RESCUE ME MASKS

Following my Rescue Me Routine, the next best thing is a good cleansing mask to give your skin a good deep clean. Think of it as a bottle of wine washing away your sorrows...

When my skin is acting the fool, there's two masks I reach for. You've seen me rave about the Clear Improvements mask on more than one occasion (make it more like five.. or six?) but a new addition to my cleansing clan is the Aesop Parsley Seed Cleansing Masque.

I tend to slap on the charcoal when my skin is in desperate need of detox. It really pulls up all the grime and leaves my skin looking a lot clearer and fresher. It unblocks any congestion and I find myself getting a lovely little glow.
The Parsley Seed mask is one I use when my skin isn't as bad as the latter, but maybe I've not been too good on cleansing through the week or I have a couple of blemishes appearing. It's really soothing and calming yet it really gets the job done, leaving my skin looking refreshed and bright.

Whereas the Origins number can get sliiiightly drying, the Aesop mask is so lovely and hydrating at the same time - probably a good one for the winter months when my skin could be a little less hydrated. Both are fine on my slightly sensitive skin, leaving me with no redness or anything - but if you're a big skin sufferer I'd opt for the Aesop mask. I always follow a mask with a good oil to retain back the moisture.


What are your top masks for problem skin? Have you tried either of these? Let me know!

You can find Hayley Loves on BLOGLOVIN' and TWITTER  

DAILY SKINCARE ROUTINE - BACK TO BASICS

Let's start this whole shabang with a little 'disclaimer'. I'm no skincare expert and what works for me may not work for you. So now that's done with, let's get on with it.

I tend to have quite normal skin with a slightly oily T-Zone, however lately my T-zone has been on over-drive, I've found myself getting a lot more blemish prone than usual. I'm a little drier in some places and I'm generally dehydrated (heck, who isn't?).

I prefer to take the main bulk of my make up off with some Bioderma - I don't need to talk about this, you guys know the hype and for me, it lives up to it. If I'm wearing a more stubborn mascara I'll reach for the Estee Lauder Gentle Eye Makeup Remover, however Bioderma generally does it well enough. I love using balm cleansers and giving my skin a good massage but they tend to be quite on the pricey side but I adore Lush Ultrabland. I'll be honest, it smells like ass (no, not literally.) but boy does it do a good job. I really work this into my skin for a good 3/4 minutes and then leave it for a minute to sink in, then buff away with a flannel, leaving silky smooth, clean skin.

As ridiculous as this sounds, I listen to my skin and give what it wants - if it's feeling clogged and meh I'll give my pores a good clean with the Origins Zero Oil Pore Purifying Toner, post cleanse. You should know by now just how much I love this, it's already on my repurchase list. I love this stuff for really making my skin feel fresher, cleaner and like it can breathe. It contains salicylic acid which also makes it perfect for when I'm getting a little more blemishy. As this can be a little more drying on my already dry bits, I follow with a few sprits of Lush's Eau Roma Water. A toner water that is literally just Lavender and Rose water and is so, so refreshing and soothing. I keep this in my fridge for an extra boost! If I'm not using the Origins Toner, this one still gets a good use.

After picking up the Origins GinZing moisturiser, I haven't been able to put it down! I've written a review here so go check it out, I'll save you the rambling here. In the evening I've been using the DHC Pore Milk*. It claims to clarify your pores and control excess sebum - I haven't noticed any of that, but this is a bloody good moisturiser. It's incredibly light weight yet super hydrating and smooths over any dryness. I find heavier moisturisers can make my skin feel too heavy and clogged, so I stick to a good dose of this over a serum and oil, but more on them next time.


Next up is my added extras skincare essentials including more cleansers, toners, serums and oils!

You can find Hayley Loves on BLOGLOVIN' and TWITTER

ORIGINS GINZING MOISTURISER

On impulse, I threw the Origins GinZing Energy Boosting Moisturiser into my Boots shopping basket after hearing just two reviews. I didn't even try this out using the sample pot. You know when you just know something will be great? Well I was right.

This gel-like moisturiser is absolutely perfect for Summer giving your skin an instant boost of hydration that sinks in quickly whilst still being light-weight. What more could you want?! It's incredibly fresh and a perfect morning treat with the orange scent. This is brilliant under makeup as I find it quite priming - it smooths out my skin and gives it a lovely, fresh glow. It leaves my skin a little plumper and healthier looking, which is always a plus.

The effects of it do tend to last all day which is perfect - working in a hot shop with a steamer running all day long really dries out my skin, but this keeps me baby soft aaaall day long. I have tried the moisturiser's bigger sister, the GinZing Eye Cream and I wasn't overly impressed, mainly due to the highlighting shimmer. After all, this is skincare, not make up! But overall I can definitely say this is a huuuuge thumbs up from me.


Have you tried the GinZing moisturiser? What do you think, tempted to try it?!

You can find Hayley Loves on BLOGLOVIN' and TWITTER

THE GLOW INDUCERS

When it comes to make up finish, I love a glowing, healthy look. Not only does it make your skin look much more awake it seems to blur blemishes, which lets face it, we all want! These are my top five glow inducers that help me achieve a healthy base.

Laura Mercier, as always, hit the top spot for me - and not only in make up, there candles are to dieeee for! If I'm after a full on, mega-watt glow then a sweep of the Radiance Primer followed by a thin layer of Silk Creme wins hands down. Although Silk Creme is super pigmented, the Radiance Primer still manages to shine through perfectly. If I'm going for something a little more subtle, then Silk Creme alone gives you that second skin luminosity we all desire.

The RMK Creamy Foundation* has become a bit of a staple in my stash for those days that I want an effortless glow. It can occasionally look a little too much but a dusting of powder sorts that out. I know, the colour looks super dark, but do check out my review here and find out what's going down!

Origins VitaZing Moisturiser doesn't quite fall into the tinted moisturiser category, but is definitely a little bit more than a moisturiser. Who cares what it is, layered over my DHC Pore Milk* and under the Revlon Nearly Naked foundation it gives colour and warmth to my skin. It has potential to look a little orange, so I wouldn't wear it alone unlike the Radiance Primer or the next product...

Everyone seemed to pick this up in last months Red magazine, and I don't blame anyone. Elemis Pro-Radiance Illuminating Flash Balm (mouthful...) is simply beautiful. Subtle, but blurs any imperfections and leaves me skin looking really healthy. I don't really understand this "Flash Balm" malarky - I tried the Clarins one as well and just don't get it, so if anyone can fill me in, holla! I'm unaware if there are any skincare benefits to advertise it as "anti-ageing", but I think any illuminating product would make something look anti-ageing, non?


So there's my top picks for a glowy, dewy base! Do let me know what you think of these, or if you have any recommendations!

You can find Hayley Loves on BLOGLOVIN' and TWITTER 

EVENING SKINCARE ROUTINE

When the evening begun and my eyes began to droop, the last thing I ever wanted to do was give myself a facial to remove the days wear, so more often than not I'd reach for the baby wipes and scrub my skin red and be done with it. But over the last few months my skincare collection has grown and improved, baby wipes out the window and the quest for healthy looking skin is in full force.

Let me just start by saying I have dehydrated, combination skin which is fairly sensitive and currently rather blemish prone. These products might not work for you, but I think they're all pretty fantastic.

If I'm wearing something heavy duty on the eyes, I don't hesitate to reach for my Estee Lauder Gentle Eye Makeup Remover which melts away any grime effortlessly and efficiently. On the more natural days my Bioderma works just fine, which I then use to remove the main bulk off of my face.
Next in the spotlight comes the REN Hydra-Calm Cleansing Milk - a new addition to the stash but I can see it lurking there for a long, long time. Removing any last traces of makeup and dirt it leaves my skin feeling clean, fresh and silky soft whilst being incredibly gentle. If my skin is a little more blemish-y and dry I'll go for my Lush Ultrabland balm cleanser, massage it into my skin and leave it for a few minutes before buffing it off with a flannel. I'll use a quick swipe of my Origins United States toner to balance my skin if it's having a good day, if it's a bit more oily I'll go for the Zero Oil version. I think it's so important to listen to your skin and change up products if you need too. Toners are a step that is yet to be perfected, Hirons, I'm coming for you!

I love using an oil to add a moisture boost however for me, less is definitely more and I've been using the Superdrug Vitamin E Oil for a while. I find it so easy to use too much which can leave my skin feeling incredibly heavy and like I need to cleanse again, which is the last thing you want. I'll warm a couple of drops between my palms and kind of press it onto my skin - I'm not sure why, but I saw it somewhere and I cannot stop doing it like this! Finally I'll warm some of my Simple Rich Moisturiser up in my palms and massage it into my face and neck and I'm ready for bed feeling clean, refreshed and totally relaxed...


What's your skincare routine like? Get the baby wipes thrown out, you don't need them ;). Send me links to your posts/videos!

You can find Hayley Loves on BLOGLOVIN' and TWITTER

THE MASK LOW DOWN

Until about 4 months ago, I didn't do masks. I've no idea why, they just didn't seem necessary and I didn't really know what I was looking for. But I sat myself down and did my research and after a while testing and trying products, I've narrowed it down to these three being the only masks you'll need.  (*Note, I said need.. but let's be honest, we all need just one more pair of shoes, or one more nail varnish, so go crazy!)

There's three things I need to happen to my skin and that's a deep cleanse, a good exfoliation and a good dose of hydration. We've all heard everyone and their mother talk about the Clear Improvement Charcoal Mask by Origins, and for me, it really lives up to it's status. The charcoal works like a magnet to scoop up all that dirt and grime that gets trapped in our skin and gives it a really deep clean. I have quite sensitive skin, but I don't find this irritates me too much at all, but if you're a bit weary, definitely do your research to find a more gentle mask. A cheaper alternative that I've heard many good things about is the Una Brennan Deep Clean Pore Purifying Clay Mask (mouthful or what..).

For me, getting a good glow and healthy look going is essential and for this step, I've been turning to the Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask. Unlike 'manual' exfoliators that can leave your face looking a bit red and sore by being too abrasive, this uses natural fruit acids to chomp away at any dryness that may be lurking. It's also fantastic for scarring and fine lines, but I've never had to battle with these (touch wood!). I honestly do not think I'd be able to live without this, and once my samples are gone, which last for aaaages, I will without a doubt be purchasing. Not recommended for super sensitive skin, but I get along just fine.

If you find the above masks dry your skin a little, you could use an oil to give it a bit of moisture, but I want a full on hose pipe of hydration. I like to slather on a good layer on the cult Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask just before bed. I give it a chance to sink in so I don't end up with it all over my pillow and in the morning I'm still left with residue but my skin is looking plump and supple. And don't worry if you don't have dry skin! Mine is normal/combination but rather dehydrated and this still gives my skin that boost it needs. If you think this could be a little rich for you, turn your eyes to their Drink Up 10 Minute Mask - a quick fix version of this that still does a fantastic job.

Now I must stress, these products work for me. It does NOT mean it will work for you. Do a little research into other similar products and give them a whirl!

What are your favourite masks? Bit of a mask junkie or a mask-o-phobe?

You can find Hayley Loves on BLOGLOVIN' and TWITTER

The Friday Facial - Pre-Birthday Prep

So if you follow me on Twitter (@hayleybethadams) you will have seen a hefty load of tweets regarding my excitement for my birthday on Saturday. I'm a right big kid and LOVE birthday's and Christmas'. I'm ridiculously excited to open a cute, gift-wrapped box from Mike - I'm a sucker for pretty things. I'm going out on the Friday night and I really want to have amazing, HYDRATED skin as I know all the goodness will be sucked straight out by Saturday morning, so to accompany this, I'll have a post coming up on all the products that my face will be sluuuurping up.
As you can see, I took advantage of the sunny day and took aaaall my pictures outside for you all to see.

I'm going to be starting the whole shabang with a new product, but one that is pretty much already a holy grail - my REN Micro Polish Cleanser. It's amazing at sloughing off all the dead skin and revealing a glowy, radiant face. Perfect prep for yet another new product, the Lush Dream Steam Steamer Tab. This step is optional, but one I'm excited to do! I've never really steamed my face but after being sold on the essential oils these pack, it seems like the perfect time.
Staying with the glow-boosting theme, I'll be trying out the REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal mask. Claiming to combat congestion, blemish and improve the skin tone, this is EXACTLY what I need. My skin hasn't been on it's best behaviour, so I'm welcoming any congestion buster! Once this is removed, I'll wipe the Clarins Daily Energizer toner over my skin to remove any last traces of dirt before putting on my Origins 10 Minute Mask to rehydrate after the potentially drying REN mask.
I'll slick on a very tiny layer of the uber-hydrating Marula Oil whilst me and Essie Muchi Muchi have a little nail time.

After a few hours of R&R, I'll run a cotton pad of Bioderma over my skin to provide a clean, oil free base so my makeup doesn't slide straight off. I'm not 100% sure which moisturiser I'll be using just yet, but Origins VitaZing, I have my eye on you!


What do you think to my facial?! I'm really looking forward to giving my skin a good ol' pamper! Look out for my hydration boosting facial tomorrow - it will be much needed!

You can find Hayley Loves on BLOGLOVIN' and TWITTER. 

My Origins Facial... take two.

Last week I booked myself in for one of Origins free facials and skin consultations. As most of you know, as I've been asking for advice, my skin has been an ass lately. It's been so dehydrated, dull and red, it's really been getting me down. Then after this weekends events, I had quite the breakout, so this facial couldn't have come at a better time.

Unlike my first one, which you can read here, it felt a lot more professional and I really feel I learnt a lot more about my skin. She couldn't praise me more on my skin, I was horrified and thinking she couldn't be more wrong, but for every "bad" thing I pointed out about my skin, she had a reason for it, and why it happens etc.

After pretty much everything I do, cleansing, toning, exfoliating, you name it, my cheek go bright red and look as though there are millions of spots under my skin. This has always been a problem for me, and something I'm really embarrassed about, but the lovely lady explained how my skin was sensitive, more than likely due to my age, and it's good to see that the products are reacting, but not hurting me, as it shows it's working. That confused me a bit, but then things are always worse until they get better... I dunno that's probably a load of nothing.

Luckily, I've been pretty spot on with the toner and cleanser that I've been using from Origins which are the Checks and Balances cleanser and the United States tonic. Although my usual Balanced Diet moisturiser worked, we decided that the Make A Difference + Rejuvenating Moisturiser would be more suited with my skin, and it smells GORGEOUS, just like orange sherbet. I usually use the Overnight Intensive Mask, however the Origins expert suggested this may be a little too intense for my skin, and to try using the 10 Minute Mask, which I have to agree, it works so much better.

Afterwards, I was left with really hydrated and lovely skin, which I know sounds silly from a mini facial, but I definitely think my skin has felt so much nicer since.
If you're having problems with your skin, or you need to change up your routine a bit, I definitely recommend heading over to your nearest Origins stand and booking yourself in. This is my second one and I know if my skin changes again, I'll be straight there.


Don't forget to enter my giveaway! There's loads of nice things for one lucky person to win!

You can find Hayley Loves on BLOGLOVIN' and TWITTER. 

ready for spring #4 - Balanced Diet, Skincare Saviours

Skincare is vital, no matter the season, and although we always want luminous, soft, clear skin, we seem to bare more of it during Spring/Summer.

All year round, I find myself reaching for Simple's Replenishing Rich Moisturiser. Whilst most people prefer the lighter version, I find this one is peeerfect. It makes a great base for my makeup, keeps my skin soft, hydrated and is very gentle.

You'll have seen me speak about this product here, and I am still in love with the Clarins Daily Energizer Wake-Up Booster. It's refreshing, hydrating and I really do find it kind of radiating.- I don't know if it's just because it's supposed to be or not though haha!

I received a sample of the Origins Balanced Diet Lotion and I need it! It's fairly pricey, but feels so lovely and luxurious, it also has a lovely scent which wakes you up nicely. Perfect base for makeup as it absorbs quickly but leaves your skin feeling hydrated and soft.
Another Origins product is the GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream. This is the perfect eye cream for S/S as it is super brightening as has a refreshing, zesty scent. It may seem a bit shimmery at first, but this subsides once soaked in.

Now I know I'm not the only one to neglect my body when it's comes to moisturising, I hate that awful, irritating feeling when you're blowing at it trying to get it to dry so you can get into bed without sticking to everything you touch. I was recently converted by the Soap and Glory Smoothie Star Body Milk, but I really want to try out the Body ButterCream, just out of interest!

The Caudalie Beauty Elixir was a tricky one - does it come under Skincare or Makeup, kind of? I thought Skincare seemed much more appropriate. This will be perfect for summer as I often find my makeup looking a bit crappy and cakey after a while in the summer. A couple of spritz of this and it claims to give you a smoother, glowing complexion, instantly refreshing your face without disturbing anything. I've also heard this makes you feel better in yourself too, what do you think?

I've bought plenty of goodies for my 100 ffollower giveaway so watch this space!

my ultimate relaxation night routine

So these past few days have certainly been emotional for me - I've been all over the place and I really just needed to relax! The best way I can take my mind off of things is with a good facial.

I used Angels on Bare Skin from Lush whilst I was in the shower. I put it on like a mask whilst I let my conditioner soak in and left it on for a while to soak up all the goodness! The lavender was a God send and definitely was the best start to getting me relaxed. Find my review here.

After my shower, I used a bit of Origins Zero Oil Pore Purifying Toner on a cotton wool pad and sweeped it over my face and neck. This helped clear my pores leaving me feeling fresh and clean with the mint scent clearing my sinuses, being a breath of fresh air. Find my review here..

My favourite part of this routine - a mask! Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask is so nice to wear. With it being overnight, it let me lay down with a book and my favourite candle without worrying about having to take it off. I applied it a bit before going to bed so I didn't end up with it all over my pillow. This is great because you feel it's effects the next morning, waking up feeling soft and much, much happier and rested. I also have a review of this product here.


This much needed pamper left me feeling positive, fresh and ready for the day ahead!
Do you have a relaxation routine? Let me know what you think below!

Origins Drink Up Intensive

This over night mask from Origins gets to work straight away, hydrating your skin the minute you apply it.
I tend to use this after I've used another mask, just to add back any essential oils that may have been lost or if my skin is in need of an extra boost after feeling dull and dehydrated.

The first thing that hits me about the product is the smell. It's very fruity as it has Avocado Oil and Mango Butters, but this can get really overpowering, like, really bad haha. At first it smells lovely, but then when you've had it on for about half hour, I start to get a bit headachey and the smells turns very artificial - not nice at all. But it does feel very luxurious on, so I do manage to overcome the smell!
It looks a lot like a moisturiser, which I find makes it difficult to judge how much to put on, but this hardly matters, I just use enough to make the dry parts make my skin feel like they have enough product on.

The main problem with this is that sleeping with this on is not practical at all. My face not touching my pillow at night is impossible, so I do find that in the morning, one side of my face has no product left at all. This could be a good thing though. The side that does have product on can feel really quite greasy and not nice at all, not refreshed, just greasy. I find myself running to the sink to remove the residue immediately.

It's not all negatives though! I have combination skin, but I still apply this to the oily sections. I initially thought it'd do a lot more harm than good, but I was pleasantly surprised! It didn't increase any oilyness, just made it feel very hydrated and lovely.

After washing, it does create a really smooth base for make up which is incredibly soft to touch. I reckon with a touch of my other Origins products, such as toner and light moisturiser, this could create the perfect, flawless base.

Have you tried this? What about the 10 minute mask? Let me know your thoughts below!

Origins United State Balancing Tonic

Origins United State Balancing Tonic is an incredibly refreshing toner that claims to reunite dry and oily areas, so skin becomes, well, balanced!

It definitely lives up to it's expectations, this balancing tonic is brilliant at clearing pores and smoothing skin, yet is very hydrating, leaving my skin looking clean, fresh and clear.

I suffer from redish patches on my cheeks, and this really helps clear it up a little, leaving me with a lovely complexion (if I say so myself!). I really do feel very clean after using it - not in a squeeky, uncomfortable way, but my skin feels like it can breath again. I definitely thinks that the scent of this helps with the fresh feeling - it's a bit minty, slightly smells of lavender after application, and smells a little bit medicinal, but not uncomfortably, just right haha, it's really difficult to explain! The smell can be a little over powering, when my boyfriend smelt it for the first time, he pulled his head away quite quickly and definitely over-reacted, but you get used to it and after a couple of applications.

It's very gentle, but a really amazing product, keeping oil at bay but hydrating the dry areas well. I definitely recommend this to people with combination skin!

my 30 minutes origins facial experience

When doing a bit of sales shopping, I signed myself up for a free 30 minute facial at Origins. I was a bit nervous, I didn't want them to tell me that the products I'd bought were completely unsuited to my skin.

The facial couldn't have come at a worse time. My skin was playing up massively. I'd got a bit of dry skin on my chin, my forehead was dry and I'd got a few spots and a lot more under-skin blemishes than I usually have to put up with. I was pretty embarrassed to be showing someone with such flawless skin my mess, but then again, she was there to sort me out!

To say I was right in the middle of a busy department store and beside the likes of MAC and Liz Earle, I was made incredibly comfortable. She sat me on a chair and we discussed my current skin care routine. When I said I used an exfoliator about 4 times a week she almost cried and said that the absolute maximum should be 3 as I don't want to remove good oils. She then handed me a mirror and asked me what I'd like to change about my skin. My main problem was my oily nose, dry forehead and under-skin redness/blemishes.

She started out using an exfoliant for my skin and to remove and make up I was wearing then went ahead to use the 10 Minute Mask on my cheeks and the Charcoal Mask on my nose, forehead and chin. I felt an absolute idiot, but she made me feel comfortable by being chatty and interested in what I do. We even briefly discussed Benefit products and she used to work on their counter. Shortly she followed with the Balanced Diet tonic and lotion. We spoke about eye creams, and she didn't seem surprised when I said I hadn't used one, but she tried out their famous GinZing eye cream. I was slightly surprised at how thick it felt, very luxurious and she told me it's best quality was that I was very brightening as it reflects light, so is perfect to use in a morning under make up.

I asked if I could try their foundation as I'd never thought about their make up before and she seemed more than happy to apply it and apply a blush. This part was where I was very disappointed. She applied it with a pointed foundation brush which made the foundation look streaky and, to be honest, pretty awful. We discussed what colour blush I'd usually go for and said that seeing as she's the expert, she could choose for me. She applied a coral shade which, when on my skin, looked RIDICULOUS.

When it came to the end, she seemed really annoyed that I only decided to take samples of products. I thought it was pretty fair that I did? I'm not going to buy a full size product until I know that it will suit my skin, I don't want to pay £20 for a product to break me out.

With that, I left, feeling very clownish, walking through the shopping centre with my head low and embarrassed. As soon as I got on the tram I had to apply my own make up on top of it as I obviously had no wipes and couldn't cleanse etc.


So overall, the facial experience was brilliant! I now understand my skin more and know what kind of products I should be looking for, but the end of my time was a massive put off.

Have you tried this event? What did you think?

origins zero oil pore purifying toner

Toner Benefits:

• Pores appear tightened and refined
• Promotes a matte appearance
• Leaves skin comfortable and refreshed

Well done, Origins. Once again, you've done exactly what you've said. 

Zero Oil retails at £17 and is so worth it.

I use this product prior to putting my make up on and you can see the effects lasting all day long. I suffer from big pores on my nose that within an hour of applying make up, my nose gets oily. The rest of my skin is fairly normal with occasional dry parts especially on my forehead. It's really difficult to find products that compliment both of my skin problems rather than making one worse. Using this really helped and I found my nose didn't really get oily at all. Super!

I was a bit nervous about this, I thought it may be a bit stripping or it would sting like other pore refiners I have used. But I was so wrong. I put a small amount of this on a cotton wool pad and the first thing that hits you is the fresh, minty scent. It's very cool when wiping it across your skin, but more refreshing that uncomfortable. It was really nice to apply actually, I didn't want to stop wiping my face haha! Like I said, very refreshing, cooling and clean. It kept my oily nose at bay all evening, I'd say about 4-5 hours. The rest of my face still felt very hydrating and nice. Before I applied this, I noticed I had a couple of irritating spots, but this morning, I did notice there was less redness on them and not so noticeable! 

Another thing I love about Origins products is the design. They look so nice, and will look even better once I've got all my skincare organised. Hopefully this will last me a long time! I will definitely be repurchasing, unless I come across something else that works even better.

origins modern friction and clear improvement charcoal mask

I wanted to spend my day relaxing, sorting out my Christmas presents and taking care of my skin, so I thought it would be a brilliant opportunity to try out two of my samples from Origins: Modern Friction and Clear Improvement.

I'd heard so much about the Charcoal Mask, but I never bought it. I always get a little scared when it comes to masks, I don't know how my skin may react or if it will even work, so I jumped at the chance to get a sample of it. When I was looking at it though, the woman running the stand explained to me how much better this may work if I used Modern Friction too. She said it's an exfoliater/scrub that you use before a mask, it helps remove dead skin and let your mask access areas it otherwise would have been able too. I was impressed, so she got me a sample of that too.


As told to do, I applied Modern Friction onto a dry face and gave it a little scrub then added a little water and worked it up into a lather. It felt ridiculously nice. Since it has rice in it, it was very exfoliating, but still very gentle. It didn't smell gorgeous, but it wasn't offensive either but that hardly matters too much. The result was impressive! I didn't expect too much, but my skin looked much clearer and my skin look quite radiant, I would have been happy using just that. I was so excited to use my mask though. I wasn't too sure how much to use to be honest, so I initially applied a single layer and decided to build up where I felt my skin was most problematic. It was very pliable, I thought it might be a bit difficult to spread but it was nice. As soon as it touched my skin, it felt cool, tingly, but not uncomfortable. It really felt like it was doing me good! I was recommended to wash it off once it was dried, so after 10-15 minutes, it was time. The mask had slightly tightened on my skin and felt very smooth and quite nice to touch, I wasn't too sure how to wash it off, I just didn't think it would come off! But as soon as I added warm water it instantly turned thin and quite lotion-y, very moisturising, I was so surprised, it just felt lovely.
My skin definitely looks clearer, clean and fresh. I've followed it with Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask (Review soon!) to ensure it doesn't dry up at all.

Here's me looking absolute fetch in my hair band, charcoal mask and onsie! Ignore my brows please, I couldn't be more ashamed :(

beauty sales haul, but no sale items...

Although I've named this post 'sales haul', absolutely none of these items were in a sale at all (sadly), but it seemed an applicable-ish name. 

When I tried my Origins intensive over night mask, I knew I NEEDED more products, so I begged my sister to take me to my nearest Boots that sells the product, might as well stock up on advantage points whilst I'm there! After a long time searching at home, I knew what products I was looking for so it was easy enough for me. 

I bought Zero Oil Pore Purifying Toner and United State Balancing Tonic, and I couldn't resist picking up a couple of samples along the way! The lovely lady made me feel very comfortable and offered to give me some samples, so I got ones that went alongside my purchased products and got the Balanced Diet lotion and the Zero Oil lotion. 

I nipped into Debenhams and of course, bumped into yet another Origins stall (oops!). On another, longer glance, I got offered even more testers (why not?), so I went with Modern Friction, which is an exfoliater you use before using a mask, and the Clear Improvement Charcoal Mask which I'm SO excited to use! Yet another lovely woman again. I managed to get myself booked in for a free 30 minute skincare treatment session where they'll give me a lovely facial and we'll discuss my skincare routine and offer me solutions. Very looking forward to this!

In a rush, I was desperate to spend my well earned Boots Advantage Points. I was pretty certain I wanted to try something from Benefit, I've never tried anything from their range and heard so much about it. I knew I wanted to get some kind of kit so I could try a couple of products. I thought I wanted to try the They're Real mascara, but it's so much for something I wasn't sure on, I couldn't do it. I then found this brilliant kit that contains the infamous POREfessional balm, Hello Flawless foundation, Hello Flawless powder and (what I think...) is a concealer/highlighter/under-eye corrector palette called Boi-ing 01 and 02. If anyone can give me a heads up on that product, I'd appreciate it! On purchasing my product, the Benefit counter girl offered me a free make-up session where they'll give me tips on certain make up looks I find difficult. I'm already sure on what I'm asking for help with! 

Look out for my reviews on these products. Have you tried them? What are your views on Origins and Benefit? I hope you've had a lovely Christmas, everyone, take care!