When The Body Shop Brings You Argan Oil

Aloha!

Most of us have grown accustomed to the large array of so called 'miracle oils' that have flooded our beauty counters and there is one for every skin type, occasion and purpose. We have oils such as coconut, almond, hemp seed, jojoba, moringa, tea tree and even olive oil; all on a mission to to deliver the promise of having beautiful skin (and hair). Although, I have no doubt that these oils are beneficial, I do think it's easy to become swept up in the latest oil trend and have high expectations. So, argan oil. Is it just another fad? Or are they onto something... 

Argan oil was primitively, a tribal ingredient, found in Morroco before it exploded onto our shelves with numerous articles and adverts singing it's praises. But why argan oil? Why not coconut oil... or jojoba oil? I needed to find out and we all know the best way of doing so is to try it. Now, I know you can get the little tubes of argan oil at the til in Primark (for about £1!) but I felt like splashing out on this so I headed to The Body Shop, where I purchased the shower gel, body lotion, body scrub and not to my surprise they were on offer (The Body Shop always seem to have offers on). 

Wild Argan Oil Shower Gel

This soap-free shower gel gives you loadsa bubbles (v. important) and surprisingly a little goes a long way. After using it I felt very clean and it didn't dry out my skin or cause any irritation. I don't know how I would describe what argan oil smells like but it's unusual, not too sweet and almost edible. Basically, it's lush. 

Wild Argan Oil Body Lotion

I think when people hear 'oil' in a body lotion it can sometimes put them off as they feel it could be greasy or leave a residue or not absorb very well. This body lotion absorbs almost instantly, it leaves my skin feeling super soft, supple and even gives it a slight glow. It doesn't cause my clothes to cling and my skin feels hydrated and smooth. 

Wild Argan Oil Body Scrub

I've always been obsessed with The Body Shops body scrubs and this one was no exception. It's vigorous without being too harsh and easily lifts dead skin cells, whilst replenishing my skin; leaving it feeling revitalised. For some reason this didn't feel like I was using a regular body scrub, it felt like more of a treat and although it left a slight residue, it wasn't greasy at all. 

After using these products for a while I can definitely see what all the hype is about. The high vitamin E content and fatty acids are the science behind why this oil has immense hydration powers and the anti oxidants found in this oil also promote healing so this would be ideal for someone with very dry, irritated skin or even Eczema suffers. Furthermore, I tend to get odd blemishes on my shoulders but since using this soothing formula, it's barley noticeable. I've also noticed my legs are less irritated after a shave them which is great as it's something I've always battled with. My skin feels more supple and as argan oil increases skin elasticity, there's no reason why this couldn't benefit those with stretch marks or even promote anti aging. My verdict? Not a fad but a fabulous find.

Neeks ☯

The Body Shop Tea Tree Range

Aloha!

Catching your shiny complexion half way through the day, waking up to yet another spot, blocked open pores and coming home to realise you've lost half your carefully crafted eye brow. Sound familiar? I have always had problematic skin and feel as if I'm on a never ending quest to find something, just SOMETHING that will actually make the slightest bit of difference. You see I like to imagine my skin is a dress. A dress that I'm going to have to wear for the rest of my life, if this were the case you'd look after it right? Now there are a flood load of brands specifically formulated for spot prone skin; the likes of Freederm, Clearasil and Garnier Pure Active... I'm sure there are many people that would swear by these products but in my experience, I've found that these potions contain chemicals and micro-beads which are too harsh on your skin and often, in my case, make it a whole lot worse. At this point I was willing to try anything and that's when I turned to the Body Shop and before I knew it, one small bottle of tea tree lead to the whole range and these are my top 6!

Tea Tree Facial Wash

A little goes a long way with this gel like formula and it even comes in a gentle foam version. I use it twice a day and after six weeks, I still have half the bottle left. It cleanses whilst removing impurities, leaving your skin smooth and soft, without drying it out. What I love the most is that it makes your skin feel squeaky clean and is very refreshing to use; perfect for waking you up in the morning!

Tea Tree Facial Toner

Okay so I'm a BIG toner fan, to the point where I'm worried if I forget to use it (irrational I know). When you cleanse your face your pores naturally open which makes it easier to remove the impurities. However, if you moisturise without toning beforehand, you run the risk of the dreaded large pores. Toning helps to tighten the pores and prevent any nasty bacteria or make-up clogging them up. I bought this toner about a year ago and absolutely swear by it, this light and slightly tingling formula is the ultimate refresh and doesn't leave a residue. 

Tea Tree Skin Clearing Lotion

I usually apply this at night time, I wouldn't say it's a miracle product but if I already have blemishes it certainly helps to calm my skin. I've used other products in the past which arguably do heal my spots but these often dry my skin out. This lotion delivers light hydration and I find after use my spots are noticeably less red/ inflamed and on extra troublesome days I'll use it under my make-up as it has mattifiying shine control properties (they also do another lotion specifically for night time).

Tea Tree Pore Minimiser

Before I apply my make-up I always use some kind of pore minimiser. Whether it's Maybelline's Pore Eraser or Benefit's POREfessional, it's a must have for me. Pore 'erasers' are great for a quick fix but if you actually want to solve the problem, rather than masking it, I would definitely recommend this. This doubles up as an mattifying primer, is infused with tea tree oil and minimises pores. Since using this I have definitely noticed a difference in the size of pores, even when I'm not wearing make-up. 

Tea Tree Clay Mask

I love face masks, not even to improve my skin but just as a way to relax. The only trouble with me is I forget I'm wearing them and before I know it my skin feels tight, irritated and the mask begins to crack. This mask however, is unique as it doesn't dry out and I absolutely love that. It's thick consistency tingles for a bit when you initially put it on so it feels like it's 'doing something'. It also absorbs excess oil and soothes irritated skin, perfect for when my face needs a little pick me up, I'm run down (or hungover). It's not the easiest of masks to wash off but with warm water and a flannel you're skin will be feeling soft, supple and hydrated. 

Tea Tree Blemish Gel

So this lip gloss type applicator allows you to perfectly pin point the blemish. When I first tried this, it didn't look like anything had actually transfered onto my face but in the morning the blemish had reduced in size, was less red and had completely dried out. Plus it's a lot more discrete than a massive blob of Sudocrem.

  Of course, if you're not a fan of the tea tree scent I would like to highlight that obviously these products smell like tea tree but the scent isn't overpowering. I actually find it quite fresh and after a while you do get used to it. Plus for the sake of a few minutes I think it's totally worth it. This range has made such a difference in my skin quality and I don't have to worry about any nasty chemicals. It's suitable for sensitive skin, I don't have as many spots and my skin it less oily. Ah, the power of tea tree! 

Neeks ☯

Current Skin Care Favs

Aloha!

Whilst I was brain storming post ideas, it suddenly came to my attention, that it's been a very long time since I've posted about skin care. I mean I'll mention products in 'Empties' posts and such like but it's been a while since a whole post has been dedicated to skin care products. I think it's because once I find a routine that works well for me it's a big risk to change products (my skin is so problematic- agr!) . However, lately I have been using some new products that certainly deserve a shout out! 

I'll begin with a classic fav, the St-Ives Invigorating Apricot Facial Scrub. I'm sure you've had enough of me singing it's praises, so I won't bore you with the same old song, BUT this as been my go-to facial scrub for years now and although I've tried other brands they just don't have the same effect this one does. It's 100% natural exfoliants remove all your dead skin cells without damaging the surface of your skin. I know I say this every time but I wouldn't recommend using this every day, as it can harm your skins natural repairing system so I'd say two-three times a week is more than enough. For those of you that like a vigorous scrub, this is for you! It will leave your skin feeling fresh, soft and radient without causing increased sensitivity or dryness. I personally prefer to use it in the morning, as it contributes to a smoother base, for when I apply my make-up but you could use it at night time as well. 

Next I've been loving the Etre Belle Aloe Vera Ultra Moisturising Gel which I actually got in my May Glossybox. This gel doesn't really have a scent other than the generic 'clean' smell. I've been using it instead of my usual night moisturiser for about three weeks now and found that my skins seems to be a lot fresher and brighter when I wake up in the morning. I feel like it really hydrates the deep layers of my skin (Dermis) which initially I didn't expect as it is very lightweight.The only downside to this product is it's fairly expensive for a 40ml bottle and I don't think it's suitable to use as a make-up base as, when I tried it, the slight residue it left on my skin made it harder to apply my foundation. 

For those evenings when my skin could do with a little pampering I use the Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser. I have a friend, who works in John Lewis, and she said that everyone absolutely loves this cleanser! I was surprised as I'd never heard of it until recently (clearly I've been living under a rock). It came with a pure muslin cloth which polishes the skin, removing all impurities, without any harsh chemicals. Phase one: massage the concentrated cleanser into dry skin to purify, soften and stimulate circulation. Phase two: rinse the muslin cloth in hand hot water before gently polishing off the cream. The first time I used it I felt like I'd just had a facial! I couldn't believe how soft and supple it made my skin feel. It also gave me a complexion boost and seems to help prevent blemishes. Anybody could use this, no matter what your skin type, and contains chamomile, cocoa butter and eucalyptus essential oil; all renowned for their natural skin benefits! 

A product I've been using religiously (no exaggeration here) is the Body Shop Tea Tree Facial Toner. It's no secret that tea tree has vast skin benefits, especially for blemish prone skin, so a tea tree based toner seemed like promising product to try. I use this twice a day after cleansing, before moisturising to tone and tighten my pores. It removes all traces of cleanser residue, impurities and oil whilst mattifying your skin. I would highly reccomend this if you have oily or blemish prone skin as using it daily has helped my problem skin massively. What's more, once applied, it gives you a slight tingling sensation and leaves your skin feeling really fresh and clean. From the same range I've also been using the Blemish Gel. I bought this on a whim, as I do get blemishes, and was pleasantly surprised. It's always the last thing I apply at night time, I simply dab the gel onto the blemish and let mother nature work her magic. It has a soft applicator, kinda like a lip gloss, which means you can apply with precision. This isn't the product for you if you need an all over facial treatment but it's good for tackling precised areas. After the first use I found my blemishes were slightly smaller, less red and had dried out a bit. I have now been using it every day, when needed, and it certainly beats Sudocrem!

So those are my current skin care favs, I'd love to know if anyone else uses these and if there are any other wonder products out there so leave a comment and share with the rest of us!

Neeks ☯

April 2015 Empties!

Aloha!

I don't know about you but I can't actually believe that we are now in May. There's no way we are nearly half way through 2015! Time is wizzing past me and it seems that there is little I can do to stop it, it's only a reminder that life's short and we need to grab each day by the horns! Moving on, I must admit I don't regularly do monthly empties post, which is a shame because it's a good opportunity to share with you guys what great products I have been using. So, I've decided to take the challenge and write monthly empties and favorites posts (yay, exciting things to come!)

Firstly, we have Garnier Ultimate Blend Strength Restorer, a one minute treatment for fragile hair, prone to breakage. I have long, fine hair that I need to take special care of and usually my trusty Aussie 3 Minute Miracle does the job. However, I wanted to branch out and since I liked the Ultimate Blends shampoo/ conditioner range, I thought I would give it a go! It uses honey, royal jelly and propolis to strengthen, nourish and protect from root to tip. You can tell it contains jelly, due to it's consistency. I found that I had to use more of the product than I would usually because my hair didn't seem to absorb it very well and, although it says to leave it in for one minute, I usually leave it on for about five- ten minutes to ensure I recieve the up most benefits. It did leave my hair feeling soft and smelling of sweet honey but I don't think it necessarily made my hair stronger. I did use the whole bottle although I don't think I would purchase it again. 

Next we have St Ives Invigorating Apricot Facial Scrub. Okay as most of you know this has been my favorite facial scrub for a few years now and it's no wonder because with 100% natural exfoliates it removes all the dead skin cells without damaging the surface of your skin. I wouldn't recommend using it every day as that can harm your skins natural repairing system but using it two- three times a week will leave your skin feeling fresh, soft and radiant. Moving on to Aussie Shower Smoothie, I was besides myself when I saw that Aussie were launching a body wash range! And although £2.99 seemed a bit pricey for a tiny bottle of shower gel I just had to buy it. I must admit it wasn't the magical Aussie love potion I imagined it to be, it's macadamia nut oil formula is supposed to leave your skin feeling super soft but I found it didn't lather very well and didn't make a noticeable difference to my skin. It smells nice but it could have been a boots own brand for all I knew... Personally I think Aussie should stick to what they know; hair care!

We now have The Body Shop Tea Tree Blemish Gel. I bought this on a whim, as I do get blemishes, and was pleasantly surprised. After finishing my night time skin care routine I just dab the gel onto the blemish. It has a soft applicator, kinda like a lip gloss, which means you can apply with precision. This isn't the product for you if you need an all over facial treatment but it's good for tackling precised areas. After the first use I found that my blemishes were slightly smaller, less red and had dried out a bit. Tea Tree is vastly known for helping with problem skin and I think it's safe to say you can't argue with mother nature! Okay so lastly, we have Muji Hinoki Wood Candle. This is my favorite candle of all time and you can only get it at Muji so last weekend me and Roneil took a trip up to London to visit the Natural History Museum, whilst we were there, we thought we'd catch the tube up to Oxford St. and of course I had to visit Muji. This hand made candle contains premium grade fragrances including Hinoki Wood. For those of you who don't know, Hinoki Wood is a sacred wood in Japan and smells devine! What I love most about it, other than it's scent, is that it fills the whole room with a luscious aroma and the entire candle melts each time so you don't waste any. Anybody who loves candles will love this and they have a range of fragrances to suit all homes. 

So there we have it, my April 2015 empties! What are yours?

Neeks ☯

March Favs

Aloha! 

So here we are on the 9th of April, oh how time fly's by! In all fairness despite still feeling the wntery blues, at the beginning of the month, it wasn't long before the weather seemed to feel that little bit warmer and of course the clocks went forward which means longer evenings (Yay!) I don't know about you but leaving for work in the dark and coming home in the dark feels miserable, a nice spring walk with my ipod in makes all the difference. All in all March was a pretty good month for me and as it came to an end my birthday arrived and I'm very happy to say that I celebrated it with all my favorite people. 

So to kickoff today's post let's begin with our first March favorite Bourjois Delice de Poudre Bronzing Powder. I'm sure you're all aware of Bourjois famous chocolate bronzing powder and for good reason to! It's light to medium shade is perfect for my complexion and even if I've applied tan it seems to adapt to my skin tone. It doesn't look orange and blends really easily, not to mention it looks and smells like chocolate. It's definite my go-to bronzer for this time of year, it gives me that natural glow and reminds me that the warm weather isn't too far away. Speaking of which, bright lips are a key spring 2014 trend. Bright oranges and pinks seem to be flooding the covers of my magazines. Okay so I know I sound like a bit of a stuck record here but I really am addicted to lipsticks and this month was no exception. Marches choice of lippy was Maybelline Colour Sensational Lipstick. Pink punch is a bright redish fuchsia, almost matte, with a healthy shine. This lipstick doesn't last as long as some other brands but it does have a fair amount of life to it and does fade nicely throughout the day. My lips feel hydrated and the vibrant colour is perfect for spring. I also purchased Hollywood Red  (you can never have too many red lipsticks right?) although this isn't exactly on trend it's probably one of the classiest lipsticks I've ever had and because it's not so 'in your face' it makes it easy to wear on a day to day. 

If you happened to read my Sunny Saturday's #1 post you'd see that I purchased the Body Shop Strawberry Hand Cleanser on a nice little trip to Gunwarf Quays. When I first opened it the smell of alchol seemed quite strong but after that all I could smell was yummy strawberries. All I could think of was devouring juicy strawberries in a nice sunny field somewhere. Definitely enough to get me into the spring mood and it doesn't dry out my hands like a lot of other hand sanitisers do. Let's just say I will be going back to see what other luscious flavours they have. On my trip I also purchased Body Shop Vitamin E Day Cream. I've been using this religiously since I bought it; as I have combination skin I always find it difficult to find a hydrating moisturiser that doesn't make my skin oily but this one absorbs instantly leaving my skin perfectly prepped for make-up application. It doesn't make me feel oily and I've definitely noticed an improvement in how supple and healthy my skin feels. Body Shop you've done well! Lastly on my list is a couple of skin products. Lastly on my skin care list, it's the Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser ! I first mentioned this product in the Benefit POREfessional VS Maybelline Pore Eraser  post and I still stand by word. Since I've been using it I haven't touched Benefit's POREfessional and actually give it to my mum (she loves it) but if you're like me and trying to save some pennies it's worth a go. 

Saving the best til last I present you with my last March favorite L'Oreal Elvive Extraordinary Oil. Well I say it's my March favorite it's actually been a favorite of mine for a few months now. It's the best hair oil I've used to date. As you probably know I have quite fine hair so I need to be careful that products don't weight it down too much. And as we are all aware winter can take a harsh toll on our locks and sometimes we need to give them a little helping hand in restoring their shine. Not only does it give my hair a dazzling shine and feel super soft but it also smells lush, has UV filters and doesn't make my hair feel greasy! 

What's on your March favorites list?

Neeks x 

Sunny Saturday's

Aloha! 

So first of all an apology from me for neglecting my blog over the last 2 weeks. It wasn't out of laziness, I'd simply started a new job and blogging had to take a bit of a back seat, but now I'm back into a somewhat routine and you'll be happy to know that I am back to my usual blogging self. With all the nice weather we've been having I thought an easy way to make the most of the sunshine was to take a nice little trip, with Roneil, to Gunwarf Quays, well known for it's designer brands and trendy restaurants with a sea view, but most of all known for it's OUTLETS! 

I wasn't planning of splashing out but when 60% off signs are displayed far and wide it's almost impossible not to pick up a few treats. As we were strolling through the beautifully displayed windows of the designer shops, I was instantly drawn to the Lindt Chocolatier, and to my amazement there were even more delectable flavors than I'd first imagined. Strawberry, coconut, coffee, orange, caramel, you name it and it was there for a fraction of the price you'd usually pay for a regular box. Shortly after, we devoured a serious amount of food at YoSushi, before slowly wandering towards The Body Shop. And let me just take this moment to express how starstruck I was! They'd filled their shelves with all the left over Christmas gift sets, I assume the couldn't sell, and had up to 70% off pretty much everything. I managed to buy a vitamin e mini gift set, strawberry hand cleanser and a coconut body scrub for just under £11, when the lady at the counter told me the price I had to double check because I couldn't quite believe how cheap it was. The gift set included a day cream, night cream, cream cleanser and hydrating toner and I have to say my skin does seem to respond well to the regime and it has persuaded me to purchase the full sized products. Although, it's small the set lasted nearly 2 weeks and for the price and quality I think it's a pretty good deal. Of course, my all time fav body scrub never fails to disappoint me. I tend to find other scrubs a bit pants and not vigorous enough but this one actually feels like it's doing something without being to harsh on my sensitive skin. 

To finish up we stopped for a coffee and a Krispy Creme by the waterfront before making our way towards, our soon to be, train home. On our way back we passed Boots and it only comes naturally to me to have a look at any new products or offers they might have. I don't know what it is exactly but every time I see Boots it's as if my legs involuntarily walk inside. To be honest, this was just an ordinary Boots and nothing seemed to really jump out at me other than the 3 for 2 offer on Barry M nail polishes.  I was a bit disappointed with the constancy of 342 Nude (you need at least 3 layers) and even more disappointed in the pink CrystalGlaze because unfortunately it didn't show up (even with a base) but all is not lost! Somehow Barry M managed to redeem themselves with key-lime green Gelly Hi-Shine! You only need one coat, it has a beautiful glossy finish and a nice twist on usual bright summery colours. 

How do you spend your sunny Saturday's? 

Neeks x