All Used Up #15

1. Got2b Guardian Angel Heat Protector Spray: After purchasing Tresemme for many years, I felt it was time to try a new heat protector. This smelt lovely but I preferred the finer spray of the Tresmme version. I don't think you can tell that much difference between heat protectors but this was non sticky and light on the hair so did the job nicely.

2. The Body Shop Camomile Eye & Lip Makeup Remover: A definite repurchase, I adore this stuff! It is a bi-phase liquid that you shake up to mix up the oil and is so effect and gentle at removing stubborn mascara and lip stains. It is such a good product for the money and I am looking to repurchase it as soon as possible.

3. Tropic Skincare Vitamin Toner: The spray on this was lovely and fine and the product itself was refreshing and gentle with a non offensive scent. This was great for in the morning to perk up my face and I wouldn't hesitate at repurchasing. If you are looking for something gentle and non drying, this would be a great option.

4. Soap & Glory Whipped Clean Shower Butter: One of my all time favourites from the brand and the highstreet in general. The sweet pistachio smell of this is lovely and the formula foams up so much while still being gentle and moisturising. This is a real winner for this time of year and perfect for if you are too lazy to moisturise after the shower.

5. Seventeen Skin Wow! Highlighter: Read my full review here. This is a great budget liquid highlighter which has multiple uses, but my favourite way is to mix it into foundation to add a healthy glow. This is quite pink toned and pearlescent but luckily was not too glittery on the skin. I did feel as though it made my skin more prone to oil throughout the day but overall it was a good product.

6. Una Brennan Vitamin C Cleansing Oil: As far as oil cleansers go this was alright. It removed make up well and did not leave any residue, but I did not see any brightening effects like the claims and it was really messy to use. It lasted ages which is normally a plus, but I wanted to use this faster as it was just OK. I normally love Una Brennan so this was a bit of a let down.

7. L'Oreal EverPure Hair Mask for Coloured Hair: My first foray into sulphate free hair care and I adored it! Honestly, this left my hair so soft, smooth and tangle free at such a bargain price. I liked this so much it made it into my monthly favourites last year and I would definitely repurchase.

8. Macadamia Healing Oil Spray: I've had this for years and finally used it up. I love the Macadamia range but this is not one of my favourite products. The best way to use this was on dry hair, sprayed into my palms and worked through the mid lengths to ends to smooth everything. When used on wet hair it did live up to the claims of drying it faster, but I wasn't in love with this product. Read my full review here.

9. Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation: This was my go to foundation for when I was on a night out (hence the slightly darker colour match for fake tan!) It gives a real even and flawless finish, while still looking quite radiant and it stays put all night. I enjoyed using this foundation and would repurchase but it is not a holy grail for me like it is for other bloggers as I preferred wearing it for a few hours rather than all day.

10. MAC Fix+: To be honest, I still can't make up my mind if this does anything or not. It was my first try at fixing sprays so I have nothing to compare it too. The plus points were the fine mist, lockable cap for travel and that it helped to take any powdery finish away but I can't make up my mind if it actually locked my make up in place. This is also good to wet your brushes in before applying eyeshadow to make it more intense. I may go back to this and try it again but for now I am enjoying a cheaper L'Oreal version.

What have you used up recently? xxx

Video: Added Extras #3 | My Evening Pamper Routine

Normally these types of posts are blog posts, but as I was having a pamper evening last night, I thought it would be fun to film a different type of video than I normally do (a chatty sit down). It took me ages to film but is actually my shortest video ever haha, so I totally appreciate the amount of work it goes into videos like this!

I hope you enjoy this different style of video - please subscribe to my channel if you do. And if you have any other video suggestions let me know :) xxx

December Favourites | 2014

While picking up people's Christmas presents, I inevitably picked up a few presents from me to me (hopefully I'm not the only one to do this!) December's round up therefore consist of a few new purchases with one or two re-discovered favourites.

001. Soap & Glory Hand Maid Cleansing Gel - £2.50: This has been raved about by a lot of people, but I always thought how good can an antibacterial gel actually be? Well it turns out, pretty damn good. This sinks in quickly, is compact for your hand bag and the scent is delicious and lingers after application. It also looks cute too! This will be really useful when I start using the tube every day for my new job.

002. L'Oreal EverPure Intense Mask for Coloured Hair - £7.30: If you read my previous post you would see that I want to use more natural products when looking after my hair. I bought this back in November and it has proved to me that products free from sulphates do actually work. The main ingredients are rosemary and mint oils which gives the mask a spa like scent. Although the mask is thick it doesn't weigh down my hair at all while still giving me sleek, shiny and soft locks. I would love to try the shampoo and conditioner from this range too after sampling this. It is normally on offer too - currently at Boots for £3.65.

003. The Body Shop 'Glazed Apple' Shower Gel: A new purchase from one of their Christmas ranges along with the matching bubble bath. This smells so good - like apple sweets - without being overly sickly, although it isn't very moisturising. It is quite zingy so great for cold winter mornings when you need a pick me up and the scent is also uni-sex so great for sharing with Matt. I like the bright green of the gel too and the sleeker packaging than the original shower gel line up.

004. Lush 'Hot Toddy' Shower Gel: Another shower gel that I just couldn't resist! The Christmas products from Lush are always amazing and this is a refreshing change from Snow Fairy. The gel is bright red with flecks of glitter, so very festive, and the smell is amazing. It honestly smells like mulled wine and the scent is super strong and lingers like you would expect from a Lush product. I wish I had got a larger bottle because I will be really sad when this is over.

005. L'Oreal True Match Foundation in 'W1 Golden Ivory' - £9.99: This gives a light to medium coverage which is moisturising without being oily and blends out so well so it looks like your skin but better. I also found that it was quite luminous too and didn't sit flat on your face and was easily buildable for more coverage. I did find that my t-zone did get shiny more quicker but it is quite long wearing and great for evening wear.

006. Maybelline Colour Drama Lip Pencil in 'Berry Much' - £4.99: I'm planning on putting up a detailed review of this in the next week or so, but basically this is the perfect lip product for the colder months. The colour and pigmentation is gorgeous, as is the wear time and ease of use. A really great product which I will surely be getting in more colours.

007. Bobbi Brown 'Sand' Palette from the L.E. Surf and Sand Collection - £48: First of all, this palette just looks gorgeous. The packaging is weighty and great for travel and the pans of eye shadow are good sizes. The colour selection is fantastic, with a mixture of matte and glitter golden neutral shades that can create a variety of looks. A few of the lighter shimmer shades were a little disappointing with not a lot of colour pay off, but over all I love this palette for day and evening looks. Although it is a lot of money for a palette, I think the shades and amount  you get in the palette make it worth while. I've been reaching for this most days of December.

008. Molecule 01 Perfume by Escentric Molecules - £65.50: The scent of this is so different to anything else I own or would normally pick up. I got this for Christmas about two years ago and think its perfect for this time of year. In essence, the USP of this perfume is that it smells different on everyone by working with your skin's chemistry and is great to layer up with other fragrances. I'm not sure if the first claim is true as I have smelt it on other people and have known exactly what it is. However, the claim that everyone will want to know what you're wearing is valid. I always have compliments when I wear this scent and have convinced quite a few people to buy it! Reported fans of this fragrance are Kate Moss and Daisy Lowe which is always a good endorsement and it is very long wearing to boot.

009. YSL Parisienne Eau De Parfum - £47 for 30ml: Another perfume I have been enjoying this month and that works well with Molecule 01. It is a deep floral scent which is rather long lasting and always brings back good memories for me as I received it for my 21st birthday.

What are your current favourite products? xxx

November Favourites | 2014 |

Ideally this post would have been in video format due to the fact I have so many favourite products this month, but alas there has been no time in between unpacking the new house, preparing for Christmas and having a full time job. There has been a distinct lack of favourites posts on this blog for a while which is a shame as they are one of my favourite things to write about - who doesn't love harping on about their latest beauty obsession? Now I have a nice little list on my phone of what I've been loving, hopefully it will give you some ideas for Christmas presents for others (or yourself!)

001. Maybelline Brow Drama in 'Medium Brown': For someone who doesn't have much in the eyebrow department, I have really been enjoying this product since I bought it a few months ago. It's great for use on it's own on natural make up days or for using on top of pencil/powder when opting for a more polished look. The colour is a little dark and it can go a teeny bit crispy, so be sure to use sparingly. It is such a beauty bargain though and is now a staple in my every day beauty bag.

002. Real Techniques Beauty Blender: Since purchasing this I have used it every day without fail. My favourite use is for blending in my under eye concealer as it stops that area looking cakey or dry as well as minimising creasing. It looks really natural and means I haven't had to set my eye area either. It is a super cheap alternative to the Beauty Blender and is the best compared to the other ones I've tried.

003. Lush Mask of Magnaminty: The fresh face masks have always left me a little disappointed, but this mask in particular has always intrigued me with it's positive reviews. I must say, it is the best mask I have used from Lush and has actually made it into my all time favourite face masks! You get a large pot, which is freshly made but does not go off anywhere near as quick as the fresh masks and it really does work. I find this is great for both drawing out impurities as it dries quite hard but also for treating any active blemishes. In the morning after using this my spots have gone down considerably and my face feels refreshed, smooth and a lot clearer.

004. Rimmel Lip Products: This month I've discovered my love for Rimmel lipsticks. For some reason I never seem to reach for them that often even though they are such a good bargain with great formulas and amazing colour pay off. The deep pink called 'Lily Extase' is one I've had since the beginning of uni and I forgot how pretty the hue is as well as the lasting power. I've also been pairing 'Vintage Pink' which is a deep mauve and 'Black Tulip' lip liner which look so lovely together and make a long lasting but moistursing lip duo. The lip liners and Moisture Renew collection are some of my favourites from Rimmel and I will definitely be investing in some more colours.

005. Revlon Colour Stay Foundation in '110 Ivory' and Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation in '1C1 Shell 15' : As I mentioned my skin has been suffering as of late so to cover those imperfections and scarring I've been opting for heavier coverage foundations. I love that both of these last a full working day - considering I put my face on at 7am and it is still pretty much in tact by 7pm in the evening I'd say it has amazing wear time. Mixed with a little bit of liquid highlighter and buffed in well, these give flawless coverage without being cakey and heavy. Out of the two Double Wear is my favourite because the satin finish really does look like skin but Colour Stay is an amazing high street dupe if you are looking for something more affordable.

006. St Ives Invigorating Body Scrub*: When thinking about this brand I've never really considered their body products but this scrub has fast turned into one of my favourites. The pot is generously filled and it has just the right amount of abrasiveness while being cushioned with a soft and creamy formula. It leaves your skin feeling super smooth and soft without feeling raw.

007. Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair: This serum is a staple in my nightly skin care routine which I use around 3-4 times a week. It is great at hydrating the skin, correcting pigmentation left from blemishes and  evening skin tone. I am careful not to use it every night as otherwise it can be a bit too heavy for me but used properly and the benefits are fantastic. I'm nearly at the end of this bottle now but it has lasted me ages and I will definitely be purchasing the new version when I have run out.

008. MaxFactor Masterpiece Transform Mascara in 'BLack': When it comes to mascara, MaxFactor just seem to own it! I didn't think my beloved 2000 calorie mascara could be rivaled but after trying the newest release from MaxFactor I must say it has turned into one of my favourites. After a few weeks of use I have found it tends to flake a little towards the end of the day and it doesn't give as much volume as 2000 calorie but it gives wonderfully long, black lashes that don't clump while giving a false lash effect.

009. Soap and Glory Lid Stuff Neutral Eyeshadow Quad: This little quad is such an underrated gem of the drugstore. For £10 you get amazingly pigmented and long lasting eye shadows, it is amazing for travel and you can get a variety of looks out of it. I've been using it for over a year now and have just never got round to doing a review. My favourite shade is 'Pink T', which is perfect for an every day eye and 'Aubersheen' looks amazing as an easy all over the lid smokey eye shade. The highlighter is also non chalky and perfect for day and night.

Miscellaneous

Tartan scarf from Miss Selfridge: perfect pattern and colour and really large and soft -  so cozy!

Fleur De Force vlogs: In particular I have been loving Fleur's vlogmas. She is so down to earth and I envy how much she can pack into one day!

Ru Paul's Drag Race: Ever since we got Netflix this has been such a guilty pleasure to watch when I'm getting ready in the morning. If you love ANTM then you will love this.

George Ezra: His album is so catchy and mellow, it has been on repeat on my Spotify this month.

Salted Caramel Tea: I'm not a fan of plain green tea but this novelty twist is delicious without being overpowering. If you are into herbal teas then you should give this a go!

What have you been loving recently? xxx

All Used Up #10 | Part 1 |

Hi guys,

I've finally had the time to film a few videos, yay! The first one I filmed was an empties as the bag was overflowing with a few months worth of products. There was so many I had to split it into two separate videos though or else it would have been very long and rambly. The first part is linked below for you to watch - there is a mixture of hair care, body care and make up. Please like and subscribe if you enjoyed it and keep your eyes peeled for the next part soon.

                    

What have you used up recently? Do you like any of these products? xxx

February Favourites | 2014 |

I know that we are half way through March now but I couldn't resist posting about my favourites from February now I've got some time to concoct more posts. This installment features make up, nail varnish and body care - I hope you enjoy it whether you read or listen about them. I also added a little bit of an update at the beginning of the video too.

1. Revlon Colour Stay Concealer: I've spoken about this at length on my channel and its definitely taken the place as my new favourite concealer. The texture and pigmentation of the formula is amazing, it is easy to blend, long wearing and not at all ashy or orange. It is the better version of Collection's Lasting Perfection concealer in my eyes.

2. Garnier Micellar Water: Finally, I think I've found my holy grail micellar water! I've reviewed quite a few different variations of micellar waters on this blog and always found fault in them but this offering from Garnier is amazing and for a bargain price of under £5. It removes make up well before proper cleansing (even stubborn eye make up) and leaves no greasy residue, just a lovely fresh feeling.

3. Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation: This is actually a surprise favourite. When these first popped up on blogs I was unsure as the name suggests a very sheer and dewy product. However, while the foundation is very viscous like I thought it would be, the pigmentation is very strong so only a little bit is needed to provide coverage for blemishes and pigmentation and therefore still looks very natural. The lasting power is also great and it is much more matte than I thought it would be too. The only downside is the lack of pump.

4. Revlon JBKBS in 'Crush': Full review here. An oldie but a goodie, I wore this a lot in Paris after shopping my stash. Long lasting, great pigmentation and just a beaut colour this is a great all round lip crayon. Also I didn't realise until I compiled my list that all the make up items are Revlon I'm not sponsored by them, promise!

5. Soap & Glory The Righteous Butter: On a daily basis I prefer body lotions to butters as I find they take ages to sink in so leave them for after the bath on an evening. However, the righteous butter is different - it leaves skin deeply hydrated and smooth like you would expect from a butter but only takes a minute or two to sink in which is great on a busy morning. The signature pink scent is also lovely.

6. Barry M Gelly Varnish in 'Lychee', Essie 'Mint Candy Apple' and Illamasqua 'Freckle': These are the 3 polishes that have graced my nails for the month of Feb. Lychee is an understated shade that is super shiny, goes with any look and can be layered with lots of different glitters. Mint Candy Apple is a blogger fave and I can see why as it is such a perfect mint shade. Finally one of the more unusual polishes that I have is Freckle which is a gorgeous light purple with matte different sized glitter particles in which creates a speckled effect on the nails.

7. Victoria Secret Body Sprays in 'Strawberries & Champagne', 'Amber Romance', 'Mango Temptation' and 'Aqua Kiss': I had been waiting to get my paws on these body sprays for ages and was really happy when I popped to the store near Oxford Street as they have a deal where you can get 3 sprays for around £25. I tried to get a mixture of scents including musky, sweet and fresh. I try and use them sparingly but love every scent I picked up.

What is your favourite product of the moment? xxx

All Used Up #9

Hey guys, here is my very late follow up post which accompanies the video for my empties. I've managed to use up a variety of products this time around so you can either hear or read all about them in this post :)

1. Lush 'Snow Fairy' Shower Gel: An iridescent pink shower gel that features a bubble gum and pear drop scent, this product foams up nicely and leaves your bathroom smelling gorgeous for ages afterwards. One of my favourites from Lush but only available in their Christmas collection so you will have to wait until the end of this year to get your hands on it again, sorry!

2. Vichy Normaderm Micellar Water: full review here. One of the better micellar waters I've tried, it doesn't leave any horrible residue, is paraben free and suitable for oily skin, but it is rubbish at cleaning away stubborn eye make up and didn't blow me away. I wouldn't repurchase.

3. Yankee Candle 'Salted Caramel' Candle: I don't know how Yankee do it but they seem to encapsulate scents so well. This scent is very heavy but so delicious - think warm comforting caramel with a very sweet twist. It won't be everyone's cup of tea but I've loved using this throughout the winter months and would definitely repurchase.

4. Batiste Dry Shampoo: A regular feature in these posts, my trusty dry shampoo of choice. An absolute life saver it refreshes hair and provides volume. A regular repurchase.

5. Paul Mitchell Forever Blonde Shampoo* & Conditioner*: Full review here. The shampoo is more than just a bog standard product, it provides moisture and refreshes your colour without making it greasy. The conditioner is the perfect follow up, a half way house between a conditioner and a hair mask it provides a hit of moisture that won't weigh down your hair. A definite repurchase!

6. Dove 'Original' Antiperspirant: not much to say on this one, I do like Dove deodorants but I normally get whatever is on offer!

7. Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer:  A blogger favourite, I love the coverage and the long lasting formula but I find the shade range really lets this product down and it tends to go quite ashy on me. I've repurchased this a lot before but I think I was trying to make myself like it more than I did.

8. Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer:  I originally wanted a lighter shade for under my eyes but instead I used this on my face and it was a good consistency but was quite lightweight so you have to build up the coverage gradually. It also isn't as long wearing as I would like. I wouldn't repurchase unless I could get a lighter colour for under my eyes.

9. Soap & Glory Supercat Eyeliner: My first foray into pen style liquid eyeliners, I loved the concept but the actual product fell short. It is quite grey and watery so needs to be built up into an opqaue line, which is a shame because at the time I bought it there was lots of hype around it. I'm trying out one by Bourjois at the moment and much prefer that.

Have you tried any of these products? xxx

All Used Up #8

Before I moved to my flat I had loads of empties to photograph and write up - I did the first part but never got round to writing up the other posts! So here is the next part of the series, which I'm pleased to announce actually contains some make up items which is rare for me as I find it hard to finish make up items.

Sure Cool Pink Deodorant: From what I can remember this wasn't anything special - I don't tend to be loyal to any brand really and mainly get whatever is on offer (bar Nivea which actually makes me sweat more...!) I do quite want to try Mitchum though as that is meant to be pretty good.

Boots Botanics Rosewater Toning Spritz: A review on this toner is already up on the blog here, but a brief summary is that this is my favourite toner that I have tried. It's refreshing yet gentle and I love the spray nozzle. I've already repurchased it a few times and have one in stock but after that I want to try a few others because as a beauty blogger you can never stay satisfied for long!

Batiste 'Tropical' Dry Shampoo: This brand of dry shampoo is my go to. I've used it since the beginning of using dry shampoo and have never felt the need to change as it does the job. The tropical scent is quite nice and smells of coconut (I went through a phase of being obsessed with that smell) but my favourite is definitely the wild version. Again, I normally chop and change in relation to scents.

Garnier Soft Essentials Face Wipes: OK before you say anything I know face wipes are really bad for you! I committed a cardinal beauty sin and for that I truly repent! I used these for taking off excess make up before cleansing in place of a micellar water which I usually use but these are really easy for travel. These were alright from what I remember but I've never come across a face wipe brand which has wowed me (probably because they aren't great for you!)

L'Oreal Lumi Magique in '1 Light': For ages I wasn't sold on this or touche eclat but now it is a permanent fixture in my make up bag. It's great for creating a subtle highlight, which can be built up if you want, is easily blended and easy to use. Once you know its purpose this nifty product is pretty fab.

Soap and Glory Hocus Focus: One of the first products I wrote about on this blog and my second ever foray into the world of liquid highlighters. I wasn't a fan at first and replaced it with this 17 highlighter but I do prefer Soap and Glory's offering and will be repurchasing once I have used up the former. It's a versatile product that can be mixed in with your moisturiser or foundation or used to highlight key areas without leaving you feeling greasy or sparkly like a glitter ball. I love highlighters both liquid and powder and this takes one of the top spots for me.

As stated, this photo was taken with my old camera so sorry for the not so great quality! 

What have you recently used up? xxx

All Used Up #6

Hey guys, I haven't done an All Used Up post since May and these products have been building up in a bag in my closet so it was definitely time to write up some mini reviews and chuck them! I've managed to use up quite a lot of body care over the last few months with a few face and hair products too. Click on the product names listed below to be linked to full reviews if I have written them :)

Body

001. Palmers Natural Bronze Gradual Tanning Moisturiser: When I did a post on this last year I hadn't heard much about it but nowadays everyone seems mad for it! I love the strong scent of chocolate, how nourishing it is and that it develops a lovely natural colour which is actually noticeable. Most gradual tanners I find don't really build up much more than a glow, but I like that this actually gives you a proper tan. It has also lasted me ages as it is the same bottle from last year's post! I have since repurchased this but am always open to suggestions if you have your own favourite gradual tanner.  

002. Radox Nourish Shower Gel: At Uni my shower gels were normally picked up in the supermarket when they were on offer for a pound so they normally turned out to be Radox. I liked using this as it did feel nourishing and smelt good, therefore I would repurchase but it isn't a must have for me.

003. Garnier Intensive 7 Days Moisturiser in 'Nourishing Shea Butter': This was a lovely product that did the job well and stuck to it's claims. It was great for in the mornings after a shower when you don't have time to wait for your moisturiser to dry and it made the whole process hassle free. I have also tried the mango version too which I also enjoyed. I would repurchase but in another version - I'm on a mission to try them all! The gel-cream and hand range also look interesting.

004. Simple Invigorating Shower Gel: Matt and I picked this up in the airport last year before we went to Turkey as an alternative to the Original Source Mint shower gel, with the idea that it would be really refreshing to use after a long hot day in the sun. It needed using up as there was about half left but I think it says something that it took me over a year to get round to doing this. I didn't find it invigorating at all and it only had a mild scent of mint, so was a bit disappointing really. For this reason I would not repurchase and stick with the Original Source one instead which I really enjoy using.

005. Sure Rexona Deodorant and Garnier Minerals InvisiDry Deodorant: To me different deodorants don't really make a difference (apart from the Nivea purple one which I hate!) so I normally pick up which ever is on offer. Out of the two I preferred the Garnier but for now I wouldn't repurchase because I'm trying out roll ons.

006. Nip + Fab Pistachio Body Butter (travel size): These body butters have always been on my radar so I decided to bite the bullet and pick up a travel size to see if I liked it or not. It's safe to say I loved this moisturiser so much! The smell is incredible, I liked that it was green (I'm so fickle) and it did a good job of injecting some moisture back into my skin. When I went to Barcelona, I popped this in the fridge and it was amazing to soothe burnt sun kissed skin. I would 100% buy the bigger version of this and I have already repurchased another travel size, this time in the Coconut Latte version.

007. Doctor Duve Lifting and Firming Hand and Decollete Cream: I received this in a Jolie Box along with another sample and really liked it. It was thick without being sticky and sunk in straight away as well as smelling lovely. It is meant to include 'growth factors' whatever they are, and hyaluronic acid which  left my hands smooth and hydrated after applying. However, I wouldn't repurchase because it is really expensive - £79!!!! 

Face

008. Boots Botanics Organic Rosewater Toning Spritz: This is one of my favourite toners as I love the fine spray and how refreshing it is. I would repurchase and am in fact onto my third bottle of the stuff! After the next one runs out I will probably try something new (suggestions please) but it will always be up there in my faves.

009. Vichy Thermal Spa Water: Again this was a sample from a Birch/Jolie Box and I love the handbag size. I didn't tend to use this on my face as although it might feel refreshing it actually dehydrates your skin if you do that but instead I've been using it during the hot weather on my body instead. It was a lovely little product but I don't really see the difference between this and putting some tap water into a spray bottle. I would repurchase but only as a little luxury.

010. Origins Super Spot Remover: This stuff is the best I've found for tackling problem break outs. I tried going without it but after two weeks I cracked and had to repurchase! This little bottle lasted me for months - since writing my review on it its only just run out so I think its great value for money.

011. Soap and Glory Peaches and Clean Cleanser: I bought this after all the hype and tried using this for its main purpose as a cleanser but didn't think too much of it and was a bit let down. However, I tend to leave it on as a mask now for around 5-10 minutes to let the fruit acids brighten up my complexion and it is good for this reason. Sensitive skin will probably not be able to deal well with this though as after 10 minutes my skin does go quite red. I have another bottle from a gift set to use up but after that I wouldn't repurchase as there are better products out there for the money.

012. Dior Eyezone Boosting Super Serum Sample: As far as eye creams go this was quite nice and the sample size lasted me for ages which was a bonus. It is really expensive though and it didn't do anything out of the ordinary so I probably wouldn't repurchase.

Hair

013. VO5 Heat Protecting Spray: After religiously using Tresemme's heat protector for years I thought it was time to try something new and picked up this one from VO5. It had a good diffuser which released an even and fine spray onto the hair and smelt lovely too. It is also cheap as chips and left no stickyness or weight in my hair so for these reasons I would repurchase.

Sorry it turned out to be such a long post, it took me ages to write haha! I hope these reviews were useful for you. What have you recently used up? xxx

Review: Soap and Glory | The Daily Smooth Body Butter |

£9.00 // 250ml

Like many other people, I love Soap and Glory and have sung their praises a number of times over on this part of the internet. Their body care range is my favourite as the products are effective and smell gorgeous all while looking very pretty in your bathroom.

This particular body butter is from the Mist You Madly scent range, which is floral and decadent. It is quite thick which means it takes a while to sink into the skin, so I normally reserve this for after baths in the evening or if I am not in a rush in the morning. The scent lasts a long time and the mix of rosehip seed oil and cocoa butter really penetrate the skin and help to tackle stubborn dry patches. The only gripe I have with this product is the packaging. Although it is very pretty, the formula inside is thicker than their other body butters in the tubs and yet they have put it in a tube. This makes it really difficult to squeeze product out and also when you have slippery hands from applying the product, it makes it even harder to squeeze the bottle.

Despite the tube, the actual product does the job and is an affordable luxury. Have you tried this product before? What are your favourite dry skin fixers? xxx

All Used Up #5

There isn't too many products in the fifth installment of this series even though I have used up other things but have failed to keep them in order to write a post. I'm going to try a bit harder though to find somewhere safe to keep them as I think they are a great way to do mini reviews and enjoy reading other people's (link me in the comments if you have a recent post of your own!)

001. La Roche-Posay Physiological Micellar Solution: I've been trying out a few micellar waters to take off the excess of my make up before cleansing properly, which I used to do with face wipes before. This was one of the better ones I have tried but did not take up all of my make up so I wouldn't recommend cleansing with just this. It was nice in the mornings though to freshen up and left skin soft and without any residue. I'm not sure if I really 'get' the hype over micellar waters to be honest - I'm using a bottle of Bioderma which is supposed to be the best one on the market, so once that is all finished I think I will have formed my final opinion on this type of product.

002. Simple Smoothing Facial Scrub: This has been hanging around for a while so I was pleased to finish it. It is an effective scrub without being too harsh and a good scrub/cream ratio but it didn't blow me away. I am looking at other scrubs and ways in which to exfoliate my skin instead at the moment.

003. Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Scrub: Another scrub, this time for the body. The scent of this is amazing: citrus and brown sugar combined together smells like Rowntree's fruit pastel lollies :) I'm a big fan of all things Soap & Glory and I am slowly working my way through their products but this particular scrub wasn't the best I've tried from them. As I said the smell was amazing so I am definitely looking into getting the shower gel of this range but the scrub wasn't scrubby enough for me and found that meant a lot of product was needed to get the desired results. Flake Away lasted a lot longer than this and I preferred the texture so it is still the top scrub for me!

004. Superdrug Blonde Colour Enhance Conditioner: Like the Simple scrub this has been in my bathroom for ages (I'm talking years) as I didn't really like it too much. I ended up using it for shaving my legs which it was good at but for its actual use I wouldn't repurchase.

005. Batiste Dry Shampoo in Blush: Yet another dry shampoo as I always use this in between washes. I've never really tried another dry shampoo as these are cheap and do the job.

006. Tresemme Heat Defence Smooth Spray: I don't use any other products from this brand as I heard from hairdressers that it isn't actually good for your hair, but their heat protectant is lovely and I always repurchase it. It smells lovely, doesn't weigh hair down and lasts ages so is very cost effective too. My favourite aspect of this product is the spray function as it delivers a very fine mist. I've kept the bottle to transfer some other heat protectants that I've got to use up into as its the best spray I've found. A definite repurchase.

Have you tried any of these products? xxx

Added Extras #2

While in the midst of a ridiculous amount of work at the end of last term, I was constantly dreaming of a relaxing pamper night at home, with full use of a selection of face masks, Lush products and a big bath. So that is exactly what I did when I got home for Easter. Pamper nights are a great excuse to rotate the products you have and rediscover old loves as well as experiment with new ones.

I always start by cleansing my face properly and then pop on a face mask. The first one I chose was a deep cleansing sample I got from Clarins (a brand which I am having a total love affair with at the moment) which cleanses deep down and refines pores. Although I need to use it more than once to get its full effect, from first use I was pleased with the silky formula and the pink clay helped to draw out impurities without being drying whatsoever. While the facemask was on I crumbled a bit of a Lush bubble bar 'French Kiss' which I got in a gift set for valentines day, that creates lovely lavender scented bubbles, perfect for relaxing.

While in the bath, I like a good scrub and the zingy scent of the Sugar Crush body scrub is sweet and uplifting. I prefer my scrubs to be a bit harsher than this, such as Flake Away, but I will definitley be looking into other products in the Sugar Crush range. The second Lush product is Twilight shower gel, which is again lavender scented with notes of malt to encourage relaxation and sleep.

Once out the bath, a good slathering of the Daily Smooth body butter from Soap and Glory is needed, which is more thick and nourishing than a regular moisturiser but thin enough to squeeze out a tube and sink in quicker than a standard body butter. After washing off the Clarins mask and toning, I popped on Origins Drink Up Intensive, an over night moisture mask to hydrate and nourish my skin. To top it all off, a few coats of Look Beauty's Nail pop in 'Dazzle'.

Have you used any of these products? What are your favourite pampering products? xxx

Review: Soap & Glory | Whipped Clean |

Whipped Clean Shower Butter // £8 // 250ml

A few months ago I bought this on a total whim when having a look round Boots, and I am so glad I did! The idea behind this is that its formulated to be a body wash and butter in one, saving you time when you just can't be bothered to moisturise. I find this especially useful on those chilly mornings when I don't want to wait around ages for my moisturiser to sink in.

The product is a thick white cream, which lathers up really nicely. A quarter of the shower butter is made up of 'moisture oils' including sweet almond oil (one of my faves) grapeseed oil, macadamia oil and cocoa and shea butter. All of these ingredients combined make this product smell SO GOOD! Seriously if you could actually eat it, I no doubt would! The scent is ultra sweet and reminds me of marzipan and vanilla cake... mmm! The combination of the creamy formula and the smell makes this a really indulgent shower time treat. It has lived up to its moisturising claims too as my skin does get more dry when the weather is cold and it has helped to keep that problem at bay.

I would say the only downside is that it is more expensive than the large shower gels from Soap and Glory yet you get half as much product. This still wouldn't put me off repurchasing this but I like to save it as more of a treat rather than an every day shower gel.

What are your favourites from Soap and Glory? xxx

The Poorly Face

Recently I've been under the weather like most people around this time of year and so havn't been up to putting on a full face of make up. However, when illness strikes I like to use more subtle make up to make me look a little less sick, which in turn makes me feel a bit better.

To start off I apply Revolution Organics Freedom Glow Beauty Balm in 'bronzed' all over my face and blend in well with a stippling brush. This gives a healthy, natural glow which contains moisturising oils such as coconut and jojoba, and aloe vera to sooth and condition, perfect for dehydrated skin and dry areas such as round the nose. I then applied Benefit's Erase Paste in 1 and Lasting Perfection Concealer by Collection  in 1 to cover up any other redness and dark circles. To perk up  my complexion a little more, I blended some Hocus Focus by Soap and Glory onto my cheek bones and places that would naturally catch the light.

For my eyes I used a tiny bit of the new Rimmel Scandal Eyes waterproof kohl liner in 'Nude' on my water line to brighten them up and defined my brows with a little of a Rimmel eyebrow pencil in 'Hazel'. I didn't tend to wear mascara but on the days when I felt it was needed, a few coats of L'Oreal Million Lashes was suffice.  Lastly, I lightly lined my lips in the perfect shade for my natural lip colour - 'Eastend Snob', another Rimmel product, this time their Exaggerate Full Colour lip liner. I then blended this all over my lips to give them some natural definition.

What make up do you wear when feeling under the weather? xxx

Added Extras #1

(Sorry for the not so great picture!)

Since coming home for reading week I've come down with a nasty cold which I've been trying to keep at bay for weeks and just feel generally rubbish. I think the stress of third year is getting to me so I've been trying to chill out as much as possible. One of the best things about being at home is having my own bathroom and having a bath every evening, especially as the weather gets colder. Therefore, I've been taking the time to use this to my full advantage and treat myself a little to make me feel better. These products are something that I don't use every day and are therefore little 'added extras' when I want a bit of a pamper. 

I bought a few lush bath bits before coming back to treat myself and I've been enjoying using the Sunnyside bubble bar to make my bath time a bit more special and luxurious. At the moment the weather and my illness has made my skin look pretty crap - dull and dehydrated with a few blemishes to top it all off (you can tell I'm the picture of health...) so I've been adding some masks into my nighttime skin care routine to combat some of these problems. I began with the fab pore by Soap and Glory to give a deep clean and help reduce my pores, but the jury is still out on this one and I'm not sure if it lives up to my Origins Clear Improvements. I followed this up with Origins Out of Trouble mask which is great for calming down blemishes and leaves my skin lovely and smooth. I've run out of my Drink Up sample though to complete this 'triple threat facial' so will be purchasing this asap to rectify the dehydration issue. For my body I used my favourite scrub of the moment which is Soap and Glory's Flake Away which smells amazing and leaves my skin nourished and radiant.

Once out of the tub I completed my skin care routine and added my serum of choice - Estee Lauder's Advanced Night Repair into the mix. I received this as an extremely generous surprise present from Matt and boy am I glad! It evens out my skintone and injects radiance and moisture back into my skin. I then slathered on some of the Body Shop's Peppermint Cooling Foot Lotion before popping on some socks to put some moisture back into my feet. For the last step my nails got treated to O.P.I's 'Play The Peonies' with a layer of 'Disco Heaven' by Model's Own to inject a little winter sparkle.

What are your added extras for autumn? Do you have any product suggestions for dehydrated skin? xxx

September Favourites

This post is a little late but nevertheless I wanted to post it because I have enjoyed quite a few bits this month - some which are relatively new purchases and others that I've rediscovered. There is a bit of make up and skincare but no hair products this month! This year has absolutely flown by, I know people say that a lot but  it has definitely been the quickest year for me with lots of ups and downs. I'm really looking forward to Autumn and Winter as I prefer the colder months and hopefully the weather will lead me to finding some great skincare bits appropriate for the coming seasons! Also sorry for the creased covers in the photos but that is what happens when you have a tiny tumble drier and no time to iron bed sheets! Life of a student eh...

Soap and Glory Hocus Focus: I spoke about this and did a mini review when first purchased here. I wasn't too sure on it at the beginning but it has now made it into my every day routine. Since I've been using lighter bases over the past few months, I mix this in and it gives a lovely glow and perks up my face a bit. I wasn't as big a fan when using it with foundations, but mixed with BB creams, tinted moisturiers or used by itself it gives a lovely glow to the face without being iridescent or shiny. I will continue to use it during the colder weather as it stops me looking so tired when getting up for 9ams at uni! It has lasted me such a long time and has been a great investment.

Cosmo Blend Perfection: A review also recently went up of this product so if you want an indepth analysis you can check it out here. A quick summary though is that it is a great dupe for the infamous Beauty Blender and allows thicker bases to look much more like skin rather than a cakey mask. I've enjoyed using this on days when I feel like I need a little more coverage than usual.

Light bases: These are represented by the Stila tinted moisturier and two BB creams in the picture. There are a few more which I'm really enjoying at the moment but it would have been too much to fit in! During Summer I started purchasing lighter bases because when it is sunny I feel that a thick layer of foundation can just look patchy and unflattering, especially with oily skin. I used various lighter bases religiously throughout the warmer months (if you can say they were warmer!) and have enjoyed experimenting to find my favourites.

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Serum: I'm hoping to do a review of this once I've used it for a good couple of weeks. This was gifted to me by my very generous boyfriend as a surprise, which was amazing as I had wanted to get my hands on it for ages but it was just too expensive! It is a luxury to use am so glad it is now a staple in my nightly skincare routine.

MUA Frozen Yogurt: MUA as a brand is one of my favourites on the highstreet. This particular  is a bargain for £1 (!!!) and although it is a very small pot, the formula is really good especially considering the price. I really love the shade and think it will look lovely with some glitter over the top too. I won't go into too much detail as I'm hoping to do a NOTD on it soon, but after using this I would like to try some other colours in their range too.

Maybelline Colour Tattoo in 'On and On Bronze': This is my favourite eye product of the moment. I use it at least 3-4 times a week and is such an easy way to bring some depth to your make up. It's great for in a hurry as you can just sweep it over your entire lid and depending on how I'm feeling either just slick on some mascara or wear a cat eye with some liquid liner. I also think the shade is lovely and makes blue eyes pop. I wrote a review on it here.

Soap and Glory Flake Away: I love body scrubs and I also adore Soap and Glory so this is a match made in heaven! I like a scrub to be quite gritty and choose salt and sugar scrubs normally so I can really feel it working. This product smells divine, with the scent lingering on your skin for a good while after and effectively gets rid of old dull skin, leaving a nice residue (even though that isn't a nice word I can't think of a better one!) of oil on your skin so it feels nourished at the same time. It might not be the best to use fake tan straight after but if you use it the day before it will leave a great base for an even tan. I'm looking forward to trying some other scrubs from this brand too as they all look amazing!

What do you think of my favourites this month? Are any of them in yours? xxx

Review: Soap & Glory Supercat Eyeliner

I have been a fan of Soap and Glory for some time now but I havn't branched out much from their bodycare into their make up range. The one make up item I do own is Hocus Focus which I have grown to love and wear nearly every day (review here) so the Supercat Eyeliner is my second step into Soap and Glory Makeup. This wasn't a whimsical purchase as I had just run out of liquid eyeliner and was looking for a suitable replacement. Sorry for the not so great pictures as it was a rather stormy day so couldn't get great lighting :(

On first impressions, I loved the packaging (Soap and Glory always seem to nail this) but the formula of the product let me down. The packaging is sleek and pretty looking, the perfect size to fit in your hand bag and enable easy application to both eyes. I also liked the tapered nib which looks like a felt tip - it is the perfect shape to apply a straight line, whether thick or thin and also great for flicks too.

After all these pros I felt disappointed when the formula came out quite watery, much like a washable felt tip, and I had to put on quite a few layers to quite a black opaque line. However, after 3 or 4 uses I am pleased to say that it has started to come out much darker than on first application, so I think it was just because the product had to saturate the nib a bit more.

Swatched when brand new. Colour has since become darker.

Overall, I really enjoy using this eyeliner, and if you are a novice to liquid eyeliner this would be a good choice for you because of the easy application. This is another great product from Soap and Glory which makes me excited to try out some of their other make up products.

Have you got this eyeliner? If so what did you think? Have you tried any Soap and Glory make up? xxx

Oops I Did It Again...!

Hello everyone, at the moment I'm back in Exeter :)! The other day Matt and I decided to go into the centre of the city and enjoy some retail therapy to celebrate that he has just got a new job! After spending a good few hours in town, I came back with more than I expected (although some were gifts) and Matt came back with... nothing! Woops! Apologies for the not so wonderful pictures, but the weather was pretty gloomy so the lighting wasn't fab. 

                 

Leopard Print studs are a gift for a friend.

 Revlon Just Bitten in 'Cherish Devotion'

 Mini peace hoop earrings from Urban Outfitters (gifted)

 Soap & Glory Supercat Liquid Eyeliner

 Kirsten high waisted jeans from Topshop - £20 in the sale!! Half price! Bargain!

 Dark Blue Jeans from Topshop (gifted) - I really needed a new pair of jeans as my previous trusty Pippa ones from Topshop were threadbare after 3 years of wear!

Bargain of the day: Stila make up for £1 EACH in Poundland!!!!

This is a broad overview of what I purchased - expect detailed reviews of the mentioned products to be up in the near future. On the whole I am really happy with what I got especially as I wasn't planning on buying a lot apart from a much needed pair of jeans, plus I managed to pick up some real bargains :)

What do you think of my haul? xxx

Blog Sale Goodies

I have been sooo excited for this package to arrive since I bought some item's off Maisey's blog sale and luckily I didn't have to wait long to receive it :) It was my first ever purchase from a blog sale and most of the items I had bought were ones that I had been wanting to try for a while and others were just because they were a bargain! I think blog sales are such a good idea as they enable the seller to declutter their beauty/make up collection but instead of wasting the products they get given to buyers who really want the products and will get good use out of them for a fab price. I thought the way they were packaged in an old glossy box was a really nice surprise and made it feel like a lovely treat :)

I will give a quick run down of the products I bought but much like my other hauls I will give proper detailed reviews of these products once I've had a few weeks test run to give them a fair analysis.

17 BB Cream in Light: I already have a BB cream by Garnier which I really love, but I have wanted to trial a few others to determine a favourite. This one really appealed to me as it is relatively cheap, has SPF 25 in it and also claims to have oil control too. I'm really hoping I get on with this one as it sounds really good.

Soap and Glory Hand Food: This has been something I've been wanting to try as I love hand creams and I also love Soap and Glory products. So far I've used it once and it smells delicious, just like their Flake Away scrub which I love. So far, so good!

17 Miracle Matte Foundation in Fair: My go to foundation is Maybelline's Dream Matt Mousse as it is great for my combination/oily skin and has a light coverage, so to top that will be pretty hard! I have been using it for a while now though so thought I would give this a go as an alternative. I also really like that this product has an added SPF in it so it will be interesting to see how I get on with it. Normally during the day I  have been using a BB cream so will test this some time soon!

L-R: Cupcake & Raspberry Pie

Revlon Lip Butters in Cupcake and Raspberry Pie: These are one of the products I've been meaning to test out and both the colours are ones I have been interested in purchasing, along with Tutti Frutti. I love the packaging and the cute names of the colours and upon swatching I really like the pigmentation which is brighter than I thought it would be. I have tried on Cupcake and really like it but haven't been able to test out how long wearing they are yet. The only let down is that I thought they would be a little larger in size.

Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate Lipstick in 03: For a while now I have been wanting to test out a nude coloured lipstick and this is my first purchase of one. I am a fan of Rimmel's lipsticks as I think they are a nice formula and have lovely pigmentation, so I am excited to test this out. It is a bit of a darker shade of nude than I would have normally bought but you never know I may love it!

Sephora Anti-Shine Primer: After already owning 2 other primers, this probably doesn't seem like a necessity but I have been looking for a primer that can help me keeping matte and I haven't fallen in love with the primers I already have so it will be exciting to test this one out. I really like Sephora products too, so I hope this won't let me down. 

Philip Kingsley Elasticizer: This is a product I'm glad I managed to buy in a small quantity as it will save me splashing out on a full size one and potentially not liking it. I have read mixed reviews on this and I know  it didn't do a thing for Miss Budget Beauty but for others it has worked really well, so I wanted to see if it would do anything for me.

Benefit Thrrrob Powder: I love Benefit powders simply because of the packaging, the smell and the fact they last forever! I have owned many different kinds over the years but I have never purchased Thrrrob and thought I would try it for a bargain price. It is a really pretty pink, a bit darker than Dandelion and as I like pink blushes this should suit me well.

So that's everything! Thanks again to Maisey for the super quick delivery and lovely presentation :) Have any of you tried these products and what are your thoughts on them? xxx