Emma Hardie Moringa Lift and Sculpt Cleansing Balm review

This stuff is definitely having its moment! I can't watch a YouTube Favourites video or read a beauty blog without this stuff getting a mention. And, if you can't beat them, join them!

This stuff is Caroline Hirons go to cleanser. Cleansing balms are a bit of a weird experience if you haven't tried one before though. It feels very counter intuitive as an combination oily skinned girl to be smearing oil onto my face to clean it, but it does clean really effectively without stripping my skin. I only use this at night, in the morning I use the Ren ClearCalm 3 Clarifying Clay Cleanser or Rosa Centifolia Cleansing Gel.

(Please note I added this picture after writing the post and have now been using the balm for about 4 months now!)

The balm melts into quite a thick oil if you use it straight on your face without any water. I like to take a little amount, (about the size of my little fingernail) and work it into my face, then wipe away with a hot flannel. I keep rinsing my clean and fresh flannel with hot running water and wiping until no more make up comes off. Your cleanser should remove all of your make up. This one does as I generally don't wear that much other than a tinted moisturiser, some concealer and some bronzer. I also have the Exfoliating Rosehip Seeds which came as part of the Professional Cleansing System and these are good for a manual exfoliation. It leaves skin glowing and fresh. I do this every few weeks because to be honest I prefer acids to exfoliate with as they help my unclog pores much better. I don't plan on buying them again, they are ok but I'm not a huge fan of them, I don't find myself reaching for them very often. I don't really have an opinion on the dual sided muslim cloth. Yes it's nice and the microfibre side would probably be lovely for people with really sensitive skin but I like my good old flannels.

I double cleanse every day in the evening as I wear tinted moisturiser and an SPF so the first cleanse removes my makeup and the second one cleanses the skin. If I was wearing foundation all over my face or a particularly heavy coverage product or maybe one with a high SPF, I would use Bioderma Crealine H20 to remove the majority of my make up before I cleansed. This is just because I wouldn't want to get foundation all over my flannel. Then I wait until my face is dry before starting with the Emma Hardie, as I always apply it to a dry face. This balm melts away make up, grease and grime without leaving an oily residue or leave you feeling tight skinned. And it smells AMAZING. I think it smells mainly of orange and neroli - a scent I adore. It smells like a herbal orangey Savlon. I also love the smell of Savlon, it reminds me of my Nan and Grandad as it was their fix-it-all cream for literally anything. You know on My Big Fat Greek Wedding where Tula's Dad Gus uses Windex on everything? That's my N&G with Savlon. I also love the smell of rough, fabric plaster dressing. My childhood summed up in two smells. Grandad also used to heat the plaster up on the gas hob with a blob of Savlon on the non sticky part, because it made it stick better. Just brilliant. Anyway, I like the smell. It is sweet and lovely, I really enjoy using it. 

I can see the tub is going to last me a while yet, I've had it about 3 months and have made a bit of a dent in it, but I will definitely be buying it again it when I do finish it. I barely touch any of my other cleansers now that I have this as it's just so lovely to use. I might try and use up my other balm cleansers in between as it would be a shame to waste them but this is definitely my favourite of the three! I bought mine from BeautyBay for around £28 as part of the Professional Cleansing System. It isn't listed on the website any more as I guess it's out of stock but it will be back up soon I should imagine so keep your eye on it. Failing that it's available at SpaceNK here for the RRP £42.

EDIT 10/06/2013. I have started to use my Clinique Take the Day Off balm as my first cleanse and the Emma Hardie as my second as I am loving using this stuff and don't want to run out of it as quickly. I'm rationing it out haha!

Revlon Photoready Cream Blushes Review

 Pinched, Flushed and Coral Reef.

 Pinched

 Flushed

 Coral Reef

These blushes feel very silicone heavy, and as dimethicone is the first ingredient listed this is no surprise. The shade Pinched reminded me of Nars Penny Lane a little bit, but as you can see from the pictures it is a really sheer peach colour with a little shimmer. This will be a stunner in the summertime with a tan for a subtle, healthy glow. This does take a bit of building up to get a dramatic effect but I think this looks really undone and effortless when applied lightly for a natural effect. Flushed is the total opposite, and is a gorgeous bright fuchsia pink which packs a punch with a lot of pigment. Applied with a light hand to the apples of my cheeks it really brightens up my complexion and makes me look like I've just been outside. It really helps to perk my face up. I have a lot of natural redness in my cheeks and this helps me to concentrate it in the right areas without looking overdone. Coral Reef is a beautiful orange coral, and like Flushed is very pigmented so only a touch is needed. This is definitely a summertime colour for me but I have enjoyed wearing it in the darker weather just for a bit of a pick me up. I have loved wearing all three of them with Chanel Bronze Universel in the areas the sun would catch my face in preparation for the warm weather - when it arrives, that is. They last quite well, but I always find blushes to last quite well on my as the skin on my cheeks is very normal and well behaved. No dry patches or oiliness there, thank you!

I really love these blushes, but unfortunately they have been breaking me out in little red spots on my cheeks. Just little ones and they aren't painful, but I NEVER get spots on my cheeks, only on my t-zone and I know that theses are the culprits as I haven't changed anything else. I am persevering and seeing whether my skin will get used to them... as I only went and bought all three of them. I would like to see some more colours introduced because I really like them, despite them breaking me out like nothing else. Maybe me and Revlon face products just aren't meant to get along. My skin didn't like Colourstay foundation at all, and I have a sinking feeling that Nearly Naked is not my cup of tea either. Sigh. Maybe I should just stick to their lip products, I've been having quite a fling with them recently. I also love Revlon nail polish. Hands down the most long lasting nail polish I've ever tried!