You Little Beauty - Sainsbury's Boutique Serum Foundation, £5

Sainsbury’s Boutique Serum Foundation £5

Lightweight Feel Radiant Glow Healthy-Looking Skin

Currently, I have two favourite foundations.  One is The Ordinary’s Coverage Foundation – perfect for the summer months – comfortable and light on the skin but providing plenty of coverage to the bits that I don’t want drawing attention to.   Second is my winter month product; Kat von D’s Lock-It Foundation which is wonderful at covering everything you want it to (sometimes I don’t even have to use a concealer) but still provides you with a fantastic glow to the skin.  Frustratingly, I have to buy two shades and mix them to get my true match but never mind.

Warm weather arrived sooner than expected this year and when it’s sunny, I tend not to want full coverage so I reached for my The Ordinary and realised that I’d bought the wrong shade.  Well, I had used the 2.0 YG in the Serum Foundation before but preferred the texture of their Coverage Foundation so I bought that in 2.0 YG but found that it had the same code but the shade was slightly different (probably due to the texture?).  It will be fine to use once I have a bit of a tan but I was on the pale side when I got it so I was on the hunt for another good value, light-weight foundation for the summer but one that I could pick up tout suite and not pay any delivery costs.

While I was doing some research, I came across Sainsbury’s Boutique Make-Up.  Relaunched last year with added products, the brand was initially developed when two make-up artists teamed up with Sainsbury’s a few years back.  Since then, it has gone on to win Best Make-Up and Nail Product at the 2015 Beauty Awards.  Great, I thought, it’s only a fiver and I won’t have to pay delivery charges because I can get it when I go for my next food shop.  Importantly for me, they are 100% vegan and cruelty free.

Disappointingly they only seem to have six shades (six?!…..frustrated sigh) which I think is pretty crummy.  Anyhoo, like I always do, I picked the wrong shade ‘Natural Beige’ but it wasn’t a complete waste of time as a) the foundation isn’t expensive and b) it was still my skin tone - I just bought a shade darker than I currently am.  On my next Sainsbury’s visit, I bought ‘Beige’ which absolutely matched me spot on.   I actually used the Natural Beige on a client recently and her skin was flawless.  OK, it did help that she was a teenager but still, the foundation looked great - showing the age range versatility.

The texture is super light-weight and is rather nice that it doesn’t totally conceal my freckles (I feel a bit Megan Markle) but it does provide radiance to my sallow skin.  It contains Vitamin E (an antioxidant that protects against the environment- pollution, UV) and Hyaluronic Acid (attracting moisture). 

I will definitely be buying this product again (and again and again) for the summer months.  I tend to mix my foundations anyway as I find it difficult to get a base that matches my skin tone (too many freckles, patches of pigmentation all over my face and neck!) but this Beige shade totally nails it.

Available at Sainsbury's stores and online.

You Little Beauty has moved!

Hi everyone! 

Just a quickie to inform you that my blog page is now written from my You Little Beauty website so I won't be posting on via Blogger.com any more, however, I will still keep this site for reference to previous posts.

I want to say a BIG THANK YOU for reading my beauty ramblings since 2015 but it made sense to do it all from one site.

For those of you who did subscribe to this, you can still receive my beauty musings by signing up to my website by visiting https://www.youlittlebeauties.co.uk/blog/ and click where it says 'click here'.  

See you there!

ASK YLB - Oily or no?

Q: "What is a good way to reduce oily skin?! Any products you’d recommend?   I use a Johnson’s cleanser in the morning and before I go to bed, and that’s on top of using makeup wipes and washing my face in the shower. Sometimes I can get oily skin still, but I’m not sure if that’s just down to the temperature… for example, when I’m sat in a really cold air conditioned office my skin never tends to get overly oily!"   Anon3

First up, you need to assess your skin type (normal, oily, combination, dry) and then its condition (dehydrated, sensitive for example) and then make sure the products you are using are correct else it can trigger other problems.  There is a difference in dry and dehydrated skin too: dry lacks oil, dehydrated lacks water and one can be oily but have sensitive skin.

The flush of hot weather we've been experiencing in the UK this summer is naturally going to increase oil production for some so this might be what you have been experiencing if you're not overly oily in an air conditioning environment**.

If you have a dry skin type and are not normally oily but you start using products for an oily skin (due to this hot weather?), this can lead to the harsher ingredients stripping away the natural protective barrier (the acid mantle which is secreted by the sebaceous - oil - glands).  The skin then thinks "eeeek - no protection!" and starts producing more oil to compensate this damage and you continue to use the harsher products and so the drier it will become and you end up in this vicious cycle.

If you have an oily skin type but feel that your skin is tight after cleansing, you have a dehydrated skin.  The tendency is to panic and think its dry and you start using products for a dry skin , full of rich emollients which can provide too much lubrication resulting in breakouts. 

**Air conditioning can dry and dehydrate the skin but use the right products for your skin type and condition and you should be peachy.  Seeing as you're not overly oily when you're sat in aircon (ie. the skin over producing because its drying out too much), then the skin is regulating itself nicely.

I have an oily skin type with a dehydrated condition (yup, too much vino) and I used to love facial gels.  I would jump in the shower and cleanse my face with a facial wash like nobody's business, twice a day.  As I've gotten older, I have noticed that my skin is responding to creams a bit better despite having oily cheeks (yup, still have HUGE pores).  To be honest, thinking about my skincare history, I wish I had chosen milks/creams to gels back in my mid-twenties!  Surprisingly (and I learnt this when I worked for Clarins back in the 90's), water can dry out the skin - again, removing some of the lipids that protect the skin.  Think when you are on holiday, you've gotten out of the pool or the sea and you don't dry yourself down.  What happens next is that the sun evaporates the water off the body as you dry, so quickly, you can end up burning.  That's why its important to dry yourself down and apply more SPF.  It's the same with skincare.  After you've toned the skin, its beneficial to blot the skin before applying a moisturiser else what is left of the toner plus lipids will evaporate and dry out the skin.  

Therefore, I would suggest trying a cream or balm cleanser rather than a facial wash in the shower in the morning.  Massage the skin with the cleanser before you get into the shower and then rinse off in the shower.  Once out, tone and moisturise.  At night, massage the cleanser again and then remove with either damp cotton wool or a damp facial mitt, followed by toner and moisturiser.  

Avoid standard facial wipes if you can as they are bad for the environment, bad for your skin and full of chemicals and plastic.  If you have to use wipes, then source biodegradable ones* as they are better for the planet.  Best moisturisers for all skin types contain hyaluronic acid which naturally occurs in the body and is a moisture magnet - perfect for all skin types and all conditions so do look out for those. 

Recommendations:-

*Yes To..." range (carrots, tomatoes, pomegranate, coconut, argan oil, cucumber - depending on your skin type) - Made with compostable, FSC certified fabrics - £2-5

Neal's Yard Soothing Starflower Cleanser - sensitive £17 (vegan)

Neal's Yard Calendula Cleanser - dry £17 (vegan)

Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter £10

Superdrug Calm Skin Soothing Facial Wash - £3 (vegan).  This is a thick gel so its very gentle and doesn't strip the skin; its lovely to use. 

All the above are cruelty-free certified.

ASK YLB - How Many?!!!

Q:  What are all the stages of a skin care regime and what do the products do?  There seems to be so many!  Anon2

A:  I grew up with the basic cleanse, tone and moisturise routine and it’s the most effective way to keep your skin healthy.  Three easy steps.  Simple.  However, what with skincare becoming so technologically and scientifically advanced, the market is inundated and it can get very confusing as what to buy.  This became evident when I was working for the Japanese skincare and beauty giant, Shiseido in 2015 as the regime became much more than that (and as they do like to layer, it can become costly too).  But reading through this post, you will see that some of the product names are called something else but they do the same thing.

For healthy skin, use the right products for your skin type and condition, keep it clean, use SPF, get a good sleep and keep it hydrated, whether you have good genes or not.  Also, lifestyle and budget come into it but there is a something out there for everyone.

My morning and night skincare regime consists of the following but if you find that this is too much then simply cleanse, tone and moisturise but bring it into the 21st Century and add an SPF into the mix:-

1. Eye make-up remover, 2. Cleanser, 3. Toner, 4. Serum, 5. Eye Cream, 6. Moisturiser

7. Sun Protection (which should include a decent 4-5 star rating and P++ rating).

My bathroom cabinet (products vegan and cruelty-free)

Cleansers (2) unclog pores, remove dirt, make-up, oil, sweat, dead skin cells and other types of pollutants that have accumulated on the skin, during the day and night so do this twice a day!  Cleansers come in the form of gels, oils, creams, lotions, milks, micellar waters, mitts and balms.  For cleansing your peepers (1), unless it categorically states that you can use a product on the eyes as well as the rest of the face, I would use a targeted remover for the eyes else it could result in infections and puffiness if the make-up isn’t properly removed.  Also, due to cosmetic formulations now being ‘long-lasting’, you do need to cleanse more effectively so double-cleanse if you have time.  Also beneficial at this stage, is to give your skin a good massage with the cleanser; it gets the blood flow going, stimulates muscles and lymphatic systems, eliminate toxins and promotes healthy cell renewal.

Toners (3) help rebalance the skin after cleansing, remove any remaining cleansing residue and prepare the skin for the next product.  You could instead use an essence or a softener, which are more concentrated and packed with more ingredients than toners in this step.  Personally, using a toner is my favourite part of the routine!

Serums (4) penetrate the skin much quicker than moisturisers due to their consistency and they contain concentrated active ingredients too so whatever your skincare concern (eg: hydrating, firming, pigmentation or acne), these little beauties will deliver and target it.  Ampoules do the same thing as serums but they are even more concentrated.  I use a firming serum during the day and at night, I apply one that contains glycolic acid (an AHA) so I don’t have to exfoliate my face with a scrub once a week.  If you use an AHA, make sure you use an SPF the following day, as the top layer of the skin has been gently dissolved allowing UVA and UVB to penetrate.

Eye products (5) can help to de-puff and/or reduce the signs of ageing.  I still firmly believe that these little beauties work even if beauty editors don’t.  If I don’t use one, then I notice a difference.  Tip – apply a size of half a grain of rice around the orbital bone and not directly under your eyes – the skin is absorbent and the product will get to where it needs to go at a rate of what it deems fit (too much product can weigh the thinner skin under the eyes down and result in dark circles). 

Moisturisers (6) basically prevent moisture loss and bring comfort to the skin.  These creams, lotions and gels do a lot more than that nowadays as they can firm, lift, exfoliate, plump and provide sun protection so its down to you what your needs are.  Remember, you can go for a basic, cheaper moisturiser and it will still hydrate and allow the skin to feel comfortable and then you can splurge a bit on a serum that will target specific concerns.  I am currently using a moisturiser that doesn’t contain SPF so I use this product day and night.  

SPF (7).  You can buy moisturisers containing a sun protection factor but if you are using one that doesn’t, then you can layer another product on top to make sure you are protected, like I do – they come in the form of lightweight lotions and these make good make-up primers too.  Or you can use a proper facial sun cream.  Thankfully, these products aren’t heavy textures like they once were and they are great under make-up. 

You will notice that I haven’t included exfoliators or masks for a weekly treat for the skin in this list.  Seeing as I use a glycolic as a daily exfoliator, I haven’t bought a scrub in a long time and as for using a mask, I have just been downright lazy in not using one!  But it’s good to slough off those dead skin cells with an exfoliator and then allow your skincare products to work more efficiently by using a mask.  Once you have exfoliated, treat the skin to a mask that is suitable for your skin type/condition, one that will leave the skin revitalised, clean and hydrated.  They come in the form of gels, creams, peels and sheet masks (ugh, which I don't like, they are too wet and claustrophobic!), to name but a few.

Hope this helps!

For more information on You Little Beauty, blogs and treatments, please visit the website www.youlittlebeauties.co.uk

ASK YLB - I'm melting! I'm melting!

Q. Help! My base makeup is melting in this heat!
Personally I don’t like wearing make-up when its hot and tend not to take any with me on my summer hols but since we’re living in this mega heatwave at the moment and trying to go about our daily business, its quite hard not to go without being a bit polished. I recommend less is more. If you’re one of the privileged few that can go without foundation, just pop concealer on where you need it. Alternatively, chose a BB, CC, DD cream or a tinted moisturiser. If you need a fuller coverage, go for a lightweight, oil-free, long-lasting foundation. If your skin can take it, finish off with a make-up fixing spray.


Rosie for Autograph Sheer Finish Tinted Moisturiser 30ml £18 (vegetarian)
The Body Shop All in One BB Cream £12 (vegan, cruelty-free)
Charlotte Tilbury Unisex Radiant Glow £35 (vegan, cruelty-free)
Garnier BB Cream Nude Tinted Moisturiser £10
Revolution Sport Fixing Spray £5 (vegan, cruelty-free)
3ina The Fixing Spray £10 (vegan, cruelty-free)
Pixi Makeup Fixing Mist £16 (vegan, cruelty-free)

You Little Beauty - Primark PS...3 PK Cleansing Mitts

These little beauties are amazing.  In typical Sally-fashion, something new comes out on the beauty market and I just sigh and think not another new fad but these totally work.  They are super soft cloths that you dampen with water and they remove your make-up and boy, do they remove all make-up!  I am never going to buy facial wipes again!  They are super easy to clean too - bung them in the washing machine with your usual wash and they come up like new (unlike muslin cloths that stain after a time and look unsightly).

I don't like to see dirty towels or face cloths so I was actually cleansing my face first with my usual cleanser and then wiping my face with the cloth, which is a bit like hiring a cleaner but cleaning up before they arrive.  I still remove my eye makeup with a separate product but now I am brave enough to get the cloth dirty and clean my face.  Then I go back in on the eyes with the cloth to remove the last traces of mascara and it literally takes it all off (I can't believe I wake up in the morning with no black smudges - its a miracle!) and my eyes don't sting.  Once I have used the Mitt, I then tone my skin with Neal's Yard Rose Toner and there is no trace of foundation or blusher on my cotton wool pad.  I kid you not.

Another nice thing is that they are everso slightly exfoliating one side.  My skin looks definitely healthier on waking too, fresh faced I am.

I have only been using these Mitts in the evening to remove my make-up as I use a different cleanser in the shower.  You can use both sides of the cloths and you only need to use half of one side so you will get four uses out of them before having to pop them in the washing machine.

I am off to Utrecht this week on a business trip and feel quite smug that I don't have to take any facial wipes with me or a cleanser even as one cloth will last me the two nights that I am there.

And the best bit about these Mitts are that they are only £2.50 for three so I have stocked up.

Primark PS.... 3 PK Cleansing Mitts £2.50

The You Little Beauty Therapy Studio is Now Open

Saturday, 5 May 2018

Wow, what a day, what a week: three interviews (for a part time admin office job, one of which I got!), a visit from the Council with regards my Massage Licence, which I got!) and the build-up to making sure that the studio was ready and perfect for launch.  I can't believe it's finally happened and now I can say officially that I now own my own business!

The first visitors across the threshold of my You Little Beauty Therapy Studio was my best friend and her family.  They couldn't make the 2pm launch so they arrived early, armed with a card and a fabulous bunch of flowers. 

I was nervously excited, trembling even when I unlocked the door of the studio and showed them what we had done with it but they loved it!  Their 9 year old announced, 'It's like something a professional person would have."  I think I must've nailed it then!

The next visitors were my parents, who were travelling back from a break in Harrogate and who were going to be my support for the day.  They had seen the studio as it was, as it was being renovated and now they were seeing the final result and I got a "wow!" and a "proud" too so my husband and I were well chuffed (and I am most proud of hubbie as he had done all the work, bless him).  

I had invited my neighbours and one of them offered to bake fairy cakes for the launch and so they came round before 2pm with the cakes and my goodness, not only were we impressed with their generosity but also the fact that my business name was on the cakes!  

Seeing as it was a man-free zone, Dad and hubbie hot-footed it to the pub when the guests started to arrive.  From then on, I didn't have time to be nervous any more and I just got stuck into it.  Everyone had a tour, was offered wine, nibbles and cake and then they filled in a form that entered them into a prize draw (which also had a GDPR vibe to it - so they knew that I will not be doing anything untoward with their data) and we chatted.  When they were on their way, they received a YLB goodie-bag.  Thank goodness my Mum was here as it was quite difficult to get round to chinwag with everyone as people were still arriving and I found a few of my friends chatting away to Mum who was sunning herself in the garden (thank goodness the weather was amazing)!

Admittedly, I still have a few more things to do with regards to the business, advertising-wise.  I am in the process of organising a website, rather than using Facebook (of which I am not a fan) and I am having some professional photos done too so in the meantime, you will have to put up with my photos.  Also, I need to beautify the outside of the cabin and sort the garden out (anyone want any gravel then please help yourself!) but at least the studio is done and I can get on with the treatments; facials and body massage with Neal's Yard and makeovers.

It was an awesome afternoon and I got some bookings too so a HUGE thank you to everyone who came to see me and for their support at You Little Beauty - I couldn't have asked for anything more - it was a perfect afternoon...

Sally x