My Travel Toiletry Essentials

I'm currently in organisation overdrive - trying to plan for my holiday to Mexico in a weeks time! I'm at that stage where I'm trying to plan outfits for the week, without wearing anything I want to take on my travels. I want to make sure everything is planned before I leave, so packing next Friday should be (cross fingers) seamless and easy! I'll be doing a few posts about my upcoming holiday, so look out for them, especially if you like planning blog posts - I know I do... I'm such a snooper! So without further a do, here are my top picks for travel toiletries!

Hair:

For my hair I've decided to go for the Charles Worthington Shine Booster Shampoo and the Moisture Seal Conditioner. I find when I go on holiday my hair can become very dry due to the exposure to sun, so these two - although they aren't an original pair - are perfect, the Shine Booster should inject some gloss into my hair and the Moisture Seal should help revive it. I got these both in full size because I'm away for 11 days and I'll probably end up washing my hair most days so I'll need them to be larger than the mini travel sizes. I also picked up the Sunshine Protector Leave In Spray, also by Charles Worthington. It acts as a suncream but for your hair, to help prevent from damage, drying and fading. This is enriched with Moringa Seed Oil to help with moisture and shine, leaving hair protected, replenished and lightly scented. 

Body & Basics:

My body wash of choice is the Dove Go Fresh Body Wash in the scent Blue Fig and Orange Blossom. I love love love the smell of this, it's so fresh and exactly what I'm going to need to freshen up after being out all day in the sun. There's also a few basics like my deodorant, just a basic Soft and Gentle in Lavender and Patchouli, my razor, a Venus Spa Breeze disposable, my toothbrush, toothpaste etc!

Skincare:

I've tried to stick as close as possible to my normal skincare routine, so I've made sure I have my cleanser, eye cream, serum and moisturiser all the same as I have when I'm at home. I ordered the Bioderma Micellar Water as I really didn't want to take my 400ml Garnier version and this was the only one I knew which was small enough. I was also really intrigued to try the Bioderma version, so this small bottle is perfect. The cleanser of choice is of course my Liz Earle original cleanser, I was given this smaller size at an event at work, which is perfect for taking on holiday! The serum is my Body Shop Vitamin E Serum, it's a bit more gel-like than other serums so it's nice and cooling - perfect after a day sunning myself! Next up is my Una Brennan Vitamin C Brightening Eye Cream and my Eucerin moisturiser. I'm also bringing along a small can of the Avene Thermal Spring Water, which I'll use as a toner but it'll also be handy to use in the day to cool off. Finally, I've got a small packet of the Yes to Cucumber Soothing Facial Wipes. These are more for on the plane but should be handy to have with me for whenever, they're also hypoallergenic which is good because I have very sensitive skin at times.

Sun Care:

I've switched up my sun care this year and gone for the Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration in SPF 30. I'm also bringing along my trusty Piz Buin Ultra Dry Touch Fluid, again in SPF 30 -I don't know about you but I'm really not a fan of feeling sticky so hence the dry touch suncream! I've also opted for the Dry Touch Face Fluid, this time in SPF 15, but I also have a 30 just in case. For After-sun, I've gone for another Hawaiian Tropic line, one I've used before and absolutely love, the Silk Hydration After-sun Lotion. 

So thats it, an inside look at my holiday toiletry essentials! Is there anything you like to take with you when you go away?

Emma x

Body Shop Beauty Gems

Body Shop are full of some amazing products, all tailored to your own personal wants and needs. They have a collection of skincare, body and beauty products, always coming out with the next best thing. They also offer up to 9 different types of skincare to suit your skin ranging from Aloe to calm, Vitamin E for sensitive, Tea Tree for blemish prone skin and Vitamin C for brightening, along with a lot more. 

I am a massive fan of the Body Shop and recently realised they have released their own beauty gems, so I thought why not show you mine?! This was a tough decision to narrow it down but I managed it -- just!

So let's begin! 

First up is the Tea Tree Oil, I brought this in a pack with the Tea Tree Pore Minimiser and they have both proved effective at tackling blemishes. The oil is great at reducing the appearance of blemishes, without over drying the skin. Another positive of the Tea Tree collection is that it is an antibacterial, so can soothe the skin, and not spread infection. I personally use the Pore Minimiser more, it's really good at dealing with pores, and with the antibacterial properties its not going to spread any dirt around. Along with this it's also a great primer which mattifies the skin, leaving it feel fresh and pure. The oil I find I use sparingly, a small amount on cotton wool will do the job, and I only use this when I'm suffering from a real bad skin day!

The Vitamin E range was the first one I came across when I discovered the Body Shop did skincare, wayyyy back when. I think the Face Mist was the first skincare product I ever brought from them. This product is perfect for so many things - after your skincare routine, morning or night, to set make up, or as a pick me up in the middle of the day. It's a refreshing light mist which moisturises and protects your skin throughout the day. It also smells gorgeous, with a delicate rosewater scent. The other product I chose as a beauty gem from the Vitamin E range is a new (ish) discovery. I have been wanting a serum for a while, trying loads of different testers and not finding quite what I wanted, until I found this - the Vitamin E Serum in Oil. This product is a bit of a game-changer... It's not just a serum, but it has the benefits of one. It claims to give 8 hours of beauty sleep and leaves your skin looking recharged, replenished and softer - all three of which I can vouch for! 

The Vitamin C Microdemabrasion came to me when I was in need a new face scrub. This product has fine micro particles and crushed garnet stones to remove dead skin cells to reveal a brighter, more radiant complexion. You can only use this once or twice a week as it's quite an intense scrub, but you shouldn't need it much more than that. 

The Seaweed Mask is something I found last year. This mask draws out impurities and controls excess oil on the skin, so it's definitely a good buy if you suffer from oily or combination skin. The mask is also clarifying and refreshing. I find I only use it on my T-zone and I always see an improvement.

Finally, a non-skincare product - the Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder. I have the shade fair matte and it's a great match for my skin.This bronzer works well for giving a soft contouring look and a beautiful sunkissed glow. I would highly recommend it!

So that's it, they're my Body Shop Beauty Gems, do you have any favourites from the Body Shop? If you want to see their chosen Gems then just click the link here.

Emma xx

Night Time Heroes!

I mentioned this on my Instagram this week and totally forgot to post it! I just wanted to round up a few of my night time heroes which are part of my routine, so without further a do...

First up is the Patchouli and Clove Hand Cream from the Florence and Anne Collection from Boots. I think these first came out over Christmas and I've had my eye on them for a while... they're very Jo Malone-esque, with fragrances, hand creams, soaps, candles, diffusers and much more on offer! I chose this scent because  for some reason I felt drawn to it... I love patchouli and with the clove it's quite a rich, intense smell. The cream itself isn't too greasy and soaks in well.

I love a good serum and the Body Shop's Vitamin E Overnight Serum is the answer to my prayers! I love the Body Shop and I know I can trust them with my skin so I had no worries trying this one out. This is no normal serum, it's a serum in oil, so a little different to other night serums in the market, but gives you benefits of both a serum and an oil. The Body Shop claims that this can give you 8 hours of beauty sleep for your skin, promises to leave your skin looking well rested, replenished and recharged, and that it is non greasy and fast absorbing. My own opinions ring true with what the Body Shop suggest -- I've really noticed a difference in my skin, it's looking more plump when I wake up, it's very fast absorbing, almost like a dry oil, and it smells amazing! What more can you want?!

When I have time I really like to spend time on my skin and I think a face mask is a great way to do this. You just slap it on and leave it to do its magic! The first one I reach for at the moment is the Una Brennan Super Facialist Rose Intense Moisture Mask. If you want to see an in depth review just click here.

Finally, the Deep Sleep Pillow Spray which was mentioned in my previous post. I love this stuff and I can't get enough of it, it really sets me off for a good nights sleep and is just sooooo relaxing! Now, I'm not an insomniac, I have no trouble getting to sleep, but getting my mind to relax is something else and this stuff really fixes that problem. I can't vouch for it enough - just go and try it for yourself!

Do you have anything you use before bed? Let me know in the comments below :)

Also don't forget to follow me on bloglovin (button on the right) and my instagram emma_l_b

Emma xx

My Daily Skincare Routine

I have an absolute passion for skincare, however I'm also one of those people who used to really neglect my skin when I was younger. It would maybe at a push see some Clean&Clear scrubbed all over and rinsed off -- and that was a treat. Nowadays I take much better care of my skin, and I actually enjoy doing it. It's those five to ten minutes in the morning and evening where you can really pamper yourself and focus on you. Don't see it as a chore - see it as a mini spa experience!

I'll begin with a bit of a background on my skin -- as a teen I suffered from blemishes and spots, not at extreme levels, just the normal, I got slightly greasier skin and my main problem areas were my forehead and chin. Back to present day and I'm very lucky, I rarely get spots and my skin is fairly clear. However, when a spot does decide to appear, it's not just a pimple, its an angry little thing taking up residence (normally) on my chin -- so much fun! I also have quite sensitive skin, so I have to be careful when I decide which products to use as my skin can react very badly. I think having a separate skincare routine for morning and night is really good, as your skin needs different things depending on the time of day. So without further ado... here's my skincare routine!

AM:

In the morning my skin should be looking fresh after a great nights sleep, even if it is 6:15! I never have a lot of time in the week days so this may vary slightly to weekends... but normally I begin with a cleanser. My weapon of choice: REN Everclam Gentle Cleansing Gel, this is great, lightweight and is for sensitive skin. I rub one pump into slightly damp hands and gently massage over face and neck for a minute of so, I then just rinse off with warm water.

Next step, exfoliator. I use the Vitamin C Microdermabrasion scrub from the Body Shop. This is a once a week step so not exactly part of my daily skincare routine but hey ho! This is a step when you have some extra time on your hands. The product has a very light texture, it's not a heavy duty scrub and has a really fine texture. It claims to reveal a brighter, more radiant complexion and I actually think it does, so a good product to use in the morning to give you a healthy glow.

This next product is what I use for my toner - the Avene Eau Thermale Spring Water. Just one spritz of this on my face does the job. It's just a refreshing mist that kind of finishes the job of cleansing off.

I loveeeee the Una Brennan skincare range, and the Brightening Eye Cream is possibly one of the reasons I fell in love with the whole range. I just squeeze a small pea-size amount on my ring finger and dab it round my eye area. It's really good for remedying dark circles and puffiness under the eye.

Then I normally use a serum - the Vitamin E Serum from the Body Shop is a really nice lightweight one. It provides continuous hydration and protection and is a perfect pre-moisturising treatment.

Finally I use a light moisturiser - Eucerin AQUAporin Active Moisturising Cream Rich. It's a really nice lightweight moisturiser and is particularly suited for sensitive and dry skin - both characteristics of my skin, especially in winter. I only have the sample size currently as I found out about at an event at work but I'm desperate to get my hands on the full size product.

PM:

I switch things up a bit in the evening, firstly I have to take my makeup off, which wasn't needed in the morning. I have a range of products I can use for make up removal, but my all time favourite has to be the Garnier Micellar Water. I soak a cotton pad in this and start with my face then moving onto my eyes, one side of the pad for each eye. 

Next step is cleansing, in the evenings I prefer to use a richer, creamier, more indulgent cleanser so I reach for the Liz Earle Hot Cloth Cleanser. I feel like this step really ensures any left over traces of make up are gone and makes my skin feel clean and fresh. After that I use the Avene Eau Thermale again and the Una Brennan Eye Cream.

Another treatment I use is the Tea Tree Pore Minimiser from the Body Shop (can you tell I'm a bit obsessed with this brand?!). If anything this product smells amazing, it also smoothes, primes and mattifies and leaves the skin feeling fresh.

I also use La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo +, this claims to reduce redness and swelling on spots and can correct scarring issues from acne as well. I've been using this for at least a year now and I really do love this stuff, I think it does the job, although I can only speak from my own experience and I don't suffer a lot from spots or scarring, but when I do, I see a difference.

Next up is a new addition: the Body Shops Vitamin E Overnight Serum in Oil. You only need a few drops of this stuff and a little goes a long way. It's not like your normal overnight serums - it does have a very oily texture. However, the product isn't greasy, it's light weight and sinks into the skin nicely before you apply moisturiser.

Finally, the last product I use for the day is a night cream. I choose the Estee Lauder Revitalizing Supreme at the moment, though I do switch it around. As long as it's a rich cream then I'm there, other similar products I use are the No7 Essential Moisture Night Cream and the REN V-Cleanse Revitalizing Night Cream. All of these are super rich and really rejuvenate your skin. They smooth fine lines and can help combat the early signs of aging.

Are any of these products ones that you use? Or are there any you really want to try?

Emma x

Valentines Gift Guide

If you haven't already got that special someone a gift for Valentines, then this post may give you that strike of inspiration you need, or if you really want something this Valentines but your other half just isn't catching on, then pop this post under their nose and maybe, just maybe they will get the hint!

Heart Throb Bubble Bar | Olivia Burton Watch | Jo Malone Red Roses Cologne | Ornamental Embroidery Non Padded Bra | CharlotteTilbury K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipstick | Essie in tiny wine-y | Smokey Poppy Massage Oil | Double Exposure Palette | Kate Spade I Kissed a Frog

Bleu De Chanel | Calvin Klein Low Rise Trunk | Fossil Grant Leather Strap | Silver Square Cufflinks | Ted Baker Card Holder | Ted Baker Reversible Belt | Frends Taylor Headphones in Oil Slick