Dress & Long Cardigan

H&M Camel Cardigan // Zaful Leather Mules // H&M Knitted Dress

(Similar: Knitted Dress, Leather Mules)

You know the feeling when you see someone wearing something that you love, then you ask them where they got it from because you just have to know (and might go and buy it for yourself) and they say "it's vintage"? It's a bit annoying but it has inspired me to try it for myself, so this weekend we are going to visit some charity shops and hopefully will find something amazing. I will be on the lookout for books, vinyls, jeans and basket bags (!).

xo

Night Skincare Routine

As I love discovering new products other people use and find it useful when they provide reviews about them, I decided to write about my skincare routine. It also serves as a log to remind me what products I've been using and what I think of them. 

To take my makeup off I use the Avene Extremely Gentle Cleanser, which I found at the clearance section in Boots for just £1. I kept it in the back of a drawer for ages and decided it was time to try it out before it went out of date (!). I like that it is very gentle and doesn't irritate my skin or eyes when I use it, it removes makeup well but you do need to go over the area a second time to completely remove it. I would probably buy it again when on offer as it is not the most affordable product. 

Having won in a giveaway a set of Clarins deluxe sample sized products, I tried to save them for when I went away on holiday, and that's when I started using the Clarins Instant Eye Makeup Remover, which is a bi-phase product that you need to shake in order to use. It is very effective and removes all my eye makeup without having to rub or having to wipe twice. It is quite pricey for the size of it so I don't think I would actually buy it. 

Normally I only use one product to take my eye and face makeup off, so after finishing the products above I will stick to the Simple Micellar Water to do the job.

For cleanser I've been using the Una Brennan Super Facialist Neroli Daily Brightening Cleanser, which is actually a repurchase, can't even remember if it is my 2nd or 3rd bottle. Anyway, I like that it doesn't foam up so won't dry up my skin and it contains several natural oils and extracts which leave my skin feeling soft and clean but not tight. Full review here. 

After cleansing I would use a serum until I discovered that face oils can be really good for problem skin like mine. I've been using the Botanics Triple Age Renewal Smoothing Facial Oil and at first I didn't like how my skin felt kind of greasy when I had just washed it, but then I got used to it ha. My skin feels soft and I think it is also helping with pores as some of them are actually invisible now below my under eye area. It used to be just £4 which is why I got it, then Boots decided to more than double the price and I can't currently find it online, even after being told it has not been discontinued. Full review here.

After my oil I apply some benzoyl peroxide to any problem areas, though I'm trying to reduce how much I use it, and after that I put some night cream on. This is also a repurchase, the Naturally Radiant Renewing Night Cream, which I apply on my face and neck and I love how plump my skin looks and feels when I wake up in the morning. Full review here.

If there are any areas where I want to help my skin regenerate in order to avoid texture issues from scarring, I use a dab of Vitacilina, which contains retinol and helps with that. Full review here.

Lastly for my facial skincare routine, I apply some eye cream and right now I'm using the Garnier Skin Naturals Ultra Lift Eye Cream. As the skin under the eyes is so delicate and prone to show lines way before the rest of the facial skin would I try to keep it moisturised and protected. This eye cream is supposed to smooth the skin and improve firmness but I haven't seen that much of a difference to the skin under my eyes. I do like that it is very lightweight and it seems to have light reflecting particles which can brighten up the area.

Have you tried any of these products?

xo

Camel Coat

H&M Camel Coat // Uniqlo Sweatshirt // Topshop Leigh Jeans // New Balance 420

(Similar: Sweatshirt)

I found this coat in my local H&M for just £20 in the sale section, so of course I had to get it. I had been looking for a camel colour coat for the last 2 winters, so I'm thrilled to have finally found one that I like. I actually tried it on in my size when it was full price and didn't like how it fit, even though it is a bit oversized, but then when I saw it on sale the smallest size I could find was 2 sizes bigger than my actual size, so the coat is huge but I love it because that makes it super cosy and there's lots of room to fit more layers underneath when it is really cold outside. 

xo

Champneys Citrus Blush

Some time ago I found a Champneys gift set with travel size products from the Citrus Blush range in the clearance section in Boots for a mere £3. I started using the products when I went on holiday but stopped when I got back from my holiday and have recently rediscovered them. 

The set came in a travel bag with a clear panel on the front which is very practical, and it contained a hand cream, a body lotion and a shower cream. 

The Champneys Citrus Blush Shower Cream smells amazing, kind of powdery and soft, it's also very creamy and lathers well, leaving skin smelling great and feeling soft. The Champneys Citrus Blush Body Lotion has a slightly different scent, not as powdery but still with a citrus fragrance, and it absorbs very quickly, leaving skin feeling moisturised and soft. 

The Champneys Citrus Blush range has since been reformulated an repackaged and I haven't tried the new versions but I would really like to try more bath and body products from Champneys' other ranges.

Have you tried Champneys products?

xo

Denim Skirt & Mules

H&M Jumper // Topshop Skirt // Zaful Mules // Topshop Bag

(Similar: White Jumper, A Line Skirt, Leather Bag)

It might sound like a little bit of an odd combination and I never thought I would actually wear this type of shoe but I saw these on the Zaful website and I knew I had to at least try them. When they arrived I noticed that they are very well made (they're 100% leather) and even though I got a size smaller than normal because they didn't have my size, they fit perfectly as they are backless so there's no rubbing on my heels and I won't need to break them in.

Anyway, I've loved this skirt since I started seeing it everywhere last year and then finally decided to get one, so I try to wear it every chance I get, and now that it's been sunny (but still kind of fresh) I thought it would be a great chance to wear it with my Zaful mules, which are a great dupe for the Gucci ones, and a cosy oversized jumper in a contrasting colour. 

Can't wait until it gets that little bit warmer so I can wear my summery pieces more, though I want to get some wear out of the new coat I got last weekend (!).

xo

Dresslily & Zaful Haul Video

Un video sobre los productos que me han mandado de Dresslily y Zaful.

For individual reviews of the products in English: Unicorn Tears Bag & Watch, Metallic Bag and Christmas Jumper, Black Tote.
xo

Grey Skirt

Topshop Pink Sweatshirt // Uniqlo Circle Skirt // Adidas Stan Smith // Pretty Polly Tights

(Similar: Pink Sweatshirt, Grey Skirt, Fleece Tights)

Lately I've been feeling like I want to be more active and have been thinking about playing tennis. There is a tennis court nearby where Dot and I could go and I can't wait for it to get a bit warmer so we can go and play. 

This is a bit of a tennis inspired outfit, with the Stan Smith and the skirt. I've also been thinking about getting a tennis skirt but so far I've only seen one in H&M and I'm not 100% sure if I like it enough to buy it. If you know any places that sell tennis skirts let me know!

xo

Garnier Pure Active Sensitive Range

As I was on the lookout for a new face wash and a mattifying moisturiser, when searching online for a product to try I discovered there was a new Pure Active Sensitive range from Garnier, which I decided to purchase as it was on offer. 

The Garnier Pure Active Gel Wash is formulated for sensitive skin with imperfections and has a gentle but effective formula against blemishes. It contains zinc which eliminates impurities without drying out skin, witch hazel soothes and refreshes and salicylic acid which ligthly exfoliates. I've been using this face wash for a couple of weeks now and I like how my skin feels clean but not stripped and tight after using. It has a nice fresh smell to it, lightly lathers and washes off easily.

The Garnier Pure Active Soothing Moisturiser also contains witch hazel, salicylic acid and zinc to purify and minimise marks without drying out the skin, as well as glycerin to hydrate with a non greasy nor sticky finish. I apply this moisturiser after washing my face each morning and before putting on my day cream as this doesn't have SPF in it, which is a shame. It does feel lightly moisturising and is not shiny or greasy at all but it feels ever so slightly tacky when I apply my day cream on top. Be careful to dry your face before you use this or it might sting.

I'm not sure why they don't mention using salicylic acid on the formula as it is an effective ingredient that fights spots, oil and marks by lightly exfoliating the skin when it is even higher on the list of ingredients than the zinc - or why moisturisers for oily skin never have SPF. Overall it is a nice affordable range of products for oily and spot prone skin that is gentle and doesn't dry my skin out. As for the spot reducing claims, I thought I was having good results but then my skin decided to break out in a few places but it was probably hormonal, so not much could be done about that anyway.

Find the Garnier Pure Active Sensitive Range in Superdrug.

xo

New in: February 2017

I bought a couple of skincare bits from Superdrug, including the Simple Micellar Water and the Palmers Skin Therapy Face Oil for less than £8 and got a free mini Versace Bright Crystal perfume bottle.

In Southend Dot got me a pink H&M tray and I got a mini Radley notebook from TK Maxx. 

Then in Romford I got some sponges and a Lotta Jansdotter notebook. The benefit They're Real mini mascara came free with a magazine and found the Dr. Bronner's Orange Castile Soap for under £1 in Tesco.

Also ordered a couple of things from H&M but they're too big :'( hope I can find them in store to swap for a smaller size instead of reordering as I got 20% off.

xo