Lush Liverpool Blogger Event and Halloween Collection

Last Thursday, I met up with the lovely Holly and visited the Liverpool Lush Spa for their Blogger Event. I'd previously been to a few of the Lush events at the Chester store, so I knew to expect lots of demonstrations of products and updates on the new Halloween collection.

The event had a huge turnout, bloggers split up into groups to make their way around the store, stopping at points where staff were on hand to give demos. We were also given small pots to gather samples with.

The first station was a hands on one, bloggers donned rubber gloves and got their hands stuck into ingredients to create the Comforter Bubble Bar or the Cupcake Face Mask. Next up was the make-up station, I picked up a sample of the Jackie Oats colour suppliment, which Becca Rose always raves about.

Two members of staff were on hand to help with your skincare needs, covering the fresh masks and pots of facial skincare. I went for the Million Dollar Moisturiser as I have heard Victoria from In The Frow speak about it, as well as the Ultrabland Cleanser, which is one of their cult status products.

As you may know, the Lush Halloween collection has been released this week so I just had to check it out. They have brought back classics like the Lord of Misrule Bath Bomb and Shower Gel, plus the Sparkly Pumpkin but the new additions also looked amazing. Boo Bath Melt, Autumn Leaf Bath Bomb, Pumpkin Bath Bomb and Monster's Ball seemed to be very popular with the other bloggers, I'm a sucker for anything novelty. The range also included two soaps, Fireside and Magic Wand, plus a cute Shimmer Bar called Goth Fairy.

Finally, we visited the Lush Spa upstairs, I'd been dying to see what the treatment rooms were like and what type of spa treatments they offered. The Spa is styled like an old English cottage, making it very inviting. The staff talked us through the rooms and what the treatments were inspired by. I really want to book a visit in, they all sound amazing.

I had such a lovely time at the Lush Liverpool Blogger Event. Make sure you pay them a visit while in Liverpool.

Using Aloe Vera in your Skincare Routine

I've never been one to check the ingredients list of a beauty product, but while trying to tackle acne and sore skin, I started to research further into what natural ingredients are good for the skin. I found the aloe vera cropped up in articles claiming to fix most skincare compliants.

"Aloe vera gel contains two hormones: Auxin and Gibberellins. These two hormones provide wound healing and anti-inflammatory properties that reduce skin inflammation. Giberellin in aloe vera acts as a growth hormone stimulating the growth of new cells." - mindbodygreen.com

SUNBURN

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You will almost always find aloe vera in after sun products as it soothes and cools instantly. The Dr Organic Aloe Vera Gel or Body Butter would be ideal to pack when planning a break in the sun.

DE-PUFFING

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Again, the cooling sensation that aloe vera has makes it ideal to de-puff tired eyes. Tap the Dr Organic Eye Gel around the orbial bone gentley to awaken the eyes in the morning.

CLEANSING

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Aloe vera is ideal for cleansing as it's very refreshing and smells amazing. The Dr Organic Face Wipes are perfect for when you are in a hurry and the body wash provides a clean but moisturised feel.

CHAPPED SKIN

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Aloe vera is well known for it's healing properties, making an aloe vera lip balm the best way to heal Autumn and Winter chapped lips. You could also use this on chapped skin like elbows too.

The Dr Organic Aloe Vera range is available at Holland and Barrett. Do you use aloe vera in your skincare routine?

*This post contains PR samples

Clarins Must Haves and FEED 10 Charity Gift with Purchase

Well knowledgeable and passionate counter managers and staff are worth their weight in gold, Stephanie from the Chester Clarins counter in Debenhams is one of those people. A few days a go we sat downstairs in the quaint Tea Press café and nattered about the latest must have products.

Playing with and testing with the latest releases, Stephanie explained with important ingredients and the concepts behind the products.

First up was the Extra Firming Mask, this lilac coloured cream works to soft and smooth fine lines in just 10 minutes. It felt very luxurious on the skin making it ideal for more mature skin. The Super Restorative Replenishing Comfort Mask is also excellent for drier, mature skin.

I was also introduced into two of their most popular masks, the Truly Matte Pure and Radiant Mask and the Hydra-Quench Cream Mask. The Truly Matte is ideal for my acne prone skin, and the Hydra-Quench is perfect for those with very dehydrated skin.

The next trio of products are called the Boosters, helping to amp up your skincare and customise it to suit your needs at the time. The options are Energy, to perk up dull and tired skin, Repair, to soothe and heal and Detox, to purify and renew troublesome skin. You simply add a few drops into your normal moisturiser to customise it.

Lastly, Stephanie informed me about Clarins’ work with FEED who work to provide meals to school children in third world countries. Clarins are offering each customer, who buys two Clarins products, a gift cosmetic bag filled with their hero products. Each one will equal 10 nutritious meals through the charity. So you can give back by shopping! The charity FEED 10 bag available until the 1^st of October 2016. There are generous samples of the Moisture Rich Body Lotion, Relax Bath and Shower Concentrate, Gentle Refiner, Hydra-Quench Cream Mask and the Hand and Nail Treatment Cream.

What Clarins hero products do you use?

Autumn Wishlist

I haven't created a wishlist in months and thought the change of season would be the perfect time to invest in some pieces that will help me transition into Autumn.

ChloBo Luna Soul Rose Gold Star Necklace
I usually don't wear much jewellery but when I saw this rose gold star necklace, I knew I needed it. Love at first sight!

Kat Von D Liquid Lipstick in Outlaw
I've already fallen in love with the Kat Von D liquid lipstick formula after my sister brought me two shades back from Las Vegas. You just slick on a thin layer and it lasts all day, even through most food and drinks. I love this classic red shade, I think it would be perfect to brighten up dull Autumn days!

L'Occitane Ambre Eau de Parfum
In Autumn, I like to change my fragrances up to something more warming. This Amber and Vanilla perfume from L'Occitane fragrances sounds amazing.

Topshop Blossom Embroidered Boots
When I want to mix up my monochrome outfits, I would reach for a pair of statement boots like this. Miss Selfridge and ASOS also have similar styles, so shop around for an embroidered pair of boots to suit your budget.

New Look Embroidered Across Body Bag
I saw this embroidered number in a haul by Lily Melrose and fell in love with it instantly! It's the perfect piece to add to your wardrobe to incorporate the embroidery trend without breaking the bank.

What's on your Autumn wishlist?

*Sponsored post

Tigi Bed Head Fully Loaded Volume Haircare Range

I am forever trying to recreate the bouncy blow dry that only hairdressers can create. My hair is weighty and often flat at the roots giving it little bounce or movement. Cue, the Tigi Bed Hair Fully Loaded haircare range…

The shampoo has 'volume memory' technology, this basically means if your hair needs a boost you can scrunch it up or back comb it and it will remember the style! Ingenious right?!

Following up with the Conditioning Jelly, I do often find volumising products to make the hair quite dry so it creates texture, but this jelly conditioner helps to lock-in moisture. Don't let the word jelly put your off, it's far from a heavy formula, it feels lovely and moisturising when applied.

For styling, the range includes the Big Head Volume Boosting Foam and Full Of It Volume Finishing Spray, both products are ideal for big bouncy hair for a night out or special occasion. You could use both of these products on their own after your normal shampoo and conditioner routine if you just need a little boost of volume on a daily basis.

All the products come in very generous sizes so they will last an age! I also adore the scent, it reminds me of Love Heart sweets or blackcurrant jelly. Girls with limp hair, I recommend you invest in the range!

You can find the Tigi Bed Head Fully Loaded Range at Regis Salons across the country.

*This post contains PR Samples

Products That Enhance Your Beauty Sleep

We all say we are going to try and get 7 hours of beauty sleep a night. So why not let your products enhance your skin while you snooze? Undisturbed by makeup and grubby mitts, skincare gets the time to sink in slowly and repair any damage while you catch some Z’s.

Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask

The product that inspired this blog post. Don’t worry, this doesn’t feel like your usual clay mask, it’s more of a thick cream moisturiser consistency. It’s amazing on tired, dehydrated or hungover skin, it restores skin to be plump and bouncy.

Pixi Glow Tonic
Chemical exfoliators are best used at night as they can increase the skin's sensitivity to the sun, so must always be followed by an SPF the next day. This little miracle worker blitzes away the dead skin cells and leaves the skin looking refreshed. I'd advise always follow up with a moisturiser as not to over dry the skin.

Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Oil

A retinol based product that works wonders overnight. Retinol is known for anti-ageing properties, it renews the skin, but I use it more to help fade acne scarring. I wouldn't advise using this every night, just add it into your routine as and when you need a boost.

Origins Eye Doctor

Seriously, this is the best moisturising eye cream ever. I suffer from eczema in the crease of my lids during the winter and this just helps to calm and moisturise the area without being too heavy.

Clarins Lotus Oil

I have raved about this product many times on my blog. If you have oily yet dehydrated skin, I would recommend you pick this up immediately. It helps plump up the skin but doesn’t leave you feeling extra oily and doesn’t block pores, AMAZING!

Trilogy Rosehip Oil

Another product I find works well overnight, especially on scars and old spots you need to heal. Pop this over the affected areas and you’ll see a reduction in redness over night!

Weleda Skin Food
Much like the Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream, this thick balm can be used on the body, face and nails to repair and protect. It's excellent in cold weather for repairing the cracked skin. I'll be reaching for this when I start my course of Roaccutane. 

What products do you love to use before bed?

Cut Your Hair Drying Time

Does anyone remember when you were younger and your parents brushing your hair and detangling your knots feeling like torture? If only we had the Tangle Teezer back then!

I have the traditional Tangle Teezer brush but I was very intrigued to try out their new Blow Styling Smoothing Tool. I use paddle brushes anyway to smooth and tame my naturally curly hair into a straight hairstyle, so I couldn’t wait to try this out.

The design is very innovative, the wide teeth on the brush grip the sections and allow air to circulate around the hair to cut down drying time. These teeth also make for easy cleaning, as traditional bristles can be a nightmare.

I have found the Tangle Teezer Blow Styling Smoothing Tool has helped to cut down the time of the laborious task of drying my hair, as well as keeping my hair smoothed and manageable.

You don’t need to be a fan of the original Tangle Teezer to love this innovative update to blow dry styling!

*PR Sample

3 Key Autumn Fashion Pieces You Need

I don’t like summer fashion, there I said it. The thought of mini skirts, bikinis and short shorts sends me reeling. Autumn is my favourite season, especially for fashion and style. I’ve collected some amazing transitional pieces that will transform your wardrobe and can be added to and teamed with your existing basics.

001. SUEDE JACKET

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Bomber jackets were the  ‘IT’ item of last season. If these silky styles don’t fit with your style, try suede or coloured leather or suede jackets to add layers while still looking stylish.

002. STRIPED SHIRT

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These formal buttoned shirts have had a style update, the more oversized the better. Team with fringed jeans and mules for an effortless Autumn look.

003.EMBROIDERED BOOTS

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You can’t go wrong with a good pair of leather ankle boots, but if you are looking to turn heads, opt for embroidered shoes. These are going to be huge for Autumn!

Will you be purchasing any of these trend-led pieces?

Roaccutane Journey Pt.1 - My Thoughts on a Second Course of Treatment

So after struggling with acne for over a decade, a date has been set for me to start my second course of Roaccutane, or Isotretinoin as it’s sometimes called. I’ve previously had a course of the acne treatment medication when I was around 15. It worked well and I had clear skin for a few years but after switching contraceptive pills and weight fluctuations my acne came back with a vengeance. I tried to grin and bear it for long as possible, thinking that another course of Roaccutane wouldn’t be pleasant.

Over the last year, my acne has changed to deep under the skin cysts, which were incredibly painful, so I felt like I had no choice but to ask to be referred to the dermatologist again. In the meantime, I have been put on Dianette, (a contraceptive pill which helps with acne) and anti-biotics, neither of which helped to rid any of the cysts.

I finally had my dermatologist appointment in mid-August after a 6-month wait and within minutes the practitioner had decided that a second course of Roaccutane would be the best treatment. She said that sometimes people need a second course of the drug if they have had the first course while young or as a teenager as the hormones change again later in life.

I honestly wasn’t sure how to feel about being recommended Roaccutane again. The first time around I only remembered the horrible side effects. I recall having terribly dry skin that peeled off in sheets and my lips were constantly cracked and bleeding. It wasn’t only physical side effects I experienced, I had bouts of depression and my mood swings were erratic. Anyone will see that these are ‘normal’ side effects of the drug after a quick Google.

As you can tell, the side effects are very strong so pregnancy and liver function tests must be done each month before the next months’ worth of tablets are signed off. The one benefit of having so many check-ups is you can discuss any issues with the dermatologist would be able to adjust the course or recommend things to ease side effects.

I am a little anxious about starting the treatment. Will I experience the strong side effects again, could they be worse this time? The one thing that will keep me going will be the thought of clear skin at the end of it!

Would you guys be interested in a series documenting my Roaccutane journey?