BENEFIT PUFF OFF INSTANT EYE GEL

Benefit have had a few new releases lately, they're always coming up with innovative products and there is always a massive hype surrounding them. Puff Off is their latest skincare product to hit the line. Benefit’s Puff Off is an eye cooling gel which I have added to my morning skincare routine. I really like using It's Potent eye cream in the evenings, so this product is nice to use first thing in the mornings and I like to use this daily. Benefit are known for their gimmicky packaging and this eye gel doesn't have the usual rollerball dispenser like other products on the market. Instead the applicator is shaped like an iron, where the product comes out of. I squeeze a small amount up on to the cooling part and swipe it underneath my eyes after moisturising to hydrate and refresh my under eyes. I like how it actually irons out any creases or puffiness I might have around my eyes and it’s a nice base primer to then apply concealer. I find it sinks in well, feels silky smooth and a little goes a long way. I find my concealer goes on a bit nicer and doesn't collect in any fine lines. I really like the cooling part as it awakens my skin, so perfect to use on early morning. I will have to try putting it in the fridge for seriously tired days. It actually works on bare skin or over the top of make up, you just pat over any leftover product that is sitting on top of the skin. If I don't use enough product I find the metal tip seems to get stuck and drags my skin along with I don't like. The light pink gel hides any dark areas I might have and makes me feel more alert. I really like the packaging and find the iron tip design so cute! I think this tube is going to last a while as you don’t need much of the product. The formulation smells really lovely too.

This product has only just been released but there has been so much hype about it. I find the metal nozzle is the perfect shape to fit under the eyes. I think this is a great product aimed for late teens and 20 something’s looking for something to pep up their skin, but I think if you're looking for an anti-ageing product this isn't the one. I find it to be really lightweight and gentle on my skin. I do think Benefit have done a good job on this product, I definitely think they needed to up their game on the skincare front. Puff Off is priced at £22.50, which I don’t think is too bad for 10ml of product. Maybe it would be nice to see a concealer version next…

What are your favourite Benefit products?

you can also find me on twitter, instagram, bloglovin or pinterest

SPRING BEAUTY WISH LIST

I have been rather good with my Beauty spending recently and have been trying to use up what I already have. But I do have a Beauty Wish List the size of my arm and I'm trying really hard to resist. These are the products I have been lusting over the most and hopefully will get around to purchasing soon. Let me know if you have tried and loved any of them.
Urban Decay Naked On The Run Palette, £37.00 – I am a big fan of Urban Decay Eye Shadows, they're probably the first ones I used as a teenager and haven’t strayed from them since. This palette has been on my wish list since it first came out, but I have so many palettes to use, I’m not sure if I can justify another one. This palette has it all, it includes; five Eye Shadows, a Bronzer, a Blusher, a Highlighter, plus a travel-size Perversion Mascara, a travel-size 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil and a full-size Naked Ultra Nourishing Lipgloss. So you can create a full look with one compact set, so ideal for travel. Urban Decay Eye Shadows are buttery, pigmented and last for ages on my lids. The shades are neutral for day or you could even smoke up the darker shades for an evening look. The palette currently has 20% off at Feelunique, so I may be tempted to put in a little order.
Origins Original Skin Renewal Serum with Willowherb, 30ml £32.00 – Origins is my favourite Skincare brand, I haven't found a product I didn't like. This is Origins latest release, I tried it on my skin the last time I was in a Boots and really liked it. This product helps to restore glowy skin, Willowherb restores glow, Algae helps reduce oil to help them appear to vanish and shrink pores. The formulation also smoothes roughness as Chestnut Seed Extract refines texture and Persian Silk Tree helps skin rebound and de-stress. It also minimizes flaws and blurs imperfections so is perfect to use under moisturiser in the mornings.
Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel, 100ml £28.00 – Cleansers are probably one of my favourite Skincare products to purchase. I have so many, this product has been on my wish list for a while. Again, this is a product I have heard so many good things about. I have tried the mask in the range before and loved that. The formulation is full of natural ingredients and vitamins. It helps to strengthen and revitalise skin whilst eliminating every last speck of residual and everyday grime. The formula has a lovely Chamomile & Rose scent that melts into the skin and turns milky when splashed with water, so perfect to use in the evenings.
Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Lip Liner in Pillow Talk, 1.2g £16.00 – I haven't tried too many products from Charlotte’s range, but everything I have tried has been dreamy. I have heard so many good things about her nude lip liner that I need to try it for myself.  I don't wear lip liner very often but I'm looking for something to make my everyday lip colours last longer. The reason I haven't plumped quite yet is probably because I don't wear lip liner every day and they are £16.00 a pop. I can imagine the formulation is really creamy and easy to apply, I will definitely have to pick one up the next time I'm near a Selfridges.
Lush Hoppity Poppity Bath Bomb, £2.50 each – I always like to buy something from the Lush seasonal ranges. I have spotted this cutie, which is a rabbit shaped bath bomb on the website. It contains popping candy, violet leaf, lavender and lime oil, I really like the sound of the fresh scent. I will definitely have to pick up a few golden eggs too, as I loved those last year.

What's on your Beauty Wish List?

you can also find me on twitter, instagram, bloglovin or pinterest

CURRENT TRANSITIONAL SKIN SAVIOURS - BODYCARE

Over the colder months the weather causes my skin to become drier, duller and higher maintenance. Skin and hair should be taken care of according to the season. When Winter comes, the cold weather outside destroys the lipid layer that protects the skin against dryness. As we transition into Spring I like to carry on with this routine to help my skin prepare for the Summer months. I still like to exfoliate in the Winter months to pep up my skin and always moisturise my feet and hands before I go to sleep. There are a few products I like to use to ensure my skin keeps in it's best shape as we step into Spring.

Soap & Glory Butter Yourself Smoothing Body Cream, 300ml £10.50 – My favourite bath and body brand has to be Soap & Glory. I have tried all the different scents and haven't found one I didn't like. The fruitigo fragrance is more of a summery, fruity scent but I can't get enough of the fragrance. The formula is thick, moisturising and hydrating and it sinks into the skin really nicely. You can smell the scent for hours after applying. This scent is lovely as we are coming into Spring, as it's so fresh and gorgeous. I will always repurchase one of the Soap & Glory body butters as you can't go wrong for the price. You definitely get your moneys worth as a pot lasts a long time and I use it all over my body.

Soap & Glory Sit Tight Saddlebags+, 85ml £16.50 – This is a great product to use after the gym. You can use it on targeted areas like the tops of the arms and legs. This serum is formulated to help visibly firm and tighten skin, smooth stubborn areas, rehydrate and reduce skin roughness. The product is really easy to use, you squeeze the product out on to the roller and massage gently over the skin. You let the product absorb into the skin and you can feel a little tingle sensation which makes me feel like something is working. If I use the product regularly I notice that my skin tightens and tones a little in certain areas. I have written a full blog post about this product here.

Nip & Fab Bust Fix Plumping Treatment, 100ml £16.29 – I have been using this product for quite a while now, it’s not something I use every day, but I do notice a difference when I do use it. The formula is a light serum which visually plumps, smoothes and firms skin around the chest area. It is quite pricey for a high street cream but they always have deals on in Boots. As you are only using this in one area, this tube has lasted me so long that they have changed the packaging. This works great on stretch marks, the only downside is that it doesn't have a lovely scent. It absorbs nicely and leaves no residue. 

This Works Perfect Heels Rescue Balm, 75ml £16.00 – I like to use a balm product on areas I feel need a little more moisturising, my feet probably need the most attention. This balm is a really thick texture that helps to prevent and repair cracked heels and dry feet. The formula is made with cotton thistle extract, refreshing lemon oil and soothing lavender, which makes for a really relaxing scent. It absorbs really easily into the skin and makes my feet feel so much better if I’ve had a long day. I must admit I probably wouldn't repurchase it at £16.00, I'm a big fan of the Soap & Glory Heels Genius which is a third of the price at £5.50 and you probably get similar results.

Origins Make a Difference Hand Treatment, full-size 75ml £19.00 – I have raved about this hand treatment before, it’s probably the best hand cream I've tried. It’s not sticky or greasy like other creams. You only need to apply a little amount onto your hands and the scent is lovely. It’s great on dry areas and I also like to rub it into my cuticles. The formulation is thick and creamy and it really helps to moisturise and protect my hands. It is quite pricey for a hand cream but I like to pick up these smaller sized tubes in Christmas gift sets.

Margaret Dabbs Nourishing Nail & Cuticle Serum, 15ml £12.00 – I like to use this product before giving myself a pedicure, It’s a really lightweight cream. I received this product in one of my beauty boxes and had never heard of this brand before. It helps to strengthen, protect and hydrate nails and cuticles. I like that the bottle comes with an easy to use pump and it's small enough to use on the go.

What are your Bodycare recommendations which you have been using recently?

you can also find me on twitter, instagram, bloglovin or pinterest

LUSH VALENTINES DAY HAUL

I'm a sucker for a Lush seasonal collection, I always have to make a cheeky purchase when either the Christmas, Halloween or Valentines themed products come around. I'm much more of a bath person so I like to collect bath bombs and bubble bars for pamper evenings or just for a weekend treat! I love that the whole bath experience can be improved by just dropping a little bit of magic into your running tub, they can change the colour of your bath water, add glitter as well a moisturise your skin. As a haven't got a Valentines, it's a nice way to treat yourself come Valentines Day and what better way than pamper products. I decided to pick up some products I haven't tried before.
The first product I had to pick up this time was the Unicorn Horn Bubble Bar. I first saw this on instagram and knew I had to have one for myself. It's so colourful and the tiny multicoloured stars are so cute! You crumble this under warm running water to create amazing bubbles, silver sparkling glitter and it turns your bath water pink. It's packed with essential oils, the main scents are Lavender, Ylang Ylang and Neroli which create an uplifting fragrance. I really enjoyed this product, there was a gentle hint of glitter left on my skin and the bubbles are so luxurious. I wish I had brought a couple more as this isn't on the website anymore. I hope they bring this one back next year, it's so fun and I'm sure kids would love this one.
Another bubble bar I picked up was the Lonely Heart Bubble Bar. I picked this one up for the scent! It contains Lemongrass, Bergamot, Jasmine and Ylang Ylang and smells absolutely dreamy. The bubble bar is the red heart covered in gold glitter and when crumbled under running water it releases lascivious red shades and again the glitter sticks around which is lovely and not too much. I really like bubble bars as you can divide them into quite a few baths and it's good value for money. I like how this one left my skin feeling really soft. I also love the quote, 'lonely hearts still beat the same' that appears on their website.
Next I brought a bath bomb called the Floating Flower Bath Bomb. As the name suggests this bath bomb floats on the top of your water and fizzes away to create a pool full of different shades. The fragrance is quite strong, this one contains Jasmine and Ylang Ylang again, obviously very popular with the Valentines products. This is so pretty to use and I found it very calming on my skin. I also found this one lasted quite a long time in my bath.
The last product I brought was the Love Locket Bath Bomb. I was in two minds in buying this as it is quite pricey for a bath bomb. But you can actually break it up into three pieces as inside the bath bomb is a mini heart-shaped bath bomb which contains tiny red hearts. I guess if you wanted a special bath you would drop the whole bath bomb in. The scent is Geranium, Vanilla and Jasmine and I loved the pink shade it turned my bath water.
I could have brought more items from the Valentines collection, I also had my eye on the Prince Charming Shower Gel and the Heart Throb Bubble Bar, but I do still have products to use up from Christmas.

Have you picked up anything from the Lush Valentines Day collection? What are your Lush recommendations?

you can also find me on twitter, instagram, bloglovin or pinterest

REAL TECHNIQUES MAKE-UP BRUSHES - NIC'S PICKS

Real Techniques has to be my favourite high-street brush line. I  have spoken about one of my Feelunique sales purchases in a recent post here, but I also picked up the Nic’s Picks set with that order too. Real Techniques now have a wide range of brushes and I have now tried most of the base line brushes. I will always reach for a Real Techniques brush as they're such high quality and the range of brushes is so vast to choose from. As the brushes are designed by professional makeup artists you know you will be able to create so many different looks with these brushes. You can also watch the online tutorials to show you how they like to use the brushes and for handy tips and tricks on YouTube.

Nic’s Picks is a limited edition set, which is an essential collection for any make-up enthusiasts. The collection features five brushes in total, three of which are exclusive brush cuts. I really like how this set has a limited edition silver metallic design, which now follows into the Bold Metals collection. The brushes include; Duo-fibre Face brush, Cheek brush, Base shadow brush, Angled Shadow brush and Eyeliner brush. The Cheek brush, the Angled shadow brush and the Eyeliner brush are exclusive to this set. The brushes can be used together to create a complete look, you could travel with this and have everything you need for your base, eyes and contouring. The brushes are made from ultra-plush synthetic bristles, that are cruelty-free and help to create flawless, high-definition results.

Having used most of the Real Techniques brushes, I wasn't disappointed by this set. They pick up a good amount of product and apply lovely and evenly on the face. I got this set for £23.99 in the sale which works out at just under £5.00 per brush. In my opinion this is amazing value for such high quality brushes. You would spend that much on one brush from a higher end brand. My favourite brush in the set is probably the angled crease brush which works really nicely to blend in shadows on the eyes. I’m pleased to have a back-up of the other two brushes that I already have, but I must admit the duo-fibre face brush is my least favourite, just because it doesn't pick up enough product. I really like how the name of the brush is written in the colour of the collection it belongs to, so the eye brushes are in purple, the base brush is in yellow and the finishing brush is in pink. The handles are really lightweight, they wash really nicely like all Real Technique brushes and it's a great starter set to start off with or add to your collection.

Real Techniques have just released their Bold Metals premium range of brushes, I have picked up a couple and am currently testing them out! Which Real Techniques brushes would you recommend?

you can also find me on twitter, instagram, bloglovin or pinterest