Lazy FOTD featuring Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation

I haven't done a face of the day for some time now. I'm having a nice lazy Saturday, my plans including reading some blogs, lots of cups of tea, some crumpets and baking some brownies, yum yum! 

I used Bourjois Healthy Mix foundation for the first time this morning and was really impressed. It applied like a dream and looked flawless on my skin. I am looking forward to testing it out next week when I am back to work to see how well it wears on my skin throughout the day.

Products I used today:-

Bourjois Healthy Mix foundation.

Clinique Airbrush concealor for undereyes.

Mac Mineralise Skinfinish Natural.

Stila Convertable Colour in Lilium.

Estee Lauder DoubleWear cream shadow in Ivory Lace.

Mac All That Glitters eyeshadow.

Mac Patina eyeshadow in the crease.

Maybelline Collousal Mascara topped with Maybelline Falsies Mascara.

Mac Cremesheen Glass in Boy Bait.

I hope you all have lovely Saturdays!

My tips for clear skin featuring Liz Earle and Origins

• Use a clean wash cloth each time you wash your face. Tedious it may be but you won't want to be re-washing your face with your spotty germs! I recommend buying a bulk load of muslin cloths from Mothercare, Boots or Liz Earle. Wash them all once a week with your white wash and start again with a basket of fresh cloths.

• Be gentle. Invest in a good cleanser like Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish or Cetaphil. No harsh chemicals like in Clean & Clear or Clearasil. You'll only dry out your skin so much that it will over produce oil and you'll be back to square one.

• Never underestimate using a moisturiser. It might seem mad when you're fighting oil and spots but as the point above if your skin doesn't get enough moisture it will produce more and more sebum and therefore make spots worse. Your skin needs to find a happy balance. You can use an oil free one by all means. Liz Earle do a very nice oil free moisturiser which is called Skin Repair Light, I've used it in the past and highly recommend.

• Do not pick a spot. You risk it becoming infected and leading to scarring. Go to a dermatologist for advice and they can show you an extraction method.

• Make sure your bedding is washed at 60 degrees really really regularly. Your pillows and top of your duvet can spread bacteria when they touch your face during the night.

• Clean mobile phones with antibacterial wipes or sprays. Again these touch your face and get hot so can also spread germs.

• Eat and drink a more natural diet. It's just better for you full stop.

• I really recommend Origins Spot Remover for on the spot treatment. You apply a tiny amount on a cotton swab to the affected area. It stings like a biatch but you know it's really working! Pure Tea Tree oil is also great applied in the same way (use a new cotton swab for each blemish).

Finally, when ever my skin acts up I always go to Liz Earle, all the products are great, in particular Cleanse & Polish, Skin Repair and their Deep Cleansing Mask. Also if you ever get a chance do get a facial at their Kings Road store, you wont be disappointed!

My Thoughts on Mac's Pro Longwear Foundation

Image borrowed from Google because I only had a sample :)

As an avid lover of their Studio Fix Fluid, I was keen to see how Mac's new addition to their foundation range performed. I decided to get a sample of the foundation first. While I don't have a problem in paying for the full size, there is absolutely no point because foundations can be so hit and miss, if you can try it first then why wouldn't you.

The very helpful (not) Mac assistant told me that they weren't supposed to give samples of the Pro Longwear Foundation because, as she put it "It changes form when not in the pump" well I've never known of a liquid foundation changing form when it's not in the pump, what does it change into? A car, maybe a shoe? Imagine my thoughts on what it would do on my face in that case!  I humoured her for a bit and then told her again that I wanted a sample before I committed to the bottle, and she reluctantly agreed.

I am NC15 in Studio Fix Fluid and can wear a NC20 in the summer. She said that I would still be a NC15 and I was given a sample. I wouldn't say that the colouring is that similar to their SFF, in the Pro Longwear the tone is much peachier, whereas the Studio Fix is more yellowy, so I would suggest that anyone wanting to try this foundation either get colour matched at Mac or as for a sample.

Consistency-wise, Pro Longwear is much thinner than Studio Fix when you apply it. I tried applying it with a 190, 187 and my fingers and found that fingers gave the best finish for me. I didn't think that it was heavy when I used it over L'Oreal's primer but a couple of days I forgot the primer and it definitely looked much heavier and didn't seem to blend as nicely. This also goes for when I used powder, my Mineralise Skinfinish Natural looked much better when I had used the primer than not, whereas for me Studio Fix Fluid looks fine whatever I use underneath. Primer or no primer. Powder or no powder.

Did the foundation last all day? Yes it did, but no better than Studio Fix Fluid for me. It didn't wow me.

When I had finished my sample I was quite pleased to be honest. The old saying "If it aint broke don't fix it" definitely comes into play here. I love my Studio Fix, it works for my skin, it applies well no matter what I used underneath and lasts all day, the colour is also better for me. I'll be sticking with what I know.

Have you tried any great foundations lately? What are your thoughts on Pro Longwear?

Review 4 : Good Things Fresh Start Creamy Cleanser

In the final segment of my sinkcare posts, I absolutely must let you all in on a product that I have fallen in love with recently. It is really fabulous and needs some recognition.

It is the Good Things Fresh Start Creamy Cleanser. £4.99 for 150mls from Boots. Here's a little copy and paste from the Boots website "Good Things Facial Skincare has been developed by Award-Winning Beauty writer Alice Hart-Davis using her years of expertise in the beauty industry. Specially designed to make the most of young skin, the Good Things range uses superfruit beauty boosters in gentle, super-effective formulations."

"Regular cleansing is the first step towards fabulous skin. Good Things Fresh Start gentle creamy cleanser is enriched with moisturising mango-seed oil to clean and comfort your skin without drying it out, while skin-calming cactus extract and skin-boosting antioxidants from grapes and pomegranates will help to give your skin a fresh start."

In my eyes it's along the same lines of the iconic Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish but I actually prefer it. Not only is it much cheaper, it's also a lot creamier in texture and smells simply gorgeous.

I use this after I have removed my eye makeup with my trusty Botanics Soothing Eye Makeup Remover and simply massage it all over my face and neck, also eye area (it doesn't sting) and then using a muslin cloth in warm water, wring the cloth out and remove the cleanser as you would do so with Liz Earle. I also use it in the mornings too and have fallen in love. It leaves my skin clean, soft, soothed, fresh and glowing. Removes all my makeup (even Estee Lauder Doublewear Foundation!).

I have re-purchased more, and Boots often have it on a 2 for £8.00 offer. I've recommended it to my mum and my friends. However, as with all skincare, what works for me may not work for you and it's a case of trial and error, but I would continue to repurchase this product for as long as I can.

Have you tried anything from Good Things?

Review 3 : Vichy NormaDerm Tri-Activ Anti-Imperfection Hydrating Care

I was sent this product to test by Vichy. It's from their NormaDerm line which is aimed at oily, imperfection prone skin. Vichy boast that it's even suitable for sensitive skin.

Vichy say "NormaDerm Tri-Activ Anti-Imperfection Hydrating Care is an all-in-one daily-use care to: treat imperfections, provide 24 hour hydration and leave a long lasting matte finish."

"Its unique Hydra Peeling technology is a new association of 3 peeling ingredients in daily hydrating care (salicyclic acid, glycolic acid, LHA). LHA is a patented ingredient that helps gently micro-exfoliate the surface of the skin for a smoother surface and uniform complexion. Purifying salicylic acid targets pores and helps break down blackheads and whiteheads by gently microexfoliating the top layer of skin and clearing blocked pores. Glycolic acid naturally neutralises bacteria that cause imperfections. The three ingredients are combined in a hydrating emulsion-gel texture that is quickly absorbed into the skin and provides a matte finish."

"NormaDerm Tri-Activ provides anti-sebum and anti humidity action to reduce shine and minimise the appearance of pores. Within 7 days the skin appears clearer and healthier-looking. Skin texture is smoother and complexion is purified."

I have normal skin now and don’t suffer from spots or blemishes, in fact my only skincare concerns at the moment are open pores and anti-aging. I did however have terrible skin in my teens and early 20’s and the only things that helped were going on the pill for the spots and having glycolic peels for the scars. In the past I have received some amazing results from using these type of products; glycolic on teenage acne scarring and equally great results on open pores from using products with salicylic acid in.

I was quite anxious to use the product all over my face, simply because I was worried about it drying out my fairly normal skin, so I have been using on problem areas, this mainly being my nose (hello pores!). Whilst I can’t say I’ve noticed a dramatic difference in the size of my pores, I would say that they have refined and look ever so slightly better and it has evened some redness that I had around my nose. Overtime I can see this product really having a great effect. I would even go as far as to say I got better, more noticeable results from this than Estee Lauder's Pore Refinisher!

The product was a little drying for my particular skin type which as I've said is not oily, but it was excellent at keeping the midday powder touch-ups at bay. Similar to how I found L'Oreal's YouthCode to be. I can see this becoming a staple product in anyone's spot fighting arsenal, it mattifies, evens the complexion, helps fight spots and is a great base for makeup.

I like the smell of the product and the pump application makes it very user friendly and it’s not going to become contaminated by fingers dipping in and out of a jar. I experienced no sensitivity using it and found it very pleasant to use. Overall I would definitely recommend this product to someone suffering with their skin, and will continue to use it myself to help minimise pores.

Recipe : Banana and Walnut Loaf Cake

You will need the following:-

A 2lb loaf tin (which is best greased and / or lined).

100g of butter.

140g of caster sugar (I use golden caster).

1 egg.

225g of plain flour.

2 tsp of baking powder.

4 ripe bananas (mashed- yes I know there's only 3 in the photo, - 

my very ripe 'nanas weren't looking too photogenic!).

85g of chopped walnuts (I just buy walnut pieces because I'm lazy!).

50mls of milk.

I find the easiest way for me to bake is to measure out everything into bowls (pink being optional!) and that way I can check that I have everything I need before starting the baking process.

You will also need a mixer with a K or paddle attachment, or alternatively you can mix everything by hand, but I don't have the patience or arm muscles for that so I used my trusty mixer.

Firstly you need to preheat your oven to 180c, I have a fan oven so I lessened this slightly to avoid over cooking the loaf cake.

I added the butter and sugar to the bowl of my mixer and creamed them together for a couple of minutes.

Next, add the egg and continue to mix until it's all combined.

It doesn't particularly change in texture, until you add the milk.

Next you need to add the milk and again, mix until thoroughly combined. Then add gradually add the flour and baking powder ( I mix the two together in the same bowl so add them together).

Continue to mix until everything has come together and looks somewhat like this.

Finally, you fold in the walnuts and ensure that the bowl has been scraped down.

Now all you need to do is pour your mixture into the loaf tin and bake in the oven for 1 hour or until a skewer comes out clean.

Once cooked, allow the loaf to cool in it's tin on a wire cooling rack.

Don't be surprised if the loaf collapses slightly during the cooling process. It's dense with bananas so it's not going to be light at fluffy like a sponge cake, so don't be shocked if it does drop.

Now is you're fastidious about calories and fat, here are the loaf's credentials; per serving 399 kcalories, protein 6g, carbohydrate 53g, fat 20 g, saturated fat 8g, fibre 2g, sugar 30g, salt 0.54 g.

The loaf should be stored in clingfilm for up to 2 days, or alternatively it can be frozen but use within 1 month.

Happy baking!