Xmas Gift Guide for Boys

Thought I would compile a list of purse friendly gifts for a boyfriend or friend whist I was mainly just getting inspiration for gifts to buy others. Surprisingly for me I haven't left it until Xmas Eve to do, which believe me, is a first! 

1. Lovely Winter Bobble Hat - Urban Outfitters £18

Every boy needs to stay warm this winter and you can help them do this is style with this cute, festive bobble hat. Personally, I think Urban Outfitters has the best selection of winter warmers on the high street this year. 

2. Tartan Scarf - Asos £12

On trend, useful and a bit of a bargain!

3. Unique Illustrative Print - greatlittleplace.com £40

A charming illustration by artist Chris Davis of all the greatest little spots in London. Comes unframed, I just added this for effect.

4. Live Lounge CD - iTunes £10.99

In my opinion, one of the better albums released this Xmas. A real eclectic mix of songs and artists, there's got to be something for everybody. Plus you can upload the songs to your own computer before giving it away! Sneaky ;-) 

5. Plectrum Maker - notonthehighstreet.com £22

A great, quirky little gift for budding musicians or long legged guitar picking men. Plectrums can be made out of any old credit cards and store cards. 

6. Men's Travel Buddies - Origins £25
A great introduction for boys to the world of skin care! Contains 4 minis including Blade Runner Energizing Shave Cream, Save the Males Moisturiser, Skin Diver Active Charcoal Body Wash & Fire Fighter Face Soothe (all 50ml). This is a seasonal offer and a total steal.

7. Classic Casio Watch - Watch Warehouse £31 (RRP £40)
I don't think you can ever go wrong with giving a boy a watch for Xmas, and totally not a cop-out with this uber cool Classic Casio Watch. Hurry up, get one quick as I've learned that WatchWarehouse.co.uk have some mega offers on at the moment including a Christmas Discount Corner, 10% off when you sign up to their newsletter and a 20% Off Everything Flash Sale!

Hope you enjoyed,

Izzy x

Review: ORIGINS Clear Improvement Mask

I haven't bought a good mask in years! With winter upon us and as my dry, wind blustered skin calls out for some TLC I decided to splash out on a trio of masks from Origins. Each mask on it's own costs £22 for 100ml. However, at the moment, you can buy 3 different masks (all 75ml size), packaged prettily and branded as the Origins Mask Marvel Set. For just £25 which makes this set over double the amount of product for just £3 extra! The set contains Drink Up Overnight Mask, Drink Up 10 Minute Mask & Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask. Not only is this a bargain no-brainer, this set would also make a lovely Christmas gift for a beauty loving friend. 

So far I have only tried the Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask but I plan to write a review of the others when I get a chance to try them. The 3 key ingredients in this mask are Active Charcoal, White China Clay & Lecithin which Origins claim to "draw out pore-cloggers", "absorb environmental toxins" & "dissolve impurities". All 3 naturally occurring substances are well known for their beneficial cosmetic properties. Clinical studies of Lecithin have shown it to benefit acne. White Clay has been used for centuries and is particularly good for sensitive skin because it is so mild. 

I have used this mask twice now and can already say I have seen some improvement to the congestion of my skin. My skin feels smooth and pores superficially clear. Obviously problematic areas and stubborn spots still remain but I would hope after consistent use these might be reduced quite substantially. As I find with all Origins products they last a long time, so once a week use should not be a problem.

Directions say to first open pores with a warm, moist towel, however, I just had a long soak in a hot bath which is hopefully good enough. I have found I need a couple of layers of product in order to cover the whole face as it spreads quite thinly. It has the texture of something like acrylic paint rather than a thick clay which surprised me but isn't unpleasant.  It has a fresh, clean, light and distinctly "Origins" smell with a slight clay-like after note. Very pleasant.

It takes about 5-10 minutes to dry and I wash it off as soon as it has dried with help from a muslin cloth. It dries with quite a soft & smooth texture, not like the usual flakey and cracking texture of a charcoal or clay mask. I have quite dry skin, especially in winter months, so I feel tightness immediately after I have washed it off and have to run straight to my room to moisturise. I notice my skin looks quite red after using the mask which I think is to do with the properties of the White China Clay that stimulate circulation. The redness goes down pretty quickly and the biggest difference I notice in my skin is even tone and a smoother complexion. 

Despite the pretty hefty price tag I would really recommend this product and in fact all Origins products are really worth the bucks for their natural & pure ingredients. 

Hope you enjoyed this review. Let me know your thoughts about this product if you have tried it in the comments below.

Izzy x

Mini beauty haul: Origins, Clinique, Philip Kingsley

Ah! So yesterday I had a spare hour and went on a little impromptu "browse" round John Lewis. Of course I just couldn't help myself and ended up coming away with a few little treats. I'm excited about all these products as I have never tried any of them before and keen to give them a whirl! This is what I bought...

Philip Kingsley Weatherproof Hairspray & Daily Damage Defense - £6.50 each

I've heard good things about Philip Kingsley products and have never tried any before. I was put off by the £20+ price tag on the shapoos and conditioners so thought I would give these small 60ml hair protectants a try. Having rained relentlessly receently I'm quite intrigued to see how the weatherproof hairspray works, I will come back to you with an update!  

Origins Super Spot Remover - £13

After being bitterly disappointed that Le Roche Posey didn't work for me at ridding my skin of spots (see my blog post on it here) I thought I would try this blemish treatment gel from probably my favourite skin care brand, Origins. It's a tiny little pot at just 10ml but obviously you just apply a small amount to the areas that need to be treated. I don't have any major spots at the moment but I tried it last night on a few post spot red marks and it has already seemed to have calmed them down a bit. What's great is that when you buy something from the Origins counter they normally give you some free samples, two of which I gave to my sister and kept Plantscription Anti Aging Cream to try for myself. 

Clinique Even Better Makeup in 03 Ivory - £23

I've been dying to try something from Clinique for ages and I was just having a look round the stand when of course a very knowledgeable sales assistant comes up to me and I just can't resist coming away with something. I'm sure I will get through this tiny 30ml pot in no time but it felt so nice on my skin in the shop and a good colour for me - I might keep this one for special occasions and not as an everyday make up!

Please let me know any of your thoughts on these products if you have tried or are thinking about trying them! Have a lovely day!

Isobel x

L'Occitane en Provence Haul

Harriet and I decided to make the most of a 20% off voucher I had for L'Occitane so we ordered a few things online to help us get through the coldest February London has seen in the last 28 years!!

Harriet and I both went for an Almond Shower Oil (£17.50) as she raves about it and I'm really into oils for my skin at the moment so I really wanted to try it. I also bought a HUGE jar of Repairing Mask for Dry & Damaged Hair which at £20 is kind of pricey but it should last ages and it's totally worth it. You can read a little review I did of it here. If you spent over £30 you could get a Comforting Winter Collection for just £14 which I thought was a nice little bargain and a great way to try out some different products without having to buy the full sizes for the full prices! It came in a lovely cream, knitted bag which I am going to keep as a winter essentials (lip balms, hand creams etc) that I take to work bag. In it came 6 miniature products from their Shea Butter range. Hand Cream, Foot Cream, Lip balm (which, by the way, I have tried already and is heavenly!), Ultra Rich Body Cream & Face Cream and an Extra Gentle Soap. Unfortunately L'Occitane have stopped this promotion but they've got some good offers on sets of their new Spring products at the moment. Harriet also bought a tried, tested and much loved Shea Butter Rose Petals Hand Cream (£8), I love the packaging of this one. 

Isobel x

What's in my Glossy Box

Hoorah! My first ever Glossy Box came yesterday. It was such a lovely treat coming home after a long day at work to a cute little box hiding on my door step. So I thought I'd share with you what I got inside. If you are unaware of the concept of Glossy Box (where have you been!?), it is a company that sends you a box of sample sized beauty goodies each month. You never know what you are going to get, which is part of the fun of it, but there is a list of brands you could be sent on their website. The best thing about it is it only costs £10 a month (plus £2.95 P&P) and you get to sample loads of different products without having to go out and buy the full sizes!

I absolutely love how Glossy Boxes look so lovingly put together and the packaging is gorgeous. This months box (of course being January) is all about the detox.

So...what's inside!?

Duck Island Limited - Body Lotion
Have never heard of this brand before so eager to try it out. This is a body lotion with a definite mandarin and bergamot fragrance (think body shop mandarin shower gel).

Elemis Fresh Skin - Skin Glow Facial Exfoliator
I've been wanting to try some Elemis products for ages so was pleased when I saw this one. It smells very fruity. Can't wait to try this exfoliator instead of my usual Origins Modern Friction.

Premae Skincare - Balance Rescue Face Tonique
This one I am probably the most excited to try! Again another brand I have never tried before. This is a "step 2" toner product. It smells amazingly of lemongrass which is such a fresh and reviving scent - great for the detox theme. Also, Glossy Box subscribers can get 20% off the next purchase from premaeskin.com so if I like this one I will be sure to re-purchase!

Jason - Lip Bee Healthier
This is a great one for me as I am addicted to lip balms. This one smells like After Eight mints and has a tingly feeling when applied.

Monu - Aromatic Mask
Apparently this is a warming clay mask. Smells of Lavender - looks like another lovely product which I can't wait to try out. I haven't indulged in a face mask in a while so this will be a welcomed treat!

There is also a "Glossy dreams" sleep mask which, to be honest, I probably wont use but it's a nice added extra that makes the box feel more special.

Is anyone subscribed to Glossy Box? If so, I would love to know your thoughts on this months box. Harriet is currently debating whether to subscribe to the Carmine or Feel Unique beauty boxes. Does anyone have any recommendations?

Isobel x

Review - REN Kit for Normal Skin

REN Kit for Normal Skin

Cleansing Gel

Renewal Mask

Repair Cream

REN Kit for Normal Skin - £13

I've been a fan of REN bath/shower products for a while now and decided to try out some of their facial skin care range. This handy little starter kit comes with four miniatures and is the perfect way to test out products you have never tried before without spending the money on the full sizes. Within the REN product range there are starter kits of this kind for sensitive, combination and blemish prone skin but I went for normal. If there was a kit for dry skin, I probably would have gone for that as my skin can get dry during the winter months. In this kit there is the Rosa Centifolia Cleansing Gel, Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask, Vita-Mineral Day Cream and Frankincense Repair Cream. All come in 15ml except the Cleansing Gel which comes in 25ml.

Before I start reviewing the products themselves, I have to say, I'm a sucker for nice packaging and I think REN's packaging is some of the best out there. The look and the quality of it really stands out in what is quite a crowded market for it's price range. 

Cleansing Gel -

This product really is a gel. I can only describe the texture of it as literally like bonjela. It has a lovely aroma of Rose which I personally LOVE the smell of at the moment. This is a really refreshing product, which tingles my skin as I put it on. It would be great to use in the morning if you need a little something to wake you up! After I wash it off my skin feels extremely smooth, soft and calm (with many other face washes my skin can be quite red after). I was thoroughly impressed with this product and would most likely repurchase it.

Renewal Mask -

So I put this mask on after I've washed my face with the cleansing gel. The texture of this mask is like Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream which I was not used to for a face mask (I normally buy thick, paste like masks - think mud). It doesn't have that satisfying feeling of "I'm putting on a mask" as it feels more like a cream/gel. The smell, however, is absolutely gorgeous - a delicate citrus (grapefruit) fragrance. Then, once you've applied the mask it becomes very tingly (which it does tell you on the packaging) but in an itchy way rather than a refreshing way. After 10 minutes I wash it off with a face cloth and it has a rather sticky feeling to it. It does give a definite sense that your skin is "renewed" but I feel perhaps my skin is too dry for this product or perhaps I shouldn't use it straight after the cleansing gel. Not my favourite product, but willing to give it another try!

Day Cream -

This is a lovely, light, day cream. It tightens my skin instantly which makes it feel firm and also so soft. A little of this product goes a long way too, however, needs quite a lot of rubbing for it to fully absorb into the skin! The smell reminds me of Earl Grey Tea (this is probably just me!) which I really quite like. It also has an ever so slight, minty, tingle about it which really makes my skin feel fresh. It feels quite cooling and is very smoothing for the skin. I have also noticed it reflects the light quite a lot which obviously lends itself to that "radiant" look we all so desire.

Repair Cream -

This cream I apply at night after a bath. It is quite a lot thicker than the day cream and again takes a while to be absorbed. It has a woody/churchy (frankincense) fragrance that is totally different to any product I have used before and a lovely, relaxing smell to go to bed with. I often find a lot of products are over perfumed and I love the refreshing natural smells of REN products. It feels deeply moisturising which is what I want at night time (rather than the day time). It again has a tingly feeling which is more awakening than relaxing for me. When I wake up in the morning my skin feels soft and fresh (compared to not putting a night cream on). Normally I have baths at night time rather than showers in the morning and usually just use one cream for all purposes but after testing this night cream I might invest in a full size.    

Please let me know if you have tried any of the products I have reviewed today, I would love to hear your thoughts. Isobel x