The Glueless Scr4pbook.

Origins Retexturising Mask with Rose Clay £23

I picked this mask up a few months ago and I have had a really good test of it now so I thought it was about time to let you guys know what I thought. It is designed to give a deep cleanse and radiance and is aimed at all skin types. It contains Mediterranian rose clay, Canadian willow herb and jojoba beads which all help to gently deep clean the skin and exfoliate away any dead skin which is keeping the skin looking dull. I have got to say that I absolutely love this mask, it does everything it says it does which is pretty rare these days, I just apply a thin layer all over my face, leave it for 10 minutes and then add a little water and gently rub in circular motions to help the jojoba beads with the exfoliation, then rinse. I am left with unbelievably soft skin that is neither tight nor greasy and my pores really do look instantly reduced. I am so impressed with this and because you only need a thin layer I am sure this tube will last a while. The scent is not a traditional rose scent, it kind of reminds me of the Body Shop Blue Corn mask which I would say is a good drugstore alternative. I will definitely be repurchasing this when its gone, it's a great go to mask for us oily, porey (I know thats not a real word but you get my meaning) girls. Have you tried this or the Body Shop one?

Yet another & Other Stories beauty haul, I just can't help it whenever I browse online I end up with a list as long as my arm of things that I want to try. I was on Oxford Circus recently so I popped in to pick up a few bits.

I love their jewellery and I had been eyeing up these little stud earrings (£5) for a while, I actually want them in silver too but I restrained myself, next I wanted another nude nail polish, these are great, completely full coverage with just 2 coats and dry quickly too, I settled on the shade Hexagon Cream (£5) a very light peach which I have been wearing ever since, unfortunately they no longer sell the nail polishes online. I was going to pick up a new Fig Fiction body mist (£5-12) but when I smelt the Floral Memento I chose that instead and lastly I had spotted the new Plush Multi Balm (£5) online and read a few good reviews about the Natte Anti-stress Sleeping Mask (£7) so I grabbed them too. 

I get so distracted by all the scents and gorgeous packaging, I think I could live in this shop.

As soon as I saw Caroline Hirons' Instagram about the new Muji Skincare line I knew I'd be taking a trip there at the next possible moment. 

The line has been in the making for a long time and has clearly been very thought through, it is all water based and the water is sourced directly from a fresh mountain supply in Japan, they chose this particular place as it has the purest water which takes 10 years to filter down before it is promptly contained so as not to contaminate it

The line consists of cleansers, toners, serums and moisturisers which cater to two skin types primarily, sensitive and aging, the latter being the pricier of the two. I was happy to see that they do a 'light' option for both ranges which is great for those with oily skin.

The range is available in travel size bottles too which are all priced around £1.99, great for a trial run. I picked up some bits from the sensitive range the Face Soap, Moisturising Toning Water Light, Moisturising Lotion Light, All In One Essence and some of their thin cotton buds and u bleached cotton pads (after hearing Viviannadoesmakeup and Tamira Jarrel rave about them countless times).

At the moment the range is exclusive to Selfridges in the UK but I have seen the U.S. site is currently stocking the full range and the Haircare line which I didn't spot in store, I will do a separate post letting you know how I get on with these soon.

Avene Micellar Lotion (£13/ 200ml)

I can't believe I have never reviewed this. It's the best Micellar water that I have tried so I can't believe it's taken me this long to talk about it, I'm sure I have mentioned it in favourites and empties before but just a few words on why I love it. Firstly obviously it cleans of all my make up perfectly and quickly, even my eye and lip make up but secondly and most importantly it is so gentle, not drying at all and once everything is removed the skin looks fresh and feels soft and smooth, there's no struggling to move the muscles in your face etc. I then just clean my face with my normal cleanser and continue the rest of my skincare routine. This is a bit more pricey than other cleansing waters but you can feel the difference in quality, I like this for night time especially, it smells great too.

This is a review that I have been meaning to put up for a while now,so sorry it is no longer a new launch but I thought I would share what I thought about the product anyway.

Kiehls Micro Blur Skin Perfector (30ml/ £23)

"Lightweight skin smoother to instantly refine skin texture + minimise the appearance or pores while improving skins quality over time."

"Lightweight, non greasy, oil free."

"Instantly skin appears perfected as the number, size and depth or pores is visibly minimised. In just 4 weeks, even bare skin appears transformed and virtually flawless. Pores appear significantly diminished for a fresh healthier looking complexion."

So it comes in a sleek white tube, which is great for hygiene reasons and for controlling how much product you want. The product itself is a nude coloured mousse very light weight,it needs shaking up every now and then as it separates into a watery liquid and a mousse type which are supposed to be as one. It's also almost scent free which is good for those with sensitive skin.

As for the results, I haven't noticed any long term differences, but the instant result is the skin looks smoother and feels soft, it layers well with make up which is great because some primers can look cakey when layered with make up, the best way I can describe this is, the Skincare version of Benefit Porefessional, the texture and colour are the same, the results are the same. If you love the Porefessional you are sure to love this too, this also benefits from some natural ingredients such as Lipo Hydroxy Acid, bark and lentil extracts, it also comes in a 30ml tube as opposed to Benefits 22ml for the high price of £24.50.

Have you tried this?

Aesop Chamomile Concentrate Anti-Blemish Masque (£33/ 60ml)

'Astringent masque to minimise blemishes and breakouts. After cleansing, apply a thin layer over skin, excluding eye area, leave for ten minutes then rinse.'

This mask has a tea tree/ herbal scent which is quite calming and relaxing. It goes on as a pale pink paste but dries hard and white on the skin. This mask leaves my skin looking tight and clean with no redness or dryness. Pores do appear smaller after using this but it's not a miracle worker it definitely won't clear all your blackhead but it will sooth any major blemishes and help to prevent new ones from arising. It is also dual purpose as the assistant told me it can also be used just on affected areas instead of as a maque which is great when I don't have time to get messy.

This mask is very gentle as it contains lots of natural oils that have astringent or antiseptic properties such as tea tree leaf oil, lemon peel oil and evening primrose oil to name only a few. This was my first Aesop purchase and it has really got me wanting to try more from the brand. Can you recommend anything?

Today, since we are in the middle of December (the most expensive month of the year for those of us celebrating Christmas), I wanted to share my thoughts on which products I personally feel are worth spending the extra cash on. 

I had a long think about it, added up all my pros and cons along with a quick rifle through my own collection to see what I spend the majority of my money on and here's my thoughts...

Skincare

Splurge. Cater to your skins needs, and even if it's a bit more pricey, go for it. Someone once told me its better to get your clothes at Primark and your skincare at La Prairie, if I could afford La Prairie I would agree, but you get the idea.

Base (Primer, Foundation, Concealer)

Splurge. As flawless skin makes any blush, lipstick or eyeshadow look a thousand times better. Your skin takes up the majority of the face so it makes sense that you should spend the majority of your pennies on it. In my experience the shade choices alone are worth paying extra for, but you also need less when you buy high end and therefore it always lasts longer too.

Powder

Save. This was tricky as my first thoughts were Nars and Mac but my high street favourites swayed me, the Rimmel Stay Matte, the Soap & Glory One Heck Of A Blot and the Maybelline Fit Me powders are all great high street options, all finely milled, soft and not heavy or cakey, they last just as long as the ones 4 times the price.

Blusher/ Bronzer

Spend. For blush there is always a lot less shades, a lot more fall out and a lot less pigment on the high street, which means they run out a lot quicker and your not necessarily buying the best shade for your skin tone. Bronzer is a tough one considering the Bodyshop Honey Bronzer and the Soap & Glory Solar Powder, but again I'd say spend especially if you use it every day, the high end ones have more pigment so last a lifetime, they also tend to have less glitter helping them to look a lot more natural.

Mascara

Save. As mascara has a shelf life of around 3 months, spending £20+ seems crazy, it's nice for a treat, but for everyday there are some amazing high street mascaras from Bourjois, Maybelline, L'oreal and Rimmel.

Eyeshadow

Spend. Cheaper ones tend to have a lot less pigment, which means putting more on and running out quicker, they also tend to be harder to blend and have a lot of fall out which creates mess and waste.

Lipstick

Depends. I think it depends on your addiction level, I personally love high end lipsticks or middle of the road ones like Mac, but there are so many high street ranges and new launches all the time so it's really touch and go with lipstick.

Lipgloss

Save. All glosses have the same lasting power in my experience, a few sips of coffee and it's gone, the only difference is consistency, the cheaper ones tend to be sticky and gloopy, but with the likes of NYX Butter Glosses around these days, I would say save for sure.

Nail Polish

Save. I think a good top coat will solve most problems so even though I love the YSL polishes, I would still say save your pennies and go for a great high street option like Barry M.

I hope this was helpful, what do you spend most of your money on?

I recently got hold of a slightly older Chanel release which I was pretty happy about because I have tried this before when I was a lot younger and had no idea how I would like it now so I've been giving it a little test run recently and here are my findings.

Chanel Vitalumiere Satin Smooting Fluid Make Up (RRP £36 for 30ml). This foundation has an SPF of 15 and says it is an "Anti-Fatigue" foundation hence the luminous finish, I would say this is a light to medium coverage foundation and I personally wouldn't say it was buildable because of the finish. 

It is definitely a very luminous finish foundation and I wouldn't really recommend this for people with oily skin (I have oily skin myself and of course if that is the dewy, glowy look you are going for like I do when I am tanned then by all means it is a great foundation) I would say this is more aimed at slightly mature skin which needs a youthful glow and for those more oily I would suggest the Perfection Lumiere Velvet as the finish is matte but the formula still has Illuminating properties.

The luminosity is this foundation is very natural looking, no glitter or shimmer at all, just a very healthy finish. It is an easy to blend formula (with either a brush or a sponge), sinks into the skin well without creating those 'foundation pores' and overall is a very seemless natural looking foundation.

I hope this was helpful.

My love for & Other Stories just cannot be explained in words, I have just recently fallen for everything about it, the clothes, the accessories, the beauty, the jewellery, everything! As part of their beauty range they have around 15 scents of their own creation, all packaged in sleek black and white containers, the packaging alone is enough to start me drooling...

But anyway my favourite scent from the range is one named "Punk Bouquet" which is a 'Frothy vanilla soda on a rebellious rose bouquet' to quote the packaging, a very gentle light floral scent which just smells fresh and clean and I can't get enough of it, literally.

It all started with a Hand Cream (£4), when I got home and fell in love with it I needed everything, so I ordered this lot and its all so reasonably priced too. 

Above: Hand Lotion 250ml (£5), Body Wash 350ml (£5) and Body Lotion 350ml (£7).

I also managed to get this Primer on sale from £15 to just £5, if you haven't visited an & Other Stories yet, make it your mission in life, or just try the website which is amazing too.

I've been having some crazy skin lately which is really bugging me because I don't know what's causing it, I always have generally dodgy skin but recently it's been worse and more long lasting so I thought I'd share all the bits that have been helping me through it.

I have been using my Garnier Micellar Water as a general cleanser and the Body Shops's Camomile Cleansing Oil as a proper cleanse which both work really well, I have been using the Lush Tea Tree Water for almost a year now and I still swear by it, it's just natural and not drying at all like you might expect from Tea Tree products and another permanent fixture in my skincare routine is the Body Shop Vitamin C Microdermabrasion scrub which has really fine beads that get right in there without being abrasive.

For the last few months I have been using the Kiehls Blue Herbal Spot Treatment which is pretty pricey for a spot gel but I have found it to work really well when used on specific areas, I have also been using these Clearasil Ultra pads which I found for £1 in my local Bargain Store, they are really strong so I don't use them very often but I like using them in the morning to get rid of any dirt that has got in my skin overnight (they have a slight sandpaper feel which is quite abrasive so I have to be gentle but it seems to do the trick). When I remember I try and use the Body Shop Seaweed Clarifying Night Treatment which is a really lightweight gel serum that is good for helping control excess oil. I also swear my the La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo [+] which is a lightweight moisturising cream-gel aimed at helping problem skin, I have gone through 2 tubes of this and need to purchase my 3rd, I highly recommend this even when not used with any other spot/acne treatments. Finally as a mask I have been using the Aesop Camomile Concentrate Anti Blemish Masque since I bought it a few weeks ago and it seems to be helping a lot, the sales assistant to,d me it can also be used topically on affected areas for a more concentrated effect, it's quite expensive but you really don't need to use a lot and since it has the dual purpose that kind of brings down the price a lot.

I hope this was helpful for any of you with problem skin, do you have any products that you could suggest to me?

Sorry to be a bore, but it's yet another haul for you guys I was in Boots the other week and I couldn't help myself...

My shampoo/conditioner were running out so I thought I'd try another from the Garnier Ultimate Blends range, I went for the Coconut Oil and Cocoa Butter as it is for dry frizzy hair and even though my hair isn't in terrible condition the ends are still a bit naff looking.

I also picked up the Garnier Fresh Radiance Boosting Scrub after Amelia mentioned it on her channel recently and my Neutrogena had run out.

Apparently I actually went a bit garnier crazy (I do love their products though) and also bought the Intensive 7 days Soothing Gel Cream in Peach which smells gorgeous!!

I wanted to pick up a new self tanner and I was actually after the one that Vivianna talks about so often because I am also pale but I couldn't find it and ended up with the Rimmel Sun Shimmer Instant Tan in Medium/Matte, it says it is water resistant and transfer resistant so I'll report back on that.

I had to repurchase the super value for money Garnier (seriously, obviously the garnier stands were looking attractive) Micellar water since I ran out a while ago and I do love it.

Unfortunately I was a bit ill so I had to grab the necessities Buttercup Cough Syrup and Covonia Lozengers.

Soap & Glory had their new crayon form concealer on offer so (since my favourite item to buy and try and obsess over is concealer) I picked that up too, I love their Kick Ass Concealer so I have high hopes.

Maxfactor had a nice display too and I'm pretty sure these nude glosses are new, I picked one up in a my lips but better soft pink shade, love the packaging, very chic and it smells nice too.

Is there anything I should be buying next time I head to Boots?

I wanted to take some time out to have a nice long bath and I just thought I'd share with you guys the products I used since they are the ones I have been loving lately.

So I used the Blue Corn Deep Cleansing Mask from The BodyShop, which does what it says on the tin really but it does leave my skin feeling a bit tight so I like to use a moisturising mask afterwards, I used the Vitamin E Sink In Moisture Mask also by the BodyShop which you leave to soak in as long as you want and tissue the excess off, I love that because you can gage how much love your skin needs and cater to yourself. For my body I used the organic exfoliating mit from The Bodyshop and then Ambrosia shaving cream by lush to help me de-hair. I have been loving the natural sponge by The Bodyshop too lately it's just so soft and luxurious. I recently picked up this Cocoa Butter by Jergens for the bargain price of £1 so I've been giving that a go, it's a bit light for my liking but it's nice for summer.

I have been scrolling endlessly through reviews of this apparently amazing, holy grail stuff, it claims to cure all the problems that I suffer with my skin… clogged up pores, redness, scars lefts from blemishes, so I thought I had better give it a go, especially since there has been a wonderful 3 for 2 offer in Boots over the last few weeks.

The La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo [+] (40ml for £15.50) is paraben free and made in France, which sets my mind at rest because everybody knows that French skincare is where it's at.

The tube advises that you use this if you have imperfection prone skin, clogged pores and or excess sebum, all of which applies to me. It states that it contains reinforced anti-imperfection efficacy to help correct the appearance of imperfections, evens out skin texture and un clogs blocked pores. It now also has an active ingredient called Procerad which helps protect against the appearance of red or brown marks.

It gives a timeline of expected results. 

After 24 hours: imperfections look visibly less red.

After 8 days: localised imperfections appear significantly reduced.

After 4 weeks: pores look unclogged, skin texture looks refined and shine is controlled.

The famous Antipodes Aura Manuka Honey Mask, I decided to order this last pay day and have been trialling it since then. I got this from the Feel Unique website and it was £21.50 for 75ml.

So it is in a small metal tube which is great because it means you can use every last drop of the product, and the fact that it is metal means the ingredients will stay fresher for longer, the recommended life for this mask once opened is 6 months.

The product itself is a thin creamy consistency, it is recommended that you apply 'thick layers' of the mask all over your face (and neck if desired), but I find it hard to create a thick layer with such a thin consistency, when you try to add more you end up taking more off kind of thing.

I have used this mask 4 or 5 times now, I apply it to very clean skin and leave for 15 minutes or so, the mask doesn't harden as such but does begin to feel stiff on my face after about 10 minutes, not uncomfortably so by any means, I find my skin is definitely smooth and hydrated after I have removed the mask, my pores do look less obvious (compared to before) and my face looks a lot more healthy and radiant. I cannot comment on the cleansing aspect of this mask as I have only ever used it on clean skin, but moisturising and hydrating it most certainly is. I don't know the science behind it but I assume that the reduced pores are due to the 'anti-oxidising' ingredients in the mask.

The instructions for use also say this is 'also ideal for treating spots and blemishes as they arise', I haven't found any great improvement in my blemishes after using this mask (I have generally bad skin all year round, prone to constant spots, as one leaves another appears) the blemishes do not seem to be smaller, dried out or less red, I have also tried this as a direct spot treatment by applying a small amount to the individual spot, which has also been unsuccessful, so on the matter of treating blemishes I can say that in my experience it has definitely been ineffective.

I probably wouldn't buy this mask again because I have so many more on my list to try, but I will say it is great for the winter months as my skin looks and feels so much more healthy when I use this. I have a lot left so I will continue to use it, maybe a bit more often so I can see what else it has to offer, I would say that even though it is quite expensive, it is good value for money as it seems a little goes a long way.

I hope this review was helpful, and if you have any tips or recommendations, please leave me a comment below

Today I'm just doing a little review of something I have recently fallen back in love with... The Body Shop Body Butters (£13), the one in question being the Vanilla Bliss Body Butter, which unfortunately was only available for a limited period at Christmas time and is no longer available, but the review is actually generic and goes for all the Body Butters in the range as I have tried a few over the years.

We all know winter seems to take its toll on our skin, well weather in general really has an effect on our skin, I don't really find there to be much of a transitional period for my skin however because I moisturise really well all year round, it's just something I've trained myself to do, I know some people find it a chore and boring but strangely enough I find it somewhat satisfying lol, anyway, an area of my body that does get stressed out by the weather is my LIPS but luckily for me I have found the cure...

The cure is Popcorn Lip Scrub by Lush, followed by Caramel Cream Lip Butter by Nivea.

The Lush Lip Scrubs are something I have used for while, usually only sporadically to be honest, I have the Bubblegum one which is gorgeous and exactly like bubblegum, I recently also purchased this Popcorn flavoured one, I was never really interested in it even though the rest of the world seemed obsessed, I was quite content with my Bubblegum version but I was in there testing some bits and I smelt it and immediately realised why everyone was obsessed. It doesn't actually smell like popcorn, it just smells like vanillary, caramelly goodness. The idea with these is that you get a small bit, scrub it over your lips and lick off the excess (it is basically just flavoured sugar so it's perfectly safe), they contain natural coconut oil so they are moisturising and your lips don't feel dry or damaged after which is great, the only problem with this flavour is that it's actually very buttery so I cannot lick it off because I don't like butter, 9 times out of 10 I wipe the sugar off with a face wipe anyway. This stage leaves my lips new, fresh, plump looking and smooth.

I then use my Caramel Cream Lip Butter, the smell is more or less the same as the scrub so they compliment each other really well. I love this lip butter it's so thick and creamy, I usually leave it next to my bed and use it before bed, when I wake up I can usually still feel some of it there, the flavour is amazing and it really is like a body butter for lips, it doesn't just sit on top, it sinks in really well and leaves a smooth creamy feeling on the lips. It's perfect for after exfoliating to replenish the skin. I really do recommend these, I want to get theVanilla Macadamia one too.

Together these two little pots have been leaving my lips beautifully smooth and flake free.

Today I am reviewing a spot treatment for you guys, it is the wonderful amazing fantastic Grease Lightning from lush (£5.95 for 45g). It is on my January Payday Wishlist, but I snuck it in a bit early and bought it on Sunday but I'm so glad I did. Genius stuff honestly.

So it says "Strikes the spot with lightning precision. dab this super effective tea tree and witch hazel gel to zap zits before they show themselves." The two main ingredients are the two most renowned for curing spots, you can tell its going to be good right?

So it's a little bottle with a pump, the pump gives just enough to the cover the whole face with one thin layer or what I have been doing is dipping my cotton bud into it and adding it directly to my biggest spots or problem areas, I read on the back that you can apply it as often as you feel is needed, because its a natural product you cannot 'overdose' your skin with it which is great.

It is a thin gel consistency which smells like tea tree oil, once you put it on the skin you instantly feel the drying effect, I put this on after my cleansing routine but before my moisturiser. It's smooth and cooling, and best of all it actually works, I have been using it twice/three times a day since I got it, I started with two red spots which faded to a light pink within the first hour of having the spot treatment on, I am so impressed, it also seems to have cleared up some of the tiny spots on my forehead in a matter of days, I highly recommend this product and I will definitely be repurchasing when I have finished my bottle.