Nip + Fab Yoga Blend Shower Gel

Nip + Fab Yoga Blend Shower Gel
£7.50

On a recent trip to good old Superdrug, I was browsing the shower gel section and found this Nip + Fab shower gel on offer at half price. So, being me and loving a bargain, I picked up the Yoga Blend scent to try out. This was for a number of reasons - I love doing yoga so the name appealed, and the scent is just a delightful combination of creamy coocooning loveliness perfect for an evening shower (I prefer to shower in the evening to wind down, part of some kind of bedtime ritual I've got going on which I might make a post about, it also includes some bendy yoga times which is quite apt). It's a mixture of rose, coconut and lavender, which are three of my perfect wind-down scents and are blended in a way which smells very natural and not synthetic at all. It was definitely my preferred scent out of the three Nip + Fab shower gels which were on offer at the time.

The product produces a generous lather on the sponge and leaves skin feeling soft and fresh. It is indeed perfect if you want to rinse off post-yoga or just unwind before bed. It's quite a big bottle too, so although it's on the pricey side it's worth it for the amount and the quality of product that you get. I am also keen to try out the matching body cream in this scent, so watch this space...

Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette

For my birthday gratefully received the gift of the NAKED 2 palette from Urban Decay. Now, I've been after one of these bad boys for quite a while. I rarely wear anything apart from neutral eye shadows (boring I know, but I prefer loopy bright coloured lipsticks so somethings got to give), so one of these selections is the holy grail of eyeshadow palettes. This was also a very practical gift, as my usual eyeshadow staples, (apart from the MUA budget version of this, the 'Undress Me Too palette) which are the L'Oreal celebrity palettes (Aishwarya Rai (green), Doutzen Kroes (pink/grey nudes) and a gold one (Frieda Pinto) that I have basically run to the ground and they have stopped making them unfortunately. 

Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette

 I gunned for the Naked 2 palette over the other two as the variety of colours it featured were the most appealing. I prefer my neutrals on the beige/gold side rather than pink, and I also like to have lighter pearlescent shades to highlight which this version seemed to house more of. The eye shadows themselves are wonderfully silky to apply, and the brush is great with one end for sweeping over colour and another for contouring with the darker shades.

The palette also came with a trial selection of the four versions of Urban Decay's famous eyeshadow primer potion. This is another product which I had on my proverbial 'to try' list, and again I wasn't disappointed. It provides a smooth and brightened eye lid base upon which to apply the colour, and as you only need a tiny bit I'm still using the first tester I opened and my birthday was in January. I gave one of the samples to my mum who likes to wear the primer alone sometimes for a natural but polished daytime look.

Overall, I am currently saving this Urban Decay Palette for high days and holidays, and using my MUA version for everyday running about make-up or if I'm wearing glasses. For the versatility of looks to create and quality of the eyeshadows Urban Decay Naked palettes can't really be beat - there is a reason why this is such a sought after and famous product.

(Please also excuse how this was attractively photographed on my bed sheet, it is right by the window and had the best light to show off all the colours!)

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Waitrose Pure Eye Gel

Waitrose 'Pure' Eye Gel £1.99

Whilst doing some special groceries in Waitrose, I came across a stand introducing the new 'Pure' skincare range which was being ushered in at half price. Beauty products are a new venture for the supermarket chain, but you may remember some years back when the baby bottom balm from Waitrose caused a sensation moonlighting as a ladies (face) moisturiser. I decided to pick this up as it as a) £1.99 on offer and a bargain, and b) I have been trying a sample of an eye gel from REN which I really do like but can't afford the big version (plus, at 23, probably don't need to be spending out on a heavy duty eye gel just yet). I mainly use eye gels for dark circles and wrinkle prevention, save guarding from having to swipe off waterproof mascara every night with cotton pads around the delicate eye area. This is also a generous sized product - as you know with eye gels and creams you only need the tiniest of pea sized drops to dab around the exterior of the eye, and this is a nice tall tube of product for the price.

The verdict? I am impressed! As I say, luckily I haven't even a whisper of wrinkles yet and although I have dark circles I don't suffer from eye-baggyness, so can't take my word for it in that respect, but it is a refreshing, cooling, unscented gel which calms the eye area and makes it appear brighter in the morning if applied before bed. A really good purchase if you are looking for a simple summer eye gel which is good for sensitive skin.

E.L.F Cover Everything Concealer

In my quest for the perfect contouring kit, I explored old faithful E.L.F. for some budget alternatives to the likes of the most famed but notoriously pricey Kevin Aucoin products to highlight and define.

One of my first steps was to purchase a yellow-tone concealer for the under eye area. Now I can't remember where I saw someone use a yellow under eye concealer during a contouring routine - it may have been Carli Bybel or Nicole Guerro - but it helped to even out and highlight the under eye area simultaneously.


I had already purchased the E.LF. Contouring Bronzer and Blusher Duo which I was really pleased with, and a highlighting Palette which I now always use for evening make up and apply with a sponge wedge. I'm looking at investing in one of those egg-shaped beauty sponges to upgrade my little packets of Superdrug sponges which I usually drop on the floor and then have to throw away.

E.L.F Cover Everything Concealer 'Corrective Yellow'

I use this after I have applied my usual foundation (currently Rimmel True Match in Ivory) and concealer (from Make Up Academy) on my spots (now, I don't know how another shade of this product would work for acne coverage purposes, I usually opt for a very heavy-duty stick as my spots can get a little unfortunate looking and I need industrial level coverage!) and just before I put on my powder (from Witch Witch Hazel). I tap it on under the eye, and it does a great job of covering any dark circles as well as giving a nice even highlight effect which adds to the contouring process. I'll often apply this even if I'm not doing the whole shebang with the contouring creams. Overall, this is fantastic for the price (£2.50) and I'd highly recommend all the E.L.F contouring products.

Vaseline Essential Moisture Cocoa Radiant Moisturising Body Oil Gel

After a hiatus I have returned to review my latest beauty purchases!
Expect an influx of queued posts as I get back down to business.

First up on the list is: Vaseline Essential Moisture Cocoa Radiant Moisturising Body Oil Gel (200ml, £4.99 from Boots)

Vaseline Essential Moisture Cocoa Radiant Moisturising Body Oil Gel

Now I originally bought this because not only was I obviously feeling very seche and needed a new moisturiser, but I had previously tried the Johnson's Baby Oil version of a 'body oil gel' that you apply to wet skin post-shower and it was such a pain to get out of the tube that I abandoned it in favour of this one. Now the Vaseline version comes out of the bottle very easily, almost too easily that at times I have ended up slathering myself with way too much and ended up looking a bit oily. It is much more intense than the Johnson's one, that's one of my only criticisms and I'm sure one could be a lot more sparing and less zealous in application than I. The smell is nice if you're a fan of cocoa, which I know not everyone is but I like a bit of the buttery chocolate smell here and there. It does make you very, very soft which is the aim of the game, and I enjoy using this type of moisturiser as they seem very effective and luxurious once you pat off after a shower. I don't usually opt for Vaseline products as the whole 'petroleum jelly' thing is a bit of an unusual choice to put on yourself, but I do like this as a heavier alternative to my trusty E45 (a glamorous choice). This was also on a half price offer when I purchased it so that's always a bonus to tempt me to try something! I'd also like to try the Aloe Vera one once this has all been used up for a fresher alternative, but this is a nice option for winter.

Jo Loves Gardenia & Mango Nectar

JO LOVES 'Mango Nectar' and 'Gardenia'*

Jo Loves is the brainchild of the eponymous 'Jo' formerly of Jo Malone. Jo is basically one of my favourite, (if not the favourite), nose in the fragrance game. You just can't beat the old skool Jo Malone fragrances made under her creative direction for an overall sophistication and the clarity of each note. Personal favourites of mine are Nectarine Blossom & Honey and French Lime Blossom. Jo Malone is my go to stop for perfume usually, so I was really exited to try out Jo Loves after Jo's departure from the Jo Malone mothership. 

Jo Loves fragrances carry the same beautifully crafted scent combinations that made Jo Malone creations so exquisite. In fact I like these just as much, if not more, than my usual fare. Gardenia is from the first line of Jo Loves scents, and is a rich and sophisticated floral with a green crispness. This would be perfect for evening do's in the summer. What I really love about it is how it has somehow captured something akin to when you pass a flower and its perfume hangs in the air. Mango Nectar is from the new Mango range and has made its way into the top of the roster, becoming my ideal summer fragrance. It's juicy, sweet and ripe without being cloying and is actually very fresh. I usually like my florals and fruits cut through with some citrus but this is full bodied mango and is so, so delectable.

Both of these scents get a massive thumbs up from me and a high recommendation. Jo Loves are hands down some of the best fragrances out there and you really can count on something with Jo's name behind it to be perfectly crafted.

Ojon Rare Blend Oil

OJON Rare Blend Oil Total Hair Therapy (15ml)

Now since its launch in the US a couple of years back and the subsequent hype, I'd been pretty eager to try out the fabled Ojon on my thick and naturally curly/wavy hair. My hair can get really quite dry, and although I try not to run the GHD's over it everyday to keep it in check, it is very corse and so doesn't look shiny without a bit of help. I've tried basically every product out there to try to keep my hair smooth and from fluffing up at any hint of humidity or rain, from Frizz Ease to straight up olive oil, and so far everything has been moderately successful but not brilliant. Now, Ojon is something else. I'm really impressed at how smooth and shiny it makes my hair when I apply it to dry locks without leaving any greasy residue which I usually find with oils. When I run a pea-sized amount though wet hair it works even better, and in the morning I'm not so much left with a ridiculous clown barnet but a much more soft and manageable mane. It also manages to hold the effect of straightening really well, so much so as I only need to straighten once between washes which was basically unheard of before.

I can't wait to try out the other products in the Ojon range as I'm already sold on the Rare Blend Oil. As a range it is a bit more on the pricey side, but if it saves you buying 100 other serums and oils which you'll never get through its worth the investment. I got my Ojon from Boots. I'd definitely recommend the Rare Blend Oil to anyone with thick hair on the chaotic side of wavy/curly looking for something to condition and tame without greasiness.