Beauty and Bentley

As the title of this post suggests today I am reviewing Rodials Super Acid X-treme acid rush peel. I received a sample size of this mask in the Marks and Spencer beauty advent calendar last Christmas, I have almost used it all up so what better time to write a review. The first thing I need to mention is the price of this product...it....costs...........£85!!! I hadn't realised just how expensive the full-size jar of this product was until I did some research for this post. I am actually pretty heartbroken because I really enjoyed using this mask. The packaging for this product is nice, it comes in a light green pot that feels very fresh which feels appropriate as this is designed to renew your skin. Everything about the name of this product makes it a little intimidating but this didn't feel harsh or irritating on my skin at all! It is a clear thin gel consistency that applies easily to the skin. It does have a light scent which is quite fresh (I am terrible at scent descriptions) and not too overpowering but something about it I am just not keen on. Once the mask is applied you don't notice the scent, you leave it on for 10-15mins before rinsing thoroughly with lukewarm water.


Once removed my skin feels soft and invigorated. The mask really helps to exfoliate the skin and give it a new lease of life, after using this mask my skin looks brighter and more healthy. I can't pinpoint exactly what the magic to this product is but it feels like it's doing something to really help my skin look and feel better. If you love high-quality skincare and don't mind spending quite a bit of cash to get it then I would highly recommend this peel/mask.This does something for my skin which makes it upsetting that it's so expensive, I would love to repurchase this item but unfortunately, with my current income, I think I will need to look for some kind of dupe. Rodial does have some less expensive products within the same range which I will consider trying out as well as some of their other ranges like Dragons Blood and Bee Venom which sound very interesting! 

Have any of you tried anything from Rodial? What did you think? 

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This is my first travel post, granted I haven't got very far......still in Scotland (not that that's a bad thing, there are lot's of places I want to visit in Scotland). Last weekend my other half and I travelled to Dumfries and Galloway to stay in some adorable sea view snugs. I booked this trip in April as a birthday gift for my boyfriend, Steven, who I always find so difficult to shop for so when I realised there really was nothing he needed I thought why not arrange to spend quality time together and make memories instead.

I started by scouring the internet for beautiful log cabins but quickly realised just how expensive these kinds of trips can be so I switched over to discount sites like Groupon and Itison. This is when I noticed a deal for Laggan Outdoor Sea View Snugs, unfortunately, due to when I would be booking I couldn't get the deal but decided to book regardless at full price. Laggan Outdoor offers eight individually decorated sea view snugs set in the heart of Dumfries & Galloway, on the hills above the Solway coast. Each individually decorated and themed snug has a king size bed, en-suite shower room and glass front with patio doors, to make the most of the incredible view.

We set off Saturday afternoon, our route took us through Galloway Forest Park which was beautiful. I would have enjoyed exploring the various walks and trails available in this park but we never got round to this as our trip only lasted two days (we will do this the next time we visit). Check in was 4 pm but we arrived earlier as we wanted to go a walk and explore anyway, the friendly staff gave us our key so we didn't need to go back and pick it up (they also checked to see if our snug was ready early but it was still being cleaned).

One of the few downsides I need to mention is the track around the activity centre and snugs, everything is built on a hill and the tracks are very uneven and rough. If your car is quite low or doesn't have great tyres this could be an issue.

We decided to travel down to the beach for a walk before heading to our snug. The beach was situated a short walk from where we parked our car and luckily we had some decent weather. The beach was beautiful with lots of rocks and little boats out in the water, it was nice to sit down and have some time to take in the views and relax.

When we returned we made our way to the snugs, bags in arms, excited to have a look inside. When we stepped inside I was totally blown away with just how stunning our hideaway was, everything looked even better than the pictures online. The snug was spacious, beautifully decorated and perfectly clean. Then there was the view and outdoor space, each snug comes with glass sliding doors and table and chairs outside with a view of the sea. You can see a few of the other snugs but everything still felt very private and secluded. Oh and I don't think I've mentioned yet but I booked a hot tub!!! Our snug is named The Dock and is the only snug that has a hot tub available for an extra charge. Once we got settled Steven travelled up the cafe to pick up the takeaway we had arranged when we arrived. Saturday night is curry night so obviously, that's what we had to try. The food was very tasty and we were given a large portion, our curries also came with a naan each which was the only thing I wasn't as keen on as it felt more doughy and bread like than naans usually are but I appreciate that it was homemade.

After spending some more time relaxing we decided to head for the hot tub, this is where we had our first issue....like an idiot I went straight out removed the cover and hopped in while Steven was having a shower annnnd it was cold! We phoned up and one of the girls at reception came down to help us heat the water (which should have been done for our arrival). The staff were very apologetic and we were offered the hot tub the next night free of charge which was a lovely gesture and made up for the delay. Once everything was heated properly we got in drinks in hand (and many more drinks propped up outside the hot tub). We spent many hours relaxing (and drinking) admiring the view and listening to music. Once the sun had set the sky was filled with stars so yet again we were given a stunning view. We had the most incredible day and after tearing ourselves away from the hot tub we headed to bed ready to go exploring the next day.

My suggestions if you ever visit Laggan Outdoor and opt for the hot tub are to bring insect repellent, we were bothered for a while by some little critters! Also, bring some cheap flip-flops are shoes you don't mind getting wet when walking back and forth from the hot tub to the snug.

The next morning I must admit I felt a little hungover so we spent the morning with the doors open in bed, drinking tea and listening to sounds of the sea in the distance. When I managed to pull myself together we decided to do some more exploring and decided to visit Galloway Wildlife Conservation Park. We had fun although the place did feel a bit run down, I didn't mind as I think the park want to make a genuine effort to help animals as opposed to some big zoos that make huge profits. The rest of the day was pretty relaxed, we spent time in the hot tub and watched a film in the snug before heading to bed ready to check out early the next morning.

Overall we had a great time, this was a romantic getaway and perfect place to unwind. We will definitely return in the future and we wished we could have stayed an extra day. I would recommend a minimum stay of three days so you can have plenty of time to do everything without feeling rushed.

Note: It doesn't state it on the website but the room comes with a small fridge but has no hairdryer.

Today I'm doing my first ever empties post, showing you everything I've used up over the last few months and giving a mini review. I personally love these kinds of videos/posts probably because I'm a bit nosey and like seeing what other people are using. I have six products to talk about which consists mainly of skincare and a little hair care.

Simple Kind To Skin Hydrating Cleansing Oil

This cleansing oil is great at removing make-up quickly and gently. I like to use this as my first cleanse if I'm following a proper skincare routine followed by a cream cleanser and if I'm feeling really lazy I will just use this then apply moisturiser. This oil rinses away easily and leaves the skin feeling soft without any greasiness. The bottle feels quite small but a little goes a long way, this bottle has lasted me a really long time and the bonus is it's really inexpensive. I will definitely repurchase this item!

Manuka Doctor Replenishing Facial Oil

I have a full review of this oil in another post which I will link here. This is a great oil that hydrates brightens and replenishes (as the name would suggest) the skin. It doesn't feel too heavy and I really enjoyed using it. I do want to try out other facial oils but I would recommend this one and would probably repurchase unless I find something I love much more.

Filorga Time-Filler Absolute Wrinkle Correction Cream

I received this cream in the Marks and Spencer beauty advent calendar so it is a sample size. I don't think I can give a true review on the wrinkle correction element as I'm 25 and don't have a huge amount of wrinkles and as I said this was a sample. The cream was thick and felt lovely on the skin, it left my skin feeling soft and smooth and I enjoyed using it. The full-size pot is quite expensive so I won't be rushing out to repurchase it but I did like it and I would consider a repurchase if I had a larger income and able to justify the price.....and maybe if I was a little older with more wrinkle concerns.

Formula Absolute Ultimate Sleep Cream

This was a lovely night cream that left you smooth and hydrated the next morning. It had such a nice scent but I worry about how good it is for the skin if it's heavily fragranced. Again I wouldn't not repurchase this item but I would rather try out new/different products.

Patisserie De Bain Shower Gel (link to a different scent)

There's not a lot to say about shower gel but this was a nice one. It did what any shower gel should do and had a delicious vanilla scent. It probably could have been more moisturising but I'm not mad at it. It was nice, I wouldn't rush out to repurchase and I wouldn't not repurchase.

Philip Kingsley Elasticizer

I was really excited to try this as I'd heard good things, I only had a sample size so haven't formed a strong definitive opinion. I will say this did seem to help with the condition of my hair (I have quite fine hair that has been bleached). I want to buy the full sized bottle to test this out more and try leaving it on overnight which I've heard is the best way to get results from this product.

Welcome to part 3 of my 'what's in my make-up kit' series, click the links if you want to read part 1 (foundations and primers) and part 2 (blush, bronze and highlight). This post is all about eyeshadows which are the fun part of building a kit, this is when you can start thinking creatively and about the kinds of looks, you want to give clients. Like everything else related to make-up, there is a huge selection of colours, finishes, palettes and brands to choose from which can be exciting and overwhelming. When you go shopping.....remain calm....it's so easy to get swept up in the brand marketing and hype of a product. If you are buying palettes for the purpose of building a kit think about essentials, once you have the basics sorted you can start picking up all those new fun products. I would suggest getting a range of neutral shadows in both matte and shimmer finishes (these will be used consistently in your kit). I would also have a palette of bright shades for your more adventurous clients and creative work.

In My Kit

Zoeva

I really recommend the Zoeva palettes which are a great price and high quality, they come in slim cardboard packaging that is light and ideal for travelling in a kit. They have an expanding range with a mix of pretty neutrals and quite wearable bright colours. My most used palette for clients and personally is the Cocoa Blend palette which is full of lovely warm tones and the perfect mix of matte and shimmer. The Rodeo Belle palette is less used as it has more green and blue shades which I don't use very often but it's still pretty and handy to keep in my kit.

Urban Decay 

My pick for bright shades is Urban Decay, I have the Electric palette and it...is...intense! These shadows are bright and highly pigmented, they weren't wrong calling it the electric palette. You should be careful when using them because I have noticed they can stain the skin. This also comes in very pretty but quite bulky packaging which is quite typical of Urban Decay. You probably won't use these all that often unless you do a lot of creative/fashion work. You can pick up cheaper colourful palettes from brands like Morphe and BH Cosmetics if you don't think it would be something you would use and don't want to splurge.

Urban Decay Naked 3

This is one of those palettes I picked up because of the 'hype' and to be honest I barely use it. I know so many people absolutely love these but I'm just not keen and I doubt I will pick up the others in the range (although the Naked Heat palette does look pretty). I do want to try and get more use from this palette, there are some shades I do like but some of the lighter shimmery shades don't feel very high quality. I will be sure to update you and perhaps do a full review in the next few weeks once I've given this another try.

Anastasia Beverly Hills 

I own the Anastasia Beverly Hills Self Made palette which has really lovely quality shadows. This was more of a treat than an essential kit item but there is a nice variety of shades and I definitely want to purchase more from the brand.

Singles 

If you are confident about what shades you want for your kit then buying single pans to place in your own palette is a great idea. Most palettes will have at least one shade you don't like/use so picking each shadow individually is a good way to cut down on waste. This is also great if you want to carry as little as possible in your kit and know what shades you need for a particular job, all you need to do is keep a mini magnetic palette and fill it with what you need each time you pack your kit. I have a selection of single shadows from both MAC and Makeup Geek, I would recommend the Makeup Geek shadows as they are less expensive and equal if not higher quality than MAC.

This is a quick rundown of some of the shadows I use (I do have more but the ones listed above make up the bulk of my kit). I really want to add some new additions to my kit but being on a tight budget makes things difficult. I have stated in a previous post that building a kit takes time, be patient, don't stress, and don't think you need all high-end expensive brands. I have a few more posts to come in this series so keep an eye out for part 4 and thanks for reading!

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Today's post is going to be a review of the Neals Yard Bee Lovely Hand Cream (£10) which I received in the Marks and Spencer beauty advent calendar last Christmas. I have stated in previous blog posts that I'm quite lazy when it comes to using hand creams but I also work in retail where my hands and nails get pretty dry and damaged so I always like to have some at home for when I need some extra care. As usual, I will tell you what the product claims are then I'll give my review before telling you if I would repurchase or not.

Details and Claims 

How to use - Apply to dry, rough or dulled skin. Keep on you for instant energizing and uplifting skin softening

Moisturising organic honey is blended with energising orange essential oil to nourish the skin and lift the spirits

Gentle enough for the whole hive, including children aged 3 years and over

Nourishes softens and protects your hands

No parabens

No synthetic fragrances or colours

No GM ingredients

No mineral oils

No Silicones

No animal testing

Certified by the Soil AssociationMade in England

My Review 

The first thing I need to say is that this hand cream smells incredible. It smells like oranges and is super uplifting and zesty! The cream is thick and luxurious, it sinks into the skin and instantly leaves your hands feeling soft. I will say this isn't the quickest absorbing cream and you will feel residue on the hands for a while. Usually, I prefer a hand cream to absorb very quickly but this feels so nice and really softens the skin so I don't mind it taking a little longer as it's not overly greasy feeling. This was originally intended to be a limited edition product but it was so loved it was brought back as a permanent item. I love that buying this hand cream helps raise money for projects that help to save our precious bees. Not only does this work as a skincare product but it's helping to do good which is an extra incentive to pick up this product. I didn't think I would enjoy this as much as I have as I'm not a big hand cream lover so I'm surprised myself to say that I would repurchase this item and have really enjoyed using it.

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Okay, so today I'm going to be talking all about my tips and tricks for saving money when you don't have much to begin with. Currently I'm still staying at my family home....at 25 years old *disheartened sigh* and my regular income comes from a part-time retail job (I swear it's near impossible to get a full-time job these days.....or at least one I wouldn't detest but this post isn't about that so lets get back on track). As you can imagine it's pretty difficult to really seriously save for my future in my current situation but I'm giving it my best shot, so here are my tips for saving on a budget.

Decide What You Want

This may seem a little obvious but I think it's important to sit down and think about your goals and find what motivates you. Personally, I dream of owning my own home, I like to keep this at the forefront of my mind so I have something to focus on. Saving can be difficult at the best of times but if you don't have a clear picture in your mind of what you want and you're saving just to have money set aside/for a rainy day then I find it's easier to find excuses why I don't need to put money away that month. Find things to motivate you, I like to go online every now and then to see what houses are for sale or look at furniture items I'd love to buy when I get my own place. These kinds of things encourage me to keep going and work harder to get what I want.

Create a Budget

One of the biggest suggestions I can make is to take out the amount you want to save each month as soon as you get paid. Waiting to see what you have left over at the end of each month guarantees you won't put aside as much as you can. Sit down with a pen and paper and work out how much you earn each month then take off all your bills and outgoings, once you see what's left over you will get a clear picture of what you can actually afford to save. When I first sat down and worked out my own finances I was shocked at how much I was wasting each month, even on a smaller income I can save roughly £200 per month!

Don't Underestimate Saving Change

Okay again this is an obvious one but often overlooked, you would be surprised at how much you can save in spare change. This works more effectively if you put some 'guidelines' in place, for example, deciding to put anything under 50p in a change jar at the end of each day will mean you save much quicker. I would also recommend something like a Terramundi Money Pot, I have something similar that holds £1000 in £2 coins which is pretty impressive. Now anytime I get a £2 coin I feel guilty if I don't put it away so it's an effective way of saving some extra cash.

Can You Give Something Up

When trying to save money it's good to look at what you're spending, is there something you could be doing differently? You could stop buying expensive coffees, stop getting your nails done or just budget better. I find I can save money each week on my food shop if I plan out my meals and write a shopping list or if I've not had time to do this I use the calculator on my phone to see how much I'm spending while I shop.

No Spend Days 

Something else I have tried out is having no spend days, it's exactly as it sounds you do your best to spend no money for a day. This is good because having targets make you feel competitive so you might see how many no spend days you can have in a row or how many you can have in a week/month. This also lets you see how much you waste on unnecessary items, often people spend money without even noticing.


These are my tips to save some cash when you don't have much to begin with. Let me know your advice and please subscribe!

Emma.

Over the years micellar water has flooded the beauty market, most skin care brands now have one and no wonder, they effectively and gently remove all make-up. I'm not particularly loyal to one brand but the Garnier micellar water is one of my favourites so when I spotted the Garnier Micellar Gel Wash in Superdrug I was intrigued at £3.99 I figured I didn't have anything to lose so I picked it up and now I'm going to give you a review and tell you whether or not I'll be repurchasing.

Claims 

Our all-in-one rinse-off gel wash not only cleanses but also soothes and removes make-up, even on eyes and lips. Even for sensitive skin. Removes makeup + cleanses + soothes, Rinse off. Face, eyes, lips + No perfume. Grape extract.

Review

The packaging is cute and practical, I like the pink elements on the bottle and the fact it comes with a pump. I've tried this out a few times and it does a decent job at removing make-up, this gets off most of my foundation and face make-up but I don't like using this around my eyes as it stings a bit and gets in the eyes. This also tastes awful....obviously I'm not eating the product but when rinsing off the skin anything that washes over your mouth leaves behind a horrible chemically taste. After using this gel wash I do find my skin feels slightly dry and needing some moisturiser, overall I think that regular micellar water does a better job and is much more gentle on the skin. Unfortunately, this product didn't work out for me and I wouldn't repurchase this (for skincare anyway). After I decided I didn't like this product I decided to try it out as a make-up brush cleanser and I'm quite happy with the results it removes make-up easily particularly on eyeshadow brushes where I've been using powder products. The gel rinses easily from brushes and leaves them nice and clean so this is definitely how I'll be using up the rest of this bottle.

Today has been one of those days, I woke up feeling a bit down and needing some time to myself so what's better than a mini shopping trip to cheer yourself up! I thought rather than totally skipping posting today I'd give you a mini haul post and let you know what I picked up. So the first shop I stopped into was Primark, I was hoping to pick up some of their adorable new homeware bits but my local Primark is quite small and they don't really have much to offer (pouting sad face). Sooo the first thing I picked up was a new pair of pj's, they technically aren't a matching set but the top and bottoms are both grey so I think it works (I've already got them on and they are super comfy). Next I headed over to the jewellery section and picked up some silver hoop earrings (I blame Love Island!) and a new choker that looks like two separate pieces and gives you that effortlessly layered look, I don't know how much I will wear the hoops but its good to try something new sometimes and I know I'll wear the choker, it's so cute 😍. Then just before I headed to the counter, I spotted some new sheet masks, I picked up the Holler and Glow Hangover SOS deep moisture mask that contains witch hazel, lemon fruit extract and strawberry fruit extract. These masks come with cute designs printed on them, I don't think it's going to make me look any cuter when I wear it but I will report back with results when I give it a try. 

  

(pj bottoms £8, pj top £2.50, earrings £1, choker £1.50, face mask £3)

Next I stopped into Wilko and picked up some new shower gels, I love Original Source so I bought the mint and tea tree scent which feels cooling on the skin and really refreshing and I got the cherry and almond milk which I've never tried before but it has a more luxurious and relaxing scent so I'm excited to use both of these.

(shower gels £1 each)

Finally, I stopped into Holland and Barrett, I was on the lookout for anything that would help in my quest to avoid dairy (if you want to know why I'm doing this click here). I found some moo free organic milk chocolate alternative which contains no dairy, wheat or soya. I've given it a try and although it's not as creamy as true milk chocolate it does taste good and I'm glad to have something on hand to cure those pesky chocolate cravings. I also picked up two of the Nakd cocoa crunch bars which also contain no gluten, wheat or dairy, this is something I wasn't convinced I would like as I am quite a fussy eater but they are surprisingly tasty and I will try some more of these in future and last but not least I bought some almond butter which I am yet to try but if anyone has some ideas/recipes that I could use with this let me know!

(nakd cocoa bars 49p each, chocolate alternative £2.75, almond butter £3.99)

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Emma.

Some of you may have seen on my Instagram feed that I recently had some beautiful acrylic nails done for attending my cousins' wedding. I really loved them and probably would have got them redone if I didn't work in retail.....if you work in retail you will understand the struggle. So when the time came that I needed to have the acrylic removed I opted for a gel polish which was also very cute and I will have done again but yesterday I really needed to remove the gel polish and when I did I remembered just how much damage acrylic does! Now by no means have I ever had good nails, they are soft, weak and either peel or snap regularly but looking at them this morning I realised they needed some major TLC which also gave me an idea for a blog post.....so today I'm giving you a rundown of tips and products to look after those delicate nails that need a little extra help.

The first suggestion I would make is to get yourself a good nail file, I use the Leighton Denny Crystal Nail File which comes with a lifetime guarantee, I couldn't imagine using a traditional nail file now other than in emergency situations. It really seals the nail and leaves the edge very smooth helping to stop your nail from catching on things and getting damaged.

My next tip is to pick yourself up a nail polish designed to repair and strengthen, currently, I'm using Sally Hansen 18K Gold Hardener which at first I didn't think was doing much till I noticed that my nails were growing longer when using the polish consistently. This gives more strength than a traditional polish and will be my best friend while I repair the damage I've done. It also looks super pretty with the little gold flecks....I'm not sure if they actually do anything to help strengthen the nails or not.

The next tip is to use a cuticle oil on your nails, I tend to just use whatever oil I have at home as this works just as well as buying fancy ones marketed for cuticles, currently I'm switching between rosehip oil and argan oil.

I have done a little research online and if you want to grow stronger nails you should eat food high in protein like poultry, fish and spinach. You could also try supplements like Biotin, my mum tried this a while back and had quite good results although as soon as she stopped taking them things returned to normal....as expected I guess.

You may also want to check your nail polish remover to make sure it doesn't contain any acetone, this is very drying on your nails, unfortunately, its needed to remove gel polish and acrylics.

Okay, so this is just a quick rundown of some advice and tips to look after your nails and help them to grow long and strong. What do you use to keep your nails in good shape?