The NSpa Mum to Be Range: First Impressions

Warding off stretch marks seems to be a mightily expensive business, with most products specific for pregnancy ranging anything from £10 to £25 or even higher. At a time when your purse strings are being stretched to the max with the million and one baby things you need to buy, shelling out for nine months worth of lotions and potions tends to bring on the mum guilt. For the first sixteen weeks I used the Palmer's Cocoa Butter Skin Therapy Oil (£9.99 for 150ml) which seems to have done the job preventing stretch marks on my tummy but- controversial opinion coming up- I really hate the chocolatey smell.

 

 

So I was chuffed to come across the nspa Mum to Be range at Asda, which usually retails for £4-10 but is included in the current Baby and Toddler Event, so I got each of my products for a mere £3 each! The range includes bump butter, stretch mark oil, nipple balm, bust firming cream, bath and shower crème and a cooling leg and foot gel. I noticed that the bump butter had been voted best new mum/maternity skincare product in the 2014 Mother and Baby awards and for £3 you can't really argue with that, so I picked it up along with the oil and the bust firming cream to try. Here are my thoughts after using them for the past week or so...

 

 

Nourishing Stretch Mark Oil (£6/150ml)

This 'luxurious blend of rosehip, jojoba and almond oil' is my favourite product so far, mainly because it smells so much better than the Palmers oil! The scent is so light and fresh, almost floral but with some definite citrus notes and not overpowering at all. One of the things I've hated about oils in the past is the greasy feeling while it's absorbing, and I usually have to wear gloves to apply them because I can't stand the feeling in between my fingers! This one seems to be the complete opposite, it absorbs so much faster and I can get dressed straight after applying without worrying it will seep through my clothes. I can also apply this without gloves or having to scrub my hands afterwards, which earns major points in my book!

 

Moisturising Bump Butter (£6/200ml)

The formulation of this encompasses everything I love in a body butter: thick but melts into the skin and feels ultra moisturising. Like the oil, this also contains rosehip oil and vitamin E but has a shea butter base, so the scent is more typical of that, although there are similarities between the two. At first I applied this morning and night, but unfortunately this brought me out in a rash. However, I think this was because it wasn't being absorbed before I got dressed into my horrid synthetic work top in the morning, which was then causing the irritation. I now just slather a thick layer on at night before putting on my pyjamas and letting it sink in and there haven't been any more problems.

 

 

Firming Bust Cream (£5/100ml)

To be honest, I don't really have much of an opinion on this yet. I picked it up on a whim, but it's probably not something I really need. Apart from some stretch marks from not applying anything until fourteen weeks (I stupidly thought I wouldn't have to worry about stretch marks on my chest!), my boobs haven't suffered any other effects of pregnancy. This will probably come in handier later on in my pregnancy when everything starts heading south! Like the bump butter, this contains shea butter, rosehip oil and vitamins B and E, but is much more like a lotion in consistency. The addition of spirulina (a seaweed extract) promises to tone and firm the skin, and also promises a noticeable difference in the arms and thighs.

Overall, I've been won over by the Mum to Be range, and will be continuing to use the stretch mark oil and bump butter throughout the rest of my pregnancy. For the price you really can't go wrong, and the packaging looks lovely sitting out on your dressing table. Obviously I can't comment on their effectiveness at reducing/ preventing stretch marks, but my first impressions are certainly good. I'll report back with an update in a couple of months. Fingers crossed!

What products did you find effective at preventing stretch marks during pregnancy?

April Favourites

Well here we are at the end of another month!

I've been impatiently waiting for May to begin for weeks as we will be (hopefully!) finding out the gender of our baby, going on holiday and have two bank holiday weekends so April has been quite a long and boring month. As always, I don't have a huge number of products to share with you, but quality over quantity eh?!

I swithered over whether to include the Rimmel Wake Me Up foundation as I'm not sure how I feel about it, but I've found myself reaching for it every morning recently. I bought this in late February on a bit of a whim- I'd just run out of all of my day-to-day foundations, the supermarket only had a Rimmel stand and I knew it was popular amongst bloggers and youtubers- and the first time I used it I thought it was terrible. At that point I was in the first trimester of my pregnancy and my skin had gone haywire, and this just seemed to highlight all of my imperfections. Once my skin cleared, I tried it again and the difference was like night and day. People commented on how 'well' and 'glowing' I looked (and believe me, I the natural pregnancy glow seems to have escaped me entirely)!

I've found the trick is to be a bit more generous with the product, and use two pumps instead of one. Using a stippling brush and really working it in really helps with the glow, rather than having a shiny layer just sitting on your skin. I know some people worry about the glitter in the product, but I only see this in the bottle, it doesn't transfer to the face at all. My only complaint at the moment is that the scent reminds me of suncream, which makes me want to go on holiday so badly!

With the weather being so changeable recently, my skin has become really dry and uncomfortable. I recently ran out of my night cream so was using my day one, but it wasn't really repairing the skin. I was recommended the No7 Essential Moisture range by the consultant, and I've been blown away by the difference. After showering my skin felt so tight and I was waking up feeling the same- obviously the day cream wasn't penetrating deeply enough through the night. This soothes it straight away, and my skin still feels amazing the next morning. It's also the cheapest moisturiser in the No7 range at £9.50 which is another bonus!

I have also been loving the No7 High Shine Lip Crayon in Statement. The formulation of these are great, giving the finish of a gloss with the hydration of a balm and have decent staying power of about three hours. The rest of the shade range looks lovely, and I'd definitely recommend Statement as the perfect everyday 'throw on and don't worry' colour.

Another budget find has been the Collection Extreme 24 Hour Felt Tip Liner. I avoid liquid liner like the plague, but lately I've been feeling that my kohl liner is a bit too heavy for my top lids. This is the perfect way to achieve the liquid look with the most idiot-proof application. I'm ashamed to admit that the 24 hours claim does hold up after waking up a few times recently with my eye make-up still perfectly intact. Even after nights out I've always managed to take my make-up off (however shoddily). Honestly, the things pregnancy does to you!

And last but not least is the Benefit They're Real mascara. I've professed my love for this time and time again but I always find myself straying in a bid to find a cheaper alternative. Well I opened this tube at the beginning of the month and it is as amazing as ever. Argh, why can't you be less expensive?!

Well it was just as well I didn't have any more favourites as I seem to have rambled on about these six for quite enough! Well done and thanks if you made it through!

What have you been loving this month?



Seventeen Falsifeye HD Mascara

My all time favourite mascara (along with the majority of the population) is Benefit's They're Real, but as someone who religiously changes mascara every three months due to very sensitive eyes it can become a very expensive habit to keep. I'm always on the lookout for a drugstore alternative that I love, but have never been able to find one. Previously I've been using the Clump Crusher by Lashblast and I liked it, but it's an American brand and the UK equivalent is double the price.

While picking up some essentials (and non-essentials!) in Boots the other day I came across the Seventeen Falsifeye HD mascara. In the past I haven't liked Seventeen mascara at all, and generally avoid them but remembered that Fleur de Force had spoken about it quite positively in a video recently. I think Seventeen are really stepping up their game recently and I've been impressed with quite a few products recently so thought it would be worth a try.

 

 

And I love it! It's a bit early to say whether I love it more than They're Real but it's definitely the best drugstore alternative I've found. The brush is very similar- plastic and conical with a mixture of short and long bristles. The only major difference with the brush is that it doesn't have the little ball with teeny bristles at the end but the cone shape means it's thin enough at the end to angle and catch eyelashes in the inner corner. The formula is quite wet, which I prefer because I find it less clumpy plus it doesn't go crumbly and flake off throughout the day.
 

 

Lashes are well defined, lengthened and hold the curl all day. For those that like the fluttery look, this would be the perfect mascara to try out. It's available from Boots in either black or brown/black for £6.99 for 9ml and is more often than not on some sort of offer, so you're bound to get it for less. I think I'll be sticking with this one for a while! :)
 

No mascara

 

One coat on my right eye

 

 

Two coats on both eyes

 

 

Have you tried this mascara? What's your favourite drugstore mascara?

The £1 Makeup Brush

While picking up a couple of essentials at my local Poundland I spotted a few makeup brushes on the shelves. I've never seen these before, so apologies if this is old news! I actually passed right by them because I automatically assumed they'd be rubbish, but I reconsidered and picked one up with the thought that at least if it was terrible I'd only wasted £1. The range included a foundation, kabuki, powder and blush brush. I picked the angled blush brush because I thought it would probably be the most versatile.

 

 

Whilst I'll admit that it isn't my favourite brush in my collection, for the price it's actually quite a nifty little tool. I've used it to apply sheer foundations, as a stippling brush, for contouring and of course for blusher and it does the job well. I think the pink at the top of the bristles is a bit tacky, but I don't hold it against the product as it's sturdy and well-made. So far, I haven't had any bristles fall out and it held-up fine after washing.

The rest of the products in the range are brushes that I already have from other brands and most definitely don't need, but if they were to expand the range I'd certainly buy some more and think they're more than worth the £1 price tag.

Have you tried any Poundland makeup tools? What did you think? Would you consider trying them? 

August Favourites

So here we are, almost at the end of another month. And with the end of August comes the beginning of Autumn! I'm so excited for Autumn this year, I think it's because the past few months have actually been quite summery in Glasgow, whereas our spring, summer and autumn seasons normally all blend into one and seem to last forever. I can't wait to get the winter boots and coats out! :)

Anyway, also with the end of August comes another lowdown of my favourite products of the month:



Clockwise from bottom left: Essie nail paint in 'peach daiquiri;' Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray;
Clean&Clear dual action moisturiser; Soap&Glory Girligo;
Covergirl Clump Crusher by Lashblast; Rimmel Apocalips in Stellar








Essie Nail Paint: Essie are my favourite brand when it comes to nail polish. Amazing formula, great staying power, a gazillion colours and a reasonable price tag. Peach Daiquiri has been my go-to colour this summer, and this month I've been reapplying it each time I've done my nails. I usually get bored after a few days and switch-up the colour but I haven't wanted to. High praise indeed! This is a perfect summery coral- more on the orange side than the red- and will be perfect throughout autumn and winter to break up dark outfits.

Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray: With the hot weather we've been enjoying, make-up has just been sliding off my face. Instead of adding another layer to my face with a primer, I've been using this instead both before and after applying my foundation and it works a treat, saving me from having to reapply my foundation at some point throughout the day. The mist is so fine that it doesn't even wet the skin, so it doesn't add any extra time to your routine.



Clean&Clear Dual Action Moisturiser: I have very dry skin, and like to use quite a thick daytime moisturiser (No7 Protect and Perfect- never too early to start with the anti-aging!) but with the heat lately I just haven't wanted to suffocate my skin under thick products. The Clean&Clear Dual Action Moisturiser is an old favourite that I used to use when I was a teenager. It's nice and light, but still does a great job quenching thirsty skin and is a great price (approx £3.50). It has antimicrobial properties too in order to prevent spots from actually reaching the surface, although I haven't used it religiously enough to really comment on that. I do remember never suffering too badly with breakouts when I was a teen though, which might be partly to do with this!

Soap&Glory Girligo: Similarly to my facial moisturiser, I haven't wanted to use my usual thick creams and butters on my body so picked this spray moisturiser up on a recent shopping spree. It has the classic S&G scent, very similar to Hand Food and The Righteous Butter and is a great lighter alternative. A word of warning though: stand on a towel to apply this as it does disperse into the air and land on the floor a bit and if you have tiles or laminate flooring you WILL slip!

Covergirl Clump Crusher: I picked this up while I was on holiday in America early this year and have been using it religiously this month. It has a curved, plastic applicator to really get into the lashes and give them some curl. The formula is great too- no clumps, and hasn't irritated my ridiculously sensitive eyes. The UK equivalent is the Maxfactor Clump Defy, which I'll probably replace this with, although it does tick me off that the UK price is at about three times more than the US for the same product (£10.99 vs $4.99).



Rimmel Apocalips in Stellar: I got this in America too, where they're branded as 'Show Off Lips.' This shade is 'Stellar', which equates to 'Stella' over here. It's a bit strange as all the others have the same name on both sides of the pond but hey ho. This is a gorgeous BRIGHT pinky-coral, perfect for those days with big sunglasses and minimal make-up, instantly making you look like you've made an effort. The formula is a bit drying, so I always apply a lipbalm underneath, but lasts for absolutely ages. As long as you give it a minute to set it'll last a good six hours. Check for lipstick-on-teeth regularly though!

I hope you've all had a wonderful August :)

Review: Orly Rubberised Basecoat

I'm the first to admit that I'm lazy when it comes to nail polish application. Basecoat...colour layer 1...colour layer 2...topcoat...yawn!

 

I've always either skipped a basecoat altogether, or just used a clear varnish thinking that basecoats were a money-wasting invention and if a clear polish prevented staining then that would do just fine.  Well, I put my hands up and take it all back. This little baby has changed my nail painting routine forever! It makes my varnish (whether drugstore or high-end) last so much longer. I'm talking from 2-3 days without chipping to well over a week. As the name suggests, it adds a rubbery coating to the nail, making the coloured varnish appear gel-like.

 

 

 

For the purposes of this review, I used the basecoat on my right hand (my writing hand) only in order to give it a proper test. I applied two coats of Essie 'Peach Daiquiri' and my Rimmel topcoat to both hands as normal and I think the results in the photo speak for themselves!

Comparison on Day 4 (basecoat on right hand)

 

 At £5 for 5ml, it's reasonably priced, and considering I've been using this around 75% of the time I paint my nails (usually once or twice a week) since January and it looked barely used it's definitely worth it. A keeper in my book!

The Product I've Used For Over A Decade...

... that's got to mean it's good right?

Well the TRESemmé Heat Defence Styling Spray certainly does the job for me. Detangles, protects my hair from heat and humidity (seriously this stuff was a lifesaver when I was in Florida!), smooths my frizz and doesn't weigh my hair down. Oh and it smells AMAZING! You know a product smells good when your boyfriend pays enough attention to comment on it ;)

At £5.25 for 300ml, it's quite reasonably priced, especially as other brands tend to offer 150-200ml for  around £4.50. It tends to be on offer a lot, and I've bought mine in B&M before for £2.99 (they don't always stock it though which is a bummer). I use mine every second day, and a bottle lasts me about six months.

I have tried a couple of other heat protection sprays in the past but I've never liked another enough to make the switch. I just have to hope this one is never discontinued!

Which product have you stuck with the longest?

Budget Buy: Argan Conditioner

Just a quick little post today to share a product that I've been really pleasantly surprised with over the last couple of weeks. I picked this Argan Oil conditioner up for 99p from B&M purely because I was in a rush and thought 'well how bad can it be?' Turns out that it is not bad at all, and something that I'll definitely be re-purchasing.

As with all Argan Oil products, this promises to rejuvenate and rehydrate hair to leave it strong, smooth and shiny. I can't say it makes my hair any shinier (although I've never found a product that delivers well on this) but it certainly does make it extra soft and easy to manage without weighing it down or making it greasy- I can still go two or three days in between washing with this. The consistency isn't overly thick, so I use this as an everyday conditioner rather than a treatment, although if you were to leave it on for an extended period then I'm sure it would do the job. In fact, I shall do this and report back! Coconut, olive and avocado oil are listed in the ingredients, but I wouldn't say the scent reminds me of either, I just liken it to a fresh fruity scent. It does linger in your hair after drying and even through to the next day though which is amazing!

As I said, I bought mine from B&M, and I've also seen this before in the likes of Home Bargains, Poundland and Wilko so it's easily accessible, and for 99p you really can't go wrong!

Do you have any budget buys you've been pleasantly surprised by? 

Top 3: July 2014

Hello again!

I really am bad at this blogging business aren't I? It seems that literally everytime I publish a post, something happens that sets me back. It really has been a stressful few months, and in hindsight, maybe not the best time to have started a blog!

Anyway, instead of doing monthly favourites (I don't think I try enough new products every month) I've decided to concentrate on the most reached for products of that particular month. And so on with July...

 

 

My number 1 for this month has definitely been High Beam by Benefit. This has been in my collection for a while, but I rarely use it. I find when used as a traditional highlighter on top of my make-up its too light, so Sun Beam compliments my skin tone much better. Recently though, I've been mixing some in with my foundation and mixing together before applying, and this gives a gorgeous subtle dewy effect which is perfect for the summer months. I prefer matt foundation, so this means I can modify it and save myself some money too! 

 

In light of the amazing weather we've been having, I've taken to substituting my usual black eyeliner with the Urban Decay 24/7 liner in Smog, which is a shimmery brown with a slight gold undertone. As with all of the 24/7 liners, it is soft, creamy and has amazing staying power. I jusy love how it adds definition to your eye look without being too harsh and goes perfectly with a gold smokey eye.

 

 

I've only used my last product twice, and want to do a full review once I've given it a proper road test but I just had to include it because I was so impressed with the results after just one use. These are easily the best whitening product I have ever used, even more so than paying over £300 at a clinic! Watch out for that review soon! 

 

 

What have been your top products this month? 

Review: Dior Nail Lacquer (Rouge Altesse)

On the whole, I use drugstore brands. Occasionally though, my loyalty does wane and I enjoy a little flirtation with an upscale product.



And this was the culprit. Aaah, just look at it in all its rouge, shiny, Dior deliciousness. This was actually given to me by a friend who had acquired it as a gift with purchase on a fragrance. At an RRP of £18.50 for 10ml, it's certainly not cheap, and to be honest I probably wouldn't have bought it of my own accord. However I was excited to test out the formula. Maybe this would become my all-time favourite and I'd have to restrain myself from buying several more? 

In short, no.

The formula is great- thick and glossy, giving a shiny opaque colour with one coat, and a gel-like finish with two. The first time I used it, I got so excited by the colour pay-off with one coat that I left it like that... big mistake. After less than a day it was chipped to bits, and I had to do an emergency patch job with a drugstore brand before heading out for the night straight from work.

I then decided to give the Dior another chance, using two coats along with my usual base and top coat products. I'm currently on day four with this combination and chip-free.

Day 1                                Day 4

However, I very rarely have to paint my nails more frequently than every five days or so. As long as I take my time, apply my base, colour and top coat I'm pretty much set with most nail varnishes I've used. Maybe this says more for the base/top coats than the colour?

The winning combination- Orly Bonder rubberised
basecoat, No7 Stay Perfect
 topcoat

Yes the Dior formula is good, but for me it is standard. I can achieve the same results with brands which are a fraction of the price. I'll continue to use and enjoy this, but definitely wouldn't go out of my way to spend almost £20 on a repurchase. My advice would be to get a drugstore equivalent- my favourites being Barry M and Essie- and spend the rest of your money on something else. 

More bang for your buck as they say! 

Have you ever been sucked into a high-end product and been disappointed?

Let me know below.