Mini Drugstore Haul

Hi everyone!

Firstly, I must make an apology for the lack of activity on this blog for the past week or so. I've been so busy with work and studying, so the blog has been put on the back burner for a while. However, it's finally the weekend, and I have a whole day stretching before me (which no doubt will be gone in a flash) to get some blog posts made and scheduled to prevent another hiatus!
Anyway, in to the proper post!
Last week I stopped by Boots with the intention of picking up cotton wool pads and nothing else. Needless to say this did not happen, and of course I ended up getting sucked in to the three for two offer on beauty and skincare. As a result of this, I ended up walking out with three new body and skincare products (in addition to what I went in for).
First up is the Vaseline Spray & Go body moisturiser, which I have been wanting to try ever since I saw Fleur De Force mention it in one of her videos. It claims to be fresh, non greasy and moisturise in seconds, allowing you to put your clothes on straight away. This was a big selling point for me, as I tend to be quite rushed in the mornings and usually neglect to moisturise my body, dreadful I know, resulting in dry skin on my legs in particular.

The spray function makes the product so easy and quick to use, as the lotion comes out in a really fine mist, enabling you to rub it in to the skin in one easy swipe, something I find tends to be hard with the thicker formulas. It also has a lovely fresh scent,and leaves your skin feeling soft and refreshed.
I should also mention that I suffer from psoriasis, especially around my elbows. I was really pleased to find that the Spray & Go has not irritated it at all, and has even helped to clear up the dry and sore skin which I was previously suffering from.
I tend to only use this product in the mornings as I am getting ready, as I prefer to use a thicker, more luxurious product in the evenings, but I have found this to be the perfect solution to my laziness!

Next up is the Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water. I have heard several bloggers talking about this product as a dupe for the Bioderma cleansing water, which I am yet to try. Seeing as I tend not to use cleansing waters or wipes to remove makeup at the end of the day, I was slightly skeptical about whether this would provide a deep enough clean. However, I have used this a couple of times in the mornings to remove any traces of eye makeup from the night before, and have so far been pleased with the effect. This is also amazing value at  £4.99 for an estimated 200 uses. I agree with the description as an "efficient and easy to use product that cleanses and removes make up gently in 1-step" but would not use it as a complete replacement for my proper cleansing routine.

The last, and possibly my favourite of the three products, is the Garnier Moisture Match 24H Revitalising Hydrating Gel. I suffer from extremely dull and lifeless skin in the mornings, and find that conventional cream moisturisers weigh down my skin and tend to make it appear more oily. However, the gel formula of this moisturiser does exactly the opposite, brightening my skin without any shimmer or glittery effect, which I love. It's fast absorbing, and even helps to keep my makeup in place throughout the day!
I have definitely noticed a difference in my skin since starting to use this about a week ago, and would definitely recommend it to anyone with dull, dry skin prone to oily patches!

Once again, sorry for the lack of posts, and thank you for taking the time to read this! I hope it was useful in some way,

Elspeth xox

Skincare Review- Soap and Glory 'The Ultimelt'

I stopped by my local Boots store about two weeks ago to pick up some cold and flu remedies (good old British weather) and obviously couldn't leave without picking up yet more skincare items. As per usual, I was drawn to the Soap and Glory stand by the splash of pink and white packaging and cute slogans, and the Ultimelt hot cloth cleanser caught my eye.

My much loved Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish cleanser ran out a while back, and I hadn't gotten around to repurchasing, so thought I would use the opportunity to try out some alternatives with the hope of finding a drugstore dupe. The Ultimelt ticks the boxes in terms of price, retailing at £10 for 100ml (the Liz Earle hot cloth cleanser is £14.75 for 100ml + muslin cloth)

The description states that Ultimelt contains naturally invigorating essential oils - a blend of orange, lavender, clary sage, rose and geraniumg and is paraben free, which is always a plus for all you skincare-a-holics such as myself!

As is to be expected with all Soap and Glory products, the packaging is lovely and the cleanser itself is really easy to use due to it's toothpaste-style tube. There's something about their recent packaging revamp that makes me really trust their products. What I really loved with this is that it includes one muslin cloth in the box, which is great as mine are beginning to look a little past their best to say the least!

I have been using this product most days for the past two weeks (I like to alternate with my Balance Me cleansing balm) and overall  have been really happy with the effect on my skin. The cleanser is really easy to use, as well as feeling quite luxurious as you massage it in to the skin, and the muslin cloth step is a nice addition and helps to really clean out your pores as well as giving a gentle exfoliation. I find this really helps to leave your skin feeling squeaky clean and free from makeup, although I am yet to try using it to remove stubborn mascara or eyeliner. In terms of the scent, it's almost identical to the Liz Earle cleanse and polish, with a really pleasant yet subtle natural smell.

Another major positive to this cleanser is the many natural ingredients and essential oils including sweet almond, orange and lavender, (although some people are sensetive to these, so be careful) which have really helped to clear up my skin, leaving it feeling soft and smooth. Whatsmore, having done a quick comparison of the ingredients between the two cleansers, they actually seem very similar, the only slight difference coming in the use of varying essential oils. 

Overall, I am very pleased with this product, and it has definitely earned a place in my daily skincare routine! I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a slightly cheaper alternative to the Liz Earle cleanser, or for anyone who just fancies a change!

Value for money- Very good given the volume and quality of product.

 Price- £10 for 100ml from Boots.com 

Pros- Lovely natural smell, leaves skin feeling super clean and soft.

Cons- Takes a few swipes of the muslin cloth to remove all residue, both other than that, none :)

Have you tried the Ultimelt cleanser? Let me know your thoughts down below!

Elspeth xxx