VInspired! Get Involved.

I thought I'd share something with you. I don't know if you remember, but back in July I was involved with an event called VInspired Live, blog post about it here, after this I was asked to do some more work with them and become a VInspired VIP.
I'm so pleased to be doing more with them, as they're such a brilliant charity who do great work.

VInspired is the UK's leading youth volunteering charity. They help young people connect with volunteering opportunities that really matter to them.
The organisation has created more than a million volunteering opportunities and has really helped a lot of people. They are dedicated to helping young people improve their confidence, their skills and have fun whilst making a change to issues they really care about.

Over 144,000 people use VInspired as a way to find volunteer work with more than 2,500 charities, so whatever you're interested in there'll always be something you could get involved with that you have a passion for.

Why volunteer? Here are a few reasons -
1. Volunteering is a great way to make new friends, and the best part is they'll have the same interests as you.
2. You could make some great contacts, getting jobs and opportunities is often about 'who you know', so who knows where it could lead?
3. It looks fantastic on any CV. Almost 75% of employers would rather hire an employee with volunteering experience rather than one without.
4. You will learn new skills that'll help you in future employment.
5. You can make a change and give something back.
6. Make it fit for you. Whether you're in full time education, or have loads of time on your hands there will be an opportunity that has just the right amount of work in it that you're looking for.

If you're 14-25 I highly recommend you check their website out for more information, remember to sign up and share this with your friends as well!
VInspired's website here!
VInspired's Facebook page!

What have you got to lose?
Make a change. 

Soap & Glory The Daily Smooth Body Butter | REVIEW

I would like to introduce you to my absolute favourite ever body butter/body moisturiser - Soap & Glory's The Daily Smooth Body Butter!

I have tried rather a lot of body butters, body moisturisers, body creams, etc, I hate having dry skin and I always feel a million times better after moisturising, but I'm also very fussy when it comes to finding a product I actually like but Soap & Glory have won me over again with this!

Firstly it smells AMAZING, like vanilla, cocoa butter and ever so slightly florally (but only the tiniest bit), it's also quite musky - I adore it. It's not over powering either, I don't like it when body products smell too strongly so you feel you can't wear perfume. 

As it's a body butter it is quite thick, which is why I was surprised at how quickly it sinks into the skin - there's none of that waiting around for ages, unable to move, and then when it does sink in your skin is left feeling super soft. I have used moisturisers purposely for dry skin and they don't even compare to how this leaves me - and it lasts ages as well - it's not like "oooh my skin is so soft" and then a few hours later it's dry again.

As you can see from the photos this product has been well loved; I am having to squeeze the tube so much now to get anything to come out of it but I will definitely be repurchasing.

This amazing body butter retails for £9, which I thing is perfectly reasonable when you take into consideration how wonderful it smells, how great it works and also how long it lasts - I have had this for about 9 months and it's only just running out now, a little bit really goes a long way!

BUY IT HERE!

What's your favourite Soap & Glory product?

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REN Clarifying Clay Cleanser | REVIEW

A couple of months ago I ran out of Liz Earle's Cleanse & Polish, and although I did love that cleanser I felt I should try a new one and the C&P wasn't really making me go 'wow' when I used it anymore.

I opted for the REN Clarifying Clay mask, I'd always heard really great things about it but as it was marketed for oily skin I'd never bought it, but I saw Caroline Hirons (skincare expert) say it was absolutely fine for any skin types…so I took the plunge….and I love it.

This cleanser is a lot more of a deeper cleanser than the C&P, which is great if you have blemish prone skin or if you live in a city with lots of pollution. I personally love this because it really feels like it's working on my skin but doesn't feel at all stripping, and as it's clay based it's quite thick which forces you to really work it into the skin. Along with clay the ingredients include sage, lactic acid and camomile water - all great things for the skin.
The cleanser aims to combat the 3 key causes of breakout, excess serum, build up of dead skin cells and blemish causing bacteria, although I don't have bad skin I do think this would work well for you if you do and help with those nasty breakouts! I have noticed the surface of my skin has been smoother since using this and my foundation always goes on a lot nicer.
This cleanser also gently exfoliates AND helps reduce the appearance of pores…WIN WIN WIN.

Overall I would highly recommend this, it retails for £18 for 150ml which isn't really cheap but it will last AGES! I've had the cleanser a couple of months and it genuinely looks like I've hardly touched it, if this was C&P it would almost have run out by now.

BUY IT HERE!

What's your cleanser of choice?

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Sleek Blush - Life's A Peach | REVIEW AND SWATCH

Sleek, by far my favourite high street/drugstore brand for blushes - pigmented, great range of colours, inexpensive, nicely packaged and just brilliant. As it's now summer time I wanted a peachy coloured blush, something you can't really get away with in winter but a colour that I find suits my complexion well, so the first place I looked was Sleek as I didn't want to spend too much money and lo and behold I find the most beautiful peach blush that goes by the name of Life's a Peach (thumbs up for the name, Sleek!).

When I saw it I thought "wow, that's bright" but actually when I swatched it, even though it was highly pigmented, the colour was nowhere near as bright as it looks in the pan - it's very subtle and in my opinion the perfect summer daytime blush (as you can see in the swatch below).
It's the most gorgeous orangey peach, it's completely matte which I love, it blends beautifully, and lasts a good amount of time, and all for £4.49 - I really cannot complain!
The packaging is just like all the Sleek packaging, thin, black, sleek (hence the name) but definitely difficult to open! But that's a small price to pay, as when you do get inside the product is fabulous.

I have been wearing this every single time I've worn makeup over the last month, I adore it, so if you're looking for a good subtle, but buildable, summer blush this is definitely one to consider.
I'd recommend this for people with fairer complexions, I feel like if your skin is dark it may not show up very well.

Buy it here!

What's your go to summer blush?

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My Beauty Wishlist #1

I always have an endless wish list of beauty items that I'd like, today I thought I'd share some of those things with you (I had to miss out about 73974 things because it was so long).

1. Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Stick from Soap & Glory in Nudist (swatch in picture too). I have heard Fleur rave about this so much and it's made me want to try it. I love lip products that are in that sort of packaging (like the Revlon lip stains), but these gloss sticks are supposed to look more shiny and are a lot more moisturising.

2. Bourjois Healthy Mix serum foundation. So many people seem to love this, and people with all skin types too. It's supposed to be a very light foundation, something which I really need to invest in as my lightest coverage foundation is Wake Me Up by Rimmel and that's still medium coverage.

3. Mac 217 blending brush.  Every brush I own is by Real Techniques, I love them a lot, but I feel I should venture into Mac makeup brushes as everyone seems to love them, despite the hefty price tag. The 217 is perfect for blending eyeshadow out, something which I feel I need.

4. Alpha H Liquid Gold. This stuff is supposed to be a miracle worker, you put it on at night and in the morning your skin apparently looks SO much healthier, brighter, clearer and just nicer. It contains high levels of acid so it helps cellar renewable and it diminishes the appearance of pores. The only thing that puts me off is it's £31 for 100ml…not cheap.

5. MAC powder blush in Melba. This blush is described as a 'soft coral peach' BAM, I instantly want it. Coral and peach are my favourite blush colours. This is supposed to suit paler skin as well. WIN.

6. Nars Duo Eyeshadow in Kalahari.  Neutral eyeshadows are my favourite, so this duo of 'gold confection and sugared cocoa', which are a light brown and a darker more earthy and slightly purple brown, are right up my street.

7. Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette. I don't own either of the Naked palettes, I know I know, I am deprived. I prefer the look of the Naked 2 as the colours aren't so dark or out there, a lot more my type of thing…I want.

8.Michael Todd Honey and Oat Deep Pore Cleanser. I have just run out of my second bottle of Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish, which I do love but I really want to give something new a try. I ADORE the Michael Todd Blue Green Algae Toner (review here), so it only seems logical that I would try their cleansers next. It says this cleanser is very moisturising, removes makeup, and cleans deep into the pores. Only thing is this says it's 'lightly foaming', as we all know (I hope) foaming cleansers or face washes are bad…so hmm.

9. MAC lipstick in Crosswires. As I am a major lipstick lover it seems mad to me that I am yet to try a MAC lipstick. Crosswires is first on my list! It is a cremesheen so will be nice and creamy and moisturising and the colour is beautiful, a gorgeous pinky orange.

That's it for my beauty wishlist.

What's top of your wishlist?

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