Superdrug Simply Pure Calming Cleanser and Refreshing Toner

Superdrug Simply Pure Calming Cleanser and Refreshing Toner 

Having used these products for a few days now I have to say I am impressed. The cleanser does a good job at removing my make up easily and really soothes the skin. This followed by use of the toner is really refreshing (as you'd hope a 'refreshing toner' would be!!) and it leaves my skin feeling squeaky clean!

I like how both these products are fragrance free as I do tend to prefer the more 'natural' smells - not that it's really a natural smell but it's not a synthetic, overpowering fragrance. They are also paraben free (I don't exactly know what a paraben is but they have recently been associated with breast cancer and I know at least that they just aren't good!) which is a bonus! 

Both products are currently on offer both in-store and online (follow the link in the caption) but even at normal price I think these are great value for money. I hope Superdrug are planning to release more products in this range!

MUA Bronzer

I am very pale skinned so when it comes to picking a bronzer I go for more of the 'sun kissed' look or results can sometimes turn out rather tangerine-esque! This MUA bronzer in shade 3 I came across a few years ago is actually the perfect shade for me. Not only did it end years of purchasing the wrong colour bronzer over and over again but do you know how much this is? Are you ready?.... IT'S £1!

ONE ENGLISH POUND!

As I mentioned I have been using this bronzer for a couple of years now and I have never felt the need to change for anything better quality as I honestly cannot fault this one. It's pigmented but not overly (which I think in this case is a good thing) and it's also very build-able This shade is quite matte but if I remember correctly I think the other shades that are available are fairly shimmery.

Here I am wearing it slightly underneath my cheekbone in an attempt to give my face a bit of structure! I find it a very warming addition to my pale face, I think it works really well.

This isn't the first MUA product I have tried, their £1 range is actually incredible value for money and I am definitely keen to keep trying more of their products. I am especially intrigued by their new brushes as I have already read lots of amazing reviews!

Soap and Glory Thick & Fast Super Volume Mascara

..... and 'Super Volume' it most certainly is! I love this mascara because it creates maximum effect with little effort. I'm one of those girls who loves big thick eyelashes (obviously not the clumpy kind) and if I can get away without wearing falsies then I am sold!

That is a picture of before and after two coats (close ups.......EEK!) I think this mascara creates quite a dramatic effect really easily, it thickens and lengthens the lashes without being clumpy and it stays put all day long! I also prefer this kind of brush to the plastic ones you sometimes get now, they just don't seem to do it for me.

I got mine as part of the 'The Best of All' gift set but you can get it online here, I'm not sure if the £3 off offer is also available in store?

This is the first S&G make up product I have tried and I am really impressed, I will definitely be looking into more of the range.

Superdrug Vitamin E Exfoliating Facial Scrub and Intense Moisture Cream

I've heard nothing but good things about the Superdrug Vitamin E skincare range. They claim that Vitamin E is a 'powerful antioxidant that will help shield your skin against environmental damage and premature skin ageing by combating the harmful effects of free radicals'. So I thought I would try out a couple of their products.  

The Exfoliating Facial Scrub for normal to dry skin has a very clay-like consistency and is one of the grittiest scrubs I've ever used - which I LOVE! I can't stand 'exfoliators' that have hardly any beads in them and so feel like they are hardly doing anything. The 'grit' as I like to call it is actually oatmeal, which provides 'gentle but effective exfoliation'. My face always feels like it has had a real good scrub, and is very soft and super clean after using this.
The Intense Moisture Day Cream is quite a thick facial moisturiser but I still find it wearable under foundation, although I will perhaps try the 12 hour moisturising day cream rather than this 24 hour 'intense cream' as I feel it may be more suitable. It smells really nice and is very soothing on the skin, my face feels very hydrated but without feeling greasy after using this.
I am very impressed with this range and will definitely be trying other products. I am especially interested in the day cream and also the skin oil.

Sales Purchases - Perfume Gift Sets

I have never really been much of a perfume enthusiast. I've always suffered with bad hay fever and strong smells tend to give me headaches. Recently, however, I experienced a sudden urge to buy some perfume. I don't know where this came from but I figured what better time to splash out that the January sales! And for the record, my hay fever has not been a problem yet and while I am getting the odd slight headache I think they're worth it for these two gorgeous fragrances.

Juicy Couture by Juicy Couture Eau de Parfum Spray & Frothy Shower Gel

I bought this set from Boots for about £22, reduced from £35 (I think). They didn't actually have a sample spray in the shop for me to test but I had a faint memory of smelling this once in the past and loving it. So I took a bit of a gamble, but I was right and it is a really nice smell. It's very floral and fruity but for me it's more of a night time scent as it's also quite powerful. I find the staying power quite good, the scent does tend to 'mellow' after a few hours though.

I'm not even going to attempt to explain top notes etc. (do people actually work that out themselves or do they copy it like I am about to do??) ... This is what the Juicy Couture website actually says ...

"...top notes of watermelon, mandarin, and passion fruit combined with the sparkle and freshness of bright marigold and green apple, lightened by a splash of water hyacinth and crushed leaves. Deeper notes of wild rose with sophisticated princess lily and creamy tuberose undertones. Base notes of caramel créme brulée and vanilla meld with elegant precious woods and patchouli to create a delicious linge"

Vera Wang Princess Gift Set

I bought this here!!! on boxing day when it eventually sold out but they seem to have it back in stock but instead of the lip gloss in my set I think it's an eyeliner and a sharpener? The 30ml bottle alone can retail for up to around £35 so this set for £18 I think is a mega bargain (if you like the scent obviously!).
This is also very floral and fruity, but definitely more of a day time scent for me. It's not as 'overwhelming' as the Juicy Couture fragrance. The staying power is brilliant, I can still smell this on my skin after a long day! The scent (according to 'www.verawangprincess.com')......

"...Created for the modern day Princess, this sheer, fruity floral fragrance is definitely born to rule! The scent sparkles with the captivating, sweet, tart aroma of delicate lady apples and the coveted tahitian tiare flower and finishes with a tasty vanilla chiffon - a treat fit for royalty!"

Soap and Glory Glad Hair Day Shampoo and Conditioner

Who doesn't LOVE Soap and Glory? I can't seem to get enough of it. I bought myself the better than half price HUGE S&G set from Boots both this year and last. As a gift I also received the Shampoo and Intensive Conditioner.

First things first.... the smell. OH MY GOD IT IS AMAZING! It's not the usual smell that I would usually associate with S&G products, but really.... it's so much better!! It's fruity in a way my nose has never experience before! I'd seriously buy these two just for how amazing my hair smells for a good couple of days afterwards. Amazing. Have you got that it's amazing???

Now to the actual performance of the product. I didn't really notice anything special about how it left my hair feeling. The shampoo made my hair feel just as clean as it would with any other shampoo and the conditioner left it feeling silky smooth. They retail at Boots for £5.50 each which I think is pretty reasonable, although maybe ones to try when they have their fairly regular 3 for 2 deal on S&G? I am impressed and would definitely consider repurchasing purely for that AMAZING smell!

Happy New Year!

I know I am a day late (I won't tell you what time I actually got out of bed yesterday) but I just wanted to wish everyone a happy new year! I've had the best few weeks at home with my family, friends and my boyfriend - so much so that I am actually dreading going back to uni this weekend! As much as I love being there you just can't beat being at home with your family.

2012 started off a bit rocky for me but it quickly became what I can now call an amazing year and I'm hugely excited for 2013!

In the new year I intend to create more opportunities for myself and start thinking about life post-university. I am half way through my course now with still no clue what I want to do afterwards!

I also hope to concentrate more on this blog. I have finally started getting into it a bit more now and although it does seem rather pointless when you're wondering if anyone is actually paying attention, I'm willing to stick at it as I really do love it. I'm going to work out all the layout and html stuff (is that the right word?) and hopefully work out how to take some better pictures!

Finally, the usual one... I'm going to be more healthy. I've decided not to call it a 'diet' or attempt any 'exercise regime' as every year that is just one big fail. I'm just going to eat healthier, at set times and try not to snack during the day or late at night, and any exercise I feel like doing inbetween is a bonus!

So here's to 2013, and hoping it's making it a good one!

Burt's Bees Tips and Toes Kit

I have been dying to get my mitts on this little set for ages but it was out of stock at all my usual choice of places to buy (where things are usually slightly cheaper). The set consists of 6 (mainly) mini's - 

- Burt's Bees Almond Milk Beeswax Hand Cream 7g
- Burt's Bees Hand Salve 8.5g
- Burt's Bees Thoroughly Therapeutic Honey & Grapeseed Oil Hand Cream 20g
- Burt's Bees Coconut Foot Cream 20g
- Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream 8.5g
- Burt's Bees Replenishing Pomegranate Lip Balm Tube 4.25g

I see this kit as kind of an extreme, deep-moisture emergency supply! When using the products they all feel very luxurious and as if they are really going to make a difference to your tips and toes. It's also worth noting that the scent of the products I feel are of a rather 'acquired' nature. They aren't awful, but they are definitely unique. 

Almond Milk Beeswax Hand Cream - This has a very strong almondy-marzipany scent. It is quite thick which I think is the reason it absorbs really quickly and is not greasy. My hands feel so soft and moisturised after using this.

Hand Salve - I can't quite put my finger on what this smells of, it's kind of a spicy lavender (don't quote me on that!). It has a similar consistency to vaseline and I think is brilliant for those EXTRA dry bits like the very tips of my fingers. I love using this on my poor index fingertips after work as they are always sore from hitting the touch screen tills all day.

Thoroughly Therapeutic Honey & Grapeseed Oil Handcream - This is more of a general (while still an extra moisturising) hand cream. I keep it in my bag so it's handy whenever I feel my hands are in need a little tlc boost. Again, it absorbs really quickly and my hands feel lovely afterwards. 

Coconut Foot Cream - I don't tend to pay much attention to my feet but I have used this a couple of times and it is a nice product to use and it dries really quickly so you don't find yourself stuck to the chair while it takes an hour to absorb!

Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream - I can't say I've noticed an actual change in my nails since using this but it is really nice to use and smells lovely. I'm sure it is improving my nails but the way I abuse them with constant nail varnish remover and repainting them, it does have a tough job!

Replenishing Pomegranate Lip Balm Tube - This product alone is a good enough reason to buy the set. It really works against my horrible dry chapped lips and it has a kind of a warming scent which is even more lovely addition in this horrible weather!

I think this makes a lovely gift at usually between £10-£15 - for someone else or even to yourself as a little treat for your hands, feet and lips during these challenging winter months! I got mine here.

Pixi - The Ultimate Beauty Kit

I committed the unthinkable with this palette and accidentally used it before I had a chance to photograph it (although it did arrive on Christmas Eve while I was in work and I was just too excited to use it when I got home as I was going out pretty much straight away! Justified?)
The packaging is actually my favourite bit, its just SO cute! It comes in a little box then inside it opens up like a book revealing the eye shadows, and the mirror part unfolds to reveal the cheek powders and lip glosses. The kit contains 32 eye shadows - a mixture of both matte and shimmery, 16 lip glosses and 8 cheek powders. They are all quite neutral colours apart from the odd purple eye shadow or deep red lip gloss.
I really love this kit as I am a very neutral girl and am pretty sure I will get lots of use out of many of the different colours.

I bought this kit from ASOS where it was originally £20. I bought it in their sale before Christmas when it was £15 but when I just to find a link for it I found that it is now out of stock but priced at a mere £6!!! I don't know whether they would get this back in stock but I would definitely keep an eye on it as I really do think that is an amazing bargain for something so cute and what is quite easily becoming my go-to palette!

Biosilk Silk Therapy Treatment

I was first introduced to this product in a Glossybox a few months ago. I didn't really pay much attention to it as I was quite happy with my Morrocan Oil and Tresemme Liquid Gold. However, a few weeks ago, disaster struck! My Moroccan Oil ran out and I had left my Liquid Gold at home. Luckily I keep all my 'samples' at my flat in Liverpool as a back up. So I routed through and found this.

I love it! I just wash my hair as normal then towel dry and apply to the ends of my hair - it does say to apply from the roots to the ends but my hair gets greasy very quickly and so I'm quite reluctant to apply it to the roots. It doesn't smell amazing but it smells fresh and kind of how I remember 'Head and Shoulders' shampoo to smell.
I find that it makes my hair feel a lot stronger, especially my dry ends. My hair is in terrible condition from using too much heat but I've really noticed a difference with this. So much so that I will now repurchase it over my previous go to product Moroccan Oil. It is also a lot cheaper, I've had a look on a few websites and Moroccan oil seems to retail at the same price but for half the amount. I've been using this for 2/3 weeks and I have used about half of the sample size (15ml), although I do only have short-medium-ish length hair, so I can see that it will last a long time too. A winner in my books!