Beauty - In my travel wash bag

With only two months until my summer holiday to Barcelona - can I get hell yeah? - I started thinking about what to pack in my holiday wash bag. A girl can never be too prepared. I love the sun but it can play havoc on your body. It leaves mine feeling dry and dehydrated which is never a good look. These are some products that should be in your arsenal when you jet of in search of some sun!

Aussie Miracle Recharge Moisture Lightweight Conditioning Spray
Thanks to my love of long locks, it means I have to deal with a hell of a lot of knots. I tend not to use conditioner too often after I shampoo because it makes my hair greasy. So this is the perfect de-tangle remedy. Your hair can get extremely dry after a day in the sun and needs to be kept in good condition.  This wonder product brings back the moisture it craves and helps to make it easier to handle. After a day spent in the sea or swimming pool, your hair will need a lot of TLC!

Delph Sun Lotion Factor 30 c/o
I never go lower than factor 30 on a sun cream. The older I'm getting, the more I'm becoming less of a sun worshipper. Not only is there the risk of skin cancer but also the risk of premature aging. Shudder! I like my sun cream to be non-greasy and thick so that I feel like it's doing it's job. This one fits the ticket perfectly. The great thing about the lotion is it's moisturising too - the sun can be a nightmare drying out your skin!

Delph After Sun Gel c/o
When I'm away I'm so conscious of my tan fading that I become a slave to after sun! I much prefer a gel based after sun as it feels much more cooler and refreshing on my skin - especially if I'm a little sunburnt. Ouch! The sun gel sinks into the skin immediately and leaves no greasy residue. You can almost get dressed straight away after application. There's nothing worse than slipping around in your dress and your skin feeling a bit sticky.

Soap and Glory Super Tonic Fragrance Orangeasm
When I'm on holiday I like a light and fruity scent - nothing too overpowering and heavy. I much prefer a body spray rather than an actual perfume. This zesty orange scented spray is perfect. It's not too long lasting but the bottles small enough to pop in your beach bag to keep topping up throughout the day.

V05 Give Me Texture Rough & Sexy Salt Spray c/o
I like to keep my hair as low-matienance as possible when I'm abroad in a hot country. I don't want to spend hours pimping and preening when there are cocktails to be drunk! This is why I love salt sprays. I simply rough dry my hair with a towel, liberally spray a salt spray all over and pop up in a topknot until it dries. Voila! I'm left with beachy waves.

Simple Kind To Skin+ Moisture Boost Hydro Mist c/o
In any extreme weather, my skin struggles to cope. This fine mist is great to help give dehydrated skin a much needed boost. It absorbs almost immediately and can also be worn over make up. It's great to keep in your beach bag for when your face needs a little helping hand throughout the day.

Nivea Firming Body Oil
This is my holy grail. I'm on around my 6/7th bottle since the beginning of the year. I use it religiously everyday in my legs and it helps to keep them in tip top shape. It's helped to severely reduce my blemishes and helps to keep shaving rashes and dryness at bay. There's no way I'm leaving it at home!

Yes To Coconut Dry Skin Ultra Light Body Lotion Spray c/o
For the rest of my body I need a lightweight body lotion that absorbs quickly yet keeps my body hydrated. I don't my tan to peel if I can help it! Coconut is my favourite scent and this smells gorgeous. The spray nozzles gives out just the right amount of product and is simple to use when you're in a rush to get down to that dinner buffet!

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Beauty: 5 minute pamper ideas

In the ideal world we'd all be able to spend hours pimping and preening our body to perfection. But after a hard day at work, sometimes you just want to collapse into bed after dinner. I often struggle to do much of a beauty routine during the week - I have my current one down to a cool 15 minutes. But I don't want to wait until the weekend to get some pampering in - or rather my skin can't wait till them. So I've put together a few pampering products that only add an extra five minutes onto your night time routine. You can even spread them out over the week!

Jurlique Rose Hand Cream c/o
I'm a sucker for anything Rose scented so obviously this product had me at hello! I pop it on my hands just before I nod off to sleep. I find it a bit too thick for frequent use during the day but it's a perfect intense moisturiser. My hands feel so soft and supple the next day. It's a lifesaver especially in this continuous cold weather!

No 7 Beautiful Skin Hot Cloth Cleanser
I always stock up on this when Boots have their skincare vouchers. This is such a staple in my skincare collection - I can't sing it's praises enough. When I have more energy, I use this product to double cleanse my face. It helps to make sure every last scrap of make up has been removed. It only takes a few minutes but it makes a world of difference.

Lotil Cream with Aloe Vera Extract c/o
Feet are often forgotten about when it comes to personal grooming. This thick, luscious cream is perfect to slather on before you go to bed. Pop on a pair of socks to lock it in and voila you'll wake up with gorgeous tootsies. It literally takes a minute and the rewards will be great!

Super Facialist By Una Brennan Tea Flower Deep Clean Purifying Clay Mask
I found this tucked under my endless toiletries pile and decided to give it a whirl before Christmas. Since then it's become a staple. It only stays on your face for five minutes before you wash it off - perfect for when your bed is calling! It has quite a thin formula so it feels like it dries in an instant. Beware of a slight tingly feeling as it dries - it's nothing to worry about. My skin always feels so refreshed and I can notice the difference the next day.

Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor Conditioner  c/o
As much as I love a deep conditioner, sometimes I haven't got the time or patience to wait ten minutes for it to work it's magic. This product takes just three minutes to make your hair silky smooth. I usually use it around three times a week to help my hair keep it's shine. You'll need a dollop the size of a golf ball and make sure you smooth it down to your very tips. It's fantastic if your hair is feeling a little dry.

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April empties

001: Boots Extract Cocoa Butter body wash
I've said it before but cocoa butter is my all time favourite smell when it comes to skincare. I'm drawn to it like a moth. As always boots extract didn't disappoint. It lathered up rather nice and left a gorgeous smell on my body. I love dinky size body wasahes like this as they're so handy to take away!

002: Loreal Elvive Full Restore Repairing Shampoo

003: Loreal Elvive Full Restore Repairing Conditioner
I loved this conditioner. I felt it made a real difference to my hair. The conditioner made it so easy to brush when I came out of the shower - quite a feat considering how much I have! A lot seemed to go a long way too, making it great value for money. I think I might purchase the set again after my current set runs out. Maybe try something else in the range.

004: Palmers Cocoa Butter Formula with Vitamin D
This product is my holy grail. I've been using it ever since I had a growth spurt at the age of 12 and got my first stretch marks. You can only imagaine how traumatic that was for a 12 year old! It reduces the redness to silvery line and if you use it religiously you can hardly tell they're there are all! It so lovely and thick so feels luxurious on your skin. If you buy any mosituriser make sure it's this one!

005: Clarins Extra Firming Night Cream
This is never something I would ever go out and buy - at least not at this age - so it was nice to give it a shot when it came in my glossybox. As imagined it made my skin feel so soft but you did have to use a fair bit to get even coverage. I can't imagine it's going to a product that lasts a long time!

006: Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream
I got this little sample in John Lewis on Oxford Street where you can help yourself - genius idea! I suffer with terrible dark circles and am struggling to cover them up. I'm not quite sure if this does the trick as it was such a small pot but it felt so smooth and gentle on my skin. A little went a very long way as you gently pat underneath the eye. I'll be making sure I buy the full version when I get paid.

007: Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Reconstruction c/o Aussie
I recieved three of these shachets through Sarah who is an Aussie Angel. It had just the right amount of product for my hair and made a world of difference. My hair had a gorgeous shine the next day. Great news as straightening seems to dull it. Anyone else have this problem?

Have you tried any of these products?

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January Empties

This month I seem to be using up products like nobodies business! I've already done reviews on the linked products.

001: Aussie Take the Heat leave-in cream c/o Blogger event

I picked this up at an Aussie event I went to absolutely ages ago and have finally used it up. I tend to start a product and then get bored and it goes to one side. This didn't make my hair feel greasy which was a giant plus. I can't really comment too much as it's the first heat protection cream i've used but i'd definately buy it again if I didn't nab some different brands from work.

002: Batiste dry shampoo

003: Rimmel concealer

I have no idea what this is called as it's rubbed off but this was my failsafe product to try and disguise my dreaded dark circles. I've brought this time and time again. It glides on nicely and pretty much does what it says on the tin. The only reason why I wouldn't repurchase is because i've now discovered the Collection one. What a god send!

004: No7 Beautiful Skin eye make up remover

005: Marc Jacobs Daisy

This is my all time favourite daytime perfume - Chanel Coco Mademoiselle is my favourite evening. I spray this on by the bucketload. It smells so crisp and fresh. As you can tell i'm pretty rubbish at describing smells but I absolutely love this one!

006: No7 Beautiful Skin dry/very dry Day cream

007: Molton Brown vitalising vitamin AB+C Bath and shower

I recieved this in a glossybox back when I was a subscriber. I'm a massive fan of Molton Brown products - I just don't like the prices. It smells gorgeous and lathers up like a good 'un. There's nothing worse than a shower gel that performs pathetically.

008: Maybelline Colossal Volume express

I adore this mascara, it's one I got back to countless times. I love big fat brushes. I have fairly sensitive eyes and some mascara wands really hurt. This comes off like a dream and doesn't feel too rough on my eyes. It does the job very well indeed.

009: Vo5 High Volume extra strong hold weather resistant spray

Trying out a different brand has made me realise just how much I love this hairspray. It keeps your style nice and solid without feeling sticky and hard. The massive can is great value for money and it lasts for ages.

What items have you been using this month?

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