Winter Skincare Essentials

Skincare is something I adore as much as my makeup collection yet I’ve not spoke so much about it on the blog. However with Winter making a strong appearance lately, I thought it was appropriate to share some of the products I’ve been relying on recently to help give my skin the moisture and hydration much needed in the cold weather!

Moisturiser – Origins GinZing and Origins High Potency Night-A-Mins

Moisturiser is obviously a must have at this time of year! However there is a few that have been particularly floating my boat recently! Both from Origins who fyi have amazing moisturisers, for day time, I have been loving their GinZing option as it is incredibly hydrating. Appropriately names ‘Energy boosting’, it essential is a boost of life with its coffee bean formulation. For night, I have been loving their night cream which is again refreshing on the skin without being too heavy.

Toner – Pixi Glow Tonic

To help ex-foliate my skin to get rid of any dry patches and to also help brighten my skin, I love this cult Pixi product. It is feels refreshing on the skin whilst doing its job of clearing and evening out of the skin.

Eye Cream – Kiehl’s Avocado Eye Cream 

My under eyes can get pretty dry and to combat it, I love this Kiehl’s eye cream. It is incredibly rich and creamy and offers an amazing boost of hydration for under the eyes. I couldn’t be without this, great for those who have dryness!

Facial Mist – The Body Shop Vitamin E Face Mist

With the heating on full blast, my skin can feel super parched and I just need something to quickly refresh my skin. That is where a good facial mist can come into play! There is so many available on the market but one of my favourites is this budget friendly option from the Body Shop which gives my skin a quick re-boost and spray of hydration!

Lip Balm/Oil – Clarins Lip Oil 

Lip Balm/oil is such a must at this time of year as I always seem to ger dry lips in the Winter time. I am obsessed with the Clarins Lip Oils as they are super hydrating on the lips without being overly sticky!

What are your Winter essentials?

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Caring For Our Hands And Feet

As beauty enthusiasts, we spend so much time and money looking after our facial skin yet it becomes to easy to neglect our feet and hands despite the fact that they are always working! It is definitely a step that I don’t reserve as much time for compared to my face yet it’s about time I did. iMantara is the new product range launched by the Thai Square Spa in London and I was lucky enough to try a couple of products from the range.

Starting with hands, the first product I got my hands on (no pun intended) is the Peaceful Palms Balancing Jasmine and Citrus Hand Lotion*. Now I am a huge lover of hand creams and I am pretty picky with my options. I have used a few okay products in the past and some I really like, particularly the Aesop one which is my favourite! I usually use hand cream every night although I have fallen out of my way with it slightly so this was a good reminder to start again. It comes in a large 240ml bottle which will definitely last a long while. The lotion itself feels very silky and soothing on the hands although as it is a lotion I do find it quite lightweight in terms of what I am used to. There is definitely a boost of hydration with it but I do find for night time it wouldn’t be as moisturising as I would like it to be however it does make a nice day time regular use lotion. The scent as well isn’t my favourite, there is a bit of citrus in their which I like but I’m not too keen on floral scents in a body care product but that is just my own preference. It does give off a very spa like scent though if you are into that!

Moving from top to bottom, I also received the Siamese Sole Foot Lotion*. I have very dry skin on my feet and I am always in need to care for them despite the fact that I am pretty lazy with this task. The foot lotion comes in a squeezy tube in a 100ml size. The cream is pleasantly thick and creamy and really works to add a lot of moisture into my cracked heels. The scent is also a lot more up my street as it has quite a mint-y scent from the addition of tea tree which works as an antiseptic perfect for hard-working feet. I coat my feet in this at night before bed to give them a proper coat of hydration! Out of the two products, I definitely prefer this and could see this being a firm favourite in my routine!

What is your favourite way to care for your hands and feet?

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August Favourites

The Summer months are coming to a close and I am super excited to get my fall makeup sorted but for the time being I am going to enjoy the last of the sunshine and glowy light makeup. For the past while, my favourites haven’t been too exciting as I have been using the same products again and again, sadly again this is the quite the same for this month. However there is a couple of newbies and things I’ve been trying out that I have really liked! Hopefully though for next month, I will have a selection of interesting products!

Starting with skincare, when my Oskia cleanser ran out, I started to try out this travel size Aurelia Miracle Cleanser. This is a cream based cleanser with Chamomile, Eucalptus, Rosemary and Bergamot. It feels incredibly silky and gentle on the skin and makes such a nice second cleanser for the evening. It is quite pricey particularly when the Liz Earle one is very similar however it really feels like a dream to use.

I am always on the lookout for skincare products that can help with my breakouts so I was excited to try out this Super Spot Remover from Origins. I am a huge Origins fan but spot removers never tend to go down well with me. However I have really enjoyed using this one. It isn’t a miracle worker but it helps repair skin by healing blemishes. I use a drop at night over any blemishes and by morning it dries up the area which makes it fade much faster! The tube is very small but it will last a long time!

On to makeup picks, a product I’ve had in my stash for a while is the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Spotlight in Opal. This is essentially a liquid highlighter and this mini comes with a little doe foot applicator easy to swipe on for a gorgeous glow. Opal is a gorgeous pearl-y golden shade which looks natural and soft on the cheeks. Becca really are queens at highlighter!

The last two favourites are newer in my collection. Firstly the Charlotte Tilbury Eyes to Mesmerise in Bette which I mentioned in this post here. I love a good cream eyeshadow and this ticks all the boxes. It is beautifully creamy, pigmented and the colour is stunning! Lastly, is the Benefit Goof Proof Brow Pencil again which I mentioned here. This is such an easy and simple brow pencil which looks super natural but builds up really well on my brows. It is also super convenient when I am rushing to get out the door!

What have you been loving recently?

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Skincare Empties #2

It always seems that many of my main skincare products run out at the one time, anyone else? Of course that also means I have to buy a load of skincare products at the one time and they aren’t cheap, great! Anyway first world problems aside, I thought I would run through my recent skincare empties and whether a repurchase is on the cards!

THE BODY SHOP VITAMIN E AQUA BOOST SORBET

This moisturiser has been subject to many repurchases in the last while. Being a ‘sorbet’, it has a very lightweight texture with a beautiful cooling effect. It is very hydrating so makes a nice moisturiser particularly in the Summer months. I have been using this as my night moisturiser and whilst I do love it, I do feel like I need something a bit more rich and moisturising in the evening instead.

Would I repurchase? As I said I do need something else more suited so I will not be making a repurchase but I do really like this and could return to it.

OSKIA RENAISSANCE CLEANSING GEL

The cult cleanser that everyone raves about. I spoke about this one before in a favourites post so obviously you can guess it is a winner for me. It is a pricey cleanser but it definitely offers a luxurious feel. It has a unique gel texture that melts into an oil on the skin which works incredibly well as a second cleanser or even as makeup remover. It might be pricey but it did last me at least six months which makes the cost per use really affordable!

Would I repurchase? I do want to try other cleansers out but I do love this and could definitely repurchase!

AESOP HAND BALM

I love a good hand cream. The Aesop one is definitely a favourite of mine as it is super hydrating and it has a beautiful citrus scent. It is pricey for a hand cream but again it lasted me so long! The metal tube packaging is also pretty damn beautiful!

Would I repurchase? Yup, definitely!

CETAPHIL CLEANSER

I picked up this super affordable cleanser to try out after reading about it loads. I actually picked this up to use as a body cleanser rather than a face cleanser as I have been having bad breakouts across my back and neck area. I used an Origins cleanser prior which I really liked as it did seem to clear up my skin pretty well. However I didn’t seem to get the same results with this one and I really didn’t like the runny consistency which also meant it ran out pretty quickly!

Would I repurchase? Nope.

LA ROCHE POSAY EFFACLAR DUO

Another cult favourite and a repurchase of mine. I used this back about a year ago and rather inconsistently which meant I never really got to see results with this. I then picked it up again to try it out properly. It’s definitely a product that takes time in order to see results. When I did use this, I could definitely see my skin getting better and clearer and whilst it’s difficult to pinpoint the reasons why, this product definitely played a part in reducing my scarring. After using up the tube though I did find that it only really made a difference now and again as well as the fact I found other products that made more of a difference.

Would I repurchase? Possibly, possibly no. For the time being no, but I could try it again in the future.

CAUDALIE BEAUTY EXLIR

A very popular and fancy facial mist that I picked up in a beauty box having heard so much about it. There isn’t much to a face mist really that would make it unlike-able but it does everything pretty well. The spray is a fine mist so just sprays the right amount without being too much. It also has a very unique fragrance to it which may put many off but I actually quite like it. The only downside is that it does work out quite pricey for a facial mist and there is so many options now on the market.

Would I repurchase? I highly doubt it.

Are you a fan of any of these products? 

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July Favourites

If you read my latest Life Lately post then you may know that this month wasn’t my strongest beauty-wise. I kept to a low-buy all month and the majority of it was spent makeup-free. Since I haven’t bought many new things either, when I have been wearing makeup it has been sticking mostly to my known favourites from my stash. So, in terms of favourites this month it has been pretty short and sweet and more skincare focused.

Starting with the one makeup item however that I have been obsessed with for the past couple of weeks. Not a newbie by any means and one I have mentioned plenty of times before, in fact it may have been in a previous favourites? It is the cult favourite Mac Velvet Teddy lipstick. Now it really took me a while to truly love this shade. I have a lot of Mac lipsticks in a similar colour family with others that I prefer more like Mehr and Twig for being that bit more pink and flattering. Velvet Teddy lies to the browner toned side of things with a hint of peachy tones. I always liked it but it never blew me away until recently. I strangely was desperate to wear it one day and I have been wearing it constantly recently. It is just a perfect nude that isn’t too brown and basically the whole my lips but better. So worth the hype!

Moving on to skincare bits, I have been trying a few new things recently skincare-wise and have been sticking to a much better routine now especially since I have had so many makeup-free days. First up is another cult product, this time the Pixi Glow Tonic. I had been desperate to try this exfoliating toner for so long cause if Caroline Hirons approves then it has to be a winner, right!? This is the first product I’ve tried from the Pixi brand but I am already thinking of many more products I want to try out. I have always been pretty poor and irregular in using toners/exfoliators in my routine but since I picked this up I have been trying to make sure I am getting my regular use. At first use it is quite difficult to understand what the product is doing but after a good few weeks I can definitely see a difference in my skin. Scarring from blemishes have been massively reduced and that is always my biggest concern as well my skin appearing fresher and smoother. I think I’ve found myself a great staple now in my routine!

If you recall my Origins beauty box post, then it will be no surprise that I am mentioning a product included in that post. I finally got to try the Origins VitaZing SPF 15 Moisturiser and I have been loving it from my first use. I do find moisturisers can be quite tricky to get right, many are pretty basic but not this. The consistency isn’t too thin yet it isn’t too thick and heavy, it feels moisturising and firming on the skin without feeling tacky. It also has a very sheer tint and delivers the most beautiful radiance which just makes this moisturiser so worthy of the pennies. It adds a lovely glow to the skin that looks flawless and healthy. Oh and did I mention it also has SPF included, winner! Again, this could be another long time skincare favourite of mine!

What have you been loving lately?

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Latest In Beauty: Origins Mix and Mask Box

Who would’ve thought that I would be once again discussing another beauty box in the same month. Oh yes I have found another great beauty box buy from Latest in Beauty, catch up with the Summer box I reviewed here. This time however, Latest in Beauty have teamed up with Origins who have created a box alongside British Beauty Blogger Jane. As soon as my eyes clapped on to this box, I just knew I had to have it! I love Origins products and just recently I have been trying some bits out so of course to see I could try some more out was very exciting!

Like the Summer Edit box, this one also retails for £20 plus has free shipping which again is such an incredible bargain. I do hate to be that person however and say that the box is now sadly sold out! It really is such a great buy and it is no surprise really that it has sold out however Origins themselves are really great at doing little gift sets to let you try out different products. The box is centred around different types of face masks to suit different needs with some of Origins’ most popular and best selling products included.

However starting with the non face mask product first, their popular VitaZing SPF15 moisturiser is included in full size form. Origins have really impressed me with their moisturisers and this is definitely one of them. I had heard a lot about this one but I hadn’t really bothered too much about trying it. The feels super firming and moisturising on the skin but also leaves a beautiful radiant finish, I am loving this one so far!

On to the more mask-y related products, firstly is an exciting new concept from Origins; the Maskimizer Mask Primer. Essentially you spray this before applying a face mask and it ensures you get the best out of your mask. It is a rather gimmicky concept but is rather intriguing, I have used it once but I am looking forward to trying it out more, it may be a tricky one to test though! Speaking of new releases, the box also includes their latest face mask By All Greens which is a foaming cleansing mask. It is quite different from other masks I’m used to but I quite liked it from first use so this is definitely one I am excited about! Alongside the newbies, there is also two 30ml sized tubes of the classic Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask and also the newer Original Skin Rose Clay mask which I am very excited to try! Another new addition to the Origins range is the GinZing peel off mask which joins the very popular GinZing range, another product that I am very excited to try! I mean c’mon it’s copper coloured! Lastly, is the nice addition of three travel friendly sized pods of the Clear Improvement, Out of Trouble and Drink Up 10 minute mask. Overall a great box of goodies!

What is your favourite Origins product?

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Inside My Beauty Sample Box #2

If you remember back to the start of the year, I gave you all a little peek inside my beauty sample box. Now I thought it was time to give you another look at some more samples I’ve been trying out. My box seems to keep filling up with beauty samples! It seems that so many brands and online retailers are always supplying you with some kind of sample which is great as they make a really good way of trying out products without breaking the bank! So here is what I have been trying out.

Hawaiian Tropic Satin Protection Sun Lotion 

Not my usual kind of product to try out but we all need sun protection! Sun cream isn’t the most exciting thing to try out but basically it needs to fit the requirements of firstly protecting your skin (obviously!) and also not feeling sticky or greasy. I am happy to say that it delivers on that! It is definitely not in any way greasy feeling, instead it feels really nice on my skin. Another thing I really like about this is the scent. I usually like the scent of sun lotion anyway but this has a beautiful almost coconut-y scent to it which is so summery and sweet!

Purchase full-size?: I don’t really need sun lotion right now but in future I would definitely consider this!

Origins GinZing Eye Cream

Origins seem to be like Benefit in terms of how many products I have tried. Not long ago I was such a newbie to Origins but now I have tried quite a lot of their popular products (with more coming my way in the mail!) as it is so easy to try out their products in terms of samples and travel sizes. Recently, I got my hands on a sample of their eye cream from their GinZing range which I had previously not tried. I am a huge lover of the Kiehl’s Avocado eye cream so I did have to compare it to that. Sadly for me whilst it feels refreshing, it is a lightweight gel and for me I prefer a much thicker consistency. If you suffer from dark circles, this might be a nice one for you however I use eye cream to help strengthen my weak skin under my eyes and the thickness of the Kiehl’s one works wonders so unfortunately the Origins one is too light and not as creamy and moisturising to make a difference.

Purchase full-size?: No, I will be sticking to my trusty Kiehl’s one!

Charlotte Tilbury Light Wonder foundation

I am a huge lover of the Charlotte Tilbury range! So obviously I had to try my hand at her ever popular foundations. You may know I sadly wasn’t a fan of the Magic foundation, my review here, however I got a sample of this to hopefully be impressed! I did try the Magic one first and after being disappointed, I was hoping that the Light Wonder would make up for it! Sadly that wasn’t the case! I was super disappointed in this foundation! The real issue I had was that the coverage was far too light and it just seemed to wash over me without even correcting my skin tone and the more I added, the more cakey it appeared too. Not the foundation I expected it to be!

Purchase full-size?: Sadly, nope!

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Moisturiser SPF30

Kiehl’s are very well known for their great range of moisturisers. I am actually looking for a new moisturiser (with my eye on the Skin Rescuer from the brand) and I had a few samples already to test out from Kiehl’s. This one has an impressive SPF 30! I always like to have an SPF if I can in a moisturiser so this is definitely a bonus! It is a super lightweight moisturiser although maybe too light on my skin. I did find it fairly basic, not the most moisturising sadly! I am sure many people will love this although I just felt like I wanted more from it!

Purchase full-size?: I will be skipping this one and hopefully testing something else!

What samples have you been trying?

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The Body Shop Pinita Colada Range

“If you like Piña Coladas, getting caught in the rain…” Sorry couldn’t quite help myself! Summer is finally here (ish), well part of me feels like it’s been and gone but technically not really. Anyway to help get into the Summer mood, The Body Shop have released a new range of Pina Colada inspired products. I am a huge fan of the Body Shop and I can’t deny how excited I got from hearing about this new Pinita Colada range. I have to say this is probably one if not my favourite collection they have came out with. Once I spotted a great deal in store, I couldn’t help but try out a few things from the range!

I picked out three out of the four products from the range, leaving out the Body Sorbet since I already had one from last Summer. Starting with the one product I was desperate to have my hands on, the Body Butter. A Body Shop classic product, who doesn’t love a good body butter? It’s quite a thick textured moisturiser but I really wanted something super moisturising and this just does the job. I can’t count how many times I have just opened this to get a little whiff of the dreamy coconut and pineapple scent. Take me back to the beach bar already, Pina Colada in hand, thanks!

With tanning season in, it felt ever so appropriate to get my hands on the Body Scrub too. It has a beautifully creamy but gritty texture with real shredded coconut extract to help leave your skin feeling super smooth and exfoliated. Of course it also has the beautiful pineapple/coconut scent. Dreamy!

Lastly, I picked up the Shower Gel. I love the Body Shop Shower Gels, they are always so creamy and hydrating as well as coming in great sizes. I rather felt the need to pick this up as I had still been using Lush Snow Fairy! My timings just aren’t great eh. So this beautiful summery concoction has been a real winner in replacing my beloved Christmas scent. Yup I clearly can’t let go of Christmas. It lathers up so nicely and is basically a dream to use!

Have you tried this range?

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Summer Beauty Prep

When Summer comes around, I feel like I there is a lot of beauty prep going on to sort myself out after hibernating through the colds of Winter. My beauty routine always seems to be more important in Summer time since it’s bare legs weather, oh no! In Winter since I like to stay wrapped up in hundreds of layers, I basically need to get my head in gear come Summer. Today I thought I would share some of my go-to products and how I use them to prep for the Summer season!

EXFOLIATE/MOISTURISE 

One thing in my beauty routine that I am pretty lazy with is keeping my body exfoliated and moisturised. Particularly in Summer, I like to make sure I am on top of this. When legs out weather is in, I gotta be prepared. Exfoliating is so important and helps get rid of any dead skin great for tanning. I am currently using one from The Body Shop, in fact one from their Christmas collection! Very summery, I know! As well as exfoliating, like with any skincare routine it is also important to moisturise. Whilst I’ve got my eye on the new Body Shop Pinata Colada range, I am currently loving the ease and convenience of the Vaseline Spray Moisturiser.

TANNING

I am not much of a tanning person, I kinda just accept the fact that I am a milk bottle and embrace it. Whilst I don’t see myself going for a full fake tan anytime soon, I do like to have a light subtle glow. A gradual tanner is basically perfect for me and this year I am looking forward to using the Clarins Radiance Plus Golden Booster. The idea is super simple and appealing, basically you just add a few drops of this to your moisturiser and mix it together and apply for a subtle glow.

NAILS 

I am more of a neutral nail shade lover but when it comes to Summer there is nothing better than bright corals and tropical shades. Great for enhancing a tan, I am looking forward to getting my nails ready for the Summer season. I am currently loving the new Essie shade Sunshine State of Mind from the Summer collection.

How do you prep for Summer?

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