Karma

It's been a funny old weekend. 

Through my own fault my mind has been full of things I'd rather forget, but I've had to come to the conclusion that what goes around comes around and that I can take comfort from the fact that my conscience is clean and that they'll eventually get their comeuppance in one way or another. Shitty people will always be shitty people.  

Neutrogena Visibly Clear Ultra Light Spot Treatment Moisturiser

Excessive name aside, I bought this moisturiser a while ago from Home Bargains, for just £1.99, as I was looking for a light gel moisturiser for the summer. First things first, this is definitely ultra light! If you have normal to dry skin then this probably isn't for you. I've got quite oily skin for the most part and sometimes even I find that it isn't enough. When my skin is feeling all greasy and spotty though, this is great. It sinks in instantly and doesn't feel sticky at all. It also feels really cooling and refreshing and makes a good base for makeup. It does contain salicylic acid, which can make your skin more susceptible to sun burn, so you should probably make sure any make applied over it contains an SPF or just use it at night. I do tend to use it more at night, but I have worn it during the day when it's sunny, and not experienced any adverse effects. As a spot treatment, I don't think it contributes to any new spots, but I'm not sure if it really helps get rid of them any faster. In general I find it hard to judge skincare aimed at treating spots, as there are so many other factors that need to be taken into consideration. In any case I will continue to use it, as some days I just can't bear the feeling of having a cream on my face, especially after a long day at work where it's practically melted off!

Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel

I bought this new from Ebay for around £7 as I had wanted to try it for years. Literally. I remember reading about this when when I was much younger and everyone seemed to poop rainbows over it! I've used it a few times now and whilst it definitely leaves my skin feeling much softer, I've not been as wowed as I thought I'd be. I like that it's not a mask that dries down, as they can sometimes feel a little stripping, and I love the scent, but I did expect my skin to look more brighter after use. Considering it's a peel I've also found it to be very gentle and it doesn't leave my skin looking red or feeling irritated. It's worth mentioning though that I don't have particularly sensitive skin.  I think that if I used it consistently once a week then I could see a better result, in terms of brightness, so I'll have to try that. Overall though, I'm glad I've got it in my skincare collection!

The Real World

'Having the perfect Sunday.'

Yeah, whatever. Back in the real world...

There's miscellaneous piles of crap on the sofa.

There's washing up to be done that I couldn't be fagged to do last night. 

There's a messy drawer top. And the drawers aren't white. 

There's no damn candle.  

I'm tired of contrived, superficial bullshit. 

My Hand Cream Collection

This post is inspired by a little Twitter chat I had with the lovely Jenny from Caramel and Cats! It got me thinking that I really do have so many products squirrelled away, particularly hand creams! I seem to have accumulated a fair few that have been stashed away in various locations in the flat. I think the problem is that I can always justify buying them as my hands can get in an awful lizard like state. I blame working in a school, They never feel clean when you're around 30 6/7 year olds whose hand washing routine is dubious at best!
I thought I would do a brief round up of all the ones I have found and share some thoughts on each.

Apologies, I got confused and they're not actually in order! I'm sure you can recognise each one though! 

1. Betty & Walter Elderflower and Lemon- I got this at Christmas in 2012 from Boots so it's getting on now! I really haven't used much of this and I don't know why as it's not bad at all. It smells lovely (elderflower is another fave of mine) and isn't overly greasy. It's a whopping 150ml tube too so I think I need to get cracking with this one! 
2. Derma V10 24/7 Dry Skin Cream- I think I got this from a pound shop. This is the one I tend to use when my hands are really sore and cut up, as it's basic and 'bland' enough not to irritate them further. It's a bit greasy but does the job when you desperately need something unscented.
3. Soap & Glory Hand Food- Now this is the one I can't really use when my hands are bad due to it being so highly scented. I actually really like the scent but it is strong. This works really well when my hands are just a little dry and I can see a difference quickly. I forgot I had this tube hidden away but I think I'll save it until I've used up some of the others!
4. Ted Baker- This one was of my birthday presents this year and I used it for the first time last night. It smells really good! It contains rose and sandalwood as well as shea butter with 'a twist of raspberry'. It's too soon to say much about the formula but it wasn't greasy and I like it so far. 
5. Soap & Glory Endless Glove Moisture Mask and Hand Cream- I think this has the 'Fruitigo' scent which makes a nice change from their trademark one which can get a bit much! This is a bit heavier than Hand Food and has more 'slip' if that makes sense. This is definitely more of a night cream but I have used it on the back of my hands during the day. This one is nearly finished but I'm not sure if I'd repurchase just yet. 
6. La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5- I got this on clearance at Boots for something ridiculous like £3! Again this is a good 'bland' cream that won't further aggravate skin. It has a thick texture but it spreads out well and doesn't take too long to sink in. This is another one I prefer to put on at night. 
7. Aldi Lacura Hydro-Urea Hand Cream- Now I can't tell you much at all about this one as I've only used it once and can't really remember it. What I do know is that it's thick and contains urea, dexpanthenol and glycerine. Not one of the lightest ones I own! 
8. I love..Vanilla & Ice Cream- This was an impulse buy from Home Bargains as it was really cheap- less than 50p I think. As it turns out I'm not a big fan of the scent so it'll probably stay languishing in a draw until I'm desperate. 
9. Garnier Intensive 7 Days Nourishing Hand Cream -Another one that is nearly finished and has served me well. You've got to be really careful not to put too much of this on, as it'll never sink in, but it is effective and long lasting. It claims to last a hand wash which I think it does-handy when you wash your hands as much as I do. It has a strong scent which is possibly a bit too intense! 
10. Sweet Snuggles Chocolate Vanilla Hand Cream- I think this is from Superdrug and I recieved it last Christmas. This has a pleasant, though artificial, chocolately scent which reminds me of my Chocolate Moose soft toy I have at home. Anyone else have one of these? Where the nose smells? 
11. Burt's Bees Beeswax & Banana Hand Creme- Now I've had this for yonks! It's so dense though  it may well be immortal. It's definitely the richest cream I own. I used to apply this at night then put on cotton gloves, which works a treat. This doesn't work well as a day cream for me as it's just too greasy. I haven't used this for ages but I think I'll have to soon before it turns weird! It smells like foam banana sweets which I don't actually like to eat but like the smell of! 
12. The Body Shop Mango Hand Cream- Contains mango seed oil, sinks in quickly and is just a joy to use. 
13. L'Occitane Jasmine Hand Cream- I think this was a Glamour freebie and I'm sadly down to the last few dregs. Again this is rich and better suited for use before bed. I love the jasmine scent and it feels very luxurious. I hope Glamour bring these back again soon! 

So yes, as you can see I have a bit of a problem! 

What are your fave hand creams? Not that I need anymore for a while! 

Fruity Frivolity

This week I've really been enjoying using two new additions to my collection of stuffs. Introducing The Body Shop mango hand cream and Nivea Blueberry Blush lip butter.

 I think the main reason I love these is that they smell amazing! It's a bonus that they also happen to work well too! I got the hand cream during the latest code of temptation-ness, whilst the lip butter was acquired on a late night visit to Tesco and accompanied some rather disappointing duffins. Speaking of duffins, the lip butter reminds me of blueberry muffins and I always get a craving for them when I apply it! I like to put it on just before bed and it seems to last all night. My lips have been a tad sore lately but so far it seems to be helping.
The hand cream is also very gorgeous and I've been surprised at how fast it sinks in. I thought it might be like the L'Occitane hand creams due to the similar packaging, but it's much lighter and fresher. I obviously bought this in a rush as I was also surprised at how small it was when it arrived (even though they're called 'mini hand creams'!). I don't think it will last long but I don't mind if I actually use it all and it works. Tempted to get satsuma or shea next. I did try strawberry yesterday but it's a bit intense!


Have you tried any of these? Would love to read your opinions!

Wilko Fruits Blueberry & Grape Shower Gel

I bought this on a whim a while ago as the 'Fruits' range seems to be a big part of Wilko's toiletry range now, and you really can't miss the massive display! Everything is really cheap (£1.50 each or 3 for a £3) so I thought it was worth a try at least. I have to say they don't look the most appealing. Though the bottles look lovely and colourful all lined up, they are very basic and definitely look budget. Having said that, it's good that there are so many products in the range that you can get in the same scent. Great if you find one you love!
 I chose the blueberry and grape shower gel as I love both of the scents and find them quite hard to come by in products. It seemed to be the most unusual combination out of the bunch, and having used it for about a week now, I feel I can give a proper verdict. The scent is very strong,sweet and artificial. I actually quite like it but my boyfriend describes it as smelling like 'cheap dissolved sweets'. To me it smells like American grape flavoured sweets or drinks which I love so I don't mind. If you were expecting a more realistic fruity scent then you will be disappointed! Not much else to say really. It's a little runny but lathers up well and just does the job. I'll probably try more from the range, as although they're not amazing, they make a nice cheap treat.

Essence Maximum Volume Mascara

I bought this mascara quite a while ago now, when the stands first appeared at Wilko, but it's only now that I've been using it properly. I've got a bad habit of having too many mascaras on the go, so I thought it was about time I stuck with it. I just can't resist trying them as soon as I get a new one!

I've been using this since I've been back at work and I'm pretty pleased with it. Especially considering it's only £2.80! It's quite a thick formula so it can clump if you're too heavy handed, however it does give my lashes lots more volume as well as more of a curl. It's ticking a lot of boxes for my short, fairly straight lashes! The innovative 'reservoir brush' is different to what I've seen before, but I do think this contributes to the occasional clumping. It's a good size for me though and I don't find it too messy to use. I really don't get with jumbo brushes!Thankfully with this one I can get to all my lashes without smearing it all over my lids. Removal is standard. It's not ridiculously stubborn so all's well. 

For a budget mascara I've been impressed! It works much better than some mascaras four times the price!

Have you got any budget mascara recommendations?