Get your feet ready for the summer

I think it's increasingly important to look after the skin on our feet. After all, we're walking on them constantly. When it comes to summer, the last thing we want to be doing is covering up our feet because we're embarrassed by them. The excess sweat will only cause further problems. So ensuring your feet are in tip top condition throughout the summer (and winter!) months is a definite must. Recently, I've discovered quite a few foot care products that I've found an absolute pleasure to use.

HoMedics Elle Macpherson Heel Smoother* - £19.99

This is without a doubt the best electronic foot smoothing device I've ever used. It comes with two different discs - one for exfoliating and one for buffing - and both of these work perfectly together to ensure the feet are left soft and smooth. It's easy to hold, doesn't cause mess, looks pretty and is affordable too.

Weleda Foot Balm* - £9.95

Out of all of the foot creams mentioned in this post, this is definitely my favourite. It's wonderful in summer as it really does cool and refresh tired feet. The non-greasy formula sinks into the skin beautifully and leaves behind soft feet that smell delicious - if that's at all possible (it uses essential oils of lavender, rosemary, sweet orange and litsea cubeba). The Foot Balm also has a formula which helps to strengthen the skin to protect it against blisters. As someone who suffers with blisters quite badly, this is a godsend to read. 

CCS Foot Care Cream* - £7.99

I love how small and dinky this tube is, it makes it perfect for travelling. This cream uses urea, which is is the moisturiser that is found naturally in the human body. This helps to keep the skin soft and supple and the cream is lanolin free and hypo-allergenic. This is my morning foot cream as it sinks into the skin quickly and isn't scented.

Dr Organic Virgin Olive Oil Foot and Heel Cream* - £6.49

This super hydrating cream is rich in Oleic acid and combines deep moisturising and nourishing properties. It's fast acting and penetrates the skin deeply, meaning it's perfect for extremely dry cracked areas of the feet. I originally used this when my feet were in really bad condition and this helped restore them. It's now been passed over to my mum but I still highly recommend it to those with cracked feet.

What products do you use on your feet?

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LIFESTYLE | Cruising around the Mediterranean

The reason my blog has been a bit lacklustre recently is because my life has become quite hectic. And that's something I never thought I say. For the past four and a half years I've managed to juggle this blog, with my education and a part time job. Yet finishing university, moving out of two houses in the space of three weeks, going on holiday and starting a new job really has gotten on top of me. Today is the first day in a while I've felt relaxed, and able to chill out and write a proper blog post.

I decided that I would focus on my holiday seeing as I promised more lifestyle posts (don't worry, the beauty will always be there)! I went on a cruise around the Mediterranean for a week with my grandparents, my mum, her partner, my sister, my auntie, uncle and cousin. It was really lovely, but I don't think you'd find me cruising anywhere in the near future as one of the nights was quite rocky and off putting. We sailed from Spain, to Italy, to France and back to Spain again and got to see many beautiful places. That's the beauty of cruising, you're not just stuck in one place for a week. This world is huge and full of fascinating cities, and I definitely want to explore every single part of it.

One place I definitely need to go back to is Italy. I've now visited Rome, Venice, Verona and Lake Garda and I've loved every inch of it. Sadly in Rome, we only spent a few minutes at the Colosseum so the next I visit, I must go inside of it. I absolutely adore historical Rome and the Romans. I also have to go to Pisa! I've only decided to show a few photos from the holiday mainly because in total, there was 700+ photos taken and I don't think Blogger, or your computers, would be very happy with me if I uploaded them all. So here are a few. Mainly on the boat, in Corsica, Rome and Cannes.

Have you been on a cruise before? What's your favourite place in the world to visit?
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Drugstore summer make up saviours for oily skin

Summer and oily skin. A combination that doesn't work well together. As soon as there's a tiny hint of summer in the UK, my face ends up melting midday. In the winter, my skins leans more towards the dry/combination side of the spectrum, but as soon as a bit of sun peeks out of the clouds, my skin turns into an oil slick. It becomes a shiny mess midday and make up doesn't last throughout the day. Overtime, I've found a combination of drugstore products to help combat the shine, and keep make up in place all day long. Almost no touch ups required.

I start off with the NYX Shine Killer* - £12.50 which is without a doubt one of my favourite primers. I do believe it's silicone-based (if it isn't, it feels that way) and although not everyone gets on with these kind of primers, they're personally my favourite. It smooths over the skin and leaves in mattified and prepped for foundation. For my cheeks I love using the Bourjois Cream Blush in Healthy Glow* - £7.99. A couple of years ago, I would never have used a cream blush but this cream to powder finish is incredible. It's a beautiful, natural colour that stays put on the skin throughout the day. I then finish off the entire look with the SEVENTEEN Stay Time Pressed Powder - £4.49, a recent release that's a godsend. This pressed powder sets make up and ensures it doesn't budge throughout the day. It also takes away any shine without leaving the skin looking completely dead-matte. Dare I say it's better than Rimmel's Stay Matte?

What are your summer make up saviours?

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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.

Soap & Glory Make Yourself Youthful Sunshield Superfluid SPF50+ - £15 (currently on offer for £10)

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?
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The best summer collection? KIKO'S Life in Rio with Swatches

Sun Lovers Blush in Copacabana Coral

Sun Lovers Blush in Copacabana Coral

L-R Creamy Touch Eyeshadow in 104 and 101 

L-R Creamy Touch Eyeshadow in 104 and 101 

L-R Tropical Heat Waterproof Eyeliners in 04 and 06

L-R Sun Show Nail Lacquer in 475 and 470

L-R Exotic Shine Lipstick in 101 and 104

Life in Rio Face Brush Duo Flat Foundation end

Life in Rio Face Brush Duo Dense Angled end

Life in Rio Face Brush Duo Dense Angled end

L-R Essential Bronzer in Warm Melange, Sun Lovers Blush in Copacabana Coral

Wearing Sun Lovers Blush in Copacabana Coral, Essential Bronzer in Warm Melange, Creamy Touch Eyeshadow in 101 and Exotic Shine Lipstick in 101

"The collection showcases vibrant colours with an unexpected elegance and unparalleled quality." 

First of all, I must apologise for how the pictures are displayed above. I had a complete nightmare with Blogger and this was the best order I could get in them in. If it's confusing, I do apologise, however I didn't want to miss out any images as the collection is stunning. Anyway, as you all probably know by now, KIKO is my favourite make up brand, ever. I wish their products were more readily available in the UK - I'd kill to peruse at my leisure in Boots - but nonetheless, it doesn't take away from their stunning collections, fabulous quality products and affordable prices. The next time I'm in London, I'll be making my way to their store on Regent Street and swatching until my heart can't take it any more... ooh I get all excited thinking about it. Anyway, their latest collection is well, look at it, it's stunning. Life In Rio has been inspired by the colourful street life in Rio, Brazil's capital city. 

Essential Bronzer in Warm Melange* - £16.90

With a whopping 20g worth of product, this baked bronzer is absolutely huge. Encased inside the stunning packaging is a nicely sized mirror and a silky bronzer that smells of vanilla. The complementing marbled shades work beautifully together creating an easy to blend powder that doesn't look orange or muddy on the skin. I use this where the sun would naturally hit my face and it warms up my complexion and makes me look sunkissed.

Sun Lovers Blush in Copacabana Coral* - £14.90

A smaller version of the Essential Bronzer packaging, this blush also comes with a decent sized mirror and the most beautiful looking blush I've ever seen in my life. Copacabana Coral has a Barbie pink on one side and a blue/bronze on the other side. The blue colour looked scary at first but when sweeped onto the cheeks you're left with the perfect balance of colour and a healthy glow. The blush is silky to the touch and easy to blend. There are also three other shades available.

Tropical Heat Waterproof Eyeliner in 04 and 06* - £7.90

These eyeliners are something else. I doubt I'd wear the blue shade as it isn't a colour that I'm a fan of but the sparkly brown is stunning. There are six vibrant waterproof eyeliners in this collection and they glide on easily and stay put throughout the day. Removing them proves to be a pain, but when you're on holiday and humidity is high, that's a risk I'd be happy to take. The eyeliner brush is extremely fine and gives off precise definition.

Creamy Touch Eyeshadow Duo in 101 and 104* - £9.90

These Creamy Touch Eyeshadow Duos are incredible. They're highly pigmented and the creamy formula glides onto the eyes for a super smooth application. They're easily to blend and once set, they aren't going to budge throughout the day. There are six shades available in the collection however, 101 is perfection for me. A beautiful cream on one end and a matte purple-brown on the other; the perfect understated smoky eye. The sparkly pink of 104 looks stunning in the inner corner as a highlight and the bright pink surprisingly works a treat on the lips.

Exotic Shine Lipstick in 01 and 04* - £8.50

I have quite a lot of KIKO lipsticks and despite the reasonable price tag, they're some of the best I own. The Exotic Shine Lipsticks have a creamy formula that provides a satin finish. They look like a lipstick, apply like a lipstick and have the pigmentation of a lipstick but with the shine of a gloss. There are six shades available in the collection and out of the two I have, 01 is my favourite. It's the most perfect pinky nude shade that completes a make up look.

Sun Show Nail Lacquer in 470 and 475* - £5.90

KIKO's nail polishes are lovely and these don't bring the standard down. The limited edition colours give off a full colour with a special gold pearl that really makes them pop. As always, they're quick drying and long lasting. There are ten shades available in this collection and I need to get my mitts on 469 Delicious Mango.

Life in Rio Face Brush* - £16.90

This brush is a must-have if you travel often. It comes with a flat foundation end for applying creamy formulations and a dense synthetic angled end for application of powders. The flat foundation end is pretty standard however the angled end is incredible for contouring the skin. When used with the Essential Bronzer it warms up the complexion and gives me cheekbones that Kim K would be envious of.

What's your favourite product from the collection? What do you think about the collection?
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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?
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The long lasting make up

L-R CARGO Water Resistant Blush in Ibiza, CARGO Water Resistant Bronzer, KIKO Eyetech Look Eyeshadow in 112, KIKO Long Lasting Colour Lip Marker in 108

I do understand that this post might be a little bit controversial but I for one, hate not wearing make up. My skin isn't good and I don't feel comfortable leaving the house without a little bit of slap on. When the weather is hot or you're away by the pool, I understand that for some of you, applying make up is a no-go but for me, it's a necessity. And luckily for girls like myself, there are some wonderful products out there that stay put no matter what.

Vichy Capital Soleil Beautifying Sun Protection Compact SPF30* - £14.45

I've raved about this product before and I'll continue to rave it about it every summer until I'm at least 60. This product is what I've been waiting for my entire life - an SPF that gives you damn good coverage. This protects you against UVA and UVB rays with an SPF of 30 so although it's not ideal for nights out or weddings, it's perfect for when you're out and about in the sun. This provides medium coverage that covers my scarring with no need for extra concealer. It set to a matte finish that doesn't dry the skin out and keeps it hydrated all day long. Literally the most perfect summer base product, ever.

CARGO Water Resistant Blush in Ibiza* - £19.00

This blush is great for injecting a bit of colour into your cheeks and the colour is an instant perk-me-up that makes me happy. The longwearing formula of this blush means that you don't have to bother with reapplication so it's perfect in hot weather. I absolutely adore CARGO as a brand - their pretty and simple packaging is gorgeous and the formula of this blush is outstanding too. It's finely milled and looks gorgeous swept over the cheeks.

CARGO Water Resistant Bronzer* - £19.00

This bronzer has tiny shimmer particles so although I wouldn't recommend it for contouring, I'd highly recommend it for adding a natural glow to your skin. The colour is deep enough to bronze up your complexion but light enough to stop it from looking muddy. There isn't a hint of orange insight just lots of little golden flecks of shimmer that reflect when the sun hits them - absolutely beautiful.

No7 Lift & Curve Eyelash Curler - £7.25

I was going to include a mascara in this post but unfortunately, I don't own a waterproof mascara and I never have done. I've never had an issue with mascara lasting all day long on my lashes and I'm quite blessed with long ones so a quick squeeze of the eyelash curlers and I'm good to go at times. There are a few bad reviews about these lash curlers on the Boots website but I for one can't find a fault in them - they do the job afterall and with the £3 off No7 voucher, they're a right bargain.

HD Eye & Brow Palette - £19.96

Oh I couldn't go anywhere without my brows on. I love many brow palettes but this offering from HD Brows really does earn its place at the top of the leaderboard when it comes to longevity. Once my eyebrows have been shaped and filled in with this, they do not budge. I'm telling you now, I've showered and bathed and the powder still doesn't move until I use a proper make up remover. Pretty good.

KIKO Eyetech Look Eyeshadow in 112* - £5.90

If you're going away then you need to invest in one of these. Not only are they small, portable and perfect for your luggage but they're highly pigmented and last all long without the need for a primer. I don't know what it is about the summer that makes me bring out the blue eyeshadow underneath my lash line but I do quite like it - especially this blue. It's deep but bright and has the most gorgeous shimmer running throughout it. KIKO also claim that these little eyeshadows last 150 applications which is outstanding for the price.

KIKO Long Lasting Colour Lip Marker in 108* - £6.90

It was hard for me to swatch this baby for you. Not because it's awful but because the swatch - no matter how hard I scrub - will be left on my hand for days. When KIKO say "long lasting colour" they sure do mean it. The pigment is intense and these lip markers are easy to work with. Essentially you can line and fill in your lips quickly and easily and not have to worry about transferring the colour onto anything you touch. These really are fantastic in terms of longevity and you can see my full review with further lip swatches here.

What are your favourite long lasting make up products? Have you ever tried any of the ones mentioned above?

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The hot weather lifesaver | KIKO Light Legs Crackling Mousse

I was at work yesterday. Yes, at work in the 28 degrees weather with broken air conditioning. It's safe to say, I was absolutely on fire. As well as this, I ran home so that I could watch the end of Wimbledon - I know, I must be crazy! But once I got my lemonade out of the fridge and I'd settled down to watch the final, I reached for this wonder product. The KIKO Light Legs Crackling Mousse* is one of those products that once you've tried it, you won't want to be without it. 

Basically this is a mousse product meaning that it's light and fluffy in texture however the difference with this is it crackles. It's like applying popping candy to your body which is quite strange at first but without a doubt, lovely and cooling. You apply this mousse to the legs and feet (or anywhere on your body - I've used it on my arms, stomach and back) and it soothes, cools and calms tired skin instantly. This was a lifesaver for me yesterday and it's a product that I've fell in love with and have been using constantly during the warmer weather.

You can buy this product here where it retails for £12.90. Unfortunately this is a limited edition product but they do still have them in stock over the summer.

Have you tried this product before? What are your must-have products to keep you cool in the heat?
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Secrets of summer beauty revealed with Annie Levy‏

With the UK warming up, summer is very close on the horizon (I definitely found it hard to breathe yesterday with Wimbledon AND the heat) so perfecting the sought after smokey eyes is a definite "must-have" for us beauty obsessed. Luckily for us, World Duty Free and Biza Tax & Duty Free have teamed up with make-up artist to the stars Annie Levy to demonstrate how to create essential summer looks on one of my favourite social media platforms - YouTube. 

The videos are easy to watch, easy to follow and well, easy to recreate which it what it's all about really. My favourite video of them all has to be the Bronzed Goddess Look:

Ever since discovering the wonderful Half Baked by Urban Decay, I've fallen in love with all things bronzed and golden so this look is definitely very "me." Their Smokey Eyes video is also one to watch. Smokey eyes really is a classic look and ever since the rise of Miss Kim Kardashian, all of us have been wanting to recreate the iconic look - this video makes it exceptionally easy.

More tutorials are going to be added to the World Duty Free channel over the coming days so it's definitely worth subscribing if you're a YouTube geek like I am. It seems that these days there's nothing I love more than applying make up with YouTube on in the background - please tell me I'm not the only one guilty of this?!

The great thing about the World Duty Free channel is that Annie picks up the majority of her make-up must-haves at the airport to get her beauty buys tax-free at shops like World Duty Free and Biza Tax & Duty Free shops. These stores are in airports across the UK and if you're a premium beauty addict, you can get your items for 20% cheaper (I do believe that's the tax rate these days - please do correct me if I'm wrong). Another wonderful thing about tax-free stores is that often, brands release gems that are exclusive to the airport - when you come back home, not only will you be showing off your tan but also your latest MAC find that your friends won't have #braggingrights.

If you're lucky enough to be jetting off this summer then Annie has also put together her top ten tips for travellers to help get the perfect Summer-ready style:

1. Always, always protect your face from UV rays by using a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.

2. Tinted suncreams are the perfect product to use on holiday so you can avoid using make up yet still have the comfort of a base.

3. Mist sprays are invaluable in the summer whether travelling on planes or tubes, basking on the beach or sweltering in a stuffy office. Evian water spray or MAC Mineralise Charged Water Mist will be your best friend - refreshing and moisturising without affecting make up.

4. Waterproof mascara guarantees no more panda eyes when you take a dip in the pool or sea.

5. Subtle gold highlighters look amazing with a tan and are perfect holiday make up products. Use to enhance cheekbones, lips, lashes or decollete - they look amazing with a tan and are the perfect tiny size for travelling.

6. Gold highlighters look just as amazing on a tanned body but be subtle.

7. Don't forget to protect your hair in the sun especially if it's highlighted or coloured. Many brands do SPF for hair and make use of beach days and nights by combing deep conditioner treatments through your hard and then tying it back.

8. Shiny hair looks lovely with a tan but a lot of shine products make hair look greasy. Spray lightly onto a make up brush and sweep the brush over hair to avoid a greasy, weighed down look.

9. Buy the best hypo-allergenic sunscreen you can afford - your skin will thank you for it immediately and later on.

10. Don't forget sunscreen on your hands and chest even when you're not at the beach. After the face, these are the first areas to show signs of ageing like wrinkles and age spots.

I'm definitely someone who agrees with these tips especially number one. Sunscreen is incredible important to me and you can find my favourite sun protectants here. Unfortunately, I'm not going on holiday this year (as far as I'm aware) but hopefully next year I'll be sunning it up with my best friends as a big "farewell" and congratulations on our graduations (touch wood). 

What are your top summer tips? Will you be buying anything from Duty Free on your holidays?
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WANTS: Swimwear

When I was looking at things that I had bought for my holiday I realised that I had bought everything except for possibly the most important - swimwear. I'm only going away in England so I'm obviously not bothered about tanning and I'm pretty insecure so I want a swimsuit and not a bikini. I went on various different websites looking for swimwear and from my experience I've realised two things; one, there are barely any swimsuits out there and two, since when did swimwear become so expensive?!

Red or Dead Red Message Bottle Swimsuit - £64.99, Boudoir Grey Fiji Swimsuit - £44.99, Floral Print Halterneck Swimsuit - £17.24

These are my three favourites and all three are from New Look which I believe have the best range of swimwear out there. Unless Primark has a good selection. I love that the red swimsuit has the piece of string around it so it can pull you in at the waist. I also love how it's the basic swimsuit shape which suits everyone. The black one is great because it uses body sculpting inside it and if I had £50 to spare, no doubt I'd be buying this one. And finally, the third one is just so cute! The first two are very expensive and although I love them, I couldn't bring myself to spend that much on a swimsuit. But I thought I'd show them you anyway as they're so pretty. So I'll probably end up getting the third swimsuit.

What stores would you recommend for swimwear?

xxx

Boots Summer Holiday Hauling

In a few weeks time me, my sister and our friend are going on holiday. It was a birthday present from me to her for her 21st birthday. And of course going on holiday means buying lots of new things. I did want to get a whole new wardrobe to go on holiday with but instead I decided to spend some of my wages on new beauty products - because quite frankly, I'm an addict. So I went into Boots and these are the things that I bought. Of course, I'm taking other things but I wanted to keep it as a haul. Before I go on holiday I'll show you everything that I'll be taking with me. We're staying in the UK so it means that there are no limits!

Clarins Daily Energizers Great Skin Kit - £15.00

I originally went to pick up the Daily Energizer Cleansing Gel but when I saw this kit I knew I had to get it. It contains the Clarins Daily Energizer Cleansing Gel, Clarins Daily Energizer Wake-up Booster, Clarins Daily Energizer Cream and the Clarins Beauty Flash Balm. They're all mini sizes but to say they're mini sizes is a bit unfair considering I think they're decent sizes. I thought it'd be better to buy this kit beforehand and see if the range agrees with my skin. And also, I have been wanting to try the Beauty Flash Balm out for a really long time now. Unfortunately, I'm taking this on holiday with me so there won't be a review for a few weeks. I don't know how I'm going to resist using the products.

No7 Anti-Dark Spot Facial Sun Protection SPF15 - £11.00

Sun protection for the face is a big must have for me so it's taken me a while to decide on this one. Like Soltan this has a 5* UVA rating and the great thing about it is that it protects against dark spots which is something that I suffer with due to my scarring on my face. Unfortunately, it's only SPF15 but I am only going away in the UK so it should definitely be enough.

Soap & Glory Mist You Madly Mini Body Spra - £3.50

I have the full size of this and also a mini size that's nearly running out so when I saw that this was on the 3 for 2 offer that Boots currently have on, I couldn't say no. It has the classic Soap and Glory scent and it smells so beautiful. Definitely my favourite body spray.

John Frieda Full Repair Shampoo and Conditioner - £1.99 each

I have been wanting to try out this range for a while so when I saw the mini's I immediately put back the TRESemme shampoos that I was holding and picked up these. I decided to go for two shampoos and one conditioner as these were also in the 3 for 2 and one mini bottle of shampoo isn't enough for me on holiday.

No7 Beautiful Skin Quick Thinking Wipes - £7.00

I needed some skin care wipes for removing any eye make up and just if I've had a late night and I'm feeling lazy so I picked these ones up. They're great face wipes and one of the best that I've tried. They remove all make up and leave the skin feeling beautifully soft.

Soap & Glory Hand Maid Antibacterial Hand Cleansing Gel - £2.50

I've seen this floating around the blogosphere for a while and I really wanted an antibacterial hand gel but I don't tend to like the alcoholic scent of them. So when I picked this up and smelt it I immediately popped it into my basket. It smells like once again, the classic Soap and Glory scent.

Soap & Glory Mini Clean, Girls Creamy Body Wash - £2.50

And finally, a body wash! I was going to go for the Clean on Me one but I already have one mini size of that plus two full sized bottles as it's my favourite body wash. So I decided to go for the alternative body wash as it's one that I've never tried before.

So altogether this cost me £25.79 instead of £47.47. It cost me a lot less than it should've done because of 3 for 2's, staff discount and vouchers. I even shocked myself when I added up the receipt price and the actual price and I can't wait to try out some of the products. As always, I highly recommend going to the Advantage Card kiosks before buying anything in Boots as they have some great offers there.

I hope you're all well. Are you going on holiday this summer?

xxx

Summer Outfits & New Shoes

Once again I have another fashion post for you. I say fashion but yet again I must say that I'm not aware of fashion and I just wear what I feel comfortable in and what I like. If you're from the UK then you probably know about this beautiful weather we've been having recently - it's been gorgeous. But unfortunately, I haven't gone summer shopping yet so I've had to recycle some out clothing and these are a few looks that I've come up with.

L-R: Outfit 1:

Cardigan - Warehouse

Dress - New Look

Shows - New Look

Outfit 2:

Cardigan - Warehouse

Top - Primark

Shorts - Matalan

Shoes - New Look

Outfit 3:

Blazer - New Look

Top - Primark

Skirt - New Look

Shoes - New Look

I also bought some new shoes yesterday. I've been in need of some new heels for a long time and as soon as I saw these, I couldn't say no. As you can see from the outfits above, they go with pretty much anything and I can't wait until next week to wear them out. They're super comfy so far but I guess a proper night out will give them the full test. You can view them here and after student discount they were just £16.19 instead of £17.99 which is a complete bargain!

xxx

Fake Tanning Routine Featuring Xen-Tan, Dove & He-Shi

Quite frankly, I am pale. And what's worse, I don't tan. If I go on holiday, no matter how much sun tan lotion I put on, I will burn. And after I've burnt, I will go back to being white - it's hard being me you see. So fake tan is a must for me. I haven't had much luck with fake tan in the past; whenever I apply it I normally end up looking like a mess. But now, I'm pretty experienced in tanning and it's something that I've incorporated into a nice routine.

Xen-Tan Perfect Blend - £34.99*

I was a little bit sceptical when I first heard about this.. sceptical but excited. This fake tan self tan for the face and the body on one side and a shimmer bronzer on the other. You turn a dial so you can custom build your own colour. Also I must add, don't be put off by the word 'shimmer..' I've not found any shimmer in the bronze colour but I find it just leaves a healthy, deep glow on the skin. It ranges from 100% light self tan to 100% cosmetic bronzer. You mix them both together and within 3 hours, your tan has developed into a beautiful deep glow. I really cannot recommend this enough. It's very moisturising on the skin and even if I don't exfoliate it applies beautifully and doesn't go streaky. It doesn't smell of biscuits like most fake tan products do but instead leaves a nice, natural smell on this skin. I use this every Sunday night. I'm starting off light and slowly building the colour up to make it look more natural.

Xen-Tan Mousse Intense - £23.99*

I will admit it, before this product I had never used a mousse fake tan before. Crazy right? Especially because there are endless amounts of good reviews about mousse self tanners. This is in the colour medium/dark and it is just that. I don't use this very often as like I said, I'm building my colour up gradually. But I have used this and I can't rave about it enough. It's streak free and once again doesn't smell like fake tan. It's quick drying and gives an instant colour that develops into a beautiful, deep tan that looks natural due to its olive undertone. Once again, this isn't drying on the skin and adds a nice moisture to it. Whilst I don't use this in my routine all the time, I know that when I'm going on big nights out or on holiday this will be the tan that I'll apply beforehand. It lasts a really long time and fades evenly as well. Very beautiful for those who want a quick and easy deep tan.

Dove Summer Glow Nourishing Lotion - £5.69

When I was younger I tried out a lot of the gradual tanners but I ended up being left disappointed. They were patchy, hard to apply and the moisturiser just didn't sink into the skin easily. But when I read this post from The Sunday Girl, I knew I had to invest in the Dove Summer Glow gradual tanner. I use this every other day (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) to up keep my tan and also to moisturise the skin. I have this in the colour fair to normal so it doesn't apply a lot of colour but saves me from using my Xen-Tan all the time as it's pretty expensive (but worth it). I love this but I hate the way it smells. It definitely adds a nasty fake tan smell but when I shower, it does disappear thank god!

He-Shi Facial Tanning Gel - £17.50*

Even though I can use my Xen-Tan on my face I don't like to so I use my He-Shi facial tanning gel. I'm not very sure on this. When I first tried it, I loved it. But since trying Xen-Tan I just don't feel it's as good. It isn't drying on the skin and it doesn't smell bad but it sometimes applies really patchy. So I'm hoping to try out the Xen-Tan Face Tanner (£16.99). If I do, I'll let you know how they both compare.

And to apply all of these products (except the facial tanning gel) I use the Xen-Tan Luxury Tanning Mitt - £3.99*. When I first received this I thought 'how can it be a luxury tanning mitt? Surely it's just like the rest?' But it isn't. It feels really lovely on the skin and whether it's the fake tan or the tanning mitt, I don't get streaks! It's lovely to use and helps to keep my palms clean which is of course, what you want.

What fake tanning products do you use? Have you tried these?

xxx

*PR sample

OOTD - Sun!

I've been working for 4 hours straight now and I've just gotten ready to go out and check on my car. So I thought I'd show you my outfit of the day! It's nothing special but I'm really excited that I can finally wear cute, girly outfits again! Cue scary looking face..

Cardigan - Warehouse

Top - Primark

Skirt - Primark
I also posted a picture of my eye on Twitter.. I used Avon's ColorTrend Kajal Stick in the colour Light Blue/Black in black and it looked beautiful. Really easy to apply aswell!
 

xxx