thesparkleicious : September 2013

9/27/2013

Elemis fresh skin softly softly daily moisturizer & dreamy sleep moisturisers!

Elemis have done a very important thing with their freshskin range because I have always felt there has been a gap in the market when it comes to skin care. For the longest time, I feel like there have been ranges for teens, and ranges for older women, us ladies in our 20's were being over looked!

We no longer need spot cream, but we don't want to overload our skin with heavy night creams, so we need light hydration that doesn't leave our faces oily.

The Elemis softly softly daily moistriser has a lively natural herbal scent and it does feel lovely on the skin. it's slightly thicker than your average daily moisturiser and I would only wear it in the house due to the fact it has no SPF, but it does give your skin some added radiance.

The dreamy sleep moisturizer is an overnight replenishing cream that again,smells amazing and feels nice on the skin, and does feel like it's going to nourish your skin during the night.

At £20 for the day cream and £22 for the night cream they are not exactly budget buys, but as you get a little older it's good to invest in your skin care a little more.

Available here

-Thesparkleicious-

*PR sample

9/26/2013

REN glycolactic radiance renewal mask

Enter the review of the blogger cult classic....scary! This is so a hyped about product that I was so excited to try it, I love anything that claims to be brightening and smoothing, and I just felt like I would adore it....

This is a mask that uses glycolic acid to help your skin look fresh & renewed, getting rid of the dead skin cell and leaving your with a radiant complexion. REN uggest you apply this on clean skin, leave on for 10mins and remove with a muslin cloth (is it just me or these days is everything removed with a muslin cloth?) so I tend to use this on my pamper nights.

My main issue with this, mainly because it has been so hyped up was it just didn't make my skin look AMAZING...don't get me wrong, it is pretty smoothing and my skin did look nice and fresh, but I guess I just has higher expectations. It smeels beautiful, like sweet oranges and I do love the packaging, and the fact it has a pump is always a plus for me.

Over all I do like this mask, and do enjoy using it I just don't feel like it made my skin look & feel as amazing as I was expecting, but that may also be down to the fact my skin is use to these types of products.

Available here for £30per 50ml.

-Thesparkleicious-

*PR sample

9/24/2013

My weight Loss Story

I have done countless weight loss related videos on my channel (you can watch them here) but I wanted to share my story on here as well. My weight gain is pretty simple to explain really, I just took my eye off the ball in terms of eating and working out, and was eating big portions, of whatever I wanted. While some people can just eat what they like and know when to stop, I have to really watch what I eat, and I just wasn't. Plus, I was doing zero exercise.

My weight does fluctuate, but I had gone from my usual 57kg (again, it can change on a weekly basis, time of the month, ect) to a whopping 70kg, which is way too much for my 5ft 1.5 frame. I looked big (for me), my cloths didn't fit me properly, my face was looking extremely round and I just knew I didn't look my best.

(Loose clothing, and my super round face)

So in September last year I was going to a wedding and decided to start losing weight. The time point here is key because, why didn't I get my ass in to gear way before that, why now? and the answer to that is simple: I wasn't ready. You have to feel ready, and you have to really really want it, or you won't give it your all.

I started my day with cereal with skimmed milk, a sandwich for lunch with low cal crisps, fruit as snacks and something like soup for dinner. And on a weekend, I would have a treat day and eat what I wanted.I also started to work out again on my exercise bike, starting with 10mins the first day, then 15, then 20 and so on. I didn't weigh myself during this time, but by November I was back down to 60kg and fitting in my regular clothes, which felt AMAZING!

My problem areas before were all over really, but mainly my hips and my arms, and also my legs. After I lost the weight, the first place I noticed a difference was my tummy, and sadly my boobs that went down a cup size.I took some time off over xmas and pretty much eat what I wanted, and didn't really put weight on, I just felt a little "softer" and once I was home I started using the MyFitnessPal app, to track my calories and generally stuck to 1,200 calories a day, and also started to do the 30 day shred, which did make my body feel much more toned, and helped make my shape look more in proportion. I have always been pear shaped and have had really large hips, but this time around (I have lost weight before) I feel like my hips are smaller and my arms a little bigger, and my body just looks smaller in general.

Working out has been key for me because not only has it changed my my shape, but i'm sure it has also made my metabolism faster, and now I don't put weight on that easily.

I am now 56kg (on a good day, ha!) and just want to make my body look the best, but i'm so much happier because I feel like me. My best version of me.

-Thesparkleicious-

9/22/2013

REN No1 Purity Cleansing Balm Review

REN have launched a new series of cleansers, that rather than being only suited to your skin type, they also come in different formulas (gel, cream, balm...you get the picture) which makes a nice change, and I do love a good cleansing balm.

In terms of texture this is a slightly harder texture than your average balm, yet once rubbed in it's slightly more oily and heavy. It comes with a muslin cloth that you use to remove it, and it works a treat in terms of removing makeup.As with so many skin care products these days it smells like roses, which I love but may not be for everyone.

This would be particularly good if you are someone who likes to keep their skincare clean as REN use no parabens, sulphates, minral oil and more.

At £23 per 100ml it's not super cheap, but it's not going to break the bank either and considering the fact it contains so many lovely natural ingredients, I think it's pretty good.

Available here

-Thesparkleicious-

*PR sample

NIP+FAB Glycolic Fix Cleanser Review

Due to fact my skin hasn't got the best texture or tone in the world, i'm all over products that contain mild kinds of acid to help rectify that.This offering by Nip+ Fab is a high street player that contains 2% glycolic acid and claims to gently exfoliate & retexture, cleanse & purify and hydrate and smooth.

I had high hopes for this, I was hoping it was going to act the same way S&G peaches & clean did for me (but my skin is pretty use to it now) and leave my skin feeling super smooth and slightly raw (what can I say? I like that feeling, it feels like it's working!) and don't get me wrong, it's a perfectly pleasant product, but it's just not hard working enough for me, which can be said about so many of these types of products, they claim to be hard core, but somehow end up just not really doing much (Origins brighter by nature pads for example)

I use this on damp skin, and while it does feel rather unusual in terms of texture (kind of runny, and doesn't foam too much) and it smells nice and lemony, after I rinse it off my skin feels nice, and clean, but no more than that, and I can't say it has tone much in terms of brightening my skin or making it feel smoother.

at £7.95 per 150ml it's not bad value, but not something I think I will be buying again.

Avilable here

-Thesparkleicious-

9/14/2013

Aromatherapy Associates polishing natural exfoliating scrub

Confession: I really like AA products (get it?), they just feel so luxe and smell amazing. I am also a huge lover a body scrubs and my week feels incomplete with a good scrub-down, so this has my name written all over it!

This scrub contains coffee, frankincense, pink grapefruit, seal salt & sweet almond oil, to help detox and cleanse the skin, while leaving you feeling invigorated and polished. it has the perfect not-too-harsh texture that provides a good exfoliation, but still feels nice on the skin. It does leave a slight oily film on your skin, so it's not good as a pre-tan scrub.I apply this on damp skin and then rinse it off, and if you shave your legs it will sting a little (the salt) so bare that in mind.

As with most AA products, the packaging is to die for, but while most AA products smell amazing, i'm not the biggest fan of the scent of this.......it just smells a little masculine to me, but it makes my skin feel lovely, so I can forgive that.

At £36 per 200ml it's not cheap, but then AA products are on the slightly more expensive side anyway, but they have such amazing quality ingredients, and such a luxe feel that they are a lovely treat if you have the spare £££.
Available here

-Thesparkleicious-

9/13/2013

Super facialist by Una Brennan vitamin c+ brighten skin renew cleansing oil.

Nothing beats a good oil cleanser to remove your makeup, because it breaks down makeup much more easily, and i'm all over anything that claims to be brightening, so I was super excited to try this cleansing oil by Una Brennan.

This is described as a lightweight oil that helps to brighten and nourish the skin with vitamin C & olive oil, and more unusual indigents such as rosemary & cucumber oils. It also claims to to dissolve makeup and leave the skin feeling refreshed and soft. The best way to use an oil cleanser is to apply it on dry skin (over your makeup) and massage it all over, and then adding a little water so it can turn in to a milk.

I always remove my eye makeup first just because I feel like it makes more sense and stops my mascara getting all over my face, plus this does sting my eyes a little. I smooth it all over my face and it really does a fab job of removing my facial makeup, but I have to say, i'm not sure why it says it turns in to a "light milky texture" because it doesn't really....it just becomes less of an oil, but not something you can smooth over your skin. Once you rinse it off, your skin does feel soft and clean but I can't say it's made my skin look brighter. it leaves no oily residue, but I would always suggest you double cleanse at night anyway, especially if your wearing makeup.

The packing of this product is something a lot of people have been talking about, while it's certainly chic looking (and rather like Origins packaging I must say) the lack of a pump is the biggest let down. It has a huge opening and it's a rather runny texture, so a pump would work so much more effectively! Another thing worth mentioning is it does smell amazing, really light and fruity, and does feel like a higher-end product that it is.

At £10.99 it's very reasonably priced, and a little will go along way, so I 100% think it's worth a try.
Available here.

-Thesparkleicious-

9/12/2013

Nail Of The Day- Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Ion.

I fear I am a nail polish addict. I can't go a week without buying a new one and lately, I have been loving picking up some of the Sally Hansen complete salon manicure polishes from my local pound shop (another addiction of mine, don't ask) because they always seem to have so many nice shades and are a lovely formula. Oh and let's not forget the oh-so-attractive £1 price tag!

Today i'm sporting the first none-summery shade I have worn in ages (sobs) which is called Ion. It's a pale, muted light grey shade, I love these types of shades because they somehow manage too look chic but cool at the same time. These polishes have a lovely, thick Essie style brush, which makes the application much nicer but I must admit this doesn't give the best finish after 1 coat, it looked very streaky, but after the second it was perfect. I always apply 2 coats of any shade anyway so it's not that much of a problem for me, but you may be disappointed if you love a one coat wonder.

I added a little glitter on my ring finger just for some fun, but I would 100% suggest you pick up this shade if you see it, great for this time of year and a good canvas for nail art if that's your kind of thing too!

-Thesparkleicious-

9/11/2013

BLOG SALE!

I have so much makeup that I feel like I really should get rid of things i'm not really using.....a few rules however:

First come, first served.
Please leave me your Paypal address in the comments and pay within 24 hours.
Please send payment to thesparkleicious@gmail.com on paypal, and be sure to mark the payment as a gift so to avoid those Paypal charges.
Postage is £2.50 for small items & an additional 50p per extra item.
UK only.
Please search for swatches before buying, I will not be held responsible if something does look the same on you.