No7 Early Defence Range

Now you may or may not be aware that No7 recently launched a new collection into their already very popular current skincare range: Early Defence. This new range is aimed at younger women and is a preventative type of skincare, to keep skin looking younger for longer. The product claims to have Double Defence technology and a super light formulation - the latter I totally agree with, it's not heavy and is perfect before your foundation. The product is particularly aimed at 20-35 year olds with 'younger' complexions. Now, I know I'm only 20 (21 in a month!) so starting rather early with the anti aging-esque products but I guess you have to begin somewhere!

This product does feel heavy when you first apply, but as I mentioned earlier, once applied it absorbs into your skin and leaves a perfect base for your make up. It also doesn't affect the longevity of my makeup which is a great positive of the product - meaning I can have all the benefits from a moisturiser and know that my make up won't slide off my face mid-way through the day.

The ingredients include Lipopeptides and Vitamin A which are your anti aging properties, to help reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles. It also claims to help against everyday environmental pollution and UV rays and as always with No7 Day Creams, it has SPF15, so you know even if your foundation doesn't have an SPF in, your skin will still be protected. It's also hyperallergenic, perfect for my sensitive skin!

I would 100% recommend this, and you have a selection of products to choose from as there's a Day, Night and Eye Cream available. Grab your own either in store or online.

Emma xx

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

Liz Earle: 20 Years of Naturally Active Skincare

Yes, that iconic skincare brand that is Liz Earle has turned 20! They have been one of those brands which offer a classic cult favourite - the cleanse and polish - which has been re-released offering new scents in a beautiful turquoise tin. They offer the same original creamy formula loved by hundreds around the world which was introduced to me last year and was my first 'real' look into the cleansing world and all its glory. Once I came across the product I haven't looked back and have been using this since - I trust it, it's reliable and it does the job, long gone are the days of face wipes - and if you haven't tried it, what are you waiting for?!

The new scents include Rose and Lavender - great for before bed, a nice relaxing scent to soothe and comfort, Orange Flower and Chamomile - the summer scent of last year, fresh and calming, and finally Grapefruit and Patchouili - uplifting and energising, perfect for early morning routines. This tin is a great choice for any hardcore fan of the product, or even for someone who wants to try it out. Although it is still the same old formula we know and love, the scents alone make it a must have buy, but along with the beautifully adorned bottles, they're that extra special gift to yourself, or someone else, that is worth the money.

If you haven't heard of Liz Earle or the hot cloth cleanser... then have you been hiding under a rock?! The cleanse and polish product boasts a multi-award winning formula that removes the daily dirt and grime from your face (even liquid eyeliner and mascara - although I do normally use a makeup remover first) and leaves skin soft, supple and radiant. Ideal for both morning and evening skincare routines, it can be used with or without a muslin cloth, which comes with any cleanse and polish purchase on the website. Each bottle normally costs £15.50 so at £50.00 for the tin, it is a hefty price tag, and not one that offers some sort of promotional saving on the three bottles, though you do get the tin! Saying that, I also received three mini samples - a hot cloth cleanser, moisturiser and eye lotion, along with two muslin cloths, so I got a pretty good deal!

Get yourself online to bag one of these limited edition tins before they all run out!

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

Hauling #1

I thought I would share with you a few of my recent buys and make this a new regular post where I can gather my new discoveries and discuss them all with you.

I'm going to split this post into skincare and then make up, so lets begin!

1. Neutrogena Blackhead Eliminating Cleansing Lotion:  I've heard some very good reviews of this product and I can't wait to start using it. It claims to help "visibly eliminate and prevent blackheads... it reaches deep down to remove trapped dirt and oil from your pores"... sounds lovely doesn't it!? Now I don't suffer badly from black heads but I would love to get rid of those little pesky few that just don't want to budge. I'll hopefully be writing a review on all things pores related soon so if this does the trick you may be seeing more of this product!
   
2. Hope in a Jar - Oil free moisturiser: This was one of my many finds at work while rummaging through sale items. It's a lightweight, oil free moisturiser from Philosophy for normal to oily skin. I feel like this will be really good for the warmer months when you just want a light moisturiser, however in winter when it's freeeeeezing outside, I think that my skin needs that extra kick so I probably won't be using this in the near future, but a great find anyway.
   
3. L'Oreal Skin Perfection Miracle Cleansing Oil: I've always been put off by cleansing oils - the thought of rubbing that sticky, greasy stuff all over my face kinda makes me want to cringe but this product is something else. I'll admit I have literally only used this a few times but it really does what it says on the tin - it removes all traces of make-up and it's lightweight and non greasy without leaving the skin feeling dried out. All you have to do after is wash your face with warm water - easy!
   
4. La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo+: This was just a re-purchase as I'm coming to the end of my first buy. I find this stuff actually works for me - it claims to be a "corrective, unclogging, anti imperfection cream". You can use morning and night on any imperfections you may have on your skin - may that be scarring marks, spots, redness etc. I would swear by this stuff so you will definitely be seeing more of it on here.

1. Super Stay 7 days Gel Nail Colour: Another repurchase here, these nail colours are amazing - they don't chip, the colours are always really rich and pigmented and they really can stay on for 7 days. I previously had Hot Salsa and Nude Rose, but I saw these in Superdrug and couldn't help my self. The new shades are Divine Wine and Surreal. Divine Wine is a beautiful purple tinted berry shade, which I LOVEEEE for Winter and I feel I can wear it for any occasion with any outfit. Surreal i think will be a shade I get more wear out of in spring/summer as it's quite bright, but still a really nice lilac-y blue that could go with a lot of outfits.
   
2. Colour Tattoo 24 Hour Eye Shadow: I think I may have spoken about these before - so yet another re-purchase, but these are amazing, a classic, no?! If you haven't heard of these, where have you been?! And if don't have one of these get yourself down to Boots or Superdrug and get your mitts on them! The shades are great and have a range from out-there to subtle. They're super blend-able and are great for the perfect 'cheat' smokey eye. The new additions/re-purchases are Pink Gold and On and On Bronze.
   
3. YSL Volume False Lash Effect Mascara and Touch Eclat in Rose Gold: I was a little naughty in Boots the other day - I went in for oneeeee thing, and it was the Touch Eclat Radiant Touch in the rose gold packaging as i'd seen it all over the internet and I fell in love. But that wasn't where it ended... it never does in Boots does it?! There just happened to be an offer on if you brought two products where you got extra points on your Advantage card, so I couldn't say no and brought one of my all time favourite mascaras: the Volume Effet Faux Cils Mascara in black... woops! The touch eclat is just like the original, but more of a highlighter than a concealer in a really pretty rose gold shade, I'll let you know more once I get more use out of it :)

Have you brought anything recently? Be it a brand new find or a much-loved re-purchase?

Emma x

January Favourites!

Well I can't believe it's the end of the month, can you? We've made it through January everyone! I thought I'd share with you my first monthly favourites of 2015.

To kick it off we have a few forgotten favourites. Firstly a dupe of the MAC Mineralize Blush, it's one I brought from Superdrug ages ago and it turns out they don't even do it anymore... according to the internet anyway! In the pan it is a really pretty pink, with flecks of gold and lilac running through the marbel-like finish. Such a pretty product, with just enough shimmer to give you a nice dewy glow.

Another forgotten favourite which I re-discovered this week is a skincare addition from Avene -  the Eau Thermale Water Spray. This product is so diverse with so many uses, you can use it to set make up, to ease tightness in the skin, to keep you cool in the summer months or on holiday and as a toner. I loved it in the summer last year and kind of forgot about it when I started using the Liz Earl Botanical Toner, so re-discovering it has been great, I even have a mini version after I attended an event at work which is perfect for on the go.

A product I have raved on and on about is -  the Una Brennan Super Facialist Rose Hydrate Intense Mask. This has been so good to my skin, especially since we've seen a drop in the temperature and weather has been all kinds of crazy... Yes snow, I'm talking about you! Pair that with central heating and it does not make for a nice skin situation on my face! My main issues are dryness so anything that says intense moisture then I'm there! It's been a skin care saviour this month so it has a well deserved place in my favourites.

Next up is a new buy this month, the Co Lab Dry Shampoo in the scent New York. I brought the sheer invisible version after hearing amazing reviews and it does not disappoint! This leaves no nasty white residue in the hair but still does the job really well.... dare I say it better than the batiste dry shampoos?! It also has a nice fruity fragrance which isn't anything like other brands I have tried.

A fragrance I was loving last summer came back into my life this January... Marc Jacobs Daisy Dream. This is classic Marc Jacobs, cute bottle, amazing fragrance and long lasting. It's a light, airy scent with both floral and fruity undertones. It has notes of blackberry, jasmine, lychee and blue wisteria. Such a nice addition for someone like me who loves a good fruity-floral fragrance, I also have Chanel Eau Tendre and Jo Malone Peony Blush Suede... Yes I have a type!

I've slowly started becoming more and more obsessed with the Collection Exclusive lip stick range from L'Oreal. I've now purchased Julianne's Nude - Barely Peach. This is such a lovely pinky/peachy lip stick. I love the formulation of these, they're hydrating, nourishing, smell great and have nice pigmentation... some great positives in the winter months when you can get dry, chapped lips... No one likes that!

Finally, something I got at Christmas which has a thorough test this month is the Perversion Mascara by Urban Decay. I got this in the On the Run Palette, so it's a smaller size than normal and I can 100% see myself buying a full size one because I love it so much! It makes my lashes super black, voluminous and lengthened, all things i look for in a mascara.

I'm really looking forward to buying some new things in February, so look out for the next favourites posts and maybe a haul! 

Hope you all have a lovely weekend,

Emma x