New favourites: TBS Earth lovers shower gel and Garnier 7 day body lotion

The body shop earth lovers watermelon and eucalyptus shower gel
Out of all my SLS free shower gels, this is by far my favourite one, simply because it smells amazing! I love the scent of watermelon, and have to admit, was a bit dubious about the eucalyptus, but the two work really well together.

The eucalyptus adds a slight herbal edge, and stops it from being sickly, but you still get that lovely fresh scent of the watermelon.

Considering it's SLS free, it lathers up nicely with a shower puff, and although not particularly moisturising, it is very gentle on the skin and not at all drying.

Like their rainforest range of haircare, the shower gel is 100% biodegradable and free from sulphates and parabens.

Garnier intensive 7 day body lotion
If like me, you struggle to moisturise everyday, then this body lotion is definitely worth a try. It's a lightly scented, creamy lotion which sinks in quickly without any greasiness and leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth.

Whilst I don't think it's as effective as moisturising everyday, it does at least offer my skin some hydration and keeps dry patches and itchiness at bay when I don't have time to moisturise. You can probably get similar results from a body butter, but the advantage of this lotion is that it's a lot lighter and easier to apply.

Even without the 7 day claim, I think this is a good body lotion, and I would happily repurchase, especially as it only retails for £2.99.

Have you tried either of these 2 products? What do you use to keep your skin hydrated?

Bourjois effet 3D lipglosses and limited edition blushers

If there's one thing that gets me excited, it's a pretty lipgloss and these new effet 3D lipglosses from Boujois tick all the boxes: light easy to apply formula, gorgeous colours, and packed full of moisturising ingredients!

12 of the 15 shades

There are 15 shades in the collection, 6 of which are new additions. Aside from the clear one, they are all shimmery, and perfect for a pop of colour during the day.

05 Rose hypothetic- A nude pink that's near identical to my natural lip colour

08 Framboise tonic- A brighter hot pink that'll look lovely in the sunshine

06 Rouge democratic- A pinky red colour for statement lips

At the event, we were also introduced to these cute limited edition blusher pots, which were created by Parisian artist Juliette Bure. The blusher shades are part of the permanent line, but the Parisian packaging will only be on sale until the end of March.

I've never tried their blushers before, but the small sturdy pots are perfect for popping into my handbag, as I always need to re-apply during the day. So far, my favourite colour has to be Rose D'or, a golden shimmery pink which really helps to brighten up my face.

Are you a lipgloss lover like myself? What do you think of the limited edition packaging?

Pretty new purchases

With Spring just around the corner, I'm looking forward to shedding all those Winter layers and wearing something a little lighter and prettier, so with that I mind, I decided a little shopping trip was in order:

How cute is this New Look necklace? For years I've shunned gold jewellery, but it actually suits my skintone better than silver and the necklace looks lovely when worn with a simple vest top.

Whilst out shopping, I also picked up pair of bow patterned tights from Primark. I've been wanting a pair for ages, and because these aren't sheer, they'll be perfect for the cold British weather!

I also treated myself to some new clothes from H&M and New Look which I'll be blogging about later in the week.

Are you looking forward to a new wardrobe for Spring? What have you brought recently?

Liz Earle Botanical essence No 1

Out of all my perfumes, this one definitely wins the prize for best packaging! It comes in a beautiful white cardboard box, with a blue ribbon which you pull out like a drawer to reveal the perfume.

As the name suggests, the perfume smells very green, with notes of bergamont, geranium, damask rose, lavender and patchouli.

For me, it opens with a very zesty citrus scent, then develops into something a little more floral, and finally settles to a warm botanical scent with hints of wood.

As you can see from the photo, the perfume comes in a old style glass bottle, with a rounded glass lid, that reminds me somewhat of Chanel perfumes- simple yet timeless.

I normally go for sweet fruity floral scents, so it's not my usual fragrance, but since receiving the perfume, I've worn it nearly everyday as it's so easy to wear and I like that it's sophisticated yet at the same time very uplifting and unique.

Have you tried this perfume? What's your favourite perfume this Spring?

Burt's Bees shea and grapefruit deep conditioner review

I've always associated deep conditioners with a thick creamy consistency, so was very surprised at how light this particular conditioner was.

On application, it's feels like a fluid and just disappears into my hair, but despite this, it still manages to moisturize and detangle my hair as well as any other conditioner.

One of my favourite things about this conditioner, is the subtle yet invigorating citrus scent, which lightly lingers in my hair, even after washing.

I personally wouldn't use this as a deep conditioner, but because of it's light consistency, it's super quick and easy to rinse out, making it a great everyday conditioner for my fine hair.

Have you tried any haircare products from Burt's Bees? What's your favourite conditioner for everyday use?

NOTD- Eyeko and Constance Carroll

After the success of my last glitter manicure, I decided to do glittery nails again this weekend, this time using Eyeko tea rose polish as my base colour:

The warmer and more muted colour of Tea rose seems to suit my skin tone better and once again, the glitter top coat instantly made the nail varnish more girly and fun.

Unfortunately, I don't think you can get Constance Carroll polishes anymore, but Barry M pink iridescent and OPI teenage dream both seem like nice alternatives if you are looking for a glittery top coat.

Which nail varnish are you wearing this weekend? Let me know if you've tried either the Barry M or OPI nail varnish :)

These boots are made for walking...

After months of searching for a pair of stylish yet comfy flat boots, I've finally found a nice pair and it's all thanks to LoveAudrey who recently blogged about her love for these boots:

Unfortunately I'm not blessed in the height department, but because these boots are short, they don't cut my legs off mid calf and make me look any shorter than I already am. Plus they are super comfy and the knitted bit at the top helps to keep me nice and warm.

And the best thing about these boots?? They were only £16 with student discount!

Do you shop at New Look much? What's your footwear of choice when its cold?

Product rave- Avon ultra rich moisture seduction lipstick in rose ribbons

With its pretty swirls of moisturiser and coloured pigment, this lipstick is one of the few in my collection that is hydrating enough to be worn without the need for any lip balm underneath.

It applies to give a gorgeous purple pink colour with a slight sheen, and can be layered for an even bolder, more intense look.

Because of the swirls of moisturiser, its more like a pigmented balm than a lipstick, and it feels so creamy and hydrating on the lips.

Like most hydrating lipsticks, lasting power isn't great and you will need to reapply throughout the day, however it's moisturising properties and pretty colour more than make up for it and I would choose this over a long lasting lipstick any day!

Have you tried any Avon lipsticks? What's your go to lip product at the moment?

No7 Exquisite Curl Mascara Facebook competition

To promote their new exquisite curl mascara, No 7 are running a Facebook competition where you can win a weekend in London for two people, with travel, accommodation, a Lisa Eldridge makeover and a pampering massage/facial included as part of the prize:

There's also a chance to win one of nine No 7 goodie bags each week.

To enter, simply submit a photo or video of yourself doing your best wink on their facebook page by 15th February.

For more information and to enter this competition, click here to go to their facebook page.

Unfortunately I'm terrible at winking, so won't stand much of a chance, but good luck if you do decide to enter the competition!

*sponsored post*

Living nature foundation and Alva pimple stick review

I'm obsessed with foundations at the moment, so for January's myPure parcel I decided to try out the Living nature foundation, as well as an anti-spot oil from Alva rhassoul:

Living nature foundation in Pure sand

This medium coverage foundation is nicely packaged in a heavy weight glass bottle with a pump, although I would have preferred a lid as well. The foundation is a little on the thick side, but provided you blended quickly, it doesn't cause any problems.

However the colour was just a little too pink for my skin, which is a real shame, as I loved the idea of using a foundation full of natural skin nourishing ingredients.

Alva rhassoul pimple stick

The first thing I noticed with this was the strong scent of lavender oil, which took me about a week to get used to. That said, it was very effective at calming down and reducing the size of my spots.

For hygiene reasons, I like to apply the oil using my fingertips, instead of directly onto the spot. I personally would have preferred a roll on instead of the sponge top it comes with, as I found it difficult to squeeze out enough oil from the sponge but overall, it is a good natural spot treatment.

Have you tried either of these 2 products? Which products have disappointed you recently?

Two lovely new additions to my book collection

The Hummingbird bakery cookbook
I've been wanting this book ever since I tasted my first Hummingbird bakery cupcake, and it certainly didn't disappoint.

With over 100 pages, it has plenty of clear, easy to follow recipes for everything from cupcakes to pies and biscuits.

Each recipe is accompanied by a mouth watering photo of the end product and there are plenty of hints and tips to help you achieve the best results possible.

A must have for anyone with a sweet tooth who enjoys baking!

Liz Earle skin secrets

Skincare basics, benefits of natural ingredients, age appropriate skincare, solutions for problem skin, recipes and exercises- this book has it all!

Not only was the book packed with information, it was also well written, easy to understand and full of realistic advice for all ages.

I found it a thoroughly informative and enjoyable read and it would make a lovely present for anyone with an interest in skincare.

Do you own either of these 2 books? What other non-fiction books would you recommend?

Disclaimer: One was a present, the other a PR sample