Review: T-Zone skincare's 'Charcoal and Bamboo' range

Well hello to you my reader chums! With skincare, I tend to stick to an everyday routine but love getting the chance to try new products and see how they work with my skin. When the brand, T-Zone skincare got in touch asking if they could send me their 'Charcoal and Bamboo' range, I couldn't jump at the chance quick enough. I've heard many great things about charcoal products and couldn't wait to see how they would work with my combination skin type.

Here's a full review of T-Zone skincare's 'Charcoal and Bamboo' range.

T-Zone Charcoal and Bambo skincare range review

I'm very lucky in the fact that I've never had problematic skin. All through my teenage years, I had clear skin and it was only going on for the age of 18, I started getting spots, mainly on the forehead/chin area. Even so, it was never cause for concern; a facemask, sudocrem, regular skincare routine and good diet would always put my skin back on track. However, from time to time I do get the odd breakout and love nothing more than trying products to draw these impurities out - and that's the whole reason why I've been loving this range. 

Black Peel Off Mask - £4.99

If you've been on any social media platform lately, you would have seen the videos of people pulling off charcoal masks. Imagine that and then imagine me having the same reaction. Despite the slight pain of peeling off the mask, this product does absolute wonders for my skin. It takes around half an hour to fully set and then you're able to peel it off. The consistency is quite gooey, similar to a glue material but a lot less sticky. This mask clings to the skin easily and after the half hour is ready to peel off with ease. When applying, I mainly focused on the forehead, chin, nose and lower section of my cheeks. It's advised to avoid the eye area as the skin is a lot more sensitive, and the same with eyebrows because you can easily pull out a few hairs.

After I pulled off the mask, my skin felt lighter, refreshed and insanely soft, like all the impurities had been dragged out. I genuinely felt as if I had a fresh layer of skin! My boyfriend also tried this out a few times and he absolutely loved it, leaving his skin feeling the same has mine; he wanted to keep on using it again and again. I would highly recommend this product. Not only does it leave the skin looking fab but it's always funny doing it with a partner because you can watch each other peel off the mask.

Black Cleansing Wipes - £2.99

A lot of beauty gurus shy away from wipes as they're not meant to be best for the skin, however I was super intrigued by these cleansing wipes. The wipes are black in colour (which surprised me at first) and are slightly rougher than your typical makeup wipe. As they have that rough edge, it helped wipe away the makeup easier but also felt as it was doing a deeper clean. With these cleansing wipes, I think it's best to wipe over once to remove the makeup and use another one to go over for a quick cleanse.

Nose Pore Strips - £4.99

I've always wanted to try out nose pore strips, however I never got round to buying some that I couldn't wait to give these a go when they arrived. These strips are easy to apply; first you cleanse the skin, then wet the nose and stick it on. It says leave for 5-10 minutes but I always left it a bit longer so it can draw out as many impurities as possible. My friends and I all tried these on a girls night in and were thoroughly impressed. The strips stuck on and peeled off with ease, taking away all the pores and impurities in the nose area. It's such a satisfying sensation and I love how they really do the job - I can't wait to repurchase.

T-Zone Charcoal and Bambo skincare range review

No Shine Papers - £2.99

I've seen this sort of 'No Shine Paper' product before but never actually gave it a go. The papers claim to remove excess oil without taking off makeup and I can honestly say, they did just that. I've given them a try after a day at work, where I simply dab it on my t-zone area and it takes away all the oil. Apart from the fact the oily part of the skin is now gone, my makeup remained exactly as it was prior and looked better for it. The 'No Shine Papers' are incredibly thin, almost like tissue paper and can easily be carried on the go. If you have an oily t-zone like me, these are a life saver to use during a long day or on a night out, instead of topping up your makeup.

I'm seriously impressed with T-Zone skincare's 'Charcoal and Bamboo' range. Every product I've tried is of top quality and leaves the skin feeling insanely good. Also, the cost is so affordable, you won't need to buy any overpriced charcoal products again. T-Zone's skincare ranges from £2.50-£5 and you can buy it at Superdrug, online and in store.

I hope you enjoyed this post. Have you tried T-Zone skincare's 'Charcoal and Bamboo' range?

Thank you for reading <3

5 things to do when you're feeling anxious

Well hello to you my reader chums! Anxiety affects everyone in different ways. Whether it's general worrying or an anxiety disorder, awareness of this mental health condition has grown more in recent years. I struggle with anxiety and in the moments where there are no triggers and I wake up anxious, these can be the hardest mental health days to get through. With this post, I wanted to share my best advice on what to do when you're feeling anxious.

Whether you're an anxious person or feeling anxious lately, here are 5 things to do when you're feeling anxious.

5 things to do when you're feeling anxious

Distract  yourself

Anxiety can leave you not wanting to do anything or wanting to do everything at once; it comes in different waves. The number 1 thing I've always been taught and practised is to distract yourself when feeling anxious. This can be one of the trickiest things to do at the moment where anxiety is at its peak.

 However, this makes it the perfect moment to switch on a TV programme, listen to a podcast or your favourite album as it'll give you that quick 'thing' to focus on. Over the course of watching the programme or listening to songs, your mind will slowly come out of that state as its concentrating on something else. You could also read a book, watch your favourite vloggers, test out new makeup looks or any activity that will move your focus.

Go on a long walk with blaring music

A little bit of exercise and fresh air can never hurt anyone. Getting out of the house and walking through your local park, beach or tucked away country lanes can be a blessing when you're feeling anxious. It allows you to soak in the natural surroundings and feel that bit calmer. I always put on a super upbeat album like 'The Greatest Showman' or sassy Demi Lovato at top volume to block out all the bad thoughts and enjoy the walk.

Focus on something you love

We all have hobbies and when you're feeling anxious, getting stuck into something you love to do can always make you feel a little bit better. My favourite things to do are writing, reading and researching holidays. Whether yours is taking part in a sport, painting, shopping, cooking or like me writing, try your best to get stuck in.

Make new plans

With my anxiety, having things to look forward to or knowing plans are set in stone will always ease things. Having uncertainty can sometimes trigger my anxiety and this is why I love making plans.

 Whether it's planning your next holiday (pretty much what I spend half my life doing), arranging your next gal meet up, thinking about your other halves birthday celebration or crafting Christmas presents, there's plenty of different ways to both tick things off your to-do list and feel a little bit better.

Get your emotions down on paper

Talking is one type of therapy, but there are other ways to get your emotions out. This can be writing them down on a piece of paper to get the weight off your shoulders, writing a daily journal or even drawing. Try out a variety of different methods and see which works best for you. Then, when the anxious day hits, you can put it into practice.

I hope you enjoyed this post! What are your best things to do when you're feeling anxious?

Thank you for reading <3


10 top tips for planning the best European city break

Well hello to you my reader chums! It's safe to say I'm a massive travel addict and when I'm not on holiday, I will be planning my next trip away. One of my favourite 'holidays' is venturing on a city break to some of Europe's most beloved cities. Over the past 2 years, I've seen quite a few from Rome, Paris, Amsterdam to Barcelona, Milan and Cologne plus a couple more. As planning city breaks have become a good hobby of mine, I'd thought I would share my best insider tips.

Disclaimer - This post contains affiliate links.

Here are my top tips for planning the best European city break...

5 tips for planning the best European city break

Search for cheap flights - City breaks can come at a cost, depending on which country you're visiting, that it's handy to find a cheap flight. With websites like Skyscanner (my favourite ever), you're able to search for the cheapest flights across all airlines and dates, even comparing month by month of which would be the cheapest. It's a very handy tool and also offers plenty of last minute deals to take advantage of. The cheapest times to fly are generally during the week, outside of school holidays and low season dates. Booking around the 8 week barrier before, will give you the most affordable flight prices.

Only bring cabin size luggage - If you're going away on a city break, you usually don't need longer than a couple of days to soak up the best sights and city vibe that a cabin size suitcase will fit perfectly. By travelling light, you won't need to queue up at the airport to load luggage, pay for additional bags and can easily go straight through security. Plus - you can get those super cute Instagram snaps as you stroll through the airport with your stylish 4-wheeler cabin suitcase. Tripp ones are my favourite!  

Take advantage of public transport - In cities, one of the easiest ways to get around is by public transport, whether it's the metro system, buses or trams, all are convenient to travel to the best sights. Certain city main sights are located far away from each other, whereas others are in walking distance. If you're visiting a city like Paris or Amsterdam, consider buying yourself a tube pass, or for the Dam, a tram pass as it'll make getting from the tourist attractions much easier. A lot of passes can range from day options to weekly passes and cover a lot of different zones or areas. By using public transport also, you'll get a feel about what city life is all about in that particular area and how the locals commute everyday.

Dine away from top attractions - A big tip has to be about one of life's greatest pleasure, food. When it comes to dining, try to avoid searching for restaurants around tourist attractions because 1, they'll be overpriced and 2, you generally won't get the most authentic dishes. If you really want to delve into a country's delicacies, venture into the tucked-away lanes or quieter neighbourhoods and you'll find some hidden gems serving up top-notch grub.

Research into the best area to stay - Every person wants a different city break experience to the next. Whether you want to be a major tourist, go on a foodie break, explore the nightlife or hit the shops, finding a convenient place to stay is key. I'm a massive researcher that when I head off to a new place, I look up what the best areas of that city are in terms of what I want to do and accommodation which fits in with my price range. Cities vary in size and the closest you get to a tourist attraction can typically mean a higher cost hotel or apartment. However, with Airbnb, I always find much cheaper self-catering options and Booking.com always offer deals of the day, that you're bound to find something in your chosen area.

Bring along a Polaroid - Ever since I received a Polaroid for Christmas, I've loved snapping away at some of life's best bits, especially on holiday. This will give you the chance to have some instant pictures to hang up in your bedroom or put in your travel scrapbook.

Write a rough agenda - I'm a big planner and when you're heading on a city break, whether it's long or short, you always want to make sure to fit in all the best bits. I like to figure out where everything is in the city and plan a rough agenda around that, to bullet point what I'll be doing each day. That way, you'll have a bit of an idea of what's expected, where you're exploring and how to get around before you've even arrived. Research is always key.

Learn common phrases - Even though English is a common language and in Europe a lot of residents understand it, speaking the language of the country you're visiting is very useful. It will come in handy when you greet people, ask about the area or order at a restaurant. Brush up on the common phrases before you head off or bring along a phrasebook to help you out.

Read up on the city's tourist traps and etiquette - Each city is different from the next in its own way. However, they'll all have some sort of scams/tourist traps to look out for and things like tipping etiquette to be aware of. Depending on where you're going, it's always best to have a quick research on both of these before you go so you're not caught out on the trip. For instance, in Paris, there's plenty of people around the main tourist areas who come up and ask you to sign a petition to help a cause. Then, they'll demand you give them some money. It's scams like this to keep your head low and turn a blind eye. 

Enjoy the city life - Last but not least, enjoy everything the city has in store. Whether it's visiting Rome's Colosseum, shopping till you drop in Milan, walking the canals in Amsterdam or admiring the art scene in Paris, Europe is full of plenty of treasures to set your eyes on. Roam around, eat the best delicacies and soak every bit of European culture on your city break.

I hope you enjoyed this city break tips post. What are your best tips for visiting a European city?

Thank you for reading <3

February favourites

Well hello to you my reader chums! I feel like February swept by quicker than I can say the word and now the promising month of March has arrived which I'm super excited for. Over the past few weeks, I haven't tried that many new products, however I've fallen in love with a few old ones and something new.

Here are my February favourites... 

Feburary beauty and travel favourites

Zoella's 'Winter Wonderland' hand cream

I'm a big fan of Zoella's beauty range and can honestly say the products are always of top quality. When I went shopping a while back, the last of Zoella's Christmas range was on sale in Superdrug and I managed to get my hands on the hand cream for only £1, a great bargain. I'd already received a few of her other products from this range for Christmas and fell in love with the scent that I knew the hand cream would be just as ace. Its scent has a subtle kind of sweetness with an underlying smell of vanilla, I love it. With hand cream, I am quite fussy because if it's too sticky or doesn't dry quickly, I'm not a fan. However, this is the opposite; the cream has a thick consistency, a lingering scent and sinks into the skin quickly. The size of the tube is also very handy - small enough to put in your handbag and big enough to last a long time. It's been a saviour in the last few days because of this massive snow storm.

Blistex's lip intense moisturiser

In the winter months, there's nothing more irritating than dry skin or lips. Every time my lips have been feeling dry, I've been reaching for Blistex's intense moisturiser. This is unlike a lot of other lip moisturisers I've tried as it's a lot thicker and has a medicated scent. The thick consistency means it takes a while to work in (as it's white in colour) but leaves your lips feeling better for longer. I've also found it has helped with cold sores on the rare occasion I've had one, just by dabbing a bit here and there throughout the day. If you suffer from dry lips, I'd completely recommend giving this a go.

Feburary beauty and travel favourites

Nars lip pencil in 'Cruella'

Matte lipsticks are my favourite formulation, they suit my look and I love the longer lasting power. Nars lip pencil in 'Cruella' has been a favourite for a long old time but I've been reaching for it a lot this month that I thought I'd share it again. The formulation is creamy, pigmentation is super intense and its one of my longest wearing lipsticks I own. I couldn't fault it in the slightest and love working a red lip in the winter. Check out my full review here.

Soap and Glory's sugar crush body wash

It is no secret I have a big love for Soap and Glory products; they always smell incredible and do the best job. One I've been obsessing over these past few weeks is the classic 'sugar crush' body wash. The lime/citrus scent is addictive, I love how easily it lathers up and makes your skin feel afterwards - super soft. It's one of those shower gels that linger in scent on the skin afterwards.

Paris trip

My last February favourite has to be my trip to Paris. My boyfriend Dan and I set off on Valentine's Day for a 5 day adventure in the city of love. We both had the most incredible time and I wish I could go back. The 5 days were packed with sight seeing, romantic meals, strolling round Paris' hidden gems and quality time together. If you'd like my hints and tips for a city break there, check out my 5 day guide.

I hope you enjoyed these favourites. Which products have you been loving this past month?

Thank you for reading <3