So with the winter weather well and truly creeping up on us I have started to notice my skin and lips getting a lot dryer and before it gets any worse I have taken some drastic action and introduced a high level of lip care into my daily routine. 

In this post I will include mini reviews on the products I am using to keep my lips in the best condition I can during the colder months, because lets face it there is nothing worse than applying lipstick to chapped and cracked, dry lips. 
So this is how I keep my lips, lipstick happy.

 

Step 1

Every morning after I have brushed my teeth I lightly brush my lips, removing any loose dry skin.

Step 2

After removing the surface dry skin with the first step, I use a sugar lip scrub to remove the more stubborn dry skin.  The rubbing of the sugar scrub brings the blood to the surface making your lips appear plumper too and in turn smoother.  The sugar scrub I have been using recently is the,

Lush Bubblegum Sugar Lip Scrub £5.25

Buy Yours Here

This lip scrub has been raved about on many blogs I read so I bought it to see what the fuss was about.  As this is the first lip scrub I have ever used I have nothing to compare it to.  The first thing that caught my eye was the colour, pink being my favourite colour this pleased me no end.  The first day I used this I was unsure what to expect but I did expect it to be a little bit more sticky, this crumbles when you pinch a bit between your fingers. As you rub this into your lips it tastes delicious, most of the sugar eventually melts into your lips and I can't resist but to lick my lips.  I rinse the excess sugar from around my lips with warmwater but can sometimes be left with an oily patch on my face where the sugar has been,  which worries me slightly incase this caused a breakout.  This product does the job I need it to at the moment but once it is finished I will be on the hunt for a new lip scrub that stays more together during the scrubbing. 

Step 3

Now my lips are all smooth I treat them to a generous helping of mango, mango lip butter that is.

The Body Shop Mango Lip Butter £4

Buy yours Here 

I love the lip butters from The Body Shop they are so nourishing and smell delicious, I love lipbalms that are highly scented and the smell of mango is just devine.  I use this one in the morning as it requires your finger to apply and these can be messy to apply during the day so this one is kept in my make up drawer. I love the packaging of these as it is just a mini of the famous body butters. These last longer on the lips than any lipbalm I have ever used which is perfect when im walking to work with the wind battering on my face. I will repurchase this again and again but I might try out the different flavours.

 

When im at work or out and about I prefer my lipbalms that do not require you to use your finger to apply, this is more convenient and quick for throughout the day.  I use two different products, they are both extremely similar with two very different price tags.

 

Palmer's Dark Chocolate and Peppermint Lip Butter £2.89

This is my newest lip product so I have only been using it for a couple of days, it is the one I keep in my work locker.  I love the feel of this on my lips as it is extremely smooth but slightly more glossy than I like of a lip balm, although the would be great on top of a lipstick.  It smells so yummy the chocolate minty smell reminds me of After Eight after dinner mints and we always have them at Chirstmas, so for me this is very festive.  Im not sure if I would repurchase this yet as I have only been using it for a few days but first impressions are good.

 

Buy yours Here

 

Elemis Fresh Skin Loving Lips Balm £7.99

I have been using this on and off since March and it is still got lots left, the feeling on your lips is very similar to the Palmers Lip Butter but the finish it more of a balm finish and less glossy which I love.  It is scented with peppermint and is very refreshing on the lips. The packaging of this is very professional looking with the silver finish lid.I keep this in my handbag so I always have this with me when im not in the house. Due to the price I doubt I will repurchase this again as I can get the palmers one which is pretty much the same with the added scent of chocolate.  This is part of the Elemis Fresh Skin Range which I have reviewed in full here

I have been extremely lucky on my birthday and recieved some lovely gifts and money, All of these 'presents' im about to show you I purchased with money I recieved.  These are all things I have been lusting after for a while now so I am delighted I now own them.

 

This week I will show you all the beauty products, next week clothes and accessories, the week after anything that doesnt fit into a category and then finally jewellery.

 

Hope you enjoy!

 

L-R Lovie Dovie, Pillow Talk, True Love

I have wanted to try out Essie for ages and when I seen all 3 of these for only £7 in Tk Maxx I had to have them, I have been wearing Lovie Dovie for nearly a week now and Im soo in love its the perfect Autumn shade, the glossy red wine finish goes with everything im wearing at the moment.

 

 The Body Shop Strawberry set

Ever since trying my first body butter from The Body Shop last month I am obsessed, so when I seen I could get £10 off my next purchase over £25, on the bottom of my reciept, this little set was a must.  There is £32 worth of products including soap, body polish, shower gel, shower puff and body butter and I got all this for only £15 such a bargain. The scented products from body shop are just delicious, this strawberry is soo yummy I just want to smell of it all the time and with all these products that wont be too difficult.

The Body Shop Body Butters Raspberry and Papaye
Well done to Adam for choosing he two scents I wanted next the raspberry is beautiful and smells fresh and sweet all at the same time it reminds me of summers as a child picking raspberries in the bushes and running home to show my mum.  The papaye is actually being disscontinued so I am over the moon adam got this for me before it was unavailable in store, it is such a tropical scent and makes me feel so fresh and clean.  So impressed that he even knew where to go to get these.
Paco Rabanne Lady Million
This was the first perfume Adam ever bought me over two years ago, we had known each other only a week and he left this in my house one day with a note saying 'because you are one in a million' ever since that moment I have loved it.  Paco Rabanne is definately my favourite perfume brand, Black XS is also a favourite of mine.  This was a very thoughtful present so thank you very much adam!

Elf  10 piece Professional Brush Collection

Lately I have been building up my brush collection and now have lots of different brands including Eco Tools, Real Techniques and Mac which are all higher in price than these, I got this set for £7.99 from TK Maxx and for the price the quality is fantastic.  I am loving the angled blush brush, flat eyeliner brush and the all over shadow brush.

 

 Elf  Tone Correcting Powder, Mineral Infused Face Primer, Make up Mist & Set, Lip primer & Plumper and Eye primer & Liner Setter.

I have wanted these products for so long but truthfully I was waiting for a discount code so when I seen their was 20% off the other day I rushed home and ordered.  I got all this for £17.85 including delivery which is amazing! This primer is just excellent I may have found a replacement for my Revlon Colourstay but time will tell, expect a full review in a few weeks.

 

 L-R Real Techniques Stippling Brush, Soap and Glory Heel Genius, Soap and Glory Wish Upon a Jar, Lush Bubblegum Lip Scrub, Soap and Glory Hand Food and Tangle Teezer.

If you read my Birthday Wishlist you will see that  am very hapy lady.  I eventually got the lusted after Stippling Brush and I dont know how I have lived without it until now, the application of my foundation has never been more flawless £11.99 well spent.  TheSoap and Glory heel genious is definately my new favourite foot cream at £5.50 it is more pricey than Id normally pay but smells lovely.  I have wanted to try the Wish Upon a Jar ever since I watched Maria Sparkle's brand favourites video and it has not let me down, I wont say much on this because I will review it fully, £15 of goodness. I basically picked Hand Food because it was 3 for 2 in boots so this was technically free and my hand bag size is running low. I have seen the Lush Lip Scrubs reviewed positively so many times I decided I needed to join in the hype, for £5.95 a wee treat for my lips.  I love my tangle teaser and defiantely one of my hair essentials, I have my 10 year old cousin to thank for getting me obsessed with buying one of these the most Iv ever spent on a brush at £10.99. Everything except the lip scrub was purchased in boots so I got a decent amount of points.
 

L-R Mac Studio Fix Fluid, Dazzleglass Lipgloss 'Date Night' and Minerlise Skinfinish Highlighter 'Soft and Gentle'

Adam Bought me these after my make up application at the Mac counter in Selfridges (which unfortunately was a disaster you can read here why) I have wanted to try a new foundation for ages and when I had this applied I knew I liked it staright away.  Tell me a girl who doesnt love a sparkly lipgloss, no one okay then, this is going to look gorgeous with all the deep plum lipsticks this autumn.  Soft and Gentle need I say more, one of the most beautiful highlighters I have ever layed eyes on.  All these came to the total £59.00 but this did include my Make Up Application, since there was an issue with my make up application I have since been refunded the full amount.

 



 L-R Elf Contouring Blush and Bronzer, Benefit 10, Revlon Lip Butter Strawberry Shortcake and MAC 275SE
I bought all these for £10 including p+p from Bright Town Girl's Blog Sale,  I am delighted with the Benefit 10 it has hardly been used and is in perfect condition, so thanks very much hunni.

Thats all for beauty products so if you have stuck with me until the end thank you very much because that was one long post, do you own any of these products?

Lots of Love

Gemma