Let's Discuss..Gel Cleansers.

Before I go any further to write this post in detail, I want you all to know that I am in no way a skincare or beauty specialist or anything of that sort. This is just what works for me, personally, and if it helps you too - Awesome! I hope it does.

I'm always having problems with my skin. Either it's too blotchy, too spotty, too dull...The list can go on and on. These factors are usually dependent on weather, stress levels, dietary choices during that particular week, or even as a reaction to something I've applied on my face. For the past few weeks, my skin most definitely hasn't been amazing - This is due to ridiculously high stress levels from uni deadlines combined with a poor diet. As a result, my skin has lost its radiance and has become very, terribly spotty.

Usually when this happens (It does happen every now and then - Stress definitely comes and goes), I become very strict with my skincare regime. That means always ensuring I wash my face both day and night; especially removing any makeup or anything on my face before I go to sleep. I generally use a cleanser, exfoliator, toner, and moisturiser in the mornings and a micellar water, cleansing balm, cleanser, toner, eye cream and moisturiser in the evenings. I know that sounds a bit excessive - But with given time, it's what works for me. I also use a clay mask at least twice a week, if not three times - This can be combined with other masks to fix issues such as lack of radiance or so forth.

Going backwards a bit on that, though...One thing that I find that does help me a lot when my skin goes berserk is a gel cleanser. Gel cleansers are great for skin no matter what condition or issue that you're currently having, since they won't irritate the skin, they won't strip it of its natural oils and they'll only, very gently, cleanse the skin (as the package says). Because I have normal/combination skin, the three gel cleansers (Actually, one is a cleansing milk - But because of its consistency/how it works, I consider it to be more like a gel cleanser) that I tend to use regularly and feel that they work the best are Ainhoa's Vitaminal Cleansing Milk, Fresh Soy Face Cleanser, and Avene Gentle Cleanser.

Ainhoa Vitaminal Cleansing Milk is a light, creamy cleanser that glides onto the skin with ease whilst removing any makeup and impurities from the skin. It contains ingredients such as Hamamelis Extract, which is great for irritated or acne-prone skin, as it helps to regulate the natural oils that are on the face without further disrupting the skin. Fresh Soy Face Cleanser is another cleanser that is great for removing makeup, especially eye makeup - It basically just melts any residue away. This is also a cleanser that I find to glide onto the skin with ease, and does a great job of cleansing the skin without further disrupting it. It contains ingredients such as rosewater, to help calm, tone, and balance the skin, as well as cucumber extract to soothe the skin and amino-acid rich soy proteins to aid in moisture retention, elasticity, and firmness in the skin. Avene is a brand that I have grown to absolutely love, as their skincare products have helped my skin improve itself so much. Their Gentle Cleanser is composed of ingredients that won't harm or irritate the skin in any way, as well as no colourants, parabens, or fragrances so that it can just cleanse the skin without harming it in any way. If you have very sensitive skin, as well, I would highly recommend Avene as their products are generally geared towards those with sensitive skin.

Have you used a gel cleanser before? What do you think of them? What helps you to combat terrible skin days?

Wonder Pore Freshner : Etude House

I've really been getting into asian skincare regimes, especially with products from Korea - Have you seen what they launch over there!? Snail moisturisers, sheet masks, cute packaging..I could spend hours on the internet looking through products labelled with 'asian skincare'. I suppose it's become a bit of an, er, obsession..

Upon looking into some asian skincare brands, I came across Etude House from Rachel's blog, Blush and Brunch (found here!). I don't know too much about the brand, as there isn't too much information on how the brand started out on their website or on any other information websites - Also, most of their social media platforms are predominately in asian languages - Due to their popularity in major parts of Asia, including South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Thailand, and more. There aren't many sites or places to buy products from Etude House, but if you're interested, you can usually come across any of their products on Ebay or Amazon for decent prices (plus free shipping, most of the time!).

Introducing..Wonder Pore Freshner.

I found this product through my Ebay excursions one day. It seems that a reoccurring trend in a lot of asian skincare products is to reduce pore size and to cleanse the pores more thoroughly. I'm constantly having issues with my pore size, especially around my nose area (Blackheads are also certainly not nice to look at, and no matter how much you try to cover them up..They still like to reappear!) so of course I was very interested to try this product! It was seriously love at first sight.

I ordered my trial size of the Wonder Pore Freshner via Ebay and received it about one and half weeks later from Korea - Not bad for standard international shipping! I immediately loved the cute, yet simple packaging of the product - It sort of has a Benefit feel to it, don't you think? (Maybe that's just me.)

You can buy the Wonder Pore Freshner on Ebay here, for £1.74 + free p&p!

After the first use, I noticed a slight dramatic difference - I could visibly see that it had tightened my pores around my nose area. It also left my skin very soft to the touch, and the scent of the product was not strong at all - Very refreshing. A little goes a long way! After a few weeks of use, I can proudly say that it does what it claims - My pores are visibly tightened and smaller in size. I still have some minor blackheads around my nose, but my skin has always been a bit stubborn around that area. (Speaking of..Can anyone recommend a product you use for similar problems, if any?)

Sadly enough, I am almost out of this product, as it is only a 25mL bottle. I would love to repurchase this, preferably in a larger size, but it seems a bit difficult to do - If anyone finds a larger sized version, please do let me know!

Have you used any products from Etude House? What's your favourite pore cleanser/toner/miracle solution?

Currently Lusting Over #1

Hey guys! So as you've probably seen, I've been away from blogging for over a week now - I know, I'm terrible - but I've been chasing deadlines and everything just got a bit too hectic. However..I'm back now! So more posts to ensue..Check this space!

Following my themed-blog post ideas, I thought I'd also start a 'What I'm Currently Lusting Over' weekly blog post. This includes beauty, skincare, and haircare products, as well as any other trends or blogs/websites I'm generally just loving! Let me know what you think so far!

I'm dying to try these Barry M gelly polishes (RRP £3.99). I've seen them on so many blogs, yet for some reason, I still haven't purchased them! My favourite colours would have to be Green Berry, Blood Orange, Lychee, and Blueberry. Gel nail polishes are supposed to last really well, and the finishes are meant to provide loads of shine - As if there's a topcoat already built in. Dr. Jart's Water Fuse Beauty Balm (£18.00) is another product I've seen mentioned literally everywhere. It's meant to glide onto the skin really well, providing loads of moisture whilst controlling excess sebum production in your skin to make it less oily. Apparently it's also sweat-resistant, which is always a plus since the warmer weather is (soon!) approaching. All I've heard are great reviews on this product, so once I get the £££'s required, I'm definitely splurging! Darphin is another brand that seems to not be on the top lists of beauty bloggers, but still doesn't get any negative reviews (As so I've seen thus far!). I've been looking into alternative ways of cleansing my face, and cleansing balms seem to be quite popular. Their Rosewood Cleansing Balm (RRP £30.00) looks utterly divine, so if I'm able to somehow get ahold of it, expect a review! I've never tried any products by Liz Earle before, but I do know that their skincare items do get a lot of great praise. I'd really like to try their Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser (RRP £14.75). I'm also very, very anxious to try Boots' No.7 Beautiful Skin Cleansing Brush (RRP £24.95), since it's supposedly a very decent Clarisonic dupe. I most definitely cannot afford a Clarasonic brush, as much as I'd like one..and although Boots' dupe isn't necessarily waterproof or as 'precise' - Clarisonic's version times each section of your face that you cleanse, in order to achieve maximum deep cleansing; Boots' brand doesn't - it definitely stands up to its pricey predecessor. I'm all about indulgence, and candles + bubble baths are the perfect end to any stressful day. Again, this may not be a product that I try immediately, but Diptyque's candles look and smell lovely, as well as get a lot of praise (especially in the bloggersphere!) Baies (RRP £20.00/40.00) and Figuier (RRP £20.00/40.00) seem to be the winners so far..What are your favourites?

I've also been on the lookout for another great hair product that will give great volume for thick hair..Any suggestions?

Any beauty/skincare/haircare brands that I should be in the know about/check out? Have you tried any of these products before?

Introducing..Skincare Sundays : YonKa PS Pamplemousse Normal to Dry Skin

I've decided that I want to try to start going with a bit of a theme on some posts, since most of my favourite blogs seem to do them quite successfully, and it's pretty fun! To say the least.

For Sundays, I've decided to label them as 'Skincare Sundays'. We'll see how well it pans out, as obviously right now I'm still in the 'experimental' phase of my blog..But please, do tell me what you think! Also if you have any other requests for weekly posts you'd like to see.

To start off my 'Skincare Sundays' theme, I thought it would be appropriate to go into a product that I've been using for quite a few months now that I have definitely dubbed as one of my 'holy-grail' products. Now, this is a product that you don't see too often at all, but I hope that this post changes that and puts some of you in the know, since it is absolutely amazing, especially in winter! I got this a few months back in one of my beauty boxes..I think it was a Joliebox, actually. It's French, so the packaging confused me slightly, as I know very little French - I couldn't for the life of me figure out what 'Pamplemousse' was - But I decided to give it a go and have not looked back since.

YonKa PS Pamplemousse for Normal to Dry Skin, £22.76

The YonKa PS Pamplemousse for Normal to Dry Skin is a light moisturizer for use day and night after cleansing and toning, with help from Vitamin C to help protect the skin from environmental aggressors and to help brighten the complexion of the skin. It is also packed with Grapefruit Extract, Pumpkin oil, and Olive oil to help the skin repair itself. It can be worn just as a moisturizer, or used as a serum, with a moisturizer added on top of your skin afterwards. For the cooler months, I've been using it as a serum, especially at night - I've noticed that it's helped alleviate any dryness or dullness that occurs to my skin as a result of the harsh weather. I've also realized that when using the product, because it's such a light, creamy texture - You only need about the size of a dime (US) or five/twenty pence piece (UK) for your face/neck. Because it's so hydrating, as well, you want to be sure that you don't apply too much of this product to your face, since if you use too much at once, it may take a bit longer to really sink into your skin.

There's been a HUGE difference to my skin after using this - My skin is smoother, more even in tone, brighter, firmer, and much more moisturized. My skin tends to act up from time to time, especially in the winter months, so it's nice that this product is able to stop most of that from occurring. I would definitely recommend this to anyone suffering from dull, dehydrated skin that is in need of an extra Oomph! in their skincare routine. It's not cheap - I think the cheapest on eBay I've found so far is $34.75, or roughly £22.76  - But it will last you a long time and it will make a huge difference to your skin that will easily be justifiable to your wallet.

Have you ever used any products from YonKa before? What's your go-to 'holy grail' product for the harsher, winter months that helps keep your skin in good condition?

Fresh: Petal Sugar Lip Treatment & Birchbox Event

Hey everyone! So what about this weather we're having over here in the UK, ey? Especially in London..it's so confusing! Today, especially, was so cold - Just when you think winter is over with and spring's on it's way, winter comes back to prove that it's here to stay (for a little while, at least!)! This weather has a huge effect on my skin, especially my lips - I feel that I usually have to reapply lip balm every hour or so, because the wind is so terrible to them. In my January Birchbox, I received a sample of Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment in Rose - Instantly I fell in love, both with the way it made my lips feel/treated them and with the colour! I've been constantly using it for the past month, waiting for the opportune moment (or when I eventually ran out of the product!) to purchase a full-size of the product. Well, just to my luck, on Tuesday, Birchbox & Fresh held an event at Fresh's UK Flagship store - There was everything from mini-facials to sugar lip treatments, cocktails and delicious(!) cupcakes, a beautiful product range and delightful people to talk to.

 I chose to have a sugar lip treatment, and while I was getting it done, the consultant introduced me to Fresh's newest edition to their Sugar Lip Treatment in Petal.

Fresh Petal Sugar Lip Treatment, £16.50

Petal is a gorgeous, universally-flattering shade of pink that is perfect for the upcoming season. The product gives just enough of a tint to notice a slight, almost bitten-like stain on your lips, yet still looking incredibly natural at the same time. It's a shade that is perfect for everyday wear, since it's so natural and flattering. Just like the other products in the Sugar Lip Treatment range, it's extremely hydrating and nourishing for your lips, made with sugar (to gently exfoliate and prevent moisture loss), nourishing oils, such as jojoba seed and black currant seed oil (to deeply nourish), grape seed extract (to protect, smooth, and soften), as well as SPF 15 (to protect from damaging UVA/UVB rays). After using the Rose Sugar Lip Treatment almost religiously for the past month, as well this product (Petal) for the past few days, I can definitely attest that this product is a must-have in any makeup/skincare/lip colour collection, because it actually works and it's a perfect go-to for everyday use.

After the event, I also received some samples (You know how much I love samples!) of the Soy Face Cleanser and the Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream, as well as and Advanced Therapy Sugar Lip Treatment, and some yummy cola-flavoured gummies (much better than Haribo!) from The Jealous Life.

Overall, a great night with great products! What are your thoughts on Fresh? Have you used their Sugar Lip Treatments before?

February Birchbox UK: London Fashion Week Edition

Hey all! Sorry I've been a bit AWOL the past few days - Uni work has caught up with me (deadlines are coming up soon!) and my lovely boyfriend came round for part of the weekend to celebrate Valentine's Day. We had a nice meal inside, just the two of us, and it was really nice to be able to just relax and enjoy each others' company, since we've both been so busy lately.

I received my February Birchbox on Saturday, which was a nice accompaniment to the weekend. I was really excited in opening it, since I had no idea what any of the products inside would be - And after opening it, I still couldn't contain my excitement!

Ever since Joliebox merged with Birchbox, all I've seen are better and much better results. This month's box didn't dwindle my opinion, either! The theme for this month was to accompany London Fashion Week, so the box was packed with products to help you get through the festivities, whether on your own or at Somerset House. The magazine that accompanied the box this month was fantastic, as well - Full of great trends happening now, including what beauty trends to be on the lookout for on the catwalk this season; great interviews with Lena Korres, co-founder of cult-skincare brand Korres, as well as with Grazia's editor-at-large Polly Vernon; and of course, great beauty tips and tricks to try at home. I was really impressed with the magazine, and hope that Birchbox UK keep up with the amazing work!

Now for the products/samples, since I know you're all dying to see what they are..

Gerda Spillmann: Bio Fond Cream Foundation - I was excited to see how this product would work, as this is the same makeup that is used on the set of Bridesmaids and is apparently sworn by. It's a creamy, light-to-medium coverage foundation that eventually settles into a powder, creating a semi-flawless look. Unfortunately, I wasn't completely impressed by this product, as I think that I was given the wrong shade for my skintone - It wound up making my skin look orange in tone - Not very attractive! Also, I wouldn't recommend this product if you have dry skin, as it does eventually settle as a powder. (Side Note:  I did fill out my beauty profile back in January, as well! So I was hoping that that would've helped..) Either way, if you do receive the correct shade, and you're looking for a creamy, light-to-medium coverage, then this is definitely for you.

Korres:  Guava Shower Gel - This was actually the first time I have ever tried a product from Korres! I was really glad to see this shower gel in the box, as I've heard more than plenty reviews on how amazing their products are. This product smells absolutely amazing , a sweet yet soft scent that isn't too overpowering at all. It also builds up a nice lather, as well - I found that, combined with my buffer, I didn't need to use too much at all - which is something that I always look for!

Nick Chavez Beverley Hills:  Plump N' Thick Leave-In Thickening Mist - I had never heard of this brand before receiving their product in this month's box, but trusted that if Birchbox UK picked it for this month, it had to be decent! This is a leave-in volume treatment for lifeless, limp hair. It can be sprayed in either towel-dried or already dry hair and styled as usual, to give your hair that extra 'Oomph!' that's always wanted and needed! I loved using this product and felt that it actually worked on my hair pretty well - My hair naturally has a bit of volume after washing, but it can become limp so easily, and it's so annoying - So it was nice to get that back!

Vichy:  Thermal Spa Water (Limited Edition) - There's so much hype around this product, it's unreal! I had never tried it before receiving it in this box, but after one use, I think I have fallen in love! I've used refresher sprays before, but this one is quite different - It comes out as an actual spray of water, rather than spritz, and coats your entire face in a hydrating, soothing mist that dries within a few minutes. It also boasts to be naturally enriched with 15 minerals and 13 trace elements that are good for your skin, and can be used as a toner, to set makeup or just as a refresher when you need it!

EBoost:  Natural Energy Booster - I received one sachet of this product in my Birchbox as a 'Lifestyle Extra', which is pretty cool. I haven't used it yet, but thanks to my uni schedule becoming a bit tighter and deadlines coming up within the next few weeks, I know that this will probably wind up saving me through it when I need it most! It boasts to be a 'natural, nutrient-rich, no-crash tonic' that you just mix with cold water and drink to give you energy when you need it most.

Birchbox Eyelash Curler - This was the 'Beauty Extra' of this month's box, which I am definitely not complaining about! Ironically enough, I was planning on purchasing a new eyelash curler eventually, so this came to save the day! I'm sure you all know what eyelash curlers are, and how magical they are - I know for certain that if I didn't use one everyday, I wouldn't look nearly as bright-eyed and awake as I pretend to be on most days - But if you don't, then hop on that bandwagon straight as!

So that was my February London Fashion Week Edition Birchbox, proving yet again that Birchbox continue to do as well as they do. Have you received your Birchbox yet, and what did you think of it? Have you tried any of these products before, and what did you think of them?

Glossybox UK February Valentine's Box

Yesterday morning I received my anticipated February Valentine's Day-themed Glossybox in the post. I was surprised at how quick the delivery was; After receiving a shipping confirmation email the night before, it was delivered to me right the next day! I must admit that I was extremely impressed.

In opening up my package, I really admired the new design on the Glossybox - It was a nice change from their standard pink box, this one coloured a bit brighter pink than usual, endowed with a fuschia-coloured bow design on the lid. Opening up my box, I was also impressed with the wrapping - I have had Glossyboxes in the past that seem to have been put together quite messily, but after filling out their subscriber surveys, I can I see that they took that into account, as well. The contents of the box were wrapped in a lovely light pink paper, with a fuschia-coloured ribbon holding it nicely together. Inside was Glossybox's monthly mini magazine, with a tutorial on to create 'beautiful, bold lips' for Valentine's Day. In unfolding the magazine to a poster-sized paper, the magazine revealed the contents of this month's box.

I have to admit that I was really impressed with the contents from this month's box. It seems that (in a way), like Birchbox, Glossybox has been undergoing some changes for the new year, of which I'm pretty proud of. Past monthly boxes haven't been the greatest in terms of their layout and their contents, but I could definitely tell that with their February box, they are stepping up as a beauty box brand and that I will still continue to be a subscriber and support them. Inside of the box, since it was 'Valentine's Day' themed, I received a Micabella Cosmetics Mineral Eyeshadow in Intelligence (#94), Anatomicals - You Need A Blooming Shower! Body Cleanser, Sassoon Salon Professional Spray Shine, MeMeMe Cosmetics FatCat Lengthening Mascara, Miners Cosmetics Lip Colour in Dreamer, as well as cute red heart-shaped lollypop thrown in for the festivities!

Micabella Cosmetics Mineral Eyeshadow in 'Intelligence' (#94) - I was a bit upset that the sample size was so tiny, but that's the only issue I had with this product. The colour itself is gorgeous - A shimmery, smoky, purple-y - brown colour that would flatter anyone, in my opinion. I find it very similar to Bellepiere Cosmetics Mineral Eyeshadow in it's consistency and it's shade. Despite it's size, I feel that it would last me a bit longer since the product itself is so dense and concentrated, so I would only use a little bit at a time.

Anatomicals - You Need A Blooming Shower! Body Cleanser - Nice to see a full-sized product in this box! I know that from a previous Glossybox, I received the Don't Just Clean It, Scrub It, Woman Body Scrub and was not incredibly favourable towards it. However, I think that this body cleanser is great - It comes out of the tube as a neon pink colour, lathers up really nicely, and smells like they've shoved a bouquet of roses straight into the bottle! The scent is perfect for Valentine's Day, and it reminds me of spring/summer, which I love. Great product!

Sassoon Salon Professional Spray Shine - This product was a sample size, but a pretty decent-sized sample size, at that. After spraying a bit of this product into my dry hair, it instantly felt more refreshed, soft, and incredibly manageable. It smells absolutely lovely, like I've sprayed some light perfume in my hair, and it also added some nice shine to my hair, as well. The product contains  UV ray protection, which is perfect for my colour-treated hair.

MeMeMe Cosmetics FatCat Lengthening Mascara - This was another full-sized product, which I was proud of receiving. The product itself did exactly what it claimed to - It lengthened my lashes dramatically, and the colour was a really intense black, which is favourable to me in mascaras. However, it didn't add any extra 'oomph!' to my lashes, which, since they're a bit thin to begin with, made them look a bit sad. I like volume in my products, and I'm sad that this couldn't contribute to that. But a decent product, nonetheless!

Miners Cosmetics Lip Colour in 'Dreamer' - Another full-sized product! Really, Glossybox..you are definitely stepping up your game! This product was very moisturizing upon application and created a smooth finish. I wasn't too impressed with the colour, since I thought it was bit too shimmery for me, but other than that a decent product with good coverage that lasted a few hours without needing to reapply!

So there's my review for this month's 'Valentine's Day'-themed Glossybox! What did you think of this month's box, and did any of you receive anything different? Please leave some comments below, especially if you've also reviewed this month's box on your blog!

I'll be doing a Valentine's Day-inspired beauty post coming up this week, so keep your eyes peeled!

Blush and Brunch Blog - Beauty Giveaway!

I am constantly discovering new beauty and lifestyle blogs every day, as well as sifting through ones that I follow already, looking for more great tips and try's. As many of you know, I'm a huge skincare advocate, believing that yes, makeup is amazing and I don't think that I would ever leave the house without it - Seriously! - but to conquer the real issues with your skin, as well as preventing future damage and ensuring the longevity of your skin, great skincare is absolutely essential.

Blush and Brunch ( http://www.blushandbrunch.com/ ) is a beauty/lifestyle blog created by the lovely Rachel, an American who lives in Hong Kong. I found her blog a few months back whilst rummaging through other blogs, and I think it's safe to say that hers is one of my top go-to's. She, like me, is a huge fan of skincare, as well as a fan of organic products that work well and are good for you. Because she lives in Hong Kong, she has the many benefits of Asian skincare right at her doorstep - From sheet masks, to weird egg serums, to adorable packaging on makeup - I can definitely say for myself that I am incredibly jealous! She has recently hit 200 followers on her blog this past week and as a result is throwing an amazing giveaway of best-selling Asian skincare and beauty products, including the incredibly cute Tony Moly Bunny Gloss Bars, as well as Escargo Sheet Masks, which I've heard so many great things about (Despite their name)! It's definitely not a giveaway to miss, so don't miss your chance - The giveaway closes at 9 am GMT on 17th February, and is open to everyone internationally, as long as you are following her blog via Google Friend Connect. You can find the link to the giveaway here.

Good luck everyone! (:

The Body Shop - Seaweed Clarifying Toner

Last week, I was wandering around St. Pancras station after visiting the Ainhoa pop-up spa for their collaborative event with Birchbox UK for their London-based subscribers (You can see that post here.) As I was about to leave the station, I happened to pass The Body Shop, and thought - 'Why not?' I've always been a huge fan and supporter of The Body Shop and their products, since all of their products are fair-trade and made with 100% raw, all-natural ingredients. I will admit that sometimes I do find some of their products a bit more than I'd be likely to spend, including their Body Butter range - However, on days that I can afford to splurge on myself, they're definitely on my top list! But I suppose that's for another post, another time..

I went into the shop and was very kindly greeted by their staff, which I find a normal occurrence with The Body Shop, and yet another reason why I think they're great. I wandered round to check out their deals, as well as any new products I'd not heard of yet. As I was perusing their skincare range, I happened across their Seaweed collection - A range of products, including a cleanser, a wash, toner, exfoliator, moisturizer, a day cream, a night treatment, a pore perfector and a clay mask, all made with their key ingredient of Bladderwrack Seaweed, originating from the South-West coast of Ireland. Bladderwrack Seaweed sounds strange, but it actually carries many benefits for the skin including but not limited to eliminating dryness, cleansing the skin of unwanted toxins, and helping to prevent wrinkles. As the sales assistant was helping me to decide my purchase, I knew that something from this product range was going home with me that day.

Seaweed Clarifying Toner; £3 for 30ml, £8 for 200ml

I chose the Seaweed Clarifying Toner because (guiltily, I admit) I haven't used a toner in quite some time, despite my extensive skincare range at home. I was told by the lovely woman who gave me my fabulous 15-minute facial at Ainhoa that I really should use a toner because of the benefits it produces to my skin. A toner is meant to be used after cleansing the skin to remove excess cleanser, dirt, or other products from the skin (in other words, to thoroughly cleanse it) as well as refine and close pores, especially around the T-zone area of the face. I took this into consideration while deciding my purchase from The Body Shop.

Seaweed Clarifying Toner; £3 for 30ml, £8 for 200ml

I chose the 30ml bottle to test the product throughout the week on my skin to see how it reacted - You can never be too wary about products! - But can happily exclaim that I will definitely be re-visiting The Body Shop to buy the 200ml bottle! The 30ml bottle only costs £3, and if you choose to purchase the 200ml bottle, it's only £5 more at £8 for the bottle! After about a week, I've only gone through less than a third (1/3) of the 30ml bottle, so if you buy the bigger one, it will last you a long while if used correctly!

Have you tried any products from The Body Shop's skincare range? What are your thoughts?

Ainhoa - Birchbox Event

So last Wednesday I was invited to Birchbox UK's first event in partnership with Spanish skincare brand, Ainhoa. This event was part of the two events that week celebrating Birchbox UK's new makeover as a brand, and what better way to celebrate than to pamper their subscribers? I thought that it was a really great initiative on the company's part -  Ever since Joliebox has merged with Birchbox, I could feel a huge effort and brilliant turnaround to the brand, that has only made this beauty box company even better in competition with their rivals than before.

London-based subscribers were invited to Ainhoa's pop-up salon in St. Pancras Station. Upon arrival, I was greeted by some very lovely staff and champagne. After walking around and browsing the sleek product displays, I was invited in for a complimentary 15-minute express facial by one of Ainhoa's staff, who discussed in depth my skincare regime and any skin issues I may have had. She then thoroughly cleansed my face, applying an enzyme masque afterwards, for which I sat and relaxed. After about ten minutes, she lightly exfoliated away the remains of the masque, and followed with a toner, serum, eye gel, and moisturizer. The eye gel was one of my favourite products - It had little flecks of gold in it to make your eyes appear brighter! Definitely brilliant. After discussing what products were used, I was then given a complimentary full-sized product from Ainhoa's extensive skincare range, their Vitaminal Cleansing Milk, that was thought to be beneficial to my skincare regime.

Ainhoa Vitaminal Cleansing Milk, 200ml. Retail £22.50

After being blissfully pampered, I wandered about and found myself discussing beauty and skincare regimes with the Birchbox staff. They were absolutely lovely! It's always nice to discuss my obsessions of skincare with someone, since most of the time it just bores or disinterests people! But no, we spoke in depth about different cleansers, moisturizers, fad-products - anything and everything we've either tried or heard about. They then asked me what I thought about the January Birchbox, since this was their first box as the new brand. I discussed with them in honesty, telling them what I thought was great and suggestions on what I, as a subscriber, would either like to see or would be interesting. Also being a Glossybox subscriber, it was interesting to compare the two and not attack either brand.

All in all, it was a fantastic evening, complete with a goodybag of sample products from the brand. I definitely give Birchbox UK two thumbs up for a great first event. I look forward to many more in the near future!

Have you heard of Ainhoa before? What products would you try from the brand?

Ainhoa's website can be found here.