New Holy Grail Product: Soap & Glory For Daily Youth Moisturiser

Hi Girls! I reckon by now you've most probably realised that Soap and Glory is a brand I can't get enough of. I featured this in part one of my skincare routine which you can read here. I picked up this beaut of a moisturiser with a voucher that came with my 'Best of All' gift set (read my review here) and saved £3. Not only that, but it was on offer too which made it a nice little £6 purchase. For 50ml of product I think that's such a great price and it's hard to find something to beat it. I'm a real skincare geek and I always find myself in the skincare aisle at Boots looking for new products to try. I have combination skin so something which softens my skin while not being too greasy is at the top of my list. 

"Our exclusive PATENTED PLANTPOWER™ PEPTIDE COMPLEX to fight fine lines & wrinkles. A SKINMOOD BOOSTING™ molecular mix – an antioxidant to help protect and stimulate the skin Rosa Centiflolia Flower Extract – a special Swiss blend which gives amazing sensorial benefits and enhanced activity."

Up until a few days ago I was using Superdrug's Vitamin E Radiance Moisture Cream (read my review here) because I truly believe I've found a new 'holy grail' day moisturiser. Not only does it carry Soap & Glory's signature shea butter and grapefruit scent, but it's a moisturiser which does make a difference. I feel that it hydrates my skin throughout the day without feeling too heavy and leaves it so soft once I take my make up off after a long day.

I absolutely adore the packaging and the pump. It's a product which looks so cute and girly on your dressing table and is small enough to take away overnight if you go anywhere. The pump is amazing, it doesn't decant too much product at once and it almost has a sort of moussy feel to it once you push the pump down. I use two pumps of this moisturiser for my face and neck and if like me you have acrylic nails, you haven't got that dreaded moisturiser left behind your nails! I'll definitely be picking up a few of these while they're still on offer at Boots. 

Have you tried this Soap & Glory moisturiser? What are your holy grail moisturisers?

♥

My Current Skincare Routine - Part Two

Hello Girls! As promised, this is the second part to my current skincare routine. I recently posted part one (read it here) of what I use in the morning before I apply my make-up and wanted to show you all what I do just before I go to bed. Unless I'm on my death bed or I'm incredibly ill, I never use face wipes before bed. They remove make-up but don't physically clean the skin, so your skin is more prone to spots and blemishes if you do. Once again I've split the post into three parts (cleanse, tone, moisturise) as it's easier to show you what I use at each stage. In some sections I feature two products as I like to bounce between products to see the full effect of what certain products can achieve. I'd also just like to say that this is what works for me and my skin type at this time of year. As I also said in part one of this post, I plan to post what I use when the Summer months begin to loom and the weather heats up (hurry up Summer?) 

♥ Cleanse

Clinique Take The Day Off Make Up Remover - I don't like using a normal cleanser or eye make-up remover pads as all that stretching of the skin encourages wrinkles. I love this from Clinique as you needed the smallest amount to get the job done and it leaves my lashes and lids squeaky clean.

No7 Soft & Soothed Gentle Cleanser - I've been using this cleanser for as long as I can remember and I absolutely love it. It leaves your skin unbelievably soft and keeps dry patches at bay while working as a bonus way to remove dirt and oil from the day.

Soap & Glory Fab Pore Hot Cloth Cleanser - I'm obsessed with hot cloth cleansers! I've tried everything from Liz Earle's Cleanse and Polish to Superdrug's Vitamin E one and they are great. I love this one from Soap & Glory (obviously) as not only does it smell amazing but the cloth cleans and exfoliates hard to reach areas. 

♥ Tone

Simple Kind To Skin Soothing Toner - I found out that Lucy Mecklenburgh from TOWIE uses this toner so I was straight out to buy it and I'm loving it. It's 100% natural ingredients and removes any excess oil or make-up with ease with being dehydrating and leaving your skin tight.

♥ Moisturise 

Boots Simply Sensitive Hydrating Moisturiser - I recently found myself back in the love hate relationship I have with this moisturiser! It's so thick and creamy and really works into areas that lack hydration but it does start to feel uncomfortable after a while. 

E45 Cream - I use this stuff on dry patches I have on my cheeks and my chin and it is a product that works absolute wonders. It clears up dry areas overnight and is an absolute godsend.

Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream - I recently reviewed this product in full (read it here) and it leaves my eyes look alot more awake in the morning. I've also noticed a small improvement with the dark circles under my eyes so I'm not so much of a slave to my Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection concealer! 

Phew. So that's part two of my skincare routine. It looks alot but skin repairs itself overnight so it's just right to give it a bit of a boost. I'm planning to post a part three to this too, to show you all treatments I use!

Do you have a skincare regime before you go to bed?

♥

Review: Superdrug Vitamin E SPF 15 Moisture Radiance Cream

Hi Girls! I don't know about you but my skin is a nightmare around this time of year. I suffer with dry patches and the occasional spot rearing its ugly head, so I tend to switch up my skin care routine to prevent it happening. You may remember when I featured this little beauty in a mini haul (read it here) a month or so ago, and I used it for a few days before putting it back into a box and pretty much forgot about it. But last week while sorting through all my products I found it again and I'm so glad I did! At £2.99 for 50ml of product it's a real bargain and really does what it says on the tin. What Superdrug claim:

"Contains light reflecting pigments to give an instant healthy glow to the skin, whilst providing 12 hour moisturisation and helping to protect your skin against the sun's UVA and UVB rays. Enriched with naturally sourced Vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant that will help to shield your skin against environmental damage and premature skin ageing by combating the harmful effects of free radicals"

It all sounds a bit scientific to me! But after using this for some time now I absolutely love it. Just like Rimmels Wake Me Up foundation, it contains tiny speckles of light reflecting particles so it gives the skin a gorgeous glow, and not so much you look like a discoball in sunlight. I'm usually partial to a matte finish on my face, but this adds definition to areas I need it most like my browbone and the tops of my cheeks. I'm a bit fussy with moisturisers as I have to make sure that I have a product that contains a minimum SPF 15 so I don't get crows feet before I'm 30. Highly doubtful but I'm not taking any chances! It claims to moisturise for 12 hours and I can really feel it hydrating my skin throughout the day, although before I apply my make-up it does feel a little bit stick and thick on the skin. I reviewed the Hot Cloth Cleanser from the same brand of products and mentioned that it smelt amazing, and this is no exception. It smells so fresh and it's definitely one of those products that I look forward to using each morning.

One thing I've definitely noticed since using the Superdrug Vitamin E range is that my skin doesn't look as dull in the mornings as it used to. I don't know whether it's down to the ingredients but whatever it is, it's working wonders. I also love that it's so compact and something you can just pop into your handbag when you're on the move.

A Mini Haul - Haircare, Skincare & Make Up

Hi Girls! I must admit I'm not a fan of this weather. The fact that it is pitch black outside by 5o'clock means taking photos is an absolute nightmare! Apologies for not blogging this week, but it is merely impossible to get a decent looking photo without natural light. On a slightly brighter note, I used my day off to have some quality time to myself so of course I ended up at good old Superdrug. I rarely write 'haul' type posts, and although this is hardly what one would call big I still thought I'd share what I picked up. 

♥ Simple Facial Wash Gel - I love discovering a good new cleanser! If like me you're a fan of TOWIE, then you'll know just how amazing Lucy Mecklenburgh's skin looks (if you don't watch it think Millie Mackintosh-esque skin). I was reading an interview and she swears by Simple skincare. I have used the moisturising face wash before and loved it so hope this will be just as nice to use, and for a mere £2 it would be rude not to!

♥ L'Oreal Elvive Triple Resist X Shampoo and Conditioner - If you're a regular reader of my blog then you'll know one of my weaknesses is trying new haircare products. I always use John Freida's Beautiful Brunette range but as I like to mix it up I went for this instead. It claims to strengthen hair from root to tip and nourish split ends and dead hair. Sounds perfect to me! Not to mention it smells gorgeous and the bottle size will last me a long while, even by my standards. 

♥ Superdrug Vitamin E Radiance Moisture Cream - Back in Summer I blogged about the Vitamin E Hot Cloth Cleanser (read it here) and the Vitamin E SPF 15 Day Dream (read here). Both were so lovely to use, and since my usual day cream ran out I decided to invest in the Radiance Moisture Cream, which promises to deliver a glow to the skin whilst providing 24 hour hydration and sun protection too. For a measly £2.99 price tag it was a real bargain!

♥ Girls With Attitude Rock On Lashes - I wear false eyelashes almost everyday and Eylure can be pricey if you need to re-purchase on a weekly basis. I noticed these just above and they are so similar to the double lashes from Eylure and cost only £3.99 - not much difference cost wise, but I'll get just as much wear out of them. The band looks sturdy and strong which is essential. There is nothing worse than the end of an eyelash flapping around.

♥ Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder - I've read countless rave reviews about this powder, many of which claim this to be a 'holy grail' product. I was reading the lovely Kayleigh over at CoutureGirl's most recent post and it managed to convince me to purchase it. I'll give it a bash and once I've had enough time to give it a proper review I will report back!

Have you picked up any great products recently?

♥

My Ultimate Beauty Product - Palmers Cocoa Butter

Hi Everyone! Hope you're enjoying this gorgeous weather here in the UK just as much as I am. I even chose  to wear shorts and a bandeau top today it's that lovely! It's finally Summer at last, hooray! I'm so happy everything that comes with having Summer is finally here, late nights in a beer garden, sunbathing, shopping and watching the new Summer films. I finally went to see Magic Mike last night and throughout the entire 110 minutes, I just couldn't stop drooling over Channing Tatum. He really is just the definition of perfection and is the most perfect human being ever (besides David Beckham of course, who nobody can top). With all the nice weather it's obvious all you lovely girls are going to want to show a bit more skin, so I'll be talking about the ever-great infamous Palmers Cocoa Butter, a product which has been a staple in my bathroom cabinet for as long as I remember.

I first started using Cocoa Butter when I was about 13. I was at my friend Rachel's house when she opened a bottle of it and applied it to her legs. The first thing I said was "What's that smell?!", she showed me it and voila! Ever since then I've been hooked on it. I use it everyday, sometimes twice a day as an all over body moisturiser. It promises to relieve dry skin, tone and reduce marks. I hear it's popular with pregnant women and I've heard a few people swear by it for reducing the appearance of stretch marks. Regardless of whether I agree with that I still absolutely adore this product and I have no intentions of changing to another moisturiser anytime soon.


Firstly, I'd like to tell you about all the different ways you can buy Palmers Cocoa Butter. There are of course different sizes in a 250ml and 400ml bottle. I always buy the 400ml bottle as it lasts me alot longer and I get very upset when I run out (just a tad sad I know, but the stuff is just amazing). Another great thing about the Palmers range is that it is available in a bottle or a pump. I don't particularly get on with the pump as it sometimes gets stuck and it all gets very messy, so the bottle is fine with me. A 250ml bottle costs around £3.90 so if you're new to this product, definitely purchase this size incase you may not like it. A 400ml bottle costs me £5.25 from Boots. It's not only Cocoa Butter that Palmers sell, they have a huge range of other products which you can see here.

The packaging is nothing special, just plain white with a pale blue sticker. It's nice to have something a little more understated than the rest of my products in my bathroom cabinet which still screams "Use Me" everytime I see it. But what the product does just outweighs everything. It smells absolutely unbelievable, really chocolatey and rich. I find the scent really stays on my skin all day. If you don't like fragranced products this definitely isn't for you as it's such a strong smell. The texture is really thick, so a little really does go a long way. Because of this it can be a problem if you're in a rush to get changed and you need to wait for it to sink in. This is my go to moisturiser simply because it makes my skin feel amazingly soft and supple. It's a butter which means it's more of an intense moisturiser so if you suffer with dry knees, ankles and elbows it's a real godsend as the results are pretty much immediate. Thanks to Palmers my skin feels really pampered and well looked after every morning. As the weather is getting warmer, the shorts are coming out which means more Cocoa Butter hurrah! 

What are your holy grail body butters and moisturisers? Is there anything even better than Palmers Cocoa Butter?


☮

Superdrug Vitamin E SPF 15 Moisturising Day Cream

You may have read my recent blog post on Superdrug's Vitamin E Hot Cloth Cleanser and how highly I though of it (read it here), so as a result I picked up the moisturiser from the same range. I've been using it now for a week or so and replaced my usual day cream with it with absolutely no regrets. This product really does work wonders for my skin and I've noticed a change in the way my make-up applies and how soft my skin is. I cut no corners when it comes to skin care, both morning and night and slathering on the moisturiser last is by far my favourite part.


First off, the packaging. Just as the case with the hot cloth cleanser, I really like it. It's really simple and understated but it cuts no boundaries with the product itself. It's a generous sized day cream at 100ml and I've barely scraped the top after a week of using it. It provides 12 hour moisturisation (it really does) which is a life saver if you suffer with a more dry skin type. If like me you have a combination skin, fear not as it is not a greasy formula at all. I don't find myself having to apply any more powder throughout the day as I usually do. 

"Vitamin E SPF15 Moisturising Day Cream provides 12-hour moisturisation and has been specially developed to hydrate, nourish and protect your skin against the sun's UVA and UVB rays."


I became more aware of using products which have sun protection in them when I went to a Dermalogica skin event and since then I try to make sure my moisturisers and foundations have some sort of protection in them. It's better to start young than to not start at all! The texture of it is not a thick cream but not a watery one either, so it sits right in the middle which makes it great for most people to use.


I also really like the way this smells, it smells identical to the hot cloth cleanser, sort of a fresh but natural smell. I have a bit of OCD when it comes to the smell of things as I hate applying products which smell like a science lab. I'm really liking the Superdrug Vitamin E range, and it's so cheap I can stock up on as many products as I like. I picked up the moisturiser for only £2.99 which is a bargain, but I'm looking to try the eye cream next.

Have you tried any great moisturisers recently? Or have you tried the Vitamin E range from Superdrug? I'd love to know!


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Dove Summer Glow Gradual Tan Moisturiser

This is one of my all time favourite moisturisers. Dove's Summer Glow Gradual Tan Moisturiser is an amazing product. Along with the classic Palmers Coco Butter and a few others which I will blog about soon, I would have to say that this is definitely in my top 5 body moisturisers without a doubt. I use a moisturiser every day without fail, especially during Summer, when you're baring more skin than normal. Because I'm an absolute fake tan addict, I decided to stop using my trusty St Moriz for a few weeks and swap it for my trusty gradual tanner, which is where Summer Glow came in...

I've been using this product religiously for almost 3 years now but not everyday. I find that if it's used too much it gives you a bit of a patchy tan around the knees and ankles which is so unideal. Instead I use it 2 or 3 times a week and switch to another type of moisturiser for the remaining days. Summer Glow is also great for a night out (after you've applied your St Moriz of course) as it gets to work within about an hour and has a slight shimmer to it.

As I'm naturally quite olive skinned I always pick the medium to dark tone as it reflects my skin the nicest. What works for me best may not work as well for others, but if you are more pale and are in need of a little 'warming up' then the normal to medium tone would be ideal. 

Summer Glow glides on so easily and absorbs into the skin quite quickly. I cannot even begin to describe how amazing it smells either. Alot of people really dislike the smell as they find it quite a biscuity processed smell, whereas I disagree. I think it literally smells like Summer, it reminds me of holiday. I notice a difference in colour after 3 days or so, and as I have recently been using the deeper effect type, it has definitely made me more of a golden bronze than a dark orange tone. Definitely a regular on my shopping list, I'll be repurchasing this again and again and recommend it to anyone frightened to bare their legs and use that bottle of St Moriz!

Have you tried Dove Summer Glow? I hear the moisturiser is a dream, anyone have a review?