Kim's Got Gloss

Hello Everyone.

Like most bloggers I LOVE doing my monthly favourites, picking out the products I have been obsessing over this month and writing all about them. I would love to know what you have been enjoying in July. I also tell you what music I have been loving at the end.  Let's get started...

Clarins Daily Energizer Cleansing Gel.

This is so refreshing of a morning and soothing of a night. This cleanser removes any traces of make-up, dirt, bacteria and pollution and it promises to leave your skin clean and detoxified as well as blemish free and moisturised. I can say it ticks all the boxes! I love using this of a morning with a splash of cold water, it makes me feel awake, refreshed and my skin feels gunk free and soft. Of a night it tackles the make-up really well, getting rid of dirt and leaves my skin hydrated and blemish free! It's a gel formula but lathers into a soft foam with a refreshing scent!

Clarnis Daily Energizer Wake Up Booster.

After the cleansing gel I love using the toner. It adds an extra refreshing and soothing feel to my skin. This is a radiance boosting toning gel that moisturisers, softens, smoothes, tones and refreshes the skin. It's a gel formula which I love because it feels cooling and soft on my skin and leaves my skin looking alive, refreshed and healthy.

Clarins Lotus Face Treatment Oil.

I have been obsessed with this beauty oil! This is for combination/oily skin and it purifies the skin, tightens pores, refines texture, soothes, softens, seals moisture. This is pact with essential oils, rosewood, geranium, lotus and hazelnut oil. This oil absorbs quick and it makes my skin feel so hydrated and my dry areas clear up when I use this, plus the oily T-Zone I sometimes get is much more controlled. Its a great beauty oil that really does do what it promises.

MUA Undress Your Skin Highlighting Powder. ( Iridescent Gold )

This is gorgeous! It's such a beautiful, golden, shimmery, iridescent highlight. So pigmented, So pretty, lasts all day long and when the light hits the highlight you can see an iridescent glow. Its only £3! Grab it girls, it's a god send! 

Clarins Aquatic Treasures Summer Bronzing Compact.

This is a huge bronzer with a huge mirror inside. I LOVE the packaging and the product. This creates a natural, summer, bronze with a hint of a glow to the skin. 2 matte shades in copper and sun kissed beige with a golden glow to give a tanned, even, natural looking bronze complexion.  Very pigmented, Very easy to blend, Very bronzed, glowy summery finish and lasts all day! 

Essence Metal Glam Eye shadow's ( Lucky Grasshopper & Choco-Chic )

These are gorgeous!!! I have been wearing these eye shadows so much lately. This is metal meets glam, with a metallic and shimmering effect and a soft texture. Highly pigmented and lasts all day long on the eyes without moving. I have mine in a mint green and a chocolate brown. I love to use these wet or dry, wet intensifies the metallic and shimmer and dry softens but still has a eye catching result. The mint green has silver sparkles, and the chocolate eyeshadow has copper gold shimmer both are so pretty on the eyes! Pop them on your eyes for a party or night out!

Hello, I am here with one of my beauty secrets for a luxurious bath and baby soft skin! Who knew a bath bomb can have so many benefits. So last night I was feeling stressed and it was one of those nights I needed a bath and I needed my skin taken care of. I pulled out the Butterball Bath Bomb and this is what I thought of it...

This bath bomb is to soothe, soften and moisturise the skin. With the scent and ingredients of Vanilla, Ylang Ylang and cocoa butter it's going to give you a relaxing, milky, silky bath. If you have dry, irritated or sensitive skin this bath bomb is heaven for your skin type, if you don't have that skin type you will still benefit from this bath bomb- trust me! In goes the bath bomb, as it is fizzing away I can instantly smell the most yummy but relaxing scents, the vanilla and cocoa butter was oozing out. My bath water was turning a frothy, creamy white which was nice to see, instead of the normal boring bath water we all usually have. After the bath bomb fizzed out my water was a milky, moisturising, silky, creamy white with little pieces of melting cocoa butter floating around and once they melted away a moisturising coating that smelt so yummy was left. The whole bath felt so luxurious and just what I needed. I felt very comforted and my mood changed from stressed to calm, relaxed and happy.

The scents of vanilla, cocoa butter and ylang ylang was making me even more relaxed and the way the bath water felt so silky and milky and already my skin was going from dry to soft was a plus. I felt like I could spend a while in the tub and my skin would be well taken care of. My bath water felt like it is going to really soften my skin.

When I got out the bath my skin felt incredible. Baby soft and hydrated, the dry patches I had on my skin was taken care of and my skin smelt like vanilla-so nice! I did not have to moisturise my skin because my skin was so moisturised and smooth. My skin stayed soft and moisturised the next day which I loved and thought was amazing for a bath bomb to make my skin feel so incredible. This is a bath bomb I will repurchase and use when my skin needs a treat and I need a relax and sooth. If your needing a long soak in the tub, grab a glass of wine and pop the Butterball bath bomb in and let it soothe and smooth your skin.

Hello, welcome back! Today I am going to be doing a haul post. I went to Superdrug yesterday and I picked up some makeup goodies so I thought I would share what I got.

Beauty UK Eye Prime FX.

 I have used this and that day come that I had to get a new one because it ran out. This is the best drugstore eye primer in my opinion. It makes my eye shadow's glide on, stay on, not move or crease. Night time rolls around and it's time to take off that makeup, my eye shadow looks the same as it did hours before when I first applied it. Plus this primer provides a neutral undercoat, for a perfect base. Looking for a drugstore eye primer? grab this one, its fabulous!

MUA Eyebrow Pencil- Brunette.

I have been into brows so much lately so I've been wanting to pick up an eyebrow pencil and for £1 the MUA brow pencil caught my eye. It has a brush to groom and a pencil to define. I love the size of the pencil, its long so it's easy to hold. When I swatched the tester on my hand the pencil was creamy and blendable and the colour was not to strong so I have high hopes for this!

MUA Precision Felt Eyeliner- Jet Black.

I have always wanted to try a felt eye liner because I assume it would be easier to work with than a liquid. This formula and precision brush allows you to create various effects from subtle to bold. I am excited to try this.

MUA Eyeshadow- Copper.

This caught my eye because of how gorgeous the colour is, it's my type of colour for eye shadow. It's a gorgeous, copper, bronze, brown shade with a shine and shimmer. It's very pigmented, one swipe on the finger is all you need. I LOVE this shade and cannot wait to wear it. An Eye shadow for £1 that is highly pigmented and beautiful- yes please!

MUA Luxe Velvet Lip Lacquer - Atomic.

I have been looking for a bright, red, orangey, coral lip colour and I finally found it! This is a smooth, lip lacquer that has a matte, velvet finish and feel. It's long lasting, pigmented and have five rich beautiful shades to pick from. The packaging is a frosted glass which I think looks more expensive even though this was only £3. I tried this when I got home and I love it, the colour is so vibrant and makes my lips look soft and has a velvet look and feel. The only thing I wasn't sure on is it made my lips feel a little dry but I think a lipgloss or lip balm will sort that out. This is so pretty, and one I will be wearing in the summer! 

Sleek Blush- Flamingo.

If you have read my blog for some time, you will know my favourtie blushes are from Sleek! The pigmentation is crazy, the shades are so pretty and they are long wearing, and some of them have a dewy glowing highlight or a shimmer to add to the cheekbones. I have nothing bad to say about them. Being in love with them I had to pick up another blush to add to my collection ( currently own 6 ) This shade is so girly and pretty and perfect for summertime because it's a matte bright pink with warm undertones and has a satin finish. Beautiful!!!

Maybelline Brow Drama Sculpting Brow Mascara.

So as I mentioned I have been into brows and brow products so I am willing to try some different products. This brow mascara looked easy, and quick and something I needed to try. This is a brow mascara that combs through every hair for a natural even finish. A long wearing formula that does not clump, flake or streak. According to reviews its your brow bestfriend! It is meant to give you a shape and fill in without all the products, pencils. It's quick and easy.

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer - 15

This is my favourite concealer in the drugstore, I have been through about 3-4 of these. I ran out of the lightest shade one so I had to pick up another one. This is a gel concealer, that is a light texture but so creamy. I bought one in the lightest shade to brighten and awaken the under eyes and highlight my face. Glad I have it back in my collection.

 Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Fatigue Blur - warm apricot.

This is a water-based blurring complex that refreshes, hydrates, smoothes and awakens the skin for a perfect flawless finish. You can use this under or without foundation. When I tried in on the back of my hand it felt so smooth, soft and hydrating and I could smell apricots, which is lovely and reminds me of summer. It has the effect of a liquid highlight/luminator without shimmer or glitter. It's meant to give your skin a luminous, brighter awake effect. We shall see! 

Maybelline DR Rescue Baby Lips.

I have been wanting to try this because I am obsessed with the baby lips. I currently have 8! I wanted this because it has menthol and eucalyptus. This is a medicated lip balm that provides care and soothes sore dry lips. In 1 minute lips are meant to feel smooth, soothed, 1 day dryness has gone and in 1 week lips are reborn. I tried this last night and it felt amazing, my lips did feel smooth, soothed and a cool, tingly feeling which was nice.  

Maybelline ColourSensational Lipstick - Petal Pink

I picked this up because it's such a neutral, soft girly pink. I have brights and dark pinks but nothing soft and neutral like this so I am excited to wear this. I think paired with a pink rosy gloss would be gorgeous! The Maybelline lipsticks are so creamy, blendable and long wearing.

That is everything that I picked up at Superdrug! Hope you enjoyed reading and if you have any of these products let me know what you think of them. kim xo 

Welcome back to my blog! I'm going to be sharing my fake tan routine with you. I will go through the preparation, application, products and tips and tricks! I hope you enjoy reading! xo

Preparation:

The golden rule is to shower and exfoliate when it comes to tan! My tip is to shower wait a few hours then apply the tan! I found that when I applied my tan straight after my shower, the tan would sink into my open pores  and settle into every line and my tan would get blotchy very easily. So I now either shower in the morning, give the day for my skin to breathe and relax then do my tan in the evening, or shower in the night and in the morning do my tan!

When I am in the shower I use a scrub and exfoliating gloves. I like to use a gritty scrub but something that is also moisturising, so I use soap and glory scrub of your life or I will use Clarins exfoliating body scrub. Both great, gritty scrubs that moisturise and give a good exfoliation. I use the exfoliating gloves to get right into the skin and buff and scrub away the dead skin cells. I scrub all over but I focus more on the backs of the legs, elbows, inner arms, under arms and knees.  Then I will shave, I love using something moisturising and soft to shave with so I love using Soap and glory whipped clean shower butter, this smells so yummy like cakes and vanilla!! It's a shower butter so its extra moisturising, and feels like a body butter!

After showering I then apply moisturiser to the back of my legs, knees, feet, elbows and inner arms. Then I will wait a few hours or if I have just showered in the night, I will wait till the morning to do my tan.

Application:

If I am using a fake tan that requires a mitt I will first put on a pair of gloves, then instead of using a mitt I will use a black sock. Using a sock instead of a mitt is so much easier and better. It gives me more access and movement, and it gives my tan a more blended and even look than with a mitt. Using a mitt is fine but for me it's too bulky and I don't feel I have as much access to all the little areas. A sock makes the application so much easier and smoother, you can get in all the places and blend and move more easier. I start applying the tan to my arms then chest and neck and work my way down. I take my time and make sure I am blending it well and evenly. When I apply tan to my hands, I get in between the fingers and blend it all down, and make sure my wrists are blended with my hands and arms. I do the same with my feet, I get in between the toes, and blend it down and make sure my ankles are blended. To prevent orange hands and feet after I have applied the tan I take a hand cream and apply it to my hands and a foot cream to my feet, This will prevent the orange hands and feet and blend it! 

Products:

Cocoa Brown Gentle Bronze Tan:

This is my favourite! I am not into having a dark tan, or even a really tanned look. I am into the subtle tans that gradually give you a nice, bronzy, glowly tan, that you can build. This is a silky, hydrating, moisturiser that gives you a subtle, gentle, glowly tan. You can use this everyday like a moisturiser, to give you a beautiful " healthy" looking tan that is build able. This smells like cucumbers, a fresh clean smell! You cannot smell a tan scent and even when it's on the skin you cannot smell any tan scent! Which I LOVE because I don't really like walking around and you can smell the tan. This smells very fresh and clean. It lasts a while, and has good staying power. I don't have a problem with it fading, peeling or becoming patchy. It melts into the skin, dries super quick, smells lovely, feels moisturising and gives a gentle tan. 

Clarins Radiance plus golden glow booster:

This tan is an oil. It adds moisture to the skin and gives it a gentle, sun kissed, bronzed look. This is to be applied  with your moisturiser. It is a gradual tan, that leaves my skin looking beautiful! as if I have spent time in the sun and I have got that bronze, sun kissed, healthy, glowing tan. How I apply this is, I take my moisturiser into my hands which is normally soap and glory butter yourself  body lotion then I apply three drops of the Clarins glow booster and mix it in my hands. I then apply it to my body the normal way you apply tan. This tan would be perfect for the summer and it looks healthy and natural. I don't have a problem with it fading, peeling or becoming patchy. You do get that ' tan ' smell but it's a nice sweet tan smell, I like it to be honest! The scent does fade after a day or so. Beautiful tan, very sun kissed and glowing and very hydrating my skin feels very soft and hydrated. 

Looking after the tan:

To keep up with my tan, and make sure it stays nice and not patchy. I moisturise my skin if my skin needs it. With the Clarins oil I don't need to moisturise because its already very hydrating.  With the Cocoa brown tan I moisturise my skin the day after.I just make sure there is no unblended parts or patchy parts. If I need to I will apply the tan again that night or day if I need abit more colour, because the tans I use are subtle and gradual they can be used daily to build it up and cover any mistakes/ patches.

Removing the tan:

When I want to remove my tan, I first use a sponge with the scrub side and hot soapy water and start scrubbing. I then go in the shower and use a exfoliating product and the exfoliating gloves. Then I will wash my body and use a loofa to scrub my skin as I am washing. By the time I get out of the shower the tan is scrubbed off and my skin is raw from the scrubbing so I take care of it by soaking my body top to bottom in a luxurious body butter mixed with a body oil. Or after the scrubbing shower I will run a nice hot bath, add a bath oil into the bath and soak my skin for a little bit then use a luxurious body butter when I get out.

That is all my tanning secrets and how I have a nice natural glowing tan! I really hope you enjoyed reading and please let me know in the comments your tan secrets :) xox

Hello and welcome back to my blog. Today I am going to be talking about products that are my beauty secret products. These are the products that are my tried and true, I could not live without and these products make a big difference in a little amount of time. What are your beauty secret products?

Dry Shampoo- Batiste

This stuff is a shower in a bottle! if you wake up late, or your don't have enough time or you just want to go that extra day without washing your hair but you have a greasy mess on your head. Dry Shampoo steps in and becomes the saviour. All you do is spray throughout your hair, let it sit, brush it out and if you need to rub it in and you then have refreshed, gorgeous hair and the grease is gone. I also find this dry shampoo gives a good amount of volume to the hair which is a bonus. Nobody will know you have not washed your hair because your hair looks so clean and fresh. 

Macadamia healing treatment oil.

Using an oil for your hair is great for everyday, but especially on the days you really need it. When I style my hair I do like to add a little bit of the healing oil to my ends and whatever is left on my hand I just smooth out the top of my hair but on days when I have gone that extra day without washing obviously the top part of my head is greasy but the ends get dry. So I use my dry shampoo then I take a pump of the Macadamia healing treatment oil and smooth it on the ends of my hair. This softens my ends, adds a shine, smooths and adds a lovely scent to my hair. I find having a good oil that is going to treat and smooth and soften the hair is a beauty secret product!

Beauty Blender sponge.

I am a beauty blender fan! I think it's the best tool to use for make-up. I get it wet under running water, squeeze out the water and dry it with a towel so it's a little bit damp. Then I like to blend out my concealer. Using the beauty blender damp is going to take away any excess product, give hydration to the under eye and it blends it out perfectly. I will also use this sometimes to shear out foundation, so with the sponge being damp if I apply my foundation it is going to shear out the foundation, and take away the " cake face " look if you have gone a little too heavy handed. Another way I like to use my beauty blender is to touch up my make-up during the day. I like to press the beauty blender on the areas where my make-up has moved, or settled and the beauty blender really does help and blend my make-up. I think this little sponge really is perfect to creating flawless make-up.  

Highlighter- MUA undress your skin highlighter.

When I am doing my make-up apart from the eyes, I get so excited when its time to pick out a highlighter to apply to my cheekbones, nose, cupids bow, brow bone and chin. I think it's the glow, and  luminosity a highlight gives just brings the make-up to a beautiful finish. I do have my favourite highlighter which is Maryloumanizer by the Balm but I wanted to talk about my new obsession and its very cheap. The Mua undress your skin highlighter. It's a lightweight powder that transforms your complexion with a beautiful, natural, glow. I think the secret to not letting your skin look dull and dry looking is to apply a natural looking highlight. This highlight gives such a pearl essence to the skin, and looks very natural like your glowing from within and it looks as though your skin is very hydrated and healthy. 

Liz Earle Brightening Treatment Mask.

This mask is my secret to hydrated, brighter, healthier, softer skin and the best part it can take up to 30 seconds or 2 minutes. This mask brightens, softens and makes the skin radiant, glowing and clear. This mask dries in super quick so if you have somewhere to go and you want your skin to look healthy and brighter you can apply this before you start getting ready, get your outfit ready, after 30 seconds or 2 minutes take a hot cloth and wipe away the mask and you are left with super clean, refreshed, brighter, healthier, smooth, clear and hydrated skin. This is my secret product that makes such a difference in my skin very quickly. In my last post I reviewed this product along with other Liz Earle products.  

Mario Badescu Drying Lotion.

We all get them times when we wake up, look in the mirror and what do we see? A pimple on our face!!!!! This is my secret to treating the spot, hiding it and dealing with it quickly. The Mario Badescu Drying lotion is amazing and everybody needs this, It is a zit zapper! It is an effective, acne spot treatment that shrinks and treats whiteheads and pimples. This is more effective as an overnight treatment but it works just as well in the day under make-up. I apply a very thin layer of it onto the pimple and leave it to dry. Then I can apply my make-up over it and you cannot see the drying lotion or the pimple, it is completely hidden. If I apply this at night-time I like to apply more of a thicker layer and leave it overnight, let it do its job and by morning my spot is gone! No I am not joking, it is amazing and a beauty secret for sure!

OraBrush Tongue Cleaner.

Bad breath! It is the most unattractive thing to have but we all experience it and have to remove it! Did you know up to 90% of bad breath comes from the odour generating residue on our tongues? So after brushing and flossing I like to use my OraBrush tongue cleaner to make sure my breath is completely fresh and any stinky bacteria that is on my tongue is gone. The Orabrush removes residue, deep cleans the tongue loosening   the bacteria. The soft bristles on the brush reaches deep into the tongue grabbing every bit of bacteria then at the end of the bristles is a scrapper to collect and remove the residue and bacteria, curing the bad breath. I also have the Orabrush mild mint tongue foam. The foam is to be used with the brush and it helps to leave the mouth feeling refreshed, and protects the mouth from infections. I pump the foam onto the brush and gently brush my tongue a few times back and forth, as far back as I can go without gagging. I then bring the brush as far back as I can and brush it forward to scrape and remove. Then I rinse with mouthwash and my breath is so fresh and my mouth feels so much cleaner. Its the secret to removing bad breath and keeping your mouth free from germs. 

Collection Nail bright instant whiter nails.

I have a secret to making my nails look whiter, brighter and healthier. Sometimes when I have been wearing nail varnish my nails get dull and not as white, and kind of stained looking. Even when I have gone a long time without wearing nail varnish sometimes my nails can look dull and not very healthy. I apply two coats of the Collection Nail bright and my nails look whiter, brighter and the best part it looks so natural. No one would ever know you have applied a nail varnish. This is such a must have for anyone who needs to bring their nails back to life without anyone knowing you are using a product. I also find this strengthens my nails and makes them grow much faster but stronger.

That is my beauty secrets for this post. I hope you enjoyed reading and most of all I hope something in this post was helpful to you. Please let me know in the comments your products that you have as a secret beauty product. Xxxx