Witch Blackhead Clearing Gel Review

Forget about blackhead strips because there's a shiny new product in town. The Witch Blackhead Clearing Gel is a gentle exfoliating gel that removes dead skin cells and rubs away blackheads easily while contracting the pores making your skin look fresher and more radiant.

I couldn't wait to give this a go to see if it really did work! The gel has a thick, gooey texture and a matt finish. You apply this onto dry skin with dry fingers. I squeeze a pea-sized amount onto my nose and forehead and massage for 1-2 minutes. After a while the consistency goes funny and starts to separate, you then rinse of with water.

After the first use I noticed the pores around my nose were a lot clearer and not as noticeable as before. Not all my blackheads were completely gone but I'll continue using this to see if it get's rid of them altogether.

My blackheads were visibly reduced after just one use but not all completely gone. If you suffer from very noticeable blackheads use this in conjunction with a blackhead scrub and pore mask to get rid of those pesky blackheads.

Witch Blackhead Clearing Gel* £4.99 available from July 20 exclusively at Superdrug.

The Do's + Dont's of Festival Makeup

Festival beauty, for me, is all about ease. When my tent is my dressing table and my phone is my mirror I need products that are quick, easy and effortless to apply. I'm off to a couple of festivals this year and I'm aimming for that fresh faced, girlfriend-with-an-all-access-vip-wristband-look rather than an over-tired, hungover camper.

DO
Longevity 
You're going to be too busy having fun to re-touch your make up. Opt for long lasting products so you can stop worrying about whether your makeup is still in place and start worrying about the queue for the toilets. A primer can prevent your skin from shine and help keep your base in place. Double up with a primer that contains SPF like the KiKo City Filter Sunscreen Primer*. If you're a liner kinda girl I highly recommend the Seventeen Semi-permanent Tattoo Me Liquid Liner.
Multi-purpose must-haves
Beauty products with more than one use are perfect for festivals as it means you'll have less stuff to carry around. A Lip & Cheek Tint is your best friend, dab it on your lips, cheeks and anywhere else you desire a subtle flush of colour. The MeMeMe Lip & Cheek Tint in Coral Blossom* is the newest addition to their best selling tints.
Hydrate Those lips 
There is nothing worse than being stuck in a field for 3 days without lip balm. Whether it's sunny or raining don't forget to pack your favourite balm to avoid licking your lips all weekend. Hell pack two, things easily get lost in a two man tent.

DON'T
Highend
Don't pack your favourite Mac lipstick. I know it's going to get Alex Turner to notice you but when you lose it that's £15.50 gone forever. Pick up some lipsticks from MUA at Superdrug, that way if they go missing - YOLO.
Gloss
Ever worn lip gloss whilst dancing to your favourite band? The hair in face & mouth combo isn't a good look, leave the gloss at home.
SPF
Don't forget the SPF. Heaven forbid you forget to pack sun cream, we all know how that one ends. Go for a primer/tinted moisteriser/bb cream which already contains SPF so you don't have to worry about protecting your skin.

So now you're looking fresh faced in an instant you can happily venture out into the floral-headdressed and cider-drinking masses. What are you beauty tips for festivals? 

Blogging Tips For New Bloggers

I started writing this blog in 2011 and haven't looked back since. It has become part of my everyday life and it's rare I switch off from it all. I love what I do. This is my little corner of the internet where I get to talk to like-minded beauty-obsessed people and offer some helpful (I hope!) advice. Now I'm coming into my fourth year of writing Make Me Up I wanted to share with you some blogging tips I've learnt over the years. This doesn't just apply to new bloggers but I've noticed a influx of new blogs lately so I wanted to offer some advice.

- Firstly, write about things you enjoy. Sounds pretty standard but if you're not excited about the posts you're writing, don't publish them. I see a lot of monthly favourite posts which just aren't for me, I don't enjoy writing them but that's just me!
- Don't obsess over stats; It can get you down and make you feel like not blogging. Everyone goes through quiet stages where not much traffic comes in. If you're checking your stats 3-4 times a day I encourage you not to look at them for a week. As long as you're happy with the content you're creating, your views are sure to perk up soon. Also, don't worry about followers - we all started with zero.
- You have the freedom to write about whatever you want, it's your blog. You gave your cat a bath at the weekend and what to share some funny photos? Do it.
- This year is the year I got organised and I wish I'd done it sooner. Get a notebook and plan posts, join Hootsuite and schedule your tweets. This will make blogging a lot easier, especially if you're juggling your blog with work/school/college.
- If you're ever unsure what to write about have a couple of backup posts you can publish on those uninspired days. I recently wrote 22 blog ideas if you are looking for some inspiration!
- Get involved in the community, we're quite nice people. Talking to others is my favourite part of blogging. Take part in twitter chats such as #BBloggers, #FBLchat and #BloggersDoItBetter. Comment on posts you love, share things you've enjoyed or email bloggers and tell them why you like reading their blog!
- There really are no rules when it comes to blogging just do more of what makes you happy.
- Be proud of your blog and the content you're creating.

I hope you found this post helpful. Why not spread the love and share it with others if you did!
what are your tips for new bloggers?
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Best Beauty Advice You've Ever Heard

What is the best beauty advice you've ever heard? Was it some words of wisdom from your Mum? Did you learn from your big sisters mistakes? Maybe it was something you saw on Pinterest? Whatever it is, I want to know.

The best beauty advice I can give you is to do more of what makes you happy. Whether that be wearing bright lipstick, an indulgent pamper evening or being bare-faced do it now, like right now. Anything that perks you up and gives you an inner boost of confidence instantly makes you feel and look beautiful.

My mum's beauty tip would be to moisturise, moisturise, moisturise. My nan would say don't over pluck your brows. My Dad would say to get more fresh air. And my Granddad would say get that rouge off your face, Kia.

So, leave your beauty advice in the comments below so we can all share our tips and tricks!

Eucerin 3 in 1 Micellar Cleansing Fluid | Review

I've tried several micellar waters including the cult-buy Bioderma and I have to say I'm a cleansing water convert. I love the ease of a cleansing water, I normally use them pre-cleanse just to get take of the bulk of my make up.

The newest one I'm testing out is from Eucerin. I've tried a few products from the brand before and have always been left impressed. The Eucerin Dermatoclean 3in1 Cleansing Fluid claims to cleanse, remove make up and tone all in one effortless swipe. I've been using this morning and evening as it's very gentle on the skin and suitable for those prone to sensitivity. One cotton pad in the AM is enough to leave my skin feeling clean, refreshed and prepared for moisturiser. In the evening I'll soak two pads to remove my makeup followed by using a creamy cleanser. I'll sometimes finish off with one final swipe of this across my face, neck and décolletage to balance my skin.

This multi-tasking must-have will be the perfect festival/holiday companion. The Eucerin 3 in 1 Micellar Cleansing Fluid* is £9.00 for 200ml and available from Escentual.com