Pre-Holiday Beauty Preperation

We all like to look our best when we go on holiday, i don't know if its just me but the thought of spending a week in a bikini is enough to get me in a mild panic and get me doing some serious pre-holiday beauty prep.
So as i'm off on holiday today (yayyy) i thought i would do a post showing you the beauty prep i spent the majority of my day yesterday doing to get myself beach ready!

Exfoliating and Moisturising-
Now this is something i've been trying to keep on top of for the last couple of weeks in preparation, as we all know the best way to get a good even tan natural or fake is to keep your skin fresh, smooth and exfoliated so i have been using my Garnier Oil Beauty Scrub pretty regularly in the shower to keep my skin soft and smooth and too remove all my old fake tan so my skin will be nice and fresh for optimum tanning. The other important thing is to keep the skin moisturized so after scrubbing the skin in the shower i make sure i apply my current favorite the Vaseline Spray& Go body moisturiser which is quick and easy to use and leaves the skin soft an smelling lovely.

Hair Removal-
Obviously when your going to spending the week in very little clothing hair removal is a must you don't want to be the hairy mary by the pool!
Some of you more glamourous and organized ladies may well keep your hair removal in check, if your like me however and only really shave those legs consistently when you A- are planning on wearing a skirt/dress and really have to or B- have a bf (and sometimes not even then) then your going to need to get rid of it, i have pretty sensitive skin so i use a sensitive Nair removal cream for more delicate areas (bikini line) and a sensitive Gillette razor for the rest.

Face and Hair Mask-
So scrubbed moisturized and fur free, i like to have a little pamper a use a face mask to freshen up the skin, the Ren Invisible Pores is one of my favorites to really de-clog the pores and leave the face smooth and clean. Knowing that my hair will be getting a bit of a battering with the not so healthy mixture of heat, chlorine and salt, that holidays bring i like to give my hair a bit of a treat before i go just so it's feeling soft and nourished, i've only used it a few times but i am loving the Philip Kingsley Elasicizer it leaves my hair feeling amazing.

Fake Tan-
Some people may think this is an unnecessary step but to me it is 100% necessary, yes i may be going on holiday to get a natural tan but that doesn't happen instantly, and i personally feel at my happiest with  a bit of colour to my skin, so i like to apply some fake tan before i go to tide me over until my natural tan starts to show through.

Eyebrows-
Im so rubbish with my eyebrows, i hate doing them but luckily they don't seem to grow too out of control if i don't do them regularly, but of course no full body pamper would be complete with out giving the brows a bit of attention, i don't do too much to the shape just pluck any stray hairs.

Mani/Pedis-
Finally no beauty prep can be complete without a bit of attention to those nails. I decided not to paint my nails with normal polish as it just chips so easily when your on holiday so i thought i would use my Sensationail gel kit because it literally lasts weeks without chipping which makes it perfect for holidays. For my feet i will give them a bit of attention with my Avon Foot Scrub to get rid of any dry skin moisturize and apply some fresh polish (i don't think i could manage the gel kit on my toes) i like to use a bright Summery Colour one of my current favorites is BarryM's Papaya.

So thats what I like to do do before a holiday to get me primped, preened and feeling my best. Do you have a pamper day before your holiday? 

What's your routine?

May Favourites

I cant believe its June already! Its an exciting month for me as I'm going on a girls holiday at the end of the month woohoo i cant wait, unfortunately this means putting my organizational skills to the test to try and get posts planned, written and scheduled before then! Anyway i didn't do a favorites post last month i don't think i had many new favorites i wanted to rave about however this month i do. Some are new to the blog some i've blogged about but all i have been loving using this past month.

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water-
I have been using Michellar waters to remove my makeup and cleanse my skin at night now for about eighteen months. I started off using Bioderma which i used religiously until some of the highstreet beauty brands started to bring out their own versions. As much as i loved Bioderma is was a royal pain in my behind to get hold off so i decided to try a different one. I've tried the L'oreal and Garnier versions and to be honest i don't see a lot of difference in either both are good, the only reason i've stuck with the Garnier one is it seems better value for money. You get 400ml of product which will last you months and its a very reasonable price, i actually picked up my latest bottle on offer in Superdrug for under £4 which is just amazing.

V05 Plump it up Dry Backcombing Spray-
I am useless at actually backcombing my hair i just end up with a very knotty mess and most definitely not the volumous Cheryl Cole esque hair I'm after so i thought i would see if i could find a product to do it for me. I picked up the V05 Backcombing Spray and I'm really enjoying using it, you just shake and spray it onto the hair and it really does give a nice boost. Its my roots that i have a problem with my hair is fine and sits so flat but this gives a nice bit of volume and its so easy to use.

Soap&Glory One Heck Of A Blot-
I reviewed this product a few weeks back and am happy to report Im loving still loving it very much which is why its made the favorites post. It sets my makeup really well so well in-fact that i've noticed i don't need to touch up during the day as much. The only small thing that concerns me is i've actually hit pan already, only slightly in the middle but i am interested to see how much longer it will last as my Rimmel Stay Matte used to last a fair few months.

Trilogy Certified Organic Rosenip Oil-
I tend to use this oil quite on and off, i like to use it when my skins been breaking out as its great to slather on at night to heal and reduce any scarring or marks. As me skin had been clear for a while i had not been using it but lately my skins started breaking out again so i brought this little beauty back out.  I've been applying a few drops to my face at night and gentle rubbing it in, in the morning my skin always looks fresh, bright and nourished.

Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream-
This seems to have become my new day base of choice, since i bought it this is pretty much all i wear at work and on days off when i don't want a full made up look i reach for this too. Its so light on the skin, the colour match is great for me and it gives a decent amount of coverage exactly what i want.

Real Techniques Expert Face Brush-
This is the first time i've featured a makeup brush in my favorites, however i really do feel it deserves it. I use the Expert face brush to apply my foundations and sometimes also my concealer. Its quite a firm brush which is incredibly soft which makes it great for applying and blending foundations. I find this blends the foundation so well and leaves the skin with an amazing finish, i really so love it.

Bourjois Little Pot Blush Rose de Jaspe-
This month this has become my new everyday blush, my poor Sleek Rose Gold blush hasn't had a look in. The beautiful rose colour is so flattering and goes well with all makeup looks, and the subtle hint of shimmer also looks so pretty.

So that was my May favorites, what have you been loving lately?

Garnier Oil Beauty Nourishing Scrub

Hello lovelies, i want to share with you a skin-care product I'm loving lately Garnier's new Oil Beauty Scrub.
Being a fake tanner its important that to get the best possible results from your tan you need to do a certain amount of body upkeep, and if I'm being entirely honest I'm pretty poor at bothering with it. I know its recommended to exfoliate and moisturize the skin properly to get the best results but i just tended to forget and then just slap my tan on anyway. I could kind of get away with my less than perfect tan and uneven results when i used a lighter fake tan and it wasn't so noticeable but since switching to a dark fake tan i haven't been able to ignore the dodgy ankles and the weird patches on the inside of my elbow that just wouldn't pick up the tan so would stay white, really attractive i can tell you!
I decided it was time to stop being so lazy with my body care and actually do some of the recommended upkeep, so that meant buying myself a body scrub to actually scrub away the old fake tan and exfoliate so it didn't just build up resulting in a dodgy looking tan.
I picked up the Garnier Oil Beauty Scrub as id been using the Garnier Ultimate Beauty oil and loving it, it feels lovely on the skin and has the most amazing scent so i hoped i would be as equally impressed with the scrub.
The Oil Beauty Scrub is an oil-infused scrub that not only aims to exfoliate the skin but Nourish and Illuminate it. It contains Argan, Macadamia, Almond and Rose oil the same as the Beauty Oil so it has that same amazing smell that lingers on the skin way after use.
Its a thick oil scrub with fine exfoliating particles, i have quite sensitive skin on my legs from shaving so harsh scrubs can be painful and irritate the skin, i have no problem with this scrub its very gentle yet still does an amazing job of exfoliating the skin.
After using my skin feels incredibly soft and nourished with a healthy glow, its as if i've applied a moisturizing product and not a body scrub at all.
This is without a doubt the best scrub i've used, and its sorted out my fake tan issues not more build up of tan or strange patches for me now, Hallelujah!

Have you tried any of the Garnier Oil Beauty range?

2013 Beauty Favorites, Skin, Hair and Nails

My first 2013 favorites post went up on wednesday, featuring my favorite makeup products from the year, this is the follow up post featuring my favorite beauty products from 2013.
With makeup i find like most women i suppose you may have a favorite lipstick or eyeshadow but i expect you have a lot of each of the those things at one time that your using, whereas with beauty products like moisturizers and face washes like me, you probably go through a few different ones in a year but you use them one at a time, thats why i think beauty favorites are interesting because to repurchase a product and not try something new means it has really impressed!

I've picked the skin, hair and nail beauty products that have stood out to me the most the past year, that i would repurchase, some i have already and will be continuing to use through 2014. 

Skin
Bioderma Micelle Solution-
This is without a doubt one of my favorite discoveries of 2013, i haven't used anything else to remove my makeup since i first tried it. It removes my makeup so well, doesn't hurt my eyes at all and is really gentle on the skin.

Estee Lauder Sparkling Clean Cleanser-
I am a massive fan of Estee Lauder skin care, this may be quite pricey for a face wash but it has lasted me all year. Its targeted at oily skin and is really gentle yet cleans the skin really well.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Mat-
I am on my second tube of this moisturizer now which speaks volumes for a moisturizer as i usually change them all the time and rarely re-buy the same one, i just love how light and fresh this feels on my skin and it really does help to mattify.

Ren Invisible Pores Detox Mask-
I've tried a lot of clay masks this one stood out to me, it really does make my skin feel unclogged and completely fresh how it should feel after a face mask.

Trilogy Rosehip Oil-
This is the first oil i have ever used on my face, i found it a bit strange to begin with putting oil on my oily skin, but i am completely in love with it. Its great for getting rid of redness and scaring from spots, and i wake up with my skin glowing after using it.

Garnier Pure Active Roll-On-
This helps to reduce inflammation from spots and isn't harsh on the skin, also helps with any marks left behind.

Imperial Leather Shower Cream-
I don't have particular favorite just the Shower Creams in general all smell amazing and leave my skin feeling nice and soft.

Garnier Ultimate Beauty Oil-
Perfect for lazy girls like me...just spray and go! This smells so good and it sinks in well,  leaving you with a gorgeous glow to the body and doesn't leave you sticky.

St. Moriz Instant Self Tanning Mouse-
My favorite beauty bargain, a massive bottle for £4.99! I've never had any trouble with this streaking and i love the colour it gives.

Lush Bubblegum Lip Scrub-
This is great at freshening up dry lips giving a better base for lipstick, and you can eat it, amazing! It tastes like sweets.

Hair
John Frieda Full Repair Hydrate+Rescue Shampoo*-
I was sent this shampoo to try and i fell in love with it, it leaves hair soft nourished and smelling great.

John Frieda Full Repair Hydrate+Rescue Deep Conditioner-
I also got sent the normal conditioner version of this and i really liked it too, when i used it up i bought the Deep conditioner to try and i have been using this as my conditioner instead of a mask.

Charles Worthington Intense Rescue Melting Balm-
You have to warm this balm up in your hands to make an oil which you apply to your hair as a mask and leave on for 20 mins, it leaves the hair feeling amazing definite must try!

Treseme 24 Hour Body Blow Dry Lotion-
I love the volume this gives me at my roots, yet still leaves the hair feeling light like there's no product in it.

Treseme Keratin Smooth Heat Protection Spray-
I no its quite hard to judge if a heat protectant spray is actually doing it job, this has been my favorite out of a few i've tried because it doesn't leave my hair crispy or greasy looking even if i'm spraying it on dry hair.

Argan Secret, Argan Oil*-
My best friend had two of these so she gave me one to try, bless her cottons! It was the first proper hair oil i had used and it really did the trick of sorting out my dry ends. Its very thick yet doesn't make the hair look greasy, i'm also obsessed with the smell. I've tries a lot of other oils since but this just feels very luxurious in my hair.

Tangle Teaser-
I don't use a normal brush or comb anymore, tangle teasers are so much gentler on the hair and you can use them on wet or dry hair. Can't see myself ever going back to a normal brush again.

Nails
Bourjois Dissolvant Miracleux-
This nail polish remover has made my life a lot easier, nobody likes spending forever taking the old polish off and this makes it really quick even with stubborn glitter polishes.

Neom Complete Bliss Organic Hand Cream-
I am not the best person at remembering to moisturize my poor hands, but when i do this is my favorite it jut smells so yummy, oh and it makes my hands feel soft too...

BarryM Gelly Polish-
It was really hard to pick a favorite polish, i love my nail polishes and i have a billion that i could call my favorites but as i have to pick i would say the BarryM Gelly polishes are great, they look like gel,  there is a great colour selection, and there only £3.99 each!

Wow so there you have it my favorite beauty products from 2013, that turned out to be a long post, if you actually stuck with me and read my ramblings right to the end, well done. 

Have you tried any of my favorites? What are your favorite beauty products from the year?

Zoe

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November Favorites!

 

Hello lovelies, i cant believe its december already, where has the year gone? Christmas in three weeks time and i haven't bought any presents yet, i am so unorganized!
I haven't done a favorites post in a few months as i found my most used and go to products where pretty much the same as before however this month i have a few new products to show you that i've been loving lately.

Garnier Ultimate Beauty Oil-
I bought this oil when i came back from my holiday as i started to peel quiet a bit and wanted to keep my skin moisturized to hang onto my tan for as long as possible. Im not massively into body products, i can be very lazy when it comes to body upkeep and i rarely remember to use a body lotion. This skin oil is great as its so easy to apply just spay it on and rub it in it sinks in quickly and leaves skin with a gorgeous glow to it, it also smells amazing, i love it my must have for keeping skin nourished in the winter.

Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate in 107-

I've been loving wearing this lipstick its a great shade for A/W and a great choice to wear over the party season, i think its such a flattering colour and has a great finish. 

Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation-
I've been a massive fan of Double Wear for a good few years now, its without a doubt the best foundation i've found for keeping the shine at bay. I stopped using this for a few months mainly because i was using lighter foundations in the warmer weather and my skin was clearer so i didn't need as much coverage, however lately my skins been playing up a bit and i've needed that extra coverage this foundation really does cover a multitude of sins and for that reason it deserves a mention!


Garnier Pure Active Roll On-
As i just mentioned my skin hasn't been playing fair lately and i've suffered with a few more breakouts than normal, i've been applying this little gem onto spots a night and it really does help, i also apply it after the spot has gone to reduce the marks they leave.

Ren Invisible Pores Detox Mask-
I received this mask in my BBB Beauty Box (Post here) its a clay mask which is great for my skin-type. It really makes my pores feel unclogged and my skin fresh and clean, i love it and will definitely be purchasing it in full size.

Lush Bubblegum Lip Scrub-
This is a must have product for the lips in the cold winter months, this sugar scrub helps keep lips soft, and smells and tastes like sweets, amazing!

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Mat-
I've reviewed this moisturizer a few months ago (Review here) i still love it so much i have repurchased, its just great at keeping my skin shine free for longer and well moisturized.

Sleek Face Form Palette-
 I love the contour, highlight and blush from this palette they have become part of my everyday routine now, i would recommend this palette to everyone.

So those are the beauty products i've been loving over the last month, what products are you loving right now?

Zoe 

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