Vitamasques Hydo Face Mask

Howdy,

I got this mask in one of my glossy boxes, so obviously thought I would give it a try! I LOVE the texture of this, it feels like gelly and comes in two parts. One part of the mask covers your forehead, around your eyes and nose. The second part covers your chin and upper lip, it doesn't have a scent and just feels cooling when applied. I do recommend lying down whilst wearing this, at least at the beginning as it contains so much moisture. With it being a gelly texture it starts to slip off our face.

I kept this on for just over 30 mins, I could feel my face soaking up the moisture from this mask and when you peel it off you are left with just two gelly pieces of mask and some residue left on your face which they suggest you rub in. I did this mask before bed and when I woke up the next day my face did feel moisturised and plump. I don't think it felt any softer than usual from using this and I did need to apply moisturiser still the next day. 120 hours of moisture errrrr probably not! Least not for my skin!

It was a very lovely mask to use I now will look out for these gel masks as I have never tried one before and enjoyed it very much.

My rating 6/10

Recommend/ worth the money No, at £7.99 per mask. I find that too pricey, if I could get a pack of three for that price then they might be quite nice for this time of year.

Pros My skin does feel plump and bright

Cons Not readily available on the high street

Thanks for reading
Kara xx

Diorskin Nude Air Powder

Howdy,

I have had this compact for three month now, here is what I think.

If this product doesn't suck you in with the packaging alone then I have no idea what will. In the world of make up where brands pride themselves on perfect packaging. I think Dior really pulls it out the bag every time and produces some of the finest around. Buying these high end products you do pay a pretty penny for them but you can see where some of your money has gone.


This powder really lives up to its Nude name, it applies over the skin amazingly. Just enough of a light coverage to even out the skin tone but not enough for it to look in anyway heavy. It enhances what you have, it does not cover it up.

This is great even when used as a mirror, I have never used the little brush it comes with. It is quite dense and looks pretty, in a pinch maybe I'd use it. Overall it is a lovely powder to dust over your face or works quite nicely over foundation to set it.

I prefer to use my Sigma F30 or if I am out I use my Lauren Luke small blush/powder brush which works perfect for when you are on the go. It is small and can fit into evening bag easily.

My rating 9/10

Recommend/ worth the money Yes, it is going to last you a long time.

Pros It's light and very natural looking so would suit people of all skin types.

Cons I am wearing the darkest shade in 030 medium beige, it only comes in three shades. I know each shade can be worn by many skin tones but if you are a lady/man of colour (darker than me) then I am not sure how this powder would suit you. They do make a tan sun powder so you may find a colour from collection that suits you. But as it is designed to be a more glowing tanned powder I am not sure how natural it will look.

This has never broken me out or irritated my skin and I would repurchase.
It can be bought from larger boots store or online from Diors webiste.

Thanks for reading
Kara xx

Santa Maria Del Sur

Howdy,

If you love steak then you need to have Argentine steak, you can get the best steak from the Santa Maria Del Sur. This quaint little restaurant on Queenstown Road in London is the place to go.

You walk into the smell of meats being cooked and are greeted by very welcoming staff, then are shown to your table and are given a food and drinks menu. There is so much choice, it may take you a minute to decide, anything you are unsure of just ask your waiter. They are very knowledgeable and can advise you on how each cut of meat should be cooked.

We ordered wine and picked a Malbec, I think it is one of the best wines to have with steak. Its quite a creamy wine and once it has time to breathe, goes perfectly with your steak.

You are given fresh bread and a stilton butter which is incredible, I am not a fan of stilton but this is extremely tasty and not overpowering at all in flavour.

For starter I had Carpaccio De Lomo. I am only human and was incredible hungry, so here is what was left when I remembered haha (big blogging fail)















Main meal I had Bife De Lomo without any sauces added, you don't mess up perfection. I had this cooked medium and it just melts in your mouth! So much flavour.

With my steak I shared a side of Papas Fritas with added garlic and parsley. Crispy on the outside and fluffy in the middle, the garlic just gives them an extra touch of flavour (no vampires will visit after these).

Also a side of Provoleta, this is a cheese you can have as a starter by itself, but I prefer it so be paired with my steak and chips. It comes on a hot plate so stays melted and hot for quite a while.

For dessert Dulce De Leche Cheesecake

This cheesecake is quite a thick and heavy dessert, so could be shared. The dulce de leche is marbled throughout the cheesecake and gives it a sweet taste of caramel. I asked for a side of the dulce de leche sauce as it just adds an extra sweet touch to it and this is by far my favourite caramel sauce.

If want to have a great evening (or lunch) out I can't recommend this restaurant enough, I have lost count of how many visits my husand and I have been here and all have been amazing experiences. Everytime you visit you are made to feel welcome and you will have a great evening. I have been lucky enough to try steak from all over the world including Texas and I still prefer this little red restaurant in Battersea.

Go check out their website or follow them on instagram if you wish to visit them or get a look at the see mouth watering meals they serve. santamariadelsur.com or instagram @stamariadelsur

Thanks for reading
Kara xx

Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Nail Polish

Howdy,

With my job I am not able to wear nail polish so when I have time off  I love to paint my nails and feel all girly again. As I have never been one to pack light for a trip it's never a good idea to take 3 nail polishes away with me (base, colour and top) the glass bottles add weight to my already pushing the limit case. ooops

This miracle gel formula I tried was incredible, so if you dont mind them slightly growing out then this polish could be great for you. I applied two coats then the top coat from this set, each coat applied pefectly and had no streaks.

After wearing for 10 days

This did not chip or flake off the whole time I wore it, 12 days i wore this. I took it off after my return home. It is not the most desirable colour in the world but will be fun for the holiday period and I will be putting this on when I finish work for christmas.

It cant be bought in many shops like Boots and Superdrug where they all have many different offers and discounts available.

Go treat yourself if you fancy some long wearing polish, its a great product.

Thanks for reading
Kara xx

Christmas Menu at The Oyster Reach Ipswich

Howdy,

I recently went to the Oyster Reach Beefeater pub in Ipswich. Today's post is about my experience and what I chose off their christmas menu.

The day prior to visiting I booked a table for 3 people online with no problems at all. The online system worked perfectly and I received a confirmation email moments after.

On arrival we were greeted by friendly staff, who asked for my booking name and then took us to our table.

The table was clean and had everything laid out ready, glasses, cutlery etc. The only thing we didn't get until after the meal had finished was our christmas crackers... oh well.

You can't have a christmas dinner without a few bubbles so I had a glass of prosecco, this prosecco was very nice and not too sweet. Very reasonably priced too, this small bottle was less than £6.

I opted to have two courses for £15.99, a main and a dessert. For my main meal I had roast turkey with all the trimmings.

This included roast potatoes, chestnut & cranberry stuffing, a pig in a blanket, buttered sprouts, root vegetable mash, Yorkshire pudding and gravy. It was very delicious and the turkey was good quality meat, which you don't always receive in restaurants.

The sprouts were the real highlight for me, incredibly delicious and not over cooked.

The food came to the table piping hot, we were asked would we like any extra sauce, and overall the service was really good.



For dessert I had the Christmas brownie. This brownie comes served warm, with mince pie ice cream, caramel & chocolate sauce. As I don't like mince pies I asked for just vanilla ice cream.

This dessert is perfect for someone with a sweet tooth, the sponge was warm so the ice cream melted around it. The mix of chocolate and caramel sauce was incredible tasty too.

If you are after a hearty Christmas / Sunday meal then I really recommend the Oyster Reach, you won't be disappointed.
The staff were polite, friendly and attentive. In general, the Beefeater chain is not one that I rely on for the best experiences, but this one is by far the best I have tried.

Thanks for reading
Kara xx

Luxurious and Cosy Winter Knits

Howdy

Here are 3 jumpers that I am loving and will be wearing this winter!

You can't beat a cosy knit! Since the temperature has dropped, these three jumpers are perfect. Each jumper is made from different materals and I think you might be quite surprised at the quality and affordability of some of them. Don't forget to shop around, I have made some amazing finds from places like TK Maxx. If you are able, during the week is the best time to go and you can find some amazing brands. My favourite TK Maxx stores for designer clothing have to be Brighton and Covent Garden.

Jumper One

Lambswool / Nylon mix - Ted Baker £125

I have had this jumper for about 3 years and it washes up a treat. It is incredibly warm and perfect for these chilly evenings. I am not one for a cropped jumper, so I always prefer to wear a shirt or longer top underneath. I think a thick knit looks great with a pair of knee high riding boots.

Rating: 8/10
Worth the Money: Yes, I have had it years and it looks the same as when I first purchased the item

Jumper Two

Wool / Cashmere mix - Jaeger £160

As this jumper is 90% wool, you have to be very careful when washing it, you have to reshape it as soon as the wash is over and let it dry flat, so yes, that is a faff, but it is worth it. I purchased this from TK Maxx and ended up paying £60. I like this jumper a lot but I don't think it is worth investing the full amount into it. It is elasticated at the bottom so it can be worn as a longer top, or folded up higher like I have in the picture.

Rating: 7/10
Worth the Money: At full price no. If TK Maxx price then yes.

Jumper Three

100% Cashmere - Tesco £45

This jumper was a nice surprise, I went into Tesco and spotted this jumper as I walked past the clothing range. The word Cashmere caught my eye and I had to see how much it was going for! I have never seen a pure cashmere top go for such a good price, and it is so soft comfortable. I don't usually have much luck with supermarket clothing brands, but I had to order this straight away! It comes in grandma pink too if you're interested (no thanks). This is my favourite top of the three and it is also the cheapest, so it just proves you don't have to break the bank to find quality items.

Rating: 9/10
Worth the money: Massive yes, go find cashmere as good as this for cheaper. I bet you can't!

With any of these jumpers I always wash inside out on a synthetic wash, inside a machine washable net bag. This helps to eliminate bobbling and getting caught on any other items.

Thanks for reading
Kara xx

Hand Care In Winter (part two)

Howdy

As a follow-up from my last post, here are some options that may suit you regarding how to keep your hands and nails moisturised.

Daily Moisturiser

I like to use cream by L'Occitane, I find this moisturising and not greasy in any way. You can apply it and then go straight on with your business. There is nothing worse than greasy hands when you need to get on with things.

I keep these everywhere, around the house, in my car and my handbags. I use the 30ml bottles in my everyday bag and car but, as I have quite a few small bags, I prefer to use these small 10ml tubes.

I have visited quite a few L'Occitane shops in England and been told that I was not able to purchase these 10ml tubes unless bought as part of a gift set!

 

So, on my last trip to the US, I asked there and the lady offered me a selection of scents to chose from and said they are available to purchase. Although pound for pound (or dollar for dollar) they do work out more expensive, they are ideal for my small bags so I dont mind.

Once again America saves the day, product-wise. You can purchase these creams from most large department stores or by visiting L'Occitane online.

Hydrating / Instant Relief

Now this cream is good, I personally find this best to use in the evening. It is very thick and almost has a pertrolium jelly type texture and has a medicinal smell. Saying all that, dont be put off, the fact that it is thick means it will soak in slowly and over time has more benefit. The main benefits of this cream are

• Helps protect, soothe and moisturise skin.
• Soothes dry skin and provides anti-inflammatory benefits.
• Soothes and comforts minor weather burns, scrapes and abrasions.

If I have a really dry patch of skin or have a cut, applying this over it helps to hydrate and heal, it helps to take down the redness in your skin and helps the wound to heal quicker.
This is available from larger department stores, boots or from Elizabeth Arden.

For All Over Body

This cream suits any skin type and is suitable for people with eczema and psoriasis. It is great for all over hydration, especially when you get out of the bath or shower. When I go on holiday I no longer use an after sun, I prefer to use this, although I am lucky as I don't burn. My skin seems to benefit more from the moisturing properties found in this cream, compared to an aloe based product thats would be ideal for calming skin and reducing redness.

This product contains some amazing ingredients like oat milk, rose water, cocoa butter and tea tree. All things to help your skin stay hydrated.

I have heard a lot of people (even in my own family) complain about the smells of Lush and although, yes, it can fill up the nostrils (which I love), it has more to offer than people think. They put a lot of thought and effort into their products, so it's not all just sparkly bath bombs and fancy brightly coloured soaps. There are products to suit everyone's individual needs. So why not go in and check the shop out? As soon as your foot enters the shop you will be asked, "Would you like help?" So say "yes" and have a good old chat with the assistant. Why not try a few things out and if its a cream etc that may be £16 or more, ask for a sample. There is no reason why they can't get you one and if you love it you're more likely go back and buy a full size.

I hope this post has been helpful for my readers, these products work very well for me and I'm sure they will work well for many of you too. Dream Cream can be purchased from Lush online or in-store.

Thanks for reading!

Kara xx