Review: Body Shop Vitamin C Microdermabrasion and Facial Cleansing Polish

I don't know about you but this time of year really makes my skin look dull, the combination of cold weather and central heating, plus the sheer amount of junk food I seem to be shovelling in my mouth at every opportunity, means my skin is definitely not looking it's best!
I love exfoliating my skin as it just gets rid of that surface layer of crap skin and instantly I can tell a huge difference, my moisturiser absorbs so much better and my foundation glides on like a dream.

It will come as no surprise then that I've tried my fair share of exfoliators! This review is of my current favourite, the Body Shop Vitamin C Microdermabrasion scrub (RRP £14)

It's a weekly home spa exfoliation and contains vitamin C rich Amazonian Camu Camu and community fair trade shea butter. Now if you're anything like me you won't know what Camu Camu is, but my helpful little pal google tells me it's a Brazilian super fruit! It is a little red berry and it's full of vitamin C (it contains 60 x more Vit C per serving than an orange!) so it's a natural energy booster. Vitamin C is also great for the skin as it helps to clarify.
I love this scrub because it has more of a gritty paste-like consistency which I find is so much more effective than the scrubs that have a few of those little beads in which are spread so far apart and don't feel like they're doing anything. It's also gentle enough to not make your skin red raw when you use it.

You can use the scrub once to twice a week, I use it twice as my skin can get oily and clogged up, if you've got more sensitive skin definitely stick to once a week.

I've noticed a big difference in my skins appearance since I started using this scrub and I'm now on my second tube.

When I went to the Body Shop to replace my first tube of this product I noticed another product in the range, the Vitamin C Facial Cleansing Polish (RRP £11), which is a daily wash designed to reveal skin's radiance. I liked the sound of this as I had just run out of my Origins Ginzing Scrub Cleanser and it sounded similar but for a cheaper price. Another thing I love about the Body Shop is they always seem to be on the O2 Priority Moments app so I got 40% off!

This wash is similar to the microdermabrasion scrub, it contains Camu Camu again, and Aloe Vera this time. It's more gentle than the scrub as it's designed to be used as a daily face wash, and it certainly ticks the boxes, leaving my skin clean, fresh and bright. The only thing I didn't like is the smell, as compared to the Ginzing cleanser which has a beautiful citrus scent, this wash has a bit of a chemical smell.

Have you used any Body Shop products? What did you think?

Do's and Don'ts of Approaching a Beauty Counter

Hi! So I think it's safe to say I've had a bit of a sabbatical from blogging, a really long one to be precise, but I'm back and want to make my blog bigger and better than before. I've got LOADS of amazing products to review and I also want to start sharing more makeup looks with you guys, but I thought I would get things started again with a little tongue in cheek post about how to approach a beauty counter.

1. Do: be polite
You wouldn't go to the hairdressers and start being a gobshite so don't do this at a beauty counter! This means don't wave testers at a consultant if she's clearly already serving a customer, it's the equivalent of being that idiot waving cash at a bar, it's guaranteed to piss the person you're waiting for right off. Also don't presume the consultant is uneducated or stupid and talk down to them, a lot of the girls and guys on makeup counters have degrees and qualifications, and even if they don't it takes a lot of business knowledge to run that kind of account. Don't get angry if your particular shade is out of stock, it's not the consultants fault and they've probably had loads of people kicking off about it already.

2. Don't: be unrealistic
Don't turn up to your appointment asking for a natural look then whip out a screenshot off Pinterest of Kim Kardashian and want to look like that...not gonna happen! Remember even the most natural of photos online involve a hell of a lot of makeup and editing, and if you're not used to wearing a lot of makeup chances are you will absolutely hate the look. Instead have a good chat with the makeup artist about what you normally use and what you would like to look like, photos can be good so you're both on the same page but be flexible about the outcome.

3. Do: be specific
Your idea of a 'nude' lipstick is probably not the same as your best friend's, or the makeup artist's, be specific or it can turn into a really frustrating game for everyone concerned. So this means do you want a pinky nude, or a browny nude? Do you want it paler than your natural lip colour or darker or do you want it to be a very close match? Show the makeup artist what you like and get them to help you find a similar colour to suit you. The same goes with anything really, don't just ask for a smokey eye, this can go horribly wrong if you don't say how dark you would like it as if you don't usually wear much eye makeup a soft grey or brown smokey eye might feel really dark on you, have this chat before you look in the mirror and see yourself with big black smokey eyes that Kim K would be proud of.
Definitely don't turn up and go "I'm looking for a lipstick that will suit me" ...you wouldn't go to the hairdressers and just go "cut my hair in a style that will suit me" would you?!

4. Don't: take advantage
How can I say this nicely? Hmm...don't sit and have a full face of makeup put on and then hop off the chair, say thanks and skip out the shop without buying anything. It's cheeky! The makeup artists on beauty counters are usually highly trained and skilled at what they do, their time is valuable and it's unfair to waste it. You wouldn't be able to do this anywhere else, like you don't go to a restaurant, eat a slap up meal and drink a bottle of wine then saunter out without paying! Fair enough if you don't like the look then don't buy the products but if you've been specific about what you would like and the makeup artist has done what you wanted then surely you would need some of the products to recreate that look at home. Nobody would expect a customer to buy every single thing but it's different when someone has clearly just booked an appointment just with the intention of having a free makeover.

5. Do: have fun!
I hear so many people say they're intimidated to go up to a beauty counter...don't be! The girls and guys on there are there to help you out, it's their job and there's no greater feeling than helping someone to feel confident about themselves, whether that's by trying a new lipstick shade or getting a whole new look. We all know that you feel amazing when you buy new makeup, well for someone working on a makeup counter makeup is their passion and they will love to help you find the perfect product for you.

I hope you enjoyed my first post back, comment below if there's anything you'd like to see on my blog in future. I'm also on the lookout for new blogs to follow so let me know if you're a fellow blogger and I will check out your blog

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