Laser hair removal - Is it worth it?

Alongside getting my eyes lasered, I have also been undergoing laser hair removal over the last couple of months (I haven't won the lottery I promise). After suffering from ingrowing hairs for many years, I decided enough was enough; it was time to eliminate those hairs forever. Not only do I have fairly dark skin, I also have coarse dark hairs (I take after my dad), and had previously tried everything; from waxing to epilating, to hair removal cream, before taking the plunge and opting for permanent hair removal. 

I am now on my last session (out of a total six), and I can honestly say - I wish I had done it sooner. I think the main reason why it took me so long to decide to go ahead with the procedure was because of the hefty price tag often attached to so many of the big names in the laser hair removal industry. However, after speaking with a former colleague of mine, I was reunited with the marvels of Groupon. I love a good bargain, and couldn't believe how cheap some of the offers were on here. In the end, I booked a six course treatment for little under £100 at Miss Couture in the Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham (which is amazing if you compare this to the likes of the Harley Medical Group or Sk:n). I didn't expect luxury and must admit, I was quite apprehensive on my first visit, but I can assure you; the end result is just as good as any other. The clinic itself was just like any other beauty parlour, and offered a whole host of treatments including botox, waxing, facials and so forth. The staff are extremely friendly and instantly put any doubts to the back of my mind. 

The treatment itself takes five to sixty minutes (depending on what area you are treating) and overall is fairly painless. Obliviously there are various discloser forms to sign beforehand and precautions you have to take, but apart from that, it is similar to going for a wax. Since attending Miss Couture laser clinic, I have noticed a significant difference as the weeks have progressed. The hair is almost non existent and ingrowing hairs are now longer a concern for me. If you are reading this and want to find out more, then why not have a look for yourself. The website has just been revamped and offers courses from as little as £300. Click here to find out more.

Have you ever had laser hair removal? What are your thoughts on the procedure?

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Mac powder review

So last time I was in Nottingham visiting my friends I picked up this little beauty with my Mac gift card which I had left over from my birthday back in April. There isn't a Mac store near me so I always have to pay it a visit if I am in Nottingham - it would be rude not to.

This apparently is Mac's latest product - skin finish powder which is used as a setting notion over your foundation. Now I did originally plan on buying the studio fix powder foundation, something my good friend uses and recommended. However after speaking with one of the in-store consultants she recommended I try this product instead for a flawless finish. Unlike the studio fix powder foundation, this product is solely for finishing purposes and therefore less likely to clog up your pores I imagine. I was a bit hesitant at first to part with my gift card and an extra £3 as I was looking to build extra coverage but I thought it would be nice to try something new on the market for a change.

I must say I am rather disappointed with this product. Unlike my previous powder by Rimmel, you can't really tell you have got it on and my skin has been rather oily lately which is unusual. I definitely don't think its worth the money as I cannot tell the difference between this and my drug-store Rimmel powder which I have been using for as long as I can remember. I must say I am not a huge fan of expensive make-up, let alone powders. As long as the powder does the job and sets your foundation, who cares about the price tag. However, I must admit it was nice to spend that extra bit of money in turn for a better quality product and finish, or so I thought anyway. I was also getting pretty annoyed at the fact that my Rimmel powder kept smashing in my handbag as it reached the end of its days...

This powder may be light to the skin and add a nice sheen to the face but in terms of setting your foundation, I don't think it does a great job at all and I often find myself reapplying this throughout the day. I won't be purchasing this product again.

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Sanctuary Spa | Bath Time Has Never Felt So Good

Following on from my previous blog post, in this post I will again be talking about bath products as winter isn't quite over yet and lets face it who doesn't love a good bath? A time to relax, put your feet up and let all your worries float away. I love a good soak and when I say a good soak, I literally mean an hour or five…

Now I understand that many of you will have your own ways of relaxing during bath time whether this is by using candles, soft music or just some of your own favourite bath time products. Today I will be sharing with you another one of my favourite beauty products used especially for that special time, this being Sanctuary Spa products. I'm sure many of you have heard of this brand, you can purchase their products in many leading department stores including Boots and Debenhams. I first got my hands on one of their lovely gift sets two Christmases ago and what a pleasant surprise it was. Not only are these products kind to the skin but they are also very indulgent (the name really says it all really). 'Take time for yourself' is a phrase used on all Sanctuary Spa products and this is exactly what we ladies need to be doing more!

Providing that Spa experience in the luxury of your own home, these prestigious products may seem a little overpriced at first but until you have tried them for yourself, don't be so quick to judge. I am now going to talk you through just a couple of the Sanctuary Spa products I own and love.

First off is this beautiful Body Butter which is priced at £9.20 and made from cocoa butter, shea butter, sweet almonds and of course that all important Vitamin E. This cream not only smells lovely, it gives your skin that extra needed moisturised boost. I tend to use this product mainly on dry areas including my elbows and the heels of my feet as I feel it is too good to use as an all over body moisturiser. Its non greasy formula sinks right into your skin giving your skin long lasting protection all day long. I think this is a gorgeous product and certainly one of my favourites from the Sanctuary Spa collection. 

Second on my list is this Luxury Bath Float which smells absolutely divine! Its oriental fragrance will turn your bathroom into the ultimate relaxing retreat I assure you. Pour a small amount under the running hot tap and watch your bath fill will tons of luscious bubbles. Again enriched with Vitamin E this product leaves your skin feeling refreshed and nourished. I don't think you are able to purchase this product alone, however it does come in the Ultimate Body Revival gift set which a dear friend of mine bought for me when introducing me to these products. This gift set is priced at £20 and is well worth checking out if you want to try a collection of Sanctuary's pampering treats.

Next up we have the Sanctuary Spa Body Wash at £5.10 which of course also smells divine. Its a very fragrant product infused with essential oils and capsules of sesame oils and jojaba which help to exfoliate your skin leaving it feeling silky smooth and uplifted. I am a big lover of any product that helps to exfoliate the skin when achieving that flawless glowing look. This product therefore is a winner in my eyes and one I would definitely purchase time and time again as a day to day cleanser.

Finally we have the Sanctuary Spa Body Lotion which is priced at £5.50. This is a light moisturising body lotion which is made from ginger, jojoba and other sweet spices. A thick creamy product which leaves your skin feeling energised and warm, this is a great all round moisturiser that completes any spa day. Said to last 24 hours, this isn't a moisturiser I particularly would use as part of my skin regime, however it is very pleasant and delicate to the skin.

L.A

xox

Oh So Lush | Lush Cosmetics

Okay so it is fair to say I have been missing out for the past god knows how long as I have only recently discovered how amazing the Lush cosmetics range is, and oh how my world has been turned upside down! I cannot get enough of these products and am constantly reading other bloggers posts and watching YouTube videos on which ones are your favourites. 

As you can imagine I am extremely excited to be sharing with you all my first Lush blog post (I am sure there will be many more to come). For those of you who know me and read my posts, you will be aware that I am a big lover of natural products due to my sensitive skin. When I first heard about Lush I must say I was put off by the smells and extremity of colours as I passed by one of their stores in Birmingham city centre. However after doing a lot of research into the brand, I was surprised to find that all the products are handmade and use fresh ingredients including fruit and vegetables which is locally sourced and bought into the different stores each day. With little preservatives and little packaging these products ooze ethical goodness and are right up my street that’s for sure! There is even a little note on each product to say when it was made and who by. I love this finishing touch as it really allows you to connect with the brand on a personal note. From the moment you step into one of their stories you are able to recognise that those who work for Lush really put a lot of love and care into their products. 

So the first product that I am going to be reviewing today is this Blooming Beautiful gift set bought for me by my lovely friend at Christmas. Now I have only just got round to using this but what a lovely gift it is. The first thing that struck me was the beautiful packaging it was wrapped in. In fact each of the gifts available at Lush are wrapped in some really funky paper, the only problem being with this is that it looks too nice for you to want to rip it open! 

At £7.95 I think this is definitely a well priced gift as it contains two different bath bombs. The first one, Think Pink is said to be like ‘giving a hug’ as it is filled with paper confetti hearts which you will see start to appear in your bath once it starts to dissolve. I think this is such a lovely idea and will definitely lift your mood during any bath time. I love the colour of this product, anything pink related is a winner in my eyes. 

Pop in the Bath which is also floral is said to ‘transport you to a citrus grove’. This smells divine and even though this one doesn't make my bath pink like Think Pink, I cannot wait to lather myself in the mountains of bubbles.

The second product I will be reviewing today is called Shimmy Shimmy which was bought for me by my other half as a Valentine’s gift. This massage bar which is made from Fair Trade shea and cocoa butters is said to ‘make nights out sparkle’ or I'm sure nights in! May I add here that I love the little messages that come with each Lush product, they’re so cute and again add that personal touch to the products. Now there is a whole range of massage bars available at Lush of which I cannot wait to try. This one in particular is the glitter bar as it makes your skin shimmer (think twilight), a perfect treat for me as one of my favourite things to have visually is glowing skin. Yes I love to sparkle! You can use this a few times but remember once it comes into contact with your skin, it does start to dissolve so keep it somewhere safe. Not only did my skin look great after using this, it felt so clean and super soft too. Now I didn't manage to get a picture of this one before it was used so I grabbed this one of the Lush website just to show you what it looks like if you were interested in buying it (below).

So two different products here but both of which I was very impressed with. I have recently purchased a golden egg bath bomb and a madame butterfly for my mother so I will see what these are like when she uses them!

L.A

xox