Skincare - My Top 10 under £10

Hey guys!

So I know a lot of you want to take care of your skin but we're all on a budget, so I've found 10

of my favourite skincare products under £10 to help you out!

Enjoy.

No7 Beautiful Skin Hot Cloth Cleanser £9.95

This is probably my holy grail cleanser. It takes off every single speck on my make-up

(I don't wear loads) and leaves my skin feeling amazing after. I typically use this with my Clarisonic

at night then just with a muslin cloth in the morning. Works beautifully with them both. I love it so

much, I've stocked up on it to last me quite a few months!

Cetaphil Moisturising Lotion £8.99

This is one of my favourite facial moisturisers. It's especially for sensitive or dry skin which is perfect for me.

It gets rid of my dry patches without feeling heavy on my skin and clogging my pores. It's so

lightweight and very moisturising. Perfect if you want a simple, gentle moisturiser and have dry

or sensitive skin.

Garnier Pure Active Purifying Toner £4.99

I don't tend to use toner too often as it really dries out my skin, but if I have a lot of blemishes

then this is the toner that will dry those suckers out overnight! If you have oily/spot prone skin,

this is for you!

Lush Tea Tree Toner Water 100g £3.95

Another toner I love is this one by Lush. It's great at drying out pesky blemishes but as I said before,

toner's usually dry out my skin so I only tend to use them when I've got a lot of breakouts. Tea tree

water works so well at fighting spots and I can easily wear this under make-up. I really love Lush because

they use hardly any ingredients. The less, the better!

Superfacialist by Una Brennan Tea Flower Pore Purifying Clay Mask £8.99

I haven't been using this face mask for long, but I'm already really liking it. It's great at purifying the skin

and is a great little refreshing mask. What I really love, is that is that after using it my skin doesn't feel

really dry. A lot of masks I've tried like this have really dried my skin out horribly and it's hard to

maintain clear and hydrated skin. This leaves my skin actually quite soft and I don't feel like I

have to go and immediately slather  my face in moisturiser.

Lush Mask of Magnaminty 125g £5.25

This is my most favourite face mask. Whenever I feel a breakout coming on or I'm in the middle of it,

I will use this 1-2 times a week. It really calms down my skin and you can literally feel it working.

You can even use it on your body as well as your face.

Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque £2.35

This is literally a bargain! It's stupidly inexpensive and comes in a massive tube which lasts you ages.

I bought mine last year and still have tons left. It smells so minty and fresh and leaves my skin

ridiculously soft. It helps dry up blemishes, get rid of blackheads and tighten your pores.

For this much product at this price, you can't say no.

Lush Ocean Salt 120g £7.25

I featured this scrub from Lush in my most recent favourites post. When my skin looks dull and needs

a bit of refreshing I'll use this scrub. For a scrub it's really not hard on my skin and all scrubs I've

used in the past leave my skin feeling tight and very dry, but this scrub makes me skin surprisingly

very soft. I can't stop touching my face afterwards. It's leaves my skin looking refreshed and brighter.

Best used in the shower as it gets quite messy!

Clean & Clear Advantage Spot Treatment Gel £4.59

If you've read my recent posts, you'll know this is my go to spot gel . I do love my origins

super spot remover but this one is about a third of the price and does just as good of a job. I usually

stock up on it when Boots or Superdrug do a third off on Clean & Clear products every so often.

(Boots are doing one now so hurry and get it whilst it's only £3.06!)

Biore Ultra Deep Cleansing Pore Strips (Nose Strips) £7.99
Every girl loves a good pamper and it's never complete without using nose strips. I've used these
ones for years and love them so much. They're inexpensive and do the job perfectly. Definitely
something I like to keep in my drawer whenever I feel like having a pamper!

Photography by Sam Clare Photography

Thanks for reading!

Sophie x

March Favourites

Hey guys!
Can you believe it's April already?! Crazy. But I am excited because it's my birthday on the 17th!

So anyway, I missed February favourites (my bad) as I didn't really have anything that I was really
loving that much. I have been shopping recently though and found some new products that
I'm absolutely loving!

Enjoy :)

Cetaphil Moisturising Lotion

I love this moisturiser and have done for years. I have dry skin and it can sometimes be sensitive to certain

products. I do love trying out different facial moisturisers but I feel like nothing will compare to this for me.

It sinks into the skin so nicely and doesn't feel as if you've put anything on.

Clean & Clear Advantage Spot Treatment Gel

This was in my favourites of 2013 and it was for a reason. It's my go to spot treatment gel as it's so

inexpensive and so effective.

Revlon ColorBurst Lacquer Balm in Provocateur

Out of all the ColorBurst Balm's I've bought, I've warmed to this one the most. It compliments my skin very

nicely and is so easy to wear. If I don't want it too full on I'll usually just put a bit on a rub it into my lips,

which also helps it last longer.

Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Wash

This stuff smells so good! I'm addicted. This will now be the only body wash I use. Go to Boots and

smell it and you'll see why.

Maybelline Brow Drama Sculpting Mascara in Medium Brown

If you like a good thick brow, go get this. It really makes me eyebrows look thicker and fuller and

keeps them in place all day long. I don't know how it does with water yet, but hopefully it doesn't react

badly with it because with this, some BB cream and a lip balm you've got the perfect beach day make-up.

Lush Ocean Salt Facial Scrub

I never use to really use facial scrubs because I have my Clarisonic but I feel like I need one. I wanted

something with natural ingredients and the avocado in this leaves my skin feeling so soft.

Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge
So if you read my blog, you'll know that this is a recent purchase and I already love it to pieces!
I do love the Cosmopolitan sponge still but this one from Real Techniques is just amazing. Applies
my foundation beautifully and is so easy to use. This sponge + liquid foundation = FLAWLESS. Just
remember that you need the sponge damp before you apply to get the perfect application.

Photography by Sam Clare Photography

Thanks for reading!

Sophie x

Collective Haul

Hey guys!

So the past few weeks I've done quite a bit of shopping, as you can see. The funny thing is I still

have a list full of things I need to get and yes, I need it all! So yeah, here's what I got..

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Sultry Samba

This colour is perfect for spring! As soon as I saw it I was like, 'yup, gotta have it!'. It is a bit daring, but

I'm slowly becoming more brave with my lipstick choices. I think it's a new shade they brought out for spring

along with a coral shade but I'm not sure so don't take my word on it. But it's gorgeous!

Revlon ColorBurst Matte Balm in Unapologetic

I'm falling in love with these Colorburst Balms from Revlon so much. I've got 2 already and I think

they're so pretty and the colours are perfect for spring/summer. This particular one is a matte and is a

pink/coral shade. Another perfect shade for spring. It's very opaque and not drying on the lips at all.

Revlon ColorBurst Lacquer Balm in Vivacious

This one is a lacquer instead of a matte so has a nice shine to it. It's kind of berry pink shade,

(I'm awful at explaining colours, can you tell?) as I prefer pink and red colours on the lips for me.

Again, it's very opaque and very pretty. It isn't too daring and very easy to tone down to just give

your lips a nice pink tint.

Revlon ColorBurst Lacquer Balm in Whimsical

Just the name of this one made me want to buy it. It's such a pretty name and a pretty colour to go

with it! It's more of a purple berry colour. It's opaque again, pretty much all of them are, but very easy to

tone down if you prefer.

Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser

So apparently this is quite popular. I mean, I managed to nab the last one in Boots! I wasn't too fussed

about this as first as I don't really wear primers but this one seemed to be so popular and forever out

of stock at Boots, I thought it must be amazing! I'm yet to find out but you'll soon find out if it's made

a big impact on me or not!

Maybelline Brow Drama Sculpting Mascara in Medium Brown

I only just recently heard of this an I was never one for brow mascara's, but throughout the

day I've noticed my eyebrows can tend fall down and end up pointing downwards, which is very annoying.

I just wanted something they made them stay put and after using this twice, I'm pretty happy with it so far.

Make's them looks thicker and fuller and keeps them in place all day.

Maybelline Baby Lips Lip Balm in Pink Punch

As it was 3 for 2 on Maybelline, I thought I'd pick up one of these, as my last one has just ran out and

I really like them just for everyday use. This one just gives the slightest pink tint to your lips, which I

really love in lip balms. Not the best lip moisturiser but nice for popping on when you're out and about.

Collection Lasting Perfection Ultimate Wear Concealer in Fair

This was just a top up as my last one ran out. Love this concealer so much! So easy to blend and just

really lovely and creamy.

Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge

I've spoke about using the Cosmo blending sponge before on my blog and that I use it everyday and love it.

I still do, but I really wanted to try the Real Techniques one also as I love the brand so much and it's the same

price as the Cosmo so, why not, right? I've used it once so far and it's really lovely. It blends just as well as the

Cosmo one, if not better. So far, I like it!

No7 Beautiful Skin Hot Cloth Cleanser

Another one of my usual products I just needed to get another one. I really love this cleanser and don't have

a bad word to say about it. It's for all skin types and works really nicely with my Clarisonic.

Aveeno Skin Relief Lotion

Another one of my usual products I use. I just needed a new one. In one of my previous posts I told

you how much I love this moisturiser. It really is great if you have dry skin!

Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil

I really wanted a face oil which had hardly any ingredients, was organic, contained rosehip and was

inexpensive. That''s exactly what I got with this! I've only used it once so can't judge it on that alone but I

am excited to use it more and see if there's any difference. Especially as I have some scars on my face from

blemishes. It's got really great reviews so fingers crossed!

Aussie Miracle Moist Shampoo & Conditioner

I needed some shampoo and conditioner and if you've read my blog, you'll know I love Aussie products!

It's definitely my favourite hair product of all time. I usually either go for the 'Luscious Long' range or

this one. Everything smells amazing and makes me hair feel so lovely and keeps it in the best condition!

Seven Seas Orange Syrup and Cod Liver Oil

I use to have a spoonful of cod liver oil everyday when I was younger as I had a problem with getting

cysts in my eyes quite badly. It tasted vile and made me feel so sick but I know it was good for me. I

really wanted to get back into it as I know it's so beneficial, but I wanted one that had a different taste.

I came across this one which tastes just like orange flavoured cough syrup!

H&M Brown Loafers

I really love the look of loafers and moccasins. They just quite laid back and easy to put with casual outfits.

I found these in H&M for £14.99, which is a bargain! Really pretty and go with so many things. Only

thing is they aren't the most comfortable. I've had to wear plasters with them until I've worn them in properly.

H&M Floral Kimono

When I saw this Kimono in H&M, I really wanted it and now after getting it I want more. They're

so pretty and laid back. They're really nice to layer over tank's and pair with some jeans for the spring/summer. 

TK Maxx Acrylic Lipstick Organiser (Similar here)

This was just something I wanted to store my lipsticks and just so happened to come across this one in

TK Maxx. They usually have a lot of acrylic stationary bits to store your make-up in, and they're very inexpensive.

TK Maxx Wish List Notepad (Found Here)

This was just a cute little notepad I found in there. It was only like £2.99 I think. I'm forever writing lists

or things I want so thought this would be perfect for that!

TK Maxx Shabby Chic Tray (Similar Here)
I saw this tray so long ago in TK Maxx and wanted it so badly, but it was around £15 and I just thought
I could get one somewhere else for less. Then, the other day I went in TK Maxx and I saw it was on
sale for £7 so I didn't even hesitate and just bought it! It's so gorgeous and I love the shabby chic look of it.

TK Maxx Swivel Pen Holder (Couldn't find anything similar)
I saw something similar to this in TK Maxx not long ago but it was a bit small, and my make-up brush
collection is only getting bigger! I love this because it's compartments are quite large and I love the fact it
swivel so it's easy access to my brushes. It a slight off grey colour which, I don't mind as I can always very
easily paint it white in the future.

Sultry Samba

Top to bottom: Unapologetic, Whimsical, Vivacious.

H&M Kimono

Photography by Sophie Ford

Thanks for reading!

Sophie x

Haul

Hey guys!

So, I have a little haul for you of some things I've been wanting to try out. Mostly from Boots as they have 3 for 2 at the moment, but also a few products from Lush and one thing from H&M.

Enjoy!

Superfacialist by Una Brennan Tea Flower Pore Purifying Clay Mask.

I bought this mask because firstly, I'm a bit obsessed with face masks and secondly, I kept hearing so many good reviews on this product. My skin has been acting all crazy recently also and I wanted a mask to help with that.  I've only used it once but it's very nice and leaves the skin so soft. I felt it reduced the redness a lot but nothing that's really noticeably different just yet.

Nivea Express Hydration Hand Lotion.

This isn't a big purchase. It's was simply because both mine and Sam's hands were feeling a bit dry and this pretty much does the job to hydrate them again. Not particularly fond of the smell though!

Soap and Glory Sugar Crush Body Wash.

I've already used the Soap and Glory Sugar Crush body scrub and completely fell in love with it. It is literally the best smell ever! After knowing they had a body wash with the same smell - I was done! Had to have it. But it was always one of those things that you'd go to Boots to get and end up getting everything BUT that item you went in there to get. Finally I remembered to pick it up and I'm so happy! Just go get it.

Maybelline The Volum' Express Falsies Flared Mascara.

This is one of my favourite mascara's and so affordable! I just needed a new one because I had run out.

Revlon ColorBurst Lacquer Balm in Provocateur & Revlon ColorBurst Matte Balm in Showy.

I wanted to try out a few of the Revlon ColorBurst Balms so picked 2 colours I thought would suit me best. Provocateur is more of a red tone and has a shine to it which I love. Showy is more of a bright pink and if you can;t tell already it's a matte. I really like both of them. They do fade throughout the day if you are eating and so on but I don't mind that too much. they're such pretty colours!

Lush Tea Tree Toner Water.

Since my skin has been acting up recently I wanted some products to calm it down and help get rid of spots and try to prevent ones coming. I've always wanted to try this tea tree toner and I'm glad I finally have. I've used it a few times since purchasing it and is just so simple to add this to your usual routine and personally works quite well. So far I'm really happy with this product!

Lush Ocean Salt Face and Body Scrub.

I really needed an exfoliator in my routine and I wasn't really sure what to look for in one or what would be best for my skin as I already have dry skin. I recently watched Jaclyn Hill (who I'm obsessed with and has a pretty similar skin type to me) mention this in one of her videos. As soon as I saw it I was literally like, 'Okay, I'm buying it!' ha. I'm literally just about to try it out so if it's any good I'll let you know!

H&M Love Wallet.

I really love this little wallet. It's so cute and simple and at the time of purchasing it, I didn't care what it's use was going to be, I just wanted it! I'll probably end up either using it as a make-up bag or just to use to put my money and phone when I don't want to take my whole purse or a massive bag with me.

Revlon ColorBurst - 'Showy' on the left and swatch at the bottom. 'Provocateur' on the right and swatch on the top.

Photography by Sam Clare Photography

Thank you for reading!

Sophie x

My Top 10 Skincare Tips

Cleanse. The first and most important thing to do is cleanse; whether you wear make-up or not. Throughout the day dirt and oil will build up on your face and if you don't wash it off it can lead to blemishes, premature ageing and your skin looking dehydrated and dull. The best way I was taught to wash my face was to firstly, splash your face with warm water to open up your pores. Then, wash your face as normal with face wash. Finally, rinse your face with cold water to close your pores and dry with a clean towel. Remember to cleanse in the morning as well as at night because dirty and oil can build up on your face at night as well.

Double Cleanse. If you are someone who wears a lot of make-up, then it's always best to double cleanse. Even if you don't wear loads sometimes just cleansing once won't get every speck of make-up and dirt off your face.
I've invested in a Clarisonic and it literally gives your skin a deep cleanse so your face is make-up and dirt free!

Clean everything. Everything you put on your face needs to be clean. Most importantly your make-up brushes. You need to clean them regularly as bacteria and dirt can build up in them. If you use your hands to apply some make-up then they need to be clean as well. Keep a hand sanitiser with your make-up so you remember to apply it before you apply anything to your face with your fingers. Other things that need to be clean includes your pillow and face towel. Bacteria can build up in both these places and it makes such a difference when you clean all these things regularly. It seems like such a simple thing but a lot of people do forget. 

Water. There is literally no excuse for not drinking enough water. It's one of the best things for your skin and it makes such a difference. What you put into your body will affect your skin. Drinking water is something that isn't expensive or difficult to do and it does great things for your skin. Try to drink 6-8 glasses a day.

Exfoliate. As we get older, our skin's natural ability to generate and shed skin cells slows down. So if we don't exfoliate regularly to shed the skin cells then it can leave your skin looking dull, rough and dry. Also the build up of dead skin cells can lead to clogged pores and blemishes.

SPF. Wearing sun protection is so very important, even when it's not sunny at all (that's most of the time in England). Just because you can't see the sun, doesn't mean it isn't there. Too much sun on the skin can cause premature ageing and sun spots . Most foundations will contain an SPF now, but if not then put on a moisturiser underneath your foundation that does contain an SPF in it, and remember to drag it down to your neck and chest if they're going to be on show too.

Face masks. One of my favourite things to do is a face mask. Sometimes when you're stressed and you've got breakouts and your skin looks tired, a face mask is so helpful. It will all depend on your skin type and what your skin needs as to which face mask you should use. My two favourites include Lush's 'Mask of Magnaminty', which I turn to when I have breakouts, and Origins 'Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask' is good for when my skin is feeling dry and dehydrated.

Sleep. Sleep is so important for our skin. It's important because, cortisol, the stress hormone, ages our skin and can cause acne. Sleeping reduces the cortisol level in your body. So the more sleep we get, the younger and clearer out skin looks! Always try to get at least 7-8 hours a night.

Don't squeeze spots. Yes, sometimes it's okay for you to squeeze the odd spot, but only if it's ready. Most of the time it's best just to leave it alone and find a good spot treatment for it (I use Clean & Clear Advantage Spot Treatment Gel). If you start fiddling with it and trying to squeeze a spot under the skin or one that isn't ready then it can lead to scarring and redness. So as tempting as it is, leave it alone!

Moisturise. Doesn't matter what type of skin you have, it's important to moisturise. Even if you have oily skin. By not applying moisturiser because you think your skin is already too oily, it'll only make your skin produce more oil. You need a daytime moisturise which should also contain an SPF in it to protect your skin. You will also need a night time moisturiser that is going to treat your skin whilst you sleep, because that's when your skin does most of it's rejuvenation. Remember that you are able to buy moisturiser depending on your skin type.


Thanks for reading!
Sophie X

Review: L'Oreal Skin Perfection Advanced Correcting Serum

Okay so, I've really been trying to look after my skin recently cause I'm getting older and all! So when I saw L'Oreal bring out this new 'Skin Perfection' range that helps transform the appearance of skin quality and it's for people in the 20s and 30s, I was way too excited. And WOW. Results are way better than I expected.

It claims it 'refines skin texture', 'tightens pores' and 'evens and brightens skin tone'. Thankfully I do not

have large pores so I couldn't tell you if it helps in that department, but as for the rest, it really does make

such a difference. 

I've been using this for about 2 weeks now and I personally saw results after just 1 week! (Just so you know,

I have dry, spot prone skin.) This serum is for all skin types and is non comedogenic, which is always good!

The serum is white and very lightweight. It doesn't feel heavy on the face at all. As soon as you moisturise

it into your skin, you can feel it working it's magic. It sinks into the skin very quickly and I don't have to

wait very long until I can apply any make-up. It doesn't dry out my skin or make it look oily at all, which is

why it's so perfect to use under your make-up as well. 

I use it in the morning after I cleanse my face and before applying my make-up then again at night after I cleanse 

my face. I usually use two pumps each time to cover my whole face and neck. It doesn't feel greasy, heavy and

best of all hasn't broke me out at all. If anything it's helped get rid of my spots and help old ones fade.

I feel like my skin tone looks much better since using this serum also. It's got rid of most of the redness

I've had from old spots. The texture of my skin is also something that's really improved. My skin has

always been quite soft but it always looked dry and the serum really helps it look and feel very hydrated

and smooth. The only slight downside I've found is that it seems to go a lot quicker 

than I'd like, but I love this product so much that the pros outweigh the cons by far!

Overall I'm SO happy I purchased this product, and I will definitely be buying more products from this range!

The Advanced Correcting Serum retails for £16.99, but at the moment is only £11.33 in both Boots and Superdrug!

Photography by Sam Clare Photography

Thanks for reading!

Sophie x

January Favourites

Hi guys! So January is over and that means.. monthly favourites!

Unfortunately January was not good to my skin, which I think was a mixture of the weather

and the fact I've recently caught a horrible cold/flu. Thankfully these products have helped me along the way!

Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask

I literally cannot say enough good things about this product. It smells ridiculously amazing. I could literally sit here all day just smelling this. If I feel my skin is a bit dry or looking really dull I'll put some of this on before I go to bed and by the morning my skin looks so much more hydrated and plump. It very creamy and thick yet it doesn't make my skin oily or break me out at all. It is a little pricey unfortunately, but a little bit goes a long way.

Dr Jart Water Fuse Beauty Balm Cream

I don't use this very often but recently since my skin has been looking a little dull and dry because of this horrible British weather, so I've been reaching for this a bit more. It gives me skin such a beautiful dewy finish and makes me look like I've just been on holiday!

Carmex Lip Pot Original

In the winter it's always good to invest in a good lip balm. I've always been loyal to my tons of vaseline pots but I feel that this carmex one just does the job better when I have really chapped, dry lips. I find that Vaseline is a bit too heavy and messy, whereas carmex is stronger and I don't need to keep reapplying it all day.

LOreal Paris Skin Perfection Advanced Correcting Serum

After seeing so many people rave about this product I really wanted to try it and seeing as I'm 20, (almost 21) I feel I should start taking more care of my skin. I've only been using it for a week but already I'm seeing results. It's not made me skin flawless and perfect but it's a hell of a lot better than it was. It has definitely brightened and evened out my skin tone and helped with dry patches. Since using it I've hardly got any spots and it's also helped heal the skin where I've had spots. I just don't know how I ever lived without this!

(I will be doing a full review on this product very soon!)

Soap & Glory The Scrub Of Your Life Smoothing Body Scrub

I love body scrubs but they're something I always forget about. My favourite of all time is Soap & Glorys Sugar Crush Body Scrub. It's seriously the best one I've ever used, but I recently got this one as part of a gift set for Christmas and it works so well. It gets rid of all those bumps and dry patches and also moisturises the skin really well. I get really excited to use this in the shower.

Thermos Intak Hydration Bottle with Meter

So, I drink a lot of water and I collect way too many water bottle. It's pretty ridiculous. I wanted a water bottle for a while, not only so I didn't have hundreds or water bottle all over my room all the time but because I feel like I drink more water when it's in a bottle as opposed to in a glass. Don't ask me why because I have no idea, I just do. Plus, it's easier to carry around with you as well. I find that since buying this, I do drink a lot more water just because I'm able to carry it around and I never forget it as it's so big.

The Wolf of Wall Street

This is definitely one of my favourite films. I saw the trailer ages ago and was so excited to see it that I bought the book and even though I know how the story goes now, I will continue reading it as the story was just personally very interesting to me. I definitely recommend it. (As long as you're over 18!)

Photography by Sam Clare Photography

Thanks for reading!

Sophie x