New layout!

With my very basic technical (if you can even call it that) skills, I have attempted to give my blog a make- over. I would love to know what you all think! If I could, I would redesign it from scratch with HTML, but unfortunately I have not got a clue about web design..grrrr bleugh!! If any one knows how I can do this, please let me know..HELP!! haha. 

Please leave any comments or feedback below! xx

My most loved mascaras

I am a girl who goes through mascaras like most people go through shower gel. I simply cannot help myself buying a new one a month into another one and then throwing the one I was using away, whilst convincing myself it must be off by now so I really need this new one. Is this only me??!! I think I might have a problem. Whenever I see a new one in a shop, all wrapped up in its shiny new packaging, shouting "BUY ME, BUY ME...I'm all shiny and new", I can't help but do as I'm told and buy it!!! I think this is border line crazy right?!
Anyway back to the point, no matter how often I buy a new one,  I always end up going back to my trusty most loved 2 (obviously new ones, not the yucky old ones that have been stuck in the bottom of my makeup draw for a long time, loosing their nice popping sound). So what are my favourite 2? Well the first one is the Bourjois Volumizer and the other one is the Avon Super Curlacious mascara. I LOVE both of these and go back to them time and time again!

I swear it is purely a coincidence that these both have pink labels!!

Boujois Volumizer

I love that fact that this mascara has 2 settings on it. Number 1 'prepares your lashes for 3D volumizing' (apparently). I just like this one because there are no clumps and their is minimal product on the wand, which I love. Number 2 creates volumized lashes and the wand has a lot more product on it, perfect for nights out or special occasions.  When I first tried this I couldn't figure out how it worked, but finally I sussed it!! When you use number one, the wand is pulled up out through the tubing of number 2, which in turn removes any clumps and excess mascara! GENIUS...ok this might be really simple, but it totally took me ages to figure out!!! Any way basically I love this and will continue to re- purchase time and time again! Its on the slightly more expensive side at around £10.99, although it is currently on offer in Boots for £5.99....BARGAIN alert! 

Setting number 2

Avon Super Curlacious mascara

This mascara is a beautiful every day one and one that I adore. I find it to be clump free, light weight and give you really natural lashes! The wand is curved, which helps to create that curled effect and leave your lashes looking super pretty. This mascara is very affordable  at £8.50 and is quite often on special offer.  I have tried quite a few Avon mascaras and this is most defiantly my favourite. Its simple, beautiful and doesn't smudge. 

So what is your most loved mascara?!!! I would really love some good recommendations!

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My Daily Skin Routine

So I promise not to go on about Louise (@uandyourskin), this whole blog post but this skin regime is mainly thanks to her and her amazing knowledge and explanations of skin, so thank you (if you don't know who I'm on about , take a look at my old posts). I have finally found a skin routine that works for me and my skin seems to be thriving on it, so I thought I would share a quick post about the products I use and why. Before I do that I will give you the low down on my skin and my problems. I have pretty combination skin, oily in some places, dry in others, spot prone, some redness, scarring and I  get these little pieces of skin on my chin (sounds horrible), where apparently my skin is overcompensating for itself (that probably made no sense). So as you can see, my skin is one big fat pain in the bottom!! I have tried every skin brand under the sun and for every skin type known to man. Until recently I didn't understand my skin at all, and to a certain  extent I still don't, but I am getting there. So here are the products I have been sticking too for the last few months, and I can safely say I will stick with them for a long time to come. 

Cleansing: 

In the morning I tend to be quite boring and wash my face with 1 pump of the PRIORI gentle cleanser to wake my skin up a bit. In the evening however, I tend to do a 2 step cleanse. I use the PRIORI gentle facial cleanser to get most of my makeup off, followed by Avene extremely gentle cleanser to remove any little bits of mascara left. I start by wetting my face and taking 2 pumps of the PRIORI cleanser rubbing it all over my face and eyes and washing it off. I then do this one more time (usually with 1 pump) to get any excess off. Following this I take some of my Avene cleanser on a cotton pad and run it over my eyes to check all my mascara is off. I do like the Avene cleanser but only for my eyes, as I find it tends to dry my skin out if I use it all over my face. The PRIORI one, however is brilliant and removes makeup beautifully, whilst not stinging my eyes. I have currently run out of my PRIORI cleanser and as I have just moved and have no money ( can you hear the tiny violins) I brought a cheap drugstore one from Boots and I HATE it, it feels horrible...YUCK!!!!!! : (

Treatments: 

Following my cleansing process I use a treatment on the areas most spot prone and a little red. I was using PRIORI perfection gel all the time, but as I am getting low I purchased the Vitage Correct and perfect skin serum as well (this was actually an accident, but its just as lovely as PRIORI). I actually apply the Vitage one after my moisturiser but I apply the PRIORI one before. The PRIORI one really helps to reduce my redness and even my skin tone a little, I have also noticed a slight improvement with my scarring too (whoop whoop). I have noticed a massive difference since using this as the redness at the top of my cheeks has gone down a lot! The Vitage one is more aimed at blemishes and although I have only had this a couple of weeks, it is very effective at fighting them straight away! 

Moisturiser: 

I have 2 moisturisers at the moment, my day time one is Vitage skin defence with spf30 and my evening one is VICHY norma derm nuit Anti- imperfections. The Visage one is brilliant for the day time as it contains Spf30, which means I don't have to apply one separately (until I had this I was using Clinique city block). This is brilliant as its £22 and is dual purpose, which means better value and less bottles on my sideboard, always a bonus! I also really want to try the moisturiser from the PRIORI coffee berry range, but this is a little expensive for me at the moment (sob sob)! In the evening I use the VICHY moisturiser because it helps rejuvenate my skin for the following day (its also very naughty to sleep with spf on....tut tut). Its a lovely consistency and it leaves my skin feeling really nice. I also use an eye cream in the form of Bobbi Brown Hydrating eye cream. At £29.00 this is fairly expensive but I have had it 5 months and it is only just getting near the end, so its good value!! 

So there you have it, my daily skin routine. I do also use the Caudalie Beauty Exlir occasionally, but its not something I use every day, so I didn't include it. I know most of these are from the same brands, but they truly are brilliant products and I cannot recommend them enough!! After all, we only have 1 skin, so look after it, its worth the money! 

So what is your skin routine? What are your HG products and why?! I would really love to know. 

Non- beauty related blog post: Random but fun!

Excuse the randomness and the non- beauty related post but having just moved into a house with my boyfriend, I have become a bit of a homemaker (just picture Mrs Beaton in her apron with her mop...although not so old fashioned). Anyway, having finally moved in and got most things sorted, I have finally begun to get down to the fun bits!! For those of you that don't know (why should you, I don't think I have ever mentioned it), I was brought up vegetarian and have never eaten meat, although most people find that a little strange. My Mum and Dad were always lucky enough to have a big garden and so always grew their own vegetables and fruit. There is something very scrummy about home grown vegetables being used in some good home cooking, in my opinion anyway! So naturally when we moved into our house, we both decided we wanted to try and grow some. However there were 2 problems, firstly the garden is the size of a pin and secondly we are temporarily renting so I didn't really want to start a vegetable patch up, to have to stop it in a year. Soooooo when I was at my sisters the other day, we went in her shed, found some pots and compost and went to the garden centre! I wanted to get some spinach seeds and some herbs (rosemary, mint, basil, thyme, parsley), but also ended up buying a pepper plant and a chilli plant, all of which were in the sale woohoooo!!!  My Mum had already given me 2 tomato plants in pots, and my sister gave me a courgette plant and an aubergine plant, all of which they had grown at their hosues! So I have spent the last day or two, potting them, watering them, starring at them and hoping that every time it rains a miracle will occur and I will go outside and see lots of red tomatos, peppers and lovely vegetables (this has yet to happen)!! SIGH : (

My Little Vegtable/ herb area! whoop

My tomatoes, coming on my tomato plant..they will eventually go red woohooo!!!

My little herb window box....I WANT THEM TO HURRY UP AND GROW!!! This was a bargain, the whole set, box, tubs, labels, seeds was meant to be £11 but I got it for £2.90!! I had to have it! It is now sat in my kitchen window, although I do keep putting it outside during the day to get some light.

All in all, I am very excited about my little vegetable/ herb area!! The whole thing cost me less than £10 to set up and I already have about 10 tomatoes coming up, 2 courgettes, a dozen chillies, and 3 peppers!! I think in the long run this will be well worth the money and will hopefully save us some! I am really enjoying looking after my little plants.  Next on my list, winter lettuce, although I need to see if I can grow it in pots! I am also determined only to buy plants and seeds in the sale and their are some brilliant ones at the moment.

Anyway, if you have read all of this very random blog post, well done!!! haha! Let me know if you would like to see more of these and if you grow your own vegetables!! I am welcome to lots of suggestions, hints and ideas!

I am off to plan my next, beauty related blog post, which will be up later this week!!  Have a wonderful day, you lovely people. : )