Blogmas Day 3: Recent Beauty Favourites

So I was doing really well for day 1 and day 2 and then missed a post yesterday and Wednesday! So I am a 2 days behind but that means that 2 day there will be 2 posts, yay! As I was absent for so long I decided that rather than doing a November favourites I would just talk about the products I have been loving since September so here goes,

Body Shop Tea Tree Skin Clearing Toner

The winter months have really been affecting my skin and I have broken out big time! I have been having spots here there and everywhere and not much has helped, except this. Tea Tree works amazingly on my spots and this toner is perfect to help combat all the pesky buggers! I use this toner every morning and night and it really helps to clear up my skin. I tend to use this all year round, even when I don't have spots because it really helps maintain clear skin and I can really notice when I haven't used it! Body Shop have a 40% off voucher floating around at the moment so if you are interested in trying this I would recommend getting it now for cheap!

Sleek Blush in Suede

I think this might be one of the first blushers I ever bought and it is still going strong! ( I know I should probably chuck it away.) I would say that this a blush/bronzer hybrid because it is very much on the brown side but is so lovely. I had completely forgotten about this but recently rediscovered it and I am in love. I think this is the perfect thing to wear on your cheeks for a subtle pop of colour. I am not sure if Sleek even still do this colour but if they do I will link it below!

Soap and Glory One Heck Of A Blot

I have never really been much of a powder person but in recent months my skin has tended to be on the oilier side so I have had to invest in more powders. I have tried quite a few but this has to be my favourite. I know loads of people rave about this but it really is worth the hype. It keeps oil at bay all day whilst not caking up and leaving you looking like a hot mess, so massive thumbs up for this!

MAC All That Glitters

I am in love. I did a whole post about how much I love this so I will link that below so I don't repeat myself too much. Basically if you are going to buy one mac eye shadow I suggest that you get this one. It is just the most perfect colour and I think I wear this nearly every day. It is perfect for an all over colour for day to day but also looks fab with a dark colour blended into the crease. This is just the best!

Real Techniques Brow Brush

I love a good real technique brush and when it comes to their brushes this is one of my favourites. A lot of the brow brushes I have used before have been quite flimsy and therefore haven't applied the powder to my brows well enough. This however is not at all flimsy and applies the powder I use amazingly. I have shaked up my brow routine a little recently so stay tuned for a post all about my new favourite brow product.

Rimmel Wonder'Full Argan Oil Mascara

Mascara is a funny one for me. I have tried so many mascaras out but I have never found one that I am completely in love with. I picked this mascara up from Boots back in August with high hopes that I might finally find a holy grail mascara, now I wouldn't say this is holy grail but it is pretty close. This mascara is amazing at lengthening and separating your lashes without making them look like spider legs. This does have Argan Oil in which improves the quality of your lashes, I don't know if it has done that but I have noticed that a lot less lashes fall out then they use to! Overall this is a really solid mascara and I will definitely be repurchasing it. My tip for this is to make sure the lid is always on really tight because it works much better when the formula is nice and wet. Again I have written a whole post about this which I will link below!

That is it for my recent favs, I have deliberately not included any lip products in this post because I will be doing a whole post about my favourite winter lip colours so make sure to pop back for that tomorrow. Let me know what you have been loving recently because I am currently looking for more things to put on my Christmas wish list! Hope you enjoyed and thanks for reading,

Laura xxx

All That Glitters Review

Rimmel Mascara Review

The Because I Needed It Haul

So I am on a spending ban currently, and except for 2 expensive slip ups I have done pretty well but yesterday I realised I needed some things (well sort of) so I had no choice but to run down to the nearest Boots and pick up a few things!

OK so to be honest the only thing I actually needed were these Boots Cotton Wool Double Faced Round Pads. I use these everyday for my Garnier cleanser and also my toner and I had run out so I did actually need to pick up some more. These are my favourite pads to use because they are double sided and are stitched together so they don't end up falling to pieces whilst you are using them which I hate!!

Next up was a bit of a random purchase. I think my eyelashes are pretty good at being curled so I don't tend to use eyelashes curlers but when I saw these bright pink Models Own Eyelash Curlers I couldn't resist picking them up! I mean seriously! Bright pink! I am going to try and use these a bit more and hopefully they will give me amazing curled lashes.

I had a mini explosion on Thursday with my current eye cream (which I talked about in my skincare routine) so I had completely run out and decided that I needed eye cream in my life so had to get a new one. I have been thinking about getting the Kiehls Avocado one but I couldn't quite bring myself to spend £20 on it so I settled for the Soap And Glory Youthful Illuminating Eye Cream. I love the packaging for Soap and Glory and this little silver tub is super cute. The eye cream itself seems pretty thick, which I like. I haven't had a chance to really try it out but I shall keep you updated! This does contain some anti aging stuff which I don't really need but I don't think it is ever too early to start fighting wrinkles!!

This hot weather is turning me into a complete oily mess and I am hating it! I don't tend to use powder normally because I don't really need it but boy do I need it now! I thought about just picking up a cheap one but I had heard so many good things about Soap and Glory One Heck Of A Blot that I thought I would give it a go. This is just a translucent powder which I have been using for all over my face as a setting powder. From the few times I have used it I have definitely seen a difference oil wise so I have very high hopes for this!!

There you go, that is a little insight into what I bought yesterday! I will be back tomorrow with the post I was going to post today (if that makes sense) so follow me on Bloglovin so you don't miss that! Hope you enjoyed and thanks for reading,

Laura xxx

How I Look After My Face: Skincare Treats

 2 posts on skincare may have been enough but I couldn't talk about skincare and not mention some of the products that are just the best for giving your skin a little TLC. The products I am going to be talking about I don't use on a daily basis but are what I lean for if I'm having a little pamper, so here goes!

A good face mask is an absolute essential in any skincare routine and I have to admit I am a little addicted to face masks, I have so many but this is the one I having been loving at the moment. The Soap and Glory No Clogs Allowed is exactly the type of mask my skin needs at the moment, it declogs pores which helps get rid of spots (and I have loads atm) and just leaves your face feeling beautifully clean and healthy. You apply this all over your face and it comes out white with little beads in, then you wet your face slightly and the little beads break, the mask turns blue and heats up, which is just so cool!! I am a massive fan of soap and glory but haven't tried too much of their skincare stuff so if you guys can recommend me anymore bits let me know please!

So in my morning routine I mentioned my everyday facial scrub but once a week or so I like to give my skin a bit more of an aggressive scrub and for that I love the Body Shop Spa Wisdom Japan Adzuki Bean and Rice Wash Grain. This is basically just a little jar of scrubby goodness! Like my other scrub I just use this in the shower, I scoop some out of the jar give it a good rub all over my face and then wash it off. My skin literally feels like new skin after using this! It is so so so soft. I would really really suggest trying this, if you have sensitive skin you might want to be slightly wary though because it is quite harsh. I also wouldn't suggest using this too often, I rarely use it more than once a week. These can be used on your body as well, I haven't actually tried that before but I reckon it would be really lovely on your body skin as well!

Staying on the theme of scrubs I will talk about my all time favourite lush product, I know that is a massive statement but I think you may agree. The Lush Bubblegum Lip Scrub is not only a super scrub for your lips which just leaves them lovely and ready for any matte lipstick but also smells and tastes great. Now you can eat this stuff but I feel a bit weird about eating it so I just wash this off after I'm done. I tend to use this a couple of times a week but will use it more if I am wearing a matte lipstick that day/night because you need your lips to be in great condition for that. I haven't tried many other lip scrubs before but because this one is so great I don't think I really need to stray from this firm favourite. Also this is bright pink, could you really ask for more?

Finally onto another Body Shop number and that is the Cocoa Butter Beautifying Oil. I know loads of people love this product and use it for so many different things but I love it for my face as a little treat. I would say I have combination skin, I get dry patches but then get oily as well so I definitely couldn't use this product all the time but sometimes instead of my night time moisturiser I use this for a little more oily goodness. I literally use the tiniest amount of this and just pat it into my skin, mostly avoiding my T zone then just go to sleep. In the morning my skin feels amazing!

Ok so that is definitely enough skincare talk for a while! Hope you enjoyed these skincare posts because it isn't something I talk about a lot. Please come back tomorrow when I shall be talking about something naughty I have done recently, whoops!! Please follow me on Bloglovin and Instagram too if you want, hope you enjoyed and thanks for reading,

Laura xxx

Face Mask- http://www.boots.com/en/Soap-Glory%E2%84%A2-No-Clogs-Allowed%E2%84%A2-Super-Self-Heating-Deep-Pore-Detox-Mask_1364146/

Face Scrub- http://www.thebodyshop.com/bath-body/spa-treatments/japan-adzuki-bean-rice-wash-grains.aspx

Lip Scrub- https://www.lush.co.uk/products/bubblegum

Beautifying Oil- http://www.thebodyshop.co.uk/bath-body-care/beautifying-oils/cocoa-butter-beautifying-oil.aspx

Skincare and Holiday Haul

I have been on a mission in recent months to improve my skincare routine. I am so lazy when it comes to looking after my face so recently I have been making an effort to try harder and make my face happy. When I went to Boots last week I managed to stay away from the make up and ended up picking up a few skincare goodies and also a few bits and bobs for my holiday!

Soap and Glory No Clogs Allowed Super Self Heating  Deep Pore Detox Face Mask-
I really wanted a new face mask and recently my skin has felt very clogged up so when I stumbled across this little gem from Soap and Glory I thought it would be a perfect solution for my skincare woes. I haven't had a chance to try this out yet but after reading a couple of reviews I am excited to give it a try. When I get back from holiday I will be in the market for a hydrating face mask so if you have any ideas, let me know!

YES To Grapefruit Daily Facial Scrub-
I have heard a few good things about this brand but mostly from Americans so I didn't think it was available in the UK so when I found this on the shelves of Boots I was really excited. I knew I wanted to try the brand out but wasn't sure what exactly I wanted to try but I have been looking for a good daily face scrub so this seemed perfect. It has a really nice grapefruit smell but with a fresh lemon twist as well. Again I haven't had a chance to try this but I am looking forward to give it a go!

La Roche Possay Anthelios Face Comfort Cream Tinted SPF+ -
So I have officially made my first La Roche Possay purchase. My housemates love the Effaclar Duo but I have never given it a go. I knew for holiday that I wanted a high SPF for my face and also a tinted moisturiser for wearing around the pool so when I read about this on a blog (can't remember whos) I couldn't wait to try this out. It has 50 SPF which is perfect for my fair skin but also has a lovely tint of colour which will be perfect for daytimes around the pool! I think this will be a summer essential so I will give this a full review when I get back from holiday.


Hawaiian Tropics Silk Hydration Aftersun Coconut Papaya Fragrance Lotion-
Before I begin I just want to say I wish you could some how smell this. I think this has to be the nicest thing I have ever smelt, it literally smells like summer. This is fairly pricey for an aftersun, but I managed to get it on offer so didn't feel too guilty. I am very fair so I tend to burn a little on holiday so this will be perfect for helping my skin recover after a lovely day in the sun and will also leave me smelling like a tropical fruit salad, yum!

Banana Boat Aloe Vera Gel- 
So I bought this aftersun because I wasn't sure if the boyfriend wanted to smell like coconut and papaya! I also think this will be perfect for if I get really burnt and wanted some really deep hydration as it contains aloe vera. As this is a gel it will be super cooling as well, will probably leave this in the fridge so it is super cold for the end of the day!

So that is it for my skincare/holiday haul. I am so excited to go on holiday so I am sorry if I keep going on about it!! Make sure you click back tomorrow to see what I have used up over the last month. Have you guys got any skincare recommendations? Please leave a comment below if you have. Hope you enjoyed and thanks for reading,

                                                                            Laura xx

 

My Current Everyday Make Up Routine

 I recently finally got my hands on ALL yes ALL of the Naked palettes and after playing around with all 3 for the last month or so I have fallen most in love with the Naked 3 Palette. This is now what I lean for every single morning when I'm getting ready and it is just amazing!! My everyday make up is pretty simple with glowy skin and a mostly neutral lip, it is all about the eyes for me!! So here is a little look at the make up I have been rubbing on my face recently!! (All the products will be listed below)

Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation
ELF Complete Coverage Concealer Palette and Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer 
Maybelline BROWdrama in Dark Blond
Benefit Stay Don't Stray 
Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette- Dust and Burnout
Max Factor False Lash Effect Mascara in Black Brown
Soap and Glory Solar Powder
MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in Stereo Rose 
Topshop Nevada with 17 Queen of Diamonds lipgloss

Seeing all the make up I use on a daily basis makes me think maybe I wear too much!? But anyway that is my everyday make up, I hope you found it mildly interesting. Make sure to follow my blog on Bloglovin (there is link under the post somewhere) and come back this Friday to find out what I want to get my hands on this month. Hope you enjoyed and thanks for reading,


                                                                             Laura xx

What's In My Bag

I can't go anywhere without a bag, whether it's a quick trip to the shop or just a drive to McDonalds I need my bag. My bag also has to be massive, no clutches or small bags for me!! The bigger the better!! So here is my first ever what's in my bag. My bag is from Debenhams and I absolutely love it! It's so big and perfect for just chucking in everything you need. I haven't mentioned my make up bag as I am going to do a separate what's in my make up bag post. So here is a list of the contents of my beloved bag:

• My Purse, this is from River Island and I have had it for years because I just haven't been able to find a better one. The size is perfect and it has enough slots for all my cards and room for change as well. 
• My Iphone, I keep this in a little pocket in my bag so I always know where it is. My phone is probably my most essential item, I just can't leave the house without. 
• Pukka Pad Academic Planner and a Pen, I use this to plan all my blog posts as well as write down lists for practically anything and everything. Again this is always in my bag, especially when I go shopping. If I don't take it with me I always end up forgetting something. 
• Travel Card and Oyster Card, barely ever go to London but I have an oyster card just in case!
• Primark Hand Gel, you never know when your hands are going to get dirty so this is a handbag essential in my book!
• Soap and Glory Hand Food, after hand gel comes Hand Food. My hands get dry really easily so I like to have this with me at all times so I can keep my hands nice and hydrated. In my opinion there is nothing worse than holding hands with someone who has dry hands!!
• Soap and Glory Righteous Butter, I honestly have no clue why this is in my bag! I never randomly moisturise my body when I'm out and about but I guess I have it just in case!
• Body Shop Mango Body Mist, I've said how much I love this before so of course I carry one around with me.
  
• Sure Deodorant, the weather in England always seem to surprise you and you never know when you may need a quick freshen up so I always keep a little can of this on me.
• Extra Chewing Gum, chewing gum is probably my favourite thing ever. I always have some in my car and I carry it in my bag as well. You never know when you need some and that's why I'm always prepared.
• Compact Mirror and Mini Hairbrush, these you just need! My new obsession is a bowler hat so when I take it off I always have hat hair so it is great to keep a mini hairbrush on me. A compact mirror is also super handy for touching up make up whilst you are on the go.
• Revlon Lipgloss in Peach Petal, I said I wouldn't talk about my make up bag but I found this lipgloss rolling around in the bottom of my bag! It's always handy just to have a neutral lipgloss for touch ups throughout the day.

I am actually surprisingly impressed! I thought I would have a lot more random clutter in my bag. I love reading what's in my bag posts so I hope you enjoyed mine and thanks for reading!

What do you guys keep in your bags? And do you have any favourite bags at the moment as I'm looking for a new one?

                                                                      L xxx