A Not-so Surprising Lush Haul

It's been a while since I've had a Lush haul where I've bought loads of bath bombs. I do use a good lot of bath bombs over a year but generally I don't take many baths so I don't use too many bath bombs. I thought I'd share a few bath bombs I picked up on my last haul just at the start of last month, some of the products may not be available anymore due to the fact they're seasonal but they may come back next year.

• Monsters Ball: This bath bomb was part of the Halloween range so it's no longer available. I tend to stock up on seasonal products so I can use them whenever I feel like it rather than waiting another year for them but I didn't get many this year. This bath bomb is quite fun because it is really bright which is not what you expect for a Halloween product. This is bright pink and has electric blue inside and is very fun. It smells very citrus-y and contains lime and Himalayan salt. As it is not available online they have suggested a similar product which is the Comforter bath bomb, which I do think it is similar too. 

• Avobath: this bath bomb contains a mixture of avocado, lemongrass and olive oil. Honestly I don't really like avocado but this bath bomb is fresh and simple. There's not much going on with this bath bomb and its not too interesting but it's calming and great for a relaxing bath. 

• Floating flower: this bath bomb contains lavender and almond oil. This is a very fresh bath bomb also and reminds me of the avobath bath bomb as it is a similar shade of colour and doesn't have any surprises inside. The top part is a harder substance and contains cocoa butter, as the bath bomb melts this floats along the top of the water as the name suggests. 

• Peachy: this bath bomb is very fruity as you would assume, it does smell peachy but also of grapefruit and lemon. It's very colourful inside as it fizzes and shows a variety of pinks, oranges and yellow. It's one of the classic Lush bath bombs and I feel like everyone loves this one.

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• IRL: this bath bomb is a collaboration between Lush and Zoella and I believe that it is no longer available. The website suggests to try the Twilight bath bomb as an alternative but I don't think that's the best one I'd probably go for Intergalactic. This bath bomb is rose and orange inspired. When it fizzes more colours come out and it really swirls and spreads nicely around the tub I do wish this had a longer run.

I can't wait to try some of the Christmas themed bath bombs in my next haul and see what they bring out this year. Has anyone tried any of these before?

The Body Shop Camomile Cleansing Butter | Review

I've been on a hunt for the perfect cleanser for a while and I think I've found it. I've had multiple people recommend this particular cleanser to me so I had to go get it. It's the Camomile sumptuous cleansing butter and it comes in a big size tin. I think there may be another size of this but I'm not too sure. This product is perfect for sensitive skin and dehydrated skin. It has a very light scent but I don't really know how to describe it. It's really great for just cleansing your skin but I use it for taking off makeup. It's really good at melting the makeup off your face and I've never had any issues removing any with it.

To use the product you just take a small amount in your hands and rub it into your skin, it easily fades and blends in. It kinda has the consistency of coconut oil and it turns from a solid to an oil very quickly. If using it to take makeup off just rub it in until the makeup starts to melt into the oil. Then remove with either water or a wet cloth, which I would recommend if you want to properly remove your makeup. This has been so good to my skin and since I've used this I feel like it really gets all the make up cleared completely from my face and helps to keep my skin clear. I've had very little breakouts with this and it just feels really smooth and leaves the skin feeling really fresh. You can get a lot of use out of this too depending on how much makeup you'll be taking off which is great.

 I highly recommend this product even to try as it's one of the top products I've ever tried! I really do love the Body Shop products and I can imagine they have some pretty good other cleansers too. Has anyone tried this or any others that you'd recommend?

Top tips to reduce waste and shop sustainably this Christmas

 Everyone knows that Christmas is a very commercially busy time of year. Shops online and offline are bustling with people trying to buy gifts for their loved ones. This year is a lot stranger than most due to Corona virus and a lot of businesses in various parts of the world have lost a lot of business due to the fact they may have had to close due to lockdowns. A lot of small and independent companies will be looking at this busy period to help keep their business growing so it's up to everyone as a consumer to help support local and small businesses for Christmas. A lot of people may not know how to support local as we often shop in big conglomerate companies as they are very easily accessible. I'd like to share my top tips for having a more sustainable Christmas for the economy and for the environment.

- Shop Locally: This seems pretty simple, but I think when it comes to Christmas people tend to veer towards bigger shops and buy more extravagant things. The truth is that smaller shops sell just as good stock as the big companies that we all know and love. I'm sure everyone has a local area full of some independent shops that probably sell some of the stuff that you would otherwise buy online, yet buying the products local helps boost your own local economy and the people that you surround yourself with. Plus you never know what gems you'll find!

- Shop on more independent online businesses - As well as shopping locally, you could shop independently - shopping from some smaller businesses, ones who create their own items. There are some great online shops that help smaller creators, and allow an easy platform to search for products you may like. Ones I use frequently are Etsy, and Redbubble. These sites allow creators to sell their creations online and there are some wonderful products. Obviously this is not the only way to find smaller businesses as many have their own sites but I think it's an easy way to find something you're specifically looking for and compare items in one place.

- Support a creator you like - If you really like watching a certain streamer, or youtuber, or even an artists work, it's a great idea to buy some merch from the creator that you enjoy. This would help support the creator that you like and help fund more content from them so it's a win win.

- Shop vintage - There's a lot of really cute shops that sell a lot of vintage items. I've tried to only buy vintage and second hand recently in terms of clothing in particular so that I can cut down on my consumption and save some items from landfill. I'm planning on buying some vintage pieces for my friends as I think you can find some really unique pieces that I think are individual and really show you put a lot of thought into what you gift someone.

- Look for sustainable products - By this I mean products that come in recyclable packaging, more natural products, and items that will get a lot of usage. Rather than gifts that are made cheaply and will be easily disposed of. Think of gifts that you know the person will use like perfume, or makeup or books, rather than something that is cheap and cheerful. 

- Look for sustainable packaging - I mentioned this in the last point but wrapping paper sales are crazy at this time of year, I don't know many people that don't wrap their gifts. An alternative to wasting all this paper is to but recyclable wrapping paper as not all are - a lot a coated in was or other substances that can't be recycled! Another alternative would be to not wrap the gifts but put them in a reusable gift bag instead that won't go to waste! Or you could reuse newspapers or magazines you've had during the year! It looks pretty cool too! 

I'm considering making a gift guide to help small businesses so let me know if that's something you'd be interested in. Let me know if you have any tips for reducing our consumption and being more sustainable this Christmas period!

C.Y.O. Haul

Just before lockdown I wanted to restock on some make-up. I often use the C.Y.O. foundation as it's pretty affordable and cruelty free. Yet on this trip the whole section had been cleared and I couldn't find any. I was told by staff in Boots that they were discontinuing the whole collection which I found very sad to see. I thought it may have just been that Boots were stopping selling them but after a quick google I found out that everything is discontinued and the site has put up an announcement. I hate to see a good brand go and it will be annoying to read considering the products are now unavailable but I thought I'd share anyway incase there's still some places with stock! I bought a good few things and a few things I wouldn't normally buy as everything was more than half price to clear stock.

What I got: 

• C.Y.O. long lasting foundation - this is something I've used many times before and love the lightweight consistency. I go for the lighter shades and even at that they can come out quite dark but do look nice when properly blended. It's very watery and smooth and lets other products sit on top nicely.
• Triple Fix prime, glow and mist - honestly the look of this really intrigued me. Its a very pale pink which has a shimmer flowing throughout which you shake around and honestly it just looks pretty. I haven't tried it yet but it's meant to prep the skin and also leave a nice glow so I'm not sure how shimmery it is on the skin but is very interesting.
• Plumping Lip gloss in the shade Act Up - this is very nice lip gloss material which is kinda sticky but also very shimmery with little specks of glitter throughout, it's also pretty light on.
• Kohl gel eyeliner in the shade highflier - this is just your basic eyeliner but I really liked this as its a very electric blue which is not something I can say I've ever tried before. I won't get a lot of use out of it but it'll definitely make an eye look pop.

• Take the Threeway shadow, liner and mascara - this is interesting too as it's very skinny and small for something that has a few things incapsulated inside. On one side theres a liner and underneath that is and eyeshadow that you can blend. On the opposite end there's a mascara. I think this is such a good idea and perfect for short trips or something to throw in your bag for everyday use.
• Brow Sculpting pencil - this is your standard pencil with one end being the pencil shade, and the other being a brush. I feel like you can't go wrong with a pencil that has a brush with it it's always a bonus to help get the perfect blend.
• Two clever by half lipstick and liner in the shade Free Pass - I think you could tell if you've read this far that I love duo products or things which have more than one function and this is no different. One side is a liner and the other is the lipstick, which again is perfect for having in your bag and carrying around.

Has anyone tried any products before? What would you try if you could?

 

Body Shop Carrot Wash Energising Face Cleanser | Review

 This cleanser was not something that I went into the Body Shop to purchase. I actually had never heard of this collection before but when I saw it I knew it was something I'm interested in. This product is the Body Shop Carrot Energising Face Cleanser. This product is vegan and comes in 100% recyclable packaging, which is something I love in a product. The packaging also has a really nice feel to it. This cleanser is made from what they describe as 'ugly' or 'wonky' carrots, ones that aren't commercially sellable in the super market that people don't want to eat as they look unpleasing. I appreciate that these carrots aren't going to waste and will actually be used for something. I also really love when you look up this product on the website there is a really clear 'how to use' section. 

I can't say that I've ever used carrots in any of my skincare routines before. I feel like in general skin care products, usually fruits are used rather than vegetables. I was excited to try this as carrots are one of my favourite vegetables. This face wash does smell like carrots and it's very subtle, it doesn't have a strong smell but it is pleasant. This scrub is meant for daily use and although it is a cleanser I would not use it as a cleanser in terms of taking makeup off but more as an energising morning face wash. This makes your skin feel super soft and the carrot feels really nice for your skin. I don't know what properties carrot would have for doing good things for your skin but it does feel really cleansed. It feels similar to using a citrus scrub. This is definitely a product I would re-buy and will probably have in my skin care routine in the future.

Has anyone tried this before what do you think?

Yet another Kiko Haul

If you've been reading my blog for a while or even just read one or two posts, something you'll see a lot of is Kiko. Now there's no shops near me but whenever I'm travelling I buy so many things and I decided that this time I should just do an online order. I was running out of a lot of things and running low on staples so I re-purchased somethings that I have tried and loved before as well as ordering some new bits. Also as I am writing this I realised that I didn't include the lip products that I bought. I got the Unlimited Double Touch in the shade 101, which comes with a base colour and top coat. I love these and I have the shades 102,103 which I love so I thought this shade also wouldn't disappoint but I was wrong. The shade is too light and doesn't compliment my skin tone in the slightest. I also received a free lipstick for a purchase over £50 but I misplaced it so don't know what it was but it was a nice surprise to receive it also!

The first thing I repurchased was the Green Me mascara - now I have tried this before and have been using it consistently. I love their Green Me range as they are very environmentally friendly in this range particularly in their packaging of the products, and I think it looks great. I've never had any issues with this mascara, it's super easy to apply, dries quickly and is easy to remove also. There's a lot of product in the tube also, you'll be using this for months without it drying up.

Pink Clay Mask - This is a hydrating and soothing clay mask. The weirdest part about this mask is the fact that there is no instructions or how to use on the product itself, which I think is pretty necessary for something that you're going to put on your face. It's pretty easy to give it a quick Google but I still find it on that you would need to do that. This mask is okay for what it is, it did make my skin feel soft but I don't think it actually did anything beneficial for my skin. 

Smart Contouring Palette - I again, have tried this before. I got the shade 01 light to very light. This is meant to be a highlighter and contour set, yet I don't think the highlighter part is much of a highlighter. I actually use the highlighter as a powder for setting my makeup, but if you wanted a very subtle highlight this could be a good choice. The contour is a great contour though the shade is very light and blendable they're also very soft powders which are buildable.

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Eyebrow Sculpt Automatic pencil shade 04 - This was another re-buy (clearly loving Kiko) This eyebrow pencil is super handy. It comes with a twist up pencil which is not a pencil feel it's a lot softer and comes out on your eyebrows like it's an eyebrow gel so it is very easy to stroke out and draw. The other end is a little brush which you can use to brush out your brows or fix lines that you've drawn with the pencil. I would highly recommend this, especially if you don't spend too much time on your makeup.

Smart Hydra Shot Stick - I've never tried this before and never tried anything similar. I use facial sprays and toners usually to hydrate my face but I love the idea of hydrating a particular area that may need some extra hydration. This is great for sensitive places and priming before applying makeup and is a great little product to have for sure.

Smart Hydrating Foundation shade 01 Warm Rose - Foundation is something I change up a lot and it doesn't tend to affect my skin what I use. I use the lightest shade as I am very pale. This isn't a very pale shade and does bring a lot of colour to my skin. It's glowy and more matte than liquid finish and I like that in a foundation. You don't need a lot of product for it to go a long way so it does last a while, although foundation is probably the product that runs out the most for me. I would like to invest in some more high end foundations if anyone has any recommendations I'd love to hear them!

Has anyone bought anything from Kiko recently? What are you loving at the moment?

Recent Reads | June 2020

I've always been an avid reader, but my frequency for reading has dropped over the years and I began to struggle focusing on books. Over the last month or so having a little bit more free time has allowed me to rekindle my love for reading. I've set myself a goal to read 60 books this year, which sounds like a lot but it'll push me to work toward it. I've decided to review and recommend some of the books that I've enjoyed. I've done this as a series before and decided to bring it back on my reading journey and it'll hopefully keep my motivation and maybe get some recommendations from others along the way! 

• Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

This book has been on my to read pile for a long time. I've seen it all over instagram and everyone had given it raving reviews, I'd even gotten it recommended to me a few times. The main character, named after the title, Eleanor, is written as a very unlikeable character. This is one of the reasons why I liked her character, to me she felt like a really real person like reading her diary, it wasn't a fake kind of happiness that you often seen in novels. She has many redeeming qualities throughout the novel. She is mainly happy with her own company and the novel focuses on her journeywhere she unwillingly makes a friend and becomes a more sociable version of herself. This book has many twists and points that have you wanting to scream into the pages. Without spoiling it, it's a. book that will be in your mind surrounding its message on mental health and looking after others. This is my favourite book I've read so far this year and I can imagine I will read it again.

• Station Eleven by Emily St John Mendel

I hadn't heard anything about this book until I bought it and then had a lot of people I know telling me how much they enjoyed it. I am a huge Science-Fiction fan and it had been a while since I had read anything as fantasy as this. The book has many different time frames that it is written in that go back and forth interweaving between each other and connecting the story between character's in different times. It begins set in a virus pandemic (how apt) and the majority of the story is the aftermath of its destruction and about the survival of a few in a travelling theatre. This book was very clever in its story line and how it all came together in the end. There are so many characterswithin the story but they all got appropriate time to develop and show their individual story. I enjoyed the flashbacks and present passages in the story and how it didn't have one set narrator, it was hard to figure out at first but it all made sense the more you read. It's thought provoking about what could happen in times of mass hysteria and also solidarity between people.

• Fishbowl by Bradley Somer 

I've had this book for a long time and never got around to reading it. This book is similar to Station Eleven in narrative. There is no individual narrator and the storyline is very strange but it is interesting to see how it progresses. The story follows a fish, Ian, as he falls 27 stories from a building to the ground. On his journey it depicts who and what he sees on his fall. It shows how many individual events are happening in a single moment in one building, and how all these events are connected all together in one moment, and how they build on each other to create a bigger picture. I would love to see another follow up to this with different characters it was very intriguing, and I love books with a style or narrative that is unconventional but overall works.

Has anyone got any book recommendations? I've a lot of books to read to reach my goal for the year! 

Primark Balm to Oil Cleanser | Review

I've been using the same cleansers from Lush for a long time. As much as I love them they are expensive for what they are - I'll probably always still go for them as my top cleansers but it's nice to try some new ones every now and then. I saw this Balm to Oil cleanser in Primark recently, and it seemed to be part of a more eco conscious collection. It included some skin care items and also bamboo pots and brushes of various types which I loved. I only picked up the cleanser as it was the only thing I needed at the time but I would love to try some of the other things I've seen as they seem like a more eco-friendly version of the items that everyone usually picks up at Primark. It's great to see some bigger brands getting more products that are friendlier to the environment and also more natural as I know a lot of people are becoming more conscious of what is not only in the products they're buying but also the packaging too. 

I've been trying this cleanser for the past few weeks by blending it in to my face and using a wet cloth to remove. It doesn't say anything about using this to remove make up but I have been doing so and it has worked perfectly that way. The texture of it is very similar to coconut oil yet the main ingredients are camomile and aloe vera. It is solid until you put it in your hand and it becomes an oil straight away which becomes easy to rub into your skin. It doesn't have much of a scent which is nice about it and it is also very light weight. As it turns into an oil you get a lot of product out of one tub. It's a very cheap and natural alternative to a lot of other cleansers I've used before. It has also been very soft on my skin and feels moisturising. 

Has anyone tried any good cleansers that they would recommend?

Lush Marshmallow Bath Bomb | Review

Long time, no Lush review. I tried the Marshmallow World bath bomb twice and it's becoming a favourite of mine. This is one of the sweetest bath bombs out there so if you have a sweet tooth you'll love it. The main ingredient is sugar, also with vanilla and marshmallow powder (which I didn't know was a thing until now). It smells like it's straight out of a candy shop. It smells like a fizzy strawberry sweet and it is so refreshing and pleasant. It's also enjoyable to relax in because it's not an overwhelmingly strong scent. It's also one of the bigger bath bombs that Lush sells which is always a bonus. 

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Marshmallow World is mainly pink in composition, but also has streaks of white, blue and yellow. When dropped in water it fizzes and turns the bath a pretty pale pink colour. It then mixes with the colours that it is streaked with. These colours are all really pale shades and when they mix together they create some new colours that are even more vibrant. It has one of the prettiest end colours I've seen. As it's a bigger bath bomb it swirls around the tub for a long time and it's visually pleasant. I found that it foams really nicely while it fizzes also leaving a nice fluffy layer to the bath water. 

Has anyone tried this bath bomb before? What do you think of it?

Lush Haul | First Impressions

It's been a long time since I've done a Lush haul. I've been using up all the products that I've accumulated and don't get a chance to use so I have slowly depleted my collection. I ran out of bath bombs and bubble bars so I decided now is a good time to try some new Lush products that I hadn't tried before. It is definitely a different experience ordering from Lush online rather than being in store. Mainly due to the fact that you can't smell the products and you have to rely on the description. I picked up a few things that I thought I would enjoy, I bought three bath bombs, Marshmallow World, Strawberries and Cream (which I used before I took the pictures), and Dirty. Also, two bubble bars, Party Popper, and Abracadabra. I haven't tried all of these yet so they will just be first impressions.

Starting with bath bombs, Strawberries and Cream was the first one that I used as it smelled the best to me. It smelt as it is named, what I loved is that it was sweet but not a fake sugary sweet, but a gentle fresh kind of sweet. This bath bomb has a creamy middle and two crumbly sides that shape it like a strawberry. This is a very small bath bomb and the scent isn't over powering when dropped in the bath, but it does linger after on the skin for a few days which is really nice. It leaves the bath a mixture of red and pink.

The next one is Marshmallow World, which I have written a review about that will be up next week, as it is one of my favourites I've had in a long time. Intergalactic is still forever my favourite.

The last bath bomb is Dirty, and I am very disappointed with this bath bomb, the smell is not for me. I know it's based off the popular Dirty scent, but it is very musty and dry smelling. It is slightly citrus-y but not enough for me to enjoy it. I think I will like the colours when I use it in the bath as it is a multicolour of varying shades of green, blue, and yellow, and I think that they would blend well together. I hope that it surprises me but I'm not looking forward to using it. If I smelled it in person I know I wouldn't have gone for it so it could be a good thing to try something new. 

 

On to the bubble bars, the two that I picked I chose because they looked like a lot of fun. The first one is Party Popper, which is shaped like a party popper. The detailing on this is cute as it has flecks of colour underneath and I'm guessing through out also. It's a swirling of orange and yellow and it's definitely one of the more vibrant shades Lush has. I can't wait to try this one out and it smells great too, very bright and cheerful in scent and looks.

The last product that I purchased is the Abracadabra bubble bar, which is shaped like a magic wand. It's a very small and skinny bubble bar, with colourful stars at the end (I'm guessing to show the magic). I really like that this product smells very different to other products. It's very subtle for Lush products, it's very natural scented, almost like lavender and lemon but also smells bubbly (if that can be a scent). This won't last as long as other bubble bars but it is cheaper than a lot of others too so it might be a good option to try if you haven't tried any bubble bars before. Also looks like a lot of fun for kids to use.

Has anyone tried any new Lush products recently? What are your favourites?

Harry Potter Studio Tour | Review

At the very start of the year I got to visit the Harry Potter Studio Tour in London for the very first time. Upon looking back at some photos I decided to post about the experience there in case any one is interested in making a trip in the future. It is the place to be if you love the movies as the majority of the movies were filmed there in the studios that were there before they dedicated the space purely to the tour. The tour is longer than I could've imagined, you can wander by yourself at your own pace but there is a lot to get through and if you're a huge fan you'll want to take your time. This post will be full of spoilers about stuff that happens and what you can do in the tour so don't read if you want to be surprised on your visit! 

The first section is mainly props from each of the movies. One of the most exciting pieces for me was the Great Hall set-up. They had decorated it as if it were Hogwarts in the snow (they change it every once in a while to match the seasons and change it up a little if you visit often). We went during the Winter months so everything was snow-covered. The Great Hall was set up as if it were a scene in the movie with the tables decorated with food and garnishing and there are members of staff giving you information about the set and doing some small demonstrations. There was then a section full of various props from horcruxes, to costuming, to wands, and building pieces including Griffindor common room. There is an option to buy interactive earphones to hear about each display but I opted out as I like to read the signs and explore at my own pace usually. My favourite pieces from this section were the entrance to Dumbledore's office and the common room. 

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There were a lot of photo opportunities in each section of the tour, some including green screens and interactive pieces. There were also wand classes and interactive spots in-between and a lot of the behind the scenes into how they filmed/shot certain scenes like Quidditch. I loved how the tour was split up. The next section was into the forbidden forest (which you could skip as it is a little scary) it was so well done and the effects in that area were really realistic, if you've seen any of the movies you know how many creepy things live in that forest. When you come out you then get to see the Hogwarts Express and platform 9 3/4 for the first time, at first I thought it was just another photo opportunity, which it is, but you can also get on and explore different scenes from different films. After that you're able to head outside and visit some of the outdoor sets including The Night Bus, Privet Drive, and one of the pieces of the outside of Hogwarts. There's also a little cafe to refuel, with Butterbeer which you need to try if you haven't already. You can get it in ice-cream form too if you prefer but it's not made out of beer at all either way. It's a root beer mixture with cream poured on top it is very sweet but very nice.

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It took roughly two hours to complete the first half of the tour. I would consider this part the longest due to how much there is to see and the interactive elements. The next part is a more in depth look into behind the scenes, where there is detail into how costumes were made and the CGI effects which surrounded them. This showed a lot of detail into the creatures in the films like Dobby and how he was animated, as a lot of the previous props were inanimate. There was a lot to see here and you could spend just as long here especially if you're into special effects and makeup. There is also a section on different conceptual designs and inspirations from various artists. There is more set like pieces then where you can enter Diagon Alley. This was amazing to see the detail that was put into each shop to make it equally as individual and unique to the next one, definitely put you right in the movie scene. There was also a set for Gringotts at the end which was equally as stunning and detailed. Although Gringotts wouldn't be the place I'd want to visit first if I was in that world. There is then another interactive scene which I believe is new in this area, where a dragon seems to come toward you and breathe fire. It is very atmospheric and very clever visual effects to do the stunt, I'm sure there's videos online if you want to watch, but i recommend leaving it until you see it in person for the full effect.

The last little bit was probably my favourite and the most interesting to me. There was a huge replica of the Hogwarts castle all decorated under a snow effect. This was just magical to see. The detail of it is remarkable, and this was a set piece that was used throughout all of the movies to get shots of the castle for long distance shots. It's crazy how realistic it is. There's a lot of information about how it was build and its uses in the film around it and it was so stunning, I probably spent the most time here surprisingly. 

At the end of the tour there is a huge gift shop full of every thing you could possibly want from the wizarding world. Overall I really enjoyed the experience and I would recommend it. It is highly worth the money and you get a full days experience from it. It's not too far from London and if you are visiting there are tour buses that will do a day trip for it, and also scenes around London where they also filmed the movies. I would love to visit again in the future in a different season maybe when they do something new with it or go with someone who hasn't been before but it's a lot of fun.

Has anyone else been here before? What do you think?

Glamglow Mud Mask | Review

During quarantine I had a lot of time to try out different face masks I've had around and use up different products I don't always get the time to use everyday. I got these Glamglow masks as a gift and I've heard great things about the brand so I was really looking forward to see what they could do for my skin. They are the Gravitymud and Supermud masks. 

These are masks that are to be left on for 15-20 minutes and are used in different ways to clear your skin. They are both very different to each other in terms of texture - which I feel is important in a face mask. My favourite is the Gravitymud this formula is a shimmery silver which is strange for a face mask and it is very sticky in texture. This face mask hardens on your skin and becomes a peel that you peel off as one whole which helps cleanse your skin. This makes my skin feel really soft and does help pull pores out but not very much. The other mask the Supermud I don't like as much this is more of a black charcoal scrub which you let dry into your face and you wash off instead of peeling it. I haven't noticed much happen from using this mask and I hate how it looks so I don't use it much. The only downfall to both is that they both have a really strong smell which isn't great when you're putting it on your face. They do seem like high quality products

Has anyone tried any of these before? Any thoughts?

Looking for New Blogs to Follow and Recommendations

This is a very different style post. I realised that it's been a long time since I've followed some new blog accounts/bloggers. I recently gained access to Bloglovin' again after leaving it for so long and realised a lot of the accounts that I follow are old/vacant accounts that don't post much anymore. Also the things that I would've loved reading about years ago are so different than they are now and I would love to continuously grow alongside my tastes. Honestly, I love reading about everything from general fashion, to politics to food posts. I've wanted myself to branch off into a few different blog styles too just to write about everything as I just love writing and need to refocus my time reading other people's work to help me on my journey too. I would love some recommendations of accounts to follow. Feel free to comment your own blog below or your current favourite blog below and show them some love! I will be checking them all out! If you want to follow me on Bloglovin' you can by clicking here. 

I've also noticed that Blogger is changing up their look and platform and it feels like a long time since I've seen anything change here so I am very excited to see this. It's almost giving a new lease of life to something that has been the same to me for so long. As much as I don't love change, it always pushes me to do better so I'm happy for that. I'm sure others feel the same. 

I feel like the blogs that I've been reading recently have all felt one note and all of the same variety and I would love to see some more unique posts. It's often why I take breaks from blogging as it often feels un-motivating to see every blog post the same recycled posts every day, but again I'm probably looking in the wrong places so I need a nudge in the right direction. 

I can see that this post is mainly ramblings but I just want to open up conversation a little bit that isn't limited to a single post! Generally in this post I just wanted to get some recommendations of things people have been enjoying, favourite books, movies and hobbies to help inspire me! I'd also love to know where everyone reads their blogs and what's everyone's favourite type of post to read? I don't expect many people to respond but I love hearing stories and sharing things I love with people (hence the blog obviously) so please let me know!

Kat Von D Best of Nudes Set | Review

I used to love experimenting with colours in terms of lips and makeup in generally but lately I've my time spent on doing my make up is not so much as it used to be, so nudes and natural colours and minimal looks are a strong go to recently. I have tried many of Kat Von D's liquid lipsticks before, but never the lipsticks, and this set offered a mixture of lots of different nude shades in a small mini version of it. They come in a set of six and I couldn't wait to try them out and see if they were just as good as the liquid lipsticks which I love. I've been using these for a while and there are some I haven't tried a lot and some I use all of the time. This is the Best of Nudes Set, some of which I have shades in the liquid lipstick also.

These shades are all very dark nudes in my opinion. They're all very brown toned shades. Also a lot of berry shades. The darker shades are the ones I haven't worn much, I prefer them in liquid lipstick form. The lighter shades like Bow n Arrow and Ophelia would be my favourite shades and are very easily worn. This set is all mini versions of the shades which I think is always a nice way to try different shades and not wasting as much if they're not for you. Plus you can't really go wrong with a nude shade set for money and wear value.

I don't love the formula of these lipsticks. I feel that it's the most dry consistency I've tried before. It's not very hydrating and it's more of a chunky consistency so you can really put anything else on top to help it. They do tend to stay on your lips for a longer time than most softer lipsticks because of this so they don't need as much use. They are very matte to wear which I love. I do prefer all of the liquid lipsticks I've tried of the same shades. They tend to come out nicer, last longer, and feel overall nicer to wear. 

These are in order, Crucifix, Sanctuary, Hawkwind, Piaf, Ophelia, and Bow n Arrow.

Has anyone tried anything Kat Von D before? What's your favourite shades?

My Five Least Favourite Musicals

I find it very hard to dislike musicals, I tend to find good qualities in them all. There's a lot of musicals that I don't exactly like but I can still appreciate something within them maybe for trying something or certain songs within. But usually I don't like musicals when I can't get into them or relate to what they're trying to say or just plain connect with them. The musicals on this list are musicals again that I have seen or know a lot about, just to have a fair comment on them. I am always willing to see new productions of shows though to see what they're like.

• Number five is probably surprising to most but it's the Phantom of the Opera. I love the style of this musical and there are a lot of iconic songs. Yet the story doesn't do much for me, I feel like it's missing the emotion that a story like that should have. I don't like opera music as much as other styles so I did veer from listening to this for a while but I have gotten into it over the years. The staging is fantastic and I have seen the show live but it's not a show I get excited for. It's definitely a classic show for a reason but I would love to see a few changes to the story or how it is acted. Although I have never seen Love Never Dies which comes after this musical so maybe I would like that.

• Number four An Officer and a Gentleman - This is a very niche musical that I have seen more than once. This musical is based off pop music from the 70's/80's and it's all meshed into the show to fit the story. I think in this way it doesn't work as well as music written especially for the show. It does all fit and there are some great songs in it but it's not specifically overwhelming. The storyline is very average and I don't remember any character's name. I don't think it is one I would see again. But it is a lot of fun it's a feel good show so I will give it that. 

• Number three is Rent - now I feel like I can't judge this as much as the other's as I have never seen this live but I am basing it off the movie. I do love the storyline and the interweaving of the character's in the show. I also like a lot of the rock vibes within the music but the songs are unmemorable and not interesting to me. I felt bored throughout and didn't feel a connection to any of the characters and didn't care what they did. I would love to see it to see what I think live rather than listening to it but I will always skip it when it comes on.

• Number two Avenue Q - I really thought that I would love this. A comedy musical with puppets sounds so interesting but it really fell flat with me. The humour was really dark and although it was funny it became too much for me really quick. Some of the jokes dragged on and some scenes were so inappropriate that I just wanted to leave and I never wanted to leave a show before. I think it could do with a little rewriting to maybe entice a wider audience, but I can't bring myself to listen to it again and I would not see this again.

• Number one Hairspray - My least favourite musical is very controversial to most. I may have just listened to it too much when I was younger but I don't find any of the music catchy, I just find it annoying. None of the songs hold any value for me and it all feels like nonsense. I love the fashion and style and quirky nature of some character's but I think its a very childish musical and can't feel any emotion toward it. It may be a lot of fun and very colourful but I don't like the musical style and it's not impressive to me in any way.

Other musicals which are not my favourites include Sunset Boulevard, Cats, Chicago, West Side Story. This is just based off what musicals I always skip on playlists or I'm never in the mood to listen to.

Does anyone have a least favourite musical?

My Top Five Musicals

I am a huge musical enthusiast, and I love everything theatre related. There's something about the atmosphere of being in a theatre, and there's something very raw, emotional and powerful about each actors performance in a show. Especially as the actors skills are put to the test, physically, emotionally and vocally. I think it's very impressive to translate a story into music and how every individuals performance varies from another playing the same role, it's magical. I thought I'd suggest and discuss my favourite musicals today, as I don't think I have ever discussed it but I'd love to hear recommendations on ones I may not have given the time to. I also might do my least favourites later on as I have a lot of thoughts and a lot to discuss. Also all of these favourites which I have added to my list have been ones that I have seen so I can judge better.

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• Number five on the list, which was a hard list to compile, is Waitress. I feel like this musical has a very different tone than a lot of others. A lot of the songs are slow and there's not as many characters and intricate routines as a lot of other Broadway/West End shows. I love the simplicity of the routines in this show. The ensemble beautifully joins into the songs and harmonies while not taking away from the main characters. The emotions are very strong in this and there are also a lot of power ballads. Plus this was I believe, the first fully female produced Broadway production, plus three strong female leads is amazing. I would recommend this, like everything on the list, if you like upbeat rhythms but also slow and emotional songs.

• Number four - Hamilton, I feel like I'm growing away from this musical slightly, which might anger people. This seems to be the most popular musical on the planet at the moment and tickets are like gold dust. I was lucky enough to see this and it does live up to the hype, everything about this is beautifully calculated. Lin Manuel Miranda is a musical genius. The story has taught me a lot about American history for sure, and the music is very mainstream and different to that 'typical' musical music style, which is why I think it's so popular. Every song in this musical is so catchy and it's definitely not going to loose its momentum anytime soon.

• Number three - Miss Saigon, I love historically based musicals, they're just so emotional and powerful that not much else can compare. The composers of this are my all time favourite and if you didn't know it's based off a picture from the Vietnam war. The story is so powerful and the details within for all the character's is just crazy. The staging for this is the best I've ever seen. I don't want to give spoiler's for anyone who doesn't know what happens but there is some really crazy and intricate stage piece moving and some cool pieces all together. I would recommend seeing this live.

 

• Number two Heathers - This musical again has gained so much popularity recently due to the recent production starring Carrie Hope Fletcher. This, like Waitress is based off a movie, and it's a very teen based musical. I don't love the story line too much for a musical but the upbeat and quirky nature of the music makes me love it. The staging isn't as great as other musicals I've discussed but I love the style even though admittedly it took me a long time to get into it. It's very comedic compared to a lot of others and it shouldn't be taken as seriously as something like Miss Siagon. 

• Number one Les Miserables - This has always been my top musical. I think maybe most people's favourite musical for so many reasons. The score is just so beautiful, done by the same composers as Miss Siagon, you can see why I like it. There's so many interweaving storylines, variations in characters, a powerful ensemble and so much emotion within every song. There's been so many versions and I've seen so many productions, some better than others but I never get tired of hearing any of the songs, and I will never skip one on a playlist. If you have never seen or heard this you need to ASAP.

Honourable mentions that i have include, Anastasia, Six, Beetlejuice, Sweeney Todd, The War of the Worlds, Into the Woods. These are all musicals I enjoy but I haven't seen all of these live before so maybe my top few will change when I can appreciate these fully, although Six may be the only one on at the moment.

Let me know what your favourite musicals are and why I'd love to hear!

Netflix Recommends

It's definitely a time to catch up on shows you're behind on or to watch all the shows that you've been dying to watch and have been too busy to watch. When it comes to Netflix there are always certain shows that get hyped up and you can see them everywhere. I have been one to be easily influenced into watching things others watch or even what Netflix recommends so these are the things that I have currently been watching, I'm sure a lot of people have watched the majority already. I'm posting this a little later than I meant to.

• Brooklyn Nine-Nine: If you haven't already watched this show this is your sign to do so. This is a comedy, one of the better ones that has come out in a while, based in a police station. The characters all have their unique quirks that are played on in every episode although they never get much work done (it's definitely not a cop show). I haven't heard of anyone that dislikes this show. The newest season, season six has just been released on Netflix so there's a lot to watch or catch up on! 

• Love is Blind: this show has been talked about every where. I'm going to write about it as if no one has watched it. The show is a reality dating show where the participants are put into what is called a pod, a soundproof room in which you can only hear the sounds from the pod in front of you. Meaning that the people literally go on blind dates. They are trying to find someone to marry without having ever seen them. Throughout the show they have to find the struggles of only knowing someone mentally rather than physically. I did find the show really interesting but it is very dramatic at times in the way you can't help but feel a lot of it is set up or just done for the show. There is some very cute couples that have come out of the show though so it is interesting to follow their journey. I'm not usually one for reality T.V. either so I do recommend regardless of what you usually watch.

• 100 Humans: This show is more like a survey show, a kind of scientific show but entertaining to watch. A group of 100 humans, varying in age and gender etc are surveyed and put under various tests to find out why certain people do things, if things can happen and generally testing hypothesis. The results of certain questions were very interesting and it was cool to see the way in which they went about getting the results and tests for the show. It does get a little bit repetitive but the questions are answered within about ten minutes so it is really easy informative watching.

• RuPaul's Drag Race Season 12: I've watched all seasons of RuPaul except for UK so far and it is a show that I have consistently enjoyed. I think that this is one of the strongest seasons yet, and I have been annoyed at some of the decisions made so far within the show. It wasn't the best at the start but the episodes are getting better each week. The only thing I'm not enjoying as much is that it's coming out weekly so you can't just binge the whole thing at once unfortunately. 

• Tiger King: This show is one I didn't really really want to watch originally as I just didn't think I would want to watch a show about tigers. But after seeing people posting theories about different people within the show I decided I needed to join in and weigh in also. The first episode didn't maintain my attention but I kept with it and it does get much more interesting but it wasn't something that I'll think about again and I didn't really find myself paying too much attention to it and left it on in the background but I can see the appeal to it. If you like real life documentaries and true crime cases you'll probably enjoy it.

What has everyone else been watching recently?