My Winter Essentials

Hello again ladies! Yet another blog post from me today (too much time on my hands this afternoon and far too cold to venture off outside!) This is going to be my essentials for this Winter!

First up is a good lip balm! I don't suffer from chapped lips but they do tend to go that little bit drier over the Winter months so I like to keep them hydrated with a good lip balm. My favourite's are ones from the company Balmi. If you have ever saw/tried the lip balms from EOS- then they are pretty much identical. I bought two EOS lip balms when I was in America and although I did really like them at first, they seemed to go off and begin to taste odd really quickly! I know they are such a popular brand and their products are lovely but I maybe just had bad luck with the ones I got! Anyway, Balmi is basically just an identical balm to EOS. The whole concept is the same, except, the Balmi lip products have the most delicious smell/taste to them and it really lasts! I first tried them when my mum received a blackcurrant one in her Joliebox. I loved it so much that I went out and bought my own! Mines is in the flavour raspberry- they also do them in mint, coconut, strawberry, and of course blackcurrant. Really hydrating on the lips as well as making them taste delicious all day long. 10/10 product for me! 

Balmi lip balms- £4.99 Boots

Another essential for me this Winter is candles! Nothing can beat a lovely smelling candle on these cold, dark nights. I have loads of candles that I love using and it's difficult to just choose one! Yankee candles are a fantastic brand and the quality of these candles are so high. I really love the Vanilla and Lime one and Christmas Cookies, which is just the same fragrance as Vanilla Cupcake! They also do reed diffusers and car air-fresheners in the scents of their candles too which I love! Lily Flame is probably my ultimate favourite candle brand though. I buy mine from Amazon and they range in price- anywhere from about£7-£10. My favourite scent is 'Fairy Dust'. This is the perfect girly scent! It smells really sweet and sugary but also has a tiny hint of a perfume and powdery scent too, it's gorgeous!

Lily Flame candle in 'Fairy Dust'- £8 Amazon

I like to use a nice, thick body butter on my skin during Winter to keep my skin soft, and hydrated. Again, I have many favourites when it comes to body butters. Soap & Glory's famous 'Righteous Butter' is a winner with many people, and I too really love it. It has that signature Soap & Glory scent to it, its non greasy and leaves your skin feeling ahhhmazing! Body Shop body butters are again, another firm favourite with many, but they can be a little bit on the pricey side. A good cheaper alternative is the Boots own brand. They do a range of products and part of their line is body butters. They are a nice, thick consistency and smell divine. My favourite has to be the 'Mango and orange blossom'. It just smells like a really creamy mango sorbet or yoghurt, it's lovely! I used it throughout Summer, and it worked really nicely on my skin, so I have re-purchased it for Winter too! Although it's not a very wintery scent, it's still really nice and fresh, and leaves your skin smelling like mango's all day long!

Mango & Orange blossom body butter- £3.05 Boots

Although it's not necessarily something that should be done in only Winter, I like to use a good hair mask to keep it silky and soft and this Winter I have really been enjoying keeping my hair in good condition. I have been using the Dove hair care line and really can't fault it! It smells heavenly! I use their colour radiance shampoo and conditioner, followed by the intensive treatment a couple of times per week. My hair is in the best condition yet and I think it is down to these little miracle workers! 

Dove hair therapy in colour radiance- starting from £2.49

My final essential for Winter is none other than a good hot chocolate! I'm not a huge tea or coffee drinker so for me, hot chocolate is my Winter drink! Of course it has to include some whipped cream and marshmallows too right?! 

mmmm, yummy!

What are you all loving this Winter?

Lots of Love,

Lauren. xx

Guide To: Christmas Shopping Online

Yes that's right- I have started blogging about Christmas before we have even hit December! I am such a lover of Christmas though- forever a big kid at this time of year! In this blog I want to give you a help with your Christmas shopping to make it easier for you to relax and enjoy the run up to Christmas day.

I am already underway with this years shopping and although I wish I had been this ultra prepared years ago, in truth I haven't, but learned the hard way! I'm one of those people who can spend weeks looking online at presents but keep holding off actually buying incase I see something else I'd rather get. This then makes it too late for ordering anything from the internet, as you always need to allow for longer delivery time during December with the Christmas rush and then you need to make a decision- do you risk ordering something and it not being here in time for Christmas, or do you just leave it and go into town to face the mad last minute shoppers in the hope you will manage to pick up something decent that hasn't already sold out? Neither of these options sound appealing to me, yet every year up til now, it's something I've always had to ask myself. 

So basically, if you're like me and prefer to do most/all of your Christmas shopping from the comfort of your cosy home, then I would seriously recommend that you start soon if not now! The reason I say this is because most websites have all their good deals for Christmas up during the month of November but then remove them throughout December. This basically is just a way for them to make a lot of money over the festive period. Also, by ordering gifts now, you get first pick of what you want to order and don't have to worry too much about 'out of stock' items. A few good websites and deals I have been loving and buying from right now are 

www.superdrug.com - I know this is just Superdrug and you can pop into your local store. The reason I have used their website is because my local store is tiny and doesn't stock their full range of products, so for me, online is better. They have a wide range of Christmas gift sets and fragrance gift sets- definitely worth a look.

Current Offers:

- 3 for 2 across all lashes and cosmetics.

- Free standard delivery on all orders up until the 4th December.

- Better than half price across selected fragrances.

- 3 for 2 across selected Christmas gift sets.

- They also have offers across selected hair care and skin care if you need to stock up for the festive period.

www.boots.com - Again, this is purely just because my local Boots store hasn't got a wide variety to choose from so I do prefer the online shop for certain things.

Current Offers: 

- The famous 3 for 2 mix and match across toys and gift sets.

- Up to half price off over selected fragrances.

- Savings on electrical products.

The 3 for 2 on gift sets is always so popular and tends to sell out really quickly. The products and discounts are always really good value for money and this year is no different. I would really encourage you to pop across to their website and have a good look around- there is definitely something for everyone.

www.debenhams.com - You can find everything on here! From beauty to clothing, toys, shoes and electrical's, this place has it all. 

Current Offers:

- Free standard delivery on all orders

- Up to half price on women's dresses (Perfect for the party season)

- Up to 25% off every department

- 10% off all beauty and fragrance 

www.ebay.co.uk - Perfect no matter what you are searching for! You can always grab a bargain as well as find some really quirky gifts. I love browsing on here and seeing what interesting things I can find! 

www.amazon.co.uk - Okay so this is just your standard go to website! Amazon has everything and at really affordable prices too! One of my favourite websites!

So I hope this has helped a little with your Christmas shopping, or maybe you just want to take advantage of these different offers for yourself. I have definitely been making the most of Superdrug's 3 for 2 across cosmetics and lashes- stocking up for all those Christmas parties! Let me know your favourite place to shop for Christmas- I'd love to hear from you!

Upcoming Festive Blog Posts

(Don't worry, there will be PLENTY of non-festive posts in between, I just thought I'd carry the theme on in this post and let you know what to expect from my blog from now until Christmas)

- Christmas Gift Guide: Present idea's for him and for her.

- Festive Fashion: Idea's to get you ready for that Christmas party.

- Festive Giveaway: To thank all of the lovely people who support my blog.

- Christmas Shopping Haul: To show you all what I have bought for my loved ones this year.

- Bake With Me: Baking up some tasty festive treats.

- My Top Christmas Movies: self-explanatory!

If you have any more requests, let me know!

Lots of love,

Lauren xx

My October Joliebox

Afternoon ladies!

So I mentioned in yesterday's blog that I'd be doing a review on my first ever Joliebox which I received towards the end of October. I figured this would be the best time to give a good thorough review as I've been testing out the products for almost a full month now.

Okay, so first up, was the Jason- 'Lips Bee Healthier' lip balm. This smells exactly like After Eight chocolate mints, mmm! I have never heard of the brand Jason before but that's partly why I enjoy these beauty boxes so much. You learn about brands that you typically wouldn't buy. Jason is a natural beauty company and their products are free of parabens, lanolin, 

petroleum and all other fillers- so this product is 100% natural. The lip-balm uses beeswax and vitamin E to help re-hydrate lips. I did find it really moisturising and has been preventing my lips from getting dried out during the cold weather. It feels lovely when applied to the lips and isn't greasy at all! Great product. 

Jason 'Lips Bee Healthier' Beeswax Lip balm 

The next product I received in my box was the 'Lov is beautiful' organic teabags. The tea is made up with a blend of natural peach, mango, apricot and pineapple. The tea bag itself is made from muslin cloth and can be re-used 2-3 times depending on how strong you like your tea. It is also full of skin boosting anti-oxidants which is a bonus. They are available in other blends too: 

'Love is Zen'

'Lov is Good'

'Lov is Pure' 

'Lov is Beautiful' organic tea bags.

I received a sample for Iroisie's 'Soin Parfait Ultimate BB Cream'. Although this is designed as an anti-aging BB cream, it is suitable for all ages. It is made from natural pigments and has an SPF of 25- which is fantastic. BB creams can be used as a primer, concealer, foundation- or all 3. It is designed to re-hydrate the skin, hide any blemishes, smooth out the look of fine lines and hides tired looking skin, making it look radiant and flawless. I like how you can build up the coverage if you need a little bit extra, or you can wear it light but it still keeps your skin looking great. It also has powerful anti-oxidants which can help treat blemish-prone skin. 

Iroisie 'Soin Parfait Ultimate BB Cream'

I received a full size exfoliating product. It is the Ritessens Exfoliating, Regenerating Facial Care. Again, another natural product which uses the benefits from plants as the ingredients. High in argan oil, this exfoliator deeply cleans the skin without stripping it of it's natural oils. It smell's very fresh and clean. My skin feels refreshed but still moisturised after using this. The exfoliator itself is very light and gentle and leaves the skin looking lovely and radiant. 

Ritessens Exfoliating, Regenerating facial care.

The final product in my box was The Green Balm from the brand MOA. It can be used by the whole family, even those with super sensitive skin. It's an all round balm, and can be used to treat dry skin, burns or scarring. The balm is infused with organic yarrow which works wonders in repairing everything from ashy elbows and knees, irritated cuticles and brittle hair. Again, the product smells lovely and fresh. I did find it was a little greasy when applied, however if you are using it to treat a skin-condition I would recommend that you apply it at night to allow it to absorb right into the skin and work it's wonders. 

Moa- The Green Balm

So that's my round-up of October's Joliebox. I'm already excited to see what November's box holds! Let me know if you'd like to see more posts like this- reviewing my monthly boxes? Let me know in the comments below!

Hope your having a lovely weekend everyone! xx

My thoughts: Beauty Boxes

Happy Friday to you all! :) 

I have been thoroughly into my blogging this week and wanted to continue with a 'my thoughts' post. Today I want to share with you my opinions on the ever popular craze of the beauty boxes. 

Now I know everyone has mixed opinions on them, but I just want to share with you my experiences, to give help to those maybe questioning whether or not it's something they want to go for. I'm giving my 100% honest opinion on this so I won't lie to you and say it's the most amazing thing ever and well worth the money etc, because in reality, you don't always get the fantastic high end products that they promise to give you, but then again, sometimes they do- it's simply just pot luck and that's part of the risk to buying into something like this.

I spent ages researching all the different beauty boxes on the market when I was first looking to try them out. I watched endless YouTube videos and blog reviews to see which one gave you the best value for money. At the time I was looking, I got the impression that it was Glossybox who seemed to be the most popular choice- so I decided to give it ago. I must add, if you are thinking about giving the beauty boxes a try, don't worry about having to sign up for so many months, because you're not. In fact, you can just sign up for one month, receive your box and if you don't like it, unsubscribe and that's that. On the other hand, if you absolutely love your boxes, you can take out longer subscription if you wish, they also make great presents if you know someone who loves their beauty products.

So in April 2012 I signed up for my first Glossybox. When it came, I had a look through all the products and was fairly happy with it. I liked the idea of using products/brands that I wouldn't go out and buy myself on the high street, so it was nice to be able to try them out and found there were some I really liked. I received another 2 boxes after that before I unsubscribed. Now this wasn't for anything major. I know there is so many people who have been receiving Glossybox's for years and had no complaints. I just found them really unorganised with the dispatch of the boxes- payments would be taken at the beginning of the month and although they did give a date for them to be dispatched, they were always much later- sometimes even into the following month, before they got round to dispatching them. Then there was the issue of the products. Now I don't know what happened but I started to get products that I could go out and buy in Superdrug for a couple of pounds. This really just made me wonder whether or not I was really getting my money's worth- so I unsubscribed. Like I said, I know that Glossybox are a huge company now and thousands of people love all their boxes, but it just wasn't for me.

My mum has been receiving the Joliebox for about 6 or 7 months now and I always seem to really like the products she gets. Again, there is the odd product that makes me wonder why they put it in there when the rest of the products are so luxurious, but it doesn't happen nearly as often as the Glossybox. So last month I signed myself to Joliebox. They have recently joined up with the American beauty box company 'Birch box'. This is what swayed me to sign up as I'm such a big fan of Birch box but just can't get it here in the UK which I was gutted about. However now they are in collaboration with Jolie box to become one company which means even more products and brands available! My first box arrived in the post at the end of October and I am really pleased with the products inside. Now I won't go into too much detail about the products because I'd really like to do a separate post solely on the October Joliebox and more focused in on the products themselves and what I thought of them.

The beauty boxes are really pretty and girly and perfect for storage. I use mine to store things like nail varnishes, lip products, eyeshadows etc. Just keeps your make-up a little more organised. :) 

Another good thing I really like about the beauty boxes is that because their products are deluxe sample sizes, they are perfect to take away on holiday/weekend away. It's lovely to be able to take luxurious products away with you without breaking the bank paying for a full size one. 

I hope this has helped in some way or other if you are unsure about beauty boxes. Remember this is just my thoughts based on my own experiences and preference. If you are considering trying out a beauty box, do a little research on a few blogs, there are some brilliant YouTube video's on them too.

I have listed a few websites here too. Have a look on them to find out more about a particular box. You can find out what's been in past boxes, prices aswell as the product brands they use in their boxes.

www.joliebox.co.uk
www.glossybox.co.uk
www.shesaidbeauty.com

www.amarya.co.uk

Hope you enjoyed reading this, and have a fab weekend! :) xx

Review: Soap & Glory 'Fab Pore' Facial Peel

So I mentioned the Soap & Glory 'Fab Pore' facial peel in my skin care routine and said that it would be featured in an upcoming review so, voila! Here it is. :) 

For those who are unfamiliar with the brand 'Soap & Glory' then it's basically a quirky cosmetics/skin care company that can be found in Boots or why not check out their online store at www.soapandglory.com and have a browse through their products. They have really expanded this year and I'm excited to see how many different products they have to offer. You can find everything from cosmetics, bath and body care, skin care, gift sets and perfumes. 

They have a signature scent which features throughout most of their bath and body products and you can always find raving reviews on their famous body butters within the beauty community. 

When I first saw their skin care line in Boots just before summer I was keen to try it out. I purchased their 'Fab Pore' hot cloth cleanser, as well as the facial peel. The cleanser retails at £10 and has a gorgeous lavender scent to it. I was really impressed with the cleanser. However, the facial peel is what really stood out for me. It comes in a tub with 50ml of product. I know it seems like a small amount, but it really will last you for months as you just need the tiniest amount. I started using mine in June, and still have about a quarter of a tub left in November so it's worth the £8 price tag. 

When I think of 'facial peel' I get the image of a thin, clear, gel like mask but this product is just basically a face mask. It's a thick creamy consistency with tiny green beads throughout. As you massage the cream onto your face, the tiny beads burst which release their exclusive 'PoreShrink-R Complex' which basically just means, it's a pore tightening product, which is ideal for people with oily skin or T-zone. 

You can leave the mask on for a deep treatment for 15 minutes, this is supposed to be like giving yourself a mini facial. Alternatively, you can just have it on for 5 minutes as a 'refresher' to the skin. It has a lovely minty smell which tingles slightly leaving your face energised and awake. This should be repeated 2-3 times a week for maximum results. I found it made my skin a little less oily, and the over all experience with this product is amazing and lovely to use. Will definitely be re-purchasing this product when I have used my tub all up!

Soap & Glory 'Fab Pore' facial peel £8.00- Boots

Review: Revlon Colour Stay Foundation

A big hello to you all. :) I'm here today to give my review on the ever famous Revlon Colour Stay Foundation. Okay, so I'm just going to throw it out there and say that I really don't like this product. I know, I seem to the only person on the planet to be giving a negative review on this foundation. I honestly did want to love this product as much as everyone else and I had read some truly amazing reviews about it online but for some reason, I just couldn't work with it. 

I have bought it on two occasions. The first time was while I was on holiday a couple of years ago. I saw that it was on offer so I thought I'd give it ago and see what all the fuss was about. I had bought it in the shade 'Natural Tan' due to the fact that I was on holiday, and well, had a tan. The first thing I thought when I opened the bottle is it's just a like a bottle of paint. It smells like paint, has the thick consistency of paint and pours out everywhere like paint. I know the MAC foundations have the same bottle top, but I'm not a massive fan of those either. 

Still, I thought I'd keep going and give it a try and see how it applied to the face. After I had got over the strong stench of paint I found that it's really difficult to work with. It's full coverage and sets onto the face really quick- making it hard to blend in with your skin. It just feels like a mask over my face. I bought the combination/oily one as that is my skin type but I found it made me look even oilier. The lasting power wasn't great at all- after a day at work, I'd come home and even after setting with a powder, the foundation was all patchy and the majority of it had slid off  completely- not a good look at all. 

I have suffered with problematic skin in my early teens and although it's all under control now, this foundation broke me out like nothing on earth. I felt so self-conscious and just began to despise everything this foundation had to offer. I couldn't understand what I was doing wrong, but eventually just gave up on it.

Then, at the beginning of Winter, I thought I would try again. I was just my naturally pale colour so decided to go for the colour 'buff'. I don't know what made me think it would work good for me second time round, but I just wanted to feel those positive thoughts towards the foundation that everyone else has. But again, the lasting power was horrendous, so much product is wasted because there is no pump on the foundation and I just found it still didn't blend into my natural skin. No matter how quick I tried to buff it in, it never seemed quick enough and would leave that awful looking 'foundation line' at the jaw. 

The thing I find with this foundation is that it gives me a grey-ish tinge to my face. I don't know if it's the wrong tone colour for my skin but it couldn't look any less natural. I have now completely given up on this foundation and although I tried my hardest to work with it- it just seems impossible. I am so disappointed after I had read all the hype for this foundation and was claimed to be a dupe for Estee Lauder's Double Wear. I certainly wouldn't recommend this product, especially if you are used to wearing a much lighter, natural looking foundation.

Revlon Colour Stay foundation £12.49- Boots

All Things Nails!

Okay, so here is yet ANOTHER post all about nails! There seems to be such a hype around nail polishes right now, and I have to say, I'm loving it! I always notice other people's nails (wierd, I know!) But if they have a really cool design or colour, then it instantly draws my attention to them! 

I love how high street brands are bringing out their own take on some higher end nail products. If you live in the U.K, you may be familiar with the famous brand in Superdrug MUA. Basically, it's a SUPER affordable make up range starting from only £1! It's surprisingly good quality and even their 'professional' line is all really cheap priced too! They have their own version of the 'Caviar' nails, and it's supposed to be amazing! I have yet to try it out, as it isn't really convenient for my work, however I will definitely be picking one up next time I'm in Superdrug and no doubt I'll be getting plenty wear out of the Caviar nail design over the upcoming festive period! If you have tried it out, what are your thoughts? How long did it last on your nails?

MUA Caviar Nails (available in Superdrug)

Another nail polish look I'm obsessed with right now is all things glittery! In the past I have never been one to go out and buy a glittery polish, however, this season they seem to be everywhere! It always seemed to be higher end brands who would bring out glitter in the past, such as Nails Inc. That being said, I was in Tesco over the weekend and was browsing through the make-up aisle when I came across the famous high street brand, Rimmel, have brought out their own line of 'Precious Stone' sparkly nail polish! At £3.99, I had to pick one up and give it a try! I chose the colour 'Diamond Dust'. It's a really pretty gun-metal grey. In just 2 coats, this provides an opaque coverage to the nail which I thought was fantastic! However, I did apply my Sally Hansen 'Mega Shine' as a topcoat because you can feel the roughness of the glitter once it is applied. This can make it snag on things so just to create a smoother surface, I would definitely recommend a top coat! I got about 5 days wear out of it without any chips, which is good for a high street polish (a lot longer than my Barry M one's anyway) and then it was time for me to take it off. Eeek! Prepare to scrub your life away! This nail polish is the most difficult one I have EVER had to remove in my life! I spent a good 10 minutes scrubbing away trying to take it all off. If you can put aside that one minor fault, then I would really recommend you give this product a shot, especially over the Christmas period. It also comes in a glittery red colour which I am curious to try out also. Has anyone tried it? Would you say it was a nicer colour in comparison to the 'Diamond Dust' one?