Clarisonic Mia Review to come!

I got a Clarisonic Mia for Christmas but before I do a review I want to test it out properly! I will be reviewing the product mid January so keep a look out for it. I am very excited to be doing a review of this product.

Review of my new rose gold Micheal Kors MK5403 watch.

I hope everybody had a lovely Christmas! I thought I would do a little review on my new rose gold Micheal Kors watch (a gift from my boyfriend). As I have very slim wrists it can be hard to find watches that suit me and it doesn't help that I prefer the "Chunky" styles. I had spent a lot of time looking at watches but never found one that suited me.  I then received the MK5403 for my Christmas.  

Micheal Kors describe the watch as an elegant rose gold steel bracelet and case with a white dial. It also features a beautiful stone bezel, a date function and 100 meters of water resistance. 

What I love about this watch:

· The colour is gorgeous and I feel that it will look amazing with a summer tan. The rose gold will go nicely with all of my closet and I think it will look fab clashed with my silver Links/Pandora bracelets.
· Although it is a chunky bracelet style it is not too chunky, it is a nice size for someone who is petite like me. Most of the other Micheal Kors watches are slightly bigger.
· I love the white dial, I think it makes the watch look elegant and the surrounding stone set modernizes it.
· The date function is very useful.
· It instantly smartens up any outfit.

I hope everybody had an amazing Christmas and I look forward to doing lots of blogs in the New year. I am going to enjoy the rest of Christmas now with my new watch!

Review of Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish, Instant Boost Skin Tonic and Skin Repair Moisturizer.

I am somebody who is completely in love with skin care and I love having a  skincare regime. My love of skincare stems from the fact that at times I have suffered from extremely problematic skin. I have suffered from everything from acne to facial eczema. I actually believe that the best people to review and test skincare ranges are those with "problematic" skin. Due to my skin issues, I have only ever been able to use high end skincare brands such as Clinique, Dermalogica and Clarins. My first introduction to Liz Earle skincare came in the form of their body care range which is now a staple in my body care regime. After reading many a positive review about Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish I knew I had to try and test the range. What draws me to Liz Earle is their use of essential oils.

Review 1 Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser.

What Liz Earle claims about this cleanser:

• It is suitable for for every age and every skin type- now that is a bold claim.
• It is ideal for morning and evening use offering a gentle cleansing power. It removes all makeup off the face even stubborn mascara.
• By applying the cleanser to dry skin and removing it with the hot muslin cloth it gently dislodges dead skin cells and reveals clean, radiant and soft skin.
• The use of Cocoa Butter and Eucalyptus helps make skin smoother.

What I feel about this cleanser:

• First of all I will say that this cleanser is very reasonably priced. It costs £12.75 for 100ml. Considering that the majority of the ingredients are essential oils and very natural this is a good price.
• I find that to remove a full face of makeup I do need to use two large pumps of the product and I have to perform the cleansing steps twice. Even after performing the cleansing steps twice I do still have a very slight trace of mascara left. I  get through a bottle of this cleanser quickly and am now on my second one in 4 months.
• After finishing the cleanse my skin is noticeably smoother and I feel that the ingredients do a good job of calming my sometimes angry skin.
• Although this product is often aimed at people with a dryer skin type I do not find it very hydrating. But the calming effect is so good I will continue to use it on alternate days.
• The Liz Earle body range is very nourishing and the effect lasts all day. I do not find that the smooth finish left on my skin after cleansing lasts all day/night. I still find my skin can become chapped through the day.
• I feel that this cleanser would work amazingly on a "normal" skin type. It is not quite nourishing enough for my dry skin but it does help my breakouts so it will be a product I will continue to use but just not on a daily basis.
• I would rate this product 7/10.

Review 2 Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic.

What Liz Earle claim about this toner:

• This heavenly floral scented, non-drying toner refreshes, soothes and brightens skin.
• It adds a fine layer of moisture to the skin and is alcohol free.
• The naturally active ingredients include organic aloe vera to revitalise and soften and calendula, chamomile, cucumber and natural source vitamin E to soothe and refresh the skin.

What I feel about this toner:

• This is a really lovely uncomplicated product. It smells beautiful and does sooth the skin.
•  I do not feel that this product has improved the overall health of my facial skin but it does moisturize and is very gentle and that is always a bonus for me.
• It is a great product to use through out the day to spray over your makeup to refresh your skin. I like to take a small bottle on the plane with me when I go travelling. It is nice  to refresh with on the plane.
• This toner will not change your life but it is definitely worth a try.
• At a price of £12.50 for 200mls I feel that this toner is value for money. 
• I would also rate this product 7/10.

Review 3 Skin Repair Moisturizer Dry/Sensitive.

What Liz Earle claims about this moisturizer:

• This perfectly balanced moisturizer softens, smoothes and conditions skin for a naturally healthy-looking glow.
• Rich in natural actives, including borage oil (a rich source of the essential fatty acid GLA) and natural antioxidants beta-carotene and vitamin E to replace lost moisture and help protect against dryness.
• The naturally active ingredients include borage and avocado oils to moisturize and sooth.
• The product is suitable for sensitive skin.

What I feel about this moisturizer:

• Like the cleanser I find this moisturizer leaves my skin very smooth but I do not feel that the effect lasts all day. However I do feel that this moisturizer has improved my overall skin health.
• Although my skin does not feel completely smooth all day it does feel nourished  and my skin definitely looks brighter.
• This product smells amazing. I actually find it very relaxing applying this to my skin. I am a huge fan of the soothing scent! The scent stays on your skin all day and that is a real treat.
• This cream is very hydrating without being oily. It is a great base for makeup and I use it instead of a primer.
• I wish the cream did not come in a pot as I think that is very unhygienic so I use a plastic spatula to take the cream out with.
• At a price of £18.75 for 50mls I think the price is much more reasonable compared to other high end brands.
• I would rate this cream 8/10.

Overall I am very satisfied with this skincare range and I will continue to use it every second day as I like to alternate my skincare. All the products mentioned above are available from http://uk.lizearle.com/

Love Abi xxx

  

 

OOTD Casual Saturday

Happy casual Saturday everyone! This is just a quick OOTD. My outfit includes:

 
• Grey Bat wing top £18 from topshop.
• Navy and grey Aztec print woolen skirt £25 from Urban Outfitters.
• Jersey tight £3 from Primark.
• Boots £220 Bertie and bag £40 from Topshop.

No makeup and a Primark playsuit!!! Now that is what I call a casual Saturday.

A short and sweet review of my new studded Topshop bag

Studs are in. They are everywhere, from knitwear to blouses, jewellery and dress detailing. Luckily for me I adore the stud trend. For quite some time I had been looking for a black studded bag on the high street. As I am working with a nurses salary, I only commit myself to a designer bag if it is a timeless piece and not a current trend. Luckily for me I found the Topshop Geo Stud Holdall. Once again Topshop comes to the rescue! For those of you who do not know me, myself and Topshop have been in a long, at times expensive relationship for 9 years now (since I was 14). At a price of £40 I felt that it was now time to jump on the studded bag bandwagon. Here are a couple of pictures to give you an idea of the bags size compared to me (please excuse my roots and messy hair/face I had just finished a night shift and  was frazzled).

Why I love this bag:

• This bag is a fantastic size it fits all my essentials and more in. It would be a great college bag and would fit folders/books. The height is 29cm and width is 38cm. It also has compartments and pockets in the inside. As I am only 5"2 it is important that my big bags are not bigger than me.
• Although the bag is not leather (sniff sniff) it does look and feel high quality. It is made from Polyurethane. People have mistaken it for designer and seem surprised that it is from good old Toppers.
• It does have a leather feel to it and the material is very soft.
• It instantly smartens up any outfit and looks chic worn over the arm in true Blair Waldorf style.
• It keeps all my belongings dry in the rain now, this is a very important point here in rainy Edinburgh.
• It is very "current" as I am slave to fashion this is important to me.
• The stud detailing is very neat and well done.

My only criticism about this bag is regarding the shoulder strap.I  find when worn over the shoulder it pulls the bag at a slightly strange angle and can make the bag looked runched together. However it is such a minor issue the benefits of the bag overshadows this.The bag is available from www.topshop.com 

Love Abi xx 

     

Review of Kerastase Elixer Ultime Hair Oil.

When I found out that my ultimate hair crush Blake Lively uses hair products from Parisian hair care brand Kerastase I knew I had to try out some of their products. As hair oils are all the rage at the moment and after not being overly impressed with Moroccon Oil and other drug store dupes, I felt that it was only right to try out the Kerastase version.
Now let me start by saying that this product is not cheap it costs £34.50 for 125mls. However I would stress that a bottle of this product will last at least 6-9 months as you only need an almond drop amount for thick hair (like mine) and even less for finer hair. I have very thick highlighted hair. My hair is constantly drying out with my ritual of coloring,  blow drying and straightening. When I had tried Moroccon oil I was hoping for a shine miracle but instead was faced with a greasy disaster. After seeing Blake in many a magazine I knew it was time for a hair oil change.

Kerastase claim that this oil is the alchemy of four precious oils to beautify hair. And that:

• With a few drops of Elixer Ultime hair feels silky and weightless, as if transformed.
• Applied before cleansing, hair feels instantly nourished.
• Applied before styling, hair feels incredibly supple and is protected.

The oils contained in the product are Pracaxi oil, Argan oil, Maize oil and Camellia oil. Kerastase claim that all four oils are super beneficial for hair health. Why I would repurchase this product:

• I have been using this product for four months daily and have not even used a quarter of the bottle yet. 
• This oil is multipurpose it protects, aids styling and improves general hair health.
• It leaves my hair super shiny without being heavy. I do NOT feel like I have any product in my hair.
• It calms my frizziness and helps my hair to sit nicely. I normally have serious frizz issues.
• My hairdresser (who did not advise me to try the oil) agrees that my general hair condition has improved massively.
• I do feel that my hair is now glossy.

This has became one of my core hair products. I do feel that the price tag is steep and I am not a huge fan of the scent, but this is definitely the best hair oil I have tried. I would rate it 8/10. The products is available from:                                www.feelunique.com (They sell it for 15% off at £29.35)

www.lookfantastic.com (They sell it for £34.50)

I hope you agree that my hair considering that it is heavily highlighted does have a reasonable shine to it.

Love Abi xxxx

        

Dr. Jart Water-Max Sleeping Mask Review.

As someone who has dry problematic skin I am always on the quest to find new skincare products to help my skin. After seeing Millie Mackintosh and Louise Thompson from Made in Chelsea tweet about their love for this face mask I knew I had to give it a go. Anyone who is a fan of Made in Chelsea will know that the privileged possy have perfect complexions.


The premise of the product is simple: you do your usual nightly routine cleanse, tone, moisturize- and apply the mask like a serum before going to bed. Dr Jart claims that this non-washable sleep mask provides intensive moisturizing during sleeping. Dr Jart also claims:

• It prevents roughness and dehydration by replenishing the skin.
• It provides anti-aging and a lift effect while improving the skins surface. Making it smooth and sleek.
• The Hyaluronic Acid intensively supplies moisture to the dehydrated skin.    

I will start by saying that this product has a beautiful smell and contains a complex of 9 essential oils including lavender, rose, orange and chamomile. It is a real treat to apply and the gel like consistency feels luxurious on the skin. As I am 23 years old I cannot comment on the anti-aging effect it has on the skin but I did notice straight after applying the product my skin looked plumper and smoother. After the first night of using the product I saw a real difference in my skins texture in the morning. I normally wake up with tight dry skin at this time of year but I woke up to smoother and more hydrated skin. After using the product a second night I found that my skin was not only more hydrated, but I had less blemishes and my skin appeared on the whole smoother. I have been using this product three times a week for three weeks and would definitely say that this product has become a staple in my skin care regime. My facial skin looks much healthier and ultimately better hydrated. The price tag of £26 pounds for 100mls does seem steep for a face mask, but I will definitely be repurchasing and I feel it is worth it. The product contains very natural ingredients which is a real bonus. I would recommend this product to anyone with dry irritable skin but would not advise anyone with oily skin use this as it is very hydrating and may aggravate oily skin . I would give this product a score of 8/10. This product is available from www.boots.com 

I also need to mention that I love the sleek packaging and the pump dispenser is very hygienic. I tend not to buy any products in a pot as I am a Nurse and I know that dipping your hands into a pot of product that is going to end up on your face eventually is a big no no. This packaging looks great in your bathroom cabinet.