Top 5 Cleansers - From Budget To Splurge.

Now I know I have been a way for a while (find out why HERE)  but I am finally back and what a great way to start with 'My Top 5 Cleansers'. I have picked 5 cleansers that are my all time favourites and products that I continue to go back to. Some of the cleansers are budget friendly and others no so much, there really is something for everyone. They are in no particular order, I like them all just as much! Click on the cleanser names to view where to buy.

 

 

 

1) Organic Surge Gentle Cleansing Lotion 200ml - This is one of the best Organic cleansers that I have ever tried. It removes every trace of makeup and dirt, even the most stubborn of waterproof mascara. It leaves the skin feeling very clean, refreshed and hydrated. I love how gentle it is on the skin and it contains Chamomile so if you have any sore red blemishes it soothes and helps to take any redness/inflammation away. It also contains organic rosemary and lemon essential oils which gives the lotion a very nice citrus scent. I notice a great difference in the condition of my skin after using this, it generally feels fresher, brighter and hydrated. It also helps to keep any blemishes away which is a big plus for me. This is currently for sale at £5.99 from the Organic Surge Website.

 

2) Olay Gentle Cleansing Conditioning Milk 200ml - This is a great budget cleanser that is kind enough to the skin to be used on a daily basis. It is a cleansing milk rather than a lotion, therefore it is thin is consistency so doesn't leave any residue behind. You also only need a small amount due to the thin consistency. It is specifically designed to remove excess oil, makeup and dirt from the face. This cleanser is brilliant for my combination skin and when I use this I do notice a reduction in the amount of oil my skin produces in the day. It is also great at removing all traces of makeup and not much work is required to remove even waterproof makeup. It leaves the skin feeling clean and soft. It is currently for sale at Superdrug for £2.99 (it is also currently included in a BOGOF promotion!)

 

3) Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser - This cleanser is gentle enough to use day and night each day yet it is concentrated enough to remove stubborn makeup and all impurities from the skin. It has been formulated to be used on any skin type which is great if you want to share with a sister, friend or mother. Because it is a hot cloth cleanser it encourages you to wash your face afterwards which is brilliant. The main reason I like using a cleansing lotion or milk is because you have to wash your face after use, meaning no impurities or dead skin cells stay on the skin or clog up your pores. I particularly like leaving the hot muslin cloth over my face for a couple of minutes to open my pores even more and give myself a kind of 'steam treatment'. You only require a small amount of this cleanser so it lasts for ages. It removes all makeup, even stubborn makeup and leaves your skin feeling super clean, refreshed and smooth. I use this cleanser as a treat for my skin as it is very luxurious and rich, leaving your skin feeling like you've had a facial! I notice a huge difference in the condition of my skin and the amount of blemishes I get when using this. It contains Eucalyptus and Cocoa Butter to smooth and calm the skin. This cleanser also doesn't contain any mineral oils and it completely plant based. When you buy the Cleanse & Polish you also receive the muslin cloths to use. Liz Earle currently do all different sizes of this product, ranging from £3.25 for the smallest and £14.75 for the largest size. Click HERE.

 

4) Garnier Clean & Soft Complete Cleansing Milk 200ml - This cleanser smells amazing! It contains rose extract so it is a very floral scent but it is lovely. It gently removes all makeup, dirt and impurities and leaves the skin feels clean, soft and very fresh. It is thin in consistency so not much is required meaning one bottle lasts for ages. It is also gentle enough to use on a daily basis. It removes even stubborn makeup without much effort at all. I found that it also has a soothing and calming effect on any red areas. Like I have stated above, I have combination skin and I also found that this cleanser helped with oil control if used in the morning before applying any makeup. This is currently for sale in Superdrug for £2.03 which is a saving of £1.02 - Click HERE. 

 

5) No7 Beautiful Skin Hot Cloth Cleanser 200ml - Just like the Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish this is a luxurious, indulgent cleanser that leaves your skin feeling like you have had a day in the spa. The only difference is that the muslin cloth included with this cleanser is used to gently exfoliate the skin and stimulate circulation. It removes all makeup and impurities with ease and leaves the skin feeling revived, fresh and very clean. It doesn't leave any residue behind after using. It does have a soothing effect to the skin and when I use this I do feel like my skin is in much better condition and much more hydrated. I usually alternate this with the Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish and use it as a weekly treat when I apply a face mask and give myself a facial. You can find this in Boots for £9.95, click HERE. currently selected No7 products are in a 3 for 2 offer and this is included.  

 

Have you tried any of these cleansers? What is your favourite cleanser? Can you recommend any more hot cloth ones I could try?

 

 

Little update

I would just like to quickly update you on the reason I haven't been able to blog for the past few days. I don't want you to think that I have vanished! I promise I will be back soon, my blog and all you visitors mean so much to me! Each and every one of you... Yes.. YOU :-)

I have suffered with my illness really badly just lately and this past week I have suffered... BADLY!! Things have been ten times worse. Resulting in me being in my sick bed for days. 

To add to all this drama, my very old cat, that has been my companion for most of my life has been quite poorly. She does have health problems, especially since she is so old and it is inevitable that she will have to be put to sleep at some point in the future. The past 2 days she has been sick and generally very lethargic but today she seems a lot brighter! I need to express to you that she is in no way suffering and she is a very happy, well looked after and spoilt cat! If she ever shows signs of suffering or not having a great quality of life then I will not hesitate to have her PTS. The last thing I want is for her to suffer! She has been to the vets today and we have had a lengthy discussion and I feel much better knowing she definitely isn't suffering! Unfortunately, it has come to the stage where palliative care is the only option though. The vet gave her a steroid injection and she is now on a course of antibiotic eye drops. We know this will not CURE her but it will make her feel a lot better. I have already seen a major improvement! Obviously, one day the difficult decision will have to be made but until that day I am going to enjoy every moment with her! 

The combination of my illness and my cat being ill has made me very down. I have cried so many tears these past few days. I just hope things will get easier from now , especially where my illness is concerned. 

I hope you all understand the lack of blog posts but I WILL be back with the promised 3 posts on Friday. I may even have a bonus post for you :-) 

Laura

Xx

This is my cat, Poppy :-)

Top 5 Drugstore Lipsticks Under £5

I love trying out new lipsticks but unless it claims to do something amazing or is a high end brand I don't really want to pay a lot. I buy new lipsticks all the time and I never stick to the same one so imagine if I was to pay more than £5 each time! It would cost me a fortune! Obviously, if I always used the same lipstick then I would pay more. I don't think I have ever used up a full lipstick. As with everything, I like to change all the time! I have picked 5 lipsticks that I think are great value but the price tag is kind to your purse! 

 

1) MUA Lipstick In Shade 5 - This lipstick is from the MUA £1 range and is absolutely brilliant! This is my favourite shade from the range but I do have others that I love! In total, there are 16 shades to choose from. This shade is a shimmery pink that really suits my fair skin. It applies easily and feels great to apply.. is moisturising and hydrating to the lips. It doesn't last all day and you do have to reapply it a couple of times but the wear time is longer than I expected for a £1 lipstick! You can't really grumble when it is only costing £1! It doesn't dry your lips out which is a big bonus for me! I hate having dry lips. The finish with this shade is quite sheer but I like that, it also has a slight shimmer which is nice! You can pick this lipstick up at most Superdrug stores or on the MUA website.   

 
2) No 7 Vital Brights Lipstick In Shade Blossoming Pink - Blossoming pink is a very sheer light pink colour which achieves a barely there look, I absolutely love the shade! It is perfect for pairing with a more dramatic eye look and it would suit most skin tones. Application is easy and applies smoothly and evenly leaving your lips to feel very hydrated. It is a creamy formula and almost feels as though you are applying a balm rather than a lipstick. The wearing time is good but you do have to reapply throughout the day, this doesn't bother me though as I love touching up! My only issue is the packaging, it is very flimsy and cheap looking which is unusual for a No7 product! This isn't a problem to me as the lipstick itself is great quality! It is currently for sale in Boots for £5.

 

3)Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick In Shade Heather Shimmer -  This shade is absolutely beautiful. It is a pinky/plum colour with a hint of brown and is great to add a pop of colour to the face. It isn't really dark but it is dark enough to brighten the face. The formula is very creamy and feels lovely to apply to the lips. It is moisturising and hydrating to the lips. It claims to last up to 8 hours and I do agree with this claim. If you are looking for a lipstick that doesn't need reapplying that often then this range is perfect for you. It also doesn't dry out throughout the day and feels hydrating all day long which is brilliant! It also holds the colour well! When it does fade, it fades evenly so isn't noticeable. There are other shades available in this range. This is currently for sale at Superdrug for £4.99.

 

 

4) Barry M Lipstick In Shade Coral - This shade is just as described and is a beautiful coral colour. This is perfect for daytime or night time wear. It applies smoothly almost gliding on with no effort and feels very soft! It only takes one swipe to get an opaque colour. It contains natural moisturisers which keep your lips hydrated for hours! The wear time on this is quite long and I find I only have to reapply once or twice in the day. The finish is beautiful and very high shine! There are also other colours in this range which I have a couple of and they are consistent with the formula. This is for sale for £4.49 at Superdrug.
 

5) NYC Expert Last Lipstick In Shade Red Flame - I thought I best include a red lipstick in my 'Top 5', this is my favourite one that I have under £5 and I absolutely love it! It isn't the brightest red that I have in my collection as it applies quite sheer and has a slight pink tone to it. However, it is different to other reds I have due to the fact that it has a shimmery, metallic finish. I love how moisturising this is to the lips and how long it lasts. It currently retails in Superdrug for £1.99 which is an absolute steal for a product that is as good as this!

Have you tried any of these lipsticks? What is your favourite drugstore lipstick?  

 

 

Herbs That Heal (From GirlXplorer)

I found the post below on a wonderful blog called GirlXplorer! GirlXplorer is one of my favourite blogs and I just couldn't resist sharing this with you all!

At the moment, I am really interested in herbal remedies, especially since I have become ill! I hate taking tablets from the Doctors. They have so many side effects and surely can't be great for your body and overall health.

 

I have printed this chart off and its now stuck on my fridge! I will certainly be going out and purchasing some of these herbs and trying them!

 

Do you use herbal medicine? Are there any that you swear by?

 

 

 

HERBS THAT HEAL! (via http://www.girlxplorer.com)

Life has become all about eating well & staying healthy, living “clean” and feeling great about our-self. The fact that I want to drop those excess pounds and coz after shredding those pounds getting glowing skin will be an added bonus! So, when…

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Garnier Body Intensive 7 Days Moisturiser Review

 

 

I have been using the 'Garnier Body Intensive 7 Days Moisturiser' for at least a year now! It has to be one of my all time favourite moisturisers and the one that I continue to go back to.

 

It claims to leave your skin feeling hydrated for up to 7 days. This is the claim that sold this product to me! I am quite lazy so anything that claims to make my life easier or means that I don't have to use it as much is perfect for me!

 

It comes in 5 different variations so there is a bottle suitable for everyone. I have the dry to extra dry skin bottle, although I don't have really dry skin I figured that this would provide even more benefits! This particular bottle contains Shea Butter and L-Bifidus which have been specifically chosen to combat dry skin and prevent moisture loss. The variations the product comes in are:

 

- Dry to extra dry skin - containing Shea Butter & L Bifidus

- Normal skin - containing Aloe Vera

- Dry and rough skin - containing Cocoa Butter

- Dry skin - containing Mango Oil

- Sensitive skin - containing Calming Honey

 

It also comes in two sizes, small & large. The small size is 250ml and the large is 400ml.

 

I love applying this product to my body as it absorbs into the skin really quickly, meaning there is no waiting around before you can get dressed! It smells lovely too, it is a very fresh, floral fragrance and it lingers on the skin. It immediately makes your skin feel hydrated and eliminates any rough, dry patches you may have. You do need to use this for 7 days to get the full benefits of it. I did notice a major improvement in my skins condition after 7 days, although I didn't think my skin was dehydrated in the first place as I do use moisturisers/body butters every day, it must have been, as after 7 days it felt so different and in an overall better condition.. really hydrated, silky smooth and I didn't have any dry patches! I even use this on my feet as the soles can become a bit dry now and again and this eliminates that too!

 

On the bottle, it recommends using for 1 month and then you can stop moisturising for a whole week and your skin should still feel as soft and hydrated as when using it. I now use this product twice a week after showering and this helps to maintain a high level of hydration at all times. I use other lotions/body butters the other days of the week as a kind of top up. As you know, I like to change my moisturiser often so that is the only reason I do not use this every day of the week.

 

The small size of this is currently for sale at Boots for £2.09 and the large for £3.33. (These prices are discounted - they are usually, small £3.14 and large £4.99) Even when they are not on offer, they are great prices for a product that has all the benefits that this has! To take a look at the whole range click HERE. At Boots, they are offering a free gift with selected skincare items and the Garnier Intensive 7 Days is included.