Nivea In-Shower Moisturiser Review

Hi everyone,

A few weeks ago I was having real trouble with dryness on my face which after a lot of trial and error I finally seem to have managed to get under control. However, now the problem seems to have spread to other areas of my body, mainly my arms, legs and chest and the creams I was using on my face don’t seem to be strong enough the tackle this.

The Soap & Glory Whipped Clean has been my go-to in-shower body wash / butter recently and has really helped me out but I was going through it at quite an alarming rate with having such dry skin. I wondered if there was anything cheaper that did a similar job so when I saw the Nivea In-Shower Body Moisturiser on a buy one get one half price offer I thought it was definitely time to give it a try.

I’m always unsure about how these in-shower products are going to work as it seems strange to simply rinse it off straight after applying it. However, this moisturiser is meant to be activated by water and is immediately absorbed into the skin. Nivea say that it leaves a film on the skin surface which I can feel when I get out of the shower but it isn’t sticky or wet feeling and it does soon disappear so this isn’t something which would put me off the product. Unlike the Soap & Glory Whipped Clean the Nivea moisturiser doesn’t lather up as it isn't a moisturiser and shower wash in one. Instead it just rubs in like a normal moisturiser would.

I have been using both the option for normal skin and the one for dry skin and I have to say I much prefer the one for dry skin. After using it, my skin felt so much more hydrated and softer and I love how quick and easy it is to use. I don’t feel bad if I miss using my body butters when I’m in a rush or just feeling too lazy as I know my skin has got some hydration. I have to say, I didn’t notice that much difference after using the normal skin version though, although the honey fragrance was just divine. As I mentioned, I have been having trouble with dryness so I just don’t think the normal skin option was strong enough but it may be OK for others with more oily skin.

For me, this product is a great quick fix and perfect for those days when you don’t have time to do a whole skincare routine. However, I wouldn’t rely on it all the time and think sometimes only a good body lotion or butter will do.

I hope you enjoyed this post and please let me know in the comments your thoughts on this product. Have you tried anything like this before? What do you think of in-shower products?

Thanks for reading,

Hannah xx

Rimmel Sunshimmer In-Shower Tan Review

Hi everyone,

After my disaster with the St Tropez In-Shower Gradual tan (review here) I was unsure whether or not to give this product a try. I didn’t want to spend more money on something that wasn’t going to work, especially as I am meant to be saving up for a holiday and there are other things on my list that I need to buy. However after reading the packaging and how the tan works I was intrigued and decided to it was worth the risk.

The main difference with the Rimmel Sunshimmer In-Shower Self Tan that made me add it to my basket was that you don’t have to stand around all cold and wet for it to work. You simply apply the lotion all over whilst still in the shower and rinse it off straight away. I had higher hopes immediately as this tan feels more like an oil so it sits on the skin rather than washes away in the shower. Once you get out you can still feel it’s there and even though it does take a few minutes to sink in,  this didn’t bother me too much as it is the same as using any tanning lotion, moisturiser or body butter. The oily consistency also meant my skin felt quite soft and hydrated once I had got dry which is another bonus. I did find the tan smell to be more obvious with this product than with the St Tropez one, again probably because this one actually works! However, I didn’t have any trouble with it rubbing off onto my clothes or PJs or leaving any marks on the bed sheets.

The next morning I was really pleasantly surprised when I woke up with a lovely, natural looking tan which was the perfect shade for me. The bottle says to use more frequently to develop a darker tan but I didn’t feel I needed to as one application was plenty for the look that I wanted. The only thing I would mention is to be careful when applying the lotion to make sure it goes on evenly when you are in the shower. It is easy for the water and product to gather in certain areas creating darker patches so it’s important to make sure it is rubbed in properly.

I applied the tan on the Monday evening for the first time and didn’t need to reapply again until around Friday. I made sure that I moisturised every night and this helped make sure that the tan faded evenly rather than coming off in patches which is something that annoys the hell out of me.

Overall the Rimmel Sunshimmer In-Shower tan was a huge hit with me and such a relief that it actually worked after using the St Tropez option. Maybe this one is better as it isn’t a gradual tan like the St Tropez one but after five applications you would think a gradual tan would do something! I think this is a great product to use when you are in a rush and I was so happy with the outcome.

Have you tried the Rimmel Sunshimmer In-Shower Self Tan? What did you think of it?

Thanks for reading,

Hannah xx

Armani Luminous Silk Foundation Review

Hi everyone,

I have waited to try the Armani Luminous Silk foundation for so long, I can’t even tell you but the £37 price tag always made my eyes water and my bank balance cry in pain. Temptation finally got the better of me a few weeks ago on a shopping trip to Manchester where I decided enough was enough and I needed to treat myself and finally give this foundation a try.

If you have read my blog before you may know that my usual foundation is Estée Lauder Double Wear which I have been using for years and years now. The first thing I noticed about the Luminous Silk foundation in comparison was that it felt so much lighter and more comfortable on the skin, so much so that I could barely tell I had any makeup on. I love Double Wear for its high coverage and amazing staying power but with that comes a fairly thick and heavy consistency which I know many people hate. This is not the case at all with the Armani offering but the finish isn’t compromised and you end up with a gorgeous natural look that isn’t one bit cakey or heavy.

Another thing I really noticed was how easy to blend this foundation is and I like to use my Real techniques Buffing Brush to buff it in and get a really even finish. I’d say the coverage is medium but it can be built up if needed and teamed with my Estée Lauder Double Wear concealer I can easily get the flawless look that I want. The finish isn’t too matte but it doesn’t come across as really glowing either which is great for someone like me with oily skin in areas and dry patches in others. I like that it is a good middle ground option as a lot of foundations I have tried recently have been one way or the other, such as Revlon’s Colour Stay foundation which I like overall but is really matte.

Staying power is something that I have always struggled with when it comes to foundations and there have been countless times when I have looked back at old photos and cringed at how often my makeup has gone patchy and just basically slid off. There’s no chance of this happening with the Luminous Silk foundation though and I can rest assured that my makeup will stay in place throughout a long day at work and even take me into the evening if needed.

With 21 shades available, there is a good range to choose from and the shade I went for (shade 5) is perfect match for me at the moment. It is an oil-free product which is a huge positive for me and I’m actually happy that it contains no SPF. This may be a controversial thought for some but plenty of my other products have some sort of SPF in and recently I have been getting so annoyed with the flashback in photos which Double Wear seems particularly bad for. Of course the packaging is gorgeous too and this is the only foundation to take pride of place on my dressing table. It comes with the handy pump which is a must with a product that’s so expensive as I certainly can’t afford for any wastage!

Overall I love this foundation even more than my beloved Estée Lauder but I’m not sure my bank balance will stretch to me wearing it all the time. Like many things in life though, you get what you pay for so I will definitely aim to use this foundation as much as I can. If you are umming and ahhing about it like I was I would definitely suggest going for it as I’m sure you won’t be disappointed!

Have you tried this foundation? Is it one you have your eye on?

Thanks for reading,

Hannah xx

NOTD Tanya Burr Frosting Cupcakes

Hi everyone,

Pastel shades are my favourite for this time of year so when I saw Tanya Burr’s Frosting Cupcakes nail polish I just had to have it.

This shade is a really cute pale, milky pink colour which is just so pretty and girly. It’s the perfect spring / summer shade and I was really pleased with how it looked when I first put it on. The only thing with this type of milky, pastel nail polish is that I find them really difficult to apply. It’s so easy for them to look streaky but I think the key is to start off with thin layers and build the colour up. I have applied three layers here to get the look that I want which I think is better than going straight in with a brush full of polish.

The other negative to this polish is that I found it chipped quite easily. I had only had it on for a few hours when I noticed the first signs of it wearing and a couple of chips. I had been using my hands quite a lot cleaning the rabbit hutch out and making sure the house was tidy ready for friends coming over but having acrylic nails usually means polish lasts longer. I was really disappointed to see my manicure looking worse for wear after only one day and with this type of pastel pink I think it is really noticeable and can quickly look messy.

Overall I love the colour of this nail polish but I was disappointed with how it wears, especially as you have to take a little more time and care when applying it.

What do you think of this nail polish? Which are your favourite polishes for spring and summer?

Thanks for reading,

Hannah xx