Review: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel

I am not the best when it comes to keeping up with a good skincare routine but when I do, I know what products I like and what products get along with my skin so I don't tend to try anything new just in case it makes me break out. That being said, I was shopping in Superdrug a little while ago and some of the Neutrogena skincare products had been reduced by quite a bit so I picked up the gelee milk and this hydro boost water gel. Since I have been using it for a little while now, I thought I would share my thoughts on it!
Let's start with the packaging. It is quite a small jar compared to some other moisturisers but I love the combination of the light blue and white as it goes well with the fact that it is a water gel and it is simple but effective. The jar feels very well made as a whole and I think the fact that it is a jar suits the type of product inside. 

Having a look inside the jar I thought that they didn't really give a lot of product so I thought that it wasn't going to last very long, however the fact that you only need to use a little bit to cover your whole face soon proved to me that this amount of product would do me just fine. I would describe the texture as a thin gel as it doesn't have the consistency of a cream but it is nothing like the thickness of hair gel so I would say it literally feels like thick water. 
I mainly apply this after cleansing my face and in the morning before applying my makeup. I do this now especially as my skin has become a lot more dry as we have headed into the winter months. Just for reference, I have combination skin with my main oily areas being on my nose and between my eyebrows. 
When I first applied this I was amazed at how quickly it soaked into my skin. That doesn't mean that it didn't do it's job as my skin felt hydrated, fresh, smooth and it lasted all day! It didn't interfere with any part of my skin either which meant that I didn't become more oily and I didn't wake up with loads of spots which is what I was afraid of. I have continued using it and have noticed that my skin is a lot less dry, my makeup applies so much better and my face doesn't feel like it has been layered with loads of product which is how I have felt after using a few other moisturisers. 

This product doesn't feel harsh either. With some products I can feel it working its way into my skin but when I apply this it feels as natural as splashing cool water on your face. I don't think I have tried a better moisturiser yet! 
There is a fragrance to it which I thought I would just mention. I don't really mind fragrances or anything like that but I know a lot of people don't like it so if you are particularly sensitive to scents in your products then I would be mindful if you want to give this a go. The scent goes away shortly after application. 
So, I would definitely recommend this moisturiser to anyone wanting to try something new. If you do go for it then start off by using a very small amount as a little goes a very long way. If you have very dry skin then you can always add more but to start off i would only use a few small dots over your face. This product is lightweight, has a nice consistency and it really does make my skin feel hydrated and healthy. It is currently selling for £6.49 (half price offer) in Boots.

xx

Phone Apps I Use And Love

Phones have become a central part of many people's lives; whether it is used for social purposes, work or just as a way to watch movies and read the news. I have always found that everyone has different apps because of this so I thought I would share my favourites today. 

I am not really a games person. I think the only games I have ever had on my phone were solitaire and the logo game; both of which I hardly ever used so have been deleted. The apps I have are mainly for creative purposes or to make life easier haha. 

Social

• Whatsapp - This is my main messaging app. 
• Snapchat - I always use this to show people what I have been up to, watch other people's stories or catch up on the news.
• Youtube - I can spend hours on this app watching daily vlogs, makeup tutorials and watching snippets of Jeremy Kyle or This Morning haha. 
• Twitter - Again, I mainly use this to look at what is going on and see what people have been up to and I mainly retweet things that I find relatable or funny. 
• Facebook - I have to say, I don't use this as much as the other apps but I do still love it as I can keep up to date with what friends and family are doing and it is a great way to stay in contact with people that you don't see much anymore.
• Instagram - A really good photo sharing app. I always scroll through my feed to see what people have been up to.
• Messenger - I use this when I need to talk to someone that I have on Facebook but I don't have their number.
• Pinterest - I have only really gotten into using this but I love it. I use it to save any photos that I think are interesting or I could find useful in the future such as decorating ideas and recipes. 

Music

• Spotify - I always used to use iTunes when I owned an iPhone but since switching to Android I have been using Spotify. I love how you pay a fixed amount for as many songs and playlists as you like. 
• Shazam - An amazing app for getting information on songs that you hear and want to add to your music library.

Easy Life

• RingGo - A great way to pay for parking without having to dig out loose change for the machine.
• Stocard - I am one of those people who has to have a loyalty card for every single store I have ever visited, so this app is perfect as it allows you to upload all of your card's information so that you don't need to bring out a bulging purse!
• MyTherapy - This is a new one for me but it is great as it allows you to programme in any medication or pills you are taking and it will keep reminding you until you confirm you have taken it.

Travel

• Google Maps - This is my go-to for when I have no idea where I am going haha. I use it to plan my journeys too.
• Bus Times - This app is great if you live in London and take the bus. I have been using it since being in school.

Shopping/Bookings

• Wetherspoons - This app is perfect as it means you don't need to go up to the bar to order haha.
• Treatwell - My favourite app to book appointments for any beauty services from nails to waxing.
• Wowcher - A great app to find deals for little trips away. I have been to Amsterdam, Edinburgh and Eastbourne since using this app.
• Odeon - I have the limitless membership so I frequently go to the cinema and this app makes bookings so much easier.

General

• Calendar - Always use this so that I don't forget any important appointments or days out etc.
• Notes - My phone didn't come with a notes app so I found a really good one on the Google Play store as I always find that I need to jot things down and makes lists etc. 
• Clock - I use this every day to set my alarm.

Obviously there are other apps that I use such as Uber, Deliveroo, Mobile Banking etc but the ones that I mentioned are my favourites or the ones that I spent the most time on. 

Are you a games person? What are your favourite apps?

xx

Review: Lily's Kitchen Advent Calendar For Dogs

It's December; the lead up to Christmas has begun, the decorations are up and the advent calendars have been propped up in the kitchen for us all to come down and open each morning. Although I am not a big fan of chocolate, I do love opening the little doors and feeling just that bit more festive each time. 

I think I was watching one of Zoella's vlogmas videos a few years ago and she brought out one of these advent calendars for her dog Nala and I thought it would be a lovely thing for Sammy to have as she has always been a big part of the family. So this has been her Christmas present from me ever since haha. She loves when we all pick up our calendars because she knows she is going to get something and although she may not understand why the treats are hidden behind tiny doors, I love how excited she gets and I can see the anticipation on her face as I am trying to get the them out. 

This is going to be a bit of an odd review considering I cannot vouch for the taste or quality of the biscuits, but I will do my best haha. 

I hadn't heard of Lily's Kitchen before buying these calendars because Sammy's stomach is not very good with change so we have stuck to biscuits, slices of bread here and there and treats such as dentastix; nothing too extravagant otherwise things just don't go very well in the toilet department. So I must say, I was a bit worried about trying these at first and did a lot of research about the ingredients and if they are natural etc, and it all looked good! 

The calendar resembles that of a traditional chocolate one, however instead of the foil coating behind the doors, the treats are sealed behind a plastic-type material that you need to pierce. This is easy to do with your finger and I suppose is there to keep the biscuits from going soft. The calendar itself is good quality and made to keep the treats fresh throughout the whole of advent which is exactly what you want. 

There are three types of treats that are in there so it does mix things up which is nice. The information is all shown on the back of the calendar which is useful if your dog needs a certain diet. The treats included are Rise & Shines, Training Treats and Bedtime Biscuits.

Rise & Shines

These are flower-shaped treats made with beef liver, fresh carrots, blackstrap molasses and alfalfa (goodness knows what some of that is but Sammy seems to love them haha). These are to help keep your dog's coat shiny and there are 2 of these included behind the door. 

Training Treats

These are smaller and in the shape of little bones. They are made with organic apples and farmhouse cheddar which helps to keep your dog's attention. You get 3 of these behind the door. 

Bedtime Biscuits

These are oval shaped biscuits made with honey, yoghurt, chamomile and passion flowers which helps to soothe your dog. You get 1 of these behind the door. 

As I said, I cannot comment on the taste of these biscuits as I am not really up for trying them and I don't think Sammy would forgive me haha. But for a dog that has such a sensitive stomach, I can safely say that these biscuits have not caused any issues over the three years that I have been buying them so they are perfect! I also love the thought that has gone into this. From the hand drawn design to the quality of the doors and treats themselves. 

Their website explains how Lily's Kitchen first came about and what it is inspired by. If you are interested then check out this link: Lily's Kitchen Website. They believe in producing proper food for pets, without adding any other ingredients that normally gets included. 

So, I would definitely recommend these advent calendars for your dogs if you want to give them a little something over the festive period. I got mine for £10.00 from their website plus a little for delivery, but I believe they have been reduced now since advent has started. 

xx