Pedicure Products: My Favourites

Hey all, 

So today's post is about feet - not the most pleasant of topics, however it can be pleasant if you look after yours! I have pretty average feet, quite dry and hard on the heels however (I think I get this from my Mum!), so it is important for me to nourish my feet. I do this by using these products, I have gotten positive results from them all and these are my favourite home pedicure treats at the moment so I thought I would share!

I love these products, and have been using them all for months. I love to take care of my feet because theres nothing nicer than having polished, soft toes with a fresh manicure - especially as it's summer so toes may be on show!

Soap & Glory Heel Genius Foot Cream

This is a product I have absolutely loved using - it's a mint coloured nourishing foot cream that is targeted at dry, rough heels. The name 'heel genius' is a play on words for 'real genius', I wouldn't expect anything less from Soap & Glory! I have so many of their products and this has to be one of my favourites.

This foot cream smells menthol-y and gorgeous but not too overpowering. It is a great moisturiser for those areas of feet that need the most love. I use this all over my feet concentrating on my heels and my actual nails - I feel it's important to always nourish your nails to keep them shiny and strong. For extra oomph I slather this all over my feet, pop some cotton ankle socks on and leave them while I'm just at home relaxing or doing bits and bobs. The socks stop the cream from transferring off of your feet and they help create a sort of 'foot-masque' in which all the moisture is trapped around your feet nourishing them deeply. They feel so soft and smooth afterwards!

This foot cream contains Allantoin, Glycerin, Macadamia Oil, Menthol, Bilberry, and Orange & Lemon Fruit Acid Smoothers - Fruit acid is good for naturally eating away and dissolving dead skin!

Soap & Glory Heel Genius is available from Boots and is £5.50.

Sally Hansen Radiant Hands, Nails & Cuticles Creme and Soap&Co Cuticle Oil

These two products are small put packed with lots of Oomph, the Sally Hansen is great for moisturising the area around your nails, the bits that tend to get dry. It moisturises the nail, helps you to remove the cuticles with great ease and leaves the surrounding area looking lovely and polished. A blob on each nail and rubbed in is great, and I use it on my toenails and fingernails. I got this as a sample size, but you can buy the full size from here for a discounted price of £3.81 (usually £10.83).

The Soap&Co cuticle oil has got to be my most favourite of all that I will mention, purely because it is amazing. This oil is so, so nourishing. It's got a great rollerball application which is so quick and easy - just roller it over each nail. I get a cotton pad after this and buff the product into my nails which removes the cuticle instantly, over time strengthens weak nails and moisturises dry nails. I am very prone to dryness on my toenails as well as my fingernails, and this oil sorts me right out if they are looking dehydrated. 

It's got some great ingredients such as Sweet Almond Oil and Jojoba Oil, smells amazing and is perfect for taking away as it's tiny and the rollerball is perfect. I carry this with me a lot actually, it really comes in handy.

You can buy the Soap&Co Cuticle Oil from their website here and it is £10.00 for 10ml.

Boots 'Gorgeous Feet' Deeply Intensive Moisturiser

 Another foot moisturiser, this one is great. It smells lovely, it's rich and does a great job at really hydrating your feet. Again, I do with this what I do with the Soap & Glory - slather it all over! It's great for all over your feet, especially the heels which is why I originally bought it. 

For the price, this product feels really luxurious, the packaging is nice and I thoroughly enjoy using it. Definitely will repurchase.

You can buy the Boots Gorgeous Feet Deeply Intensive Moisturiser from Boots for £4.99.

Soap&Co Nail Buffer

 Last but not least this nail buffer also from Soap&Co, this brand does great nail care. I got this along with the cuticle oil in the passion fruit nail kit which you can buy here for £39.99. It includes the nail buffer, the cuticle oil, a nail file and the most gorgeous smelling lotion ever, their passionfruit hand & body lotion - it's so good I would buy it just for the lotion! But you can buy it separately, I really do recommend it and it's great for feet also.

The nail buffer is really great for super polished nails, it's got three different coloured sides, one cream, one white and two black. The black sides are for buffing the nail to smooth ridges, flakes etc. The cream side is to smooth the nail over so it isn't textured or rough. The white side buffs the nail again but differently, and leaves you with the most incredible shine, it genuinely looks like you are wearing a clear coat of nail polish after you do this - I love it! This is great for toes and is really easy to use, if you're lazy or stuck for time this is a great way to achieve polished looking toenails without nail polish or a salon visit.

I have had this since Christmas and used it many, many times - the black sides are starting to wear away so I need to repurchase another soon!

You can buy just the nail buffer here from Soap&Co for £15.00.

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So I hope you enjoyed this post, and I hope the products mentioned can help you on your way to perfect tootsies! Let me know if you've used any or if you are thinking of purchasing any! I recommend them all.

Review: LUSH Fresh Face Mask - Brazened Honey

Hey all!

Another review, so many products I want to share my opinion on! This time it's a bit of skincare - my favourite face mask in the world!

Lush Brazened Honey Fresh Face Mask

Yep, it's a fresh face mask from Lush! Brazened Honey is the first face mask from Lush I have tried, and I was really impressed when I started using it how much it did for my skin. After browsing through Lush.co.uk at all the fresh face masks they had to offer, I decided on this one as I thought it would give my skin the best results.

This ingredients in this mask are as follows:

Talc, Fresh Organic Lime Juice, Sage, Rosemary and Juniperberry Infusion, Fresh Free Range Eggs, Honey, Glycerine, Fresh Fennel, Ground Almond Shells, Almond Oil, Bentonite Gel, Fresh Ginger Root, Fresh Parsley, Fresh Coriander,Ground Turmeric, Ground Cardamom, Clove Bud Oil, Ginger Oil, Vetivert Oil, Juniperberry Oil,*Benzyl Salicylate, *Eugenol, *Geraniol, *Benzyl Benzoate, *Linalool, Perfume

*occurs naturally in essential oils

(The green text represents the natural ingredients and the black text represents safe synthetic ingredients)

It contains perfume as you can see, but the fact that it contains fragrance doesn't irritate my skin. The mask itself is very potent smelling and is delicious. If I put this on my face it fils the whole room with it's gorgeous smell - I love it!

What Lush say: 

"  Been burning the candle at both ends? A detox mask to put things right

It's hard to stick to all the rules. Eight hours sleep a night, two litres of water a day, plenty of exercise, five fruit and veg etc. This mask is for when you have overdone things and let the rules slide. A detox to get tired and dull skin back to being radiant and glowing.  "

I really rate this mask in terms of doing what it is actually meant to do. I used this mask for the first time and loved it, used it all up and then went about two weeks without buying another one. Let me tell you, my face just wasn't the same. I realised that it really helped with the dark areas I sometimes get from waxing and removing hair on my upper lip, the mask helped to even out my skin tone as I am also prone to darkness on my forehead. It brightens your skin tone, makes it look glowing and even and I always use it before going out, as all the ingredients are really detoxifying and refreshing. My skin feel so clean afterwards.

Lush say : "  Helen researched ayurvedic detoxing ingredients and has combined them here with some of our other favourite ingredients, because she wanted a mask that was stimulating, but balanced by calming kind ingredients.  "

• Sage, Juniper and rosemary infusions, ground cardamon and clove bud oil for their antiseptic qualities. - It's great to use if you're having breakouts, as these ingredients will help soothe spots and keep germs away, helping them to heal.

• Eggs, honey and almond oil to soothe, soften and moisturise the skin. - Skin feels soft and supple after using the mask, which I love. It's not drying and doesn't make your face feel dehydrated.

• Fresh fennel, fresh ginger root, fresh parsley and fresh coriander to detox, and stimulate - and their enzymes will help break down dead skin cells. - The detoxifying ingredients and the enzymes really get rid of dead skin and leave a smooth base for make-up. This is why I love using it before going out for the night or days when I want to look extra polished.

• Fresh lime juice cleans and degreases.  Ground almond shells act as a stimulating scrub to lift away dead grey skin. Finally kaolin and talc absorb grease and give a lovely texture to hold all those ingredients onto the skin. - The lime juice really cleans your skin, my skin feels so clean after I use it and the ground almond shells are great for an exfoliation at the end. I sometimes don't use a cleanser after this mask because it just does the lot!!

As you can see from the picture above, I've used two of these already! One tub will last you a long time, Lush say it should be used within 3 weeks while the ingredients are still fresh and active. The mask should be discarded after that, but I've found the product doesn't go off or anything if you keep it slightly longer. I can get 4 masks a week out of this for a month and still have some left over using rather generous helpings. I didn't believe it could last me that long at first but it really does. Thats 16 facials for £5.75!! Amazing right?

You can purchase the Lush Brazened Honey Fresh Face Mask for £5.75 from any Lush store, and you can order it online here. I have just finished my second pot, and I can't get to Lush for a while yet so I'm thinking of putting in an order online soon. If you live in the UK and are ordering from the Lush site you should be fine, but it does say that if you live outside the UK, then the delivery times may affect the product. 

Have you tried any of Lush's fresh face masks? I'm looking to try 'The Sacred Truth' next.

Comment & share :-)

Review: Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder in Deep 4

Hello lovelies,

Finally! My review on my favourite bronzer/contour product, I've been dying to write about this product, because I absolutely love it.

Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder in Deep 4

I picked this bronzer up from Selfridges a few weeks ago, and I got the SA to help me pick out a shade. I already have the 'Chanel Soleil Tan De Chanel Bronze Universel' (Lengthy title I know!), but at the moment I am an NC42 in Mac foundations, and I'm just too dark for that bronzer at the moment, it's more my winter bronzer. She agreed that I don't want to go too light with the shade I pick because I want it to actually show up on my skin. 

Most bronzers look pretty scary in the packaging anyway, but once applied with a light hand they look beautiful and natural and you can always build up the colour if you want. She recommended Deep 4 and tried it on me, I fell in love straight away. It was the perfect shade for me and complimented my yellow undertones.

The bronzer is a red-toned deep terracotta shade, so it never looks orange or dirty on my skin, it looks really lovely and natural.

This photo is a really accurate portrayal of the shade, and I would say if you are around my colour, this shade would be perfect for you. I believe this is the darkest shade Bobbi Brown does in this bronzing powder, they also do a 'dark' shade, which 8 think may be slightly lighter. The product itself is silky and not chalky, it's really easy to apply but like I said, make sure you use a light hand. 

It's a matte bronzer, so no shimmer at all here! I personally only like matte bronzers, I don't like to have glitter on my cheeks as a rule, a slight sheen in my blush is fine, but too much glitter looks a bit garish! I save that for the highlighter! Being a matte bronzer, it means it is really good for contouring in the hollows of the cheeks to really give your face some shape and definition.

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I apply this using either:

MAC 187 Duo Fibre Stippling Brush (Sorry it's dirty! I used it today)

- or -

Givenchy Le Pinceau Bronzing Brush

I love this bronzer, and I really recommend it.

You can get it from the Bobbi Brown website, Selfridges, House of Fraser, John Lewis and Debenhams anDd it retails for £27.

What's your favourite bronzer? Have you tried the Bobbi Brown?

Many more make-up posts soon! Lots to review! Hope you liked.

Supermarket Beauty #1: Oils (Olive & Almond)

Hello again!

No post yesterday as I was very busy enjoying this miraculous English sunshine, but I already had these pictures ready for this post, so here it is!

I've decided to do another series (as wel as 'Vogue Bit') called 'Supermarket Beauty', about things you can pick up at the supermarket that are great beauty buys and at a great price also. There are shedloads of products in supermarkets that you can pick up that are on special offer or cheaper brand options that are just as great as some more expensive brands. 

You might have seen this photo I posted on Instagram a few weeks ago...

"  Today's finds! Going to start a series on my blog called
'Supermarket Beauty' :-) #beauty #blog #review #skincare  "


These are some products I found on a trip to the supermarket! I love the BalanceMe Face Wash and the Happy Hair Days 
Thickening Heat Protect Spray, but I wasn't too keen on the Bioré as it warms up while you buff it on your skin 
and I just didn't get on with it.


So as well as those two products, there are two items I use from the supermarket that 
can be found in where the cooking oils are - Almond oil and Olive Oil. I use the Sainsbury's ones 
purely because they are good quality and cheap.

The first oil is Sainsbury's Extra Virgin Olive Oil With Vitamins A, D and E, my Mum actually picked this up for me when 
we ran out of olive oil and got this one with added vitamins - even better! I use this to condition my eyebrows and eyelashes 
as olive oil is a great natural conditioner for the lashes and brows. It helps your lashes to grow thicker and longer and if 
you've over plucked your brows, it helps them to grow through healthy and thick again.


Everyone is different, but for me olive oil really works - don't be put off by the fact it says 'Ideal for Marinades 
& Salad Dressings'....it's perfectly fine to use on your face!


Olive oil is extremely nourishing and I just love using this at night before bed to condition my eyelashesand eyebrows.


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This is what I do:


1. I get a cutip (One like in the picture below with one thin end and one wide end, I just prefer them!) and I use the thinner end to 
dip into the olive oil, making sure the cutip isn't over soaked so I have accuracy with the product and so that it won't go in my 
eyes. I then run the cutip along the upper lash line being sure to coat all along evenly at the root of the lashes. 


This will condition the lashes from the root and help them to grow. 


2. I then re-dip the cutip in the oil and carefully apply it to my lashes. I do the same with the bottom lashline. Be really careful 
not to get the oil in your eyes, it doesn't hurt but it cansting slightly or feel a bit uncomfortable. If you are careful it will be fine.

3. To ensure no product will drip into the eyes, I use the wide end to run along my upper and lower waterline making 

sure they are clean and free from oil. If I feel I have over-applied i just blot my lashes with a tissue.

4. I then get some more oil on the wide end of the cutip and run the oil along my brows and in

any places I particularly want them to grow back. 

The vitamins in this particular oil will condition and nourish the hairs even more, so I really recommend this one if you 

want a bit more oomph!

You can purchase this oil from Sainsbury's and  it is currently £1.99 for a massive 500ml bottle!

 The other oil I love to use regularly is Sainsbury's Almond Oil, it's a gorgeous oil that I use in
the shower to condition my skin and make it feel really soft and supple. You can also use olive
oil for this, but I think I prefer the almond, it just feels really silky and luxe.


I simply get my loofah with my preferred shower gel or cream on, and add a splash of this oil to it, lathering them both together and using all over my body.


It really is a gorgeous shower-time treat and so inexpensive - it is a great cheaper option to lotsof the expensive luxury shower oils on the market and I thoroughly enjoy using it!


You can purchase this oil from Sainsbury's and and is £1.69 for a 250ml bottle!

I hope you enjoyed this post :-) 

The next 'Supermarket Beauty' post will be next week!

Sneak Peek - NARS Lipstick in Funny Face

Heres me wearing NARS Lipstick in the shade Funny Face, a lovely matte Magenta shade I picked up a few weeks ago. I love it! Review soon :-)

Supplements: What supplements do I take?

Hello lovelies,

So, supplements.....they can be quite confusing. I know the feeling of stepping into Holland and Barrett and looking at all the pills and potions and thinking 'Which ones? What do they all do?!' There are far too many to choose from. I am lucky that my Mum is really into supplements, so she's always pointed me in the right direction.

She has always re-inforced the importance of Vitamin C, and has always tried to make me take it in some type of supplement form wether it be chewy ones when I was younger, the effervescent tablets that dissolve in water, or just the bog standard supplement pills that I am taking now. 

Holland and Barrett Vitamin C-250mg with Wild Rose Hips Food Supplement
and Holland and Barrett Pure Cod Liver Oil 800mg with Odourless Garlic

I take these supplements daily, among a few others which I will talk about later on, but these are my two main staples. 

The Vitamin C with Wild Rose Hips is just my standard vitamin to keep my immune system working to it's fullest (even though I have a naturally amazing immune system if I do say so myself!) and helps prevent things like the common cold and coughs etc. Vitamin C improves the immune system and makes your body more resilient to illnesses and promotes general wellbeing. Vitamin C is also an anti-oxidant, pro-oxidant, antihistamine and performs physiological functions such as the synthesis of collagen.

What Holland and Barrett say:

"  As an antioxidant, Vitamin C may help to protect DNA, lipids and proteins from oxidative free radical damage. Vitamin C also plays a role in non-haem iron absorption and collagen formation, as well as normal function of the immune and nervous systems.  "

You can take up to 8 of these tablets per day, though I tend to only take one or two. They are suitable for Vegetarians and Vegans and they are currently £2.99 at Holland and Barrett. I think these tablets are an absolute bargain, and if you can get your hands on them and start making them a regular supplement to take, then I certainly would!

The other holy holy holy grail supplement I take is Holland and Barrets Pure Cod Liver Oil with Odourless Garlic. I LOVE this stuff. It is so good for you, in so many ways. We always have a jar of this in the house, my Mum and Dad both take them and have done for years. Cod Liver Oil contains Omega 3 - Omega 3 is AMAZING if you want clear, glowing and bright skin. If your face is looking dull, you suffer from spots or acne, or your skin just wont behave itself - this is your be all and end all supplement. Seriously. 

I was going through a bit of a skin turmoil, I was getting a few spots a day, my skin was coming out in red, irritated rash like things, and my skin texture looked awful (you know when you catch yourself in that certain lighting that highlights EVERYTHING on your face - ugh). I've also always suffered with micro-bumps in my t-zone between my eyebrows, I've heard these are blocked pores, I don't know. All I know is that I started taking these supplements and my skin is looking smooth, clear, glowing and just fab. It makes make-up look ten times better and I don't even feel the need to wear much most days. 

Cod Liver Oil is so potent, it really works in a short amount of time, it contains Vitamin A, Vitamin D and Omega 3 fatty acids. 

Focusacne.com says:

"   Lack of Vitamin A, D or Omega 3 can all lead to the following:

1. An accumulation of toxins – toxins cannot be handled and excreted properly and will often be excreted through the skin (aka acne)
2. Dry Skin – your skin cannot achieve optimal moisture levels without necessary nutrients that keep the skin cells plump and not rigid.
3. A slower healing rate – your body will spend its resources on fighting off toxins and infection that would normally be handled with ease. As a result, your skin suffers.   "

I eat a lot of fish anyway, I love the stuff, but I will always take these as they are so effective and a great dietary supplement if you do lack those vitamins and nutrients, or if you are trying to improve your skin.   

My boyfriend has suffered with bad spots for a few years now, he was getting tired of dealing with it and nothing the doctors ever prescribed him had any effect. So along with a few other things I recommended to him, I dragged him down to Holland and Barrett (yes - dragged) and got him to pick up a bottle of these supplements. His skin had improved vastly, when he first started taking them he had no breakouts at all, none. And since then he has had a few small ones, but nothing major, a complete turnaround from before. His skin looks like it is healing better (he has some acne scarring) and just looks clear and glowing. It is just so frustrating that doctors don't recommend these tablets to patients suffering with acne - they do wonders.

What Holland and Barrett say:

"   Cod Liver Oil naturally contains Vitamins A and D which help to maintain a healthy immune system. This product also provides the health benefits of garlic...without the odour.   "

The added Odourless Garlic is something my Mum always bangs on about, and let me tell you, the woman is 50 and she has the smoothest skin ever - not a wrinkle in sight! Garlic is another magic ingredient and is like a 'cure all' for lots of health and skin problems. It is good for Acne, Cardiovascular Health, High Cholesterol and Blood Clots. It is an Antioxidant and it's Anti-bacterial. It also keeps Vampires at bay. (Hehe)

Cold Liver Oil is good for bones and joints also, as well as being good for your heart!

You can take one of these tablets per day, preferably with a meal - do not exceed this dose. They are currently £21.49 for 240 capsules at Holland and Barrett. I have the 60 capsules bottle but I couldn't find them anywhere on the website and can't remember the price!

Whatever supplements you choose to take, just remember that if you are unsure, just contact your doctor if you are worried about anything or think you could possibly have a problem with a supplement. Always consult your doctor before taking a supplement if you are pregnant, breast feeding or taking any medications. 

I am healthy and have no underlying health issues, so for me these supplements are fine. Remember, you know your body better than anyone else! 

I really recommend both of these supplements, I have noticed real changes with them and feel they keep my body and skin resilient and healthy.

A few other supplements I take regularly are:

• Holland and Barrett Cranberry Fruit Concentrate with Vitamins C + E - I take these because I am prone to UTI's (Urinary Tract Infections) and I have had a bit of a sensitive bladder for a few years.
• Holland and Barrett High Strength Zinc - I take these for normal skin, hair and nails, and immune system support.
• Holland and Barrett Radiance Multivitamins and Minerals - I take these for general health and wellbeing.

I do hope you enjoyed the post! And if you were confused about supplements, I hope I shed some light on a few that I use and what they are good for!!