Review: Hawaiian Tropic SPF30 Facial Sunscreen

I've always known the importance of wearing sunscreen but until recently I've never taking it seriously. That's until my colleague at work recommended me the Hawaiian Tropic SPF30 Facial Sunscreen. And to say I was grateful was an understatement.

Originally I was going to buy the Soap and Glory Facial SPF or even The Body Shop Vitamin E Facial SPF but both were nearing £20 and I didn't really want to spend that much. So I tried the Superdrug SPF30 Facial SPF and it did not work for me. It was greasy, clogged my skin and broke me out. So I quickly passed that on and mentioned it to a colleague and she recommended me this Hawaiian Tropic one.

This is a thin moisturiser feeling cream that is very lighweight and easy to work into the skin. It doesn't leave a white cast on the skin once you've rubbed it in and once it's settled into the skin it doesn't feel greasy or pore clogging. It is oil free and non greasy so it's perfect for people who have oily, combination and even sensitive skin.

I really like how this feels on my skin and how it works well under my make up as well as on it's own. I use this as a moisturiser, after my serum and it leaves my skin feeling soft, protected and it even looks slightly corrected. And by that I mean my redness looks diminished and not so obvious. I always allow it to sink in before I apply my make up and I have no problems when I start my routine.

I always believed that SPF's were drying on the skin but this one isn't and I can touch my face a good five or six hours after I've applied it and my skin still feels soft and moisturised without feeling clogged or greasy. I always make a point of double cleansing my face if I'm wearing make up or making sure I give my skin a good clean if not to make sure I get this all off because even though it doesn't clog pores I don't want to risk it when it comes to sleeping and overnight. But so far I haven't had any issues with this and I don't see any arising with future use.

If you're looking for a Facial SPF then I highly recommend giving this one a go. It's lightweight, easily absorbed and doesn't break the bank. At £5.99 a bottle this won't break the bank if you're looking for something for this years' holiday or even just to protect your skin at home and it will last a long time as a little goes a long way. Sure the more expensive ones are just as good but if you're working to a budget then give this a look.

Have any of you tried this? Or have you got another budget recommendation? Let me know in the comments.

Top 5 Beauty Products of 2016 So Far

So far this year there have been tons of beauty releases and whilst I've loved a good majority of them there are five that I've loved more than the rest of them. So today I thought I'd share with you my Top 5 Beauty Products of this year so far.

The first beauty launch I've been loving this year is one I'd actually been waiting for what seems like an age. It's the Rosie For Autograph make up line. It released back in January and I haven't fallen in love with a beauty range as much as I have this one. Everything comes packaged in stunning rose gold packaging and the products themselves are of the highest quality. There are a range of products ranging from radiance bases to contour sticks to luxurious eyeshadow palettes and more. I have quite a few pieces from the range but my favourites are the Miracle Concealer and the lipsticks. I have the shades Lady Rose and Silk Rose from the lipstick range and these are the most opaque finish lipsticks I've ever tried. One sweep and you have full on colour which dry down to a semi matte finish and don't dry lips out. The concealer is a creamy concealer that works well under the eyes and on blemishes. It's creamy, blends out easily and doesn't crease under the eye.

Next is a another release I've been waiting for since forever. It's the Loreal Nude Magique Cushion Foundation. This is one of the first of it's kind on the high street and it's blown the competition away. If you haven't heard of this it's a liquid foundation condensed into a cushion that gives a light to buildable medium coverage. It comes with a sponge which they advise to apply it but you can use any brush or sponge you like. I've been wearing this everyday and love the coverage it gives. It covers my redness easily and blends nicely with any concealer I add afterwards. It has a dewy finish that makes skin look healthier and more awake but obviously if you have oily skin it would be something I'd advise staying away from. I did a full review that you can find here.

 Now this isn't new out this year but it is new to me. It's the Pixi Glow Tonic, a cult favourite in the skincare world. And I can totally understand why. Containing a mix of Glycolic Acid, Ginseng and Aloe Vera this works to exfoliate and soothe the skin whilst simultaneously toning the skin. This may not be perfect for people with extremely sensitive skin but if you're skin can handle AHA and BHA Acid Treatments then you should definitely give it a go. It's completely changed my skin for the better and any sign of texture I had has gone.

While we're on the subject of Glycolic Acid let's talk about these treatment pads from Nip and Fab. Containing 5% Gylcolic Acid and Salicylic Acid these work to rejuvenate, exfoliate and cleanse the skin. I love how they make my skin tingle after I use them but I take that as a sign they're working and the next morning I can see and feel the results on my skin. These combined with the Pixi Glow Tonic have really helped to diminish the texture I had along my jawline as well as helping reduce the size of pores in a couple of my problem areas. I definitely recommend giving these a go but if the Glycolic Acid is too strong in these there are a lighter version of these available.

And finally we have the Garnier Ultimate Blends The Sleek Restorer Balm Treatment. It's not often that I get excited by hair products or even talk about them on here but these has truly impressed me. It's a hair treatment that you leave in for five minutes and then wash out. It contains Coconut Oil and Cocoa Butter which helps to nourish the hair and tame flyaways which will give any hairstyle you create a sleek finish. I have very thick hair that gets ridiculosuly frizzy and fly away when I wash it but since I've been using this mask my hair always dry sleek and frizz free. It smells divine, works well with a majority of hair lengths and doesn't leave any build up in the hair after you've used it. I'd recommend giving this at least a smell if you ever see it in your local Boots.

So that's it for my Top 5 Beauty Products of 2016 So Far. What have been yours so far this year? Do you have any recommendations for me to try? Let me know in the comments.

June Favourites

It's that time of the month. No not that time. It's Monthly Favourites time. And this month has been a month of new discoveries and a rediscovery I didn't expect.

Let's start with this month's rediscovery. This is Soap and Glory's Sugar Crush Body Lotion and I didn't expect to fall in love with this again but things sometimes just happen. For some reason this month my legs have been quite dry and I needed something to sort it out. I grabbed what I though was my Garnier Ultimate Blends moisturiser for dry skin but instead found myself with this. And suprisingly it worked brilliantly on my legs. I've been using this every night on my legs before I go to bed and as the month's gone on I've seen my legs get better and better. My skintone looks more even, a couple of small scars I have, have faded and my legs feel ultra smooth and soft to the touch. Plus this smells like heaven aswell. It does come in a body butter as well if you're not too keen on this pump lotions.

My first new discovery of the month is the B Hyaluronic Acid Facial Spritz. I'm a big fan of facial sprays and Hyaluronic Acid so when I saw the two combined I knew I had to try this. With it's main ingredient being Hyaluronic Acid this is a moisture boosting spray that can be worn on it's own, underneath skincare or over the top of make up to refresh skin and give it a boost. I love putting this on after my essence lotion as I know it's going to sink into my skin a lot better. After every use my skin feels softer, texture free and refreshed. It's perfect for days when the weather hasn't decided what it wants to do and is playing havoc on your skin or even on those blistering hot days that we just haven't managed to have yet. It's cooling on the skin, moisturising and easy to get a hold of. A full review is coming soon.

Another new skincare discovery this month is an eye cream that has given my eyes a whole new look. This Olay Regenerist Eye Lifting Serum is a silicone based eye cream that works to smooth, lift and depuff the eyes. Plus it claims to help prevent the signs of ageing. I absolutely love this cream, it works wonders on my sometimes horrid, puffy panda eyes. After a week of use I saw a big difference in my eyes and it continues to get better with every day. You can find this in most Boots and Superdrug's but with a heftier than normal price tag this may be one you want to wait for an offer to pick up. A full review will be coming soon.

My last new skincare discovery this month is a cult beauty product that I'd never thought of trying before. That's until the lovely assitant at the Liz Earle took me through a few products. This is the Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser from Liz Earle. This has so many skin loving ingredients that actually do work to help soothe and cleanse skin. I have redness on my cheeks and nothing has really helped soothe it but since I've been using this cleanser my redness looks diminished and my skin looks fantastic after every use. I only have a sample size of this but am more than willing to purchase a full size when this runs out.

The only make up item that I've really been impressed by this month is the Rosie For Autograph Miracle Concealer. This is a stick form concealer that has managed to replace my beloved Maybelline The Eraser Eye because it's so creamy and gives such a brilliant coverage. I have the shade 01 and even though it looks a bit dark on the skin when you first apply it it blends out like a dream and covers dark circles and puffiness that doesn't crease all day long. As you can see the applicator can get very messy but it's easy to wipe and way and for a slightly higher price you get a lot of product as well. A full review of this and the Rosie For Autograph range will be coming soon.

So that's it for my Monthly Favourites. What have been your monthly favourites? Let me know in the comments.

Review: Soap And Glory Sugar Crush Shower Jelly

I'd like to say that it was a brilliant advertisement that reeled me in with this new Soap and Glory release but it wasn't. I'm just addicted to their Sugar Crush scent and have to have anything in said scent. So when I saw that their new Shower Jelly came in it I picked one up.

The premise of this product is that it's a shower gel in jelly form which means you don't necessarily need a loofah or sponge. It claims all you need to do is wet your skin, squeeze a bit onto your hand and then rub it into your skin. The jelly will turn into a foamy lather as you massage it on your skin and then you just rinse it off like you would any other shower gel. My favourite thing about this product apart from the smell is the fact that this actually comes out like a jelly. It's not a thin runny consistency that runs down your arm, it's a thick jelly substance that you have to really work at to turn it into a lather.

I can't say for sure if it works better or does anything extra special over any other shower gel but it does leave skin feeling clean and smelling great. It definitely isn't a product for everyone and if you're a big fan of using sponges in the bath or shower to get a really good lather then definitely don't look at this product. I've used it with my hands and with a sponge to see if it does create a really bubbly almost foamy lather and it doesn't. Stick to Soap and Glory's regular shower gels or body washes for that.

At £5.50 for a 250ml tube it's not as expensive as some of their other shower gels but it is a product that has a sort of required taste. If you're not bothered by body washes that are overly bubbly and foamy on the skin then this is for you. It still cleans well but without being over the top. And if you don't like the Sugar Crush scent then it also comes in their original Clean On Me scent as well. But if you do like your showers to be over the top foamy and somewhat a bit more luxurious then this is not for you.

Have any of you tried this? What did you think? Let me know in the comments.

Summer Lip Edit

So the weather's brightening up which for me is an indicator that Summer is coming and that means I can pull out all my brighter, summer appropriate lipsticks. I tend to go for colours I wouldn't always wear the rest of the year but there's something about Summer that makes them acceptable.

First up is a lipstick that I keep in my collection until June hits and then I wear it to death, much to the dismay of my lips. It's MAC's Ruby Woo the world's most drying lipstick. However it's a beautiful shade and I can't help but put my lips through it everytime I wear it. It's a tomato red shade that really works to brighten up any look. I love wearing this with flawless skin and lashings of mascara. It's such a standout colour, you don't need much more. I hightly recommend giving your lips a good exfoliate before you use this and make sure you use a lot of lip balm beforehand as well. You can pop a bit of lipbalm on whilst you're wearing this but pat it in instead of rubbing it and you won't lose as much colour.

Up next is another staple lip colour I save all year until Summer hits. It's Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in the shade Pink Pong. It's a blue toned pink shade that works brilliantly on people on fairer skin and makes teeth look whiter when you wear it. These are liquid lipsticks that dry down to a soft matte finish whilst giving a brilliant pop of colour. This is another lipstick that I love to wear with flawless skin and lashings of mascara as it's a colour that does all the talking. These can be slightly thin in consistency but you can layer this up if you're quick as they can get very sticky if you're not. If Pink Pong isn't your kind of shade there is another hot pink shade in the range called Ole-Flamingo. Another brilliant shade for the summer.

Whilst we're talking pink lipsticks let's move onto this beauty from Revlon. It's their Colourburst Matte Balm in the shade Showy, another blue toned pink that works brilliantly on fairer toned girls. This is another matte finish lip product which personally is my favourite finish for bold lips. This is drier in texture compared to the Bourjois shade but it's not going to ruin or dry out your lips like Ruby Woo would. It comes in a chubby stick form which makes it easy to apply and touch up. Not that it needs much touching up as these barely move once they're on.

Next is a new addition to my Summer Lip Wardrobe and is specially for days when I'm wearing extremeley minimal make up. This is the Rosie For Autograph Lip Glossy in Sun Kiss. It's a mauvy pink shade that can be worn very sheer on the lips or very full on. It has a glossy finish but dies down to a stain the more you wear it. I love wearing this when I'm wearing barely any make up to just add a bit of something to the look. There are a whole range of shades that would be perfect for summer in this range but this is the one that stands out to me the most.

And my final lipstick for this edit is a lipstick that I wear all year round and just can't get enough of. It's Stila's Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in the shade Beso. This is one of the best liquid lipsticks I've ever tried and this shade is just to die for. It's another tomato red shade that looks darker in the tube but gives a real pop on the lips. Another colour I let do all the talking, I wear this more than I do some of my other red lipsticks. As it's a liquid lipstick it is a very matte finish and can be drying on the lips but if you look after them beforehand you won't have any worries about that. If you haven't tried any of Stila's Liquid Lipsticks and are a looking for a new one then I definitely recommend giving these a go.

So that's it for my Summer Lip Edit. What are you favourite lip colours for summer? Do you have any recommendations for me? Let me know in the comments.

Review: Soap And Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Matte Lip Crayon

When Soap and Glory announced they were releasing matte versions of their Sexy Mother Pucker Lip Crayons, I was excited. I did intend to pick them one or two up as soon as they were released but due to poor stocking and other products being released I've only just gotten round to picking one up.

Let's start with the packaging. Each crayon is colour co-ordinated to the colour inside and comes in a sleek matte finish. I picked up the shade Ember Red. When you open it you'll see the nib of the crayong which isn't shaped like most crayon type lip products. It has a flat side that comes to a pointed tip which is aimed to help fit the shape of the lips and make the application easier. I have to say it does make application easier as you have you can use the tip to line the lips and the flat side to fill everything in. However when you roll it up to see how much product there is, you're probably going to be disappointed. I'd say it takes less than ten twists to reveal the full bullet and then you'll see that you don't get as much as product as you thought. For £3.50 it's obvious you're not going to get a lot of product but it could definitely be more than what you get.

The first time I applied this to my lips it was very sheer and didn't become opaque no matter how many times I swiped it across my lips. However the second time I used it I lined my lips beforehand with a liner and then applied it. This time it did go on more opaque than before but it did seem to move around when I went back over it. As it's a tomato red shade it was very obvious where it moved as there was a lighter patch in the middle of my lip. However patting a bit more colour over the top helped disguise that.

Intially it didn't feel ultra dry on the lip and my lips didn't feel parched or ridiculously dry but as time went on I could feel it drying my lips out and highlighting any particularly dry patches. Transfer wise it wasn't the best and a could bit of it transferred from lips to my coffee cup when I was drinking which meant any slightly streaky patches were obvious after one drink. A little bit of it did gather in the corner of my lips after I drunk but it was easy to wipe away without disrupting the rest of the colour.

I did reapply this just to see how well it reapplied over colour that had been worn for a few hours. It went on smoothly and didn't ball up on the lip but because it's a matte finish lip product it furthermore highlighted the dry patches the existing colour created/drew attention to. It's a nice lip product, not too thick, not too matte but it can be drying and I personally feel think that the product inside the packaging is a bit too small for the size of the packaging itself. If you want a lip product to just throw in your handbag for touch ups this is fine but if you're looking for a good matte lip crayon then I recommend checking out the Revlon Colourburst Matte Crayons.

Have any of you tried this? What did you think? Have you got any lip crayon recommendations for me? Let me know in the comments.

Review: Loreal Extraodinary Oil Facial Cleansing Oil

When it comes to facial cleansers I've been a big fan of the Soap and Glory Peaches and Clean Cleansng Milk. It does what I want it to do and doesn't cause any issues with my skin but I do like to see if their are other options open to me if my skin ever decided that it didn't like it anymore. And one that caught my eye was the Loreal Cleansing Oil.

This oil comes in a pump and two pumps is enough to do your entire face. It's very watery and thin feeling for an oil but changes into a milky consistency when you apply it to the skin. It works well to break down and remove any base products you have on and you can see that as you work the oil into the skin but it isn't something I'd use on my eyes even though it says it can be used on eyes, face and lips. It comes away easily as well with a wet flannel or muslin cloth and there won't be a trace of make up left on your face.

Too begin with I felt this left my skin a little bit greasy after I used it but I did trial it as a second cleanse to begin with. However as a first cleanse this doesn't leave skin feeling greasy as there is obviously no other product for it to grab onto after you've removed your make up. If you do want to do a double cleanse and put this in your routine then I suggest using this first and then going in with a milk or a balm cleanser as that will wash off any residue left on your face as well as any make up or general dirt.

It claims to work on all skin types but I'd be a bit wary if you have sensitive skin. So far it hasn't caused me any problems but if you have very sensitive skin then this may irritate your skin. I do enjoy using this oil but it still doesn't beat my Soap and Glory Cleanser or my Body Shop Camomile Cleansing Balm. If you know that you already like oil based products or facial oils in general then I definitely recommend trying this for yourself. If you have extremely sensitive skin or skin that disagrees with oils then I'd say give this a wide berth. There are other brilliant cleansers on the market that don't have any oil in them.

So that's it for my review. Have any of you tried this? Yes? Did you like it? Or do you have budget cleanser recommendations for me? Let me know in the comments.

Top 5 Non Beauty Favourites of 2016 So Far

So 2016 has been a pretty good year both Beauty and Non Beauty Favourites wise.And so I thought I'd share with you my Top 5 Non Beauty Favourites of the year so far today. I thought this would be good idea to have a mid year review to see if the next six months are just as good.

Captain America Civil War
This is the only film I've been excited to see this year. I'm a massive Marvel fan and try to see each new release in the cinema and this was no exception. If you haven't seen this, then Civil War is a continuation of both The Winter Solider and Age Of Ultron. In it you see Captain America (Chris Evans) butt heads with Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr) over whether The Avengers need to be monitored or not. Throw in Cap's old friend Bucky (Sebastian Stan) and everything literally goes to shit. They're once dsyfunctional but working family is torn apart as Cap works to keep Bucky alive whilst Iron Man would like nothing more to bring him to justice. It's packed full of action, brilliantly choreographed fight scenes and witty one liners. If you've been a fan of Marvel for a while then this next installment in the Captain America Series won't disappoint you.

Naked Smoothies
This year I've been on a mission to drink less fizzy and start drinking more water, juice, smoothies etc. And before this year I wouldn't go near a smoothie even if it was a flavour I'd love. That's until my best friend Jasmin introduced me to Naked Smoothies. And since then I've been a little in love with these smoothies. They come in four flavours and each works to help your body in a way. You have one containing cranberry and raspberry, one that has blueberry, one that has mango and one that has kiwi, spinach and celery. The mango flavour I've stayed away from as I can't stand mangoes but the other three I have drunk in abundence. Yes even the one with Spinach. Instead of being lumpy and bit like smoothies I've tried before these are smooth and delicious. I can happily drink one of these a day and not only do they curb my need for fizzy drinks, they hydrate me and suprisngly make me feel fuller which means I eat less. Another yay for me. If you haven't tried these then I highly recommend you do.

Primark Sunglasses
Now I know that this favourite may not be to everyone's taste but I have put it in. This year Primark have released some absolutely cracking sunglasses. Most years I just replenish my Ray Ban-esque sunnies from there but this year I haven't brought a single pair in that style. No I've been won over by these designer looking numbers which look a hell of a lot more expensive than they are actually are. I think I paid £2 a pair for these and I love how they just complete an outfit. They don't sit too low on the face that you have a massive gap between the top of them and your eyebrows, they don't slide down your nose because they're pretty much plastic and they certainly work as a good shield for your eyes in this now warming weather. I have more that I'd show but I don't want to ruin some style/fashion posts I have planned for July. Keep your eyes peeled though if you're looking for more, they could be appearing on here soon.

Chocolate Raisins
When it's come to snacks so far this year I've only got one that I'm constantly eating. Chocolate Raisins. Now I know a lot of you may be pulling a face at this but I think they're delicious. I don't care where they come from, I don't care how much I pay all I care about is how scrummy they are. One to two handfuls of these are enough to give me a little pick me up and get me through the day. I've gone through countless packets of these already and no doubt go through countless more before the year is out.

Taylor Swift 1989 
I know. I know. I'm a bit late to the bandwago with this one but hey at least I got there right? Back in March I watched Taylor Swift's 1989 World Tour and fell in love with the album. I already had a good number of tracks off 1989 but thought it was about time I completed the album. Some of my favourites include, New Romantics, I Know Places, Welcome To New York and Wonderland. There's just something about this album that always gets me in a good mood after I've listened to it and many a day I've used it to help me get through tasks that would normally drag by.

So that's it for my Non Beauty Favourites of 2016 so far. What have been your favourites of the year so far? Let me know in the comments below.

Review: Barry M Lip Liners

Recently I've been reviewing a few lip liners I brought on a lip liner splurge a few months ago. Today's post is the review of the last of those lip liners and they come from one of my favourite brands on the high street.

When I first started looking at Barry M lip liners I didn't think they'd be for me. They're a wooden pencil liner which have a tendency to drag and scratch at the lips. And I've always preferred mechanical liners until I tried these. Of course I picked up two red shades that they have and I have to say I'm really impressed with these liners. They both suit well with a variety of red and plum shades so if you don't want to buy a load of different red shade liners then these would be perfect for you.

The points on these liners do look like they could be quite scratchy and harsh on the lips but in fact they're very creamy and glide nicely along the lips when lining and filling in your lips. The texture of these on the lips is drying but lipstick adheres to them brilliantly and you don't have to worry about having that odd looking line that makes it obvious you've lined your lips. They can be worn on their own but you'd need to wear lip liner underneath and after a while lips will look dry and imperfections will start to show. However underneath a lipstick you'll have a perfect even coverage that will last longer than normal no what finish your lipstick is.

Overall I like these lip liners, they're not harsh or scratchy. They're highly pigmented and opaque in one swipe but there is just something missing in them that isn't missing in the Loreal or Maybelline liners I've reviewed recently. They're nice and have a wide colour selection but they're not one of my most used lip liners and I don't find myself reaching for them as often as I should.

Have any of you tried these? Did you like them? Or do you have a lip liner recommendation for me? Let me know in the comments.

Review: Olay Anti Wrinkle Hydration Serum

When it comes to skincare I've always been a big fan of Olay. It's easily accesible, does what it says on the tin and it's a product my mum swears by and her skin looks better than some people who are younger than her. So when I stumbled across this Hydration Serum, I knew I had to try it. Hydration, Anti-Wrinkle and a perfect  make up base? Sign me up.

I've thrown in a shot of the packaging so you can find it in the shops or online if you want. Before I properly looked at this, I didn't think Olay had an inexpensive yet effective serum. Containing Ocean Botanical Complex, Nicinamide and a whole other host of skin boosting ingredients this is a silky feeling serum that smoothes skin whilst it hydrates and keeps that moisture locked in all day long. With a slight silicone feel this works to smooth over the skin and create a barrier between your skin and any make up you put on top. It doesn't mean that your make won't sit nicely on the skin because it will, in fact it'll probably sit better than before but it creates a barrier so it can pentrate and hydrate the skin whilst you're wearing your make up.

Before I tried this I was using the Clearly Youthful Booster Serum and had been for a while but had noticed it didn't give my skin the same results as before. So when I brought this I gave it a go the same day and by gosh could I feel the difference. My skin felt instantly boosted, hydrated and smoothed. And when I applied make up after applying this there was no issue with my base balling up or going streaky, it went on smoother and easier than ever. As time has gone on my skin has felt smoother, softer and dare I say plumper. This is perfect in the mornings before apply my make up as it gives skin an instant hydration boost and a wake me up. I'm definitely going to be buying another bottle when this one runs out.

Have any of you tried this? If so what did you think? Or did you have a serum recommendation for me? Let me know in the comments.

Review: Barry M Lip Oil

Lip oils are are becoming a big thing in the beauty world but until recently have only been from higher end brands. And then Barry M released their own version of a lip oil and of course when I saw it I knew I had to get it.

They come in two scents/flavours, Coco Loco and Berry Good. Coco Loco contains both Coconut Oil and Camellia Oil whilst Berry Good contains a mixture of Raspberry and Pomegranate. Both of these are considered lip treatments but Berry Good has a pinkish red tint to it that give lips a hint of colour as you wear it. I personally chose Coco Loco over Berry Good as the scent was as overpowering for me.

They come with a standard looking doe foot applicator but when you apply these oils to the lips the applicator actually rolls along the lips which means that you won't apply too much of this and that lips will be evenly covered. It is a funny feeling when you first use this but after a while you'll get used to it. It doesn't have the consistency of a lip balm/treatment but it also doesn't have the consistency of a lip gloss so it won't be overly sticky on the lips and you won't have to worry about getting your hair stuck in it in the wind.

The results from these weren't right away but after a few wears you could see the difference. My lips looked smoother, felt softer and didn't chap as easily. However this was something I had to wear continuously as it didn't work as well on my lips if I'd worn lip balm for a day instead of this. If you can handle the feeling of wearing an oil every day then this is definitely a product for you but if like me you'd prefer to wear a lip balm occasionally then maybe steer clear of these and try a different lip balm/treatment.

Overall this is a nice product but it's not one I'd rush out and repurchase when it's finished. It works well and my lips did see a difference but sometimes I'd prefer to wear a lip balm and that affects how this works. If you're a big fan of oils in general then this product would be right up your street but if you haven't tried an oil before I'd approach this with caution.

Have any of you tried this? What did you think? Have you got any lip oil recommendations? Let me know in the comments.

My Top 5 Barry M Polishes For Summer

 

Every season I pick out my Top 5 Nail shades and give you the lowdown on them. And I called them my Seasonal Nail Edit. But with my polish collection consisting mostly of Barry M Nail Polishes I decided to change the name and show you my Top 5 Barry M Shades for each season. And of course with Summer rapidly approaching what a better time to show you 5 shades that you're going to see all over my nails this Summer.

Gelly Hi Shine in Elderberry
If you're more of  neutral nail girl then I think this polish would be right up your street. Elderberry is a grey toned blue shade gives neutral nails a quirk. Whilst it's not as stand out as brighter shades such as Guava this does make an impression as well. If you want to try a colour but are not interested in big standout shades then this is a good shade to choose and makes a change from brown or grey shades.

 Speedy Quick Dry in In A Flash
Looking for a coral shade but can't find a good one? Then try In A Flash from their Speedy Quick Dry Collection. With a hint of white that gives this shade an almost pastel look. And the orange to this is more of pinky orange than a satsuma orange. With a flat square brush this is one of the quicker nail polishes and does dry as quickly as they say. Two coats will give you an opaque finish and will really make the colour pop but not in that fluorescent way that some orange shades do.

 Gelly Hi Shine in Cotton 
Now if there is one colour I love to wear in the summer, it's white. Especially when I have a tan, white nails can just a look that extra oomph it needs. Cotton is a straight up white, no hint of cream or pink. One coat can be streaky but two coats is a bright opaque colour with a glossy finish which only intensifies when you add a top coat. It's not so pretty when it starts to chip but I definitely don't mind redoing my nails with this colour when they look so good afterwards.

 Coconut Infusion in Bikini 
Next is one of Barry M's newer releases and it has some pretty shades for summer in it. This is Bikini from the Coconut Infsuion Range and it's one of Barry M's more insteresting shades. It looks lilac in the bottle (try Prickly Pear if you want a lilac) but when it's on the nail it has this almost nudey pink tone to it that really stands out. With the same brush as the Speedy Quick Dry's these are easy to use and dry ridiculously fast for a non quick dry polish. Plus you get the added benefit of these containing Coconut Oil and Water to help hydrate and condition the nail as you wear them.

Gelly Hi Shine in Guava
The last shade is Guava and it's by far one of my favourite shades out of all of Barry M's polishes. A deep turquoise/aqua shade this is opaque in one coat and popping with two. It's a bright shade that definitely stands out on the nails and will catch people's eyes but because it has a darker hint to it, it won't be too over the top and give that nail that weird look that some extremely bright shades can do. It also has a high shine finish that when it catches the light just gives the nails that extra something that will gurantee you some compliments.

So that's it for my Top 5 Summer Polishes. What are your Top 5? Are any of them the same as mine? Or do you have a colour recommendation for me? Let me know in the comments.

Review: The Body Shop Camomile Cleansing Balm

So when it comes to cleansers I find myself trying different ones to see if they compare with my Soap and Glory Peaches and Clean Cleansing Milk. Nothing beats it but there are a couple that I like to use as an alternative or second cleanse. And The Body Shop's Camomile Cleansing Butter is one of those products.

First off I'm sorry for the disgusting state of my balm. I need to buy a new one and just haven't gotten round to it yet. But I feel this is a good idea of what the balm looks like and not that stiff hard to work with balm you're presented with when you first buy this. When you first open a fresh one of these not only is it extremely photogenic but it's a very solid hard to work with balm. But once you make that little dent in the surface it becomes a lot easier to use each day. The more you use this balm the more it'll look like my tub of this as it becomes softer and by this time it'll be that soft it will just melt away from the edges when you put your fingers in it. That said, I do like the tin it comes in, it's cute, it's easier to get into and use than others and it's very compact in size so it doesn't take up massive amounts of room in your collection.

When you first put this on your face it will just sit there but when you start to rub it into the skin the heat from your finger will melt it and it'll turn from a balm to something akin to an oil. That oil will break down any grime, dirt or make up on your skin and sometimes you'll even see it become the colour of your foundation as you work it into the skin. Water can be added to it to give it a bit more of a foam to it and is easily washed away with warm water and a flannel or muslin cloth. Afterwards you're skin will feel clean, soft and make up free. This is suitable for all skin types including sensitive skin and doesn't contain any nasties that will irritate the skin.

Personally I like this for a second cleanse. It's not that it doesn't work well to remove my make up but I find that my Soap and Glory Cleanser has a bit more oomph in it that works well to lift make up off the skin. This is good for removing any leftover make up and general dirt from the day. It leaves my skin feeling soft and I don't have to worry about it harming my skin when it's playing up like some cleansers have done before. I'm definitiely going to be repurchasing another pot of this but I'm also considering picking up a bottle of their Camomile Cleansing Oil as well. Let me know in the comments if you want me to review it or not.

Have any of you tried this? Did you like this? Or did you have another product that worked better? Let me know in the comments.