Body Butter : Battle of the skin!

Wow this is exciting! This has to be my very first comparison post! The fight is on between two products I absolutely adore!

Contestant number one is Beautifully Scrumptious Body Butter in Vanilla. It comes in a pot, 220ml and is a whole one hundred pence. Yep, a quid. Ridiculous, I hear you say to your screen! Nope, I am no fibber. This can be purchased at present in Poundland. 

To begin with it is thick and creamy in consistency, sinking into the skin easily and leaving no greasy feeling behind. This is important to me in a body butter. I want to feel like I have just moisturised my skin with more intensity than a normal cream but I don't like feeling weighed down by product. However, playing devil's advocate, it also doesn't disappear so quickly I think "Oh. Did I just moisturise? Best use some more just in case!" 

It is well balanced.

Secondly, OMG. The scent is gorgeous. I'm always hesitant with the scent of a 'cheaper' product. Sometimes they just don't last. This does, the scent of vanilla is just....well....

It is divine! One other fantastic piece of news is that on the back of the packaging it clearly states THIS PRODUCT HAS NOT BEEN TESTED ON ANIMALS!

Happy days - not often you find such a golden nugget for a quid. 

Next contestant we have The Body Shop : Early Harvest Raspberry Body Butter. This 200ml pot that costs £13 has a special ingredient; cold-pressed raspberry seed oil. This is a less creamier consistency than the Poundland product; it is much thicker and takes a tiny bit longer to soak into the skin. I cannot complain though, the hydration and moisture it gives your skin (especially if you suffer from dry skin this winter) is perfect. It is also non-greasy when applied.

Now those that will know me or have read my recent Liebster Award post will know I am addicted to fruit in all its forms. This one is no exception; it smells that magnificent I literally want to grab a spoon and dig in...

NB : Scribbles has to tell herself repeatedly. This is NOT a food.

I was really tempted to face plant the tub in this picture ;)

Also a product that is against animal testing (as is all of Body Shop's merchandise) and offers Fair Trade to areas around the world where they obtain their ingredients.

SO WHO WINS?

I am, after all, all about a bargain so today I am going to say.....

Drum roll please...!!

Although, hand on heart, I will always be a Body Shop addict I have to give the winning title to the Beautifully Scrumptious Vanilla Body Butter. After all, my blog is about bargains and I am a sucker for a beauty product that only costs my purse a quid!

Poundland have sold me a fantastic product and I really recommend it to any of my readers who love vanilla too!

Thank you for reading beauties!!

Sarah 

xXx

About Me

Hi there! My name is Sarah and I am a passionate beauty and lifestyle blogger from Lincolnshire. I am also a business owner and own My Lash Confession on Facebook and www.mylashconfession.co.uk offering high quality cosmetics free from harmful chemicals and animal cruelty. I aim to spread a message of confidence and empowerment across women globally and have a team of 29 ladies who are doing the same! This team is growing rapidly and the more the merrier! If you love makeup and helping people feel great this could be the opportunity of a lifetime! Send me a message and I will happily provide you with all the facts you need to make an informed decision!

 Self worth and confidence is something I have struggled with for many years due to situations in my past and it is an absolute honour to be part of something so empowering and uplifting for women globally. If you want any further information on how I can make you feel/look even more beautiful than you are just visit www.facebook.com/mylashconfession or go straight to my webpage on www.mylashconfession.co.uk .... why are you waiting....?!

They say practice makes perfect?!

You will find my blog caters for EVERYONE! From the budget end of beauty, fashion and lifestyle to the TOP! Whilst there may be the occasional special post, I feel it is really important to inform my readers of BARGAINS! I love researching so that we can get more for our money and in the present economy I know that is what most of you want! 

I really hope you enjoy reading and will spread the knowledge to those you know.

Many thanks

and happy reading (or blogging if you write too!)

Lots of Love

Scribbles!

xXx

Taylors of Harrogate: A mug of pure, caffeinated heaven; guaranteed!

Good evening coffee lovers! As promised, I decided it was time to write a review for Taylors of Harrogate and their wide selection of ground coffees. They have not asked me to write about them, I just really want to share this with you! 

My boyfriend and I have been enjoying this coffee now for about 4 or 5 weeks after seeing that ASDA were selling them at 2 packs for £5! 

Well all I can say, whilst hugging a warm cup of Cafe Imperial, is to start with what an absolute bargain! I would quite happily spend the £3 or £4 each without the promotional offer. Each one boasts flavours from all over the globe and I think a different experience each time! The one I am sipping now whilst writing this is quite delicate and only strength 3 (can't be on strength 5 or 6 this late; I would never sleep!). The pack describes how it is their most 'treasured coffee, first served in the tea rooms of their sister company Bettys more than 40 years ago.' 

I interrupt this blog post by mentioning that Bettys Tea Rooms is a must go! GO.....NOW! 

The beans they use originate from Latin America and East Africa. The combination is a refreshing cup of zesty goodness! I love it and Taylors are correct; it does go well with cake..... and mince pies.....

and bourbon biscuits?! Absolutely gorgeous.

I only think it is fair to mention the other coffee in the picture; After Dark. A stronger (strength 5) coffee. The Indonesian, Latin American and African beans are roasted until they caramelise. It is a much darker roast with more depth and before reading the back of the packaging I took a big sniff and could capture the nutty, cocoa like aroma. This cup is more something that my partner would drink as he prefers his much stronger but I have to say it captivated me also. 

We have also tried the Brasilian coffee (my personal favourite) and Hot Lava Java (one of Sean's favourites)!

I really, really recommend these coffees. If you don't have a cafetiere they are well worth the investment! You can purchase a mini one cup one from some places as cheaply as £5! Our Pedrini is so much fun; we wanted one that would warm up slowly on the hob. This for me makes the lasting aroma of coffee in the kitchen stay that little bit longer!

So invest and enjoy the full range of Taylors' coffee; I know I will be!

Thank you for reading <3

My Liebster Award...! How Exciting!!

Good evening ladies! I thought I would kick start my return to this blog by catching up on something quite exciting! It seems that over the last 6 weeks I have been nominated for the Liebster Award 4 TIMES! How cool is that?! How could I keep away after that piece of news?! 

The most recent nomination came from the lovely Caiti! Please visit her blog if you have not already; her blogsite is http://caitlintries.blogspot.co.uk/. Please check it out, it's fabulous!

In essence, this award is a way of introducing and celebrating new bloggers with less than 200 followers so I am really pleased that a few of you included me!

#Feeling Loved

The one thing I have always wanted from my blog is for readers to enjoy it and use the advice/information/tips I provide from my own experiences! Sharing IS caring! <3

So here are the rules of a Liebster Award:

So here it is, I hope you enjoy reading!

11 Random Facts

1. I am never afraid to test budget priced items on myself for my readers. Everything from Poundland upwards!  In this economy it is important to have people like myself testing cheaper products to help take the pressure off our bank balance! I like to constantly prove that the more expensive the item is, does NOT necessarily mean it is the best!

2. My favourite TV Show at the moment is Walking Dead and is causing some seriously weird dreams....!

3. I love the smell of fruit, whether it be fresh fruit, smoothies, candles, face masks, lip balms, perfumes, body spritzers, hair sprays, body butters or in a cheesecake (mmmm cheesecake!!). I just love fruit!!

4. I love photography so much and really miss my old camera! One day, I will replace it and get back into it! I wish that was sooner rather than later!!

5. I use Johnson's Baby oil. A lot! I don't even have any kids, lol. More recently, I have started purchasing the spray bottle version too and I apply this to my skin after I shower. I'm naughty and love hot showers but this can often be unkind to my skin and dry it out. Putting a small cup of baby oil in with my bath really helps too. Say NO to dry skin this Winter and join the Baby Oil team (you know you want to)!!

6. I'm completely addicted to the flavours and aromas of coffee although I am not meant to have much because of a condition I have (shh, don't tell anyone please). I currently have a selection of Taylor's of Harrogate's ground coffees and will hopefully be writing about them soon!

7. I will listen to practically any music you put on. Anything from rap, RnB, classical, dance, House music, Dubstep (I love Dubstep!) my Itunes is a messy combination of music and it all depends on how I am feeling that day. Spotify is also a fabulous app that helps me choose random music day to day!

8. My favourite foods are Indian and Japanese! I adore Curry and Sushi (I know - very different foods!) and would love one day to be able to visit both India and Japan.

9. I am a bit of an Anime lover, especially the films made by Studio Ghibli. My favourites are Ponyo, Grave of the Fireflies, Spirited Away and Kiki's Delivery Service!

10. I have four tattoos and have every desire to get more!

11. Sean and I want a dog next year; I cannot decide between a French Bulldog or a Pug!

I have been asked a set of questions, which of course I will happily answer!

Caiti's questions were :

1. What is your favourite perfume and why?

At the minute my favourite perfume is by Hollister and is called 'Seacliff Beach'. I currently have the Body Spray as well, which costs approximately £11 in their store. This unique floral, fresh and exotic scent makes me think instantly of a peaceful, sandy beach!I find it quite therapeutic.

2. Scented candles or wax/oil burners?

I prefer scented candles but love wax and oil burners too! Both me and my partner both love candles and have quite a few different scents. I prefer fruit scented ones although I am partial to the occasional coconut, vanilla or even floral ones!

3. Favourite flower?

My favourite one at the moment is the Moringa flower. It's beautiful and the Body Shop have utilised this flower to make a beautiful range of products. Their body butter especially smells and feels divine!

4. If you could have permanently great hair or great skin, what would you choose?

GREAT SKIN. I say this without hesitation because I struggle with my skin every single day! My hair has never been perfect but in my opinion I find it easier to manage.

5. Describe your ideal day.

An ideal day for me would be a long lie in with the boyfriend, a fresh coffee from my Pedrini coffee maker and a slow getting ready! Followed by a yummy, filling breakfast at Patisserie Valerie with him and a day out to a Zoo or a park. A bit of cheeky shopping, a nice lunch and then the long drive home with car tunes!!

6. What is your dream car?

I find this difficult to answer as I do not drive but Lamborghinis do look fabulous!! Every girl can dream!

7. Current favourite skin care treatment?

I have fallen very quickly in love with Boots Traditional Skin Care range, especially their Rosewater Toner which I will be reviewing shortly!

8. Who is your celebrity male and female crush?

I can't say that I normally crush over celebrities, however, I do appreciate their talents. I love Cheryl Fernandez-Versini's glamour and she often has a lot of helpful advice when it comes to finding the right fashion for your body shape and the right products for your skin. I am also completely addicted to Walking Dead at the minute. All the actors are hugely talented; my favourite being Daryl or Norman Reedus in real life!

9. What one piece of advice would you give your younger self?

I would tell my younger self to take a step back and not worry so much! I would also give her a long list of names of people to avoid!

10. If you could have magical powers, which one would you choose?

I would have the power to heal others, not just myself. Health is a very important factor in my life and there are also family members and friends I would love to be able to help.

11. Why and when did you start blogging? 

I only started blogging this year. I haven't written much creatively since I finished University and thought by meshing my love for beauty products, fashion, exploring new places and writing together I would achieve this in a blog. I'm also keen to help others by providing a budget blog that doesn't exploit the bank too much!

Thank you for those questions Caiti; I really enjoyed answering them all!

Okay, so here are my nominations! Remember, these are all new bloggers with 200 followers or less! Each of them should link back to their blogs so that you can have a read and possibly follow :

http://www.littlemeeke.blogspot.co.uk. Megan

http://missfixedbeauty.blogspot.co.uk Sophie-Louise

http://jacklynv.blogspot.com Jacklyn

http://www.thatsfetch.com Sam

http://www.cescasretailretreat.com Cesca

http://laydeykatabella.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/the-liebster-award-2014.html
http://www.fromlucywithlove.co.uk/ Lucy 

https://plus.google.com/+NicoleJane#+NicoleJane/videos Nicole

http://www.bloglovin.com/user/9442329 Taylor

http://www.katmaystinydiary.blogspot.com Kat

http://scofieldsdreamyplace.wordpress.com Gabriela

My questions for those I have nominated :

1. Do you have a favourite face mask? If so describe it and let us know where you purchased it?

2. If all the make up brands were to suddenly close down, except for ONE brand, which would you keep open and why?

3. Describe a perfect evening in!

4. Coffee or Tea?

5. What is the most exciting part of Christmas for you?

6. Do you have a favourite scent?

7. Ice cream or Sorbet?

8. Sunshine or Snow?

9. If you could make one wish what would it be?

10. If you could be World Leader for a weekend, what would you do?

11. Rich and Unhappy OR Poor and Happy?

I really hope you enjoyed reading this and if you receive one of these awards please, please post!

Thank you beauties! xXx

You can never break up with your blog!

Apologies ladies, it has been a month or so since I last posted on here and used Twitter to share some much needed budget beauty secrets! Having just started to use some beauty products that are new to me and new to my skin regime, I'm keen to start sharing my thoughts! So keep posted as this week I'll be sharing with you my progress so far.

Coming soon : Boots' Traditional Skincare Glycerin and Rosewater Toner, Superdrug's Essence make up and a gorgeous smelling range of body butters from.... POUNDLAND?!

Body Shop Colour Crush : this may take some time!

So this weekend I took the opportunity to visit Meadowhall in Sheffield with my boyfriend! Albeit having probably the worst cold I have ever experienced, we did have a great time splurging on lots of nice things (shopping haul to come in a later post this week)!!

Body Shop is fantastic in Meadowhall; the staff are friendly and there are lots of products you can 'try before you buy' - much like their other stores! As well as purchasing a body butter and body scrub I felt tempted by the nail polishes in one of their baskets by the counter.

I chose 'Oh, Petal' a delicate pastel shade of pink. At £5 I thought this would be a bargain, however I'm sad to say a little disappointing. After opening it I realised the polish was quite watery in consistency and therefore would probably take a few layers before an even coat was achieved.

After three layers and nearly 45 minutes of drying time in between coats I was disappointed. This is definitely not a varnish to be applied if you're in a rush! Four layers later and I could say I was reasonably happy with my nails, however you could still see lines in the paint which with other varnishes you just don't see!

So although I love and adore this shop and many of their other products (sat here currently smelling of raspberries thanks to their beautiful body butter) I will not be rushing to purchase anymore nail varnishes as they just did not live up to expectation.

A shame, but still a cute colour <3

Thank you for reading girls!

Feeling brand new!

As Summer drifts away (and what a fabulous one we had this year) and Autumn quickly approaches I felt like it was time for a new look, a 'new me'. Do you ever get like that? I have not been a redhead for maybe two years now and it was time for me to employ the services of my best friend Naomi in return for helping her dye her hair the sexiest shade of deep purple, ever!

With the help of Naomi and a £3.49 box of Schwarzkopf Live : 47 Plum Perfection...

I have gone from Ye Olde Brunette moi...

To HELLO Autumn sexy redhead....

The picture is a bit naff - I may have to update it as it appears much more redder than that in the sunlight! 

I love these colours and application is so easy and only takes 30 minutes to develop! Even on Naomi's hair, which is much much thicker than mine we had more than enough dye in one box! The best bit for me is always the sweet smelling conditioner that just makes your hair feel and smell gorgeous. Even after washing my hair again this morning, my hair continues to smell 'new'. 



So there we have it, one very happy redhead. It will soon be time to hit the stores and stock up on some Autumn goodies to wear and compliment my new look ;)

Thanks for reading :) xxx