Skincare: Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish

I never used to pay too much attention to looking after my skin, but towards the end of my teenage years and coming into my early twenties I started to realise the importance of cleansing and moisturising daily. The reason I never cared about it was because I struggled to find products that I really liked and that worked for me; having sensitive skin causes all kinds of problems when it comes to skincare.

But then my mother introduced me to skincare brand, Liz Earle. Liz Earle is a company that pride themselves on using naturally active, high quality and safe ingredients. I started using their Cleanse and Polish - Hot Cloth Cleanser about a year ago now and I don't think I will ever look back. The starter kits contain a 100ml pump of the cleanser and a muslin cloth and costs £14.75 - a pretty good price for the quality of the product.

To use, you firstly apply the product to a dry face and neck and massage it in. I tend to do this for about 2 - 3 minutes but I don't think it really matters how long you do it for. Because all ingredients are safe you can even rub it into your eyelashes to remove mascara - something that if done with other products would probably results in tears. The next step is to soak the muslin cloth in hand-hot water, wring out the excess water and start to lightly sweep away the cleanser. Finally, a splash of cold water onto your skin to help reduce pore-size.

After using, my skin not only feels softer but it looks fresher. It is suggested that you use this twice a day, but I only use it once and I still notice a difference. I have been recommending this to friends ever since I started using it and if you have struggled before to find naturally active products that actually do a good job, try this!

Wearable Make-Up Trends

"Barely there" make up always seems to make an appearance somewhere during fashion week, but this season the dewy finish seems to have taken a backseat and has been replaced by perfectly matte and contoured skin. I love this as although I've always thought dewy skin looks amazing on some skin tones, and especially those with very clear skin, it just doesn't suit me and I'm sure others will feel the same. Here's my breakdown of my favourite make-up trends this season that I think anyone could wear.

Balmain

This look by Balmain shows off the 'non make-up' trend perfectly and it is possibly my favourite of this particular style. It's beautifully understated, effortless and also entirely wearable. Another great thing about it is that it's versatile: a quick swipe of lipstick could transform this into a simple evening look (Diane Von Furstenberg and Fendi did just that).

Dolce and Gabbana

The 60's feline flick has made yet another appearance on the catwalk. This look by Dolce and Gabbana is extremely classic, it was paired with backcombed beehives which were also sometimes accessorised with extravagant crowns. Once you have mastered the flick (I still haven't quite) this is an easy look to create. Matte lipstick, another favourite of mine, was added and the skin left slightly dewy, but not as much as we've seen in previous seasons.

Diane Von Furstenberg

I mentioned this Diane Von Furstenberg look above, and it's a trend I have been trying out myself recently although I do apply a very small amount of mascara. The skin is highlighted slightly around the eyes and subtly contoured around the cheekbones. This whole look is in the barbie pink lipstick: it's garish and bright and it only works because of the bareness of the rest of the face. Too much eye make-up and blusher and it really might start to look a bit barbie-esque, so be aware of that if you want to try this out yourself.

Anna Sui

Now this look by Anna Sui isn't so wearable but it was one of my favourites, modelled here by the lovely Cara Delevingne. Thick black eyeliner flicks and marks underneath the eye are reminiscent of the classic Twiggy style. The hair was left simply styled or tied back in looped ponytails which worked well with the bold make-up.

(Images taken from Vogue.co.uk)

Hair Care: Aussie Miracle Hair Insurance

I'm a natural brunette and to get it to the blonde that it is now, I have had to bleach the HELL out of it. This results in my hair sometimes feeling quite brittle and dry, not to mention the split ends I have to contend with.

Being a long time fan of Aussie products I decided to give this leave-in conditioner a go, and I can't tell you how glad I am that I did. It leaves my hair feeling not only soft, but back to the good condition it was in before I attacked it with bleach. Although haircare can be expensive sometimes, this comes in at only around £5, so it's affordable even if you're on a student budget like myself.

I would strongly recommend this product to any of my friends who struggle with dry, split ends and just need that little bit of extra moisture that normal conditioner doesn't always give you.