New in: Superdrug skincare

Hey loves,

 I had a browse around the superdrug website and grabbed a few old faithfuls as well as a few new items that caught my eye.
There is always a deal to be found in superdrug and I always stock up when I am online ot in store.

Old faithfuls:

Superdrug Fruit Sorbet Peel-Off Mask

Superdrug Anti-Ageing Moisture Mask

Superdrug Superfruits Exfoliating Mask

Superdrug Sugar & Spice Self-Heating Mask

Superdrug Manuka Honey Peel Off Mask

Superdrug do some really great face masks. 

They are very affordable and as there a plethora of choices so there will be something for everyone.
These are always great to buy in bulk like I did back in my Skincare: summer 2015 post.

I picked these up as part of a promotion and have used a few already. They are a quick and easy way to pamper my skin.
So yep great masks to keep stock up on.

Superdrug Naturally Radiant Hot Cloth Cleanser 

This is one of my all time fav cream cleansers.

I always stock up on this as it just makes my skin feel amazing and really takes off the day so well.

I find that The Superdrug naturally radiant range works really well for me. 

For a highstreet drug store range I think they are well formulated and my skin really benefits.

New buys:

Superdrug Hydrating Moisturiser 

I have actually tried this before briefly but never owed one myself .

It is actually for men but if it isnt pumped full of "testosterone/ man ingredients" then I am happy to use it. As it is just marketing and packaging targeted towards men.

The formula is nice and moisturising and makes a great hand cream too.

Superdrug Naturally Radiant Radiance Balm

I grabbed this as part of a BOGOF deal as I really like the naturally radiant range and really like the texture.

It isn't a balmy texture like I thought it would be.

It has fine golden flecks that add to the  brightening effect.
A positive is that the flecks aren't chunky which is great for not making any visible pores look like craters. 

I haven't been using it long enough to speak on any other qualities but so far it's a thumbs up so far.

Biore Charcoal Cleanser

I really enjoy using charcoal products and have seen really good reviews.

So I intrigued to see how this compares to other charcoal products I have tried previously.

Superdrug Clearly Youthful Glycolic Peel

Glycolic Is always good to keep in your arsenal.

Although this is targeted to more problematic or ageing skin. 

I still wanted to give it a try as I love smooth bright skin and as I like most people get the occasional blemish.

Something to help combat that  whilst plumping and evening out textured areas is always welcome.

Superdrug Clearly Youthful Resurfacing Night Serum 

All I have heard is rave reviews about this and I am so keen to try it.
 It always seems to be sold out in store,

so I was so happy to finally nab this.

I am currently testing serums so I will begin using this in the next few weeks but having tested it on my hand it sinks in really well. It didn't leave any odd residues and isn't tacky once dried.

Manuka Doctor ApiRevive Manuka&Tea Tree Antiseptic Gel 

This this definitely one for the beauty SOS kit.

Tea tree, honey and propolis are great for their healing, renewal and antiseptic properties.

All helping to soothe skin irritations

So those are my Superdrug buys.

Until next time.............

Smooches

Stephanie aka Wednesdays Girl

xoxo

Don't forget to come find me and  Follow @GirlWednesdays

Naturally Thinking haul

My Haul

Hiya loves,

a few weeks back I ordered a few essentials I needed from Naturally Thinking  and wanted to share.

This is my second haul from them and I a really happy with my stuff . I first ordered last August I believe and I still have some of those products left. Delivery was pretty quick less than 9 days from placing the order to receiving the items.

I ordered last August I believe and I still have some of those products left. Delivery was pretty quick less than 9 days from placing the order to receiving the items.

Aloe vera juice £ 7

Aloe Vera juice is like gold in my house! It is one of those items that has sooo many uses. The mother now steals it from me lol.  I put a small amount in a spray bottle and use it to refresh and add moisture my hair before putting in a moisturiser and sealing with oil. It is very nourishing and does a ton of good things for hair health. It is a pretty much a god bargain at £7 per litre.

£6 each on sale normal price £8

I have really enjoyed using  these shampoo. I reordered the Super Organic All Hair Types Brazillian Andiroba Shampoo with Siberian Buckthorn 250ml and I find that it lasts a very long time. You don't need a lot of product for your hair to feel really nourished, It also doesn't lather up a lot but rest assured your hair is being cleansed. I haven't had that squeaky stripped feeling some shampoos give you. It leaves my hair feeling moisturised. I am not the biggest fan of Lavender but it isn't overwhelming and very subtle. It contains pretty simple ingredients such as natural glucosides, gums and oils so click the link above to have a look.

I also ordered a bottle of the  Super Organic Dry Hair African Savanna Baobab, Orange & Basil Intensive Hair Shampoo 250ml.

 I ordered this one as I foolishly ombred the ends of my hair with a dye that had a mild bleach in a while back. (I have dyed my hair in the past but never with bleach/ peroxide). So as you can imagine the ends were a bit dryer than the rest of my fro. I have cut a fair amount of the ombre out as I got bored of waiting for it to grow out then trim and repeat. This shampoo is specially formulated for dry, sun or chemically damaged hair and claims to revitalise/ rehydrate hair. I have used this once and you can see a difference in the ends of my hair. There isn't a drastic difference in my hair textures normally but I can feel it. 

Andiroba Seed oil £7 and Baobab seed oil £5

I purchased Andiroba oil last time and have maybe a third of a bottle left but wanted to stock up as my hair looooooves this stuff! A few of my friends use this in hair and body moisturisers so I wanted to try it and loved it. It does say it is good for afro hair so check it out if you have thick curly hair.

Baobab is now the new super fruit here in the UK that cures just about everything (slight exaggeration) but this has been a essential and well kept secret for most of Africa and Asia for centuries, so isn't that new to me. Really good Baobab oil is really expensive but this was really reasonable. I have also been using these and a blend of other oils I purchased in my first haul as a face oil and have seen really good results.

Peppermint £3.40,  Eucalyptus £2.30 and Tea tree £3.40 essential oils

This is my trio of essential oils. I use them in the bath, in moisturisers, spritz and hair masks. A little goes a long way. I enjoy the menthol feeling and they are priced well.

Conditioners £7 per bottle
bottle

Another of my favourite from Naturally Thinking are the Conditioners. I do add a few oils and or Shea butter to these and it makes the best hair masks! But back to the conditioners I find the blend and consistency really work for me. The Super Natural All Hair Type Brazilian Andiroba Conditioner with Siberian Buckthorn, Lavender and Geranium is an old faithful and I have nothing but good things to say about it.

The Super Natural Dry Hair Hydrating Argan Conditioner with Wild Carrot, Spanish Orange & Brazilian Rosewood is a new purchase that I bought in regards to the dry ends I spoke about earlier. I have used this once by itself and very much enjoyed the sedate smell as well as its moisturising and softening properties. I felt this conditioner defined my curls more and boosted hydration to another level.

That's it guys I am really happy and impressed with the quality of products and ingredients used. I will definitely be going back to purchase more products.

What are your natural hair and skincare holy grails?

Smooches

Stephanie aka Wednesdays Girl

xoxo

Don't forget to come find me and  Follow @GirlWednesdays  

Elizabeth Arden Beautiful Color Maximum Volume Mascara review

Other than Maybelline Great Lash Mascara I am not really faithful to one brand of mascara. I like to experiment and that is exactly how I came across this gorgeous find.

Luckily whilst in TK MAXX  (I fear TK Maxx will feature a lot this year lol)I stumbled across about 10 tubes of Elizabeth Arden Beautiful Color Maximum Volume Mascara hidden behind some O.P.I gift sets. Usually retailing for £21.00 I decided that I would definitely be purchasing this in black for a delightful £7 as a pre-Christmas pressie for myself! I also picked up 2 more in case of stocking pressie emergencies.

10.25 ML tube

I have been trialling it for 3  months solidly now and I am so happy I bought it. Can I just say- Gale force English winds aren't the only thing making waves up in here! lol. It definitely lengthens dramatically and I have had sooo many compliments. I have even had people thinking I had falsies on - result! I generally use 2-3 applications and wait for the last layer to dry before applying the next, to avoid clumps. Some people have had issues with the brush size but it works perfectly for me . Luckily I bought extras as I am on to my second one now and they have disappeared in store.

Brush thickness

The Elizabeth Arden website claims that " This beauty award-winner dramatically thickens lashes as it separates and defines. Smudge-proof formula lasts all day " and I am in total agreement with their lengthening and separating properties. They really really make my eyes pop and totally frame my eyes. However I was not blown away by the level of thickness provided by this mascara. It wasn't bad just slightly above average in my opinion. Other than that I am super excited about this mascara, it lasted all day, no clumping didn't flake and there was no irritation. It isn't waterproof unfortunately which is a big thing for me but after testing it I didn't encounter any smudging or running but then I haven't cried so hey-ho. I usually use 2 mascaras at once so using this under a waterproof one will combat this issue. I took a long time me to review this by its self as I wanted to see the effects of long term application and I am happy to say  I haven't had any irritation or eyelash shedding.

I would definitely recommend trying out this Mascara. However I am not about to spend £21 every 3 months for this unless I really have to. Lots of people are on budgets or just can't afford to pay full price for what is actually deemed to be a "lower end" priced luxury mascara. I would definitely suggest heading over to TK MAXX or searching around online for the best deal possible from trusted sources. There are some really good fakes with who knows what in, so please be careful. 

All in all this is definitely a keeper!

Smooches

Stephanie aka Wednesdays Girl

xoxo

Don't forget to come find me and  Follow @GirlWednesdays  

Christmas party season prep

The Christmas party season is now upon us and for those who want a few simple, quick and easy pampering treatments to see you through the whirlwind of dnners, bars, drinks, house parties and the infamous office party look no further!

To keep the drying effects of drinking and general wear & tear at bay reach for The Body Shop Warming Mineral Mask and AMAZING Brazened Honey from Lush.

The warming mineral mask is a lovely deep cleaning  clay mask that absorbs oil yet keeps the skin supple and moisturised. Coupled with the invigorating fresh ingredients in Brazened Honey you have a winning combination. Ginger, lime and fennel will add zing to your skin and as Honey is a humectant it will give the face a big moisture boost. All this equals plump and youthful skin.

I picked up I Sao Paulo over there (cheapest price found online) and Ciate Beach Hut (cheapest priced item online) in TK Maxx   for £3.99 each and have been alternating between them ever since. Neither are traditional winter nail polish colours but I absolutely adore them. The depth in I sao Paulo over there makes it a very sophisticated tone and think the reflective quality of Beach hut makes it very festive. 

Last but not least is the wonder product that is Lucas' Papaw Ointment. I have used this for years and recently started using it consistently this year. I use this for my lips but it can be used for absolutely anything and works so well. I even like the fomented papaw scent 0.o- I know.

This is an absolute must for me especially when using lipstick. With so many textured finishes, reapplying and wiping lipsticks off my lips are going to take a battering this season before thinking about how drying the English winter can be in general.

What are your Christmas party prep items?

Smooches

Stephanie aka Wednesdays Girl

xoxo

Don't forget to come find me and Follow @GirlWednesdays  

Cardiff....until next time

Hey dawls, its been a while
I know. Technical difficulties were being had. 

So it was my Birthday on the 10th and I decided once again to commandeer more days and make a long weekend of it.

As per usual I was last minute and decided to go up to the valeeeeyyys aka Cardiff for a day trip like a week before with my bestfriend. ;-)

I have been to Cardiff before and a great time and this was no different. We had a fun despite the rain and being slight windswept (nothing compared to the storm that followed our departure!). We decided sustenance was definitely  needed for the day ahead and stopped off at The Meating Place, which has the BEST Parmesan chips ever! Seriously recommend trying them but take cash. If you ever go there you will understand lol.

After lunch we hit up St David's shopping centre, Wharton street, Queens street and the Arcades.

 In hindsight we could have made a weekend of it and partied the night away and maybe explored some more but my weekend wasn't over. Ohhh no! 

On Sunday I had a lovely dinner with friends at GOGI a lovely Korean bar and grill joint and on the big day I went to a spa for some much needed relaxation and pampering.

I couldn't leave Cardiff without getting my shop on so here are a few things

......

I have been looking for a new bag for ages, see here and really couldn't find anything that grabbed me. This season has a lot of thin handled or undersized bags and that is not practical for my everyday use. I had my eye on both of these bags and basically succumbed to both. The grey has a lovely texture and a subtle on trend trapeze shape but is practical yet edgy with the silver mini studded panels. I really love this black bag. it is structured and lady but big enough to carry all my work stuff in. It also gets bigger when unclipped, it  isn't shiny and  has a nice sheen but is still a textured matt. 

Grey bag (alternative) here

Black bag here

  I picked up this oversized jersey with floral detailing in H & M. I love the grannyish floral aspect and it is a odd off black that looks nay but isn't. It had an exposed zipper at the back and is a cool casual piece to jam or run errands in.

Sweatshirt here (mine was alot less as it was on sale so check in stores first)

 I also picked up this cool sheer black kimono, which I love love love. I should have tried it on in store as it is a lil big but meh just adds to the whimsical edginess.it is really versatile and can take you from the beach to a night out.

Not currently available on there website in the cardi section so check in stores

  I have a strange relationship with River island and the price versus quality but I am so glad we stopped by as bargains were a plenty! I  picked up his beautiful t- shirt and just look at it. I want to frame it is so purdy. I love the black and white "silk" print as it lends an air of  sophistication o any outfit. Unfortunately I cant find it anywhere online

I also stopped by my old lovers place....MAC and picked up 3 beautiful lippies. I was  having an issue with lighting so went down an "artistic" photography route lol.

The shades can be found here.

Diva - matt

Cyber - satin

 Film noir - satin

  Finally we stopped of at Topshop and I picked 2 matt finish nail varnished. In denim and Mystic. I pretty I am pretty disappointed in Mystic and am super happy I used a gift card my old work colleagues gave me. Granted it doesn't have a lustrous finish as most varnishes aim for but it certainly isn't matt. If anything it seems to get shiner after 2 coats or a top up. It also drys darker which I actually liked but I found myself being more drawn to the frosted bottle rather than the varnish.

All in all a wonderful birthday was had and I will definitely be going back to Cardiff!

Smooches

Stephanie aka Wednesdays Girl

xoxo

Don't forget to come find me and  Follow @GirlWednesdays  

Well hello there 2014 (haul)

Hi Lovelies its is my first post and haul of the year! 

Happy 2014!!!

 I went out for a new work/ every day black tote bag and came back with er'thang but a black tote. Hehe famous last words.

This haul started out as things I actually needed and ended up like so.....well what I want and what I need is pretty much the same ish. 

Enjoy.

L-R: B.pure Micellar water, Naturally radiant 2 in 1 moisturiser and serum and Superdrug Naturally Radiant Brightening Day Cream SPF15

These are actually repurchases that have become a daily part of my skincare base routine. Superdrugs had a promotion on B. pure and as one of the bottles was slightly dented I got another discount. As my skin worked so well with the Naturally radiant range, I decided to add their day cream to the mix. It is has a good level of absorbency ,is light and on sale here.

 

Top: Tea Tree water toner
Bottom: Mask of Magnaminty

Who doesn't love a bit of LUSSSSSSSSSSHHH?!  I stopped by the Brent Cross branch and practically yanked my friend Nikki inside for some lush loving. I limited myself to 2 things that I actually needed. I know I know, I went in and came out with nary a bath bomb but as you will see in my last post and below I have enough to be getting on with.

I stocked up on  Mask of Magnaminty which is currently working wonders on my face as I type.It smells sooo good. This mask has gained cult status in the blogesphere and with good reason. My skin always looks refreshed and feels so silky after using it. It also contains some of my fav scents in the world. Vanilla and peppermint. 

Quick tip: I leave mine in the fridge and have never had any problems with mold.

My second purchase was Tea tree Water . It is good for so many things such as normal toner, face refresher, makeup setter the list goes on. The combination of tea tree , juniper berry and grapefruit work perfectly together. If you have oily or spot prone skin this is a definite must have! the tea tree is very nurturing and doesn't dry or strip the skin. It is perfect for all skin types.

If you haven't heard of Lush. Check them out

L-R: Vanilla Body Mist, Strawberry Body Polish, Hemp Hand Protector

Another one of my old favs is The Body Shop. Once again I limited myself to shit I need yo. because I am a grown up like that lol Anything Vanilla in the body shop is up my street. I am all about it. When I saw the body mist on sale my eyes literally popped out my head,I loooooove it. I used to go in to the body shop everyday on my way to school and spritz myself shhhh.

I have mentioned the Hemp hand protector before on here and It really is a god send but they didn't reduce this one iota in the sales which was disappointing - rather annoyed. I still bought it as it lasts me a long while and our winter weather is horrid right now. Luckily I got a 20% discount as I purchased 4 things. If you haven't tried the strawberry body polish go and smell it, its divine.

L-R: Zara  Eau de toilette natural sprays: Black peony and Oriental

I have never paid too much attention to Zara perfumes but boy oh boy am I now! On my quest to find a suitable black tote I stopped off at Zara and my eye was immediately caught by the perfumes as I looked at jewellery.

I am not a massive perfume girl. I usually have 4-5 signature perfumes on the go that last me ages and I usually prefer mens stuff such as Armani code unless its my Chanel, daisy or obsession. I am not a big fan of super sweet scents and love bergamot and sandalwood notes found usually in mens stuff.

I picked up Black peony which is very heady and has notes of bergamot, vanilla and sandalwood, which appeal to me. Likened to Viktor Rolfs Flowerbomb with less sweetness it  is a little intense for some and mostly recommended for sultry evenings but I would where it anytime. It is a gorgeous scent. For an in depth analysis click here

I also got Oriental which also has notes of vanilla, floral and wood. Its less intense than Black peony and a beautiful fragrance which works well with me. Analysis here  Both were under £10 each and are great bang for buck. The packaging is very nice and good quality all round. I will definitely be going back for more.

Nike Blazer Mid Twist  Grey Suede

I am not much of a trainer girl and I wanted something that would incorporate style as well as function. I got these at the London designer outlet in Wembley which is not to far away from me for a bargainous £45! These can sell for up to £120 so I am very happy with my discount. I haven't seem many people wearing them which is good and I went for a dusky grey which goes with a lot. I love the snake skin detailing and ankle wrap around feature. The laces are a little unusual and don't actually let you tie them yourself. They are made of elastic material and are pre -tied.

L-R: H&M xoxo bracelet set and earrings

I picked up an xoxo bracelet and bird bracelet set in the sales. I also picked up a lovely set of triple arrow studs. They have a military-esque feel to them.

Top: Primark slate grey knitted coatigan
Bottom: Punk strap boots

 

Sorry Guys I didn't realise how creased the bottom of my cardi was. I picked these 2 items in the primark sales. I love a cardigan and this one is just a classic piece. It is just below bum length and close knitted with a round neck. The ares are a little dropped which gives it a coatigan effect.

I also had to get these boots as I saw them when they first came out and totally forgot about them as they usually sell out in my size quickly. Luckily My friend found the last pair or me and I snapped them up. I have a love affair with the 90's and cleated soles are my thing. Tartan is always trendy and with this rainy weather a nice pair of toasty toe warmers.

 

Notebook

And finally a notebook. I like to start of the year with a fresh note one and this one is so purtay. It has recycled paper so I am helping the earth and only cost £1 in the pound shop! I know too good to be true.

Its been a bit of a long one but I hope you saw some cool ideas and have been having a good new year thus far.

Until next time.......

Smooches

Stephanie aka Wednesdays Girl

xoxo

Don't forget to come find me and  Follow @GirlWednesdays  

Post chrismas revitalisers

The Christmas shenanigans are over and we are navigating the nothing no mans land days that occur after food overload and the new years.

Now it's my time to relax after making my first ever full Christmas dinner. Twas a success * dougies* I have thrown on the onesie and even turned my back on boxing day sales and hung out with my nephew instead!!

Here are a few of my trusty relaxation products....................

Under eye collagen mask.

I found these on eBay. 5 for 99p. I have since seen quite a few bloggers hailing these as their under eye fail safe. They feel like silk and you can see an improvement even if you don't have bags. A definite beauty box keeper. p.s they slide down a fair bit so don't be surprised if you find them traveling south.

 Molten brown. I got this set as a Christmas present and I am VERY pleased. Stick a few vanilla and berry candles around the bath and bobs your uncle. Super relaxing.

 I have absolutely fallen in love with these 3

 My festive Barry M trio. I have rocked these colours since September and received many compliments.I seem to have rediscovered Barry M all over again, right at the bottom of my nail varnish box and I am all about them right now.

I hope you enjoyed your Christmas and have a happy new year!

Smooches

Stephanie aka Wednesdays Girl

xoxo

 

Don't forget to come find me and  Follow @GirlWednesdays