SKINCARE: NSPA Firming and Toning Body Cream

 

Since being pregnant it's not surprising that I don't have the most toned of bodies, not helped by a big pregnancy weight gain. I'm now in the process of losing it, getting more active and trying to get my body even slightly closer to the way it was prior to pregnancy.

NEW RELEASE: NSPA Grapefruit and Raspberry Skincare for Dry Skin

As I've mentioned on here before, since giving birth my skin has been challenging shall we say?! It's really dry in patches, yet still oily in other places and generally hard work.

NEW RELEASE: The Body Shop Virgin Mojito Range

The scent of product can be the make or break of it and the latest special edition range from The Body Shop is definitely a hit. The Virgin Mojito range has notes of zesty lime and crushed mint - amazing.

SKINCARE: Vital Touch Natalia Prenatal Body Scrub

 

 Since giving birth my skin has been seriously challenging - really dry. However much I moisturise my body I haven't been able to stop it, my legs have been the biggest problem. Has anyone else had this issue post pregnancy?

SKINCARE: The Body Shop Vitamin C Range

I'm forever falling in love with The Body Shop skincare products, I think they are really underrated. There ranges cater for all skin types and there's always some kind of discount code available, making it a very affordable place to shop.

BEAUTY: My tired skin saviours from The Body Shop Vitamin E Range

As I enter motherhood and when I was heavily pregnant it took its toll on my sleep. Cue tired looking skin and dark circles under my eyes - not the 'glowing' look I was going for! I've always had pretty dark circles under my eyes but they have been getting darker and darker recently. That was until I started using a couple of Limited Edition Vitamin E products from The Body Shop.

After my usual cleansing and toning skincare routine I've been applying The Body Shop Vitamin E Moisture Cream Limited Edition* (£11) all over my face and neck, gently massaging it in. The combination of taking time to work the product into my skin and the rich yet gentle moisture cream have really made a difference to the look of my skin. The increased circulation has helped to brighten the skin, while my skin was clearly not getting adequate moisture from my previous moisturiser as it drinks this Vitamin E moisure cream up! It's so gentle on the skin, making it perfect for all skin types. In fact my husband has really sensitive skin and I've caught him 'borrowing' this moisture cream a number of times! To be fair his skin has been less dry and smoother since using it, so I'll be sending him out to get his own pot. 

After moisturising my face and neck I've been concentrating on the sensitive eye area, often the area that gives it away if you're tired. The Body Shop Vitamin E Eyes Cube Limited Edition* (£8) is so lovely to use around the eye area. It's so cooling, despite not being kept anywhere near a fridge, and refreshing that it really does help to wake me up! It's enriched with wheatgerm oil, which is one of the highest natural sources of vitamin E. The tube means it's easy to quickly apply or you can gently massage the product into your under eye if you have a bit more time. I've been using this daily, it's so easy to apply but still feels luxurious and pampering.
There are also loads of offers available on The Body Shop website, so you'll definietly be able to pick these tired skin saviours up with a discount. 

How do you waken tired skin?

Feel free to leave me a comment :)

Helen x

BEAUTY: The Glamour Spring Beauty Edit - an incredible offer!

 

On my birthday this beautiful box appeared on my doorstep - The Glamour Spring Beauty Edit. A box filled with beauty goodies to discover, try out and add to your collection. I love finding new products, especially discovering them in a surprise box like this one! This box is part of the most incredible beauty and magazine deal I've seen in a long time - for only £16.99 you get this beauty box AND a 12 month subscription to Glamour magazine. Overall it's worth £99 - so £16.99 is a bargain! 

You can get the deal if you click here.

 

I haven't tried any of these products out yet, so I can't offer any informed opinions on them yet but if any stand out I'll be sure to do a proper review on my blog. The box contains the following products...

Revlon Colorstay Gel Envy Nail Enamel

Revlon Colorstay Gel Envy Diamond Top Coat

Moroccanoil Intense Hydrating Mask

BeautyUK High Brow All In One Brow Definition Kit

Rimmel Oh My Gloss! Lip Gloss

Nuxe Creme Fraiche 24hr Soothing and Rehydrating Fresh Mask

Kiko Long Lasting Stick Eyeshadow

Model Co. Creme Rouge Cheek and Lips in Just Peachy

Sample of L'Eau Couture by Elie Saab 

Such a fantastic range of products, including a number of brands I've never tried before. I'm excited to give them a go!

Have you made the most of this fantastic deal?

Feel free to leave me a comment :)

Helen x

BODY: The Body Shop Glazed Apple Body Butter

I am obsessed with anything scented or flavoured with apple, I just love it! So when I saw that The Body Shop had bought out a new range called Glazed Apple I had to get down to my local Body Shop to check the range out. I certainly wasn't disappointed, it smells divine, so divine in fact I never used a body butter up so quickly! The Glazed Apple Body Butter* has all of the loveliness of the usual Body Shop body butter ranges - thick, rich body cream that is just the most moisturising - especially welcome at this time of year. 

I would be so happy if I received anything from the Body Shop Glazed Apple range this Christmas, it makes for such a 'treaty' gift! Also, The Body Shop have always got various offers on to take advantage of, at the time of writing this they are offering a massive 40% off plus free standard delivery on orders over £5. So there's definitely always a bargain to be had, without compromising on the quality at all.

Which is your favourite range from The Body Shop?

Feel free to leave me a comment :)

Helen x

SKINCARE: Surviving the Colder Months

I don't know about you but my skin is starting to fall apart. The cooler days and heating on always send my skin into panic mode, it starts peeling away and no amount of exfoliation seems to help. This year my skin seems to be the worst its ever been, my forehead, chin and apples of my cheeks are all beginning their peeling marathon of the winter months. But this year WILL be the year I manage these problems and sort my skin out.

I began prepping my skin, ready for the colder months, at the end of summer with finding/trying/buying a range of moisture rich products. During the summer my skin is so resilient, if I forget to moisturise (due to the relaxed holiday vibe of the summer) my skin isn't fazed. It just gets on with it. The autumn/winter is another story all together, my skin is so sensitive to any changes - whether that be weather, my skincare routine or make up I use.

I've come up with a collection of products that I've been using to try to combat the whole 'autumn peeling look'. I'm really happy with how they are all working together to help keep my skin moisturised and more resilient to temperature changes.

My 'Surviving the Colder Months' Kit:

Garnier Fresh Essentials 24hr Hydrating Day Cream - Normal + Combination Skin

This is a great daily moisturiser, which helps to hydrate those dry areas and it does keep my skin feeling moisturised all day.

Sanctuary Spa 5 Minute Thermal Detox Mask

I have noticed such a difference since using this twice weekly. When I don't have time to use it twice during a week I can really tell the difference with my skin. It has a slight warming feel as you apply it, which is always welcomed during these colder months. I don't find this mask helps with hydrating my skin but it is perfect for targeting the t-zone and doesn't dry my skin out at all.

Aromatherapy Associates Hydrating Rose Face Mask

I got this sample size free with a magazine a while ago and I've been really enjoying using this mask alongside the Sanctuary Spa 5 Minutes Thermal Detox Mask. I apply the Sanctuary Mask over my t-zone and this mask over the rest of my face. It's a light, clear gel so it's easy to use and feels really hydrating.

Nivea Daily Essentials Sensitive Cleansing Milk

In the past I have found some cleansers quite drying, an attribute no one wants during the colder months. This cleansing milk is really gentle yet effective, removing all of my make up (except waterproof mascara). It never leaves my skin feeling tight or dry, consequently making it the perfect daily cleanser.

St. Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub

I think this must be one of those skincare products that has been in my weekly routine since I started a skincare routine as a teenager. It's a well loved staple by many, due to its fresh scent, fantastic ability to gently scrub away dry skin and the fact it seems to last forever. I've had this mini tube for what feels like a very long time, despite using it weekly.

Sudocream Antiseptic Healing Cream

This product is usually associated with nappy rash and babies but it's actually an excellent moisturiser for those especially dry areas. I use this on target areas that are really playing up, which at the moment is around my nose (thanks to all that nose blowing) and just in the centre of my forehead. I like to layer it on at night and allow it to soak in throughout the night. Easy, fuss free and very hydrating.

Which products do you use to get your skin through these colder months?

Helen x

SKINCARE: Superdrug Mini Massage Mitt

I have seen these mini massage mitts around quite a lot recently (Soap and Glory do one for £4), so when I found one in Superdrug for only 25p I made the purchase. The idea is this mitt helps to massage your skincare products further into your skin, for that deep cleaned feeling. A good idea for that deep cleanse its good to do once a week but I don't think I'd be bothered to add this to my eye make-up remover, cleanser, toner, moisturiser and primer routine every day. For me, it's a step too far but I never have been one for being particularly disciplined when it comes to skincare routines.  

However, I do like using this mitt to stimulate circulation in my face. I actually found this worked really well for sorting out my skin if I had breakouts. I don't know the science of it but I presume having more blood flowing around my face (how gross does that sound?!) helped the breakouts.

I found that this mitt also works well for removing fake tan from a targeted area. During the summer I wear fake tan most days but after a while it can build up in areas and they need a bit of an extra scrub. This carefully removed the fake tan without being harsh on my skin, perfect for my neck area. Does anyone else HATE anything touching their neck? I literally can't handle it! If a top is too close to my neck I'll spend the whole day yanking it away from neck!

The bristles are really soft and flexible, they certainly aren't scratchy in the slightest.

Do you use a mini massage mitt? Can you think of any other uses for the mitt?

Feel free to leave me a comment :)

Helen x 

DIY: Avocado Face Mask with a Twist

Since my 'health kick' at the start of this year I've become obsessed with avocado's! Now they are quite high in fat (the good type) so one avocado is around 225 kcal, not the best option for low calorie meals BUT their goodness out ways the fact that they are slightly higher in calories. Well I think so anyway :)

Avocado's are full of minerals, such as iron, potassium, calcium, sodium, copper and magnesium. They also contain vitamins A, E, B and K. Resulting in them not only being fantastic for you to eat but also great to use as part of your skincare routine! There's certainly no debating or long lists of ingredients to look through to check if this face mask is natural and good for you - it has two ingredients. Both of which are natural.

1) Avocado

2) Lemon

Just mash them together and apply to your face, as you would any shop bought face mask. The lemon is good for your skin but also stops the avocado going brown.

The title of this post is 'avocado face mask with a twist' and so far it's similar to any other avocado face mask recipe out there. Now I'm not claiming this idea is mine, in fact you may already know about this, but I only just found out about this ingenious idea and I love it, so I had to share! The stone of the avocado shouldn't be thrown away - it's the perfect, smooth massager for your face (or body). Ok, so the stone can be quite hard to hold, it's one slippery thing but it's so smooth and rounded it makes for the ideal gentle massager to really work the face mask in. Honestly, if you've not tried this - you should! It's so relaxing and free! (Well once you've bought the avocado to eat/make a face mask with).

Are you going to have a go at this face mask/massager combination?

Feel free to leave me a comment :)

REFLECTION: My Top 10 Skincare and Hair Care Products of 2013!

2013 has been a year of discovering new products, I was stuck in a routine with my skincare and hair care and to be honest I was pretty happy! But then I started trying new products out, my eyes have been opened to the effects different products do have on your body. I thought I'd put together a list of my favourite products of 2013 and ones that I'll definitely be repurchasing throughout 2014!

Hair Care

1) Naked Brunette Radiance Shampoo and Conditioner (£4.19 each from Boots) - I absolutely love these for creating glossy, healthy looking hair. The fact that they are 97% natural is a massive bonus, I know that I'm not putting on any harmful chemicals into my hair, which is reassuring! My hair has never been so shiny and easy to style - I've almost run out of these so I'll definitely be repurchasing them early in the new year. See full review here.

2) Schwarzkopf got2b Guardian Angel Heat Protecting Spray 200ml (£2.99 from Superdrug) - I recently had my hair cut relatively short compared to how long it was. I hadn't had my hair cut in a very long time, so I needed all my split ends cut off. I also wanted to have a sweeping fringe cut back in (I last had one in 2010 but found it very annoying constantly covering my eyes!). After getting my hair cut I always feel like I need to look after my new 'do', so I start using products that I've neglected. I've had this heat protecting spray for a while and it's so good for protecting my hair without being greasy or heavy. I've found that some heat protecting sprays make your hair feel like it has a lot of product in, which I personally don't like. This is a light but effective spray that I'd highly recommend.

3) Tangle Teezer Salon Elite Detangling Hairbrush (£11.99 from amazon) - I actually won this earlier in the year and it sat unused for a while. I'm not sure why because I had heard amazing things about Tangle Teezers and had wanted one for ages! When we moved house I rediscovered it and have used it everyday since. When I had long hair I was really struggling with how knotted my hair was getting, the Tangle Teezer was the only hairbrush that would remove the knots without breaking my hair badly.

4) Batiste Dry Shampoo in Blush (on offer for £1.45 from Superdrug) - why did I not know about dry shampoo earlier?! Tom's sisters use it all the time and it was them I learnt all about the wonders and convenience of dry shampoo! It's great for giving your hair a refresh and volume and it can mean you don't need to wash your hair everyday, which we all know is so bad for our hair! I've recently had a sweeping fringe cut, so this dry shampoo is perfect for revitalising it! 

5) Denman Ceramic Hot Curling Brush D74 (£8.79 from Boots) - since having my hair cut shorter and a sweeping fringe cut back in I have needed to blow dry my hair everyday with a curling brush. I don't actually curl my hair with the brush I just use it to give a bit more volume at my roots. This curling hairbrush is ideal because I found that cheaper hairbrushes prickles just melt under the heat of the hair dryer! The Denman Ceramic Hot Curling Brush works with you to help create extra volume! 

Skincare

6) MyChelle Deep Repair Cream (£24 from MyChelle website) - if your skin struggles in the winter with being dry this is the moisturising cream for you! It has a really luxurious feel to the cream, which is absorbed quickly. This cream not only rehydrates but also restores and repairs - ideal combination for the cooler months. See full review here.

7) St Moriz Medium Instant Self Tanning Mousse (£2.99 from fragrancedirect) - I'm not sure if this should really go under 'skincare' but it does go on my skin! This self tan is amazing and I'm pretty sure you will have either heard of it or tried it yourself! At only £2.99 you can't really go wrong, it gives an instant colour which makes applying it easy. It will then develop over time, I tend to apply it at night and by the morning I'm lovely and tanned. Although this is an 'instant' tan it does last longer than a day. Once you've washed the colour guide off (I actually prefer it with the colour guide on - it's a darker colour) you are left with a lighter tan. You can build this up over a couple of days if you do like a darker tan. They also do a 'dark' Instant Self Tanning Mousse too.

8) Aromatherapy Associates Renewing Rose Cleanser (currently in the sale for £18.96 from Beauty Bay) - I was given a sample size of this product on the VIP evening at Eden Spa (see post here), I couldn't wait to try it out. Mainly because I had heard such excellent things about Aromatherapy Assocaites products but also the rose scent reminds me of the most relaxing steam room at Eden Spa that smells of rose! This cleanser is so luxurious, it quickly and effectively removes make up, while deeply moisturising. I've tried some cleansers that leave your face feeling 'tight' as it's been dried out. After using this product my face was moisturised and clean!

9) nspa Brightening Detox Scrub (£4.50 from ASDA) - I use this scrub everyday in the shower, it's a light scrub so it's ideal for everyday use. I can get patches of quite dry skin sometimes so it's important I exfoliate regularly. I love the scent of this product, as well as how long the product lasts for. I've had my tube for about 4 months now and I'm not even half way through it, despite using it everyday! See full review here. 

10) LUSH Cupcake Fresh Face Mask (£5.95 for 75g) - I became such a big fan if lush late last year, I used to be put off my the smell in the shops being overpowering but now I love it! As there isn't one in my local town it's such a treat when I do get to visit one.  I've also just made a rather large order from the lush sale, I'm so excited for it to arrive! This face mask has to be kept in the fridge, which actually makes applying it even better due to the contrast between the cold mask and hot bath. If you like chocolate then you'll love this because that's exactly what it smells like! I have to be honest I do mostly get it for the smell, although it does also leave my skin very soft and cleansed too. 

(Photo Credit)

Which products have been your favourite throughout 2013?

Feel free to leave me a comment :) 

SKINCARE: Lierac Luminescence Illuminating Serum

I had been wanting to try a serum for a while, after hearing such brilliant things about them and their effect on your skin. So when Fragrance Direct kindly offered to send me the Lierac Luminescence Serum to try out I was interested to see the results. If you haven't visited the Fragrance Direct website then you must, it's full of ridiculous discounts on skincare, fragrance and beauty products. This serum RRP is £75 but Fragrance Direct sell it for only £18.95, a massive £56.05 saving!!

 

The Lierac Luminescence Illuminating Serum claims to 'works deep-down and on the surface to reduce the appearance of pigment spots and redness. Helps refine and smooth skin texture, evening out the complexion'. The aspects that really appealed to me were the evening out of complexion and creating a smoother skin texture. My skin can sometimes be quite dull, so I rely on highlighting products to create a 'healthy glow'. As I started using this product I noticed that my skin started to break out a bit more, which isn't ideal. I persisted with the product, presuming that the breakout's were as a result of using a new product, almost like a detox. I'm glad I did persist because after using this product for a couple of weeks I noticed that my skin started to look more radiant.

The pearlescent packaging and bottle are very appealing and certainly stood out on my dressing table. However, the actual serum isn't pearlescent or sparkly, making it perfect for everyday use. I apply this product every evening, after I have toned and cleansed. I then apply my moisturiser and eye cream, so that my all of my skins needs are met and it's a chance to have a little pamper at the end of a long day! 

 

I did find applying this product slightly challenging, I might just be missing a trick but trying to use the pipette to apply the product didn't really work. Unless my head was leaning completely back the product just ran down my face before I had a chance to put the bottle down! So I started to put a small amount into my hands, rubbed my hands together and massaged it into my face. If I'm missing a trick I'd love to know?!

 

 

Are you a fan of serums?

 

Feel free to leave me a comment :)

 

MyChelle Deep Repair Cream

If your a fan of natural skincare products then you'll love MyChelle, a company that offer a wide variety of skincare products made with natural ingredients. They have excellent feature of their website, you can easily and quickly search for products specifically designed for your skin type. Anyone that is new to skincare and the wide range of products available for every skin problem, this feature of their website is invaluable. I have dry/combination skin depending on the time of year. During these cooler months, like a lot of women, I get really dry skin on my face. I always put it down to being in the warm then the cold, then the warm again etc. My poor skin can't keep up with it! As a result my forehead often peels and is very dry. I always exfoliate to help this but it doesn't solve the problem fully.

 

MyChelle kindly sent me their Deep Repair Cream (£24) to try out, which is aimed at people with dry skin. Another brilliant feature of MyChelle is that a lot of their products have stage number. This indicates which order to use the products, so that your skincare routine caters for your skins needs perfectly.



MyChelle Deep Repair Cream restores, repairs and rehydrates with rejuvenating Kombuchka™ and Venuceane™. It's gluten free and vegan friendly as well. This Deep Repair Cream is also brilliant for ageing skin, as skin loses its natural oil. Perfect for Christmas presents!  





It smells so lovely and absorbs into the skin really well. A little goes a long way, I applied this before my night serum and moisturiser for the ultimate hydration treatment!

Do you prefer natural beauty products?

Feel free to leave me a comment :)

Cath Kidston from John Lewis ♥

Yes I love Cath Kidston. Yes I probably talk about it too much. Yes I spend too much money there. But no I don't care :)

I picked up these little beauties from John Lewis, they're 'Wild Flowers Assorted Hand Creams' and only cost £6! Each one is 30ml, so perfect for the handbag, holidays, weekends away or if your feeling really generous then you could split them up and give them as presents!

The 'wild flowers' scents are wild rose, bluebell and honeysuckle, personally my favourite is honeysuckle. They all have very strong scents, there's no denying they smell of flowers, so if you don't like strong scents these may not be the hand creams for you.

I really like the texture of these hand creams, they soak in quickly and their scent stays for hours! Very moisturising and such cute packaging, typical Cath Kidston!

Have you tried these before?

Are you a fan of the Cath Kidston toiletries?