The Wonderful World of Witch Hazel

I discovered Witch Hazel about a year ago and it has magically transformed my skin in a way that I find hard to believe has not actually come from a witch. It is one of those fabulously multitasking products, like Vaseline, that has a myriad of uses yet does not break the bank. In fact I buy a 200ml bottle for just £2.50 from good old Wilko's.

The Witch Hazel Shrub

The Witch Hazel I use, which is £2.50 from Wilkinson's

But what is it? Well, it is derived from the bark and leaves of the north American Witch Hazel shrub, or 'Hamamelius virginiana'. North Americans have long recognised the healing and medicinal properties of Witch Hazel and it is through them that is has seeped onto our radar. Or if you are like me you can choose to believe that it is made in Hogwarts potion class and stolen by House Elf's and sold to muggles on the Black market to try and make up for their sub standard wage... but whatever.

I initially bought it for my skin but have since discovered a whole other range of uses it has, here they are:

Spot and Blemish control:

I use it between cleansing and moisturising morning and night as a toner and apply it straight from the bottle onto a cotton pad and then all over my face. I find that for me is drastically reduces redness and inflammation of any spots and it removes and impurities from your skin leaving it feeling noticeably soft after and preventing more spots. Lots of people claim that with daily use it can help improve even severe acne but not being a sufferer I can't vouch for that one but don't see why it wouldn't be worth a try.

Shrink Bags under the eyes:

I get very dark circles around my eyes, in fact come Monday they tend to look more like suitcases. I heard a while ago that hemorrhoid cream can take them away when applied to the area. I admit I was too much of a wimp to try that, however it turns out Witch Hazel is a key ingredient in any Haemorrhoid cream, so now I pop it on a cotton pad and dab under my eyes. Or leave on the cotton pad and rest it on my eyes while I wait for a face mask to dry. I can't say this gets rid of dark circles completely but it improves them significantly without a doubt. 

Healing Bruises:

I bruise incredibly easily and as a result of having a slightly mad horse and enjoying nights dancing my socks off at clubs or gigs, I can often look a bit like a battered banana. So I now apply Witch Hazel to any bruises I have morning and night and it helps speed up their healing time.

Treat and soothe sunburn:

Healing damaged skin is one of Witch Hazels top skills so applying it to sunburn will soothe the pain, prevent peeling and lessen healing time. Trust me on this one, it blows after sun out of the water.

Soothe Razor Burn

Apply before or after shaving legs (I would refrain from using it on your downstairs, I have never tried it but it's probably not a good idea gals) and it stops those itchy red bumps appearing, I find this effective but have never noticed a huge difference as I don't get shaving rash very bad usually but I have a friend who has always got it very badly and swears by Witch hazel.

There are lots and lots of other uses for Witch Hazel scattered all over the Internet but I only wanted to share with you the ones I have tried and tested and found effective. (that rhyme was unintentional).

As always comment to let me know what you think of my uses for it or if you have any other uses for it.

Thanks for reading, Emma xoxo 

my blog is a butterfly!

Hi, my new blog look is now up and running and I am over the moon about it! I hope you can all agree it has gone from caterpillar to butterfly, ok maybe I am being a little over dramatic but it does look and function better and I really do adore the design. For any other bloggers that may be reading this I went over to http://designerblogs.com/ and they well and truly hooked me up!

Let me know what you all think!

Emma xoxo

Please bear with me

Hi all!

I am aware my blog is a little bit of a shambles at the moment, links not taking you where you want to etc so it is undergoing a brand spanking new transformation, much like Renee Zellweger at THAT Elle party last year.

I picked the new look yesterday which I am very excited about and hope you all like it as much as I do! It should be up and running over the next few days.

Can't wait to hear what you all think!

Emma xoxo

MAC Studio finish SPF 35 concealer review

Hi all, I purchased the MAC Studio finish concealer about a month ago after a friend recommended it but warned it was very thick and a little cakey for everyday so I bought it with the intention of using it only for nights out etc yet I have actually ended up using it everyday since then. Here is my review of the product. I use the shade NC15 and brought it from the MAC website for £15.50, buy it here http://www.maccosmetics.co.uk/product/shaded/157/314/Products/Face/Concealer/Studio-Finish-SPF-35-Concealer/index.tmpl

MAC  description
A lightweight, creamy, discreetly opaque concealer. Provides a smooth, long-wearing invisible coverage for all skin blemishes. Water-resistant, fragrance-free and non-blemishgenic. This emollient-based, lightweight concealer is so concentrated that a tiny amount can provide opaque coverage of the skin's imperfections and discolourations. It effectively covers dark circles, blemishes, moles, tattoos and birthmarks. Enriched with antioxidants (derivatives of Vitamin A and Vitamin E), it also contains Silica to help adsorb the skin's oils. Concealer has an SPF of 35 and is available in a wide range of colours. It can be applied with a medium to firm fibre brush (try the 242 Brush), a latex sponge, or the fingertips.

Coverage:

This concealer really does provide the best coverage of any I have ever used, It covers up all my blemishes and under eye circles, occasionally I task it with covering a face scratch my kitten has given me and it manages that too. If redness is the main reason you are after a high coverage concealer I would recommend going for one of MAC's 'NW' shades, as the pinkish tones in NW (not warm) will help cover up any redness. If dark purplish bluey under eye circles are your issue like mine then the yellowy tones in the 'NC' shades will help with this.

When I use this concealer for everyday make up looks I use my finger to apply it as this warms the product up and makes it much easier to blend seamlessly into your face, it also gives a more natural finish.

For a night out I apply it with a stiffer concealer brush to ensure full coverage, yet it is slightly harder to blend this way, I just use the very end of a beauty blender sponge to blend the edges of the area I have covered into my face. 

Texture:

This concealer is very thick and can be tricky to apply, like I said before it does provide great coverage around my eyes but I always have to use very little concealer and set with powder as it can crease around the eye area. I have used a little too much some days and it can look very unnatural if not used sparingly around the eyes, which really isn't too much of a problem as you need so little product anyway. I really wouldn't recommend for anyone with dry skin as it does cling to any of those dry flaky patches.

Lasting Power:

MAC are not wrong when they describe this concealer as 'water resistant'; it really does last all day and can survive sweaty work outs or tearful Marley and Me movie nights. It is also pretty transfer resistant which is a rarity in thick, high coverage products.

Price:

I was a little put off at paying £15.50 for such a small concealer initially, but I do feel now that it is easily one of MAC's most reasonably priced products, considering how little product is required for the amount of coverage it provides. I have had mine for a month, used it every day and have still only made a little dip in the pot.

Drop me a comment or message me at sandersonemma@outlook,com if any of you have also used this concealer and let me know what you think

Thanks for reading, Emma xoxo

July 2015 Birchbox - First impressions

For those of you who don't know, Birchbox is a subscription service where for about £10 a month you receive a fab little bundle of five beauty and make up samples in the post which you can tailor to suit your needs better, for example mine usually arrive having more make up and beauty based items as opposed to haircare or skincare, but you usually get a little bit of everything. It also comes with a handy guide telling you all about each product you have received.

 Learn more here, www.birchbox.co.uk/about/how-it-works

My Birchbag

My Birchbox Booklet

This month for the first time ever Birchbox has replaced it's box format with a 'Birchbag', a splash proof clutch which is perfect for poolside essentials. It comes in four different colours all chosen by different beauty editors who took their inspiration for the clutches from their favourite holiday destinations. I got the Pink 'Ibiza' bag by Jess Diner of Birchbox UK and I must say I am pleasantly surprised by it, it seems very durable and is indeed 'splash proof' as it claims, it is also a great size.

The 'Ibiza' bag in pink

 Now onto the products I received, eek!

UNANI Aloe Vera Gel - £15

UNANI Aloe Vera Gel

 This product claims to 'calm and nourish to help skin recover' which is perfect for a skin that's spent a day in the sun, it also says that it can be used for burns blemishes, eczema and bites etc.
I am a great believer in an 'all rounder product' and have endless supplies in my house of things like witch hazel and sudocrem and never leave for a weekend away without them, so by the sounds of it this product has the potential to become a skincare staple.
I was impressed with how quickly the product absorbed into my skin and it is also surprisingly lightweight, not leaving a sticky residue like most lotions.
As this blog post is just for first impressions of the products I can't yet tell you whether this product has any long term effect on sore skin but as of right now I am impressed, I will keep you updated!

Soigne nail lacquer in Lavande - £11

Soigne Nail Lacquer in Lavande

Please forgive my short nails, i'm a biter!

This is a brand I have been eager to try for a while, Soigne is a cruelty free and vegan friendly brand, they also use non toxic formulas and up to 85% natural ingredients in their products.

The packaging is lovely, in my Birchbag it just came as it is photographed yet I know ordinarily each nail lacquer is packaged individually in a beautiful box.

The brush was wide which made for an easy application, after one coat I was a bit sceptical as it seemed almost watery and very thin yet after a second coat I was left with a full coverage glossy finish. My only reservation with this product is that it is a little pricey compared to high street brands, yet so many of the colours in their range are so beautiful I do think that I will purchase more shades.

POP Beauty eyeshadow trio in 'Peach Parfait' - £15.50

POP beauty eye shadow trio in 'peach parfait'

 I was slightly disappointed with this product. Firstly, the applicator is a bit useless, with brands like Benefit, Naked and Too Faced producing palettes with good quality brushes in, there is no reason that a palette of this price should be providing an applicator like this, good lord how are we supposed to blend with that ladies!

However that being said the colours are lovely and pigmented with a subtle sheen, they are also relatively easy to blend using a good brush, yet for me the darker two are less peachy and more bronze meaning that on my skin tone (pale) I could not use them as a trio as it looked too orangey.

It is a nice little trio yet I wouldn't purchase it, I have used better products which are very similar for half the price from the high street.

Benefit Dream Screen SPF 45 - £25

I am so concious of my skin in the sun and keep on top of lathering my body in sun cream in an effort to prevent myself looking like Madge from Benidorm in a few years, however I let my sun care standards slip when it comes to my face, I am aware of the importance of putting sun cream on my face I just HATE it. If you put it under make up your make up just slides off through out the day and putting it on top just ruins your make up. This is why I am super super thankful this product made it's way into my life, it is described by benefit is a 'silky matte sunscreen which is ultra lightweight and truly invisible on skin. It absorbs instantly to help prevent skin ageing by protecting against sun damage... and leaves skin feeling moisturised'. Sounds too good to be true right? WELL IT'S NOT!

I could not believe how fast this absorbed into my skin leaving my skin feeling soft and moistened not sticky like sunscreen usually does. I did doubt it's mattifying abilities however I applied my make up about 2 minutes after the Dream Screen and it had absolutely no affect on how my make up sat on my skin. It is quite a runny product and does seem oily initially however it is completely oil free. An absolute star of a product, only downside is the price. I have ordered the full sized bottle and will keep you informed on it's lasting abilities!

Bionike Cleansing Water - £12.20

 I had never heard of this product before today yet after a bit of research I found out that it is made by an Italian brand who pride themselves on providing affordable skincare which is effective yet they try and use the minimal amount of ingredients to get the job done. It also seems it is targeted at those with very sensitive skin.

This particular cleansing water claims to gently remove make up, cleanse skin and leave your face feeling super soft and smooth

The directions on how to use it are that you massage the product into your face and neck and then just wipe it away with a cotton pad. NO NEED FOR WATER?! I was very sceptical about it's effectiveness to remove all make up without water yet excited to try it as sometimes when travelling different tap water can irritate my face when washing it.

I had a full face of make up this morning  before I tried the product and it did take a while and a few very dirty cotton pads to completely remove it, if you wear heavy make up everyday I wouldn't recommend this product to take your make up off with as it would be a waste, yet for lighter everyday make up I would recommend it as it was very gentle on my sensitive skin and left it feeling soft and bare an not sore and sensitive like some harsher cleansers do.

Barely 'prep, blot and blend' sponge - £5.99

This product is very similar to a beauty blender yet is designed to apply moisturiser and primers and not foundation. Following the belief that perfecting the base of your make up is the main way to achieve a truly flawless look.

You use this product like you would a beauty blender, run under water then squeeze, this makes it inflate to a much larger size and does make it incredibly soft.

My favourite thing about this product is that it comes in a little reasonable pouch meaning you can keep it in a make up bag without worrying you will pull it out all grubby.

It was very easy to use and did apply my primer evenly however I am not sure it is 100% necessary, it was a cool little freebie yet I do believe fingers to just as good of a job at applying primer.

That's all for my Birchbag this month and I must say I am overall very impressed, Benefit's Dream Screen is without a doubt my star pick and the POP beauty trio the product I would be least likely to buy. If any of you are unsure about whether to subscribe to Birchbox I really do recommend it.

Thank you for reading

Emma

xoxo

Ps, if anyone else has received this months Birchbox please let me know in the comments and let me know what you guys thought about it.

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How to clean make up brushes on a budget

Washing our make up brushes is one of those terribly boring tasks that we must do to avoid spreading bacteria all over our faces. ewww. I have friends who don't wash their brushes for months at a time, and although I am far from a clean freak, that is one thing that seriously grosses me out! For those of you who skip rinsing your brushes on a regular bases here is a little debrief on why it is so important, every time we spread product onto our faces with a brush, dead skin and the bacteria along with it gets stuck in the bristles of our brushes and festers over time, the more you do this without washing your brushes the layers of dirt and grime are then spread back onto your face and it can easily cause break outs. I do have spot prone skin so for me to keep a clear complexion washing my brushes regularly is essential. 

here are some of my dirty brushes before a good scrub

You can buy professional brush cleaning solutions (Mac and Sephora both do good ones), I have tried these in the past but I find Shampoo does just as good of a job and is much cheaper. I keep a bottle of Aussie shampoo to wash mine in, yet any gentle shampoo does the job. I've also find Asda's baby shampoo is really great for it too.

1. Dampen your brush with some lukewarm water first

2. Squirt a little bit of shampoo onto the end of the brush and then gently rub it  into the centre of all the bristles, adding a little bit more water if necessary to give it a bit more of a lather

3. Squeeze out the excess product from the bristles, rinse your brush under the tab and voila! watch all of the shampoo and foundation disappear down the plug hole (you might need to repeat steps 2 and 3 if you have left your brushes for a little too long)

4. Then after you have admired your wonderfully clean new brushes you can lay them out to dry, make sure you lay them down flat over a towel and don't pop them back upright until they are completely dry to avoid the water getting down into the very base of the bristles as over time this can loosen the glue holding them all in.

and afterwards, lovely and clean!

Denser brushes like this powder brush and foundation brush usually take a bit more of of a deep cleanse!

Interestingly my more affordable brushes like real techniques are usually a lot easier to clean,  my mac brushes (such as this sparkly blusher brush) cling onto the product a little more.

Thank you for reading, and happy brush scrubbing!

Emma xxx