October Birchbox

Beauty Box

There is one product in this box that I have been wanting for ages - I smiled out loud when I opened the box. I do enjoy my little treats each month - and the ones I don't use my nieces love!

Laura Mercier tinted Moisturiser - LOVE LOVE LOVE

Akane MAsk Cocoon Nocturne - a gel mask to wear over night . Ive not tried this yet.

KMS California Curl Up Wave Foam Mousse - KMS are consistently good products so I will use this next time I curl my hair.

theBalm Cosmetics Stainiac - I have used theBalm blush I got a few months back almost every day and will get the full size when it's all gone. This lip and cheek stain is almost as great! 

Dr.Lipp Nipple Balm for Lips - beautiful balm and really works. I need a full size tube of this.

UltraDEX - Whitening Tootpaste - looks important, but I haven't seen a difference yet, but that could be the coffee.

Egyptian Magic - sachets of healing skin cream. Rich and gorgeous. Again this I could use over and over. One sachet has gone already.

Design ©2012 Another New Day

www.takingachanceinlife.blogspot.uk 2012 - 2013

All personal images are owned by Another New Day

unless stated otherwise.

Images may not be downloaded,manipulated or reproduced without prior written permission. All rights are reserved.

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A "Free" Product?

With my Boots Vouchers

I managed to buy our fridge freezer for the new kitchen off the Boots Electrical site. This meant I had , with my existing points a whopping £45 in points to spend! Boots also refunded the delivery fee of £19.99 on our fridge freezer due to the slightly unpleasant sales experience I had. That and an apology and I shall say no more - the matter for me is resolved!

I went and had a look at the Smashbox palettes that Boots are now stocking. I have had my eye on these for a while, but as usual I was tempted away from my intended choice by this gorgeous palette that is a limited addition.

Smashbox Palette - Another New Day Blog

It is called Fade to Black and has a lovely selection of browns, golds, shimmers, matts and a shiny black that will be perfect for the Christmas season! It is a slender box that sits neatly in the hand and contains a useful eye shadow brush too. 

I think most of my Boots points will be heading in this direction for the foreseeable future - I predict a new love affair beginning.

This is not particularly cheap at £32, but comparable with other palettes of it's quality. I have been wearing these colours almost every day since buying this and they are great. I do find with the darker colours they do drop a bit on application, but this is not a huge deal for me . It is easily compensated for by the gorgeous depth of colour and the fact that they look as good as new at the end of the day....they just last and last. I find the application smooth and even and although one swipe of colour is enough for me you could build up a really dramatic depth of colour with two or three layers if you were more adventurous. 

This is my first ever Smashbox purchase, but I shall be returning. I got given a few samples and loved the foundations so am saving up my Boots point again!

Design ©2012 Another New Day

www.takingachanceinlife.blogspot.uk 2012 - 2013

All personal images are owned by Another New Day

unless stated otherwise.

Images may not be downloaded,manipulated or reproduced without prior written permission. All rights are reserved.

Commercial or Private use without explicit written consent is prohibited and action will be taken through UK and worldwide copyright laws.

Almost There......

after months of mess....

The last few weeks have been exhausting. Both mentally and physically. I think the toll of having constant people working in my home for months on end is finally getting to me. Don't get me wrong they are respectful and pleasant , but there is no space and endless mess and noise. We had a couple of very late nights recitifying a problem that the tiler created to rescue our lovely floor tiles. Thankfully it all turned out ok, but it is not an experience I want to repeat. 

I keep thinking we must be coming to the end and then I write a list of all the jobs yet to be done and I can see it lasting another 6 weeks yet! The finish on the job is not quite what we want it to be yet.

BUT......

the kitchen is in

and it is everything I hoped it would be and more.

However, we are now resolving a few issues and getting doors put in, skirting fixed, sills painted etc. So it still looks a little like a building site. 

Pearl is in and working and we have had our first Aga breakfast this weekend. A real treat after 7 months of cooking on one ring!

We have also got our TV signal back as we have been without that since the scaffolding went up 4 months ago. I've not really missed it and the kids have watched the odd DVD if they have wanted some down time. We lost our internet for a while too ( hence the lack of posts) - this stressed me out more than no tv!

Despite feeling exhausted and like we have a mountain to climb to finish this job off properly I remind myself daily how lucky we are really and how lovely this is going to be. There are so many in this world who live with nothing so I try not to complain too often.

There will be kitchen pictures very soon - I am just waiting on the finishing jobs to be completed!

Design ©2012 Another New Day

www.takingachanceinlife.blogspot.uk 2012 - 2013

All personal images are owned by Another New Day

unless stated otherwise.

Images may not be downloaded,manipulated or reproduced without prior written permission. All rights are reserved.

Commercial or Private use without explicit written consent is prohibited and action will be taken through UK and worldwide copyright laws.

Deal Changers for My Skin

This is the first in a series of posts called Deal Changers

Clarifying Toners.

Just a quick note first - we have electrics on and off and intermittent internet at the moment as our building works power on so please forgive my lack of posts lately. Pearl arrives today and the kitchen is looking great - I am hoping I will have a picture for you very soon!

As you know I have been looking into my skincare routines this year and tweeking them a little. Your skin changes as you get older. Actually I find my skin changes from season to season and also when I am unwell.

For those of you who like random facts here are a few about your skin you may find interesting:

1) It is your biggest organ - 2 metres when stretched out, accounting for 15% of your body weight.

2) Every inch of your skin has the exact stretchiness and strength for it's location. The skin on your knuckles is very different to the skin on your belly.

3) The thinnest skin is found on your eye lids

4) The thickest skin is found on the soles of your feet

It is not surprising that when we are sick or we don't look after skin it shows. I know if I am tired my skin becomes dry and dull. If I don't drink enough I find it looks spotty and uneven.

I have found a group of products that have made a huge difference to my skin.

Exfoliating and Clarifying Toners.

I began by using the Ren Clarifying Toner and have since added the Clarins exfoliating Toner into my weekly routine.

They keep my skin clear. They tighten pores and deep cleanse. They diminish the need for exfoliating and facial brushes. I have never really used rough exfoliaters. I have always used Dermalogias daily microfoliant as it is so gentle. I don't like to rip at my skin with rough bits of debris or whatever it is they put in these products. I do have a facial brush as well which is very soft and I use this twice a week to massage my skin gently and again I find this really tightens pores and cleanses well. I don't use it daily as I feel it is a little too much for my skin.

You can read about the Ren toner here. It is more gentle and I use this daily.

The Clarins Toner is definitely a stronger treatment. I hear some people do use it daily once their skin is accutomed to it. At the moment I use it 2 - 3 times a week and that seems to be enough. There is a lot on the box about the white nettle extract and  Tamarind, whilst sounding delighfully natural, it does also contain other less desirable ingredients. However, it also contains natural acids which are so good for the skin.They  revive the complexion, smooth skin texture and deliver an even and radiant complexion.

 BUT, here is the thing. It does have alcohol in. I have this raging discussion that goes on within me about alcohol in products. There is plenty to read online about it and I have written about it before so I won't repeat myself, but I don't think it is particularly necessary or good for your skin. However, it is  the case at the moment of " don't throw the baby out with the bath water". If it does not adversely affect your skin and is not in high levels I suspect it is ok.

This product has really given my skin a glow ! Even more so than the Ren toner did. Having said that I do have a little voice niggling in the back of my head saying " alcohol is the second ingredient" . This means it is quite a high percentage of this product and really if you were to ask me if I am happy about that, I would answer "no". So when this is finished , despite seeing such a radial improvement in my skin I am going to try the next toner on my list - the pixi glow tonic . It does not have alcohol in it. It is a bit tricky to get hold of, but is reasonable in price so we shall see.

What product has been a deal changer for you?

Design ©2012 Another New Day

www.takingachanceinlife.blogspot.uk 2012 - 2013

All personal images are owned by Another New Day

unless stated otherwise.

Images may not be downloaded,manipulated or reproduced without prior written permission. All rights are reserved.

Commercial or Private use without explicit written consent is prohibited and action will be taken through UK and worldwide copyright laws.