He Shi Gradual Self Tanner Review

This is a review I have been meaning to do for a while now. Since summer is over now :( and we are done with our mini Hawaiian heat wave, it seems an appropriate time to be writing about a product which potentially helps to hold on to summer skin for a little longer.
The product in question is He Shi's Gradual Self Tanner, which is from a brand that has been circulating the blogosphere for some time now. I was rather intrigued about this brand and was happy to try out the self-tanner. Ordinarily, I am not one for tanning, naturally or otherwise. I can't spend hours basking in the sun without thinking of those staying safe in the sun adverts and honestly do not want to damage my skin for the sake of a bit of colour. Don't get me wrong, I love laying on a beach as much as the next person, but believe in doing it safely. That's why I'm not opposed to fake tanners, if it's done tastefully, in other words you haven't made yourself orange. Personally I don't have the time or patience for fake tan, but I was curious to try a gradual tanner as they work slightly differently to your standard fake tan.

The sciencey bit: basically, the active ingredient that makes any self tanner work is dihydroxyacetone or DHA for short. It's essentially a type of sugar and when applied to your skin, reacts with the top layer to brown it in a similar way that food browns when it's left exposed to air. Since it is just the top layer of skin that the DHA reacts with, it lasts for just a couple of days until that layer of skin has been washed away. Gradual tanners have a much lower concentration of this ingredient than regular fake-tan which makes the effect more subtle and allows you to build up the tan gradually.

I tried the product over a few days to see how well the colour built up and was really pleased with the result. Day one, the tanner did not immediately seem to make much of a change to my skin tone. I would say it took a few hours before I noticed any change.

Day two, after being on my skin for a few hours now, I could definitely see a difference. The result was a very evenly distributed amount of colour over my skin, the only giveaway was my back area which I had not managed to apply very successfully! I would recommend getting someone to help you so you don't end up with a streaky back like I did. Applying the product anywhere else wasn't a problem, I found it rubbed quite easily into the skin, pretty much as simple as applying a moisturiser. Excuse the bra flash, apologies.

The picture below is day 3 which is when I think I had reached as brown as this would make me, or at least as brown as I was willing to go. I like a sun kissed glow, rather than an obvious tan. As far as self tanners go, and I don't have a lot to compare it to as I don't ordinarily buy this type of product, but I believe this to be good quality, reasonably priced for the size as you would get a few applications from the bottle (£14.50 for 200ml). It has quite a thick consistency but a little amount does stretch quite far. Comparing this to another gradual tanner I used (Johnsons I believe) where the consistency was very runny and I needed to use quite a lot to achieve any sort of results this is miles better.

If you're a little scared or completely uninterested with using fake tan but wouldn't mind giving your skin a bit of a boost now that summer's over then I would recommend this for that. I'm a bit indifferent to skin tone myself, so would not be too fussed about buying any more, but I did enjoy trying this out and can see that this would appeal to tan lovers.

The product was sent to me to try but as usual this does not affect my opinion in any way.

A little update...

So this is not a particularly pleasant or easy update to be making, but nevertheless, I think I should make it. I've been quiet in the blogging world lately, and it has been for good reason, so let me explain...
As of a few weeks ago I ended my five year relationship. This was not a very easy decision to make, nor was it one I did hastily. Things were not right for a while and it became a case of breezing on, pretending everything was OK. We had tried long distance, it never worked, we tried living together and it seems that didn't work either. As hard as I tried, it just seems the relationship has had its day. Whoever ends it, it's always a difficult thing to go through, but I am coming round to it now, and being more optimistic about the future. I am about to go through a lot of changes, starting a new job, moving into a house share and facing city life as a singleton. It's daunting but it feels right at the same time. Currently I'm spending a lot of time looking for a house to move in to, I'm not sure exactly where, but definitely closer to the centre, as close as my budget will get me! Times like this I tend to find myself searching for inspirational quotes. I really liked this plaque thing that I found at Camden market. I think this may become my new motto.

Birthday OOTD

Quick little OOTD post. I'm wearing my favourite pair of black Topshop jeans, these are the high waisted Kristen jeans, sorry if you've seen these in a tonne of my other posts, but I love them!
I love this cobalt blue top. This was a gift from my Mum. I love the gold buttons and when this isn't tucked in, it has a nice flattering shape to it. This blouse is also available in a bright red and white version, the latter I am tempted to buy with my Topshop gift card!Shoes are from ages ago, but I barely wear them because they're mega uncomfortable. I'm not going anywhere tonight though because I've done too much before my birthday and have plans for later in the week so need to save some pennies!
Tomorrow I'm off to Bath to visit a friend and will be back on Thursday so I will show you lots of pics from my trip. I'm quite excited to go somewhere new!

Be Happy

I saw this tag on one of my favourite blogs Superficial Girls and decided to do it as I think it would be great if lots of bloggers did this to spread the joy. It is the "Be Happy" tag where basically you post 5 things that make you happy, as simple and sweet as that!
I'm not sure if she SG started this herself, but she says "Do a blog post about 5 things that make you happy and include a picture of yourself smiling or something that makes you happy! I tag everyone!!"

1. Music
I put this as my number one because I literally couldn't live without it. Music is incorporated into every aspect of my life, in the words of Eric Olson "Music is what life sounds like." Too true.
2. Friends & Family
I hold dear everyone who's a part of my life.
3. Blogging
Of course! I love having this little outlet to share with you all. Reading your comments and your own blogs is a little source of happiness for me.
4. London
I find plenty to moan about living here, but when it really boils down to it, this is one of the finest cities and I love my London.
5. Outdoors
Nothing beats being outdoors in the sunshine, but I love and appreciate nature and a bit of fresh air any time of the year. I love to walk, it really clears my head, I could walk for miles somedays.
So there's my five things that make me happy. Today is also my birthday!! So that's another thing to be happy for I guess. Let me know what yours are!

Lush Cosmetic Warrior Face Mask Review

I recently traded in 5 black pots at Lush to receive a free face mask. I have used a couple of Lush masks before and always like to try something new so this time I chose Cosmetic Warrior. I'm surprised I hadn't tried this one before. It contains tea tree oil, which is pretty much the dominant smell when you open the lid, and also happens to be one of my favourite ingredients of skin care. It has natural anti-bacterial properties so is great at combatting spots.
Lush masks feel like a real treat, even though they're quite inexpensive compared to some brands, and in this case, completely free! I think they're great for prepping yourself for a night out, but I would suggest possibly doing the face mask a few nights before you go out as it brings spots to the surface the next day. This does not mean the mask causes spots, but it draws all your impurities out.

This mask has a nice feel to it as it dries. It contains eggs which you can feel give the tightening effect on your skin, but it also contains honey, so when washed off, you're left feeling nice and moisturised. Definite thumbs up from me.
I feel I've been missing from the blogging sphere for a while. I've been back at my parents house in the Midlands for a few days and didn't take my laptop. Sometimes I think it's nice to have a little break, though I have missed it. Whilst up there my brother turned 30, so I went out for a surprise meal for him to celebrate. It was a lovely evening, in one of my favourite restaurants in the town I was born in. It's a little family run Italian restaurant and the food there is absolutely amazing, as is the service.
I also finally got to meet my best friend's little baby boy called Harry, who at 11 months, is surprisingly not so little anymore! I'd only seen him in photographs before and was expecting the same tiny little man, but he's grown so much.
I've had a lovely few days up there, but I'm back home now with lots of posts lined up. Now to sit and catch up with your lovely blogs!

Weekend Overview 6th/7th August

Over the weekend I went to check out Mevali in Greenwich which is a hookah bar and restaurant. I have to say it wasn't quite what I had in mind having been to a few hookah lounges in the past. When you walk through the door you feel like you've stepped into a cafe with lots of tea making paraphernalia on view. It's only when you walk right through and step into the back yard of the restaurant that it becomes more like a hookah lounge with lots of benches and heated umbrellas above. I found this layout, although it made hookah seem more of a daytime affair than an evening one, is very homely and welcoming. We ordered watermelon flavour hookah and I love the way they look, I want one of these in my home. I realise it's not the healthiest of past-times, but it's nowhere near as bad as regular smoking as it doesn't contain all the carcinogens of cigarettes and there is something very relaxing about hookah and it's a nice way to spend an evening chilling out with friends. We ordered a large plate of mezze too which was full of delicious little bites.On Sunday, I dodged the showers and managed to hire a rowing boat out on the lake without getting rained on. We went to Danson park, because sometimes it's lovely driving out, in the opposite direction to the city. Much quieter and peaceful.

Hope you had a lovely weekend too, I will be posting a few reviews this week including the MAC and Lush products I bought, aswell as some He-Shi and Purity products so watch out for those.

In and Out Part Deux

These were meant to be a regular post of mine, but they never really took off. Oh well, here's part two of things I am currently loving and not-so-much loving.

In:

• Drinking ice-cold coke from a glass bottle, it tastes a million times better in glass in my opinion.


• Having more than one "good" piece of mail, i.e. things I have ordered, arrive in one day.


• Discovering that I can successfully paint the tips of my nails without it looking a complete mess. I decided to jazz up GOSH Light Rose with some Barry M Shocking Pink tips.


• Charlie Simpson and his solo career. Busted was a minor glitch for Charlie, but since he's departed he's done some pretty good songs, check them out.

Out:

• Magazines being a month ahead, and seeing the word "September" on the front of one, reminds me that it's nearly Autumn which I find a mildy depressing thought.


• Lack of inbetween weather, it's all or nothing with our summers.
  
• My messy hair. If I was a celebrity, my hair would almost certainly be in the "out" column of any magazine, it's wild and unruly. I'm sorting it out on Monday.
  


• Cher Lloyd. I actually liked her first audition, but I went more and more off her as the show went on, and now she's released Swagger Jagger, I have no more love left.