Current skincare favourites

I've been quite naughty recently and have missed out on make up free days, wearing foundation every day for nearly the past month, so my skin has of course broken out in a most unruly manner. I had to go on a mission to find some good quality products that were hard hitting and effective ASAP, and out of everything I bought in desperation these two stood out as my favourites; The Body Shop Vitamin C Facial Cleansing Polish, and the Soap & Glory "The Fab Pore" Daily Micro Smoothing Moisture Lotion.

The Body Shop Vitamin C Facial Cleansing Polish

I've been a fan of The Body Shop's Satsuma EDT for a long time, and this exfoliating cream shares the same scent which is amazing! It doesn't just smell good, it does good too, as it's not too harsh of a scrub and leaves your face super soft. I've been using this every day for a good month or so and have really noticed that my skin is a lot smoother, less under the skin bumps of spots and smaller pores are also a bonus. It was a gift so I'm not sure how much it was, but I will definitely repurchase as the quality is worth the standard Body Shop price range for sure!

Soap & Glory The Fab Pore Daily Micro Smoothing Moisture Lotion

Quite a mouthful to say! This to me seemed like a seriously intense moisturiser with a bit of a medicinal (almost) kick. Only a tiny amount is needed, I usually use a pea sized amount and work it into my whole face. It looks and smells a bit like toothpaste but not in an unpleasant way, and the effects are definitely immediately noticeable. It does shrink pores and moisturise, as well as helping to generally improve my skin's appearance and glow, and my face definitely feels healthier for it!

With these two heroes combined my face is almost forgiving me for the near constant covering of foundation it's getting recently, but I'm definitely due a rehab to let it breath a bit more!

MY FIRST MAC

Okay, I know this might not be a big deal for everyone, and yes there are a lot more things that are more acceptable to be excited about, but I FINALLY OWN A MAC LIPSTICK. YAY.

Hours and hours were spent on the website trying to choose a colour, originally I was there to buy one for my friend Vashti's birthday, but the temptation was just too much and I couldn't resist getting one for myself too! For her I got the classic MAC red, because she's a vixen and can pull off red lipstick like no one else I know, but I fancied something more neutral as I'm trying my hardest to be a tad girlier. In the end I went for Please Me, a lovely matte neutral pink shade. Yes, they were pricey, and yes, maybe unnecessary, but honestly the quality difference from the usual drug store brands is undeniable and you just know it'll last a lifetime (almost). Hoping this will be the start of quite a collection, but I'll have to pace myself to stay on the good side of my bank balance! Here's a few photo's I took out of excitement when the parcel arrived!

Haulin'

I love to shop. And buy things. New, shiny things. I can't help it, it's just the urge to find at least one thing in whatever shop I happen to be in that I like, otherwise I get an overwhelming sense of disappointment. But as it happens, I like a lot of things. As it's summer (sort of) I'm using that as an excuse to overhaul, bring a bit more brightness and cuteness into my life, because if it makes you happy... why the hell not?!

THE SHOES:

For my birthday a month ago my mum bought me some Converse, and as much as I love them, I felt a third pair of black sneakers would be too much, so I exchanged them for these babies. They are a patent black, chunky heeled t-bar slice of heaven. I thought they would look really cute with turned up disco pants, a white tee and a leather jacket for an edgier look, or with frilly socks and a dress for something a little girlier. The heel is also deceivingly high, but also super comfy, which is ideal for a midget like myself!

 

THE BRUSHES:

I have been a devoted user of Real Techniques for quite some time, but every now and then I like to mix up my brushes to try some different application techniques. So whilst browsing in Boots the other day I spotted this Eco Tools five piece complexion set and my first thought was HOW CUTE. They have wooden handles with colourful oriental patterns, and have the softest bristles I have ever felt. It contains a flat concealer brush, a buffing concealer brush, a precision foundation brush, a complexion blending brush and a full powder brush, which together make it so easy to apply all aspects of your base foundation. Let's just say I'll be using these religiously for the foreseeable future.

THE BAGS:

At the moment Accessorize have a promotion running, where with every purchase you get a scratch card revealing a discount on your next purchase, I'm not sure but I think it's running throughout June. I was insanely lucky and got 30% off, so I treated myself to a gorgeous cream and duck egg blue bag with a long shoulder strap which I absolutely love, and a turquoise purse with a gold bee on the clasp, as bee's are one of my favourite kooky accessory pieces!

THE MAKE UP:

Whilst in Boots I also decided to change up the products I use as a base, so I picked up a new foundation and a couple of new blushes for a bit of a fresher and prettier look when summer finally starts! So from No7 I got the Instant Radiance Foundation in Calico, as I'm still really pale. The coverage is really full even though it's only the brands medium coverage, as the fullest is super thick, so it's a really nice level without being too full on. It looks really fresh and clean, and gives a natural glow without looking too dewy so it's perfect for every day wear. I also got a No7 blush in Soft Damson as they had a buy one get one half price offer, which is a really pretty medium pinky shade. I also got a cheaper option from Natural Collection in Pink Cloud, which is lighter and peachier and has a lovely glow to it without being too shiny!

THE SKINCARE:

I absolutely love trying out own brand products, and Superdrug's own brand face mask sachets have been a firm favourite of mine for years! Especially the Superfruits Exfoliating Mask, it smells delicious and leaves your face unbelievably soft. I also got the Simple Kind To Eyes Revitalising Eye Roll On, as I have a major complex about the dark circles under my eyes and try anything and everything to help the situation. It's a cooling gel with a metal roll ball, so putting it on in the morning really helps to wake up my skin!

THE DRESS:

So this was a bit of a naughty purchase. I spied this beauty in the Last Chance to buy section and simply couldn't resist. Thanks to this weeks Grazia magazine I had a £5 off voucher, so I let myself off a little for the splurge. I have a garden party with the theme of glitter and hats coming up and thought this dress could work either classically or with a quirky spin on it, which is what I plan to do!

That's it for this weeks haul! Let me know if you have tried any of the products, or have also splurged this week to help relieve my guilty conscience! Much love X

My Lush Addiction

Hello everybody, my name is Lara and I am a Lush-aholic. Man it feels good to get that off my chest.

It's been a very long while since I've written a post on here, there's been so much going on in the past 6 months that blogging hasn't been in the top of my list of priorities, and that truly makes me sad! But as things have started to calm down the urge to ramble to the internet has grown greater and greater, and I just can't resist anymore! My latest addiction seemed like the best thing to talk about as it has well and truly taken over my life - for the better!

I live an hour away from my closest Lush store in Exeter (which is probably a good thing for my bank account) so the trips I take there are really a rare and brilliant experience, you just don't get the amazing smells and sights and atmosphere on the website! My most recent trip a few weeks ago was the turning point from a casual love affair to a full blown obsession.

I have loved Lush for a very very long time, well who doesn't really, but recently I've found it impossible to go a day without using one or more of their products. I'm scanning the website and the catalogue multiple times a day without even thinking about it, it's just routine. Usually I'm quite good when it comes to self control, buying one ballistic a week as a sort of moderation, however I had a massive splurge (oops) which was delivered today to my absolute delight, so I now have enough to last at least a month! Here's what I'll be indulging in...

• VANILLA PUFF - Dusting powder that smells deliciously of Vanilla and childhood dreams.

• MMMELTING MARSHMALLOW MOMENT - Bath melt of frothy pink goodness.

• ROSE JAM BUBBLEROON - My favourite scent from Lush in a cute Macaroon shaped parcel.

• BRIGHTSIDE - Orange bubbly wonder.

• YOU'VE BEEN MANGOED - Soft and fruity melt.

• SHIMMY SHIMMY - Massage bar, super moisturising and shiny!!

• DRAGONS EGG - Ballistic with hidden goodies.

• KARMA KREAM - A freebie thrown in (thanks Lush!) Super soft and exotic moisturiser.

As of yet I haven't tried any of these, but I'll be sure to review and enjoy, and maybe I'll get a new all time favourite Lush product! This haul is adding to my already quite large existing collection, so I'm not even ashamed at the amount I bought, it'll last for ages and bring some good happy vibes into my skincare routine. If there's any amazing products that may be some of your favourites do let me know, there's not many products I'm yet to experience but if I'm missing out on something incredible I want to hear about it!

Fresh Skin for a Fresh Year!

I'm not going to do one of those cheesy New Year posts, because I am a firm believer that cringe like that should be kept internal or extremely filtered to the public to reduce any chance of vomiting. However I do like the idea of a fresh start, not because it's a New Year, but because any time is a good time for a fresh start if you feel like you need one! And at the minute I really, really do. So I'm putting it down to a happy coincidence, but will continue to stress that I am not in any way shape or form conforming to the "New Year new me" thing, I just fancy a bit of a freshen up on the existing me, thank you very much. SO with that in mind, I figured the best place to start would be skin! I've been testing quite a few products recently in an attempt to liven up my skin for the New Year, and after the harshness of this winter it's definitely called for, so here's a selection that I've been enjoying!

• NIP + FAB DEEP CLEANSING FIX

Might as well start with my absolute favourite. I'm going to be completely honest, I bought this because I liked the packaging, but I was on the hunt for an affordable and non time consuming skin treatment, which it fits the bill for perfectly. It's quite a thick cream, which you either apply to your face liberally for ten minutes then wash off, or you can leave a thin layer on overnight for a quick cleansing treatment with zero hassle. I found at first it had the same effect as many blurring primers and other products do, where your pores seem to disappear and your skin looks delightfully airbrushed. But later I appreciated the benefit of the product, as in how clean it felt the next day, and smooth, not dry at all. It's basically just an all in one product which is extremely versatile and perfect and easy to use. The only downside was the smell which reminded me very much of creams that doctors give you, it smelt very medicinal, but that's easy to overlook. I got this huge pot from Boots but the brand is also in Superdrug too, and it's not on the pricy side at all. Yay!

• SUPERDRUG FACE MASKS

I have a friend that works in Superdrug, so I feel inclined to try out their own brand products. They're pretty good though, they are against animal testing and are mostly all suitable for vegans, so I have a Lush-like faith in them. I got these two tubes of face masks, the Refreshing Cucumber Peel-Off Mask and the Purifying Witch Hazel Mud Mask, they were both on offer for 2 for £3 something.

As of yet I've only tried the Cucumber one, as I'm drawn to Peel-Off's for the ease of not having to scrub my face with a flannel for half an hour after having a face mask. My first impression was that it smelt like someone had been drinking vodka in a dentists office and had bottled the scent - not pleasant. When I applied it I found it very difficult, it was extremely fluid-y and difficult to place on exact areas of your face, causing a lot of hairline issues, and it didn't set in the ten minutes it advised, or peel off very easily at all. However that all being said, I was able to wash it off with just my hands in the shower, no flannel scrubbing needed, and it left my skin feeling really soft and fresh and lively, and cool as a cucumber. So overall the product was just okay, maybe I'll learn to love it a bit more, but for now it'll be a once-in-a-while occurrence. I'm excited to try out the mud mask, as they have a lot less potential to be wrong so I'm almost guaranteed to like it.

• THE BODY SHOP TEA TREE SKIN CLEARING TONER

I've never been a massive fan of toners, but my skin had a very unruly December with breakouts all over the place, so I had to take some drastic action. The lady assured me it would remove my blemishes after a week or so of incorporating it into my daily skin routine, and she was right! So I'm now a religious cleanse-tone-moisturise person. The toner is lovely, very light, easy to apply. The only thing is that you can REALLY feel it working, as in you get that slight stinging sensation, the one that makes you think "hmm not sure about this feeling but it must be doing me good". It's nothing too difficult to put up with though, and it does indeed smell brilliantly of tea tree goodness, and considerably removes blemishes like black heads and under the skin spots, yay for Body Shop!

 So with all of those combined I'm hoping to look healthy and glowing in the New Year, despite the lack of sleep and prolonged hangovers that December brought. Any other tips for lovely looking skin?

Bloglovin'

ALSO, just a quick note, I signed up to Bloglovin' just now. FOLLOW. If you want, like you don't have to. Also I'll leave a few links to songs I like with the word Follow included in the title. Enjoy!

<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/11405171/?claim=ktykw9f3pvn">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

I DIVIDE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObVAzxNMIZE

I was there, in that crowd, it was amazing.

WE ARE THE OCEAN: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-hN5sBtKYI

Also seen this live, again, amazing.

Winter Blues Favourites

So it's that time of year, where it's cold and damp and rainy, there's very few hours of daylight, and it's very easy to feel a bit down and blue. I've been feeling a bit sad recently for various different reasons but I've had small little seasonal things to cheer myself up, and thought I'd make a favourites list to share! These are things that made me a little jollier (if that's a word) or that I just really like at the minute - enjoy!

• NOVELTY MUGS

Hot chocolates, coffees and Lemsips are basically the only way I can survive the winter, and they're made so much more fun if you drink them out of a silly mug! They're great to give as presents too, I have one that says "Grumpy Old Woman" for a Secret Santa, but my favourite is this cute Santa with a cosy hat to keep your beverage warm!

• SCENTED CANDLES

They just plain make life better. I've become a bit obsessed actually, and have quite the collection building up. Lighting them just makes the room look cosy and smell good and it's nice to just make it look posh even if you're the only one seeing them, which I always am, people don't visit my room often. Things that smell nice are always a sure fire way to make me feel better, and ones that look pretty too are just a bonus. On the go at the minute I have Raspberry and Papaya from Urban Outfitters, which is a really strong smell but has such a pretty tin and is so fruity and lovely. A Cinnamon Apple massive one from Aromatic Home, which is lovely and Christmassy and lasts forever. An Orange Skittles scented one, which is just so cute and tangy. And a plain Vanilla scented one, which I've forgotten where I got it because it's been around for so long!

• HAIR CARE

It's a known fact that if your hair feels good, you feel good. So I've been taking a lot of care of mine recently, using Argan oils, deep conditioning treatments and lots of heat defines spray. My favourite product to use at the minute is the VO5 Hot Oil Nourish My Shine Natural Oil Treatments. Basically you heat the tube under your bath or shower for a minute, massage into the lengths of your hair, leave for a minute, then rinse and shampoo as normal once a week. They leave my hair feeling so soft and strong and healthy, and they're really affordable too!

• COSY ROOMS

It's Christmas, the only time when it's acceptable or normal to always have your rooms looking like the inside of a gingerbread house. So whack out the fairy lights and light the fire, because being all cosy inside on a cold night is just such a good feeling, especially in pyjamas with a good film on (Ahem ELF). It just looks so cute and cosy!

• WINTER WALKS

Even though it's freezing, the best kind of day in winter is when it's clear and crisp and sunny, and on these rare occasions it would be a waste of daylight not to go outside. So I like to wrap up warm and go for a walk by the river, just to get out of the house and have some fresh air, and to remember that the sky is, sometimes, a colour other than grey.

Sorry for the ramble, but it's a good idea to list things that make you a teensie bit happy even when you're feeling sad on a cold horrible day.