Looks like we're not quite over the whole BB thing yet are we? The phrase has been overused so much that I'm sure I can't be the only one who is a little bit bored? And with that comes one of the latest releases from No7 in the form of their new BB Lips Beauty Balms SPF15. Gimmicky name? Yes. Gimmicky product? Absolutely not. 

My mum and dad visited me over the weekend and with a mum who works for Boots (damn I miss that discount now I don't live at home!) it means she usually comes down to visit me in London with a few treats. This time she brought me two of the No7 BB Lip Balms in shades 'Ballerina' and 'Blush Pink'. 

At first I was a little dubious. I see the name BB lips and think they're just another gimmick. Nevertheless, these are lovely, lovely lip products. The first, 'Ballerina' is a perfect pinky nude that give lips a hint of colour and the tinniest amount of finely milled shimmer. The second, 'Blush Pink' has been in my handbag ever since I got it. It's a muted reddy berry shade that gives my lips a wash of rosey colour and perk up my complexion. 

The formulas are lovely and creamy with not a trace of stickiness. If I had to liken them to anything in terms of formula it would be Lanolips. They feel so hydrating on the lips and do a lovely job of concealing any less than perfect looking lips. I also love that they have a cleaning friendly nozzle. A quick wipe with a bit of anti-bac and you're good to go. If I had to compare them to something it would be the Clarins Instant Lip Perfecters but at half the price. 

If the No7 vouchers crop up again I'll be buying the other shades. They're seriously lovely balms that give lovely colour, great hydration as well as SPF15. What more could you want?

*Both products bought by my lovely Mum. 

twitter | facebook | youtube | bloglovin | hellocotton | pinterest

Seriously Fruity Beauty!

My shower has suddenly turned in a fruit lovers heaven. All of a sudden I've accumulated so many lovely fruity body products. They make getting up in the morning that little bit easier due to their lovely fruity and zesty smells. 

First up is the Melvita Body Scrub* with delicious sugar cane, orange and mandarin. It reminds me of the syrup from a steamed orange syrup cake when I use it. A generous dollop smoothed over my limbs then rubbed in a circular motion means I get a thorough but gentle exfoliation. To me, this is what physical exfoliation should feel like. Not too abrasive but still feeling like it's doing something. It's genuinely been a joy to use, so much so that I look forward to my twice-weekly scrub down much more than I usually do. 

Next up is another scrub in the form of The Body Shop's Satsuma Body Polish*. This reminds me of when I first started getting into beauty. The smell takes me right back to when I was younger as I remember my mum was obsessed with The Body Shop's orange smell. I can understand how some can think it smells a bit synthetic but I personally think it's lovely. It's a zesty citrus fragrance that gently exfoliates to leave rough skin feeling smoother. It's perfect in the morning due to it's heavenly smell. 

Finally, I've been using the Melvita Orchard Body Wash* morning and night in the shower or bath. Again, it's another lovely product from Melvita. I seriously haven't come across a bad product from them yet! The scent is delicious but I can't put my finger on exactly what it smells like. To me it smells like a medley of mouth-watering fruits. It's the kind of smell I love my smoothies to smell like which makes it a pleasure to use. 

Would I repurchase the above? The Melvita body scrub for sure. It's one of the best scrubs I've ever come across. The Body Shop's Satsuma scrub probably not, only because it doesn't do quite as good job as the Melvita. Finally, while I love the Melvita Orchard Body Wash I probably wouldn't buy it again too soon purely because I love to try as many different body washes as possible. However if I found one as a present on my birthday I certainly wouldn't say no. 

*It turns out all products in this post are PR Samples. Not something that usually happens but when it comes to blogging I don't think about a sample to bought ratio. I just go with whatever I feel like blogging about! As mentioned, the Melvita Body Scrub is fantastic and will 100% be a repurchase with my own wonga. 

twitter | facebook | youtube | bloglovin | hellocotton | pinterest

May Favourites | Pixi, La Roche Posay, Supergoop, No7 & Melvita

I'm late doing my monthly favourites this month! Considering it's nearly mid June I really should have got this up earlier but I wanted to film a video for those that would rather watch than read which is why it's taken me a little. Anyway, without further adieu, here are my monthly favourites. 

First up is the La Roche Posay Serozinc bought purely on the basis that I knew you couldn't buy it in the UK. I picked it up in Paris a couple of months ago and it's slotted really nicely into my routine. It's a really simple zinc sulphate solution that's antibacterial so is perfect for blemish prone and acne prone skin. It feels lovely and refreshing on the skin when you apply it and it dries relatively quickly considering it doesn't contain any alcohol. I cleanse, tone with pixi, tone with serozinc then follow on with the rest of my routine. I'm going to be gutted when this runs out. 

Next is the BB Lips from No7 in shades blush pink and ballerina. Gimmicky name I know but they're actually fantastic little products. BB Lips are a smooth, creamy formula that look glossy but aren't sticky. Blush pink is a lovely shade that gives the lips a hint of pink berry colour. Ballerina is the most pretty nude pink that goes so well with lots of different make up looks. I really like them so when the No7 vouchers next pop up I'll be checking out the other shades. 

My third favourite is the Supergoop Eye Cream SPF*. The first place I get burnt when I'm exposed to the sun is just under my eyes so this is a great little product. It has a thin consistency that sinks into the skin quickly but the best bit is the cool metal applicator that makes it a joy to use in the morning as its so cooling.  

Next up is the Pixi Glow Tonic. I apply the tonic to a cotton wool pad after cleaning and apply all over my face. There is a very mild tingling sensation although I do use a lot of AHA's in my skincare so someone not used to the tingle may find it stronger. When I was in Nice I stopped using it because it wouldn't fit in my hand luggage and my skin freaked out. Since using it again my skin has cleared up in a matter of days which makes me a little wary of stopping using it again. Also, now I've got into the habit of using it so much that if I skip it my skin doesn't feel 'clean'. 

Finally is the Melvita Pro Sun Gradual Tan* which was seriously love after first use. It's DHA free meaning no horrible biscuit smell - yay! It smells like sweet vanilla custard which I promise is a good thing. It doesn't give a dark tan, just a healthy natural golden glow so what I'll be doing from now on is using my Xen Tan Moroccan Tan once a week then using this everyday to maintain it. It's completely foolproof to apply, just whack it on (you don't need to be precise) and let it do it's thing. It's serious, serious love.

*PR samples. 

twitter | facebook | youtube | bloglovin | hellocotton | pinterest