Review || Boots Essentials Refreshing Cucumber Range

I have always been a very big fan of Boots own brand called 'Essentials'. I have been using their moisturiser and cleansing lotion since I was 16 and they're my holy grail products. Recently I decided to buy the whole collection excluding the face wash and eye makeup remover pads as I don't think they're worth trying due to having something similar in the past (not saying that those ones aren't good). I went for the cucumber collection as have combination skin which can be sensitive, as I know for a fact that cucumber extract helps calm redness. I love the scent of all the products as it is fresh and makes my skin feel energised and clean. Right, let's get onto reviewing the products!

Boots Essentials Refreshing Cucumber Cleansing Wipes £1.00

I don't really like using wipes, I prefer to cleanse my skin with lotion and makeup remover and then wash it off rather than rubbing my makeup into my skin by using wipes. However, these wipes are different from the ones I've tried before as they don't rub my makeup in, but get rid of it instantly. I would say I only need two wipes to take my whole makeup off which is pretty impressive as with other cheap wipes I will probably use up around 5 to just try and take my mascara off! They are very soft and lightly fragranced but the scent doesn't irritate me at all as it is mild and makes me feel like I've been to the spa after as it leaves my skin feeling very soft! These wipes have since been reformulated and are now biodegradable.

Boots Essentials Refreshing Cucumber Eye Makeup Gel Remover £1.50

I don't use this product too often as I find it too watery and slightly sticky to take my mascara off but I don't mind it for taking my foundation off as it does the same job as micellar water. I must say that I am really disappointed with this product and I don't think it's good at all. It's merely okay, but it won't take any eye makeup off - especially not waterproof or high-end mascara. I much prefer the Nivea Double Effect Eye Makeup Remover, which is a decent dupe for Clinique's Take The Day Off Liquid Remover.

Boots Essentials Refreshing Cucumber Cleansing Lotion £1.50

I love love love this product. It takes all my makeup off within seconds and lasts for ages. It is a good dupe for Liz Earle's Cleanse & Polish makeup remover as it melts the makeup off while moisturising and cleansing the face. I do usually tend to wash this off with warm water and I don't use a flannel - I prefer to use cotton pads as I find them more convenient. I do think that a warm flannel might work better with this product as it'll help to slightly exfoliate your skin after a long day of wearing makeup.

Boots Essentials Refreshing Cucumber Facial Toner £1.50

This is a really good toner, especially for the price. I have repurchased this product many times as it is so affordable and always leaves my skin feeling fresh, soft and well cleansed. It's suitable for all skin types and doesn't irritate the skin. I find that it helps to reduce the redness on my skin and keep my blemishes down. This would make a great first toner for anyone with acne-prone skin, and I wish I used it when I was younger.

Boots Essentials Refreshing Cucumber Eye Gel £1.50

I was a bit hesitant when it came to purchasing this product as I've read mixed reviews of it and never really liked any eye gels, but I have actually really enjoyed using this product. I find it refreshing on my skin and it does make my under-eyes feel refreshed as well as reduce any swelling I might get from not getting enough sleep. I tend to use this product mostly in my morning routine, as I find it helps to wake me up.

Boots Essentials Refreshing Cucumber Moisturising Cream £1.50

This is one of the best moisturisers I have ever used. At such an affordable price it not only hydrates and softens the skin but also helps to reduce redness and blemishes (in my case anyway). I really do recommend this product to anyone who's trying to save some money and still expect great results. I always repurchase it and I'm never disappointed with the results! At only £1.50 for 100ml, this should last you at least 6 months!

Boots Essentials Refreshing Cucumber Facial Scrub £1.50

I am really fussy when it comes to facial cleansing products such as scrubs. I usually tend to go for Clearasil or Neutrogena, so when I picked this up I was hoping it would be as good as the other products from the collection! I really want to say that I love this because of the texture and scent, but it doesn't do anything for my skin at all :(

It's good for cleansing but I expect more from a scrub - I want it to exfoliate my whole face leaving it feeling right and fresh but it just makes me want to wash it again with a different product. Update - I have since worked in skincare for 3 years and can say that this product is actually pretty good, especially for those who have dry or acne-prone skin. It isn't a rough scrub, but that doesn't mean that it's not doing its job! (I do not use abrasive scrubs anymore and would happily try this one again).

Boots Essentials Refreshing Cucumber Clay Face Mask £1.50

I love this face mask! It does wonders for my skin, moisturises it while getting rid of all the toxins and dead skin cells. I find that it cleanses my skin well leaving it feeling fresh and soft. Using this mask twice a week will give you the best results, but don't overuse it or keep it on your skin for longer than the required 3 minutes as it might dry you out.

For 50ml per tube, this is a very affordable product that lasts around 3 months with regular use, so I'd definitely recommend this product! 

Boots Essentials Facial Exfoliating Sponge £1.75

I needed an exfoliating sponge and because Boots had an offer on all the essential products 3 for 2 then I decided to get one to try it out. I am really happy with this as it really gets rid of all excess oils and dirt from my face leaving it feeling baby smooth. The only thing which you might not like about this is that both sides are quite rough and it does hurt a bit if you have sensitive skin, but in that case, you could use it as a body exfoliator instead.

On top of the products already mentioned in this post, I would also recommend the face wash from this range but you should avoid the micellar water as it is absolutely rubbish.

Have you tried any of these products? If so, what did you think of them? 

*This post contains some affiliate links.

Lots of love,

Maya xo

Christmas Wishlist featuring POWDER

Good Evening my lovelies!

Excluding today, we now only have 5 more Mondays until Christmas. Say what?!?! I am beyond excited and thought I'd start creating wishlists and gift ideas to help you guys with your Christmas shopping! (I've already done mine tehe). 

I recently came across a fabulous accessory brand called Powder on The Blogger Programme and just had to share my wishlist with you! They have some gorgeous products which are expired by the likes of Twiggy, Marilyn Monroe etc. Very 1960's - my cup of tea!

So unfortunatelly I couldn't squish all the pictures together but I will post individual pictures with a brief decription below. But just look at those beautiful accessories! Aren't they just to die for? It was very difficult for me choosing my favourite pieces from the whole collection and I narrowed it down to 8!! 

First up we have this beautiful faux fur Chamonix Headband which comes in several colours. It retails at £22 which is quite pricey for just a furry headband, but so worth it! I'm pretty sure Topshop sells similar ones for about £28, so you do save a bit of money! I would love to find this in my Xmas stocking this year!

I'm a massive fan of mittens as not only do they keep me warm but they look so cute with a big puffy jacket or a fluffy sweater! These Igloo Mittens come in 3 gorgeous colours at £20 and I love the nude/taupe shade as I believe it would go with more outfits!

This matching Igloo Hat is so adorable! I don't usually wear hats in Winter and when I do they're usually big floppy hats, but this beanie would look lovely paired up with the mittens wearing skinny jeans and an oversized jumper. Being only £20 it's affordable and you have to get the matching mittens!

This fabulous Chamonix clutch bag is a must have this season. It's a great statement accessory for fun days out and glam nights out! It is a whooping £40 but it is so beautiful, how could anyone say no?

These Ingrid Gloves come in 4 gorgeous shades for only £16.50! They are very 1960's and would look great with a cocoon jacket and some pretty boots.

I have always been a big fan of brooches and then I came upon this lovely Crown Brooch for only £18 and I think it would look amazing attached to the Chamonix clutch.

These lovely Rosie Mittens are only £13!! I'll take five please!! They come in two different shades and unfortunately the lovely powdery pink ones are sold out, but the orange ones are just as nice!

This gorgeous Tabitha Scarf comes in 4 shades and is perfect for Spring as it is made out of quite thin material so it still blocks out the cold without suffocating you with all the thick material! It retails at £22 which is a bargain for such a pretty accessory that you an practically wear all year round!

Have you done any of your Christmas shopping yet? Do you own any Powder accessories?

Have you also entered my giveaway? If not, then hurry!! Only 5 days left! Enter here.

Lots of love,

Maya xo

Beauty Giveaway

Hi everyone!

I hope you all know how much I appreciate you spending your time reading my posts and leaving comments, always being so devoted and caring! I thought I'd treat a lucky gal/guy to a few products through a new giveaway! It is worth nearly £52 so I think I've done well with providing all these items with my own money!! This giveaway will only last around a week as I am planning on creating a new one in December which will be more festive than this one!

So as you can see there's a variety of products in this giveaway which includes the following:

- 3 pairs of patterned socks from New Look

- Roll on perfume in 'Pure Dusk' from New Look

- Makeup Revolution eyeshadow palette in 'Iconic 3'

- MUA eyebrow kit in 'Dark'

- MUA brick highlighter in 'Iridescent Gold'

- Wella Professionals Moisturising Hair Treatment Mask

- Eyelure false eyelashes in 'Double Lashes'

- LE Christmas 2015 Minnie Mouse from Disney Store

So as you guys can see, there's a few things to be won which are (well, should be) everyones favourites! Even if you wouldn't keep the products for yourself they would make great Christmas stocking gifts! I especially love the eyeshadow palette and will definitely be getting one for myself soon! 

Good luck to everyone! 'May the odds be ever in your favour'!! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Lots of love,

Maya xo

Preparing for uni life

Hi guys,

Today's post is slightly different and I decided to share with you my honest opinion of my first semester at university with tips on how to survive and prepare yourself for the drastic change after college. Whether you're staying at home while at uni or living in an accommodation you will still need as much financial and social help as possible.

I was entitled to a grant as well as a loan so I did receive a large amount of money to spend on the things I needed for my studies. I have decided to spend my first instalment on everything I needed for the first year and then save the following two instalments for the future. I spent my money on an iPad Air 2 with 128Gb with a wireless keyboard and a new pair of headphones. That was a pricey investment but I'm very glad I bought it as it is a lot easier for me to take notes as it speeds up the process and automatically correct my spelling haha! It is also easier for me to carry as I don't have to drag heavy books around with me all day! 

The next product I splurged on was a new pair of straighteners - GHD coral edition. I needed new straighteners as my Vidal Sassoon ones broke after being a very dear friend to me for 5 years :(. I had to treat myself for getting into my first choice uni! I bought most of my books that I will need in order to pass my first year (duh, kind of the most important thing) and lots and lots of stationary! 

I also splurged on makeup and clothes for winter - so I'm warm and cosy all season round! On top of that I needed a haircut and was going to have a regular trim at one of the hair salons I usually go for, but I decided to go to Vidal Sassoon to see for myself what all the fuss is about and you'll find out soon with my upcoming post featuring their hair products! 

I do regret splurging so much and not saving enough money, however I have learnt from my mistake and have now been putting away some money to the side for whenever I might need it seeing as I do spend my monthly wages on random crap! I have realised that becoming an adult comes with a lot of responsibilities especially if you go to uni and stay at home. I feel more independent but not independent enough to take many matters into my own hands. I feel like I'm rarely at home and don't spend a lot of time with my family which is upsetting but I do have a lot going on with my uni work and my actual job as well as trying to maintain a social life and attend society events. 

The first rule is - pack all the necessities and more. You can never have too many clothes - bring everything that you need with you as you might not find the time to do your weekly wash, so you need to have some spare clothes to wear on laundry days! Make sure you bring a medicine cabinet with you (literally). Even though I live at home I have bought so many types of medicine, plasters, creams etc. To keep in my room away from everyone so they don't nick any of it and that its always available to me. I keep a packet of ibuprofen tablets and plasters in my handbag just in case I needed them. Next step -food. Make sure you have a lot of 'emergency' food such as baked beans, spaghetti hoops, soups etc. As you might not always have the time to cook a proper meal or lack ingredients, so this is the easiest way to survive! I would also recommend purchasing a water filter jug instead of spending loads on bottled water as it does taste exactly the same and is always available, saving you time on running to the shop for some water.  

Another rule is - you can never have too much stationary. I own tonnes of ring-binders, refill pads, pens, pencils etc. The only thing I want now is to have my own printer as I don't like to carry all the printouts from uni to my house, because when I do print out things there's millions of it and I'd hate for it to crease in my bag.

Make sure you join societies in order to make friends who share similar interests to you as this will help you gain needed social skills and make you more appealing to employers. Sports are also important as they keep you fit and you also get to meet a lot of people with similar interests and hobbies. I personally haven't joined any sport societies or clubs, but I am a member of the Sociology Society and Fashion Society. I just wish there was a Blogger society!!

I think what helped me the most to organise my free time and study time was creating a timetable of when I have my lectures and seminars and when I'd like to revise and ow long for. We are supposed to do 20 hours of independent work each week after all....


How have you guys prepared for uni? Are any of you staying at home while studying like me?

Lots of love,

Maya xo

2015 || October Favourites

Hi beauties!

So I know I've been lazy again not sticking to my blogging schedule, but I have many great posts for you guys coming soon!

I know I've bombarded you with monthly favourites last week which I had to catch up on, and they have been rushed, but let's hope you guys enjoy this post!

So, last month favourites are all beauty related. There's the FATHAIR dry shampoo, L'oreal's Sublime Bronze moisturising oil, Superdrug's own brand Tea Tree Skincare, Rimmel's Stay Matte powder, and MAC's Studio Sculpt foundation and Fluidline brow gelcreme.

The first product I am going to talk to you guys about is the FATHAIR dry shampoo. It was a great find as me and my mum found it in Poundworld so quickly grabbed one each to try it out, especially as it retails at £5.99 in superdrug. I was disappointed with this product at first as I didn't think it gave my hair much volume, nor the 'cleaninless' if that's even a word? I thought it was really bad compared to my all time favourite Batiste, however I started using it more to see if maybe it was a bad hair day I experienced, and I was right. This product is amazing, it lifted my roots up and made my hair look 3 times bigger than normal. It also made my hair look less greasy after not washing it for 1-2 days. I highly recommend it, and hope you guys can find it in Poundworld like I have!

The next product is L'oreal's Sublime Bronzing oil. It was also a great find in Poundworld (honestly, it is probably one of my favourite shops now!). It made my skin feel very soft and not at all greasy. It's a great tan enhancer as it moisturises the skin and preps it in order to keep fake tan on for longer. I combined it with my MakeBelieve fake tan and the results were fantastic. I felt really good about how my skin looked, especially as I'm naturally very pale, it was a nice feeling!

I walked into Superdrug to find myself surrounded by lots of offers and I came upon this great Tea Tree range with the products being on offer 2 for £4. I've never tried Superdrug's own brand skincare products so thought I'll give it a go, especially as I was in need of some new spot treatment products. The cleanser/toner is very gentle on my skin and makes it feel soft and fresh - exactly what I was looking for. It cleanses spots and blackheads well getting rid of excess oils, leaving the skin feeling tight and smooth. On the other hand, the foaming facial wash was trickier to use as the foam started evaporating as soon as I put it on my hand and felt quite odd putting it on my face, but the results were unexpectedly good. It made my skin feel very clean and fresh, but I did have to use it twice in one wash in order to get rid of all oils and dead skin cells. I would definitely recommend both of the products to anyone who's suffering with bad skin, as they are affordable and good value for money.

Rimmel's Stay Matte powder was something I wasn't too sure about buying as I've had it before when I first started wearing make-up 5-6 years ago and I didn't like it very much, however I recently repurchased this item as it was on offer in Boots for 3 for 2 and because I needed a spare powder to keep in my bag rather than having to take my huge Chanel loose powder as it goes everywhere if I keep it in my bag! I chose the transparent shade as I don't like high coverage powders and only wanted to use it on my T-zone to reduce the appearance of oil on my skin and it does a pretty good job. It retails at only £3.99 and is totally worth getting as it makes my foundation stay on for longer and reduces the appearance of oil on skin.

I recently ran out of my BrowZings from Benefit and I was really upset! Even though it lasted me for nearly 2 years  and was an amazing product, I decided to go for something new just to try it out. I went into my local MAC store and asked for help with my brows and got told that the shade 'Dirty Blonde' would suit me best. I agreed with them at the time but now that I've changed my hair colour back to grey I don't think it suits me that much so I go over it with an ashy eye shadow. However, It is very easy to apply and lasts forever once it's been applied properly. I do like to go over my eyebrows throughout the day to make them appear slightly darker and neater if I've had the same make-up on for a whole day. I would recommend this product for people who know how to apply gel products with a brush and have a steady hand as I struggled with the application for the first few days of having this products until I watched a couple of YouTube tutorials.

Last but not least, MAC's Studio Sculpt foundation in NW15. I have always been a big fan of MAC's foundations and this time I wanted to go for something moisturising rather than mattifying and was advised to go for Studio Sculpt. I was very excited to try this foundation but once I got home I thought I made a terrible decision as it didn't sit well on my face and kept smudging in places and didn't cover any redness etc. I was very disappointed with it until I started using a different technique while applying this product. I use a different foundation brush and then dab powder onto my skin and add a bit of Fix Plus spray to keep my face looking fresh and make-up last longer. I would recommend this foundation for people who have normal to dry skin and mostly with 'perfect' skin aka zero spots as it doesn't look great on my skin (I have many post acne scars).

Have you tried any of these products? What are your October Favourites?

Lots of love,

Maya xo