Get Unready With Me

Getting ready for the day is something I find highly enjoyable as I get to play around with my make up, try new products and put together outfits that I'm happy with. But in all honesty, I enjoy that bit at the end of the day when I get to take it all off and get cozy in my pjs. So today I'm sharing with you the products I used to help me get unready from the day and ready for the night.

The first thing to come off is my make up. As much as I love putting my make up on I love taking it off even more. And I'm a big believer in double cleansing so I always choose two different cleansers so that my skin gets used to just one. The cleanser I find myself reaching for a lot for my inital cleanse is the Clinique Take The Day Off Balm. It's balm to oil formula is perfect for breaking down my make up, including mascara without weighing it down. It doesn't sting my eyes and removes even the most stubborn of mascara formulas.

Then it's on to my second cleanse and for this I usually go for something soothing or hydrating so my skin doesn't feel dry or tight after cleansing. The one I've chosen this time is the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Cleanser. Containing nothing more than Hyaluronic Acid this lightweight gel cleanser cleanses away any lingering make up and daily grime whilst simultaneously giving skin a boost of hydration, something I find my skin needs after a day of wearing make up. Both of these I remove with a damp flannel or muslin cloth, it depends what isn't in the wash.

Now my make up is off and my skin feels a lot fresher, it's time to move onto the rest of my skincare. I'm feeling like doing a mask but before I go in with that I think I'm going to tone and refresh my skin to make sure the mask works better. So for my toner I'm going in with the infamous Pixi Glow Tonic. This is one of my favourite toners with it's 5% Glycolic Acid formula. It not only provides my skin with a gentle exfoliation but revitalises and refreshes whilst the Aloe Vera soothes and alleviates any dry or tight feeling I may have after cleansing.

Now this next step may seem a little excessive considering I'm putting a mask over top but I feel this is good at locking everything in place and really nourishing my skin. Before I apply my mask I go in and spritz my face generously with the Botanics Rosewater Toning Spray. It's really refreshing, nourishing and revitalising which gives my skin that much needed boost. Plus it smells absolutely divine.

Then it's finally onto my mask and as I'm feeling a little lazy I'm going for a sheet mask over your more traditional wash off mask. And there is only one brand I reach for when it comes to sheet masks, Garnier. Their Moisture Bomb Tissue Masks are amazing. They fit the face perfectly, don't flap about or peel off and genuinely feel like their working on the skin. The one I've chosen this time is their Glow-Revealing Mask. It contains Sakura Extract alongside Hyaluronic Acid to moisturise skin whilst revealing skin's natural healthy looking glow. They say to leave this on for fifteen minutes but I like to leave it on for longer so my skin really benefits from the serum that the mask is soaked in.

And whilst that's working it's magic I get myself into my pjs ready for the evening. And for that I can't resist pulling on this adorable set from Primark. Consisting of a crop top/bralette and shorts with an adorable Minnie Mouse print, this two piece is ultra soft to the touch and ultra comfortable. And my favourite part is that the crop top makes my boobs feel secure and supported even though it doesn't have any underwiring or built in support. And as a bigger busted lady it means I'm very happy as I can wear just this and not feel like my boobs are around my knees.

Then over top of that I throw on a ridiculously oversized sweatshirt. This is another gem from Primark and looks like just an ordinary sweatshirt but when you actually put it on, it is practically a dress. I love it! It covers my shorts and makes it look like I'm wearing more of a jumper dress than a sweatshirt. Plus it's uber soft inside and out and has this cute little embroidery design on the right corner.

 Then once I'm changed and my mask is removed, I move onto my hair. Out come the hundreds of bobby pins that hold it all in place and in goes a generous amount of the Rosie For Autograph Divine Miracle Oil. This multi purpose oil is lightweight enough to run through the lengths and ends of hair but can also be used in the bath and on the skin. With hints of orange blossom this delicious smelling oil is really nourishing in my hair and leaves my occasionally dry ends feeling silky soft and smelling gorgeous. Then I pile it up into a pineapple on the top of my head and secure in place with an invisbobble.

And the last bits I do to make myself feel pampered and relaxed for the evening is make sure my lips are smothered in lip balm and my hands are moisturised. Carmex is my go to for lip balm, I know a lot of people say it's not good for you but it's the only thing that actually leaves my lips feeling moisturised. And then to make sure my hands stay moisturised I go in with the Neal's Yard Bee Lovely Hand Cream. Containing Honey and Satsuma Extract, this not only smells delicious but also is super nourishing on my hands and can take away even the worst dryness that I have. It never leaves my hands feeling greasy and sinks into skin quickly so you don't have to worry about getting a greasy residue over everything.

Now I'm make up free, with pineapple hair and no bra it's time to make myself a hot drink (a Salted Caramel Mocha) and snuggle down with this little bed hog who always wants to sleep right next to me even though there's a whole double bed available to him. 

Top Ten Under £10: Skincare

When it comes to skincare sometimes spending a bit more is worth it but sometimes it isn't. The high street has some brilliant products out there and today I've compiled my Top Ten skincare products that cost a tenner or less.

Garnier Moisture Bomb Tissue Masks £2.99
Let's start with easily one of my favourite products. The Garnier Moisture Bomb Tissue Mask range is probably one of the best budget sheet mask ranges on the high street, What started at one with their original Pomegranate and Hyaluronic Acid formula has now been expanded to include Chamomile for sensitive skins and Green Tea for more combination/oily skin types. They fit perfectly against the face and don't peel or drop off when you move and the results are instantaneous. One mask alone can not only soothe skin but give skin a week's worth of hydration, leaving skin looking plump, hydrated and soft to the touch.

 B Hyaluronc Acid Facial Spritz £7.99
Another of my absolute favourite products is this facial spritz from B. It's a concentrated Hyaluronic Acid formula that tones skin whilst visibly plumping skin, retaining moisture and slowly releasing it so skin looks and feel hydrated for longer. It can be used on bare skin or over top of make up and is suitable for all skin types.And it's small and easy to use packaging is perfect for taking it on the go with you.

 Loreal Pure Clay Face Masks £7.99
When it comes to face masks there is only one range that I'd recommend spending your money on. And that's on the Loreal Pure Clay Face Masks. Released last year, this range has three masks in total each designed to target a skin issue. The Detox Mask contains charcoal and is perfect for those more blemish prone skins as it works deep into skin and draws them to the surface. The Glow Mask contains Red Algae as well as exfoliating particles which makes it perfect for dry or dull skin types, it's scrub like nature not only removing any dead skin cells but brightening the complexion as well. And then there is the Purity Mask which contains Eucalyptus, the perfect counterpart for those with combination/oily skin types. It not only purifies the skin but also mattifies skin and helps reduce the appearance of any excess oil on the skin. Each one comes in a generous sized tub and can be used separately or together as part of the new multi masking trend.

Loreal Hydra Genius Liquid Moisturiser £9.99
A more recent release that definitely deserves a place on this list comes yet again from Loreal. Their new Hydra Genius range is beyond brilliant and whilst it only has one product at the moment, it's a unique product that deserves every rave review it gets. The Hydra Genius Liquid Moisturiser is the first of it's kind and contains nothing more than Aloe Water and Hyaluronic Acid. It not only feels like water on the skin and gives it a instant hydration boost but retains any other moisture that is applied over top and slowly releases it for up to 72 hours so skin is always hydrated. It can be used alone or underneath other skincare products and make up can be applied over top without any issues.

Simple Dual Effect Eye Make Up Remover £4.49
An eye make up remover that beats all other eye make up removers on the high street comes from Simple. Their Dual Effect Eye Make Up Remover is one part oil based and one part water based. Shaken together this formula removes all signs of eye make up, including waterproof mascara without unnecessary rubbing or stinging. A little bit goes a long way and whilst it's seems a little pricey for eye make up remover, it works wonders and is usually found on some kind of half price or buy one get one free offer.

 Garnier Moisture Bomb Glow Enhancer Water Cream £7.99
One of Garnier's newer releases that definitely deserves a place on this list is an expansion on their original Moisture Bomb range. The Moisture Bomb Glow Enhancer Water Cream is a more lightweight version of their original day cream with the added bonus of bringing out skin's natural radiance. It's water formula is lightweight enough to be layered over top of heavier skin products but isn't too lightweight that it feels like it's doing nothing. It's perfect for wearing underneath make up as it gives skin a natural glow but doesn't make skin look overly shiny or sweaty.

 Carmex Original Lip Balm Pot £2.69
The only lip balm that is worth mentioning is Carmex's Original Balm Pot. It's unique formula not only hydrates lips but soothes sore chapped lips. It comes in a stick form as well as squeezy tube but I personally much prefer the original pot. It's a thick balm that you can feel on the lips but it doesn't make everything sticky and gross like lip gloss can. It's perfect for prepping lips before a liquid lipstick and is brilliant for soothing them after you remove one. This is a limited edition pot with Snoopy on the front but that standard pot looks very similar to this one.

Neal's Yard Bee Lovely Hand Cream £10
A hand cream that seems a little pricey but works wonders comes from Neal's Yard. A special edition cream, this contains Honey and Orange Essential Oil to smooth and soften dry rough hands. It's zingy scent is very uplifting but isn't overpowering or off putting. As someone with a very hands on job, this is a life saver and skin will automatically feel softer and less rough to the touch. Plus some of the proceeds go towards Save The Bees so you'll be doing a good deed as well as treating yourself.

 Garnier SkinActive Botanicals Face Washes £3.99
Garnier recently rereleased their SkinActive range and it's phenomenal. Gone are the minimal selection of washes and in it's place are three new gel washes that don't strip skin or leave it feeling dry or irritated. Coming in variations with Aloe Vera, Green Tea and Honey, each wash is designed for a specific skin type and is perfect as a second cleanse or a morning cleanse. Because it's a gel, it's very lightweight and doesn't foam much when water is added. Each was can be used a the beginning step of each Botanicals Range or can be added into your normal skincare routine.

Garnier Miracle Sleeping Cream £8.65
And this last product is a bit of a cheat because it does normally retail at £12.99 but can always be found on offer at £8.65. The Miracle Sleeping Cream from Garnier, is a thick bounce back that contains Lavender Oil and Hyaluronic Acid to not only soothe skin but continuously hydrate it as you sleep, so it looks like you've had the best night's sleep ever. A little goes a long way and whilst it feels thick on the skin, it doesn't take long to sink into the skin and get to work. Perfect for use on the night before any big events or days when you want your skin to look even better than usual.

Marks And Spencer Beauty Advent Calender Day One

Happy December!!! It's nearly Christmas!!! And if you were around this time last year, you'll know that I did a daily Beauty Advent Calender unboxing. It went down a storm so I thought that I'd do the same this year. Again I have the Marks and Spencer Beauty Advent Calender which this year contains twenty five days, each containing either a full sized product or a deluxe sample size.

Shall we start with what's in box Number One??

And it's a good start as well. In today's box I received a full sized tube of the Neal's Yard Bee Lovely Hand Cream. This was limited edition when it was first released but because of it's popularity and consumer demand it's now back and permanently. Containing organic honey and orange essential oil, this works to not only moisturise the hands but also helps energise the hands and the scent helps lift spirits.

First Impressions: As soon as I opened the box, I instantly had to smell this and boy does it smell good. It smells exactly like orange, nothing fake or plastic about it. It's a thick cream and a little goes a long way. It sinks easily into the skin and hands automatically feel moisturised, nourished and revitalised. As someone who's always using her hands at work I think this is going to quickly become a firm favourite.

Check back everyday at 7:30pm to see what I got in the day's box.

Marks And Spencers Beauty Advent Calender Day Ten

Welcome back to Day Ten in my 24 Days of Beauty Series where I show you what I get in my Marks and Spencers Advent Calender. 

In today's box I received a Neal's Yard Frankincense Nourishing Cream. When I first opened this I was intrigued as it didn't state that if it was a facial cream or a body cream. However a quick google told me that it was a face cream. It's advertised as a nourishing cream that hydrates and moisturises skin for up to 24 hours. As well as keeping skin hydrated it also claims to be able to help diminish the appearence of fine lines and wrinkles. 

I think I may like this cream as it's very hydrating on the skin but the smell is slightly off putting. It's got a spicy scent to it which makes me wonder if it could cause problems for my skin as it can be sensitive to scented products. However I am going to give it a go and if I like it there will be a full review on here at some point. 

I'll see you all tomorrow for Day Eleven.