I'm off to have a baby!

Hello my lovelies!

The time has finally arrived & I'm off to have my baby girl tomorrow. I can't believe it!

I'm being induced at 37 weeks due to complications and I have to say it isn't a moment too soon. The past couple of weeks have been really tough and I don't think I could cope with being pregnant for another 3+ weeks.

I'm being induced at 6am on April 1st so here's hoping for an April Fools baby! 

I don't plan on being away too long but I just wanted to let you all know where I've vanished to.

I'll see you soon with a baby girl in tow!

Sarah xx

Recent Haul...

Hello my lovelies.

I love nothing more than a good haul, I don't buy anything for a while & then when I start I can't stop. When I saw Boots had 3 for 2 on all cosmetics & haircare I couldn't resist, who can resist free products! Then a 25% New Look voucher dropped into my inbox and I was sold!

Here's what I've picked up recently...

Toni & Guy Shampoo For Fine Hair | £5.99

Toni & Guy Conditioner For Fine Hair | £5.99

L'Oreal Elnett Heat Styling Spray For Volume | £5.99

I've wanted to try this shampoo & conditioner since Zoella mentioned it in her haircare routine so when Boots had 3 for 2 on haircare I couldn't resist picking it up. Dizzybrunette3 recently mentioned this heat styling spray in her haircare routine & her hair always look stunning so I was hoping for some of the same. 

Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation | £6.99

Rimmel Stronger Base Coat | £5.49

Rimmel Apocalips Celestial | £5.99

Boots also have 3 for 2 on cosmetics at the moment, what more reason does a beauty junkie need to indulge?! I've only just realised everything I picked up is from Rimmel, I didn't do this on purpose! I've heard really good things about the foundation & as I'm such a fan of Wake Me Up I'm hoping I'll like this just as much. My nails have been breaking recently so I decided to give this a go, I've not heard much about it but I'm liking Rimmel at the moment so I'm hoping for good things! I couldn't resist adding to my Apocolips collection, these amazingly pigmented lipsticks/gloss are great for every day use and are such a bargain.

New Look Peplum Top | £9.99

New Look Lightweight Grey Jumper | £12.99

I can't find this peplum top on the New Look website but I saw loads instore so it should be back on the site soon, I just thought it would look lovely when the summer warms up with jeans or shorts. Hurry up  Sping! This jumper is so comfy and is perfect for when the weather finally warms up a little bit.

New Look Crochet Jumper | £12.99 £6.00

New Look Denim Jacket | £17.99

This other lightweight jumper caught my eye because of the colour, I don't really own anything khaki but I really like it! When I saw it was on sale for £6.00 I couldn't resist. I've been after a denim jacket for ages and the picture really doesn't do this jacket justice, it's lovely! I'm all set for spring now we just need the sun to make an appearance!

Phew! I love a good haul & I can't wait to try out everything I've bought. The 25% off at New Look ends on Thursday, all you have to do is quote '240313' at the till. Don't blame me if you spend a fortune!

Sarah xx

My Skincare Routine & Favourite Skincare Products...

Hello lovelies, I hope you all had a fab weekend!

This year I finally decided to sort my skin out, up until now I've always spent a fortune on makeup to conceal my flaws but skimped on skincare products. I decided this was probably quite backwards as the better your skin is the less makeup you need so I decided to invest in some quality skincare products.

Here's my daily skincare routine & some of my favourite products...

Morning routine...

I start off by cleansing, this removes any product from the night before & the grime that's built up overnight, eww! My cleanser of choice is the REN Clearcalm Clay Cleanser, I've mentioned this many times & just love it. I then move onto a toner, this is a step I don't always take if I'm honest but when I do I use the Caudalie Beauty Elixir. After the skincare goddess that is Caroline Herons over at Beautymouth featured Hydraluron in her hall of fame I couldn't resist giving it a go. I use this before my moisturiser & have noticed a massive different in my skin since using it. I recently reviewed Hydraluron so if you want to read more click here. I recently picked up the REN Vita Mineral moisturiser and have really been enjoying using it, it's a little too early to post a full review but I find it moisturises my skin well & creates a great base for makeup. The last step in my morning routine is an eye cream and my choice of eye cream at the moment is the Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream. Using an eye cream is new to me but I'll do anything to banish those pesky dark circles!

Evening routine...

If I've got particularly heavy make up on I'll start by removing it with Bioderma, the cult micellaire water that has taken the blog world by storm. I'll then give my skin a proper cleanse as the Bioderma does nothing to condition or nourish my skin, I use my REN Clearcalm Clay Cleanser again for this step. Like my morning routine I sometimes skip the toner stage but when I use one I use the Caudalie Beauty Elixir. The last three stages in my evening routine are the same as my morning routine except I swap my moisturiser for a slightly thicker This Works Perfect Skin Super Moisture, this moisturiser also contains a serum and whenever I use it I always wake with super soft skin. 

Other products...

There's a few products in my skincare collection that I don't use every day but they are all incorporated into my skincare one way or another at least once a week. Once to twice a week I'll soak a cotton pad in Alpha H Liquid Gold and sweep it across my face after applying toner, the trick is then to leave this product to work it's magic and not apply any products after. It was completely alien to me to go to bed without applying moisturiser but what Caroline Hirons says I do! This works as a topical skin exfoliator and helps to strip the dead skin cells from your face. Whilst I've gone off using scrubby face exfoliators once a week I'll use the Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant, this fine powder works great at removing dead skin whilst not making my skin feel overly scrubbed or sensitive. I recently posted a full review of this product which you can read by clicking here. Last but by no means least we have the masks that I use. When my skin feels clogged or needs a good clearout I use the REN Invisble Pores Detox mask, a great clay mask that rids the skin of grime and leaves it feeling uber fresh & clean. When my skin is feel a little dehydrated or dry I use the Origins Drink Up Intensive in place of my evening moisturiser, this amazing smelling overnight mask leaves me with the softest skin in the morning & it really feels nourished and hydrated. 

Phew! I know it seems like a lot of products but they all have a place in my skincare routine & I feel they all do a job. If you'd like a full review of anything that I haven't already reviewed then please leave me a comment below.

I'd love to know what your favourite skincare products are and if you would recommend anything, I'm always on the lookout for new skincare so feel free to leave a comment below!

Sarah xx

My Top 5 Spring Nail Polishes...

Hello lovelies.

Yesterday was officially the first day of spring, not that you'd know it with the poopy weather! As it's not warm enough to bust out the spring wardrobe just yet one way of brightening up any outfit is to wear a colourful nail polish. Here's my top 5 spring nail polish picks...

Barry M Peach Melba - I got through 3 bottles of this polish in 2012 which is completely unheard of for me, I never use one bottle before it dries out normally! I've been wearing this polish again recently and I just think it's a great wearable shade that goes with every outfit. 

Natural Collection Hibiscus - I saw this polish featured on Makeupsavvy last year & i couldn't resist picking it up. It's the perfect hot pink shade that screams Spring to me. It also costs under £2 which is pretty amazing for such a pretty polish.

Essie Fiji - This was a blogger favourite last year & I of course had to jump on the bandwagon. This has to be one of my favourite polishes in my whole collection! It looks great with a tan & I can't wait to tan myself up so I can crack this open again.

Barry M Gelly Pomegranate - This is the first of two Barry M Gelly polishes I'm featuring as I just couldn't decide between the two. Pomegranate is the perfect bright pink with red undertones & it's super shiny. What's not to love?!

Barry M Gelly Greenberry - This polish has been raved about by just about every blogger & it's easy to see why. I adore mint green and this is the perfect mint green with blue a blue tone running through it. Like Pomegranate it's super shiny and i can't wait to get my mitts on more shades from this range. 

I'm always on the lookout for pretty nail polish & need to update my collection so if you have any recommendations please leave a comment!

Sarah xx

My Favourite Drugstore Products...

Hello lovelies.

There's nothing I like more than spending ages walking around Boots picking up products I don't really need & having a heart attack when I get to the till. Don't get me wrong, I love my high end products too but drugstore purchases tend to make me feel a little less guilty and they're easily accessible on nearly every high street.

Here's my current drugstore favourites...

Nivea Lip Butter | £1.49

I picked this up a few weeks ago have used it every day since. It's a great inexpensive lip butter that leaves my lips soft & it tastes amazing. If you haven't tried this yet I really recommend giving it a go.

Barry M Gelly Nail Paint | £3.99

I only picked these up last week but I already love them. These have been doing the rounds on the blogsphere & it's easy to see why. As with any Barry M nail paint they last a good few days without chipping and this forumula is super shiny. I want every colour in the range!

Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation | £8.99

This has been a firm favourite since Summer '12 and I still love it just as much. This great every day foundation provides medium coverage and leaves my skin with a healthy glow, just what iI need on these gloomy days! 

Rimmel Exaggerate Undercover Shadow Primer | £3.99

I picked this up a few weeks ago and it's already been featured in a monthly favourites! This inexpensive eye primer makes applying eyeshadow a breeze and makes it last all day without creasing. I recently posted a full review of this product here if you want to read more. 

L'Oreal False Lash Telescopic Mascara | £10.99

I can't count how many times I've mentioned this product or featured it in a monthly favourites on this blog. This has been my go to mascara for well over a year now & I can't see that changing anytime soon. No other drugstore mascara adds volume and length to my lashes like this without clumping. I often try new mascaras but always come back to this when I need a mascara I can rely on. 

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer | £4.19

Every blogger & their dog seems rave about this concealer & it's easy to see why. This must be my fourth tube of this concealer now! It covers and conceals blemishes and under eye circles great and the coverage is good enough to last all day. I'm sure you've tried it before but if not where have you been?!

Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Liner | £7.99

This has been my go to gel liner for long lasting eyeliner & flicks for ages now and my first pot is still going strong. In the time I've owned this product I've tried high end equivalents such as Bobbi Brown & Mac and they have both dried out whilst this little gem is still going strong.

So there we have it, my current drugstore faves! I'd love to know what your favourite drugstore products are and what you recommend me to pick up. Boots currently have 3 for 2 on cosmetics so I can see a little splurge coming on ;) 

Sarah xx

NOTD | Barry M Gelly Nail Paint in Greenberry

Hello my lovelies, I hope you all had a great weekend. Barry M Gelly Nail Paints have been doing the rounds on the blogsphere lately and I'm probably a little late to the party but I finally caved in and picked up two shades, Greenberry being one of them. 

Barry M Gelly Nail Paint in Greenberry

£3.99

Available here

I saw this shade feature on many of my favourite blogs and I couldn't resist picking it up. Greenberry is a striking green with a blue tone running through it & I think it would look stunning with a tan. Sadly I'm lacking the tan at the moment but couldn't resist applying this anyway and it makes me smile every time I look at my hands! Barry M Greenberry was opaque in two coats and I didn't need to use a top coat as it dried super shiny. I've been wearing this polish for 3 days now and I haven't experienced any chipping which is good going for me.

I also picked up Pomegranate at the same time & will be applying that next, I'd love to know if you own any of the polishes from this range and what you think of them. I need to resist buying them all!

Sarah xx 

How I Deep Clean My Makeup Brushes...

Cleaning makeup brushes has to be one of the most mundane tasks I can think of but I ensure I clean mine once a week. Makeup brushes harbour bacteria and every time you use that brush you are simply spreading that bacteria over your face, gross eh?! Some of my friends have confessed to me that they rarely or never clean their makeup brushes, I soon put them straight on how important it is! Hygiene factor aside I also find my makeup applies much better with a clean brush & I always get the best finish with them.

Here's how I can deep clean my makeup brushes...

1. I use a baby shampoo to clean my brushes, I bought this huge bottle in Poundland. You can use normal shampoo or hand soap if you don't have any to hand.

2. I squeeze a small amount of shampoo into my hand and swirl the brush around, I add a small amount of water and completely saturate the brush in shampoo.

3. I hold the brush under a warm running tap until the water runs clear. It's important to use running water for this step as there's no point in cleaning your brushes in a pool of cloudy dirty water.

4. I squeeze all water out from the brush & reshape it. 

5. To dry the brushes I roll a towel up into a sausage shape and ensure the brushes are pointing downwards, this is important as you don't want water getting into the handle. I dry my brushes underneath a radiator and turn them halfway to ensure the brush dries evenly.

I hope you found this post helpful, I'd love to know how often you clean your brushes & if you use a particular technique you think may be handy.

Sarah xx

Review | Phyto Phytoneutre Clarifying Shampoo

Hi ladies, I hope you're all well & looking forward to the weekend!

I bought this shampoo last year after I'd seen it mentioned on so many of my favourite blogs & I was desperate to try it. It had been sold out on Feelunique forever & when it finally came back into stock I snapped it up like a woman possessed! 

Phyto say: 

'PhytoNeutre Clarifying Detox Shampoo is formulated to eliminate product build-up without stripping hair of its protective barrier. Used weekly, hair is gently cleansed, refreshed and revitalised.

With gentle and powerful cleansing action, PhytoNeutre Clarifying Detox Shampoo has a highly concentrated formula (Eucalyptus, Ferula, Sage, Chamomile, Hypericum, and Witch Hazel) that stimulates the scalp, effectively eliminates all residue left from styling products and leaves the hair supple, shiny and easy to style.'

I have very fine hair and I've always struggled with my hair appearing greasy or weighed down, after reading so many positive reviews about this clarifying shampoo I couldn't wait to give it a go. 

If you're not sure what a clarifying shampoo is it's basically a shampoo that gives the hair and scalp a deep clean, cleansing the hair and scalp of product build up. You shouldn't use a clarifying shampoo if you colour your hair as this will strip the colour and it may appeared faded.

I absolutely love how this feels & smells on the hair, it's very menthol like and it makes your scalp tingle as you massage it in. It's basically like a Vicks for your hair! 

Due to the move this got lost amongst my vast array of beauty products & I only recently found it and I'm really glad I did. I use this once a week and it really makes my hair feel clean and refreshed. It can be a little drying so I always use this in conjunction with my Aussie 3 Minute Miracle.

Overall I'm really impressed with this shampoo, if you're like me and your hair can look and feel weighed down or greasy I think you'll love this product. It is on the pricey for a shampoo but as you only use it once a week and need a small amount I can see this lasting quite a while.

Phyto Phytoneutre Clarifying Shampoo is available here priced at £10.50 per 100ml. 

I'd love to know if you use a clarifying shampoo and if so which one. i have my eye on the Bumble & Bumble Sunday Shampoo when this eventually runs out!

Sarah xx

Haul | REN Skincare Haul

Hello lovelies.

As I've mentioned several times in the past my HG cleanser is the REN Clearcalm Clarifying Clay Cleanser so when I was coming to the end of my previous bottle I decided I'd give some other REN products a try. Here's what I picked up...

REN Clearcalm Clarifying Clay Cleanser - £18.00 | Available here

REN Vita Mineral Day Cream - £25.00 | Available here

REN Invisible Pores Detox Mask - £18.00 | Available here

The REN Clarifying Clay Cleaser is my HG cleanser so when I was coming to to the end of my previous bottle I ordered some straight away, you can read my full review of this product here. I'm always on the hunt for my perfect moisturiser and as I like the cleanser so much I thought I'd give the Vita Mineral Moisturiser a go, I will of course let you all know what I think of it. Last but by no means least I'd heard such good things about the Inivisble Pores Detox mask that I couldn't resist giving it a go. Corrie over at Dizzybrunette3 is a fan and her skin is looking lovely so I've got high hopes for this clay based mask. 

 With all REN orders you get to choose 2 free samples which I think is a really nice touch, it allows you to try some of their other products without having to part with any cash. When choosing which moisturiser I was going to buy I was torn between the Vita Mineral and the Hydra Calm, now I can try both! I must have chosen the Glycolactic Radiance Mask as a sample about 5 times now and love it so much I really need to order a full size. 

I can't wait to take my make up off tonight, have a pamper session and try out my new products. How sad!

I'd love to know if you've tried any REN products and if so what your favourites are.

Sarah xx

Lash Fibres Review | Brush On False Lashes

I've always been a big fan of false eyelashes & I don't feel like I'm ready for a night out unless I'm wearing a pair. Sometimes I'd like to wear them during the day too but find them too much of a faff for everyday use so when I spotted this product I was very excited.

Lash Fibres promises incredible length & amazing volume when used in combination with your normal mascara.

Lash Fibres comes in a mascara like tube with a wand covered in fibres, the only thing I can think to liken the fibres to is candyfloss! You apply one layer of your normal mascara, a layer of Lash Fibres & then finish off with a final layer of your mascara. I found I had to work fairly quickly after applying the first layer of mascara as this acts like a glue for the fibres. Don't be alarmed by the white appearance of your eyelashes after applying Lash Fibres, the final coat of mascara sorts this out.

For reference I used Lash Fibres in conjuction with my favourite mascara, L'Oreal False Lash Telescopic. Personally I do think Lash Fibres does work, it does add volume and definition to my lashes. Do I look like I'm wearing false lashes? In my opinion, no.

Overall I do like this product for everyday use when I want some extra oomph but I won't be giving up on the false lashes just yet. 

Lash Fibres is available at Superdrug priced at £9.99

I'd love to know if you've tried anything similar to this & if so what you thought of it.

I hope you all have a great weekend!

Sarah xx

Review | Hydraluron

Hello lovelies.

After the skincare goddess that is Caroline Hirons over at Beautymouth featured this in her hall of fame I knew I had to have it in my life. Every blogger & their daughter seems to have jumped on the bandwagon when it comes to this product and there's a very good reason, it's the best thing since sliced bread!

(I can only apologise for haunting you all with my pale skin, the summer cannot come soon enough!)

This fragrance and paraben free clear gel does exactly what it says on the box. During winter my skin becomes very dehydrated and dry due to central heating and eating all the wrong comfort food. I'm sure most of you experience dry skin from time to time and for those times I cannot recommend this product enough.

I won't give you a lengthy spiel on the ingredients or science behind this product but if you are interested Caroline's post is a must read.

I apply this product either once or twice a day, applying a pea sized amount over my entire face under my moisturiser of choice that day. After just one use my skin looked visibly hydrated and plumped and after using it for 6 weeks my skin is softer, smoother and visibly hydrated.

In a nutshell if you haven't tried this product yet then you must get down to Boots and pick up a sample, you won't regret it! The price may be off putting for some but I've had my tube for 6 weeks now using it at least once a day and I haven't even made a dent in the tube.

Hydraluron is available here priced at £24.99, it's also included in the 3 for 2 offer at Boots at the moment so there really is no excuse to not give it a go!

If you've tried this product I'd love to hear your thoughts on it.

Sarah xx

February Favourites 2013

Hello my lovelies, I hope you all had a fab weekend.

We had family visiting this weekend which was lovely, living so far from home we don't get to see our loved ones as often as we'd like & we love it when we have people staying over. 

I can't believe it's March already, I'm going to have a baby next month! This scares me somewhat so I try not to think about it too much!

My favourites this month are mainly products I've loved & owned for a while with the addition of a couple of new finds. Here's what I've been loving this month...

Garnier Intensive 7 Days Moisturiser

£4.99

Available here

I'm sure this has featured in my favourites before but I just can't help but love this product. It's light and sinks in almost instantly but at the same time it leaves my skin beautifully soft. I can slap this on and get dressed almost straight away & it smells lovely, what more could you want?! I've lost count of how many bottles of this I've gone through and I can't see myself stop using it anytime soon.

Origins Super Spot Remover

£13.00

Available here

This is a firm favourite in the blogsphere and it's easy to see why. My skin has been playing up recently and I know I can rely on this little gem to eliminate any blemish I have. It isn't a wonder product and won't banish a breakout overnight but by the next morning the spot has always reduced in size & redness. I also find breakouts clear up a lot quicker when I use this product. The bottle may be tiny but I've had this since last summer & I'm only about halfway through.

Rimmel Exaggerate Shadow Primer

£4.99

Available here

I recently posted a full review of this product which you can read here so I won't ramble on too much but I'm sure I've used this everyday this month so couldn't not feature it in my favourites. This reasonable priced readily available eyeshadow primer makes applying eyeshadow a breeze and keeps my eye make up in place all day. If you haven't tried this yet I can't recommend it enough.

Nivea Lip Butter

£1.49

Available here

After Fee over at Makeupsavvy featured this product in her 2012 favourites I knew I had to try it. This super cheap lip butter tastes delicious and leaves my lips feeling beautifully soft. It won't cure severely chapped lips but it's a great thick lip butter to apply throughout the day. I don't even feel guilty about reapplying it too often because it costs less than a cup of coffee!

Chanel Coco Mademoiselle 

£45.50+

Available here

This has to be one of my favourite perfumes ever, I'm rubbish at describing scents but it smells sophisticated & I always get compliments when I wear it. i've had this bottle for 2 years now and as much as I love it I'm aware perfume does have a shelf life so I've been trying to use it up before it goes off. I'm nearly there!

So there we have it, my february favourites! It's so strange to think I only have one more favourites post to go before I become a Mum, how scary!

I'd love to know what your favourites have been this month so please pop a comment below.

Sarah xx