My Pamper Routine (The Products I Like To Use)

Sometimes I like to give my skin a good-old pampering, especially if I am having a stressful day and my skin has suddenly erupted in spots. Although this thankfully has not happened for a long time (quickly goes to touch some wood nearest to me) I really needed to give my face, hair and legs some TLC.

So, I thought I would share with you some of the products I like to use when I decide to have one of these rare pamper days. I tend to pick and choose the products depending on the state of my skin and hair. But, on this particular day, I needed to shave my legs, wash my hair and scrub my face squeaky clean.

(Starting from left to right)
1. Simple Kind To Skin Soothing Facial Toner - £3.39
2. Burts Bees Milk and Honey Body Lotion - £9.99
3. Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Cleanser - £14
4. Tangle Teezer - £10.99
5. Soap And Glory Sugar Crush Body Scrub - £8
6. Burts Bees Beeswax Lip Balm - £3.69
7. Spotless Nose Pore Strips
8. Cotton Pad
9. Clean & Clear Foaming Wash - £4.99
10. Super Facialist Salicylic Acid Anti Blemish Clay Mask - £6.66
11. Aussie Leave In Conditioner - £4.69

To start off my pamper routine, I use the Liz Earle cleanser with a hot muslin cloth (which comes with the cleanser) to remove all of the make-up and dirt that has been on my face during the day. Although this cleanser is expensive at £14, I think it is well worth the money. I read so many reviews on this product before purchasing it myself and I did not read one bad review on this product. It removes make-up so easily, no hassle needed. It smells incredible as well, so fresh and soothing. Plus, your skin already feels so clean after using this product. 

Once all make-up has been removed, I pop in the shower and wash my hair with only shampoo. I only put shampoo in my hair once and rinse it out, as I am going to be giving my hair some treatment. I get out of the shower and brush out all of my hair with my Tangle Teezer. I suffer from very dry and knotty hair, which is a right pain to brush when it is wet, let alone without any conditioner in it. However, the Tangle Teezer is such a lifesaver when it does come to brushing my hair, it is super easy and does such an amazing job as well. I don't think I could ever go back to using a normal hairbrush after experiencing this product. I would recommend it to anybody as it is so good and so worth the money as well. 

Once all of the knots are out of my hair, I put some leave in conditioner (not the spray shown above). I use a Tresemme one which comes in a massive pot. I have had this product for months and it looks like it hasn't been used at all. It is so amazing for my hair. I coat my entire head in this conditioner and clip my hair up. I leave it like this in order to give my hair a good-old drink for about 30 mins.

While my leave-in conditioner is doing its job, I return to my skin and put a nose strip over my nose. I do this once I have come out of the shower as my pores are open and this is the perfect time to get those black heads. I put this over my nose and leave it on for about 5-10 mins.

Next up is my legs, which were in a desperate need of shaving. While I was in the shower, I exfoliated my legs with a body scrub (shown above) to remove any dead skin. Then, I cover my legs in shaving foam and start to shave my legs with a razor. Once I have done both legs I moisturise them with my Burts Bees Body Cream. This is my favourite body cream I have ever owned. This is my second bottle and it has recently ran out. I definitely need to buy another one soon. It is super moisturising, smells incredible (very strong scent, quite fruity) and is made from natural ingredients.

Now that my legs are done, I return to my skin and remove my nose strip. Then, I coat my cotton pad with my Simple Toner (which has nearly ran out) and I cover my entire face with the cotton pad. This toner is super refreshing and makes your skin feel more awake and alive. I really need to buy another one of these soon. After toning my skin, I apply some lip balm in order to moisturise my lips. I use my Burts Bees Lip Balm which is made from Beeswax. This may sound disgusting but is smells super minty and leaves your lips feeling very refreshed and tingly. The final part of my skincare is to moisturise my face.

With skincare completed, I finally need to finish off my hair. I rinse out all the conditioner, dry my hair with a towel and then brush through once more. Then, I leave it to air dry.

And we have finished. As you can see, I haven't used all the products listed above. I do a face mask when I have had a massive break-out which helps remove all the impurities and oil from my skin. I also use a spray in leave-in conditioner when I wash my hair normally.

As I have said before, I only do this when my skin needs refreshing and I do a treatment to my hair once every month, purely due to the nature of my hair.

I hope you enjoyed this blog post. Let me know your go-to products for a pamper day and I will see you for another post on Monday.

6 Summer Essentials: Beauty

        

1. Essie Nail Lacquer 99 Mint Candy Apple - £7.99

2. Rimmel BB Cream - £6.99

3. L'Oreal Paris Lumi Magique Primer - £9.99

4. Soap and Glory Solar Powder Bronzer - £11

5. Maybelline Super Stay 14 Hour Lipstick - £6.99

6. Maybelline Colossal Black Waterproof Mascara - £7.19

As summer has finally arrived (although the weather in the UK begs to differ) I thought I would share my 6 Summer Beauty Essentials with you. During the summer, no one likes to apply heaps and heaps of make-up onto their faces due to the hot weather and it can start to feel cakey on the face. However, most people don't like to leave the house without any make-up whatsoever. Therefore, by using simple and key products, you can create a natural and summer ready look. 

Above, I have picked out my key beauty items from the drugstore, but you can easily switch and choose your 6 beauty products that suits you. 

Personally, a nail polish is key as this is my favourite beauty item. I love experimenting with my nails and I love picking more pastel shades for the spring/summer time. I think a mint green is perfect for the summer as it is simple, cute and adds a splash of colour to any outfit. 

Instead of a heavy-duty foundation, I prefer to use a BB cream in the summer time. It isn't as cakey and heavy on the skin, like a foundation can be, but it also covers and gives the skin a summer glow. 

A primer is also very important for the summer-time. No one wants their make-up falling down their faces by the end of the day due to the hot, humid weather. 

If you are not going away on holiday this year, you may not be getting a serious tan, so by adding a little bit of bronzer and highlighter to the skin can really lift your face and add some colour onto those cheekbones, giving the illusion of a sun-kissed tan. 

Add a pop of colour onto the lips with a summery coral or pink!

Finally, swapping your normal, everyday mascara for a waterproof. This means your lashes can still look defined and long without transfer or the risk of your mascara sweating off. 

So, these are some of my summer beauty essentials. Hope you enjoyed this blog post. Let me know your summer beauty essentials in the comments as well. 

I will be doing a summer hair and fashion essentials soon, so keep your eyes peeled for those coming soon! 

New(ish) KIKO Purchases and Review

So, I am finally back. After a long and stressful couple of weeks, crammed with revision, cups of tea and lack of sleep, I have finally finished my A Level exams! I am so happy that I have finally finished as I was starting to go a little bit crazy sitting at my desk and revising the same topic day and night. As exams are out of the way, I can now focus on my blog and writing content for you guys to enjoy!

I will admit, I did finish my exams about a week ago now (17th June), but I thought my brain deserved a bit of a break from formulating sentences and words and also it gave me a opportunity to think of some new blog ideas and topics to write about.

This blog post is particularly late as I haven't had time to take the pictures etc, but before exams started I went on a little shopping trip and popped into a KIKO store they had there. I don't have a KIKO store near where I live, so I get very excited when I find one. It has such affordable make-up and the quality is amazing.

While, I was there I picked up two make-up items.

Eyeshadow Stick - £6.90
Lip Pencil - £1.70

I picked up the Long Lasting Stick Eyeshadow in 07 (Golden Beige) which is a really gorgeous champagne colour. It is super pigmented and as the name suggests is super 'long lasting'. This shadow is great for all over the lid and blends really nicely as well. Personally, I hate doing eyeshadow. I find it is the most boring part of doing make-up, purely because I can't do a 'smokey' eye to save my life. However, these shadow sticks are so easy to use and make doing your shadow hassle-free. This shade is perfect for the summer season and is adaptable for all other seasons as well.

My other purchase was a SMART Lip Pencil in 702 (Coral). Again, this lip liner is super pigmented and lasts for a long, long time. This shade is a pinky/coral colour and is beautiful for the summer time. You can apply it with a gentle hand for a more subtle pink to the lips or you can press harder for a more bolder and brighter lip colour. As well as being amazing quality, all KIKO's lip pencils are super affordable at only £1.70!!

I hope you enjoyed this blog post and let me know what your favourite make-up item from KIKO is and if there are any recommendations I should try out. 

Also, there are going to be new blog posts every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, so please keep an eye out for those and follow me on BlogLovin' to keep up to date with when I upload new posts. 

LIFE UPDATE!

So, I haven't written a blog post in a while, and for that I apologise! I am going to be frank. I don't think I will be writing any blog posts for a while. Don't panic though, I am not quitting my blog at all. The main reason for not writing any posts for a while is because my A2 exams are coming up in a matter of weeks and I need to prepare and revise for these exams so much, and that means no blog posts. These exams are important as they determine whether I get into my first choice university and what direction my life takes (slight exaggeration!), so I don't really want to mess them up!

Source: authorlindsaypaige.blogspot.com

I will be resuming my blog after exams though and as I won't have anything else to do, this will be my main priority, so hopefully, I will have many more posts to write and will have much longer to take pictures, come up with new, fresh ideas and take my time writing them as well. My last exam is on the 17th June, so expect to see many more posts being uploaded then.

Apart from exams, I have lots of other bits planned for the summer so far, so I thought I would share them with you. Next week is my official last week of secondary school and I go on study leave. It is super scary to think that I will be leaving mainstream education after nearly my entire life has been the same routine of going to school. I will be leaving behind my school of 7 years, where I have had the most memories, met amazing friends (who hopefully will stay with me for a very long time!) but also has been very stressful at times as well. So, next week we get to dress up for two days with a dedicated theme. On Monday, the theme is 90s rave, but I am so undecided about what to wear, so if you have any suggestions, please leave them in the comments, and on Friday, the theme is cops and robbers. I still have to attend revision classes that may be put on and obviously my exams, but after that I am free.

I haven't mentioned this on my blog, but I have decided to take a gap year between A-Levels and University. This was an easy decision for me and I have made this choice for a very long time. Both of my elder brothers took gap years, one of them went travelling and the other worked, and so I wanted to do the same. I will most likely work during my gap year as university is so expensive and so I want to save as much money as possible, for rent, food, social life etc. This will also give me plenty of time to get myself together in terms of provisions for uni as well. I also wanted to take a gap year to give myself a breather from education for a year. I have been constantly going to school all my life virtually and this is the first time I get to relax and not have to study or write essays.

I have made a few plans for over the summer though which are making me very excited and makes me want exams to be over soon. This weekend is one of my friend's 18th so I am going to her house for a BBQ which will be really nice. Next Friday, it is also my best friend's joint 18th birthday party which is going to be so much fun and I am super excited for this. I haven't got anything planned for half term yet, which will probably be spent revising for these exams, which is so depressing, especially if it is nice weather in the UK.

Other plans consist of a wedding in July, more gatherings with friends over the summer for birthdays, a 5 day trip to Devon with my friends, my 18th birthday which will be spent on a plane flying to Turkey which will be a 11 day holiday with my family at the end of August. Finally, saying goodbye to some of my clostest friends who are going to uni and probably many visits throughout this year and next year visiting them.

So, lots to look forward to after exams. I hope you enjoyed a more relaxed post from me. I just thought I would fill you in on what is happening in my life and to warn you that there won't be anymore blog posts until after the 17th June.

So, farewell until June.

x

My Weekly Outfits #1 - 15th-22nd April

I thought I would write a different type of blog post this week. Throughout this week I have been taking pictures of my outfits and what I have been wearing. Through this, you guys, will be able to see my style and the sorts of clothes I personally like to wear. All the outfits I'm wearing vary as it does depend on what I am doing on that particular day.

Hope you enjoy this type of post, and let me know if you did in the comments.

WEDNESDAY 15TH APRIL 2015

It was the hottest day of the year so far in England on Wednesday, reaching highs of 25C, which is so unusual for England at this time of year as we are so use to it raining constantly. However, I was not complaining. I always think the sun puts everybody in a good mood, and means I can get out of my jumpers and jeans and start to get my legs out! 

Although it was sunny, I didn't get to go out in it as I am currently revising for my upcoming A Level exams which are just around the corner, so I was stuck inside all day. I know I could go outside and revise but I always get distracted and so I am more likely to get stuff done in my room. 

In the outfit I wore my hair up in a top-knot bun, which is my go to hairstyle as it is super quick, easy and gets my hair out of my face. I wore my 'E' necklace from Accessorize, which was only £5. My top is from New Look and I got it last year. It is a coraly-pinky colour with black palm trees on it. It is super comfortable and slouchy. It keeps me cool and I don't feel restricted while I study. I am wearing some dark denim shorts from Dorothy Perkins, which I had forgotton about. I have had these for years but haven't worn them in ages.

I don't have any make-up on in this picture as I wasn't going out anywhere. 

                                   

                                       

THURSDAY 16TH APRIL 2015

It was much cooler in the UK compared to Wednesday. I went out today for lunch with my brother and dad so I wanted something comfortable and simple. As I wasn't doing anything else apart from lunch and studying, it had to be something loose and workable. I had a different style in my hair. I went for some plaits which I loved. They make it look like you actually put some thought into your appearance. I wore my burgundy droplet necklace from Turkey, which I got at this pop-up store in the town and I love it. I paired that with a Basic cream tee with grey specks in it from H&M, which is so comfortable and I love H&M basics tops, they are the best quality and never shrink when washed. Some simple black jeans from Primark which I rolled at the bottom as they are super long. The colour of these has washed out a bit, but I prefer that washed-out denim look anyway so I don't mind. I put some black pop socks on from Primark which are a necessity if you are wearing pumps but want socks on at the same time. Finally, a classic watch from Next which is relatively new and I love it. 

                                

Sorry about my revision cards on the floor! 

FRIDAY 17TH APRIL 2015

Friday's outfit was another comfortable outfit. I went to the cinema today with my dad to see 'The Duff'. I really enjoyed the film as I do love a good chick flick. However, my dad, not so much. I wanted to be comfortable as I was going to be sitting down but a little dressed up. I chose the same top from the previous day as it was not dirty, from H&M. These smart/casual red, black and white patterned trousers from New Look, which I love to wear to school. They are super comfortable and stretchy but fit really well. I wore some nude slip-on socks from Primark as I was going to wearing some pumps with these outfit. My accessories were my Next watch (pictured above) and my Urban Outfitters necklace.
My nails were Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine in Rose Hip, which is a really pale pink shade. Perfect for spring!

The pattern of my trousers up close

SATURDAY 18TH APRIL 2015 

I forgot to take a picture of my outfit on Saturday. I went to see my elder brother play rugby and it was also super sunny! I wore my hair down and straightened. I wore some black skinny jeans from Primark (pictured on Thursday) with the legs turned up. A plain grey t-shirt from H&M and a light lilac jumper on top as I wasn't sure it was going to be warm or not, also from H&M. I paired it with my Next watch and a necklace from Next as well. Sorry about the lack of pictures!                 

SUNDAY 19TH APRIL 2015

It wasn't really warm today. I spent the day studying, revising and writing essays. Yawn! I wore my straightened hair up in a ponytail. My outfit was this super loud and crazy thick jumper from Pull&Bear which is super cosy, some blue denim jeggings from Dorothy Perkins which are about 5 years old and some cute frilly mustard socks from Topshop.

                                      

MONDAY 20TH APRIL 2015

I had an inset day today, before I go back to school tomorrow (so expect to see more smart outfits for sixth form). Again, I was frantically at my laptop all day revising and finishing off these two essays which I have not written due for Wednesday. It was sunny and warm today, which was so nice, but I stayed indoors all day. I wore some blue and white patterned shorts from Primark which are actually new and I haven't worn yet. I wore a white t-shirt with a lace fringing at the bottom from New Look and some red and white frilly socks from Topshop. I had my hair in a top-knot as well.

TUESDAY 21ST APRIL 2015 

My normal routine was back and it was my return to school today. I had a driving lesson in the morning at 10.15am for an hour, and I was originally wearing a completely different outfit, however I changed when I got home as it was too warm. I opted for this checkered blouse with a peter pan collar from Primark and a black skirt, also from Primark. I added my Next watch, some black opaque tights from a supermarket and a gold necklace with stars from Accessorize. I returned to school in the afternoon for one lesson. Sorry about my hair in this picture. 

                                

My necklace up close

WEDNESDAY 22ND APRIL 2015 

The last day of my weekly outfits and I was in school all day today. I had my year photo and also my friendship group photo as well. I straightened my hair for this and also wore it down, but put it straight up as soon as the photos were over. I wore a cream flowy top from New Look, the same patterned trousers I wore earlier in the week also from New Look. I added some nude pop socks from Primark and my Next watch. 

                                   

                                      

What was your favourite outfit of the week?

First Impressions #2: Maybelline Instant Anti-Age The Eraser Eye

Another first impressions blog post for you guys as I enjoyed writing the last one so much. This blog post is all about the well-documented/well talked about concealer by Maybelline. 

I have heard so many good reviews about this concealer, so I knew I needed to pop down to my local Boots and purchase one for myself. 

                                

Packaging: I love the packaging of this concealer. I love the idea of the concealer having an instant applicator sponge and this is something so original and I have not seen on other concealers before. The sponge is super soft and comfortable to apply on the skin. The colour scheme of the packaging I also love. The burgundy/ red colours are simple and not too over-the-top. I also love the fact you have to twist the concealer in order to distribute the product. I find this gets the most out of your concealer without wasting any, and also, when you come to the end of the product, you are able to get as much product out as possible, compared to other concealers where you have to dip and then apply.  

Description: The description at the back of the concealer states: 'Micro-correcting eye concealer. Instantly conceals dark circles and fine lines.' As someone who suffers from extremely bad under-eye circles, to the point where they make me self-conscious and no foundation or concealer can completely cover them, I find I am probably not the most reliable at judging concealers. This is purely because I have tried so many concealers from the drugstore that other people rave about, like Collection Lasting Perfection and Rimmel Wake Me Up and although both these concealers minimise the darkness, they don't remove the appearance of dark circles completely. This concealer is the same for me personally. It is a lovely product and I really enjoy using it, don't get me wrong, but it isn't anything special from the other concealers I have used. As the description says and as the product is called, it is mainly focussed on the eyes, however you are able to use it on other places of your face. 

Consistency: As shown in the picture below, the product comes out in a creamy consistency. I have my concealer in the shade Light and I find this is the perfect match for me. The product comes out quite sheer on the skin, so I find you have to put quite a bit of product under your eyes to get the right amount, which I don't personally mind, however, for those of you who don't like too much product on your face, you might not like that. 

Price (reasonable or overpriced): £7.99. I would say this product is quite expensive for a concealer, compared to other very reasonable and just as good (maybe even better concealers) out in the drugstore.

Would I recommend it to a friend?: Yes, I think I probably will. Although I didn't personally get along with it due to my unusually dark circles, that doesn't mean that someone else won't like it. As I have said before, I had heard a lot of good reviews about this concealer.

Would I repurchase it?: No, I think I will be going back to my Collection and Rimmel concealers, but I have enjoyed using this.

Verdict: 3/5

Hope you enjoyed this blog post. Do you like the Maybelline Eraser Eye concealer?

What is your favourite concealer at the moment?

*All opinions are my own and all photos were taken by me.