Two eye creams I currently love

Eye creams are a tricky business in my world. I know I should use one but for some reason, I just can't get myself to pay the usually very premium prices for a great one. The challenge always is to find a good one at a price I can justify. 

This is where my adoration for Super Facialist comes into play. They are a brilliant high street brand that offers incredibly decent formulations for a great price. Trying their Vitamin C eye cream has long been on my ever-growing list of wanted products and now that they have launched the new Hyaluronic Acid range with a new eye cream with an SPF too. Naturally, I didn't hesitate and got both.

Vitamin C Dark Circles Eye Cream

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that protects the skin from damage on a cellular level. It is most known for its brightening qualities and its ability to fight pigmentation but it also encourages collagen production that makes the skin firmer. No wonder, it is a favourite ingredient in eye creams.  

Apart from Vitamin C this formula also contains a good dose of Caffeine. Caffeine is another well-loved ingredient in eye creams because of the multitudes of benefits it has on the skin: it constricts the blood vessels under the skin so it can reduce puffiness, improve the look of dark circles and by the constricting action the skin can feel tighter as well. On top of that is has anti-inflammatory qualities and it hydrates the skin too. 

You can find even more loveliness on the ingredient list like Passionflower Seed Oil (rich in fatty acids, reduces inflammation), Aloe Vera leaf juice (antioxidant packed with vitamins and minerals, moisturizes, reduces inflammation)and Pomegranate Flower extract (anti-inflammatory antioxidant)too.

The formula is all about helping to reduce the factors that can lead to premature ageing by brightening and reducing inflammation in the skin and make it work to its optimum.

Since I got both the eye creams and this doesn't have an SPF, I built it into my evening routine. The texture is light, not overwhelming, there is no apparent fragrance, it sinks in quickly but you can feel it nicely conditioning and hydrating the eye area. All in all, it is very pleasant to use even if you don't know the long-term benefits. You can use it morning and night if you wish. 

Hyaluronic Acid Firming Lift & Smooth Eye Cream SPF 15 

It is hard enough to find a good quality eye cream on a budget that works for you, it is even harder to find one with sun protection. This is why I'm so glad I've found this. Hyaluronic Acid is one of my favourite skincare ingredients anyway so this little tube of wonder looked very appealing to me.

While we have ingredients repeating here like Caffeine and Aloe Vera, it also contains Hyaluronic Acid (a powerful ingredient in anti-ageing, it is a humectant, a moisture binding ingredient that keeps the skin plump), minerals, tetrapeptides (a firming, brightening, anti-inflammatory ingredient that improves skin elasticity and skin texture over time) and grape seed oil (a great antioxidant) that help to strengthen, renew, hydrate the skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines. The great thing about this is the added SPF which we all know is one of the biggest weapons when it comes to anti-ageing.

I use this now as my go-to eye cream for the day and is a firm favourite in my morning routine already. Just like the Vitamin C eye cream it is very pleasant to use. The light texture glides on the skin easily, sinks in quickly but you can feel that the eye area is nicely conditioned and hydrated.

  

Bonus features

- the packaging is great: a long, lean tube with a thin head, that makes it really easy to use and makes sure you don't waste product

- they are paraben-free, fragrance-free, cruelty-free AND vegan

- the price: it is £12.99 for the Vitamin C cream, £14.99 for the HA firming cream in Boots and since a little goes a long way, that little 15 ml tube lasts a good while. 

They are available on the Super Facialist website, Boots online and selected Boots stores.

My 5 favourite things to do to unwind and get inspired

Even if you are not working in a creative environment finding things that inspire you, help you to recharge is paramount for our mental well-being. As soon as I feel that I'm starting to lose energy, or as they say I'm feeling a bit 'meh' I consciously reach for one of my trusty ways to get those rusty engines working again and get back on track. 'Meh' is just not good enough for me and though it might take discipline, it is always worth making an effort and give that proverbial kick in the butt for yourself by actively seeking out inspiration.

Podcasts 

My number one source of inspiration is listening to beauty podcasts at the moment. A bit late to the party, I know, but Youtube was keeping me occupied for a long while. However, I've had it with watching an endless number of Youtube videos when out and about. The annoyance of bumping into people on the street and practically missing the world by not even looking up from the screen has become a  bit of a bother. Since I am not much of a radio fan it was time to look for a new pursuit. 
I started to binge-listen to podcasts and I've instantly become hooked. The wide array of subjects covered in podcasts and listening to the incredible amount of inspiring people has not just helped me to get a new-found boost of energy to culivate my career in the beauty industry but it has actually made me look up from my phone and take in the world around me too. There's something liberating about not looking at a screen but still taking in outstanding content.

My other picks would be Full Coverage by Harriet Hadfield  (a lovely make-up artist who is blogging and Youtube-ing under the name of Harry Makes it Up) and Lindsey Kelk (a bulbbly beauty geek and writer), The Heart of It with Estee Lalonde (she is a huge beauty/lifestyle blogger and Youtube-er), What I Wore When (Glamour Magazine's official podcast with Jo Elvin), At Home With (with Anna Edit's Anna Newton and Lily Pebbles(both are amazing UK lifestyle/beauty/fashion bloggers) and if you are a bit of a film geek like me You Must Remember This is a real gem. 

Pinterest 

Long are the days gone when I was eagerly chopping up fashion magazines and tear out the images I admired and collect it into large folders for inspiration. While I have kept some of them for sentimental reasons, my main inspiration for make-up and beauty is Pinterest.

The whole concept is so simple and easy yet brilliant. Pin, re-pin, like your favourite images and articles into different boards according to topics and ta-daaa there's your online visual inspiration gallery done.
It is visually pleasing when I look at my main page on Pinterest and it is immensely satisfying to arrange all the images into different boards. When I'm prepping for a job or looking for inspiration for my next Instagram picture first thing I reach for are my Pinterest boards or my newsfeed and it usually doesn't take long to find what I am looking for.

There's nothing better than finding an idle 15 minutes during the day just scrolling away and pinning everything I fancy. If you'd like to join in on my Pinterest journey, you can follow me here .


Walking around small boutiques and tiny stores in the Brighton Lanes


When I want to wake up my senses the best bet is to take a long walk around town and check out my favourite shops. I have an inherent love of wandering around small independent stores and Brighton is a perfect place to do that. The Lanes offers such a huge variety from accessories, books,vinyls, jewellery, vintage clothes, spices, makeup, skin care to magical chocolate creations, homeware, vegan shoe shops and custom tailors  not to talk about the charming little cafes and eateries that lure you in for cups of soy latte, Bubble Tea or the latest gourmet burgers and vegan cakes.

My favourite places are Oliver Bonas, Workshop, Bert's, Workshop Living, Infinity Foods, Choccywoccydoodah, The L'occatine store and Space NK of course. After a little outing like this in town, I always have to make notes because I am buzzing with lifestyle and post ideas.

Reading books on beauty, fashion magazines

These days I am keeping some of my magazines intact ever since Pinterest has come on the scene so I can enjoy them in their full glory. More and more magazines are going digital but I still hang on to print if I can. Going through my favourite magazines and beauty books on a lazy Sunday is one of my favourite things to do because somehow it completely switches me off for hours and poring over the beautifully crafted fashion images, beauty stories is not just a good way to de-stress and unwind but as a make-up artist it I find it inspiring.
 

My best-loved magazines and books are Vogue, Glamour, Elle, Hunger and Pop, all the Kevyn Aucoin books, the Fashion Images series, Audrey Style by Pamela Clarke Keogh, Face by the Pixiwoos, The Perfume Bible by Josephine Fairley and Lorna McKay, Sali Hughes' Pretty Iconic and Lisa Eldride's Face Paint.

Being in nature

I'm one of the lucky ones who lives a minute away from the beach in Brighton so nature is right on my doorstep. Finding a good spot to switch off and lose the track of time is easy since this area of the UK is surrounded by beautiful scenery (Devil's Dyke is a particular favourite of mine). Going for a long walk along Brighon Beach or hiking for hours by the Seven Sisters Cliffs with my boyfriend is just what I need to re-charge after a long week.

There's nothing more refreshing than putting away your phone and not looking at it for hours. Being away from social media, pondering about life, being mindful about the present squeezes out negative thoughts nicely and tidies up the mind giving way to positivity and a new found energy that will definitely boost your productivity later on.

What is your favourite way to unwind and get inspired?

Max Factor Healthy Skin Harmony Miracle Foundation review

I don't think I've ever had a Max Factor base in my life, God knows why, but being a ReallyRee fangirl and reading her review about the new Healthy Skin Harmony Miracle Foundation made me feel intrigued straight away.  As soon as I got to a Boots counter and tried it on my hand I was hooked. The All Hours from YSL still works well for me but I'm always up for finding something that is more forgiving to my purse.

Us combination skin girls can never really have it all when it comes to bases. Foundations either cater for dry or more oily skins but once you have both qualities it becomes really tricky.  The Healthy Skin Harmony Miracle Foundation apparently works on all areas so understandably I was very curious to try it.

The Healthy Skin Harmony Miracle Foundation is a hybrid formula which is very much an in thing in beauty at the moment.  Products that have 2, 3, 4 functions in one, combining make-up with the benefits of skincare products is well suited to our fast-paced modern lives, appeals to our inner lazy girl or maybe the effortless French girl if that's your thing.  With hybrid products, you can prime and blur, cover and nourish, give colour and protect from the sun, colour correct and brighten in one single step – who wouldn't find that irresistible?

I tried it for two weeks on my combination skin with a typical t-zone shine, here are the usual details:

What it is: a hybrid foundation with skin care qualities.

What it claims to do: "Max Factor Healthy Skin Harmony Miracle Foundation is a hybrid make up with a smart formula and intelligent ingredients specially designed to adapt to internal and external skin stresses over the day: 24-hour hydration, SPF20 protection and shine control to help protect skin from dryness, shine and sun exposure. The foundation restores tired, stressed-out skin and improves skin condition."

Packaging: nothing out of the ordinary, it is practical and it does look like a high street foundation. Glass bottle with a plastic pump and a see-through lid with gold stripes. 

Who is it for: I can see this working on normal, combination, slightly dry skin, maybe not on a very oily skin.

Finish:  satin, with a slight glow.

How it worked on me: On application, the texture is silky smooth and easy to blend, it is a joy to apply it with fingers but sponge/brush works well too. You can achieve quite high coverage quickly but you can build it up if you need more. I only used a small amount at a time and I could instantly see it brightening my complexion. It wears impressively well during the day but oxidised a little on me over time (as do most foundations) so it might be a good idea to go for a little bit lighter shade than you usually go for. I am not sure how the formula is put together but is nice  and balanced: It's hydrating enough but not too moisturizing. It is oil absorbing but not drying. It has a glow but not the one that turns into an unappealing oil slick. It has coverage but doesn't look heavy. It blurs out imperfections but doesn't obliterate all your features. I am glad to see it lives up to its claim and it really does work on combination skin and it is really comfortable to wear.
  

The SPF 20 is quite useful but for me is a bit too low, I personally would use a higher SPF before my makeup. At the end of the day, I removed it with a heavy balm cleanser just because of the sun protection and it broke down the makeup well and fast.

The  Healthy Skin Harmony Miracle Foundation is available in a decent variety of 18 shades, I just wish there were a bit more yellow undertones.

Value for money: good as with all high-street foundations, you get 30ml for £14.99.

Before and after shots: