My First Ever Birchbox!

That's right ladies and gentleman... after all this time being a make-up fanatic and blogger, I have finally taken the plunge and subscribed to Birchbox! For those of you who may not have heard of Birchbox before, it is basically a monthly subscription service where you pay £12.95 per month (including shipping) to receive a box full of wonderful beauty-related goodies. I had always wanted to sign up to a beauty subscription service but up until recently, I did not have the room in my budget - so you can imagine how excited I am to finally be able to do so! I'm really looking forward to discovering new products and brands that I have never tried before. So today, I thought that I would show you all what I received in my first box and my thoughts on Birchbox in general so far. Let's get started!

As some of you may already be aware, Birchbox like to collaborate with other brands quite frequently and January' box is in collabration with Pinterest and this months theme to start off the new year with is the 'Best Year Ever' box - inspiring you to make the most of 2016! I love how visually appealing each box is and so I will definitely be using them for storage and keeping some of them on display once I collect a few.

Upon opening the box, I found all of this months products packaged up in this super cute drawstring bag (which I will definitely be using as a wash bag when I travel!) I love little details like this because it really shows how much thought and attention to detail goes into each months box. After seeing lots of beauty box reviews over the years on various blogs, the Birchbox team seem so creative and fun!

Now onto the products that I received... 

Beauty Protector Protect & Detangle Leave In Conditioner
This spray seems to be quite the multi-tasker because as well as detangling and conditioning your hair, it can also be used as a heat protectant too. I loveproducts that I have more than one use as they are a great time saver! Although I haven't used tried out anyof the products yet, I did give this one a quick spritz and it smells amazing!

Absolution L'eau Soir et Matin Cleansing Water
I use my Garnier micellar water every day, therefore, it will be interesting how this one compares. I have never heard of the brand Absolution before, so I'm interested to see what its all about. After reading the booklet explaining more about the products inside my  box, this cleansing water seems to have lots of lovely ingredients such as hazelnut oil and aloe vera, which I imagine will feel amazing on my skin.

Benefit They're Real Tinted Lash Primer
I used to absolutely swear by my They're Real mascara, so I'm really interested to see how this lash primer performs. I have really short and straight eyelashes that struggle to hold a curl, so I'm wondering if this lash primer will help me out at all! Benefit claim that this product separates, lengthens and boosts your lashes and preps them for you mascara - I will have to test this out and report back!

Eyeko Fat Liquid Liner
This liquid liner is the full-sized item featured in this months box. If any of you have been following me for a while now, you will know that I do not feel complete unless I am wearing feline flick, so this product is right up my alley. The only thing that I am a little bit apprehensive about is that because the eyeliner is 'fat' aka it has a thick nib, I may not be able to get a super precise line with it but I guess time will tell on that one!

Rituals Foaming Shower Gel
The last item included in this months box is this Ritual shower gel. Although I have most definitely heard of the brand before, I have never used any of their products before. Of course, shower gels will always come in useful but I am really excited to try a higher end brand and see how it compares to a bog standard bottle from Boots or Superdrug. Also, I think that I will really enjoy both the scent and the foaming element of this product too!

As well as the five samples mentioned above, Birchbox also threw in a few little add-ons too. These prints above are actually postcards but I cannot believe how cool they are. I think that they will look awesome in a couple of frames scattered around my bedroom! They also included a #nofilter pink compact mirror (which you can see in the first photo of this post.) As I mentioned earlier, these extra little touches are what make this box really special and exciting in my opinion.

Overall, I am so happy that I finally took the plunge and subscribed to Birchbox. So far, I have absolutely no negatives to report! Not only am I happy with the products that I received in my January box but I am really impressed with how much you get for your money - especially as you get one full-sized item per box too! As you can all probably guess, I am so excited to see what next months box brings and I can really see myself being a loyal Birchbox subscriber from here on out.

I will probably do a blog post about each months box from now on, so be sure to check back for even more in-depth Birchbox reviews in the future! Furthermore, if you're interested in signing up to Brchbox yourself, then click here to find out everything you need to know.

Lush Skincare Empties

I am rather surprised that I have never done a Lush empties blog post before because as you all know by now, I am a Lush addict! The main reason that I tend to hang on to any Lush packaging is because if you take five empty pots back to a store, you receive a free face mask! I love schemes like this (similar to the Back To MAC one) because not only do you get a free product in return, but it feels great to know that you are doing your bit to recycle too! Furthermore, let's jump right into my five empty products and hear what I thought about them, shall we?

Tea Tree Water Toner - £4.50
I loved this toner water so much because it didn't strip my skin like some harsher toners with lots of chemicals in them do! This spray is super refreshing to use after cleansing and the tea tree helps to calm down any blemishes or redness on my skin. It can be either spritzed straight onto your face like a mist or onto a cotton pad so that you can then gently wipe it across your face. I tended to alternate between the two methods depending on how I felt on the day to be honest!

Mask Of Magnaminty Face Mask - £5.75
Although this mask didn't smell the greatest, I did like the effects that it had on my skin. It was really cooling upon application because all of Lush's face masks are fresh and must be kept in the fridge! It always left my skin feeling very calm and rejuvenated. I got about four or five uses out of this mask and I always put on a very generous and thick layer! It's not my favourite mask of theirs that I have tried but it is still one of the best in my opinion.

Catastrophe Cosmetic Face Mask - £5.75
Now on to my preferred mask of choice, 'Catastrophe Cosmetic.' I love its blueberry scent but the thing I love the most about this mask in particular is its texture. This mask definitely feels more clay-like and so it's really great at combating the oiliness of my skin. It is also excellent at soothing the skin, reducing the size of my spots and improving its overall texture. This mask is a must have for me and I need to re-purchase it ASAP!

Dark Angels Cleanser - £6.95
The reason that I used this cleanser was purely for its exfoliating purposes rather than its cleansing properties. Its gritty charcoal-based texture not only sloughed away any dead skin on my face but it also soaked up an excess oil on the surface of it too! The only downside to this product is that its really messy to use but if you are careful, cleaning it up afterwards doesn't take too long at all. In my eyes, this is just a small price to pay for such a lovely product!

Ultrabland Cleanser - £11.95
Last but not least is my holy grail cleanser, 'Ultrabland.' I have used quite a few cleansing balm and oils to remove my make-up but none have ever compared to this one, hence why I mention it so often here on my blog! I love knowing that I am using a product on my skin with lots of natural ingredients in it too, as they make my skin feel so nourished afterwards. This cleanser melts down even the heaviest of make-up looks with ease and that's why I love it so much! It is very rich and thick in texture but it never clogs up my skin, which is always a bonus. 

So guys, those are the five empties that I have to show to you today. I hope that you found my mini reviews helpful! Have you ever tried ant skincare products from Lush and if so, what did you think of them? I would love to know - so, please leave me a comment down below with your thoughts and suggestions!

My Monthly Favourites - September 2015

The month of September has been a bit of a whirlwind for me! I started my new part-time job and I feel like time has just flown by ever since. Although I haven't tried out too many new products this month, I have discovered a couple of new favourites as well as fallen back in love with a few older items in my stash too. So, let's skip the long intro for a change and jump straight into what I have been loving this month!

Origins GinZing Energy-Boosting Moisturiser - £24.00
Some of you may remember that after winning Katie Snooks' Feel Unique competition a few months ago, one of the products I picked up using my voucher code was this moisturiser from Origins. At the beginning, I used it religiously but then I forgot about it for a little while... until now! I love the gel-like consistency of this product because it is not too rich for my oily/combination skin. It has really improved how radiant and clear my skin looks without make-up on too, which is something that I have struggled with in the past. This is the first thing that I have ever tried from Origins because of the hefty price tag but I am super impressed with them as a brand and I will definitely purchase from them again in the future!

Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Nail Polish in Street Flair - £9.99
You may have seen in my recent Boots haul that I picked up a few new nail varnishes this month and ever since then, this Sally Hansen number has constantly been on my nails! It is a gorgeous dusty lilac colour with a hint of grey within it, which makes it absolutely perfect for this time of year. It is a muted and understated shade but it has such an autumn feel to me! The polish itself is fairly chip-resistant, (especially when it's paired with the matching Miracle Gel top coat too,) and it has a gorgeous glossy, gel-like finish.

Invisibobble Clear Hair Bands (3 Pack) - £3.75
I had seen so many people talking about the Invisibobble hair bands and so I decided to take the plunge last week. Once my hair is tied up up, there is nooo way that I can take down again as my hair would then have a permanent dent and kinks in it. This would always upset me because if I had my hair up at work and then wanted to go out at night time, I would have to completely re-wash it in order to then wear it down! However, now that I have started wearing an Invisibobble, (which looks a bit like a clear telephone cord,) my hair is kink free! The bobble is virtually undetectable and it's so comfortable to wear, it never pulls on my hair or snags it in the slightest. This product is so amazing and I'm annoyed that I didn't pick it up sooner to be honest!

Max Factor Colour Collections Lipstick in Rosewood - £6.99
This Max Factor lipstick has been my biggest re-discovery of the month. I have had 'Rosewood' in my lipstick collection for such a long time now but I have found myself reaching for it a lot lately. It is the most gorgeous warm-toned rose shade that leaves a gorgeous sheen on your lips. Although the longevity of this product is not anything to shout home about, I do love how pigmented and comfortable this shade is to wear. It pairs well with so many different make-up looks too. You should definitely give it a swatch next time you're in Boots and Superdrug!

Lush The Comforter Shower Cream (100g) - £4.75
Last but not least is my favourite Lush shower gel of all time, The Comforter! I had always been a big fan of the bubble bar equivalent of this product, so when they brought out a shower cream I was beyond excited. I cannot even explain how in love I am with this sweet blackcurrant scent - it makes me look forward to shower time, even on cold autumn mornings! I love how soft and moisturised it makes me skin feel, plus it lathers up into a gorgeous pink foam too (which is always a bonus!) Even though it will be quite expensive, once this mini bottle runs out, I would like to buy the enormous 1kg verson which is just shy of £28 but in my opinion, it will be soooo worth it!

So guys, I bet you're glad I skipped the long intro now because that was a very in-depth favourites this month (oops!) I hope you enjoyed reading all about the five products that I have been loving and reaching for the most over the past 4 weeks! What have been your favourites this month? Have you used any of my current favourites before? Please let me know popping a comment down below with all of your thoughts and suggestions!

My Current Skincare Wishlist

Over the past fortnight, my skin has become very troublesome and hard to work with. My usually combination skin has become very dehydrated and I have had multiple breakouts. Not only this but when I apply my make-up, it just doesn't sit well on my skin! I have started to evaluate my current skincare routine and there are some products that I want to add to my collection in the near future. I have heard such great things about many of the items I am featuring in the post, therefore, I thought that it would be good to whip up a quick wishlist for all of you in case you feel like updating your current skincare routine too! So, here are the eight products that I am eyeing up at the moment;

Origins GinZing Eye Cream / Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment / GlamGlow Supermud Clearing Treatment / La Roche-Posay Serozinc Spray / Lush Angels On Bare Skin Cleanser / The Body Shop Drops Of Youth Bouncy Sleeping Mask / Clinique Moisture Surge Overnight Mask / Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micellar Water

The two items top of my wishlist that I think would really change the condition of my skin the most are the Serozinc Spray (£8.50) and the Glam Glow Supermud Mask (£44.00.) This is because I have heard that the toner is great for diminishing blemishes and under the skin bumps that I have gotten quite frequently lately. Plus, I can imagine the the Glam Glow mask would draw out all the impurities and 'gunk' out of my pores!

Which skincare items are you currently lusting over? Have you tried any of the products I've mentioned before? I would love to hear your opinion of them, so please do not hesitate to leave a comment down below and be sure to check back for my blog posts very soon. Until then, I hope that you have a wonderful and fun-filled weekend!

A Fresh + Fruity Lush Haul

After hearing the great news that some of Lush's exclusive products from their flagship store in Oxford street have now filtered down into all Lush shops, I knew that I had to pay my nearest one a visit! Of course, there are hundreds of new and exclusive products in the multi-story London store but some of the most popular ones are now widely available online, as well as across the entire country! On Friday, I went in with a completely open mind and come out with three gorgeous products to try! Furthermore, today I thought I would do a little haul and show you all what I picked up. So, let's dive right in!

Catastrophe Cosmetic Fresh Face Mask - £6.50
Before taking a look at the section of new products, I knew that I wanted to pick up a fresh face mask. My skin has been rather troublesome in the past few weeks or so and I wanted something that would soothe it, as well as control my pesky breakouts! Mask wise, I have only ever tried the Mask of Magnaminty before - which I didn't like too much - but after using Catastrophe Cosmetic last night, I can say that I love it already! Not only does this mask smell like yummy blueberries but it also contains calamine, chamomile and rose to calm your skin down too. Plus, my spots have already down-sized just after one use. I cannot wait to carry on using this mask once or twice a week to see even better results!

Yoga Bath Bomb - £3.95
I also knew that I wanted to pick up another one of their new bath bombs after having recently tried Intergalactic (which was bought for me by a friend a few months back.) I had heard a lot of great things about the Yoga bomb online, so I popped it straight into my basket. I normally go for sweet or fruity scents but this bath bomb has a gorgeous, albeit subtle, earthy smell to it instead. I can imagine that this bath bomb would be a great one to use if you've had a really busy day and you just need to relax your muscles and take a little breather! Yoga also contains lots of golden lustre in it, which definitely makes this bath bomb feel all the more special and exciting to use!

Beautiful Shower Gel - £4.75
Last but not least is brand new shower gel that I was convinced to purchase by the helpful sales assistant that I was talking to about all of the new releases. I went in with the intention of picking up another bottle of The Comforter Shower Cream, which is another exclusive product that I had already tried. However, I was later convinced to try Beautiful instead, which contains peaches and apricots. As I lover of fruity and zingy scents, I was immediately sold! The scent isn't too strong but after using it once, I can vouch that it is a great product to wake you up in the mornings. It also contains glitter but it doesn't really stay on your skin once you lather it up, which is the possibly the only downside to it. I only bought a tiny bottle this time to test out but I will definitely buy a bigger bottle again in the future as I really do love it so far.

So guys, those are the three products that I picked up! I hope you enjoyed this mini Lush haul and be sure to let me know if there are any more new products that I need to try next. I am always open to suggestions, so please do not hesitate to leave a comment letting me know down below!

My Monthly Favourites - July 2015

Hi guys, I'm back again with another dose of monthly favourites for you all! July went by in the blink of an eye with me as I had lots of special occasions and events to attend this month. I have been loving a lot of new products lately, as well as a few old favourites too, so it was hard to whittle down which products made the cut this time! However, as always, I have chosen five wonderful items to share with all of you today. So, let's get going!

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft & Gentle

Even though I mentioned this product in last months favourites, I just had to mention it again - that's how much of a favourite it actually is! My gorgeous friend Chloe works for MAC and she bought me the cult 'Soft & Gentle' for my birthday back in May. Every time I wear this on the tops of cheekbones, I have the most amazing and dramatic glow ever. My highlight feels well and truly on fleek (insert Jaclyn Hills's #highlightonfleek hashtag here!) If you do not already have this product, it is definitely a must have!

Nip+Fab Glycolic Fix Cleansing Pads

If you've ever had a problem with the texture of your skin, these pads from Nip+Fab are a necessary step in your skincare routine! After using some kind of balm cleanser to remove any dirt and make-up on my skin, I follow up with one of these pads. The glycolic acid within these pads are a great exfoliant and its much better than using a harsh scrub on your skin! I have really noticed a difference after using this product for about three weeks now and those pesky little annoying bumps that I used to get on my forehead are almost gone. I will most certainly be repurchasing these pads again once I run out!

Garnier Body Intensive 7 Days Ultra-Replenishing Lotion

Next up is an old favourite of mine that I recently re-discovered in my stash of body lotions. This addition from Garnier has been a saviour for me this month! Lately, I have been struggling with a few super dry patched on the bottom halves of my legs and this product has really helped to hydrate them. Not only is this lotion specifically formulated for very dry skin but it contain shea butter, which we all know is a great moisturising agent! Plus, it sinks in so quickly and leaves a lovely sheen on my legs too - which is a great added bonus!

Urban Decay Moondust Eyeshadow in Moonspoon 

If you are a regular reader of my blog, you would know that a recently won a competition and received a £100 Feel Unique voucher! One of the items that I decided to pick up was this stunning single eyeshadow from Urban Decay. I had seen so many swatches online of the Moondust range and let's face it, I cannot resist anything glittery! So, I opted for the shade Moonspoon which is an amazing silver colour. This glitter really takes a smokey eye to the next level and adds that little extra glamour for a night out on the town!

YSL Rouge Volupte Shine in Nude In Private

Last but certainly not least is another product that I picked up using my Feel Unique voucher. For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted to own a Yves Saint Laurent lipstick as they just feel so luxurious and fancy! To ensure that I got a lot of use out of it, I went for 'Nude In Private,' which as you can imagine is an everyday nude colour. I absolutely love that it can be paired with any make-up look and as the name suggests, it adds a lovely shimmery shine to my lips too. The formulation is top-notch as well, as it glides onto my lips so effortlessly. As I knew I would be, I am very impressed with the quality of this lipstick and I'm hoping that I can start growing my YSL collection from now on!

So, those are my July favourites done and dusted! I have loved using all of these products so much and I'm sure that I will continue to love them throughout August too. Have you tried out any of these products before? What have your beauty favourites been this month? Let me know yours by leaving a comment down below!

I Won A Competition!

If any of you follow me on Twitter, you may have seen that last Thursday I won a competition courtesy of the amazing Katie Snooks. I almost fell off of my chair when I received the tweet saying that I was the winner! A few weeks ago, I entered a competition via this video of Katie's to win a £100 voucher to spend on the Feel Unique website - I honestly feel so lucky to have received such an amazing prize and I immediately hopped onto the website to browse at all of the amazing items that I could potentially pop into my basket! I am predominantly a drugstore girl as my budget is usually pretty small. so I cannot tell you how excited I was to be able to pick some more luxurious products for myself!

 My delivery arrived yesterday morning and I thought that I would quickly show all of you what I ended up choosing. Of course, I haven't tried out any of the products yet (aside from the lip balm,) so I will be sure to write up a few in-depth reviews in due course! Although, I am sure that I am going to be obsessed with and love all of them. So, without rambling on for too long, here are the items that I chose:

Origins GinZing Energy-Boosting Moisturiser
I have always wanted to try something from Origins and I am really getting into my skincare lately! I have heard such great things about this moisturiser, so I am really looking forward to trying it out.

Urban Decay Moondust Eyeshadow in Moonspoon
Another thing that I have really gotten into in the last six months or so is eyeshadow. I love experimenting with different looks and I thought that this gorgeous, ultra-sparkly silver shadow would be a great addition to my collection - I bet it will look amazing for night time looks!

NUXE Reve de Miel Lip Balm
I have never really been fussy when it comes to lip balm, I love what most high street brands have to offer but I have heard from so many people that this NUXE product is amazing! I'm really interested to see how well this conditions my lips.

Sigma E40 Tapered Blending Brush
I have been seriously lacking in the eyeshadow brush department. I have a few Real Techniques one that I use religiously, however, I thought that this one from Sigma would be a great fluffy blending brush to add to my collection!

Clinique Cheek Pop Blusher in Heather Pop
My beloved Rimmel blusher has hit pan and so I definitely knew that I wanted to try out a new one. I have seen so many reviews saying the the formula of the Cheek Pop range is outstanding, so I picked up 'Heather Pop' - a gorgeous cool toned pink shade.

YSL Rouge Volupte Shine in Nude In Private
I have always wanted to own a YSL lipstick for as long as I can remember and so this is actually the very first thing that I popped into my basket. I opted for a nude-y pink shade with a subtle shimmer running through it to ensure that I could wear it both day and night. Plus, the packaging is going to look amazing in my acrylic lipstick storage!

So, those are the six items that I managed to pick up using the voucher code that Katie gave me. Again, I feel so incredibly lucky to have won such an incredible prize and I cannot wait to start using all of my new goodies! What would you purchase if you had £100 to spend on Feel Unique? Let me know, as always, by leaving a comment down below!

Nourishing My Skin With Nivea

Over the past couple of weeks, my skin has really been suffering! I have had bouts of horrible dry patches, as well as my skin being more sensitive than usual. So, I wanted to pick up an affordable yet effective product to battle all of my current skincare woes. For an extremely reasonable £4.49, I opted for Nivea's Daily Essentials Sensitive Night Cream after browsing through what the budget-friendly brands were offering in my local Boots store. Having used the day version of this moisturiser in the past, I knew that it would probably be just as effective but its actually even better than I imagined!

The main things that Nivea's sensitive range helps to aid are redness, tightness and dryness. Its mild pH-neutral formula is free from all of the nasties (parabens, colouring and perfumes) that you might find in other moisturisers that are not specifically formulated for those whose skin is easily irritated. After reading up more about this lotion, I discovered that two of its main ingredients are licorice extract - which is a fantastic anti-inflammatory - and grape seed oil. Some of the other claims that Nivea listed are that this night cream calms your skin, provides intensive moisture and helps strengthen your skins barrier.

I can honestly say that even though I haven't been using this moisturiser for too long, my skin has already improved and my dry patches are definitely on the mend! Normally, I am not a big fan of night creams because they are so rich that it takes what seems like forever for them to sink in. However, the consistency of this night cream is perfect! It's a lovely consistency and it penetrates and seeps into my skin in a matter of minutes. Even after a couple of nights, my skin felt replenished and really supple. I would highly recommend this moisturiser to anybody who suffers with sensitive skin, whether it be mild like mine or more severe, as it really has worked wonders. Plus, for under a £5, its worth a try right?!

My Monthly Favourites - April 2015

I was surprised to see that I hadn't done a monthly favourites in a while, so I thought that it was only right that I got back on track! I have been loving a bunch of products this month but I finally managed to whittle it down to these fab four. During April, not only have I discovered new products that work really well for me but I also dug out one or two older products in my stash too. So if you want to know all about these beauty marvels, keep reading!

Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss in Kiss Me Coral
I bought this lip gloss around this time last year and unfortunately, I soon forgot about it... until now that is! Now that spring is in full swing, I am really enjoying wearing coral colours on my lips once again (this and MAC's 'Crosswires' are my two faves!) The main reason that I love this gloss is due to its formulation. It glides on like a dream but more importantly, it is not sticky in the slightest. Sticky and gloopy glosses are just the worst! I also love how it gives a high-shine finish to my pout, as there are little flecks of gold glitter running through it too. This is a must buy drugstore lip product for the upcoming season!

Benefit High Beam
I've had this mini High Beam after receiving it in one of Benefit's beauty kits for my 20th birthday. I used to only use this product on special occasions and nights out on the town, however, recently I have been reaching for it on an everyday basis. I love how well it highlights both the tops of my cheekbones and brow bone perfectly! The pearly-coloured liquid formula blends like a dream and a little goes a long way. It adds a gorgeous glow to my skin and I will certainly be buying the full-size version when this one runs out.

MAC Velvet Teddy Lipstick
After lusting after it for quite a while, I finally got my hands on this infamous lipstick and I love it! Velvet Teddy somehow looks different on everybody depending on their skin tones but on me, its a very true brown nude with the slightest pink undertone. I had never tried any of MAC's matte formulation before and I was expecting it to be very drying but surprisingly, it wears very comfortably on my lips!

The Body Shop Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter
Lastly is this wonderful cleanser that I picked up on my latest beauty haul (read here.) I was originally going into The Body Shop to re-purchase the popular cleansing oil but I decided to switch it up and go for the cleansing butter instead. I love the feel of this product and how it turns into an silky oil as you massage it into your skin. It's great as part of a double cleanse to remove any remaining scraps of make-up! It leaves my skin feeling really smooth and nourished at the end of a long day, plus the camomile calms my skin down too.

So, those are my four monthly favourites from throughout April. I am very excited to now be entering into May as it's officially my birthday month (woo!) Therefore, I am sure that I will have lots of brand spanking new favourites to come. What have been your favourite beauty products lately? What are you looking forward to this month? Let me know by jotting down a comment below!

Lush's Mask Of Magnaminty

One of the main beauty products that I normally neglect are face masks... well, that is until now! I have always been pretty lazy when it comes to incorporating masks into being part of my skincare routine and that is mainly down to the fact that I have never wanted to splash out on a product that I will only use once a week. Plus, I had never found one that worked well for my skin type! However, that all changed when my boyfriend recently treated me to this amazing mask from Lush Cosmetics.

The Mask of Magnaminty is full of natural ingredients that are super gentle on your skin but are still effective at the same time! Some of the main natural ingredients featured in this mask are peppermint oil, honey, African marigold oil and kaolin. The mint scented mask claims to be able to clean, calm and clear your skin of both spot outbreaks and any other impurities too - which I totally agree with! I like to apply this mask for 5-10 minutes once a week (usually on a Sunday evening) to restore my skin and give it a bit of a refresh. One thing that I like about this product in particular is that it has evening primrose seeds and aduki beans within the formula to gently exfoliate your skin as you rub it in as well, which ends up leaving your skin feeling incredibly soft after you remove the mask.

As some of you may know, Lush face masks are usually fresh and so most of them usually have an expiration date. However, I bought the self preserving version of this mask so that it would last for a lot longer and so I could ensure that I would not waste any of the product! A little goes a long way with this product too, so I know that I will not have to buy a new pot for quite a while.

Another great thing about this mask is that it can be used on your face or on your body too, so if anyof you suffer from spots or acne on your chest or back (something that I have battled with in the past,) this could be the perfect product for you!

For a small 125g tub of the Mask of Magnaminty, it will only set you back a mere £5.50. On the other hand, if you would like to purchase the larger 315g pot, you can get it for just £9.75. Personally, I think that this mask is excellent value for money in terms of how long it lasts. Plus, it is a lot more afforable than some of the more infamous and expensive masks out on the market that sometimes contain harsh chemicals and other nasties that can sometimes strip your skin!

So, what are you waiting for? Go and get your hands on this amazing face mask and see the difference that it makes you your skin! I guarantee that you will not be left disappointed!

My Monthly Favourites - November 2014

Hi guys. I am extremely excited that we have now come to the end of November because we can now well and truly focus on all things Christmas! I cannot wait to put up all of our decorations, wrap up tons of presents and eat too much indulgent food. However, before I can do all of those things, I have the small matter of my monthly favourites to address! I have to admit that I haven't been too adventurous beauty-wise this month as I have had a lot of days indoors or have just been running errands, but I still have a few bits so share with you all. So let's get started!

Garnier Body Oil Beauty Nourishing Lotion - £4.99
First up, my skin has gotten very dry all of sudden now that the cold weather is finally upon us. So when I saw this body lotion from Garnier on the shelf, I just had to pick it up. The fact that this particular lotion was oil-infused made me think that it could do wonders for my skin - and I was right! Not only does it nourish and hydrate my skin but the formulation of the lotion is amazing. It's very smooth and easy to rub in, so you don't have to do too much work in that respect. Although it doesn't sink in super fast, it still does it in less time than you would expect for such a rich product. I would highly recommend this to anybody who's skin needs an extra boost of moisture!

Revlon ColorBurst Matte Balm in Standout - £7.99
Like most beauty bloggers around this time of year, I love a good red lip! There's something about it that just screams Christmas and I recently rediscovered my Revlon matte balm in amongst my ever-growing lip crayon collection! The main reason that I love this crayon is because even though its matte, it is not at all drying on the lips. As well as this, it has great staying power too. As for the red colour itself, 'Standout' is a gorgeous true red shade that would suit a whole range of different skin tones. It's definitely a must-have product for me right now!

Nivea Sensitive Day Cream - £4.49
As I mentioned earlier, since the bitter cold weather has set in, my skin has gone haywire and in turn it is very dry in places. However, I have also noticed that my skin in the past month or so has a lot of redness too. So, I picked up this sensitive day cream from Nivea because I had already tried the Rich Moisturising version in the past and loved it. This version claims to reduce redness, tightness and dryness - which I totally agree with. I have really been enjoying this moisturiser a lot and so far it has helped with hydrating my dry patches a lot. Plus as it is quite rich in texture, a little goes a long way with this product, so I have a feeling that this tube is going to last me for quite a while.  

Lush Ultrabland Cleanser - £7.25
This cleanser from Lush is an old favourite of mine and I always come back to it! Sometimes I think that its a good idea to go back to basics with skincare and really strip it back, as let's face it, us beauty bloggers use a large concoction of products on our faces! The fact that Lush's skincare is so natural really appeals to me and Ultrabland is the perfect gentle cleanser for me. Its ingredients include almond oil and beeswax, which means that it leaves your skin feeling so soft and supple. As it is a balm cleanser, Ultrabland is also excellent at removing all traces of make-up without leaving a greasy residue like most oil-based cleansers do. Overall, I will always purchase this cleanser time and time again because it's just excellent and gets the job done!

Miss Selfridge Body Mist - £4.00
Last but not least is this gorgeous body mist from Miss Selfridge. I have to admit that this was a bit of an impulse buy whilst out with my Mum in our local Arcadia store. The mist was right at the checkout and I normally dismiss products like that but this time, I couldn't resist. After spritzing it, I realised that the fragrance was an incredible quality seeing as it was made by a high street clothing brand. On their website, the scent is described as being a blend of lemongrass, ginger and rosemary; so as you can imagine, it is a light and fresh smell. I tend to use the mist on days where I am not doing too much and I do not want to reach for some of my more expensive perfumes - and it certainly does the trick. For such a budget friendly product, I am really impressed with it and I highly recommend to all of you!

So, those are my five beauty favourites for the month of November. I hope you enjoyed reading all about them! Which products do you like the sound of? What are your favourites this month? Please let me know by leaving a comment below. As I said earlier on, I am really happy that November is now over because now I can well and truly get into the Christmas spirit. Also, remember to stay tuned to my blog in the up and coming weeks to see lots of festive posts! Thank you :)

The Body Shop's Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil

Last week, I realised that my favourite night time cleanser (Lush's Ultrabland) was very close to running out and even though I have been using it religiously for quite a while now, I wanted to try out something new. I like to use heavy duty cleansers at night time so that they can easily remove my make-up and any dirt and grime that my skin has picked up throughout the day. I had been hearing a lot of great things about this camomile cleanser from The Body Shop ever since reading about it on Essiebutton's blog, therefore, I decided to take the plunge and give it a whirl! So, here is a little review about how I have been getting on with it so far. Let's get started!

The Body Shop's Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil retails at £10.00, which is a great price because a little bit of this oil goes a long way - one or two pumps is literally all you need! One of the main reasons that I was drawn to this particular product is that its main ingredient is camomile, which is well known for having a calming effect on your skin. Since the sudden change of weather here in the UK, my skin has become much more sensitive and red (despite me having combination skin,) so I definitely need a product that is gentle yet effective. 

The Body Shop claim on their website that this cleansing oil leaves your skin feeling clean and refreshed and that it even removes waterproof make-up, which I totally agree with. My make-up, no matter how light or heavy it is, can be removed incredibly easily. I tend to remove some of my make-up before hand with some micellar water and a cotton pad but following up with this product ensures that my skin is clear of all product. Plus, although this is an oil based cleanser, once you rinse it off it leaves no traces of grease or any other type of residue on your skin either. Not only this but it also leaves my skin feeling extremely soft and nourished too!

In addition, I love the products packaging. Albeit simplistic, the fact that you can clearly see how much product you have left I can imagine will be very handy once you are running low. As well as this, the pump can be opened and closed by twisting it left and right, so there is no risk of the oil leaking in your bathroom or in your bag if you are travelling.

Overall, I am loving this cleanser so far and I would highly recommend it! I think that this product is especially great for people with sensitive skin or for those who wear a lot of make-up on an every day basis and need a cleanser that really dissolves and breaks it down. I can see this oil lasting me a long while and I would definitely consider re-purchasing it again once I do eventually use it all up! 

Lush's Ultrabland Facial Cleanser

Hi guys. On a last minute trip to Lakeside on Saturday morning, I decided to pop into Lush in search of a little treat for myself. I have only ever used Lush's bath products before 
and seeing as I have asked for a lot of that stuff for my birthday, I thought that I would check out what else the store had to offer. The shop assistant was very helpful and led me around the store talking to me about various scrubs and soaps. However, I eventually decided on picking up a new cleanser. So today, I thought that I would post a mini review letting you know what I think of it so far. Let's get started!

Ultrabland is a gentle cleanser which contains ingredients such as almond oil, rose water, beeswax and honey. The product comes in two sizes; the 45g pot is £6.95 and the 100g pot is £10.95. I opted for the smaller size as I thought that would be the best option for me, just in case I did not get on well with the product. Although Ultrabland is described on its packaging as an oily cleansing cream, the assistant assured me that it would be fine to use on my oily/combination skin and that it would in fact help to balance it out and boy, was she right! Of course, I have only been using this product for three days but so far I am absolutely loving it!

Upon application, Ultrabland feels very luxurious and despite its thick consistency, it is incredibly easy to massage into my skin. I tend to apply it dry, emulsify it with some water and then remove it with either a muslin cloth or a flannel depending on what I have on hand. The main reason that I have been loving this cleanser so far is due to the fact that the ingredients are so natural. I really feel like the product is doing my skin the world of good as I use it. Plus, it leaves my skin feeling ridiculously soft and nourished too. I have also read some reviews that claim Ultrabland has calmed down their problematic skin and has dramatically reduced oiliness, although it may take a bit longer for me to see those results as I have not been using the product for long enough yet! So, I will keep you posted on that front.

Although I love my Soap & Glory Peaches and Clean 3-in-1 Deep Purifying Cleanser (£8.00,) I feel like this product could overtake it (and that's a pretty big statement for me!) I just love the results that Ultrabland has given me after just a few days. My skin has been going a bit haywire lately and I'm hoping that this cleanser will continue to work wonders and that hopefully, my skin will be a lot calmer for my birthday. Fingers crossed!

Overall, this cleanser is absolutely amazing so far and I definitely recommend to all of you. A little goes a long way with this formula, so it is great value for money too! Have you used Ultrabland before? What did you think of it? What is your favourite cleanser? Please let me know by leaving a comment below. Thank you!

Superdrug's Own Brand Face Masks

Hi guys. Recently, my skin has been really struggling and I thought to myself that I really do not use face masks as often as I should. So with that in mind, as well as not wanting to break the bank, I decided to pop into Superdrug and have a look at their selection of masks. I used to use the Simple Deep Cleansing Face Mask, which did work quite well, but I wanted to branch out and see what else was out there. Superdrug's own range caught my eye mainly because of their amazing 99p price tag, (I am on a bit of a budget at the moment,) but due to the variety of masks they offer too. There is literally a mask for every skin type with an array of ingredients and yummy scents to choose from! I choose three sachets so that over a period of time, I could decide which one worked best for my skin type so that I can repurchase more further down the line. Below will be a mini review of each mask and then I will tell you my overall verdict. Enjoy!

Dead Sea Purifying Clay Mask - 99p
First up is this Dead Sea Purifying Mask. I chose this particular mask because it is specifically for oily or blemish prone skin, which I have. It also claimed that it would deeply cleanse my pores and draw it any impurities at the same time. I applied the mask all over my face and unfortunately, after a few minutes, my skin started to burn/tingle quite a lot. I thought that this must have been due to the witch hazel in the mask but after a few more minutes, the burning got worse and so I had to wash the product off early. I was really disappointed with this mask as it was just too irritating. The only good thing that the mask did do was make my skin feel slightly softer and my make-up went on flawlessly the next morning.

Superfruits Exfoliating Mask- 99p
About a week or so later, I decided to give the second mask a go. I was a little dubious at first in case my skin had the same reaction as before but I proceeded with caution anyway. The Superfruits Mask is suitable for any skin type and I was really excited about the concept of this as it was an exfoliating mask - which is something I have never used before. The mask had little strawberry seeds within it but they were not to harsh or gritty on the skin. The raspberry, cranberry and blueberry scent was really lovely and refreshing (I adore fruity products!) Luckily, this mask did not react badly with my skin and I kept it on for the suggested time of 10-15 minutes. The only trouble I did have was the removal, the seeds were a little rough and my skin did go a little red but I guess that's what you get from an exfoliating mask. However, afterwards my skin felt very smooth and revived.

Cucumber Cooling Clay Mask - 99p
The last mask I tried was the Cucumber Cooling Clay Mask, which is for people with sensitive skin. I applied the mask and almost straight away, the cooling effect that the mask gave was extremely relaxing. Again, I left the mask on for the suggested amount of time before removing it with my flannel. I could automatically tell that I loved this mask the most out of the three because as it dried throughout the 15 minutes, I did not feel as tight or dehydrating on my face. Yet, I still followed up with my usual moisturiser anyway. The next day, my skin felt so well nourished and super soft, which again made my make-up go on like a dream that day!

Overall, the mask that I preferred by an absolute mile was the Cucumber Cooling Clay Mask. It was really refreshing to use and it left my skin feeling baby soft. As for the other two masks, the Dead Sea one did not agree with my skin at all and the Superfruits one was nice but just mediocre. I guess that you have to expect mixed results for a sachet from Superdrug which costs 99p but there are so many variations to test out, that you are more than likely to find one that you like. I will definitely buy the cucumber mask again as it is great value for money, especially if you are on a budget like myself!

What is your favourite face mask? Have you tried any of the Superdrug ones before? Please let me know by leaving a comment below. Thank you!

The Best Of: Soap & Glory

Hi guys. Ever since I can remember, I have always been in love with Soap & Glory as a brand. Their bath, body and skincare products, as well as their make-up range, are such high quality and are very popular due to being available in thousands of Boots stores nationwide. Regardless of their age or skin type, every person I have spoken to about the brand (and myself) have all found multiple products that work really well for them and are now permanent in their everyday beauty routines. So, with that in mind, I have whittled down my five firm favourites from the ever-so raved about brand. Enjoy!

Peaches & Clean 4-in-1 Deep Cleansing Milk - £8.00
First up is a new addition to my skincare regime, Peaches & Clean. My Mum was given a huge Soap & Glory hamper as a gift a while back, so she gave me the products that she knew she wouldn't use herself - she isn't into skincare that much and is a pretty low maintenance woman, unlike myself! This cleanser is absolutely brilliant, so I am very glad that she handed it over to me. It breaks down and removes make-up so well, as well as leaving my skin amazingly soft. It's peach and menthol scent is really refreshing, which means this product is a great pick-me-up in the mornings too. Ever since I have been using Peaches &Clean in conjunction with the Garnier Micellar Water (review here) and my Nivea Rich Moistursing Day Cream (review here,) my skin has cleared up almost entirely and I rarely ever get blemishes. I cannot recommend this cleanser enough!

Heel Genius Amazing Foot Cream - £5.50
I feel that this product is something that Soap & Glory are particularly famous for. This foot cream is absolutely amazing and even after one application. It leaves your feet ten times softer and it gets rid of a lot of dry skin from the soles too. I usually apply this liberally in the evening and then wear some thick cotton socks to allow the product to really sink in overnight. Heel Genius has that typical menthol, minty smell like most foot-related products as it is really refreshing and cooling - especially if you have been on your feet all day. Plus, at £5.50 it is pretty inexpensive considering how high quality it is and how much product you get in the tube too!

Hand Food Hydrating Hand Cream - £5.00
I tend to get really dry hands near the end of the day for some reason and so I always apply some hand cream before bed to revive my hands and leave them feeling as good as new. Hand Food is excellent for this as it is extremely hydrating, (as the name suggests,) plus it sinks in really fast and doesn't leave an oily residue on the hands, like some other brands do. With shea butter, macadamia oil and marshmallow as the main ingredients; it's not hard to imagine how nourishing and rich this product is. It's a definite favourite of mine!

Butter Yourself Five Fruits Super Rich Moisturising Body Cream - £10.50
I first reviewed this product on my blog back in my December Favourites, after being bought this body butter as a Christmas present from my aunt and uncle. Up until that point I had only tried the brands infamous Righteous Butter but I can now say that I much prefer the Five Fruits version. As a lover of fresh and fruity scents as opposed to richer ones, this moisturiser is right up my street. It is very nourishing without being sticky, which means that you do need to wait ages to get dressed after application (which is something that I despise!) Any of the Soap & Glory body butters are a good investment but this one is my personal favourite!

Glow All Out Luminizing Face Powder - £11.00
Last but not least, I first bought this product all the way back in August and even after one application, I fell in love with this highlighter! Glow All Out leaves a lovely, subtle glow when applied to the top of your cheekbones without being too over-powering or glittery. This product is great for achieving just a subtle shimmer, adding dimension to face even during the day time. I really believe that using a highlighter really takes your make-up to the next level, as well as it making your skin look luminous and healthy. A little goes a long way with this product and so it is definitely worth it's £11 price tag. I do not think that I could live without this product now, it's a winner!

I hope you all enjoyed reading about my five favourite Soap & Glory products. Which ones are your favourites? Let me know in the comments below! Also, I am planning on doing some more 'The Best Of' posts, so please let me know which brands you would like to see me talk about in the future. Thank you!

L'Oréal vs Garnier Micellar Cleansing Waters Review

Hi guys. Today I am going to be talking about two of the most talked about micellar waters on the high street at the moment; Garnier's Micellar Cleansing Water and L'Oréal's Skin Perfection 3 in 1 Purifying Micellar Solution. Micellar waters have become a huge craze in the beauty world over the past few years with the French brand Bioderma leading the way. So, it's only natural that this trend has filtered through onto the high street and into drugstores such as Boots and Superdrug. Both Garnier and L'Oréal are two of the most well-known brands that have jumped on this bandwagon to create more inexpensive alternatives to Bioderma and other higher end brands like Caudalie, which are not as easy to track down.

Both brands ultimately promise the same things; a water that removes make-up, cleanses and soothes the skin. Both retail at a very affordable £4.99, although they always seem to be on offer for around the £3 something mark. The solutions can be used on all three of the areas that you would usually apply your make-up - face, eyes and lips. Both are also hypo-allergenic and, therefore, are suitable for those with sensitive skin as well. In addition this, after reading the back of the bottles, their ingredient lists are exactly the same. However, despite having countless similarities, the two products do have one noticeable difference which definitely favours Garnier's version as being the better product.

The main difference between the two brands is the amount of product you actually get. L'Oréal contains a measly 200ml of product compared to Garnier, which offers double that amount with 400ml in each bottle. So, seeing as both bottles at the same price (as mentioned above,) Garnier clearly gives you a lot more value for your money. Also, one thing that the brand have included on their label which L'Oréal haven't is how many uses you can get out of the product. Garnier claim that you can get 200 uses out of the 400ml bottle, which means that each time you should be using 2ml of product. However, I feel that is a pretty tiny amount and I'm positive that I will probably use a little more than that per use. 

As for the products themselves, both solutions dissolve my make-up really well even when I have lashings of mascara and eyeliner on. I really like using both products to initially cleanse my face but I then go in with either No7 Foaming Cleanser or Soap & Glory Peaches And Clean to a second cleanse. I like to do this to ensure that every scrap of make-up has been removed and that my skin has had a thorough, deep clean. Overall, although the products do the exact same job to the exact same standard, I would obviously repurchase the Garnier version over L'Oréal's purely due to the fact that there is twice the amount of product in the bottle. 

Have any of you tried these products out? Which one do you prefer? Please let me know in the comments below :)