New in Skincare

It's been sometime since I've written a skincare update, but in all honesty there has seemed little point as things are very much the same! My skin type is 'combination' which basically means it's a pain in the butt. In my experience, it is seldom you will find the perfect product for skin that's 'a little bit of this and that' so unsurprisingly I am still trying to find a concoction of products that work for me.

Hydrate Me, Baby!

Over the years I have been on a bit of a journey with my skin (from teen breakouts and flakey skin, to adult acne- the joy!) and although I still wouldn't say that I match the characteristics of a single skin type, I have definitely worked out what does and doesn't work for me.

Embracing All Things Natural

Over the past few years I have reduced the amount of makeup that I wear, feeling a lot more myself when sporting nothing but a healthy glow (courtesy of Glossier's haloscope) and a handful of my favourite products...

4 New Skincare Additions

The past month has been a whirlwind. My final month of university has just come to an end, meaning that time spent at my desk is no longer filled with regret, and I can finally write about something other than business and management...

A Mini Haul (To Save My Skin!)

Guess who's back, with yet another skincare related post? HELLO, it's me. Over the past couple months my routine has been somewhat lacking, but alas, after a healthy injection of new-ness I have got my mojo back...

A Sweet Skincare Addition

As the cold weather begins to creep in and the buzz of boozy summer nights come to an end, there's nothing that I enjoy more than dedicating an evening to a little me-time. As you all know I am a huge fan of a good ol' pamper, and a brand that has been helping me with the transition into Autumn is The Body Shop... after finding out about the launch of their first ever pre-Christmas range, I knew immediately that it had to be mine.

Current Beauty Favourites

This post has been a long time coming, trust me. I knew from the off that Sympathy For The Skin was going to be a favourite, but felt that an entire post dedicated to it may seem a little lack lustre.. so after a couple of months of trialling various bits and pieces, I have a selection of solid beauty and skincare faves (I also want to mention how fab it feels to be writing about my favourite things again- YAY!)

Lets Talk Sensitive Skin

There's nothing that I love more than discovering hidden gems when it comes to skincare.. that feeling when you try a new product and boom it's love at first use. For as long as I can remember I have been a fan of Garnier, from night cream to face wipes (not a regular occurrence, I can promise you!) in my eyes they can do no wrong, hence my excitement when they announced the release of their newest, PureActive Sensitive range. Made up of a three-step routine with a gel wash, toner and moisturiser, the process can be completed in just under five mins..

An Introduction to Zoeva

Is that a beauty post I see before me? Yes, HOORAH. Oh how I have missed writing about all things glam; it seems like forever since I picked up something new to trial, but boy am I glad I picked this cheeky little number. Introducing, the Zoeva Rose Golden Blush Palette. Have you ever seen anything so darn pretty!? I'm not usually one for blush, but this little combo contains everything you need to create the perfect sculpted, natural (yet wonderfully glowy) look in just three simple steps. And did I mention that it only costs £13? Winner winner.. 

Lush Valentines Collection

Now if you follow me on social media, you would have seen that last week I was lucky enough to attend the Lush Valentines Day event in Plymouth; an evening filled with food, new releases and lots and lots of love. This was my first Lush event, but I can tell you this.. they really pulled out all of the stops. The store smelt incredible as always, and all of the bloggers were greeted with a selection of iced beverages to choose from- as well as some delicious handmade truffles, result. 

Back to Basics with Natural World

I'm not gonna lie, despite forever lusting over hairspo (whether it's on Pinterest or in the 3 year old 'hair ideas' magazines that can be found in the hair salon!), I make very little effort when it comes to my own not-so luscious locks. I spend so much time removing the hair that's found elsewhere on my body, by the time I get to my head, I can't be arsed. I am forever looking for that 'quick fix' solution that will turn my frizz into something as magical as the hair on Blake Lively's head.. 

Skincare for Your Hands

Now I don't know about you, but I feel as though the first day of October flicked some sort of weather switch here in the UK? Granted we've had the occasional sunny spell (and that ever so unexpected heatwave!), but following that has been drizzle, grey clouds and suuuper chilly weather. To me, it feels as though we've skipped through Autumn and have hit mid-Winter.. my poor fingers and toes don't know what's hit them!

My 'Sleep in a Jar' Skincare Favourite

With winter very much fast approaching, I think you will agree that the importance of looking after our skin jumps to the top of all of our to-do lists; I can cope with lacklustre hair (ish!) and I can just about deal with fuzzy body parts, but dry skin is a big no no. Spending a lot more time in artificially heated environments, followed by being thrown into blizzard-like conditions wreaks havoc with our skin, so no matter what your skin type, I believe that everybody could do with a little more nourishment over the chillier months. Trust me, you'd be surprised what a good moisturiser can do!

Soap and Glory Beauty Picks

 A few weeks ago I took a long overdue trip to Boots, I only went in to pick up the 'essentials' and of course I came out with a heck of a lot more than that.. What can I say? A girl's gotta treat herself! I have been very fortunate of late, with several companies gifting me products to try, and it is safe to say that my beauty box has been overflowing with new bits; however, as soon as I got my hands on these beauties from Soap and Glory they shot to the top of the pile. Can you blame me? The pretty packaging wins, every time. 

An Ode to Friction Free Shaving

"I met this blade on Monday, took it for a ride on Tuesday, we were feeling smooth on Wednesday, and on Thursday, Friday& Saturday. I changed my blade on Sunday." The lovely ladies representing FF Shaving at The Bloggers Festival serenaded passers by.. It's safe to say, I was sold!

A Mini Lush Haul

Oh don't mind me, I just have a bit of a problem when it comes to Lush.. I can't seem to enter a store without buying at least one thing; whether it's an essential, or something new to add to my collection, I never leave empty handed. Last week I headed to Bristol with my sister for Bristol Fashion Week (post on the way!) and decided to pop into Lush store to pick up another pot of D'Fluff, however a basket free trip swiftly turned into bundle of goodies, and 25 minutes sticking my nose the entire Autumn range..

Multi Masking with 7th Heaven

There's no denying the fact that I am a face mask fanatic. The results that they give are second to none, with a mask for near enough any skin problem, you can't go wrong.. Tired, dehydrated, spot prone skin? Slap on a face mask and you're away! As somebody with somewhat combination skin (I know I know, back at it again with the skin types) I find the concept of multi masking a dream come true; because really, is one mask ever enough? It looks cute, it works wonders, and it gives you the perfect excuse to stock up on a variety of face masks.. 

My Summer Skincare Routine

There's nothing better than a cliché favourites post, eh? I thought that I would put together a collection of my staple skincare products that have been, and shall continue to see me through the Summer months- if they decide to stick around that is! I have always placed a lot of importance on looking after my skin, suffering from very bad acne and discolouration in my early teens (the joys of blooming ahead of my time!) meant that I had to be skin savvy from a young age; I guarantee that if you name a typical 'teen' skincare product, I've tried it! 

Since the start of the year, I've tried to make a conscious effort of creating a skincare routine and sticking to it.. so far, so good! As the weather has gotten warmer I have made some small changes to the routine itself, as well as opting for some lighter products.

Cleanse
Until a few months back this is something that I placed very little importance on, but it's a biggie! It's a well known fact that if you rid your skin of all of the impurities and grime that have built up throughout the day, you will wake up looking a hundred times better; leaving your make up on over night will clog your pores resulting in spots, as well as a ruined pillow case! I tried a few cleansers before I came across the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish, and I've never looked back. I use it morning and night to remove make up and any products that I have slapped on the night before- night creams are fab, but you don't want them sitting on your skin the following day! 

Exfoliate
Since I was very young, exfoliating has always been a key part of looking after my skin; there's something about that post-exfoliate feeling that makes me feel radiant! I never exfoliate in the morning, as it ups the risk of skin damage, so instead I like to have a mini facial a few times a week- did somebody say after work pamper party!? I've been using the No7 Beautiful Skin Exfoliator for a few years now, and I have found that the microbeads scrub just enough to remove dry skin, without leaving redness or sore patches. For just £8 a tube, it would be rude not to! 

Use a Facial Oil
Again, something that I have only been using over the past six months or so, but I have seen such a drastic difference in the appearance of my skin since doing so! I don't find that applying a facial oil is something that I need to do everyday, especially over the Summer as my skin has a tendency to look a little greasy in the hot weather, however every other night gives me the hydration boost that I need; I received the Espa Optimal Skin Pro Serum for Christmas, and have been using it religiously since.

Moisturise! 
I'm sure I don't need to remind you all of the importance of moisturising all year round, but alas, here I am! Throughout the Winter I tend to use a thicker product with an SPF included, however lately I have found myself reaching for the Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser on a daily basis, then opting for a separate means of sun protection. As well as this, I've become a big fan of eye creams both morning and night- you can see my review of the Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment here.

I also like to apply a face mask once or twice a week, giving my skin a little extra boost! I'm loving the L'Oreal Pure Clay Masks, as well as the Liz Earle Deep Cleansing Mask, if you have any alternatives, do let me know! 

When it comes to skincare, I have found that it is best to do your research; on numerous occasions I have been pressured into almost purchasing an entire skincare range, when in actual fact there's no need to get sucked into the six-step regime. I like to try out different brands to find out which products suit me best.. by looking at the line up above, I'm sure you can see that I'm not at all particular!

-M xxx

Creating a Natural Contour with Seventeen

I have spent countless hours struggling with the 'to contour, or not to contour' debate. The thought of sacrificing an extra few minutes in bed to search for my cheek bones seemed not only unappealing, but incredibly daunting too! I'm sure I'm not the only person that is terrified by the idea of a six step contour? I'm not about that faffing life, so when I stumbled across the Seventeen Define and Conquer Contour Kit I was over the moon- finally, something that even my inexperienced self can manage! The team at Seventeen Cosmetics were kind enough to send me some products for review, and to my delight this compact contour kit was one of them.

The Glamour Summer Edit: First Impressions

If you've followed me for some time, you will know that last year I picked up one of the Glamour Beauty Boxes; this was the first and only box that I have ever bought, so I thought that it was about time that I took the plunge and once again dipped my toes into the pool of beauty boxes! The market is absolutely flooded with different types of boxes filled with a number of different products; however the beauty (get it!?) of this particular one, is that you are under no obligation to subscribe. It is a one off payment of £20 (including P&P), meaning that you get over £100 worth of products packaged neatly in one parcel, each chosen especially for Summer- Glamour also create Spring and Winter boxes!