The Indigo Hours | Beauty & Lifestyle

Today we're onto the fourth post in my Christmas Gift Guides series; kids! Personally I've been buying for my step-kids, but you may be shopping for your own children, younger siblings, nieces and nephews, or even the children of friends. I think it can be quite hard to know what a child will like, particularly if you don't spend a lot of time with them, since their tastes and preferences can change almost overnight! That said, I think I've got quite a few fairly safe options on this list, so hopefully you'll find something to inspire you.
Christmas Gifts for Kids

1. Bluezoo Pink Cat & Dog Top Pinafore, Debenhams, £12.80-£13.602. Personalised Jigsaw, Photobox, from £9.993. The Top Gear Years, Waterstones, £5.594. Fuzzy Face Magnet Game, Dotcomgiftshop, £2.955. Mister Maker Craft Set, Amazon, £14.896. Traditional Wooden Skipping Rope, Dotcomgiftshop, £2.957. Shopping List Game, Amazon, £4.498. Children's Kitchen Utensils, Not on the High Street, £12.50

I'm very much the sort of person who goes gooey over baby clothes, and with friends who've had a beautiful baby girl quite recently, I couldn't resist buying her a little dress for Christmas. I adore the heart pockets on this pinafore dress! Jigsaws are always a good choice for little people, improving their fine motor skills and spatial awareness, and Photobox offer the option of printing your own photo onto one; you could get a family photo or a snap of your family pet printed for your little ones to enjoy putting back together. Teenagers can be even harder to buy for; books, I say. They may think they don't like reading, but in my experience it's just a case of finding a book that interests them - even if it is about Top Gear... Magnets seem to be a source of endless fascination on our house, so this Fuzzy Face game should provide a fair amount of entertainment, whilst also teaching them about science! Craft sets are a great way to interact with kids and let them be creative, what could possibly be more fun than gluing everything together!? This sort of craft set is really great for letting their imaginations run wild - although I'd also purchase a messy mat and some aprons to go with! Perfect for slightly older kids, a skipping rope teaches co-ordination skills and helps them burn off energy - I'm a proponent of anything that keeps them active and helps them sleep. I'm a massive lover of educational toys and games, and actually bought this shopping list game for our littlest for her birthday at the start of the month; it's been a huge hit and is great for working on their memory and spatial awareness, as well as the idea of "taking turns" - and only buying what's on the list while shopping! Finally, I think it's really important to teach kids from an early age about food - where it comes from, what goes into it, and so on. The only way children can grow up with an understanding of a healthy balanced diet is if it's taught to them, and letting them get involved in the kitchen is the perfect way - our little ones love to help out with "mixing" and stirring, so these child-sized utensils would be ideal. They're always very pleased when they get to eat the end results - "We helped with the Yorkshire puddings, didn't we, Jess?"

Are there any children you're buying for this year? What sort of gifts have you chosen? I'd love to know if you found my suggestions helpful!

My December advertiser is the beautiful Sarah from Small'N'Hot, I'd love for you to pay her a visit!

Recently, I purchased Witch's Blemish Gel as an alternative to their Blemish Stick, which has over the years become a staple in my skincare routine. This attracted me as you get 30ml of liquid product, as opposed to 10g in the stick version, which never seems to last me very long. So, how have I been getting on?
Review Witch Blemish Gel Title

Within the outer cardboard packaging, the Blemish Gel is packaged in a turquoise squeezy tube with a flip cap, which makes dispensing product very easy. According to the label, "For more than 40 years, Witch has used nature's clever ingredient Witch Hazel. It naturally cleanses, tones and soothes, leaving your skin perfectly balanced, soft and healthy-looking. That is why we use it in all our products. Trust nature, trust Witch. Witch Blemish Gel instantly absorbs deep into your pores, cooling your skin and dissolving excess oils. Deep cleanses by tackling the source of blemishes. Great for all skin types but especially oily/combination skin. As with all skincare products use with caution on sensitive skin."
Witch Blemish Gel Review

I've been applying this after cleansing each evening, before bed. The gel absorbs easily into the skin and doesn't leave behind any noticeable reside or sticky feeling, so should be fine to wear under make-up as well. I've been a bit poorly recently and, along with working nights at work, my poor skin has been a bit stressed and showing up a few more blemishes. However, I have found that the Witch Blemish Gel works really well to dry any spots out - mostly overnight, although the bigger beasts have taken a couple of days.
Review Witch Blemish Gel

For me, this works even better than the Blemish Stick and I'll probably be sticking with the Gel in future! Obviously if you do have sensitive skin then, as stated, you should be careful using this, but otherwise I think it's a lovely product which does exactly what it claims.
Witch Blemish Gel Ingredients

[Ingredients: Aqua, Alcohol Denat, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Bark/Twig Extract,

Propylene Glycol, Alcohol, Polysorbate-20, Carbomer, Triethanolamine,

Panthenol, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, Hyaluronic Acid, Citronellol, Geraniol,

Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool, CI 42090.]

Generally speaking, I'm not a fan of alcohol in skincare products, but with spot treatments it can often be ideal to dry the blemish out; aside from the alcohol, there's nothing on this list that concerns me aside from the Parfum, which may irritate sensitive skins.
This is definitely a product I'd recommend if your skin is prone to blemishes, and one which will become a permanent addition to my skincare routine. Witch Blemish Gel has an RRP of £3.29 for 35ml of product, and is available from Boots, amongst other retailers.
Have you tried Witch's Blemish Gel? What's your swear-by blemish treatment product?

xo
My December advertiser is the beautiful Sarah from Small'N'Hot, I'd love for you to pay her a visit!

First up - sorry for my extended absence! Some of you will know I was working night shifts in the run up to Christmas and that, along with being ill, basically ate up all my time so blogging unfortunately had to take a back seat. Things may still be a little hectic into the New Year as I'll hopefully be starting my new job on the 6th, but theoretically speaking should settle down after that. I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas - did you get up to anything exciting?
Alright, down to business: having missed out on a Secret Santa last year due to budget issues, I was super keen to get involved so when I read that Vicki from A Life of Geekery was organising one, I was quick to sign up. With a budget of £15, we were each given a blogger to shop for, although I won't give away the surprise as to who I bought for just yet - I'll update with a link when she posts about it! Today I'm sharing the beautiful gift which Raphaëlle sent me. It was so beautifully wrapped but I forgot to take a photo of it before unwrapping - though I did Instagram it here when I received it.
Bloggers Secret Santa 2013

Raphaëlle sent me Benefit Prrrowl, which is a duo consisting of an iridescent mascara overcoat and a shimmery pink lipgloss, along with a beautiful baby blue anchor necklace from Tatty Devine - I love them both and will definitely be wearing the necklace a lot come Spring - once you can see jewellery for hoodies and scarves, that is! Thank you so much, Raphaëlle, for the beautiful gifts.
Did you take part in a Secret Santa this year? What did you receive? What's the best Secret Santa gift you've ever got (or given!)?

xo
My December advertiser is the beautiful Sarah from Small'N'Hot, I'd love for you to pay her a visit!

It's hard to believe we've finished 2013 already, and tomorrow we'll be heading into the New Year - is it just me, or has this year flown!? December in particular has gone really quickly for me, although it always does with being so busy. I've sadly not managed to blog as much as I'd like due to other commitments but it's still been a pretty good month for me, and I've also finished up a fair few products! Read on to see my thoughts on this bunch of empty bottles. December Empties 2

W7 HD Foundation I'm so sad to have finished this foundation! I seem to have gone through it really quickly but it has lasted a good couple of months and I've been wearing it almost every day as I love it so much! The shade matches my skin perfectly, it blends well and gives a great coverage, and lasts reasonably well on my oily skin - everything I look for in foundation, for a bargain price.Repurchase? Yes!!!

Neal's Yard Bee Lovely to Your Hands Hand Cream This was a magazine freebie a few months ago which I've really enjoyed using; it hydrates really nicely and has a gorgeous citrus scent which makes it a pleasure to use. It does leave my hands feeling a little greasy and I was really annoyed by the way the writing rubbed off the packaging after a few weeks; this tended to stick to my freshly-hand-creamed hands and leave me covered in little black and blue bits, which I didn't appreciate. Overall, though, this was lovely.

Repurchase? Probably not as it's outside my budget at the moment, and I do prefer L'Occitane if I was to buy something in a similar price range.

Batiste Tropical Dry Shampoo Biiiig can - they work out cheaper when the smaller cans aren't on offer, and they're half price at Superdrug at the moment so I've stocked up! I couldn't be without my Batiste, my hair would need washing daily otherwise, so this is an absolute essential for me and I love the Tropical scent.

Repurchase? Already have.

Macadamia Deep Repair Mask This tub has lasted me around a year, although admittedly I have alternated it with other hair masks. Nonetheless, a little goes a long way so whilst it seems expensive, you do get fairly good value for money. It also does a great job of really intensively conditioning my hair, leaving it soft, smooth and shiny.

Repurchase? Maybe, once I've finished up some other hair masks.

Naked Coco de Mer Body Butter I really love this body butter, the scent isn't my favourite but for moisturisation it's amazing, particularly in the Winter. I actually purchased a tub of this for my Nan for Christmas, along with a little bundle of other Naked goodies, as she suffers with eczema as badly as I do and I've found this perfect for rehydrating any dry and sore bits. I also love that you get 300ml which is a good-sized tub, and it's less than half the price of The Body Shop's body butters (which I also love!)

Repurchase? Yes!

Naked Volume Body Building ShampooMy staple shampoo from Naked, this is perfect for my thick but fine hair which tends to go oily quite quickly - it smells lovely and leaves my hair feeling clean, and is pretty reasonably priced as well. This must be about my sixth bottle of it!
Repurchase? Already have, although I'm currently trialling Naked's Brunette Radiance range - expect a review post on that very soon!
OPI Nail Envy I was amazed at the difference this little beauty made to my nails in terms of peeling and flaking, and it's also turned out to be a pretty good base coat, so I was pretty sad to see the end of it. I put off ordering a new bottle since it's quite pricey, but my nails went downhill fast without it, so I ended up reordering from the same Amazon seller I got my original bottle from. This really is a game changer for me and I won't let myself run out again!
Repurchase? Yes!!
Lush Bubblegum Lip Scrub It seems to have taken me absolutely ages to finish off the last little bit of this, but the jar is finally empty - I really enjoyed using this because of the lovely bubblegum flavour, and found it effective for exfoliating my lips.
Repurchase? Maybe, although I did pick up the Santa's Lip Scrub when it was half price at Lush in the sales, so not for a while!
Witch Blemish Stick This featured in my Evening Skincare Routine post earlier in the year and is an essential for me, helping to treat spots and calm down my temperamental skin. However, I recently purchased the Gel rather than the stick and have to say I love the gel even more, so this may be the last time the stick features in my Empties posts!
Repurchase? Probably not, as I prefer the gel version.
Naked Silky Smooth Starflower Body Wash Another product which seems to feature almost monthly in these posts; I love the spicy cinnamon-y scent and the fact that this body wash doesn't upset my sensitive skin! It's also perfect for bubble bath for the little ones, meaning I can bath my stepdaughters without my hands turning into a red flaky mess - bonus!
Repurchase? Already have - in fact I stocked up as it's currently half price at Boots!
So, those are my December Empties! Have you posted an Empties post this month? Have you tried any of these products?

xo
My December advertiser is the beautiful Sarah from Small'N'Hot, I'd love for you to pay her a visit!

Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a lovely New Year's Eve (I spent the evening eating pizza and watching Salad Fingers with my boyfriend before going to bed at 9pm which was pretty much perfect..) and has made it safely into 2014 - how weird is that!? I'm so excited for the new year to come and feel like it's going to be a big one for me.
Well, I guess this is a very predictable post to be writing on the 1st of January, but I feel like it's an important one for me to write so here it is! 2013 has been a funny old year for me; I graduated with an MSc and got my first "proper" job - although it is in retail and it's only part-time, and in fact it finishes on Saturday. I've been thrown head-first into the real world and I'm not altogether sure I like it! I'm definitely cut out for being a student, where it is acceptable to spend your days eating toast in your onesie and reading about brains. However, it is nice to have a little bit more money coming in each month and it was wonderful to be able to afford to buy the kids some decent gifts this Christmas - we didn't go overboard but there was a bit less pressure on us than there was last year when we were living on my boyfriend's wages alone.
In 2014, I'm starting a new job (as soon as I can get my references sorted!) working with dementia patients - I have to admit to being a little uncertain about it, but I know it will be good experience for what I want to do in the long term and it pays a bit better than my current (temporary) job, too. We'll see how it goes, I may end up loving it, but again it's only part-time so it will give me plenty of time to look around for something more "me".
And of course, it wouldn't be New Year without Resolutions; generally, I'm the person saying that my New Year's Resolution is to not make any New Year's Resolutions, but this year I've actually given the matter some thought and there are a couple of things I want to work on.
New Year's Resolutions 2014

1. I want to consciously try to make healthier choices. I'm lucky (in a manner of speaking) that my weight is pretty much unaffected by what I eat, and I've never really struggled with my body image. However, over the last few months I've found myself slipping into unhealthy habits where I've not been eating properly and haven't really been exercising, either. I know I feel better when I look after myself so I'm making a conscious decision to do so, starting today - I'm dragging my boyfriend out for a run when he gets home from work, though he doesn't know it yet... I'll be slow, I probably won't manage a mile, and I won't enjoy it, but I know I have to start somewhere. I used to run quite regularly and grew to really love it, and I want to get that back.
2. Sit down with my boyfriend and go through our finances - I want to work out how much we have coming in per month, how much we're spending, and how much we can reasonably afford to save - then start doing it. I'm going to set up a standing order to a savings account and put a little away each month. There're so many things I want to be able to do, not least buy our own home and have children, and it's important to me that we can afford to do so. So 2014 will be the year we start saving!
3. Keep working on my CV and looking for my dream job. I'm not yet sure what my dream job is, exactly, but I know it's going to be working with brain injury, either patient-centred or in research. I've been doing some voluntary work with individuals with brain injury, and my new job will also add to my CV, but I want to keep trying to make it stronger and applying for jobs in the field.
4. Work on my blog - I was really happy mid-year with where my blog was heading, but since starting working and especially towards the end of the year I feel like I've stagnated a little. I really love blogging and have never kept up a hobby this long before (it's two and half years since I started Just Jess!) so I want to work on making this little space into something I'm proud of again. I'd like to improve my content, have a greater range of features and topics, and work on interacting more with other bloggers as the community aspect is one of my favourite parts of blogging!
So, that's what I'll be working on in 2014 - have you made any New Year's Resolutions? I'd love to read about them so please leave me a link if you've done a similar post! All that remains is for me to wish you all a very happy 2014 - may it bring you only good things. Thank you all for sticking with my all this time, it means a lot, and I hope you'll stay with me into the new year as I'm excited about all the new things to come.

xo
My Featured Blogger this month is the lovely Anna from AnnieMAC; hop on over to her blog for tutorials, reviews and more!

This post is a little late coming, unfortunately, due to the unexpectedly busy end to December - Sarah was my Featured Advertiser throughout the month of December and you may have noticed her blog button in my sidebar, or her links in my posts. I hope you popped over to check out her blog but if not, today I'm going to introduce you properly and share a few of my favourite of her recent posts!

Sarah blogs about a lovely mix of beauty, fashion, food and events she's attended - her writing is easy to read and her photos are beautiful. Below I've shared some photos from her recent posts, all of which should link through to the post if you click on them!

Christmas Outfit

Thermage Face Lifting at iHeal Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur

Bold Red Pumps OOTD

Laura Mercier Spring Renaissance Collection LaunchSo I hope you've enjoyed hearing a little more about Sarah, and that you'll pop over to have a read and say hello! Thank you to Sarah for advertising with me in December. If you're interested in advertising with Just Jess, you can find out more here, or drop me an email to discuss your needs!
xo

I've previously reviewed Naked's Shampoo & Conditioner Duos for Long Hair and Fine/Limp Hair, so when the lovely Sophie got in touch to ask if I'd be interested in trying the new Naked Brunette Radiance range, specifically designed with us brown-haired ladies in mind, I was thrilled to have the opportunity!
Naked Brunette Radiance Shampoo & Conditioner

Naked Brunette Radiance Shampoo & Conditioner

"We think Naked Brunette Radiance Shampoo* is a tiny bit like the coffee shop barista delivering your morning hit of glossy mocha or rich espresso, except this buzz in a bottle will deliver all that to your hair. We use elderberry and an extra shot of sage to help deep, chocolatey, lustrous tones. As your hair deserves the kindest treatment of all, we only use mild, plant-based ingredients; so don't be bitter and ground down by lukewarm tresses!"
"To use: Apply to wet hair, adding plenty of water for a feather-soft lather. Rinse really well and repeat if necessary (you will achieve a better foam second time around). For best results finish with Naked Brunette Radiance Conditioner."
Naked Brunette Radiance Shmpoo

The shampoo is quite a thick, slightly orange-coloured gel with a slight pleasant scent although nothing so gorgeous as the other shampoos I've tried from Naked; that's not a huge matter of concern to me as I'm more interested in how it works and whether it irritates my skin, but worth bearing in mind if you want your shampoo to smell really good. I've found this to lather a lot better than other SLS-free shampoos, working easily through my hair. Because of this, I've found I've been using less product per wash, although I do always shampoo twice as suggested. Whilst my hair feels soft, clean and refreshed after using the Brunette Radiance Shampoo, I think it starts to look dirty and greasy quite quickly as compared to other shampoos. But what about the radiance claims? I can't say I've noticed a huge amount of difference in all honesty, but I feel like my hair is slightly softer and glossier after a month or so of using this, which of course makes my colour look nicer; I no longer dye my hair so this is a nice little bonus from my shampoo!
"We think Naked Brunette Radiance Conditioner* is a tiny bit like the coffee shop barista delivering your morning hit of glossy mocha or rich espresso, except this treat in a tube will deliver all that to your hair. With elderberry and an extra shot of sage, your hair is sure to be smoothed, tamed and ready to impress. As your hair deserves the kindest treatment of all, we only use mild, plant-based ingredients; so don't be bitter and ground down by lukewarm tresses!"
"To use: After washing, squeeze out excess water. Massage evenly through hair for a minute or two, then rinse away. Gently combing through will help tackle any tangles before rinsing off. For best results, start with Naked Brunette Radiance Shampoo."
Naked Brunette Radiance Conditioner

The conditioner is a medium-thick off-white cream which shares a soft scent with the shampoo, again it's not a strong fragrance at all. It's easy to work through the ends of my hair and I feel like it absorbs well, leaving my hair well-hydrated, soft and easy to work with. I couldn't say how the products would perform individually as I've used them as a duo but together, these have done a nice job for me of leaving my hair soft and glossy which in turn helps my colour look nicer. This set would be perfect for a normal scalp but with my oily scalp, I think in future I'd alternate using this with my usual Naked Volume for Fine & Limp hair set so as to get the best of both worlds.
Naked Shampoo & Conditioner Brunette Radiance

Naked Shampoo & Conditioner Brunette Radiance

All in all, this is a nice shampoo/conditioner pair and, whilst I wouldn't say for sure that it's given my hair 'brunette radiance', it certainly hasn't done any harm! The shampoo is easy to work with, especially for an SLS-free product, and the conditioner leaves my hair smooth and tangle-free. I'd definitely recommend these products to brunette ladies even if just to see how you get on. Naked's Brunette Radiance range is available from Boots or direct from Naked, with an RRP of £3.99 each for 250ml of product (though Boots charge £4.19).
Have you tried Naked's Brunette Radiance range? What were your thoughts? Do you use hair care specifically targetted at your colour?

xo
[Please note these products were provided as a PR sample in return for an honest review - as always, all thoughts and opinions are completely my own!]
My Featured Blogger this month is the lovely Anna from AnnieMAC; hop on over to her blog for tutorials, reviews and more!

This beautiful polish is the first to grace my nails in 2014! Revlon's 'Mint Fizz' is a polish I received as part of a giveaway prize from the lovely Lauren, which I'm yet to post about in full, but thought I'd share as I've really enjoyed wearing it. This isn't the colour I'd expect from a polish named 'Mint Fizz' but actually, once it's on my nails, it does remind me of mint somehow. This applied smoothly and evenly and dried fairly quickly to a smooth, glossy finish; the colour is a bright, almost neon-turquoise blue with flakie glitter, which really is gorgeous to look at - it's quite a lot brighter than it appears in my photos. I love blue on my nails but don't wear it nearly as often as I should; I often find myself over-looking it in favour of purples and pinks. The photos below show two coats of 'Mint Fizz' over my beloved, newly-repurchased Nail Envy. There is a little tip-wear in these photos which disappoints me as I'd had the polish on less than 24 hours before taking them; then again, I had done a shift at work in that time which is always tough on my polish, and I hadn't used a top-coat, so it's my own fault really! I'd also like to point out that the polish is nowhere near as sheer in real life as it looks in these photos; I have no idea why it looks that way, but it just would not photograph accurately!
NOTD Revlon Mint Fizz

You may also be able to see on the bottle there's a label which claims, 'Scented when dry'. I was intrigued by this and although there is the usual nail polish scent whilst applying this, it does indeed dry to have a scent, a lovely fresh minty fragrance which lasted around a day, and is obviously where the shade name comes from.
All in all, this is a lovely little polish which I think will be beautiful year round (I can see me wearing it on my toes a lot come summer!) and I'm very glad to be adding it to my collection - thank you Lauren!
You can purchase Revlon's 'Mint Fizz' from Superdrug and other retailers with an RRP of £6.49 for 14.7ml of product. Have you tried any of Revlon's scented polishes? What were your thoughts? What do you think of this shade?

xo
My Featured Blogger this month is the lovely Anna from AnnieMAC; hop on over to her blog for tutorials, reviews and more!

I intended to post this little 2013 Favourites series at the end of last month but as I've mentioned countless times, I ended up not blogging for over week due to one thing and another, so unfortunately I never quite got round to it. Don't panic, though; I'm still going to be posting about the products which have made 2013 for me, starting today with make-up products.
2013 Makeup Favourites 1

I've included two nail polishes here as I didn't want to dedicate a whole post to nail polish - I'd never narrow it down! The two I've chosen are 'Greenberry' from Barry M's Gelly Hi-Shine range, and 'Amethyst' from Models Own's Velvet Goth Collection, both of which have been frequent appearances on my nails over the course of the year. W7's HD Foundation* has probably been the best make-up discovery of the year for me; it's been a long time since I've finished a foundation and immediately re-purchased it, but this is pretty much perfect in terms of shade, coverage, finish and longevity - and an absolute bargain at £3.99! (Yes this is my empty bottle, and yes I did save it after doing my December Empties post for this purpose..) I received Revlon's Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in the shade 'Honey' from my swap with Amiiee in the summer and it has been a go-to lip product for me ever since; it's just such a flattering and wearable shade. Soap & Glory's Kick Ass Concealer was another great find for me, offering two shades plus a setting powder in one convenient package, this helps me hide a multitude of sins.
2013 Makeup Favourites 2

Urban Decay's Naked 2 Palette wasn't a new find for me but one I rediscovered my love for; particularly since starting working, it's been my go-to palette for easy, wearable daytime eye make-up. The shades are so pigmented and easy to work with, which is perfect for those early starts! Writing this post, I've realised I've never actually blogged about this palette, which is shocking, although on reflection I probably don't have anything to say that you haven't heard before... MAC's Stereo Rose was my first proper MAC purchase and one I'm seriously glad I made; this has easily been my most-worn blusher of 2013 as it's so wearable and goes with literally everything. It's beautiful and I love it! Another blusher I've been wearing a lot this year is Nars' Douceur, which I was lucky enough to win in a giveaway; this is my choice for a more subtle look as it's much more toned-down and less shimmery than Stereo Rose, whilst still being a gorgeous shade. Collection's Loose Powder isn't a very interesting product but it is an absolute essential for me and my oily skin; I couldn't be without it, I've worn it every day I've worn make-up, and it has definitely earned its place within this list. Finally, another product I use daily; MUA's Pro Brow Kit is perfect for filling in my brows and setting them in one handy, budget-friendly set, and although the included brush fell apart quite quickly, I manage just fine with a regular eyeliner brush.
So, they're my ten favourite make-up products of 2013; did any of these make your list this year? If you've done a similar post, I'd love to see!

xo
My Featured Blogger this month is the lovely Anna from AnnieMAC; hop on over to her blog for tutorials, reviews and more!

Yesterday I posted my favourite make-up products from 2013; today, I'm moving onto the skincare and body products which have really stood out to me over the year.
2013 Skincare Favourites 1

Una Brennan's Super Facialist Vitamin C+ Brighten Skin Renew Cleansing Oil not only has a ridiculously long name, it also smells beautiful and does a wonderful job of quickly and easily melting away my make-up, leaving my skin soft and clean. For me, this is like a cleansing balm in liquid form, making it super-easy to remove. Vichy Normaderm 3-in-1 Cleanser, Scrub and Mask has been another product which leaves my skin soft and clean, working really nicely to remove all traces of make-up along with dead skin cells. This is a little messier so I generally only use it when I'll be showering straight afterwards. I especially love that this is such a versatile product! Witch Blemish Gel has been a fairly recent addition to my skincare routine, replacing the Blemish Stick which I've used for years, but I feel in this format the product is better value and works ever better to treat unsightly blemishes.Laidbare Working 9 to 5 Anti-Aging Hydration Cream was a purchase in the sales last year and has actually turned out to be a really lovely day cream for me, providing hydration whilst being light enough not to make my skin so oily that make-up slides off, which is a real concern for me. Aromatherapy Associates Hydrating Rose Face Mask was not a product I was expecting to love, aimed as it is at dry skin, but it is one I've found myself really enjoying using as it works wonders at deeply hydrating even my excessively oily skin, without feeling sticky or greasy. Though expensive, it's beautiful to use and I'd say ideal for all skin types.
2013 Skincare Favourites 2

Another Laidbare Product I've really enjoyed using has been the For Richer, For Porer Facial Masque which has a lovely liquorice scent and works really well to clear out and reduce the size of my pores. Possibly the most important body care discovery of the year for me has been Naked's Soft Touch Starflower Body Wash, which smells incredible and doesn't contain SLS. Since switching to using this in place of other shower gels and bubble baths, my eczema has almost completely vanished, which has made a massive difference to my life. I wouldn't be without this now! Another product which I've been loving for helping out my eczema is The Body Shop's Body Butters; I've stocked up on these recently, but their Ginger Sparkle Body Butter, a limited edition scent for Christmas, is definitely up their with my favourites. The tiny cute dinky little bottle of Yves Rocher So Elixir Purple was a sample I received in a Glossybox which I've absolutely adored; I've been trying to use it sparingly but I have almost finished it now, and will almost definitely be purchasing a full bottle of this once it's gone. Finally, and I'm aware this product doesn't really fit with the rest of this list, but I wasn't sure where to include it as it's not really make-up either; OPI's Nail Envy has worked absolute miracles in stopping my nails from splitting and peeling, which was something I'd been really struggling with prior to buying it. Again, for me this makes such a massive difference that I can't see myself stopping using it anytime soon.
So there you have my top ten skincare and body products of 2013; are any of these products favourites of yours? Are there any you're dying to try? What's your favourite product from last year?

xo
My Featured Blogger this month is the lovely Anna from AnnieMAC; hop on over to her blog for tutorials, reviews and more!

This is a more unusual post for Just Jess, but one I really wanted to include in my 2013 Favourites series as I've really fallen back in love with reading over the last year or so, since buying my Kindle. I still prefer the feel of a "real book" but having my Kindle is so convenient and has definitely contributed to how much I've read in the last few months as it's just so easy to take anywhere and I can have three or four books on the go at once, and be able to choose which one I fancy reading at any given time. So, in no particular order, here are a few of my favourite books of the last year.
2013 Favourite Books

A Casual Vacancy (J. K. Rowling) I put off reading this for so long because I love Harry Potter so much that I was scared this just wouldn't live up to my expectations. I eventually made myself start it after reading Jennie's review and although it took me a couple of chapters to get into it, I ended up loving it - so much so that I even bought a copy for my Mum for her birthday. I love the way that, in typical Rowling style, you get to know the characters and their relationships so well that you almost feel that you know them yourself. I also really enjoyed the subject matter she chose to write about, I found it so interesting and thought-provoking. Definitely a recommended read.
Twenties Girl (Sophie Kinsella) I've previously read a couple of Sophie Kinsella's books and, whilst I've enjoyed them, I wouldn't say I've loved them. Twenties Girl, however, was one of those books that had me almost running home from work to get back to it as I enjoyed it so much; again, I really empathised with the characters and felt like I really got to know them over the course of the story.
Our Story (McFly) As a dedicated McFly fan (some would say obsessed..) I was gifted three copies of this book last Christmas - I only read one, but I absolutely adored it. I laughed and cried and thoroughly enjoyed it from beginning to end. It's so easy to forget that you never see everything about a celebrity, even when you love them as much as I love McFly, so to read this incredibly open and personal story was amazing and felt almost invasive in its intimacy. I'd definitely recommend this if you like McFly or even if you don't (but I would say that, wouldn't I!?)
Gone Girl (Gillian Flynn) This was another book I purchased on my Kindle after reading a review by Jennie, and although I loved the story and the way it was written, I did find the ending incredibly disappointing - if you've read the book, you'll probably know what I mean. I found this a really interesting exploration of the way people present themselves and how you can ultimately never truly know another person and I did find that it really made me think.
January First (Michael Schofield) I think this book was an Amazon recommendation which I downloaded and proceeded to absolutely devour; the true story of Schofield's daughter, January, this was fascinating and heart-breaking in equal measure. The book tells the tale of the Schofields' battle to have their daughter diagnosed with schizophrenia, and the impact it had on their family life. I know that it's partially the psychologist in me that meant I enjoyed this so much, but then again, I think it's a really important book as mental health issues are still so poorly understood; I'd love for everyone I know to read this.
Gingerbread Man (Maggie Shayne) I've always been partial to a good murder mystery, and this one was unusual in that it had a sort-of happy ending which I have to admit I didn't see coming until we found out who the killer was - this was a really tense, well-written read which I thoroughly enjoyed and I'll be looking for more of Shayne's work in the future.
The Storyteller (Jodi Picoult) I really enjoy Picoult's work and have since I first read My Sister's Keeper when I was around 14; I've always liked things that make you think and lead you to question your beliefs and opinions. I found the subject matter of The Storyteller really fascinating and found that I learnt a lot as well as enjoying the story and seeing how it unfolded. The story switched between present-day America and WW2-era Europe, which I thought was a really interesting way to narrate the story and worked well. I know some people aren't keen on Picoult and if that's you, I'd recommend this book as it is quite different to her usual style.
Brain On Fire: My Month of Madness (Susannah Cahalan) Another one that was mostly for my inner psychologist; this chronicles the illness of the author, a journalist, as a rare autoimmune disease attacked her brain causing psychotic symptoms which saw her confined to a psychiatric ward. I found this an immensely interesting read and, as always, the fact that it's a true story made it even more so.
The Kite Runner (Khaled Hosseini) It seems this was compulsory reading in secondary school for most of my friends who are my age, but I never read it at school and have somehow passed it by ever since; I think it was recommended to me by one such friend who thought I'd enjoy it and indeed, I did. Again, it's a story that makes you think and one I found to be a fascinating, though in some ways harrowing, read.
The Night Rainbow (Claire King) Another Amazon recommendation as I recall, The Night Rainbow was written from the perspective of five-and-a-half-year-old Pea, and narrates the story of her and her four-year-old sister Margot's summer. This was another story which made me think, addressing important issues such as grief and community responsibility, but through the innocent eyes of a child. I found it a really enjoyable read and I really didn't see the twist at the end coming!
So, those are my top ten books from the last year; if you've enjoyed this post, please feel free to check out my other 2013 Favourites posts - Make-Up and Skincare & Body Products.
What have been your favourite books this year? Are you a big reader? Have you got any recommendations for me?

xo
My Featured Blogger this month is the lovely Anna from AnnieMAC; hop on over to her blog for tutorials, reviews and more!

I was sent W7's Prime Magic Anti-Dull Skin Balancing Primer* to try out, by the lovely people at Xtras. A bright purple in the tube, this claims to brighten the skin and provide a flawless base for your make-up. I've been using it for a couple of months, now, so read on to find out what I think of the product!
W7 Anti-Dull Skin Primer

"Apply face primer before foundation for a smooth and flawless complexion. Add a healthy glow to your complexion, with this outstanding anti-dull skin-balancing primer." I apply this after moisturising in the morning, and tend to wait a minute before applying foundation to allow the primer time to dry. Although it's a pretty scary colour in the tube, and indeed once squeezed out, it isn't noticeable once rubbed into the skin; it simply melts into the skin, leaving a slightly mattified finish and a brighter complexion. For me, this does indeed brighten the skin as it claims to do; although oily, my skin can tend towards looking quite dull but this primer really helps with that. Foundation applies beautifully over it, not sinking into my pores or clinging to dry patches; I've also found that this primer does a reasonable job of keeping my make-up in place, which is an added bonus as this isn't a claim it makes. Although I do still find I get a shine to my face after a few hours, my make-up no longer seems to slide off my face in quite the same way as it does without primer.
W7 Prime Magic Anti-Dull Skin Primer Review

W7 Prime Magic Anti-Dull Skin Primer Review

Below, I've applied the primer on one side of my face only - on the right-hand side of the photos, you can see how my face looks brighter and my skin slightly more matte than the left, even before I've applied my foundation. I feel like the effect is reduced once I've applied the rest of my make-up, but still noticeable to me. Please ignore my vacant expression and freshly-washed hair... W7 Primer

[Other products used: W7 HD Foundation in 'Buff'; Soap & Glory Kick-Ass Concealer in 'Light';Collection Loose Powder in 'Barely There'; NARS Blusher in 'Deep Throat';No7 Stay Perfect Eyeshadow in 'Tender'; MUA Pro Brow Palette;Collection Longer Lash Lengthening Mascara in 'Ultra Black'] FOTD

[Ingredients: Dimethicone/Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cyclopentasiloxane,

Silica, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phenoxyethanol.

May Contain: CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 77288 (Chromium Oxide

Green), CI 77491 (Iron Oxide Yellow), CI 77491 (Iron Oxide Red),

CI 77742 (Manganese Violet), CI 75470 (Carmine Al Lake),

CI 77499 (Iron Oxide Black).]
W7 Prime Magic Review Anti-Dull Skin

This is a silicon-based primer which explains the smooth velvety effect it lends to the skin, but may cause problems for some as silicon can block the pores; therefore it's very important to make sure you're cleansing thoroughly if using products which contain silicon. The other ingredients are mostly colour which are what provide the brightening effect, so all in all it's actually not a bad ingredients list, especially given the price point of the product.

I've been really pleasantly surprised by this product, finding that it does exactly what it claims in brightening the face and banishing dull skin. Make-up applies well over it and it also adds to the longevity of my other make-up. At under a fiver for a tube, it's definitely worth a try if you're looking for something to brighten up your skin and help your make-up apply more smoothly.

W7 Prime Magic Anti-Dull Skin Balancing Primer is available from Xtras, priced at £3.99 for 30ml.

Have you ever tried a purple primer? What does a primer have to do for you - are you looking for colour-correction, mattifying, or something else? Do you have a favourite primer?

xo
[Please note this product was sent for consideration for the purposes of this review; as always, all thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.]
My Featured Blogger this month is the lovely Anna from AnnieMAC; hop on over to her blog for tutorials, reviews and more!

I've not done a post about what I received for Christmas this year - mainly because, although I love having a nosey at other people's posts, I didn't receive much that I think other people would find interesting! We're talking a slow cooker, a cow-print onesie, a lot of knickers and more chocolate than you can shake a stick at.. What I am sharing, however, is what I've picked up in the sales, and what I've treated myself to with the little bit of Christmas money I was lucky enough to receive. Since I ended up working Boxing Day, I couldn't bring myself to go shopping afterwards and so I missed the first day of the sales when the best bargains were to be had, but I didn't need to buy anything major so I didn't mind too much. Mostly I've just stocked up on things I'd be buying anyway!
Sales Buys Primark 1

Firstly, in Primark, I bought this lovely maroon smock-style top in the sale for £5, along with the plain black camisole top for £3 to wear under it, as it is slightly sheer. I also picked up this brown cross belt for £1 (although on a S/M hanger, this turned out to be a L/XL, resulting in me having to hack holes into it as I was NOT going back to Primark to return a £1 belt!), plus two pairs of skinny jeans at £7 per pair - full price! Primark jeans are actually the best fitting jeans I've ever found, and I really struggle because my thighs are huge compared to my waist and hips, and my legs are really short!
Sales Buys TKMaxx

In TKMaxx, I picked up this lovely stripey long-sleeved top for £5.99, and three bras as several of mine (including my favourite M&S bra) have parted company with their underwires lately - sad face. None of these were actually in the sale, but at £5.99 for the red leopard number, and £7.99 for the two others, I'm not complaining. I promise none of them are actually as garish as these photos seem to make them appear!
Sales Buys Illamasqua

I placed a cheeky Illamasqua order, only buying one thing after it seeing it on their Facebook page and being unable to resist - Faux Pas nail polish, which is a beautiful purple colour in their rubber finish. I've not tried it yet but am immensely excited about this purchase as it's my first-ever Illamasqua product! This was £5.
Sales Buys Tara's Talons

I ordered three polishes from Tara's Talons, a UK Indie nail polish brand who I interviewed back in September - I chose 'Embankment', 'Winter Wonderland' and 'B-Angel', and can't wait to share these with you. These may have been my first Tara's Talons polishes, but I have a feeling they won't be my last! The two 10ml polishes were £6.50 each, and the smaller 5ml was £3.50.
Sales Buys Xtras

Having finished my beloved W7 HD Foundation towards the end of last month, I splashed out (that's a joke - it was £3.99) on a new bottle from Xtras and waited impatiently for it to arrive, as none of my others were living up to its lovely coverage and perfect match for my skintone!
Sales Buys Lush

Lush's 50% off sale drew me in, although I was quite restrained! I picked up their much-raved-about Santa's Lip Scrub for £2.75, along with a Snow Fairy Massage Bar (I adore the scent but the shower gel contains SLS, sob!) for £2.47 and a Star Light, Star Bright bath melt for £1.65 - I couldn't resist the glitter! Whilst I was in, I also bought their Cupcake Fresh Face Mask, full price at £5.95.

Picking up some essentials in Poundland, I spotted a new stand of nail polishes by a brand called Jess - how was I supposed to resist that!? I chose two, 'Ibiza' which is a pretty blue glitter with holo, and 'Breathless' which is a pinky-blue duochrome which reminds me of Models Own's 'Indian Ocean'. I'm looking forward to trying these out and seeing what they're like quality-wise!
Sales Buys The Body Shop

Last but not least, I popped into The Body Shop and picked up their Papaya Body Butter for £5 (actually, it was £4.50 by the time I got my Love Your Body discount on top of the sale price!). I then did what I did last year - came home and ordered a load more things from their sale online! I really love their body butters so now seemed like a good time to stock up - I ordered two Almond Body Butters, again working out to £4.50 each, along with their Rainforest Balance Haircare Kit for £2.70 (I've been wanting to try the Rainforest range and this seemed like the perfect way to try it!), the Oil Burner for £6.30 (I actually bought one of these in a sale a few years ago, then dropped the bag on the way home and smashed it :'( ), and the Almond Nail & Cuticle Oil for £3.50 - I was eying this up at the #TBSXmasBonanza but at half price I just couldn't say no! I've also just realised I forgot to include the Papaya Body Butter in my photo - whoops.
Phew! - I think that's it! I tried not to go overboard as, like I said, I didn't need anything major so I just bought myself a couple of little treats and stocked up on things I know I'll use. I also bought part of the boyfriend's birthday present, but I'm not sharing that on the off-chance he's reading - his birthday isn't til April but it's a big one this year so I'm trying to be organised!
Did you treat yourself to anything lovely from the sales? What's been your best-ever sales bargain? Please let me know if you've posted about your sales purchases as I'm super-nosy and would love to have a read!

xo
My Featured Blogger this month is the lovely Anna from AnnieMAC; hop on over to her blog for tutorials, reviews and more!

Today is an exciting post for me; my first ever NOTD post featuring an indie polish, the beautiful 'Embankment' from Tara's Talons' Happy New Year collection. You may remember I posted an interview with the lovely Tara of Tara's Talons back in September, where she told us about her creative processes; I promised myself at the time that I would be treating myself to some of Tara's polishes as soon as possible and that's exactly what I've done! I found this polish applied beautifully, with the brush being really easy to work with and the polish lovely and smooth. I didn't have to fish for the glitter at all, and the only repositioning I did was when I got a large chunk of glitter hanging over the edge of a nail. 'Embankment' is a pretty pearly green base containing large green circle, small and medium green and gold hex, and teal star glitters. It really is packed with glitter meaning it looks really striking on the nails; below you see three coats of 'Embankment' over a base of my usual Nail Envy, with two coats of JacavaLondon's topcoat over it to smooth off the bumpiness a little.
Tara's Talons Embankment NOTD

I've really enjoyed wearing this and I've had so many compliments and people asking me where it's from, too! I've also found that (especially for a glitter polish) it lasted really well, with not a single chip following my (last ever!) shift at Debenhams, which is impressive. 'Embankment' is available to purchase from Tara's Etsy shop, priced at £6.50 for 10ml. Have you ever bought polish from an indie brand? Would you like to in the future? What do you think of 'Embankment'?

xo
My Featured Blogger this month is the lovely Anna from AnnieMAC; hop on over to her blog for tutorials, reviews and more!

I recently received this Natural Collection Lipstick in the shade 'Sorbet' as part of my giveaway prize from Lauren; I've had good experience with Natural Collection's products in the past so I was excited to see this in my package! As with all Natural Collection products, the packaging is fairly basic; a white plastic tube with the brand logo, and the shade name printed on the barcode sticker. 'Sorbet' is a peachy pink shade in the bullet, with plenty of shimmer, which when swatched is a very subtle pink in colour. Natural Collection Lipstick Sorbet

As you can see, on the lips this looks very natural and creamy; it applies really nicely and feels comfortable to wear, although it did seem to accentuate dry patches, probably due to being so light in colour. The shimmer is still there and noticeable, but in a way that makes your lips look plumper rather than glittery! For me, this is a perfect day-to-day shade as I don't tend to wear bright or deep lip colours very often - too high-maintenance for me! The lasting power wasn't great, around an hour, but being such a subtle shade it doesn't look a mess as it wears off so if you don't get chance to touch-up, it doesn't really matter.
Natural Collection Lipstick Sorbet Swatch

Natural Collection Lipstick Sorbet Swatch

I paired this with equally subtle blusher and eye make-up for a natural, everyday make-up look which I actually really like; it makes me look polished and healthy (and awake!) without being overdone or too flashy for daytime wear. FOTD Natural Collection Lipstick Sorbet

[Other products used: Natural Collection Shine Away Foundation in 'Porcelain';

Soap & Glory Kick-Ass Concealer in 'Light'; Collection Loose Powder in 'Barely There';

Miss Sporty Ohh! Blushed Again Blusher in 'Rose'; MUA Pro Brow Kit; Stila In The Light Palette;

Collection Longer Lash Lengthening Mascara in 'Ultra Black']

I can't actually find the lipsticks listed on the Boots website currently, but I believe they're usually priced at £1.99. Have you ever tried a Natural Collection Lipstick? What do you think of 'Sorbet'? Do you prefer a subtle lip colour, or something a little brighter?

My Featured Blogger this month is the lovely Anna from AnnieMAC; hop on over to her blog for tutorials, reviews and more!

In Love With Fashion have challenged bloggers to come up with their top five items to see you through January, all chosen from the In Love With Fashion Sale! Ever a lover of a challenge (and a sale...), here are my top five picks.
In Love With Fashion Sale Picks

1. Red Tartan Dress with Split Skirt & Lace Detail, now £192. Gold Jacquard Shift Dress, now £153. Black & Grey Knitted Jacket, now £204. Cobalt Oversized Fluffy Knit, now £175. Bottle Green Dip Dye Sequin Sleeveless Top, now £15Tartan has been a top trend this season and there's no reason not to carry it over into January; the lace detail around the hem of this dress is gorgeous, and paired with thick black tights and boots, it's a perfect casual January outfit! I know we're mostly done with Christmas parties and such by now, but that doesn't mean no parties at all - my cousin's 21st is at the end of the month and I love the gorgeous jacquard print on this gold dress; again, paired with black tights and some simple black heels, you have a perfect party outfit. Of course, it's still cold outside, so if you haven't invested in a new jacket yet this season, now is the time to do so. Again with the tartan, I know, but I love it, and this jacket would go with everything whilst keeping you cosy. Fluffy knits have been another big trend this season and this lovely cobalt blue number should help brighten up dull January days whilst keeping you warm. Finally, this super pretty dip-dye effect vest top is covered in shimmering sequins, making it perfect for dressy daytime wear or even a night out; I'd wear it with black skinnies and comfy flats, and a big black statement necklace for the perfect finishing touch!
What have you been investing in in the January sales? Have you ordered anything from Love? What are your top picks from their sale?

xo
My Featured Blogger this month is the lovely Anna from AnnieMAC; hop on over to her blog for tutorials, reviews and more!
[Please note I am receiving store credit in return for this post.]

There's never a bad time for a holiday and, with the winter looking like it's going to stick around for a while, why not use this opportunity to escape the humdrum of daily life for a week or two? You don't even have to go somewhere warm and sunny, either – there are plenty of fun-filled active holidays available in the mountains that will make you realise that cold weather doesn't always mean drab days. If you have some holiday left to use up before the end of the tax year, take the opportunity to use it once New Year celebrations are over and done with, so that you have a little adventure to look forward to!
You may be used to holidaying on golden sands and if that's the case, packing for a stint in the mountains may be a completely new experience for you to deal with. When it's a mountain break you're packing for, the contents of your suitcase will be completely different than what you may normally pack – no sarongs and flip flops needed! Instead, take a look at some of these essentials so that you won't be stuck out in the cold without the right apparel.
Knitwear
These are absolutely essential pieces of clothing so if you can fit in more than one chunky knit, do. Men's and women's knitwear is crucial for a mountain holiday, so that you can stay warm when you're not sat by the log fire. With plenty of options for women’s knitwear from George at ASDA, you don't have to look far to grab a great knit or two. Mix and match and pick a cardigan and a jumper or two, so that you are covered, no matter what you have planned. The same applies for the guys, as well.
Knitwear by George at Asda

Accessories
No, we don't mean jewellery and pretty pashminas. With holidays in the mountains, it's more about the hats, scarves and mittens! The type of accessories you choose will depend largely on the style that you like to wear, but the chunkier the better to help keep the chill at bay. Opt for a glove that is thermal and snowproof too, especially if you're planning to do any winter sports during your trip. Ones that will still allow the use of your fingers without having to expose them to the elements will also help!
Winter Boots
A good, warm pair of boots that have sufficient grip to their bottoms (just in case you're faced with snow or patches of ice) will help massively. The last thing you want to happen during your mountain break is for you to come a cropper and a good pair of boots will prevent this from happening. Choose a waterproof pair so that your feet can stay dry and warm, too – that means no UGG boots, girls!
Suncream
This may surprise you, but the sun can be just as strong when you're high in the mountains at the height of winter, as it is on the beach. You may not feel it burn, but it will, especially if you're out enjoying the ski slopes. Make sure that you take some with you and use it, no matter how cold it feels outside. The sun can still get you!
Pack sensibly and mix and match so that you can be as savvy as possible with what's in your suitcase. You'll soon realise that holidays in the mountains are just as unforgettable and worthwhile as the ones on the beach are!

[Please note this is a sponsored post. However, I'm sure you all already know how much I love George!]

I have to say, some of my favourite holidays have been those spent walking up Ben Nevis in Scotland or cycling in the North Yorkshire dales! What are your holiday essentials? Would you consider a more out-of-the-way holiday destination, or do you tend to stick to beaches and city breaks?

St Grape are a Canadian company, aiming to bring the joy and luxury of a home spa to everyone, at an affordable price, using natural ingredients and eco-friendly packaging wherever possible. I was lucky enough to win a 150g pot of St Grape's Aqua Bliss Bath Scrub in a competition they held in the run-up to Christmas. I've read a few reviews of this product, all raving about how amazing it is, so I was pretty excited to give it a try, particularly as I love a good scrub! But did it live up to the hype?
I was seriously impressed with the packaging, which consists of a pretty white box sealed with branded foil tape, and inside the pot containing the scrub was wrapped in beautiful floral tissue paper. Full marks there, St Grape!
St Grape Aqua Bliss Bath Scrub Review

St Grape Aqua Bliss Bath Scrub Packaging

"From Cleopatra to the Queen of Sheba to you... Enjoy Aqua Bliss at its very best. Scoop one scooper (attached) of Aqua Bliss Bath Scrub onto your body and hands when moist. Scrub for a few minutes then rinse with warm water."

"This magical combination of natural high quality mineral sea salt and natural oil extracts from around the world was uniquely created to rejuvenate, refresh and heal – at the same time offering a natural calming and relaxing sensation for the whole body. Due to its natural ingredients it can be used by men and women with all skin types. It is Sulfate Free, Petrochemical Free, Silicone Free and Paraben Free with no artificial colours. No animal testing took place in the making of this product."

So, there we came upon the first problem; there was no scooper, so I had no idea how much of the product I was supposed to be using. Now I've never used a scrub with a scooper and am pretty good at judging how much product I'll need, but the fact that the scooper was mentioned and then missing threw me a little. I've not seen the scooper mentioned in other reviews so I'm not sure what that's all about... That little flaw aside, the frosted plastic pot with screw cap which houses the scrub feels heavy in the hand, giving the impression of a high quality product.
St Grape Aqua Bliss Bath Scrub

The scent of the scrub wasn't really to my taste, although I know that is purely personal preference; it's a floral scent, as you might guess from the ingredients list, which just isn't something I tend to go for, preferring sweeter or spicier scents, as a rule. Nonetheless, I can appreciate that it smells good, and the scents are from natural sources which is always a plus point! With sea salt as the base of the scrub itself, it did do a fairly good job of exfoliating my skin, leaving it feeling smooth and silky. The salt didn't dissolve too quickly and the texture of the scrub was just right, not too crumbly as some scrubs can be. However, I found that I needed quite a lot of product to make it worth bothering, such that I've used it four times and over half the pot has gone; I think I'll get about six uses out of it in total, making it quite an expensive product per usage. St Grape's website suggests that the product can also be used as a facial scrub, however, I haven't tried this and don't think I'd like to - for one, I feel like it would be too harsh for facial skin (and I like my exfoliators to be abrasive!) and secondly, I wouldn't want those oils and extracts near my eyes.
St Grape Aqua Bliss Bath Scrub Ingredients

St Grape Aqua Bliss Bath Scrub Ingredients

[Ingredients: Aqua (water); Sodium Chloride (sea salt); Olefin Sulfonate;

Nelumbium Speciosum (lotus) Flower Extract; Tocopheryl Acetate;

Jasminum Officinale (Jasmine) Flower Oil; Rosa Damascena Flower Oil;

Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil.]

The ingredients are good, consisting of the sea salt which makes up the scrub component, along with the natural plant extracts which provide the scent, and Vitamin E (Tocopheryl Acetate) which is a preservative; all in all, a nice ingredients list and one that's not likely to cause skin problems unless you're sensitive to the natural oils, in which case you're advised not to use the product (obviously!). However, I don't feel that the ingredients justify the price, even when you take the pretty packaging into account; this still feels like a very over-priced product, to me.

Overall, this is a nice body scrub with a strong floral scent and lovely natural ingredients, which I think would be great as a gift or as a touch of luxury for your own skincare routine. For me, though, the scent would put me off purchasing again as I'm not a lover of floral fragrances. St Grape Aqua Bliss Bath Scrub is priced at £12 for 150g of product.

[Please note that this product was received as a competition prize. As always, all thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.]

My Featured Blogger this month is the lovely Anna from AnnieMAC; hop on over to her blog for tutorials, reviews and more!

You may remember I picked up Lush's Cupcake Fresh Face Mask whilst doing a bit of sales shopping; I've had good experiences with Lush's face masks in the past, but this was not one I've tried before so I thought I'd share my thoughts on it!
"Chocolate heaven for oily and teenage skin. Helps absorb excess oil and calm breakouts. Cocoa butter, linseed and cocoa powder soften, with balancing peppermint, spearmint and sandalwood oils."
Lush Cupcake Mask Review

Let's be honest, anything described as "chocolate heaven" has basically been designed with me in mind, and my skin certainly falls into the oily camp, so I was intrigued to see how this chocolatey wonder would work out for me. Housed in the standard Lush black pot, the packaging is minimalistic and to the point; it's also recycled and recyclable, as Lush accept their packaging back and will even give you a free face mask if you take them five pots!
Lush Cupcake Face Mask

Let's start with the smell. Oh my goodness this is like smearing mint chocolate chip cookie dough (or something equally delicious) over your face in the best way you can imagine - I think I'm in love. With a face mask. I'm not kidding, if you like chocolatey scents then this is perfect. Lush's Fresh Face Masks are all meant to be stored in the fridge as they're preservative-free, which is exactly where mine has been living. This means it feels beautifully cooling as you spread it over your skin; it can be a little hard to spread at first, but quickly warms up and melts slightly, so it becomes much easier to get an even, generous layer over your face. The mask has a slightly grainy texture, which lends an exfoliating effect as you massage it over your skin.
Lush Cupcake Face Mask Review

In my experience, as this dries, it becomes a little crumbly which can get quite messy, so this isn't a mask I'd recommend whilst doing anything that requires you to stay clean / not drop lumps of mask in your dinner / your laptop keyboard / over your child etc. However, it does wash off really easily; I just use a muslin cloth and warm water to remove it as suggested. Once removed, my skin is left looking a lot calmer, with any redness including blemishes noticeably reduced. It also absorbs any oiliness and leaves my skin feeling smooth and soft. I've not noticed any dryness after use, although I do always use a moisturiser after a face mask and would recommend you do the same.
Lush Cupcake Face Mask Ingredients

[Ingredients: Rhassoul Mud; Linseed Infusion (Linum Usitatissimum);

Glycerine; Talc; Cocoa Powder (Theobroma Cacao); Cocoa Butter

(Theobroma Cacao); Fresh Mint (Mentha Piperita); Sandalwood Oil

(Santalum Austrocaledonicum Vieill and Fusanus Spicatus); Vanilla Absolute

(Vanilla Planifolia); Spearmint Oil (Mentha Spicata); Peppermint Oil

(Mentha Piperita); Limonene; Perfume.]

As far as I'm concerned the ingredients list is pretty friendly, although obviously if you are sensitive to the essential oils used then slathering this over your face is probably not a sensible idea. Otherwise, there's no nasty preservatives or anything like that, just lovely natural ingredients (and perfume). The only one I'd question is talc, but I think as it's in the form of a cream product rather than just as powder, even that can be excused (it's included to help the mask spread more evenly).

Lush's Cupcake Fresh Face Mask is available from Lush in-store and online, priced at £5.95 for 75g of product which in my experience will provide 5-6 uses, thus working out to just over £1 per use which is an absolute BARGAIN. You should bear in mind however, that these masks have a limited shelf life, generally three weeks from the date of manufacture, so you do end up having to use it fairly frequently (say twice a week) to get the full use out of it. All in all, this was a really lovely face mask for me, smelling incredible and leaving my oily skin visibly calmer, smoother and less oily. I'd recommend this if like me your skin is oily and/or blemish prone, and it is one I'll be repurchasing in the future.
Have you tried any of Lush's Fresh Face Masks? Which is your favourite? Do you like chocolate-y products like me?

xo
My Featured Blogger this month is the lovely Anna from AnnieMAC; hop on over to her blog for tutorials, reviews and more!

I purchase Pop Beauty's Face Magnet Primer from ASOS some time ago now, but was very restrained and didn't start to use it until I'd finished up some of my many existing primers. I'm always on the hunt for a product which will help to keep my oily skin looking matte and prevent my make-up disappearing through the day, and this sounded pretty promising. Pop Beauty Face Magnet Primer Review

"This anti-shine primer maximises makeup stay for all day wear. Firming, brightening and UV-light protective antioxidant primer works like a magnet for all face makeup. Formulated with Caffeine to energize the skin, reduce puffiness and slim face contours, and Liquorice Root extract to soothe and reduce redness while evening out your skin tone. Oil-free and Vitamin E infused, it eliminates shine and leaves skin looking flawlessly smooth with a delicate porcelain finish." Review Pop Beauty Face Magnet Primer

The flat lid means the tube stands upright on my dressing table, which means it's easy to dispense the white, cream-like product through the fine-tipped nozzle. I follow the directions, massaging this over my skin before applying the rest of my make-up. I have to say, it has a very bizarre smell, and not in a good way - I really do not enjoy the scent of this product. I have also found it quite difficult to apply; it takes a fair bit of blending to work into the skin properly. However, these are both points I can overlook if it works well for me!I've only tried the primer with liquid foundations, and have found that applying them with my Real Techniques Expert Face Brush as usual just does not work; no matter how much I blend, I haven't been able to get rid of the brush strokes, and have resorted to working my foundation in with my fingers, which is much more effective. This is annoying but again, I'm prepared to overlook this if it means my make-up lasts better and my face doesn't go shiny! (It also means less make-up brushes to wash, which I guess is a bonus..!)And, believe it or not, it does just that! I have, at last, found the product which can keep my forehead shine-free all day. This is quite frankly verging on a miracle as far as I'm concerned, since my skin is so oily that usually my forehead is shiny within an hour or two of doing my make-up. So for me, it's more than worth the unpleasant scent of the product and the hard work taken to blend it into my skin and then blend in my foundation on top, because it means my make-up stays put until I'm ready to take it off. I couldn't believe how effective this was the first couple of times I used it, but now if I use another primer instead I really notice the difference, particularly on my forehead.All in all, I'd say this does exactly what it claims, acting as a magnet which sticks my foundation to my face and does not allow it to shift. Okay, so the scent leaves a lot to be desired and it takes a little more effort to apply my make-up over it, but for me it's worth it as my skin is so oily. If this isn't something you struggle with then I wouldn't suggest it's worth it but if your skin is anything like as oily as mine then this is worth a try for certain!Pop Beauty's Face Magnet Primer is available from ASOS priced at £16.50 for 35ml of product; yes, it's quite expensive, but less so than the likes of Benefit's The POREfessional and, in my experience, a lot more effective to boot. This is definitely a product I'll be repurchasing and, as I said, one that I'd recommend to anyone who struggles with oily skin, face-shine, and their make-up sliding or going patchy. I'm seriously considering trying the powder from the same range!Have you tried any of Pop Beauty's products? What's your favourite primer?
xo[Please note this product was purchased with ASOS gift vouchers; I have not been paid or compensated for this review in any way, and as always all opinions are 100% my own!]My Featured Blogger this month is the lovely Anna from AnnieMAC; hop on over to her blog for tutorials, reviews and more!

Gift Guides #4: Kids

Review: Witch Blemish Gel

Blogger Secret Santa

December Empties

Hello 2014!

Introducing: Sarah at Small & Hot

Review: Naked Brunette Radiance Shampoo & Conditioner*

NOTD: 'Mint Fizz'

2013 Favourites: Make-Up

2013 Favourites: Skincare & Body Products

2013 Favourites: Books

Review: W7 Prime Magic Anti-Dull Skin Balancing Primer*

Sales & Christmas Money Purchases

NOTD: 'Embankment'

FOTD: Natural Collection Lipstick 'Sorbet'

January with In Love With Fashion

Holidays in the Mountains: What to Pack

Review: St Grape Aqua Bliss Bath Scrub

Review: Lush Cupcake Fresh Face Mask

Review: Pop Beauty Face Magnet Primer