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?

Accessorize Sale Haul

Neon Woven Stripe Stole

Higher Intellect Stacking Ring, Statement Geometric Ring

Parrot Satin Vest Set

Sales are both exhilarating and frustrating to me. They are everywhere at the moment and even when you are getting something for less, it is important to remember it won't be a bargain unless you are definitely going to use it.

When I saw Accessorize had a 50% sale, I knew it could be dangerous as I adore shopping there. It is just so good for getting little bits and pieces and especially good for buying gifts for other people. I always find something I adore! So I had a browse but decided I would only buy for me and only if I really, really liked it.

I bought this scarf, which I actually wanted before it was in sale and would have paid full price for. It is so soft and I love the design, plus it goes with my bag (also Accessorize!) and I love the unusual colours. It's quite heavy so it will be perfect for Autumn.

I went a bit crazy for the jewellery, I couldn't help myself! Eventually I put a lot of it back as I know I am terrible for losing jewellery and I didn't want to buy heaps, I wanted to buy some pieces I would really get the use out of. So I settled on these cute gold rings which will go with anything and can be stacked or worn alone.

With the pyjama set, I was torn. I loved the pattern (which isn't something I would usually like) and I loved the design. I try not to buy myself pyjamas because usually I get them for Christmas and then I end up with way too many, but after circling the shop I came back to these because I just couldn't help myself. Maybe it was the heat, I don't know, but I'm so glad I did get them! They are just so cute and sexy. I think they'll actually be pretty practical as it gets pretty hot at night in the flat.

Have you bagged yourself any bargains in the sales this season?

Mini TK Maxx Haul

TK Maxx is actually brilliant for finding bargains and discovering new beauty brands. The other day I popped in for a wee nose and managed to restrict myself to some new brushes and a toning moisturiser. I'm trying to be improve my savings a bit since getting the flat so TK Maxx is just perfect for treating myself in small doses.

elite models | Professional Foundation Brush

I've really been on the look out for a decent but affordable foundation brush. This one is lovely to use, I've tried it with a few of my different foundations and bb creams and it has handled the variety of products really well. It is a solid but soft brush that leaves a good texture on my skin so I'm really happy with the result.

Beauty Strokes | Mineral Optics Brush

This brush is more of a luxury than a necessity, but I adore it! It has different lengths of bristles to apply powders and mineralisers and it is so, so soft on the skin. It uses the lightest touch during application and it is really easy to control the amount you use, perfect for powder especially which I find can be easy to overdo. I usually shy away from bronzer because I find it too dark on my complexion but I managed to wear some when using this brush because it was so subtle.

(close up of mineral optics brush - the white bristles are a lot lighter, meaning you don't use as much product and you get a much more natural application)

Laidbare | Smooth as a Peach

The older I get, the more I notice 'difficult areas'. This cellulite buster promises to help firm and improve skin texture and appearance. It's made with natural ingredients and should help with both stretch marks and the 'orange peel' effect. I have only used it a couple of times and I have seen a slight improvement (though nothing beats a good diet and plenty water!). The lotion has a delicious summer scent of elderflower and dries super quickly which makes it really handy on busy mornings when you don't really have a lot of time.

Have you ever found a bargain at TK Maxx?

Primark/ Semi-Chem Haul

As today was my day off, I made a mini shopping date with my sister Lou. I managed to pick up some bargains and also some necessities that I've been meaning to get for a while.

Firstly, Primark. I picked up this top for a mere £3, it will be perfect for work where I like to wear thinner layers I can build up. I love the bow detail on the back, and the colour is a gorgeous grey-lilac shade that will see me through to summer. I bought cotton pads (no more ruining face cloths!) and exfoliating gloves because they were bright and I really needed a pair. I've not used fake eyelashes from Primark before, but for a pound I'm willing to try them out.

At Semi-Chem I got this gorgeous nail varnish which is guilty of having the worst/ funniest name I've ever heard (district-ly come dancing). I love this colour, it's bold and bright and will hopefully go really well with my gold rings. The shampoo I got as an experiment. I've been dying my hair recently so it's a little lighter and sometimes it has reddish undertones, so I'm trying to neutralise it. Hopefully it will reduce the brassiness.

Have you tried the PRO:VOKE hair care range? If you have any tips or tricks on toning your hair I'd love to hear them!