Author: Vicki

Beauty Products for Travelling

- Vicki 2 Comments

Travel Beauty & Skincare

I am spending the first 3 weeks of December in Scotland which means a 1200 mile round trip. Thats a long time to spend in a car. I thought I would share with you a few products I have packed to keep with me in the car. Let me know what products you take with you when travelling.

Liz Earle Botanical Essence™ No.20 Eau de Parfum

I like to save up the mini sample perfumes to put in my makeup bag and I just love this new Liz Earle scent. Its so pretty and has notes of jasmine, sandalwood vanilla and a heart of Damask rose which means its not too floral or sweet. Its not overpowering so is perfect for travel, it smells quite zesty and fresh. My mum thinks its more of a  Summer scent but I think its good for anytime of the year

Travalo

I don’t travel anywhere without my trusty Travalo they are a great way to take your favourite perfume with you, especially if its a big heavy glass bottle and you don’t want to take the whole bottle with you. I have my all time favourite Giorgio Armani Si perfume in mine at the moment. It has notes of Vanilla, Blackcurrant, Rose de Mai and Patchouli and base notes of blond amber which give it a sophisticated musky scent. I never grow tired of this perfume, I always repurchase it. Travalo’s are inexpensive and a great gift idea for Christmas.

beauty products for travel

Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist

You’ve got to have a face mist when travelling, especially when its so cold outside. My skin gets very dehydrated in the Winter and this lovely rosewater mist stops my skin from drying out. The rose scent is also very calming, I like that you can spritz it on top of your makeup without unsettling it and it keeps your skin nourished, toned and feeling fresh. This is one of my favourite Jurlique products, I always have this in my skincare arsenal.

NEOM Energy Boosting Treatment

Made with our 100% natural Neom Burst of Energy™ fragrance is a seriously potent blend of 17 of the purest, first pressed essential oils including grapefruit, lemon and rosemary, purposefully chosen for their powerfully energising properties. Lasts on the skin for up to 3 hours providing an uplifting boost of energy throughout the day. 

This treatment oil is the perfect product to take with you when you travel, its a roller ball so its very easy to apply. I like to apply it to my wrists before I drive and the scent makes me feel refreshed and energised. The scent sticks around for a few hours and I do like to reapply it throughout the day. I highly recommend checking out these travel sizes out, they have a few different ones and they come in very handy.

Blistex Intensive Moisturiser Cherry SPF15

This is quite a new release from Blistex & if you love a fruity scent then you will really like this cherry scent, it smells exactly like cherries, I love it. It feels nice and moisturising on the lips and it has SPF15 which is so good. I couldn’t visit Scotland without a decent lip balm, it has shea butter & bees wax so it will protect your lips from the cold . Its perfect for having with you in your bag & it smells so good!

Travel Size Beauty Products

Essence Mini’s to go Hand & Body Wipes

Before you all go mad – these are for hands only they’re not going near my face. A pack of wipes are useful to have when you travel especially when you have a packed lunch & no way of washing your hands.

bareMinerals Marvelous Moxie Lipgloss

This is such a pretty lipgloss, I don’t normally wear gloss but I really like these Marvelous Moxie ones. The formula is so good not sticky on the lips but it feels creamy and moisturising. This is in the shade Rebel and is a beautiful subtle pink, dare I say its a My Lips But Better colour, its perfect for everyday wear & I thought it would be cute for travel as I won’t be wearing makeup apart from mascara & lipgloss. It does last a good amount of time on my lips & it makes them tingle when you first apply it. These come in so many shades so there is a colour for everyone, I want to get a nice red shade for Christmas.

Roger & Gallet Fleur d’Osmanthus Hand & Nail Cream

You can’t travel without a hand cream, when I use public toilets the soap really dries out my hand and they look and feel awful. I am excited to have a new tube of Roger & Gallet hand cream for this trip. This cream is rich and nourishing its formulated with a shea butter base and natural ingredients that sinks straight into skin to repair and protect. This will get a lot of use in Scotland.

Bath & Body Works Hand Sanitiser

A must on the road! This one smells so festive and I think I am addicted to using it. I get mine from eBay, there are always so many sellers on there.

Delving into My Sample Stash #4

- Vicki 3 Comments

Beauty Product Sample Stash

This is the 4th post in this series and it has been a while since I rummaged around in my sample drawer and I have had some lovely products hidden away in there. Samples are a great way to try new products and get a feel for them before you splash out on the full size & who doesn’t love a miniature product they look so damn cute.

Perricone MD No Foundation Foundation SPF 30

I really really like this its so lightweight when you apply it and I found it so easy to blend into my skin for a flawless finish. It covers imperfections and redness without looking like you have a ton of product on. This is also one of those bases that actually looks better as the day goes on – I do have to powder because this is a dewy finish and my t zone can look quite oily but thats normal for me. I am using this sparingly because the full size does have a hefty price tag but I do think its worth the money.

Clarins Blue Orchid Face Treatment Oil

I like to use face oils and this Blue Orchid one from Clarins is lovely and hydrating. Its so good for my skin over the colder months because it is packed full of incredible ingredients like –  extracts of Rosewood, Patchouli and Blue Orchid to tone, revitalise and restore radiance to moisture-depleted skin. Hazelnut Oil helps prevent moisture loss and the formation of fine lines. So if you have dry or dehydrated skin you might really benefit from using this. This mini bottle is just too cute & I’m taking it with me on my trip to Scotland to keep my skin nourished and combat the effects of the cold weather on my skin.

YSL Touche Éclat Blur Primer

Everything about this feels luxurious, the packaging is lovely and the product itself is a clear gel with the most beautiful golden shimmer running through it. It looks gorgeous in the bottle. I have only used this a couple of times but It helped my skin feel smooth and the shimmer didn’t look OTT on my face, once applied the primer has more of a subtle glow. I like that not only is this a primer but it also adds radiance to my skin. This primer feels comfortable on the skin and not greasy or too heavy. It did help my makeup last longer and it kept everything in place all day. It is a luxurious product so I am not too sure if I would buy the full size.

Caudalie Divine Oil

This oil smells so good, its a multi purpose oil and can be used in so many ways on your body, face and hair. I love products that have more than one use – they’re great for travelling. I like to use it on my legs after shaving and I also apply it to my cuticles before bed, its such a nourishing oil and leaves my skin feeling soft and supple. Divine Oil contains a blend of grapeseed, hibiscus, sesame, and argan oils combined with patented grapeseed antioxidant polyphenols to leave skin soft, firm, and radiant. Perfect as a post-sun product, its glamorous texture is instantly absorbed, imparting a subtle, floral, and sunkissed fragrance.

Givenchy Phenomen’Eyes Mascara

This gets the award for the most weird brush, its just has a ball at the end of the wand. Its quite hard to get the hang of & I’m not 100% sold on the design. It is good for getting a really neat coating of mascara on every lash so if you like that separated lash look then you might love this. I am going to have to try it a few more times before I decide if I want to try the full size. Let me know if you have tried this mascara & what you thought of the spherical wand design.

ESPA 24 Hour Replenishing Moisturiser

This is a lovely moisturiser for sensitive skin and I have found it helps calm my skin over the colder months. I work from home so I have the heating on a lot and that dries my skin out & I get redness but this ESPA cream helps reduce the redness and replenish moisture. It feels lovely on my skin and if i’m not wearing makeup I will reapply this throughout the day. It contains Potent Myrrh, Frankincense and Neroli stimulate cell renewal, while Vitamin E-rich Peach Kernel Oil protects against environmental aggressors. Nourishing Evening Primrose and Jojoba moisturise for soft, comforted, supple skin – so many beneficial ingredients to keep your skin looking its best.

Sisley Ecological Compound Day & Night Cream

I have been using this before my moisturiser as an extra step in the colder months. Its a very lightweight and fluid product so a little goes a long way. Its so easy to massage in to the skin and it doesn’t feel tacky or greasy. It is formulated with a synergistic compound of plants (Centella Asiatica, Ginseng, Rosemary, Hops, and Horsetail) selected for their stimulating and revitalising actions, its composition:
– hydrates the epidermis, and restores comfort and radiance,
– helps skin fight environmental stress (pollution, cigarette smoke etc),
– restores the skin to a more toned, supple state enabling it to get maximum benefit from future treatments.

For the price I would say its not 100% necessary as a skincare step but if you have the budget and you like trying new skincare then go for it, I have enjoyed using this but my budget won’t stretch to the full size.

Apivita Sun Care Face Cream SPF 50

I wear a separate facial SPF all year round, not always factor 50 but this one sits so well under my makeup and for a high factor it feels lightweight and doesn’t leave a white cast on my face. This Apivita one has so many skin benefits as well as being a broad spectrum SPF

  • Sea lavender, rich in sterols and vitamin E, along with panthenol help skin fight harmful radiation and irritations, while at the same time they provide moisturization.
  • Iodine-free red and brown algae extract protects from irritations and redness that might occur due to UV radiation.
  • Green tea water, lycopene and vitamin E provide antioxidant protection.
  • Patented propolis extract – an APIVITA innovation – with high concentration of polyphenols and flavonoids, provides consistently enhanced antioxidant protection from photoaging and free radicals, while supporting the formulation of collagen and elastine.
  • Photostable combination of broad spectrum natural and synthetic filters ensures up to 130% greater protection and stable SPF throughout the entire life of the product.

So I know my skin is being protected from UVA & UVB rays. What facial SPF do you use? This is one of the best I have tried.

Products Currently in Use #2

- Vicki 2 Comments
Products In Use 2

Products Currently in Use

So I’ve used up almost all of the products in my last ‘Currently In Use‘ post & thought it was time to switch things up and add in a few new products. I love switching up my skincare and consciously looking at my stash and rotating products, it means I use up more things and discover some gems that have been languishing at the back of the cupboard. These are just four products I have added to my routine, I do use more than this but these are the latest additions.

DHC Pore Face Wash

I have tried a couple of skincare products from DHC and never been disappointed, this is a Foaming Cleanser but don’t be put off by that, It is sulphate free and won’t strip or dry out your skin. It’s gentle but effective at removing makeup and dirt so your pores are not enlarged by dirt, I wouldn’t say it reduced my pores but its very good at unclogging them and helping remove dirt and excess sebum. This cleanser is also a gentle exfoliator and ‘has been blended with two caring exfoliants: pear juice alpha hydroxyl acids (AHA) which help refine the complexion, and softly abrasive baking soda which dissolves dirt and eliminates impurities’.

This cleanser leaves my skin feeling refreshed, clean and looking radiant, oh and Its has a light grapefruit scent which is nice and uplifting. I use this at night and you need the smallest amount, honestly a pea-sized amount, you will be surprised at how much it lathers up. Another fantastic product from DHC, it’s easy to see why they’re one of Japans best selling brands.

balance Me Cleanse and Smooth Face Balm

I love using balm cleansers and they’re my favourite way to remove my makeup and this one from balance Me has gone right to the top of my favourites. Not only is it a fantastic balm cleanser but it has tiny oat powder in too which act as a very gentle exfoliator so your skin is not only left extremely clean but it’s also polished and smooth. Love a good two in one! This has a thick balm consistency but it feels so nice to massage over the skin and really break down the makeup remove all the dirt and grime from the day. It’s great for both Normal & Sensitive skin

  • Normal skin: Shea, Mango and Cocoa Butters dissolve make-up and deeply hydrate, creating a radiant, balanced complexion for all skin types.
  • Sensitive skin: Rosehip Oils help to soothe sensitivities and encourage healthy cell renewal.

This has been getting a lot of use since looked it out & my skin has never felt as smooth and soft. This is a great affordable cleanser and if you’re looking for a new balm cleanser then look no further!

Liz Earle Orange Flower Botanical Body Wash*

This smells like a luxurious spa or a summer holiday to Italy, it’s beautiful and when I use it in the morning my whole house smells incredible. With foaming agents derived from soap bark, corn and coconut plus soothing organic oats it leaves my skin smooth and hydrated. This massive bottle will last me until this time next year, I have been using it every morning for over a month and it still feels like its full to the brim. It contains ‘Naturally active ingredients include organic oats, natural source vitamin E, plus orange flower water and ten pure essential oils to lift spirits and delicately scent the skin.’ It’s the perfect uplifting product, its crazy how a scent can affect your mood & these citrus aromas are so nice and refreshing. I’d say this product is indulgent by so very worth it.

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant

This product comes as a dry powder which you mix with water in your hands and massage over your face. It’s not grainy or abrasive but turns into a paste-like consistency. It smells like porridge which is strangely nice and familiar (I eat porridge every morning). This is meant to be used after you have cleansed, but I have used it in the morning & only used this, it left my face clean and smooth.

  • Rice Bran and Rice extract gently microfoliate skin surface to facilitate penetration of the brightening complex.
  • Papain Enzyme and Salicylic Acid help dissolve excess surface cells.
  • Skin Brightening Complex of Licorice, Aspergillus and Grapefruit helps even skin tone.

I have used this 3 times over the past couple of weeks, I’m not 100% sure if its a product I need in my skincare routine. Especially as the DHC & balance me products also have exfoliating qualities. I think I will do a more in-depth review of it once I have been using it a little longer.

Let me know if you have used any of the products in my current line up or let me know what new skincare you have added to your routine.

Products that are marked with an * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I’ve received at events. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However, if I do, the reviews are 100% my own.

Christmas Party Survival Tips #GeorgePartyTips

- Vicki 1 Comment

Christmas Party Survival Tips

I thought I would share a 3 of my tips for surviving the Christmas Party Season, these have seen me through many an Office Party!

1. Wear What You’re Most Comfortable In 

When it comes to the Christmas Party I’m someone who above all else wants to be comfortable, I don’t want to wear something that feels too fancy, glitzy or overly festive looking. I have a few parties to go to this year & they’re not all in the evening so I wanted an outfit that would be suitable for both day & night.

George for ASDA have an incredible selection of party wear this season & if you like more glamorous, low key or even full on festive sequin number there is an outfit for you!I knew I wanted to wear black its what I feel most comfortable in and to my surprise I was quite spoilt for choice but for me you can’t go wrong with a little Black Dress and you can easily add a touch of glitz with shoes, a bag or jewelry.

I picked this simple Fashion Box Embellished Neck Dress £16 which sits a little above my knee. The fabric is quite thick and is textured so it adds a subtle pattern to the dress. The fabric is soft and sits really nicely. Its quite a flattering cut and I like that the necklace it detachable so if you want to wear different jewlery you can just take it off. This is a style that is easy to wear and you can wear from day to night so was exactly what I was looking for and I even had to go down a size which is always a great feeling.

Christmas Party Outfit

2. Footwear Can Make or Break Your Evening

I’m terrible at walking in heels, so there is no way I will miraculously be able to do it on my Christmas night out. I risk looking like an idiot & by the end of the night my feet will be so sore. I know most people love high shoes but I’m just not that girl, I love a flat shoe but If I must wear a heel I like to wear an ankle boot, they’re comfortable and most of the time they don’t wreck my feet. These Gold Panel Ankle Boots £20 have a nice manageable heel and I liked the gold detail on them too, its a nice subtle touch – I will look party ready but I’m also secretly pleased my feet will be toasty warm whilst queuing to get in the club or waiting for my taxi home (such a granny at heart).

Festive Footwear from George at ASDA

3. Take a Small Handbag

You can’t go out without the essentials and If I use a clutch bag I end up leaving it somewhere like the back of a taxi, so I need a bag that I can wear. A small bag is all you need no one wants to take a massive handbag out with them so a cute bag is perfect. All I take is money, bankcard, phone & my lipstick, I try to take just the essentials! This Cross Body Glitter Box Bag is so pretty and adds sparkle to my outfit, I love the gold chain detail on the strap. It fits everything I need in & there is a little room for a few more makeup items if needs be. I think its the best bargain at only £10 its a Christmas Party must have!

Christmas Party Dress

So I will be dressing to impress but making sure I’m comfortable.

I hope you all have a great Christmas Party and remember to have a look on George for your outfit. Also let me know what kind of Christmas Party outfit you go for, are you all about the glamour or are you more like me & like to be more low key.

*Party clothes were kindly gifted by George