Dermalogica Daily Superfoliant | Review

Hi guys! Has it been a while or has it been a while?! Firstly I’d like to wish you all a very late happy new year. To say that 2017 was super busy for me, would be an understatement, hence why I have been so inactive on my blog. BUT I promise to be a lot more consistent with my blog this year. Especially with Instagram being such a let down in terms of interaction and the whole order of how posts are displayed, I just don’t get what they’re doing but I am using that as motivation to be a lot more consistent with my posts on here.

Thank you to all the lovely people that have stuck with me!

I have a pretty exciting post today. I was sent a bunch of things from Dermalogica and Influenster to test out and I was so happy when the package arrived because Dermalogica have been my absolute ride or die. If you read my very first skincare post, you’ll know that their Clear Start range had a huge hand in clearing up my severe acne years ago.

I was kindly sent their Daily Superfoliant, Precleanse Balm, Special Cleansing Gel and the Skin Smoothing Cream.
I knew pretty much straight away that I’d love the Special Cleansing Balm because it is very similar to their Clear Start Breakout Clearing Foaming Wash (that was a right mouthful), so I won’t bore you with saying how great it is (again) because I love it just as much as I loved the Clear Start one, so if you would like to know my thoughts on that, check out my good old skincare post.

If you’re a fan of double cleansing like myself, you will absolutely love the Precleanse Balm. This stuff is incredible at getting deep into your pores as well as taking all the gunk off the surface of your skin before you do your everyday cleansing routine. It is a balm that turns into an oil, but isn’t heavy at all. This product comes with a cleansing mitt, which is just incredible. Now, I know there’s a tonne of different mitts on the market, but this one is very gentle on the skin. I can’t fault this product, it’s gentle enough to use around the eye area, it doesn’t strip your skin of it’s natural oils and it even gets rid of waterproof makeup!

The Skin Smoothing Cream is the perfect everyday moisturiser. It does exactly what it says on the tin (or tube in this case). Once applied this cream pretty much keeps my skin hydrated all day or until I cleanse again. I have very oily skin but this didn’t feel heavy on my skin and it didn’t cause any sensitivity or breakouts. This wasn’t a product that I had used before, so as always I was a little hesitant. I have very sensitive skin so when I find products that work for my skin, I usually tend to stick with them. And I can confirm this will be one of those products.

I have been using these products for a while now and although most of the time I used them together, step-by-step; I did ocassionally mix and match them with other skincare products and they worked just as well as they did together.
But there is one product that was my absolute favourite out of the lot (although that is a bold statement because the love I have for Dermalogica is very real), if you read the title of this post, you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about and that is, of course, the Daily Superfoliant. I am beyond obsessed with this and I have been using it religiously ever since I received it. It is absolute magic in a bottle. My skin has never looked as good as it does today. Having suffered from severe acne in my teen years, I had scars and an uneven texture to my skin where I had picked my spots (don’t ever pick your spots kids!). The way this product works is incredible, its a powder that you basically rub between your hands and it turns into an exfoliating paste, it activates with a little water. A lot of people think that exfoliating everyday isn’t great for your skin, which in most cases it isn’t. That’s where this product comes in. It’s gentle enough to use daily, but if you have skin that is even more sensitive than mine you can use it every other day. It contains charcoal, which is known for it’s purifying properties. It also contains Niacinamide, Red Algae and Tara Fruit Extract, which shield your skin against the damage that pollution causes.
Dermalogica were not messing around when they said this products resurfaces your skin to the smoothest it could possibly be. You can pretty much see the effects of this product after one use, so you can only imagine what it could do for your skin after a while.
My skin not only feels smooth but it also looks smooth. This product has helped make my acne scars a lot less visible and it hasn’t caused any breakouts, redness or sensitivity. It isn’t drying and it doesn’t strip your skin of its moisture. My skin tone is even, which was a huge concern of mine because of how severe my acne was and although I don’t wear makeup daily, I can see that I wouldn’t need a lot of coverage when wearing it ocassionaly. The Daily Superfoliant is a product that I will definitely be repurchasing, it has worked absolute wonders on my skin. I’ve tried products that have cost me double the amount this costs, but didn’t do anything for my skin, so in my opinion, this stuff is worth it’s weight in gold. If you haven’t tried anything from Dermalogica before, this is the perfect product to start with, especially if you’ve already got a pretty solid skincare routine but you’re missing that little something!

Dermalogica is a brand that is gluten free, vegan, paraben free, cruelty free and they don’t use artificial fragrances or colours (what’s not to love?!)

How I use the products:
I start off with the Precleanse Balm. I wet my face and rub a small amount of the product between my hands and rub it all over my face and eyes. I then use the cleansing mitt to really rub the product into my skin and into all those places our hands wouldn’t necessarily reach. I then wash the product off and use the Special Cleansing Gel and rub some product between my hands and then all over my face and neck. Once I’ve rinsed this off, I tap some of the Daily Superfoliant onto my wet hands (a little goes a long way) and rub my hands together to activate the product and turn it into a paste, I then rub this all over my face and neck in circular motions, avoiding the eye area. I do this for about a minute. I then rinse this off and pat my face dry with a clean towel. I finish off with the Skin Smoothing Cream.

I really hope you guys enjoyed this post. I shall see you in the next one!

Dermalogica Daily Superfoliant - available here
Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel - available here
Dermalogica Precleanse Balm - available here
Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream - available here

Yogita x

I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes. But as always my opinion is 100% honest.

Makeup Revolution Liquid Highlighters | Review + Swatches

Afternoon all! I hope you are all doing extremely well on this fine evening, wherever you may be. I am currently sweating my a*** off because it is beyond boiling in London today, let's hope this weather continues through the long bank holiday weekend (although I can't stand the heat and much prefer the cold weather).
I know, I know it's been a long time, but I am back with a good one today. You will not be disappointed (I hope).
As you all may know Makeup Revolution released their liquid highlighters this week and let's be real which one of us isn't obsessed with highlighters? As soon as Adam Minto announced their arrival on his Instagram page, I was like 'shut up and take my money'.
Makeup Revolution has got to be one of my favourite drugstore brands, not only are the products extremely affordable, they also pack a punch against the high end products on the market. Speaking of packing a punch, who is looking forward to the Mayweather v McGregor fight tonight? I bloody well am. Team McGregor up in here!

Stop getting distracted Yogz.

Back to the topic in hand. Makeup Revolution came out with 7 shades in total, although I only purchased 6 out of the 7 because as much as I love highlighter I am not going to get much use out of the Unicorn Elixir highlighter and the name just makes me picture myself as a unicorn prancing around with that highlighter on (I know you pictured it too, it's ok to admit it).
I know there's a heck of a lot of liquid highlighters out on the market but none of them are as affordable as these, at just £6 a pop they cost a fraction of the price of most highlighters, yep you heard right, I said £6! They are also currently on offer at Superdrug. So for me they worked out at £4 each, which is insane.

My holy grail highlighter has got to be Mary Lou Manizer from The Balm, but powder highlighters can often end up looking cakey if they aren't applied correctly, which is why I believe liquid highlighters are a god send, providing you use the right amount and the right technique/tools.
When it comes to liquid highlighters I prefer using a wet beauty blender and I try not to blend it out too much because otherwise you'll end up with just specks of glitter on your face.

On to these bad boys.
I'll start with the packaging. The highlighters come in glass bottles and although they feel quite delicate they have been packaged very well. I was pretty impressed to see that the highlighters came in glass bottles because at that price I was expecting the packaging to be plastic. The applicator is a pipette, which I think is great, because it means no mess or waste. You can just pop a couple of drops on your cheekbones and dab away.
The bottles may look small but you need very little product and when I say very little, I mean very little. These will last absolute ages.

Shoutout to my sister for the picture above, you the realist.

The quality of these highlighters is incredible, whether we're talking about the packaging, the shade range or the product itself. These highlighters are extremely pigmented and give the most beautiful glow to the skin. These can be used on the high points of your face or on your body. Another perk of liquid highlighters is that they look beautiful on your body as well as your face and as I mentioned before it won't look cakey.

Top to bottom - Starlight, Luminous Gold, Champagne, Bronze Gold, Rose Gold and Lustre Gold

As you can see from my amateur swatches above (I thought swatching liquid lipsticks was hard, little did I know), there is a good shade range and they are very pigmented. Starlight has a pink undertone, Luminous Gold looks like it has a peach undertone whereas the rest of them have a golden undertone, which is usually the kind of highlighters I go for and although the bottom three highlighters are a little dark for me and may be for others too. You can still make them work for you because they blend beautifully.

Another thing I noticed about these highlighters was that it was an absolute battle to remove these off my arm, so you can bet they'll last all night. They'll probably be able to see you in Mars whilst you're trying to wash it off your face.

You can use these on their own, mix them with your foundation or even with your moisturiser (this is my favourite technique) for a natural glow all over your face and body. As you guys know I'm not a fan of using makeup on a daily basis and usually stick to translucent powder and mascara, but I am all for these highlighters in my moisturiser. If you see someone looking like a disco ball on the tube, it's probably me (sorry not sorry).

You better believe I had to take a photo of these highlighters that can turn you into a glowing goddess with one dab, in the sunlight. I highly recommend wearing your sunglasses for the following swatches. Just saying 😎

Top to bottom - Starlight, Luminous Gold, Champagne, Bronze Gold, Rose Gold and Lustre Gold

Champagne is my favourite shade out of the lot. Speaking of favourites, if you haven't watched Sophia and Cinzia on youtube or follow them on Instagram you are missing out big time. These girls are beyond hilarious, absolutely gorgeous and are totally my soul sisters. They have got me hooked on Paige Toon. I have been reading her books non-stop. I ordered another 5 of her books as I was writing this post, yes I am that obsessed. If you haven't read any of her books you NEED to read them asap. Every book connects to the other in the most smartest way. Paige Toon if you're reading this you are AMAZING (let's be real she probably has better things to do).

You can watch Sophia & Cinzia here and follow them here

Makeup Revolution Liquid Highlighters available here and here (currently 3 for 2 at Superdrug)

I hope you all have a lovely long bank holiday weekend and I shall see you all in my next post (let's hope the next one comes sooner than this one did).

Yogita x

Kylie Cosmetics | Review, Swatches + Customs

Hello my lovelies! I know it's been quite a while and I am extremely sorry, unfortunately things are only getting busier for me, but I do hope to get back into the swing of things in the coming weeks! 

I am starting this post with an extremely heavy heart because of the incidents that occurred here, in London last night. Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with everyone, not just the people of London. An attack like this is an attack on humanity and it's heartbreaking. What could anyone possibly get out of hurting and instilling fear in innocent people? The one thing that is beautiful to witness is the kindness, the kindness of people towards absolute strangers and the courage from our emergency services, it's incredible. Please stay safe and try and help those around you if you are in a position to do so.

Today's post is one that I was extremely excited to write (I'm pretty sure I say that about every post I write, but I really am excited). I received my first Kylie Cosmetics order not too long ago! I know I'm a little late but as I said before things are only getting busier for me which means I'm a little late when it comes to hopping on the bandwagon. Now, I bloody love Kylie Jenner, I am no-one to judge, I don't care what she's done to her lips (she didn't borrow my lips, so why should it bother me?), I don't care who she's dating (she isn't dating my boyfriend, so why should it bother me?), I don't care what she's wearing (It isn't my nip that she's flashing, so why should it bother me?), I think she's beautiful and I think it's great that she's built such a solid empire at such a young age. My love for her is one of the reasons why I wanted to get my hands on her Lipkits!

I purchased the Lipkits in Dolce K, Pumpkin, Ginger and Exposed and was kindly sent the So Cute gloss as my order took a little longer than usual to arrive, which was a lovely little surprise!

I have to talk about the packaging because I absolutely love it. It's very minimal, which, if you know me you'll know is right up my street. I am someone that loves hoarding pretty packaging, I really don't know why because I doubt I'll get much use out of an empty box that can barely hold a lipliner, let's be real, but you can bet a pretty penny that I'll be keeping these boxes hah!

The formula of these liquid lipsticks and the lipliners is incredible, definitely the best I've come across, the lipliners are pigmented and as are the liquid lipsticks, but they are a serious workout to remove, which in my opinion is great because it means you won't have to reapply throughout the day. They come off pretty easily with oil based makeup removers, which is what I personally use and would definitely recommend you do the same, otherwise we'll be here all week trying to get these off! I am aware that a lot of people compare these to the Colourpop liquid lipsticks just because they're made in the same factory and have the same formula (I have been told), but I much prefer Kylie's formula, which means there has to be something different about them right? The Lipkits are lot easier to wear and don't feel heavy on your lips whereas the Colourpop liquid lipsticks, as beautiful as they are, are a lot heavier on the lips and I can't stand it when I can feel things on my skin.

When it comes to liquid lipsticks in general, I exfoliate my lips with a lip scrub and moisturise them with a lip balm immediately after exfoliating and blot them a little to take off any excess lip balm with a piece of tissue paper, just to prevent any dryness or flakiness. I've found that taking these steps prior to applying liquid lipsticks means that the overall application is a lot smoother and the colour lasts a lot longer.

Top-bottom (lipliner and then the corresponding liquid lipstick): Dolce K, Pumpkin, Ginger, Exposed and gloss in So Cute

In the tubes Pumpkin and Ginger look very similar but are a little different when applied. Pumpkin is a lot more on the orange side and Ginger is a little more brown. The So Cute gloss is a little pale on it's own but over a darker lipliner, it is absolutely stunning. It isn't sticky or uncomfortable on the skin, I'm not a gloss kind of person but I absolutely love this formula. My favourite out of the bunch has to be Exposed, it is the most beautiful nude shade I have ever come across and would probably look insane on any skin tone. The applicator is your bog standard doe foot applicator but it doesn't cause any streakiness or unevenness when applying the liquid lipsticks and are really soft on the skin.

I know you may be thinking $29 (£22) is a lot for a liquid lipstick and lipliner but if you think about it, a Mac liquid lipstick is £17.50 and a lipliner is £13 (£30.50 in total for the two), which is a lot more than £22 for a lipliner and liquid lipstick. Also, considering the formula, I think these are totally worth the money. The formula is beautiful and pigmented, the lipliners are extremely creamy and so easy to work with.

Customs

Now on to the topic that no-one really wants to talk about, but want to know everything about. Customs 😱 You have to pay customs on any goods that are ordered from outside the EU that you have paid more than £15 for and also an £8 service charge from Royal Mail if the goods are delivered by them. Always keep this in mind when purchasing from abroad because the last thing you want is a hefty customs bill you weren't expecting, on top of what you've already paid for your items.

I was charged customs on the basis that I paid full price for the items, which is incorrect as I purchased the lipkits during a promotion. You can fill in a form along with a copy of proof of purchase and any other documents you may feel are relevant if you believe you have paid too much. The form can be downloaded here. Make sure you pay the customs charges asap just to avoid your items being sent back. The reason I was charged customs on the basis that I paid full price is because the people at Kylie Cosmetics filled in the customs declaration on the outer packaging incorrectly, so I will be filling in the form that I mentioned above so that the mistake can be rectified and I will keep you posted on the progress because I know how confusing customs can be. 

I really hope large companies such as Kylie Cosmetics and Colourpop recognise the problems that customs declarations can make and start filling in the customs declarations as they are on your purchase order, because it means avoiding all the hassle of getting reimbursements for any excess payments you have made for customs. You can read more on customs here.

Customs Update

As you guys know I did fill in the Customs form mentioned above just a little while after I received my Kyle Cosmetics order. I received a letter and a cheque rectifying the miscalculated customs charge, so I would definitely say it is well worth filling the form out and sending it off with your proof of purchase, photocopies of the customs charges that you paid and copies of any other documents you feel may be relevant. Although it did take a long time to get processed, I'm so glad the mistake was rectified because the customs charges for some of these orders are horrendous especially when they are miscalculated! 

Another thing I would like to mention is where to purchase Kylie Cosmetics products, especially here in the UK. 

I get asked about this so much and all I can say is DO NOT purchase Kylie Cosmetics products from anywhere other than their official website. There are so many fake websites and people selling fakes that contain ingredients that are harmful. Please be aware.

Taking into account the price, customs, delivery etc. Do I think these Lipkits are worth it? Hell yeah! I definitely want to get my hands on more of them and also the eyeshadow palettes!

I really hope you guys found this post helpful. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact me via my social media links, which are provided at the top of my blog or through the comments section below.

Official Kylie Cosmetics website

Kylie Cosmetics Lipkits - available here

Kylie Cosmetics Glosses - available here

Please be safe and enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Yogita x

DermaQuest | Review

I am going to start off by apologising, I know it has been quite a while since I last posted and I am making no excuses but I have been extremely busy (busy may be an understatement) and this may be the case for the coming few weeks, although I will try my very best to post as often as I can.
Today's post is one that I have been extremely excited to write. A few weeks ago I was sent a bunch of stuff from DermaQuest and of course I wasn't going to tell you my thoughts until I had tried the products out and that is exactly what I've been doing for the past few weeks.

I wasn't expecting any miracles but around the time I was sent these products I had a painful breakout and I had an inkling that this pesky little thing was going to turn into a mountain overnight if I didn't do something about the unwanted guest pronto! I applied the BHA Spot Treatment on the breakout before I went to bed and I am telling no lies, I woke up to a totally dried out spot, of course it was still slightly visible but it was totally dried out and wasn't causing any pain. If there was one product I could compare to this it would have to be the Mario Badesco Drying Lotion and I have sworn by this product for years! It's main ingredient is Salicylic Acid, which, if like me you've suffered from acne in the past, you will be extremely familiar with.

Another product I was sent was the SheerZinc SPF 30. If there's one product you NEED to have in your skincare routine it's SPF, regardless of whether the sun's out or not, the UV rays will always find a way. I have absolutely loved using this. It is a cream formula but it is extremely light on the skin, now I have really oily skin but this hasn't made me excessively oily or left any white residue, which is great because the last thing you want to do is look like a zombie out in the sun. This offers UVA and UVB protection. Also if you're someone that uses acids on your skin, whether it's hyaluronic acid, glycolic acid or any other acid, SPF is always a must!
Ultraviolet radiation from the sun (UVA and UVB) damage the skin, age it prematurely and increase the chances of skin cancer, which is why SPF is so essential in your daily skincare.
As you all know I am someone that has suffered from severe acne in the past, which is why I try not to use new products because you never really know how your skin will react. None of the products I was sent have made me breakout or caused any irritation.

Lastly I was sent the Essential B5 Hydrating Serum. Now I know you guys must be thinking why on earth is this girl using so many hydrating products when she already has oily skin. Just because you have oily skin doesn't necessarily mean your skin is hydrated. Your skin will always need hydration, whether it's in the form of a cream, serum or just you drinking water regularly. I love having a serum in my skincare routine and this little gem contains Hyaluronic Acid, Ferulic Acid and Vitamin B5.
Vitamin B5 is known to hydrate the skin but is also a natural healer and protector of the skin.
One gram of Hyaluronic Acid can hold up to six litres of water and as we age our skin loses it's natural ability to retain moisture and that's where Hyaluronic Acid can help. As well as hydrating the skin, Hyaluronic Acid revitalises the layers of your skin and improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Ferulic Acid is naturally found in seeds of fruits such as apples, oranges and even in some vegetables, nuts and grains, where it plays a vital role in the plants' protection and self preservation. It helps fight against the free-radical damage that contributes to ageing. It basically helps slow down the clocks when it comes to ageing.
The Essential B5 Hydrating Serum from DermaQuest contains all three ingredients, so you know it's a load of magic in a bottle. This product has made my skin extremely smooth and so naturally glowy (and I am bloody loving it). It really is hydrating but very lightweight at the same time. The serum has a pump, which is always useful because it means you won't waste any product, one pump of this is more than enough to cover your whole face. It's also won the Best Daily Serum Award at the Beauty Shortlist Awards 2017 and I can't say I'm surprised, because it is incredible. Definitely my favourite out of the lot.

Honestly, I can't praise these products enough. I genuinely wasn't expecting any miracles when I received these products, but they really have helped transform my skin and have become such an essential part of my skincare. I will definitely be purchasing the SheerZinc SPF 30 and the Hydrating Serum once I run out because I am obsessed! Another thing I loved about the products was the packaging, I am a sucker for anything minimal. DermaQuest caters for a whole range of skincare concerns, whether it's ageing, acne, pigmentation. They literally have a product for everything.
When it comes to skincare, everyone reacts differently to products so it is extremely important to do your research and avoid any products that contain ingredients that you may be sensitive to. Finding products that work perfectly for you is an ongoing journey, some things may work and some may not but doing your research and being patient is essential to your own personal journey.

DermaQuest Essential B5 Hydrating Serum - available here
DermaQuest SheerZinc SPF 30 - available here
DermaQuest BHA Spot Treatment - available here

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Yogita x

*Products featured in this post were kindly sent to me. Please refer to the Disclaimer page for more information.