Sunday Pamper Session

Sundays are known as the day of rest and I don't know what's more restful than a long soak in the bath and a beautifying session?! I often get those feelings of Monday morning dread on a Sunday night but if I'm going to face a week of work I might as well do it smooth, preened and bronzed!

While the bath is running I get to work on getting rid of every scrap of make up that I can! I've only just recently started using The Body Shop Camomile Eye Makeup Remover instead of makeup wipes (I know, I know - please forgive me for I have sinned!) and this is definitely going to be something that I repurchase, it gets even the stubbornest of mascara off in one swipe and is so gentle around the eye area, there's no stinging or redness that I more often than not get when removing my eye make up, it's love! Once my eyes are bare then I remove what's left on my face with the holy grail that is Bioderma. I don't know about you other long haired lovelies but when I'm in pamper mode there's nothing nicer than scraping your hair off your face and tying it up so once my makeup is off the hair goes up! The final thing I do before jumping in the tub is cover my face in Clarins Pure Melt Cleansing Gel which is like a little magic trick, when you squeeze it out of the tube it's a gel, then it turns into an oil which I massage onto my face and leave on until I'm in the bath and then when I rinse it off it's a cleansing milk! As well as being magic it makes my skin so soft, bright and feeling like it's had a real deep clean.

A bath isn't complete without something from Lush in there with you and I'm usually pretty stocked up with bath bombs and bubble bars so every bath time is a Lush bath time! Once I've been in the bath for a few minutes and my face is steamed and pores are open I apply the Origins Clear Improvement mask (I've done a full review on this here) and leave it to do it's thing while I do the oh so glamorous chore of defuzzing (unless we're in the dead of Winter and I'm growing my winter coat to keep me warm) and exfoliating to get rid of unwanted bits of tan that won't budge and smooth down those areas that need a bit of extra help, at the moment I'm using Soap and Glory The Scrub of Your Life.

When I'm out of the bath and squeaky clean It's time to get my moisturize on, this is definitely one of my least favourite things to do but it's all in the name of silky soft skin! I'm using The Body Shop Coconut Body Milk at the minute and I love it for many, many reasons, the top two being that it's a spray which I find a lot quicker and easier to apply and it has the most gorgeous coconutty smell that I go wild for! Your hands and feet also need some serious TLC and I use this little double act which is Soap and Glory Hand Food and Heel Genius and once I'm smothered I spray myself with Victoria's Secret Coconut passion (Full review here) which is possibly my favourite smell in the world. Ever.

While my moisturizer is sinking in I move onto my face and start with Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner which I haven't been using for too long but the results are amazing, it really brightens your complexion and if you thought you'd already cleansed your skin within an inch of its life there will still be some dirt on the cotton pad, it really does get rid of anything that might dull your skin. An oil is another new addition to my regime and I'm currently using The Body Shop Vitamin E Facial Oil which I started using to try and fade some marks that were left by a couple of breakouts that I'd had and it's really helped with that. Drink Up Intensive (full review here) is my favourite Origins mask and I love putting it on and leaving it to work overnight, it feels so thick and luxurious and leaves your skin hydrated and glowing, I cannot say enough good things about this! They're often forgotten but I try to keep my lips in tip top condition with a Lush Lip Scrub to get rid of any flakey bits and then I slather them in lip balm to keep them smooth and lipstick ready.

 And then there are a few optional steps depending on whether I need it or not. I usually paint my nails a couple of times a week and Sunday has ended up a designated nail painting day but sometimes you're just not ready to let go of a colour or you've been impatient with a new shade and couldn't wait any longer (which happened to me this weekend, something that pretty can't wait!) Another thing is eyebrow maintenance - I try not to touch them too much in between getting them done but having inherited the werewolf gene from my dad they inevitably need a bit of a tidy up so when the strays are getting too much the tweezers come out! My very, very last step before putting my onesie on is tanning which I do a lot more when the sun comes out, if I know I'm going to tan I try to avoid shaving and exfoliating the same day and do it in the shower the day before to avoid the dreaded polka dot skin look.

And that's me ready and raring to go for the week ahead! What are your pampering essentials?

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The Best of 2013 | Skin Care

For the first week of 2014 I'm going to be taking a look back on my beauty year past and showing you what I thought was the best of the rest! 2013 was the first year that I really got into looking after my skin, before that I was a makeup wipe and moisturize if I can be bothered type of girl but I've really made an effort to get into a bit of a skincare routine recently. I'd be lying if I said that I hadn't chosen a few more minutes in bed over washing my face or I hadn't fallen asleep with my false eyelashes on at least once in 2013 but pushing aside all of those cardinal sins I've seen a real difference in the quality of my skin and for the better, I can count the amount of breakouts I've had this year on my fingers, my usual winter dryness hasn't made me a flaky mess and the thing I'm most pleased about is how much my skin tone has evened out. 

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser (Review here)

I can't believe that I've only been using Cleanse and Polish for a year now, it was my favourite skin care discovery of 2013 and I admit that I was late to party but better late than never, right?! I really think that it's down to good old Liz that my skin has cleared up so significantly this year and my skin tone has evened out enough for me to embrace tinted moisturizer. 

Bioderma Sensibio H20 Micelle Solution

It's safe to say that Bioderma took the blogging and beauty world by storm last year - the holy grain miceller water that sparked quite a few high street versions. This is definitely what you need on hand to get rid of stubborn make up, it's gentle around the eyes and even removes mascara painlessly. Bad habits die hard and I'm still an avid make up wipe user but I use Bioderma around my eyes and to get rid of the grime that wipes miss. It's easy and effective and that's all I ask for in make up removal!

Origins Ginzing Moisturizer 

Skip your morning coffee and have an extra five minutes in bed because Ginzing will wake you up! I use this every morning before I put my make up on and even if I feel like a zombie I look refreshed and glowing, I absolutely love this stuff and can't see me ditching it in 2014.

Vaseline Spray and Go Moisturizer (Review here)

This is a genius invention, how had nobody thought of this before?! It's a lazy girls dream of a moisturizer! I'm not ashamed to admit that moisturizing is a chore to me, especially when it's bloody freezing - I've just got out of a lovely warm shower and it's cold, I don't want to prolong the torture by not putting my clothes (or if it's a weekend who am I kidding - onesie) on immediately. This has literally answered my prayers, it's quick and easy, makes you soft and smells beautiful!

Those are the products that my skin has to thank - may our relationships stay as strong in 2014! 

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Empties #3 | Repurchase?

Since I've moved out I've been trying to make an effort to actually finish products rather than start using them and then buy something new so abandon them and repeat - it's a viscous circle and this house isn't big enough to contain all my half full beauty products!

Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat
I really do get through my fair share of these which is unfortunate as they're a little on the pricey side but in my opinion completely worth it. I don't think this little gold pen needs explaining but just in case you're not sure it's meant to add some radiance to your skin and adds light to wherever you apply. I really can notice when I've skipped this step in my make up regime.
Repurchase? There's a new one in my make up bag as I type this!

Yves Saint Laurent Volume Effect Faux Cils Mascara
I'd used this once before and never got along with it so when I received this in a gift set at Christmas I was a bit dubious but wanted to give it another go and then I left it gathering dust in a drawer until I came across it again a couple of months ago and I still don't get on with it. I don't know what it is that I don't like but it just doesn't give my eyelashes that oomph that I want!
Repurchase? I gave it a second chance but I am afraid that is was Faux Cils last!

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish
I am pretty sure that you're all very familiar with Cleanse and Polish! It's basically a holy grail hot cloth cleanser that gets rid of all that grime that gets stuck to your face during our busy days and I really do see such a difference in my skin when I use it religiously, it's so clear and a lot brighter.
Repurchase? Already done!

Nip+Fab Pistachio Sundae
I am heartbroken, I've just gone to link this up and do a little restock because I really do love this body butter so much and it's been discontinued?!?! Say what?!?!?! Nip+Fab did you actually use this and smell how gorgeous it is and feel how smooth you were left no matter how scaley you were?? Obviously not or this would still be available to buy, boohoo!!!
Repurchase? I definitely would if I could but for some inexplicable reason this has been discontinued!

Origins Make A Difference Rejuvenating Cleansing Milk
I can never get all of my make up off, especially eye make up but when I wash my face with this it feels squeaky clean because it melts away all dirt and unwanted panda eyes. I did enjoy using this but I didn't notice that much of a difference to my skin but maybe that's because I never persevered with it enough.
Repurchase? Not at the moment but I would be happy to receive it in a beauty box and give it another go.

Bioderma Sensibo h20
Another product that needs no introduction! I love Bioderma and so does my skin - it's amazing for when you want to get every little trace of slap off and it's so gentle around the eyes that you can really get in there and remove those stubborn bits of mascara and eyeliner.
Repurchase? Hell yeah and I've upgraded from the 250ml to the 500ml!

Tresemme Platinum Strength Shot
I can't even tell you how many of these that I've got through since Glossybox introduced me to these little shots of wonder! I can have the most unruly mane known to man but 60 seconds of this on the mid lengths to the ends of my hair and I can actually get a brush through it. I love this stuff!!
Repurchase? I already have a little stash to make my way through.

Origins Make a Difference Skin Rejuvenating Treatment Lotion 
I really like to use this at the end of the day if my skin is feeling extra grimy to try and give it a little bit more life. It's meant for dry skin and really does help to hydrate it.
Repurchase? Not right now as my skin is more oily than dry at the moment but I'll keep it in mind if the winter dries me out!

Soap and Glory Sugar Crush
If you want super soft skin then this is what you need in your life! It's amazing for getting rid of that last little bit of fake tan that won't budge and I used it on my legs after shaving them to get rid of those pesky ingrown hairs!
Repurchase? I definitely wouldn't turn my nose up at it next time there's a 3 for 2 on.

Vaseline Active Fresh Deodorant 
Don't get me wrong, this does what it says on the tin but I absolutely hate this stuff and only got it because it was on offer! I can't stand the smell of this, I don't know what it is about it that just makes me feel sick, I think I'd rather ditch the deo and embrace the smell than smell of this, I hate it!!
Repurchase? No way.

John Frieda Luxurious Volume Shampoo & Conditioner
When I started using this I really did like it, it made my hair soft and shiny and for the first few weeks there was a bit of lift that wasn't there before but I don't know if my hair just builds up a defence against it because it seems to happen with all the shampoos I use - to start with I'm amazed and then just nothing!
Repurchase? If they were on offer in Boots in the future I probably would give them another whirl.

Beauty Protector Protect and Detangle
I definitely need all the help that I can get in the hair detangling stakes and this worked really way plus it protects from heat, safeguards colour, adds shine and conditions, a lot of little bonuses there! I really like using this and was sad when it ran out especially for it's lovely sweetie-esque smell that was right up my street!
Repurchase? I probably would do but even just looking for a link to this product has proved impossible so I think I'll stick with things that are more easily available for me to get my hands on!

Jelly Pong Pong Fairy Lashes Mascara
I haven't even used this all up but I just needed to get rid of it! It left my lashes clumpy, there was no extra length and it just ended up all flaked down my face. I don't know what it is with me and mascara, my eyelashes seem to be very picky!
Repurchase? Nope!!

So there you have it, everything that I've managed to get through in the past few months and now I have a very empty bottom bedside drawer ready for me to fill it up with empties again!

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Monthly Favourites | April 2013

Well it's that time of the month again, the one where we all wonder where the hell this year is going! At least it's heading in the direction of lighter nights and warmer days.

This month has been full of Birthday celebrations, illness and a hell of a lot of overtime so I don't think I would have managed to looked human without the help of Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat and I don't know if you can see very well but I got my hands on the limited edition collectors packaging which is covered in what looks like water droplets and was inspired by a crystal covered couture gown from the 1960's. Another thing that I couldn't have hid my sleepless nights without was Benefit Fake Up I've got a more thorough review of this to come in due course but just let me say, love, love, LOVE, goodbye creased concealer forever! I've finally joined the Bioderma club and I couldn't have caved at a better time because this month my make up has been on a lot longer than I should probably admit... I haven't seen any major difference in the condition of my skin since I've started using it but I'm just thankful for something that removes my make up so easily and leaves my face so squeaky clean. I don't know about you but I can't go on a night out without a bit of colour so when my friends got me this SiennaX Self Tan for my birthday I couldn't wait to bronze myself up! I would say that calling this dark tan is a bit misleading, after one application it was a nice golden colour but it's definitely buildable. Also, a word of warning, if you want to slap some of this on and pop down to the shops, the guide colour is very (very, very, VERY) dark, I was quite worried when I first woke up and saw myself but most of it does come off in the shower, phew!! I seriously don't know how I applied my make up before the Real Techniques Stippling Brush came into my life, my base has never looked so flawless, it's also opened a whole world of cream blush to me as I never quite got the hang of applying them but I don't think this brush could possibly make anything not look perfect. MAC Partial to Pink Cremesheen Lipglass has not been far from my lips this April, I really don't like lipgloss but I really do love this, it's not thick or sticky and it's effortless to apply with a lovely natural colour and shine. As you might have seen in my Birthday haul I have finally been reunited with my beloved Enrapture Totem Styler which has taken the toll on my poor hair so this Tangle Teezer Aqua Splash is a god send, it's gentle and minimises damages as you don't need to pull the brush through so roughly, also it's brilliant at making sure that your conditioner is coating every single strand of hair on that pretty little head of yours!

What have you not been able to live without this month?

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