Watch, Listen, Love #1

So today I thought I would do a different type of post. I used to do random favourites a lot but instead of bringing those back I thought I would do something a little different by sharing what i've been watching, listening to and loving lately. 

Source (x) (x)

WATCH:

TV wise there's nothing that is a stand out. The only show i'm watching weekly is Silicon Valley which is a bit of a geeky comedy which I love. Other than that whilst my internet wasn't working last weekend I watched a lot of The Mindy Project which i've now nearly finished the second season of. Film wise I went to the cinema with my friend at the weekend and saw Pitch Perfect 2. We both loved the first one and quote it all the time. The second one wasn't as good but it was still very funny and will no doubt be singing along to it when the DVD comes out. 

LISTEN:

I've been trying to find some new music to listen to. I've had the Electric Guest Mondo album on repeat a lot. If you like 80's style music with a modern twist you will love this album, especially the song Awake. I've been using a Soundcloud a lot more and discovered a new artist called Day Wave and the song Drag which I can't stop listening to. Another new find is Mansion On The Moon and Don't Tell which i've also been listening to a lot.

LOVE:

I've gotten back into reading a lot lately and i've nearly finished Never Look Away by Linwood Barclay which i've been hooked on. It's a story about a man who's wife disappears and they're trying to find out what happened to her. There's lots of plot twists that keep you wanting to read on. It's safe to say i'm tea obsessed and recently found the Pukka Cleanse tea on a shopping trip. This is a great tea if you're feeling a bit full or have a stomach ache and it really soothes and also tastes great. I thought I would end on a beauty product. I picked up the Superdrug Clearly Youthful Retexturising Glycolic Peel Off Mask last weekend and i've only used it once but it left my skin feeling so nice. I'm going to use it a couple more times but expect a review soon! 

So those are some things that i've been watching, listening to and loving recently. If you have any TV recommendations I would love to hear as I need some new things to watch. What have you been watching, listening to and loving recently?

May Beauty Favourites

I mentioned in last months favourites that I had been trying out a few new products which as expected have been favourites of mine throughout the whole of  may. The contour palette is something i've used everyday I have worn makeup this month and is already starting to look well loved. 

SKINCARE:

Soap & Glory Peaches and Clean Deep Cleansing Milk - My skin has definitely been playing up lately so when I spotted this on offer I picked it up since I knew my skin loved it. This is my morning cleanser which leaves the skin feel clean, soft but not dry. I think this really helps with any breakouts or oil I have on my skin and i'm so glad to be using it again.

Superdrug Vitamin E Refreshing Toner - This has been living on my desk all month and i've been using it mostly in the afternoon when i'm feeling tired and in need of a freshen up. It's smells nice and really refreshes the skin without feeling wet. A great affordable fine. 

La Roche Posay Hydraphase Intense Masque - I rediscovered this mask last month and forgot how much I loved it. It's the perfect moisture mask if you have oily but dehydrated skin as it has more of a gel consistency so isn't heavy but still hydrating. 

MAKEUP:

Makeup Revolution Iconic Pro 1 Palette - I reviewed this last week and it's pretty much the only eyeshadows i've been wearing this month. I love the mix of shades in this palette and that there are a good amount of matte colours that are all well pigmented. This is definitely going to be the palette I take when I go away over the Summer as it is so versatile. 

Makeup Revolution Ultra Sculpt & Contour Kit - I picked this up on a bit of a whim and i've been loving it so much. It's so compact and the bronzer is matte without being too orange toned. The highlighter is a lovely champagne colour and the blush is the perfect shimmery peachy pink shade. When worn together the combination leaves a great healthy glow to the cheeks. The wear time is also really good and again this is something that is going to be in my travel makeup bag this Summer. 

Maybelline The Colossal Go Extreme Volume Mascara - I've had this unopened for a while and finally got round to using it. At first I thought the brush would be hard to use but the tapered end actually helps you to get every lash. This leaves the lashes looking defined and with lots of volume without looking clumpy. 

So those are this months beauty favourites. I've been enjoying shopping the stash a lot lately but it was nice this month to pick up a few new products and put them to the test. What have been some of your beauty favourites this month?

May Empties!

This month i've definitely managed to use up a good mix of products. There's a couple of body moisturisers that I thought were never going to end and even some makeup products for good measure. 

BATH & SHOWER:

Dove Purely Pampering Cream Bath Shea Butter with Warm Vanilla - I've mentioned this a product a few times and I really do love it. It's my go to affordable bubble bath as it smells amazing and feels so luxurious. Repurchase? Yes. 

The Body Shop Coconut Shower Cream - I've had this for a while and finally got round to using it. The smell of this is amazing and has a true coconut scent. I don't love the formula though as it doesn't lather up that much. I think i'll stick to the other body products in the scent from now on. Repurchase? No. 

LUSH Butterbear - This was left over from Christmas and I really enjoyed using it. It has a lovely shea butter and vanilla scent to it and it's actually really moisturising on the skin which I why it's one of my favourite LUSH products. Repurchase? Yes. 

BODY:

Garnier Intensive 7 Day Lotion in Nourishing Shea Butter - I've had this so long that this is actually the old packaging. It's a really great basic lotion as it's very moisturising without feeling greasy on the skin. The shea butter scent is also really nice and not too overpowering. Repurchase? Yes. 

Soap & Glory Butter Yourself Moisture Lotion - I really enjoyed this lotion in Winter when my legs were very dry as it's a thick cream but not too heavy. The smell wasn't my favourite Soap & Glory scent but I did get used to it. The only downside is that the product is sometimes a bit too thick to come up the pump especially when you're near to the end which was really annoying. Repurchase? No.  

Nuxe Reve De Miel Hand and Nail Cream - I loved this product so much. My hands have been really dry during the colder months and this helped so much. It isn't too heavy or greasy but is so moisturising. Repurchase? Yes. 

Garnier InvisiCool Anti-Perspirant - I can be pretty fussy about anti perspirants but this one I really like and have purchased a few times because it does the job and smells nice without being too overpowering. Repurchase? Yes. 

SKINCARE:

Bioderma Moisturising Mask for Sensitive Dehydrated Skin - I picked this the last time I was in Paris and really enjoyed it. I used this whenever my skin felt like it needed a moisture boost and I liked it as it wasn't heavy whilst hydrating the skin. I also used this on my neck and it really helped with some dry patches I had. Repurchase? Yes. 

MAKEUP:

Seventeen Pressed Powder - For a long time this was my go to powder and it is a great affordable option. It feels light on the skin yet helps to set my makeup in place and control oil. I have the Matte primer to use now which i'm hoping is just as good. Repurchase? Yes.

Benefit Roller Lash Mascara - I got this sample the other month and I really enjoyed it. The brush shape meant you could coat ever lash easily. It did dry up quickly and by the end was starting to look a little clumpy which I didn't like. Repurchase? No.

Max Factor False Lash Effect Waterproof Mascara - I got this in a set a while ago and really enjoyed the fact that it was waterproof as it didn't transfer and stayed in place all day. I didn't love the brush and it was a little too big for my liking but the formula was really great. Repurchase? No.

So those are this months empties. I'm really trying to use up those products that have been lying around for a while half empty and I think i'm doing pretty well so far. Have you used up any of your favourite products this month?

May Health Favourites

This month it's finally (very slowly) started to get warmer so i've had a bit of a shake up and have been trying some new lighter lunches. I don't dislike salads but I find them to be a bit boring and not that filling so i've been trying out a few ideas this month as well as making some tasty treats and an awesome granola. 

LUNCHES:

For most salads i've been using a base of spinach and then topping with tomatoes, mushrooms and some avocado. I've been making my own dressing with some olive oil, balsamic vinegar and black pepper. I'll then either put some quinoa or a chickpea mix on top with makes it so much more filling. I've been really into avocados lately and as well as having them on salad i've had them on toast or even making my own guacamole and having it with a bean salad. I went back to an old favourite of mine and made a super quick lunch of veggies and cous cous which takes less than 5 minutes to make.  

COOKIES & GRANOLA: 

I've been really into granola and yogurt for an afternoon snack recently. I've loved this banana granola recipe and have already made it a few times. It's super tasty and easy to make and i've been having it with fruit and greek yogurt. I did spot this Rachel's Inspirations Apple & Butterscotch, definitely not the healthiest option but so good. The recipe for my Date and Chocolate Chip cookies is still a favourite of mine and the perfect snack for when I need a sweet treat. Finally I made a batch of these Date and Oat Bars by Deliciously Ella which were very good and the whole family were snacking on these. 

COOKBOOK:

I picked up the Madeline Shaw Get The Glow cookbook near to the end of the month which has a bunch of recipes I can't wait to make. I love that the book starts with a load of advice on how to eat healthy as well as alternatives to make. There's a great mix of breakfasts, meals, snacks and sweet treats.  

For workouts i've been focusing on trying to get my arms stronger and i'm starting to see a difference which definitely helps with staying motivated. So those have been some of this months health favourites. Have you loved any recipes or cookbooks this month?

What's In My Shower | Top 5

I have a cupboard next to my shower and I tend to fill it with half used products that i'm trying to use up. I'm a huge shampoo hoarder but I have notice that when I am in a rush there are around 5 products that I know work and use all the time. 

HAIR:
Herbal Essences Clearly Naked Volume Shampoo - £3.99 - As I mentioned I use a few different shampoos depending on how my hair is but this is definitely the one that I reach for the most. It not only smells amazing but leaves my fine hair feeling really clean with a bit of added volume. If you have fine, flat hair I would definitely recommend trying this. 
L'oreal Elvive Fibrology Thickening Conditioner - £3.99 - I sometimes forget to use conditioner because it can feel a bit heavy sometimes. This conditioner i've found doesn't do that, even if I use a little too much. It smells nice and really does soften the ends of the hair. I don't know if it actually thickens my hair but it isn't too heavy for fine hair. 

BODY:
Soap & Glory Clean On Me Shower Gel - £6.50 - I tend to always have a Soap & Glory shower gel in my shower as they last so long and I love the pump they come with. My favourite is Sugar Crush but Clean On Me has the classic Soap & Glory scent which is very nice. 
Boots Tea Tree & Witch Hazel Body Scrub - £4.99 - I mentioned this in a favourites recently as I was getting little bumps on my chest and back. This really helps to exfoliate the skin and help with blemishes. Definitely not the most glamourous scrub but one that really works. 
Nivea In Shower Body Moisturiser Indulging Cocoa - £3.75 - If i'm in a real rush I don't want to spend too much time moisturising after a shower so I product like this comes in very handy. I've tried a few different scents of these and the Cocoa is a really nice warming scent. I'm always surprised how soft this makes my skin feel after i've used it as the last step in my shower routine. 

So those are my top 5 shower products. These are definitely the basics that I reach for most days but I do had in some other bits if i'm in less of a rush. What are some of your shower staples?

Makeup Revolution Iconic Pro Palette - Reviewed!

Eyeshadow palettes are definitely the product that I get most excited about with Makeup Revolutions new releases. They're always one of my favourite things to try from any brand and they just keep bringing out great ones. This palette caught my eye because it is a dupe of the Lorac Pro Palette which had a lot of buzz around it so I was definitely interested in a cheaper version. 

The first thing I noticed about the palette is that the lid is now a matte plastic unlike some of their earlier palettes, which means it doesn't get scratched so easily. It does pick up the odd finger print but still feels very sturdy and travel friendly. The palette comes with a decent sized mirror which you could; and I have, used to do a whole face of makeup with. 

A great addition to this palette is the decent brush it comes with. It's not one of those rubbish sponge applicators. Instead you get a double ended brush, one end being a flat shadow brush, and the other being a fluffy crease or blending brush. I've found myself using this a lot when I use the palette and again this is a nice extra if you want to travel with the palette. 

The top row are all matte ranging from a white to a black. There's a really good mix of warm and cool tones, especially the four brown shades, all of which would be great crease definition colours. All the shadows have a nice buttery texture making them easy to blend on the lid. I was happy to see that even the paler matte shades are nicely pigmented and the colour translates well on the eyes. 

L-R Ghost, Luna, Must, Enigma, Fade, Drama, Afflicted, Pitch

The second row are all shimmer shades and again go from light to dark; starting with a champagne colour and ending with a shimmery black. The first four shades are different variations on champagne and golden colours, although they seem similar all of them look unique on the eyes. The shimmer shades are even more pigmented and leave little fallout when applied. None of them are overly glittery, instead they leave more of a sheen finish. 

L-R Need, Dawn, Getter, Breathe, Too Grey, Stage, Addicted, Player

The thing I love most about the shade range in the palette is that you get the everyday, easy to wear neutrals but you also get the darker shades to create a more dramatic eye look. I like the addition of the burgundy and the purple toned black which again makes this palette even more versatile. I think this palette is perfect for travelling as you have so many options and it is the palette I will be travelling with from now on. 

 Makeup Revolution Iconic Pro Palette retails £6.99.

Have you tried this palette? What are some of your favourite Makeup Revolution releases?

Desk Side Beauty

Before I get into today's post I wanted to say sorry for posts being a bit lacking recently. I had some Bloglovin issue and then my laptop broke.. Everything seems to be sorted now so things should be back to normal now. I've been working in my 'office' a lot more recently and i've collected a few beauty products that I like to have on hand that I thought I would share. 

As the weather has started warming up i've been loving face sprays again, especially for a mid afternoon freshen up. The one i'm testing out at the moment is the Superdrug Vitamin E Refreshing Toning Mist. This is a very affordable product and really does refresh the skin whilst being cooling and even hydrating. I always have to have a lip balm where ever I am. A favourite is the Nivea Fruity Shine Peach balm which smells like peach ice tea. It feels lovely on the lips and leaves a nice shine whilst softening the lips. This Winter I suffered from very dry hands so I tend to have a hand cream near me a lot. On my desk I currently have the Soap & Glory Hand Dream Super Cream which smells really good and softens the hands without feeling greasy which is essential when you spend a lot of the day typing. 

I tend to have a box on my desk where I put any products i'm testing or need to photograph. I'm currently trying out the Makeup Revolution Iconic Pro Palette which is a great neutral palette which i've been getting a lot of wear out; expect a review soon. The other product is the Simple Kind To Skin+ Protecting Moisture Cream which has an SPF30. I've only used this a couple of times so far but it seems to be pretty good. 

So those are the beauty bits that I keep on my desk. I try and keep things pretty tidy and not have too many products out and just the basics. What are the beauty staples that you keep on your desk?

The Body Shop Vitamin E Aqua Boost Sorbet - Reviewed!

I recently pick up some new skincare bits and this was one of the things I got. Ever since it came out I really wanted to give it a try but resisted until I finished some other creams. Whilst it was near Mother's Day they gave the Vitamin E range some limited edition packaging and had lots of great offers so I finally picked up a pot to try.

The packaging follows the pink theme of the Vitamin E range and comes in a cute frosted glass pot. It definitely feels luxurious to use. The product itself is designed to be cooling and hydrating which is why I picked it up to use in the warmer months as it feels very refreshing on the skin. You could even keep it in the fridge to get an even more cooling effect.

The name sorbet sums up the texture of the product very well. It has a gel like consistency which means it feels very light on the skin. You don't need a lot of product to cover the whole face and it applies for smoothly and instantly makes the skin feel more hydrating. You can definitely see a difference in how smooth the skin feels after application. The finish leans more to the matte or stain side which makes it perfect for applying under makeup in the morning to give a hydrating base.

I have definitely enjoyed using this in the morning as it feels like it wakes the skin up and packs in the moisture without feeling heavy or greasy. I think this would suit a lot of skintypes from combination to dry. I think it would be especially good for anyone with dehydrated skin that can be oily as it feels so light on the skin whilst being hydrating. 

The Body Shop Vitamin E Aqua Boost Sorbet retails for £12.00.

This is yet another product from The Body Shop that I have fallen in love with. Have you tried the Vitamin E Aqua Boost Sorbet?

Makeup Revolution Ultra Sculpt & Contour Kit - Reviewed!

I'm back with another Makeup Revolution review. This was a product a picked up on a bit of whim as there was a 3 for 2 offer on in Superdrug. There are a lot of these contour palettes about but this one seemed like it would be perfect for traveling.

One thing that is different about this palette is that it's smaller than others i've seen as it fits in the palm of your hand. It's very compact which I like as you get the maximum amount of product and no excess packaging. Something that I noticed about the packaging is that there is a small mirror at the top of the lid which isn't really needed but it's a nice addition and again doesn't take up space which could be used to get more product in.

One thing I love about Makeup Revolution is that the packaging feels very sturdy which makes their products great for traveling. The product itself comes in two colour; Ultra Fair and Light to Medium. I have Fair which is great for paler skins. It comes with a matte bronzer which isn't too orange, a champagne highlighter, and a golden peachy blush.

All the shades are well pigmented and have a soft texture which is easy to blend onto the skin. Each look great on their own but look even better when used together which gives a nice contoured look but isn't too intense. You can definitely build this up but also gives a natural healthy look to the skin. The wear time is really good with these as well, even after a long day I could still see the blush on my cheeks and the contour still in place.

Makeup Revolution Ultra Sculpt & Contour Kit retails for £3.50.

If you're looking for an easy to use contour kit of traveling or everyday use I would definitely recommend picking this up. For the price, the quality is great and well worth checking out. Have you tried any products from Makeup Revolution recently?

Week In Pictures #11

I haven't done a week in pictures post in a little while so I thought it would be perfect to do a chatty post today. This week seems to have gone really quickly, i've mainly been working and cramming for my theory test which is soon but I did find time to fit in a few shopping trips.

CLOTHES:
I was on the hunt for a plain pair of black trainers, I didn't want to spend a lot since I already have a good pair that I picked up a few months ago. I spotted these in New Look who have a new sports section and they were only £19.99 and are surprisingly comfy and nicely made. I've been on the hunt for some printed trousers for Summer and when I go on holiday in September. The navy pair I found in Primark and feel like you're wearing pyjamas. I also picked up the gold and pink necklace up on another trip which I think would look lovely with black and the other pair of trousers I got from H&M which are black with palm trees which were another bargain and fit really nicely.

FOOD:
I've gotten back into making guacamole again, especially with the bean salad I make and fajita style veggies. I've been really into avocados recently and trying to come up with different ways to use them. The tasty food continued with a trip to Giraffe. I'd actually never been before and it was so tasty, they have loads of healthier option which all looked so good. The mint lemonade was also pretty great. I also made a batch of my new favourite cookie recipe (I posted it last week) which are really good for when i've wanted a sweet treat.
OTHER:
We've been planning next months trip to London. We got see Foo Fighters at Wembley; very excited about this, and then are spending a couple of days in the city for some shopping and good food. We finally booked the hotel and train tickets so i'm definitely even more excited about it now. I've been trying out some new Makeup Revolution bits I picked up last week so expect to see a few reviews popping up. I've finally jumped on the bandwagon and started using snapchat. Add me at 'helenrambleson' if you want to see shots of my dog sleeping and food!

So that's it for what i've been up to the week, it's been a good week but a busy one. This month definitely feels like it's going to be a busy one but I guess it's good to be busy! What have you been up to this week? Have you picked up anything new?

Affordable Skincare Haul

I've been really trying to not spend on beauty products and actually use things up. I've been doing really well but there was a few bits that I needed and I was on the hunt for a good face SPF that was affordable. I thought I would share the few bits I picked up along with my first impression of each product.

Soap & Glory Peaches and Clean Deep Cleansing Milk - £8.00 - I hadn't purchased this product for a while but when I spotted it on offer I had to get it again since my skin has been playing up and I know this works really well. Since I last bought it i'm pretty sure the bottle is bigger which is great. The smell is still the same and it still leaves my skin feeling so soft, clean but not dry. I think this cleanser is great if you have oily skin that is also dehydrated.

Superdrug Vitamin E Refreshing Toning Mist - £2.99 - I'm a big fan of The Body Shop Vitamin E toner so when I spotted this I was curious to see if it was just as good. The bottle is bigger and it has a slight suncream scent to it. The spray is definitely not as fine; i'm thinking if putting this is a finer spray bottle, but the product is really nice and refreshing as well as cooling. I'm not sure on the skincare benefits of this but I do like this sort of product in the warmer months and my skin seems to like it too.

Simple Kind To Skin Protecting Moisture Cream SPF 30 - £6.99 - I haven't tried many of the newer Simple products but Superdrug and a lot of them at 1/2 price so when I spotted that this day cream had an SPF 30 with UVA and UVB protection I thought I would try it. I haven't had chance to use this properly yet but the cream feels light, hydrating and not greasy. I'm hoping this will wear nice under makeup because it will be perfect for when I go to America in September.

So those are the few skincare bits i've picked up recently. I've been really enjoying getting some bargains recently and I think I did well picking up these products on offer. Have you picked up any bargain skincare bits recently?

Makeup Revolution Brow Dual Ultra Brow Arch and Shape - Reviewed!

I've been meaning to pick up a few new Makeup Revolution bits for a while and finally got round to placing on order. One of the products they released a little while ago were some new brow pencils which looked like they would be good. After having a few goes with it I thought I would share my thoughts. 

The packaging is very nice, it's black with gold lettering which looks a lot more expensive than the product actually is. One thing I will say is that there is the shade name on the box but not on the actual product which is a bit annoying. I got the shade Medium, I thought I had ordered fair but the shade is actually working well for my hair colour. 

On one end there is a felt tip which has a very fine nib so you can fill in small gaps in the brows very easily. The felt tip is a slightly lighter shade than the pencil. The pencil end is fine as well and is more pigmented than the pen and you can apply lightly or with a heavy hand for a bolder brow. 

L-R Felt Tip, Pencil

As you can see from the swatches the product is actually not that dark and is more on the cool side and doesn't have that much of a red undertone to it. The felt tip is great for filling in gaps and the end of the brows and the pencil is good for adding an overall colour and thickness. I do miss having something to brush out the brows but it is a great all in one pencil if you want to create a defined brow. I love that you could have a natural looking brow or a bolder look from the same product. The wear time is great too and the colour doesn't fade away or transfer onto the skin whilst being easy to remove at the end of the day.

 Makeup Revolution Brow Dual Ultra Brow Arch and Shape in Medium retails for £3.50.

If you're looking for a great affordable brow product this one is definitely worth checking out. The product comes in 4 shades so most people should be able to find a good match for their brows. Have you tried this Brow Dual?