Showing posts with label Soap and Glory. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Soap and Glory. Show all posts

Tuesday, 1 July 2014

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
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.

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.

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
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.

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. 

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
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. 

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
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Written By Unknown at 2:57 pm
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Wednesday, 21 May 2014

The SPF wardrobe


Sun protection is a beauty product that is incredibly important to me. No matter where I am, what I'm doing or what the season is, I'll always have some form of SPF on my face - whether it's in my moisturiser, foundation or a standalone sun protection. The sun's rays are extremely dangerous and as well as increasing your risk of skin cancer, they also age the skin a lot. As someone with dark spots and scars, it's important that I protect my skin on a daily basis. As the UK has been heating up, I've been switching between two SPFs...

Rodial X-Treme Dark Spot Sun Filter SPF 30* - £45
This sun protection is pricey but there's a reason for this; it's also a skin care product. After 30 days, this SPF promises to brighten the skin and with continued use, correct sun damage, increase radiance and even out skin tone. This SPF is a sunscreen moisturiser so it's what I reach for if my skin is in need of a bit more moisture. It's easily absorbed and helps to mattify shine whilst hydrating the skin. I also find that this provides an instant "blurring" effect to my skin when it's applied and makes pores appear reduced. Despite the high price tag, it's a product I know I'll be repurchasing as it's helped my skin no end. It treats and corrects my skin whilst protecting it and preventing further damage; perfection.

As far as sunscreen goes, this one has to be the most lightweight one I've ever tried. It's so lightweight that you don't have to massage it into the skin - it simply disappears. A lot of people seem to dislike the packaging but I think it's simple, clean and great for throwing in your bag for daytime touch ups. The SPF is instantly mattifying and I use this when I'm having a particularly oily skin day. The only problem I have with this is I think that it interferes with certain foundations. I'm still testing this "theory" out though and I'll keep you updated. 

What sun protection do you use on your face? Are you religious with it?
*PR Sample
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Written By Unknown at 10:01 am
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Tuesday, 13 May 2014

Current Favourites




I haven't posted a favourites post in an extremely long time and considering we're pretty much halfway through May, I thought my current favourites would suffice. I've been trying out a few different products recently, investing in quite a few (my last ever student loan, it'd be rude not to) and also rediscovering some gems. Hopefully, monthly favourites is something I'll be able to keep on top of, we'll see...

Schwarzkopf got2b 2 Sexy Volumizing Hairspray - £3.00
I'd say that this is my most repurchased hairspray. It's the one that I always reach for, mainly due to its delicious smell. It does everything that the name suggests; adds volume and keeps it in place for the majority of the day. I don't really 'style' my hair as such, instead I tend to keep it straight so this holds the straight, volumised style nicely. It's also affordable - I just wish they offered a travel sized version.

Rimmel Sunshimmer Instant Tan + BB Perfector Medium Matte - £6.99 (currently £3.49)
I work in the photo/sun shop area at Boots and when I saw that this was half price, I quickly snapped it up. Last year, I was an avid fake tanner however this year, it's taken a backseat. I tried this out for the first time the other night and was amazed. It added a lovely colour and glow, covered all the scars and marks on my legs and was easy to apply; think of it as a foundation for your body.

Soap & Glory Archery Brow Tint and Pencil - £10.00
My favourite eyebrow powders have recently been running low and considering they're in the Naked Basics palette, I wanted to find an alternative to allow the other shadows in the palette to hit pan too. I picked this up after recommendations from bloggers and although I don't like the tint end, the pencil is lovely. It's more of a wax and makes filling in the brows a complete doddle.

Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Eau Fraîche Skinscent - £47.00 (currently £37.60)
After sniffing this last summer, I knew I couldn't be without it this year. As well as this, my dupe was running low and is becoming increasingly harder to get a hold of. With Bergamot, Amber, Tiare Flower, Vanilla and Coconut, this fragrance is summer in a bottle. It smells like suntan lotion, but a whole lot sexier and warmer. The only issue I have with this fragrance is that it doesn't seem to last long on my skin, at least I can't smell it on myself after an hour or so.

Green People Volumising Mascara* - £14.75
I mentioned this product a few days ago in my what's in my make up bag post and it's still a mascara that I'm loving. I am a massive mascara whore, and I can't remain loyal to one but this one might be my new favourite. It does everything a mascara should do; lengthens, separates and adds a hell of a lot of volume. The brush capturers every single lash and leaves them looking fluttery. 

Nars Cosmetics Blush in Outlaw* - £22.50
Sadly, I don't think you can buy this blush any more as it was released in the Autumn 2012 collection (which I wrote - a very bad post about - here). The blush looks very intimidating in the pan but it transfers to a soft rose toned blush with a golden shimmer on the cheeks. It instantly perks up my collection and leaves me looking glowing. It's a fail safe blush.

3 pack of face razors - £1.69
Following this post from Makeup Savvy, I knew I had to try shaving my face. The razors arrived quickly and I instantly got to work, shaving my face. It sounds strange but my face now feels incredibly soft and smooth and my make up has started applying much better. So far, I haven't had any regrowth and hopefully I won't end up looking like an ogre. I'll keep you updated.

What products are you currently loving?
*PR sample
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Written By Unknown at 10:45 am
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Saturday, 10 May 2014

What's in my make up bag?


Oh I must say, it's good to be a "full time blogger" now. Obviously this isn't a viable career as I certainly don't make enough money from blogging to live off, but it's nice to be able to blog whenever I want. I love having nothing to do and I'm definitely making the most while it lasts. Although this post is called, "what's in my make up bag," I actually don't have a make up bag. I suppose these are just my everyday make up products. And although I mix it up often, these are the items that I reach for most often; my favourites, if you like.

I truly love this primer and I find myself reaching for it daily. It feels lightweight on the skin and make up adheres to it like it's glue, nothing that's applied on top of this is budging throughout the day, no matter what. The purple hue counteracts scarring and although it's not incredibly noticeable, I definitely think it helps up the coverage of my foundation, so no complaints with that one. 

Vichy Dermablend Corrective Foundation - £15.50 (currently on offer for £11.62)
I've raved about this many times before and I'll contain to do so as long as I live. As far as foundations go, this is perfection and it doesn't receive enough love. It's full coverage at its finest but is exceptionally lightweight and unnoticeable on the skin. Easy to blend, this foundation glides over the skin and stays put throughout the day. You can see my full review here with before and after photos.

I've tried many different concealers over the years but I always come back to this one. It's fail safe and always serves me well. The coverage is nice and probably the fullest on the high street and it never ends up looking cakey. I also find that I need a fair amount of concealer and go through tubes of the stuff quickly, so the price of this concealer is perfect for me. Why spend £20 when this one's under a fiver?!

This is a new discovery of mine and at the moment, I'm on the lookout for a new brow product. For ages I've been using my Urban Decay Naked Basics palette, but now the shades "Naked 2" and "Faint" are running extremely low. I don't like the Brow Tint half of this but the Pencil is lovely. It's more like a wax and fills in the brows nice and naturally.

I don't know how I've lived so long without this palette. It's an absolute godsend. It has every shade you'd ever need to create the most perfect neutral smoky eye, and it smells like chocolate. As with all of Too Faced's shadows, the pigmentation, blendability and staying power are second to none. You can find my full review here.

NYX The Curve* - £14.00
This eyeliner completely changed my life. No matter how hard I tried, eyeliner was something I couldn't perfect for many years. Then this beauty came along. The handle makes the liner incredibly easy to hold and the nib glides along eyelids meaning you don't need to stretch and tug them. You can find my full review here and since then, I've gone through five tubes of the stuff.

I'm someone who has never remained loyal to mascara. I naturally have long eyelashes so overtime I've found that pretty much all mascaras do the same thing. But the moment I tried Green People's Volumising Mascara, I knew I was a convert. This brush combs through the lashes, coating each one and making them luscious and thick. You can see my full review here.

I have the biggest love/hate relationship with this powder. You see, you only get 7g's worth of product for a whopping £23.50 - I have no idea how Benefit can charge that amount, it's almost crazy. But aside from this, the finishing powder is lovely. And I absolutely love it. It doesn't just fill in pores, it fills in my scars and leaves my skin looking airbrushed. Such a dilemma. I don't know whether I'll repurchase when I've used it all.

The moment I saw this blush I fell in love and since then, I haven't used any other product on my cheek. The packaging is beautiful, the blush is stunning and it takes me from dead to alive in approximately one minute. You can see my full review and swatch of this product here. Although it's limited edition, I hope KIKO never stop selling it. I'd be heartbroken.

And finally, we have something for the lips. I do change my lipstick everyday but I've been loving LUSH's Strong lipstick. It's a beautiful orange/red shade that's incredibly vibrant. However, when a small amount is applied, it's muted down enough for me to wear in the day. The formula sadly, is a little bit off and if I don't properly prep my lips they can end up looking dry. But it's worth it for the stunning colour.

What are your favourite everyday make up items? Have you tried any of the above?
*PR sample
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Written By Unknown at 3:28 pm
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Sunday, 6 April 2014

Three products under £10 for summer ready skin


The sun has just started peeking out of the clouds and despite the fact that it’s still quite chilly outside, it’s no longer bitterly cold which means that we may start turning our central heating down and embracing the sun. Less central heating is great news for our skin but it also means that our skin care routines may need a bit of a revamp. You can view my entire skin care routine here and find out more about these products.

You can kiss your heavy duty moisturisers goodbye and say hello to SPF and lighter bases. As mentioned, SPF is an incredibly important step that you should definitely be adding to your skin care routine. The sun’s rays are exceptionally harmful to the skin and as well as ageing the skin, they also can increase the risk of skin cancer. Gone are the days of heavy SPF’s that clogged your pores. Technology has advanced and there are now some wonderfully light formulas out there that not only protect the skin from the sun, but also have further beneficial skin care ingredients. The high street has been in need of a good, affordable SPF and Soap & Glory have answered our prayers. Their Make Yourself Youthful Sunshield Superfluid SPF 50+ (currently on offer for £10) is not only lightweight and protecting, it mattifies and evens out blotchy skin tone too. 

Instead of smothering your skin in a heavy moisturiser, it’s worth changing your skin creams so that they are lighter in formula. A gel-based moisturiser is great for smoothing onto the skin as they moisturise dry patches and balance out oily patches. Garnier's Revitalising Hydrating Gel (currently on offer for £3.99) fits the bill nicely. It's smells delicious, balances out the skin and isn't heavy on the purse strings either. Not only is this a lovely moisturiser, it's also a beautiful base for make up. 

Another good idea is to use an oil, even if you have oily skin. If you completely strip your skin of its oils, it will go into overdrive and produce more oil than necessary to make up for it. Using an oil balances the skin and leaves it “normal.” Bio-Oil* (currently on offer for £5.99) is a cult classic that's loved by many. It's a dry oil which means it won't leave your skin looking overly shiny. Instead, it's the perfect night-time moisturiser as it evens out skin tone and helps reduce scarring and pigmentation.

What products are your favourite for summer?
*PR Sample
Written By Unknown at 9:08 am
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Tuesday, 7 January 2014

MAKE UP | Soap & Glory Powder Trip




L-R Glow All Out Luminizing Face Powder, Love at First Blush Blushing Powder, Solar Powder Bronzer

I wanted to get this review up ASAP not only because it's something that I've fallen head over heels in love with, but it's also still available to buy on the Boots website. And seeing as it's so fabulous, I'd love for you all to get your mitts on it. I had my eye on the Soap & Glory Powder Trip Gift Set the moment I saw it however, at £20 I just couldn't bring myself to part with my money - especially when I should've been spending money on gifts for others. Needless to say, when I saw this gift set in my local Boots on Boxing Day, I quickly snapped it up and it's quickly become one of my favourite palettes ever.

Included in this palette is the Love At First Blush Blushing Powder which leaves the skin looking beautifully luminous. With a rosy glow this blush instantly perks up the complexion. The Solar Powder Bronzer comes with two different shades - a lighter bronzing with flecks of shimmer and a deeper matte bronzer - which can be used individually or together. And finally, the Glow All Out Luminizing Face Powder lifts cheekbones and looks beautiful when the light catches it. You also get a brush which isn't bad at all. 

Each of these three products retail alone for £11.00 so for the gift set to be just £10 is an absolute steal . You can buy this bargainous gift set here.

Have you tried these Soap & Glory products before? Will you be buying this gift set?
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Written By Unknown at 1:23 pm
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Friday, 6 September 2013

The bag of essentials







I'm not someone who touches up their make up throughout the day. Mainly because I don't really go out anywhere for long periods of time - a quick workshop here, an hour long lecture there and I'm back home. However, I do like to carry a bag of essential products and items with me everywhere I go. I've done this since the beginning of summer and I believe it's about time I showed you the products that have ensured my life is that little bit easier.

Lady essentials
Of course, these had to be in there. The case comes with Bodyform packs from Boots which are currently on offer for £1 - a bargain if you ask me. The case makes sanitary towels discreet, pretty and easy to carry around with you.

Soap & Glory Mini Hand Food - £2.50
My hands don't tend to get all that dry but I do like to keep them moisturised and nourished. This is my favourite ever hand cream as it smells delicious and sinks into the hands pretty quickly. I love the mini version as it's perfect for carrying around with you and just to let you know, I have two bigger tubes of this dotted around the house as well. I just can't be without the stuff!

Halo Handy Hygienic wipes* - £1.09
A definite must! If you're going out for the day then you aren't always guaranteed a sink to wash your hands in. These hand wipes come in handy all the time and I love the Halo ones because they aren't drying on the skin and smell delicious. I love how convenient they are and although I was worried about the pack drying out, I haven't had any issues with it thus far and I used these all the time whilst on holiday. I've also stocked up as they're currently on offer at Boots.

Toothbrush Holder - £0.50
I do have braces so carrying a toothbrush around with me is most definitely essential. Inside my holder I carry a Boots Expert TePe 0.7mm Interdental Brush - £3.09 and a Wilko Kids Toothbrush - £0.70. The kids toothbrush fits inside the holder better and allows me to get a close clean when it comes to my braces. I also carry around a Boots Smile Mini Toothpaste - £0.50 as I like to brush my teeth after meals regardless of where I am.
John Frieda Full Repair Touch-Up Flyaway Tamer* - £10.99
This product is quite new to me but I absolutely adore it. As a fan of the Full Repair range, I was dying to try this out when I saw that it was released. It uses Inca Inchi Oil to smooth down flyaways and frayed ends to ensure that your hair is looking healthy and full of volume throughout the day. The applicator is the same as a mascara wand which makes brushing the product through your hair easy peesy and the small tube is perfect for my essentials bag. I have little baby hairs around my fringe and when I haven't blowdried my hair properly, they stick up like crazy which looks awful. This smooths the flyaways down without weighing the hair down or leaving it feeling crispy - perfect.

I have long hair that gets tangled easy and lacks volume so a comb is a must. I'd love to have a brush in my essentials bag but unfortunately, one won't fit. This comb is compact and does a good job at backcombing my hair throughout the day. It takes a while to get the knots out of my hair but I can cope with that.

Like I've mentioned, I don't top up make up throughout the day but I do take a face powder and brush with me to eliminate any shine that manages it sneak its way onto my face. I love this bronzing brush as it comes with its own carry case so it doesn't get dirty in the bag. My face powder of choice is the No7 Crème Touch Face Powder - £8.50 basically because I need to use it up. It isn't my favourite but it does eliminate shine and add a teeny bit more coverage.
My nails are pretty brittle which means that unfortunately, they break easily. This tends to happen when I'm out and about and for me, there's nothing worse than an uneven nail - they just look so awful and it makes me want to bite them even more, disaster! So I carry this nail file around with me for emergencies. I also love the fact that it comes with its own carry case.

Compeed Heel Blister Plasters* - £5.99
I suffer from blisters badly regardless of if I've been wearing heels or new shoes. I recently went on a Twitter rant about blister plasters as I've always used and bought Compeed ones which are quite expensive. I picked some up from Wilkinsons the other week and they were an absolute bargain at £1.35. However, they aren't the same as my trusty Compeed ones. The Wilkinsons ones were essential plasters but bigger and they needed changing everyday. Compeed Blister Plasters last forever and they won't remove themselves until the blister has heeled itself and disappeared. A complete must have.

An essential bag wouldn't be an essential bag without lip balm and this is my current one of choice. It nourishes the lips, adds a bit of a sheen and tint and smells and tastes delicious.

Swiss Army Knife Victorinox travel spray holder*
This was a limited edition item that  PR company sent me and I absolutely love it. Not only is it pretty but it's also convienient and I use it to top up my perfume all the time.

Other essentials: a mirror, hair band & grips
Of course! My mirror is a Hannah Montana one that I've had forever, my hair band is from Primark and my grips are from Boots. Definite essentials.

What essentials do you carry around with you on a day-to-day basis?
*PR Sample
Written By Unknown at 1:10 pm
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Saturday, 27 July 2013

BODY | The superior shower gels


A girl can never have too many shower gels. I absolutely adore these little bundles of joy. The smell of them, enveloping my skin in yummy deliciousness. If I'm ever out and about shopping, one product that will always come home with me is a shower gel. There are so many different varieties out there that it would be rude to stick to the same one. However, there are a few bottles of these divine beauties that continue to make a cheeky regular appearance in my shower.

I've tried many of the Treacle Moon shower gels before and none of them have let me down. The scents are delicious and the quality and amount of product you get for £2.99 is outstanding. I'd highly recommend picking up a few of these next time you're in Tesco. The limited edition Cool Melon Fresca contains cool melon notes and delicious strawberry's which transport you to a hot summers day by the pool. The scent is sweet, refreshing and lingers on the skin perfectly. Melon margaritas anyone?

I'll never forget the moment when I first sniffed this beauty. I was at work, it was quiet and I found myself admiring the beautiful Soap & Glory display. This product was new back then and I was intrigued by it. I unscrewed the lid and after a whiff of this found its way up my nose, I was in love. This body wash smells like citrus and it's just what you need to wake you up in the morning. The Soap & Glory shower gels on the whole are wonderful products - nicely priced and good quality.

Sanex Dermo Repair Dry Skin Shower Cream* - £2.99
A lot of daily routines can damage the skin and leave it dehydrated. Luckily for us, these new shower creams from Sanex help to repair the damage to leave us with healthy, silky-smooth skin. This shower cream is my "go-to product" when my skin is feeling a little bit irritated - particularly after shaving and prolonged sun exposure. It doesn't have a noticeable scent but it smells fresh and clean. It's also wonderful at adding moisture to the skin so perfect pre-fake tanning. 

Just looking at this shower gel makes me happy. It smells absolutely beautiful. With extracts of strawberry and apricot, this shower gel wraps your skin in an enchanting fragrance. The fragrance is very rich and prominent and it lingers on your skin after you've washed it off. The formula is nice and softening and adds moisture to the skin. Palmolive claim that this shower gel encourages a brighter complexion too which is something that I definitely can't complain about.

When it comes to LUSH, there aren't many products that are marketed for the shower. And being a university student living in halls, I only have a shower (although next year, I'll be stocking up on Bath Ballistics as I finally have a bath - woohooo!). So one day I popped into LUSH with my darling sister and spotted the Shower Jellies. When my sister first moved to university, I treated her to one of these and she loved it. As soon as I sniffed the one in Sweetie Pie, I was sold. It smells good enough to eat and has beautiful glitter inside of it - I feel like a princess.

So these are my "top five shower gels." The prestigious ones. The best of the best. And they're all nicely priced. When I look for a shower gel, I look for one that smells delicious, is great value for money and doesn't dry the skin out or strip it of its natural moisture. All of these fit that bill and that's why they're without a doubt my favourite.

What's your favourite shower gel? Have you tried any of the ones above?
*PR Sample
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Written By Unknown at 11:10 am
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Friday, 22 March 2013

My pamper day


























On Sunday, I had a day off work. And to be honest, I was lost. If you don't know where I work then I shall tell you. I work at Boots. A beauty blogger's heaven. I love going to work every Sunday and spending my entire day surrounded by beauty products. It's bad for my spending habits but great for my mind - I guess. So as I mentioned on my day off, I felt a little bit lost. So lost that I decided to spend the entire day pampering myself. I used a lot of products and I'm not going to talk about them in too much detail considering I've mentioned most at least once on my blog. But I shall link to past reviews of the products.
In the shower I started off with my Charles Worthington Daily Defence Salon Results Shampoo. This shampoo is a great daily shampoo that leaves my hear looking volumised and feeling silky smooth. I then applied my Umberto Giannini Incredible Body Plump Up Volumising Mask for Big Hair* (reviewed here) to the roots of my hair and my Tresemme Keratin Smooth Deep Treatment Masque (reviewed here) to the ends of my hair. Using both of these masques together adds volume at the roots and smooths down my ends - a perfect combination. Whilst waiting for these to work their magic, I went on to use my EOS Vanilla Bliss Shave Cream* (reviewed here). A shaving cream isn't the most glamourous of pampering products however this beautiful shaving cream sure does help. It smells amazing and does a great job. I then went on to use my Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Scrub all over my body to exfoliate. After this - and after washing out the masques in my hair - I used my Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Wash (reviewed here) all over my skin to cleanse, moisturise and make it smell nice. After getting out of the shower, I used my Superfacialist Rose Miracle Makeover Facial Oil* (reviewed here) to pre-cleanse my skin and get it super clean. I then cleansed my skin with my trusty Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish* (reviewed here). I love this cleanser, it's my favourite but I only use it on special occasions. After this, I applied one of my favourite face masks, the Superfacialist Neroli Lifting Treatment Mask* (reviewed here) and then went on to moisturise my body. I did this using my No7 Cocooning Body Balm* (reviewed here) which smells amazing and leaves the skin incredibly nourished without leaving residue. After removing my face mask, I finished off by moisturising my hands with the beautiful Boux Avenue Pink Taffeta Hand Cream which smells incredible. 
Phew. That's a lot of products. But it definitely was worth it. What products do you use to pamper yourself with?
xxx
*PR Sample
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Written By Unknown at 1:39 pm
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Friday, 1 February 2013

ROUTINE: Updated Skin Care Routine

Since my last skin care routine post, my skin care routine has been simplified. I've stopped using products aimed at oily and blemished prone skin and moved onto products that are more cream based and anti-ageing. I'm now aiming to fade my scars. When I get the odd spot once a month or so, it doesn't bother me. But my scarring does. I should probably also note that I have combination skin - my chin and cheeks can get really dry but my forehead and nose are prone to oilyness. Also, this is just my basic skin care routine. This doesn't include any exfoliators/face masks but I will be doing a post on those later on in the month.


I change between 4 cleansers depending on what I need them for. At night time I use the No7 Beautiful Skin Melting Gel Cleanser for Normal / Dry Skin - £9.00 as it's just perfect. I've only been using it for a week but I'm already in love. It starts off as a gel cleanser and then once massaged into the skin, it changes to an oil cleanser which dissolves make up perfectly. If you keep massaging it into the skin it then changes into a milk cleanser to nourish the skin and leave it feeling perfectly smooth and soft. This also means that there's no nasty oily residue left over afterwards. Secondly, although I don't use it as often as I used to, I couldn't get rid of the Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser* - £12.75 altogether so it's still in my skin care routine. I use it once a week when I give my skin a facial as it's such a luxurious skin care product that exfoliates, hydrates and cleanses my skin in a way that a lot of other cleansers can't. If I don't have a lot of make up on - say I've just come back from a lecture and I want to take my make up off - then I'll use the Soap & Glory Peaches And Clean Deep Cleansing Milk - £7.00. I use this as a hot cloth cleanser almost. I massage it into my skin and then remove it with a flannel and it leaves my skin make up free and feeling beautiful. The smell of this is also gorgeous and as the name suggests, it's a lovely fruity fragrance. And finally, I use the No7 Beautiful Skin Cleansing Water for Normal / Oily Skin - £9.00 when I want a quick boost. For example, in the morning I use this to quickly sweep away any dirt and grime from the skin after my sleep. I don't use this as a cleanser for my make up as it doesn't remove it that well but it's great for refreshing the skin.
My spot treatment of choice is the Tretinoin Cream, USP 0.025%* - price varies which I was given when I attended Freedomhealth Clinic on Harley Street last year. It's a great spot treatment as it gets to work instantly and a spot doesn't tend to last longer than a day on my skin. It also isn't drying and it's unnoticeable on the skin. As I mentioned last week, I've changed my skin care routine so that it's anti-ageing and my moisturisers and serum of choice is the No7 Protect & Perfect Night Cream - £23.00, No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Serum - £23.00 and the No7 Protect & Perfect Day Cream - £22.00. Since using these products I've noticed a reduction in my scarring and I believe that these have been working on my hyper-pigmentation and really helping to soothe them and remove them. The skin on the right hand side of my face in particular has really been reduced and I don't even have to wear concealer over those scars any more which is fantastic. If you've ever seen a picture of my bare skin then you know how bad my scars actually are. So for me to not have to wear concealer on one side of my face (unless I have a breakout) is a big deal. I haven't been using anything else other than these three moisturisers that could possibly have had that affect on my skin. So if you're looking for something to reduce scarring and improve the appearance of your skin then I'd highly, highly recommend these. And finally, last but not least, I use the Liz Earle Daily Eye Repair* - £14.25 every day and night underneath my eyes to give them a boost. I find that this reduces the appearance of eye bags and just makes my eyes look more healthy and awake.
What items are in your skin care routine? Do we have any of the same?
xxx
*PR Sample



Written By Unknown at 12:07 pm
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Monday, 28 January 2013

TOP 5: Shower Gels

Ahh, shower gels. My obsession. I currently have over 10 shower gels in my shower alone. This doesn't include the vast array of them lingering around in my drawers. I just love shower gels! And I've picked out my current 5 favourites to show you...
Soap and Glory Sugar Crush Body Wash, £6.50 - The famous Sugar Crush scent! From the moment I first smelt this, I fell in love with it. I used to (and still do) smell this every Sunday at work and just literally die in a bubble of all things sugary and lime scented. It reminds for of the smell of lemon/lime meringue - so beautiful. The shower gel itself is also very lovely, as are all Soap & Glory ones. It's just urgh, perfection. 
Naked Ooh La La Coco De Mer Body Wash*, £3.79 - which is currently on offer for just £2.53! This is a lovely moisturising body wash. It has coconut derivatives and passion flower extracts inside it which leaves the skin feeling irresistible. The smell itself reminds me of being abroad which in this awful weather we're currently having is just a dream. The Naked brand is also a natural brand as they aim to leave out as many synthetic things that they can.
Philosophy Christmas Cookie Shower Gel, £14.00 - Before I get you all excited, I will just say that this is a Christmas limited edition product and you can no longer get a hold of it (well, not until next Christmas anyway). I bought this on Boxing Day with my Boots points as owning a Philosophy Shower Gel has always been a beauty blogging dream of mine. I've read unlimited posts on how beautiful the Christmas Cookie smell is and as soon as I smelt it in store, I picked it up without a doubt. The shower gel itself did retail for £14 but it was on offer for £7 which is still expensive but oh my, it's worth every single penny.
Lush Ponche Shower Gel - Once again, unfortunately this is a limited edition Christmas shower gel. I smelt this on the off chance that I might like it and surprisingly, I did. The shower gel itself was inspired by traditional Mexican Christmas punch so it smells like orange juice, plum, cinnamon and tequila. It's a really uplifting clean smell and it really wakes me up in the morning. 
Lush Snow Fairy Shower Gel - Of course, the cult classic. Another Christmas limited edition I'm afraid but the good news is, there's a 99.9% chance it will be back next Christmas. I buy a bottle of this every year and it's my favourite shower gel, ever. It smells like all things girly and it even contains glitter inside of it. What more could you possibly want? It's extremely sweet and sugary and just beautiful and fun!
What shower gels are you loving at the moment?
xxx
*PR Sample
Written By Unknown at 9:05 am
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Monday, 19 November 2012

What I Use On... My Legs

When it comes to nights out, I always try and make sure that my legs look good and I thought it'd be interesting to show you which products I use on them as I think I've found some true gems!
Dove Summer Glow + Soft Shimmer* £4.99 - I use this to top up my fake tan throughout the week. I probably use it two-three times and it's the only gradual tanner that doesn't leave the skin looking streaky. It also has a pleasant smell that doesn't smell like nasty biscuits. It's great on the legs because it adds subtle shimmer.
Jergens Original Beauty Lotion* £3.49 - This is the only body lotion I'll ever use. It's definitely my go-to one as it's my favourite ever smell, cheap and it does the job. It sinks in nice and quickly and doesn't leave a nasty film on the skin. The moisture also lasts a while as I only need to use it once a day.
L'Oreal Perfect Slim £6.95 - I use this a couple of times a week to tighten up and tone my thighs and arms. It's a nice gel formula that's quite cooling. I'm not sure if it works but it feels nice so I continue to use it.
Dr Ceuticals Leg Tone & Shimmer* £8.49 - This is another toning moisturiser and I use this whenever I go on a night out as it adds a lovely amount of shimmer to the skin which really highlights the legs.
Xen-Tan Mousse Intense* £23.99 - My perfect fake tan! When this runs out, I need to get the lotion version as I prefer lotions to mousses but this is amazing. It leaves the skin a natural olive colour and although it has a green guide colour, it doesn't stain bedsheets. It's also very easy to use, doesn't leave streaks and lasts for around a week while fading evenly. Perfection!
Ministry of Waxing Ice Cream* £21 - Even though this is supposed to be used after waxing, I use it after shaving if I ever accidently cut my legs. It cools the skin and stops little nicks from irritating it.
diego dalla palma Spray on Tights* £22.61 - I hate tights with a passion! But I love how they leave the skin looking perfect. So I've found a middle ground. This Calze Spray is pretty much a foundation to the legs and if I have a bruise on my legs, I'll spray this before going out and it lasts all night and covers it up perfectly.
Caudalie Divine Oil* £25.00 - As well as using moisturiser, I also enjoy using oil. This is a spray bottle so it's easy to apply and it leaves my skin looking glowing, healthy and feeling soft and smooth.
Soap and Glory The Breakfast Scrub* £9.50 - My favourite body scrub! This smells beautiful and does a great job as keeping my skin smooth. Whenever people ask me why my legs are so soft, I say it's because of this beauty! 
What products do you use on your legs? Have you tried any of the above?
xxx
*PR Sample
Written By Unknown at 2:08 pm
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Friday, 29 June 2012

MORE: Holiday Essentials

Since my last holiday post I have picked up/gathered together a few more bits and pieces for my holiday and I thought I'd show you what they are. I haven't gone into too much detail about each product as some of them haven't been tried before or I've previously reviewed them (and provided a past link).
I've started washing my hair every 2 days to try and correct it and stop it from being greasy so recently, I've been relying on dry shampoo to revive my hair in between washes. I haven't tried this version before but hopefully it'll smell nice.
I didn't want an expensive toothpaste and ideally, I wanted a travel sized one but I couldn't find one anywhere. So I just went with this cheap Boots one that I can throw away if I don't want to bring it back with me.
Hopefully the weather will be nice and I'll be able to get my legs out so I definitely needed some shaving gel. I've not tried this one before but it smells absolutely gorgeous and the travel sized bottle is so cute!
This is my favourite hand moisturiser so I had to take it away with me. It's the perfect size for travelling with aswell. You can read my full review of this product here.
Boots still have their 3 for 2 offer on and I was in need of a third item so I picked this body spray up. It smells beautiful and I need to find a full sized version. I'm trying very hard not to use it before my holiday but sometimes I can't resist. It smells very clean and fresh and it does add moisture to the skin.
Listerine is my favourite mouthwash as they taste isn't very strong so when I saw the travel sized version I couldn't say no as the bottle is just so cute!
I had to bring this product with me and the fact that it's a small sized bottle made me want to take it even more. I won't go into too much detail about this as I've done a full review here.
I decided that I needed another body wash in case the one that I had wasn't enough so I went into Boots and picked up a Clean On Me as it's my all time favourite body wash.
GLAMGLOW* - £49.99
This is the best face scrub/mask that I've ever tried and because I have a small sample size I decided to take it on holiday with me. You can read my full review here but I'll also just say that it completely transforms your skin in an instant, perfect.
Boots Extracts Bergamot Body Butter - From a Christmas gift set (a similar one can be found here.
This smells beautiful. When I first bought the gift set I stayed away from this body butter as I had no idea (and I still don't) what bergamot is. But whatever it is smells bloody lovely! It's a fresh scent that isn't overpowering and the body butter itself leaves skin feeling soft and smooth.
Boots Travel Toothbrush - around £0.50p
I managed to find a travel toothbrush! It was really cheap but I can't seem to find it online anywhere.
I've been using these so much lately and I have one unused one that I thought I'd take on holiday with me. They're pretty big so remove cleanser instantly and they also exfoliate your skin at the same time.
I can be quite messy so I decided to take some wet wipes with me. These ones sooth and refresh the skin whilst cleansing them.
Are you going on holiday this summer? What essentials are you taking with you?
xxx
*PR Sample
Written By Unknown at 6:28 pm
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