REVIEW: Botanics All Bright Cleansing Toner

Ever since I ran out of my La Roche-Posay Effaclar Micro Exfoliant Astringent Toner (full review here) I've been using the Botanics All Bright Cleansing Toner. It's a lot cheaper and I've been pretty impressed with it. It's another one of those AHA toners that chemically exfoliates the skin without the need for grainy particles. Since using it I've given up scrubs altogether and find it still keeps my skin feeling smooth. I don't think it's quite as effective as the La Roche-Posay but it doesn't feel a lot gentler on the skin, none of that unpleasant stinging! I'd say it's a great option if you're looking for and AHA toner on the cheap!

March (+February) Favourites

Last month I missed out on doing my favourites post so this month I thought I'd bung the two in together. That means these products have been extra loved as I had to do a bit of narrowing down in order to fit them into one post.

First up is the Charles Worthington Salon at Home Moisture Seal range, I picked up the Shampoo, Masque and Leave in Conditioner a while ago in Boots when they were on 3 for 2 and I've been seriously impressed. Being someone who usually uses high end hair products I usually find drugstore ones to be a bit thin end up using half the bottle  in one go, not with these. The shampoo(full review here) lathers up well and leaves hair feeling clean but not stripped of all moisture. The masque (full review here) has a really thick consistency, so a little goes a long way. I leave it in for about 10 mins and it leaves hair feeling super soft. The Leave in Conditioner (full review here) has a really light gel like texture that still manages to inject a good dose of hydration into the hair. It also makes an amazing detangler! 

For fragrance I've been spritzing on Avon Amour Eau de Parfum. It's a lovely light and delicate spring scent with white floral heart notes and citrus top notes. I've been using it so much lately that it's nearly all gone! 

I've recently incorporated La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo+ into my skincare routine and so far I'm amazed by the results! I've found it's really been helping to unclog pores and speed up the healing process on spots. I'll be doing a full, in-depth review once I've been using it a bit longer so look out for that if you're interested. 

I've also been using Boots Essentials Cucumber Eye Gel in the mornings, it's a very lightweight gel that moisturises the skin and feels nice and fresh. I sits really well under makeup too which is great. (full review here)

What products have you been loving this month?

OBJECTS OF DESIRE: Jo Malone Blackberry & Bay Home Candle

Jo Malone Limited Edition Blackberry & Bay Home Candle 

NOTD #21

I mentioned the Avon Nailwear Pro in Sea Breeze in my Spring Nail Edit, it's definitely one of my favourite spring/summer shades and it gets a lot of wear. There's something incredibly cheery about a bright mint shade. As always with the Avon Nailwear Pro varnishes, the formula is great. It last really well before chipping, more so than some high end nail varnishes and it has a wide, flat brush that makes application foolproof. 

REVIEW: The Body Shop Mango Lip Butter

I'm a big fan of The Body Shop Lip Butters, I spoke about the richer Shea Butter one here. In the last few weeks I've switched over to the Mango one, it has a much lighter consistency which is great now that the weather isn't bitterly cold and lip chapping.

It's a great lip balm which doesn't leave any kind of cast on the lips (unlike the Shea one if applied heavy handedly) and it smells absolutely delicious, any mango fan is guaranteed to love this! It also leaves the lips feeling nice and soft and not at all like you need to reapply immediately. 

Have you tried any of The Body Shop Lip Butters?

Spring Nail Edit

When it comes to nails, I love sticking to seasonal shades and pastels in the spring are a no brainer. As always nude shades are a staple for me, regardless of the season, but aside from those here are a few I've been loving.

Bourjois 1 Seconde Nail Enamel in Melon 

A pastel yet bright coraly orange that makes me feel positive when I wear it, the formula and brush of these polishes are spot on. They're so easy to apply neatly, even for the most clumsy of nail painters. See it in action here.

Illamasqua Nail Varnish in Pink Raindrops

I usually tend to go for cream finishes but for this one I make an exception. It's not your average shimmer finish as the particles are chunkier, giving the pale pink shade a more modern finish. See it here.

Avon Nailwear Pro in Sea Breeze

What would spring be without a pastel turquoise nail shade? This one is a not too blue, not too green version that just the right balance between pastel and bright.

Nails Inc Covent Garden Ballet

This one is a real favourite, it's the one I'm sporting at the moment. It sits somewhere between lilac and a light grey (just like Porchester Square) but with a pretty hint of shimmer running through it. 

Models Own Nail Polish in Buff Pink

Another favourite, this one is a subtle pale pink that looks really good applied sheer. I stick to just one coat or two at the max. See it here.

What are your favourite Spring Nail shades?

REVIEW: The Body Shop Extra Virgin Minerals Liquid Foundation

When I think of foundations, The Body Shop are definitely not the first brand to come to mind, but a while ago, when my skin was feeling particularly sensitive I thought I'd give one a go. I went for their Extra Virgin Minerals Liquid Foundation in the hope that it would be more sensitive skin friendly as I've had a lot of luck with other products of theirs.

I found that it didn't react to my skin when almost every other foundation did, which was a massive plus point. Now that my skin is back to normal it doesn't get used very much. Even though the colour match is spot on for me I find the formula a bit difficult to work with. It's quite rich so it tends to sit on top of the skin looking very visible, I prefer formulas that sink into the skin and look as undetectable as possible. As well as that I found it very difficult to blend in, even with my trusty Real Techniques Buffing Brush. 

I usually tend to prefer more buildable foundations, and this one definitely isn't. With just one layer being so visible on the skin any more would definitely lead to the dreaded cake face! That said I will still probably try to use it up by mixing it with a lightweight moisturiser in the hope that it blends better and looks more natural!

Have you tried any foundations that you didn't like?

REVIEW: Boots Essentials Cucumber Eye Gel

When it comes to skincare, eye creams/gels are definitely the most recent addition to my routine so I've only tried a few. So many of them have such over ambitious and unrealistic claims, like erasing lines and rewinding the ageing process but all you really need is something that moisturises and is easily absorbed.

The Boots Essentials Cucumber Eye Gel is super cheap and does just that, making it a great option if you're just thinking of dipping your toes into the eye product pool. As it's a gel it feels really cool and refreshing when applied, this makes it great for calming down puffiness first thing in the morning. If you want it to feel extra refreshing and depuffing, store it in the fridge. 

If you have very dry skin around the eye area, this probably won't cut it, you'll need a richer cream like the Clarins Special Eye Contour Balm, but for anyone else this would be a great product. 

Do you use an eye gel/cream as part of your skincare routine?