4 Gift Idea Hacks for Her | Christmas 2019

Shopping for a woman can be quite stressful for some, just ask my husband! – but it absolutely shouldn’t be, and not when there are so many great products and gift ideas out there that every woman is guaranteed to love. Whether it’s your partner, sister, friend or mother, these hacks are set to help you prepare yourself for your Christmas shopping, whether last-minute or otherwise!

1. Take Inspiration from What She Already Has 

The best inspiration comes from simply observing. Yes, lads, that means you actually have to listen! ;) See what she wears, what she uses in her everyday life, how she furnishes the home and what she likes to spend money on – anything which can give you a hint into her habits, wants and needs. This is much easier if the lady in question is your partner and you live with her, so you can see her day today, but if it’s another loved one, take the time out to pay more attention – even if means having a quick scan around when you’re next round at their house. My husband is actually quite good at this, even when I think he’s not listening, he manages to surprise me! 

2. Check Current Stock Levels 

If the woman in question has a certain routine with items she uses – especially beauty items – it might be that she’s running low on her favourite stock. This could be makeup, skincare or perfume, or maybe even kitchen items if she’s a foodie - but definitely not something that you’d benefit from; she’ll see right through it, trust me. Anything which she uses regularly, and which has an expiration date. 

You can then investigate in more detail into the make and model (when she’s not looking, of course) and simply replace the item as a gift. You can buy women's perfume online either to replace her current favourite or go for an entirely new one with similar top or base notes to her current one!

3. Consider Trips Away Rather Than Specific Items

If you’re really struggling to think of anything you can wrap up under the tree, why not think about a trip away? This could be a mini-break for the weekend, a city break abroad or go the whole hog and book a luxury two week holiday - the dream! Best case scenario, you can book the trip for you, too, meaning you can both enjoy this special gift together. For me, I would be over the moon if my husband surprised me with a trip to Disneyland - hint hint.

Maybe she’s always mentioning somewhere she would like to go, or always been hinting about a certain luxury retreat. You can always consider it (budget-allowing, of course!).

4. Ask Her 

It’s always nice to receive a surprise gift which someone has put a lot of thought into, but if you’re seriously struggling, there’s nothing wrong with asking! It may be that she has something in mind she desperately needs but nobody has thought of. She’s probably written a list even!

If you’d rather think of something yourself, you can always buy her the item she mentions and buy a complementary item you have thought of yourself, too. 

She may even simply say ‘Surprise me!’ in which case you might feel a little less pressure to get it right and have a bit more freedom in what you choose. 

Gift-buying shouldn’t be a stressful time – what matters most is the thought, and any woman is going to appreciate that someone thought to buy them a gift, whatever it may be.

p.s. after 9 years of HINTING like crazy, my husband finally listened and bought us a trip to Disneyland! There's hope for him yet!

The 7-in-1 Cleanser You'll Never Travel Without | Tri-Balm Cleanser

As you may know, we like to travel a little so we know there's always so much to think about when going anywhere, even if it's just for a few nights. From trips far abroad to uk road trips, there's always that annoying feeling that you've forgotten something. Planning is one of the most difficult, and most stressful parts of travelling, above the stressful air travel, catching transport on time etc. But we firmly believe that knowing what to pack is by far the hardest. By. Far. Especially if you're hand luggage only.

Skincare | The Best Routine to Guarantee Glowing Skin

Your skin acts a barrier between your body and the rest of the world. You need to do your best to make sure you're looking after it, so it will look after you in the long run. We've put together a few routine tips you can follow to help your skin look the best it can. As we all know, when you look good, you feel good too!

Fixing my Skin with Bee Venom

In this heat there is nothing more soothing than putting my feet in a bucket cold water and chilling with a face mask. My skin is all over the show at the moment and it seems to be in that icky stage between acne and ageing where i only a few short days a month without some sort of problem area on my face and given the current temperatures the last thing I can tolerate is heavy full coverage make up. I am riding the wave of making an effort with my skincare regime and I have really gotten into masks recently, sheet masks are an absolute staple because I am lazy and they are very easy to apply and don't require any clean up afterwards.

The Perfect Girl's Night In With FaceTox

My friend group's a weird one. There's fall outs, there's favourites, there's times when we go weeks without seeing each other and times when we see way too much of each other. Growing up and growing apart is just a part of life that we've come to accept. Our other halves, our jobs and our schedules don't always allow for leisure time to catch up with friends. It's not right.

We had to fix this, and fast.

#BloggersXmas 2016 | Sat 19th Nov | Finch's Pub

Another year, another amazing #BloggersXmas!

When organising these events, we never expect such kindness and incredible feedback from both the bloggers and the brands exhibiting. The blogging community is actually amazing. The offers of help from so many of you was so greatly appreciated! A huge thank you to Juanita Shikira and The Life of Vanisha for coming early to help us out, especially when we had that little crisis! 

10 Things to Know Before Getting a Tattoo

I've been thinking about adding to my two little tattoos for a while. I want another on my ribs and another on my back (down the centre of my spine I think). If you're looking to get a tattoo, a lot of research goes into the design and the meaning behind it unless you really know what you want beforehand. I've been looking for simple designs and places to put them that wouldn't show and wouldn't need covering up. 

Some people look for elaborate designs, sleeves, UV or white ink. Some are after simple designs for themselves, rather than to make a statement. 

But once you've picked your design and found a reputable tattoo artist, what do you need to know before you turn up to get that special design inked on you for life? What do the artists themselves want you to know? Do we expect too much of them?

Working in the tattoo industry is one of the coolest jobs going. Everyday there’s a chance to be creative with tattoo ink*, work on innovate designs and meet some pretty cool people day in, day out.

Here are ten things all tattoo artists wish you knew that would make their lives just that little bit easier.

1. A tattoo will not instantly transform you into a celebrity lookalike. 

Showing your hairdresser a picture of Beyonce won’t mean you’ll leave the salon a doppleganger for Queen Bey and the same rule applies for tattoos. Getting a pin up girl across your arm won’t suddenly leave you with Amy Winehouse’s look and that full sleeve won’t suddenly transform you into David Beckham and have the women falling for you.

There’s only so much a needle and some tattoo ink can do, so be realistic with your expectations.

2. You need to know roughly what you want 

Tattoo artists are skilled, creative and talented but guess what they can’t do? Read your mind. After only knowing you for about five minutes they won’t suddenly be knowledgeable of your style and personality so probably won’t be able to answer you when you say “Er, I don’t know what I’m after really - what do you think I should get?”

Have a rough idea of what design you’re after and where you want that tattoo ink before your appointment.

Also, don't just get a tattoo for the sake of it! Remember, they're there for life, and we've all seen the horrendous mistakes on Tattoo Fixers! Know what you want, and make sure you'll still want it when you're 30, or 60, or 80!

3. Asking someone to directly copy a fellow artists’ work is insulting

It’s one thing to be inspired by other people’s designs but it’s quite insulting to present a tattoo artist with an image created by another professional and ask them to clone it. At least have a look through their portfolio first.

You can even ask them to put their own little twist on a design you have in mind!

4. Turning up drunk for your appointment is not cool 

While it may seem very rock and roll to get tattooed under the influence, it’s actually just a waste of yours and the artists’ time to turn up wasted. Any reputable tattooist will not carry out work on anyone who appears to be inebriated (and be wary of those who will) so all being drunk ensures is that your appointment will be cancelled and you’ll wake up to a hangover rather than some fresh new tattoo ink. Hardly rock and roll after all.

Alcohol also thins the blood, so may increase the chance of bruising and bleeding whilst getting tatted.  If you're worried about the pain, take a pain killer 20 minutes before or find some numbing cream. 

5. A tattoo shop is not a creche

See a tattoo shop in the same way you would a bookies or a nightclub; aka not a place for under 18s.

6. Nor is it the ideal place to catch up with friends

Fair enough, take a mate for a bit of support but you don’t need to have the room acting as some kind of school reunion. Do you really want the person responsible for permanently marking your body distracted by chatter from your mates in the background? Didn’t think so.

7. Tattoo artists cannot predict your pain threshold

Spoiler alert: Tattoos don’t tickle. While some people can actually enjoy the sensation of the needle, others will find the procedure quite painful. The pain is different for each client and depends where your tattoo ink is being applied. Your tattoo artist is not going to be able to predict how you will take it so do not bore them repeatedly asking them how much it will hurt. It will. Maybe a little, maybe a lot - there’s only one way to find out.

A small little tattoo on my ribs felt like little scratches and the day after felt like I'd been hit by a car, whereas the tattoo behind my ear - I didn't even feel it.. at all!

8. Don’t expect to be able to get a whole sleeve done on your lunch hour

You may have woke up one morning and decided you’re bored of your blank canvas of a body and want to transform into an inked god, but be realistic. These things take time and an intricate sleeve can sometimes take upwards of 25 hours of work to be completed so be aware this will not be an overnight transformation.

You may also not be able to do it in one sitting. Shading especially hurts the most and takes the most time, so it may take a couple visits across a couple days/weeks to get your full design complete.

My two small tattoos took 30 minutes in total as they're about the size of a 20p and a 50p coin. They also took about 2 weeks to completely heal.

9. Don’t be shocked at the price of a tattoo

Yes, maybe £100 for a little star on your wrist is excessive, you can be vocal about that if you wish, but normally the prices reflect the design work, level of expertise, time and material it takes to create a masterpiece. You’re paying for a piece of art that will live on your body for a lifetime so is this really something you want done by someone who is happy to do it for a pack of cigars and a pint? Your tattoo artist will have spent time and effort creating your design, training and then spending possibly hours carefully inking it onto your body - their fee is worth it.

10. Please care for your tattoo afterwards

When an artists adorns you with their tattoo ink, you essentially become an advert for their work. If someone likes your tattoo they will ask where you had it done perhaps, and voila - your tattoo artist is receiving fantastic word of mouth marketing. If you refuse to follow the aftercare procedures and look after it as advised it will not exactly become the best testimonial for their skills.

And whatever you do, don’t ignore all the advice given then moan to your artist when your tattoo doesn’t heal correctly. It could get infected and that would be entirely your fault for not caring for it correctly. You can get tattoo aftercare cream from just £2.99.

Have you got any tattoos? What did you wish you knew before?

Laser Vs IPL Hair Removal | Which is Actually Permanent?

There's always been a question of how effective IPL is compared to Laser hair removal. A lot of people think they're the same thing, but that's far from reality!

After having my third Laser Hair Removal session yesterday, I thought it best to answer some common questions relating to hair removal.

For starters, only IPL is possible at home. You can purchase relatively low cost machines which will remove hair at home using low energy light waves. Laser is much higher power and needs to be done by a professional. They both emit light and both are used to permanently remove hair. That's where the similarities end however.

Dependant on your skin and hair colour, the result you get from either type of removal differs greatly, just as the spectrum of light each machine emits.

The energy from the light causes irreparable damage to the hair follicles it targets, stunts their growth and eventually, after enough applications, permanently stops any hair from growing. The light specifically targets the dark pigments in the hair, so those with darker skin need to be careful. Laser and IPL hair removal may cause damage to skin tissue pigmentation as well. This is also why Laser technicians ask that you don't tan for months before and during your treatment.

Laser

There are tonnes of different Laser Hair Removal machines. All for different skin types and hair colours. Pulse Light Clinic*, where I'm getting my treatment done, have 3 laser machines. The Soprano XL which is pain free and can be used on tanned skin, the Nd:YAG which is a specialist machine for darker and Asian skin, the Alexandrite, which is the strongest laser and gives the fastest results, and finally they can use what they call the Duetto which is a mix of the Alexandrite and NDYag (30%/70%) and is used to treat finer hairs such as blonde, red and light brown and can also be used on the fairest of skin.

As mentioned in my previous posts, the laser works by emitting an extremely concentrated monochromatic (single wavelength) light wave and targeting the hair follicles of the area you wish to be hair free. It is very concentrated light of a single colour and form designed to target the melanin within hair. Once the light penetrates the skin and is absorbed by the hair pigment, the light energy is converted into heat. This then travels down into the root and destroys it beyond repair. These then need targeting at every regeneration in order to ensure they don't grow back.

Between 6 to 8 treatments are needed for light skin and a couple more for darker skin.

Intense Pulse Light (IPL)

IPL devices are usually small and handheld and can be purchased for home use. These emit a wide spectrum of wavelengths of light. Because of this, it is commonly argued that IPL is not as effective as Laser. They are only able to target a few hairs at a time, compared to the wide coverage that Laser offers.

Due to the many wavelengths of light, the body receives a lot of wasted and unneeded wavelengths of energy that can actually cause damage to the skin's structure. It cannot effectively isolate the single wave of light needed to target and destroy the hair, therefore IPL doesn't always work and takes many treatments for hair to be completely removed. There is also a risk of burning and scarring of the skin if not done properly. Due to the higher levels of radiation, the long term effects of IPL remain unknown.

For those with olive skin or lighter skin, both laser and IPL will provide the same or similar results. However, for darker skin colours, IPL will most likely not provide the desired results due to the thickness and dark colour of the hair.

Both Laser and IPL are options for both men and women. The most popular areas for treatment for women are the underarms, bikini area, legs, upper lip and chin. For men, popular areas include back, abs, chest and shoulders, along with the face and neck.

With Laser removal, the treatment is only effective when it targets hair in the anagen phase. This is known as the active growth stage - when it's regenerating below the skin's surface.  Because hair grows at different rates, it is only possible to target a few hairs per treatment. Appointments are then spaced around 4-6 weeks apart.

It is worth noting however, that there is no 100% guarantee that either treatment will permanently remove all hair. They promise up to 90% removal. Only electrolysis can guarantee 100%.  This means that one day you may see regrowth, but the hairs will definitely be thinner and more sparse, but at some point (hopefully when I'm 80!) the hairs will start to grow back.

I'm just looking forward to being hair free and not worrying about getting my armpits out on the tube in this disgustingly hot and sticky weather.

Have you had hair removal treatment? Did it work? How long did it last?

You can bag yourself a package deal: 6 x Laser Hair Removal treatments for bikini and underarms only £300! Contact @pulselightclinic at Tottenham Court Road. Tel: 02072054085 to book in. That's the best deal I've seen! Simply quote "deluxe300" when booking.

Holy Grail Product | Dr. Organic Snail Gel

I know 'Snail Gel' sounds kind of weird, and once you know its made from snail secretion filtrate.. you know.. snail slime.. it gets even weirder. But trust me. This is the best product you'll own. 

Handling snails day in, day out, Snail Farmers often had snail slime all over their hands and realised, even in their very late years of age, their hands looked younger than ever. It was then that they realised the healing, anti-ageing and moisturising properties that hid within secretion filtrate.. and lo and behold, Dr. Organic's Snail Gel range was born. 

Used on the face and body, this moisture restoring, soothing and anti-ageing gift from the gods is packed full of organic, natural ingredients such as Aloe Vera leaf juice, Hyaluronic Acid, Carob extract, May Chang oil, Lemongrass oil and Lime oil. 

Quickly absorbed, this gel is perfect after cleansing and works in conjunction with the use of a moisturiser afterwards to give you super soft skin. 

The ingredient within snail secretion is called Helix Aspersa Muller, which the snails use to regenerate it's own shell and skin, so no wonder it's so amazing on ours. This ingredient has lots of healing components such as Glycolic Acid, Collagen, Elastin, Allantoin, Vitamins and Minerals which keep the skin youthful and full of elasticity. I tell you.. I'll be using this right into my old age!

With a gel consistency and citrus fragrance, it's actually very pleasant to apply and because its completely clear, it doesn't gross you out at all. I mean hey, why should snails keep all this to themselves?! 

I suffer from particularly dry elbows and this has completely brought them back to life, full of moisture and look and feel so much better.. and that's just after a few applications!

I would definitely recommend this product to anyone looking for a new skin repair or anti ageing product. You can grab it from Holland and Barrett for just £20.99*. Check out the rest of the range, the Facial Serum is also incredible!

Have you used any of the Snail Gel products? What's your Holy Grail?

Beauty Hack | Nivea for Men Post Shave Balm as a Primer

Many of you will have seen fairly recently a new beauty hack claiming to be a cheap alternative to those expensive foundation primers around at the moment. 

The Hack? Men's shaving balm. I kid you not! 

With a range of different balms to choose from, I went for this Sensitive balm with 0% Alcohol inside, as I have quite sensitive skin. It's a cute little white glass bottle and is only around £5 to pick up at your local supermarket or drugstore! 

So does it really work? As far as I've seen, yes! I've been using this beauty secret for about 2 months now and not once has my makeup come off or sweat down my face. So, I think we've actually done it girls! Screw the expensive primers that you spend £30 on and find out a day later it can't keep your makeup in place for 2 hours, let alone a whole day. Grab yourself a little bottle of this and you'll be laughing!

Nivea for Men Post Shave Balm is a runny white liquid, that could, if you ask me, be made to look a bit nicer, it does kind of look like something else.... But hey, a little goes a long way with this as you literally need a drop about the size of a 5p coin. This means that the bottle will last forever! 

Originally designed to soothe and smooth men's faces after they've shaved, the balm is cooling, moisturising and refreshing. I've seen bloggers complain about the smell of it.. It essentially just smells like men's aftershave a little bit. But I actually really like the smell! It gets masked by makeup anyway so no one else can smell it.

Once you've smoothed it all over your face, got it into the books and crannies around your nose and eyes, let it dry a little bit. It will become tacky to touch. This is what makes your foundation stick to it so well! 

I have seen some negative reviews of this, which claim it doesn't keep makeup on for the whole day, and that it should only be used for what it was intended. But I say, if you use it liberally, let it set a couple minutes and use a setting powder after your makeup, it will last the whole day. And hey, it's a fraction of the price of usual primers! 

I still use pore filling primers underneath to smooth over my complexion, but that's only in small areas, such as my cheek and nose. I apply a little bit of Benefit's PoreFessional and then add this balm on top. 

The main advantage of using this every day before I apply makeup is that it also doubles as being part of my skincare regime. Since using this, my skin has become super smooth and now use it in place of my usual moisturiser as this actually is 10x better than that also. 

So girls, steal your partner's bottle or head down to your local store and pick one up. Even if it's just to wear under a light foundation or to take on holiday if you don't want to take your most expensive makeup, this inexpensive little bottle could save you loads! Not just in money, but also save you from having to reapply make up half way through the day.

Have you tried this new beauty hack? Or know of any other cheap alternatives to primers? 

8 Easter Essentials | Spring Wish List

Getting ready for spring, we've given our houses a big spring clean and have identified some products that we absolutely cannot be without this Easter weekend. 

From skincare to footwear, our wish list covers all the bases to ensure we confront Spring fully equipped.

With my 23rd birthday coming up a couple weeks after Easter (April 20th if anyone was wondering..), I've got to admit that some of these items are also things I'd like in preparation for my birthday celebrations.. points to whoever guesses which ones!

We've been longing for some of these palettes for ages and I cannot wait to have my hands on a few of them.

1. Since it's recent launch, I've been coveting this Makeup Revolution Palette. Fortune Favours the Brave is a triumph of a collaboration with the wonderful British Beauty Blogger whom we met at an event last year. The colours in this palette are just divine! It's hard to believe the palette is just £9.99!

2.  I've been searching for a new handbag for ages and in the pile of 'unlikely' bags I will get lies this YSL beauty. If it were cheaper (much much cheaper) I would buy it, but bank balance unfortunately does not allow :(. Classic Small Sac Du Jour in Fog Grained Leather is just gorgeous but it comes with a hefty price tag of $2,890. Definitely for when I win the lottery.

3. I'm in dire need of a new statement necklace. Something to dress up a plain black dress or top and that's not too pricey (some amazing ones I've seen are £50+!). This piece from H&M ticks all my boxes; short, bold, silver, cheap. It has it all and is just £12.99. 

4.  Another palette Kirsty has been coveting. Tarte Cosmetics Tartelette in Bloom is just so pretty. She doesn't have any Tarte palettes yet but this is sure to be the first of many! 9 mattes and 3 lustres make this the most beaut palette for Easter. £33 and so worth it to have perfect subtle smoky eyes.

5. Kirsty is majorly eyeing the Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow Kit in Gleam. Having used their highlighters before and knows how good they are, she feels she just needs this palette to complete her collection as no others are comparable. Convenient and beautiful at £39.00, you'll love having an amazing spring time glow.

6. My nails are going through an annoying phase of growing and then breaking, despite my best efforts to strengthen and take care of them. Nails from Elegant Touch are my saviours. Especially with the nail guards preventing damage to my nails. These Don't Be Sheepish* Easter themed nails are super cute and so appropriate for spring. Ewe can get your hands on these for just £6.95.

7. With my 23rd Birthday coming up, I've got my eye out on some new Carvela Kurt Geiger heels. I've been growing my Geiger collection for about 5 years now and am always looking for a new pair to join its sisters. How better to celebrate a birthday than to wear glittery heels! These KACI courts are silver, glittery and are even on sale at just £39.99. *Hint hint.....*

8. I love Aviator sunglasses above all other shapes and am always lusting after a designer pair. With the sun finally showing it's face, I'd usually go for Ray Bans, but I thought, as this is a wish list, not a shopping list, I thought I'd push the boundaries a bit and go for a Chanel pair. These pair of Pilot Signature sunnies will set you back $340. 

Other items to add to our wish list would be more YSL lipsticks, the Naked Palettes, Dior Dream skin and Marc Jacobs mascara. Hopefully over the next few months, we will in fact be fulfilling our wish list (unlikely for some items, but we can dream) so keep an eye out.

Do you have any must-haves this Spring? Let us know!

Removing Makeup Before the Gym | Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water

You may have seen my recent post on my winter skincare routine, explaining the importance of taking make up off before bed. The same goes for taking it off before a workout.  I know quite a few girls that wear a full face of make up with fake eyelashes etc to the gym, and even reapply before and after their workout. It may make you feel good. But is it good for your skin?
Personally, I try not to wear make up at the gym, but sometimes my skin is already bad, so try and cover it up as I'm quite insecure about my skin when I break out. If my skin is okay, I don't mind going without. Either way my face turns bright red! In reality, applying makeup for the gym, or not taking it off, is a complete waste of make up, as you'll just sweat or wipe it off.  Think about how much money you'd save if you didn't wear it at the gym! You need to make sure it's completely removed.. I know my gym towel is always orange by the end of the workout even if I've spent a couple minutes wiping as much off as possible! It really isn't good for your skin! Rather than clogging the pores as you sleep, a layer (or several) of make up clogs the pores and forces the skin to harness even more bacteria while you sweat. The bacteria from your skin, from your makeup, from your hands when you touch your face, those floating around in the air.. and then your sweat.. its a germ fest! As you workout, your pores that contain sweat glands become active as you start sweating. Wearing makeup forms a layer, almost like a plug which will stop the sweat from being expelled, but instead being blocked within the pore where the bacteria can be brewed, forming a spot.
Now it's much easier to prevent spots than it is to get rid of them! Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water is my makeup remover of choice. It just seems to effortlessly glide the makeup right off my face in one sweep! I've used it for a few months now and I will definitely be buying it again. It lasts for absolutely ages and gets about 99% of my foundation off, which is a damn sight better than most of the removers I've used. I can't recommend Micellar Water enough!
If you start taking off your makeup before workouts or going to the gym, you'll see within a few days that your skin will really improve!
Do you wear makeup at the gym? What are your thoughts on Micellar Water?

Winter Skincare Routine | Combating Spots with Magnitone Barefaced*

This winter my skin as been so so bad. I'm eating more chocolate and other unhealthy foods (I can't help it!) so I'm having loads of breakouts... mostly over my chin, which is a bit annoying. I'm pretty sure I can also put it down to letting my skincare routine lapse as of late, and also sleeping in my makeup a few nights.  When my skin's been at it's best, I put it mainly down to my skincare routine, rather than healthy eating, although both contribute. Making sure you take off all your makeup before you go to bed is key. Whilst you're sleeping, your skin is able to repair and expel any oils (sebum) through your pores. With a layer of makeup almost acting like a plug to your pores, the natural oils cannot get out, and the bacteria in your skin and in the makeup seeps in, so the pores end up clogging and trapping the bacteria, which then creates the spot. This creates a whitehead. Blackheads come about when there is an opening in the pores develop and expose the melanin in the sebum to air, which causes it to turn black. But its the whiteheads that swell up, turn red and look like ready-to-explode volcanoes. That's what I'm having to deal with. I'm trying to wear make-up for as shorter time as possible so my skin can repair and breathe.  To restore my face to its pre-christmas-pigout glory I'm back on my usual skincare routine, using a combination of various products, alternating for maximum results. These products include the Impulse Acne Treatment (a 3-step daily routine) and Bravura acid peels. No routine would be complete however with a facial cleansing brush like the Barefaced brush from Magnitone. As I have relatively sensitive skin, the normal brush that comes with the Magnitone Barefaced is quite abrasive on my face, particularly around the eye area. To get maximum use out of the brush, I trialled it with a range of different cleansers until I finally found one that not only worked with the brush, leaving it oil free after use, but also helped clear my spots! Upon first use, I was so surprised with how clean my face felt. The two variations of vibrations and pulsations the Barefaced uses in order to clean deep into pores are super effective and really feel like they're doing their job. I was a bit confused at first, as the demonstration I'd had looked a lot different than how I was attempting to use it. I always feel that if there isn't a lather with the cleanser, then its not cleaning properly. This is not the case at all, so you really don't have to scrub it in with the brush, just simply glide it over the skin. This took me a while to figure out. After a couple uses, the brush would actually make the area around my eyes feel really sore, and the lovely girls at Magnitone so kindly sent me the Sensitive Skin brushes to try out instead.  These were a vast improvement! The bristles were much longer and softer and just feel so nice on my face. The best things about the Barefaced is.. well firstly.. it's pink! But secondly, it's completely waterproof, so those mornings when you're panicking trying to get ready for work or uni, you don't have to wash and then wash and cleanse your face separately, you can do both in the shower/bath simultaneously! This also makes cleaning the cleansing brush a lot easier as you don't have to remove the brush head, you can just wash it under the tap. For this I do the same as I would for a make up brush using one of  Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps or Johnson's Baby Shampoo. You can see how Kirsty washes her brushes here. The first cleanser I tried with it was Pond's Cold Cream. This was a bit of a long shot if I'm honest. I doubted that this was the best thing to use, but I'd always had faith in my cold cream and trusted that this was the best make up remover/cleanser I owned. You can see my post on it here. This left the brush really oily and took ages for me to clean it off again. Never attempting that again. Secondly, was a bog standard face wash that I use in the shower. As good as this was building up a lather, it didn't make much difference to my skin and wasn't good at taking make up off either.  I've come to the conclusion now that even though I would normally use a cleanser to remove my make up, when using the barefaced, make up should be removed separately beforehand, so as not to dirty the brush further. I use Garnier Skin Micellar Cleansing Water to remove my make up with a cotton pad. The cleansing brush with then remove any excess it is able to wash out of my pores. I was kindly sent the Impulse Acne Treatment 3-step skincare routine some time ago, and despite using it quite regularly, I never really attributed my complexion to it's use. But honestly, after using other products, I've still come back to it and I can now say that it makes my skin feel a lot cleaner and less greasy.  Applying a walnut sized amount onto the wet Magnitone Barefaced cleansing brush, select the desired pulsing/vibrating mode and glide in circular motions across your face. Firstly over your first cheek, then the other and finally your forehead. Another great thing about the Magnitone is that it beeps when you've used it for 20 seconds. So I divide my face in thirds also and concentrate on each area for 20 seconds at a time. The device then switches itself off, ready to be rinsed.

The second step is then a toning spray which you can either spray straight on as I do, or spray on a cotton pad and wipe over the face. The third step is then an acne targeting gel which is supposed to prevent further spots from appearing whilst removing the current ones. All of Impulse's products are Benzoyl Peroxide free (which appears in most leading acne treatments), which means no redness, swelling, stinging, burning or dryness and are really popular in Canada where they are from. Another Trio you could try is the Clinique Anti Blemish Solutions Set which you can read about here. After a few days back onto my routine, my skin is getting a lot better. But as it was getting pretty bad, I can see the products, and in particular, the cleansing brush bringing out all the impurities in my skin first before they go away completely. I'm at the 'it's got to get worse to get better' stage of acne treatment which always happens when you first start a new routine. I've just got to hang in there. But as this was working for me perfectly before I decided that I no longer wanted to fit into any of my clothes this Christmas, and just eat chocolate non-stop and sleep in my make up, I knew that this would be able to save me again! Combining this with an acid peel every other day using Bravura's products which will really dig deep into my pores and chuck out all the yuckies, I'll be there in no time! Have you tried the Magnitone Barefaced or the Impulse Acne Treatment? What did you think?

#BloggersXmas 2015 | The Line Up

After a few months of tiresome organising, emailing, arranging and collation, we can now reveal the final line up for this year's first ever Big Bloggers Christmas Party!  This post will only be up for 24 hours! and then back up after the event. So this is what you've all been waiting for.. a sneak peek into the fabulously christmassy bloggers party! Bear with, this is a very long post as the response from brands was overwhelming. It's been really great working with all these brands to give you the best day possible; offering samples, exclusives, discounts, insights and future collaborations. They have been very generous in offering their time, resources, products and more. 
The Venue

The event will be held in an amazing pub which combines the hipster and business worlds. Recently refurbished, the 300 capacity venue offers some fantastic areas to sit and chill with a drink or two or relax and dine on their incredible gastro menu. Tucked away in Finsbury Square, Finch's Pub offers so much. We're really privileged to have found such a venue. The Sponsors
Firstly, you will have seen that our sponsors have been very kind as to help promote the event on social media and all have some great things to add to the event. Our sponsors are JournoLink, a PR service that links small businesses to journalists and bloggers, allowing your press releases to be covered by online media without any effort! For bloggers, they offer the opportunity to have access to these press releases as soon as they are available and also allow you to connect with brands so that you can work together on future collaborations. They've proved invaluable since first meeting the brand just under a year ago. All the brands involved are all on the JournoLink website, so make sure you check it out to do a little research before the event. Onedox is another of our sponsors. A fab service for saving money and watching what you spend. Great for bloggers who need to free up some more moolah for their spending addiction (don't lie, we all do!) Linking up all your existing bills allows you to keep an eye on how much you spend and when bills are due. Super useful. Our third and final sponsor is Lash Perfect. The gods of the eyelash and brow world! We were really lucky to get this brand involved as we absolutely love the results you can get with their lashes. A beautician friend of ours has trained in applying their lashes and absolutely swears by them. We can't wait for you all to meet them and see what amazing work they do. The Exhibitors
Of course all three sponsors will have a spot at the event so you can talk to them and find out more about what they can do, but we also have some other exciting brands ready and prepped to meet everyone! There will be a floor plan of each brand's location on the event guide too! First up is T Plus Drinks. We met them at the Pop up Kitchen not too long ago, and absolutely loved the tastes of their tea. So fruity! We just had to have them at this event. Katherine Elizabeth Millinery is a new discovery for us. Her stunning collection of hats and fascinators are simply amazing. I will certainly be checking out her bridal collection when it comes round to it! We're really happy to be able to have Pippa from Silver Ray Healing Therapy perform Reiki sessions on the day. Balancing your emotions, promoting healing in the body and calms the mind. If you're lucky enough to bag an appointment, make sure you let me know how it goes! Fusion is my favourite word when it comes to food. Certainly no exception comes to cakes! Aroma Cake Boutique uses Star Anise, Saffron, Pistachio, Rose and Cardamom to create the most amazing cupcakes! I can't wait for you to all try them! We're all going to gain weight over Christmas.. it's inevitable unfortunately! No doubt we'll all be joining gyms or stepping up our workout routines come January. How better to kit yourself out than to get some bits from Bella Kinesis when you treat the gym as a catwalk.  Definitely check out their range! Got a man in your life? Stuck for ideas of what to buy for them? Or just want something to relax round the house with? Look no further than House of Dreadful. Creatively designed by Sarah Dvojack, their Vintage style boxer shorts are the perfect gift this Christmas. The designs are so cute! Sweet Cheesus actually converted me from hating cheesecake. The incredible flavours are to die for! Our favourite has to be the Cookies and Cream (Oreo!!) Make sure you swing by this stand for a taste! Obsessed with nail polish and all things pretty? Combine glitter and stripes this Christmas! Nice Nails Baby do the most amazing Nail Art we've ever seen! Pop by their stand to choose your favourite design! Chilpa are another new brand to us, but we're so glad we know of them now! If you're ever after a beautiful scarf to keep you warm this winter, Chilpa is the place to go! They've got a stunning variety of colours and designs to choose from! Makeup London Academy not only offer a pretty cool cosmetics range, but also offer in-depth makeup lessons for great value prices! If you just want to brush up on the latest makeup trends or want to contour like a pro, MLA have everything covered and even present you with a certificate once you've completed it! Sign us up for the next one! They're actually offering the chance to WIN a 3 Hour Makeup Lesson! Pick me! Ever felt your outfit just needs that little bit extra oomph to really 'make' the outfit? Tired of your standard high street jewellery? Sheena Bulsara has THE most incredible handmade jewellery we've ever seen! Eye catching and stunning, they're certainly attention seekers! Having attended the Blogosphere Magazine issue 7 launch recently, we cannot give praise enough for the magazine quality and standard of writing that bring blogs back to print! Getting to meet Samantha Marie was certainly the highlight of the night! You'll even be lucky enough to get Issue 3 to take away! Don't forget to check out their offers to buy all 7 issues for just £20! Miglio Jewellery are our final exhibitors and we can't wait to see their rose gold collection up close again! We absolutely adore their midi ring trio and cannot keep our eyes off some of the bracelets! *adds to Christmas list*. You'll get to browse through their catalogue on the train home so you can drop hints to your friends and family for Christmas! The Contributors
Sadly, with not enough space at the venue and staff shortages yada yada yada, many brands got in contact to get involved with this event in some way. Honestly, without them, this event would not have happened, so huge HUGE thanks goes to them for all their efforts and generosity! We've been so privileged with the goody bags for this event! The response from brands has been incredible and we're so happy to be able to share their amazing products with everyone! Designed2Eat have baked some Chocolate Fudge Brownies which are completely free from Gluten, Dairy, Wheat, Egg, Soy and Corn and only contain naturally occurring sugars, making that one healthy snack for your way home! I may suggest saving it to eat with ice cream when you get home.. perfect accompaniment!  With the launch of their new flavours, popchips have given you the chance to taste them! Sea Salt and Vinegar or Barbeque... which one will you get? At only half the fat of standard crisp packets, this is a snack you certainly won't regret! Magnitone are not only offering a #BloggersXmas exclusive discount to step up your skincare game this Christmas, but are also offering the chance to WIN one of their Barefaced skin cleansers on the day! One of you lucky bloggers will be going home with one! Lotil isn't a brand we'd come across before, but we're so glad we did! Winter is a devil for causing dry skin, but have no worry, as Lotil is specially formulated to treat even the driest of skin! Keep yours nice and moisturised with their amazing dream cream. We go through about 1 million hair bands every year (made up stat).. from snapping from over stretching to discarding from being too tight on our wrists to just being lost forever. It's a fact. Like bobby pins, hair bands seem to just disappear! How about those kinks they leave in our hair?! Disastrous! Popband have the cutest, most incredible hair bands and are giving them to you! Wear it on your wrist or in your hair, these bands leave you kink-free! Be sure to check out their Christmas range! We're sure everyone has heard of Gold Collagen? Recently stocking in Boots, this health supplement that you can drink gives you beautiful skin, fights signs of ageing and restores the skin's hydration.. just in one small bottle! Amazing! Drink enough of these and you'll be retaining that youthful glow for many years to come. We're both hoarders of make up brushes. Next haul is going to have to be Crown Brush! With plenty of brushes and brush sets to choose from, you'll be spoilt for choice with their offering of 10% discount! Coffee addiction staining your teeth? You'll be sorted in no time with BlanX toothpaste. No excuses for morning breath over this Christmas period! We're so glad we found The Boutique at What Emma Did. The dresses are beautiful and so very affordable with prices from £7 - £25! She's given you a whopping 30% discount on her range - Amazing! We're putting our orders in now. Take care of your skin this winter with Kiehl's three most popular skin care products. Moisturise, lift and regenerate your skin for the new year new glow! Adding to the festive theme of this Christmas's Blogger Party, we thought, who better to get involved than the most christmassy brand we could think of - Yankee Candle. They can encapsulate the many scents of Christmas in deliciously smelling candles. Cannot get enough of the Christmas Eve scent! Bored of tap water? Mix in a bit of homemade, natural cordial for a refreshing drink from Agroposta. Their five flavours; Raspberry, Elderflower, Lemon, Sage Flower and Lavender have made a perfect addition to the goody bags. We're obsessed with anything miniature. Kiss Cosmetics (now Saturated Colour) have supplied 10 amazing shades of KISSStick minis for you all to try. We love them all and cannot decide which shade is our favourite! From deep purple and reds to colour pop pink and subtle nudes, these are certainly a handbag essential. Claire from Aloha Lola Cards has been utterly incredible. She did the cutest caricature of us both which now sits proudly on our twitter header! Not only does she create caricatures of you, but also does the most cutest personalised cards and gifts for loved ones! Be sure to check them out! She's even created you each a keyring for you to take away on the day! Christmas is all about glitter and sparkles. Barry M have certainly got in the festive spirit with their Dazzle Dust and Glitterati ranges, you're all set for Xmas! Which glitter combo will you get? Competitions
Lots of competitions are running on the day, and the prizes are incredible! We're so jealous! Many of the exhibiting brands will be holding their own competitions, including Healing sessions from Silver Ray Healing Therapy, Brow and Lash appointments with Lash Perfect, a 3Hr Makeup Lesson with Makeup London Academy and A year's FREE energy with Onedox and many more exciting twitter comps! For your chance to win, go up and see what's involved at the stands themselves! Check the back of the event guide you'll receive on the day for more info on how to enter each of the below. Sleek Makeup have given us two amazing products for one lucky blogger to win including  a vampish red lipstick in Vixen and the Storm Palette!  A bottle of SUNKISSED RapidTan in Medium is up for grabs to make sure you keep that golden glow right through to next summer! Magnitone, as mentioned are giving away one of their incredible BareFaced cleansing brush worth £70. We swear by ours and wouldn't ever miss it out of our daily skincare routine. Shipped over from the states, Impulse Acne Treatment is a must have to use alongside your cleansing brush and they're also giving a lucky blogger the chance to win a complete Benzoyl free 3-step acne treatment to use each day! It really works! Danielle from Dot Creates makes some pretty cool stuff! 20 quirky notebooks and prints are up for grabs on Saturday each with one of her slogans on! Finally, you'll also be in the chance of winning £200 worth of Benefit makeup! Super SUPER jealous about this one! Although we do pretty much have all of their products between us! Can't wait to see who wins this amazing prize!
Final Mentions
Stress Free Print and Total Merchandise have been invaluable to us for this event. Without them, there'd be no merchandise, no bags and no gift guides! What a disaster that would be! From the many blogger events we have attended of the 4 years we've been at this, we have taken inspiration from our most favourite in the hope that this event is the best yet! We've also got the pleasure of having Red Letter Days, The Voice of London, Mealz.com, Arbonne and the US' My Valens in attendance! Make sure you go and say hi, they'll be milling around talking to everyone! Remember this post will only be live for 24 hours! (But will be up again after the event) We can't wait to meet everyone on Saturday and hope you all have an amazing time! Be sure to tag us @soeursdeluxe on Twitter and Instagram while you're there, and lets get the #BloggersXmas hashtag trending! We can't wait to see everyone's pics!!!  &  

Dr. Organic Aloe Vera Gel | Soothing Skin after Laser Hair Removal*

Last month I had my first session of Laser Hair Removal at Pulse Light Clinic to permanently remove my underarm hair (so far, all is going well, still very little regrowth!). Immediately after my session, the technician handed me this tube of Aloe Vera, saying it would help soothe the skin and help the follicles heal. The machines used did have an air cooling fan to reduce the discomfort as the laser can reach very high temperatures, therefore the skin may get irritated and feel hot after a session of laser treatment. She advised repeated use would help prevent blistering or crusting that sometimes occurs, and cool down any swelling or redness, so you can continue with your treatments without any soreness.

I often find that pure aloe vera has a very strong odour, which is quite unpleasant, however, the Organic Aloe Vera Gel from Dr. Organic isn't odorous at all! It's Hypoallergenic and double strength, which helps to cool and soothe skin instantly and can be used on all skin types, including dry, irritated or sun exposed skin.

It also brings much needed moisture to the applied area, which in this case would allow the skin to regenerate and help restore it to its pre-laser state.

I literally swear by this gel at the moment. I also suffer from quite dry skin, and with the heat of my flat (the heating's not even on!), it can get quite irritated and can develop heat rash (in October!!). Using Aloe Vera before I go to bed prevents the unnecessary itching when my legs get too hot. I also use it on my face to keep it hydrated and cool my skin if I've had a big break out! Another use would be on my feet. Yes, I know, feet are gross. But to keep them supple and smooth, not dry and neglected, I like to apply a thick layer of Aloe Vera, but not rubbing it in, before I go to sleep and put on a pair of cotton socks and allow the Aloe to be soaked up while I sleep. You can then wake up in the morning with amazingly soft feet! Top Tip: This also helps cracked and/or dry heels!

With my underarms, pre and post treatment, it soothes and cools the skin, meaning I can come out of Pulse Light Clinic in my vest top and not be paranoid that my underarms are glowing red!

If you're interested in having laser hair removal, check out my review of my first treatment at Pulse Light Clinic, Fenchurch Street, London here.

Also make sure you check out Dr. Organic's range of Aloe Vera products, which includes haircare, skincare, balms, butters and pastes! You can find their range in Holland and Barrett stores and can buy this Aloe Vera Gel for £5.49!

Have you tried laser hair removal? What's your favourite soothing product? Let me know in the comments below :)

Homemade Body Scrub with All in Packaging*

There's nothing quite like a good body scrub to prolong a summer tan and keep skin from looking dull and grey. I often rustle up one of my own to change things up a bit from the usual Soap&Glory/&OtherStories etc that I use. It's so straightforward, all you need is a nice oil, a scrubber like sugar or salt and a container to keep it in. Scents and extras are optional so this is an ideal solution if you have very sensitive skin or allergies. These are a couple of my go-to recipes:
Fresh and Minty olive oil sea salt granulated sugar mint essential oil
Nutty and Floral dried rose petals rose essence coarse sea salt hazelnut oil Sweet Vanilla Coconut coconut oil brown sugar vanilla bean paste It's just a matter of mixing the ingredients all together and decanting them into your chosen receptacle- et voilà, scrub!  Equal parts oil to salt/sugar works best for me but it depends on your ideal consistency. These recipes are completely customisable and the beauty of making something yourself at home is that you can pick and choose exactly what you add.  We use the jars from all in packaging, they are very affordable and there are so many to choose from. 
 If you try these out at home don't forget to tweet us your final product @soeursdeluxe xo

Indeed Laboratories | Retinol Reface

I'm on a preventative mission, I have deep lines rapidly developing on my forehead and i'd rather like them to stop. I'm only 24 so I shouldn't have to psychologically prepare myself for grey hairs and wrinkles! I sort of intend on ageing gracefully (if at all possible) but there's no shame in slowing the process a little. Skincare isn't just about skin health for me, although this is a major factor, it's also really important to create the best possible base for my make up. I've had my beady little eye on the indeed lab lines for a while, mostly the hydraluron range but I came to the conclusion that I only wanted it because of the pink in the packaging and what I really needed was a good dose of retinol. Retinol is supposed to be the most effective ingredient for slowing the signs of ageing, and retinol reface is designed to do just that, whilst giving you smooth and hydrated skin.
I like the texture and consistency of the product, its nice and runny without being drippy so it's easy to apply. It sinks in quickly and didn't feel sufficiently rich moisturisation-wise but it certainly did the trick. It feels a little bit sticky and i'm not a huge fan of the smell but in this case, utility outweighs this niggles. I don't love the packaging but its very practical so it can have some points for that. I tried using it twice a day and found it to be a bit much, plus I'm quite set in my ways with my pre-make up rituals. Using it at night left me with silky soft, taut skin so overall I was very pleased with this retinol skin resurfacer.
 I can be very sloppy with my nighttime skincare routine but it is important to use this regularly for the best results so I've been keeping it on my nightstand to remind me to apply it before bed.  If you want to give it a try, it's available from Boots here for £19.99.
xo