July Empties || Products I've Used Up

I've finished up the L'Oreal Fibrology Shampoo + Conditioner which my hair just loves! It's a thickening duo that helps make your hair feel thicker after each use which lasts so I'll definitely be picking up another one of these soon! I've used up the Aussie Take The Heat 3 Minute Miracle which I use every Sunday to help make my hair feel silky soft after a weeks worth of heat damage and it certainly does the trick! I've finished up yet another Soap & Glory Clean On Me Shower Gel which I use as a shaving lotion and will forever repurchase. I've used up a Soap & Gory Sugar Crush Body Wash which although lathered up nicely and smelt good, it just didn't particularly wow me. I've finished up the Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Scrub which is one of their more grittier scrubs and definitely helped buff away dead skin! I've used up the Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Buttercream which was so hydrating on the skin and made my skin feel incredibly soft to the touch!

I've finally finished the huge Taaj Himalaya Micellar Water which I loved using to remove the bulk of my makeup except for my eye makeup as it sure stung! I've used up the No7 Soft & Soothed Gentle Toner which felt nice on the skin just went through it far too quickly although I will be repurchasing as soon as I've used up some more toners. I've finished up another Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish which will forever be in my stash as it's just such a good all rounder cleanser. I've used up the Botanics Rosewater Toning Spritz which is a good alternative to the likes of Serozinc say except the Botanics offering is far more moisturising! I've finished another No7 Protect & Perfect Advanced Serum which is still growing on me despite this being my second tube! It's one of those serums that I bet you won't see immediate results until you stop using it. I've used up another beloved Lacura Aqua-Complete Multi Intensive Serum which I much prefer over Hydraluron but will continue using the two together. Speaking of Hydraluron, I've finished up another tube of the stuff! The two combined is a hydration seeking match made in heaven! I've used up the Boots Tea Tree & Witch Hazel Exfoliating Pads which although I liked using at first, they started to feel a little dry towards the end. I've finished up the Carino Miracle Oil which despite being such a small bottle, it lasted for what felt like forever! This helped keep my locks in tip top condition which despite how much I fry it with heat, it still kept it manageable.

I've used up two packs of the No7 Quick Thinking Wipes which will forever feature in these empties posts along with a pack of the Wilko Maxi Oval Cotton Pads as these two are just staples in my everyday life. I've finished up the Estee Lauder Little Black Primer which I mainly used as a primer before applying my mascara to help tint the lashes whilst giving them a curl and it sure does work wonders for my short lashes! I've used up the L'Oreal Lumi Magique Pure Light Primer which I use as both a primer, highlighter and mixed in with my foundation to create the perfect radiant base. This will forever be repurchased as it just makes my skin look so luminuous! I've finished up a MAC Eyebrow Pencil in Lingering which is the perfect colour match for my brows. Lastly, I've used up a bunch of Lush products which aren't pictured including Big Blue Bath Bomb, Cinders Bath Bomb, Fizzbanger Bath Bomb, Blue Skies & Fluffy White Clouds Bubble Bar, Candy Mountain Bubble Bar, Space Girl Bath Bomb and Ickle Baby Bot Bath Bomb.

Make A Splash! July 2015 BirchBAG Review

Long time followers of Birchbox will know that each month, they share a sneak peak as to what's to come in that month's Birchbox across all social networks. At the beginning of July, they shared a sneak peak of the July box which as the sneak peak revealed, is in fact a BirchBAG rather than the traditional Birchbox!

July 2015's BirchBAG theme is 'Make A Splash' which is perfect for summer, especially for those lucky people who escaping the UK to catch some rays abroad over the next few months. Unlike most months where Birchbox just change the colour of the box or the bag inside, they've decided to replace the box with a bright neon pouch which is perfect for popping your everyday essentials into your handbag or your summer must haves with you down on the beach. There are four different coloured pouches, each representing a different holiday destination selected by editors of some of the most elite magazines. Birchbox UK's very own Jess Diner selected the neon pink pouch to represent Ibiza; Edwina Ings-Chambers who is the Beauty Director at Sunday Times Style selected the coral pouch to represent St. Tropez; Fiona Joseph who is the Fashion & Beauty Director at Conde Nast Traveller selected the turquoise bag to represent Hydra, Greece whilst my beautiful neon yellow pouch was selected by Rose Beer who is the Beauty Editor at Grazia to represent none other than Somerset in the UK! 

The first product that I noticed upon unzipping my pouch is a teeny tiny sample of Benefit Dream Screen (£25) which is currently making it's rounds being billed as the facial sunscreen to own! It's described as being a super light-weight matte finish with a rather impressive SPF45 which will definitely be getting a lot of love when I go abroad in October.

Next up we have the Pop Beauty Bright Up Your Life Eye Shadow Trio in Peach Parfait (£15.50) which contains some beautiful shimmery shades! The lightest shade is a pale white highlight shade, the middle shade is lovely pinky peach shade whilst the darkest shade is a beautiful burnt copper. These are some of the softest like butter eyeshadows I've tried which are just a dream to both apply and blend!

Moving onto skincare, included in the pouch is a adorable sample of the Balance Me Congested Skin Serum (£16) which I've been wanting to try for the longest time! It's to be used in times when your skin is in need of a little SOS as it will help restore the balance. It's packed with chamomile, lavender and aloe vera to pinpoint breakouts and soothe the skin whilst being suitable for all skin types. This will definitely be getting a lot of love from me tonight!

Next up, we have a generous sized Cowshed Cow Pat Moisturising Hand Cream (£18) that contains various rejuvenating essential oils including grapefruit to uplift your spirits and coriander to soothe the skin whilst leaving your hands feeling incredibly soft and moisturised. I do have more than my fair share of hand creams to be getting through but this will be getting added to my stockpile none the less!

I am a complete sun worshipper yet I burn ever so easily so the Unani Aloe Vera Gel (£15) is right up our streets! Everybody and their nan knows that aloe vera is incredibly good to relieve the pain from sun burn and is a must have for any sun lover! I personally prefer the good 'ole Banana Boat Aloe Vera Gel however as this is more convenient handbag size, this will be getting a lot of use over the the next month or so.

Last but by no means least is a Barely Prep, Blot & Blend Sponge (£5.99) which is this month's bonus beauty extra. I am a self-confessed makeup sponge addict and love nothing more than applying my base makeup with the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge so I'm hoping that this compares to it!

Overall, I'm extremely happy with this months BirchBAG and every single product will definitely be getting used as well as the bright yellow pouch which will most likely be getting used to store my beauty essentials at work.

Samples I've Used Up 025

Just like with most of these posts, I've used up quite a few samples of the Lancome Visionnaire Serum which is still continuing to amaze me with it's results - my skin is a lot more smoother in texture and is more radiant in the mornings. I've also finished up two Lancome Genifique samples that I used in conjunction with Visionnaire apart from that I only used these in the mornings. Whilst I do like what Genifique does to my skin immediately after applying, I haven't seen results from it although I'm hoping that with continued use, this will change.

I've used up a sample of the Avene Skin Recovery Cream that I used when my skin was slightly dry and flakey from being sunburnt which will teach me for not applying enough SPF! Speaking of sunburn, I burnt my knees quite badly when we had the sudden heatwave so the sachet of Dr Organic Aloe Vera Gel truly helped as it was both cooling on the skin whilst relieving the sunburn! I've finished up a generous sized sample of Whish Three Whishes Lavender Body Butter which smelt very relaxing and true to scent although it didn't really moisture my body quite as much as I'd preferred. 

I've finished up two mascara samples - the No7 Lash Impact Mascara and No7 Lovely Lashes Mascara. The Lash Impact Mascara, I absolutely adore as it truly makes your lashes look more dramatic whilst the Lovely Lashes is a bit of a miss - I only use it for natural makeup days which rarely happens. Lastly, I've used up the No7 Instant Illusions Airbrush Away Primer which I will definitely be buying a full size of as it creates a beautiful radiant base without feeling too silicone-y on the skin.

Latest In Beauty Awards 2015 Box

There's something that I love about beauty boxes especially one off boxes that are limited in number or boxes where you can choose which products you want in it. So imagine my happiness when I discovered that Latest In Beauty are doing their Beauty Awards 2015 Box where you can pick from 30 finalist products across various categories including Cult Classic, Green Award, Best Newcomer, Skincare Saviour and Must-have Makeup to name just a few. You have the choice of three different boxes where you can either pick 3, 6 or 9 products for a set price and you'll be automatically entered into a prize draw for the chance to win every single full size finalist product which is worth over £875!

I went ahead and chose six products despite knowing that I've well and truly failed my new year beauty resolutions. Out of all the products available, I chose mainly products that I knew that I would use as well as products that would cover the cost of the box and more whilst still being products that I've been wanting to try out for ages!

Despite recently buying a few Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish, I couldn't resist choosing both the Burt's Bees Soap Bark & Chamomile Deep Cleansing Cream (£10.20) and the Bee Good Honey & Propolis 2-in-1 Cream Cleanser (£11.50) which are both natural products that promise to cleanse your skin properly without making it feel dry, tight and irritated. Another skincare product that I simply couldn't resist is the Dr Organic Snail Gel Anti-Aging Facial Serum (£17.99) that has been intriguing me for the longest time ever. I'm hoping that isn't as gross as the name suggests..

Not too long ago, everybody was raving about Magnifibres (£16.99) which is a fibre infused mascara like brush that you simply brush on after applying your first coat of mascara, wait thirty seconds before proceeding to apply a second of mascara which gives dramatically longer lashes. So it seemed only fair to choose it for my box especially when I'm struggling with my own short, stumpy lashes! Another addition to the box that everybody and their nan raves about is a teeny sample of the Philip Kingsley Elasticizer (£29) that helps add serious strength to damaged hair whilst reducing any breakage. Whilst I don't necessarily have overly damaged hair, I am struggling with breakage so I'm hoping that this will transform my locks! The last addition that I chose for my box is the Zoella Fresh Tutti Fruity Bath Fizzer (£5) which I will admit that I only chose because I'm running out of bath bombs. Hopefully this is as good as the world says!

Have you taken advantage of the Latest In Beauty Awards Box? What products did you choose?

No7 Youthful Eye Serum

Whilst most people believe that all your skin needs is a good cleanser, toner and moisturiser, I believe that it needs a little more than just your average products. It needs a few serums, both manual and acidic exfoliators as well as a half decent eye cream amongst everything else in order to keep your skin happy and hydrated. Whilst I may tweak and perfect my skincare routine, I am forever changing up my eye creams looking for the perfect one to help banish my dark circles whilst hydrating the area. Despite still not finding the one, I have however found an eye serum to help target fine lines and wrinkles whilst smoothing and brighten the under eyes and just generally hydrating the eye area.. Say hello to the No7 Youthful Eye Serum!

The No7 Youthful Eye Serum (£19.50) targets key signs of ageing around the eyes with the advanced blend of hyaluronic acid, vitamin C and soft focus spheres to instantly smooth, revitalise and brighten the skin around the eyes for a more youthful appearance. In addition, an effective fusion of vitamin A, cassava and anti-ageing peptides work day by day to visibly reduce wrinkles including crow's feet, imroving skin firmness and reduces the appearance of dark circles and puffiness.

In my opinion, the No7 Youthful Eye Serum is a suit all ages kind of eye product - it is gentle enough for young skins to boost hydration yet boasts enough repairing qualities than even more maturer skin can benefit from using this. As it is a serum, it sinks in really quickly leaving behind nearly no traces of excess product, which is ideal for us heavy handed beauties who tend to over apply products! It quickly gets to work by banishing any signs of dry and puffy skin whilst prepping the skin for the next dosage of hydration coming from your current eye cream. Despite it being targeted as more of an eye serum than an eye cream, you can definitely get away with just using it as an eye cream if you prefer as it's hydrating enough without feeling too heavy on the skin. I have noticed that since I've started using this with my current eye cream, my dark circles have somewhat become less visible and the area in general just looks more hydrated than before. Whilst this may seem like an unnecessary step, I do believe that prevention is key with fine lines and wrinkles and will carry on using this will all my eye creams.

Pixi Glow Tonic

Out of all the hundreds of billions of beauty products that we have access to, there are only a few that take the beauty world by storm and gets everybody all in a huff when they're no longer in stock. Last year, there was one product in particular that could not stay on the shelves long as everybody and their nan was trying to get their mitts on which is partially down to the Caroline Hirons effect as whatever that woman says to buy, you buy it! And this said product is Pixi Glow Tonic.

Pixi Glow Tonic (£18) is exfoliating toner that is infused with ginseng, fructose and aloe vera to help tighten and brighten the complexion whilst feeling cooling no the skin with the added bonus of 5% Glycolic Acid that will gently remove dead skin cells to reveal brighter, more plumper skin.

I will admit that I have the old packaging of this infamous product which I much prefer as it has a pump so I can semi-control the amount of product that I use. Despite my love for the old packaging, I just can't seem to get on with the actual product itself. I've stuck with it for the longest time now, using it most nights and I'm just not seeing results. This could perhaps be because the ingredients are no longer active or because it has no effect at all on my skin. I will definitely continue using it until I've finished it and will most likely buy a new bottle just to see if this one is a dud.

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Lightscapade

I absolutely love dewy, highlighted skin and I will spend literally forever making my skin look as highlighted and glowy as possible. Despite having more than my fair share of highlighters, I just love buying new ones especially those that I have lusted after for ages. When I came back from America last year, I decided to splurge a bit on MAC and picked up the MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Lightscapade which has been billed across the blogging sphere as the highlighter to have.

The MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Lightscapade (£24) comes packaged in the typical MAC packaging which the product itself, MAC describes as being as a soft candlelit beige with multi-dimensional shimmer. Every product is baked individually so the beautiful multicoloured veining of peach, blue, lilac and pink is unique to each product with some having more veining than others. 

Unlike other highlighters that can be quite chunky or gritty in texture, Lightscapade has such a lovely, finely milled texture which glides onto the skin effortlessly without emphasing the pores. What I like the most about Lightscapade compared to all my other highlighters is that you can really build up it up for a more intense, highlighted look or just lightly sweep it over the cheeks for a more natural look. With it being such a beautiful shade, it's the ideal highlighter for us pale faced beauties without being too metallic or ashy. This is quite literally my holy grail highlighter as I use it on a daily basis, sweeping it all over my face to set my makeup whilst applying a little bit more on the tops of my cheeks to highlight the area. As I love this so much, I've bought a back up just in case I ever do run out of it which I highly doubt as I've only just made a dent in the baked dome.

Real Techniques Nic's Picks

Every beauty blogger and their dog have a witness when it comes to blogging whether it be having a unhealthy amount of foundations or hundreds of lipsticks which are all varying shades of the same colour. My unhealthy obsession after bronzers and highlighters definitely has to be makeup brushes, in particular ones that are cheaper than their expensive sisters. I am forever buying makeup brushes despite probably have a few of the same brush to do the exact same job. Just before Christmas, Real Techniques released a few more brush sets to the collection which I couldn't resist treating myself to, one of which is the Nic's Picks Set which are a selection of brushes that Nic personally has chosen.

The Real Techniques Nic's Picks (£29.99) is a set of five brushes in a limited edition silver metallic design which includes three exclusive brush cuts which you cannot buy separately The brushes included in the set are the Duo-Fiber Brush, Cheek Brush, Angled Shadow Brush, Base Shadow Brush and the Eyeliner Brush. 

The Duo-Fiber Brush is one brush that will not be getting much love from me as I already have this brush from the Duo-Fiber set. It's the perfect, lightweight brush for dusting over any powder without making it look caked on or too powdery. 

The Cheek Brush is slightly tapered, more dense brush that is packed with bristles that are ideal for applying any blush or bronze. Whilst it is the perfect size for the cheeks, I personally can't apply bronzer with it as it is still too stiff despite using it and washing it multiple times. With that said, it does apply the product beautifully. 

The Angled Shadow Brush as the name suggests is quite literally an angled shadow brush which you can use to add definition on the eyes to create depth, filling in your eyebrows or for eyeliner itself. This is another brush that I haven't yet used as I don't particularly have a use for it at the moment as I haven't been experimenting with any dramatic eye looks however from the shape of it, I bet it would work okay at blending eyeshadow out.

The Base Shadow Brush is quite literally my favourite brush from the set as it's it the perfect sized brush to apply eyeshadow all over the lid, in the crease or for blending it all out. I prefer it for the latter as it just gets into the crease perfectly and applies just the right amount of colour. I really do wish that you could buy this brush separately as I would no doubt buy quite a few more of it!

The Eyeliner Brush is another self-explantory brush as the name suggests as you can use this to add definition at the lash line as well as to fill in your eyebrows. I still haven't found the perfect use yet for this brush however I bet that it would work wonders with Benefit Brow Zings to really fill in my eyebrows and make them appear thicker and fuller.

Origins Ginzing Refreshing Scrub Cleanser

Early on last year, I was quite lucky in the fact that my local Boots had hundreds of Origins products on clearance which I took full advantage of! Out of all the products there, I managed to find a few of the Ginzing Refreshing Scrub Cleanser which at the time had only just been released and I was very curious about so I couldn't resist buying a few of it!

The Origins Ginzing Refreshing Scrub Cleanser (£18.50) is a two in one cleanser that is filled with radiance boosting panel ginseng and caffeine. It also contains jojoba and carnauba wax to gently exfoliate the skin and help unclog pores whilst the added essential oil blend of grapefruit, lemon and spearmint help perk you up ready to face the day ahead.

Unlike most cleansers that I've become accustomed to that don't foam up, the Origins offering foams up within seconds of applying onto the skin whilst behaving just like a gel cleanser. This has made me quite unsure of using it on a daily basis as I've had foaming cleansers are a no go drummed into me. Whilst the tiny exfoliating beads may be a nice added bonus, I personally don't agree with them as they literally do nothing to my skin in terms of exfoliating which is probably down to the fact that they're man made beads rather than something natural. To use, I simply squeeze out a small-ish size before blobbing it all over my face before proceeding to massage it in. To remove, I simply take a muslin cloth and remove like you would any cleanser. Whilst it may not do anything for my skin in terms of exfoliating, it does however cleanse my skin but I always follow up with an additional cleanser as I tend to use this more as a extremely gentle exfoliator than an actual cleanser. Since I've started using this on the occasions when I'm not using a acidic toner, my skin does appear slightly more radiant after use however it always feels slightly tight and dry in areas so I always have to follow up with a very hydrating toner afterwards. Overall, I wouldn't say that this is a miracle product as it's far from that however it's something passable that would do the job. I for one will not be repurchasing this as I have far too many of these in my stash to use up which will probably last me forever.

eBay Beauty Blenders

Out of everything that I buy makeup wise, beauty tools are my weakness and I have a complete arsenal of brushes and sponges to suit every aspect of applying makeup. Whether it be for a night out on the town or a natural look, I have the tools to help recreate whichever image I have in mind. With that being said, I'm finding it to be a very expensive hobby especially after recently purchasing quite a fair few of my beloved Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge and being hit with an additional handling fee (the joys of ordering things from the states!) I've found myself scouring the likes of eBay to help find some new makeup sponge applicators and I've come up with a few interesting hits..

The most smallest and cutest addition of them all definitely has to be the mini beauty blender (99p+) which is the perfect size for blending in concealer under the eyes! Unlike it's bigger sister, this is the perfect size to blend in any under eye concealer as it's not bulky and will not ruin your makeup. Unfortunately, these are very hard to find dupe wise as most sellers list the bigger size as the smaller size.

The next addition is quite an usual one as it's quite literally a sponge on a stick that sellers on eBay sell as a sponge makeup blender (99p+). I will admit that it doesn't feel sturdy at all and I bet that the slightest sign of pulling will pull it off. I personally like to use this to blending in foundation on my neck to avoid those dreaded foundation marks which actually works really well to blend it all in. However, since using this I have noticed that it doesn't wash up particularly well so it's permanently stained but for the price, you can't really complain.

The latest addition is quite literally a rip off of the original beauty blender (99p+) that is actually a lot bigger when compared side to side to the original. It is also not made from the same materials as it feels a lot more like a sponge you would find it the kitchen rather than to apply your makeup with. In terms of how effective it is, I would say that is does a standard job as I use this primarily to apply my foundation before using a different sponge altogether to blend and buff it all in. As it's a bigger size, it does cover more surface area but I wouldn't necessarily go as far as seeing that this replaces my love for the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge or the original beauty blender. A search of makeup blender sponge will bring up hundreds of results, so you do have to search for quite a while until you find a trustworthy seller.

Have you come across any good eBay makeup tools?

No7 Instant Radiance Foundation

I love nothing more than a good foundation which promises to give a dewy/radiant finish whilst being medium coverage which can be built up. I've tried my fair share of foundations and whilst some have been absolutely brilliant such as the Bourjois Healthy Mix Radiance Reveal Foundation and others being so so like the Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation, I'm still holding out for the one. Recently, I've found myself reaching for the No7 Instant Radiance Foundation which might just be a foundation match in heaven!

The No7 Instant Radiance Foundation (£12.50) is a medium coverage foundation that promises to give a radiant boost to tired, stressed skin. It glides on to skin for coverage that not only brightens the complexion but reduces to appearance of imperfection and signs of fatigue. With energising ginger, it helps stimulate tired looking skin whilst the added enriching vitamin complex helps boost skin vitality. It also has soft violet pearls that helps transform dull, stressed skin into a healthy looking glow for a perfectly natural, lit from within finish.

I will hold my hand up high and admit that I have to use two different shades to mix together to achieve my perfect shade. This is purely because the No7 Matchmade Service claims that lighting doesn't alter the shade when I'm living proof that it does - I have to mix both Calico and Cool Vanilla in order to achieve my perfect shade that is neither too pale nor too dark. With that being said, I do find that the two mixed together does give me a radiant finish that no amount of highlighter can achieve! For the record, I suffer with dull skin that craves a radiant glow and the No7 Instant Radiance Foundation achieves just that. It covers up most of my imperfections and my dark circles without being cakey whilst giving that beautiful glow from within that we all crave. I find that one layer is more than enough to see me through the day although if I know that the day will be a busy one then I like to build it up before setting it all down. With this foundation, I can easily go atleast eight hours without needing to touch it up, sometimes even twelve hours if it hasn't been a busy day at work. Overall, I truly do love this foundation and I do believe that it has replaced my love for the Bourjois Healthy Mix Radiance Reveal Foundation. It is truly one of the best drugstore foundations that I've tried which does exactly what it says on the packaging!

Clearasil Ultra Blemish + Marks Scrub

There is no denying the fact that when we all started out using skincare, we used really gritty manual scrubs that were probably too harsh for our sensitive skin and which probably did more harm that good. Fast forward a few years and I like to think that we've all come to terms on what works best for our skin, myself included. I've learnt that whilst a manual scrub is good for my skin, using it every single day does more harm so I've restricted myself to using it only twice a week whilst using a chemical exfoliator inbetween. The only manual scrub that I've been reaching for recently has been the Clearasil Ultra Blemish + Marks Scrub which although it may be targeted specifically for blemish prone skin, it's been working wonders for my skin!

The Clearasil Ultra Blemish + Marks Scrub (£5.99) is one of the more typical scrubs with beads in it to help provide a deep skin cleaning experience. This scrub has been designed to work on your skin from the very moment a blemish appears. It contains a unique ingredient complex with Vitamin B3 which helps fight the blemish itself whilst fighting the appearance of marks and to help enhance the skins renewal process.

As mentioned, I only use this twice a week mainly in the evenings to avoid over exfoliating my skin. I like to squeeze out a generous amount before placing it in each quarter of my face before proceeding to scrub it onto my skin, concentrating on any key areas like on my nose and cheeks before washing it off completely with a warm muslin cloth. Since I've started using this, my skin has changed completely. The texture is now a lot more refined without the usual under the skin bumps and active blemishes and it's almost entirely smooth. I've noticed that whilst I have had a few active blemishes, they've pretty much disappeared completely after a few days especially after using this scrub. Whilst there is a lot of controversary surrounding scrubs with beads in it, I personally don't read into it as I like how they make my skin feel. Nothing beats a freshly scrubbed face! If you're after a good scrub that doesn't break the bank then I urge you to try this for yourself, especially if you suffer with blemishes!

No7 Soft & Soothed Gentle Toner

Toners are one of those marmite products in the blogging world with many mixed reviews about whether or not it's a necessary step in anyones skincare routine. I personally believe that using toners are a very necessary step as they can both hydrate and soothe the skin, especially on the days when you're just an acidic toner. Recently, I've been reaching for the No7 Soft & Soothed Gentle Toner.

The No7 Soft & Soothed Gentle Toner (£8) helps to gently hydrate and soothe the skin whilst not upsetting your skin by drying it out. It aims to work in harmony with your skin to leave it clean, toned and supple.

As it comes in No7's typical pour style bottles, I like to pour a generous amount onto a cotton wool pad before sweeping it over my face, concentrating on any key areas such as my cheeks and forehead. Once I've finished sweeping it across my face, I like to fan my face a little just to help it sink in that little bit quicker. I've been using this for the best part of two months and unlike previous toners that I've used in the past, this doesn't leave my skin feeling dry and stripped of it's essential oils. This instead makes my skin feel more hydrated and soft to the touch. The only thing that I do dislike about this toner is how fast I'm going through it as it feels like I've blinked and I've almost finished it! Overall, this is a good budget toner especially those who are just beginning out with skincare. I personally wouldn't repurchase this as I'm wanting to remain loyal to Serozinc but to keep a bottle or two round the other halfs won't hurt..

 

June Favourites

I cannot believe how fast this year is going! It feels like only yesterday we were unwrapping our presents and eating our body weight in roast turkey and roast potatoes! June has been such a whirlwind of a month for me as it feels like I've spent majority of the month at home which I know is definitely not the case with the exception of last week of course.. Let's delve into what products I've been loving and reaching for this month!

First up, who can tell which eyeshadow shades I've been loving from the No7 Mini Eye Palette? I'll give you a clue, it's the only shades with noticeable marks in them! The No7 Mini Eye Palette has literally been the only eyeshadow palette that I've been reaching for and in particular, the mink shade, taupe-ish shade and the dark brown shade. These three combined make the ultimate smokey eye look which I've been rocking practically every day this month.

To go hand in hand with my smokey eye look, I've been really into filling my brows and making sure that they look as defined as possible without looking too much so I've been reaching for the MAC Eyebrow Pencil in Lingering to fill in any sparse looking areas, whilst using the Benefit Gimme Brow on top to finish it all off. These two together are quite literally the dream team and one that I don't want to break up just yet.

I've been making sure to keep my skin in tip top condition by using various products together, one of which is good old trusty Hydraluron. Hydraluron helps to increase the skins hydration from below the surface with high quality hyaluronic acid that can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water. Essentially, it acts like a magnet with your moisturiser to help hold in moisture. I've been using this for what feels like forever and I will forever continue to use this.

As I'm wanting to ensure that I get the best out of my skin, I've been reaching for a few more serums than normal in particular the No7 Youthful Eye Serum of which I've been using a sample for the past month or so. Just like Hydraluron, this also contains hyaluronic acid as well as vitamin C to help revitalise and brighten up the eye area to give it a more youthful appearance. Whilst I still may be slightly too young for wrinkles, I have noticed that my eye area looks more hydrated and fuller than normal which is definitely all thanks to this!