May Bank Holiday Haul - Skincare and Makeup

Apologies for the super long break since my last blog post, but work has been keeping me busy (The joys of being an NQT!).

Anyway, I decided to make the most of the bank holiday weekend and spent most of Saturday walking around London, from Holborn to Covent Garden and then onto Oxford Street. While I was enjoying the sunny Spring weather, I couldn't resist picking up a few things and even managed to cross two items off my wishlist.

 

I've taken more of an interest in skincare over the past few weeks and finally managed to buy the Pixi Glow Tonic, an exfoliating acid toner which helps remove dead skin cells without any of the scrubbing. I also came across the range of Origins Mask Pods, which were on offer in Selfridges (6 for £12, one retails for £2.50), and chose a few different ones to try out. I do like the idea of the mask pods as they allow you to try the mask without committing to a full size product, which helps when saving money.

I also purchased two makeup products, the Charlotte Tilbury Skin Perfecting Micro Powder in medium (on my wish list) and the Chubby Lipstick in shade 103 from new brand 3INA (which has a store in Covent Garden). I haven't been makeup shopping in quite a while, but I don't think my makeup collection needs to grow anymore. Hopefully I'll be sharing what I think of the products in a few review posts soon, although I'm not exactly sure when that'll be!
 

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Review: Lush Fresh Face Mask - Don't Look At Me

I think this is one of Lush's newer fresh face masks as I haven't seen it in store previously (although I'm not exactly sure how new). The Don't Look At Me fresh face mask is a gritty, bright blue mask (which is what made me pick it up) that is very similar in appearance to their well known Ocean Salt scrub.

Don't Look At Me contains ground white rice, giving it the exfoliating texture which also makes is perfect as a face scrub. The murumuru butter, neroli and grapefruit oils and rice syrup in the mask help to soften, brighten and nourish the skin. The mask itself isn't very strongly scented (in comparison to some of the other fresh face masks available), but it is definitely a lot more exfoliating due to the texture. Lush recommends that the mask is smoothed over the skin and left for 10-15 minutes before removing with water. I left the mask on for a little longer as it didn't dry completely and wasn't flaking off my face. I then used a damp muslin cloth to remove the mask, making sure not to leave any on my face. I think that this fresh face mask is better used as a face scrub a few times a week, as using it every day would over exfoliate your skin. Overall, I think this is definitely a mask I would repurchase again. At £6.75 it's the same price as all the fresh face masks and also has to be stored in the fridge.



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Review: H&M Argan Oil and Rosehip Oil Hydrating Face Mask

As a big fan of face masks, I picked up one of the H&M masks a few weeks ago. My skin was quite dry and dehydrated, so I chose the hydrating mask which contains argan oil, rosehip oil and shea and cocoa butter. At £1.99 I didn't think too much of it.

Last week, I decided to use the H&M face mask instead of my usual sheet masks. The result? Not great. Moments after I had applied the mask to my face, my eyes started watering and itching.

Considering I had applied the mask nowhere near my eyes, I was confused as to why I was in tears. I managed to leave the face mask on for a few minutes before I washed it off using a wet flannel and warm water. My skin felt smooth at first but I had to apply moisturiser soon after as my skin felt quite dry. Overall, I wouldn't repurchase this face mask again. I'm not sure what ingredients caused my eyes to water but unfortunately it's put me off trying out the rest of the masks available at H&M.


Have you tried any of the H&M face masks?



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Istanbul Holiday Haul

No holiday is complete without a little shopping. Of course I did a little bit of duty free shopping as well as buying some bits and bobs while in Istanbul. We also found Sephora at one of the malls, so I restocked on face masks and got a few goodies for friends. Here's what I picked up for myself =)

Duty Free: My first Nars blusher (Outlaw) and my favourite fragrance, Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire EDT.

Carrefour and Local shops: Colouring book full of pretty patterns, Smiley stickers, Little bowl for my desk (most likely for rings), blue woven purse and mini keychain purse.

Sephora and Sightseeing: Fibre mask discovery set, Pore clarifying mask and three bookmarks.

Handmade Turkish soaps from a local shop. (L-R Argan Oil, Tumeric and Himalyan Salt).

On the whole, I think I did pretty well and didn't overspend. The Turkish soaps are suitable for use on the face and body, so I'll be using them to cleanse my face in the mornings. Unfortunately, the summer holidays are coming to an end and now it's time to start getting prepared for work.



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Lush Oxford Street Haul

Following on from my visit to the Lush Oxford Street store, is what I bought while I was there. I am a big fan of Lush products and so I did go a little overboard with what I put in my basket. Bear in mind that a few of these products are exclusive to the Oxford Street store, and so won't be available online.

First in my haul, I picked up a new fresh face mask. I've used a number of different ones over the past few years, and this time it was recommended that I go for 'The Man in the Mushroom' (OxSt only). Funnily enough, it smells nothing like mushroom, but more like a sweet caramel. The mask itself is suitable for sensitive skin, and focuses on brightening the skin. It's a very runny mask that doesn't actually set and you just wash it off after 10-15 minutes (I use a flannel to help get it off). I also got the 'Full of Grace' Serum Bar, which is a solid serum that moisturises the skin without feeling heavy. It was recommended that I use this before I apply my fresh face mask so that I could get the benefits of the mask and serum at the same time.

As well as skincare, I picked up a few hair care products to treat my dry, bleached hair. I picked up 'Superbalm', which is a treatment designed to soothe a dry scalp. It's melts into an oil which I then use on specific areas rather than my whole head as it does take a while to wash out properly. I can definitely say that it has reduced the dry patches on my scalp, so I'll be using it as a weekly treatment for my hair. Another hair care product that I got was the 'Damaged' hot oil hair treatment (OxSt only). I've yet to use this but it's to help condition and save my bleach damaged hair.

The last few products are all bath products. I picked up my favourite bubble bar in 'Creamy Candy' and also a new one called 'Rose Jam' (which I think is the bubbleroon). The last product I got is the 'Melting Marshmallow Moment' Bath Oil (OxSt only - the tiny round, pink and gold bar in the front). I picked this up on a whim as it smelt really sweet, and even though I'm more of a shower than a bath person, I know that I'll be using it to have a nice, relaxing bath.

And that's the end of my haul! I'm looking forward to using my Lush goodies and hopefully I'll have some new favourites to buy the next time I'm in Lush.



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Sephora Valencia Haul

I didn't really get to buy many beauty products from Sephora thanks to the liquid restrictions for hand luggage, but I did manage to pick up a few items to try.

I love the Sephora Smart Liner which I picked it up in Dubai and it's my go-to eyeliner, so I had to get a back up for when my current one is finished. The liner is a true black shade and has a slight sheen once dried. The shape is really the selling point, because it's small and really comfortable to hold and use (especially as I use a hand held mirror to apply my makeup) making the application of eyeliner really easy.

I also picked up a selection of Sephora Fiber Sheet Masks from the store. I like using these masks on days when I don't have time to apply a cream or clay based mask. These are really simple and easy to use, as the mask only needs to be unfolded and laid over the face. There is a wide range available in the fiber masks, for the whole face as well as for use under the eyes. I'm looking forward to trying these out over the next few weeks.

At checkout I also got a Sephora blusher sample and miniature Clarins eye contour gel. Even though I didn't buy a lot, I now have a good idea for what I'll be putting on the shopping list for my next trip to Sephora (whenever that may be) =)


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Dubai Holiday Haul =)

If you follow me on Instagram and Twitter, you'll know that I went away to Dubai at the end of August with one of my best friends. Along with enjoying the sunshine (up to 40^oC) and food, we also did plenty of shopping! I mostly picked up gifts for others, but I did treat myself to a few bits and pieces. And here's what I picked up!

Starting off with a little Jo Malone fragrance purchase in Duty Free.

 

Taking advantage of the Sephora store that was across the road from the hotel at the newly opened Beach Mall near JBR. Face masks to try out as well as a new felt tip eyeliner.

 

And I couldn't resist a trip to Bath & Body Works. Yes, these 3-wick candles weighed a ton, but they were on offer (3 for 160AED, which roughly works out to £26. A bargain when they were 90AED if bought alone!). My favourite scent (and a repurchase from last years trip) is Mahogany Teakwood.

I also bought myself a purple beaded kaftan, which I am hoping to wear for Eid Ul Adha inshaAllah
 (more pictures to come then).

Anything in particular that you'd like to see a more in-depth post on?



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You Beauty Discovery Box - June

This month's YBD box shortlisted products considered Beauty Heroes. From the selction available, the two products I chose were the Rituals Zensation Foaming Shower Gel (50ml) and the HER 300 Trecento Revitalising Hair Treatment (75ml). I don't normally choose hair products but this 5 minute treatment stood out on the product list (and is worth £14! More than double the cost of this month's box). The extra's in this box included a new Dead Sea Mud Spa face mask and a pink expandable face cloth.

Overall this month's product selection didn't wow me, but I know I will be trying the products that I've chosen and hopefully they'll make a good impression. Still, it's well worth the £6.95 to try out products that I would probably never pick up when shopping around =]

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You Beauty Discovery Box - May

This month's YBD member's box is in celebration of the CEW(UK) 2014 Beauty Awards. The CEW (UK) Beauty Awards are basically the 'Oscars of the Beauty Industry', which means that the product shortlist for this months box was bound to be amazing. This is what I got in the May box =)

I'm not particularly sure why I chose the GlamGlow YouthMud mask again for this month, but I know that this is a product that has visible results, even though the extreme tingling is little too much for my skin. I also got the GlamGlow SuperMud mask, which I'm looking forward to trying during the half term break. It's a clearing treatment which is supposed to treat breakouts alongside reducing pore size and targeting common skin concerns. It's great because you don't have to apply it as a full mask, just apply to the area's that need a little extra attention.

Alongside my two chosen products, there was an individual packet of Lizi's Granola, and sample sachet's of Caudalie's Divine Legs and Charles Worthington Moisture Seal Leave-in Conditioner. I've tried Lizi's Granola in a previous YBD box, and I love having the smaller packet to take to work to eat with Greek yoghurt. The Caudalie Divine Legs is a product I've heard of numerous times and it's basically a tinted body moisturiser designed to give a tanned look, which is easy to apply and washes of at the end of the day.

What did you get in your YBD box this month?



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You Beauty Discovery Box - April

After an issue with delivery, I finally received my YBD April box yesterday. For this month. I chose the Steamcream Naturally Effective moisturiser and the Clayspray Glow Red Clay masque. Both products are full size, with the Clayspray masque retailing at £13.50 for 30ml, and the Steamcream at £12.95 for 75g. Considering the cost of the YBD box is only £6.95, the retail value of the products inside is at least 4x the price!

I'm looking forward to trying the Steamcream as a daily moisturiser (I'm currently on the hunt for a light one for the Summer), and the Clayspray is another addition to my face mask collection, which I'll definitely be trying out on my next pamper session. The extra's include a fruity 9bar, which I've never tried before, and a sample of the antioxidant face cream by The Organic Pharmacy.

What do you think of this box? Have you subscribed to any beauty boxes?

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The Body Shop Vitamin E Sink-In Moisture Mask [review]

If you have dry/dehydrated skin, this sink-in moisture mask by The Body Shop is one for you. The idea is that you apply a thin layer over the face and leave it for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, most of the mask would have been absorbed into the skin and all that is left is to remove whatever remains with a cotton pad. 

At first, this mask was a little odd to use, as I'm so used to using clay masks and peel off masks that it was weird not to remove it all at the end. The Body Shop Sink-In Moisture mask isn't heavily scented and smells like the rest of the products in the Vitamin E range. I've managed to get two masks out of the one sachet, as it says to apply a thin layer. After 10 minutes, most of the mask had been absorbed into the skin with only a few patches to remove. My skin felt firmer and softer, and I found that my moisturiser and makeup applied more smoothly.

I would definitely recommend trying this face mask to anyone with dry/dehydrated skin. It's available in a 6ml sachet (perfect for testing out as I did), as well as a 100ml tub. I've also got a similar mask by Avene which I'll be trying soon, so look out for that review =)

 

 

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You Beauty Discovery Box: February

My YBD February Box arrived last weekend. There was a great selection of products this month, and I decided to choose the GlamGlow Youthmud Tinglexfoliate Treatment, and the Pixi Flawless and Poreless Primer (both with very long names!). Also, included in the box were samples BeyondDark Chocolate Moments of Pleasure and a large sachet of Charles Worthington Instant Amplifying Volume Treatment (also with equally long names!) =)

The products are a decent size, with the GlamGlow being 15g (full size is 15ml for £24.99 - unless I'm wrong, the product in the box is full size, only in a tube instead of a tub?) and the Pixi Primer being 12ml (full size is 30ml for £20.50). I think this box is definitely great value for money, and lots of people seem to agree as both the products that I have chosen are now out of stock on the YBD website. I'll be blogging about my experience using GlamGlow as is it such a well known product but it is on the pricey side, so I'll let you know whether I think it is worth the money or not. The Pixi Primer has been added to my little collection of primer samples. I haven't actually bought a full size primer in ages!

Are you subscribed to any beauty boxes? What did you think of the selection in this box?



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Sasa.com Haul

I ordered a few (too many) face masks from Sasa.com at the end of last year as they were offering free shipping for orders overs $40. Of course I took advantage of that, seeing as shipping from Singapore to the UK is pretty pricey! Unfortunately I also had to pay Customs charges when my parcel arrived in the UK (£4 for tax and £8 for handling!) =(

I've tried a few East Asian face masks thanks to Sam (Sam Ram Beauty Blog), but I still spent quite a long time searching through all the different types of masks to find ones that I wanted to try. And here's what I picked up!

The purple box on the right contains 7 sheet masks. I've tried this particular mask before and wanted to try it out over a period of time before writing a review. The one I'm most interested in trying is the Etude House Bulgarian Rose mask as it's a brightening mask. Just incase you're wondering, they are all sheet masks! They also aren't all for me (I will be sharing them with my sister too) =)

Have you tried any sheet masks before? Any that you would recommend?




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You Beauty Discovery Box: January

This month's YBD box arrived last week and unfortunately, being back to work means that all blogging ends up being done over the weekend. As with all the previous boxes, I chose two products and received 2 other samples. This month I chose the Organic Pharmacy Mask (Enzyme Peel, 5ml) and the Kerasilk Ultra Rich Shampoo (50ml) and Daily Intense Mask (50ml). The two extra's in the box were Popchips (barbeque flavour) and a sample of Age Defy+ 24 Hour Brightening Serum.

This box isn't as great as previous boxes but I chose products that I know I will make use of, so it isn't a complete loss. I'm currently trying out a bunch of different face masks, so I'm definitely looking forward to using the Organic Pharmacy Enzyme Peel Mask.

Are you subbed to YBD boxes? What did you think of this months selection?



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Lush Fresh Face Mask Cosmetic Warrior [review]

I got this face mask as a freebie for returning 5 clean and empty pots back to Lush. Cosmetic Warrior is a face mask which helps to combat spots and soothe the skin. It contains garlic, tea tree oil, honey as well as free range eggs (vitamin A). There are no exfoliating beads in the mask but it does have bits of green grapes which does feel slightly odd once the mask is applied. As with all Lush Fresh Face Masks, this should be kept in the fridge and it should be used with 4-6 weeks.

 

This mask is not one of my favourites from Lush as I'm not particularly fond of the bits of grape in the mask as they feel a bit weird on my face. I removed the face mask using a muslin cloth and it did leave my face feeling refreshed (not dry or tight). I also expected it to smell quite strongly of either garlic or tea tree, but surprisingly it's got a very mild smell. As I prefer face masks that also exfoliate, I don't think I'll be repurchasing this particular one.



Have you tried this face mask before? What are your thoughts?

 

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You Beauty Discovery Box: October

Minutes after reading a blog post by Pyari Beauty, I had subscribed to the You Beauty Discovery Box. At £6.95 p/m, this beauty box is a steal. It's only in its second month, and so far so good! I got the October box delivered last week and I have to say that it is definitely something to check out, whether you've tried and liked/hated these kinds of boxes before, or if this is your first time. I love that You Beauty gives you the opportunity to choose two of the products that come in your box, which means you'll always have two items in there that won't be a surprise. Of course, the other products are a mystery but it isn't a complete gamble.

 

 

This box was based around products which are handbag heroes. The included booklet gives a little information about all the products that could have been in the box as well as a few tips and tricks to using the products. The two items that I chose for my box were the Tangle Teezer Compact Styler and the Zelens Transformer Instant Renewal Mask (5ml). Both products are worth much more than the price of the beauty box, with the Tangle Teezer retailing at £12.49, and the Zelens Instant Renewal Mask working out cheapest at £12.20 (5x5ml bottles will set you back anywhere between £61 and £95). Also included in the box was a Nakd Cocoa Orange bar (which I will happily pass on to my sister as she is a fan of these) and a YBD compact mirror. This beauty box has definitely exceeded all the expectations that I had and I am looking forward to trying out the products and waiting for next months box.

 

Will you be subscribing to the You Beauty Discovery box?

 



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Lush Freebie Fresh Face Mask

I love a good freebie and even more so when it comes from one of my favourite places to shop - Lush! A few weeks ago, I finished (another) Lush Fresh Face Mask which gave me a total of 5 empty Lush pots.

 

Only recently however, I managed to get down to the store with my empty pots (all washed and dried) in exchange for a free face mask! I chose Cosmetic Warrior as it is a gentle face mask which contains a number of ingredients (such as tea tree oil, honey and garlic) that help to fight spots and breakouts and keep skin calm (something I'll definitely need as the weather gets colder).


As with all of Lush's Fresh Face Masks, this one needs to be kept in the fridge. I'm sure applying the cold face mask is bound to wake me up on these cold and wet days!

If you're a fan of the fresh face masks, which one would you have chosen?




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July Empties

Please excuse the fact that I didn't do empties posts for May and June! Unfortunately I had a bit of a clear out and threw away all the empty products before I got round to taking pictures and blogging. There are quite a few empties this month, as I'm determined to use up a lot of my stash before buying any more products.

 

Catastrophe Cosmetic Fresh Face Mask - I love Lush's Fresh Face Masks! I finished this a few weeks ago, but it has lasted an absolute age! And because it's kept in the fridge, the mask was nice and cold to apply (especially as the UK seemed to have a mini heat wave!) You can see my review for Catastrophe Cosmetic here.

Soap & Glory Flake Away body scrub - A very grainy body scrub which I used mostly on my legs to try and get rid of ingrown hairs. The grains were large enough for the scrub to be abrasive, but not too big! I did like the smell (it was quite refreshing) but I definitely needed to apply moisturiser afterwards. At least I know that next time, I'll be looking to get an oil based scrub.

 

Philosophy Snow Angel shampoo, shower gel and bubble bath - I bought this nearly two years ago at the Christmas sales and only took it out at the beginning of the month. I used it as a shower gel (not keen on using it as shampoo). I don't think I'll be purchasing any Philosophy products any time soon, although I do have the Purity cleanser, which came in the BBB Edit box, to try out.

Avene Thermal Spring Water spray - Thanks to the very hot weather, I've been using this spray daily to set my (minimal) makeup in the mornings and then freshen my face throughout the day. I've already repurchased this in the 150ml size, and will be picking up the smaller sprays for my holiday. You can see my full review here.

Bioderma Atoderm PO Zinc Creme - I've been using this cream for my eczema since I first got it. As you can see, I went to extreme measures to get every little bit of product out! I have already repurchased this as well as another Bioderma Atoderm product. You can read my review here. 

La Sultane de Saba body lotion with Argan Oil - This came in my first (and only) Birchbox back in March. I actually quite like this moisturiser as it's very light and the absorbs into the skin quite easily. The scent sort of reminds me of baby products (Johnsons baby lotion maybe?) which I didn't mind but some people might not like it. I won't be purchasing (not yet anyway) because I have plenty of body lotions and butters to use up!

 

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Lush Fresh Face Mask Catastrophe Cosmetic [review]

It's been an absolute age since I picked up a Lush fresh face mask, but I bought one on impulse at the end of March. I thought that I could treat myself to a bit of pampering during the Easter holidays and the Lush fresh face masks are great to use every few days. I got the Catastrophe Cosmetic mask, as it is supposed to clear and calm the skin, which is great as I've been getting a few pesky little spots (probably because I haven't been eating healthy). The mask contains blueberries (which are an antioxidant), almond oil (to moisturise) and calamine (to help to reduce irritation and redness). The Lush website states that Catastrophe Cosmetic is a deep cleansing mask, and helps to keep the skin clear with regular use.

 

 

The face mask takes about 5-10 minutes to dry, depending on how thick I have applied it (it starts crumbling when it has dried). To remove the mask I use hot water and occasionally a muslin cloth as well, to exfoliate my skin at the same time.

I've actually nearly finished using up the face mask. It's lasted me a good 7 weeks and hasn't gone off yet (even though the use by date has passed). I've managed to get roughly 8-9 uses from it and there's still enough for at least 2 more (I've used it every week since purchasing, sometimes even twice in a week). The mask didn't irritate my sensitive skin and I think it's definitely worth purchasing. It lasts a while and because they're kept in the fridge, it's refreshing to apply a cold face mask to wake me up a little in the morning. The only drawback is that that the mask does leave a little powdery residue once it's been removed (the mask does contain talc though, which is probably the cause of this).

Lush fresh face masks are £5.95 and are made from fresh and all natural ingredients. I've previously reviewed the Love Lettuce Fresh Face mask which you can read here =)


Have you tried any Lush Fresh Face Masks before? What did you think of them?




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Beauty Boxes: March 2013 Birchbox

I've never subscribed to a monthly beauty box before. Mostly because I know that there might be some products in the selection which would not suit my skin type at all. I've previously ordered the Little Beauty Boxes from Latest In Beauty (as well as a few of their collection boxes), however the March Birchbox will be my first actual subscription beauty box. Birchbox (previously called JolieBox), costs £10 (plus £2.95) per month, which is pretty much the same as most subscription beauty boxes available.

 

So what actually arrived in my Birchbox? The March box contained:
Laura Gellar Beauty Inkwell Gel Liner - I'm excited to try this out as I find that gel liners work best for me when I want my liner to last from morning til night. It'll be interesting to see how this compares with my all-time favourite gel liner, the ELF studio cream liner (which doesn't budge at all!)
RMK Cleansing Balm - I've never tried a cleansing balm before so this will definitely be a new experience.
La Sultane de Saba Body Lotion With Argan Oil - I'm not too keen on body lotion samples, because I tend to stick to products that I love. I will be keeping this aside for when it gets warmer because during the winter, I prefer to use thicker products (like body butters and balms) on my skin.
Molton Brown Valbonne Fine Fragrance - I have a large collection of perfume samples, but another one won't hurt.
Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream -  I previously got a sample of this in a Latest in Beauty box some time ago. The cream is really thick and you only need the tiniest amount. I've used it before as a cuticle conditioner, as it can be massaged in and the tiny tube is perfect to carry around in my bag (when I remember to put it in). Not sure if I would purchase the full size tub though.
Sanctuary Thermal Transformation Face Mask - I am in need of a good facial, particularly with wedding season coming up. This is a two step serum and clay mask which will hopefully improve my skin appearance.
There was also a lovely little tin of Lindor Chocolate Truffles included as the lifestyle extra. Perfect for a chocoholic like myself =)

 

 

Overall, I'm quite pleased with the products that I've received as it means I'll get to try new products that would never normally pick out for myself.

Will I stay subscribed? Yes and no. For the meantime, I'm staying subscribed, but I would like to try out other subscription beauty boxes, so I'm not sure when I'll be unsubscribing from Birchbox. For now, I'll be trying out the products from this box and waiting for next months box =)


Have you subscribed to any beauty boxes? Which ones would you recommend?




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