Botanics Hydrating Eye Serum review

I recently picked up a new eye cream to replace Pai's Echium & Argan Gentle Eye Cream, which I liked but wasn't wowed by. I opted for something cheaper but still offering me hydrating and mostly natural ingredients; the Boots Botanics Hydrating Eye Serum, Tripple Age Renewal.

La Roche-Posay Hydraphase UV Intense Legere

Protecting your skin from the sun is so important and thankfully sun protection seems to be becoming more popular amongst cosmetic brands. That said, it can still be hard to track down a daily moisturiser with a good broad spectrum protection. La Roche-Posay's Hydraphase UV Intense Legere has answered my praise with a lightweight formula and broad spectrum protection.

Origins Out of Trouble mask

I am a mask addict. There's nothing better to perk up the skin and erase a multitude of skin sins than a great mask. This one from Origins I actually picked up accidentally but I have grown to love it and reach for it whenever my skin feels 'off'.

Glamour Balance Me Freebies

I love it when a magazine offers some great beauty freebies with an issue and the April 2016 UK Glamour magazine has some seriously wonderful Balance Me products on offer. The month is nearly over so I wanted to mention how brilliant some of these products are.

Budget Serums: Superdrug's Simply Pure Hydrating Serum and Naturally Radiant Serum

I love using serums; they are a great step to slot in between eye creams and moisturisers to add a little skin boost. It can be hard to find a good cheap serum so I wanted to mention two brilliant and affordable serums that I love.

Clarins Instant Eye Make-Up remover

The Clarins Instant Eye Make-up Remover is a bi-phase liquid cleanser designed to take off waterproof and heavy makeup. It's heavily raved about especially by the wonderful beauty duo that are Vivianna and Lily Pebbles. But at £20 a bottle, is it worth the hype?

12 balms to keep your lips kissably soft this winter

While Christmas is over, the first months of the year are often the coldest and with winter, come chapped lips, it's inevitable. I cure dry lips with a ton of balm and thought it would be good to share and review my large collection; the highs, the lows, and the wonderful cures for chapped lips.

Best in Beauty 2015 - Skin

I've had it pretty good with my skin this year and I think that may be partially as I have been sticking to a routine of tried and tested products which has helped me keep track of my skin. I've also been concentrating on sun protection and have been constantly on the look out for comfortable creams offering broad spectrum protection. So take a look at my utmost favourites from the year below.

Banishing dry feet with Soap & Glory Heel Genius

Although my feet will be tucked away in cosy socks and warm boots for months to come, it’s no excuse to forget about the upkeep. The cold winter weather doesn’t do anything for dry heels either so I wanted to share my hero product for super soft feet.

Hydrating and brightening Winter skincare staples

Although I feel this November seems milder than it has in previous years, there's no denying that Autumn is nearly all gone, Winter nights are becoming colder and Elf is probably playing on repeat.

I suffer from dry skin but this Winter I've found my skin has become a little sensitive too so below are a few of my pics to keep skin supple and bright in the cold weather.

My four step skincare routine

Recently I've been trying to slim down my skincare routine and stick to the same few products. As the season has changed I'm feeling a little more sensitive and trying not to overload my skin.

Lush’s Angels on Bare Skin

I’m now onto my third or fourth tub of this lovely scrub so I thought it was about time I mention it.
I was recently looking for a new exfoliator to try, just because I wanted to switch things up a bit, but then I came across this petition concerning tiny plastic particles in scrubs which are polluting the ocean. So I decided I’d stick with my tried and tested, wonderfully natural exfoliator from Lush.

L'Oreal Paris Skin Perfection 3 in 1 Purifying Micellar Solution

There has been quite a lot of hype about L'Oreals Micellar offering in the past few months and since I stocked up on another two bottles of the stuff a few days ago (two for £5 in Superdrug!) I thought it was about time that I wrote about it.

Now the only other Micellar water I've tried is this one from Etat Pur, which I enjoyed but wasn't wowed by. I've not tried Bioderma, but I have spent approximately 5/6 nights a week for the last six or seven years taking off my make up so I can confidently say that this is a brilliant make up remover.

The water feels, well, like water on your skin, very gentle and soothing. Instantly refreshing but somehow magically it takes off all traces of my make up in a few swipes. Now I don't wear waterproof mascara but I have read that it comes off very easily.

In my cleansing routine I count this as a half/full cleanse depending on how thorough I want to be. Followed by a cleansing balm or cream (or two) all traces of make up are thoroughly removed and my skin feels lovely and clean.

Overall I absolutely love using this cleaner, it's so refreshing in the evening (especially after a long day) and makes removing my make up an easy task. My only complaint is that I get through it at a ridiculous speed.

I often see this on offer so scout around if you want to pick one up. They are currently available for 1/3rd off in Boots and Superdrug or for £4.99 full price.

Nuxe Reve de Miel lip balm

I craved the Reve de Miel lip balm for a good six months or so before I finally made the plunge. At around £10 for the little pot it always seemed too expensive for me but I jumped at the chance when I saw it for 1/3rd off at esscentual.com.

This natural lip balm contains a handful of nourishing ingredients: honey, plant oils, shea butter and grape fruit oils. The texture is pretty thick and slightly waxy but manages to penetrate the lips and moisturise. As the balm warms up it can get a little more oily but on the lips it gives a matte finish. The smell is gorgeous too, just like lemon curd with a hint of honey, a beautiful non sickly scent.

I was hoping that this would be the solution for my permanently dry chapped lips. It wasn't but it has helped. I was a little disappointed that this wasn't the miracle product I had hoped for but I can't deny that it is the longest lasting balm that I own. If I apply before bed it sticks around till the morning and it does keep my lips moisturised and nourished.

I bought the balm stick at the same time. It has a completely different texture to the balm, I find it to be more oily and less penetrable. It has the same citrus scent but I find myself reaching for a standard Nivea balm over this as I just feel that they sink into my lips more.

You can buy the balm for £9.50 inc. delivery at FeelUnique.com and the stick for £5.50. I still think the price is a little steep, but you only need to apply a tiny smudge at a time and the pot is larger than most. Overall I think that paired with my ultimate faveourite - Blistex relief cream, a sugar lip scrub and maybe a pair of handcuffs to stop myself tearing away at the dry skin on my lips, a pair of sumptuous soft lips might be on the horizon.