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I recently had a splurge at the beauty counters in John Lewis and picked up a few items that had been on my makeup wishlist for a while. I'm so excited to give these a try, you may see a couple reviews in the near future!



Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder- Universal
I've never actually owned a loose setting powder until now but i'd always wanted to try one and this always gets a lotta' love. I hate to be one that conforms to trends but i've also been eager to try the whole 'baking' malarky. My makeup always finds a way to disappear from my face so anything that might increase the longevity i'm keen to try.

Nars Sheer Glow Foundation- Mont Blanc
A repeat purchase of my favourite foundation. It gets a lot of hype but is definitely worth it! 

Nars Copacabana Illuminator
This had been on my wishlist for a long time and i'd never got round to actually buying it. I love cream highlighters and the fact this comes in such a big tube is a huge win! I can't wait to get my glow on.

Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic
If you've been reading my blog for a while you will know i'm a huge Liz Earle fan. I've had many bottles of this, it just makes a big difference to the appearance of my skin. A definite holy grail!

In the last few months of 2015, I got my skincare down to a few products that really work for me, leaving my skin looking the best it's looked for a long time. I do this morning and night and it also doesn't take too long as generally at night I just want to get straight into bed. I've thrown in a couple of extra products that I use when i'm in the mood to pamper myself and take extra time with my skincare.



First up I use the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish, which I must have used for the past 5/6 years showing how good a product it is. It gently removes all traces of makeup and dirt and leaves my skin looking and feeling smooth and i genuinely can't imagine using anything else.

Once I've cleansed, I use the Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic on a cotton wool pad all over the skin. It removes any traces of dirt or makeup that the cleanser may have missed and refreshes my skin. I used this with my first bottle of cleanse and polish however once it ran out I didn't repurchase and used alternatives. Fast forward 4 or 5 years later and my skin was looking really dull, lifeless and generally not good. I think this was from using harsh products that were meant to get rid of spots and blemishes. I decided to give the tonic another whirl and I am so glad I did. It made such a difference in only a couple of uses; brightening, calming and evening out my skin and it has been a saviour. 

On an average morning or night, I finish with the Simple Kind to Skin Replenishing Rich Moisturiser which has definitely aided with the Skin Tonic to clear my skin. I generally had quite good skin, getting the odd few spots (mainly on my chin!) every couple of weeks however I went through a stage when my skin was the worst it's ever been. I found myself getting quite a few, big, ugly spots (still mainly on my chin) constantly, becoming quite self conscious about it and nothing would make them any better. I would use products that were designed for targeting spots and blemishes however nothing would change. I then started to use this moisturiser and they gradually started to disappear and my skin was getting better and better. I don't know whether it was something in the harsh 'spot prone skin' type moisturisers that reacted with my skin or Simples' products having no artificial ingredients and chemicals but it has worked wonders and it is only £3.99, what a bargain! I obviously do still get spots every so often but my skin is so much clearer and smoother. 



Normally whens it's that time of the month, is when I break out, so when I do or when I'm feeling a lil' groggy i'll use a face mask, either (another Liz Earle product) the Liz Earle Deep Cleansing Mask or the Neutrogena Visibly Clear 2-in-1 Wash & Mask. Both really good, one on the cheaper side and one more expensive. 

If my skin is behaving badly I also sometimes use the Teoxane Perfect Skin Refiner at night and only on a weekly or twice weekly basis as it is a harsh product however it does work well. 

I throw in some other products every so often but the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish, Instant Boost Skin Tonic and the Simple Moisturiser make up my every day skincare routine. Quick, easy and simple!

About once a week or so, i love to set aside a bit of time to give myself a facial, not only does it help your skin, keeping it super soft and clean but it's also relaxing and a pick me up on a 'bleurghh' day. 

1) Start off by washing your face either to remove makeup and any dirt with a cleanser of facial wash. My favourite and a holy grail product of mine is Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish.



2) Next, use a scrub or exfoliater to whisk away dead surface skin cells and clear blocked pores. I'm loving dermalogica daily microfoliant at the minute, which i received in a glossybox a couple of months ago. It's a rise based powder that you mix with water to create a paste, before massaging onto the face. 




3) Fill a bowl with a kettleful of freshly boiled water, then lean over the bowl, capturing the steam by placing a towel over your head. Stay there for around 5 minutes to allow the steam to warm and soften your skin although people with sensitive skin should skip this step.

4) Put on a face mask of your choice and leave for the required time before washing off. I've been loving the Avon planet spa face mask gift set which has lots of small packets of face masks suitable for different skin types and needs. The amount given is perfect as i often find that there is too much when using other face masks. 














5) Finish off your pamper session by doing the same night time skincare routine as usual. 

Voila!