Review: Esteé Lauder Bronze Goddess Facial Sunscreen SPF 30

Everyone knows that we need to wear sunscreen in the summer to prevent sunburn, discolouration, redness and premature wrinkles. When shopping for sunscreen we look out for the all-important SPF number. The higher the number, the better - obviously. But we do know what SPF actually means? SPF (or sun protection factor) is the measurement of a sunscreen's ability to prevent UVB rays from damaging the skin. It's recommended to use a sunscreen with an SPF of over 15 to insure maximum protection from the sun.

Now the sunscreen I am going to be talking about today is a facial sunscreen by Esteé Lauder. When it comes to facial sunscreens I am much more picky about what I use. This is because my skin is extremely sensitive and prone to breakouts. As for body sunscreens I don't really care what I use - if you want to know, I use this Nivea one by mum buys. See, I don't even know what it's called! 

Esteé Lauder are one of my favourite brands, not just for make-up but for skincare too. Their facial sunscreen called Esteé Lauder Bronze Goddess is one product out of their extensive summer skincare line. I picked up the Sun Indulgence Lotion for Face which boasts a healthily SPF rating of 30. They say that "this super-luxurious lotion goes on silky-smooth and seduces skin with an instant heavenly radiance"and it definitely does. It's an extremely thick consistently which means you don't need to use much product and it dries instantly. It also doesn't leave that sticky feeling and is completely non-greasy. It also has a "light beachy sent" which, to me, smells like oatmeal. Nevertheless, it disappears instantly so I don't really care.

I purchased mine from Boots for £22 which, for a high-end skincare product, is pretty decent. Despite the fact you only get 1.7fl/50ml, you only need the tiniest bit in order to cover your face.

Overall, I absolutely love this sunscreen. It absorbs into the skin instantly, leaves the skin feeling soft and protects the skin from harmful UV for hours without having the need to reapply every ten minutes. In my opinion, sunscreen is definitely something worth investing in - especially if you have sensitive skin and need something that works best with your skin tone.

Have an amazing summer you guys.

Suzanna xoxo

Instagram #3

Testing out the new imPRESS nails which I'm in love with (they've been on for 5 days so far), another favourite quote of mine, Family Friend by The Vaccines, pink jeans with my cross necklace, curly hair for sports day, my new online addiction Karaoke Party, looking at my Facebook page from 2008, a Mac Miller quote, me and my friend on the beach, the last day with my tutor group, my beautiful cat, sporting my new outfit, vodka and wolf creek = my saturday evening, going for a run, at the olympic torch rizzle kicks event and just a random selfie!

I hope you all have an AMAZING summer.

Suzanna xoxo

Origins Super Spot Remover

I'm very sceptical when it comes to changing my skincare routine - or putting anything on my face for that matter. My skin is extremely prone to breakouts; I've had this every since I was a child. It's not eczema or rosacea. I just get acne (small bumps under the skin). If you have either eczema or rosacea, then this product is not for you. I'd recommend Sudocrem for redness and PanOxyl 10 Aquagel for treatment. Both are excellent products. I'm much more confident when trying make-up as I am with skincare. This is because I use my skincare products everyday whereas make-up I don't and if the product doesn't work, I'm pretty much screwed. Unfortunately, it takes my skin ages to recover from breakouts or allergic reactions so I have to be so careful. Yet the reviews on this product were pretty good so I thought I would give it a go.

One of my favourite YouTubers Vivianna, who I have bought her recommendations before and loved them, mentioned the Origins Super Spot Remover in her monthly favourites. She said it was a wonderful product that she would keep repurchasing. Sounds good. Here's what Origins say:

"Red PMS blemish? Bad joke breakout? Heal, fight and fade it fast. Just dab a dot and feel blemish-busting Salicylic Acid instantly help speed healing while anti-spot technology helps visibly correct post blemish darkening. Skin-calming caffeine and red algae help visibly relieve irritating redness. And to help keep skin looking spotless, super exfoliators eliminate excess oils and pore-clogging debris."

But does it work?

The first time I used it, I didn't notice anything the next day. I kept using it at night and after about three days I was starting to notice that a lot of the redness surrounding my breakouts disappeared. It also seems like they minimised the size of the breakout. I was looking at the website and it says that its "best for all skin types". Now I have dry/combination skin (more of the combination side) and I found that it made my skin extremely dry. Especially where I had applied the product. I didn't really mind as by the time I washed my face and moisturised in the morning, it was hardly noticeable. So is it worth the £13.00 for the smallest bottle in the world? I'm not too sure. I've seen similar results from PanOxyl - the only difference is that it is £10 cheaper! However I do think that it does work extremely well in reducing redness more than anything else. I also like the fact that it gives a tingly sensation once applied. Some people I've read don't like this, but personally I love it. If you are on the fence about purchasing this product (like I was), I would definitely go for it. What have you got to loose?

Suzanna xoxo

Ps. After three weeks of it being delayed, my sports day is tomorrow! I might do an outfit of the day considering I'm not participating. I also want to show you my new nails which I'm in love with.

Gold Series ghd Max Styler and the Remington Pearl Wand Review

My friends were a bit confused when I told them I bought a straightener - not a usual conversation topic but my friend Vanisha is a huge beauty fan. I have naturally straight hair so I didn't think I needed to buy one. Yet my hair is extremely thick and no matter how many products I had tried to tame it down, nothing worked. Three months ago, just after I finished some exams, my dad said he'd treat me to a present: I asked for the Gold Series ghd Max Styler. There are three options: mini, classic and max. It's all personal preference really and I wanted the biggest one possible. I ordered it from the website and it came the next day with free delivery. I paid £120 for them but currently they are on sale for £99!

Put in this way, I haven't stopped using them since. I know it's bad to use heat in your hair everyday even if you use heat protectant, but I just love the way it looks. I don't use heat on my hair on the weekend, but I do during the week. The ghds are amazing. It takes roughly 15 minutes to straighten all of my hair. Now that might seem like a lot, but my previous straighteners would take me over half an hour and the results were never as good as they are with the ghds. They help tame down frizz and make your hair feel extremely light weight. Overall, if you have the money to splurge on a new hair styling tool, I would definitely recommend the ghd range. Perfection.

Two weeks ago I got bored of straight hair and just simply wanted a change. Therefore, the next day I went out about bought the Remington Pearl Wand for £24.99 in Boots. I had read some extremely good reviews and thought I would share my own opinion. Being someone who has never owned a curling iron before, I didn't have that high of expectations yet I did know I wanted something that latest and didn't take that long to provide results. This wand is perfect for those who want effortless curls that are really quick to do. It takes around 6 minutes for me to curl all of my hair. It doesn't weigh my hair down and, from my experience, seem to last all day. Definitely worth the money in my opinion.

I thought I would just end the post there, but then I decided to include some of my favourite hair care products. I have done one of these before, but I thought I would show some new favourites of mine!

Best heat protectant: TRESemmé Heat Defence

Best frizz controler: Moroccanoil

Best hairspray: LO'real Elnett and Wella Shockwaves (not pictured)

Best straightening serum: Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum

Xoxo

MAC Powder Blush in Harmony

As promised, here is my review of Harmony blush by MAC.

Described as a "muted rose-beige brown", Harmony can not only be used as a blush but as a contour shade as well. It's the perfect shade that will suit any skin tone. Those with fair skin tones can use this as a contour shade or even as a bronzer while those with a more deeper skin tone can use it as a blush. It's a matt formula meaning there is no shimmer or sparkle: perfect for those with an oily complexion and perhaps don't want to emphasise enlarged pores etc. From the photos above, it doesn't look like anything special. But when applied with a light hand, it looks beautiful. It creates a lovely wash of colour and doesn't look harsh or noticeable.

At £17.99 each they are pricey, yet compared to other brands such as Nars and Clarins who both stock similar products, it is worth it in my opinion.

Suzanna xoxo

Ps. Ramblings!

• Sorry for the lack of posts this week! I've had a sixth form induction day, sports day prep and several flexibility (skills) days. Plus the usual homework and coursework. Fun!
• I'm in love with THIS song at the moment. It's by Owl City and it's rather different to their normal stuff. Bloody amazing in my opinion.

Have a wonderful day :D

Instagram #2, Harry Potter Studio Tour and Cinnamon Challenge!

I like doing these Instagram posts. But instead of just doing photos I've taken on my phone, I'm going to include some I've taken on my camera and show you some shizzle I've done in the past couple months.

LET'S GO.

Going to the Harry Potter Warner Bros studio! *spoilers*

Hands down, one of the best experience ever. Harry Potter has been in my life ever since I was four years old and to see it end, literally made me cry. I had the opportunity to visit the studio where they filmed all the films with my friend and it was amazing. Above is just a selection of photos - I took over 300. My favourite has to be standing in Diagon Alley. I take media studies at school and, my teacher said he's organising us to visit the studios again. F**k yeah! Seriously though, if you have the chance, I would definitely recommend you going. It's brilliant.

The Cinnamon Challenge

Ok so me and my neighbour got bored last Saturday and stupidly decided to do the Cinnamon Challenge. The challenge whereby you eat a tablespoon of cinnamon. Simple, right? No! It's disgusting; I hate cinnamon in the first place to eating a tablespoon is my idea of hell. Fortunately, we recorded it on camera and put it on YouTube. Watch here! We're thinking about doing other challenges such as the salt and ice one so make sure you subscribe.

Some random Instagram pics

1) Texting my friend Katie as soon as Spain won the Euros 2012. The Spanish inside me went a little crazy, singing "vamos espana" all around the house wearing my Fabregas jersey. I'm so thrilled they won.
2) Sneaking purchase from Louis Vuitton. All will be revealed.
3) Randomly painting my nails with Essie's "Tart Deco". I painted them three days ago and they haven't chipped once (I'm still wearing it). Beautiful colour, highly recommend.
4) During a recent English assessment, my friend Melody drew this in under three minutes. I have no idea why she didn't choose art as an option; it's amazing!
5) A selfie! I just tried out my new hair curlers. In love. Review to follow.
6) In science me, Katie and Emma decided to stick Justin Bieber temporary tattoos on each other. I regret this as I wear sleeveless tops most of the time and I hate Justin Bieber! It makes me laugh though.
7) Beautiful weather. Shame it didn't last!
8) Obsessing over my new Topshop denim jacket, ooh ahh.
9) This was taken at 1am. I was trying to get Skype to work.


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Wednesday post: review of Harmony blush by MAC.

Suzanna xoxo