Product Empties - August 2018

Hi everyone,

It's time for some more 'Products I Have Used Up', and I haven't done one these posts for quite a while.

Body Shop Pina Colada & Frosted Berries Shower Gels

I love the scents of these shower gels, as they are both fruity and refreshing. Sadly, both of these were seasonal fragrances. I also really like the formula of the shower gels from the Body Shop.

Original Source Mint & Tea Tree Shower Gel

These are okay to use, but they are not the best formula for shower gel that I have used. The Tea Tree and Mint scent is also okay, but its nothing special.

Body Shop Polynesian Island Tiare Shower Gel

This is a delicate scent from the Body Shop. The scent is fine, and the formula is just the standard one that you pick up from the Body Shop. This shower gel is also slightly more expensive than the original shower gels.

Body Shop Vineyard Peach Shower Gel

The love the scent of the Vineyard Peach line from the Body Shop, as its very refreshing and summery. I also like the formula of the Body Shop shower gels.

Palmolive Hand Soaps

I picked these up to try as I was running out of hand soaps. My favourite fragrance was the lime one, as it was lovely to use. I also had to use quite a bit of soap to get a decent lather.

Colgate Plax Whitening & Mild Mint Mouthwashes

I really like the Colgate Plax mouthwashes, and my preferred is the mild mint. The whitening variety on the other hand I wasn't keen on due to the taste. I have repurchased the mild mint variation a few times.

L'Oreal Phytoclear Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

This I tried as I was looking for a new anti-dandruff shampoo, and this is variety for normal hair. I really like shampoo, and I'm currently working my way through my second bottle.

TIGI Catwalk Oatmeal & Honey Conditioner

The scent of this conditioner is divine as it smells like a chai tea latte. Its also quite a hydrating conditioner, and also the scent lingered for quite a while afterwards. Its not cheap product, but it did last me ages.

Pixi Glow Tonic

This is a bit of usual product for me, as I know that its raved about constantly. But, in all honesty I didn't think it did anything for my skin for most of the time that I was using it. Some days it would work just fine, and on others it just didn't want to work at all.

Pixi Nourishing Cleansing Balm

This is my second tub of this that I have used up, but it took me ages to get through for some odd. The first tub I used I went through it in about six weeks, this one took me close to three months. But this is another skincare product from Pixi that I'm not overly fond of, and I think it has something to do with the consistency of the balm. On the other hand it does have a lovely rose fragrance.

This is end of the first part of my product empties for August. 

News: Sephora USA UK Shipping Changes 2018

Hi everyone,

Just a quick bit of information for you that I have recently come across regarding Sephora USA shipping to the UK.

Sephora USA is NO LONGER shipping to the UK and the Netherlands, and from doing a bit research it has something to do with the changes in the Law regarding the use of Data and Data Protection.

If you do go to the Sephora USA website you will automatically be redirected to the Sephora French website.

Best Wishes

Lauren xx

Products I Like to Use for a Pamper

Hi everyone,

I thought I would share with you the products I use for when I'm in need of a little pamper session.

Lush H'Suan Wen Hua
This is a lovely deep conditioning hair treatment from Lush. I haven't always got time to do a hair treatment before I get in the shower. This is a 20 minute pre-shampoo treatment, and its very effective. Also, it has a gorgeous cinnamon scent.

Lush Rehab Shampoo
This is my favourite shampoo from Lush, as its very effective at clarifying the hair, but it doesn't strip the hair of any natural oils. I always shampoo my hair twice, and you only need to use a small amount for it to be effective. It also has a lovely citrus fragrance.

Lush Retrend Conditioner
This is a heavier conditioner that I use about once/ twice a week to help to really condition my hair. You don't need to leave it long for it to really condition the hair, but I just run this through the ends of my hair as I find that what needs the most conditioner. It also smells incredible.

Bath Bombs from Lush
I adore the bath bombs from Lush. My favourites to use are Dragon's Egg, and also Avobath combined with the You've Been Mangoed bath melt. These are both on the citrus side of scents, but they are both just as delicious and relaxing to use.

I really enjoy treating myself to a Lush pamper from time to time, as I don't always have time to do a full on pamper session. I've actually just one today, as I'm writing this post and I actually feel a little more relaxed and my hair feels as if I've just walked out of the hairdressers.

Review: Lancome Energie de Vie Overnight Recovery Sleeping Mask

Hi everyone,

I've been using the Lancome Energie de Vie Overnight Recovery Sleeping Mask as part of my evening skincare routine for the past few months, and I thought I would share my thoughts with you.

The Lancome Energie de Vie Overnight Recovery Sleeping Mask has a lovely, lightweight texture that sinks into the skin straight away, as well as giving it an instant boost of hydration.

  I use this every night as part of my evening skincare routine, and its also one of the best overnight masks that I have used.

Claims

- Goji Berry, French Melissa & Gentian

Helps to neutralise skin damaging free radicals, improves skin elasticity, and instantly decreases the skins temperature by 1.8C.

- This refreshing cream is formulated to "burst" when applied to the skin, and it releases a flood of weightless moisture onto the skin which absorbs completely. This gives the skin a healthy, smooth and supple appearance.

- Offering the hydration and plumping effect of a balm, and the freshness and lightness of a water mist.

- Leaves skin deeply hydrated and recovered for a healthier, more radiant complexion with a well rested, youthful looking glow

- Skin will feel fresh and rep lumped with a radiant glow

I'm thoroughly impressed with the Energie de Vie Overnight Recovery Sleeping Mask, as it does leave my complexion with a natural glow. I also really enjoy how lightweight this overnight mask, as it helps it to absorb into the skin straight away. Also, you only need the tiniest amount as a little goes a very long way. 

Overall, my complexion feels a lot more hydrated, and also a lot brighter.

My Savon de Provence Fine Soap Collection

Hi everyone,

I have amassed a small collection of soaps from the brand Savon de Paris, and I purchase these soaps from the Christmas Markets in Manchester from a stall based on King Street.

I really love to use these soaps for cleaning my make up brushes, as it thoughtly cleans them as well as gives them a little bit of moisture. 

I've also found these soaps to better than any other brush cleaner that I have used in the past, and this included the Dr Bronner's Liquid Castille Soap. They are also excellent value for money, as a little bit goes an extremely long way when cleaning make up brushes.

They also come in a range of fragrances, and I currently own six of those fragrances.
They are :-
- Almond
- Argan
- Lavender
- Provence
- Apricot
- Verveine (Verbena)

If you can find these soaps I would highly recommend you picking one up to try, especially if your on look out for something effective to deep clean your make up brushes.

A Blast from the Past - Product Nostalgia

Hi everyone,

In this post I'm going to take you back to my early childhood, and talk about a few products I used to use during my school days. 

Fragrances

CK One
I got introduced to CK One on a school trip to France back in 2001, as everyone was buying it and wearing it while on the trip. So, I asked for it as a present some time after that trip, which I did receive as a present and I wore more or less everyday. Also, CK One was my first introduction into mid/ high end frangrances.

Tommy Hilfiger Tommy Girl
I know I received this fragrance as a present, but I couldn't tell you who from. But, this is a more fresh cirtus fragrance. It was also the fragrance that got in me into liking citrus scents. I think I was in my early teens when I received this, and I recall rationing it as I enjoyed the fragrance that much.

Ralph by Ralph Lauren
This was my first fragrance that I'd saved up to get, as I had wanted it for ages. I only purchased a 30ml bottle, but I again rationed the fragrance. This is a lovely one to wear during the spring/ summer months, as it has a sweet but light fragrance. I actually treated myself to another bottle of this sometime last year, as I was feeling a little nostalgic.

Hugo Boss Women
This was another fragrance I brought myself, as I think everybody at school was wearing it and I really liked the scent. Its a wearable, but subtle scent but it also has a little bit of maturity too it. I actually wouldn't mind buying another bottle of this.

Maybelline Water Shine Lipsticks
I owned two of these lipsticks, and I enjoyed wearing them both. They were a little bit like a lipgloss but in lipstick form. They had a lightweight formula, but they were very wearable shades. I owned two of the pink shades, but I couldn't tell you the shade names.

Maybelline Classic Volume Waterproof Mascara
This was the one mascara that I felt did anything to my lashes when I was growing up, but also loved the fact that it had a waterproof formula.

Theatre Review: 'The Meeting' By Charlotte Jones

Cast

Lydia Leonard - Rachel Young
Gerald Kyd - Adam Young
Jean St. Clair - Alice Thirley
Leona Allen - Tabitha Rickman
Olivia Darnley - Biddy Rickman
Jim Findley - James Rickman
Laurie Davidson - Nathaniel Burns

I had the pleasure of seeing this production on the 17th July 2018, at the Minerva Theatre which is part of the Chichester Festival Theatre.

'The Meeting' is set in Lewes, South Downs during 1805. The play centres around the five Quaker Testimonies and these are Peach, Equality, Simplicity, Truth & Integrity, and Sustainability of the planet (PESTS).

Act One begins with a Quaker meeting that is being led by Elder James Rickman.
  We then meet the Young family, and they are Adam, Rachel and Alice. Adam works as a stonemason, Rachel enjoys going for walks and speaking at Quaker meetings, and finally there's Alice who is Rachel's mother who is struggling to be heard in the Quaker community as she was born deaf; so Rachel is her voice.
  Adam needs an apprentice as his eyesight isn't as good as it used to be. Adam makes tombstones for the dead regardless of their beliefs, as everyone is treated as equals and they also don't believe in rank.
  While out walking Rachel is seen by Nathaniel. Nathaniel is invited back to Rachel and Adam's home, as Rachel wants Nathaniel to be Adam's apprentice. He is also invited to the meeting that is taking place later on that evening. When Adam gets home from work he meets Nathaniel for the first time, and Rachel explains to Adam that Nathaniel is his new apprentice. While at the Quaker meeting Adam introduces Nathaniel as his new apprentice. During the meeting Rachel speaks up about what is going on outside their community, and this in turn makes Rickman concerned about Rachel's state of mind. Rickman also wants to oversee Nathaniel's apprenticeship alongside Adam.
  Alice is making Tabitha's wedding dress, as she is set to marry a quaker man; even though she is still only young.

The beginning of the second Act starts off with another Quaker meeting but without Rachel present, as she hasn't been to a meeting for a month, and Elder Rickman is missing her not being at the meetings.
  Back home Nathaniel enters the room where Rachel is present, but they shouldn't be seen together. While at work both Nathaniel and Adam get along very well and they have a laugh together; and Nathaniel is doing really well in his apprenticeship, so Adam is hoping to start him on carving soon.
  Some time later, Rachel decides to leave her current surroundings after a confrontation took place between herself and Biddy regarding Adam. Rachel has travelled far and wide telling everywhere she visits her views, and she is being accepted into every place where she travels too. With Rachel gone; Adam will now be Alice's voice.

'The Meeting' is a gorgeous piece of theatrical writing that shows how people use their voice through verbal and non-verbal communication, while also exploring the lives of a Quaker community during the early 1800s. It also explores acceptance by showing how a community is willing to accept a stranger into their lives through an act of kindness.

This is a lovely show to watch, and every member of the cast are fantastic. There's even a 'Pride and Prejudice' moment towards the end of the first Act; which seems to be going down very well with the audiences.