Lush's 'Mask of Magnaminty' Mask

Okay, so there's one thing you need to know about me... i'm a massive worrier. Whether it's university, my job, my friends or finances, my mind is never completely blank. Not only is it extremely irritating when it comes to attempting to switch my brain off to get a decent nights sleep, it also wreaks havoc on my skin on a regular basis.

Stressed-induced spots are common, so i've been on the hunt for an 'industrial strength' mask or scrub that stops spots in their tracks and gives me on less thing to worry about. To be honest, i'd never heard of Mask of Magnaminty before receiving it as a birthday present from my flatmate, but what its made for is exactly what i've been looking for!

Designed for those spots "that take two days to come up but five days to bugger off", this peppermint mask is not just for spots on your face, but on your back, and any other spot-prone faces for that matter! With added added kaolin, honey, vanilla absolute and ground aduki beans, Mask of Magnaminty promises to rid your skin of stubborn spots and fight outbreaks. I fortunately don't suffer from outbreaks anywhere but my face, so I tried this product as a regular face mask.

One thing I will say is that it applies like cement. It is so thick, so slapping on a generous amount was really fun as I ended up with a mask that was about two inches thick that made me look like the Wicked Witch of the West! The peppermint cools your skin instantly, so I would definitely recommend following the instructions when it comes to not applying anywhere near your eyes. It is instructed to leave the mask on for 5-10 minutes which I found quite daunting, as i've never left a mask on for more than five minutes and I was afraid it would dry out my skin too much. I definitely wouldn't recommend having this mask on whilst walking around the house, as your face gets so cold. The cooling peppermint mixed with the ever-so-slight breeze that hits your face as your walking around your house is not a good combination!

After five minutes, the mask had completely hardened, meaning that after ten I did have trouble washing it off. The ground aduki beans lightly exfoliated my skin whilst I was removing, and the kaolin had helped draw out any impurities. After washing the product off I found my skin felt hydrated and quite tight; a similar feeling you receive after a professional facial treatment. For about half an hour after applying my face still felt cool, and I had found that one of my spots (to be information alert!) had actually been drawn out from being an extremely irritating red bump!

For £4.95 I would say this should be a staple in every spot-sufferers cosmetics kit. It's refreshing, hydrating and leaves your skin feeling squeaky-clean and impurity free. Peppermint is a natural stimulant, so this mask is perfect in the morning when your skin needs a little pick-me-up. Due to its thickness i'd only recommend using this once a week, but I can definitely see myself reaching for this after a heavy night or when i'm struck down with a spot before an evening out!

You can purchase Mask of Magnaminty at your local Lush store or online here from £4.95 for 125g.

My Essential Volumising Hair Products

I've been going on about tackling fine hair recently, writing in-depth reviews on individual products. However, how many of these have remained a favourite of mine after I hit the 'publish' button?
Here is a compilation of my favourite products that I use on a daily basis to give my hair that much needed volume boost:

(1) Percy & Reed Abundantly Bouncy Volumising Mousse - Percy & Reed, £12
This is one of my favourite volumising mousses due its weightless feel. The lift isn't as drastic as others, but it achieves a substantial amount without leaving your hands feeling sticky or your hair feeling heavy. It's the mousse I use the most regularly, as it leaves my hair feeling versatile and lighter than air for when i'm rushing to lectures every day.

(2) Charles Worthington Front Row Rough and Tousled Sea Salt Spray - Boots, £5.49
This is the perfect product for when you want to add effortless texture to a polished style. With a few sprays, a light mist quickly brings out your natural waves and adds a bit of depth to fine, limp hair. I like to tip my hair upside down, spray salt spray into the roots and rough my hair up a little after I curl or straighten it - it gives it that tousled 'bed head' look.

(3) Batiste Dry Shampoo Big and Bouncy XXL Volume - Boots, £2.99
I don't know of a single girl who hasn't tried, or at least heard of, Batiste dry shampoo. However, this combination of dry shampoo and volumising spray makes this an essential product for me. Usually my roots and the shorter hair that frames my face gets greasy quite easily, due to being constantly touched and swept to the sides, therefore this shampoo is perfect for keeping my hair looking 'fresh-out-the-shower' clean as well as give it the lift it so desperately needs. I usually keep this can in my bag for whenever my hair falls a bit flat during the day.

(4) L'Oreal Professional Tecni Art Full Volume Volumising Mousse - Boots, £10.50 (250ml)
Being one of the strongest holding volumising mousses I own, there's no surprise that this was a stylists favourite at Fashion Week. Although it took me a few tries to get the amount I needed right before it made my fine hair heavy, I loved just how huge it made my hair look after blow drying. I use this mousse in wet hair before a night out, when I want extra lift that lasts until the lights come on.

(5) Roots Hair Treatment - Lush, £9.95
This is one of the most irritating but most effective volumising hair treatments I have come across. Its instructed to be worked into your scalp for 20 minutes which essentially activates the treatment, which as you'd understand can be quite annoying. However, the end result leaves my fine hair feeling heavier (but not unmanageable) and gives my roots the boost they would have if my hair was naturally thick. I use this pre-shower treatment as part of my preparation for a night out, helping my flat roots lift up ready for even more volume with the addition of a mousse!

(6) Big Sea Salt Shampoo - Lush, £11.25
Out of all of the products mentioned, this is by far the favourite. It's packed with sea salt, has the consistency of sleet and lathers like you wouldn't imagine. After the advised two shampoos my hair feels well nourished, extremely soft and my hair resembled an untamed lions mane. I achieve all-over lift that lasts all day, along with the adopting the lingering scent of mandarin and vanilla. I've attached the link to a full review of this product - I won't bother repeating myself with how much I love this product!

So there you have it, my favourite volumising hair products. What are yours?

Lush's 'Winter Wonderland' Christmas Box!

Just a quick one from me!

It's no secret that I'm a big Lush fan, and nothing beats a good batch of products that are wrapped in colourful wrapping paper with a flashy bow! Winter Wonderland* is just one of the many limited edition Christmas gift boxes that Lush have to offer this year, and I love nothing more than to read through all the labels and read what combinations that are on offer.

Winter Wonderland is wrapped in vintage-style wrapping paper and  contains two products designed to combat the effects that the harsh winter weather can have on your skin. Amoungst the marzipan scented styrophome lies Dream Cream and  Snowcake. Although both have achieved cult product status, it was the Dream Cream that made me the most excited. Named the number one Lush product, I remember during my work experience there were countless people flooding in from the nearby tattoo shop who requested this as they felt it was the only way it was soothe their new tattoos. It contains cooling oat, along with cocoa butter and a blend of calming essential oils, suitable for sensitive skin that's been exposed to bitter December wind.

I've never tried Snowcake soap, although it has been a Christmas best seller for years. Packed with rose, coconut oil and the scent of warm marzipan, this is a great accompaniment for Dream Cream. The flecks of gold glitter make it perfect for adding a festive sparkle to your skin after your shower, or you could just break off a piece, leave in a room and let the gorgeous Christmassy smell resonate through the air!

For the bargain price of £6.95, you'd be crazy not to get your hands on this, whether it be for a friend or just a little treat for yourself. Happy Christmas!

You can get your hands on Winter Wonderland from your nearest Lush store or online here.

Lush's 'Big' Shampoo

Since i've decided to grow out my fringe and attempt a middle parting, i've been obsessed with adding volume. Keeping your hair sleek and straight is great with a fringe, but it's difficult to pull of that look without your hair looking like a pair of curtains. I'd had recommendations of Lush's 'Big' Shampoo from various other bloggers who had used it, due to its inclusion of actual sea salt.

Yes, I know what you're thinking: "Sea salt shampoo?! How is that even possible?" To be honest, I thought the same thing. Sea salt spray is designed to help you achieve a tousled look, giving you beachy waves. However, this shampoo promised to give you both amazing volume and super-soft locks that are easy to get a brush through.

 

The extremely rich shampoo is packed to the brim with real sea salt, however it is carefully balanced with seaweed, coconut, and fresh lemon and lime to ensure shine and softness, which enables you to have the volume of sea salt shampoo without the rough texture you would expect. It is most definitely the most fragrant shampoo I own, with extracts of vanilla, mandarin, neroli and orange flower. With all of the brilliant reviews this product had been given, it was safe to say I could not wait to get in the shower and give it a go!

Here are some photos to show you how it went:

This is how my hair usually looks. Although i'm going to do an in-depth post on what products I use to give my hair more volume, i've used a standard volumising shampoo, followed by a volumising mousse and finished off with a bit of sea salt spray at the roots. This is what I do to my hair on a regular basis in my constant battle with my limp locks to add more volume!

 

There isn't a lot of difference from my hair here to the previous picture, but here I have used the 'Big' shampoo and no other products. The fact that the same amount the volume (If anything, a little bit more!) with a single product as opposed to three is incredible. I had to refrain from using volumising mousse and seasalt spray to achieve even greater results, but I wanted to show the difference a single product can make. 

This is most definitely an all-time favourite product of mine. You are instructed to shampoo twice, and the lather is so moisturising it feels like it can almost double up as a shower gel.  It is so fragrant it makes shower a really relaxing experience, and massaging it in feels almost like a spa treatment! Once you've finished shampooing, it does get a bit worrying as you find yourself picking out the odd bit of sea salt that hasn't dissolved, and your hair hair is so squeaky clean it sounds like your cleaning a window - your hair literally squeaks. However, once i'd blow-dried my hair, I was shocked at how much lift it had. It was incredibly soft, smelt amazing (Thanks to two shampoo's!) and had just achieved a great amount of volume. Obviously with more products such as a mousse or thickening hairspray it would have achiever greater height, but sometimes the more product you use adds more weight to the hair so ideally less is more.

The only slightly negative comment I have on this product is that you must prepare for an insane amount of lather! However, as Lush products are much more environmentally friendly than other manufacturers it doesn't bother me as much. As well as this, the lather is very rich and moisturising, as opposed to just bubbles!

Salt is a natural preservative, so this shampoo requires no synthetic preservatives, which is just one of the many reasons why I love this product. In my personal opinion this product feels like it could be a bit taxing on the hair if used every day, so I usually use this once or twice a week for a sort of treatment. I could be wrong, but it just feels very thick, and could weigh my hair down if used more regularly. Overall a really impressive product at a reasonable £11.25 for a massive 330g (The lather is so thick only a small amount is needed each time!). A must have for anyone with limp or fine hair - pop it on your Christmas list!

You can purchase 'Big' Shampoo from your local Lush store or online here for £11.25.

Eau Roma Toner Water

Hey everyone,

I know its been a while since i've posted - university work has really taken over my life recently! But I will be getting back to more regular blogging, i've missed it so much! Recently, rose water has appeared on many blogs and in lifestyle magazines and has been listed as a cult favourite amongst countless celebrities for something that provides them with freshness and rejuvination throughout a day just from a simple spray. Therefore, I thought it was only fitting to indulge in yet another Lush spree and purchase their Eau Roma rose water toner.

Packed with calming rose water and softening lavender water, this toner water is perfect for mature, dry or sensitive skin. With a total of 6 ingredients, its gorgeously gentle and is also great for when your skin feels a bit dehydrated throughout the day or your body just needs a bit of refreshment. I found with the teatree toner, although gentle, did not exceed expectations on keeping my spots at bay so I thought i'd try a different approach and find something that's even more soothing to calm my blemishes.

Eau Roma is the most gentle on my skin than other toners i've tried, and is certainly the most fragrant. It's light, airy and smells typically how you would expect Lush to - bursting with fresh and natural ingredients. I use it with a cotton pad at the end of the day to remove my last traces of makeup before applying moisturiser, and just spritz it on straight to the face in the morning to refresh my skin and set my makeup. What I love about Lush toners in general is that they come in two sizes, a large 250g bottle or a travel sized 100g for just £3.95 that's perfect if you want a little tester to see how your skin gets on with it.

Eau Roma is now part of my everyday skincare routine and so far my skin is definitely thanking me for it - my blemishes, although not completly disappeared have reduced in redness and my skin looks bright and generally well looked after. This is an amazing staple product in my opinion, well done again Lush!

You can buy Eau Roma Toner Water from your local Lush store or online here for £3.95 for 100g and £7.25 for 250g.

P.s.: I am aware that i've been posting a lot of Lush products lately, this is the last of it for a while - promise!

Let The Good Times Roll Cleanser

Another day, another LUSH binge! This time, I was looking for a gentle cleanser, due to my sudden increase in spots. I can't speak for other bloggers, but for my skin continuity is key, which isn't exactly ideal for a beauty blogger who spends her spare hours reviewing new products. I wanted something moisturising, purifying and not too heavy so my skin felt red and exposed afterwards. With that in mind, I was pointed in the direction of this little beauty:

  

Let The Good Times Roll is one of Lush's limited edition Christmas products. Packed with cinnamon, popped corn oil, maize and caramel, this cleansing scrub sounds a lot more like ingredients for a delicious dessert.

 

It has the texture of cookie dough (Which is quite fitting!), with tiny grains for light exfoliation. When I bought it I didn't think to ask whether it was recommended to use as a weekly scrub or daily cleanser due to the consistency - but its perfectly fine to use every day. This is by far the product I am most excited about using. As sad as it sounds, I actually look forward to treating my skin to a dose of this product every night, it just smells so gorgeous! A pinch of it mixed with water in the palms of your hands is just enough to rid your face of all makeup as well as provide an amazing exfoliator. I've also found with two weeks of continued use that my spots have cleared up considerably, as well as being less blotchy on my nose and cheeks.

For the bargain price of £5.95, you get a generous 100g. However, with this amount comes the only negative aspect of this review. Because Lush's products are so natural and fresh, the shelf life isn't as long as other products. This product has a 'Best Before' of 3 months, and with the amount you purchase compared to the amount you need, there would most likely be a lot of wastage. That, and the fact that its limited edition so soon i'll have to cope without this incredible (and yummy!) facial cleanser, are the only bad things I have to say about this product. 

So grab it while you can, but try not too get too hooked - it's not around for long!

You can purchase Let The Good Times Roll for £5.95 (100g) at your local Lush or online here.

Lush's Fair Trade Foot Lotion

I don't think we quite appreciate how much work our feet do. Whether it's running barefoot around the house (Or even walking barefoot down the street after a night out!), going on a hike or just standing behind a till for 9 hours - our feet are baring the brunt of it all. So I think we can all agree that our feet deserve a bit of TLC, and what better than way than treating your toes to an intensely soothing, peppermint foot lotion.

I've been a bit of a Lush kick recently, so this iconic company need no introduction. However, this product certainly does. This lotion is 20-years in the making, and features only the finest in fair trade cocoa butter from Conacado - a group of small-scale farmers, so you can be sure that your feet are being taken care of by farmers that are receiving fair pay for their goods! Everybody wins!

This lotion is packed full of cooling and soothing ingredients such a peppermint oil and spearmint, along with almond oil to prevent cracks in the skin and amica to aid swelling and bruising - this tub is full to the brim with everything you need for gorgeous feet. The recycled tub comes in a generous 225g tub, so there's no need to skimp on product during application!

How amazing does that look?! It has the resemblance of pink icing, and the consistency of it too! It's thick as it's designed to take time to sink in, which is why application before bed is the best way to ensure your feet get the most out of this lotion. It smells like polo's, which I absolutely love, and during application the peppermint and spearmint instantly cooled my feet and I felt relaxed straight away. The only fault I had with the product was that because it took so long to absorb it was difficult to judge how much product to use and I found that I couldn't leave my bed after application as it would rub off the soles of my feet as I walked across the floor! However, the results most definitely outweigh the faults. When I woke up, my feet felt smooth and refreshed and I could smell how clean and refreshed they were as soon as I opened my eyes! I put this product to the test after a tiring news day at University where I was constantly running around for about 6 hours - and this product could not have delivered better results! My feet no longer ached, and it even managed to soften parts of my feet that i'd never been able to before (Too much information, I am aware!). It retails at £8.95, which is a reasonable price for the amount given and the results it achieves.

To apply, smooth a generous amount onto clean feet and rub in as best you can. For a more indulgent experience, apply a thick layer before bed and then put on a pair of socks. In the morning, wash off the remaining lotion (And stick the socks in the wash!) and voila - perfectly pampered feet!
If your on your feet and find yourself struggling to walk at the end of the day, you need to get yourself a tub of this magic lotion - trust me, your feet will thank you for it.

You can purchase Fair Trade Foot Lotion from your local Lush store or online here.

Click here to enter my giveaway to win a months supply of Ohso chocolate. This is dark chocolate with a difference!

Lush's Vanilla Dee-Lite Body Lotion

I've never been much of a bath person. Baths are for people that actually have time. I'm most definitely a shower person - get in, get clean, get out. No fuss! This means that I tend to have showers to quickly wake me up in the morning, and I tend to be in a mad rush after i'm finished as I prefer to spend an extra few minutes in bed than a few minutes relaxing after my shower. Therefore, I usually skip the whole moisturising process after my showers. And that is a BIG no-no.

You can use whatever you like in the shower, it could be the most indulgent and moisturing product in the world, but what about after you've scrubbed your skin dry with a towel, pulled on your jeans and gone out in the cold for the day? Your skin is simply not protected, and in my case, dry and malnourished by the end of the day. So I went on the hunt for a body lotion that will easily absorb - so I could simply slap it on and go about my business, not wasting any time waiting for the sticky residue to absorb before I attempt to put on clothes. And this is what I found:

Vanilla Dee-Light is one of Lush's oldest products. I must admit, being an avid Lush follower it took me a while to notice this product as it is a regular it regularly gets outshone by the more 'flashy' of body products. With a combination of real vanilla pod, fruity kiwi and coconut water, this lotion is perfect for giving your skin a quick softness boost. A thick consistency is a key component in slow absorpsion, so it's great that this lotion isn't too thick nor too thin, a perfect balance so that the application is still as luxurious as indulging in a richer, thicker moisturising cream. I could literally smooth it onto my skin and it would be absorbed in next to no time at all.

The scent is definitely the best part. It takes me back from when I first walked past Lush and smelt the mixture of all the products Lush had to offer. It has that generic Lush smell, which I loveeeee. Overall it is the perfect non-greasy, quick-absorbing moisturiser. Easy to distribute in a recycled plastic squeezy bottle, and a little really does go a long way so this generous 250g bottle will last a long time - Amazing value for £11.95. This will definitely not disappoint, but if you're not yet convinced pop into your local Lush store and ask for a sample - you'll be back for the full-sized bottle in no time, though!

You can purchase Vanilla Dee-Lite from your local Lush store or online here from their official website. 

Lush's 'Vanillary' Gorilla Perfume

What you will notice within the next week or so, is that i'm having a bit of an obsession with vanilla - and this was the product that started it all!

I'd always seen Gorilla Perfumes by the counter at my local Lush, but they were just something i'd never thought i'd try. It was only until I ended up taking one of my ultra-expensive perfume bottles to work in my bag with me and I spent the whole train ride terrified that it would smash, that I knew I needed a practical alternative.

Gorilla Perfumes are the brainchild of Simon and Mark Constantine - perfumers dedicated to producing quality perfumes that go against mainstream fragrances. The 13 featured fragrances are a combination of completely unique scents, and perfumes that are created to accompany the scent of another Lush product e.g.: A bath ballistic or a massage bar. Vanillary is the accompanying scent of the Vanilla Foundation bath ballistic (Which was created after a few Lush employees visited the amazing Heston Blumenthal's restaurant and became inspired by one of his dishes!) and is one of Lush's best selling perfumes.

Described as a "Warm, cosy hug", the perfume contains main notes of real vanilla and jasmine, along with the caramel-like scent of tonka bean. The solid perfume is a simple push-up stick with a screw-top lid making it perfect for a perfume on the go. It's compact and in a plastic casing so instantly fulfills the 'glass perfume bottle' dilemma I was having. What's amazing about this perfume is that, once applied, you smell as though you've just stepped out of a kitchen after cooking. It's sweet and warm with a hint of seductive jasmine - a perfect, comforting winter scent.

To apply, you simply rub the stick onto the areas (I use it on my neck and wrists, but you can use it on the backs of the knees and even the ankles!) and the product simply melts on. I must admit it is ever-so-slightly sticky straight after applying, but nothing that would stop you from using the product. Like I said, the perfume uses real vanilla pod, so you don't need a lot of the product to ensure your covered all day long. Best of all is the price - this little beauty can be yours for just £6.50. You can also buy any of the solid perfumes in spritzer (£12 for 10ml) or atomiser (£25 for 30ml) form, but this is perfect to keep in your bag for when your rushing out the door and forget to spritz. This now has a permanant place in my university handbag, and i'll definitely be visiting Lush soon to purchase more scents so I can have one in every handbag I own! 

Vanillary and other Gorilla Perfumes are available from your local Lush store, or view the full range online here.

Tea Tree Toner Water

I love using toners. They prep your skin ready for your daily/nightly moisturiser, tighten your pores and remove the last .... of makeup that your cleanser has missed. I was always told that a three-step skincare routine of cleansing, toning and moisturising is the essence of great skin, so although toners aren't used by everyone, I couldn't be without it.

Tea Tree Water is a toner water from the LUSH skincare range, that targets spots and helps banish them due to the antiseptic and antibacterial properties of the key ingredient - tea tree.

The image is quite blurry, so here's the product description:
"Comes to the aid of skin that has emergencies. Tea tree is a wonder antibacterial, antiseptic and antimicrobal ingredient for anyone with oily or spot prone skin."

This toner water is wonderful for absorbing excess sebum, illiminating the final traces of makeup leaving you feeling fresh and squeaky clean. The antibacterial and antiseptic factors I think are essential in any skincare routine, because even if you aren't prone to spots they will help stop them from forming. My favourite thing about this toner water is that it is spring-water based as opposed to other toners that have added alcohol in them, which is obviously far better for your skin in general.
 For anyone that hasn't used tea tree oil before it has quite a strong medicinal scent, but the benefits that you gain from the product outweigh the slightly overpowering scent.

The spray bottle emits a large amount of product, meaning that you only need two or three sprays to cover the entire face and neck. I usually spray the product directly onto my face in the morning to wake myself up aswell as hydrate and prep for moisturiser, and spray onto a cotton pad to remove dirt at the end of the day. I then just leave it to absorb, sometimes fanning my face to speed up the already quick process if i'm in a rush.

I absolutely love this refreshing toner, it's light and unique. I used to use Benefit's Moisture Prep Toning Lotion, but it now feels so heavy compared to this. Waters are always ideal for people with oily or sensitive skin, but I believe that this would be appropriate for any skin type. It also comes in two sizes - 100ml for £3.95 and 250ml for £7.25, which I think is an extremely low price for how clean, smooth and moisturised my skin feels. Most definitely a skincare essential.

You can purchase LUSH's Tea Tree Toner Water at your local LUSH store or online here.


*Click here to enter my giveaway to win a MAC lipstick in a shade of your choice!*

Be sure to vote for Sophie Says for the NEXT Newcomer Blog Award at this years Cosmopolitan Blog Awards HERE!

Review: Lush 'Sweet Lips' Lip Scrub

Lush Cosmetics never fails to both amuse and amaze me.

When I first saw the selection of lip scrubs on the shelf in my local Lush store, I thought to myself: "What a complete waste of money." It seemed essentially like an overpriced pot of sugar. I didn't quite understand what good it would do to my lips. It was only after actually picking up one of the pots and reading further, I finally understood how sugar was a perfect ingredient for intense lip exfoliation.

(I apologise for the blurry picture, I was in a bit of a rush this morning!)

 

I am prone to coughs and colds, and when I do get them I eventually end up with dry and chapped lips to match. I've also found that quite a lot of even the most moisturising lipsticks leave my skin feeling dry and flaky. I've had a constant struggle with lip balms, purely because I tend to misplace them and get quite annoyed with having to reapply them. However, Lush's selection of Lip Scrubs aim to deeply exfoliate the lips, removing the dead flaky skin and leaving the fresh skin moisturised and smooth. The use of the small grains of castor sugar act as a gentle scrub, and has added jojoba oil to eliminate the need to use a lip balm (although it does say to apply one!) to moisturise your flake-free lips.

However, Lush has taken this one step further and added the natural flavourings of vanilla and chocolate, so after you're finished buffing your lips you can simply lick off the excess!

When applying, I found that you had to be quite liberal with the amount of product, but the fact that the key ingredient is sugar, it means that it can get pretty messy! I wouldn't advise this scrub being used after finishing your full face of makeup as I had to brush away quite a few stray sugar grains and it messed with my make-up a little. However, that is my only bad point. The scrub works wonders in ensuring your lips have a flawless finish, and it tastes amazing! They are quite generous with the portion size (25g), and I believe that to be because it tastes so good sometimes I find myself dipping my finger in just to eat it! It really does taste and smell of chocolate! Also, the jojoba oil provides light moisture, making it safe to consume and doesn't leave your lips feeling greasy.

I love the idea that something so natural can work just as effectively as lip balms that use nasty petroleum (which is essentially made from oil and petrol derivatives!) as a key ingredient. The packaging gives a homemade feel to it which is quite typical of Lush products, and it's compact size means you can carry it with you in your bag and can re-buff throughout the day if need be.

Lush's Lip Scrubs also come in two other flavours - 'Bubblegum' and 'Mint Julips' (Mint chocolate), so there really is one for everyone's taste. £4.95 is quite steep for something that is so simple and looks like a small pot of sugar, but I think for the amount, taste and end result it is something that I will continue to use all year round.

You can purchase Sweet Lips Lip Scrub on the Lush website here or in your local Lush shop.

Inside my suitcase - Skincare & Makeup!

Hello everyone! I apologise for the lack of posting, i've been really trying to relax this past couple of weeks, and suddenly realised that I do infact have work to be doing so I have been getting on with that. However, I wanted to do a post about my skincare and makeup that i'll be taking with me to Turkey on Monday.  I love seeing what's inside peoples makeup bags, their skincare routines etc., it's a great way to discover new products or learn new ways of applying particular products, so I thought i'd do one :) Here's a picture of the skincare i'll be taking with me:

Clockwise from top

 (1) MAC Fix +. Not only is it a finishing mist, but it's also a skin refresher that absorbs into the skin really quickly. Far more effective then splashing water on your face, in my opinion!

(2) It's Potent! Eye Cream from Benefit. A hydrating and brightening skin cream that reduces the appearance of eye bags. Perfect for a 4am drive to Gatwick on 3 hours sleep!

(3) Simple Purifying Cleansing Lotion. A light, creamy cleanser bursting with vitamins.

(4) Enzymion facial moisturiser. My all-time favourite moisturiser. Read why here.

(5) Moisture Prep Toning Lotion from Lush. A refreshing toner that includes extracts of Aloe leaf and vitamin E acetate to ensure total moisture and soft and supple skin. A full review coming soon!

Clockwise from top

(1) Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 from MAC. A light matte foundation that promises even coverage without looking too orange or cakey. The SPF 15 is essential in protecting your skin from the dangers of the sun's rays. It's also oil-free which is always a bonus!

(2) Cherry Carmex Lip Balm. Includes an SPF 15 sunscreen so it protects you from sunburn and replaces moisture lost during sun exposure. Spells super sweet and is world-famous as the ultimate moisturising lip balm.
(3) Posie Tint Lip & Cheek Stain from Benefit. A poppy-pink stain that gives you an all-day colour so you don't have to worry about lipgloss or lipstick.
(4) Sugarbomb Blusher from Benefit. A blush that has four complimentary shades of peach, soft plum, pink and rose. I swirl my brush around all four and sweep across my face, then just use two complimentary shades on my cheeks. It is essential for a warm glow if you don't really tan, like me!
(5) 'Linger' Brow Pencil from MAC. I'm taking this for the evenings, as i've just had my eyebrows tinted so I don't need to apply during the day. An easy-to-use defining pen that allows you to shape perfect brows.
(6) Mineralize Skinfinish Natural from MAC. A silky matte power that I use to set my foundation. Really light and i'll definitely be using this throughout the day, and accompany it with my liquid foundation in the evenings.
(7) Khol & Contour Eyeliner Pencil from Bourjois Paris. This goes with me everywhere. Unfortunately it isn't waterproof, which means I won't be using it throughout the day. But for a more natural look, jet black eyeliner isn't really beach appropriate. Will certainly be used for nights out though!
(8) Big Beautiful Eyes eye palette from Benefit. A small eye contouring kit that features a concealer and three shadows. I use the alabaster pink base shadow for during the day, and will layer it with the cocoa brown shadow for a natural look that isn't too try-hard.
(9) Diorshow Black Out waterproof mascara from Dior. Get gorgeously thick and glamorous looking lashes in seconds. Layering is easy for the evening, but one thin coat is perfect for long lashes at the beach.

I forgot to include my primer (featured here) but this is generally what i'll be taking with me. I can't say i'll go out with a full face of makeup everyday, but the advantages of lip and cheek stains and waterproof mascara is that it's so beach appropriate.

Hope you've enjoyed, and i'll be sure to upload some holiday snaps when I get back on the 23rd!

x

Review: Lush's 'Enzymion' Moisturiser

I apologise for my lack of posts this past week, once again University deadlines have left me with little time to blog. However, on my day off I managed to pick up a new facial moisturiser. My face has started to become oily again, and I ran out of my Porefessional primer that tends to dry up all the excess oil, so I thought I should really get a good moisturiser that does the job for me on a daily basis,  so I don't have to wear makeup in order to achieve good looking skin.

I chose Lush as I love using their cleansers and charcoal scrubs, which are both featured in this post, so I knew they would be reliable. I was immediately directed to a moisturiser called Enzymion, which is described as a 'fruity moisturiser to liven up oily skin'. Simple.

It uses fresh lemons and papayas, along with cocoa butter so it leaves your skin feeling smooth and moisturised but soaks up all that excess oil. It has a really fruity frangrance to it also, which can be quite overpowering at times. I'm not the greatest fan of the smell, however it doesn't transfer onto your skin so it isn't really a problem.

The great thing about Lush products is that they are sold in generous portions. Enzymion is sold in tubs of 45g, and as you only need the smallest amount to dot on your cheeks, t-zone, chin and neck it's really great value. It can be worn alone or underneath makeup. I have tried with both, and have found that it makes a really great base for foundation and helps keep my skin looking flawless for longer.

The oil is gone and my skin feels fresh and looks bright and healthy. For £13.50, you could say that it's quite steep. However, Lush products are always made with love and care, and use the finest natural ingredients so you don't have any harsh or nasty chemicals creeping their way into your skin.

This is now part of my daily cleansing routine, and will remain there for a long time. I love Lush, and I love what this moisturiser has done to my skin.

You can purchase Enzymion here, or at your nearest Lush shop.

Review: Lush's 'Catastrophe Cosmetic' Face Mask

I love Lush. I simply can't get enough of it. It's eco, unique and smells incredible! So when I wanted to have a relax on one of my rare nights off from work, I knew I had to get a Lush face mask. I was told to get this particular face mask as it was specific to sensitive and oily skin, and it contains antioxidants that help soothe and calm spots.

One of the key ingredients are fresh blueberries, which I love because you can actually see little chunks of fresh ones when you put the mask on your face. It also includes talc and camomile (Perfect for sensitive skin!) and almond oil to soften your face.

To be honest, it doesn't look too attractive, but trust me, it's great! It comes in such a small pot you'd think you'd need to use the entire contents, but there's so much packed in there that there is enough for as least three uses! I had to put it on quite thickly, but to be honest I didn't want to miss a chance of it soothing my spots so I layered it on thick. I kept it on for five minutes and then washed it off with warm water. Instantly it felt like my face had been cleared of all the rubbish and I was left with a fresh new layer of skin! It felt as though my face had never been as clean as it was right then! My spots weren't as red and I couldn't stop feeling my cheeks.

It retails at £5.50, which may seem a bit steep for some. But for three usages, I think it's completely worth it. The only negative comment I have is that as it has to be kept in the fridge it starts to bring the moisture to the top so you have to pour the liquid away, unless you like a more watery mask!

How I Tackle Oily Skin!

I never really realised I had oily skin until I used 'Take The Day Off' Cleansing Milk by Clarins. It was amazing at taking off my make-up, but I wasn't informed by the salesperson that it was for people with particularly dry skin so it was really oily. After that, I realised that my skin was naturally red and oily and it was very difficult to make my foundation stick for more than a few hours.

I will say this now, and no doubt I will say it again: Lush Cosmetics.
I cannot get enough of this shop! I went in there and asked what they recommended, and I ended up purchasing two products that I can no longer live without:

Photograph taken from Lush Cosmetics website

I usually do my cleansing routine in the shower, because it can get kind of messy! Firstly I use my Fresh Farmacy cleansing bar. They sell it at £4.50 for 100g (Which I think is enough!), and it's basically a calamine lotion in a solid form. It's ingredients include tea tree oil (Which is renowned for battling oily skin) and lavender oil which soothes the redness. What's great about this product is that it doesn't actually include hardly any soap, which they have intentionally avoided to reduce the impact it has on the skin. I use this bar by wetting my hand and lathering it up with it until my hand is totally covered. I then cover my face with it, massaging as I go and then wash it off with warm water. I love feeling my face afterwards, because it feels as though all the dirt and rubbish has been washed away! I use this every time I shower.





The next product I use for every other shower I have, because it is technically a scrub which can be harsh on your face. It's called Dark Angels and can be purchased from Lush for £5.95. This is excellent value for money because there is so much compacted in the pot and it definitely does the job! The scariest thing about it is that it is jet black, and doesn't smell particularly pleasant. That is thanks to the charcoal, Rhassoul mud and black sugar "which together make a very absorbant and exfoliating cleanser".
Before you use this, please make sure you don't have anything white or lightly coloured e.g.: A bath mat or towel lying around, as it can stain!After i've used the Fresh Farmacy, I take a small amount in my hand (On the container it says 'penny-sized') and lather it up with some water so it forms a paste. I then massage it into my skin until it is completely covered. I then wash it off with warm water, leaving my face feeling tight and clean, with all the excess oil washed away. The only negative comment I have about this product is that it's shelf life is only three months, and for the amount you are supposed to use and the amount of times it's recommended to use it you end up wasting a fair amount.

I've found that this routine has reduced the redness on my face, and that the loss of oil has made my make up stay on longer. My skin feels healthier, cleaner and is extremely soft! These two products are definately two of the best that Lush has to offer and I don't think i'll ever try anything else!

What are your cleansing routines?