2014 Favourites: Part Two

Part two of my 2014 favourites includes skincare, haircare, and bodycare products (you can see my makeup favourites here). I'm probably missing something, but the ones above are the ones currently in my collection. I've given the full prices, but, aside from the Lush products, I've never paid them! They're on offer more times than not.

The Body Shop's Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter (£12) and Silky Cleansing Oil (£10) have become my favourite cleansers. They remove makeup so well and leave my skin feeling incredibly soft. I find they both do the same job; they're just different formulas. The Silky Cleansing Oil is quicker to dispense, but the Sumptuous Cleansing Butter won't leak if you were to travel with it.

The other cleanser I've been loving is Lush's Ultrabland Facial Cleanser (£7.25/45g or £11.50/100g). Like the others, this is my second repurchase, and it won't be my last. Again, it removes my makeup well, and I can open my eyes without it stinging. It leaves my skin feeling moisturised, and my combination-oily skin would be fine if I didn't use anything else. It makes my skin feel moisturised in an ever so slightly tacky way, like I have actually just moisturised.

Another Lush favourite of mine is the Ro's Argan Body Conditioner (£16.50). This second pot was a gift I asked for, for Christmas, because it's expensive. It''s amazing, though. You put it on and wash it off in the shower, and you're left with moisturised skin, just like you would be with a body butter. It makes moisturising in the winter so easy (and a lot less cold!).

Another body product I've enjoyed using is the Imperial Leather Foamburst Luxurious Body Wash in Bewitching Blackberry & Wild Fig (£2.99-£3.15). I've tried all the scents, and this one's my favourite. I just love foam shower gels, and think these are a great alternative to the Rituals ones.

In terms of hair, the TRESemme Platinum Strength Shampoo (£4.99) really impressed me last year. I find most shampoos do the same thing, and as long as they clean my hair and don't dry it out, I'm happy. This did those things, but also made it feel incredibly soft, without weighing it down or making it greasy. The conditioner was also good, but I didn't even need it with this. I now have an entire draw of this range, which should last me through 2015!

The Naked Rescue Intensive Care Conditioner (£4.39) is still a favourite of mine. It smells great and conditions my hair like no other. The shampoo is also good, but can be a little too clarifying at times. The brand no longer has a website or social media accounts, but can still be found in Boots. I really hope they stay there!

Well, this is no surprise. The Superdrug Colour Effects Wash In Wash Out Conditioning Colours (£1.49) have been favourites of mine for years. Some of my most popular posts are of these, and they're included in nearly every Empties post. They just give my auburn hair that extra vibrancy, which I'm regularly complimented on. They've gone up in price to £1.49, but were recently on offer for 3 for £3, so I bought another 9 to add to my stock.

2014 saw me find a new appreciation for hand creams. My absolute favourites so far are the Figs & Rouge ones (£3.95/20ml or £6.95-£7.95/80ml), particularly the Cherry Blossom and Mango & Mandarin scents. I also love The Body Shop Hand Creams (£3.50), with Mango, Frosted Cranberry, and Vanilla Brulee being my favourites.

Finally, I'm never without a pack of Kleenex Shine Absorbing Sheets. They absorb any excess oil without disturbing your makeup, and I normally use these at lunchtime to freshen up. I don't think they're available in Boots or Superdrug anymore (I think they were discontinued), but you can get them on eBay and Amazon. I bought 5 packs for £3.49 including delivery (they used to be £2-3 individually).

Do you love any of these products?

Huge Boots Haul!

1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9/10/11/12/13/14/15/16/17/18/19/20/21/22/23/24/25/26/27/28/29/30/31/32/33/34/35

Boots staff double discount happened, and this isn't even all of it! I've removed some presents and doubles from the photo, and I forgot to include the No7 mirror and foundations (which I paid pennies for thanks to clearance and vouchers). In my defence, a number of items above are Christmas presents for various people. I'm just going to talk through a handful of things because we'll be here for a long time else!

I'm not one for false lashes, but I had a few styes and started pulling mine out (I know), so needed something to fill the gaps while they grow back! The individual lashes have been great, and while they don't last for days and days, they look natural. I remove them every night like I do with any cosmetic. This would be time consuming if I applied a full set every morning, but I only apply a couple. The Naturalites (10) also look promising!

I well and truly stocked up on the Tresemme Platinum Strength shampoo and conditioner because they ended up being just £1.87 a bottle. It's definitely a range I'd recommend trying!

Original Source have brought out some body moisturisers, and I couldn't resist buying the peach and apricot lotion. It smells like a peach and apricot yoghurt! There's also a watermelon one, which I wouldn't mind smelling at some point.

29, 34, and 35 were on clearance in my store, so I ended up paying just 39p and 87p for them! Another exciting lip product purchase is L'Oreal's Colour Riche Exclusive Red Lipstick in Julianne. It's beautiful!

The Babyliss straighteners and Soap & Glory gift sets are for my mum for Christmas. She's only ever had mine and my sister's old straighteners, and her favourite colour is purple, so I thought the Elegance Pro would be perfect. She's not familiar with Soap & Glory, but after telling her a bit about the products and showing her reviews/swatches, she's excited to start using them!

Other points to mention: I'm excited to use the No7 makeup products (7 and 25-28) because they all have great reviews, I love the Laura Ashley kitchen accessories, and I don't know why I included the anti-blister stick and spray plaster. It must have been a long day!

Have you splurged recently?

Empties #08

As I'm writing this, I already have three products for my next Empties. I could include them here, but that would mean taking the photo again!

I don't like to include every shampoo and conditioner I go through in these posts because it gets incredibly tedious. However, this one's worth mentioning. I even dedicated an entire post to it here! It's the Tresemme Platinum Strength Shampoo. I was skeptical at first, but it really did make my hair feel softer, stronger, and overall healthier. I've already bought more, and would definitely recommend giving it a go.

The Nivea Waterlily and Oil Shower Gel was something I bought ages ago because it was on offer, but only started using it recently. I usually prefer fruity shower gels which pack a punch, but enjoyed using this delicate number. I didn't notice my skin feeling any more moisturised, though. It's nice, but nothing special, so I probably won't repurchase.

I can no longer see The Body Shop's Vineyard Peach Body Mist (review here) on their site, and I'm kicking myself for not stocking up. It smells like a fresh, juicy peach, and it's amazing.

I also finished up another bottle of Superdrug's Colour Effects Conditioning Colour in True Chestnut (review here). I think I've mentioned one of these in nearly every Empties, and I'm starting to sound like a broken record! Just read my review or previous posts to find out why I like them.

I liked the Revlon PhotoReady Perfecting Primer (review here). It left my skin looking and feeling smooth, mattified it slightly, and made my makeup look better. I just wish the packaging was different because I had to pry the lid off and whack the bottle on my palm to get the last little bit out (which was actually more than a little bit).

The Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner in Intense Black and Colour Tattoo Gel-Cream Eyeshadow in On & On Bronze are not empty, but they are drying up (after having them for years, may I add). Both are creamy, intensely pigmented, and last all day. They've become part of my daily routine, and I've already repurchased both.

Have you tried any of these products?

Collective Haul

I don't feel like I've been buying much recently, but this photo says otherwise! 

So, you know the Pacifica fragrance sets I've mentioned a few times now? £18 on Feel Unique, bought a couple in January for £5, bought a couple more a few weeks back for £7.50? Well, Tesco Direct reduced them again, to just £3.75. £3.75! I'm glad they're not a well known brand over here. If they were, they would have sold out in a heartbeat. I now have four to give away as presents, and three myself.

I don't tend to buy many clothes from Primark (or from any store, really. Jeans and a plain tee will do me just fine). I just like the pj and home sections. I'm fond of their reed diffusers, so picked up four more; two sweet pineapple & ginger, and two blackcurrant & orchid. They smell great, and were only £3 each. I also bought some more cosy and thermal socks (£2 and £2.50). Love, love, love their thicker socks.

I reviewed the TRESemme Platinum Strength Shampoo a couple posts back (here), and then discovered that the bottles were half price in Superdrug (still are), so bought the Platinum Strength and Renewal Hair & Scalp duos. Each bottle was £2.47 down from £4.99. The 900ml and 750ml bottles are the same price, which is annoying, but these have been making a difference to my hair.

There was an offer on Soap & Glory facial products the other week in Boots, so I ended up paying £5-6 for the Ultimelt Hot Cloth Cleanser, rather than £10. I've used it a fair few times now, and... it's okay. It doesn't smell the nicest, it doesn't remove my makeup as well as others, and it doesn't leave my skin as soft as others. It's just okay. I like it, but wouldn't pay £10 for it. I then bought the Sugar Crush Body Scrub for £8. Full price. I don't think I've ever paid full price for a Soap & Glory product. There was a points voucher involved, though. Anyway, I've tried the other products in the range, and wanted to move away from exfoliating gloves and enter the world of scrubs. It smells better than the body wash and butter. It's incredible. I'm going to use it for the first time tonight, so will let you know how I get on.

I bought another Blistex Intensive Moisturiser (£2.59/Superdrug, £2.63/Boots) because I use my current one every night, and I also bought another Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet Lipstick for £5.99 (normally £8.99). This shade is Peach Club. I like them, but can't say too much because I haven't worn them to their fullest potential yet. I've just been dabbing and blending a little in.

What happens when you combine a buy one get one half price offer, a £3 off voucher, and multiple point boosting vouchers? You spend, and you don't feel guilty about it. I bought the No7 Pop & Glow Cream Blush Stick in Classic Rose (normally £9.95), and the No7 High Shine Lip Crayon in Tropical Beach (normally £9). I ended up paying £6.95 and £4.50. I haven't tried them yet, but like the Instant Radiance Highlighting Stick I have from them. Tropical Beach also looks similar to Bourjois' Colour Boost Lip Crayon in Peach on the Beach, which is one of my favourites.

Lastly, the bag is from Accessorize. At £33.30 (usually £37), it wasn't the cheapest, but it's for my sister's birthday, and the patterns are really beautiful.

What have you been buying recently?

TRESemme Platinum Strength Shampoo

Shampoo. As long as it cleans my hair and doesn't leave it feeling dry or weighed down, I'm happy. When I first heard of the Platinum Strength range by TRESemme, I thought the claims were far-fetched and that it probably did the same as their others. Then I was running low on shampoo, fancied a change, and this was on offer. A month or so on, and I'm impressed. It cleans my hair, but makes it feel soft at the same time, like I've used a conditioning treatment. It doesn't leave it feeling weighed down or greasy, though. My hair just feels healthier. I rarely have damaged looking hair, especially since I cut most of it off, so don't know how much of the 'reverses the look of up to 2 years of damage' claim is true, but my hair has taken well to this product. TRESemme products are regularly on offer, too, which is even better. Hopefully, my hair won't start to hate it a few months down the line!

What shampoo has impressed you?

Psst, it's also my blog's 5th birthday today!

Empties #03 - I finished a body butter!

As I've already mentioned it in the title, I'll start with The Body Shop's Mango Body Butter! It's the first one I've ever finished, and I feel like I've accomplished something! I normally alternate between my products, so instead of finishing one, they're all half empty. The actual product was good (or else I wouldn't have finished it!). It sank into my skin well and left it moisturised for days. Mango is one of my favourite scents, too.

Let's head back over to the left. I finished two more Alberto Balsam Shampoos in Strawberries & Cream and Sun Kissed Raspberry. The Strawberries & Cream scent is one of my favourites, and I've already stocked up on a few bottles of it! The Sun Kissed Raspberry is nice, but very subtle. They perform well in my hair, and I can't complain for 99p!

I also finished a bottle of the TRESemme Naturals Conditioner. Again, TRESemme is a brand I regularly use and have had no problems with, so I've already bought another bottle of this.

The Body Shop's Banana Conditioner was okay. I liked the scent, but the conditioner itself was average, and I wouldn't pay the full price of £4.50 for it. I was surprised, actually, because it's a product so many people love. The bottle also made it very difficult to get product out.

Aussie's Miracle Hair Insurance Leave In Conditioner has been part of my routine for years, and I've already repurchased. It leaves my hair feeling soft, and smells incredible.

I haven't been using them for the last couple of weeks, but you can see I used them a lot before then, and that's the Superdrug Colour Effects Wash In Wash Out Conditioning Colours. The shades I have here are Rich Warm Brown and True Chestnut. I love these, and have spoken of them many times before. I have three more bottles in my draw, and will purchase more in the future.

The Body Shop's Vitamin E Face Mist was a product I bought simply because I was trying to get to a certain amount to qualify for a code. I like how fine the mist is, and it is refreshing, but that's all. I don't feel like it helps improve my skin or the longevity of my makeup. I don't think I'll repurchase this - I'll just refill the bottle with water!

Superdrug's Naturally Radiant Brightening Hot Cloth Cleanser is similar to their Vitamin E one. It removes all my makeup well, and leaves my skin feeling moisturised. I can't say my skin looked brighter, though. 

The MUA Cover & Conceal Concealer has been part of my makeup routine since the beginning of this year, and thought it was about time I ditched this one and bought another. For £1.50, why not?! It has a light to medium coverage and a dewy finish. I'm not the biggest fan of the dewy finish, but I apply powder over the top anyway, so don't find this a problem. It doesn't always cover blemishes well, so I use another concealer for this purpose.

I love Simple's Baby Moisturising Wipes, and have already stocked up because they're better than half price at the moment! 80 for £1.99 is good, but it's even better when they're 98p. They just do their job - They remove my makeup without stinging or drying my skin out, and they help keep my eye/eyebrow brushes fairly clean until I wash them. I don't see the point in buying more expensive wipes. Others may be more moisturising, but I don't buy them to moisturise because I have moisturisers for that!

I'm also finished with The Body Shop's Raspberry and Lemon Body Butters, but not because they're empty. They're actually almost full, but I've had them for too long and now they're smelling a bit off. This is why I need to stop buying new products and use what I have! I've learnt my lesson now. I even resisted buying more tubs of the Vineyard Peach one because I knew I wouldn't get round to using them. They were down to only £3, too, so it took a lot of strength to resist!

Have you used any of these products before?

Empties #002

Why I chose to number these with three digits, I do not know. I'm unlikely to even get to 10! I'm always unsure whether to post about my empties because on one hand: It's useful to see what products I actually use and love, but on the other: I think the products I use are boring, and it's obvious that I like them if I've used them up!

The first product I remembered to save for this post was the TRESemme Naturals Smooth Shampoo. I've bought this countless times because it just works for my hair! Repurchase? Already have!

Superdrug's Raspberry & Macadamia Nut Conditioner - I added this to my online basket on a whim because it was like 99p, and I'm glad I did. It smells so good! It's sweet, almost sherbet-y. I also like that it has a pump. In terms of conditioning, it worked well, too. Very impressed. Repurchase? Yes.

Superdrug's Coconut & Sweet Almond Intensive Conditioner - I bought this the same time as the raspberry one because it was 2 for £1.49. I've used this before and loved it. It smells amazing, and leaves my hair feeling really soft. Repurchase? Yes!

Aussie's Miracle Hair Insurance Leave In Conditioner - Another bottle down! Again, it smells amazing and leaves my hair soft. See? I told you my empties are boring! Repurchase? Already have :)

Liz Earle's Gentle Face Exfoliator - I was sent this some time last year, and actually finished it ages ago, but saved it for this post. It exfoliated quite well, and left my skin feeling soft because it's based in a cream similar to the Hot Cloth Cleanser. I wouldn't repurchase it, though, because it's more expensive than what I'd like to pay for an exfoliator, and I now use exfoliating gloves, sugar, or a flannel to rid me of dry skin (will do a post on this at some point).

Cutex Nourishing Nail Polish Remover - I've talked about this before, and still feel the same! It's my favourite nail polish remover, ever. It removes my polish well, and smells good for a remover. It may make my nails stronger and whiter, but I don't know for certain. Repurchase? Already have.

Lush's Ocean Salt Facial Scrub - I really liked this. Some say it's too rough, but I didn't think it was at all! I just had to close my mouth when rinsing it off because of the salt - Yuk! If I didn't use exfoliating gloves, sugar, and flannels to exfoliate, then I would repurchase this.

Superdrug's Colour Effects Conditioning Colour in Mahogany - I wrote a review on the Rich Red shade of this a few years ago (just search for it in the search bar to your left), and decided to use them again. This time I went for Mahogany, and I think I prefer it. It's still red, but it's much darker. It leaves my auburn locks with more intense red tones, which really come to life in the sun. Even with my long, thick hair, I got 3-4 uses out of this, and each use lasted around a week. Don't leave it on for 5 minutes like the bottle suggests, though. I leave mine on for 30 minutes, or 15 in the shower. Repurchase? Already have, but True Chestnut this time.

I hope that was of any use to you! My next empties post will probably be in a couple of months - I find it so hard to use things up! But a few products are already running out, so maybe I'll be posting sooner than expected. Enjoy your weekend!

Stocking Up

Does anyone else stock up on products? I could open a small shop with the back ups I have! I stock up partly because I'm organised, partly because I'm a shopaholic, and partly because it's more cost effective in the long run (I buy back ups when they're on offer). The products in the photo above are mostly necessities. I haven't even included my shower gel, moisturiser or makeup back ups! I would have had to use my bed or floor.

Let me know if you can relate!

Empties #001

Hello and welcome to my first empties post! I haven't written one of these before because I really only go through my essential products, and they're quite boring. Knowing what products people use as their essentials can be interesting though, so I thought I'd give it a shot.

TRESemme Salon Silk Shampoo - I've been using this shampoo for a couple of years now, and it still works wonders for me. I either use the Salon Silk or Naturals ranges. The 900ml bottles last ages and they're so affordable. Repurchase? Already have! I have 6 bottles of the shampoo and conditioner stocked up because they were recently half price.

Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Deep Conditioners (Lusciously Light and Take The Heat varieties) - This is another product I've been using for years. I don't buy it all the time because my hair gets used to it, but I like to stock up when it's on offer. It also smells amazing. Repurchase? Yes.

Treacle Moon One Ginger Morning Shower Gel - Oh, I love this! It smells like Starbursts. Repurchase? Definitely! I haven't repurchased it yet though because I have about 6 bottles of shower gel and several bars of soap to use.

Ayuuri Natural Neem Body Wash - I received this in a Glossybox yonks ago. I really liked it! The tea tree and peppermint made my skin cool and tingly. The bottle was hard to squeeze though. Repurchase? No, just because it costs £4.95. However, I will be buying Original Source's version.

Maybelline One by One Mascara - This was my 4th tube, I think, so I obviously like it. It's nothing special, but it makes sure my lashes stay clump free. Repurchase? Already have :)

Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer - This must be my 10th tube - I've used it for years! It covers my blemishes and dark circles, blends well and is very affordable. Repurchase? Again, I already have.

Kleenex Shine Absorbing Sheets - I don't use these very often, and I wouldn't say they've become part of my essential routine, but I really like them. Just like their name, they absorb any excess oil I have on my skin. Repurchase? I already have because they were half price in Superdrug and Tesco (At just £1.49).

Kleenex Facial Cleansing Wipes - I won these in a goody bag. They did their job, but the texture was unusual. Repurchase? No. I either buy Skin Therapy facial wipes or large packs of baby wipes because they're cheaper. Speaking of Skin Therapy facial wipes...

Skin Therapy 3 in 1 Fragrance Free Facial Wipes - I regularly buy these because they're 2 for £1 in Wilkinson. They do their job, just like most facial wipes I've tried in my life. Repurchase? Most likely. However, like I said, I've started to buy packs of baby wipes because they're more cost effective.

I hope you found this post useful. My next one will most likely be up sometime next year ;)

My Current, Daily Beauty Routine (Evening)

Hello, all! Welcome to the second part of my current, daily beauty routine. You can find my morning routine post here. 

I shower in the evenings because I leave my hair to dry naturally and prefer to have relaxed mornings. I've been washing my hair with TRESemme's Salon Silk Shampoo and Conditioner (Superdrug, £4.99 for a 900ml bottle) for a while now. I usually buy them when they're half price. They're so affordable and last for months! I've also been using Liz Earle's Botanical Shine Shampoo* and Conditioner for Dry and Damaged Hair* (Liz Earle, £8.50 each). The shampoo is SLS free and contains many natural ingredients, so I've been using it every couple of weeks to give my hair a deep cleanse. Every time I've used the conditioner, my hair has gone dry, which is weird considering its claims.

After I've shampooed and conditioned my hair, I've been washing my body with Treacle Moon's One Ginger Morning Shower Gel (Tesco, £2.99). I love it so much! It smells like Starbursts. I then shave, which isn't interesting! and then I've been washing my face with No7's Beautiful Skin Hot Cloth Cleanser (Boots, £9.95). It removes my make-up well and leaves it fairly soft. Not as soft as Liz Earle's Cleanse & Polish though. I've also been trying out Nelsons Pure & Clear Purifying Daily Facial Wash* (Boots, £7.85). It removes my make-up well... that's all I have to say about it, really. It's not an exciting product, but it does the job.

I don't regularly moisturise my body, but I've been making an effort to do so more often. Once out of the shower, I've been using Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Moisturising Body Oil (Boots, £5.10) (Review here) or The Body Shop's Coconut Beautifying Oil (The Body Shop, £9) (Review here) to moisturise. If I don't use those, I'll use Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Lotion (Boots, £3.77) or The Body Shop's Raspberry, Mango and Sweet Lemon Body Butters (The Body Shop, £12.50 each).

Once my body is moisturised, I moisturise my face with The Body Shop's Vitamin E Intense Moisture Cream (The Body Shop, £11) (Review here) or Simple's Kind to Skin Sun-Kissed Moisture Cream (Boots, £4.99). The Simple cream gives my skin a light tan, making it look healthy and glowing.

Next up to receive some TLC is my hair. I use Aussie's Miracle Hair Insurance Leave-In Conditioner (Boots, £4.49) and/or TRESemme's Salon Silk Serum (Boots, £4-5) on the ends of my hair. I don't use these every night. I use them once or twice a week.

And that concludes my current, daily beauty routine!

Thank you for reading!

*PR samples

Lots of lovely things - Beauty, clothes, The Hunger Games and more

I didn't realise how much I've bought in the last few weeks until I gathered it all together - Oops! 

Bourjois So Delicate lip creams in Rose Poudre and Fuchsia Delicate £3.95 each from CheapSmells.com, Lush Magic Mushroom bubble bar £2.45, Lush Magic Wand bubble bar £2.50 from eBay, Models Own nail art pen in White £6 from ASOS.com, Yankee Candle Fluffy Towels Car Jar £1.69 from eBay, Yankee Candle Vanilla Cupcake 12 Tea Lights £6.45 from eBay, Yankee Candle Fluffy Towels and Country Lemonade Samplers £1something from Clinton Cards, Collection 2000 Extreme 24 Hour Felt Tip Liner £2.99 from Superdrug, Collection 2000 Cream Puff Moisturising Lip Cream in Cotton Candy £2.99 from Superdrug, Collection 2000 Cream Puff Moisturising Lip Cream in Fairy Cake £1.35 from eBay and My Blue Nose Friend - Runner the Ostrich £5 from Clinton Cards

That list is huge! Sorry about that. Where shall I start...

I LOVE the Collection 2000 lip creams. I'm not a lip product person, but I've been wearing these every day. I don't like the packaging of the Bourjois lip creams - it looks cheap and tacky in my opinion.

On Tuesday, there was a £5 off eBay code going around the internet (one per PayPal account). I made the most of this and used mine, my sister's and my dad's accounts. With my account, I bought the Lush Magic Wand bubble bar, which I've wanted for a while. I only paid £2.50, including P&P, for it! With my sister's account, I bought the Collection 2000 lip cream in Fairy Cake for just £1.35, and on my dad's account, I bought a Lush Each Peach massage bar for just 75p! It hasn't arrived yet though. I tried using the code for a second time on my account and bought the Yankee Candle Car Jar and tea lights. Unfortunately though, the code didn't work, so I had to pay full price for them. I'm not allowed to burn candles, but can't help myself sometimes! I just like to smell them :)

Superdrug - TRESemme Naturals Vibrantly Smooth shampoo & conditioner £2.70 each (half price), Original Source Lime shower gel 99p, Eyelash Curlers £1.99, Pencil Sharpener £1.89 and Emery Boards 99p each

I already have enough shampoo to last me about 4 months, but I couldn't resist the half price offer. ELF's eyelash curlers and pencil sharpener are still out of stock, so I bought the boring, yet practical, products from Superdrug instead.

New Look - Navy plimsolls £6.99, socks 3 pairs for £4

I love the white stripes at the bottom of these plimsolls. 

Of course, I had to buy more socks!

Primark long shorts £10

I love these! I had a very similar Primark pair and wore them all the time. After about four years of wear though, the button popped off and was unfixable. The detail on these is beautiful. They have a floral lining, floral buttons and cute floral studs near the pockets. The labels are also pretty.

Card Factory gift tubes £1.29 each

I'm going to use these for my bath bombs and bubble bars :)

The Hunger Games book £4.48 from Amazon

I finished this book last night, after constantly reading for five hours. I shed a tear, couldn't put it down and was sad when I reached the end - All signs of a great book. The only bad thing about a good book though is that you deprive your body of food and sleep, and put it through an emotional roller coaster!

I've just ordered the next two books in the trilogy; Catching Fire and Mockingjay. I'll be happy to be reunited with the characters, but I know they're going to be put through hell again :/ I know it's all fictional, but you can't help forming an emotional connection with them!

x

Products I'm currently using in my shower

I rarely change my routine, so the following products are products I have been using for a while, and I will probably continue to use them for months to come.

Hair

Aussie Aussome Volume shampoo, Aussie Take the Heat 3 Minute Miracle Deep Treatment and TRESemme Salon Silk shampoo & conditioner.

My hair loves Aussie and TRESemme. Come to think about it, 90% of the hair products I use are by them. I'm probably going to stick to these brands because I don't want to risk trying another brand and it not working for me. Herbal Essences and Head & Shoulders, I'm looking at you!

 I won the Aussie Aussome Volume shampoo. I usually go for moisture ranges, but this is working well.

I want to try the TRESemme Naturals range next, but I won't have to buy any shampoo or conditioner for a while because the 900ml bottles last agesss!

Body

Lush soap (top to bottom: Angel's Delight, Ice Blue and Snow Globe), Wilkinson shower puff and Original Source shower gel in Lime and Lemon & Tea Tree.

I'm showing you some of my unused Lush soap because the chunks in my shower are small and manky, to be quite honest. 

The Wilkinson shower puff was about 40p and it has a sucker on it, which is very useful. 

I love Original Source shower gel. After these, I will be using the Golden Pineapple and Vanilla Milk & Raspberry varieties (Have already gone through a few bottles of Vanilla Milk & Raspberry - It's delicious!)

Face

The Body Shop Vitamin E Facial Cleansing Bar, Lush Ocean Salt (review to come), Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser and Liz Earle Gentle Face Exfoliator.

I don't have much of a facial routine. I use these products in the shower and moisturise my face before applying make-up. 

I use The Body Shop Vitamin E Facial Cleansing Bar and Lush Ocean Salt together, and when I want something more gentle, I use the Liz Earle products. The Vitamin E bar and Ocean Salt together is cheaper than one of the Liz Earle products, so I'm more likely to repurchase these (I've repurchased the Vitamin E bar three times because it's highly effective and only £3). 

Before starting my third Vitamin E bar, I was using The Body Shop's Tea Tree Foaming Cleanser, but the scent was so strong, I went back to my trusty soap!

x

Purchases and Presents

Hello there!

I'll start with the items I purchased in the sales. I only bought from two stores because nothing else caught my eye!

Lush:

The prices mentioned are what I paid after the 50% discount (The Comforter bubble bar is the only thing that wasn't in the Christmas sale). Snow Globe soap chunks £1.25, £1.25 and £2.20, Candy Cane soap chunk £1.38, Angels Delight soap chunk £4.70, So White bath ballistic 95p, Cinders bath ballistic 98p, The Comforter bubble bar £3.99.

As you can see, I love the scent of Snow Globe! I also bought a huge chunk of Angels Delight, which should last me a while.

M&S:

Mugs £3 each

I couldn't help it! I love mugs.

Now, these next items were purchased before Christmas :)

Primark:

T-shirts £6 each

Dressing gown £9.90

2 pack of gloves £1.50, scarf £2.90

I also picked up some bras and grey pumps from Primark, but they're not worth showing!

Wilkinsons:

900ml bottles of TRESemme £1.98 each! Bargain!

I also thought I would include my Christmas presents in this post because they really don't need a post of their own!

The owl cushion was from my sister, the Impulse set was from my auntie and the Misfits box set was from my parents, along with the double bed they bought me last month and the Primark items seen above.

I was only meant to be getting a bed from my parents, so the Misfits box set was a bonus. My dad also let me choose what I wanted from Primark, which was fun :)

"Iz you taking a photo?"

x