Drunk Elephant Get Even Kit

 - All links in this post are affiliate links. If a product is marked with a * it has been gifted with no obligation to post about it. Head to my disclaimer for more information -

If you've read my blog before, you'll know that Drunk Elephant is one of my favourite skincare brands. It offers great formulas to suit a variety of skin types and has a product for every skin concern you may have. However the price has to be mentioned as they brand is certainly on the steeper side, but the Get Even Kit*, the collection of products I've talking about today, is the perfect way to try out a few of their products in one go. 

I've actually tried all of these products before, so I feel like I can talk about the positives and negatives of each one, but as I said I think that this kit is great for if you want to trial them before purchasing the full sized version. First up is probably my favourite of the bunch and the B-Hydration Intensive Hydration Serum* is one that I can't believe I don't own the full 50ml of. It can be used on it's own for an extra boost, but I love using it mixed in with a variety of their other products especially the A-Passioni*. 

Just like I mentioned, I use these two together so that the A-Passioni Retinol Cream* isn't as strong on my skin which is perfect if you don't want your skin to peel as much. It's important to build up to using it neat especially if you've never used retinol before, but I think that the size you get in this kit is great as you only need a tiny pea sized once or twice a week, so this will last you a good amount of time! 

The next product I'm talking about is the Protini Polypeptide Cream* and it's one of my favourite high end moisturisers I've used. The La La Retro Whipped Cream* probably beats it, but as that one has quite a thick texture, the Protini offering is great all year around. It's water gel formula is lightweight without comprising of hydration and the more I used it, the softer my skin has felt. 

You probably all know by now that Baby Facial is my go-to product of theirs, but you can't get it in the UK due to the formula, but the TLC Famboos Glycolic Night Serum* is the next best thing. With a mixture of 12% alpha and beta hydroxy acid as well as raspberry extract which all work together to smooth and brighten the complexion whilst improve texture and any blemishes you have too. The size of this in the kit is particularly good as you only use the product every other night or a couple of times a week. 

Whilst we're talking about a good sized product in this kit, the C-Firma Day Serum* is the perfect example of this. The miniature sizes of this gets used up too quickly for my liking, but as this loses potency once you opened it and only lasts 6 months before it starts not looking great, half of the full 30ml sized product goes to waste. The 15ml version in this kit (worth £33.50) is great if you already enjoy the product as you will use it up, but have enough to see it's effects without it running out quickly. Although the sticky texture of this takes a little to get used to and if you use quite a lot of acid already then this won't be for you, but it's nice to have something fancy to use in the morning. 

Here are a few other kits to take a look at: 

The New Ciaté Extraordinary Foundation

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It's not often anymore that a foundation release gets me excited, but the new in Spring collections are doing exactly that. One of the products I recently spotted was the Ciaté Extraordinary Foundation, a base that promises blurred pores, buildable coverage and a radiant finish. I put it to the test over the last couple of weeks and my thoughts are finally in. 

First up we've got to talk about the shade range because I think it's fairly broad, having 20 shades which is a good starter. Saying this, they've really missed the mark on the undertones in my opinion as each shade goes up quite a big jump. Instead of each different skin tone having complimentary pink and yellow tones, they sort of assume that neutral undertones are lighter, yellow tones are in the middle and then pink tones darker, which means that you can be in-between shades quite easily. I went for 104y Linen which relates to it having yellow undertones and is the second lightest shade. This applied to my face if not blended in thoroughly can come across a little orange - not too yellow like I was worried about. Once blended with a beauty blender I did find it matched my skin tone perfectly, so although I've slated the range, I was happy with the one I picked out especially considering I did it all online. 

The formula is on the lightweight side, making it super easy to blend in which is exactly what I wanted as I'm not a fan of the thicker formulas. It felt like it was barely there on the skin and never gathered around my nose which I usually get with higher coverage foundations, but this one did cling to my peach fuzz a little bit, but nothing a bit of blending didn't sort out. The coverage is buildable, but I actually find that one to two pumps all over is enough to cover any redness and blemishes I have, evening out the complexion completely. 

Now onto the finish where I was quite surprised with what it had to offer. When I first applied it, I was expecting something a little more dewy, in fact I would go as far as saying it's a completely matte foundation. Then I went into natural sunlight and was amazed by how radiant my complexion looked, with a dreamy highlight on just the right points of my face. 

Have you tried the Ciate Extraordinary Foundation? 

My Top Most - Repurchased Beauty Products

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After watching Alanna's YouTube video it inspired me to get out all the products that I've repurchased over the years. Also shoutout to Becky Derby on Instagram for inspiring my round mirror obsession which is displayed in the photographs throughout this post! Now that's done, let's get on with sharing my top most repurchased beauty products. 

I wrote about my love for the Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray* is one of my first ever posts on this blog, so it's safe to say I've been a fan of it for some time now. I personally like using it before my base products as I find that this helps with longevity and the way my foundation sits on top of it. 

I've already posted about my five most repurchased foundations so I won't spend too long talking about my favourites. The Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation and Serum version are two that I've been using since my teens as the formula is natural looking, worked well with both my oily skin and now my dehydrated complexion and doesn't break the bank either. 

Another high street go-to is the NYX HD Photogenic Concealer Wand which offers a good amount of coverage and finish. The only downside and something that probably contributes to how many times I've repurchased this is that it doesn't last very long in comparison to my 10-15ml I'm used to with my Too Faced and Huda offerings as this is only 3ml. It's important to note that I prefer to get a lighter shade than I think as when you've used this for a while, it can get darker as you go down the tube. 

The Beauty Blender seems to be everyone's favourite way of applying makeup, but I was pretty late to the game in comparison. That being said, I've definitely made up with the amount of times I've repurchased this pink egg and I think I'll always head back to it. 

Both the ABH Dipbrow Pomade* and the complimenting Brow Wiz Pencil have both been repurchased more times than I'd like to admit. I think I'd recommend the pencil more just because you get to use every last bit of it whereas you hardly make a dent in the pomade before it dries up so much you can't use it again. I say that, but I have continued to use either one of these products daily for some time now. 

I've been using Bioderma Micellar Water when it was highly coveted, but hard to get and you had to go to or know somebody that was going to France to get your hands on it. In a nutshell, I've been using it for a long time! It's great at removing my eye and face makeup as well as not stripping the skin in the process. 

I've got two moisturisers to share with you as I just couldn't decide on just one. The Origins GinZing Moisturiser and Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream are both hydrating, but the former is great for brightening and the latter is perfect for comforting and soothing the skin. As I've used them for years and we're both fans of them, I couldn't even tell you how many tubs we've been through. The same goes for the Origins Drink Up Intensive Mask which is definitely in my top three Origins product I've ever used. 

As you probably know, perfume is my pride and joy. I have quite the collection, so narrowing my favourite selection down to just one was hard, but I finally made a decision. Enter the Jo Malone Peony and Blush Suede, a floral, deep mix of a scent that lingers on the skin all day and is one that I've had too many bottles of to count. 

What are your most repurchased beauty products? 

A Spring Skincare Routine

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I think I've mentioned a fair few times now that I made it my mission at the end of last year and throughout the start of this one to use up the skincare I had backed up in my collection. Through doing this I rediscovered products, found new favourites and cleared room for some new pieces too, so my skincare routine has definitely gone through quite the overhaul as of late. Here are the products I've been using throughout Spring: 

For my first cleanse, I did use up the last of a few of my old faves, but a couple of weeks back I picked up the Origins Cleansing Jelly and I'm smitten! This gets rid of any stubborn makeup I have, all whilst leaving the skin feeling smooth too. If I have any mascara left over, I tend to just wipe it away using a micellar water and a cotton pad to leave my complexion feeling clean. 

As for my second cleanse, it's the Pixi Glow Tonic Cleansing Gel* I've been reaching for. If you're a fan of the original toner of the same name, but you'd like to try it in the multiasking formula of a cleanser then this will be up your street. It enables me to use a nourishing toner rather than an acid one as it does the job at detoxifying the skin; reducing blemishes and getting rid of those pesky under the skin spots I've been getting on my forehead. 

In the morning I've taken to using the Pixi Peel and Polish* which is a manual exfoliator that can be used traditional as a face scrub or left on as a face mask to reveal a brighter, clearer complexion. 

Back to my night full time skincare routine now and after my double cleanse (if I don't use a face mask), I like to use a toner as previously mentioned. My weapon of choice is the Fresh Rose Hydration Toner* which is absolutely delightful to use and I'm a huge fan of already. It really adds a glow to the skin all whilst calming any redness I have too. 

When it comes to treatments, I have a few favourites like the Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream* as well as the Farmacy Honeymoon Glow*, but once again the more gentle, calming option wins. The Fresh Rose Face Mask* has been talked about to death on my blog, but it's great for a 10 minute skin pick me up that has long lasting results. 

After a double cleanse, face mask if I wish and a toner, I end my routine with an oil, moisturiser and then eye cream - maybe a lip balm for good measure too. The Sunday Riley Juno Face Oil* is great at making my skin feeling nourished all whilst sinking in quickly and working well with whatever moisturiser I use with it - the accompanying Sunday Riley Tidal Cream* is still my go-to along with the Pixi Rose Ceramide Cream* which I'm both running low on. In the morning I tend to skip oil, but the Clinique Dramatically Different Hydration Jelly* which has lasted me an amazing amount of time, always hydrates my skin perfectly. 

Last up is the Drunk Elephant Shaba Complex Eye Serum* which helps soothe my under eye which is especially great if my hay fever has been playing me up a lot during the day. 

What are your skincare routine favourites? 

Too Cool For School Brand Review

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Too Cool For School is a brand I've heard a lot about and I have been meaning to try more some time now, but have never got around to it. The cute packaging definitely lures me in, but I wasn't sure where to start first as they've got quite a lot in their skincare range already. 

When the Egg Mouse Pack* arrived I was very confused as to what it was, I initially thought it was moisturiser then I started to using it like a cleanser, but after some research it's actually a face mask. It's thick foam texture makes for a fun experience, but I was worried that it would break me out if it wasn't too be removed easily. It hasn't broke me out, but I've got a mixed opinion of it so far. It's not bad at all, in fact it makes my skin feel super clean and radiant, but it lacks massively when it comes to hydration. It's nothing that can't be fixed with a moisturiser post-mask and I enjoy the way it purifies my complexion, so I'm happy to continue using it. 

Next up is the Egg Mellow Body Butter* which is a luxe feeling, thick textured body moisturiser that I've been smothering all over my skin after the bath twice a week. I use the SBC Watermelon Skincare Gel* whenever I want a quick boost of hydration and as it sinks is so quickly, that one is perfect for every day wear. The Too Cool For School offering however is better for a pamper evening when you've got a little bit of time to let it sink in and it works well after a long, hot bath too. It smells absolutely delicious and really does make a difference to the way my skin feels as someone who's body feels dehydrated 90% of the time. 

Last up is the Egg Cream Mask - Pore Tightening* which is a sheet mask that promises to clarify the complexion and minimise the pores in 20 minutes. Although I didn't notice much difference when it came to the latter, it really calmed down the redness I had around my active and old blemish scars which was amazing. There was also lots of products left in the packet to use down my neck and extra for my face too! 
I've now got the Egg Mousse Body Oil, Pumpkin Purifying 24k Mask and the Coconut Facial Scrub on my wishlist, but quite honestly that's just the beginning. I think the Egg-Zyme Whipped Foam may have to be a next purchase as I'm after a new cleanser after using a lot of mine in my stash already. 

Have you ever tried anything from Too Cool For School? 

A Peachy, Glowy Makeup Look

- All links in this post are affiliate links. If a product is marked with a * it has been gifted with no obligation to post about it. Head to my disclaimer for more information -

I feel like I have a yearly tradition of collating all my favourite peach products and putting them in a blog post to share with you. When I think of Summer makeup, my mind always thinks of dewy finishes, cream formulas and peachy, perky pink hues, so today I am sharing with you just that! 

I've been using the Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter* as a primer again because I can't get over how glowy my skin looks when I use it. Although I would usually use it with a lightweight foundation for daily wear, I have been trialling the new Ciaté Extraordinary Foundation with it instead. It definitely offers great coverage and longevity, so it's great if I have extra blemishes to conceal and a full day ahead. 

For cheeks, the Nars Orgasm Blusher is all I've been using as of late as it adds just the right amount of colour. I'm even thinking of investing in the liquid version as I think that would look beautiful for the warmer weather too especially for my dehydrated complexion. I then go in with bronzer in the form of the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer which I have in my palette. It's not matte so it adds the perfect bronzed glow to the skin without looking too shimmery nor flat. 

When it comes to highlighter, I have been using two; one cream and powder. The Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Light Wand is on it's last legs and is bursting out the sides, but poor packaging aside, the product inside leaves a dreamy glow to the cheekbones and is easily blended out depending on the intensity you want. I opt for a second highlighter in the form of the Anastasia Beverley Hills Amrezy offering* as it compliments my skin tone all whilst pulling the whole look together. 

I couldn't pick any other eyeshadow other than the Too Faced Sweet Peach Palette* to complete this look as it's what inspired me to create this post today. Summer Yum, Puree, Luscious and Just Peachy are just a few of the shades that I love to mix together and blend to create a variety of different looks. I've already done a full blog post here (with swatches) if you fancy a read, but the buttery formula and texture really make this palette a success in my collection. 

For my lips, I've been using the Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment* in the shade Punch which leaves the perfect sheen and colour to the lips, whilst also having the added benefits of SPF 15. 

What are your favourite peachy, glowy makeup products? 

The Best Homeware Picks Of The Season

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I am well and truly in the midst of overhauling several corners of my house, switching out old prints to adding more shelving units in our bedroom. I'm super excited to share more of my interior over the upcoming months, but I also wanted to share with you a few of my plans now and what's on my wishlist, so you can have a nosy. 

Etsy have some gorgeous pieces in at the moment that are worth checking out. This Mini Macrame Wall Hanging is very high up on my to-buy as I think the yellow hue would be a welcome pop of colour in our room. I think I need to treat myself to this String of Hearts Plant as well as it's just too adorable to miss. 

I bought a mirror exactly like this Posh Totty Rattan Flower pick to put next to our already huge standing mirror in our bedroom for a statement look. I'm loving anything made with this material recently and I think the warm tones work well with our real wooden floors too. 

If I had to pick a dream piece of furniture right now it would have to be the Urban Outfitters Marte Storage Cabinet, but as I don't have £850 to spare, I think I'll be dreaming of it from afar. Instead I've been looking at what else UO has to offer which you'll see what I've picked up from there soon, but in the meantime I've been undecided over this Edra Throw Cushion and the Wall Mount Terrarium which looks absolutely amazing! 

Have you added anything to your homeware wishlist? 

A Spring Beauty Haul

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I've been on a bit of an un-planned spending ban when it comes to beauty and realised I hadn't properly treated myself to anything new (that I didn't need a repurchase of) since my Milk Makeup and Sephora haul I did back at the beginning of the year. There's been lots of tempting releases this season and I knew I wanted to put a handful to the test, so here is my Spring beauty haul. 

I actually got the new Ciaté Extraordinary Foundation a week ago, so I've already got some feelings about it, but you'll have to wait for my review coming up very soon to hear my thoughts. It promises a lightweight, buildable coverage with a radiant finish which is definitely fulfils, but as it's quite a lot heavier than I was expecting (great for going out), so I went on the hunt for the new NYX release too... 

I bought the NYX Bare With Me Tinted Veil to see if it filled my need for an everyday foundation as the Ciaté offering is a little too heavy to wear when I'm just nipping to the shops. It delivers a soft, natural finish with a low to medium coverage depending on how much you build it up, the only thing I'd say about it is that it promotes eight hour wear, but I'm not sure if that's something to write home about?! Eight hour wear isn't enough to get most people through the working day, so that's something to note if you prefer something with greater longevity. 

Kristin Ess is a brand that I've wanted to try since the minute it came to the UK and after debating getting the Reconstructive Hair Mask for a while, but kept putting it off. I then spotted the new Scalp Detoxifying range being released in the US, but after months of waiting, I started to give up of it ever coming across seas as I convinced myself there was probably an ingredient inside that they couldn't sell over here. I then added the original mask to my basket, but once again clicked off, to then find the next day the Kristin Ess Scalp Detoxifying Bubble Mask was here!! You can imagine my delight, so I'm super excited to put this to the test - I will update. 

Next up is the Origins Original Skin Cleansing Makeup Jelly which I've tried on the back of my hand multiple times before, but as I had a lot of cleansers backed up, I never thought I needed it. I finally started to run out of my skincare, so I instantly added this to my basket. It removes makeup by applying it directly to dry skin, dampening the area with water, turning the formula to a milky liquid which comes off easily with a flannel or muslin cloth. It's great if you're somebody who likes cleansing balms, but you don't like dipping your fingers in each time as this has a super handy squeezy tube that's easy and quick to use. 

Although not a new releases and certainly not a new product to me, there was a reasoning behind picking up the cute miniature size of the famous Bioderma Micellar Water. It's one of my all-time favourites, but as I'm just not using that method removing my makeup at the moment, I didn't feel the need to invest in a bigger bottle, but the small one comes in handy when I'm travelling, need a little extra help getting heavy eye makeup off or when I'm staying over at somebody's house. 

Have you picked up any new makeup this Spring? 

Favourite Makeup Tools

- All links in this post are affiliate links. If a product is marked with a * it has been gifted with no obligation to post about it. Head to my disclaimer for more information -

If there's one element of makeup that I find the most stressful it is probably shopping for tools. A makeup brush or sponge can make or break your routine, changing the way you think about a formula or finish of the foundation, powder or cream blusher you've been wearing too. I've previously written a post about my favourite beauty tools which highlighted some of my go-to accessories for preening the body from head to toe, but today I wanted to concentrate more on the makeup tool element. 

I did a sponsored Instagram for Beauty Crush last year, but they're a range I continue to use for my daily makeup. The powder brush from their The Basics Makeup Set* is a stand out product from them and I would even say it's worth the £12.99 just for that brush, but you actually get four for that price! I use it with my bronzer and it applies just the right amount to my cheekbones and buffs out any contour if needs be too. 

Of course, I had to feature the Beauty Blender in this post too, a regular repurchase of mine. Although I've used the Zoeva Silk Finish Brush from time to time to build up a heavier coverage foundation, I always keep the beauty blender to hand to blend out any streaks or when nothing else has worked for applying a base product that I'm unsure about. 

Kit Stars are a new brand to me, but one I'm very happy to have found. Their gold casing makes them aesthetically pleasing and the brushes are all super soft. Although I own the Full Vegan Brush Kit*, there are still stand out tools from their range that I would recommend the most. The S1 Powder Brush* is absolutely amazing at dusting just the right amount of setting powder across my complexion and the S3 Blush Brush* applies a pop of colour to my cheeks. 

Their face tools aren't the only thing that impressed me, but the S31 Tapered Brush* is fluffy enough to blend out your eyeshadow without losing any pigmentation and the N33 Micro Pencil* pick is a brush I never thought I needed, but it's made applying eyeshadow to my bottom lashes much neater and easier. All of my top Kit Stars picks are affordable, ranging between £6 - £11 for high quality, super soft bristles. 

The Huda Beauty Bake and Blend Dual-Ended Setting Brush* has been in my makeup bag since I got it. I particularly enjoy using the baking end as it is just the right size to get into the corners and underneath of my eyes. The blending side is nice to have as well because it easily turns any concealer into a higher coverage offering by being quite dense. 

What are your favourite makeup tools? 

A Summer SBC Round Up

- This post is a paid collaboration with SBC Gels, but all thoughts are my own. See my disclaimer for more info. - 

Summer is coming! I'm very excited to pull out some new Watermelon products from SBC as well as their much loved coconut range that I've been super excited to use. The mixture of scents is perfect for the warmer months ahead as they linger on the skin and refresh the skin with their delicious and moorish fragrance. Here are four new products from SBC that I recommend: 

The Refreshing Watermelon Shower Gel and Shampoo not only smells absolutely incredible with it's fruity, Summer fragrance, but it makes both my hair and body feel incredible. In terms of washing my hair, it's great for making my hair feel clean without compromising on hydration. This can be used all over the body too as a shower gel especially great if you're shaving as it lathers up nicely, but I also like using it as a bubble bath because the uplifting scent lingers on the skin. 

Next up is another product from their new range and that's the Refreshing Watermelon Skincare Gel which is a water based, light weight moisturiser that absorbs into the skin quickly and quenches the body too. After our spate of hot weather the other week and then going on holiday, this was great at cooling and hydrating the whole body, all whilst smelling good enough to eat. 

Alongside watermelon, coconut is the other scent that reminds me of Summer and the Coconut and Plumeria Shower Melt is the next product I wanted to talk about today. It's rich, creamy formula means it's great for shaving as it leaves the body feeling super soft and smooth.  This works well with it's complimenting Coconut and Plumeria Shimmer Skincare Gel which has the same nourishing properties as the watermelon offering, but with a subtle shimmer finish which works well with a tan and gives the body (I use this on my legs and shoulders the most) a healthy glow. 

Have you tried the SBC Watermelon or Coconut & Plumeria range? 

5 Ways To Practise Self Care and Re-Charge

I feel like now is the perfect time to publish a post like this as the weather is drizzly and it feels like it could easily be mistaken for an Autumn day. I am always quite on it when practicing self care during the colder months, but during Spring and Summer, I tend to forget especially with the longer days which can sometimes make me feel pressure to fill every day up. Here are some of my favourite ways to re-charge my batteries: 

Drink Water, Listen To Music and Treat Yourself | I'm not so bad at drinking 2 litres of water a day, but I know that I can slip from time to time, so I find making a conscious effort to drink throughout the day. On top of this, I have been loving incorporating music into my workout routines so that I can dance away to my favourite tunes, getting distracted from what I'm supposed to be doing. After that, I love treating myself to some chocolate or even a delicious (and nutritious) smoothie full of my go-to ingredients. 

Have A Bath | Right, this one is on every self care list isn't it? I'm not just talking about taking a bubbly bath to fix everything, but I'm taking about the full shebang. I mean allowing yourself to lay naked on your towel for as long as you want - even having a nap if needs be! Light some candles, bring snacks and meditate if you want to too. 

Find Something Funny | After a weekend away to Portugal and the anticipation of having quite a lot on over the next couple of months, I knew that I would start feeling overwhelmed if I didn't start taking time out. On my first day back, I like to make sure that I allow myself a Podcast episode of My Dad Wrote A Porno or two to give myself a bit of giggle whilst easing myself back into work. 

Do Something That Makes You Feel Good | If it's cancelling that one event you really don't have time to attend, going for a walk to find local lambs (completely worth it) or just cleaning your house. It's simple, but is something that I tend to forget to do. Just taking a little time out to do something that makes me feel good. Stretching my legs, clearing that area of the room you've been meaning to or just being on your own for a little while can all make me feel extremely happy in no time. 

Turn My Phone Off | I don't do this as often as I should do and it doesn't always have to be because you want to step away from social media - although that does always make me feel better too. Instead, turning my phone off can sometimes force me into finishing work for the day and setting time aside to have a bath, catch up on Netflix or do some baking. 

What are your favourite ways to practice self care? 

Spring Beauty Favourites

- All links in this post are affiliate links. If a product is marked with a * it has been gifted with no obligation to post about it. Head to my disclaimer for more information -

Spring, despite the rain showers and questionably chilly days, has been pretty amazing and although I know that we've still got over a month left, I know that we will blink and Summer will be here. I wanted to share a few of my seasonal beauty favourites that I've been using over the last few months including some regular features and a look into what products I've used up recently. 

I went into 2019 wanting to use up more of my skincare products that I had backed up and in doing so, I've actually come to the end of many of my cleansers, toners and moisturisers in the process. That being said, I did treat myself to the Glossier Milky Oil and then got sent the Pixi Glow Tonic Cleansing Gel*, two products which have been welcomed into my skincare routine. The Glossier offering has already been used up, but it was great at removing stubborn eye makeup and the Pixi pick has really kept heat and stressed induced blemishes at bay. 

The one skincare product I have relied on more than most is probably the Dr. Lipp Nipple Balm* and although the name would suggest otherwise, this is actually great to use on dehydrated lips. I'm awful at remembering to put SPF on my lips during the Summer and with the spate of warm wether followed by our trip to Portugal, it's sage to say they weren't looking their best on my return. This stuff is incredible for using as a lip mask and fixing them up in no time! 

I have a terrible habit of never finishing a product up when I have the last bit left if I know I'll miss it, so I made sure to start using the Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter up again this season. It's great for when your skin needs a pick me up and looks great underneath foundation if you need some extra glow.

For my base, I've also got the Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation, a product you may remember me being on the fence about for some time, but now my skin is prepped, primed and moisturised better, I absolutely love it. When paired with the CT primer, it blends seamlessly with a Beauty Blender and makes my complexion look perfected.

A base product I have used up this season is the Erborian BB Crème* which lasted me a good four months of semi-regular use, which due the small tube I was not expecting. It was great at refreshing and evening out my skin tone, creating a healthy dewy finish that offered a good amount of coverage too - a thumbs up from me! 

I definitely take a shine to cream products in the warm months because I find that they look more natural on the skin, but the only problem that they can have is that they can slip and slide around your face if you don't pick the right one. Milk Makeup was a Winter find of mine, but I always knew that the Baked Matte Cream Bronzer and Werk Lip + Cheek Stick would be a favourite during this season too. I've only got a miniature of the latter at the moment, but I'm looking to invest because I imagine the full sized bronzer will last me a long time. 

I've also dug out some more old favourites in the form of Nars Orgasm Blusher* and Too Faced Sweet Peach Palette* as the perky pink shades in both of these are too good not to use in the Spring. I've been using the orange hues and shimmering bronzing shade eyeshadows to create a variety of looks depending on occasion and the blusher adds just the right amount of colour to the cheeks. 

The small, but mighty Umberto Giannini Miracle Styling Milk has lasted me a long time ever since I got in back in October, but you only need the smallest amount and I tend to only use this after I've washed my hair which on average is now once a week. My hair is frizzy anyway, but the warm weather definitely makes this worse, so this is great for added hydration. I put this throughout the hair, avoiding the roots and it makes them look smoother and feel softer. 

I have to give a quick mention to the Isle of Paradise Tanning Water which has continued to impress me because the finish looks natural and it always applies even throughout the body. It was great for when we had the warmer weather as my whole body needed some extra TLC with a body scrub from head to toe thrown in for good measure too. 

I've already done a blog post about my five perfumes for Spring, so I won't go on about my favourites for too long, but a new favourite I had to add was the Elie Saab Girl of Now Forever*. It's delicious and the rose notes makes it very fitting for this time of the year. 

What are your Spring beauty favourites? 

The Best Discounts In Beauty

- This post is a paid collaboration with Fragrance Direct, but all thoughts are my own. All links are affiliate links. - 

Fragrance Direct has been my go-to site to browse whenever I want to snap up a deal on a new perfume or makeup product I've been longing after for a while. There's an array of great brands from Nars to Elemis to delve into and with savings on almost everything on the site, I'm sure you'll be able to find a deal with you - or a loved one if you're feeling generous. 

Of course as I said I often go to Fragrance Direct for perfumes, but I wanted to give a quick mention to the amazing makeup and skincare you can buy on there too. The L'Oreal Cushion Foundation, a long-time favourite of mine is now on there with £4.25 - an absolute bargain if you're a regular buyer of this offering. 

I regularly check in on the Essie section as they often have discontinued colours that I wanted to get my hands on, but its the Angori Cardi that instantly caught my eye as it's my go-to darker shade for my nails (especially for the Autumn, but there's no harm in stocking up) and as it's now under £2.50 it's hard to leave it. 

Next up is a product I was super excited to try myself and that's the REN AHA Smart Renewal Body Serum which usually dons a price tag of £35, but on Fragrance Direct they're selling it for £20.99. It's lightweight formula promises to gently exfoliate the body leaving it feeling plumper, smooth and with an extra glow boost which it definitely offers. Although tacky when you first apply it, that feeling quickly subsides and this REN offering has been a great addition to my Summer pamper routine. 

Marc Jacobs is one of my favourite perfume brands and the Daisy Love Perfume that came out recently was one of the most exciting fragrance releases in the past five years or so. This is coming from somebody who is a sucker for new perfume launches and I always like to have many new scents on the go, so I love finding a saving for when I next need to stock up too. Daisy Love aside, their much loved and raved about Decadence EDP was the latest addition to my collection and with a saving of £19-£43 depending on what size you get it truly is a bargain! With notes of Sandalwood, wild berries and white voilet, I wasn't sure if I was going to get on with this initially, but the scent lingers on the skin without being too overpowering and although it's deeper in tone in comparison to the other Spring perfumes I wear, it still have floral undertones that uplift the senses. 

Elie Saab was introduced to me back in Autumn of last year and I've long used up their Girl of Now Shine which was a delicious vanilla, warming scent that got me through the colder months. Now it has been replaced by the Girl of Now Forever, a much lighter perfume that is very fitting for the warmer weather and just like Elie Saab's advertising (if you know, you know), this is just as addicting. Although there's rose notes, something I always reach for, I do sometimes worry that it can date a perfume, but this one is beautiful to wear. 

What are your top Fragrance Direct picks? 

A Guide To Porto + The Best Instagram Spots

After both craving some sun and new scenery, we booked a quick trip to Porto, Portugal for three nights at the end of April. It was one of our favourite city breaks we have done, so I thought I'd take it upon myself to put together a little guide for anybody that wants to visit Porto including my top travel tips and my favourite Instagram spots.

Read on to find out my go-to places to visit and top tips for saving money too: 

WHAT TO DO + SEE

Although we were kept busy for the touristy attractions, the benefit of Porto was that it didn't feel rushed and we managed to explore all the main sights to see in the four days we were there with ease. For us, the area around Vitória was our favourite as there was more of a relaxed atmosphere, but the Ribeira is worth a visit both from along the front of the Douro River and from above on the Dom Luís I Bridge. 

The Azulejos are a popular sight to see in Porto especially on the churches like side of Igreja do Carmo and Igreja de Santo Illdefonso which are both worth a visit as they are seriously so beautiful to look at. 

- São Bento Train Station for the beautiful tiles

- Steak N Shake Mural

- Funicular down to the Ribeira

- Livraria Lello (we didn't visit due to the queues, but two words - Harry Potter) 

- Torre dos Clérigos 

- The walk down the stairs to the Ribeira 

EAT + DRINK

I was worried that being vegetarian and Porto being notorious for catering more towards the fish lovers that we wouldn't have much variety, but we were so pleasantly surprised. Just like any city you go to there are always the typical brunch spots which we took advantage on for breakfast. We had Zenith on our list, but the big queues put us off, so instead we went to Selina, a cute cafe which is connected to a hostel and honestly the food was incredible for the price - so affordable, yet tasty! 

The weather was super warm and sunny, so we made the most of that by heading to the Clérigos Church where there was the bar called Base which served the best cocktails and had a lovely atmosphere when you wanted to relax after a long day's walking. 

For lunch and dinner there was lots of variety ranging from pizza to tapas and we even stumbled across a vegan kitchen dedicated to Mexican food. We tried to make it to all the spots we had picked out, but we would have had to been there for several months to try them all out. Here are a few of our top picks and some other places to check out: 

- Presto Pizza Baixa 
- Tapas For Friends 
- Base Bar
- Spirito
- Da Terra
- Nonna Piazza (the cheesiest pizzas!)
- Selina 

THE BEST INSTAGRAM SPOTS

Of course it goes without saying that we chose to travel to Portugal as it was a country neither of us had been to before, but it had been on our list for a while. That being said, it definitely didn't hurt that the city was extremely photogenic and had some amazing photography opportunities that were hard to pass up. 

- The trams (stopping at the Carmo spot)

- Vogue Cafe

- Largo da Pena Ventoso 

- Livraria Lello

- Armorino (flower ice cream!)

- Steak N Shake Mural 

- Jardim Do Morro

- Igreja Do Carmo

- Church of Saint Ildefonso 

TRAVEL  + MONEY

Despite spending a shameful amount on just travelling with one suitcase (£40 each way!), booking our holiday with flights and hotel were not too bad price wise at £160 each. We took our usual £200 worth of euros each, but honestly the city was much cheaper than we'd ever anticipated. Travel on the metro for us (even from the airport) was between €1.60 - €2.80 per person which made it a much more purse friendly way of getting around. That being said, we did walk a lot of the way around, but the hills are something to note - definitely take comfortable footwear. 

We did the uber-touristy thing of getting on a tram which was just €3.50 per person from where we got it and it was great to treat ourselves after doing a lot of walking over the four days. 

Back to pricing, the food and drink prices always surprised us whenever we got the bill as they were a lot cheaper than we were expecting. Don't get me wrong, if you get lunch or dinner at the supermarkets then that will no doubt be a saving, which is something we did once or twice for some snacks, but we mostly ate out. The restaurants are cheaper the further you get from the centre and Ribreira, but for a pizza you were looking at around €8. 

Have you been to Porto? Are you tempted to visit Portugal?