Soap and Glory Scrubatomic Daily Face Polish

Good exfoliation is a crucial part of my skincare regime and a step I go through multiple times throughout the week. For me, exfoliating only once a week is not enough (my skin craves more), however this means I need to be careful when choosing an exfoliant because I don’t want to use something too harsh. This is why the Soap and Glory Scrubatomic Daily Face Polish is so great.

This is a scrub with natural AHA fruit smoothers (bilberry, sugarcane, orange) and microbeads made of clay and silica (full ingredients list here). So you get both a manual and chemical exfoliation in a creamy base that is super gentle for every day. I use it maybe 3 times a week, sometimes more if need be, and it never irritates my face or makes it red so you can use it in the morning. I think it is a great product to use as an introduction of AHA and chemical exfoliation because it is so gentle. As always though, you should do a patch test before use just to make sure you skin is fine with it.  

After use, I am always left with brighter and smoother looking skin. The beads are never scratchy and I find it very easy to rinse off, no stubborn beads will stay stuck to you face and the creamy base does not leave sticky residues. The tube lasts for a long time because you only need to use a little at a time since it contains lots of beads. It also smells deliciously fruity, making the experience even more pleasant.

The Soap and Glory Scrubatomic Daily Face Polish is a great and affordable exfoliator, you can read more about it on their website and it is available in drugstores that carry the brand like Boots. 

Bourjois 1 Seconde Nail Enamel in Rouge in Style

Like most girls, I love wearing nail polish and while my application technique has improved from the days where I would coat nail and cuticle in a thick layer of polish, the one thing that has not changed is my patience. I just can’t sit still once I have painted them which often results in me denting the polish, frustratingly giving up on the whole affair and removing everything. So when I got the Bourjois 1 Seconde Nail Enamel in Rouge in Style as a gift with purchase from Boots, I was intrigued.

The idea of such a polish conjured images of perfectly painted nails and no maddening battles with nail polish remover. According to Bourjois, you can paint your nails in one second due to the gel formula and it large brush with a curved edge. In reality, I would say that it takes a bit more than one second but the brush fits the nailbed really well and to formula is so creamy and pigmented that you can easily get away with one coat.

As for the results, the finish is glossy and the polish dries very quickly. I think this is the perfect to use when you are in a hurry and it is quite a handy product to have around. That being said, for all the positive aspects the formula lacks in wear-time. This sadly did not last more than a day without chipping on me. Obviously with such a vibrant shade the chips were quite noticeable so I mostly use it when I’m in a hurry because it looks gorgeous when first painted on.

If I were to purchase one from the line, I would go for a lighter color since any chipping would be less noticeable. To me this is quite a convenient polish to own because of the formula, but I would not say it is a must-have. 

The Bourjois 1 Seconde Nail Enamel is available from Boots and Superdrug in the U.K., you can also find it on Feelunique or have a look at the Bourjois website for store locators. 

Barry M Gelly Hi Shine in Blackberry

Spring is usually all about pastel colors for nails and as much as I love the trend, sometimes it just does not feel appropriate. I know we are almost at the end of April, but I can still see patches of snow trying to hold on outside. This is why I turned to one of my favorite transitional nail polishes: Barry M Gelly Hi Shine in Blackberry.

I love wearing this in the fall, but I realized it is also perfect for spring when the weather is still cool. Blackberry is a gorgeous inky blue shade and I find it quite unique because it does not have any purple undertones at all. It’s a perfect in between shade, not too light or too dark and the cream finish makes it super chic.

As for the formula, I love the Gelly Hi Shine line, the polish is opaque in two coats, the finish is super glossy and the dry time is minimal. The polish also wears really well, it lasted several days on me without chipping even though I did a lot of manual that normally destroys my nail polish. Barry M created a solid line with great quality products at a super affordable price. I highly recommend this nail polish and I think a few other colors will make their way to my collection in the future.

The Barry M Gelly Hi Shine in Blackberry is available in the U.K. from Boots and Superdrugand you can also find it on the Barry M website. 

L’Oréal Color Riche Lipstick in Cassis Passion

Having a great day-to-night lipstick is essential to any busy girl. I’m always carrying tons of lip products around, but there are days when I enjoy simply having one lipstick that can give me different looks. One of my favorites is the L’Oréal Color Riche Lipstick in Cassis Passion. 

This is a creamy berry shade that’s perfectly balanced, it’s not too red or too pink and it doesn’t pull purple on me. You can pat it on for a nice stain or apply it straight from the bullet for a more intense finish. The formula is super pigmented and creamy, it doesn’t drag on the lips and you don’t need to apply multiple layers to get great color payoff. It’s a fantastic product that does not disappoint and the gold packaging looks really chic.  

        

                               

Saving the best for last, the L’Oréal Color Riche Lipstick in Cassis Passion is super affordable and you can easily find it at the drugstore. Boots and Superdrug in the U.K. often have it on offer. This specific color seems to only be available in Europe but the Color Riche line has a great color selection that’s definitely worth checking out. 

Bourjois Magic Nail Polish Remover

I have a quick review for you today and the product in question is all about helping you save time. The Bourjois Magic Nail Polish Remover makes quick work of removing all traces of nail polish in matters of seconds, it really is magical.

All the magic happens inside the plastic bottle, it contains a sponge that is soaked in remover formula. There is a hole in the middle of the sponge so you simply need to put your finger inside and wiggle it around the sponge to remove your nail polish. After seconds you’re left with clean nails and the sponge really helps get the polish off  the sides and cuticles. 

                           

           

As for the formula, I think it’s amazing. It contains sweet almond oil, making it very moisturizing and keeping your nails from feeling uncomfortable like some acetone remover to do. The sweet almond oil also helps mask the typical scent of nail polish remover and since you’re not pouring it, your room won’t smell of chemicals afterwards.

I’ve been using mine for months and I’ m really impressed by the quality of this product. The sponge has not started drying out and the formula is still as efficient as ever. It works well on both dark and pale nail polishes, but you should not use it on glitter polish to avoid tearing the sponge. For less than £5 it’s a great budget buy and a staple in my bathroom cabinet.

You can find the Bourjois Magic Nail Polish Remover from Boots and Superdrug in the U.K. For the rest of the world I suggest having a look at your local Bourjois counter, it’s definitely worth tracking down.

Soap and Glory's The Righteous Butter

Hi everyone, today I’m back with a new body product review. I think the very cold weather in Canada is inspiring me and using a good body butter after a long bath helps me deal with the cold and keeps my skin soft. So without further ado let’s talk about Soap and Glory’s The Righteous Butter.

I picked up this travel size tub when I was in England and I regret not getting the full size one. Unlike most body butters, this one melts into the skin very quickly and it doesn’t leave my skin feeling greasy. It is fragranced with the original pink Soap and Glory scent which has a mix of floral and fruity notes (it smells amazing) and the scent does linger a bit on your skin.

What impressed me the most with this product was that the morning after I used it, my skin was noticeably smoother and softer. It’s a very emollient product and it moisturizes deeply instead of staying on top of your skin. The shea butter and aloe vera it contains are a winning combination in my book and I can’t wait to purchase the full size.

You can pick up Soap and Glory’s The Righteous Butter from Boots starting at £2.50 for the travel size and £10.50 for the full size tub. In Canada, I recommend having a look in your local Shopper Drug Mart. 

Soap and Glory Hand Food

Soap and Glory's Hand Food is a much talked about hand cream and all the hype surrounding it led me to purchase it a few months ago.

As far as hand creams go, this one is quite decent, it's very creamy formula moisturizes the skin well and I love the scent (it reminds me of Dior's Miss Dior perfume). The travel size is super convenient and the formula sinks in quickly. However, I have to say this is not the most nourishing hand cream out there, but it is still nice to use on the go.

You can find Soap and Glory's Hand Food from Boots in the U.K. and in Shoppers Drug Mart in Canada. The mini size retails for £2.50 and the full size is priced at £5.50.

Soap and Glory Scrub'Em and Leave'Em

Today, I have a very quick review for you all. After finishing my pot of Soap and Glory’s Flake Away, I decided to try Scrub’Em and Leave’Em. This one has a creamier base and contains little beads that gently buff away dead skin cells. I found it much more gentle than Flake Away which is great if you have sensitive skin, but I prefer something a bit more abrasive when it comes to body scrubs. However this milder option allowed me to use it as a daily scrub without over exfoliating my skin. Scent wise, it has a fresh floral fragrance that I found very uplifting in the morning, as it is less heady than the original Soap and Glory fragrance (the original is still my favorite though).

I got this mini travel size Scrub’Em and Leave’Em from Boots for £2.50 and you can get the full size for £8.00. In Canada you can have a look in your local Shoppers Drug Mart as they carry a selection of products from the brand.  

L'Oréal Glam Bronze Mono

Now that we are on our way to winter, I sometimes feel like my skin could use a bit of warmth. When this happens, I reach for a light bronzer and one I have been enjoying recently is the L’Oréal Glam Bronze Mono in Blonde Sun (#00). This is the perfect shade if you have very fair skin and don’t want to look like an Oompa Loompa. It is a great mix of bronze with just a hint of brown and pink, so it does not come off orange at all. The matte formula also helps it look natural and really just bring a bit of warmth and life to the face. I found it to be quite long lasting, but the compact come with a nice mirror and a little brush in case you need to touch up. If you have darker skin, I recommend having a look at the other shades as this one might be a bit too light.

As some of you might know, my skin is very sensitive to silica so I had to stop using it after reading the ingredients list. However, if you don’t have this issue I would totally recommend this bronzer, it is a great budget buy.

You can find the L’Oréal Glam Bronze Mono in boots and other drugstores/pharmacies that carry L’Oréal in the U.K. I have not seen it in Canada yet, but you might want to keep your eyes open for it.  

Soap and Glory Flake Away

Soap and Glory is one of my favorite brands when it comes to body products, everything they make smells great and all their names are super clever. Today I present to you Flake Away, a body scrub that contains sugar, peach seed powder and shea butter to leave your skin soft and hydrated.

I bought the travel size version and I loved it. The scrub really buffs away dead skin cells, but it is doesn’t feel harsh or abrasive on your skin. The sugar actually has a moisturizing effect as it melts on your skin with the friction and combined with the shea butter it contains, your skin is left baby soft. I really enjoy how efficient it was without leaving any oil or greasy residue on my skin. As for the scent, it has the typical Soap and Glory scent which reminds me of a peachier version of Dior’s Miss Dior Chérie. 

This is a lovely product that I would recommend to anyone looking for a good scrub. Also I think it’s great Soap and Glory offers so many travel size versions of their products has they're a great way of trialing products without committing to a full size bottle.

You can get Flake Away from Boots or online for £8.00 (£2.50 for the travel size) in the U.K. and Shoppers Drug Mart carries some Soap and Glory products in Canada.