Sunday, April 30, 2017

Pore Deleting Products

Makeup for blackheads

Pore Deleting Products

Pore Deleting Products

I have always "struggled" with blackheads on my nose (grim), so I am always looking for ways of minimising them and their effect on my makeup. Obviously, foundation is great for covering up your pores but I have found over the past few years that using the right primers also make a huge difference.

By focusing on getting the correct products to use before foundation, I have found that my makeup goes on smoother and looks much more even. They also have the additional benefit of making your makeup last longer!

First up is the Pore Control from Hylamide (£23). This product works instantly and I am mildly obsessed with it. The packaging is really beautiful, I really do love a good glass bottle. It has a small pipette inside the lid to allow you to pick up product from inside the bottle quickly, easily and without wasting the product. 

I just pop three or four drops across my face and then rub in like any other face product. It instantly blurs out my nose and gives a really even look to my skin. It does not feel like much on the skin at all, you could easily wear this without makeup on top! 

Once I have blurred out my skin with the Pore Control, I then commence with one of my all time products - the Benefit Porefessional (£26)! I have spoken about this primer so many times, but I don't care. That's how much I love it. 

This product is so silky, it applies like a complete dream. It further blurs my pores, but while giving my skin something for foundation to stick to. It works really well with every foundation I have used, the two I have been using most recently are the Estée Lauder Double Wear and the Makeup Forever HD Foundation. Both of which have gotten on well with the primer! 

I am a huge fan of the way that these two products make my skin look, you can't tell that I have grim blackheads at all! My skin looks silky smooth and it is a bonus that it makes my foundation last longer as well! 

Have you ever used any of these products? What are your favourite products for busting your pores?

Thank you for reading!

Love, Gweni xxx


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This post contains press samples but all opinions are my own.

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Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Benefit Cosmetics Stay Don't Stray Eye Primer

Benefit Stay Don't Stray

Benefit Stay Don't Stray

Benefit Stay Don't Stray

As someone who wears eye shadow pretty religiously, combined with winged liner and false lashes, it is really important that I have the right eye primer. I have actually written about the Stay Don't Stray  (£22) primer a few times but I still wanted to share it a little bit more love!

I had a couple of the mini bottles a while back and loved the product, so last Summer I bought the full sized version in duty free. The mini bottles lasted me a really long time and I have barely touched the sides with this full-sized bottle.

The product comes with a "dip & dap" wand, which is really soft on the eye. As someone who often has sore eyelids, this is pretty important to me. The formula is of quite a thin liquid consistency, which makes it very easy to spread all over the eyelid. As the colour of the product is a pale nude colour, it is perfect for my skin tone. It gives me a real blank canvas to go and ruin with my mediocre eye makeup skills!

I have found in the past that some primers are great for putting product onto, but a little bit more tough to blend. I don't have this problem at all with this primer. You can pack on the product and know it will last all day, but you can also do a lot of detail in the crease without having any difficulty blending. Has anyone else found some primers to be a little too stubborn? Or is this just my own pet peeve?

So all in all, 10/10 from G Bear. Although the price is a little steep, it has lasted me a really long time so far and I'm sure it will last at least another 6 months! 

Thank you for reading.

Love, Gweni xxx


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Sunday, April 23, 2017

Estée Lauder The Illuminator


Over the last few months, I have been testing out the Illuminator Primer and Finisher by Estée Lauder (£25). I have been really impressed with it! As a big fan of the MAC Strobe cream, this was definitely down my street.

The formula is seriously silky but quite thick and applies really well to the skin. You can feel it working as a primer as it feels a little tacky on the skin. I don't use a lot, a little amount goes a really long way. 

When you squeeze the product out of the tube, the product is a pretty pearl colour with a hint of gold shimmer. When it is on the skin, it isn't hugely obvious but you can definitely see that there is a bit of sparkle in there! It illuminates my skin, giving it that healthy glow. 

I then proceed with pairing it with the Estée Lauder Double Wear foundation. I have loved this foundation for the longest time! The foundation goes on like a dream on top of this primer. The foundation is quite thick, so it needs as much help as possible to apply!

It does cover up a fair amount of the shimmer from the primer but the glow still shines through. I have found that foundation does last that little bit longer on my skin as well.

You can actually use this product as a highlighter on top as well! I have done that a couple of times, and it did look really pretty, but I prefer to keep it as just a primer. There's something about liquid highlighters that I am just not a fan of!

All in all, Gweni approves. If you find your Double Wear is a little bit too matte for your liking, definitely give this primer a go. As a longstanding Estée Lauder fan, it really isn't a big surprise that I love this primer! 

Have you ever used this primer? Or any Estée Lauder primers? 

Thank you for reading!

Love, Gweni xxx


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This post contains PR samples but all opinions are my own.
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Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Sleek Contour Kit

Sleek MakeUP Contour Kit

Sleek MakeUP Contour Kit

Sleek MakeUP Contour Kit

Sleek MakeUP Contour Kit


As someone who is usually in a rush to get her makeup done, I am always looking for ways to cut time in the morning. One easy, but very effective way of doing this is by use of contour kits. In the past, I have found these to be quite hit and miss. I have often found that not all of the three powders in the kit is up to scratch, very annoying!

But one contour kit that has stood out to me is the Sleek contour kit. Sleek is one of those brands who are forever bringing out great products. I have really loved their liquid lipsticks in the past as well as their eye shadow palettes. I have always heard people rave on about their contour kits but for some reason never tried them! That has now changed, and I can say that I am a little bit in love. 

I have been using the Sleek MakeUP Face Form kit in Fair. This kit comes with a bronzing powder, a blusher and a highlighting powder. It comes in a little black compact, as per all of their products, with a mirror inside. You cannot underestimate the power of the mirror! It is really easy to pop in your makeup bag, taking up a much smaller space than if you were to have all three products there separately. At £9.99, it saves you a fair amount of money as well!

My favourite powder is definitely the bronzing powder. I love a good matte bronzer and this one does not disappoint! The colour is a great colour for contouring, as it isn't too orange at all. It is just that perfect bronze shade. It blends out really easily, obviously something really important when trying to achieve chiselled cheekbones. 

The blusher is a really beautiful coral shade that I love applying to the apples of my cheeks. You don't need to use much of this product as it is quite pigmented. The shade is really lovely for Spring and Summer! 

Last up is the highlighting powder. I like to highlight the top of my cheekbones and brow bones, the tip of my nose and my cupids bow with this powder. It is one of those highlighters that would suit everyone, as it is a classic silver champagne highlighter. You can use a little or a large amount of this, depending on how sparkly you want your face to look! I obviously opt for more.

All in all, really love this contour kit. It has become a staple in my makeup bag and I won't be parting with it any time soon! 

Have you ever used this kit? Do you like Sleek MakeUP products?

Thank you for reading!

Love, Gweni xxx


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This post contains press samples but all opinions are my own.

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Thursday, April 13, 2017

Spring Beauty Haul






I'm not usually one for doing haul posts, but I recently have bought a few new bits and wanted to share them with you! 


This is actually a repurchase for me. I have been scraping the barrel for about two months with concealer and it was about time that I went all out and bought a new one. Absolutely love this concealer, the formula is great on top of foundation. As the name suggests, it is very creamy! It blends well and does not crease on me. I use it predominately under my eye area but I do like to use it to highlight the centre of my nose as well! Very excited to have this back in my life. I opted for the shade Vanilla.


This is a new buy for me, and so far I am really loving it. I have to admit, I am absolutely pants when it comes to powders. So this is my attempt at getting into them! It was recommended to be used with a puff, but at an extra £13 I opted against it. I have just been using a big face brush with this product and it has worked well for me! So far, so good but I may invest in a cheaper puff in the future!


I am a HUGE sucker for Clinique skincare. I have been using the three step for around ten years and the makeup remover range for at least two years. The eye makeup remover is so good and the cleansing balm is easily my favourite makeup remover. But this oil was the only one I hadn't tried! After using it a couple of times, I have found it has a similar effect to the cleansing balm - but it doesn't leave your face as moisturised afterwards. Other than that, it works really well as a makeup remover! Even on my eye makeup, which often includes stubborn lash glue.


Following from above, big Clinique fan. I was given the Sonic Brush a few years ago but stopped using it for a while at some point. As it had been two years, I thought it was PROBABLY a bit gross to carry on using that head if I were to get back into it. So your gal bought a new brush head. I'm looking forward to incorporating the Sonic Brush back into my skincare routine!


I accidentally forgot to photograph this, mega soz from me. But I did actually get this as well! I love my lip liner in Edge to Edge and have been wanting to branch out into more MAC lip liners recently, and thought I would go with a cult classic. At first I wasn't that impressed by it but since wearing it on a couple of evening events, it has grown on me A LOT. I pair it with Twig lipstick and have found it gives you a really lovely dark pink nude lip. It is really good for overdrawing the lip, one of the main reasons why I wanted to buy it!


All in all, I am so happy with my new purchases! Have you tried any of these products? What are your latest purchases?

Love, Gweni xxx


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Sunday, April 09, 2017

Bravura London Skincare

Bravura London Review

Bravura London Review

Bravura London Review

Bravura London Review

One change in the beauty industry I have noticed over the last few years is the emphasis on vegan and cruelty free products. Although I am not a full convert, I have been trying to incorporate it into my beauty regime more and have become increasingly aware of the products I am using.

An important part of your beauty regime is your skincare. Our makeup looks much better if we have smooth skin underneath! Although eating well and drinking plenty of water is essential for great skin, we do have the added benefit of being able to use skincare products. And let's be honest, vegan products are probably much better for our skin than non-vegan!

This is where Bravura London comes in! I have been following the brand for quite some while and using the products a lot recently. The company was set up in 2003 by Amanda, a fellow welshwoman! Since then, the company has gone from strength to strength and has seen the likes of Ed Sheeran using their products. 

As I have combination skin, I was given the First Cleanse Oil, the Revitalising Ginseng Toner and the Azulene Moisturiser to use as my daily skincare. I was really interested in the chemical peels and I was lucky enough to be sent the Lactic Acid and the Salicylic Acid to test out as well!

Minus the somewhat questionable diet, I have always taken good care of my skin. I have been using the Clinique 3 step skincare range for years and it has always worked for me. But as you probably know, Clinique under the parent company of Estée Lauder, is not cruelty free. The three products do work in a similar way, so using the Bravura products didn't change my skincare routine much.


First up is the cleansing oil. This can be used as a cleanser but it does also double up as a makeup remover. The formula is quite thin, which makes it really easy for applying onto the skin. I just press the pump (which you do have to get separately) and distribute it evenly across my face with my fingers. It hardly takes any time at all! You can wash it off with just water or you can use a muslin cloth or flannel. I prefer using muslin cloths myself! It is really gentle on the skin and has quite a neutral scent with a hint of lavender. I found that it took off my makeup really quickly and easily, including my eye makeup! It did struggle a little bit with my lash glue, but I think that's just because I wear some pretty heavy duty stuff. 


This toner is again very gentle on the skin, something I have found to be very true of all of the products! I pop this onto a cotton pad and rub all over my face. It removes any of the excess dirt and really gets into my pores. It doesn't sting the face and has a very pleasant smell. 


After cleansing and toning, my skin is in definite need of some moisture! I love the blue and rose gold design of this little pot, so beautiful. The moisturiser is actually blue as well! Much excitement. The formula is neither thick nor thin, it's just right. It rubs in really easily and you don't need much at all, a little goes a long way. I love the feel on my skin, it feels really silky and feels light on the skin. It doesn't have a particular smell, although it does remind me of being holiday. 

Bravura London Review

Bravura London Review


Although I really like the skincare range, it is the acids that have really captured my heart. There are three in the range and I have been testing out two of them. I have the Salicylic Acid (£9.59) which is aimed at combatting blackheads and open pores and the Lactic Acid (£9.59) which combats hyper-pigmentation, acne and dry skin! The Lactic Acid is also infused with rose water, it smells so pretty. These acids work as at home chemical peels. Their acid content is not as strong as you would get in a salon, but they work really effectively. 

The two 30ml bottles come with pipettes incorporated into the lids, making them very easy to use. When I first got them, I used to pop a couple of drops into a little ceramic pot and then use the Bravura brush to sweep it over my face. As I like to cut corners, I have now started popping drops straight onto the brush and then sweeping it all over my face. Both ways work equally well!

I have been using the two acids in conjunction, so I couldn't tell you if one was better than the other. I have been using them on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays - alternating between the two acids on each day. It is advised to use them for 5-15 minutes, beginning with 5 minutes when you first start using the products and increasing the time as your skin adjusts to the product. I have to admit, I don't tend to time myself doing this. Naughty blogger. I tend to apply it and do some other things in the bathroom before washing it off in the shower.

They don't burn at all on the skin, as I thought they would. It doesn't even feel as though there is anything on my skin at all! I just rinse it off with warm water and my work is done. Easy. As they work as exfoliators, I make sure to cleanse, tone and moisturise afterwards otherwise my skin would be a tad dry!

My skin looks instantly clearer and my pores look much smaller. My skin even has a bit more of a glow to it than before! I definitely recommend doing it regularly, the more you use them - the more your skin improves. I dip in and out of using these acids, but when I do use them - I notice a massive change in my skin. If I get a breakout, I instantly get onto my acids and my skin clears up in no time! 

I have actually used these products with both my Clinique skincare and Bravura skincare routine. Both of which gave me the same effect, showing me that the products work independently of the Bravura skincare range and are good in their own right.

That concludes my review of the Bravura London skincare products! I have really enjoyed testing them out and dipping my toes into the world of vegan skincare. The products are all reasonably priced and definitely worth the squids! The glass packaging gives them a really expensive feel and they look really pretty in my bathroom. I will definitely be sad when they end, especially my favourite acids! 

Thank you for reading! Let me know if you have used any Bravura London products in the past!

Love, Gweni xxx


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This post contains press samples but all opinions are my own.
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Thursday, April 06, 2017

Sixth Sense Salon, Sutton Coldfield

Sixth Sense Salon, Sutton Coldfield

Sixth Sense Salon, Sutton Coldfield

Sixth Sense Salon, Sutton Coldfield

Sixth Sense Salon, Sutton Coldfield

With the re-opening of the Sixth Sense Salon around the corner, I was invited along with a few other bloggers to try out the new salon. I have been to another hair event before and really enjoyed it, but this one was much smaller - with just six of us bloggers there all together! 

We started by being given a little talk about the salon. From the off, you could tell the two owners were really passionate about the salon and their staff. Personally, I love going to salons where the teams are really friendly and want to chat to you. Nothing worse than when all of the hairdressers are talking amongst themselves!

The refurb was discussed, they had decided to go for a distressed wood with an antique french twist to it. They had also gotten in local graffiti artists in to do some artwork for the salon. I particularly liked the woman with the orange and green hair that was painted on a wall at the back of the salon. They had also gotten an artist in to do a really beautiful Santorini piece in the treatment room. 

One of the biggest changes to the salon was the introduction of the treatment room. After spending a considerable amount of time in there, I can confirm that that was money well spent. The treatment room was located at the back of the salon. The room was dark with purple mood lighting that reflected onto the Santorini paintwork. The room was intended to be used for treatments as well as washing hair - as that was where the basins and massage chairs were located.

Sixth Sense Salon, Sutton Coldfield

Sixth Sense Salon, Sutton Coldfield

Sixth Sense Salon, Sutton Coldfield

Sixth Sense Salon, Sutton Coldfield

We heard a little bit more about what the salon had achieved over the past few years. They had won numerous awards, beating a lot of big names around Birmingham for some! They also spoke about their work with those who were suffering with hair loss resulting from cancer. For example, the staff were given sensitivity training by oncology nurses. It seemed as though the salon was able to make a real difference and you could tell the team were really passionate about it.

Another great addition to the refurb was that they were now licensed to serve alcohol! If you have spent any time with me at all, you will know that I love a good cocktail. So now, you can get a glass of prosecco with your haircut! How exciting! They even have named some of their blowdries after certain cocktails. A Mai Tai blowdry is a messy, beach look and a Manhattan is a sleek and smooth look! I really loved this idea. 

We then heard from a Wella representative at the salon who talked about their new energy coding system. The new energy coding system was one that helped figure out the exact products you need for your hair to keep it in the best possible condition. All of the System Professional products (by Wella) are available at the store to purchase as well. 

After hearing all about the salon, we headed over to have our own personalised treatments! My stylist for the evening was Tasha and she was really lovely. The first thing we did was the energy code questionnaire. It had a variety of questions about my hair, think along the lines of whether it was dry, wavy, frizzy, split ends etc. Once we did that, it recommended a selection of products that were suited for my hair as well as a treatment. 

At the moment, my hair needs a serious cut and it has two lots of roots. It is pretty tragic, I will not deny that. So Tasha decided that she would pop a toner in my hair as well the treatment, which was really kind of her! This was to help blend out the colours in my hair. 

Sixth Sense Salon, Sutton Coldfield

Sixth Sense Salon, Sutton Coldfield

Sixth Sense Salon, Sutton Coldfield


I was then ushered off to the treatment room, which was easily my favourite part of the evening. As soon as I sat down, I was given the controls to the Japanese massage chairs. They were so good. I took a few snapchats at this point, where I can confirm that I looked like a thumb. Tasha worked her magic on my hair. I was given a head massage while there, which is by far the best part of getting your hair done. Honestly, how do hairdressers do it? I need their skills! When my massage was done, Tasha popped a hot towel around my head and I was left to chill with the other bloggers. 

Once the hot towel had finished, Tasha washed the product out of my hair and we headed off to the styling chair. We decided to do mermaid/princess hair, as my hair is so long and blonde anyway! She blasted the hair dryer through my hair and then popped the System Professional Luxe Oil on my hair. This oil smelt amazing and my hair was so soft after being given a full blow dry! I'm really looking forward to using the oil myself at home. 

She then curled all of my hair, making sure the curls were going away from my face. The others were bringing round food at this time, which was really lovely. I love me some nibbles! Once my whole head of hair was curled (not an easy feat), Tasha brushed through the curls and gave it a spritz with the hairspray. And voilà, I had princess hair!!

I was completely obsessed with the look that Tasha had created. I really loved the colour that the toner had given my hair, it really did blend through all of my roots. The curls were bouncy but not too tight, it just looked really pretty. Especially from the back. 

After taking many photos, I headed over to see how everyone else was doing. Curls were definitely the preference of the night, with only Laura opting for a straight hair look. Everyone's hair looked really beautiful - just a shame we weren't heading out for real Mai Tais afterwards!

Sixth Sense Salon, Sutton Coldfield

Sixth Sense Salon, Sutton Coldfield

Sixth Sense Salon, Sutton Coldfield

Sixth Sense Salon, Sutton Coldfield

Sixth Sense Salon, Sutton Coldfield

Sixth Sense Salon, Sutton Coldfield

Sixth Sense Salon, Sutton Coldfield

Sixth Sense Salon, Sutton Coldfield


The team very generously gave us our goodie bags, which included our recommended products and a few other goodies like a paddle brush! I am really excited to use all of them. 

All in all, I had a really good experience at the salon. The staff were super friendly, knowledgable and great at their jobs. I felt very welcomed there and enjoyed spending my evening with them. Tasha did a really wonderful job on my hair and I would definitely recommend them to anyone looking for a hairdresser in Sutton Coldfield or the Birmingham area in general. 

Thank you again for having me and best of luck with the new salon!

Gweni xxx


Make sure to head over to the other girls' blogs to see how they got on! 

Ting from The Ting Thing
Dorota from Beauty Drama Queen
Selina from Selina Wears
Laura for Brum Hour


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