5-STAR REVIEWS: ESSIE PETAL PUSHERS & NOW AND ZEN

Being wrapped up in finding the perfect work wardrobe over the past three months has seen me add no new goodies to my make up collection. Work wardrobe accomplished and in need of some autumn shades for my nails, I headed to Boots to raid the Essie stand and was more than happy with my discoveries...

Sitting amongst Essie's autumn range for 2016, I sorted through and stumbled upon the most beautiful khaki green shade, 'now and zen'. Not owning any shades like it, there was no stopping me from running to the till, polish in tow. Having applied it to my nails this afternoon, it offers a fantastic, glossy finish alike all other Essie choices, and sits atop my nails as a subtle green with small hints of blue and grey. If you're looking for a muted shade to wear all autumn long, now and zen is definitely your gal.

Unintentionally, whilst rooting through Essie's staple collection, I found the perfect partner to sit alongside now and zen – 'petal pushers'. As a gorgeous not-quite-purple yet not-quite-blue shade, it seemed to compliment my original choice with such remarkable force. Having glanced at petal pushers on more than one occasion but always opting for others, today was the day that I decided that I needed to take the pretty Essie bottle home with me. These two beauties are the two autumn shades that you shouldn't give a miss!

What nail polishes have you been loving for the autumn so far? Do you have any favourites? Let me know!

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5-STAR REVIEWS: HOURGLASS MOOD EXPOSURE

Whilst I was in New York recently, I treated myself to the blush of my dreams. A blush that I have been lusting after for the the last two years and the blush that has captured the hearts of all beauty bloggers: Hourglass's Ambient Lighting Blush in the shade 'Mood Exposure'. Sephora, you are an absolute babe.

Coming in at £32 on Space NK's website, I managed to pick this beauty up for $38 in Sephora. I had no intention of buying myself anything quite so extravagant on my visit to NYC; I wasn't even sure whether or not to let myself loose in Sephora. It was actually Jack who encouraged me to go in and explore! I walked out with my head held high and a little black and white bag in tow. After discovering Max Factor's Creme Puff Blush in the shade 'Nude Mauve' earlier this year, knowing full well that it was a drugstore dupe of Hourglass's 'Mood Exposure', my temptation rose to an entirely different level. It's been the sole blush in my make up bag for the last three or four months, acting as the perfect pick me up on a dreary, rainy morning. If a drugstore product had stolen my heart, the high end version must be something worth screaming about—and that it is! The blush is actually fairly pigmented, meaning that a little goes a long way. It puts a natural shine on my cheekbones and gives my face an awakening like no other. The biggest difference that I always find between high end and drugstore dupes is the lasting power, and this beauty stays put on my cheeks all the live long day. And not to mention the packaging... it is absolutely to die for. And all round 10/10 product.

Have you tried this blush? Can you recommend any other products from Hourglass? Leave me a comment!

5-STAR REVIEWS: LUSH YOGA BATH BOMB

My latest bath bomb adventure came in the shape of Lush's Yoga Bomb. It was the final bomb of the trio that I hauled back in May which can only mean one thing... I need to go shoppppinnnnng! As you're reading this, I will exploring New York City, but a Lush spree is definitely on the horizon when I arrive back in the UK!

I have always wanted to try Yoga Bomb but never quite got round to it. At the Lush event that I went to last year I heard such raving reviews about it, and I haven't stopped thinking about it since. One of it amazing features is an incredibly relaxing scent, filling the bathroom with such a soothing aroma. As soon as you drop the bomb into the water, the orange orb starts to dissolve. Taking up to 15 minutes to fizzle away, I stepped into the bath as the bomb swam around me. 10 minutes into the bath, the bomb suddenly started to erupt with a beautiful purple (that I managed to catch on my phone's camera here!), leaving behind a sensational array of colours. This one is definitely a fave and I would recommend it to bath lovers far and wide!

Have you ever tried Lush's Yoga Bomb? What bath products are you loving at the moment? Let me know!

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5-STAR REVIEWS: RIMMEL NAILS

With a plan to share my favourite spring & summer nail polishes with all of your beautiful faces, I found myself exclusively picking out all of my cherished Rimmel shades. With a quick look through the rest of my ever-growing collection, Rimmel was the clear winner. Here are my top five nail colours for spring & summer:

Blue might not be everybody's favourite when it comes to nails, but I do have a few treasured blues in my collection. My absolute favourite is Rimmel's 'Bestival Blue', the perfect transitional colour between spring and summer. Leaning on the pastel side, it's not too eccentric and matches perfectly with my denim jacket and denim shirt that both start to make an appearance around this time of the year. Next up is Rimmel's 'Go Wild Er Ness', a beautiful pastel purple. If you're into more subtle colours, this one is definitely your gal. It's one of my absolute go-tos in the summer months as it's super easy to apply. As I mentioned in this recent blog post, one of my all time favourite shades is Rimmel's 'Libertine'. It's a gorgeous bright pink that matches every outfit that you could ever dream of. If pink is your nail colour of choice, this shade is not one to miss. Staying with pink but going for a more subtle and natural look, next up is Rimmel's 'Etheral'. Every nail lover needs a classic 'your nails but better' shade in their collection, and this beauty is mine. And for those of you who love a good ol' neutral nail, you should definitely give Rimmel's 'When I Grow Up' a go. It's a beautiful nude, almost golden, shade, and a staple in my spring and summer nail wardrobe.

Have you tried any of these Rimmel shades? What are you go-to spring and summer nail colours?

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5-STAR REVIEWS: ESSIE IN STITCHES

Have you ever been lucky enough to find your absolute perfect shade of nail polish? I have far too many almost partners in crime in my collection, but no colour has ever spoke so loudly to me than essie's 'In Stitches'. Every time that I stop and stare at all of the beautiful essie nail polishes in Boots, I always reach for In Stitches before popping it back. Like I said, I already own many similar shades, and so I've always put off purchasing it. On one recent shopping day, however, having not treated myself to anything for a while, I finally caved. In Stitches went straight in my basket and was soon dazzling afresh on my nails.

It is the perfect mixture of a 'my-nails-but-better' shade, and a deep mauve. As all essie nail polishes do, it applies like an absolute dream and is extremely long-lasting. I've been wearing this colour on my nails for the last ten days, and I can see myself reapplying it over and over again for the foreseeable future.

Have you ever tried essie In Stiches? What nail polishes have you been loving recently? Tell me your stories!

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5-STAR REVIEWS: NEUTRAL NAILS

Over the years, I've managed to collect a rainbow of nail polishes. As much as I love to bring out the flashy reds and and sparkling blues, I've come to realise that not all of the shades in my collection are appropriate for all occasions. Having attended two or three job interviews over the last month, I took a dig through my collection to bring out the most neutral, yet still beautiful, polishes that I could find. If you're headed for an interview yourself or you're not a fan of eccentric colours, here are the four polishes that you need in your life:

L'Oréal Paris 'Versailles Gold' is a gorgeous, shimmering gold. Edging more on the rose gold side of the spectrum, it definitely counts as a neutral colour. It's not overly bold yet still brings that little bit of glam to your hands. I have paired this polish with two of my navy dresses and it has looked fab every time.

Essie Cocktail Bling is an everyday blue shade that will complement any outfit. If you want your nails to look professional and don't want to go down the gold/pink path, this is the shade for you. Like all Essie nail polishes, it has incredible lasting ability that'll leave you chip free (and, by extension, worry free).

Barry M Speed Dry 'Pit Stop' is a difficult colour to pinpoint. It is either a grey-toned purple or a purple-toned grey but, either way, it's a beautiful and safe option. Barry M's Speed Dry polishes are some of my all time favourite with their fantastic application and lasting ability, and so I would definitely give this one a shot.

Essie 'Tea & Crumpets' is the perfect 'your-nails-but-better' shade. If you're like me and hate to showcase bare nails, definitely reach for this polish next time you pass an Essie stand in Boots. It has a slight shimmer of gold running through it too, bringing out any gold detailing within your outfit beautifully.

Which are your favourite neutral polishes? Have you tried any of these shades? Leave me a comment!

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TAKING STOCK: WHAT'S IN MY MAKEUP BAG?

Since purchasing NARS Orgasm Blush last March, I have barely rotated my make up bag. That's not to say that I haven't bought any new products; plenty have passed through my daily routine in the last year. The amount that have stayed for longer than two weeks, however, are very minimal. After treating myself to a few new bits at the end of 2015, as well as finally having a good old root through my make up collection, I finally bring to you an update of my daily face. You can find my 2015 update here and my 2014 update here.

First things first; concealer. I've never known if this step is supposed to come before or after foundation, so please feel free to offer any wisdom! As I use two different concealers for two different purposes, I tend to apply one before my foundation and the other after. The first concealer that I reach for is Maybelline's Age Rewind Eraser Eye Concealer in the shade 'Nude'. I find that it really evens out my skin tone under my eyes, and especially makes the redness around my nose disappear. On lazy days where I'm only popping to the shops but want a tiny bit of coverage, this is the only product that'll grace my face. The foundation that I have been loving just recently is L’Oréal's True Match foundation in the shade 'Creamy Beige'. I never got round to trying out the old formula of this foundation, but the new version does wonders for my face. It gives me the exact coverage that I want without that dreaded cakey finish! The second concealer that I then reach for is Rimmel's Wake Me Up Concealer in the shade 'Creamy Beige'. I use this concealer to highlight under my eyes and it sits beautifully on top of my foundation. I then powder my face with the L’Oréal Infallible Powder in the shade 'Sand Beige'. This is another recent purchase and I am head over heels. It keeps my make up in place all day long and keeps all oils at bay; everything that you could ever ask for from a powder!

For blush, I have been constantly reaching for Max Factor’s Creme Puff Blush in the shade 'Nude Mauve'. I picked it up on a whim in Boots a few weeks back and I am very grateful for past, indulgent Kassi. It just gives the most beautiful natural shine to the tops of my cheeks. When rooting through my make up drawers, I came across a barely used highlighter from Rimmel; the Good To Glow Highlighter in the shade 'Piccadilly Glow'. As a liquid highlighter, I've probably been too lazy to give it a proper go in the past. Making the effort to fit it into my daily routine, however, has made all the difference. It adds that extra bit of warmth to my cheekbones and sits perfectly on top of my blush. A warning is needed with this product however, as a little goes a very long way. A quarter of a pea squeezed onto your finger is more than enough to apply to each cheek. The mascara that I have been reaching for just recently is from a brand that I had never encountered before. It was one of the lovely Christmas presents that Jack's parents gifted to me; Pur Minerals' Volume Vixen 4-in-1 Mascara. It gives a lovely length to my lashes and doesn't flake off throughout the day. It's also super easy to build up layers to give a bold, dramatic look. I have then been dabbing Burt's Bees Honey Lip Balm onto my lips before applying my beloved Charlotte Tilbury's 'So Marilyn'.

And that's my face done! Reading it through it sounds like a lot, but it barely takes me ten minutes to do every morning. I definitely don't wear as much make up as others as I barely touch my eyes, but I'd love to expand on my skills and create some new styles. What products are in your make up bag right now?

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5-STAR REVIEWS: LOVER LAMP BATH BOMB

More often than not, I find myself wondering into Lush without a second thought. I never seem to go in with a purpose or an agenda, but my most recent visit was to specifically search out this bath bomb. Spotting it online amongst their Valentine's Day collection, I just knew that I had to have it in my possession. Knowing that a product is limited edition pushes me into making a purchase, and this bath bomb was no exception.

As soon as I dropped Lover Lamp into my bath, it exploded into a milky cloud. Tiny red hearts darted out from within the sphere and started to float around the water. There were three bigger hearts that also magically appeared, letting off a beautiful chocolate orange scent. The bigger hearts only last as long as you leave them be, which I discovered after picking one up to find out what it was made out of. It's a very similar texture to Lush's shower jellies, meaning that I was able to rub it into my skin in a soothing manner. Doing so released the powerful chocolate orange scent, and I sat back in my bath in utter bliss.

If you haven't picked one of these beauties up for yourself already, definitely head to Lush before their Valentine's Day collection leaves stores. With only one week to go until the big day, I'm sure that you can justify the treat... What've you been loving from Lush recently? Have you tried Lover Lamp?

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5-STAR REVIEWS: ORIGINS MASK MARVELS

Being late for a train is one of my all time biggest fears, which means that, when I visit Jack's family home, I spend far too much time in St Pancras. It always manages to draw me in and tempts me to indulge! Whether it's a new MAC lipstick or a trinket from Oliver Bonas, I simply can't say no. When returning home from visiting Jack over New Year's, and with 30 minutes to go until my train left the station, I innocently walked into John Lewis for a browse. That's when I came across the Origins Mask Marvels gift set with £10 off...

I had spotted it, full price, in Boots a few weeks earlier. I have wanted to get my hands on the Clear Improvement mask for quite a while, but I wasn't sure if I could justify spending £23 on one face mask. What if I didn't like it? Seeing four miniature face masks from their collection reduced down to £20 however, my mind was made up, with the cherry on top of the cake being that the Clear Improvement mask was included!

My favourite of the four masks is actually Out of Trouble. The scent is definitely very overpowering, but I feel like it really relaxes all of my senses because it's so refreshing. It dries into a hard mask on the face, requiring a hot flannel to remove it after 10 minutes. This magical mask seems to remove the excess oil from my skin, and has tackled a few spots that have popped up recently. My second favourite is Clear Improvement—I knew that I'd love it! When applied, it tightens my skin to the extent that I can barely smile, and I adore face masks that have that effect. In third place comes the the enchanting smelling GinZing. Described as waking up tired skin, it definitely puts a new brightness to my ever dull face. It's slightly odd to not have to wash a face mask off, and simply wipe it off with tissue instead, but the outcome is incredible. In last place, but no means least, is the Drink Up Intensive mask, which you are to leave on over night. This would probably work wonders for those with dryer skin than me, but applying this to my face feels as if it only increases the grease. Nevertheless, in the morning, my skin is no greasier than usual, which is a positive. It's definitely not my favourite mask, and I wouldn't opt to use it on a regular basis, but I would still highly recommend it!

I'm sure that all four of these beauties will last me well, but I'm already lusting after the Original Skin mask as well... Have you tried any of these face masks? Would you recommend anything else from Origins?

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5-STAR REVIEWS: THE BEST BELATED BIRTHDAY PRESENT

My best friend is the best friend I could ever ask for. After longing after everything from Charlotte Tilbury's make up line for the last two years, she broke my CT virginity and gifted to me the most stunning red lipstick. I hadn't had the chance to see her beautiful face since moving back to Manchester in early September (despite her getting engaged in the past few months!), and so I finally got my hands on this gem last week.

I don't think that I have ever owned anything so breathtaking. The packaging itself is out of this world, coated in rose gold with the letters CT engraved on the top of the lid. Even the box that it comes in is an amazing design—much fancier than all of my beloved MAC lipsticks! Despite owning three bright red lipsticks already, I have never owned one that hasn't been matte. This Charlotte Tilbury beauty, however, glides onto the lips effortlessly. I can definitely see myself reaching for this red over every other in my collection, even if just to hold it in my hands. The name, 'So Marilyn', completely sums up the vibe of the lipstick. With vintage feel packaging and vintage feel theme, I will feel ultra glamorous whenever I wear it. I must say though, I can't imagine myself wearing any white dresses that get blown up by the wind any time soon... Oh, Marilyn!

Have you guys tried anything from Charlotte Tilbury? Is there anything else that you'd recommend?

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5-STAR REVIEWS: STAR DUST BATH BOMB

This little gem was the highlight of my week when I was ill recently. I ventured into Lush after discovering it for this gift guide post, and picked up one for myself and one for Meg. Looking so dreamy and luxurious on the website, I couldn't give it a miss. At only £2.95, it is definitely one of Lush's lower priced Christmas specials.

I ran my bath like usual, which undoubtably included adding far too much hot water and having to balance the temperature out, and dropped the adorable star-shaped bath bomb in.  Straight away it started to fizz out into a bigger star shape, letting off a beautiful and soothing vanilla scent. As the star started to move around the bath, colourful stars began to appear from inside, spreading themselves out across the water. It was such a magical sight to behold! When in the bath, the water was just as glorious as any Lush bath bomb would make it, massaging my skin gently. Little red, green, and blue stars floated past me as I started to relax, and I was well and truly in heaven. Not quite as much of an explosive scene as Lush's Intergalactic bath bomb (which you can read all about in this pamper evening routine post), but it was just as wonderful.

Have you tried Lush's star dust bath bomb, or any of their other Christmas products? Leave me a comment!

5-STAR REVIEWS: PAMPER EVENING

Every once in a while, I am granted a night to myself with no deadlines on the horizon. Becoming more and more of an oddity the further I progress into my degree, I am overcome with gratitude when an opportunity for a pamper evening presents itself. With a few freebies left over from the Nottingham Lush event I attended back in August (read the entire blog post here, it's a good'un!), I decided to set a night aside to relax in a sparkly heaven. Join me in reliving the evening, and discover my pamper evening routine!

First thing is first - I ran myself a bath. With an abundance of Lush bath bombs to choose from, I opted for 'Intergalactic', the freebie that I scooped up from the Lush event. I remember falling head over heels in love with the galaxy that the bomb created in the water at the event, and my pamper evening was no different. Vibrant pinks and yellows were bursting out from behind the blue background, as well as popping candy erupting as the bomb dissolved further into the water. When completely dissolved, a beautiful, glittery galaxy filled my bath. No photographs could do this bath bomb justice, so you'll just have to take my word for it. If you want to feel like you're floating through space without a care in the world, you need to soak yourself in the intergalactic bath bomb! Trust me: it takes all of your worries away.

Whilst my bath was transforming into a blissful paradise, I lit my gorgeous Zoella Beauty candle. Giving off the perfect, subtle scent, it fitted perfectly into the ambiance. This is one of the only candles that I own, and I have wanted to branch out for quite a while now. My birthday is very soon, and so if anybody feels like treating me to an autumnal candle, I wouldn't say no! And then Christmas is only around the corner...

Before getting in, I removed all of my make up with the Soap & Glory Drama Clean 5-in-1 Micellar Cleansing Water (read a mini review in a previous favourites post here), and then applied an exfoliating face mask. This was another free sample that I bagged myself at the Lush event, and is a product that I definitely want to buy a huge tub of sometime soon! It is the Cup O' Coffee face mask, and it smells exactly how you'd expect it to. It's probably not the best product to use in the evening, as it is supposed to be awakening, but the scent was too amazing for me to resist. The final step to my pamper evening routine was to make myself a vanilla hot chocolate (my Starbucks staple), and soak away with mug in hand - bliss.

What do you do to pamper yourself? Have you tried out any of the products I've mentioned?

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5-STAR REVIEWS: THE BATTLE OF THE RED LIP

A strong red lip is one of my all time favourite make up looks. It doesn't matter what time of the year it is, or what my plan is for that day - a bit of red lippy always puts me in a confident and sassy mood. Always on the look out for a holy grail red, I thought that I would share my small collection with all of your beautiful faces.

Maybelline Colour Sensational Creamy Matte in 'Siren in Scarlet'

Although this beauty is the newest to my collection, it is actually my favourite of the three. Being a new product on the shelves, I hadn't read anything about it prior to purhcase, but I was certainly not disappointed. With very little make up skill, it usually takes me an absolute age to apply a bright lipstick. Despite this, 'Siren in Scarlet' takes me 30 seconds to glide on, and sits on my lips perfectly. Upon first wear, it didn't bleed at all throughout the day, and it remained in place - even when food was involved! It is extremely creamy for a matte lipstick (as the name suggests), and definitely did not stick to any dry patches on my lips. All in all, it's a gorgeous lipstick, and I would love to try out some other shades in Maybelline's creamy matte collection!

Rimmel Lasting Finish Matte by Kate Moss in '111 Kiss of Life'

I have definitely mentioned this lipstick before (as I'm sure most of the blogosphere has too), which you can read about here. This was the second pillarbox red in my collection, and is a lipstick that I am constantly reaching for. Like all of Kate Moss's collection, it ticks all the boxes. The smell, the texture, the application, and the lasting power - tick, tick, tick, tick. Again, as a matte shade, it is not drying in the slightest. The only disadvantage to it is that it doesn't last the test of food. Not many lipsticks do, and so I would definitely not let that persuade you away from making a purchase, but it starts to fide from the inside of your lip out.

MAC Ruby Woo

The most expensive of the three, and the shade that I definitely wear the least, is MAC's Ruby Woo. Not only was it my first red lipstick - it was my first purchase from MAC as well! I absolutely adore this little beauty, and so I try to reserve it for special occasions. I tend to reach for it on date nights, family parties, and when on holiday. The smell is my favourite feature (as it is with all of my MAC lipsticks, see my collection here) and, again, it applies surprisingly easily for a matte shade. The only downfall that I can point out is that it begins to cling to dry patches the longer that it is worn, and you are doing yourself no favours at all when you reapply it.

I have ranked my three reds in order of most wearable to least, but I would whole-heartedly consider repurchasing each one of them. What's your holy grail red lipstick? Leave me a comment!

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5-STAR REVIEWS: ESSIE

With the vast amount that I paint my nails, and my stupidly large collection, it was inevitable that an Essie polish (or eight) would worm its way into my Boots basket eventually. My collection began a year ago when my manager at Fossil revealed her dying love to me. Seeing how beautiful her nails were on a daily basis, I snapped and made my first purchase. 365 days later, my collection has definitely expanded, but I have made an attempt to be sensible with my choices. It has taken a significant amount of will power to have collected just eight in the last year, and only allow myself a newbie when in serious need of a treat. From left to right...

Too Too Hot - after purchasing this red, I have never looked back. Owning reds from other brands, I never had a dedication to one or the other. Too Too Hot, however, has taken top spot on my red-polish shelf, and is one of my most used polishes. Who doesn't love a red nail (especially when paired with a strong red lip)??

Merino Cool - if you're on the hunt for a deep purple shade, Merino Cool is definitely your guy. Perfect for the colder months, as opposed to a lilac throughout the Summer, it is very season appropriate right now. Purple is always one of my favourite shades when it comes to nails, and this little bottle has had a lot of use.

Tart Deco - I could not get enough of this nail polish throughout the Summer. It was even displayed on my toenails during my holiday to Spain back in June. I have never been a fan of orange polishes, but the neon slant on this beauty makes your skin glow. See it in my favourite earlier this year!

Maximillian Strasse Her - this is actually the polish that I'm wearing right now, after rediscovering it for this post! It is such a gorgeous greeny blue, making that little bit of difference to all of the blue shades out there. Green has never been a favourite for me, but this polish is the perfect depth to sit prettily on my nails.

Splash of Grenadine - this has been a favourite in my collection ever since I first purchased it, featuring in a recent blog post here. It is a very pretty pinky purple, which is brighter than I would usually prefer. Nevertheless, the purple undertone brings the colour down a notch, making it a much safer choice.

Tea & Crumpets - as discussed here, I may have picked this beauty up simply because of its name... but who could resist such a perfectly British label??? The name is what brought the polish to my attention, but it's the beautiful nude shade that sold it for me, being a completely unique colour in my collection.

Cocktail Bling - this shade was actually a recommendation by my Fossil manager, and I ran to Boots without another thought. I own very many blues, but with a grey undertone this shade is that little bit different to the rest. I can definitely see myself reaching for this throughout the rest of this year.

Blanc - I have always found that a good quality white polish is hard to come by. Whether it comes out streaky, or needs multiple layers to be opaque, not many live up to expectation. Blanc, however, is just like every other Essie polish; high quality and a glossy finish. It is also fab to treat yourself to a French manicure!

What are your favourite Essie polishes? Do you own any in common with me? Leave me a comment!

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5-STAR REVIEWS: LUSH SUMMER 2015 LAUNCH

Here is a cheeky extra post to add to my blogging schedule this week, and it's an exciting one! I was kindly invited to go along to the Lush store in Nottingham last week to find out all about their new Summer collection. I'm sure that you're all aware of the fantastic Lush store that has opened on Oxford Street in the past six months, displaying a variety of unique and exclusive products. After a trial run, the absolute faves have been released throughout the country - thankfully including Nottingham! The evening was a fabulous way of introducing the new products to a select few bloggers, and was an amazing chance to have all my Lush questions answered! I walked out of the door smelling and feeling like a dream.

Bath bombs - forever my favourite products that Lush create. Simon, from the Lush Nottingham store, showed myself and Lisa all of the newbies, as well as a few reformed products. He talked us through all of the ingredients of each one, really concentrating on the individual feelings that each bomb/bubble bar would give you. For example, the 'Yoga Bomb' is just as relaxing as it sounds, as it takes up to 15 minutes to dissolve. This would mean that you could actually feel it dissolving around you as you indulge yourself in the sandalwood aroma. The two bath bombs demonstrated in the photos above are 'The Experimenter', a beautiful array of colours, and 'Intergalactic', which displays gorgeous blues and pinks. My absolute favourite feature of Intergalactic is the water once the bubbles have all dissolved - it literally looks like a sparkly night sky. What a better way to relax??? The other two bath products that caught my eye were the 'Milky Bath' bubble bar, simply because of it's incredibly creamy consistency, and the 'Skydancer - Far From The Madding Guns' bath bomb. This last one particularly touched my heart, as profit made from each bomb sold is put towards helping out the endangered Hen Harriers. Lush are such a warm hearted company, doing everything that they can to prevent animal testing, and the Skydancer bath bomb really emphasised that philosophy to me. (Even better, the yellow dissolves and you're left with a bird flying around your bath!!!)

Shower Gels & Jellies - I've never known a lot about the Lush shower jellies, and so loved learning all about how they work and what they do. Three newbies have been brought out - Needles and Pines (the green one), The Refresher (the yellow/gold one), and 93,000 Miles (the orange one). I was particularly interested in 93,000 Miles, as we were told that it is an incredible product to use post-run to really calm down your skin, muscles, aches, and pains. As I am really trying to stick to a running routine, I'm intrigued to see how the jellie affects my body afterwards! As for shower gels (which I unfortunately could not capture an in focus picture of, silly camera), the newbies are Wash That Man Right Out Of My Hair which, like it's name, is a very empowering scent, Beautiful, and Don't Rain On My Parade. 

Myself and Lisa spent quite a long time speaking to Jess, who was the most knowledgeable Lush staff member that you could ever ask for. She gave both of us a few beautiful hand massages, using Salted Coconut, the most beautiful smelling exfoliator, Love and Light, a simple hand cream that left my hands feeling luxurious, and Golden Handshake, which is pictured above. This one was my personal favourite, as I walked away with the happiest hands I've ever had. Whenever I am in need of a pamper session, I will definitely be reaching for this product to give myself a bit of an uplifting.

One of the best parts of the evening was meeting the lovely Angel, who had baked the goodies pictured above (and more). Lisa and I had a wonderful little chat with her about her immigration from California to Nottingham, and about her passion to work with the children that get forgotten about. That was what she put her heart and soul into over in the states, and she is selling her incredible baked goods to raise enough money to bring her job over to the UK. If you have a sweet tooth, or if you feel like extending a hand of kindness, please go over and give Angel some love here!

A massive thank you again to the amazing team at the Lush store in Nottingham. You were all so friendly and welcoming, and I will definitely be popping my head through your doors sometime soon! Have you tried anything from the new collection? Is there anything that you'd like to get your hands on?

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