The Cosy Club: Bristol

I recently ate out at The Cosy Club in Bristol on Corn Street. I had such a fun time, so I thought you should all hear about it! I'd heard some great things about this venue (and all its elegance), but I was also informed that the nightclub 'Rehab' used to be located at the property, so I was slightly confused as to what kind of restaurant this might be! Keep reading to see my full review, Enjoy! x

Venue - The building looks amazing from the outside, and from inside, Cosy Club have really made it their own. The place is flooded with natural light. We were seated on a giant tan coloured leather sofa. The menus have been placed in leather cases, there are vintage tassel(ly) lamps, wooden bench tables and (what looks like) marble flooring. Even the napkins provided match the Greece proof paper that your chips are brought out on - the feel of the place is very relaxed, friendly and 'cosy'. 

Service - I needed to change my reservation as an extra person joined me for dinner and this was no problem for the staff. My friends and I were greeted and sat at our table within a minute or arriving; And drinks (very reasonably priced drinks - £2.50 for a glass bottle of coke) were delivered quickly. The two waiters that served us for the evening were polite, easy going and super-efficient! Service was 10/10 and I still genuinely cannot believe that my food was so cheap for the style of venue; Or that I hadn't eaten there before - if anything I was slightly disappointed in myself, I pass this place almost every day so wish I'd visited sooner.

Food - I'm quite a (known) fussy eater so I'm always wary about eating out at a new place! I tend to study the menu for at least 10 minutes, if I haven't already done so online prior to arriving! Nobody likes having 'food envy', especially at a restaurant, but at the same time, I'm not one for venturing out to taste new foods and flavours. I ordered the 'Chicken Caesar Burger' - which was a Herb-marinated chicken breast, streaky bacon, Parmesan, cos lettuce, Caesar dressing and anchovies in a sourdough bun with fries. The waiter was very polite and kindly accepted my request to replace Parmesan cheese, and Caesar dressing (mixed with anchovies) for a free flat giant mushroom. When the burger arrived to the table, it looked huge, the sourdough bread was really fresh and my chips were neatly coned into a china mug. I really didn't expect this amount of effort for £9.50, (certainly
not like something you're brought Harvesters...Don't get me wrong, I love harvesters).

Desserts - Desserts are my most favorited foods! It's one of the things that I really look forward to most when eating out (how exciting do I make myself come across?!). HOWEVER, the dessert menu at The Cosy Club was slightly disappointing; There was no mention of any chocolate, or a fruit crumble/pie - and it was £3.95 for frozen ice (sorbet). This doesn't mean to say that the desserts didn't look nice, but sometimes, I just want a little more variety!

I would definitely recommend food at The Cosy Club again. In comparison to restaurants around that area, you can actually receive a very good service / food for not a lot of money. Have you 'wined & dined' here? If so, please feel free to comment in the section box below! Alternatively, if you have a recommendation for another tasty food place, I'd love to hear about it!

Thanks for reading, 

Yvette Marie xo

 

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Lifestyle: Why I chose the 'earn as you learn' route

Last week it was my 2 year 'workaversary' (work + anniversary = workaversary... see what I did there!). I thought now would be the perfect time to write about why I chose an Apprenticeshop and try to (hopefully) help others make a decision if they weren't 100% sure on what to do...Enjoy, x

I never intended to head off to university, I couldn't imagine LIVING anywhere but Bristol, and when it came to Sixth Form in 2012 further education wasn't  compulsory, which meant that I wasn't really bothered about taking on tricky subjects for some extra points that I may (or may not) need for university. I wanted to do subjects that I knew I would ENJOY, but I also just wanted to have some fun with my friends (I had so much free time). I chose Media Studies, English Language, Sociology and Btec Health & Social studies.

After completing multiple mocks and my final year12 exams, I knew that 6th form wasn't for me! The best result I achieved in an exam was a D... Did I really want to come out of further education 2 years down the line with a grade D? Absolutely not! So this is around the time I started to look for an apprenticeship...I've always wanted to be a qualified (and a very good) Estate Agent, but most apprenticeships offered an hourly rate of £2.65, and I was not prepared to work 40 hours a week for that amount! I could obviously only turn down a job if I actually passed the interview stage which, in my case, took several attempts!

After I had finished all of my exams and applied for endless amounts of apprenticeships, I needed to hand in my 'leavers form' which meant Sixth Form was over for good. I had no job, no university offer and no go-to college course. On the day I handed in my form, I received a call from somebody who asked me if I wanted to attend an interview for an administrator role for a Mortgage & Protection advice business! I had a really good feeling about this call, and I.M.O the interview went really well. I changed my CV, the way I answered questions, and the way I presented myself. By the end of the day, I was informed that I'd got the job! I remember celebrating with chocolate cake (that's the way to celebrate everything).

Full time work was very different to Sixth Form, where I could go home at lunchtime and 'chill with my friends', but there was something very satisfying about receiving a pay check at the end of the month. It was MY money; I had earned it, and at the same time I was learning how to work in an office environment and at the same time developing my people skills. I didn't have to go to college once a week; I had a learning mentor who visited me approx. every 2 months to make sure my progress was on track. Every now and then I would need to write 'college' assignments, but I was happy to do this because the tasks were not tricky, and I was being paid during the working week.

1 year later – It’s fair to say that I missed my friends a lot during their first year. The majority of my group had left for university, (All over the UK; Plymouth, London, Leeds, Wales) and I was still in Bristol! I think one of the hardest things during this time was the fact that some of my friends were also having a bad time (feeling homesick) and there wasn't a lot I / they could do about it. 

For me, I was coming to the end of my apprenticeship and couldn't believe that a year had passed so quickly! I had been nominated as a finalist in the Business & Admin Bristol Post and Bath Chronicle's Apprenticeship Awards... Ok so I didn't win, but it was a really nice evening out, it's a great thing to put on my CV and it's always nice to hear that you've made the right decision!

2 years later - Moving Experience have since taken on a new Administrator who supports me in the business daily. I'm currently studying for exams so I can become a qualified Para Planner.. No I'm not an Estate Agent (or training to be one) but I think that I was sugar-coating that job to be something it's not. Both my friends at university and in Bristol seem to be a lot happier, and I think we all agreed that 2014/15 felt like it finished a lot quicker than the first year. Whilst my Bristol mates have made new friends, and I sometimes feel like not a lot is happening to me, there are at least 13 weeks during half-term & holiday time which I can use to spend time with them in Bristol, or I can always pop up and visit and vice versa..

Eventually, everybody has to grow up and potentially this may means moving away. I just remind myself that it can be a lot tougher for them because they need to make new friends, learn to live on a budget and move into a house with total strangers!

My top tips for you: 

1) Everybody gets nervous (including me!). It can be daunting for anybody if they're told that they need to make new friends, or learn a completely new & different set of skills!  2) If you have decided to go to university, make sure you check out the opening days. You don't want to choose the right course, at the wrong place!

3) If you're not sure about university, leave it for a year. Go travelling, save money, complete a college course in the subject that you intend to study further.  These could all benefit you in different ways.

4) Not interested in University or an Apprenticeship? Don't worry, there are so many different things that you can do.E.g. The Army, or Full-time employment. Book an appointment at your local Connexions to receive some more information and details about all of the options available.

5) Don't make decisions based on a relationship. If you did break up with your partner after deciding to stay at home and you've passed up the option of University, a placement abroad, The Army, etc; then you will feel like you've wasted some great opportunities. You can always learn to make it work.

Please feel free to comment if you found a successful alternative! Or if you have any ideas for future blog posts, I would love to hear them!

Thanks for reading,

Yvette Marie xo

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Review:Fullips - Lip Enhancers

6/6 - Lips ... If you've met me in person, or, if you've ever checked out my Instagram *click here*, you'll know that my lips aren't the biggest, in fact, they're tiny!!.. My top lip is pretty much non-existent. I would love my lips to be bigger, but I'm not so keen on having lip fillers, or any cosmetic procedure! So I searched the web for a solution (I think everyone does this) and I came across 'Fullips'. During the last few months there has been a lot of publicity around these lip enhancers from Fullips as Kylie Jenner claimed during an episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians that this product was the reason for her new super-sized lips... OK so later on KUWTK Kylie admitted that she'd actually had lip fillers, but that didn't stop me wanting to test this product! Continuing reading for my full review! Enjoy, x

I purchased two sizes, small & medium from Ebay - I didn't think a size Large was needed, because my lips are just so SMALL! This product was pretty expensive, from memory I paid £18 for 2 plus Postage & Packaging... Yes it is a one off purchase, but I thought this was a little bit pricey considering this product is made by a small American company. If you shop around, you may be able to find a money saving deal such as '3 for the price of 2' or some sort of deal from a beauty salon /distributor - so be sure to do this!!

Ok... so where to begin? This product is super easy to use!!

1) Just before use, apply a lip scrub - here's an awesome recipe

2) Simply wet your lips (I find plain Vaseline is a good substance)

3) Apply the enhancer to your lips until suction has been made.. and relax!

4) Keep the plumper attached for approx. 30 seconds, and then repeat 

5) It's REALLY important that you detached the enhancer using your fingers (as opposed to just pulling the item off) otherwise your lips will bruise!
6) You may have to play around with a different technique, just to find out what work best for you.. there are hundreds of tutorials online, so have a look.

I really like the medium size because I can use it for my whole lip area, and then use the smaller size tool to target certain areas, i.e. my cupid bow!

Does this product work? Absolutely!! Here are some before and after photos -  as you can see, my lips look so much fuller, plump and just generally better! Make sure you check out my Instagram to see a complete variety of results. The lip area is left a little red after use, but that's pretty much unavoidable. After the redness has gone away and your skin has calmed down, apply a lip liner and your favourite lipstick!! Once lipstick has been applied, you can really see the difference in size!! The results last between 1-3 hours, which I believe is just about the right of time. It takes around 30 seconds (minimum) to make your lips bigger, and the results last all evening! If you use the enhancer every day, then the results will last longer! 

Have you tried the Lip Enhancers from Fullips? If so, what did you think? Leave your comments in the box below... Alternatively, if you have any ideas for future blog posts, I would love to hear them! 

Thanks for reading, 

Yvette Marie xo

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Review: Liquid Lipsticks - Budget, Drugstore or Premium product!

Liquid Lipsticks have become all the range during the last year! And rightly so, I think they're brilliant. A strong base colour with a hint of shine sounds like the perfect combination, which is why I thought this review/comparison was be such a good post as part of my 6x Lips special. I'm all up for saving money, and if I can achieve the same results by reducing the cost then why not! Below, I've reviewed 3x different types of products; Budget - £2 from P.S Beauty (Primark), Drugstore - £8.99 from L'oreal, and Premium - £15 from Too Faced! Enjoy, x

Where to begin with this?...

Well first, what exactly would I like to see from a Liquid Lipstick? I want the results to look amazing! I'd like the item to provide shiny lips, (like a gloss) and to later dry matte (like a lipstick) and at the same time be long-lasting!? Ok...So I may be asking for a lot, but aren't these the kind of results brands are promising?!

BUDGET - At the super saver price of £2, this is a product not to be missed. The packaging looks professional, and I just love the small lip brush applicator. Is it shiny? Yes, but unfortunately it doesn't 'dry matte' it just kind of rubs off and disappears after around 30 minutes. If I'm being honest, this was more of a gloss. Unfortunately, it's super sticky, and whilst it smells great, it doesn't feel very comfortable. I purchased a neon / bright pink shade which was a little too much. I think if I used a smaller amount, the subtle results would look a lot better!

DRUGSTORE - I purchased this from Boots for £8.99, which is a little pricey for a lip gloss, but around average for lipstick. I liked this product because the wand was really wide, which made application easy. This item was really glossy, and I just loved the colour;  But I felt like it was possibly too wet, and so it didn't dry very well or leave any lasting effect. I think if the colour was more intense, and I also used a lip liner then the results would have been a lot more beneficial.

PREMIUM - At a price of £15, this is the most expensive liquid lipstick I purchased. Too Faced is an American brand, which means that you either need to find a UK retailer, or pay excessive P&P/Custom prices. I managed to find this online for £16 (go me!) but was it worth it?! I liked this product the most, its insanely pigmented, which meant I only required a little amount, however, the colour is jut too bright, it made it hard to match with other cosmetics. Although this item has a velvet lip brush, I needed to use a separate lip brush when applying this, because it was just far too wet. It is long-lasting (as promised, it does stain) and when it eventually dries, it looks matte but I wouldn't want to spend this kind of price again as I'd need a range of different colour lipsticks, and can't jusity those kind of prices!

Do you have a favourite Liquid Lipstick? If so, comment below to let me know! Alternatively, if you have any suggestions / ideas for future blog posts, I'd love to hear about them!!

Thanks for reading,

Yvette Marie xo

 

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Festival Beauty Essentials

So I'm off to X Festival in Cardiff on 13th June which is going to be really fun, the line-up looks amazing! Whilst I was planning my outfit (I'm very organised), I had a great idea for a blog post. With summer fast approaching, I thought this would be the perfect time to write about my summer essentials. There is nothing worse than being at a festival in the heat, dehydrated, sleep-deprived, and having greasy hair, so here's some of my favourite products to avoid these kind of results from too much partying! They're also available in miniature, so great for travelling if you need to pack light! Enjoy, x

Dry Shampoo - As if walking around with dirty hair was bad enough, it's even worse when it looks and feels greasy! The best way to avoid this at a festival is either 1) Wash your hair stood underneath a cold tap, or have your friend throw litres of water over your knotty mane for it to then (if you have hair like me) dry with super frizz and triple the size it would be normally be OR 2) use dry shampoo! When you can do your hair no more, apply some dry shampoo. My favourite brand is Batiste, but if you are on a bit of a budget then you can pick up this item for less from most beauty retailers.

Primer - When I asked my friends for their thoughts on this blogpost, they didn't believe that primer was an essential, which is something that I would have agreed with up until now! I've started to wear it every day, (I have two; One for a hint of foundation) and I can really see the effects. I just see primer as an alternative to foundation - great for a festival in the heat! If I had to recommend a product, I would suggest Rimmel's 'Fix & Perfect Pro Primer' - it makes my skin look smooth, feel soft, and brightens my complexity.

Sun Cream - Nivea, everytime! This stuff works brilliantly and smells great. I prefer using either a cream or spray, as I find that is the easiest method of application. I can't express just how important it is to protect your skin!  

Wet Wipes - Wet wipes are your savour; Use them for everything!!  If I had to choose a favourite brand it would either be Simple or Halo. I love wipes from Halo because they have lots of different wipes for different types of jobs, but they can work out quite expensive, retailing at £1.09 for 10!! As long as you have some form of wetwipes, you'll be ok.

Fake Tan - At one point or another, those pasty legs will have to come out to catch the sun rays, so apply fake tan before you leave. I find it best to exfoliate my legs before and after application so the tan lasts. Although I've not really experimented much with fake tans, I love the mousse from Primark. It smells nice and I can enjoy the effects for a small price of £2.50!!

Glitter - I'm not 100% sure if you'd class this as a beauty essential, but it's definitely a festival necessity. Glitter makes every looks fun and colourful, so bring plenty of it.

Please feel free to comment if you found this review helpful, if you would add / change something about this list, or if you have any suggestions for future blog posts!

Thanks for reading,

Yvette Marie xo

 

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Review: Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics

We're now into the 3rd post (out of 6) all about Lips. With blog posts varying from the best way to care for your lips, to my favourite lipsticks and lastly, how to get super-sized lips (if they do not come naturally to you) without inserting chemicals! This week I reviewed the 'After Dark Stained Gloss' test tubes from the brand 'Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics' which came in the following colours and also included a little lip brush; Hedonist (pale pink), New Wave (glossy neon pink), Jealous (red/orange shellac) and Little Black Dress! (black as you can probably guess)! Enjoy, x

Where to begin with this product?! These items are INSANELY pigmented; A little bit goes a very long way! The consistency is quite runny, but if you only use small quantities, this is manageable! The colours do stain, but this doesn't last all day. In fact, during the first use the effects lasted for just under 2 hours (I did eat so this may be why?). As the lip gloss leaves stains, I'd always recommend using the lip brush provided - it also makes application a lot easier. The colours in the pack are great alone, but also work when they're mixed ogether! The pink colours are a tiny bit darker than what's represented on the packaging, and I wouldn't say 'Jealous' was a very bold red, however, I feel as though this colour combination was chosen perfectly to fit with different occasions in the day, so they still work very well;

Hedonist & New Wave - It's pink, casual and you could easily wear this shade to work / out for coffee & shopping. Simple, but vibrant.

Jealous - Glossy and Red - It was very neat looking, but not too overpowering! Could easily work for a daytime date or out for dinner with friends!

Little Black Dress - A darkening shade, which works great with other colours to create an empowering /dark look - something that would be great for evening ocassions / special events.

I did enjoy experimenting with these lip glosses, but pricewise, they were on the expensive side. I purchased this pack on Ebay for £20, which meant I paid £5 for just 2.5ml!! - Certainly not the cheapest items out there, but as this is an American brand, it's hard to find these kinds of items without paying a fortune for postage & packaging! I would buy something similar to this again (obviously with different colours) but the price would DEFINITELY have to be lower!

I've read some great reviews about OCC's Lip Tarr and would love to try them out sometime... Obsessive Compulsive Products are available online from Beauty retailer Sephora - The 'After Dark' pack is now on sale for just $8!! - Alternatively, click here to visit OCC website where you will find this product & lots more!! http://occmakeup.com/. 

Have you tried OCC Stained Lip Gloss? If so, what did you think? Leave your comments in the box below, or, if you have any suggestions / ideas for future blog posts, I'd love to hear about them!!

Thanks for reading, 

Yvette Marie xo

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Tutorial: How To Make Your Own Lip Scrub

Last week I posted a review of Lip Glams Original Balm to kick start my 6x lips special - I can't say enough how important it is to take care of your lips, so I thought this would be the perfect time to blog about an awesome lip care product :) As everyone knows I'm a big fan of saving money and having a go at some DIY items, so below, I've listed some ingredients that you will need to make your own Sugar Lip Scrub! Just 2 items are required, and they should all already (hopefully) be in your cupboards! Enjoy x

Ingredients:

- 1 TBSP of brown or white sugar (I prefer brown)

- A dash of honey or olive oil (Just enough to make the sugary mixture stick together)

- A teeny tiny drop of vanilla (Optional - makes it smell yummy)

- Food colouring (Optional -makes it look fun and colourful)

Now mix together all of the ingredients! This should leave the mixture with a perfect consistency, and it's as simple as that! I've read online that some people crush the sugar down to make an even smaller grain, but this is obviously down to individual taste.

Apply the scrub onto your lips once a week (twice at the very most). If you have any dead skin then this will definitely help! Once the dead skin has loosened (if this applies to you), leave the scrub on for another minute and then wipe off the mixture with a damp cloth. Apply lip balm after use, and your lips should now be super smooth!

If this one isn't for you, then have a look around online as there are hundreds of recipes available (experimenting with different flavours & ingredients), but hopefully, at the very least, I've provided you with some inspiration!

Please feel free to comment if you found this tutorial helpful...Maybe you've tried to make your own lip scrub and have a fun recipe that others can try!?

Thanks for reading,

Yvette Marie xo

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Review:Natural Lip Balm by LipGlam

Hi everyone, I hope you enjoyed my 5x post Skincare special just as much enjoyed writing it. I recently mentioned on my Instagram page that I've thought up some awesome (in my opinion) ideas for my blog, before listing some companies that I would love to work with. Since then, LipGlam have been in touch with me, and provide this 100% Natural Lip Balm for me to test and review! Enjoy, x

So what exactly is this product? and what are the benefits?! LipGlam Natural Balm is a multipurpose moisturiser. This balm can do all sorts of things, from repairing dry lips, acting as a split end soother, and it's also a lip & mascara primer (Plus it acts as an eyebrow balm, cuticle ointment, soothes rashes and provides relief to dry skin). When I first opened the packaging, I was genuinely surprise at just how many things this product could fix! The RRP is £9.99, (which may sound a little pricey for a lip balm?!) but once you add up the cost of separate products that are all combined into 1 here, it's a real money saver.

Made from 100% natural ingredients (free from BAD chemicals) the balm delivers instant relief, proven to reduce skin roughness by 40% in 1 hour! Plus, it works for up to 8 hours! The main ingredient is Lanolin, which is a natural oil distracted from sheep's wool; Holding moisture into the skin to give a deep hydration. LipGlam blend Lanolin with natural botanicals, resulting in a readily absorbed balm that replenishes the skin instantly. By optimising your natural defences, it ensures a healthy glow and even provides a mild plumping effect!! Making it easy to have super soft lips. This product is also suitable all skin types including sensitive, so what's not to like?!

I loved using this balm for so many different reasons, but especially because it's made from all natural ingredients; And that's exactly why I've used it to start off my 6x post Lips special!! Working out what the best care products are for your lips is just as important as putting products on them! This product is availale online from www.lipglam.com. Have you tried LipGlam's Natural Lip Balm? If so, what did you think? Leave your comments in the box below, or alternatively, if you have any suggestions / ideas for future blog posts, I'd love to hear about them!

Thanks for reading!

Yvette Marie xo

 
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Review:Magnitone Lucid Cleansing & Exfoliating Brush

I recently read some great reviews about the Magnitone Lucid Brush, so thought I would take up the #7daychallenge myself; The Magnitone Lucid promises softer, brighter and smoother skin in just 7 days! I also thought this would be a great item to sum up my 5x Skincare Blog Post special. At first glance, it's cute, colourful and tiny. Travel size and super lightweight! The charger is magnetic, and the battery life lasts a week (fully charged). My skin has never felt cleaner, and my complexion looks a lot brighter...There are so many things that I like about this product already, so below I've picked out some key areas to describe the product! Enjoy, x

Deep Purification - Reduces the appearance of pores.

This brush cleanses & purifies pores deeply and effectively. It also helps to remove oil that may cause breakouts / blackheads and create spots! At first I was slightly worried that the bristles would be too hard for my skin, but they're actually super soft and flexible. As mentioned in previous blog posts, it's really important that all make-up has been removed in order to receive the best results!

Facial Cleansing Timer - To make daily use easy

Magnitone have made the design very simple, so It's very easy to fit the brush into your daily cleansing routine. Use it for just 1 minute twice a day (morning & evening) with your existing cleansers and serums, rinse off, and then apply moisturizer. The 20 second timer guides you around different zones of the face, (first forehead, then cheeks, followed by chin/nose/mouth) before automatically shutting off after 1 minute. I love that this product has a timer. I didn't feel like I needed to use the brush on certain sections (such as my forehead) for the full 20 seconds, so that much guidance really helped me out. Did I mention that it's also waterproof? So you can also use it in the shower!

Two different cleanses modes - To suit skin types & create ultra-fast deep cleansing 

There are two different settings, made for either a Deep Cleanse or Sensitive skin type. Magnitone use Active Electromagnetic Technology, to make the bristles rotate over 10,000 times per minute in order to cleanse, exfoliate and lift deep pores. Not only can the Lucid exfoliate, but it can also improve the condition of skin, and make it look more alive! My skin felt super soft after, even before I'd applied my moisturizer! I would definitely recommend using the sensitive setting  during the first week, as the deep cleanse can be a little over-powering / make your skin look super red!

Although the Magnitone Lucid is a little bit on the pricey side, (and not exactly an impulse purchase) if you shop around you will find some great offers! I bought mine from lookfantastic.com for £62.99 instead of £70, and this meant I also received a free Beauty Box worth £45, so make sure you do your research before investing! Plus, Magnitone will also provide a 12 month guarantee warranty card with your purchase for FREE! (who doesn't love free stuff?!)

Have you tried the #7DayChallenge? If so, let me know what the end results were in the comments box below, or alternatively, if you have any suggestions / ideas for future blog posts I'd love to hear about them!

Thanks for reading,

Yvette Marie xo

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My Skincare Routine

Hi all, here is a little insight into my current skincare routine. Just thought I'd share this with you, as my next 3 blog post will be about caring for your skin. Enjoy x  

Lush Face Mask - Mask of Magnaminty - This face mask from Lush is perfect, and what's even better is that it's made from 100% natural ingredients (including peppermint!!). Best used to help assist in the fight again breakouts and eruption, and can be applied to both your face and back. It rids blackheads, and brings skin back to tip-top condition. Yes, Lush products can be a little bit expensive (£5.50 for 125g), but this item is made from a self-preserving formula which means that you actually have 4 months to use it all and still receive the same great effects as day 1!

Simple - Cleansing Facial Wipes & Toner - Both of these items feel great on my skin. The wipes contain 2 vitamins (Pro-Vitamin B5 & Vitamin E) and no articial colours / perfumes, so If you've got sensitive skin you can use these too! I use the wet wipes either in the morning or just before bed to leave my skin feeling refreshed and moisturised, and apply the toner after to keep my skin hydrated! Although wipes are £3 for 25 wipes, and the toner is £2.99 for 200ml, there are always shops that have Simple products on '3 for 2' or BOGOF deals, which gives you a chance to buy the product I'm going to talk about next... 

Simple - Rapid Action Spot Zapper - I was a little bit dubious about using this, because I've tried similar products in the past and they've not worked at all :( However, this is great! There is a silver ball at the top of the tube which allows you to rub the liquid over a spot (as soon as it appear) without too much waste! This also means that you don't have to use your hands to touch your face, saving irritation. The gel soothes redness and calms the breakout. Regardless of how much gel I've applied, my skin never feel too sticky / heavy. I would definitely recommend this to everyone! 

Nivea - Soft Moisturising Cream - I often find that the majority of moisturising creams make my face oily (which means that make-up doesn't stick) but now I've found this, I'll choose Nivea skincare products every time! Their products smell great, and make my skin super sot. The texture is the perfect consistency which makes it easy to apply and perfect for everyday wear! 

Garnier - Micellar Cleansing Water - I love this!! A recently launched make-up remover from Garnier which gently removes make-up, and also promises to cleanse, soothe and rehydrate the face, eye area and lips! I think this product is great, it can remove anything... Foundation, Mascara, even Glitter Lips (see previous post) It's fragrance free to suit all skin types, suitable for sensitive skin and requires no further rinsing! 

Lastly, (and potentially the most important) drink PLENTY of water, and eat lots of fruit & veg! Dehydration makes your skin look dry and wrinkly, however by dirnking loads of liquids this can easily be changed! Now for the science bit... Our bodies contain a lot of water, and our skin function as a protection barrier to prevent excess fluid loss. By keeping hydrated, you can help 'lock' moisture into your skin. As for for fruit & Veg, they contain powerful antioxidants that help to protect your skin from damager caused by day-to-day things such as pollution, sunlight and smoking which can lead to wrinkles and spots! The recommended guideline is a minimum of 5 portions a day!

Please feel free to comment if you found this review helpful, or if you have any suggestions for future blog posts!

Thanks for reading,

Yvette Marie xo

 

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Review: Forever Living

A representative from Forever Living recently reached out to individuals in the surrounding area of Bristol, to ask for volunteers who would be happy to trial a box of products and in return complete a questionnaire. I signed up straight away of course, and was super excited when my delivery arrived!! The packaging is very plain, all products are white with a different colour font / banding for each product! Although it's simplistic, it works! Below you'll find reviews of my favourite skincare items. Enjoy x

Forever Aloe Scrub is a natural exfoliator for both the body and face, that will gently wash away dead skin cells and debris that’s been building up in your pores. It’s made from a unique combination including two natural ingredient; Aloe Vera Gel and Stabilized Micro-Spheres, which will help the skin’s own renewal process! It also protects the skin from drying out / any damaging effects from synthetic cleansers. This scrub is a very fine grain that’s gentle enough to for every-day use.

This is a face mask which you need to make yourself, and I absolutely love that! It’s something different compared to other companies, and makes the product incredibly versatile. This product is designed to blend perfectly with the Mask powder to create a unique combination and is extremely effective for a number of reasons; Cleanse pores, condition, sooth & tighten the skin and, lastly, remove dead skin cells. As the dead skin cells are removed by the mask, it means that the new cells are fresh which creates a vibrant and more luminous look to the skin. 

Whilst I did love the stages of BEFORE application (It’s pink, you get to mix two different products together and can control the texture of the mask if the recipe isn't to your desire), there are some things that I didn’t enjoy when I put the mask on. The smell was absolutely dreadful! My face smelt like a wet dog, and after 10 minutes (which admitaly, is probably too long for my first application) my skin began to feel very irritated. The mask was also very hard to wash off, but I fear this is probably because the amount of time the liquid was left on.

Aloe Propolis Creme - A rich creamy blend of Aloe Vera, Bee Propolis and Camomile to help maintain healthy skin whilst moisturising and conditioning. I used this as moisturiser for my face because Forever Living suggests that it makes an excellent product for everyday use and can improve skin tone! The cream was very thick which made it slightly hard to apply, although the results are great! My skin felt very soft and my complexion looked slightly improved. I only trialled this product for 2 days, so it’s hard to know the full effects of use over this period of time. 

Aloe Vera Gelly is a thick, clear gel that's used to moisturize, sooth and condition skin; And that’s exactly what this ‘gelly’ does! It’s a very thick (but smooth) consistency. Once I applied this to my legs, they shortly began to feel cold and tingly (which is great when you’ve got shaving cuts!) This would be an idea product to provide temporary relief from minor sunburn, cuts, bumps and insect bites. It’s definitely one for the First-aid box! The only complaint I do have; When the cream dried my legs felt VERY sticky which isn’t relaxing or soothing…

Aloe Heat Lotion is exactly the opposite to the Gelly described above. This is a Aloe Vera based heat lotion, designed to sooth and relax muscles. It’s very similar to deep heat / tiger balm but a less intense sensation / smell. The rich lotion contains deep heating agents to make it ideal to use as a massage companion for tired muscles, plus it’s long lasting! Although this product RRP is £12.24, it’s a thick cream and a small amount goes a long way.

Forever Living products are available to buy online - click here to visit their website https://www.foreverliving.com/retail/entry/Shop.do. Alternatively, look out for posts from your friends & family who have signed up to represent the company.

Please feel to comment if you found this review helpful, or if you have any suggestions for future blog posts!

Thanks for reading,

Yvette Marie xo

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