Nail Care......

Recently I've felt like my nails have not been in the best of condition so I've been on a bit of a mission to sort them out.  I feel like a lot of my problems start at my cuticles so hence the products above.

So with that in mind I started looking for some Cuticle Balms.  I have to admit I was disappointed with the selection in Boots and Superdrug, neither really offered much in the way of balms. However after having a look online I came across these too both on ebay!



Burt Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Creme

I got this mainly as I've been wanting to try a cuticle balm for a while and don't be fooled by the name cuticle creme its a balm.  So after struggling to find any in my Boots I eventually found this one on ebay.

It's your typical balm which is easy to apply to your cuticle and nail.  It does exactly what I expected and leaves my cuticles lovely and soft.  Also it's a nice little tin that's lovely to just keep in you bag and apply on the go when needed.

It's priced between £3.00 to £6.00 online inculding ebay and is available in some Boots for around £4.00.



Ciate Love Me - Cranberry Cuticle Oil 


Now you can also purchase this as Almond Oil, but I'm not a find of nutty scents so cranberry was perfect for me.  I kind of stumbled upon this while looking for balms and just thought I'd give it a go - and now I love it.

It comes with a brush that allows you to apply direct to the cuticle and I tend to just but at bit on at night and then whenever I feel like I need it.  It soaks in quite quickly and leaves my cuticle as well as my whole nail and surroundings lovely and moisturised.  A little goes a long way.

It's priced at around £10.50 for 13.5ml, however I did purhased for £3.29 for 15ml from ebay as I struggled to find it at all online in stock.  I'm that impressed that I'm now after the nail hydrating tonic (All Brittle and Twisted) and the nail strengthener (One Coat a Day).

Burt's Bees Bee-utiful Treats

Today's post is on a little set I received for Christmas. I have to admit I had actually forgot all about it and found it in my draw on the weekend. The set in question is Burt's Bees Bee-utiful Treats.
This set retails at around £5 and here's what Burt's Bees say,
'This season’s perfect pair, our Bee-utiful Treats will leave your lips loved and hands happy. Treat someone to a box of beauty with our hydrating hand salve with our classic Beeswax balm. Maybe even you.'

It was such a nice little set to receive as I do like a Burt's Bees lip balm and I was excited to try the hand salve. You can see me mention the lip balm here.
Onto the Hand Salve, now I have never tried or seen this before, here what Burt's Bees say,
'Need some salvation for rough, dry hands? Our most intensive hand treatment, this formula is packed with botanical oils, herbs and beeswax to moisturise hard-working, rough, dry hands. It's an everyday miracle.'

In the tin it looks like a lipbalm, even the consistency is a little like a lipbalm. You are suppose to take a little bit and rub it into your hands. I do find that it takes a little bit of work to do and as it begins to warm up it seems to melt in better. It tends to leave a greasy feel to your hands for a little bit after as its a lot thicker than a cream.

The other thing that I know not everyone would like is the smell. Now I am a fan of Burt's Bees smells, but I like the minty herbal aroma. But I know this isn't everyone's taste. If you are not a fan of this sort of scent then you my find this off putting as it does have a strong aroma.

This is not something I would use everyday but its certainly good to pop on when your hands are suffering. I have used it at night and in the morning I have noticed a difference. I have also been popping it onto my dry elbows which is working a treat.

Have you tried the hand salve?

Thanks

Burt's Bees

Hey,

I may have mentioned previously that I have an issue with spots, particularly at certain times of the month. I am always on the look out for new treatments to try, I had previously been using Clinique Anti-Blemish Solution and then tried Freederm Treatment Gel. Though both worked to clear the spot the Clinique Gel dried the area out too much and the Freederm did cause dry patches as well.

So when Boots were running there offer to get an extra 750 points when you spent so much I decided to try Burt's Bees treatment. This is the Anti-Blemish Targeted Spot Treatment which retails at £9.99, you can see more here.

What Burt's Bees say,

'How it Works

This natural spot treatment is scientifically proven to help reduce and improve the appearance of blemishes without irritating skin. Formulated with Tea Tree, Calendula, Yarrow and Parsley Extracts to help care for troubled skin and reduce redness and Borage Extract to promote healthy skin resulting in clean and smooth skin, naturally. Dermatologist tested. Noncomedogenic.

How to Use It

Apply to blemishes in the morning and evening after cleansing.'

The solution is 100% natural and the main ingredient is Willow Bark Extract, which helps to work at a natural skin exfoliant to help unplug follicles and pores.

I have to say the things I like about the treatment are:

• the smell, it smells like liquorice


• it doesn't dry my skin out


• it reduces the spot and redness overnight

The overriding bad thing for me is the application, I just can't figure out how to apply to the affected area. As you can see from the bottom image I apply some solution to a cotton bud then to me face. This does seem to work ok but it is not ideal.

So I am struggling to decide, once this is finished, whether I would buy it again. If the application could be improved then this would be my holy grail product!

Has anyone else tried this? Am I missing a trick with the application?

Have you tried any treatments from Burt's Bees?

Thanks

Lip Balm Love!!!

Firstly I apologise for the photos in today's post, I broke my camera on Honeymoon in Sept and these are just off my iphone.

I have found a new love in my life and it is Vaseline Lip Therapy in Cocoa Butter!!! I have currently brought myself the stick version but I know I'll end up getting the pocket size tin as well. I got mine from Superdrug for £1.99.

This has a nice smell and I always like Vaseline as it doesn't taste funny (if you end up licking a bit off you lips). I have been using it for 24hrs and its already working miracles on my lips, (I get very dry/chapped lips) .I love the Lip Therapy range which now include Original, Aloe Vera, Cocoa Butter and Rosy Lips. I don't currently own the Rosy Lips but I do keep meaning to get one!

As I was showing you this one I thought I'd mention some other favs that I have. I do have a problem with lip balms and will usually have a good two on me at all times. When it came to doing this post I couldn't find some of them to photograph as I didn't want to go through all my bags! So these are the ones I did manage to find.

Vaseline Lip Therapy with Aloe Vera: I do quite like this but sometimes the tin versions are a bit messy when you are out and about! Also I am not as keen on the scent of this version either. But it does help my dry lips so this lives in my bedside table.

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream: I got this off ebay and mainly only use it for my lips. I will put it on to go to bed and the next morning they'll feel great. I like the smell of this but again its not practical when I'm out and about, but you don't have to use much at all so this pot will last me ages.

Elemis Lip Revive: I got this 5ml tester off L, it contains Olive and Beeswax, it is also petroleum-free. It has a peppermint smell which I do quite like in a lip balm. I have only tried this a couple of times but I've still not made my mind up on it yet, but I will keep going.

Burt's Bees: Now I have 3 versions of this at the moment Original Beeswax lip Balm which has a minty aroma, Honey Lip Balm, Replenishing Lip Balm with Pomegranate Oil. Now I think the honey version works best for me but I do find the smell a bit overpowering of honey, again these live in my bedside table and handbags. Burt's Bees have now got even more flavours lip balms which you can see here and now have shimmers and glosses which you can see here.

Rose & Co Apothecary: This is the Rose Petal Salve which I love, you don't have to just use on lips either it will help dry patches and rough skin. It retails at roughly £5 and has a lovely aroma, I have to admit however that I do mainly use it on my lips, as it gives a gorgeous sheen. This is a handbag salve for me, though I don't always like them in a tin (messy fingers) I like the scent and how my lips look with it on.

Yes to Carrots: I mentioned these here the other day for you.

Lip Balms are one of my winter essentials, I can't be without one ever! Let me know if you recommend anymore to try or to just add to me collection?