A few weeks a go I went on a weekend trip to the beautiful city of Paris (Check out my photos in my previous post here). No trip to Paris would be complete without splurging on some French pharmacy products. Before I set off I read various blogposts and asked twitter for recommendations of other good products to look out for. My wish list ended up being extremely long and ambitious.. and due to my tight budget and short amount of time in the city I wasn't able to pick up everything I had hoped to, but that surely is a good enough excuse to plan a return trip, right?

My Purchases:

La Roche-Posay Lipikar Xerand for Hands - 

This was actually a stood-by-the-till whim purchase when I realised I hadn't bought anything from the greatly recommended La Roche-Posay. I'm not usually one for hand creams but you can't beat the feeling of baby soft hands! This product is said to be one of the best for  dry hands as it helps to repair, protect and restore softness. 

Bioderma Créaline H20 - 

Naturally, this cult product was at the top of my wish list. If you aren't aware of what it does (come out from under that rock), it is a water-based cleanser that removes make-up in seconds. The formulae is especially suited to dry and sensitive skins which is perfect for me. 

Nuxe Paris -  Essentials Travel Kit - 

I was told by many that I must get my hands on some Nuxe products when in France, but I couldn't pick which ones to get so I bought travel set of minis, at a steal for only €12! Individually the Nuxe products were quite pricy, so I figured trying them out in small size first would be the best way to go. 

The set included:

Rêve de Miel - Hand and nail cream 

Huile Prodigieuse - Multi-purpose oil to nourish, repair and soften skin. Can be used on the face, body and hair.

Body Fondant Shower Gel - Enriched with almond and orange flower petals.

Nuxellence Jeaunesse - Anti-ageing treatment said to leave skin smoother and more luminous.

Micellar Cleansing Water - Rose petal cleansing water that removes makeup in a single step. 

I think its safe to say I am kitted out on skincare for a while now. I'm really excited to try out all the products properly and hoping this makes me one step closer to becoming a chic Parisian beauty queen ;)

If you have tried any of these products, please let me know what you think of them! I would also love to hear any other French Pharmacy recommendations.  

A short and sweet post today because I'm currently drowning in deadlines! I've not tried too many new products in the month of February, but I have re-discovered some gems that had been neglected in my collection. 

1. Bourjois Delice de Poudre Bronzing Powder - This favourite is a "Shop my Stash" find. Having been unused for months on end I've fallen back in love with this matte bronzer. Great for adding a bit of life into my pale face during the winter. 

2. Tanya Burr Lipgloss in Afternoon Tea - As much as I wanted to buy all of Tanya's make-up range (cause I think she's goddamn great), I had to start somewhere and I was immediately drawn to the gorgeous pink named Afternoon Tea. I'm so impressed with the quality of the glosses and I've not stopped wearing it all month.

3. Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation in 010 Light Porcelain - My skin is ghostly pale and a big worry for me is that my face is a different colour to my neck and body. Much to my delight, this month I found this new light shade in my favourite high street foundation. 

4. LUSH Grease Lightning Spot Treatment - This product has really helped me get through some bad breakouts recently. I couldn't recommend it enough. Click here to read my full review.

5. Barry M Hi Shine Gel Effect Nail Polish in Lychee - I love the formula of Barry M Gel Effect polishes. This colour was given to me as a gift and while initially I found it difficult to wear, I now can't get enough of it. Now looking to add some more nude nail polishes into my collection!

Have you tried any of these products before? What did you think? 

I was inspired to do this post by one of my all time favourite beauty bloggers, Anna, from Vivianna Does Makeup. I loved reading her 'Tale of Makeup and Me' post, which got me thinking nostalgically back to my first days of experimenting with makeup.

Now I can't remember the exact age that I started using makeup, but performing in dance shows meant I was introduced to bright blush, red lips and blue eyeshadow at an early age. My real interest came about as a result my admiration of my older sister, whom I would copy everything from. I learnt a lot from playing around with her lotions and potions and begging her to do my makeup and nails for school discos.

I used to love spending my pocket money on Mizz Magazines, which were sure to give away a free nail polish and give basic tips on how to apply makeup. Claire's Accessories was also the coolest shop ever for getting all the glittery products you could think of. The days of blue eye-liner, gloopy lipgloss and hair mascara were the best days. I still feel sentimental if I spot my first proper fragrance (that was not a Impulse body spray) Fantasy by Britney Spears in shops today.

I remember waking up for my first day of secondary school and putting on my AVON tinted moisturiser and Miss Sporty Clear Mascara and feeling the epitome of a grown up teenager. Looking back at my school photo, you can't tell I'm wearing a thing (and I look as goofy as ever), but I do remember the feeling applying the makeup gave me.

Later came the days of the Dream Matte Mousse Foundation, which I feel everyone tried out as a teenager. Despite not actually being a suitable match for most people's skin - it was the cool foundation to have. There was also the popular phase of putting the foundation on your lips to eradicate them altogether..(still not quite sure what that was all about).

After a few clumsy years of teen magazines, makeovers at sleepovers and going crazy over the tester products in Superdrug, I managed to do my own makeup without looking completely ridiculous. With my eyebrows, however, the damage was done, and I am still paying for my teenage pluck-happy mistakes.

For Christmas one year, I received my first high-end beauty product, a Benefit blusher set, followed later by the Benefit Celebutante Beauty Kit. My sister and I had always got excited around the Benefit counters and getting into their products was very exciting. My magazine taste became more sophisticated too, as I started collecting "grown up" magazines like Elle (which provided me with more Benefit products in the Subscription gift).

It was shortly after this that I came across the Beauty community on YouTube which really cemented my interest in makeup. The first YouTuber I think I came across was Sara Walker Makeup, after being linked to the Look Your Worst Tag video. I soon discovered the likes of Beauty Crush and FleurDeForce (among many others) who I can thank for teaching me a lot of what I've learnt about beauty. I've been following various beauty bloggers and channels for about three years now and have loved watching some of my favourites become successful as well as discovering many more along the way.

When I was 17 I got my job in a department store, which meant I could get staff discount on all the high-end make-up and skincare brands I was growing to love (No need to explain where my wages went!).

After a lot of deliberation and a few failed attempts, I'm turning my passion for makeup and beauty into a hobby, in the form of this blog. I figured if I love reading about beauty so much, I would probably enjoy writing about it too. So far its been one month and I'm absolutely loving it.

Can you remember how you got interested in make-up?

Here it is.. my FIRST EVER product review. (NB. All opinions are my own.)

Recently I've been suffering from some breakouts that have left my skin crying for some TLC. Previous methods of Sudacrem no longer sufficed, so it was time to explore the wider market of products that could banish the unwelcome visitors from my face. One spot treatment I've had my eye of for a long time is the Origins Super Spot Remover Blemish Treatment, but under a tight budget, I was keen to find  a product for much less. When browsing in LUSH, I came across the Grease Lightning Spot Treatment, costing £5.95.

Size

The product is reasonably sized at 45g. For every application, barely any amount is needed, so it will last a substantial amount of time. If the bottle came any larger, the product may not get used up within the one year  "use by" regulations. 

Consistency and Application

The treatment is a clear gel which can be applied to keep emerging breakouts at bay, in addition to healing those existing spots. The gel is cool on the skin and the natural ingredients means no stinging.  

Scent

The natural scents that make up the treatment are rosemary, thyme and tea tree. This combination creates a smell that I can only describe as clean and fresh. The scent is light and inoffensive, so don't be put off if you don't enjoy the smell of tea tree much. 

Results

I've been so pleased with the results since using this product over the last month. My existing spots healed up quickly and the redness dramatically reduced. I was impressed to find while the spots had dried up, the skin around it remained normal. Using the treatment has also deterred emerging spots from erupting.

Additional PROS

- The pump applicator makes using this treatment uncomplicated and hygienic. 

- Fully natural ingredients means no nasties are being added to your skin.

- Like most LUSH products, this treatment is Vegan, meaning you can have confidence that no animals have been tested on to make it. 

- Very inexpensive for under six pounds.

CONS to consider

I would not use the treatment underneath face make-up as I found the gel becomes crusty when dry. The product is therefore ideal to apply at night time or any other time you are able to embrace a bare face. Not applying with make-up would also help speed up the healing process. 

Final Thoughts

I was very impressed with the results of this product and have not noticed such rapid reduction in spot visibility from any other spot treatments I've tried. I would definitely recommend it to anyone suffering from breakouts who does not want to spend a fortune on a quick fix. 

I now want to try more from the LUSH skincare range, with the Tea Tree Water Toner next on my list!

Have you tried the Grease Lightning Spot Treatment? Or any other LUSH Skincare?

I would love to hear your thoughts!

We all need to make time, now and again, to unwind and get pampered. Having "me-time" does not require an excuse and home pampering can be as simple or as extravagant as you want.

One of my favourite things about pampering is putting on a face mask. As I don't currently have a face mask product in my collection, I picked up a Montagne Jeaunesse Mud Mask from Boots. I also bought the Frizz-Ease Miraculous Recovery Intensive Masque  so I could give my hair some extra TLC. Another treat I like to get in specially for pamper night is a bubble bar from Lush. This time I picked up the Creamy Candy Bath Bubble Bar. 

When in the bath it is essential to light a candle. Despite not suiting the season, I've recently been burning the Summer Scoop Yankee candle (clearly just yearning for summer). After the bath, I like to paint my nails. I've been loving nude polishes at the moment, especially the Barry M gelly nail paint in Lychee. Once all the pampering is done, it's time to sit back and immerse myself in my kindle or the latest issue of Company magazine.

What are your pampering essentials? I would love to hear about your favourite products and routine.

Good Riddance to January! Although January was a stressful and gloomy month, I did discover some new favourite products in my beauty collection. Here's what I've been loving recently..

1. V05 Smoothly Does It Tame and Shine Spray
There is nothing worse than the fluffy unruly state my hair gets into after blow-drying. Before straightening, I now give my hair a quick spray with this and run a brush through. It really does what it says on the tin and completely smooths out my hair leaving it tamed and shiny (but not at all greasy!). VO5 wins extra brownie points as this also doubles up as a heat defence spray.

2. Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser
One of my beauty resolutions this year is to be kinder to my skin and find a skincare routine that I'm happy with. For Christmas I received the much raved about Liz Earle cleanser. Taking off my make-up is no longer a chore but instead a mini pampering session. I love the clean feeling of my skin after using this and would say it is definitely worth the hype!

3. Maybelline Baby Lips Lip Balm in Pink Punch
I've been wanting to try a balm from the Maybelline Baby Lips ever since the brightly-coloured fun packaging hit the shelves last year. The gorgeous yet subtle pink shade is an instant pick-me-up that brightens up my daily make-up. As someone who suffers from dry lips, especially in the winter months, this balm has been a god-send and I'm now tempted to pick up some other colours in the collection.

4. Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream - Intensive Daily Moisturiser for Face
This holy-grail moisturiser has been on my high-end wish list for a while, so when I found out I had £10 worth of points on my Debenhams beauty card, it was the perfect excuse for a post-exams treat. I've been using the moisturiser everyday since and it has drastically improved the appearance of my skin. The texture is light and soft and ready for foundation. By far the best moisturiser I've tried and would thoroughly recommend to others with dry skin.

5. Soap and Glory Thick & Fast Super Volume Mascara 
I received this mascara as part of the Soap and Glory Yule Monty Gift set and have completely fallen in love. I've tried my fair share of high-street mascaras over the years, but never really noticed that much of a difference from each of them. My eye lashes have never looked better, adding length and volume without looking clumpy at all. Soap and Glory, I am impressed.

Have you tried any of these products? What was your favourite product of January?

I vow to wear bold lipsticks on a more regular basis [Seventeen Stay Pout Lipstick in Rule Breaker]

If anyone knows me, they will know that I love writing lists. The 'notes' section on my iPhone currently has over 30 lists and I have a specific notepad dedicated to list-making.  In terms of beauty, I have set myself a few goals and targets for what I would like to achieve over the next year. 

1. ) First goal is to get into blogging, properly. I've had a few attempts before but for various reasons (my perfectionist tendencies) I've decided to abandon and start over, one last time. I am mainly writing this blog for myself, as writing and creating online content is always something I've had an interest in. This blog will essentially be a diary of my own personal interests. Without wanting to put a strict label on it, it will mainly cover lifestyle and beauty, but I'm looking forward to seeing how my interests develop and evolve.

2.) Achieve my ideal bronde hair. Over the last year and a bit, I've been gradually getting my dark brown hair to be a lighter mousey brown. It is almost at the colour I want it to be, but I still want to add a bit more blonde into the brown.

3.) Sort my eyebrows out. Saying this, since the disasters of my teens, my eyebrows have come a long way. They are relatively similar (like sisters not twins, right?) but still need some growing on the outer sides. I currently fill them in with  the No7 Matte Mocha eyeshaddow. It does the job, but my goal is to dabble with more eyebrow products and find something perfect. I would also really like to get HD Brows done professionally. 

4.) Be kind to my skin. I want to find a skincare routine that works for my dry skin and that I will actually stick to. As I've neglected it recently, my skin has taken it out on me and is shouting out for some TLC. This also includes eating healthier, drinking more water and getting a good nights sleep.  

5.) Lose NARS virginity. I've only ever heard good things about NARS products, but have never actually bought anything. I intend to make a conscious effort to save up and invest.

6.) Wear bolder lip colours. As much as I love the "your-lips-but-better' look, I do want to be more experimental with my lipstick choices this year. First aim, rocking that dark red lip colour for winter.

7.) Make time for pampering. Life gets stressful and it can be hard to find the time in the day to just r-e-l-a-x. Running a warm bath, having a face-mask and lighting a candle is something that I need to make time for a lot more often. Me-time is vital and its amazing how much pampering can uplift your state of mind. 

8.) Use up products before buying more. There's only so many body moisturisers one needs at one time. As nice as it is to have a choice sometimes, I must make a conscious effort to use up those products at the back of my drawers before quickly buying into the hype of a new product. 

9.) Get better at doing nails. Investing in a good top coat is essential for me, as my nails are prone to chipping. I have this awful habit where I pick at the nail vanish once its chipped which leaves them looking worse. I want to let my nails grow longer and stronger and be capable of wearing the same colour nail vanish for more than one day. 

10.) Try new things. As much as it is great to have those products to always go back to, how do you know what your missing if you haven't tried much else? I want to be more experimental with my make-up shopping this year and try new products and brands and hopefully discover some new favourites. 

What are your beauty goals?

Do you have any recommendations to share?