Beauty // SPF Summer Skin care picks

These past few days have been wonderfully warm haven't they? I hope you've all been enjoying the weather.I've been trying to make the most of it by spending as much time basking in the sunshine as possible! This week I've really been making sure to include products that contain SPF in order to avoid that lobster red look.I wish I was able to get a golden tan like some people,but until then I'll stick to these as I've found these have really helped to keep my skin in check.

I've been applying this Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sunblock religiously since it started getting warmer and I love that I can use it on my face without breaking out as it is oil free and non comedogenic (doesn't clog pores) I picked it up from the 99p store and it's the highest SPF factor that I've been able to find (let me know if you have seen any higher!) It sinks into the skin easily but it is quite slow to absorb so I'd definitely wait 5 minutes before getting dressed etc..I've used some sunscreens that have left my face looking like an oil slick,but with this one I can apply foundation over it and still have a completely matte finish.

This Holika Holika Petit BB Cream in Moisturising  is really great for those sunny days where you want to wear lighter make up and let your skin breathe.It's SPF 30 and its creamy formulation is amazing for sorting out tired dry skin whilst giving a medium coverage.I've got very pale skin and I found this to be a good match,despite looking quite orange in the tube it leaves my skin looking even and lessens the look of my pores.I wrote a full review a little while back which you can read here

As a 00's teenage girl,I was an huge fan of the Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse,but as I got into my 20's I found that I wanted a foundation that offered a more coverage and was more suited to my skin tone.I've been using Bourjois 123 Perfect Foundation in Light Vanilla (as you can see from the tatty much loved packaging!) It's £10.99 which is quite expensive compared to my budget buys,but as foundation can make such a difference I'm happy to pay it.It contains SPF 10 and has various pigments (yellow,red and green) to help combat dark circles,dull complexion and redness.It does cover light pimples and scarring,but if you're having a breakout you might need to apply some heavy duty concelear to add a little more coverage.One thing I've noticed is that it does stay on for a good few hours,a little swirl of powder is all that is needed to set this for most of the day.I could stand to go a shade paler (they don't do it!) but I love how it feels light and natural on my skin.If you're after a long lasting and medium coverage foundation then I'd really recommend it.


Although I've got my trusty skincare routine to help keep my freckles safe and the wrinkles at bay,I'm really struggling to find a foundation for pale freckly skin!


Does anybody have any recommendations?

Beauty // Morning Make Up Musthaves

I'm pretty sure that I'd run down to the shops in my pyjamas if I ever ran out of these.I always make sure I've got enough,and because they are all under £5 I often have a couple of back ups lying around in different places.They're not high end products but they're really effective and do the job well.

Wilko refreshing eye drops (£2-£3 from Wilkinsons)

I can't remember exactly how much this lifesaver cost,but I know it's very budget friendly.I'm basically a walking allergy,and these drops are great at making sure that my eyes stop running and they stay clear and bright.They're great to use after a long day too,although I don't use them everyday because it might disturb the natural balance of my eyes.

Sanctuary Spa hand cream (£3 from Boots)

I was lucky enough to receive this in the Sanctuary gift set for Christmas from my lovely husband! My hands get really dry and this formula is rich enough to give my skin day long moisturisation, without leaving a greasy film on my hands.It smells so good too,it's got a lovely sweet and subtle almond fragrance that lasts for hours .I've had it since December and I don't even think I'm halfway through as you don't need much,so this is a great cost effective option.

Maybelline Pure Cover Mineral Concealer (£1 from Poundland)

After trying this out, I went to Poundland to pick up another as it was that amazing! This one is shade 02 (Natural) and is great at hiding the redness I often get around my nose and chin.It's quite a creamy formula too,so it's really moisturising for dry skin.I also love that when you apply it to a breakout it doesn't cake or leave it looking worse than before,it just gives a nice even coverage.

Vaseline Rosy Lips (£2.18 from Boots)

I think I've tried just about every type of Vaseline but this is definitely one of my favourites.It isn't heavily scented but it does have a light rose fragrance which I love.The almond oil helps keep my lips free from cracks and moisturised all day.I often use it so that I have a smooth base to apply lipstick or gloss,but it's great by itself as it gives my lips a beautiful rosy sheen.

I know they're nothing exciting,but I couldn't be without these.They definitely help me feel more put together and polished.I always feel like I'm going to have a good day if I have everything to hand.I'm still trying to scout out more bargains to add to my collection!

What are your must haves?

Mini Haul // Superdrug body sprays review

Superdrug is the only store we have in my town that sells everything beauty and health related.That's why I'm always popping in there to see what they've got to offer.I always like to make sure that I have body sprays to hand because they're great to put in my handbag for a quick freshen up.I don't like to spend too much as I go through them quite quickly,but I noticed that Superdrug were having a Buy One Get One Free offer on their body sprays,so they were 99p for 2.Bargain!

The vibrant cans really caught my eye and there were 7 to choose from;

Minx
Delicious
Crush
Seduce
Sugar
Starlight
Lusty

I find the names quite amusing.They're definitely no Coco Chanel but I think  they're fun and don't take themselves too seriously.You could buy one for every occasion and still have change from £10! Eventually I picked up "Minx" and "Delicious" because the descriptions sounded like the kind of scent I was looking for.

Minx

"Feel utterly feminine and seductive! A bold,flirtatious mix of juicy citrus fruits,with pineapple,jasmine and sweet vanilla notes.Spritz all over your body to leave you feeling fresh and confident." 

This one is my favourite out of the two.It reminds me of a tropical island as it's got a strong Pineapple scent with an lovely underlying floral smell.It isn't too "in your face" so this would be a great scent to wear if you just wanted a light and fruity fragrance.I've been using this one everyday.

Delicious

"Feel absolutely irresistible.A luscious blend of floral and delectable fruity notes.Spritz all over your body to leave you feeling fresh and confident."

This scent is undeniably girly.It's very sweet and sugary but in a subtle way.I have this one in my handbag at the moment,and I find is has a lovely comforting smell,like something familiar.If you're a fan of floral or vanilla fragrances then I would definitely recommend this.You don't need much either,just a little spritz and you're good to go. 

I was surprised at how long these scents lasted! Once I apply them in the morning they last for a good 2 or 3 hours,which is great considering the price.

Another bonus is that they are suitable for Vegetarians and Vegans too.I'm trying to become more aware of Animal testing so I'm happy that these sprays are BUAV approved.The BUAV is the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection and they campaign for the abolition of all animal experiments.Also,they don't harm the Ozone layer as they are CFC free.I would definitely agree that there is "100 happiness guaranteed".I would recommend these to anyone who is after budget friendly and cruelty free fragrances that smell wonderful.

Have you ever tried Superdrug's body sprays? What did you think?

Etsy Wishlist

Every time I have a look on Etsy,I have to hold myself back from spending my life savings! There are so many unique things that you never knew you needed.It's a great place to go if you want to buy something that you know you won't see 50 times on the high street.Here are my top picks right now!

1.Disney's Frozen "Let it go" necklace (£12.95 from this seller.)

I watched Frozen a little later then everyone else but I'm so glad I did.I loved everything about it;the characters,the music and of course,the plot twist.My favourite song is "Let it go",the lyrics are so meaningful and this necklace is so pretty! I love the little snowflake and it's dainty enough that I could wear it everyday.It's actually quite affordable too.

2.Life doesn't have to be perfect poster (£8.63 from this seller.)

I love beautiful fonts and sentimental quotes so this is perfect for me! I tend to be quite a perfectionist,so this would be a lovely reminder for me to appreciate the small things.I'd love to put this in my bedroom in a pretty frame.

3.Disney Pixar Up phone case (£14.17 from this seller.)

Up is another film that made me emotional! It's so beautifully written and the love story is just so adorable, but it's definitely a tearjerker.I was so happy to find a pretty phone case that would cover my Sony Xperia (they all seem to be for iPhones).I love the simple design and I definitely think this would make my phone look a little different (I'm always picking up other peoples phones!).

4.Bacon Beeswax Lip balm (£1.57 from this seller.)
I love bacon and a love lip balms (I have a bit of a collection),so I was really excited to see this.I've bought a few lipsticks before that contain beeswax and cocoa butter,two ingredients that I  find are really great at keeping my lips soft and preventing chapped skin.It says that it contains real bacon grease,which doesn't sound very appealing,but that is what makes a bacon sandwich taste so good! I'd probably end up licking my lips too much.

5.Beyonce coffee mug (£11.10 from this seller.)
Beyonce seems to be everywhere these days,and I know some people think it's a bit too much,but I just can't dislike her.I'm a 90's child and I was a Destiny's child fan,she's got an awesome voice! I thought this was really cute and it would definitely bring a smile to my face on a bad day.It's a bit more than I'd normally pay for a mug but it's novel and fun.

6.Carpe Diem notebook (£4.18 from this seller.)
I'm always collecting notebooks.I love all of the amazing designs you can get,and they are a great place to scribble all of my thoughts."Carpe Diem" or "seize the day" is a great motto to live by,and this little notepad is a great size to put in my handbag.

I definitely think I will end up buying some of these,I've bought a couple of things from Etsy recently and they've been of really good quality.Also,I like the idea of supporting small businesses who make great products!

Have you used Etsy before? What things do you love?