Wednesday, June 22, 2016

HONEY BEE BATH-TIME




What else are Sundays for other than running yourself a hot bath, chucking on a face mask and blogging? I’m currently still basking in the glory of the bath bomb I just used, and I wanted to review it while it’s all still fresh in my mind. Lush bath bombs are the ultimate in luxury and unwinding for me, so when I got one for my birthday, I practically wanted to strip down and use it there and then. Honey Bee is the latest one I’ve tried, and it’s just as sweet and decadent as the name would suggest.

Speckled, pale yellow and with a bright flash of canary through the middle. There’s also little honey coloured flecks throughout. The bomb smells incredibly sweet, yet slightly woody. It’s very simple and minimalist, in shape and pattern. So that’s something that really appeals to me in a product; minimalism is life.

This bomb is actually a really quick fizzer! It was completely dissolved within a couple of minutes. It flooded the bathtub with a rich, smooth honey gold colour, which smelt beyond beautiful. There’s also teeny weeny pieces of gold dust in this bomb, too, so the water even starts shimmering. The bonus with this bomb is that the clean-up isn’t half as bad as some of the other very brightly coloured bombs, so that’s always a plus! Honey Bee is really lovely, and one of those unsung heroes of Lush. Definitely check it out if you need an indulgent soak!

Lots of love,
Jasmine x



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Monday, June 20, 2016

KOREAN RICE MASK MAGIC | BEFORE + AFTER




Don’t you love when the proof is in the pudding with a new skincare item? Recently my mum sent me some strange looking Korean skincare that she’d found while shopping. Living in Australia, she often stumbles across new products from Asia before I might hear about them in the UK. It’s actually very handy! On this occasion (my mum does treat me a fair bit), she sent me a Rice Sheet Mask and a sachet of Mugwort (which sounds STRAIGHT OUT OF HOGWARTS). Anyway, on to the mask!

As you can see in the pictures, this mask really does work. And to be honest, I’m not really sure how! I’m usually a lover of clay masks; I don’t tend to use sheet masks, however, I may have been converted. This one smells nice and natural. I struggle to put my finger on what it smells like precisely, but I know it smells a little bit like crushed leaves of some kind, and the scent is very delicate.
It’s extreeeeemely cooling as you apply it to your face. Like, extremely. It’s also a little bit difficult (and also hilarious) trying to get it to sit straight on my face. It’s not the most flattering thing to walk around in, but I’ve discovered that sheet masks are DAAAAYUM comfortable. Being used to masks that dry on your face, this rice mask feels like an absolute dream on my face. The mask itself even has silk woven in the fabric.

Above all of this, just look at how nourished and moisturised my skin looks in the final image of this blog post. I’m really pleased with it. It’s not often I try something that I have completely no idea about, but I was so pleasantly surprised with the outcome. My skin was smooth and soft for days afterwards, and some of the spots I had were significantly less enflamed. But what I really can’t get over is how bright and peachy my skin looks! I’ve not seen it looking like that for a long time! If you’re after a mask that packs a real punch of TLC, then head over to Innisfree’s website to grab a pack of this lovely little mask. It’s only £0.87p(!!!!!!) and really worth a try for supple, healthy looking skin.

Lots of love,
Jasmine x



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Saturday, June 18, 2016

MY SOFT SKIN SECRET | SOAP & GLORY



I’m a self-confessed body scrub fetishist. I can’t think of anything I’d rather do on a Sunday afternoon than plaster myself in handfuls of the stuff and scrub my skin into oblivion. Naturally, my skin is quite oily and, growing up by the beach in the salty sea air, I can handle quite a rough body treatment. I’ve tried a fair few in the past, my favourites being; Flake Away by Soap & Glory and the entire Babescrub range. However, for my birthday I received this lovely pot of sugary goodness and I’ve been dying to review it because it is fab.

As always with Soap & Glory, the packaging is spot on. The names, the artdeco feel, the colours, the feminine touches. I love it! On top of that, the tub itself is huuuuuge! Unscrew the hot pink lid to reveal a sweet-smelling concoction of “smashed brown sugar & sweet lime, almond oil and macadamia grains”. As someone who is constantly trying (and failing) to get a toned, smooth bod, this scrub actually helps me feel much better about the way I look. Scrubbing the skin promotes blood flow, removes dead skin cells and softening the skin all at the same time. It definitely gives my thighs and stomach a slightly smoother appearance, and I feel like a soft, sassy seal pup with my supple skin (how many words beginning with ‘s’ can you get in a sentence Jaz?).

Back to THIS scrub, though! I’d like to take a moment to give thanks to the smell-control-team at Soap & Glory HQ, for they are truly our saviours and bring joy to our nostrils. This scrub is seriously the best smelling scrub I’ve ever used. I adore the idea of sugar rather than salt in a scrub, because it’s far less drying but JUST as gritty and exfoliating. On top of that, the macadamia oil is so deeply nourishing and softening. I adore this scrub. I like to treat myself to this about twice a week.

TOP TIP: do a deep scrub before shaving to help your razor glide closer to your skin, leaving you feeling like an actual real life dolphin.

Lots of love,
Jasmine x



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Thursday, June 16, 2016

LUXURY IN A BOTTLE | ALL HAIL LIZ EARLE




Okay, I have genuinely discovered my new Holy Grail skincare item. For months I scrolled past people raving about the Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser and thought it might be something I’d like to try. On my birthday, I splashed out in Boots and ended up with it in my carrier bag. I honestly cannot tell you how much I wish I’d splurged out and bought it sooner. For £15.50, you get the Starter Kit; a cute pastel green wash bag with two muslin cloths and your cleanser. That on its own is hella cute and handy as anything. Then the wash itself literally blew my mind (not even exaggerating, my brain exploded and was on the floor, I am still cleaning it up).

Starting, as I often do, with the packaging. I give Liz Earle ten points to Gryffindor because I’m a sucker for anything pastel and anything minty green because it looks pretty on my bathroom shelves. I’m also going to take this opportunity to express my love and adoration for the pump on the bottle which makes getting the product out so easy peasy. The muslin cloths that come in this starter kit are also pretty lovely; soft and minimalistic with a minty green trim. You also get a little card with instructions and diagrams on how to properly use the cleanser. It’s all very cute and friendly (am I really describing a face wash as ‘friendly’?) and personal. I’m already in love and I’ve not yet slathered anything on my face.

The love affair continues when you pump out the cleanser and are greeted with a very natural smell and a thick, luxurious cream. Packed with rosemary, chamomile, cocoa butter and eucalyptus oil, you can imagine it smells pretty damn good. As far as I know, it’s not got any nasties in, and all the ingredients are natural and balanced. This means that even those of us with the most sensitive skin could probably get away with using this and enjoying the results of this beautiful cleanser.

I start by wetting my face and rubbing the cleanser in gently. I work in circular motions for about 30 seconds to a minute (enjoying all the smelly smells and feeling the rich goodness) and then wet my muslin cloth in really hot water. Then I wipe of the cleanser using the cloth, using a clean part of the cloth for each area of the face. The result is a really visibly brighter complexion that feels smooth and nourished. I don’t ever feel that horrible tight sensation after using this wash, and I can’t wrap my head around how brilliant my skin looks and feels. If you’re going to invest in a new item of skincare this summer, make it this. Seriously, you won’t regret it, and you’ll find a new skincare friend for life.

Lots of love,
Jasmine x



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Tuesday, June 14, 2016

KYLIE JENNER LIPS | WHIRL LIP PENCIL




As a slave to the world of Instagram and Pinterest, I absolutely live and breathe the whole ‘90s lip trend. I know it’s been going for about a year and a half now, but I feel like my life only truly began when I discovered the moody, dirty rose lip shades and vintage adidas jumpers. I fell in love with the Whirl Lipstick when MAC decided to release it, and never gave much thought to the lipliner which seemed to be sold out practically everywhere on earth. Then, when my 21st rolled around and I was gifted a MAC girft card, I decided I probably should invest in the Whirl liner too. Because…why not?

MAC’s lip pencils never fail to impress. They’re smooth and creamy, and perfectly matte. I find it really effortless to very slightly overdraw my lips and get that Kylie Jenner pout going on. Plus, the shade is everything you could ever wish for and more when it comes to the whole ‘90s thing. I’d describe the shade as brick-toned rose and I feel like it suits my pale skin really nicely. I pair the lip with a simple eye look and I’m good to go. At £12.50, it’s actually one of the more purse-friendly items you can get from MAC, and it’s also one of the most beautiful!

Lots of love,
Jasmine x



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