review: la roche posay

Many of you have probably heard of this brand due to their product Effaclar Duo. I had never heard of this brand until Ruth Crilly mentioned it in her video;

"How to Beat Breakouts (Acne Skincare Tips) | Model Recommends"

As you know acne is the bane of my existence I am always trying to rid of it! I thought i would give this

product range a go.

Firstly, I wanted a product to remove my makeup and cleanse my face. I chose to buy the

Physiological Cleansing Gel , I love the packaging and the pump makes it super easy to control how much product you are using. I use the product once in the morning and twice in the evening to make sure I remove all the makeup and dirt from my face. After using the product my face feels so clean without feeling dry or irritated. I am really impressed with how easily the product removes makeup. I wouldn't say it foams however it does seem to dissolve the makeup as the gel changes colour from clear to a sort of foundation colour. The product itself is soap-free, alcohol-free, colorant-free, paraben-free which is really great.  I got the product for around £13 however, It is now £11.50 in boots. 

Next up is the Effaclar Duo which is raved about in the beauty world. I had high hopes for this product and it definitely lived up to my expectations. Within a couple of days of using this product my skin had a complete turn around. I went from having sore, raised red acne all over my cheeks and chin, to having a flatter, less red skin with many of the spots completely gone. I am in love with this product and it really is a life changer I would even say it is my holy grail product. If you are suffering from acne I would really recommend this product, i did not have a  few spots here and there i had numerous large raised spots all over my skin and chin and it was so painful. Don't get me wrong it is still there however it has improved by miles and there is only a fraction of it now. The product uses Niacinamide and Piroctone Olmine in order to fight bacteria and get rid of the blemish/acne. In order to tackle sebum clogged pores, LHA and Linoleic Acid is used which also eliminates any dead cell build up blocking the pores. This product is also Non-comedogenic which means it will not block pores. I purchased this for around £12 however, it is in boots at the moment for £9.75.

I didn't want my face to become dry so I wanted a moisturiser that would really really moisturise my face and stop any flaking. I decided to go with the Hydraphase UV Intensive Light. This product promises 24hr hydration and also protection from UV with SPF20. The instructions state it should be put on every morning so that is exactly what I did. When using this product my face feels completely moisturised and you don't need a lot of product at all. On the skin it is so light and silky which creates a great base for your makeup. I genuinely love how healthy my skin feels after applying this. You can pick this up at boots for £16.50.

I am so so so impressed with these products and I think they work brilliantly together when trying to tackle acne prone skin. I have seen a huge difference in how well my skin looks and feels and I think I will stick to this for a long long time. The products have a lot of product which makes them great if you want a long-lasting product. The packaging is simple and classy which makes them look really beautiful and clean cut. I can't wait to try some more of the La Roche Posay collection, so far I am very impressed Give their website a read if you're interested in advice or any other products or ingredients used it is really helpful.

Lots of Love

n;spa Patchouli & Ylang-Ylang Soothing Bath Soak

Since I moved into student accommodation, I am only able to have showers. This means that every time I visit home I like to indulge myself in a nice bath with some candles and all that jazz. I spotted this little beauty while I was browsing through asda. I have tried n;spa products before so I already had an idea of the product quality in regards to skin care. I had never tried any of their body care products so I thought I'd start with the Patchouli & Ylang-Ylang Soothing Bath Soak (£3.95 - only available at asda)

First off the product is elegantly packaged which makes it feel much more spa like. I love the colour and the bottle. There are 3 different fragrances you can choose from within the bathing ritual collection; Patchouli & Ylang-Ylang, Jojoba and White Jasmine or Eucalyptus and Sea Minerals. For each fragrance you can choose step 1, step 2 and step 3 out of the varying products available for each fragrance. I decided to go with the Eucalyptus and Sea Minerals for step one which is "cleanse to draw our impurities and clarify skin. 

The product itself is clear with a strong scent which when added to water, fills up the entire room , I felt like I was in a spa, especially when candles are lit and lights are off. To add to the spa feel I created a relaxing play list of some acoustic songs that I really love. After stepping out the bath skin feels super silky and soft, you can still smell the fragrance as well which makes me feel really clean and relaxed, especially before bed. 

As you can see in the picture, the product foams really well and leaves loads and loads of bubbles. The only downfall to this product is that it runs out super fast, this is probably due to my overuse though, it's addicting!  However, with the cheap price of £3.95 I can't help but buy a new one, it is worth it.

Let me know if you have tried any other fragrances and which is your favourite. To see a review on some n;spa beauty ritual products click here. 

Lots of love

happy birthday to me!

So today it was my birthday! I can' actually believe that i have turned 19! feels like it was only yesterday I turned 18! I thought I would use today's post to reflect on the last year and how it has changed me as a person! 

I think it's safe to say I have changed so much in the past year not only do i think I have matured but I have become so comfortable in my own shoes. Last year was such a crappy year it consisted of a bad boyfriend, bad breakups and lots of exam stress. However, my life has turned around completely and the past year has been the best year of my life so far!

Firstly I think that getting rid of the negativity in our life no matter how hard it is at the time, makes everything so much better. I was in a terribly depressing relationship for a while and I did nothing about it at all! It came to a point where I thought well if I'm not going to put a stop to this how can I expect to be happy! So that's what I did, the break up was hard but it was worth it and within a few weeks I was so much happier! If you'd like to know more about this you should watch ad Relationships & Breakups | ChummyChatter" by Zoella and Sprinkle Of Glitter, 

Zoe describes exactly how I felt and how it isn't the end of the world when you go through a 

breakup! 

Secondly, a couple of months late I met the most amazing person! It was a random day in college

and by chance I happened to see a friend out of the corner of my eye, I walked over to say hello

and saw Ed sitting there and thought "WHO IS THIS BEAUTIFUL HUMAN". From that day on Ed

and I were joined at the hip constantly going to the cinema, out to eat, for hot chocolates on the 

orme. It was such a great time and I had butterfly's the whole time! (soppy I know). Anyway, it is a 

year later and Ed and I are as happy as ever, I couldn't ask for a better boyfriend he is the most

thoughtful and kind person I have ever met and I feel so lucky to be his girlfriend. 

Thirdly, I made the most risky decision I have ever made and it turned out to be a great one! I 

wanted to become a speech therapist and based all my studies on this, whether it was work

experience or extra reading, I focused on speech therapy and chose it as my degree in uni. When 

I received my results, I did not get the grades I wanted and thought it was the end of the world. I 

was totally wrong as it was a blessing in disguise, I have always had a love for psychology and 

thought why not peruse it as a career! So that's what I did, I rang up Leeds Met and  asked if 

they would accept me. Within 10 minutes I was booking accommodation and celebrating! Leeds

is such a lovely and welcoming city I absolutely love it!

All in all the past year was amazing and i have learnt so much about myself! When something bad 

happens it is important to try and see the good in order to learn a lesson from it!

This year I celebrated my birthday with some cocktails and amazing food at T.G.I Fridays 

with Amanda and Ella! If you have been to T.G.I before you will know their cocktails are 

to die for, I  absolutely love them! I had the Cajun Cream Chicken Penne to eat and it was so 
yummy, could eat it everyday! The chicken was so delicious and the portions are HUGE!
I'm hungry just by thinking about it!

Finally I thought I would share a picture of my presents off Amanda! Amanda and I only met in September but we have grown so close and I would be lost in Leeds without her, literally! I was so nervous about starting university and thought making friends would be such a hard task, however, Amanda and I just seemed to get along straight away! Due to our weirdness and over sarcastic comments we have realised that we are very alike, especially since we share a love of Nandos, cocktails and cats. When I saw the bag Amanda had kept my presents in, I knew it would be something amazing, below you can see she has got me the best selection of gifts! What more could you want in life! I feel very grateful to have such a great friend.

That's it my lovelies, I that by reading this you can turn at least one negative into a positive! trust me, When there is a down, there will be an up.

Lots of love

Thursday Thoughts

It seems like my blog has taken a back seat in my life recently. While in summer I had all the time in the world it feels like the past few months have gone by so quickly. To give you all a little update, I have recently started university. Although it has been such a great past few months, they have been full of essays, presentations and lab reports! Now that i am becoming accustomed to this work I have began to free up more time for my blog. 

I have decided to stop neglecting my blog because i do enjoy writing it a lot and i miss sharing my thoughts on day to day life or beauty products that i love! I guess you can call this a small apology for being very lazy with my posts recently!

Lots of love 

 

 

Nude Glitter Nail Tutorial!

Hey guys! I have been tryign to grow my nails for absoloutley AGES! they have finally been growin so I thought I would make a nail tutorial.

It's super simple and easy to do and you don't have to use the same colours but I wanted something plain and simple with added glitter to excite it a little.

The products I used to create this look are:

- SEVENTEEN Lasting fix nail colour (Clear)

- L'Oreal Color Riche Nails (Beige countess 104)

- L'Oreal Color Riche Nails (Sequin Explosion 842)

(Click the Image for Tutorial!)

I purchased a few of the L'Oreal Nail polishes and I will be doing a review on them really soon, I want to see how long it takes to chip first!

Let me know if you've tried them before and which colours look best!

Lots of Love

Review: VIichy Dermablend

As you all probably know, I suffer from acne prone skin. I have tried evey foundation in the world in order to mask it. Baring in mind I have been using foundation for 4+ years now, I have been through my fair share of products. 

Before I begin this post I would like to point out that the pictures I have included within this post were a huge step for me and took a lot of guts, it is so out of my comfort zone. I felt that the only way to show what this product can do is include photos of my skin completely bare with no makeup at all. 

As I was on youtube one day, I came across a product line I had never heard of before, their motto was "be skin confident. I for one have never been skin confident, I think when you suffer from acne, it can be hard to feel confident, even if you have convered well. I researched this product and read so many positive comments. Optimistic, I went and purchased two of their products. 

The two products I purchased are:

Vichy Dermablend Corrective Foundation SPF 20 30ML 15 Opal (£15.50)

Vichy Dermablend Setting Powder (£14.50)

The Dermablend collection is created by Vichy which is a well known brand. The Products are only available in boots or online as far as I am aware. 

I started off by squeezing out a small amount of the foundation onto the back of my hand, I then used my Real Techniques stippling brush to buff the product onto my skin. The coverage is immediate and i was blown away. there was an instant glow to my face with a balanced colour all over, no large red pimples or dark under eyes. For the first time in a LONG time, I felt like I had the skin I had always wanted. The product is in no way heavy or cakey which is one of the biggest plus points of the foundation. On the skin it feels light with no strong scents or drying effects. 

after applying the foundation I applied the setting powder which mattifies my whole face. I have never used a powder before as I feel it dries my skin up and clogs my pores up, however, I have not experienced this with the Dermablend powder. I apply the powder with my Real Techniques powder brush as it is huge and spreads the product lightly. 

I have created a before and after in order to show you just how great this product is. I hate the first photo as my skin looks terrible, and it is not at it's worst either! I have tried to take the photos in the same light and have in no way edited them.

From the side:

From the front:

The over all coverage of this product is brilliant and it brings a lovely healthy glow to my skin. I know the price is above the average highstreet product however I completely feel you are paying for what you get, a brilliant product.  I am in love with this line of products and am hugely thankful to the team who created such amazing cosmetics.

THANK-YOU VICHY DERMABLEND! 

Both products are a god send and I can't wait to try any other products they have.

Let me know if you have tried these products and what you thought!

Lots Of Love

REVIEW: Seventeen Quicker Slicker Nail Polish - Peacock

Well hello there my lovelies, I have been working so much recently that my nails have been an absolute state! I have been neglecting them so much. While browsing the shops I came across this little beauty.

This is the SEVENTEEN: Quicker Slicker Nail Polish in Peacock (£1.99). 

Not only is this product extremely cheap, it does does exactly what it says on the label. when applying the polish, it is very deep in colour and feels almost thicker than usual nail polish. The drying time is incredible, it literally takes a minute to be dry to the touch which is convenient for the days where you're in a rush. The shine is also brilliant, It looks as if there was a flash used in the photo, i promise you there was not, it's the sun. 

I highly rate this product and will be investing in some more colours, the price is also a great positive to the product! I'd say one coat can pass as enough however, I'd say two to be sure and get the most out of the result.

Have you tried this product? let me know which are your favourite colours so I can try them! 

Lots of love

Preparing for University! - Haul so far!

Wow I can't believe it's September, this summer has flown by. As some of you may be aware, I am starting University this month and will be moving to Leeds! Super exciting stuff! Anyway, I have been collecting some items which I will be needing during my year in accommodation. I didn't buy everything in bulk and there are still a couple of things I am yet to buy. However, I wanted to do an update on what I have collected so far! This post will consist mostly of photos, sometimes they say it better than words!

So to start off, here are some of the items I have collected for my room! I really love floral prints and the  shabby chic style. I found this beautiful duvet cover at tesco however I then bought it off amazon. I was looking for a bed throw/ blanket for sooooooo long, I was genuinely overjoyed when I found one that matched my duvet! I got the little 'home' ornament as it looks so nice and in ways nostalgic. It makes me feel like I'm bringing a bit of home with me.

When looking for kitchen items, I wanted colourful! Mainly because I want my things to be quite individual and stand out. 

Most of the items for my kitchen were less than £5. I browsed various shops and found that some items can be 10 times cheaper in other places, you just have to look!

Apart from the small items I have shown today, I have bought other larger appliances such as a printer and toaster etc. I will upload a picture of my room once I have settled in!

Let me know if you've found any great uni buys and where I can get them!

 Lots of love

The waterfall Coat!

So the days are getting colder although I can't say they have been as such "hotter" this summer in the UK. I love winter/autumn, winter is by far my favourite season! I love the feeling of being cosy and wrapping up on a cold night! I think there are so many great accessories to keep you warm and looking good during the end of the year.

Now we all know a coat is a necessity during the last few months of the year. Not only are coats a great part of your autumn/winter wardrobe, they also look great with a scarf/gloves/hat.

I love waterfall coats, they can look so classic and smart while fashionable and modern at the same time. Whether you want a work coat or a casual weekend coat, the waterfall style can be manipulated to suit both. 

There are so many different materials and styles that have been contributed to the waterfall coat. whether it's different length, material or desired season, the waterfall coat can be manipulated to become personal and suit any individual preference. I love this style as it is simple yet gorgeous. Each of the coats above range in price and style, whether you want a heavy winter coat or a jacket for nipping out, the waterfall coat provides!

What do you think of the waterfall style? Let me know if you have found the perfect waterfall coat!

Life Update!

So again I have been terrible at keeping up with my blogs. I have not blogged in what feels like forever.

After sitting my exams for the international baccalaureate, I have had a huge change in heart about what I want to do in the future and where I want to be. I had originally applied for a speech and language therapy degree in Manchester, however, this has all changed.

After receiving my results I decided to enter clearing. For those who are unsure what clearing is, it is a system on UCAS whereby those who did not get the grades they expected or literally found something else in which they wanted to study, can apply. It is almost like a second chance.

By entering clearing I was able to get a place in The Leeds Metropolitan University to study Psychology. I am so happy that I was able to do this and feel blessed to have been offered a place! Psychology is such a great subject and it is so interesting as well.

The past few weeks have been chaotic and there have been many ups and downs. I never really realised how stress full the university application process was and how quickly time flies!

Anyway, I will be more frequent with my posts once I have settled into Leeds! I move in 2 weeks today! I feel as though a post specifically related on the clearing process would be great for those who are unsure about it or are nervous!

Keep smiling my lovelies

Beauty update!

Thought I'd do a little update on some recent purchases I have made! For years I have been unhappy with the colour of my teeth, they aren't a great colour and it prevents me smiling a lot of the time. I had braces from year 10 until year 12 so that sorted out the shape of my smile. However, the colour can really get me down!

I have decided to look into some teeth whitening solutions. The first thing I decided was that i did not want anything that contained peroxide or caused sensitivity. By researching this I have found that there are products which are 100% free of peroxide therefore minimises the risk of any sensitivity. I also wanted something relatively easy to use which provided good results. 

By doing this I came across iWhite Instant (£24.99). I thought this was well priced for a teeth whitening product and the reviews I have read seem to be positive and none report sensitivity. I will be trying out this product and updating you on the results as I go, day by day. It should arrive sometime this week. Take a look at the iWhite website for more information and some good FAQ's on the product and technology involved.

Also! I have decided to stop using the high street foundations for a while as they never seem to stock my colour and I always end up wasting money. I recently posted that the Collection 2000 lasting perfection foundation (£5.99) was brilliant for pale skin. However, I have completely changed my mind. The foundation has become darker on my skin! I do not know how this has happened! Throughout the day it becomes a sort of orange colour and looks so tacky on my skin! I am so disappointed.

But have no fear! Illamasqua is here. Illamasqua are such a brilliant brand for all skin colours. They really do cater for pale skin, even offering a foundation in pure white (shade 100), great for mixing with high street foundations in order to achieve desired colour.

I have ordered the ILLAMASQUA Rich Liquid Foundation in 115 (for very light skin with neutral undertones) (£25). This foundation is pricey but I feel it is necessary due to my lack of choice on the high street. I have also read brilliant reviews on this product and so I want to see if the results are as good as described. For £25 I think you are definitely getting a lot of product too so in terms of weighing up the pros and cons, I think the pros definitely win this time. 

Well I can't wait for these products to arrive! I hope the teeth whitening fulfils the promises it makes and that the foundation saves me from blotchy orange make-up! 

I will keep you updated

Lots of love

n;spa beauty ritual

Ever since I tried my first nspa product, I fell in love. The products are Paraben free and presented beautifully. With the easy numbering system they provide it is impossible to get muddled up or confused with what product you need to use next. There are four steps to nspa's beauty ritual. 

CLEANSE!

To draw out impurities, remove make-up and clarify skin.

This is the N-SPA Melting Cleansing Gel (£6.00). This product feels so odd! You apply the gel like substance to a dry face. After massaging the product into your face you add water and it turns into this luxurious cleansing milk! I love the idea behind this product as it leaves skin feeling soft and smelling great! You only need a little product so this bottle will go a long way! Ingredients of this cleanser include Grapeseed oil which is known to reduce acne, prevent ageing and dark under-eye circles, moisturise and tighten skin. It also includes essential oil of Neroli as do all the beauty rituals range. Oil of Neroli is known to stimulate skin cell regrowth, reduces fine veins or scars and improve skin elasticity. 

Exfoliate!

To buff away dull skin cells.

       

This is the N-SPA 5 Minute Magic Mask (£6.00). Although this is described as a mask, to me it isn't your traditional face mask. With expectations of a mask which dries to then be washed off or peeled off, I was surprised at the texture and result. As you apply the mask there are tiny little balls of vitamin E which burst as you are massaging the product into your face. When you can feel the product become smooth and there are no more balls of vitamin E, you can go off and leave the mask for 5 minutes. After the 5 minutes are up, the mask has set and you can wash it off. As water touches the dry mask, it turns into a creamy face wash. I love how the product is almost two in one, a mask as well as an exfoliating face wash. This product also contains Ginseng which is known to hydrate skin, boost circulation and detoxify the blood. 

TREAT!

To condition and replenish tired skin.

Thirdly I have the N-SPA Illuminating Beauty Serum (£7). This serum promises to give your skin a natural luminous glow. You can use this product under your make-up or on top of it. I personally choose to wear it under as I feel it can ruin the look of your foundation/powder or whatever. This product contains Maca Root which is known to strengthen skin and prevent ageing, Although I love the N-SPA products, I do feel that this is one of my least favourite. It does illuminate skin however I find it isn't greatly noticeable. Non the less, I will keep using the product to see if I can see any improvement.

Moisture!

To restore and nourish thirsty skin.

Last but not least, this is the NSPA Beauty Balm (£6)/ The BB cream has SPF 15 UV protection as do most BB creams. A BB cream is great for the skin, especially during the summer time. I am all for the BB creams this season however this is not for me. I am so pale and I never tan, this BB cream seems be to dark on my skin. I am quite gutted really as it smells and feels amazing on my skin! Maybe they will bring out a lighter option in the future (I HOPE). This is in ways a money saver product as it falls into both the treat category and the moisture category. I can imagine this would be perfect for those with more olive / tanned skin.

Well that's it my lovelies, I will be investing in some more N-SPA products in the near future and will be posting my reviews on them too. 

Lots of love

New Skin Care Haul

As I was browsing through the beauty section in Asda, I came across a new range of products. The lovely pastel coloured range of products caught my eye all the way down on the bottom shelf!

This skin range is only available in Asda as it is a store brand. The range is so cheap! I managed to get all the following products for around £16! Usually the price of one product if not less. I decided to give this range a try as I have always though expensive = better quality. I think I may have been proven wrong as for so far, I am very impressed!   The best thing about these products is that they are paraben free! So many companies have started leaving out parabens and this is great! I will be posting shortly about why we should AVOID PARABENS!!!

They do not have the full range of products on the website so I will not be linking each product. However, I'm sure if you live in the UK there is an Asda close by or in the nearest town. 

          

Above you can see the SkinSystem Eye make-up remover (£1.50) and the SkinSystem Creamy face wash (£2.00). Both of these products do what they promise. I really love the face wash as it leaves your face feeling so smooth and clean. The eye make--up remover is also really effective however I don't really like the fact that it's a cream. I feel a bit nervous putting it on my eyes as it may get into my eye and sting. Maybe that's just me being silly!

 

The SkinSystem Cleansing lotion (£2.00) and the SkinSystem Toner (£2.00) are really kind to my skin. I have sensitive skin however, these products are lovely. The scent of the two are gorgeous, sort of floral. I also think the size of the two bottles are great, you get a lot of product which will last you a long time, baring in mine I use it morning and night. 

I decided to get two moisturisers as I love to moisturise my skin! On the left is the SkinSystem Q10 Night cream (£2.50) and on the right is the SkinSystem SPF15 day cream and night cream (£2.00). I love how the night and day cream are in the same tub! this is perfect for travelling or taking in a handbag! The Q10 night cream is slightly thicker than the other product. Again both products are beautifully scented and leave my skin feeling so soft and moisturised!

Lastly I decided to try out the SkinSystem Anti-ageing wrinkle serum (£2,00). I have often read that by using anti-ageing products early it can benefit your skin so I thought why not. The serum is quick drying and you only need a small amount which is a plus!

Overall I think you can't go wrong with these products. They are perfect for a starter skin care set for early teens or something like that. Also the price is absolutely amazing so the upkeep on products wouldn't be too much of a problem, the products are also quite large so would again last you a long time!

Have you tried any of the Skin System range? let me know what you think!

Lots of love