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Tuesday 27 January 2015

Winterssentuals | January Favourites



Throughout December I was enjoying island sunshine and managed to escape the winter blues for a while (still got roasted under the sun though #fail). Unfortunately winter has caught up to me and it hasn't been nice. But to help me fight the harsh winter winds, I've found myself frequently reaching out for these products & sharing them with you may also alleviate your winter blues...


Symptoms of the Winter Skin Blues:

- face crumbling off
- bran flake lips
-sandpaper hands


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SKIN
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The Body Shop Shea Shower Cream 250ml (£4) HERE

I love that this Body Shop shower cream is soap-free as it doesn't dry out my skin as much as my normal shower gels. Pair this with the nutty-fresh scent and moisturizing goodness of Shea and you have the perfect winter body wash.


Topicrem SOS Repair Body Cream 200ml (£4) HERE

I discovered the Topicrem brand from my aunt last year who was prescribed it by her dermatologist as an everyday body lotion for extra dry skin. I switch between the cream and lotion, the lotion is lighter (better for summer) and the cream is more denser. Aside from winter, I have really dry skin anyway so I like to keep backups of this.


The Body Shop Wild Argan Radiant Oil 125ml (£14) HERE

I love using dry oil formulas during winter because it's freezing enough as it is and I hate having to waste time naked and shivering in the bathroom just to cream my body with that icy cold lotion (TMI?!). Read more about this product...


Burts Bee's Lemon Cuticle Cream 15g (£5.99) HERE

Winter always has a harsh effect on my hands, they get dryer and more wrinkly so I try to moisturize them as much as possible. Before I paint my nails I use a cotton bud/Q-tip and moisturize the cuticle area with this heavenly lemon scented cream to prevent any peeling.


Carmex Original Lip Pot 7g (£2.69) HERE

Another one of my all-time favorites; I have a multiple of these in various different locations and I've even been given the odd look in exam halls when this ends up on my table. It's the perfect consistence; not too glossy and perfect for chapped lips. To put this simply... I cannot live without Carmex.

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HAIR
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Batiste Tropical Dry Shampoo 200ml (£2.99) HERE

This is probably one of my all time repurchased items; it's inexpensive, easy to use and does the job perfectly. I always make sure I've got a few of these stocked up at home and at uni. I've been heavily relying on dry shampoos these days because washing my hair in the cold and early mornings is just a no no sometimes. The tropical scent has been my favorite recently as it reminds me of my holiday to the islands. Read more about this product...


SACHAJUAN Protective Hair Perfume 50ml (£40) HERE

Similarly to Batiste, I use this hair perfume on days where my hair needs a refreshing boost because it smells heavenly. Plus my hair is quite porous and absorbs scents easily (cooking is a struggle) so having this product around is quite useful, especially if I have to leave the house in a rush and don't have any time to wash my hair. I'll be posting a more detailed review of this product soon.


Fushi Organic Argan Oil 100ml (£13) HERE

As opposed to my overnight coconut oil mask, I've recently started switching it up and using different oils every once in a while. The argan oil is one of my new favorites as it's a lot more absorbent and also washes out more easily.


La Roche-Posay Pigmentclar Eye Cream 15ml (£24.50) HERE

A fairly recent addition to my skincare range which I have been loving. This moisturises under my eyes well and is a perfect base for my concealer. Read more about this product...

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MAKEUP
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NARS Sheer Glow Foundation 30ml (£30.50) HERE

NARS Sheer Glow is not only my favorite winter foundation but one of my all time loves. The name represents nothing of the foundation which is quite odd as it gives the impression of a dewy finish. I love this foundation for many reasons, most important it being the perfect balance for my imperfect skin. I find that in winter, some foundations highlight dry areas on the face and once you get into a warm environment, ends up looking quite oily. I don't have this problem with the NSG however I only like this foundation when applying it with a sponge/Beauty Blender. When I first bought the NSG, I used it with a foundation brush and absolutely hated the results. But I found that dabbing the product with a slightly damp sponge gives an even, immaculate finish. I would recommend buying a pump as so much product has leaked into the lid and caused a wasted mess.


Benefit That Gal Primer 11ml (£22.50) HERE

This is one of my favorite primers, I actually prefer it more than the Porefessional. It's non-drying and the pinky-peach tone helps brighten my dull winter complexion. I also like the unique applicator but it's a little pricey for only 11ml of product.


MAC Studio Finish Concealer 7g (£15.50) HERE

Yet another all time favorite, surprise surprise... I usually switch between this and the MAC pro-long wear concealer but as my skin is more dry in the winter, the MPLW appears cakey and also dries out my skin whereas the studio finish glides on smoothly. I also use the NW30 shade as it corrects any pigmented areas on my face, e.g. under the eyes and around the mouth.  


What are your favourite winter skincare & makeup products?
Keeks xx




Sunday 4 January 2015

Lyndsey Loves... Launch Party


Just over a month ago, I was invited to Lyndsey Loves... launch party. Lyndsey Loves... is a mini online boutique selling very cute gift collections found by Lyndsey herself throughout her travels around the world. The launch party was held at Chloe's Beauty Bar, a glamorous little hotspot owned by TOWIE's Chloe Sims. There were loads of sweet and savoury nibbles, a lot of Prosecco and tons of gorgeous gifts to look at. My favorite products from the range had to be the... 

Ville de Fleurs Fig & Cassis Candle and the Long Winter Soap Co. Unicorn Farts lip balm

...a funny name but smelled nothing of the sort :P
Overall, it was a fun and glamorous night, I met some of lovely people and I would definitely visit Chloe's Beauty Bar again for a treatment!



Keeks xx

Saturday 3 January 2015

La Roche-Posay Pigmentclar



I've always been a fan of La Roche-Posay products, mainly because their Anthelios SPF lotion is about the only sunscreen which doesn't break my face out. I also own a couple of their other products and recently got my hands on a few products from their new range, Pigmentclar.


PIGMENTCLAR ANTI-DARK SPOT, SKIN-EVENING CREAM (40ML)

The first time I used the anti-dark spot cream, I was on holiday in Mauritius and I was quite impressed with the results. It was moisturizing and although it has SPF 30, it did not leave any greasy residue behind nor did it leave my skin feeling greasy in such a hot climate. Even though it was the first time I used the cream, I also felt like it instantly evened out my complexion a lot more than my usual moisturizer.  However, the typical behavior of my skin whenever I decide to try a new moisturizer is to break out, which is exactly what happened the next day. I liked the formula, scent and the results but as my blemishes were getting worse, I decided to pass on the moisturizer to my aunt who also has many dark spots & pigmentation due to being constantly under the sun. She's happy with the daily results of the moisturizer however she hasn't noticed any fading of pigmentation yet.


PIGMENTCLAR DARK CIRCLES, SKIN EVENING CORRECTER (15ML)

The Pigmentclar eye cream is my favorite out of the two, hence why I decided to keep this one for myself. It moisturizes under my eyes well, blurs out some of the darkness and is a great base for my concealer. The cream has a slight yellow tinge, which is what I believe helps brighten under my eyes. I also like keeping this moisturizer in the fridge as the applicator has a cooling effect on the eyes. However, the eye cream is quite pricey and as my dark circles are really bad, I'm not sure if I could commit to repurchasing if the results aren't that visible. However, I'm planning to finish the tube and see if the results are worth it.



SHOP LA ROCHE-POSAY

Pigmentclar Serum £29.50Pigmentclar Moisturiser £26Pigmentclar Eyes £24.50



Friday 2 January 2015

Hello 2015




Happy New Year lovelies!
I hope you all enjoyed Christmas and ended 2014 with a bang! I was initially going to post this yesterday, the 1st of January, however I decided to post it today and you'll find out why. 2014 has been an eventful year with many ups & downs, tears and laughter, changes and new opportunities. As it's the new year, I'm surrounded by many people making new year resolutions, bucket lists and promises to change from the 1st January onward. However, something I've noticed is that we don't need to set a date or wait till the new year to make these changes happen. By waiting, we're only delaying the good stuff. So for the last few months of 2014, I've been incorporating little changes in my life to make myself or someone else's day better, create some new memories and also make 2015 as good as, if not better, than 2014!

Here are some life rules I've decided to try following..


SAY YES
I've always been hesitant when it comes to trying new things, scary things, or different things however I want to break the habit of saying no, maybe later, not for now and just give in. I would hate to carry on asking 'what if I did...?' just because I didn't give something a go. Some things you try you'll love, and some things may not be up your street but what have you got to lose by giving it a go? Whether it's setting a new goal or trying a new experience - do it, cross it off your list and move onto the next one!



SHOW SOME LOVE
This one may sound easy but in this 21st century lifestyle, it's quite easy to forget that we are all just humans and every once in a while, we could do with some love. We are often so wrapped up in our lives and stressing about what we don't have that we forget to be grateful for what we do have - family, friends, health, a home.... So be grateful for what you have and also give to those who may not be as fortunate as you. Everyone lives life differently and showing someone some love and support can be the highlight of their day so wherever you are, whatever you're doing, SHOW SOME LOVE!



BE POSITIVE
This has been such an important part of why I've been a lot happier recently. If you always get worried about the bad things, then you'll spend your entire life worrying because BAD THINGS WILL ALWAYS HAPPEN. If you spend all your time worrying about those bad things, you'll never have time to enjoy all the good things in your life. Remember that there will always a solution to everything, and over time, things will pan out the way they were supposed to regardless of whether you worry or not.. so why worry when you could be happy? Have a positive mind, do positive things, and surround yourself with positive people.



BE YOU
There are more than 7 billion people in the world, some admired for their good choices, some hated for their bad decisions; some looked down on for their positive actions, some frowned upon for their wrong decisions. The point is that with so many people in the world doing so many different things, odds are that some people won't like the decisions you make or they might just not like you as a matter of fact. Does that mean you have to change the way your are or the things you do? No, you don't not live to please other people, your life is yours to live. Change to make yourself happier. Don't be afraid to be you.



And remember, don't wait for a time and place to start being a better person to yourself and others, start now.

 Enjoy 2015!

Keeks xx