BEAUTY: GARNIER MICELLAR CLEANSING WATER

Yes, I know I am late to the party with this one, but that doesn't mean I can't join in. Everyone has been hyping about the Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water for, what feels like, forever now and so I thought maybe it was time that I tried it.

I am one of those people who is always trying out new skin products, only to return back to my trusty face wipes. 

I am also one of those people who, when waiting in the line at Boots to pay, will get sucked in by the deals and pick up ten products that I wasn't planning on getting. In one of those dangerous queues, I saw a travel size Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water and decided to buy it and give it a try.

Let's just say, the face wipes are now not used and the big mummy bottle has been bought.

Now, I'm not going to go into technicals about this product: mainly because I don't know them and also I just wanted to do this post to say what I personally like about it. 

To start with, the travel size lasted me about three months which, for a £1.99 125ml bottle, isn't bad going. Another thing about this product, is that it literally removes all make up. Sometimes you can get these face washes that claim to remove make up but then you find yourself three days down the line with mascara still sticking your eyelashes together. Since the hype of this water, Garnier have also released a Micellar Water for oily skin, a "pure" one and a natural one for sensitive skin.

However, the best thing about this product is that it doesn't sting my eyes! I think I must have the most sensitive eyes in the world when it comes to anything going in them and that is the main reason I have always gone back to my trusty face wipes. But this Micellar Water is literally like.....water! 

Overall, I never thought I would see the day where I leave my face wipes behind and be the cleansing water type person. Thanks Garnier! 

ktcrossthwaite x

BEAUTY: SUMMER FAVOURITES

L'Oreal Colour Trophy Regional Finals 2015

Thierry Mugler #BewareOfAngels

Summer Favourites!

I've never really done a proper favourites post (maybe one a while ago) and so I thought what better time to do one then for summer!

This favourites is just going to be a general one, so anything I have been loving this summer whether that's books, nail polishes, clothes or beauty products.

Here we go...

It's Pamper Time!

So it's got to that time of the year where the season of stuffing your face and getting attacked by the cold weather is finally coming to a slow end (very slow, I seem to still be doing all those things).  Starting the new year means turning over a new leaf and one of my many new years resolutions was to be just that little bit kinder to myself - whether that means drinking more water, going to the gym or just making sure I'm getting enough rest.

Now I know we're already well into February but better late than never to start (I've also had the crazy back to uni weeks which has not been kind to me or my bank balance) and I thought why not treat myself to a few pamper nights.

There are a few nights in the week, believe it or not, where I find myself doing absolutely nothing and how better to spend these nights than having a little pamper sesh!
So I headed to my local Boots store and found some Montagne Jeunesse mud masks, and they were on offer - every bloggers dream!
After what felt like hours of trying to decide which to get, I settled for the Nut Oil Masque and the Very Berry mask which are both moisturising mud masks which I desperately needed as the cold wind had taken all sorts of moisture out of my skin.

Valentines Day Make Up Look!

As Valentines Day is quickly approaching, I thought what better than to do a make up look just in time for it.  I personally am not a fan of Valentines Day, purely because I don't think a day should be put aside to tell someone you love them, that should be every day, but of course the day will come around nonetheless!

Beauty Review: Clinique Chubby Stick in Curvy Candy

For Christmas, my older sister got two Clinique Chubby Sticks by Clinique and literally two weeks later I was out buying one for myself.  I was thinking of just putting this in a Recents post but I felt it had to have its own review as I love it that much!

My Post-Shower/Pre-Bedtime Routine

Now I know a lot of blogs do their post-shower and pre-bedtime routines so I thought I would jump on the bandwagon and do one myself!

The reason I have combined the two is because they're basically the same.  I never really have got into the habit of having certain routines until quite recently when I discovered certain products that worked so well for me.  So many people have millions of lotions and potions which they slap on their skin straight after a shower or before they jump between the sheets but personally I like to stick to only a few.

I personally don't think it is that healthy to clog up your skin with all sorts of creams that are meant to help with this and that and also, once you start using a product all the time, your skin becomes reliant on that product, so if you decide to stop using it, your skin will be like WHAT?!

So here is an insight into the few products that I do religiously use (but as I say in all my skin posts, these products work on my skin, they may not work on everyone's as they're dependant on your skin type)!

Recents

Well there's been a lot going on recently so sadly, my blog has had to take a back seat.  But I was looking through my Instagram and realised I had not done a Recents post in sooooo long!  So this one is going to be a mission to get through!

Again I've split my Recents into different sections just to make it easier for you all to see :) enjoy!

Motel Rocks!

Roll up, roll up!  Get your 20% off Motel products here!

Beauty Review: My Skin Top Tips

Beauty Review: St Moriz Instant Self Tanning Mousse

Recents

So I thought that I had done a more recent Recents post...turns out I hadn't so sorry for the delay!

I have been such a busy bee at uni in the past couple of weeks and so I haven't really had much time to think about my blog as I've been trying to focus on my work and lectures....and sleep obviously.

So, here are some of my recent posts from my Instagram of what I've been wearing/loving recently!

Make up for a night out at Forum

(Ring from Dolly Bow Bow, Top from Topshop)

Beauty Product Review: Schwarzkopf Got2B Beach Matt Texturizing Salt Spray

Now I'm one of those that is always looking for new products for my hair, especially since I've been trying to leave it dry naturally - so not to damage it even more than it already is!

I've always wanted to get a salt texturizing spray because I've heard so many good reviews about how they make your hair naturally textured and give you that beachy feel without the stiffness.

So, after a lot of research as to what other bloggers and magazines recommended, I finally chose the Schwarzkopf Got2B Beach Matt Texturizing Salt Spray which I can safely say, I am very very happy with.

Autumn/Winter 2013 Favourites - Beauty and Accessories

As we slowly approach the darker and colder mornings and the need to stay in bed just that little bit longer, I thought it was about time I did a Favourites post.
I always say that Autumn is my favourite time of the year because I love wrapping up in jumpers and scarves and having that snug feeling (however I am not a fan of waking up and it still being dark outside)!

As I can foresee this being a ridiculously long post, I am going to split it into Beauty and Accessories and then do another post focussing on clothes!

So here are some of my favourite beauty products and accessories for this time of the year, as well as what I think the main colour trends are going to be...enjoy!

Katie got new hair!

A while ago I got a few blondey bits put into the underneath of my hair to give it a more summery feel (even though as I'm writing this it is chucking it down with rain outside)!  They started to fade out and I decided I wanted a few more of them put in...so off I went and got it done.  I've never dyed my hair at home - and don't plan on doing it anytime soon.  I think that if you're going to colour your hair you should pay that bit extra to get it done properly.  So many people I know don't want to pay the money to get it done and then completely ruin their hair colour.

Anyway, here is my new hair - my summer hair!

Summer Essentials

So as the weather has suddenly got AMAZING, I thought it was only right that I did a "Summer Essentials" post.  Below are, what I think, summer beauty essentials and are the basic beauty products a girl needs during this heat wave!

A good hairbrush is so important, especially when you're probable going to be tying your hair up a lot.  Tangle Teezers are great as they successfully get out knots with next to no pain!

(Boots, Superdrug etc.)

Us pale English roses sadly do not tan that well in the English sun and so this St. Tropez gradual tan moisturiser is perfect as it's ever so gradual and not like a fake tan at all!

(Boots, John Lewis etc.)

No girl wants to wear a lot of make up in this heat as it just results in it melting off or your skin getting terrible so I just use a simple concealer (Benefit Boi-ing), a powder to stop the shine (Benefit Hello Flawless pressed powder) and a slick of mascara (Benefit They're Real!).  Perfect for your skin and the sun!

I'm in love with these cat eye shaped sunglasses as they're so feminine but a bit different.  These particular ones are from River Island.

Keep those wispy bits of hair from sticking to your face and neck by using a strong hairspray.  I used to use one that my hair salon provided but that was getting pricey and so I switched to this one.  My hair needs a good strong hairspray and so this one is perfect!  It holds my hair in place and then brushes out easily!

(Boots, Superdrug etc.)

Nothing worse than getting dehydrated in this heat and I find that this water bottle is like my lifesaver.  It's a 1.6L bottle and so I make sure I get enough water a day to stay hydrated!

(Amazon, John Lewis etc.)

Add to the bright weather with bright nails!  These are just a couple of my favourite ones (I have about 50 nail polishes!)  Another way to make a big impression with your nails is to mix and match them, go for alternate colour pop nails!

(Topshop, Boots, Superdrug etc.)

Skin

So, recently I've been suffering from quite bad skin and I'm pretty sure this is down to the stress of my final college assignments and also my change in skin routine.  For aaages now I've had the same skin routine and this has made it so soft and basically spot-free but I recently suddenly changed it (because I forgot to buy more product..!)
So I thought I would share with you what I personally use on my skin but this will obviously differ for you as every person's skin is different.

 Neutrogena Visibly Clear Spot Stress Control - I use this cleanser in the morning and before bed

Garnier Moisture Match moisturiser - I put this on before bed.  Make sure not to use too much moisturiser on your skin as it can make it oily.  There are a few different types of this moisturiser for different skin types

This is like my life saver.  It can be used on basically anything (cuts, grazes, healing spots) and it works a charm.  You can get it from pharmacies and I only use it if my spots are healing

This is also a God send.  You can get it from any pharmacy and I use it if I can see or feel a spot coming.  I normally use it over night or when I'm just sitting at home because it is quite a thick gel and when it dries it's like white

Recently I was sitting in the sun and, being the pale English rose that I am, I burnt to a crisp!  This is the best after sun moisturiser ever and stops peeling.  I use it as a normal moisturiser as well, even when I haven't been in the sun at all just because it is so good

I found that another thing that has helped my skin clear up is washing my make up brushes and anything else that goes near my face.  I washed my bed sheets and pillows along with some cuddly toys (yes, cuddly toys!)

TOP TIP:

For a while, I used Sudocrem on my face over night and thought it was amazing and heaven sent HOWEVER my friend recently went to a dermatologist and she said it was one of the worst things you can use on your skin because it is so oily!