The Body Shop Haul - April 2014

Hi everyone,

I have recently paid another visit to The Body Shop, as I wanted to stock up on a few things and trying out some different products.

Satsuma Shower Gel
I've purchased another two bottles of the Satsuma shower gel to see me through the Spring/ Summer months. If you like the scent of oranges you will love this; as it feels as if someone has just drenched you in freshly squeezed oranges.

Blueberry Shower Gel
This is a limited edition scent for Spring, and it smells just like freshly crushed blueberries. Its not as sweet as the Satsuma scent, but it does smell delicious. I've never tried this shower gel before, so it'll be nice to see how it compares to the Satsuma scent.

Satsuma Body Butter
I got another one of these to keep myself well stocked for the warmer months. It smells exactly the same as the Satsuma shower gel. So, when summer comes I'm going to end smelling like an orange.

Coconut Creamy Body Scrub
I got a small tub of this to try back in February and I immediately fell in love with it. Its creamy, gentle and very moisturising. 

Raspberry Lip Balm
This lip balm smells divine, and it isn't too sweet. I've not had one of these lip balms in years, so I can't remember how good they were.

Vitamin E Lip Balm with SPF15
I thought I'd give this lip balm a try, as I've never had it before. 

Review: Mulberry Tree French Purse

Hi everyone,

I would like to review for you my Mulberry Tree French Purse, which I brought last month. But, before I do I would just like to mention a couple of things first; and the first thing I would like to say is that I'd personally saved up to buy this purse, and the second thing is that I'd actually thought about it for around six months before I actually purchased it. The reason why I'd thought about it for so long was mainly due to the price, and also would it be suitable for me to use on a daily basis.

About the Mulberry Tree French Purse

This is an elegant and compact wallet suitable to use on an everyday basis, as it has enough room to hold everything you need throughout the day. Also, the French purse is a timeless classic offering from Mulberry.

I got my purse in the Oak Natural Leather. But, the actual leather description is Glossy Goat in Deer Brown. The Glossy Goat leather is really soft and subtle, and because it is so soft gives it an even more luxurious feel.

Purse Details

- Soft gold hardware
- One popper closure
- One main compartment
- Cotton lining
- Three slip pocket
-  Eight credit card slips
- One zip compartment
- Metal Mulberry Tree logo

Leather: Glossy Goat in Deer Brown

Dimensions :-

Height - 9.5cm
Width - 14cm
Depth - 3cm

About Mulberry Leather

The natural leather is a cult favourite amongst Mulberry collectors.
The natural leather is tanned using a natural vegetable tanning technique. Also, the goat leather is a soft leather, and it retains the individual grain pattern of the skin, and its also left untreated. Due to the leather being left untreated it ages beautifully, and as it ages it will take on a unique pattern.

Would I Recommend the Mulberry Tree French Purse

If your in the market for a luxury purse, then I would definitely recommend a Mulberry French Purse. Also, the appearance of the French Purse might be on the small side, but it holds quite a lot of stuff for such a small purse. Due to it being made of high quality leather, it will last you years if it looked after properly. But, what I would say to you is go and have a look at it first, then go away and think about for a while; as you need to know if it will be suitable for your everyday needs.

The current price for this purse is £275 in the UK

I hope you found this review helpful and informative.

Review: Estee Lauder's Advanced Night Repair (new formula)

Estee Lauder's Advanced Night Repair has undergone a recent reformulation. The newly formulated Advanced Night Repair now has three new additional benefits compared to the original formula. All of these added benefits will help the skin in its overnight recovery.

They are:-

- Nightly Renewal

- Daily Prevention

- Intense Hydration

Nightly Renewal

The new formula of Advanced Night Repair now contains an exclusive ChronoluxCB technology, and this helps to support the natural synchronisation of the skins night time repair; so then the skin can renew its appearance at exactly the right time.

Daily Prevention

Advanced Night Repair helps to neutralise environmental irritants before they can damage the skins appearance. It also helps to reduce the look of past damage caused by every major environmental assault.

Intense Hydration

Hyaluronic Acid locks in moisture, and helps to create the optimal conditions the skin needs to maximise its natural renewal process.

Also, the new formulation now aids the skins natural purification process called Catabolysis.

Catabolysis is the skins natural purification process which occurs during the night. It helps the skin cells to eliminate internal debris that builds up each day and can accelerate signs of ageing.

How I Like to Use the Advanced Night Repair

I use the Advanced Night Repair three times a week when I do my main facial routine. For my main facial routine I use Bioderma, Caudalie's Gentle Cleansing Milk, Simple Soothing Toner, Estee Lauder's Advanced Night Repair, and then I use the Origin's Ginzing Moisturiser, and all of these products seem to work well for me.

Would I Recommend Advanced Night Repair

Yes, I would highly recommend you trying out the Advanced Night Repair; as I was really impressed with the results it gave from the very first day. 

Personally for me I like this because it gets rid of my redness, as well as giving my skin a good boost of hydration. I love to use this before bed, as I look forward to waking up the following morning as my skin is a lot clearer, and my redness has temporally disappeared. 

If you are a bit skeptical about trying the Advanced Night Repair, then I would recommend that you go pick about a weeks worth of samples to try beforehand, as this isn't a cheap product to purchase. Also, the luxury about trying a product sample is that you'll be able to see if it suits your skin type or not, and it also won't cost you anything to get a few sample sachets.

For a 30ml bottle of Advanced Night Repair its around £45.

I hope you found this review helpful and informative

My Fragrance Collection Part 1

Welcome to my fragrance series. This series will be over three posts. I'm not bragging in anyway, I just it would be nice if I shared with you my fragrance collection. On a side note, I have been collecting fragrance since I was around the age of 12.

Thierry Mugler's Angel

This fragrance gets worn at least once a week & I love it, as its a warm & cosy scent. But, when I younger I never actually liked it. Its one of those fragrances you either love it or you hate it. I just happened to have recently fell in love with it.

Notes: Bergamot, sweet red fruits, vanilla, caramel, chocolate & patchouli.

Lacoste Touch of Pink

I used to wear this all the time during my time at college & I loved it. I'd actually forgotten how much I really liked this perfume. Every time I wear this it just takes me back to my college days & it makes me feel happy inside.

Notes: Jasmine, violet, carrot seed oil, orange, cardamom, coriander, sandel wood, musk & vanilla

Nina by Nina Ricci

This is a really nice fragrance to wear during the warmer months of the year, as its a kind of warm, fruity fragrance.

Notes: Red toffee apple, praline, vanilla, lemon, lime, wood accord, white cedar, cotton musk

CKIN2U (Her)

This is one of my favourite fragrances to wear during the summer months, as its a lovely fresh scent. I would describe this scent as light floral & fruity.

Notes: Sugar orchid, pink grapefruit, fizz, neon

Dior Addict 2 (Discontinued)

This is another lovely fruity fragrance I like to wear during the warm summer months, & I've just found today that its been discontinued :(. 

Notes: Verbena, freesia, lily of the valley, lotus, rose & fruits

Skin Care Routine

I would like to share with you my current skincare routine, and I've been doing this routine for around three months and it seems to be working for me.
I have a basic routine, and these are the products that I use every time I do my routine, as well as having three different variants on in my routine which I alternate.

The Basics

Bioderma

I use this even before I start my skincare routine, as I find that my face collects a lot of dirt throughout the day, and this just helps to get rid of it all.

Caudalie Gentle Cleansing Milk

After I have used my Bioderma I will then cleanse my skin using the Caudalie Gentle Cleansing Milk; as its light, gentle and also very hydrating. I like to message this into my face for around a minute and then take it off using a hot flannel. After doing this my skin my skin feels super soft and hydrated.

Simple Soothing Toner

I really like this toner as its very gentle and doesn't irritate the skin. It also makes it feel refreshed.

Routine One 

I usually do this routine three times a week, and I alternate it with Routine Two (see below).

Estee Lauder's Advanced Night Repair (new formula)

I've recently fallen in love with this serum, but I only use it three times a week due to it containing Hyaluronic Acid. I like to use this as it helps to get rid of my redness overnight.

Origins Ginzing Moisturiser

This moisturiser works wonders alongside the Advanced Night Repair. It also smells like sweet oranges. The moisturiser has a gel-cream texture which is ideal for normal/ combination skin. Also, when it goes onto the skin it has a slight cooling effect.

Routine Two

Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask

After I have done my basic routine I will then just finish off using this one product. The Drink Up Intensive Mask contains Hyaluronic Acid, which is why I don't use the Advanced Night Repair alongside it. Its also quite thick in consistency. The overnight mask also has a mango scent to it. When I wake up in the morning after using this my skin feels extremely moisturised and really soft.

Routine Three

I usually do this once a week, and I normally do this mid-week.

Alpha H Liquid Gold

I first do my basic skincare routine, and then finally I will finish off with this. The Alpha H Liquid Gold is a chemical exfoliant, which uses Glycolic Acid. Even though its a chemical exfoliant its very gentle on the skin. Its also a lot better than using a manual exfoliator, as they can sometimes be a bit too harsh on the skin. After using this when I wake up the following morning my skin feels like new and very moisturised.

Product Empties - Winter Edition

I've recently used a lot of products over the past few months, so I'd thought I'd share with you what products I've used up, my thoughts on the products and if I would repurchase them again in the future.

Lush Brazened Honey Fresh Face Mask
I got this as it was an exfoliating face mask, but sadly it didn't do anything for my skin. So, I won't be buying it again.

Lush Catastrophe Cosmetic Fresh Face Mask
I've repurchased this face mask quite a few times, as it helps to get rid of spots as well as soothing the skin. The mask also smells of blueberries.

Dove Go Fresh Deodorant in Grapefruit & Lemongrass
I've also repurchased this numerous times. Its just a basic deodorant that does the job, as well as having a gorgeous fragrance.

Korres Vanilla Cinnamon Shower Gel
I really didn't like this shower gel at all, as I found that I needed to use a loads of products to get a decent enough lather. The scent was lovely. Sadly, I just didn't get on with this at all; so I won't be repurchasing it again.

Biotherm Aquasource Moisturiser for Normal/ Combination Skin
I actually got on better with this Biotherm moisturiser than the first one that I originally had. My skin seemed to like it a lot more due to its gel-cream texture. I will repurchase this again, but not just yet as I have several other moisturisers that I need to work my way through.

Sephora Body Scrub in Guava Passion
This body scrub had a gritty-ish texture and it did a fairly good job at exfoliating the skin, but I'm unsure if I would repurchase it again. But the scent of this was heavenly, and quite sweet. Sadly, Sephora don't make the Guava Passion body range anymore.

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair (new formula) Sample
I actually went through three sample sachets of this before I decided to purchase a 30ml bottle, as I wanted to make sure that it suited my skin. Lets just say that my skin couldn't get enough of this.

Apivita Express Gold Moisturising & Revitalising Mask with Prickly Pear
I can't really say if I noticed a difference in my skin after I used this face mask. It was nice to use, but I'm unsure if I would repurchase this again.

The Body Shop Coconut Creamy Body Scrub
I absolutely loved using this body scrub, as its creamy and slightly moisturising. Its gritty, but gentle on the skin at the same time. I will be purchasing this again in the near future. 

Victoria's Secret Pure Daydream Body Butter
I loved using this body, as its thick and it sinks into the skin straight away. Also, a little bit goes a long way. I think this tub lasted me around four to six months. I will be buying more of these in the near future.

Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Scrub
I think this is my second tub of this body scrub and its gorgeous. Also, because it smells like a mojito cocktail its great for the summer months. I will be buying it again in the future.

Dove Intensive Repair Shampoo & Conditioner
These left my hair feeling soft and hydrated. I'd actually forgotten how nice Dove hair care is to use. I would repurchase these again sometime in the future, but not as yet as I currently have another shampoo and conditioner on the go from Dove.

Original Source Mint & Teatree Shower Gel
Oh my, the scent to this is insane and strong enough to wake anybody up in the morning. I loved this as lathered up really well, and a little bit goes a long way; and its cheap. But the scent is amazing, if you love the smell of peppermint then you'll love this. This is defiantly on my repurchase list.

Luxury Beauty Haul - Feb 2014

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation in Shade 2
I brought this as I'd thought it would be the perfect hybrid foundation for the Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua and the YSL Touche Eclat foundations, both of which I'm very fond of. I was colour matched to shade 2, which is the most natural for my skin tone.

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Powder in Shade 4
I then picked up the powder to go alongside the foundation, as I really liked the sound of it. The powder isn't matte or luminous; but its somewhere in the middle.

Diptyque Baies Mini Candle
I picked this up, as I fancied trying another scent from Diptyque. So, I decided on the Baies fragrance; as it was the ideal scent for coming out of Winter and into the Spring.

Jo Malone Dark Amber & Gingerlily Home Candle
This was one candle which I had to pick up, as I couldn't get over the scent of it. I've had Jo Malone candles before, but I've never tried anything from the Intense range; so it would be lovely to see how they differ from the original home candles.

Aveda Scalp Benefits Shampoo
This is actually a repurchase, and its one of the best cleansing/ balancing shampoo's that I've found. It cleanses my scalp and hair, as well as giving it loads of volume.

Ojon Restorative Hair Treatment Plus (Travel size)
I got this as I fancied trying a luxury hair treatment, as my hair can sometimes go a little on the dry side; especially on the ends. So, I thought this would be the ideal product for getting both hydration and nourishment back into my hair.