185. Lush Brightside Bubble Bar - Summer, in a bath!

Hello lovelies.

I apologise for the overkill of Lush product reviews lately but, seriously, I just can't get enough of them right now. Every time I'm near a Lush shop (which, for the record, is not very often - damn you countryside living) I can't help but pick up a few items to try out.

I spotted this summery bubble bar - Brightside - when I was in the Metrocentre's Lush a few weeks ago, when I went to see the new Cinderella movie with a friend (it was also the trip where I picked up the Toothy Tabs that I reviewed last week), and after a quick sniff I knew it was the one for me.

The smell of oranges is one of my absolute favourites (along with sun cream and bonfires, FYI) so Brightside, with Sicilian mandarin and tangerine essential oils, was right up my street. Lush describes the ingredients as 'uplifting' and I couldn't agree more - I felt so refreshed and energised after my first use.

It's definitely worth mentioning the amazing colours that this bubble bar creates, just look at the photo below - it's awesome! I used about 1/3 of the bar in my bath and it turned the water bright orange with a lovely creamy layer of bubbles. 

I had my second Brightside bath last night and I'm still totally bowled over (mainly by the gorgeous smell) and I'd definitely repurchase - I think this bubble bar is perfect for summer!

181. Lush Toothy Tabs: An Alternative To Toothpaste?

I'm big on impulse buying. Now, I know that's not something to brag about but, sometimes - just sometimes, it means you stumble across some absolute gems. Things you would never have thought about, things you had no idea you needed (usually because you didn't) and things you've never even heard of. This is why I love it.

I headed into Lush recently when I was at the Metrocentre with a friend and, whilst queuing to pay for a Brightside bubble bar (review coming soon!), I spotted an intriguing display: Toothy Tabs. As this was something I'd never heard of before, I asked the sales assistant who kindly explained exactly what Toothy Tabs were to me. An alternative to toothpaste; environmentally friendly as they use recycled paper boxes (rather than the usual plastic or aluminium which would end up in a landfill) and, as always, cruelty free.

There were several different options to choose from but I went for Sparkle, promising 'gleamingly clean' teeth, which I thought sounded perfect as I'm conscious that my teeth aren't exactly as white as I'd like them to be. (I'm blaming years of drinking diet coke, smoking and having a penchant for curries and tomato-based sauces, which my dentist tells me aren't ideal if you want sparkling, white teeth.)

Now, the idea of using what is, at the end of the day, a weird little tablet to brush your teeth does take some getting used to and it took me a couple of attempts to actually perfect the method. But, once you've figured it out, it's pretty straight forward - you take one tab, put it between your teeth and gently crush it so that it forms a powder, then you just brush your teeth with a wet toothbrush as usual. The tabs quickly foam and your mouth is filled with a delicious, refreshing taste that reminds me of the paste that dentists use to clean your teeth. 

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The main ingredients in Sparkle Toothy Tabs are black pepper oil, lemon oil and powder and grapefruit oil. These ingredients combine to create a really pleasant, refreshing and warming flavour and sensation. I've seen a couple of reviews claiming that the peppery taste is far too strong and off-putting but I haven't found this to be the case whatsoever; it goes without saying that I am a chilli and pepper addict, but even so, I think it creates a lovely, warming sensation. 

I have to say that I haven't noticed a difference in the colour of my teeth or their general appearance but I've only been using the Toothy Tabs for a little over a week, so I guess I need to give them a little longer before I judge them on that. However, I do love the taste of them and they leave my teeth feeling incredibly clean and fresh, which is my main aim from a toothpaste or - in this case - 'toothy tab.'

At £2.50 for a 12g box of Toothy Tabs, they are a lot more expensive than regular toothpaste which I usually pick up in the supermarket for about £1, but they're almost an experience in themselves (if you're as sad as I am...) and they really do 'do the job' so I can't complain.

For some, they may be a novelty product and for just £2.50, you can't really go wrong, but if you're keen to find a cruelty free, environmentally friendly alternative to toothpaste, I'd definitely recommend you give Toothy Tabs a go. Check out the full range on the Lush website or find out more about "Why?" you should use Toothy Tabs here.

171. Lush: Ultraviolet, Love Lettuce and Shine So Bright

Every once in a while I like to have a little splurge in Lush. Their products are the ultimate pick me up and I feel that using them is an experience in itself. At the start of the month I decided to treat myself to a few new products; the Ultraviolet bubble bar, the Love Lettuce face mask and the Shine So Bright hair balm. Here are my thoughts...

I chose the Ultraviolet bubble bar mainly because of it's funky design, and the fact that it looked a pretty hefty size for the price too! I managed to get a good three bubble baths out of Ultraviolet but I'm sure that, if I'd been a little more cautious, I could have pushed to four or five. The bubble bar dissolved easily and quickly, creating an intense (but lovely) floral aroma that reminded me of Parma Violet sweets. I also underestimated quite how many bubbles it would make, as it totally filled the bath! 

It turned the water a beautiful deep, violet colour and I could smell the scent on my skin for the rest of the night. I'm thoroughly impressed with this lovely bubble bar, which I'd put on a par with the Comforter (the smell isn't as nice, but it creates a lot more bubbles!) and I'm hoping I'll be able to purchase another before the Mothers Day range is discontinued. 

At £4.75 it's not cheap but I feel that the number of baths you can get out of it makes it definitely worth spending that little bit extra. 

Next up, I tried my new favourite Lush product: Love Lettuce. One of my closest friends actually recommended this whilst we were browsing in store a few weeks ago, so I thought I'd give it a go. This is a gorgeous exfoliating face mask which has the most delicious fresh scent and left my skin feeling incredibly smooth and soft after just ten minutes.

I used the amount shown above and this covered my entire face. A little really does go a long way!

It's a clay based mask, claiming to tighten your pores, and is targeted at normal to oily skin - win for me as I'm certainly prone to an oily t-zone! The mask also contains moisturising honey and soothing lavender. It's a super refreshing scent and feels very cooling on the skin; when I washed it off with warm water after ten minutes my skin wasn't as red as it usually is after exfoliating, and it didn't feel irritated at all. My skin honestly feels clearer already and, for that reason, I'm pretty overwhelmed by this product!

Love Lettuce retails at £6.50 for 75g which, to me, sound like a lot of money but now that I've tried it I'd definitely repurchase. I think you can probably get about ten uses out of it which - when you think about it - is pretty good, working out at just 65p per treatment! It's the perfect mid-week pick-me-up.

As I really wanted to get a mix of products, after purchasing a bath product and a skin care product, I decided to go for some hair care, in the form of Shine So Bright hair balm. I suffer from split ends after years of colouring my hair and avoiding hairdresser appointments in an attempt to achieve luxuriously long locks, so this sounded like a God send.

The balm is full of moisturising ingredients such as coconut oil, Candelila wax, shea butter and olive oil, meaning it adds a lot of moisture to those dry ends. Whilst it can't claim to heal split ends, it does claim that it helps to prevent them and nourish those that you've already developed.

My first impressions were that the tin was tiny. I was honestly quite surprised as I'd expected it to be a lot bigger. However, when I opened it up all I could think about was the smell - its  really gorgeous, sweet aroma and, believe me when I say, it lingers. I used it a day ago and I can still smell it on my fingers (YES, I have washed my hands!) and the ends of my hair.

You only need to apply the tiniest little amount, otherwise I worry that you'd end up with hair that looks greasy rather than moisturised. I scraped some out using my finger tip and then, using my thumb and forefinger, rubbed it into the ends of my hair. Admittedly I didn't see an instant transformation, but a whole day later, my hair looks a lot sleeker and more manageable than usual.

I'll keep persevering with this product to see if it's worth the money as, so far, I haven't really been blown away and for £4.75 for a miniscule 10g, I'm not convinced it's worth the money just yet.

169. My Perfect Day Off - A 'How To' Guide

Hello lovelies.

If you're anything like me, life can get pretty hectic. What with work, friends, partners or dating,running a home, hobbies and all the other, numerous, added extras that help to fill up our diaries, it can be hard to find time for yourself. 

I'm lucky enough to get three days off each week and I like to strive for some sort of balance between keeping on top of housework, running errands, catching up on appointments and what not and spending time with family and friends. It's so easy to just jam-pack your day off full of everything you've been putting off all day, and forget to take some time out just 'be'. 

I've devised a little guide for how to achieve my the perfect day off. And by 'day off' I really do mean: day off. A day off from chores, a day off from appointments and a day off from people. Sometimes it's nice to be anti-social. I'm definitely not one of those people who goes stir crazy if they spend a day in the house by themselves; nope, I relish in it.

1. Have a lie in

I rarely sleep past 9am but when you've got no plans, it's lovely to stay in bed for that little bit longer. Whether you're actually in a deep slumber or you're snoozing in between checking your Instagram, Twitter and Facebook feed - bed is, undeniably, a great place to begin your day off. 

2. Treat yourself to a tasty breakfast

As you have a bit more time on a day off, it's nice to make a bit of an effort with breakfast. Why not cook up some pancakes and enjoy them with fruit and honey? Or go all out and have a full English! 

3. Catch up on your favourite TV shows

Invest in Netflix or download the BBC iPlayer and 4OD apps. They're a great way to catch up on TV shows that you've missed due to a busy life. My current favourite is The US Office and, as S hates it (what is wrong with him?!), my day off is the ideal time to pull my duvet up on the sofa, grab some snacks and binge-watch a series in a day: no guilt attached.

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4. Do something creative

If you want to feel that you've done at least one productive thing on your day off, getting creative is the perfect opportunity. Bake something, write some blog posts or do something crafty like drawing, refurbishing a piece of furniture or playing an instrument.

5. Pamper yourself

Once late afternoon rolls around, why not treat yourself to a bubble bath, a face mask and a manicure? It's a great way to relax for a few hours and it will leave you feeling - and looking! - fantastic. I love the use Lush products for a nice, colourful and beautifully scented bath, and then apply both a face and hair mask whilst I soak in the bath. 

6. Have a treat-filled evening

Now that you're beginning to think about returning to work tomorrow, it's the ideal time to switch off your phone, make yourself (or even better, order) some delicious food, fill up a couple of bowls with snacks and watch a film or read a book either in bed or curled up on the sofa. The perfect end to a perfect day.

That's my dream stay-at-home day off work, what's yours?

131. Beauty // Scented Guru Review

One of my very best of friends recently sent me the link to a website I'd never heard of, because she thought their products would be right up my street. She wasn't wrong.

Scented Guru is an awesome bath product company, run by the lovely James who was so, so helpful on Twitter when I was choosing my products and placing my order. Here's what James has to say: "I have always liked soaps and bath bombs because I was always shopping at Lush, but I thought I would like to sell my own soaps and that's when I established in July 2013 my company Scented Guru. My aim is to provide customers with the best possible service and with a hassle-free approach to get your order delivered directly to your door with our peace of mind and fast delivery service. By providing Fresh handmade Low Cost Soaps, Bath Bombs, Bath Salts, Hair Shampoo, Gift Sets and along with much more. Ancient Wisdom produces high quality ethical aromatherapy products and scrumptious bathroom items which are made from high quality ingredients in imaginative ways to produce traditional recipes with contemporary twists. You can smell us from miles away, the sweetest smelling company in the north."

All of Scented Guru's wide array of products are handmade and never tested on animals, which is reassuring, they're also ethically sourced which is another box ticked. Plus, the price is amazing - their products are so affordable and beat the likes of Lush hands down.

I was so excited to see just how many choices there were for the products. There are so many different scents for the bath bombs and soaps, gifts for men and even some really quirky bath/personal hygiene products that I'd never heard of, or even imagined, before!

First up, I decided to pick a bath bomb as I'm definitely a bath-girl, rather than a shower-girl. I love nothing more than a long soak in a bubble bath, so when I spotted the Lemongrass & Mandarin Bath Bomb, I knew it was the one for me. The scent of mandarins, oranges and clementines are one of my absolute favourite scents, and the lemongrass adds a lovely exotic twist. I tried the bath bomb out last week, to refresh myself after the flight home from Portugal, and it was amazing.

The bath bomb fizzed tremendously and there were no little 'bits' floating around in my bath. The scent was delicious and the bath turned a lovely peachy colour. It was just so nice. I'd definitely buy again, I'd love to try the Apple Pie & Custard Bath Bomb. 

Next up, was one of the products I'd never heard of before - paper soap. Intriguing, right? I wasn't really sure what this was, so I thought I'd chuck it in my basket and try it out on a whim. I opted for the Coconut Paper Soap (which I also can't find on the website anymore - but there are loads more to choose from, such as lavender, rose, etc). When they arrived, I thought they were so cool - you get twenty sheets of the soap in a handy little compact, making them ideal for keeping in your handbag or taking on holiday, or even to a festival. They are just little sheets of soap, and the smell of the coconut soap was divine.

You put one on the palm of your hand, add warm warm and then just rub your hands together, as you would if you were washing your hands with 'normal soap' - it works up into a wonderful lather and left my hands feeling really clean and smelling incredible. For just £1.99 for 20 sheets, I'd totally recommend them - they're ideal to carry around with you.

Last up was another intriguing product - one that I've seen Lush produce, but their price tag had always put me off - Shampoo Bars. I went for the Thyme & Mint Shampoo Slice (for Anti-Dandruff) and I've been so pleasantly surprised. They also have different shampoo slices for hair types; from Lavendar & Rosemary for Damaged Hair to Ginger for Faster-Growing Hair. The Shampoo Slices cost just £2.49 each, and I think you'll get loads of washes out of each bar.

I've used this shampoo bar twice now - once without conditioner and once with conditioner - are the results have been great both times. Not a fleck of dandruff (which I'm prone to with some shampoos) and my hair has been looking great. I didn't use conditioner the first time as I wanted to test the product out without adding any other products in which may make it look better or worse. Normally, if I don't condition my hair, it looks brittle and is prone to tangling - but, no word of a lie, my hair was smooth and tangle-free. I'm seriously impressed.

I'm so, so glad that I discovered (with the help of my wonderful friend, Becca) Scented Guru as I couldn't recommend them enough. The products are brilliant quality, the range is fantastic & there are so many products that I can't wait to try out, incredibly low prices, delivery was quick & painless, and James is always there to help on Twitter if you need him. 

SAVE 15% OFF EVERYTHING ON SCENTED GURU THIS SUMMER! USE PROMO CODE: SUMMER15

Have you ever tried Scented Guru?

Do you think you will?

100. Lifestyle // Payday Wishlist

As I'm trying to pay off my debts this year, I'm toning down my spending and I think that this months payday wishlist reflects that with just a few small yet luxurious dream buys. 

1. First of all, I spotted this gorgeous lion print dress whilst browswing ASOS Curve (one of my favourite pastimes) and, although it's so different to my usual floral dress or patterned skirts with a plain vest style, I really like it. I think it'd look great with a nice waist belt and could be worn with bare legs for a summer feel, or with opaque tights and chunky boots in winter. (£28)

2. I've long been lusting after a soy candle from Northumbrian Candleworks, which is situated less than twenty minutes away from me, but for some reason I've just never got round to purchasing one! I came across this delicious sounding Honeysuckle Jasmine candle on their website and the scent sounds incredible; so fresh, clean and perfect for Spring, plus the candle lasts 30 hours and costs less than a tenner! Bargain. (£9.50 large tin, £5.50 small tin)

3. Heeled boots have also been on my 'must have' list for quite some time too, but I've never found a pair that really stand out. I thought I'd have a look at New Look's wide fit selection as I've got the widest feet imaginable, and I stumbled across these beauties. I feel they'd be perfect for work, with thick, black tights and a skater dress, or even for a night, with some jeans and a nice top - at least they'd be more comfortable than a pair of stilettos, and they're in the sale from £59.99 down to just £30!

4. Lush is so popular with beauty bloggers, yet I haven't purchased anything in years! After reading a couple of reviews about their lip scrubs, I thought I'd have a look for myself and I fell in love with the sound of Mint Julips. Mint, chocolate and vanilla?! What's not to love. I've been suffering from really dry lips recently due to the weather and my poor health, so this would be a lovely - and practical - treat for me. (£5.50/25g)