LUSH Mint Julips Lip Scrub

Hello guys! Please tell me I am not the only one who suffers with unbearable dry lips during the cold winter months? During this time of the year, this lip scrub is like a life saver to me! I use it every morning (and sometimes in the evening if my lips are extra dry and flaky - ew!) to get rid of any dead or dry skin and leave my lips feeling softer and a bit more normal. Using this then a little lip balm really does set your lips up for a lipstick, lipstain or whatever you like to wear on your lips no matter how dry and horrible they felt before!

The other amazing thing about this lip scrub is the smell, it smells literally identical to mint chocolate-chip ice cream! LUSH do say you can lick this off of your lips after use to clean it away because it is perfectly edible, however I don't really find the idea of licking all the dead skin off my lips too appealing! However, when the odd bit of this has ended up in my mouth it did taste pretty good!

If you want to find out a few of my favourite lip balms to put on after using this scrub you can read my Let's Talk: Lip Balm post here.

Thanks for reading! What are your essential lip care products for these cold months?

REVIEW: Urban Decay Half Baked Eyeshadow

Hey guys!

I haven't splashed out on either of Urban Decay's Naked Pallette's. However, this eyeshadow has definitely tempted me. 

Urban Decay's Half Baked is a beautiful bronze/gold colour with shimmer running through it. It's one of those versatile eyeshadows that look gorgeous during the day or night. This eyeshadow was a staple in my make-up bag over the Christmas period, paired with a red lip and some dramatic lashes it looked wonderfully festive. But, now the holidays are over, I still get plenty of wear out of it. During the day it looks lovely with just a nude lip, or it is easily dressed up for the evening. This product is the perfect texture for an eyeshadow, it can be easily built up and is perfectly blend-able.

If all Urban Decay eyeshadows are as lovely as this, I am tempted to purchase one (or even both) of the Naked Pallette's - what do you think? 

Thank you for reading!

Haul: American Apparel Disco Pants!

Hey guys! I have wanted a pair of these beauties for so long, but the price tag has always been a bit of a put off. However, I had a 30% off all American Apparel clothing discount, so I ran to my computer and ordered them right away!
After six days of waiting impatiently for them to arrive, the postman knocked on the door and asked me to sign for a parcel, when he handed it over to me I realised the parcel held my Disco Pants and got all excited and probably scared the poor postman!

Excuse the background mess - I took
this photo in my sisters room, the
messy pup!!

The Disco Pants themselves are so flattering. When I first opened them I was scared at how tiny they looked - the waist looked like it was for a twelve year old! But because they are made of such a stretchy material they fitted just fine (phew!). I absolutely love the high waist and super-skinniness of them. I was so worried these trousers would look awful on my body, but I have fallen in love with them!

Do you own a pair of these beauties? Or are you lusting over them as I was for SO long? Thank you for reading lovelies!

Soap & Glory Peaches and Clean Deep Cleansing Milk

Hey guys! As you may know, for Christmas I received Soap & Glory's 'The Best of All' set, so this is probably one of many upcoming Soap & Glory reviews!

My Clinique 3-Step is a skincare routine that I have used religiously for years. In fact, I have always been pretty damn reluctant to change it since it has always worked for me so well. My skin is oily and tends to be prone to spots and blemishes from time to time, so I have never wanted to use anything too harsh. In fact, this was my first worry with the Peaches and Clean Deep Cleansing Milk, the smell (although lovely) I thought was perhaps too strong for a facial cleanser. But I bit the bullet and - for the first time in years - used a different cleanser. And I was impressed!

For a cleansing 'milk' I found this cleanser to be quite thick. However, it works incredibly well. It literally does melt away make-up and leave the skin feeling cleansed, soft and lovely. I was worried that this cleanser would break me out but, if anything, it has actually improved my skin. This cleanser isn't something I would use in the morning, I've stuck with my Clinique Liquid Facial Soap for this, but in the evening it works a treat to remove make-up.

After trying this cleanser, I'm interested to try more from the Soap & Glory skincare range. I love their make-up and body range, so I hope the same love will grow on me for their skincare range!

Have you tried any of Soap & Glory's skincare range - what would you recommend? Thank you for reading!

Removing a Shellac Manicure At Home!

Hey guys! Usually I wouldn't try and remove my Shellac Manicure at home, but I've been rather busy recently and haven't had the time to pop into town to get it removed! So instead, I did it myself at home (it's probably better better to get the manicure removed properly but to do it at home is both inexpensive and less time consuming!).
To do this I simply used my everyday nail polish remover, Sally Hansen Strengthening Polish Remover, which I poured into a shallow dish - I couldn't find a shallow dish so I actually used the lid of some Johnson's Cotton Buds! I know it is possible to buy pure acetone which will obviously be more effective, but I don't know where you buy it from so I stuck with your bob-standard nail polish remover.
Then, I simply dipped my hands into the dish and waited. Usually it is recommended you wait 10 minutes but this is with pure acetone, so I waited more 15 or so minutes. Then I used a manicure stick to scrape off the Shellac polish. Most of it came off pretty easily, I did however have to dip some nails back into the dish because there were a few stubborn bits left behind.

Immediately after removal, my nails looked a little damaged and perhaps peeled. But after washing with soap and water normality was restored *phew*. Then, finally, I applied my trusty Soap & Glory Hand Food and my nails were as good as new!

Real Techniques Core Collection Set

Hey guys! I know there are plenty of reviews on these brushes in and amongst the 'beauty blogging world' but I love them so much I feel I have to jump on the bandwagon and tell you guys about them! 

Buffing Brush - who has tried this brush and not completely fallen in love with it? It applies any foundation seamlessly and beautifully, leaving a flawless finish on the skin! It even applies my Clinique Stay Matte Foundation wonderfully, even though this foundation looks awful when applied with a normal foundation brush!

Contour Brush - This brush is the perfect shape for applying bronzer in the contours of the cheeks and it is oh-so-soft. I also find it to be a really good size, not too big nor small.

Pointed Foundation Brush - I have to be honest, I've never ever used this as a foundation brush. Instead, I use it to blend in concealer, both under the eyes and on blemishes. It leaves a flawless finish, blending the concealer into the foundation really well, leaving everything I want covered out of sight for the day!

Detailer Brush - I occasionally use this brush to blend in concealer under my eyes. But also occasionally to apply lipstick or gloss. It's one of those small multi-use brushes that are rather handy to have!

Thank you for reading! What are your thoughts on Real Technique's brushes?

Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Scrub

Hey guys! For Christmas I was lucky enough to receive Soap & Glory's 'The Best Of All' set. Inside it, amongst many other goodies, was the Sugar Crush Body Scrub - a.k.a heaven inside a tub - I don't even know where to start with this product, it is just amazing! First of all; it smells good enough to eat (although I wouldn't recommend eating this at all). On the front of the tub it tells you some of the lovely ingredients it is made from, which may explain why it smells good enough to eat, but also why it works so well. It contains 'smashed brown sugar & sweet lime, almond oil & macadamia grains'. I've been using this every three or so days in the bath or shower and every time my skin is left feeling like silk (almost literally - I swear). I had been using Soap & Glory 'Pulp Friction' Scrub religiously for the past year or so, but I may even go as far as saying I prefer this scrub now, it's just lovely!

What's your favourite body scrub? Thank you for reading!!

December Favourites & My New Years Resolution!

Hello guys - it's been a while hasn't it?! I'm so sorry that I haven't posted anything in months! But I am back now and I have made it (one of my) New Years Resolutions to start updating my blog once again, at least once a week! I have no idea where last year went, it disappeared so quickly! I can't quite believe this post is my December Favourites.

(Sorry about the terrible picture quality - there wasn't
a whole lot of light left when I took this!)

So, let us begin with the best mascara this world has ever seen! That being Benefit's They're Real Mascara of course! I'm lucky enough to have naturally long eyelashes but this product seems to take that to a whole new level! It's both lengthening and voluminizing, leaving the lashes looking just fluttery and gorgeous!

My next favourite is Rimmel's Kate Moss Lipstick in 107. This colour is just so beautiful and wintery, I have been wearing it almost all the time recently! I do love the matte finish - but I will occasionally wear a little bit of gloss over the top if I don't want the matte finish. The product itself smells - to me - of Cherry Drops, which were my favourite childhood sweet, and that makes me love it even more!

I've also been loving Maybelline's Black Gel Eyeliner this month, I love the black winged liner look and this gel liner makes it so easy! It glides onto the eye wonderfully, and lasts the entire day! I use the little brush the liner came with because I find that works just fine!

Last but not least, is AVON's Advance Techniques Moroccan Argon Hair Oil. Recently my hair has been a little dead and thin from constantly wearing my hair up in a topknot (even my hairdresser noticed - it isn't good!) so I bought this Moroccan Oil because I've heard from numerous people that it does wonders to your hair; and doesn't it just! My hair is already looking a little more alive and healthy, definitely a good purchase! Especially as it only cost me £5.50!


What have your favourites been this month? Thank you for reading!