Idle hands are the devils online shopping subscription

Beauty, confidence, Make Up, Wedding Budget

I have signed up to too many beauty / home websites. This pay day I had a ridiculous amount of emails offering me money off discounts, free postage ahhh. I want it all. my idle hands are shopping as soon as the subscription emails roll in.

My account looks healthy and my fingers start emptying it again.

I went on Cult Beauty filling up my basket with Zoeva brushes and Charlotte Tilbury makeup. When I got to a £100 of products I took a step back. What am I doing?

Stop the splurge

Yes I want to buy a lot of gorgeous things for my home but right now I don’t need them. I am not a shopaholic but there is something about a pay check that makes me want to spend money That has literally just entered my account!

I need to save

It’s not long till the wedding! This month has been all about paying for wedding deposits and payments. Blah blah blah. My savings are looking pretty empty.

Time for less outings

More walking ( bus fares add up)

Definitely no beauty, I have enough. I don’t wear much makeup so why am putting all this makeup into my basket? I am too susceptible to advertising and influencers. I do use all my skincare products but everything else is just money I could have spent on the wedding!

Idle hands

Luckily I also need to watch my diet! Which means less takeouts and premade meals.

As it’s a big sunnier I do want to eat better food with more veg and in the evenings I need to keep busy.

Idle hands are the devils online shopping subscription. They sit and wait for my pennies to roll in then they send me what I have always wanted but have absolutely no need for.

Yes I want velvet cushions with embroidered bees on, yes I need more plants! I just topped up my rather sad makeup collection with my Boots points. It really is the bare minimum and didn’t cost me anything however did I need it?

Plan

I need to be busier without exhausting myself like I did over Christmas.

I have so much to do so rather than spending my weekends completing tasks I am going to complete them in the weeknights instead. I will still schedule nights where I can just cuddle my best friend the sofa ( I wrote a blog on my lack of energy)

I will still relax when I need to, I won’t even look at my subscriptions this month unless Elizabeth Arden has an amazing deal on ( never going to happen).

I won’t delete them because I do have enough will power to stop buying them. This month will be a no buy month!

No spending on silly things

No make up

No skincare ( Cult Beauty I already miss you)

Do you have the same problem with pay day offers?

So obviously I bought the new Birchbox because Rock My Wedding sent me a naughty email and I wanted to try out half the items in it! It arrived within two days and I will try out the bits tomorrow when I go shopping with mum.

On Sunday I got a call from my mum suggesting that I had, HAD to buy the new Gatineau tanning accelerator.

“You don’t want to be a pale bride darling”

So thank you QVC for your special offers! I look forward to looking like a bronze goddess at our wedding.

So I failed!

But a few treats here and now are important to me not going insane with all the wedding planning.

Or so I tell myself.

Would I buy again? Drunk Elephant Skincare

Advice, Beauty, Organising, Personal Experience

So after two weeks I kind of know what I like and what I won’t invest in again. Drunk Elephant isn’t a cheap brand it’s luxury. I am completely behind investing in your skin. I know my main focus on this is my wedding but I will be maintaining this after.

I am going on holiday soon so I will take this skin care set with me. There is a surprising amount of product in these tiny bottles.

Shaba Complex Eye Serum

£50 for 15ml.

Can be used day and night. Did you know that eye cream should never be carried all the way up to your eye line?

Me neither apparently it does it’s work without needing to go all the way. You should apply it with your pinky!

Meh! It was okay. I used it because I wanted to do the range justice but I didn’t like the texture. It felt almost scratchy especially compared to the texture of everything else, like a paste and took a while to absorb.

Drunk Elephant don’t use scents in there products which is nice but strange. There was nothing wrong with it. I just didn’t see any results or improvements. I will keep using it till my bottle gets empty but I won’t re buy it!

Confession: I don’t really believe in eye creams!

C Firma Day Serum

£67 for 30ml

This is supposed to be a potent vitamin C day serum. It contains antioxidants, essential nutrients and fruit enzymes, all of which work together to firm and brighten the appearance of skin and minimise signs of ageing. I love a serum. Ever since the Elizabeth Arden one I cannot get enough of them.

This is a lovely thin serum and I used it in conjunction with the B- Hydra which is thicker. I felt when I used it it was still really tacky. Now I know from my research that it Is supposed to be tacky. A skincare blogger I follow was trying the same products and we both agree they are better together.

The serum isn’t as amazing as Elizabeth Arden, as in I didn’t see the results straight away.

But I need to tell you… my skin is so soft and hydrated at the moment it makes me so happy. So the serum is working I just think maybe I need to bite the bullet and just buy the expensive one.

So will I buy it again… maybe but maybe not. I feel like I would notice it’s absence if it wasn’t in my routine. The Ordinary have a Vitamin C product that set my skin on fire. This was gentle and lovely. I think I just talked myself into buying it again.

That maybe just turned into a yes!

B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum

£44 for 50ml

This is an intensive hydration serum is ideal for thirsty skin. It is enriched with ultra-hydrating vitamin B5 and pineapple ceramides to attract and hold moisture throughout the day for a visibly brightened, plump and even result.

This is soothing without a richness. Your skin will thank you for using this product.

Yes, the answer is yes! I love this product. I don’t think any other product maybe swoon as much as this. It’s heaven, light and soothing.

This is has helped with the C-firma.

I want this product in my life forever! Can you tell that I love it.

Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser

This cleanser removes all traces of make up, excess oil and pollution without stripping, to ensure your skin stays smooth and soft as well as clean. Yes it does all that. Your skin doesn’t feel dry or thirsty like other cleansers can do.

This is a soft gentle cleanser. The lid is a little tricky. It’s a twist rather than an unscrew and a few times I have squeezed too much product out without thinking. As a cleanser it is nice.

Drunk Elephant pride themselves on not using the suspicious 6 and scent especially! So it’s strange for me to wash my face without the luxury of smell.

I have two favourite cleansers and they are both Elemis the balm cleanser which doesn’t have a strong smell but makes you smile as you spot it and the Rose balm cleanser which smells exactly like a rose garden.

It’s heaven.

At £68 for 200mls a pop it should be, it lasts and I look forward to washing my face with it! The Drunk Elephant is only £27 for 150mls it nice.

But this is just nice so will I purchase again. Probably not unless I buy another kit.

T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum

This night serum 12% alpha and beta hydroxy acid night serum helps to refine and resurface skin, revealing a smoother and more radiant complexion in the morning. Blended with raspberry extract it delivers effective exfoliation without harsh side effects.

So this serum is lovely.

I wish it smelt of raspberries how amazing would that be!!

I am used to retinols on my skin so I didn’t experience any tingling. For me this is lovely my skin in the morning. I can’t stop touching my skin!

I did use it in conjunction with the virgin oil then cleaned my teeth to let it absorb.

Would I buy it again… if I suddenly could afford to buy this all the time I would but I can’t. Like I said I could put this £72 towards my Elizabeth Arden serum that I dream about. Yes they do different things but I am counting my penny’s so not for me right now.

Virgin Marula Oil

£34 for 15ml and a luxurious marula oil . This is pure no chemicals or fragrance. Brimming with antioxidants and omegas, it moisturises, rejuvenates and nourishes skin while restoring a gloriously youthful glow.

Do I love it yes

Would I buy it

Yes, but The Ordinary also do a Marula oil and it £8.25 for 30mls. So I am going to try that. After all that the price of a GnT! If I don’t love it I can apply it to my body then buy the Drunk Elephant oil. It was lovely but I am not ready to commit!

La La Retro Whip Moisturiser

£50 for 50mls

A blend of six rare African oils whipped into an airy cream, this all-purpose rescue moisturiser saves dull, dry skin by delivering a steady dose of moisture throughout the day and night. Your complexion will be left soft, supple and replenished.

The Drunk Elephant products were so good at hydrating my my skin that I didn’t think I needed this marvellous tub of whipped heaven.

Then the weather changed. It got colder and started raining. I had an upsetting incident that left me in tears for pretty much a week.

Apparently unhappiness can be very drying. It turns out I am also an emotional eater and ate lots of sugary bad things which dry out my skin. I needed a lot more hydration in my skin and reached for this moisturiser on more than one occasion.

I loved it. I didn’t need it my routine so I discarded it at first. Would I buy it again.

Yes, as soon as I run out I will be buying. This is something I look forward to using.

I like the fact it’s light enough for me to use day and night.

Verdict!

I love the ethos of this brand. It’s about cleanliness and healthiness for your skin.

Let’s just take a moment to appreciate the packaging. Absolutely gorgeous it is so Instagramable I love it.

Is it worth the money!

Most of it!

The samples worked out at £8 each I bought them with £15 off. I wish they introduced a European friendly SPF but I have been using my own La Roche Posey.

I would buy most of the products in this little set. The B Hydra I was looking forward to and is on my list. I want the Vitamin C Firma serum and the Whip.

I did love the other products but they may be on my plan b.

Drunk Elephant welcome to my skincare routine.

Have you tried the littles?

Which ones did you love?

Drunk Elephant littles : Wedding skin review

Beauty, body confidence, Personal Experience, Wedding

Hello reader! Hope you are well this last year I have been obsessed with my skin. Nothing wrong with a bit of self improvements but I have been fairly experimental.

I wanted to invest in the B hydra and the framboise but I wasn’t sure about splurging on these as they are not cheap.

Good skin care is worth it if it works

So I bought the littles. I didn’t want to spend the full hefty price tag so I shopped around and got £15 off SpaceNK.

I read a few reviews where people have had bad or no results. The information was always similar, try using our products exclusively at first to see how they react with your skin. So I thought I would give it a solid two weeks before I start introducing my other bits of skincare.

Night 1

So excited my sister Skyped from New Zealand so I washed my face with her. (Never done that before) I started with the cleanser,even though I new it had a funny cap I still tried to unscrew it like a normal one. The cleanser was nice, light with no smell.

First impressions was that it could not replace my Elemis Rose cleanser for luxury but it did do the job. Then I used the Framboise serum on my skin then left my skin feeling tacky but no other feeling. I added the B hydra to help it out. I added eye serum And that was it.

No 8 step double cleanse nonsense.

I was impressed with how quick and efficient it was. Ten minutes later my skin was soft and lovely!

Morning day 2

So I popped in the shower and didn’t cleanse my face. DE tell you, you don’t have too! Bonus my skin routine is not taking as long!

I applied the C Firma then the B hydra to my skin. I keep finding it tacky to the touch so I left it on whilst I cleaned my teeth. Then I put on the eye serum and manual a bit of whip to add moister. Then used my La Roche Posay SPF because you have to look after your skin.

My skin felt soft all day.

I can’t see any visible changes but my skin feels good and hydrated. So super happy.

Night 2

Same as before, I like how nothing smells even though my favourite usual products all have amazing smells. I tried the whip tonight, it’s rich and lovely and good.

Morning 3

Same as yesterday…. except I mixed my B hydra with the C serum and bingo! OMG this was heaven. I made a noise when I but it on. I think I need this in my life!

Night 3

Same as before…..

I am going to skip a head a bit!

Night 4

I wanted to change today up a little and give my skin a break so cleansed which was lovely and then I added the virgin Marula oil to my skin. I have eaten chocolate today ( a lot of chocolate) so if I get a flair up in the next few days I have only myself to blame.

Drunk Elephant & La Roche Pose Day Care routine

Day 5

Same routine as before just no sunscreen but I did use the Whip cream. I am finding that my skin isn’t as dry as normal but as I don’t wear makeup on a day to day basis.

Two Weeks Later

I haven’t had a great week emotionally. I am a comfort eater so I have indulged in a lot of Chocolate which is terrible and my skin has hated me for it. I have had break out on my chin so I need to stop with the chocolate fix.

It fixes nothing… but a brief happiness. Damn you mint Areo and Galaxy!

So I have kept it up. My day and night routine is so simple now. The rest of my face looks okay. The texture is lovely and soft. Generally it takes 12 weeks to show actual effects.

I am going on holiday soon so I will take this skin care set with me. There is a surprising about of product in these tiny bottles. Overall I am happy with them. I do understand that I need to give them more time but there are some products I will definitely buy again and others that are just Meh!

I am going to do a breakdown of the products to let you know what I thought of them and will I be buying any bigger bottles when I run out! But as this blog is already long enough I thought that may be I can break this into two blogs.

My overall results are simple. My break outs are my own self induced fault. The weather in the UK is forever changing. Hot and sunny one day, freezing cold and Icy the next. IE not great weather conditions for your skin. I normally suffer from dry skin or get those weird patches of dry skin that come from nowhere.

My skin had been nicely hydrated. I haven’t had to layer on lots of moisturiser some nights and days I have added a bit of Whip for an added layer but most times I haven’t needed to. I don’t wear makeup so my skin has been allowed to breath.

Drunk Elephant little pouch and Sparkly French Bull dog

£70 odd pounds is not cheap for tiny bottles. But there is a lot in them. This will be great for my holiday as they don’t take up any room. My biggest gripe is the fact that in the American set you get an SPF but because of one of the products they can sell it over here. This is reflected in the price but an SPF is vital if you are selling Retinals and acids. I feel like Drunk Elephant should still put it in or make one with less harmful products.

So was it worth it…. for now yes. My skin routine is great and I am going to add the Drunk Elephants Babyfacial. I have also missed my The Ordinary M atrixyl which is amazing for shrinking pours and fine lines. So I am going to keep going till after my holiday. Then I am going to start introducing other brands back into my skin care routine. I feel like i should give the DE time to work on its own first!

I do miss my Elemis Rose Balm cleanser. I miss the smell and the feel of it on my skin! Drunk Elephant is a luxury brand but without the smells and decadence of other Brands. My skin for the first time in a long time is hydrated without piling on the moisturiser.

I will review each product in another blog.. I am sorry I missed Wednesdays blog. Like I said it hasn’t been a great week. I will bring the Product review out shortly to make up for it.!

How is your skincare journey going?

What brands couldn’t you live without?

Wedding Skincare: Mistakes I Have Made

Advice, Beauty, Personal Experience, Wedding

In preparation for our wedding I realised how unhappy I was in myself. The things I disliked were all changeable. My weight (mainly the belly wobble) and my skin. I don’t know a lot about skincare just that you cleanse, tone and moisturise. My skin has never been great so I started looking at my routine.

I didn’t have one.

I don’t wear a lot of makeup. Tinted moisturiser, eyeliner, mascara and a bit of blusher. That’s it. And most of the time, I don’t wear that.

I am sporadic at best with my skincare routines, a soap and water kind of girl. I thought a toner was a makeup remover, Whoops!

I started listening to a few influences online….which was a mistake. I forgot their point of view was that they are trying to sell me products. I wish I hadn’t rushed into my skincare before doing my research, this was a huge mistake and truly needed to understand the products I was putting on my skin.

I needed to learn about what I was applying to my skin.

My mum has always bought me Elemis which is so lovely and luxurious.

Just a few of my Elemis products ( I love them all)

I did use the moisturiser I will be honest and say I didn’t realise exactly what the other bits where for, although I would occasionally use them. My very expensive cleansers would sit on the side gathering dust.

Skin care shame.

When I started focusing on my skin, I started gathering my products and realised I had a ton of them: Elemis, Decleor, Lancome. I went through them and figured out what I like and what I didn’t. I moved them around the bathroom and separated them into holiday supplies, use now and started my own routine.

The simple 3 step programme.

Cleanse, Tone and Moisturise.

Although my skin looked healthier it didn’t improve as much as I had hoped. After talking to my mum, she said that I needed an exfoliator in my routine as well. I went out and bought a Neutrogena one which had tough, scratchy grains in it that seemed to strip my face but not leave it looking good.

This has been moved to my shower as a body scrub.

I kept making mistakes. I needed more advice and needed to know how to use the products.

So I returned to YouTube.

All these influencers where always talking about misters to hydrate their skin during the day. I was like, hell yes I need a £18 mister in my life!

Gavin changed lotion to potions can you spot it?

I am easily influenced as you can see

They had an offer on in boots for Elizabeth Arden and you get some cute products if you buy another item and my barely their eyebrows needed a new brow pencil. Hey presto I ended up spending over £30 and getting lots of odd samples. So I followed the instructions for Prevage, liked the cleanser (holiday size and lovely) booster ( not sure what that did), eye serum that felt scratchy on my eyes (pretty sure that is not good) and the face serum.

This is not just any face serum this was heaven in a tube.

I loved it, people commented on my skin looking good (no one ever does this)

I googled the price and have started buying lottery tickets so I can afford it. But at £170 it is way out of my price range although if I am being honest I think it is totally worth it. 5ml gave me two weeks’ worth of serum. My skin was happy and glowy.

So maybe as a treat for my birthday who knows!

This is when I went a little crazy… as in shopping like someone who has a lot of money when I don’t. I needed a night moisturiser and the only brand I trusted was Elemis. I called my mum for advice again and she said to go on QVC and see if they had a deal. They didn’t but I could get a large pot 100ml for £100 and pay off in interest free instalments. Now this sounds crazy. I know I am but I love this night cream.

The only way I can describe it is that my skin sings when I put it on, like in a halleluiah type of way.

I bought it, it arrived and then the next week, QVC did an offer on it, of course they did! And I could have waited but I was so impatient that I bought it.

It is lovely- and I love it. So tough.

So I watched a lot of you tube influencers and I started buying products that they recommended without doing any research on them. My shelves are now filled with beauty products of potions as my Fiance likes to call them. I have to rotate them to get the use out of them. Some of them aren’t suitable and cost a lot of money. I was making financial mistakes.

Money that I could have saved for my wedding.

I wish my mum lived closer so we could have gone shopping together instead of me listening to every Youtuber out their but in the end, I found two who I really like and now trust their advice as they talk about a lot of products not just their favourites.

https://www.gothamista.com/

Renee is like a Skincare goddess she really knows the science behind products and her skin is flawless! She doesn’t really sell products just discusses what each of them does. She also isn’t biased by price and often talks about cheaper brands that do the same job. I love her. Trust her.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcjxyzWCYXGstZeUfHfM6Hg

Then there is Stephanie Nicole who refers to herself as Dragon Lady because of her nails, she has a husky voice, fillers and Botox. It is her self-deprecating nature, honesty and frankness that I like. She is happy to say she doesn’t like a product and again she talks about the actual science that goes into the ingredients. She knows her stuff and I find her totally refreshing.

I never cared about skin care before ever.

Now I do

Now I have a routine. I love it. With my night time routine I like to take my time with it and I look forward to it, even when I am drunk or just exhausted, I make time to cleanse my skin.

It is improving, I can see the difference, fewer break outs. Less dry patches.

It is getting there.

I will have gorgeous skin by the time I get married, I just don’t have to hit my wedding budget to get there.

So make sure you do your research and don’t make the mistakes that i did. Skin care is so important, I am still learning.

Dana

Dysfunctional Planner

The joys of planning a wedding, travel and all that life throws at me

skincare