Simple Skin Care

Blergh the dreaded thought of skin care. Skin care for me is massive but also something I don't really know all that much about. I don't know my skin type of different ingredients thats are good or bad for my skin. My very first skin care products were from Simple. I remember getting them for Christmas one year and felt like a right grown up cleansing and toning my skin. 

So far after years of experimenting with different products and brands I haven't found anything that works for me better. I'm always buying new products, I eventually have a massive break out and revert back to using Simple. I don't know why I don't just use it all year round - I will never learn! I don't get spotty and at the minute I have been having a massive - like massive - break out. I think this is all hormonal and due to the amount of chocolate that I ate over Easter... So I have ran off to Superdrug to stock right up on my Simple gear.

What I purchased - 

Oil Balancing Face Wash. 

Micellar Cleansing Water 

Purifying Cleanser 

Soothing Toner 

Replenishing Rich Moisturiser 

Face Wipes 

I did go slightly overboard, I know I don't need all of these things but I do know they will all be used up.

If you're like me and your skin takes dips then its a staple brand to try out. Its availble everywhere, drugstore, super markets etc. and its super cheap! It gently restores my skin back to normality. Theres no harsh chemicals and it does what it says on the tin. 

If you haven't already, try some of the Simple Skincare range!

Unboxing Look Fantastic's Jan 2017 Beauty Box | Video

Ahhh here we are again attempting the Youtube thing. Be nice, I'm new to this! Please let me know what you think too.

Hope you enjoy x

Soap and Glory | Shebang

Around about this time last year I posted about the Soap and Glory huge Christmas box, reviewing products and sharing first impressions. Since lastyears was when I just started with the whole blog thing my pictures were crappy and who doesn't love a little tradition? I thought I'd share my thoughts on the 2015 'The Whole Shebang' box. 

Yes this was from Soap and Glorys Christmas christmas collection but all products are sold separately. There are a few things that aren't apart of the Shebang but I thought I'd just add it in too.

 Sugar Crush

 So, in the Shebang there was the small Sugar Crush body wash and one body butter, the full size body wash was bought separately. The Sugar Crush is by far my favourite line by Soap and Glory, its sweet and zesty I love using it morning or night. The body butter sink in quickly and the scent is there but nothing overpowering.They're my favourite Soap and Glory products.

The Righteous Butter

 Last year, the Righteous butter was also in this and then I didn't really like it. To be honest, this is a product that stays in my drawer for when I run out of other moisturizers. One thing that I did like about this the more that I used it, the smell doesn't linger at all and its a lot more moisturizing in comparison to say the Sugar Crush. I wouldn't intentional go into Boots to buy this, it isn't an essential or favourite for me but I will use it.
The Righteous Sunkissed Tint Body Lotion on the other hand is a total favourite of mine already. I used this all over the festive period and it's such a perfect product! Basically this is a tinted moisturiser, its an instant tan but your skin still gets the goodness and moisture it would from using Righteous. Again, there is no smell left behind, which is something I hate about a lot of fake tans! I really like how this goes on and comes off effortlessly, when first applied it does look a little bit orange but it does calm into a natural looking shade for my skin tone anyway. I didn't know that Soap and Glory had a fake tan, would repurchase this product!

 Hand Food and Heel Genius

 These products have been featured in the Christmas box since I've been buying it. Both products seem to last me pretty much all year, I don't often use hand and foot creams when I probably should. These products are both good for purpose nevertheless, they're both moisturizing and refreshing with neutral smells that aren't over powering.

Peaches and Clean

I've used this facial cleanser before. This is the type of product that I would use as a more face wash, I wouldnt remove my make with this because I don't feel like it would cleanse strongly/deeply. Its light, cleans but not fully cleanses and smells good. It's not that I dislike it, it just its my first choice in cleansers! But won't be going to waste!

The Scrub of Life
An exfoliating body scrub, which I thought was a facial one at first lol. It does the job of exfoliating and smells good. Does what it says on the tin!

Clean on Me
A moisturizing shower gel. I get excited when I see products that kind of multitask like that, kind of shower gel kind of moisturizer. I love using products like this, in the winter skin gets drier so little ways to add moisture back into the skin will always be a plus! The smell of this is pretty much neutral and would appeal to most people.

The Daily Smooth
This was sold separately from the Shebang. So, this is a body butter that has a pretty soft smell, it has cocoa butter in and its really moisturizing and is a good treat for you skin. Again, like the Righteous it doesn't have a lingering smell that's over powering.

Thick and Fast
I've had the Thick and Fast a few times now from these sets but in honest it is pretty much just a stop gap mascara when I run out of my Benefit one, or it I want more product. It has never been an essential for me.

And that's it for this one! This post was mixed reviews but I'd rather be honest about what I do and don't like to be honest.
Thanks for reading!

Kiehls Creamy Eye Treatment

I've always struggled with finding an eye cream that works for me without irritating my eyes and making them a lot worse than they are without. Normally my eyes water in the corners and then become really dry, red, flaky and itchy. Not cute. 

I got this after seeing a few bloggers/vloggers recommend and it cost £20. 

This eye cream is thick and refreshing and doesn't leave my eyes worse off. When I first apply this cream it goes on thick but I then gently rub it in and with the heat of your fingers it sinks in nicely. One thing that I like is its never once went into my eyes, which sounds something silly to comment on but every other eye cream has seemed to bleed out and get in my eyes.

I use this normally morning and night. After applying my eyes feel soft, refreshed and just comfortable. My dry eyes have cleared up, making my makeup easier to apply and longer lasting. 

I couldn't recommend this product enough!

Lush Ocean Salt

Fake tan, cold weather, dried out skin.. Face, body...And all you need is one product to fix it all. 

Lush Ocean Salt, an exfoliating scrub.

Skin Benefitting Ingredients-

Fine Sea Salt - The exfoliant part of the mixture used to remove dead skin cells whilst cleansing, softening, cleaning and hydrating your skin but not washing away all the natural oil.  Sea salt has the  natural effect of a antiseptic as well as refreshing the skin and giving it a natural glow. 

Fresh Organic Lime Extracted in Vodka- Used to refresh, unblock pores, help with blemishes and blackheads by using its antibacterial and cooling properties.

 Avocado Butter- Used for its oil which has hydrating, refreshing and conditioning properties. 

 Extra Virgin Coconut Oil - Full of minerals and vitamins which help with dry skin, and it smells great! 

 Lime Oil- Helps with blood flow, cleanses and tones skin, can scrub away dead skin cells which results in nice glowy skin, enriching you with the natural vitamins, antibiotic and helps protect skin from the sun. And again, smells great!

 Seaweed Absolute- Contains vitamin A, C and E but also great for protecting sensitive skin. 

Violet Leaf Absolute- Antibacterial and antibiotic.

 Lanolin- Protects, moisturises and plumps skin. Perfect for  moisturizing and protecting dry or itchy skin. 

I use this around twice a week, give or take and I'm currently onto my third large tub. 

One thing I'd definitely say is if you use this on your face be gentle! I only use this for body, never for face. I feel as though the strength this product is too harsh for my skin, my one skin doesn't fit all of course.

This is now a solid part of my pamper/fake tan routine.  It is a strong exfoliator but is great for all over the body to prep for tan. I do like the moisturizing size of the product and it does leave my skin feeling very soft and refreshed. 

It is slightly pricey depending on the size you get, but its worth it!

Buy online.

Lush Love Lettuce Face Mask

After hearing good things about Lush face masks and jut being obsessed with Lush they were a must try and now a must have. Love Lettuce being the first mask I tried and now re-purchased I feel as though I have the a good enough understanding of what this mask lives up to be.  When I was browsing all of the masks that Lush had to offer, not really knowing what was what my mam and I were advised the Love Lettuce as it would be beneficial for both our skin types. My skin type being normal to dry and blemish prone and my mams being oily with fine lines. And, we both ended loving it and craving more.

Firstly, something I love about all Lush face masks is having to keep them in the fridge. Its super refreshing and a relaxing contrast to standard room temp masks that I usually buy.

The thing that draws me back to Lush, like a gravitational pull, is the natural, skin loving ingredients used to make their products. Face masks being no exception.

Ingredients and Benefits

From the Lush website

Green meaning natural and black safe synthetic 

Agar Agar Gel  Kaolin Honey Fullers Earth Glycerine Almond OilGround Almond Shells Ground Almonds Lavender Oil Chlorophyllin *Geraniol*Limonene *Linalool Perfume

All natural!

• Kaolin, a soft clay that cleanses skin and gently exfoliates skin getting ride of dead skin.
• Honey is used for its antiseptic, antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-fungal properties whilst also conditioning skin. So when its used it will thoroughly clean skin whilst also softening and cleaning.
• Almond oil is used for how moisturizing and hydrating it is for skin. Its packed with vitamin  E and also protects and soothes skin. When used on hair it softens and adds shine, although that isn't really relevant  when its a face mask!
• Lavender  oil is used for a lot of different purposes. Firstly, its used medically for burns, cold sores, various skin problems, muscle pain and insect bites. It is antibacterial, antiseptic, deodorizing, relaxing and soothing.

I was actually surprised to see that there in fact is no lettuce involved, so its not as kind of leafy veggie smell that I originally expected its actually a lavender scent.

This face mask is great to give your skin a good clean due to it being so exfoliating yet hydrating. It brightens skin and makes it feel refreshed and awakened. Due to this, I love using this on a morning. I sometimes have the odd dry patch of skin from spots and this gets rid of that dead skin. It also reduced redness and pain of my spots and helped them clear up quicker than they normally do.  

Its easy to apply, although it is all natural it isn't runny like those homemade ones we've all attempted at one point. 

I used this mask every 3 days religiously and got loads of masks out of it! There wasn't only me using this it was also my mam and it lasted the whole of the 3 weeks until its expiry date. 

I love this mask and I have already repurchased it. It got a solid 10/10 from me and my mam, which says a lot considering our skin types are completely different. I'm no expert but I'd say that this mask is pretty good for all kinds of skin and if like us, not sure what to try I'd recommend this one.

Buy online here.

x

Lush Dragon Egg

Before I start I will just say that all photos are taken with my iPhone and aren't great quality but I didn't want to take my camera near the bath, I'm too clumsy for that. 

So, my most favorite bath bomb as it goes, Lush Dragon Egg not that I already haven't mentioned that on previous blog posts but the more the merrier when it comes to Lush. All that time ago when the Lush shop first opened its doors at its Sunderland branch Dragon Egg was my first thing I ever bought from Lush. As I was young and purely went off how things looked and smelt, this was the most appealing. Due to its spots of colours Ion the outside I instantly assumed that my bath would be a rainbow of colours but oh no. Also I loved the strong uplifting citrusy scent, nothing overly floral.

 So now that I know that Lush is so much more than just good smells and colourful baths I've fallen in love even more.  One thing that I particularly like is their strong campaign to stop animal testing, its a big selling point for me. Also, I like that a lot of their products are created using natural ingredients and if they're not natural they're safe and beneficial. And when they are created, they're created in store and they're fresh. 

Ingredients: From the Lush Website

Sodium Bicarbonate 

Citric Acid 

Perfume 

Popping Candy 

Lemon Oil 

Bergamot Oil 

Jasmine Absolute 

Cream of Tartar 

Water (Aqua) 

Gardenia Extract 

Sodium Laureth Sulfate  

Propylene Glycol

Lauryl Betaine 

*Citral

*Limonene

* Linalool 

Gold Lustre 

Radiant Gold Lustre 

Colour 15510 

Colour 17200 

Colour 14700 

Colour 45410 

Rice Paper

Green being natural and black being safe synthetic.

    

When its first dropped into the bath it just creates white bubbles with white foggy water. Then the spots of colour start to kick in so there's odd bits of blue and pink, sometimes green. Then the bath bomb kind of just explodes into orange. The bath water goes a bit of a weird yellowy colour, sometimes stronger colours make it go orange but it depends how much colour was added when making it. If its a weak orangey colour it may look like you might of wee'd in the bath. But normally it is a strong orange like the photos above. Also it has a slight shimmer to it but nothing that would make you and your bath shimmer for a week, its subtle and unless you look you probably wont see. So this will be brightening for skin adding that extra bit glow. 

The water turns into orange silk, I find it strange that a bath bomb can change the water the water actually feels but this can. The water is softer and feels a bit thicker, its feels like it would give my skin the softening, relax, cleanse that it needs every now and again. Its always a pick-me-up when my some TLC for my skin, mentally and physically need to just chill out. 

Skin Benefits

All the ingredients sound great but not everyone knows exactly what they're beneficial for. 

• Lemon and bergamot oil is great for reviving dull hair adding gloss and shine by changing the cuticle in the hair to reflect light.  Its refreshing for body and mind whilst also calming emotions, its antibacterial and antiseptic so it will help to clear up skin issues.  
• Jasmine is usually used for fragrance but is also beneficial for muscles, calming stress sensitive skin and sometimes even depression. 
• Gardenia could possibly have an anti-inflammatory effect(under going research). Its been used for over 2000 years to treat headaches and tension, irritability, and certain infections.
• Propylene Glycol encourages skin to absorb moisture. Its often used in hair softeners to allow it to be combed easily. 
• Lauryl Betaine for cleansing and conditioning. Used in a lot of products including shampoo and conditioner. 
• Gold Lustre, used purely for shimmer because who doesn't want a sparkly bath from time to time.

 With all that in mind it just draws me back to the bath bomb and just lush in general more and more. Its my favorite for smellies. I think I have rambled on enough about the Dragon Egg but I just really love it haha. It will more that likely be featured in many more hauls and what not.

They're £3.35 and can be bought online here.

This has been a more in-depth review than normal and I've enjoyed writing it all! Made me feel abit cleaver. 

Whats your favorite from Lush? Let me know 

x

Simple Skin Care

So when it comes to my skin care I like to keep things simple, pun intended. The first ever cleanser, toner and moisturizer I was ever bought at the age of 15 and is still with me today at three years down the line, is the simple skincare range. 

This skincare range is the only one that doesn't bring my skin out in lots of spots, dryness or reactions. The beauty of sensitive, blemish prone skin ey. After a lot of trial and errors with all different skin care ranges this has always been my staple go to. So after trying all different ones Ive decided to just stop and let my skin have its way. 

So my skincare routine is on a morning I'm using the Simple facial wash then the Simple moisturizer. Then on a night I use the Simple cleanser and toner then the Body Shop Vitamin E night cream which I spoken about on this blog post.  I do this because I feel as though over cleansing and toning my skin is just too much so once a day on a night is enough for my skin.

The cleanser is a creamy cleanser that wipes easily over your face then with a little rubbing in all of your makeup wipes off with a cotton wool pad with ease. I use the cleanser to remove eye makeup because it is sensitive enough. The toner being soothing is cleaning, light and refreshing after a creamy cleanser. The moisturizer is light and sinks in easily and quickly so you can apply your makeup straight after. ts hydrating and does the job of a moisturizer. 

Another part of the Simple range that has recently snuck into my skincare routine is the moisturizing facial wash. I've always struggled with face washes because again, sensitive blemish prone skin. But this one just leaves my skin squeaky clean. It makes sure that all makeup is completely off and my skin is clean  ready for the day. 

Like I said the Simple range has been what I've been using for about 3 years now and will be with me for a long time in the future. I wouldn't use this if it wasn't good for skin, or well my skin because as everyone knows that everyones skin is completely different.  Also this range is super cheap and easy to get a hold of as most supermarkets and drugstores sell it.  

This is the best for my skin and I highly recommend.

x 

The Body Shop Mango Body Butter

An absolute favourite of mine has always been the body shop mango range and more so the mango body butter.  I've always been a strong lover of the body butters at the body shop but the smell of this one makes it the strongest contestant for me. 

Like all of the body shop body butter the cream is very mousturising, smells amaze and is perfect for an after bath moisturise or just any time of the day. I like to use this when I get out if the bath, the body butter always sinks into skin quickly and always feels soft and hydrated. 

The smell is 100% my favourite part of this, not that I've mentioned. A uplifting fruity smell that lasts longer on skin than 5 mins will always be a love if mine. I used to use the pink grapefruit body butter but I recently started to have a love hate relationship with it, so I went to my other favourite, mango,  and my relationship has always been a very much in love for over a year.

As a very big body shop fan and as a lot of you will know the body butters are probably one of the most popular products this lives up to its high reputation. 

An absolute must have.

X

The Body Shop Seaweed Exfoliator

Some thing I've been using for at least two years and is an essential to my skin routine is the Body Shop Seaweed exfoliator. When I very first bought this it was because there was none of the tea tree exfoliator so the body shop lady recommended me this one. After that I have stuck with it. 

I use this 1-2 times per week and that all my skin needs. If used everyday i believe that my skin would become way too dry. 

There's a lot of the little beads which leave you skin looking and feeling clean, smooth and fresh. The day after i use this my spots, blemishes and black heads always seem reduced or are gone. If you have spot prone skin than I would recommend this although if you have very dry skin then i wouldn't because it can be harsh on skin and drying.  

Although I don't actually have a lot to say about this it is one of the most important products in my skin care routine and I've repurchased every time one goes empty. 

One of my all time faves. Buy it

x

Budget vs. Blow it - Vitamin E

When it comes to skin care vitamin E is always a big favourite of mine so I've tried all different skin care products some cheapies and some abit more pricey. 

So to start off I bought SuperDrugs own brand vitamin E radiance moisturizer and eye cream.  This moisturizer isn't my favourite it is more of a day moisturizer rather than night. It isnt very thick and sinks in very quickly and doesnt leave your skin with that hydrated feel. The radiance doesn't do it for me either, it leaves gold blotchy patches across your face, not very appealing. After using this for about a week on a morning my face completely broke out in lots of spots but when I went back to my other moisturized they cleared up.

At the time I was having trouble with hurty sensitive watery eyes. So I needed an eye cream, this eye cream ticked my boxes. I apply by rubbing it between my finger tips then applying it to the eyes outside to inner so no skin gets stretched or distressed. It stops my eyes from being the way that they were quickly. The radiance works kind of like a concealer and disguises black bags slightly. 

 -Photo quality change, sorry-

After not being so impressed with super drugs vitamin E I decided to give the body shops a try. I bought some smaller bottles of the cleanser, toner, day cream and a night cream. I bought these from an outlet body shop in a little set and I'm pretty sure it cost £8. I loved all of the products. My favourite by far was the night cream. The cleanser was soft on skin but still does all the work you need for getting makeup off.  The toner is quite thick it reminded me of oil. The day cream thin but hydrating, leaves your skin soft fresh and ready for the day.

After all of the night cream had been used I loved it so I repurchased it in full size. This night cream is very moisturizing but sinks in quickly. The morning after your skin still feels hydrated. My fave night cream ever, I can see this being in my skin care for a long while. 

Something that Ive had and been loving for a while is the serum. I apply it after moisturizer bed. This is quite greasy and can make your hair a bit greasy but nothing dry shampoo can't sort. It help my skin with hydration and helps to clear spots. I use it just whenever I feel my skin is looking dull and needs a boost. I paid £13 pound for this which is pricey but not alot of this product gets used and has lasted months and will probably last for months more, good investment. 

SuperDrug-£5.98

The Body Shop-£33

In conclusion my winner is most definitely the Body Shop. Alot better for your skin and worth spending more on.

Soap and Glory The Next Big Thing Review

Each Christmas over the last few years I've received the big box of goodies from Soap and Glory. Soap and Glory isn't a brand that I buy often because when I get it for Christmas or birthday its a right treat and I appreciate it a lot more. But a few things this year and when comparing this years box to last years, might have to change the only once a year thing. 

Stolen this from the Boots website but this is what the set includes:

THE RIGHTEOUS BUTTER™ Body Butter 300ml

HAND DREAM™ Super Cream 100ml

ORANGEASM™ Body Wash 500ml

BUTTER YOURSELF™ Moisture Lotion 500ml

HEEL GENIUS™ Foot Cream 125ml

SUGAR CRUSH™ Body Scrub 300ml

WHIPPED CLEAN™ Shower Butter 250ml

SEXY MOTHER PUCKER™ Lip Lacquer in Charm Offensive 7ml

THICK & FAST™ Super Volume Mascara 10ml

OFF YOUR FACE™ 3 in 1 Daily Purifying Cloths (25 cloths)

A bonus drawstring bag

The righteous butter was also in last years box and something that I liked but didn't like enough that I would re-purchase. It was something that I would use just because I had it. It is a moisturizing  product and it wasnt that that I disliked, it was the smell.  The mix of shea butter, orange water juices, fog pulp extract, almond, mango and moringa oils just don't do it for me, it just smells a little weird for my liking.

The hand dreams is a diferent case. When it comes to hand creams am a right lazy one, its just not something that crosses my mind. But when I have the hand dreams in my sight I always use it because i know its a good quality hand cream. I really hate when hand creams leaves your hands feeling sticky and creamy for ages but this just leaves your hands soft. Yes, admittedly your hands are feeling a little bit creamy but its not for long, honest. 

The orangeasm is by far my least favorite soap and glory product EVER. I just cannot stomach the smell at all. I love fruity smells its all that I normally use but this one is a massive no. The smell is too much and the orange just really is not for me, at all. But on the plus side my mam really likes it and has kindly took it off my hands.  

The butter yourself has always been a favorite of mine simply because it was the very first product from soap and glory that I ever used. Original thought that it was a face cream and used to use it before makeup and me skin honestly never looked better, it was so glowy and radiant. But, then I realized it was for body and not face(oops). This is probably the most moisturizing moisturizer that I've ever actually used. I always apply it after a bath which is normally on a night and i can still feel my skin feeling super soft, looking hydrated and it feels as though there is still product on but not in a uncomfortable sticky kind of way.  

Okay something that I love doing that might be a little bit of a 'ergh weird' is putting creams on my feet. I just love it. So getting the heel genius is always a right treat that I know I will probably use every single night until every last bit is gone. I like to put it on then put my slipper on straight away v relaxing.  Depending on how much cream you use depends on the way your feet will feel if you apply alot your feet will be softer for longer and the product can still be felt on the next day. I absolutely love this its probably my favorite thing in the box which is slightly strange but yeah LOVE IT. 

The bestest smell that soap and glory have ever came up with is most defiantly sugar crush! My all time best smell for bath and body. I've never used the scrub but anything that smells like sugar crush I know I would love. When I use this I wear exfoliating gloves and apply to my arms, legs and chest. It gives a polish look and its always good to get rid of all those bad skin cells and dirt. So obvs you look clean and polished, you smell fab, this is just the best. Itg makes me want to buy all of the sugar crush range.

Whipped clean is something that I've never came across before, a moisturizer that you use while you're in the bath known as a 'shower butter'. On the back of the bottle it says to lather into your hands then rub onto damp skin and rinse. This makes your skin feel so much more moisturized than a body wash. I didn't actually know that there was such a product but I'm so inlove with it. It has a nice smell that isn't overpowering, cocoa, shea butters, grapeseed, sweet almond and macadamia nut oils. The smell isn't a uplifting fruity one like what a normally go to it is more of a warm relaxing smell. This will have to be re-purchased I'm amazed. Love it. 

The sexy mother pucker is another thing ive been loving, loving it so much its crept into my everyday makeup. A lipgloss that has a thick consistency that stays on all day. The colour has been a perfect one for a kind of natural girly kind of look. I really love this one and its made me want to try out more of the soap and glory cosmetics.

Something that has always put me off the soap and glory cosmetics tho is the thick and fast mascara. It always made my eyelashes short and clumpy. Its a no from me, will not be using this. 

But ready to remove this bad mascara quickly is the off your face wipes. These wipes get all your makeup off quickly without all of the scrubbing. These wipes also always remind me of toothpaste because the smell is minty. So, its something perfect to help you feel more awake on a morning because as well as minty it leaves you face feeling cool and refreshed. I actually really like these wipes, I normally don't use facial wipes but these are giving me second thoughts.

 This review has been slightly mix and if I've offended your fav product I'm sorry, your taste not mine. Probably the longest post I've done so far so yeah hope you've liked it:)

x