Monday 27 February 2017

A Winter Weekend










Weekends are the time of the week where I like to have family time. I do normally work on a Saturday and get a Sunday off. But I actually had both days off on this particular weekend, which was lovely. I had a really chilled couple of days. This was actually the Saturday, so I went for a morning workout which was around 2 hours, then I got ready for a really chilled afternoon. We went to the cutest little shop which sold loads of gorgeous vegetables and yummy goodies. Also, my little fat ball of fluff didn't come (obviously) but he goes under the name of Sylvester. 

Jeans - Topshop Ripped Black Joni Jeans
Coat - Barbour Beadnell waxed jacket
Hat - Newlook Bobble hat
Top - Primark
Cardigan - Primark
Shoes - Nike Flyknit Roche Runs






 ♥
SHARE:

Monday 20 February 2017

Review: Clinique Sonic Brush

This really is long awaited, but for one good reason only. I like to try skincare products for a good few months before actually giving a honest review. Purely because you might try it for the first time, and think 'oh my goodness my skin looks incredible!' which it may possibly do, but the product can get used to your skin. Or it might just not work out, and you've reviewed a product saying it's amazing where in actual fact its because you didn't test it and now you don't like it.

The Clinique Sonic Brush has actually stood the length of time I wanted. I did briefly mention it in a recent favourites. But I wanted to go through and give you all my thoughts in one blog post, just because it is an expensive product, it is an investment and there are quite a few different points I wanted to make.




How to use the Clinique Sonic Brush:

  • Apply cleanser the brush and circulate onto wet skin. The cleanser I have actually been using is the Garnier SkinActive Gel Cleansing Wash
  • Massage in a circular motion for 15 seconds on cheeks using the white bristles
  • Massage in an up and down motion for 15 seconds on the T-Zone using the green bristles
  • Rinse the skin with water to remove the foam and rinse the brush after each use
The way I have been using this brush is for the first week I used it for 30 seconds. Then after a week, I went up to a minute of using the brush. This is twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening.




Reasons why I love it and recommend the product: 

  1. As I've mentioned the brush has different bristles. Some are white and some are green. The green bristles are more exfoliating bristles. So they should be used on the areas you want to exfoliate more (on your T-Zone). I think its great there are two different types of bristles because you have the option to exfoliate. 4 out of 7 days I just used the white bristles over all of my face. But the other 3 I do use the green bristles. I do this because I don't want to over exfoliate my skin, because my skin is quite sensitive. 
  2. This brush is super easy to use. 30 seconds or 1 minute of your morning/evening just to cleanse and clean your skin. It's not got loads of settings. Just press once for 30 seconds and press again  for another 30 seconds. 
  3. I cannot believe the battery life on this brush. I have only charged my brush once, yes, ONCE. I've had it since the start of December and we are now in February. It works just the same as when I first purchased it. 
  4. The most important reason for me, is that the product actually works. Every time I use it my skin looks and feels amazing. So smooth and soft. I used the brush on my boyfriend and even he said it loved the way his skin looked (this is a boy who literally uses zero skincare).
Downfalls on the product: 
  1. Before I purchased this product I read so many reviews, just because I didn't want to waste my pennies. A few reviews did say they thought their skin was amazing in the first month but after that they found it didn't work as well. I do slightly agree with this point, because my skin really was amazing when I first started using it. Now, it still is super smooth and soft. But my skin isn't as clear anymore, I don't know whether its because the brush has gotten used to my skin, or I've used different skincare lotions and potions or what. But I still am happy with the results, I just think that it's a point to bare in mind. Your skin isn't going to be perfect after using it for a while.
  2. The product is expensive, well its £79. I think I paid a little bit more, because I got it around christmas time. So they had different sets, and I got a free full size cleanser and some little bits thrown in. However I do think it is worth the money, there are a lot of cleansing brushes out there which are a lot more money.
  3. I really need to include this point, because you have to remember that your skin isn't going to clear up over night and be amazing. It takes time for the skin to clear. For me personally, it has helped my skin a lot, and I did feel like my skin looked amazing after the first use, and it was defiantly smoother and softer. But it's not a miracle worker, also everyone has different experiences with skincare, because everyone is different. 


Overall I am really happy with this product and I would recommend it to someone who is really struggling with their skin or just wants something which is going to thoroughly clean their skin. Well done Clinique, you've got me hooked!







SHARE:

Monday 13 February 2017

Valentines Day Beauty Essentials

Valentine's Day is tomorrow! Are you ready? Whatever you might be doing this Valentines... Going on a hot date? Having a meal with your girlie friends? Having a night in with your husband? Its always nice to make a bit of an effort on Valentines day. I love getting all dressed up and heading out for a nice meal with my boyfriend. So heres a few beauty essentials for either your clutch bag or just to help you along with getting ready!


Giorgio Armani Si 
OH MY, this smells insane! I love this scent, I discovered it in the summer last year. Since then it really has just been one of my absolute faves. Mr Armani certainly knows how to knock a few ingredients together. So the main reason why I have chosen this scent for Valentines day, is not just because it smells incredible. BUT, Si actually means 'Yes' in Italian, AND Valentines day is the day where you celebrate the love for you and your partner or the love of you and your friends. So, you say 'Si' to love, and IF your partner may propose to you... you are actually already wearing 'Si'. PLUS, just to top it off even more, theres a gold ring on the top of the bottle, which is representing a wedding ring. OOOO
Perfume Pod
I have included this because its great for your clutch bag. Its easy to transport your favourite fragrance in, it's not going to leak or crack. It's not huge, you aren't carrying a 50ml bottle around with you, just your cute perfume pod.


Wet Brush
Oh everyone needs a hair brush to get ready with. The wet brush is my favourite brush, it gets through any nots I may have, it never pulls at my hair either, its very gentle. I have never tried the Tangle Teezer, but the Wet brush appealed to me more, because its in the shape of a typical brush. 

MAC Ruby Woo 
I crack this out every year. Its just the lipstick which screams Valentines to me. Its red, its matte its fabulous. Some people hate it because it dries their lips out. For me, I find if I put some vaseline on before hand, its perfect. It will last you all night, even if you get a cheeky kiss!


Charlotte Tilbury Golden Godess Palette
Another gorgeous product. From the packaging to the pigmentation. It's just beautiful. I feel with this palette you can create something quite natural, by just putting the champagne pale shade all over the lid, with a little bit of definition of the darker shades. OR, you can do the whole hog, and use the back for the instructions and go full on smoooooky.


Soap And Glory Glow Lotion 
I am really sorry for including this, because I'm not 100% sure that they still make this, or if it was limited edition. But there may be something similar to this product. I believe Estee Lauder do, so check out their counter. But the glow lotion is basically what it says on the tin. It's a body lotion, with a glow, a shimmer. Its not sticky, it just makes your body glow. I apply it mainly to my arms and décolletage.

I hope you have a fabulous Valentines, whatever your plans.
 Share the love! 







SHARE:

Monday 6 February 2017

Lush Haul

I went for a lovely little shopping trip with my mum the other day. I say little, I don't really mean little haha. My mum does actually share my love for Lush, so we walked in the door and it was honestly like we were just let lose of a lead... I must of gone around the shop around 6 times, just to make sure I didn't miss anything. Also, I have written a Lush post before, which was March 2016, how crazzzzy!


















Cupid Bath Bomb - This is the one item I actually got from the Valentines collection. It screamed out to me, because it looks so pretty, the design is just too cute! I'm not too sure on the scent if I'm completely honest, but it looks nice so doesn't matter does it? Hm. 

Butterball Bath Bomb - Like I have already mentioned, this is my all time favourite Lush product EVER (bold claim). I actually got 2 of these, yeah I love it that much. It just makes your skin so soft. If you don't like any colour or you don't want anything too strong scented, this is just a fab one. 

Ickle Baby Bot Bath Bomb - This is one I know and love also. Its just a great bath bomb if you just want something in your bath that makes you feel relaxed because of the oils, its got lavender oil, sandalwood oil and chamomile oil in. 

Rose Jam Bubbleroon Bubble Bar - This one is a bubble bar, so you crumble it under the tap and it creates loads of gorgeous bubbles. I have never used this particular bubble bar, but I do love bubble bars in general. I have always seen this one, and just not picked it up, no idea why. But we have changed that now. I just love the sound of this one, its got lots of oils so I imagine it to be quite moisturising and again, the design is just the cutest. I'm a sucker for maroons haha. 

The Comforter Bubble Bar - This one was featured in my last haul, and its one of my absolute favourites. It smells like blackcurrent to me, and I just can't get enough of it. This one lasts me quite a few baths as well because I just crumble a little bit under the tap and its bubble galore. 

Never Mind The Ballistic Bath Bomb - I have never used this one either, so I don't really have too much to say about this one. But I just love the colours, pink and yellow just are so bright and I can't wait to use this!

Hand Dream Hand and Body Lotion - If you know me I have awful hands, they get so dry in the winter and I just wanted something that was hopefully going to help them. I thought Lush was a great place because they have all natural ingredients. So I didn't want anything to set them off, because certain hand creams make them go worse and go very red and sore. 

Popcorn Lip Scrub - This is just a classic product, a lip scrub is something that really does remind me of my childhood because I used to use this when I was a young teenager. I was tempted to actually get 'the kiss' which is the Valentines limited edition one, but I couldn't smell that one much at all (I did actually have a really bad cold - not recommended whilst being in Lush). So I went for popcorn because it smells amazing. I just rub it on my lips, lick away the excess and apply some lip balm. 

Cupcake Face Mask - This was actually my second choice in face mask because I really wanted the catastrophe cosmetic face mask but the store I was in didn't actually have any left in stock, but the lovely lady who served me gave me some samples of it. Cupcake did actually draw me in because of 1. the name and 2. it looks like chocolate and me, I'm a massive chocoholic. The lady did also say that cupcake is the closest to catastrophe cosmetic. So I do hope its as great as catastrophe cosmetic because that is amazing, its filled with blueberries and makes your skin so calm and soft.

Figs and Leaves Soap - This was really my mothers fault, because we were waiting for our samples and we were by the soaps and it just went a bit crazy haha. We smelt literally every one (with a cold, its hard work haha) but we loved this one. It smells incredible I literally cannot explain the scent, apart from its very clean. 

Honey I Washed the Kids Soap - Again, blame my mum. I really liked this one because its very soft and gentle. Its gentle enough to wash the kids (hence the name) and it smells quite sweet, which is really up my street. 

I mainly love the famous bath bombs that they do, they are fab. I've never found one I don't like. At the moment in Lush they have their Valentines collections in, however looking at my products now, I didn't actually pick up many, or just one actually. For me, I just love their original products so much. Butter bear bath bomb for example is just my favourite Lush  product, because it leaves your skin super soft!





SHARE:

Thursday 2 February 2017

Urban Decay NAKED Ultimate Basics Eyeshadow Palette






I get so excited when Urban Decay release a new beauty launch, especially with their famous NAKED eyeshadow palettes. I remember when I bought my first Urban Decay palette, the original NAKED palette, I would actually say that is my favourite Urban Decay eyeshadow palette, until now... They launched this palette in the UK around September time (I believe)?! I remember seeing all the sneek peeks around the August summer time. But anyway, I did actually receive this palette as a present for Christmas. Urban Decay did release 2 palettes before the ultimate basics, one was called naked basics and the second palette was called naked basics 2 there are 5 shades in each of these palettes, so I guess if you wanted something smaller and easy to travel with, these would be great.




In the Utlimate basics palette there are 12 new shades. All matte, although I would say 'blow' has a slight pearliness to it, I use that one to go underneath my brow bone as a highlight and in my inner corners to really make them pop! All the shades are really easy to wear, you can create so many different looks with the colours. Theres a really lovely pinky toned shade called 'instinct' which I think is something very on trend at the moment. However my most worn shades and the ones I use on a everyday basis are 'blow, nudie, commando and tempted' Basically the first 4 shades in the palette. I wouldn't expect anything less from Urban Decay, but all the shades are very buttery and easy to blend. I can see myself using this palette for a very long time. A makeup must have.





SHARE:
© Helen Marie. All rights reserved.
BLOGGER TEMPLATE BY pipdig