Brand Focus: Simple!

 I've done a small review on how I've felt about their toner and moisturiser before, but now I 've accumulated a few more products, so here's what I think about the brand!

Let's start by saying that Simple is by far my favourite skincare brand so far! It's afforable and great for my senstitive skin. If your skin gets irritated by products very easily or you find trouble getting products to work well with your skin, these are perfect for you!

 Here I've got the Refreshing Facial Wash Gel and the Moisturising Facial Wash. If you need a deep cleanse and you like that clean feeling you get when you've freshly washed your face then this product is perfect. It doesn't irritate my skin or leave it red and or too dry. It's definitely a great facial wash to use at night when you wish to cleanse your face before bed. Remember though that you'll probably need moisturiser after using this one as it's not specifically for dry skin.

The Moisturising Facial Wash is similar to the Refreshing Facial Wash gel but leaves you with a less of a clean feel. It doesn't cleanse your face as much as the gel, but it still does a good job! If you have dry skin, this is one aimed at you! I use this one more regularly due to my dry skin (especially now that it's winter time).

http://rachelsbeautybites.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/beauty-bite-take-care-of-your-skinits.html

I've reviewed the rich moisturiser and the facial toner before so above is the link to a full review. But these a daily essential part to my skincare routine and are a constant repurchase! I cannot big up this skincare brand enough! As I have such dry skin I use the rich moisturiser but if you don't need such a thick moisturiser they do make a lighter moisturiser too!

The cleansing lotion is one of the newer products to my Simple collection and skincare routine.  It's a thick lotion that you use to remove dirt and makeup. Sort of a thick version of the toner but with an even more gentler feel. Use a cotton pad with a small dollop of this product or dot it on your face and gently remove it all and blend it into your skin with the cotton pad. Your skin will feel amazing! I suggest you use upward motions when using this one for best results! (Keeps that skin perky ;) haha) Often products like this react badly with my skin but this is amazing for sensitive skin.

In brief, these are the best facial wipes I've ever used! Gentle on the skin, removes the initial layer of makeup in preparation for the rest of  your skincare routine! For the full review click here!

Finally is the shower gel! I know you lot probably did the same as I did. Walked past this shower gel so many times and never gave it a second glance. But as soon as my skin began reacting to nearly every shower gel possible I knew where to turn! This was only a pound, gives you that refreshing, cleansed feel and doesn't react with my skin! Perfect!

If you love Simple like me or have tried any of their stuff I haven't mentioned but think I should try it, comment below! I don't bite ;)

http://www.simple.co.uk/mysimple
Turns out Simple have a page you can join to get rewards and read articles on their stuff!

Give them a go!

Beauty Bite: The Sunshine Award Tag!

I was tagged by the lovely Gaby from AnotherGirlyBlog to do the Sunshine Award!

The Rules!

I have to share 11 random facts about myself

Answer the 11 questions that the nominating blogger gave me

List 11 bloggers I believe deserve recognition

Then post 11 questions for those bloggers to answer

11 Random facts about me!

1. I am a chocoholic. I literally cannot go a day without eating chocolate. It's bad I know...

2. I'm lactose intolerant

3. My favourite colour is green

4.I study Sociology at university

5. My favourite bands are Fall Out Boy, Panic! At The Disco, Mumford and Sons and The Script

6. I have a Border Collie dog named Toby

7. I hate tea and coffee

8. However I am obsessed with Costa Coffee (The hot chocolates and creamy coolers...and brownies.)

9. I love to bake! I am quite the baker when it comes to cupcakes ;)

10. I'm Cornish and proud!

11. I like virtually anything with a polka dot pattern

Gaby's Questions:

1) What makeup brand could you not live without?

This is a tricky question since I'm in love with MUA and Maybelline. I'm gonna go with Maybelline! I can't live without their Dream Matte Mousse or their Baby Lips!

2) Why did you start blogging?

I've always had an obsession with beauty products! I also like to write and I had some spare time on my hands. I always wanted to blog but never really had the courage or confidence to! But this Summer I decided to do something I enjoy and that I could give my time to.

3) Costa/Nero/Pret/Starbucks?

COSTA. Hands down.

4) How long does it take you to get ready in the morning?

I'm not sure if this includes showers or not. My showers usually take anywhere from 10-20 minutes depending on how much time I have or want to waste haha. It takes me literally 5 minutes to do my makeup and a minute to do my hair. I don't really bother with my hair that much. So including getting changed it takes me like 25 minutes-half an hour.

5) What's your favourite season?

Winter! I love the cold! I love Christmas and my birthday is in January. You see more of your family. Gift-giving. Snow. Wooly jumpers. Hot chocolates. Christmas films. Darker evenings...the list goes on.

6) Do you prefer long/short and curly/straight hair?

Long straight hair!

7) What's your favourite book?

Either..

The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern or

Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chobsky.

I say the winner is P.S. I Love You.

(I cried at the first two books in this list...I'm a baby)

8) What's your idea of the perfect night in?

Sat in my onesie/snuggie/comfy pjs drinking hot chocolate on a cold winters evening watching a film with my family. (Preferrably Disney, I just never grew up)

9) If you had to have someone narrate your life who would it be?

Morgan Freeman. Because he is God.

10) If you could meet one person dead/alive who would it be?

Freddie Mercury! That man was a genius.

11) If you could travel back to one moment in time when would it be?

Probably to a Christmas day from when I was young. Maybe when I was around 5 or 6.

Who I nominate!
IceCreamDress
BeautyinBeta
4evafashionprincessmonthly
Middleclasshousewife
beautywaterfall
dontneedmakeutocoverup
Bethmayblogs
Peaceloveandmakeup
Lydiarose
lipsticksandlashes
vintage-teapot.

My Questions!
1. What's the one beauty product you can't live without?
2. If I gave you £1000 what would you spend it on?
3. If you could be anyone for a day who would it be?
4. If you had to make a blog on something else, what would it be?
5. When are you most happiest?
6. Where's your most favourite place in the world?
7. If you could describe yourself as an animal, which animal would you be?
8. What's your worst habit?
9. Which shop do you always spend far too much time or money in?
10. If you had to eat one type of food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
11. What's your favourite genre of music? (You must choose!)

Beauty Bite: My Most Recent Purchases!

So this is kind of a mini haul which I've decided to name 'My most recent purchases'

As you can see, I've bought 4 things recently that I feel that the beauty blogging world needs to know about!

 The Body Shop had a sale and I have a weakness for that place. This is the 'Vineyard Peach' body butter which I believe originally was £13 but when I bought it, it was £5! Everyone knows how amazing these body butters are. They're super moisturing, good value for money and most importantly, it doesn't react with my sensitive skin! The smell of this is actually gorgeous, I wish I picked up more than one! I literally cannot stop smelling it or applying it. Too good!

So for those of you who have already read my review, you know how I feel about this product! It's Lush's 'No Drought' dry shampoo. Essentially, it's one of the best purchases I've ever made in my opinion.

If you wish to see the full review for the 'No Drought' dry shampoo, you can click below!

http://rachelsbeautybites.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/beauty-bite-lushs-no-drought-dry-shampoo.html

 As I've already mentioned, I have very sensitive skin. In fact, recently I haven't been able to use most shower gels which is quite odd. I've unfortunately been reacting to them so I thought where else better to go to get shower gel that I won't react to than The Body Shop! This is the strawberry shower gel which is soap-free! So for all you fellow sensitive skin folks, this is definitely okay for you to use! I've tried and tested it! I feel refreshed after using it and it smells amazing. My flatmates love it so much they've been trying to steal it to use themselves as it smells so nice. This cost me £4 :)

 Now, I've not tried the original Kate Moss lipsticks as I can't quite find a shade in the collection that I think would suit me. However, I came across her matte collection in partnership with Rimmel London. I purchased the shade '101' which is an everyday natural nude/pink shade. On my skin tone it comes out rather pink but I believe on other people it comes out more of a nude colour. This is fantastic! It's long lasting, doesn't dry out your lips, is the perfect everyday colour and is such a reasonable price. However, I will say I'm on the fence about the smell. It has sort of a fruity berry smell but I'm not overly keen on it. I will be doing a full review on this soon so stay tuned for a review!

If you have given these a try or want to, let me know what you think in the comments below! I'll reply and I won't bite ;)

Beauty Bite: Lush's 'No Drought' Dry Shampoo

 

I hate to say it, but I've discovered a new love for the shop Lush.

Seems like I'm going to be spending a lot more time in there from now on...(Bye bye money!)

BUT! Here's a product which I believe will SAVE you money! Don't believe me? Hear me out!

 

Now if you're like me and have extremely thick hair, washing it is a pain. Plus, my hair gets greasy extremely easy. Therefore you run to the nearest Superdrug, Boots or a shop that stocks a dry shampoo and buy Batiste like a maniac. Now I'm not saying that Batiste is bad, but I'm trying to open your eyes to possible alternatives! :)

 

I used to buy so much batiste it was unreal. You end up paying quite a bit for a product (that for a person like me with long hair) only really refreshes your hair for a maximum of 10 times. So I took a wander into the Lush shop to see what goodies I would discover and I was introduced to their 'No Drought' dry shampoo.

 

 

This cost me £6.75. You're probably sat gawping at your screen right now thinking that this isn't a bargain, well let me explain! This product will probably last you a year if you use it on a regular basis. So therefore, you're actually saving yourself a lot of money! (Think of how many Batiste cans you would use in that time)

Also, you have to admit, the play on words that Lush use are brilliant.

 

This product is a powder, sort of like the consistency of talcum powder. It's shaped in your average plastic bottle with a nozzle to pour out the powder. The only downfall is that this product is difficult to get out of the bottle. I sometimes pour it straight onto the part of my hair that needs refreshing or I pour it into my hand then apply to my hair.

 

 As the bottle says, it contains grapefruit which gives it an AMAZING citrus smell and as the lady told me in the Lush store, it actually is a great ingredient in absorbing up excess oil. Once you've applied this, the smell lingers and keeps your hair smelling wonderful throughout the day.

Lush is a brilliant company to purchase from as they do not test on animals, everything is made with an environmentally conscious thought. Any packaging that can be removed and the product stays the same, Lush do not add it. Unnecessary packaging is removed! Also, as the bottle says, it's made from 100% recycled plastic and it is recyclable. They try to use natural ingredients and if there is a synthetic ingredient that needs to be used, they make sure it's a safe synthetic to use.

 

This product is better than many aerosol dry shampoos as it's better for the environment, in the long run it saves you money, it smells nicer than th majority of other dry shampoos, it lasts longer and it doesn't leave to much of a white/grey splodge in your hair.

 

Give this beauty a go!

It's completely worth it and I'm surprised that this product hasn't been raved about enough!

I love it!

Beauty Bite: Collection's Deluxe Lipstick in '04 Speakeasy'

So sorry for the delay in posting, I'm now fully moved into my uni accommodation and have been here for about a month! I can now get back into my beauty blogging. So today I bring you Collection's  new Deluxe Lipstick in '04 Speakeasy'. This is an adorable barbie pink colour! I loved this colour out of all the shades available (I believe there's about 5 shades?) They were on offer for £2.99 as an introduction price so I just had to jump at the chance!

 For a starter, I'm a sucker for cute packaging, so this was an easy buy for me. This packaging is quite different from any of Collection's products, so different that I thought that the lipsticks had accidentally been put in the wrong stands! But I absoloutely love it!

But, I'm not overly impressed with this lipstick, I may have possibly had too high of an expectation for it. I found it hard to apply (As you can see in the photo haha) I could not get it to get a decent outline, it seemed to tug at my lips as I applied it, it clung to the skin on my lips even though they were moisturised. It kept smudging and I really didn't like the smell of it.

However, I did like the colour and the thickness of the lipstick. The packaging again was a big bonus and the amount of lipstick you get is quite generous!

This is a slight disappointment for me, but overall an okay lipstick. I will continue to use it but it is not a favourite.

Possibly worth a go?

Let me know what you think!