it doesn't do a very good job either. As far as I'm concerned it didn't help keep my make up in place for longer. If you're looking for a good budget option then I suggest that you try the Maybelline Superstay Setting Spray.

And now we're onto a make up sponge I was looking forward to trying but now regret buying. It's the Maybelline Dream Blender. It has some of the standard shape of a classic beauty blender but comes with a handle to aid use. The handle is useless and just makes the product cumbersome and the sponge itself is too hard to really work with any products. When I tried this for the first time I used it under my eyes to blend in my concealer and instead of giving it a flawless coverage it actually soaked up more product and didn't blend any of my concealer in. I was left with a distinct line where my concealer was. If you're going to buy a sponge go for the classic Beauty Blender or the Real Techniques Complexion Sponge.

Now we're moving onto skincare. This is the Vitamin E Leave On Moisture Mask. It's a pink jelly consistency mask that you put on the skin and leave to sink it to give an instant moisture boost. Yes it goes on nicely, sinks in nicely but unfortunately for me it broke me out in a rash after it's first use. It's a shame really as the vitamin e range usually works for me but this left my skin red, textured and gave me a few hard to clear spots. Essentially a good product but it just didn't work for me.

Next we have the Avene Eau Thermal Spring Water. This is a toning mist designed to tone and hydrate skin with every use. This is another product that just didn't agree with my skin. Instead of toning and hydrating my skin this actually dried it out and affected my complexion. Instead of looking glowy and awake my skin looked red and dull and my dark circles were prominent against my fair skin. It doesn't spray very well onto the skin either but I may have just had a dodgy bottle. If you're looking for a good toning mist then I'd suggest trying the Vitamin E Refreshing Toning Mist from Superdrug.

The last skincare product I have is the Garnier Moisture Bomb Night Cream. When they first released this I thought it would be a good overnight treatment for sometimes dry skin. Yeah, I was wrong. Instead of helping hydrate my skin it made my skin look oily even the morning after I used this. It's aimed at dry to dehydrated skin but I think that it's ingredients are a bit too strong for somebody with the occasional dry day. It you're not overly oily or have dehydrated skin then definitely give this a go but if your skin is no where near dry then stay well away from this. The Garnier Moisture Restore+ is probably a better product for you.

And the very last product in this post is the COLAB Extreme Volume Dry Shampoo in the Monaco scent. I absolutely love the sheer invisible version of these products and have gone through many bottles so I thought I'd give this one a go. Yeah, that was a mistake. As soon as I sprayed this into my hair, I knew I wasn't going to like it. As I rubbed it into my hair to give it that volume boost it turned sticky in my hair and didn't give any volume, in fact it just left my hair looking flatter than it already did. And for the whole day I could feel how hard and sticky this was in my hair. It made brushing it that night a very painful ordeal and I wouldn't recommend this to anyone. It's a shame as I'm such a fan of the other COLAB products.

So that's it for my disappointing products. What are your most disappointing products? Were any of them the same as mine? Let me know in the comments.

Product Empties #4

It's that time again. It's time to show you what products I've loved that much I've finished them. It's been a while since I've done an empties and I've managed to accumulate quite a few products.

 Clean and Clear Deep Cleansing Lotion
This is like the millionth bottle of this stuff. I have used it for years and gone through countless bottles. It's my everyday morning cleanse because it really helps wake me up and get rid of any grime or make up that's left on my face from the night before. It is designed for sensitive skin so if you're worried about it making you break out it won't. It contains Salicylic Acid which will help fight any blemishes or blemish creating bacteria on your skin. I'm already halfway through my next bottle and can see myself going through many more this year.

Carmex Classic Lip Balm 
I feel like I've achieved something in life with this empty. I've finally finished a lip balm. I never finish them as I always end up losing them or finding another one I want to try. However with this Carmex pot I've managed it. This lip balm didn't actually agree with me when I first started using it but gradually I got used to it and I wouldn't go for anything else. It's one of those tingly lip balms that actually feel like they're working when you put them on and I recommend it for anyone who likes wearing matte lips as much as I do.

Garnier Miracle Sleeping Cream
The next empty is my go to, ride or die night cream. The Garnier Sleeping Mask is a product that works whilst you sleep and gives you radiant refreshed skin with every use. This pot lasted for ages and I'm halfway through my second pot. It's very thick in texture and a little bit goes a long way. I won't go into too much detail as I have a review of it here.

Sanctuary Spa 5 Minute Thermal Detox Mask 
Another empty another ride or die product. This mask is the best I've ever tried and I always find myself going back to it after trying new products. A thick warming mask, this clings to the skin and brings any impurities out of the skin. Brilliant if you want to completely detox your skin and get rid of any blemishes you can feel coming on. It cools down slightly as you wear it but warms up again as you take it off. Best way to wear this is in the bath as the warmth from the bath will make pores open up and it will work better.

Simply Pure Hydrating Serum
This is the first tube of this I've gone through. And I can predict I'm going to go through a lot more in the future. This has overtaken my Clearly Youthful Night Serum in my routine as it leaves my skin feeling so refreshed and hydrated after a day of wearing make up. Containing ingredients such as Salicylic Acid and Allantonin, this serum is perfect for people with sensitive skin that want that burst of hydration. My only pet peeve is that you can't see through the packaging so you don't know when you're close to finishing it.

Maybelline Anti Age The Eraser Eye
It seems like forever but I've finally finished this concealer. It does take a while as you only need a little bit at a time. If you don't know what this concealer is, it has a rounded sponge applicator which means swiping this where you need it is easy. There are only two shades and depending on what time of the year it is, depends on how well this works on my skin. It does cover my dark circles though and doesn't move during the day. I've just opened a new one so it will be a while before you see this in an empties again.

Vitamin E Refreshing Toning Mist
When it comes to toning mists I've only ever used this one, until recently. And if I'm entirely honest I'll probably continue using this one. When it says refreshing, it really does mean refreshing. I like to spritz this on my face in the morning, evening and every once in a while when I'm not wearing make up. Instead of leaving skin feeling dry like a couple of others I've tried this actually leaves skin hydrated and prepped for the next steps in your skincare routine. A little bit goes a long way and this bottle can last a good two to three months even with continuous use.

Naturally Radiant Brightening Eye Cream 
I've had a long battle with my under eye bags until I found this cream. And now getting up every day I don't dread seeing what my under area looks like. I don't know what's in this but it works miracles I swear. I've been using this since October and the results haven't faltered once. Whilst you can still some of the bluey veins under my eyes there are very faint and easily covered up with concealer unlike beforehand when I had to use three different concealers to cover them up. I have a full review here if you're interested in this product.

Clearly Youthful Hydrating Day Serum
Another empties, another tub of my ride or die day serum. This serum never fails me when I apply and it helps my skin even when it's at it's worst. Containing a multitude of blemish fighting and anti ageing ingredients, this serum fights to keep skin clear whilst helping to keep it looking youthful. Out of the entire Clearly Youthful Range this is my favourite product as it actually shows results and doesn't let you down.

Garnier Ultimate Blends The Strength Restorer Conditioner
And for the final empty I present the only hair product of this post. This is my favourite conditioner as it helps remove any dryness from the ends of my hair. Plus it smells divine. If you haven't tried the Ultimate Blends Range then you should There are seven different sets of shampoo and conditioner which comes with each hair need. The Strength Restorer is a honey based product that helps fragile or damaged hair. As I wear my hair in a bun most day my ends get drier than the rest of my hair. So when I was my hair, I slather my ends in this and when it's washed out, my hair feels smooth, soft and no longer dry.

So that's it for my product empties. Have any of you tried any of these? What did you think? Let me know in the comments.

Updated Morning Skincare Routine

For a while now I've been playing around with my skincare routine and finally I've found a morning routine that suits my skin perfectly.

To cleanse my skin in the morning I use the Clean and Clear Deep Cleansing Lotion for Sensitive Skin. I've been using this for close to a decade and nothing else seems to cleanse my skin as well as this does. As you can see it's a bright blue liquid that doesn't transfer onto the skin and it clears away any grime that may have accumulated overnight. It is can be pretty strong but I like that as it gives me that bit of a wake me up.

Then I move onto to Toning. And for that I go with my Vitamin E Refreshing Toning Mist. I love this toning mist for adding some extra moisture to my skin straight after cleansing and as a quick pick me up. This one has barely any fragrance and doesn't leave skin feeling uber wet but you can go a bit over the top with it. However it's not a bad thing in my opinion as it is more beneficial for the skin.

Next up is serum and my go to holy grail serum is the Clearly Youthful Hydrating Day Serum. I've lost count of how many bottles of this I've gone through since I started using this last year. It gives skin a brilliant moisture boost and helps create a perfect base for make up. This can also be used in the evening and when I've run out of my evening serum I pop this under my night moisturiser. I've written a full review of this and the entire range here.

Then it's on to moisturiser and I have two that I rotate between depending on what I feel my skin needs. The first one is the Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser, I use this most days over the top of my serum and together they create a perfect base for make up. As you can probably tell I'm very big on making sure my skin is hydrated. This is very light and little bit goes a long way and my skin feels smooth, soft and hydrated for the whole day.

And on days when I'm not wearing make up or feel my skin needs that little something extra I go in with the Garnier Miracle Wake Up Cream. This is very cooling and awakening on the skin and leaves sin feeling soft whilst locking any moisture you've put in there already. I love slapping this on on a sunday after my face mask routine and it leaves my skin feeling so nice. I wrote a full review here if you want to know more about it.

Finally it's on to eye cream and I think I may have found my holy grail eye cream. The Naturally Radiant Brightening Eye Cream is a godsend to anyone who has to fight dark circles everyday. With a blurring effect to the under eye, this cream not only reduces the look of dark circles but moisturises and perks up the under eye area. I slather it all over my under eye area and my eye lids. I've written a full review of this over here.

And that's it. Once my skincare is done I go and brush my teeth and let it sink into my skin before applying my make up and getting on with the rest of my day.

What's your skincare routine? Do you have any products you can't live without? Let me know in the comments.