Drugstore Skincare Dream Routine- Skincare 101

My face is a mess, and it's totally my fault. I don't look after it and that means no matter what I do my makeup looks God-awful because it never sits properly on my face. I can't find products that work for me and I'm so insecure it's lucky if I remove my makeup before bed once a week. (I usually sleep in it and wake up with a tight flakey spotty oily mess because of it). So I'm going to put together a few routines I'm going to give a go using various product combinations I may or may not have tried before. To and inspire me to get skin-happy. Personally I really want to have a reasonably complex routine that goes past the cleanse, tone, moisturise I'm used to.

I've come to the conclusion that my new routine needs 6/8 steps.
Step 1- Remove:
This is a pretty simple step; remove all the makeup that I've been wearing all day.

Step 2- Cleanse
Really dig deep; wash out my grime-filled pores so my face feels fresh and clean.
Step 3- Exfoliate
I think this step is only needed once a week maybe twice because I get really flakey around my nose and in-between my eyebrows. This is to get all the dead and sometimes flakey skin off your face.
Step 4- Tone
I never really understood toner that much, past the fact you needed to use it. I didn't really understand whether you supposed to use it before or after cleanser or what it's purpose is; but Louise (Sprinkle of Glitter) explained it really well in her book (Life with a Sprinkle of Glitter). The idea is that toner balances out your skin, tightens pores and removes the last bits of grime that removing and cleansing missed.
Step 5- Mask
This is a step that you should be doing once or twice a week. Preferably on alternate days to exfoliating but you could use it in conjunction with exfoliating if it makes it easier to remember. There are a number of options an overnight mask that sinks in like a moisterizer, a peel off mask that you wait to dry and peel off in one slick layer or a wash off mask that you leave on to work and then it begins to dry and after about 5/10 minutes you wash it off.
Step 6- Serum
For what I can gather serums are like concentrated moisterisers and sometimes can actually help your moisterisers work better. You use them overnight underneath your moisturizer to make sure the benefits are properly absorbed into your skin
Step 7- Moisturise
This is arguably the most important step even for oily/combination plagued skin and it's a step I skip way to often (mainly because I can't find the right one for me).
Step 8- Eye Cream
A little less important but if you find you get less sleep than you should (*hand goes up*) ,you get a lot of purple or blue undertone (*hand stays up*) ,or you find your concealer isn't hacking it or creases easily (*hand frantically fanning Hermione style*) this is probobly a step you should start taking more notice of.

The first step; Removal, involves a product I really love the Body Shop Chamomile cleansing butter, the idea (for those of you who haven't heard) is that you just smush it all over your face- like you would a moisturizer and wipe it off with either a muslin cloth or a flannel. Although the balm has a very oily texture I actually find it works wonders for my oily skin and my skin always seems so thoroughly cleansed after using it. It's also a complete dupe for the Emma Hardie cleansing balm. Alternatively I could use an eye-makeup remover and micellar water instead. I love Garnier because they do great versions of both of these products.

The next step; Cleansing, again has various options. Either you go for a hot cloth polish or a classic face wash. Although I do find face washes can be quite abrasive but Garnier do a great one for when my skin looks oily enough to fry fish and chips to feed 40 people. And I love Benefit's face wash but it's a pricey little bugger and even though the packaging is to die for I can't reason getting the full size bottle. One of the best affordable hot cloth polishes on the market in my opinion is Superdrug's own brand it even comes with a muslin cloth and my face feels just the right amount of matte and silky after using it. Although I'm always on the hunt for different products to try out so if you have suggestions leave them in the comments below.

Exfoliate is Step 3 although should only be done once or twice a week. My wonder exfoliator is the St Ives Microdermabrasion, my sister got me hooked on this and I will never be using anything else as long as I live. And that is a bold statement to make. It just works so well and as well as seeing an instant difference you also see a long term one if you use it reasonably regularly. Another wonder product which I guess comes under this category are the Biore Pore Strips there is a massive confusion in the beauty world about whether these are actually good for you or not. But bloody hell are they satisfying!

Step 4 is toner and as mentioned before I  knew it was pretty vital if you wanted nice skin but didn't understand why but after reading Louise's book I think I've got the gist. I've been using the Superdrug 'Simply Clean' one and it's very affordable but slightly harsh on my skin so maybe a 'Simple' one would be better for me. After some research you should be using an Alcohol-Free toner which would explain the harsh feeling the 'Simply Clean' one gives me. I'm really interested in trying 'the Body Shop' Seaweed toner or maybe the vitamin E one, as I find them a very trusty brand for skincare even if it is a little pricier. Lush also do some great options that you literally spray straight on and they're so natural so I gather they must be quite good for your skin. But what I really want is the Pixi one everyone and their mother is raving about. It's supposedly the wonder toner. So even if it is a lot more expensive to what I'm used to spending I might have to splurge and pick it up; transformed skin I'm coming for ya!

After toning is Step 5, Mask. As mentioned above there are many variations I've had absolutely no experience of an overnight mask, I do however have experience with both peel off and wash off masks. The only drugstore peel-off mask on the market that I've seen is the Boots Tea-Tree and Witch Hazel peel-off mask. It's nice and cooling but for a mask meant for oily skin it leaves a very greasy residue. I've also used a clay-based wash off mask (Simply Clean from Superdrug's own brand) but I found this to be a little too drying. I really want to try an exfoliating mask next the Body Shop oat and honey one looks amazing, they have some sleep-in masks on offer too which would be good to experiment with as I find The Body Shop incredibly reliable although sometimes forgotten in the skincare department. And I've yet to try a Lush face mask which I can't really believe myself as I'm such a major Lush fan.

Step 6 is Serum and these can be pricey little buggers. Serums are untouched territory for me. Although when I find my moisturiser is just sitting on my skin and won't sink in properly. I love Hydraluron from Indeed Pharmacy it was all the rage a couple of years ago when it first came out but I'm still a fan and plan to carry on using it for a very long time unless anyone has any other ideas (just leave it the comments below).

Step 7 (as mentioned before) is arguably the most important step. I am yet to find my wonder moisturiser but sometimes the Garnier moisturiser for oily skin works for me, what makes it work for me is the consistency and the fact it's oil free. I am loving the Johnson's daily moisturiser it sinks in quite well and is super affordable and constantly on offer I picked it up the other day for £1.95!
Although on the slightly pricier end I love the Body Shop Vitamin C orange brightening moisturiser it's a gel consistency and is nice and cooling on the skin. It's very similar to the Origins one. But at £16 for me it's a bit of an investment or a 'Treat Yo Self' kind of thing.

Step 8 is eye cream a step I can't really afford to skip due to my lack of sleep and deep coloured under-eyes but the only one I have any experience with is the Una Brennan Vitamin C+ under eye cream and much like the Body Shop one (which it goes really well with) it's got orange in it. It's quite thick but very soothing and cooling. Let me know about any drugstore eye creams you really like in the comments below!

On the other hand if you're more for using only one particular range and don't mind splashing out I would definitely suggest the Benefit skincare range. I'm in love with everything from the packaging to what the products do for me; everything except the price tag because the full size products definitely do not come under the affordable drugstore title. Phew-ee are they pricey little buggers. So maybe check out The Body Shop, the staff always seem to know how to advise you and you can mix and match between different ranges or stick to just the one, depending on how you feel.

19th Wishlist

19th Wishlist by bellaboo-xoxo featuring adidas originals shoes

My birthday is fast approaching so I thought I'd let you in on the secret that is my Birthday Wishlist. 19 is a bit of an inbetween birthday, it's not as special as 18 or as defining as your 20th or 21st but it is your last year as a teenage, so logically a large part of me just wants to ignore it and stay 18 forever. I definitely don't expect any of these things. It really is a wishlist ,my wildest dreams, something silly I've just thought up in my head I'm not even going to share with anyone I actually know.

1. Is ticking somewhere off my Travel Bucketlist, Budapest is at the top but Paris seems a little more achievable especially as you can literally see the Channel Tunnel from the hill behind my house.

2. Is the Lush Rosie Box, I've had my eye on this little beauty for months but haven't been able to justify to the £25 pricetag so hopefully I'll be able to treat myself with some leftover birthday money.

3. An instax polaroid camera, all the cool kids have one, I like how quirky and fun they are. My sister even borrowed one and everyone did a quick snap and wrote a message on the back as her guest book, so now I love them even more.

4. A pair of Adidas Superstars, I've never really been one for trends, more for the reason I can never afford to get them in the time they're still in fashion. But I feel like this trend might carry on for a while and although I've got my own style recently I've gotten into recent trends of the moment and incorporating them into my own style. I like this classic style but I've also seen holographic ones and there's some in JD sports I'm in love with that have a leopard print on the stripes.

5. The Olympus Pen E-PL7. This is one of those in my dreams I'm being ridiculous presents but I still haven't spent my birthday money from 18th and I've got like 2 Christmas' worth of Christmas money so if I'm savvy I might have enough to really treat myself to the blogger camera of the moment. At the moment I just use my phone but I figure it I'm going to really get in to blogging and if I'm spending most of the money I save on travelling it could be a reasonable investment.

6. Grey suede Adidas Gazelles, I've liked these trainers for years and they're still quite on trend. I've got tiny feet and they seem to really complement small feet, which is why I like them so much. Also they are quite easy to style and slip on with any outfit.

7. Nume Curling Wand, I love curling my hair with a wand I own two very different curling wands form BaByliss and although I really like them I'd like to try and achieve a more undone beachy wave look and these seem to be the ones for the job. They are quite pricey and I haven't checked if they ship to the UK but they are constantly having flash sales where the wands can be up to $110 off!

February Favourites

February has been quite rough (good job it's so short eh?) and that's really shown on my skin so I've got lots of complexion favourites that I've been loving to use this month. I've also seen a bloom in my audience and my commitment to blogging every week so all in all its been rather successful as months can go.

My skin is a complete state, partly because I don't look after it and partly because life is pretty darn stressful at the mo (when isn't it). I was finding that my makeup never looked nice because I never had a nice base to work with but the three base products that really helped were the Maybelline Baby Skin primer, the Rimmel Fix and Perfect primer and the Rimmel Lasting Finish 25hr foundation. I'd had the Baby Skin because I loved the Benefit porefessional but it broke me out so badly I gave it away but my skin being such a mess I decided to pick up another and see if worked for me this time and it totally did! It's very heavy (so only use a tiny amount) and it's silicone based (so stay far away if you're not a fan). But if you have oily/ combination skin and a problem with mattifying and visible pores this might be the answer to all your prayers. The other primer which is not a recent discovery but a repurchase is the Rimmel Fix and Perfect it's easily overlooked as it doesn't look all that on the shelf but I bloomin' love the consistency just glides over your skin and it's creamy and may I say feels so luxurious definitely give this a try if you need an all do reliable everyday primer for any skin type. The foundation mentioned was actually in Zoella's favourites there was an offer I needed an everyday non luxurious drugstore foundation so thought I'd give it a go. I like a full coverage satin to matte finish and this definitely gives me that. I've used it practically everyday for a month and it appears I haven't even used that much of it. 

I've been loving bold brows this month I mean I've been a fan of bold brows for a while but I feel like my brows have been particularly 'on fleek' this month and all because of this product. I used to use a Mac 266 brush and Mac Espresso because this duo always seemed a bit daunting I never knew which order but now I've worked something out which works for me. I use the powder first and then the pomade-type product on top which probably is the wrong way round but 'you do you' right?

Another product I've been using wrong are the Makeup Revolution Scuplt brush set (aren't they gorgeous) I was using the larger one for my Chanel Tan de Soliel and the smaller one for highlight. But I was rushing one morning and did my foundation with it and I actually really like the finish it gives.

My penultimate favourite is the Body Shop cleansing butter I've got oily/ combination skin so using something this oily you would think would hinder rather than help but it sorted my skin right out. And it's really comfortable on the skin and gets of even my stubborn eye makeup it's not too pricey either and it's lasts a long while, mine is very bashed about and well-loved but I've had it for months.

Final favourite is the Lush milky bath bubble bar. It's got actual milk in it which sounds rank but it's soothing and smells really nice and subtle. It's also a great one to put in with bath bombs because it doesn't effect the scent or colour and just adds some nice soothing bubbles. 

And those are my February favourites what have you been loving this month?

Brighton Haul

So on the way back from a very sister sleepover weekend I decided to get a later train and go into Brighton to explore the Lanes. I'd already done this once before but I went to the beach instead. The lanes were really cool but I only picked up a few bits from town as I'm running quite low on funds (story of my life) and my weekend bag got quite heavy very quickly and it was quite hard to navigate my way round I found it quite complex. I went into Space NK first, which I just stumbled upon. I was really tempted to pick up a Nars Eyeshadow duo (Silk Road is gorgeous) but they're £25 (which I just couldn't justify) I had seen some girls with Mac bags so thought I would go and try to find it.

It didn't take long, I went out the back door of Space NK and it was pretty much right in front of me. I wanted to get a lipstick a bit less pink than Brave but I couldn't really find one I liked but I did pick up two Mac singles for my pro palettes. I bought Expensive Pink, I didn't really need it because I've already got All That Glitters and Honey Lust as well as the very pink toned Naked 3 palette but I was persuaded by the sales girl. Especially as it's quite a unique shade and a little bolder than some of the other more neutral shades I own. I also picked out Sable (which is a bit of a Mac staple Lily Pebbles loves this shade- I think). Although it looks very different from when I first swatched it under the store lights I wanted a warm brown shimmer and think maybe I would of preferred Satin Taupe. It's not as rich or pigmented as I first thought but there's lots of hype around this product and I'm sure I can make this work for me. (If you want to see my Mac palette so far let me know).

I went into Lush and the girls there were just the sweetest (as per usual) I had such a nice chat with all the girls I literally spent over half an hour talking about mine and their obsession with Lush. Let's be honest I could've bought the shop but I was super restrained and only picked up Honeybee and Rose Bombshell. I wasn't that bothered by Rose Bombshell at first but I saw it in a Lucy and Lydia vlog and I was completely unaware it had rose petals hiding inside also it smelt so flipping good like Rose Jam but with something a little different. Honeybee is my favourite scent for a bath bomb after the limited edition Shoot for the Stars which has OMFG has been rereleased this Easter as the Humpty Dumpty bath bomb but jeez it's so bloomin' pricey because of it's 3 in 1 premise.

How To: Sister Pamper Evening/ Session

This weekend I went to visit my sister. She's pregnant and not been feeling quite herself. So I decided to trek up to Bournemouth to pamper her.

First things first Lush bath bombs are needed. I picked up Honeybee and Lover Lamp they both have quite subtle scents so perfect for pregnant people who are scent sensitive. And LoverLamp is very moisterising so I gave that to her and I had honeybee which is my favourite scent. 

I ran her a bath and after she watched an episode or two of her favourite to show she hopped out and put her pjs on. She sat on the side of her bath and I gave her a foot scrub with Soap and Glory breakfast scrub.

 She then put her head over the bath and I washed her hair with the shampoo and conditioner she uses. Then I put Andrew Barton SOS hair repair treatment mask in the mid lengths of her hair and wrapped in a towel she had a lay down and ordered a takeaway whilst I got in the bath and used Soap and Glory breakfast scrub on myself. I got out put my pjs on and rinsed her hair and then I did mine. 

After that I gave her a foot massage with the matching Smootie Star Soap and Glory body butter.

 Then we took our makeup off and I gave her a quick and very unprofessional facial with various lotions and potions.

We went downstairs and watched 'Django: Unchained' we were going to watch 'What to Expect When You're Expecting' as it's quite a girly film and very fitting but I'd never seen Django and it had just been released on Netflix so we watched a polar opposite film instead.

After we'd stuffed ourselves with Indian takeaway we put on some of those face masks in a packet from Superdrug. Finished the film and called it a very relaxing night.

A Very Late January Favourites

January is filled with favourites because I got to try and test out a lot of the things I got for Christmas.

The first thing on my list the Andrew Barton Anti-Frizz serum, I bought a gift set in the Boxing Day sales and it came with a mini of the serum and minis of the shampoo and conditioner in the same range. The products were really great for my normally uncontrollable frizzy hair and I got the whole lot for £2.50. Although the pump on my beloved serum was utter rubbish and I ended up sawing it off which ended in tragedy when it was accidentally packed up with where I store my eye products and leaked everywhere The general range itself is exclusive to Asda so it comes as no surprise that it's really very resonable (with the full-size serum costing £2.50). And I've also tried the SOS hair mask and it did wonders and smelt amazing, so I think I might splurge a bit not to far in the distance future and try some more things in the range as they seem reliable.

Another beauty product I've loved this month was my gel eyeliner. This was a bit of a leap of faith because I've only ever been able to use the pens but I found it would always go grey and gunk up if I used it over my eyeshadow. So I picked one up with an offer in Superdrug and have been loving it ever since. It takes longer than my usual choice of Soap and Glory's Supercat liner but it sets like a rock and so far it's never looked grey. Although I think I need to pick up a new Mac 266 brush because I use it for my eyebrows as well and having to keep spot cleaning it is massively time consuming. 

I've also been loving Maybelline Colour Tattoo in Creme du Nude. I put it on under my eyeshadow (when I can remember) as a base/ primer and I have to say it's been working a treat. I've also heard it's complete dupe for Mac's Soft Ocre but it's only £5 so if you've wanted to try it or are running low on Mac maybe try this and see how you like it. 

My last beauty favourites are my Mac lipsticks. I got them for Christmas and I adore them. I don't think there's thing like the smell and feel of a Mac lipstick. I have the shades Brave and Snob. Snob is a muted bubblegum/ Barbie pink with a satin finish and Brave is best described as a mauve-y pink-y nude and is a satin finish but I find goes on a little more matte than Snob.

Next, and first on my random favourites list are my rose gold GHDs. Limited edition from last year my mum tracked them down and bought them for me for Christmas. And I love them, I use them everyday and still love just looking at them because they're so blooming gorgeous. And straighter wise I don't think you can go wrong with GHDs they straighten my hair like a dream.

I have also been loving Sali Hughes' Pretty Honest. Not only does it look gorgeous in the background of my blog photos and on my bedside table but it's actually a really great read. I don't necessarily agree with everything Sali has to say but I do looooove her 'feminist' approach to beauty. I think with a lot of these 'beauty guides' you can take what people have to say with a pinch of salt but it's such an easy read that you can dip in and out of.

One thing that has changed my haircare routine is my Tangle Teezer. It just glides through my normally uncontrollable hair and it helps I can use it on wet and dry hair-as I often do. I just can't believe it took me so long to jump on to the bandwagon.

Music favourites this month are a rather cheesy affair. By that I mean I've basically been listening to nothing but musicals. Particularly the Heather's the musical soundtrack. So much so I've been listening to it every morning as I get ready and it really peps me up for the day ahead. This dark humour approach inspired heavily by the film is just an absolute dream for me. Definitely have a listen if your a musical geek and even if you're not. It's just a work of genius in my opinion and I can't believe I've only just come across it.

And my final favourite is also very musical based it is of course Grease Live! They just did such a good job from the casting to the costumes; it was just so well done. And Vanessa Hudgens' portrayal of Rizzo captured the character so well. As was Jordan Fisher's interpretation of Doody; his rendition of one of my favourite songs (Those Magic Changes) definitely did it justice the same way Vanessa Hudgens smashed Worse Things I Could Do (my absolute favourite).

February Haul

Ooops. For someone with a very limited amount of money I sure go shopping a lot. My reasoning was simple though I'm was starting a new job tomorrow so I thought I'd spend the money I hadn't yet earned (#girl-logic). The plan was to go to my nearest Mac counter in Fenwick's and buy a lipstick or eyeshadow pan with a voucher I got for Christmas. £40 later I left the city with absolutely no mac purchases but a whole lot of other stuff.

I popped into Superdrug first, I wanted a decent drugstore foundation and there was a buy one get one half price offer on all Rimmel products. Result!- Especially as Zoella has just posted a January Favourites and was raving about 25hr Lasting Finish. So of course I picked it up. I chose the shade 103 True Ivory and even though it was a very rushed swatch in store it seems pretty perfect. I also picked up a forever favourite the Rimmel Stay Matte liquid mousse foundation as I was running pretty low and sometimes you just want to cake your face in foundation. (I use the term 'cake' very loosely).

I also picked up the Makeup Revolution New-Trals vs Neutreals eyeshadow palette (which actually was on my February Wishlist- coming soon). I chose it because it seemed really unique and was reasonably priced at £7.99. Although at second glance it actually seems to have quite a few shades that appear in my Naked 3 palette and Stila Eyes are the Window Soul palette, so I might return it. I know it's only about £8 but it's £8 I can't really afford to spare on something I don't love and use.

Then I went to Lush (this was my real downfall- curse you limited edition lush collections so close together). I picked up the very lusted over Unicorn Horn and then got another one, because when else can I get crumbly multi-coloured lustre filled unicorn magic to put in my bath. And then I proceeded to smell the Yummy Mummy shower cream just to compare it to my other favourites (that are also limited edition) Rose Jam and Prince Charming and Oh. My. Word. it smells so fricken' good. It literally smells of bottled Lush Store. And I am it's new biggest fan. So I forked out the £9.75 for the medium sized bottle.

I then very quickly nipped into Primark before I got the bus home and picked up another pack of the copper hangers because they are just so darn pretty and the very essential nude coloured cami top.

Somehow the whole lot came to a whopping £40 but I just love everything so fricken' much. I mean look how lust-worthy everything looks all laid out.