RottenOtter // Beauty & Lifestyle Blog

The Repurchases 001

2013-06-19T10:00:00.000+01:00

It's not often that I repurchase products as I'm constantly testing different things and trying to find holy grail products. I tend to stick with the same bath and body products but when it comes to skin care and make-up, there's just so many different and new products to try. Recently though I seem to have fallen into quite a happy skin care routine and one that I've actually stuck with for more than a few weeks.

I finished a 500ml bottle of Bioderma H20 Micellar Solution a few months back and instead of buying another bottle I decided to try out the Taaj version. Huge mistake as I'm now trying to force myself to finish it so I can start using Bioderma again. There is nothing better, well one of the Escentual Blind Trial Micellars is coming close but I'm still waiting to find out which one it is, and I have a couple of bottles waiting to be used.

I got a mini tub of RMK's Rose Cleansing Balm in my March Birchbox and I fell in love with it immediately. Before trying this I'd only tried one other cleansing balm, the original formula Boots Botanics Cleansing Balm, so I didn't have too much to compare it to but it was an instant hit. You scoop a tiny bit out, melt it into your hands and massage onto dry skin. I don't use this to take my make-up off, I prefer to use a micellar water. You can rinse it away with water in which it turns into a milk but I prefer to use a warm muslin cloth to buff it away. This doesn't try your skin out or leave it feeling tight, instead it's much softer and hydrated. Before I even finished the mini tub I went out and bought the full size as I had £10 worth of Birchbox points to use which brought it down to about £19.

I always have a bottle of Liz Eye Bright in my stash and have probably gone through about 6 bottles already. I used to use it to take my eye make-up off but it was becoming an expensive habit as I was going through it so quickly. Fast forward a few months and I discovered micellar waters which is what I use instead. Now I reserve this for when my eyes need a good dose of TLC from either long days at work or a nasty bout of hey fever. I simply pour some onto cotton pads and leave them on my eyes for 10 minutes while relaxing in bed and it works amazingly well. It's also a bit more friendly on my bank account as I'm not finishing the bottle in a matter of weeks.

I still don't count Caudalie Beauty Elixir as a holy grail must have product for me purely because I just can't ignore the alcohol in it but I like it enough and have bought another two bottles.

I love pairing the Vinosource S.O.S Serum with the Vinosource Moisturising Sorbet, both from Caudalie. They are both incredibly moisturising which is perfect for my dry skin but they also feel very light on the skin which is nice for the summer. I also love the scent! I can see myself repurchasing these two for a very long time.

What was your last repurchase?

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Escentual Shopping

2013-06-18T10:11:00.000+01:00

With it being my Birthday today, turning the grand old age of 23, I thought I'd treat myself to some products that I've wanted for a while. I also ticked the free gift wrap box and look how they arrived! It really did feel like opening early presents. Take note other companies: this is how I want to open all my online orders.

So onto what I ordered. First up is the Dior Crème De Rose lip balm which has been raved about by Elle and Ingrid. I love lip balms, I have way too many but I can't help to buy even more. I always tend to reach for a lip balm to wear everyday rather than a lipstick or gloss. I like the packaging but I still can't make up my mind whether the white plastic looks cheap or nice. It feels well made but white just gets dirty so easily. As for the lip balm, it reminds me of a thicker version of Korres Jasmine Lip Butter. It has a lovely rose scent and really helps to hydrate the lips. So far so good on this one!

Next up is the Blue Orchid Face Treatment Oil. Kate raves about the Lotus version which is for combination and oil skin which is where I first heard about these oils. I went for Blue Orchid as it's designed for dehydrated skin which is what I have. I am yet to use this so cannot give any first impressions on it but I'm excited to do so. As well as face masks, I've really gotten into using oils on my skin at the moment.

The last two products I picked up are the hyped up Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfectors in Apricot and Petal Shimmer. Apricot is what the name describes, a lovely peachy apricot shade and Petal is a soft pink, both look very natural and feel amazing. They give you the gloss of a lip gloss without being sticky and the hydrating benefits of a lip balm. Definitely worth all the hype they get!

Escentual always seem to throw in a couple of samples and this time I got a perfume sample which I haven't smelt yet and a moisturiser by Dior. The moisturiser seems a cross between a moisturiser and a primer which looks like it would be great for under make-up.

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The Birthday

2013-06-17T17:32:00.000+01:00

It's my Birthday tomorrow so today was spent making the cake. I had the exact image of the cake I wanted in my head and I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. It's slightly wonky but at least it looks homemade. It's three layer of yellow cake with caramel icing.

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NOTD: H&M Blue My Mind

2013-06-17T10:42:00.000+01:00

Supplies used...
Revlon Quick Dry Base Coat
H&M Blue My Mind // two coats
Seche Vite Top Coat

H&M's Blue My Mind is an almost neon blue and despite having very pale skin, it works really well. I think this is one of those shades that just looks amazing on any skin tone. This is also a great dupe for Nails Inc Baker Street for about half the price.

If I apply it carefully I can get away with only one coat as it has quite a thick and opaque formula but I used two coats as I knew I was photographing it. As it's very thick it can bubble if you're not careful. I tend to apply a coat, wait ten minutes and apply another then use a quick drying top coat like Seche Vite and I don't have any problems. I also apply it while I'm watching a film or youtube video so I don't notice the ten minute waiting time.

I really wish H&M would change their bottle design! They look nice but the flat wide lids makes it so hard to apply neatly and is awkward to hold.

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Sunday Pamper 003

2013-06-16T13:06:00.000+01:00

This weeks pamper session is all about the hair, body and face as I already painted my nails yesterday. Ciate Mojito and L'Oreal Confetti if you were wondering.

Before jumping into a bath I'll use The Body Shop Body Brush which has pretty much sat unused in my cupboard for years. Instead of being used, it's been a great place to put my bobbles so I don't loose them. Since this pamper post is for me to actually use all my products I thought I'd include this as well. You can use it on dry skin before a bath or shower, during when your skin is wet or in combination with a body scrub or shower gel. I think today I'll be using it with my Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Shower Gel. It's meant to help exfoliate your skin as well increasing circulation.

To increase the amazing Sugar Crush scent I'm going to be using the body scrub and moisturiser from the same range. The Body Buttercream has a different consistency to the Soap & Glory body butters, it's more of a gel which I prefer. I find it sinks into the skin easily and I don't have to wait long before putting on my pj's

For my face I'm going to be using two different masks as my skin has been a bit crazy recently. There's dry patches, oily patches, red patches and congestion. All over my face, after cleansing, I'm going to try the Antipodes Aura Manuka Honey Mask which you leave on for about 15 minutes. It smells amazing, reminds me of Lush, and is meant to leave your skin smooth and intensely hydrated, just what I need. For the congestion on my nose I'm going to use the Rodial 5 Minute Facial. This works really well and I think I'm going to have to buy the full size.

My hey fever has been driving me wild today and I've gone through nearly a whole box of tissues already and it's only 1pm. By the end of the day my eyes will be in need of a treat so I'll pour some Liz Earle Eye Bright onto a cotton pad and leave on my eyes for 10 minutes. Hopefully this will stop the itching and watering! Finally to treat my skin I'll apply a layer of Balance Me Face Oil, another product I'm going to be using for the first time.

For my hair I'll be trying out the Philip Kingsley Exfoliating Scalp Mask which is completely new to me, I've never tried a scalp mask before and then I'll apply my trusty Elasticizer.

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Beauty Box: Birchbox June 2013

2013-06-15T15:33:00.000+01:00

Birchbox - £10 per month (+ £2.95 P&P)

I saw a couple of blog posts a week or so before I got my box and I was disappointed with the contents. Now I have my own box I'm actually really pleased with it but have no idea why the sudden change of opinion as the products are the same. I also like the redesign, although not a massive change I do prefer how everything looks now.

Noble Isle Bath & Shower Gel - I've had this shower gel in another box but I can't for the life of me remember if it was Birchbox or Glossybox. I think this is a different scent though, and although I wont by the full size as it's too expensive, I am happy to have it in the box.

Beauty Protector Protect & Detangle Leave-in Conditioner - This is an exclusive to Birchbox which I think I'll be trying when I was my hair tomorrow. The scent of this reminds me of the 90's cupcake dolls that I used to have when I was little!

Coola Classic Face SPF 30 Cucumber - I'm trying to get better at using a SPF on an everyday basis as I have very pale skin than burns easily so this will come in handy. It also smells like cucumbers which is nice and refreshing.

Colour Club Wonderlust Nail Polishes in Reign In Spain & Mod In Manhattan - You get two polishes so you can pass one onto a friend but with such nice colours I think I'll have to keep them both for myself! Alone they look great but these two also work really well together. I also really like the formulas.

Model Co Black Eye Liner - I have enough black eye liners so would have preferred a different colour to try but it'll still be used.

Also as a little extra, some postcards!

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A Trio Of Masks

2013-06-14T12:26:00.000+01:00

If you've been reading my blog over the past month or so you may have seen an increase in face mask blog posts. It's safe to say I've become obsessed with them! My skin has been so sensitive and eczema prone over the last couple of years that I haven't been able to use them. This past year though my skin has definitely changed and I've gradually introduced face masks to my skin care routine. I'm still quite hesitant about using them though and haven't quite got the courage to try the mini sample of the Ren Radiance Renewal Mask which I have in case my skin reacts badly to it. Some day though I plan to use it, even if it's just on my forehead which seems to be the most normal part of my face.

Recently I've been using this trio of masks which seems to have made a huge difference in how my skin looks. Each one is designed for a different task and covers all areas of concern on my face.

First up is the Silver Powder from Mario Badescu which I use on my nose and chin to remove clogged up pores and blackheads. You run a cotton ball or cotton bud under water and roll it in the powder. Once you apply it to the skin it has turned into a cream and it easy to apply. You leave it on for 10 minutes and remove with either water or a toner. I like to use the Liz Earle Skin Tonic as it's very gentle, perfect as the Silver Powder can leave the skin feeling a little bit dry. It's very effective mask though but best used only once a week. It's available in two sizes but I bought the smaller on as it was only £8 and will last forever, you only use a tiny bit at a time.

Next up for any red irritated areas of skin as well as on spots I use the Healing & Soothing mask also from Mario Badescu. This is a great mask to combine with masks aimed at acne as it is very soothing and hydrating. I can apply it to a very angry looking spot, leave it on for 20 minutes, and when I take it off with toner the spot looks a lot better. I also use this all over the face to soothe the skin and it works a treat. If I'm using it this way then I remove it with a Liz Earle sponge or muslin cloth and warm water.

To combat dry skin I apply Liz Earle Intensive Nourishing Treatment mask all over my face and leave it on for 10 minutes. Once washed away my skin just feels a lot more plump, smoother and any dry patches have disappeared.

What are your go to masks?

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NOTD: Eyeko Tea Rose

2013-06-13T08:17:00.000+01:00

Supplies used...
Nubar Foundation Base Coat
Eyeko Tea Rose // two coats
Seche Vite Top Coat

This lovely dirty rose shade from Eyeko is one of my go to polishes for when I'm sure what colour I want to paint my nails. It applies like a dream, only takes two coats and dries pretty quickly especially with the help of Seche Vite and it doesn't bubble.

The only downside, it's been discontinued which means I can't get a new one once I finish this bottle. I managed to get a couple of back ups of some other shades but sadly not this one. I always say this when I talk about Eyeko polishes, but I have no idea why they discontinued them when I think they were the only good product they sold.

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Tag: Colours Of The Rainbow

2013-06-12T11:13:00.000+01:00

Red - Korres Wild Rose Lip Butter

Orange - Topshop Infared Lip Stick

Yellow - Liz Earle Facial Sponge

Green - Caudalie Fleur de Vigne Shower Gel

Blue - Origins Super Spot Remover

Indigo - Barry M Indigo Nail Polish

Violet - Jelly Pong Pong Fairy Lashes Mascara

Pink - Dainty Doll My Girl Blush

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Beauty Box: Glossybox June 2013

2013-06-11T11:02:00.000+01:00

I don't know what to think of June's Glossybox*, there's a good range of products, nothing really targeted to specific skin types/tones which is great but it's just not for me.

John Frieda Frizz Ease Original Serum - I'm pretty sure I've tried this before and hated it. It made my hair sticky and greasy no matter how much or how I applied it. It also did nothing to control the frizz. My mum likes other products from this range so I might pass it onto her to try and see if she gets on better with it than I did.

Figs & Rouge Coco-Rose Lip Balm - I was excited to see a Figs & Rouge lip balm in this box as I love the mint version I have. I was disappointed when I opened it though as it's glittery and quite sticky, not in a good way either, more like a lip gloss.

Helen E Cosmetics Waterproof Protective Lip Liner - This is the one product I know I'm going to use and enjoy. It's a lovely pink with a hint of coral and is actually very creamy for a liner. I'll be trying this all over the lips as well as underneath lip balm.

Monu Professional Skincare Hydrating Moisturiser SPF 15 - I have enough face moisturisers to last me a life time so I'll be passing this onto my mum to try. Also I feel like with spf 15, there isn't really any point in having it in there as I only use spf 50 on my face. I know my mum wont mind this as her skin isn't as fair as mine and she tans quite easily.

Mememe Cosmetics Eye Inspire Mono Eye Shadow - I would have liked a more interesting colour than a matte dark brown as I know I wont really use this. I hardly every use matte shades and much prefer shimmer in an eye shadow. There's also a lot of fall out when you apply it although it does blend out quite nicely.

Lets hope next months Glossybox and this months Birchbox are better!

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Week In Photos 141 & 142

2013-06-10T21:26:00.003+01:00

Body Shop order // New photo wall // Bargain summer dress // Monster cat // Summer pjs // Favourite flowers // Lazy days in the sun // First poppy // Summer salads // Finally found my name on a coke bottle! // Chalkboard jars from Matalan // Freshly planted basil & DIY name stick // DIY Birthday decorations.

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NOTD: Butter London Victoriana

2013-06-10T18:18:00.000+01:00

Supplies used...
Nail Tek Foundation II Base Coat
Butter London Victoriana // two coats.
Sally Hansen Advanced Hard As Nails Top Coat

It's taken me a while to try this Butter London polish and I've no idea why as I love it. I don't normally go for blue polishes but I think I like it because of the hint of green it has. It has a dense silver shimmer to it which I also normally wouldn't like, I prefer creme finishes, but it just works with this polish. Because it's so dense it looks like it has a lot of texture.

I also love the formula of this polish and it's one of the better Butter London's. Instead of a liquid it sort of feels and applies like a gel if that makes any sense. I've mentioned this weird texture before with China Glaze Strawberry Fields. The first coat applies like a dream and so does the second. Victoriana is also pretty opaque on the first coat but I always add another one just so it'll last better and look just that little bit better.

I bought Victoriana from ButterLondon.com as there was an offer on for 3 for 2 but I know they are cheaper from PowderRooms.com.

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Project Sample Use Up 003

2013-06-08T10:36:00.000+01:00

I thought I'd start reviewing the samples I finish in my Project Sample Use Up update posts instead. I'll be saving the full size products I finish for the normal empties post that I write monthly.

Ancienne Ambiance Body Wash - I didn't think much of this shower gel at all. It didn't lather and the scent was ok. I wouldn't buy the full size.

Natio Renew Radiance Foam Cleanser - Despite the name this did not foam up when I used it. I also only used it once as it really irritated and dried my skin out. I'm not even going to attempt to finish the sample.

Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel - I got a good amount of uses out of this sample despite the small size but I wasn't really that impressed with how it worked. My face didn't really feel clean afterwards and if you get a little bit in your eyes by accident then it stings. I wouldn't buy the full size.

Ren No1 Purity Cleansing Balm - I really enjoyed this sample even though I only got two uses out of it. I'd think about buying the full size at some point for now I'm happily using the RMK Rose Cleansing Balm which is pretty much the same thing.

Beautannia BridesHead Body Cream - This was a nice moisturiser but I wasn't a fan of the scent.

Vav Moisturising & Regenerating Hand Cream - I like the scent and it was a nice hand cream but it took a lot of massaging and time for it to sink in properly. I wouldn't buy the full size.

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Mini Reviews 003: Dove // L'Oreal // Charles Worthington // TRESemme

2013-06-07T10:15:00.000+01:00

Dove Nourishing Oil Care Leave-in Conditioning & Care Spray - This is a dual forumla spray which you have to shake to combine the elements, seen in the photos. It can be applied on wet and dry hair so I use it after washing and during the week for extra nourishment. I bought this when it was on sale at Boots for something ridiculously cheap like £1.50. On wet hair I spray this all over my hair, including the roots, and then follow up with an oil on the ends. On dry hair I tend to just stick to the lengths and ends. This makes my hair easier to brush and leaves it feeling nice and soft.

L'Oreal Triple Resist 60 Second Saviour Intensive Conditioner - I hadn't seen this before when I was in Asda the other week and since it was discounted for being a new product I decided to pick it up. The 60 second part it was intrigued me as I hate standing around the bathroom with wet hair and waiting for 3 minutes for the conditioner to work. I don't use this every week as I'm sure it's just full of silicone which is what makes your hair feel soft but I use it about once a month. It works well but I wasn't as impressed with it as I hoped to be . I only wash my hair once a week so for anyone who washes there hair about 3 times a week, it's their equivalent of once a week.

Charles Worthington Salon At Home Secrets Collection Moisture Seal Intense Rescue Melting Balm - What is it with brands creating extremely long names for products?! The first thing I noticed about this product is the scent - it smells divine! In the tub it's solid but melts instantly once on the hands and applied to hair. It's a pre-shampoo treatment which you apply to dry hair, leave on for 20 minutes, and wash off normally. It leaves your hair feeling amazing and like you've just had it cut at the hair dressers. It's a bit more expensive for a "drugstore" product but for me it's definitely worth £17.

Dove Nourishing Oil Care Regenerating Mask - This is another Dove product I bought from Boots for about £1.50 as well, such a bargain. It smells exactly like the leave-in conditioner which I love. It's a very thick mask which you apply after shampooing and leave on for 3-5 minutes. It contains argan oil and is very nourishing for the hair. It doesn't leave the hair feeling quite as soft as the Charles Worthington does but for a fraction of the price, it's one I reach for on a more regular basis.

TRESemme Restructuring Deep Conditioning Treatment Mask - This tub is massive! It also costs about £3.30 so is another bargain, can you see a theme here? This has the standard Tresemme scent which I don't hate but it's not nice like the others. This is another mask that works wonders for the hair and leaves it feeling silky soft. I only need to use a tiny amount of this and apply it to the ends, leave it on for 5 minutes.

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NOTD: Barry M Blueberry Ice Cream

2013-06-06T11:08:00.000+01:00

Supplies used...
Nail Tek Foundation II Base Coat
Barry M Blueberry Ice Cream // two coats
Seche Vite Top Coat

I never used to be a fan of blue nail polish, apart from very very pale shades, but I think I've changed my mind. Recently I seem to be reaching for them more often and I've even included two in my summer nail polish picks, this one and another one, which will be going up next month. I wanted to try and get all the NOTD's up before I posted my picks.

Blueberry Ice Cream is a bright blue but with a hint of pastel to it. It has quite a thick consistency to it, not sure if mine has just got a bit old but I haven't had it that long, so if you apply it well you can get away with only using one coat. I knew I was going to take photos of it so I used two coats just to be safe. I really do love Barry M nail polishes, so cheap but they are great quality.

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Cult Beauty Shopping

2013-06-05T10:19:00.000+01:00

Over the last few months Cult Beauty has become my go-to site for browsing and shopping. With my orders I always seem to get either a £5 or £10 discount code as well which makes me want to order even more products, it's vicious circle! So far, there hasn't been a product I've ordered that I haven't been impressed with. Some of them have even become favourites like the CND Stickey base coat.

Anna from Vivianna Does Make-up has talked about Therapie Himalyan Detox Salts quite a few times and I was intrigued by them. But it was when Fleur talked about them in one of her videos that made me grab my card and order them immediately. I have a hard time sleeping and I always have ever since I was little. On bad nights, even if I'm exhausted, it can literally take me hours to fall asleep and even then I'll still toss and turn all night as well as waking up constantly. I've tried practically everything from black out blinds, did not work, to soothing music, did work but I end up waking up as soon as the tape finishes. I also tried the This Works pillow spray which turns out I am allergic to! I never feel like I get a good nights sleep and I always wake up feeling just as tired.

This is where these bath salts from Therapie come in. You throw a handful into the bath, soak for 20 minutes and then once out the bath you're not meant to touch anything electrical for two hours before you go to bed. You're then meant to have the best night sleep ever. First of all these smell amazing, a mix of lavender and lemongrass. I have to say when I first used these I was a little disappointed but I did have very high expectations. I didn't sleep any better than normal but we'll see if that changes once I use them more often.

Next up is another recommendation from Anna, a brush cleanser from The Pro Make Up Shop. I'm using the brush cleanser from Mac at the moment and although it works well, I don't like the packaging. Since I've nearly finished the bottle I wanted to try something new and this one has a spray so makes using it so much easier. It also works just as well as the Mac version for the same price and has a nice lemongrass sort of scent.

I am loving face masks at the moment and this one from Aesop has been on my wish list for such a long time. It's the Parsley Seed Facial Cleansing Mask which is meant to draw out impurities without drying your skin out. I'm yet to try this but I'm sure I'll be featuring it on the blog at some point in the near future.

With orders over £30 you can pick three free samples so I chose Tend Skin Liquid which is meant to stop shaving rashes and ingrown hairs, another product Anna has raved about. I've already finished the Embryolisse Lait Creme Concentrate which I'm going to have to buy the full size of as I loved it. I'm still using the Aesop Parsley Seed Eye Serum but I have to say, I'm not really a fan.

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NOTD: Essie Mint Candy Apple & L'Oreal Confetti

2013-06-03T09:31:00.000+01:00

Supplies used...
Nail Tek Foundation II Base Coat
Essie Mint Candy Apple // two coats
L'Oreal Confetti // one coat
Sally Hansen Advanced Hard As Nails Top Coat

This is how my nails have looked for a while. When I'm not sure what colour to paint them, I always reach for Essie's Mint Candy Apple as it always looks good. I thought I'd add the L'Oreal Confetti top coat to it as I finally managed to find it in a Superdrug the other weekend.

The white pieces of glitter in the L'Oreal top coat are how I wanted and expected the Nubar White Polka Dot polish to be. An opaque white instead of a see-through sort of silver colour. Confetti does contain minuscule glitter particles which I wasn't expecting but luckily as they're so tiny, they're not noticeable.

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Sunday Pamper 002

2013-06-02T19:04:00.002+01:00

Since my last Pamper post two weeks ago I've really enjoyed the hour or so spent looking after my skin, caring for my hair and painting my nails on a Sunday and then relaxing by reading a good book. It's a great way to unwind before the work week starts again the following day.

This morning though I woke up with a horrendous and painful underneath the skin spot on my chin which actually made my bottom lip swell at least three times it's normal size. I knew I was going to start todays pamper session with a couple of masks to try and reduce the size of the spot. A new addition to my collection is Aesop's Chamomile Concentrate Anti-Blemish Masque which I only applied to the spot, as the rest of my skin didn't need it, and left it on for fifteen minutes before taking off with toner. Fast forward most of the day and my lip is still incredibly swollen but the spot has actually reduced and it's less painful. Although it was the first time using the Aesop mask, so far I'm pretty impressed. It has a bit of a clay mask feel to it and smells of tea tree and oranges. I also love the jar and how it looks on the shelf in my bathroom.

After the Aesop mask I followed up with the Mario Badescu Healing & Soothing Mask that I featured in my last pamper post. This mask really helps to take the redness out of spots so I applied it to the same area on my chin and left it on for twenty minutes. For an all over the face mask I used the First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Instant Oatmeal Mask which is designed to calm, nourish and smooth distressed skin which sounds like it was made for my skin. I always like to follow up with a hydrating mask after I've used something a bit harsher on my skin. Oats are very good for eczema so this should also help any patches on my skin.

While the FAB mask was working its magic I applied the Philp Kingsley Flaky/Itchy Scalp Toner to my scalp, concentrating on any eczema patches. The coldness of the toner really helps to soothe the scalp and the product itself just works so well. This is the second time I've used it and paired with the flaky/itchy scalp shampoo I've already noticed a difference.

I then took a bath using the Fig + Yarrow Pink Love Salts, I bought the smaller size which came in a plastic bag so I just used an old jar to store them in. I love how these smell and are a slightly cheaper version of the Therapie Himalayan Detox Salts. I followed up with my trusty Lush Dream Cream to sooth my skin and for my face I used Indeed Labs Hydraluron.

On my toes I used H&M Blue My Mind, a great dupe for Nails Inc Baker Street. On my hands I went with OPI's Mermaid Tears from the Pirates of the Caribbean collection. Once my nail polish dried I applied a generous amount of Liz Earle's Super Balm to my hands and The body Shop Hemp Foot Protector to my feet to counteract any dryness from nail polish remover or the polishes themselves.

I am now happily settled into my wingback chair and am about to put my laptop down and start reading Gameboard Of The Gods by Richelle Mead. I'm also snacking on veggie Percy pigs! Hope everyone has had a lovely weekend!

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Monthly Empties: May 2013

2013-06-01T18:00:00.000+01:00

Soap & Glory Girligo Body Moisturising Mist - It took me a long time to finish this I just wasn't a fan but didn't want to throw it away. I found myself wasting a lot of product as it would just end up on the floor when I sprayed it. It's too much hassle to use so I wouldn't buy it again and the scent was ok.

Fudge Dry Shampoo - This works great as a dry shampoo but it doesn't create any volume which is half the reason why I use dry shampoo. For now I think I'll stick with Batiste. I also wasn't a huge fan of the scent.

Elemis Tranquil Touch Body Polish - If only this was a rougher exfoiliator and it would become my favourite. It's quite gentle which is nice to use on my arms somtimes but the majority of the time I want something more abrasive. The scent is just amazing though but it is available in a shower cream which I think I'll stick with.

Andrew Barton SOS Help Me Deep Conditioner - This is one of my favourite deep conditioners and I've gone through countless tubs of it. It's also very cheap and available at Asda. It smells amazing and just works really well. I don't need to go out and buy another one as I already have one.

YSL Parisienne Perfume - So sad to see this perfume empty as it's one of my favourites. Luckily I have a tiny amount left in the smaller bottle I have but then I'll definitely be buying another bottle. The notes in this perfume are damas rose, violet, peony, cranberry, blackberry, vetyver, patchouli, musk and sandalwood.

Elemis Pro-Collagen Body Cream - I've had this half empty for such a long time so decided to make an effort to finish it. It was an ok body lotion but nothing to write home about and I wont be buying the full size. It didn't really have a scent either which I was surprised about.

Lush Ponche Shower Gel - I absolutely loved this shower gel and am so glad I have another bottle to use. I'm also hoping Lush bring this back next year. It smells of oranges with a hint of tequila.

OPI Expert Touch Nail Polish Remover - I loved this nail polish remover as it worked so well. It also dries down to a lovely scent which is a nice touch. Compared to my cheap Cutex remover it is expensive so I don't think it'll be something I'll buy again for a while. It's about £8 for 120ml when I get can a 200ml bottle of Cutex for about £2 in Asda.

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Beauty Favourites: May 2013

2013-05-31T10:54:00.000+01:00

Liz Earle Foot Spritzer* - With the weather getting a little warmer I've been reaching for this most days. Once sprayed onto your feet and legs you feel a nice cooling sensation but it also adds a bit of moisture. I use it almost as a primer before applying the foot repair moisturiser from Liz Earle. It helps the moisturiser to soak in quicker but it's also nice to use after a long day at work. Both the moisturiser and spray have most amazing peppermint scent that is so refreshing.

Korres Guava Little Shower Gel - This smells like summer and holidays in a bottle and I've been reaching for it every time I have a bath. I love how moisturising it feels and it lathers really nicely. Luckily I have two of these mini bottles but I can see myself finishing them very quickly.

Caudalie Vinosource Moisturising Sorbet - This face moisturiser from Caudalie has quickly become on of my favourites and I'm already on my second little tube of it. The scent, the texture and how quickly it sinks into as well as how it makes my skin feel. I'm trying to talk myself out of buying the full size because I have so many more moisturisers to use but it's not going so well.

Nars All About Eve Eye Shadow Duo - Despite only having this eyeshadow duo for a short time, I've already make a considerable dent in the two shades. I've ditched the Urban Decay Naked palettes for now and have only been using this since I got it. They're both perfect everyday shades which I can wear for work with a bit of mascara and I'm done.

Benefit They're Real Mascara - Despite loving plastic wand mascaras which this one from Benefit has, I wasn't sure if I'd like and didn't want to spend nearly £20 on a mascara. A mini sized mascara was free with a magazine last month so I rushed out and bought a copy, tried it once and went out and bought another. I love it! It does everything that I want in a mascara and I will definitely pay the full price for it now I've tried it.

Nail Tek Foundation II Base Coat - If you look back at my recent NOTD's you'll see I've only used this base coat from Nail Tek. It was a random buy from amazon and it's become my favourite. I bought it because it was the top recommendation when Lacquerized asked her readers for their favourites. It's not a brand I would of heard about but I really want to try some more products to see if they're just as good. The way it dries to a matte finish reminds me of OPI Matte Nail Envy but this makes my polish last for such a long time and prevents nails staining.

L'Oreal Confetti Top Coat - I've been pairing this confetti top coat with practically every polish I've worn this month.

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Escentual Micellar Blind Trial - My Thoughts

2013-05-30T07:59:00.000+01:00

As part of the #MicellarBlindTrial from Escentual I was sent 7 anonymous bottles of micellar water to test out over 14 days. After the 14 days we'll fill in a survey and pick our favourite. We've been told which brands have been included but no idea which is which. I've tried two of these already and I know the scent of another one so I'm pretty sure I can guess which those are. The others though I haven't tried and have no idea which one is which, I've pretty much guessed at random.

Sample A - I love the scent of this one, sort of reminds me of parma violets. I liked the feel of the water, it didn't irritate my eyes but did leave them a little bit red which died down pretty quickly. It easily took off my mascara but failed to completely remove all my waterproof eye liner. My guess: Vichy Purete Thermale Calming Cleansing Micellar Solution because it was one of the only ones left to pick from!

Sample B - This has a lovely rose scent which I'm hoping is natural and not perfumed as I don't really like using perfumed face products as my skin is very sensitive. The scent in the bottle is completely different to when you use it on your face and I really hated it. Instead of smelling of nice fresh roses it smelt more of an old lady perfume. It worked well at taking my make-up off but when used to cleanse my skin it left it feeling very tight and dry. My guess: Nuxe Micellar Cleansing Water with Rose Petals purely because of the name.

Sample C - I knew which one this was as soon as I smelt it as it has a very distinct grape scent which I love. I also used two bottles of it the other week. My guess: Caudalie Make-Up Remover Cleanser Water. It works well in taking off make-up and cleansing the face, not as good as Bioderma but one of the better alternatives.

Sample D - This only has a hint of a scent but it's a very natural scent, so subtle I can't really tell what it is. This one took ages to take my mascara off and it wasn't even waterproof. I ended up using all of the bottle in just one go, taking my eye make-up off and cleansing my face which I haven't yet done with the others. I've managed to get at least two uses out of all the others. It did leave my skin feeling nice though and not at all tight. My guess: Avene Micellar Lotion Cleanser and Make-Up Remover

Sample E - Again this has a very subtle, nearly nothing, scent but it's slightly sweet. Out of the five I've tried so far this has been the best at taking off my make-up. It also made my skin feel really nice when used as a cleanser. My guess: Dior Instant Cleansing Water purely because it was one of the last ones to pick from.

Sample F - This doesn't have a scent at all. It removes my make-up with ease and takes off every last scrap. It also doesn't irritate my eyes. My guess: Bioderma Sensibio H20 Micelle Solution and I really hope this guess is right because I always say how Bioderma is my favourite.

Sample G - This has the typical La Roche-Posay scent which I'm not a fan of. It was pretty good at removing my make-up but like sample A it struggled to take off my waterproof eye liner. My guess: La Roche-Posay Physiological Micellar Solution

Overall I was pretty surprised how well they all worked, I was expecting at least one of them to be rubbish. Some of them did dry my skin out but I don't use micellar water as my cleanser on a daily basis, only as a make-up remover. I really enjoyed this trial and think brands should do this sort of thing more often! I'm excited to find out which is which and if I got any of them right! I'm thinking I've got 3 out of the 7 right but the others are total guesses.

It was hard to pick a favourite as there were two that impressed me the most - samples E and F. I did pick sample F in the end because I needed slightly less product to remove make-up so it would mean the product would last longer.

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Project Sample Use Up 002

2013-05-29T10:53:00.000+01:00

So I first posted about my Project Sample Use Up in August 2012 and since then I have managed to finish pretty much everything that was in the basket. Fast forward a few months and my sample stash has grown by quite a lot. The majority of it is skin care, especially moisturisers which I find the hardest to use up quickly.

I think what I'm going to do is have a proper sort through it all and give away any products that I know I'm not going to use. These usually end up going to my mum who is soon to have a skin care collection to rival mine! Then what I'm left with, I'll solely use until it's finished and I'll stop using my full size products for a little bit. hat's probably the only way I'll be able to finish everything.

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Feel Unique Shopping

2013-05-28T11:03:00.000+01:00

This months shopping has been all about buying products from my wishlist, especially the ones that have been on it the longest. I also managed to get some great samples with my Feel Unique order! I love the original Taylor Swift perfume so am excited to try the new Enchanted version. Also a product that has been on my to try list for ages is the Nude ProGenius oil which I manged to get free when buying the Cleansing Oil. I haven't properly tried anything yet so will do some mini reviews on everything when I do so.

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Weekend Shopping 001

2013-05-27T10:30:00.000+01:00

The other week I had a really bad day at work but my day was instantly made so much better after I found out I won our work lottery. I had £49 and no idea what to spend it on. I then got thinking of which product I have wanted to buy for a long time but haven't because of the price. Estee Lauder's Advanced Night Repair instantly came into my head as I've tried a seven day sample in the past and really liked it. I've never spent more than £25 on a product though so to hand over £60 is a big jump. I also decided I wanted the 50ml as it works out cheaper overall and if I fall in love with it then it'll last longer.

The lovely lady at the counter also popped a little tub of the Advanced Night Repair for Eyes into my bag which I was made up about. I've also wanted to try it for a long time and had asked for a sample of it expecting a sachet or two. Instead I got a 5ml tub which works out to about £12!

On the same shopping trip I picked up a couple of nail polishes from Superdrug as it was 3 for 2. Finally I found the L'Oreal Confetti top coat which has been sold out in every single shop I've looked in. I also picked up two of the new Maybelline Colour Show Polka Dots polishes which I hadn't heard about.

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Week In Photos 139 & 140

2013-05-26T22:29:00.002+01:00

Nail Polish Rainbow // Courgette progress - week 2 // Tattoo testing // Coolest business card // New bags // Mixing prints // Courgette progress - week 3 // Lavender growing slowly.

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