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.

What's In My Bag?

A couple of years ago I used to have a different handbag for almost every outfit and was always misplacing my keys, purse and everything else, but as I've got older I've narrowed it down to two, a black bag and a brown bag. Sorted.

Since blogging I have become a lot more organised and I know where pretty much everything is and now that I have just two bags it's a lot easier to sort out what I need to take with me. Now of course some of these products do change depending on the weather, where I'm going and what I'm doing but here is a look in to the general bits and bobs that you would find in my handbag if you were to sneak a peak.

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The Essentials

So first of all I won't be going anywhere without my keys. Now these are just my house keys and for the purpose of a nice photo I removed my three photo keyrings, my cuddly unicorn and turtle key ring and my work keys. I have so many keyrings as they are all special to me and also because it makes finding my keys much easier.

Second is my purse, of course this is another must as without it I won't be going very far. When it comes to my purses I like them to be bright and have lots of different pockets so I was extremely happy when I was able to buy this Ralph Lauren one for just £30.

Right! I cannot state just how important it is to drink plenty of water throughout the day, especially when you're on the go. When I don't drink enough I get headaches and feel yucky which is why I always carry a bottle with me.

Eating regularly is also important and for me I like it to be something healthy and enjoyable which is why I love these nakd bars. I always make sure that I have one to eat in my bag as I get rather peckish when I'm out and if I don't eat I get very grumpy and begin to feel nauseous. 

I've always loved taking photos but since becoming a blogger I find it essential to have some form of camera in my hand at all times and well lets face it, iPhone cameras aren't the best and their storage is a joke which is why I like to take my Samsung digital camera with me wherever I go. It takes lovely photos whilst being small and light enough to go in most my bags. 

Now I never used to keep a hairbrush in my bag but as my hairs got longer it needs brushing that little bit more often especially on windy days so I now make sure I have a one in my bag at all times. This no tangles is my favourite as it gets the knots out quick and easy without damaging your hair.

Garlic, onion, salami.. possibly three of my favourite foods that seem to be in most of the meals I eat which is why I would be lost without my chewing gum. Garlic breath? No thanks!

Finally, after probably far to many years, I decided it was time to keep a pen with me at all times and now I don't know how I ever managed without one. Perhaps I should have listened to my Mum sooner.

My Makeup Bag

Being a girl the contents of my make up bag changes regularly but for me there are some things that are just a must. First is lipstick, an item which I am never without. My current favourite is Mac Cosmo as it goes with everything and keeps my lips looking hydrated all day. However, on some days my lips need that extra bit of moisture which is why I have Vaseline in almost every bag and coat pocket. Cocoa butter is my favourite! 

Next is my Rimmel bronzer and Elizabeth Arden blusher brush. I have used Rimmels bronzer since I have worn makeup and I love it just as much now as I did then. It's the perfect colour for me and I love that it's not to sparkly so it always looks natural making it suitable to be worn on bare skin and on top of foundation.

Since blogging I have started taking much better care of my skin and now I cannot be without a hand lotion and nail file. This particular hand lotion is by Molton Brown, it's a fantastic product and the bottle is just the size for my makeup bag.

Now I don't know about you, but I cannot think of anything worse than smelling which is why I take a miniature perfume with me wherever I go. At the minute I have been using this bottle of Marc Jacobs Daisy as it has such a lovely spring/summer scent.

Last but not least are bobbles and hair grips just because you never know when you're going to need them. I always make sure I have two bobbles and then just a few grips for any unruly pieces of hair.

This makeup bag is the perfect size for my things and was just £8 from next.

If We're Lucky

Living in England sunshine is not guaranteed, not even in summer, but on those days we're lucky enough to have even a minute of sun I will be there with my sunglasses! These ones are by Ralph Lauren and are probably my favourite as I don't think you can beat a tortoise shell frame.

What things do you keep in your bag?

Clinique Bonus Box.

Last month I went to Bicester Village and bought my self a few bits and bobs. One of the things I picked up whilst I was there, that I was really impressed with, was this Clinique Bonus Box for just £15.

This gorgeous little box contains 8 well sized beauty products, some that I have been using on and off and others that I have been using everyday. I'm really impressed with the majority of the products and for the price I think it's a fantastic set so with that said here's a brief review of each one from my absolute favourite to my least favourite.

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Love

1st: Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief, £34 for 50ml

By far my favourite product in the set! This peachy coloured serum goes on brilliantly and leaves you with hydrated and glowing skin all day, great for when you've got a tan and foundation isn't requires. Having said that, it does soak in completely making it a perfect product to use before applying makeup

This 15ml tub is lasting me such a long time so the price tag for 50ml isn't putting me off as much as it usually would have done. 

2nd: All About Eyes Serum De-Puffing Eye Massage, £23 for 15ml

Soothing, cooling, massaging and sensitive on the eyes, I'm loving this product especially the the roller ball application as it's very gentle and you get the perfect amount meaning it doesn't get wasted. This serum is a life saver on those early mornings.

3rd: City Block Anti-Pollution, £18 for 40ml
I applied this to my cheeks and couldn't see a thing, then I applied it to my chin where I had a small pimple and it was immediately less visible. Wear alone or as a primer, this product is lightweight and breathable and my skin felt hydrated all day. I particularly liked wearing it alone on days the sun was out and I didn't want to wear foundation.

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Like

4th: Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion+, £17.50 for 50ml

I have used this product for a long time now and the tiny 15ml bottles last absolutely ages so ignore the fact it's almost £18 for a moisturiser. For dry skin it's an amazing product and when used before primer and foundation stops your skin drying out and from  your makeup appearing caked on, however when used on it's own my skin can sometimes feel too sticky and look rather shiny.

5th: Clincial Dark Spot Corrector, £42 for 30ml

Now I don't think I've used this product enough to see results that make me want to spend £42 however I have noticed some slight improvement in the evenness of my skin tone when the product is on. It goes on really nicely and works as a great base for concealer or foundation as it doesn't dry out the skin, instead leaves a healthy glow with a matte finish.

6th: Long Last Lipstick, In Water Melon, £17.50

This lipstick goes on nicely, is very true to colour and does last a long time however after a while I did notice it started to dry out my lips due to the matte finish which in this colour can appear quite visible, not a colour I would usually pick for myself.

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Dislike

7th: Rinse Off Foaming Cleanser, £17 100ml

I'm afraid to say I didn't really enjoy using this product, though it did foam up nicely and remove my makeup it had a very strong soap smell which I am not keen on and also left my face feeling like it had a coating on it, very much like bars of soap do.

8th: Even Better Make-up SPF 15, £24.50

I found this product to be a bit too dry on my skin which is surprising as my skin is rather oily. The coverage isn't fantastic and it didn't spread very well so I ended up with powdery patches. For the price I am quite dissapointed.

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To end on a positive, I have really liked using most of the products in this set and have definitely got my self a few new beauty favourites. For just £15 this is a great set for yourself or to buy as a gift. I hope you enjoyed reading my reviews and have found them helpful, if you have a difference in opinion I would love to hear.


What are your favourite Clinique products?

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?

Take Care Of Your Hair.

After going blonde a few years back my hair was left dry, damaged and looking awful so since then I've gone to great lengths to get it back to its full, shiny and healthy self. To do this I've washed it less, used less products, almost completely stopped blow drying it and have only styled it when necessary. During this time I've tested many differerent shampoos and conditioners and discovered the amazing brush that is No Tangles by Macadamia.

There are lots of brushes similar to this one on the market but this is by far the best. For starters it has a handle unlike many, secondly it's the best quality with long flexible bristles to get through hair as thick, curly and knotty as mine. If you want to take care of your hair this is the brush for you as unlike other brushes it has no joins or plasticly bits on the ends of the bristles which snap and pull out your hair. It's an amazing brush and can be used on both wet and dry hair, is great for softening curls and can be used for a smooth and sleek up do.

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If you read my blog post on the Arbonne Skin Care products I was sent to try you will have seen that I was also sent samples of their Pure Vibrance Shampoo and Conditioner. The samples were only small but I liked them so much that Sharon, an independent representative for Arbonne, was kind enough to send me the full sized bottles.

Now I've been using my Avon Morroccan Argan Oil Shampoo and Conditioner for 2 years and it's incredible, I mean it's got to be if I've used it for this long, so you have to appreciate how amazing Arbonnes Pure Vibrance Range has to be when I say it really is amazing, it's the best conditioner I've ever used. I feel like such a traitor as I write this as I've loved my Avon range for so long!

The Arbonne Pure Vibrance range smells amazing, sort of a fruity bubble gum scent and comes in a gorgeous purple bottle. Now the shampoo is quite thick which for me was the only downside as I use a lot of shampoo but to be honest despite it's thickness it did spread quite well. Now the conditioner is what made me fall in love with this range! It spreads so well and as you're rinsing it out you can feel the smoothness straight away.

My hair dried so nicely with minimum frizz and as for the styling well, there was no frizz at all, my curls were soft and bouncy and my hair didn't fuzz out or get knotty in the wind and drizzle. If you have thick/curly hair thats prone to going a tad fuzzy this is the range for you, my hair has honestly never looked and felt so healthy and shiny.

From the name you probably gathered that the Pure Vibrance range is intended for people with coloured hair and though my hair isn't a bright colour after washing and styling it I could definitely see a difference in the colour compared to usual, the red tones where much more visible and my hair had a warmer more vibrant look to it.

Overall this is an amazing range though if you have rather fine hair you may find the shampoo too heavy. I have recently ran out of the shampoo so have been using the Arbonne conditioner with a different shampoo and can still see amazing results. For £25 each these are far from the price of your drug store brands but I really do think they are worth it, especially the conditioner which I will definitely purchase when this one eventually runs out, I can't imagine styling my hair without it now!

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Buy Online Now

Sharon is an independent consultant for Arbonne and

her consultant ID is 441244082

arbonneinternational.co.uk

sharonroberts.arbonne@gmail.com

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How do you look after your hair?

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?

Thank You For My Liebster Award.

First of all I want to say a huge, huge thank you to Amy, the writer of the gorgeous beauty and lifestyle blog Get Glam.

Secondly, a little bit about the Liebster Award. Liebster is a German word which has several meanings - beloved, dearest, sweetest, lovely, cute and several more. In the blogging world the Liebster Award is given to new blogs, with less than 200 followers, that you feel other people need to read. It's a great way to get to know people and help out other upcoming blogs just like your own.

The rules are simple. Thank the person who nominated you and share a link to their blog, answer the questions they asked you and list eleven random facts about yourself. Then write eleven questions that you would like your eleven nominees to answer.

My Answers to Jess' Questions

#1 Why did you start blogging and how have you found it so far?

I needed an excuse for keep buying new things! But on a serious note it was because I kept seeing blogs about expensive clothes and beauty products and people who had glamorous jobs and whilst I love designer jewellery and shopping sprees I wanted to write for that everyday girl, hence the name of my blog. That girl who like me, has lots of hobbies, interests and expensive tastes yet has to juggle that with a busy, and not so glamorous, life. I also love to write and take photos which is a bonus! I've loved every minute of blogging so far as I'm getting to talk to new people and share my thoughts on things I'm passionate about.

#2 What are your favourite beauty blogs?

Though her style is very different to mine, I absolutely love Milly, writer of Pearls and Poodles, her instagram is so pretty, as is her blog... she's also recently married so there was so much wedding stuff! Now this other girl is my absolute favourite, I love her style and she is absolutely gorgeous, if you've not heard of her you need to go and have a look now, she is Charissa Rae.

#3 What's been the funniest moment of your life so far?

Wow, this is a hard one! I have so many funny memories that I've made throughout my life with my friends and family but a total blonde moment for me that everyone still laughs about now is that when I was 17, and watching a Christmas movie, I went "OMG those reindeers look so real". Yes, I thought reindeers were make believe.

#4 If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?

My OCD! It drives me insane having to count little things and make things perfectly even and symmetrical all the time but it does mean everything I do is always very very neat.

#5 Describe the most interesting day of your life?

So it's a cold winters morning, I woke up and set off to work in the ice and as I went to walk down some steps I slipped, but luckily Ian Somehalder was there and caught me, he then asked for my number but I told him no I had a boyfriend and then he cried. OK, thats I lie but a girl can dream ay? Sorry, no interesting days for me to share.

#6 What's the best beauty tip you've ever been given?

Use old mascara brushes as brow brushes! Life saver! Also, just learning how to apply makeup, correctly. If you're gunna do it, do it right!

#7 What's the biggest beauty mistake you've ever made?

Going Blonde *Cough*GINGER*Cough*

Oh and fake tanning before a night out.. when it was raining!

#8 Describe yourself in one word?

Perfectionist, though others may just say I'm picky and a pain in the arse.

#9 You're stranded on a desert island, what 5 things do you want with you?

A towel as I don't like sand, pinapple mai tais on tap, my bikini so I don't get strap marks, Ian Somerhalder, he survived for quite a while in Lost and my mobile so I can blog about my time on the Island.

#10 If you could change your name to anything what would it be?

I honestly don't know! But my family call me Scooby-doo so I'll go with that.

#11 Do you believe that high end products are always better than budget buys?

Nope. I buy most of my beauty products from drugstores. Don't get me wrong there are some high end products which are worth the money but there are also many budget buys that work just as good as the more expensive ones. For instance I love the Natural Collection Lip Liner for only £1.99 as it lasts all day and comes in so many great colours! Sometimes you're just paying for the name. 

11 Random Facts About Me

I love marvels // black is my happy colour // I work with children // I love to cook and bake and eat constantly // I love to talk // I have a teddy called monty // I'm a whiskey drinker // I've broken almost every bone in my left arm // I like to get my own way // I always worry about hurting peoples feelings // I wear size one converse.

Love From Laura

Suitcase and Sandals

Olivia Grace

Abby Law Beauty

Mim Says Ok

Simplicity Rose

I know there isn't 11 here, but being new to blogging I was struggling to find many blogs that were new or hadn't already been nominated. If you have already been nominated I apologise and if I come across any new blogs soon I will be sure to add them to this list.

#1 What's your favourite part of being a blogger?

#2 If you could be any drink what would you be?

#3 What beauty/fashion trends do you love?

#4 And which do you hate?

#5 Who do you look to for inspiration?

#6 What's the weirdest dream you've ever had?

#7 What has been your biggest beauty/fashion mistake?

#8 I love Marvels, what would be your superhero name and power?

#9 What's your biggest addiction?

#10 What's your fondest memory?

#11 What would be your theme song?

I know this has been a really long post but I hope you enjoyed it and I can't wait to read my nominations answers and the facts about themselves. Don't forget to tag me in your post :)

How would you describe yourself in one word?