Showing posts with label Skincare. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Skincare. Show all posts

Tuesday, 26 March 2013

Lush 'Oatifix' | Fresh Face Mask

Lush Oatifix Face Mask - £5.95 (Link here)

Hello lovely ladies! I hope you're all well and are enjoying the feeling of a brand new fresh week. I promised I'd got my blogging mojo back after lacking in posts recently, so I'm back with a review of something I've been absolutely loving lately. For some reason, I've become quite attached to Lush products recently. There's just something about them which really lifts my mood and make pamper evenings that bit more relaxing and girly. As I'm sure some of you also know, I love nothing better than a good face mask and have bought quite the collection over the past few weeks, one of my favourites being Lush's 'Oatifix'. 

Now if you're a regular reader of my blog then you'll know I'm an absolute sucker for anything with a shea butter/almond/honey/oat scent. I have no idea why, but anything which smells nutty and sweet is an absolute winner in my books! Products with ingredients like this in them tend to be for more dry skin, and although I have an oily skin type I couldn't resist picking this up. With the weather being ridiculously cold recently, I felt that my skin needed a bit more 'oomph' in terms of moisture to restore hydration, so was in search of some great new products to do just that (I've been loving the Botanics Facial Oil too, read my post here). I was tempted to pick up my beloved 'Cupcake' face mask, but after smelling this and have the lovely shop assistant apply it to the back of my hand it had to be mine. The same guidelines with all of Lush's products apply; you still need to keep it in the fridge and it still has a use by date. 



Oatifix is a blend of crushed bananas, ground almonds, oats and honey so as you can imagine works absolute wonders on dry and sensitive skin. It's a really thick formula, but at the same time really nice to apply. It doesn't apply in chunks, instead in glides onto the skin with ease without any product drop off. Other than smelling like absolute heaven, it deeply moisturises pores and eliminates flaky skin after only one use. After I leave it on for a good 10 or 15 minutes, I don't find that my face feels waxy or slippery, just really hydrated and extra soft. As you remove it, it also doubles up as an exfoliator because of the ground oats in the formula, so no more mixing two products for a decent home facial!  


Sunday, 24 March 2013

Boots Botanics | 100% Organic Facial Oil

Boots Botanics Facial Oil - £9.99 £4.99 (Link here)


Hey dolls! I've somehow lost my blogging mojo a bit over the last week - I haven't really felt up to posting anything new, but I promise I'm here to stay now! Being a bit of a self confessed skincare junkie, I'm constantly on the lookout for new products to try out. I have an oily skin type so anything which screams 'oil free' or 'deep cleansing' is a winner in my books. 'Why have you been using a straight up oil then?' I hear some of you ask. After doing some research, I found out that by using some kind of oil on an oily skin type, it actually eliminates excess oil (how many times did I just say the word oil?) around the T-zone. I was a bit apprehensive to say the least as I had visions of being an oil slick after using something like this, but I actually have to say I my skin has never looked and felt so great in a really long time. 

'This aromatic oil melts into lacklustre skin to lock in moisture for 8 hours while softening, conditioning, and helping to restore its natural glow. Use regularly to boost the performance of your daily skincare regime'

Whilst I was out shopping, I came across the Botanics range which is a collaboration between Boots and Kew Gardens in London. They offer 100% natural products which all smell absolutely amazing, not to mention all of the products were half price too. I'm not too keen on the packaging, which is odd as I usually really like sleek and simple designs. It's a matte glass bottle with a pipette applicator which isn't ideal if you're travelling anywhere but this is definitely made up for as it's definitely become a staple in my skincare routine. You can never overdo application as the pipette picks up the perfect amount to cover the entire face. It says to apply after cleansing and toning, and it literally melts into my skin; for that reason, I only tend to use it at night. 


I've gone a bit oil crazy at the moment. What's great about this is the fact that it's so multi purpose. You can use it on nails, hair, your body, just about anything. The smell is slightly nutty which of course is right up my street as anything with a shea butter/honey/almond scent has to be mine! I've been using this religiously every night for about three weeks now and I honestly have noticed a huge difference in my skin. It's alot softer, more supple and has calmed down uneven pigmentation in my cheeks. I don't suffer with dry skin at all, but if you were more on the dry side then I think this would be a real godsend. Once this finishes (which will be a long while as a little goes a long way) I'll definitely be repurchasing it, even at full price. Have you tried any facial oils? Have you tried anything from the Boots Botanics range? What did you think?

Saturday, 2 March 2013

Lush Haul | Skincare & Bath Bombs


Hey Dolls! Just like most other beauty fanatics, I can't get enough of Lush products. I can't think of one product I've tried and haven't loved, and it's an absolute bonus that they're made with 100% natural ingredients and aren't tested on animals. I was out shopping yesterday (shock horror) when the familiar scent of a Lush store came my way and I gave in. With the intention of only having a look around I didn't expect to come out with a full bag of products but hey, you can never go wrong with a Lush haul! Since having my face mapped by Dermalogica at the beginning of the week, it dawned on me that I needed a whole bunch of new skincare products and I thought what better place to start than at Lush?! Of course I sneaked a few cheeky bath bombs in there too because what trip would be complete without them?

Not only do I love the products from Lush but the staff in there are so lovely and helpful. They never pressure you into buying things and are always willing to answer any questions you have. For what they are, I think Lush have very reasonable prices. I picked all of this up for under £25, and I also found out about the '5 clean pot free face mask' offer which means I'll be back down there in no time as I have countless empty pots of product. As you may know if you read my blog, I'm very much into my skincare. I have so many products I don't know why I even picked up more to add to my collection. Skincare wise, I picked up the 'Cupcake', 'Oatfix' and 'Mask of Magnaminty' fresh face masks, the 'Tea tree Water' toner and the 'Grease Lightening' spot treatment. Both the 'Cupcake' and 'Mask of Magnaminty' face masks are re-purchases for me. I absolutely swear by them for keeping oily skin and blemishes at bay, and I religiously stock up whenever I run out or they pass their sell by date. I picked up the 'Tea Tree Water' after hearing about its antibacterial properties and its ability to eliminate oil around the T-Zone, and the 'Grease Lightning' spot treatment after hearing so many great things about it. As I mentioned previously, the staff in Lush are so unbelievably helpful. The woman in there told me that 'Grease Lightning' can also be used as a serum after cleansing and before moisturising. I've never included a serum in my skincare routine so this is definitely something I'll be getting back to you lovely lot about. Luckily I have pretty good skin but do get the occasional spot, so I'm almost excited for this to happen (dare I say it) to give this a bash. 


Who can resist a bit of Lush pampering at bath time? I've raved about how much I love their 'Sex Bomb' but I felt I needed to branch out a little more and try something different. Being faced with such an array of options, I was stuck for choice but eventually I went for 'The Comforter', 'Melting Marshmallow Moment' and the cheap as chips 'Ickle Baby Bot'. All of these carry the most amazing scents, and you really get your moneys worth as they've all been designed to break apart which means more bath bomb bubble baths! I particularly love the marshmallow one as the scent is absolutely to die for but am looking forward to giving the other two a go. Recently I've been suffering with sleepless nights, so I'm hoping the camomile in 'Ickle Baby Bot' can help me out. As for The Comforter', it's something very popular among the blogging community so I'm hoping it lives up to its expectations! As always, if anything impresses me I'll write a review in full. I can't get enough of Lush and I definitely feel another haul coming on soon as I spied alot of products I simply must try. What are your favourite Lush products?

Wednesday, 20 February 2013

Review | Soap and Glory | Smoothie Star Body Buttercream

Soap & Glory Smoothie Star Buttercream - £10.50 (Link here)

 Hi Ladies! There's nothing which stands between me and my Soap and Glory products as I'm sure you already know. I was in Boots over the weekend and noticed they had a 3 for 2 offer on indulgent bathing, so took it upon myself to stock up on products which I was running out of, and to try something I hadn't yet used. If you had the 'Best Of All' giftset over Christmas, then you'll know it contained the Smoothie Star Body Milk, which has quickly become one of my favourite S&G products. I noticed there was a body butter from the same range neatly stacked up on the shelves, so quickly took it to the till so I could get home and give it a go. I'm pretty content using my tub of 'The Righteous Butter' (read my review here)  as a heavy duty moisturiser but there was just something about this little beauty that made it that bit more special. First off, I absolutely love the packaging of this. Soap and Glory really know what they're doing when it comes to their product packaging, but I particularly like this. I think the combination of old school cream and candy pink colours caught my eye along with the witty tagline around the nape of the tub. This retails at £10.50 for 300ml of product which may be a little pricey for a body butter which can be purchased in a drugstore, but it really is worth every single penny. Because this size is the same as my 'Righteous Butter' cream, I'm expecting it to last me just as long after which I'll definitely be repurchasing it.


What I love most about this product is the smell, oh my goodness. I have a real thing for almond, vanilla, pistachio and shea butter scents, I can't get enough of them. This carries the exact same scent as the Smoothie Star Body Milk only stronger, so it definitely isn't for the faint hearted! I've also been using the Soap and Glory 'Rich and Foamous' body wash which also carries the same smell, so as you can imagine the scent will linger on my skin for hours on end. It's also really similar to 'Whipped Clean' in terms of smell, which I've recently rediscovered my love for. Although this is technically a body butter, it feels quite different to 'The Righteous Butter'. It's still a very creamy formula, but alot less thick which feels amazing when applied after a long hot bath or shower. I don't find myself having to wait a few minutes before getting dressed as once rubbed into the skin it sinks in pretty fast. I had a dry patch on my right elbow and this sorted it out after the first use, so it really does give you an idea of how great it is. I've used body creams in the past which annoyingly separated or fell off my skin before I'd even rubbed it in, but this physically sticks itself to the skin so there isn't a worry of product wastage. I couldn't choose between this or The Righteous Butter as I love them both as much as eachother, but in terms of body butters this is definitely amongst my favourites. 


Have you tried Soap and Glory's Smoothie Star Buttercream? Or do you know of any amazing body butters?

Saturday, 9 February 2013

Review | Bioré Deep Cleansing Ultra Pore Strips


Hello Girls! Happy Saturday, I'm so glad it's finally the weekend! Once again I'm posting this on the way to my boyfriends. Sorry to go all geeky on you but it still amazes me what phones can do nowadays, it's such a relief knowing that you're able to back up blog posts on Blogger and post them whenever I need to. Anyway, I thought I'd share my thoughts with you on the godsends that are the nose strips from Bioré. I've used Bioré in the past, but unfortunately didn't get on with the Pore Unclogging Scrub as I found it way too gritty for my skin type. I then branched out and tried the Deep Cleansing Ultra Nose Strips and absolutely loved them. A year later, I was watching Zoella's most recent Boots haul video and she mentioned she'd bought these beauties. It then dawned on me that I needed to get down to Boots and pick up what I'd been missing out on for the last year. A box of 6 strips set me back £7.99 which I personally think is a tad overpriced. It works out at more than £1 per nose strip, but a box lasts up to a month so I see it as more of an investment. I had originally used the normal nose strips, but noticed they'd bought out an 'ultra' version, promising a deeper cleanse and removal of even more dirt and oil. Without a second thought I picked them up and boy, am I glad I did! What Bioré say about their product:

'This deep cleansing strip cleans pores with tingling ingredients like tea tree oil, menthol and witch hazel. In just one use, these strips help clean pores of build-up and even the most stubborn dirt and oil that can cause blackheads. Plus, regular use can even help make pores appear smaller (so you can spend even less time thinking about them).'



Following the instructions on the back of the box, I apply a strip to a wet nose after cleansing and leave it to set for 10-15 minutes. To kill time I usually tweeze my eyebrows or make a good old cup of tea! I find that the product works better if I cleanse my face using really hot water and apply it to a semi-warm nose. Doing this opens the pores and makes for easier removal. The strips contain tea tree oil and with hazel which I usually find way too overpowering but these contain just the right amount and smell lovely, not to mention it leaves my nose feeling really refreshed and clean. There's two sides to each strip, a fabric side and an application side and they're fairly straightforward to apply. They dry into a really stiff material, as Bioré describe 'like paper mâché' which admittedly feels a bit uncomfortable but it' the results afterwards which keep me coming back for more. You can feel it really working as it tightens around blackheads and pores with a slight tingling sensation. Because they dry really closely to the skin and lock onto blackheads, I'd recommend pulling it away really slowly from the outer corners inwards as it does have a tendency to sting a little. 

I cannot even bring myself to show you all the awfulness which is left behind after using these. The strip is almost completely covered in dirt, oil, whiteheads and blackheads. Absolutely gross, but it's such a satisfying feeling to see a product really working and living up to its expectations. These do become slightly addictive, but even after one or two uses there is definitely a visible difference. Continued use of these beauties result in smaller pores across the sides of my nose and a massive drop in the amount of blackheads I have too. With this being said, there's no wonder I'll be picking up more in the future once I finish this current box. I may also try more Bioré products as the Ultra Pore Strips have impressed me enough to branch out and give it a go. 

Have you tried the Bioré pore strips or anything similar? What did you think?

Wednesday, 30 January 2013

Lush Cupcake Fresh Face Mask

Most of you girls will know that I love nothing than a bit of girly 'me time' pampering, and Friday nights consist of me preparing for the weekend and having a good old pamper with a very hot bubble bath. A face mask is compulsory f0r me and I've tried everything from Superdrug sachets  to Dr Nicks jars. One product I find that I keep coming back to when I stop by a Lush is the Cupcake fresh face mask. I've used this for as long as I can remember, my memory goes as far back as when my mum and I went to Edinburgh for a weekend when I was about 10 and she bought loads of goodies for us to try that night in the hotel room. One of those products was this little beaut, and ever since then it's always been a firm favourite of mine. I picked this up from the Croydon branch of Lush when I went to try and grab a popcorn lip scrub but unfortunately they had none in stock as the festive period is over which makes me quite sad. All over for another year I suppose! 

"Chocolate heaven for oily and teenage skin. Helps absorb excess oil and calm breakouts. Cocoa butter, linseed and cocoa powder soften with balancing peppermint, spearmint and sandalwood oils"



As with all Lush products, this is freshly made using natural ingredients and therefore has a use by date. I've had the pleasure of using this for a few years, but by the pot I only have around two weeks. I always feel a little upset when I start to scrape the barrel as it means I have to schedule a trip to Westfield to stock up on all of my favourites. I think that £5.25 is a very reasonable price for such a great product which I can use up to three times, maybe even four. As with all Lush products, the packaging is pretty standard; just your bob basic black pot with white chalk effect writing. But as with all products, it's what's on the inside that counts. My boyfriend has actually made a few comments about this stinking to high heavens but I absolutely adore the smell. Granted it doesn't smell like your typical bar of Dairy Milk, but I would describe the smell as a stronger cocoa butter smell. It's a very thick and creamy consistency which of course applies to my face like a dream, and dries almost in seconds into a clay/mud based product. I definitely notice a difference in the appearance in my skin after I use this. My usual oily T-Zone is calmed down to a slight 'shimmer' rather than an oil slick, and I can't begin to explain how soft it leaves my skin. Because it's a natural product, you can use it more regularly. There is a time limit on all Lush products, and I think I have another week or so to finish my pot off. Out of every pot I'd say you could get about 4 uses, so that means two face masks a week!

Have you tried any Lush fresh face masks? What's your favourite?

Saturday, 5 January 2013

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?

Thursday, 3 January 2013

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?

Wednesday, 2 January 2013

My Current Skincare Routine - Part One



Happy New Year Girls! It's my first post of 2013! I hope you all had an amazing time bringing in the new year. I originally planned to do a post showing you all what I got up to but I had an absolute nightmare and forgot my camera and my phone camera isn't great! I've been meaning to do a post on my current skincare for quite a while now but just like most of you lovely bloggers, I find that it constantly changes. This is what I'm using at the moment, but as the months go on and it begins to get warmer (fingers crossed!) my products tend to change so I plan to do one at a later date too. I've also split this post into two parts; one showing you what I use in the morning and the other showing you what I use before I go to bed. I'm a real skincare junkie so I've used countless products over the years and would like to say this is just what works for me and my skin type. I also use a face exfoliator and a face mask once a week which I'll do i another separate post (maybe a part three?) if you're interested. I'd also like to say I apologise for the lighting in these photos I know it isn't great!

Since I studied Beauty Therapy at college two years ago, it's been drummed into me the importance of a 'Cleanse, Tone, Moisturise' routine and I'm pretty strict when it comes to doing just that. Even when I'm tired beyond belief or I've had a bit too much to drink (let's face it, I'm not the only one am I?) I always make sure I take my make-up off properly. It can be a bit of a chore but my skin looks and feels so much better the morning after. 



♥ Cleanse 
Soap & Glory Peaches & Clean Deep Cleansing Milk - It would be wrong not to include a Soap & Glory product in my skincare routine! I absolutely love this stuff, it leaves my skin incredibly soft and hydrated which is perfect if like me you have combination skin. I think of it as a bit of a luxury wake-up call and the smell of it is just out of this world. I also use my cleansing sponge to remove it so it's an exfoliating treatment too.

Clean & Clear Exfoliating Daily Wash - I'm sceptical about whether these sorts of brands really improve the appearance of your skin. I think if you look after it and eat healthily then your skin will show for it. I do love this stuff though, it contains micro-beads small enough for daily use and it really works into the pores which leaves my skin squeaky clean. 



♥ Tone
Dermalogica Clean Start Purifying Toner - I never skip using toner and people always do but it removes excess oil and dirt that your cleanser hasn't. This really refreshes my skin and leaves my T-Zone oil free. I also use tissue to blot my toner after I've used it because toners contain alcohol which dehydrates the skin.



♥ Moisturise
Superdrug Vitamin E Radiance Moisture Cream - I recently reviewed this product in full (read it here) and I'm still loving using it. It contains light reflecting pigments which make your skin really glow and the hydration this gives is just out of this world and it really does last all day.

Soap & Glory Daily Youth 6 in 1 Superboost Moisture Lotion - Oh another Soap and Glory product. I have a post planned to do a full review of this soon but until then this is what you should know. It's by far my new 'holy grail' moisturiser. It works absolute wonders and even after using moisturisers from brands like Liz Earle and Clinique, this is by far one of the most impressive. Be sure to check back for my full review soon!

So, that's my current skincare routine. Like I mentioned at the beginning of this post I'm constantly on the lookout for new products to really wow me but I'm rather happy with what I'm using at the moment. I plan to post part two and three sometime in the next week or so, so if you're interested in what I use before I go to bed and other treatments then make sure you take a look back.

What do you use in your current skincare routine? Do you use any of the products I do?

Saturday, 29 December 2012

Soap & Glory - Best Of All




If you know me well then you'll know I love nothing more than a bit of Soap and Glory pampering. Amongst every beauty bloggers Christmas Wishlist this year was this beast of a gift set, Soap & Glory's 'Best Of All'. Originally a whopping £60 for 9 full size products, I (like most other bloggers) nabbed mine from Boots when it was less than half price for £27. I made sure my Mum knew of the offer and to quickly run out and get it so it could be mine on Christmas morning, and sure enough it was! She told me how there were only two of these beauts left when she went to get it too. I've seen countless posts on this gift set, so apologies if like me you've read countless reviews on this already!

This really does what it says on the tin, it's a 'head to toe indulgence kit', and boasts amazing products I haven't yet tried. Of course it has the more vintage products like Clean On Me, The Righteous Butter, Hand Food and Sexy Mother Pucker, all of which I have tried and I absolutely love. But I'm beyond excited to try Smoothie Star, Heel Genius, Peaches and Clean and the Sugar Crush body scrub. I know I'm not alone in saying that the Soap & Glory packaging for all of their products is so gorgeous and really girly. It has that vintage chic twist on all of their products and it looks so nice in my bathroom. I don't know if it's weird to say that?!



Once I get to grips with these lovely products I'll definitely be letting you know which ones I love and probably do a more in-depth review on them individually. I'm in for some amazing pampering later with these, but not before I nip out to Boots to use some of the vouchers which came inside these as an added little extra!

Did you get Soap & Glory's Best Of All gift set? What did you think?

Friday, 16 November 2012

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?

Monday, 30 July 2012

July 2012 Glossybox

Hi Everyone! Hope you're well, I have been so busy working for the London 2012 Olympic games this has been my only chance to blog and show you what I received in my first ever Glossybox. Monthly beauty boxes caused a lot of hype in the beauty blogging world around this time last year so I'm aware I'm very late when it comes to trying them out for myself. I think I always put the idea off as I didn't want to be disappointed with what I receive in my box after waiting for weeks, but the beauty blogger in me decided to try Glossybox out, probably the best known of them all and as far as I know, the original beauty box. The original is always better than the copy! I placed my order and eagerly waited for the delivery to come.




It came three days after placing my order online which is pretty standard and opened it straight away. I couldn't believe just how small it was! I can't complain for only £10 + £2.95 postage and packaging but from photos Glossyboxes look alot bigger! Come to think of it, it would be a bad idea to make a bigger box as there are only miniature products  inside them. I absolutely love how it's wrapped so beautifully, it makes you that little more excited to open the box but still careful at the same time when untying the ribbon. I'm not that pleased with what I received as all the products don't seem as well thought out as some other peoples boxes and I hear people got given the infamous HD Brows palette. Jel.  


Collin Resultime Regenrating Collagen Gel £47.25/50ml - I like the idea of this being a regenerating collagen gel to make my crows feet lines a little less visible. I'm apprehensive that any type of collagen gels work to the degree which they promise so I'm excited to try and review this. It can be used daily as a serum or as a mask while I sleep. I'll report back if I find this to be good!


Awapuhi Wild Ginger Texturising Sea Spray £18.95/150ml - I absolutely love to use Paul Mitchell products, I really enjoy using the cleansing purple shampoo. I'd never seen the new Wild Ginger range, and this promises to create a tousled, beachy style by adding texture and body to hair. I love the look of loose waves, so I'm excited to tell you what I thought of it.


Monu Extra Rich Night Cream £36.95/50ml - I think that this more or less has the same effect as the Collin Reslutime Gel which I received. It's a luxurious treatment which intensively nourishes and firms while you sleep. As I mentioned I'm always sceptical as to whether firming creams work, so I'll test this cautiously. 


Jelly Pong Pong Lip Frosting £10.00/15ml - I haven't ever been keen on the idea of a lip frost, as I find the finished effect the look a bit old school and remind me of Year 3 and 4. But I love that this is multifunctional and can double up as a blush, and I absolutely love the way it smells.


Kryolan Satin Powder £4.95/3g - This was the only product I was a little excited about as I love having colourful eye make-up especially throughout Summer. I love the look of it and the colour is a rich burnt orange,so am really looking forward to trying it out.


Elizabeth Arden Visible Difference Skin - This was a bonus product added to Glossybox this month, and after using Elizabeth Arden in the past and liking it I'm looking forward to trying the sample sizes of skincare.




Overall, I'm not too disappointed with what I received in my first Glossybox. I'm not giving in and will give it another few goes to wow me. What did you get in your Glossybox this month?