Monthly Favourites: July 2014

1) Super Facialist by Una Brennan Tea Flower Deep Clean Pore Purifying Clay Mask

Wow, what a mouthful.... The interesting thing about this mask is that I didn't really get on with it at first. After using it for the first time I woke up the next morning with the biggest. spot. ever. The really painful kind that takes half a ton of concealer to make it look slightly less angry. I almost decided to pass up on the mask afterwards, but somehow I persevered and now I absolutely love it. I guess it's just kind of proof that it really does draw out impurities and now after using it regularly once a week it's keeping my skin clean, but still nicely moisturised. I don't want to be without it anymore!

2) Bourjois Cream Blush in 02 Healthy Glow

I already have this in another shade, but this one is a very welcome addition to my collection. It's a peachy apricot shade which might look a tad orange against my normally pale skin, but in the summer it just adds the most beautiful natural glow to tanned skin. The formula is absolutely amazing and blends out to look insanely natural and also lasts pretty much all day. All I need to do now is get my hands on the remaining two shades, as well as the two new cream bronzers!

3) The Body Shop Papaya Body Butter

There used to be a time where I wouldn't use any other lotion or butter on my body apart from various Body Shop variations. Then I got bored and it turns out I hadn't bought another one for years! What else can I say other than: It's good to have it back. I love the way the smooth, buttery texture allows it to just sink straight into my skin and leave it soft and hydrated. Not to mention the smell is amazing and lasts for ages as well. Maybe not so great if you don't want your lotions to clash with your perfume, but personally, I'm quite happy to smell of delicious papayas all day.

4) Rimmel Instant Tan BB Skin Perfector

Never in a million years did I think my favourites would ever feature a fake tan - it might be an odd thing to say as a beauty blogger, but I'm absolutely terrified of false tan! Then I got this in my Glamour Latest In Beauty box and thought that as it's a wash-off tan, I might as well give it a go. Turns out it's an absolute breeze to use, doesn't leave skin at all patchy and offers a very natural result that doesn't look orange at all. It's the perfect little pick me up on days where I want to wear skirts or shorts and my legs are just a bit too pasty. A great product for every tan-o-phobe like me out there.

Review: Sienna X Polishing Body Scrub

As someone who is still completely terrified by fake tan (I'd rather embrace my pasty white paleness), Sienna X is not a brand I had anything to do with so far. But from what I've gathered there seems to be one key ingredient in getting fake tan on evenly and that is thoroughly exfoliated skin. So, as a result, a fake tan brand should surely know a thing or two about a good scrub, right?

Something I always look for in a body scrub is fine granules and a dense texture, so that the scrub doesn't just slide straight off your skin and down your drain. Thankfully, this Polishing Body Scrub ticks both of those boxes. It has a texture similar to sand, but suspended in a thick, creamy base. The scent is light and refreshing thanks to the lemongrass and ginger, but once you've washed the scrub off, the scent no longer lingers on the skin.

As it's a scrub aimed at preparing skin for self tan, there is no oily residue, which I know some people hate anyway. I prefer my scrubs to be more on the oily side to leave my skin nicely moisturised, but even if you don't fake tan this is still a good one to use on warm days when you don't want to be covered in anything sticky when you step out of the shower.

Guest Post: How To Avoid Fake Tanning Disasters

Some of you may already know that I keep banging on and on about how ridiculously pale I am, making it difficult to find matching foundations and face products. While I do try to embrace my natural skin colour, sometimes I find myself lusting after a golden bronzed glow. There's no denying that tanned skin makes you look, well.. healthier and slimmer as an added bonus.
The problem? We all know how harmful sun rays can be, so I always make sure I cover myself in SPF. The only other option is fake tanning, but quite frankly, I am absolutely terrified of using fake tan. I've never done it before and the potential disasters, such as patchy, orange skin and messy bed sheets have always put me off.
This is where the lovely people over at Beau Bronz come in with a handy list of tips and hints how to avoid fake tanning mistakes - even if you're a complete newbie just like me. Please let me know if you've found this post helpful or if you've even got any more handy tricks you'd like to share!

How to Avoid Fake Tanning Disasters for Complete Newbies

If you’ve never experimented with fake tan before, the whole thing can seem a bit daunting. Sure, we all know the benefits – an all-over glow, an even complexion, and that beautiful sun kissed look – but the dreaded fake tan disasters can put you off even trying.

Here, we’ll take a look at some of the most common tanning disasters, and provide solutions for ensuring that you get to grips with the perfect application in no time at all!

Stained clothing and bedding

Fake tanning products can be intense when they transfer onto materials, and it can be tough to shift the stains. Before applying, make sure that you’ve got some old towels nearby, and never wear your best or light coloured clothing for at least a day.

In the event that you do stain your clothing or bed sheets, wash them straight away on a hot wash.

Streaks and blotches

Streaks and blotches can totally ruin your look, and we’ve all seen tanning disasters in this form. Thankfully, they’re really easy to avoid. By taking the time to exfoliate and moisturise before applying your product, you’ll have the perfect blank canvas for a smooth finish.

If you do find that you have streaks or blotches, use an exfoliator to minimise the problem.

Orange hands

So you’ve achieved your desired bronzed look, but there’s a problem – your palms are bright orange! This is a common complaint, but it’s so easy to prevent. As soon as you’ve applied your tanning product, wash your hands thoroughly, using a little exfoliator on the palms.

If you’ve accidently missed this part out of your tanning regime, you can rectify the problem by using some exfoliator on the necessary areas.

Quick fading

Once you’re bronzed and beautiful, you’ll want to keep your tan looking fresh for as long as you can. One way to do this is by picking a product that builds up over time, rather than something that’s intended for one-off usage.

To keep your skin looking at its best between applications, moisturise every day with your favourite body moisturiser.

By following these tips, you could find that fake tan becomes your new favourite go-to beauty product!

Have you used fake tan before? What tips would you share with other readers who want to give it a go for the first time?