Wednesday 11 March 2015

5 Product Mummy/Maternity Face - AKA 'Lazy Make up'

Hi everyone, hope everyone is well.

Having been stuck at home for a few weeks now, I was beginnging to get fed up of looking in the mirror and seeing my non-make up, tired face everyday! So this week I decided to put on a bit of make up so that I don't cower behind my dressing gown when someone knocks on the door, or frantically throw on foundation when a visitor arrives. But I only wanted to use a few products that I would be able to whack on in about 5/10 minutes. I also feel like this will be a great, quick routine for when Baby J is here and I need to cover my bags under my eyes and perk up my tired skin. Here's what I used...


Pixi Beauty Illuminating Tint and Conceal (shade no 2 - bare glow): £21.50 from here
I absolutely LOVE this product!!! It is a tinted moisturiser with perfectly matching concealer in the cap. The base gives light coverage and has tiny speckles of shimmer in it to really lift your complexion. I start by rubbing this in with my fingers, then use the concealer anywhere I need to conceal as well as under my eyes and over my eye lids (as an eye shadow) to correct the colour. The concealer is so creamy, it's very easy to blend.

Bourjois Little Round Pot Cream Blush (shade no1): £7.99 from here
A great little product, and I love the packaging - it even has a little mirror inside. I use my fingers to blend a small amount of this onto my cheeks and up my cheekbones. It gives a gorgeous rosy glow to my cheeks.

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil (shade Perversion): £15.50 from here
This is a really good long lasting eyeliner that doesn't smudge, in a typical pencil style. I simply swipe this under my eye along my waterline just to make my eyes pop a bit.

Benefit 'They're Real' Mascara (shade Black): £19.50 from here
There is a reason this is the UK's best selling mascara. I absolutely LOVE this - and I'm a mascara junkie but am converted to this completely and have been for a year or so now. The formula is really black and the wand really grabs your lashes to lengthen and separate. It also lasts FOREVER even though it isn't waterproof (I have to really scrub to get it off). A little swipe of this on my lower and upper lashes - I simply can't go without mascara. This would be a desert island product for me.

L'Oreal Paris Brow Artist Eyebrow Pencil (shade blonde): £5.49 from here
This is a great travel product as it incorporates an eyebrow brush, pencil and wax in one pencil! I brush my eyebrows to shape them, then use the pencil to shade in any gaps, and finish with the wax to set. I feel it just really finishes off my face to have tidy eyebrows!

So that's my 5 product face - perfect for Mummies and Mummies-to-be or for when you just don't have time to put a full face on. Hope you enjoyed!

What would your 5 products be?
D x



Monday 9 March 2015

The Body Shop Drops of Youth Bouncy Sleeping Mask

So I thought it was about time for my first product review. This is a product I've been raving about for a few weeks now and have got all my friends on it. I really like TBS at the moment - they seem to be getting A LOT right! As you may have guessed from this, I really like it...



Product: Drops of Youth Bouncy Sleeping Mask, by The Body Shop

Price: £22 for 90ml @ The Body Shop

What it claims to do: The Body Shop website states this is a "youth-enhancing sleeping mask is enriched with Edelweiss stem cells. It is designed to be left on overnight to sink in while you sleep, leaving skin feeling bouncier and replenished.
Packaging: The mask comes in a large, green glass pot with white lid and a little plastic scoop to get the product out (you'll need it!) It's a beautiful, bright green colour pot that looks quite high end.

First impressions: I first tried this when I was given a sample of it in Body Shop's Aldershot store (really handy as my skin is quite sensitive). I was looking for something to brighten and hydrate my skin which had become dehydrated due to my pregnancy. I had a little play with it in store first though. The texture of it really is something you have to feel to believe it! The only way I can describe it is like a memory foam mattress - if you press it, it will leave a fingerprint and then bounce back. So strange! This does make it quite tricky to get out of the tub, hence why you will need the scoop. I noticed upon opening it that it smells amazing too - very fresh and clean!




How to use: It is designed as a mask to leave on overnight, but don't panic - it soaks in rather than needing to be rinsed away. Just scoop out a small amount (use the scoop to help you judge the correct amount), rub between your hands for a few seconds (when it will almost 'melt' and become a more spreadable consistency) and rub on your face! You should use it instead of or over your normal serums and night cream. Body Shop recommend a special massaging technique whilst applying it - a video of which can be found here. This technique is designed to help the product be absorbed to its full potential and assist in lymph drainage etc. I use it every other night over my hydraluron serum and moisture jelly.

Overall opinion: I used my sample of this for a week and had incredible results. My skin feels supple, hydrated and soft and the fine lines around my eyes are more plumped up. I went straight out and bought myself a nice big pot of it without hesitation! It can feel a little bit tacky when you first apply it, but this does go away after a few minutes. I love the bouncy texture (hence the name), the smell and of course, the results! I would recommend this to anyone who has dry/dehydrated/combo/aging skin or anyone who wants an intense moisture treatment for their skin. Thanks TBS for creating such a wonderful product.

That's all for now!
D x

NB: All products bought by myself unless they have * next to them. This indicates PR sample/gift.

Sunday 8 March 2015

32 week Pregnancy Update

So I thought my first proper blog post since returning to blogging should be about my pregnancy, seeing as I don't have long left to share it but also it's new since I began blogging. So here we go...

I have borrowed some questions/prompts to discuss my pregnancy updates from Lucie and The Bump (I hope you don't mind!) - I've been following her blog for a while and love it! You can catch her Here

How far along? 32wks + 1 day

Bump: Pretty big now! I am wearing a Multi way cardigan by Jojo Maman Bebe, white vest top and maternity jeans from H&M, and boots by Carvella. 



Total weight gain: Around 2 stone

Maternity clothes: I have bought myself some "lounge wear"  from Primark (posh for pyjamas and track suit bottoms!!!) on the advice of my midwife to slum around the house in and some long basic vest tops from H&M. 

Stretch marks: None (yet!), I am keeping moisturised with Body Shop Body Butters and Bio Oil. 

Sleep: Horrendous! Some nights I'm fine, some nights I wake up to pee about a million times. Other nights I wake up and am wide awake in the middle of the night and go downstairs to watch TV. I suppose my body is prepping me for sleepless nights!

Best moment this week: Celebrating my anniversary of when we met with hubby. 

Worst moment this week: Experiencing SPD for the first time! Ouch! 

Miss anything? I've been missing red wine for a few weeks now. 

Movement: Loads! She does not keep still ever! Apparently she is head down, in good position for labour and curved round so her legs can kick my in my right side. 

Food cravings: Nutella!! Yum. 

Anything making me queasy or sick: The constant kicking makes me feel a bit gurgly. 

Gender: Girl. 

Labour signs: Braxton Hicks (they're fun!)

Symptoms: Severe pelvic and back pain, dizziness, exhaustion. 

Belly button in or out?  Still in but very small now and pops out when I move in certain ways. 

Mood: I've been a bit grumpy this week because of the pain I've been in, but keep reminding myself it's worth it!  

Looking forward to: Our first antenatal class this Saturday. 

What else have we been up to? Hubby and I ordered our car seat base (we have the Maxi Cosi Pebble so have bought the family fix base) and mothercare were having a sale so thought it was rude not to purchase a gorgeous sailor-esque dress and some long sleeved T shirts (a bargain - 4 for £6) in gorgeous bright colours. I've also been spending some time (whilst stuck at home in pain) learning to crochet and have finished my first project, a baby hat with flower! I'm very proud of myself and will continue to make things whilst on maternity leave. I've been following crochetguru and woolywonderscrochet on YouTube - check them out for ideas 



That's all for now! 

If you're currently pregnant, how is your pregnancy going? And any ideas on my next crochet project? 

D x

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Friday 6 March 2015

I'm back to the blogosphere!

Hi everyone! It's been nearly a year since I last wrote a blog, and what a busy year it's been! I got married for one thing (pictures below!) went on the most incredible honeymoon to Jamaica, and returned home to find out I'm pregnant! We are due to have our little girl on 2nd May 2015, so not long left now. Having been stuck at home for a while now, I figured I would start blogging again. I kind of lost my mojo when it came to beauty and skincare, particularly during my first trimester when nothing was going to take away the greyness on my face from throwing up and being constantly nauseous. However, my best friend whipped me back into shape and I am now back to skincare/beauty obsessive status. So stay tuned for weekly blogs which will now not only concentrate on skincare and beauty, but also pregnancy and new mum life!

Hope you enjoy!
D x

PS: As promised, here are a few pics from my wonderful wedding day! And a cheeky bump pic!

Matt and Dani's Wedding
Date: 14th August 2014
Photographs: Senior Mac