January favourites 2015

It's the end of the month (unbelievably), so the perfect time to show you what my favourite products throughout the month of January have been...

The "Wet" Brush detangling brush | £8.99 | Amazon

I got this brush for Christmas, and as I’ve already done a post about it (see here), I won’t ramble on too much. I have used it every single day throughout January and I absolutely adore it. It’s the perfect companion for anyone with hair prone to tangling (read knotting like a bird’s nest) and is especially great to use straight after conditioning your hair in the shower. I would hate to be without this brush now, so it’s definitely a January favourite!

Zoeva 102 Silk Finish brush | £11.50 | BeautyBay

This was also a Christmas present, and the first Zoeva brush I’ve tried (I also got two eye brushes from Zoeva, but haven’t used them much yet). It’s the perfect size and density for really buffing in foundation, which is the finish I prefer. I would never be tempted back to the traditional ‘flat’ foundation brushes from years ago. I think I will be trying a few more brushes from the Zoeva range because so far I am very impressed.

'Snow Fairy' shower gel | Limited edition | Lush

This is one of Lush’s limited edition Christmas shower gels, in a super sweet bubble gum fragrance. I picked it up because it was the same scent as their lip scrub which I love, and I have really enjoyed using it. It’s far from grown up and sophisticated, but you have to be childish every so often! I’ve already finished a bottle but luckily have another one as back up as the next time I’ll be able to get my hands on it is next Christmas.

Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil | £10 | The Body Shop

This has been a favourite of mine for a while, but as I only recently got a new bottle in December (ie Christmas), I’ve rediscovered my love for it. It’s simply the best cleanser I’ve ever used. It easily removes all of my makeup (including eye makeup) every night in no time at all. Yes, it does leave me looking like a crazy clown/panda, but then I simply wipe away the evidence with a warm flannel. I look forward to taking my makeup off each night and this product means I get it done quickly, while still feeling pampered.

Estée Lauder Double Wear Light (intensity 1.0) | £29.50 | Boots

I bought this at the beginning of January  and I’ve really loved it. It stays on my oily skin all day (from 7am – 9pm) with little or no need to powder half way through the day. It’s a lovely coverage that can be built up in areas I need it. It doesn’t feel heavy or cakey, yet it doesn’t slide off either. I am very impressed so far! My only problem with it though, came when I wanted to wash my brush I’d been using this with. It was a nightmare! It clogs in each brush hair and I scrubbed it and rinsed it for a good 20 mins with no luck. I suppose it’s a sign that it won’t budge from my face either!

Nuxe Rieve de Miel lip moisturising stick | £5.50 | M & S

– I have had this lip balm for a while now, but in the last month I’ve been using it religiously. When the cold weather hits, my lips always get drier and this has really been helping. It’s not greasy like some lip balms and I like the stick applicator as it’s less messy than a pot. The best thing about it though, has got to be the scent. I can’t put my finger on it, but it’s really fresh and natural smelling but also reminds me of aromatherapy scents.

Nspa Brightening Day Cream with SPF15 | £6 | Asda

I bought this quite a while ago when I ran out of moisturiser and happened to be shopping in Asda. It's lovely and rich, so I much prefer it in the winter months/ at night. It feels really luxurious when you massage it into the skin, even though it's so cheap! The smell reminds me of herbal high-end products and it's lovely to put on at the end of the day before getting into bed. I like moisturisers with a pump mechanism too, as you can get out as much as you want without having to 'faff' around with sticking your fingers in a pot.

Then there are a couple of things I've been loving that aren't beauty related...

Marc by Marc Jacobs 'Baker' watch | Watchshop 

Another Christmas present! (Can you see a theme here?) This was bought for me by my lovely boyfriend Curtis, and I’ve worn it alternately with my Olivia Burton watch. It’s really sleek and simple and I love the inclusion of both silver and rose gold – especially because I wear a mixture of gold and silver jewellery on a daily basis. I also love the white face, with the trademark ‘MARC’ initials making up the numbers on the dial. I have quite small wrists so unfortunately had to have quite a few of the links removed – I always feel as though I’m getting rid of money doing that!

BBC iPlayer

I discovered the wonder that is the download function on my BBC iPlayer app this month, and train journeys haven’t been the same since. My commute to work every day is 50 mins there and 50 mins back, so entertainment in that time doesn’t go amiss. Without access to 3G/WiFi for most of the journey, being able to catch up on some TV shows that I’ve already downloaded the night before is ideal. At the moment I am obsessed with Silent Witness and I’m going to be so upset when the series finishes. And of course, I have my guilty pleasure – Eastenders.

Super Cosy microfibre tights (black) | £2.50 | Primark

I didn't take a picture of these, because let's face it - they're not the most glam are they! With the freezing cold weather that has swept the UK recently, these have been a staple in my work outfits. I wear a lot of skirts/dresses to work, and with these I am kept warm and cosy. They are very thick, so don't look the best under pretty little materials, but for when I'm opting for warmth over style (i.e. every day because of my commute to London), these are what I'm reaching for. They do go bobbly after a couple of washes, but for this price I'm really not complaining.


There we have it, a few of the things I've been loving throughout January. What have been your favourite things this month? Can you recommend me anything you think I should try?

2014 beauty favourites

First, let me extend my apologies for the delay in this post. I'm probably the last person to be blogging about my 2014 favourites, but there we go! I must also apologise for my lack of posts over the last six months, but I actually started a new (and my first) full time job back in August, and I feel as though I have had no time whatsoever. And now, six months have gone past.. crazy!

I thought it would only be right to have my first blog post of 2015 as a look back at my favourite beauty products that I used last year. I did consider listing one item from each category, but this way I feel is more honest as I have had to whittle it down to only the best products.

Let's get into the products..

Soap and Glory Archery brow tint & precision shaping pencil in 'Love is Blonde'
First up, my eyebrow saviour – for the girl whose eyebrows grow like no one else’s. I’m not being dramatic here, they literally do grow in a different direction – ie. upwards instead of along. This felt pen/wax pencil hybrid was first discovered at the end of 2013 (I think) and I’ve been through 3 since! I originally loved the pen, and my only complaint was that it seemed to dry out/flatten the nib quite quickly, but it was worth it! I have had such a struggle over the years to find something that works with my eyebrows – both the texture and the colour! I’m naturally blonde but my eyebrows are quite dark, so it’s a matter of finding a dark blonde that isn’t too red toned – enter ‘Love is Blonde’. Later last year however, I discovered that I actually liked the wax end which is quite hard – something I like as waxy textures tend to clog my thick brows (eurgh). Luckily, I hadn’t thrown away all my old dried up pens (hoarder alert!) so I could go back and use all the wax ends.

Urban Decay NAKED 2 palette
Now onto a palette – not exactly original I know, but there is a reason for the hype – it’s gorgeous. I excitedly went into Debenhams looking to buy one of the NAKED palettes, but was torn between number 1 and 2. The pink tones of number 3 didn’t really appeal to me. The assistant in the shop said that the tones of number 2 would suit my complexion better, and as the packaging of number 1 was bound to get dirty in all of 10 minutes, I agreed and happily purchased this one. I love it. Every single night out or special occasion without fail, this has been on my eyes. I love all the shades, but the biggest dents have been made in my standout shades, which are 'Half Baked', 'Snakebite' and 'Busted'. They’re nearly all shimmer shades (bar two), but I do like that in my evening makeup. These shadows are even more gorgeous when you apply them with a damp brush, giving them a foiled appearance. I have definitely got my money’s worth for this palette and I honestly don’t see myself rushing to buy another one anytime soon.

Maybelline Fit Me concealer in 15 'Fair'
This was my concealer of choice last year. I tried quite a few, both drugstore and high end, but I kept going back to this one. It’s got great coverage, but also looks good under the eyes and never goes cakey on me. I personally felt that the colour range was a bit strange – opinions please? I originally bought number 10, but this was slightly too tanned for me. Then I found number 15 and it seemed to be lighter! Am I going mad, or is that right? Very confusing when the number system doesn’t match the norm, but I’ll forgive them as I love the product. At just £5.99 I would definitely recommend giving it a try!

Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in 03 'Hot Pepper' and 06 'Pink Pong'
These lip creams came out last year in a variety of shades, of which I have two. The description ‘velvet’ is very apt as that is exactly what they feel like on the lips, but bizarrely they also feel like a nourishing lip balm. The texture is one of the very best formulas I’ve tried and with this price, you can’t go wrong! I haven’t tried any of the nudes and I’m not really tempted, as with matte finishes like these, I’m more of a bold lover. I do have my eye on the darker red shade, but I think the two I already have have got it covered. They’re really comfortable to wear and last well on me, so they’re definitely a favourite for 2014. I wore the pink shade a lot over summer and it looks gorgeous with a simple winged liner and tanned skin! It’s very rare for me to find a formula I like, especially in velvet/matte finishes, so Bourjois have done a great job with these in my opinion.

Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate
This is the first and only product I have tried from Kiehl’s, bought impulsively in the Florida airport in duty free. The price, as expected, was rather more enticing than it is here! I am tempted to try more from them now, and once my current face cream has run out, I think I’ll be trying something from the Kiehl’s line. This bottle is going to last me for-e-ver! I use it a few times a week (more now that it’s winter time) and it looks like it’s hardly been used! I use a small drop each time, as my skin is quite oily naturally, and it covers my entire face. I can’t say that I’ve woken up and been shocked at my appearance because it’s changed/improved so dramatically over night, but I do really like the product and it’s certainly keeping my skin well-nourished and moisturised now the temperature has dropped.

MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot in 'Painterly'
I also bought this when I was in Florida, in the Mall. I had put off buying it for a while because in all honesty, it’s a rather boring product. It doesn’t show up so who’s going to notice? I will forgive it that though, as I have used it every single day I have worn make up (which is most days). My eyelids are a little bit veiny so this perfectly smooths them out and makes them appear even. It also acts as an excellent base for any eyeshadow I put on top of it, stopping the dreaded creasing that happens ALL THE TIME. The colour perfectly matches my skin tone and I only need a tiny bit each time. I’ve been using this non-stop since June and I have barely made a dent! It’s definitely worth getting, even if it is a bit boring! I store mine upside down as I’ve heard this helps to stop it drying out(?)

L'oréal True Match foundation in N1 'Ivory' and R2 C2 'Rose Vanilla'
I bought this foundation quite early on in the year, then it began to get a lot of coverage from beauty YouTubers and bloggers during the summer months. I have two shades that are suitable for both my pale winter skin and tanned summer skin, but sometimes I just mix the two. It’s a really liquid texture, making it very easy to blend but still maintaining a good level of coverage. My skin isn’t horrendous but I constantly have the odd spot or six, so I like a medium coverage foundation. I think the texture is the thing I like most about this product, and for the price, you can’t go wrong. I only ever use just less than a pump and this covers my whole face with just the right amount of coverage. It sits really naturally on my skin and I wore it for the majority of the year on and off!

Charles Worthington Volume & Bounce texturising spray
I owe this discovery entirely to Amelia Liana. There is so much hype surrounding the Oribe texturizing spray, but I refuse to spend £50 on a hairspray – no matter how good. So when Amelia raved about this one, I was straight into my local Boots and bought it on a two for £8 deal – result! I’ve been repurchasing it ever since. My hair is naturally thick, but because of that it can sometimes get a little weighed down. This adds a nice bit of grit and also a bit of hold, without making it feel gross (I’m looking at you Batiste XXL volume dry shampoo!). My hair sits just below shoulder length and I usually wear it with loose curls at the ends for that Fearne Cotton (I wish) look. This just adds that little bit of extra oomph and I love it. I don’t think I’d ever be tempted by the Oribe version! It’s particularly good on newly washed hair to stop it looking too clean and flat.

Sephora PRO Crease brush '10'
Last but not least (congratulations if you’ve made it this far), is the softest brush I own. I bought this one in America too - my first visit to a Sephora, so as you can imagine it was a lonnnnng shopping trip! I remember this being quite expensive, especially in comparison to my usual Real Techniques brushes, but my goodness it's lovely. I use it most days to really blend out whatever matte brown I've put in my crease and it's perfect for this purpose. I never really apply shadow with it, but simply to blend out it is ideal. Sometimes I find myself just sweeping this across my lids (read: entire face) because it simply is that soft. Highly recommend and well worth the price.


Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed looking back over 2014 with me. Please comment below some of your favourites and if I haven't used them before, I'd love to try them out!

I will try and make more of an effort to update this site more regularly, but my boyfriend and I are in the process of buying a house at the moment so it's all going to get quite hectic very soon!

Manicure Monday: Maybelline Super Stay in 'Hot Salsa'

So I've decided to start a post (possibly weekly) to show off my latest nail varnish choices. Then it came to me.. 'Manicure Monday'!! I'm not entirely sure if this has been done before (I'll be most disappointed if it has, but I was proud of my idea nonetheless). Here it goes...

I present to you, the Maybelline Forever Strong Super Stay Gel Nail Color 7 Days in 'Hot Salsa' | £4.49. Well, that was a mouthful! I'll start by saying that this is the first one of these formulas that I have tried, and my verdict? A-ma-zing! As soon as I started to apply this, I knew it would be good. It's so smooth and non-streaky, plus the brush is the perfect thickness. The colour is gorgeous, but more of a coral/pink than red as it often appears in photos. It looks amazing on short squared-ish nails and I can't stop staring at my fingers with it on! It's super glossy and so far, the lasting power is impressive! (No chips for ??? days) I do have my usual base coat and top coat on, but some other formulas still chip regardless! I loved it so much that I put it on my toes too (I'll spare you a photo of that), and it looks equally as gorgeous. Really compliments my ever dwindling tan, but in general is just a very flattering shade.

Just in case it hasn't come across very well in this post.. I LOVE this varnish! I actually bought another shade while they were on 3 for 2 in Boots (when is there NOT a deal like that in Boots?!) so I am very excited to try the other one out (no doubt it will appear in a post soon).

I hope you like this new feature and that maybe you'll be tempted to try this formula, because I was seriously impressed, and think you might be too! Have you already tried any from this range? Please let me know by leaving a comment!

The Body Shop Bits

These are not new products. In fact, I have had them for a good few months now.. probably even nearing on a year! To be completely honest, I forgot that I had even planned a post on them! Now that I have had a good long while to try them out however, I thought I would be able to review them even better! Let's get on with the reviews!

Indian Night Jasmine Fragrance | £7.50 | The Body Shop
I love this fragrance! I'm not going to try and describe it, all I can come up with is: it's gorgeous! TBS describe it as a 'seductive, feminine blend of floral and oriental accords', I'll leave it to them! It's so nice to wear during the day, and because it's a mist, you can give a thorough spritz all over yourself - and your clothes! It's a shame it's in a glass bottle, because I would love to carry it around in my bag with me to freshen up! They have a whole range in this scent and I have the shower gel which is equally as beautiful! I think my next purchase might be the body lotion and the EDP. I'll keep you posted..

Tea Tree Pore Minimiser | £7.50 | The Body Shop
I bought this simply because Corrie from Dizzybrunette3 recommended it for her oily skin. If I'm being honest, I can't tell if this primer actually does much for my skin. It's supposed to be used as a base under makeup to stop the oils breaking through, but in the last few months or so I feel as though my oiliness has calmed down so much! I can't be certain why, but I think it must be my skincare - or maybe just age? (Is it even possible to grow out of oily skin?!) But anyway, it is a lovely product, as with all tea tree products it feels good on the skin and I like to think it's doing something. I use it quite sparingly and not every time I apply my makeup, so this little pot has lasted me ages! I would say it's definitely worth a try if you have acne prone/ oily skin because it feels like a lovely layer under makeup, and for £7.50 it's not going to break the bank! Just apply a small amount to the T-zone and you're away!

Strawberry Shower Gel | £4 | The Body Shop
The smell of this.. words cannot describe. If you love the smell of strawberry sweets, you will love this! I always use a scrunchie (not sure what they're actually called, but that's what I call them!) and this lathers up beautifully. The smell doesn't seem to hang around for very long, but I don't expect miracles! I think if I bought the matching strawberry body butter it would probably lock in the smell! I use this on and off, but I have a little left and it is lovely. Next, I want to get the passion fruit one because I already have the body butter and OMG that is b-e-a-utiful! It always seems to be on sale too so I might just have to have a "browse" sometime soon..

So there's a short and sweet round up of some of TBS bits I've been using lately. It doesn't cover my favourite products by any stretch of the imagination (I think I love everything from that shop!!) but they're great all the same. What have you been buying from TBS recently? Do you have any holy grail products from there that I should be buying?! Comment below please!

Glossybox January 2014 'Back to Basics'

Last month's box was labelled 'Back to Basics' and to be completely honest, I was rather unimpressed. They really meant it when they said 'basics' and I was left feeling disappointed when I ripped off the lid of this month's installment. I have made the executive decision to cancel my membership after the Valentine's special box in February because I really just don't use the samples! Let's get onto a breakdown of the contents..

The Vintage Cosmetic Company Floral Slanted Tweezers
These were probably the thing I was most excited about when I opened the box. I love the floral design and the handy little pouch they come in- so twee! I have used once and, although I have thick, stubborn eyebrows, my Models Own tweezers I use at the moment are much better. I'm going to give them another go and see how I get on, but I wasn't blown away by their plucking power!

Yu-Be Moisturising Skin Cream
I've read quite a few blog posts on this cream, and they all seem very positive so I'm interested to try this out. I don't usually suffer with dry skin so I haven't opened these yet, but I'm sure once the snow hits (if it ever does) I will be popping these in my handbag for any dry skin emergencies. Rather randomly, this box included two teeny 3g samples, so if I don't like the product I'll probably give the second one to a friend!

Balance Me Super Toning Body Wash
This body wash is rather intriguing, because I haven't seen one that claims to 'tone' the skin before. I have some little bumps on my arms that I have had for years, so I'm interested to see if the 'smoothing and toning' aspects of this help to improve that in any way. It has quite a strong scent, and I think that's due to the lavender oil(?). Lavender isn't a scent I would usually go for, but I'm willing to give it a go! As with Balance Me products, this is 99% natural origin.

Vaseline Essential Moisture Lotion
This was by far the dullest and least favorite item of the bunch! Vaseline is hardly a glamorous product and I am really not a fan of their classic scent. It is a handy travel size, but with my mini body butters from Soap & Glory and The Body Shop, I really doubt I will be using this at all. I'll give it a go, but as I said, the scent puts me off! As I don't suffer with really dry skin, it doesn't seem like it will be suited to be regardless of the scent. I really wish this was a hair or makeup item instead! I think the fact that it's so cheap to buy full-size is also rather off-putting.

Anatomicals Puffy the Eye Bag Slayer Wake-Up Under Eye Patches
I'm intrigued by this one, I must admit! As with all Anatomicals products, I love the play on words and witty description on the back. Always sure to make me chuckle. I do suffer with dark shadows under my eyes, but it's not down to lack of sleep (as a student I get a lot of that), but rather just a pigmentation in my skin. At 20, I don't feel I need these for wrinkles or fine lines (just yet), but I am definitely willing to give them a go! They are surprisingly a lot less expensive to purchase full-size, at just £6 for a pack of 3 on ASOS.


So there we go, my round up of January 2014's Glossybox. As I said, there was nothing, for me, to get excited about in this box, but I'm sure I'll be able to put most of them to good use. Don't let this put you off the Glossybox in general though, because it really is a lucky dip! Did you get the same as me this month? Do you agree that it was a little 'meh' this month? Let me know below!

Glossybox August 2013 'High-flyers'

Apologies for my rather delayed post on last month's Glossybox. I realise it is now in fact September, but at least I can provide a more detailed review of some of the items! August's installment was a High-flyers edition, aiming to bring us products from different countries around the world. The aim was to provide us Glossybox girls with mini products suitable to take away on holiday. Unfortunately, my holiday is just a distant memory now, as it was way way back in July, *sob* but nevertheless, I was loving this month's box!

The box contained the following products:



Óceane Makeup Remover pen (Brazil)
This pen basically works like a cotton bud soaked in eye makeup remover, but with a more precise nib. It's a cool concept, but I'm inclined to think it's a little gimmicky. I haven't actually tried it out yet, but I definitely will do when I next do a detailed/smokey eye. It comes with 3 replacement nibs which it very handy. Although I'm sure I'll like this when I get round to using it, I don't think  I would purchase it when it becomes available in the UK, because, as I said, I could just use a cotton bud! 

Juicy Couture 'Viva La Juicy Noir' (USA)
I loooooove this scent! It's describe as being 'sultry' and a 'party' scent, but I must admit I do like a strong scent that you can smell all day/night long. I can't describe the smell myself - it's an impossible task - but they define it as 'succulent ripe berry notes and gourmand accents' with a 'juicy touch of honeysuckle and a sultry hint of sandalwood'. It all becomes so clear now, doesn't it (??!) That aside, I am seriously considering adding this to my Christmas list this year, but at around £63 for 100ml, maybe a smaller bottle will suffice. I am rather tempted by the rollerball version for £9.50 - would be perfect to pop into a clutch on a night out!

Eucerin Aquaphor Soothing Skin Balm (USA)
This is admittedly a little less glamorous then some of the other products, but regardless, I think this is a great item to include! It's a mult-purpose balm that helps to soothe even the most sensitive of skin. Again, I haven't tried it out yet as my skin hasn't been at all dry or sensitive, but I will be definitely be keeping it close by if those problems arise! My boyfriend suffers with eczema quite badly & can only use very gentle but hydrating products such as e45. I've just (as I'm writing this) popped a little of this product on a tiny problem area, so thought I could use him as my guinea pig to really put it to the test. So far, the verdict is "It feels good" so we will continue using it & see how it performs! I'll keep you updated..

Jelly Pong Pong 2-in-1 Eyeliner & Shadow (UK)
Another Jelly Pong Pong product here from Glossybox! This is a thick eye pencil that doubles up as an eyeshadow too, when smudged out. I like the concept of this, but it's a sort of green/grey shade, so I'm not sure it's going to be as big a hit as say, a brown or bronze would be. That being said, I'm determined to have a go & hopefully will post a makeup look using it. It retails at £10.50 for full size from the Jelly Pong Pong website and I must say, although I'm happy to have received it & looking forward to having a play with it, I very much doubt I would repurchase it. There are plenty of similar products for less - including the likes from Rimmel and Collection.

Here's the product as a liner and blended out on the back of my hand - looks sort of khaki coloured.

Emite Eyelash Curler (Sweden)

I would have to say I've saved my best til last here! I got particularly excited by these curlers when I found out they cost roughly £20! I am still yet to try the Shu Uemera cult curlers, but one day - when I can justify the splurge - I just might! But for now, these will do me nicely. They create a nice curl and feel firm yet springy to grip. They have also included 3 spare rubber tips (not sure what they're called?!) so they should last me a while! I had never heard of this brand before, probably because it's based in Sweden, but I'm interested to possibly look at more made by them.

So there we have it, a round up of August's High-flyers Glossybox. Let's see if I can publish this a bit earlier next month! I'm eagerly awaiting my next box - I hope it doesn't disappoint!

Garnier Moisture Match 'Shine Be Gone' Review

I was on the hunt for a new moituriser, but wasn't quite ready to make the plunge & get an 'expensive' one. I saw the adverts for these a few months back & was rather intrigued to try them out, as they claimed to have a different formula for every skin type. The range consists of: Goodbye Dry (dry/very dry skin), Protect and Glow (normal skin), Start Afresh (normal/dry skin), Wake Me Up (dull skin) & Shine Be Gone (combination/oily skin). As I have very greasy/shiny skin, particularly on my T-zone, I opted for the Shine Be Gone formula. 

I do agree that the formula is lighter than moisturisers aimed at dry skin, and although I wouldn't say it makes me any more oily, nor would I claim it helps to reduce my oily skin. The cream feels really light and fresh when I apply it to my skin, but I wish it were more mattifying! Once I've applied my makeup, it usually won't last much more than a couple of hours max before I need to powder my nose and forehead. Even with the aid of a setting powder and fixing spray does very little in my fight against the dreaded shine. But ho-hum, I hold on for the day when I find the product that stops my oily skin breaking through, but until then I will try to be strong. 

I don't want to 'diss' this product too much, but Garnier claim that this cream 'mattifies to help reduce shine and leaves your skin looking more unified'. I'm afraid this claim, for me in particular, fell short of its promises. I will continue to use it as I don't hate it, but a repurchase is not likely. I think I need to bite the bullet and invest in a better quality *cough- more expensive* moisturiser next time. All I know is, it needs to mattify this face of mine!

If you have any recommendations for a good moisturiser for oily skin, please leave a comment below & let me know - I'd be happy to try it out!

Nivea In-Shower Body Moisturiser Review

You'd be right in thinking I'm a little late on the uptake in reviewing this product, but with my exams and moving back home from uni for the summer, I think I can endorse the phrase 'better late than never!' I've used this in quite a few showers now and I can safely say I really like it! I don't suffer with dry skin, but in the summer months, particularly when I shave my legs more frequently, I do get the odd dry patch of skin. I will also hold my hands up and say I'm rather lazy with the application of traditional moisturisers, so this seemed like the perfect idea!

The instructions on the back of the bottle are listed above, but in basic terms, this acts like a hair conditioner - only for the skin! I picked this up for £2.50 in Asda (for 250ml), so it was very reasonable! I'm sure the price will change slightly as this was introductory, but I highly doubt it's ever going to break the bank!

Although I don't have particularly dry skin, I did opt for the dry skin version, simply because I thought it would be more effective on those dry areas. The smell is typical of Nivea products, with almond oil, so I would say it was pretty unoffensive. It's so quick and easy to use & the results are evident straight away. My skin felt smoother and softer even when I hopped out of the shower and dried off. This product will definitely be my go-to product for days when I simply cannot be bothered to spend an extra 5-10 minutes post-shower smothering myself in moisturiser. I do still treat myself to a body butter or something alike every once in a while though!

Have you tried the Nivea In-Shower Body Moisturiser? Do you think it does what it claims to do? Are you as lazy as I am in terms of full body moisturising? Leave me a comment and let me know your opinions!

Ta-ta for now!

Glossybox June 2013

So, for my first official 'beauty' related content post on this blog, I thought I'd kick off with a Glossybox review. For those of you that don't already know, in short, the Glossybox is a monthly subscription to beauty products. Usually, the box will contain roughly 5 sample items for you to try from a variety of brands. Full sized products are also sometimes included. The box is £10 per month (plus p&p), and the products always add up to more than you pay, so it's value for money! That being said, if you don't like the items that have been selected for you, it can seem like a waste of £10 that could have been spent on that eyeliner you know you love!

If you are however interested in subscribing to this beauty box, you can do so here! You can also cancel the subscription at any time, there is no binding contract!

Let's get on with the items included in the box this month.. At first glance, I must admit I was not overly impressed with June's installment (especially when compared with previous boxes- I'm looking at you April!!) After a browse through the leaflet that comes with the box, I realised that I had definitely got value for my money, but I couldn't help looking at the blue items with a face that shouted "REALLY?!"

First up, is the Helen É Cosmetics eye pencil with smudger. Once I'd got over the horror of the 80's electric blue colour, I started to think about how I could use this to work for me. The pencil itself is worth £8 full price and after swatching it on the back of my hand (see swatch above), I thought the consistency was lovely. As I've mentioned, I wasn't a fan of the bright blue and admittedly I would have much preferred one of the more subtle shades, such as a nude or taupe, but I'm willing to experiment and will hopefully upload a post showing my results soon.. Stay tuned..!

Next up, is yet another blue item!! I have never tried a MeMeMe Long Lasting Gloss polish before, but I've read some good reviews so I will hold my opinion on the formula until I've actually tried it. That aside, I must admit I am not at all keen on the colour of this. I've seen some people with nudes and pinks and I will admit I'm jealous! I'm much more of a neutrals/pinks/reds/pastels kinda gal and this just does not appeal to me! I'll try it out though and see if it changes my opinion! For £5 full price, if I like the formula then I will maybe branch out to other colours!

The next little delight my box contained was this Sarah Chapman Skin Tone Perfecting Booster. Priced at a whooping £57 for the full sized 30ml version, this was a rather exciting find for me! I am going to trial this in the next couple of weeks so I will report back with my opinion on it. For now though, I can only say I'm excited to see if it will make a difference!

This dinky little perfume sample is Hugo Boss' Jour Pour Femme. At first I wasn't completely overwhelmed by this tiny 2ml sample, but after some consideration, I decided it would be the perfect thing to leave in my bag or clutch on a night out! Scents are possibly the most difficult thing to attempt to describe, so I'll leave it to the professionals - read here for a description. What I will say though, is that I am very fond of the scent and although I'm not certain I would buy a full size of it, I would definitely consider it! Personally, I think it's a very grown up scent but not too intense. As I said, scents are a difficult thing to put into words...

Last but not least, is this Figs & Rouge Coco Rose Lip Balm. In the booklet that comes with the Glossybox, they recommend you use the balm for not only lips, but cuticles, elbows and knees as well. Although I like the balm as a lip balm, I'm not entirely sold on the idea of having shimmery pink elbows and knees! In the swatch above, you can see the balm is quite a thick, creamy consistency and is definitely a pink tint, so I remain skeptical as to whether I would ever use this on anything other than the lips - but if you've used it for something else then please feel free to let me know! This retails at around £5 roughly.


Excuse that ridiculously long ramble! I hope to improve on my cutting down skills over the next few posts! If you did manage to read all the way through though, please leave a comment below with your own opinions or maybe even tips and tricks for the items listed above. Do you subscribe to Glossybox? Were you happy with this month's installment?

Ta-ta for now!