PURE AURA NATURAL AWARD WINNING DEODORANT

Crystal Spring kindly sent me out their Pure Aura Salt Of The Earth natural deodorant to review.

The deodorant is:

• Lavender and Vanilla scented
• It contains 15 natural botanical extracts and oils
• It's free from Aluminium Chlorohydrate, Parabens and Triclosan 
• Its made from 100% natural ingredients
• Its made with aloe vera 
• Its is not tested on animals
• It is multi award-winning 

and for all those reasons I was excited to try it.

Sweaty Betty
As someone who sweats when their cold (yes everyone seems to think thats weird) as well as hot deodorant is something I cant live without, as I'm sure many of us can't. So first I stopped using aerosols after reading the risks of using them, then I moved onto roll on which never seemed to work for me. It would get me through a normal day but if I had been cold or hot that day it just wasn't enough, for all you people who hardly sweat your the lucky ones but I just wont go anywhere without a deodorant in my bag. Next I tried Dove deodorant antiperspirant sticks and finally after 23 years I found a deodorant that actually really worked and would last all day but I then found out about all the toxins and health risks that came with these deodorants I've been using my whole life. That's when my quest to find a alternative/natural deodorant began.

Trials & Tribulations 

First I tried Bionsen stick deodorant which was aluminium free and this just didn't work like the Dove stick I was re-applying through out the day and it had a confusing smell to it which I ended up associating with me thinking I smelt sweaty but it was just the smell of the deodorant (my friends who use this also said the same) so it was time to move on. I then tried a Lush solid and powder deodorant which were frankly awful they didn't work at all, all they did was smell nice. This left me feeling disheartened about finding a natural deodorant which worked for me. So having the opportunity to try out the Pure Aura Spray was super exciting although I was was worried it would be as awful as the Lush one but that's not the case! 

The Verdict
So first up the smell of the spray is unlike any other deodorant I've ever smelt, I really like it, its quite strong at first and then it becomes more mild just like any other deodorant really.  Its in a spray bottle and comes out as a liquid which is a first for me as I've never tried one like this before. It can feel a bit sticky after applying it initially as its drying but then the stickyness goes away and actually its far less sticky that and stick or roll on. I can happily say that the Pure Aura Salt Of The Earth spray is certainly the most effective natural deodorant I've tried, I'd be lying if I said it worked as well as the Dove stick but some days I did get away with just one application which compared to the other natural ones was super impressive.

I'm beginning to give up hope that I'll ever find a natural deodorant thats as effective as the Dove stick but I'm glad I've found Crystal Spring as I now have a alternative. I think I'll be using the Pure Aura spray regularly from now on but on the days I know I'm going to be working out or might get to hot or cold ill have to use the Dove stick. Although I feel like giving up hope I wont as Pure Aura do also have a stick deodorant which I will have to try as this might just be the answer to all my prayers.
If your not the sweatiest of people I have all the confidence that this deodorant will work for you and get you away from the horrid toxins that live in all the the non natural deodorants. You can shop Crystal Spring here please let me know how you get on or your thoughts if you try them out.

Have you ever tried a natural deodorant?

Do you want to try one?   

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PINK PARCEL

Pink Parcel

Pink Parcel are a monthly subscription box that send you out a box when its your 'time of the month' the box contains tea, tampons, pads, something sweet, and beauty products. The beauty products inside the box change every month. As far as I'm aware they have four delivery dates so you can choose the nearest to your period. Pink Parcel very kindly sent me out their April box to review. 

To see what was in my box this month you can watch my unboxing video here ...

Thoughts

So over all I really like the idea of this box, I love that it gives you some bits to cheer yourself up in amongst the mood swings. The 'Something Sweet' idea is brilliant, I'm certainly always raiding he cupboards for sweet things all through out my period and I can confirm that the chocolate marshmallow was the first to go from this box.

I like the surprise element to the 'For You' box containing beauty products, I used to love getting one of those lucky bags every week as a child, its like getting a surprise present from yourself. Although I am happy with the products I've received in this months box I cant say they overly thrilled me I'd seen in previous boxes people had got OPI nail varnishes or benefit makeup, I'm all for trying out new brands but there wasn't one I'd heard of. Maybe I was expecting to much as I had seen all these brands I know of popping up in previous boxes, I'm sure everyone is going to get boxes that one month you love and the next your not to impressed with but that goes with any subscription box where the products aren't all stated. With that being said I think they give you the option to take a peek into whats inside the current months box on their website. This will spoil the surprise of whats in your box but if you really didn't like the it I'm guessing you could cancel your subscription or ask not to receive that months box I'm not 100% sure.

The box costs £12.99 and month including Postage and packaging, the eyeshadow pencil (i-smoulder) included in this months box costs £18.50 so already you can see the box is well worth the money. I guess the thing with any monthly subscription box is you just have to hope that you'll like at least one thing in it so it was worth while.

To take a look at how it works or subscribe to Pink Parcel visit their website here, you can get your first box for just £9.95.

I'd like to say thank you again to them for sending me out a box to review and that these are all my own genuine thoughts and opinions.

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MISSGUIDED SPRING WISHLIST

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THAT NIVEA AFTERSHAVE BALM THAT EVERYONES RAVING ABOUT

A Fairly Short & Sweet Review 

You may or may not have heard about the trend of using Nivea Men Sensitive Post Shave Balm as face primer? Well there are loads of people raving about it saying its super good to use a primer. The balm contains no alcohol so shouldn't dry out your face and is sensitive to skin. I wanted to give this a try as I'm all about affordable solutions when it comes to beauty. I think the reason it blew up all over social media is because of the cheap price tag, people pay up to like £40 + for high end primers and £25 for the popular Benefit POREfessional (which i am yet to try) so at £5.35 if the Nivea Balm works your winning.

So I first tried this on my legs when doing my 5 Steps To Smooth Legs post on my legs and it was great my legs were sooo smooth I loved it. I think ill defo be using it on my legs from now on especially if I have a dress occasion . Its quite a runny consistency I was expecting it to be quite thick I think maybe because I associate the word balm to be quite thick or solid. It has a manly smell though so if you don't want your legs to smell like mens aftershave this is not for you! hahaha (although the smell does go away)

So after I used it on my legs and the results were great I was super keen to try it on my face and so I did the next day. I applied it to a freshly washed face and allowed it to dry before putting on make up. If I remember correctly I applied two layers as my skin was dry that day. By the end of the day I had noticed no difference in my make up i.e smoother look, staying on longer but I thought hey my skin was dry today ill try again tomorrow.

I tried again for the next few day but honestly I really didn't notice a difference, I didn't even find the balm very moisturising, I'd always need a few layers. I was testing how it was as a primer and as a primer it failed in my opinion. This could be because I have dry skin, maybe this would work well for a oily skin type but I cant help you there.  To be honest I don't really see at all how people have been getting so excited about this product claiming it works wonders as a primer :s Unfortunately I've not come across a primer yet that's not a total waste of money! I much prefer the deodorant sticks to sprays or roll ons as they are much thicker and I think they work much better. So if I could design a primer I think id make it like a ACTUAL balm/of the same consistency as deodorant sticks, behold we have 'A Primer Stick'. Well maybe theres one out there who knows?  If anyone knows of a primer that actually works please link it in the comments below.

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5 THINGS THAT WILL GIVE YOU MORE ENERGY

Don't skip breakfast
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, its not a saying for no reason! Breakfast is my favourite meal I get so hungry in the mornings I cant cope without it! I'd also be so tired all day if I didn't eat breakfast, I find if I have a big breakfast my energy lasts longer than a small one, a breakfast bar just doesn't cut it! Some people say they don't feel like eating in the morning and that's because your not eating in the morning ... therefore your body is not telling itself its hungry at that time of the day.  Forcing yourself to eat can be off putting or make you feel a bit sick but I can assure you after the initial few days of eating breakfast your body will start to automatically feel hungry at that time and you just like me will be a big lover of breakfast and its energy boosting powers.

B12 Boost oral spray
A few months ago I went into Holland and Barrett I was feeling tired a lot and light headed I thought I may need a iron supplement but after speaking to the guy in there he advised me to take this B12 Boost oral spray so I thought id give it a try and I love it! You can take up to four sprays a day so it keeps giving you little boosts all throughout the day.  Here's what it provides you with:

Nutritional Information

Product Information
Per Dose (4 Sprays Contains):
Vitamin B12	1200µg
Chromium	40µg
Green Tea Extract	16mg

Warning: its super tasty be careful not to get carried away spraying!

Routine
Establishing a good routine is vital for your energy levels especially keeping up with regular sleeping and eating times. Going to bed at the same time every night will make your body tired around the same time each night and give you a good nights sleep to re-energize for a new day. You must have at some point kept to some sort of a routine with sleep and did you ever find your body just naturally woke itself up? Ive had it before where I've woken up with literally a few minutes before my alarm goes off ... now that's good routine right there! I always find oversleeping actually makes me more tired and obviously so does not getting enough.

Early Exercise
Exercising gives you a boost of energy so getting some early exercise in can keep you going for the day and have your more focused. Exercising late in the day or evening can actually keep you from sleeping as your energy levels would have risen which will also then affect your routine.

Snack on bananas or nuts 
The natural sugars of a banana give you energy lots of athletes swear by bananas for boosting energy levels. Nuts are packed with both protein and fibre which help boost your energy and also keep it stable, they also provide a source of magnesium also linked to boosting energy. Both these foods are slow burning and provide a source of sustainable energy, you could also try a organic peanut butter snack as a alternative. Don't go crazy on the snacking though as over eating can make you sleepy, so maybe start off with one banana or one handful of nuts at a time.

Do you have any tips for boosting energy?

Have any of these tips worked for you before?

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5 STEPS TO SMOOTH LEGS

First of all I'd be a total liar if I said I constantly have smooth legs because I don't, far from it especially in winter! (poor boyf) but on the occasions I do want super smooth legs I follow these steps ...

Step 1: Run a warm bath

Getting in a warm bath will help open your pores which will give you a closer shave. Avoid hot water as it can dry out your skin and increase the risk of razor burn.

Step 2: Exfoliate
Exfoliate your legs using any method of exfoliation you choose (mitt, loafer, scrub, brush) use circular motions on the skin against the hair growth this will also help open the pores by getting rid of dead skin. Exfoliating can also reduce the chances of getting in grown hairs.

Step 3: Shave
Shave your legs against the growth of the hair, rinsing the razor after each stroke. Using a good razor is obviously going to make all the difference, disposables simply wont do. I have used a few mens razors in my time which have proved to fit the bill. The razor is using in these pictures is Gillette Venus Swirl Razor with "FlexiBall technology has been designed to contour better to tricky areas, like knees and ankles (vs Venus Embrace), with 5 Contour razor blades that individually adjust to every curve."

As well as choosing a good razor its important to look after your razor. When you've finished shaving you should rinse your razor thoroughly ensuring no hair is left on it. Some razors come with a blade protector if yours does ensure this is on when the razor is not in use, leaving your razor wet and unprotected can cause the blades to go all rusty. The Gillette Venus Swirl is a good razor but one downfall is that it doesn't come with a blade protector. Make sure you change your razor head as soon as it goes blunt.

Step 4: Rinse with cool water

After shaving rinse with cool water to close your pores. Then once out of the bath or shower pat you skin dry, don't rub as it might dry out your skin.

Step 5: Moisturise
The last step is to moisturise. Moisturising when the skin is damp can help locking moisture. If you have sensitive skin you may not be able to moisturise straight away (if your pores go red and bumpy) you may have to wait a little while for your skin to desensitise before moisturising. if this is the case for you, you could try adding a little baby oil to your bath after you've shaved as this should leave them with some moisture and stop them from drying out until you are able to moisturise them properly.

What tips do you have for getting smooth legs?

What products have worked for you getting super smooth legs?

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NYX PRODUCT REVIEWS

As you may have already seen from previous posts I went to the Professional Beauty show in February and whilst I was there invested in a few NYX products. NYX has been plastered all over my instagram feed for months so i wanted to try some out. Boots have just started selling NYX products and I've heard they're going to have their own counters in the large Boots stores (hopefully no just a rumour) So I've had time to try out all my products and now I can let you all know what I think of them ...

Matte Lipstick (MLS33)

I felt this was a good lipstick, not quite MAC but then it was also far from a MAC price tag. I would compare it to the same quality as a Rimmel lipstick. I loveee the shade of this lipstick it was exactly what I wanted, its a nice creamy lipstick that doesn't overly dry out your lips. I wouldn't say it was predominantly matte though (like Lip Kit By Kylie matte) but then I wasn't expecting it to be although its totally not shiny or glossy so defiantly gives a matte effect. Overall for what you pay for I feel you get a good product and your moneys worth.

Lip Liner Pencils (Soft Brown 819/Brown Cafe 821)

I think these lip liners are so reasonably priced a just £3, I love the colours they come in choosing two was hard! They're quite creamy liners which is good for blending into lipstick, I thought that this might mean that because they're creamy they could easily transfer onto things and not last very long. So I tested it out by applying them and dabbing my lips with tissue and I got very minimal transfer. To be honest I can't really fault these liners id defiantly say go get yourself some of these liners and grab a bargain.

Super Skinny Eye Marker (Carbon Black SSEM)

I wanted one of these for ages because it takes me many attempts to get my eyeliner right so I thought maybe a actual pen would make it easier. I hate to say it but this product was awful :( It was one of the more pricey items out of my bunch and it was a total let down. I was slightly confused as to how it worked, there was no button or way to twist it to get more product onto the nib of the marker at this point it left me thinking well the only thing to do is shake it ... so I did but it didn't seem to get any more product out, how you do still remains a mystery to me. So as you can see from the pictures below the product comes out very faint not how I like my eyeliner to be! Its also a nightmare to draw it over eyeshadow, practically impossible unlike all the other eyeliners I've ever used. I don't really know where they was going with this product, is does say its a eye marker so I'm presuming I've been using it correctly only it hasn't been successful in doing its job even slightly. Unfortunately id have to say if your looking for a eye liner give this one a miss. Has anyone else found any other pen type eyeliners to be not as good as a liquid liner?

Love In Rio Eyeshadow Trio (Cabana Boy LIR17)

Choosing a palette was super hard they had so many that all looked amazing. I chose this palette because I wear quite neutral tones all the time and I liked that this had a mixture of matte and shimmer shadows. You have to apply quite a bit of the gold to really make it stand out but overall the quality of these shadows are good. I'd defiantly say go out and get one yourself a NYX palette but beware you'll be spoilt for choice!

Setting Spray (Matte Finish)

These lil babies were flying off the shelves at the beauty show and id never tried a setting spray so I thought id give it a go. To be totally honest with you id be lying if I said I knew if this product worked or not. I mean how do you test it? See if your make up lasts longer? Well in that case I haven't noticed a big enough difference in how much make up stays on to comment on it. The only thing I can say is that the spray is meant to give you a matte finish and I wouldn't say that it does. The spray doesn't leave your face wet, dewy or shiny at all so in that way it works but it doesn't make your face any more matte than your make up already is in my opinion. If I change my mind on this product or more like come to some sort of conclusion I will update you guys! 

Eyeshadows/Matte Shadow (Own The Night HS84/ Coquette HS13)(Bare My Soul NMS14)

Again I chose 3 quite neutral tones. NYX have a great selection of colours to choose from they also a few different types of eyeshadows.  I love the packaging (if that's what you call it) its quite similar to MAC. The Bare My Nude shadow is called a Nude Matte Shadow, I don't know if its meant to be any different to the other 2 shadows but as you can see below it didn't come out any more matte than the others. I found that the Coquette shade needed more product to get a good coverage of the colour. On the whole I would say these are good shadows and at the ridiculously low price of £3.50 they're more than reasonably priced.

Have you tried any NYX products? If so which ones? What did you think of them?

Which one of these products would you like to try?

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BEAUTY NO NOS YOU NEED TO AVOID

The jaw foundation line 

For those of your who don't know what I'm on about, its the line of foundation that goes around your jaw line and makes your neck look a different colour to your face. Its not attractive ... furthermore, it can make you look as though you are wearing more make up than you actually are. Guys don't want a constant reminder that your wearing make up. You should change the colour of your foundation as the seasons change constantly matching it to the colour of your skin. You could also mix foundations together to get the perfect shade in between seasons and don't forget to BLEND BLEND BLEND your jaw line (where your foundation stops).  In emergency cases use a little bronzer whether it be on your neck (if you have a lighter neck) or on your face (if you have a whiter face). What ever you do just don't leave the house with that awful line its like the line of muck the bath leaves when you drain it and your wearing fake tan ... but on your face. 

Unsafe sun exposure 

Don't forget to always protect yourself from the sun (even when its not particularly sunny) as the sun accelerates ageing of the skin, make up does not protect you unless you buy a foundation or bb cream with built in SPF if you don't have any then you could lightly layer your face with some sun cream before applying your make up to help protect your skin but this doesn't just go for face. In the warmer months we expose more skin so just make sure you protect everywhere the sun can reach. 

Not washing your brushes regularly

Your make up brushes can collect dead skin cells, dust, and bacteria this can cause breakouts.  I'd say you should aim to wash your brushes about once a week make sure you wash them thoroughly until the water runs clear and when you dab them on tissue you get no transfer at all. Once you clean your brushes keep them in a safe place away from bacteria don't let them roll around on your bedroom floor.

Falling asleep with your make up on

Probably my No1 beauty no no I used to do this when I was like 18 and had been out partying all night I'd get home and just couldn't be bothered so I'd just jump in bed how I was, the thought now makes me cringe. Taking off my make up has got to be my least favourite things to do in the world I literally hate it (if I was rich id pay for a make up remover-er) BUT I still religiously remove all my make up every night before bed no matter how much it makes me want to cry that I'm so tired and cant be bothered. I watched a programme a few years ago called 10 years younger (i think) and on it they said there was studies that proved one night of sleeping with your make up on could age your face by up to 8 days ... EIGHT DAYS!! Another important thing to remember is that naturally every night your skin goes through a healing process which can be interrupted by going to sleep with a dirty face. 

Just baby wiping it off

Simply removing your make up with just a baby wipe is a no no! A lot of people only use baby wipes to take their make up off because their to busy or to tired to take it off properly. You may think that you've got it all off because you've gone through 4 baby wipes and now nothings coming off onto the wipe but your wrong, I can guarantee you if you then go and get a cleanser and a cotton pad and wipe your face you will be shocked at how much make up is still in the pores of your skin even though you cant see it. Its important to remove your make up thoroughly each night you can do this however you like, using a cleanser or face wash (i personally wash my face every night) ensure your using the correct products to suit your skin type as you don't want to irritate or dry out your skin.

Failing to moisturise

Don't forget to moisturise your skin even if its oily! Oily skin produces extra oil because of the skins lack of hydration by moisturising you can maintain the water - oil balance of your skin. Moisturising when your face is wet can help lock in moisture. You should never let your skin dry out either but with that being said you don't need to drown it in product, its about trying to ensure your skins moisture is always balanced. Also you should avoid using body lotions or perfumed lotions on your face as these are too harsh for your facial skin, you need something more delicate like a cream specially for your face, again id advise you to use the correct products for your skin type whether you have dry, normal, combination or oily skin. If you have dry skin you could try putting some coconut oil on before sleeping its rich in antioxidant vitamin E and is absorbed differently to any other oil as its so thin, I wouldn't advise using the oil before putting on your make up. 

Over exfoliating 

Exfoliating is a must especially if you have spot prone or dry skin but over exfoliating can cause irritation, redness, excessive dryness and your skin to tighten. You should aim to exfoliate two or three times a week also when your exfoliating you don't need to be rough your face is delicate remember! You should use gentle circular motions and focus on the spot prone or dry areas. 

Testing foundations on your hand 

If you test your foundations on your hand then you're doing it all wrong! Chances are your face and hands are not the same colour. Also your hands or face maybe be dryer than one another and the product may sit differently on the two types of skin.  When testing foundations you should test them on your jaw line. I learnt this tip whilst at beauty college. This is also a good place for  testing as you can see how it will blend into your neck helping you avoid the dreaded foundation jaw line.

Not allowing your moisturiser to dry before you apply your make up

You should allow your moisturiser to fully sink in before applying your makeup otherwise your make up wont sit on your face properly.  If your in a hurry you can blot your face dry with some tissue but never rub your face dry as it will dry out your skin.

Forgetting all about your neck 

When moisturising don't forget your neck most people moisturise their face and show no love to their neck. You should also go down your chest and cleavage area. Moisturising helps keep your skin soft, supple and can help prevent wrinkles forming. You don't want to end up a OAP with a soft face and a dry wrinkly neck now do you? 

Do you have any beauty no no's?

Have you.. like me ever committed any of these beauty sin? If so which ones?

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5 WAYS TO REDUCE STRESS AND ANXIETY

We all experience stress from time to time even travelling can be so stressful and thats a daily part of life. Its important not to let it get on top of you and take steps to de-stress yourself. Here are my 5 ways to reduce stress and anxiety:

St Johns Wort

St Johns Wort is a herbal medicine that is used to treat the symptoms associated with stress such as mild depression and anxiety and sleep problems. When I was bit stressed a few years ago my doctor recommended this for me. Alternatives to this could be Passion Flower,  Kalms or Rescue Remedy. There are a few kinds of stress relieving medicinal products they come in tablets, sprays, liquids and pastels so find the right one for you. Before taking your chill pill (any kind of medicine) you must read the label and check its suitable for you to take.

you can shop these medicines here :

St Johns Wort

Passion Flower

Kalms

Rescue remedy

Yoga

Yoga is a mind-body practise that involves physical poses and stretches, controlled breathing and meditating or relaxing. A number of studies have shown that yoga can help reduce stress and anxiety and can also enhance your mood and overall sense of well-being. Whilst doing yoga your blood pressure and heart rate can lower, relaxing you. If you don't know any yoga routines or poses you can google them or search a routine on youtube.  You can choose a routine that suits you whether your a beginner or want to skip to the hard stuff, just want a quick routine in the morning or night what ever you want have a search i'm sure you'll find it.

Have 'Time Out"

Take some time out, if you can do it when you feel your self getting stressed as it could help prevent it, if you cant then just take any time you can to just CHILL! Whether you go have a bath, watch a tv programme, have a lay down what ever you choose to do just switch off from the world, turn all devices off. Allow no distractions just allow yourself that time.

Keeping things organised

Organisation is key when it comes to stress whether its keeping your self organised or your surroundings.  When things are organised everything just runs more smoothly, save yourself a stressful morning a get organised the night before get your clothes, make-up, bag anything you need to do or take with you in the morning ready. Make sure you allow your self enough time to do everything you need to do. The 10 extra minutes in bed is not worth rushing and getting stressed because chances are if you start your day stressed your likely to stay that way all day. Make lists of things you have to do that day or the next this way you can clear your mind not stress about forgetting anything.  

Your surroundings can play a big part in being stressed if your room or house is a mess that's just going to slow you down and get in your way. I don't know about you but I just cant relax as well when my room is a tip as I can when its spic and span. You might not think that your environment is affecting you that much but subconscious may be picking up odd jobs you need to do and adding to the list of other things on your mind. You should create a calm environment for yourself and you can start but simply organising everything. 

Avoid stressful people

I suppose this is kind off a follow from providing the right environment for you to be in. If you allow yourself to be in the company of stressful people this can be toxic for your mood/stress levels. I have actually done this myself and seen the difference it can make. If you cant cut these people out totally then limit the time you spend with them. Spend your time with the people that most make you laugh, feel calm, relaxed and happy. its important to notice when your being the stressful person in someone else's life as this can have effects on your relationship with that person instead talk to them let them know how your feeling so they can understand the potential differences in your mood/behaviour and I'm sure they'll have patience.  

Do you know any methods of de-stressing?

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