Beauty Rehab

Morning!

Hope you have a load of good plans for the weekend, when this goes live I will unfortunately be at work....boo hiss! But at least it's only for the morning and then my plan is to go hiking with my dad and dog up a local mountain, weather depending.

I've written quite a number of Beauty Rehab posts the past few years and I still enjoy writing them; essentially they're empties posts in order to try and encourage me to use up more of my products in  my stash.

Here's my first clear out for 2014, starting the year with a clean slate and hopefully a big increase on using up products from last year.

Cutex Polish Remover: I picked this up for my peeling nails hoping it wouldn't make them worse with all my nail painting; it was pretty good and they haven't got worse.
Coconut Creme Shower Gel: This was good, i like the smell of coconut but this was very sweet....it was like coconut sugar. Lasted forever though!
Origins Perfect World Cleanser: Just wrote a post on this last week, easy to use, no reactions at all and cleanses make up off, not very good at eye make up removal.
Aussie 3 min miracle: Another variety of the deep conditioning treatment, I will always love it for the effects and the price

Label M Shampoo: Smells sweet but lathered up easy and cleansed my hair without drying it.
Soap and Glory Pulp Friction: Amazing foaming scrub; love it especially on 3 for 2
Batiste: The best dry shampoo for price and quality, so many sizes and smells!



Avon polish: Supposed to help peeling but I don't think it worked so i used it as a top coat
Origins Starting Over Eye cream: Very moisturising and absorbs easily, thumbs up
Botanics Cleansing Balm: Loved this and would consider buying again...haven't used it in a while though and last time I looked it was mouldy!
Origins Brighter By Nature: Ready loaded cotton pads with enzymes on to remove dead skin like an exfoliating scrub would. Not sure how well they worked but they felt really nice to use, unfortunately they dried so quickly I couldn't even use them all.



Lavera Hand Cream: Organic and smells amazing, non greasy too
Clarins HydraQuench Cream: Love this, very hydrating but not too heavy
Nivea Hand Cream: Another hand bag essential, mini tubes are always helpful
Clarins Lotus Oil: Loved this too, would buy again in future. Smells like spa products



EOS Sphere: These are awesome and i used this until it went concave and I had to scrape it out...lush. Have quite a few left in my stash to use still from America!
Bourjois Volumizer mascara: Really liked the double wand idea, was good to have the option of one thin coat and maximising the volume in one mascara
Rimmel Stay Matte powder: Another fave, why pay more for pressed powder when this one is amazing for under a fiver!

Hope you enjoyed my quick run down, have you done your own empties post to start the year off fresh?

I've recently started another spending ban as I'm sure most bloggers will have after the Christmas sales. I cannot spend another penny on products and I'm aiming for my birthday at the end of March...but we will see how that goes!

L xxx

Origins: Perfect World Cleanser

Hello all!

Another skincare review for you today, I've been powering through my latest purchases and this beauty has been used for so long that I've actually almost finished it now, oops!

Origins have many ranges but Perfect World is one of their most popular.
We've previously used their moisturiser which were big fans of, particularly as its a great one for winter with its hydrating properties and also contains SPF 25 which as we all know is vital for anti-aging and skin protection.

Origins say:

This Origins perfect foaming face wash is formulated with nature's antioxidant White Tea. In a pre-emptive sweep, dirt-grabbing minerals combined with the gentle, skin-compatible cleansing action reach deep to help detoxify and free skin of harmful impurities. 

A Perfect World Antioxidant cleanser leaves the skin perfectly clean, smoothed and refreshed. 

Having used it for the past couple of months I can say that this smells beautiful, just like the moisturiser which I really enjoyed using. It is a calming smell and in the morning although I do like citrus and minty smells to wake me up this has been a lovely change.

This doesn't seem to foam quite as much as Checks and Balances, which I cannot help but compare it to as it was the first cleanser I used from Origins and therefore my first love.

This doesn't seem to be a problem however as my face did feel just as cleansed as with the other, but I did find myself using more of it to get the lather that I was used to.

I loved the way my skin didn't have any adverse reactions to this product whatsoever which is probably down the the palm, coconut and oat amino acid as they're 'skin compatible'.

I can't say that this has been anti-aging on me because I'm 25 and am yet to see measurable effects of a cleanser on my skin but I think the whole range combined will definitely help face the world and defy wrinkles for a while longer as it's very hydrating and fights the dreaded free radicals.

Packaging wise the only problem is remember to keep it upright so product will come out!

I've really enjoyed using this cleanser and think in future it would be great for when my skin gets more dehydrated, but currently I need Checks and Balances to combat my temperamental face with its dry and oily patches, which I picked up last week!

Which is your favourite cleanser? Do you have a favourite Origins product?

L xxx

2014 Resolutions

Good morning!

I'm sure you've all been thinking about it over the last few weeks, but it is time for some new resolutions now its the new year.

I've been having a think of some real and achievable resolutions that can actually be completed...which is sometimes a little difficult! It's too easy to eat crap, spend all my money and stay away from exercise, but hopefully this year will be different.

1) My biggest aim this year is to try and be happier. I've been working so hard the last few years trying to complete my Masters etc that a lot of things have been pushed to the side, including things that make me happier.

Over the next year I have a lot of events planned including Glastonbury and a lot of hen weekends/weddings, meeting old friends and lots of day trips.

Although I like keeping busy I also like time to myself so I'm going to try and get back into reading as I planned to read so much and never seem to have time. I also plan on getting rid of the things and people that don't make me happy....there are a few that I'm sure I can live without and need to distance myself from. Fingers crossed this will help!


2) My other big aim for the year is to get really fit. I already go to the gym 2/3/4 times a week whenever I can and although I enjoy it, over the winter months it has been hard work with minimal motivation and lots of traffic jams to stop me.
So far this year I have already been most days to either the gym, classes, running outside around the park or swimming. I'm hoping this will help me lose the few pounds I've put on over the winter and a few more that I'd planned on losing previously.

I've also signed up to a 10k run (I've never run this far EVER) and also at the end of the summer.....Tough Mudder. If any of you don't know what this is here is the link to the website, but basically it's a 10-12 mile course with 20 obstacles designed by Special Forces...eeek!
I've got a program worked out to get me fit and ready for that time which I plan on writing in a separate post. However any tips would be greatly appreciated!



3) Debt. Whilst I am slowly making my way through the money that I owe my parents, it is taking longer than I would like. I'm trying my hardest but it seems money really doesn't go very far at all nowadays and with 2 weddings and multiple hen weekends plus Glastonbury to pay for in the upcoming months I need to get my act together. Plus I'd like to move out soon and this will never happen with my debt!

First things first is a spending ban; the usual blogger thing after Christmas really but this time its for real!
I was doing well for MONTHS before Christmas working my way through my stash and avoiding buying anything new but as soon as Christmas came around there was a sudden surge in my buying and i completely lost it and I can't even tell you when!
I can 100% say that I am fully stocked up on anything I could need. The only things I will allow myself to buy beauty wise is face wipes, dry shampoo and things like bobbles etc which are a necessity to every day life and tend to run out faster (don't shout at me for face wipes, I remove the layer of grease from my face before properly cleansing-that's all!).

Aside from that there a few items of clothing that I will be needing and these include jeans (I have only 1 pair) leggings (same again), vest tops, and some additional gym wear as I cannot wash them fast enough!

These can wait for a little while but I plan on keeping this ban going until my birthday at the end of March so if i need them before then i will have to buy them.....but no more products!

4) A simple one - I plan on trying to say 'yes' instead of 'no'. It's time for some more fun, so let's say yes to more things right?

 

These are going to have to become my mottos!

What are your resolutions for 2014? Do you have anything different to mine?

I think they're pretty standard but fingers crossed I can complete them some what!

L xxx

UPDATE 101 things list

Today I've been updating my 101 things in 1001 days task. It ends in October so I thought I'd share how I was getting on. These past few months have been happy, positive ones for me and I'm really feeling motivated lately.

1. Learn to drive

2. Read 5 classic novels

3. Get the dream job (either go back to uni or find another) Starting back at University in Sept which should lead to the dream job!!

4. Sell a cake to someone  ( 3 cakes sold last week, huge smile)

5. Visit Paris

6. Try 10 new foods (1. Sushi 2.wasabi peas 3. hollandaise sauce, 4. seabass, 5. black pudding 6. kippers, 7. Taramasalata 8. )

7. Go on a girls holiday

8. Ring to my grandparents more often (ringing them fortnightly, it's hard as neither of them can hear me, now ring on fridays to have a quick chat)

9. Give Star Wars a chance and watch all the films 

10. Start a hobby or exercise class (Half there on this one, I know regularly run)

11. Volunteer in a homeless shelter

12. Get out of my overdraft

13. Get extensions (my hair never grows past shoulder length :( boo) (they are now fitted and I love them, post found here)

14. Watch 100 new films (1. The Vow, 2. 500 days of summer 3. Avengers 4. The Midnight Meat Train 5. Hard Candy 6. The Lazarous Project 7. Spy Hard 8.Horrible bosses 9. XMen origins 10. Usual Suspects 11. Passengers 12. Basketball 13.The mothman prophecies 14.Nightwatch 15. Flightplan 16.The Mist, 17. Peacock 18. Borat 19. American Pie Reunion 20. 2 days in New York 21. Magic Mike 22. Spiderman 23. Batman 24. Ted 25. Friends With Benefits 26. Twilight 27. Casino Royale 28. Quantum of Solace 29. Skyfall 30. Silver Linings Playbook. 31.LOTR 1 32. LOTR 2 33 LOTR 3 (really wasn't interested in them so don't know the names but I sat through them. 34. Star Wars iv 35. Star Wars v 36. Star Wars vi 37. Avengers Assemble 38. Django Unchained, 39. Wreck it Ralph, 40. Antiviral, 41. The Campaign, 42.Taken 2, 43. Les Mis, 44. Anchorman 2 45. Hunger Games Catching FIre 46. Star Wars 1 47. Star Wars 2 48. Star wars 3 49. The Impossible 50. White house down 51. Wreck it Ralph 52. . 

15. Get down to 10 stone (Eating healthy and exercising now. Got below it for holiday but haven't maintained)

16. Visit 5 new cities in the UK (1. Stratford upon Avon, 2. Brighton

17. Have a BBQ on the beach like old times

18. Have organised storage for my make up and nail varnish (make up now sorted out and stored better but still not how I want it. Post on it here.)

19. Continue blogging

20. Get a new piercing (I got a surface piercing by my tragus)

21. Go to go ape (tree top adventure)

22. Be a tourist in my own town (go on the red bus) (I have now been to the museum)

23. Purchase a food processor (seems a random one but I love cooking and baking)

24. Win a competition (I'm yet to win a competition) (won a necklace from Adorning Ava a competion hosted on http://www.theagoraphobicfashionista.com/, whooo)

25. Purchase a Mulberry (I got myself Mulberry shoes so I'm counting this)

26. Visit the science museum (L and I went in February)

27. Buy a high end foundation (after being thoroughly disappointed by Chanel Perfection Lumiere I purchased Mac Pro long wear and I love it, full review here)

28. Purchase my first item of Mac (eeeek, I love it all already, here is my haul)

29. Own over 100 nail varnishes (With the addition of my Ciate Mini Mani Month I've reached this)

30. Do my third half marathon

31. Actually train for it (the other two I've done with out training and that ended in pain)

32. Go to a Roller Disco / Derby

33. Learn a language

34. Get first aid qualified

35. Donate platelets 10 times (providing I test ok to do it, if not give blood every 3 months) (blood test done waiting on results, unsure if I will be able to do this as my veins may not be strong enough, first donation 27.4.12, this donation didn't go to plan, my vein couldn't take the speed of the blood returning to my body, as I can't complete this one I will be donating whole blood over this period instead. Whole blood can only be donated every 16 weeks so I won't have time to make 10 donations. donated 9.8.12. Donation 21.12.12 Donated 6.7.13.)

36. Host a Dinner Party

37. Go to 3 weddings (this I can't control but I love weddings) As of June this will be done and I have one in september so technically that's four

38. Be in the audience for a tv show

39. Watch the sunrise on a beach

40. Visit a food festival

41. Go to newt beer fest

42. Go to V fest

43. Go to Glastonbury (whoooo this is actually happening!)

44. Actually meet up with a friend I've not seen for 4 years (whooo saw her on 18.5.12, will be doing this more)

45. Reach 100 blog followers (whooo we have recently done this withint the past week 5.9.12 so happy to have reached this)

46. Ride a mechanical bull

47. Inspire someone else to do this list

48. Stop biting my nails and get them strong and healthy (By using nail envy for almost a month and painting them less they are definitely better, haven't bit them in ages either. Started biting them again this week (10.8.12) so annoyed at myself)

49. Sell 50 things on ebay (15.2.12 15 items sold, 29.2.12 5 items sold 19.4.12 10 items sold, 1.8.12 sold 8 items, 3.7.13 3 items sold)

50. Go to a gig

51. Make a three course meal for my family 

52. Say yes to 20 things you'd normally say no to (I am really trying to do this and have lately definitely been putting myself out there and going to occasions where I only know one person which usually is the birthday person)

53. Learn the flute

54. Grow a plant from a seed

55. Knit a scarf (yay I completed this and I'm pretty inpressed)

56. Go to a comedy show (went in bristol on 30th June 2012, was really funny)

57. Do 10 outdoor things/ country walks

58. Kiss at the top of the London eye

59. Spend new years eve in a place I've not spent it before and a different place each year (this one is now sadly not able to be completed! Personally I hate New Years Eve and set this to make me enjoy it more which hasn't happened and this year L and I decided to have an quiet night in after spending way too much the weekend before)

60. Attend a midnight première (L and I went to see Twilight)

61. Take a pole dancing class

62. Start saving for a house deposit  (this could be happening. I have the option to buy a house but since breaking up with the Ex and moving into a houseshare I'm now happy living with people so I'm unsure what to do.)

63. Take a sleeper train

64. Go to a national park

65. Watch wiked

66. Watch a live rugby match

67. Identify 10 constellations

68. Buy a homeless man a meal

69. Drink 10 cocktails I've never tried (1. French Martini 2. Vodka Moonshine 3, Flirtini 4. 10 Feet Tall Grog 5.Summer Fruit Soother, 6.Del Boy, 7.Missippi Mudslide 8. ) 

70. Make a bar area in my house /  flat

71. Take a road trip

72. Bake 10 new things (lemon roulade, profiteroles, pannacotta)

73. Sort out my music collection and regularly add to it. (I'm now using spotify and making playlists all the time.)

74. Watch a ballet

75. Go to a burlesque show

76. Get a fish pedicure

77. Create a tumbler and do project 365 (take a photo everyday for a year) (again I've now missed the opportunity to complete this. Maybe I'll start soon and just aim for 6 months)

78. Go skiing (can be a dry ski slope)

79. Read 50 new books (1. mini shopaholic by sophie kinsella 2. book of the dead by patricia cornwell 3. James Patterson Private London, 4. 50 shades of grey, 5. 50 shades darker, 6. 50 shades freed, 7. the hunger games, 8 catching fire, 9 the mocking jay 10. James Patteron 11th Anniversary 11.We bought a zoo Benjamin Mee, 12. Blue Monday Nicci French, 13. James Patterson Kill Alex Cross, 14. The People Next Door Christopher Ransom, 15.Jamer Patterson Merry Christmas Alex Cross, 16. Salmon fishing in the Yemen Paul Torday, 17. Chris Carter The night Stalker, 18. Chris Carter The Executioner, 19. Silver Linings Playbook David O Russell, 20. The lucky one Nicholas Sparks,21. A Walk to Remember Nicholas Sparks, 22. The Help Kathryn Stockett, 23.again not updating this regularly means I've missed out on lots of books. At least 6 more books were read on the exs kindle. )

80. Get engaged (hopefully this will happen as by then I'll be 25 and I would like to be engaged by then ) This is another one now off the list after me and the Ex broke up as it definitely won't be happening in the next 10 months but I'm also happy it won't be. A friend said something to me on her wedding day that really hit home about how much I had settled for something that wasn't right for me. It was hard to hear but she was 100% right. Now I'm doing what makes me happy!

81. Give up alcohol for a month

82. Send 20 handwritten letters to loved ones

83. Make my own skirt

84. Send a shoe box to Africa at Christmas

85. Go without chocolate for a month

86. Take an evening class / short course

87. Have a friend choose a complete outfit and you have to buy it

88. Bake 5 celebration cakes ( 5 baked, brothers vw van, mums flower cake and cupcakes and boyfriends hockey jersey, 30th birthday cake and baby shower cake)

89. Send anonymous flowers to someone having a bad day/week

90. Sleep on a beach

91. Make my own wine

92. Go to the driving range

93. Learn basic household DIY (plumbing etc)

94. Dress up for Halloween and have a party (L and I did dress up and go out but no party!)

95. Go go-karting or zorbing

96. Go on a camping trip

97. Do 5 random acts of kindness (bought a homeless man some food, will be doing more often seeing how grateful he was)

98. See the Northern Lights

99. Learn to surf

100. Volunteer abroad

101. Be happy with what I have at the end of this

I hope to achieve all of these if possible, I'll keep this updated

M xxx