So I Went Into Space NK...

For the last few months my skin has taken the role of embarrassing uncle, you know the one who causes a scene at parties and is generally one to avoid? Well that has been my face, I think it all started when I used a Chanel foundation but we'll not dwell on that. I don't want to tempt fate but since introducing a few noobs and an oldie into my routine things have been getting a whole lot better so without further ado I present to you my Space NK purchases...

Talking oldies but goodies say hello to a long lost friend, the Rodial Dragon's Blood Hyaluronic Moisturiser. I stopped using this in a quest to find something more bank balance friendly and that's where I went wrong. From this day forward if my skin likes something, I'm sticking with it. I love how this leaves both my combination skin suitably moisturised and how make-up glides on smoothly afterwards. 

A more than welcome noob entering my bathroom stash is the Elemental Herbology Cool & Clear Facial Cleanser. Now this cleanser is dreamy stuff, not only does it smell amazing but it works brilliantly with my skin morning and night to remove make-up and general grime all while keeping pesky blemishes and crazy congestion at bay. Elemental Herbology you've knocked it out of the park again.

Purchased but not pictured (I may have got a little snap happy before realising) is a babe of a face exfoliator from Caudalie which in the realm of Space NK was a bargain at £18. As the name would suggest the Gentle Buffing Cream really is a sympathetic prod that packs a serious skin munching punch leaving your visage feeling soft but nourished, perfect for those with sensitive skin a la moi.

Now for the piece de resistance a Laura Mercier Luxe Travel Brush Collection which I snapped up in the on-line sale for an amazing £22.50 (I had £10 on my N-dulge card FYI). I've had my eye on this since Christmas so I'm thrilled to finally own this beautiful collection. Inside are four double ended travel sized make-up brushes and a full size cheek colour brush which retails on it's own for £39! Feeling spendy? The Space NK sale is still happening now and it's pretty damn awesome for Laura Mercier goodies.

Do you ever allow yourself to splurge in Space NK? What skincare buys keep your face in check?

Elemental Herbology Pure Radiance Kit

If there's one thing that my skin struggles with at this time of year it's radiance. The cold weather is finally settling in for the, dare I say it, Winter season so we've been welcoming the central heating with open arms at casa Cagney and Lace - as toasty as that makes me it does not bode well for my skin which is starting to feel a little parched, long gone are those Summer days where a natural sheen was the de rigeur. Enter the Pure Radiance Kit from Elemental Herbology to work it's glowy, skin illuminating magic.

Elemental Herbology tout this set as the perfect skin duo for pre-party preparation, after a long haul flight or for boosting the health of your epidermis on a daily basis. I decided to take the skincare plunge after noticing that my beloved Cell Food retails at £45 so for an extra £2 it'd be wrong not to snap up this set and get my beauty lovin' mitts on Facial Glow too. I treated myself to this kit a couple of weeks ago when Space NK were offering £10 off when you spent £40, they know just how to tempt me the cheeky minxes. 

Cell Food is a repurchase for me after using this glow-in-a-bottle serum earlier this year, unlike some serums where it takes a couple of weeks to see a difference Cell Food gives you that instant, I'm-working gratification. With 14 active ingredients and 6 anti-oxidants Cell Food is a skin boost in a bottle. Working harmoniously with this much loved serum is Facial Glow, a non-abrasive exfoliate. Facial Glow can be applied to clean skin for just four minutes (that's minimal effort right there) to reveal smoother, brighter skin. Packed to the brim with skin loving goodness I'm talking 23 active ingredients including apple serum, papaya and jojoba beads the ingredients list isn't too dissimilar to the Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel which I adore so I can't wait to try Elemental Herbologys offering. 

Is this not the perfect Christmas gift, who wouldn't want to receive glowing skin in a box? Or maybe it's one to keep for yourself? I know which option I'll be taking.

Have you ever tried any products from Elemental Herbology? Are you often tempted by discount codes?

Empties #3

My pulse keeps racing as I make eye contact with the almost over flowing Space NK bag in my bedroom, only for me to realise it's not full of box fresh beauty booty but instead packed to the brim with my empties, well a girl can dream can't she? Space NK bag, it's time for you to go. Here are my thoughts on everything I've used up in the past three months...

Soap & Glory Smoothie Star Body Buttercream - If body cream could be a person then this SSBB would be Beyonce (who in my eyes is the modern day Mary Poppins, practically perfect in every way). The pistachio and vanilla scent is sweet without being overpowering, the lightly whipped texture is perfection - who wants super thick body cream in this weather? Not forgetting the fact that you don't have to stand around waiting for this baby to absorb into your skin, it just vanishes all on it's own. As soon as I saw a glimpse of the tubs bottom I dashed to Boots and repurchased, it's that good. My only criticism is that I get through this at an alarming rate, note to self - must slather on less body cream.

Jo Malone Blackberry and Bay 1.5ml (sample size) - Jo Malone are the bees knees when it comes to fragrances and I was lucky enough to try a sample of the Blackberry and Bay scent when I placed an order with Jo Malone back in March. Now it's a rare day when I finish a scent (even one as small as this) so it's a real testament to just how much I love this scent, which FYI is incredibly fresh and fruity. If I didn't already have my Diptyque Roses fragrance I would have already repurchased this, it really is special.

Hourglass Illusion Tinted Moisturiser in Ivory - Tinted moisturisers have never really been my bag until I tried this one in Space NK, Harrogate. Now the first thing to get your head round is the consistency, it's pretty thick and to be honest a little tough to work into the skin. I dot the tiniest amount onto my cheeks, forehead and nose before blending first with my hands before moving onto my Real Techniques Buffing Brush. Although it's certainly not the one when you're short of time I honesty don't think my skin has looked so flawless nor have I had so many compliments as when I wear this. I find this lasts all day on my skin, giving my complexion a real dewy, almost air brushed finish although I do find my nose getting a bit shiny come 4 o'clock. My advise? Get yourself a sample next time you find yourself in Space NK.

Elemental Herbology Cell Food - If your skin is lack lustre or feeling a bit under the weather then this baby is for you. As the brand name suggests Cell Food has a subtle herbal scent (but don't let this put you off, I actually kinda liked it) and a light, cream-to-water consistency which means it quickly absorbs into your skin. This is the first serum I've ever used where I've seen such a noticeable difference after just one application, my skin looked visibly brighter and even glowed! This is one for my Autumn Winter must-have list although I must admit I have one minor criticism, the pipette is a nightmare to use. You either dispense not enough or too much product, please sort this out Elemental Herbology.  

Rodial Dragon's Blood Hyaluronic Moisturiser with SPF15 - After falling out of love with my Perfect Balance moisturiser I found myself on the hunt for a new day time moisturiser, enter Rodials Dragon Blood Moisturiser which could be the one. Not only does it keeps my skin plumped and hydrated all day long (that'll be the hyaluronic acid) without feeling heavy or uncomfortable on my sensitive/combination skin - apparently that's all down to the Dragon Blood but it also protects me from the sun with SPF15. At £45 it's not the most purse friendly but I can't imagine this not being on my bathroom shelf plus how amazing is the hot pink packaging? I'm tempted to try the Dragon's Blood Night Cream, well I do have some N-Dulge points.

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in No.2 Light - Going through my Space NK bag to write this lovely post I counted not one, not two but four empty tubes of this brilliant budget concealer. I bet I'm preaching to the choir but if you've never tried one then why not? The Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer is neither too creamy nor watery and is great for concealing blemishes or covering up under eye bags. My only complaint is a tube doesn't seem to last me longer than a month but at £4.19, does it really matter?

Diptyque Roses Duet Candle - Well it was a sad day when this candle took it's last breathe, not only was this my first ever Diptyque candle but hands down my favourite candle scent EVER so serious sobs may have ensued when I realised that this pink darling has sold out everywhere. Oh Diptyque, why did you have to make this limited edition? The Roses Duet scent is super girly and to my nose, a mix of Baies and Roses. Will I be buying Baies and Roses and burning them at the same time? For the sake of my bank balance, I hope not.

Have you ever tried any of these products or have I now tempted you into giving them a go? 

Space NK Haul

So first and foremost let's get the obvious out of the way, today's post has the least original blog title you may have ever seen - one thing it does well though is state the obvious so hello Space NK haul. On Easter Saturday my mum and I finally ventured to Harrogate for our belated Mothers Day celebration, as predicted I spent more money than sense in Space NK. My mum and I both had pre-bookable make-overs which I would highly recommend - not only do you get to try a few new products and get your make-up done by a beauty boff you can also ask as many questions as possible - my lady Gemma was an absolute star and full of beauty info, perfect for a sponge like me to absorb. Like a right moose I managed to leave my camera at home (I blame the early train journey) but if you follow me on Instagram you may just see a few cheeky shots of my make-up. So let the readers see the beauty booty....

Cane & Austin Retexturizing Treatment Pads - This is my second dabble into the Cane & Austin treatment pads after using the Acne ones before. I've only used these on two occasions so far but my skin already feels softer, smoother and most importantly clearer. The smell is by no means a bed of roses but I actually find these pads nowhere near as astringent as the Acne pads, I promise to keep you updated on these newbies.

Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray - Now I'll be honest, this wasn't a necessary, can't-live-without-purchase but after hearing my favourites Anna and Amelia rave about this dry texturising spray I was more than a little intrigued. While the lovely Gemma applied my make-up I quizzed here on Oribe - as soon as I heard this very spray was a favourite with the Space NK Harrogate girls I knew I had to have it. I can't wait to get spraying this into my newly trimmed locks for bad-ass volume, Space NK you're bad to my bank balance!

Rodial Dragon's Blood Hyaluronic Moisturiser with SPF15 - As much as I adore my Perfect Balance moisturiser  from Elemental Herbology a girl has got to have options. Gemma used this on my skin pre primer and tinted moisturiser and the consistency was just beautiful - yes I get excited over moisturisers, plus how amazing is the name? Anything with Hyaluronic Acid always gets my vote so I can't wait to start trying this one out.

Hourglass Illusion Tinted Moisturizer in Ivory - If there's one stand out product (so far I might add) then it's got to be this little beauty. Being a bit of a beauty blog reader-holic I'd heard all about the Hourglass Mineral Veil primer and luckily got my hands on a sample in a Space NK event goodie bag (it's utter perfection by the way) yet I never realised Hourglass had an entire make-up range. I've been wearing this tinted moisturiser for the last three days and I don't think I've ever seen my skin look so good, that's a bold statement right there. Consistency wise it's thicker than your typical tinted moisturiser so you only need the tiniest bit to get a lovely, slightly dewy yet natural looking coverage. It could be love!

Kevyn Aucoin Celestial Bronzing Veil in Tropical Days - Now everyone and their dog raves about Nars Laguna Bronzer but I personally find it too muddy on my fair skin tone so when Gemma mentioned using bronzer I pulled a right ol' face. Cue an oh-my-gosh face when she applied this bad boy in all the right places - I needed it in my life but wanted all the other skincare purchases just a little bit more, what a conundrum. Bless my mum for deciding a bronzer was an appropriate Easter gift - fingers crossed I will never grace a blog post looking pale and ghostly ever again.

Even though five products may seem excessive there's even more Space NK bits on my mental birthday wishlist - I'm thinking of you By Terry Hyaluronic Sheer Rouge in Baby Bloom, Revive Moisture Renewal and the Eve Lom Travel Essentials Set. As happy as I am with my new goodies I'm now on a spending ban until my birthday, just twenty four days to wait and with Space NK N-Dulge points burning a beauty shaped hole in my pocket... bad things could happen.

Do you love Space NK as much as me? Which beauty buys are you longing to try?

Empties #1

I can't actually believe it's the end of January, I'd say it's flown by but in all honesty it doesn't feel like it has! Except for a trip to London for the boys birthday and a cinema date night to see Django Unchained (words cannot describe how good it is) the rest of January has been spent staying in, watching the pennies until the arrival of pay day. I've even found some evenings revolving around the eating of my gingerbread house! I'll certainly be welcoming February will open arms as I have a jam packed month full of birthdays, hen parties and trips to Spain and Liverpool to name a few....exciting!

Todays post is my first ever empties post, these are one of my favourite types of posts to read (and watch on YouTube) as it means you can have a good ol' nosy into the bloggers bathroom cabinet or Muji storage unit to find out the answer to that all important question, would they repurchase?

Eve Lom Cleanser 100ml - Just the tiniest amount of this herbal scented cleansing balm massaged into my face ensures all my make-up is removed with a quick sweep of a hot muslin cloth. Afterwards my skin feels fresh, smooth and most importantly clean without that stripped feeling. At £55 this could be one of the most expensive cleansers you'll ever buy but it has lasted just over 3 months and I use it almost every night. Will I be repurchasing? I'm not going to lie ladies, I'm already on my second tub of this beauty. I would love to try the Emma Hardie Moringa cleansing balm to compare as it sounds very similar and is even a little cheaper at £34.

Kiehls Ultra Face Cream 50ml - This is an incredibly gentle and hydrating face cream which promises to help water replenishment and hydrate skin for up to 24 hours. At first I loved this moisturiser and quickly went through one tub and repurchased (this is my second tub). Now whether my skin got used to it or not, I'm not entirely sure but I found my combination skin wasn't as hydrated as it should be. I found my dry patches still felt dry after application whilst my more oily patches felt over moisturised. At £24 I find this neither high end nor high street and would personally recommend this to someone where hydration was their main concern, as someone with combination skin I wouldn't repurchase this.

Elemental Herbology Perfect Balance 50ml - Did someone say holy grail moisturiser? Well this is an extremely bold claim but this is how I feel about Perfect Balance - with twenty active ingredients and five anti oxidants it's packed full of skincare goodness. Unlike the Kiehls cream this has kicked my dry patches into touch and overall I find my skin more normal as there's no longer obvious dry or oily patches - this all happened when I started using the Eve Lom cleanser and Perfect Balance together so I haven't switched up my routine much since. At £40 this is certainly high end but I would feel seriously lost without it. Read more about the combination of the Eve Lom Cleanser and Perfect Balance here.

Max Factor False Lash Effect Limited Edition Mascara - I have literally tried, what feels like thousands of mascaras from Dior to YSL yet I always come back to reliable Max Factor. This mascara has a huge plastic wand which means I'm able to get enough volume for the day with just one coat - you would definitely need a few more coats for the evening though. This is by no means the perfect mascara as I do find it can look clumpy after more than two coats. At £10.99 I do think the False Lash Effect mascara is pricey especially when you can get a Clinique mascaras for £16 so this gets a big thumbs down for price. I have recently bought the new Max Factor Clump Defy Volumising Mascara to replace this one and to hopefully combat the clumpy look so I promise to keep you updated. 

Body Shop Body Butter in Chocomania & Cocoa Butter - For as many years as I can remember I have been a huge fan of the Body Shop and more specifically their body butters - I have an unhealthy obsession with them and liberally apply these after every bath or shower. I know so many people hate using body moisturiser but I love the whole ritual of slathering my entire body in sweet smelling body butter. Scent wise I'd say Chocomania is slightly sweeter whilst Cocoa Butter is a tad more subtle. I'm yet to find a body butter as moisturising as these and that sinks in so quickly plus the scent stays around forever too. At £13 a pop they're certainly not the cheapest but Body Shop regularly have discount days and promotions on. I challenge you to recommend me something as moisturising and heavenly smelling as these?

Neom Refresh Travel Candle - If I was more of an emotional person I would have easily shed a tear when this had it's final burn. This was my first ever Neom candle and it certainly won't be my last - the Refresh fragrance is everything you want in a candle and I find the key note of Sicilian lemon comes through the strongest but in the most subtle and beautiful way. I love how Neom candles burn clean and release no nasties into the atmosphere. I was also pretty impressed with the burn time to say how small the candle is, at £15 I will definitely be buying another...now which scent should I pick? If you fancy getting your mitts on your very own Neom candle then hop on over to my follower giveaway here.

Have you ever tried any of my empties? Which would you like to try the most?

A Gift For You, A Gift For Me

If you're anything like me you'll fall into the same trap every Christmas, you swear this year will be different yet after buying a couple of gifts you'll find yourself sneakily buying a gift for you, sound familiar? Surprisingly this hasn't been the case for me this year *pause for audible silence*. I've been incredibly strict with my Christmas gifting, sticking to budgets for each recipient (damn you house savings) and haven't bought myself any little treats along the way. Could I be a reformed character? Well.... As I've done so well with my Christmas shopping, completing it in record timing (if you're not so organised and need Christmas gift inspiration look here and here) I decided to treat myself to the three items pictured above. A reformed character? Not quite.

After a cheeky 30% off ASOS discount code landed in my inbox (thank you Yourvine) I had to buy the Elemental Herbology Moisture Replenish Starter Kit usually £20, but mine for a brilliant £14. I adore the perfect balance moisturiser by this brand, so much so I wrote a post about it here however since the weather has gone from bearable to arctic my usually well behaved combination skin has gone to the dry side. Cue the very welcome arrival of this set, perfect for targeting skin concerns, a Christmas gift for a skincare lover (the packaging is lovely) or as a get to know the brand exercise. The kit includes the purify & soothe cleansing balm, the cell plumping facial moisturiser, the facial glow radiance peel, a muslim cloth and my favourite product so far the facial souffle intensive overnight creme. This has been a real skin saviour especially on my dry patches. I promise to report back on the other Elemental Herbology goodies very soon.

I picked up my second treat, the Topshop nail polish in Jem after my recent trip to the Leeds store where I tried out the Topshop personal shopping service. This is the perfect Christmas nail polish and the bottle is full to the brim of large red glitter chunks. I'm currently wearing this on my ring fingers over Ciate's Dangerous Affair which came from my Mini Mani Month advent calendar, which I'm absolutely loving although I did pick up a Malteasers advent calendar (naughty Hannah!). At first I wasn't too enthused by the Topshop make-up range but now I have a few nail polishes and the moon beam highlighter I'm tempted to try out more from their range, particularly the lipsticks which I hear nothing but good things about. Any colour suggestions?

My final treat to myself was this travel size Neom candle in Refresh. Now I'd like to say this was a completely by chance purchase but I'd be lying, I've been hunting for one of these bad boys for a while so when I walked into a local boutique last Saturday and saw they did Neom I knew it was time to pounce. The Refresh scent is really uplifting with key notes of Sicilian lemon and basil, you'd think they wouldn't work together but they absolutely do. I really fancied the huge Christmas candle but at 40 odd pounds I deemed this more than just a treat. I can't wait to start burning my first Neom candle and feel like a proper blogger with a candle burning in the background whilst I write my posts.

Today feels like Friday for me as tomorrow I'm finishing work early (woop woop) to hop on the train with my mum and head to London for a pre Christmas treat, triple woop! The reason for our trip? Colours of the world, spice up your life (yes I did just sing this) we're off to see Viva Forever the musical and I for one cannot wait to get my Sporty Spice on, yes she really was my fave. Annoyingly I'm currently fighting a stupid viral infection so I'm hoping copious amounts of afternoon tea and the power of shopping might help to send it packing, fingers crossed. So this is a sort of heads up that I may be M.I.A for the rest of the week but don't fear, I will be back with London snaps galore, a run down on Viva Forever although I can't promise they'll be no singing- a full Cagney On Tour report if you will so keep your eyes peeled.

Have you succumbed and bought Christmas treats for yourself? What have you been buying?

Update: The Power Of 3

Skincare is one of the most difficult things to get right- up there with choosing the right man friend and securing the perfect job, it's certainly no easy fate yet when you find the elusive combination all the researching and testing is forgotten. Well ladies (and maybe gents) I think I've found my Mr Right Now in the form of Eve Lom cleanser, Elemental Herbology perfect balance moisturiser and acne treatment pads from Cane & Austin.

I've been using these little beauties for over a month so I feel it's time to share with you my thoughts- I bought all three products from a Space NK beauty event. As soon as I returned from the event I raced to the bathroom and began slathering on the Eve Lom cleanser- I should of known then that this would be the beginning of a daily ritual. Described by Vogue as 'probably the best cleanser in the world' the Eve Lom cleanser is an oil based cleansing balm with a slightly grainy texture. 

Every evening I use a ten pence piece amount and apply it all over my face- one real benefit for me is that this product is a multi-tasker, not only does it remove your make-up but it tones and exfoliates too. Once the balm is on your skin it becomes a little oiler so it's really easy to massage into your skin, I then grab a warm muslin cloth and remove the days make-up and general grime. Once removed my skin feels fresh, smoother and really cleansed without feeling stripped. As someone with sensitive skin I'm incredibly wary of using exfoliators too regularly but this just works. On evenings when I have reached for a traditional cleansing milk my skin has felt less refined and nowhere near as clean. I must admit this isn't my first experience with the Eve Lom cleanser, as a spot prone teen I used this and it helped leaps and bounds.

As soon as I'm all cleansed I reach for the Cane & Austin acne treatment pads. First and foremost I'm not an acne sufferer but I do get more than the occasional break out, usually on my chin and around my jaw line so these were recommended to me. At first I was sceptical, how could a small cotton wool pad soaked in product help to remove blemishes and blackheads? Well they do! Since using these pads I've had fewer breakouts and find I only get the odd blemish around that time of month, my skin feels much smoother and blackheads which once plagued my nose are few and far between. 

I began using the treatment pads just in the evening, the salicylic acid can be quite astringent at first and the smell is strong, on many occasions I did wonder why I was sweeping a tingling solution all over my face but I urge you to stick with it. Once I'd been using the pads for about a week or two I found the initial sensation had gone so I upped the ante, using the pads morning and night. I would whole heartedly recommend these to someone who gets more than the occasional break out right up to acne sufferers as they do work wonders. In the pot are enough treatment pads for one month (if used morning and night) so four weeks later I still have a few left. I'm intrigued to see what will happen when I stop using them but I'm confident my skin will stay on it's best behaviour.

The final piece in my evening skincare jigsaw is the Elemental Herbology perfect balance moisturiser. I don't know about you but I generally find myself professing early love for moisturisers only to find myself getting half way through them and wondering where all the initial benefits have gone. For once this is not the case with the Elemental Herbology perfect balance moisturiser which professes to balance oil secretion whilst replenishing moisture levels, perfection in a bottle for my combination skin. Texture wise this herbal scented moisturiser is incredibly light yet like the Eve Lom, a little goes a long way. On application my skin finally feels balanced and plumped up, too many times I've used moisturisers designed for my combo skin to find the dry patches still dry and the oily bits going crazy with moisture but this really works. With 7 patents, SPF12, 5 anti oxidants and 20 active ingredients including apple serum, green tea and acerola fruit this moisturiser has fast become an item I couldn't live without plus how sleek does the packaging look? Elemental Herbology is a brand I've heard little about but I'm now dying to try some more of their products, maybe I need a serum....

Which skincare products are your powerful 3? Which products can you not live without?

Space NK Autumn Beauty Event

Happy Saturday guys and welcome to the weekend- woop woop! I hope you're all enjoying a hearty breakfast whilst you're reading this as that's what Saturday mornings are all about in my book. I've been so excited to write this post you wouldn't believe but in the words of Girls Aloud, life got cold or should I say I got cold. After long days at work the first thing I've been wanting to do is throw on the velour joggers (yes I own these- don't judge), grab one of the boys hoodies and snuggle up on the sofa feeling incredibly sorry for myself so I'm afraid this post is a little delayed but it's certainly one that's worth the wait.

Last Wednesday (26th September) my mum and I hopped over to Leeds to our favourite Space NK store for their Autumn Beauty Event. These are held roughly every season and come with the promise of a glass, or two of champers, personal one to one advise, product demonstrations and of course THE Space NK goodie bag. I've been to one of these beauty-tastic events before and the goodie bag was out of this world, unfortunately you do have to spend £100 or more to qualify so prior to the event I made sure I bought nothing beauty or make-up related even though I was crying out for shampoo and concealer. As an N-dulge member- the amaze loyalty points scheme where every £100 spend at Space NK equates to a £5 off voucher I was one of the first to hear about the event and booked my mum and I on sharpish.

On arriving at Space NK our coats were taken and drinks were swiftly poured as we began to peruse the beautiful selection of products- bucks fizz in hand. The shop had been organised into individual stations- one for skincare, body care, hair and make-up each looked after by a Space NK expert in that area. After my recent skincare trauma with Liz Earle I was on a mission- to restore my skin to it's former glory so whilst most of the attendees moved seamlessly around the stations, my mum included, I managed to grab a fantastic girl called Amy who gave me a mini Eve Lom facial along with some skincare advise. Here's what she showed me and what I subsequently purchased, whoops.    

My Space NK bag contains- Elemental Herbology perfect balance moisturiser, Eve Lom cleanser, Cane & Austin acne treatment pads, Oribe moisture & control shampoo, By Terry touch expert concealer and a Laura Mercier creme smooth lip colour in pink dusk. Phew- I feel exhausted just writing down my many purchases.

Amy had bloomin gorgeous skin although this hadn't always been the case as she'd suffered with acne so I felt she was the perfect person to advise me on my skincare woes. Don't get me wrong my skin has never been acne prone but it does suffer from more than the occasional break out. I've been using all the products above for over a week and although I refuse to profess love so early- I am really enjoying every single product and have noticed a real difference in my skin. It looks much clearer and feels softer and I'm putting that down to the combination of the Eve Lom cleanser, the Cane & Austin treatment pads and the Elemental Herbology perfect balance moisturiser. Amy also used one of the Clarisonics in my mini facial and I must admit it left my skin feeling incredibly soft and has left me wanting my own! I'm sure you've all heard about the Clarisonic but for those of you who've been hiding under a skincare rock it's an electronic device which deeply cleanses your skin and claims to improve the texture as help with breakouts etc.

My favourite non skincare purchase is the By Terry touch expert, a favourite of the beautiful Millie Mackintosh. This is a light reflecting concealer which can be used to conceal both the under eye area and blemishes. By Terry is a label sold exclusively in Space NK and was created by a woman named Terry de Gunzbury who created the YSL Touche Eclat- I think I may just be in safe concealing hands. I find this covers everything I need to perfectly without appearing cakey or going on too heavy.

With the £100 spend well and truly smashed- let's hope the boy doesn't read this, I was given one the event goodie bags, worth over £220 and yes that really is a mini Diptyque candle. I cannot wait to start testing all these bad boys although I must admit I'm already using the Hourglass mineral make-up primer and it's actually amazing- all the hype in the blogging world surrounding this one is certainly true. With goodie bags in hand and my mum sporting a rather sexy smoky eye look we dashed to the train station and hurriedly rummaged through our goodie bags sat on the train home.

If you ever get the chance to attend one of the Space NK beauty events then grab it with both hands. I've always found the staff incredibly friendly and knowledgable and I can honestly say I've never felt pressurised to purchase anything- unlike my experiences at some beauty counters. The product choice is out of this world and can be a little overwhelming but just grab one of the team and they'll be happy to help.

I hope you all have fun-filled and relaxing weekends, I'm off to join the hearty breakfast brigade. 

Do you enjoy shopping in Space NK as much as me? What are your favourite products?