Glossybox Grazia Unboxing

I received my Glossybox Grazia box the other day and thought I'd do a post all about it and what was included! It cost £50 and has 8 luxury products in. 3 are full-size and 5 are deluxe minis.

The first product in the box is the Crabtree & Evelyn Rose Silky Body Lotion.

This is a full-size product, it retails for £19.50. It has coconut water, rose water, mallow flower extracts and rosehip seed oil in it. It's supposed to nourish skin with its rich and moisturising formula. It's also scented with Italian lemon, rose and vetiver. The packaging is gorgeous and it smells amazing! I'm not usually a fan of body lotions but I'm excited to give this one a try and see how it is.

The next product is Rodial's Dragon's Blood Sculpting Gel.

This product is a deluxe mini retailing at £19 but the full-size is worth £85! This is one I'm so excited to try! It's formulated with pomegranate and commiphora extracts. It's supposed to help boost collagen levels, soothe inflammation and redness whilst also reducing the appearance of fine lines. You're supposed to use it before moisturiser to plump skin! I have a feeling this product is going to be amazing and I'll want to keep purchasing it but my bank account will cry if I do.

Next up is the Peter Thomas Roth Peptide 21 Exfoliating Peel Pads.

This product is a deluxe mini too and retails for £22 but the full-size is worth £45. Again I'm really excited to try this out as I've heard amazing things! These pads have sodium lactate, phytic acid and salicylic acid in them. They are supposed to reduce the look of pores and improve skin's overall tone and clarity. To use, you need to sweep the pads over your face 3 times a week, wait 3 minutes and then rinse your face. I feel as though this product will really help with my acne scars and blemishes so I'm excited to give it a go.

One of the next products was the Doctors Formula Probiotics Radiance 12 Hour Day Protection Moisturiser.

This moisturiser has relipidium (a good-for-skin probiotic) and coconut oil in to keep skin hydrated all day. It also has a lot of antioxidants and fatty acids in that strengthen and protect skin from free radicals. This moisturiser also smells amazing and I can't wait to try it to see if I get any results from it. It is full-size and retails for a huge £89!

Another product that was included in the box was the La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Hyaluronic Acid Serum.

This is a deluxe mini which is worth £12.70 but the full-size version retails for £38. It has 2 different versions of hyaluronic acid in it, it not only smoothes fine lines, it helps to plump out deeper wrinkles also. It claims that you will have hydrated, firm and more elastic skin after just one day. This product sounds amazing and I can't wait to try it to see if it lives up to expectations.

The next product is the Anne Semonin Youth Radiance Elixir.

This product is also a deluxe mini but even the mini size is worth £105! The full-size is worth £280 which is crazy to me! It is a lightweight serum which blends hyaluronic acid, apricot kernel oil and rose and lily leaf cells. It is supposed to plump your skin, brighten its tone and reduce the appearance of wrinkles (not that I have any yet but being prepared isn't a bad thing!) I'm very excited to try this as it sounds very luxurious and as though it will be amazing quality.

The second to last product that came in the Grazia box is the Ecooking Night Cream.

This product is a deluxe mini and is formulated with two-smart ageing complexes, it moisturises and visibly reduces the appearance of fine lines. It contains argireline (a complex of six natural amino acids) which relaxes facial muscles while trylagen (a collagen boosting complex) gives your skin a fresh glow. This deluxe mini is worth £9.60 and the full-size version is worth £32. I love a good night cream as my skin looks amazing the morning after so I can't wait to try this out.

Finally on the list is the Skin Chemists Rose Quartz Lip Plump.

This product is full-size and retails for £29.99. It is a multi-purpose balm as it is also a gloss too! It hydrates, softens and plumps up lips. It has a combination of plant extracts and peppermint oil which stimulates the skin's natural production of hyaluronic acid whilst improving blood circulation. This sounds like an amazing product as not only does it hydrate your lips, it plumps them too and can be used as a lip gloss!

I'm sure some of these products will be in my favourites drawer soon! If any are amazing, I will let you know. Hope you enjoyed this post!

XO,

Pamper Night Routine

During lockdown, I've been having pamper nights more often obviously due to the amount of spare time I have on my hands. They just help me to relax and feel more put together the following day. I'm going to go through all the products I currently use!

Firstly, on pamper nights I prefer to have a bath as they're more relaxing than a shower and on the nights I do have a bath, I love to use the Better You Mineral Magnesium Bath Flakes.

These were kindly gifted to me and they honestly help me to relax so much! They are supposed to promote relaxation and soothe tired and aching muscles so they do exactly what they say on the packet. Every time I have a bath now, I always reach for these as they help me get a better nights sleep. I would definitely recommend these to anyone who has been struggling to sleep during lockdown or would just like to de-stress. They're also only £9.95 for a 1kg bag!

Next up, I like to use the Coconut Lane Palm Pwr Hair Rescue Mask. 

I was a little sceptical about this at first as obviously Coconut Lane are known for phone cases and laptop covers but I can honestly say that this is one of my favourite hair masks I've ever used! It smells amazing as it is infused with coconut oil and it also has caffeine in it which stimulates hair growth. It made the ends of my hair so soft and shiny the next day too! It's £12 for a 200ml bottle which in my opinion is great value! Coconut Lane also sent me a 20% off code if you did want to make an order on their website - it's KIRSTYE20 ✨

Next up in my routine, I then use a face cleanser. The one I'm still using at the minute is the Face Theory Clarifying Cleanser.

I've been using this cleanser which was also kindly gifted to me for around 3 weeks now and I absolutely love it. It's formulated for combination/oily skin and is a cream cleanser which feels so soft on the skin when applying. It has AHA and BHA acids in it and when I first rub it into my skin I can feel the dirt being dragged from my pores, it's honestly amazing! It also smells of mandarin which is lovely and when I wash it off, my skin is left feeling soft yet still hydrated. It's £11.99 for a 180ml pot and I would definitely recommend this cleanser to anyone who has combination and oily skin.

I then jump out the bath and straight away, I love to apply the Better You Magnesium Sleep Body Spray.

This stuff has massively helped my sleep recently, it also smells amazing! It includes a blend of magnesium, bergamot and clary sage. It claims that once it is massaged into the skin, it supports relaxation in readiness for sleep. Again this was kindly gifted to me but I genuinely love it and I will be repurchasing once I run out as it's a lifesaver to help me get a good nights sleep! This product is £12.95 for 100ml.

I then move onto my skincare, I always do a face mask on a pamper night whether it's a clay mask or a sheet mask. Recently, I've been reaching for the Hey Bud Clay Mask.

I cannot praise this face mask enough. First of all, the applicator brush that comes with it is amazing and makes putting on a face mask so much easier! I used to use a silicone applicator brush but this one is so much better at applying the face mask. The actual face mask itself is so light on the skin as I hate face masks that feel heavy and as though they are clogging your pores. Once I'd washed this face mask off, my skin felt so soft and clean and it is the nicest my skin has ever felt after a face mask! I would highly recommend trying this mask if you're looking for a new clay mask, it is honestly the best I've tried so far! I have a 15% off code if anyone would like to purchase it - it's kirstyevans_ ✨ With the 15% off it works out at around £22.50 for the mask and the applicator brush which is amazing value.

Next up on my pamper routine is Glossier's Solution.

I had a wild moment where I spent £100 on Glossier skincare and this was of the products I bought. I've wanted to try the brand for absolutely ages and I'm so glad I did. I haven't been using this product for too long but in the time that I have, I've noticed a huge difference in my skin. My acne scars seem to be fading and I'm also getting less breakouts! Which is a huge issue for me so I'm loving this product so far, I would definitely recommend. This product is £19 which may seem pricey but it is 130ml and for a product that actually works, I think it's amazing!

Next up, I apply The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Serum.

Once again, I LOVE this product. It's so light on the skin whilst applying and it doesn't leave your skin feeling greasy or oily. It's great for blemish prone skin and it's also helping to fade my acne scars. For the price of £5 per bottle, you literally can't go wrong. It also sits perfectly under makeup if you're applying it in your morning routine too as it soaks straight into the skin and doesn't leave any residue. I would definitely recommend this product to anyone who struggles with blemishes or acne scars.

Next up - Kiehl's Youth Dose Eye Treatment.

So I only have a mini of this as I got it free whilst working on the beauty team at House of Fraser but I've been trying different eye creams out and I love this one. This is perfect for anyone who has visible dark circles and fine lines as it instantly smoothes them out. It includes pro-retinol, vitamin C and grape seed extract to brighten the under-eye area. I would definitely recommend this eye cream however the only downside is that it is quite pricey as it's £37 for 15ml. There are probably other eye creams that do the same thing for a lot cheaper in my opinion.

I then carry on and instead of using a normal night cream, during my pamper routine, I like to opt for a sleeping mask. The one I've been reaching for recently is the Dr Botanicals Pomegranate Superfood Regenerating Sleeping Mask.

I've really been enjoying this sleeping mask as it has a lovely scent and it really hydrates my skin. The main ingredient is pomegranate which is high in antioxidants that aim to nourish the skin. It is only £9 for 30ml as it is on offer on their website at the moment so if you're looking for a moisturising sleeping mask, make sure to grab one whilst the offer lasts.

The last step in my pamper routine is to apply the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask.

I got this sample from Sephora whilst I was in America but I've been looking at how to purchase the full size as it is literally the best thing I have ever used on my lips. I apply this every night without fail and my lips are still so soft and moisturised the following morning. It has a berry scent which is gorgeous and it is £17.50 for the full size which is 20g. I would recommend this to anyone who needs a new lip balm/lip mask as it is the best I've ever used.

So there's my pamper routine, hope you enjoyed and maybe found a few products to try for yourself. If anyone has any products they swear by, please let me know!

DISCLAIMER: Although some products are gifted, all opinions remain my own.

XO,

The struggles of graduating and finding a job

Credit: @ohverlee on Instagram 

This is going to be a bit of a different post! I wanted to talk about my experience of graduating and trying to find a job in such a weird time in the world. I think I can speak for everyone when I say that 2020 is definitely not the year to be finishing your time in education.

I handed in my last exam around 2 weeks ago now and it feels so weird to just be completely finished with university but not have a graduation ceremony to look forward to. Before anyone says - yes I know there are worse things going on in the world right now but I'm just expressing how I feel. I always thought there would be this huge celebration after finishing uni when in reality, I just had a bottle of Prosecco to myself in my garden #coronafun. After 4 years of hard studying (most of the time), I feel as though university students this year have been robbed of their celebrations. There will be a time where we can all celebrate together but it is really frustrating just not knowing when!

Just a little bit of background - I was working in a fashion head office prior to the job I'm in now but I was laid off due to the coronavirus pandemic. I started to panic as I was told I could go full-time there once I'd finished uni but obviously that couldn't happen anymore. I immediately started applying for jobs, literally anything I could find, just so I could be earning some money. I've worked ever since I was 16 so I hated the thought of not having a job! I finally got a job at the Virgin Media head office in Manchester which I love. Every day is different and it has kept me busy during such a lonely time in my life. It is a very weird time though to be finishing uni and be working in a job which I never expected I would ever be in. I always thought I'd be finishing uni working in a fashion head office whereas I have a customer service role for a telecommunications business. Who would have thought?! I am extremely lucky to even have a job with the current circumstances but it is also okay for me to feel upset that things in my life haven't gone as planned. I do hate putting too much pressure on myself though to be in the perfect job and be earning the perfect amount of money. I think having high expectations of coming out of uni with a secure dream job has made this experience so much harder for me. I think the most important thing to learn from this experience is to not try and force anything and that everything will fall into place eventually.

Aside from coronavirus ruining my graduation and job plans, I feel as though having a job lined up for when you finish uni on the best of days is hard enough. There is so much pressure to have a job when you've finished your studies as apparently having a degree makes it so much easier to get a job but in reality, it doesn't. I did feel a huge amount of pressure to have a job lined up for when I'd finished uni and when my plans came crashing down, I felt like a disappointment and as though I'd failed. It is hard to live up to your own expectations and when things don't go to plan, you start to lose faith in yourself. I personally just saw this as a tiny bump in the road and that everything will begin to pick back up again soon. Don't be disheartened by what is going on in the world as it's not as though you can personally change it.

To everyone who is graduating this year, please don't stress about finding a job. I've just decided to see where the year takes me and just go with the flow. I believe everything happens for a reason so time will tell! Jobs will start popping up here and there and things will start to go back to 'normal' soon enough. As the image says above - appreciate where you are now in life instead of looking to the future all the time as the future will come but your time right now needs to be enjoyed too, no matter what you're doing!

Is anyone else in the same boat and feeling the same way? Hope you're all well and staying safe.

XO,

Face Theory Skincare

Just under 2 weeks ago, I was kindly gifted these 3 products from the brand Face Theory to try out! *although these products were gifted, all opinions remain my own. I thought I would share my thoughts with you on them!

I also have a code you can use to get yourselves 20% off your order: INF263

*I do not receive commission from this code, the brand just gave me it if anyone was interested in purchasing 🤍

First up was the Clarifying Cleanser.

This cleanser is great for oily, acne-prone skin so it was perfect for me! I chose the gently scented version which was the scent Mandarin and it smells amazing! This cleanser doubles as a glycolic face peel, it has a powerful triple blend of alpha and beta hydroxy acids which are great for purifying pores and minimising redness. I genuinely love this cleanser and I will definitely be repurchasing it again once it has ran out as it leaves my skin feeling amazing once I've used it. You can feel all of the dirt and grease leaving your face as you use it. Due to the high concentration of the cleanser, you only need a tiny amount so a 180ml jar normally lasts around 2 months which is amazing as it's only £11.99!

Next up is the Regenacalm Serum.

So this serum is formulated with retinol, hyaluronic acid and plant extracts to diminish the appearance of acne scars, fine lines and wrinkles. It aims to fight blemishes, redness and hyperpigmentation whilst shielding your skin against future environmental damage. The thing I love about this serum is that it soaks into my skin straight away because there's nothing I hate more than when you apply a serum and it's sticky and feels greasy on your face. This one just soaks straight in and I have noticed that my acne scars have been fading slightly so I think this product is helping with those! It's £18.99 for 30ml but you only have to use the tiniest amount so it will last for a good while!

Finally, the Regena-C Moisturiser.

This Moisturiser claims to absorb quickly into the skin to leave skin feeling soft and hydrated. It has vitamin C, vitamin E, retinol and hyaluronic acid in to stimulate cell turnover while protecting skin's moisture balance and shielding against future environmental damage. I do really like this moisturiser and how it makes my skin feel BUT it's marketed as a day cream and personally for me, I would not wear this cream in the day as it's VERY thick and quite greasy on the skin therefore I could not put makeup on top of it. I've been using it as a night cream and loving it but I would never wear this in the day. It's £13.99 for 50ml but again, a little goes a long way so this product will last for a while too!

I hope this was somewhat useful if anyone was thinking of trying the brand Face Theory. Their products are amazing and I love the minimal packaging. All of their products are made in Sheffield in the UK, they are a vegan brand and they only provide sustainable packaging - they use amber glass jars with aluminium caps or 100% aluminium tubes which are easy to recycle. I believe supporting small businesses in times like these is crucial and this brand is definitely worth checking out! 💙

XO,

Skincare Wishlist

Hello! I haven't posted in a while - I've just started a full time job so I've been struggling to find the time!

Here are a few things I'm desperate to try:

First up is the Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask:

I've heard so many people raving about this and just look at the packaging, it's so cute. Watermelon extract was traditionally used in Korea to soothe irritated and inflamed skin. It also has hyaluronic acid and pore-refining alpha hydroxy acids in it. The formula gets to work while you're asleep and exfoliates and moisturises the skin. I'm so desperate to try this so it is definitely at the top of my next shopping list 🤣

Next up is the Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Facial Toner.

Again, I've heard so many good things about this! So this product claims to increase hydration and minimise your pores, what's not to love? It also has real rose petals and hyaluronic acid in it. I'm definitely buying this next as well!

Next on my list is the Glossier Bubblewrap Eye + Lip Plumping Cream.

Apart from the fact that their packaging is so aesthetically pleasing, I genuinely love Glossier's products. I ordered way too much skincare from them the other day but there are still products I want to try such as this one. This eye and lip cream is made with hyaluronic acid, squalane, avocado oil and blueberry extract. I do think £23 is very pricey for a product as small as this but as it is an eye and lip cream I suppose it's a 2 in 1!

Another product I want to try from Glossier is two of their serums - the Super Glow and Super Bounce.

The Super Bounce Serum is made up of hyaluronic acid and vitamin b5 and their Super Glow Serum is made up of vitamin C and magnesium. They claim that the Super Bounce is great for soothing moisture to ease the tight, dehydrated feeling you sometimes get in your skin and their Super Glow is great for turning up your skin's brightness levels for an energised even complexion. You save £10 by buying them as a set so it's only £38 for both. When I put in my next Glossier order, these will be straight in my basket!

Another cult favourite that I want to try is Summer Friday's Jet Lag Mask.

I've literally not heard one bad review about this product! Apparently its Kim Kardashian approved so there you go. It is made from green and vegan ingredients thanks to a combination of vitamins, ceramides, antioxidants and gentle exfoliating extracts. It leaves your skin dewy and radiant and who doesn't want that? The packaging is also so pretty. It is quite pricey at £22.50 for 28g but a little goes a long way with masks like these.

Another mask I've been wanting to try for the longest time is Origins' Out Of Trouble 10 Minute Mask To Rescue Problem Skin.

This is great for acne and oil control which I'm getting a lot of at the minute, unfortunately :(. It has zinc oxide and sulphur plus calming camphor to soak up oily-shine and get rid of dead cells and any impurities. This is perfect for those days where your skin feels like crap and you need a huge detox. Definitely another must-have product soon!

Finally on my list to try at the minute is the Dr Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Extra Strength Daily Peel.

Okay so Lorna Luxe has made me really want to try these! Her skin always looks amazing after using them. They are quite expensive at £18 for a pack of 5 and you're supposed to use them everyday. However, if they do work as well as they say they do, they'll 100% be worth the money. They're supposed to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots and minimise the visibility of enlarged pores. They're also suitable for even the most sensitive skin types! 

What are some products on your skincare wishlist? Let me know!

XO,