Skincare: Targeted Serums

A face serum is an essential part of both my morning and evening skincare routine. A face serum is designed to be used after toning and before moisturising, targeting specific skincare concerns, from redness to dehydration, from congestion to radiance. They do this by containing smaller molecules than moisturisers, so they can penetrate the skin deeper and quicker, working more effectively. Moisturisers are great for locking in moisture on the top layer of the skin, hence why you use one after a serum. 

I've been slowly building up a collection of serums (I've only been using them for about 18 months) and now have four that I rotate and use on a regular basis...

The Hydrator - Hydraluron

This is quite a new addition to my serum arsenal and is described as the "ultimate moisture boosting serum". It contains Hyaluronic Acid, which is extremely hydrating and helps to improve the skin's elasticity. This is one of those serums that you wonder what the fuss is about when you use it - but then realise what the fuss is about when you don't! Hydraluron seems to improve the absorption of moisturiser and just generally makes your skin look and feel better. It gets rid of that drawn, dull look that comes from dehydration and gives a healthy, plumped glow.

The Radiance Booster - Elemental Herbology Cell Food Serum*

The Cell Food Serum I have mentioned many a time on this blog, but it's just so darn good! It targets the radiance and vitality of the skin via a "power house" of proteins, vitamins and anti-oxidants (including Green Tea, Aloe Leaf Juice and Mandarin Orange Peel Oil). What I love about this serum is that you can actually see its effect within minutes of use - my skin looks brighter and more radiant. I always reach for the Cell Food Serum if I'm tired or ill to perk up my skin.

The Spot Battler - balance Me Congested Skin Serum

Another recent addition is the balance Me Congested Skin Serum. I'm trying to move away from drying spot treatments, so purchased this as it is described as a "calming and balancing non-drying gel". Containing ingredients like Lavender, May Chang and Aloe Vera, it can be used all over the skin as a preventative measure or literally "on the spot". This is a serum that works over time; it won't work miracles over night. But I do find it soothing on my skin and it helps to reduce redness and inflammation without being drying or irritating.

The All Rounder - Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair
I've had this well known and popular serum for about a year now, but have never actually reviewed it. This is the original formula ("Sychronised Recovery Complex I") and if you went out and bought it now, you'd be buying the re-formulated one ("Sychronised Recovery Complex II"). It helps to reduce the appearance of ageing and daytime damage, by specifically targeting the nighttime skin renewal process. The Advanced Night Repair really does do a bit of everything - hydrates, soothes, refreshes; provides a subtle healthy glow; even seems to help tackle those red, angry spots. This is nearly used up, so I'd love to try the new formula, which is meant to be even better.

Do you use serums in your skincare routine? Which are your favourites?

Beauty Bird xx

Review: Organic Surge Tropical Bergamot Shower Gel

I love the mixture of scents that Organic Surge blend together and this Tropical Bergamot Shower Gel is no exception. This 98.89% natural shower gel, free from SLS and parabens, is designed to soothe and moisturise all skin types. It is enriched with Bergamot Essential Oil and Sweet Orange Essential Oil, which creates an unusual but gorgeous scent; it relaxes but uplifts you at the same time. Bergamot Essential Oil also soothes skin conditions and Sweet Orange Essential Oil is meant to eliminate toxins and stimulate the lymphatic system. Other ingredients include Aloe Vera to calm and hydrate and natural Glycerine to attract moisture to the skin. 

The Organic Surge Tropical Bergamot Shower Gel is a lovely product to use. Despite being a SLS free formula, it lathers up superbly well and leaves my skin cleansed and refreshed yet soft and hydrated. What is even more amazing is that this large 250ml tube only costs £4.35, which is an absolute bargain. 

If you haven't used an Organic Surge shower gel before, I'd seriously recommend getting your hands on one. If you don't lke the sound of Tropical Bergamot, there are plenty of others available, which you can see here.

Have you tried an Organic Surge shower gel before? What shower gels do you love?

Beauty Bird xx




P.S. This post contains a PR sample. This does not affect my opinion of the product.

Desk Side Essentials

If sitting at a desk is part of your day to day life, whether working or studying, whether in an office or at home, you will certainly need some desk side beauty essentials on hand in case of an emergency! I keep my essentials pretty basic so they don't take up too much space on my work desk; I don't want it to start looking like it's come out of a beauty salon after all (it probably wouldn't impress my boss either). Here's what I have on my desk at the moment.

L'Occitane Lavender Hand Purifying Gel

This stuff is just brilliant and is the perfect size for putting in your handbag too. The gel is amazingly hydrating so you don't have to apply hand cream if you're in a rush. The lavender scent is quite strong when the product dispenses from the tube, but once it's absorbed it's lovely and fresh.

Soap and Glory Hand Food

This is a fairly big bottle, but I like it because of the quick'n'easy pump dispenser; no having to fiddle around with lids and squeezy tubes here! It releases just the right amount of product so you can massage it in and go. It's the sort of hand cream that is nice all year round because it's hydrating but not too thick, with the standard Soap and Glory scent that never gets boring.

The Bakewell Soap Company Multi-Purpose Pocket Balm in May Chang Citrus*

I absolutely love a multi-tasking product and this citrus scented, hydrating balm is packed full of natural ingredients to relieve dryness on the lips, hands, nails and body. It's not something to use on large areas (it's a solid balm so not as easy to apply), but if I have dry lips, ragged cuticles or any small patches of dryness on my hands/face/body, I'll use this.

Lush Whoosh Temple Balm
I picked this up in Lush's Boxing Day sale after being intrigued by the concept - you apply to your temples to perk you up and focus your mind when you're feeling tired and overworked. The scent definitely is invigorating; a mixture of reviving lemon, lime, grapefruit, rosemary and geranium. I tend to apply it on my wrists too. This is really a short term solution and not going to do a lot if you only got a few hours sleep the night before, but for that general 3pm slump it certainly helps.

Mini Nail File
This particular one came in a H&M nail kit I bought. I always like to have a nail file handy because once I feel any uneveness or scags on my nails I just have to file it, otherwise it irritates me for the rest of the day. Being small it doesn't take up much space either!

What are your desk side essentials?

Beauty Bird xx

Review: Antipodes Joyful Hand and Body Cream

When the Antipodes Joyful Hand and Body Cream was released not too long ago, I knew it was right up my street; I'm obsessed with hand creams and I adore the two Antipodes products I already own (the Divine Face Oil and Aura Manuka Honey Mask). So when the lovely Laura from CSI Beauty Blog so generously offered to send me one of hers as she had got two free from a website deal, I jumped at the chance.

The Antipodes Joyful Hand and Body Cream comes in a 120ml tube with pretty pinky-purple (or purpley-pink?!) packaging. It is fragranced with wild blackberry and South Pacific hibiscus flower and enriched with super nourishing ingredients including avocado oil, macadamia oil, calendula oil and Vitamin E. Antipodes say, "This captivating and velvety cream will leave your skin dewy and fragrant, and free from oily residue". The only downside is that this retails at £29.00, although I have found it for £24.99 from the website Lucy Rose here. It is advertised as suitable for all skintypes. 

To be honest, I only had to use it once to fall for the Antipodes Joyful Hand and Body Cream hook, line and sinker. The scent is just divine; light, fruity (but not too much) and the epitome of summer. It lingers for ages after you've used the cream too. What you have is a rich but not heavy, seriously creamy formula that absorbs quickly and isn't greasy or oily. It isn't the most intensive formula but it leaves your skin hydrated and smelling beautiful. Thank you Antipodes, because this is just joyful to use (sorry, I couldn't resist).

If you love your hand and bodycare products, then I'd highly recommend the multi-tasking Antipodes Joyful Hand and Cream. Yes it is expensive, but I promise it's worth it. 

Have you tried this product? Are you a fan of Antipodes?

Beauty Bird xx

Love Me Beauty Box April 2014

Another month brings another Love Me Beauty Box - a delivery I very much look forward to, even though I know what products to expect! April's edition certainly didn't disappoint, with four fantastic products - three of which are full size. I chose Menu Three this month, so keep reading to find out why!

 Betty Hula Secret Wonder Oil Rollerball 10ml (full size, worth £6.25)

Suitable for all skin types, this oil boosts the skin's natural moisture barrier to promote radiance, whilst the rollerball works to encourage circulation through gentle massage.

Models Own Nail Polish in Fuzzy Peach (full size, worth £5.00)

Models Own nail polishes glide on smoothly and are hardwearing and long lasting. Brighten up your fingertips with "Fuzzy Peach" this Spring and Summer.

Neal and Wolf Ritual Daily Cleansing Shampoo 250ml (full size, worth £11.50)

Designed to cleanse hair, leaving it fresh, full of shine and ready for styling. An infusion of silk and milk proteins combine to boost vital moisture and reduce flyaway hair. Liquid shea extract delivers brilliant shine.

Redken Colour Extend Conditioner 25ml (sample size, worth £0.99)

A conditioner for colour treated hair to resurface the cuticle for a smooth, vibrant finish. Detangles and provides protection from fading agents while restoring colour vibrancy.

The differences between the three box menus on offer was the shade of nail varnish and the type of Neal and Wolf product. I've eyed up the shade Fuzzy Peach on the Models Own website many a time, so it was envitable I would choose Menu Three. As soon as I received the box I just had to get the polish on my nails! It's a very bright peach that leans towards true orange and looks beautiful in this sunny weather we've been having. The Neal and Wolf Ritual Daily Cleansing Shampoo was also my first choice, so I was really happy to see it in this box. It has the same gorgeous scent as the Harmony conditioner I have and I can't wait to use it. I'll be saving the Redken Colour Extend Conditioner - a brand I haven't tried before - for next time I have my hair highlighted. I can see the Betty Hula Secret Wonder Oil Rollerball being a bedside table staple - it has a lovely fruity-with-a-hint-of-citrus scent, isn't greasy, absorbs quickly and makes my skin feel super soft and moisturised. It's meant to be ideal for stretch marks, scarring, dry skin and sunburn.

Also in the box was two sample sachets of Weleda Stretch Mark Massage Oil and a £25.00 voucher for Hello Fresh, a website that delivers boxes of step-by-step recipes and fresh ingredients to your door.

For just £10.00 plus postage I seriously recommend getting your hands on this box - you don't have to sign up to a regular subscription, so can just purchase it as a one off. Menu Three is worth £23.74 so there's savings to be had!

What do you think of this month's Love Me Beauty box? Have you tried any of the products featured before?

Beauty Bird xx

P.S. This post contains a PR sample. This does not affect my opinion of the product.

Very Easy Nail Art - The Dotty Accent Nail

I love nail art, but to be honest I'm not the best at it and I don't tend to have the patience to spend ages practicing. So whenever I fancy doing something a little more than block colour or a glitter top coat, I revert to the dots. I think dots really do equal easy but effective nail art and you don't even need any special nail art tools or pens either.

In this case I used Maybelline Color Show in Lavender Lies as the main colour, then decided to make the accent nail pop from the purple using Barry M Matt White. For the dots I poured a little of the Maybelline nail varnish onto some kitchen roll and then dipped the end of a kirby (hair) grip into the varnish to then dot directly onto the nail. Just doing this on the accent nail means it takes no time at all. However if it hadn't been late at night when I did this, I may have done some white dots on the purple nails too. There are so many colour combinations that could be done for this, so it's nail art that doesn't get old either.

Are you a fan of dotty nails? What easy nail art do you love?

Beauty Bird xx

Review: Rimmel Scandaleyes Eyeshadow Paint in Rich Russet

I decided that I needed the Rimmel Scandaleyes Eyeshadow Paint in Rich Russet after it was mentioned in a Lily Pebbles and Vivianna Does Makeup collaboration video. Although I have enough eyeshadow shades that fall into the neutrals category, I don't have anything in my stash quite like this as a product.

For £4.99 you have an eyeshadow that you do basically "paint" on, as it has a long spatula type applicator for applying the product directly onto the lid. I assumed it was a liquid formula as it's quite wet, however Rimmel say it's a cream formula. I swipe the applicator across the middle of my lid and then blend it out with my fingers. The eyeshadow dries very quickly, so you don't want to hang around with this one! The Rimmel Scandaleyes Eyeshadow Paint also applies and blends really well with a suitable eyeshadow brush - I use the Becca Extra Small Polishing Brush 55. 

The shade Rich Russet is just a beautiful, sparkling, bronze-brown shade. It's extremely pigmented but as mentioned, it can be blended out easily enough before it dries, which makes it more sheer, then built up on top if you want the colour stronger. The wear time is approximately 6 hours without a primer and 8 hours with a primer before the colour begins to fade, with no creasing in sight.

There are four other shades in the range (Golden Bronze, Slate Grey, Mercury Silver and Manganese Purple) but Rich Russet is personally my favourite of the bunch. I highly recommend giving these a swatch and adding one to your own eyeshadow stash - I can't stop reaching for my Rimmel Scandaleyes Eyeshadow Paint right now! I'd love to see some more shades added to the range in the future.

Have you tried any of the Rimmel Scandaleyes Eyeshadow Paints?

Beauty Bird xx

Review: BlanX White Shock Intensive Whitening Treatment

Having naturally very off white coloured teeth that I am quite conscious about, I have tried a mountain of whitening toothpastes in the past. However I have never tried a whitening treatment before - I guess I'm just too nervous to try them. The BlanX White Shock Intensive Whitening Treatment seemed quite a friendly option though, so I was excited to give it a try.

The BlanX White Shock Intensive Whitening Kit is a little kit that comes with a 30ml bottle of their daily toothpaste, an LED accelerator and a BlanXometer scale of teeth shades. The toothpaste contains a patented ingredient called ActiluX, which binds microcrystals to tooth enamel and is designed to destroy the organic molecules reponsible for staining the teeth. ActiluX is activated by light, so it can keep recharging and working to protect the teeth throughout the day. The LED accelerator intensifies this feature. The BlanX toothpaste is also designed to keep gums healthy and moisturised. The formula does not contain any peroxide, abrasive silicon, SLS or parabens. The BlanX White Shock Intensive Whitening Kit claims to make teeth up to four shades whiter in two weeks and for this, costs £15.99 (it can be bought in Boots or online from BlanX direct here). 

I used the BlanX White Shock Intensive Whitening Kit for just over two weeks (until the toothpaste ran out). I used the toothpaste twice a day, followed by the LED accelerator for a minute or two. A little button on the accelerator turns on the blue LED lights and then you place the plastic, curved end against your teeth, resting your lips around it to keep it in place. This doesn't produce tingling or any kind of sensation and it doesn't feel uncomfortable in the mouth. I also used it a couple of times a week for an extra 5 minutes, which is recommended. The toothpaste itself is blue in colour and it took awhile to get used to the SLS free formula - it really doesn't foam up at all.

Unfortunately my teeth didn't lighten by four shades, however using the BlanXometer I would say they have improved by one shade, which is definitely better than nothing. I have another tube of BlanX toothpaste from a Love Me Beauty box, so I will keep trying it and use the LED accelerator a bit more often to see if there's any further improvement (thankfully the batteries are replaceable when they run out). But in my opinion the BlanX White Shock Intensive Whitening Kit is more of a quick fix - so would be good if there's an event for occasion coming up you want to look perfect for. Unless of course you are happy to use the LED accelerator daily! It can be a pain when you're in a rush, but I would definitely carry on using the toothpaste daily.

Have you ever used a home whitening treatment? Have you used any of the BlanX range before?

Beauty Bird xx

P.S. This post contains a PR sample. This does not affect my opinion of the product.

Life: The Furry Friend Tag

If you follow me on Instagram, you will probably be aware that I have a furry friend (a dog to be precise!) as I often post pictures of her! She is basically my baby who has me wrapped around her little finger and means the world to me. So when I saw The Furry Friend Tag on Hayley's blog Water Painted Dreams, I knew I had to do this post myself.

At six weeks old.

What is your pet's name?

Daisy.

When did you get Daisy?

In August 2012 when she was six weeks old.

What is something that Daisy does that annoys you?

I can never be annoyed with her for very long, but the one thing that springs to mind is when you throw her ball for her, she won't very easily give it up so you can throw it again. Instead she wants you to chase her for it, get it off her and then throw it. It's cute really and it's a fun game for her, but she's not easy to catch!!

What type of breed is Daisy?

Daisy is a gorgeous English Springer Spaniel with the fluffiest tail ever and those cute puppy dog eyes. She's quite white with some big brown splodges and then lots of little fainter brown spots all over.

Has Daisy ever had a near death experience?

No, thank goodness!

Does Daisy know any tricks?

We didn't really teach her anything out of the ordinary to be honest, just the normal sit, lie down etc. She's clever though so we probably could have!

Does Daisy like to snuggle?

Daisy is a super snuggler and her favourite spot is between myself and my other half on the sofa. Though it's funny because if she's a bit grumpy she'll sit on the other end of the sofa and if we bother her she makes these little sighing noises!

Where did you get Daisy?

From a lady who had two Springers herself that had bred together. We first went to see the puppies when they were two weeks old, which is when we chose Daisy - she had similar markings to a Springer my other half had when he was younger. The lady was absolutely lovely and because she was only 20 minutes drive away, she invited us to come back whenever we wanted to, so we could bond with Daisy. It was lovely because we saw her grow and develop before we took her home.

My most recent photo of Daisy (taken on my phone so not the sharpest) - she is now 1 year and 10 months old.

 Does Daisy get along with other dogs?

Yes - to her every other dog is a friend that she can play with! She's too friendly really and doesn't realise not all dogs think the same!

Does Daisy get along with strangers?

Daisy loves people just like she does other dogs. I can see why they say that Springers are perfect family dogs because she's great with children too.

How much does she weigh?

I have no idea to be honest - I'm trying to remember what she last weighed when she went to the vets! All we know is that she's the right weight for her size.

Do you ever dress Daisy up?

 Haha not really, though we've occasionally put a hat on her and sunglasses as you do...! She's never been in a proper dog outfit or anything, I don't think I could do it to her!!

Has Daisy ever tried to run away?

No. She's really well behaved and wouldn't run out of our garden if the gate happened to be open. When we take her for walks off the lead, she'll never go too far away from us and will always look back if she's ahead to check we are still behind her!

How did you come up with her name?

I chose the name and thankfully my fiance liked it too! There isn't really any meaning behind it, I just love the name and thought it suited her.

On a scale of 1-10 how much does Daisy mean to you?

 Way over the scale and a bit further again.

I hope you enjoyed reading and I tag everyone who has their own furry friend! I love reading about other people's pets, especially dogs. Please send me your post link if you do!

Beauty Bird xx

Review: Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Eye Cream in Ivory

When Boots had their last 3 for 2 deal on, I decided it was the perfect opportunity to hop on the Bourjois CC bandwagon and purchase their 123 Perfect CC Eye Cream. I am always on the look out for the next best concealer, whether for dark circles, blemishes or one that does both and I can't get enough of them lately. 

The Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Eye Cream costs £7.99 and I picked up the shade Ivory. The shade range is very limited and the only other one available is Light Beige, so unfortunately Bourjois aren't catering for all skintones here! What makes this product instantly jump out from the rest is the doe foot shaped, silicone applicator, which releases a blob of the eye cream each time you twist the bottom. The Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Eye Cream is meant to combine the hydrating effects of your everyday eye cream with the illuminating and camouflaging qualities of a concealer, whilst also protecting with a SPF of 15. The silicone applicator is designed to smooth lines and wrinkles.

I have a bit of a love/hate relationship when it comes to the applicator - it makes applying the product ready for blending effortless and does feel lovely and smooth. However I find that when you twist the end to release perfectly enough product and then apply, another little blob suddenly appears afterwards, which is wasted. If you don't wipe it away, next time you go back to use it this little blob has started to congeal on the end of the stick; lovely. Not a major problem, but I thought it was worth noting! However I do really, really like the CC Eye Cream itself, which probably has the creamiest yet lightest formula I've ever tried. It blends like a dream (I prefer using my fingers with this one), concealing and brightening at the same time and looking very natural. It isn't the heaviest duty concealer though, so I personally still like to use a little of my Bobbi Brown Corrector first on my very dark circles. The CC Eye Cream is very hydrating, doesn't crease and doesn't settle in my fine lines either, lasting around 7 hours.

The Verdict

The Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Eye Cream is a multi-tasker's dream; hydrating, concealing, brightening - tick, tick, tick. The light formula looks very natural applied, making it the ideal summer concealer, however if your dark circles are very dark you may need a bit of extra coverage either underneath or on top. The main negative of this product in my opinion is the poor shade range on offer (I can look past my issue with the applicator!).

Have you tried the Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Eye Cream? What is your favourite under eye concealer?

Beauty Bird xx

Review: MONU Skincare Illuminating Primer SPF15

I have oily/combination skin and so for me, a primer is a must if I want any chance of my foundation not sliding off by mid morning. The latest primer in my beauty arsenal is the MONU Skincare Illuminating Primer SPF15, a brand that I hadn't tried or heard of before using this, despite them being based up the road from me in Cheltenham! MONU Skincare have been developing their formulations over the last 25 years, utilising the special properties of pure, natural ingredients using plants and herbs, minerals and essential oils. In their own words, they do not use damaging chemicals, artificial perfumes or synthetic colours and do not test their products on animals. As well as skincare, they have their own ranges of bodycare, tanning and makeup products.

The MONU Skincare Illuminating Primer SPF15 can be used on its own or under makeup, using light reflective and soft focus technology to reduce the appearance of imperfections and give the skin a flawless, luminous glow. At the same time, the paraben free formula contains SPF15 and the ingredients Zinc Oxide and Cassia Leaf Extract to help protect against UV damage and premature aging. Blackcurrant Seed Oils and Hyaluronic Acid make sure the skin stays hydrated, soft and supple. A note for green bloggers - this is not a 100% natural/organic product. The 50ml bottle costs £27.95 and is advertised as suitable for all skin types.

The MONU Skincare Illuminating Primer SPF15 comes in a sleek, clear tube (handy for knowing when the product is running out!) with a pump dispenser. The formula is just lovely; it looks and feels just like a moisturiser, so none of that slippery, silicone feel. It does have that SPF scent to it, but not as strong as your pure SPF product. The Illuminating Primer has a creamy, medium consistency that absorbs quickly and doesn't feel greasy or heavy on the skin. It really does give the skin a noticeable but subtle glow as soon as it is massaged in and blurs over those small and annoying imperfections, creating a fantastic base for foundation. However if you have great skin this would definitely look amazing alone. Unfortunately for me, the Illuminating Primer falls down on the wear time it gives my foundation - I found that about half way through the day my foundation started to collect around my t-zone in small patches. On my cheeks this didn't happen at all, so I just don't think this is 100% suited to oily skin. 

The Verdict

The MONU Skincare Illuminating Primer SPF15 has a great moisturising, radiance boosting formula with instantly noticeable effects. However based on my experience I wouldn't recommend it for oily skins because of the foundation wear time. I do think that this could work for normal or drier skin types though as it is so hydrating.

To find out more about MONU Skincare and their range of products, please click here.

Have you tried any products by MONU Skincare? What primers are you loving right now?

Beauty Bird xx

P.S. This post contains a PR sample. This does not affect my opinion of the product.

March Empties #2

How crazy that we're now a quarter of the way through 2014! I really hope that you are all having a good year so far. March was a stressful and busy month for me as I've was preparing to leave the company I've worked for for nearly seven years. I won't go into it in much detail, but there was lots to do, including writing up a manual of everything my role encompasses and how it's done. However it is at the same time exciting that I'm moving forward and a new chapter in my working life is going to begin. 

Beauty wise, I haven't really collected that many empties this month, but I will as always share with you what they are, what I think of them and whether I would re-purchase.

Inner Me Beautify Me Vitamin Complex (28 Capsules)* - £15.00

This pack of 28 capsules came in a recent Love Me Beauty Box, containing Vitamin C, Zinc, Selenium, Marine Collagen and MSM for healthy skin, hair and nails. You take two a day with or after a meal. I'm a big fan of supplements so I used these straight away.

Re-purchase? The pack only lasted two weeks so it's hard to make a judgement on the difference they made. I really can't afford to spend £15.00 every fortnight, so although I would like to keep taking them, it has to be a no.

L'Occitane Hand Cream in Subtle Violet 30ml - FREE (magazine freebie worth £8.00)

L'Occitane hand cream is hands down my favourite ever hand cream and I've been through a few tubes now. I just love the rich, thick formula; it isn't greasy at all and it's just so nourishing and hydrating. The Subtle Violet scent was limited edition and smelt like parma violets. 

Re-purchase? This scent is no longer available, but I will always have a L'Occitane hand cream in my life (I have two in my current stash).

S5 Purity Serum 10ml - £9.00

This is my second 10ml bottle and it went far too quickly! I've been using it at night before either an oil or moisturiser to help calm and reduce my breakouts. It definitely helps clear those pesky spots quicker without using any harsh ingredients.

Re-purchase? Not at the moment. I need the full size but I can't spend £44.00 on one product right now, so I've bought the balance Me Congested Skin Serum instead.

Living Nature Vitalising Cleanser 50ml* - £10.50

You might have caught my recent review of this (if not click here) and that me and my skin absolutely love it. It's a light, refreshing cleanser with a creamy formula and milky consistency, that leaves my skin soft and bright. Plus it removes eye makeup too!

Re-purchase? Yes

Maybelline The Rocket Volum' Express Mascara - £7.99

This is a great budget mascara if you're looking for decent volume and curl without clumping. The negative for me is the smudge of black that transferred down under my eyes every time I used it. Full review here.

Re-purchase? For the above reason, no. The hunt for the perfect mascara is still on...

What products have you used up this month? Are any of the above in your current beauty stash?

Beauty Bird xx