Tarte | Tarteist Blush Palette

The Tarte Tarteist Blush Palette is finally in my life. Isn't the packaging just the cutest? I have seen this palette crop up on Instagram hundreds of times and I have coveted it something chronic.  I'm a sucker for packaging and this spoke to my soul, add in 4 gorgeous, wearable, pigmented blush shades and i'm sold. 

I've found myself reaching for palettes more and more recently. In part due to the release of some fantastic palettes in the past year, but also because I travel quite often and individual blushes are bulky and don't offer enough choice. This Tarte Tarteist palette was one of my US Sephora purchases, the only UK stockist of Tarte is QVC and despite checking their site multiple times a week, I have never seen this beauty listed for sale. 

The four shades in this palette, from left to right, are: Live, Laugh, Love and Dream. The names are a bit cringey, but the shades are simply stunning. You don't need a ton of product because they are so pigmented and the shades are pretty good for most skin tones. I have olive-ish skin and all of these suit me well. There's a fairly generous amount of each product too, so I can see this lasting me quite some time. 

The actual palette itself isn't as sturdy as I had hopes, and it feels disappointingly cheap. But it isn't an expensive product. I love love love that there is a mirror in here, because it makes it so much more convenient to use (I'm looking at you Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow). I can't find it on the Sephora website anymore, but you can buy individual Amazonian Clay Blushes for $28 here. As far as i'm aware, Tarte is one of the brands that Sephora won't ship to the UK *boo*. FYI Tarte are vegan and cruelty free.

What do you think of Tarte products?

Laser Hair Removal | 2nd Session Results*

Shaving is an absolute chore, and waxing, for me is too painful. Opting for laser hair removal was one of the best decisions I've made. After just 2 sessions, there hasn't been much (if any) regrowth which means I can kiss shaving my underarms goodbye forever! 

I will still need a few more sessions to ensure that this lack of hair growth is permanent but I'm so happy with the results so far and it's shaved a couple minutes off my morning routine (pun intended).

Following on from my initial consultation and first laser session, my second session wasn't when I should have had it. Ideally you're supposed to schedule your appointments every 6 weeks, which allows the technicians to be able to target the hair follicles right before a new cycle of hair comes in. When hair falls out, new hairs are supposed to grow. Due to the cycle of hair growth, it's essential that every cycle is targeted and zapped away! I, on the other hand was due to go back for my second appointment last year in July. However, I somehow caught H-Pilori (stomach infection) and was bed ridden for a week, meaning I had to postpone my session. Then, as per usual, life got in the way and I just never got round to rebooking, until March this year.

Here's a little illustration on why you should ensure you go back within the 6 weeks advised. 

As you can see, once a hair falls out on its own, without ensuring the hair follicle is destroyed, a new hair will grow.

As you can see, if you don't complete the treatment regularly, you risk having to start the treatment all over again as the new cycle of hair would just regenerate. One or two treatments are enough to thin the hair, for example if it grew too thickly or there was too much of it, but if you're after a more permanent solution to your hair problems and want it all gone completely, you definitely have to go back regularly and finish the treatment in full.

So I booked in to see them in mid April and went along to their clinic in Fenchurch Street, London. Upon arrival, I'm always greeted with a smile and the lovely technicians are so friendly and welcoming. 

As mentioned in my previous post, the actual treatment itself isn't that painful. It just feels like a hair is being plucked out, followed by the smell of burning. The more hair and the more dense your hair is, the longer it will take to make sure all hairs have been treated. The actual laser is super hot, but the machine also blows cold air on the same area so that you don't actually feel the heat.

My underarms were a little sore afterwards as my top was quite tight and rubbed, so I used my Dr. Organic Aloe Vera gel and the pain soon vanished.

Almost 6 weeks has passed since my 2nd treatment and am awaiting my appointment next week, I haven't even noticed any hair growth, especially not the thicker visible hair that grew before.  I'm really looking forward to spending my summer holidays (11 days away!!!) without having to worry about lifting my arms up or wearing sleeveless tops and bikinis. And then, once I have finished this course of treatments, I can enjoy that feeling for the rest of my life!

I'm actually really tempted to get my legs and bikini line done, and then maybe my upper lip and brows.. There are endless possibilities with permanent hair removal. It's just a great way to make your life easier and save time!

In my next post of this series, I will be exploring the difference between IPL and Laser hair removal. So keep an eye out! 

If you're interested in getting a treatment like this, give Pulse Light Clinic a call and book your initial consultation. They also offer skin treatments for acne, scars, tattoos and more!

Have you had hair removal treatment? Has it lasted?

Beauty Hack | Nivea for Men Post Shave Balm as a Primer

Many of you will have seen fairly recently a new beauty hack claiming to be a cheap alternative to those expensive foundation primers around at the moment. 

The Hack? Men's shaving balm. I kid you not! 

With a range of different balms to choose from, I went for this Sensitive balm with 0% Alcohol inside, as I have quite sensitive skin. It's a cute little white glass bottle and is only around £5 to pick up at your local supermarket or drugstore! 

So does it really work? As far as I've seen, yes! I've been using this beauty secret for about 2 months now and not once has my makeup come off or sweat down my face. So, I think we've actually done it girls! Screw the expensive primers that you spend £30 on and find out a day later it can't keep your makeup in place for 2 hours, let alone a whole day. Grab yourself a little bottle of this and you'll be laughing!

Nivea for Men Post Shave Balm is a runny white liquid, that could, if you ask me, be made to look a bit nicer, it does kind of look like something else.... But hey, a little goes a long way with this as you literally need a drop about the size of a 5p coin. This means that the bottle will last forever! 

Originally designed to soothe and smooth men's faces after they've shaved, the balm is cooling, moisturising and refreshing. I've seen bloggers complain about the smell of it.. It essentially just smells like men's aftershave a little bit. But I actually really like the smell! It gets masked by makeup anyway so no one else can smell it.

Once you've smoothed it all over your face, got it into the books and crannies around your nose and eyes, let it dry a little bit. It will become tacky to touch. This is what makes your foundation stick to it so well! 

I have seen some negative reviews of this, which claim it doesn't keep makeup on for the whole day, and that it should only be used for what it was intended. But I say, if you use it liberally, let it set a couple minutes and use a setting powder after your makeup, it will last the whole day. And hey, it's a fraction of the price of usual primers! 

I still use pore filling primers underneath to smooth over my complexion, but that's only in small areas, such as my cheek and nose. I apply a little bit of Benefit's PoreFessional and then add this balm on top. 

The main advantage of using this every day before I apply makeup is that it also doubles as being part of my skincare regime. Since using this, my skin has become super smooth and now use it in place of my usual moisturiser as this actually is 10x better than that also. 

So girls, steal your partner's bottle or head down to your local store and pick one up. Even if it's just to wear under a light foundation or to take on holiday if you don't want to take your most expensive makeup, this inexpensive little bottle could save you loads! Not just in money, but also save you from having to reapply make up half way through the day.

Have you tried this new beauty hack? Or know of any other cheap alternatives to primers? 

8 Destinations on my Travel Bucket List

I long to travel. There's nothing that gives me a deeper sense of happiness than the excitement building up to a holiday. An escape from reality, from work, from the daily struggle to get up in the mornings. I dream of places I can jet off to, but without the funds, or the annual leave, I'm limited to one holiday a year, if I'm lucky.