Whether your in a relationship or not, Valentine’s was a good excuse for makeup lovers to get creative with their looks and that’s exactly what I have done. I grabbed my Full Spectrum Palette that I am still madly in love with and created a makeup look that would be good for any kind of date you have prepared.
Starting with the base, I went for my go-to duo which is of course the GOSH X-Ceptional Wear Foundation and the Makeup Revolution Focus & Fix Concealer. I used the Beautiful Movements Bronzer in Summer Warmth and the Beautiful Movements Blush in Velvet Dawn as I know both of these products are long wearing and just give a slight shimmer to the cheeks. I didn’t want to go to heavy on my base makeup as the eyes and the lipstick is what I really wanted to concentrate on to make the look really pop.
For my eyes I used: Gossip and Delirious in my outer crease, Seize on my lid, Paranoia in my inner corner and blended it out a little with Bump. I think the shades went really well together. One thing I do love about the Full Spectrum Palette is that all the shades work really well together and blend beautifully. The eye look isn’t too heavy but still looks beautiful. I finished my eyes of with the Soap & Glory Supercat Eyeliner and Barry M’s That’s How I Roll Mascara.
Finally, to finish the look off, I applied a bit of Lippy Girl’s Goddess Lipstick. If you have read my blog for a while, you will more than likely know that I am so nervous when it comes to wearing dark lipstick shades but I have fell head over heels in love with this one. It’s so beautiful and powerful on the lips although if you were wanting to re-create this look for a day date, you could always apply GOSH’s Velvet Touch Matte Lipstick in Smoothie which is a lovely pink shade.
Did you do anything special to celebrate Valentine’s this year? Perhaps you are planning a girls’ night out later this week? Let me know what your go-to products are for Valentine’s.
♥
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Self care is something that I believe is super important. There are a number of ways you can go about looking after yourself and really it is down to your own personal preference. Sometimes you just have to dig deep and understand the things that help you rejuvenate after a pretty difficult time. I thought I would mention a couple of my favourites especially because I have been going through a difficult time recently and these have certainly helped in cheering me up.
Keep yourself busy
Yesterday, I spent time with my cousin. I saw his new house and spent time sorting his internet out. He helped me by keeping my mind off how I was feeling. For those few hours, I just forgot what was making me so down and upset. When I came home, I changed my bedding and sorted my room out. I took down some old photos and lit a couple of tea light candles to make my room feel more homely. Although I didn’t get to sleep until 3.45am, I managed to fall asleep. I didn’t need to worry about blowing the tea lights out because I knew they wouldn’t be burning for ages anyway. Other options could include: organising paperwork, painting your nails, read blogs, watch YouTube videos, do anything to take your mind off things. Anyone who knows me will understand that I am not a fast reader but I managed to get through Charlotte Crosby’s Me Me Me and Catherine Bennetto’s How Not To Fall In Love Actually which I highly recommend for anyone going through a breakup or is on a relationship break.
Take some time to pamper yourself
I don’t know about you but that moment that you turn off the light, burn some candles and soak in a hot bubble bath with relaxing music on makes me feel ten times happier! I crumbled up some Unicorn Horn, thrown in my all-time favourite Lover Lamp Bath Bomb and added a couple drops of Dr Botanicals Moroccan Rose Restoring Senses Bath Oil* and dipped myself in the bath. The Moroccan Rose Oil is such a calming, stress-reliving aroma. It left my skin feeling moisturised and nourished. It has argan oil which is rich in vitamins to help protect the skin whilst the jojoba oil enhances the skin’s natural suppleness and elasticity. My family must have thought I nearly drowned in that bath cause I was probably in there for a good two hours or more…
Once I jumped out the bath, before throwing on my snuggly pyjamas, I applied the Dr Botanicals Moroccan Rose & Shea Butter Body Repairing Cream*. This stuff is amazing! The shea butter is rich in vitamins leaving your skin feeling super soft and hydrated whilst the apricot kennel oil is amazing for dry and sensitive skin. I have quite bad eczema so I am wary about trying new skincare products incase it flares up but half a week later and my skin has never felt so nourished and soft. The cream feels really luxurious too so it feels like a proper treat after you get out the bath.
Watch all the movies and TV series you want
Not only will they be a great distraction but they might actually provide some kind of laughter or advice that you could use. This week I treated myself to How To Be Single and Bridget Jones’s Baby. I have watched them so many times that I probably know the words to both of them backwards by now. I have also spent the evenings when I have struggled to sleep watching Gossip Girl or Pretty Little Liars. It’s made me feel so much better!
Eat anything!
Are you wanting to finish that packet of Texas BBQ Pringles? Do it! Fancy a tub of Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream? Treat yo’self! Allow yourself to eat whatever you want without caring. We are allowed to binge eat when our emotions are uncontrollable. If it makes you feel any better I started the week of without eating anything after three days and a rush into hospital cause I was dehydrated allowed me to feel like I should pig out a little. I ate a McDonald’s, three share bag Cadbury Twirl Bites, two tubes of Pringles, a bag of popcorn and a large pizza from Domino’s. Oh and a tub of Ben & Jerry’s or twoor three. This is over the course of one week for anyone who is worried, but it certainly gave me the happy endorphins that I have needed.
Have you got any tips or advice for when you are dealing with a difficult time? Let me know in the comments.
♥
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When the lovely team at Alchemy Oils* wanted to send me one of their Hair Remedy Oils, I jumped at the chance. Who wouldn’t?! With all the hair styling and heat that has been thrown on my hair in full force over the past couple of months, it’s left my hair feeling quite dry and it is about time I gave it some tlc. All of the oils that they sell are packed full of nutrients that help to achieve various things depending on the oil that you choose.
I decided to opt for the Amla Hair Remedy as the blend of coconut, avocado and argan oils which help to promote growth, strengthen and condition hair sold it to me straight away. It also contains a splash of lemon oil to shine and naturally cleanse. It all sounds wonderful and I couldn’t wait to give it a go! Amla is a powerful hair tonic from the Indian Gooseberry. It is known to stimulate the hair follicles to encourage growth. It nourishes the hair by adding strength and sheen, cleansers the scalp to prevent dandruff and provides the perfect environment for long and healthy hair. The vitamin C can help to treat dry, itchy scalps because it is rich in antioxidants. These antioxidants also carry anti-ageing mechanisms that prevent grey hairs.
There are different options on how you can use the oil. Firstly, you can use the remedy as a light serum which is what I tried first. I washed my hair as usual and instead of using the Paul Mitchell’s Serum that I have been using for months. I put the tiniest amount of oil on my hand, rubbed it between my palms and smoothed through the ends of my hair. The first thing I noticed was how good is smells! If any of you are familiar with the citrus scented bath bombs from Lush then you will love the scent of this because it’s so uplifting and the scent lasts all day because it is quite strong. After drying my hair and styling it for the day – it looked a lot shinier and smoother. I have been trying to delay washing my hair so that it can grow. I’ve heard that this technique works best. Using the oil as a serum, delayed my usual wash by an extra day because my hair still looked smooth and healthy.
Next up, I tried it as a hair mask. I applied a generous amount of oil all over my hair, working from the roots to the tips, and massaged it into the scalp. I left it on over night and then washed it out with my usual shampoo and conditioner. Even whilst I was in the shower, my hair felt a lot more smooth and nourished. When my hair was fully dried, it looked beautiful! The shine was gorgeous and healthy. It felt super light and really clean however using it as a hair mask wasn’t as beneficial as using it as a serum.
Overall, I definitely think that the oil worked best as a serum rather than an overnight mask but either way it made my hair look so healthy. The packaging feels extremely luxurious and since writing my review, they have included a pump to help you get the desired amount. The oil retails at £38.00 and can be purchased from their website.
Have you ever tried one of the Alchemy Oils? What’s your thoughts?
♥
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*Alchemy Oils kindly sent the hair remedy to me for review purposes however this does not affect my thoughts and opinions about the product or the brand.
It wouldn’t be the July Journal way to begin 2017 properly on this little corner of the internet without reviewing some kind of bath bomb. After all the Lush Christmas releases, I thought it was about time to share something new, completely new! I came across Pretty Suds UK when looking for a Pokéball bath bomb to gift for Christmas but I couldn’t help but order one for myself. For all you Pokémon, bath loving fans out there this one is for you; introducing the Katch ‘Em Ball Bath Bomb.
The overall bath experience definitely exceeded my expectations. As the Pokéball style bomb fizzed away in the water, it left a blanket of circular white and pink-red tones that released the uplifting but not sickening scent of candy sweets similar to Skittles or Chewits. The bath bomb has sweet almond oil which gives it the sweet scent but other than that there is not much else to it. Pretty Suds UK states: “most of our products are vegan friendly” and “we make our products handmade” so I was thrilled to find out that they are cruelty free too. I added a bit of Peeping Santa to the water before hand to give the added extra bubbles but this really wasn’t needed.
The most exciting part of the bath bomb was that it contains a Pokémon which could be from any of the generations. I got a Nosepass which came from the third generation of Pokémon and which is from the Rock family. Overall, I really enjoyed my whole experience with Pretty Suds and the bath bomb. They are such a lovely and family orientated company that want customers to only have the best experience with themselves. The bath bomb is an affordable treat and just as good as the ones that Lush, their main competitor, creates. What a way to start a new year than with a new brand to fall in love with all over again?!
Have you ever heard/bought from Pretty Suds UK? What’s your thoughts? Let me know which bath bombs take your fancy.
♥
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One of my favourite things about seasonal changes is discovering new skincare. Cold weather and strong winds means that your skin takes a good beating so finding the perfect skincare regime is vital in order to keep you face in tip top condition.
Now I don’t know about anyone else but I like to keep things simple instead of slapping five million moisturisers on my skin and don’t forget that double cleanse. The list I am about to share have certainly been my skincare saviours this winter and coming from someone who used a makeup wipe every morning and night, I now enjoy that time of day when I can remove all the makeup, dirt and dead skin cells from my face.
Since receiving a sample of this back in September, I’ve never looked back. I was on the look out for a vegan and cruelty free friendly cleansing oil for a while, one that lived up to DHC’s standards and I had no luck until I tried this. I have recently bought a full size bottle for when my sample runs out because it leaves my skin feeling soft, nourished and hydrated. I think cleansing oils, such as this one, are a lovely pamper evening treat as you’re ensured that they can remove dirt and makeup thoroughly. I usually pour a little amount into my hands and rub them together but using circular motions on my face to remove all the makeup and dirt. I then use a cloth and warm water to rinse off the oil before applying a moisturiser. I found that this works better than applying to a damp face.
My skin has been super dry and dull during the colder months so I have been using this to awaken and hydrate my skin before I apply my makeup. I have used the Hot Cloth Cleanser from the same range before and fell in love with that as a cleanser, however, this is something I don’t see anyone rave on about in the blogosphere. The moisturiser is infused with plant extracts like Kiwi and Mulberry Fruits to brighten and even out skin tone. Whilst the Sugar Beet extract helps improve the skin’s barrier and leave it feeling soft and subtle. After using the moisturiser my skin feels super soft and smooth as well as leaving a perfect base to apply makeup.
This is one of the newest cleansers in my collection but it has quickly won me over. Just like the Terre Verdi Cleansing Oil, I gently massage this all over my skin until it has melted and then use a warm cloth to clean my face. I honestly don’t know why it has taken me this long to try the Cleansing Butter because I have heard so many good things from other bloggers. It smells amazing and leaves your skin feeling clean and silky smooth. The butter melts from a cream to a lightweight oil based formula which helps to remove impurities and dirt. It’s a nice treat that isn’t too harsh to use on the skin.
Lush Bûche De Noël Facial Cleanser
I couldn’t include a skincare favourites without mentioning the limited edition facial cleanser from Lush. Bûche de Noël is full of skin softening ingredients that are perfect for dry and sensitive skin such as cocoa butter and ground almonds. Dried cranberries are in the cleanser for a natural exfoliant whilst fresh mandarins are ideal for toning and refreshing the skin. As with most Lush cleansers, you mix with a little bit of water to create a paste and then rub into your skin with circular motions. My skin feels super clean and moisturised after using this and is usually my go-to cleanser on a daily basis.
If there is one thing I have an obsession with, it’s hand creams. I have them on my desk. I have them in my collection. There is probably one hiding in the car. I have nearly half a dozen in my bag. I just think they are generally a handy thing to carry around especially during the colder months when your hands are cold and dry. When I received this nourishing hand balm from Botanicals, it changed my life. The softening and nourishing oils and butters makes your hands feel super nourished, hydrated and deeply conditioned. I have found that it is best to use this in the evening so that it has a chance to sink into the skin without your hands feeling really oily and you only need the smallest amount of product for it to work. It smells amazing and a new found home on my bedside table.
What are your winter skincare favourites? Anything I should try next?
♥
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I couldn’t resist heading down to The Body Shop in the Metro Centre when they invited bloggers from the North East to check out their Christmas range. I have always been a fan of the The Body Shop, although owned by L’oreal, I like how they have remained loyal towards their stance against animal testing so I was rather excited to see some of their new products.
They have brought out three new scents for the Christmas season: Spiced Apple, Frosted Berries and Vanilla Chai. My personal favourite is the Spiced Apple scent. I can remember they had something similar a couple of years ago and it just brings back all the memories. For those of you familiar with Lush products, it is much like the So White Bath Bomb that they sell every Christmas. The Spiced Apple scent is fresh and fruity but still festive whereas the Frosted Berries is a lot more berry-scented much like their Strawberry skincare range and Vanilla Chai reminds me of fresh baked cookies.
We were given the chance to test the out the Exfoliating Sugar Scrub in a scent of our choice. Macara, who writes at Macara’s Space, chose the Frosted Berries scent and I went for the Vanilla Chai. The sugar scrub itself leaves your skin feeling so smooth and soft by lifting away any dead skin cells. After application of the matching Body Butter, my hands felt so nourished and smooth that I couldn’t help applying some to the rest of my body when I got home. As well as the usual skincare in all three scents, they have also introduced a candle that would be lovely lit on a cosy evening and home fragrance oil to spread over potpourri giving your home a lovely festive scent as guests walk into your home.
Personally, I think The Body Shop makeup is underrated in the blogging community. I’m head over heels in love with how lovely their foundation is and still use it on a regular basis so I was excited to find out more about their new makeup releases.
First up was the Matte Liquid Lipsticks which I was super excited about after stalking their Instagram page. They come in 12 shades so you are guaranteed to find one that you will fall in love with. The wand makes for easy application too. Once the gloss has set, the lipstick feels lightweight on the lips and has a creamy, velvet touch, however, I found that I did need to re-apply the lipstick throughout the day. I picked up Tahiti Hibiscus which is a lovely red shade and Goa Magnolia which is a dark pink shade. I adore both colours however I have found I’ve been reaching for Tahiti a lot more which is unusual for me as I am not usually a red lip kinda gal.
Although I love the new liquid lipsticks and it is great to have them in my collection, nothing would prepare me for their Eye Colour Sticks. Honestly, I am in love! Over the past two weeks all my eyeshadow palettes have been pushed aside for this beauty. The chunky eye shadow stick is perfect for creating flicks and wings, shading and mixing with other colours but that’s not the main reason on why I have fell in love with them. If your looking for a product with intense colour that won’t budge on your Christmas night out then this needs to be on your list, I’m telling you. After two showers later and endless hand washing, the line I drawn on my hand to swatch the product in the image above hadn’t budged and I have never experienced anything like that. I can confidently do my makeup in the mornings and feel comfortable knowing I don’t need to think about my eye makeup until I come back home. I went for Cyprus Bronze however I love the sound of the other three in the collection too.
This year, every specially selected gift that we purchase will protect one square metre of the rainforest and the creatures in it. This also includes their new personalised body butters where you can print off your favourite animal along with eleven characters and add it onto your very own body butter. As I mentioned in yesterday’s gift guide I think this is a lovely idea for a stocking or as a little addition in a present. We were gifted a body butter of our choice from the Christmas range so I naturally went for Spiced Apple. There was a range of rainforest animals to choose from but I went for the Panda because they are one of my favourite animals and I managed to fit my blog name on too but you could write whatever you like on. Another stocking filler I really like is the new Reggie bath sponges that also contribute to the cause.
Overall it was a lovely evening and I really enjoyed meeting the Metro Centre team and some new bloggers that came along to the event.
What’s your favourite Christmas scent from The Body Shop this year? Have you tried any of their new makeup releases? Let me know in the comments.
♥
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