- The Tesco Hudl 2!

I just love technology and new gadgets! Doesn't everyone? I recently got a Hudl 2 and I have been loving it! It's pink, it's handy and it is the perfect mini computer for travel, or just when you're snuggled on the sofa or in bed and you don't want to get the laptop out.

I won't say too much here about it, I'll just post my video on it, because I think it's better to see how something looks and works sometimes.
As I said in the video, it would make the perfect gift for you or a loved one if you're looking for something like this. I really can't fault it. It runs smoothly, the batter lasts really well, it is lightweight, the sound and screen quality are great and you can use it for reading, writing, social media, listening to music and watching videos (and so much more).

It doesn't just come in pink either! You get pick the colour you like the best.

Check the Hudl 2 out! Just £129.

Thank you for reading!

- Love, Sophie xx

Where else to find me..

Facebook | Instagram | Bloglovin | Twitter

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♥ Makeup Revolution Love! ♥

I was so excited when I first heard about the new makeup brand Makeup Revolution and I couldn't wait to get my hands on some of the products to try. I had seen reviews and they were all positive, and the prices are so crazy good! So I got some lovely bits from them to try out and here are my thinkings on them!

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Lov-ing! - The USpicy LED Lamp.

If you wear gel nails you will know how important a good lamp is in that set up, I had a small LED lamp (from Nailene) and a UV one before I got this one.. I always opted for the LED lamp as it's safer and there isn't a need for protecting your exposed skin from the rays of the UV lamp.

When USpicy offered me the chance to try their lamp for review, I took a look and accepted right away. It sounded great and since I am still quite new to the at home gel nail thing, I was more than happy to try new things and see what worked for me.

So here's what I love about it.

It's crescent shaped and has room for a whole hand (or foot!) my smaller LED lamp was only large enough for 4 fingers, I always had to do thumbs separate, so because of this is saves me so much time.

It looks pretty! I mean.. it's a peachy pink colour and so cute looking! Importantly, it also feels very sturdy and is not too heavy at all.

It has a timer! I cannot even tell you how much I love that feature! My previous lamp beeped after so many seconds.. THIS lamp doesn't even need to beep, it has three auto time settings 30, 60 or 90 seconds! Or you can just put it on continuous if you'd prefer (but why?!), up to you.

The timer helps greatly, and the coolest part is that the lamp has a sensor, so you set it to the time, and it will automatically start to count down when it senses your hand entering the lamp.

I have absolutely nothing negative to say about this LED lamp whatsoever. It is my go to for when I do my nails, it saves me time and it does the job perfectly, setting my gels in place for 2 weeks +!

If you're interested in this lamp, or taking a closer look..

USpicy Crescent 18w Nail Polish Dryer LED Lamp. £59.99.*

Thank you for reading!

- Love, Sophie xx

Where else to find me..

Facebook | Instagram | Bloglovin | Twitter

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Gilette Venus & Olay Superberry Razor.

Y'all love silky smooth pins, right?

I know that I do. But as the winter months come in, we can get a little bit lazy and let some of the fuzz make a reappearance. Ugh!

I am typically an epilator kind of girl, especially for summer, but that can take more time than I like, so I like to have a razor at hand for when I want the job done. This razor from Gilette Venus is so nice! I had the old, plain style Venus razor before this, and I was more than happy with it but this just takes it up a level.

This razor contains the great five blade razor head for a great, close exfoliating shave... Then it has the superberry moisture bar with Olay, that feature is so cool! First off, it smells incredible, it makes your legs feel extra silky and it takes out the need for any shaving cream because it creates a light lather on your damp as you shave. It also comes with a cool little in shower holder that you can stick it to the tiles so you can reach for it when you need it!

This razor has totally made me want to bother with shaving my legs more! (Yep, even in the winter!) because it's fun to use and makes my legs feel so lovely. The moisture bar keeps them feeling so soft for ages after too.

Gilette Venus & Olay Superberry Razor* £10.99.

Thank you for reading!

- Love, Sophie xx

Where else to find me..

Facebook | Instagram | Bloglovin | Twitter

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- Fresh Face Essentials!

Today I thought I would round up a few products that I have been using a lot in recent months and been really enjoying. The theme seems to be my face for these.. I’ve been really liking trying new products and finding things that really work for me and my routine.

So first off is the Good Things Manuka Honey Refining Scrub. My goodness this product is absolutely divine! It’s like a luxurious exfoliation and every time I use it I feel like I am smearing oats and honey onto my face. It’s rich in texture and quite sticky in application, but it is so hydrating and the scrubby bits (oatmeal) gets rid of dead skin cells while injecting lovely moisture into your skin with the oils and honey that are in it. Sold? You should be!

This next product is a pricey one but I’m not getting any younger and anything that can help with the aging process and do a good job is a winner for me. This serum from Beauty Lab is lovely, I apply it after cleansing and it soaks in so quickly so that I can moisturise. I focus this in areas such as my forehead, brow line and around the eyes (not too close). Basically, where you would have botox injections. I don’t know if this is botox in a bottle exactly (I've never had the real this), but I have seen and felt differences, my skin feels great and looks more plump when I use this daily.

Bioderma! Everyone and their Mother has used this and I’m probably way late to the party! You know what though? I really like it! At first I didn’t see what the big deal was – I had heard and read so many positive reviews on this and I wasn’t sure why. I’ve come to realise its great though… I use it for my skin, to cleanse it. It removes makeup and leaves my face super fresh and clean feeling. It also works on eye makeup and I sometimes use it for that, but usually on days where I’m not wearing much (rarely). It felt a bit too much like hard work when I wear heavy makeup and an oil based remover does the job quicker.

Last but certainly not least, this little pot of joy from Lush! First off, it smells absolutely flippin’ divine! Like popcorn and all sorts of sweet yumminess. This is for face and body, I am yet to try it on my body though. I do love it for my face though, it has gentle exfoliant in it and it reveals fresh feeling skin that is softer than soft with a delicious scent that hangs around. You just take a small amount in your palm with a few drops of water to form a thick paste. I would tell everyone to try this. It is truly lush!

This post contains PR Samples.*

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St. Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub.

I love exfoliating my face. There is no better feeling that scrubbing away the old cells and revealing soft, fresh skin. One of my favourties to exfoliate with had always been the St. Ives Apricot Scrub*, but I have to be honest and say that after seeing so may other products on the market, I stopped repurchasing this in favour of trying out new things.

Since last using this the packaging has changed quite a bit and I like the look now, it's more fresh and modern. There are also different scrubs for different types of skin. Mine is the invigorating fresh skin scrub and I have fallen in love with this product all over again!

It really does exfoliate deeply and leave me with skin that feel smooth and looks brighter, as well as instantly more radiant. It's also great for the body too, I love using it on my legs before I epilate or shave. Because it is quite a deep exfoliation I would recommend being gentle and not using this daily. I use it 2-3 times a week.

It smells great, exfoliates excellently and it is cheap. What more could you need? I think I am back on the St. Ives scrub bandwagon again!

What scrubs do you guys love?

Available online, here.

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Lovely Locks! ~ L'oreal Oil Spray.

Wow. Long time no post!

So, here I am today with a little review of a product that I have been loving for the past few months.. The L'Oreal Ever Riche Oil for hair.. 

I've been a hair oil addict for a while now and I love the idea of one in a spray bottle, rather than pumping it out and applying it. I find the spray distributes much easier. This oil has so many benefits, it's light and feels so weightless, it smells so amazing, it has no sulphates and it is full of conditioning ingredients.

I like to spritz this onto damp hair and let it dry naturally (my usual way).. It nourishes my hair so well and leaves it feel smooth and looking very healthy. I sometimes like to use it on dry hair too, this works great when my hair is curled or straightened, for straight hair a small amount sprayed on adds incredible shine.. On my curls, it just adds shine and helps to define the curls and minimize the frizz that can come with curly hair.

Soo, my new fave oil of the moment! I got mine in Boots, but I think it's available in supermarkets too, and it's less than £10. 

What are your top hair oils?

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[Video] Maybelline Brow Drama Review/Demo.

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Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation and Shimmer Touch.

I was completely sucked in by all of the hype surrounding the Rimmel 'Wake me up' foundation when it was released. Bloggers and you tubers were raving about this amazing product that gave a gorgeous, natural, dewy, fresh faced finish. I was a little unsure how it would work for me though, because I have oily skin and looking shiny happens naturally for me most of the time.

But when I spotted it on offer in Superdrug last Summer I knew it was a sign, so I picked a bottle up. I am the lightest shade, Ivory, and it's a pretty perfect match for my skin. I got this around the same time that I got my Real Techniques core collection brushes, so I used the foundation brush with this foundation for the first time and I was in heaven.

This foundation makes my skin look so flawless, so glowy and fresh and I don't look like a shiny ball of grease at all... It actually looks good and it has exceeded my expectations and now I am addicted! I still use a primer for oily skin under this and I powder my t-zone too (needed for me), but my skin still looks super fresh and doesn't get super oily, super quick.

A couple of bonuses about the foundation are that the packaging is awesome and has a lovely pump bottle and also the foundation actually smells really good!

So, fast forward a few months and I spot the instant radiance shimmer touch highlighters from the same range... Get this, in a pound shop! As you can imagine, I snapped those babies up. They are perfect for Summer to give a gorgeous glow.. I'd say they're a little too shimmery and pigmented for a highlight on my skin tone, but I like to dot the smallest amount on my cheeks for some added summer freshness and glow.

All I need to do now is try out the concealer.. Which I've heard good things about!  What are your foundation faves?

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Loving .. Eye of Horus Smokey Eye Pencil.

I love eyeliner. I love trying new eyeliners and comparing them to the current fave eyeliner that I am using, whatever that may be. It's like a never ending search for a perfect smudgy, black, long lasting, waterproof eye pencil that stays on the waterline.

This smokey eye pencil* by Eye of Horus (a brand which is new to me) is an excellent eyeliner choice. As you can see from the swatch above, it is the blackest of black, and to add to that, it smudges really well (with the smudger on the other end of the pencil), but you have to be quick because once it sets in place it ain't going anywhere for a while. This is very possibly the blackest liner I own and the one that lasts the best on my waterline. Up until now I've been trying out all sorts, which were good - but not quite as good as this one.

.. The smokey eye pencil from Eye of Horus is uniquely formulated with Jojoba Wax and Mango Oil, and is 100% waterproof, so it glides on without tearing and stays on without imprints on eye lids.

Perfect for day wear to accentuate eyes, or evening wear to get that sensual smokey look. Smudger on tip allows to define or smoulder as much as you like.

Due to the beautiful natural soft waxes and oils in the smokey eye pencil, a high grade cosmetic sharpener must be used to sharpen, clean and maintain the integrity of the pencil. Paraben free ..

So, I really like it, a lot. This brand is Australian, but it's available in a few online shops. If you do a Google search, you'll see. They're a little pricey, but judging by the quality of this liner, they're well worth it. This liner is available from Eye of Horus, or here here for £13.

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- Ume Ni Uguisu Steamcream.

I love testing out lotions and potions for my body and I to see how they perform, especially at this time of year when dry skin is guaranteed with the colder weather. Recently I got this Ume Ni Uguisu Steamcream*  tin to try and I've been enjoying it very much so far...

First off, the packaging is a total winner, this tin is definitely a keeper when I've run out of actual cream.. It would be so perfect to keep earrings in or something. They have loads of different designed tins, each one is unique and really cute!

As for the actual Steamcream, I really like it. A big reason for that is because it's a great multi-use product and I love a product that has more than one use. I have used this for my hands, face, body and even a tiny bit to tame frizz in the ends of my hair! It's very hydrating and works really well under makeup, to soften those drier areas like elbows and heels and even on hair like I said. It also smells really good, very fresh and natural.

This product gets a thumbs up from me. Take a look for yourself here and check out the cool tin designs here. I'm loving them!

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The Fragrance Shop Discovery Box. Mmm!

I’ve mentioned the Discovery Box* from The Fragrance Shop on my blog a few times, It’s just £5 a quarter and I love the concept of being able to try out a few scents and deciding what you like before you go ahead and buy a full size… Plus the box comes with a set of money off vouchers to each fragrance that’s in the box, so you can purchase it and save some cash too, definitely worth the money, although not so good if you want to get them all. Haha!

So the latest box is like a bonus bumper box and comes full of nine (instead of the usual five) sample scents for you (and your man) to try, it comes with three male scents and six female ones.

So, I gave the guy ones to my boyfriend (Boss Bottled, Hugo Man and L’Eau d’Issey Pour Homme) I think we like them all too much to decide at the moment, I do think that I like the Issey Miyake the most though.

For myself, I am in heaven and actually do like all of the scents. The six female scents are:

Thierry Mugler, Angel: This is so potent and I do like it, but it’s not my fave of the bunch, I think it’s a little strong for me, definitely an evening scent.. My Mum is in love with this though. It’s very intense and it lasts all night.

Thierry Mugler, Alien: I'm in love. This is one of my faves in the box, I had heard the hype on this but never smelt it before.. it is gorgeous and I think I’ll be purchasing a bottle with my voucher! The full size bottle design is so cool too.

Nina Ricci, Nina: This is very fruity and summery, a perfect fresh scent for when the spring time comes. I like the scent a lot.

Gucci, Gucci Guilty: I love this one too and I want a full size, this is quite a deep scent and smells sexy and kind of musky to me (I am not a good at describing scent!) it would be an evening fragrance for me.

Givenchy, Very Irresistible: Sweet, floral, stunning. I really love floral scents and would totally wear this throughout the Summer.

Jean Paul Gaultier, Classique: This is already one of my favourite scents, I am currently out of it so getting this sample has just reminded me how much I love this and want a new bottle. It smells floral again, but muskier and it’s not such a sweet floral. It smells so good!

Check out the website here, the box is currently available!

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Dirty Looks - Tigi Haircare Review.

I have a bit of an obsession with hair products, especially ones that offer texture and/or volume. Recently I was contacted by the lovely people at Dirty Looks (great name!) and I chose three of their styling products to try out… I almost went with hair extensions but with my ombre I wasn’t sure I could make it work.. One day when I go back to all one colour though, for sure!

So anyway, I happened to choose three products from the Tigi range, I always remember loving products from this brand when I was training to do hair in college and I had a weekend job in a salon. They always smelt great and performed so well.

So what did I choose and what did I think? Read on!

*Tigi Your Highness Root Boost Spray (£12.15)

I have never tried anything like this before and it’s absolutely marvellous! It’s like a spray, but it sprays out a mousse out of a very fine nozzle! It’s a very lightweight mousse and smells great. It performs great, it gives instant va-va-voom to any style, adding major volume and hold without being sticky or making your hair feel overloaded with product.

*Tigi Transforming Dry Shampoo (£12.95)

Ugh, my gaaad! I am IN LOVE with this, hands down the best dry shampoo I have ever tried. Yes, it’s a little more pricy than some other brands, but it really works and you don’t have to spray loads on for it to leave your hair looking refreshed. It’s also invisible, which is a bonus for us dark haired girls, oh and did I mention that it smells amazing? . . It smells uh-ma-zing, I am kind of addicted to the scent it leaves and find myself having a sneaky sniff of my hair. (Not weird at all!)

*Tigi Salt Spray (£13.95)

Salt Spray is a pretty new thing to me, I think I got a mini sample of one in a beauty box and tried it out and enjoyed the texture that it gave to my hair. This stuff is wow, it smells delish and it really enhances my hair, giving me a totally beachy waved look. I just spray it into my damp hair and keep on scrunching as it naturally dries .. so much texture and volume! It’s massive too, so should keep me going a while. Love!

The packaging is so sleek and eye catching on these products, you can definitely tell they are a professional hair range and if you look on the website at the Tigi range you will see they have some weird and wonderful packaging creations.. I love that, it makes them stand out.

So there you have it! If you can’t already tell… I now totally want to dip my toe further into the world of Tigi hair products. I’m thinking maybe some things to help enhance my curls next!

Have you tried Tigi products? Tell me your faves!

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Sleek + Shiny Good Hair Days!

I rarely straighten my hair, mostly because in the past couple of years I’ve been embracing the natural curl that my hair has, and to be honest I wear it up more than anything else. I hate that I wear it up so much but it’s just an easy option after I’ve washed it.

When I was younger my hair was a crazy frizz, I had no idea how to control it really and there weren’t really hair strengtheners around (or not that I knew of!).. Then one day I remember a friend of mine showed me her shiny new GHD straighteners, like me she was a frizz battler and when she used them I was in awe at how sleek her hair was. From then on I was a convert and my hair was always sleek and straight and I remember saving up for my very own GHD’s which lasted me for years.

Since then GHD have released multiple different models of their flat irons and I now own the gorgeous Classic Gold straightener. They are a huge upgrade on my first pair appearance wise, but they still do that amazing job of giving me sleek, shiny hair! (As you can see!)

The plates are so smooth and glide effortlessly through my hair without snagging at all, leaving it poker straight with just one pass over a section of hair, my hair is sleek in less than 15 minutes.

These straighteners come with a protective heat guard which is perfect for when you’re done so that you can set them aside without risking burning yourself (these get pretty hot), and it also protects the ceramic plates. They heat up within ten seconds and you are ready to go, the lead is over two metres long, so you have freedom to move around your head, and they have a sleep mode, so if you happen to forget to switch them off, they will go into sleep mode after 30 minutes.

I love them and I love how sleek my hair looks when I use them, I think I may just be going for this sleek look more often now - I never realised my hair was so long. It's amazing how they lock in shine and make my hair look so healthy. I also know that you can curl with them too because they have curved edges on the plates, but I am still trying to master that. Any tips?

Want to try these for yourself? You can check out hair straighteners from GHD here at Argos.

This post is in association with Argos.

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L'Oreal Nude Magique Eau De Teint Review.

So, I have had this bottle of foundation for about a month or so now. I had seen multiple reviews on You Tube from US people before it was even out here. I was intrigued about it, they had been mostly positive and I always want to try every single new makeup product that's out, because I am an addict. Yep, I admit it!

So, I got this and I tried it and I wasn't sure at first - but now I really like it. So, the first time I used it I hadn't moisturised first and it clung on to every tiny dry patch I had on my face (not too many!) .. However, after moisturiser I don't have that problem. I always use my fingers, because this is so runny and I suspect a brush would just soak it up. It recommends you use them too.

So I dot it on and blend.. It blends effortlessly and looks so nice as it smooths everything in it's path, my pores look a little smaller and everything just looks more fresh. It sets to a velvet soft powdery finish, but I always add a little more because I'm oily skinned anyway. The finish is so natural looking and weightless, it doesn't give major coverage, but for me it evens my skin out and makes me feel better about it.

Another thing to note (if it matters to you) is that it photographs well too. The picture above isn't to show this point, that is just to show how it evens out my skin. But I can tell you that with a flash it looks great and so natural. So, I love this! It's going to be a part of my collection for a long time to come, I am sure of it. Oh, I love the packaging too, I heard people complain about the non pump bottle, so you had to pour it, but it's such a runny foundation so I don't think it makes a difference if you have a pump or not.. Just my thoughts!

You can purchase this from Boots for £9.99 (worth every penny) and I wear the lightest shade, which is great for pale skinned faces.

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- The Body Shop - White Musk Smoky Rose.

I really love The Body Shop products and their fragrances. They were all I wore in my teenage years, I think I used to love one called Dewberry which I don't know you can even get now. My Mum constantly wore White Musk from them and she still loves it now, the smell of it always reminds me of her.

This year The Body Shop have released a new fragrance, based around White Musk, but with a hint of Smoky Rose, aptly named White Musk Smoky Rose*. First thing I want to point out is the packaging, the gradient rose colour on the bottle is so pretty! I also love the simplicity of the clean glass perfume bottles from The Body Shop. I just love the colour here on this bottle though, it looks pretty on my dresser.

As for the scent.. I actually really, really enjoy it. The White Musk is detectable, but it's much sweeter, more feminine and floral smelling, much more daytime girly I think. I love it. The scent lasts pretty well on me too, I don't find myself having to spray some on every hour or so, like some other perfumes that I own.

This would make a great gift for any woman in your life if they like sweet, feminine, musky scents. They have lots of gift sets at the moment too. See their website, here.

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→ Healgel: This time for my ... Face!

After recently mentioning my love for the Healgel Eye, I was excited to try and see how some other products from the range worked for me. For the past month or so I've been using the Healgel Face*.

I have to mention again how I love the simplicity of the products in the range, the almost medical looking sticker that tells you exactly what you're using and what to expect from it. I think lots of skincare brands can make the mistake of over complicating things sometimes.

So, Healgel Face.. Let's talk about it! 

What They Say...

This step-changing complex acts like HealGel Intensive to rescue unhappy skin, but then takes its transformative effect to the next level.  Arnica and Madecassoside are suspended in liposomes with powerful peptides and biodynes to initiate a uniquely soothing and collagen boosting process.  HealGel Face also contains a unique blend of Omega Oils to replenish dehydrated skin and restore elasticity.  To this another vital dimension is added; a powerful three part hyaluronic acid complex provides a plumping and tightening effect.

My Thoughts...

Lots and lots of promises there. I have to be honest, I don't really understand all the Sciencey stuff about products like some bloggers do, if something sounds good or looks good, I'll buy it/try it. This isn't a drugstore product from the shelf of Superdrug though, this is serious. Healgel face costs £48 a bottle. 

It has a gel like texture and I use it after cleansing my skin. It smooths on nicely and doesn't leave any residue, soaking in within minutes and leaving me with fresh, radiant looking skin, ready for makeup application, or not. 

When I first started using it I wasn't sure if it was doing too much apart from making my skin feel good after I applied it, but after a few weeks I started noticing differences, my skin did feel more naturally plump and it looked smoother too, less pores. Even my boyfriend commented last week (no kidding!) that I was starting to look younger. I think he puts it down to the fact that I'm eating healthier now. I think it's down to this!

So, all in all, yes it's pricey, but I only use it twice a day, and you really don't need a lot for the whole face. It's a luxury product, one that over time will make you feel better about your face. A real skincare treat. I'm thinking my Mum would love a bottle of this. :)

Available Here.

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Simple - Illuminating Radiance Cream.

We all hate that dull look that our skin can get during the winter, don't we? I know I do... As I said in a recent post, my (oily) skin becomes dry and patchy in places where it never usually does. I've been trying to battle this. Everyone wants fresh looking, glowy skin that looks healthy, don't they? Especially in the winter.

Recently I've been using the Illuminating Radiance Cream* from Simple. Who even knew they had such a product? I didn't, I just thought they had the simple cleanser/toner/moisturiser, but it seems I'm wrong on that.

What They Say...

You take care of your skin every day but sometimes, what you really want is an instant radiance boost. Discover our illuminating radiance cream, infused with multi-vitamins, skin-loving ingredients and light reflecting minerals: it captures the light for immediate natural radiant looking skin. It also protects your skin from UVA and UVB (SPF 15). Perfect even for sensitive skin.

My Thoughts...

Firstly, I don't believe this is a moisturiser, although it does have some hydration in it. I always like to apply a little under my moisturiser, or I mix this with my foundation.. Or on a non-makeup day I just wear it mixed with moisturiser. 

I love the packaging, it has a pump bottle which I love, and the colours of the bottle are really appealing. It's a nice texture that blends in easily and doesn't feel greasy at all. When I first tried it, I applied it to one side of my face and left the other plain and I could really tell a difference, the side with the cream looked healthy and glowy, the other half was dull (hah!). I don't know how because it just looks like a lotion and even looking up close I could not see the shimmer that it must contain to give my skin the radiant look, but it does.

There are other creams on the market that do the same things as this, I think Clarins have one and it's quite pricey, but this is just £8.99! Perfect for the Summer months too because of the SPF 15. I really love this and will definitely repurchase, it's a great pick me up for tired skin.

Available here.

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