What to buy your boyfriend from Lush

Today is my boyfriends 21st birthday (happy bday Seany!) and amongst a few other things I bought him a few bits from Lush cosmetics. I try to encourage any one I can to buy lush so that I can be surrounded by yummy smelling people haha. Getting boys into lush is a difficult one though (i'm lucky, Sean is a lover of lush not a hater) so I carefeully selected all of these bits to make them 'boy friendly'. Here's what I picked:

Sean is a fan of Lush's mintly and lemony scents, he already has the 'Dirty' showergel, so I tried to stick to those smells in choosing the gifts :)

1. Ice and a slice- two soaps, Ice blue (mint scent) and Bohemian (lemon). Obviously these soaps are great for girls too but I think they are especially suited to boys....you can hardly imagine a boy rocking a floral scented soap can you?!

2. Dirty solid perfume- Also suitable for girls but me and the Lush lady agreed that this purfume smells much better on a man. If you've smelt the Dirty shower gel it is similar to that. I don't really know how else to describe it other than a yummy minty boyish smell.

3.Too Drunk- Another minty smelling one. I am a huge fan of this product myself. You just drop it in bottom of the shower while you are washing and let it work its magic. It releases smells that are a perfect hangover cure (very helpfull for uni students like my and Sean!)..and also a very good cure for those birthday hangovers.

4. Ickle baby bot ballistic- I chose this one for pretty obvious reasons...its blue and shaped like a robot! Also has a very nice relaxing lavender scent.

Any of you ladies have other halves into lush?
Rachy xxx

My Skincare Regime (update)

I've done a skincare post before but I think it was a budget one. All the products from this post are still fairly budget but maybe a few pounds more expensive but my skin is probably at it's best at the moment, even though I've been eating all the crap under the sun..so I think a product praise is in order.
You may or may not know that last week I had a horrible reaction on my face which turned to facial eczema so I basically had to stop using all of the skincare products I was using and get all new, sensitive skin ones. I also had to go to the doctor to get steroid cream to help healing and along with this the doctor and a pharmacist reccomended Aveeno cream (a cream I hadn't heard much about before) to use along side the steroid cream.
The Aveeno cream contains 'natural colloidal oatmeal' which the doctor talked about and is also good for dry, sensitive skin and eczema.
after a couple of days of using the Aveeno along with the steroid cream my skin had gone completely down and is now infact clearer and softer than it has been in a very long time (I have continued use of the Aveeno because I LOVE it)
Now I'm not sure how the Aveeno cream would work for oilier skins but I would say overall I have combination skin and the eczema outbreak was unexpected, and continuing use of the Aveeno isn't making my skin greasy atall, just soft.

If I do wake up and my forehead is a bit on the greasy side I will just give it a wipe over with my toner.

Anyways, enough rambling. Here's what I'm now using and will be using for a long time:

First is the cleanser and toner. Both Garnier soft essentials rose extract. Dry and sensitive.
I really like the Garnier Cleanser and toner. They are soothing on my skin and have a lovely rosey scent. Both 2 for £4 in Boots.

When I told the lady at Lush I had combination skin (sometimes oily but can get dry) They reccomended Fresh Pharmacy. I mainly use the garnier products to cleanse but I use this in the shower to wash my face and when my skin feels dirty to remove excess oils.

And now for the extra special products. Origins ginzing eyecream and Aveeno cream. (the Aveeno cream was about £6) I use these together day and night and they just make my skin lovely and soft and feel really luxurious. I know there is a bit of hype going around about the ginzing eye cream at the moment and now I know why. It is creamy, soothing and helps eye puffiness. I also know that people have been paying up to £25 for this but DO NOT do that, because the boots website are doing the full sized pot in a set with a free mini lipgloss and mascara for £12.50! Link below next photo.

http://www.boots.com/en/Origins-Good-To-Glow-Ginzing-Eye-Gift-Set-Boots-com-Exclusive_1124494/

The eye cream has a slight pearly tint to it which some people might not like but I think it blends in nicely and only makes it a better product.

And that was my currant skincare routine with all the products I am using at the moment. The reason I did this post is because I really am happy with how my skin is at the moment. I actually look forward to the end of the day, taking off my makeup and moisturising etc because I look forward to how smooth all of these products make my skin feel!

Rachy xxx

Haul time; Botanics, Bedhead, Maxfactor & lush

Ive been fairly busy storing up goods for a haul post in the last week or so, and now I have it all together I think it's time I did that post :)

-First of all are the Boots botanics products. I have wanted to try this range out for a while and what better time to try than when boots are doing the 3 for 2 offer across the store. The items I chose were the Pore perfecting day moisture lotion (as my pores have been playing up lately), the Superbalm (Because ive been getting a few tiny dry patches on my face too) and the organic lipbalm (cause I'm a sucker for a new lip balm).

Verdict: love the moisture lotion and the superbalm, but not keen at all on the lipbalm. It has bits in it , doesn't smell or taste nice and doesnt do much for my lips. I actually prefer to use the superbalm on my lips.

-I have also been searching High and low for some yummy smelling coloured hair shampoo now my GHD stuff is reaching its end (I am brunette at the moment but considering a change back to red), and bored with what boots had to offer I turned to the internet where I found a cheeky Bedhead discount website. I chose the Colour godess shampoo & conditioner for brunettes & reds.
website: http://www.shoprush.co.uk/product/TIGI-Bed-Head-Colour-Combat-Colour-Goddess-Shampoo/1318

Verdict: The smell is AMAZING! smells strongly of caramel/ chocolate...i may have even tasted it. Leaves my hair soft as expected but a little greasy...but I think that may be down to my poor diet/how I'm styling it at the moment.

Now for the makeup part of this haul. I have also been searching for a natural, light-medium wear foundation and after swatching a few of the higher end and drugstore ones I stumbled apon Maxfactor weightless foundation in 40 light ivory. Being a sucker for a free gift I took advantage of maxfactors spend £15 and get a free makeup gift deal. (the foundation was £9.99 and I bought the pretty pink eyeshadow trio with it) the gift came in a naff makeup bag but did contain the three minatures in the pic above, which isn't too bad,

Verdict:The feel of this foundation is pretty unique, it's really soft and I agree with the weightless description. The colour match for my skin is near perfect, which is hard to find as I am lighter than Mac's NW15. However, it did leave my skin a tad itchy. My skin is abit rubbish at the moment so I have discontinued use untill my skin clears up when I will do a propper review.

-And now for my favourite part of the haul! I was furious When lush discontinued the Sonic death monkey showergel so when I heard my Lush employee friend Kelsey http://glitterandgloss.blogspot.com/ was placing a retro order I had to get in on it. The parcel arrived today (there is nothing more exciting than opening a Lush package) and I was excited to see that Kelsey had thrown in a couple of treats, fizzbanger ballistic and Mask of Magnimity.

Verdict: Sonic death monkey remains a favourite Lush product of mine with is amazing terrys chocolate orange-esque scent. I would reccomend you buy it if it weren't so outrageously priced on the website :( as for the extras, they are right up my street! My skin was in need of a serious cleansing and I love the toffee apple scent of the ballistic.

Thanks Kelsey!

Rachy xxx

February Favourites

February is my favourite month anyway (apart from december!) because my birthday is in february, and you know what that means..lots nice prezzies and lots of stuff to try and review

So here are my favourite products from my favourite month:

-Soap and Glory: Righteous butter, Flake away, Hand food & clean on me shower gel.

-Superdrug vitamin E illuminating moisture cream.

I have always loved the smell of soap and glory products but have never owned any...untill my birthday! my housemates got me the three miniatures (butter, flake away & hand food) and Ive been using them daily and loving the smells and results. I purchased the showergel today for £5 something cause I want to smell like soap and glory allll the time!

I've talked about the superdrug moisturiser before and no doubt I will again. This is a repurchase as I ran out of the last one. Perfect moisturiser for a lovely smelling morning glow

- Lush American cream conditioner

This is not a recent favourite, I have loved this ever since I smelt it on my friend Kelsey's (http://glitterandgloss.blogspot.com/) hair in AS level psychology and couldn't stop sniffing her for the rest of the lesson! Over those years ive used all kinds of conditioners but this is always the one that I rely on when I want lovely smelling hair..and I always get smell compliments with this one.

From left to right: Mac MSF- soft and gentle, Mac powder blush- Style, Collection 2000 lasting perfection concealer- 1 fair, Natural collection lashlength mascara, Mac eyeshadow quad: shroom, all that glitters (sorry about the flash, woodwinked, twinks.

In the last couple of weeks I've had a lot of essays and work and my skin and eyes have been suffering from tiredness and soreness. Because of this in the last week I've been using as little product as possible. The products I have settled on for a simple, natural healthy look are the ones above. I love my new eyeshadow quad!!!

Rachy xxx

Super xmas haul/ 2010 faves

First of all I would like to wish you all a happy New Year! May it be filled with gorgeous makeup and beauty products.

And second of all I would like to appologise for being a lazy/distracted blogger over the Christmas period, I have had lots of posts in mind but either can't find my memory card or have been away or working. And this all stops now. I am going to fill the rest of my christmas holiday with lots of blogging to show off all my pretty new makeup and other beauty products.

As I said there was so much I wanted to write about but got distracted so this is going to be sort of a 2 in 1 blog. Firstly I am going to show you all my cosmetic-related christmas prezzies (which i should have done a week ago) and hauled items then i'll go onto a post inspired by my friend Kelsey's latest post...my 2010 favourites. Hope this is not too much to take in!

First of all here is the lovely Lush (& other things) hamper I found waiting for me xmas morning from santa/mummy

Amazing isn't it?!

Secondly Here are the makeup prezzies that were gifts from my boyfriend and dad:

From left to right: Mac prolong wear lipcrme- prolong, Mac pearlglide eyeliner-petrol blue, Mac lipglass- radiant dazzleglass, Mac dazzleglass- funtabulous, Mac mineral eyeshadow trios & duo- blue my mind, odd couple, style influencer, Mac blush- style, Mac studio fix fluid- NW15, Mac plush lash mascara, eyelash curlers, maybelline pure matte powder, Rimmel nail treat top coat and base coat, Rimmel soft kohl-white, Benefit all you need is gloss kit, Mac tartan tale brush kit

And here are the things I bought myself, most of them sale things but some just damn good deals!

from top/left to right:

-All Lush xmas bits were half price and although i clearly have enough, i couldnt resist these 3!, This pixi eyeshadow palette cost me £20 which i think is pretty good value, 3 makeup acadamy things, each item was only £1 and superdrug has a 3 for 2 offer across all cosmetics at the moment, the two pixi fairy dust's were only £1 each in the sale, And lastly a barry m blush 'cause i love the colour!

And these beauties have been my 2010 favourites:

From left to right (in no particular order):

1. Mac tartan tale lustre lipstick- cut a caper: love this colour, great for every day wear.
2. Mac mineralize skin finish- soft and gentle: I cannot praise this product enough, it gives a gorgeous glow and I will not stop reccomending it to people.
3. Maybelline mineral concealer- After years of searching I have settled on this concealer. Its the perfect colour for my skin, a nice formula and cheap
4. Mac venemous villains mineralize eyeshadow- she who dares: I was so excited when this first came out, because as you can see the colours are gorgeous and glittery. My justification for buying this is because I am a student (and you know all about the student nightlife) it will get a lot of wear on nights out, and that it has.
5. Benefit eyebrow pencil- medium: This is the first brow pencil Ive ever had but it works very well for me. The colour matches, it goes on nicely and stays and (i hope) looks good. The only downer to this is that ive been through so many of it in the year and at £14 it is a tad pricier than i would like
6. Mac eye kohl- smoulder. If you are going to have one black eyeliner-make it this one. It stays put and is perfect for smudging (again, good for smokey eyes on nights out)
7. My two Mac pearlglide eyeliners in Lord it up and Undercurrant- I love these to death. They are lovely and smooth going on and once set they stay very well. Not to mention the gorgeous colours.

Thanks for reading!

Rachy xxx