15 things to do whilst self-isolating

So March has been a long month and a lot has happened. As we are all isolating ourselves in our homes, I thought I would share some things that you can do while you are at home, to break the monotony and take advantage of the time that we have got. I will be sharing some examples of what I have been doing too!

1. Read a book (I finished Heroes by Stephen Fry, and would highly recommend)
2. Do a jigsaw/ Play a game (I've found a deck of cards last weekend!)
3. Draw/ Colour
4. Listen to your favourite albums (I've been listening to old Muse Albums)
5. Plan a workout schedule

6. Listen to Podcasts (My Favourite Murder/ No Such Thing as Fish/ Is it Just Me?/ Science(ish))
7. Do a manicure/pedicure (my sister has kindly gave me both!)
8. FaceTime/ phone friends (I have been doing this while walking)
9. Bake a cake/ Cook a new dish (I helped bake my own birthday cake)
10. Clean or reorganise a space in your home

11. Give yourself a facial (I knew that Jade Facial Roller would come in handy!)
12. Practice Yoga/ Mindfulness (Yoga with Kassandra on YouTube is my favourite)
13. Watch a new movie with the lights dimmed for a cinema experience (I've done this once and it was great!)
14. Experiment and try a new makeup/ hair look
15. Give yourself a massage (I am planning on cracking out the Tonic Body Treatment Oil from Clarins!)


I hope you found at least one thing that was helpful on this list! Let me know if you have any more tips and tricks on new things to try as I would love to hear them.

If you would like to read more posts then be sure to follow me on Bloglovin to stay up to date! I have  some upcoming posts that you might find helpful!

3 Summer Skincare Finds

The Summer Sales have been in full swing, and I managed to pick up a few things which I have been testing out in this heat wave that England has been having. I got all of these items from House of Fraser, which is my go-to store for all my beauty needs. 

The first thing I bought was The 'Buffet' Serum from The Ordinary (£12.70/30ml). I'm going to do a full review of this product - so be sure to subscribe so you don't miss out on it. In short, this serum is supposed to be an 'all-rounder' of all the peptides and nourishment your skin needs, as well as some extra benefits too. I have been using this religiously twice a day for the past month, and I've noticed a difference in my skin - it's way less congested meaning I get spots less often. It's been an actual miracle so stay tuned for the full review of this product! Overall, it's a massive hit with me, and I would fully recommend! 

One of my favourite skincare brands for a long time has been Kiehl's, I use their Ultra Facial Moisturiser every morning and I used to use their Midnight recovery for years. I bought the Kiehl's Lip Balm (£10.00/15ml) in the Pear Scent. This lip balm is for anyone who likes a sheen on their lips - a bit like a thinner, less heavier Vaseline that is so nice to apply. It's also 15ml, and so it gives you more product than a standard lip balm, and I can already see that I have not made a dent in it. if you like a lip balm that is there, then this is the one for you. Also I love the durability of the product, you can chuck it in any bag without fear of it breaking or coming loose, as it has a screw cap lid. The scent itself is really nice, not overpowering but still present! 

The last product I want to talk about is less skincare and more bodycare as it's a hand cream. I went to Elizabeth Arden for their Oxygen Blast Facial a few months ago, and really enjoyed the experience. Whilst they were prepping me, they sprayed some of the White Tea Fragrance on me, and I fell in love with the fragarence. It was one of those where you just inhale and just instantly relax. So when I spotted the Elizabeth Arden White Tea Hand Cream (£7.00/30ml), I just had to buy it. It's a super lux hand cream, and again has that ability to make me relax. I exclusively wear this at night, just to be more relaxed. If you haven't smelt this before, then make sure to have a sniff when you next go past an Elizabeth Arden counter. I'm thinking this might be my next fragrance that I purchase. 

This was just a quick roundup of my recent finds that I have been regularly been using! I'm going to do a  full review of the Buffet Serum, because I would like to go more in depth about my experience and the changes I have noticed! I would love to know if you have tried anything new? Be sure to follow me on Bloglovin to stay up to date with my newest content!

Birchbox: June 2017

I was lucky to receive the June Birchbox as a late birthday present this month. I love the concept of this brand, delivering new and upcoming, or well loved beauty products to try and test. This months Birchbox came in a bag, which is perfect for days at the beach as the material of the bag is easy to clean and very durable.

The first thing that popped out of this bag was the Scrub Love Coconut Mango Body Scrub (£12.95/200g). This product is so ideal for summer, I feel like sometimes we worry about facial skincare rather than body care! Still I was prepared to dismiss this product, as who wants to spend a lot of money on a scrub that you wash away right? When I used this product, I was completely blown away, I used around a tablespoon of the scrub and that was enough to scrub my whole body. The scrub itself is mostly particles with no gel or liquid which makes the scrub really do its job properly. It does have oil in it, so it's not all just grit. The smell is incredible, it did not overtly smell of coconut nor mango, but just a nice tropical scent, enough to make you wish you were in a tropical paradise!  The scrub was vigorous, but the coconut oil left behind just made me love this product even more, as my body was just ready for the day once I stepped out of the shower. For anyone who is looking for a real scrub, this is honestly the best product I have tried! 

I was also so happy to receive the Cowshed Cowpat Moisturising Hand Cream (£8.00/50ml), just because I haven't tried anything from the brand before, and I've heard such good things about it. This hand cream is a good staple for any handbag, it absorbs well into the skin and doesn't leave any greasy residue. The scent is really different, this product strives to be unisex which I find refreshing! This product contains Grapefruit oil and Coriander oil to help circulation and also Shea and Cocoa butter to help to nourish dry skin. In terms of texture, this feels like a lotion, however has the power of a heavy duty cream! I actually stick this product on my feet too because it really is good at hydrating dry skin. 

The amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo (£20.00/232ml), is a product I didn't think I would get much use out of. However, a week after the box arrived, I slept in after my alarm went off, and only had less than half an hour to get ready and this product literally saved my hair. I don't really use dry shampoo as I was my hair every day. I know, it's so bad for my hair. But what I especially liked about this dry shampoo was that it didn't leave a build up of product in my hair, and it just added an extra few hours of wear back into my hair. This would be great for anyone who likes to use dry shampoo period, but also those who like to use it over a period of days, as this is such a light spray.

The last few bits that were in the Birchbox was an Eyebrow Pencil from Meech and Mia (£12.99/1g), I haven't heard of this brand before but I was sceptical of trying an eyebrow pencil as I hadn't tried one in a few years! Once I tried this one though, I was sold. It's lightly pigmented, and has a slightly waxy feel to it, and just looks natural on the brows. It's weird, it's like a new generation of eyebrow pencils, that accentuates brows rather than drawing them on! This pencil is designed for sparse brows, and so if you are like me, and are not naturally gifted with full brows this pencil could be a game changer for you!

Another interesting product was the Arrow Enhance Waterproof Eyeliner + Brightener (£12.00/0.8g), which is a light pink eyeliner, which is perfect masking tired, red eyes! So although I love the concept of this eyeliner, and the longevity is also brilliant, the product itself slightly balls up on my eyes, and leaves residue in my eyelashes, which isn't ideal. Also I probably should address that on my eyes, the colour is quite noticeable, just because of how tanned my skin is. I think on lighter skin this product might look more natural! What I have been doing with this product is using this on my waterline and then adding my eyeliner of choice over it, as it extenuates the colour of my eyeliner, as it's such a light colour. So if I am wearing brown or green eyeliner, priming my waterline with this eyeliner is perfect as the colour just looks more vibrant and the eyeliner actually has something to stick to too, and so doesn't disintegrate as easily!

I was super happy with this Birchbox, as I just think the selection was things I needed but just didn't buy for myself! I would love to know if you have tried Birchbox and your experiences of it! Also be sure to follow me on Bloglovin to stay up to date with my posts!

De-stressing with Patisserie De Bain *

Three of my favourite things to do is to  eat, sleep and shower. I know life is composed of so much more, but those basics have a tendency to make me more happier. I have discovered a new brand that has made two of those three things better and it has been my go-to for body-care. I'm so excited to showcase this brand to you all, because I am so besotted with the range.

The brand I'm rambling on about is Patisserie De Bain*, who are a fun and novel brand that are super affordable. I tried their newer Crème Patisserie range and fell in love, so much so that I had to contact them to just so they could know how much I enjoyed their products. They were kind enough to send me a box full of products to try out and review for you guys. The products they sent me was from their Sugared Violets range, which literally smells like the candy Violets, and so it's so nostalgic to wear because it reminds me a lot of when I was younger. I also love the packaging of the products, the aesthetic is cute and fun, and just fit for purpose.

In a recent post I already spoke in depth about the Sugared Violet Hand Cream* (£.399/50ml) , which is a thick hand cream, that melts into the skin within a few seconds, and leaves no residue. It's one of the best high-street hand creams I have tried, and the smell is lovely. It's the perfect size and texture for when you are on the go!

I also received the Sugared Violet Bath and Shower Creame*, which is just a lovely shower gel, I like to venture out and try new things when it comes to simple things like body wash because they run out fairly quickly and it's always nice to switch things up! The texture of this is a mix between a lotion and a gel, and so applies nicely and lathers up.

The Sugared Violet Hand and Body Lotion* (£4.99/200ml) is also super nice, it's easy to blend out due to the thinner consistency and the scent lingers on the skin, which is really nice and calming before sleeping. I tend to find that the products in this range tend to go a long way, in terms of the amount needed to moisturise the skin. A product like this is nice to use daily, to keep the skin soft and moisturised. I also love that the packaging is simple, as it doesn't get messy and the actually material is quite matte in texture, and so is non-slip which is exactly what you need from a product like this!

Patisserie De Bain also have the Sugared Violet Mini Bath Bombs* (120g), which are super cute. I really enjoyed using these bath bombs because they are small and dainty, and come with a nice glass jar which looks lovely as a gift and also as an accessory for the bathroom. These bath bombs however, add a bit of fragrance and atmosphere to your bath routine, rather than a underwater firework show. I tend to put around two or three bath bombs into one bath just because I love the scent. I find that bath bombs like this are something that get used more often, since they just make my bath a bit more special without making me feel like I need to spend an hour in the tub!

The last product I got sent was this super cute Sugared Violet Cupcake Soap* (£5.99/120g), although this whole range smells of Violets, the cupcake has a slightly different smell, it's slightly more vanilla and cupcake like which makes this smell so nice! Literally, I couldn't stop sniffing this! I know my mom wants to use this soap for herself, so one of these are going to her! While this is just soap, I love the smell, the texture is also smoothing and slightly cream like in texture and I find this scent lingers on my skin. I love the way this looks in my bathroom too, although it won't always look so cute, it just adds a bit of joy to my shower routine. I think this would make such a lovely side present, because it literally looks like a cupcake!

This range I have just been besotted by. I feel like I hardly see brands that go out of their way to create a range that is fun and creative. It's so refreshing to see new scents being used, and new types of products being released. I also think they smash the traditional products too, I love their hand cream, and it's something I'm already half way through. For some reason I just tend to use these products, and I was always someone who was quite lazy with body care!

I would love to know if any of you have tried this range, because I see no-one talking about them! Be sure to follow me on Bloglovin to stay up to date with my posts!

* This post contains a PR sample. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

3 Highstreet Hand Creams

Happy new years guys! So unlike many others, I haven't done my 'Best of 2016' beauty products post because actually much of what I share on here are my favourites or my regular routines, so I thought there would be a lot of repetition. Anyway, today I wanted to share with you three affordable hand creams that will protect your hands this winter, so on with the post...

The first hand cream is the newest in my collection, and it's the Sanctuary Spa Velvety Hand Cream (£3.00/30ml). My cousin gifted this to me for Christmas because she noticed that I didn't own anything by Sanctuary Spa, which was very thoughtful! So this hand cream is light in formula, slightly more thicker than a lotion but has a similar blend-ability to it, and so it's quick to put on and sink in. It doesn't leave any greasy residue and it's just a lovely hand cream, you can feel that it has that luxury, spa-like aspect to it. So this is an absolute treat to put on, especially when you are doing your nails. The scent of this is amazing to, it's a light citrus scent which is what adds to the luxury feel as it isn't too potent, but it's definitely discernible. I feel like I would have paid more for this item, so this is an absolute bargain in terms of price.

Soap and Glory Hand Food (£2.50/50ml), is a cult favourite, it has a sweet marshmallow-like scent that is addictive, and moisturises the hand nicely. Despite this, I think this is my least favourite hand cream. I know, I know, how could I say that? For me, I need a hand cream that will sink into my skin, and this is the only hand cream I own that sits on my skin the longest, which is okay when you are at home, but out and about, I feel like my hands are slippy and I have the urge to wipe my hands on my jeans. So although it is the most affordable for the amount you are getting, this is my least reached for product. However, it's a cult favourite for a reason, and that might be because my hands don't get super dry, so perhaps that's why I don't like the feeling of it.

So this last product is actually my favourite, it's Patisserie De Bain Sugared Violet Hand Cream*(£3.99/50ml). I personally contacted this brand to tell them that I loved their products, they have such a niche idea using candy as inspiration, and they were kind enough to send me a few products from their range. I also know that the scents won't be everyone's favourite, however it's the formula that I am absolutely in love with. This is the thickest consistency, however don't be fooled by this because this actually sinks into the skin so quickly, that you can't even remember if you put anything on! It's one of those which is ideal for travel because you can carry on with your day not hindered by sticky hands. The scent of this is also so nostalgic for me too, it smells like the sweet Violets which it's inspired by, so if you have the chance to sniff this, it's definitely worth it. Their range can be found in Superdrug, and you'll love their products if you like scents to stay on your skin!

I would love to know what your favourites are and if you have tried any of the ones I have mentioned! Be sure to follow me on Bloglovin to stay up to date with my posts!

* This post contains a PR sample. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Stress Relief! My Routine :) ft. Lush

Hey guys :) 

So lately I have been super stressed - I am in my second year of university studying psychology and I have a lot of other commitments that I dedicate my time too such as being a lab research assistant and having a part time job. I love all of the things I commit myself too and so I would rather take a lot on than miss out on amazing opportunities. That's where this post comes in - recently I have found that I should dedicate some time to myself and this post is how I do that and what I use! 

Before I head into the shower - I make sure to light my candle and the one I am using at the moment is The Body Shops Sandalwood and Ginger Scented Candle (£10.00/200g). I do this so when I come out of the shower my room smells nice and inviting. I also make some tea - either Earl Grey or some Indian Chai (I will be sharing my recipe really soon!) to cool down while I shower.

Shower

So at my university accommodation I don't have access to a bath which sucks because that's usually my method of choice when I want to de-stress. However the shower is still an awesome place to relax and the way I choose to do this is to pick a lot of nice smelling products. Currently I am using Bûche de Noël (£6.50/100g)*  from Lush which is a Christmas face and body cleanser - I just use this on my body because it is extremely moisturising for my skin-type and nowadays my body could use some more moisture. I really like this product because it contains ground almond which helps to gently exfoliate the skin and it really does smell like Christmas (that's probably because it contains Brandy!). I am also using the Yog Nog (£3.40/100g)* which is a soap from Lush - I haven't posted a picture of it because it's been too well loved these past few weeks. It smells wonderful and spicy because it contains Nutmeg Powder and Clove Bud Oil - my mom simply adores it too. 

Although I won't go too much into depth here I love to remove my make-up and cleanse my face in the shower at night because I feel like the warm steam helps to open my pores so I get a deeper clean. Also cleansing the face with warm hands makes the whole process more luxurious and pampering.   

Post-Shower Body

This is my favourite part lately! On days where I still don't have a lot of time I love to use Celebrate Body Lotion (£12.95/225g)* by Lush - It's amazing! I cannot rave about the smell enough! Too me it smells like Terry's Chocolate Orange which is just a weakness of mine. It contains Brazilian Orange Oil and Orange Flower Absolute so that's probably where I get that from. This body lotion also goes on like a dream - really easy to blend in and a little does go a long way. I love how quick the process is :)

Dirty shown Above and Shades of
 Earl Grey Below. Both looking worse
for wear!

However when I do have a bit more time on my hands I love to use the massage bars from Lush. I had never tried any until about two weeks ago and I am addicted already. I have two and although that may seem excessive I use them for different reasons. The first is Dirty Massage Bar (£5.95/1)* and smells like mint chocolate - really nice on the senses and soothing - it contains Lavender, Fair trade Cocoa and Shea Butter - I can smell this throughout the night and it really helps to calm me. The second massage bar is called Shades of Earl Grey (£5.95/1)* and I was attracted to this because I love Earl Grey tea and I knew I would love this too. This one also contains your Fair Trade Cocoa and Shea Butter but it contains Bergamot Oil which is what gives the massage bar the nice Earl Grey smell as Bergamot is an ingredient in the tea. I love that Shades of Earl grey contains Lime and Lemon Oil because it becomes very uplifting and refreshing. Honestly, from the first use I knew this product was something I needed in my life because when I did get into bed I felt a lot less burdened and I was able to sleep a lot better. Another plus is that massaging your body will make it more firmer and more toned :) 

Extra's

I don't have that much time to myself so reading actual books is problematic which is a shame but recently I have been loving reading quotes. This book is amazing for it - it's called 8,789 Words of Wisdom by Barbara Ann Kipfer (£5.73/1 )and I like reading it because it gives you a lot of perspective on life especially if you do feel down or just need some advice. I love philosophy and so this book is great because you don't need to read pages of it - just reading one quote could give you that push or mental enlightenment you need. 

From philosophical quotes to nail polish. Again this depends on how much time I have, so that's why Essie is the right way to go because the formula is perfect - giving you quick drying time and even layers that do stay on for a few days. Recently I have been loving Sew Psyched (7.99/ 13.5ml) and Chinchilly (7.99/ 13.5ml). If I am being honest these are my favourites all year round because they are lovely colours but right now it's the formula lean more towards.

So this is how I relax in my day to day life. I have discovered some awesome products in Lush and I know that I will continue to purchase them because they are helping me so much right now. I hope if you are having the same issues as me (stressing/no time) that you will use some of the items I have mentioned. They are honestly amazing.

When you begin something, believe it will end positively (Kipfer, page 191)
Thank you for reading,
Anjna xx

*This is not a sponsored post, these items were given to me by Lush so I could experience them since I work there. 

Saviour Products You Need To Have: Oils!

Hey!

So today I am going to be talking about a ton of oil products which I think every one should have and also one that you should stay away from! I was going to make this an 'Every Girl Should Have' post buut I think some guys could benefit from this too. I personally love using oils because they are a really quick and effective way of adding moisture to your body without being too greasy (you'll see what I mean). I will use at least one oil product a day - that is how obsessed I am. Also, it's November now and using something a bit more heavy duty like an oil will really benefit your skin and hair from the harsh weather sooo I guess this is good timing!

Hair

I think this is one of the first oil product I bought for myself and it is Avon's Advance Technique Moroccan Argan Oil (£5.50/30ml) and let me say after trying many more since then, this one is still the one I reach for. I love the fact that you can use it with damp hair (which is what I usually do) and I just rub the oil in my hands to warm up the product and then distribute it more towards the ends of my hair to condition it (especially if you know you are going to be styling it like crazy that day). Another way I love to use this is by leaving it as an overnight treatment for when I know I have no time to condition my hair the next morning - it's like cheating but you are preparing for it. I really like that you can use this on dry hair just to add in a healthy shine - I love that it doesn't make your hair look greasy, I apply this in the same way as I explained earlier although I would use less product because it's just for shine rather than intense conditioning.

I'm going to add something that you should stay away from too and that is the L'oreal Paris Elvive Extraordinary Oil Mist (£9.99/100ml). This product actually feels like oil when you spray it on your hair - I find this really odd because it is such a fine mist but even so I wouldn't apply this directly onto my hair because too much comes out. I swear 3 mists are enough for my entire head. I only ever use this at night and that's because I want to use it up. I would stay clear of this product and go for the Avon one instead.

Body

I think it is the body oils that actually made me realise how effective and quick oil can really be. Half a year ago I purchased Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Moisturising Body Oil (£5.10/250ml) and I have never regretted it. I was really really bad at moisturising and I wanted to make myself get into a routine of conditioning my skin when I got out of the shower and this product actually made me a lot better at giving my skin the moisture it needed. It smells like vanilla and chocolate - so it's a semi-subtle scent that is really nice and easy to enjoy. I use this as soon as I am dry after showering - I pour some of the product into my hand and just massage it into my skin - it does absorb really quickly because it's a nice lightweight formula and it also doesn't leave your skin feeling greasy. I tend to put on my dressing gown straight after anyway to be sure it's sunk in properly while I do my hair or make-up.

Another one I can recommend for ease is Garnier Body Ultimate Beauty Oil (£7.49/150ml) I find that this works well too and I like that it has a spray so the time applying the product is reduced and it's really easy to blend it in so it's good when you are really in a hurry. The shape of the bottle makes me feel like I am using it up really fast though!
If I had to choose one I would choose the Palmer's one because I feel that it lasts longer on the skin and I enjoy the scent a lot better but both are good picks :)

Facial
This is when I got obsessed with oils. Having oily skin, I never would have thought that this day would come but I was so wrong. I love facial oils - they have literally changed my life and I don't think I can live without them. I have wrote a few posts about The Body Shop Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil (£10.00/200ml), words cannot explain how much I love this product - my make-up literally can be off in under 30 seconds. I think I love it because I don't have to tug at my skin for my make-up to come off - it is honestly like a massage (I do tend to massage it in for a few minutes) - I would pay a lot more money for this product because of how luxurious it is. Although it is an oil cleanser it feels more like silk than oil - it doesn't feel icky or nasty at all, honestly if you are looking for a make-up cleanser that works then this is the product for you.
This next product is one I am going to do a feature on in the next month or so and it is the Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate  (£36.00/30ml). This is amazing - my skin went through a really rough patch over summer (I think I was allergic to something that I tried) and the texture of my skin went so bad that I had no idea what to do. This honestly made the recovery time go a lot quicker - every single day (even now) when I put this on I will see a difference in my skin the next morning. It is phenomenal. It basically contains a lot of essential oils that just help to repair and sooth the skin and I cannot live without it. I whole heartedly recommend this to anyone who is having the same problem or if you want something that will make a difference to the appearance of your skin in general.

So as you can see I am really into oil products :) I do use them on a daily basis and I think they do the job well - looking over what I have wrote I found that with hair and body it was the cheaper oils that I preferred - so I think I wouldn't go that crazy price wise with those. But facial oil is something I will spend money on, even though The Body Shop Camomile Oil isn't that expensive, for facial care it is the balance of oil and general goodness that is essential rather than pure moisturisation.
I hope you have enjoyed reading about my picks for each category :) Do you like oils? If so, which ones? I love recommendations soooo feel free to comment below :)
Thank you so much for reading,
Anjna xx