3.6.21
1.6.21
Team Skincare Collection
Some people love makeup, while others prefer skincare - if you are part of the latter group (as am I) then you might enjoy showing off that you are #teamskincare with one of the pieces above, which are my latest design and is now available in my RedBubble shop.
This new Team Skincare collection includes apparel, stationery and homeware plus you can save 20 - 60% off with the code FINDYOURTHING, but hurry because it ends tonight!
xo
27.5.21
How To Repair a Damaged Skin Barrier
Recently I had been feeling that my skin was getting dry and tight, but it took me quite a long time to realise that it was because my skin barrier was compromised.
I had been exfoliating almost every day for weeks (stupidly following some "simple" routine for breakout prone skin I saw in a magazine), giving it a few days rest a couple of times here and there, thinking maybe my skin type had changed and became dry because of central heating and dehumidifiers, and while that may have contributed, it was definitely not the main cause.
Now that it feels like my skin is ruined I'm on the search for nourishing and gentle products that can help accelerate recovery and repair my damaged barrier, and some ingredients that could help are:
Vitamin B5: It is hydrating, anti-inflammatory and stimulates the skin's repair process.
Find it in The Ordinary Amino Acids + B5 £5.90 and La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Lavant B5 £12
Other ingredients to look out for are Peptides or Amino acids which can be moisturising and calming, and Niacinamide which can help reduce redness. Some of the products on the list already contain these ingredients as well.
So pictured above are some products I will be looking out for in my next shopping trip. I will let you know how it goes, and remember: exfoliating every day is never a good idea.
xo
25.5.21
Vaseline Expert Care Instant Dry Skin Rescue
A couple of weeks ago I was sent the Vaseline Expert Care Instant Dry Skin Rescue to try out and provide some feedback on. Now that the survey has been answered it is review time!
The Vaseline Expert Care Instant Dry Skin Rescue is a body lotion for very dry skin that claims to help repair it from the 1st use thanks to a "fast dry skin healing formula" containing Hyaluronic Acid, Glycerin and Vaseline Jelly.
The ingredients are quite basic, yet effective at moisturising and locking in hydration. The second ingredient is glycerin which is a great humectant that works similarly to hyaluronic acid, however the smaller sized molecule is capable of getting absorbed more effectively by the skin.
I liked how even though the formula is meant for very dry skin it is still very comfortable to use, not being heavy on the skin or leaving a sticky residue, and leaving actually a velvety finish. The product is unscented so it would be ideal to use on sensitive skin as well. The only issue I have with this product is that it could have been packaged differently so that the product can be dispensed more easily, so storing the bottle upside down might be helpful.
If you would like to try a gentle, basic but effective moisturiser that is not heavy or greasy I would recommend trying Vaseline Expert Care Instant Dry Skin Rescue.
Find the Vaseline Expert Care Instant Dry Skin Rescue in Feel Unique and Superdrug.
xo
21.5.21
Update Your Hairstyle With Uniwigs
*This is a sponsored post.
Have you ever wanted to try a new and completely different hair style but were too scared to actually commit to it? Or maybe you always dreamed of having waist length hair but for some reason your hair refused to grow past a certain length. Perhaps you wish you could dye your hair a new colour (jet black or even pastel pink) but worried that it could damage your natural hair.
Well, that is where today's sponsor comes in: Uniwigs, which is an online wig store that offers human hair and synthetic wigs, hair extensions, hair toppers and pieces for women who want to feel more confident and to look their best. It doesn't matter if you want to try a wig for fashion, for fun or to conceal hair loss or thinning hair, as you will be able to find the perfect product for your needs at Uniwigs.
As we are currently in spring it is the perfect time to experiment with pastels - I've been after a pastel yellow cardigan a bit unsuccessfully but that's a different story - and Uniwigs has some lovely pastel pink wigs available. See above for my personal favourite offerings: on the left we have the Tonya, a pastel pink shoulder length synthetic lace front wig. It comes in a sleek straight hair style with blunt ends and visible dark roots to add a more natural, grown-in look and give it an edgy twist. On the right side we have the Peach Sorbet, which is a synthetic lace front wig in a short and wavy pink bob with a fringe. This wig would be suited for a more sweet, girly look, thanks to the lighter pink colour and the soft waves.
If you are not the biggest fan of pink hair, then you will be delighted to know that Uniwigs also carries products in a multitude of colours, including even ombre wigs. However if you have always wondered how you would look like with Rapunzel-style lengths, then you can now easily find out with one of the super long wigs on sale at the Uniwigs website.
Above you can see a couple of my favourite long wigs, on the left we have the Macarons, a synthetic layered long pastel blue lace front wig, which features beyond-waist length in a baby blue shade, complete with dark grey roots that give a slightly more natural looking transition. This pastel wig would look great in the spring because of its light shade, but also during winter as it uses a cool tone for lengths and roots. On the right we have the Becky, a synthetic long bleach blonde wavy lace front wig, which can be very versatile, as you can style it in many different ways. For inspiration look to Daenerys Targaryen!
Have you every tried wigs before?
xo
20.5.21
18.5.21
13.5.21
New Adidas Tennis Luxe Collection
Adidas has recently launched a tennis-inspired collection called Tennis Luxe which is full of items in pastel as well as neutral colours that can be mixed and matched. Wear with your favourite edition of Stan Smith trainers for an instant sporty-cute look ;)
xo
11.5.21
The Body Shop Body Butter Packaging Evolution
6.5.21
Garnier Micellar Rose Water
4.5.21
Naturally Radiant Hot Cloth Cleanser & Glycolic Toner
A while back I ordered some products from Superdrug and received a free set of mini Naturally Radiant products, including the Brightening Hot Cloth Cleanser and the 5% Glycolic Acid Toner.
29.4.21
Pink & Pearls
Experimenting with pastel colours and cosy, fluffy textures, contrasting it all with silver and pearls (lots of them, on my hair, on my ears and on my hand in the form of a beaded bag!). These joggers are actually cuffed at the bottom but I tucked them in to turn them into a straight leg style.
On other news, been watching Them on Amazon Prime - if you like creepy series then do check it out ;D
xo
27.4.21
10 Rose Skincare Products To Try This Spring
Flowers are the main feature of spring, and roses are my favourite bloom so to celebrate spring I've compiled a list of rose products that I love (marked with a ♥) plus a few that I would love to try as well.
22.4.21
New in: March 2021
This year I've started to get more consistent work and with that also more consistent income (yay!) so I've started to treat mahself a bit more. Here are some of the things I got last month:
Dotcito also spoiled me and got me a Peanuts Sweatshirt and a L'Oréal Extraoirdinary Oil Conditioner; as well as a Korres Japanese Rose Hand Cream and the Garnier Organic Lemongrass Face Wash.
Last month I received a couple of samples from Yves Saint Laurent, the Libre EDT and Touche Eclat Le Teint. Another sample I received was the Dr Hauschka Balancing Day Lotion.
Last but not least is a mini Superdrug haul, where I got the Naturally Radiant Glow Prebiotic Booster, Botanical Lab Pumpkin & Papaya Enzyme Exfoliator, and the Beauty Laundrette Pink Satin Creamy Body Wash and Whipped Body Moisturiser.
Did you get anything nice last month?
xo
20.4.21
Sample Sessions 05
15.4.21
Mohair & Emerald
H&M Jumper // Femme Luxe Trousers* // Primark Headband // ASOS Boots // Topshop Hairclip // Fila Disruptor Trainers
(Similar: Grey Jumper, Jewel Headband, Pearl Hair Clip, Platform Boots)
You wouldn't think we are in spring yet as it has still been snowing in some places (including the south of England) in the last couple of weeks.
Here's an outfit that I hadn't shared, from when I styled the pieces I received from Femme Luxe in a few different ways.
Using the same base outfit of a mohair jumper and the high waisted wide leg trousers, I changed the accessories and shoes to create a dressy and a casual version.
Might have a look in the shops this weekend to see if I can find any nice pieces to update my wardrobe for this new season - and finally spend a couple of vouchers I have won ;D
xo
13.4.21
Help Simplify Plastic Recycling by Signing BetterYou's Petition
Founded by Andrew Thomas in 2006, BetterYou was the first company in the world to develop a topically applied magnesium and nutritional oral spray and has been pioneering product development in this area ever since.
BetterYou is passionate about reducing their impact on the environment and have worked hard over the past two years to move their entire product range into either ocean waste or plant-based plastic – all 100% recyclable.
Now, BetterYou want to lobby local and national government to make an even bigger difference, and they need our help, as their petition demands a national, unified programme for waste plastic collection and recycling which is standardised, independently monitored, and publicly reviewed annually.
This will help reduce the amount of plastic that gets sent into landfill, as recycling procedures are currently very complicated in some cases and not all of the plastic sent for recycling actually gets processed.
The goal is to achieve 10,000 signatures to enable the petition to be responded to by government.
Read more about it and sign the petition here.
xo
Everyday Shapewear at Durafits
*This is a sponsored post.
As the sun is starting to make its appearance more frequently every day for we are heading slowly but steadily towards summer, the idea of wearing lots of layers that will keep you warm as well as conceal your figure starts to sound less and less appealing.
Sometimes, especially after an extremely long period of way less physical activity than we would normally carry out, our fitness level can diminish, maybe our weight fluctuated, and our confidence might have gone down as our shape changed.
Which is where today's sponsor Durafits shapewear comes in, they have the radical belief that comfortable shapewear can be body positive, as their goal is to optimize life through cosy shapewear. Committed to providing high-quality, breathable and comfortable products, Durafits wants women of all shapes and sizes to be able to enjoy life and show off their natural unique beauty.
At Durafits you can find a variety of shaper shorts, which will help smooth your figure if you are worried about how any fitted trousers, shorts or dresses might look. Pictured above are a couple of my favourites: on the left we have a plus size option, these shapewear shorts offer breathable, comfortable soft compression to tone the tummy and hips, while enhancing the back. It features hook and eye closure and also helps improve posture. On the right we have a black open bust body shaper with a side zip. It has removable and adjustable straps, plastic bones to the sides of the garment to prevent rolling and a delicate lace trim on the legs.
If you plan on wearing fitted tops or figure hugging dresses, then you might be interested in shapewear bodysuits, as they will help enhance the top part of your body. A couple of my favourites from Durafits are shown above: on the left is a great option for low cut tops as it features a deep v-neck design with adjustable wide straps for added support. On the right we have a nude coloured option for all your tops in light colours and sheer fabrics. This cling free fabric bodysuit has a scoop neckline with stretchy material over the bust for comfortable wear.
What are you planning to wear this summer?
xo
8.4.21
E45 Dry Scalp Shampoo
After trying a couple of products with the zinc pyrithione replacement Piroctone Olamine and not finding it as effective as its predecessor, I found the E45 Dry Scalp Shampoo, which is a "gentle, effective shampoo for dry, itchy scalps and dandruff".
A few years back I tried a couple of E45 moisturisers, so I was aware that it was a brand known for its gentle, hydrating products and decided to try their shampoo.
The E45 Dry Scalp Shampoo is perfume free and hypoallergenic, and it's designed to provide relief and gentle cleansing for dry, itchy and flaky scalps, while protecting hair and giving it body and shine.
This product contains glycerin and panthenol to soften and hydrate the scalp and hair, as well as climbazole, which is a topical antifungal ingredient commonly used to treat dandruff and eczema.
After using the E45 Dry Scalp Shampoo for a few weeks I can say that it does work, it reduces the flakes and itching on my scalp without drying it or my hair out. It doesn't really lather but cleanses well, it has a medium thick texture that feels like a lotion, and it just has a plain moisturiser smell.
What I also like about it is that it has made my hair less greasy and it stays clean for longer between washes, so I can finally go an extra day without washing it instead of having to do it every other day as I had been because other products made my hair greasy.
I would definitely recommend this shampoo if you are suffering with a dry, itchy or flaky scalp, and also if your hair gets greasy too soon after washing.
The E45 Dry Scalp Shampoo is available at Lloyds Pharmacy and Superdrug.
xo
6.4.21
No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced Eye Cream
1.4.21
Bodyform Intima Wear Period Underwear
A few weeks back I got kindly sent a pair of the new Intima Wear Period Underwear by Bodyform to try out.
- The top layer is soft and moisture-wicking to absorb blood quickly, which avoids leaks.
- The middle layer is super-absorbent and treated with an antimicrobial substance (Copper Zeolite) to hold moisture and odour for up to 8 hours.
- The bottom layer is leak-proof and breathable at the same time.
I tested a pair of the Bikini style in black for just under 8 hours and I was pleasantly surprised at how comfortable they were. It almost feels like normal underwear except for the padding which goes up to the lower third on the back section, in a straight line (instead of the usual rounded shape of a pad) which I could feel when I first put them on but as time went on I got used to it. Also I didn't experience any leaks so they actually do work.
One of the benefits of using the Intima Wear Period Underwear is that 88% less waste is produced and it has 66% less impact on the environment when compared to the use of 100 single-use towels together with an underwear washed 50 times.
You can expect the Bodyform Intima Wear up to achieve full performance for up to a minimum of 50 washes. However you need to hand rinse cold (if you can) after use, then wash at 40° without any fabric softener and you can hang or tumble dry on low.
While it is great that big companies are moving towards creating more sustainable sanitary products, I don't believe that this item is very practical or fits in seamlessly in the lifestyle of a 21st century woman, in fact it feels like it takes you back over half a century when disposable diapers hadn't been invented and women had to constantly wash the cloth versions.
The full responsibility of decades of non-sustainable waste created because it was the only option shouldn't all fall on the consumer's shoulders. Yes, period underwear might be more sustainable ecologically but not monetarily. If you want to buy a couple of the Bodyform Intima Wear to use over 4 days, considering they are guaranteed to work for up to 8 hours, you would need to buy 6 of them, which would come to just under £150. Taking into account that they are only guaranteed to last for 50 uses, it means they would last for about 8 months.
Compare that to using a pack of 12 disposable towels a month that you can get for £1: 8 months worth of pads would be £8, less than a third of the price of one piece of period underwear, plus it is much more practical if you need to change into a new one as you don't have to hand rinse in cold water, put it in the washing machine or worry it won't be leak-proof after 8 hours of use. Or just imagine if you worked full time and tried using period underwear - how inconvenient it would be.
What I would like to see and try in the future are more options for biodegradable sanitary products that are comfortable, work well and aren't overpriced - it is possible, see biodegradable makeup and baby wipes for example.
I wold recommend the Bodyform Intima Wear not so much for regular use but maybe for an emergency, as in bringing them with you or wearing them when you might be getting your period but aren't sure (shout out to my fellow irregular cycle girls out there) or for long haul trips or flights for the same reason. Or maybe on the last few days of your period so they don't become an absolute chore when having to rinse and wash them. Otherwise I don't find them to be that practical.
The Intima Wear Period Underwear by Bodyform comes in 2 styles: Bikini and Hipster, as well as 2 colours (black and burgundy) and they have sizes XS to XL available (6-20 UK).
If you would like to give the Bodyform Intima Wear Period Underwear a try, you can get your own on the Bodyform website, and I have a discount code for you: use FLOWWITHTRND10 for 10% off your purchase until 31st of May 2021 (limited to one per customer and can't be combined with other codes).
Have you tried period underwear?
xo
30.3.21
5 Cleansers Under £15 to Try this Spring & Summer
Spring is finally here, and with that the need to adjust our skincare routines, which is why I have handpicked a couple of lightweight facial cleansers and micellar waters to wash and remove makeup now that the temperature is (hopefully) steadily rising.
Garnier Organic Lemongrass Detox Gel Wash £6
Designed for combination skin with organic lemongrass and anti-inflammatory organic cornflower water.
Have you tried any of these cleansers?
xo
25.3.21
Superdrug B. Pure Micellar Water
23.3.21
LUSH Lashes Lengthening Mascara
Recently I was kindly sent the new LUSH Lashes Lengthening Mascara, which is a "cruelty-free and volumising jet black mascara with natural lash conditioning ingredients to deliver long-lasting volume, separation and luscious lengths".
This mascara is definitely jet-black, I like how the brush prevents application from becoming clumpy, plus it has great hold. As my lashes are naturally quite dark I didn't really see any extreme lengthening, however I liked the natural look and how long lasting it is.
Something I noticed is that because of the hold it provides, my lashes felt a bit stiff at the end of the day and it was a bit painful removing it - a similar feeling to letting your hair down after wearing it up all day, if you know what I mean.
If you are looking for a long lasting, truly black mascara that is lengthening but still natural looking then I would recommend the Lush Lashes Lengthening Mascara.
Find the Lush Lashes Lengthening Mascara on the Lush website (RRP £15.50)
xo
19.3.21
Achieve New Certifications With SPOTO
*This is a sponsored post.
With the current need to stay at home, some people started also working from home, while others weren't able to do their job remotely. It was advised that people retrained in order to be able to earn money while we were all in lockdown, however I believe that was a bit extreme. You could maybe consider doing some courses in those subjects that you were always interested in but never had the time or were too scared to try. So maybe just a new certification is all you need to be able to earn some money while we wait to get back to normal.
Which is where our sponsor comes in, at Spotoclub they have AWS solutions architect practice exams, to help you feel confident by the time you need to take your real AWS certification exam.
What is AWS? AWS stands for Amazon Web Services, which is a cloud platform that offers over 200 services from data centres globally, from infrastructure technologies such as storage and databases to emerging technologies, like Artificial Intelligence and machine learning, as well as analytics.
At Spotoclub they have a 7 step guide to help you successfully pass your AWS Certified Solutions Architect Exam, including Learning test-taking strategies for this particular exam, such as using an elimination process to answer questions and utilizing some question to answer other questions in the exam. Another tip they provide in their guide is to take SPOTO practice exams, which contain the most challenging questions you would be presented with on the exam, in turn making the actual test relatively easier than the practice one.
So if you are thinking of getting an AWS certification take a look at the AWS certification question bank on SPOTOCLUB, as it contains questions and answers you would find in the real exam, and it will help you find out what your strengths and weaknesses are and reinforce your knowledge on the areas that need it.
Take your certification tests with confidence with the help of SPOTO.
xo
18.3.21
Creating an Affordable Home Office
After the success of my previous interior design post where I shared how to build an affordable dressing room (it's one of my most popular posts ever) I thought about creating another post but this time aimed at building an affordable home office, as a lot of people began working from home and started new businesses during the last 12 months.
I really like modern, sleek and functional pieces of furniture, and everything featured in this post is under £100, so there's no excuse not to upgrade your home office as a nice workspace can help inspire you and increase productivity.
Which piece is your favourite?
xo
16.3.21
Top 5 Asian Beauty Must Haves
A hand cream with ceramides in a pretty floral fragrance.
xo












































