Sudocrem Skincare Cream

In my Best Beauty Products for Blemishes blog post, I mentioned how much I loved using Sudocrem Antiseptic Healing Cream as fast-acting, over night spot treatment. With its healing abilities it’s no wonder celebrities likes Cheryl Cole and Mollie King have become such huge fans.

However, the reason I am writing this post is to share with you an alternative to the nappy rash cream – Sudocrem Skincare Cream. Although it contains the same ingredients as the antiseptic cream, they come in very different proportions allowing it to become more versatile, gentle and soothing for skin. Plus it comes in a super handy tube too.

 

See, how cute is this little guy?

This 30g tube is perfect size for carrying in your handbag or makeup case and even more perfect for travelling, so you can ensure you always have Sudocrem readily available for whenever a breakout might appear. Sudocrem Skincare Cream is available from most pharmacies and major retailers nationwide £2.11/30g.

*PR sample

The Mascara Monologues: Maybelline Big Eyes Mascara

So, February’s Glossybox arrived and out jumped this beaut – Maybelline’s Big Eyes Mascara. A mascara that comes with two brushes in one – one for your upper lashes and another for lower lashes.

Upper lash wand 

Lower lash wand

 

Back when I was working as a beauty writer I remember Clinique launching their lower lash mascara and although it wasn’t a massive hit, I remember thinking what a brilliant idea. It seems a shame that this one followed in its footsteps.

Maybelline mascara’s are usually pretty good, most of which live up to their claims, so it seems such a shame that this one left me slightly disappointed. Claiming to push up upper lashes for a wide, volumised effect and magnify lower lashes, I was so gutted that I found it really hard to work with. Don’t get me wrong, the upper lash wand is great but what it really lacks power in, is the amount of product it uses. It barely applies any and three coats later, I was just about fine. The biggest downfall was the lower lash wand. I struggled to apply product to the lashes because it felt like it was just gliding over them rather than actually applying. The ability for it to have a lasting effect is also its downfall. By the end of the day, I might as well of not been wearing any. A shame when I had super high hopes.

Don’t get me wrong, despite my review I will not give up on Maybelline mascara. Other versions have been fantastic – in fact Maybelline Great Lash Mascara was my go-to mascara for years. Needless to say you can buy Maybelline Big Eyes Mascara from most drug stores £8.99/9ml.

Have you tried Maybelline Big Eyes Mascara? How did you find it? Can you recommend any others that are similar?

My February favourites

First of all before I start, I want to apologise for how late this blog post is. I was in Barcelona last weekend and I was supposed to get it posted before then but time got the better of me. So albeit a bit late, here’s a quick round-up of the products that I’ve loved using this month…

Katy Perry Killer Queen
I’ve really been into ‘celebrity scents’. I find them quite gimmicky and a little bit naff at times. However, this one smells surprisingly good.

If you haven’t yet had a whiff of Killer Queen here’s the professional’s description:

'A charming playful yet lethally gorgeous floriental fragrance, opens with tempting dark berries and lush plum that blend into an opulent floral heart. The softness and grace of the heart is highlighted by the Royal Red Velvet flower that leads into an intoxicating background of precious woods and sensual musk.'

Sounds pretty scrumptious, and it is! The bottle is quite cute and quirky too and looks slightly different to your average perfume bottle. Katy Perry Killer Queen is available from most perfume and drug stores at a range of prices.

Super Facialist by Una Brenann Vitamin C+ Brighten Skin Renew Cleansing Oil
This product was previously mentioned in my recent blog post The Best Beauty Products for Blemishes (you can read it here) where I raved about how fantastic it is at giving skin a thoroughly deep cleanse. The super light oil feels greasy on contact but as soon as it’s washed away with warm water, it leaves skin feeling super soft and refreshed with not an ounce of oil left on your face.

I’ve been using this product a lot lately and that’s because it’s great at removing eye make-up – oil based cleansers can work wonders on stubborn mascara. So, before removing the oil from my face, I very gently rub my eyelashes between my fingers to remove any excess. My eyes still require cotton wool and eye make-up remover but it means that any stubborn lumps are already loosened.

Super Facialist by Una Brenann Vitamin C+ Brighten Skin Renew Cleansing Oil is available from Boots £10.99/200ml.

Vaseline Healthy Hands and Stronger Nails Hand Cream
Last but not least is this really simple product from Vaseline that I recently started to use more recently while at work.

Office air-conditioning can play havoc on skin and for me in particular, my hands really suffer, so this one is great for making sure they stay soft and healthy.

I’ve always been a bit selective when it comes to hand creams because I can’t stand the greasy feel some of them can leave. Vaseline is great for creating a non-greasy cream that’s incredibly soothing and nourishing. I’m not sure how well it lives up to the claim that it can strengthen nails by up to 50%, but maybe I’m not using it often enough.

I apply Vaseline Healthy Hands and Stronger Nails Hand Cream twice a day to ensure my hands don’t dry and crack. Available from Boots £3.27/75ml.

The best beauty products for blemishes

Blemishes and breakouts aren’t just for teenage skin; in fact it’s quite common for you to still get them in your 20s, 30s and even your 40s.

Those blasted spots can appear out of nowhere, in fact if you’re like me they tend to pop up just before a planned event. Birthday’s, weddings, you name it; I’m guaranteed to be accompanied by a little friend.

Stress and changes in our hormones are two of the most common attributes, but there are other lifestyle factors that could be the cause too. A bad diet and even a bad environment are just two of many. But what products help control these wicked things? Here’s my pick of the best…

Origins Out of Trouble 10 Minute Mask
(Firstly, I apologise for no image. My brain clearly wasn't engaging that day! However...) When I’m having a bad time with my skin I always rely on this fantastic product from Origins. The Out of Trouble 10 Minute Mask is applied to damp skin, left for 10 minutes to set and then washed off with warm water, leaving super fresh, clean skin. The great thing about this product is it really gives your skin a fresh feeling.

The price is a little more expensive compared to a high street brand, but 100ml goes a long way. I bought mine just before summer and I’m still not even half way through yet. I would certainly recommend this product to anyone who suffers from the occasional break out – it works wonders for me! Available from Origins £22/100ml.

La Roche-Posay Efaclar A.I. Targeted Breakout Corrector
I recently purchased this product after coming out in some serious breakouts on my chin and forehead. After browsing many blogs I came across The Black Pearl written by Sandra. In this particular post (I’ve included a link, because it’s a very good read) Sandra mentioned this product and how fantastic it was at as a quick fix. So I went out and bought it.

After spending 10 minutes trying to figure out how to get the product out of the tube (turns out I’d unscrewed the nozzle by mistake!) I applied the cream sparingly and within a couple of days, my blemishes had almost disappeared. New blemishes were cut short of their developing time too, which I was more than impressed with.

This blemish cream by La Roche-Posay is a brilliant quick fix product. The tube is quite small but considering how little of the product you use, it has potential to last a heck of a long time. I would most definitely recommend this product to anyone who suffers from the odd breakout. Available from Boots £7.12/15ml.

Sudocrem Antiseptic Healing Cream
This age-old product has been used by millions of mums for years and although it was originally designed for infants, it has developed itself into the perfect spot fighting product. The reason for this? It contains a cocktail of ingredients that protect the skin and promote skin healing - perfect for nappy rash and nasty blemishes!

With a mix of Benzyl Alcohol, a local anaesthetic to help ease the pain and irritation, Zinc Oxide to contract and dry out the skin helping the pores close and Benzyl Benzoate and Benzyl Cinnamate - an ancient antiseptic agent that helps with the healing process of spots, there's no surprise it works wonders for blemished skin.

When I have a particularly nasty under-the-skin spot, I apply Sudocrem to it overnight. Usually by morning it's mostly toned down but slightly visible. But be careful, Sudocrem isn't for everyone. Some people find that it brings them out in more spots, so only make sure you apply to the blemished area with clean hands. Available from Boots £2.59/125g.

Super Facialist by Una Brenann Vitamin C+ Brighten Skin Renew Cleansing Oil
Sometimes breakouts happen because skin isn't cleansed properly and I'm 100% guilty of this. Cleansing oils can do great things for skin and this one in particular is perfect for reviving skin. Infused with Vitamin C and nourishing olive, grapeseed and rosehip oil to remove daily impurities, once in contact with water it dissolves into a light milky texture which cleanses skin right down to the core.

When my skin is feeling particularly grubby I love to use this product as a real pick-me-up, particularly at the end of a long working day. The Super Facialist by Una Brenann Vitamin C Brighten Skin Renew Cleansing Oil is available from www.superfacialist.co.uk £10.99/200ml.

Simple Kind to Skin Soothing Facial Toner
In order to stop more spots from developing, I like to use a toner after removing my make-up, once in the morning and again in the evening. This Soothing Facial Toner by Simple is great for sensitive skin and contains lots of goodness to protect your skin.What I also love about this product is that it helps remove dirt and grime that your make-up remover might have missed and it's super refreshing in the morning too. Simple Kind to Skin Soothing Facial Toner is available from Boots £2.99/200ml.

What products do you recommend for blemishes? I would love to hear your suggestions.

The Mascara Monologues: Benefit They're Real Mascara

The hype for this product a couple of months ago was incredible. Not only did I see it advertised everywhere, but every beauty blogger in the blogosphere was reviewing it. But now it’s my turn.

I was bought this product for Christmas, as a gift from my sister after she’d discovered it a month earlier. I've always loved Benefit products - the sleek and quirky designs, they're exciting and look great. But as much as it pains me to say, I was a little bit disappointed by this mascara.

Ill start with a positive and trust me, there are plenty! Regular readers of Jade's beauty blog will know how much I appreciate a plastic mascara wand. What makes this one slightly different from the rest is that it combines two wands in one - a standard brush with a slightly rounder end to curl and separate the lashes. Despite Benefit claiming that the wand curls and separates, for me it did the opposite. I found the product slightly too clumpy and not near as 'natural' as other, cheaper mascaras that I have used. But maybe this is down to how heavy the finished product is causing it to clump rather than separate.

Aside from the wand, I was really impressed with the staying power of there product. In fact, it's better than any other mascara I've used before. Benefit claim that the mascara won't smudge or dry out and they are 100% spot on. Despite this, removing the mascara takes some welly! No matter how often I wash and wipe my eyelashes, it takes a good couple of goes before it's gone. 

For me, Benefit's They're Real Mascara was a little bit hit and miss. If the product didn't clump as much then I would definitely re-purchase over and over again. Yet because of this, I'm not sure I could justify the price tag for a product I wouldn't be overly happy with. I'm not saying I wouldn't ever use it again, but it certainly wouldn't be my go-to mascara. 

Benefit They're Real Mascara is available for £19.50/8.5g from www.benefitcosmetics.co.uk.

My January favourites

Back before I lost my blogging mojo I would give a round-up of my favourite beauty products that I'd been using that month. I’m not quite sure why I stopped, but I’ve decided to give it a whirl again. So here’s a quick recap of the products I’ve loved throughout January.

 

 

Soap & Glory Clean on Me Bath & Shower Gel
I received this gigantic product for Christmas as part of a gorgeous gift set from my best friend and I've not stopped using it since. I shower everyday and I'm not even a quarter way through yet - it really is huge!

 

Every beauty junkie knows that Soap & Glory products smell delicious and this product follows the same suit. It's floral, pink and girly, what more could a girl want? You can read my full review here.

 

Benefit Erase Paste
This miniature product was a sneaky treat for myself from Feel Unique a couple of months ago and it is ever so slowly replacing my trusty L'Oreal Touché Magique Concealer - my go-to concealer that I never thought I'd change.

It has taken me a little while to get used to the consistency of the concealer, as I have always been more comfortable using a lighter, creamier product. But after seeing how fantastic the coverage was, it has soon transformed itself into a real staple in my daily make-up routine. Not only does the Erase Paste completely cover blemishes and pesky fine lines I've recently discovered (!) but it has real staying power too. Usually a product as thick as this runs away from my face, but so far it has passed the test with flying colours. Now the real test will be in the summer!

Toni & Guy Hair Meets Wardrobe Shine Gloss Serum
Hair products have featured quite heavily on my blog recently and maybe it’s because of the weather. The damp, wet weather wreaks havoc on my hair causing a sleek and straightened look to turn into a frizzy mess within a matter of minutes. That was until I discovered this beauty in my Glossybox a couple of months ago.

 

I've always assumed serum was to be used as a way of protecting hair before styling, but this super lightweight formula controls frizz, smoothing flyaways and giving the illusion of a sleeker look that even Jen Aniston would be envious of.

The Shine Gloss Serum by Toni & Guy has soon turned into one of my daily essentials and a recommend must have purchase for the damper, winter months.

Barry M Matte Nail Polish
After seeing one of my closet friends post a picture of her matte black nails on Instagram, I can pretty much say I fell in love. I love how chic a good black nail polish looks and for me matte trumps gloss any day. The staying power of Barry M polishes can be a bit hit and miss but after 3 days there's not a chip in sight and that's without a top coat!

What have been your favourite products you've used during January? Can you recommend any? I'd love to see your links below.

TIGI The S Factor "Serious" Conditioner

Now, I'm going to admit. This product was an 'accidental' purchase last time I was at the hairdressers. I say accidental because I wasn't fully aware I'd committed to buying it until it was in the bag and I was paying £20 extra. Needless to say, I'm quite glad I was a sucker that day because it has been my hair saviour since having the ends of my hair highlighted.

I first heard about the S Factor from Zoella's YouTube video where she mentioned how utterly amazing this product smelt and that girl wasn't wrong! For those of you who haven't tried this range, it smells incredible - sweet and delicious - in fact, I've been known to be caught sniffing my hair throughout the day because it smells so god damn good! But apart from the smell, the Serious Conditioner is a really good intensive hair treatment. Only to be used once a week, this super hydrating hair treatment is definitely worth a purchase. 

What makes it different from other hair remedies is one ingredient - sunflower oil. Oils have become more and more common in hair products over the years. From Argan oil to coconut oil and now sunflower oil, it turns out natural oils are the perfect ingredient for leaving hair in tip top condition. But the Serious Conditioner takes hydration to the next level. The sunflower seed oil provides intense moisture while the Hydrolyzed Silk is said to minimise the appearance of split ends. The best thing about the TIGI Serious Conditioner is how super soft hair feels after using it in fact I'm considering purchasing the shampoo and conditioner to complete the range. 

You can purchase the TIGI S Factor Serious Conditioner from feelunique for £15.75/150ml.

The original Naked

The Urban Decay Naked palettes have yet again been the talk of the beauty blogging town over the last couple of months and the reason for this, the arrival of the third in the series, Naked 3. 

So rather than jumping on the Naked 3 bandwagon, I opted for the original Naked - a gorgeous eyeshadow palette filled with 12 bronze-hue neutrals in an array of textures from full on shimmer to a subtle matte. 

I must admit, this palette is pretty hot stuff and doesn't let you down in terms of looks. With its velvet case, it looks a lot more expensive than your usual palette and so it should with a price tag of £35. And as for each shade, every single one is usable and will suit any skin tone. From heavy shimmery golds to dark browns and even a light skin-toned, peach shade, each and every one is perfect in terms of colour and has real staying power too. 

Even though the cost of this palette does sit in the more expensive end of the spectrum, it is definitely worth each and every penny. I just can't wait to get my hands on Naked2 and Naked3 to complete my collection. 

Have you tried any of the Naked palettes from Urban Decay? If so, what were your thoughts? 

Soap & Glory Clean on Me Bath & Shower Gel

This gigantic product has recently become a favourite of mine and for two simple reasons – the luscious smell…and the pump. Yes, the pump! Such a simple, yet effective touch to what is usually a rather boring product. The size is pretty handy too - I shower every single day but I know I won’t be running out of this product for while. I definitely urge you to try this product – it’s cute and girly, what more could you want!

Soap & Glory Clean on Me Bath & Shower Gel is available from Boots £6.00/500ml.

Rounding up 2013

The year 2013 has been a pretty good year to me and I’m proud to say that I will be heading into 2014 will some fantastic memories.

This year I’ve celebrated numerous engagements, a marriage and a birth. I’ve gained new friends and spent more time with those who I have known for years. I’ve laughed a lot, cried a little and finally feel as if my feet are firmly on the ground.

Along with all of this, I’ve also discovered some fantastic beauty products too. They haven’t always been new, in fact some are old time essentials that I wish I discovered sooner. So here’s my round up of some of my best loved beauty products of 2013…

Maybelline Baby Lips

Quite possibly my favourite lip product of all time, this year this little gem became a real staple for any beauty junkie. It’s perfect handbag sized, affordable and truly nourishes lips and to be perfectly honest, I won’t go anywhere without it. To read my full blog review on Maybelline Baby Lips, click here.

The foundation brush

Okay, I’ll admit. Before summer 2013, I had never owned a foundation brush (I was more of a sponge-applicator lover) but after seeing how flawless my sister’s skin was after applying her make up, I got make up envy.

The first foundation brush I purchased was by Eco Tools from Boots and I loved it. I was so impressed at how little product I was using and yet coverage on my skin had improved – with a couple of simple sweeps, my skin looked flawless and surprisingly lasted a lot longer than it ever did before.

I’m not that experienced when it comes to make up brushes, which is why I’ve promised to invest in a decent, worthy set in 2014.

L’Oreal Skin Perfection Day Moisturiser

I blogged about this moisturiser not that long ago (in fact you can read it here) and it has completely transformed the health of my skin. I relied on an intense daily moisturiser that gave protection again daily stresses like pollution, sun and wind damage, but I had never realised that hydration was actually what my skin needed.  

Since using this product, my face looks brighter, healthier and my complexion has improved. I love the texture and although it feels quite heavy when applying, it actually sinks into skin quickly and feels extremely light. This is definitely a repeat product that I will carry on purchasing into 2014.

Nails inc.

Last but not least, my favourite nail brand of the year. The bright bods at Nails Inc. have bought us so many types of nail polish this year, from lettered nail art and beads to gel finishes and feather effects. Although they seem quite pricey on first look, I’ve never known a Nails Inc. polish to go gloopy or stringy and lasting a lot longer than any other polish I own.

In 2014 I hope to discover many other beauty products like these and share them with you. I’ve promised myself to up my blogging game and blog as often as I can (expect a post a week)!

In the meantime, I would like to wish all readers of Jade’s Beauty Blog, a very happy New Year.

Santa's Lip Scrub from Lush

Dry, cracked lips are common in winter, so a lip scrub is essential for keeping lips super soft and mistletoe ready.

Santa's Lip Scrub from Lush is a cola flavoured scrub that when applied to lips, helps scrub away any dead skin and bring blood vessels to the surface, which is fact can help plump lips and make them look fuller, healthier and more kissable! 

The Lush Santa's Lip Scrub combines caster sugar, coconut oil and extract of cherries and dates to give a rich red lip scrub with cute little red hearts too. Perfect for adding a subtle Christmas touch to your makeup bag. 

Santa's Lip Scrub is available from Lush for £5.50. 

The Christmas tag!

Courtesy of weheartit

So I thought, what with it being nearly Christmas it was time for the famous Christmas tag! I saw this one over on Kirstie's blog - A Yellow Brick Blog - so here goes... 

1. What's is your favourite Christmas song?

Oh wow, now that's a toughie to start with. I can't possibly pick one, but certainly a good contender has to be Mariah Carey's - All I Want for Christmas. It is a complete classic and reminds me of some of my best times at university. Every Christmas, my housemates and I would put this song on full blast and dance and sing around our flat until we lost our voices. My second favourite is by all means The Pogues - Fairytale of New York. The perfect song to have a drunken singalong down the pub.

2. Which is your favourite drink? 

Without a doubt, mulled wine. I'm really not a red wine drinker, so it's quite surprising how much I love mulled wine. 

3. Do you have a favourite Christmas film? 

I think there's one film everyone loves at Christmas and that's Elf. Close second is Home Alone.

4. What is at the top of your Christmas wish-list this year? 

This is one question I'm constantly asked and I honestly don't know. I would love a new camera and a set of hair rollers. To be honest, I'm more about the giving than the receiving.

5. What is your favourite festive makeup or nail art look?

Glitter nail polish is a must for perfecting a festive look. I'm currently loving Nails Inc. Sloane Gardens, a navy glitter polish that comes out perfectly opaque after two coats. I also have a bronze glitter too from Accessorize. As for my party makeup, I like to keep my eyes dark with smokey shades. I've always loved the red lips look, but I'm convinced red lips don't suit me. So 2014 is all about experimenting with more lip shades and finding the perfect one to suit my pale complexion.

6. What is your favourite outfit at Christmas time? (LBD? Christmas jumper? Pjs?)

My favourite Christmas outfit has to be an oversized cosy jumper with my Ugg boots. There's nothing more than that. Every girl loves a sparkly party number, but there's nothing I feel more comfortable in that a cosy outfit.

7. Would you rather play out in the snow or enjoy it from inside with the fire and a cuppa? 

There's no doubt about it, definitely out in the snow! I'm a keen skier and don't get to go as often as I'd like, so any opportunity to snap it up and I would.

8. Wrapping presents - love or loathe? 

I love wrapping presents, it's all part of Christmas!

9. What is your favourite Christmassy food? 

Pigs in blankets. I could eat those until I popped! 

10. What is your favourite thing about Christmas?

I love the smell of Christmas. That may sound odd, but there's nothing better than waking up in the morning and smelling a real Christmas tree. I also love the cosyness of it all, sitting in the warmth and the pretty lights. Finally, I love how it brings people closer together - I haven't met a person yet, who doesn't love Christmas! 

If any of you do this tag, please comment below with a link to yours. I'd love to read them. 

L'Oreal Skin Perfection Day Moisturiser

It dawned on me the other day that after years of going back to the same old trusty moisturiser (FYI Neutrogena Daily Defence Moisturiser) that maybe I was too old to be using Neutrogena. So aged 26 I finally realised that it was time to invest in a grown-up moisturiser. Cue Skin Perfection Day Moisturiser, the latest innovation from L’Oreal.

Designed to help transform the appearance of skin quality by evening out skin tone, improving skin texture and minimising the appearance of unsightly pores caused by everyday stresses and an unbalanced lifestyle, L’Oreal have really cracked it with this product. The silky-smooth moisturiser helps lock in moisture for up to 24 hours, putting the glow back into a dull and lacklustre complexion and giving stressed out skin a sudden lift.

I must admit, at first this moisturiser felt like it was going to be far too greasy for my skin. But after a couple of weeks, I saw such a huge difference to my complexion. The pores on my nose are barely visible and I have my glow back – something that has been missing for a while. Plus, my skin doesn’t feel so dehydrated. In fact, on the odd day that I haven't used this moisturiser, I've really been able to tell. 

After a couple of weeks of using this product I’m almost coming to the end of the pot and I will honestly say I have been completely converted. Not only has this product improved my skin texture, but I now feel that my complexion will benefit from it over time. In fact, I've recently seen that they have a Skin Perfection BB Cream, which I will definitely purchase alongside the day cream on my next trip to Boots. 

I bought L'Oreal Skin Perfection Day Moisturiser from boots for £9.99/50ml. For more information visit www.loreal-paris.co.uk. 

Yves Rocher France Cocoa & Raspberry Hand Cream

In my last blog post I said "there's always one treasure in each Glossybox" and boy I wasn't wrong. This was by far my favourite product and I haven't stopped using it since.

I never thought I'd be overly impressed with a hand cream. I mean come on, how exciting can a hand cream really be?! They moisturise hands and...and that's about it (unless you're convinced by their outrageous claims) but this one by Yves Rocher is so simple. That's why I love it. Oh, and because it smells frickin amazing too! The indulgent scent of cocoa and raspberry isn't at all overpowering or sweet and does in fact smell of chocolate and raspberries - something that seems so simple, yet so easy to get wrong - and it's long-lasting too. 

Yves Rocher France isn't a brand I'm overly familiar with and by the sound of the name, I expected high-end expensive products from across the pond. So I was surprised to see that the products were actually extremely affordable - this hand cream, you're looking at £1.95 for 75ml. 

I would definitely consider purchasing from Yves Rocher France in future - I've already got my eyes on their Moisture Boost Concentrate. Head over to www.yves-rocher.co.uk to see a selection of other treats. 

Eva Cosmetics Mystic Diamond Argan Oil Hair Elixir

There’s always one little treasure featuring in each Glossybox and during October it was this beauty.

If anyone knows me well enough, I’m sure they’ll tell you how in love I am with Argan Oil. To this day, I have never found any other product that will nourish my hair like Argan Oil does. I’ve always suffered with really dry ends and this can get worse after my hair has been coloured, so Argan Oil has become my hair-saver.

But you’re probably thinking, what makes this product different to others? The answer is simple…Diamond Dust.

This gorgeous little product contains a small amount of Diamond Dust - a special ingredient that gives hair an amazing shine. Combined with the Argan Oil for nourishment, it's a match made in hair heaven.

I received my sample from Octobers Glossybox, but you can buy the full size (100ml) for £22.70.