July Favourites

It's been a while since I've written a July Favourites post. I suppose until recently, I hadn't been loving anything in particular. This month however, I've truly fallen in love with a few products so I thought I'd share them with you. Also, can you believe it's July?! It's almost Christmas...

Dior Addict Eau Sensuelle EDT - £52 for 50ml

I received this fragrance as a gift when I left Boots. Mine is actually 100ml which is luckily huge as I've been spraying this constantly. It smells absolutely beautiful and because I'm bad at describing scents, I'd recommend giving this a whiff next time you're in Boots. But beware, you'll probably end up purchasing it. It's quite light, fresh and girly and absolutely stunning. I'm addicted.

Rimmel Apocalips Lip Lacquer in Celestial - £5.99

I know, I know. Rewind to when these were first released and I couldn't express my hatred for the things enough. I tried selling it, but it just wouldn't sell so instead of throwing it away, I decided to give it another go. The problem wasn't with the formula, it was with the colour. It just didn't seem to suit me. But for some strange reason, I now think it does. It's a beautiful pink shade that's brighter than a nude, but still quite muted.

Alberto Balsam Coconut and Lychee Conditioner - £1.00

I've expressed my love for Alberto Balsam before and I think I'll continue doing so for a long time to come. They're the most affordable hair care brand out there and their products rival brands much more expensive. This conditioner is perfect for summer because it smells like coconuts, and that scent lingers in the hair throughout the day. It also helps get rid of knots and smooths the hair down.

La Roche-Posay Rosaliac CC Daily Unifying Complete Correction Cream SPF 30* - currently £15.60

I wanted a lighter base to wear on holiday and this is the one that I used. It provides medium coverage that feels lightweight on the skin. That was impressive enough. But what impressed me even more was its lasting power. Make up doesn't tend to last well on my skin but this was still intact ten hours after I'd been sweating in Rome all day. Not bad at all. 

Klorane Almond Milk Shampoo* - currently £4.80

I love Klorane's dry shampoo. It's without a doubt the best dry shampoo there is. So when I received this product, I couldn't wait to try it out. The shampoo uses Spanish almond milk which coats the hair fibre to add volume without weighing it down and also smooths and softens it. It's unreal how weightless my hair feels after using this shampoo. I don't have to bother with any volumising styling sprays as this does all of the work itself. It leaves my hair feeling incredibly soft too. I can see me repurchasing this for a long time.

Benefit Ultra Plush Lip Gloss in Hoola - full size £14.50

I got a mini of this in a Benefit kit that I purchased on holiday. In all honesty, this was the product I wasn't too bothered about in the kit, but since trying it out I'm addicted. It doesn't provide a lot of colour - if any - but it does feel incredibly soft on the lips. It's almost like a balm in texture and it doesn't leave behind a horrible sticky-feeling. It looks beautiful on its own, or over a lipstick to add a hint of shine and moisture.

Weleda Citrus Refreshing Body Oil* - £13.95

It's strange thinking about how much I love oils these days. This one from Weleda is incredible and I knew it'd be a firm favourite the first time I used it. I love citrus scents, and this one proves it further. This body oil lives up to its refreshing name and leaves the skin smooth and supple with a scent that enlivens the body. It also sinks into the skin nice and quickly and leaves the skin soft for hours on ends.

Benefit They're Real! Remover* - £14.50

I was very shocked by this product when I first used it and it's made removing eye make up a complete doddle this month. For an eye make up remover it's expensive but it dissolves make up on contact. It's really easy and quick to use and doesn't sting my eyes.

What products have you been loving throughout July?

*PR Sample

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Twitter|Facebook|BlogLovin|Instagram

Get a FREE personal training session here

Holiday packing: skin care

This time next week, I'll be going on my first cruise. I'm incredibly excited as I haven't been on holiday for a while, and also there are eight other family members going. For me, the best part about going on holiday is picking up miniature beauty products. They look adorable, and you get the chance to try out new things. So although I have another week before I go away, I have already packed my beauty bits (minus fragrance and make up) so I thought I would show you.

Cleansers

Clean & Clear Truly Gentle 3-in-1 Facial Wipes - £3.05

I'm not someone who uses face wipes often as I'm a big believer in the double cleanse, but they are useful and definitely come in handy. These face wipes are my favourite. They remove make up incredibly well and leave the skin feeling hydrated and refreshed.

Elemis Pro-Radiance Cream Cleanser* - full size £29 (from the Elemis Summer Set Glow collection* - £49.50)

I haven't tried this cleanser before but I'm incredibly excited to. I've heard wonderful things about it and I'll be using this as my pre-cleanse/make up remover each night. It's to be used like the Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish - massage it into skin, and remove with a flannel.

Korres White Tea Fluid Gel Cleanser* - full size £15 (from the Best of Korres Gift Set* - currently £12.67)

I haven't tried this face wash before but I trust Korres as it's a lovely brand. I'll be using this morning and evening to clean my skin and rid it of any impurities. It's also supposed to brighten, moisturise and nourish the skin which is a definite bonus.

Toners

Elemis Soothing Apricot Toner* - full size £22 (from the Elemis Summer Set Glow collection* - £49.50)

Once again, another product I haven't tried but this smells delicious. It's quite big for a travel sized toner, but who am I to complain? Elemis claim that this toner soothes the skin to give it a radiant appearance and also say that it's perfect for sensitive, delicate and hormonal skin.

Pur Minerals Miracle Mist Hydrate & Set* - full size $19

For some reason, I can't find this listed anywhere in the UK. I was contemplating whether or not to take this with me but a quick spritz on the face and it was instantly packed in my bag. It's very refreshing and cooling, so it's perfect for the heat.

Treatments/Serums

Soap & Glory Sunshield Superfluid SPF50+ - £15

This is my facial sunscreen of choice as the packaging for it is perfect. It's really small and compact, which makes it a must-have for travelling. The sunscreen itself feels lightweight on the skin, doesn't leave behind a white cast and is SPF50. Perfection.

Freshskin By Elemis Face Mask Duo Pack* - £15 for 6 sachets

I decided to take a face mask for a bit of a mid-week treat. I'm taking the Deep Clean Purifying Mask from this set as it's a great way to draw out impurities, balance the skin and reduce pore size. I also get around four uses from this sachet so I'm sure all the ladies in our party will also be trying it out.

La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo [+]* - full size £15.50

I've tried the original Effaclar Duo before but not the new version. This one claims to be a lot stronger on scarring, which is perfect for my skin, especially because the sun is deadly when it comes to hyperpigmentation. 

La Roche-Posay Effaclar A.I. Targeted Breakout Corrector - £9.50

I really do like this spot treatment as it's gentle and non-drying yet fast working and hard hitting when it comes to blemishes. I'm going to be taking this just in case my skin reacts to any new products, or even to the weather. You can never be too prepared!

Moisturisers

For me, deciding which moisturiser to take proved to be a pain. My skin is combination, which means that sometimes it can be incredibly dry, and other times exceptionally oily. So I decided to take three different moisturisers which will hopefully help with each skin condition. 

The first is the Korres Wild Rose 24-hour Moisturising and Brightening Cream* - full size £20 (from the Best of Korres Gift Set* - currently £12.67) which I'll be using if my skin is particularly dry and also at night time. I've used this before and I love it. The next two are for when my skin is more on the oily side. Both the Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+ - full size £17 and the Clarins Daily Energizer Cream - full size £21 (from the Clarins Daily Energizer Kit - £15) are wonderful lightweight moisturisers. They sink into the skin instantly yet leave it feeling hydrating.

Extras

Liz Earle Daily Eye Repair* - £7.75

I chose this eye cream because my two everyday eye creams are quite bulky. This one is great as it hydrates the eye area and helps diminish dark circles. It also contains SPF 10 which in warm weather is a definite bonus. 

Piz Buin in Sun Lipstick SPF 30 - currently £3

And finally, SPF for the lips. This one tastes and smells incredible but sadly, it doesn't add any moisture or hydration to the lips. It does, however protect them from the damaging sun, without interfering with any make up.

#1 Holiday Packing: Skin Care

#2 Holiday Packing: Body Care

#3 Holiday Packing: Hair Care

Are you going on holiday this year? What beauty products will you be packing?
*PR Sample
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Twitter|Facebook|BlogLovin|Instagram
Get a FREE personal training session here

BEST OF 2013 | Hair, body, face, fragrance

The past year has been the year that I really got into beauty, I believe. It's something I've always loved and been interested in but 2013 was the year I gained a lot of knowledge on the subject, branched out into more brands and found some products that I know I'm going to be loving for life. The following products are my favourite hair, body, face and fragrance ones of this year. And in the next couple of days, I'll be letting you into my favourite make up items.

Face

The La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo - £13.00 (review) is a serum that I still constantly use. It sent the blogosphere into a frenzy this year and for good reason too - keeping spots at bay is its forte. The blogging world went acid crazy and my favourite acid was without a doubt the Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Exfoliating Facial Pads - £12.99 (review). Not only are they easy to use but they remove dead skin cells and leave the skin looking glowing and feeling incredibly soft. A must have in my skin care routine. The Epiduo (prescription only) also changed my life. I'm now spot free the majority of the time which is fabulous. And finally, my favourite product of this year is the Super Facialist Vitamin C+ Skin Renew Cleansing Oil - £10.99 (review). It's a bargain, removes make up instantly, smells like oranges and brightens the complexion. I can't rave about this enough and I'm already on my third bottle.

Hair

This year I've been crazy over hair and the TIGI Reparative Nocturnal Therapy* - £26.95 (review) makes looking after your locks easy. Simply spread over the hair at night, wash off in the morning and you're left with beautifully soft, strong hair. I've also been addicted to oils (mainly Moroccanoil but sadly I've ran out) and the L'Oreal Elvive Extraordinary Oil - £9.99 is a recent favourite. Much cheaper than the premium brands, this oil does exactly the same thing.

Body

I first tried the Jergens Original Beauty Lotion* - £3.49 (review) ages ago and it's still a staple in my collection today. It's extremely nourishing without being heavy and the scent (cherry almonds) is to die for. Fake Bake's 60 Minute Tan* - £24.95 (review) changed fake tanning forever. In just one hour you can be left with a natural looking, streak free tan that looks like you've been jetsetting all over the world. I'm addicted to this stuff and it's perfect for those last minute nights out.

Fragrance

This year I rediscovered an old favourite. My all-time favourite perfume, Britney Spears Believe Eau de Parfum - £10.15 (review). This smells extremely beautiful - very grown up yet still young and with that classic celebrity fragrance behind it. Sadly, it doesn't receive much attention, but if you ever spy it, have a whiff. You'll end up addicted. This was also the year I fell deeply in love with the Taylor Swift Wonderstruck Eau de Parfum - £19.00 (review). The only way I can describe this scent is "me." And the bottle is to die for too.

What have been your favourite products this year?
*PR Sample

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Twitter|Facebook|BlogLovin|Instagram
Do you have a few spare pennies? Check out my Blog Sale here

HAUL | Beauty and fashion

As many of you will know, I work on Boots and working in Boots comes with a lot of perks - one being double discount. During this years double discount, SEVENTEEN were offering three of their products for £10 which meant that I got the following three products for just £5.50 - an absolute bargain. The SEVENTEEN Stay Time Foundation - £6.49 is pretty much a cheaper version of Estee Lauder's Double Wear. It's full coverage, lasts all day and doesn't dry the skin out. I can't find a fault in this foundation - it's absolutely perfect. The SEVENTEEN On the Spot Foundation - £6.99 is lighter in coverage and leaves the skin looking flawless yet natural. It claims to clear skin in 4 weeks but I don't know how true these claims are. However, anything that doesn't make my skin worse is a bonus for me. I then purchased another SEVENTEEN Stay Time Concealer - £4.49 in a different shade. 

I also bought another tube of the Colgate Max White One Active toothpaste - £3.99 after mine had ran out. I do have braces so I'm not supposed to use whitening products however, my teeth are becoming more and more stained by the day. I will be getting my teeth professionally whitened when my braces come off however for now, I love this toothpaste. It does what it says and while it's not a miracle product, it's a great quick fix for now.

Since coming back to university, my skin has been an absolute mess. I decided to pop along to Boots (after researching a couple of products) and pick up the Clearasil Ultra Blemish + Marks Wash and Mask - £5.79 and the La Roche-Posay Effaclar A.I. Targeted Breakout Corrector - £9.50. The Clearasil face wash is absolutely wonderful. Despite telling myself I'd never use the brand again, (when I was younger, it bleached my eyebrows) when you're in need and your skin doesn't seem to behave, Clearasil is incredible. The product can be used as a face wash or a quick face mask and instantly, blemishes appear reduced. It's creamy and a dream to use. The La Roche-Posay Effaclar A.I is my day-to-day spot treatment. I now have a prescription spot treatment to use at night but I love using this one during the day time because it's light and does the job. It works very well with my Effaclar Duo and it doesn't dry the skin out.

I bought the VICHY DERMABLEND Corrective Foundation - £15.50 absolutely ages ago when I thought that my other bottle was running low. However two months later, my original bottle is still going strong (you only need a tiny amount of this foundation) and this one is waiting to be opened. It's my all time favourite foundation and you can find my review and see how well it covers here. I bought the Cute or What Penny the Owl Coin Purse - £5.00 when I was buying my Christmas presents. I had one free item left with my 3 for 2's and decided to treat myself to this beautiful purse. As I'm a student, I go out quite a lot and I don't want to be dragging along my big purse so I pop my money and cards into this one as it's smaller. When I originally wrote this post, I raved about I Heart New York. Since then, I've read six other books in the series and I'm now ready to read I Heart London by Lindsey Kelk - £3.85. I adore these books - they're humorous, easy to read and the chances are, they'll make you cry. 

I bought the Denim Skater Skirt - £5.00 and Coral Sketchy Cat T-Shirt - £2.00 quite a while ago - during Freshers Week in fact - in the sale. I absolutely adore the denim skirt as it's one of those things that goes with anything and can be worn during the day or at night. The same goes for the Black Embossed Skater Skirt - £14.99. I can wear it no matter what the occasion. It's very well made and despite the fact I've got many black skater skirts, this one is my favourite. I've been wearing the Varied Stripe Jumper - £7.49 so much recently. It goes with everything and can be worn with jeans or thrown over the top of a dress to keep me warm and cosy. After buying the cat crop top, my love for crop tops continued to grow so I bought the LOU LOU White and Pink Crop Tee - £10.00 in a couple of sizes too big - I loved the oversized crop top look - and it's really pretty for night time. And finally, the photo of the LOVE Hot Pink Wrap Playsuit - £10.00 doesn't do it justice but it's a wonderful "out of my comfort zone" piece of clothing that I desperately can't wait to wear.

What have you been buying recently?

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Twitter|Facebook|BlogLovin|Instagram
Make sure you enter my Fashion Union giveaway here.
Do you have a few spare pennies? Check out my Blog Sale here

The skin saviours

If your skin is anything like mine then it will be bipolar. One day my skin will look beautiful and glowing, the next it'll be dull and congested. One day my skin will be an oil slick and the next it'll be drier than the Sahara desert. It's an absolute nightmare and it means that I have to have an array of products to sort out each skin condition. My skin is usually either blemished, dull or dry and I've come across a variety of products which are wonderful at combating these nasty problems. If you follow me on Twitter then you'll have experienced my recent skin meltdown - it's been awful and most of the time I've wanted to sit in my room, crying all day. Luckily, these products are sorting dry and peeling skin out.

Blemished skin:

Over the years, I've used many products aimed at blemished skin. Some worked, some dried my skin out badly and some even bleached my eyebrows. But luckily, times have changed and there are now some wonderful - and gentle - products out there that do a fabulous job when your skin takes a turn for the worse.

Clean & Clear Advantage Clear & Soothe Foaming Wash* - £4.99

When my beloved FaceB4 Daily Cleansing Foam ran out, I was heartbroken. It was everything I wanted in a spot treatment and face wash but being a student, £15 isn't something I can afford right off the bat (unless my student loan shows its face). So it's safe to say that this face wash by Clean & Clear was a god send. It contains salicylic acid and natural aloe vera which work together to remove impurities, dirt and oil while soothing your skin without drying it out. It smells clean and my face feels fresh and balanced after use. It's not quite as good at fighting spots as my Face B4 wash but for £10.00 cheaper, I can make do with an extra couple of days blemished. 

Potter's Skin Clear Lotion* - £4.15

Potters is a brand that's been around for over 200 years. It's a tried, tested and loved herbal medicine manufacturers which includes three skin care products in its extensive range. Their Skin Clear Lotion is a must have for you blemished beauties and at £4.15 it's an absolute bargain and works as a wonderful morning cleanser or an evening toner. I sweep this over my skin using a cotton wool pad and my skin immediately feels clean and refreshed. It contains a blend of Witch Hazel, Benzoin, Oils of Lavender, Pine and Tea Tree which all work together to combat blemishes. This does dry your skin out at first but after a couple of uses, your skin will start to appear balanced and clear as it gets used to it.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo - £13.00

I've mentioned this product many times before and it's certainly done the rounds of the blogosphere this past year. It completely lives up to the hype and does a wonderful job at purifying the pores, diminishing blemishes and leaving the skin feeling and looking smooth and clear. I use this every day as a serum before my moisturiser and it helps keep spots at bay. I still get the odd monthly breakout but its nowhere near as nasty and aggressive as it should be.

Dull skin:

Ever since my skin decided it would turn against me and leave me scarred, my skin has been dull and lifeless. Sometimes, my skin looks glowing but other times, it looks lacklustre and tired. Recently, the beauty world seems to have exploded with products that help with uneven skin tone and I couldn't thank them enough.

Novexpert 2-In-1 Expert Exfoliator and Mask* - £24.00

I'm a lover of chemical exfoliation but every now and then, there's nothing quite like a good manual scrub. The grains of this one by Novexpert are fine which mean that they don't scratch the skin while being abrasive enough to invigorate the skin. I love using this in a morning to kick-start the day as the Vitamin C brightens and renews the complexion instantly. It's a quick fix for congested, dull looking skin as it leaves it looking healthy and radiant.

Jason C-Effects Super C Cleanser* - £8.95

When my skin is feeling a bit down I love washing it with the C-Effects Super C Cleanser. This gentle face wash washes away dirt and impurities using a 10% complete Vitamin C Complex with Ester-C and Beta Hydroxy Acids. It claims to remove make up however I prefer to use this in the morning to freshen up and revitalise my skin as it isn't the best at make up removal. It doesn't dry the skin out and leaves it feeling clean and ready to face the day. A nice face wash that does the job for a decent price.

L'Oreal Paris Skin Perfection Day Moisturiser* - £14.99 & Skin Perfection Advanced Correcting Serum* - £19.99

These two products are new to the L'Oreal skin care range and the first from the brand that I've tried. They aim to "correct" imperfections, enlarged pores and uneven skin texture. The serum has been enriched with Perline-P and patented LR 2412 (I don't understand these big words either!) which penetrates through the skin's epidermis layers to transform the appearance of the skin. I haven't been using these long enough to notice a massive difference to my skin tone however they both leave my skin feeling silky, hydrated and beautifully radiant. They're a lovely edition to my skin care routine and marginally cheaper than the Eucerin Even Brighter range (which I love) so if these perform as well in the long term, they'll possibly replace Eucerin altogether.

KIKO Neon Glow Light Effect Serum* - £13.90

This gel serum aims to instantly moisturise and smooth the skin using reflective micro-pearls which blend with the skin to even out the complexion. When I first applied this, I almost let out a shriek as my skin looked a bit Twilight-esque however after I'd applied foundation over the top, my skin looked glowing. And not glowing in an "I have very oily skin" way but in a "my skin is naturally this radiant and youthful." Simply beautiful.

Dry skin:

This is the skin type that I feel like I can't live with. When my skin gets dry, my foundation clings to the dry patches and leaves me looking like I have a skin disease. In the past, products aimed at dry skin used to break me out and clog up my skin however, these products are light enough to use on blemished prone skin.

H2O Plus Face Oasis Hydration Treatment* - £27.50

Whenever my skin is in need of hydration, this is the product that I immediately reach for. This treatment is an oil-free moisture gel that feels like jelly and provides deep hydration using marine botanicals. It instantly replenishes the skin and eliminates any dry patches that I may have. H2O also say that this contains phospholipid microspheres (yup, that wonderful ingredient that's easy to pronounce) which deliver time released hydration to keep skin looking revitalised all day and I agree with this - my skin is kept hydrated and scale-free throughout the day.

Super Facialist by Una Brennan Rose Intense Moisture Mask - £8.99

Being a big fan of the Super Facialist range, it was vital that one of the products from the brand appeared in this blog post. This moisture mask is my "go-to" product for when my skin is feeling tight, dehydrated and parched. It blends White Willow extract, Vitamin E, Urea and Marshmallow extract which injects moisture back into the skin instantly. Afterwards, my complexion looks calmer and feels beautifully soft. The mask smells absolutely divine and this is my second tube of the stuff.

Yves Rocher On-Target Filler Eye Wrinkle Solution - £19.00

I'm not a big eye cream lover but I've recently rediscovered this. Sadly, when I first reviewed this in May 2012, it was £10.90 - a bargain for such a high standard eye cream - however in just over a year, the price has crept up significantly. It is a lovely eye cream that instantly moisturises the delicate eye area.

Filorga Hydra Filler* - £45.00

This moisturiser is expensive - one of the most expensive that I've ever used - but it's definitely a treat. It contains a high concentration of extra-pure hyaluronic acid which helps to moisturise and hydrate the skin. Luckily, I don't suffer with wrinkles or fine lines yet but Filorga claim that this helps to fill them in and leave the skin looking plumped up. This makes my complexion look radiant and my dressing table look beautiful. Definitely a splurge but sadly, one that despite how much I love it, I won't be repurchasing for a long time. Damn you expensive price tag!

Does your skin behave badly like mine? What are your skin saviours?
*PR Sample

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Twitter|Facebook|BlogLovin|Instagram

Do you have a few spare pennies? Check out my Blog Sale here
Enter my giveaway to be in with a chance of winning a bottle of Beetox

Enter my giveaway to be in with a chance of winning a Dermaflage Dermal Filler Starter Kit

The Escentual Micellar Blind Trial results

You may remember this post from a few months ago. I first wrote about the Escentual Micellar Blind Trial in May and after trialling the waters and reporting my thoughts back to Escentual, the results have been published. You read the full results here but I thought that I'd also give you all a little run down on my thoughts - more in depth reviews if you'd like.

A: Dior's Instant Cleansing Water £20.40

I enjoyed using this cleansing water and it's something that I would use again. Its cleansing power was okay however it took three cotton pads to remove the bulk of my make up. If you're an avid waterproof eye make up user though, I'd highly recommend this as it removed stubborn eye make up lovely. Texture wise, it felt nice on the skin and really cooled and calmed it down. I wouldn't say that this cleansing water was moisturising but it definitely balanced my skin out.

Branded "the divine one" by bloggers and received a total score of 3.8/5

B: NUXE's Micellar Cleansing Water with Rose Petals £14.50

This was definitely the best cleansing water when it came to eye make up. It was one of the best ones I've ever used and it removed eye make up instantly. It felt nice on the skin but the smell really put me off - I hate the scent of roses. It was however, very moisturising and my skin felt beautifully soft afterwards. Despite the scent, this is something that I'd considering repurchasing and it removes make up wonderfully.
Branded "the calming one" by bloggers and received a total score of 3.6/5

C: Caudalie's Make Up Remover Cleansing Water £8.10 - £13.50

To be quite honest, I didn't really have an opinion on this. I thought it was okay but it wasn't spectacular in anyway. It was nice to use but it didn't blow me away. However, I didn't hate it and it didn't strip my skin. I wouldn't repurchase it as I don't believe that it did much for my skin. It smelt beautiful though!
Branded "the sensuous one" by bloggers and received a total score of 4.1/5

D: Avene's Eau Thermale Micellar Lotion - Cleanser and Make Up Remover £11.25

I was heartbroken to find out that this was by Avene. I love Avene and I usually find their products very pleasant to use but this one was awful. It's good at removing eye make up but it stung my eyes badly. It was very drying on my skin and it smelt extremely alcoholic. I have combination skin but after using this, I had to switch to hydrating products for a few days as it completely stripped my skin.
Branded "the soothing one" by bloggers and received a total score of 3.9/5

E: La Roche-Posay's Physiological Micellar Solution £10.20

This was awful at removing make up and it took forever. On the other hand though, it would make a lovely toner as it felt cooling and calming on the skin. The smell was very fresh and it balanced the skin nicely. After using the Avene Micellar Lotion, this calmed my skin down excessively so as a toner, it's perfect.
Branded "the radiant one" by bloggers and received a total score of 4.2/5

F: Bioderma's Sensibio H20 Micelle Solution £4.50 - £14.50

I definitely noticed that this one was Bioderma as soon as I used it despite never trying the product myself. It's a blogger favourite and I can definitely see why. It balanced my skin nicely and removed my make up efficiently. It didn't irritate my skin in anyway and it's definitely something that I would repurchase. In fact, I'm trying out their oily skin version right now!
Branded "the amazing one" by bloggers and received a total score of 4.5/5

G: Vichy's Purete Thermale Calming Cleansing Micellar Water £9.55

My absolute favourite! This was a pleasure to use and it removed my make up perfectly. It didn't spread the make up around the face but dissolved it instead. It cooled and calmed my skin and left it feeling beautifully soft. I really, really love this product and I'm glad that it's one of the cheaper ones as it means that it's affordable to all. Vichy are really doing it for me at the moment - such a lovely brand.
Branded "the sensitive one" by bloggers and received a total score of 4.3/5

Before this trial, I'd never tried out a micellar water. In fact, despite never trying them for myself, I really didn't like them. Although I'm a big lover of the double cleanse, I'm a cleansing oil fan but micellar waters definitely come in handy when you want to remove your make up quickly. A couple of sweeps over the skin (with certain micellar waters) and your make up has been dissolved and your skin has been balanced. Think of them as a nicer alternative to face wipes.

What's your favourite micellar water? Have you tried any of the above?
*all bottles were sent to me free of charge however, until a few days ago, I had no idea which micellar waters were in which bottle
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Twitter|Facebook|BlogLovin|Instagram

Do you have a few spare pennies? Check out my Blog Sale here
Want to attend the Lincoln blogger meet up? Find out more information here.

Favourite sun protectants

When it comes to sun protection, I use it religiously. I'm one of those people that will always - without fail - use SPF on my face. It doesn't matter if it's snowing or if the sun is blaring through the sky, it's something that I always use. You see, my theory is that there's no point in me spending money and time on all of these wonderful skin care products if I'm not going to protect myself from the biggest anti-ager of all time: the sun. The sun is deadly and I'm someone who has pretty fair skin - I basically burn and then go white again - so protecting myself is very important. I also use a lot of acids and brightening products in my skin care routine which makes protecting my skin from the sun even more important.

La Roche Posay Anthelios XL Invisible Nutritive Oil SPF 50+* - £17.50

This is the SPF that I use all over my body. I used to be one of those children who hated having sun cream applied to them. It was sticky, heavy and it just didn't feel nice on the skin at all. Luckily for us, technology has advanced meaning that applying SPF is no longer a chore and wearing it on the skin feels as beautiful as wearing your favourite moisturiser. This sun protectant is waterproof and it has an innovative nourishing oil texture. It glides easily onto the skin, moisturises it, sinks into the skin easily and quickly and leaves behind a subtle and pleasant fragrance. I also love the fact that this is SPF 50+ as it means you're going to get the highest protection available. One question I get a lot working at Boots is; "will I still tan if I use SPF 50?" The answer is yes, you just won't burn and it might take a little bit longer.

Korres Sunscreen Face Cream SPF30* - £16.50

I think finding the perfect facial suncream can take some time. I don't have sensitive skin but I am prone to breakouts and sometimes that one extra SPF step can really take its toll on my skin. I do have sun protection in my daily moisturiser but for me, that's not enough and I like applying more protection "just in case." This face cream by Korres is a real pleasure to use. It contains organic yoghurt, proteins, minerals and vitamins which means not only is it good and soothing for your skin, it's also going to protect you pretty well. The texture of this is very light - lighter than my moisturiser and so far, I've seen no signs of breakouts. It smells absolutely delicious which is always a bonus and it's water and sweat resistant. When it comes to facial SPFs, I always look for water/sweat resistant because facial SPF isn't something that you want to be reapply daily - especially in England - as the chances are, you're going to have make up on. This is a real pleasure to use and my skin laps it up. I would recommend using no less than SPF30 on your face - especially if you're using acid exfoliants.

Vichy Capital Soleil Beautifying Sun Protection Compact SPF30* - £11.33

This is a product that I was a little bit apprehensive about. As I say in most of my blog posts - sorry if it annoys you! - I do have badly scarred skin so I'm not one of those people who can apply SPF on holiday, no make up and be good to go. I like having the extra bit of coverage to give me confidence. This product is genius for us blemished skin beauties. Essentially, this is a make up product but it protects the skin in the exact same way as a suncream does. I didn't think that this would have a lot of coverage in it - if any - but it does. I'd say it's medium coverage and it covers up any spots and some of my scarring. Although it's a cream foundation, it mattifies the skin like a powder so you don't have to worry about shiny skin. For me - whilst I'm in England - this is the perfect primer when the sun is scorching hot. I don't have to add any unneccesary steps to my skin care routine and I can cut my usual foundation out completely as with concealer, this provides enough coverage for me. When I'm abroad, this is going to become my best friend as it's something that I can wear around the pool to protect my skin while still feeling confident knowing that my scarring has virtually disappeared. An absolute genius of a product and I can't believe it hasn't been thought of sooner.

So these are my sun care summer picks - or just my all year round SPF favourites. What are yours? Have you tried any of the products I've mentioned above? Are you like me when it comes to sun protection - do you wear it all year round?

xxx

*PR Sample

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Twitter|Facebook|BlogLovin|Instagram
Check out my Blog Sale here

Want to advertise on Bamboozle Beauty? Find out how to here

Night time skin care routine

So here it is ladies and gentlemen, my night time skin care routine. Yesterday I posted my day time skin routine and so I could write bigger mini reviews, I decided to split them up into two separate parts. I do use quite a lot of products in my skin care routine but all of them work really well with my skin type. I did mention yesterday the kind of skin that I have but here it is again for reference: I have combination skin that is pretty oily in the t-zone but can get quite dry around any blemishes. I am prone to blemishes and I get the odd spot every now and then. I used to have really bad skin which has left me with awful scarring and hyperpigmentation on my skin (which you can see here). I also sometimes get blackheads on my nose and my pores are quite large.

No7 Beautiful Skin Cleansing Balm - £9.00

This is my night time make up remover. It's really kind and gentle on the skin and removes make up quickly and efficiently. I apply the product to my palms and massage it into dry skin until all of my make up has been dissolved. After this, I remove with water and flannel and my skin is left looking very clean. I find that it's great to use on waterproof make up and lifts any dirt and grim from the skin leaving the it feeling soft and supple. I've done a full review of this product here.

FaceB4 Daily Cleansing Foam - £14.95

You can quite easily use the Cleansing Balm alone but I'm a big believer in double cleansing so I use this Cleansing Foam afterwards. I mentioned this yesterday but before "discovering" this, I hated cleansing foams; I thought that they were useless and a waste of time. But this is absolutely incredible. I haven't had a breakout since using it and my skin feels beautifully soft after I've washed it away. It's quick and easy to use and it smells clean too. I can't find a fault in this at all and it's perfect at washing away any left over Cleansing Balm.

Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Exfoliating Facial Pads - £12.99

I've done a full review of this product here and I also mentioned them in my day time skin care routine. I use these twice a day because in the mornings, they instantly brighten my complexion and at night, they get to work on my scarring. When I wake up, my skin feels beautifully soft. As I mentioned yesterday, these are safe enough for every day use and they don't dry the skin out or make it any oilier. I definitely want to try out other forms of acid exfoliation but for now, these are perfect.

Eucerin Even Brighter Spot Corrector - £14.50

I use this twice a day - in the mornings and at night - to help fade my spots quicker. It feels light on the skin and despite its chemical smell, it's a pleasure to use. I can't emphasise enough how important it is to use extra SPF on your face when you're using brightening products (I have an SPF post coming tomorrow) so make sure you do. Like I've said before, I've not seen any major reduction in my scarring as my scars are pretty deep but I can definitely notice a minor difference.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo* - £13.00

Like I mentioned yesterday, I love this product because it clears out my pores and helps stop breakouts. It's lovely to use in the day as it's very light but it's also great at night time as it's refreshing. I use this twice a day to ensure that spots don't reappear and to keep them at bay. It's a great all round product and does exactly what it claims to do. I've done a full review of this product here.

b.liv shrink and tighten+ large pores diminishing night complex* - $49.00

This isn't something that will completely eliminate my pores for good but it does help to tighten them overnight. I apply this all over my skin before going to sleep and when I wake up, my pores look visibly reduced and more refined. This has been formulated with L-ascorbic acid and it stimulates collagen production at night which helps to tighten pores. I've been enjoying using this product and I definitely think I will repurchase however unfortunately it's quite hard to get a hold of in the UK. It's a must have if you dislike the appearance of your pores.

Eucerin Even Brighter Night Cream - £23.50

Unlike the Day Cream from this range, this is very light on the skin and feels like a hybrid of a cream and a gel. But don't be fooled by its texture - it's very nourishing and moisturising and replenishes your skin overnight. I love the light texture of this cream as it's refreshing on the skin and a pleasure to apply. As I've mentioned before with this range, I haven't seen a massive difference in my scarring - wow I'm like a broken record with that one - but I've noticed a difference in the appearance of my skin, the way it feels and hopefully in time, my scarring will fade dramatically.

And there you have it! My night time skin care routine. As I also mentioned in this post, tomorrow's blog post will be about my favourite SPF's for the body and the face and for me, SPF is the most important skin care product that I use. There's no point in using all of these products to help fade my scarring if I don't help prevent further hyperpigmentation from forming. Do you use any of the same night time products as me? What are your favourite night time products to use on your skin?

xxx

*PR Sample

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Twitter|Facebook|BlogLovin|Instagram
Check out my Blog Sale here

Want to advertise on Bamboozle Beauty? Find out how to here

Daytime skin care routine

I've been asked a few times whether or not I'll do a post on my skin care routine and considering I know a lot of you suffer with the same skin problems I do, I thought I would. My skin care routine is something that I change up quite a lot - I blame being a beauty addict for that - but this is one that I've stuck with for quite a while. I've noticed a reduction in blemishes, oilyness, blackheads and even my scarring so it's something that is definitely working for me. I've decided to split my skin care routine up into two separate posts - day and night so that I could go into further detail about the products so tomorrow's post will be my night time skin routine. For reference, here is a little bit of background information about my skin: I have combination skin that is pretty oily in the t-zone but can get quite dry around any blemishes. I am prone to blemishes and I get the odd spot every now and then. I used to have really bad skin which has left me with awful scarring and hyperpigmentation on my skin (which you can see here). I also sometimes get blackheads on my nose and my pores are quite large.

FaceB4 Daily Cleansing Foam - £14.95

Before finding this Cleansing Foam, I hated any kind of foaming face wash. I thought that they were absolutely useless and just stripped the skin of its natural moisture. But this Cleansing Foam is face wash perfection. Granted it's not the best at removing make up but I don't use it as a make up remover - just a face wash. It removes dirt and grime from the skin and once washed off, leaves the skin feeling beautifully soft and looking clearer and brighter. I haven't had a break out since using this Cleansing Foam and it does a wonderful job at keeping my oil at bay throughout the day. Overall, it's a wonderful face wash that I can see being in my routine for an awfully long time. I've seen a lot of people complaining about its price but £14.95 for clear skin - and two products in one - isn't a lot for me at all. It's definitely worth the money.

Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Exfoliating Facial Pads - £12.99

After cleansing my skin, I use these Exfoliating Facial Pads all over my skin to exfoliate and tone it. I've done a full review of this product here and since then, I've repurchased them. They're quick and easy to use and also gentle enough to use daily. After I've sweeped one of these over my skin, it looks brighter, clearer and it's almost perfectly prepped for make up. These haven't dried my skin out nor have they made it oiler but they balance my skin nicely and since using them, I've noticed a minor improvement on my scarring.

Eucerin Even Brighter Spot Corrector - £14.50

I've been using this product for a little while now and it's something that I think I'll always repurchase. I haven't noticed a major difference in my scarring but it definitely has settled down any redness. I apply this twice a day to my most prominent scars and leave it for a couple of seconds to sink into my skin. The smell of this is pretty chemical but it feels light on the skin and it's something that you don't notice is there. When using this you do have to use a high sun protectant and be careful where you apply it because essentially it is bleaching the skin.

b.liv off with those heads* - $49.00

When it comes to blackheads, I'm not something who is willing to squeeze them out of my skin. It doesn't look pretty and it sounds painful so instead, I tend to use a face scrub in the hope that they'll eventually disappear. However, this gel makes it much easier. It's very light and cooling on the skin and I've been applying it once a day in the morning on my t-zone where I'm prone to blackheads. The product claims to remove blackheads and whiteheads in 14 days of daily application however I found that after five days, mine had completely disappeared. I've also noticed that my t-zone hasn't been as oily since I've been using this which means I no longer have to powder throughout the day.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo* - £13.00

This has to be one of the most loved products in the blogosphere. I do believe that literally everyone has tried this product and I can definitely see why. If you haven't heard of the Effaclar Duo then basically it's a complete skin care solution that aims to purify pores and reduce the appearance of imperfections. The thing that I love the most about this product is how light it is - if you're someone who suffers with breakouts then you'll know that spot treatments tend to be drying and quite heavy but this one isn't at all. I use it like a serum and it leaves my skin feeling soft to the teach. It's definitely cleared out my pores and it's rare that I get a breakout these days. I've done a full review of this product here.

Eucerin Even Brighter Day Cream - £22.50

This day cream is lovely. It sinks into the skin beautifully and preps the skin for make up very well. I've really enjoyed using this and so far, I've barely made a dint in my tub as you only need a tiny amount. It smells really pleasant and since using Eucerin in my skin care routine, my skin tone has definitely improved and make up is starting to apply better. I will be continuing to use the Eucerin Even Brighter range and hopefully, I'll report back to you my thoughts as scarring reduction definitely takes time.

So there you have it! My daytime skin care routine. Tomorrow's post will be my nighttime skin care routine and I'll just give you a little warning now - a few of the products will be the same. What's your everyday skin care routine? Do you use any of the products I've mentioned? Or do you want to try any? Let me know!

xxx

*PR Sample

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Twitter|Facebook|BlogLovin|Instagram
Check out my Blog Sale here

Want to advertise on Bamboozle Beauty? Find out how to here

HAUL: Westfield Derby

L-R: Maxi Skirt - Primark £10, Pinafore Dress - Quiz £12.99, Aztec Dress - Primark £5, Bird Print Dress - H&M £10, Pink Peplum Top - Dorothy Perkins £8.50 (with student discount), Black vest top - Topshop £9 (with student discount), Black T-Shirt - Primark £5, Shoes - Quiz £9.99

On Wednesday, me and my mother took a little trip to the Westfield Derby shopping centre for a bit of retail therapy. I was very kindly gifted a gift card to spend there as a little thank you from them for this post. We had a really lovely day and I managed to get quite a few things. For me, I'm a beauty addict and whenever I go out to buy clothes, I always end up coming back with beauty products. So this time, I decided to go into Boots last after I'd bought a lot of clothes as they're what I needed the most.

First of all we went to Nando's as by the time we got there, it was midday and we were both extremely hungry. It was my mum's first time in the restaurant and luckily for me, she enjoyed it. After that, we walked around the centre and ended up finding items in Dorothy Perkins, Quiz, H&M and Topshop. Originally, I had planned on spending the majority of my money in New Look as it's my favourite store but on that day, I just didn't have any luck. I paid for the Nando's on my gift card and my mum gave me the money for it back so I could also have a cheeky trip in Primark (which isn't in the centre) - how clever of us! We also ventured into Debenhams so I could have a sniff of the Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Eau Fraiche Skinscent. Big mistake. It's beautiful and now, I need it but it's pretty pricey - boohoo.

Of course, I took a trip into Boots after I'd spent the majority of the money on clothing. Seeing as it's 3 for 2 on skin care products, I decided to repurchase the Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix pads and the La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo as they're two of my favourite skin care items at the moment. I then decided to get the Garnier 5 second Perfect Blur as I'm in need of a new primer and this one promises miracles, so why not? I was also in need of new eyeliners and my favourite Collection 2000 Extreme 24 Hr Felt Tip Liner Pens were on offer for 2 for £5 so I decided to get two as I run out of them quite quickly. I then saw the Trevor Sorbie Brilliant Brunette Hair Mask in the clearance section for £2 so I picked one of those up.

I apologise that the pictures aren't the great - I'm really not the best at photographing clothes and they were taken when I was back home so I had to make the most of different rooms and space. I will however, more than likely be featuring most of the clothing in outfit of the days coming very soon so you'll be able to see them a little bit better. I'd just quickly like to say a massive thank you to Westfield for the gift card - it was incredibly kind of them and I had a great day in the wonderful shopping centre. The Westfield gift card is a great idea - you can spend it at most of the stores inside the centre which means you have a lot of variety and choice. Have you ever been to a Westfield centre before?

xxx
The gift card was gifted to me free of charge so a lot of the items mentioned were essentially PR samples. However, I wasn't asked to blog about my visit and all items were chosen by me.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Twitter|Facebook|BlogLovin|Instagram

Check out my Blog Sale here

Want to advertise on Bamboozle Beauty? Find out how to here