Origins Drink-Up Intensive Overnight Mask

Since seeing this recommended in a few YouTube videos I knew that I wanted to purchase it (cue the John Lewis discount - thank the lord!).

This stuff is incredible.

Created for skin that is a little lack lustre and in need of some moisture, Origins claim to awaken, refresh and replenish the skin in just a pump of product.

First off it smells divine (fresh and citrusy), and it's a nice thick (ish) consistency. It melts into the skin really quickly, and definitely leaves skin looking more alive the next morning.

At £23.00 a bottle, it's not super cheap, but you only have to use a small blob 2-3 times a week.

If there's one thing you need to ask Santa for, this is it!

I think I'll be asking for the Origins Christmas Crackers, filled with mini treats to see if I love their other products as much!

Beauty bits I can't stop using

I've tried and tried and tried not to buy countless foundations I don't need, but have never really succeeded. Something always comes out promising the best results, and I can't resist buying it, just to see if it can give that flawless effect it promises.

The most expensive and disappointing product to date is the Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation - just a horrible cake mess of paint like foundation.

However I have found a foundation combination that I love!

(Don't judge their finish by the bad quality images!)

The colour match on both these foundations was a bit off to say the least (sorry MAC) however as soon as they're mixed together the MAC Studio Fix, and Bourjois Healthy Mix foundation are a beautiful combination.

The Bourjois gives a gorgeous glow to the skin, whilst the Studio Fix makes sure that it stays in place all day! 

A second item I just can't go a day without is the Maybelline Colour Tattoo Cream Eyeshadow. I do a long day, in work at 7.30 and not finishing until gone 6, however this stuff stays put (with just a little loss in intensity) all day long. Pretty good going for a product that I was wary might slip off. 

What can't you go a day without?

An interesting trip to....

I've been terrible and haven't written in weeks. But I'm glad I'm back, and can give you an insight into a little adventure I recently went on!

Welcome to Morocco......

We took a couple of days trip into the Atlas Mountains and the desert where we camped overnight. The views were immense (see above), and spending the night in the midst of such incredible scenery was like nothing else I've experienced. 

My all time highlight was visiting the souks in Marrakech. They're like no place i've been. Crowded, busy, colourful, vibrant, confusing and magical, all rolled into one. Bartering for decorated plates and intricate lanterns was an .... interesting experience to say the least. After a few unsuccessful attempts, I managed to get what I wanted for a quarter of the asking price! Win!

The one other place I've travelled to that has given me as good a feeling as Marrakech was Budapest (Hungary). Sometimes there is something about a place that you can't put into words, it just has good vibes! 

 If you're food and culture curious like I am, Morocco (and Marrakech specifically) is one million percent worth a visit. 

Have  you been anywhere as beautiful and intriguing as Morocco? 

Tell me where to go next, I'd love to know!

Another splurge in The Body Shop

I may possibly have splurged a little....oops!

It was completely worth it though thanks to a little luck and good timing.

The first week of October The Body Shop had a promotion for card holders; 20% off all items (make-up and skin-care) a free gift if you spend over £25, and additionally I was on the last stamp of my card, giving me another free gift worth £10. Life was good.

It was difficult deciding exactly what to choose as I hadn't long brought a few skincare bits, but you can see the items I chose below, along with a review snippet from the tried and tested so far!

Prime to perfection face and eye duo
Now this one is cheating a bit, as I have used the face primer before and therefore its' a repurchase. This means only one thing; I love it!
The face primer seems to work well on my oily-combination skin, smoothing, resurfacing and stopping that midday shine. 
The eye shadow primer is still good, but I wouldn't rate it as highly. Tends to have a little more slide to it. If it wasn't in the duo set I think you could find something better.

Carbon eye definer - purple
I can't lie, this was a disappointing product. I brought the gorgeous smoky purple colour, to brighten and contrast with green eyes. Thing issue is, the product barely comes out. It has very little pigmentation on the waterline, or anywhere else. Beautiful colour, but definitely won't be repurchasing.

Camomile cleansing butter
So good for such a small price! A little goes a long way, and this buttery goodness just melts off my makeup after a hard day's work. I do use a few other products after, like the Garnier Micellar Water just to ensure all the eye make-up is off, but all-in-all its' good stuff!

The other bits are still in the pipeline to be tested, but I'm sure I'll be reviewing soon.

Have you tried any of these?
What do you think about them?

The L'Oreal Micellar Water

Now I don't know if it's just because I wear contact lenses, but my eyes are super sensitive when it comes to make-up removing products. 

I normally end up reaching for something like the Simple eye make up remover, but I saw the L'oreal Skin perfection Micellar Water on a shelf end and really wanted to give it a try.

The fact that it's for both eye and face makeup really drew me in, as I like products that you can just use in one, get everything off and be done (especially on those lazy or drunken nights!).

I really do think this product is great to be fair. It does what it says on the tin:

- removes makeup (without taking my eyelashes off with it)

-purifies

-soothes

Love it.

The only thing I do find myself reaching for after is some kind of toner or blackhead clearing cleanser, as whilst my skin is left makeup free, I can't help but notice my pores are still looking a little clogged.

But hey, you can't have it all, especially when you asked for a product perfect for sensitive skin.

I'd fully 100% recommend this stuff!

Have you tried any others?

Clinique 'all about eyes serum' Review

After just 2 full days at my new job, I knew that I was going to need something to brighten up my eyes of a morning. Early starts, late nights, and copious amount of hours spent staring at a computer screen are not a good combination for keeping your eyes looking youthful.  After a little browse on the John Lewis website I decided to try this little gem.

Clinique claims this "instantly cooling serum refreshes and hydrates puffy eyes, brightening the eyes area."

 So far so good! I can say that each morning this has been making my face look that little bit more human, and really cooling my eyes, especially when I feel like they're a little bit dry. The little metal roller ball is perfect too!

Rating? 8/10 so far. I don't think I've had long enough to fully ensure the results are lasting, but it's definitely stuck in my morning routine for now!

Do you now of any better eye products for tired eyes?

A must-do in Oxfordshire

Last weekend we went somewhere you have to try if you're visiting Oxford!

The Trout Inn. Despite its' unappealing name, it has the most beautiful setting and delicious food I have come across in a good long while!

Set just outside of Oxford, in a tiny quaint village, this age old pub is constantly bustling. Set right next to the River Thames, it is the best setting for a sunning saturday afternoon drinks and dinner with friends, family, whatever, whoever!

As mine and D's anniversary is so close to Christmas, we decided we would celebrate it in September instead, half because we forgot last year, and also to save the dollar around the most expensive time of the year!

D's dinner choice was typical:

Baked camembert with spiced grape chutney to share

Hooky Battered Cod and Twice Baked Chips 

and the piece de resistance....a sharing desert platter

Mine was the same starter and desert sharer, with a mushroom feta and asparagus tart to substitute the fish and chips.

It is safe to say the food was delicious, not to mention the mammoth jug of Pimms we had to go with it!

I attempted to force a very stuffed D to go for a little walk along  the river. See below for the picturesque and peaceful setting, which was soon broken by D's moaning that he couldn't possibly walk any further as his lunch was just too damn good!

If you happen to be in Oxfordshire soon, give this place a go, its a 10/10 from me! Don't forget to book though, as there wasn't a spare seat to be seen!

Don't forget to let me know if you loved it as much as we did!

Favourite Floral Fragrances

Favourite fragrances are always pretty personal. I love different scents, and the way they can invoke memories.

The perfume your mum wore when you were little.The aftershave your crush wore in year 9 and you would gush to your friends about (probably Davidoff Cool Water). Even the fragrance that reminds you of your first girls holiday.

Whatever the scent, it will have memories and people attached, which is why they become so treasured.

I have two favourite fragrances that I love. Whilst these two don't necessarily  invoke memories of other people for me, my boyfriend and his friends seem to relate their scents to me. They are my staples. One of D's friends didn't seem to realise I wore perfume, and it was only when he asked to smell my new perfume purchase in the car one day (yes, men are strange) that he exclaimed 'oh, this just smells of you, I thought this was your scent'. Who says romance is dead when men can tell your 'scent'. Hmm..back to their animalistic roots. But hey, at least he thought I smelt nice!

First is Flora by Gucci. I've worn this for the last 4 years and love love love it! It's fairly heavy I would say, lasts a long time, and just oozes gorgeous floral tones (hence the name). It's very easily wearable on a day-to-day basis, and special occasions too. I will forever recommend this perfume whatever the season.

Second is a slightly more expensive one by Dior. I still link Miss Dior fragrances to my mum, as she used to wear a very classic Dior one when I was little. At first this kind of put me off trying the new Blooming Bouquet as I expected it to be kind of old, however the gorgeous little bottle enticed me. It was so much lighter and more flowery than I had thought. Really light in scent, and perfect for summer. I keep this one for best.

What do you recommend?

What scents bring back great memories for you?

Creating unique home pieces - Print trays

I have a friend with the most gorgeous home ever! It's not that she's a millionaire, or that everything they own is expensive. What makes it gorgeous is that everything is so unique. Lots of what is in her house is thrifted, re-vamped and completely made their own.

Using a little helping hand from this super creative friend, me and D have started making our own print tray decoration for our flat. 

Print trays are great pieces that can be used to hang on walls, or instead (and what we're hoping to do) is put a glass top and table legs on it, and use it as a coffee table. 

They are such interesting pieces, as you can fill them with anything and everything special to you. The sections are all different sizes so you can pop different bits and pieces in each. As D has been travelling, we've started to fill ours with notes and coins from Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand, as well as a few pretty shells we found on the beach last holiday.

What I love most is the way that each tray you fill has so many stories within it. It's like a little scrap book that's always on show.

I can't wait for us to complete it! I'll be sure to show you when it's all done! For now, there's a few images of our work in progress, as well as some more glamorous Pinterest pieces.

Do you have any creative ideas for reusing old bits and pieces? 

The ultimate Brighton crash pad

Back in June we needed a little weekend escape. Somewhere far from home, with the seaside air and a little more to explore than our country village had on offer.

We ended up choosing Brighton. Seaside? Tick. Nightlife? Tick. Something unique? Tick Tick Tick.

We were lucky enough to stay whilst the Brighton Fringe was on, which meant that comedy, music and theatre entertainment was constantly available all over the city.

The inner city was beautiful, teaming with tiny tea shops, great restaurants and random little stores selling cat decorations. I'm sure there were better stores than the cat deco ones, but you get the jist!

Whilst on a stroll past a slightly grim looking pub, a little fringe banner caught our eye. We strolled in for a sixy's alcoholic  beverage (the later equivalent of elevensies), managing to catch an awesome comic, and his 2 geekier comic friends. 

The main thing I wanted to share about our perfect little escape, is to show you the ultimate crash pad we stumbled upon (though its' not such a secret as you will soon find out!).

The Artist Residence is a 23 room boutique hotel. When searching for a place to stay, flicking through the internet to find the same boring hotel room after boring hotel room was becoming tiresome. It was only when a friend of a friend mentioned this hotel, previously featured on The Hotel Inspector, that we found exactly what we were looking for!

Each room is uniquely decorated by a different artist, making it a truly individual experience. Every corner offers a different piece of artwork to analyse (all for sale too!), and the breakfasts are just divine! I opted for American style pancakes with a spiced berry compote, while D went for the mini full english (of course). They sound like standard breakfasts, but I can assure you, they were above and beyond!

My favourite part....? I can't choose between the free cocktail in the bar, or the marshmallow teacakes on your pillow on arrival!

Have you been to the Artist Residence? 

Or somewhere better?

I'd love to know!

Home Haul - Odds and Sods

Having lived away at University for three years it was both stifling and comforting to spend a year back at home. You can't beat your mum's roast dinners, and the niceties that your family home bring, yet you're caught in a trap where you want your independence, and to make your own choices.

When an opportunity came up to move out into a beautiful flat, we took the plunge. The most exciting part of it....decorating it of course!

I thought I'd share a few of my favourite little 'odds and sods', tiny pieces we've picked up from place to place, but that make it home to us. We've made a pact that every new place we travel, we'll grab something to add to our collection. Now I guess we just need to travel a little bit more!

Although we didn't buy this last piece it's one of my favourites as it reminds me of a great day. With a flat full of friends, alcohol and good music, we were presented with a few lovely gifts to wish us well in our new home. 

 It reminds me of the great friends we have, and so far we're doing just right at all 3 things.

Caudalie Beauty Elixir- worth the hype?

Now you might be thinking I'm massively behind on the hype with this one, and yes I guess you're right! This would partly be because I didn't believe the reviews that a face mist could bring much, if any, benefit to your complexion.

However.....after a few good spritzes of this mist, I feel refreshed, revived and a bit more prepared to start my day! My skin seems that little bit clearer, and slightly more plump. Whilst it could be the mix of products I'm using at the moment that have helped my complexion, I definitely think this has a part to play.

After an alcohol fuelled dinner with friends last night, this was exactly what I needed to make myself feel slightly more human, and rehydrate my skin.

People have raved about the smell, but I wouldn't agree so much with this. It's nice, and definitely refreshing, but I wouldn't class that as its' unique selling point.

Would I buy again? Yes! On the Feel Unique website it's only £9.20 at the moment, and for how good it makes me feel after a heavy night, or sleepy morning, it's definitely worth the price tag, and is great on sensitive/eczema prone skin.

Are there any better face mists/elixirs out there that you would suggest?

Body Shop Stop

I walked into the Body Shop and I was trapped. To put it simply.

Make-up and facial skin care is currently on a 3 for 2 offer, so this, combined with my 10% discount card, and £5 free birthday gift obviously = multiple purchases doesn't it?

What to choose, what to choose....

So many reviews have absolutely raved about the All-In-One Instablur, 'Primer, Shine Control, Blemish cover'.  At £14.00 it took a while to decide to buy it, but I'm hopeful it will provide some shine control for my oily-combination skin. I'll let you know.

I've also been eyeing up a shimmer brick for a while now. I am lucky enough to get discount off the make-up at John Lewis, so I've been browsing the Bobbi Brown ones for a long time now, never quite sure enough to purchase. When I saw this pinky-peachy toned delight I couldn't say no! I love the shimmer in it, and I think it will be perfect for pale-blonde complexions.

Finally the skincare item - a Blue Corn 3-in-1 Deep Cleansing Mask. This product claims to exfoliate, cleanse and moisturise - three juxtaposing things right? It smells delicious and fresh, and what real drew me in (as with most Body Shop Products) is its' high ethical standards. As a geography graduate, and having pursued my career in the same field, I like to be aware of what's going on around me, and where the goods I consume have come from. The Shea butter is FairTrade and comes from Ghana combining two awesome things 1. That people who produce the product are paid fairly for the goods they source and 2. It's from Ghana - a place I would absolutely love to explore one day!

If you've tried any of these products and have an opinion I'd love to know! Have I made the right choices, or are there better products hiding in the Body Shop?

All makeup and skincare is 3 for 2 at the moment so I'd suggest you go and have a little browse!

Barcelona Delights – Part 1 Mojito heaven!

Hi all,

Earlier this month I was lucky enough to go on an incredible holiday to Barcelona. We chose it as our summer holiday, and 5 nights in this incredible city just wasn’t enough!

Our all time favourite thing to do in Barcelona was…. drink mojitos!! We just couldn’t resist them, and on our last night we were caught between elation and sadness as we found the most incredible bar named El Rabipelao.

Packed full of both locals and tourists (and even a couple of the owner’s handbag sized dogs who crawled onto my lap for a cuddle) it was thriving at 10.30pm. It’s intricately decorated with red and dark wooden furnishings, and the music, think 1920’s American mix with Spanish, made me want to drag my boyfriend to dance (and if there’s one thing he doesn’t do, it’s dance!).

If you love mojitos, this is the place to go! At 3 euros a glass it is safe to say these are the BEST and most affordable mojitos ever! Full of fresh mint leaves, Latin American rum and a splash of sugar, they were utterly irresistible! Get there before 11pm for the best deals, but even after then they’re only 4! We were very almost tempted to try the 8 euro one…. with 5 types of rum!

If we hadn’t had to get to the airport for 5am the next day I am almost 100% certain we’d have had the most horrendous headaches on the flight home!

If you’re heading to Barcelona over summer, make sure you go to this place! Or tell me if you’ve already been! I’d love to know if you rave about it as much as I do!

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