Christmas Gift Ideas From Paul Mitchell

The other evening I attended a Christmas gathering held by Paul Mitchell at the Sanderson Hotel. While enjoying some cocktails and mini bites to eat, I was educated on their abundance of gift sets and stocking fillers available for the festive season. Even though I went to the event I'm not obligated to write about them, but I think they are really good quality and there is literally something available for everyone - even your pets! I was gifted the Extra Body Gift Set* from the Christmas Trio range which I'm really excited to try out as the other ranges I have tried through out the years have always lived up to their claims and expectations.

There are three Luxury gift sets including 'It's A Blonde Moment' featuring my favourite range from Paul Mitchell at the moment (see my review here), the popular new curl range encapsulated in 'Stay Calm and Curl on' which I'm also a big fan of (the wave cream was featured in this monthly favourites post) and 'You Look Skinny Today' all at the price point of £35 and which come in super cute colourful and glittery resuable gift bags.

There are also three other Christmas trios also in similar reusable gift bags at £26 featuring a selection of full size best selling products and three sets of  boxed Christmas duos at £18 including shampoos and conditioners from the Moisture Daily and Colour Protect Daily ranges and a kids set for £16.

In regards to stocking fillers there are plenty of minis to choose from starting from £4.50 across the entire Paul Mitchell product family so would be suitable for women and men. They even have sets for pets suitable for horses, dogs and cats if you like to treat your fluffy friend at this time of year.

A couple more of my favourite gift ideas are the Vogetti styling sets which would be great for teenagers and include tutorials and all the equipment you need to create the perfect fish tail plait or up do for £8.50 - £12. They have also bought out a lemon and sage candle to pair with the Lemon Sage Thickening Shampoo and Conditioner and the Tea Tree gift sets have a biodegradable seeded paper wrap which when planted sprout daisies - how cute!!

The Vogetti Styling Kits

For more information on the gifts mentioned and even more gift ideas visit the Paul Mitchell website here. All products are only available in salons, with the exception of Look Fantastic. Let me know if you pick any of the sets up! xxx

Review: Origins | Out Of Trouble Face Mask |

Out Of Trouble // £22 // 100ml

I've been a big fan of Origins skincare for a while now and their face masks are definitely one of their best selling points as they are great for targeting specific problems effectively. I have the Drink Up Intensive in my arsenal and have used the Clear Improvement Charcoal mask but today I will be talking about the Out Of Trouble face mask.

It is targeted towards combination oily skin, which sums up my skin perfectly, and is recommended to be used to clear up excess oil production and blemishes. Personally, I find this best for use on active break outs - normally a few days after using a clay based mask which draws out impurities, although it is good when used in 'triple threat' facials straight after the aforementioned mask to try and stop anything blossoming into a full on blemish. Although it is a 10 minute mask to give quick results, I always leave it on a lot longer like I do with all other face masks. It has a really strong smell (which I think is the sulfur) and takes some getting used to as the scent lingers until the next morning after washing it off, but the thick white consistency means you can get a thick layer without using too much product. I've had my bottle for over a year and am about 4/5 of the way through which is great value. Ingredients featured are zinc oxide and sulfur which are present to soak up oil and exfoliate away dead cells that contribute towards the creation of blemishes and camphor to refine the texture of skin and 'pull the plug' on active breakouts.

As I mentioned I like to apply this all over when I've got a few break outs or concentrated on a few spots (I've seen some people use it as an over night spot treatment.) Straight after washing it off my complexion looks a lot calmer and redness has been reduced. Blemishes often disappear a lot quicker when I use this mask and reduce in size considerably by the next morning. Although the formula does dry rather than stay sticky, my face is never left dry or tight but is instead smooth, soft and even toned. 

I would highly recommend Origins in general but their face masks are a real winner for me. It's a shame that the price point seems to have been inflated from the original £20 to £22 which does put me off a bit but I suppose for such a best selling range they feel they can get away with it.

What are your favourite products from Origins? xxx

Lifestyle: Update

image source

Hi everyone, today's post is a bit of an update as a few things have been changing for me recently. My uploading schedule has been a bit few and far between at I've been super busy for the following reasons.

Ok, so the house in the picture isn't mine but it is to signify that I am properly leaving home for the first time to finally move in with Matt! Ever since he asked me a few months ago (details in this post) we've been really looking forward to it but I'm also quite nervous as moving to Uni is a lot different to actually leaving home for good. The flat he is in at the moment and which I'll be moving into isn't the ideal place but we're using it as more of a stop gap until we find our perfect home. It will be the first time I've ever lived with a boy, let alone a boyfriend so I'm sure it will take some getting used to. I can't wait to put some girly touches to the flat and make it more of a home for us. We have been together for nearly two years now so it is the perfect time to start this new chapter of our lives and I'm so excited!!!

Secondly, I've recently started an internship in PR which I am seriously enjoying but is a lot of hard work. Since starting a blog, it opened up new avenues that I hadn't even considered so I am really thankful that I've found something that I really want to do and enjoy.

Finally, hopefully in the next few weeks you will see that this little space of the internet will have recieved a face lift! I'm currently working on re-designing the whole layout and am really excited about the finished result and hope you will be too!

Hopefully once I've unpacked and got more settled I will be able to stick to a proper uploading schedule as I have so much I want to share with you. If there is anything you would like to see over here at Little Miss Lifestyle then let me know! And remember to follow me on social media as I love to make new friends xxx

Review: Seventeen | Skin Wow! 3 Way Highlighter |

Seventeen // 3 Way Liquid Highlighter // £5.99 // 30ml //

Highlighters are one of my favourite make up items, just second behind lip stick. Due to having oily/combo skin I've normally leaned more towards the powder versions but liquid highlighters are so versatile and a great multi use product, that I incorporated them into my every day routine easily. 

This offering from Seventeen is the second liquid highlighter that I've tried (Soap and Glory's Hocus Focus was the first). Housed in a slim see through bottle with a handy pump it is quite a thick consistency but is easily sheered out once blended in properly or mixed with your base of choice. It is a very pearlescent pink tinged liquid - for reference it is more Benefit 'High Beam' than 'Moon Beam' - and has a high shimmer finish when used alone. The bottle suggests you can use it to prime, add to your foundation or apply onto cheekbones. I find the priming part a bit pointless unless you are wearing a very lightweight base so it can show through, and it is a bit too glittery for every day highlighting on areas such as cheekbones, brow bone and bridge of nose but is perfect for evening looks. My favourite way to apply is to mix it with any base of choice as it works well with both tinted moisturisers through to heavy coverage foundations. It helps to illuminate your face and perk up your complexion in a subtle way and is now used daily for this purpose. 

If you are looking to dabble in the world of liquid highlighters or looking for a cheaper version of the high end picks then I would definitely recommend this product. It is a little more glittery than I would like but for a budget product it is fantastic - Seventeen seem to have really upped their game!

What are your favourite highlighters? Are you more of a powder or liquid girl? xxx

Take 3: Pond's Institute Skincare

Pond's Institute is an iconic brand made famous for their simple and affordable beauty products, so it was really exciting to receive a few of their products at the recent event they hosted. My skincare routine has been Pond's-centric for the last few weeks using the three products we got, which included the Cold Cream Cleanser, Green Tea Moisturiser and Eye Contour Cream. Below are my thoughts on each product, in the order I use them in.

Cold Cream Cleanser* // £4.07 //

The cult classic which many of you will recognise from your mum or grandma's dressing table, I've been using it in the pm to cleanse my face. It is a multi-tasker and can be used as a hand cream and hydrating face mask as well as a general cleanser. The consistency is a thick white cream featuring a delicate rose scent which is cooling when massaged in and I normally leave it on for a minute or so to hydrate my skin. I find it effective at taking off face make up but not so great with eye make up. It is recommended to remove the formula with cotton pads but I find it needs a warm muslin cloth or flannel to remove the product properly or you are left with a film on your face which I didn't like too much (I think that is down to the high mineral oil content). My skin is left feeling really smooth but I did find the texture to be a little heavy for my oily/combo skin so I would recommend it for normal to dry skin, although it didn't break me out at all. 

Eye Contour Cream* // £7.99 //

Fragrance free, this light weight cream is delicate enough for the sensitive skin underneath your eyes and great to use both at night and day underneath your make up. The targeted nozzle and squeezy tube makes it easy to control how much product you want to use. The formula is enriched with vitamins A, E and B5 which is meant to improve skin structure and hydration. I found that I could feel my eye contour tighten and firm once the cream was dry which I really liked but I didn't feel as though it gave me loads of hydration. It is also meant to be reduce puffiness although that is something I luckily don't suffer with so can't really comment on.

Natural Beauty Moisturiser* // £5.10 //

This was my favourite of the bunch and a new launch. A slightly pink tinged and fresh scented cream that features green tea antioxidants to nourish the skin, this moisturiser had a light weight formula which sunk in easily. I've been using it morning and night and I like that it provides the moisture I need without feeling heavy and makes a great base for under make up as well as the right amount of nourishment at night. For people with my skin type I would highly recommend this affordable cream as it lasts ages, is cost effective and is an all round great product.

Out of the three products I tried the moisturiser was most definitely my favourite, but there are also other creams being launched which target different areas of concern including mature skin, dry skin, anti-wrinkle and normal-dry skin. Pond's Institute prove that luxury can be done on a budget so I suggest having a perusal at their range next time you are in Boots and giving something new from their range a go.

Have you tried any products from Pond's Institute before? xxx

October Favourites

This month's favourites features some newish purchases as well as products that I've learnt to love again after shopping my stash. 

MUA Pro-Brow Kit: After hearing a lot about various brow kits, I thought I'd switch out my regular brow pencil to try one myself and thought this would be a good place to start as it is cheap as chips. I use the lightest shade of two to fill in my brows and the wax included to set them. The powder is soft with good pigmentation and the wax is easy to work with. I really like the results that using a powder creates and have reached for this every day since I bought it. A full review post on this little kit with more details on it will be up in the near future.

Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation: For the past three years I have always had a bottle of this foundation in my stash. Normally reserved for nights out, I really like the finish this foundation gives and that the coverage is buildable. Matched with the Real Techniques buffing brush I find this gives a lovely natural air brushed base with a slightly dewy finish. I usually prefer matte finishes but recently this foundation has been reached for on a near daily basis. I have the colour '100 Ivory' which is a little too dark for me at this time of year so will be picking up a lighter shade when this has run out.

Revolution Organics Freedom Glow in 'Bronzed': I posted a review of this a while back but have changed the way I use it since then. Reminiscent to the NARS multiple sticks, this is a multi use product free of any nasties. My preferred way to use it at the moment is as a cream contour as it is a darker shade than the bourjois bronzing primer which I use more for adding warmth to my complexion. It is easy to blend and build up when buffed in again with the buffing brush from Real Techniques. 

MAC Creme D'Nude Lipstick: This is a relatively new purchase too which I picked up from a recent blog sale. Although it was a bit melted, the shade had been on my wishlist for ages so I snapped it up for a bargain price. My first cremesheen finish (the other MAC lipsticks I own are amplified) this lipstick has become a staple in my every day make up. I normally stick to bright lips but I've been going through a bit of a nude moment and this is the perfect shade and consistency for every day. Buttery and nourishing, this smells just like other MAC lipsticks and has just enough shine and brown to the shade to be complimentary to my skin tone. It is perfect for day and night and is a great addition to my lipstick collection.

The Body Shop Honeymania Bubble Bath Melt: As soon as I caught wind of the Honeymania launch I knew I had to get my hands on some products. The bath melt has a really strong scent which I love - more floral with a touch of honey. The consistency looks just like honey and there is something about the pearlescent formula that makes it feel like a real decadent treat. Now the colder months are here I've been enjoying more baths and this is the perfect accompaniment

L'Oreal Lumi Magique: For ages I never understood the hype behind YSL Touche Eclat but then I realised it's purpose was for highlighting rather than concealing and saw how fab it was. The L'Oreal high street version is just as great in my opinion and I've enjoyed using it every day on the inner corners under my eyes to brighten over a colour corrector, down the bridge of my nose, on my brow bone and the cupids bow. It is subtle and natural but makes a difference to brightening your complexion and the rose gold packaging is pretty cute too.

What have you enjoyed using recently? xxx

All Used Up #7

The bag which holds all my empties was literally over flowing so I thought it was high time to write up a new All Used Up post. I've been trying to use up a few more samples and a lot of products seem to have come to the end of their life at the same time. The weather has also been really annoying so as soon as there was a bright day I photographed them all, although there are so many I have enough for 3 more installments of this type of post!

Original Source Lime Shower Gel: This was originally purchased for my trip to Barcelona as I thought it would be refreshing after a long day sightseeing. It foamed up nicely but was not as zingy as the mint version which I love, however I wouldn't rule out purchasing it again.

 Aussie Miracle Colour Insurance: A recent post already mentioned my love for this product which I think is a perfect budget leave in conditioner. The spray is even and fine, the smell is gorgeous and it helps to detangle and keep hair soft and manageable.

Bioderma Sebium H20: After receiving this for Christmas last year I was over the moon and excited to try the massively hyped up blogger favourite that sparked the obsession for micellar waters. To be honest though, I really don't know what the fuss is about! I tried the only for oily/combo skin and it is definitely one of the better versions I have tried but it isn't holy grail status for me. If it becomes easier to get hold of then I would consider re-purchasing but that's because I'm not loyal to a particular brand for micellar waters.

Clarins Pure Melt Cleansing Gel: This product left me really undecided. Clarins is one of my favourite brands and this cleanser had the same comforting smell like their other products. The bottle actually lasted me a long time considering I used a big splodge each evening and it was really good at taking off the rest of my make up and is suitable to double cleanse with, although I still needed something else to remove all eye make up. The downsides for me was the consistency as I found the gel quite sticky even after being massaged into my face and I also didn't see a noticeable change in the condition of my skin. I think I would repurchase in the future to try and make up my mind on it but for the mean time there are lots of other cleansers I would like to try.

Aussie Take the Heat Leave in Spray: In regards to heat defence I'm normally loyal to Tresemme, although now and again I feel adventurous and try something new (clearly I live life on the edge). This did the job and smelt nice but I prefer the former brand because it is the best spray that I've found.

What have you used up recently? Have you tried any of my empties? xxx