Boots Haul!

I've been hovering around the Boots website for the past couple of weeks waiting for 3 for 2 to come back around which sure enough it did, so I've snapped up a few new products and some staple favourites!

Boots Botanics Skin Relief Ultra Calm Serum £5.99
I repurchased this after getting on so well with it. It soothes and calms my skin when it flares up with under skin spots and I really noticed the difference without it!


Boots Botanics Ultra Calm Micellar Water £2.19
I'm running low on my current micellar water and spotted this online and thought I'd try something new! I'm a bit disappointed in the packaging as its all scuffed, it also doesn't have a slow pouring dispenser so I'm scared its going to spill!


Barry M Chisel Cheeks Contour Kit £6.49
I'm probably very late to the contour party! I feel this is an affordable product to have a go with contouring! It contains 3 powders; highlight, bronzer and contour shades that are really soft and buttery in texture. I look forward to trying this out.


Maybelline Master Shape Brow Pencil £2.99
I bought this thinking it was product I hadn't tried before. But unfortunately it doesn't match the photos on the Boots website and turns out I've used it before and didn't like it! To make it worse I ordered the wrong shade! I do like the spoolie it comes with but I find the pencil too waxy and it requires sharpening on every use - which can get tiresome!


Max Factor Crème Puff Blush - Alluring Rose £8.99
I've heard wonderful things about this blush! My trouble was picking a shade as they're all so beautiful! It's a super pigmented, shimmery blush that I know i'm going to love! I'm aready planning my next shade purchase!!

Timeless Truth - Charcoal Detox Brightening Mask Review

I've really got into facemasks recently so I was really excited to receive the Charcoal Detox Brightening Mask by Timeless Truth!

I picked out the Charcoal Detox mask as my skin has been feeling quite congested with those pesky under skin spots brewing. It contains bamboo charcoal extract which is highly absorbent so all the dirt and nasty's are removed from your pores, leaving your skin feeling deeply cleansed. It also claims to brighten, smooth and hydrate the skin.

I followed the simple instructions on the packet to apply the mask. I applied it at room temperature but you can also pop them in the fridge for a cooling mask - great for active red spots, or pop it in some warm water for a relaxing warm face mask. It is shaped in a way that allows all the contours of your face and jawline to be covered, which I found great as my jaw is where I get most congested at the moment. I rubbed the mask lightly to fully adhere it to my skin so the active ingredients could get to work.

As a fusion mask, it is impregnated with dehydrated product and packed in serum - you can see this in the checkerboard pattern on the mask. The combination of the powder and serum results in maximum efficiency and absorption to the skin.

I let the mask get to work for the suggested 20 minutes. I found it a really pleasant experience I almost forgot I was wearing it! It felt really cooling and refreshing on my skin and on removal it looked brighter. As the instructions encourage, I massaged the excess serum into my skin, which also felt super soft and smooth. I've kept the packet in my bathroom so I can apply the remaining serum over the next few days.

I really like the concept of sheet masks and I will be keen to try some more from the Timeless Truth sheet mask range. They have a lot to offer for a variety of skin types - I think my mum would thoroughly enjoy Q-10 Caviar Nourishing Mask - how decadent!

All Timeless Truth face masks are available to buy at www.thebeautymask.co.uk with great discounts if you buy in multiple packs!





I was kindly sent this product to review by Beauty Masks Ltd

PS Love Nail Care - Review!

I've heard some wonderful things about the new Primark beauty range so on my last visit I picked up some nail products. There was no great thought into my choices (the other half doesn't enjoy Primark as much as me!) so I grabbed and ran for the till!

Here are the PS Love top coat and cuticle oil both just a £1 each!!!

 

Let's start with the PS Love Top Coat. Admittedly not a step I take when doing my nails as I cant wear polish at work, i never have my nails painted for long. But for £1 I thought id have a go! I'm not at all disappointed!! The brush is a good size and coats the nail quickly. It is fast drying - brilliant! And let's not forget that high gloss finish!! A wonderful product.. I'm a top coat convert!

 

 

The second product I reached for was the PS Love Cuticle oil, again only £1. My hands and cuticles do get dry due to my line of work and of course the cold weather. It contains Avocado oils which really nourish and moisturise the cuticle. I noticed an improvement after the first application! I gave my nails a good slather the first night I used it and in the morning, the normal flaky skin seemed reduced as did the redness around sore areas!

 

I'm really enjoying these products! My nails are looking a lot nicer - just in time for spring manicures - bring on the pastel polishes!



This little insight into the PS Love line is really encouraging! I'm really looking forward to exploring some more of the products on offer. Well for the prices it'd be rude not to.....

Have you tried any Primark beauty products? What would you recommend?

Katie x

Real Techniques Core Collection

I recently expanded on my Real Techniques stash with the Core Collection. I was browsing the internet and my basket was soon adding up until I noticed everything I was really after was in this set - it just made sense to buy it!

 

 

As the name suggests, the Core Collection is a good base group of brushes for your kit. It offers the Buffing brush, Detailer brush, Pointed Foundation brush and the Contour brush. It also comes with a handy case that can open up and stand your brushes for use.

The Buffing Brush
The clincher in my purchase! I've been seeking the perfect base brush as my expert face brush just wasn't quite cutting it for me. This applies foundation like a dream, it's so soft my foundation just sinks in beautifully!

The Contour Brush
Now I'm a contour virgin up until now! But I'm keen to have a go with this brush! Again its soft on the skin and picks up product really well. The domed top allows precision of application to create that polished look. Contouring is bang on trend at the moment so I'm excited to try it out.

 

The Pointed Foundation Brush

This brush is shaped into a gentle point that will apply foundation into the difficult areas of the face, like around the eyes and nose. I think I will probably use this for working in my under eye concealer.

 

The Detailer Brush

I'm quite excited to use this brush as I love a smokey eye look! It's quite a stiff brush so is great for working in the crease and lining the eye. It really picks up product so you can pack colour onto the lids.

 

I like Real Techniques as they are 100% cruelty free. The bristles are synthetic so they clean up really well too. They are light weight also, so easy to work with and travel with.

 

This set is a great kit if your starting out in make up or just want to boost your collection!

 

Real Techniques are available in most UK drugstores! I got mine at Boots £21.99

 

Do you love Real Techniques? Whats your favourite beauty tool?

Lush Twilight

 

 

It's a Lush classic but I don't think I've ever actually purchased it for myself before! I've been taking more baths recently to relax my sore legs after work and i thought I deserved a treat so I popped into my local branch of Lush for a trusty bath bomb! I prefer the spa/floral scents by Lush - I feel totally pampered that way!

 

Twilight promises soothing, calming Lavender and heady Ylang Ylang which encourage restfulness and relaxation, whilst Tonka and Benzoin call to mind a milky caramel warmth. As Twilight bubbles away it turns your water beautiful shades of lilac and purple with a shimmer of glitters.  I thoroughly enjoyed sinking into this bath as it stimulated the senses and relaxed me entirely. I felt it did more for me than some other bombs and melts that are all showy!

 

Its the perfect de-stress product, and lovely way to start a pamper yourself session! I won't hesitate to pick this bath bomb up again! Its also one of the more inexpensive bath bombs - bonus! .

 

 

 

 

Twilight is £3.35, available in Lush stores or online at Lush Cosmetics - go on, treat yourself! 



Garnier Ultimate Blends Silky Smoother Duo

I'm very fickle when it comes to hair care- rarely loyal to any brand or product but recently I've repurchased this duo for the wonders it did to my hair. Its the Garnier Ultimate Blends Silky Smoother shampoo and conditioner which were released to the market last year. So last year I was preparing my hair for my mums wedding, I was growing it out and lightening it so I could have it styled for the big day as her bridesmaid. I was having a terrible time with knotty lengths and brittle ends and I needed a nourishing product that didn't weigh my hair down. I bought this pair on a whim as a new release that claimed to do everything I needed.

 'Creamy, blissfully fragranced Shampoo blended with Madagascan Vanilla milk and Brazilian Papaya extracts, leaves hair clean, manageable and feeling revitalised'  

It worked wonders for me - I could pass my tangle tamer straight through my hair and it was silky smooth despite being regularly colour treated. And come the big day, my hair was healthy and shiny and ready to be put up just as I'd planned.

 Now, almost a year on, I spotted them on offer - full size bottles for £1.94 each and had to have another go! Now bare in mind I have only had one hair cut since the wedding last July, and that was in October but I think my hair is looking pretty silky and smooth if you ask me! This is after one use of the product (I lather, rinse, repeat then leave the conditioner on for a minute or two) and simply blow dried with my paddle brush! I'm impressed Garnier!

Have you tried any of the Ultimate Blends range? What's your favourite?

My Skin Saviours

I have seriously struggled with my skin over the winter period. I usually struggle with makeup sitting nicely due to the constant changes between central heating and the cold outside but this winter period has seen serious cystic acne type spots - not seen on me since my teens! My chin and around my mouth and even along my jaw has been congested and sore with under skin spots  - I was at a loss at what to try and solve it! I jumped straight for salicylic/hyaluronic products but I feel they did nothing for me except dry out my skin as I saw no improvements at all.

My conclusion was to just go back to basic simple skincare and just nourish my skin - it was sore, scarred and uneven. I turned to my favourite range in Boots and a no frills moisturiser and after 2 weeks my skin is reaping the benefits!

Boots Botanics Ultra Calm Skin Relief Serum 30ml £8.99

This product lives up to its name entirely. I quietly gets to work on soothing the skin but in a no frills way - it has no particular scent or stand out feature, it just promises to reduce skin sensitivity within two weeks. The product is scientifically proven to work, containing calming marshmallow and redness reducing liquorice and linden flower. I wasn't expecting miracles as it is a fairly  budget product but it has truly stunned me! I have no active blemishes, no dry patches and I think my scarring is reduced - I wish I took before and after photos just to show how well its worked! It also comes in a super handy tube with a pump so you get measured uses. I like to use 2 pumps currently to generously cover my face and neck.

Boots Simply Sensitive Hydrating Moisturiser 125ml £2.79

I've always bypassed this range of skincare as it seemed too basic and maybe not very effective - it reminded me of my early teens just getting into basic skincare of the cucumber scrub & moisturiser! But I continued on my theme of sensitive skin to calm my troublesome areas - and for £2.79 it wasn't breaking the bank and it would be handy to have about 'just incase'. But again I am so happy I chose this moisturiser! I apply it after the serum and my skin drinks it up both morning and night. It contains soothing aloe vera which has really benefitted my skin, hydrating it to a lovely soft and smooth texture.

All in all, my makeup is sitting a whole lot nicer, and lasting longer. My face isn't sore from all the brewing spots and blemishes. And I haven't spent a fortune on beauty products!

I urge you to try these products if you've been suffering with similar problems!

You can find these products in your local Boots or online.

x

A Little Collection Love!

I know we're all guilty of perusing the make-up stands when we should be doing our grocery shop at Tesco! I crept off to our massive 'beauty hall' at my local Tesco before the boyfriend noticed! I did have a bit of purpose for it i will say! I've been after another Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer as my local Boots' stores have all had empty shelves or damaged products *sad face*.. So as you can imagine my delight at a 3 for 2 offer on Collection products!

So here's my top picks from the Collection brand! Of course every girls staple product is the Lasting Perfection Concealer - it does everything it says on the tin! Its ideal over blemishes as well as under the eyes for dark circles. I struggle with dry skin over my blemishes but this doesn't draw any attention to it at all which i love.

I've hear all kinds of good news about this palette! It claims to be a dupe for the Naked palettes - i chose the Nude Uncovered - Naked Bronze Palette as i'm a complete sucker for bronzed looks; i have blue eyes and bronze shimmery shades enhance them so nicely. The packaging is sleek cardboard with a magnetic closure - but i think this is perfect for the price of £3.99!!! If there's nothing i can't stand its cheap plastic packaging that shatters or falls off! I'm really excited to give this palette a go and thoroughly review it for you!

Finally, Collection Cream Puff lip cream in Cotton Candy. I'm new to this product but again i've heard stellar reviews of this product! Its super pigmented and a delicious texture on first application. it also smells lovely! I'll keep you posted on how i get on with this one! Oh.. it was a steal at £2.99 (i might have to go back and pick up the other shades!!)

January Beauty Haul!

I've had one of those months where everything seems to have run out all at once! So took a trip to Boots and Lush, ordered from Avon and treated myself in Victoria's Secret!

First of all - Boots!

 



I needed a new foundation - something with good coverage that would last the day. I also get dry patches and suffer with scarring from spots. This Bourjois 123 Perfect foundation claims to give 'flawless complexion, even to perfection', so fingers crossed!!
Bourjois had a special offer on where if you spent £12, you're entitled to a free lip product. With this I thought i'd try the Healthy Balance powder after the good reviews in the blogosphere of late! This branch of Boots had particularly sparse shelves so I got the shade 53 'Beige Clair' but I have a feeling it may sit a bit too dark on my complexion!
Again, the sparse shelves lead me to pick this Bourjois Colour Boost chubby stick. I really wanted to try the Rouge Edition Velvets but they had all been opened :(  But as a lover of chubby sticks and glossy stains I picked up the shade Red Island. It claims to be waterproof & last 10 hours so it could be the perfect holiday staple this summer.. if I get away this year!
I had no trouble finding my makeup essential - Maybelline The Rocket Volum' Express in Black. I love this mascara!
At the tills, I spotted this months Elle magazine with the new release from Benefit - their Roller Lash mascara. I'm excited to try this out as a lover of Benefit!

On to Lush...

I've been desperate to get my hands on Unicorn Horn! Who doesn't want to bathe in Unicorn magic?! It smells divine - packed with Lavender, Neroli and Ylang Ylang, all relaxing and uplifting scents. At £3.25 it's one of the more affordable Lush bath products.. I cannot wait to use it!
I also picked up my first Lush Fresh Facemask. My skin has been crying out for some kind of saviour and I hope to God this is it! I've had terribly congested skin across my chin, jaw and between my eyes, something I've not suffered with since I was a teenager. I was recommended this by my good friend! Its the Catastrophe Cosmetic mask, packed with Blueberry, Calomine, Camomile and Rose, all known skin soothers. I've got it on as we speak.. It does feel really cooling and soothing so here's hoping it works!

A treat to Me, Love Me x

 

I had my first taste of Victoria's Secret products last Christmas and it was love and first sniff. I didn't realise you could get them in the UK, well outside of London, but there's now a VS store in Birmingham's Bull Ring Centre - Ideal! Previously I had the Secret Charm scent but I think my new fave is Mango Temptation - I got the fragrance spray & shower gel in this scent. The sales assistant wooed me with the new Love Addict fragrance so that jumped in my basket! I also picked out the Endless Love fragrance and shower gel. The shower gels are gorgeous by the way! They lather up a treat and fill your bathroom with heady scents! I bought these in the 5 for £30 offer - a delicious treat to me!

Finally to Avon! (or the order I forgot I made!)

I'm a lover of orange toned lipstick and fell in love with the Ultracolour lipstick in Daffodil Petal, and on arrival it has not disappointed! Its a glossy finish and a lovely shade on my skin tone - I can't wait to get using it! With this lippie came a gift with purchase; a nail polish, lip-gloss and make up bag, all seem pleasant enough! Finally we come to an eyeliner! Forever on a quest for the perfect easy winged liner, I thought id try the Mega Effects liquid liner. So far so good, on swatching it seems highly pigmented and smooth to apply!


PHEW.. I was definitely feeling spendy wasn't I?

Do you want to try any of these products? Can you recommend me a skin saviour??

Best of Box Sets - Technic Glitter Polishes

Attention all glitter polish lovers! This is a brand you need in your life!
My mother-in-law treated myself & my sister-in-law to this gorgeous set for Christmas as she knows we're both magpies for glitter!

I was super excited to get these on my nails - and the formula did not disappoint. I hadn't tried Technic products before but I'll be keen to try more now. They apply really well, distributing the perfect amount of glitters in one coat, and they are of course super buildable!

The set offers a lot of variety, there is definitely something for everyone. From fine single colour glitters to chunky matt glitters. There is even the perfect blue, white and opalescent glitter I wore for a Frozen Manicure!

You can find Technic polishes on Amazon

Best of Box Sets - Benefit Sweet Tintations

I spotted this is in the Boots Gift Guide before Christmas and it was straight on my gift list! I'm a big fan of all things Benefit; from box blush to perfume! We are all familiar with the Benefit cheek & lip stains and now they have paired some gorgeous balms to wear with them. This set came with minis of the stains but as far as I know the balms are full size.

I thought my favourite combination would be the BeneBalm & BeneTint combo and i'd only occasionally use the LolliBalm & LolliTint but since giving both a try - i'm hard struck to choose a favourite!

I prefer to use the tints as a lip stain as I've yet to perfect applying them to cheeks. They apply really easily with the brush applicator and don't bleed at all. I like to apply the balm on top for a gorgeous glossy finish. I find they stay really well just with a few top ups of balm - more so because the balms are SO moisturising!

The gift set itself is no longer available online - but I cannot recommend these products enough. I will be straight back to my local Benefit counter to repurchase the full size products when I run out!