Soap & Glory - Fab Pore Facial Peel Review

Hello lovelies, 

I've always been a huge fan of a good face mask, that feeling you get when your skin is squeaky clean and you have a nice base for everything else you're going to mess it up again with. It's so easy to just slap one on and leave it to work its magic. 

After receiving a S&G set for Xmas I found myself with some money off vouchers for their products. I managed to pick this up last month for the bargain price of £3 and I have been using it regularly since I got it. 

The Soap and Glory Fab Pore Facial Peel, Boots, RRP £8.

Firstly, I'd like to point out that this isn't really a peel in the rip off a layer of your skin, leave your face red way that you might imagine. It's more of a refining treatment that makes your skin feel rejuvenated and fresher looking. I have very fussy, problem prone skin and was a little concerned that I might not get on with it, but we've got along fine so don't let that put you off. 

So what is it I hear you ask? Well the Fab Pore is essentially a clay mask with added extras that are tailored to troublesome skin; a pore tightening mushroom extract, salicylic acid to loosen dead cells, Vitamins E&C for their anti-oxidant qualities and of course kaolin (or clay to you and I) to absorb oil. The mask also has little green beads running through it which S&G instruct you to massage into your face focussing on your t-zone or wherever you feel you have problem pores. They recommend using it 2-3 times a week for either 5 or 10 mins depending on whether you want a quick refresher or a deep clean. 

I've become quite a fan of this mask and have been using it about every 3 days to do the 'deep clean' just because I don't see the point in just using it for 5, and also I forget I've got masks on and potter about doing other things so they tend to get taken off later rather than sooner. There's something strangely satisfying about rubbing the beads into your face and having them dissolve, while the mask starts feeling as though it's getting thicker on your skin. When I wash it off it leaves me with really really smooth, clean skin and it definitely makes my pores appear smaller and tightened. It absorbs all the excess oil from my t-zone and if anything leaves my skin a little on the dry side (which by the way is not a complaint because I know it's supposed to, I'm just saying it works very well) so I make sure to moisturise after. I've used it about 10 times now and have probably got a quarter of the way in, so it seems as though it will last a few months (obviously depending on how much of your face you do) and works out pretty good value for money.

Basically it's just another reason to love Soap and Glory.

Lauren x

Sunday Summary - 17th Feb 2013 - Driving.

Hello lovelies, 

Just a quick one. It's been a while since my last SS but things are much the same, I hope that you're all well too! 

I've applied for my provisional license this week which means I now need to find a good instructor. I'm not really sure how to go about learning to drive. We've had a quote for how much it will cost to put me on my mum's insurance so I can practice with her, but obviously I'll need proper lessons too. I was thinking I would have a few until I get comfortable with the basics then just practice practice practice as much as poss with family and then pick the lessons back up to do a mix of both. I don't know really because I think it's one of those things you might have to just do to find out how it's going to go. I'd love to hear how you went about it? Comment me below! I'd love to be driving by the summer but maybe that's a bit ambitious?!

Lauren x

My First Ever OOTD!

Hello lovelies, 

I've been wanting to do an OOTD for ages but for various reasons (lack of space, tripod, light, etc) I'm only just dipping my feet in the water now. 

As this is my first OOTD I think I should just explain a little about my style (if you could call it that!)...I'm the first to admit that I'm not an avid follower of fashion. Yes, I like to buy the occasional on trend item, but I'm not at all someone who buys tons of new clothes every five minutes - I don't have the money. This brings me to my next point, if you're a regular reader you'll have noticed how little I spend on things, clothes included. It's not that I don't want to spend (sometimes I feel like Rebecca Bloomwood in Primark clothing) just that in my current jobless state I have other priorities!

 So anyway, this is what I wore yesterday.  I was volunteering in the charity shop during the morning and then went to town in the afternoon and then on over to a friend's house for a while. I've got into the lazy habit of just throwing on jeans and a jumper but yesterday I wanted to wear my new shoes and decided they would go best with a skirt and tights. The weather's been quite mild down here for the last couple weeks so I got away with wearing just one set of sleeves (the cardigan) with a thin top underneath that tucks in to my skater skirts nicely without looking all bumpy.

Shoes from George at Asda and everything else from Primark (told you I'm cheap!)

...and to acknowledge that it was V-day I wore this love ring from Accessorize. 

So there you have it, my first OOTD!

Lauren x

New Shoes: Lace Up Wedge Shoe Boots

Hello lovelies, 

Sorry I've been a bit MIA this week. I've had a few things on and whenever I get around to taking photos it's always dark. I really can't wait for spring to roll around when we'll get more light and better weather. I always think I love winter, when all the knitwear comes in the shops and nights get dark early and you can stay in all cosy. Then after about a month I realise that I can live without the dry skin, colds, threat of the country shutting down because of an inch of snow, etc. 

Yes, I know I need to cut off that loose thread!

Anyway, I won't moan on any longer. I want to show you these little pretties that I bought in Asda yesterday.    The other day I showed you a dress I got for a steal at £1 from there and it seems that they have now got even more sale stuff in. I know it's not really a place you would think of as 'oh wow, I must go clothes shopping there', but actually I think they do really well with their clothing ranges and they're certainly better than what's available at the other supermarkets (in my opinion!).

So what I got was these shoe boots that were £9 half price from £18. They're quite versatile so hopefully I'll get a lot of use out of them. I think with tights they'll pretty much go with anything; shorts, skirts, dresses. They also give me a bit of extra height but the wedge keeps them comfy!

What do you think of supermarket clothing ranges? 

Lauren x

20 Random Facts About Me

Hello Lovelies, 

I realise this is a bit of an egotistical post but seeing as a lot of bloggers are doing them at the moment it seems I can get away with it. Besides, what's this blog about if not me? Here goes:

1. I've never been abroad.
2. I often eat cereal or toast in the evening. I'm a bit upside down like that.
3. Thinking too much is one of my biggest faults.

4. Sometimes I wish I had a job that required me to dress nicely so that I could justify buying more clothes like this: 

(Pictures courtesy of Pinterest)

5. I have no idea what I'm doing with my life. This scares the crap out of me.
6. I live in a rural village in a beautiful part of the country and don't think I could ever be a city girl.
7. I'm a hopeless romantic thanks to Richard Curtis films.

(Pictures courtesy of Google)

8. I'm a thrifty shopper and love getting bargains at car boot sales and charity shops.
9. I'm a bit slow with technology. Even installing Google Analytics proved a challenge for me.
10. Watching F.R.I.E.N.D.S will never get old for me. It's the TV version of comfort food.

11. I spend too much time on Pinterest.
12. I have a very sweet tooth coupled with a fear of the dentists. Great combo.
13. I like to grow veg and flowers but I hardly ever eat it (the veg obviously!).

(Things I've grown)

14. I always have cold hands.
15. I wish I had a bigger family. My sister's 16 years older so I grew up like an only child.
16. I'm an extremely fussy eater.
17. My dog cheers me up when I'm down. He's a sweetie.

(Jasper)

18. I really like learning new things, it gives me a sense of accomplishment. Life is one huge lesson.
19. However hard I try, I'm not a morning person and will bite your head off if you make noise around me during those first 10 minutes of the day.
20. I have a thing for quotes and am stockpiling them on one of my Pinterest boards.

So there you have it! I've seen so many of these going around at the moment and I've enjoyed reading them. It gives you a better idea of who the blogger is and I hope you liked it . 

Lauren x

New Buys On A Budget

Hello lovelies, 

I've been very good but boring lately and haven't really bought much at all other than things that are necessities. I made my way to Primark this week and still didn't really manage to spend any money (go me!). Even though I hadn't been since before Christmas, there didn't seem to be anything different. I suppose this is a bit of a weird time of year where they're trying to shift the old to make way for the new. I have however picked up a few bargains this week:

Since I fell in love with S&G I've spent a considerable amount of time perusing the range in Boots. The other day (after having sniffed the sugar crush buttercream for the gazillionth time, boy is it good) I spotted this on the bottom shelf, with a reduced label marked £1.38. Now I fell out with dry oil sprays after using the Avon one and getting a huge oily patch on my duvet from letting my leg touch the bed.  However, I'm sure I can make an exception for S&G and since I live in shorts during the summer this should be pretty good :)

My skin is becoming the bain of my life, it's never great but has really been playing up lately. I've had breakouts left, right and center, and an oily t-zone combined with dry skin. Sounds a bit weird to have dry skin when it's oily, but believe me, it's possible! After trying several different moisturiser samples (and getting on with none) I decided to cut the crap and go with something stripped back and oil free. This had great reviews on the Boots website and was only £2.79. 

While in Primark the only thing I bought was this tank and shorts PJ set for a fiver. I didn't want to leave with nothing and if you spend as much time in your dressing gown as I do then you can never have too many PJs. 

Next up is this bag from  Matalan. We had a leaflet through the door saying it was going to be on offer from £12 down to £5 this week so I'd been waiting to go in and get one. It comes in black, tan, a pale pink and  grey and I really had trouble deciding which to go for because they were all nice. In the end I thought that this would go with the most things, but I think I'll probably go back and get another colour because I like it so much. 

Last but not least is this cowboy shirt dress that I picked up in Asda. It was only £1! so I really couldn't say no and although it doesn't look much here (these pics wouldn't do anything justice) the design is really flattering on me because it draws attention to my waist and gives me a bit more of a shape rather than looking straight up and down like a 12yr old boy. It's quite wimpy material but it feels really nice, has cute piping and looks good with leggings and boots. 

Lauren x

NOTD: Mavala Candy Floss

Hello Lovelies, 

I've been having rather darker nails recently and thought I'd go for something a bit on the lighter, more cheerful side when I painted them yesterday. I chose to use Mavala's Candy Floss which is part of their 'Delicious colours' S/S '12 collection. 

The quality of the polish seems to be pretty good, this is what two coats looks like. I was expecting it to be on the pale side but it's actually quite a bright bubblegum pink. Definitely a colour I'll get more use of in the summer. 

What do you think?

Lauren x