Avene Soothing Hydrating Serum Review - 1/3 off Escentual

I always feel as if I only really need hydrating products around the winter months, but thanks to the not-so glorious British weather, I feel as if my skin is suffering from winter weather all over again! 

I think when we all think of hydrating serums, the first that will come to mind for most, is Hydraluron. But, I may just prefer this offering from the French pharmacy brand, Avene, a tad more (add orchestrated DUN, DUN, DUUUN...)

This Avene Soothing Hydrating Serum is loaded with my faithful Avene Thermale Water, and BOY does that addition help this serum pack a punch. I have a great relationship with the water, and it's becoming one of of my favourite products (reviewed here, featured here, here, and here!) the soothing and hydrating properties of both the water and serum are refreshing, and natural, ticking all the right boxes in a hydrating product. The Avene hydrating serum claims to soothe red and irritated skin, and despite this not being something I get frequently, I haven't had any redness at all since using this every evening, after the thermal water, and before moisturiser. It isn't fragranced, which is something I appreciate in facial skincare products, and it is a creamy white in appearance, with a similar consistency to yoghurt.



While I'm at it... Escentual still has it's 1/3 off French Pharmacy brands, including this serum, other Avene products, and the rest of the French brands that we seem to be falling head over heels for. I'm so ridiculously tempted to go crazy whilst this offer is on, but "I do not need anything!" (repeat how ever many times necessary, and remove self from all temptation.)

Bassbuds X Roxanne Campbell - Music meets Manicures

Twitter is pretty darn good for finding out all of what is going on everywhere, isn't it? I used to always wonder what the attraction was to "just another social media" site, but I literally feel like I'm getting enough news (and gossip, shush!) to last me a lifetime over there. Aaaanyway... BassBuds, the company that creates those gorgeous looking, Swarovski-adorned headphones you've probably seen strewn over the internet and magazines shared that they had a new collection coming out and wanted to share with beauty bloggers. So I jumped up and down shouting me, me, me (using the appropriate emoji) and they sent me over the deets of their latest collection...

Now comes the bit where I was intrigued, the collection is actually a collaboration between themselves and Roxanne Campbell, the incredible manicurist, who's nail artistry for SS14 has been inspired by this Fashion collection of headphones by Bassbuds. Nails and music aren't something that usually comes together, but when you think about it, it's is SO clever, and amazing for someone that is completely passionate about the two. (cough, me.) The lovely PR lady, Laura, told me they would sent me some to trial out, and hoped I could do a nail-art look to go along with the new collection. So I got a tad giddy with my Chanel, and hoped in the time it took to set up my camera and tripod, that I wouldn't chip or smudge...

(I did the nail art by painting one coat of the deep pink, Tapage, all over my nail, and placing hole reinforcers on my nail, after 20 minutes drying time, to cover up the area I wanted to remain in that colour. After two coats of the pale pink, May, I slowly pulled away the stickers and sealed with a coat of Seche Vite top coat.)

Each BassBud has a genuine Swarovski crystal on each sound chamber, making them the sparkliest and most fashionable headphones you probably ever did see. Sorry, Apple... you simply don't cut it anymore. An anti-tangle cable (PRAISE THE LORD!) and a call/mp3 control button. 

I was sent the "Harmony" pair, which have a pink wire, red details and mint green buds. I have my eye on the "Eclectic" pair which are the most beautiful lilac shade and canary yellow. -Seriously, can you imagine the gorgeous nail art that could be teamed with those? (I'd have to get lilac and yellow polish first though, dope!)

The headphones themselves are amazing, and easily the best I have ever used. The sound quality is amazing for in-ear headphones, and the memory foam buds make them much more comfortable than some of the others that can be painful to use. The design, meanwhile, just makes anyone with the slightest magpie tendencies completely weak at the knees, and they make a pleasant change to my usual white (now much muddier in appearance) Apple pair.

I can now take extra enjoyment in my Spotify and nail-painting sessions...

Street Style on Sundays #3

Here's me wishing summer would just hurry up... we're all done with winter now, right?!

The long-length and the floaty...

And the shorter...

Now we just need the sun.

Most Visited.

After actually paying attention to my "most visited" sites on my laptop, I realised, that with the front-runners being Into The Gloss, Who What Wear and ASOS, my Internet life really does revolve around fashion and beauty! So then my little brain cells got ticking, and I thought how curious I would be to see what my "most visited" beauty products would be. So pretty much, my most-used, but that's just too simple...

Despite how much I think concealer is a miracle product, I have never found the perfect one, whether it be too pink toned, too cakey, or stupidly sheer, but my MAC Pro Conceal and Correct palette is pretty darn perfect. With it having two correctors, and four concealers, you can mix and match tones for a perfect under eye, and blemish concealer. (I don't like having favourites, but it is the yellow, shush.)

I won't go on too long about Essie's Ballet Slippers, as with this being my third bottle now, I think you all now just how much I love this day and night appropriate polish. Clinique Chubby Stick for lips in Mighty Mimosa has never popped up on my blog before, and is still relatively new to me, but BOY have I used a lot of it. It is a beautiful sheer pink balm, doesn't require a mirror to apply, and makes your lips just look incredible. I can't recommend this enough for someone wanting something subtle for daytime. I keep this in my handbag and it really does get used A LOT whilst I am out.

With it having been fashion week month, I'm sure you've all heard plenty about Bioderma Crealine and Embryolisse Lait-Creme Concentre, as they are both well loved by beauty insiders, and are seen in many make-up artist kits around this time of year. Despite being a pain to get hold of, they are both so worth it, Bioderma, being the easiest way to remove makeup, and Embryolisse being fantastically moisturising all day, and giving you the supermodel glow we all try to achieve.

Blistex Relief Cream, is the most un-glamorous lip balm ever, but is the best for my lips, with it being slightly medicated, it doesn't irritate, and deals with the more severe/sore dry lips. I've truly lost count of how many of these I have bought, so it definitely is one of my most used products of all time!

Moroccanoil is loved by so many people, and I truly say this combination of products was the only way I got my hair to grow so quickly and in such healthy condition. I use these as often as necessary, and they most definitely contribute to maintaining healthy hair.

Hope you've enjoyed this post, I'd love to know what your most visited beauty products are!

Recent purchases (temporary AND permanent)

Thought I'd gather up some of the things I've been buying (and doing!) recently, and share them, cause you know, I have nothing better to do. The fact that these seem to be following a colour scheme is a pure accident. As much as I'm a sucker for pretty packaging, I swear...

The This Works Perfect Legs Gradual Tan (aaand breathe...) is actually a repurchase for me, and has popped up here a few times now, and it is my go-to tanner for my legs in summer given it smells like henna. I think I bought it hoping summer would hurry up, a few days in, nothing yet...

The Kerastase Cristalliste range just sounded perfect for what I was looking for in a shampoo and conditioner, so I thought I'd give these ago when I had a "better than nothing" 15% off FeelUnique haircare.

The Kiehls serum was one I used not too long ago, was unsure whether to repurchase or not, but everything in between has been fifty shades of disappointing, so it's baaaack! And the world-famous eight hour cream? Well... curiousity killed the cat, I felt like I finally had to try it, and so far, I'm pretty darn impressed by this multi-tasking wonder.

My favourite bargain OF ALL TIME goes to this leather jacket from Whistles, which was the only one left in the store, and in my size, and in the sale, and also had 25% off. If that isn't destiny, then what is?

Just look at that... (insert heart eyes emoji here)

I'm in love with it down to the detailing of the little hanger that is actually a chain. Beats a little fabric loop that usually rips.

The weirdest thing you will ever see in a haul type post, but YEP I got a tattoo. It's my first, and despite how terrified I was beforehand, it was pretty exciting. I had it done a few weeks ago, and managed to keep it pretty quiet until it healed.

At least now the title will make sense to you (I hope?)