A Dupe for Homeoplasmine?

You've probably heard of Homeoplasmine, a cult French pharmacy product that comes in a tube and was originally created to soothe dry or irritated skin, popularised by makeup artists as it creates a smooth, silky canvas to work on.

On researching about Homeoplasmine, I found about Biafine, which is another cult French pharmacy product but this one is a topical emulsion that promotes healing in damaged skin. 

Well, a similar classic skincare product exists in Mexico called Vitacilina, which is an ointment that is meant to treat acne, scrapes and minor burns on the skin thanks to the use of retinol and neomycin.

Retinol, a type of Vitamin A, increments cellular reproduction, which exfoliates and improves the appearance of the skin; and neomycin is an antibiotic that prevents infection. Both ingredients make it a great option to treat acne, small lesions on the skin and even fine lines.

Vitacilina has a very similar consistency (and smell) to petroleum jelly or Vaseline, which is why I only use it at night on spots and broken skin. It does help reduce the appearance of scars and best of all it is only about £1 so if you see it when visiting Mexico, I would say definitely get it even if it's just to try it out.

Have you tried any of these skincare classics?

xo

Denim Shirt

Uniqlo Denim Shirt (Similar) // Topshop Jeans // Adidas Stan Smith 

The de-cluttering of my closet is going ok, I posted some items in my depop, if you want to check them out.

On the illustrating matter I need to edit so many scans to make the background white, which is the bit I'm the least excited about.

And about our trip to Blackpool, I haven't even thought about what I'm going to wear. The weather is supposed to be nice so hopefully won't need to take a big coat with me haha.

xo

Cherry Blossom

Oh, the joys of being off work for 6 weeks. I might end up getting bored sooner or later but I'm actually quite excited about a number of things.

First, decluttering my wardrobe: yesterday I took off my clothing rail a few pieces that I haven't worn in years. I will be putting them up for sale on Vinted, where you can find pre-loved pieces for an excellent price all while giving them a new lease of life. 

It's gonna be a lengthy process as I still need to sort shoes, tops and bottoms and hopefully get a couple of shelves to display my favourites nicely in the spare room. 

Also, I have a thing with lists, so to plan what to take with me on holiday to Blackpool next month I will be writing one of those. It's just so satisfying to check each item off a list (or is that just me?).

Last, but definitely not least. I will be doing more painting/illustrating. The boring part comes when it's time to scan each picture then polish off the jpgs in Photoshop. I hope to add more printed cards and poster designs in my photobox shop soon.

Are you going on holiday this year?

xo

Should I or Shouldn't I?

I'm talking about buying these items, obviously! Some of them have been on my mind for quite some time but I just can't seem to make the purchase for some reason.

Paul Costelloe Triplet Bag: It was on my last wishlist, as it has a similar look to the Celine Trio bag, which costs hundreds more. I took so long to decide that it went out of stock and now this dark green version is all I can find.

Topshop Moto Pale Blue Jeans: I've been looking for a pair of light coloured jeans to wear during the summer. I purchased a pair last year from H&M but the fit wasn't the best - low rise and a bit baggy on the bottom. Could these be the ones?

H&M Cable-Knit Jumper: I know what you're thinking - a jumper in the middle of summer? But this lightweight cotton blend one seems like a perfect addition to my summer wardrobe as it has a lovely and soft fine knit texture, great for keeping warm when it gets chilly in the afternoon.

Chanel Les Beiges Lip Balm: Obsessing with all things Parisian lately so Chanel is no exception. I'm a big fan of lip balms so would definitely use this limited edition one a lot. Plus introducing a tiny bit of luxury to your everyday life never hurt anyone, right?

5th Avenue Tasselled Loafers: I spotted them at the Deichmann shop when we were in town but didn't try them on. Why? I've been trying to shop less impulsively but have been thinking about them ever since!

Do you hope to buy anything soon?

xo

Bioderma Crealine H2O Micelle Solution

I purchased Bioderma Crealine H2O Micelle Solution last year on a trip to Paris with my husband. Having tried L'oreal's micellar water previous to this one (more on that here), I wasn't expecting a lot but, which is why I picked up the small version in case I didn't like it, but after using it a couple of times, it left me pleasantly surprised. 

As you may know, the Bioderma Crealine H2O Micelle Solution is meant for cleansing the skin and removing makeup. This version is for sensitive skin, but there's also one for dehydrated and one for oily skin, though the last one can't be used on eyes. 

This product guarantees a gentle cleanse and makeup removal thanks to the micelles, which remove impurities while respecting skin, which prevents irritation. You don't need to rinse it and it's paraben free. 

Bioderma Crealine H2O Micelle Solution easily removes my eye and face makeup without stinging, irritating or leaving an oily residue on my skin. It is a breeze to use and a little goes a long way. The only downside is that it's not the easiest to get hold of but you can find it in Escentual (they deliver worldwide) for £4.95.

Have you tried this Bioderma cleanser?

xo

Black & Grey

Uniqlo Ultra Light Down Jacket // American Apparel Sweatshirt // H&M Trousers // Adidas Stan Smith

(Similar: Trousers)

A down jacket in the summer? I hear you ask, yeah well this outfit is from a couple of weeks back when the sun wasn't shining as intensely as it is now. And speaking of down jackets I actually purchased another one recently from Uniqlo as it had over 50% off and I had told myself to buy it when it went on sale. 

Monday is my last day of work before the school holidays. After that I will start planning what to pack for our little holiday to Blackpool! Other plans including clearing out and organising my closet and doing more illustrations with my new found free time.

xo

MeMeMe Arch Angel Brow Gel & Highlighter

I had never tried a brow gel before, though on a couple of occasions I could have done with a brow product to fill them out. The MeMeMe Arch Angel Shape & Define Tinted Brow Gel and Highlighting Cream in Dark Brown was part of a makeup giveaway that I happened to win some time ago (more about that here).

This product is described as "your guardian angel guiding you towards heavenly brows" and it will help you achieve beautifully arched brows by using the gel to tame and shape. After that you dot the highlighter along the brow bone to lift, accentuate and define. MeMeMe Arch Angel Tinted Brow Gel and Highlighting Cream comes in a small tube with the brow gel on one end and the highlighter on the other. 

The brow gel applicator is like a mini mascara wand, which makes it easy to apply and shape brows. After using it my eye brows felt a bit wet but when it dries it doesn't feel uncomfortable and it successfully thickens and sets the hairs as well as minimising gaps. It is buildable and there was no smudging or melting through the day. 

The highlighting cream comes with a doe foot applicator and you need very little product for a visible effect. It leaves a nice shimmering finish that indeed defines and accentuates the brow bone with ease. I normally dot it 2 or 3 times under my brow then smudge with my finger and this, like the brow gel, doesn't smudge and seems quite long lasting.

I think this is a really nice brow gel/highlighter and if you are looking for a 2 in 1 brow product then I would recommend this one.

Find MeMeMe Arch Angel in Superdrug, Amazon and MeMeMe website.

Palmer's Line Smoothing Eye Cream

As the skincare fan that I am, it is also important, in my opinion, to look after the delicate eye area with an appropriate product. Currently I've been using Palmer's Line Smoothing Eye Cream, which is marketed a s a rich anti wrinkle eye cream with peptide complex and retinol, and it's non-irritating.

Some of the beneficial ingredients in this eye cream include: cocoa & shea butters to deeply moisturise and nourish, retinol to encourage skin's renewal, peptide complex to support skin structure, vitamin E as antioxidant, aloe vera to calm and soothe skin, milk proteins to help improve texture and tone of skin, and evening primrose to soothe stressed skin.

What I like about the Palmer's Line Smoothing Eye Cream, besides its subtle cocoa scent, is that it has a thick consistency but doesn't feel heavy or greasy and glides onto the skin with ease. My skin doesn't feel tight or look shiny after using it, and it leaves it feeling soft. As for the texture of my eye area, I am not quite sure that it has changed at all even though I've been using it for months.

Find Palmer's Line Smoothing Eye Cream in Superdrug.

xo

Leather & Stripes

New Look Leather Jacket // H&M Striped Top // Topshop Leigh Jeans // Adidas Stan Smith

(Similar: Jacket // Top)

Tonight we're going to one of my manager's anniversary party. I'll be wearing a 60s inspired dress that I've had for quite a while but don't wear that often so that'll be fun haha. Have a nice weekend.

xo

Treaclemoon Sugared Almond Tart Bath & Shower Gel

Recently I received the Treaclemoon Sugared Almond Tart Bath & Shower Gel, which is the latest special edition of the Treaclemoon bath & shower gel family. This product can be used to lather-up in the shower or used as a bubble bath, has the addictive scent of warm sugared almond tarts and delivers luxurious, fragrant bubbles to cleanse and soften the skin.

What I like about Treaclemoon Sugared Almond Tart Bath & Shower Gel is the cute little blurb on the front of the packaging ("She was sure the exquisite, warm scented bubbles were the work of mischievous fairies in lilac aprons... so tempting and happy that even Mondays were fine!") and the purple coloured product, which is so creamy and thick, it actually makes you think it's the colour of the packaging. 

This shower gel/bath smells amazing, like bakewell tarts, and lathers really well and leaves my skin feeling clean. It is also paraben free and not tested on animals, as well as very affordable.

Find Treaclemoon Sugared Almond Tart Bath & Shower Gel* in Tesco (currently on offer for just £1.99).

xo

New in: June 2015

As I've been trying to embrace a more minimalist lifestyle and wardrobe, where only what I consider to be necessary or beautiful are the only things I will be adding into my life in order to avoid mess and clutter, my monthly hauls might not be as big (but my bank account and my bedroom and closet will thank me for it). 

Last month I acquired a few items from my favourite shop, H&M, including a lightweight knit cotton striped top that I might wear on my birthday next month while away in Blackpool. Also a couple of hair clips, one with a gorgeous velvet bow and another one with a golden feather that I've been looking for since seeing a picture of a similar one on Pinterest. 

Last but not least from H&M, another lace bra with no wires because I just hate how they feel. Then from the clearance section in Boots, an Origins GinZing scrub/cleanser for just £3.50 and a tiny book of sticky notes from The Works for just £1.

xo

Olay Complete Lightweight Day Fluid SPF 15

As I was running out of my previous day lotion with sun protection I decided to go for the Olay Complete Lightweight Day Fluid SPF 15 for sensitive skin as it was on offer for less than £3 in Superdrug.

With a formula that's very similar to the Normal/Oily skin version, the Sensitive option is also formulated with aloe vera and chamomile, and since I had tried the Normal/Oily skin version before I got this one instead to try out as well. 

The Olay Complete Lightweight Day Fluid SPF 15 for sensitive skin is not only meant to moisturise, but also hydrate, nourish and protect with its SolarSheer technology with broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection, vitamins B3, E and Pro-V B5.

What I like about this day lotion is that it is lightweight and easily absorbed into my skin, without leaving it feeling greasy or very shiny. Any shine that might remain after application can be vanished instantly with a bit of face powder. It has a mild sunscreen scent which I don't mind personally.

Find Olay Complete Lightweight Day Fluid SPF 15 in Superdrug and Boots.

xo

Bourjois Healthy Balance Compact Powder

One of my year-round must haves is a face powder. Why? Because having oily skin not only means that my skin can become very shiny as the day goes on. So even when using skincare products to prevent shine and regulate oil, the only way to make my skin look presentable is layering it with a thin veil of face powder. 

The compact powder that I've been using for the last year (or even longer) is the Bourjois Healthy Balance Unifying Powder. This product, part of the Healthy Mix face product family, is meant to boost radiance and even out skin tone, as well as hydrating the skin and controlling shine. 

The texture of the Healthy Balance Powder is very fine and light on the skin. When using a brush I find that the powder doesn't go everywhere and it's very easy to apply. I also like that the packaging is very compact and includes a mirror, and even though it's plastic, it doesn't feel cheap or flimsy.

It mentions that it lasts 10 hours but it definitely does not, or at least in my case, it would need re-applying to benefit from its mattifying effects. Nonetheless, since this powder looks very natural and evens out my skin tone without settling into pores, notoriously oxidising or leaving a patchy look on my face, I would say it does a very good job and would recommend it if you're looking to try a new powder. 

Find Bourjois Healthy Balance Powder in Boots and Superdrug.

xo