● Laura Thornberry ● Lifestyle Blogger ● London Based ●

New for 2018, L'Oréal Paris has added a trio of Smooth Sugars Scrubs to their skincare range, and as a skincare lover, I couldn't wait to try them!

The product I chose to pick up from this range is the L'Oréal Smooth Sugars Nourish Scrub. The Smooth Sugar Nourish Scrub is formulated with exfoliants of 100% natural origin, containing three fine sugars; brown, golden and white.

L'oreal Paris Smooth Sugars Nourish Scrub

The expert blend also contains 3 fine sugars; White sugar that melts on the skin while gently buffing away impurities and dead skin cells. blonde sugar, which is a natural moisturiser, and brown sugar which is rich in minerals that help strengthen the skin's barrier.

The three sugars have been combined with Cocoa Butter; a natural ingredient rich in essential nutrients to help soothe dryness, and to help exfoliate, producing a soft and smooth complexion and instantly reveal glowy, plump skin.

Upon application, the sugar scrub glides across the skin so effortlessly, simply melts into the skin. I like to use a flat brush to apply, as a little goes a long way! I like to leave the scrub on my skin for 5-10 minutes, then rinse off with a damp face cloth. The nourishing ingredients leave the skin looking super soft, hydrated and brightened, so I think this would be perfect for those with dry and dull looking skin.

The texture of the L'Oréal Paris Smooth Sugars Nourish Scrub is super smooth, velvety, non-abrasive and it just glides of the skin. Cocoa Grains are infused into the sugar scrub to help remove any dead skin cells to help improve softness, remove texture and clear the skin of impurities. It's an absolute dream to use on the skin!

"The expert blend also contains 3 fine sugars; White sugar that melts on the skin while gently buffing away impurities and dead skin cells. blonde sugar, which is a natural moisturiser, and brown sugar which is rich in minerals that help strengthen the skin's barrier."

I'd highly recommend the L'Oréal Paris Smooth Sugars Nourish Scrub for those will dry, dull skin or if you are just lacking that radiant glow. However, if the Nourish Scrub isn't for you, L'Oréal also have 2 other products in the Smooth Sugars range that might cater for your skin needs. Suitable for all skin types. For face and lips.

Have you tried the L'Oréal Smooth Sugars Scrub? Which is your favourite?

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I don’t know a single person who doesn’t love Garlic Bread. It's the most tasty, quick and easy to make side dish that I can think of, and doesn't require too many ingredients either, so you can't really go wrong -> just bread + garlic + butter = a winning combo!

It is such a popular side dish to serve with so many different dishes... You name it, Garlic Bread goes with it.

For my Ultimate Garlic Bread recipe, you will need;

- 2 ready to bake Baguettes, cut in half

- 4 Garlic Cloves, peeled and chopped

- 3 tbsp of Butter

- 1 tsp of Parsley

- Olive Oil

- Salt and Pepper

- Chilli Flakes (optional)

- Grated Cheese, Cheddar and Mozzarella (optional)

To begin making this tasty treat, you will need to firstly grab a microwave-safe bowl or cup. Then combine all of the ingredients together; the Butter, chopped Garlic, Salt, Pepper and Parsley, followed by a splash of Olive Oil.

Microwave the mixture on a low power setting, for 30-40 seconds, until the butter has completely melted. Then remove from microwave and give the mixture a good stir, making sure everything is combined.

With a fork, press some holes evenly across the baguettes; this allows your buttery mixture to absorb and fully soak into the bread better, giving a much better flavour to your dish! Spoon the Garlic Butter mixture evenly over the baguettes until covered. Now they are ready to bake in the oven!

If you are using ready to bake Baguettes, these will take around 8-12 minutes to cook in a preheated oven, around 200° is perfect. Once the baguettes are ready, I like to finish them off by placing under the grill for a couple of minutes, this allows the mixture to soak deeper into the bread and the fresh Garlic to super crunchy! Delicious!

I prefer to make my own homemade Garlic Bread, as I find store-bought versions sometimes lack in flavour, or can be completely dry as there is not much butter mixture added. I like mine to be super buttery and packed full of garlic, for that extra punch!

As an added extra, you can finish off my Ultimate Garlic Bread Recipe by adding some grated Cheese and a pinch of Chilli Flakes (for a little spicy kick) before you place under the grill. I like to use a grated Cheddar and Mozzarella Cheese, as for me this is the best combination of cheeses to use, as they melt perfectly and go super crisp under the grill.

Do you make your own Garlic Bread at home? What is your favourite recipe to use?

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As a lover of all things skincare, I always switch up my face masks. I usually use them 1-2 times a week, according to my skincare concerns and what I feel my skin needs. Recently my skin has had a few breakouts, probably from the constant changes in the weather, and I've needed something to help cleanse my skin thoroughly and make it look clearer and healthier.

I opted for The Body Shop Skin Clearing Tea Tree Face Mask; a skincare product suitable for those prone to blemishes, helping to soothe, calm and promote clearer looking skin

This the perfect face mask for those with an oily/combination skin type or those who need to deeply cleanse then skin. A clay mask infused with purifying Tea Tree, a powerful antibacterial ingredient, with healing properties, grown in the foothills of Mount Kenya, this is a great product for those with blemished complexions, that need a quick skin refresh, without leaving a tight or drying feel to the skin. This mask will help to clear any impurities whilst absorbing excess oils and sebum, leaving skin feeling smoother, softer, calmer and clearer looking.

"This instantly cooling face mask cleanses, soothes and refreshes the skin."

In terms of appearance and texture, this face mask from The Body Shop has a very thick and creamy consistency, with a soft, minty green colour. There is a definite Tea Tree scent, but nothing too overpowering. Upon application, I tend to use a flat brush to apply my masks to help get an even layer across my skin, the mask feels very smooth, with a slightly cooling and tingly sensation once applied.

As the mask begins to dry, you will still feel the skin tighten ever so slightly. This face mask from The Body Shop somehow manages to keep the skin feel hydrated, which is unlike any other clay mask I have used, as most of them tend to be super drying on the skin. Once fully dry, I simply remove with a warm flannel or muslin cloth, to reveal clean and refreshed skin, that looks revitalised and plumper.

I would highly recommend this Tea Tree Face Mask from The Body Shop to anyone suffering with blemishes, redness and impurities or those wanted to help control oil production on the skin.

Have you tried this Body Shop Mask? What are your favourite face masks?

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Maui Moisture; A brand that has made its way straight into my current hair care routine. They are a brand inspired by the handpicked and handcrafted ingredients which can be found on tropical islands, such as Maui. With hair care ranges to nourish, revive, strengthen, quench and restore hair, Maui Moisture caters for all hair types and textures, offering a variety of shampoos, conditioners, hair masks and mists, combining the best formulas and ingredients needed to help keep your hair looking soft and silky.

Incorporating ingredients such as Shea Butter, Coconut, Agave, Bamboo and Vanilla Bean, combined with their signature blend of Aloe Vera juices infused with pure Coconut Water, there is definitely something for everyone. If you’re new to Maui Moisture, you're definitely missing out and need to get your hands on their products asap!

Maui Moisture Revive & Hydrate Shea Butter Hair Mask

I opted for the Maui Moisture Shea Butter Hair Mask, which is part of the Revive & Hydrate range, a product suitable for those with dry, damaged hair. For a girl that loves to blow dry, straighten and style my hair, I needed something that would keep my hair feeling strong and nourished, as well as providing deep and intense conditioning, to prevent heat damage and breakage, and this did just the job.

A hair mask packed with Aloe Vera Juice, Coconut Water, Creamy Shea Butter, Rich Coconut Oil and Pure Macadamia Oil, this was the perfect remedy to improve the look, feel and texture of my hair, especially my dry mid-lengths and ends. The scent is absolutely dreamy, so fresh and fruity, it's like being sent to a tropical paradise!

The texture of Maui Moisture Shea Butter Hair Mask is so rich and thick, you know it's going to do a great job. Packed with creamy Shea Butter and blended along with exotic Coconut and Macadamia oils softening and nourishing hair back to looking healthy and shiny.

Upon application, I like to shampoo my hair first to make sure my hair is clean and free from any product build up. I apply an egg-sized amount of product all over my hair, mainly focusing on my ends. I then gently brush through my hair to make sure each strand is coated with product, and leave for around 10 minutes and rinse. When my hair is feeling extra dry, I also like to use it as a leave-in treatment, simply apply a small amount onto freshly washed, towel-dried hair to deeply condition mid-lengths and ends."

"The next big thing in haircare, Maui Moisture takes out the bad to leave more room for the good."

Maui Moisture is crafted into 5 other amazing ranges for all different hair types and textures to help get your hair looking healthy.

Curl Quench + Coconut Oil for curly hair

Strength & Anti-Breakage + Rich Agave for chemically damaged hair

Smooth & Repair + Vanilla Bean for frizzy, unruly hair

Thicken & Restore + Bamboo Fibres for weak, brittle hair

Nourish & Moisture + Coconut Milk for dry hair

Have you ever tried anything from Maui Moisture before?

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AD - GIFTED | When it comes to everyday makeup, I like to keep things quite simple and natural. Usually a touch of concealer, a few coats of mascara and a quick fill in of the eyebrows and I'm good to go.

Recently I was contacted by ESQIDO; a brand focused on professional grade mink lashes that claim to be "the softest, lightest, and most natural looking false eyelashes you’ll ever wear." Baring in mind I had never used false lashes before, as I felt it could be quite fiddly to use and very time consuming, I thought this opportunity would be something worth a go, and to see what my first attempt at false lashes would be like.

I was very kindly gift a pair of Esqido 'Unforgettable' false eyelashes*. For an everyday look, I like my eyelashes to look long, volumized and separated, this helps to give my eyes a dramatic and defined look. These lashes looked exactly what I wanted for an everyday look, full and fluttery yet still very natural.

The ESQIDO eyelash glue*, a clear coloured formula with strong all day hold, just what you need in an eyelash glue, as you don't want them peeling off half way through the day! With a fine tip wand applicator, it's very easy to brush on the right amount of glue to your false lashes, without making a mess.

Unforgettable Mink Eyelashes*

"Natural and elegant. Perfect for wedding. This pair of mink lashes features a gradient of increasing length and thickness across the lash band, resulting in a subtle yet beautiful winged out effect. The Best Style for Everyday Wear."

Here are my before and after photographs.

As you can see, the results these Esqido lashes gave were amazing! My lashes went from straight and flat, to looking extremely lifted and fluttery, creating quite a defined and dramatic eye look without being too over the top. These lashes would definitely be suitable for an everyday makeup!

In terms of application, I struggled at first. I've never applied false eyelashes before so I had no technique whatsoever! I needed to trim the lashes slightly, just so they would suit and fit my eyes perfectly. I found using tweezers to be quite difficult, so I just proceeded to use my fingers to apply. It took me a few attempts to line up and apply the lashes as closely as I could to my lash line. I did find that the glue did dry quite quickly, so you need to be ready to apply the lashes straight away once the glue has gone tacky on the lashes, I left it around 10 seconds to dry before applying them. I made sure I had plenty of glue on the outer ends of the lashes, as they were much harder to get to stick firmly than the centre of the lash.

Have you tried Esqido Lashes before? What are your favourite eyelashes to use for a natural makeup look?

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Holler and Glow, a brand that's taking over the blogger community by storm and a new addition to the Primark Beauty department, offering a vast range of face masks and nail products in store. I thought it was about time I put some of the Holler and Glow Face Masks to the test and see if they are worth the hype. I managed to pick up a couple of masks on a recent trip to my local Primark, usually retailing at £3, I managed to pick these masks up for just £1 each! What a bargain! Plus the packaging was just so super cute and fun, I could not resist!

First up we have the Holler and Glow Feline Fine Face Mask. A warming mask formula packed with natural ingredients including Ginger, Soybean and Camellia.

Ginger - helps to clear blemishes, tones skin and has anti-ageing properties

Soybean - brightens the skin, decrease redness, and is a rich source of vitamin B, C, and E

Camellia - an excellent all-around moisturiser for skin

Simply smooth a thin layer onto clean skin, leave on for 5 minutes, and gently exfoliate off with warm water. A great face mask for those with congested or dull looking skin. If you are wanting a deep cleanse to remove impurities and blackheads, a healthy glow, and a radiance boost, the Holler and Glow Feline Fine Warming Face Mask is for you!

Next up, the Holler and Glow Bare Faced Face Mask. A warming mask formula packed with natural ingredients including Moroccan Lava, Charcoal and Kaolin.

Moroccan Lava - helping to purify, detoxify and cleanse the skin

Charcoal - tightens pores, removes impurities in the skin and helps to control oil

Kaolin - exfoliates dead skin cells, gently cleanses and pulls impurities from the pores

Simply apply an even layer onto clean, dry skin, leave to dry for around 10-15 minutes, then wash off with warm water. A face mask more suited for those with combination or oily skin, if you're looking for a face mask to help control oil production, remove any toxins from the skin or to help unclog your pores, the Holler and Glow Bare Faced Charcoal Face Mask is the one for you!

Have you tried any Holler and Glow Face Masks? What are your favourites?

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AD - GIFTED | Introducing Boozi Bodycare. The ORIGINAL Cocktail-Inspired Body Care Company, inspired by the fruit blends in cocktails, bringing you extremely fresh, fragrant and fruity body care products. From body wash to body cream to lip care and bath jellies, Boozi Bodycare has plenty of bath products for you to enjoy, in a wide range of cocktail inspired scents.

I gladly received a selection of Boozi Bodycare Shower Cocktails* after winning a Twitter Giveaway a few weeks ago. In this giveaway, I won 4 body wash miniatures in a variety of cocktail inspired scents; Gin and Tonic, Woo Woo, Mojito and Bellini. If you're a fan of fruity fresh cocktails, these body washes are definitely a must have for you!

Boozi Bodycare Shower Cocktail Body Wash

Sparkling Gin & Tonic

Splash on the refreshing, crisp and classic scent of our sparkling Gin and Tonic.

A refreshing and zingy shower experience for those who love a fresh and clean scent.

Cheeky Woo Woo

Like the sound of sweet peaches and juicy cranberries? Then the Fresh and Fruity Woo Woo will be your body wash of dreams.

Virgin Mojito

My personal favourite, the Virgin Mojito. An irresistible blend of zesty lime and fresh, crushed mint, this body wash will have you dreaming of that glorious summer sunshine. With a super fresh and sweet scent, the Virgin Mojito is the perfect wake-me-up shower fragrance.

Peach and Passion Fruit Champagne Bellini

For a more luxurious bath time experience, Unleash those fruity bubbles

with juicy peaches, exotic passion fruit and sparkling champagne.

After testing out all of these Boozi Bodycare Shower Cocktails, I was very impressed. Not only are the scents super fresh and fragrant, after use my skin felt so soft and nourished, I would 100% recommend these to any cocktail lover! Simply shake your cocktails and lather up with these rich and revitalising shower cocktails. Boozi Bodycare also offer another 4 fresh and fruity cocktail scented ranges available on their website, so whatever your cocktail preference, there will be a scent perfect for you!

Other scents in the cocktail range are as follows;

- French Martini

- Pina Colada

- Mango and Ginger Margarita

- Strawberry Daiquiri

Have you heard of Boozi Bodycare before? What cocktail scent would be your favourite?

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Once of the hottest, most hyped makeup launches of 2018, you guessed it, it's Benefits BADgal Bang mascara! A mascara that claims to be "OUT OF THIS WORLD", with a smudge-proof, water-resistant and volumizing formula, designed to give a massive 36-hour wear for bigger and badder lashes. An extremely jet black formula perfect for creating dark, defined lashes, with a cone-shaped brush designed to reach each and every single from root-to-tip to create perfect volume, separation and lift. The mascara contains pro-vitamin B5 to help improve the strength and condition of lashes, which is great when mascara is something you apply and remove everyday.

When it comes to mascara, I usually purchase them from the drugstore. My all time favourite being the Rimmel Lash Accelerator Endless Mascara, a mascara that gives me length and volume, without letting me down! However, I wanted to try something more "high-end". I've tried Benefit's They're Real mascara in the past and honestly I wasn't a fan, so this threw me off trying more expensive mascaras.

But with a huge press release and product launch, is BADgal Bang really worth the hype?

"BADgal BANG! 36 hour full-blast volumizing mascara creates massive volume without weighing down lashes. The gravity-defying formula contains aero-particles, one of the lightest known materials derived from space technology. This innovative pitch black mascara layers easily for bigger & badder impact. Custom slimpact! brush is streamlined to easily coat every lash evenly."

My Results; Before and After

Above is my before image, capturing my straight natural lashes. As you can see, my lashes aren't very dark, they are a slight blonde/brown colour, so when picking a mascara I always pick jet black formulas to help darken and define my lashes. I also need a mascara that will help keep my lashes lifted and curled to avoid a droopy and flattened fluttery eye.

And here is my after photo. As seen previously, my natural lashes are very straight, so I need the help of some eyelash curlers (I use Primark Lash Curlers, the best £1 you will ever spend!). The image above shares my curled lashes with 1 coat of the Benefit BADgal Bang mascara. I found BADgal Bang very easy to apply, the brush allowed me to reach all of my lashes, helping to give them all a jet black colour. No clumping or smudging, this gets a 10/10 from me! This mascara has given my lashes a huge transformation; long, thicker, more volumized and defined lashes, what more could you want?

Have you tried Benefits BADgal Bang Mascara? What are your thoughts?

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AD - GIFTED | From time to time, we all need to take a step back from our busy, chaotic life and enjoy some "me" time. I always try to make time for a pamper session, whether its just to put on a face mask or a conditioning hair mask, or even just to run myself a lovely hot bubble bath, taking some time out each week is a great opportunity to relax, make yourself feel better and clear your mind from the stress of day to day life. I love to chop and change the products that I use in my Pamper Routine, whether it be a new face mask, a new hair mask, new bath products or even a new moisturiser, the products you use all depend on how you feel. Recently, I've added a couple of products from Nacomi UK to my Perfect Pamper Routine and have fallen in love!

I was kindly gifted the Nacomi Body Mousse in Mango Macarons*. The name itself already had my mouth watering, without even giving it a smell. This luxurious body mousse is enriched with Mango, Macadamia, Jojoba and Avocado Oils, making the product so smooth and silky, it just glides beautifully on the skin, providing a high level of hydration and moisture.

You only need a small amount of product, as a little goes a hell of a long way! Once rubbed into the skin, the mousse changes into a slightly oily consistency, not greasy at all, which is great for those with dry skin or even to use in the winter months! It sinks in within few minutes too, so you don't need to wait hours for it to absorb fully into the skin.

Mango Extract – extract from mango is a component of supporting the weight loss process – prevents loss of firmness and suppleness the skin.

Macadamia Oil – perfectly suited for stretch marks and scars, because it is quickly absorbed into the skin, moisturises it, stimulating the regeneration of the epidermis.

Jojoba Oil – strengthens the cellular structure of the skin.

Shea Butter – provides hydration and nourishment as well as smoothes and moisturises.

Nacomi Mango Macarons Body Mousse 180g*

Another product that I have introduced into my Pamper Night Routine has been the Refreshing Green Tea Bubble Bath Powder*. We all love a good, hot, relaxing bath and these Bath powders are something that I have really seen much of when shopping in the High Street and Online, so this one from Nacomi really intrigued me. The second you open the packet, you get such a burst of freshness, it's perfect for those days you want to wind down and relax, clearing your mind for a chilled out evening. Simply sprinkle the bath powder into a nice warm running bath, and watch it fizz and bubble away, creating tons of thick bubbles whilst filling the room with such great aromas.

If you're someone who loves to relax and chill in the bath, making a somewhat luxurious spa-like experience, I would highly recommend this product!

Shea Butter - deeply moisturises the skin, rebuilding its protective barrier. It also fights the premature signs of ageing such as flaccid, deprived of elasticity skin and discolouration.

Sweet Almond Oil - has very good moisturising and emollient properties, which will give your skin an excellent care and exceptional softness. Almond oil will also provide many nutrients, which will soothe and calm irritated skin.

Avocado Oil - moisturises the skin and gives it a huge dose of essential nutrients. Stimulates the production of collagen, which makes your skin firmer and more elastic.

Nacomi Refreshing Green Tea Bubble Bath Powder 100g*

"Nacomi UK is a Polish brand of natural cosmetics for face, body and hair care. It has been founded and active on the market since 2012. Nacomi formulas are based on high quality ecological and organic raw materials. The products are handmade and safe to use. Currently, the brand offers a wide selection of products for women, men and children. Nacomi is vegan friendly and cruelty free."

What is your idea of a Perfect Pamper Night? What are your favourite products to use in your Pamper Routine?

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Recently I've been loving to use Sheet Masks. The harsh, cold air has left my skin feeling quite dry, lacking moisture and pretty dull looking. I've reached out for the Tony Moly Pomegranate Sheet Mask, as well as the Garnier Moisture Bomb Green Tea Tissue Mask to help keep my skin refreshed and hydrated, as well as looking quite plumped and soft.

If you've got long hair, you'll know the struggle for keeping your hair looking soft and silky. As an avid haircare lover, I've tried my fair share of hair oils, and my favourites so far have been the Superdrug Hair Therapy Oils with Argan and Macadamia. These hair oils are super nourishing, absorbing quickly into the hair without leaving a sticky texture or greasy look to your locks.

One of my most repurchased homeware item ever; the Primark Sea Salt and Lavender Room Diffuser. For only £3, this is an absolute steal, keeping any room smelling fresh all day long! If you've not tried any room diffusers, I'd head yourself down to Primark asap!

A holy grail favourite of mine is the Soap and Glory 2 in 1 Brow Archery. I pick up the shade "Love is Blonde" and find this a perfect match for my hair colour, a lovely cool toned dark blonde colour. One end of the brow pencil has a small brush; great for brushing through the brows and distributing the product for a natural brow finish, the other end having a small, retractable brow pencil; giving you a precise and defined brow, whilst still looking natural. If you're after a good, affordable brow pencil, you should check out Soap and Glory.

As a mascara lover, I definitely had to get my hands on the most hyped mascara of 2018. You guessed it - Benefit BAD Gal Bang Mascara. For mascara, I usually stick to my trusty Rimmel Lash Accelerator Endless mascara, but with lots of rave reviews and amazing photograph results, it was definitely something I wanted to get my hands on! I found this mascara to give lots and lots of length, perfect for those who love a full and fluttery look to the lashes. The plastic bristle brush is great for lash separation and reaching all the lashes, to get a thick, jet black coat.

A skincare favourite of mine has been the L'Oréal Paris Smooth Sugars Kiwi Clear Scrub. The scent of this scrub is to die for! So fresh and fruity, it's a great addition to my skincare routine. From the first few uses, I saw instant results, immediately my skin appeared to look softer, clearer and more radiant. The kiwi seeds are very gentle on the skin, so perfect even for those with very sensitive skin, and a perfect consistency to help to clear and eliminate blackheads. There are two other formulas in the range, the Cocoa Nourish and the Glow Grape seed scrubs, something I definitely want to try asap!

And my final favourite for March has been the Nescafe Café Menu Toffee Nut Latte Sachets. I love coffee and these are a great, super speedy and delicious product, perfect for when I need my coffee in the morning. I've tried lots of the other flavours from the Café Menu range, a few of my past favourites have been the Caramel Latte and the Double Choc Mocha, but whilst browsing my local supermarket, I saw the Toffee Nut Latte as a new addition, so I definitely wanted to give it a try, and it is definitely delicious!

Have you tried any of the products featured in my monthly favourites? What have you been loving this month?

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