Tag: Bath

BEAUTY

HOW TO GET A BETTER NIGHT’S SLEEP WITH FEATHER AND DOWN*

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date July 20, 2018
19 Comments on HOW TO GET A BETTER NIGHT’S SLEEP WITH FEATHER AND DOWN*

Hey Everyone,

I hope you’re all doing well! Is anyone else finding it difficult to get anything done in this heat? I’m literally melting away as I’m typing this. Either way, I have some lovely bits and pieces to share with you! I was kindly gifted these by Feather and Down, however all thoughts, of course, are my own! If something takes your fancy, you can buy it in Boots, however I’l also include links to everything so you can order them too!

* Unpaid AD & Affiliate Links

Today, I’m going to be reviewing some of the Feather and Down Sweet Dreams range! After finishing my second year at university, I have never valued relaxation and wellbeing more. With the stress of deadlines and exams, I decided I needed to spend much more time concentrating on my health and one way that I did this was through using products containing lavender. Not only does it help me sleep but it keeps me calm and collected – particularly the night before an exam. I absolutely love the packagaing, it looks so elegant and luxurious – perfect for a pamper evening!

All Purpose Sleep Balm – £7.00

I’ve used sleep balms before and I’ve found them so helpful when I’m trying to drift off. This particular balm contains Lavender and Chamomile essential oils (it smells unreal) to keep you calm and relaxed. It’s not sticky either so don’t worry about getting stuck to your pillow! Apparently, massaging it onto your pulse points (temples, neck and wrists) makes it last longer due to your heartbeat! I apply this just before I get into bed and I have the best night’s sleep as a result!

CHECK OUT THE BALM HERE

Melting Shower Cream – £6.00

In summer, I prefer to have showers as baths are just too hot for me at this time of year! This shower cream is amazing! Not only does it keep you clean and fresh, it also melts into an oil when you massage it onto wet skin, leaving you feeling soft and silky. I used to hate using oily products until I realised how good they were for my skin. I’ve started putting oils into my bath too, to help me relax and also to keep my skin moisturised and nourished. This shower cream smells incredible too, featuring lavender and chamomile – perfect for bedtime. If you take a shower before bed, the warm water actually causes your body to relax and eases any tension built up throughout a long and stressful day!

CHECK OUT THE SHOWER CREAM HERE

Pillow Spray – £7.00

I’ve been using this product for a while now. It was so helpful when I was extremely anxious about my exams late at night (there’s a theme here) and I couldn’t get to sleep. I simply sprayed this onto my pillow and I was able to calm down and drift off! Lavender and chamomile actually help to reduce anxiety in order to experience a better night’s sleep. In fact, lavender increases the brain waves that are associated with relaxation, so as you can probably tell, this pillow spray contains all the right ingredients!

CHECK OUT THE PILLOW SPRAY HERE

I absolutely love these products and I can’t find a single thing wrong with them. They’re not only beautiful to look at but they’re a joy to use! I’ve never found anything that works this well at helping me drift off. I will definitely be using these around exam time next year when I’m going to need all of the sleep that I can get! I feel so pampered and relaxed after using these products and I can’t see myself not using them now as they’re part of my night-time routine. Let me know if you’ve tried any of these products before as I’d love to hear your thoughts! What do you use to help you sleep?

I’ve linked all of my social media so come and say hi!

I’ll be back soon with another post!

N xxxx

TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST

Tags Bath, BEAUTY, blogger, Chamomile, Lavender, Lifestyle, Mindfulness, Photography, Photos, Relaxation, Review, Shower, Sleep

BEAUTY

ZOELLA BEAUTY: SPLASH BOTANICS – REVIEW

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date July 3, 2018
23 Comments on ZOELLA BEAUTY: SPLASH BOTANICS – REVIEW

Hey Guys,

I’m so excited about this post! I’ve been waiting so long for this range to drop and now I can finally review it for you – plus I need an excuse to buy it all anyway. I’m too excited to ramble any further so let’s get straight into the post!

This post contains affiliate links

Zoella has launched her new summer beauty range, Splash Botanics, which consists of seven brand new products. This range is absolutely beautiful, the packaging is amazing and the scents are to die for. If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you’ll know how tropical print mad I am. I literally live and breathe for some banana leaves, succulents and all things fruity so this range immediately appealed to me. Not only does it appeal to me but it will certainly appeal to many as tropical prints are everywhere right now so hats off to the branding team for this range! The prices are all very reasonable too which I think is great as so many of her audience are students who will no doubt be on a budget (I abso-frickin-lutely am). As usual, it seems like so much thought went into this range and every individual product has been well thought out and planned to perfection. I think this is, hands down, Zoella Beauty’s best range yet.

Botanic’eau – Body Mist

I have been loving and using all of Zoe’s fragrances all year round (particularly Let’s Spritz) so I was extremely excited to get my hands on this! I’ve used all of her fragrances so far and I love them all! They’re all so lovely and because Zoe releases them with seasons in mind, there’s always one that’s perfect for you at any point in the year.

Firstly, this packaging is unreal – I love that you can see the beautiful tropical print through the bottle – this definitely reflects how creative Zoe and her team have been with this range in particular. The bottle looks so elegant and expensive that it could definitely pass as something other than a drugstore fragrance. It also happens to smell pretty damn good too, with a green, water and floral scent, featuring freesia and iris flours. It’s perfect for hot summer days as it feels so lightweight and fresh. It’s a fragrance for all occasions, I would wear it during the day as well as on a night out. It’s also only priced at £8 which is amazing vaue, given that it contains 45ml and a little bit goes a long way.

CHECK OUT THE BODY MIST HERE

So Soft – Lip Oil

This might be my favourite thing in the range and given I’ve never really enjoyed using lip oils, that’s saying something! It’s cherry scented (my absolute favourite) and it’s enriched with almond, jojoba and argan oils so it’s super hydrating and moisturising. It doesn’t oily or sticky at all and it’s extremely lightweight – I don’t feel like I’m wearing anything when I have it on. After a few days of applying this product I’m already noticing a huge difference as my lips feel so much more nourished and soft. Zoe mentioned that she had been trying to make this perfect for so long and you can definitely tell by the formula as well as the packaging. I love having this in my handbag for on-the-go use as it’s very travel friendly too! It’s priced at £5 which I think is really great for such a nice quality product.

CHECK OUT THE LIP OIL HERE

Lagoon Love – Bath Milk Powder

I loved the bath milk powder that Zoe bought out in the Snowella range so I knew this would be just as good, if not better! For a beautifully moisturising soak, simply empty the sachet under warm running water and swish it around until completely dissolved. It features hydrating coconut water and radiance-boosting lychee so obviously it smells fantastic! It’s priced at £3 per sachet.

CHECK OUT THE BATH MILK POWDER HERE

Make A Splash – Moisturising Body Wash

This is such an amazing product! It feels so thick and luxurious on the skin and the formula leaves me feeling fresh and moisturised! It’s so creamy too which I didn’t expect from a drugstore body wash. I tend to use this for shaving my legs as it lathers so nicely and it keeps my skin feeling silky soft afterwards. It’s also great for a morning shower as the fragrance is so refreshing and energising! Again, it features coconut water and lychee so the fragrance is the same as most of the other products in this range. It’s priced at £6 which is pretty good for a big bottle of product.

CHECK OUT THE BODY WASH HERE

Quench Me – Body Sorbet

I was so intrigued by the whole “sorbet” aspect as I’m always looking for new products to keep my skin moisturised all year round but I can’t say I’ve ever tried a “sorbet”. I genuinely love this product! The gel-like formula is so lightweight and fluffy and my skin absorbs it almost instantly. I absolutely hate applying thick and greasy moisturisers during summer so it was a relief to find something that’s almost like applying fluffy whipped cream to your skin. It practically glides on and I’ve been using A LOT at once. Very very impressed!

CHECK OUT THE BODY SORBET HERE

“Beautiful” – Cosmetic Bag

I seem to collect makeup bags. I don’t even travel that much and yet I have a drawer overflowing with them. However, that didn’t stop me purchasing this one! Look at that gorgeous tropical print! Even the zip is in the shap of a tiny leaf – what more could you want? It’s a great size too so I’ll definitely be taking this on holiday with me as I think I could fit a fair amount into it. It’s also really lovely quality which I think is why it’s priced at £10 – I would happily pay this for something that keeps more than £10 worth of products protected!

CHECK OUT THE COSMETIC BAG HERE

I hope you enjoyed this post as much as I enjoyed writing it! I think this whole range is fantastic and there isn’t a single product that I don’t love or use regularly. The scent is also to die for, let alone the beautiful tropial packaging. Let me know what you think of this range in the comments! I’ve linked all of my social media below so come and say hi!

TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST

N xxxx

Tags Bath, BEAUTY, blogger, Photography, Photos, Review, Summer, Tropical, Zoella, Zoella Beauty

BEAUTY

LUSH: “THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS” BOX REVIEW

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date January 10, 2018
No Comments on LUSH: “THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS” BOX REVIEW

Hey you!

Today I’m back with another Lush review except this time we’re going to be talking about their “The Night Before Christmas” box. I’ve always been a huge fan of Lush’s Christmas ranges, particularly the Snow Fairy collection, which I reviewed the other day! Check that out here. I also love Lush’s stance on animal testing which you can read more about here.

“Slip into a bath before Christmas and summon some well-deserved peace and tranquility.”

The packaging for this is just so gorgeous! I love the dark purple and the gold aesthetic plus I also love the moon and stars design. It makes me feel warm and cosy just looking at it! I feel like Lush are absolute pros when it comes to vibrant and colourful packaging – it’s partly why I look forward to any seasonal ranges.

This box includes two products; the Shoot For The Stars bath bomb (my fave) and the Christmas Eve bubble bar. I love that they both match with their deep blue colour and astrology theme.

SHOOT FOR THE STARS BATH BOMB – 200g

“Honey-scented sparkles of Brazilian orange and bergamot waltz in a swirling, cobalt sky.”

This is my absolute favourite bath bomb that Lush sells. I love the smell, I love the look and I LOVE how it makes my skin feel after I’ve had a bath. I love launching this one into the tub and waiting for the water to turn a gorgeous shimmery turquoise. The little gold stars smell like a mixture of toffee and honey and they release the most gorgeous shimmer into the water, making it perfect to sink into before bed. It’s such a warm and comforting scent to get you relaxed and cosy on a cold Winter’s night! I usually get a few of these in stock before they disappear after Christmas. I wish it was an all year round product! I really recommend trying this one out if you haven’t already.

CHRISTMAS EVE BUBBLE BAR – 100g

“Bubbles piled high smell lovely and bright. Uplifting ylang ylang puts moods just right.”

This was a new product for me, I’d never seen it before I opened this set, however it came out every year between 2009 and 2014 and was one of Lush’s most popular Christmas products. It was revamped and brought back, much to many people’s delight, last year! I usually crumble a small bit of the bubble bar under running water (or I just hold it under for a while) until soft fluffy bubbles begin to fill the tub! The scent of Christmas Eve is super relaxing and comforting, as it features both jasmine and ylang ylang. It’s more floral then I would typically go for as I am usually a more buttery/vanilla kind of girl – but I still enjoyed using this! I would recommend this if you enjoy floral, clean and fresh scents in particular.

This is definitely a lovely box to give or receive for Christmas as it contains two really lovely products and they are packaged so beautifully too. I really recommend buying Lush’s gift sets after Christmas when they are on sale as they’re obviously cheaper but you can also get a lot more for your money. I usually get a few in stock before they’re unavailable and then I can enjoy these products and scents all year round until they’re back again (thank god). Let me know what you thought of this set or whether you love or hate these products in the comments.

N xxxx

Tags Bath, BEAUTY, Beautyblog, blogger, Christmas, December, January, Lush, Luxury, Pamper, Photography, Product Review, Review

BEAUTY

LUSH: SNOW FAIRY COLLECTION REVIEW

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date January 8, 2018
36 Comments on LUSH: SNOW FAIRY COLLECTION REVIEW

Lush are one of my favourite companies for beauty and skincare. I love the quality of their products, the huge range that they offer and also where they stand on animal testing (read about it here). They always impress me with their seasonal ranges but also with their more permanent products too like the Fluff Ease hair treatment, which I mentioned in my December 2017 Favourites post! If you didn’t know already, the Lush Snow Fairy scent is my all time favourite bath and shower range EVER. I also mentioned their shower gel in my December Favourites post too, so as you can probably tell, I’m a huge fan! They bring their Christmas goodies out in October/November and it’s literally like Christmas coming early every time for me. This year, they introduced some new bits in the Snow Fairy collection. I know these aren’t available online anymore but they are disappearing fast in their stores as they are on sale after Christmas. I have managed to accumulate a fair amount of their bits and pieces as you can see, so let’s take a look….

‘SNOW FAIRY BODY CONDITIONER’

I used this body conditioner for the first time last year, and I was SO happy that it was available again this year. It leaves my skin feeling so soft and hydrated and also smelling of candyfloss which is a massive yes from me. It’s made with a fruity cherry infusion, moisturising mango and avocado butters which makes it perfect for tackling dry skin (which I get during Winter). All you have to do is smooth this over your skin in the bath or shower and wash it off for fabulous results.

‘SNOW FAIRY COLD PRESSED SOAP’

This smells bloody amazing plus it’s loaded with organic cocoa butter and almond oil. The soap lathers so nicely and it’s really softening too. It’s got the same candy and bubblegum scent which leaves your hands smelling fab for hours. Lush reassured us that no fairies were harmed in the pressing of this soap (finally I’ll be able to sleep now).

‘SNOW FAIRY JELLY BOMB’

For the first time ever, I actually didn’t like this Lush bath bomb. The smell was incredible however the ‘jelly’ aspect definitely isn’t for me. It dissolved as normal and then it created a sort of jelly-like layer on the surface of the water. All was well until these little jelly lumps started sticking to my body and all over the tub. I couldn’t get them off easily so I had to rub and scrub which wasn’t the most relaxing experience. I also found that I missed some of them too so when I got out to dry, they stained my towel. It’s such a shame that I didn’t enjoy this because this is my favourite range and I absolutely love a bath bomb. I would love to know whether you guys experienced this too or if you actually loved it!

‘MMMELTING MARSHMALLOW MOMENT’ BATH OIL

I’ve been buying these for a while now as they seem to be on sale all year round. They only cost £2.50 which is a complete and utter bargain. I place these in my bath and leave them to melt in the hot water. These make my skin feel SO bloody soft, I’ve never known anything like it. They contain cocoa butter and coconut oil which are super hydrating – perfect for any dry skin days. Of course, they smell like cotton candy which is too good for me to turn down. They have loads of different bath melts/oils available so I would really recommend checking them out!

‘MAGIC WAND’ BUBBLE BAR

This might be one of my favourite products. It’s so easy to use and it makes such a difference. I hold this under the tap as my bath is filling up for the most amazing bubbles. It smells like the typical cotton-candy scent that the Snow Fairy collection has too which only adds to my already amazing smelling bath! The best bit about this product is that it lasts so long as well so not only do you get lots and lots of bubble baths but you also get what you pay for! I would definitely suggest leaving it to dry in a dry place – sometimes when my shower hits it slightly it’ll use it up whilst I’m not paying attention! Also, if you aren’t a fan of glitter, this may not be for you…

SNOW FAIRY SHOWER GEL

I absolutely LOVE using this. It makes me feel super soft and smelling like sweet vanilla and candy floss. I use this very sparingly and I still smell and feel amazing afterwards. It lathers up really easily too, so a little bit goes a long way! There are different sizes available so if you want one to travel with they have a baby size and if you’re like me and practically live on this stuff, they have bigger bottles available too. It has a tiny bit of shimmer to it too, which makes my skin look so much more alive as opposed to it’s normal dull self.

This collection is my absolutely favourite. I buy it every year and it’s always something that I look forward too. I was disappointed by the bath bomb however if there had been some sort of alternative bath bomb available that would’ve been great! I know that most Lush stores have sold their Snow Fairy collections in the Christmas sales but there’s a couple of bits still available online if you’re interested. I’m sure that Lush will come out with it again next year (if not I may cry) and that there will be some new additions too. Let me know if you liked this Lush review as I’m always trying things out by them and I would be happy to share more of my thoughts with you! I would also love to know what you guys thought of the Snow Fairy collection this year – go ahead and comment your opinions!

N xxxx

Tags Bath, BEAUTY, Beautyblog, Christmas, England, Gifts, Lifestyle, Lush, Luxury, Pamper, Photography, Review, Shopping, Snow Fairy

BEAUTY

THE BODY SHOP: CHRISTMAS SALE PICKS

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date January 5, 2018
12 Comments on THE BODY SHOP: CHRISTMAS SALE PICKS

Hey guys,

Of course, your girl has been exploring the Christmas sales. I recently posted a few of my finds from Zoella Beauty and KIKO too if you’re interested! I haven’t been looking in The Body Shop that much actually, I used to love their products and somehow I just forgot about them. I went in for a snoop around when I went to Bath (here’s my post on that too) and I was pleasantly surprised. I’ve always loved how great their products are and where they stand on animal testing (here’s their page on being cruelty free). They have SO many products and there’s absolutely loads of different scents too. They now sell cosmetics and skincare as well as bath and shower goodies. I have heard amazing things about their makeup so I may have to test these out for myself! Let’s take a look at what I did pick up from their Christmas sale.

No, I didn’t go crazy, but I did get some amazing goodies and they were on sale so it would’ve been rude to walk away empty handed! Can we talk about these scents too? Frosted Berries is my kind of scent for Christmas. I absolutely love anything that smells fruity or like berries so this was an immediate yes from me. I’ve never known anything to be Vanilla Chai scented before so I was definitely curious about this one. It smells HEAVENLY. Even if you aren’t going to buy this, please just go and give it a sniff because my GOD it’s just too good!

Okay so this was £2.50. WHAT?! Yep that’s right, it really was that cheap. The Frosted Berries Shower Gel comes in a 250ml plastic bottle and has a gorgeous little wreath design on it too (festive points are to be given for this, it’s so cute). This shower gel smells absolutely unreal. It’s fragranced with Red Berries, Vanilla and Cranberry so it’s super rich and fresh smelling. I love how it leaves my skin feeling soft and smelling amazing for hours. You can get it here!

Of course, I couldn’t resist getting my hands on the Frosted Berries Hand Cream too. This also smells incredible and you get 30ml of product, perfectly sized for your handbag! This also only cost £2.50 which is such a bargain. At first I was worried it was going to be one of those metal tubes that look like scrunched up tissue after the first use but it’s actually made of plastic so it won’t look gross. It’s also fragranced with Vanilla and Red Berries, but it’s especially enriched with Cranberry Seed Oil from North America. It’s a gel-cream formula so it really keeps your hands hydrated and soft. It doesn’t leave my hands feeling greasy either which is a yes from me. I love it! Grab it here if you’re interested.

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The Vanilla Chai Shower Gel also comes in a 250ml plastic bottle and has another cute little wreath design on it, I’m loving the festive vibes from these products. This is also priced at an extremely reasonable £2.50. It’s enriched with Vanilla extract and is fragranced with Vanilla (surprise surprise) and spiced up with Cardamon and Star Anise. I love the scent of this as it combines a buttery sweet fragrance with spices which I think is so perfect for the Winter months! Again, this shower gel lathers beautifully and leaves my skin feeling so soft. I really recommend this one, you can get it here!

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Guess what I picked up next? Yep, the matching hand cream. If you know me you’ll know I like sets so this was impossible to resist. If I love the shower gel, I’m obviously going to love the same scent for on the go use right? The Vanilla Chai Hand Cream comes in a 250ml squeezy tube, ideal for travelling with. Ten points if you can guess the price of this one too…yep, £2.50! The smell of this just makes me feel warm and cosy, do you know what I mean? It reminds me of being under a throw on the sofa with a warm drink. It’s also made from vanilla and spices so it’s the perfect festive scent in my opinion! It’s the same gel formula as the other hand cream, meaning it leaves your hands feeling super soft and hydrated and of course, smelling bloody great too. If you like the sound of this, you can grab it here!

The Body Shop had lots of products on sale and another scent in the Christmas range that caught my attention was called Frosted Plum, which you can check out here. Their Christmas range is still available on their website here, and I’m sure is still available in some stores around the country too. Let me know what you guys think of The Body Shop or if any of you have tried their Christmas products out too!

N xxxx

Tags Bath, BEAUTY, Beautyblog, Christmas, England, Festive, January, Pamper, Photography, Review, Sales, Shopping, Shower, Skincare, The Body Shop

BEAUTY

KIKO ARCTIC HOLIDAY BAKED BLUSH {REVIEW, PHOTO & SWATCHES}

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date January 4, 2018
27 Comments on KIKO ARCTIC HOLIDAY BAKED BLUSH {REVIEW, PHOTO & SWATCHES}

I only started using KIKO products in the last couple of years. I was drawn in by a sale (surprise surprise) during summer a couple of years ago and I haven’t looked back since! I have purchased so many things, from eyeshadow palettes to cream shadows, from foundations to metallic lipsticks and I am yet to have a negative experience with any of their products. I have to say, I think KIKO is very underrated, I don’t hear that much about them in terms of reviews etc and I’m not sure why that is as they are a great company! KIKO have been around for 20 years, with over 1,000 stores in 20 countries. It’s influenced by modern Italy, focusing on art, fashion and design. KIKO offer over 1,400 products ranging from makeup, skincare, brushes and beauty sponges. I really recommend checking them out.

Whilst I was in Bath (read about my trip here), I was delighted to find a nice and spacious KIKO store. I had to restrain myself as there was so many things that caught my eye! One thing that I did pick up was their Arctic Holiday Baked Blush in 01 Marmoreal Biscuit. This product particularly caught my eye because of it’s stunning golden chrome/holographic packaging, perfect for the frozen theme of the collection. I think it looks pretty high end actually. It is priced at £16.90 but it is currently on sale at £11.80

I was surprised when I found that the blush came in a little silver bag. It made the product seem so luxury and fancy, again, reminding me of high end brands. Also it’s perfect for travelling with as I recently went away and I opened my makeup bag to find that my blush had smashed and in the process had covered all my other things, so this little bag will come in very handy!

So the blush comes in a silver, mirror-style plastic packaging which I think looks very sleek and elegant and it was designed by Ross Lovegrove. I also think it matches pretty well with the icy/glacial vibes that seems to be going on.

I love the fact that there is a mirror included, again, making it brilliant to travel with. I am usually super fussy with blushes. I tend to run away from anything bright or baby pink and I typically go for more muted and musky. I really liked the shade as soon as I saw it, as it’s what I would usually go for. I also liked that it’s a baked blush with a metallic finish. I’m so used to seeing plain old matte ones and I feel like they can be quite harsh on my face (I might just be crap at blending) so I was keen to try out a different type. The blush is described to have a fragrance of “ginger and spices” which I’m not so sure about. It definitely has a subtle but pleasant scent, however ginger and spices didn’t come to mind when I first sniffed it. The smell disappears when applied to the face as well so I’m not fussed.

As you can see, this is super pigmented (this was one swatch). It has the most gorgeous creamy texture to it, which makes it so easy to blend out for a more natural look. It gives the cheeks the perfect glow and brightens up my whole complexion. I wear a dewy foundation so this blush enhances that by adding a healthy dash of colour to my face. It wears for hours and I have received so many compliments so I will definitely be keeping this in my makeup bag!

I absolutely love this baked blush. It’s basically everything I want in one – a dash of pink, a healthy sheen and a creamy texture! It’s also priced very reasonably given the immediate colour payoff and also the quality of the product in how it applies and also how it’s presented in it’s gorgeous holographic packaging. I feel like KIKO doesn’t fit into the drugstore category nor does it fit into the high end category either so it’s sort of in the middle, so I kind of expect to pay a tad more than I would from a drugstore brand. The quality of their products is always high and their packaging is always very nice too. If you like the look of this blush it’s also available in two other shades! There’s also loads more in this collection so click here if you fancy taking a look at what else is available. Everything in the Arctic Holiday collection seems to be on sale to so go go go!

I would love to know if any of you have tried this blush out or anything else in their Christmas collection. Also, let me know what you think of KIKO in general as I don’t hear that much about them and would love to know if you guys enjoy their products too.

N xxxx

Tags Bath, BEAUTY, Blush, Christmas, December, Kiko, Kiko Milano, Makeup, Photography, Review, Shopping

BEAUTY

ZOELLA BEAUTY: SNOW’ELLA 2017 CHRISTMAS RANGE REVIEW

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date January 3, 2018
9 Comments on ZOELLA BEAUTY: SNOW’ELLA 2017 CHRISTMAS RANGE REVIEW

Hello lovelies!

I have been a Zoella lover since I was around 13/14 years old. I used to read her blog and then I got really into her Youtube videos. I used to watch them religiously every day, some even twice! I have always admired her approach to mental health and her bubbly personality always cheers me up. Find her blog here, and click here for her Youtube channel! When I found out a couple of years ago that she was starting a beauty range (as well as a fab lifestyle range too) I was SO excited.

Her collections have been pun-tastic and if you know Zoe Sugg, you’ll know she loves a good old pun in all areas of life, so I wasn’t surprised to find that the 2017 Christmas range was called ‘Snowella’! I was extremely excited for this range. I remember watching her video where she introduced all of the products (you can watch it here) and I literally wanted everything that I saw. I was so tempted throughout most of December to grab these bits however I knew it would be available after Christmas too (when the sales hit), so I waited. I hate to be that person but I honestly can’t resist a bargain and there’s something way more satisfying about waiting to buy a product and when you finally get to, it’s cheaper than it was originally! So without further ado, let’s take a look…

1. You’re Cracking Giftset– £14*

*£4.99 in Superdrug now

I immediately wanted this because of the packaging, I mean it’s a flipping giant cracker with copper writing on it – come on?! Zoe definitely knew what she was doing with the packaging in this range actually, as it’s all so pretty and matching and it definitely makes you want it all so many marketing points to her for that one! First in the set, is the Snow Silky Body Lotion (100ml) and the Snow Fresh Body Wash (100ml) which both contain softening Peony, brightening Winter Cranberry and soothing Mint (similar to most of the products in the range). I like the packaging for these two, they have a matte finish plus there’s copper involved as well so I mean… Finally we’ve got the Winter Wonder Hand Handcream (90ml), which I originally thought was in a metal tube (like the body shop ones I already own) so I was kind of dreading using it as it would resemble a dried prune after the first squeeze. It turned out to be a plastic tube with a copper finish so I no longer have to lose any sleep over damaging the packaging (yes I am that sad). My skin is also as dry as sand paper during Winter so I do love a good handbag sized handcream and this is idea for on the go moisturising.

2. Snow Relaxed Bath Fizzers – £6*

*£1.99 in Superdrug now or £4 at Feel Unique

MORE COPPER PACKAGING – YES PLEASE. Within this set, you get two giant bath fizzers with giant snowflakes on them. These are filled with blue iridescent glitter so they look stunning in the bath and on your skin when you get out! The fizzers are loaded with Cocoa Butter, softening Peony, brightening Winter Cranberry and soothing Mint. They smell so fresh so I love using them for baths in the morning to wake me up.

3. Snow’ella Body Mist 100ml – £14*

*£4.99 in Superdrug now

I included the miniature body mist too, which comes as part of the All Four You giftset (I got this for my birthday). The larger bottle is available on it’s own with a gorgeous white pom pom attached. It’s definitely a bottle to have on show as it looks so luxe and delicate. I’m dreading the day this runs out! It’s the same scent as the rest of the products in the range, Winter Cranberry, Mint and Peony. Also, the reindeer is from Tiger for anyone eyeing him up.

4. Merry & Bright Bubble Bath – £10*

*£2.99 in Superdrug now

The Merry & Bright Bubble Bath comes in a huge 490ml glass bottle. You get SO much product plus it’s absolutely beautiful and looks so pretty on the side in my bathroom. The bubble bath has a slight shimmer to it which I love and it also creates the best bubbles for a relaxing pamper night in! It comes with a pom pom hair tie, which I actually use if I want my hair out my face in the bath or when I’m using a face mask. I will definitely be reusing this bottle after I’m finished with the product! This is also in the Snow’ella scent.

5. Brew Me A Bath Bath Teabags & Splash Of Milk Bath Milk Powder – £12*

*£3.99 in Superdrug now or £8.40 on Feel Unique

So up first we have the Brew Me A Bath Bath Tea Bags, which I was most excited about, I think bath tea bags are such a cool concept. You get 8 x 20g bags which I think is great value for money (eight baths worth). The teabags look like they’re real, except they are filled with pink powder and there’s a cute little Z on the tag. I leave them under the tap and the powder dissolves, adding some moisture to the water but also creating some bubbles.

The Splash Of Milk Bath Milk Powder contains four 40g sachets of powder. I wish it contained more as I absolutely love this product! Empty your sachet under warm running water for a milky white moisturising bath.

SPA’RRY SPA’RRY NIGHT – £11*

*£2.99 in Superdrug now or

I love this set as it comes with two products that are perfect for pampering yourself.

First, we have the Snow Polished Body Polish (100ml). I have to admit, I don’t actually use body polishes anywhere near the amount that I should. When I do use them, my skin feels incredible and always smells so lovely for hours afterwards. I like the fact that this body polish is foaming too, so it doesn’t feel to harsh on the skin like some of the others I have tried.

Snow Smooth Body Butter (100ml) I absolutely love this product. My skin also loves it too as it’s just so moisturising and I smell amazing for hours!

WINTER WONDER HAND HAND CREAM – £6.00*

*£1.99 in Superdrug now or £4.80 from Feel Unique

I picked up one of these even though it also came in the You’re Cracking set because during Winter I get through hand cream like it’s air so I thought I would stock up before I have to say goodbye to this range.

This range is absolutely gorgeous, the packaging ticks all the aesthetic boxes for me with lots of copper, grey and pink (matching everything in my bedroom to be honest) and I just love the wide range of products. This is definitely my favourite range so far, I’m super impressed. I have to say though, some of these products were quite pricey to begin with (those are the prices I’ve written by every product above) and had there not been a sale, I probably wouldn’t have bought them. However, that doesn’t mean they aren’t good products or aren’t worth trying out, it just depends on your budget I guess. Let me know what you guys think of these products if you have tried them!

N xxxx

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*Anything marked with an “*” are either sponsored or affiliate links, however all opinions are my own

Tags Bath, BEAUTY, Beautyblog, Christmas, England, Photography, Review, Shopping, Superdrug, Zoella, ZoellaBeauty

LIFE PLACES

VISITING THE CITY OF BATH

Hello! I hope you all had a fab Christmas – I definitely ate my fair share (and more) of Twiglets and pigs in blankets! I also managed to win a game of Pointless with my apparently extensive knowledge on the different types of potato (feel free to clap).

This year, my boyfriend and I decided to give each other city breaks for Christmas! I took him to Edinburgh and he took me to Bath. I wrote a post about our trip to Edinburgh so take a look if ya fancy! I’ve been to Bath before, with my mum and dad when I was younger for a day trip and I remember loving it. It was so lively and full of shops and things to do.

The hotel, Combe Grove, is a beautiful 18th Century Manor House on a hilltop on the outskirts of Bath, away from the busy city life below. At first we wondered where on earth these tiny winding roads were leading us but then the hotel emerged and we were gobsmacked. It had a slight Downton Abbey feel to it with it’s endless amount of gardens and grand country manor aesthetic. I’ve always loved Georgian architecture, especially when it’s later been transformed into a hotel or a living space, as the history behind it is still there. We were warmly greeted and immediately offered a WiFi code (free of charge – yay!) and shown to our room. My boyfriend had booked a front facing room in the Manor House itself, as they were described to have breath-taking views. When we walked in I was stunned, the bedroom was gorgeous. The window caught my eye in particular – it was absolutely massive! The views from the hotel were incredible, especially the one from our bedroom in the morning!

There’s something special about staying somewhere old and full of character that makes a weekend away so much more enjoyable. We looked forward to getting back in for a nice glass of wine in the bar downstairs, before having a nice relaxing bath and sinking into our lovely luxury sized bed (do excuse how badly placed the throw is, that gap is really bugging me).

Breakfast was incredible. I chose the Homewood Halloumi served on a spinach flatbread with black beans, avocado and a perfect poached egg. It was SO good, I could eat this all day every day. I’ll almost always order anything with avocado involved. There was also a breakfast table with a plate of fresh fruit, granola, yoghurt, toasted breads, croissants and a fabulous array of fruit juices and jams. We also had the loveliest view of the grounds whilst we ate.

Although I did a fair amount of shopping in the sales (many blog posts are to come as a result) however we did get some time to take a look around the historical parts of Bath. The abbey looked so beautiful in the sunshine, even if it has been standing since 1499! I remember visiting the abbey as a little girl with my dad, and we went into listen to a choir rehearsal and as a result got the chance to meet Sir Willard White!

We decided it wouldn’t be a trip to Bath without visiting The Roman Baths. We originally wanted to go in the morning, but there had been a very long queue so we had to keep coming back and eventually there was only a small group in line! We practically sprinted and we were in the building within five minutes! The standard adult ticket would’ve cost us £15.50 each but as we’re students, we only had to pay £13.75 each. We were offered free audioguides (one by Bill Bryson was available?!) but we decided to just read the signs as we went along.

The first view we had of the baths was from the Terrace. There were Victorian statues of Roman Emperors lining the Terrace, dating back to 1894 and were designed for the opening of the Roman Baths in 1897. Below, was the Great Bath and although huge, apparently it makes up less than a quarter of the entire site. It was lovely to be out in the fresh air and also still able to view this fantastic historical site (from above).

Then, we looked at The Sacred Spring, at the very centre of the Roman Baths site. For thousands of years, the naturally hot water (46°C) has been rising there every day! (If you’re wondering why on earth I have applied a weird fuzzy filter over my photos, it’s actually just the steam rising from the water). It was once believed that the ancient gods were responsible for this. Many also believed that this water had healing powers and some would travel for miles and miles just to drink it or bathe here!

Part of the East Baths, this would have been a hot room for people clean up before using the baths (pretty much like modern day spas now) where they could receive massages or sit in saunas.

There were lots of objects recovered from the Baths which we found particularly fascinating. It really brings the place to life when you can see real objects from hundreds of years ago.

My favourite part of our tour was being able to look at the curses. These were messages written on lead or pewter, before being folded up and thrown into the Spring. It was believed that the spirit of the goddess dwelt within the waters and would hear their messages.

There was even a Roman skeleton in one area of the exhibition, including the coffin too. This was definitely another fascinating reminder that all of this really happened and that these people really existed.

Finally, we got to view the Great Bath up close. The bath is 1.6 metres deep with steps leading down to it on all sides. The niches around the bath were for people to sit on to talk or would have held drinks and snacks. You can sort of see in the back right of the photo, a large flat slab of stone, which is known today as the diving stone.

Just before we set off for home, we stopped at a quirky little coffee shop called SOHO coffee. It gave off strong Pret vibes but it had a very different menu. I opted for an avocado caesar baguette and a fruit pot and wait for it… a Rocky Road hot chocolate. This was the best hot chocolate I’ve ever had, generously topped with marshmallows and cream too! I would really recommend stopping by, as it’s a lovely place to sit and watch the world go by whilst recovering from lots of walking and shopping!

I had the best time in Bath, it’s such a beautiful and lively city. It’s brilliant for shopping and also sightseeing which I think makes for the perfect city break. I know I mostly focused on the hotel and The Roman Baths in this post, however the shopping will come later on! I’m saving some things back for other posts to share with you! I would love to know if any of you have visited Bath or if there’s anywhere you would recommend going to stay as we want to go on some more city breaks in 2018!

Also – Happy New Year!

N xxxx

Tags Bath, December, England, History, Holiday, Lifestyle, Photography, Roman Baths, Shopping, Tourism, Travel, Winter