March Favourites

Another month, another favourites post!  My dissertation is well and truly underway now as planned, with less than a month to go until hand in day, yikes!  These are the things that have seen me through the busy month this time round – this month they are more activity based.  

Foam Rolling

If you follow me on Twitter, you’ve probably seen me complaining about my sore neck, sore back and sore shoulders a fair handful of times.  It was so bad that I was taking pain medication on a daily basis to get me through the day, which is not what you want to be doing, especially when they only worked for a few hours before the pain would become unbearable again.  Foam rolling has really helped me with the pain that I have been experiencing, and its really simple to do too.  You can pick up a really decent foam roller from Amazon for around £15, and then you’re good to go from the comfort of your own home.  The idea is that you just roll your sore muscles over the foam roller until they start to loosen up – it’s painful, yes, but so good!  For some reason my hamstrings were crazy tight, and that was with me doing stretches every single day to ease them off.  I spent the best part of a week using the foam roller to correct this, and today I no longer have that achy pain.  It’s so satisfying reaching those tricky achy spots on your back with the foam roller, and it gives you nearly instant pain relief if you do it properly – amazing!  I’d recommend watching some tutorials online to make sure that you’re doing it right before you start, but be sure to let me know how you get on!

The Chiropractor

Normally I wouldn’t splash out on expensive treatments for myself, but seeing as my neck, back and shoulder pain was so sever, I finally decided to take the plunge and get myself seen by the chiropractor.  Rather expensive, but worth every single penny… honestly!  During my first session I received an acupuncture treatment, which was absolutely amazing (the woman actually told me the knots in my shoulders were some of the most impressive she’d seen in a looong time, now that’s saying something!)  All of the tensions I felt were almost instantly lifted, and although I was pretty tender in the area for a few days afterwards, it was nothing compared to the pain I had been having before.  I’ve been in to see them three times now, and each time I’ve been sent home with new stretches to try out to maintain the treatments that they’ve carried out on me!  I’m still sore, some days a lot worse than others, but the improvement in the area that I’ve been experiencing the pain in is incredible – I’d highly recommend a trip to your local chiropractor for any aches and pains that you might be experiencing.

Yoga

Maintaining the theme of pain, aches and general discomfort, I’ve taken to yoga to stretch out my body and to have a little bit of me time at the end of the day.  I’ve been loving this one 15 minute session on YouTube called “Yoga for Sore Muscles” – it’s pretty easy on the exercise front, but every single time I’m finished the session I feel relaxed, calm and most importantly – stretched!  It feels so good on my achy body, and I can’t wait to try out loads of the other various sessions that are online so that I can incorporate yoga into my daily routine as exercise, and not just pain relief!  Let me know if there is a program or session you would recommend below!

So that’s everything, a bit of a different favourites post for me, but I thought it would be good to share round about now seeing as a lot of us student are probably slumped over our computer screens typing away at coursework and giving ourselves nasty aches without even realising it.

What have you been loving this month?

Until the next one,

Skincare Favourites

This month I’ve been trying really hard to sort out my crazy bad skin.  Two trips to the doctors meant that I was hooked up with some eczema cream that I am hoping are going to kick in properly this week and make a difference.  However this will only really benefit my body, and these last couple of months I’ve noticed that my face has been breaking out and as a result my skin has been pretty awful.  Superdrug and Lush have been my go to places for my skincare as of late, and here is what I’ve been loving recently.

 B. Hyaluronic Acid Facial Spritz 

Ever since I finished my last facial mists a couple of months ago, for some reason I just never got round to picking up another one.  I had been using the Superdrug Vitamin E Micellar Water day and night for cleansing and to give my skin a little bit more hydration.  When I finished up that, I was on a mission to find something that would be suitable to use throughout the day, and this has been the perfect find for applying before my moisturising, before my makeup powder, for setting my makeup, for refreshing my skin throughout the day and for applying late at night for a little extra hydration.  I’m totally obsessed!  I picked this up when it was on offer for £3.95, and I can honestly say that I think it is the best purchase I’ve made all month!  I’ve already picked up my second bottle as I’m very nearly finished this one – which proves just how much I love it!

Let The Good Times Roll

This has been my go to facial scrub for months now, it’s bitty but not harsh, thick but not sticky and really exfoliating without being brutal.  Packed with cinnamon and popcorn, this face and body cleanser gives my skin the exfoliation it needs daily, but also leaves my skin feeling moisturised after.  I’d say that my skin is rather sensitive and really dehydrated, so this has been a life saver since I decided to give it a go last year!  Thank you Lush!

Naturally Radiant Skin Balm

After using up the last of my day and night creams from Superdrug, I wanted to try something that would be super moisturising on the first application.  I really liked the other two, however on days when I feel super tight on my face I would have to apply a layer, wait for it to absorb and then apply another for the hydration I required.  This balm has worked wonders for my skin day and night, it’s super thick and balmy but sinks into the skin beautifully and doesn’t take long to absorb.  It doesn’t leave a sticky or greasy residue, just moisture with a dreamy scent!  I’ve stocked up on this one already, and I’ve also picked up the facial oil and serum from the range to try out too – stay peeled for an update on those!

Have  you tried out any  of the above?  What's  your skincare routine looking like right now?

Until the next one,

Birch Box

It had been a few months since I last treated myself to a subscription box, so when I spied that Unidays were offering 50% off the October Birch Box, I decided to sign myself up for the month.  I did however make a rather silly mistake, as I signed up for the 50% off box on October 31^st, and then was charged on the 1^st of November again for the next month’s box.  I wasn’t that fussed though, as both boxes looked really pretty, and there was a few bits and bobs between the two boxes that I was keen to try out.

October

So I’m not going to lie, there was only really one product that I was interested in when I signed up for this box – the This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray.  I have recently become a fan of the stuff, so I was really keen to stock up on it to tie me over till Christmas.  Sadly I didn’t receive this in my box, however I did anticipate this as I did the order, seeing as I was ordering on the last day of the month.  If I’m totally honest, there wasn’t really anything that wowed me in the box – other than the styling of the actual box itself.  Inside contained a facial mist spray, hair oil, eye brow brush, a sheet mask, a lipstick crayon and an aroma therapy shower gel.  Not to sound snobby, but these are all items that I either buy myself a regular basis and have plenty to keep me going, or items that I tend not to both much with.  The facial mist does feel great on my skin, the lipstick crayon is a gorgeous colour and I love the way the hair oil makes my hair smell (like a hairdressers) however I probably won’t bother much with the other items.  I’ve got a brow brush, and the mask is not cruelty free, so this box wasn’t a winner for me.  I did however LOVE the design and drawer style of the box, and I have it nicely displayed and in use in my room. 

November

Seeing as I had no idea what to expect in the November box, I was actually quite excited by what might come.  The delivery was as quick as the first one, only taking a few days to arrive after the payment was taken.  Again though, sadly the contents were not items that I was thrilled by.  Now don’t get me wrong, they are all great products, just not stuff that I go mad for.  My November box contained another facial spritz spray, a leave in hair conditioner, a lipstick primer, BB cream and a facial moisturiser.  All great products, all cruelty free, just these are not the kind of items that I had hoped to receive in a monthly subscription box.  I’ve been loving the Nuxe moisturiser which I’ve been using under my primer, and the lip stick primer does work a treat – however it’s not something that I think I will bother with when I run out of the sample.

I like to keep my routines pretty simple, and so adding extra bits and bobs really complicate things for my and clutter up my toiletry bag!  None the less, I will be using up all of the products above over a period of time, however for the time being I will be cancelling my Birch Box subscription – as this beauty box is not the one for me.

Did you treat yourself to any of the above boxes?  Were you more thrilled with the contents than I was?

Until the next one,

November Favourites

Can you believe that December is here already?!  I’ve been longing for this since summer, and now that it’s here it’s all going too fast - I’m two doors into my Yankee Candle advent calendar, let’s stop for a minute people!   

It’s been a while since I did a favourites post, so here is what I’ve been loving this month.

I treated myself to the Zoella Gingerbread and Vanilla Fragrance set back in October after watching loads of Vlogs online about how amazing it smelt, and I’ve been obsessed with it ever since it arrived.  The body cream smells absolutely amazing, like good enough to eat!  I like to apply this throughout the day for a spicy little pick me up, especially now that the colder weather is upon us.  The fragrance spray smells so amazing too, it’s like Christmas in a bottle and it’s perfect!  I’ve been using it most days to get me into the festive mood, and now that December is finally here, I have a funny feeling that I’m going to bleed the bottle dry before the 25^th!

I think that my absolute favourite product right now had got to be the This Works Deep Sleep Spray.  I never thought that a sleep spray would actually ever do anything… but this one?  I think it is the absolute BEST thing that I have ever come across.  Again, I treated myself to a sample bottle of this and the Stress Less roll on oil back in October, and I’ve been using them both ever since.  It works great for those days when I’ve had a super busy day at work or a horrible day at uni – I simply use a few pumps on my pillow and jump into bed.  Now I’m not saying that the stuff puts me straight to sleep, because that is not the case at all.  What I am saying though is that I have the best nights sleep when I use it – I sleep the whole night with little to no disturbances, and I feel so refreshed in the morning when it’s time to get up.  I’ve put this on my Santa list because I’m obsessed, so obsessed in fact that I picked up not one, but two copies of last months Marie Claire magazine – simply because you got a sample bottle with each mag! 

At the start of November I started to feel really stressed out with all of the uni work that I’ve got going on.  I had read online that essential oils are meant to be great for calming you down, so I ordered a peppermint roll on oil and ylang ylang roll on for a couple of quid off of Amazon, just to carry around on me whenever I’m at work or in class.  Although I’ve not been using the ylang and ylang one much, the peppermint oil has been life changing!  First of all it’s so refreshing to use throughout the day as a nice little pick me up.  I love minty smells, and so it’s really nice when you get a whiff of it as you’re going about your day.  Secondly, I think that it works really well for me whenever I’m feeling super stressed or a little anxious. I apply it to my pulse points, then I like to sit with the lid off of the bottle for a little bit, just so that I can inhale the minty goodness.  I like to concentrate on my breathing when I’m doing this, and normally this works really well for calming my nerves.  Finally, I love using this when I’ve got a headache.  Again, I just find the smell really soothing and I enjoy the tingly feeling that it gives my temples. 

And there we have it, these are the products that I’ve been swearing by this month!  They’re all kind of feel good products, which is actually quite nice for a change – as it’s important to take some time out sometimes and just look after yourself!

What have you been loving over the last couple of months?

Until the next one,

Winter Lip Care Essentials

Dry, chapped lip season is once again upon us, which is not ideal for our poor wee peckers.  My lips have been pretty healthy as of late, however I have had some pretty bad spells this year where they have been dry and irritated and sore.  As the colder weather is starting to take its toll on them once more, here are some of my winter lip care essentials, which I have found to really take care of my peckers over these colder months.

Barry M Lip Oils

I’ve only recently become interested in watching vloggers during my free time, and I’ve really been enjoying watching people try out new products and finding out what they think.  Zoella vlogged earlier this year about the Barry M lip oils, that she suggested are a great dupe for the Clinique ones – which are way pricier and not cruelty free.  I had actually some across these in store before, however didn’t think much of them, other than they looked like a gloss.  After hearing the great things that Zoella had to say about them (even after she said that she loved the Clinique ones too), I decided to pick one up on my next Superdrug outing, and they did not disappoint!  This beautiful product makes my lips feel absolutely fantastic.  They look and feel nourished with every application, and as the oil is clear, they look really natural and healthy too.  The formula glides on beautifully and soaks into the lips, giving them enough time to absorb the goodness.  Priced at £4.99, this is something that I’m willing to pay a little more for, as I know it works.  Superdrug currently have three for two on all cosmetics right now – so if this is something you’ve fancied trying out for a while now, why not do so next time you’re picking up your staple products?

Burts Bees

Now I’ve spoken about these lip balms the last time I was having problems with my lips – Burts Bees lip balm fixed me up then and they’ve fixed me up now!  These luscious lip balms leave my lips feeling smooth, nourished and healthy with every use.  Burts Bees use bees wax, shea butter and sometimes coconut oil too to create the perfect formula for each balm, alongside the appropriate essential oils to make each and every one unique!  During these colder months I’ve been loving and reaching for the peppermint lip balm as it makes my lips feel tingly and fantastic – however I have also been loving the fruity ones that I picked up over the summer when they had their online Christmas 2015 clearance sale.

Between the lip oil and lip balm, my lips have been looking healthy and happy during these colder winter months.  Whenever I feel them beginning to tighten or dry up, a small application of either normally fixes them up quickly!  It really makes me feel uncomfortable and unhappy when my lips are feeling dry, and so I’m so pleased that I’ve found these goodies to keep my peckers and I happy during the next several months.

What have your lips been thanking you for during the colder weather?

Until the next one,

Lush Halloween Bath Bombs

October for me means that the count down for Christmas is officially on.  I’ve 6 siblings to purchase gifts for alongside my parents, boyfriend, his family and my pals – so I always start my Christmas shopping around this time.  I know… I’m THAT person.  Don’t get me wrong though, I might be gearing up for Christmas financially, but I’m still very much all about Halloween until November comes along.  It’s why October is my favourite month of all!  I’ve got all of my Halloween spiced candles looked out and they’re burning away, and of course I’ve been in and out of Lush on several occasions lately picking up their fabulously creepy Halloween bath bombs to set the scene.  With the weather finally turning that little bit chiller and the nights are creeping in that little bit earlier, is there any better way to end the day (or spend the afternoon?!) than soaking in a tub of spooky fragrances?

Pumpkin Bath Bomb

This was the one that I was the most excited to get my hands on when I first saw the list of Halloween Lush goodies this year.  Cinnamon is my all-time favourite scent ever, so the vanilla and cinnamon spiced pumpkin sounded like a beautiful spicy sensation.  Pumpkin looks rather creepy, he has a wicked smile that fizzles slowly in the tub, and eyes that watch your every move.  Although pumpkin does not give you much of a show as he fizzles out – his scent makes up for this in every way possible.  The room fills with his aroma that lingers on your skin for hours.  He leaves his mark on you with the ever so subtle glittery pieces that appear in the tub.  I was worried that his orange tint would leave the bath in an awful mess like Yoga Bomb, however I was pleasantly surprised when all traces of him disappeared down the drain.  I’ve fallen in love with Sir Pumpkin, and will absolutely be stocking up before he disappears for the year.

Lord of Misrule

I’ve heard lots of fantastic things about this particular fragrance over the years that I’ve been indulging in Lush.  Little did I know that the Sugar Scrub bar that I have picked up in the past shares a very similar scent with her.  Defiantly not a fragrance that I think everyone would be crazy about – I personally really like the spicy aroma and subtle exterior of the bath bomb.  After watching the Lush Halloween promo video – and I will admit that I watched that bad boy over, and over again – I was desperate to get my hands on one of these to try.  When you pop her in the bath the water turns a ghoulish green, and releases the beautiful scent into the room.  Moments later, the pink centre starts to spill into the water, resulting in the most mesmerising swirls of colours in the tub.  Even better, the popping candy starts to crackle, making the whole experience hat little bit more spectacular.  Lord of Misrule puts on a show that is not one to be missed – it will be a sad day when she has to pack up again for the year.

Monsters Ball
This fantastic little critter really made a crappy day into a wonderful evening.  Lime is one of my favourite scents ever, so Monsters Ball aroma really stood out at me when I picked it up in store.  Looking very innocent with just the one eye looking at you, it dissolves very slowly in the tub - keeping the best part for last.  Monsters Ball eye remains until the last of its presence fizzles away.  The eye consists of a very gooey, chocolaty smelling substance - the whole thing reminds me very much of a chocolate lime sweetie.  The water fills with a variety of blues, white, pink and purple colours throughout your soak, which all churn together to create a fantastic blue coloured water to spend the remainder of the evening in.  Monsters Ball is the perfect companion for when you need a little uplifting or you're simply in the mood for some fun!

These guys have been my favourite Halloween Lush goodies this year?  Can you spy any of your favourites too? 

Until the next one, 
 

Naturally Radiant Hot Cloth Cleanser

Towards the end of the summer/start of autumn I noticed that the “in thing” for a lot of bloggers was to be trying out hot cloth cleansers.  I’ve read a lot of fab things about them, in particular the Liz Earl one – however due to the high price tag (for me, anyways) it wasn’t one that I thought that I needed to try out.  That and the fact that I’m not entirely sure that they are a cruelty free brand.  Anyway, I read about a couple of other ones during this period too – Soap and Glory and Botanics versions both sounded equally as great, and both had a price tag that I could live with. 

So back in September when Kirsty and I were doing our monthly shop and coffee date, I had my heart set on picking up a hot cloth cleanser that was 100% cruelty free.  It was just by chance that I came across the Naturally Radiant collection in Superdrug – and it was an even bigger surprise when the hot cloth cleanser jumped out at me.  Since having changed all of my beauty cosmetics to cruelty free alternatives, I have been pleasantly surprised by how much of the Superdrug goodies are branded as cruelty free – and a lot of them branded as vegan too!  This hot cloth cleanser is of course no different – its designed to cleanse, gently exfoliate and best of all leave your skin looking nice and glowy.

Packed with kiwi and mulberry extracts, the two work together to buff away any dead skin cells with the help of the muslin cloth, whilst the cocoa butter ensures that your skin is left feeling soft and moisturised at the end of each application.  The cleanser is a really nice, thick and cream consistency that rubs smoothly into the skin to allow the nutrients to be absorbed.  I like to buff this in for about a minute over my face, and then leave it to sit for a little bit longer.  The cream has a really nice relaxing fragrance, it smells like lavender with a hint of fruity scents.  My favourite part about the cleanser is buffing it away with the muslin cloth.  This is when the exfoliation takes place, and when my skin gets the most out of the experience.  The warm cloth works nicely on the skin to remove the cleanser, and you can definetly feel it buffing away the cells – however it is so very gentle, so there is no need to worry about it being too harsh.  After each use, my skin always looks really fresh, even around my blemishes.

I’ve been using this a couple of times a week since purchasing since I’m not too sure if it’s okay to use daily.  My skin is still rather bumpy over my forehead and cheeks, however I have noticed a great improvement is the over all appearance of my skin.  I definitely feel as though my complexion looks a lot better when I’ve not got any make up on, which I’m totally pleased about because I’ve been getting a little lazy on the make up front as of late.  I picked up this gem for just £2.95 when the Naturally Radiant range was all half price – however I think I would be tempted to pick this up again and pay the full price – I’m really enjoying the results that I’ve been getting so far!

Have you tried out any hot cloth cleansers this season?

Until the next one,

Toning Waters

I’ve been trying out a lot of different facial mists lately due to the change in the weather and the changes in my skin.  I’ve read lots of good things about facial mists ever since I received the Bloom and Blossom one in a beauty box a few months back.  I’ve done my research, have been out buying and have picked up three different variations of toning waters that double as a refreshing facial mist throughout the day. 

I was loving the Lush Tea Tree Water for a freshen up and gentle cleanse every morning to start my skin care routine, however when this ran out I opted for another one of my trusty toner tabs to do the job as they are my favourites.  I popped one in my old tea tree bottle, added some hot boiling water from the kettle and left it to fizzle and cool down for a while.  It’s the best toning water that I think I’ve used to date, it gives my skin a nice freshen up in the morning and evening – and does not sting or irritate my sensitive skin, like may tea tree products do.    Next time I’m going to try using two tabs in the bottle and see if that gives an even better effect… watch this space!

Breathe of Fresh Air was one that I actually bought on a whim, I had £2.99 left of a gift card and wanted to try out something new.  I seriously think that this is one of my new all time favourite Lush skin care products to date!  On a fresh face this water soaks up beautifully like my skin is taking a drink.  I like to spray this on and leave it to absorb, although I think it would be nice to use a cotton pad and rub it in this way too.  It had a lovely smell to it, and leaves my skin feeling soft to the touch.  When you spray it on it does feel like a lot has been used, however this is just due to the harshness of the pump.  I really adore this product, and will definitely be repurchasing as its perfect for carrying around in my pocket at work and keeping in my handbag. 

I’ve recently found and fallen for the Boots Botanic range after discovering that they were a primary organic and totally cruelty free brand.  I picked up a few bits from the range recently, one of them being their rose water toning spray which is totally amazing.  The stuff smells like Turkish delight which I absolutely adore, and the bottle sprays out the gentlest mist which I like to use before I apply my moisturiser both morning and night, as well as after applying my foundation each morning.  I find that using this and then blotting ever so gently before applying my press power gives my skin a little bit of extra hydration and a really nice sort of dewy finish to my makeup.  I keep this bottle at home for when I need a pick me up throughout the day, and will definitely repurchase at just £3.99. 

As you can tell, I don’t really have a favourite this time round, just a new found love for facial mists – and really good priced ones at that!

What’s your favourite facial product right now?

Until the next one,

Soap & Glory Face Mask

So the last couple of weeks have been slightly crazy to say the least!  My summer is officially over, uni has started up again and I’m already having stress related symptoms just processing the idea of fourth year!  I wasn't prepared for the crazy work load that got thrown at me during the first week, and so my blog took a little it of a hit during that time - so my apologies for my unexplained absence, but I'm back now and ready to carry on again!

In August I treated myself to the Soap and Glory No Pores Allowed deep cleansing mask, after I had used up the last of my Lush ones.  It’s been a while since I bought myself a face mask that wasn’t from Lush, and over time I’ve noticed that my pores have become a lot more noticeable – so I wanted to go for something that will tackle them without being too harsh on my skin.  My eczema has been acting up too after trying my luck with some yeast foods (won’t be doing that again any time soon) so as a result I’ve been really careful as what I’m using on my skin to avoid an even bigger flare up. 

Soap and Glory have always been favourite brand of mine, however I’ve been using them a lot more ever since I went cruelty free.  I’ve only ever seen good reviews on this particular mask, and the £12 price tag was made an awful lot better when it was BOGOHP on all of their skin care products… boost! 

The mask itself is designed to unclog pores and leave them looking smaller, if not removing them completely over a period of time.  It’s a self-warming mask that heats up as you rub it in, which I find stays warm for the first few minutes of wearing, then cools itself down gradually until your skin actually starts to feel cold (or this is what happens to me anyways – I leave it on for around 20 minutes).  I like to feel face masks doing the work as I wear them, so this one definitely ticks that box for me.  As you’re rubbing it in, your skin benefits from an ever so gentle exfoliation, which is perfect for opening up the pores, right before the heat kicks in.  The bottle states that your mask should turn blue as you rub it in, which I have yet to experience.  You shake your bottle, then apply the off white mask to your face, which turns an ever so slightly grey colour in the process.  I’ve only ever seen my mask turn blue on occasion when I’m rubbing it off, so don’t let that bottle fool you or put you off reusing.

Having used the mask for around 2 months now, I have to say that it’s one that I really, really like.  It always leaves my skin feeling a lot cleaner, especially if I give myself another gentle exfoliation after a wear.  I will say though that it does ALWAYS make me break out, and I personally don’t mind this as I try and time my uses for days when I know I’m about to be bumming around for a while – but if you do have plans that require a fresh face and fancy a mask treat prior to the big day, this is not the one for you – unless you’re planning on using it the week before!

A fabulous mask with a great price tag, this is one that I would totally pick up again on any Soap and Glory special offer events.

What’s your favourite face mask right now?

Until the next one,

A Cheeky Lush Haul

My lovely boyfriend treated me to a lush haul for our three year anniversary recently, so I took this as an opportunity to try out a few bits that I’ve had my eyes on for ages, as well as picking up a few staple products.

Tea Tree Toner Tab

This is a product that I’ve been buying for around a year now as I just love how good it leaves my skin feeling after each use.  After reading a lot of reviews online, I started bottling the water after each stem session and I keep it as a toner.  It makes my skin feel cleaner day and night, hence why this has become a staple product for most of my Lush trips!

Whoosh Shower Jelly

The first shower jelly that I bought from Lush was the Nightwing one that they sell at Halloween, and ever since I’ve been obsessed with them!  They all smell incredible and although slippery when I the tub –duh, they’re jelly – they create a nice soapy (but not foamy) lather that fills the room with fragrance and leave you smelling funky fresh!  I have a Refresher jelly at my house which smells like lemons, so I picked up a citrusy Whoosh to keep at my boyfriends.

Yoga Bomb

Since declaring this bad boy as my favourite bathbomb a while ago, I really struggle not to pick up one when I’m in store.  The smell is just mesmerising, I’m actually keeping this one in my drawer at the moment until I fancy soak – so every time I open it I’m met with the sweet scent.  If you’ve not given it a go yet, you’ve got to! 

Charity Pot

This trusty little pot of cream does wonders for my skin, it a great little pick me up for when it's needing a little TLC, and the handy  little pot makes it perfect for carrying around on me when I’m at work, or for throwing in my handbag when I’m on the move.  I love the charity pot, and tend to always pick one up when I’m doing a random shop. 

Aqua Marina

It’s still early days yet, but I think this cleanser is either going to be really good for my skin, or do nothing at all.  I don’t normally go for a cream cleanser and so I'm not entirely sure what I should be expecting from this and how long it should take to notice a difference.  I can say that it’s really gentle on my sensitive skin, and leaves my face feeling really soft.  It’s an acquired smell I have to admit, however it’s super pretty to look at, which I guess it a plus!

Avo Wash

This smells incredible – it reminds me of the love heart sweeties and it smells good enough to eat!  This is one of the products that I’ve fancied for a really long time now, but always put it off as I was never sure what it was actually to be used for.  After speaking to a member of staff and doing my own research online, I discovered that this is in fact a conditioning shampoo – which a lot of people like to use as a conditioner due to it ingredients.  I’ve decided to do the same, and it’s done wonders for my hair.  It doesn’t lather like a shampoo – it reminds me very much of the Lush solid conditioner actually.  It makes my hair smell lovely for hours after it’s dried naturally, and although my hair does feel tuggy after use until I’ve given it a really good brush through when it’s wet, I’ve seen a difference in my curly locks already.  I will definitely repurchase when I run out of my block.

Trichomania

I picked this up after a friend from work told me that it was really nice on her lovely curly hair, and so I just had to give it a go too.  She’s not lying, it’s great!  This shampoo bar lathers up fabulously when I rub it though my hair, and after it’s been washed out, the shower fills with the sweet smell of coconuts.  I’m in love with this, my hair feels soft before I go to condition, and I’m just so impressed with the quality of the product.  You get a huge block of shampoo for less that £7, so I’m hoping that it’s going to keep me going for a long time yet.  My only concern is that it has become quite soft, and possibly melting a little due to the heat of the bathroom.  I will however stop storing it in there in a bid to save the block!  This is another one that I plan on repurchasing when I run out!

There we have it – I’m well pleased with my splurge in Lush this month, and think I’ve found myself a few new favourites too!

What’s your favourite product from my haul?

Until the next one,

Organic & Botanic

Back in August the lovely team at Organic & Botanic got in touch after I had shown an interest in their products.  They asked if they could send me a goodie from their range, which of course I said yes too!  I received a pot of their Orange Mandarin and Shea Butter Body Cream just a few days later, and I have to say that I am totally impressed with the quality!

I was super excited to find that the cream was actually suitable for vegans and not just cruelty free, as I am seriously looking into adapting my lifestyle to a vegan one - one day down the line!  Anyway, the fact that it's labelled as a vegan product makes it really easy to tell that it's cruelty free - which takes a whole lot of time away from looking at packaging.

I was a little bit nervous about giving the cream a go - as my skin has always been sensitive to new products due to my eczema.  However seeing as these ingredients are pretty much all natural, it is safe to say that my skin was delighted to smothered in the orangey goodness, and I didn't even have a breakout!  The body cream smells so sweet that it is seriously tempting to have a taste at times - although I've manged to restrain myself so far.  It's a really thick and creamy consistency, however it is in no way sticky once applied to the skin, nor does is leave me feeling greasy!  

What I love the most about the Organic & Botanic body cream is the way that it makes my skin feel - it's so nice!  I've been using this all over my body, but paying special attention to the dryer areas of my skin being around my elbows and my knees.  I've seen a dramatic difference in these areas, they're no longer flaky looking nor are they super rough to touch. 

It's nice when you find a product that works exactly how you expect it to, which can sometimes be hard when you have such high expectations for everything that you buy!  I would highly recommend trying out some of the Organic & Botanic range, which you can see here!  Thank you so much to the Organic & Botanic folks for giving me the opportunity to try out this product!

What’s your favourite body care product right now?

Until the next one,