blogger app

testing out the new blogger app! with a wee pic of daisy too :)

Review - Sanctuary Spa Warming Microbrasion Polish

So, first review!! here goes......

on a rainy afternoon off, whats a girl to do but wander down to Boots to see what little gems she can find! 

Now, background to the purchase (for once, there is a reason!) is this:  I have been bothered by clogged pores, and general bumpiness on areas of my face (across my forehead mainly) for quite some time, it never really breaks out into spots but those pesky little bumps just wont disappear! Also, with the summer months bringing humidity and heat (more than normal in the UK at least!) my skin has been a lot more oily and temperamental than normal. 

So, the basis of the story is this:  my skin needed a little pick me up, and thats when i stumbled onto this little treat:

Now, i've never used any of Sanctuary's products before - I have seen them countless times on the shelves of boots, but for some reason I hadn't tried anything. 

For those of you who don't know, Sanctuary Spa is a day spa in Covent Garden in London, and this product is part of their line of beauty treatments they have released exclusively for Boots. 

In all honesty, it was the name that grabbed me. I was browsing the shelves for something that mentioned microbrasion - as thats what I felt like my skin needed (pity I don't have the budget for the real thing!) Then I will admit, it was the pink and silver packaging that sucked me in.

Reading the details on the packaging, this product claims to be youth boosting! - now at 26, I hardly feel at the stage where I need my youth boosted, but Im not going to complain, best start before the wrinkles set in I say! It then goes on to detail how microdermabrasion combined with intense warming, helps to open pores and stimulate circulation - thus revealing new luscious skin!

... and, I was sold!  

I was pleasantly surprised when I took the tube out of the box, it was just as chic and clean looking as the outer packaging, which is always a bonus in my eyes - i'm a sucker for pretty packaging. 

At 100mls, its not skimpy either, so I felt I got a decent amount for the £11.99 price tag.

The product was to be applied in small circular motions going upwards and across the face (dry and clean on application) - with special attention being paid to the nose and forehead in my case.

Now, it is hard to demonstrate the consistency of something via a picture - but I tried my best with this shot. 

It is thick, sticky and doesn't smell too great. Its not that it smells bad, the only way I can describe it is almost like clay - a typical old fashioned face mask smell. Its not that easy to spread on your skin, and if you like light, lotion-y textures then this definitely wont be to your taste! however, I am actually a fan of a more creamier consistency (it feels like its working more for me) so I didn't mind it too much in this regard.

Overall, application wise - the process wasn't overly enjoying. I wouldn't say that you feel pampered or relaxed by it but it does feel like it is doing something! Which leads me on to the main selling point of this product:

It heats up upon application! and boy it does. Almost immediately after it makes contact with the skin it begins to warm up - reaching a comfortable but significant heat as you move in circular motions across your face. This heat is quite short lived though, as it soon calms down and simply feels like you have a thick layer of moisturiser on.  The grains through the paste are small but you certainly feel them 'scrubbing' your skin as you work. 

Then after letting the 'heat draw out the impurities' - the final step is to rinse off the product using warm water. This was tougher than it sounded, due to the thick texture of the product, and again this was not an overly enjoyable experience, but the end results was definitely worth it.

My skin was noticeably smoother and much, much softer. 

There was no redness or irritation (and I have extremely sensitive skin), and the bumpiness across my forehead was significantly reduced, and it remained this way for the next couple of days. 

The packaging details the product should only be used twice a week for the first few weeks, and then once a week for the time remaining. I certainly agree with this advice - I think that it would be too harsh to use everyday, but that if used consistently it does definitely work to smooth and refine skin-tone. 

                                  

So, if you are willing to brave the thickness of the product, and aren't too fussed about the product smelling brilliant - but do want results - then this is the one for you! Im definitely glad I spied this beaut on my trip to boots that day thats for sure!

 Enjoy! Sam xoxo

new camera!

So I got my new camera today in the post!! so so happy with it :) I just had to jump at the chance to go out and give her a test run! My dad was going to a village near where we live to their post office (he prefers its as its always quiet) so i tagged along to take some pretty pictures!

Its such a quaint little village, and it was sooo quiet!! Its so strange for me to come back to Scotland and little villages like this after being down in London, but i absolutely love it! its so peaceful and just friendly, noone passes you without a wave or a cheerful hello!

I recorded a bit of video here that i will put up on youtube later, but this was absolutely gorgeous! and worth the stumble it took me to get to it! :) 

Anyway, its safe to say that i LOVE my new camera!! I've taken some pictures of a product I bought recently to review that I will hopefully get up later today. 

And there will be lots more to come after that! 

ps. click the pictures to see them bigger

excitement!

ahhh i'm so happy and excited!! for these reasons:

i went to a wedding show at the weekend with my mum, my mum-in-law to be, and 3 of my bridesmaids :) and i found the most amazing photographers!! they are brilliant, and i got them booked for our day! unlimited time as well which is phenomenal and basically unheard of as far as photographers go (or at least in the ones i've looked at!)

and also - I FOUND THE MOST AMAZING DRESS!!!!! it was just beautiful. i dont want to post a picture as nick occasionally views my blog, but ohhh its beautiful.

and thirdly - my new camera arrives tomorrow!!!! so pictures and the blog will be happening much more frequently from there on out! hopefully anyway!

but until then, i have a rather annoying essay to finish, and i'm eager to get it finished today so i can play around with my new camera all of tomorrow! fingers crossed it arrives early! :) 

xxxxxx

Cuteness personified.

I love my wee daisy dog so much! xxx

Testing 1,2,3....

Righty, so I've just downloaded a new app on my iPhone to update my blog when I'm out and about!

So this first post, is coming directly from my bed. Where, at 8.26am on my day off, I feel I quite rightly belong!

And I thought my little beaut daisy could help me test the photo upload function too, whilst bringing her cuteness to my page!

So yep, that's about it for now! Fingers crossed this works and I'll post again soon.

S xoxo

Shabby Chic Love

So, because Nick and I are going to be buying out first home next year - probably after the wedding just so we don't end up with too much on our plates at once - but anyway, in between being wedding crazy I have also begun to become home crazy! 

Specifically shabby chic crazy! and during my internet travels i stumbled upon this beauty:

I am in love. 

This beautiful dressing table is just the epitome of the style I adore!! and what makes this particular piece even more appealing is the fact that it has a nice amount of drawers for storing make up and all those wonderful goodies that us girls love so much! 

Now, here is the problem. She is a tad pricey, at almost £700 its definitely not a cheap buy. BUTTTT it is made from solid mahogany, and would be something that would be with you for life.  

so yes, i may have to wait a bit before I can get my dream dressing table! But now that I have found it, I can save and wish  :) 

Just wanted to share the beauty  xoxo

midnight shopping

It is currently 4.07am, and I am just about to sign off for the night (for the second time). I woke up at about 1am, and ended up not being able to sleep (long story), and needed a bit of cheering up so i ended upon ASOS and Miss Selfridge websites, and was soon a few dresses, a top and a pair of wedges better off!

needless to say my bank account will not be so pleased i'm sure.

Sooo, i selected express delivery, so my impromptu haul should be with me by wednesday/thursday! I'm so excited, and really have my fingers and toes crossed that I like them all as much when i see them in the flesh :)

I will take some pictures and pop them up once they all arrive :)

Anyway, i better actually try to get some sleep!

S xoxo

Mac love

Well, im sitting waiting on my cd's importing to my itunes on this wonderfully snazzy macbook pro that i'm using! yes, my darling fiance has lent me his macbook to use until i move down to london permanently in december (my vaio died a rather sorry death a couple of months ago)

so, yes i am in mac heaven at the moment! i'm a complete convert!

Anyway, i thought i would use the time while i wait for imports to write another little blog! i'm currently uploading all of the cds that i actually like out of my collection (baring in mind i've not bought a physical cd in years, so they are all very old! 2002 britney anyone?!) so i thought i might as well send them off to MusicMagpie and make some cash! so i sat and scanned all of the barcodes in and turns out my years of neurotically keeping all of the cases has been worth it as i will hopefully get around £50 for the lot!

happy days all around.

getting there

Well, i made the youtube channel and the twitter account, opened a dailybooth, so thought i might as well get the blog on the go as well! So here I am.

I fully admit that my IT skills are exceptionally limited, as you will be able to tell from the less than impressive layout and graphics on my page here! But it does the job, and hopefully when I start to get pictures uploaded it will become a little more aesthetically pleasing!

So, the main focus of this blog will be all things beauty related! from make-up to skin care, hair and body products, I plan to review new products, rave about ones I already love, and warn about things I think arent worth your pennies! Also, I hope to do some tutorials on my favourite looks - these will largely be on my youtube channel,  but i will link them here and provide pictures etc here also.

Beauty aside, a big part of my blog will focus around my wedding planning and our journey to the alter! My fiance and I are getting married next August, so this next year is to be filled with all things love related! and of course various trips with my bridesmaids to look at dresses!! so I hope to use this blog to record the process!

Soooo, to summarize, its basically just going to be day to day ramblings, some planned projects and other posts appearing when I feel there is something fun or interesting to share with people!

S xoxo