Saturday, 17 November 2012

Mini Haul ft The Body Shop & Benefit ☼

Ayoooooooo what is up my lovely readers?! Guess what I have for you today? Why, it's a cheeky little haul ofcourse!

the body shop love your body card

I've decided that there is no point in putting myself on a spending ban anymore because most of the stuff on my Project Pan has been finished and the rest are just powders or my friends have taken them off me because they like what I don't (>.<) hence this post!

Anyhoo! I decided I needed some retail therapy after a particularly bad period of time, so I headed to my two favourite shops - The Body Shop and Boots!

the body shop and boots haul

I browsed the aisles, just window shopping at first, only intending to buy a Love Your Body card seeing as mine had expired, but then I saw that they had some new body butters out! I already have more than enough body butters but Pink Grapefruit and Vineyard Peach really caught my eye..

the body shop pink grapefruit vineyard peach body butters

.. and after catching a whiff of each, the rest as they say, was history. ♥

I forgot to mention that I brought a friend along with me. I kind of sort of inadvertently by accident talked her into buying them too. LOL 

Hey don't look at me like that, she wanted them really! I mean who wouldn't, have you smelt these?! Yeah that's what I thought :P

benefit besties set

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaanyhooooo. Next I went into Boots and if I'm honest, nothing really appealed to me but the Benefit Besties set. I needed another mini Some Kind-a Gorgeous for my bag because my first one had almost finished, and was also curious about the That Gal primer too. I'll be putting up a review of it soon hopefully :o)

I also bought myself some socks but thought it would make me look weirder than usual if I put up a picture of my fuzzy pink socks..heh. xD

And on that rather random note, I shall bid thee goodbye - but not without leaving you with a question! What do you do to cheer yourself up when you've had a particularly bad week? 

Disclaimer: All products were bought with my own money unless stated otherwise. All opinions are my own. But if you read the post you'd know that. :P 

Wednesday, 14 November 2012

Guess who's back, back again.. ;D

Heyyyy.. *smiles timidly* how is everyone doing? 

..uh, guys? Where are you going? Wait.. what?! NO NO WAIT NO COME BACK I'M SORRYYY! asdfghjkl;'

 I am SO sorry I left you, you guys. Seriously! *wide eyed* This stupid thing called Life and it's friend Uni got in the way of us. Please forgive me. Please take me back!


What's that? You will?! *squeals and does the dougie* I love you all SO much! ~GROUP HUUUUUG!~

Seriously though, I've missed blogging. A LOT. All I ever do these days is go to uni and sleep. And maybe eat sometimes. It's exhausting (;__;) 

So I thought instead of disappearing for months on end I'd MAKE SOME TIME and POST SOME STUFFS. Not only because I miss it, but because some of my blog followers have actually been asking me regularly when I'm going to be posting another blog post! Everytime someone asked I would always react the same - like, you actually follow my blog enough for you to notice that I haven't been posting for a while?! 

My reaction usually goes something like this:

 

Then proceed to do this:


or alternatively, something like this, but more halal:


(When in reality I actually do this:

 

.. mainly because most people who say it are online. Awkward laptop dancing ftw! *fist pump*)

LOL no but REALLY.. like really really..

..it honestly does make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside knowing that even one person likes my blog, forget all of my followers and people I know in real life and on twitter who tell me they read my blog! It honestly makes my day whenever someone compliments my blog, because it is my baby, and I did put a lot of work into it and to know that I've helped someone - whoever it may be, even in the smallest way possible - it makes it all feel worth while, so thank you so much from the bottom of my heart.


Where was I going with this? I don't even know. Oh wait yes! I have already started typing up a blog post  - a short one but a blog post all the same! *beams, proud of herself* And if I get any more time this weekend, I will type up another one too! :D

So yeah.. watch this space, ladies and gentlemen.. watch. this. space... cuz I am BACK and I am here to stay! ;D


Anyway.. peace out - for now! 
*dances out backwards to Gangnam style*

P.s. Yes, I was in a ridiculously odd mood when I typed up this post. You know you love me. :P 

Thursday, 4 October 2012

July, August & September Empties ♥

Hello there you beautiful lot, hope your week is going well! I'm here with my July, August, & September combined empties. I just couldn't stand them being in my room for much longer, and I didn't think that I'd be finishing anything else any time soon so.. 

Leggo!


[L-R]

Johnson's Baby Shampoo - I use this to wash my brushes, and it lasts me a long time too because I only really use eyeliner brushes and a powder brush. It always leaves my brushes clean and soft, and I will always repurchase this - because of the aforementioned reasons and because it's always handy to have when you run out of your normal shampoo ;D

Side note: I wrote up a tutorial on how to clean your makeup brushes using this back in July (click here to check it out!) it tells you everything from how to wash them to how many times to wash which type of brush. :o)

Garnier Skin Naturals Simply Essentials Soothing 2 in 1 Make-up Remover - You could call this my 'Holy Grail' makeup remover. Takes off makeup without leaving a film of oil on your face or stripping it of oil. Full review here :] I've already got two of these as back up hehe.

Witch Naturally Clear Blemish Stick (x3) - Love this stuff. This is the best spot treatment I've tried so far. Really does its job well and it's fast too. I went through one more than usual because of what happened on Eid. For the full review, just clickety clack on over here!  I really need to get some more and stock up - I only have one more left, eep!

Soap & Glory Thick and Fast Mascara - I stopped using this around the end of July because it'd been over three months and I'm paranoid about getting an eye infection (even though I've never had one, Alhamdulillah!). Don't think I'll be buying this again soon - I have a couple of other mascaras that I've received and/or bought to get through, and I'm digging the long lashes look instead of the volumized look lately - which this does well I might add! I've reviewed this in my Five Favourites Friday: Soap & Glory post way back in July, and I really did like it! :)

Revlon Grow Luscious Mascara in Blackened Brown - Really liked this! The formula was great, not too wet  not too dry. It had the same brush as the Soap & Glory one and the Benefit Badgal Lash mascara! Also, I really couldn't tell that it wasn't fully black. Again, this does the same thing as the Soap & Glory one and the Benefit one too; very good at volumizing my lashes! I have a spare that I'm selling in my blog sale if anyone is interested in trying it! :o)

Soap & Glory Flake Away Body Scrub - Love everything about this scrub. If I go and try something new, I always come straight back to this. It's just too good - another favourite from my Five Favourites Friday: Soap & Glory post. Will always repurchase this ♥

Hmm, a lot of makeup related stuff compared to my June Empties post. What do your empties mostly consist of? ☺

Disclaimer: All products were bought with my own money unless stated otherwise. All opinions are my own.

Sunday, 30 September 2012

September Favourites ♥


Is it just me, or did September go by really fast? No? Just me? Okay then >.< I'll just shut up and get on with my September favourites then shall I? Yes? Okay cool stuff..

♦     Garnier Dark Spot Corrector - Haven't been using this long enough for me to notice that any of my marks fading, but it's a brilliant moisturiser and smells very citrusy, which is always a winner for me because I'm obsessed with fruity smells. :P It leaves my skin feeling very hydrated and it really is 'illuminating' just like it says on the bottle!






♦     EcoTools Mineral Powder Brush - Aaaahh I love anything travel sized and brushes are no exception. I bought this off ebay in a diddy little set that cost a fraction of the price compared to if I bought it from Boots! It distribute the powder evenly and isn't scratchy in the least. I've washed it a few times now and it hasn't shed even a single hair!

♦     Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Honey - I know I know, I broke my makeup ban. Again. For the third time I believe? I don't buy makeup much anyway, and most of the stuff on my Project Pan list is either body care, skincare, or face powders! And besides, this was on offer for £5.99, and I got to use a £2 off any Revlon product Boots voucher that I had on top of it so it cost me £3.99! I couldn't resist it okay. I was WEAK. Not my fault it was such a bargain and looks and feels so good on my lips. Hmph.

♦     Avon Super Extend Extreme Mascara in Black - Looooooooving this. got this with the July Edition of Marie Claire and have finally started using it after my other two (which shall be in my next empties post In Shaa Allah) finished/dried up. The wand is plastic and it separates and lengthens my lashes so beautifully that it's almost rivalling my favourite L'oreal Telescopic mascara! The formula is just right too, and it holds the curl for aaaages. I don't usually wear mascara much, but this has been making me reach for it every day!

♦     Natural Collection Loose Powder in Warm Translucent - I went through a phase of loving powders (one of which I'm selling in my blog sale if anyone's interested) and in it I bought this. I forgot all about it once I found Rimmel's Clear Complexion Clarifying Powder, and it sat at the back of my draw for ages. I thought I'd pull it out and give it a go with the mineral powder brush I got in the EcoTools set that I  mentioned before, and it works really well with it and it reminded me of how much I love this powder! It reduces shine and sets makeup really well, all for just £1.99!

♦     Purity Organic Skincare Conditioning Cleansing Lotion Makeup Remover* - special mention for this guy. I ran out of my Simple wipes and had finished my usual makeup remover (again, shall be in my next empties post, In Shaa Allah) and I started using this a lot more, and it really has helped condition my skin. Sometimes when I use my Simple wipes to take off my mascara (which I've been wearing more often lately) on days when I'm far too tired to do anything for longer than five minutes, it really makes my eyelids sore. This is where this makeup remover comes in. I mean, I have a full review on it here but seriously, this even takes off my mascara without irritating my eyelids, and I don't even have to wash my face after wiping it off. Something we all need at the end of a long day I reckon!

Woo! That was a bit of a rambly post. I apologise. I am typing this up in the dead of the night sooo. :P What products have you been loving this month? ☺

*PR sample, sent to me for consideration. All views are my own, I promise. :o)

Friday, 28 September 2012

Face Mask Fridays: Superdrug Hydrating Self Heating Mask

Hello there me dears! Hope you're all keeping well In Shaa Allah :o) I'm back with another Face Mask Friday review for you all :]

Today I shall be reviewing Superdrug's Hydrating Self Heating Mask - I have reviewed two others similar to this before, which are the Garnier Skin Naturals Pure Self Heating Sauna Mask and Sanctuary's 5 Minute Thermal Detox Mask. Click the names to check them out if you're feeling curious :D

My skin has been feeling a bit dry lately, so I thought I'd try this mask instead of something I'd use for my usual oily combo skin. And it would go with my little theme of self heating masks that I've been reviewing so far. Score! 


Superdrug Hydrating Self Heating Mask Review

Haha anyhoo. This mask - just like the Sanctuary mask - contains kaolin clay, which has be known to help get rid of excess oiliness by absorbing the oil on your face.

'Quench that thirst! Enriched with Jasmine and Evening Primrose Flower extracts Superdrug's Hydrating Self-Heating Mask helps to nourish and moisturise skin.'

When I read this, I was amazed that someone had made something that would get rid of excess oil and moisturise the skin. Usually it's quite hard to find something that does both.

And both things it actually does! Quite well too I might add. After using this, I didn't feel the need to moisturise at all. In fact if I did, I'd wake up with my t zone feeling oilier than usual.

Superdrug Hydrating Self Heating Mask Review

Now that we've talked about the hydrating part of the mask, let's move onto the self heating part..

'The gentle warming sensation draws out impurities for ultra soft smooth skin.'
[source]

Now that I think about it, they actually put an accurate description of the self heating part of the mask. Because I had tried the Sanctuary mask, I was expecting a blazing fire from the depths of Hell the moment it touched my face (I'm only joking.. well, half joking. :P) and so was quite underwhelmed by how, well, gentle it was. It was enough to notice though, definitely more so than the Garnier mask's!

In terms of consistency, it was quite runny compared to the Garnier and the Sanctuary ones. As you can see in the picture, it started running down my fingers before I could even steady my phone to take a picture of it. 

When I put it on my face it would slowly slide down my face so that after a few minutes I'd look like I have a big pink bum-chin and then drop off when I wasn't looking. O.o


Superdrug Hydrating Self Heating Mask Review

Also.. I know this is going to sound silly, but even though there's a woman on the packaging with a pink face mask on, for some reason I was expecting it to be grey just like the other two. I know, I know, it seems obvious now that I look at it, but I genuinely was like huh?! This is bright.. *looks at packet again* Oh.. heh.  xD I know. My brain works in unfathomable ways. I can't help it haha.

Another thing I notice about this was that it didn't dry up, but around the edges of where the mask was applied it would turn white and harden a little after a while. It would also.. curdle.. on my face, especially my cheeks, which aren't even oil at all, a little dry in fact. I don't know. Curdle? Is that the right word? I hope you guys know what I'm talking about, I can't think of a better way to describe it >.<

Superdrug Hydrating Self Heating Mask Review

One thing that I liked when I read the back of the sachet was finding out that it was suitable for vegetarians and vegans, that they do not test on animals so are cruelty free, and is also paraben free too! Awesome stuff. Now they just have to change the packaging to something recyclable and voila, it helps the world a tad more on it's way out hehe.

The only thing I didn't like about this mask apart from the odd curdling bit, was the smell. I mean it was nice and fruity/floral, and some people might like that, but the smell kind of got to my head a bit and made me a bit.. woozy. But other than that it lived up to what it said and it's always lovely to find something that does what it says on the tin, isn't it? (^__^)

For something that has 15ml in (just like the Sanctuary one - which I got four uses out of) I only got two uses out of this, but that may be because it was quite runny and you needed a lot of it to cover your face with.

But I must say that at just under half the price of the Sanctuary one (99p!) and with the same amount of product, and the fact that it lives up to what it says it does, I can safely say that this is one that you should definitely check out if you're ever in Superdrug in the skincare aisle. 

They're even doing a 4 for the price of 3 offer at the moment - they even do men's masks too, so there's something for everyone. Have you tried any of their masks? Tried anything similar? Let me know in the comments below! 

Disclaimer: All products were bought with my own money unless stated otherwise. All opinions are my own.