Beauty Rehab

Hey all!

I've got my first Beauty Rehab since moving out - it's been a weird kind of obsession keeping all my empties whilst I've moved and decorated but I've succeeded. What's annoyed me even more was the fact I no longer have my lovely white desk at my parents house, so nowhere to photograph them. hmmmph.

So instead I've taken some pretty awful photos on a dark rainy evening on top of a super old blanket chest in my living room - with boxes full of stuff to sort in the background. It's not ideal but it was time to sort through them all!

Urban Decay Naked Skin foundation - I loved this when i purchased it as my skin must have been a lot better. Nowadays I'm always tired so need a lot more!
Estee Lauder Double Wear - loved this, would definitely repurchase
MAC Mineralize Skin Finish - hated this, keeping the bottle for Back 2 Mac. The finish was awful!
Vichy Dermablend - also love this, it's a long term staple in my make up bag and I have another 2 as back ups!
Rimmel Stay Matte powder - love this too, why pay more when this powder is as good as Mac if not better

Dr Bronner's Citrus Orange Soap - love the smell of this so much, I'd repurchase from TK Maxx or similar as it's much cheaper
Aussie products - love love love Aussie and would repurchase always!

Batiste Dry Shampoo - love this stuff, saves me on a weekly basis when there just isn't enough time for washing hair! Always buy them in bulk in every scent, and especially the dark one
Aussie Dry Shampoo - to be honest this was pretty awful. it was like a well scented hairspray, but stickier, it wasn't a dry shampoo at all which was disappointing
L'Occitane Conditioner - considering this is quite expensive for a conditioner it was pretty average. I'm not fussy with hair products at all but it took me forever to use it up as it made my hair feel like straw
Nip and Fab Detox Blend Body Wash - this was also pretty average which was a shame as I love their skincare line

Nip and Fab Deep Cleansing Fix - talking of Nip and Fab, this is a great buy! Even better when it's on offer, its a cleanser mask etc etc wonder product!
Vaseline deodorant - I wouldn't normally bother sharing my deodorant but I always find these cans disappointing, supposedly compressed but realistically I don't think they are at all
Boots Nail Polish Remover - this was great, full of acetone so not ideal but worked a treat on glitter!
Dove Summer Glow Body Lotion - I'm embarrassed to think how old this bottle is, look at that old packaging! Still a favourite with me though, the best tanning moisturiser

Good Things Argan Oil Facial Serum - this tube disappeared overnight, I need to buy this in massive tubs!
Origins Drink Up mask - this is great, I'd repurchase purely for the smell but the effects on my skin are pretty awesome
Lacura Aqua Complete Serum - a super buy for the £3.99 price tag from Aldi, definitely worth slapping on and I have a few variations of it in my drawer
Elemis Pro-Radiance Cleanser - this was a lovely product to try as I'd never used Elemis before, a great cleanser and I'd love a full size if I could afford it!
No7 Facial Wipes - always in my stash somewhere for saving me when the day has been so long

Effaclar Duo - already repurchased during my trip to Paris, an absolute essential!
Lacura Beautifying Serum - on my second bottle, enough said!
Tigi BedHead Some Like it Hot - not sure if this serum really works but it was a lovely serum that didn't coat the hair and leave it feeling plastic or dry
Gilchrist and Soames Shower Gel - wasn't a fan of this smell, wouldn't repurchase

Soap and Glory Thick and Fast mascara - pretty good mascara but I still find Rimmel the best for the price
Benefit Roller Lash - i love Benefit mascaras, they are definitely the best for me and I'm one of those people that likes both this and They're Real, unfortunately just cannot justify buying it at the moment - this makes me very sad and I'm saving up Boots points
Models Own Nail Polish - I loved this champagne gold colour and cannot believe it's dried up! Will need to buy another
Benefit Porefessional - love this and have kept my minis for travelling so I can get through airports without hassle!
Real Techniques Expert Face brush - sadly this one has died on me and the bristles have started to fall out as you can see. Not much point in keeping it now! Will repurchase another when I'm feeling spendy

So what do you think of my empties? Have you been using up lots or have you been hoarding like I used to?

I think with all of my empty foundation bottles I'm due a treat of a new one don't you think???

L xxx

Elemis Skincare Essentials Travel Collection

Hey All

Last month we were lucky enough to attend a spa day at Celtic Manor, you can read our thoughts on that here. Whilst there we were spoilt with some Elemis goodies. As a big fan of spa days I've used a few Elemis products already so was pleased to some some of my favourites in the set.

We were given the skincare essentials travel collection which contains everything you need for a break away. It costs £39 and can be purchased from the Elemis website.

With no product being over 100ml is perfect for breaks away when flying as well. I think when people go away they tend to skip on skincare products where as this kit have everything you need. 

The Pro-Radiance Cream Cleanser and the Soothing Apricot Toner are two products I'm actually using the full size of at the moment. The cleanser just melts away make up and leaves the skin feeling so soft. As it bonus it's anti ageing too. I'm a big toner fan, they make a big difference to my skin and I find when I don't use them I get spotty. This has an amazing smell to and feels so refreshing on the skin. I'm actually saving these skincare bits for when I go away hopefully in September so I've not used the exfoliater and day cream yet.

The Elemis Frangipani range was one I'd heard so much about so was so glad to get to use it. This smells amazing and sinks into the skin leaving it feeling so soft. They shower cream and scrub are also great but for me are a great luxury treat but not something I'd repurchase as full size.

This is the third of the hand cream I've had and I love it. I'm a firm hand cream promoter as I think hands age a person and are probably one of the neglected body areas. I also work in a laboratory environment so my hands end up feeling really dry.

This is a great gift, a pre holiday treat or a way to test out products. I love it when companies do a great range of decent sized minis so you can get a real feel of the product.

Have you tried any Elemis products? What's your favourite? I do also fully recommend the Pro-collagen Marine Cream.

Love M

xxx

Polo At The Manor

Hey all!

Today we've got a really exciting event to tell you about - Celtic Manor's Polo At The Manor.

On Saturday 13th of June the annual event takes place with the most glamorous of affairs - champagne, ponies and picnics, what's not to love?!

Tickets cost only £18 and for a day of glamour and indulgence the only thing you need to worry about is what to wear! 

This is where Lydia Rose Bright has come to your rescue and created a video to help you choose!

You can watch the video below or check out the original using this link HERE.

I don't know about you but I think the skirt above is absolutely beautiful, I love the high waist and the pastel blue colour and the lace top is so dainty.

I love the neckline of the dress below too, very pretty but not too revealing either and the fitted waist is perfect for giving you an hourglass figure.

Lastly how beautiful is this lacy white dress?! It's very fitted but the longer length complements this.

If I was going to the Polo I would choose the blue dress and definitely invest in a comfortable pair of nude wedges - the ones in Lydia's video are perfect! Pretty and also comfortable and much better for a long day of eating and drinking and watching the Polo.

The only thing I can recommend in addition to these gorgeous outfit choices is a blazer! There's no trusting the weather in South Wales and a blazer is a must for the potential showers and breezy evenings....as optimistic as I'd like to be there's nothing worse than getting chilly and a blazer is a chic way to cover up.

Lydia has also helpfully created another video to help with your hair and make up choices:

If I was going to the Polo I'd go for dewy skin and pick a nude smokey eye and a coral lip - I love coral lipstick! As for hair, I'm a firm believe in the bigger the better and I would love to have waves just like Lydias.....all the time!

What would you wear to the Polo At The Manor? Do you like Lydia's outfit choices?
How would you do your hair and make up?

Not only is there lots of glamour at the event, there is also an Elemis Bus for spa treatments and Depot are providing a wonderful array of streetfood, including Beetlejuice Campervan who create wonderful cocktails.

Tweet us with your choices and use the hashtag #polomanorstyle

L xxx

She Said Beauty June Box

I've been wanting to join the beauty box craze for a while now. I love the idea of recieving something through the post all packaged pretty with lots of beauty products in, but was put of paying up to £12.50 a month. As well as not knowing what box to pick.

Then over the bank holiday weekend She Said Beauty were offering a whooping 60% off there boxes. So I got the 6 month subscription for under £40 (the 60% off wasn't off postage) What swayed me was the chance of getting some St Tropez in my box. Did any of you see or take up this great offer.

It arrived in a bright pink cardboard box, I think it was love at first site ;). I love the bright pink packaging.

When I opened it I was greeted by a gorgeous mint green box with a light floral pattern to the corners. I really liked this and thought the box will definitely be used again.

The box opens with a flap lid (no losing lids) and has a magnet so it stays shut. Inside more pink in the form of tissue and ribbon. Who doesn't love the pretty combo of tissue and the mint and pink together.

So here is what I got in my box (picture heavy)

Money off St Tropez when you order online (thought I'd share the code)

In it I had:

• St Tropez Gradual Tan. Can't wait to try this as recently tried the lotion and loved it. I'll be interested to see how it compares to Dove gradual tan. Size in box is 75ml so a good size, Full size product is 200ml and costs £14.30 so a lot more than the likes a Dove.
• Let's Go Lashes. I love wearing lashes on a night out so lashes in these type of boxes always go down well with me. It's something I'll definitely use. £8.95 per set. I got the style tease. Again can't wait to try them.
• Perfume sample of Yardley London. not a huge sample, think I'll change my preference on recieving perfume samples as it's something that doesn't excite me. Smells ok. Full Size is only £9.99 so quite a cheap one.
• Balance me super mositurising hand cream. I was really excited to see this. Due to my job my hands get washed constantly and therefore end up rather dry so a good hand cream is a must. The 30ml size that comes in the box is worth 6.00. It also is 98.8% natural origin and is sulphate and paraben free, which is something you'll know me and L look out for.
• Elemis tranquil touch indulgent bath elixer. I love going to salons that use Elemis products so I'm excited to try one at home. I'm literally about to jump in the bath and test this out now. Sample in the box is 50ml and 300ml costs £19.00.
• There was also one extra sample. I'm very intrigued to try this, it's the ginvera Green Tea nude cover BB Cream. I'm definitely not a BB cream girl. I love full coverage of a foundation but I'm looking forward to giving this a proper try. It's not a huge sample but I'm hoping to get two uses out of it. It claims to help prevent fine lines and if I like it I will consider buying this for the summer, I'm all for the prevention of line. This retails at £20.00 for 25 ml 

All in all for me a box I will use everything of. The perfume definitely was the least exciting for me. With She Said you can pay monthly and cancel at any time of sign up for 3 months, 6 months or 12 months and pay all at once. They are priced at £9.00 plus 2.95 p and p. I think I'd think twice if it wasn't for the deal as I should be watching pennies at the moment, but who doesn't love a bright pink box through the post each month.

What do you think of the She Said Beauty box? 

If there are any products you are particularly interested to know how I got on with just let me know.

Love M

xxx