Crabtree & Evelyn Hand Therapy Review

Hi Everyone!

In terms of hand cream, I've never really strayed from my holy grail S&G, but after using Crabtree & Evelyn's Gardeners Hand Scrub and really liking it, I thought I'd pick up their hand cream while I was in London at the beginning of the year and give it a go.

I really like the luxury metal tube as it gives the product a high end feel without the large price tag. However, that's pretty much where the positives end. It has a very strong floral smell, and hey, I'm usually a fan of florals but in this case its a bit overpowering and the stereotypical 'old lady' scent springs to mind. I could maybe get over the smell if it worked wonders but unfortunately it didn't at all. Although it absorbs very quickly, it feels waxy, doesn't go very far and I was left feeling like I needed more and more. Whats more, it didn't help my dry skin. 

Its a shame I didn't get on with this product, and it has since been passed on to my mum (who weirdly loves it). I will be sticking to Hand Food in future.

Have you tried this? What did you think?

DIY Bracelet from Sweet Wrappers

 

 

Hey Everyone!

As you will probably know, I'm a sucker for a DIY project. Let's be honest though, 9 times out of 10 its a disaster. But, after being contacted by the lovely people at Eco Market informing me of the great selection of eco friendly DIYs on their blog, I knew I had to give one a go.

What particularly appealed to me was "Sweet Ideas: Turning Candy Wrappers to High Fashion" because I am a penchant for colourful arm candy and I already had a stash of old Starburst wrappers (which some may consider a bit odd- but I am saving them to cover a shoe box). 

I simply sat watching Sex and the City a few nights ago and followed the step by step video. The tutorial is super straight forward and I found it really therapeutic sitting making this. The final bracelet is surprisingly sturdy and I will definitely be sporting this summer.

I would highly recommend giving this a go- I feel like a professional origami-ist!

You can have a snoop at the other DIYs on the Eco Market blog.

Wishlist: Topshop Crop Tops

Hey Everyone!

90s fashion is back in a big way (dungarees anyone?) and I'm loving crop tops at the moment! Its funny seeing Rachel in an old Friends episode in a crop top and high-waisted skirt that wouldn't look out of place on today's shops. I always trawl through online stores lusting after different items- so I thought I'd show you my favourites.

Lol @ the random daffodil on the picture.

My absolute favourite is the navy spotted blouse- it would be so cute with a white skirt. Which is your favourite?

Current Skincare Routine

Hey Everyone!

Perhaps around this time last year you may remember me posting about my newly purchased skin care products and how I was planning on ditching the baby wipes and doing everything as it should be done. Well, that didn't exactly go to plan. I am pretty lazy: especially when it comes to skin care.

So up until the last few weeks my skincare routine had consisted of removing my makeup with baby wipes, using a face wash in the shower and moisturising. Admittedly not the best. Over the last few weeks however I have been putting the skincare products I bought all those months ago to good use, finding a happy medium between the ideal routine and lazy old me.

So without further ado, this is my current skincare routine:

Loosen mascara with cotton pad soaked in eye makeup remover

Remove makeup with one rinsed baby wipe

Remove left over makeup with another rinsed baby wipe soaked in cleanser

Use face wash everyday in the shower (using sponge to exfoliate every other day)

Moisturise after all that every night

I think the main difference is the cleanser, and although the product is seemingly insignificant, since I've started using it I have noticed such an improvement in my skin. It is definitely a lot clearer which makes me think the dirt is really being taken out. I think the exfoliating has helped a lot too as I don't have just as many blackheads although they're definitely not gone completely.

Overall, I think the only way I can enforce some sort of routine is doing it bit by bit- I'm not ready to say goodbye to the wipes just yet!

Review: Clinique Butter Shine Lipstick in Pink-a-boo

Hey Everyone!

 One of the perks of shopping at high end makeup counters is the freebies- especially at bonus time. As a girl on a budget, this isn't something I do often, so I always tag along when my mum is. This lipstick was part of a spring bonus at Clinique a few months ago, and was given to me because my mum wasn't too keen on it.

I'm not a big one for lipgloss: I have tried a whole lot of different kinds but the texture and lack of pigmentation always put me off. However, I think this Clinique Butter Shine Lipstick strikes exactly the right balance between lipstick, gloss and balm.

The packaging is pretty and high quality. The product is rose pink in colour with flecks of gold shimmer. Its very smooth and soft with the texture of a lip balm. On the lips it gives a lovely sheen and good amount of colour- perfect for day to day. Its lasting power is pretty surprising- it will stay put for a good few hours. Its moisturising and doesn't feel sticky at all. It reminds me of a higher end version of the Revlon Lip Butters.

This is my go to product at the moment- its so easy to pop on and go. I'm always more into eyes than lips and this is a great, subtle option.

Current Makeup Set Up

Hey Everyone!

With the changing season, I thought it was a good time to do a little switch up and tidy of my makeup stand. I love having everything out where I can see it, yet still organised. I also find that if I switch products up often, I use them more.

I recently bought the Collection Illuminating Touch Concealer and was given the MAC Satin Finish Foundation. I brought out my Benefit "that gal" primer mini as my foundation was getting a bit patchy. For everyday eyeshadow I'm using this Clinique quad, and I've stored away the lipglosses I brought out a few weeks ago- they're just not for me! I've also got out a lot of mascaras (I think almost all I have) to get the most out of them before they dry up.

How are you switching up your makeup for summer?

MUA Neutral Palettes - Swatches & Reviews

Hey Everyone!

I have to admit, no matter how adventurous I'm feeling- I'm a true neutral eye shadow gal at heart and 9 times out of 10 I'll be wearing one of these three MUA palettes. At only £4 a pop they're well worth a try. 

 

First up is Heaven and Earth- my first MUA palette! I've had a lot of use out of this- I used it everyday for the first few months after I bought it. It consists of 12 shimmery neutrals- creams, muted golds and browns. You can create anything from a bit of subtle depth to a full on, sultry, smokey eye. Its weird to say this about powder shadows but they're actually almost creamy in texture because they're so highly pigmented and soft so they blend very easily and there isn't a whole lot of fall out. I regret that I don't actually use this palette as much as I should- it will be perfect in the coming weeks with bronzed cheeks and a tan. The only disappointing thing about this is that the packaging broke- though this could just be down to how often its been used.

 

This is my favourite palette of the three! Undressed is made up of a mixture of mattes and shimmers, each very well pigmented, though the mattes aren't just as pigmented as the shimmers. Undressed is slightly more colourful than the Heaven and Earth palette, but the shades are so wearable and never get boring. The dusky pinks, golds, khaki, deep blue and taupes seem like a random selection, but they compliment each other amazingly. Never would I have thought of creating a smokey eye of rose blending into muted blue, but by golly it looks fab! Again a slight disappointment with the packaging though- the applicator fell apart just a few days after I got it. But the price and quality make this a HG item in my book. 

The Undress Me Too is a cooler version of Heaven and Earth- with more grey tones than gold. The packaging has changed to white which I think looks cleaner for longer, and is more sturdy. I can't say a whole lot about this as I haven't given it as much of a test run as the others- but from what I can tell it is another A* product. You can see from the swatches how highly pigmented the shades are.

Do you have any of these palettes? Which is your favourite?

Hello Summer!

Hey Everyone!

I thought I'd kick off the June post-athon (aiming for 30 this month!) with a few random snaps I took yesterday. I know I'm hardly [insert name of world renowned photographer here], but I absolutely love capturing random bits and bobs. Yesterday was such a nice day and I sat outside and made a daisy chain (how cute). I then proceeded to become slightly obsessive over daisies: taking pictures of them as accessories, decor and then I put them in the Argos catalogue to press them (I am so resourceful!). 

My nail polish is by Evie and I got a set of three for Christmas and they're a really nice consistency. I wanted to put glue-on nails on two days ago but I realised my glue had dried up so that was a no-go. I'm still trying and failing miserably to grow my nails. I'm also loving my bracelet- its a little kids party favour thing I think but I think its cute! 

Now that I've officially finished my exams, I can get stuck into my 'to-do over summer list' which ranges from trying my new fake tan to getting a job to blogging. I'm so excited to embrace the season and hope the good weather continues (I need an opportunity to show off my tan!)

What are you most looking forward to this month?

PS- Be sure to check back every day this month for a new post at 5pm :)