Beauty Rehab

Hi all!

I've been a busy bee over the past few weeks and have been saving up my empties for you as normal.

I've been a little bit pathetic at the non spending part of Beauty Rehab the last few weeks....Christmas sets and random trips have left me wanting and purchasing a lot, my poor credit card. That has had to stop pretty quickly though as I owe my parents a fair bit of money, so I'm back on the wagon....so to speak!

Without further ado here's what I've managed to use up this time:

Aussie 3 min miracle conditioner: Forever love this, my hair loves it, the smell is amazing, always a thumbs up.
Nioxin Shampoo: Can't say I was a fan, felt cooling which I didn't love and I think it stripped colour from my hair...booooooooo hisssss
No7 Eye make up remover: Love, have 2 ready waiting in the wings!
Batiste: As above, bought them on a deal, love it!
Avon Intensive Body Lotion: These are great value and really work, would buy again.
S&G Easy Glistening: I believe this has been repackaged, quite good...sometimes a little too glittery but the almond oil in it gave a great sheen.



Liz Earle Skin Tonic: Have the full size which I'm currently using, not decided if there' any benefits but it feels lovely and smells great.
Ralph Lauren 4 Lotion: Came with the perfume, sank in easily and not a strong smell, wouldn't repurchase on it's own though
Neutrogena Acne Wash: This one was bought by mistake by my American friend for me, it was nice but not what I was looking for.
S&G Hand Food: Love the smell and its a pretty good hand cream, glad to have finally finished one though as I have tonnes of it!
Origins Checks and Balances Cleanser: Love this, love the smell, cleanses my skin and I've bought another.
St Tropez Body Polish: Quite like this, its buffs but doesn't leave a residue but not sure its worth the extra price tag over others which do the same.
Origins Make a Difference toner: Looooooooooove this. The smell is out of this world and didn't dry my skin at all. I'm not a fan of toner but even I am considering repurchasing!



Clarins Pure Melt Cleansing Gel: Can't decide on this one. Removes make up but turns into a 'milk' so gets everywhere and in my eyes.
BioEffect EGF Serum: This was a sample but a lovely one, worth a LOT of money....15ml is £125.....RIDICULOUS if you ask me. Obviously it was nice though....absorbed very fast and very hydrating.
Clarins Extra Firming Day Cream: This was from a friend, lovely consistency and great for my dehydrated skin
Vichy Normaderm Moisturiser: Loved this when I had oilier skin, it's still pretty good now especially for day. Not sure I'd repurchase as my skin has changed.
Essie Top Coat: Loved this, topped it up with a cheap polish to use the last bit but obviously wasn't the same...have another!
Almay Colour Correction Primer: Can't get any more out of the tube for some reason, was very hydrating for a primer but didn't feel like it did much
Molton Brown Shower Gel: Always love their smells, this was a great tester and very zesty
Max Factor Foundation: Nice and thick, great coverage but started to separate....I have had it a few years though!

YSL Nail Polish: Lovely colour, very sheer. Brush doesn't quite reach the bottom though
Origins Zero Oil: Bought when i had oily skin, have used it in the mornings to use it up and it's still really good at absorbing oil
HD Brows Powder: Great powder and I loved the design of the compact
Aesop Parsley Seed Serum: Love this, would snap it up again if I could afford it! Hydrating without overloading my skin, but at £45 for 100ml I cannot afford to repurchase
Origins Make A Difference Rejuvenating Gel: Will be repurchasing, favourite smell of the whole Origins range and has the best effects.
Elemis Shower Cream: Couldn't see the fuss with this shower gel, it's just a shower gel...very nice smell but not worth the extra pennies as i needed a lot for a lather too.
Bioderma Micellar Solution: Loved these, will have to get some to compliment my eye make up remover as sometimes you just need a bit more!



Last picture!

Bioderma Samples: Won from twitter. There were a whole load of them and maddeningly I loved every single one! I will just HAVE to try out some full size versions of them too!
Sudocrem: Great for those days when my skin is overloaded with oil and whiteheads, dries them right up if a little bit harshly. Not for regular use!
Lush Daddy-O Shampoo: This was purple and scared me and my highlights...but it was amazing! Stopped them from changing to a weird colour which is what was happening at the time. I no longer have them but would get this if I did
Rimmel Max Curves mascara: Love Rimmel mascaras, this one is good for the price as always but it wasn't my favourite of their range
L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes: Loved this which was a surprise. I'm lucky with my lashes and don't find expensive mascaras are that great but this was a happy medium when on offer as it was a little more but with better results.

So that's what I've been using!

How has your stash going? Is it growing or shrinking?
I'm trying my best but it just doesn't really seem to be going anywhere!

L xxx

25 Before 26

Morning!

Bit of a lifestyle and list post for you today.

I keep seeing lots of these doing the rounds, they're like mini bucket lists and as lover of lists I think they're awesome. I have quite a large list of things I'd like to do/complete over on my 101 in a 1001 page here, but most of these are expensive and probably completely unachievable in the time I have left; things didn't go quite as I'd thought.

Instead I'm going to start breaking it up and aiming to tick off a few things in smaller installments. I'm 26 in March next year, so I'm giving myself the target of ticking off one task for every year that I've existed so far.

Here's my 25:

1: Visit another place in the UK, my aim is 5 and I've ticked off 2. Another one should be achievable in this time; suggestions below please!

2: Read 4 Classic Books. 20 was my aim and I've only read 1, I can surely manage to get a few of these read over the next few months as I have a lot on my kindle for free. I'm going name a few specifically to ensure they're read and fill up more of my 25! First is Robin Hood

3: Second is Frankenstein, I've heard its a great story and a complete classic

4:I also plan on reading the real Beauty and the Beast

5: The real Jungle Book

6: Wuthering Heights

7: Treasure Island

8: Dracula

9: and lastly the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. This is quite a list.....fingers crossed I get some time off soon! 

10: Try 2 new foods. My aim is 10, surely 2 more can be done over Christmas!

11: Visit an art gallery; cannot think where this will be but I'll have to find one

12: Give blood - this is simple and I have to fit this in somewhere; maybe on a week off

13: Work harder at toning up - I've put on a few pounds recently and am feeling a bit too pudgy for my liking. Need to drop 7lbs and I'd be happy, this sounds easy but my diet is pretty good and I exercise 3/4 times a week as it is. If I work harder though it can happen!

14: As a sub list I have a number of new things I'd like to do to make this happen. Firstly, I'd like to try rock climbing, it's supposed to be a great way to tone your upper body and I'd love to give it a go. There's an indoor climbing centre in Cardiff so I think I'll start there

15: Start yoga/pilates - still haven't tried a class and I think it's about time I tried one. Body Balance is the class at my gym that combines a number of stretching and poses so I think I will try one of these and start there!

16: Gorge walking - a fun day out that my dad and brother also want to do, winner! Family time will always be a good thing

17: Run 10k - Initially my aim was to run 5k but I do that regularly now. Running 10k is something that terrifies me but i have to get there to complete other challenges! My friend has recently signed me up to do a 10k at the beginning of March. I have no excuses now...

18: Go ziplining - there's a Go Ape near me that does this kind of thing, definitely need to go!

19:Go to a gig - no idea what one yet but something!

20: Learn to cook something new, one of each sweet and savoury

21: Continue to plough through the excess of 'stuff' in my possession. Capsule wardrobe be mine!

22: Learn basic things to fix on a car - this is ongoing having just bought my first car. The winter will bring lots of issues that I'm sure will be a learning curve for me!

23: Go to London over Christmas - this might seem easy for some of you but I've never wandered around London at Christmas just to soak up the festive spirit and see the shop windows in Harrods and Selfridges. I've booked my train tickets for December so will definitely be going!

24: Visit an Antique or Vintage Fair - hopefully I can find one of these in the next few months. It would be great to wander around one of these and see what gems can be found!

25: Write a short story. I'd love to write a book but it is such a mammoth task involving so much free time that I just don't have at the moment. I'm sure I can stretch to writing a short story, even if it's something based on my own experiences!

What do you think of my list? Achievable?

Hopefully I can get a load of them done over Christmas and then I can check off more! I have a week off coming up so fingers crossed I can get some reading etc done then, and maybe an outdoors task.

Do you have a list of tasks you'd like to achieve by a certain date?
Do you have an tips for achieving them all??


Send me any links you have to your own lists, I love reading them!

L xxx

Rimmel's Kate Moss Lasting Finish Lipstick in 107

I've been a big fan of Rimmel and the Kate Moss collections for a while and have previously picked up the matte lipstick in 110, which is a gorgeous bright coral colour.

M is also a big fan and has been telling me for AGES to pick up a darker lipstick. I'm super pale with dark hair and the vampy look is something I've always wanted to try out but never been brave enough.
I think celebs like Megan Fox who wear this kind of look always look amazing, I mean who wouldn't want to look like this??

I've warmed up to the idea so much after seeing so many good reviews and so I picked up the Lasting Finish Lipstick in the Kate Moss range in 107.

The 107 lipstick is infamous with bloggers, recently Tanya Burr has done a tutorial for Rihanna and Megan Fox inspired make up and used this very lipstick. This confirmed for me that if i want to try the darker lipstick look buying a Rimmel lipstick wasn't going to break the bank at £5.49.

The bullet looks so dark it scared me a lot. I never used to be a lipstick person at all and now find myself with at least 20!
It was only a matter of time really before I tried a colour like this I suppose.

The colour came out exactly how I thought it would but it surprised me how much it suited me, I thought it might have looked a little bit weird but it actually didn't.

I like the finish from this lipstick, its matte but not overly so and that makes it a lot more wearable.
It stains your lips too so as the lipstick wears off the colour doesn't.

However as the lipsticks are matte they are somewhat drying. This annoys me as for day wear I have to apply lip balm in between to stop my lips from peeling which isn't always resolved with lip balm.



However for a night out it's perfect and I can't fault it.

I've worn it out a few times now with a black dress and heels and for an evening at the theatre in jeans and a blazer. It's so much more wearable than i thought and I can't wait to wear it again.

What do you think of darker lipsticks? Which is your favourite?

I'm going to have to get some more in the future!

L xxx

Vichy Normaderm Pro Mat

Hi all!

Today I'm going to waffle on about another Vichy product. I'm a bit of a fan of theirs and am yet to dislike a product that I've bought from them, they always seem to deliver and my skin does seem to appreciate it.

I picked this up quite a while ago, but when my skin went from being oily to dehydrated and sensitive to almost everything it was placed in a drawer and forgotten about.

I've recently found it and now that my skin is back in some kind of order, it's made its way back into my daily regime.

Vichy's Normaderm range is very popular for those with imperfection and acne prone skin and fights the 6 main signs; blemishes, pores, shine, oily skin, marks and uneven complexion.

I've previously raved about their Normaderm day and night moisturisers and this was a product I snapped up because of that.

Their Nomaderm Pro Mat is for 'Non Stop Matte Effect Hydrating Care'.

Initially I was confused what on earth this was.
Is it a moisturiser? Is it a serum? A spot cream?

It's actually more of a primer.

I apply this after my moisturiser has sunk in and before make up, it's actually replaced my primer for the time being as I wanted to test its effects.
I apply this just like moisturiser to my entire face and my face has definitely been less shiny and oily and therefore my make up has stayed on longer than with some primers I've tried in the past.

On the back of my hand you can see that it's a weird green kind of colour but this doesn't show on the face at all, and if anything would probably help with colour correction!

And then it disappears to nothing leaving only a slight sheen where the product is on my skin.

Having lost the box I've done a quick search to get the facts for you. From their American site I can tell you that this is oil free and also contains SPF15 which is great.
However I cannot find it on UK sites which is odd as I definitely bought it in Boots in the UK! There is a similar product called Total Mat which I'm wondering if it is the same thing just marketed differently.

Anyway, if you're looking for a primer/moisturiser type product then I would definitely recommend this. It has hydrated my skin whilst keeping oil under control and prolonging my make up from sliding down my face....winner.
I've also been using this daily for a couple of weeks and still have plenty left in the tube, the thin nozzle allows you to control exactly how much product you want to come out and this way there is minimal waste!


Have you tried this product before? Have you tried Total Mat and noticed if its the same?

It's really frustrating when they do this as I would possibly like to repurchase and aren't sure if i would get the same effects!

L xxx