Battle of the Balms

Cleansing balms really are the word on the street at the moment when it comes to skincare. I used to be a cream/gel wash kinda gal until skincare guru Caroline Hirons explained that balms are much more effective in removing traces of makeup and grime and as a heavy makeup wearer I knew that I had to invest in a balm immediately!

I always use Bioderma to take off my makeup before cleansing as I like to feel that I have removed the top layer of muck before getting into cleansing. It is a great product for quick makeup removal particularly for makeup artists!

 If I am wearing particularly strong make up I will also use Dermalogica Pre cleanse, an oil based cleanser to be used on dry skin to break down product on the skin before you even reach for your cleanser. I love this product because it doesn't leave any oily residue behind and is suitable for all skin types including oily. If you wear a lot of makeup you NEED Pre-cleanse.

Back to the balms and there are lots of brands now doing cleansing balms but I have tried out 3 of these and will be letting you know how I feel about each of them.

Emma Hardie Amazing Face balm 100ml £34 - www.feelunique.com

The first balm I ever tried was Emma Hardie. This balm has become a cult favourite with beauty bloggers and I bought mine on the recommendation from fellow skincare addicts. When I found out that Caroline Hirons loves it too I knew it would be a worthwhile addition to my ever growing skincare collection.

I like the smell because it smells clean but not too overpowering. I find that its great for removing all traces of makeup. It comes with a great cloth too and can be used around eye area without stinging.
The only negative I found is that I don't particularly like the packaging style and my lid broke but I have heard that the packaging has been changed since I bought mine. It is a good starting balm for those of you who have never tried one!

Elemis Pro Collagen cleansing balm 105g £39.50 - www.feelunique.com

The next balm I tried was Elemis pro collagen balm. There was a real buzz around this product as the Elemis pro collagen range is widely known for its great anti ageing effects on the skin and even though I am only 27 I believe in getting in there early with anti ageing and many skincare therapists ive spoken to have said that early 20's at least is ideal to be starting to prevent ageing on skin.

This product looks and feels luxurious on the skin. It has a real pamper spa feel to it so was lovely to use at the end of the day. However I did not enjoy the smell and when I used this anywhere near the eye area it made them sting or water. I would recommend this for someone with slightly drier skin as it feels rich on the skin.

Elemental Herbology Purify & Soothe Facial cleansing balm 75ml £30 - www.feelunique.com

Lastly I wanted to try the purify and soothe balm from Elemental Herbology. This brand isn't as widely known but fellow skincare addicts will know that this brand graces the shelves of Space NK (my mecca) and has some popular products such cell food serum which are becoming cult favourites.

This balm comes in tube which I find is a handier size and more hygenic than the tub versions. The packaging has nice high end feel to it. I like the smell of this product too and the texture is comfortable yet lush. The product can feel slightly too rich for when my skin is a little more oily but I would say for normal to combination it is ideal.

For me, each of the balm has its own selling point but at the end of the day it may just come down to how my skin is looking or feeling. For the summer months I would probably be using the Emma Hardie , for when my skin is drier in winter I may find myself switching to the elemental herbology whilst the Elemis balm will be ideal when I want to plump the skin and really target ageing issues.

If I had to pick an all round winner it would be Elemental Herbology because I know that when I use that product it will result in the removal of all makeup and grime, will leave no residue behind and leaves me with that truly clean skin feeling but I am keen to try more cleansing balms on the market.

Which is your favourite balm and why?

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Skincare tag!

Hi guys! I have been tagged by the gorgeous Harriet from http://byooteeblog.blogspot.co.uk to do this mini skincare quiz! I love doing tags and finding out what others peoples favourites are! 

I am tagging some of you to do it too! 

Gina - London Beauty Bug

Vicky - Beauty Blogging Brunette

Lauren - Lauren Rose Makeup

Zoe - Zoe Newlove

Nikki - Beauty ya Bish

Describe your skin care routine in 5 words

Pre cleanse, cleanse, tone, moisturise

What's your skin type?

Normal/combination. I rarely suffer with breakouts and they are usually hormonal.

Top blemish zapper?

Origins Super spot remover is fab for drying them out and clearing them up quicker but generally mine are hormonal so sometimes nothing can help! 

Face wipes, yay or nay?

nay!!! I am a true believer of Caroline Hiron's (skincare guru) philosophy that face wipes should only be used on 3 occasions: Fanny's, flights and festivals! I use Bioderma makeup remover at the very least but try to do a full skincare routine every morning and night.

Toner, yay or nay?

Yay! I have always been a fan of spritz toners such as a Dermalogica Multi active toner or Liz Earle skin boost but have recently ventured into the world of exfoliation toner such as Clarins brightening toner. I use the stronger brightener toner for when my skin needs a little extra help but use my spritz toner every day.

High-end skin care or high-end make up?

This is a tough call! I am a bit of a beauty snob I must admit that I very rarely use a drugstore product and always like to spend a bit more because when it comes to putting products onto my face I believe that quality is key. If I had to choose I would pick high end makeup purely because as a makeup artist, makeup is my true love!

What's the most unusual skincare product you've tried?

I haven't tried anything unusual yet! But I am keen to try Kate Somerville goat cream which certainly has an unusual name!

Tell us your top skincare tip?

Always remove makeup at night! If I ever forget to I get spots come up immediately the day after! 

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Charlotte Tilbury Makeup

One of the most exciting launches of the year for makeup artists and beauty addicts, this collection has blown my mind! I couldn't make it to the launch at Selfridges so when I got home from work on the launch day I quickly logged on to Charlotte's own website www.charlottetilbury.com and placed an order. I initially added almost every item to my shopping bag but after taking a moment to control myself I ended up purchasing 5 items.

I decided that I wanted to try at least 2 of the lipsticks (well a girl can never have too many colours right?) and the eyeshadow palettes looked incredibly luxurious so I had to go for the vintage vamp, a selection of warm gold/plum tones perfect for my blonde hair and green eyes. I also had to have a brush as they are my true makeup addiction so the powder sculpt brush with its tapered end was a must have for a contour and highlight fan. This purchase therefore meant that the sculpt and glow compact was destined to be purchased too with a contour and highlight colour within one palette.

The Vintage Vamp luxury eye palette - £38

Filmstar Bronze & Glow - £49

Kissing Lipsticks - £23 each 

Beautiful vintage style packaging!

The perfect sculpt and highlight kit

The Vintage Vamp palette contains my favourite gold and plum tones 

Kissing Lipsticks are enriched with a breakthrough secret ingredient The Kissing tree!

Top: Velvet underground ( purple undertoned pink)

Bottom: Coachella coral ( pinky coral)

Powder & Sculpt brush - £35

Perfect shape for contouring or highlighting as it fits right into the hollows of cheek or on top of cheekbones

It's all in the detail!

These were my first purchases from the range but next time I go to London I will no doubt be buying more. I have my eye on the liquid liner and mascara in particular. The reason I will be buying more from the range is because it does exactly what you want it to do. Because Charlotte is a makeup artist herself she seems to have understood the need of makeup artists to have products which look the part, don't cost a small fortune and work perfectly on the skin. 

I think that for a high end brand the prices are spot on. £38 for a 4 shadow palette with luxurious packaging and incredible pigment is worth every penny in my opinion.

I have really fallen in love with this range and would encourage anyone who truly loves makeup so invest in a least one piece from the collection.

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