We all like to save a little here and there, this lead me to recently thinking about how expensive my skin care routine can be. I like to use face wipes to remove the main bulk of makeup before washing my face but at £2-£3 for a pack that doesn't upset my skin they are not the cheapest so I looked for alternatives.

I had seen many people use baby wipes but didn't realise how cheap they were. So I brought a pack of 65 Pampers wipes for 99p in Family Bargains as I was browsing just to give them a go. I used them and found them to do the same job as the makeup wipes I'd been using but at a fraction of the cost. My face did not feel tight or sting. One happy bunny here!

I found to buy a 4 pack of wipes (250 odd sheets) is about £5, which is a great saving considering you'd only get about 50 face wipes for this price!

I was lucky enough that they were on offer at Sainsbury's for £3.50 and I had a £1 off coupon from Caring Everyday. This lead it to only being £2.50! for two thirds of a years worth of face wipes for the price I would pay for a regular pack of 25 face wipes!

I also picked up a new 2 in 1 baby shampoo for my makeup brushes. I used this as it does not strip the hair but also makes them soft and smell amazing. The 500ml was on offer for £1.50 and I had a £1 off coupon reducing the bottle to only 50p!

Do you find things in the baby section for your beauty needs?

Hannah x

This month I have been successful at using up some more little bits and pieces in my beauty collection, I have found this process very therapeutic surprisingly! Each time I use something up I throw it into my little basket and watching the basket fill up is very rewarding!

So this month I have used up:


Lancome - Bi Facil
Yet again I have used up another one of this and I am beginning to really enjoy this product, I have still been using it all over my face to remove makeup before I start to wash my face, it is very effective in removing makeup and I have found it makes washing my face much much quicker! Always a plus when you are tired!


Lancome - Hydra Zen Nuit
This is a sample size of the product which came in a reduced christmas gift set, this is not too thick unlike other night cream which have been too heavy even for my dry skin. I found that this product was not oily like many night creams I have tried, which lead me to use normal face creams at night, but this may have just converted me!

l'oreal - Elnett
What can I say this product is my favourite hairspray, it holds and doesn't look crispy, it is also easy to hold and spray, which was in issue I had with tresemme, although I love their formula I like to buy the largest bottles and I found it hard to hold. The other advantage of the elnett is that the spray gives an even light mist and covers well.

Sainsburys - Extra strong nail polish remover
This nail polish is pretty cheap and takes polish off in a single wipe (unless it's glitter, nothing gets glitter off easy!) I find that I don't have to scrub my nails for ages and I feel this means my nails do not get as damaged as they do when I use other polish removers. It does take a little while to get glitter off but if you hold the saturated cotton round onto your nail for a few seconds, I find that does the trick!

Lush Snow fairy shower gel and The Body Shop raspberry shower gel
Sorry I forgot to take photos again! Shower gel is very hard to remember to take out the bathroom and not just throw! But I used up another small bottle of snow fairy as well as The body shop raspberry shower gel which was taken out my stash to use up now they have made it permanent!


I didn't use up as much as I did last month, I haven't had much time for baths and moisturising so I will woking on using all those bits up!

What have you used up?

Hannah x

I feel large companies have many benefits, such as offering discount cards/loyalty cards, coupons and offers as well as reductions however I feel they are not always a good thing, increasing size can make them less personal, recently I have a couple of large companies which have given me outstanding customer service which  has made me rethink this a little because this is a complete contrast to other companies who have never even answered my emails when I have had an issue with a purchase. I have put this down to being so large they do not have the time to go through all the emails they recieve.

                  

The experience I've had this week made me see a whole new side in larger companies customer service.

I wrote an email to Carmex to make them aware of a small air pocket I had in my tube of moisture plus which ran the whole way down, I sent the email because where this is a new product I thought it was the packaging causing a defect. They emailed me back almost instant saying that this shouldn't have happened and they want to replace it for me, after sending my address a few days later they had sent me not only a red replacement but one of each shade. 

I was shocked that they had sent me products worth £15 retail price, I am aware they pay pence for these products to be manufactured but they could sold them full price but instead they didn't just send me one but all three shades.

I have been a customer of carmex for years and really enjoy the cherry flavour and this has shown me that not only their products are excellent quality but so is their customer service.

Have you ever had amazing service from a large company when you've had an issue and not expected the response they gave? I'd love to know

Hannah

Back in 2009 the beauty community all used to rave about Carmex, including me on my old blog,  and it has been a cult product ever since. Don't get me wrong I love Carmex, particularly the new tinted range which allows me wear lip colours even when my lips are ridiculously chapped!

But I have found a new love, Nivea realised some lip butters this time last year and the second I saw them I picked the raspberry one up purely on the fact I love raspberry scented products.

But this lip balm which was left to sit at the back of my lip balm draw (yes that really does exist, shameful I know) until a couple of weeks back I rediscovered it, I used this lip balm after I get out the bath, you do not have to use too much and I let it sink into my lips, once it has sunk in, which doesn't take very long my lips are the softest a lip balm has ever made them!

Pro's of this Product

• It absorbs into the lips quickly ( I do still drink etc whilst it is on and it doesn't affect it)
• It does not feel greasy 
• There is no tingling sensation which you receive from other lip balms/ treatments
• It smells amazing

Con's of this product

• It is in a tin, which means I will only use it after a bath when I know my hands are clean, so isn't very handbag friendly 

Overall I love this lip balm, so much so I have purchased a tin of the original scent to try. I know the tin my bother some of you but this isn't an issue for me because If my lips are dry during the day I like to use tinted balm so it adds some colour to my face, which tent to be in stick form and I only use tin style balms at night after I've washed my hands. 

Why not give one a go and let me know what you think?

Hannah x

One of the greatest challenges in life is find a skin care routine that works for you, am I right?

I have used most of the products I am going to share with you for about two years now and I still love them as much as when I first got them. Most of the products are from The Body Shop but about a year ago I also added some items from Lancome to the Mix!

The first thing I always use is a face wipe or some other type of liquid makeup remover you apply with a cotton pad, this is the step that changes up the most, currently I am using The Body Shop Vitamin E cleansing wipes, which can be found here, but I tend to use anything on offer I got these when the Love Your Body club was offering 40% discount instead of the usual 10%, they are a nice face but in my experience a face wipe is a face wipe!

I have also been known to use other cleansers that I have received deluxe samples for, typically Lancome's Eau Micellaire Douceur or even the bi-facil all over my face, I have had no issues with using the eye makeup remover all over my face but the next step is to wash my face and I wouldn't recommend using bi-facil in this way if you are not washing it off.

Next step is to wash my face with The Body Shop vitamin E gentle facial wash I have lost count how many bottles of this product I have used, it is very gentle on the skin and I work it into my face using the exfoliating face sponge from The Body Shop, this product can be used on/round the eyes without stinging. I also have the bar version of this cleanser but I would recommend keeping this well away from your eyes because it stings so bad! I use it when I haven't had makeup on so I'm not too worried about cleansing round my eyes because there is no makeup residue. 

I then use the toner in the same vitamin E range which is alcohol free and just note, a little goes a long way!

After all that I use a moisturiser I switch between the vitamin E one and Lancome's night cream, I find the night cream from the body shop too heavy for my skin so the body shop one is just the regular!

Finishing off with a lip balm, at the moment I have been loving the nivea lip butter, which I've done a review on, but I have a whole draw with different brands so I just work my way through those!

Hannah x

As I have been on a Money Challenge I have actually used more up because I'm not drifting from new product to new product. Its been good for my purse as well as my lack of storage space!

This month I have been into baths, so I have used up quite a few lush bits! I tend to break bubble bars etc into three or four pieces, this allows more baths and I still find that there is more than enough bubbles or oils in the bath to give a lovely bath.


Out of my Lush collection I have used up:

• The Christmas Penguin bubble bar
• The comforter bubble bar 
• Bombardino
• Snow Fairy Shower gel (this bottle I accidentally binned!)

I Then used up a mini of a Ted Baker body butter, which I must have got three years ago and never opened, this was a whipped butter and sunk into the skin very quickly to leave a non greasy soft feeling skin, the way a body butter should be!

This mini bi-facil by Lancome was used as an all over makeup remover because I wash my face after, i figured it would be ok, It does really cut through the makeup, leaving minimal makeup on the skin ready to wash my face. I am not one to use these type of products typically but if you are into this kind of thing this is the best one I have tried and used for it purpose it did remove waterproof eye make-up with ease. 

I also used up a non brand shower gel I just use to clean my brushes!

The last item I have used up is my favourite face wash, since finding this three years ago I have not used another, and not even wanted to! The gentle facial wash is not too harsh on the skin but it removes every last scrap of makeup and the second application leaves my face squeaky clean!

Hannah x

It's the end of the month, and what better way to celebrate then to tell you what I am loving this month!

This month I have been wearing Sally Hansen Nail strips, these little guys stay on for weeks! literally! I had these on my nails for two, almost three weeks, which completely amazed me!

I have never had quite so many compliments on my nails by strangers. and I love how professional the outcome was!

I have also been loving a new foundation, I know pretty unbelievable considering my love of Lancome, but after rave reviews of the Rimmel Wake Me Up I wanted to give it a go, I found it on offer in Sainsburys for £5 which made it too good to pass up!

At first I wasn't too sure because of the glitter but then I used a buffing brush instead of my stippling brush and I was in love,  it gives a flawless look to the skin, has great staying power and at £23 cheaper than my Lancome there isn't a ton of difference, I do prefer the Lancome but I have been wearing Wake me up day to day and not even my boyfriend (who is very observant) noticed the difference!

To go along with this, another favourite is the brush I brought as part of a set for £6 I have been really enjoying the buffing brush, it is nothing special, Ive just never had one and I  like the results it gives.

My Last beauty favourite is my Rimmel lipstick in Heartbreaker, As I've been shopping my stash and trying to use up some stuff, I came across this, I had because so obsessed with my MAC and Lancome lipsticks I forgot I even had it, But it is a beautiful colour and all I've worn all month!

I have been Loving fruity candles and this month I have been in love with Yankee Candles Black Cherry, it has a lovely fruit cherry smell but a sharp twist to not make it too sweet!

Lastly one of my favourites this month has been the Mrs Crimbles gluten free Chocolate chip muffins, I kid not not, these taste like the real thing! soft spongey muffin with small crispy choc chips, packed full of them in-fact! AMAZING!


What have you been loving?

Hannah x

I had seen these nail strips when they were first realised, they interested me at the time but for £8 which only included enough strips to do your nails once I thought it was a waste on money, particularly because they were released the same as those eye shadow transfers, the thought of those still make me shudder!

But when I saw the pattern Kitty Kitty in my local Poundland I couldn't resist but give them a go. I was fully expecting that they would be awful, I had pictured them to be like the kids nail polish I had in the late 90's which once you had painted on and it had dried you could peel it straight back off!

However I was surprised! This photo has been taken 4 days after applying and in those days I have been painting sets, packing parcels as well as many other tasks which have a lot of wear and tear on my nails, and all I can see is a little tip wear. I did apply a top coat onto the strip the morning after I had applied them just because I like a really glossy nail so I do not know if this has helped the longevity of the strip.

All I did was follow the instructions word for word in the box and there you go! Amazing nails!

Kitty Kitty is your typical leopard print but is very shimmery without being glittery, this was the only pattern that was available in my local shop but I'm sure they must have some other patterns elsewhere.

I would 100% recommend them and if you are near a Poundland I suggest you see if they have any in stock.

Is it just me or have all the pound shops upped their game?

Hannah x

Normally I would not do a post on something I truly do not like because if you have nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all right?

I also want to point out that I have only tried the Superdrug brand of this product and I don't know if batiste, boots, etc. coloured dry shampoo are the same and this is not a reflection of all Superdrug own brand products because I love many others of their products!

Well I feel this is the case 99% of the time, however this time this product was so disappointing I want to share my experience, no I know it didn't kill me or cause serious harm to any one but at the same time it was very irritating.

A couple months ago I picked up my normal dry shampoo in Superdrug (batiste) and saw the super drugs own brand 'Superdrug Chocolate Brownie Dry Shampoo' for dark hair and I have never picked up the batiste version and for 3 for £2.50 or £1.05 each I decided to pick up three so my sister could have one too.

I used up the batiste dry shampoo this week and moved onto the super drug one on saturday. Baring in mind I only use minimal amounts of these products in my hair, I was surprised to find I only have to touch my hair and my fingers were dirty, I was expecting to transfer slightly because it is obviously coloured but not to the extent it did!

This would not have bothered me too much normally but I was actually dress shopping for cream dresses and accessories with my mum for an event she is going to in a couple of weeks, this resulted in me being completely paranoid all day that I was going to get marks on the dresses and accessories in House of Fraser.

I emailed Superdrug, not to complain essentially but just to make them aware that this product has way too much transferring and therefore isn't really useable, unless you do not touch any light! They were very quick at responding with an apology and also telling me that this would be forwarded to the own brand product department so they are aware and they also thanked me for taking the time to email with the issue because if they are not told, they don't know, (very true). I was very happy with the customer service I received and that they do care about customers opinions.

I don't want you all to think own brand products are bad, there are many Superdrug and other own brand products I really enjoy but this one was truly awful, perhaps the batiste brown is the same?

From now on I am definitely going to stick to what I know, no more coloured shampoos for me!

Hannah x

Yesterday I nipped into town and did a little shopping whilst my sister and her friend were watching a show. Recently I have been on a kick of watching peoples cheap makeup finds, so I wanted to find some for myself!

I first went into boots, where everything was on three for two, my Mum picked up some bits and I picked up two bottles of dry shampoo and combining with Mum's purchases meant one of the bottles were free!

I don't tend to be picky over the different smells they do, so i just pick up the first ones I see.


I then went to check out the MUA stand in Superdrug, here I picked up one of the caviar nail sets in the shade Pisces which is, turquoise, pink and silver, this was £3. I then got the 'pistachio ice cream' nail polish for £1 (bargain!), which as you would imagine is a light almost mint green colour this means I'll be using the recommended nail polish for the caviar  (not that it should make any difference!)

Then I saw the 2true stand, I normally avoid these types of stands and I have no real reason as to why,  perhaps I'm just a bit snobby at times and think these products will be crap! Either way this pink polish in shade 6 spoke to me, it is also limited edition which made me need it even more and at £1.99 if it doesn't work how I want it to I won't cry! I also picked up some shades for my sister

I then went into poundland after being seeing so many budget bloggers finding some really good products. I would have got more but the lady working in there insisted on trying to tidy the shelves as I was trying to look, but there was so much I didn't know where to start!

I only picked up a couple of items but I fully intend on going back to get some more bits. But what I did get hold of was some China Glaze nail crackle nail polishes. I ended up buying a couple for my sister and one for myself, I already have many OPI ones that my boyfriend got me a couple of years back so I was excited to find the China Glaze versions, I got Charlotte a white and a blue because she does not own any crackles, and I got myself Latticed Lilac.

Where is your favourite place to find beauty bargains?

Hannah x

A couple of weeks ago James and I went away for a shopping weekend in Ashford for a late Birthday celebration. We were going to go to the zoo on the sunday but the weather took a turn for the worst :(


Anyway we didn't let it ruin the day so after three days of nice coffee shops, good food, brisk walks and wandering round various shopping centres and complexes I finally got round to snapping what I picked up for myself.


Yet again I couldn't pass up a Body shop, especially an outlet store! So I picked up a passionfruit lip balm, almond hand cream and some organic cotton rounds. (I want to see if they are worth the hype!)

I then got a scarf from Fat Face outlet for £5 down from £19.50 (lets face it I own too many scarfs to justify spending £19.50 on one!) I also got this stripy top for £9 down from £20, can't complain at that.

I also picked up these Dalmatian socks in ASDA whilst getting some snacks and water, I can't resist Dalmatians.

Cat lovers brace yourselves, no I didn't buy a new kitten, but I did get kitten shoes! These were £29.99 down from £65, these were the last pair in the shop and they were in my size so I decided it was fate! so much so I debated all day decided I didn't need them and then asked James the next day if we could go back and get them.

speak soon!

Hannah x

Hi guys!
I haven't posted in over a week (whoops!), so I thought it's my Birthday so why not do a quick picture post of what I got!

I will be doing posts on a number of these products as well as a Filofax series because I got a new one! (excitement cannot be contained!)

I had a great weekend, surrounded by my friends, boyfriend and family and as usual I was completely spoilt beyond belief! 

Hope you all had a good weekend too 

Hannah x

The issue with working on a computer all day is the fact I see every email as it comes in, mainly ones with discount codes! I have a complete lack of will power and I'm sucked in every time!

I placed an order with the body shop because they were having 40% off everything, and when this deal is happening (about four times a year) I always stock up on the skincare I am running out of or don't have a back up of because you still seem to get your 10% member discount. 

The items I purchased are 

• Vitamin E Facial Gental Facial Wash
• Vitamin E Facial Cleansing Bar
• Vitamin E Facial Cleansing Wipes

I have have now used these products for two almost three years and love them. The soap bar is new to me and I brought this because (believe it or not!) I want to find ways to save money but not feel I'm restricting myself. As far as I can tell this is just a solid version of the face wash I'm using and loving, and at the fraction of the price I'll give it a go. All I've done is cut it into smaller pieces to make it easier to use. If this turns out to be a winner I'll save the liquid version for travel.

I also brought the Buriti Baby Mini Essentials but I sent this to my boyfriend's Cousin before I took a picture because she had her baby and wanted them to be able to use it as soon as possible!!

I then saw MissBudgetBeauty write a post about an Avon product she was loving, this reminded me of how much I love their shower gels (I did also buy two bottles each for my sister and Mum but I have given them these already so they are not pictured).

The Items I purchased were:

• Cherry Blossom Shower Gel
• Black Cherry and Nutmeg Shower Gel and Body Lotion 
• Apricot And Shea Shower Gel and Body Lotion
• Avon Care Cocoa Butter Face Cream
• Color Trend Fruit Lip Balm in Lush Lemon
• Strawberry and Guava Shower Gel and Body Lotion
• Senses Winter Cocoon Bath & Shower Creme
• Senses Mystique Shower Gel

Smelling these are certainly bringing back out my inner child, and all of these products were half price of buy one get one mix and match meaning my whole order was £15 exactly. 

My Mum also brought me my all time favourite hand cream from L'Occitane this week so I thought I'd take a quick snap of this and pop it in at the end along with the samples it came with! 

Keep tuned for my post about my new shoe loves which will be uploaded this week!

Hannah x

  

Last week, on Sunday I did a little more shopping! I know I really must stop as my birthday is coming up, but I was only intending to buy presents. Nevertheless I can never resist a Body Shop deal, you can't just walk past!

My favourite holiday scent from The Body Shop this year is the Cranberry Joy (I have noticed the last few years they have released the same three scents for the holidays and just renamed them). When I saw this gift set I couldn't turn it down.

This set includes:

• lip balm
• 250ml shower gel 
• 200ml body butter 
• 250ml body scrub

When I (finally) went to the checkout I renewed my loyalty card, it only had a week left until it expired and had been full for several months. There promotion where I received a free face mask worth £10 for getting a new card. (which I didn't realise at the time). 

Even though this is not the type of product I typically use on my dry skin, I will give it a go because it claims to be suitable for all skin types. 

This last item is actually from The Works, this is a gluten free cook book which I got for £3.99. I am going to try some of the recipes and if any turn out well I will  be sure to share them.

Hannah x

Hi Guys, I have recently been sorting through all my products over the last month to plan on which bits I intend to use up and thought that it may be worthwhile to show my favourites of each brand. I am starting with Lancome because I am Slightly Obsessed!

So here are my Lancome Must haves!


At Number one is the Hyrda Zen day moisturiser:

This moisturiser is perfect for my skin, my skin is very dry but oily consistency products break me out, this moisturiser is a thin consistency but really locks moisture into the skin and makeup can be applied straight after using it! - RRP £39

At Number two is the Teint Miracle foundation: 

I enjoy this foundation because you can build it from light to high coverage and it still looks natural, I wear shade 2 which matches me perfectly, I personally love to apply this with my MAC 187 brush and stipple it on. I typically never repurchase the same foundation but this is my second bottle and I will certainly be buying another after this one is used. 

 And at number three is their mascara's

I have not found a Lancome mascara that I don't like! All of them have applied evenly and coated all my lashes perfectly, I do not like clumped lashes whatsoever and since finding these lovelies, that has been a thing of the past! RRP £21

Oh and did I mention my last Favourite thing about Lancome? They give you a million samples with each order! I know, I know, this more than likely means we pay too much for the products, but who can't say no to some freebies? 

This is a SMALL selection of what I have received with orders (I also got a few very nice wash and makeup bags!)

Hannah x

Photos taken from Companies websites (I promise I will take some when I have better Lighting/Set up!)

Now another year is over, this means one thing, January sales! However being the shopaholic I am only two of the items I purchased were on sale but I did have discount codes for the others, so surely that makes up for it, right?

Photos taken from Boohoo and ASOS websites

My first purchases were online, I placed an order with both ASOS and BooHoo:

• The oxblood leather loafers are by asos and were £22 in the sale (mine are size 5 but i believe they only have size 8 left)
• All three dresses are from BooHoo, The tartan dress with faux leather accents was £20, the knitted style dress was £18 and the structured floral dress was £12. I used the code GOLDEN25 to receive 25% off my order (prices listed are pre-discount prices). 

I shall be doing a look book on these dresses in due course!

Photo taken from Lancome's website 

The last Item I brought was a real bargain, my favourite face cream is Lancome's Hydra Zen, this moisturiser is normally £39 a bottle. But I found a set which included a full size of this cream as well as three other trail sized products, the night version of this cream being one of them! This set was priced at £39 but I found it in the sale for £25.99, just in time as I have used the last drop in my jar today.


Happy shopping!

Hannah x

For the last month I have been using a new base and top coat combination, this has been the seche vite fast dry top coat (I know jumped on the band wagon finally!)  and the orly bonder base coat. 

 

These products are now a permanent stapple when I am applying nail polish.

The Orly Rubberised basecoat

I apply one coat of this product before applying my nail colour, this basecoat dries to a very rubbery grippy texture, unlike other basecoats I have tried which leaves a tacky finish to the nail. This finish allows the nail colour to apply evenly on the nail and may times I have found it has allowed me to only use one coat of colour! 

Seche Vite top coat

This top coat is super shiny! and I mean SHINY. This top coat dries very fast and gives a good even finish, it dries to a glossy hard finish and I dont experiance chipping for around a week. ofcourse I still have tip wear but I feel that is common, especailly where I am not the kindest to my hands!

I know they arent the cheapest of products but you can buy a refill bottle for both which is around £20 each which I think is good value for the quality of the products. These can all be found on amazon and I would 100% recomend them over every other nail top and base coats I have used (which is a fair few :) )

Hannah x

Recently I found Butter London nail polishes in a outlet store, so I couldn't Resist! (even if it was only a small discount).

The first set I brought is from the royal colection, this collection funnily enough contains alot of purple. 

Thankfully Butter London post their colour descriptions on the website, so no awful colour description on this post!

Pitter Patter: Opaque, aubergine shimmer

No More Waity, Katie: Semi-sheer, greige lilac jelly glitter

Lillibet’s Jubilee: Opaque, silver lavender foil metallic

Then I found the 2012 Sparkle Sparkle Holiday collection, set 1. 

This appealed to my magpie nature, lets face it who cannot resist glitter particularly at Christmas!

Fairy Cake: A full coverage, silvery, multi-colour iridescent glitter suspended in a light grey base

The Black Knight: A full coverage, pink, blue & silver glitter suspended in a black jelly base

Rosie Lee: A full coverage, light rosie pink glitter suspended in a clear base

Lastly I brought one singular polish, which I feel is an achievement when faced with a wall of nail polish! This polish is named Artful Dodger, which Butter London describe as a true teal.

I couldnt resist trying some of the polishes before getting round  to making this post, so far I am really enjoying them but a full review will be soon.


Hannah x