Simple Kind To Skin Minis | Review

Skincare is important to every girl, and I'm no exception.

I have quite bad skin thanks to years of having acne. My pores are always visible and I have (what I consider) pretty bad scaring. But that's all beginning to change thanks to the Simple minis collection.

I purchased the product during the Christmas period, in fact I actually bought two boxes as in Spain the Simple brand isn't on sale in shops, only in expat stores but its far too expensive for one bottle.

The box contained three mini bottles of the Kind to Skin range:

 Kind to Skin moisturising facial wash

Kind to Skin soothing facial toner

 

 

Kind to Skin hydrating light moisturiser

 

What I love about all these products  is that they leaves my skin feeling soft and refreshed. I always get that "clean" feeling after I've used them.  
I have quite oily skin, and as I said before I have a fair bit of scaring. With these product I feel that they aren't harsh on my skin, they soothe my face. Unlike other brands I've used over the years, Kind to Skin has the perfect blend of ingredients and vitamins. It also has no artificial perfumes or colour, which helps keep my skin cleansed and nourished.

I use the hydrating moisturiser as a base for my make up and it works wonders. My make up seems to last that little bit longer when I apply the moisturiser. It also leaves my skin feeling ultra soft and my pores seem to be less visible.

I love each on these products equally, the only thing that I don't like is the smell, particularly the facial wash. The only way I can describe the smell is by saying that I reminds me of PlayDoh. But I suppose that is the fact that there aren't any artificial perfumes. Apart from that I will definitely be buying the bigger bottles as I have finally found a brand that works for my skin type, which makes me one very happy girl who is starting to love her skin. :)

 

 

The Fairy Tale Tag

Hello everyone!
First off a huge thank you to Michaela from Michael-Leigh for tagging me in "the fairy tale tag". There seems to be some very personal questions, which I´m a little nervous at answering, but it just means that you lovely people get to know me a little better. Let´s get started!

Snow White - Do you consider yourself beautiful?
Not really. I suffer from breakouts like everyone, but I have a tiny bit of scaring and that's kinda knocked my confidence a little. Over the years I've learnt to accept my looks. Sometimes I have bad days where I look awful, and then there are others when I think "oh! I look quite nice today."

Sleeping Beauty - How many hours do you sleep at night?
I think I sleep for around about 8 hours, so the average. Although there are times where I like to stay in bed a bit longer.

Cinderella - Do you have a curfew?
This question made me laugh. No I don´t have a curfew. I think if I did then me and my parents would definitely be sitting down and discussing why they felt to do so. I'm lucky though, in the sense that I know my parents trust me, therefore I have more freedom.

Rapunzel - Do you love being outside?
That all depends on the weather and where I am. I do like to go out and explore, but here in the summer it gets really (and I mean really) hot. But in the winter I like to take my dog for a nice walk and feel the wind in my hair.

Red Riding Hood - Do you trust strangers easily?
No! I'm very cautious when it comes to trusting strangers. I don't know if that's good or bad. It takes time for me to trust someone.

The Wolf and the Seven Young Kids - Are you fooled easily?
I'd like to think that I don't get fooled easily. My dad says that I'm quite mature for my age, and I know what's what.

Beauty and the Beast - What makes someone beautiful in your eyes?
I don't think that being beautiful only represents someone's looks. Beauty can mean someone whose respectful, kind and most of all honest.

The Little Mermaid - What would you sacrifice for love?
You shouldn't sacrifice anything for love. If someone truly loves you then your flaws won't matter. That's how I see it!

The Frog Prince - What do you find disgusting?
I absolutely hate blood, to the extent where if I saw it I probably would faint. I also can't stand the smell of eggs and I think brussel sprouts are disgusting.

Jack and the Beanstalk - Do you have any plants?
Yes - I don't have any that are purely mine, but between my parents and I we share them!

Puss in Boots - Do you have any pets? If not, do you want them?
I have a cat called Saffy and a dog named Bobby.
Bobby came to us 9 years ago after a friend of mine said "oh Claire you really must have this dog." Apparently he was throw out of a moving car. It took all of 5 seconds for my dad to say we could keep him.
Saffy is 7 and was given to us by a friend. She's an extremely grumpy cat and is like my little sister who likes to knick my makeup brushes.

Bluebeard - What is your weak point?
I get paranoid over silly little this and it drives me insane.

Pinocchio - What is your biggest wish?
To be happy and to have achieved my goals. 
Peter Pan - What is your mental age?
My dad says I've quite mature for my age, which is true. I know far too much about politics than I should for my age.

The Star Money - What is your most valuable possession?
I don't have anything that's valuable in money. They're more of a personal value. I have a small jewellery box that has a few pieces that my Grandma gave me and my Mums charm bracelet. I should wear them, but I like knowing that they're safe. Photos are another valuable item.

The Snow Queen - Who is your best friend? What would you do for them?
My best friend is called Mairena or May as she likes to be known. We first met in year 5, but didn't become friends until year 8.  During the past seven we've been inseparable. We've shared some many laughs a few heartaches here and there, but we've suck together through all of that. I always know I can go to her for anything, and she knows that I'd do absolutely anything for her.

The Princess and the Pea - Are you sensitive?
Yes, I'm pretty sensitive.

Godfather Death - What qualities make a good parent?
I think a good parent is somebody who teaches you from right to wrong, who would love you unconditionally and do all they can to make their child happy. Support and guidance are also important, as a parent should support their child in whatever they do, or makes them happy. I'm lucky to have parents just like this :)

The Twelve Dancing Princesses/ The Worn-Out Dancing Shoes - Do you like parties?
Like them? I love parties! I don't go out that often, but when I do like to live it up lol.

The Emperor's New Clothes - Do you care a lot about your clothing?
I absolutely love shopping and fashion - I sometimes don't have the money to go out buying clothes everyday, but I like to look and see what's on trend.

The Brave Little Tailor - Do you consider yourself brave?
I'd like to say yes, but there are a lot of things that I could never do. I think I'm getting better at saying yes to different things and getting out of my comfort zone, but these things take time.

Those are my answers, I hope you enjoyed reading them. I'm only going to tag one person to do this, and that person is Katie from Katie May's Journal. Feel free to do this tag even if you haven't been tagged, it's really fun!

Catch ya later Xx

Fly Me To England

Ten years ago I moved to Spain with my parents. Ever since then I have only gone back to the UK twice! The last time I visited it was Christmas 2006 and I was 12. That's a really long time to go without seeing my family. But...that's all about to change this year.

In my New Year's Resolution post I talked about wanting to get out of my comfort zone and push the all the boundaries. So a few weeks ago I decided to book a flight and head back to my home country for a small vacation. The scary thing is, I'm going all on my own.

Now you'd think a 20 year old travelling alone is a common thing. It is, as there are many people my age who explore amazing places on their gap year or whenever. Me, I'm a little nervous.

I've been to places like New York and Madrid, and even though I wasn't with my parents I was still with a group of friends from college.

The thing that scares me most is flying. I don't mind when the plane is up in the air. It's the take off that I hate and start to panic. Another thing that worries me is the culture difference.

I've lived in Spain since I was 10 and I live in a very sleepy village. During that time I've gotten used to a slower way of life, and the way people are. When I go back to England its not going to be the same.

One of the reasons I'm doing this is to prove to myself that I can do lots of different things on my own.

Although I love my parents dearly, I'm at an age where I want more independence. Having independence or more of it opens up new opportunities as well as giving more experience in life.

I'm really looking forward to my trip in May. I can't wait to see family and I'm looking forward to going back to my hometown and letting all the memories floe back. I hope to spend a day in London and see the famous sites again.

I also hope to buy lots of beauty products and clothes so that I can write reviews and my thoughts on those products. As I know this blog is lacking in beauty and fashion reviews. I of course will write a post on what I got up to and will upload some photos of where I went.

Picture from Weheartit.com

Winter Sale Shopping Haul

Hey everyone!
I'm sorry for not posting in a while - I decided to take a little break. But now I'm back and my mind is refreshed and ready to start writing again.

It has occurred to me that since starting this blog I have never really done a shopping haul. I find that so hard to believe, as I am a complete shopaholic. And there's something really therapeutic about shopping. I get a certain pleasure when buying something new for my ever-growing wardrobe.

As I haven't been shopping in months me and my mum decided to spend a morning at the shops. It just so happened that the sales were on, but I (unfortunately) was on a budget of €25. I know that's not a lot, but I thought of it as a challenge to see what I could get on this very low budget. Without further ado, here are my purchases.

 

The first place we popped into was my favourite shop, Bershka. I was packed with people looking for goodies in the sale. The very first thing that I saw was a pair of army green trousers. They were reduced from €22 to €8. They're very lightweight and the material feels so expensive. These will be perfect for Spring and they even have a zip a the side of the leg so they can be rolled up.

 

 

I really wanted a top to go with my new "slacks", so I went in search of one, and found two. The first was a red crop top. I was a bit apprehensive of buying it, as I always uncomfortable about showing off my very white stomach. After a bit of persuasion from my mum I bought it. The next one I got was a white t-shirt, with a really cute butterfly design. It looked really baggy at first glance, but when I tried it on it felt really snug. Both these tops were in the sale and cost €3 each.

 



 

The second place I went to was the Spanish shop, Stradivarius, which is gradually opening new stores across Europe. While they had gorgeous new pieces for SS14, I went into the sale area to see if there was anything hidden. I found this lovely printed pencil skirt that I fell in love with. Others may not like it, and I can understand why, but I think it would go great with a black crop top or even just a smart blouse. That was on sale for €5.99.

The next thing I bought wasn't in the sale, but it was an "I had to have it" item. I absolutely adore this top. It's so soft. I also loved that it had a bit of colour to it, and that it wasn't a plain black and white striped top. For €7.95 I thought that it was a good price, and it will go with anything from jeans to a plain black skirt.

 

 

The very last purchase I made was for a dark green crop top. As I said earlier, I don't like wearing them. But what attracted me to it was the delicate star design and the colour. My mum also said it would look nice with the trousers I'd bought, and for €2.99 it was a bargain.

 

I was unable to get any accessories as I had no money left. I got some really nice pieces for my budget. It just goes to show that you can get some get stuff in the sale or when you only have a certain amount to spend.

I hope to be posting more of these types of posts in the future. Hope you enjoyed reading, comment below what you thought Xx

The 2013 Year In Review Tag

Hi peeps!

I don't usually post on a Tuesday, but I've been tagged by the lovely Michaela from Michaela-la. Go check her amazing blog - I absolutely love what she writes.

The rules to this tag are simple:

1. In your post, be sure to link back and tank the blogger who tagged you.
2. Answer the questions and tag a least 5 other bloggers.
3. Include the badge in your post.

Let's get this tag started!

1. Your top five favourite blogs to read in 2013
shemightbeloved.com
brightondream.blogspot.com
vintagedeer.blogspot.com
thegirlsnextdooruk.blogspot.com
tanyaburr.co.uk

2. List your five most read blog posts of 2013
Hello There
Christmas Backing with Claire....Rocky Road
Turning 20
New Year's Resolutions
Sacked...Fired...but Not Done

3. Name one blog you wish you had found sooner
The blog I wished I had found sooner is Life of a Trainee Journalist. I have only started following her, but love what she writes. She is also training to be a journalist, like me, so I can relate to her in a way. You guys should really check her out.

4. Your favourite blog post of 2013
I think my favourite blog post of 2013 has to be my Choosing A Path Is Never Easy post. That was a moment in my life that I was proud of, and I wanted to share that with other bloggers to tell them that even thought we have so many choices to make in life, we have to be happy with the one that we do choose. I don't know if I inspired anyone, I hope I did though.

5. Would you like to improve (if anything) on your blog this year?
This year I would like to improve my blogs layout and add a few different widgets. I want my blog to have a crisper look, as I think it looks a tiny bit amateurish.

6. Name a blog you have a blog crush on
I absolutely love Brighton Dream's blog. I love her content and always read her new posts.

7. How often do you post?
I always try to post once a week. Sometimes I'll post twice, but that's very rare. There's sometimes a lack of inspiration, but I try to overcome that and get something out for Friday.

8. Share your first post of 2013
My first post of 2013 was in August when I first started blogging. It was a simple "Hello There", introducing myself to everyone.

9. Name one thing you'd be doing if you weren't typing this post right now
One thing I would be doing if I wasn't typing this post right now would be reading a book, or listening to music.

10. What have you loved most about blogging this year
What I've loved about blogging is that I'm able to talk about things that interest me, and am able to share that with all of you. I also love commenting on other girls blogs and then them commenting something back to me. Everyone is lovely on Blogger and there's a sense of community that lacks outside of the online world.

The bloggers I would like to tag are: Kik's Choice, My Chic Adventure, Katieemay, Firoza and The Girls Next Door.

Again, I would like to thank Michaela for nominating me, and I can't wait to read your replies!

Review: The 1975 Album

Hey guys!

So recently I've been "band surfing" on Spotify. I'm pretty sure everybody does this at some point. We all get to the stage where we want something different or new to listen to.
That's exactly how I've been feeling lately. Even though there are some great tunes in the charts, I felt like exploring for some new music. And if your looking for something that's not your usual taste the Spotify is definitely the place to go.
So that's where I headed to...and I finally found a few bands that I haven't discovered before.

One of those bands was the 1975. I know they're not a new band, and that many people have heard of them. I thought I'd see what their self titled album from 2013, "The 1975", was like.

As soon as the first track started playing, I was hooked. As I listened to the rest of the album I knew that this band was going to become a new obsession.

I can't really describe their sound. It's sort of indie mix with a bit of rock 'n roll.

Their album has really suprised me. I don't usually like that type of music but there is something about that makes you want to listen to more of their songs.

I seriously would recommend The 1975 to anyone who wants a change from their normal listening. Each track has a great rythem to it, som of them don't even have lyrics.

My favourite tracks are Chocolate, Robbers and Settle Down. I also like the song HNSCC, which is on their EP "Music For Cars". There are no lyrics, but it always reminds me of walking in a forest :)

If you want to check them out, then here is a link to my playlist on Spotify. Comment to let me know what you think. Xx

Explaining About Yesterday

Hi everyone!

I just wanted to clear up one thing about my last blog post. I've been told that I shouldn't have used the word "sacked" or "fired" for that matter. As I said yesterday, my ex boss said I had done a good job. They just someone who has more free time. So in a way its more of me being let go, instead of getting the sack.

I'm sorry that I have made this to be something its not, but I'm still not going to let this get me down. There are other jobs out there.

Talk to you later xx