Benefit are mostly known for their quirky and cutesy makeup, but every now and again they dip into skincare and bath/body products. Lipscription has been around for awhile now and for some reason I’ve never bothered to try it. I think I thought it might be a bit gimmicky but not actually deliver any real results. The set contains a lip scrub and a lip balm to use together.

The Buffing Lip Beads (top) are suspended in an unscented cream with a texture not dissimilar to toothpaste. If you’ve been sitting on the fence about using lip scrubs then you should find this easy to use as it isn’t oily. The buffing beads actually do a pretty good job yet they are gentle enough not to scratch your lips. Benefit recommends you use this 2-3 times a week.

Silky Lip Balm (bottom) this is very smooth and not creamy like other lip balms. It is unscented and lasts on the lips for a long time. The balm works well when you use the lip scrub beforehand, but it can also be used on its own.

The scrub and balm should last a long time as you don’t need much to get the ‘benefit’ from either product. If you suffer from constant dry lips I think this set would be worth the investment. It would also make a cute gift for someone who is a bit clueless about lip care!

This is available from Boots and Lookfantastic!

When I was a child we used to have these pink soaps in the bathroom in the shape of rosettes. We were never allowed to use them as they were only for decoration. We had to use the boring old pump soap instead. My dad, however broke ranks one day and used a handful of the rosettes to wash his hands as we had run out of the pump stuff. My mum knew someone had used them as they were congealed in the soap dish and no longer resembled the perfect little flower buds. After that my mum never bought decorative soap again.

I’ve never understood the not using something because it’s too pretty/expensive/save it for best theory. If you buy something it’s meant to be used, if someone gives you something as a gift that has a function i.e. soap, china, or whatever – use it! I would guess these tinned Scottish Fine Soaps undoubtedly fall victim to the ‘too pretty use scenario’ but I was glad to rip them open and start using them.

Rose – I chose this in honour of Hyacinth Bucket, it looks like something she would have in her bathroom but you wouldn’t be allowed to touch it. I used this in the shower and it has a lovely lather and smells very pretty.

Oatmeal – James brought this one to my attention and I used it on my face for several days running, it seems to work well with my greasy skin. It also has lovely bits of oatmeal for exfoliation. I don’t know if it’s meant to be used on your face but it worked for me.

Seaweed – This smells similar to Molton Brown Seamoss Shower Gel. It also has lovely scrubby bits of loofah for exfoliation.

All of the triple milled soaps made my body and face feel lovely and clean. These are perfect for summer to get rid of the dirt and grime after being at work all day in a stuffy office. Other scents in the tinned soap range include Jasmine, White Lily, Lavender, Heather, and Bluebell. They are also coming out with new ones for the summer which I will be purchasing!

These are available at Scottish Fine Soaps!

I usually avoid body lotions in the summer. When the weather is hot and sticky it’s the last thing I want to put on especially after I’ve just had a nice cool shower. If you make a habit of using a good body scrub on a regular basis during the summer you shouldn’t need any lotion unless you have extremely dry skin all year round.

This body lotion is really light, sinks in really well, and isn’t expensive. What I didn’t like is getting the mica particles all over my hands. To avoid getting mica onto your clothes you need to wipe your hands straight after you apply it. It’s not dissimilar to using body glitter products. If you like a bit of shimmer on your decolletage, shoulders, and arms then this could work for you. The mica particles didn’t make much of a difference to my pale skin as you can see here.

This would definitely look better on naturally darker black and asian skins as they would reflect the mica particles better. So all in all not really great for me. However all is not lost, I gave this to my friend Claire and she loves it so it has gone to a good home!

This is available at Lookfantastic and Boots!

According to St. Ives their Apricot Facial Scrub is the best selling scrub in the UK. I’m not surprised, I’m sure it’s graced the bathrooms of more than a few teenagers over the years. This is from St. Ives Elements skincare range that came out last year.

I think the heat from a warming mineral products can be quite comforting which is the reason I wanted to try this out. The scrub is quite thick so you really have to squeeze the tube to get it out. I couldn’t place the scent of this at first, it reminded me of blackberry and apple cordial. After using it for several days running I decided it smelled more like sugary strawberries. I used this in shower and made the mistake of rubbing it in my hand before I put it on my face. The heat doesn’t last very long so by the time I got it on my face there wasn’t any warmth. I’ve realised the best way to use this scrub is to just squeeze it in my hand and slap it on my face straight away instead of mixing it around first.

This is a very gentle scrub so it won’t scratch your face and the scrub grains disintegrate into a creamy white paste. It does rinse well but I always like to use toner when I’ve put something creamy on my face to get clean up any residue. I think this scrub is okay for normal/oily skin types but I don’t think you will notice a huge difference to your complexion unless you use it several times a week. I wasn’t impressed with this at first but it grew on me the more I used it. My only complaint is that I wish the heat would last longer.

This is available at Superdrug!

I was introduced to this New Zealand brand by Karen, the lovely proprietor of Pimlico natural and organic skincare boutique Appuru. I had never heard of Antipodes before and she explained the philosophy behind the range and the different products they do. I told her I was looking for a good night cream (not one that says that it will make me look 17 again). I just wanted something to repair and nurture my skin while I get my beauty sleep. I also told her I suffered from redness and irritation so she suggested the Avocado Pear Nourishing Night Cream which contains 100% Avocado pear oil and vitamins E, A, B1, B2, C and D.

This smells amazing, the sandalwood scent envelopes your face like a warm flannel. I put too much cream on the first few times I tried it because I always go overboard. All you really need is a little dab of cream on your cheeks and forehead to get plenty of coverage. I love putting it on at night as the cream sinks right in and I can smell my face until I fall asleep. I didn’t expect to see such quick results but after using it for three nights in a row I noticed a change in my skin. It definitely looked smoother and less blotchy the next morning. Over the few weeks I’ve used the cream I’ve see a continual improvement in my skin tone and texture. I actually now enjoy looking in the bathroom mirror first thing in the morning to see how well my skin looks. I also can’t believe how quickly it has calmed down my redness. It’s great to find something that actually makes an improvement in my skin without ridiculous promises and false hopes.

I’m so happy that I found Appuru and grateful to Karen for introducing me to Antipodes. Appuru is a lovely little skincare boutique in SW1 owned and operated by Karen and her family. They really care about their customers and want everyone to leave happy with their purchases. I observed Karen helping other customers and she has a lot of repeat business. It’s rare to find such enthusiasm at beauty counters nowadays as staff are driven by sales and not by expertise or care, which is why I avoid them for the most part. If you live in London please give her shop a visit at Appuru, 43 Moreton Street, London, SW1V 2N. I’m sure Karen will be more than happy help you with your skincare needs.

In the same vein that my fellow beauty bloggers eagerly await the next big makeup collection with baited breath, I too start pacing the floor when I hear that my favourite beauty brand is launching a new range. I immediately begin to stalk the staff at House of Fraser and the Molton Brown boutique in Nottingham for information. I acted no differently when I was told about the latest shower gel, Paradisiac Pink Pepperpod. Unlike other cosmetic companies, Molton Brown do not release a new product every five minutes, so when they do launch a new range, it’s worth getting excited about.

This contains pink pepper from Reunion island, African ginger and patchouli. I guess you could look at Paradisiac Pink Pepperpod as the female counterpart to their extremely successful Re-charge Black Pepper Body Wash. However, lets get one thing clear; this  isn’t a super girly sweet scented shower gel disguised in pink. This scent is subtler than the Re-charge Blake Pepper but still has a bite to it. If Re-charge Black Pepper is manly, confident Danny Zuko from Grease, then Paradisiac Pink Pepperpod would be all woman with attitude, à la Betty Rizzo. As with all of their shower gels this cleanses, nourishes, and protects your skin. If you have never tried Molton Brown, this would be a great place to start. I think this is a fantastic everyday shower gel that will be in my regular rotation! This will be available in Molton Brown stores and concessions from September.

As you probably already know Cath Kidston makes some fabulous bags, shoppers, totes, and purses in her trademark shabby chic rose prints. I have one of her purses and I always get compliments on it when I’m paying at the tills. She also does an extensive housewares range as well as bath and body items. I wanted to give her Rose Shower Gel a try because I always seem to choose the same type of fragrances like chocolate, citrus, or any other food type smells when I buy shower gel. It’s rare that I choose something really girly but I was having a moment.

This shower gel looks great in the bathroom and evokes feelings of having afternoon tea in the garden of a lovely thatched cottage. I’m sure Cath Kidston does this on a regular basis. It doesn’t quite work in my terrace in Nottingham but I can pretend. Surprisingly the scent for this was quite refined and delicate. I was expecting it to be really perfumy and a bit cheap! That’s horrible to say but you never know with these lifestyle brands. The gel lathers really well, and softens your skin. I was also surprised how long the scent lingered afterwards. It’s not a fragrance that I would wear all the time but if you use other rose scented products then you’ll love this. The most important thing is that it doesn’t make you smell like an old lady. This would also make a lovely scented bubble bath if you are into that sort of thing. Cath Kidston has an extensive range of Bath and Body products including body lotion, shower gel, lip balm, various lovely soaps, hand cream, and hand washes. There is also a cute baby range too!

Available at Cath Kidston online!

This is available from Cambree!

I bought this as I love the Vintage Sister lip balms and I thought it looked like sweet as well as being useful. This is a lotion stick for rough dry bits like elbows, knees, heels etc. I got the ‘Pretty in Pink’ scent which is Blackberry Sage. It looks like a giant tube of lip balm. Unfortunately this doesn’t seem to do much. It smells wonderful, pops nicely in my handbag, and goes on really easy but I don’t think the formulation is thick enough to make a difference to really dry skin. It is a shame as it’s really cute. You can’t even use it as a lip balm (believe me I tried). However it does work fairly well as a perfume stick. You need to re-apply it during the day but does leave your skin nicely scented. At least I can find a use for it. Elbow Grease also comes in tins and other scents: Nut-n-Honey, Caribbean Queen, Ms. Freelove, Voodoo Chile, and Wango Tango.

Remember when Biore strips came out in the mid to late nineties? I remember jumping for joy at the thought of pulling out all the blackheads and gunk from my nose. Have you seen the price of Biore strips lately? Good Golly Miss Molly they ain’t cheap! On my recent trip to Superdrug I couldn’t believe when I saw £7.95 for 6 strips staring back at me. I eyed the Superdrug own brand ones and decided to give them a go. They were on offer 2 packs for £4, with 5 strips per pack. These are normally £3.99 per pack. Just in case you didn’t know, if you aren’t 100% happy with Superdrug own brand products you can return them, get a full refund and 25% off your next Superdrug own brand purchase.

These are easy to get out of the pack and the bit that goes over your nose has slits so you can manoeuvre it around most nose shapes. James was annoying me so I made him do a strip and I accidentally put his strip on upside down! You need to make sure your nose is wet or else it won’t stick properly. The first time I used Biore nose strips I ended up wasting about three of them as I couldn’t get the hang of it. There is a faint smell of tea tree on the strips, but it makes it smell more like a medical plaster. You need to leave the strips on for 10-12 minutes before you get to satisfyingly rip them off your face.

James and I were impressed with these. We both got good results (lots of gunk) so it really is difficult to see how the Biore can justify the price of theirs. I would definitely recommend these as a cheaper, just as good alternative!

These are available at Superdrug!

These are available at Boots!

Alice Sweet Alice – we are so excited about your facial wipes!  James grabbed them out of my Boots bag so he could use them first and he came upstairs waxing lyrical about how wonderful they are. These refresh, revive and removed all traces of my makeup after a particularly gruelling day. The pack contains 25 wipes, which are bigger and thicker than other facial wipes and quite strong with gorgeous summer berry scent. If you have children these would be brilliant to keep in your bag for days out when the little ones get messy. They are also essential for summer festivals, camping, picnics, or any place where you need a quick wash or cleanup. They are biodegradable too. So now I’m just waiting for a Good Things bath and body range (taps foot expectantly)!