Category:

Skincare

Skincare

Avon Planet Spa Dead Sea Minerals Review

by Kristen
written by Kristen
You may already know of my love for the Sanctuary 5 Minute Detox Mask, well this works in a very similar way but it’s not self heating and it also goes someway to minimising my pores. It doesn’t quite give me the same ‘deep clean’ but it does absorb oil and I find that the next day my skin isn’t as shiny as it usually would be I have tried a few Avon masks over the years but this is most definitely my favourite, if you have oily skin I would recommend this a couple of times a week (I am a mask freak and use them almost every day) to help control your tzone and minimise break outs. You only need a thin layer and the way I’m using it the tube will last me for months.

Unfortunately I can’t find it for sale on Avons website right now, it’s in the current brochure if you have a representative near you but if you do want to buy it online you can get it on Amazon for £6.99.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Skincare

Summer Essentials

by Kristen
written by Kristen

Your budget Summer Essentials wouldn’t be complete without Cheap Summer Dresses and Sunglasses but today I’m talking about beauty.. duh! The products I’ve been loving over these warmer weeks. I’ve mentioned it before but I’m not built for the heat so anything to help keep me cool and hydrated is a winner, here are my picks..

Victoria’s Secret – PINK Pretty & Pure Body Mist – £16.99

On my last visit to London I was determined to finally pick up a Victorias Secret Body Mist and this was what I chose. It smells of jasmin and pink lemonade and can also be used as a skin conditioner. I spritz it on after my shower.

Cocoa Brown – 1 Hour Tan* – £7.99

This is an absolute revolution in tanning for me, you can read my full review here but long story short is really does work in just one hour and for pale girls like me it’s a beautiful light tan with no streaks and no smell, amazing!

Dove – Nourishing Oil Care Leave In Spray – £3.59 here (half price at the moment)

Again I have a full review of this– I love this stuff! It’s replaced my leave in conditioner AND my hair oils and you can use it on dry hair too so if you’ve over done it with the dry shampoo you can condition your ends in between washes too.

Soap & Glory – Heel Genius – £5.50

I didn’t love this for a long time, I didn’t like the tacky consistency and generally thought it was a bit rubbish but something happened and now I can’t be without it.. it really does soften and smooth dry feet which during sandal season is a must – I can put up with the tackiness at night if it works!

Derma V10 – Dry Skin Cream* – £2.15

This is similar to e45 in formula – in fact it’s probably the same thing –  I use this on my legs, I shave them everyday so they can get dry, especially in this heat and this has been great for keeping them smooth and any razor bumps at bay. It doesn’t smell particularly lush though.

Stop – Hair Inhibiting Spray* – £39.95

I was dubious about this when I first received it (still am) but I’ve been using it every day and if it’s working then it’s absolutely an essential. I’ve spoken at length about my need to shave daily but since using this I’ve been trying (hard) to do my legs every OTHER day and I don’t know if it’s in my mind but something between that and this spray seems to be working. I feel like regrowth has slowed (SLIGHTLY) so I’m excited to see the result after I’ve used the whole bottle.

Belif – Anti Hangover Soothing Mask* – £13.75

Another product I wasn’t sold on at first but now love. It’s so refreshing and hydrating, not what I’d consider a mask at all which is probably why I was initially disappointed but if your skin is looking dull or feeling tight this is a lovely treat.. I use it on days I’ll be home rather than overnight as it directs.

Neutrogena – Multi Defence Daily Moisturiser – £7.9

This is the only facial spf that I’ve found works underneath makeup on my oily skin.. it’s light, didn’t break me oil and absorbs rather than creating a film on my skin like every other I’ve tried. There are two versions, dry to normal and normal to combination, I have the latter.

NSpa – Revitalising Vitamin Toning Mist – £3.00

I’ve had this for ages and I wouldn’t call it a mist so much as a spritz.. the nozzle doesn’t mist but that would definitely be an improvement if they were to repackage the product. I love the scent of the Nspa range, so calming so I like to use this at night between toning and moisturising.. I also picked up their fragrance recently – review to come!

Boots – Extracts Mango Body Wash – £4.25 (for full size)

I ran out of shower gel a few weeks ago and finally started working through the mini’s I got for Christmas.. is it just me that gets these random toilettries sets every year? I have some Mandara Spa’s and a full set of minis from the Boots Extracts range which is what I’m using now. The cocoa butter is my favourite but this Mango is very summer appropriate, they all pack a punch fragrance wise and leave my skin feeling comfortable rather than dry and itchy as it so often feels after bathing.

So they’re my summer essentials.. If I sat here long enough I’m sure I could bore you to tears with a whole host more but these are the ones I’ve actually been using. I didn’t want to put them all in my monthly favourites but you will see some duplicates on Wednesday for sure

What are your essentials getting you through this heat wave?

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Skincare

Sanctuary Ultimate Facial Cleansing Oil

by Kristen
written by Kristen
Oil/Balm Cleanser + Flannel = Cleanest Skin Ever, Converted!

I was never entirely enamoured of balm/oils to removed my eye makeup because I felt they left residue which resulted in a film over my eyes for a little while after and y’know.. I want to be able to see. For this reason I stay away from bio-phase/oil makeup removers and complain that my mascara doesn’t come off easily.. first world problems, huh? I was enjoying using the remains of my Botanics Balm but when it ran out I wanted something different and this is just awesome, I thought I’d miss the balmy texture once I was used to it but this I really don’t – okay maybe a little but as oils go I really like this one. On contact with water it emulsifies and looks milky, it reminds me a lot of the shower oil by the same brand, it transforms from an oil to something soapy and gets me really clean without feeling dry – perfect.  I am totally converted to using a flannel to remove my cleanser too, there’s something so refreshing about a hot flannel – whoever convinced us all that muslin cloths were so amazing had obviously never used a flannel. Funny thing is whenever I wanted my skin really clean (after a face mask for example) I always used a towel or stole one of the kids wash mitts so I really should have known!!

This only disappointment for me with this cleansing oil was that it didn’t have the signature Sanctuary fragrance. It’s okay it’s just not ahhhhhhhhhh!!!!! – that would be the icing on the cake. It removes (almost) all of my eye makeup leaving no residue and you only really need one pump per use so the way I’m going I think it will last me some time. I’ve been using this as my first cleanse and Soap & Glory Peaches and Clean as my second while I’m in the tub and I’m really happy with the way my skin is behaving (hormonal breakouts aside). For those wondering I follow up with an exfoliating toner such as Pixi Glow Tonic or the All Bright one from Botanics  –which is basically the same thing but it has alcohol which may not be for everyone. It’s a fraction of the price though so if you don’t mind the alcohol I’d recommend you give it a go. Lastly I use a brightening oil on the pigmentation around my eyes, a balancing oil on the restof my face and a light moisturiser.. that’s my night.

As always if any of you have any fantastic recommendations for me I’m all ears, I love trying new things! I may try the Champneys balm cleanser next and think I’ll stick with the Botanics toner once the Pixi runs out, oh and I’ve heard very good things about the Kiehls Dark Spot Solution for my discolouration so much as it pains me to spend £36 I am very tempted to give that a go as I’m sure my dark marks are getting worse.. I digress, if you’re looking for an oil cleanser this is a nice one!

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail