2020 | As Told By Kirsty

Cute Gift Ideas For Cat Lovers From Kitty Cats Joy! *

in cat, cats, gifting, gifts, lifestyle, by Kirsty Milward, 14.7.20

-This post is in collaboration with Kitty Cats Joy-

You might have noticed from the Instagram stories of my cats just chilling around the house and the array of cat-related homeware bits I have in my blog photos, I'm a bit of a crazy cat lady. I do like dogs too (just as an FYI) but I've always grown up with at least one cat in my life and I've never owned a dog. So when Kitty Cats Joy got in touch to tell me about their small art and gift business and what they have to offer, I couldn't say no to working with them.

A Review of Parisian Brand Typology

in beauty, Parisian, skincare, typology, typology skincare, by Kirsty Milward, 13.7.20

-If a product is marked with an * then it was PR/Gifted to me. This post contains no sponsored content-

New to the UK, Typology was created by the founder of MADE.com and they provide natural, vegan, cruelty-free products that have been stripped back to basics and don't contain any harsh, suspect chemicals. All of the extracts in their products have been sourced from sustainable farms and are extracted in a gentle way. They offer skincare, bodycare and even Eaux De Parfum! The packaging is simple but still eye-catching, it definitely gives me apothecary vibes. All of their products and packaging is recyclable and they either use glass, recyclable plastic or aluminium. They also have an ingredient blacklist which contains 15 ingredients that you'll never find in their products and an explanation of why. They also make sure to keep their containers flat which means smaller packages that fit inside your mailbox leave a lower carbon footprint.

A Review Of Naturopathica's CBD+ Wellbeing Capsules

in cbd, cbd capsules, lifestyle, by Kirsty Milward, 12.7.20

-If a product is marked with a * then it was PR/Gifted to me. This post contains no sponsored content-

Naturopathica are a CBD brand that I am already familiar with as I buy their lozenges regularly as they're super handy to pop in your bag when you're out and about and help both my chronic pain and anxiety. They now have a range of different CBD+ capsules to try. There's Mind, Unwind, Night, Tumeric, Digestion and Wellbeing to choose from. I decided to choose Wellbeing* to try because they claim the capsules help to support the immune system as the capsules contain 5mg CBD, Vitamin A, B1, C, D2, B12 and E. Each bottle is priced at £39.99* and you get 30 capsules per bottle and take one per day. Here is how I got on with using them...

AD | My Summer Skincare Routine In Collaboration With Boots *

in beauty, boots, skin routine, skincare, summer skincare, by Kirsty Milward, 9.7.20

-This post is an advertisement feature with Boots UK but all thoughts are my own-

Making sure we look after our skin throughout the year is a must no matter what age we are or what skin conditions we may have. In today’s post, I’m talking all about my Summer skincare routine and the best skincare products that work for my oily/combination skin. I'm going to be showing you how I do my full skincare routine when I'm having a self-care pamper session. Some of the products I’m using this summer have been faves for a number of years and some of the products are fairly new in my routine.

8 Ways To Improve Your Blog

in blogging, lifestyle, by Kirsty Milward, 6.7.20

I really enjoyed writing my post about how to increase your DA score a few weeks ago, so I'm back with another blog post about all things blogging. In this post, I'm talking about some ways you can improve your blog and I'm hoping this post will be helpful, especially to any bloggers who are new and still getting to grips with running a blog and how it all works.

Is Tropic Skincare's Clear Skies Cleansing Powder Worth Buying?

in beauty, clear skies, clear skies cleansing powder review, tropic, tropic skincare, by Kirsty Milward, 5.7.20

-If a product is marked with an * then it was PR/Gifted to me. This post contains no sponsored content-

When I saw that Tropic were releasing a new cleanser, specifically for combination, oily and blemish-prone skin, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it and give it a try! I already know that Tropic's skin clearing products work a treat on my skin, I love the Pure Lagoon Blemish Prevention Serum* and I also think the Clear Skin Blemish Fighting Mask* is great at calming down angry spots and also getting under the skin spots to come out. I was very kindly sent a lovely unexpected PR package at the beginning of the lockdown full of Tropic products, some of which I've tried before and some of which I hadn't. But I was really excited to see the new Clear Skies Cleansing Powder* inside the package as I was planning on buying it once I'd be paid anyway.

Let Your Hair Know How Sorry You Are With Lee Stafford's Hair Apology Range

in beauty, hair, hair care, lee stafford, lee stafford hair apology, by Kirsty Milward, 2.7.20

-If a product is marked with * then it was PR/Gifted to me. This post contains no sponsored content-

Lee Stafford's latest range Hair Apology has been created to deeply nourish and repair damaged, overprocessed hair. My hair is definitely in need of some TLC right now, I've also recently noticed that I've got quite a lot of breakage from when I've been having my hair up in a messy bun (which is most of the time) which isn't ideal. Obviously, there's not a lot I can do about that apart from wearing my hair in a different way but I thought the Hair Apology range might help to repair and smooth those areas. There's an array of products in the range to choose from Shampoo, Conditioner, a 10-in-1 Leave-in Treatment Spray, Power Shots Capsules and a 4-pack of Intensive Care Masks. I was kindly sent the whole range to try out and I thought it was about time to let you know my verdict.

Impact Of Prolonged Slot Gaming *

in gaming, lifestyle, by Kirsty Milward, 2.7.20

-This post is in collaboration-

As with most things in life, it’s not what you’re doing that’s bad for you, it’s how much you’re doing it. Eating sugary foods isn’t bad for you if you only do it once in a while; if you do it every day that’s a different story. Skipping your exercise every now and then is fine; never exercising at all can lead to problems. And when it comes to slot gaming at Thorslots.com, playing when you want to for a short while is fine (it’s actually a great hobby to have), but playing all day every day is not a good idea. If you play slots for prolonged periods of time you can suffer negatively.

How To Protect Your Skin From Premature Ageing *

in beauty, skincare, by Kirsty Milward, 1.7.20

-This post is in collaboration-

Try as we might, we can’t stop our skin from ageing but we can be smart about how we treat and protect it, so it retains it’s youthful look as long as possible. There are many factors that affect how our skin looks and ages. These can be genetic or environmental. While there’s not much you can do about genetics except hope that you’ve inherited good skin, there are other factors you can control through lifestyle choices and products.

7 Tips For Better Sleep *

in lifestyle, sleep, sleeping, by Kirsty Milward, 30.6.20

A pug dog wrapped in a blanket

-This post is in collaboration-

For many of us, there is nothing more comforting than to know you can look forward to a pleasant and relaxing sleep in the evening. Whether you are working hard in the week or adventuring over the weekend, the thought of sleeping that night is an exciting one for those who love their home comforts.

Trying CBD Patches For The First Time... Are They As Effective As CBD Oil?

in anxiety, cbd, cbd patches, chronic back pain, chronic pain, chronic pelvic pain, endometriosis, lifestyle, by Kirsty Milward, 23.6.20

-If a product is marked with an * then it was PR/Gifted to me. This post contains no sponsored content-

In today's post I'm talking about CBD again but in a whole different form to what I'm used to using. Over the past couple of weeks, I've been testing out Budslife CBD Patches*. Each of their patches contains 16.7mg of CBD and 0.001 mg THC and slowly release CBD into your bloodstream for up to 8-10 hours. Here's more about how I got on with using them...

What's Inside June's Roccabox?

in beauty, beauty box, roccababe, roccabox, subscription box, by Kirsty Milward, 19.6.20

-If a product is marked with an * then it was PR/Gifted to me. This post contains no sponsored content-

June's Roccabox is all about being selfie-ready and includes an array of makeup, skincare and haircare to help you looking and feeling fab. The contents of June's box is worth just under £70 but can be yours for just £10 (+p&p)! Here are my thoughts on what I received in this month's box...

How To Increase Your DA Score

in blog help, blogging, blogging tips, da score, lifestyle, by Kirsty Milward, 16.6.20

I haven't done a blog post about blogging for a while and I thought I'd do a post about ways that I've found have helped to increase my DA score. My DA score is always around 22-25 and my aim is to keep it above 20 at all times because I know a lot of sponsored blog post opportunities want sites with a DA score of 20 minimum. Also the higher your DA score is the higher you can charge for your content usually. If you're unsure of your DA score then you can look it up on Moz's Link Explorer (it's free to sign up).

Father's Day Gift Ideas From Moonpig!

in father's day, father's day gift guide, gift guide, lifestyle, moonpig, by Kirsty Milward, 13.6.20

-Any products marked with an * were bought using the gift voucher I was gifted by Moonpig-

Father's Day is just around the corner (on the 21st June) and in today's post, I'm sharing some gift ideas which you can pick up from Moonpig along with a card of course! I've chosen three items to give my dad this Father's Day which I'm going to be talking about in this post as well as explaining why I've decided to choose what I have. I'm also going to be briefly talking about what we're planning on doing for this Father's Day as we're still very much acting like we're in full-on lockdown in our household.

Why Online Counselling Might Be For You *

in lifestyle, online counselling, by Kirsty Milward, 12.6.20

-This post is in collaboration-

In today’s busy world, it’s so hard to get the help you need. Counselling firms are always filled with people, have hours that you may not want to handle, and when you are always working, no one has time for that. The Internet is the solution.

How To Get Your Relationship Back On Track *

in lifestyle, relationships, by Kirsty Milward, 12.6.20

-This post is in collaboration-

You’ve heard it all the time. Every relationship is going to have its ups and downs. A fairy tale relationship where both of you never fight doesn’t exist. However, when your relationship has felt off for a while, what should you do? Ending your relationship without trying to fix it first is a bad move. Here are some ways that you can repair your relationship and possibly put it back on track.

Does the PMD Personal Microderm Really Work?

in beauty, pmd, pmd personal microderm, skincare, by Kirsty Milward, 10.6.20

-If a product is marked with an * it was PR/gifted to me. This post contains no sponsored content-

I'm personally a big fan of skincare tools, I know they're not for everybody but I do think the majority of them do what they say they claim they'll do. So in today's post, I'm going to be talking about the PMD Personal Microderm* as well as PMD's recently launched Recovery Anti-Ageing Collagen Sheet Masks* which have been specially formulated to use after the Personal Microderm or after using the PMD Clean/Clean Pro.

A Father's Day Gift Guide

in beauty, fathers day, gift guide, lifestyle, by Kirsty Milward, 7.6.20

-If a product is marked with a * then it PR/Gifted to me. This post contains no sponsored content-

Father's Day is almost here again in the UK (It's on June 21st for anyone who doesn't know) and I thought I would do a gift guide this year because I really enjoyed doing my Mother's Day gift guide back in March. So I've decided to do an array of ideas from budget to more high-end price tags. So here it is!

Boosting Your Confidence One Step at a Time *

in confidence, lifestyle, by Kirsty Milward, 4.6.20

toddler's standing in front of beige concrete stair

-This post is in collaboration-

No matter who you are, there has undoubtedly been a time in your life where you have felt like you are not as good as the person next to you. Even if these beliefs are entirely unfounded, it can still affect you in a variety of ways. You resist engaging with other people, you don’t speak up as much as you might usually do, and you even avoid putting yourself in situations where you may be exposed. All of this can seriously harm your self-esteem and personal growth, so you must find ways to boost your confidence. This isn’t something that will just happen overnight, though. You need to take it one step at a time.

Introducing The GOODNESS Range From Baylis & Harding

in baylis and harding, beauty, cruelty free, natural, by Kirsty Milward, 1.6.20

-If a product is marked with an * then it was PR/Gifted to me. This post contains no sponsored content-

I'm a big fan of Baylis & Harding, I feel like their products are at a luxury standard but with an affordable price tag and I already have quite a lot of products from B&H dotted around my house from hand wash, bath soak, hand and body lotion and more. So when they got in touch to tell me about their brand new GOODNESS range which is plant-based and also vegan and cruelty-free, I couldn't say no to giving the range a whirl.

What I've Been Testing Recently For My Chronic Pain | Synerva 300mg CBD Body Balm

in chronic pain, health, lifestyle, by Kirsty Milward, 28.5.20

-If a product is marked with an * then it was PR/gifted to me. This post contains no sponsored content-

I was a bit silly towards the end of March to the beginning of April because I stopped using my CBD products as much as I usually do, just because I was kind of testing my daily pain with little to no pain relief and guess what? I suffered big time... Not only did I have some really bad pain flare-ups, but I also came down ill with tonsillitis for almost 3 weeks too which I'm pretty sure happened because I run myself down because of the bad bad flare-ups. So this month I've gone back to using my CBD products consistently and I've also been putting some brands I've never heard of before to the test. In this post, I'm going to be talking about Synerva 300mg CBD Body Balm and how I've got on after using it pretty much daily for 3 weeks.

An Updated Home Improvements and Homeware Wishlist *

in home, home improvements, home interiors, homeware, interiors, lifestyle, by Kirsty Milward, 26.5.20

-This post is in collaboration-

I thought I'd share with you an updated home wishlist because I really enjoy doing these kinds of posts because I'm always online window shopping. I thought I'd also pop in a few small home improvements we're planning on doing soon into this post too, just to change it up a little. So I hope you enjoy reading this post and I hope it gives you some inspiration if you're planning on buying some new decor or doing some home improvements soon!

How I'm Doing Self-Care During Lockdown

in beauty, fashion, lifestyle, lockdown, self care, self isolation, by Kirsty Milward, 24.5.20

-If a product is marked with an * then it was PR/Gifted to me. This post contains no sponsored content-

Although we're technically not in "lockdown" anymore because of our incompetent government (let's not get into that in this post) I'm still staying home as much as possible just because I feel safer that way and so does everyone else in my household thankfully. I know I'm kind of lucky because I already work from home and a lot of people don't have that option and have to go into work because of the new "rules" but I thought I'd share some ways that I've practising self-care during my time in lockdown as they're things that everybody can do.

Are You Being Sexually Harassed At Work? Here’s What You Should Do Next *

in lifestyle, mental health, by Kirsty Milward, 21.5.20

-This post is in collaboration-

No one should have to experience sexual harassment. Sadly, a huge number of sexual harassment cases are reported each year and shockingly, many of these allegations have taken place at work.

5 Ways To Improve Your Wellbeing *

in health, lifestyle, wellbeing, by Kirsty Milward, 21.5.20

-This post is in collaboration, all opinions are my own-

How we're feeling both physically and mentally is a big part of our everyday life and I think we should all be checking in on ourselves often and making sure that we're feeling okay or if we feel we need to make some changes or do something to improve our overall wellbeing. In today's post, I'm talking about 5 different ways that I have found to improve my own wellbeing and have just given me a bit of a boost.

Testing Out Herts Hemp CBD and CBG Oils For My Chronic Pain and Anxiety

in cbd, CBG, chronic back pain, chronic illness, chronic pain, chronic pelvic pain, endometriosis, lifestyle, by Kirsty Milward, 20.5.20

-If a product is marked with an * then it was PR/Gifted to me. This post contains no sponsored content-

I'm sure by now you will know that I like to try out different CBD brands and products on the market. I also know a lot of people read my blog who suffer from similar chronic pain/illnesses to me as well as anxiety and I do get DMs frequently about using CBD. In today's post, I'm talking about two products from Herts Hemp which are their CBD drops and CBG drops which I'd actually never heard of before until now.

What's In May's Roccabox And Is It Worth Buying? + An Exclusive Discount Code

in beauty, beauty box, roccabox, subscription box, by Kirsty Milward, 18.5.20

-If a product is marked with an * then it was PR/Gifted to me. This post contains no paid content-

We're well into another month now which means another Roccabox delivery has arrived and this month's box is all about the best Staycation products to use at home. The box is worth over £45 and contains a mixture of haircare, skincare, self-tan products, nail care and even a bonus product! Here are my thoughts on May's Roccabox...

Five Products I've Discovered This Spring

in beauty, bodycare, perfume, skincare, spring, by Kirsty Milward, 16.5.20

-If a product is marked with an * then it was PR/Gifted to me. This post contains an affiliate link-

I haven't done a dedicated favourites kind of post for a long time and I thought it was time to change that. I've definitely discovered, as well as rediscovered some new favourites over the past month or two and I just wanted to talk about why I really like them and why I'd recommend them.

What's New In From Dermalogica | Invisible Physical Defense SPF 30 Sunscreen and Active Clay Cleanser

in beauty, dermalogica, skincare, by Kirsty Milward, 12.5.20

-If a product is marked with an * then it was PR/Gifted to me. This post contains no paid content-

In today's post, I'm talking about the two latest product releases from Dermalogica. These are the Invisible Physical Defense SPF 30 Sunscreen RRP £49* and the brand new Active Clay Cleanser RRP £35*. I've been trying both products out now for a number of weeks and I thought it was about time I shared my overall thoughts on each product and talk about whether I'd recommend them.

What I've Been Reading, Watching and Listening To Lately

in books, films, lifestyle, listening, movies, music, reading, tv, watching, by Kirsty Milward, 8.5.20

It's time for another blog post where I talk about what's been keeping me entertained over the past couple of months. I've definitely been watching more TV shows over movies considering I've got Amazon Prime, Now TV/Sky Movies and Netflix. I've also basically been listening to one album on repeat since it was released.

Trying Out So...? Sorry Not Sorry Bath and Body Range

in bath, beauty, body, cruelty free, by Kirsty Milward, 4.5.20

-If a product is marked with an * then it was PR/Gifted to me. This post contains no paid content-

So...? are a brand that seem to have been around for all of my life, some of their body sprays which I think have been discontinued now such as Kiss Me... and Sinful were some of my faves when I was a pre-teen/early teen when I first started to get into beauty and doing my makeup and hair etc. So to be sent a PR package from them seems so weird but also exciting as I still use products by So...? many years later. Their Sorry Not Sorry range has everything you need in the bath and body care department and all of it is affordable and cruelty-free too. So here are the products I've been trying out from the range that is exclusively available from Superdrug...

My Go-To Lockdown Hairstyles and Current Favourite Hair Products *

in beauty, hair, hairstyle, lockdown, by Kirsty Milward, 27.4.20

-This post is in collaboration with Melissa Salons, any products marked with an * have been previously gifted to me-

I'm sure we've all got plans when the lockdown is lifted whether it's rushing off to top hairdressers in Manchester, booking in a gel manicure and pedicure, a full body massage or just having the full works and booking in the lot (I'm sure most of us will feel this way!). However, for now, we've just got to make do with what we can do at home and also what products we can buy during our essential shopping trips/online orders.

Two Spot Clearing Products From Dermalogica's Clear Start Range

in acne, beauty, blackheads, skincare, spot prone skin, by Kirsty Milward, 25.4.20

-If a product is marked with an * then it was PR/Gifted to me. This post contains no paid content-

I may be almost 26 (I actually turn 26 this week!) but I still have problems with my skin, I do feel like it's getting a little better as I'm getting older and also the fact that I'm finding products which seem to work for me along the way, but it still likes to act up and behave like I'm still a teenager at times too. So I'm always on the lookout for products that are aimed at oily/spot prone/sensitive skin. Over the past few weeks, I've been testing out two products from Dermalogica's Clear Start range which are vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free and contain no artificial fragrances or colours. So here are my overall thoughts after putting them to the test...

An Introduction To JUSTICE Professional Haircare

in beauty, hair, haircare, by Kirsty Milward, 22.4.20

-If a product is marked with an * then it was PR/Gifted to me. This post contains no paid content-

Finding New and Vintage Clothes From The Comfort Of Your Own Home *

in fashion, lifestyle, vintage, by Kirsty Milward, 15.4.20

-This post is in collaboration-

In this day and age, finding new clothes from the comfort of your own home has never been easier. However, in today's post, I'm talking about different places and ways you might be able to pick up a vintage gem or a bargain designer look-a-like you missed out on a few seasons ago, as well as other items of clothing you may be on the hunt for right now that you might not be able to afford to pay for in full right away.

Save Yourself Some Money By Doing DIY Home Redecoration and Other Jobs You've Been Putting Off Around The House *

in decorating, home, home redecoration, interiors, lifestyle, revamping, by Kirsty Milward, 15.4.20

-This post is in collaboration-

Thinking Of Moving House? Here Are Some Tips You Should Consider Before The Big Move *

in home, home and interiors, interiors, lifestyle, by Kirsty Milward, 14.4.20

-This post is in collaboration with The Man Van-

In today's post, I'm talking all about some things you should consider before moving house. It's been a long time since we last moved house but there definitely some things we would do differently if we were to move again in the future but there are also some things that worked well and we would do again too. So here are some tips that should hopefully help you if you are currently in the process of moving or planning on moving house in the very near future.

Three Products From Natural and Cruelty Free Brand Fat & The Moon

in beauty, bodycare, cruelty-free, haircare, natural, skincare, by Kirsty Milward, 13.4.20

-If a product is marked with an * then it was PR/Gifted. This post contains no paid content but does contain an affiliate code-

Handmade in California, Fat & The Moon whose products are available to buy from Live in the Light produce herbal body care for those who are seeking natural and effective alternatives to chemical-filled products made with age-old ingredients and recipes. They're also cruelty-free and make sure to use reusable and recyclable containers for their products. I love that they are all about healing as well as believing in self-care and self-love. I'd say the main thing that made me want to try some products from Fat & The Moon is the fact that they are natural and all about healing, as well as their cute, unusual packaging which is just packaging goals really, isn't it? It kind of reminds me of LUSH but well, better in my personal opinion.

A Spring Wishlist

in beauty, birthday, fashion, lifestyle, spring, spring wishlist, wishlist, by Kirsty Milward, 10.4.20

Like most people, I'm currently watching what I'm spending my money on and prioritising the essentials, especially as I'm self-employed via blogging and everything's gone pretty quiet and I'm not going to lie, it's pretty scary. I also don't know where I stand with brands/companies who owe me money and if I'm going to be paid on time/at all, given what's going on right now. So I thought instead of spending money I technically don't have right now, I'd do a Spring Wishlist and show you what I've got my eyes on. However, if and when I get paid/get more work in, I'm definitely going to be picking up a few things on this list. April is also my birthday month so I think comfort shopping + my birthday is a good excuse to treat myself (hopefully in the very near future!).

ASOS Curve Sweet Tooth Pyjama Shorts £10 / REN Perfect Canvas Clean Jelly Oil Cleanser £25 / Joanie Bobby Dream Lover Slogan Tee £22 / Too Faced Born This Way Turn Up the Light Skin-Centric Highlighting Palette - Fair to Light £34

First up is some cute AF pyjamas shorts from ASOS which have lollies and all sorts of other sweets allover. I really like ASOS pyjama shorts, they fit nicely and the elasticated waistbands never dig in my stomach and set off my stomach/pelvic pain like some other brands pyjamas do. Next is the REN Jelly Oil Cleanser which I've had my eyes on since it was released back in January (I think it was January anyway?). I find the concept and formula really intriguing and I also like that REN's packaging is all recyclable and that you can use it on bare skin or you can use It to remove your makeup. My wardrobe is basically being taken over by clothes from Joanie and I don't think the obsession is going to stop anytime soon if I'm being honest. Although I'm trying to stop buying as many stripe t-shirts, I really like the Dream Lover slogan tee. It'd look nice paired with an oversized cardigan and leggings/jeans or underneath a pinafore dress. I can definitely see myself buying this tee v soon. I also love the look of Too Faced's latest highlighter release. The palette comes with three highlighters which go from a natural sheen, a middle glowy highlighter and a super in-your-face kind of highlight.

Daisy Street Plus Crop Sweatshirt with Dolphin Graphic £19.99 / FOREO Luna 3 Cleansing Brush £169 / Joanie Joyce Daisy Print Frill Wrap Dress £45 / Revolution Pro CC Cream Perfecting Foundation SPF30 £10

I also really like the look of the Daisy Street Sweatshirt, although I'm not a fan of it being cropped as I prefer a normal length sweatshirt that covers all my lumps and bumps. But I think the vintage-looking design is cute and it'd be a nice comfy sweatshirt to wear around the house. I'm very intrigued about trying a FOREO cleansing brush and comparing one to other "dupe" kind of cleansing brushes I have. I have seen some good results on instagram/youtube when people have consistently used a FOREO brush to cleanse their skin every day and I'm just interested to see if using one would help with my skin. Another piece from Joanie I really like the look of is the Joyce Daisy Print Frill Wrap Dress which is new in. It's so pretty! They also have a jumpsuit with the same daisy print design which is cute but I don't think jumpsuits suit me personally. I think we all know what the new Revolution Pro CC Cream Perfecting Foundation is trying to be, right? I'm definitely intrigued and want to try it, although I still wouldn't give up on my It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream because it's my go-to base and has been for almost two years now and it's saved me from being super self-conscious when my skin isn't looking so great so many times. I have tried a couple of the wannabe IT CC creams and none of them have blown me away.

Boohoo Waffle Knit Cardigan £18 / Ole Henriksen Cold Plunge Pore Mask £30 / Boohoo Fit Side Stripe Running Legging £15 / Drunk Elephant Nice To Meet You Set £19

I've come to realise that a lot of my comfy cardigans look a bit well-worn now, even after getting a Minky bobble remover on them lol. So I've been on the lookout for a couple of new cardigans that aren't too thick nor too thin and I really like the Waffle Knit one from Boohoo. Although it does seem to have shot up in price within a week because it was £12 when I first came across it (hmm). I'm still yet to try anything from Ole Henriksen but if and when I do purchase something from them, it's 100% going to be the Cold Plunge Pore Mask. It sounds so nice and I know Emma's Rectangle swears by it and says it's one of her fave masks and her skin always looks nice! I'm not going to lie, I'm a bit bored of wearing standard black leggings so I'm thinking of picking up some leggings with stripes down the side just to change things up a little. I know it's not very exciting but it's still a little refresh I guess. I'm also really intrigued to try some products from Drunk Elephant and the Nice To Meet You Set from Cult Beauty contains three mini's which are the Protini Polypeptide Cream (15ml), Slaai Makeup-Melting Butter Cleanser (22g) and the Bamboo Booster which comes in a little sachet. I just want to see what they're about and if their products are really worth the money. I am interested in a few other products from DE but I'll talk about those in another blog post soon.

Nuthing Pink Shimmer Hair Removal Jelly £9.99 / ASOS Curve V-Neck Linen Mix T-shirt in Charcoal Stripe £14 / Sunday Riley U.F.O. Ultra-Clarifying Face Oil £34 / REN Overnight Glow Dark Spot Sleeping Cream £49

I've seen a few fellow bloggers receive/talk about Nuthing on their Instagram and/or blogs recently and I'm definitely interested in giving them a whirl. This is TMI but since I switched my pill last year, my leg hair and underarm hair grows so fast! It's such a pain in the arse to keep on top of. I also like the fact that they are vegan-friendly too. The ASOS V-Neck Linen Mix T-shirt looks super comfy and perfect for lounging around the house, which let's face it, it looks like we're all going to be stuck in the house for a while longer yet and I'm not really into loungewear sets, I'm more of a comfy oversized tee and leggings/pyjamas kinda girl. Another cult skincare brand that I'm still yet to try anything from is Sunday Riley. I have been shying away from using oils since the end of last year, but I've just started to use a Dermalogica oil recently and I'm enjoying using it and I feel like I'm seeing good results. So I'm interested in trying out a few different oils in the upcoming months and I like that the U.F.O. oil is clarifying. Lastly is another product from REN which is actually their latest release. It's their Overnight Glow Dark Spot Sleeping Cream and I've seen some before and after photos of people using this and I'm really impressed. I feel like it would work well at getting rid of acne scarring on my forehead and cheeks and just even out my complexion nicely whilst obviously moisturising my skin at night.

What's on your Spring Wishlist?

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Paul Mitchell Dream Texture Invisblewear Trio Review

in beauty, hair, hair styling, by Kirsty Milward, 8.4.20

In a blog post back in January I talked about how I want to change up what I talk about a little in terms of beauty and lifestyle and not just be known mainly as a "skincare blogger" because although I do love my skincare and talking about new in products and brands, I also want to talk about other beauty products and lifestyle topics too. So when I got an email about Paul Mitchell's Dream Texture Invisiblewear range, I was really intrigued and thought it would fit in well on my blog and the new structure. I also like the fact that they are cruelty-free and vegan-friendly too.

I don't think I've actually tried anything from Paul Mitchell before so I was excited to give the products a whirl as soon as they arrived because my hair is definitely in need of some help. If I leave it to its own accord, it's just a wavy, frizzy, flat-on-the-roots mess.

The Invisiblewear Dream Texture Trio contains the Invisiblewear Air Gel*, Invisiblewear Velvet Cream* and Invisiblewear Cloud Whip* (all available to buy separately) and each product has been designed to effortlessly create texture, volume and definition.

The first product I tried from the range is the Invisiblewer Velvet Cream* (RRP £21.95) which they claim smoothes and tames your hair with a feather-light definition. It also has a really nice fresh, clean scent which I like a lot. You apply a small amount to damp hair (I would say I use two pea-sized blobs) and then blow-dry or leave your hair to air dry to get a nice, smooth but textured result. This has actually become my new go-to hair product to use after I've washed my hair because it works sooo well and my hair always looks and feels smoother than usual but with a nice amount of definition going on too. I love it and I've already made quite a dent in the tube because I've been using it that often! I will 100% be picking it up again once I run out.

Next up from the trio is the Invisblewear Cloud Whip* (RRP £21.95) which is an unusual texture with it being a whipped formula and not something I've come across before from any other hair brand but the whipped formula is what makes it lightweight which is great if you have greasy or thin hair. You can use it on both damp and dry hair to add definition and it dries down quickly and doesn't leave any sort residue or crispiness to your hair like some products can do. I've been using this on second-day hair if I've curled my hair or if I'm trying to make my messy bun hair look less crazy when it's down and to add some definition once the curls have dropped a little. It does definitely help to a certain extent and if you hate the feeling of product in your hair but want a lived-in textured look then this might be something for you to try.

Lastly is the Invisiblewear Air Gel* (RRP £21.95) which again is an unusual formula because it's almost like jelly and not like your standard gel hair product. You can use it on wet or dry hair and you can also revive the product by using their Boomerang Restyling Mist on your second-day hair. The aim of the product is to add volume and piecey texture with a light, touchable hold. Once again, it doesn't leave any sort of residue, crispiness or stickiness. I've used it twice and I personally think this product would suit someone who has got either shorter hair or hair which has a lot of layers. I have only used it when I've curled my hair and then I've run the product through my hair to see how it works with curls and it works okay holding the curls but it's not wowed me enough to want to pick it up again.

Have you tried any of the products above? If so, what did you think? I'm definitely intrigued to try more products from Paul Mitchell after trying these.

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Chocolate-y Products In Time For Easter From Upcircle Beauty!

in beauty, cruelty-free, skincare, sustainable, vegan, by Kirsty Milward, 5.4.20

-If a product is marked with an * then it was PR/gifted to me. This post contains no paid content but does contain an affiliate link-

Upcircle are a 100% natural, cruelty-free brand who are also sustainable and vegan friendly too. They use leftover natural ingredients that would otherwise be going to landfill and bring them back to life by creating beauty products your skin will love. I really like that they are a small business doing big things in the world of beauty.

I was kindly sent over a couple of products to try out and given what's going on in the world right now, I'm not only eating a lot of chocolate, I've also found myself starting to use a lot of chocolate-y products too (kind of strange, I know) but I think it's just a comfort kind of thing I'm going through right now to be honest haha. So I chose two products that contain Cacao which are the Coffee & Cacao Body Scrub RRP £14.99* and their Chocolate Charcoal Soap Bar RRP £6.99*.

The first product I'm going to be talking about is their Chocolate Charcoal Soap Bar* which smells absolutely delightful which is why I put in the title how these products would be good to treat yourself or someone else to this upcoming Easter. The best way to describe the smell is spicy dark chocolate - it's so nice! You can use the soap on both your face and your body and it contains activated charcoal which draws out toxins and tightens pores and Cacao extract which boosts circulation and brightens up your skin. It's also made with residual chai spices used to create chai syrup. I've used this on both my face and body, but mainly on my face and it is a really nice facial soap that leaves your skin feeling deeply cleansed. With it being a soap bar and also containing ingredients which tighten your pores, it does leave your skin feeling a little bit tight after use but as long as you have a nice, nourishing moisturiser to put on afterwards, it's completely fine and I've already seen some improvements in my skin since using it and I'm not breaking out ~as much~ anyway which is pretty good going considering the amount of junk food I've been eating recently. I can imagine this being a good product to use if struggle with acne on your body with it being exfoliating and detoxifying. Also if you're struggling to get your hands on soap, particularly if you're cruelty-free/vegan then I would 100% recommend picking up one of the soap bars from UpCircle. It turns out that a simple soap bar is one of the most effective ways to combat a virus because it dissolves a virus' structure (find out more here). Also, something else I've noticed since switching to a bar of soap to wash my hands is that my hands haven't been drying out as bad! So it's a win-win.

I also chose the Coffee & Cacao Body Scrub* to try because it sounds right up my street. It's made with repurposed coffee grounds from artisan London cafes and contains sea salt, palmarosa and coconut oil. It's also blended with shea butter which moisturises the skin post-scrub. I'm not going to lie when I think of a coffee body scrub, I think eurgh sounds messy but it's actually no messier than a normal body scrub and rinses off your skin easily, I think the fact it contains coconut oil and shea butter helps with this too. Talking of oils, after using the scrumptious smelling scrub, you could definitely go without moisturising your skin if you had to or can't be bothered to because the oils leave a nice amount of nourishment behind. The high levels of antioxidants can help with minimising the appearance of the signs of ageing too. Overall I think it's a lovely scrub to use and it's definitely a good product to use to wake you up in the morning with the strong coffee scent. At first, it smells more like coffee than coffee and chocolate but once you start rubbing the scrub against your skin, the chocolate-y smell comes through too.

(Kind of a weird "swatch" photo I know but I wanted to show you what the scrub looks like)

I also received two samples in my parcel of their the Face Moisturiser and Cleansing Face Balm but I haven't got around to trying them just yet but I'll do a mini-review over on my insta stories when I try them out, so keep a lookout for that.

If you're interested in buying any of the products above or fancy seeing what other products Upcircle offer then you can get £10 off your first order (min spend £15) by using my affiliate link here. You also get free UK Shipping on orders over £20.

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