Avon Facial Sun Protection

Hi everyone! Although we're now in what can only be described as the back end of the summer, I bought a couple of Avon facial sun protection products a little while ago which I desperately want to review for you!

These are the Avon Sun Rejuvenating Face Cream SPF30, and the Avon Sun Anti-Ageing Face Cream Sensitive Skin SPF50 (left > right). I take sun protection quite seriously and I don't like the way I look with a tan, so I bought these hoping they would protect my face every day from the summer sun.

Here are the creams on my hand - the top one is the SPF50 cream and the bottom is the SPF30 cream. You can see that the SPF50 is much thicker and more dense than the alternative, which is something I expected. I wear the SPF30 religiously every day underneath my make up, and use the SPF50 on days when I know it's going to be a little bit sunnier.

Both of these products come in the small 50ml bottles, which makes them very easy to pop in your handbag for a top up in the middle of the day. I apply these to my face after moisturiser but before make up, and allow around 5-10 minutes for them to sink in. As with the majority of facial sun protection I have tried, these products don't feel as though they're completely absorbed by my skin and the products do leave a slightly filmy finish, but I use a mineral foundation in the summer anyway which serves to soak up any excess moisture on my face. When I'm holidaying abroad sans-make up, I use a light finishing powder to do the job instead.

Having used these products for well over a month now, I can safely report that they have not clogged my pores or affected the staying power of my make up. In fact once I've got my make up on and I'm ready to face the world, I've almost forgotten I'm wearing sun cream! I am aware that there are a number of other high end and more expensive sun protection products on the market which do sink into the skin better, but I simply couldn't afford to spend £15+ so these bargainous alternatives were perfect for me! They are excellent at protecting your skin against the sun, and as long as you use them in conjunction with a powder I really cannot see any reason to splash any more cash on a more expensive alternative.

You can pick up the Avon Sun Rejuvenating Face Cream with SPF30 for £6.00 HERE, and the Avon Sun Anti-Ageing Face Cream Sensitive Skin SPF50 for £5.50 HERE.

Have you tried these products before? What is your go-to brand for facial sun protection?

xx

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Empties #5

In preparation for moving house I managed to use up quite a lot of my almost-empty products, so today's post is a little look at these! It's quite the mix...

I don't know about you but I really don't like moving on to new products until I've finished the old one first - which means whenever I buy new beauty products they have to patiently sit in the big basket under my bed until it's their time to shine. Having picked up quite a number of new products lately, I had the incentive to use things up and my, I did a good job!

Soap and Glory Clean on Me has been a staple in my shower for many, many years. I remember moving into my shared house in the second year of University (5 years ago...!) and my housemates commenting on my S&G shower gel! Having looked over the Bee's Knees archives I don't think I've ever done a full review of this, so maybe I will do one sometime soon!

The Baylis and Harding hand wash was featured in my April Favourites (HERE) and has fast become a staple in my new house! It just smells so good.

Perhaps the most boring product in today's empties, this Boots hairspray was a bit of a rushed purchase at the time and didn't impress me all that much. It was quite cheap but for an extra couple of pounds I would definitely rather purchase a branded spray.

Onto Good Things Deep Clean Blackhead Exfoliator - I reviewed this a couple of months ago HERE. I haven't repurchased this because I'm trying out a couple of alternative face washes but if they don't impress me I will go back to my old faithful!

My Moroccan Oil Frizz Control spray lasted me absolutely ages! I was really happy with how long this lasted because it's quite an expensive product by my standards. I loved using this, and you can read my full review HERE. For now, I'm using a Macadamia Healing Oil Spray but I would consider using Moroccan Oil again.

Soap and Glory Peaches and Clean (travel sized) is another product that has lasted and lasted! I've been using this once or twice a week for the past 6 months or so, and I've really grown to like it! Read my full review HERE. I already repurchased this!

If you follow Bee's Knees you'll probably already know I love this Motions Foaming Wrap Lotion and it does wonders for my naturally curly hair! Read all about it HERE. This is a real holy grail product for me and I have repurchased.

I had been using this Boots Vitamin E Night Cream for a really long time, and so I'm pleased it's finally used up and I can try a different cream! Read my review HERE.

 This Good Things Bright Eyes eye cream was a product I just didn't get around to reviewing because I felt so indifferent about it - it didn't wow me but it wasn't terrible either. I haven't and won't repurchase this.

Lastly, you may remember that I was one of the lucky girls chosen by Escentual to take part in the Micellar Water Blind Trial (post HERE). After the trial I've continued to use up the samples I was sent - I'm a firm believer in waste not want not! I've actually purchased one of the micellar waters from the trial, so stay tuned for a full review of that soon.

Phew! That turned out to be quite a long post - congratulations and thank you if you've lasted until the end and you're still reading! I'd love to hear your experiences with these products in the Comments below.

xx

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Lily Lolo Mineral Foundation - China Doll

Hi guys! Today is a review I should have posted years ago because I've been using this product since before Bee's Knees existed! If you read my July Favourites post (HERE) you'll know that Lily Lolo mineral foundation is my go-to base product for the summer, especially on hot sunny days! 

When I was on the market for a mineral foundation many moons ago, Lily Lolo was the stand out brand for a number of reasons. Firstly they have values which match my own - ethically-sourced and cruelty free. Secondly it has natural ingredients that don't clog up your skin and cause break outs. And lastly and on a more practical note, they sell sample sizes which means you don't have to purchase a full sized product to test it against your skin!

I know Lily Lolo do have stockists in some salons in the UK, but to be perfectly honest I have never been to a beauty salon (beauty blogger confession?!) and didn't intend on starting just to try Lily Lolo. So instead I ordered a selection of samples to see which would be the perfect match for my pale skin. It turned out that my ideal shade is China Doll (which I think is one away from the palest shade, Porcelain) and I've been using it ever since!

I know a lot of people haven't tried mineral foundation before and feel a bit wary about it, preferring instead to stick to the traditional liquid or pressed powder foundations. In fact it was the other way around for me - Lily Lolo was the first ever foundation I tried and so when I went on to use other foundations it was a strange experience! Mineral foundation is incredibly easy to use and it's very difficult to get it wrong. Once you match your skin to the right shade you're halfway there because application is so quick and easy, I just use a kabuki brush to blend the foundation right into my skin. A common myth is that you can't get a good coverage with mineral foundation but in fact you can create any kind of coverage you would like. For me, this means quite a light coverage which is still enough to cover any blemishes and discolourations in my skin.

I apply this product after using concealer and just blend it straight into my skin. I used to apply a pressed powder or primer beforehand but I've found that actually the finish is better when I don't. I then apply contour and blush products before using the Lily Lolo Finishing Powder to stop any shine occurring later in the day (I use the matte one). 

It's quite hard to photograph this product so I apologise for the perhaps unhelpful picture! What I would say is that the foundation from Lily Lolo is a very fine powder and doesn't become cakey unless you go completely overboard with it. Instead this product gives my skin a perfect, flawless finish that I just can't match with any other foundation I've tried. It's the perfect shade for my skin and in the summer I can't see myself reaching for a different base product anytime soon!

You can buy Lily Lolo Mineral Foundation direct from the company online HERE for £13.49 or pick up a sample for only £1.49!

Have you tried Lily Lolo before? Are you a fan of mineral foundation?

xx

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Fabulous Nails #49

Hi everyone! Today's nail look is a beautiful pastel lilac - lilac is a nail shade favoured among lots of bloggers I follow, and I love it too! I know one of the more popular shades is Essie's Lilacism, but today's choice offers a more purse-friendly option.

This is Revlon Top Speed Nail Enamel in the shade Cloud. I bought this for only 99p from Fragrance Direct (link HERE) which makes it one of the cheapest nail polishes I own! I really like Revlon polishes anyway, but when you can buy them for a fraction of the price online it definitely makes the brand more accessible for everyone (these are £6.99 in store at Boots or Superdrug).

This took three coats to become completely opaque, which isn't good or bad really. The polish dries quite quickly but I always use Sally Hansen Insta Dri top coat anyway just to be on the safe side. This nail look lasted a few days without any chips at all, which is good going by my standards as my nails are in quite bad condition! It's such a pretty shade I always get complimented on it, and I'd imagine it would look amazing with a tan!

Overall I'd recommend this polish to anyone looking for a sweet, simple and pretty polish that is easy to apply and stays put.

Are you a fan of Revlon polishes? Which is your favourite?

xx

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July Favourites

Hi guys! After a few weeks of moving mayhem, organising the new house and generally getting settled in, I am finally posting my long overdue July favourites! I will update you on everything that's been going on with me and the move soon, but for now here's what I loved throughout July..

There aren't that many favourites for July because I was so busy I really just stuck with products I knew worked for me, and didn't stray too far from my comfort zone.

First up is this Nivea Sun Spray - if you're in the UK you'll remember that July was a really hot month and temperatures in London were pushing 30 degrees for a couple of weeks. When I lived in London I walked quite a lot, which meant I always had to have some sort of sun protection on - even on work days. This Nivea spray was my go-to product for protecting my skin every day, and I loved it! The fact that it's a spray makes it really quick and easy to use even on the most hectic mornings, and the formula is so thin and silky it sinks into the skin almost straight away. Definitely a must-have if you're planning a holiday in the sun.

Another summer holiday recommendation is this hilarious book by Shalom Auslander. I hadn't heard of this book until it popped up on my suggested reading on What Should I Read Next (great website for fellow bookworms!) I bought it second hand and read it in 3 hours straight, it's fantastic, hilarious and just a little bit different!

On to hair care - my Moroccan Oil ran out a couple of months ago and ever since I have been reaching for this Macadamia Healing Oil Spray to keep my hair healthy and strong. It's very similar to Moroccan Oil but I actually prefer the smell of this product, and the small size of the bottle makes it really easy to travel with (I was back and forth from Leeds to London quite a lot in July!) I highly recommend this if you're looking for a hair oil that won't break the bank.

Make up wise, in the hot summer heat there's only one foundation I can tolerate on my face, and that's my old favourite Lily Lolo mineral foundation (I'm the shade China Doll or Blondie when I have a tan). It's just so light and sits on the skin without making you feel greasy or sweaty - definitely a must-have when it's really warm out! Another bonus of this mineral foundation is that it makes your face appear matte and soaks up any excess oils left over from sun block. A real winner for me, I've been using this for years and will post a full review soon!

Last but not least is another make up product, this Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in the shade Honey. I don't like to wear a great deal of make up in warm weather - it just makes me feel sticky and dirty but the Revlon balm stains are so easy to wear they just feel like a lip balm on your lips! Lipsticks are definitely a no-go when I'm hot, maybe it's just me but I feel like lipstick suffocates my lips in warm weather, but the balm stains give you that perfect pop of colour without any of the suffocation! Whilst typing this post I've realised I've never posted a review of the Revlon balm stains so I will try and get one up as soon as possible.

Have you tried any of my July favourites? Which is your favourite?

xx

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We are on a break

Hi guys! So you may have noticed that I haven't been publishing new blog posts this week - this will unfortunately be a bit of a reoccurring theme for the next couple of weeks too I'm afraid! You might know that I am moving house on 7 August, and moving jobs too. I have had barely any spare time at all recently to spend on my blog, and I doubt I will be able to get anything up until after I've moved. I hope you will bear with me! I had intended to get a few posts typed up today but I've realised I must have already packed my camera USB connector so I can't get the photos on to my PC. It's a sign I should take a break I think!

I know compared to a lot of other blogs Bee's Knees has been somewhat inconsistent as I've had to take a few days/weeks off here and there, but I hope you will appreciate that I am not a full time blogger, I have an incredibly demanding full time job as a lawyer and sometimes there just isn't any time to create content for my blog. I hope you'll sit tight and I look forward to sharing my July favourites and much more with you soon!

xx

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Tuesday Tales #11 - Five Positives and Five Negatives of Long Distance Relationships

Hi everyone! Sorry for the lack of a post yesterday, life is crazy busy at the moment as I've now got less than two weeks left until I finish work! EEK. If you read the last in my Tuesday Tales series (Ten Tips for Long Distance Relationships - HERE) you'll know where my head is at currently... I am fast approaching the end of my long distance relationship and I am pondering my relationships and how I've managed to survive three LDRs! 

This week I thought it would be a nice idea to share what I think are five of the positives and five of the negatives of being in a long distance relationship. I may not be the best judge of this as I've not been in a non-long distance relationship for nine years.. but here goes anyway!

(copyright - Rob Ryan - source)

FIVE POSITIVES

1) Not getting to see them every day keeps your relationship fresh and exciting, and you'll almost always have something to talk about.

2) You will (most likely) argue less than couples who see each other often, because you won't want to waste your previous time together!

3) There are so many different ways of keeping in touch these days it's actually quite fun being able to contact each other using Pair, Skype etc!

4) The time that you do spend together will be incredibly special and mean more.

5) You get to know them very well quite quickly - bear with me on this one as it may not be immediately obvious, but when you are in the early stages of a relationship you don't usually see that person all day every day for a few days in a row. But in most long distance relationships the only way you see each other is usually by staying at each other's places, so you learn a lot about them much quicker than if you are casually 'dating' or have a less intense relationship because you live closer to each other.

(copyright - Rob Ryan - source)

FIVE NEGATIVES

1) The cost of travel (even my same-country, merely 200 mile relationship costs upwards of £150 per month... ouch!)

2) Not feeling 'at home' anywhere - maybe it's just me but having to travel to see the person I love means I don't really put down roots anywhere, which makes me sad.

3) Seeing other couples and feeling raw, passionate envy. IT SUCKS.

4) Missing out on plans with your friends because you have to go to see your boyfriend/girlfriend for the weekend (it's kind of a no-brainer at the time but it makes it much trickier to form deep, lasting friendships when you can't commit to one out of every two weekends).

5) MISSING THEM.

(copyright - Rob Ryan - source)

Thank you to the lovely girls who commented on my last post about long distance relationships - have you been in one? What are the things you hate/love about it the most?

xx

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