Top 5 Summer Products

I am sooooooooooooo glad to be back to blogging! It has been so hard trying to keep away from the blogging world for the past few months and I have missed it so much! Now that my exams are done I have the whole summer to blog as much as I like, so expect A LOT of posts.

So it looks like Summer has finally arrived in the UK which means only one thing... time to update and freshen up the make up kit! During the summer I love to wear minimal, fresh and glowing make up and sweet, clean smelling fragrances and these are my top 5 products I will be using this summer! 

L-R: MAC Cremesheen Lipglass- Celestial Kiss, MAC Face & Body foundation- C5, MAC Fix+, MAC Blusher- Springsheen and Valentina by Valentino

• MAC Cremesheen Lipglass- Celestial Kiss is a pale, peach nude that just gives a 'your lips but better' shine on the lips. Its not sticky and looks great on its own. I love nudes on the lips especially in the summer when I tend not to use too much make up. A bit of foundation, a lick of mascara and a splash of lipgloss is a great everyday look. 

• MAC Blusher- Springsheen- This is a beautiful coral blush with golden shimmer. This is a great '2 in 1' product because it can be used as highlight as well, it leaves a golden sheen which looks amazing in the sun shine.

• MAC Face & Body- I have used this foundation for so long now, its a sheer, water based foundation that feels so light on the skin, it gives a healthy glow and the best thing is that you can transform it from day to night just by building the foundation up. Its water and sweat resistant- perfect for the long hot days!
• MAC Fix+ - I absolutely love this to use to set my foundation and as a refreshing spray. When foundation sometime feels cakey, sticky or tight a spritz of this is perfect just to freshen up your face. 
• Valentina by Valentino perfume- A sweet and fresh smell with a hint of floral not over powering and lasts for ages. I also LOVE the bottle so pretty! 

So these are my favourite products for this summer, what are yours?

Shana 

x

Brb...

I have been MIA recently due to an overload of university work and I have exams coming up for which I am revising. I cannot wait until it is all over and I can start dedicating more time to my blog! Please bare with me :) 

Shana

xox

No 7 Cleansing Brush

 I have been wanting the Clarisonic cleanser (http://www.clarisonic.co.uk) for the longest time! My skin is extremely dry and dehydrated and I have heard lots of reviews on how it really helps combat this. As it is quite pricey I was going to ask my family and friends to buy me one for my birthday. However, a random stroll through Boots meant I found something very similar.... 

This is the NO7 version of the Clarisonic, I purchased it at the introductory price of £15. It is battery operated, with one button that has two settings, it comes with just one brush head and a couple of batteries. It is light weight and fairly basic.

How do I use it?-
I use it with the No7 cleanser which I have used for a while now. I use this about 2-3 times a week mostly in the evening before going to bed. You just apply cleanser to your damp face then  massage your face with small circular movements around your forehead, cheeks and chin for about 30 seconds each.

Pros-

• It does leave my skin feeling clean and fresh (for a while)
• Battery operated- No need to charge just replace the batteries
• Removes all make up
• Small and compact

Cons-

• Very vigorous brush- this actually stings my face when using it
• A few hours after using my skin feels dehydrated again 
• Leaves little dry patches around my face
• Pulls the skin too much
• No stand or cover to store the brush

Overall, I'm not very happy with the product which is a shame because I had very high expectations for it. I don't see any difference to my skin after using it for over a month.  Please do bare in mind though that my skin type is EXTREMELY dry and everyone's skin is different and the results will be different for each individual. 

Have you tried this or the Clarisonic? Please let me know what you think as I'm not sure whether I should still try the Clarisonic.

Shana x

Bye Bye GFC, HELLO Bloglovin!

Hi Guys I'm sure many of you are now aware of the fact that Google Reader and GFC will soon be non existent so just a kind request for everyone to please follow me on Bloglovin! Its a simple click and you can keep up to date with my new blog posts. You can also easily import all the blogs you are following on GFC with just one click on the Bloglovin website! 

Click the link, the logo below or on the bloglovin button in the side bar: 

http://www.bloglovin.com/beautybeats

THANK YOU xoxox

Lippy Loving: Up the Amp

Last week I discovered that I had used up enough products from MAC to be able to get a free lipstick with their 'Back to MAC' service (woo!) I already had a list in my mind of the colours I wanted which included Rebel, Diva, Candy Yum Yum, Girl about town and the list goes on..... however Up the Amp had already been on my list for quite a while and with the justification of being able to wear it from winter into spring I knew it would be a great choice.

Up the Amp is a lavender/pink shade which works so well with my medium olive skin tone. Its in the amplified finish which means its very rich and pigmented in colour, the texture is super creamy and moisturising which is great if you have dry lips! The lasting power is great, I wore it recently to a party and even after eating the colour stayed on. At first I was a bit wary at the fact that it was a 'purple' lipstick but do not be fooled it is such a flattering and wearable colour. I'm so glad I decided to get this colour and have since recommended it to all my friends!

What are your thoughts on this colour?

Shana x