Mineral makeup goes Harry Potter !

B E A U T Y 
Woah woah woah it's magiiiiiiiic. 

Mineral Magic that is. I picked this up on a whim in Asda well over a month or two a go. Then I asked my mum to pick me up another. Yeah, it's not often I repurchase a product. So that say's a lot ! Pricing up at  just under 10 pounds this little beauty is a thing of wizardy. It's a kaolin base, which from my trusty Lush knowledge it is oil absorbing as well as being good for spot prone skin. Which is me down to a T. T-zone that is ! You can use this as a finishing powder or as a foundation. It has little beads, purple, yellow, green and pink. Making this correcting and concealing. With a little bit of collections lasting perfection concealer, you are wingardium leviosaing your ass to oil, spotless free skin and a flawless coverage that last's all day. I know, MAGIC. 
Have you tried any of JML's wonder products ?

Spot Budget Busters. Neutrogina and Lush. Again.

It's no lie, that when it comes to a blog post on skincare, I will be the person blogging it, reading it, memorising it. That, and Caroline Hirons of course. DUH. It is the thing that got me hooked on beauty and everything that surrounds the industry, both positive and negative. Naivety is certainly not my middle name and when it comes to media, a pinch of salt is most certainly needed.

That said, I still hunt for that winning product. Even better, that winning product on a budget. Todays budget buy, spot treatments. And kids, I can tell you one that is free, available to all (in most cases), and if you get off your ass, you can have this product, this very second.

WATER.

I know, I know. But they don't lie about this one. Tried and tested. I can even notice a difference when I haven't been toting up the glasses in a week. So get it down you, force yourself too. You will notice a dramatic difference, not just in skin, mind, and body too !

The next one, that is free.

SLEEP.

Yeah, they don't lie about this one either. Sleep is golden. Lack of it causes; energy loss, making you reach for sugar instead of water. Makes you grouchy, causing arguments, makes you stress, increasing hormone levels and we all know what happens when equilibrium is messed with. Everything gets messed with. Not to mention, all that repair shit that goes on when your catching them Z's. So go catch them.

Now we have upped the water, upped the sleep, whats next ? Products. After committing, painfully, to the Ultrabland Challenge, I have noticed that reducing your skincare can work wonders. Too much can overwhelm your skin, so start with the basics. A good cleanser AND a double cleanse. I mean, take of your makeup, then WASH your face. The most simple thing, but again works a treat. Then if you need extra moisture do. If you fancy a tone, do. Reducing your skincare to what really works, and what you really need, will save your skin and your well earned pennies.

Okay, now onto the more satisfying things, retail therapy. So we have done all the good things we are supposed to do, we still want to buy something and a bargain buy too. When it comes to spot treatments, I am pretty sure I have tried most things on the market. Alpha H liquid Gold being my most expensive one to date. The trusted Origins Super Spot Remover. Freederm, you know the brands. Now I have a dupe for Origins SSR that will blow your socks off, okay, the ingredients aren't going to be word for word, but on getting the job done, it gets it done. Neutrogina Visibly Clear Rapid Spot Treatment. Full of salicylic acid, you know that stuff that helps spots. This will help reduce the little blighters and priced only at £4.99. Not bad huh ? My one and only tip, is use sparingly. This stuff is strong and can cause skin to dry out.

On the more gentler front, one that I use for little pimples and one that I currently have smothered on my face. You guessed it, it's another Lush product ! Grease Lightening, a couple of pounds more at £6.25. But for all of you product conscious beauties this will satisfy all those needs and more. Rosemary, Thyme and Tea Tree a lethal anti-bac and antiseptic trio. Witch Hazel and Grape Juice, the astringent and anti - flam duo. And finally Aloe Gel to soothe, because if its a biggun, that thing will bust through the skin causing all kinds of nasty and crusty bits. We don't like them crusty bits.

Crusty bits dealt with, let me know if you have tried these spot budget busters.

Ta Ta For Now !

Jess, Just Another Blogger, JAB <3

I challenge you to, the Ultrabland Challenge.

Skin. Or what I like to call, the bane of my life, and probably the reason why my love and fascination for the beauty industry has grown. I have problem skin. Or rather, a cystic acne, dry, patchy, oil slick, sometimes congested mess. Okay, so it isn't that bad.

But stress, poor diet, hormones, ill used products and look out ! Is that a volcano that has erupted on your face ? No, that's just my spots. Painful. Red. Takes ages to go away. Boy it's a real treat.

So, lately due to stress, horrible medical worries, organising general life. My skin, has been somewhat to put politely ... F - UDGED ! And I aint no stranger when it comes to a good skincare routine.

Can we get some love for the Goddess and the somewhat sarcastic (my most favourite part), Caroline Hirons. Skincare Guru. You must have heard of her. If not. I will do that thing, you know links and all that. Her blog is like the Bible. It is, in fact, the Bible.

I double cleanse, tone, moisterise, treat. You know the steps. But this time, she wasn't having it. So, after much conversation with the advisers at my favourite store, Lush ! We decided I should do the Ultrabland Challenge.

My love for this product was already strong. But boy, it just went full blown love, babies, marriage and to death to us bloody part. It is a staple in my everyday skincare routine, slather it on, hot cloth it off. IT. IS. HEAVEN. I think most avid skincare junkies will hold up their hands and admit that when it's time to slap on that cleanser and moisten that flannel, the satisfaction you get after is something that can only be related to a little something, something. You know what I mean, and if you don't. Keep it that way. Until your atleast 21 or over. 

The challenge is, use nothing but Ultrabland. And that's it. That. Is. It. Cleanse. And done. For a whole MONTH. You can imagine my brain going into meltdown, but what about the my Tea Tree Toner, what about my Effaclar Duo. Nope. Just Ultrabland. And hands down, 5 days in, texture, oil, tone, massive improvement. I may also add, i've been downing water like its going out of fashion. It's like skin re - set. A detox if will. And, no I have been using this product for well over a year and it does not add to my cystic acne. In fact, the break out is still there, but reduced dramatically in size.

A little on the the texture. It is thick and balm like, enabling all the dirt (yummy) to cling to the cream. You'd think, woah my greasy skin won't like this, trust me it does. Afterwards, once you've been to hot cloth heaven, your skin feels nicely nourished, balanced and no overly oily. 

I can safely say I am a happy camper. Now, the question is, do you dare to do the Ultrabland challenge ?

If you are daring let me know. If not, use it anyway. It last's ages and is amazing value for money and better for the planet ! Everyone's a chicken dinner ! I will keep you posted on it's progress.

Ta Ta for now !

Jess, just another blogger.

<3

Ingredients : Proof is in the pudding ! 

Almond Oil - Packed with Vitamin E ! Heals and protects

Rose Water - Calms and reduces redness !

Beeswax - Gives a rich emollient ! And awesome for healing bruises, inflammation and burns !

Honey - Not just something you have on yogurt is full of nutrients and antibacterial, antiseptic, antioxidant and antifungal substances. Tasty and tactful.

Fresh Iris Extract - It smells amazing but also helps to  soothe and reduce inflamtion.

Glycerine - Now don't panic ! Glycerine is a humectant, absorbing water-based materials into its structure. In a cosmetic product, glycerine will carry effective ingredients, such as aloe gel or fruit juices, into the skin where their beneficial effects can be utilised. It is very mild and will not irritate in any way. It is also very moisturising. Yay !

 Rose Absolute - Restores balance. And also an aphrodisiac. Cheeeeky.

Tincture of Benzoin - Help cracked sore skin

Methylparaben/Propylparaben- Safe parabens, helps to preserve