Friday 28 June 2013

Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil



Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil - £11.75

Prepare yourselves for a massive product rave. I briefly mentioned this in my last monthly favourites post but my love for this product just grows and grows every time I use it. I figured I needed to do a full review because this is a product you need. You know how I go on and on about Alpha-H Liquid Gold? Well this is something I love just as much. Yep, it's seriously that good. It deserves miracle worker status. It's done a lot of good to my skin and it's done it in such a short amount of time. I've been using it for over a month now and the difference it's made to my skin has greatly increased my confidence without makeup.

Trilogy's Rosehip Oil is a bright orange oil with a very light consistency. It has no discernible smell and is easily absorbed. It contains a blend of vitamins and fatty acids to help replenish and renew the skin. On the box Trilogy claim that this oil can combat scars, stretch marks and wrinkles. I really think that they need to add acne to that list because this stuff has worked wonders on my blemishes. It has healed red active spots, scarring from old spots and along with chemical exfoliants, has cleared my skin of closed comedones. The result is that the texture of my skin has been completely resurfaced. It is smooth, soft and bump-free. For me that's a really big deal. I had a bad reaction to the REN Micro Polish Cleanser a few months ago and got loads of red spots as well as the closed comedones underneath my skin. My face never really recovered from that and I was close to giving up. My skin looked like crap with and without makeup because of those bumps. But this has saved my skin! I can't even remember the last time my forehead didn't have a bump on it. My chin is still suffering a bit but my blackheads and congestion do lessen every time I use this.

I normally use about 5 drops scattered on my face at night and massage it in. Whereas I can use the Clarins Lotus Oil on it's own I do feel that I need to use a moisturiser after this. In my opinion the dream teammate for this oil is Origins High Potency Night-A-Mins. They work perfectly together to keep my skin hydrated, nourished, radiant and clear when I wake up the next morning. I think my favourite thing about rosehip oil is the clarity it gives to my face. It works to fade scarring as well as balancing out my uneven skin tone. Thanks to this wonder oil I've not actually worn a full face of foundation for the last month, opting for Clinique CC Cream instead. I never thought that I would be one of 'those' people but for me full coverage foundation is now a thing of the past.

I picked this up in Boots with my meal deal for £16.50 but you can actually get it loads cheaper on Escentual at just £11.75! I'd happily pay much more for this product and I think £11 is well within most people's skincare budget. So if you don't mind waiting a couple of days for delivery then that's a fab deal. I'd recommend getting the smaller bottle anyway because oil does lose it's freshness over time. The difference this has made to my skin is just astounding. If you've not tried using rosehip oil already, go and buy some right now!


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Wednesday 26 June 2013

In Flux





Blouse - Poppy Lux* / Jeans - American Apparel / Bag - Zara / Boots - Topshop / Socks - Topshop
Bracelet - H&M / Watch - Watchco* / Rings - ASOS

Yay I have pink hair again! I had my hair done on Friday and decided to go for the same colour as last time. I also had an awesome blow dry with lots of volume & curls, much love to the girls at Cutting Room Creative. I totally forgot to buy some pink Directions last time I had my hair done so it faded immediately but I've got a new tub to top up with now. It's so nice to be re-pinkified :) I wore this outfit the other day for a meeting. My top is from a new fashion brand called Poppy Lux. They have some amazing clothes and everything on the website is under £45! I'm a huge fan of their dresses and cute prints. I tried to photograph how cool the back of this top is but not sure the pictures do it justice really. It has a sunburst cutout design and of course I love anything with stud detailing. I paired it with my American Apparel Easy jeans and Topshop Allegra boots.




I also have a new watch! I was kindly sent this by Watchco. I love huge chronographs and I couldn't resist this one from Diesel. I think it was the large '02 03 04' that drew me to this design. It's a nice change from my plain gold Michael Kors one for when I want something that looks a little less flashy. White fluff seems to be very attracted to the black band but otherwise I can't fault it. The box it came in looks pretty cool too.


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Sunday 23 June 2013

L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil & Milk Veil


L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil & Milk Veil* - £38.52

As you may or may not know I have suffered from eczema throughout the whole of my life. I mainly control it through my diet but sometimes I can't resist a bit of cheese or peanut butter. It always seems to get worse during the Summer as well. Nothing I've ever been prescribed by a doctor has worked on me and I've had much better results with more natural approaches. If you have any kind of skin irritations on your body it's very important to avoid bath products containing SLS and any other harsh ingredients. I've had to chuck most of my beloved Soap & Glory products because they just kept making my skin dry, red and itchy. Instead I've been completely converted to using products from the L'Occitane almond range. Changing from cow's milk to almond milk has certainly helped to clear up my face and simply changing my shower gel to L'Occitane's Almond Shower Oil has cleared up all my eczema flare ups too. Pretty amazing stuff!

This luxurious and soothing shower oil gently lathers to clean your skin thoroughly without drying it out whatsoever. Not only is it incredibly moisturising but it smells so lovely too. It's such a gentle almond scent, not as strong as marzipan or anything but it pleasantly lingers on my skin throughout the day. The consistency of this oil also makes it the perfect shaving product. I normally spend a fortune on those Wilkinson Sword razor blades with the soap block around them but this gives you just the right amount of slip to shave with on it's own. I find that it helps me to get a closer shave too, especially around trickier areas like my knees. Even though this is an expensive shower product the fact that I can use it to shave with too will save money in the long run. I honestly love this shower oil and everything it's done for my skin so so much. I can tell that this is gonna be one of those 'forever repurchase' products.

I've also been using the L'Occitane Almond Milk Veil. The shower oil is very hydrating by itself so I generally feel like I need to use less moisturiser after showering now. The milk veil is very aptly named as it's a light and easily absorbed lotion which adds just the right amount of moisture to those drier areas such as elbows & knees. I hate waiting for moisturiser to sink in so this is a godsend. It has the same delicious scent as the shower oil and makes my skin feel amazingly soft. The thing I like best about this body lotion is that it contains micro-pearl particles that illuminate the skin. I like to get my legs out in Summer and because I have an aversion to fake tan they can look a bit ashy. This totally negates that and gives them a gorgeous healthy glow. Kinda like a subtler Edward Cullen effect. If you're like me and embrace being pale all year round then this is a brilliant alternative to make your body look a bit healthier. These products work so well together and really are the perfect skincare duo. They have been a real revelation to me. Even if you don't have any problems with sensitive skin then I'd recommend getting these L'Occitane products because they're just an absolute dream to use.


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Tuesday 18 June 2013

Amie Morning Clear Purifying Facial Wash


Amie Morning Clear Purifying Facial Wash* - £4.95

I am totally willing to admit that I am a skincare snob and as a rule I tend to stick to premium brands. But recently I've found myself pleasantly surprised by some purse friendlier options. Amie are a brand with prices at the lower end of the spectrum but their products are packed full of high-quality natural & botanical ingredients. They leave out all the nasties like parabens, SLS and mineral oil too. Perfect for those of us with sensitive skin. I've been trying out their Morning Clear Purifying Facial Wash and I'm really impressed with this cleanser.

The product is a thick pink cream that feels very luxurious on the skin. After washing it off my skin is left feeling incredibly soft and plump. I keep wanting to stroke my face when I use this as it just feels so nice and smooth! I normally use a cleansing oil or micellar water first to remove my makeup but this does a pretty good job of getting off makeup all on it's own. The active ingredients in this cleanser are mayblossom & elderflower which help to control oil and prevent new blemishes. I'm a big fan of the REN Mayblossom Cleanser as it really decongests the skin so it's nice to know that this has similar ingredients. It also features orange blossom & raspberry to tone and refresh the skin. These also make the cleanser smell amazing & fruity. The cocoa seed butter & sweet almond oil it contains deeply nourish and add moisture to skin. When I use this I feel like I need to use much less Hydraluron and moisturiser as so much has already been added to my skin just by using this cleanser.

As I have combination skin I generally reserve this cleanser for night time. It's very rich and hydrating so it's a bit much for me to use twice a day and I find my skin needs a gel cleanser in the morning to balance it out. It would be ideal for anyone with dry or dehydrated skin though. I was slightly concerned that such rich ingredients would clog my pores but this has helped to hydrate my skin without causing blackheads or closed comedones. Despite being so moisturising it actually balances out my oiliness and doesn't leave a film on my face. Amie are the kind of brand I wish had been around when I was younger. Their products have much nicer ingredients than most of the stuff you find in Boots or Superdrug. Much like the Superfacialist range, this is one drugstore product that I can actually see myself repurchasing.


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Saturday 15 June 2013

Clear Skin Smoothie Shots




When it comes to your skin the phrase 'you are what you eat' couldn't be truer. Sometimes no matter how many amazing skincare products you use or how diligently you adhere to a skincare routine your skin can still look a mess. The main causes for spots other than poor skincare are hormones, stress and diet. There's not much you can do about hormones or stress as they're just things that everyone has to deal with but you can improve the things you eat. I eat a buttload of sugar which I would say is one of the major contributing factors to my breakouts (and flab!). My diet really affects my eczema too. So I've been trying to eat slightly better by adding more green vegetables and fresh fruits to my daily food intake.



Mini Milk Bottles*

It doesn't help that I'm super lazy and if I make a green smoothie one day I'll probably end up leaving my blender in the sink for the rest of the week. So a way of making sure I get some green goodness every day is to divide the smoothie mixture into smaller portions and down one each morning. I was sent these adorable milk bottles from Dotcomgiftshop and I think they make the perfect shot glasses.

There's tons of green smoothie recipes out there but I like this one because there's enough natural sweetness in the fruit to negate the taste of the kale and every ingredient is brilliant for your skin. Most people choose spinach for their smoothies but kale is even better for you and contains more vitamins than any other green vegetable so I'd recommend using it instead.






Ingredients
1 cup kale
2 cups pineapple
2 sliced bananas
2 tbsp desiccated coconut
1 cup coconut milk
1 scoop protein powder (optional)

Method
Layer all solid ingredients in the blender.
Pour in the coconut milk.
Blend on high until smooth.
Pour into milk bottles.
Enjoy!


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Friday 14 June 2013

New Nails: OPI Cajun Shrimp


OPI Cajun Shrimp Nail Polish - £8.99

I go through phases with my nail polish picks. More often than not I reach for pastels or neons as I like something that can make a statement. Red shades are scarce in my collection but there's a select few that I love. In particular coral is a colour that I favour as I think it treads the line between classic and fashion. My favourite ever coral is OPI's Cajun Shrimp. It has the perfect mix of red, orange and pink to make a very wearable yet bright coral. I don't own many OPI nail polishes. I tend to buy their mini sets so I can try out their new shades but it's rare that I'll actually buy a full size one. I think it's probably because they are a few pounds more than most of the polishes you'd find in Boots. I made an exception for Cajun Shrimp because I chose it as my first ever proper salon manicure shade on a trip to New York a few years ago. I've associated this colour with Summer holidays ever since and break it out every year. It looks stunning on any skin tone and will instantly brighten up any outfit. The formula is absolutely amazing too. It's practically opaque after one quick swipe, applies so smoothly and lasts for ages without chipping. It's just literally the perfect Summer red nail polish! It might be raining outside as I type this but it's definitely Summer on my nails. Let me know some of your favourite OPI shades!


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Sunday 9 June 2013

Dancing On My Own


Blouse - Topshop / Vest - American Apparel / Skirt - So In Fashion* / Shoes - Barratts*
Necklace - Me & Zena / Bracelet - The Bohemian Collective

I've had a pretty nice weekend of relaxation after a fairly stressful week. I spent most of yesterday sitting around drinking iced tea and playing outside with Chloe. I've been enjoying the sun a bit too much as my shoulders are still incredibly sunburnt! I always wear SPF50+ on my face but I tend to neglect my body a bit. This top probably wasn't the best choice to protect my shoulders but it was far too hot to wear anything with sleeves. I got it from Topshop a couple of months ago and it's one of my favourite pieces to wear at the minute. The floral embroidery is too cute. I actually bought it when I got my black corduroy pinafore as I saw one of the mannequins wearing this shirt with it. I felt a bit weird copying a whole outfit off a mannequin but I just liked the combo so much haha.

I really love my new denim skater skirt from So In Fashion. I have a few of the American Apparel circle skirts as they're just amazing but of course being from AA, they were pretty expensive. This skirt is almost exactly the same as their denim circle skirt but at less than half the price! At first I wasn't convinced by all these American Apparel dupes that have been brought out by other brands recently (disco pants anyone?) but the cheaper copies are just too good to resist. The skirt is a bit on the short side though so if you're any taller than me you might want to stick to wearing it with tights! I think it's perfect for wearing on these precious few sunny days.


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Saturday 8 June 2013

Spiked Peach & Lemon Iced Tea



On a hot sunny day like today there's nothing better than sitting outside with a cold refreshing cup of iced tea. How can you improve on regular iced tea? Add in some alcohol of course! This spiked peach & lemon iced tea will help keep you cool & relaxed all day long. And the best part? It's incredibly easy to make & if you're a fan of iced tea you'll wonder why you never tried to make your own sooner.





I was sent a selection of tea temples from teapigs so I could try out some new flavours of iced tea. teapigs are a great brand to use for iced tea because they make such a vast range of flavours. They also sent me a recipe card with some ideas of how to mix the teas with other ingredients. I'm obsessed with the Lipton peach and lemon flavoured iced teas so I decided to combine the two flavours using the Lemon & Ginger tea temples as a base. These taste amazing on their own but they work really well in iced tea too. This might sound weird but I find the teapigs tea temples really interesting to look at because they contain proper ingredients rather than just dried tea leaves. The lemon & ginger ones contain pieces of ginger, lemongrass, lemon peel and liquorice root. It's actually quite difficult to find peach drinks in the UK so I settled for Welch's white grape & peach juice and of course I had to use some peach schnapps! Anyway here's how I made this delicious iced tea cocktail:





Ingredients

3 teapigs Lemon & Ginger tea temples
500ml boiling water
250ml cold water
250ml White Grape & Peach Juice
150ml Peach Schnapps
2 fresh lemons
Lots of ice

Method

1) Boil 500ml of water and pour into a large jug. Add the 3 tea temples and allow to steep for 5 minutes.

2) Top up with the cold water and white grape & peach juice. Then add in the peach schnapps. Feel free to use more or less according to taste but schnapps is pretty tame so you can afford to be generous ;)

3) Leave to cool before putting the jug in the fridge. Otherwise the drink will go cloudy. Once fully chilled remove from fridge and add slices of lemons and ice to the jug.

4) Garnish each glass with a slice of lemon and pour out the drink. Enjoy!

If you want to make your own version of this cocktail you can pick up some tea temples from www.teapigs.co.uk and you can still get 15% off using the code BLOGGERS12 (discount does not apply to gifts and cheeky deals as these are already discounted)! To receive teapigs news and the latest discounts don't forget to sign up for their newsletter on the homepage. You can also like them on Facebook & follow them on Twitter.


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Sunday 2 June 2013

Message In A Bottle




Dress - H&M / Jumper - The Orphans Arms / Shoes - Topshop / Socks - Topshop
Clubmaster Sunglasses - Sunglasses Shop* / Necklace - Claire's Accessories / Bracelet - Ginger Pickle*

Finally, a nice Summery day! I have gotten a bit fed up of wearing jeans, boots and a jumper every day for the past few weeks so as soon as there's a bit of sun I break out the pretty dresses. I bought this white shirt dress from H&M. I have a couple of shirt dresses from there in pink & black that I love and I was so tempted to add this to my collection as soon as I spotted it instore. I managed to restrain myself for a while but then I saw Charissa wearing it on her blog and knew I had to have it too! I think they're great casual dresses & are perfect for Summer weather. This one is a lot more see-through than the others I have though. Think I need to invest in some kind of slip dress as I'm 99% sure you can see my underwear!

I wore it with this jumper from one of my favourite clothing brands - The Orphans Arms. If you've never heard of them before they're like a cheaper British version of Wildfox. I'm obsessed with their t-shirts and pullovers, I'd love to buy everything they make! This is a really thin jumper so it's perfect as a Summer coverup. My Topshop Vectra shoes finally bit the dust in the rain last week so I'm back to wearing these Topshop Kerb2 T-Bars as my everyday shoes. Not that I'm complaining, I will love them forever!




The other day I was kindly offered some new sunglasses by Sunglasses Shop. They have a huge range of designer sunglasses from brands such as Chanel, Dior, Celine & Tom Ford at unbeatable prices. I'm a big fan of Ray-Ban Sunglasses because of their classic styles & durability. I wear my Wayfarers all the time so I decided to go for theRay-Ban 3016 Clubmaster sunglasses. I love the shape & I see so many celebrities wearing them. They arrived incredibly quickly and were very well packaged - the service provided by Sunglasses Shop is just impeccable. I wore them for the first time today as it was so lovely and sunny out. They feel really comfy & light to wear. I've had my Wayfarers for years so it'll be nice to have a different pair of sunglasses this Summer.


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Saturday 1 June 2013

May Favourites



Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair
As my skincare stash grows I sometimes forget about some of the things I really like. I hadn't used this serum for quite a few months but I dug it out of my drawers a couple of weeks ago and I don't know why I ever stopped using it. It is expensive but I've had this bottle for well over a year now and there's tons leftover. You only need a few drops each night anyway. Advanced Night Repair is intended to be an anti-aging product but I use it to soften my skin, even out my skintone and it also helps so much with my blemishes & scarring. Everyone needs to try this at some point in their lives!

Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream
I'm not normally one for a sheer base product but as my closed comedones continue to disappear with the regular use of chemical exfoliants & facial oils I've not felt the need to smother my skin in so much foundation. This product was really surprising to me because the coverage is brilliant for such a sheer formula and the shade Very Light is actually light enough for my skin colour! I'll be giving this a full review soon but this is definitely my favourite base product at the moment.

Pukka Organic Castor Oil
I bought this because I'd heard that castor oil can help improve the growth rate of your eyebrows & eyelashes. I'd previously had a lot of success using Talika Lipocils when I used to overpluck my eyebrows & pull out my eyelashes (bad I know!) but I wanted to try something a bit cheaper this time. The growth isn't as noticeable as with the Talika product but it has helped with the thickness and overall condition of my eyebrows & eyelashes. As I researched this it was interesting to discover that castor oil has many uses. You can make something called a castor oil pack with it to reduce pains, scars and cysts within your body. Wish I'd known about this before I had to have half an ovary removed! I even used it to stop a stye in it's tracks so this is a really useful product to keep around the house.

Trilogy Organic Rosehip Oil
After falling back in love with the Clarins Lotus Oil last month I decided to try out the Trilogy Rosehip Oil. Embarrassingly it was actually a Daily Mail article which prompted me to buy it. Needless to say I love this oil too! After using it for a couple of weeks my scars have faded a lot already and my skin feels amazingly soft & hydrated. My face looks brighter the next morning after I use this and it balances out any redness. I haven't had as many spots crop up and it really helps with cystic ones under the skin. Using facial oils has dramatically reduced the amount of little bumps under my skin too. It doesn't smell as nice as the Clarins one but otherwise this oil is just as lovely.

Korres Wild Rose Lip Butter*
I love absolutely everything about this lip balm! The colour, the pigmentation, the staying power & the hydration levels are all immense. It gives your lips an incredible shine & makes them feel kissably soft. Really wish I'd tried these sooner!


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