Before Christmas I was treated to a lovely pampering session at Essentially For You where I  received semi permanent lashes. I've never had them before so I was keen to see the results. My eyelashes have always been short so I couldn't wait for some length and volume. 

Essentially for you is located in Llanishen village which is in North Cardiff. There is free parking outside (if you can get a space) or there is a free car park just around the corner, less than a 5 minute walk. 


My beauty therapist was Shelley who was friendly and professional. She explained everything perfectly. 

The treatment can take a while as each lash is placed on individually (it's extremely intricate) but I didn't notice how long it took as I was incredibly relaxed. I lay on the bed, closed my eyes and listened to the calming music. If I'm honest I almost nodded off, I was that comfortable. 


When Shelley showed me the finished result, I couldn't believe it. I'm almost too embarrassed to show you the before picture as I literally look like I have no lashes at all. I knew my lashes were short before but I didn't realise they were that short!! We went for a more natural look which was ideal. I adored them, so much so I couldn't stop looking at them in the mirror. 


They usually last around 2 weeks and then you can have infills if you require them. There's no need to wear mascara with them which I think is amazing although you can still wear it if you wish. 

Mine lasted about a week and a half which saw me through 2 Christmas parties which was great.

I'll definitely be going back to have them again. I would have had some infills sooner but with the chaos that Christmas brings, I have been too busy. I'd highly recommend Essentially For you as they offer a wide range of treatments in a quiet, relaxed setting, just what us busy mums need.


*I received this treatment free of charge, however all words, opinions and images are my own*



If there's one part of my body that I am extremely self conscious about then it's my double chin. As i'm getting older, it's getting worse. I used to only have one when I pushed my chin back but now I have one permanently that's not only visible from the side but the front of my face too. I hate it. It's the first thing I notice in photos. 

I'm like a yoyo when it comes to my weight but it seems even when i'm in my best shape, my saggy chin is still present. 

I was asked if I would like to try out the Chin Up Mask which is a non surgical way of reducing the appearance of a double chin. As you can imagine I jumped at the chance. I received a trial pack which contains everything you need for two treatments which is a tape measure, a band and 2 masks. 



The Chin Up Mask is designed to visibly improve the appearance of a double chin by up to 2cm in 30 minutes. It provides instant results by facilitating fat release and aids in the contouring process. It has a special Skintronics serum which helps to convert fat into stabilised fibrous tissue. It boosts the density of collagen and therefore increases cell tension to provide a lifting and firming effect. The mask also contains natural extracts from Acacia, Mint, Aloe, Grape, Olive, Apple and Citrus Fruits. I couldn't wait to try it.

The first thing you have to do is measure your chin from ear to ear. You measure across the front and underneath. I was 28cm around the front and 25 underneath. I think this is a great idea as this allows you to actually measure the results afterwards rather than just seeing a visual difference, so you know whether it has worked or not.

Next you apply the mask to your chin. Your skin needs to be clean and dry and without make up. Then, you wrap the belt around your neck and head and secure tightly. I must admit I found putting the belt on quite difficult so I asked hubby to help. I had it on the wrong way around to start with, but that's probably just from my dopiness and not reading the instructions properly. 


Once I had the belt in place my chin and neck started to feel very warm and tingly. I was quite alarmed at first but this is a sign that the mask is working. For a few minutes I wasn't sure whether i'd be able to wear the mask for the full length of the time as I felt like my neck was burning a lot but it eased down and I got used to the sensation. 

I was worried that I may have some redness or irritation when I removed everything because I have super sensitive skin but my skin looked absolutely fine. Instead of measuring the difference first, I decided to check the results in the mirror. I could instantly see a difference especially from front on. My skin certainly looked lifted and more youthful. I couldn't wait to see what the cm loss was.

Around my chin went from 28cm to 27.5cm and underneath went from 25 to under 24. Even though there's not a massive change in the actual results, i'm sure you can agree that there's a huge difference in my photos. My before photos make me look like I have a Turkey neck (so embarrassing). The difference from the side is amazing. 


Overall, i've been massively impressed with the Chin Up Mask. I was so skeptical about using it but i'm amazed at the results. They last for a few days on me so I would have to keep using it once a week i'd say to keep up the full effect. 


The trial set is currently on sale at £13.98 instead of £34.94 (price correct at time of publishing this post). You can then buy refills for future use. I don't think I could afford to use this regularly but I certainly will be using it for holiday's, night's out and special occasions. 


*I was sent the Chin Up Mask trial set in exchange for this blog review. All opinions are my own*







The Charlotte Tilbury brand is one which I lust after. From Charlotte's own reputation as an amazing make up artist to the products' beautiful packaging, you know the brand oozes quality. I recently received the Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Icons set which makes the perfect gift.


The set contains 5 of Charlotte Tilbury's most iconic and award winning products from her make up and skin care range and therefore makes it ideal for first timers of the brand or simply someone that can't get enough of the range. There are 3 make up products and 2 face creams. All are travel sized except a full sized lip liner.

Here's what's inside:



Lip Cheat Lip Liner - Pillow Talk
I've heard fab things about this lip liner so I couldn't wait to try it. It's safe to say it does not disappoint. The lip liner is designed to re-size and re-shape your lips and it does just that. It's the perfect nude colour for all skin types. I'll admit, when I first saw the colour, I didn't think it would suit my skin tone but it is a match made in heaven. 
It glides on easily and I can definitely see a difference in my lips when I use it. It makes them look fuller and more defined. I've actually been using it with just lip balm and gloss alone and it looks great. I really need to try the Pillow Talk lipstick now.

Full Fat Lashes Mascara 
This award winning mascara comes in a mini size and is designed to give you curl, separation, volume, length and drama. It has fine tipped bristles to catch every lash on application. 
I've been using it as a day mascara. It makes my lashes long and is great for separating them. I can't stand clumpy eyelashes and this mascara doesn't create that effect. It is as buildable as you like so you can make your lashes as thick and long as you wish which I will try for an evening look.

K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipstick - Penelope Pink
I must confess I was very disappointed with the size of this mini lipstick. It is tiny which is such a shame. The colour is a lovely nude with a slight pink undertone. It's very creamy and leaves may lips feeling hydrated and moisturised. 

Wonderglow Face Primer
I've loved using this primer. It certainly does give you a wonder glow. It leaves my skin more radiant and creates a dewy look. I have a couple of small wrinkles now (damn my age) and this is helping to smooth them out. I find when I use some primers and foundations they make my wrinkles stand out more which I am mortified with but this makes my skin look more youthful. I will definitely be buying this in the full size.

Charlotte's Magic Cream
Believe it or not, I'd first heard of this product from my nan. She swears by it and hasn't got a bad word to say about it. I couldn't wait to try it. It's one of Charlotte Tilbury's most coveted products and is adored backstage by celebrities and models.
It contains an anti-age BioNymph Peptide complex which stimulates collagen production whilst flighting free radicals. 
This cream really is what it says on the tin. It's magical. It feels luxurious when you're applying it and I can hear my skin screaming thank you. I do suffer with dry skin in certain areas but this cream is incredibly moisturising. I will be purchasing a full sized one once this is finished. 

This set comes in at £55 which may be off putting to some people. However, you can't put a price on quality and all of these products are great. It's been the ideal way for me to try the most loved Charlotte Tilbury items to decide whether I want to purchase the full sized ones. I am obsessed with the Lip Liner so i'll definitely be looking at the other colours avaiable and I can't wait to try some other shades in the lipstick. 



Have you used Charlotte Tilbury make up? Which products are your favourite?


Didn't October fly by! I bought a few new beauty products last month and I have a rather large Christmas list for Santa. There are so many fab products around at the moment. 

If you missed my faves from September then catch up here, Beauty Faves September.

Here are my beauty faves for October:

1) Too Faced Kabuki Brush

This has been without a doubt, my favourite beauty buy of last month. In fact, it's probably my fave beauty buy in a while. It is the most amazing brush ever. It is so soft.
It's cruelty free and vegan which is great. It can be used with liquids, creams and powders. It's designed to be used with pressed powders, loose powders and any cheek colour. However, my friend and local make up artist Ant Gorgeous suggested that I use it as a foundation brush and I've never looked back since. It is perfect for applying foundation and my skin has looked flawless since applying it with the Kabuki brush. The brush is retractable so I use it shorter for my whole face and longer for my neck. Get this on your Christmas wish-list asap. You won't regret it.







www.toofaced.com


2) Benefit Moisture Prep Toning Lotion

I've been using the same skincare products for years and whilst i've never had a problem with them, I thought i'd start to take it a bit more seriously. After all, my skin unfortunately isn't getting any younger. I cleanse, tone and moisturise every day but thought i'd start trying some new products in that routine.
I decided to try the Benefit Moisture Prep Toning Lotion which allows the skin to fully optimise the benefits of your moisturiser. It contains vitamin E acetate, meadowsweet, natural oat, a blend of aloe leaf and yeast extract and botanical extracts. 
Even though it comes out of the bottle and appears quite thick, it feels very lightweight on my skin. A small amount goes a long way. It's very cooling and refreshing to use so i'll be taking it with me when we head on holiday to sunny Australia next month. I find it very hydrating too. One of the best things about it is the smell. 



Image from www.benefit.com


3) Too Faced Hangover 3-in-1

Another Too Faced product has made the fave lists. This time it's their Hangover 3-in-1 primer and setting spray. I absolutely adore this and use it all the time. It's a coconut water infused mist which is designed to prime, set and finish your make up whilst keeping your skin hydrated. 
It's a fab product. I've been using it for all 3 things. I've found my make up can be applied smoother after using it as a primer. I love using it throughout the day as a spritz to keep my skin feeling refreshed. When I used it as a setting spray, it gives me a great glow and sets my make up for hours and hours.  I also quite often use it first thing in the morning to help my skin (aka me) wake up.





Image www.toofaced.com


4) Bobbi Brown Lip Colour in Soft Rose

This was actually the very first lipstick I ever bought and i've been using it ever since. I recently ran out so I bought a new one. I wear it for a day look during the winter months. It leaves my lips feeling soft and moisturised and the colour lasts well.



That's it for my favourites for October. I did buy other beauty products but I haven't been to impressed with those. I'll have to share them in a different blog post. 

Have you bought anything recently that you've loved?





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This week I attended the Lush Christmas blogger event at their Cardiff store. I have visited their shop since they moved to a larger unit but I hadn't visited their new spa so I was eager to attend to have a tour.


When I think of Lush, I automatically think of their bath bombs. Pre kids they are were all I used. I loved nothing more than relaxing in a bath and watching the colours swirl around me. However, now I have kids I very rarely get a peaceful bath so I hardly ever use them anymore. But, Lush sell a lot more than just bath bombs and I was gobsmacked at the amount of products they actually sell. 

The first thing I did at the event was grab my Snow Fairy inspired drink and head to their spa. 


The lift opened up into what can only be described as a British cottage/home. It wasn't what I imagined it to be like at all, but I was very pleasantly surprised and intrigued. It was very clear that this spa was truly unique. 


The consultation and relaxation rooms are like none I have encountered in a spa before. I felt as though I was in a home away from home. There were animated birds flying around the room and peaceful music and tones. I felt surprisingly calm and peaceful. The concept behind the spa is fantastic. The idea is for your mind and body to be one and to match your treatments etc depending on your mood. 


If you're a regular reader of my blog then you'll know i've suffered with postnatal depression (PND). I've been using mindfulness techniques to help cope with it so the idea behind the Lush spa really appealed to me. I love the idea of understanding your mind and body and I am desperate to revisit for an actual treatment.


All of the treatments sound amazing but the 3 that I would like to try are Tales of Bath, Karma and The Planets. Tales of Bath sounds like the perfect treatment for a busy mum like me. I'm always on the go with hardly any time to myself. You get a massage and a bath. A bath all to myself sounds incredible. What a treat that would be.


After my tour of the spa, I had a one on one chat with a lovely employee who showed me some of the skincare products they have. I tried various cleansers, toners, moisturisers, masks and eye make up removers. We also tried some of their make up.



We then headed around the shop to see all of the Christmas range. The Lush Christmas gift sets are always amazing. The packaging is fab and so eye catching. I've got my eye on 'season's greetings', 'snow fairy' and 'Rudy'.



There are some super cute bath bombs and bars in the range. 'Christmas sweater,' 'The Snowman' and 'The Magic of Christmas Wand' were my personal faves.


I was really impressed with their 'naked' range of products. These are versions of their popular products in a bar form and therefore without packaging. This is eco friendly and much better for the environment. I tried one of the naked body lotions and actually preferred the texture of it on my skin to the same equivalent in the bottle. 


It was then time to leave and I was gutted. I wanted to run up and hide in the spa for the night, haha. I decided to buy the 'Santa Baby' lip balm, 'Enchanted' eye cream, make up remover and a 'Rocket Science' bath bomb for my daughter. We were also given a lovely goody bag. All that's left to do is convince hubby to buy me a spa treatment asap if not i'll be asking Santa.




Now i've moved to a more lifestyle blog, I thought it's about time I start sharing more things about me and what I like etc. Every month you'll see a beauty favourites post from me. Now, i'm no make up queen or anything but I do love the stuff. I'm also rather addicted to toiletries (check my boots advantage card and you'll know what I mean). I'll also be filming this series over on you tube so I can talk about the products more than what i'm able to write here.







The first thing I have to say about this Body Butter is that it has the most incredible smell. It's fragranced with Soap and Glory's 'mist you madly' scent and I love it. The body butter works wonders on dry skin. I use it everyday but I find it's very good for when you return from a summer holiday and your skin is dehydrated. It's my favourite product in the Soap and Glory range.



 
I have no idea how i'd even function as a busy mum without dry shampoo. I use it all the time such as when i'm rushing around in the morning before the school run and I haven't got time to wash my hair etc. I keep one in my locker in work (I work in an operating theatre and I have to wear a hat all day, hat hair = nightmare) and I also carry a mini one in my handbag.  I am slightly obsessed with the stuff.



I actually bought this product after having my make up done in Florida earlier this year. I was instantly drawn to the smell and it felt incredibly light on my skin. I've been using it daily to brighten my complexion and i've also been using it as a make-up primer. 





Sanctuary Spa body washes have always been my favourite. This particular one is so uplifting to use in the morning. The fragrance is so fresh and it leaves your body feeling cleansed.



The Too Faced counter recently launched in Debenhams, Cardiff which I was really pleased about. I popped in for a makeover the week it opened and it is the prettiest, cutest counter in there. The packaging for Too Faced products has always been lovely but seeing them altogether was fab. 
I bought a few things which i'll probably be showing your more of next month. I've had a few events and nights out lately where I have wanted my eye make up to stay put so this product has been a life saver. You only need to use a tiny amount on your lid and it allows your eye shadow to stay on all day. 



I've been using the Liz Earle Hot Cloth Cleanser for a while now. I'd heard so many people talking about it that in the end I had to try it out for myself. I've never looked back. This particular one was a limited edition summer fragrance which smelt lovely. It had a real spa scent to it. 



I think this may be my favourite beauty buy of last month. I'd seen a lot about the new Victoria Beckham range and off I excitedly went into Cardiff to buy some, to find that you can only buy it online or in Selfridges in London. I must admit, I never buy make up online unless it is something I have used before and therefore I know the colour suits me etc.I was gutted.
However, a silver lining appeared when I attended a blogging event in London which was a fab excuse for trying out this range. I honestly could've bought so much of it. This highlighter in 'modern mercury' is from the 'Miami' collection. I tend to wear it over my bronzer to give me that glowing, tanned look. It illuminates my skin perfectly. I am obsessed with it.



I also bought this 'Victoria' lipstick which is a lot darker than what i'd normally wear but it looks great. It's got good pigment but I actually soften in slightly by using a gloss over the top.




The Urban Decay Palettes are literally the only palettes I currently use for my eye shadow. I have 3 but this new one is my favourite. When I fist saw the colours I honestly thought there's no way they will suit me but I can't get enough of it. It was the perfect palette to take on our summer holiday to Turkey. 




I bought this shampoo and conditioner from Boots, back in August when we went on holiday. I was instantly drawn to the packaging but when I opened the bottles up, the smell was incredible. It was hard to pick from the range but I knew that the heat in Turkey would dry out my hair so I chose the Shea Butter shampoo and conditioner. It contains coconut oil, macadamia oil and shea butter. You only need a small amount as it goes a long way. I've literally just run out of mine so I think I may try the coconut milk collection next.



What have been your beauty favourites lately? Pop over and watch my YouTube video to hear me talk more about the products.




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