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● Laura Thornberry ● Lifestyle Blogger ● London Based ●

AD - GIFTED | When it comes to blogging, everyone has their own setup and things that they need to help them plan and write up there ideas, so here's a little insight into mine. I was recently contacted by Viking Direct, who offered me the chance to select some items from there online store and share with you all, and for this I decided to pick a few things that I would consider "Blogging Essentials". Viking is a leading supplier of office supplies, including everything from stationery and ink cartridges to office furniture. 


So when it comes to blogging, the two main things that I need are my Laptop and my iPhone. Without these, my blog wouldn't even exist! I use my Laptop to write my blog posts, adjust my blog design, and just for any admin or research that I need to do for my blog! However, I'm pretty sure most of my time is spent on my iPhone. With the internet available in just a few clicks, social media at your fingertips and interaction with other bloggers so easy, this is something I use everyday and is a definite essential for me! I also sometimes use the Blogger App, which allows me to write down any ideas for posts, upload photos from my phone and even publish posts! How useful!

So when it came to deciding what I wanted to include, I had a very hard decision; Viking offers so much that I was spoilt for choice. Firstly I decided on this super cute A5 Floral Notepad*. I just love the lovely, colourful floral design on this! It's a perfect little notepad to scribble down any blog post ideas or shopping lists, and the perfect size to carry in your handbags for when you're on the go! And obviously if you have a notepad, you're obviously going to need something to write with, so I opted for the Stabilo 10 Pack Assorted Fineliners*, lots of pretty colours to get all your new, creative ideas down on paper! I also found them super comfortable and easy to grip onto, and no smudging!

Next up I have the Wooden Pen Holder*, which I obviously use to store the fineliners, just to keep myself that little bit more organised! I also use this to store pencils, a pair of scissors, my small desktop tripod and my camera USB lead, so this came in very useful! Another handy little item to have are the colourful Sticky Notes*, to make sure you don't forget any ideas or deadlines, or even to write down some of those products that you see on other peoples blogs/videos, that you want to research a little bit more or purchase!

Last but not least, I opted for a little treat for myself. A treat in the form of Cadburys Hot Chocolate*. How sneaky of me! But come on, having a lovely hot chocolate whilst blogging is just perfect! The best way to relax and let your creative juices flow!

Have you heard of Viking Direct before? What are your Blogging Essentials?
13:00 No comments
So when it comes to eye creams/gels etc, I am the most useless person ever! I never know which ones to buy or if they actually work and what not, so this purchase was just on a bit of a whim when there was 50% of B products on the Superdrug website, so I thought I'd give it a go!

"Helps to reduce the appearance of puffiness and is instantly cooling so you look bright eyed … even if you don't feel it. Clinically proven results."
B.Energised Eye Cream
B.Energised Eye Cream
B.Energised Eye Cream
B.Energised Eye Cream
B.Energised Eye Cream
So after using this for a good few months, I have definitely seen a huge difference in the appearance of my under eyes, where I no longer have any puffiness or dryness, and the skin feels moisturised and looks a lot brighter and hydrated. The gel like formula absorbs and sinks into the skin quickly, without leaving any greasy residue, and feels very nourishing and cooling upon the skin. Especially in the mornings, it helps to get rid of my dull, tired looking eye area and helps to brighten and wake up my eyes.

"B. Energised with this instantly refreshing pick-me-up.
- Brightens - Live Yeast Cell Extract helps reduce the appearance of dark circles.
- Cools and de-puffs - With Allantoin and Caffeine.
- Hydrates - With a delicate blend of moisturisers (including Hyaluronic Acid).
- Ophthalmically approved.
- Dermatologically approved. "

Have you tried this eye cream? Have you tested anything from the B. range at Superdrug? What eye creams are you currently using?
13:00 No comments
So whilst browsing the Boots website, I found this little gem hiding amongst some of the skincare products, at first I was a little dubious about this, but after trying it out for several months, I'm pretty glad that I picked it up! I would say this is quite similar to the Effaclar Duo+ from La Roche Posay, from the way the products works and the results I have seen from both.
Boots Skin Clear Ultra Treatment Cream
Boots Skin Clear Ultra Treatment Cream
Boots Skin Clear Ultra Treatment Cream
Boots Skin Clear Ultra Treatment Cream
Boots Skin Clear Ultra Treatment Cream
"Boots Skin Clear Ultra Treatment Cream is a unique formulation with ingredients scientifically proven to penetrate pores, fight spot-causing bacteria and help to prevent breakouts."

The formula is of this treatment is a lightweight gel, with a slightly cream consistency that applies smoothly and absorbs into the skin quickly, and also has a clean and fresh scent which I don't find too strong or unpleasant. I've been using this product after cleansing my skin, both day and night, applying directly to any problem areas to target the spots/redness, and then following with a moisturiser. After using this, any spots or redness I have have been reduced within a day, and have disappeared after a few days, which has left my skin clear and looking much better.

Have you used this treatment cream? Would this be something that you would like to try? What spot treatments are you currently using?
13:00 No comments
You know when you buy new products to try and then have those half used products thrown back into your stash, and months later you really need to use them up...  Well this is one of mine and is definitely a rediscovered product that I have been loving using over the past few weeks. I've been using this most mornings after I wake up, to give my skin a little refresh and cleanse, before applying my morning skincare products. Since testing this stuff out again, I have noticed a huge difference in my skin, where it looks a lot more glowing and radiant, a perfect way to step into summer!
Garnier Daily Energising Gel Scrub
Garnier Daily Energising Gel Scrub
Garnier Daily Energising Gel Scrub
Garnier Daily Energising Gel Scrub
"Garnier Skin Naturals Pure Active Fruit Energy Daily Energising Gel Scrub unclogs and visibly tightens pores, giving your skin a radiant natural glow.
The gel scrub contains extracts of grapefruit, pomegranate and Vitamin C.
Designed for oily skin prone to imperfections."

As I previously stated, I use this scrub in the mornings, as I feel the scent is a perfect "wake me up" scent, so fruity and fresh without being overpowering.  The scrub itself has a fairly thick gel-like texture, that I feel is really easy to work into the skin, and the small exfoliating beads are very gentle and soft on the skin, so there's no irritation or worries for those with sensitive skin. After use, my skin feels so soft and plump, without that awful tight feeling like some products can leave the skin.

Have you tried out this facial scrub or anything from the Garnier range? What facial scrubs/exfoliators are you currently using?
13:00 No comments
AD - GIFTED | A while back now, I was kindly sent the Avene Soothing Hydrating Serum* from Escentual. Avene are a brand I had never heard of before so I was quite excited to try something from there range of skincare, as well as serums, which are also a new addition to my skincare routine. Just as a side note, I have normal/combination skin, where I do suffer with some oiliness on my t zone and some redness, so this being ideal for sensitive skin would help my skin a little.
 
Avene Soothing Hydrating Serum
Avene Soothing Hydrating Serum
Avene Soothing Hydrating Serum
Avene Soothing Hydrating Serum
Avene Soothing Hydrating Serum
Avene Soothing Hydrating Serum
Avene Soothing Hydrating Serum

"This intensely soothing and hydrating formulation is ideal for sensitive skin, or skin that is easily effected by stress, pollution, or irritation. With its high concentration of Avène Thermal Spring Water, the serum works to soothe and heal the skin with each and every application. This soothing sensation has a long-lasting effect thanks to patented liposomes, which work to diffuse the ingredients gradually into the upper layer of the skin.

Added Glycerine provides deep nourishment, hydration and comfort for the complexion. The silky serum glides on luxuriously, leaving skin feeling supple, smooth and soft."

After using this product for a couple of months now, it is something that has slipped into my skincare routine on a daily basis. I simply use this mainly in the evening, to give my skin an overnight treat, after cleansing/toning and before moisturising. The gel based formula of the serum isn't sticky or greasy and glides on to the skin easily, absorbs quickly and leaves the skin feeling really soft and hydrated.  

This serum has definitely helped to sooth any of the the irritated areas of redness that I have on my face, mainly around my nose and cheeks, as well as leaving my face feel plump and moisturised. The packaging looks and feels very luxurious, the frosted glass and pump dispenser make the serum looked a lot more expensive that it actually retails for(RRP-£17). 

If you have sensitive skin or just skin that needs a boost now and again then I would definitely recommend this serum, it not the cheapest serum on the market, but a little goes a long way and for only £17, I definitely think it is worth parting with the money!

Have you used this serum before? Have you tried any other Avene products? What serums do you use in your skincare routine?
13:00 No comments
This is a slightly different post to my usual ideas but let’s face it... How many of us find it difficult to find a perfect place for an afternoon date, that isn’t just your standard grab a coffee, go for lunch or have a walk in the local park? Even if it’s your first date with someone new or just a special day out with your partner/friend, you want something that’s going to be fun, enjoyable and definitely memorable, for the right reasons! You want a location where you can spend time with your date, get to know them, experience something new, have a conversation and most importantly enjoy yourself and feel comfortable! 

Below I have featured a variety of locations where I believe the most exciting, relaxed and perfect dates can take place!
Covent Garden Vertical Chill
 Vertical Chill, an indoor ice climbing wall situated inside “Ellis Brigham's Tower House Covent Garden Store” is perfect for those who like a challenge! With chilly temperatures reaching between -5°C to -7°C, scaling this 8m ice wall is perfect for those who like an adrenaline fuelled and fun activity. The Vertical Chill wall ranges in a variety of steepness, ‘from a pleasant slab to a drastic over-hang with everything in between’, so ideal for a beginner or someone who likes a challenge. 
London Aquarium
The London Aquarium, located on the South bank of the River Thames is a great place to get up close and personal with ‘one of Europe’s largest collection of global marine life’. From sharks to rays to lobsters to jellyfish and piranhas, as well as penguins, clownfish, crocodiles, turtles, seahorses and coral, you’ll be able ‘to see thousands of sea creatures in over 2 million litres of water’. Amazing right?! If you want something unusual, surreal and pretty damn cool, a trip to the aquarium is the perfect attraction to make some amazing memories and experience something like never before. 
Thorpe Park
Thorpe Park, home to over 25 rides and attractions, is the perfect location for a fun and thrill seeking date. Face your fears, experience the unknown on the crazy loops and twists on Colossus, brave it backwards on The Swarm, experience extreme speed on Stealth and enjoy the wet and wild Tidal Wave! Share a scary experience, with non-stop adrenaline action at Thorpe Park, because dating is way more fun when you're both being big kids again and enjoying a roller coaster or two!
The London Eye
Built as part of London's millennium celebrations, this is a very popular tourist attraction located alongside the South bank. With the experience lasting 30 minutes, you will be able to view many famous landmarks, including Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, St. Paul's Cathedral and the Houses of Parliament. If you’re not scared of heights, and want to see London from a different perspective, this is definitely something for you!
All Star Lanes Bowling
If you want to experience an afternoon date with a difference, the All Star Lanes is definitely perfect for those who enjoy more of a casual, laid back vibe, as well as those who like a bit of competition! This location is perfect for a fun and relaxing afternoon date, having a couple of games of bowling, a few drinks and a bite to eat, this could potentially be an amazing first date idea, without an awkward silences and a boring experience.

Whether you’re looking for a relaxed and chilled out location for a date, or something more exciting and fun fuelled, hopefully this little guide of some of London’s more unusual, exciting and perfect afternoon date locations has inspired you. So ditch the coffee dates and lunchtime rendezvous, and go for something more action packed and adventurous, where you’re bound to have a great experience, an amazing afternoon and a date to remember!

Where would you go on an afternoon date? Have you been to any of the places I have featured today?
13:00 No comments
AD - GIFTED | So today I have another attempt at some nail art, after being sent some cute little Blue Hollow Heart Pearls* from Sparkly Nails. I'm not an expert in painting nails or nail art, but I wanted to create something cute and simple, which I think would be a great everyday nail sorta thing, and they were so easy and quick to apply, so I am super happy with the results.


Application is super easy. You simply paint your nails, my shade of choice today was Barry M Matte Nail Paint in Vanilla, and allow to dry fully. You then apply top coat, I used Sally Hansen's No Chip Top Coat, and applied this to the nail pearl and placed onto my nail in my desired place, as I wanted to keep the matte look of the polish.

Have you heard of Sparkly Nails before? Would these heart pearls be something you would like to try out? Have you tried out any nail art recently? What nail polish would you put with these pearls?
13:00 No comments
I’m pretty sure that if we all could spend hours a day on hair care, skincare and makeup, 9 times out of 10 we would, but it’s definitely not practical or realistic these days! Busy lifestyles can really reduce the amount of time we have to look after ourselves and for this, we are all seeking beauty products that we can use quickly and easily, but still give the same results as if we were to spend ages.  After a little research, as well as browsing products that I already own, I’ve come up with a few beauty essentials that are perfect to use for the lazy ones amongst us!
First up is the Batiste Dry Shampoo. This stuff is definitely a miracle product and a perfect hair care solution for those with a hectic lifestyle. Ever woken up one morning and noticed your hair isn’t looking its best but you have no time to wash it? Yes? Well grab a can of this and those days will be over! This dry shampoo is a great way to refresh and revitalise your hair instantly, removing and excess grease or oil. Just spritz into the roots and massage into your scalp, to leave clean and fresh hair, with a little added volume and texture! Batiste comes in a variety of scents, my favourite being the ‘Tropical’, so there will definitely be a scent you will love! You can buy this in a range of size cans, so perfect if you’re always on the go, just put a mini travel version in your handbag and you’re good to go! 

If you’re looking for something quick and easy to add to your skincare routine, look no further! The Garnier Pure Active 3 – 1 Wash, Scrub and Mask is a perfect ‘all-rounder’, multi-use product that can save you time and money. This beauty product can be used in 3 different ways; a face wash, a face scrub or a face mask, meaning you don’t have to have millions of other products to use in conjunction, when this can do all 3!
Thirdly, a Cheek ‘n’ Lip Tint from 2True, which is an affordable make up product that has 2 uses. These are quite a new addition to the beauty world, but I definitely think they could come in handy! This would definitely be a welcome addition to any beauty bag and perfect for those who want a matching cheek and lip make up combo!

Next up is the Rimmel 5 Pan Eyeshadow in Brixton Brown. A small, travel sized palette perfect for eyeshadow, eyeliner, highlighting and filling in those brows! The shade range that is included is pretty good, and would most likely suit many people’s brow shades and gives a perfect smoky eye eyeshadow look for an evening look, or you can create a more neutral daytime look!

Finally, the Aussie 3 Minute Miracle! For me this is the perfect hair care product ever! All Aussie products smell amazing, and this is no exception! The main purpose of the 3 Minute Miracle is for a deep treatment to the hair, to help maintain healthy hair. This comes in a variety of types, including a heat protecting version, one to maintain shine and one to prevent frizz, so it’s perfect for all types of hair! You can also use this hair product as a simple conditioner after shampooing your hair and if you’re feeling extra lazy, use this instead of a shaving gel for extra super silky legs!

All the products I have featured are super affordable and can all be picked up in your local high street stores and supermarkets! So hopefully you have been introduced to some new products that can save you time in the mornings, also save you some money, and help you look your best without spending all day with a few multi-use product ideas. 

What are your lazy beauty products? Do you use any I have featured in today's post?
13:00 No comments
I've never been one to have a look in Topshop for make up, as it is predominantly a place for fashion, but on a recent visit, I picked up one of their Lip Bullets which I thought would be perfect for the Spring and Summer months!

Most of my lip products tend to be very safe colours, with plenty of nudes, pinks, peaches and reds, so I wanted to try out something which I would never normally go for, enter Heartbeat. Heartbeat is a lovely bright, fresh pinky red, with a more orange undertone, which is definitely out of my comfort zone but it's still a lovely colour that! Go bold or go home right?!



The Lip Bullet is highly pigmented so only takes 1 – 2 swipes of colour to give a gorgeous opaque lip and you're ready to go! Although, they do have a tendency to cling to any dry patches on your lips, but that an easily be sorted with a lip balm before application! After applying, the lip bullet lasts a good 3-4 hours, without needing to reapply, but even after that time, your lips have a slight sheer stain from the colour, which still looks lovely.

Have you tried the lip bullets yet? What other Topshop makeup recommendations would you give me?
13:00 No comments
AD - GIFTED | So the next instalment in haircare week comes in the form of a serum; Goldwell Dualsenses Rich Repair 6 Effects Serum*, which I was kindly sent from lookfantastic/hqhair. Hair serums are still quite a new thing for me, and so far I've tried and tested a few and have been really happy with how they leave my hair looking and feeling, so having the opportunity to test this one from Goldwell is something I was excited for. 

"An innovative 6-in-1 solution for hair that's in need of some TLC, this Dualsenses Rich Repair 6 Effects Serum from Goldwell is your fast track to super soft, silky hair. Boasting six repairing benefits, this effective serum gives your hair instant shine with an anti-frizz effect, healthy ends and improved elasticity."

Goldwell DualSenses Rich Repair 6 Effect Serum is a 6-in-1 solution, helping to improve instant shine, silky suppleness, improved elasticity, anti-frizz effect, healthy ends and reduced hair breakage.

Goldwell Dualsenses Rich Repair 6 Effects Serum 100ml
Goldwell Dualsenses Rich Repair 6 Effects Serum 100ml
Goldwell Dualsenses Rich Repair 6 Effects Serum 100ml
Goldwell Dualsenses Rich Repair 6 Effects Serum 100ml
Goldwell Dualsenses Rich Repair 6 Effects Serum 100ml

The serum comes in a handy pump dispenser, which means you can control the amount of product you dispense, where I usually take 2-3 pumps and rub this together in my fingertips, then apply to the lengths and ends of my hair. The non greasy formula that feels really light and absorbs really quickly into the hair, leaving it feeling silky and no greasy residue is left behind.

 I usually use this on freshly washed hair, once its towel dried, and find that this works best for my hair, but also if my hair is feeling a little dry, I will smooth 1 pump of this through the ends to give it a little refresh and nourishment.

From the first application of this serum, the appearance of my my hair was definitely a lot better. It was so smooth and silky, without any frizz. Big yes! My hair felt thicker and healthier, shinier and more manageable, and for someone with long hair, this is definitely a plus! A definite recommendation to anyone with long hair, dry hair or those just looking for a serum to improve the texture and appearance of there locks!

Have you used this hair serum before? What serums do you like to use?
13:00 No comments
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