My summer essentials!

It's summer, it's summer! It's been sweltering over here in the UK and around London this past week or so. Whilst my dad complains about the heat and my mum goes into hibernation, I can't help but take in the sunshine and embrace the happiness that it brings to everyone! Everyone just seems to be in a good mood when the sun is out and since I'm a summer baby, it's when I feel most calm, free and motivated! I also have a holiday to Greece planned at the end of this month so this is when the preparation gets started - over packing, thinking of every possible scenario and occasion to dress for, and buying too many bikinis when realistically I'll only wear one or two. I just love it. 

Here are a few bits I've accumulated over the past couple of weeks and over my birthday that I will certainly be taking with me, or I'll keep by my side throughout this gorgeous British weather! 

(The Virgin Mojito Happy Hour Collection - comes with a Mojito Body Butter, scrub, shower gel and Mini Green bath Lily)

The launch of The Body Shop's new Virgin Mojito range has had everybody talking this season and I was lucky enough to receive pretty much the whole range for my birthday to try out. I was obsessed with the Fuji Green Tea range earlier this year and I just know I'm going to be obsessed with this one too *she says sniffing away at the body scrub like no tomorrow*. I've been trying so hard to keep my mitts off all the products because I really want this to be my holiday scent this year - but I don't know how long I can last! It's super fresh and sweet with bursts of lime and mint extract. I basically smell like my favourite drink, and I have this incredible image of myself laying on a beach in Greece, smelling like a Mojito whilst drinking a Mojito.. urm YES.

The Body Splash product is a lovely addition to the range. A light splash of this stuff after a cool shower on a hot summers day would be so refreshing and gorgeous. A worker in my local store said a Coconut base (i.e. a body butter, lotion or spray) would enhance the scent and make it last longer. I haven't tried this yet but let me know your thoughts!

This is the Organix Coconut Water weightless hydration oil and to say I love it is an understatement. For so long I've been using my coconut Ultimate Blends oil, but I've recently been finding it too heavy for my hair this summer. Since my hairs had the chop (I will be writing a post on this soon), I have been embracing its natural thickness; I finally have no more split ends and I really want to start looking after my hair - it has been prone to breakages, damage and dryness in the past. This oil gives my hair hydration that feels weightless whilst smelling a-m-a-zing. If ya love the smell of coconut, give this a sniff! It's like summer in a bottle.

I've spoken about these two babies before but they're my go to drugstore products for when I'm in need of a pop of natural colour. The Max Factor Creamy Blusher in 14 Soft Pink gives the cheeks a gorgeous natural flush and it's creamy consistency makes it look really pretty and dewy on the skin.
This goes perfectly with my old faithful and much loved Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in 09 Happy Nude Year. It's a fuss free, matte pinky nude that lasts all day on the lips - no need for top ups whilst you're enjoying the sunshine!

Who doesn't love flowers in their hair?! I've been embracing my inner hippy recently and at the moment they seem to be a festival season statement that anyone can get their hands on. I picked up this pretty floral headband from Primark for just £3/4 - absolute bargain! You'll definitely see me sporting this at Brownstock this month! (another hint at posts to come in the next couple of weeks) : - )

And last but not least, who can go through summer without an ott beach bag? Not me. My lovely mum got me this for my birthday from Accessorize and it's so gorgeous. Covered in vibrant neon elephants, Aztec stitching and A BIG TASSEL. Anyone who knows me would know that tassel's are my thang!

I'm loving all the summer posts right now on everybody's blogs, leave links below so I can see yours and let me know one of your summer essentials this year! Over and out : - )

Getting down to Ciara and an easy healthy snack

Happy Sunday guys! Sunday doesn't have to be as dull as you think if you go about it the right way *She says still sitting in bed in her pyjamas* - Sunday is a day for 'you' I like to think. Kick back, listen to your favourite songs on repeat, eat healthy foods, do some squats (I'm sounding like a cringe tumblr quote right now) and getting ready for the week ahead! 

Right now my favourite song on repeat is Ciara- I Bet. Now, Ciara is basically my Beyonce. She's so sassy and beautiful.. like Beyonce I guess but Ciara knows how to get down! I've been finding myself flicking this on repeat when I wake up, before I go to bed and at the gym. It kinda has an old school vibe which I love, like a tune that will forever be played on Kisstory as you're driving along, blasting the tunes and singing every word like you're a badass rap artist (you're not because you stayed up all night learning the words so you can impress your friends ;-)). It's a great singing in the mirror tune and I'm not ashamed to say it, a 'pretending to be in a music video' tune - we've all done it. 

It's so tempting to eat loads of rubbish on a Sunday. You're probably recovering from a night out and your eyeballs are bigger than your belly and hell no it's Monday tomorrow so we might as well eat away all our sorrows. Rewind girl. I find it so helpful to treat today like a preparation day, gearing me up for the week ahead so I can conquer it with energy, a smile and with positivity. Positivity - for me - comes with healthy eating and truthfully, it is tough! I have a major sweet tooth so I usually like to find something that replicates that sweet desserty taste but does my body some good. 

Recently for breakfast or a healthy snack in the afternoon, I've been teaming a couple of dollops of Fage Total 0% Natural yoghurt with some chopped up fruit to satisfy my sweet cravings. This yoghurt is really thick which I find makes it feel more like a dessert than your usual yoghurt consistency - it's a yummy treat that I've been loving at the moment! It brings me the joy an empty Mac pallet would bring to a beauty fanatic (i.e. me). There's so much you can do with it and you can mix and match to your hearts content to create a beautiful result. Putting the Mac analogy to the side, I've been teaming mine with some chopped banana and mixed frozen fruits for a yummy summer snack! 

P.s.. After being inspired by one of Tanya Burr's vlogs I've been using frozen berries and putting them in the microwave until they become soft and juicy like a sweet compote - it's basically a healthy dessert! : - ) 

And finally, WATER. You've all heard it a zillion times but i've been drinking LOTS recently. I always carry my old faithful bottle around with me, filling it up whenever I can, and drinking it wherever I go to stay hydrated and happy : - ) I've noticed a big difference in my stomach recently since cutting out bread and drinking more water. It's a great way to tackle that dreaded bloating that makes you feel really sluggish and unconfident. After all, it makes you feel fresh, happier, clears your skin, and looks after your digestive system - so drink up girls!

What do you like to do on a Sunday? : - ) 

Nutrition: We are machines - A new chapter

I'm really feeling June this year. It's the month of sun, crisp summer evenings that take your breath away, and well would you believe it? It's the month I celebrate my birthday - my 20th birthday to be exact. Twenty is an odd age. It's not a biggen like an eighteenth or 21st, it's just a middleman, but it holds special significance for me and that is saying goodbye to my teenage years... scary! 

I’ve spent most (well, all) my teenage years trying to be perfect: finding the definition of perfect, and seeking ways to reach ‘perfection’. But at a ripe old age of nineteen I’ve come to realise that it doesn’t exist. The only way to truly be happy with yourself is to be the best possible you, without expectations, pressure, or comparison to the Photoshopped women on glossy magazines. I’ve never truly been happy with myself in all honesty and I have been waiting to ‘grow to love myself’ or to suddenly feel comfortable in my own skin. But I’m only starting to appreciate that this takes time, work, and a journey that won’t necessarily have a destination, but a journey that I will learn to love because it’s mine.

Instead of striving for ‘perfection’ in my twenties, I want to know how it feels to be at peace with my body and myself, inside and out and to feel comfortable. This doesn’t come from starving myself, losing weight and counting calories but appreciating what god gave me, looking after it and that powerful, intricate machine within all of us. The machine that supports you when you decide to strut around town in your highest heels, fills you with bursts of energy when you run to catch the last bus from even opening the cupboard to sneak a midnight snack. Our bodies are machines designed to move, dance, live, laugh and love and the best way to start looking after it is nutrition. Food is fuel and the fuel you choose to enrich your body with I strongly believe effects the start of our day, our mindset and how we conquer it.

This is something I’ve always known but never really acknowledged. I’m the type of person to lose faith quite quickly when it comes to dieting and health, but recently I’ve found some books that have kick-started that fire in my belly, inspiring me to want more, work more and most of all, understanding that I deserve more. You do to. These books are:

The Body Book by Cameron Diaz – Cameron is a kick ass woman. She looks like the most confident woman on the planet, but after reading The Body Book, she herself has been through highs and lows with her confidence and her body. She looks into the science behind nutrition and how the foods we choose to eat can affect our bodies and minds. This really made me sit back and think… dayum I really need to stop ordering those extra fries and swapping full fat cola for diet (it’s just as bad!), like now! Because sugar is everywhere, but Cameron has enriched my mind with the foundations of nutrition more than I could ever imagine and has really inspired me to think twice about the things I eat. And would you believe it, I’ve even conquered my fizzy drink addiction!

Get the Glow by Madeline Shaw – Madeline is a nutritionist for the stars, a food blogger and has made regular appearances in Tanya Burr’s vlogs as her yoga pal. She’s so lovely and really has that natural ‘glow’ that so many of us are trying to achieve through throwing our cash at makeup counters. But her book ‘Get the Glow’ is full of nutritious, delicious, amazing recipes designed to ignite that inner glow that will show in your skin and leave your body feeling top notch. Her six-week programme is really what inspired me as she shares lots of healthy tips and positive affirmations to keep me motivated!

Come and join me on my journey! Follow me on Bloglovin HERE so we can stay connected! : -) xxx

My top tanning and bronzing must haves!

Having bronzed skin throughout the summer is a trend that will never grow old, but as we become more aware of how harmful the sun can be to our health and to the condition of our skin, it has never been more important to take care on those beautiful sunny days, leaving beauty gurus like myself to search for affective alternatives for women looking for that healthy glow!

Of course, sitting in the sunshine has it's health benefits but too much can be damaging for our skin - it may only be a burn now, but this is causing permanent damage to our skin that will become more noticeable in the future! So although many take to the sun for a non-patchy, all-over tan, I thought I'd show you a few of my healthy alternatives in a can/bottle to get that glow all year round without the risks!

Garnier Ambre Solaire dry body mist - 

This is a fairly recent purchase for me and I have to admit, my laziness when it comes to applying fake tan was the driving force for this buy. The idea of being able to quickly spray gradual tan on your body without having to wait ages for it to dry or that awkward stickiness that cream formula tans bring, is great, but of course it has its downfalls. As I was spraying myself with this new purchase, whilst dancing around my room and getting prepped for going out that evening, I suddenly thought - wait, this was way too easy.. surely there's a catch? It wasn't until 3/4 hours later that the catch became evident. STREAK ALERT. It's very hard to apply dry mist tans liberally and without missing a spot or two - or hundreds in my case - so it's probably best to apply this a day before actually going out to an occasion or event, because after a second coat it seemed to all blend in and look socially acceptable.
The colour was great though, natural and not too orange and even though I did have a little disaster on the first application, I think I will get to grips with it after a few attempts. The easy application makes it still very attractive for someone like myself who hates that stickiness of tanning lotions, but be warned! Expect to visit streak city until you get the hang of it - unless you're a tanning mist expert in which case, please comment some tips!!! : - )

Cocoa Brown by Marissa Carter - 1 hour tan mousse: 

I actually love this tan, and I have to say, it's really wiped out my ol'faithful Garnier Summer Body tanning lotion off the top of my holy grail list. I usually leave my favourite till last but thought I'd mix it up for you guys and keep you on your toes!! hehe. Of course it's a tanning mousse so application is quite fussy, but its so worth it for the beautiful result! It's such an affordable alternative to more expensive tanning products on the market but its finish is just as good!
Simply apply all over your body and on your face for an all over bronzed look - don't be alarmed by how dark the product looks, it needs to be washed off after a couple of hours (I usually leave it for 3/4 hours) but after you've hit the shower, the colour and evenness of the product is lovely and really natural. And in case you're wondering, Cocoa Brown is made from a vegetable derived tanning agent, it's suitable for sensitive skin and it's moisturising and kind enough to be used on the face - WIN! This saves the trouble of having separate tanning products for the body and face which I know many brands haven't sorted out yet for people on a budget like myself!
I've really fallen in love with this tan and I know other big names in beauty like Tanya Burr have raved about this product too so it's definitely worth checking it out - and in case you're interested, this tan saved me from my little palaver with the previous tan I mentioned so I managed to leave the house with an all over, streak free tan! : - D

Garner Summer Body moisturising lotion:

I mentioned this product on my blog last summer and it's still up there with my favourite tanning products (it's been knocked off though by Cocoa Brown.. sorry Garnier!) but it's still a very reliable go-to tan for me because most of the time if I've prepped - exfoliated and moisturised the day before that is - it develops evenly leaving me with a nice deep but natural looking tan. However, the smell is very love it or hate it. I know some people who don't mind the smell of fake tan, but I happen to fall in the 'hate it' category and it becomes unbearable sometimes. However the even finish makes this product worth it and I think it's a definite must-try for anyone on a tight budget and wants a fuss free tan.

Click HERE if you want to see my other review and some other thoughts on this product from last summer!

Now onto bronzers! I know sometimes it can be a little daunting applying fake tan onto the face because it's harder to cover if something goes wrong and a lot of tanning products (apart from Cocoa Brown) are not suitable for face application and can sometimes cause break outs. So, to be safe, I like to apply a nice bronzer to match my fake tan to the colour of my foundation, and there are plenty of options out there to try and explore! Here are my two favourites right now : - )

 Hoola by Benefit:

Hoola is every girls best friend, and no she's not a human or a tub of ice cream, she's an old faithful bronzer that has graced every beauty gurus vanity table at some point. I can only describe this as your basic matte, fuss-free, brown bronzer. No shimmer or glitter or all hues of orange - just a brown powder. It's like a LBD for example, every girl needs one! I think the simplicity of Hoola is what makes it so popular; it's easily blended into the skin and perfect for an all over bronzed look when swept across cheekbones, nose and forehead. The fact I've hit the pan as you can see in the photograph is a BIG thaaaang, normally products don't even make it to being half empty before I'm bored and interested in searching for better or more exciting alternatives!

The Body Shop Honey Bronzer - 02:

And last but not least, The Body Shop's Honey Bronzer has been in my makeup bag for a little while now and it's compact mirror has become a must-have for my handbag and it's always on hand when I'm out and about. In my opinion this is a a great alternative to Hoola for girls with fairer skin and want a lighter bronzed look, because sometimes when I haven't applied tan, Hoola can be a little too dark for my skin tone. Yet again it's a matte brown powder which isn't too pigmented so perfect for anyone who wants a light bronze or a buildable bronzer for any makeup look. You can probably tell that I'm not into all of the shimmery bronzers out there with crazy patterns and blocks and wheels of pinks, yellows shades etc. A basic brown powder allows me to control and personalise my makeup so much easier with my choice of highlighter if I fancy injecting a little brightness into my makeup look! 

I hope this has given you an idea of a few tanning products to try this Summer ladies and please let me know in the comments your holy grail bronzing and tanning products so we can look like effortless bronzed goddesses! : - )

P.S: I also reviewed L'Oreal's Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Elixir last summer and it claims to be 'indestructible', lasting for two weeks with no streaks or smell!!! See what my thoughts are after I put it to the test! Click HERE to read my review. 

Summer Skin Saviours!

As the British summer cranks up the heat, we need to turn up our skincare game. Naturally the condition of our skin can change with the seasons so its important to make sure we maintain its healthiness whilst striving for that beach girl glow. Whether your skin becomes more dry or oily in the heat, these products will kit you out for the months ahead! : -) 

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish (hot cloth cleanser)

You know what’s coming. I’ve mentioned this product on here quite a few times now and I have to say, judging by the amount of empty tubes I’ve hoarded over the past year, it’s become a holy grail of mine! For anyone who hasn’t jumped on the Liz Earle bandwagon yet, hop on RIGHT NOW although I don’t think it’s going anywhere anytime soon!

I’ve tried other cleansers but I can’t help but come back to this one. It’s so gentle on the skin and the beautiful mix of naturally active ingredients always leaves my face feeling smooth and fresh - compared to other cleansers anyway, it’s the only one that leaves my face feeling squeaky-clean. Either way, I don’t think this baby is going anywhere out of my skincare routine and in case you’re wandering, it’s for all skin types so suitable all year round!

Liz Earle Superskin Concentrate Facial Oil

This is a product I’ve had my eye on for aaaaaaages since developing my loyalties to Liz Earle as a brand but I have always assumed that having oily skin meant that introducing facial oils into my skincare routine would make the situation worse. However this particular oil is suitable for all skin types and has in fact counteracted the excess oil that I’m constantly trying to battle.

Firstly, the scent is overwhelmingly soothing and I can’t pump a drop without someone commenting on the aromatic waft! It’s quite a rich oil so can only be used at night but I really prefer this because our skin is continuously regenerating and repairing every night so it’s important to find the best product to enhance this process.

However, when applied at night (I like to take some time to massage the product onto the face) the oil doesn’t sink in straight away but continues to sink in throughout the night, allowing me to wake up feeling fresh; my skin always feels smoother and plumper the next morning! Give it a whirl if you’re looking for a boost of radiance this summer! : - )

No.7 Purifying Exfoliator

Everybody needs an exfoliator! It’s so important to get rid of all those dead skin cells to avoid congestion and potential breakouts and I’ve recently taken a liking to this No.7 exfoliator in particular. Since clawing my way through university exams, my skin has been all over the place and it feels like the dead skin is making a come back every night! So although it’s not the best for dry skin types, this more abrasive exfoliator has been doing the trick.

I’d describe it as your everyday exfoliator that is an essential for any skin type – but sensitive and dry skin types only stick to once a week application! Any form of exfoliation will do but this is the one I’ve been trying to use up – plus I thought I’d include it in this post because the colour of the packaging matches the other products and looks cute in my perfectionist mind (please don’t say it’s just me who does that… hehe).

The Body Shop Fuji Green Tea Body Butter

In this case I really am saving the best till last. Believe the hype but until you have a sniff of the Body Shops green tea range, you’ll understand why everyone’s been raving about it. Obviously my favourite thing about this product is the scent – super super fresh, and most of all hydrating. I’ve always thought that the other body butters were overrated because apart from the potent scents, they weren’t actually that moisturing. However the consistency of this body butter is more of a light gel formula that sinks into the skin quicker leaving long-lasting, comfortable and non-sticky hydration.

I have yet to purchase the rest of the range but i’m sure I won’t be able to resist much longer!

P.S Does anyone know why the Fuji Green Tea body butter is a different formula to the other Body Shop butters? Is this a thing now? (pls)

Comment and let me know! : - )

Have a lovely day guys and I hope you’ve taken away some ideas to add a little sunshine to your skincare routine!

Lets talk Summer bodies: Motivation and advice

Let's not kid ourselves, Summer has arrived and I'm not ashamed to say that I didn't create a bikini body in the Winter like the experts say we should - instead I ate lots of rubbish and hoped the day I had to reveal an inch of skin would never arrive. But with a little tweak here and there to my everyday lifestyle, I think I'm finally on the road to achieving some of my fitness goals. I've always had a turbulent relationship with food and exercise, and it's something I'm still working on, every day in fact. But each day, I feel like I've become stronger, mentally and physically, which has strived me to work harder - but of course it hasn't been easy. With beauty comes pain and effort, but that doesn't mean it's not worth it. Here are a few tips and bits of advice to keep you motivated:

- Be kind to yourself. Achieving your fitness goals cannot be done overnight (there's a reason you consider it to be a goal) so look after yourself in the process and don't be too hard on yourself: take regular breaks, and reward yourself when you've worked your bum off. 

- Buy some pretty gym clothes... so working out becomes an excuse to wear your cute patterned yoga pants.

- Practise yoga. I've recently loved doing yoga before or after a workout, and it's soooo beneficial for the horrible aches and pains you feel the next day - recovery is quicker, so you can get back out there girl! Also, who doesn't want to be one of those cool Instagram yoga girls stretching on a beach (can I be one pls)

*If you're a beginner like myself, try 30 days of yoga with Adriene - I've been loving this!*

-Routine. Finding structure to my workouts has really been motivating me, because I know how easy it can be to become overwhelmed, especially when you walk into a gym and there's machines designed for pretty much every muscle in your body. Results With Lucy and Yoga with Adriene has really transformed the way I exercise. I wake up knowing what I have to do instead of giving up before I even try!

-Eat Eat Eat. Never starve your body or eliminate food groups that are crucial to maintaining a healthy balanced diet! Depriving your body can either lead to yo-yo dieting, giving up, or going in completely the opposite direction and binging. Eat your greens and protein, but a girls gotta have some chocolate here and there. 

After all, who said chocolate had to be unhealthy? Swap your whopping great Cadburys bar for dark chocolate, it's nutritious, a powerful source of antioxidants, improves blood flow, and the bioactive compounds are great for your skin! 

-DRINK WATER... Need I say anymore? You know it's for the best. Or if you're a tea drinker, switch to herbal/green tea! It counts towards your daily water intake and it aids digestion and bloating. I've been loving the Your Tea: Tiny Tea Teatox for cleansing the system, although this is a detox and shouldn't be a permanent element in your diet. 

- Do it for the after pictures. 

 -Do it to be the best possible you. Although swooning over Beyonce's figure never hurts - one for the fitness inspo list right? 

I hope a few of these tips have inspired you in one way or another, but this is only the beginning of my journey, so I'll be updating you through the tough times and the great. Feel free to join me and let me know if you have any fitness tips and tricks that could help others! Keep smiling : - ) 

Get the hottest skincare trend with Clinique!

Spring is on the way and it's time to get this seasons hottest catwalk trend, the fresh faced, no makeup look. With a little prep of course, it's possible to achieve naturally clear and even looking skin with a full coverage but lightweight foundation - something that drugstore brands haven't quite achieved yet.

Clinique have recently launched their 'beyond coverage' two in one foundation that combines the colour correction of a foundation and the coverage of a concealer into one product. The formula is really creamy and lightweight which is surprising for a foundation combined with a heavy duty concealer, and is perfect for coverage as well as comfort. When applied, it doesn't sit on the skin - which can sometimes make it obvious that you're wearing makeup - instead, it LOOKS LIKE SKIN! This is something I've been looking for a while now. I used to be obsessed with Loreal True Match but after looking in a mirror that was a little too honest, I could see every little pore in my face which did not look attractive at all.

With Benefits Porefessional for prep, this foundation stayed on my face all day without any patchiness or slippage which is great for anyone with oily skin. Clinique also do a foundation in their anti-blemish range to target these problems but I find the formula harder to blend which can make my makeup look a bit unnatural. The 'beyond coverage' foundation is easily bendable with my Real Techniques expert face brush and keeps some of the dewiness, perfect for the healthy no-makeup glow.

Also, the doe foot applicator really deserves a mention. Hats off to whoever decided to incorporate this into the packaging because I haven't seen anything like it and it makes application soooo much easier. It prevents wastage, which I hate when you've spent a bit of money on the product, and it's loyal to the concealer aspect of the formula. Simply dot a little around the eyes or on any spots for coverage where you need it!

The Real Techniques expert face brush is perfect for blending and buffing foundation into the skin. It's the best brush I've ever used for foundation application and it has to be my favourite part of doing my makeup! It's also super soft and easy to clean which is an added bonus! There's nothing worse than a bristly brush that can be itchy and malts like no tomorrow!

Finally, the fresh faced catwalk look can only be achieved with clear skin. Like many people I'm sure, there is never a time when I don't have blemishes. This is when I reach for my anti-blemish solutions clinical clearing gel, something that I've been using on and off over the years as the beauty blogger inside always wants to try new products. It's a light gel with salicylic acid in the formula, that can be applied twice a day over cleansed skin and spot-applied for leave-on blemish treatment. It's perfect for those 'oops I left my makeup on' mornings when those blighters make an appearance!

Get summer body ready!

So it's summer and even though British weather can be unreliable, us girls always have to be prepared.
For my skin I have always relied on the Garnier Body range- pocket friendly and does the job brilliantly! Being a bit of a tan-a-holic I have spent so much time and money finding the right gradual tan for me and the Garnier Summer Body moisturising lotion is the only one that has fit my criteria- and my budget.
Yes, you will still wake up smelling like biscuits but I guess every tan on the shelves at the moment will leave you smelling like a tasty snack (although I'm planning on trying the new L'Oreal Sublime Bronze Elixir which promises to have no self-tan smell and last two weeks!- if anybody has tried it please let me know what you think!) However, I love the natural glow it gives me rather than the typical blast of tangerine and when applying, it smells all summery and apricoty.. (if that's even a word). Streakiness can be avoided by applying with a tanning mitt and the glow can last up to a week if looked after properly! If you want a natural looking tan without splashing the cash, this is definitely the one for you!

To look after my tan and avoid streaks, I love using Garnier Intensive 7 Days Ultra-Replenishing Lotion with Shea Butter. Not only does it smell fresh, but it really does fulfil its 7 day promise- although I have recently been using it more than once a week, so my skin has been feeling amazing! It's  important to moisturise skin before applying any form of tan because streaks are usually caused by the product clinging to dry skin; it's best to moisturise 24hrs before otherwise your tan will not develop!
I've only been using this product for about two weeks but I'm loving the results! My skin feels nourished and has a glow that lasts for days!

Exfoliators are also crucial for glowing summer skin and can keep a tan looking even and natural. I recently found this Clarins Soothing Body Scrub For a New Skin in my draw (along with plenty of other beauty products I never knew I had) and I thought I'd give it a try.
I'm pretty lazy when it comes to looking after my body so I thought I'd see what all the fuss was about. After the first use, my skin felt instantly smoother and when teamed with the Garnier Ultra- Replenshing Lotion, I literally wanted to show off my summer skin to the world- very rare considering an over sized baseball top is my best friend. It's also very rich and luxurious so I wouldn't use it regularly, I'm thinking I need to search for a Soap & Glory scrub for a summery treat and for more regular use!

Another reliable Clarins beauty product that I always carry in my purse is Beauty Flash Balm. It's a must have for any time of the year, but particularly when on holiday for a fresh faced, natural look. It can be used as an intensive moisturiser when skin needs a splash of hydration and it's a perfect base before applying makeup. A must have for tightening and brightening, buy and try for yourself!

Before completely my uni exams last week, I felt really nervous and apprehensive so my lovely mum went into town and purchased these beauties for me to cheer me up! I was soooo excited to use them because Benefit is my favourite beauty brand and even better- it's for tan-a-holics like me!

This really cute 'totally tantalising' kit came with Benefits oh so famous Hoola bronzer and Bene Tint, my new favourites as they add a tropical holiday vibe to any look.
They say to sweep Hoola bronzer across chin, cheeks and forehead for a natural looking tan, but I just go crazy… I mean crazy. I also sweep it across my neck, chest or maybe even to highlight non-existent abs (don't judge me) for when my bikini makes an appearance.
It's a new and permanent addition to my makeup bag and I can't wait to take it on holiday! Even though I won't be wearing much makeup, I can still achieve a glowing summer look.

The Bene Tint is lush- a very much needed change after overusing my Sleek powder blush for so long. The girly posy pink compliments Hoola perfectly and they are quite the pair; particularly for a fresh faced look with minimal makeup; the liquid tint adds a pop of colour.
However, for those girls who like to spend a long time on their makeup, you'd be surprised by how speedy you need to be to apply this product. If it isn't blended seconds after it's applied, then you may have to sport two clown-like circles of unblendable blush- not a good look and a lesson I have sadly learnt.
However, I love the results and this kit is definitely a must have for this summer; a brilliant way to try both products in one go!

If you have any summer favourites or newly discovered must haves then let me know! 

Summer Style- Prep for Barcelona!

Yank out ya faithful bikini and shorts you know are too small for you- a bit of cheek would never hurt anyone; Laura is going on holiday!!. After my first year of university and dipping my toes into the harsh realities that adult life brings, (i.e.spending my money on noodles and beans instead of clothes) a holiday with Sam in Barcelona is like music to my ears! 

My first thought was 'finally I can have a natural tan!', but of course every girl needs a Summer wardrobe to compliment the new bronzed complexion.

You know it's true. A holiday is every excuse to go shopping, and I made it my mission to get myself a few bargains. 

My first purchase was this cute floral, high-wasted skirt from River Island, and a sale item at just £12! 

I absolutely love the bold print. Orange and clashing patterns scream the style of Summer! With a plain tee or body, this skirt is the perfect key piece for a bold but girly ensemble. 

Okay, this denim beauty wasn't in the sale but I couldn't resist. Originally I thought a light wash would be a bit risky because I don't have airbrushed pins like Miley Cyrus but hey ho, they'd look great with a tan!

I also love the high-waisted aspect of these shorts. Look cute on the beach in a bikini top or wear them tactfully to hide a midriff harbouring a food baby (me all the time). 

What a way to make shorts look more badass than to add a gold lion to a black chunky belt… BADASS! 

(Excuse the orangeness but Lady Gaga had more of a tan than me at the time)
I teamed my new fave shorts with a bright peach tee (also from River Island). I can't wait to wear them on holiday with some glads or flip-flops but why not go all Miley Cyrus on the world and team with some Docs?

I desperately needed some sunnies for my holiday because unfortunately my last ones cracked… from the heat of the sun… oh the irony. But I loved this tortoise shell pair from New Look- at just under a fiver, why not! *grabs a few more pairs*.