Affordable Skincare Favourites

April 27, 2016March 12, 2026 - Vicki 4 Comments

**Lacura Thermal Spring Facial Care* £1.99**

This is a new release from Aldi’s skincare brand Lacura, who seem to produce some of the best affordable skincare on the high-street. I have tried quite a few of their products and they always impress me. This Thermal Spring Moisturiser comes packaged in a frosted glass jar which makes the product feel luxurious and a lot more expensive than it is.

The cream its self is formulated for stressed, sensitive skin and is infused with natural thermal water to soothe and moisturise the skin. It contains minerals and trace elements which come from natural, mineral groundwater that emerges from the ground at a temperature of over 20°C. This makes a really nice daily moisturiser that does a good job at hydrating and soothing the skin. There is no SPF in this so you will need to wear a separate one but I really like this and think it would appeal to all ages. I want to try a few more products from this thermal spring line and think this is another wonderful release from Lacura.

Superdrug vitamin E Nourishing Eye Cream £2.99

I really like a lot of products from Superdrug’s own skincare line and think they make such great quality affordable options. I’ve been using this eye cream religiously since December at I still have quite a bit of product left. You need only a pea sized amount for both eyes and I just tap it in around the orbital bone, and it helps to hydrate, nourish and smooth that area. It’s not the lightest in texture but if you tap it in until its absorbed it doesn’t leave the eye area feeling greasy. Its very gentle and never irritates my eyes. I also like the cleanser and moisturiser from this vitamin E range. For £2.99 I highly recommend trying it out.

Garnier Skin Active Clearly Brighter SPF15 Moisturiser

This is a lightweight daily moisturiser that helps hydrate, brighten and smooth out my skin. Its non-greasy and absorbs quickly, It also smooths out my skin, so I find it wears well under my makeup. It has contains anti oxidant rich vitamin C and E as well as gentle exfoliating Lip-Hydroxyl Acid (salicylic acid). This is a great affordable moisturiser, especially if you have dull skin, and it’s a nice option for the warmer months because it is lightweight on the skin. It does have a light citrus scent to it which isn’t offensive, but I do with it was fragrance free and I would have preferred it to have a higher SPF, but I do like this moisturiser and have been using it a lot over the past 4 months.

Superdrug Simply Pure Hydrating Serum £2.69

I seem to be all about the skincare that soothes, hydrates & nourishes (I have dull, dehydrated skin) and this absolute bargain of a serum from Superdrug is one of the best I have EVER tried. Bold claims I know.

I’m now on to my 3rd bottle, and I’m still loving using it because it just leaves my skin feeling so incredibly soft and my fine lines are reduced because it is extremely hydrating. It contains Hyluronic Acid which helps your skin retain moisture, most of us skincare addicts have heard of this wonder ingredient, and I was surprised to see that this purse friendly serum had this listed as an ingredient. So it’s a fantastic serum if your skin is in need of hydration and is looking a little lacklustre. It feels light on the skin and doesn’t take long for it to skink in. It is also fragrance free and alcohol-free which is wonderful news if you have sensitive skin.

If I could recommend only one of my four favourite affordable products it would 100% be the Simply Pure Hydrating Serum – it’s a steal at £2.69 (you best be adding it to your MUST-try list).

*PR sample

Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist Intense

April 22, 2016August 14, 2017 - Vicki 2 Comments

Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist Intense* £45.00

Each year Jurlique release a beautiful limited edition intense version of their international best selling Rosewater Balancing Mist and I’m excited to say its back for 2016. It comes in a gorgeous limited edition 200ml pink glass bottle, even the outer cardboard packaging is just too pretty to throw away.

The product has such a lovely fresh scent of roses and I find its ideal for keeping on your desk and spritzing throughout the day, keeping your skin feeling fresh and hydrated – also the bottle just looks so pretty sat out on display.

This mist is enriched with a unique blend of five precious rose extracts grown on Jurlique’s farm in Australia – including,

• Rosa centifolia: Smooths
• Rosa canina: Hydrates
• Rosa gallica: Restores
• Rosa multiflora: Brightens
• Hibiscus rosa-sinensis: Softens

This is a product that will hydrate your skin & keep it looking radiant, whilst the antioxidants protect it from natural aggressors and its a lovely way to refresh your skin & your makeup throughout the day.

This 200ml deluxe bottle is a whopper and you will last you for months and months – so you won’t be afraid to indulge and lightly mist your skin as often as you please.

In the UK Jurlique will be donating a 5% of sales of this years Rosewater Balancing Mist to support the London Wildlife Trust which is a UK based charity dedicated to protecting the capitals wildlife and wild spaces. So that is really in keeping with Jurlique’s ethos of giving back to the earth and helping nature and people thrive.

*PR Sample

Queen Tea Cosmetics Products

April 20, 2016July 17, 2018 - Vicki 2 Comments

Queen Tea products are inspired by both the British tradition of Afternoon Tea and India’s approach to Tea and Wellbeing. Their beautiful range of products is designed to help you relax and unwind whilst being pampering and nourishing for your skin.

I’ve been testing out The Really Relaxing Detox Box & The Green Tea Body Scrub – both products come beautifully packaged with that handmade personal touch. I think they would make lovely gifts for anyone that is bath obsessed (like me).

‘A range of 100% natural skin food inspired by Afternoon Tea. We freshly produce with clean ingredients that benefit your skin and have spent time researching the best ingredients to help you really tea-tox your way to happiness. Welcome to your tradition of ‘Me-Time’.

The Really Relaxing Detox Box*

Before you even open the box you can already smell the beautiful chamomile, rose and lavender aromas seeping out. Inside you get 2 ‘Tea Bags’ which are full (jam packed full) of beautifully scented salts, petals, flowers, leaves and essential oils. You also get one sachet of Mini Milk.

All you need to do is pop one tea bag in your bath and let all the goodness seep into your bath water – when your bath water is brewed you add two tbsp of Mini Milk and sit back and relax.

The Mini Milk which you sprinkle into your bath water is a blend of Cocoa Butter, Milk and Oat Bran and it leaves your skin feeling soft, soothed and very nourished. You can purchase these Milk sachets separately too.

I thought the whole experience was lovely and relaxing, my bathroom smelt beautiful and my skin felt soothed and soft. I really like that all of the ingredients are 100% natural and the packaging is environmentally friendly too.

Queen Tea Cosmetics are also proud to donate 10% of profits from the Detox Boxes to the Trussell Trust, to raise awareness for UK hunger poverty.

Green Tea Body Scrub*

This scrub comes in a cute tin which Queen Tea Cosmetics encourage you to reuse (I’m already using mine to store my washi tape in). The scrub itself looks a little scary at first, because it’s bright green in colour & looks like slimmer from Ghostbusters but rest assured its nothing to be afraid of.

The scrub is jam-packed with lots of natural ingredients like anti-oxidant rich Green Tea, Coconut Oil, Salt & Sugar as well as Eucalyptus and Peppermint Essential Oils. It’s a very effective scrub and the salt & sugar are great, providing just the right amount of scrub to remove dead skin, grime and dirt to leave your skin smooth and soft.

It does smell uplifting and fresh, so it’s nice to use in the morning to help you feel energised and get your skin ready for the day. I will say make sure you wash this off thoroughly otherwise you may just end up with green towels (lesson learned).

I have been using this twice a week and after 8 uses I still have a good amount of scrub left so it does last a good amount of time

So if you know anyone who is tea obsessed and that likes a good pamper session then I think anything from Queen Tea Cosmetics would be an ideal gift. As I said they come beautifully packaged and as a brand, they have a wonderful ethos and its nice to support that.

Let me know what you are tempted to try.

*PR Sample

5 From The Body Shop

April 12, 2016February 21, 2017 - Vicki 6 Comments

I haven’t done a post in my Five From Series for a while now, so I thought I would get back into them and share Five From The Body Shop. This was so hard to narrow down because as a brand I love so many of their products and they continue to release wonderful products. If you have any recomendations of products I need to try from The Body Shop then leave me a comment.

The Body Shop All In One Insta Blur

I love products that give my skin that soft focus flawless finish & this Insta Blur does a pretty good job at doing that. Its has a thick gel like consistency and its easy to smooth over the skin. Its clear but it blurs imperfections redness and makes fine lines look less visible. I tend to only use it on my cheeks, where I have quite large pores and it does a great job at blurring them out and mattifying my skin. This is also very good at controlling oil and shine so it works well under makeup and helps it last longer without going greasy.

Born Lippy Lipbalm

You can’t beat a fruity scented lipbalm from The Body Shop. These are such a classic product and I have been buying them for more years than I care to admit. They always smell so good, I think I have tried every flavour. They’re easy to have in your handbag to keep your lips feeling hydrated & they add a slight sheer wash of colour but that doesn’t stick around too long, but the glossy finish does.

The Body Shop Vitamin E Overnight Serum-In-Oil

I have used the Vitamin E range for many years and still go back to it, especially when my skin is irritated and quite dry. I find its a range that is gentle and never breaks me out. I spoke about this in a recent post, I have a lot of love for this serum / oil. Its an overnight treatment that gives your skin a boost of hydration and nourishes dull skin. Its a serum blended with a combination of oils including sunflower, jojoba, marula, soya, and sesame and it also has wheatgerm oil which is high in antioxidants. I only use a couple of drops, which is plenty & I like to use it when my skin is looking dull and feels dryer than normal. Its great at hydrating and reviving my skin and making it look like its well rested and radiant. Its just such a lovely product to have in your skincare routine.

The Body Shop Makeup Brushes

I have quite a few brushes from The Body Shop and although they’re not the most affordable on the high street they’re very good quality, cruelty free and last me years. This actually a foundation brush but I’ve found it works well at applying face masks, no mess and I get an even coverage. I also like the kabuki brush to apply loose powder. I get no shedding with these brushes and they wash up lovely.

The Body Shop Vitamin C Instant Glow Enhancer*

The whole Vitamin C range is a favourite of mine, the face mist, moisturiser and this Instant Glow Enhancer in particular. They all pep up my skin and make it look refreshed and radiant. It has a lovely flattering peachy tint to it, you see instant results with this product. It really helps combat the signs of fatigue, I apply this mostly to the centre of my face, focusing on my forehead, nose & chin as this is great at blurring pores and fine lines making my skin look smooth as well as giving it a slight peachy glow. I use it when my skin looks like it needs a little waking up, or at the weekend when I want to wear minimum makeup. My tube has lasted me almost a year and I still have a good amount of product left. So it is well worth picking up.

PR Sample

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