Sunday Night Pamper Routine!

I don't know about you guys but Sundays are my favourite day to have a bit of a pamper evening. After a long week at college and homework from the weekend there is personally nothing I love more than this.

Chai Latte's are my all time favourite hot drink and when I found out you could get little at home sachets I was all over that business and this is how I like to start my evening as I find the taste so comforting.

Fairy lights and candles are also so essential as they make the room so cosy and the smell from this particular candle is insanely nice and brings back so many nice memories.

Skin care is an essential to me (I also used a face mask to bring pampering to the next level...) it makes me feel so refreshed and I strangely love doing it.

Who doesn't love a good old relaxing bubble bath?! I absolutely love baths as it such a good way just to sit, think and have a bit of a break. People always say it's like bathing in your own dirt which I do not think, especially considering you are that 'dirty' before you get in the bath. Regardless, this is always a Sunday essential for me. Whilst I'm in the bath I often put a hair mask on the ends of my hair for an extra treatment and rinse it out at the end.

Whilst I'm 'pampering' myself, there isn't anything better to me than listening to a vinyl. I love the process of setting it up and I feel like music just always sounds better on a record player. The vinyl I listened to on this occasion was Lewis Watson's new album 'The Morning' which is so beautiful and I did a review of one of his gigs here.

Sunday, for me, is the perfect time to paint my nails! You can get prepared for the rest of the week and not be in a rush so don't need to worry about drying time! Today I decided to paint my nail's in Sally Hansen 'Arm Candy' which is the polish I wore to prom. 

One last thing I always do on a Sunday is to give my make-up brushes a deep clean because of all the product that has been used on them within the week. I occasionally do this multiple times within the week too for face brushes as they can hold bacteria the personally breaks my skin out.

I'll speak to you all soon,

Sarah x

Liz Earle: Cleanse & Polish Review/ How To

Recently, after a long time of deliberating I finally cracked and purchase the 'Liz Earle: Cleanse and Polish' (I opted for the starter kit which is about £1 more expensive and you get 2 muslin cloths and and little bag which is so useful for keeping everything together). In total it was around £14 which I think is actually pretty reasonable for a piece of 'high end' skincare. Also as a disclaimer I have oily/ combination skin and this is suitable for all skin types - this has worked for me but isn't 100% going to work on you. The lady at the counter explained how to use this to me at the counter but I know if she didn't I would have no idea where to start so here's a mini step-by-step guide then I shall get on with the review.

Firstly let your muslin cloth soak in hand hot/ room temperature water. It's a myth that your pores open and close depending on what temperature of water you use - In fact doing that is more lightly to upset your skin and cause flare ups.

Next of course get one pump (you don't need more of this as each pump has been measured to be the right amount) of the cleanser on your hand and rub it in-between your fingers a little just to warm it up.

Rub the cleanser in circle motions onto a dry face to dissolve your make-up of just for general cleansing (You can even use this on your eyelashes/ lids so don't be scared to do so - I take my make-up off with a micellar water prier to this as I feel like it's easier to do it that way as you get the majority off first, I don't use just this alone to get rid of make up.

Finally, rescue your muslin cloth out of the water and in circular motions rub it gently all round your face until it feels squeaky clean (not actually make your skin squeak though, that could end badly).

Tmi? Definitely tmi... But I'm uploading this last photo anyway to show you how amazing this product is. You think (or I did anyway) that you get all your make-up off with the micellar water/ general make-up remover/ facial wipes but unfortunately we were mistaken! This shows how effective the exfoliating muslin cloth is and you can tell it gets deep into those pours! At the moment my skin is having a few hormonal breakouts but that bit's that aren't covered in nasties look so flawless/ pour-less! Honestly this cleanser does miracle and I wish I started using it before. Also the actual cleanser itself feels so cooling and nice on the skin! 10/10 would recommend to a friend.

I'll speak to you all soon,

Sarah x

Collective Haul

I have recently started college (which also means putting up posts is becoming a little difficult so sorry for the slow updates - It's hard to even find time for myself at the minuet) so over the summer I have visited the shops a fair bit to try and pick up some clothing items that would be suitable to wear then and also a few beauty products as I just couldn't resist!

Primark:

You can never go wrong with Primark shoes. They don't break the bank, their comfy, and also for the most part look lovely! I've been on the hunt for some little brown ankle boots for a while but I didn't want to spend a lot of money on one pair. I adore these and think they would look great all year round as they go with dresses, skirts, jeans, leggings, literately everything! 

Lately I've been trying to organise my wardrobe as it's getting a little hectic and needed a little clearing out. I decided to get some new hangers as the free plastic ones from the shop just weren't cutting it for me any more. These ones from Primark allow so much more space to be created in your wardrobe as they are so skinny and their also non slip unlike the plastic ones! defiantly get these if you are becoming tight of space in your wardrobe.

As you may have seen in my 'Autumn/ Winter Wish List' I have been after a boyfriend style coat and I saw this and fell in love. I adore the monochrome colours as that means that it will go with everything also I love the fact that it has a slight twist where it doesn't have the collar round the neck which I quite like as it will position scarf's nicer in the winter and also it's quite flattering and doesn't swallow me up. These  are going super fast so if you're looking for one go ASAP I also recommend sizing down! 

I was in need for a new bag for college that would go with everything and have a lot of space and this fit the bill! Despite being 'cheap from Primark' it is still really good quality so think this last me a while. I love how many sections and roomy this bag is so it will be super easy (hopefully) to keep all my things organised.

Ok, how could anyone walk past this beauty of a bag?! It's a lovely embossed print on fake burgundy leather and looks so chic and expensive (even though it was around the £10 mark!) This makes a lovely everyday/ evening bag and I'm also tempted to tuck the strap in and use it as a large clutch bag.

Urban Outfitters:

I love Urban Outfitters hunting through the Urban Outfitters sale (because let's be honest their full priced stuff is so expensive) and I came across this beautiful monochrome 3/4 length sleeve floral top with a low back - but not too low that you can see your bra strap cause that's not a fab look. It's so flattering and I fell in love. It goes with so many things and I've worn it a fair few times already.

H&M

Recently I went on a little shopping trip to Reading with my oldest friend Charlotte (she isn't old but I have known her since I was born kinda thing) and it was a bit of a reunion as we hadn't seen each other in a while. We know each others style so well so when she picked this off the rail for me I fell in love! This is right up my ally and I have been looking for something like this! I adore the flower print on the back and collar area and the cute little buttons are probably my favourite bit. The only thing I slightly dislike is that it is a little bit too cropped but I just pair it with high wasted things.  

 Boots

I have wanted this sleek blush in  the colour 'rose gold' for a long time now as apparently it's an exact dupe to Nars's 'orgasm' (yes that is in fact a real blusher name). It's such a beautiful pink colour with subtle gold shimmers that make you look radiant and I think would suit all skin tones. 

You may have also seen in my 'Autumn/ Winter Wish List' that I have wanted to repurchase the Toni & Guy salt spray which i love so much and it is at such a reasonable price. I only got the miniature one because it lasts so long as you don't need much and I didn't feel the need to get the larger one. I already know I love this and would recommend 110%.

Despite being an enthusiast in good eyebrows I have never branched out far enough to use an eyebrow pencil as I have been so worried I would look silly and draw them on wrong so I always returned to my comfort blanket of eye-shadow through the brows. It wasn't till recently when one of my friends asked me to fill theirs in for them, and baring in mind I had never used one before I fell in love with the results on her, and was determined to try one out on myself ever since. This one was super cheap as it was my first time trying one but to be honest I don't think I will ever switch as it's so amazing and precise. Just remember to be soft with it and not hard because they come out with 2 very different looks...

For a long time now I have been looking to try out this Kabuki brush to use for things like mineral foundation, powder and for normal foundation blending too and this really appealed to me as it's retractable which is so convenient for travelling and such. plus the packaging is just beautiful and the brand have really good morals which is a bonus.

John Lewis

Ever since I first started reading Blogs/ watching YouTube this has been a product that has been so raved about and I'm questioning why it took me so long to buy. I will defiantly do and update of how i find this Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish and shall report back if it's worth the hype which i really hope it is. Also just take a moment to appreciate this packaging too...

I'll speak to you all soon,

Sarah x

Autum/ Winter Wish List

In England, despite it not even being the end of August yet, Autumn and Winter are fast approaching and the weather is starting to get chillier. I personally love these seasons as I adore the layering cosy fashion and bolder make-up looks that go around so I thought I'd make a little wish list of things I'd love to get within the next 2 seasons.

Make-Up

 Music

Skin Care

Hair

 Fashion

I'll speak to you all soon,

Sarah x

My Current Skin Care Routine

 I have slightly oily blemish prone skin and I have suffered with acne (or spots) for around 6 years so the products I mention are targeted around that area. My skin has got hugely better (still not perfect though) from using these products. This skincare routine works for me but of course it may not work for you as everyone is slightly different.

L'Oreal Paris Skin Perfecting 3 in 1 Purifying Micellar Solution - RRP: £4.99

This stuff is insane! This is what I use to remove my make-up and it's worked wonders. I used to cleanse my make-up off but now I realise that doing that wasn't the best thing ever because it definitely didn't remove all my make up therefore my breakouts were more frequent. This removes all my make-up (even waterproof mascara but it does take a little longer) and leaves my skin feeling super clean and refreshed and my breakout have become so much less frequent and not nearly as bad and I think this is one of the main reasons for that. To a extent it sticks to it's claim 'unclogs pores and removes impurities' but it doesn't really remove blackheads, a facial scrub is still needed for those pesky things. All the other claims I 110% believe. I use cotton pads to use this which also gives a slightly deeper clean. You can purchase this here.

Purifying Palmarosa Daily Moisture: RRP - £23.75

I have previously talked about Neals Yard Remedies here so you can check that out if you want. I apply this to my skin every night and most mornings. This is a bog standard moisturiser but is specifically targeted at combination/ oily skin. Even if you do have oily skin it is so important to moisturise or your skin will produce even more oils. This moisturiser is so light and sinks right into the skin. You can purchase this moisturiser here.

Germolene - RRP: £2.19

This is the remains of probably my 3rd tube or Germolene. This to me is holy grail. I may be wrong but I briefly remember in science being taught that spots contain pathogens (and if I also remember that correctly it is something to do with cells that cause illnesses like the flu etc) So basically they are made up of pretty crappy harmful stuff which is why I love using an antiseptic cream as I feel like it kills off spots before they get a chance to appear or if they do appear it at least makes them sanitary. I may be talking complete rubbish but regardless this does wonders to my skin and is so moisturising as well. I would highly recommend this to anyone especially if you're on a budget as it is insanely cheep! You can purchase this antiseptic cream here.

Clarifying Mahonia Skin Gel: RRP - £16.50

This is the shizz! its basically a organic spot gel that actually works! I find lots of products that target individual spots actually make the problem worse but this is insane. It gets rid of spots that usually last a week in the space of around 3 days which is amazing in comparison and sometimes it takes even less time and once you get around the funky smell this product in my opinion has no flaws (it also has a nifty pump which is great for getting the right amount of product).You can purchase this here.

Then every 2-3 days I use the following Products:

Palmarosa Facial Wash: RRP - £15.50

Not gonna lie this face wash is mediocre. I say this because it does the job and doesn't break me out but it doesn't work 'wonders' on my skin. The only reason I still use it is because it is the only face wash yet to break me out but I do feel like I really need a face wash in my routine somewhere. I'm still on the hunt for another so any recommendations would be fab! You can purchase this face wash  here.

Soap & Glory Scrubatomic Face Polish - RRP: £9.00

If I could use one facial scrub for the rest of my life it would be this. I personally wouldn't use this daily as the instructions suggest but it's great for use every 2-3 day. Its so gentle on the skin and removes all nasties like dead skin and most blackheads. This has never broken me out in spots like quite a few other scrubs have but I will mention again, personally not for everyday use or your skin may react badly. This makes my skin feel so refreshed after using it. You can purchase this facial scrub here.

I'll speak to you all soon,

Sarah x

Summer Primark/ Boots/ H&M/ Accessorize Haul

Primark:

I cannot express in just one blog post about my love for frilly socks! They are so damn cute and make any outfit you wear look a touch more girly. Weather you can see the frills poking out of a pair of ankle boots or sandals they work for all seasons! These ones from Primark are only £2 for a pack of 3 and in my opinion are nicer than the Topshop ones that are almost four times the price for the same amount! 

Wow wee this was such a bargain. I was walking down one of the isles in Primark and came across this gorgeous kimono and it was love at first sight. It was £13 and for how much detail and the quality of this it was such a bargain. Especially since I have come across lots of similar ones that are double that price. 

I love Primark pj's so very much! I wanted to get the matching top to the shorts but unfortunately all the sizes left were too big for me so I went for a little hunt and got this white vest instead which matches reasonably well. I think in total the top and shorts came to around £5. These are so so comfy and great for summer time as they are made from quite a thin material. They have lovely lace detailing and i just like them lots.

A little later on I discovered these very similar pj's but in a different pattern. Luckily they had my size in both pieces so I went ahead and put these in my basket. You may be thinking that 2 pairs of pyjamas in one shopping trip is a little much but I'm planning to take these on holiday with me and I before had no summery sleepwear.  

Accessorize:

I've been looking for some hair accessories recently for me to wear at my school prom and as my dress has  no 'sparkle' or whatever you want to call it so I thought these would be perfect. These types of clips are great because you don't need to worry about bits sticking out. These were £6 for a pack of 4 which I think is fab because of how expensive they actually look.

I have a serious case of 'I have lost my earrings again' so I am constantly buying new ones. I love this pack and I think their great as you could wear them with anything and I'm thinking of wearing the pair second to the left for prom. They were £10 which is kind of expensive considering I'll probably loose them soon but the damage has been done.

Boots:

The other day I was reading someones blog post (I can't for the life of me remember who) about how much they love this concealer and that it in their opinion is potentially better than the Collection Lasting Perfection concealer. It's around the same price and I have tried this once and it's super creamy - I will get back to you all with a cheeky review on this once I get a proper opinion.

As some of you may know I'm a crier. Not just when I'm sad - In fact when I'm sad I very rarely cry. But whenever I'm really happy for someone or about something I will just burst into tears and I'm yet to try a waterproof mascara? Also coming into the summer months all of my make-up tends to smudge all around the place. I have previously already tried the non waterproof version of this so I already know I love it and can we just take a moment to appreciate the beautiful packaging. It's on the higher end of high-street/ drug store make up at £10.

I am soon to be writing a skin care blog post about my love for this stuff so I wont rant too much about it now but this is great for people with acne and is a super cheap (£2.19!) effective solution that could also be used as a moisturiser.

As I just mentioned I will be uploading a skincare routine post so I wont go on about this product too much. This solution is one of the main things that have saved my skin. It's great for getting rid of make-up/ getting rid of impurities on the skin.

I have raved about this amazing powder before in this blog post so I made a cheeky re-purchase before my current one completely runs out. This powder is so lovely and affordable and never looks cakey - the powder almost sinks into the skin and makes it look flawless.

I am yet to try a Sally Hansen nail varnish so I have picked up this one to wear potentially for my prom (I am bringing this up a lot but this is the reason for most of my purchases oops) It's a lovely pale pink colour and I got the shade called 'Arm Candy' which is a little funky sounding but whatever. 

I am before today a false eyelash wearer virgin. I picked up these individual Eylure eyelashes as I heard these look the most natural on which is what I wanted because all I'm really looking for is length. After looking at a tutorial on YouTube I conquered these bad boys and managed to apply them in about the 3rd time which I think is pretty good for a first timer?

H&M:

You will be able to see from these next 2 purchases that not only do I love wearing dresses but I also have a love for ditsy floral prints. This skater style shift dress is so lovely for summer but with a bit of layering and a pair of tights you could definitely get away with wearing it in winter. It was around £12 (?) and I already know I'm going to get so much wear out of this as I wear dresses similar to this all the time.  I think this dress would suit anyone of any body shape as it's not particularly tight fitting and I think the colours would really suit darker skin (and pale skin too but you know what I mean).

What really drew me to this dress (apart from the floral pattern) was the straps that connect at the back which look super flattering and eye catching when you wear it even though it's only a little extra detail. This dress is slightly out of my comfort zone as it's not completely body-con but fairly tight fitting which is something I don't really go for but I thought that I should be comfortable to wear tight clothes even though I don't have the 'perfect' figure as I should be comfortable in my own body and so should you. This was the same price as the first dress and I think you could really dress this dress down or up with a few accessories.

I'll speak to you all soon,
Sarah x