Home Bargains Mini Shop

Hi there! Just a quick blog post to show you some of the great things I got cheaply at Home Bargains!

 For £1.99, this is the even more affordable version of the tangle teaser. Cheap and works just as well. Fantastic on long hair and they even do a small one too for those of you with short hair! Definitely worth the buy.

 Never really been interested in make-up sponges, so instead of splurging on a more expensive one, I opted for the cheap 59p one instead. Will update with how well this works!

I haven't posted a nail art design in a while, but here are some nail brushes I bought in order to create some new funky nail art designs to share with you! Again, being so affordable, I couldn't leave them there.

 We all know what it's like for a girl finding hair grips. When you don't want them, they're everywhere, when you do, there's none! For 29p, total bargain.

 Finally, a little stationery purchase. I bought these two gorgeous A5 notebooks for 99p each! They look waaaay more expensive and so chic!

I suggest if you wish to try out the latest beauty trends and gadgets, opt for a cheaper version first as a trial run. Bare in mind that they may not give the same effect as the more expensive product, but they give you an idea of how they perform!

What are your recent bargain purchases?

Superdrug's Coconut Oil

Another quick blog post for you on a multi-purpose beauty product that every beauty blogger has raved about. This has been a long time favourite of mine for being so diverse in applications.

I've used this mainly for my hair. I use it as a leave in conditioner by applying it to a dry scalp at night, sleeping with it in and then rinsing it out with a 2 in 1 shampoo and conditioner. This mainly targets my dry and dandruff invested scalp. It leaves it flake free and soft. The smell is incredibly strong and the coconut scent lingers in your hair after application.

I also us it for severe dry areas, especially in areas of irritation or psoriasis. It softens the skin and reduces redness and irritation to sensitive areas. However, I do find that it does take a while to warm up as it is extremely hard in the tub. I found that scraping it into chunks initially makes later application far easier and quicker.

For around £2, this little white tub is worth picking up!

Batiste Cherry Dry Shampoo

Just a quick blog post for you! Recently I've been leaving my hair longer and longer without washing (gross, I know!) but it is actually really healthy for you hair! I've noticed my hair is shinier, less damaged and softer. There are less split ends and my hair actually feels healthier. So in between days my mane obviously needs a pick me up. I often use the tropical Batiste dry shampoo, but I recently purchased the cherry scent. I found it really masks the smell from unwashed hair and doesn't show up too white when sprayed. Really impressed with Batiste and will forever be a fan!

Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula with Vitamin E

Now on to one of my favourite moisturisers! Suffering from severely dry skin, I'm always on the hunt for an enriching moisturiser which lasts. Not one that feel soft for 5 minutes. This one has been a staple of mine for years and I'm here to tell you why it's amazing,

1. It really does soften the skin. If you have rough or dry, flaky skin, this will sort it out!! It's nourishing on the skin for sure.

2. It keeps your skin moisturised for hours, 24 hours? Not really tested it for that long or I've forgotten I apllied it to notice. However, it really does keep it hydrated whenever I touch my skin.

3. It has a thick, buttery texture. I love applying a thick moisturiser that feels like it's doing something. It doesn't sit on the skin like some thick ones do and it really absorbs into the skin.

4. The smell is divineeee. If you're a chocolate addict like me, you will love the smell of this sweet, cocoa creation.

5. A little goes a long way. 250ml may not seem like a lot, but with it being so rich, you really don't need to apply much for it to be effective.

However, I cannot really comment on the idea that it smoothes stretch marks or lines as I haven't really seen that much of a difference. Therefore if you're interested in this for that reason, maybe give it a skip.

All you dry, sensitive skin owners who love a good sweet smelling moisturiser, give this one a try.

Primark Perfumes...Worth the Purchase? 'He Loves Me' Review

You often hear about people wearing the latest fragrances and perfumes which are often £50+ in price. For me, I love a good perfume but begrudge paying over £20 for one! After taking a stroll in Primark, I found myself and the health and beauty section of the shop and saw this lovely poppy themed eau de toilette named 'He Loves Me'.

This cute little bottle stood out to me with the adorable poppy detail on the lid (which is removable), however, a tad annoying the dust it collects on the bottle from it.

This handy little perfume was originally £6 down to £3 which in all honesty, was a steal. With a mix of fruity and a strong floral influence, this scent is long-lasting and potent. Not only does it come in a bottle, but for those who want one on the go, they do a handy roller ball version for £2. Perfect for highlighting the pressure points.

So, skip forking out on designer, high-end, ridiculously priced scents and opt for a more affordable and delightful fragrance instead.

The Body Shop Body Mists

(L-R) Mango, Brazil Nut, Vineyard Peach, Strawberry

A quick post for you on one of my favourite types of fragrances. The Body Shop mists are the go to things I buy every time there is a sale on because they smell so amazing. As it is a mist, I will admit the smell is not as strong or as long lasting, but that doesn't take away from how realistic and lovely they smell. My favourite is the mango one, being a reoccurring repurchase in my body shop basket. If you're after a gentle spritz of a fragrance in the spring and summer time without being overly offensive with a strong or sickly smell, give these lovelies a try!

Scrub up! Shower gels and scrubs favourites

 Dove are the shower gels best for moisture, soft skin and scent. The smell is incredible in every different fragrance; lingering on your body for hours! They're affordable and last a long time. Worth the money!

 I'd never came across this brand until I saw them half price in Boots a few weeks ago. This smell is the most sweetest but pleasant smell EVER. You definitely have to avoid wanting to eat this one! Soft on the skin and moisturising but yet cleansing.Some shower gels often fail to leave you feeling clean after, but this one doesn't fail.

 One of my favourites repurchased many times in multiple scents is the Wilko Fruits Body Scrub. It really does the job well of exfoliating as well as having long lasting smell. At £1.50 and recently down to 95p...can't really be left in the shop!

 This one smells amazing too, as all the products above do, as well as all soap and glory products. Exfoliates on the skin well without being harsh. One of the more expensive ones of the bunch, so maybe consider the other ones before this one.

What are your favourite shower gels and scrubs?

Skincare Essentials

 Skincare is the most important part of your make-up routine, right? Without the right canvas, your make-up won't look it's best! In order to get the best skin, check out my skincare essentials.

 Let's start with removing make-up. Garnier's Micellar Cleansing Water is the best one I've used by far. I've even converted a few friends to using this! Gentle on sensitive skin, great on taking all make-up and inexpensive too! Pop this on a few cotton pads, gently sweep on the face and tah dah! Fresh and clean.

 Boots own brand should not be underestimated. Some of my favourite products are Boots own brand and are definitely great for sensitive skin. First on the left is a face sun cream. Now, some of you are thinking "Why not just put normal sun cream on my face?" Well, let me tell you. The skin on your face is different to the skin on your body; softer, delicate and more sensitive. This is a factor 50 which is a must for fairer skin tones. It's great under make-up, it's non-greasy and doesn't make your skin spotty and clogged.

On the left is the Tea Tree and Witch Hazel Night Treatment Gel. Let me tell you, this is a new purchase and a life saver. For those of you  who suffer from mild breakouts, apply this soothing gel on your face at the end of your evening skincare routine before you go to bed and it will calm down those irritated areas prone to spots and redness. This has for sure calmed down those small breakouts on my chin and forehead.

This is one of those masks for those who don't have the time to sit for 15-30 mins with a face mask on. This restores moisture and is so cheap!
For the full review of this product, click here.

 These products give my skin a bit of rejuvenation that it sometimes desperately needs. I apply the serum after my moisturiser when my skin is extra dry and in need of some TLC and the spray is used when my skin needs a quick 'pick me up'. Superdrug's own brand of products are also a force to be reckoned with! Next time you're in Superdrug, give these a glance and try from their new Vitamin E line.

Everyone knows I love Simple. By far my favourite skin brand and the only moisturiser that has truly taken care of my skin like no other. Their facial wash is gentle but tough enough to exfoliate and get rid of the dirt and grime your skin collects. To see more Simple products I've reviewed, click here.

That sums up my very long list of skincare essentials, but hey, it's important!

The Body Shop's Honey Bronzer

For all you fellow pale ladies out there...this one is for you. If you're as fair as I am, the word 'bronzer' makes you want to cry. I was never able to find a good, non-shimmery contour bronzer that didn't look like I'd smeared dirt across my face. My housemate and I were having a make-up showing session where we were explaining to each other what our favourite products were since we both had similar skin colours and types. Then she pulled out this bad boy.

Turns out, this is a pale girl's dream. The really light brown works well on giving a soft shadow and allowing us ghosts to finally be able to contour. Not only is the packaging adorable, but it works amazing too! It blends beautifully and is easily buildable. Definitely something everyone should own.

Who could resist something so cute? So, is there another bronzer worth the try? Probably. But I'll stick with this for now.

Top 5 foundations

 Hello everyone! I've been a bit absent recently so here is a brand new post for you! Here are my top 5 foundations. These foundations are best suited for my skin and my preferences. I am extremely fair skinned (to the point that highstreet/drugstore foundations struggle to match my skintone in colour) and I have very dry skin. Therefore, some of these may be too dewy for you, however, I have thrown in a matte foundation which may suit some. So off we go...

 Kicking off the top 5 are two of the most popular and well-loved foundations known to humans. Bourjois are fantastic at getting the right balance of coverage and dewiness. On the left is the lighter coverage 'gel' foundation which is the Healthy Mix Serum. I use this on days where I want to put in a bit of an effort with my make-up but don't need to be entirely dolled up for the day and caked in make-up. On the right is the Healthy Mix foundation, which is the heavier coverage of the two but it gives a medium coverage. It covers enough to have a good solid base but still acting like a second skin and not looking cakey. They both smell amazing, having fruit extracts which also hydrate tired and dry skin. Both are yellow toned in colour and are both in the shade 51 Light Vanilla. Definitely my go-to foundations!

Shade R1 C1 Rose Ivory

 I heard the uproar about this foundation online. Being most people's holy grail foundation, I gave it a try. After the first attempt, I shoved it in a drawer after not being overly impressed by it and finding that it really enhanced my unwanted dry patches. Giving it a second chance, I made sure that my skin was thoroughly exfoliated and moisturised, then...it was perfect! This one can work for you dry skinned gals but do bear in mind that if your skin is severely dry, you may wish to give this one a skip. This foundation is more for the pink toned skin colours! Unlike the Bourjois Healthy Mix which both have no SPF, this one has a SPF 17.

 This one I have battles with. When it works, it's the best. When it doesn't wish to cooperate, it's really the worst. Revlon Colorstay is definitely a foundation that can split opinions! This pink toned watery foundation is supposed to be for normal-dry skin, however, I feel like it doesn't really suit dry skin at all! This one most definitely accentuates the dry, flaky skin and can give a very thick, cakey look to the skin. Not really suited for very dry skin. However, when your skin is relatively hydrated, this foundation can work a treat! This one is very similar to L'Oreal True Match but without the shimmery highlight to it. This is more towards the top end of the drugstore at about £12.

Probably the first foundation I ever bought and still use to this day, after multiple re-purchases! Perfect for people who are on the go and need to quickly slap on something without overly fussing about blending, brushes or mess. This has a slight pink tone to it, but not as noticable as the Revlon and L'Oreal foundations. Gives a light coverage which is easily buildable for a heavier base.

These 5 foundations I continuously repurchase and swear by, knowing which one suits my skin on what day. Do you use any of these foundations? What would be in your top 5?