Cleanse Off Mitt

Have you heard of the #campaignbinthewipes on twitter? I have come across the hashtag quite a few times and whilst I admit to using them, more when I am in a lazy mood than everyday, I was intrigued.

When I have had a long day at week and am totally tired out, the thought of taking my make-up off suddenly becomes quite a chore, it shouldn't be, but when all I want to do is climb into bed and sleep, it is. Then I was asked if I would like to try the Cleanse Off Mitt which claimed to "quickly remove all make-up naturally - including mascara" and all you needed to do was just add water, I jumped at the chance.

The Cleanse Off Mitt** is a microfibre knit designed to remove all of your make-up, even the most stubborn bits without irritating the skin.  Face wipes aside, I do tend to use a flannel and some warm water to remove my make-up in an evening and instead of doing that, I started to use this mitt instead, not everyday and evening because I don't believe that is the intention, but when I have had one of those days and everything other than getting into bed is going to become a chore.

So all you need to do is pop it over your hand, it is after all a mitt, then under warm water, not hot, simply wipe your face as you would do with a flannel, cloth, wipe or whatever else you might use.  The first thing I noticed was how incredible soft this was on my skin and then when I looked at the mitt, I was horrified at the colour it had turned, which you can see below.  I know living in London means I am going to be dealing with a lot of pollution, but ewww it did make me feel a little bit sick.

I have seen a few people moan that this product isn't that good, perhaps they should have read more about it because it is designed to be used as a pre-cleanse, not in replacement of.  When I use it, I use the mitt first and then I cleanse before moisturising.  The purpose being to stop using wipes which I know are bad for your skin and often strip it leaving a feeling of dryness.  So if you are about to reach for a wipe to remove your make-up and daily grime, stop, think and grab your mitt.

Each mitt has a life of between 3-6 months depending on how often you use it and it is machine washable thankfully! They are also good to use for anyone who goes to the gym a lot and shower immediately after working out and also for people who travel and worry about how many products they can legally take with them, also for the mummies and those of us on the go who want a hassle free solution.

For a mere €5 this Mitt is affordable and gets the big thumbs up from me, it is hassle free and easy to use and as you can see from the photos, it does remove gunk from your face without leaving it dry.  It is reusable, hygienic, lightweight, chemical free and hypoallergenic to name but a few things.  You can purchase your Mitt via the beauty emporium.ie and it should be available in selected pharmacies nationwide over the coming weeks.

Valentine's Day blogger Secret Swap

As you read this post, I and my hubby will be either on the plane or just landed in Amsterdam, but Happy Valentines Day!

I took part in a bloggers secret valentines swap organised by xx and xx and posted my package off to its recipient last weekend, so hopefully you have got it and like it, though you won't know it was me that sent it!

My package has arrived and knowing I was going to be away, I wrote this post a few days ago so that it could go live on the day itself. I have no idea who my swap partner was, but it is always exciting to get a box full of products right? Well this is what was in my beautifully packaged swap box:

How cute are those love hearts and the card, I love pugs I find them so cute and I am particularly impressed and moved that my swappee took the time to look for a card with cats on, knowing that I have 3 of them.  Thank you.

So we have quite a lot of products here and I haven't tried any of them - whoever picked this box has clearly looked at my blog because the first thing that caught my eye was this beautiful tub of coconut and cream body butter from I Love Cosmetics and it was actually on a list of things I wanted to try because I love things scented with coconut.

Then we have Maybelline Baby Lips in Hydrate.  Now I know some people are not a fan of these, but I really like them and find them so handy to have in my handbag, desk draw or on my bedside table and this particular one I have yet to try.  It states that it will give 8 hours worth of moisture and in this weather, I definitely need it!

Argan oil treatment for the hair comes next and it has a Moroccan Argan oil extract to give an intense hydrating treatment to rejuvenate and repair your hair leaving it shiny, smooth and healthy.  Again, not a product I have tried and am looking forward to giving it a whirl to see how my hair copes with it.

Then we have some make-up products from a brand called Catrice whom I have read about on other peoples blogs but have never come across them myself.  There is a colour changing lipstick which says it is a lip glow, too look at it, I was expecting to have bright Oompa Loompa lips, but it actually gives my lips a bit of a glossy look to them.  Then comes an eye palettes with 4 different shades called Never Let Me ago and this is truly stunning, I love all of the shades.

The next products is from Essence - Oz the great and powerful in shade 01 Beware of the Wicked Witch - are you trying to tell me something blogger swapper??  This is a cream blush, again not a product I have used before, though cream blushes seem to be a popular item across the blogger sphere and I am looking forward to giving this a go. It comes with a pump dispenser and you only need a really small amount on your hand, brush or whatever you choose to use to apply to your cheeks.

Barry M comes next with a lipgloss and in the tube it looks as though it is a candy floss pink colour and when you open the tube, it smells wonderfully sweet of strawberries and it is a lovely shade of pink - pics needed

Then I have three samples - Melvita Narcissus which look this up!!! Followed by Nuxe anti-fatigue moisturising cream which is for dry skin and finally an eye contour  anti-ageing and radiance cream from Avene which I am also looking forward to trying.

Last but no means least a bar of Galaxy Cookie a crumble chocolate which is just so yummy and I could quite easily east the whole bar to myself and two packets of Love a heart sweets which I haven't come across in years, so I am looking forward to seeing what each one has to say on it when it comes to eating them.

Ted Baker Purse Spray

When I took the Ted Baker test to see which Purse Spray I was most like, I was quite surprised.  The Purse Sprays comes in four different scents and are 10ml each in size, so they are perfect for popping into your handbag.

So here is the test - which one are you?

I spent a few minutes pondering my response to each question and my repsonses mostly matched B which is Polly.

So let me introduce Polly** to you:

Polly is described as follows "Girly yet grown up, Polly's a sweet Heart with a wild streak. For Ladies who like to spice things up, she's the ultimate partner-in-crime on a girl's night out.  This sweet floral aroma begins with juicy tones of mandarin, red berries and peach whilst the Heart entwines white jasmine, honeysuckle and peony with shades of vanilla, amber, patchouli and white musk in the Base".

As soon as I spritzed this on my wrist to get a scent, the first thing you notice is that mixture of floral and juicy tones together which smell simply divine. Once it has been sprayed the scent is fairly strong to begin with and once it settles down it lasts for hours and I can wear this all day at work and still smell it on my clothes when I am on my home after a 9 hour day.

I really like the bottle this perfume comes in, taking on the Ombre look with its purple bottle, the lid features the Ted Baker initials and really makes for a stunning finish.

Retailing at just £15, this perfume is perfect for carrying in your handbag and it looks pretty alongside the rest of your collection.

Spring Breaks in the Sun: Suitcase Essentials

It’s no surprise that many of us are dreaming of faraway lands; the weather in the UK is shocking at the moment and while spring should, technically, be around the corner, who knows when the nice weather will eventually turn up! In the meantime, visions of sun, sea and sand wouldn’t go amiss and with plenty of last minute deals available online, we wouldn’t blame you if you decided to go ahead and book. But, what should you pack to ensure that you will look and feel great? Many holiday destinations offer milder climes at this time of year, so you may wish to think about your staple holiday wardrobe and what you should take to ensure you’re warm, no matter what.

Swimwear

If the weather behaves itself and the winds stay low, you’ll undoubtedly head for the pool or the beach at least a couple of times during your break. Whether it’s an all-in-one cozzie, a tankini or one of the many bikinis on the market that take your fancy, there’s bound to be a perfect piece of swimwear available for you. Take a look at the George bikinis for some fabulous, affordable style inspiration.

Don’t forget to take something that you can use as a beach bag too, rather than trying to lug everything by hand every time you fancy bronzing your bod!

Day Clothes

Shorts and vest tops wouldn’t go amiss, but pack a few t shirts with short sleeves and cap sleeves, too. Depending on where you’re going, a couple of thin, long sleeve tops may be handy too, just in case it’s a little mild one day.

Evening Clothes

The evening is a great opportunity to dress up, whether you’re staying at the hotel restaurant or you’re venturing out into the resort. Your trusty little black dress would be ideal, and can be accessorised with jewellery, sandals and scarves or pashminas so that if you’re trying to travel light, it can be reworn. Maxi dresses are also a winner, while cotton or linen trousers with a simple strappy top or blouse would be perfect for an elegant evening.

Sun Hat

Even if you’re expecting mild weather, you can never be too sure. Pack a hat just in case the sun comes out in full force and remember that you can still burn, even if there’s cloud cover. Make sure you have plenty of suncream with you, too.

Light Jacket

You never know, do you? If you don’t pack a jacket, chances are you’ll be faced with a rainy or chilly day. Pack one, just in case, and at least you’re ready for it if the weather does take a turn for the worse.

Whether you are holidaying for a weekend, a week or more, packing appropriately can help you to ensure that your wardrobe requirements are covered, no matter what weather comes your way. While the UK’s weather is renowned for being a little unpredictable, you can never be too sure when you’re abroad, either!











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Primark Body Essentials Argan Scrub

I am a bit of an impulse shopper, a bit of a magpie when I see things that sound good, are a bargain price and make a few promises, I buy them.  Sometimes those products are amazing, sometimes they are disappointing - this product was the latter.

For £2.50 in Primark, I came across Body Essentials Argan range within which was a body scrub with Argan oil and a promise that it would remove dead skin cells leaving skin smoothed and polished. Hmmm £2.50 this could have been the product of all products had if worked, but for me it didn't.

It says "Treat your body with intensely conditioning argan oil. This body scrub removed dead skin cells whilst smoothing the skin leaving it feeling refreshed, polished and smelling delicious".

Well it does smell nice, but not what I would call delicious, when I think of a body scrub that is delicious I am drawn to the Soap and Glory a Breakfast scrub which smells amazing, this scrub smells like a weak coconut smoothie, though it doesn't contain coconut.

Then when it comes to using on your body, it does say that for a deeper exfoliation you can use it in dry skin before showering or when in the shower on damp skin massage it on using circular motions.  The cream is a fairly thick consistency and there are small exfoliating particles in it, but I personally think the cream is too thick for those particles to work as they should, so it doesn't do a very good job at exfoliating, it's main purpose.  When you do manage to get to the exfoliating particles they don't exfoliate that well and you can barely feel them on the skin, even if you apply a lot of pressure.  I found it particularly hard to use and ended up reaching for the Soap and a Glory Breakfast scrub to finish the job I had started.

I have used this quite a few times over the past few months, I say that because I feel it would be unfair to use it once and then state I am not too impressed with it.  I have tried using it before I shower, when I am in the shower and even when I am in the bath and I get the same result, well no result actually.  The only thing it does is make my skin feel really dry after using it, so I am instantly reaching for one of my moisturises as soon as I have patted my skin dry.

For £2.50 I am really saddened this hasn't worked for me because I had high hopes, maybe it works better for other people, but for me it is a product that I wouldn't repurchase and one that is heading for the bin because I won't be finishing the tube.

My Skin and Me

For as long as I can remember I have had red blemishes on my cheeks, some refer to it as Roseacea and others mild flushing, whatever it is, it sometimes really annoys me and I do as much as I can to cover it up with make-up.

As you can see from the two photos below, taken inside and outside, the redness is clearly visible for all to see.

So I was asked if I would like to try some products that might help combat the blemishes by Salcura Antiac Skincare line** which I have seen on Channel 4's embarrassing bodies.   Naturally I agreed to try some to see if there was anything, other than lots of BB cream and foundation that could hide, cover and get rid of the redness.

So I was sent these lovely products to try.  All Salcura products contain an ingredient called Sea Buckthorn oil which is referred to as a 'Super Ingredient' and it helps to reduce inflammation, it calms and soothes the skin and helps to nourish and cleanse the skin.

Derma Spray -  This product is said to have a proven track record and is our most effective and practical solution for eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, rosacea and other related skin conditions.  You can and it is suggested that you spray this onto your face 3-4 times a day, so I tend to use this only at weekends and when it is on the skin, it instantly absorbs itself and leaves your skin feeling soft and moisturised.  Designed for people with dry skin, another condition I tend to suffer from on my cheeks more than anywhere and since using this, I have noticed a big difference.  It does contain Tea Tree Oil and Eucalyptus Oil which give it a definite scent. It retails for £14.99 for 100ml but there are other sizes available.

Face Hydrator - This product contains Omega 3,6,7 and ( and is designed to give your skin maximum deep hydration and it is designed for itchy, dry and sensitive facial skin.  I do have a slight itchyness on my cheeks where my redness is this gives an almost instant end to that itchy feeling, I was actually really surprised the first time I used it that I didn't want to scratch my face as much.  It retails for £11.99

Daily Face Wash - It is pH neutral and again contains no nasties and it doesn't leave your skin feeling dry after using.  You are told to use it morning and evening which I have been doing and as a wash it is light, unscented and lathers up really well once it has come into contact with water.  This face wash retails for £8.49

Daily Face Wipes - Yes, before some of you start typing in capital letters in the comment box below about the evils of face wipes, these ones contain no nasties and nor will they leave your skiin feeling really dry after using.  They are really moisturising and offer effective deep cleansing, ideal for on the go and they help remove hardened sebum (yuck) as well as excess oils, dirt and grime.  They retail for £6.99 and you get around 25 wipes.

Activ Liquid Spray - Designed to be used after cleansing the skin, you apply the spray onto your hands or a clean cotton wool pad and massage into the areas which are most affected.  As soon as it touches the skin it instantly absorbs itself. I found this spray to be quite cooling and refreshing when applied to the skin and from all of the products within this range, so far this has been my favourite.  It retails for £9.99

So having used them for the last month I am sure you want to know whether or not there is any difference, so here are my after photos and I would love to know what you think:

So what do you think?

All Salcura products are free from chemicals that are known to cause additional sensitisation of the skin.  Totally free from parabens, SLS, perfumes, steroids, antibiotics, hormones, lanolin, cortisones, soaps, phthalates and peroxides.

My Lipstick Collection

So I asked on Twitter if anyone wanted to see a post on my lipstick collection and I got a resounding YES to do it, so this is that post.  Before I entered into the world of blogging, I owned no lipsticks, it wasn’t anything I was bothered about because I had a lip balm addition instead.  Overtime I have read lord knows how many posts on lipsticks and have found myself hankering after one or two, okay lots of them and have purchased one or two myself, so here is my collection.

So far you can see from my photo, there are 8 lipsticks of which two are the same, it does happen to be my favourite lipstick and it was a bargain, but anyway, this is what they are

Miners Cosmetics - Dreamer. I got this as part of my February Glossbox 2013 and it is quite a dusky pink colour, not a shade I like that much, but with a bit of gloss it looks okay.  

Cargo Cosmetics - Bermuda.  I got this lipstick from the Debenhams Beauty Event I went too and it is described as being a nude pink, but I think it is more of a warm pink and it is really pigmented, not that you can see from the photo above.  

Oriflame 3D Lipstick - I got this from a blogger meetup last year and it is reviewed HERE on my blog.  Again, it is described as being a nude peach but with the way it is designed it is said to create an optical illusion effect giving you fuller lips. In one single swatch you can create the effect due to the contour, volume and colour.

Vivo Pink Sweetie - I never ever wear this shade because I find it too pink.  It does however glide onto your lips effortlessly and is quite moisturising, just a shame about the colour.

Rimmel Kate Moss No.8 - I picked this up a few weeks ago quite by accident and I love it.  Said to last for up to 8 hours and formulated with black diamonds.  Now it doesn't last for 8 hours, it lasts for 2-3 if you are lucky but I really like the shade and I would describe it as being a dusky pink.

Rimmel Moisture Renew - Latino 200. Now this little beauty has an SPF20 and vitamin A, C and E as well anti-oxidants to protect the lips. It also contains three Super Moisturisers - Collagen, Polypeptides and Hyaluronic Acid which help to keep your lips soft and smooth. Colourwise it is descirbed as being Mid Rose Pink and it looks fantastic on my lips.  I am a huge fan.

Oriflame Hollywood Red - Part of the Demi Moore range for Oriflame, I reviewed this product HERE and whilst it would not be my colour of choice, it is a super lipstick and is really pigmented.

Dior - Rouge Dior 649 - My favourite of all the lipsticks I have and it has been reviewed HERE. I first came across this lipstick at the Debenhams beauty event when I had a mini make-over at the Dior stand and this was the colour chosen for my lips and I loved it.  Then I happened to be in my local pharcmacy and found this lipstick on offer and decided I needed to have it, it was fate and bought two.  The colour is Mythical Pink and it is so lovely, lasts for hours, much longer than any of the others mentioned in this post and is one I would repurchase time and time again.

The one lipstick missing from the photo is my Revlon Colourburst Lip Butter in 005 which is called sugar Frosting which you can see reviewed HERE and this is one product that stays in my desk drawer at work as an emergency.  This lipstick gives a very subtle nudey pink colour to your lips and is described as being a 'sheen lipstick', which it most certainly is.

In the next week or so there will be a review on my lip crayon collection which is growing quite rapidly.

So there you have my collection.  Do you think I am missing a brand, should try a certain lipstick or have any recommendations for me?