What I Bought: The Body Shop Haul

Hello, my name is Lola and I’m a Body Shop Addict. I browse the website at least two to three times a week and if I’m ever near a store I just have to go in.

After heading to The Body Shop Press Day I’m now more obsessed – if that’s even possible! – so bought myself a few things recently. Typically I only went in for a body butter, and came out with this lot.

Mists – Amazonian Lily, Vanilla and Moringa - £7.50/100ml

I always try these in store but have never picked one up and I’m not really sure why. They’re really lovely light fragrances – perfect for my handbag.

Hand Cleanse Gel – Pink Grapefruit & Coconut - £2.50/60ml

As much as I love the Renouve Anti-Ageing Hand Sanitizer these hand gels smell amazing and anything Pink Grapefruit by TBS gets my vote!

Vitamin C Microdermabrasion - £13/75ml

This is a backup since I already have one on the go. If you love scrubs but want something a little more intensive then this is perfect. It’s lightened my acne scars and blemishes and makes my skin feel really smooth.

The Sparkler – Dazzling Copper - £14/10g

We received the other shade, Enchanting Gold, at the press day and I really wanted to try the darker shade. It’s a gorgeous bronzey-copper that I think will really compliment my skin tone.

All-In-One BB Cream Shade 03 - £12/25ml

I’m new to the BB cream game but TBS blemish balm has an amazing formula of pigment bubbles that burst when you use it. It’s slightly too light but it’s not chalky so will blends nicely.

Honey Bronze Bronzing Gel For Face - £12/30ml

Another item I tried at the press day and fell in love with. I’ve already reviewed the Honey Bronze Shimmering Dry Oil and this is another fantastic item from the Honey Bronze weight.

Mango Body Butter - £13/200ml

My mum used to use this on me when I was younger as it’s incredibly moisturising, but for some reason I hated it. But now I can’t get enough of it. It’s quite honestly one of the best things I’ve ever smelt.

Coconut Beautifying Oil - £9/100ml

This actually for my boyfriend, as he loves to use it in his hair. I reviewed the Cocoa Butter Beautifying Oil and I loved it – so the BF is going to have to share!

Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder Shade 03 Medium Matte - £13

Another product used on me at the press day. Although it’s a bronzing powder it too light and too matte to do much bronzing on me, but it makes the perfect finishing powder. I apply it once my makeup is done and it helps set it without giving me a chalky, powdery finish.

All In One Blusher - Cookie - £8

This product was used on Victoria at the press day and it was such a gorgeous colour. It’s extremely pigmented and the powder is so fine that it gives the perfect wash of colour. I already have Flushed but now want the rest of the line too! Eek!

As you can see attending the press day was an awful decision - definitely a fully pledged Body Shop Addict now. 
Have you tried any of these products? 
Do you have any recommendations of things I should try out?

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#TFWOC Project Week #5 - MakeBelieve Sunbeam Bronzer Review

There’s only a few more weeks left of the #TFWOC project – BOO! I’m definitely going to miss it, and I’m going to miss all of the strange looks I get when I tell people I wear fake tan!

But before I shed a tear let’s get started with this week’s product. Yet another item from the generous people at MakeBelieve – the MakeBelieve Sunbeam Bronzer*. I don’t actually own any bronzers so I was really excited to try this.

As with all MakeBelieve products, the packaging is gorgeous; the gold and matte black make it feel very decadent. Inside houses the matte bronzer and a white kabuki brush with a little mirror for when you’re on the go. I was a little put off by how matte the bronzer was, I mean isn’t the whole point of bronzing powders for you to look more bronze? – as opposed to more tanned.

When I first tested the bronzer I really didn’t like it. I found it quite chalky and the colour didn’t suit my skin. Another gorgeous #TFWOC blogger suggested that I try and use a different brush to apply it, and surprisingly the results were better.

Remember the MakeBelieveTinted Moisturiser that I tried recently and promoised to revisit? Well, I decided to use it as a highlighter with the bronzer …

Just a bit of foundation – please excuse the eyebrows, appointment booked for tomorrow!

I dotted the tinted moisturiser on my cheekbones and blended with a stippling brush. I like the result; it definitely works a lot better as a highlighter than as a tinted moisturiser.

With the Sunbeam Bronzer – and some lip gloss!

Honestly, I didn’t like the bronzer. In fact, I don’t even think it should be called a bronzer. Whilst I wouldn’t say it looked horrible on me, it really didn’t make me looked more ‘bronzed’. It took a lot of product to even get it to show up on my skin and when it eventually did it just looked very chalky.

You can barely even see it swatched on my wrist here.

(blurry, sorry)

Bottom line: I don’t think matte bronzers are really suitable for WOC (the darker end of the spectrum) - or this one at least. I’d say this was perfect for contouring for someone with a lighter skintone. But for my dark skin? Not so much. I actually prefer to use it as a finishing powder on top of my makeup as the translucency is perfect. I wish it came in perhaps a darker shade, or perhaps with a subtle shimmer.

MakeBelieve Sunbeam Bronzer is available from the MakeBelieveBeauty website, priced at £15.

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