Friction Free Shaving Review & Discount

Lockdown has definitely got me trying to get more things delivered via mail order than I did in the past; I've now get eco-friendly laundry tabs delivered every so often and I finally decided to take the plunge and order a my razors online too after seeing a few people signing up to subscription services like Friction Free Shaving. After months of using disposables because I was too tight to pay for Gillette Venus refills I decided it was time to try out some good quality but affordable razors.

When you first sign up you tell FFS how often you shave, I personally opted for 'a few times a week' which means that my box will come once every other month which sounds ideal to me as you get 4 refill blades in every box. You also get the chance to choose your handle, currently they have 4 different colours including the beautiful rose gold one that I went for. You can also get yours personalised for an additional £6.

The handle itself is really quite heavy, it reminds me of how sturdy men's razors tend to be which gives me confidence that it'll last for many refills to come; it also has a rubber grip underneath which is useful in making sure it doesn't slip out of your hand while shaving.

The blades themselves have 6 diamond coated blades which makes the shave brilliantly smooth and close with no drag whatsoever. I was a little sceptical at first because the moisturising strip is only very thin and when I've bought Venus razors I've always liked the moisture bar that some of them have on them as it means that even without much shaving foam you get a really smooth shave, however, I am pleasantly surprised by how these razors don't need the moisture strip - in fact that I'd say they're better for not having it. These Friction Free Shaving blades seem to give me a much closer shave than Venus, presumably because the actual blades get closer to the skin with the absence of a moisture block.

The blade head also moves with the contours of your body which makes it perfect for ensuring you don't miss any patches on your legs - that's another issue I had with disposable: the fact that I would think I'd shaved properly only to discover a huge patch of hair at the side of my leg! I didn't get that with this and my legs felt beautifully smooth with no dragging or nicks (nicks were also something I'd started to get pretty much every time I shaved with disposable which is another thing that prompted me to change because shaving cuts bleed like heck!). You'll also see in that last picture that it comes with a clamshell protector so you can pop that on between shaves to stop it getting damaged or damaging anything else!

Now onto arguably the most important bit - the price. It is a subscription service but you can cancel it at any time and you are in full control of the frequency of your order. Your initial order when you sign up will come with the handle, 4 blades, and a clamshell protector; this will cost you £9 (subsequent refills will also cost £9) however, I have a link which will get you a £3 discount off your first order taking it down to just £6 which I think is an absolute steal! Just follow this link to get your Friction Free Shaving discount and let me know how you get on if you do order.

Garnier Ultimate Blends Banana Hair Food Review

We all want soft, shiny, well nourished hair and we'll buy into all the conditioning products that claim to 'repair split ends' and 'condition from root to tip' only to be largely disappointed with the outcomes. It's not often that I absolutely rave about a beauty product now but I can't get enough of Garnier Ultimate Blends Banana Hair Food and I'll tell you why it's the best budget hair mask on the market at the moment. 

It can be used as a regular conditioner, a leave-in conditioner or a mask but let's just be clear I have only used this as a mask so I can't speak for the leave-in aspect but I've been using this now for just over a month 2/3 times per week so I can definitely give a well rounded view on 2 of the 3 things it claims to be able to do. 

Firstly, it smells amazing (providing you like banana) it does smell kind of artificial but I still absolutely love the smell; think those foam banana sweets and you get the idea. Not only does it smell amazing in the pot but it also makes my hair smell beautiful even after drying which very few hair product seem to have the ability to do. 

I usually use it as a mask, which involves leaving it on for 3-5 minutes (or longer if you have the time) and I always make sure I brush or comb it through my hair while it's on to make sure that I'm conditioning throughout my hair, not just the top layer (particularly important because I do have quite thick hair). It leaves my hair feeling beautifully smooth when wet, which is what you find with most conditioners but I think the real test of a conditioner is how it feels once your hair is dry. 

I've noticed a marked difference in the condition of my hair since using this; there does seem to be a lot less breakage and knotting (previously, I was finding that my hair would knot up every single time I dried it). Also, even though it conditions it beautifully, it doesn't weigh my hair down at all.

All this might be to do with the fact that the Garnier Ultimate Blends Banana Hair Food is free from silicones (which give the illusion of silky smooth hair but really it's just a film that weighs it down) and the ingredients are 98% natural (a claim I do question slightly due to the fact that 'natural' is an unregulated word). Also, Garnier claim that it's a vegan formula which it may well be but Garnier themselves are not a Vegan only brand so make of that what you will.

To be honest, all you need to know is that this hair mask is 100% worth buying, especially if you can find it on offer at less than £3.50!

Skinny Tan Wonder Serum Review with Before and After Photos

If you've known me for a while now, you'll know that I'm hardly a beauty queen - my skincare routine is questionable, I don't tend to my eyebrows anywhere near as often as I should and it has to be a special occasion for me to wear lipstick. But one thing I do know is that life is definitely better with a tan.

I usually go to the professionals for a spray tan to fulfil my tanning needs but when Skinny Tan asked if I wanted to try their new Skinny Tan Wonder Serum I decided to go for it because I'd heard such good things about it. Admittedly I was a little bit nervous applying it because I know that I'm not exactly experienced in self-tanning and I worried that I was going to end up patchy and streaky. Luckily, along with the serum, I was also sent an exfoliating mitt and a tanning mitt which did make the process a heck of a lot easier.

The exfoliating mitt is double sided; the orange side for prepping the skin before application and the brown side is to remove or correct your tan which is especially helpful if you're a little bit out of practice. The dual tanning mitt is honestly the best quality tanning mitt I've ever used; it's silky smooth, thick and durable  whereas other mitts I've used have split within a couple of uses. The Skinny Tan mitt makes application much, much easier. 

The serum itself is a formula I've never come across before; other tans I've used have been in lotions, mousses and sprays so I was really intrigued as to how this one worked. The serum formula, coupled with the tanning mitt, made it so easy to spread the product evenly across my skin and it was so easy to buff in with no worries about it streaking or developing patchy. And it actually has an iridescent finish to it and leaves your skin feeling soft and silky after you've applied. I did read that this is supposed to smell better than other fake tans but honestly once it started developing I didn't get any scent other than the tell-tale biscuit scent that you get with most self-tanners. I don't find it particularly bad but I wouldn't say it smells any better than other self-tanning products.

Now for the before and after pictures; I am naturally quite pale and I don't tan very well in the sun so as you can imagine my legs, without tan, are blindingly pasty:

BEFORE SKINNY TAN WONDER SERUM

AFTER SKINNY TAN WONDER SERUM

I'm really impressed with the results. Skinny Tan Wonder Serum gave me a really flawless, soft finish and has meant that I'll be much more confident wearing a summer dress when some of the better weather is here to stay. I generally do feel so much better with a bit of a tan; it makes me much more body confident. I posted a photo to my stories of me applying some new moisturiser to my legs and I was pleased to see that people noticed my tan and asked what I'd used! I do need to perfect my tanning skills because I've not quite got the knack of tanning my feet without it looking weird but I'll be having a look at some YouTube tutorials to help but if you have any tips please send them my way!

You can buy Skinny Tan products from their website 

Lush Valentine's Bath Bombs

To be fair, Lush often get it exactly right when it comes to seasonal offerings but I couldn't not mention their Valentine's bath bomb selection because I do think they've surpassed all expectations with the stuff they've come up with. To be honest you'd have to have been living under a rock (or totally not excited by bath bombs) to not know about Lush Valentine's products but I'm going to tell you them anyway because there might just be someone out there stuck for a Valentine's gift idea...

Probably their most talked about products are the Aubergine (£3.95) and Peachy (£3.95) bath bombs which are cleverly modelled on the emoji symbols we tend to use for certain parts of our anatomy. How totally genius was that idea?! A massive pat on the back to their product development/marketing team for that because I was so impressed with it! So far I've tried the aubergine and it didn't disappoint - it was the most perfect sparkly purple bath you've ever seen even if it did slightly resemble a glittery turd as it was fizzing away (haha!).

I've only just managed to get hold of the Peachy one today because it's been sold out (testament to its popularity!) but I've heard it's another amazing creation.

The Goddess is one I also grabbed because the store assistant told me it was the most glittery bath bomb they've ever done which has me sold, straight away. This one is a little more pricey at £5.95 and it does pain me to use that in one bath but we all deserve a treat sometimes, right?! Although it is part of the Valentine's collection, this one isn't a limited edition so if this is something that tickles your fancy you could treat yourself a little later on. I decided to save this until actual Valentine's so I haven't tried it yet but I will definitely be showing it on my Instagram (@girl_upnorth) if you fancy following me on there to see that. 

The Love Boat (£4.50) is the last of their Valentine's bath bomb collection and I saw this in action when the sales assistant offered to show us. This is what I would call a 'slow burner'. Obviously because it has to stay afloat and look like a boat it does fizz quite slowly but the sweet citrus smell is absolutely unreal and it turns the water a gorgeous pinky purple colour and it'd still be fizzing away long after you got into the bath. 

There are other product types in the Valentine's collection but I thought I'd focus on bath bombs because they're what I know most about; if massage bars, soaps and bubble bars are your thing then they also have some limited edition products that are worth having a look at!

How to Keep Your Beauty Regime Germ Free

collaborative post

We tend to associate a beauty regime with using the best products for our skin and we often spend months, even years on finding exactly the right combination of products to suit ourselves. But what you might not realise is that by not making sure you're using products and tools safely, you might actually be exposing yourself to all sorts of nasty germs and bacteria that can cause some pretty nasty conditions. Here are a few things that you need to keep in mind, aside from the next best skincare product...

Wash Your Makeup Brushes
I know it seems blindingly obvious but when’s the last time you cleaned your makeup brushes? By “brushes”, we also mean any equipment or tools that you use to apply any type of makeup - foundation brushes, beauty blenders, eyeshadow brushes… the list goes on and on. These tools should be cleaned on a regular basis in order to prevent the build up of bacteria. Using the same brush for too long can be unhygienic and you can find that your skin worsens for it. There are plenty of tutorials out there on how to clean brushes effectively. You can also pick up cleaning solution and cleaning palettes relatively easily now too! Brushes and tools used daily with heavy products such as foundation brushes and concealer brushes ideally need to be washed once a week; eye brushes should be at least once every two weeks and other brushes such as blusher brushes should be washed once a month. To keep your brushes in the best condition always make sure you use a mild soap or a special brush cleanser.
Replace Makeup and Skincare Products Believe it or not, makeup and other beauty products (such as cleansers and moisturisers) can go out of date. All of these products have a shelf life. It can be found in the illustration of a small pot on most products. Printed on the pot will generally be a number followed by “M”. This indicates the number of months you should use the product for. I know it might pain you to do so but you need to dispose of products once this time has passed. Clean Piercings Again, seems like an obvious one but this is something that you can pay for in the long run if you don’t get it right first time round. When you have any piercing, you will generally be given care instructions by your piercer. Make sure to read these and follow them. If you haven’t been given any advice for your specific piercing automatically, you should always ask. For most piercings, the general protocol is to clean and soak the piercing with a solution of boiled water and rock salt. You can use a Q tip to do this. You may also want to dab a little tea tree oil on the area once it has dried too. If you fail to do this regularly, your piercing may become susceptible to infection. Make sure to leave your piercing in for the recommended period of time before removing it and changing the jewellery it was pierced with for other jewellery. This will help the piercing to heal. Once you can change the jewellery, and if you do choose to change it, make sure to only ever use the jewellery designed for the size hole you have. Use rook jewellery for rook piercings, tongue bars for your tongue, and belly button bars for your belly button. Also only ever use brand new and sterilised jewellery. Is there any part of your beauty product upkeep that you always neglect, or do you have any other tips and tricks for staying germ free in your beauty regime?

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser Review for Combination Skin

Guilty as charged. For a good 12 months I massively neglected my skin, I wet-wiped it every single day and although I'm a massive advocate of wet wipes rather than nothing I realised the importance of even a half decent skincare routine when I noticed my skin looking really dull and lack-lustre. Don't get me wrong I think tiredness and stress contributed to some of that but having spoken to an assistant in Sephora she made me realise that the fact that my skin wouldn't keep makeup looking decent probably was nothing to do with the fact that I didn't use primer (still bought one though obviously because: mini sizes strategically placed near the till!!!).

Anyway, I raised my concerns about not wanting anything too heavy and oily or at the other end of the spectrum: a cleanser that would strip my skin of all natural oils but would suit my combination skin because I've had one too many bad experiences with cleansers that have caused problems, mainly breakouts. After trying plenty of different types I finally settled on the Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser and I've been using it for a little over a month now so I thought it was the perfect time to share my thoughts.

Firstly can I just say that Kiehl's packaging is the one. I love how simplistic and no-nonsense it is. This squeezy bottle has all the ingredients and directions for use on the front which makes up the packaging design itself.

When I first tried this in the Sephora sinks I thought it was foaming which is an instant no go for me because I'm a firm believer that anything foaming strips your skin way too much but it's actually not foaming in the strictest sense, it's a gel kind of formula which is actually really soothing on the skin. It can't be used on your eyes which is a slight pain in the bum but because I really like the cleansing action of this I'm willing to overlook it. As with most cleansers you wet your face first, squeeze a small amount of product onto your fingertips and massage into your face with circular motions. I then rinse off with clean, warm water and then remove any excess product with a clean flannel.

The Kiehl's no-nonsense approach also extends to the ingredients and the lack of huge amounts of perfume etc. is clear in the scent of the cleanser - it smells soapy as opposed to overpoweringly fragranced which is reassuring. The foaming agent is a sugar derived glycoside which, without sounding like I know exactly what I'm talking about where ingredients are concerned, means that it doesn't strip the skin like regular foaming agents do so although my skin feels cleansed and makeup/dirt free after using it, it doesn't feel like it's squeaky clean (because as Caroline Hirons says: you should never aim for squeaky clean anything, whether it be skin or hair). It contains soothing emollients (things which soften the skin) such as apricot kernel oil, avocado oil and vitamin E to ensure that your skin doesn't feel starved of moisture after washing.

For me this is the perfect cleanser to use both morning and night for my normal/oily skin and (not surprisingly) I've found that it gives me the perfect base for applying makeup. Using this has given me a new found confidence to actually try other products from the Kiehl's brand so the Ultra Facial Cream is looking like a promising candidate when I've finished my current moisturiser. It also comes in two sizes on the Kiehl's website: 75ml (£9.50) which is the perfect travel size or if you want to kind of try before you buy or they also do the full size 150ml for £16.50 which doesn't break the bank too much where skincare is concerned.

Wilkinson Sword Intuition FAB Razor Review

So it might not be as glam as the release of a new contour palette but let's be right, the vast majority of us use razors for one thing or another and we are of course in prime shaving time given that our legs are out more than ever in this stupendous UK heatwave so when I saw the new Wilkinson Sword Intuition FAB razor on an advert I was quite intrigued. 

As an avid user of Gillette Venus razors I did wonder whether there was something as good, if not better, on the market (I did have a brief fling with some disposables from Aldi... that didn't end well). The Intuition FAB razor claims to be revolutionary in that it shaves backwards and forwards (hence the FAB...) so I thought I'd give it a whirl.

The design of the razor handle is really comfortable to hold, it doesn't slip out of your hand because of the soft rubber and the grooved grips help to give really good control over where your shaving which is obviously essential because it moves with the contours of your body without any awkwardness. 

The razor head itself is quite substantial in size and is surrounded by a water activated gel which for me is an absolute must because I find it provides so much more comfort when shaving because it doesn't pull or graze your skin even if you don't use loads of shaving gel/foam (I actually don't use shaving gel or foam I just use foaming shower gel which works just as well with a razor like this). It has 5 blades all together which ensures that you get a smooth, close, comfortable shave.  

The 'forward and back' element of this razor does take some time to get used to because obviously the natural movement is to just move one way but once you get used to the fact that you can actually shave backwards and forwards it makes things surprisingly easier than normal razors and I seemed to get a much closer shave (presumably because it's catching the hairs both ways so even the smallest of hairs get a close shave). I find that the F.A.B razor actually made shaving quicker because you don't have to lift it from your skin until you want to wet the razor.

At £11.99 for blade refills the price point is similar if not slightly cheaper than its main competitors, the initial outlay for the razor handle plus one blade is slightly higher than Venus (£11.99). Just a quick note aswell, you need to buy the specific F.A.B handle to use the backwards and forwards blades as they don't fit any other Wilkinson Sword handles. I'd definitely recommend this razor for anyone who's looking for a slightly quicker yet still comfortable and close shave.

Essential Daily Products

Daily essentials can sometimes be a bit overlooked when it comes to sharing the things you love and use regularly, mainly because that can of deodorant or whatever just isn't quite as pretty as the latest Naked eyeshadow palette is it? But ultimately, the basic stuff you use every day needs to be stuff that you actually like and stuff that works for you so although I don't have a huge daily routine of products, this is mainly what I use every single day...

The Body Shop Tea Tree Night Lotion £10.00 (The Body Shop)

Lancome Hydra Zen Moisturiser £41.00 (Feel Unique)

Admittedly, the Tea Tree lotion has come out in force again just recently because my skin has decided to have a bit of a tantrum and numerous spots have decided to appear on my chin. Tea Tree oil can be good for targeting particular spots to help clear them up but this gel-like lotion provides light hydration while calming your skin so you don't get the dryness that sometimes come with clearing spots up. 

The Hydra Zen is what I use in a morning before applying makeup, it provides just the right amount of moisturising without making my face look oily. It also helps to reduce any redness and soothes sensitive skin. I really struggled to find a moisturiser that was suited to my face and I discovered this through a little mini I got in a Christmas set so although this is quite pricey it's worth it for me because it works. 

Caudalie Vine Body Butter £21.00 Feel Unique

Dove Go Fresh Pear & Aloe Vera Deodorant* £2.00 Boots

Although I do use the Caudalie Body Butter on a daily basis I'm now using it rather sparingly because I'm almost out of it and I really do like how this smells. It's really thick and creamy and is perfect for putting on after a shower because it absorbs really quickly but still makes your skin feel nicely moisturised. There's no stickiness which can sometimes come with using a butter and the scent is quite light but really distinctive. 

One of the newest fragrances from Dove is Pear and Aloe Vera, I wouldn't have normally gone for a fruity kind of scent but this really surprised me with how nice it smells and it does a good job of keeping you fresh throughout the day!

Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes £2.00 Boots

A very, very old favourite. I rarely ever stray from Simple face wipes simply because I know they suit my skin and they are moist enough to be really refreshing when you just need something to wake you up in a morning. I know removing makeup with face wipes is supposed to be a cardinal sin but sometimes a full on cleansing routine day and night... ain't nobody got time for that. 

The Best Charlotte Tilbury Products

I love being able to buy luxe beauty products as and when funds allow (granted this isn't too often!) and I'd wanted to try some Charlotte Tilbury from day dot when she launched her beauty brand. I'd visited counters a few times but struggled to decide what to try as a starting point; everything looks so pretty with lots of rose gold which makes up her distinct packaging style. Charlotte Tilbury carries everything from makeup and tools to skincare and perfume but I knew I was going to focus on the makeup because I'd heard such good things. I eventually started my collection with a lipstick and the iconic Filmstar Bronze & Glow contour palette:

As you can see the packaging is absolutely superb, it really is a cut above from other brands I've tried - even high end! Everything is really solid and well made and the colours make it different to anything I've ever seen; nothing about it is flimsy and you can tell the moment that you pick it up that it's all really well made. It just screams quality. 

The main reason why I chose the Filmstar Bronze & Glow palette is because I'd heard it was really good for pale skin (to honest if CT can't get it right for pale skin who can, right?). As you can clearly see from the swatches, my skin is fair so I before I bought this palette I'd really struggled with contour because I couldn't find anything that was a match for my skin without being too orange or too brown. 

The light-medium Filmstar Bronze & Glow palette is perfect for my skin and it's a palette that will take you from day to night. I literally use this every single day and it's very buildable for a night time look without being cakey or orange. It's pricey at £49.00 but I would repurchase this in a heart beat and despite using this every single day it doesn't look I've made much of a dent in the pans at all. I would 100% recommend this for anyone with paler skin who wants to dip their toe into contouring.

A lipstick was actually the first thing I bought from the Charlotte Tilbury range and it may be surprising but I didn't go for Pillow Talk which seems to be the most talked about shade. I actually bought this particular shade from a counter and asked the assistant for a darkish nude that could be used for day and night. He recommended Very Victoria.

Very Victoria is a shade from the Matte Revolution collection of lipsticks and it really is a beautiful dark pink/nude shade. The formula is pretty revolutionary for a matte lipstick I think because it's surprisingly hydrating and doesn't feel dry even when you've worn it for a while yet it looks perfectly matte on the lips. It's stunningly easy to apply which is quite unusual for matte formulas and can easily be reapplied without a mirror - winner! The price tag is a heavy one at £24.00 but I would definitely recommend that you try Charlotte Tilbury if you're looking to treat yourself to a high end lipstick. 

Featured products:

Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow in Light-Medium £49.00

Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution lipstick in Very Victoria £24.00

Lush Christmas Collection

If you follow me on Instagram, you'll know that recently I've rekindled my love for Lush, and my timing couldn't have been better. On October 1st they launched their Christmas collection so I made a point of going to the store near where I work to have a look at this years selection of bath bombs and other festive bits and pieces. Even though it was a good 2 months until Christmas I couldn't help but feel a bit festive while I was browsing the shop. This is going to be a photo heavy post and I'll let them speak for themselves.

A gold, sparkly bubble bar on a cinnamon stick with red ribbon on and a bell wrapped around it, seriously, could you get anymore stereotypically Christmas - I love it!

Eeek! Father Christmas - my favourite Christmas Eve bath bomb.

It's not all about Christmas yet at Lush though, there's still the Halloween bits hanging around obviously because we aren't even at the end of October but I love the fact that the whole store is filled with seasonal bits - just another reason why autumn/winter is my fave!

I finally bought myself some Fun! Even at 25 who says that playdough in the bath can't still be fun?!

I bought one of these after seeing that Louise Pentland really liked it and it really is like present because you don't know what's inside it until you put it in the bath.

Honestly, I'm not sure how I feel about bubble bars on a stick... 

I do wish it showed enough in the UK to make actual snow angels but until it does I'll have to make do with a bath bomb.

Last but not least, a collection of bottles of Snow Fairy varying in size... I think you could say it goes something like fanatical, lover and first time buyer haha.

Michael Buble By Invitation

It's been a while since I found a celebrity perfume I really liked, in fact the last time I posted about one was back in March 2014 when I discovered that Katy Perry Killer Queen was actually a pretty good dupe for Victor and Rolf Flowerbomb. However, I was recently sent the new perfume which Michael Buble has put his name to: By Invitation.

Michael Bublé By Invitation 50ml 

By description, it's exactly the kind of scent I would go for; floral oriental, spicy top notes with a base  of musky sandalwood and vanilla and it doesn't disappoint when on the skin. I've been using this as a day time scent because I don't find it overpowering and the fragrance really softens once it's been on for a few minutes.

I've been very pleasantly surprised how many compliments I've had when wearing this because I have to admit I do like to wear a perfume which stands out from others and I didn't expect this to be one of those but it obviously does grab people's attention. Admittedly, I'm personally not a massive fan of the bottle but I can overlook that because I do really enjoy the perfume itself. 

If, like me, you tend to overlook celebrity perfumes I would recommend breaking tradition with this one because if you're into spicy oriental kinds of scents then you'll love this one.

The Body Shop Superfood Face Masks

The pinnacle of at home pampering, for me, has to be the face mask. It's the part of a facial that anyone can do with little or no skills; you just smooth it on and relax for 10 minutes while it works its magic. The only trouble is, that most face masks only address one or two skin complaints so I tend to always go for the ones which are most suited to what I want to target which is usually something to do with detoxing and dealing with blemishes. 

However, The Body Shop are exactly on point with their latest idea. 

Their idea of using several masks at the same time means that you don't have to use one masks as a 'blanket' treatment for your whole face.. Their new range of face masks consists of five different Superfood masks, each of them packed with natural ingredients and formulated to address different skin issues. Each of the Superfood face masks is 100% vegetarian and free of silicone, parabens, paraffins and mineral oils to ensure that what you're putting on your face is 100% natural. 

Whether it's detoxifying, hydrating, nourishing, brightening or energising, or a combination of the five, there should be something for you in the Superfood range because what you can actually do is create your own at-home facial based on your own skin complaints. 

Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow Mask

Good for: releasing impurities and toxins

Amazonian Acai Energising Radiance Mask

Good for: energising skin which is tired and stressed

British Rose Fresh Plumping Mask

Good for: revealing a dewy glow

Ethiopian Honey Deep Nourishing Mask

Good for: a dose of replenishing nourishment

Chinese Ginseng & Rice Clarifying Mask

Good for: dull skin in need of a pick-me-up

I personally struggle with an oily t-zone but dehydrated, blemished cheeks so the Hydrate and Invigorate facial is what I tried first which inclues the British Rose Fresh Plumping Mask, the Chinese Ginseng and Rice Clarifying and Polishing Mask and the Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow Mask.

Each of the masks is used to target a different 'problem' so obviously you apply accordingly; I put the Himalayan Charcoal on my nose and forehead (t-zone), the British Rose on my cheeks and the Chinese Ginseng and Rice on my chin. So in the 15 minutes I left it all on it was addressing 3 different problems rather than using a single mask as a 'blanket' treatment.

The separate face masks are absolutely perfect for me because I usually just apply masks to my t-zone as I usually buy clay based treatments to try and sort out my oily, blemish prone skin but I love the fact that now I can treat my dehydrated cheeks at the same time.

The masks are £15 each and available now from the Body Shop website.

Women's Contour Razor for Easy Shaving

Hair removal is a definite #girlproblem for those of us who wish to get rid of unwanted fluff, I approach summer with a sense of dread for the months in which I have to shave my legs on a regular basis because it's just such a pain. I did think I'd found my 'Holy Grail' of razors in the Gillette Venus range with the shave gel bar built in; I flitted to others when they were on offer but I've always gone back to Gillette. Until a razor with 6 blades was brought to my attention. 

You may be wondering what difference that extra blade makes, well I'll tell you that the more blades generally the smoother the shave. Have you ever noticed that most good mens razors have loads of blades? Well that's because more blades make it as gentle and close on their little faces so why shouldn't we have the same for our fuzz?? 

Anyway, enter the Dorco EVE 6.

On the face of things it looks just like any other normal razor and you'd be right, it's not dissimilar to loads of razors on the market in terms of the handle but there's a couple of features which do sort the ladies from the girls of the razor world:

- 6 blades split into a 3 blade format to help contour your bodyshape

- A brush finger on the head to help massage and raise hair follicles for a closer, smoother shave

- A Moisturising band with Aloe and Vitamin E to protect sensitive skin

- A flexible head which moves to the contours of your body

As you can see the Dorco looks quite a bit different to the Wilkinson Sword one which has 5 blades all together and the head doesn't move at all which doesn't make shaving impossible obviously but the additional little features of the Dorco really do make shaving so much easier. I think that the moving head makes a massive difference with how smooth the shave feels; there's absolutely no dragging and no nicks and cuts around the usual areas (ankles and knees) and it makes underarm shaving an absolute dream because it's so quick.

The final little gem about Dorco razors is that they offer them as a subscription service so I'll no longer be waiting for my blades to be on offer because the Dorco Eve 6 is so reasonably priced I can't afford not to snap it up!

To buy the Dorco Eve 6 on it's own with 1 blade it's £4.55 but for £5.45 you get a handle and 4 blades! I must have read that about 6 times on the website because I can't believe how affordable it is considering I usually pay around £15 for 4 blades! You can set the subscription for as often as monthly or push it to 6 monthly depending how often you shave which I think is brilliant because not only is it really affordable it also means you should never be caught short of razors.

I can't rave about this enough, just at least go check out the Dorco Razors website.