Surprisingly Summery Scents

Hello everyone! 

Sadly my holiday is almost over! I don't want to leave and get back to the real world, but we all have to at some point. While I have been away I ran out of my current Sephora body scrub, it's so invigorating with its green tea essence. It's a hard act to follow, but as it was a weekend I couldn't just nip out and buy another. Instead I had a little rummage in my Mam's beauty stock, she keeps a few of her favourites stashed at the house for when she gets time off work and can come for a bit of rest and relaxation :-) 

Anyway, in her stash is her favourite festive exclusive from the Body Shop. The Frosted Cranberry collection is only available around Christmas so every year I get her some as a little treat and she manages to make them last for months! Now I can hear you all groaning at the mention of cranberries so out of season, but I swear it is such a summery scent. 

The scrub in this collection is divine, the scent is musky and warm and the sugar beads melt into your skin really well as you scrub. It left my skin feeling soft and lightly scented. As far as those pesky little red bumps on my arms go, it wasn't amazing and I still prefer my Soap and Glory scrub. However, for skin invigoration and freshness it is wonderful. It would make a nice all over scrub, not being too harsh for sensitive skin. 

The moisturiser is actually my favourite in this, it has a slight shimmer to it which is perfect for enhancing that tan for an evening out! I would suggest using this sparingly as it can make you a bit glittery... I mean, there's nothing wrong with glitter, but it would have looked a bit odd in the nice restaurant I went to! 

Finally, the Body Polish :-) This product is slightly misleading as you could think it is another scrub, but it is actually a simple body wash for in the shower. Although it makes a lovely bubble bath too! The scent is slightly lighter in this, so you don't feel too overwhelmed by it. 

Overall, I think cranberry works really well for the summer. It's fruity and fresh toned, without being too floral. I enjoyed the lingering scent on my skin much more than I was expecting to given the season. I know these products are currently unavailable, but I wouldn't rule out other cranberry scented products this summer :-) 

What do you guys think of this scent for summer? Have you been surprised by any other products? Let me know in the comments below :-) 

xoxo

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Feeling Youthful and Bouncy

Hello everyone, 

I had heard so much about the Body Shop Drops of Youth Bouncy Sleeping Mask (phew what a mouthful!), and I know I’m late to the party, but I really wanted to try it out. Having ran out of my usual face moisturiser I went on the hunt for a new one. I read so many reviews and thought they all seemed quite one off, this lead me to want to get a fuller idea of how I would rate it. Writing is my thing and you know how much I love to share with you, so here it is, my week in goo. 

Day 1: 

This product smells so soothing! I actually can’t wait to try it. I almost don’t want to dip my fingers into it. I found a solution to that and I have used the residual bit on the lid of the pot. It feels quite sticky and tacky, a bit like silly putty actually. It does go on nicely and smooths into the skin really well, but I can see why it is a night-time product as it makes your face quite shiny and gummy. So far it feels refreshing. I love the packaging, the weightiness of the pot and solid lid make it feel very luxurious. The colour scheme of bottle green and deep mahogany make it feel like I bought it at an expensive spa. 

Day 2: 

Well I woke up with lovely smooth skin, all stickiness had gone. My face did look quite glowy and the redness of my two break out spots had gone down dramatically. So far so good eh! I’m glad it didn’t go kind of flaky like some other moisturisers do. Don’t you hate that feeling when you rub your face and the moisturiser goes all peely and you end up with little flakes on your fingers? Gross!

Day 3: 

Last night I still didn’t need to dip into the pot and could use the lid again. It seems that a little goes a long way with this. There is a surprising amount in the pot so I have a feeling it could be good value for money. So far so good on the soft, rejuvenated skin feeling too, but I feel you need to trial a product for a week at least before you can get an accurate idea of how it will affect your skin. Some things only work at first and others take a bit longer to show their effects, it really is trial and error.

Day 4: 

For the first time I used the little spatula to scoop out some cream, it’s amazing how little you need to apply it to your whole face. I have a feeling this product will last a long time! I have started to find that it makes my skin a little pink after I apply it, but that could just be because it makes you shiny? According to the packaging it contains Edelweiss stem cells which help to rejuvenate your skin, there is quite a bit of information online about this, but it is still quite anecdotal without any in depth studies. A good site to check out for the science behind these products is Beauty by the Geeks! 

Day 5: 

Still loving the smoothness of my skin in the morning. I have found that instead of an immediate awake look to my skin, I look more refreshed for longer during the day. Normally I look super tired at the end of the day, but not at the moment! 

Day 6: 

I am definitely starting to believe the hype around this product. I have to say my skin is so much nicer, any blemishes stand out less and seem to be healing quicker, this could just be wishful thinking, but I have a good feeling about it. I have learned to live with the stickiness, it’s worth it in the morning when my skin is smooth as satin. 

Day 7: 

It’s the end of the week and I feel I have given this cream a good enough trial to know if I like it…the verdict is I love it! I will definitely buy it again when this one runs out, thought by the looks of things that could be a long time away. My skin feels more bouncy and has a better glow to it, it’s the perfect prep for spring with more pastel and warm makeup looks. My foundation goes on so much nicer after a night of this. 

I wrote this post a couple of weeks ago and forgot to post it, it got lost in the depths of my hard drive! I just quickly wanted to add that I have carried on using this product daily and I honestly do love it, keep an eye out for it in my Feb favourites...yep it is that good! Have you guys tried this? Wowed or disappointed, let me know in the comments below :-) 

xoxo

Luscious Valentines

Hello everyone, 

With Valentines Day on the approach shops have been amping up the publicity by releasing their Valentines Day collections. This means there is a sea of pink, purple and red colours with heart motifs agogo in town! Now I love Valentines Day as much as the next girl and love any excuse for romance and spoiling my man, or being spoilt by him… 

Lush always have exciting collections and I’m sure you all know how I feel about their fantastic moral stance. Their collection this year is particularly thrilling, come on, it features unicorns!! 

The Unicorn Horn bubble bar was so incredibly exciting when I spotted it, I couldn’t wait for Valentine’s day to use it. It is beautifully crafted like a pole on a merry go round. The swirls of pink, yellow and blue can’t help but put you in mind a carnival. Once crumbled it creates a lovely pale pink bath with myriad sparkly bubbles, bliss! The scent is delicate, but stays on your skin after bathing. The ylang ylang is particularly rejuvenating and after a long day on your feet makes you feel relaxed and ready for the next day. The only little downside, which I think is fab, but is less fab for poor Mr.Gingersnap is that it leaves you rather glittery…to the amusement of his friends! 

The Love Lamp bath bomb is quite unusual as it has small red hearts secreted inside it which come out at the product dissipates in the bath. It has the most gorgeous scent of chocolate orange, vanilla and orange oil, overall a very pleasant citrus scent. I haven’t tried this yet, as I’m saving it for the actual day, but it looks and smells fantastic. Perfect for pre-date pampering or a romantic date for two. 

I love the way the shower gel is called Prince Charming! Looking at I expected it to be a more rose or sweet scented product, but it actually smells of pomegranate, one of my favourite fruits. If you are worried about the grapefruit being overpowering, don’t be, it simply adds a more refreshing tang to the vanilla, cocoa and pomegranate combo. It is also fluorescent pink when on your skin, but do not fear it washes off a treat and smells heavenly! 

The Kiss lip gloss was what I was most excited about as my lips have been suffering so much with the winter. It is a lovely pastel pink colour and leaves an iridescent sheen on the lips. It’s not as smooth as I expected and is quite grainy until it melts on your lips a bit more. I was a little disappointed that it is more of a tinted balm than an actual gloss. However, it tastes really yummy, you definitely get the khalari melon and jojoba favour. 

Last, but not least is the Rose All The Way soap. It lathers up wonderfully and leaves your hands super silky. The scent is quite faint with just a hint of rose oil and syrup, which is perfect if you don’t want an overpowering blast of scent every time you wash your hands. 

There are two more Valentine’s products coming out and one that I didn’t try. I chose not to try the Kiss lip scrub as my lips are quite sensitive at the minute, but I think it would really help anyone with dry skin. There is a 1000 kisses perfume and a Lovebirds soap being made at this very moment, I think they come out on the 8th ad 5th of February :-) 

Are you guys excited about this year’s collections? Have any other products caught your eye? Let me know in the comments below :-) 

xoxo

January Favourites

Hello everyone, 

It’s the end of another month and I honestly cannot tell you where it has flown away to! People always say that January drags by and is a very blue month, I could not disagree more, this month is always super busy for me. As I have mentioned in a couple of my previous posts January can also be very exciting on the new releases front too. 

This is my first ever monthly favourites post so I was kind of nervous about what to put in it, but then I thought to myself “Hatts you are being ridiculous”. I’m just going to go with the flow and share the things I have been enjoying most over this cold and rainy January. 

Let’s start off with the beauty products. In my previous post I told y’all about the YSL gypsy opale palette so I’m not going to repeat all that, but it has definitely been one of my favourites. Since I started using it I have received so many compliments on my healthy, glowing skin. However, I don’t think those compliments have been aimed at my lips, let’s just say my lips and the harsh winter wind are not good bed fellows. This month I have been all about the lip comfort and have been really loving all things soft and moisture. My top products for lips have been the Clarins instant light lip comfort oil and my trusty Clinique chubby stick in 06 woppin' watermelon. Between the two of them, these products have been saving my lips from being a horrible chapped mess! I want to add a quick big up to my Urban Decay Naked 3 palette too for giving me some added colour and light. For a full review check out my post here. 

For general life and joy I have been loving my Sanctuary white lily and damask rose body wash, it is gorgeous and gives such a lovely hint of spring to my skin in the morning. I haven’t had much experience with Sanctuary products and I am excited to try out some of their other fragrances, so stay tuned! Macaroons have been a big feature this month as I have been gobbling them down like they’re going out of fashion. They are one of the many things I miss about no longer living in France, there is nothing like going to your local bakery in the morning to buy some fresh baked macaroons. I have been having to resort to supermarket ones here *sigh*. 

And last, but not least, to keep away the revision blues I have been treating myself to the occasional episode of 90210 on Netflix. I haven’t watched this since it first came out and I still love it just as much now! The Annie, Adrianna, Naomi and Silver drama is the perfect distraction and relaxation after a long revision day. To add a boost of colour to my kitchen I have also been loving fresh flowers, it is almost daffodil season after all! 

What have you been loving this month? Let me know in the comments below :-) 

xoxo

Manly Mondays - Champneys

Hello everyone, 

I thought that I might start doing a weekly or fortnightly post about products for men, this blog is very heavily weighted with products aimed at the female market! How accidentally exclusive of me, I am determined to change that! This type of post is designed to give you ideas for treats for yourself, a partner, a friend or family member. Everyone deserves a treat every now and again. Thank you to my wonderful partner for being the guinea pig of these products…no boyfriends were harmed in the writing of this post :-) 

Lets kick it off with the Champneys' sports range, obviously for men. The packaging is similar to Clarins' ranges for men, block colours of red and blue with gold font seem to be a favourite and I have to agree that they definitely look very smart. They make lovely looking gifts. 

Onto the products themselves, the set we have trialled is composed of a deodorant and a hair/body wash. Aimed at post-exercise showers and grooming they have a very refreshing citrus scent to them. The body wash was a particular hit, the scent is very masculine without being overpowering and lathers up like a dream. A small amount lathers up hugely, unlike some products where a lot is needed in one go. I definitely enjoyed the change in scent from farm animal to fresh lemons! 

The battered state of the bottle is testament to it's popularity! 

The deodorant was put through quite rigorous testing, being a farmer my partner’s job is very physical and he can sometimes be a bit smelly (I still love him regardless). For him it is important to find a deodorant that keeps him smelling fresh all day, through all the heavy lifting and long hours. He tested this product on quiet days first and it withstood the test, for the heavier work he found that it was better than a lot of others and definitely helped him feel fresher at the end of the day. Although the work did get the better of it towards the end! The scent is again very masculine and reminds me of a spring or brook, it has that outdoorsy lemongrass and fresh, clean water smell to it, mmmm lovely! 

Don’t be put off by it not lasting the whole day, when you work with cows there is little that can keep the smell away for ever! Mr.Gingersnap recommends these two products wholeheartedly and gave them 4/5 stars overall. 

If you have tried this brand or would like us to review another one let me know in the comments below :-) 

xoxo

Lounging and Lush

Hello everyone, 

I hope you are all having a fab holiday and enjoying the down time between Christmas and the New Year! Now I am definitely not a party animal and have never really liked going clubbing on crowded dates like New Year's Eve so I have a very different party planned for myself. I am going to have a pamper party in my own house, I am planning on doing my nails, a face pack, moisturising and chilling out with a good book! I even have a Lush bubble bar left to use up so I think it will be perfect. 

I wanted to share my love of Lush with your guys today, I think they are such a fab company and they have such good morals. All their products are ethically bought and vegetarian, if not vegan. Almost all wrapping is recyclable and they don't test their products on animals. Add that to their amazing scents and luxurious products and they become a real winner in my eyes! My boyfriend knows how much I love their products and surprised me just before Christmas with two bubble bars for my bath. He chose Karma and Peeping Santa. We used the Peeping Santa last week and it was so lovely, the bath water turned a very festive red and there were so many bright, opalescent bubbles, it was a bit like having a bath in Santa's coat pocket really! Oh my Lord, the scent was fabulous, I don't like it when things are overpowering, and this one was perfect with a warming smell of cocoa and shea butter combined with hints of bergamot, geranium and strawberry. A feast for the senses, it was a warming and soothing scent that lingered on my skin long after my bath. 

I will be using Karma tonight and I know it will be a winner as I have used it before and raved about it :-) I loved the orange and lemon grass scents to it, they are so fresh! I think I will also curl up on the sofa with my partner, a nice hot chocolate sprinkled with mini marshmallows and my book like I did in these photos. What do you guys have planned for tonight? Let me know in the comments below! 

xoxo

Advent Calendar Surprises!

Hello everyone!

I just wanted to do a super quick update on my gorgeous L'Occitane advent calendar. I am such a lucky girl being spoiled by all these lovely products.

So far all the products have been amazing and I am now even more of a fan of this brand, the products feel like a luxury, but are still quite affordable if you fancy treating yourself :-) The two bottles have oil based products. One is a shampoo with five essential oils to help repair dry or damaged hair. It smells very fresh and slightly spicy, so for those of you who aren't so keen on floral scents this could well be the product for you! The second bottle is an almond based cleansing and softening shower oil. Now, I have had similar products before and they definitely work wonders on dry skin and protect them from harsher water and irritation from soaps! The smell is divine, imagine walking into a bakery around christmas and smelling that aroma of marzipan and amaretti, oh my lord it is wonderful!

I just love those cute little gift tags and I have to admit that I have already used one and have earmarked the others for presents for specific people! I am a bit of a gift tag weirdo and quite like making my own ones, but these are definitely pretty enough to make the cut. They are simple, yet festive, I basically just love them, enough said. The little pink tube has a rose scented hand cream, the rose scent is quite strong so if you aren't a fan this might not be for you, but I find that it is a nice hint of spring in the boring winter and it has become a handbag staple. And last, but by no means least, is the soap. L'Occitane soaps are always very hydrating and creamy, and it seems this one will be no different, with a lovely rich shea butter scent it makes for a very nice moisturising hand wash! My hands always feel super soft after using it.

I am so excited to open the rest of my advent calendar so keep your eyes peeled for more product updates! If you are wanting to learn a bit more about the calendar and the first day product click here. Have you guys got any exciting advent calendars? Let me know in the comments below :-)

xoxo

Evening Skin Care Routine

Hello!

As the weather gets colder it becomes increasingly important to take good care of your skin. I always like to look after my skin, but in the wintry months I definitely up my game. A good routine helps keep your skin clear, smooth and protected from dry patches that have a tendency to occur during this season!

In the evenings before I go to bed I take a bit of time to give my face a bit tlc! I first take off my eye makeup with Nivea's Sensitive Cleansing wipes, I also use these to take off any eyebrow pencil and fixative. I have quite sensitive eyes and any other products just make them sore. Afterwards I use some of the Nivea Daily Essentials Sensitive 3 in 1 Micellar Cleansing Water on round cotton pads to remove my foundation, powder and blusher. I then coat my face with a thin layer of Nivea Daily Essentials 2 in 1 Cleanser and Toner to remove any remaining make up from my face with some more small round cotton pads.

 I use the My Little Beauty Brume Energisante Visage et Corps to spray onto my face. I discovered this brand through a friend who persuaded me last year to subscribe to the My Little Box monthly beauty and lifestyle box. They are a French company which creates a box with a different theme each month with a variety of goodies and a product from their own My Little Beauty brand. They provide a lovely monthly surprise and are well worth the money for the quality and diversity of branded products in the box, they are also good for discovering new smaller brands! I have to say I absolutely adore their own products, so please check out their boxes here.

When I have let the energising mist settle I splash my face with cold water and pat dry with a hand towel. I use two moisturisers, one for under my eyes and one for my general face. For my under my eyes I take a minuscule amount of the Estee Lauder Time Zone Eye Cream and dab it under my eyes. Finally, I rub Nivea Daily Essentials Sensitive Day Cream into the rest of the skin on my face.

I know it seems like I really love Nivea, but it's true I do. I find that their products leave my skin feeling clean and nourished! The My Little Beauty mist is a nice citrus scent that makes me feel fresh and helps my skin feel more vibrant, I definitely notice a difference when I don't use it.

I hope this routine was helpful and inspired you to nourish your skin through the harsher weather. Let me know in your comments below what products you use! :-)

xoxo