Sample Sessions 03

Long time no sample! ha. Here is the latest instalment of my first impressions on some new-ish products:

Rituals Balancing Body Cream: This has a rich texture that isn't heavy, and a gorgeous warm rose scent which unfortunately doesn't linger. It has a combination of Himalayan honey to soften the skin and Indian rose oil to create a relaxing effect on mind and body. It also has glycerin, shea butter, sunflower oil, vitamin E and cocoa seed butter. I really liked this body cream because of the scent and  how it leaves skin soft and smooth but never sticky.

Caudalie Vinosource SOS Intense Moisturising Cream: this is a super nourishing cream with a medium consistency. The ingredients feature glycerin, squalane, borage seed oil, grape fruit and seed extracts and hyaluronic acid. It has a lovely fruity and slightly fresh scent that I enjoyed very much, however it was a bit too heavy for me so for that reason I wouldn't recommend it unless you have dry skin. 

Simple Daily Skin Detox SOS Clearing: another SOS-in-the-name-product (coincidentally). This product is designed to get rid of oily skin and soothe localised blemishes while reducing their redness. The clear, unscented gel feels ever so slightly tacky when applying, however it dries to a more matte look and feel. I feel like it can be a bit drying as it does contain 10% witch hazel, though it appears to have reduced the frequency of blemishes thanks to the use of thyme and zinc, plus niacinamide (a favourite of mine). The addition of glycerin, allantoin and panthenol help soothe and soften the skin. I would probably purchase this product to use under my daily moisturiser.

Have you tried any of these products?

xo

Braun Silk Epil 9 Flex

Mother's Day Gift Ideas Under £50

Charlotte Tilbury Exaggereyes Palette £40 // The Body Shop British Rose Set £21

Marc Jacobs Daisy Love Eau So Sweet £45 // ASOS Leather Mini Satchel £35

L'Occitane Soothing Skincare Collection £20

Mother's Day will be here in less than 2 weeks so here is my indispensable gift guide for cute and affordable ideas to spoil your mum, all under £50 as always.

xo

Women's Day Sale at Dresslily

In celebration of International Women's Day, Dresslily is offering a 25% off code for orders over $30!

Miniso Green Tea Moisturising Serum

First of all, the packaging is really cute. I love the sturdy frosted glass bottle and the wooden look of the dropper. Also the card tag wrapped around the neck of the bottle, combined with the colours of the packaging make it very visually appealing.

To get the product out, you twist the top of the dropper to the open position then push down, following that you can then take the dropper out of the bottle and dispense the product onto your hands. Unfortunately the dropper can be a bit moody and sometimes not enough product gets into the glass tube.

On to the actual product inside the bottle: this Miniso Green Tea Moisturising Serum is enriched with green tea essence and promises to deeply moisturise and hydrate skin, boost radiance, clarify and even skin tone.

The ingredients include Hyaluronic Acid, Alpha Arbutin, Tea Tree Oil, Tranexamic Acid, Green Tea Extract, Glycerin and Green Tea Seed Oil. These ingredients are helpful in hydrating and calming skin as well as diminishing dark spots.

My use of this serum has been sporadic at times so haven't noticed much of a difference, however the light consistency/fast absorption and reassurance in the ingredients' properties will see me using it until the last drop. That and the extremely affordable price of $79 MXN means I will definitely repurchase (probably even stock up) when I visit Mexico again soon.

Have you tried this serum?

xo

PS. If you're intrigued about Green Tea in skincare read more about it on my previous post. 

Superdrug £10 Off Voucher Code

Superdrug emailed me a not-so-secret-now code that can get you a £10 discount when you spend £60 or more, just in time for payday and to get your Mother's Day gift sorted. But be quick as it ends at midnight on Monday 1st of March 2020.

On Valentine's Day

On Valentine's Day Dotcito spoiled me and got me some flowers, a card (not pictured), skincare and a new pair of trainers.

He selected a couple of items from Cult Beauty, including the Inkey List Retinol that I really wanted to try, The Ordinary Niacinamide + Zinc serum that I can't be without and 2 fresh items, within them the Soy Cleanser and the lip balm from my Valentine's Gift Guide (spoiler alert: it's a really good lip balm).

Dot, as I mentioned before, also kindly got me a new pair of trainers since these were on my wishlist and hadn't gotten new ones in a few years. These are the Fila Disruptors with hearts on the tongue, back and insoles ♥.

xo

The Tiny Bag Edit

M&S Leather Cross Body £40 // Topshop Micro Tote Bag £18

Fjallraven Kanken Sling Bag $65 // ASOS Satin Green Bag £16 // Mango Micro Cross Body £18 UO Pollianna Cross Body $34 // Topshop Pearl Handle Bag £18

You might know that I am a big fan of bags and also happen to love tiny things because of the added cute factor. Luckily for me, tiny bags are in, and they're an adorable accessory that you do not want to be without (even when you won't be able to fit a lot in them). Above are my high street picks of tiny bags. Enjoy!

xo

New In: January 2020

Last month didn't do a lot of shopping, however I did find a couple of things in the sale: a wool and alpaca blend jumper from H&M that was only £5 (£25 originally) and 2 packs of sticky notes for £1 at flying tiger.

Dot got me a set of Pokemon pyjamas from Choice - they're actually my first ever Pokemon apparel item despite becoming a fan of it around the age of 12.

And last but not least, I was in need of a new face wash so I got the Simple Regeneration Age Resisting Face Wash, which I've been trying out so expect a review coming soon.

xo

Meet Me In China Town

For some reason I just love this photograph I took in China Town when we went to see the Christmas Lights in London in December 2017. 

The glowing neon lights and the contrast of the Chinese writing in the middle, plus the colouring and depth of field are something that really caught my attention. That and the fact that the busker started playing Space Oddity as I turned around the corner to this sight, it's like that's the place I was meant to be at that exact moment ha.

You can find this photo to purchase on prints, homeware, stationery and t-shirts on my Red Bubble shop.

xo

Fur and Pearls

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Cleanser

Last year Dot gifted me the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Cleanser, and it's only until now that I'm about to finish it up so I thought I'd write about it ha.

This cleanser promises to boost hydration while leaving skin soft thanks to the hyaluronic acid and hydrating agents. It also mentions that it dissolves oil and makeup without leaving residue and makes skin refreshingly clean and supple. 

I like the lightweight consistency of this cleanser, it lathers very gently and leaves my skin feeling very soft. Also the mild soapy scent is something I enjoy as it has a nostalgic 'public toilet hand wash' smell but in the best possible way. 

The second ingredient in the formula is glycerin, and it also contains some vitamin E, as well as the main selling point ingredient, hyaluronic acid. The use of these ingredients help improve the suppleness of skin. 

Another thing I like about the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Cleanser is the practical packaging, as you won't end up squeezing too much product out compared to a tube. Maybe they could consider selling refill bottles without the pump to save on cost for both company and consumer, but it won't put me off buying this product again as I have enjoyed using it.

Have you tried this Neutrogena cleanser? 

Find Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Cleanser on Amazon and Boots.

xo

Me+ Acacia Collagen Booster

One of the gifts Dot got me for Christmas included the Me+ Acacia Collagen Booster, and I've been using it ever since I received it. 

This serum promises to help plump the skin with the help of a plant derived collagen substitute in a formula that hydrates, nourishes and improves skin condition. 

It says to use it 2 - 3 times a week, so to try and maximise the efficiency of this serum I've been using it 3 times a week, applying 3 drops and massaging them onto my face. 

The consistency is quite runny but it has some slip to it, almost like a very lightweight oil. The Me+ Acacia Collagen Booster has no discernible scent or colour to the formula.

It feels moisturising upon application and I believe it has been making my skin look more plump and it's starting to even out some of the texture. Also the morning after using it (I apply it during my night time skincare routine) my skin feels very soft.

What I like about this range is the simple packaging and formulas, as well as the accessible price points, and even though I haven't used more products from this range I would be open to trying them out. 

Find the Me+ Acacia Collagen Booster in Superdrug.

xo

Radley Valentine's Collection Top Picks

Pink Cake Crossbody Bag £149 // Navy Crossbody Bag £109

Red Heart Zip Purse £39 // Pink Round Bag £169

Pink Enamel Key-ring £15 // Navy Coin Purse £39

You might already know that I am a massive bag fan - it's probably my favourite accessory and I love the mystery that surrounds its secret contents as well as the fact that it can completely change the way an outfit looks, all while carrying your most essential items.

Radley released a new Valentine's collection and my favourite items are shown above. I'm just obsessed with the look of buttery soft leather, cute designs and all the heart accents. 

Will you be treating yourself?

xo

PS. Don't forget to check out my Valentine's Gift Guide with everything under £50.

Video: Winter Lights at Canary Wharf

Last week we went to see the Winter Lights exhibition at Canary Wharf in London, which was an art installation comprised of over 20 different pieces that used lights, sound and water.

There's also a blog post with pictures from the event and if you like them, take a look at my Redbubble shop where you can purchase stationery, apparel and prints with my pictures.

xo

Nivea Lip Butter in Raspberry Rose

Two of my favourite beauty items will always be hand creams and lip balms: I feel like my lips and hands need to be moisturised constantly and thus end up trying a myriad of these products, it's almost like a hobby, ha!

This time it's the turn of Nivea Lip Butter in Raspberry Rose: packaged in a little round pot, it's practical because of the size and sturdy as it's made of recyclable aluminium. Although it contains 

a bit less product than its Vaseline counterpart (3.3 grams to be exact) it still is more product than you would normally get in a 4 g tube. 

The Nivea Lip Butter in Raspberry Rose has a faint strawberry milkshake tone to it, however when applied it looks like it would leave a whitish cast on the lips but this vanishes in moments as it melts onto the lips and feels very moisturising thanks to the use of Shea Butter, Castor Seed Oil, Almond Oil and Glycerin (there's a new formula that leaves out the last 2, as well as the mineral oil and petrolatum, using Shea instead as the main ingredient, and adds avocado and jojoba oils too).

Another aspect that I really enjoy about this lip balm is the scent, it's sweet and fruity and it feels nostalgic as it reminds me of something I can't quite put my finger on. Application is not my favourite as you need to dip your finger in it (not unhygienic unless you don't wash your hands first) because it can be a bit messy and it's not ideal for on the go. 

However it's all forgiven because of the lovely scent and amazing moisturising properties - it makes my lips feel very soft and gets rid of any dry skin. I normally use it before bed and wake up to moisturised and smooth lips which is ideal.

I'd recommend this lip balm if you are looking for a smoothing and softening lip product that is affordable and smells amazing too.

Find Nivea Lip Butters at Superdrug.

xo

Winter Lights At Canary Wharf

Up to 50% Off RedBubble Discount Code

RedBubble is a print on demand website where you can find thousands of different designs printed onto a variety of items such as mugs, t-shirts, stickers, cushions and notebooks, which can make perfect gifts for any person and occasion, while supporting independent artists. 

They have plenty of sale events throughout the year and this time you can get up to 50% off your order with the code YESTO2050. 

So check out my store and see if there's anything that tickles your fancy. Thanks for your support!

xo

Valentine's Gift Ideas Under £50

M&S Lace Bralette Top £16 // Mor Marshmallow Soy Candle £28

Fresh Tinted Lip Balm £19.50

Asos 90s Leather Bag £28 // Lacoste L1212 Sparkling 30ml Gift Set £20

Asos Leather Card Holder £10 // Lacoste L.12.12 Blanc Pour Lui EDT 50ml £35

L'occitane Cade After Shave Balm £25

Tache Tamers Toolbox £14.50 // Casio Digital Watch £23

Valentine's Day is exactly 4 weeks away, so here are some ideas, all under £50 as always, to help you find something to treat that special someone - or even yourself (go on, I won't tell).

xo

Life Lessons

What makes people think that when treating someone consistently a certain way that they do not like  to be treated they'll never grow resentful or reach breaking point and snap back?

Probably the story of my life: always letting people walk all over me, laugh at me, treat me disrespectfully. I've taken a lot of that, which is my own fault, really. But every time I get to the point where I will not allow it any more, suddenly I'm the horrible one. 

This is the way that some people like to take advantage of others they see as weak - I've felt small and scared in many situations, letting people dictate my actions or bully me - it dates all the way back from primary school, through secondary and even my high school years. 

It finally stopped in university but it wasn't for good: at one of my first jobs here in the UK I was also bullied by a colleague around 7 years younger than me. And I let them carry on with it, so it got progressively worse until I got falsely accused of something very serious at work, which is when I decided it was time to report their abuse and make it stop. 

That's what I've learned over the years: I have allowed things like that to happen out of fear of speaking up. I've always been "a good girl" that just does what she's told, afraid of what could happen if I don't, when everyone else gets away with pretty much anything you can think of - even the things I get wrongly accused of doing.

One of my general "rules" in life is to treat people the way they treat me, it's what I've done since I can remember. How I treat people I get along with (family, friends, classmates, co-workers, etc) is what I believe to be a reflection of their treatment towards me. 

Granted, I never mentioned I was perfect, however if someone thinks I have turned into a despicable version of what I used to be, they should have a think about how they treated me in the past. They might realise that they prefer me weak, quiet and submissive so they can bring me down but they need to know that I am not condoning this type of behaviour anymore.

New in: December 2019

Passionflower In Full Bloom

I took this picture a couple of months ago (in September to be exact) of a hypnotising passionflower from the garden out the back of the house. If you are equally mesmerised by flowers as am I, take a look at the products available with this picture in my RedBubble shop (just scroll down to see the full item list).

xo

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year 2020!

May you achieve the goals you set yourself. I wish you prosperity, new meaningful friendships and that you can make a living out of the things you love doing! Not just for this year, but also this new decade and beyond.

xo

Affordable Nail Art Products at StylesNails

*This is a sponsored post.

Stylesnails is one of the largest wholesalers of nail products online, offering a very large range of nail  care, art and decoration related items that include nail gel polish in various collections, glossy and matte top coats and primer gels; regular nail polish; easy to use false nails in different shapes and designs; rhinestones and decorations including bows, flowers, stickers, 3D charms, crystals, pearls and glitter; nail art equipment like resin palettes, tool holders, electric buffers, cotton pads and sets of drill heads; and nail brushes and driers. 

As a part of their artificial nail collection they have the Zebra Pattern Fake Nails, which are an easy way to update your look as they are easy to put on (you just have to press them on) and they come in other different styles too if zebra pattern isn't your thing. 

A few of my favourite nail decorations from StylesNails that I would love to try are shown above: Hamsa hand gold 3D charms with a crystal centre, Sailor Moon decorations in the shape of her transformation brooches, natural dried flowers in pastel colours, and a pot of mixed metallic shapes and pearls. 

If you are interested in nail art as either a professional or just as a hobby, then you would definitely enjoy having a look at the whole range of products on StylesNails, which you can do with just one >>>clic<<<. Happy Shopping!

xo

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! I hope you have an amazing day surrounded by the people you love, that you get spoiled, eat delicious food and feel warm and cosy sharing cuddles with your nearest and dearest.

xo

The Autumn/Winter Skincare Wishlist

As I am about to finish a couple of my skincare products, I wanted to share the ones I've had my eye on for a while:

Superdrug Vitamin C Cleansing Oil: I've used a cleansing oil before (the Simple one), though this one with vitamin C and safflower oil sounds very interesting. 

Simply Pure Hydrating Serum: I've repurchased it a couple of times before, this ceramide serum is great to protect the skin during colder weather (read the full review)

The Ordinary Niacinamide + Zinc Serum: Another product I've been using for a while, a must have for oily skin (full review)

Simple Age Resisting Face Wash: it has nourishing, calming and softening ingredients such as oat extract, camomile, vitamins E, B5 and green tea (discover the benefits of green tea)

La Roche Posay Cicaplast Lips: this lip balm contains panthenol, shea butter, beeswax and MP-lipids to soothe and protect the skin on the lips.

Simple Micellar Water: I've used this one before too, I like that it contains pore purifying niacinamide and calming camomile extract (full review)

Superdrug Vitamin C Peel Mask: another vitamin C product that I'm very interested in trying as it would help fade pigmentation marks and improve collagen production. 

The Inkey List Retinol Serum: this not only has retinol in it, but also peptides which would be of great help with my skin texture issues.

Is there anything on your wishlist?

xo

Nivea MicellAIR Sensitive Skin Micellar Water

With the upcoming holidays you could be wearing a bit more makeup than usual, and after coming home late at night you might want a quick way to remove makeup - which is where micellar water comes in. 

The Nivea MicellAIR Micellar Water for Sensitive Skin is a "3 in 1 makeup remover" that can be used on face, eyes and lips; doesn't need rinsing and claims to effectively remove makeup, cleanse deeply but gently and soothe & hydrate. 

To use this micellar water, I apply it onto a cotton round then swipe gently over my eyes and lips (I stopped using it on my face since I found myself doing that PLUS double cleansing which was a bit too much for me). It effectively removes makeup without the need to rub, doesn't irritate my skin or eyes and it is very easy to use - no need to shake to mix 2 phases or anything like that. 

I like that this micellar water has castor oil, which benefits lash grow; and grape seed oil, which is safe to use on oily skin because of its higher linoleic acid content (46 - 74%). Panthenol and glycerin also help soften and hydrate the skin. The fact that it doesn't need rinsing off is great, though I still do so to avoid drying out the skin or licking it off my lips, as it does have some mild surfactants after all.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this product if you want a gentle makeup remover that you can use all over your face, is effective, quick and easy to use. It comes in 3 different sizes: 100 ml, 200 ml and 400 ml, so there is a size to suit you depending on your needs.

Find Nivea MicellAIR Sensitive Skin Micellar Water in Superdrug.

xo

New In: October & November 2019

Green Tea in Skincare

Source of Nature Toner White & Green Tea £2 // St. Ives Green Tea Scrub £5.65

Tonymoly Green Tea Cleansing Water £16.50 // I Heart Revolution Fixing Spray Green Tea £6

Garnier Pure Active Matcha Clay Detox Mask £6

Simple Age Resisting Facial Wash £4.50 // St. Ives Cleansing Stick Matcha & Green £10

Holika Holika Green Tea Egg Soap £10 // Revolution Skincare Green Tea & Walnut Face Mask £8

e.l.f. Hydrating Serum £14 

Green tea might make a nice alternative to coffee for your morning drink, but did you know how it can benefit your skin when applied topically?

T-Shirt & Pearl Bag

Shop Update

I've been adding more artwork to my Red Bubble shop - all Christmas related. Each design is available in lots (if not all) of possible products. Go take a look and you might find something you like for yourself or as gift for someone this Christmas!

xo

PS. If you haven't already, check out my Christmas Gift Guide with everything under £50.

The Best Black Friday Deals of 2019

One of the biggest sale events of the year is here and if you've had your eye on something for a while or still have some Christmas shopping to do, now is the time as you can take advantage of these great discounts:

Fashion: 

• Topshop: 25%off everything
• ASOS: Up to 70% off everything
• Skinnydip: 30% off everything and up to 70% off sale
• H&M: 20% off everything
• Dresslily: Up to 25% off on orders over $30 with code DLKOL25C

Beauty:

• The Body Shop: 30% off with code 14664
• Glossier: 20% off everything until Monday
• Superdrug: Up to 60% off hundreds of lines
• Yes Style: 15% off with code 2019BLACKFRI + an extra 5% off with my code NAV2019

Stationery:

• Typo: 40% off sitewide
• The Works: up to 25% off when you spen £10 or more with code BLACK25
• Red Bubble: 25 to 60% off everything with code CYBERDEALS (check out my store here)

Will you be treating yourself today?

xo

Christmas Gift Ideas Under £50

Ted Baker Polly Gift Set £24 // Frank Body Cherry Lip Duo £16

The Body Shop Warm Vanilla Set £18 // Hot Water Bottle & Eye Mask £15 // Typo 2020 Diary £12
Gingerbread Woman Pouch £8 // Cashmere Gloves £50 // Skinnydip Peach Travel Mug £14 Trilogy Skincare Set £32 // Topshop Puffer Tote Bag £25

Retro Pocket Gamer £6 // Beard Comb Keyring £7 // The Body Shop Hemp Moisture Gift Set £22

Gingerbread Man Notebook £9.44 // Neal's Yard Energise Collection £45

Superdry Leather Wallet £30 // Wireless Charger £20

Pac Man Alarm Clock £25 // Emanuel Ungaro Art EDT £20 // Dragon Ball Z Hoodie £25

Christmas is only four weeks away and if you haven't decided on what to get for that special someone then this gift guide is for you - everything is under £50 and some items are on offer but I've used the full price on this post so click on your favourite things and you might get a favourable surprise!

Also check out my Secret Santa Gift Guide with all suggestions under £15, perfect for stocking fillers too.

xo

The Ordinary Black Friday Sale

The Ordinary is having a month long sale throughout the whole of November instead of just one day for Black Friday, and 23% off on top of their really affordable prices mean major savings. On my wish list are: 

Sea-Buckthorn Fruit Oil: this organic oil contains high concentrations of omega 7 (or palmitoleic acid), which nourishes and protects skin from free radicals as well as being a DHT blocker, which means fewer hormonal breakouts.

Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%: niacinamide helps with evening skin tone and reducing sebum production, and zinc is antibacterial so it helps with breakouts. A must have for me, I've been using this formula (from this and from other brands) for about 2 years now.

Pycnogenol 5%: this powerful anti inflammatory and antioxidant is helpful in combating free radicals, as well as protecting  collagen and reducing pigmentation. 

100% L-Ascorbic Acid Powder: another antioxidant that helps with collagen production and fading pigmentation, plus the powder formula means you don't have to worry about it losing its potency over time.

Will you be taking advantage of this sale?

xo

Lover-Beauty: Shapewear at Wholesale Prices

This is a sponsored post. 

With the holiday season fast approaching, we want to look our best and sometimes this involves dressing up - whether in fancy dress or actual fancy outfits such as fitted dresses. And sometimes we might need a little help to slip into a dress or to smooth out our shape, which is where Lover-Beauty comes in. 

Lover-Beauty is an online shapewear, lingerie, sportswear, swimwear and women's fashion website with very affordable prices, including some of the best shapewear wholesale prices. And now I will share with you some of my favourite finds from Lover-Beauty.

Above on the left is the Black seamless shaper, which will serve to smooth your figure as well as a base coat if you are wearing a sheer blouse. On the right is the High waist skirt, which will tuck everything in thanks to the ultra high design and will help bodycon dresses look smoother.  

On this picture we have a couple more items that I think are great basics to wear under your holiday outfits: on the left we have the Lace body shaper, which I love the fabric of and the classic black colour means it goes well with almost everything. It features adjustable straps and a lower back, so it's perfect if you are wearing a garment that shows the upper back. And on the right is the Black  seamless body shaper in plain black, which also has adjustable straps but the extra length on the lower half means it will shape the upper tights as well as providing an opaque base for any sheer skirts or dresses. 

As I mentioned before, Lover-Beauty not only does shapewear but also has a section of Christmas costumes wholesale online, which can be handy if you are looking to dress up at a party. And I want to mention that all the items shown above are under $10 USD, so do have a look if you are on a budget.

xo

Cashmere & Denim

Secret Santa Gift Ideas Under £15

Ghost Mini Gift Set £9 // Gingerbread Woman Tote Bag £13.56

Skinnydip Pearl Drop Earrings £10

Dove Shower + Diffuser Set £10 // Burt's Bees Lip Butter £5

Nivea XL Gift Set £7.50 // Men's Gingerbread Man Socks £13.42

Henry Screen Wipe £6

Ted Baker Mini Trio £12.50 // Bulldog Beard Care Kit £15

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas so here is a collection of gifts perfect for your secret Santa or maybe for stocking fillers as they are all under £15. Some of them are currently on offer so will cost even less, though I put the full price next to each link. My full Christmas gift guide is out now, so do check it out for even more ideas!

xo

Linen & Stripes

H&M T-Shirt // Galatea Loafers // H&M Linen Trousers

(Similar: Striped T-Shirt, Leather Loafers, Linen Trousers)

One summer afternoon in Canvey Island, wearing a pair of breezy linen trousers, striped t-shirt and leather loafers. Wearing all past seasons items that are no longer available (as most of the time ha). Does that make me a bad fashion blogger or a good one? ;P

xo

La Derniere Danse by Indila

A music video recommended to my by Youtube: La Derniere Danse by Indila. I really like the intensity of the song and I think the clips chosen complement it perfectly - they are from the movie La Belle Personne, which I haven't watched yet but looks like something I'd enjoy as I'm a fan of dramas. The blue undertone, the aesthetic and styling has made me add it onto my watch list.

xo