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Focus / The Sunday Pamper

Sunday 1 June 2014





I love to have a good pamper and whilst I will squeeze in a mask (or two) mid week I tend to focus all my pampering attention on a Sunday evening. 

To start I will do a proper cleanse with the Camomile Cleansing Butter, this cleanser feels so luxurious and my skin feels totally loved after using it. 

I then like to follow with a good exfoliation using The Sanctuary Radiance Exfoliator with my Clarisonic Mia. I only use my Mia a couple of times a week before I use a treatment on my face when I want a really deep cleanse. This exfoliator is great, it is nice and gentle but leaves my skin glowing. 

After a good cleanse and scrub I like to use cleansing and moisturising masks. My mask of choice for a long pamper is The Origins Clear Improvement Mask it clears out my skin and is not uncomfortable to sit with for half an hour. I then follow it with either the Antipodes Manuka Honey mask which is so lovely, It makes my skin feel super moisturised and helps to calm and blemishes I have, or when my skin is feeling really dehydrated I use the Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight mask which is a dry skinned gals best friend. I wake up in the morning feeling like a new person with hydrated plump skin. It is always my go to after a heavy weekend. 

Lastly I slap a bit of Kerastase Masque Force Architecte on my hair. I have coloured hair and it is bleached at the end so I have to take good care of it to keep it in good condition. This mask is great it leaves my hair feeling super moisturised without a frizzy split end in sight!

So thats my Sunday Pamper routine, and a pretty lovely one it is that. I always finish the night off with a slap of body oil and a fresh coat of paint on my nails so I am feeling tip top for the week ahead. 

What is your pamper routine?


May Favourites

Friday 30 May 2014


So here it is, my first monthly favourites post and I must say it was so hard to choose, but these are some of my stand out products that I have either discovered or been using a lot of this month.

Superfacialist by Una Brennan Rose Brighten and Refine Facial Scrub

I have really been loving this brand since discovering it a couple of months ago. I also use the cleanser from this range and it is brilliant (you can read about it as part of my morning routine here). This scrub is pretty abrasive so I only use it once a week but it is such a nice exfoliation. The scent is really nice, not too overpowering as some rose scented products can be, and it leaves my skin feeling fresh and smooth as a babies bum.

Antipodes Hosanna Intensive Hydrating Serum

This product is my new holy grail. It is one of my first products from Antipodes and I am super impressed with the brand. I have been using this serum at night before (or sometimes instead of) my moisturiser. It is great skin in a bottle, I wake up to the softest skin and it really helps with create plump healthy looking skin. This is definitely going to be a part of my skin routine FOREVER.

Bourjois Magic Nail Polish Remover

This is a product that I have read about on many blogs but never really thought it was something I needed. However I picked it up during Superdrugs 3 for 2 and I love it. It makes the whole removing polish malarky so quick, fuss free and tidy! It is honestly a miracle in a bottle and I can't see myself ever being without it again.

Phyto 7 Hydrating Day Cream

I got this little beaut in my Selfridges Beauty Box (see here) and it is such a great product! I have bleach on my ends and usually just use an oil on them as I have always tended to shy away from using creams as sometimes they feel a bit heavy but not this one! It is so light and makes my ends look so healthy and shiny when I run a tiny blob through them after styling.

Models Own Polish for Tans in Shades

This is the colour that has been gracing my hands the most over the last month. I got it before I went on holiday and wore it on my toes and hands most of the time I was away and when I got back. As you can tell from the name this polish is great with a tan and just seems to make my hands look so much nicer! It is a great wearable neon coral/pink and definitely adds a bit of jazz to my talons.

Mac Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft and Gentle

I got this powder only a week ago and it is already in my favourites, that is how much I love it! I managed to pick it up from House of Fraser in Guildford who had just got a delivery in of the new packaging and I was so excited to get it after it being sold out everywhere for so long!! I toyed with getting it a while ago but went for Lightscapade instead as I thought it was more me but I immediately regretted not getting this (as well!) It is such a lovely highlighting shade with the coral blushes that I tend to lean towards in the warmer months. And it looks great with the tiny bit of colour I have on my face post holiday. The only thing I will say is I really don't like the new packaging :( Mac what have you done!!!!

Bare Minerals Ready Eyeshadow Palette in Truth

One of my friends got me this palette a couple of months ago and it has been one I have been reaching for a lot recently to create a day to day neutral eye. I love all the shades in the palette and the formula is super creamy and stays put for the whole day.

Nars Blush in Deep Throat

I mentioned this blush the other day in my Selfridges Beauty Box which I received it in. The colour and formula are perfect. It is absolute perfection. Plus it is in a diddy little compact which I love. I would honestly buy this size over full size purely because it is so adorable.

So there are my favourites for May. I hope you enjoyed reading :)

What have been your favourite products this month?





5 Things / Beauty Products I Can't Live Without

Wednesday 28 May 2014


1 / Moroccanoil Treatment Light

I have been using Moroccanoil for years and it really really does make a difference to my hair. It isn't cheap but a bottle lasts me about a year (using it every time I wash my hair) so it is worth splashing out.

2 / Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask

A dehydrated face saviour. The perfect treatment after a busy weekend, this mask makes my skin look plump and glowing by the next morning - plus it smells great!

3 / Lanolips 101 Ointment

My go to lip saviour, this balm isn't sticky and hydrates and stops soreness on my lips.

4 / Maxfactor Masterpiece Max Mascara in Black

I can't imagine a day when this mascara and I stop being the best of friends. I have been a devotee to this product since the day it came back and nothing I have ever tried has come close to comparing.

5 / Real Techniques Buffing Brush

Since discovering this perfect brush the way in which I apply my base has completely changed, I use this brush to apply my foundation/BB cream etc and it gives such a flawless finish.


What are the five beauty products you can't live without?

Focus / Morning Skincare Routine

Sunday 25 May 2014


Cleanse / Superfacialist By Una Brennan Rose Calming Cream Cleanser
Tone / Lush Tea Tree Water 
Serum / Avéne Soothing Hydrating Serum
Moisturise / La Roche-Posay Hydraphase Intense Riche
Eye Care / Nip and Fab Viper Venom Eye Fix 
Treatment / Tea Tree Oil

These six products currently make up my morning skincare routine which is very much based around trying to be spot and congestion free and hydrated.

The Superfacialist Cleanser is a new addition and even though I have only been using it for a couple of weeks I really like it. The brand is quickly becoming one of my favourites as I feel that it is affordable yet feels very luxurious. This cleanser feels really nice when I put it on and doesn't leave my skin feeling dehydrated and tight like some products I have used in the past.

I talked about the Lush Tea Tree water earlier in the week so I won't rant again just know that it is amazing and you should all go and buy it.

Both my Avéne serum and La Roche-Posay moisturiser are running low and I am yet to decide whether I will be repurchasing. A couple of months ago my already dehydrated skin got even more dehydrated leaving me searching for products to revive it. These both did the job but now I have got it back to my normal state of hydration I am unsure as to whether the moisturiser is a bit heavy. It will however definitely be repurchased in the winter to hopefully discourage any extra dryness.

I have been using the Nip and Fab Viper Venom Eye Fix for months on and off and have never really made my mind up as to whether it actually changes anything around my little peepers. It is however thanks to the metal roller applicator the nicest feeling on morning tired eyes so it has a firm place in my routine just for that purpose.

I use tea tree oil as a targeted treatment on my blemishes in the morning (topping up during the day if I am not wearing any make up) I am yet to find a blemish control product that I think does a better job of this and considering you can pick up a bottle of the oil for around £3.50 it is definitely a product I keep stocked up on.

What are the main things you try to combat with your skincare routine?

5 Things / New Bits

Friday 23 May 2014


1 / Lanolips Intense Hand Balm
2 / Lanolips Triple Buttermilk Body Balm

I love the Lanolips 101 Ointment and swear by it for dry or sore lips so when I saw these products on offer in Waitrose (buy the body balm and get the hand balm free) I couldn't resist. They are both intensely moisturising and don't leave you feeling sticky or waiting an age to dry (my pet hate).

3 / Antipodes Hosanna Intensive Hydrating Serum
4 / Antipodes Aura Manuka Honey Mask

I have had my eye on a few Antipodes products for a while and finally bit the bullet and got these two as my first taster of the brand. I have only used them both a couple of times but so far so good. The serum is great for at night - I wake up with such smooth skin and the mask is super hydrating. Plus both smell delicious. I have a feeling both of these will become regulars in my routine...

5 / The Body Shop Coconut Beautifying Oil

I tend to forget about The Body Shop when looking for products for some reason but now I have rediscovered my love for them I have a feeling my local store will be seeing alot of me. This oil is great, it smells aaaaamazing and doesn't leave my skin feeling sticky or greasy it soaks straight in leaving me with beautiful glowing skin. There is no faff when applying it you can just slap it on and go, perfect for those random sunny days when you suddenly want to get your pins out. I tend to apply at night time and then roll around in bed sniffing my limbs...but you know, each to their own.

Have you tried any of my new products? What do you think of them?

Current Loves

Wednesday 21 May 2014


1 / Yves Saint Laurent Rogue Volupte Shine in Shade 8 Pink In Confidence

I am not really a lip product lover, I usually just wear lip balm or a tiny bit of a balmy gloss on my lips but this YSL lipstick has converted me. I love it so much, I am actually obsessed. Its such a great colour the perfect my lips but better shade, has such a lovely shine that isn't too glossy and it smells great. Great news for my lips but bad news for my purse as I already have my eye on two other shades....

2 / Lush Tea Tree Water

This is such a great affordable product. I tend to use it in the morning to freshen up my skin especially if I have a couple of blemishes. It makes my skin feel refreshed and clean. It is also great for a refreshing spritz during a hot day.

3 / Nars Sheer Glow in Shade Deauville

I cannot honestly believe that I have gone so long without this foundation in my life. It is the one. I have found it after all these years of searching. The perfect buildable coverage with the right amount of glow. This is good skin in a bottle and my soulmate.

4 / Jo Malone English Pear and Freesia Cologne

I got this fragrance for Christmas from my mum, I chose it when we were shopping in Selfridges because I wanted a more 'grown up' fresh floral fragrance and this is just that. The perfect spring/summer scent (although I wear it all year round) it is the one from my collection that I reach for on date night and always get comments about.

5 / Le Blanc De Chanel Sheer Illuminating Base

I picked this little beauty up from Duty Free a couple of weeks ago and it is love. It goes beautifully with Nars sheer glow and basically makes me look like I have the skin of a godly creature. (Well not quite but you get where I am going...I LOVE IT)

What products are in your current top five?

Selfridges Beauty Project Beauty Box

Tuesday 20 May 2014











I was super excited to receive the Selfridges Beauty Project Beauty Box at the end of last week. I think it is such a great idea and the products are amazing!

The following products were included in the box

• An exclusive Selfridges Limited Edition Make Up Bag
• Nars Mini Deep Throat Blusher
• Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
• Laura Mercier Foundation Primer
• Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser
• Percy and Reed Dry Shampoo
• Lancaster Silky Milk Tanning Lotion
• Tangle Teezer
• Eyeko Mini Black Magic Mascara
• Paul and Joe Blotting Paper
• Limited Edition Carmex
• Phyto 7 Hair Cream
• EOS Berry Hand cream
• Ole Henricksen Truth To Go Wipes

It is a pretty spectacular selection of products I think you will agree. I have already tried out a couple of things and the products I am already in love with include the Phyto 7 Hair Cream which makes my hair feel amazing, the EOS Hand Cream which smells like Strawberry Chewits and of course the mini Nars blusher which is so tiny and cute it kills me.

Did you get one of these boxes? Do you love it all as much as me?

The Review - L'oréal Skin Perfection Miracle Cleansing Oil

Wednesday 14 May 2014

I have been using this oil for about a month now and my my my I am in love. It is 100% a product that has found a permanent place on my skincare shelf.

The L'oréal Skin Perfection Miracle Cleansing Oil is my first try of using an oil product for cleansing and it has completely swayed my previously neutral opinion of them. The last couple few months has seen my dehydrated skin get even more dehydrated to the point where every product I slapped on was being absorbed in about 3 seconds leaving me with tight skin. No good. Using this oil has not completely rid me of dehydration but it has definitely helped with it. After cleansing I no longer sprint to put moisturiser on to get rid of the tightness which is a good sign in my books.

First things first the applicator is great you can pump out the perfect amount and the scent is DIVINE. I am a bit wary of product scents as I am allergic to citric acid so if something smells fresh and citrusy then it is a no no for me. The miracle cleansing oil smells fresh and sweet and I can feel it loving my skin as I slather it all over. As far as removing mascara goes I give it a 7/10 I find it doesn't remove it completely and I always do a second cleanse with my Garnier Micellar water but I do tend to wear about 500 layers of mascara so it might just be a bit much for the oil to handle. As for face make up it whips it all off in seconds. After cleansing with this product I feel my skin looks healthy and radiant. If I have been wearing a lot of make up then I tend to do a second cleanse with Micellar water but generally the Miracle Cleansing Oil does me well.

At £7.99 this is a great first try cleansing oil and although I originally had views to buy the Origins one after trying this I think that I may save my pennies and stick to this one as its doing the job and it's doing well.

Have you used this oil before? What do you think of it?

Mani Monday - Barry M Gelly Papaya

Monday 12 May 2014

So I missed a few mani mondays due to a broken camera (typical a week after starting a blog!) and then holiday but here we are, a lovely bright mani monday for a bit of a post holiday pick me up.

I have used Barry M Gelly Papaya which is a georgous bright peach shade which I love and it looks really nice with my (everso slightly) tanned hands.

What do you think of this shade?

What's in my Holiday Make Up Bag?

Friday 25 April 2014



I am off on my happy holidays on Tuesday and I thought I would give you a little peek into what I am planning on taking away with me make up wise. Enjoy!

Base / I go extremely freckly in the sun so for my Holiday base I want to stick to something light so Dr Jarts BB Cream is perfect it gives enough coverage that my freckles can still shine through and when paired with concealer over bad skin bits it gives me a perfect natural glow.
Estée Lauder Illuminating Perfecting Primer, Make Up Forever Full Cover Concealer in colour 4, Dr Jart Water Fuse BB Cream, Mac Mineralize Skin Finish in LightscapadeBobbi Brown Corrector in Light Bisque.

Cheeks / On my cheeks I want to have summery shades with a touch of bronze, my Guerlain bronzer is the best thing ever and I can build up colour as the holiday goes on. Topshop Blush in Do it again is my perfect orange shade and NYX Summer Peach is a beautiful pinky coral with a touch of shimmer for evenings. The Topshop Highlighter Palette is great to use for different shades depending on my tanning level.
Guerlain Terracotta 4 Seasons Bronzer in Nude, Topshop Cream Highlighter Palette in Kick StartTopshop Blusher in Do it Again, NYX Blush in Summer Peach

Eyes / No doubt I will keep my eyes super minimal and neutral with just a slick of mascara in the days but I am taking a couple of palettes and cream shadows just for if I want to add a little bit of jazz in the evenings.
Bare Minerals Ready Eyeshadow Palettes in The Truth and The Soundtrack, L'oréal Color Riche Le Khol in pure espresso, MaxFactor Masterpiece Max Mascara in Black, Lancome Artliner in Black, Mac Pro Longwear Paint Pots in Bare Study and Vintage Selection.   

Lips / Bright lipsticks and light glosses are perfect for holidays, The Clarins Instant Light is a great light go too and Topshop Macaroon will be great for brighter evenings.
Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector, Topshop lipstick in Macaroon, Revlon Colorburst Balm Stain in Honey Douce, Clinique Chubby Stick in Curvy Candy.

What do you think of my holiday picks? What products are in your holiday make up bag?

Home Mani Essentials

Wednesday 23 April 2014











As I have already mentioned I love doing my nails...here are my must have picks for the perfect at home mani.

Mavala Scientifique Nail Strengthener - My nails are naturally quite weak and brittle but this little god send from Mavala sorts them out! It is a great product, I just pop some on the top third of my nail before my base coat and voila...perfect nails!

Essie Fill The Gap - I love everything that Essie has to offer, they are definitely one of my favourite nail brands and this has been my go to base coat for ages now, it creates the perfect base for any colour and evens out and bumps from peeling or weak nails.

Gelous - This was a little beauty of a find on ebay that I came across on my never ending quest for super shiny nails. It makes any polish look like salon quality gel. Only problem is sometimes I find the polish doesn't last as long as it may do without gelous added.

Nails Inc Kensington Caviar Top Coat  - My top coat of choice at the moment is a nails inc offering. I do like Seche Vite but find that the bottle dries out really quickly. Kensington Caviar gives the same effect and doesn't dry out so in my book comes out tops!

Sally Hansen Maximum Growth Cuticle Pen - A great choice of cuticle oil to put in your handbag and carry about for tip top cuticle care. This oil is really lightweight and sinks in really quickly...plus it has the bonus of helping nail growth.

Essie Apricot Oil - I love the smell of this oil, it is so divine. I keep it next to my bed or on my desk to (attempt) to love my cuticles a couple of times a day. Its slightly heavier than the Sally Hansen pen making it better for at home application rather than on the go in my book.

Good quality Nail File and Cuticle Trimmers - I can't remember where I got these from but you can get good quality ones from Boots and most beauty retailers. I am super fussy about nail files I hate thin ones, the ones I tend to go for are a bit more cushioned and feel more gentle when I am filing my nails down.

So there you have it, my collection of must have mani items.

What products are in your manicure kit?

The Spring Face Edit

Thursday 17 April 2014





In honor of a sunny week and hopefully a sunny bank holiday here are my favourite product picks for a spring face. Warning this is going to be LONG.

Base // Manuka Doctor Apirefine Flawless, Revlon Photoready Skinlights in Bare Light, Bourjois Happy Light Foundation in Porcelain, Estée Lauder Double Wear Light in Intensity One, and Guerlain Terracotta 4 Seasons Bronzer in Nude.

Manuka Doctore Apirefine Flawless - This is a great base. It is a very light cream with a slight tint which evens the skin tone out. It is made with Manuka Honey (shock) and Bee venom and does have a slightly weird sweet smell when you put it on but it fades almost instantly. Oh and apparently I Millie Macintosh uses it (enough said.)

Revlon Skinlights -  Such a great multi-tasking product. I either use it mixed into my foundation or as a light layer between my primer and foundation to add some extra oomph.

Bourjois Happy Light Foundation - I am usually a full coverage girl but thanks to some TLC my skin has cleared up a little bit and I felt confident enough to go for this medium coverage foundation. The colour isn't perfect on me but hopefully with a little bit of sun it will be. It doesn't dry my skin out and has pretty good staying power with a light natural slightly dewy finish.

Estée Lauder Double Wear Light - Double wear is my all time favourite foundation, it really suits my skin and gives me the build-able coverage that I need on not so great skin days. The colour is perfect for my pale post winter skin and I just LOVE it, I have no doubt I will be repurchasing this for the rest of my days.

Guerlain Terracotta 4 seasons Bronzer - I bought this during a Selfridges make up splurge last summer and although the price tag is super high it is so worth it in my eyes. Thanks to my pale skin I find it difficult to find bronzers that look natural on me but this does it all, I can use it all year round by using different blends of the four shades and it is just BEAUTIFUL. I just hope it never runs out because I will have to get drunk before spending the money on it again.

Cheeks // Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-hour Blush in Fearless, Topshop Blush in Do It Again, NYX Powder Blush in Angel, Mac Mineralize Skinfinish in Lightscapade and MUA Undress Your Skin Highlighter

Tarte Blush in Fearless - This is a total tease as I have linked the US site BUT fear not this is one of the shades available through QVC they just don't have it on there at the moment...my guess is everyone went Tarte crazy (myself included) and they have sold out for now. Anyway I LOVE THIS BLUSHER. I can totally see why everyone raves about them, they are so beautiful. The pigmentation is lovely and build-able and the texture...just wow. On top of that the packaging is just beaut as well. Fearless is such a great spring/summer colour a pinky coral (my fave!) which you can just add a little of for a slight flush or build up for a more powerful look. Needless to say this is one of my favourite products ever and I have asked my friend who is in the States to get me two more.....

Topshop Blush in Do It Again - A beautiful peachy coral this blush is perfect for summery days it has a slight shimmer in it which is so so pretty, definitely a go to for garden BBQ season and great quality for the price too.

NYX Blush in Angel - This is my go to blush for my barely there make up days when I just want a touch of natural colour in my cheeks. It is such a pretty warm pink that would suit everyone.

Mac Mineralize Skinfinish in Lightscapade - I wear a really light dusting of this all over my face after my bronzer and blush just to add some illuminating particles to my face, it makes my skin look super healthy and glowy without the disco ball look that we all want to acvoid.

MUA Undress Your Skin Highlighter - Since I picked this up a few months ago I cannot get enough of it. For three pounds this highlighter is incredible, I wear it on the top of my cheek bones, down my nose and cupids bow and it stays put all day long. Such a great budget product. My only whinge about it is I wish they would bring out different tones, this is a very cool pink which is nice but I would love a peachy tone too :)

Eyes and Lips // Bourjois Color Edition 24H Cream Eyeshadow in Oh Desir, L'oréal Color Riche Le Khol in Pure Espresso, Clarins Instant Light Perfector in Apricot Shimmer, Revlon Colorburst Balm Stain in Honey Douce, Topshop Lipstick in Macaroon, and Topshop Lipstick in Innocent

Bourjois Cream Eyeshadow in Oh Desir - This is my first ever cream shadow (whaaaaaa?!) and I love it! It is such a great neutral colour and perfect for the days when I don't have the time/can't be bothered to faff about with eyeshadows. I just use my fingers to pop a bit on a VOILA its done.

L'oréal Color Riche Le Khol in Pure Espresso - Up until recently I have been a die hard black liquid liner fan but I have been trying a more muted soft look recently and this eyeliner is doing me well. It is smudgey enough to blend when you put it on but not too smudgey that you look like a panda an hour later. Plus Pure Epresso and Oh Desir go together like strawberries and cream....perfectly.

Clarins Instant Light Perfector in Apricot Shimmer - I am a balm girl more than a lipgloss girl (I find them too sticky) and this product is perfect the comfort of a balm but the kissable look of a gloss.

Revlon Colorburst Balm Stain in Honey Douce - This is my 'my lips but better' shade, its so moisturising and the perfect nudey pink for me. Plus it smells minty. Score.

Topshop Lipstick in Macaroon - This was such a whim buy for me, by the time I got it home I was convinced I would never wear it but lo and behold a few days later I had it on to go to a BBQ and I really loved it, I paired it with a balm so it had more of a stain look instead of a velvet lipstick but it was great - definitely a great spring evening shade.

Topshop Lipstick in Innocent - This is another 'my lips but better' shade for me (infact the colour is super similar to honey douce from revlon) a super easy shade to slap on to make my lips that little bit more kissable.... :)

So, there you have it my top picks for the next few months super easy shades to wear in the warm days and balmy evenings. Lets just hope this weather is here to stay!

What do you think of my Spring Picks? Do you see anything you have on my list?

PS/ Apologies my photos are a bit weird there was some weird lighting going on when I was taking them....

Mani Monday - Barry M Gelly Prickly Pear

Monday 14 April 2014


Mani Monday is going to be a regular weekly post that I do, if you read my Barry M Gelly Polish Haul post on Friday you will already be aware of my nail polish addiction and my love for Barry M polishes.

As you can see I chose the lilac shade Prickly Pear to wear and I love it, its such a nice colour and really complements my skin tone (I am super super pale). This will definitely be a shade that gets a lot of wear this Spring and Summer.

I am going to do a post on my essential at home manicure items later this week so make sure you check back for that if your nail obsessed like me.

Do you like the shade Prickly Pear on me? What colour will you be painting your nails this Mani Monday?


Barry M Gelly Nail Polish Haul

Sunday 13 April 2014


It is no secret that I have a slight/major obsession with nail polishes. I own ALOT and they all live on salon style shelves in my wardrobe. They used to be on my wall but now I live with my boyfriend they had to be put away (boo). I can happily spend days without make up on but if my nails are unpainted I just feel incomplete. Looking at my collection (which is now too big for my shelves) it is insane to think that I could possibly need anymore however on a quick trip to Boots and Superdrug I was quickly taken in by the vibrant shades and bright pastels and just HAD to grab a few to bring my nails out of my dark greys and purples faze and head into spring/summer happy nails.

Barry M are by far my favourite high street polish brand, in fact it was them that started my obsession with nail polish. I love everything about them. The colour range, price point and formula are impossible to fault and when they bought their Gelly range out my nails were happy happy happy. I love gel nails but I tend to change my colour too often to warrant getting them done in a salon. This gel formula is such a great alternative. Shiny salon looking nails that I can change whenever I want without feeling guilty that I spent money on a manicure and whipped them off a few days later.

The colours I picked up are Prickly Pear a beautiful lilac shade, Grapefruit a coral pink (my favourite colour for sunny holidays), Passionfruit a warm bright red, Papaya a bright pastel peach, Sugar Apple a stunning pastel mint and Green Berry a brighter mint shade.

Not only are the colours amazing but the names are great too, I just can't help feeling summery! There is no doubt a couple (or all) of these polishes will be in my holiday bag at the end of this month!

And just to make things better in Superdrug Barry M cosmetics are buy 2 get one free at the moment...even more of an excuse to stock up.

Look out for my Mani Monday post on Monday (shock!) to see which shade I chose first!

Do you like Barry M polishes? What's your favourite shade?

Boots Haul

Friday 11 April 2014



A couple of days ago I made a quick stop by my big local(ish) Boots. There seems to be absolutely no correlation between the amount of time I have to spend in there and how much I buy. Yesterday was a prime example of a 'I have five minutes I'll just pop in for one thing' and coming out with six new products. Oops. A third off of skincare is just too big of a temptation.

A couple of the products I got were things I have seen online and been wanting to try out (I have a LONG wish list on my phone) and then a couple were just…you know….things that look nice.

First up, The Sanctuary 5 minute Thermal Mask.
I LOVE this mask, I bought it for my sister for christmas and used it when I was at my parents in January. Its such a nice feeling when it warms up and my skin looked vibrant and clearer after. A five minute mask is a must have for those times when you just need a quick fix. With a third off it was just too good of an offer to not pick one up to add to my own pamper routine.

Secondly, the first of two exfoliators. The Sanctuary Radiance Exfoliator.The Thermal Mask mentioned above is actually the only product I have used from The Sanctuary before and after just one use I was sold so as I was in the market for a new exfoliator (as part of my never ending search for the perfect one) I picked up this one to try. I am also totally sold on any product with the word Radiance in it (I am so desperate to be Radiant).

And then onto another exfoliator. The Superfacialist Rose Brighten & Refine Facial Scrub.

Superfacialist is not a brand that I have used before but I have read good reviews of their products, I was particularly drawn towards the Vitamin C range but it smells of oranges and I have a citric acid allergy and I always worry about putting products like this on my skin. So I went for the Rose facial scrub, again sucked in by the 'Brighten & Refine' label. I love rose skin care, I use rose water as a toner on my face daily and find it so soothing so I have high expectations for this scrub.

Next I thought it was about time to dabble in the oil cleansing world so I grabbed the L'Oréal Paris Skin Perfection 15 Second Miracle Cleansing Oil.I haven't tried cleansing oil before and although I have my eye on the Origins one but thought to start I would go for the L'oreal one which I have read great things about. I have really congested skin and lots of stubborn blackheads on my nose and I am hoping that using an oil with give me a deeper cleanse. Fingers crossed!

After all the love I was planning on giving my face it seemed unfair to leave my hair out of the love in so I grabbed the Charles Worthington Volume & Bounce Texturising Spray.
I have read about this on various blogs and thought it was about time I gave it a try. My hair is pretty flat at times so hopefully this will give it a boost on those flat hair days.

Annnnnnd last but not least I grabbed the Collection work the colour nude eyeshadow.I have seen this budget palette on a few different blogs and for less than four pounds I just had to throw it in my basket. I am not keen on the packaging but for the price you really cant ask for much. I have read that the formulas are good so I cant wait to try these out!

So thats the ins and outs of my boots haul. I am looking forward to trying all these new products, and will hopefully be back with rave reviews soon!

What do you think of my purchases? Have you tried any of these things?

Hello!

Thursday 10 April 2014

Hello and welcome to my beauty and lifestyle blog Honey and Blush.
My name is Lauren and welcome to my blog! I am a graphic designer in my mid twenties living just outside London with a MAJOR love for all things beauty and lifestyle related. My best friend is a make up artist and my mum used to be one too so there has always been a bit of a buzz about beauty around me, but my craziness for products has quadrupled recently and I thought that seeing as I have a fashion journalism degree (which I don't use at all) this would be a great way to excersise my typing fingers again and a place where I can waffle on about different products and ideas (I live with two boys who do not care for my waffle AT ALL). So this will be a place to find beauty gossip and products along with general chit chat and lifestyle posts. I have, in the last couple of months, started enjoying cooking/discovering new foodie things so there will probably be a sprinkling of foodie fun at times.
Here are 10 random facts about me, so you can get to know me...
  • I am 26 and still suck my thumb….I also have no qualms with doing it in public.
  • I am a freelance graphic designer and a wannabe calligrapher.
  • I have a younger sister who is AMAZING the strongest and weirdest person you will ever meet.
  • I have a little miniature daxie called Lincoln, he's tiny and naughty and the most wonderful creature ever.
  • I have 7 tattoos.
  • I have 2 huge rabbits called Ted and Norman, they are bigger than my dog.
  • I own hundreds of magazines. I look at them like they are my children.
  • I own over 100 nail varnishes yet never seem to have the 'perfect colour' (or know what the perfect colour is)
  • Otters are my favourite animal.
  • I am OBSESSED with the Kardashians.


So there we go, thats me in a few sentences...I hope you enjoy reading honey and blush. Please comment with your opinions and what you would like to see more/less of.




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