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.

BEAUTY: Maybelline The Nudes Eyeshadow Palette

 

My Dad recently went to America *cue mass beauty shopping list* and he kindly picked me up some new make up. My Dad isn't the most knowledgeable about make up, which isn't entirely surprising, but it did mean my shopping list had to be seriously detailed!

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: Ted Baker Mint Beauty Bag

Ted Baker have done it again - created the most beautiful gift set, but this time they've taken it to a whole new level by adding rose gold/copper detail to the packaging. Stunning.  

BEAUTY: Drugstore haul with my first impressions

You know when everything in your make up bag and skincare routine all seem to run out at the same time? Well that happened to me recently, so it was the perfect excuse to mix things up and try new products. Cue a trip to Boots to update/transform both my make up bag and skincare routine. I thought I'd combine this drugstore haul with my first impressions of the products, as it's always helpful to know if a product is worth buying or not. 

 
L'Oreal Infallible Foundation in Porcelain (£9.99). I have tried the matte version of this foundation (read my full review here) and after initially not really liking it I ended up really liking it's medium-full coverage. It's not the easiest foundation to blend into my skin but with a lot of buffing I got a pretty flawless finish. So I was intrigued to try the more satin/glowy version of the Infallible foundation. This one is aimed at people with drier skin, which is certainly me at the moment (since giving birth my skin has become the driest ever!)

L'Oreal 4D Mascara in Black (£10.99). My trusty Maybelline Cat Eyes mascara was running out, so I needed a new one that did everything that mascara did and more! This L'Oreal mascara had some pretty impressive claims about making your lashes longer and with more volume. However on first impressions I don't like this mascara, it's a pretty dry formula which I don't like. It didn't seem to coat my lashes with anything, so I certainly didn't get the volume or length I was looking for. After three coats my lashes still looked like I hadn't applied anything, not the best first impressions for a relatively expensive drugstore mascara. I'm not giving up on it just yet, I will continue to try it out and I'll keep you updated.


 
L'Oreal True Match Foundation in Rose Ivory (£9.99). Boots had a 3 for 2 offer so I thought I'd restock on one of my favourite drugstore foundations. They don't currently have 3 for 2, it's 2 L'Oreal products for £12. I love this foundation, it has a medium coverage, blends well and covers almost everything I want it to. Personally, I like quite a full coverage foundation, like Estee Lauder Double Wear. True Match has a lighter coverage but still covers dark circles, blemishes and  uneven skin tone.

Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer in Light (on offer for £4.49). This is another repurchase - this concealer is just perfect for the summer months. I don't tend to use it much during the winter, just because I like to use something with a better coverage (like Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer or Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer). We are now entering the summer months and I love to 'wake up' my skin with products that have a more dewy finish. This concealer is perfect for lightening up the under eye area and using as a kind of highlighter. I apply it in a triangle shape under my eye, blend with a duo fibre brush from Real Techniques and set in place with Rimmel Stay Matte powder in Translucent.

Dior Nude Foundation in Ivory (reduced to £10). This was the absolute beauty bargain of the year so far, in my local boots they had a basket of reduced make up. If you go to Boots I'm sure you know the one, it usually has broken eyeshadows, lipsticks that have been opened and generally not great things. However every once in a while there will be a gem, a bargain that cannot be resisted and the day I went in it was this Dior Nude foundation IN MY SHADE! I couldn't believe it, despite only just buying two L'Oreal foundations the day before, I couldn't turn down this bargain. Dior Nude usually retails for £32, so with a price tag of £10 you can probably see why I couldn't walk away without purchasing it. It was unopened, never been used and even in the box - complete winner. This is probably the lightest coverage foundation I've tried in a long time, yet it somehow gives a good amount of coverage. The kind of coverage that is perfect for a summer day when heavy make up would probably just melt off your face. I actually really like the light texture of this foundation, which is such a contrast to my usually pretty heavy textured foundations. I think this is going to become my new favourite foundation for the summer.

L'Oreal Elnett Satin Hairspray (travel size). I'm currently using the Fudge Urban Iced Raspberry & Vanilla hairspray, which has a pretty strong hold and you can tell when I have it on. I wanted something a bit lighter on the hair but with the same hold. As this is such a popular hairspray and I had never tried it I thought I'd give it a go. First impressions of the hold and feel on the hair are really good, however I don't like the smell of it. The Fudge hairspray smells really nice, so it might be that I'm used to that scent but either way I don't like it.

Ogx Argan Oil of Morocco Shampoo and Conditioner (travel size). I was watching someones (I forget who) YouTube video recently and they mentioned this shampoo and conditioner as being amazing for your hair. I've been in such a hair rut for about a year now, always using the same products but not really liking how they make my hair feel. So I thought it was about time I tried something different. Instead of buying full size products straightaway I like to try them in a travel size first, to see if I like it without wasting lots of money. I've washed my hair a couple of times with this duo and I'm seriously impressed! After the first wash my hair felt so soft and smooth, a real improvement. It didn't give my hair the shine I wanted it to, but it did make my hair feel amazing.

Nivea 2 in 1 Eye Make Up Remover (£3.89). Another repurchase - if you need a good eye make up remover that does actually remove waterproof mascara then this is a great budget alternative to something like the Clarins Instant Eye Make Up Remover.

Nivea Cleansing Wash for sensitive to dry skin (£3.15). I currently use the Liz Earle Hot Cloth Cleanse and Polish to take off my make up at night but wanted something to use in the mornings that will help to rehydrate my dry skin. So far I like this as a cleanser, it's creamy, moisturising and doesn't leave you with that tight feeling so many cleanser give you. 

Garnier Softening Toner for normal to dry skin (£3.29). Although I don't have sensitive skin I thought that this isn't going to be too drying on the skin due to it's gentle formula. I've liked using this after cleansing to make sure all of my make up is removed and it leaves my skin feel refreshed. 

What have you been enjoying from the drugstore recently?

Feel free to comment :) 

Helen x 

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

BEAUTY: LOreal Paris Infallible Matte Foundation

I wasn't going to write about one of the latest foundation released from L'Oreal, mainly because a lot of bloggers have done. But when my L'Oreal True Match foundation (£9.99 from Boots) had run out I decided to buy the L'Oreal Paris Infalliable Matte foundation (£6.99 from Boots) - radical I know. When I first tried this foundation I wasn't impressed to be honest, which I was surprised about because I'd read so many positive reviews on other blogs. 

For reference here's a quick update on my skin at the moment - it's a combination of dry and oily (thanks pregnancy hormones), my preference is a fuller coverage foundation and I tend to use the Eco Tools buffing brush to apply my foundation. 

Right, back to the foundation...It just didn't sit nicely on my skin, didn't have the coverage I was looking for and seemed to take forever to blend in. None of which are qualities I look for in a foundation. I also didn't like the tube it comes in, it made it hard to squeeze out exactly the correct amount of product - a pump is a lot easier. Due to the squeezy tube it felt like I was getting through the foundation extremely quickly and for around £7 I want it to last for longer than 3 weeks. Another negative of this foundation is the shade range, it's limited compared to some of the other L'Oreal foundation ranges. I have extremely pale skin naturally and struggle to find a foundation that doesn't make me look yellow or orange. The C1 Rose Ivory shade of L'Oreal True Match foundation was the perfect colour match, which seems to be a rarity on the high street. But I couldn't find a shade of foundation in the Infallible Matte range that matched quite so perfectly, I ended up with 10 Porcelan which is very slightly darker than I would usually go for.

Having said all this you may think I really dislike this foundation but for me it was one I learnt to love, rather than it be an instant love like I had with NARS Sheer Glow, L'Oreal True Match and Estee Lauder Double Wear. I actually really like this foundation now and have found that a number of the issues I had with it have disappeared, as my skin and myself get used to working with this product. I've learnt that I actually have to apply more of this product than I usually would to get the desired coverage. I would usually use 1 1/2 pumps of True Match foundation over my whole face but I've needed more like the equivalent of 2 1/2 pumps of the Infallible Matte foundation. This isn't much of a problem, except the product will obviously run out quicker. 

When it comes to blending the Infallible Matte foundation I've found that a combination of a lot of buffing with a buffing brush and finally blending slightly with my fingers creates a smoother, more flawless appearance. Again, a bit more work than was required with the True Match foundation, but completely workable. 

Overall I now like this foundation, it's not a new favourite, but it's nice for everyday wear. It's not cakey and you can build up a good amount of coverage, with a bit of work.

How did you get on with this foundation?

Feel free to leave me a comment :)

Helen x

BEAUTY: Orla Kiely Floating Flowers Wash Bag

Orla Kiely.

What a classic, timeless and chic designer - with ranges of bags, clothes, shoes, paper, home accessories, fragrances and more - the designs are consistently beautiful. I've swooned after so many of these products over the past couple of years but have never really owned any before. So it was a real treat when the Floating Flower Large Wash Bag* (£32) landed on my doorstep a week or so ago.

I'm seriously impressed with the size of this wash bag - it's much bigger than anything I already own. You can fit most 'normal' sized toiletries in the bottom compartment, standing up, resulting in less risk of leakages and being able to fit more in. There are also three zip compartments of varying sizes - ideal for all of those essential beauty items us women seem to pack with us everywhere we go.

One of my favourite features of this beautifully designed wash bag is the hook, which means you can hang it up making it easy to access your toiletries. I don't have a wash bag with this feature and have always been envious of Tom's wash bag with a hook. It's so much easier and saves unpacking all of your toiletries when you go away!

Feel free to leave me a comment :)

Helen x

BEAUTY: A dupe for Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer?

Back when we were on our honeymoon in New York I nipped into Sephora with the hope of buying a new Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer. It had been my favourite concealer for many years, the coverage was like no other I had ever tried. However as I began to wear less fake tan, ready for winter, the shade I had wasn't right anymore. Sephora have such a massive range of their own brand beauty products that I couldn't miss the chance to try a product of theirs out. I picked up their 8hr Wear Perfect Cover Concealer in the shade Light 13, which is very light and therefore perfect for my natural skin tone.

The texture of this concealer is so creamy and not at all cakey, which some can be when they have a higher coverage. The coverage of this concealer is outstanding, it almost makes my very dark circles under my eyes disappear and because it's light it works as a great highlighter for the top of my cheekbones too. The product seems to melt into my ring finger, I then dab it onto the desired areas and blend with my finger. I don't use a make up brush at all but that's personal preference really.

I would definitely say this is a great dupe for the Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer and it's considerably cheaper. In dollars the Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer Kit is $35 and this Sephora Concealer is only $15! I know it's not as easily accessible in the UK but whenever you next make an order I would definitely recommend adding this to your basket.

Which other Sephora own brand products have you been impressed with?

Feel free to leave 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

BEAUTY: A very disappointing eye make up remover...

Unfortunately I've got a negative review today of a product that really hasn't worked for me. Obviously with skincare it's different for each person but I've really disliked using the Boots Bontanics Soothing Eye Make Up Remover All Bright (£3.99) over the past month. In fact I've disliked it so much I have thrown it away and had to buy another eye make up remover and I never, ever do that normally.

There are a couple of things that resulted me in disliking this eye make up remover:


1) The way you dispense the product out of the bottle, it just pours out. There isn't a little hole to stop too much product coming out, so too often I'd end up with a greasy mess as the cotton pad I was using became completely saturated.


2) The greasy/oil nature of this product made it very unenjoyable to use. Prior to this eye make up remover I had been using the Nivea Daily Essentials Eye Make Up Remover (£3.59 from Boots), which had two layers of product, one of which was oily. However this didn't leave any oily residue at all, so was nice to use and didn't leave my skin feeling like it needed to be deeply cleansed. The Bontanics Soothing Eye Make Up Remover is so oily that it would sometimes blur my vision, as the oily residue stuck to my eyelashes. No pleasant in the slightest.


3) It didn't remove my eye make up. The one job it has to do and it fails. Not even non-waterproof mascara and eyeliner!


Overall I'm really disappointed with this product, as I'm sure you can tell. I won't be repurchasing it, neither would I recommend it.


Have you experienced any disappointing products recently?


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

BEAUTY: Let's Go Lashes

False eyelashes are becoming more and more popular, the designs and methods of application are constantly changing and improving. During my university years I would wore false eyelashes quite a lot, they were my more social years. When I hit the working world the number of 'nights out' dropped significantly and I found I had fewer and fewer opportunities to really get dressed up. You know the drill: a long soak in the bath, candles, planning that glamorous hairstyle and make up look, applying false eyelashes, putting on a new dress, donning a new pair of heels you can barely walk in, a final spritz of perfume and your out of the door. The whole process would take a good couple of hours and I'd enjoy every moment of getting ready! So instead of letting those 'getting ready' treats become a thing of my distant university days, I have made a conscious effort to organise/attend events that I could indulge in a good 'getting ready' session. Christmas is a staple 'I'm going to put extra effort into my Christmas Look' and so starts the make up, dress, shoes, hair product, false eyelash hunt.

This year I stumbled across a brand of false eyelashes I hadn't heard of before Let's Go Lashes. They say that their lashes are easy and quick to apply. 

The range is vast, with a lot of different styles that would suit any occasion. I tend to keep my false eyelashes looking as natural as possible. Think 'my eyelashes but better'. Let's Go Lashes do offer some less dramatic eyelashes, which are ideal for day to night events like Christmas Eve/Day/Boxing Day. 

Personally for the Flirt 3 were slightly too long for me, I found that they would tickle just below my eyebrow. This is completely personal preference though, as my friend loves having longer lashes and would have absolutely loved these! 

Regarding the ease of putting them on, I didn't find them as easy as applying individual false eyelashes but compared to other strip lashes I've tried they weren't too bad. As with all false eyelashes they are always a little bit fiddly but nothing a pair of tweezers couldn't sort out! These were also incredibly light, you can barely feel them. Gone have the days when it feels like you have butterflies hanging on to the end of your weighed down eyelashes!

What kind of style eyelashes do you like wearing?

Feel free to leave a comment :)

Helen x