Lush Haul: Christmas, Halloween and Teeth

There is no better time of year than when the Christmas stock appears in your local lush store! *mini fist pump* So, as you can expect, there was no way that I wasn't going to get a little bit spendy upon it's arrival, cue a whip round with a basket. 

Ta da!! 

First off, I have a few cheeky online purchases in the form of Oral Pleasure Toothy Tabs and Tooth Fairy Tooth Powder. I have been a big fan of toothy tabs since I first tried Chou Chou I Love You last year, so when I saw the passion fruit flavoured Oral Pleasure, they went straight in my figurative online basket! Tooth Fairy Tooth Powder is a strawberry flavoured powdered tooth paste and I bloody love the stuff! It's super easy to use, tastes amazing and will probably last me forever! 

I also picked up the Strawberry Bombshell lip tint because I was drawn to it's fantastic bold pink colour. However, although it has a lovely strawberry flavour and is really moisturising, the colour payoff isn't as good as I might have liked. 

Finally, before we move onto the naked products (cheeky), I picked up a Batwing Shower Jelly, and it smells like the black and green fruit pastilles...I may need another 4 or so of these! But unfortunately as they are a Halloween product I may have difficultly...crap.

I picked up a Star Dust bath bomb, which is new for Christmas 2015. It has a slightly sweet smell but I was mostly drawn to it after seeing it demoed in the shop! It leaves a milky water with coloured sparkly bits and as a sparkly sort of a person, it was obviously coming home with me.

This is Snow Angel and she is beautiful! Like really. It's a sweet and sparkly Christmas bath melt, so makes the water lovely and soft...but also really glittery too- WINNING! If you love the smell of the ever returning Snowcake soap, then you'll adore this little one as they share that gorgeous marzipan scent.

You've seen these Milky Bath bubble bars on here before...cocoa butter and skimmed milk, make up this creamy set of bubbles...and yes I've already had about 6 of these. 

I probably wouldn't have chosen this one myself as I was wandering around the shop, however I asked my friend Matt to pick one bath product for me to try and this is what he picked up. This is Bar Humbug, a liquorice scented bubble bar, filled with fennel and tarragon. I haven't tried this one yet but have had a good play with it in the shop and the colour that this one creates is beautiful.

Finally, give em the old Razzle Dazzle...yeah, this one's called Razzle Dazzle, a solid (almost solid) bath melt. Think lime and raspberry, think cocoa butter and think pink and sparkly. You're welcome. 

What have you picked up from your local Lush recently? Have you been enjoying their new products as much as I have? 

Ways to use your Snow Fairy

She's back! That's right, Lush's bestselling winter shower gel has arrived! So basically, we're on the home straight to Christmas!! Holy moly. 

This year Lush has changed the packaging to their bright pink pear drops scented little bottle of glory to something more minimal, so the more observant of you will have noticed that this bottle is actually last year's. Still working my way through my stock from last year: guilty as charged! 

I love a good bottle of Snow Fairy, I think she's magic (hence the large stock that has lasted me a whole year), and she is fabulous as a multi-tasking product. Here's some ways to use your Snow Fairy...

Shower Gel. 

Ha. Obvs. Just in case you hadn't thought of that one.

Shampoo

If you're in love with her amazing sweet smell, then right now close your eyes and imagine your that smell coming from your hair. One of my work colleagues has always stood by using Snow Fairy in this way, and she was so right! Amen Gemma, you are a genius. Snow Fairy leaves you smelling like pear drops and doesn't leave a residue in your locks. Just try it! You're welcome. 

Bubble Bath

If you've run out of your standard bubbles then you can always use this as a quick makeshift bubble bath. Just pour some under the running tap when drawing a bath and you can still enjoy a tub full of foam. 

Washing your makeup brushes? 

Yes, really. I normally wash my makeup brushes with a basic baby shampoo, but when I ran out part way through my weekly clean, I needed a substitute. Instantly I grabbed for my trusty Snow Fairy. And was I disappointed? Well...it's a no from me! She cleaned my brushes perfectly and even left them smelling beautifully festive! 

Good on you Snow Fairy, you win at life. Have you got any other ways of using your little bottle of Lushness? 

When Your Skin Just Hates You

...and what I've tried to get it back on track...

Trying out lots of new skincare products is 1) super exciting and 2) a lot of fun. In fact I love mixing things up a bit and trying new things. However my most recent product experimentation has left my skin looking and feeling the worst it has been since I was about 13. And I mean really. In fact, has my skin ever been this vile? I'm not so sure...bugger. 

So normally I have slightly dry skin that enormously overcompensates when it doesn't receive enough moisture, but also has a bit of a meltdown when it's offered too much. Usually I do have a small amount of acne that appears around that certain time of the month, however it hasn't been an enormous issue for a few years. The pores across my cheeks are very large and I'm shamefully prone to blocked pores and blackheads- the absolute bane of my life!

But right now my skin is completely unbalanced, make up doesn't seem to sit right in my face, my acne has gone a bit crazy with: red blotches taking over my face; enormous sore acne spots littering my jaw line and cheeks; and my blocked pores have gone into overdrive. My skin is rough, sore and tempramental. What did I do to deserve this?! 

So far I have tried a couple of things to try to get my skin back on track; I have seen a small improvement but it hasn't been a straight road.

My first step was to resort back to the products that I first tried to get my skin in order in the first place (most of which still make up my daily skin routine) as they are all aloe based and super sensitive. After 2/3 weeks or so this has started to help make a difference, I still have all of the issues listed above but definitely to a lesser extent.

I have been using: The Body Shop's Aloe Facial Cleanser (taken off with either a hot flannel or cotton pads), Clinque Anti-Blemish Clarifying Lotion (an AHA enriched liquid exfoliant, that I apply with a cotton pad), Lush's Movis Facial Soap (which when used directly on the skin works as a fabulous exfoliator- top tip right there!) and The Body Shop's Aloe Day Cream (which is light and sensitive but super nourishing). We're getting there...

But even after trying for a few weeks with just the products I know that my skin loves and not getting the complete results that I was hoping for...this calls for desperate measures. 

Cue: I now clean my make up brushes religiously, every single week! I can't tell you how much of a difference this has made to reducing the amount of blocked pores I have been experiencing. Now, I've always known that using clean make up brushes makes your application better and means that you're not constantly adding unwanted bacteria, dirt and oils to your face. But it's only over these last few weeks that I have seen the effect of using squeaky clean make up brushes! 

And lastly, I have tried to drink more water. I'm terrible for not drinking enough. I hold my hands up, it's the, so shoot me! But I went out and bought a water bottle so that I could carry water around with me all of the time. And what a difference!? The good old stuff from the tap did good! 

My tips for sorting out your skin are: 

1) Keep it simple! 

2) Moisturise! 

3) Clean your god damn makeup brushes! 

4) Drink shitloads of water! 

I hope that you guys haven't ever experienced this kind of complete skin meltdown (however many of you will have done) but I hope that my experience may make yours a little easier!

Chick Flicks for Girly Sleepovers

Nothing is better than a catch up sleepover with your girlfriends. And, I don't know about you but, for me and my girls, a sleepover isn't a sleepover without a girly chick flick.

I know that it's probably sounding horrifically stereotypical but I really don't care. Sometimes girls just got to sit in their pjs, watch a cute film, drink wine, eat chocolate and gossip about ex boyfriends. Sorry, not sorry. 

So here we are, a countdown of 10 of my all time favourite 'go-to' sleepover films. 

Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging- This totally reminds me off being 13, and I am unashamed to say that I read my way through all 12 of the Georgia Nicholson books as a pre-teen. Complete guilty pleasure! 

Mean Girls- I first saw this at a sleepover with my cousin, pretty apt really. Let's face it, Mean Girls is quite possibly THE single most quotable film in existence. That alone is a pretty good reason to share it with your friends. 

Miss Congeniality- Another film that reminds me of being at school. I love this so much, nothing makes you feel like you don't need a man than being reminded that us females, represented by Sandra Bullock, can still kick some major ass. YES SANDRA! 

Mamma Mia- Hands up if you've never sung along to this bad boy...Yep, that's no one. Thought so. I rest my case. 

The Fault in our Stars- I can see you giving me that confused look. Really?! Think about it this way: 2 or more hormonal adult females, wine and chocolate. This starts to look like an okay film choice. I love this when you and your girl just need a good cry, usually following some sort of breakup or just general confusion, probably caused by a male. And breathe...

Love Rosie- THIS IS MY FAVOURITE FREAKING FILM EVER! Literally, my life is set out in this film. At least I hope my life pans out like this a bit quicker than it does for Rosie. But if you haven't seen this one, I cannot recommend it enough! 

Notting Hill- A 90s classic! Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant make this just one of the best films in the world. The casting is so good, and Rhys Ifans cracks me up every time. There is one quote in this that I use all of the time, I just wish that it sunk in a bit more. 'I'm also just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her'.

How To Lose A Guy in 10 Days- It's funny. It's cute. It gives you all sorts of feels. And it's got Matthew McConaughey in it. Boom, there it is. Spot on sleepover film right there.

The Five Year Engagement- Maybe a bit too bitter sweet, The Five Year Engagement is another one that tugs at your heartstrings in all sorts of ways. Note: this isn't one for crying at but it does have you shouting at the TV, 'just get married already'.

The Holiday- If you're looking for something festive, nothing beats this one. You know it's nearly Christmas when it one rears it's head on ITV2 (so August then...) but The Holiday gives me that warm excitable Christmas bubble in my stomach. 

So there it is my list of chick flicks for girly sleepovers, obviously there are films missing from that line up, this is definitely not a definitive list, for example '50 First Dates', 'Failure to launch' and 'Pretty Woman' to name but a few, all just fell short. However I don't think there's anything on the list that doesn't deserve to be there. So take this as a little dose of inspiration and have a fabulous night in. You're welcome. 

September through Instagram

September has been a quiet month on the old Instagram. I'm thinking however that since October is my 21st birthday, this may merely be the calm before the storm...bah 21?! Are you being serious?

1. Classy toilet mirror selfie right there...got to love a Friday night out with your best friend! Honestly the best night I'd had in ages, and to think that I didn't want to go out. We braved the cold and it totes paid off! 

2. £1.50 bear slippers! Oh Primark, you are good to me. I've worn them around the house, I've worn them driving, I've worn them at work and I'm pretty sure that I went to tesco in them too...

3. Since I had tomatoes on toast with my boss one day at work, I literally can't get enough of them! Brown toast, fresh tomato and black pepper. Winning. And, btw, I have zero shame when it comes to instagraming food. No shame.

4. Me and my good friend, Andy, at a formal 21st birthday party. It was a gorgeous night and the party was totally Pinterest worthy! Hog roast, pick and mix, fairy lights, prosecco, live music and formal wear. Happy birthday Hope! 

It's only been a short one, but I didn't want to miss a month! Fingers crossed that October will be utterly fabulous, because I desperately don't want to turn 21 and not have a good time doing so.