Saturday 29 June 2013

Wonder product: Eight Hour Cream

There's always one product that beauty bloggers and make-up artists claim is their 'desert island item'. It's the one that they absolutely cannot live without and if they were forced to chose only one thing to use if stranded, that'd be it.. Mine is, and has been for many years now, the Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream.


I don't know about you guys, but I'm a big fan of multipurpose products, and so this one is perfect for me. The Eight Hour Cream has a number of different uses, including:

1. Skin Saver – Protect skin from drying wind, central heating and air-conditioning. This skincare multi-tasker soothes, restores, calms and helps relieve minor skin irritations including roughness, redness, chapped, cracked or dry skin.
2. After-sun Soother – With its legendary soothing and moisturising benefits, it’s the ideal after-sun treatment to relieve minor sunburn and calm dry, irritated sun-exposed skin.
3. Shine Factor – Found in top makeup artists’ kits worldwide, this all-in-one beauty tool adds shine to eyelids, cheeks, lips and legs.
4. Eye Opener – All it takes is a dab to smooth eyebrows and create a perfectly defined arch that will stay in place all day.
5. Cuticle Conditioner – Soften rough, dry cuticles to keep them smooth, supple and beautifully manicured.
6. Treat for Feet – Smooth rough heels and soften soles for barefoot beauty in every season.
7. Flight Tool – Flying can leave skin looking and feeling dry and uncomfortable. Take along this intensive hydrator to boost skin’s in-flight moisture level wherever you go.
8. Leg wear – Calm irritation, reduce redness after shaving or waxing to leave legs super smooth and silky soft.
I am constantly applying and reapplying the cream (which is almost like a gel in texture), and use it mostly as a lip balm. It's amazingly moisturising and really soothes any irritation I have. I also like to use it as a deep moisturiser when I wax / shave / pluck - particularly on my 'brows. I find I am left with a lot of redness when perfecting my arches, and the Eight Hour Cream brings down the colour dramatically and soothes the irritation in only a short time. 

I love the medicinal-y smell that the product has. It's a strange one and not liked by everyone, but you can also buy a fragrance free version so the brand really caters for everyone. Elizabeth Arden actually offers a range of different products in the Eight Hour Cream range - I own the Skin Protectant (50ml tube) and the Lip Protectant Stick. I normally keep the tube in with my products at home and whack the Lip Stick in my bag for on the go emergencies. Despite being a product marketed at use on lips, I use it as I would the original tube version. It still does the same job just as well, and it includes SPF 15 too!



Have you tried the Eight Hour Cream? Can you recommend any other products from the range? What's the best multipurpose product that you've found?

Buy Eight Hour Cream here!

Vic xx

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Monday 24 June 2013

Testing... Le Volume de Chanel

I recently got sent a sample of the newest mascara release from Chanel and was aching to try it. Having only heard positive reviews, I decided to trial run the newest volumising mascara to see what all the hype was about. Before I show you the results though, I should make you aware that my lashes are quite thick yet very flat. That being the case, I rely heavily on thick lashings of mascara to make my face look alive and so I'm very particular with my products. My favourite mascaras are BADgal lash by Benefit and Volume million lashes by L'Oreal Paris (the black, waterproof version). I'm itching to see how this Chanel type will match up!!


I started out on clean, bare lashes and applied two coats of Le Volume de Chanel (in 10 Noir) over the top. On the left is the BEFORE image, and on the right the AFTER image (I've also added some black liquid liner to open out my eyes a tad):


I'm very impressed with this product. It gives huge, spidery lashes with mega-volume and length. The product helped open up my eyes for a wide-eyed sixties effect. 

The applicator wand is made up from a patented 'Snowflake' shape that is basically a set of stacked disks on the tip of the wand to distribute the product evenly through the lashes. It's this little beauty that helps to lift and lengthen the lashes to get a finish akin to the image above.


Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by Le Volume de Chanel. My only one criticism would be that the product is quite 'wet'. You'd need to make sure that there's no extra product on the wand before application as the formula is quick-drying, and so too much would lead to an overtly clumpy effect. But having said that, I think that this product is fantastic. A definite addition to my make up bag. No more tester size for me...


Buy Le Volume de Chanel here

Vic xx

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My current favourite products!


Jeanne Lanvin Eau de Parfum - This Lanvin Jeanne perfume is gorgeous, fruity fragrance - perfect for summer!

YSL Le Teint Touche Eclat - I've raved plenty about my current fave foundation - Le Teint Touche Eclat (see my 'Wonder Product: YSL Le Teint Touche Eclat' post for more detail). It's still on my must-have list and doesn't look like it's about to go anywhere soon!

Percy & Reed Quite Frankly Flawless Finishing Polish - This Percy & Reed finishing polish is great for taming my flyaway hairs. Perfect for the unsettled British weather at the moment.. One minute it's warm and sunny and the next it's hammering it down - that's all a naturally frizzy haired girl like me needs! This polish holds those pesky strands firmly in place, and smells great too.

Clarins Ultra Matte Moisturising lotion - Currently I'm focusing on trying to nurse my skin to health. I've been taking oxytetracycline to try and combat a bout of acne and I've been religious in my cleansing and toning routine. I've been moisturising  using the Clarins Ultra-Matte lotion. It's perfect for girls like me who have really oily skin! 

Clarins Eye Contour Balm - I've also been coveting the Clarins eye contour balm. It's so refreshing and the delicate skin around my eyes just drinks it up. I've been keeping it in the fridge before use and then applying, which helps to reduce any puffiness around my peepers.

Carmex Pomegranate SPF15 lip balm - A deeply moisturising product, this balm contains SPF15 and has a gorgeous fruity scent. My absolute must have for all times. And it's dirt cheap too!

Rodial Brazilian Tan Dark - I came across this Rodial tan by accident - a friend recommended it to me and I'm now hooked! My favourite thing about it is the scent - a rich, creamy caramel. So, so much better than the overpowering biscuit-y scent you get with a lot of other fake tans. It's also fab for quick and easy application. Using a mitt, sweep it over legs and arms sparingly - a little goes a long way - and over 8 hours it will develop into a golden glow. Not that you need to worry about the 8 hours though.. It's dark enough that you can apply and go. Amazing.

What are your current favourite products? Any suggestions for me?!

Vic xx

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Sunday 23 June 2013

Outfit of the day: Casual Sunday!

Today I've been to spend some time with my friend and her little bubba. I love a lazy Sunday, and we had a great time gossiping and catching up with a cup of tea. There's nothing worse than being too dressed up for a casual Sunday though, so I decided to go as low-key as possible. Today my outfit comes courtesy of Ralph Lauren, Gap, Moncler and Converse.




I love this Moncler coat as it's a rain-proof jacket that the wearer can customise dependant upon their mood that day. For today's look I decided to tie the belt at the waist and double knot it, and roll my sleeves down completely. The Ralph polo and Gap jeans are the ultimate in comfortable, yet stylish off-duty wear. Despite being a comfy outfit - perfect for running around trying to keep a 4-month-old occupied! - it's very 'drab', colour-wise, and so the final touch was these low top spearmint coloured Converse with blinged-up toes.




You might have seen these style of Converse before. They're really, really popular in Essex where I live and as they're comfy AND glam they're the perfect way to add a bit of bling to an otherwise boring outfit! I would recommend the company I bought them from (Krystal KicKKs) to anyone - they were really helpful and keen to make sure that my needs were well fulfilled. You can see some more of Krystal KicKKs' work here.

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday beautiful ones!!

Buy my OOTD!

Jacket - Moncler (past season, but you can buy similar here)
Jeans - Gap £44.95
Polo shirt - Ralph Lauren £90.00
Converse - Krystal KicKKs £65.00 (look up Krystal KicKKs on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!)

Vic xx

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Sunday 16 June 2013

OOTD: Father's Day brunch

Today's the day to celebrate all our fantastic Dads, and I decided to treat mine to brunch. We went to our favourite brekkie venue in Southend, Ocean Beach, for a Full English and cappuccinos and took Mum along too. The restaurant is a great little joint situated right on the beach, where you can look out over the Thames Estuary. It's the kind of place that's perfect for all occasions - breakfast is amazing, there's a great lunch and dinner menu and you can just head there for drinks if you want. I held my 21st birthday party there, and it really was an evening to remember..

It's not particularly warm today in Essex, in fact it's a little cold - strange weather for June in the UK. but then again we never seem to have a summer anymore.. - so I decided to dress casually but cosy. My outfit of the day comes courtesy of Primark (faux-fur gilet and black skinny jeans), New Look (grey 3/4 length sleeve jumper) and Kurt Geiger (wedge trainers).





I love wedge trainers at the moment for casual wear. As I'm so short, I love to wear heels as often as I can to give me a bit more height, but find so often that my feet are in so much pain after not at all long! These style of sneakers include a great concealed wedge, so they look just like normal high tops but still give the height that I'm after. Added to that, they're super-comfy too so I can wear them for hours without feeling like I need to bug my boyfriend for a long foot massage at the end of the day.

The black skinny jeans and grey jumper is a really low-effort look, but paired with the faux-fur gilet it looks a little more dressed up. To finish my OOTD off, I wore my Ray Ban RB5228 specs, scraped my hair into a high-pony and paired minimal make up with a bright orange lip to add a bit of colour into an otherwise more monochrome look.

Happy Father's Day to my amazing Dad. I love you millions!! Happy Father's Day to all your Dads too :)


Buy my OOTD!

Faux Fur gilet - Primark (mine is quite old and I don't think they sell them right now, but you could try Asos for this great Mango find)
Jeans - Primark (around £11)
Jumper - New Look £14.99
Lazer wedge trainers - Kurt Geiger £110
Ray Ban RB5228 optical frames - Ray Ban (price dependant on lenses etc. Contact your local optician for details.)

Vic xx

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Friday 14 June 2013

Wonder Product: YSL Le Teint Touche Eclat

We all know what a amazing product Touche Eclat is. A wonder product on many a make-up artists 'stuck on a desert island' list, this little beauty can camouflage a multitude of sins. Dark circles and blemishes are disguised with a quick click of this pen - it's a must have for every beauty addict.

And now I've found something that throws Touche Eclat right out of the water. The 'big sister' to the pen, Le Teint Touche Eclat has all the great properties of the original but infused into a foundation, and my oh my does it work.




This wonder product holds the key to glowing, healthy-looking skin. It even includes SPF19, helping to protect our largest organ against harmful UV rays. I discovered the Touche Eclat foundation relatively recently, and I'm now such a fan I'm using it every day. I have struggled to find the perfect foundation for a long time and finally here it is. My skin looks even and my complexion is luminous: once you go Touche Eclat you never go back!!

Find your perfect shade with the YSL LE TEINT TOUCHE ECLAT FOUNDATION SHADE FINDER

Buy my wonder product HERE!!

Vic xx

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My new toy: SensatioNail

I finally got my new toy through the post yesterday and I have been SO excited to use it for the first time!! As I mentioned in an earlier blog post I am obsessed with gel manis. I love to have polished tips - they make me feel so much more groomed than colour-less nails. I used to plump for acrylic extensions, but after many years of wear and tear my nails were a sorry state. I knew that I needed to get them back to a healthy state, but hated the look of my hands sans polish. A friend of mine suggested Shellac manicures, and I never looked back. However, after spending many, many of my hard earned pounds on salon rescued nails I began looking around for an at-home gel manicure kit that I would be able to invest in. Having witnessed my beauty therapist perform a gel manicure plenty of times, I felt more than confident that I would be able to replicate the process myself. I stumbled across the SensatioNail kit online and it seemed so perfect. It was exactly what I was looking for.


I found the kit a real investment buy. It's quite expensive - £135 for the deluxe starter kit - but I felt that in the long run, this was money well spent. My particular kit included the SensatioNail starter kit (1 x gel polish, gel primer, gel top & base coat, 12 x lint free wipes, double-sided nail buffer, manicure stick, Pro 3060 LED nail lamp and a how-to booklet), 10 x gel polishes of my choice, an exclusive SensatioNail travel bag,  a SensatioNail remover tool, SensatioNail remover kit and a free gel polish.


I tested out the kit yesterday and it took me around 25-30 minutes to get a salon effect manicure that is so far lasting well. It was really, really easy to achieve by following the steps outlined in the how-to booklet.





Step 1: file and lightly buff the natural nail (ensure that nails are fully prepped - filed down, cuticles pushed back and no polish at all on the nail).
Step 2: Using the lint-free wipes, clean nails with the gel cleanser (always use the lint-free wipes!! Using just standard cotton pads or cotton balls will leave 'fluff' on your nail which will just get caught in the polish and cause bumps. The kit comes with 12 wipes, but you can buy more from your local beauty supply store).
Step 3: Apply one layer of gel primer to the nail and allow to air dry (around 20/30 seconds should be enough time).
Step 4: Apply a thin layer of the gel base & top coat. Avoid skin and cuticle. (A little goes a long way here - you really do only need a very thin layer. Remember you will be applying a top coat later on too).
Step 5: Cap the nail by running the polish brush along the nail top. Cure for 30 seconds. (The LED lamp will beep after 30 seconds, but will remain running for 60, so you can easily tell when the 30 seconds is up).
Step 6: Apply a thin layer of the colour gel polish. Avoid skin and cuticle. Cap the nail and then cure for 60 seconds. Apply a second layer of colour polish, cap and cure for a further 60 seconds. (Again, a little goes a long way! You'll know when the 60 seconds is over as the light on the LED lamp will die out.)
Step 7: Apply a thin layer of gel base & top coat. Cap the nail and cure for 30 seconds (remember to avoid the skin and cuticle. Listen out for the beep when the 30 seconds is up.)
Step 8: Finish by removing the moisture layer using the gel cleanser and lint-free wipes (the moisture comes from the curing of the nail and the excess water is forced out, leaving the hard gel polish underneath. This may leave the nail feeling damp and sticky, so use the cleanser and wipes to remove this layer).

Et volia! A beautiful gel mani. Easy to achieve, and salon style results! These type of manis are expected to last around 14 days with no chipping or lifting (presuming that you have completed the process correctly). I'll keep you posted!!

Buy SensatioNail HERE!!

Vic xx

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Monday 10 June 2013

Wonder product: cuticle oil


I don't know about you, but my cuticles are always unbelievably dry and no matter how many times I apply lotion to my hands they always seem to just keep drying out.

The first of my wonder product series is the CND essentials Solar Oil nail & cuticle conditioner. 


This little beauty is all you need for super soft cuticles and healthy nails. I am a huge fan of Shellac manicures and never have my nails without one (currently my nails are painted with CND's Shellac in the Cake Pop colour), and this product soaks through the Shellac to keep the nail below it really strong and supple.


I apply it morning, noon and night to my nails and cuticles and then rub it in. Then follow up with a nourishing hand cream for ultra smooth skin on top, et voila! 

Vic xx

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Sunday 9 June 2013

Outfit of the day & off for some fro-yo...

Today I'm spending the afternoon with the boyf. We're going to check out a new frozen yogurt place and I'm so excited to try it out! It seems to be a massive food must have at the moment - the Kardashians seem to be buying fro-yo by the gallon, Keira Knightley is said to love the chocolate chip topping, even the Beckhams covet it... Off duty days often consist of a pair of converse or high-top sneakers, a long length tee and leggings, but seeing as I'm going to be eating like the stars do I figured I should have a glam outfit to match.

So to today's outfit of the day...


Today I'm wearing a black Primark blazer with a plain black Topshop vest and Primark skinny jeans. A simple look that can be easily jazzed up a bit with the right shoes and accessories. Ideal for dressing up OR down, I could have paired this outfit with some low top Converse perhaps for a more casual look.



I added these Zara heels - aren't they gorgeous?! I'm obsessing over these style of heels at the moment: they're so wearable and such a classic shape, which adds to much glamour to a reasonably casual outfit like the one I'm wearing today.


Aren't the colours in this H&M scarf amazing? Perfect for summer I think. I've matched the colours on my toes to the orange in my scarf! I love adding scarves to any outfit as they really can add a quick pop of colour, and they just look so chic. I have such a scarf haul - it's getting out of control!!




To accessorise my look I've chucked all my essentials for my day in a Mulberry Bayswater bag and added bangles and bracelets from Marc by Marc Jacobs, Vivienne Westwood and Thomas Sabo (a 21st birthday present from my best friends).

I'm off to try some fro-yo as glam as can be. Happy Sunday everyone!

Buy my outfit of the day!

Bayswater handbag - Mulberry £795
Scarf - H&M £7.99
Blazer - Primark £10
Jeans - Primark £11 
Heels - Zara £39.99
Bracelets - from a selection at Thomas Sabo, Vivienne Westwood and Marc by Marc Jacobs (all were gifts, Thomas Sabo link is attached and you can buy Vivienne Westwood and Marc Jacobs jewellery from Selfridges) 

Vic xx

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Saturday 8 June 2013

Superdrug haul!

Yesterday I decided to treat myself to some new beauty bargains and headed to my absolute favourite drugstore in the UK, Superdrug! I tend to buy new beauty items pretty much every day, as there's a store in the train station when I come into work and I always seem to find myself enticed in..

Yesterday's haul included liners, shadows, lipsticks, a gloss, a shimmer block, brow grooming kit and a blending brush. I'm kind of obsessed with the MUA and B. brands at the moment (both are exclusive to Superdrug stores). MUA sell fantastic, value for money products - so, so cheap and great for experimenting. B. products are a relatively new introduction to the Superdrug cosmetics family, and are along the lines of Bourjois or Revlon. Both brands are neatly packaged and so are a great addition to a girls dresser.


First up, lipsticks. I picked out 4 shades to add to my collection yesterday: Shade 12, Shade 3, Shade 16 (Nectar) and Shade 5 (all lined up in order). MUA lipsticks come in tons of different colours, and are great for those who like to experiment with shades often. Shades 5 & 12 are more shimmery shades, whereas Shade 16 (Nectar) and Shade 3 are more of a flat colour. Not entirely matte though - they are actually really moisturising. I find the shimmery shades dry out lips more, so you might want to layer: a thin film of vaseline underneath to lock in the moisture, then the selected shade and a layer of gloss over the top to finish off the look.



Secondly, some shadows from MUA. I picked out this trio eyeshadow in 'Smoke Screen' and these Pearl shadows in Shades 24 (the purple-y colour) and Shade 30 (the gold). The trio is fantastic for creating a bold smoky eye, and even has a handy quick guide on the underneath of the pot to suggest where to define & line, blend & shadow and highlight. It even comes with a small applicator to create the suggested look - perfect!


I love these Pearl shadows from the same brand (MUA), and own many in lots of different colours. They're really highly pigmented shades which, as they are baked shadows, can also be used wet to create an even stronger colour. I also use my shades wet as coloured eyeliner, by applying with a thin liner brush.


The B. Groomed Eyebrow Kit in Dark Brown 052 is a handy, all-in-one kit which is easily used on the go. It comes with a brow brush on the lid, alongside a really well-shaded pencil and the best part: a wax which helps to set the brow after grooming. I've really struggled to find a brow kit that includes wax and that isn't ridiculously expensive (Benefit sell Brow-Zings which I've heard is great, but I'm a bit sceptical about spending £23.50 on a kit that I will use up really quickly). I'm dying to try the Sleek brow kit, but every time I go into the store to pick it up it's always sold out!! Having said that, this B. kit is cheap and really does do a good job - my brows stayed in place and looked perfect the whole day, so for now at least this is my go-to brow kit!


Finally, I picked up the B. Glowing shimmer block in 161 Just Peachy. Similar to the Bobbi Brown Shimmer Bricks, this palette is a great highlighter for summer! It even comes complete with a handy mirror in the lid of the compact for on-the-go touch ups. The colour pigments of the shades included give a healthy pop of colour and they included gold shimmery highlights, which really reflect beautifully off the face. I sweep this over the tops of my cheekbones and lightly over the temples for a glowing look.


Alongside these products which I felt I had to rave about, I also picked up a dark pink gloss from MUA, a black kohl liner, light pink lip liner and a blending brush.

What are your favourite products from the drugstore? Has anyone else tried out MUA or B. - what did you think?

Buy my haul!

Superdrug blending brush - £1.99
B. Groomed Eyebrow Kit in Dark Brown 052 - £2.79 (SALE PRICE, normally £4.19)
B. Glowing Shimmer Block in 161 Just Peachy - £5.99 (SALE PRICE, normally £8.99)
MUA Trio Eyeshadow in Smoke Screen - £2.50
MUA Pearl Eyeshadow in Shade 24 - £1.00
MUA Pearl Eyeshadow in Shade 30 - £1.00
MUA Intense Kisses High Intensity Gloss in Sealed with a Kiss - £1.00
MUA Intense Colour Eye Liner in Jet Black - £1.00
MUA Intense Colour Lip Liner in Softly Lined - £1.00
MUA Lipstick in Shade 5 - £1.00
MUA Lipstick in Shade 12 - £1.00
MUA Lipstick in Shade 3 - £1.00
MUA Lipstick in Shade 16 (Nectar) - £1.00

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Vic xx

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@VictorialHowell

Friday 7 June 2013

Outfit of the day

I must admit that I find it hard dressing for work. I want to look stylish, but in a City where women's workwear is often pretty drab (grey skirt suit anyone?) it's difficult to find anything in stores that I love. Because of that, I tend to stick to what I know works - black separates (there's nothing chicer than a LBD and a blazer with a cute pair of heels). But recently I've been pushing myself to inject more colour into my working wardrobe. Now that the sun is beginning to shine I need something to make me look and feel brighter, and I think I've found just the thing..

The trend for printed trousers doesn't look likely to disappear at any time soon, and I'm loving it. Today's Outfit of the Day comes courtesy (mainly) of Topshop, Primark and Tods.



As soon as I saw these trousers I knew I had to have them!! I love how they can be dressed down with flats for a more casual look, or dressed up with sky-high heels for a fashionable night out. Today, I decided to pair my prints with a simple black top and blazer and some black Tods. I kept everything else pretty low-key, adding Swarovski stud earrings and a Michael Kors chronograph watch.



I'm on the hunt for more printed pants, and at the moment am spotting other great options from ASOS, Zara and Forever 21.



I'm a convert to a colourful wardrobe - all by adding a pair of printed trousers!

Want to buy my look?

Blazer - Primark (around £10)
Jumper - Topshop (my jumper is an old one from a few years back - a batwing sleeve black one. You could just try a plain black jersey tee or thin jumper. Topshop sell great black basic separates.)
'Dandy' Trousers - Topshop (£42)
Emma pierced earrings - Swarovski (£49)

Vic xx

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Thursday 6 June 2013

I guess that I should probably start by introducing myself..

Seeing as this is my FIRST EVER blog post, I suppose that I should probably start my journey here by telling you a little bit about me! I'm Victoria (but everyone calls me Vic), 22 years old and a Personal Assistant. I LOVE fashion and beauty and originally I was convinced I was destined to be a designer. However, work (and money) intervened and now I find myself working in the big City. I've decided to write this blog because I love experimenting with hair, make-up and clothes and I want to share my results. I'm going to bring posts that tell you all about my beauty favourites and new must-haves, outfits of the day and hairstyles for any occasion. One day I hope to end up in the fashion/beauty industry but for now I am more than happy with my shiny new blog!

So to start as I mean to go on, let's talk about skin... I, along with thousands of other people, have terrible dry skin and so a great body scrub and lotion is vital for me to feel human! One amazing product that I COVET is Philosophy Candy Cane Salt Scrub.


I'm pretty sure that it's a special Philosophy product for the Christmas period, but if you can get your hands on it, do! I think it cost around £30 and I bought it from Selfridges Oxford Street. It's an amazing product that really gets rid of all the dead skin cells and it has a yummy peppermint scent that really lasts. Just rub the salt granules directly onto the skin when you're in the shower and then rinse off to reveal smooth, supple skin.

Following that, straight after jumping out of the shower when my skin is still wet, I slather on Johnson's Baby Oil Gel and let it soak in. A gel form of the original Johnson's Baby Lotion, this intensive moisturiser contains camomile - a scent which really reminds me of newborn babies. You can get it for around £3 from most chemists and pharmacies (Boots and Superdrug both sell this wonder product). As well as smelling incredible, this gel also does wonders for my skin - if it's good enough for a baby it's good enough for me!


I use the Johnson's gel daily. It's a good idea to let it soak in properly to really moisturise your skin, so I always layer it on before bed and let it soak in overnight. The salt scrub should be used maybe once or twice a week. Super soft skin is within easy reach!
Vic xx

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@VictorialHowell