Lush Review: Rub Rub Rub

Another mini Lush review for you, this time it's a body scrub called Rub Rub Rub! Before this I'd never tried any of the body scrubs in the pots, only the body polishers.

This body scrub is a sea salt scrub and smells strongly of lemons which is very nice! I used it by getting a bit in my hands, running it under the shower a little then rubbing into my skin before rinsing off. It lathers up really well which is surprising for a scrub but I love it when they do that because then you feel like it's cleaning you as well as treating your skin. The smell is heightened when it gets wet and it also lingers on your skin once it's all rinsed off and your skins dry and, as I've said before, I love this in a product. It's one of those products that is just a nice treat for you and your skin and it actually works and makes a difference which is a bonus!

The product itself is bright blue but when I looked at the ingredients I wasn't surprised to see, in true Lush style, that they're all natural, it's made up of salt, lemon juice, natural oils and various different flowers! 

If that doesn't make you want to use a product I don't know what will, there's nothing better than having something work really well on your skin that has been made using only natural ingredients.

My skin after the shower feels really soft and smells really nice, I'm sure with more regular uses a couple of times a week it'll improve it. I only needed a small amount as well so this tub should last me a long time!

I really like this product, especially in these horrible winter months where my skin is particularly dry and in need of some TLC :)

Lush Review: Candy Mountain

Thought I'd do another mini Lush review for you, this time it's the Candy Mountain bubble bar. I'm not sure if this is limited edition or just a new product but I bought one anyway and it's a contender for my favourite bubble bar ever! 

It smells like the snow fairy shower gel which is my favourite lush scent anyway but this makes the whole room smell of it when used which is a bonus.

It's huge as well, I like a lot of bubbles in my bath so usually use a big chunk and I've got enough for one more bath and have already had 3 out of this! I reckon if you're sparing you could stretch this to 5 maybe even 6 baths. 

I love the colours of it too, it's so bright and girly and shimmery. There's no hidden surprises with this one but it makes the yummiest smelling bubbles and the bath water pink so I like it! 

Whenever Lush release a new product in this scent I HAVE to get it they just smell so good!

Bethan x

My Empties - Products I've Used Up

I've noticed recently I'm running out of a lot of things all at once! Luckily being a beauty addict means I have back ups for almost everything but I kept a few of the products I had that were almost empty to do a review for you and tell you what I thought of them :)

1. Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy perfume 

This is my ultimate favourite perfume ever and I am so gutted that it's empty. I probably have a couple more spritzes left in there so I'm saving them for a special occasion. This product is on my christmas list as it's quite pricey and I really hope I get more because it's the nicest smell, it's really fruity which I love. I would say it's quite a young scent, really girly. The scent lasts for hours as well which is something I look for in a perfume, I can't stand ones where the scent wears off after an hour or so.

2. Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Conditioner

This is the 'Luscious Long Deep Treatment' one and I can't say enough good things about it, I am going to do a full review on this and the other Aussie products I use but I had to include this here, it's so good at giving dry hair a moisture boost especially at this time of year when my hair is particularly dry. I love that Aussie do products specifically for long hair. I've already bought another and started using it again. I use it 1-2 times a week and it just keeps my hair so healthy!

3. Batiste Dry Shampoo in the scent 'Cherry'

I love Batiste dry shampoos, I fortunately don't get greasy hair very often but I use this on days where my hairs a bit flat and dull and needs a moisture boost. It also smells really good which is a huge bonus. This is my favourite scent that batiste do and I've already repurchased this! I love how cheap these are too, a bottle this size is £2.99 and lasts me a couple of months!

4. Tresemme Heat Defence spray

I am really bad at remembering to use this before styling my hair but when I do I notice a huge difference, it adds and locks in moisture at the same time as shielding hair from the harsh heat of curlers and straighteners. My hair always feels nicer when I've used this. I bought this particular one because it was nice and cheap and I think I will buy another and continue to use this until I hear of another one that claims to be the best!

5. Bioderma Make Up Remover

A very popular and hyped-up product now. I bought this bottle of Bioderma back in February when I was in paris, I used it for a couple of weeks then forgot about it, I started using it again around august/september time and I've still got about a weeks worth left but wanted to include it here. It was around £10 and the fact it's lasted me 3 months is pretty great in my opinion. There's a reason it's talked about so much, it is really really good. It's advertised as a make up remover for skin and eyes however I would disagree with that as it's very poor at removing eye-make up. When I use it on my skin though it works so well, it's mainly water based not oil based so it leaves the skin feeling really refreshed and VERY clean which is what I want in a make up remover! I bought two of these at once so luckily I have a backup but I am going to have to go on a search for more online when I really run out. I've tried other make up removers but nothing felt as nice as this one hence why I went back to it after so long.

6. Last but not least is my No.7 Eye Make Up Remover

As I said before Bioderma isn't great at removing eye make up so I paired it with this and I've come up with the perfect combination for my skin. This remover is really oily like other eye make up removers I've tried but the oil doesn't sit on your face after you've taken the make up off. I've tried more expensive ones but still prefer this. It removes things like waterproof mascara and MAC pro long wear paint pots with ease and this bottle lasted me 2 months which is fantastic for an £8 product. I've stocked up more of these already and can see myself using this product for a long time. I can't stand products leaving residue on my face after I've used them and this doesn't so it's winner in my eyes! (No pun intended ;))

I love all these products which isn't surprising as I've finished them and will be using them all again!

Bethan x

Lush Review: Star Light Star Bright

I don't know if I've mentioned it before but I am a huge Lush addict and I keep thinking I need to do a collective Lush review but then I always think I have more things I haven't tried but will want to review so the only option I've come up with is to do mini reviews as I go!

My first product to review is this bath melt called 'Star Light Star Bright' that was released as part of the Christmas 2013 limited edition range. I was instantly drawn to this because it is covered in silver glitter and it just looks SO pretty! I picked it up in the store which was a huge mistake because it starts to melt straight away and I was left a glittery mess! 

I've tried Lush bath melts before but this was my favourite by a long mile, it's one of the best Lush products I've ever used and I've already bought a second. 

So after you run your bath you just pop it in the water and all the glitter comes away as it starts to melt and forms a shimmery layer over the water which I personally love, if you don't like having to wash your bath out when you're finished then I wouldn't recommend this.

When it starts to melt the water becomes almost oily which is perfect for this time of year when the horrible weather is drying out my skin. When I got in the bath it felt like my skin was being moisturised without me actually doing anything. I did rub it up and down my arms and legs as a kind of moisturiser and it made my skin RIDICULOUSLY soft, I was so amazed at just how well it was working.

As it continued to melt I discovered it had a hidden centre, something I love from Lush. The centre is a deep blue which dyes the water and you are left with a sparkly blue bath that's meant to look like a night sky, very imaginative!

So I love the look and the feel of the bath melt and another thing I loved was the smell, it's not super sweet and over powering like some Lush products but it's a really relaxing smell that, along with being in the bath obviously, made me feel so relaxed. 

The bath melt itself is really big in comparison to others I've tried and so it takes ages to melt which is nice especially when you're like me and like to also use it as a moisturising bar! And it also means you get more for your money as it's a similar price to the other bath melts.

When I got out of the bath the scent lingered on my skin which is another thing I love about lush products, I smelt amazing and my skin was more soft than it's been in a very long time. 

One thing I didn't realise until I looked at my skin in the light when it was dry was that not only had the smell lingered but so had the glitter! As I moved my arm under the light I literally sparkled like one of the Cullens. Not everyone will like this but I did, I don't understand who wouldn't want to sparkle!

The shimmer on my skin was very subtle, if I was to go outside with my skin like it I don't think anyone would've noticed but I noticed and I had that lovely relaxed feeling you get after you've really pampered yourself. 

This bath melt is only £3.30 which I think is great considering the such high quality of the product. I can't say enough good things about it I just can't wait to have another bath with one! The only thing I didn't like is that the shimmer washed off in my shower the next day and I wish it would've stayed longer! 

This would be a great little present or stocking filler for Christmas, it's just so festive and a luxurious product perfect for this time of year.

Bethan x

The Autumn Tag

I took this picture today which officially means it is the Autumn! Summer has gone which I am sad about but there's lots about the autumn and winter to look forward to and thought now would be a good time to do the Autumn tag! 

1. What is your favourite thing about Autumn?

My favourite thing about autumn is probably the turn of the weather when we get to start wearing coats and boots and scarves! And I love the colours of the trees and the falling leaves they just make everywhere so pretty. Oh and I love baths, especially Lush baths! But I only like them when it's cold out so I guess that is one of my favourite things about winter.

2. Staple clothing piece for Autumn?

LEATHER BOOTS AND LEATHER JACKETS

3. Staple Make Up item for Autumn?

Plum coloured blush and rosey lip colours

4. Favourite Nail Polish for Autumn?

110% Navy Blue it's my favourite and I look forward to autumn/winter when I can wear it again!

5. Favourite Autumn Scent?

Everything and Anything that has cinnamon in it, its my favourite smell!

6. Favourite Autumn Beauty Trend?

I don't know if this counts but I love the backwards ombre look I am just nowhere near brave enough to dye my hair! I love smoky brown eyes and warm cheek colours too.

7. Favourite way to Accessorise in Autumn?

Cannot live without my scarves! The majority of mine come from Fat Face they do the best scarves.

8. Staple Skincare product for Autumn?

My Skin gets really dry at this time of year so I'm going to say any face mask, I love the No.7 Hydration Mask and the Lush ones.

9. Favourite Autumn Treat?

Chai Tea Latte they're heavenly and taste like Christmas which makes me so excited for winter!

10. What are you dressing up as for Halloween?

Nothing! I'm not going to a party which I'm very sad about and I think I'm a little too old to go trick or treating unfortunately :(

Thank you for tagging me Beki and Bethan, I tag anyone who wants to do this!

Bethan :)

www.bekilouisebeauty.blogspot.com

www.bethangrace95.blogspot.com

Boots No.7 Haul and Review!

Since doing the skincare tag it really hit me just how little I knew and cared about skincare. I decided it was time to start looking after my skin because I cared so much about what I was putting on my face but not my face itself. 

Over the summer I have gradually been buying skincare bits and I've really gotten into it, I have spent rather a lot but my skin has noticed the difference and has been dramatically better in such a short space of time. As you will know I love a good spend up in boots and before when they would give me £5 off No.7 skincare I would either throw or give it away and just keep the make up voucher, I've had a few of these vouchers and have put a couple to use and paired with the 3 for 2 offer that's been going on this month have managed to grab myself some bargains. 

I love buying 'maybe-products' on sale or with a voucher because then if I don't like them or my skin doesn't like them then I haven't spent much and it's not the end of the world! Here are the 6 items that I bought from No.7, I bought them a few weeks ago to give me time to try them out and review them for you!

Beautiful Skin Purifying Exfoliator

First up is the Purifying Exfoliator for normal/oily skin. As you will see throughout the post I buy different products for different skin types because my skin is the definition of combination skin. My cheeks are ridiculously dry especially in the winter but my T-zone can get quite oily especially if I leave make up on too long so I got this little gem to combat that. I've been using it every other day in the shower with my daily cleanser and I really like it, my skin doesn't feel oily and the beads are the right size that they don't hurt your skin but actually feel like they're doing something unlike other scrubs I've tried! To buy without any discounts this product is £8 and as I'm new to skincare I don't really know how much high-end products cost but for a drugstore product I'd say that's quite good. My skin has never been oily but I would recommend this for people who like me just have the odd day where they need it or certain section of their face that gets oily.

Protect and Perfect Eye Cream

Next up is the Protect and Perfect Eye Cream, I'm pretty sure this was in the 'Youth' section which I love because it is never too early to start taking care of your skin, it will be better in the long run. I love eye make up and I noticed since I've been back at uni that my tired eyes mixed with heavy make up have really had an impact on my skin. I bought this and I am so glad I did, it's really helped smooth out the lines where I had bags under my eyes and my skin is a lot softer and brighter around my eyes. I highly recommend this product to anyone who like me puts a lot of eye make up on because it really is a life saver! I also have very sensitive eyes so was so relieved when not only did this work but it didn't irritate my eyes one bit. It costs £15 for the teeny 15ml tube but you need the tiniest amount so it will still last a long time, definitely worth the money!

Beautiful Skin Rapid Spot Rescue 

I've always been really lucky with my skin in that I hardly ever had spots growing up and even now, if I ever get one it literally is just one or two. However, while I am grateful to have minimal spots the ones I do get are usually huge and very noticeable so when I saw this I thought I'd give it a go. I wasn't convinced that it would work but with the 3 for 2 offer it was free so I risked it and I am so glad I did. This really does reduce the size and dulls the bright colour of spots within about 2 days. I can have a spot last up to a week and a half so the fact that I had them go so quickly was so surprising to me. This product is £9.95 but you use such a tiny amount and only when you get a spot that it's going to last a very long time! Very happy with this product, I will definitely keep using it.

Beautiful Skin Hydration Mask

I bought this Hydration mask purely for the packaging. Not even going to lie I am a sucker for nice packaging. I love No.7 products because everything looks so natural and everything they sell is Hypo-Allergenic which is perfect for my ridiculously sensitive skin. I've been using this about once a week after a day at uni where I've been outside and travelling and my skin is particularly tired and worn. I apply this to mainly my cheeks avoiding my nose and brow area as I think this would cause it to be oily but it's worked wonders on my dry cheeks. It says to wipe off then rinse but I found it easier to just rinse off in the shower as it is really thick. I think it looks so pretty in the tube, layers of gel and cream but then when you pump it it mixes together and is a thick soft cream. You get 100ml for £12.50 and you only need one pump per use so again this is a really good price for what you get. 

Beautiful Skin Eye-Make Up Remover

Since February time I've been using Bioderma to remove my face make up and I hate to say it but it is really bad at removing eye make up, I never really thought to buy a separate one but I am so glad I did. I'd tried the Clinique one and was tempted to buy a full sized bottle but when I saw this at half the price I went for this instead and it is easily as good if not better. This removes eyeliner and mascara so quickly and is so gentle and doesn't leave a nasty residue over my eyes like the clinique one. My eyes feel so refreshed after using this. I also love the colour of the liquid and the seperation between the oils and the water in the bottle, it's so pretty. No.7 really do excel with their simple but effective packaging! This is only £8.50 for 100ml and while you will use this up quicker than the other products it isn't much to pay especially when you have a £5 off voucher making it only £3.50! This is so much kinder on the skin than make up wipes, I am converted and never going back!

Beautiful Skin Night Cream 

The last thing I got is this night cream for dry/very dry skin. I apply this right at the end of the day before bed after I've taken all my make up off. This moisturiser is seriously a god send. I was using my daily moisturiser for about 2 weeks before I started using this and it was nowhere near as soft as it is now, the change is amazing! I don't put this on my T-zone as it is really super thick but it has helped clear up the dry skin on my cheeks dramatically. You need the tiniest amount when applying otherwise it does tend to go a bit greasy and heavy which is never nice especially just before bed. A 50ml tub of this is £13.50 which isn't bad at all! If you have dry skin I highly recommend this product.

All in all it was a pretty successful haul. I got all of this for £39 when it should have cost £67.50! I've found a few products that will become staples in my skincare routine and all of them have helped my skin so much. I wasn't expecting amazing things from the products because they are all quite cheap considering what you get but they have exceeded expectations by miles. Highly recommend all of these! I will do a follow up post with my daily skincare routine 

Bethan :)

The Skincare Tag!

I was Tagged by Maxine (www.theblondeonbeauty.blogspot.com) to do the Skincare Tag! Now I am definitely not an expert when it comes to skincare, I am very much a beginner and this is just a bit of fun!

Describe your skincare routine in 5 words...

 Quick, easy, no messing about!

What's your skin type?

I'd say it's combination but it is very prone to dryness especially in the winter months, it's also very sensitive. I always buy products for sensitive/dry skin.

Top blemish zapper?

I actually don't really suffer from blemishes luckily so when I do I just let them take their course and cover them with my favourite concealer! I use a gentle bead face scrub and a seperate cleanser regularly which seems to keep the spots at bay!

Face wipes - yay or nay?

I've always been an avid face wipe user, I always have the Johnsons ones at home because they're 'kind and gentle' on my sensitive skin but since I've found Bioderma I'm very loyal to that! I use face wipes after a night out when I'm tired and feeling lazy and I find they're better for getting all the eyeliner and mascara away from my lashlines but other than that I remove my make up with Bioderma and I love it!

Toner - yay or nay?

Being a beginner to skin care I actually don't have a toner(!) so I can't really comment, it is something I would like to try though.

High end skincare or high end make up?

DEFINITELY high end make up, not that I own any* :( but I'm definitely more drawn to the make up compared to the skin care! Make up is my favourite hobby and when I'm older and in a position to buy myself more expensive make up I most definitely will!

What's the most unusual skincare product you've tried?

Probably some concoction I've made myself! My friends and I made some horrific looking face masks once with things we found in the cupboards that were said to do some good (according to the internet), we just mixed it all together and applied it to our faces! It was fun even if it didn't do any good for our skin!

You're in a French pharmacie, you can only pick one product, what is it?

The product I went to France in search of and couldn't find, Caudalie Beauty Elixir! I'm dying to try it!

Tell us your top skincare tip(s)

For me it would just be treat your skin kindly, don't scrub it till it's raw and don't let it dry out that it flakes away, drink plenty of water and get some vitamin D 8)

This was fun, thank you Maxine!!

I tag

Bethan 

www.bethangrace95.blogspot.com

Amy

www.floralsandfreckles.blogspot.com

and Beki

www.bekilouisebeauty.blogspot.com

*I wouldn't class e.g MAC, Clinique or Benefit as high end brands, they are, in my opinion, middle of the range compared to high street brands like Rimmel and Maybelline and High End brands like Chanel and YSL.

Feel free to do this even if I have not tagged you! I stole the cover photo from another upcoming post but I didn't think you would mind! 
Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed it
Bethan :)