NEW BLOG

Hi guys! Firstly just wanted to apologise for being gone for so long! I have been very busy with university and working so haven't had a lot of time on my hands. I did however finish my second year with a 2:1 and managed to secure my 3rd placement in industry so I'm so happy! As well as that, I have also been working on my own little project and created a new website for my blog. I am the type of person that always likes change and is constantly changing up my blog layout. However this time, I have moved it to a completely new platform.  

I have never been completely happy with using blogger and I wanted to create something that was slightly more than just a "blog". I wanted my own personal space and here it is! Jessica | Lifestyle and Beauty. I am so happy with it and I would love it if you guys would check it out! I changed the name but have kept some of the same posts I used on here just to set it off. However I am planning to post more lifestyle related posts from now on.

It's currently under the url http://jessica243.wix.com/jessica, however I am hoping to change this soon so this is just temporary. I have also changed all my social networks to the username @myblogjessica. I know this is a massive pain but changing to a new platform always is. I am still on Bloglovin' so I am still easy to find, I just won't be posting on this blog anymore. I hope that you will all continue to follow me over at Jessica and like my new site as much as I do!

THE BODY SHOP

Since the new year has come, the weather has got so miserable and cold and my skin has really been affected from it. It has made it so dry and dehydrated lately and that's why I have been really loving The Body Shop products again. The Body Shop products are those that you can use all year around but I have been really getting back into them again this month. I have been especially loving the Strawberry Body Butter and the Strawberry Hand Cream. 

I rarely ever get dry hands so never really use hand cream on a regular basis, but I never realised how refreshing and moisturising it is to use a hand cream a few times a day. I love this hand cream as it makes such a difference to your hands straight away and it doesn't leave them feeling greasy at all. I also love the smell which isn't too strong once it is applied. I know some people don't like fragranced hand creams but I don't mind this one. It's only £3.50 for 30ml which I think is a great price and it's perfect size to slip into your bag. I also really love the packaging! I go through a stage of loving the strawberry scented body butter and then going off it for a while. At the moment I really like it and there is nothing better than having a warm relaxing bath, applying this body butter after getting out and then getting into some warm pyjamas. It is always one I go back too as it leaves my skins so smooth and smelling lovely! 

MICELLAR WATER REVIEW: B. PURE

As part of my Micellar Water Review, I am going to talk about the B. Pure Micellar Water as my final review. It is the second most expensive solution at £4.99 for 100ml. I really love the packaging of this solution however unfortunately it my least favourite out of the three (B. Pure, Garnier and L'oreal). I haven't ever tried any of the B. Pure products but I have always been interested to see what they were like, so I intrigued to try this when I received this product. 

The first thing I have noticed is that it really stung my eyes when I used it to take off my mascara and eye makeup. It also makes my eyes water which is slightly annoying. This is a big issue for me as I want a solution that is gentle on the eyes and takes makeup off smoothly. As well as this, my skin doesn't feel very clean and soft when I use it on it's own. With the Garnier solution I feel I could just use that on it's own (if I was being lazy) and feel satisfied, however with this one it still feels like my skin is still quite dirty. I also don't like the scent as much as the other solutions. Although this review has seemed negative overall, the B. Pure Micellar Water does do the job, however compared to the other ones I have tried it is my least favourite. Using a cleanser or toner after this product works well - I just don't like how it stings my eyes when I use it. Have you tried this product? What do you think?

MICELLAR WATER REVIEW: GARNIER

Since the Micellar Cleansing Waters were released I have been really loving them. I love how simple they are too use and how quickly and hassle-free they take your makeup off. i have already reviewed the L'oreal 3 in 1 Purifying Micellar Solution HERE and I thought I would review some of the other duplicates of the product. I have been recently using the Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water and I thought I would share my thought on it on here! 

To start with, it is cheaper than the L'oreal Solution at £4.99 for 400ml, where as L'oreal is £3.32 for 200ml. So you already get your moneys worth for a start. I love the packaging but hate the opening at the top, as when you are pouring it out on the cotton wool pads, so much product is wasted (although not sure if that is just me being careless?) I really like this product and it is so gentle on my skin and takes my makeup off so easily. This one also takes off my eye makeup and mascara easier than the L'oreal Solution. I have also found that this water is quite cleansing too. Most of the time I would use this first to take off my makeup and then continue with my skin care routine. However, when I am feeling lazy I sometimes just use this and nothing else and it still makes my face feel clean and cleansed to a certain extent. I really like this product and I think this is my favourite out of the two solutions so I would definitely recommend it! What is your favourite Micellar Solution? 

CLARINS FAVOURITES

Today I am going to talk you about some of my favourite Clarins products. I have been a big fan of the brand and it has helped with the improvement of my skin a lot. A couple of my all time favourites is the Exfoliating Body Scrub and the Daily Energizer Cleansing Gel. I really love these products but I tend not to use them all the time because the Clarins range can be quite expensive. The full size Cleanser costs £12 for 75ml which is quite a lot. 

I did have the full size bottle but ran out so I am now making my way through the sample size shown above. The cleanser is suitable for all skin types and helps remove left over makeup and dirt on your skin. I really like this product as it leaves your skin feeling clean and smooth. You only need a tiny bit to clean your face as it foams up well, which means the product lasts a while. I also really like the body scrub. This product is very expensive at £29 for 200ml. This isn't something I would want to spend on a body scrub too often. However, this scrub really does leave your skin smooth and firm by rubbing away any flaky cells and rough areas. It contains natural Bamboo powders which helps with leaving your skin feel smooth. It gives my skin moisture and hydration and it really is a good exfoliator. If you wanting to splash out or treat yourself I would definitely recommend these two products!

LIZ EARLE CLEANSE AND POLISH

It's finally happened. I finally went out and bought the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser. This has been on my never ending "to buy" list for sooo long after reading endless good reviews about it around the blogging community. I bought it from Boots for £14.75. However it is slightly cheaper if you just buy the bottle without the cloth. I think it's around £13. This is the first time I've tried the Liz Earle range so I was very excited. 

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser 

I absolutely love this cleanser. It is so gentle on my skin and removes every little bit of makeup on my skin. It's formula is made for every skin type, and it fits mine (combination, oily T-Zone) perfectly. It's helped to clear up my skin alot. What I really like about this cleanser is that you don't apply it to wet skin. It is a two step process which involves cleansing your skin with the product and then polishing your skin with the warm, damp muslin cloth afterwards. It is quite an expensive product at £14 for 100ml which I think is one of the reasons why I held back buying it for so long. However, I haven't regretted it as is now part of my daily skin routine. I apply it after I have taken my makeup off and before applying my Dermalogica Clear Start which I talk about HERE. I then apply my moisturiser before bed. My skin is always left smooth and most of the time completely spot free. I love it.  

CLINIQUE CITY BLOCK

This product was a staple in my summer makeup bag last year and I had completely forgotten about it until I found it in my collection. It's the Clinique City Block Sheer SPF 25. This high SPF in it is perfect for the summer months when the sun is hotter. I used it as an alternative to foundation on holiday. I don't like wearing much on my skin in the summer so I usually but this on with a little bit of concealer.  It's thin and isn't thick on the skin.

It is oil and fragrance free which is a big plus for me. I prefer using this rather than a sun screen. I find that normal sun screens are too thick for my skin and I don't really like it. However, it is so important to protect your skin from the sun. It is quite a pricey product at £17.00 for a 40ml bottle. I would definitely recommend it though. I find it gives me a summer glow where a sun lotion doesn't. It is also suitable for sensitive skin as well.  

The product claims to 'help wick away perspiration and absorb excess oil' which I completely agree with. Also, even on holiday last year I didn't have to re apply it throughout the day and my skin was still protected - even when I was in hot temperature. I would reapply it though, if you're sensitive towards the sun. I know, we are not getting much sun at the moment in the UK but I am definitely going to grab this out when the weather gets nicer. 

LUSH BUBBLEGUM LIP SCRUB & GIVEAWAY

I have been eyeing up the Lush Bubblegum Lip Scrub for ages but never got around to buying it. It's silly really, as it isn't expensive at £5.50 and it is not difficult to get your hands on it. I've always been intrigued to what it tastes like and if it works. It comes in two flavours - bubble gum and pop corn. I was a bit put off by the popcorn smell so I opted for bubble gum. First off, I love the packaging and the colour of the product, a bright baby pink shade. 

This product does taste really good as expected. What I love about it, is that is says "lick off excess" which means you can taste the product without looking like a complete weirdo - unlike with some other products that smell good enough to eat. The product is a sugary polish and the swatch below shows what it looks likes on your finger. To apply it you simply buffer it in to the lips to leave your lips buffered and feeling very soft. Overall, I really like it!

It does as it says and leaves my lips soft and buffered. It's not exactly the most incredible product in the world but it does the job. I apply it usually in the morning as part of my morning routine and just before I go to bed. I then apply my Carmex lip balm to finish off. I'm glad I decided to buy this product in the end. Also, in celebration of reaching 250 followers on my blog, I am giving away a Tanya Burr Exclusive Nail polish in the colour Little Duck. For the chance to win, check out my previous post HERE and follow the application form to enter. Good luck!

SUN-KISSED READY

It's getting to that time of year when everyone is fed up of the cold rainy weather and the anticipation for summer is well and truly over us. I for one, can't wait to get my tan back that has been missing for far too long now. I guess I will have to stick to faking it while I still have too. I'm not really one for fake tanning instantly all the time, only when I am going out or nearly need too, but I do like to use gradual tans often as they can look a little more subtle. I thought I would show you a couple of my favourites. Again, I thought I would show you one that's a little

more expensive and one affordable option. My two picks are the St Tropez Gradual Tan and Garnier Body Summer body Moisturising lotion. Garnier body moisturisers have always been raved about and I love them. I think it is just as important to keep your body fully moisturised as well as your face. I really like this product as it does keep my skin moisturised all day and makes my legs feel nice and smooth. It's really affordable at around £3-£5 depending and I love the result. I apply it like a normal moisturiser and it sinks into the skin quickly. It takes a couple of applications more than the St Tropez gradual tan to see a result but you are still left with a sun-kissed look. 

St Tropez is more expensive at around £15 a bottle but I really like it. It has a weirdly nice scent to it, not like the normal horrible scent that comes with other fake tans. It applies nicely and it is moisturising. I have it in the shade 'Light/medium' and I love the result and the colour you turn. From the swatches above, you can see that the formula looks quite similar (St Tropez left and Garnier Body right), looking like a standard moisturiser. Considering the price difference, there is not much between these two products and I don't know which I prefer. I really like both and the result they give! Have you tried these products? I would love to hear your thoughts!

RITUALS T'AI CHI

First of all I thought I would mention that I have had a little play around with the layout of my blog. I have added a couple of things and moved things around, so I hope you like the change. For the main part of the post, I am going to talk about Rituals Foaming shower gel. I first heard about this brand waaay back when I was receiving Glossy Box. I was given a full size bottle (same as the picture below) but in a different scent (Yogi Flow). I really liked the product and decided to re-purchase it again but in the scent T'ai Chi White Lotus and Green Tea.

For a shower gel they are quite expensive for £8.50 a bottle but they last a very long time so they are worth the money. They are different to any ordinary shower gel as like it states in the title it is a foaming gel. It pumps out foam and you only need a little bit to cover your body. It has quite a strong scent which some people may or may not like, but I don't mind it. I think I prefer the other scent as it was less overpowering but I still like this one. 

As you can see from the swatch above, the tiniest of pump can produce a lot of foam which means you don't need you use a lot and it will last you a long time. You therefore definitely get your money's worth. I  use this shower as a little 'treat', for a bit of a pick me up or if I am having a pamper evening. I think it is quite a luxurious product and is nicer than using just any old shower gel. I'm not sure if I would purchase this particular scent again but I do like the product and would spend that amount of money on it again. Has anyone else tried it?

MICELLAR WATER REVIEW: L'OREAL

I have always used the Johnson's Facial Cleansing wipes to take off my makeup for as long as I can remember and it has always worked for me but recently I have found that using wipes can be quite harsh and rough on my skin especially when trying to remove my eye makeup. I wanted to try something that was a little bit more gentle and would remove mascara easier. The L'oreal 3 in 1 Purifying Micellar Solution is something I've heard a lot about recently and I wanted to try it out myself and see what it was like as it only costs around £3, which is good.

This product is always being compared to the Bioderma Sensibio H20 Solution which is another product I've always wanted to try but I just haven't got my hands on it yet. Although I can't compare the two products, I thought I would tell you want I thought of this solution. To apply this product, I pour a bit of the solution on to a cotton pad and then simply wipe it around my face, removing the makeup. The first thing I would say is that it comes out the bottle very quickly so you have to be careful that you don't waste too much of the product at once.

It claims to "dissolve make-up" and I would definitely agree with it. After a couple of whips across my face my makeup has dissolved and has been removed. It takes a couple of cotton wool pads to remove my mascara but it does the job and it feel gentler on my skin than a makeup wipe. Although I like this product, I wouldn't just use this product on it's own. Although it claims to "unclog pores, and remove impurities", I would still use a cleanser or face wash (such as the Clinique liquid skin formula) after to make sure everything was completely removed & there was no residue left on my face. I do like this product and I would recommend it. However from what I've read, Bioderma has got better reviews but for me, this product is a cheaper alternative and still does the job well.

FIGHTING BREAKOUTS: ORIGINS SPOT REMOVER

Today, I am doing another 'Fighting Breakouts' post and I am reviewing the Origins Super Spot remover. First off, it is quite expensive for what it is. It is £14 for only a 10ml bottle. However you only need a tiny bit so it does last a very long time. I use this product before I go to bed if I have a pesky spot. I used to use my finger to apply it but I have now started to use a cotton bud so that it spreads less germs. I simply squeeze the bottle so a little bit comes out and then using the cotton bud I gently apply it on my spot. I found out that you don't need to smother it with gel, you only need a tiny bit. This product contains salicylic acid which helps dry out and get rid of the spot.

After using this products for over a couple of months I would say that this product does significantly help the appearance of blemishes over night. However I found it doesn't always completed get rid of them. Like I have said before, I am really bad at tampering with spots and I can't resist the urge to pop one if I can. This product treats the spot in a hygienic and clinical way, leaving minimal scarring. I will definitely continue to use this product as it is the best one I have found so far. Cheaper spot gels I have tried in the past have not always worked and on occasions made it worse. I think the key to fighting breakouts is looking to see if the product contains Salicylic acid as this is the key ingredient to getting rid of blemishes / spots, scarring and gently relieving stressed skin. 

FIGHTING BREAKOUTS: DERMALOGICA CLEAR START

Another product I have been using to help fight breakouts is the Dermalogica Clear Start range. I have been using the Foaming wash and the Overnight treatment for the last couple of weeks. Although I have only been using it for a short period of time, I have already noticed a considerable difference. My skin has been pretty much clear the whole time and the redness which was there previously has reduced too. I use the foaming wash everyday in the shower and the overnight treatment, every night after my moisturiser. I then apply the Monu Recovery balm which I talk about in this previous post just to further help relieve any irritation or/and stressed skin that I might have.

These products have 'Salicylic acid' in them which is key to fighting breakouts. It helps relieve and protect the skins natural barrier. I used to use the Clinique liquid skin formula for oily skin which I also talked about in this post. Although this product did help me at the time, I think it was a little harsh on my skin and these products are much better for me as they are specifically for fighting breakouts. They are a little pricey at £13 each, however they are definitely worth it as they have worked wonders on my skin. I have also found that it is sometimes good to spend a little bit more money on these products, as some spot clearing high street products (such as Clearasil and Clean & Clear) don't help at all or even sometimes make the problem worse. What are your thoughts on this? 

FIGHTING BREAKOUTS: DECLEOR AROMA SOLUTIONS

I wanted to start making posts specifically about fighting breakouts. I had trouble with spots for years with my chin and forehead being my most affected areas. Now my skin isn't too bad, however I am left with a lot of light scarring on my chin and around my nose. Luckily my forehead is ok. This scars were probably due to the fact that I am so bad with just leaving my spots alone. I always had to pick at them or squeeze them to try and make they go away. This does not help and not only will you be transferring more oil and dirt to the affected area but you will also be left with visible scarring in the long run which is not nice. It also makes me not want to go anywhere without a coverup. 

My Mum bought me the Decléor Aroma Solutions Energising gel to try and reduce the appearance of my scars. It is quite pricey at around £30 but you get a lot for the price. Its formula is meant to help revitalise the support of the skin and help diminish unsightly marks. I use this every morning after cleansing and applying my moisturiser. It is a gel and not a cream so it isn't very moisturising. I simply apply a thin layer to my affected areas (chin and around the nose) and leave my skin for a while before applying makeup. i have been using it for a couple of months now and it's really helped my scars. It's considerably reduced the redness although it's not completely got rid of them. 

   

I do really like this product, however I can understand why people wouldn't want to spend £30 on it as it doesn't completely get rid of the scars/redness. I am going to keep using it daily and see if there is any more progress. This product isn't really for reducing breakouts, it's more helping to reducing scars from acne prone skin. I would definitely recommend this product as it has helped my skin look a lot clearer. Has anyone else used this product?

HIGH STREET BEAUTY HAUL

I haven't blogged in such a long time and it feels like I had completely lost interest in it and because I have been so busy over the last couple of months I just haven't had the time to get stuck in.I have also had "bloggers block" were I just haven't had any creative ideas of what to blog about. However, now I have finished school and have been on holiday and I have a lot of free time on my hand I am have decided to try and get back into it. I thought I would start off with a high street beauty haul showing you some items I've bought over the last week. 

I popped into Boots and Superdrug and picked up a couple of product to try / use this summer. All these products are linked as followed: Aussie 'Take the Heat' leave in stray, Sanctuary Spa 2 day moisture shower oil, Sally Hansen No Chip acrylic top coat, Bourjois Paris Colour Boost Lip Crayon (Fuschia Libre), Garnier Ambre Solaire hydrating after sun hydrating tan maintainer and Barry M Gelly Hi Shine in Blueberry, Lychee and Dragon Fruit.

As you can tell from a post I did a couple of fews back I really love the Barry M nail polishes. However I never got round to trying the Gelly Hi Shine polishes. Because it was 3 for 2 in Superdrug I decided to splash out and buy a few shades for the summer. My favourite shade is the light blue colour 'Blueberry' and have been wearing it ever since I bought it and absolutely love it. I also bought another of my favourite top coat as I have run out of it. This top coat really helps with protecting against clipping. Like I said before I have just got back from holiday and to keep my skin protected after being in the sun I bought the Garnier after sun lotion and I absolutely love it. It smells amazing and it kept my skin so hydrated and prolong my tan. As we are having such nice weather in the UK at the moment I decided to buy some more to insure that my skin stays moisturised, hydrated and protected. 

I also bought the Bourjois Color Boost in the shade "Fuchsia Libre". I have heard such good things about this and I wanted to see if it was any good myself. It says it should last for 10 hours and be waterproof so for £7.99 I wanted to see if it lives up to what it says. This product is similar to the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Lip Stain and I want to see how they compare. Lately, I haven't been taking great are of my hair and I am really bad at protecting my hair against heat. I use hair straighteners everyday so I am really starting to notice the effect. As well as using damage repair shampoo and also bought the Aussie protecting stray to use when using heat in my hair. I haven't used it before and i'm not sure what it's like so I am looking forward to using it and seeing how good it is. 

Copyright of photographs ©

FAVOURITE SKIN CARE PRODUCTS

Today I am going to talk about some of my favourite skincare products. I think that is very important to look after your skin especially if you wear makeup everyday like me. These products below are ones I use everyday but are not my full skin care routine. If you would like me to show you my full routine then I definitely will in the future.The first two products that I love are Clinique liquid skin formula and First Aid Beauty face cleanser. Once I have taken my makeup off in the evening, I will use the liquid skin formula to clean my face and make sure that no makeup is left on my face. I have quite oily skin and this product really helps with reducing this and it is also great at reduces blemishes. It also leaves my skin feeling smoother, I really love it. It is around the £15 mark which I think is really good. In combination to this, I use FAB face cleanser which personally I think is amazing! I actually got a sample of this in a glossy box ages ago and really liked it but never re-purchased it. Then my skin started getting really bad with spots and I was trying to think when was the last time my skin was really good and what products was I using? That is when I re bought this cleanser and it has been my chosen one ever since! It again helps with fighting against spots and it does exactly what it says on the "tin" which is to 'remove surface oils, skin toxins, make up and dirt and grime'. I couldn't recommend this product enough.

The other product I wanted to talk about it the MONU recovery balm. This again is a sample from a Glossy Box I got a while ago. I found this product in one of my draws recently and this is a sample I had get to try. I suffer with moderate acne scars on my chin as I am one of those fools who pick and pop their spots causing them to scar. I had noticed that my skin was looking quite 'stressed' and try red so this was the perfect product to try. I have now been using it for around a month now and I absolutely love it! It has calmed my skin down massively and has reduced the redness a lot. I apply this every morning and evening after my cleansing and I really like the result. It is quite pricey at £20 for a 50ml bottle (same as the sample size shown in picture). However, this definitely won't stop me re purchasing this again. This really has noticeably changed the appearance of my skin in a short time.