Body Shop spring skincare haul

It has only been a couple of weeks since my last skincare haul, but with the change in weather, you've got to be prepared, or so I tell myself. The Body Shop always seem to have an excellent discount going on, this week they had an extra 30% off everything when I was out shopping the other day, so I had a little visit.

The Drop of Youth bouncy sleeping mask is a purchase made purely on the recommendation of Caroline Hirons. I'm pretty sure it is aimed at all skin types, but especially dry or dehydrated skin types, to restore the skin, appearing smooth and refreshed. I've tried this a couple of times on the back of my hand in store, it is such a strange consistency, almost like a memory foam pillow, but I caved and finally bought it. I don't really know what to expect from this, but I have high hopes for this when I have dehydrated skin.

The vitamin E facial mist has become a regular feature in my skincare routine over the past year. I have a bottle in my handbag which I use to spritz my face when I feel like my skin needs refreshing, and it is great for when my makeup needs a little boost too. I also use it when I've done my skincare routine early in an evening and I'm not going to bed til a few hours later as a quick pick-me-up. Just before bed I spritz my face to allow an extra layer of moisture before going to sleep. As you can tell, I'm slightly addicted to moisturising my face!

I'm not really a toner sort of person. I never really liked the idea of it being the step after cleansing in order to remove the final trance of make-up, as my cleanser should have done that. So as I've never really given them I try, I thought I might start. I got the Aloe calming toner as over the next couple of months I know my skin will act a little peculiar with the change in weather, so a calming product sounds great. Plus aloe is meant to be gentle and hydrating for your skin too. 

I also picked up two of my holy grail lip balms, the hemp lip conditioner. I literally don't go anywhere with out it it is that good. 

And, If you were a Body Shop Love your body member, which is well worth the £5 a year membership, you got a free gift if you spent over £25 which is pretty amazing!

Mango, Papaya and Shea are my favourite scent at The Body Shop, so free mango scented products are an absolute winner for me. The mango sorbet seems great for the summer, especially if you need to put clothes on after you've moisturised. Lip balm can never go wrong in my possession, and I've got no idea on how or what I'll use the oil for, so if you've got any ideas let me know!

Spring skincare haul

The weather in the UK has finally started to resemble spring, it literally jumped 10°C overnight, but I'm not complaining in the slightest. So with that in mind I thought it was time to update my skincare routine for the warmer weather. I've actually really enjoyed my skincare routine over the past couple of months, using both the cleanser and moisturiser by First Aid Beauty, but I think it's time for a little change.

As much as I like to try new things, I am slightly a creature of habit and headed towards the Origins counter in Boots. In the back of my head I was thinking they suit your skin type, get the basics and then you can experiment!

I've tried quite a few Origins products over the past few years, and loved the majority of them. The Origins High Potency Night-a-mins nigh cream is my go to evening moisturiser. It feels thick when you're first applying the product to face but sinks in really fast, which I love in a moisturiser and the smell is absolutely gorgeous! My skin type as normal with occasional dry patches and a little oily in the summer months, but nothing over complex, so this product pretty much works for me all year round which is fab. 

The GinZing range is new to me, I remember the launch of the Energy-Boosting Moisturiser but never got round to trying it, so now is my chance! It has a light-weight gel like consistency, which when I tried it on my hand I really liked. Personally I think it would be too light for me during the winter, but hopefully it's great for the warmer months. It doesn't have any of the anti-aging properties or SPF in so that does drop the price to £23, but that isn't really an issue for me. I'm hoping this gives a nice little glow booster with just the right amount of moisture. They also gave me a little free sample of the GinZing eye cream which they are known for, so I can't wait to try that too.

I've noticed a lot of people talking about the new Original Skin Renewal Serum with willowherb, which is meant to counteract dullness, de-stress the skin and smooth the skins texture. I was actually attracted to this as it is aimed at people in their twenties, which is quite a rarity in skincare products! When I tested the product it had a very lightweight gel-like consistency to it, just like the GinZing moisturiser, which hopefully will be great for the summer months as I still need to moisture but I don't want to look like I am covered in cream. I also hope that this sits well under make-up, but I'll get back to you on this. 

As I spent way over £45, I also got a full-sized Checks and Balances frothy face wash as a free gift with purchase which is great and the lovely lady at the counter chucked in a mini Modern Friction Scrub little sample which is great as I already love this.

Fingers crossed I like all my new purchases!

L'oreal superliner

After running out of my go to eye liner a few weeks ago, I didn't think anything of it. I simply thought I'd try one of the few I had in my stash, I might as well use what I've got. I was so so WRONG!

It turns out that nothing can beat your old time favourite liquid eyeliner! L'oreal Superliner in carbon black. I'm looking at you! I genuinely never realised how much I rely on this product. I'm not even an eyeliner fanatic really, I only define my top lash line with it and I'm definitely not a winged eye liner kind of girl, I can't pull it off. But, I genuinely never realised how much I relied on this product.

It's so so precise making it easy to apply neatly and in a thin line. Those super think marker pen style liquid eye liner just end in disaster for me, I just don't seem to be able to get it close enough to the lash line to look tidy.

I can't put my finger on what makes it so good, it must just be the foam tip applicator as it is flexible and almost glides over my lid. I do often find that with other liquid liners I have to almost pull the applicator across my lash line which just makes it super messy.

So if L'oreal ever discontinue this product I'll be a little emotional and walking around with the worst liquid eyeliner you've ever seen!

Essence Lash Princess Volume Mascara

The past few weeks I've been stuck in a bit of a make-up rut. I've not really liked or loved anything new or things that I already owned. But, in my March Glossy box I received an Essence Lash Princess Volume Mascara and I'm back in love with make-up again!

It's brilliant! It's got a unique 'cobra head' shaped brush as the company have called it, but it does seem to be able to coat all of my lashes pretty easily and lets me get right into the corner of my eye pretty easily. 

I've taken a picture with it on one eye and not the other, and I think it's pretty good. This is one quick coat applied and I've not curled my lashes as I would normally have done, so you can see it properly.

It gives plenty of definition, they're fuller, longer and it holds a curl pretty well. It gives a very fluttery looking finish, which i personally like, but enough definition. I can be quite fussy with mascaras sometimes, I want the product to do everything and this pretty much does! 

If you're wanting mega volume, then maybe it isn't quite for you, but for me this is an excellent everyday mascara with enough volume and length. I do normally wear a little liquid liner on my top lash line too, which gives that little extra definition and a fuller appearance.

The packaging reminds me of the new Benefit Roller lash mascara, with the grip-able coral lid, but I can't compare the product as I've yet to try it.

I've worn it for a full week now, and it doesn't transfer onto my eyelid, it hasn't flaked down my face and it can last a full 45 minute spin class and not budge, which is incredible!

It is also priced at an amazing £3.30! So at this price I think it has become my favourite mascara, bye bye Clinique high impact! For UK readers, it is stocked in Wilko, so I think I'll be heading down to my nearest store and checking out some more of their range as the price and the quality of this mascara, have set my hopes very high indeed!

February favourites

I currently swear by the First Aid Beauty face cleanser and ultra repair cream. I have sensitive and temperamental skin due to a yet undiagnosed allergy. So, during a flare up, these two products seem to be the only things that are mild enough to use twice a day and moisturise the eczema like patches left on my face. I hadn't heard of First Aid Beauty until I heard Ingrid from Miss Glamorazzi talk about the products over a year ago, and they've stuck in the back of my brain ever since, and I'm so glad they did. I'm on my second tube of each, and I'm love, love, loving the combination on my current skin type.

Hemp lip balm from The Body Shop is a rediscovered old favourite. It is the best thing i've ever found for dry lips, my holy grail product, I take it everywhere, quite literally!

I bought the face polisher (not pictured) on a whim one day in Boots. I've always wanted to try the clarisonics but they are a bit on the expensive side, especially if i decided that I didn't like it. I don't have anything to compare the face polisher to, but I do really like it. It is quite gentle on the skin, but does take off any dead skin leaving my skin smooth.

Body butters in general are a current favourite of mine. I have been making sure that when I get out of the shower that I apply a body butter. I love The Body Shop's mango or shea butter or Soap & Glory's the righteous butter. The frangrances are very clean and nothing offensive. In a month, I've definteley noticed an improvement in my skin.

For Christmas, my parents bought me the Estee Lauder Modern Muse perfume. At first I thought it was a little overpowering, but once I learnt that a little goes a long way, I really love it. It is definitely more of wintery/evening fragrance but I know that I can apply it in the morning and the fragrance still be there early evening, but without being overwhelming.

I've been keeping my outfits quite minimalist the past few weeks, but to give them a little bit more detail, I've been grabbing this necklace from Oasis. It did seem a bit pricey at the time, however the amount of times I've worn it definitely justifies it, and I've had so many compliments on it.

Finally, Scandal. Oh my goodness, I'm completely in love with the series. I've watch 3 1/2 seasons in a month it is that addictive. It is very clever, the characters are extremely well written, I love Olitz, I love Mellie. It's brilliant, give it a watch!

February has definitely been more about skincare and 'fixing' my skin. I never feel as though I can experiment with makeup if my skin isn't the right texture.

2015 Makeup resolutions

It may be a little late for New Year's resolutions in the middle of January, but my 2014 make-up highlights got me thinking. Of course I've got the typical Bridget Jones style resolutions but I really need to start trying a few things that are out of my comfort zone. I've written a few make-up resolutions that I want to hopefully (finger crossed) accomplish this year.


1. Wear a coloured lip more often - meaning at least once a week. It doesn't have to be a dramatic purple lip mid week, but at least more of a stain or coloured gloss so it isn't as bold to begin with.


2. Use and experiment with the products I already own. It's not a money saving method (although that would be beneficial), rather a 'you own so many products and never use them' attempt. So every couple of weeks I need to make sure I have a good sort out and experiment with something new.


3. Learn how to use individual eyelashes. I keep buying packets of them attempting 1 lash and giving up. Strip lashes, I haven't got a problem with at all, but individuals are a whole new ball game!


4. Try and find the perfect skinbase (foundation, primer etc). I know it is a pretty impossible task to fulfill but it's always going to be a wish. I've experimented with lots of things, but not neccessarily applied them in a certain way or in a certain order. I'll never know if i don't try.


5. Work out what colours and shades suit my skintone, hair colour, eye colour. I know to an extent what does and doesn't work, but i'd love to find the perfect red lip shade and a beautiful smokey eye colour combination.



Some of these may seem like chores, or will never happen, but I can at least give them a go.

2014 Make-up Highlights

Putting together my list of favourite make-up products of 2014 was surprisingly an easy task. I am a bit of a creature of habit, so as much as I love to try something new I do often return to products I've really liked using.

The face:

Primer: Rimmel match perfection fix and perfect provides an excellent base for foundation or tinted moisturiser. It's really smooth and lets make up glide over the top. 

Base: Foundation is something that I mix up a lot. In the summer time I love Bourjois Healthy mix serum as it's so light, but in the UK you only really get summer for 3 months of the year, so I often turn to something with a bit more converage. Clinique repairwear laser focus but in the old formula is my go to. You can do a full face with a small pump, so a bottle goes a long way.

Concealer: I'm not a huge concealer fan, I mainly use a radiant concealer so instead of forking out for the YSL touch eclat I've found that the L'oreal Lumi Magique concealer is a pretty good dupe. It isn't too cakey under my eyes, which is often an issue I find with many concealers and under eye highlighters. 

Bronzer: Bourjois chocolate bronzer is not too orangey of a bronzer, so suits my fair to medium skin tone nicely. Bronzer isn't a huge step in my make-up routine, but if I do use it this what I go for.

Blush: I kept hearing about this product from other bloggers a long while ago and never got round to using it. It's Rimmel's mono blush in Santa Rose, a perfect everyday colour. It goes with pretty much any lip combination and just emphasises the pink of my cheeks without looking OTT.

Contour: I've pretty much used MAC's blush in harmony as a contour colour for a few years, especially for heavier night-time looks. It's cool toned and doesn't look orange on my face, and you only need the littlest of bits in order to have those model like cheekbones, wahooo! 

Highlight: I only really use highlighter in the winter months, but this year I seem to have gone for MAC's highlighter in soft and gentle. It's a classic product but works so well. It's a warm golden toned highlighter, but just a warning, a little goes a long long way!

Setting spray: There's pretty much only one contender for this category, and it's Urban Decay all-nighter setting spray in the original formula. It keeps may make-up in place even in a nightclub or in bad weather. I was always sceptical on whether or not this would work, but i'm so glad I took the gamble 18 months ago, bye bye reapplication!

The eyes:

Mascara: Many people say that highstreet mascaras are a whole lot better than high end, but my favourite is Clinique's High Impact mascara. The classic straight brush with thick bristles grips the lashes, so a few wiggles of the wand at the base of my lashes and voila, big voluminous lashes which last the working day. 

Liquid eyeliner: There is no competition in this category at all. It's the L'oreal superliner in carbon gloss. It's pretty much fool proof, simple to use sponge tipped applicator that isn't in a pen formula.

Pencil eyeliner: There's some excellent pencil liners on the highstreet, but this year i've always turned to Rimmel's Soft kohl kajal eyeliner in sable brown. Once it's on it doesn't really move and you can pretty much forget about it throughout the day. 

Eyeshadow: Urban Decay Naked 2 is my go to eyeshadow palette for day or night. There's a broad range of colours, the quality is excellent and with a primer on literally last all day long.

The lips:

Lip balm: My friends and family pretty much call me the Queen of lipbalm. If there's any lip issues going on them I'm the person they ask what they should get! I've pretty much tried everything on the market, but my hands down favourite in 2014 is an old favourite, and that is The Body Shop's Hemp Lip Conditioner. It's in a simple stick formula, which means you don't need to use your finger, easy to take around with me and is seriously conditioning. At £4 too, I absolutely love it, my holy grail of lip products! 

Lipstick: I'm pretty much a neutral lips kind of girl. The bold colours don't make that much of an appearance on a day to day basis, they just don't seem too practical. MAC's cremecup is an easy go to colour, it's simple but adds a splash of colour to my face and doesn't get all over my teeth, which is a big thing for me. 

Lipgloss: I was a massive fan of the Urban Decay Lip Junkie lip gloss in Naked for a long long time, but sadly as it is now discontinued (Sob...), I have had to venture to pastures new. My favourite go to product now is Rimmel's Stay Glossy Lipgloss in stay my rose. It's pretty similar to my natural lip colour and is really smooth in texture, compared to others which are really gloopy and sticky. 



Lets hope 2015 finds some new favourites!