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Sumita is an LA based luxury cosmetic brand focusing on eyebrow and eye products and I was given the opportunity to review some of their products. I was sent two eye pencils, a gel eyeliner pot (which I'm going to review separately) a brow pencil and brow wax to try out. The packaging is GORGEOUS, with a south Asian inspired look. The boxes feature a simplistic henna design which is so out of the ordinary for makeup brands and makes their products stand out even more.
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I got the shades Violet and Midnight Blue which are insanely pretty, and I'm not exaggerating in the slightest! The formula is described as waterproof and oil- enriched and I couldn't agree more. They're pigmented, creamy and don't budge all day. They retail at $19 (around £14) which is a pretty standard price. I've tried eye pencils from Urban Decay, MAC, Laura Mercier, NARS and more but Sumita has some of the best by FAR. It's rare to find pencils which are so rich in colour and long lasting. I love using this in my waterline, smoking them out underneath or as a base for my eyeshadow. Highly recommend! I can't wait to try more colours out.
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Doing my eyebrows during my makeup routine is by far my least favourite part, so I'm always excited to try new products which are quick and easy to use. The oval tip (similar to the ABH Brow Definer) is versatile as you can use the thin edge to draw a precise shape and then use the wider edge to fill your brows in. This pencil comes in three shades: light, medium and dark. The cons to this pencil are that the colour isn't buildable and you can't use much of it. It just looks weird and unnatural if you try to use more product even if you blend a lot. It's definitely only suited to those with already thick brows with a naturally defined shape. This retails at $19 (around £14) which I think is reasonable for a good brow product which will last a good while.
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We all get them unruly brow hairs which aren't just annoying but make our brows look messy too. A little of this brow wax before or after applying your brow product will keep them in shape all day. The formula is quite firm (as most brow products are) to ensure that it really sticks to the hairs. This product isn't a necessity to your collection but can make a big difference some! This retails at $21 (around £15) which is again pretty standard.
Skincare is so important to me now that I realise how much of a difference a flawless base makes to your makeup, and in general of course. I recently posted my morning skincare routine and was then requested to do my night time routine too. I've reviewed all the bits below in order of use.
Garnier Micellar Water
An infamous dupe for the Bioderma water cleanser, renowned for the incredible quality and price! I absolutely love this product for gently cleansing my skin with a few cotton pads, it's quick and works so well to remove all makeup and dirt. I prefer using this cleanser at night rather than washing my face when I'm not wearing makeup. It retails at around £4 at Boots for a 400ml bottle but is usually on sale. You can also get a travel size of it for around £1 which I always take if I'm travelling. It's a definite must have.
Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel
An extremely gentle, foaming gel designed to maintain the skins moisture balance. I prefer using this when I'm wearing makeup as it removes it all so effortlessly. I use a pea sized amount of this with my Clarisonic (reviewed under Skincare) and literally no dirt comes off my face when I tone, it's amazing and I'll be trying more Dermalogica products soon to review for you all. It retails at £28 on Feel Unique for 250ml. They also retail at Selfridges and Debenhams.
The Body Shop Vitamin E Toner
I only use this occasionally at night as I don't find it necessary (do correct me if I should be) but I always use this in my morning and it really helps to hydrate my skin alongside the other products. I only use a little on one or two cotton pads all over my face and neck and my skin looks and feels super clean. This retails at £9.50 and is a God send for those with dry skin.
Sweet Almond Oil
I'd really recommend this to anyone who has an uneven skin tone and/ or wants to grow their lashes and brows. Give it a few weeks and you'll see a big difference. I use a standard KTC one as all you need is pure oil, you can get a decent sized bottle of it for no more than £4/£5 which will last you ages. I absolutely love using this oil as an overnight mask on my whole face including eyelashes and eyebrows a couple times a week. Not only has it helped to reduce the appearance of my dark circles and hyperpigmentation but has also made my eyelashes grow so much! They're a lot longer and I no longer would consider getting extensions. My eyebrows are also thicker and are therefore easier to fill in and without makeup on they still look full and in shape. Remember to only apply a thin layer as too much can clog up your skin.
Keihls Midnight Recovery Concentrate
I've had this product for a few months now and I really do love it. I use a few drops of it once a week and it's made my skin noticeably radiant and healthier. I particularly love this product during colder months as my skin gets drier as this serum retains the moisture in my skin. It's a cult favourite and I knew I'd love it. It retails at £37 for a 30ml bottle and £49 for a 50ml bottle. I personally think the 30ml bottle is enogugh as you only need a few drops at one time. It's extremely potent so using too much could actually cause detriment to your skin.
L'Oreal Triple Active Night Cream
A rich moisturiser which melts into your skin effortlessly. I'd only recommend this for girls with dry skin. I use this on days where I don't use the oil or serum, I very rarely use small amounts of them together. I use a pea sized amount as it's very thick so a little goes a long way and I wake up to plumper and extremely hydrated skin. It's quite gentle on your skin, the formula doesn't feel potent at all and I love that about this cream as some can be very harsh such as by Murad. This retails for around £7 at Boots and Superdrug.
This is the post which I was most reluctant to write about, but always felt like I wanted and needed to do it. It's a very personal part of my life but if it could help even one girl it's worth it.
PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) is a condition which can cause irregular periods, excess androgen (male hormones) and cysts in your ovaries. It's extremely common and affects about 1 in 5 women in the UK. I found out that I had this condition when I was 13 and have dealt with the side effects everyday and will for the rest of my life. It can be anywhere from very mild where women don't even find out they have it, to having extreme and tedious effects on your daily life.
There's several different symptoms you can get from having this condition:
- Irregular periods or no periods at all
- Difficulty getting pregnant as a result of irregular ovulation or failure to ovulate
- Excessive hair growth (hirsutism)
- Weight gain
- Thinning hair/ hair loss from the head
- Oily skin or acne
- Social anxiety and depression
I've personally dealt with all of these symptoms and they've been quite aggresive (apart from trying to get pregnant) and I know a lot of other girls do too. It's difficult on a daily basis but with time and experience you learn about different techniques and ways in general to help lessen these symptoms and make life easier.
Hair removal
I could give one piece of advice it would be NOT to shave. Anything. It's something I say to girls even without the condition as it's just asking for thicker, faster growing hair, with PCOS it's just a disaster. Waxing is the best option for your body and threading is the best option for your face. I sometimes pluck annoying hairs but otherwise I stick to these. I completely understand wanting to shave as it's painless and quick but you'll regret it within a few years. Laser hair removal is also highly recommended by any Doctor or Consultant and I'll be going for sessions soon (will update for girls who want it). It's a really good option for those suffering with this condition as you go for about 8 sessions (depending on the thickness and amount of hair) and the hair won't come back anywhere near as fast or thick. The only con to LHR is how costly it is, but you can get it funded through the NHS if you can convince your consultant to put you on the waiting list (I'm getting it done privately as it's a quicker process).
Weight gain
I've never been petite or naturally thin, but I haven't ever been big either. In the past few years (with a mixture of huge stress) I've put on a considerable amount of weight and it's something I was really unhappy about. I never ate a significant amount of unhealthy food/drinks and remained remotely active (with uni etc) so I know it wasn't so much my lifestyle. I went from a size 8/10 to a 12/14 and I hated my body to say the least. To help, I've been eating really healthily and have been going to the gym every day for at least an hour and I've swapped all junk food for fruit and healthy snacks. Plus I only drink water and a lot of it. I make sure to still eat a bit of everything but in moderation and smaller portions. It makes a big difference and you'll see results within a month. I wouldn't ever recommend going on a diet or trying to lose a lot of weight quickly as it's unhealthy and you'll probably put it back on quick. It's much better to change your lifestyle into a healthier, more active one.
Acne
I haven't really had acne but lately I've been getting a few breakouts and it's just so annoying as it's probably the only symptom I hadn't dealt with. The spots I get are small so aren't that noticeable but are definitely there. The way I've dealt with them is just by maintaining my skincare routine (post is up), doing masks every 3 days and ensuring that I'm gentle with my skin and not touching it. It's important to give time for your skin to heal so I'm not trying to rush anything. I've also been using the Mario Badescu Drying Lotion which is a cult favourite and is recommend for surface blemishes. I use it on more prominent spots and it's definitely helped to reduce them, it doesn't get rid of them though. A friend of mine has dealt with acne because of her PCOS and was given a solution by her doctor to help to reduce them and lighten her dark spots and it's actually made a difference. So if it is something you're having trouble with, speak to your doctor and hopefully they can prescribe you with something suited to you.
Irregular periods
Mine have been, for a long time. I'm not going into much depth as it is very personal so if you want to know more just message me and we can talk about it :) Ways to help irregular periods is pretty much just being healthy and exercising more. It really helped me but everyone is different so speak to your doctor/ consultant and they should be able to advise you on what will be most effective in your situation.
Thinning hair/ hair loss from head
My hair is naturally thin so this didn't help, once again lol but using oils and avoiding heat damage always helps! I use coconut or mustard oil in hair at least once a week and it has really helped to strengthen my hair. I also don't use as much heat anymore, and don't use any if I don't go out. You can also take vitamins to help strengthen hair which I take everyday, they work too.
Pregnancy
I'm not familiar with this because I've never tried to get pregnant, but if you are just speak to your doctor about it and they'll be able to help. The usual waiting time before you can speak to a doctor regarding getting pregnant is about 2 years but if you have PCOS it's only about 6 months as the cysts in our ovaries can cause complications. IVF and other procedures are options so never be disheartened.
If you aren't trying to get pregnant but want to in the future and are concerned about it like me, relax and know that you won't know if there are any complications until you're in a position where you're trying for a baby. You could get pregnant quicker than someone without the condition so don't be alarmed unless your doctor has spoken to you specifically about it.
Social anxiety and depression
Having all or even one of these symptoms isn't easy to live with. It's actually really difficult and can make you feel so depressed sometimes. There was a point in my life where I felt like I really couldn't deal with this all and wanted to lock myself away. But as I've got older I've understood just to face it and learn how to work around it as I know I'll have to for the rest of my life. Blogging is something I started doing to get my mind off not only this, but other stress I had in my life too. You can always take something good out of a bad situation. Pick up some hobbies and invest your time into them when you're not at college/ uni or work. There's also hundreds of support groups and websites which you can join/ speak on with loads of other women suffering with PCOS and sometimes speaking to someone dealing with the same issue can really remind you that you aren't alone. Counselling is really helpful if you want to speak to someone out of your circle, always ask for support if you need it.
If there's any questions you would like to ask me or you just want to speak to me about any of this or share your experience then please don't hesitate! I'd be more than happy to speak about it. This post was just me speaking from my experience and how I've dealt with it over the past 6 years, everyone is different and results will vary. Remember to always stay strong because I know this condition can really get you down sometimes. You're beautiful no matter what. I love you all xxxx
This product is so popular I don't really need to speak about it, but it's so pretty that I couldn't not. The formula is super creamy and blends in like a powder. It's perfect for 5 minute makeup days as a neutral shade on the lids or as a base for your eye look. Super pigmented and they last all day! It's a must have in your collection. I've bought a few other shades too because this one beat my expectations for a drugstore product... colour, price (for £5 you can't go wrong because it'll last you ages) and formula. I'll be doing a few a looks using this and the other shades x
My go- to liquid lipsticks! From left to right:
- Kat Von D Lolita
- Max Factor Lip Infinity in Nice N Spicy
- Colourpop Beeper
- Colourpop Chi
- NYX Lip Lingerie in Ruffle trim
- NYX Lip Lingerie in Corset
- Colourpop Clueless
- Colourpop More Better
- Anastasia Beverly Hills Sarafine
- Kylie Lip Kit in Posie K
- Limecrime Velvetine in Riot
- Limecrime Velvetine in Wicked
- NYX lip cream in London
- NYX lip cream in Stockholm
I not only love the shades of these, but the formulas too! I've reviewed my favourites in a separate post x
This is the Clarisonic Aria (Keith Harding edition) which comes with a travel bag, water bottle, drying stand, wall adapter and charger, sensitive brush head and sample size cleanser. This package retails at £200 but is currently on offer for only £93, the direct link is here. It comes with a 2 year warranty and 90 day money back guarantee if you don't like it.
There are 5 different Clarisonics in the range which vary in power settings and uses.
The Aria has three power settings (delicate, universal and powerful). It also features a 'T-timer' which runs on a one minute cycle but is adjustable, this works by designating a set amount of time to your forehead, T- zone and each cheek.
'Uses a sonic frequency of more than 300 movements per second to deeply cleanse the skin far more effectively, yet more gently, than traditional superficial cleansing or simple rotating brushes'.
I use mine once a day with the Origins 'A Perfect World' cleanser (reviewed briefly in my morning skincare routine post) which foams up slightly. I typically use it on the delicate and universal settings as I think it's better to be more gentle on your skin on a daily basis. I only use it on powerful when I'm doing a little facial at home (once a week). I saw a difference in my skin within about two weeks (results vary) as my skin became noticeably softer and more radiant.
Pros
- Lightweight, sturdy and not bulky
- Three power settings
- Easy to use
- T- timer
- Each charge lasts 28 minutes
- 90% of consumers have said their skin has become more radiant and soft (including me)
- Comes with useful accessories
- Waterproof
- 2 year warranty
Cons
- Price
- May be too abrasive for VERY sensitive skin or on certain skin conditions
Is it worth the price? YES! It's the best investment I've ever made, it's made a big improvement to my skin and I'm not exaggerating in the slightest. People (and myself when I was younger) are sometimes under the illusion that you need to have 'bad skin' to invest in good skincare products but it really isn't the case. I'd recommend the Clarisonic to literally anyone and everyone, also men! It's the type of product which you use and you wonder how you've ever lived without it (dramatic but it's true). We often get put off by prices and dismiss products like this, but wouldn't mind spending that amount on MAC lipsticks or a few eyeshadow palettes... we're all guilty of it!.
Try it out instore (Debenhams, Selfridges and House of Fraser stock them) to get an idea of what it's like. If you do buy one, let me know how you get on with it! xxxxx
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Hey girls! So during the summer I find it too hot for full glam everyday (for those who can do it, you're amazing!). My face feels way too heavy and begins to look nasty under a lot of heat :( I have some set products that I use for my everyday makeup which ensure that my face feels light and my makeup is simple, yet still gorgeous!
Dior Star foundation: My favourite, dewy foundation which looks stunning in photos and is super light yet gives a lovely medium coverage! (Thorough review down below)Bare Minerals 'Mineral Veil': I mentioned in a previous post that I'm not a HUGE fan of this powder but it's been working quite well for me this summer. I use it for powdering throughout the day and as it's small and fits very conveniently in my makeup bag. I find that after blotting a few times, it's better to just powder down the area and this powder is perfect for that and it's so light and looks flawless on my skinUrban Decay Perversion mascara: With one coat my eyelashes look super voluminous and long, my currently favourite mascara!Red Cherry lashes in #dw: Super light- weight and wispy eyelashes, you can't go wrong! They're perfect as they feel almost non- existent on my eyelashes and add extra volume and length to my natural lashesGivenchy 'Le Rouge' lipstick in 'Rose Taffetas': I tend to wear pinky/ coral lip colours through the summer and this colour is so pretty! Very pretty!LA Pro concealer in 'Toast': I've been using this to subtly contour and it works wondersssssssssss, it's so good and cheap! This colour is a little dark for me so I would purchase the shade lighter but nevertheless, it's simple and easy to use and looks super natural on the skinSleek contour kit in medium: I use the contour shade to lightly set my cream contour and then use the highlight colour to highlight (of course) which can I mention is one of my favourite highlighters ever! It's a really pretty gold highlight and is surprisingly pigmented for a drugstore highlighterBobbi Brown dark spot corrector in 'Dark Bisque': I simple use this to colour correct any pigmentation on my face, light and high coverage. Definate recommendation to anyone looking for a good colour corrector for ashynessMaybelline 'Fit me' concealer in 15: I purchased this a shade lighter than my actual shade as I got it online and kind of just flopped, but when I use it over where I have colour corrected and I set it with a coloured powder, it actually looks fine! Super creamy formula with a medium coverage and blends like a dreamYSL Touche Eclat: A lightweight pen concealer which gives a very luminous finish to the skin where you want to highlight, looks very pretty and natural under the sun!Smashbox primers (Photo finish hydrating and under eye primer): Both amazing primers which ENSURE beautiful photography! I immediately see the difference once I've done my makeup as my skin is glowing so much and my makeup remains hydrated all day. I especially love the under eye primer as my concealer looks so good, even at the end of the day where it
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