Lotil Cream & lip balm *

Lotil is a skincare brand that has been around for over a century and best known for its protective, moisturising and healing properties. The range of products include a multipurpose cream, foot cream and lip balm. I was luckily provided to review  both the lip balm and original cream.

Lotil Original is an all purpose cream which aims to relieve and soothe dry, chapped or sore skin including those who suffer from ezcema or  psoriasis.

I applied the cream on my legs and it lasted me all through my working day into the night. The cream is rich yet has a non greasy formula that absorbs quickly into the skin. I was amazed at how it made my skin feel rehydrated and steadily softer. I must admit sometimes I am lazy and don't regularly moisturise areas of my body,  if they are not on show *slaps wrist.

The scent of the cream somewhat reminds me of germolene but I assume that is due to the antiseptic ingredients that help to reduce skin infections but it wears off after application on the skin. 

I found this cream great for the body and hands due to the moisturing benefits to the skin.Although I have not tried it as a face cream, I think using a small pea size amount  as a makeup primer would be beneficial due the antibacterial properties. You dont need to be heavy handed with the cream as a little goes a long way and if used regularly you would notice an improvement to your skin. 

The lotil original cream is sold in four handy sizes such as 30 ml tube ,  handbag size 50ml, 114ml tub and 500ml  pump dispenser and price ranges between £3- £10 (dependent on size). 

I am an avid lipbalm user, I have so many open at once whether its in my handbag , work drawer or car. It is a beauty staple,  I just cannot live without as I really hate dry or chapped lips.

Lotil lip balm is a moisturing lip care product that contains similar ingredients to the original cream but with the added benefit of SPF 30, to protect your lips in all conditions whether it is cold climates or just everyday environment. I love the lipstick shape of the lip salve for easier and precise application .  I will definitely be saving this lip balm , so I can use it for my next Ski trip.

Lotil products are available to purchase from Boots , Lloyds Pharmacy or Amazon online .

Have you tried any Lotil products?

Peace , Love & Besos

* DISCLAIMER: This product was provided to me free of charge from Brand Nation in order to review it. However the opinions expressed in this post are independent and my own.

Irresistible Me Extensions

I was lucky enough to be given a pair of hair extensions to review from Irresistible me, which is a US based hair extension and accessories company.
Despite the company being overseas, my order arrived the next day which surprised me as usually overseas delivery tend to it slow but obviously Irresistible me understand good customer service.


I have never tried extensions in my life purely because I rarely straighten my hair ( approx 2-3 times a year for special occasions). I had to take my straighteners out of hibernation to try out these 14 inch 100% Natural Remy hair extensions.

I opted for the 200g set in Royal Natural Black (#1B) which came with 10 pieces of hair.

- 1 x 7.5 inch piece with 4 clips

- 2 x 6 inch piece with 3 clips

- 5 x 4 inch piece with 2 clips

- 2 x 1.2 inch piece with 1 clip

The hair was nicely packaged in an Irresistible me black box within a windowed red plastic foil sealed pouch so you could view the hair. In addition to the sealed pouch, was an unsealed smaller section with a sample 1 clip piece to test whether the extension hair colour matched your natural hair colour shade. If the colour did not match your hair then as long as the foil seal was not broken on the set of hair , then you have the option to return the hair back to Irresistible me for a refund or exchange. 

As I colour my hair, I was a little bit worried that the extensions would not match but luckily it did and looked like as if it was my own natural hair. They were super quick and easy to clip into my hair, though the blending process took a while to get the hang of, because my hair is not relaxed and it reverts back my frizzy texture if there is any moisture in the air. However, the great thing about these extensions is that you can use heat on them which means you can blowdry them, strighten them or even curl them!

Natural Remy hair comes in 5 differing inch lengths ( 14,16,18,22,24 inch) and 3 different package sets 100g, 140g and 200g. The 200 gram set I received retails online for $202, which equates to approx £148; though it may seem steep it is well worth the investment as the hair is very good quality &has minimal shedding.

If your on Instagram then definitely check the hashtag #irrestiblegram, to see how other people have styled there extensions!

Will you be changing your hair style for Spring?

Peace, Love & Besos

Vaseline Intensive Care Aloe Soothe Spray Moisturizer *

Last week, I received the Vaseline Intensive Care Aloe Soothe Spray Moisturiser in the mail. I have been wanting to try this moisturiser since it's release as the idea of lotion in a can , really appealed to me.  I must admit I tend to be a bit lazy with moisturing my body; if I know certain parts will be concealed by my outfit (Yes, I know, Bad beauty blogger).

The continuous spray top system applicator, is so easy and quick to use. The actual moisturiser formula is very lightweight as they have included micro-droplets of Vaseline Jelly,  which allows the lotion to instantly absorb into the skin in seconds to ensure it is hydrated and soft to touch. This is great for the summer months as it  which cuts out the effort of a thick cream which can take a while to rub into the skin. As it is non greasy, it is the perfect option for those who have normal/oily skin because it will not leave you feeling sticky after application.

Importantly,  the use of Aloe Vera and it's healing properties allows it to be a slight after-sun spray to cool skin areas which may be tight or dry. The fragrance is really light and not overpowering, although does remind me a bit of a refreshing cucumber scent.  The Vaseline Spray Moisturiser retails for £4.99/190ml and is available in major retailers such as Superdrug & Boots Stores.

It is definitely a must-have skincare essential to pop in a bag whether you are out & on the go or if your just in need of a quick moisture boost!
 

Peace, Love & Besos

Whats in my 'Holiday' Makeup Bag ?

On holiday I like to be quick & effortless with makeup, so I will be taking a small selection of makeup essentials for those days when I want to glam up or go for a more natural look.

I love my makeup bag which I purchased from Old Spitalfields Market, as it reminds me of Tory Burch …it is black, cute, sleek and was only £3. It is the perfect size to take in a holiday bag.

MAC Neutral Warm Palette – This is perfect for holiday as it has all the necessary neutral eye shadows to match any outfit plus it is compacted into one palette which saves space.

MAC Mineralize Powder in Dark – I don’t tend to wear foundation on holiday just a spot of powder to reduce any oil. Plus if I get a tan this is the best powder to match my skin tone.

MAC Fix + Spray - Useful for a dewy look plus it is great to spray on brushes when applying my Inglot Pigment dust

Lola Makeup Eye shadow Base – I never am without this base , it is good at holding my eye makeup in place all day ,  plus it enhances the colour payoff of my MAC eye shadows.

Inglot Pure Pigment Eye shadow dust no. 81 – This is without doubt my favourite eye shadow dust as the gold/pink iridescent is great for a party makeup look

Sleek Concealer Palette 05 - I tend to not use concealer regularly but it's only really used on my under eye circles,  if I have a late night or want a flawless finish.

Seventeen Tan Liquid Glow – I love to use a highlighter on holiday to give that extra sun glow look on the cheeks or even to just mix it with my moisturiser to provide that additional sun kissed look.  

Witch Skin Clearing Primer - This keeps my blemishes at bay, sometimes if I don’t want to use a moisturiser especially if it is too hot then I will just use the primer on my face.

Selection of Makeup Brushes – I like to pack most of makeup brushes as you never know when you need then as they all do different things (shading, powder, highlighting etc)

I hope you enjoyed seeing what I take in my Holiday Makeup bag...My final installment to my Ibiza holiday bag posts will be 'Whats in my Suitcase'.

What products do you take in your makeup bag on holiday?

Peace & Love

What's in my 'Toiletries' Bag?

In my second installment of my Ibiza holiday post, I will be discussing what I will be carrying in my holiay wash bag. Due to the liquid allowance, my toiletry bag is always minimal when I go away;i  only take the bare essentials and if I forget anything I know I can probably find it on location albeit it being a high price.

Face Products

Facial skincare - On holiday my facial routine is very simple and quick. I use the Simple Oil Balancing Facial moisturiser which is great for keeping your face oils at bay and Simple blemish face wipes – For those days when I am lazy or tired to use the makeup remover.

Face Scrub – I like to use St Ives Apricot scrub to exfoliate my skin on holiday as with the heat and sweat, it is more likely to drawn out the toxins plus it helps to revive the skin from sun damage to keep you looking radiant.

Makeup remover/cleanser & cotton pads – It is essential to remove all traces of makeup at the end of the day and cleanse your face so I take a travel sized bottle of Green people Makeup Remover/Cleanser plus you don’t want to give the cleaners a makeup filled pillow . I also take a couple of Muji Cotton pads with me too.

Body Products

Body Cream -  I use a miniature Vaseline body cream on holiday and a couple of Garnier samples which can easily be popped in my bag if we go to the beach and want to do a quick moisture especially due to salt water drying out my skin. 

Shower gel & Flannel –   I always take a travel sized bottle because of the 100ml liquid allowance. However, the majority of hotels I stay in provide good quality complimentary toiletries.

Deodorant – My Lush Greeenech Powdered Deodorant ,  I find it is more hygienic than roll on because it is in powder form , I find it keeps me dry in the heat and if I do sweat (can’t stop the inevitable of nature) , it does not smells due to the antibacterial properties.

Essentials & other bits

Toothbrush & Tooth tabs – My foldaway toothbrush always stays in my travel wash bag as it’s so handy to use on the move and I use the Lush Toothtabs instead of toothpaste as it is light, minimises those spillage accidents and natural as it contains no fluoride.

Mouthwash – I like to pop a travel-sized Listerine bottle in my bag for those times when you need to refresh your breath especially after a meal.

Disposable razor & shaving gel – I like to take a disposable razor & shaving gel with me in case of any touch ups (Yes I am talking about the bikini line ladies).

Hair Oil - I will most likely have box braids extensions to save me hassle of bringing hair dryer, afro comb, shampoo/conditioner etc. But to keep my hair hydrated from the drying sun, I will take my ORS Vital oils spray which is full of light essential oils such as grape seed and sweet almond oils.

I personally don’t use any sun lotions anymore as I recently heard on radio 4 interview with a doctor that SPF has not been tested on black skin, plus with the melanin in my skin it protects me enough as I don’t tend bathe in the sun too much anyway. Feminine products I always take a couple for those 'just in case’ moments as the body has a mind of its own sometimes.

The next installment in my Ibiza holiday bag posts will be 'Whats in my holiday makeup bag'.

What is your 'Must have' item in your toiletry bag on holiday?

Peace & Love

What's in my 'Airport' Handbag?

Since the time I booked my September holiday to Ibiza late spring, I have been so excited for several reasons:

• Glitz , Glam and Party Central...It's the Celebrity hotspot of 2014 ( Cara Delevingne, Kim Kardashian & Kanye, P Diddy , Naomi Campbell etc)
• Escape the dull, wet UK weather for a hotter & sunny climate
• I will be staying in the newly opened &  first European Hard Rock Hotel. 
• My final holiday to end the Summer before starting my final year at university.

As I am only going for 4 days, I am purely only taking hand luggage; thankfully Ryanair allow up to 10kg allowance plus an additional handbag. So I thought it would a good idea to share with you a breakdown list of what I will be packing for my 4 night trip to the Beautiful Balearic Islands in a few blog posts.

As you can tell I love to cram as much as I can into my carry-on bag, however the above are all necessities (except the alcohol of course). I will use my £49 Harrods Burgundy Faux Saffiano Leather Handbag as it has long shoulder straps, sleek and fashionable, making it the perfect tote bag.

Travel Wallet – I love this wallet especially as it is personalised with my initials ‘SRP’. This is a must have travel essential as I am able to store my money, travel documents/flight paperwork all in one without the need of separate folders etc. Plus I love that it has a pen holder as you never know when you will need a pen.

Makeup bag – I always take an additional mini toiletries bag in my hand bag, in case I need to touch up any makeup before or after the flight. I don't take much just the essentials such as gel eyeliner, mascara, studio fix powder, chewing gum , lip balm & lipstick, two perfumes, nail file & nail polish, remover pads clear nail polish , hand cream, body wipes and a mirror.

Kiss Gel Dress – I will be taking my Kiss Gel Dress nails that I received from Alex Silver PR as it will save the hassle of bringing nail polish plus the Glitter 'My Space' nails will look very glam glistening in the sunlight.

Disposable Contact Lenses & Glasses –  Unfortunately I am not blessed with 20/20 vision ,so I always make sure I carry both my contact lenses , prescription sunglasses and everyday glasses

especially as I will need to protect my eyes from the sun & it's UV Ray. 

Purse – I never bring my large Valentino purse abroad but instead use a cheap small purse which can easily be used on the go, to fit my necessary bank cards including my driving provisional for ID, change and additional Euros as I don’t want to walk around with my travel wallet with all my important documents on holiday.

Electricals – Where ever I go my iPad Mini goes because it has a better battery life than my mobile and contains all my essential apps, music & games for the flight.  I take my mobile to stay in contact with people via WhatsApp & so I can instagram my travels. Also my Smartstick Charger is carried around in case my phone runs out charge when I am out and not near a plug, this will give my mobile a full charge.

Cameras – My Samsung NX100 Compact System always comes on holiday as I love the quality of pictures it captures in the daytime in comparison to my point & shoot camera. I take my Samsung WB150F point & shoot camera because it is smaller & has wifi upload feature to social media.

I will also be packing other essentials such as Glamour/Cosmopolitan/Company Magazines,  plug Adaptor adapter, my chargers (iPad, Phone, Camera) , Umbrella as you never know the weather when back in UK.

Snacks – Inflight snacks are essential especially if you are like me and dislike plane food. I always eat at one of the aiport resturants before the flight but I carry some sweets, crisps and biscuits onto the plane with me for when I get peckish!
 

I hope you enjoyed seeing what I take on the plane with me, the next installment in my Ibiza holiday bag posts will be 'Whats in my holiday toiletries bag'.

What essentials do you take in your handbag when you go on holiday?

Peace & Love

Unmask mum's innner beauty *

Hi Belles,

With Mothers day due next weekend (Sunday 30th March). It means one thing 'gifts' and pampering mum for the whole day!

In the run up to Mothering Sunday,  Aldi recently launched some new products this month , one being the Lacura Facecare facial masks which became available in stores on Sunday 16th March. I was lucky enough to be a sent samples of both facial masks to review.

Anti-Fatigue Face Mask

• Radiant complexion
• Refresh the skin and reduce signs of tiredness
• Suitable for all skin types

The Anti-Fatigue mask is created to reduce the effect of tired and pale skin due to many reasons such as stress, overheated rooms, lack of sleep or poor air quality. It contains an array of skin loving rich ingredients to help brightening your skin complexion naturally so it looks more radiant. I love the scent of the product as it sweet and refreshing from the infused combination of  vitamin C fruits such as Camu-camu ,  orange and Acerola but also elements sea buckthorn oil and  vitamin E to help protect the skin.

Nutri Build-Up Face Mask

• Rebuild skin protective barrier
• Maintain moisture level of skin
• Rapidly build up suppleness of skin
• Suitable for all skin types

The Nutri Build mask is an intensive treatment mask to help rebuild the skins protective barrier to improve suppleness and vitality due to skin ageing process. Unlike the Anti-Fatigue mask, this mask benefits from a combination of high quality oils such as Pomegranate Seed, Argan, Moringa and Avocado Oil, which are best known for maintaining moisture to deeply nourish and care for skin but also improve suppleness. As this mask relaxes the skin, the scent is not overpowering or as sweet but mild in comparison to the Anti-Fatigue mask.

Application & tips

Application of the masks were really quick and easy , due to the 2 in 1 facial brush attachment which is soft yet still dense enough to massage the face. Each product is clear on application and dries clear (No Casper moments) .The formula is not heavy but light and non-sticky , despite me putting on a thick layer on application. I love how my skin felt refreshed, clean and moisturised, after washing off the mask. Another bonus is that the brush attachment comes with an on/off dispensing option which is always useful when travelling with beauty products that can become messy if the packaging is accidently split or broken.

Some tips from Lacura skincare on applying the product are:

1. Firstly massage the cheeks up to the temples avoiding the eye area
2. Massage the facial contours up to your ears
3. Lastly, massage the neck area to the chin
4. Then leave on for 5-10 minutes and wash off product

Both facial masks each retail in Aldi stores at £3.99//40ml.  These would be perfect to give to mum's in a DIY mothers day beauty box due to there affordability. Usually I don't use face masks but I think I will definitely be purchasing a couple of the Anti-Fatigue masks to add to my skincare routine.

Have you tried the Lacura Skincare range, what are some of you favourites?

Peace, Love & Besos

*Product was sent to be reviewed