Tag: Body

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2017 BLOGMAS MONTHLY FAVOURITES

DECEMBER 2017 FAVOURITES

BLOGMAS DAY 20

I can’t believe I’m already discussing December favourites?! This year has gone by so quickly I can hardly believe it’s coming to an end in less than two weeks. One of my favourite posts to read/videos to watch are monthly favourites so I thought I would try one out myself! I have tried lots of new things this year and I thought I would share my favourites with you today – enjoy!

VSCO Cam-1.jpgMy boyfriend’s sister gave me this for my birthday last month and it has completely changed my hair game. I have thick wavy hair and sometimes it can get frizzy and out of control to the point where it looks like I’ve been dragged through a hedge backwards on a regular basis. Lush’s Jasmine and Henna Fluff-Ease mask can be applied directly to dry hair. I tend to lather this stuff on for a more intense treatment when my hair needs a moisture boost. I leave it on for roughly 20 minutes and wash it out before continuing with my normal shampooing and conditioning routine. The way my hair feels afterwards is incredible, it feels so light and fresh and it smells divine. I would strongly recommend using this if you have dry or damaged hair – it makes such a difference!

vsco-cam-16.jpgI posted a review of the Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance palette on Blogmas Day 12, so most likely, you will know what I think of it already. It’s my favourite eyeshadow palette and it has such warm and rich shades in it, which I have been loving for creating festive looks. I also included a look I created with this palette in that post too if you’re interested!

Processed with VSCO with c1 presetDuring Winter my skin gets quite dry so I’ve really enjoyed using this Nip + Fab Bee Sting Fix Lifting Mask. I use a lot of their skincare and this is one of my absolute favourite products. It’s a gel mask containing bee venom to plump the skin, propolis extract (a healer, anti-oxidant and antiseptic) and AC moisture plex which helps the skint o retain moisture. I know, it sounds very complicated but it actually does an amazing job. I also notice a difference within an hour of using it as my skin seems much smoother and more plump looking.

Processed with VSCO with c1 presetLuckily I’ve pretty much always been blessed with good skin every year. I’ve never had a problem with acne or spots other than the occasional blip every now and then due to stress. Recently my skin has decided to mix things up and I’ve been breaking out way more than usual. My usual way of dealing with any blemishes/spots is the Quick Fix Facials Anti-Blemish Mud Mask. This dries out any spots that I have and they’re so visibly reduced in the morning! Try out some of their other masks too, I love them all!

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Don’t even get me started on how much I love Lush’s Snow Fairy products – I am obsessed! I always stock up on this during Winter as it’s only available at this time of year (sobs uncontrollably). Luckily I was given this shower gel for my birthday so I’m all good for now! The best way I can describe the scent is that it’s like sugary bubblegum with hints of candyfloss and sweet shops (drooling at the thought). I always find that I can still smell it on my skin hours after my shower/bath and my skin feels super silky soft. If you have access to a Lush store – GO AND BUY IT! (You can also order online)

 VSCO Cam-7.jpgI picked this little gem up at my local Homesense store for £1.99 but apparently it’s also available in Superdrug too (thank god). I’ve always loved things that smell of cherries etc so when I took a whiff of this I was immediately obsessed. It smells like a Cherry and Vanilla Bakewell tart was bottled and I freaking love it! It’s the perfect size for my handbag too so it’s perfect for on-the-go use as well.

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 I have been obsessed with this Barry M Liquid Chrome Highlighter Drops  in the shade Beam Me up. This only cost me £6.99 which I think is such a steal for 12ml of product. It’s such a stunning highlighter and it can be used for a subtle glow mixed in with some foundation or it can be absolutely blinding on it’s own. Either way, you definitely it in your makeup bag (and on your cheekbones).

VSCO Cam-4.jpgAs you probably already know, I bloody love me some festive candles. I wrote a post specifically about Autumnal and Winter candles if you fancy having a nosey. I have recently discovered these gorgeous scented candles by DW Home (my absolute favourite candle company ever) I was surprised at how much I loved these as I don’t think peppermint is a very traditional home fragrance. I think I like it because it’s so refreshing and it reminds me of candy canes which is perfect for Winter.

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My most recent obsession has been with red lipsticks and glosses. I can hear my friends saying “WHAT?” as I’ve pretty much always been a nude lip kind of girl (you can tell this just by looking at my MAC Lipstick collection) For some reason I decided to switch things up a bit and try some new colours and red just seemed to be perfect for this festive season. These are my favourites so I’ve swatched and given a mini review below!
IMG_1313.JPGBenefit Benebalm – I find this so hydrating which is perfect for whenever my lips are dry. It adds a glossy rose-red sheen so it’s great for when I’m not feeling brave enough for an intense look but it’s also buildable if you want more colour. It’s not sticky at all either.
Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet Lipstick in Hot Pepper– I love this lipstick it’s so silky and it feels so soft on my lips. I love how bold and sassy the colour is too! It stays matte and doesn’t dry my lips out which is not what I want during Winter when my skin is in desperate need of moisture!
Max Factor Lipgloss in Captivating Ruby – I don’t usually use glosses as I prefer a matte finish however this gloss has really changed my mind! I love how hot and bold it is and the gloss teamed with some blush and highlighter, makes me look super glowy and healthy which is perfect for festive makeup looks.

Kiko Smooth Temptation Lipstick in 03 – In all honesty this is the most pigmented lipstick I own. It’s so creamy and rich in colour it’s the PERFECT red lippie. I don’t think they sell this anymore, but they often bring out new shades and their formula is really great with all of their lip products.

Processed with VSCO with c1 presetMr Stanley’s Great Gummy Gingerbread Men – This is a bit of a random one but I’ve seen them on sale all over the place so someone other than me must be buying them! They’re cookies and cream flavoured and they’re in the shape of tiny itty bitty gingerbread men. I feel like that’s all I need to say.

Processed with VSCO with c1 presetZoella Bake My Day Body Mist – A mixture of gingerbread and vanilla with cinnamon and chocolate so to me this is the ultimate sweet festive scent. It’s currently not on sale separately but it can be bought in a set of four (my friends got me this set for my birthday- it’s fabulous).

Primark Merry Kiss Mas Perfume – Primark has really surprised me with their fragrances this year. I really like them! I was a bit hesitant as I like to stick to what I know but I’m so glad I branched out. This fragrance is a mixture of peppermint and chocolate – another sweet smelling perfume that’s perfect for Christmas.

Zoella Snowella Body Mist – It took me a while to get used to this fragrance as at first it’s quite intense, but now I absolutely love it. It’s a gorgeous fruity floral smelling spray with cranberry, mint, peony and pink pepper. It’s so fresh and lasts for hours too.

 

This was a long one so congrats if you’re still here! Let me know what your favourites have been this month or if you have any recommendations, I would love to know.

N xxxx

P.S. I forgot to mention Riverdale. I have been so addicted to this I’ve literally binge-watched the entire first season and I’m already halfway through the second. HELP. If you haven’t already, watch it (it’s on Netflix) and it’s sooo good!

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2017 BEAUTY BLOGMAS

SOAP AND GLORY REVIEW – MY FAVES

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BLOGMAS DAY 15:​

Today I’m talking about one of my favourite beauty brands, Soap and Glory. Given that Christmas is fast approaching, I couldn’t think of a better time to let you all know what this fabulous brand has in stock, just in time for some last minute buying of stocking fillers. Soap and Glory always have the most gorgeous gift sets at this time of year too which make perfect Christmas presents!

I have always been sucked in by anything pink or gimmicky, let alone an entire wall of it (in some boots stores – SOS from my bank account). That’s how I got into Soap and Glory products, I was lured in by their gorgeous packaging. When I first noticed Soap and Glory’s products in my local Boots store, they were mainly selling body lotions and hand lotions. The range is now absolutely huge compared to what it was a few years ago and I couldn’t be happier about this!

Over the years I have developed a strong love for all things Soap and Glory and I thought I would share my favourite products with you!

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Let’s talk moisturisers…

VSCO Cam-2-1.jpgArguably, Soap and Glory are most well known for their body lotions and rightly so! I absolutely love covering myself in moisturisers, especially at this time of year. I always feel so smooth and soft and I smell bloody fab after using these products.

The Righteous Butter Body Lotion (travel size) – £2.50 – This is probably Soap and Glory’s most well-known scent, with Shea Butter and Aloe Vera. It smells so good. On the back of the tube, you are asked to “Butter the devil you know” (typical puns from Soap and Glory) and especially pay attention to rougher spots. I love keeping this in my bag and suitcase for whenever I travel or stay anywhere. It makes me feel so pampered and leaves me soft and moisturised.

Hand Food Hand Cream (travel size) – £2.50 – Another of their legendary products, the Hand Food hand cream is one of my favourites. During Winter I get particularly dry hands so I absolutely love keeping this in my bag for on the go use. The hand cream contains Shea Butter and Macadamia oil AND marshmallow (gasp) it smells incredible. It’s fragranced with Soap and Glory’s signature scent of Rose and bergamot. Unlike lots of hand creams that I’ve tried before now, it isn’t sticky or greasy – which is a must for me in glove wearing season.

Hand Food Hand Cream Pump – £7 – Although having the travel size version of this gorgeous hand cream is perfect for on the go, I do like to keep the pump one in my bathroom for more heavy duty use. Again it’s fragranced with rose and bergamot (heaven on earth).

Heel Genius Foot Cream – £5.50 – I used to dance pretty much every day of the week and with that came gross feet. I was in desperate need of moisture and this became my solution! It features orange and lemon fruit acid, bilberry, menthol, macadamia oil, glycerin and allantoin which is the perfect combo for tackling feet as dry as sandpaper. Try it, your feet will thank you later!

Sugar Crush Body Buttercream – £10 – Sugar Crush is my absolute FAVOURITE scent by Soap and Glory. This body lotion is fragranced with lime oil, kiwi juice water, and lime tree blossom extract which makes it perfect for waking you up in the morning as it’s just so refreshing and zingy. I tend to slather this on after a shower or a bath and it keeps me feeling soft and smooth for the rest of the day. Of course, it’s loaded with moisturising sweet almond oil and coconut oil and shea and cocoa butter. You also get a generous amount of product and for £10 I think that’s a great deal.

Moving on to my favourite bath and shower goodies…

VSCO Cam-1-9.jpgClean On Me Shower Gel – £6.50 – I usually have a bottle of this in stock somewhere in my bathroom. I just love the clean and fresh scent of this shower gel, which contains mandarin peel extract. It smells divine and it makes me feel so pampered and silky soft after my shower. You can smell it on your skin hours later which is a bonus plus £6.50 is such a great price for a huge 500ml bottle – go grab it!

 

(They’ve actually changed the name of this) to Scrub of Your Life Body Scrub – £7 – It smells so fresh and clean! This scrub is so creamy and thick and it’s packed with scrubbing beads so that you can exfoliate to your heart’s desire.

 

VSCO Cam-2-6.jpgThe Rushower Scentsational Dry Shampoo – £4 – My mum gave me this for my birthday and I am so glad that she did, it’s a lifesaver! I usually Batiste’s dry shampoos, however, I have always hated how rough they make my hair feel and how difficult they are to blend out into my hair without it looking like I’ve gone grey or I’ve got suspiciously widespread dandruff. Rushower, leaves my hair feeling silky smooth and it blends into my roots like a dream, absorbing any gross oils with it. It also smells incredible with mandarin, rose and bergamot – erm yes please? You can smell it for hours after you sprayed it as well, which I love.

VSCO Cam-3-2.jpgSugar Crush Body Spray – £4 – I was so happy when Soap and Glory created this spray as it’s already my favourite scent that they’ve done. It’s fragranced with lemon oil and Elemi oil which I find to be so refreshing in the morning before I go to university. There’s also elements of vanilla, ginger, sweet lime and smashed brown sugar which is simply a drool-worthy combination. It’s like they bottled happiness. Go and have a sniff and let me know if you love it as much as I do!

VSCO Cam-1-10.jpgNo Clogs Allowed – £11.50 – No apologies for the well-loved appearance of this one – I just love it so much. It’s perfect for a pamper night once a week (I mean I have one every day if possible, oops) when your skin needs resurrecting. I always apply it in my problem areas (on my face of course) and I let it do its thing for about 10-15 minutes. I have definitely noticed a huge difference after using this mask. I have tried all kinds in my time yet this one just continues to impress me.

 If you haven’t tried anything out by Soap and Glory yet, I honestly can’t recommend their products highly enough! Not only are all of the products of such high quality but the packaging that they come in is simply gorgeous and are usually a glimpse at their fab sense of humour with gimmicky names and play on words. All of the scents are amazing too, I am yet to dislike one! Usually, around this time of year, there are lots of offers on their products, so stock up now! Let me know if you have any Soap and Glory favourites too, I’m always looking for an excuse to buy more of their products!

N xxxx

nina-1

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2017 BEAUTY BIRCHBOX BLOGMAS

BIRCHBOX DECEMBER 2017: MATTHEW WILLIAMSON – REVIEW

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Birchbox is a UK beauty subscription service that sends beauty boxes to their subscribers containing 5 goodies every month. You don’t have to worry about lifelong commitments or any contracts, you can cancel anytime with a monthly subscription – no fuss whatsoever! The monthly subscription costs only £10 per month! You can edit your beauty profile on their site in order to ensure you get sent products that are suitable for your skin/hair type and personal preferences. Birchbox is so great for discovering new brands and products. I have been subscribed to Birchbox for over a year now and I look forward to receiving their boxes every month. I’ve gone on to buy lots of the things I’ve received because I have loved them so much. Every box you receive is beautifully packaged, some months are designed and inspired by artists and companies. One month the box was created and designed in partnership with Oliver Bonasand I use it to store makeup in as it’s so beautiful!

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This month, Birchbox teamed up with British fashion designer Matthew Williamson. The box is truly the epitome of luxe design and it’s so perfect for this time of year. I feel like December is a month that for some people, can be really stressful. Many seem to forget to take a minute to relax and pamper themselves and this box has definitely motivated me to do just that!

So let’s take a look at the first item…

NATURAL ROSE PIC 1.jpgvsco-cam-3-3.jpg(FULL SIZE) Pixi – Shea Butter Lip Balm in Natural Rose : £8

I actually already own a Pixi Shea Butter Lip Balm in the shade Honey Nectar which I love, so I was super excited when I saw another one in my December box! It adds the perfect amount of colour without drying my lips out completely, however for some reason I don’t feel like it’s as moisturising as my previous lip balm by Pixi. I would have liked a more nourishing product for this time of year as this is when my lips are chapping like there’s no tomorrow. I will definitely still use it, just not if my lips are in need of help. Natural Rose is a gorgeous nude-pink shade, perfect for more natural looks.  The packaging has a vintage feel to it which is adorable and it’s the perfect size to keep in your handbag.

BAIJA PARIS.jpg Baïja Paris – Caramelised Honey Body Scrub : £14.90 (via the Birchbox shop) 

I had never heard of this brand before but after looking on their website it’s clear that they sell lots of other beautiful products too. This body scrub smells INCREDIBLE, if you imagine freshly made caramel or fudge – something along those lines. It’s made up of 97% natural ingredients which I love as I feel it would be a real treat for my skin. It’s perfect for exfoliating and scrubbing away dry and dead skin to make you feel fresh and moisturised. I cannot wait to have a cosy pamper night in with this!

MODELCO PIC.jpgModelCo – Contour Stick : £13 (via the Birchbox shop)

I am not blessed with chiseled cheeks so I’ll happily fake it until I make it. I was so happy to see this contour stick in my December box. For the last couple of years I have been completely hooked on the Barry M contour cream sticks (which I will be including in my every day makeup items post – coming soon!) however, I’m so excited to try something new. The one that I currently use is quite cool toned which sometimes doesn’t work for a warm summery look. This product seems nice and warm toned which will be perfect for Summer and natural holiday makeup. I also love that the end is pointed which means contouring can be done with precision. When I was swatching the product I was surprised at how creamy it was and how well it blended! This is something I look for in contouring sticks as I’m not a fan of streaky cheeks and I like products that blend like a seamlessly. I use a dewy foundation and this would glide perfectly over it to create a healthy and glowing makeup look.

vsco-cam-15-1.jpgSand & Sky – Brilliant Skin Purifying Clay Mask – £39.90

Is it just me or are there some strong Nip+ Fab vibes from this packaging? This product particularly caught my eye as I love a good face mask on pamper nights. The product is claimed to detox, invigorate and brighten your complexion (yes please).  The main ingredient is pink Australian clay which apparently draws impurities out from the skin. The product also contains soothing aloe vera and pore tightening pomegranate.

VSCO Cam-11-2.jpg (FULL SIZE)Spectrum Collections – B04 Angled Blender Brush – £4.99

I practically squealed when I saw this brush poking out from beneath the other products. I always say you can never have too many blending brushes so this one will be going straight into my collection. I love that it’s angled so that you can be precise with your shadows. The colour of the brush also had me drooling as anything gold or rose gold always catches my eye and matches my aesthetic in my bedroom.

Overall I think this box is worth the money that I paid for it (£10) as the products are all very luxurious this month and there are two full sized products included which together have a total value of £13! Let me know if you are subscribed to Birchbox and what you thought of this box or if you are subscribed to any other beauty boxes, I would love to know!

Go ahead and use my link (here) to subscribe and you will get £5 off your first Birchbox!Â