Pre-Wedding Pampering.

With a special occasion such as this wedding coming up I've been indulging in lots of pampering to get me feeling and looking my best, so I decided that this would be the perfect opportunity to share with you some of my favourite pampering products, both old and new.

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First of all, leading up to any big occasion my skin is my top priority, so I go to extra lengths to prevent breakouts by drinking more water, eating more fruit and veg and getting more sleep but I also like to give my skin that extra bit of T.L.C.

For me, my skins ultimate savior has been the Balance Me Pure Skin Face Wash which has seen my number of breakouts reduce and my skin tone improve, a fantastic product for sensitive skin. To provide my face with a deeper cleanse every other day when using my face wash I use this Massaging Face Brush from Avon which leaves my skin looking brighter and firmer. At the start of the week I like to relax with my Mankua Doctor ApiNourish Rejuvenating Face Mask which helps my skin recover from the weekend, I then use it the day of the event as I can relax with it on for half an hour sknowing it is hydrating my skin, not drying it out. Whilst relaxing with my face mask on I wear my Gel Eye Mask which was just £1 from Primark and makes a nice change from tea bags! This eye mask helps to reduce puffiness and the appearance of dark rings.

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When it comes to my body, I can't stand having dry skin, unfortunately we all have those problem areas and for me its my knees and feet caused by working with small children and going to the gym. Over the years I have tried lots of different products to get results that last and I now think I've found them.

For my birthday I received my first ever Lush set, which included the incredible Rub, Rub, Rub, Shower Scrub. This product is a fantastic exfoliator that leaves skin feeling soft and refreshed, it also smells amazing! I go on to use my Molton Brown Body Wash, which I am currently using in Pink Pepperpod, followed by the Molton Brown Nourishing Body Lotion, which keeps my skin, including my knees, looking and feeling hydrated all day.

For my feet I purchased The Body Shop's Peppermint Soothing Foot Scrub and Intensive Foot Rescue cream.Though the foot scrub has a brilliant cooling and hydrating feel it doesn't seem to do much, however the Foot Rescue Cream is amazing and I noticed results after just two days! I have used this every day this week and my feet feel fantastic. Of course I will not be using it today as moisturising feet before wearing heels is never a good idea unless you want blisters!

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Finally, my favourite part of getting ready for a special occasion is painting my nails. Pretty hands are a must  which is why it is so important to make sure your cuticles are pushed back before you paint your nails, you can do this easily and gently using an Orange Stick. For the wedding I am wearing gold jewellery so to get the perfect nail varnish colour I will be applying Revlon Gold Coin first which has great coverage and sparkle, but is a few shades too light, followed by a coat of No7 Hot To Trot, which is dark but not very thick.


I'm now off to apply my face mask and put my feet up before getting ready for the wedding this afternoon.


Have a lovely bank holiday weekend.

Birthday Presents Part 2.

I received so many amazing presents for my birthday, my bag and my sandals which I shared with you in Birthday Presents Part 1, lots of gorgeous clothes which you can expect to see in outfit posts over the next couple of months and loads of fabulous beauty treats, my favourite of which I wanted to share with you today.

I'm going to say something now that many shock many of you but here goes.. I have never used a lush product! I know it's crazy right and after using their products I feel even crazier, it's just I've always been more of a shower gal, finding dancing more fun that just laying around. However since starting my blog I have realised I need to take a lot more time out to just relax and have actually become rather fond of a soak in the bath.

This Hello Gorgeous Lush Set is perfect for any girl who's into a spot of pampering and includes 5 amazing products, some of which I have fallen head over heels in love with.

I shall start with my favourite Rub, Rub, Rub, this sea salt scrub works wonders on dry skin and smells sooo good, it reminds me of a slush puppy both in colour and texture. Though blue in the pot, upon applying it turns white and you can feel it exfoliating your skin gently. Now you can apply this to wet or dry skin but I have been using it on dry skin for a really good buff then getting into the shower and applying a small amount of water to have a second, gentler scrub as the product lathers up. 

On its own Rub Rub Rub is incredible but when followed by Vanilla Dee-Lite your'e left with smooth, hydrated skin that will last all day and night, perfect for showing off your legs in that summer dress. This lotion has a delicious scent that lasts just as long as it's amazing results. It absorbs fairly quickly meaning you're not left feeling sticky though you do end up using a quite a bit, but at least you won't need to reapply throughout the day.  

Though small, this sample of the Gorgeous facial moisturiser is lasting such a long time as you only need a small amount due to how well it spreads. It goes on smoothly and soaks in leaving you with a healthy glow as opposed to a sticky shine like some moisturisers and you can feel the results all day, no tightening of the skin, and no dry patches.

Last in the box are The Comforter, a blackcurrant scented bubble bar and Sakura, a mimosa, jasmine and citrus scented bath bomb. As I said above baths aren't really my thing but these both left me feeling clean and refreshed and definitely made me enjoy them that bit more, especially The Comforter which turns the water pink and surrounds you by bubbles.

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As well as the gift set from Lush I was treated to two wonderful Molton Brown Poducts in my favourite scent Orange and Bergamot.

The first product is their Replenishing Hand Cream which I have been carrying around with me everywhere. Working with children my hands go through a lot and to keep them looking and feeling nice I am constantly applying moisturiser, now with this product I don't need to do it as often as it soaks deep into the skin and my hands feel softer for longer even after washing they still feel smooth and smell amazing.

The second product was the Orange & Begamot Eau Fraiche, a lovely 100ml spray that's perfect for summer. This scent makes me feel like I'm sat in the sun surrounded by flowers and though that may sound stupid it's true, its such a fresh, summery, relaxing scent that I simply adore.

Have you tried any of these products?

Rodial Stemcell Superfood Glam Balm.

I want to apologise for the delay in my posts however it has been my birthday and I've been busy enjoying myself down in Cornwall. I've had such an amazing time and was well and truely spoilt but with that said, I have really missed blogging so was eager to write one at the first opportunity.

Now, since my amazing Balance Me freebies in Glamour I have be checking out the magazine isle a lot and last week I found something I was so excited to try in this months Red, Rodials Stemcell Superfood Glam Balm Multi.

I already own the Rodial Stemcell Superfood Glam Balm for Lips, and I love it, it's got such a good shine and leaves my lips looking healthy and plump though it is slightly sticky. The Multi one is also rather sticky so I have only been using it at night time. When I first put it on and it didn't soak in I was really scared I was going to wake up with a face full of spots and almost washed it off, but I braved it for you and I'm so glad I did.

Rodial claim that this product "is designed to feed skin with essential nutrition, restoring moisture and balance... and quickly reduce the look of fine lines" and I am happy to say that their claim is correct. I woke up to smooth, glowing skin that felt hydrated, tighter and no long sticky. I also felt as though my skin looked plumper and creases faded faster after smiling.

Both of the Rodial products have a strange sort of smell but it isn't horrible, and though sticky they are really good and I have thoroughly enjoyed using the Stemcell Superfood Glam Balm Multi this week.

At £35 I'm not sure it's a product I would incorporate into my routine as I'm not one for going to bed with things on my face, but for just £4 with Red I'm going to be picking up another.

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Multi, £35 // Lip, £17
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Have you bought this months issue of Red?

Glamour Magazine Balance Me Freebies.

So this happened. 

I very rarely buy magazines unless an article or a freebie entices me as I struggle to find the time to read them. In this particular instance four freebies caught my eye, so of course I had to get them all. I'm in no means saying that this is a bad thing., four products worth £41 for just £8, what's bad about that? It's just I now have four magazines, exactly the same, which does looks kind of odd, but hey who cares?!

Now GLAMOUR is by far my favourite magazine to read whenever I do decide to buy one. It's great value for money, has fantastic reads from fashion and health, to relationships and careers, plus it has some amazing free gifts.

Last year I used the Balance Me Super Toning Body Wash, also free from a magazine, and I remembered how much I loved it so I was eager to try all four of the products that were up for grabs this time. Available this month with GLAMOUR for just £2 is the Super Moisturising Body Wash, Pure Skin Face Wash, Radiance Face Mask and Shine On Tinted Lip Salve in Sheer Red.

I AM IN LOVE! All four of these products are amazing and I am very happy to be sharing this review with you guys!

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The Body Wash
This gel like product has a natural scent to it that is really refreshing and it lathers up well so you don't need to use a lot. It's really sensitive and soothing on the skin and after using it my skin felt really soft and clean. Over the past few days of using it I've notice my skin doesn't appear as dry. All in all a really good product. Buy Online Here, £9

The Face Wash
This face wash is a white cream with a similar scent to the body wash. It's a lovely product that spreads well meaning you only need a really small amount as it goes a long way. I have sensitive skin and this product was so gentle and soothing upon use and afterwards didn't leave my skin feeling tight or dry. Being a contact wearer I also have to be careful with products near my eyes but this caused no irritation or discomfort at all. I've used this product for five days now and my skin feels very smooth and I've had no outbreaks. A great skin soother. Buy Online Here, £16

The Face Mask
As I've mentioned in the past I very rarely use face masks but I'd had a slight breakoutbreak after last weekends nightout so I decided to see if this would help at all. This facemask is an exfoliating cream that doesn't dry, it simply soaks in to your skin slightly and then upon removal the ground walnut shell particles gently massage and exfoliate the skin leaving it with a fresh healthy glow. My pores appeared less visible and my skin felt smoother and not as oily. The next day my spots had dried up and were clearly less visible. A five minute miracle worker. Buy Online Here, £18

The Lip Salve
I never wear lip glosses but this little beauty has been in my bag everyday now since purchase. The red colouring is only a shade darker than my natural lip once on so looks very natural whilst still adding that hint of colour. It soaks in leaving the lips feeling and looking moisturised without that sticky or wet look you get with other glosses. It has a lovely minty taste and makes the lips look fuller, A handbag must have. Buy Online Here, £12

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Now here is the part where I would usually tell you which product is the best and which one you should pick up but I just can't, for £8 seriously just buy them all if you can!

Have you tried any Balance Me products?

Amazing Arbonne Skincare Review.

If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook you may have seen that I was recently asked to try and review a range of products and after a week of using them I am now ready to share with you some amazing feedback.

The company is called Arbonne and they do a wide variety of products from skincare and hair care to fragrances and nutrition. Arbonne pride themselves on using botanical based ingredients and those which have not been tested on animals.

If you're like me then you've probably never heard of Arbonne as they do not advertise, they simply rely on advertisement through word of mouth and their independent sales representatives, from whom I was approached by. Sharon is a lovely women who has been there to answer all of my questions and also ensured she sent me products that were suitable for me. I was lucky enough to be sent samples of their Calm Skincare range, their Pure Vibrance Hair Care range and their Makeup Primer.

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The Calm Skincare Range

This set contains four different products suitable for sensitive skin, a daily cleanser, a daily moisturiser, a soothing facial serum and an eye gel. I used these products in this order every morning for six days. Yes, these tiny bottles lasted six days. The key ingredients in this range are aloe vera, cucumber, liquorice, mallow, chamomile, sea mayweed and Japanese green tea to comfort the skin and provide antioxidants.

Step one is the cleanser. It's a clear fluid with no scent to it and a pea sized amount is all that is needed as it lathers up well. It's gentle on the skin and upon drying my face I immediately noticed a difference to my skin compared to when I have used other face washes. Having sensitive skin, after washing my face I often feel tightness, dryness and discomfort all of which these products claim to take away, and they do. My skin felt soft and hydrated and their was no redness or itching.

I followed on with the facial serum, a step I have never incorporated into my skincare regime. Again this is a clear fluid with a gel like consistency and no noticeable scent, I used a small amount and gently applied to my skin. It soaked in quickly and straight away my skin had a lovely glow with no sticky residue. The job of the serum is to soothe and lock in moisture leaving the skin feeling hydrated. This products is incredible and I can't believe I haven't used a serum before, I'm definitely converted.

The third step is the moisturiser, a white cream with a sort of toothpaste smell, not mint but that original fresh scent. A pea sized amount is all that was required to cover my face as it spread nicely, soaking into my skin. Unlike most moisturisers that leave you looking shiny and feeling sticky, this one doesn't, instead it has a mattifying effect but still allows for a nice healthy glow. At first I was nervous that this may cause dryness or an outbreak but instead my skin remained hydrated all day without the usual oily shine that starts to appear when I don't wear makeup.

Finally I applied the eye serum which has by far been my favourite of the products. This clear liquid is a miracle worker, with only a tiny amount being needed. It immediately soothed my tired eyes, making me feel and look more awake, I also noticed that my dark circles appeared less visible. This product is super sensitive and even being a contact wearer it caused no discomfort.

Calm Gentle Daily Cleanser, £17

Calm Soothing Facial Serum, £35

Calm Gentle Daily Moisturiser, £26

Calm Soothing Eye Gel, £23

The Full Calm Range, £90

Now these products are a fair bit more money than what I usually spend on skincare but after using them for a week and seeing fantastic, lasting results I do think they are worth the money. Afterall, I wouldn't think twice about spending £90 on a handbag so why not invest in the health of my skin, something people will see everyday.

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The Makeup Primer

I have used this primer both following on from the Calm range and my own skincare products as to see if there was any difference, both times I got wonderful results. This primer is a milky white gel that only requires a small amount as it is so light and soaks in beautifully leaving a flawless, mattifyed canvas.

Unlike other primers that can dry out your skin or leave makeup appearing caked on, this primer allowed for easy application of makeup. My foundation blended better than it ever has before and remained in place all day leaving my skin oil free but still with that healthy glow. For £26 I shall definitely be purchasing the Arbonne Makeup Primer.

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The Pure Vibrance Hair Care Range

Having very thick and curly hair I was only able to use the Shampoo and Conditioner once, so I don't feel I am able to write a full review. However, from the great results I got from that one use along with the Hair Masque I shall definitely be buying them to test out for a longer period of time.

Pure Vibrance Lustre Fortifying Shampoo, £25

Pure Vibrance Fortifying Creme Conditioner, £25

Pure Vibrance Hair Revitalising Masque, £30

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I have had a wonderful time testing the Arbonne products and I hope you liked the review. Everything I have written is purely my own opinion and of my own research so I am being honest when I say these are fantastic products that I will definitely use again.

Sharon is an independent consultant for Arbonne and

her consultant ID is 441244082

arbonneinternational.co.uk

sharonroberts.arbonne@gmail.com

 Have you used any of the Arbonne products?

Sanctuary Spa Skin Saviours.

After a weekend of constant make-up use, face wipes instead of face washes, fake tanning, alcohol, junk food and a lack of sleep, my skin was in need of some TLC. I immediately went to my pamper draw, yes I have that many lotions and potions they require their own draw, and got out my Sanctuary Spa gift set from Christmas. 

I've used the Spa Sanctuary shower gel and body lotion for many years and love the smell and how soft they make my skin feel so I was excited to try the other products in this set. They all came in this gorgeous purple wash bag, completed with a super cute headband. 

I started off by having a shower and using the body scrub. Its a gentle scrub that goes along way, so you don't need to use a lot. It smells lovely and is really refreshing. I continued with my usual shower routine and made sure I gave my face a good wash with Simple Clear Skin Oil Balancing Scrub.

I took the headband and whipped back my hair. As instructed on the radiance exfoliator I used a pea sized amount and applied in upwards, circular motions to the face. This product is really gentle on the skin and doesn't make your face go red or sore. I rinsed it off with warm water and my skin felt better, softer and looked more radiant.

I went back to my room, towel dried and began using the body butter. Again this goes along way, soaking in nicely, leaving you feeling smooth not sticky, plus I could still smell it this morning.

I have used the body butter most nights this week and have alternated between the body scrub and bath float each night. All week I have had the hand cream in my bag and am pleased to say it's just as lovely as the other products. My hands feel softer and they smell lovely all the time. As for the radiance exfoliator, I'm going to save that for Sunday nights when my skins been through a lot.

Sanctuary Spa do many other products which I am so excited to buy next month and also do some other fragrances, though this one, the original, is my personal favourite with notes of citrus, bergamot and jasmine, followed by a combination of vanilla, patchouli and sandalwood.

You can buy these products online at Sanctuary.com or from Boots, either online or in store.

& I would love to know what your skin saviours are.

Oh My Manuka Doctor.

My skin has never felt so soft.. Wow!

As I mentioned in my all about me, I am super scared of getting wrinkles! I've always had a fuller face that has never shown laugh lines or lines on my forehead etc and I intend to keep it like that. For as long as possible anyway.

I have never been a fan of facemasks as I feel they dry out my skin and can cause outbreaks, but being a sucker for all things natural and after reading about this product from their apinourish range I thought it was worth the shot and believe me it really was.

So about the product. It's called Manuka Doctor Rejuvenating Bee Venom Face Mask and you get a 50ml jar for £49.99. It is amazing! If you've never heard of the Manuka Doctor range before they are a selection of skincare products that use natural ingredients to help protect and refresh your skin, their main ingredients are Purified Bee Venom and Manuka Honey.

In the past I have used their Lip Enhancer, £13.99 from the ApiRefine range. This is simply a tingly sort of lipgloss that's helps keep lips looking fuller, but I'll do a post about that product at a later date. Right now I want to tell you about this super, duper, incredibly amazing face mask they do. Yes I think it's that good. 

So, I asked for this off Santa now that I'm getting near to that old age of 22 haha and was lucky enough to get it! But I wanted to wait and use it on a day when I could finally relax and do nothing, that night finally came.

I had my shower, got into my pjs and took off the lid. The smell isn't the greatest but you can only really smell it if you put your nose right to the jar. It's quite a bit thicker than I expected but it goes on really nicely, however at first I was a bit worried. As I put it on to my skin I couldn't see it and thought I would have to use loads and that for the price it wouldn't last very long, but actually you don't need a really thick layer because it works by soaking into the skin.

I applied to my face and neck and left it for 30 minutes as directed (can be taken off after 15mins). As I layed there listening to music I could feel it very slightly tingling my skin and unlike other face masks my face wasn't all tight and itchy!

30 minutes was up, much to my disappointment. I took a wet cloth and was able to easily and gently remove the creamy mask and as I did I could tell immediately that my face felt softer. I patted my face dry with a towel and went down stairs to tell my mum how pleased I was with the mask she looked at my skin and said how fresh it looked, pores and blotches were all less visible.

I am also pleased to say that I woke up this morning to skin that still felt soft! And no spots! You definitely need to check out their products, I know I'll be buying lots more!

What facemasks do you use? Have you heard of Manuka Doctor?