Lush | July Favourites

Over the last couple of week's I've felt really stressed out and it's taken a toll on my health. I used to let this stress build up inside until it would completely take over. Now, when I recognise the symptoms, I try to nip it in the bud and take care of myself. With that in mind, my recent visit to Lush was all about finding products that I could use to relax when taking some time out.

First, I ran a hot bath using Rose Jam Bubbleroon (£3.95). The 'Bubbleroon' is shaped like a macaron and looks good enough to eat! I only had to use half of this bar in my bath to change the water a pretty pink and create so many bubbles! It has a gorgeous floral scent from the rose and geranium oil and made my skin feel and smell delicious afterwards. It was such a lovely product to use! It definitely helped create a relaxing atmosphere.

I also used the Ceridwen's Cauldron Bath Melt (£4.95 / 80g). I kept the melt in the muslin pouch so I could use it again. The scent of frankincense, rose and sandalwood worked really well with Rose Jam. I loved using the pouch to scrub my skin and give myself a mini-massage. I also tried this out in the shower and felt it worked just as well!

The facemasks in Lush are my favourite - they leave me feeling so fresh faced! I decided to try out the BB Seaweed Face Mask (£6.95 / 75g) as it's a good overall mask for cleansing and reviving. It's a really hard working mask and I was really impressed with the results as my skin felt so refreshed afterwards.

For the first time, I tried out a massage bar! I actually thought Shades of Earl Grey Massage Bar (£5.95) was soap when I bought it (oops!) but I had to try it because it just smells so good! Unlike the name suggests, it doesn't smell of tea - it has a gorgeous citrus scent. I got the bf to give me a massage with it and it was just fantastic. It melts at body temperature and I found it so easy to use.

Have you tried any of these products? What did you think?

TK Maxx Haul

I don't think I have ever left TK Maxx empty handed or disappointed. I popped in over the weekend to have a quick browse and came away with so many new products to try! It's definitely my favourite place to pick up a bargain.

Lange is a french beauty brand I hadn't heard of before so I thought I'd try out the Cleansing Foaming Gel (RRP £34, TKMaxx £9.99) and the Matifying Mask (RRP £75, TKMaxx £12). I've been using the gel for the last couple of days and I've noticed my skin looking clearer and calmer. The flare ups and red patches I can be prone to have improved and my skin feels fresh and thoroughly cleansed. I also really get a kick out of using this as the foam comes out directly on the applicator so it's very fuss-free and easy to use. No fiddly bits to put together and it's so easy to keep clean and tidy away! The applicator itself is almost like a very soft brush - the bristles are short, rounded and very flexible so it's not scratching your skin. I felt it was very gentle and relaxing when I used it to massage my face.

The matifying face mask is a green clay mask for blemished and oily skin that is suitable for sensitive skin. The packaging is again really impressive and it's obviously a very high end product. The formula was quick to apply and I found a little went a long way.

Another french product I found for my skincare routine was Valenca Paris face scrub (RRP £18, TKMaxx £9.99). The formula uses a mix of microbeads and oils to cleanse and moisturise the face. The main scent is Damascena rose oil which gives the scrub a subtle floral smell. I used to be obsessed with face scrubs but stopped using them after a while as I found the cheaper ones did more damage than good and I couldn't afford the more expensive ones! However this one is a rarity in that it is really good quality and relatively inexpensive. The microbeads were very gentle and my face definitely felt softer afterwards.

There was a huge selection of hand soaps so I decided to get some for the bathroom - Provence Beauty Natural Shea Butter bath soap (RRP £3.99, TK Maxx £3) and Molly & Rex Pillow Box Rose soap (RRP £2.99, TK Maxx £2). I was intrigued by the shea butter bath soap as I've never used shea butter in a cleansing product, I've only used it to moisturise. I love the bright packaging, it looks great in the bathroom and it smells lovely too. The lamb soap is adorable and I will admit, I bought it solely for the packaging! It was too cute to walk past! The soap inside is small and smells of roses, it's a really pretty item and would make an excellent present.

I was on the hunt for a decent hand cream and discovered Grace Cole Lavendar & Camomile (RRP £4, TK Maxx £2) and Panier den sens en Provence Stimulating Red Thistle (RRP £7.50, TK Maxx £4). I wasn't sure about the Lavendar and Camomile at first because those are two scents I associate with sleep and I really wanted hand cream for work! However I was won over by the price so I thought I'd treat myself! I've been using it after washing my hands and before going to bed and it's really soothing. The Stimulating Red Thistle scent is fantastic, it genuinely smells of the Scottish countryside and reminds me of hiking munros on muggy weekends. The packaging is gorgeous too and the formula itself melts in quickly and left my hands feeling soft and smelling lovely for ages.

I also got a couple of decorations and candles for around the flat. Bahoma London 'Vineyard' candle (RRP £25.95, TK Maxx £7.99) has such a gorgeous, luxurious scent. It wasn't until afterwards I realised that is was inspired by wine (hence 'Vineyard') which certainly explains why I liked the scent so much! It's a heady, fruity scent - fragrance notes are apple, aniseed, jasmine, cognac, orange, caramel, vanilla and musk. It smells really decadent and sweet, I love it. I haven't yet lit my Pecksniffs 'Rose and Peony' candle (RRP £15, TK Maxx £4.99) (how cute is the brand name Pecksniffs by the way?!). It smells very feminine and summery. I got this rather small Buddha for my fireplace (RRP £16.99, TK Maxx £4), I've been on the look out for a small Buddha for years so I'm happy I found this! I also got this house plant (TK Maxx £7.99) and I am ridiculously happy with it! All my plants die (mainly due to my cat attempting to eat them) so I thought I would try a fake one! So far the cat has been interested but the 'plant' has survived!

So pleased with my finds! What goodies have you found recently?

Birchbox UK | July 2015

Birchbox - July 2015 Edition

Wow, a year since I have done a Birchbox post! This month is more of a Birchbag - a cute, bright yellow bag to be precise. It's a fun change from the usual box packaging and the bag will be handy for holding my toiletries when out and about, and gives me that holiday feeling!

Birchbox this month had a very summery vibe with lots of products that cater towards travelling, perfect for those going away as they are all in handy sample sizes too!

Cowshed | Cow Pat Hand Cream

This rather odd blend of grapefruit and coriander actually complimented each other pretty well, though it did take getting used to! I prefer more floral, fruity scents with my hand creams but the results were great and I was left with smooth, soft hands. I liked that it left my hands smelling fresh and melted in really quickly.

Balance Me| Congested Skin Serum

I love Balance Me products! I am always pleasantly surprised at how well they work and how great they leave my skin feeling. This 'congested skin serum' has a gorgeous scent, a blend of chamomile, lavender and aloe vera. It smells a lot better than what I usually put on skin blemishes and is great for calming break outs.

UNANI | Aloe Vera Gel

I'm not really sure what to make of this one! It's for soothing burns, blemishes, eczema and bites. It doesn't have much scent, but I guess it wouldn't as it's basically a medicinal product. However I am planning to use it after shaving, hopefully it will soothe my skin and improve the feel without irritating.

POP Beauty | Eyeshadow Trio in Peach Parfait

This cute pallet has gorgeous, warm tones. A mix of shimmery, creamy copper colours. They seem to have a good pigment to them and they blend really well. I can't wait to try these out for summer, they are perfect for summer days and the beach!

Benefit Cosmetics | Dream Screen

The sun cream smells so subtle and blends quickly and efficiently. I loved that it felt barely there, especially as sun creams can feel so heavy and sweaty on your face. It's also SPF 45, perfect for those who are subject to burning (like myself!).

Barely| Prep, Blot & Blend Sponge

I love blending sponges so can't wait to try this - just worried because my cat is OBSESSED with sponges, especially make up sponges! Keeping it in the bag for now until I have somewhere I can hide them from him!

You can subscribe to Birchbox for £10 per month (plus £2.95 for P&P). You receive 5-6 beauty samples to try each month, and makes a great present for family and friends, or just a monthly treat for yourself!

Victoria's Secret Love Spell Hydrating Body Lotion Review

I have a relatively complex opinion on body lotion. I usually find it a bit naff. It often feels filmy, smells cheap and doesn't really have a lasting effect. It also tends to be one of those products I get as a present rather than choose myself. After trying several different lotions over the years with varying success, I had sort of accepted that I would forever be a body oil kind of girl, leaving the lotions for pamper nights when I wasn't really too bothered about getting it all over my pyjamas.

So imagine how pleasantly surprised I was to find the perfect body lotion. I was even more surprised to find it was Victoria's Secret, a brand that you either love or loathe. I always felt that behind the gorgeous campaigns, they had a reputation for making cheap underwear that was severely overpriced that really put me off buying into the whole 'angel' concept. How wrong can one girl be?!

Seriously, I have no idea what the underwear is like, but this lotion is amazing. I tried a few of the different scents, but Love Spell was my absolute favourite. A fruity blend of cherry blossom and peach, it is so sweet and strong. I love that all of the scents were so feminine and clean, managing the tricky balancing act of being both heavy and day appropriate. The formula (containing aloe, oat and grape seed) instantly smoothed into my skin and felt so soft.

My favourite thing about this lotion? Being proved wrong. I had a full on EUREKA! moment. Finally! A body lotion that feels great with a beautiful scent that lasts all day!

Have you tried any of these lotions?

Birchbox UK | June 2014

Birchbox - May 2014 Edition

I cannot seem to get away from the football madness at the moment, something that was confirmed to me when I realised that the theme for Birchbox this month was footie related. Le sigh. However, the box did not disappoint. It was more of a global theme than a sports theme, with lovely products from around the world. Here is my round-up:

Embryolisse | Lait-Crème Concentré

I found this moisturiser to be very rich, though it did melt into the skin very quickly. I'm not sure how those with sensitive skin would find it, but I found it really pleasant on my combination skin. My skin tends to get drier in the winter months, and I have a feeling this would be a brilliant moisturiser for then.

Silk + Honey| Shea Butter Hair Mask

I only have showers, so to have to stand about for 15 minutes for this to soak in was never going to be a good idea for me. I loved the scent which was fresh and feminine, but it didn't stay after my hair was dried. I wasn't very pleased with the product (I'm used to a thicker, quicker hair mask). However, I did get lots of compliments later about how shiny my hair was looking so I can't deny that it worked!

OPI | Nail Lacquer - The Brazil Collection

I received the colour 'Next Stop the Bikini Zone'. It is a shimmery lilac shade, very feminine and metallic. Honestly, I'm not a fan of the colour, though the solution went on a treat. I've decided I'm going to give this away to my Mum and sister, who both tried some on when we were opening the box and fell in love with it!

Yves Rocher | Sheer Botanical Lipstick

This shade (corail doux) is a beautiful orangey pink that goes really well with my complexion. The stick is velvety and goes on really well, leaving lips very moisturised. I definitely recommend this if you find lipsticks dry out your lips or if you aren't used to wearing lipstick, as it was a lovely subtle formula. This was probably my favourite product this month and it's already become a handbag staple!

Naobay | Body Radiance Lotion

This citrus scented body lotion left my skin feeling very silky and the scent lasted a decent amount of time. It's a light formula and felt very fresh, making it a brilliant morning pick-me-up! It's organic and also against animal testing which is always great to see.

I also got a wee yellow and green flip-flop keyring as my lifestyle product, but there isn't much to say about it apart from it's now on my window keys! It was a great box with lots of really good pampering products as well as products for use on the go. I loved all the sweet and citrus summer scents and how moisturising all the products were.

You can subscribe to Birchbox for £10 per month (plus £2.95 for P&P). You receive 5-6 beauty samples to try each month, and makes a great present for family and friends, or just a monthly treat for yourself!

Birchbox UK | April 2014

Birchbox - April 2014 Edition

This month, Birchbox was inspired by all things foodie related. Many of the products had scents and influences from the kitchen! Here is a round-up of my box opening:

theBalm® cosmetics | How 'Bout Them Apples

The packaging is adorable and I loved how it felt on my lips as it is a soft, creamy balm that felt very moisturising. The colour palette is really good too. I loved trying out the shade 'pie', it was a vibrant, deep pink that really suited my skintone. Not sure I'll be trying this product on my cheeks as I think the colour might come off a bit strong on my pale skin, but really pleased with this tester.

Lord & Berry | Couture Kohl Kajal Eye Pencil

Apart from the sample pencil being absolutely tiny, this was a decent eyeliner to try out. The pencil was a thick, dramatic black which framed my eyes perfectly. I'm thinking of trying out a darker, smokier eye on my next evening out so I will definitely be returning to this sample!

Color Club | Gala's Gems Nail Polish

A mini collab between colour club and blogger Gala Gonzalez brought about these really pretty polishes. They are exclusive to birchbox and come in four pastel colours, inspired by retro lacquers of the 70s and 80s and perfect for spring. I received 'aquamarine azulino', a pearlised duck egg blue. The colour really stands out and is really beautiful once on. The formula was super easy and quick to apply, so very pleased with the quality of this product!

Propercorn | Sweet Coconut & Vanilla

Ok, firstly I will say I am not a big fan of popcorn! My sister once broke a tooth on a piece and I've been a bit reluctant to trying it since! However, I am super excited to try this flavour, I can't help it, I have a really bad sweet tooth and coconut vanilla sounds tasty! I'm going to save it for my lunch tomorrow!

Yes To Cucumbers | Facial Wipes

These towelettes are a really handy size and promise to be very moisturising as well as cleansing. The cucumber, aloe vera and green tea should be gentle on my skin, which isn't particularly sensitive but can sometimes feel dry after using wipes. Also, the wipes won a best of beauty award from allure, so I'm excited to try this product out.

Campos de Ibiza | Almond Body Milk

I have never tried body milk before so I am a bit apprehensive about this product, as I tried a wee bit on my arms and it felt a lot like runny body lotion! It smells amazing, very floral and summery. I'm hoping it surprises me and becomes a must have because I love when that happens, it's the best part of trying these boxes!

The box this month was a varied mix and I'm excited to try all the products more fully over the next few weeks. I am already in love with the nail polish and lip stain!

You can subscribe to Birchbox for £10 per month (plus £2.95 for P&P). You receive 5-6 beauty samples to try each month, and makes a great present for family and friends, or just a monthly treat for yourself!

Birchbox UK | March 2014

Birchbox - March 2014 Edition

I just love the look of this month's Birchbox, in collaboration with Lulu Guinness! It was so different from the usual box designs and really lovely and bright. Here is a round-up of my box opening:

Benefit | Stay Don't Stray

Benefit is a really good quality brand you can rely on so I'm really excited to try this eye primer. The packaging is adorable. I have a few cheap eye shadows that are really bad for clotting when I'm out at night, but I love the colours and can't bare to get rid, so hopefully this will be the perfect product to help out.

Dr. Brandt | Pores No More Pore Refiner

I am a huge fan of Dr. Brandt products, they are really expensive (a full size of this product is £39) but they really work. This will be a nice alternative to primer for a more natural look, I'm hoping it will leave my skin looking dewy and clear.

Aroma Works | Serenity Body Oil

This oil smells so good! The scent is a mix of lemongrass, neroli and geranium, it's really fresh and sweet. I love that it is a citrus scent in an oil, it would be the perfect wake up call for early mornings. The texture is smooth too so it goes on really easily and it feels really luxurious. It absorbed really well, especially on my legs that were left with a subtle glow (not too shiny like other oils!)

Molton Brown | Rhubarb & Rose Replenishing Hand Cream

My hands get so dry at work so this is definitely going in my hand bag! It isn't as strong as other hand moisturisers but it does make a difference. It is such an unusual scent, rhubarb is definitely not something I would have chosen for myself, but I'm so glad it was chosen for me! One of the main reasons I love my birchbox is because it chooses products I wouldn't otherwise try. The rhubarb is a different choice, but it's a winner for me, I love that it reminds me of my mum's rhubarb pie!

English Laundry | No. 7 For Her

This perfume is described as having 'top notes of pear and jasmine blend with gardenia, vanilla and sandalwood'. It's a sweet smelling perfume, personally I would use it as day wear perfume. It is quite a fruity scent but the vanilla balances that out.

Candy Rock

A cute stripy piece of rock was popped in as a lifestyle extra. It represents the Lulu Guinness side of the collaboration, as she was inspired in her Spring/Summer 2014 collection by traditional sweet shops. It has been ages since I've had a piece of rock, it always reminds me of my Grandad and visiting him in Great Yarmouth!

I really loved the design of the box this month, the collaboration with Lulu Guinness was awesome. There were a lot of lovely scents this month, perfect to get me into the mood for Spring and out of the hibernation mind set!

You can subscribe to Birchbox for £10 per month (plus £2.95 for P&P). You receive 5-6 beauty samples to try each month, and makes a great present for family and friends, or just a monthly treat for yourself!

February Favourites 2014

It's coming up to the end of February, Spring is right around the corner and finally there is a bit of sun! This month I've been loving:

Nivea Daily Essentials Light Moisturising Day Cream For Normal to Combination Skin SPF15 50ml, £3.99, here

I hadn't used Nivea for a long time when I got this as a gift last month, and I've been using it every other day since. The gift came with a couple of other Nivea products and all of them have been really good for my skin, not too drying and really subtle smelling. The moisturiser is perfect for carrying about in my bag, meaning I can top up if I feel like I need a little freshen up. It applies really well and quickly absorbs into the skin.

label.m Hold & Gloss Spray, £11.95, here

I've been using a lot of spray in my hair this month, trying to combat the air conditioning fly-aways! This is my go to, a fantastic non-aerosol hair spray that leaves my hair frizz free and shiny. It works especially well after I've straightened my hair, as it's a light spray and stops my hair looking too flat.

Collection 2000 Eye Definition 6ml Ebony, £2.99, here

I am somewhat of a drugstore eyeliner expert. I have found so many eyeliners that work well for up to a month and then just become disappointing. I figured I might as well just get a cheap one and was really surprised that, actually, it's really good! The formula has lasted and is a really lovely jet black. The brush is brilliant for application and doesn't drag, so it's great for experimenting with new eyeliner styles. Just a really decent all rounder!

Barry M Nail Paint Rose Quartz Glitter, £2.99, here

I know a lot of people aren't keen on Barry M but I think they're fab little pick-me-ups. I always find them really easy and reliable nail varnishes to apply and if you take good care of them they last ages. I got this lovely glittery number because I love anything that sparkles and it's a lovely colour of gold with hints of dusky pink. It looks great on it's own with just a couple of coats, but I'm really looking forward to playing about with it as a sealant on bright colours for spring.

White Musk® Eau De Parfum, £13.00, here

White Musk is one of those scents that always brings me back to my childhood, especially the long rolling summers playing dress up in the garden with sunglasses and scarves. I bought this little bottle to carry in my bag, it's a perfect size and it smells so lovely! It's a really good day perfume for spring.

Birchbox UK | February 2014

Birchbox - February 2014 Edition

My February Birchbox arrived this weekend and though I've not had a chance to sample the products fully, here is a round-up of my box opening:

Beauty Protector | Protect & Oil

Newly launched, this hair oil is suitable for all hair types and protects against UV rays and heat damage. I'm hoping this will be a lovely light product to use as an alternative to my heat spray, it smells amazing and promises to be light so I should still be able to style my hair in up-dos. I'm really excited to try it!

Eyeko | Skinny Liquid Eyeliner

I have used Eyeko products before but I always felt like it was a brand I grew out of because the packaging was really focussed on tweenies. Now they've grown up and updated. The new face of the brand is Alexa Chung, a really fantastic spokeswoman as she is really expert at eyeliner flicks. I love winged eyes and it's a look I regularly do so I'll definitely get the use out of this product.

Urbanveda | Radiance Exfoliating Facial Polish

I love the facial exfoliators you get from birchbox as they are usually really high end and fun to sample. This one smells amazing, ayurvedic turmeric with an infusion of marigold, papaya and coriander, it's a deeply luxurious smell but fresh and light too. The brands focus is natural skincare, so that means no SLS, no parabens and no GM ingredients, and approval from the vegetarian society which is always brilliant to see. I have a feeling this is going to be my favourite product to sample this month!

Gilchrist & Soames | The London Collection Shower Gel

A lovely enough product boasting antioxidant-rich botanicals of red tea, soy, ginkgo biloba, grape seed and milk thistle. It smells very sweet and I'm hoping the scent lasts and the formula (another cruelty free brand containing no parabens or phthalate) leaves my skin feeling moisturised.

Leighton Denny | Nail Colour

I love a good nail varnish and this shade is just gorgeous, a pale pink that will be perfect for the spring tones coming in this season. It couldn't have come at a better time! There were a few shades available in the boxes this month, but I'm in love with this colour, it came just in time for valentines day. The name "mine's a rosé" suits me to a t!

Green & Black's | Dark 70% Chocolate

The lifestyle extra this month was a chocolate sample from Green & Black's. Fair trade and organic, it's a fab sample of a sweet treat. Pretty sure this won't last very long!

This was actually one of my favourite boxes, there were so many different samples, two were full sized and the products were thoughtful and catered to me really well. The theme, 'love style', focussed on fashion week and was also quite influenced by Valentines day which I thought was cute. I loved the cards with inspirational quotes that came with the magazine, I've saved a couple and I'm thinking I might frame them! Birchbox have partnered with Lulu Guinness for the March box, I can't wait to see what they come up with.

You can subscribe to Birchbox for £10 per month (plus £2.95 for P&P). You receive 5-6 beauty samples to try each month, and makes a great present for family and friends, or just a monthly treat for yourself!

Argania Spinosa Special Treatment Masque Review

The winter blues have really taken their toll on my hair. Between hot air conditioning and straightening it for nights out, it's been feeling dry and in need of a little pampering. I was really looking for a bargain as I'm saving my pennies at the moment and I was so pleased to find this argania spinosa special treatment masque. I love how moisturising the Argan oil is, it's left my hair feeling so much more silky. I've been using the masque with every other wash and you don't need to use that much so it should last me a while. It also smells sweet, a really deep, luxurious musk smell. I'm really impressed, it's been the perfect perk-me-up.

http://www.arganiaspinosa.co.uk/