December Favourites 2015

My last favourites post of 2015! How crazy is that? I hope you all had a fabulous Christmas!
I will be posting a 2015 Favourites soon. This month is a small one but I have really loved the items mentioned.

Worth The Hype? Clarins Instant Light Lip Oil REVIEW

The limited edition Clarins Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil (£18) caused such a fuss earlier in the year that the brand took the product on as a permanent product in the range. Must be good, right? They had taken my fancy slightly, purely just because of all the hype they were receiving and the rave reviews I had read/watched from fellow bloggers. The raspberry oil being favourite out of the two flavours (honey is also available) sold out almost immediately and was impossible to get hold of. I, luckily, got chatting to the Clarins counter manager in my local department store and she told me she was getting a delivery in in a few hours and would keep a raspberry lip oil aside for me. Score.

REVIEW: Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Night Pads Extreme

Exfoliating pads are kind of my thing since discovering them earlier in the year.. Well, chemical exfoliants in general are "my thing" but when they're conveniently wrapped up in a little pre-soaked pads it makes it even better. My latest discovery have been the Nip+Fab Glycolic Fix Extreme Night Pads (£14.95)

November Favourites 2015

November Favourites time!

Clinique Lip Pop Lipsticks Review

I have had my eyes on the Clinique Lip Pop  (£16) lipsticks since they released earlier in the year. I love a good, bright lipstick. but I already have so many that for once, managed to resist and not make an impulsive buy. So you can imagine my delight when I went to pick up the December issue of Glamour (simply because the gorgeous Tanya Burr was on the cover) and discovered the free gift was a choice of Clinique minis that included 2 shades of the Lip Pops. I went home with both shades; Nude Pop and Cherry Pop.

I'll start with Cherry Pop as I have the most to say about it. As you can see, this shade is a bright, bold red with a strong pink undertone. It is stunning on the lips. A great colour for the upcoming Holiday season, too. I love how it is bright, yet still one of those "wearable" reds. I think the pink helps to mute it down slightly. I think it is really flattering.

The formulation of these lipsticks is pretty amazing. They are super long lasting for a start, which I did not expect when I applied it at first, as they've got a very creamy, moisturising feel to them. I wore Cherry Pop out all day and actually forgot I was wearing what would usually be classed as a "high maintenance" colour, this formulation means it is quite the opposite. I had to touch up once, just in the very centre of my lips but that was it. It did not feather or bleed, which is usually what happens when you mix a highly pigmented shade with a creamy formula. But most importantly, it felt so comfortable all day long, almost as if I was wearing a lip balm, it has that same buttery texture. So, you get the best of both worlds here; a long lasting colour that is comfortable and low maintenance to wear. What more could you ask for?

Nude Pop, whilst being a stunning nudey-pink that matches my lip colour almost perfectly, I found was no where near as long lasting. In fact, within an hour it was pretty much gone. However, because it is what I'd class as a "my lips but better" shade and has that low maintenance formula I don't mind as it is super easy to reapply throughout the day. It is a nice, easy one to keep in your handbag for on the go.

I am now super interested in picking up some other colours, most likely from the more bold and bright end of the scale. Do you have any shades you'd recommend for me? Let me know in the comments.

Thank you for reading!


Zoe x

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Skin Saviours for Oily/Blemish Prone Skin From La Roche Posay

Having oily/blemish prone skin can be difficult, especially when a lot of the time, the products marketed towards that skin type can end up making things much worse. That is something about the skincare industry that really winds me up. Not all brands do it (f course) but you'll find more often than not every foaming, stripping, sulphate based product is marketed "for oily skin". A brand I love and trust for oily/blemish prone skin is La Roche-Posay. I think they're one of the best, most trustworthy brands out there for oily skin.

As someone who has an oily skin type, I rely on these 2 products I am going to talk about a lot. I recommend them to pretty much anyone who mentions they suffer from spots, congestion, excess oil ect. You'll have heard of them before I am sure. Not only are they some of La Roche Posays well known products, they caused quite a buzz in the beauty blogger world, too.

The first is Serozinc; The product that caused such a buzz that consumers demanded La Roche Posay brought over to the UK immediately. And thankfully, they did!
Serozinc, for such a simple product, is amazing. It contains only three ingredients; La Roche Posay's thermal spring water, zinc sulphate and sodium chloride. Serozinc can be used as a "traditional" toner, I love using it after an acid tone as I feel after using the two together, you've got a clean, fresh and prepared based for anything you then want to layer on top (serum, moisturiser). Now anyone can use Serozinc, no matter your skin type but the reason Serozinc works so well for a more oily/acne prone skin type is because of the ingredients. Zinc sulphate is a very healing on the skin, so if you have any active, open (such a gross description but you know what I mean!) blemishes, the zinc is going to help to heal them and get them to disappear faster. The sodium chloride is great for killing off bacteria. As you can imagine, where there are active blemishes, there is bacteria. The sodium chloride helps to kill any bacteria from the surface off the skin, whilst also reducing excess oil (which also carries bacteria) So you can imagine with the combination of the two ingredients, the amazing effect it will have on the skin, also the thermal water helps to sooth and calm any redness or irritation on the skin. You can also spray Serozinc throughout the day too. I like to use it when I feel my skin is slightly too oily.

The next product really is my number 1 holy grail product. I've talked about it countless times on my blog already but never dedicated a whole post to it and as I am gaining new readers all the time, I want everyone to know about this product.
This is La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo [+] or as I like to call it, "the product that saves my face." This, without a doubt, is one of the best skincare products that I have ever used. If you suffer with any form of congestion, blemishes, excess oil, uneven pigmentation, uneven texture on the skin then you need to try this. It is a treatment product designed to basically fix all of the things I just listed above. The main difference I see when I use this is in the texture of my skin. Effaclar Duo is amazing for completely wiping out any congestion within the skin (so if you run your fingers lightly over your face, your cheeks are a good place to test this, and you can feel little bumps, that is congestion). I don't have bad skin, by any means, I am very lucky. I do, however, have blackheads on my nose and chin and those pesky under the skin spots that usually appear on my cheeks, Effaclar Duo helps to get rid of all of that. It uses an ingredient called salicylic acid that penetrates into the pores and breaks down congestion from within, which means it is also amazing for preventing breakouts and blemishes. It is amazing. The "+" is for evening out pigmentation and any marks that are left behind after blemishes. I will always have this product in my collection and not only that, I will always have a back up too. It is amazing!

Those are my skin savoiours from La Roche-Posay. I hope you check them out if you haven't already. If you have tried them, what do you think? Let me know in the comments below.

Thank you for reading and I hope you found it helpful.


Zoe x

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October Favourites 2015

My first favourite of the month is the YSL Touche Eclat 01. I used this before applying my favourite No.7 concealer. This is very pink toned so I find it helps to conceal any darkness and really brightens up the under eye area. I never noticed that it made that much of a difference until I forgot to apply it and spent the rest of the day wondering why I looked so tired. It blends really nicely and never looks cakey or heavy under the eyes. The combination of this plus my No.7 concealer has been a dream!

I've gone back to using The Body Shop Camomile Cleansing Oil and reminded myself just how much I love this stuff. It is fantastic for removing makeup, especially eye makeup and leaves the skin feeling so smooth and soft. I am happy to have it back in my routine again!

Anastasia Brow Powder (Ash Blonde/Taupe) is a new staple for me. It took a while to get use to using a powder after being an avid brow pencil user all this time but it makes such a difference. I find I get a cleaner, more precise look when using a powder. I use the Anastasia 07 brush with it and the two together are a great match. I might write a whole post on this duo at a later date.

Vichy Idealia Skin Sleep is a product I've dedicated an entire post to already(right here!) but I had to mention it again. It is a great product that provides the skin with a serious boost of hydration whilst you sleep. The light but nourishing mask sinks into the skin quickly and provides continuous hydration throughout the night. I highly recommend this product!

The Nails Inc polish in Knebworth is a gorgeous dusky, pinky nude that looks stunning on the nails. I made an appearance in my Autumn Nail Colours post and I have a feeling it'll be on my nails for the next few weeks. It looks so pretty but very chic, too. The formulation is great as well, this kind of colour tends to be quite hard to work with but it was opaque and even in 2 coats.

A random one that I only discovered a few days ago, hence why it isn't in the main photo, is the KORRES lip butter in Jasmine. This just makes your lips look good. It has the tiniest tint of baby pink/nude to it that just evens out the lips and adds a slight sheen. It is very pretty and because it is a lip butter it is so comfortable and moisturising on the lips. Doesn't last the longest time but I never expected it to, it is a lip butter after all!

Those are my favourites for the month of October! What have you loved this month? Let me know in the comments.


Thanks for reading.


Zoe x

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How To Remove Halloween Makeup

I could actually cry if I thought about the amount of people that remove their Halloween makeup with either wipes or not at all. It sends shivers down my spine. So, I thought I'd write this post in an attempt to save at least a few faces from that. Now, I don't know what kind of makeup you used to create your scary clown, zombie, cat, alien, whatever but lets just say it consists of a shit load of face paint, eye shadow, foundation that is 5 shades too pale for you etc. If you've used liquid latex, etc you're going to have to follow the specific removal instructions provided but come back to this to remove the rest, okay?

Side note: I've tried to choose more "affordable" options here. There is no point whipping out your £40 cleansing balm to wash away 3 layers of face paint, what a waste! Save those for your skin.

The absolute must have for the job just has to be Clinique Take The Day Off cleansing balm/oil (which ever you have/prefer, they do the same job) This is the ultimate "melt every scrap of makeup off my face instantly" cleanser. It's job is to destroy makeup on your face. It won't strip or irritate your skin because guess what? You will 100% have to double, maybe even triple, cleanse depending on the amount of makeup you've got on so it is best to go for a gentle, fuss free cleanser. TTDO is great for removing the bulk of the makeup, so it is going to break down the layers of face paint that is on the skin. Go over your face as many times as you like with this, like I said it is super gentle so it will not cause any irritation to the skin, it also has a good "slip" to it, so you won't be pulling/tugging at the skin.

I'd go in with an oil next, something like The Body Shop Silky Camomile Cleansing Oil. This is going to be get rid of the last scraps of makeup, the really stubborn bits but it is also going to help provide the skin with a little bit of hydration and moisture, too (which I am almost certain we will all need by this point!)

You can 100% use both of those cleansers around the eye area but just in case you want something separate or something to make sure every last scrap of mascara is off, I'd recommend going in with a specific eye makeup remover. The No.7 eye makeup remover is great. This is great as it is a bi-phase liquid, so the oil helps to gently break down makeup without you having to scrub at your eyes. It makes removing eye makeup effortless. You can also go for a good old micellar water. My personal favourite is Bioderma, is is gentle and gets the job done easily and fast.

What to avoid:
Foam/gel/milk cleansers 'cause lets face it, they're going to do nothing. You need something oily to actually break down and remove the makeup. If you want to go in with one of them once you feel as if you've thoroughly removed everything, crack on.

Wipes. At all costs really but especially when removing heavy makeup. All wipes do is smear the makeup around your face, you're not actually removing as much as you think. Your skin can also become irritated if you continuously go over it with a wipe.


DO:
Use a flannel/cloth/towel whatever you can get your hands on. Splashing with water is going to get you no where, you need to wipe the product off your face.

Happy Cleansing!

Zoe x

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Vichy Idealia Skin Sleep REVIEW

"Sleeping masks" seem to be all the rage in the skincare world right now and I am glad because I love them. For someone who has a fussy skin type when it comes to heavy, nourishing creams, I can find using a night time moisturiser quite difficult as they always end up breaking me out. "Sleeping" creams tend to be the opposite. As they're designed to be used at night, they always have a lovely light, gel like consistency but pack a punch of hydration. The Vichy Idealia Skin Sleep does just that.

Now, this product isn't exactly labelled as a "mask" but based on the way it applies, it's texture, consistency etc, I am saying it's a sleeping mask! I was slightly hesitant as the consistency of this product does lean more toward that of a cream, it is the thickest sleeping mask I have tried but do not let that put you off, it applies like a dream My skin practically drinks this stuff up. It melts into the skin beautifully and within 10 minutes it has settled down to a light, non-sticky layer over the skin. I apply a generous amount of this, too (which is another thing I love about this product, you can really pile it on and it still sinks in easily!) I even applied a couple layers one night and it just continues to sink in. Love! I love anything that provides hydration but has a light consistency, it suits my skin type perfectly.

So, the Vichy Skin Sleep is great at doing what sleeping creams are meant to do best, restoring moisture/hydration as you sleep. My skin feels so hydrated in the morning after using this, more so than it has when using other sleeping masks. I also like that I can still feel it slightly on the skin, too. It shows that it is still hanging around and doing it's job. If you suffer from dehydration, I highly recommend this product. Dehydration is one of my main skin concerns and I was really impressed with how this performed. It helped plump up my skin, giving it a supple appearance. You can really feel the moisture within the skin, it will feel so plump and firm. The Vichy Skin Sleep also aims to give your skin the appearance of having a full nights sleep, even if you haven't but restoring radiance and diminishing the appearance of fatigued skin.

Vichy Skin Sleep is loaded with lots of great ingredients too. It's got hyaluronic acid, which I think is a must for any type of sleeping mask as it really help to bond water and moisture to the skin. It also has a form of salicylic acid too, which means anyone with congestion/blemishes will benefit from using this cream. Caffeine to help counteract the signs of fatigue and vitamin b3 which has anti-inflammatory properties and is loaded with fatty acids.

Have you tried the Vichy Idealia Skin Sleep? Let me know what you think in the comments below.

Thanks for reading.


Zoe x

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Disclaimer: PR sample. Vichy kindly sent me this product. All opinions are 100% true, honest and my own. This is not a sponsored post.

My Favourite Makeup Brushes

I, like most of you, have a lot of makeup brushes. Yet, I found it very easy to narrow it down to my favourites, the ones I reach for all the time and realistically, could easily get rid of all the others I own (minus a few extra blending brushes) and happily go on with just these select few. Am I going to do that? Of course not. But nonetheless, here are my favourite, most used makeup brushes.

Soap and Glory One Heck Of A Blot Primer Review

There is a lot of buzz going around right now about the new Soap and Glory One Heck of a Blot Primer (£10). Soap and Glory is a great brand that I think deserves more attention, especially for their makeup, which is great quality and affordable. One Heck Of A Blot originally started as a pressed powder that was great for using to touch up throughout the day. Soap and Glory have now expanded the range and included a new foundation and a new primer, which is what I will be reviewing in this post.

Top 3 Facial Oils

3.Kiehls Midnight Recovery Concentrate // £36
I have always referred to Kiehls Midnight Recovery as the oil that "fixes your face" and I stand by that. This facial oil is a bit of miracle worker. What I love most about Midnight Recovery is not only does it provide the skin with hydration and moisture but it also really works on healing and soothing any irritation on the skin, whether that is blemishes, redness ect. It contains lovely ingredients including omega 6 essential fatty acids, evening primrose and lavender, all of which are 99.8% naturally derived. My skin can be a bit funny with essential oils, usually causing breakouts and redness but I get the opposite effect when using Midnight Recovery, which is amazing! Midnight Recovery leaves the skin hydrated and soothed, it helps to heal any irritation over the skin and if you have active blemishes, you should notice a visible difference in the morning, the swelling and redness will be massively reduced with just a couple nights use. I recommend this oil to everyone who has problematic skin.

2. Pai Rosehip BioRegenerate Oil // £22
My skin and rosehip oil get on like a house on fire. Any product that contains rosehip oil (at a decent percentage) I can almost guarantee will work for me. So you can imagine how well I get on with the Pai Rosehip Oil. For such a simple product, this works so well. Rosehip oil is loaded with Omegas 3, 6, 7 and 9, which are all essential fatty acids, which basically, help the skin to function better and restores the skins nutrients. Pai Rosehip Oil is great if you have any scarring, uneven pigmentation, marks ect on the skin (so it will work great for anyone with acne scarring for example) as it helps to even out the surface of the skin, Not only that but it is also extremely hydrating, I love how my skin feels after I use this, it is plump, supple and nourished. I find the Pai Rosehip oil very light on the skin, too. So you never feel like you've got a thick, heavy oil over the skin, which is never pleasant! This is very comfortable to wear and it sinks in easily to the skin. You can read my full review of The Pai Rosehip oil here for more details.

1.The Body Shop Oils of Life Facial Oil // £28
A newcomer. A newcomer that has swooped in and taken the top spot in my facial oils list. I absolutely love this stuff. Oils of Life is the newest skincare range from The Body Shop and dare I say it, probably the best. The Body Shop really have stepped up their skincare game with this one!
If you have dehydrated skin but want something so incredibly light on the skin, that you forget you've even got an oil on your face, you need this. The Oils of Life facial oil is by far the lightest yet most hydrating facial oil I have ever used. I take 3 drops and really press it into the skin, it sinks in instantly and provides the skin with an instant boost of hydration. This, like the Pai oil, also contains rosehip oil. It also contains black cumin seed oil, which is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. And camellia oil which is great for holding hydration within the skin. The quality of this oil is amazing, the ingredients list is just oil, after oil, after oil. There is no "fillers" or anything to "bulk" the product out, you really are getting the finest, purest seed oils with this one.
As I work for The Body Shop, I got given this oil for free but please, do not think that is why I am mentioning it. I would happily buy this again myself and for full price, too! I honestly think it is great and highly recommend it to everyone reading this post, no matter your age or skin type. You can read my full review of the Oils of Life Facial Oil here if you'd like as it is far more detailed.

What are your favourite facial oils?

Thanks for reading!

Zoe x

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Kiehls Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado Review

Dryness and dehydration under the eyes is a problem I have been dealing with for the whole of this year. It all started when I took an allergic reaction to an eye cream at the beginning of the year (which was actually a really great eye cream, minus the horrible reaction) which left me with sore, red, crusty eyes. Delightful. After that cleared up, I was then left with severely dehydrated, "crepey" looking under eyes. Even more delightful! I found a duo that worked really well for me at the start of the year and through into the Summer months which I wrote a post all about here. Don't get me wrong, they still work great, it is just now we are coming into Autumn and the weather is getting even colder (I say even colder as I live in Scotland so "cold" is just our weather all year round) I found I just needed up step up my game on the hydration front. So, I turned to the thickest, creamiest eye cream I could think of; Kiehls Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado // £20

Autumn Nail Colours

I mean, how many favourite Autumn nail polishes, the best Autumn nail colours, my top 5 nail colours for Autumn ect posts have you already read and it is only the start of October? Well, here's another one for you to add to that list.

How To Combat Dehydrated Skin In Autumn/Winter

Now that we are coming into the colder months of the year, it is important to amp up the hydration levels for your skin. Most people already have dehydration at some level or another, whether it is just slightly or your main concern. Autumn/Winter is the time where the weather really takes it out of your skin and most of us get dry, dehydrated, dull etc. This post is going to be how to help combat dehydration within the skin and keeping your skin plump and hydrated throughout Autumn/Winter.

Skincare Empties Worth Repurchasing #4 (Holy-grail edition)

I am now on my fourth instalment of my skincare worth repurchasing post, which I am quite proud of! It helps me to work my way through products and actually finish them, rather than leaving a half empty tube sitting in my collection. This seems to be the post of my holy-grail empties. You'll have seen pretty much all of these products appear in posts before as they're my go-to's. 

GlamGlow Mask Reviews and Comparisons

Glamglow are a brand known for their masks that are used and loved by many famous faces. Today I thought I'd write a post comparing and reviewing each of the GlamGlow masks I own. Going over what skin type each is best suited for, what they do, the results etc.

September Favourites 2015

September favourites time! I have a good mix of things this month from makeup to skincare to even  non-beauty favourite that I've added at the end. 

My first favourite is MAC Patisserie lipstick. This has been my go-to, easy to throw on lippy this month. This is what I class as a "nude". It is a sheer, brown based pink, with subtle shimmer running through it. The formulation is so comfortable and moisturising on the lips, which means it doesn't last the longest amount of time but that's okay because it is so easy to reapply.

The original Urban Decay Naked Palette has been a staple for me this month and probably will be for the rest of my life (only sightly dramatic) I am so obsessed with this! How did it take me so long to pick this up? It's funny because my friend Sophie and I were talking about how everyone still makes such a big deal out of this palette and it's such "old news" now and here I am, raving about it. This has everything I could ever want in a palette. I've written a whole post on my thoughts about it, that you can read in full here but just know, I love this. It has the perfect mix of shades and I love that it is a more warm toned palette.

Kiehls Avocado eye cream saved my eyes from the return of dehydration this month. Since taking a bad reaction last year, under my eyes can flare up in a red, itchy rash (niiice) that gets so dehydrated and sore. Anything I put on it stings and makeup looks awful on top of it. The only thing I could put on it without it stinging at all was the Kiehls Avocado eye cream and not only that, it completely cleared it up too! A little miracle product. The thick, buttery consistency helped to combat the dryness and the soothing formula helped to calm the irritation. This has gone from being my evening eye cream to my "all day, everyday" eye cream. I love it.

I've already written a full post on the Oils of Life Essence Lotion from The Body Shop, which if you read that post I am sure you knew it would be appearing in this months favourites. This is a fantastic product for if you've got dehydrated skin and need a boost of hydration is a super light form. It's a bi-phase liquid you apply before serum and moisturiser for an extra fine layer of moisture. It sinks in immediately and plumps the skin up full of hydration, it is amazing. It is feather light on the skin, making it perfect for all skin types, especially oily skin.

My last beauty favourite is this Revolution Blush Palette in "Hot Spice". I think this is a great palette for the upcoming Autumn months as it has some great mauvey/pink shades. They're really pigmented and easy to blend. I don't have a favourite shade, I just choose one and go with it and it always looks really pretty on the cheeks.

My non-beauty favourite for this month is the lovely George Ezra. What a talented young man! I am obsessed with this music. I've got Wanted on Voyage on repeat constantly and if for whatever reason I don't have it playing, I'll be singing or humming one of his songs. My favourites are Listen To The Man, Leaving It Up To You, Get Lonely With Me and Drawing Board. There is not one song I skip on the album, they're all fantastic and I love how each one almost tells a little story (my favourite being Leaving It Up To You) Not to mention George is so adorable and seems like the most charming, down to earth guy.

What are your favourites for the month of September? Let me know in the comments.

Thanks for reading!


Zoe x

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Urban Decay Naked Palette (I'm only 5 years late.)

Yes. I am only 5 years late to the Urban Decay Naked Palette party. But, seriously, how have I gone this long without this palette?! I own and love the Naked 3 palette which as you know is a very warm, pinky, rose gold based palette, colours I totally love. But for some reason I had never even taken an interest in the other 2 palettes (now three with the introduction of the Naked Smoky, which I am literally the only person on Earth that does not like that palette!)

Now that I (finally) own it I am kind of completely obsessed with it. It, to me, is like the perfect palette. I love the more warm base it has to it in terms of the golds and browns. It also has the perfect mix of those pinky/taupe shadows that I love so much. The only two shadows I'll probably not use are the two at the end, Creep and Gunmetal because they are distinctly cool toned, which I don't like. Other than that, I can't fault this palette.

My favourite shades are Sidecar, which is a beautiful shimmery, goldy toned brown. I reach for this shade a lot, it is so easy to apply all over the lid and blend a touch of Buck (matte light brown) into the crease but most days, I just throw on Sidecar on it's own and it looks great. For a more smokey look I love using Smog, which is a slightly darked brown that still has a lot of pretty shimmer running through it. I also love Half Baked for if I am going out and want something that stands out a bit more.

If I want to go for a more pink toned look I love using Toasted and Sin. They have that pink tone running through them but are still so wearable and great for an easy everyday look.

I reach for the Naked Palette everyday now. I think I could easily get rid of all my other palettes and never feel the need to buy another one, that is how good and versatile the Naked Palette is. I use it for a day look, if I want something quite subtle and pretty on the eyes but I can also use it for when I am going out and want something more smoky and sexy. It does it all.

What is your favourite palette? Let me know in the comments.

Thanks for reading.


Zoe x

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The Body Shop Oils of Life Essence Lotion

So, essence lotions are a product I have never really taken an interest in. I thought that it was a bit of an unnecessary step and maybe even a bit.. Gimmicky? Last week, I wrote a post about The Body Shop Oils of Life Facial Oil*, which I love. After a while of debating whether to buy the matching Oils of Life Essence Lotion, I finally caved and walked away with it (and the facial massager, too!) deciding to put it to the test.

So, for any of you wondering what an essence lotion is exactly, let me explain quickly. An essence lotion is meant to add an extra, micro fine, layer of moisture to the skin. It's all about layering and building moisture in the skin with essence lotions. You apply it after cleansing but before your serum. Essence lotions also prep the skin nicely for anything you then want to layer on top as they can make the skin more receptive. They're usually light, smell nice, add hydration and plump. Sounds great, right?

So, I'll just start of by saying I love this. This it the first essence lotion  have tried and it has instantly become a staple in my routine. This makes my skin feel great. Like the Oils of Life Facial Oil it is so hydrating but incredibly light on the skin. I just take some on a cotton pad and sweep it all over my skin. I then, still using the pad, press and pat it onto my skin, to really work it in. I do this all over, focusing mainly on my cheeks, which get particularly dehydrated.

If dehydration is a main skin concern for you, you need this. My skin is oily but also dehydrated, so I need something that is going to help to provide hydration to my skin without being heavy and this does just that. It is so light and comfortable on the skin. It is a bi-phase liquid but you can not feel any oil or residue after you've applied it. The hydration this provides is amazing! For something so light, it provides so much hydration to the skin that you instantly feel the difference. It is almost like a liquid moisturiser! My skin always feels so plump and supple after I use this, it completely eliminates any signs/feeling of dehydration.
I love using this with the Oils of Life facial oil. The two together work so well. The essence lotion really preps the skin, making the oil penetrate even quicker. I can really tell a difference when I use the two together!

Like the rest of the Oils of Life range from The Body Shop, it contains the 3 cold pressed seed oils; rosehip oil, black cumin seed oil and camellia seed oil.

Have you tried The Body Shop Oils of Life Essence Lotion before? Let me know what you thought in the comments below. Also are there any other essence lotions I should try out?

Thanks for reading!


Zoe x

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Disclaimer: I work for The Body Shop. However, all opinions about products from The Body Shop are 100% my own and do not reflect the opinions of those at The Body Shop. Any product given to me for staff sampling has been marked with an *. Any product from The Body Shop not marked, will have been purchased by myself, with my own money at a staff discounted price. All my opinions are completely true and honest. 

Makeup Empties Worth Repurchasing

Now this is a post you really will not see often from me. It takes so long for me to even make a dent in a product, never mind finish it, so that alone should tell you how much I enjoyed the products in this post. Not being able to finish makeup products is probably down to the fact that a) I have way too many and b) I simply get bored. I could really love a product but still, after a few months, get an itch to try something new. Recently, I have managed to finish up a few products that I really loved, so I thought I'd share that in this post.

No.7 Airbrush Away Foundation Review

No.7 is a brand I have started to take more interest in since falling in love with their Instant Radiance Undereye concealer, which is now one of my holy grail makeup items. No.7 have recently released a new foundation; Airbrush Away foundation (£16.50) which claims to give you a "flawless, smooth appearance from every angle." quite a bold claim.

The Best Facial Sprays

I love facial sprays. Whether it is to use them as a traditional toner or as a refreshing mist throughout the day. I can't seem to get enough of them. I have a few that stand out in my collection, ones that I reach for on a daily basis and recommend over and over again.

The Body Shop Oils Of Life | Intensely Revitalising Facial Oil

The Body Shop have really stepped up their game recently and have come out with some really great products. To follow on from the luxurious Spa of The World Range, which features truly indulgent bath and body treats, The Body Shop now have the Oils of Life Range. This range is all about high quality skincare. The range has 4 items; 2 moisturisers (one for oily/combo, one for normal/dry), an essence lotion and a facial oil. This post is going to be all about the facial oil, as it is the star of the show. 

A Night With Morgan McMichaels and Kiehls

Last week I was very kindly invited along to a Kiehls event in Glasgow for the launch of their new product, the Daily Reviving Concentrate. I was so excited as this was my first ever event I had been invited to through blogging! The event was held in the Buchanan Street store, which is lovely. We were taken upstairs and given a glass of champagne. The upstairs of the store had a barber which I thought was so cool and something I did not know Kiehls did. There was also a photo booth and lots of products to play with.

August Favourites 2015

I'll start off  my August favourites with a product that has made an appearance in a favourites post before, which is The Body Shop Lip and Cheek Velvet Stick in Poppy Red (£12) I forgot just how good this product was.

Top Cream Eyeshadows

Cream eyeshadows were never really something I reached for until this year. And now, they're one of my most used products in my collection. I love how quick and easy a cream shadow can be to apply but also the effect they give. They tend to be high impact but low effort. My kind of product!

How To Get Glowy Skin

Having glowy skin is a look I will never get tired off. Achieving a glowy complexion is easy when you select the right products to work with your skin. You can, of course, fake it till you make it with highlighters and illuminating foundations but I love having naturally glowy skin through the use of skincare. So, how do you get glowy skin?

When Your Favourite Product Gets Discontinued | The Body Shop Honey Bronzer 02

This is the first time I've had to go through the struggle of having one of my holy grail makeup items being discontinued.
As many of you will know, I work for The Body Shop, so was one of the first to see our updated discontinuation list for the year. And my little heart broke into a million tiny pieces when I saw Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder in shade 02 on the list (It is just the shade 02 that is being discontinued as far as I am aware) After an extremely over dramatic response by me, involving shock, screaming, shouting and mild hyperventilation, I ran out to the shop floor and grabbed the last remaining 3 Honey Bronzers in shade 02 on the shelf and purchased them.