Five Under £5 For December

- Vicki 10 Comments
Five under 5 post

Five Under £5

When I saw Julia from rainbeaubelle Five Under £5 posts I thought it would be fun to get involved and share a few of my bargain finds this past month. I’m currently in Scotland visiting family and finishing off the last of my Christmas shopping & I have of course been treating myself to a few bits & bobs too.

First up is this Alphabet Makeup Bag from Matalan it was such a bargain at £4. It is 100% cotton and very well made. I have quite a few makeup bags but I couldn’t resist this one & I bought a couple as gifts too.

Matalan Makeup Bag

I also bought two tree decorations from Matalan too, a V & J in vintage looking gold. I think they have an Art Deco look. They’re quite heavy and were only £2 each. I won’t get to put my tree up until about the 19th but I am excited to add these to our eclectic mix of decorations. Matalan has some beautiful Christmas decorations this year its well worth a visit.

Tiger recently opened in Dundee so I popped in but it was so busy it was hard to browse. I did get 2 rolls of Washi tape for £2. I have a bit of an addiction to buying tape but never seem to use it. If you have any suggestions for crafty things I can do with all my rolls of tape then I’d love to hear them These were too pretty to leave behind.

Matalan Christmas Decorations

I can’t believe that these cute gold detailed notebooks were only 99p each from Home bargains. I am going to go back and stock up on a few more. We don’t have a Home Bargains in Cornwall so when I visit a city that has one I have to visit and it never disappoints.

Notebooks

It wouldn’t be Christmas without something from LUSH & Butterbear bathbomb is my all time favourite, its only £1.95. It leaves my skin so soft and it smells lovely and fresh. Makes me sad its only out for Christmas

LUSH Butterbear

Pai Perfect Balance Discovery Collection

- Vicki 2 Comments

Pai Skincare Gift Set

Pai is a brand that I hear so many lovely things about but I have never tried any of their products so I was excited to receive one of their skincare collections to try out. I have the Perfect Balance Discovery Collection* which is a great set for oily skin, the set includes

  • Pai Camellia & Rose Gentle Hydrating Cleanser 30ml
  • Pai Rice Plant & Rosemary BioAffinity Tonic 12ml
  • Pai Geranium & Thistle Rebalancing Day Cream 10ml
  • Pai Organic Muslin Cloth.

Pai Perfect Balance Discovery Collection

The Camellia & Rose Gentle Hydrating Cleanser is so gentle and very good at removing makeup, dirt and impurities without striping the skin and leaving it feeling tight. I use this all over my face and I even remove my eye makeup with it and it doesn’t sting my eyes. It contains omega 3 and vitamins A, B, C & E, so it will hydrate your skin leaving it feeling supple and clean. I have found it calms my skin and thats great during the Winter because i tend to get redness in my cheeks and this helps soothe and reduce that.

Next step is the Rice Plant & Rosemary BioAffinity Tonic I love using a face mist I find them relaxing and a great way of keeping my skin hydrated not only as part of my skincare routine but also throughout the day. I spritz this on top of my makeup to rehydrate and give my skin that fresh glow. This is also really gentle and contains no alcohol, Pai does not use alcohol, even natural grain varieties, as it strips the face of natural oils, often leading to excess sebum production and breakouts.

Like all of Pai skincare this toner contains beautifully natural ingredients like

  • Rice Plant: Extracted from the fresh shoots of the rice plant, this ‘living water’ contains the skin-benefiting minerals calcium, sodium, magnesium, and potassium. Its active antioxidants cool and rebalance skin, making it ideal for combination skin types.
  • Rosemary: The strong anti-inflammatory powers of Caffeic Acid and Rosemarinic Acid in Rosemary soothe sensitive skin and help to strengthen the capillaries. Natural antioxidants purify and rebalance congested skin and the oily T-zone.

Pai Skincare Trio

And the last product in this set is the Pai Geranium & Thistle Rebalancing Day Cream This has become my secret weapon in the fight against my oily t zone. Its lightweight but still very hydrating, it won’t leave your skin feeling greasy at all in fact it gives your skin a velvet matte finish. This also helps with calming the redness in my cheeks so its a great moisturiser for people with sensitive skin too. Its is formulated

  • Organic Geranium Oil which has a balancing and calming effect on the skin
  • Thistle Oil is bursting with Omega 6 which mattifies the skin and reduces the appearance of enlarged pores whilst
  • Borage Oil nurtures the skin with Essential Fatty Acids and evens out skin tone.

Again its gentle on the skin and bursting with lovely ingredients.

Pai Skincare Gift Set

I have really enjoyed this Pai skincare kit and think it would make the most thoughtful Christmas Gift for anyone with sensitive, oily or blemish prone skin. The products are all cruelty free and Pai are proud to carefully select ingredients with proven remedial and skin soothing properties and keep their products free from irritating chemicals and alcohol.

Pai have Collections for all skin concerns so pop over & take a look & also have a look at their Christmas gift ideas.

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.

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.