Jo Malone - Amber & Lavender Bath Oil





I love a nice long soak in the bath, and very rarely get the chance with two under two, but if and when I do I make sure it is as calm and luxurious as possible, and always with a good book, glass of wine and a hair or face mask. And what better way than to really indulge with a Jo Malone Bath Oil. This Amber and Lavender Bath Oil is a new addition to my bathroom shelf and is the most luxuriant bath oil you can imagine. It smells indulgent and expensive, infused with amber and petitgrain, lavender and bergamot it is great for ultimate bath time pampering.

You can buy this from Jo Malone here.

Ladies! Who loves anti aging products? I bet we all do! Skin whitening, day and night creams, skin tightening, and of course vitamin C serums. These products each have their own uses and knowing what you buy will help you make the right decision. At topantiagingserums.com, there are detailed reviews of each product, it's pros and cons and who it's best for. Re9 Advanced, MitoQ Anti-Aging and Sisley Paris are just some of the brands being reviewed. One of my favorites is the MakeMeADiva brand of skin whitening products.

Find all the info that you need about " boulevard monde aboulevardmonde " at http://aboulevardmonde.com.br

Recipe of the week - The Hummingbird Cake



The Hummingbird cake from, you guessed it, the Hummingbird bakery cookbook, is a seriously yummy cake. Like the love child of a banana and carrot cake all rolled into one it is very sweet and very naughty. If you can't decided which to make, this is the perfect combo. Super easy too. It is meant to be made in three layers, and I'm sure it'd look far more spectacular if it was, but I could only fish out two round tins so had to make do.

Ingredients
300g caster sugar
3 eggs
300ml sunflower oil
270g peeled mashed bananas
1 tsp cinnamon
300g plain flour
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
100g tinned pineapple, chopped into small chunks
100g shelled pecans (or walnuts)
Cream cheese icing
450g icing sugar
75g unsalted butter at room temperature
190g cold cream cheese

Method
Put the sugar, eggs, oil, banana and cinnamon in a free standing mixer with paddle attachment and beat until it is all incorporated. Slowly add the flour, bicarb, salt and vanilla extract and continue to beat until it is all well mixed.
Stir in the pineapple and nuts by hand.
Pour evenly into three lined 20cm round cake tins then bake in a preheated oven of 170C for 20 - 25 mins (or longer if using two tins) until it is golden brown and bounces back when touched. Leave to cool slightly in the tin before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

For the icing beat the icing sugar and butter together until throughly mixed before adding the cream cheese. Turn the mixer up to high and beat for at least 5 minutes to create a light and fluffy icing.

When the cakes are cold layer up with the icing, remembering to leave enough to cover the sides. Decorate with a light sprinkling of cinnamon and any left over nuts.

Enjoy served with oceans of tea.

NOTD: OPI 'Get you Glamour On' Review


O.P.I is a brand I have never used and has never really interested me. I always knew their nail polishes were a bit special, and the price tag reflects that.
However, I received this nail varnish in my SheSaidBeauty Launch Goody Bag (see my blog post here), and couldn't wait to try it out and see what all the hype was about.


I have the shade 'Get your Glamour on', and it is lovely- an orangey red, it is bang on trend. This nail varnish is pricey for a reason- I have had it on for 4 days now and NO CHIPS...not even a tiny ickle one. I cannot quite believe it.
I work in an office so bash away on my keyboard for over 6 hours of my day...so no chips is a bit of a luxery for me!

It goes without saying that I will most definitely be buying me some more O.P.I nail varnishes in the future!

NOTD - Models Own Utopia



This Summer I am all about nudey pastel shades, last year I was all about bright corally reds and oranges. This colour is gorgeous, Models Own Utopia is a white based pastel, with a lilac cool toned tint through it. It is a stunning summer shade, the only thing is the brush is a bit rubbish and streaks quite badly so you have to be uber quick and perfect when painting. On the plus size it is super chip resistant, I'm three days in and it's still almost immaculate.

I am on the look out for a dupe though as the streaks just bug me, if any of you know one please let me know!

Online Splurge

I would be the first to admit, I LOVE online shopping- no queues, no smelly changing rooms, no shoving or scrapping to get the last sale item in your size. But, in spite of all of this- it is my downfall.

I can spend £50 in the blink of an eye online, because it is a 'virtual basket', right? I am not REALLY buying it..I'll just pop it in with a click of my mouse and forget all about it.
I have spoken to women that have had one glass of wine too many on a weekday night, logged onto River Island and racked up a 'virtual basket' of over £100...then 4 days later a package arrives and they are shocked to see what they spent their hard earned money on.

There needs to be some kind of 'Are you Drunk?' or a 'Do you actually have any money?' button before you can click 'Confirm Order', just for women like me.

So...this post does have a reason- last night, after 2 glasses of delicious red wine, I logged on and bought:

A maxi skirt, a cropped top, a ring, lipsticks, a lip liner (I have never worn lip liner), an eyebrow pencil, a pressed powder, various make-up brushes, nail varnishes, false eyelashes, a blusher, 2 eyeshadow palettes...and that's just what I can remember popping into my Mary Poppins virtual basket.

So...although this will make for one awesome haul video on YouTube, I can't help but wish that there was some kind of warning for drunken ladies looking for an online fix at midnight on a Tuesday night...but hey ho...I will of course enjoy my items, even if my bank balance says otherwise.

Do you ever have online splurges like me?

Week in Pictures - Borough Market





We love Borough Market, especially my husband who is a huge foodie and wants to try everything new on offer. It is a shame the traders don't love it anymore though (too focused on tourists and not enough on wholesale apparently) but for us that's a bonus as it means there are tasters galore.
We always make the same compulsory food spots, the famous chorizo bap, a coffee from Monmouth, a fat sausage roll, a toasted cheese sandwich and then some form of chocolate goodness. And we always leave laden with goodies and delicious (but very expensive) produce for our dinner.

Borough is not the most relaxing place on a Saturday as the crowds are immense, (it is a little less crowded on a Friday) and really not a great idea with buggies. So be prepared for a few elbow barges, but once you have filled your tummies a stroll along the South Bank is a perfect antidote to the hustle and bustle and the craziness of the market.

MUA Cosmetics Haul & Review

I have loved MUA since I first discovered the brand a year or so ago. They are affordable, good quality and have a large variety of products to choose from.
Only available in Superdrug, I struggle to find many of the shades etc in store, however online they have every colour of the spectrum for you to choose from.
So when MUA received 25,000 likes on their Facebook page, they offered their fans 25% and FREE delivery if you spend £10 or more on their website.

So, of course, I could not resist!

I don't think I can lie by saying their postage was fast and their customer service was excellent...in a nutshell, my experience was all a bit of a disappointment. I placed my order on the 4th August, and received an email on the 8th to say it had been dispatched. So..I waited...and waited...but by the 16th I was a tad fed up with seeing everyone on Twitter posting their photos of their deliveries, so I emailed MUA.

I got a response 2 days later to say the reason I had not received my package yet was because one of the lipsticks I had ordered (Bare) was not in stock and they were waiting to see if they would get it in. As they had not yet, they were going to send my package out tomorrow.

So...firstly, they had LIED when I had been told my products had been delivered on the 8th, and secondly they had not even bothered to let me know what was happening.

Saying all of that...when I did finally get my delivery, here is what I thought of the products...

I ordered:
  • Lipstick in Shade 4
  • False Eyelashes in 'Flair'
  • Primer
  • Nail Varnish in 'U Rok' 
First up is the Lipstick in Shade 4:
Price: £1
Where you can buy it: http://www.muastore.co.uk/index.php/lipstick
What I think: When I first opened this and saw the colour I thought it was FAR too bright for me- neon almost. However, when I popped it on my lips, and as you can see from my swatch, it is quite light and it is very transparent, which I actually like.
It really reminds me of the Loreal Colour Rouge Lipsticks because it is very moisturising and this means it just adds a hint of colour and it is really flattering on the lips.
It doesn't last as long as I would like, but for £1 who can complain really?!

False Eyelashes in 'Flair':
 
Price: £2
Where you can buy it: http://www.muastore.co.uk/index.php/false-eyelashes-flair
What I think: I was so excited to try these as I have never really been one for false lashes but have recently become more and more interested in trying them. And so, for £2, even if it went horribly wrong, it wouldn't have broken the bank!
These were FAIRLY easy to apply (I am a beginner!), however I don't rate the glue that comes with it much- luckily I had some from the SheSaidBeauty Launch a few days ago, (see my blog post here), so I used that.
Once on (it did take a while!), they looked really natural and felt quite natural too. I did get comments saying my lashes looked really long, and I had to explain they were false- which was nice and proves that they aren't too much for daytime either!
I will definitely be re-using these and think the price is excellent!

Primer:
Price: £4
Where you can buy it: http://www.muastore.co.uk/index.php/primer-primer
What I think: Firstly, I was surprised at the price of this one- comparing it to other MUA products, it was at the pricey end of the spectrum, but compared to most other brands, still very cheap.
The consistency is not that appealing- quite 'bitty'  and watery, but the application is very good. It isn't as good as the Benefit POREfessional (mentioned in my Primer Wars Blog here), but then, for £4, what do you expect? It is good for my oily skin, and did feel lovely once applied.
All in all, it will be used and I do not regret buying it, but I definitely think there are better affordable primers out there such as the Rimmel London Primer PRO.

Nail Varnish in 'U Rok':
Price: £2
Where you can buy it: http://www.muastore.co.uk/index.php/love-heart-nail-varnish
What I think: I had been wanting to purchase this nail varnish for AGES but just could not find the shade in any of my local Superdrugs, so I used this offer to finally get my hands on it!
The colour is lovely and I absolutely adore the Love Hearts packaging. Cheap and cheerful is completely what this is- I painted my nails on Friday night..it is now Sunday and I have many chips already. But hey, the colour is lovely so a few touch ups may be needed but it's not the end of the world!
In the photo I  have 2 coats on by the way :)

So, all in all, my experience with MUA was not brilliant, but it has not put me off, and they did apologise on their Facebook page as they were a bit overwhelmed with the orderes this offer produced. Saying that it would have been nice for a reply to my email as I never actually received one.
It has not put me off MUA as a brand, and I will certainly be using their online store again- but perhaps next time I won't expect my products to get to me when MUA say they will.

Have you ordered anything from the MUA website recently?

    Budget Beauty - Collection 2000


    Collection 2000 budget beauty

    I am going to start doing regular posts on brilliant budget beauty buys as there are many unsung heroes of the beauty world which aren't high end yet get seriously over looked.

    First up are a few goodies by uber budget brand Collection 2000, I but mine from Superdrug.
    The Collection 2000 Cream Puffs are gorgeous, moisturising lip creams, championed by Lisa Eldridge. They feel matt and velvety and look far more expensive than they are, oh and they smell of chocolate, bonus. The nude is my favourite, it is a perfect shade which doesn't make you look dead like most other nudes. Oh and it's very Bridget Bardot. They can be a little drying but for £2.99 I'm not complaining.
    Second is the much blogged about Collelction 2000 Lasting Perfection Ultimate Wear Concealer. It is such a good price for such a high quality product, covers really well, great colour, lasts forever (16hrs to be precise) and is a great one to stash in your handbag you don't mind a toddler chewing. I have shade number 2 which is fair and a great colour match.

    A great couple of buys which won't cost the earth and really do what they say on the tin.

    SheSaidBeauty 'The Social Network for Beauty' Launch

    SheSaidBeauty is a Social Networking site with a difference. It is solely focused on beauty, make-up and all things beautiful!
    The site offers subscribers the chance to review products, 'like' brands and link your Beauty Profile to your other accounts such as your Blog and YouTube.
    Not only this, but they also offer you a fantastic BeautyBox, which, from my experience, blows GlossyBox out of the water, for only £9 a month + P&P. For more chatter on the Beauty Box, go and watch my video review of the August Box.

    A couple of weeks ago on Twitter, SheSaidBeauty offered subscribers the chance to win a VIP Invitation to their Launch in Soho, London, by choosing the three best Beauty Profiles. Unbelievably I won and I could not wait to attend!
    The other two Twitter-ers that won were @brogantatexo and @essiebutton.

    So off my Mum and I went on the MegaBus to London!
    The event was amazing- all of the SheSaidBeauty team were so friendly and welcoming, and the champagne, nibbles and mahoosive goody bags were the icing on the cake!
    I did intend to vlog whilst I was there, and I began this at home on the morning, however that quickly stopped when I arrived as I was slightly overwhelmed!

    Available to all of the guests, were free false eyelashes being applied by a lovely man called Steve and a free make-over by a beautiful lady that I did not catch her name (sorry!). My Mum and I both had these done and were very pleased with the results! Perfect for mooching around London all afternoon.
    Here is a photo I took when I got home, so the lighting is rubbish but I wanted you to see the eyelashes more than anything!
     ...So now onto the EPIC goody bag every guest was given (as well as the cocktails & champagne). I have counted them up, and all together SheSaidBeauty generously gave us 21 products!
    Here are some photos of my goody bag:





    So, to name all of the products:
    • Molton Brown Paradisiac Pink Pepperpod bath and shower
    • bareMinerals Eyeshadow 'The FlashBack'
    • Yum Lashes Brush
    • Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream
    • A.K.A Eye Pencil
    • Ginvera Green Tea Whitening Marvel Gel
    • Lets go Strip Lashes in 'Temptress'
    • Nailease Nail Wraps 
    • Stylfile Nail File
    • Bharti Vyas Face & Neck Polisher
    • Green People Sun Lotion
    • Orly Nail Varnish in Ancient Jade
    • Peppersmith Fresh Mints
    • Marie Reynolds Candle De Parfum
    • Orofluido Beauty Elixir
    • O.P.I Nail Lacquer in 'Get your Glamour On'
    • Layla D Clarifying Skin Polish
    • Dr. Lipp Nipple Balm for Lips
    • Mary Elizabeth Juniper and Jojoba Hand Cream
    • Starlettos 
    • Erno Laszlo 'The Hollywood Collection'
    So yeah...WOW is an understatement of what I thought when I received this bag- I was honestly expecting a small gift bag with about 5 sample sized products inside it...and to be perfectly honest I was so excited for it!
    SheSaidBeauty have excelled themselves in customer service, generosity and professionalism at all times since I have been made aware of them.

    Oh, and Reggie quite likes the goody bag too!
    Their website is the perfect place for all beauty lovers to congregate in one large, make-up loving community, share their thoughts, loves, hates and get honest reviews on products from the people that actually use them and are not just being paid to give their opinions.

    Obviously I have not had a chance to use these products yet as the event was only yesterday, but I could not wait to share this! Once I have used a few of them, I will be making a YouTube video all about them, I promise!

    If you have not been on the SheSaidBeauty website yet, what are you waiting for? www.shesaidbeauty.co.uk
    And if you fancy signing up to the SheSaidBeauty Beauty Box, please use this link and if 2 people use it I get a free box! https://www.shesaidbeauty.com/invite/ROVFQ

    Sophie Dahl for Aubin & Wills














    As a big fan of both Aubin & Wills and Sophie Dahl, I was mega excited when their almanac popped through my letterbox only to see Sophie modelling for their Autumn WInter 2012 collection. The photography is beautifully whimsical, and the new season clothes are gorgeous.

    Aubin & Wills (Jack Wills' sexier better quality older sister) do great quality basics as well as brilliant knits, cosy coats, cute dresses and super sweet kids t's. Their underwear is also simple and elegant.
    I went a bit mad in there a few years ago when it first launched and all the items I bought I still wear today and are going strong after numerous washes and clashes with toddlers and babies. Aubin & Wills also have a great outlet store at Bicester Village, always worth a visit for great bargains.

    You can buy Aubun & Wills online here.

    What's On My Bedside Table - The Newborn Edition



    Now I have a tiny sleepy baby by my side every night my bedside table has changed unrecognisably from my previous post What's on Your Bedside Table? which you can check out here.

    No longer dominated by the toddler, it is now awash with newborn baby kit. So now what's on my bedside table I hear you ask? Well a multitude of mummy paraphernalia, and no room for anything nice for the next couple of months.

    • Newborn Pampers nappies - for midnight nappy changes
    • Cotton wool and water for top and tailing
    • Lansinoh - amazing lip balm and sore nipple balm
    • Multi-Mam compresses - literally changed my life, much the same as Lansinoh but much much better
    • Bobble water filter bottle - breastfeeding is very thirsty work
    • BioOil - for post baby tummy
    • Swaddle
    • Jo Frost Confident Toddler Care book - trying to work out how to stop toddler tantrums
    • Jojo Maman Bebe Winter catalogue - great for baby clothes and gadgets
    • Jo Malone candle - now empty, must replace
    • iPad earphones - for midnight feeding youtube watching

    Seraphine Maternity Review & Giveaway **NOW CLOSED**

    * * GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED * *

    Congratulations to Becky Gower, this gorgeous knit is is winging its way to you! xx




    A couple of weeks ago I was sent a couple of gorgeous maternity knits by Seraphine Maternity. Seraphine is a fantastic online company offering well made, elegant maternity and nursing clothes, made from super luxurious fabrics and patent pending designs. Their designs epitomise Parisian chic for pregnant women, and offer maternity wardrobe solutions for every occasions ranging from dresses, knitwear, shoes, jeans, bags and tights. One of the best things about Seraphine is that many of their tops and dresses double up to be worn throughout nursing too, which is such a great idea and prolongs the life of many maternity clothes beyond the normal nine months.

    I was sent the Blue and Ivory Knitted Bamboo Breastfeeding top and the gorgeous Grey Wrap Front Breastfeeding Jumper. Both of these slinky and delicate knits come in a patent pending bamboo yarn that is designed to regulate temperature fluctuations experience by pregnant women (and me, a lot). They are just gorgeous, super light weight, yet warm and cosy. They are cut and hang really well which means they flatter the bump (and hard feat to accomplish) and have taken me right through the first stages of feeding a newborn discreetly.


    So the really exciting news is I have one of these gorgeous Blue and Ivory Knitted tops in a size 10 to GIVEAWAY, yay!


    Here are the details on this awesome knit;

    Add a touch of Riveria chic with our signature essential breastfeeding top. In Silky soft bamboo yarn the striped pattern is very flattering to the pregnant figure. Featuring Seraphine’s patent pending popper front fastenings for fuss-free feeding, this slinky top is sure to be your summer wardrobe best friend.
    • Popper Font Opening For Easy Breastfeeding
    • Long Line Body that covers Hip & Thighs
    • Innovative fabric that helps regulate temperature during the postpartum phase
    • Size 10 - fits me with ease at 40 weeks pregnant so would defo fit a size 12/14.

    TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY:

    To enter the giveaway all you have to do is follow the blog and leave a comment below along with a way to contact you.

    For an extra entry you can follow and tweet the giveaway "I've entered the Seraphine Giveaway comp @honeysmummy1 http://honeysmummy.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/seraphine-maternity-review-giveaway.html #giveaway ". Please leave a separate comment along with your Twitter name to say you have done this.

    For a third entry like the Facebook page and leave a comment below. All links are to the right.

    One winner will be picked randomly after the closing date: Friday 24th August at 4pm. I will pick a winner by random in two weeks time (which gives me a chance to work out how to function with two babies under two!!) and get is sent straight off to you. The giveaway is open to UK residents only. If no response is received within 48hrs I will randomly pick another winner.

    GOOD LUCK!


    Primer Wars

    Primers have only really been introduced to me in the last year or so- before that I do not know how we all coped (just a bit of sarcasm there). However, whether you believe the hype and agree that they help your make-up to appear smoother and stay on for longer, it is always nice to try a new product!
    I have many primers in my collection, but I have picked four of the main ones to get a variety of prices and finishes.
    The four products I have chosen are:
    • Benefit 'POREfessional'
    • MeMeMe 'Seventh Heaven'
    • Technic 'Prime It'
    • Rimmel London 'Fix & Perfect Pro'
    First up is Benefit 'POREfessional':
    Price: Full Size: £23.50
    Size: Full size: 220ml
    What the packaging says: 'Quickly minimise the appearance of pores & fine lines for smoother-than-smooth skin! Apply this silky, lightweight balm alone, under or over makeup. Translucent, oil-free formula complements all skintones and helps makeup stay put. Contains a Vitamin E derivative, known to protect skin from free radicals.'
    What I think: I absolutely love this product. Not only does it help my make-up stay on for longer and just look fresher, but it also makes my skin feel like silk- no exaggeration there either! It has a slight sheen to it which is lovely when applied to the face as it helps to illuminate the skin. I have a sample size as you can see from the photo, but when I manage to save some money I will be happy to buy the full size. I think it is expensive, as are most Benefit products- but it is certainly worth it.

    MeMeMe 'Seventh Heaven':
    Price: £15.00
    Size: Full size 30ml
    What the packaging says: 'Moisturising facebase enriched with Shea Butter, Vitamin A and Beta-Carotene to prep & prime skin.'
    What I think: I got this first of all in a Beauty Box so I only have a sample size. However, the full size isn't much bigger to be honest! This is nice to use because it is moisturising too, and the scent is amazing- it smells like citrus which is lovely and fresh.
    The product itself, I find feels quite heavy on my face when I first apply it, but it does sink into the skin very well and feels quite natural when it is fully set.
    Technics 'Prime It':
    Price: £3.00
    Size: 33ml
    What the packaging says: 'Adds luminosity, brightness and evens out the complexion, minimising imperfections.'
    What I think: This is the one I really WANT to love as it is only £3! It isn't bad...but it isn't fantastic. Compared to the others, it smells very fresh and almost like sun cream, which personally I like but it may not be liked by all. It sinks into the skin well but doesn't really feel like it keeps my make-up on for any longer than usual. I do like the packaging, it is quite Benefit like which is good but unfortunately the product doesn't match it.
    Rimmel 'Fix & Perfect PRO'
    Price: £6.99
    Size: 30ml
    What the packaging says: 'Unique advanced formula with 5 in 1 results:
    Smoothes to minimize pores, resurfaces for an even complexion, brightens skin all day, protects skin from environmental aggressors and mattifies and eliminates shine.
    Create your smoothest, most even, poreless complexion!
    Foundation glides on more smoothly, more evenly and wears longer.'
    What I think: If the POREfessional is a bit too expensive for you, this is definitely the closest dupe I can find! It smells fresh and clean, sinks into skin perfectly, and I get ALMOST the same 'silk like' feeling as I do with the POREfessional.
    Plus, considering you only get 30ml of this product, and 220ml of the POREfessional, it isn't cheaper any way!

    And the winner is....

    Definitely Benefit's POREfessional. An excellent primer all round and leaves my skin feeling super soft and makes me feel a million dollars!!!






    Battle of the Spot Removers

    Like most people reading this, I suffer with spots. Whether you have acne or just the occasional blemish or outbreak, everyone needs to have a spot treatment they absolutely can rely on.
    I have tried ointments, creams, gels, masks...you name it, I have probably tried it. So I have put together a mix of different products which cover different price ranges, different types of treatments and I hope to help you guys out if you are struggling to find a good product.

    I have chosen four products, which are:
    • Lush 'Grease Lightning'
    • Asda 'Protect' Spot Treatment
    • Origins 'Super Sport Remover'
    • Mario Badescu 'Drying Lotion'
    First up is Lush 'Grease Lightening':
    Price: £5.95
    Where you can buy it: https://www.lush.co.uk/product/183/Grease-Lightning-Spot-Treatment
    Size: 45g
    Type of treatment: Gel
    What the packaging says: 'Strikes the spot with lightning precision. Dab on this super effective tea tree and witch hazel gel to zap zits before they show themselves.'
    What I think: I like the product itself, and it does do the job! I think the pump is difficult to use, as it is hard not to get loads of product out when all you really need is a tiny bit. So that may mean you use it up a LOT quicker than you mean to. The price is reasonable and I like that it has tea tree and with hazel in it. However I definitely think it reduces the amount of time my spots stay for, which is brilliant!

    Mario Badescu 'Drying Lotion':

    Price: £15.50
    Where you can buy it: http://www.beautybay.com/skincare/mariobadescu/dryinglotion/
    Size: 29ml
    Type of treatment: 'Solution'
    What the packaging says: 'For immediate relief from unsightly whiteheads and pimples, dab one drop of the solution on each erupted area overnight.'
    What I think: This was the first product dedicated to spot treatment that I ever purchased and for a long time, I loved it. Don't get me wrong, part of me still does. Firstly it looks a bit scary- basically you should not shake it, just use a cotton bud to dip into the pink sediment at the bottom of the bottle and dab it on your spot. It definitely works- it does dry up the spots- doesn't look great when you are using it but hey, it is worth it. It smells awful as you would expect, and it is a bit pricey, but if you can get past these points it is a really treat product that certainly does reduce spot life! 

    Asda 'Protect' Spot Treatment:

    Price: £1.80
    Where you can buy it: http://beauty.mysupermarket.co.uk/#/asda-compare-prices/facial_care/asda_protect_spot_treatment_stick_15ml.html
    Size: 15ml
    Type of treatment: Gel
    What the packaging says: 'Fast acting spot treatment. Helps reduce spots in 4 hours. Antibacterial ingredients to help prevent blackheads & breakouts. Light and non greasy. Suitable for all skin types.'
    What I think: Well this is certainly the product I wanted to love the most as it is the cheapest by far!! However....it didn't do anything. It looks the same as the other gels I have used, smells the same...but it just id not as good. I used this for over 2 weeks and honestly my face was a mess. I don't know if it just simply didn't work or if it actually spread the bacteria?! It just is not for me. I think it is this price for a reason, Asda have even reduced the price recently so there you go. I guess you get what you pay for in this case...

    Origins 'Super Spot Remover'

    Price: £13.00
    Where you can buy it: http://www.origins.co.uk/product/6342/18374/Skincare/Concern/Blemish-Oil-Control/Super-Spot-Remover/Blemish-treatment-gel/index.tmpl
    Size:  10ml
    Type of treatment: Gel
    What the packaging says: 'Red PMS blemish? Bad joke breakout? Heal, fight and fade it fast. Just dab on a dot and feel blemish-busting Salicylic Acid instantly help speed healing while anti-spot technology helps visibly correct post blemish darkening. Skin-calming Caffeine and Red Algae help visibly relieve irritating redness. And to help keep skin looking spotless, super exfoliators eliminate excess oils and pore-clogging debris.'
    What I think: This product is one I always hear other YouTubers and Bloggers rave about, so I obviously had to try it out for myself. Firstly, for the price, it is absolutely TINY, but, fear not, because it doesn't need to be any bigger. You can luckily manage to get as much out as you need, so no wasted product meaning it lasts AGES. It is pricey, and when I opened my package I was incredibly concerned about the size. However, it certainly does live up to the promises it makes in it's description. I do think it made a difference to my spots but I did find it very cakey and if you put a tiny bit too much product on it would flake off and not look too attractive! 

    And the winner is....

     Lush 'Grease Lightning' wins this war by a whisker! It is priced well, does the job well and I will definitely be re-purchasing!






    NOTD - Barry M Peach Melba







    Barry M's Peach Melba is super summery and I am loving this nail polish at the moment. It is a gorgeous pastel peach, which isn't far off a nude, and makes your hands look bronzed and summery in an instant. You only need two coats and lasts a good few days without chipping without a base or top coat, which would prolong it even more if you wanted it too. It is a steal at £2.99 and can be bought from Boots here.