First Impression: REN Skincare Hot Cloth Cleanser*

Yesterday I picked up InStyle as I fancied a read, to be honest the freebie caught my eye the most. A REN sample size Hot Cloth Cleanser and cloth. 

Even though I've only used this a few times, I'm impressed. I much prefer it to my current cleanser, and I'm almost tempted to have a little spend on REN. This cleanser doesn't upset my skin and removes my make-up (even eye make-up) and leaves me with lovely fresh feeling skin which isn't dry or tight. I don't feel like I need to immediately reach for my moisturiser after, which is a lovely feeling. It didn't aggravate the redness in my skin either, which is heaven sent. So done with redness, honestly. 

I am very impressed with this cleanser, and I may purchase a full size bottle. I recommend it already, I've even got my mum trying it. If you don't want to spend £16 before trying it, pick up an InStyle magazine whilst you can!

REN Hot Cloth Cleanser - £16, 150ml

Sleek Pout Polish - Electro Peach

Hello!

A few weeks ago I bought a couple of Sleek bits'n'bobs whilst Superdrug had a 3-for-2 offer on. I absolutely adore Sleek, and couldn't wait to try them as I'd read so many positive reviews.
This is actually my second attempt at a review, as I typed up a review on this a few days after I bought it, and let's say it was a little negative. 

After trying this out a few more times, I decided my first review was a little too harsh. I did feel disappointed at first, but now I think I have a little gem in my make-up bag and I'm happy enough with it. With some products it takes
me a while to "understand" them, if you know what I mean.

ABOUT
"Electro Peach is a coral tinted lip conditioning balm that nourishes whilst providing a subtle hint of colour and a natural sheen. Formulated with SPF 15 and natural oils such as almond oil, shea butter and vitamin E, keeping lips protected and moisture locked in." - Sleek
A fair and accurate description, I would say! These little buttery balms come in 9 different colours, one to suit everybody! I'm impressed with the fact they have included different tones of pinks too, to cater for all skin tones.

CONS
When I first bought this product, I was very disappointed. The first time I tried it, my lips literally ate it and the colour was gone within minutes. However, since using a brush to apply (and not my fingers), I think wear time has been improved slightly. It still doesn't last at all after eating or drinking, and does require a lot of touch-ups!
I probably wouldn't recommend the product if you wanted an easily reapplicated lip product, as with this it's either use your finger and have a stained finger, or carry a lip brush with you everywhere. I personally find lip brushes awkward "on the go" items.
The packaging also isn't your everyday lip product packaging. It's in a plastic case, very similar to Vaseline. If you're a person who prefers tubes for their lip products, again, this isn't for you.

PROS
The colour is absolutely beautiful, a lovely (and very pigmented) pink-peach. In the tin it looks almost a neon red-orange. It's just so pretty and summery, a perfect pop of colour.
It contains nourishing ingredients and SPF! I am always drawn to products that have nice natural ingredients. I always find they have the best moisturising properties! And SPF is always important, people.

Like I just mentioned, this product is very moisturising. My lips are very fussy when it comes to lip products, so it's a mega bonus that my lips like this.

Super creepy up-close lip shot!

THE BOTTOM LINE
I like it. I like it a lot. I would only recommend this if you don't have a problem with taking a lip brush around with you, as for me, that's the main thing. Reapplication is a bit of a pain. Ah, I'm so on the fence with this one as I really like the colour, moisturising properties... But I don't like the fact it's not easy when you're on-the-go.

Have you tried a Pout Polish, or reviewed one? I'd love to hear what you guys think of them!

SHOP THE POST
Sleek Pout Polish in Electro Peach - £4.49

My Current Skincare Routine - Morning & Night!

Hello!

Recently I've built up more of a skincare routine rather than just face wash and E45. I've decided to actually start using proper skincare products like cleanser and toner, and my skin is a lot happier and clearer than it has been for a while! Although right now, I do have a couple of spots as I had about 3 takeaways last week, oops! I really can't resist pizza or McDonald's. 

MORNING ROUTINE

The Products
Cleanser - Zuri Chapter Two Creme Cleanser
Toner - L'Oreal Velvety Toner
Moisturiser - E45

In the morning, I don't need to remove any excess make-up (unless I've accidentally fallen asleep with make-up on, yuck) so I just cleanse my skin to remove excess oils and to refresh my skin. If I'm honest, I'm not 100% about this cleanser. It seems to do the job and doesn't upset my skin but I really hate the texture of it, I will definitely be changing cleanser when I run out.
I then apply my toner with a cotton pad. Again, I'm not 100% on this toner, and I'm slightly disappointed seeing as it's by L'Oreal. I don't particularly like the texture and it seems to take forever to "dry". By "dry", I mean it kind of feels sticky on my skin until I apply moisturiser, which feels a bit weird to me.
Finally, I finish off by patting E45 all over my face. I absolutely adore E45 and I will continue using it probably forever.

EVENING ROUTINE

The Products
Face wipes - Superdrug Cleansing Facial Wipes
Cleanser - Zuri Chapter Two Creme Cleanser
Face wash - Clean & Clear Morning Energy Skin Brightening Scrub
Mask - Superdrug Hydrating Face Mask
Toner - L'Oreal Velvety Toner
Sudocrem
Coconut oil - Superdrug Coconut Oil

I start off by getting a face wipe and wiping off the first traces of make-up. Face wipes visibly remove make-up, however if you use a cleanser you can see it really doesn't do that good of a job in removing it! I like face wipes to get rid of more stubborn make-up, such as mascara and eyeliner.
I then cleanse, and wipe off the cleanser with a hot cloth.
When I'm in the shower, I like to use a gentle exfoliating face wash just to help buff off any dead skin cells. I find if I don't use a gentle exfoliator, my skins dry patches show up so much when applying make-up. I really like this face wash too as I really do think it brightens up my skin, I like using it on those mornings where I just haven't had enough sleep.

I use this face mask every 3 days. It's a moisturising face mask which just leaves my skin feeling super soft and lovely. It looks and feels a bit like a moisturiser, and not like a mask at all. I like to smooth it around my face and just leave it for around 10 minutes before wash it off with a hot cloth.

Again I tone with L'Oreal using a cotton pad!
After toning, I dab on a little bit of Sudocrem onto areas I feel need some treatment, such as spots or redder-than-usual patches.
I recently bought this tub of coconut oil from Superdrug and I love it so, so much. It smells beautiful, and a little goes a really long way. It completely softens up my skin and leaves it feeling gorgeous. 

SHOP THE POST
Superdrug Cleansing Facial Wipes - 99p - Superdrug
Zuri Chapter Two Creme Cleanser - £2.99 - Fragrance Direct
Clean & Clean Morning Energy Skin Brightening Scrub - £3.99 - Superdrug
Superdrug Hydrating Face Mask - £2.59 - Superdrug
L'Oreal Velvety Toner - £2.50 - Fragrance Direct
Superdrug Coconut Oil - £2.29 - Superdrug
E45 - £4.39 - Superdrug

Sudocrem - £2.55 - Superdrug

Why I've Been Absent...

Hello!

So if you follow me you'll notice I've barely been posting. I promise I haven't just gone AWOL for the sake of it, I've been having a bit of a tough time at the moment. I thought I'd right a little post on it, not just to make myself feel better about not blogging but also just give you a little info on why I've not been posting. 

I've been finding the last few weeks, or since I recovered from tonsillitis really, that my life has been a lot more stressful. From that illness, I missed a lot of college, time that I really needed to get my work finished. Last Wednesday I had my final deadline at college, and missed it. I just felt so stressed and pressured about the whole day, especially as I knew some of my work wasn't up to standard, I ended up having a panic attack and just not really feeling okay to leave the house. I do suffer with anxiety, I'll do a post on that sometime in the future.

As well as college playing on my mind, I'm also mega stressed about my future. To cut a long story short, I'm a bit of a failure. I completely messed up my GCSE's (I only have 2, maths and English) and I'm very confused as to what I want to do with my life. I've never known what I've wanted, and I chop and change all the time.
Now I'm finishing college for the final time, I need to find a job. Except there seems to be nothing suitable for me that's full-time. 

It doesn't sound like a lot when writing about it, but it's really been getting me down recently and it's kind of made me really unmotivated to blog. I have ideas, just not the "energy" to write them.

In better news, however, I have applied for an apprenticeship and I've applied for a couple more full-time jobs, which is making me feel a little better! 

After Friday, I have the next 2 weeks to do nothing at all really so I'm determined to get my blogging sparkle back again.

So I'd like to apologise for being a bad blogger, and I hope to speak to more of you again very soon!

A Pricey Wishlist

Hello!

I usually have a shopping list of general items or cheaper things, such as skincare or a new top for example. However I've had a separate wishlist for a while now that I thought I'd share! It's coloured black in my notes, mainly because if I buy any of things on it I'd be living off nothing but 11p instant noodles for the next month! However, I am saving up for these items - some of them I've been wanting for years! A couple of things on here won't cost me too much, but are on this list anyway :)

NARS - in my wishlist I've listed this as "item of NARS" mainly because when I do finally make my first purchase, I'll probably want something different to what I've written down! Right now though, I'd love the lip gloss in Orgasm, which is described as a "peachy pink with shimmer". I've had my eye on it for so long now! Such a cheeky name too, haha!

MAC - again, my first purchase from MAC could be totally different from what I want now, so is also listed as "item of MAC". Right now, I would definitely go for a lipstick. What could be better than owning one of those little iconic bullets? I would probably go for Morange, as I'm loving orange lipsticks right now! 

Mulberry - my love for Mulberry first stemmed from when I read Marie Claire on a plane around 4 years ago. There was a big advertisement, showing off the Alexa satchel. I really, really wanted the Alexa satchel (obviously as a 14 year old that was never going to happen) and since then I've moved on from my love for the Alexa and placed it onto the Bayswater Tote. I would absolutely adore to have this bag, although the price is c-razy! I would also get a purse to go with it, my personal choice would be the Daria French Purse! 

Sandals - being totally in love with this type of shoe really isn't helping me save towards my driving test. I'm so obsessed with this style, and I'm not really sure why! I've been hunting for a while for some really love evening shoes, I found some pretty good contenders in New Look, however having a designer pair would be lovely for special occasions. These Jasper Conran sandals are gorgeous, I adore the gold detailing on the toe area! Such a decent price (and currently on sale too), I may treat myself this coming payday!

Dress - I've wanted a mid-length bodycon dress for so long, and I think looks so gorgeous! I love the cut-out at the front, anything cut-out or mesh I'm all over recently. This isn't too pricey as it's from ASOS, but it's still over my usual budget hence why it's on this wishlist! I love bodycon dresses on me as I have a curvy figure, I can't get enough of them at the moment. Although with bodycons, I do find it important for the material to be fairly thick so it doesn't cling in the wrong places!

Gucci Guilty - I made the mistake of not buying this with my birthday money, and now I can't afford it! When I tried this on in Boots I just thought it had such a beautiful fragrance, and really suited me. I struggle with perfumes as I'm quite fussy, however this is just perfect. I can't wait to buy this and pop it onto my dresser, it will be a staple perfume! 

NARS Lip Gloss in Orgasm - £18.50
MAC Lipstick in Morange - £15

Mulberry Bayswater Double Zip Tote - £1500
Daria French Purse - £275
Jasper Conran Sandals - £59 (currently in sale for £41.30!)

ASOS Pencil Dress - £48

Gucci Guilty - £45

So there's my pricey wishlist! A lot of items I will be buying very soon, however some items (I'm looking at you, Mulberry) will have to wait a very long time indeed. Ah, handbag dreaming!

What's on your pricey wishlist?