Natalya's Beauty Blog- Filthygorgeousmakeup: summer

Sunday, 23 August 2015

Review: Aveeno Daily Moisturising Lotion

Over the past few weeks since returning from holiday I have been trying out the Aveeno Daily Moisturising Lotion* (£5.10). My skin was quite dehydrated after a little sun and a number of long haul flights so it definitely needed some TLC!

This lotion has a very smooth texture and sinks into the skin quickly, making it perfect for a swift application in the morning before showering so you can get dressed right away - because who has time to wait around in the morning anyway? Despite feeling light it still provides great hydration and leaves your skin soft and smooth.

The lotion contains active colloidal oatmeal, which is clinically proven to help improve the condition of dry skin from day one. It is also clinically proven to go beyond 24 hour hydration and replenish the skin's natural barrier function to significantly improve the condition of dry skin in just 2 weeks. I have definitely noticed the skin on my legs, which was particularly dry and uncomfortable, feeling much smoother and looking a lot more healthy over the last few weeks.

My little skincare secret is to apply it straight after a bath or shower to lock in extra moisture. My friend @vonnekhoo always has the best skincare tips so I would love to tag her to share her secrets!

If you have any skincare secrets you would like to share let me know using #AveenoSkincareSecrets, I'd love to get some extra tips as the Summer has definitely left my skin looking quite dehydrated!

To learn more about this, or any other Aveeno product you can visit the website http://www.aveeno.co.uk/ or check out their facebook page https://www.facebook.com/AveenoUK

*This is a sponsored post, but as always my review is based on testing the product out and giving my opinion*

Review: Metallic Tattoos

Tatoos have never really been my thing, I love them on other people, but the permanence was always an issue as I like to change my mind, my style and just about everything else! However, after spotting the new boho metallic/ flash versions all over my Instagram I decided to give them a tentative try when In Your Dreams contacted me to offer a sample.

As soon as they arrived I was so excited I immediately got the scissors out to try them on and I have to say I love them. In a way they take me back to my childhood of buying bubblegum just so I could wear the temporary tattoos that came in the wrapper. I have a vivid memory of having one around my belly button that I thought was just the coolest thing ever and wishing I could be 18 and make it permanent.

The foiled tattoos from In Your Dreams are a much more grown up and classy version. I was sent the Mayan collection (£5) and I have tried out quite a few of them - the skinny ones like a bracelet over the wrist, on the inside of my wrist, on my ankle, hip and back (thank you to my hubby for patiently holding the soaked cotton wool to make sure they transferred neatly). They were so easy to apply and lasted a decent amount of time, depending in the placement.

As I wear a watch on one wrist and a fitbit on the other the 'bracelet' ones only lasted two days, but the one on my hip has been going strong for over a week (and was fun to explain to a sixty year old doctor when he was doing my routine Bupa health assessment lol)! They add just that little bit of fun and catch the light in such a beautiful way! They are perfect for festivals and on the beach, but even having one in a subtle place always makes me smile when I see it.

Have you tried metallic tattoos? The Summer isn't over yet so I would definitely recommend giving them a go!

OOTD: Workwear

With the heatwave we have been experiencing in London appropriate workwear has been tricky. I commute by tube each day so I am very sympathetic with most Londoners sweltering underground. However, at times like these the temperature in the office is arctic as the aircon desperately tries to overcompensate and ensure that the guys in their 3 piece suits are catered for. I therefore wanted to share some outfits from the last week of how I dress for work and try to remain professional (and not look like I'm off to the beach), but still comfortable.

The first dress I have been loving is a sale purchase from Ted Baker. It's very comfortable and though it has a lining the fabric is pretty stretchy so it never feels tight. The pattern is very Summery, but the demure length still makes it office appropriate.

Dress on sale from Ted Baker here

This outfit is super comfortable and easy to wear. The floaty fabric is cool, but the length of the skirt makes it work appropriate and traditional.

Top and Skirt from French Connection on sale here

The last outfit is a super comfortable dress from Reiss. It's light, but not at all see through. It moulds effortlessly to your shape and the side detail is very flattering skimming the contours of your body. It's not too short or too low for the office, but is not at all restrictive.

Dress on sale from Reiss here

I love Summer and the hot weather so I always try to make the most of it while it lasts... even if it is just in short lunch hour stints while I am stuck in the office, or walking between meetings. :)

Review: St Tropez Everyday Gradual Tan and Gradual Tan Plus Firming 4 in 1

Over the last month I have been slathering myself with lots of different tans in the hope of achieving the perfect glow that I could recommend to you all. Today, with the sun shining in London, I wanted to write about two gradual tan offerings from St Tropez that I have really enjoyed!

First up is the St Tropez Everyday Gradual Tan. I used the light/medium version all over my body to give me a bit of colour. The cream feels very luxurious on application as it is rich and applies easily and smoothly. It doesn't have a strong scent, but there is a tiny bit of the 'fake tan' smell as the tan develops, though it is very subtle. This lotion is super moisturising and I loved applying it all over my body after my shower before bed, just like any other moisturiser. In the morning my skin had a nice tan and felt very soft and smooth. It developed a good colour after applying it two days in a row and afterwards every other day to keep the tan in place. This gradual tanner is so easy and pretty much fool proof as I applied it very quickly without much effort and it still gave me a really even tan!

The St Tropez Gradual Tan Plus Firming 4 in 1 Lotion is designed to tan, tone, firm and moisturise your body. It provides a very similar level of tan to the gradual tan above, but the cream has a much lighter texture. A little definitely goes a long way with this lotion so I have been using it in the morning to add a bit more colour to my limbs. The lotion also has a really pleasant scent that masks any fake tan smell so it's perfect for use any time!

I would highly recommend both of these formulations as they feel luxurious while hydrating the skin and achieve an effortless, gradual glow that requires very little maintenance!

Review: Clarins Instant Light Radiance Boosting Complexion Base

I was recently sent the new Clarins Instant Light Radiance Boosting Complexion Base*, which is part of the Clarins Aquatic Treasures Summer Make-up collection. I am not usually a huge fan of primers as I like a medium coverage foundation and use full coverage concealers to hide blemishes, or too many late nights, so often find adding a primer can be a little too much product on my skin. However, this one promised to be lightweight so I was excited to try it out.

This base is designed to give you a perfect complexion everyday by naturally illuminating and correcting your skin tone for a flawless finish. It also offers hydrating and soothing skin care benefits due to katafray bark extract. It is available in three shades - rose (brightens all complexions), champagne (corrects redness) and peach (restores lustre to medium and matte skin) - leaving a veil of light radiance that evens skin tone, boosts luminosity and restores skin's vitality. As part of the Summer collection two new shades have been added - 04 Apricot (which is what I tried) and 05 Golden Bronze.

Being super pale this shade was too dark for me, but it was great when mixed with my moisturiser to add a little extra colour, especially after I had used some gradual tanner on my body. Used alone on the skin it gave a lovely, luminescent finish. Even though it has a slight glow it sinks into the skin quickly and sets/ dries so it doesn't feel at all sticky. It definitely made my skin look smoother and more even toned while covering minor imperfections. For me this is perfect for the Summer months used alone instead of foundation or mixed in with moisturiser or sunscreen to give a little coverage and a healthy boost of glow!

The Clarins Instant Light Radiance Boosting Complexion Base is £26.50 here. Have you tried it? What are your thoughts on the formulation and how do you wear it?

Review: Clarins Aquatic Treasures Summer Bronzing Compact

Since the first rays of sunshine in 2015 have made London bloom I have started to add a little extra colour to my every day makeup routine. Being naturally super pale I have been having a love affair with the stunning Clarins Aquatic Treasures Summer Bronzing Compact*.

With 4 colour quadrants ranging from light to deep this bronzer is absolutely perfect for this transitional period as I can pick and choose the intensity I need every time I use it! I use the darker shades when I have applied self tanner and stick to the lightest on days when I want to keep it more natural.

While being super pigmented this powder blends beautifully. As it is cool toned and on the matte side it works perfectly for both contouring and bronzing!

The Clarins Aquatic Treasures Summer Bronzing Compact is currently retailing (at 10% off) for £27 here.

Wedding Series: Update!

I am so happy to say that, just like me in the photo below, our official wedding photos are finally ready and are on their way!

Though I was a little bit disappointed to have to delay the wedding series posts I promised you, due to our photographers having a backlog of photos to edit after the busy Summer season, I hope they were worth the wait! Here is a sneak peak of two of my favourites...

Please let me know if you have any particular requests. I can't wait to get started on the posts and I hope you enjoy them! xxx

Italy

A few weeks ago we escaped to beautiful Italy for a long weekend to celebrate my mama's bday. Being back at work after the excitement of our wedding and honeymoon was very depressing so it was great to have a little break to look forward to!

I have such a special place in my heart for Italy and particularly our tiny village in Umbria. It's so secluded from the world and the perfect antidote to our crazy London lives - fresh air, sunshine and even our own little organic garden and mini orchard.

There is nothing I love more than popping down to the garden in the morning to pick fresh berries and fruit!

The blackberries had just ripened in time for our visit and were so delicious!

Perfect juicy pears and apples for fresh juices! Definitely beats my usual juice cleanses and detoxes!

Who knew pomegranates started their lives as such stunning flowers? I can't wait till these ripen!

We also made an amazing soup using beautiful butternut squash.

I'm always trying to get the cleanest food at home and try to buy organic whenever I can so it was such a treat to use wonderfully fresh ingredients.

Obviously my husband's photo skills still need a little bit of work!

And here's one we picked earlier ;p.

We had such a lovely relaxing time eating good food, going for hikes (although mama and I got lost in the forest hills for 2 hours, which wasn't so much fun) and generally enjoying the simpler side of life! I am the first to admit that I get too wrapped up in the every day and let things get on top of me, but I am making a real effort to make sure I slow down and take time to appreciate life and all the things I am thankful for. :)

Our Wedding Video

Our wedding on the 5th of July now seems a million light-years away, but watching this little trailer brings back so many happy memories! I just wanted to share it with you all and I do hope you enjoy it!

We are still waiting for our official photographs (I'm counting down the seconds) so my series of detailed wedding posts about suppliers, venues etc. is a little delayed. I am sure they will be worth the wait though! In the meantime if any of you have any questions please do get in touch! xxx

My Favourite Summer Products

With Summer in full swing I thought I would put together a little round up of my favourite products! Many of these were tested in sunnier climes on honeymoon, but the majority have come back to dreary London with me to continue their hard work.

The most essential part of any holiday for me has always been SPF. I burn in seconds (no exaggeration necessary) so I need a product that works hard to keep my skin protected, while being easy and pleasant to apply, and lasting a good proportion of the day. The absolute stand out sun block this Summer has been the PizBuin Ultra Light Dry Touch Silky Fluid. As the name suggests it’s a lovely consistency and is an absolute breeze to use. I’m very fussy when it comes to the texture of sun creams... I hate sprays as inevitably they leave a patch unprotected, sun milks are too liquid and have no staying power and thick creams tend to give you that white/ blue greasy glow and block your pores. The Piz Buin feels like a light moisturising cream and sinks into the skin quickly with no stickiness (ie. no sand permanently stuck to your bottom). My husband used the SPF 15 (he of pure English descent, but surprisingly Mediterranean skin), while I went for the SPF30. Both of us stayed well protected in the intense Sri Lankan and Maldivian sun through hiking excursions, safaris, snorkelling trips and lazy pool dips alike!

For my face I always wear SPF 50 on holiday as you really can’t have too much protection and there is no doubt that prevention is much more effective than any anti-ageing treatment! My freckles are an immediate giveaway of any sun exposure so I am always very careful. Being diligent is made much easier when you enjoy using your products and I absolutely adore the Rituals 50 Sun Protection Face Cream (£18.50). It feels like a rich face moisturiser, but it absorbs into the skin well and doesn’t feel too heavy in the heat. I also love the fact that it has additional skin benefits such as natural anti-oxidant complex based on Organic White Tea, natural Vitamin E and Ginkgo Biloba. It lasts all day (I usually set it with a little face powder or MAC's Mineralize Skinfinish Natural) and keeps my skin hydrated and protected without causing breakouts.

For night time skincare I am totally obsessed with the NUDE ProGenius treatment oil. I was so afraid of oils for years as I thought they would be too heavy and cause congestion, but this oil is light and absorbs quickly without leaving a greasy feeling behind. I apply this oil alone after cleansing my face and have definitely felt the benefits of the super hydrating and caring formula. Whether I need to moisturise, heal or improve skin texture the mix of omega 3, 6, 7 and 9 delivers a precisely balanced diet of vital skin nutrients making my skin look and feel great.

As an everyday moisturiser I have slowly been working through a bottle of the sublime NEOM Body Lotion (I purchased mine in TK Maxx, but they have new and improved scents on their website for £20). I love the whole NEOM organic range, but these body lotions are perfect for use in the morning straight after the shower as they smell wonderful and sink into the skin quickly so you can dress promptly (and not feel greasy on the tube).

As a more intense moisturiser, especially after a long day in the sun I loved using the NUXE Refreshing After-Sun Lotion (£15). This cream has a rich sorbet texture and feels incredibly soothing as it contains no menthol or alcohol. With its blend of Sunflower Oil and Coconut Derivatives it provides deep hydration and restores the balance of the skin while leaving it with a beautiful sheen and scent. This lotion is also enriched with Carob Seed Powder that aims to even out, enhance and prolong your tan… and for me every little helps!

For a Summer Fragrance I have been loving the NUXE le parfum Prodigieux (£35). I have used the oil for many years (in my hair and on my skin) so the scent really brings back happy memories of holidays and sunshine! I have a bottle on my desk at work and so many people have commented on how beautiful the scent is – rich, but not heavy or overpowering and in my view perfect for Summer!

There are so many more beautiful products I could write lyrical about, but for now these are my top picks of the Summer!

What have been your favourite beauty products lately? I would love to hear some of your thoughts on anything featured and as always your recommendations for a beauty junkie like me to try.. not that I need all that much encouragement!

D&M Wedding

I just wanted to take a little moment to share with you some photos from one of my best friends' weddings in the beautiful French countryside this July. As so many of you have been asking me about wedding preparation I thought that you would enjoy these photos and if not for inspiration, then purely for the beautiful imagery.

The reception venue was an old Abbey set in the French countryside near Versaille.

Getting ready in the bridal suite... I did my own and bridesmaids' makeup :).

Something blue? Louboutins of course!

The gorgeous Caroline Castigliano dress (honeycomb) and veil with blusher (apologies for my ridiculously long arms ruining an otherwise perfect photo)!