Is there a better way to kick off the new year (& celebrate my lovely new bathroom!) than with an at home pampering session. I love reading other blogger's 'pamper day posts', so I thought I'd continue the indulgent spirit of the festive season and tell you how I spent a large slice of my New Years Day.
I was itching to try a couple of the products from the Nip+Fab Ultimate Pamper Kit. I picked this set up at Sainsburys for £10 (reduced from £40) and it includes some real gems. Taking inspiration from its name I headed bathroom-ward clutching a couple of the face products and set to work.
I started with a mini facial. Shu Umeura Fresh Pore clarifying oil to cleanse. To exfoliate, Nip+Fab Face Scrub which contains Salicylic Acid to combat blemishes (so sorely needed after the last few weeks!) and Bamboo to exfoliate. To breathe some much needed life into my tired, dehydrated skin I applied a massive helping of Nip+Fab Hydrating Mask. This mask is heavy on the Hyaluronic Acid to plump and Blackcurrent oil to sooth.
Then I took to slathering L'Oreal Perference Wild Ombré to the ends of my hair. Whilst this was working its magic, I sat back with my face encased in mask. I left the mask on for the full 45 minutes of the hair dye! After washing dye from hair, I showered with Yves Rocher Tradition De Hammam Shower Oil. Slipping into a wonderfully rose scented bath, courtesy of English Floral Garden Rose bubble bath, I settled down to watch the flame flicker on a Lily Flame Rose Petal candle. I emerged so completely serene that I decided the time was right to use the very last drops of my Ole Hendricksen Rose body oil. Then I finished the facial moisture binge off with a generous helping of Elemis Maximum Moisture Day Cream.
The whole experience was blissful and went a long way in relieving my gin jaded state. Every girl needs a bit of top to toe TLC now and again.
I'll be doing a full review on the Ultimate Pamoer Kit once I've given the products a proper run for their money, but I have to say so far, so good for Nip+Fab.
As the year drew to a close I read many 2012 favourites posts, which have made me consider my own.Being so fickle with my beauty 'likes' it's no mean feat for a product to nudge itself into my top ten. The list isn't exclusive 2012 releases just a collection of things I've repurchased, have had a love affair with in '12 or use on a frequent basis. So, in particular order........
1. Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream. The clue is in the title with this one, it really is a wonder. After draining 2 free samples I was hooked & bought a tube (£20). It's the perfect everyday eye cream, it brightens, tightens & is low in nasties. It's introduced me to the whole Balance Me range which really delivers.
2. MAC Pro Longwear Foundation. It wears longer than anything I've ever tried, more than living up to its 16 hour claim. It builds well, blends well & controls my greasy T zone. Everything I want from an everyday foundation, worth every penny of the £24 price tag.
3. Urban Decay De-Slick Setting Spray (£23). I only discovered this a few months ago but cannot imagine my world without it now, it knocks others I've tried, MAC fix+ , Ben Nye Final Seal & Clarins Fix Make Up, to the curb. Eyes, cheeks & base stay where they should & fresh as daisies from breakfast through to midnight feast!
4. MAC Melba Powder Blusher (£11). My fail safe for looking brighter & healthier. It's the perfect peachy shade, blends & builds nicely lasts well. An everyday essential for the girl who will free admit to having a little fear of blushers!
5. Nars Yachiyo Kabuki Brush (£37.50). So soft, beautifully different in styling with its wound bamboo handle & picks up just the right amount of product. It's tapered domed head is that cheek perfect size that makes applying product a dream. I use it for blush,contour, highlighting and sometimes to blend the whole eye area. Its a really hard working brush that justifies its price tag.
6. Whilst on brushes I couldn't leave my beloved Real Techniques off the list. As a self confessed brush junkie I thought it'd be hard to replace Trish McEvoy in my affections but every single on of these is perfectly crafted for the intended job, multi tasking & affordable. Every make up wearer on earth should at least own a Buffing Brush & a Deluxe Crease Brush.
7. Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil (£12) in YeYo. I've loved the 24/7 pencils for so long, with Zero being an absolute staple in my box. I've included Yeyo here because I've found finding a white pencil that clings to the waterline a real challenge. I use it to highlight as well as line my waterline when my eyes need an injection of 'wake up'.
8. Collection 2000 Lasting Colour Lipsticks. An expensive feeling lipstick for £3, what's not to love. These babies really last & are pigment heavy. They don't feel at all drying either. One of my favourite finds this year, I've been converting anybody who'll listen!
9. Rodial Glamoxy Snake Serum (£35 for 10x 1ml sachets, Boots). My little sachets of miracle juice! I finally invested after a Glossybox sample left me pining for more. Its one of the few products I've tried where the instant results claim actually stands up. My skins looks fresher & smoother when I use this & it really does plump out lines even if it is only temporarily. I'm actually contemplating splashing out on a 25ml pump, at £125 its an investment product but trust me when I say, I think its worth every penny.
10. Yves Rocher Tradition De Hammam Oriental Shower Oil. This was a Christmas gift & so has only been in my life for a week but it was LOVE at first use. A thick argan oil infused with oriental scents, which turns to a rich milky lotion once wet. Each shower feels like an indulgent, luxurious treat when using this, it leaves skin so wonderfully moisturised but not at all greasy. The scent lasts but doesn't over power any fragrance applied afterwards. I've already vowed never to shower without this!
So there you have it, my 2012 in 10 products. It was harder than I thought narrowing it down to ten but that's the final cut. I'm only sorry that Clinique Chubby Sticks, Jemma Kidd Dew Me & Yves Rocher Hydra Vegetal Instant Anti Wrinkle didn't make the final cut!
Can't believe it's been a month since the last Glossy arrival but it appears I have another before me begging to be dissected.
This months box has had mixed reviews among bloggers and their followers. It seems it's contents were varied & lots of folk only received 4 items (I have since read this is a mistake & if you contact them they'll rectify). I'll admit that at first glance I was slightly underwhelmed but on closer inspection & after trying a couple of things I've concluded its a pretty good box. Here's what I got.
Yves Rocher Hydra Vegetal, Instant Anti Wrinkle Moisturiser. I've never tried this brand before although I have been tempted & as my motivation for subscribing was to broaden my brand horizons, this is happily received. It contains Hyaluronic Acid & botanic extracts of witch hazel, blue agave sap and maple tree sap. It claims to instantly smooth wrinkles whilst providing deep moisturisation & I reckon it works! I've been using this at night for week as well as some mornings & I'm hooked. Love the gel texture, it feels refreshing. Love how quickly is absorbs into the skin. Love the fact the wrinkles on my forehead do look improved. This 30ml tube is worth £18 so alone more than justifies the cost if the box. I'll definitely be rebuying this & as glossybox have emailed me a discount code (£5 off and free delivery) valid until December I may try a couple more products from the range too!
Anatomicals 'Don't just clean it woman' Body Scrub. At the risk if sounding snobby, Glossybox was billed to me as luxury samples & I'm not sure I'd class this brand as luxury. However I am a fan of the brand & has just run out of scrub so its arrival is well timed. It smells nice & fresh, which is lovely but I tend to prefer a more indulgent smelling scrub as I like to use them before bed. It left my skin smooth & soft though. It's a good product just not really to my taste.
Skinetica Anti Blemish Solution. Not really sure about this one yet. Never having heard of the brand I did a bit of googling and it would seem this is their only product but the customer comments are very positive. I've used it on an outbreak on my chin, which was probably already on its decline, for 2 days & it seemed really gentle which I liked but not sure if the results were due to the lotion or not. It didn't tingle or sting & wasn't drying. I intend to give it a more rigorous test but I do have quite a collection of blemish gels etc so I can see this getting lost amongst them. The website are selling 100ml bottles for £9.99 with a discount for buying in bulk.
Sally Hanson Complete Salon Manicure in Midnight in NYC. Love the shade I received, its black with an incredibly fine red glitter running through it. The red shimmer is so subtle but catches the light occasionally and adds a bit of dimension to the shade. The 5 in 1 formula (which claims to include base coat, strengthener, conditioner, colour & top coat) is lovely to apply, I only needed one coat which is pretty good going for such a dark shade. I've been looking to update my nail polish collection after taking better care of my nails & this is a great autumn/winter vampy hue. It's worth about £7 too!
Green People Organic Self Tan. I'm kind of renown for my pale & interesting nature therefore I'm not so sure I'll try this but I am in need of a bit of a glow for an up coming wedding so may be brave & try this instead of my usual L'Oreal Nutribronze. It smells ok and i like the idea of an organic tanning product but think the sample is a bit on the stingey side size wise! It certainly won't be enough for a trial and a full application. A 200ml bottle retails for £18.95 and theres a discount code for 30% off before 16/11.
With the exception of the self tan, I'll definitely use these products and have perhaps been swayed into buying some more Yves Rocher & will be taking a look at the other shades in the Sally Hanson range. I think the box has more than justified its price and will be eagerly awaiting the postman again next month.
Is there a better way to kick off the new year (& celebrate my lovely new bathroom!) than with an at home pampering session. I love reading other blogger's 'pamper day posts', so I thought I'd continue the indulgent spirit of the festive season and tell you how I spent a large slice of my New Years Day.
