(A Belated) January Beauty Favourites

The Body Shop Italian Summer Fig Eau de Toilette Review

I received The Body Shop's Italian Summer Fig Eau de Toilette (£18.00) for Christmas and it really did exceed all of my expectations. I've seen this fragrance on a number of beauty blogs, and being a lover of fig fragrances (Roger & Gallet got me hooked) I thought that I'd give it a go. It's always a bit risky purchasing fragrances online without smelling them first, but this gamble really paid off.

Summer Makeup Primers for All Skin Types

Day Date Makeup

Last Friday I went on my first date of the year - cue excitement but also a fair amount of nervous energy. I'm not going to say too much about how it went but I can tell you that we went for a coffee in a really lovely coffee-shop not too far from where I live and that we went during the afternoon. 

I don't know about you but I never really know how to dress for more casual dates, and certainly ones that occur during the daytime! In the end I opted for a relatively casual outfit (a plain, round-necked dress with a cardigan and boots) and the really paired-back, simple makeup look featured above (those are photos of my actual face-of-the-day before and after). 

I wanted to even out my skin and cover the redness in my cheeks and across my nose, so I applied my Revlon Colorstay Foundation in the shade Sand Beige using my Real Techniques Makeup Sponge. I think it did a good job of giving me natural looking coverage, as well as adding a bit of warmth to my complexion. For concealing under my eyes, I opted for Nars' Creamy Radiant Concealer in Vanilla with a bit of L'Oreal's Lumi Magique Concealer in Medium on top to add some brightness to the inner corners of my eyes.

I did my eyebrows using my Brow Definer in Blonde/Auburn from The Body Shop. It isn't the best by any means but it isn't too warm toned so it gives quite a natural finish (which I like). I did a very simple eyeshadow look using my new Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette but because of my hooded eyelids you can't really see the colours I used in my photo. I applied the shade Strange all over my lid and then Nooner through my crease, on top of Urban Decay's Eyeshadow Primer Potion which is incredible. I finished off by applying two layers of Maybelline's the Falsies Volum' Express Mascara (a mascara I've repurchased) which gave quite a fluttery finish.

To add some colour to my cheeks I opted for Mac's Cremeblend Blush in Brit Wit, this is another new product in my collection and I simply adore the colour and the formula - I'm going to do a full review at some point. I then also added some of RMS Beauty's Living Luminizer to the high points of my face. It's been a daily staple for me every since I got it a couple of months ago, I'd highly recommend it for anyone looking for a pretty and natural-looking, lit-from-within glow. And then, to finish everything off, I applied some of Revlon's Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Honey to my lips. It gives long lasting colour and the shade seemed natural enough whilst still helping my lips look fuller.

This was a slightly different - and bit more personal - sort of post from me today but I hope you found it interesting. I'd love to know if you do your makeup differently when you go on dates - and what sort of makeup you might choose for a "day date"!

The Body Shop Instablur Primer and Tea Tree Flawless BB Cream Review

I've had these two products from The Body Shop in my collection since the beginning of the summer (May…) and because of my blogging hiatus I just haven't gotten around to talking about them! I've been using The Body Shop's InstaBlur Primer as my general day-to-day primer when I want to extend the wear time of my make-up. I think that it's a real stand-out in The Body Shop's makeup range (and trust me, I've tried a bit of everything) and I would definitely repurchase it over Benefit's PoreFessional. It works in the same way as PoreFessional only it is clear rather than a nude shade. It works very well on my combination skin, it doesn't make my skin oily or dry (I feel like it evens out my skin) and it really helps me achieve a flawless looking base. Part of this is due to the fact that it smoothes over my pores and really helps improve my ability to conceal blemishes.

 The Body Shop's Tea Tree Flawless BB Cream is another good product, it's thick, creamy and very easy to blend,  especially when you apply it with a make-up brush (I like to use Real Techniques' Expert Face Brush). I think it's probably one of my favourite BB Creams to wear, my only concern is that it doesn't do oily skin too many favours and I need to apply powder when I wear it. I would also recommend that you test out the colour in store before purchasing. I have shade 01 which is the lightest shade and it is really quite light, much lighter than the lightest shade in The Body Shop's other BB Cream (which I found too dark for me). That being said, the lightest shade of the Tea Tree Flawless BB Cream is actually a bit too light for me and ideally I would purchase shade 02 so I could mix the two together to get my perfect colour. 

All in all, I'm really impressed with both of these and I'd definitely recommend them - especially the primer as I think it could be used by everyone whereas the BB Cream has a more limited appeal as it only comes in 3 shades and, as a result, won't suit everyone. 

Have you tried either of these? What products from The Body Shop would you recommend?

Easy Breezy Beauty

A couple of days ago I threw on some make-up in record speed and thought "hey, this doesn't look half bad for a record speed make-up look". I'm a big fan of easy to apply and easy to wear makeup that doesn't need lots of touching up throughout the day. I've shared all the products I used and a little bit of information on how I applied them. 

I began by quickly priming my face with The Body Shop's Instablur Primer, it does a really good job of giving me a smooth and even base. I then followed up with a very light application of The Body Shop's Tea Tree BB Cream in shade 01, covering any left over redness with Lavera's Natural Concealer in Fair. To add some colour back into my face I applied a small amount of NYC's Blushable Cream Stick in Soho Pink. For a budget blush it's actually really nice and I've gotten a good amount of use out of it. It only comes in two shades and this one is a slightly shimmery mid-pink that's really easy to wear and does a great job of enlivening my complexion. To add some definition to my eyes I reached for Wild About Beauty's Eyeshadow in Eva which I used as an eyeliner, smudging it into my lash line using one of my Real Techniques liner brushes. I find the shade really easy to wear and the formula is great, it lasts all day without budging. I then reached for my new tube of Maybelline the Falsies Volum' Express Mascara which I find gives me really big, fluttery lashes but offers much more in the way of volume than my MaxFactor Masterpiece Mascara. Then to finish off my makeup I applied a quick slick of Living Nature's Lipstick in Summer Rain*. It's definitely become a favourite of mine as the shade and formula are really easy to wear.

Are there any products I mentioned in today's post that you've tried before? And do let me know in the comments if you'd like to see individual reviews of any of the products I've mentioned in today's post.

March Beauty Favourites

March Beauty Empties

The Beauty Repurchasables

Since I began blogging I've definitely become more fickle when it comes to repurchasing products. New beauty products are released so often that I often feel pressured to give up on 'old faithfuls' so I can keep up with the constant barrage of newly emerging lines. What this does mean though is that when I do go out of my way to repurchase a product I know it must be pretty darn good, good enough to avoid a 'the grass is greener' mindset.  Today's post features nine different beauty products that I've repurchased and I'll briefly walk you through why they've maintained a place in my routine.

Moroccanoil Treatment

This hair oil has been raved about by many people (including myself) and I find that it really does make a big difference to the look and feel of my hair. I don't use it every time I wash my hair - simply because it would be too expensive a habit for me to maintain - but I do use it at least once or twice a week. I find I'm always left with softer, smoother and more healthy looking hair. I would definitely recommend it, especially these small 25ml bottles which make for affordable gifts (whether that be from  someone else or as a little treat to yourself).

Lush Bubblegum Lip Scrub

I bought my first tub of Lush's Bubblegum Lip Scrub early last year and I used it all the time. Sadly, my first pot has now expired and I've cracked open a second one which I picked up in their Christmas sale. I find that it's a fabulous product to use for keeping my lips smooth and soft which I feel like I especially need to do as I'm a big fan of lipsticks (which always look better on freshly exfoliated lips).

Lush Honey Trap Lip Balm

I think I probably raved about this enough last year but if you want to know all the virtues of this lip balm (and why it's worth it's pretty heft price tag) you should read the post I wrote about it here. It has convinced a friend or two of mine to pick one of these up and I couldn't help but repurchase it when mine ran out.

Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask

I have combination skin but that doesn't mean that it doesn't sometimes need an injection of moisture, especially my cheeks which can get very dry and red. Origins Drink Up Intensive Mask is a wonderful product, you apply it like you would a moisturiser and leave it on your face overnight. I find that I always wake up with smoother skin and a more radiant complexion and I've never had any problems with it breaking me out. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone, especially those who struggle with dry patches or have overall dry or dehydrated skin.

Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask

Another Origins' face mask but this one is fantastic at declogging congested skin. If you have blackheads then this face mask should be on your radar. I find that it really helps clear out my skin as well as helping me manage the oilier areas of my face as the day after I use it I find my skin gets a lot less oily. I love this mask and my 100ml tube lasted me about six months of weekly (sometimes as much as twice a week) use. 

Lush's Porridge Soap

Lush's Porridge Soap is one of my favourite Lush products. I absolutely adore the scent of it and I find that it imparts its fragrance into the air when it isn't in use, leaving my whole bathroom smelling rather delectable. It contains oat pinheads which offer exfoliation but the oat soap itself is very mild and gentle so it doesn't aggravate the skin. I like to use it to wash and exfoliate my hands before I moisturise them but it also is great when used in the shower as it lathers up really well.

Good Things Total Wipe Out Cleansing Wipes

I'm not usually a big fan on cleansing wipes (they don't really cleanse the skin all that well) but when it comes to speeding up the removal of make-up I absolutely love these face wipes from Good Things. They're very moist which means they aren't scratchy and don't irritate the skin and they smell glorious - they smell quite strongly of berries but the fragrance isn't at all irritating to my skin.

The Body Shop Tea Tree Clearing Lotion

I couldn't go without mentioning a couple of products from The Body Shop. I love this Tea Tree Skin Clearing Lotion, especially the small 15ml bottle, which is fantastic when used as a spot treatment. It is really effective without being too harsh or drying skin out too much. And the small tube is very portable so you can keep it in your hand bag to apply it whenever you feel like a spot might be emerging.

The Body Shop Aloe Soothing Night Cream

The last product I'm going to mention today is The Body Shop's Aloe Soothing Night Cream. I find it strikes the perfect balance between being intensely hydrating without being too heavy. It never breaks me out and it really does calm and soothe my drier and more sensitive areas of skin. I'd highly recommend the whole of The Body Shop's Aloe line but I especially love this Night Cream and the Serum. 

That concludes today's post! It's been a bit long but I hope it's given you an idea of some of the products that I really, really love. I like knowing the products that people repurchase over and over as it gives me a better idea of what is a passing fancy and what people's established staples are. I'd love to know what are some of your 'forever repurchased' beauty products!

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Rifling Through The Body Shop: A Winter Wishlist

All the photos in this post have been taken from http://www.thebodyshop.co.uk

Keeping true to my post spending ban vision, I'm not buying products mid-month but I am still window shopping. And my oh my, I have stumbled across some things I want this month! I love The Body Shop's products, I've reviewed a lot of their products over the last year, but there are some new and some old favourites that I've been eyeing up lately. Recently I've spent quite some time loitering in train stations (my curse is that I'm perpetually early, everywhere) so I've been browsing The Body Shop (they seem to always have outlets in stations) for products to try out in the upcoming months. Today's post is the culmination of my search, I found eight products that I really want to pick up and I thought I'd share them with you today.

The Aloe Soothing Day Cream and Soothing Night Cream

I've used both of these face creams before and they are honestly a wonder combination. They're really hydrating without being too heavy and they don't aggravate my sensitive skin. It's more 'need' than 'want' really, I need these in my life again!

The Body Shop Japanese Cherry Blossom Eau de Toilette and The Body Shop Madagascan Vanilla Flower Eau de Toilette 

No word of a lie, I spent about 10 minutes in a Body Shop store trying to decide between these two scents - and I just couldn't do it. The Japanese Cherry Blossom scent is light and fresh but has a lot of depth to it (more than the Atlas Rose scent which I've been wearing all year). It's really quite a tantalizing scent that leaves you wanting to keep on spritzing. The Madagascan Vanilla Flower scent is completely different, it's warm, sweet and much heavier. It isn't a traditional, straightforward vanilla - it has a bit of spice and a touch of woodiness to it. It's really very nice, and that's coming from someone who usually dislikes vanilla scented perfumes, and I think it is absolutely perfect for this time of year.

The Body Shop Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter

I had a bit of a play around with this cleansing butter when I was in a Body Shop store and as much as I usually dislike oil cleansers, this cleansing butter seems really perfect. It has a lot of the benefits of an oil based cleanser without many of the downsides. It isn't messy, you can't spill it and because you can melt it on your fingers it can be applied very sparingly. I don't know how it will perform but I really want to give this a try!

The Body Shop Satsuma Beautifying Oil

I've tried the Moringa Beautifying Oil before and I really enjoyed using it but didn't really seriously consider repurchasing it until I stumbled across the Satsuma scent. Oh my, it is glorious. It is like summertime in a bottle. If you like body oils then this is something I'd recommend.

The Body Shop Cocoa Butter Creamy Body Wash and The Body Shop Cocoa Butter Cream Body Scrub

The scent of the Body Shop's Cocoa Butter line screams winter to me. It's a sweet scent and it isn't as heavy as the scent of Palmers' range. Two products which caught my eye in particular were the Creamy Body Wash and the Cream Body Scrub. I thought both looked as if they would serve double functions - they'd do what they're supposed to but they'd also be nourishing and soothing, and wouldn't dry out tired winter skin.

That concludes my winter wishlist from The Body Shop. Have I mentioned anything that you like the sound of? Or are there any other products that I haven't mentioned that you think I should try?

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Lazy Skincare: The In-Shower Cleansing and Exfoliating Duo

In my Beauty Things I Don't Like (which I probably should) post I mentioned how I find doing a full skincare routine in the morning a bit too much to bother with. I'm usually tired and more often than not I'm grumpy. My usual solution to this problem is to hop into the shower and indulge in some of my favourite products and de-stress. (Props to those who recognized my much loved L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil in the above photo and thought "ahhh yess I wondered when that would show up again".) An easy way for me to ensure that I actually got around to cleansing in the morning was to add some of my skincare products into my morning shower routine. The two products that made the cut were The Body Shop's Seaweed Deep Cleansing Facial Wash and The Body Shop's Aloe Gentle Exfoliator.

 The Body Shop's Seaweed Deep Cleansing Wash is a gel cleanser that foams up when applied to wet skin. It provides a relatively thorough cleanse without drying out my skin too much. It is advertised as for combination and oily skin types and I think that on this occasion this product is definitely only really suitable for those types of skin as I think that if you have normal or dry skin this would be too drying to use daily. As someone with combination skin, I find that if I use this cleanser in the morning it helps balance my skin throughout the day and my t-zone gets less oily. I don't think this particular cleansing wash is the best one I've ever tried but it is effective and it might, perhaps, be loved more by those with oilier skin types. I personally won't be repurchasing it but only because I'm on the fence about it and I'd rather repurchase products from The Body Shop Tea Tree range.

The Body Shop's Aloe Gentle Exfoliator is the most gentle exfoliator I've ever tried. It is a cream based exfoliator with incredibly tiny exfoliating beads making it great for dry and mildly sensitive skin types. I have sensitive skin and this is the kindest manual exfoliator that I've ever tried. It still slightly irritates my skin but all manual exfoliators do, however, I do like this quite a lot. It's such a gentle exfoliator than you could use it quite regularly without it being skin overkill but it's still effective enough to make a difference to your skin. It straddles a difficult balance and I think that it succeeds! Another Body Shop success story and although I have somewhat fallen out of love with manual exfoliators in general I'd definitely consider repurchasing The Body Shop's Aloe Gentle Exfoliator in the future. If you don't have super-sensitive skin and want something gentle to try then I'd say give it go.

It's also worth noting that the packaging of these two products is sturdy enough to survive humidity, wetness and being dropped (numerous times) - so I've found them great to use in the shower. I personally don't like packaging that gets tatty-looking quickly.

So there you have it, two products that make great lazy skincare options! Do you use any of your skincare products in the shower to save time/effort?

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My New "Thing": Glossy Lips

After 'discovering' lipstick last November I've been wearing lipstick all the time whilst simultaneously harbouring this, relatively unfounded, dislike of lip glosses. Yes, some lip glosses are sticky feeling and sometimes hair sticks to them - and let's face it, that feels really gross - but glossy lips do look pretty fricking lovely. There's something so sensuously glamourous  about a seriously shiny lip (and I'm not talking about that barely clad, fish-pouting sort of glamourous). I tend to associate glossy lips with youth, and with a sort of carefree, life-loving attitude - towards which I'm always striving. In short, to me they're not just a beauty item, they're a lifestyle choice.

And, you know what, I opted into it. It began with a blog sale purchase of a Mac Cremesheen Glass, one of the most pleasing lip gloss formulas I've ever had the pleasures of coming across. I bought a limited edition shade (Colour Saturation) that admittedly is a little but more on the Autumn/Winter side of the colour chart but I still think it looks great. Spurred on by this early success I went back to some old favourites, the Body Shop Lip Glosses have a wonderful formula and they're lovely and shiny. Now, you can see I was getting more and more into the whole thing, I moved over into Revlon's offerings (most of which I picked up at Fragrance Direct for 99p!). I absolutely love Kiss Me Coral which was sent to me by Kayleigh from Beauty Wish, and Pink Pop is another wonderful summer friendly colour - both of these can be found in Boots and Superdrug. I also have been seen sporting the Model Co. lip gloss that I got free with Glamour recently - surprisingly, for a freebie, it has a really great formula!

I've become accustomed to the upkeep required when wearing lip gloss. I've always got a mirror handy and I kind of like whipping out the adorable little tubes of sheeny goodness to top-up. I also love how light all of these options feel on the lips. In this heat wave that the UK has been having I've enjoyed a very paired down make-up routine - literally just BB cream, mascara and lipgloss, and I've never felt so good. There's a confidence that one can find by trying something different, and to be honest, I think this little foray of mine is just the beginning. I'm on a spending ban at the moment so I can't invest in anything new but I do have a Mac Dazzleglass hidden away somewhere that I previously deemed way too sticky and I'm going to have to give a second chance. Here's to second chances, and to trying something new!

What are your thoughts about lip glosses?

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The Body Shop Jasmine and White Frangipani Scented Candle

The Body Shop Jasmine and White Frangipani Scented Candle £10

I know it's summer and I know candles aren't exactly summer "appropriate" (yes I did mime the quotation marks with my hands), but I like my rooms scented! Now, I know for a fact that this candle from the Body Shop isn't going to be to everyone's tastes. I had this before I moved out of my flat in Leeds and my two flatmates did not like the scent of this one bit. Me, however, I love it! It's a little bit heavy for this summer weather but whenever its even a little bit chilly, or raining, I go back to lighting this up. It's a very comforting fragrance and the candle gives off a noticeable scent even when unlit. My only complaint is that wax is left around the edge of the glass jar as the candle burns down meaning that product goes to waste. This, I presume, is result of the candle having only a single wick and it is a great shame as I don't like the idea of spending £10 on a candle for half of it to go unburnt! I'd definitely consider repurchasing this, or trying some of the other candles, based on their scent but the wasted product aspect really irks me. Sadly, I don't think these candles are worth £10 but if you can nab one in one of the Body Shop's many offers then at a lower price they'd be worth a try.

Are you still burning candles, or am I a crazy lady?

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Review: The Body Shop Moringa Beautifying Oil

After rediscovering my love for body lotions last month this month I promptly used up my two go-to lotions and now I've headed back to my moisturisation roots and body oils are on the agenda. When it comes to moisturising body oils are my usual port of call - they are the cure-all when it comes to dry or lacklustre skin and I also find that they often to wonders when it comes to toning up skin (which is exactly what it is order when it comes to baring a little bit more flesh in the warmer months).

I've never tried The Body Shop Beautifying Oils before and I was surprised by the extent of scents available. With some very summery smells on the menu (think Mango, Grapefruit and Lemon) to some more year-round options (Cocoa and Olive) I went down the floral route and picked up the Moringa Beautifying Oil. It honestly smells like the definition of "floral" and I find that it is never overpowering but it does last pretty well on my skin and I get whiffs of the scent into the afternoon. Although it is advertised for 'body, face and skin' I immediately ruled out using it on my face due to the fragrance (I just knew my skin wouldn't like it) and when I tried it on my hair it caused a pretty greasy situation... But, on the skin it is pretty darn lovely. It absorbs relatively quickly (not instantly but in under five minutes) and the results were long lasting meaning that I didn't need to apply it every morning. 

It's a good product but if you buy this at its full RRP you'll be paying out £9 which to my mind is a little bit steep. I snagged this bad boy at 50% off and to my mind this is the price I would be happy to pay because it is definitely a good product (and the scent is pretty dreamy) but at £9 for 100ml I'd rather invest in something better. I do have my eye on the Satsuma scent - the Satsuma range from the Body Shop has me drooling - but Moringa is a safe bet if you're not usually into heavily scented products. You can find it in the Body Shop stores or online here.

Do you like using body oils?

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Review: The Body Shop Aloe Protective Serum and Vitamin E Moisture Serum

Serums have been a relatively recent introduction into my skincare regime (although this post is quite a bit overdue!) but since I started using them I've noticed that my skin is smoother, more hydrated and generally feels and looks better. Like many people venturing into a new skincare are, I didn't really know where to start. I've read about some of hyped products (*ahem* Hydraluron, I'm looking at you) and although I have fallen for the hype and indulged in some rather expensive serum I tried out two far more affordable serums before doing so. This is where The Body Shop's Aloe Protective Serum and Vitamin E Moisture Serum come into the spotlight. Each come in at an affordable £11 (made much more affordable during The Body Shop's many sales and offers, I picked mine up for £5.50 each) and last for ages. Of the two I definitely favoured the Aloe Protective Serum and as a result I'm closer to finishing it, than the Vitamin E Moisture Serum, but even so it has lasted six weeks of use in both the morning and evening and I probably have two - three weeks of product left. And, if I lay all my cards down on the table, I've probably been a little bit generous in my use of these- but hey ho, I was new to the world of serums! 

On to the nitty gritty stuff. Both of these serums were suitable for use on my sensitive skin and neither aggravated my oily t-zone. The texture of the Aloe Protective Serum is different from theVitamin E Moisture Serum; both have a gel texture but the Aloe Protective Serum is slightly thicker and slightly creamier whilst the Vitamin E Moisture Serum is closer to being a liquid. Both absorb very quickly into the skin, however, I feel as though the Aloe Protective Serum gives more of an instant result- to the touch, it leaves skin smoother. However, in terms of noticing improvement over long term use (I used the Aloe Protective Serum for six weeks and the Vitamin E Moisture Serum for three weeks), both serums worked well at improving the hydration levels of my skin and I think played a part in improving my oily skin whilst I was using them. I would definitely recommend either of these as I think they're both very good products, especially for the price. However, if I were to recommend one over the other it would have to be the Aloe Protective serum. The feel of the product as well the the ingredients (it has fewer ingredients and, unlike the Vitamin E Moisture Serum, doesn't contain any parabens, fragrance or  added preservatives) makes it seem as though you're using a really luxurious product. 

Although I am currently trialing Hydraluron I do intend to revert to using the Aloe Protective Serum in the future as it is really good quality and, in my opinion, great value for money. If you're looking for a purse friendly serum that not only works but works very well then these two products are definitely worth your attention. You can find them for £11 in The Body Shop stores or online here and here.

Do you use a serum? 

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Review: The Body Shop Tea Tree Cool & Creamy Face Wash (for blemished skin)

When looking for a cleanser to banish blemishes it can be difficult to find something that ticks all the right skincare boxes. I wanted something: that wouldn't aggravate my often red cheeks, gentle, non-drying, able to get rid of blemishes and decongesting (able to get rid of under-the-skin spots). This isn't the easiest of lists and my usual cleanser, the forever repurchased Weleda Almond Soothing Cleansing Lotion (which I promise I will eventually get around to reviewing) is fantastic for reducing redness and gently cleansing but I needed something with a little bit more zest.

With this in mind, spurred on by it being a relatively new release, The Body Shop's Tea Tree Cool and Creamy Face Wash entered my life. This cleanser is a cream cleanser that tingles as it is massaged into the skin, this I would put down to the 'cooling' aspect induced by its inclusion of menthol. I like to use this in the shower which emphasises the cooling effect, however, it isn't overwhelmingly cooling making this aspect of the product a little bit of a gimmick, albeit a refreshing one. On the driest parts of my face (my cheeks) I do sense that it is just a tad drying but on the normal/oily parts of my face it is perfect, cleansing without drying at all. This suggests that it might not be suitable for very dry skin but normal, combination and oily skin types this is the one for you. It has a low salicylic acid content, always a good sign in a cleansing product, but like the rest of The Body Shop's tea tree range it's main cleansing ingredient is tea tree oil. Overall, its cleansing properties are fantastic and I think it does a really good job of thoroughly cleansing my skin without affecting my skin in any other way - it isn't left  very tight, dry or red. When I use this I do see improvement in my blemishes and I do think it slightly improves the appearance of my pores (over time). I'm unsure as to whether it is good at decongesting my skin, it seems as though it makes a difference but it doesn't magic those under-the-skin bumps away. 

The Body Shop's Tea Tree Cool and Creamy Face Wash has really impressed me. It's going to work for a lot of skin types and I think considering its £5 price tag it's pretty amazing stuff, much better than anything else I've used in a comparable price bracket. You can find it in The Body Shop stores or online here and I'd definitely recommend giving it a go next time you feel your skin is acting up.

Other Cleansers I've used and reviewed:

Lush's Buche De Noel - (link here)

Liz Earle's Cleanse and Polish - (link here)

Laidbare DIY Two in One Cleanser and Toner - (link here)

The Body Shop Seaweed Deep Cleansing Facial Wash - (link here)

Have you tried this? What do you use when your skin is having an 'off' day?

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The Body Shop Satsuma Puree Body Lotion and L'Occitane Ultra Rich Shea Body Lotion

My normal routine doesn't involve body lotions. To me body lotions scream 'summer', they scream healthy and hydrated skin. Most of the year my skin is in good condition, don't get me wrong, but the levels of effort required to keep it soft and hydrated go over and above the mere application of a body lotion. Body butters sound reassuringly rich, and anything with the added description of 'nourishing' gets my full attention. However, the downside of these heavy, rich products is often that they take longer to absorb and I have to sit / walk about semi-clothed for ages which (let us not lie to ourselves) is always really annoying. 

However, with the incorporation of more regular body exfoliation and a plethora of useful, multi-purpose shower products (namely this and this) coupled with the better weather that we've been having, I've been led into new territories. The 'body lotion' is now a phenomenon to be found in my bathroom and there are two in particular that I want to talk about today. Let us begin with the purse friendly option, The Body Shop Satsuma Puree Body Lotion comes in at £8 for 250ml and has a very handy pump. I've definitely mentioned this product from the Body Shop before, although undoubtedly in the form of a passing complaint about it not being moisturising enough. However, now is its time to shine. With all the right conditions in place this body lotion is the star of my routine, it is so easy to use (I can't tell you how much I love that pump) and it absorbs almost instantly. No longer do I have to loiter waiting for a product to dry! Instead I can scamper on over to my clothes, get dressed and then spend the precious time I've saved on doing my make-up much more carefully. The scent is  also wonderful as it is really fresh without being overly sweet making it perfect for a morning pick-me-up. All things considered, this is a winner and I'll undoubtedly be repurchasing it over the course of the summer. 

Product number two is a fascinating mid-way point between a body butter and a body lotion. L'Occitane's Ultra Rich Shea Body Lotion is very much thicker and more intensely hydrating that The Body Shop's Satsuma Puree Body Lotion. However, like its counterpart it's absorption time is incredibly quick, so quick in fact that it never fails to surprise me. Using it today I watched as it was fully absorbed into my skin within a minute or two leaving me with blissfully soft limbs with no risk of greasing up my clothes if I were to rush into them. Honestly, it's a bit of a revelation. I didn't think I would find something this, dare I say it, nourishing that would be good to use on a rushed morning. The only downside to this is the price tag which comes in at a whopping £20 for 250ml. It's definitely more of an indulgence than something to be readily repurchased, however, I do think that it is wonderful and I do plan on picking up another. If you have dry skin and want to transform it into soft, smooth skin to show off throughout summer then this is something that might well be worth investing in. However, if you have more normal skin (skin that isn't visibly dry, flaky or cracked) then I would opt for The Body Shop's Body Lotions as they will hydrate your skin just fine with the added bonus of being somewhat more refreshing than L'Occtiane's Ultra Rich Shea Body Lotion.

I hope this was helpful for anyone on the look out for a summer moisturiser! Do let me know what you like to use during the summer? I'm on the hunt for other lotions to try now.

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REVIEW: The Body Shop's Camomile Gentle Eye Make-Up Remover

The fullsize 250ml bottle costs £8 and is available here

I received The Body Shop's Camomile Gentle Eye Make-Up  Remover as a free gift with a make-up purchase quite a while ago now. It took me ages to get around to using it but when I did I found that I really liked it. I have quite sensitive skin and although the skin around my eyes doesn't feel especially sensitive I like to use gentle products on that area as I think it's better for my skin in the long term.

The Body Shop's Chamomile Gentle Eye Make-Up Remover is clear liquid which works best when you apply it onto a cotton pad and then gently sweep it across your lids. It works brilliants at removing eyeshadow, eye liner and non-waterproof mascara. I found that one cotton pad was usually enough to remove all of my day to day eye make up. I did, however, try using this all over my face and found that it was very effective at removing all my make-up- that includes, foundation, concealer, blush, highlighter etc. It didn't have a problem getting these sorts of products off my skin. 

I would certainly agree that it lives up to it's name as it definitely felt gentle to use and I didn't find that it irritated my eyes or skin in any way. I felt comfortable using it everyday and would highly recommend it to those of you who don't wear waterproof mascara. It didn't remove my waterproof mascara from MaxFactor (it is a bit of a devil to get off) but I expected that as other gentle make-up removers have also struggled with that particular mascara.

The fullsize product is 250ml which I think would last you at least a couple of months making it's RRP of £8 (or less if you take advantage of one of The Body Shop's regular offers) very good value for money. I'm almost certainly going to repurchase this in a month or so but I am currently trialing the Body Shop's Camomile Waterproof Eye Make-Up Remover so look out for a review of that next month.

Have you tried The Body Shop's Camomile Eye Make-Up Remover before? What do you use to take off your make-up?

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FOTD: No Brush Needed!

So the other day, after finally finding time to wash my make-up brushes, I realised that I had to go out and that  I wanted to apply some make-up. I've become incredibly reliant on my make-up brushes for applying my make-up, it's been a ridiculously long time since I applied make-up completely brush free! So I challenged myself to coming up with a simple, day-time look that didn't need any brushes.

The products I ended up picking to use were the following:

Etat Pur Radiant Complexion Care*

Collection Concealer

The Body Shop Brow Definer in Blonde & Auburn

MaxFactor Clump Defy Mascara

MaxFactor's 24hr Colour Tattoo in On and On Bronze

Maybelline Dream Touch Blush in Apricot

Revlon Kissable Balm Stain in Honey

Etat Pur's Radiant Complexion Care feels like a very thin tinted moisturiser, and on me it's a little bit too pink. However, with a good concealer to help with areas that need a little extra coverage, you can really blend it out with your fingers so that it evens your complexion while still leaving your skin looking really natural. The concealer I use is Collection's Lasting Perfection Concealer in 'light'- I really need the shade 'fair' but it is never in stock whenever I go looking for it! This is really easy to blend with your fingers which makes it really handy for on-the-go.  The Body Shop's Brow Definer is my go-to eyebrow product for natural looking eyebrows and I use it pretty much every day. MaxFactor's Clump Defy Mascara has been my mascara of choice for a couple of months now (it's almost time to bin this tube... sob). The colour is intensely black and the wand makes it really easy to build up volume in your lashes so it's perfect for both daytime and evening make-up looks. On my eyes, I also used a touch of Maybelline's 24hr Color Tattoo in On and On Bronze for just a little bit more definition. I prefer applying this without a brush anyway so this was one of the first products I thought about using. For a little bit of colour on my cheeks I dabbed on some of Maybelline's Dream Touch Blush in Apricot. I dab it on and then blend it out so that it isn't too stark, and the great thing about this blush is that it's pretty subtle but it is buildable so it's pretty versatile. Lastly, I applied one layer of Revlon's Kissable Lip Balm Stain in Honey to my lips. It's a couple of shades darker than my natural  lip colour which makes it a lovely subtle colour that's just makes my lips stand out a little bit more. 

The finished look....

You can see that the coverage of Etat Pur's Radiant Complexion Care is pretty light but it's perfect for days when you don't want to wear too much make-up- I'd just prefer it if it was a smidgen more yellow!

I hope you liked this FOTD, it proved to me that I don't NEED my make-up brushes but it also showed me how much I rely on them everyday. I think that if you do use your brushes lots and lots then buying good quality brushes is really important. 

Are you reliant on your make-up brushes? Do you think you could come  up with a FOTD without them?

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REVIEW: The Body Shop Vitamin E Eye Cream

I don't know whether it's my impending graduation or the fact that my 21st birthday is looming in the ever nearing future, but lately I've been getting more and more concerned with taking better care of my skin. During the last few month's I've started using an eye cream every night (I would have used this in the mornings too if it had SPF). Initially it was in the hopes of reducing my dark circles (which sadly the Body Shop's Vitamin E Eye Cream hasn't really helped with) but eventually it became more than that. I don't know about all of you but I for one really love my skin. I know it isn't perfect but I really do love it, flaws and all. I want to feel this way forever, I always want to be happy in the skin I'm in. But ageing... it really does strike a certain degree of fear in me. Television, magazines, billboards, adverts at bus stops, everywhere is imagery of perfect faces, young or old. I know it isn't possible to attain, let alone maintain, that sort of 'photo-shopped' perfection but it does set the bar quite high. With this in my mind, I've definitely been making much more of a concerted effort to stick to a strict, and thorough, skincare regime.

Anyway! The Body Shop's Vitamin E Eye Cream has been a part of my routine since January, this small tube has lasted really, really well. It's a lovely and gentle moisturizer but it's still incredibly hydrating. I've found that it's definitely improved the feel of the skin around my eyes, which has become softer and smoother. I don't, however, have much in the way of fine lines or wrinkles so can't really comment on it's effectiveness at improving them. I'm just hoping that this is a good preventative as I do feel as though it's keeping the skin around my eyes really soft and supple. Although I've enjoyed using this, and I do think that it's incredibly good value for money, I won't be repurchasing this straight away. I really do need a product that improves my dark circles, which have gotten worse and worse in the last few months. I love this eye cream but ideally I'm looking for something that will at least help my dark circles a little bit. I would still recommend the Vitamin E Eye Cream if you want something that will really hydrate and nourish your skin, and if I ever find that the skin around my eyes is in need of intense hydration then I'd definitely go back to using this.

For now at least I can say that I'm really happy that I tried this eye cream and it was a great product to start with, but I'm definitely going to be swapping this out of my routine in the near future for something that helps will more of my skin's needs.  But if you have dry or tight skin, or want something that will intensely smooth your skin, then this little beauty is a great value product that (at £10, available here) I'd recommend giving this a try.

What eye cream do you use? Do you know anything that might help my dark circles?

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