My top blemish busters

Ok. A little fore-warning about this post - it's a gross subject!

So my skin is combination-oily. I have normal cheeks, oily t-zone with regular breakouts. The pores on my t-zone are visible, large and often clogged. I have a lot of redness naturally especially in my cheeks.

I reluctantly accept the size of my pores, as there is not a lot I can do about them. However, the blemishes I get throughout the month (usually on my t-zone) are another story.

This is a picture of when my skin has been at its very worst and mascara free! D: this was probably about a year and a half ago, and my main problem was whiteheads. I absolutely hate the sight of whiteheads so I do pop them as they will scar whether I do or don't and are actually very tender and sore if left un-popped. Ew, I know...Gross.

So these duo of products are my absolutely tried and tested spot fighting SWAT team who I call in when I need the big guns.

Up first, is the Clean and Clear Dual Action Moisturiser. It's oil free and contains salicylic acid at a concentration of 1%. My skin responds well to salicylic acid, but I try not to use this too much or often because I want it to keep being effective and my skin not stop reacting so well to it. I first heard of this through Miss Budget Beauty, who recommends using it as a treatment when a breakout occurs and slathering it on the affected area to do its work. I love this method, and it also works well as an everyday moisturiser which you can feel tingling and feels like it's really working due to the active ingredient. Also provides enough moisture to my cheeks, which are normal. Light and non greasy, perfect.

Next we have the Origins Super Spot Remover. I cannot praise this enough. Works the best on a spot you can feel on its way which hasn't made an appearance yet. Can stop it in its tracks. It also works well on reducing redness and swelling and makes them so much less painful. You need the tiniest amount, not even the size of a pinhead. I apply with a clean finger as I don't like the thought of a cotton bud sucking it all up! It works best applied over the top of make up if you are using it during the day as I find it creates a bit of a shiny film over the top of the skin which when make up goes over it looks obvious you have used something. That may just be the make up I was using though, find out what works best for you. Use it only on top of the spot, not the skin around as it is very drying, and can cause skin to peel.

As you can see - my skin has really improved in the past year. Though I still get spots on my t zone, mainly on my chin. In this photo I have Origins VitaZing on and a little concealer above my lip on the right, I thought I had taken it all off for the picture but apparently I didn't! I am not saying that these products will work for everybody but they have really helped over the past few months for me. A big factor will also be your diet and lifestyle that you have, do not underestimate the effects of food, it's fuel for your body so of course it's going to affect these things. Hormones also play a big part for us girlies so bear that in mind too. And don't lose hope either! If this post helps one person then I will be a happy bunny!

Cocktail bar evening!

So I went out for a lovely few drinks out with my chummies to a cocktail bar a few nights ago, and I had one of those nights, where you feel like your entire outfit, hair and makeup wise has gone really well! So I thought I would do a quick post on everything I wore that evening that made me feel so special, I will definitely be trying to recreate this make up for another night because it lasted all night and photographed really well.

Face:

ThisWorks Perfect Look Skin Miracle as a moisturiser/base. Gives a gorgeous glow to the skin and makes you look a little perkier than you may be feeling!

Benefit The Porefessional as a primer on my t-zone to help prevent make up meltdown.

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum for my foundation in shades 51 and 52 (lighter shade 51 around the centre of my face to help highlight and add shape). Gives a gorgeous glow and has no SPF so no scary flashback ghost face in photos (one of my pals is extremely camera happy on evenings out!). Applied using the Real Techniques buffing brush.

Chanel Bronze Universal as a bronzer, also applied with the buffing brush to give an all over bronzed effect, as opposed to contouring and shaping the face.

Piling on more bronzer with the ELF Blush/Bronze duo - my all time favourite bronzer. Used a EcoTools blush brush.

Sleek Rose Gold Blush onto the cheekbones to add some colour and sheen as it also acts as quite the highlighter!

Concealer was Aldi's Lacura Highlighting Brush Concealer, called something along those lines! Lovee it!

Eyes:

Maybelline Colour Tattoo in Pink Gold as a base for my eyeshadow to cling to.

Urban Decay Midnight Cowgirl all over lid and browbone, is super glittery and beautiful! Applied before Colour Tattoo had set.

Urban Decay COLOUR slightly above the crease to give the illusion of wider eyes! I have very little eyes for my face so I like to open them up! Dark colours do not suit me, nor does black eyeliner! :( So I go for light shades and a very slightly smokier colour in the crease and along the lashline to make my lashes look a slight bit thicker!

Loreal Beauty Tubes Mascara, several layers of the primer applied one after the other to get some va va voom lashes. 

Lips:

I don't "do" lipstick! Am yet to find one to suit me, and if I did it would be a my lips but better shade, so for the moment, "my lips" are making do! Moisturised with the Nuxe Reve de Miel which I like because it is matte and tastes orangey, and lasts allll night so I don't have to take it out with me and risk losing it!

Outfit:

Dress from Primark

Rose Gold watch from River Island

Brown Leather double wrap Pandora with a few charms on.

A cheap ebay leather wrap bracelet because I wanted something to contrast with my brown leather whilst in the same sort of style and I didn't have enough to buy another Pandora!

Miscellaneous:

Tanned my legs arms and chest with the Rimmel Sun Shimmer in Medium Matte.

Wore Zara Woman Gold perfume (a Lady Million dupe!)

Toes were painted in Nails Inc Tate

Hair was in a side part with a fringe twist to just above my ear. Backcombed slightly for some volume, and a little dry shampoo for volumising purposes! I used Lush No Drought.