May Favourites |

Hello Lovelies,

Let me start off by apologizing for the sort of blogging hiatus. I have not given up completely, I'm currently doing a course outside of my full-time job so I have little time  between the two to sit down and actually blog. I'll explain more about what I'm doing in good time. For now I thought I share with you some of my May Favourites. Can you believe it is June already?

Vichy Purete Thermale Purifying Foaming water - €14.99

This little wonder was sitting idle in my bathroom until a couple of weeks ago when it caught my attention, now I can't figure out why I ever stopped using it. I just looks like water in the bottle and when you pump it out it foams up. It's a really gentle face wash, lightly scented and it leaves my skin looking brighter and my face looks plumper and so so smooth - even before moisturizing. It contains Captalae, a shea plant extract which acts like a magnet to draw impurities from the skin without needing any harsh chemicals making it great for those with sensitive skin. I love it!

Liz Earle Instant Boost Tonic Spritzer -  €16.00

It is almost unheard of for me to be mentioning a toner let alone be "favouriting" it. I find a lot of them to be very drying and leave my skin feeling stripped and sometimes quite raw. I have been using witch hazel and rose water for years and it has been doing the job just fine. However, I received a 30ml travel size of this at Christmas in a Liz Earle giftset. It contains aloe vera  to revitalize and soften skin and refreshing chamomile and cucumber. It smells so fresh, its mood boosting! It comes in bottle form like a normal toner or you can get a spritzer version which I prefer. It is alcohol free and the natural vitamin E adds a veil of moisture. I've just repurchased! 

Clarins Daily Engerizer Cream - €24.00

This moisturizer is one I find myself coming back to for spring/summer again and again so you could say its a long term favourite of mine. The Daily Energizer range was specifically designed with younger skin in mind (late teens - to early twenties). It contains Vitamin C to tackle fatigued, dull skin, Turmeric a powerful antioxident, Alchemilla a plant extract designed to regulate the production of sebum for clearer pores and complexion and finally Ginkgo Biloba to increase the skins intake of oxygen for brighter, more radiant skin. It does all of this without leaving the skin feeling greasy, it is my go to day time moisturizer for the summer months. My one and only gripe with this product is the lack of SPF, when designing a range of skincare for for younger skin I thought it would have been of paramount importance. Maybe that's just me..

The Body Shop Tinted Glow Enhancer - approx €19.00

I have had this highlight for ages.. I rediscovered it recently when I was doing a massive clear out and have fallen for it again in a big way. You can do so much with it, mix it in with your foundation for a dewier look, apply it on bare skin for a glowing complexion or apply it as you would a normal hightlight - on your cheek bones, your cupids bow, down the centre of your nose, etc. However, I'm unsure it is still available and fear it may be discontinued. I haven't been able to find it online, I have tweeted the body shop and am awaiting a response. How typical would it be that I would fall in love with a discontinued product? 

No.7 Stay Perfect Eyeshadow in 'Truffle' - €9.25

To be totally honest I never thought much of No.7 as a brand, I'd see it in Boots and walk past it seeing it a brand for the more mature woman. I received this eyeshadow in a goodie bag at the launch of the Cocoa Brown Tough Stuff Scrub, why I haven't blogged about it before now is beyond me. I get countless compliments when wearing it. It is the most beautiful warm bronze colour that really makes blue eyes pop! The texture is so silky and it has the finest shimmer, it blends effortlessly and although quite pigmented as it is, you can really build it up for your desired look. Desert Island eyeshadow? I think so!  It creates a single shadow smokey eye - Perfect!

Essence Get Big Lashes Triple Black Mascara - €2.89

This Mascara has knocked me for six, it has literally blown me away. It is the blackest black colour, it adds length, volume and definition to my lashes with a single coat. It doesn't clump and doesn't dry out my lashes and make them feel crispy. It has undoubtedly knocked my beloved YSL Faux Cils Mascara off of its pedestal and what's more? I can get 11 of these mascara for the price of the YSL one. It deserves Holy Grail Status - Life made!

So there you have it, a look into some of the products I have been loving throughout the last month and a little look into some of my skincare routine. What have you been loving this month? 

Rebecca x

The Body Shop Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter | Review

Late last year I was toying with the idea of investing in the Elemis Pro-collagen cleansing balm, however the thought of spending €57 to find that I didn't like the end result and leaving me with a substantial hole in my pocket was off putting to say the least. 

Eager to try a cleansing balm I took to twitter and the recommendations flooded in. One in particular peaked my interest and it was from none other than The Body Shop. Affordable and from a brand I rate really highly. 

I picked it up shortly after and have been using it ever since. 

Basically it is a 'synthetic wax' balm designed to remove all traces of your makeup, everything - including waterproof mascara. It is semi-solid in the tin. You simply scoop out a teeny, tiny bit (a little goes a really long way), warm it in your hands, massage it into your face and watch your makeup melt away effortlessly without tugging at the skin.

It says you can apply it and just rinse it off. However due to the oily consistency I would recommend using a muslin cloth or like me, a cleanse off mitt to ensure no residue is left behind. Especially those of you with particularly oily skin, I think you're just asking for trouble and it may be advisable to use it as a pre-cleanse or to remove the heavy make up. 

I have dry skin primarily, my t-zone can get quite oily and I would go as far as saying it is acne prone. I did fear that using a cleansing balm would break my skin out more than normal but to my surprise and delight it hasn't, in fact I would go so far as to say it has had the opposite effect. I think my skin has improved since I started using it, down to the fact that it removes all remnants of my makeup. 

Camomile is known for its calming properties, and camomile tea is recommended for those who struggle to sleep. I think the same can be said about the scent of this cleanser. It is such a nice scent to prep your skin for bed; light, fresh and really relaxing. It is also quite soothing and great to use on sore/irritated skin. 

I have toyed again recently with trying a higher end balm but as the saying goes.. If it ain't broke, don't fix it! It is priced at €15, substantially cheaper than its higher end competitors. This cleansing butter has become a skincare staple for me, I have had it for the bones of 4 months and I'm not even half way through my tin (90mls). If that isn't value for money, I really don't know what is..

It is available from The Body Shop Nationwide or you can pick it up online here.

Have you tried any cleansing balms before? What do you think of them?