Filling my boots in The Body Shop - Middlesbrough Store Event

The Body Shop is one of my favourite stores. Adorned with colour, I could spend hours in there trying out all their new products and filling my nose with new smells. Recently I was invited along to a blogger get together at the Middlesbrough store to find out more about The Body Shop products and get into the Christmas range.

The team welcomed us with a glass of Bucks Fizz and a selection of festive treats. As we pursued the shelves we were told about The Body Shop's philosophy, the new products they've been creating and what would be best for us to start using.

There was the opportunity for us to ask the burning questions we've wanted to ask about our favourite products and get samples of anything we have been looking forward to trying out. As we had a special discount for the night, I picked up a basket and went shopping. As an avid user of The Body Shop's skincare ranges, I wanted to know a bit more about the tea tree range and the new products that were available. I ended up picking up a gift set including the Imperfection Daily Solution and the 3-in-1 Wash, Scrub & Mask for £18 which was a great bargain considering the cost of each of the products separately. 

Whilst pursuing the skincare, I managed to amass a few samples. I had always wanted to try The Body Shop's Vitamin C range since it launched as it looked very similar to Origins Ginzing range which I was a lover of. Helping with my many questions was employee Keisha who was super knowledgeable about the numerous ranges, recommending many products and showing me her favourite items. She offered me a sample of the face masks ushering me towards trying the Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow Mask which looked very much like the Glam Glow mud masks. 

As well as this mask, Keisha gave me a few sachets of the Drops of Youth Bouncy Sleeping Mask which looked very interesting as it's like a putty! With only good words from Keisha about the mask, I can't wait to try it out.

As we were all fawning over this year's Christmas scents - Spiced Apple, Vanilla Chai & Frosted Berries - I couldn't leave without picking up a few bits. I chose a Spiced Apple and Frosted Berries shower gel, a Spiced Apple Foaming Bath as well as the candle.

We were given a little goody bag on our departure which was filled with some great festive treats including a polar bear sponge, a Christmas shower gel & a nail polish. When everyone said their goodbyes, I tottled along home, very excited to try out my haul of new purchases and many samples.

What is your favourite product from The Body Shop?
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Vitamin E Overnight Serum-in-Oil - The Body Shop

You've probably already read about The Body Shop's relatively new product - Vitamin E Overnight Serum-in-Oil. I'd heard about it through the twitter grapevine and wasn't really sure it was for me. I went in to store one day and a lovely staff member gave me a sample pot to try. From then I was hooked. I wanted to get my hands on this little bottle of goodness with its little squidgy pipette.

Vitamin E Overnight Serum-in-Oil

Firstly can I just start by saying that this bottle and pipette feel sooo expensive. The bottle itself is made of glass making it feel sleek and shiny as well as the pipette which makes me feel like a scientist. Okay, buzz about the bottle over...

The product itself is such an easy product to use and it provides great results. All you need is a good-sized drop of the serum-in-oil from the pipette into the palm of your hand. Rub your hands together and apply it to your face. At first, it felt a bit weird, a little greasy even but not so heavy that you feel you need to wash it off immediately. As this is supposed to be part of your nighttime skincare regime it is much easier to just leave this on to soak in.

I cleanse my face, tone, then use this, after I moisturise and then use my eye cream and I am ready for bed. As I say it does feel a little greasy but the benefits in the morning out way this little niggly feeling. I have combination skin, so putting oils on my face before bed is not something I would normally do but this stuff is so light and hydrating that it hasn't caused any breakouts whatsoever. In the morning I feel like my skin is hydrated, bright and plump. Just how it should be after my beauty sleep.

If you haven't tried this I suggest you do. I feel it really gives my skin a boost and I wouldn't be without it now. This product is £12.00 which may seem a little pricey but the amount you will use each night means you will be using this for AGES! To learn a bit more about this product go to The Body Shop's website here and have a read.

A Lush Bath

I wasn't always a bath person. I used to hate them, think they were too warm and much prefer a quick shower. However Lush came into my life and now I am a convert. After the blogger meet up I organised, in Middlesbrough at the end of March in which we visited Lush, we were gifted a gorgeous goody bag full of treats. I took the opportunity to use a few of the products during a relaxing bath.

We were given the chance to create a fresh face mask and a bath bomb which we could take home to use. For my bath, these two were out in full force!

As I had made the bath bomb myself I was dubious to see if it would work as all previous ones I've had. I shouldn't have doubted myself as it fizzed away in the bath like any other. I love this Think Pink bath bomb as it makes the bath pink with lots of little love hearts in the water.

The face mask is called Catastrophe Cosmetic, filled with blueberries to help soothe skin and give a gorgeous glow. I've used this before and was a real fan. It feels like a clay mask as it is greyish and dries hard with the blueberries on your face which feels a bit weird. When I washed this mask off I was suitably relaxed in the bath and my face felt lovely and soft.

In our goody bags, we were given a small sample of Red Fun. I had seen this in the shop loads but hadn't considered picking it up. It is as the title suggests such a fun product to use and it feels just like play-dough. I pulled a little bit off and it smelled amazing. I just want a perfume that smells like it. On the website, it is described as mandarin and orange oil scented. When I rubbed it on me it left me all red and didn't lather like I would have expected. Having said that I did feel suitably clean after washing the colour off me. After using this sample I'd definitely consider buying the whole bar as it smells gorgeous!

I know that Lush is always going to have pride of place in my bathroom because I love their products so much.

GinZing Eye Cream Review

Origins is a brand I am pretty much obsessed with. I have their clear improvements mask which I love and their GinZing moisturiser which is gorgeously light. I really want to have a mini facial at one of their counters but I haven’t had chance yet.

When ordering my other products I received a few samples including the GinZing eye cream. I’ve never used eye cream before or really thought that it was necessary but mum said that I should think about adding one to my regime. Who am I do deny another product entry to my skin care cupboard? After using the Origins sample and loving it I took the plunge and bought the full size! The cream comes in a small 15ml pot. At first I was shocked at the small size but the amount needed each time I apply is minimum so this should last ages.

15ml - £23.00

The consistency of the cream is very rich and is a light brown colour with shimmer running through it. When using this I apply three dots below each eye and either pat this or rub it in gently. When applied the shimmer shows but it is subtle. This makes under my eyes look brighter and I look more awake. The eye cream is lovely and cool which is soothing on a night before bed and helps me wake on up a morning.

I’d really recommend this eye cream because although it is expensive it will last forever and it is lovely and rich.

Fairy Godmother, Lush Soap Review

Whilst shopping in Lush with mum, she picked up a soap that I'd never heard of called Godmother. When I smelt it I wanted it, but so did Mum! It went in her basket but she has cut it in half so I can have some too.

Godmother shares the same scent as the Snow Fairy Shower Gel (which I've only just realised after looking at the site) which is very sweet but I don't think it is as sickly as the shower gel. It's a deep purple colour. When you use this soap it's very delicate, it doesn't foam much but it spreads well and my hands feel clean after using. The scent lingers on your hands for a while after which is gorgeous!

I've never tried one of Lush's soaps before this but I can't wait to use the others that I've purchased.

The Lush Series - Let the good times roll

I hadn't bought a cleanser from Lush until I picked up this Christmas special. I was drawn to the sweet popcorn smell that made me want to eat it.

Let the Good Times Roll - Cleanser

This cleanser contains corn oil, polenta, maize flour and cinnamon.

This is more of an exfoliator than a facial cleanser as it is very fine and gritty with the addition of pieces of popcorn. Unlike other cleansers, to use this you have to pick a bit out and mix it with water in your palms to enable you to spread it on your face.

After using let the good times roll my skin feels lovely and soft. Due to the oils, this cleanser contains my face doesn't feel dry like it would with others. After I make sure to use a toner to wipe away excess oil so that when I use my moisturiser after my face isn't too greasy. Overall this is a lovely exfoliator that I use a few times a week as a sweet treat. I'd definitely recommend this as something different!

The Lush Series - Tea Tree Water

After being introduced to the skincare world I've only ever purchased one toner. I really have no idea what toner is or what it is for but I was told it should be part of my regime and I started to like it. It feels really nice to wipe a cotton pad with toner over your face to collect any grime that could be left over after cleansing.

I'd heard many good reviews about a toner from Lush filled with spot fighting ingredients which sounded right up my street. I decided to splurge and try it out!

Tea Tree Water - Toner Water

This toner is available in two sizes, 100g (£3.95) or 250g (£7.50). As I was new to this product I chose to buy the smaller.

The application of this product is different from the other toner I have been using as with this you have to spray it directly on your face (making sure to close your eyes tight!). Then you wipe a cotton pad over your face to take the toner and any grime off your face. As described as a water, this toner is extremely gentle on my face, it isn't potent like other toners can be.

On their website, Lush say "Tea tree is a wonder oil for anyone with oily or spot prone skin. It has antibacterial, antiseptic and anti-microbial properties. Where the skin needs balancing, where there are spots, gentle tea tree is just the job". I love the smell of tea tree, it is a really refreshing smell which makes me feel clean. It is also strong enough to make me feel like it is really doing something for my skin.

Overall I really enjoy this product, it is light, smells nice and makes me feel squeaky clean.

It is definitely on my repurchase list, unless another review of a toner sweeps me off my feet before I get chance!

Have you tried this? What do you think?

Happy Birthday to ME!

My 22nd birthday fell when I was in the sunny city of Florence! This is only the second time I have spent my birthday away from home, but I guess as you get older birthdays are less oriented around staying at home. On my birthday we took a trip to the seaside town of Viareggio, about a 1hour 40mins away from Florence on the train. It was a lovely sunny day so there were a lot of people on the beach.

I was a very lucky girl this year and got what I feel is a heap of great presents off a lot of lovely people! As well as my shoes that I posted here I also got the below!

Here we have a cookbook called Breakfast Lunch Tea, Minion Stuart, a cute kiss mug from UO, a Thomas Sabo bracelet, OPI - When Monkeys Fly, Chanel - Paradoxal & Taboo, Dior - Dialotine, Murad Pore Perfection starter kit, Murad lip protector, Topshop gift card, sweeties, a bird necklace and a Minion iPhone case.

I feel so lucky to have got all my presents and am thankful for them all!

Is your birthday coming up soon? What have you asked for?