April Favourites

Hey lovelies, I am tucked up in bed with a cup of hot chocolate, it is raining cats and dogs outside. 

So I have decided to share with you what were my favorite products for the month of April. 

Some of these products you might have seen before, some of them are new. 

Everyday Favourites: 

Armani shades - between low glare in the mornings and the dazzling sunlight in the afternoons, having these bad boys in my hand bag have been a necessity. 

Jack Wills umbrella - did you know umbrellas are pricey? Like seriously this umbrella was "12 and it was half price!!!!. I came to the rude awakening, that I have never actually purchased  an umbrella, (when I bought this umbrella).  I mean for an every day product, they are pricey, especially if you want a sturdy one to hold up against these hurricane rains /tornado winds we seem to be getting these past few months. 

Body Favorites:

Garnier 7 day Intense moisturizing lotion - good moisturizer not to light and now to heavy  perfect for the fluctuating temperatures of Spring. 

 Dove Hibiscus and Almond shower cream - has been keeping my skin clean as well as soft. Sanctuary body spray - great for spritzing on the go, as well as topping up during the day, the scent is very light. I know you are wondering why I have two body scrubs/exfoliators as well as exfoliating gloves. Exfoliating gloves are the business, I use them every day, with my Dove Almond and Hibiscus shower cream.  

There is a method to the madness with the 2 body scrubs. Gigi No Bump Scrub - is for use in delicate areas such as the bikini line and decolletage.  The Body Shop Raspberry Body Scrub this is for use every where, but I moistly focus on the back of my thighs and arms with this. 

Face Favourites:

 Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer - medium coverage plus spf, this has been my regular base not that the morning have been lighter. 

 Garnier Micellar water -this has been a great makeup remover, plus at 400ml for £4.99, this has been great value for money. 

MAC Mineralise Skinfinish Natural - great face powder on its own as well as topping up my Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer. 

 Murad perfecting day cream with spf 30 - it goes on and gives my skin a grey  tinge, which does not last. My skin totally absorbs it  and it leave no residue, plus it doesn't interfere with the application of my Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer which contains spf 20.

 (I am all for the spf, I am going to be as well preserved as possible, no leather face here. Moisturizer, water and spf are my friends) 

Hair Favourites:

ORS Oil Moisturizing Hair Lotion - I've been using this for years. It works great as a hair moisturizer I just continue using it. 

Almond Oil (decanted into the Tresemme liquid gold bottle) - this is what I use to seal in the moisture of the Olive oil hair lotion. 

There you have it my April favourites,

xxx

Superdug Online

Lovelies, I found myself in a quandary the other day. I had no body moisturiser. I had 3 bottles of shower gel, 2 tins/cans of deodorant and no body lotions or creams, not even a spare body butter left over from winter.  

To make up this shortfall I ordered some of the Garnier Beauty oil moisturiser  along with 2 Pantene Pro-V Hair serums from the Superdug  via the website. I must commend the service. the ordering process is very simple and easy and the goods are delivered promptly. All in all it has been one of the better online shopping experiences I have had, and I hate online shopping. Also superdrug offers free delivery to store and you can choose which store you would like your items delivered. 

Superdrug online is a winner.

xx

Boots Star Gift - Sanctuary Ultimate Glow Pamper Tin

A little bit of self indulgence is on offer this week available from Boots. The Sanctuary Ultimate Glow Pamper Tin (sounds like the perfect prep before a night out) is on offer at the cost of £19 per tin. 

                                                     

The Ultimate Pamper Tin Contains:
-Body Wash (250ml)
-Body Lotion (250ml)
-Radiance Exfoliator (100ml)
-Fresh Faced Purifying Wash (140ml 
-Pumice Foot Scrub (50ml)
-Moisture Rich Foot Butter (50ml)
-Spa Pedicure Foot File
-Spa Skin Body Polisher
-Spa Facial Headband

Not only does the set include everything you need to get yourself ready for a glittery night out. It also comes with instructions. lol 

How to Use

Body Wash: Massage on to damp skin then rinse away. Therapist’s Tip: Finish your shower with a blast of cold water – as cold as you dare - to tone your skin, close pores and awaken your senses.

Body Lotion: Massage generously into clean skin after bathing to help awaken your senses, stimulate circulation and soften skin. Therapist’s Tip: Massage the lotion into slightly damp skin to lock in moisture and leave your skin satin smooth.

Radiance Exfoliator: 1. After cleansing, while face is still damp, apply a pea-sized quantity of the scrub & massage into skin. 2. Use upward circular movements paying particular attention to nose, forehead & chin. 3. Rinse thoroughly with warm water. 4. Pat dry & apply Illuminating Moisture Lotion. Therapists Tip: This exfoliator can also be used on the back of hands to help even skin tone.

Fresh Faced Purifying Wash: 1. Add a splash of water to the product and rub between hands to activate the foam. 2. Work over face and neck in an upwards circular motion using your fingertips. 3. Rinse thoroughly with warm water. 4. Pat dry and sweep Pore Refining Toner over face and neck. 5. Finish with a Sanctuary moisturiser.

Pumice Foot Scrub: Massage into damp skin from the base of the heel towards the toes. Rinse away the scrub and pat dry.

Moisture Rich Foot Butter: Massage the Sanctuary Moisture Rich Foot Butter generously all over both feet. For a more luxurious spa treatment, use with the Sanctuary Moisture Locking Socks.

Another great gift idea for you my lovelies.

xx

Radox Citrus Fragrances Review

Though they have not been around very long the New Radox Citrus Fragrances have already been crowned "Best New Shower Product" at the Pure Beauty Awards 2013. The new collection comprises of three shower gels in Energise -Key Lime and Peppermint, Revive - Mandarin and Lemongrass, and Uplift - Pink Grapefruit and Basil. 

I found these on offer at Boots and decided to give them a try after having a sniff. I did consider trying them one at a time, but then I  thought suppose they do not go on offer anywhere else for a long time since they are new products. I purchased them all for 99p each, at a bargain of 50% off. Let me tell you Radox has definitely hit it out of the park with these fragrances. They are perfect for these chilly autumn mornings when I have to contemplate whether or not I want to leave the warmth of my bed much less venture outside. 

The Uplift - Pink Grapefruit and Basil is my personal favourite, the sharpness of the grapefruit was an instant love for me. 

My second favourite is the Revive - Mandarin and Lemon grass. 

The third fragrance Energise -Key Lime  and Peppermint I can take it or leave it. The citrus scents does not come through as strong as it does in the other two shower gels. However I do think that the guys would love the Energise, for that same reason the scent is there but not as pungent. 

Would I buy full prices? - Yes 

Would I recommend? - Yes 

Would I repurchase? - Yes

The 8 Skincare Secrets You Need To Know Now

     The health guru Dr Perricone sat down to discuss his "beauty from the inside out" philosophy, one that relies on nurturing your body by making the best life decisions possible - not on pricey skincare products.

1. You're using too many products. - "Your concern is to find the right thing that works for you. And that's simple. Cleanse, maybe apply something in the morning, moisturizer over that and then your sunscreen. Most people lay on around 10 or 20 different products. It doesn't make sense to me."

2. You're making poor lifestyle choices. - "Excessive exposure to sun, not getting enough sleep and, of course, being overly stressed out are the biggies. A lot of this is common sense, but obviously stress is something we have to learn to deal with. I like meditation. That makes a difference. It lowers stress hormones. Low stress hormones mean your skin stays young, high stress hormones mean you get wrinkled real fast."

3. You're not drinking enough water. - "Drink eight glasses of water a day. People hate water for some reason. See, the problem is that our first mechanism doesn’t work until we are about two or three percent dehydrated. When you're dehydrated, the cells aren't working right because all the biochemical reactions take place in the presence of water. We're now just discovering that water is much more interesting than we thought it was. It does much more than act as a solvent - it actually forms a uniform layer inside the cells that aid in energy production. So there are some people that are saying that, with energy production, the cells can repair themselves better."

4. You're relying on harsh exfoliating brushes. - "I don't believe in mechanical exfoliation because it irritates the skin and actually causes inflammation."

5. You're not eating the right foods. - "You want to make sure that you have a green salad every day. That’s very important. Green salads contain incredible nutrients, antioxidants and also increase nitric oxide in your blood. And nitric oxide is what gives you a beautiful healthy glow. The magic combination is a piece of salmon and a green salad. Because salmon also contains something that increases nitric oxide as well as antioxidants. So if you eat salmon three days in a row, you have such a radiance, when you walk into a room people go, 'Wow.'"

6. Specifically, your diet's "color IQ" is too low. -"The more colors you have in your diet a day, the more kind of phytonutrients you're getting, because each color is something specific. So blueberries are very specific for brains and skin, and citrus fruits are really good for the ears. And astaxanthin is really good for eyes and skin. So it's important to get all those different colors in during the day - I call it your color IQ. So ask yourself how high can your color IQ be today? If you know you had 10 different colors in your fruits and vegetables, you're doing well."

7. You're using Botox as a quick fix. - "Botox is a neurotoxin - it paralyzes muscles by interfering with the nerve impulse. When the muscles are not getting innervated by the nerves, they atrophy. The way we look young is to have plenty of muscle and plenty of fat in our face. So why would you want to atrophy your muscles? I think it’s a bad strategy."

8. You're wearing too much makeup. - "If you're not taking care of yourself and you're not getting enough sleep and you're eating poorly, then you probably want to slather on something to hide the mistakes. But the thing is, if you're doing the right thing, then you really want to tone down the makeup. In the end, vanity is really a good thing, because if you are worried about your appearance, then you are really motivated to eat correctly, maintain a good body weight, exercise and get enough sleep. Vanity is a good thing, it motivates us." 

The 8 Skincare Secrets You Need To Know Now according to Dr. Perricone told to Rebecca Adams for the Huffington Post. 

     A healthy diet and exercise routine will do great wonders for your skin and hair as well as your overall body health, my lovelies. Exercise does not have to be a grand production. It can be as simple as going for a walk or a job three times a week. There are loads of exercise videos on you tube with quick fun work outs you could try. Exercise challenges on instagram such as the 60 days of fitness with Rapper The Game. Try your local leisure center for the gym and swimming. If you are going to university, join a sports team like I did ---> Womens Lacrosse 1st team.

      Whenever I am asked the secret to my healthy hair, I always say Cod Liver Oil and water. I drink on average a  liter of water each day minimum, 2 Cod Liver oil capsules and I advocate the same to all my friends. I have my trusty Brita Filter bottle that goes every where with me. Skincare products work well but they can only work in conjunction with what is already going on inside your body.  "Anything that is going on in your gut manifests itself in your face" - Caroline Hirons. This is a theory which I truly believe in, because I have seen it for myself with my own skin. Eliminating processed foods like soda and crisps from my diet, along with cows milk has made such a big change in my skin, in relation to acne flair ups. Beauty is not just about makeup and cosmetics  it is also about working out, jogging, a healthy diet and overall health.  

For the love of humanity STOP USING APRICOT SCRUBS ON YOUR FACE, they are too harsh. Wear sunblock and EAT breakfast!!

Have a great day my lovelies.

xx

Haul

These are just a  few things I have picked up over the last week.

Burberry Body Eau de parfum 35ml - I have been stalking this for 2 months, it finally went down to half price so I snatched it up. I am currently debating whether to purchase the edt or not. £22.50 reduced from £45.

Garnier Minerals Clean Sensation antiperspirant (x5) - I bought 5 at once. They should last me til about January and then I will stock up again. £1 reduced from £2.30.

Vaseline Compressed antiperspirant deodorant (active fresh and aloe sensitive) - These are for my handbag, travelling/vacation and they are small enough to fit in my Longchamp pouchette. £1 reduced form £1.89.

Cuticura Passion Flower and Mango Anti Bacetrial Hand gel 

Wet Ones Be Zingy Anti Bacterial Hand wipes (x5) - These wipes were 54p,  usually £1.15p in Boots/Superdrug where I usually buy them. I bought all that I could find in the store. #don'tjudgeme

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipglosses -  Fatal apple and Berry allure. My aunt bought me these on Tuesday (3rd Sept,13). 2 for £10, so they were £5 each. 

Sometimes the only things, you need to shop for are the everyday essentials.

Have a great day my lovelies.

xx

Spring Beauty Essentials

Brita fill n Go water bottle - this water bottle comes with a filter in the top. so as you drink the water gets filtered for impurities. 

MAC Mineralise Skinfinish Natural - a light powder which enhances my natural skintone, keeps down the shine and gives me a soft shimmery glow. I have been using this without fail since 2010. This is my go to present when my gf's don't know what to buy me as a gift. As you can see I already have a backup for when this one finishes.

Body shop Raspberry Body Scrub - flaky skin is a spring time no no, this body scrubs smells like jam doughnuts but it gets the job done.

Zara Rose edt - a nice scent to spray during the day, perfect size to carry along in my hand bag. 

Body Shop Shimmer Brick - this I use over my cheek bones to enhance then a little. Sometimes I use with a kabuki brush all over my face if my MAC Studio Fix Powder + Foundation is looking too heavy.  other times I use the individual shades and make a lovely smokey eye. 

Kate Moss lipstick in 02 - lovely vibrant Fushia lipstick. 

Kate Moss lipstick in 22 - Red lipstick with Orange undertones.

Nails Inc Warick Avenue - a pink polish is never out of place in the spring

What are your Spring Beauty essentials? 

Comment below and let me know

xx

Soap and Glory

Soap and Glory is a brand which has been around for a few years. The quirky packaging and catchy product names have made them a hit, not to mention they are not too badly priced. These are few of the Soap and Glory products in my life. 

The Righteous Butter Body Lotion, I also had the Righteous Butter Body butter in my collection but that has long finished. This is a light weight moisturizer which absorbs quickly into the skin leaving no greasy residue. Did I mention that it is famous for smelling exactly like Miss Dior Cherie EDP?

The easiest way to describe this is "a spray on body shimmer" this is a light spray oil which contains reflective particles. I usually apply this over the righteous body lotion( or any other moisturizer which I am wearing) on nights out.

I have mentioned this before , last year in my spring scents post. It is still alive and yes that is the same bottle. This is a body mist with a citrus fragrance, great for the late spring when the weather starts heating up properly. It is also good if  you are just tired of the cold weather and need a pick me up. 

Love and Light

xx

Perfect Pairings - Plum

     Unlike my last post BOTH of these items contain Plum in the scent. This will be a high/ low pairing, the scents compliment each other very well. 

 L'OCCITANE's Plum Blossom skin moisture gel - though it was the Garnier moisture gel which sent me scurrying to the loving arms of Cocoa Butter in February. I quite like this moisture gel, for one thing it actually moisturises and does not disappear within two minutes, leaving my confused as the whether I had moisturised my skin. It has a light consistency and spreads well, but it is not watery. 

Dove Go Fresh Plum and Sakura Blossom body wash - one thing I have noticed about Dove body washes which I have never noted, they lather really well. For products which contain 1/4 moisturiser they have alot of bubbling action going on. However even with the bubbling action, this body wash will eave your skin feeling clean and moisturised but not tight as you would from soap. 

Winter Skincare Series - Body Butters

       It is here the frostier months of which I spoke last week have arrived full force. customers are now including de-icer in their week grocery purchases. The first snow fell can you believe that!!!!!! Christmas decorations, gifts, foods, and various other paraphernalia are on sale stacked high in every possible space. During winter I prefer to use a thicker moisturiser on my body, the other lotions and body creams just do't seem to cut it when battling lower level of hydration, central heating, layered clothing and the overall winter climate. Below are some of the body butters which are currently in my winter skincare arsenal

      My body butters of choice used to be from the Body Shop however regular everyday brands such as Vaseline, Palmers and Jergens have all stepped up and included the heavier moisturiser as a part of their product ranges. These everyday brands of course are accompanied with pocket friendly price tags. However do not be fooled The Jergens body butter is truly one to be reckoned with followed by the Vaseline Cocoa Butter body butter, the Palmers body butters come up third but they are still in the running. The thicker formulas of body butters keep my skin well moisturised and feeling supple all day during the winter months.  

Texture is an important factor for some when choosing a body butter. The Body Shop Body butters are   the thickest out of all of these, followed closely by the Vaseline body butter, next in line is the Jergens, then the L'Occitane and last the Palmers body butters. 

       The Palmers body butters come in three varieties Shea, Cocoa and Olive butters, The body Shop body butters are available in over 12 different scents, including, Strawberry, Orange, Blueberry, Moringa, Lemon. Scent is another factor to consider when choosing a body butter. I quite like to use the fruity scents on the weekends and the neutral scents such as Shea, Cocoa Butter, Jergens oatmeal during the week. Some persons are sensitive to strong scents and the body shop body butters are definite strongly scented. Other maybe like my friend Darren, who banned me from wearing fruity scented Body Butters to lectures because they made him hungry. lol (uni memories)

Price 
Palmers Body Butters - £4.99 per 200ml
Vaseline Body Butter - £5.06 per 200ml
Jergens Body Butters - £4.99 per 200ml
Body Shop Body Butter - £13 per 200ml (Shea and Satsuma both gifts)
L'occitane Ultra rich body Cream - £16 per 100ml (Apricot & Vineyard rose purchased in the summer sale for £4.80 each)

Both the Vaseline and the Jergens body butters are currently on offer at Superdrug.

Miss Mai
xx

Part 1 of my Winter skincare series - Shower Creams post Click 

Perfect Pairings - Berry Berry

This paring is a little more on the fruity side, but it is gorgeous. One thing I love and hate about Body Shop products is the lasting smell. However the love I have for lotions and potions which smell great far outweigh the hate. 

The Body Shop Raspberry body Scrub - gorgeous berry scent, a jelly like formula and the Raspberry seeds are not too harsh on the skin. 

     
     Dove go Fresh Pomegranate and Lemon Verbena scent body wash - to my nostrils this is the best complimentary body wash for this body scrub (unless you count the Raspberry shower gel from The Body shop) The body wash itself is gentle on the skin, especially in these harsh Arctic temperatures we will soon face. Like all other Dove body washes it is made with 1/4 moisturiser and in my opinion is a great low end substitute for shower cream. 

Perfect Pairings - Citrus Scents

These are just a few items from different ranges which I think complement each other scent wise. It can be so easy to get caught up and buy the whole range of product just for the smell. while I do love a bit of layering sometimes you do not have to break the bank to smell fabulous.

Dove go fresh Grapefruit and Lemongrass body wash (The original shower cream)
L'occitane Verbena Extra Gentle Soap (this is a huge bar which can easily be cut in two halves, to extend the life.)

The Body Shop Satsuma body butter - the smell of this goes a longgggggggggggg way, so use sparingly, the satsuma oil nourishes and relieves dry skin quite well. Be careful not to use this with the Lynx chocolate body wash or else you will wind up smelling like a confused Chocolate Orange. lol lol 

L'occitane the summer sale

The L'occitane summer sale has started, (whoo, hoo). I wrote about L'occitane previously on this blog when I did a review of their Shea butter han cream,. I still have my tube of hand cream and it is still going strong though I must admit I have two backups. So today when I saw the email advertising the sale I decided to treat myself to a few things. My nose and my pocket lead my purchase  I wont lie I bought the two most recessionista friendly products on the website. (I am not afraid to live within my means)

These body creams were originally £16 each (I remember when I used to think Body shop body butters were pricey). However at £4.80 the sale price was not bad at all and they were both limited edition items. Check out the L'occitane sale online or instore if you can, you just might find something you like. 

£4.80

£4.80

Review - Jergens Naturals Cocoa Butter Body Moisturiser

What they say 

On the front - Body moisturiser with VITAMIN E deeply conditions and doubles skin's natural radiance

On the back - Introducing Jergens Naturals, highly effective moisturisers created with the knowledge that your skin is natural and your moisturiser should be too.

Jergens Naturals Cocoa Butter Body Moisturiser

• 96% natural ingredients.
• Visibly transforms dry skin and boosts skin's natural radiance.
• combines Cocoa butter and Vitamin E to help tone and intensely hydrate skin.
• Applies smoothly, absorbs quickly and lasts all day. 

What I say 

     If you read my February Beauty Haul post you would know that after a disastrous run in with the Garnier skin gel moisturiser, I went on a bit of a Cocoa butter kick. After I posted  that post I went out and purchased another Palmers Cocoa Butter Body Butter since they were still on offer at the supermarket. Well those two finished and I needed some new moisturiser. I decided to try the Jergens Naturals Cocoa butter Body moisturiser after waiting for weeks for the Palmers body butters to go on sale, (plus the Jergens was 50% off). 
      To begin with the Jergens has a very light scent, which makes it very good for everyday use. The formula is a very rich cream, the colour is a blend between  light beige + pastel yellow, it does sink in quickly, and blends quite well. It has a thicker consistency than the Palmers Body Butter, but it does not leave the sheen on your skin that The Body Shop - Cocoa Butter Body Butter tends to leave behind when used in the summer/hotter months. 200ml costs £5.10 however they can be found a sale here and there with different offers, recession proof. 

this product even got a good review from my roomate who suffers from really dry skin.

would i repurchase?- yes
would i recommend? - yes especially as a winter moisturiser, or for person with really dry skin.
would i buy full priced?- yes

Miss Mai

xx