Fab Pore.

Soap & Glory -

The Fab Pore Mask

I’m always looking for a mask that helps tackle my pores. Anyone with large pores knows they get clogged so easily, and really need a good mask to help unclog them. A few years ago I tried this mask, and I cant really remember what I thought of it. However, I saw it on offer in Boots and as its been recently re-vamped I thought I would give it another go.

Soap & Glory state; ‘Infused with SUPERFRUIT™ YUZU and Soap & Glory’s super-active secret weapon, PORESHRINK-R™, this deep cleansing facial treatment is a must-have for any girl who wants to see less of her large pores. Use once a week for maintenance (unclogging pores, spot prevention, and face detoxing), or twice weekly if you’re battling breakouts. Guaranteed to give exhausted skin its fresh back.’

This product is basically a deep cleansing mask for blackheads, large pores and oily skin that you leave on for 5 minutes as an express treatment, or 15-20 minutes for better results. I personally apply it all over my face once a week (usually Sunday), and then apply to the T-zone/centre of my face (always over my nose and the sides where I have the most noticeable pores) midweek, as these are the areas I find get clogged much easier.

I leave it on for 15 minutes before washing it off with warm water and a flannel. As a face mask to reduce the size of pores and to clear out blackheads I actually think this does a pretty good job! However its important to note this is very much a temporary effect and your pores will go back to how they were the next day... but that is how the cookie crumbles with annoying oily skin and large pores. But for instant results I would always go for this mask over any other product that remove junk from pores such as pores strips. The reason for this is that is gives instant results while not stripping the skin, it just leaves it smooth and refreshed feeling.

The main benefits for me with this mask is that is does visibly tighten pores but it also removes excess oil, which is why I use this before going somewhere I want my skin to look nice (especially as it's doesn't leave the skin red/inflamed). Or I use this when I look at my face in the mirror and gasp at how oily my nose looks and how my head is just one big pore. I'm sure you have been there if you have oily skin, and to stop the temptation of wanting to squeeze my blackheads I pop this on.

If you are looking for an instant temporary fix for blackheads, large pores and oily skin then I highly recommend this. It won't leave your skin red and stripped like using pores strips can do but it will give a very similar shrinking and deep cleansed effect!

Instant Retouch?

Soap & Glory -

Kickass Instant Retouch Pressed Powder

When I saw this was being released I was unbelievably excited to try it. It promised to perfect your skin, concealing a multitude of flaws in a single sweep, especially focusing on diminishing pores, which is my main focus. The totally translucent powder can be applied before or after makeup and using its vision-tricking Superblur technology and Camouflawge 3D it retouches your face in real time.

I picked this up before the original release date in my local boots a while back, they had been sent in 2 or 3 and I was lucky to get there before the last one had gone. I couldn't wait to get home and try it. Now. I usually find it hard using powders because to my combination skin it tends to sit on the skin and look slightly too powdery for my liking, no matter how little I use or how good I buff it in. I tried this a multitude of ways. 

Firstly underneath foundation. Personally, on its own, with this and no primer, it just doesn't work. My foundation doesn't last in the slightest, and it makes no difference to the appearance of my pores. I then tried it on top of my primer, before my foundation. Even though this did work, its hard to notice if its my primer working or the powder. It however didn't add to the longevity of the foundation. One thing I did think about was using it with a less expensive primer, which maybe isn't as good at covering my pores, for when I'm going to university, instead of using my much more expensive Too Faced primer. Its something I'm planning on trying, to see if it works. There are some good primers on the drugstore market, which work really well at keeping your foundation on for a long time, however they didn't hide my pores as well as I had wanted...for these primers this powder may come in handy. 

Secondly, I tried it on top of my foundation. This is where I get unsure. Some times when I apply it, it works really well, looks utterly flawless and amazing. Other times it looks really powdery and seems to blow my pores up even bigger. I really find it hard trying to figure out if I love or hate this powder because of this. I have tried it on other people and other people have tried it on themselves and they have found the same thing, its very hit or miss. 

I'm not going to lie and say its a miracle powder, because as I said for me it is very hit or miss, and I'm rather disappointed by it. Im determined to find a way to apply this perfectly, however as of yet, I wouldn't repurchase this, purely because of the hit and miss element. Everyones skin is different and therefore some people may really get on well with this and it might work wonders. It retails for £12 from boots, and I think its something if you like Soap & Glory products, or if your a fan or in need of a new powder, then its work a try!

Have you tried this powder? Has it worked wonders for you? 

I would love to hear you tips on how best to apply it!

Update - Today I used this powder on top of my primer and before my Dior BB cream. I used my 'Rimmel Fix and Perfect Pro' primer first, which is amazing at keeping my foundation or BB cream on for a very long time, however it doesn't help cover my rather large pores. As soon as I applied this powder over the top my skin looked pretty much pore-less which is just amazing. I then buffed my BB cream onto and it looked amazing! There was a slightest powdery tint to it, however that may have been due to me adding a little too much...definitely trial and error. Overall this is definitely my favourite way to apply and use this powder. My make up still looked really good after about 5+ hours with just the slightest bit of a touch up, and my pores were only just beginning to appear, which is amazing!
I'm super happy I have found a way to apply this powder. I'm still not sure if I would repurchase it, however I will definitely be using it for those days when a heavy silicon based primer isn't really necessary!

Beauty Wish List (Drugstore).

There are some really good products being released in the next couple of months, especially within drugstore brands. This is just a little highlight of some of the things I'm really interested to get my hands on and trying out. 

Bourjois Blush Exclusif - This is described as a 'smart blush'. It has pH-reactive pigments which alter to give you your perfect, personalised shade of pink, based on the pH within your skin. It reminds me very much of the DiorSkin Healthy Glow Booster Blush, which I've had my eye on for a very long time...could it be a good dupe I wonder?!

butterLondon Nail Foundation - Recently I'm really loving butterLondon. They include no formaldehyde, no toluene, no DBP (3 free) which makes the nail treatments and lacquers even better. However, this nail foundation looks like an incredible base coat. It provides a silk-finish, stain resistant, non-toxic base coat nail lacquer, providing the perfect foundation for nail varnish. It creates a matte results so beautiful, you can even wear it alone. This base coat hides and smoothes tiny ridges and imperfections in the nail. It is like cover-up, or foundation make-up for the nail. Overall, it sounds amazing!

Soap and Glory Kick Ass Instant Retouch Powder - Soap and Glory is a product I really enjoy using, especially their skin care. I haven't branched that much into their make up products, however this sounds like the most fantastic powder I've ever come across. I haven't seen it on their website yet, nor on the boots website, however other blogs have given me a good idea about what to expect. This Instent Retouch Powder is meant to be a weightless and translucent face powder, which contains Superblur technology with microfine, light- scattering silica spheres, while the Camouflawge 3D technologyhas an all-day natural filler effect with a plant-based muscle-relaxant and anti-wrinkle actives (mouth full much). Free from preservatives, mineral oil, paraffinum and tallow, Kick Ass Instant Retouch Powder is priced at £12 which I think is just a fantastic price. I emailed Soap and Glory today to see when this would be released, they stated it would be released in all boots stores mid-October (which is AGES away).

Essie Nail Polish Fall Collection - I'm not usually someone who gets excited for collections from brands, especially nail care brands. I tend to find them all to be similar and nothing really grabs my attention...until now. Essies Fall Collection just looks stunning. Now I'm not saying I'm going to be running to the earliest boots store to buy them all, however two specific shades I will be. First up is 'the lace is on', this is a glistening, jewel toned pearlescent fuchsia which is just stunning. I can imagine it looking beautiful on anyone no after what skin tone or nail length, and I think it's on you could use any time of the year. Secondly is 'for the twill of it', now this is a very unusual shade and not something I would usually go for. However, it looks really pretty and I think would be amazing for autumn/winter. The website describes the shade as a rich medium brown with reflective green shimmer, which I think just sounds stunning. 

This list may get updated at different times, depending if my wish list of drugstore products grows!

Oh-So-Peachy.

Soap & Glory -

Peaches and Clean Cleansing Milk

Due to testing a range of foundations last week, in order to find my new holy grail foundation, it's took a bad effect on my skin...its spotty, dull and looks completely unhealthy. Therefore I thought it was time to try a new face wash, due to my normal one just not cutting it this time. I originally planned to go and buy the Origins Zero Oil Deep Pore Cleaner, however at £19 and with mixed reviews from other bloggers, I thought it was time to do some scouting for a cheaper alternative.

Therefore when I was in Boots the other day I was looking at every range and at every cleanser, that was when I found this hidden gem...Soap and Glory's Peaches and Clean. 

It's a 4 in 1 wash-off, deep cleansing milk. It claims it uses a special clogged t-zone formula which includes peach extracts, quillaja bark, jojoba oil, Detoxyboost technology and Poreshrink R2 for a clearer, fresher and brighter complexion.

I haven't been using this for very long, however all my spots have pretty much gone and my skin is left feeling soft and fresh. I personally use it both in the morning and at night, however wash my face twice with it at night; once to remove my make up, as this pretty much just melts my make up off and the second time to just make sure my skin gets a really good clean. At the beginning I thought it was going to be far too strong for my face, however to say my skin is really sensitive, it's not had any bad reactions to this cleanser, which is a really good sign.

Overall I really love this cleanser, it smells amazing and really makes you feel more awake in the morning. My skin is left smooth, spot free and really moisturised, however not stripped which is what usually happens with products aimed at spot prone skin. Obviously I've not been using this for a very long time so therefore if I do have any bad reactions to it or think there's something you do need to know about this cleaners I will type up a quick post about it. Its only £7 for a 200ml bottle, which will last you a very long time. It's sold in all boots stores that sell the Soap and Glory skin care range and can usually be found on 3 for 2, which is a really good offer. Its not expensive at all, and really work wonders for the skin.

I'm definitely going to be trying more products from the Soap and Glory skin care range.