Review: Botanics Intensive Moisture Mask for Dry, Tired Skin

 

Around this time of the year my skin is in major need of hydration, especially as it starts to get colder. My skin is generally combination, but the central heating and cold air can play havoc! To overcome this I up my skin care routine and use a body butter instead of a light body lotion. But what about hydration for your facial skin? Well fear not, I think I may have the answer...

Botanics are a company which specialise in "plant extracts at levels that really work, combined and formulated for unbeatable product performance. Naturally." So that's a little information of the company from the tube. Generally speaking I have used a few Botanics products over the years and have been pleased.

They have a wide selection of products for different skin types. I purchased this during a 3for2 with the Botanics Mens Clay Mask (Yes I use the mens clay mask...) and the Radiance Night Serum.

 

The main ingredients are honey and olive oil, which help to repair dry skin and soothe irritation. Of course if you are allergic to any of these ingredients don't use this product! The consistency is almost like a light skin lotion and doesn't feel heavy at all. The smell is divine, not too over powering, but quite soothing. (I'm guessing this is the 'botanics and plant extracts')

The directions as provided are: "Apply to cleansed skin with gentle circular massage, leave for 5-10 minutes. Remove with damp cotton wool. For skin in need of intense moisture, a thin layer of the mask can be applied and left overnight."

I personally like to apply the mask at night, once I have used a facial scrub, so the mask can be absorbed easily into my skin. I also leave on for longer than 10 minutes, around 20 minutes or so, depending on how dry and haggard my face is looking! I like to apply a generous amount and rub in lightly giving myself a mini massage, which is very relaxing. It is best to wash off the product with a damp cotton pad. Afterwards your face should be hydrated, plump and glowing! You shouldn't need to apply moisturiser afterwards, unless you like double moisturising ;)

Conclusion

Having purchased this product at the beginning of the year it has worked very well for me, even during Summer when the sun had dried out my skin; therefore it is ideal for all year round. During Summer you can apply for 5-10 minutes, for Winter leave for longer. It hasn't broke me out, but I have noticed it has helped to soothe a few dry, pimples I have had. For some reason I can't find this product on the Boots website, but I'm sure it's less than £7. For this price it is definitely worth purchasing and seeing for yourself how soft and smooth your face can be too :)

Do you have a beauty product you can recommend for dry skin? Comment below, I would love to hear from you :)

Outfit of the Day-A Simple Weekend

This is a really quick outfit of the day. I wasn't planning on taking photos of my outfit today so it's nothing special, but sometimes simple is the best way :) And yes I DO hate posing, but it had to be done lol.

Hijab- Princess Rockz

Bracelets- Queen of Gems (comes as part of a set)

Necklace- Queen of Gems

Dress- TK Maxx

Boots & belt- Primark

Hope you are all having a great weekend :)

A few MAC Lipsticks of mine

From left-right- Satin 'Myth', Amplified 'Brick-O-La', Frost 'Costa Chic', Lustre 'Milan Mode'

These are just a few MAC lipsticks I own that I need to swatch!

As you can see the Milan Mode has been worn a lot, as it is one of my fav lipsticks! It is a Lustre finish with a hint of shimmer.

Which MAC lipsticks do you own and what finish do you prefer?

My LUSH Stash

Just wanted to show you guys the LUSH products I have at the moment, although I have tried most of their soaps and a few moisturisers. Their facemasks are to die for, and there is one to suit every skin type/need.

 From left-right: Silky Underwear, Eau Roma Water, Love Lettuce, Angels on Bare Skin

I have done a review on the Eau Roma Water and hope to review the other products. Maybe a LUSH shopping trip is due??

What's your fav LUSH item?

Review: Collection 2000 Lasting Colour Lipstick in Bubblegum, with Swatches

Bright lips are a trend at the moment, something which I have always been unsure about. However, I have recently purchased a few bright lipsticks to see what all the fuss is about. The review today is of Collection 2000's Lasting Colour Lipstick in 6 Bubblegum

I have always admired Collection 2000 for their affordable makeup and great selection, and my sister constantly raves about their Lasting Perfection Concealer. Recently they have had a bit of a re-vamp and enlisted Diana Vickers as the face of their brand, which was a great move. 

I bought the lipstick from PyariBeauty who had a blog sale. She was also selling the Collection 2000 2 Pink Shock lipstick, but unfortunately it was already taken!

So onto the review...

The lipsticks contain spf15 which is always a plus as it will help to protect your lips from sun damage. The texture is soft and creamy with no shimmer. I have worn it for a few hours and it has amazing staying power without drying out my lips. The colour is fairly bright so I personally like to dab it on for a hint of colour, with no gloss applied as I prefer the matte look with this lipstick.

A tip for applying is to dab on with a lip brush and build up the layers. Also don't forget to gently massage your lips with lip balm to get rid of any loose skin, before applying this lipstick (very important!)

With flash

Without flash

         with a few coats of lipstick               one coat of lipstick  

 Conclusion

I'm not sure 2-3 coats of the lipstick suits me, I much prefer the softer look with 1 coat. However, I'm loving the texture and staying power of this lipstick and already have my eye on 'Birthday Suit' and 'Vintage Rose'.  

This lipstick is definitely worth purchasing, and at a RRP of £2.99 you can afford to bag a few ;-)

Forever 21: Mid-Shaft Suedette Boots Haul

This isn't a haul as such, but I wanted to show you these boots that I recently purchased from Forever 21

They are so comfortable and I love the animal print inside the boots! I'll be styling these with skinny jeans and a long dress or a black flowy dress for more of a grungy look. Of course I'll be topping it off with a hijab from Princess Rockz ;-)

How To: Make a Body Scrub for Glowy Skin

Today's post is a DIY body scrub. The scrub is made from ingredients found in your kitchen, and is quick and easy to make!

What you will need:

• Olive Oil/Virgin Olive Oil
• Brown sugar
• Half a lemon
• Bowl
• Tablespoon for mixing
• Air tight container

Brown sugar is great for the body and helps to get rid of dead skin cells. Olive oil is moisturising for the body and lemon contains Vitamin C, which will help to provide a glow to your skin. In my opinion this scrub is as good as those sold in the shops-your body will thank you for it!

 How to Make the Scrub

* Pour approx 8 table spoons of brown sugar into a bowl 

* Cut the lemon in half

 * Squeeze in the juice of half a lemon

* Add the olive oil so that it covers the mixture

Pour into an airtight container. I am using this gorgeous jar, which I like to take into the shower or use whilst soaking in the bath.

How to Use

When in the shower/bath gently massage all over your body in circular motions, paying particular attention to areas such as your knees and elbows. Rinse off with warm water and gently pat dry with a towel. You can apply the olive oil to damp skin at the end as a moisturiser.

The mixture should last for 1-2 weeks, but once used can easily be made again.

Hope you enjoy. Let me know if it works for you :)