Get To Know Me :)

Is there anything in life you would like to accomplish that you haven't yet? 
I'm only 22, so there are SO many more things I want to accomplish!! Seeing more of the world is a big one though!!

How do you like to relax? 
Bubble baths with all my favourite products, watching a DVD with my boyfriend, coffee with girlfriends, walks with my dog!!

What was your last major purchase?
I am currently saving for travelling next year so no major purchases, but I did put a Topshop order in the other night! Post to come soon :)

What can you cook very well? 
Thai green curry is my favourite dish to cook! I did a Thai cookery course in Thailand last year so consider myself a bit of a pro ;)

What is your favorite holiday and why? 
CHRISTMAS!! I adore Christmas - the food, the drink, the presents, the knitwear, the family :) 

What is one tv show that you really don't like? 
Jersey Shore or Geordie Shore - just no!

If given a million dollars, what is the first thing you would do with it? 
Take all my friends and family on a month long holiday somewhere exotic!!

What kind of people do you like being around? 
Good people! Sounds obvious, but I try surround myself with good people with good hearts who do good things! Simple!

What is your one embarrassing moment? 
I probably have loads, but I don't really get embarassed that easily!

How tall/short are you?
I'm pretty tall - about 5 '9 1/2

Last thing you ate? 
Sunday roast :) wooop!! Roast beef and yorkshire puds!

Would you ever leave the house without makeup on? 
Definitely, I do it all the time!

Heels or flats? 
I love heels, but as I'm tall I tend to wear flats more!

Please do this tag yourself in the comments below, so I can get to know you too :)

Elemis Balancing Lavender Toner Review

I originally bought this in January and it was the first toner I purchased since my teens! I never really saw the point, but it was in my New Year's Resolutions to incorporate more steps into my skincare routine so I decided to give one a go. I have combination, sensitive skin that is prone to the odd blemish so I was looking for a toner to suit these needs. This toner was recommended by Tanya Burr of pixi2woo so I couldn't say no!

This product is great for combination skin as it rebalances the skin's pH levels, giving a more even skin tone, and reduces oiliness. It does not contain any alcohol or harsh chemicals, which is a must for sensitive skin! This also means it is not stripping my skin any of any of its natural oils, which many products combating oiliness do. This can cause the skin to produce more oil, which leads to breakouts!

The product comes in a clear, plastic bottle with a metal and plastic top. The lid is also plastic, however mine has gone walkies! The bottle is a thick plastic so it feels nice and firm to hold and has a matte finish. I love the spray dispenser, which means this product can be used as a toner or a facial spritzer!

I use this product every morning when I wake up as a refreshing spritzer after I have washed my face. In the evening, I use 2-3 sprays on a cotton pad and run it all over my face, down my neck and décolletage after a thorough cleanse. This removes any residue left on the skin after cleansing, reduces oiliness and softens my skin. The scent is just lovely,  the lavender makes this a wonderfully relaxing product to use and like all Elemis products it has a distinctive 'spa smell'. It always makes me feel ready for bed when I use it in the evening. 

I have repurchased this product twice since Christmas and am currently half way through my third bottle. I don't think this product is ground-breaking, but I like the effect it has my skin and it is a very pleasant product to use. 

This product typically retails at £19.40 for a 200ml bottle!
feelunique are currently selling it for £15.52 with 20% off in their sale!
SalonSkincare are selling it for £16.95!
Both these are with free shipping!

Do you use a toner in your skincare routine? Please comment below if you can recommend a new toner for me to try!

Jo Malone Lime, Basil & Mandarin Body & Hand Lotion

I had a lovely surprise last year when a gorgeous Jo Malone box appeared on my 21st birthday! I hadn't asked for anything from them so was very surprised to find a big bottle of this body and hand lotion  tucked away within the box! As a student (now a graduate) the price tag for this body lotion was waaay out of my price range so it was exactly what the perfect gift should be, something you wouldn't buy yourself. 

This product is just D-I-VINE!! It is a wonderful, luxurious product that I use sparingly, date nights and special occasions only! Thanks to this rationing, I have just under half left :)

The product comes in minimalistic packaging with a clear plastic bottle with a black lid. I love the Jo Malone packaging, it is so simple and chic! The dispenser makes it easy to use, so none of the shaking and squeezing that often comes with body lotions!

Now onto the important stuff - this smells INCREDIBLE! The overriding scents are citrus based thanks to the lime and mandarin, which makes it lovely and refreshing! I love putting this on when I get out of the shower to wake me up. There are also herby, earthy notes, from the basil, which tones down the zinginess and makes this lotion utterly delicious to use.

The product has a light-weight forumla and blends into the skin very easily. As you can see from the photographs below, once you begin to massage this into the skin, it turns clear and thins out, allowing it to sink into the skin quickly. No greasy residue is left behind, your skin just feels gorgeously soft. This means you can get dressed straight away which is a huge positive for me as I hate having to hang around while my moisturiser sinks in!

The scent lasts on the skin very well, which you would expect from a luxury product. It is also quite strong, which for me I love, as if I'm going to spend money on an expensive product I want people around me to be able to smell the scent. Especially when it smells this good!

Despite the hefty price tag at £38 for 250ml - I WOULD repurchase this with my own money! I'm also keen to try out some of their other scents. I currently have my eye on the Wild Bluebell!

You can purchase this product from the Jo Malone website and you can also buy it in a 100ml bottle for £19 if you want to sample a smaller size or for travel!

Please comment below what your favourite Jo Malone scents are!

Sanctuary 5 Minute Thermal Detox Mask Review

I have quite congested skin, prone to the odd blemish and if I don't look after it, it has a tendency to look dull! Thus the obvious solution is a deep cleanse, as I can't afford the facial option I opted for this Sanctuary mask which I picked up from Boots!

It comes in a 100ml squeezy tube and you get a lot of product! I have been using it once a week for a few months now and have over half left. This mask is a very luxurious product for a drugstore purchase. It is a self-heating mask so as soon as you massage it into the skin it warms up. This opens up the pores to make it easier for the charcoal and kaolin clay in the mask to draw those pesky impurities out! This does not harden, unlike other clay masks, so it doesn't crack or feel uncomfortable. The product also claims to rebalance your skin's oil levels leaving it silky smooth and soothed. I definitely agree with this as my skin looks smoother and has a matte-finish after use.

I typically use this product on a Sunday night when I am doing a full pamper session. This is such a lovely product to use before bedtime, as the scent and the heat of the mask makes me so sleepy!

To use this product, I first cleanse my skin thoroughly, removing all my make up. I then slightly wet my face as I think this makes the product easier to blend over the skin. I typically take two squeezes and massage it all over my face and sometimes down my neck and décolletage. The mask will then heat up and you must wait till its cooled before removing, they suggests to leave it on for 5 minutes but I typically leave it on for 15-20! I then use a muslin cloth to remove it with warm water.

Be warned this product is very very effective so if you have any spots beneath the surface they will be drawn to the top. This is why I typically use it on a Sunday so my skin is clear by the weekend. Remember though, these spots are going to appear whether you help draw them out or not, so it's better to do in a controlled manner, so they aren't popping up the day of your hot date or important meeting! Also if you keep up using the mask regularly all your impurities will be drawn out leaving your skin clear!

I think this product is well worth its £10.20 price tag and is easily available in your local Boots store. It is currently included in their 3 for 2 offer on No 7 and 'indulgent bathing' products!

I have tried a number of charcoal masks and this is the best yet! It has stayed permanently in my skincare routine for a number of months now so I know it's a keeper!!

Please comment below if you have used this product and what you think, or if you think my Sanctuary mask might have some competition!

Macademia Healing Oil Treatment Review

I have been looking at purchasing a hair oil for a while now, but found it difficult to find one that would suit my hair type. I have fine, straight hair but lots of it! My hair cannot take heavy product as it gets weighed down very easily. I have been noticing that my ends were becoming dry and brittle and thought a hair oil would be the most suitable product to fix this.

I found the Macademia Healing Oil on Buyapowa and after reading a few reviews decided to take the plunge! And I LOVE it!! 

This is what the product claims to do:
- Provide intense nourishment, smooth and long-lasting, frizz free hair
- Instant absorption and a lightweright, non-greasy finish
- Reduce colour fading, therefore extending the life of colour treatments
- Provide natural UV protection
- Reduce drying time by 40-50%

 This is what I think:

The 125ml oil comes in a glass bottle, which adds a little luxury! It also comes with a pump for easy dispensing. I use about half a pump every time I wash my hair. After washing and brushing my hair I rub the product in my hands before evenly running it through the ends of my hair (from about my ear down). It is a very lightweight formula so doesn't weigh my hair down at all. The smell is AMAZING, I don't think it smells nutty at all, the only way I can think to describe it is a musky scent mixed with a 'spa' smell!! 

It leaves my hair soft and gorgeous to touch without being greasy. I can easily wash my hair every other day with this product in. It also makes it a lot easier to style as my hair has less frizz and fly-aways! Unlike other oils I have tried it does not weigh it down so if I want to curl it or put more volume in my hair it will still stay put!

I paid £10.50 for a 125ml bottle on Buyapowa so a huge saving on the RRP which is £29.95! But I would be willing to repurchase this at full price!

CheapSmells is currently selling this product for £14.75

You can buy this product in a variety of sizes, which is great if you want to sample a mediumer size before purchasing a big bottle.

This product is going to be a staple in my hair care routine and I HIGHLY recommend it!!

If you have any hair oils you would recommend please comment below :)