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Showing posts with label skincare. Show all posts
Showing posts with label skincare. Show all posts

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?





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?

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?

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