bloomzy /

Review: Witch Anti-Blemish Skin Clearing Primer

Witch Anti-Blemish Skin Clearing Primer*

I love a good primer, especially one that has added properties. My latest foray into the world of primers is the Witch Anti-Blemish Primer. I have been using it for about a month or two now, to see if it lives up to it’s claims.
What Witch has to say about it:
“This clever, silicon-based primer helps prepare skin for your favourite foundation. 
It mattifies and absorbs excess oils for a smooth, silky base, even application and a long lasting finish, perfect for helping to keep your foundation in place in warmer weather. Ideal for those with oily/combination skin, this primer helps to prevent and target imperfections by protecting skin from the layers of makeup, which can cause or aggravate blemishes. Ingredients include pure witch hazel extract, antibacterial actives, liquorice root extract to calm the skin, and glycerine and Provitamin B5 to condition and hydrate.”

Pros:

+ Nice texture
+ Good application
+ Makeup applies well over it
+ Kept my skin blemish free
+ Makeup stays all day
+ Fragrance-free
Cons:
– Silicon-based
– Didn’t reduce shine
Notes:
I’m someone who goes in between primers often. I usually find that I either dislike the texture of the primer, or it just doesn’t keep my make-up in place. However Witch’s Anti-Blemish Skin Clearing Primer won me over on both accounts. The gel formula applies well (not super easily but I got used to it), and it feels nice. It also sits comfortably on my skin and my make-up applies really well on top of it. Unfortunately it didn’t seem to reduce the shine on my combination skin, but my make-up does stay put for the whole day. The only other concern I have is that it is silicon-based. Whereas silicon does have it’s benefits for your skin, it does also have it’s downsides. It creates a layer on top of your skin, which can keep in moisture and dirt etc. However on that note, you can see why it is good in this product, as it creates a barrier between your skin and make-up, to avoid blemishes. So I’m on the fence about it being used in a product (especially one that I use most days) as I’m just not sure about it as an ingredient. Still those are my only concerns and my general feeling about this is that it’s one of the better primers I’ve tried. It retails at £6.99 which is on the average end of the scale. Ultimately, would I purchase it? Yes. It has kept my skin free from blemishes and it works well as a primer.
You can purchase Witch’s Anti-Blemish Skin Clearing Primer at Superdrug.
bloomzy /

OOTD: Little Paris in London

Blazer – H&M | Top – Zara | Leggings – H&M | Necklace – Topshop


This Summer I plan to make a big change in my wardrobe. That isn’t exactly something I declare every day so it may sound a bit odd. This past weekend I re-read Parisian Chic: A Style Guide by Ines de la Fressange. Whereas I don’t agree with everything, I do love her take on the classic Parisian style. It got me thinking about my own style and how I was in love with Ines’s offerings. So this Summer I plan to do a little style overhaul…well, in a way.
I envy those who wear basics like they’re something fantastical. I want to be one of those women who walks down the streets of Paris, wearing H&M as if it were Chanel. Convincing those around her that they’ve put hours of effort in to look chic, when in reality all she had to do was grab a shirt and a pair of tailored trousers from her minimalist wardrobe. My wardrobe will consist of a few key pieces that will work well together (or by themselves), with minimal accessories to match. It isn’t about being specifically on-trend, nor do I believe that you need a wardrobe overflowing with items. Quality over quantity, after all. However that doesn’t mean that I need to spend all of my income on the latest it-bag from Louis Vuitton, or the latest pair of flats from Charlotte Olympia. I’d rather have people wonder where my clothes are from, and where they can buy them for themselves. So since I look up to women with an effortless ability to pair basics (a la Rumi Neely & Audrey Hepburn), I plan to bring out the casual chic part of my personal style even more.
Hopefully I’ll be able to wow a few people myself.
bloomzy /

Wish List: Persun Mall

Persun Mall Wishlist
Recently I joined Persun Mall‘s blogger program and was asked to create a wishlist.
I do love a good wishlist, so of course I jumped at the chance to do one this time round.
After choosing a few items I loved, I realised that I’d started to style an entire outfit.
Little by little it was coming together and it was full of some gorgeous items.

At first look, it would seem I was inspired by the recent festival trend going around.
Even though I’m not a festival fan this outfit and these items probably would be perfect for one.
Sunglasses, bracelet, shawl jacket, dark denim shorts, tan shoulder bag and ankle boots – check!
Persun Mall is similar to a lot of other China based online brands doing the rounds right now.
You’ll find affordable, varied items of a decent quality that can be shipped worldwide.
I’m looking forward to working with them!

bloomzy /

Photo Diary: Of Castles and Kings

Yesterday I visited Chirk Castle in Wales, which is part of the National Trust. I’m a bit of a history geek and I love walking around old manor houses and castles etc. I also knew that it was the perfect time for me to take my camera and snap a few arty shots. I love sharing non-fashion/beauty images with you every now and again. Chirk Castle is lovely and the gardens are equally beautiful. The castle’s decor was as opulent as it was extravagant.  Flowers were in full bloom, and the sun was shining. It’s definitely worth a visit if you’re nearby.
bloomzy /

Style: An Outfit for Under £35 ($60)

Clothing – Oasap*

I decided to challenge myself with my recent month’s credit from Oasap. I wanted to know if I could put together an entire outfit for under $60 (£35). I love simple, chic outfits that look good without having to take 3 hours to put together. So with that in mind I first chose a Breton striped inspired t-shirt with short rolled sleeves. Next up was a simple pair of black tight leggings to create a skinny jean look on the bottom. I toyed with the idea of ankle boots but chose some Converse-style high top sneakers instead. I was surprised I had made it this far and still had money left in my internet-wallet to burn. So I settled on the still cute YSL dupe ring that was incredibly popular a few years ago.
The top was reduced down to $6.90 from around $10 and the leggings were only $12.90. The ring was the biggest bargain out of all at only $2!! Whereas the sneakers (which also have a slightly raised platform on the bottom) were the most expensive at $36.90 – and even then that isn’t really expensive for a pair of shoes. All together it came to $58.70…for the entire outfit! I was impressed, and pretty cocky, knowing that I had got an entire outfit for under $60. I didn’t have to stray from my personal style, and I was able to buy basic items that can be paired with other outfits in the future.
Challenge complete!
On a sad side note…
My Oasap orders have usually been on time, however this time round my order took over a month to reach me. That was very disappointing and when it arrived the leggings were far too small – even though they’re ‘one size’ and my other ‘one size’ leggings from Oasap fit me fine. I don’t like to talk bad about companies and before this I would have only had good things to say about Oasap. However I do feel it’s important to tell you my true feelings on here. Yes I would order from them but I would be cautious about the shipping times etc.
bloomzy /

Video: Life in Japan Q&A #1

Here is the first in my ‘Life in Japan Q&A’ series. I’ve decided to do this series in short videos so you can find exactly what you want to know, without having to sit through 25mins of me rambling away. The first couple of questions are from Kat about learning Japanese (and using it on holiday) and coping as a vegetarian in Japan.

If you’d like to ask your own question you can leave a comment here on this post or here, or you can tweet me. 

Don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel for more videos.
bloomzy /

Review: Time Bomb Complexion Cocktail

Time Bomb Complexion Cocktail with a shot of B12*
Ever felt like your skin could do with a pick me up? Well this little mystery bottle claims to contain the ingredients to do just that. Sometimes a long list of ingredients and claims can be quite confusing though. So here’s what Time Bomb have to say about their own product:
“Complexion Cocktail with a shot of B12, formulated with high levels of Vitamins B12 and B3 plus Brown Algae, jolts skin’s own energy production into high gear. Formulated with Centella and Ginseng, this potent concentrate improves micro-circulation for better skin tone and enlivened color. A powerful blend of 12 Amino Acids and two types of Hyaluronic Acid replenishes skin’s surface layers and helps retain moisture for immediate visible plumping.”
But what did I think?
Pros:
+ Feels good on skin
+ Nice texture (liquid not cream)
+ Cute packaging
+ Brightens up my skin
+ Left my skin soft & supple
 
Cons:
– Small bottle
 
Notes:
This little product may not look like much but it has won a place in my beauty cabinet. Although I was unimpressed with the size of the bottle when it arrived, I knew that I had to stay positive. They say you shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover, but I love the packaging of this. It’s cute, simple and it gets it’s point across – and the little drawstring bag is a nice added touch. Even though it appears to be green, the contents are actually a red (cleanser-like) liquid. The lid makes sure that you don’t waste half a bottle when pouring it onto your cotton pad – although they do suggest you saturate the pad when applying. There is no perfume (not that I picked up on) which is always nice, and the texture of the liquid is pleasing. It applies well and absorbs into the skin quickly, leaving soft and supple skin behind. This does brighten my skin up and leaves it feeling a bit more lively. It also helped with my complexion and clearing up blemishes. I can’t comment on the anti-ageing affect right now, but I have faith in it. For £24 for 100ml, it does seem pricey but this isn’t something you need to use everyday. I would gladly purchase it and keep it in my cabinet for when my skin feels like it needs reviving.
You can purchase Time Bomb’s Complexion Cocktail at Time Bomb.