Years after the rest of the world have tried it, we finally decided to give Hello Fresh a go, hurrah! Or maybe not so hurrah? I have majorly mixed feelings about Hello Fresh after giving our first recipe a go earlier this week and thought I'd share my thoughts with you all and basically just weigh up the pros and cons of Hello Fresh.

So for those who don't know, Hello Fresh is a recipe subscription box which sends you 5 pre-packaged fresh meals in all the right measurements and amounts for you to cook yourself by following their simple instruction card.

We definitely had a mixed experience with our first Hello Fresh box and I wanted to share my thoughts on the Pro's and Cons of ordering from Hello Fresh.

CON: It's quite pricey for what it is

Not to start off on a negative note but this is one of the main reasons why we decided to try Hello Fresh, to save money on our weekly shop. The good news (which, sorry, doesn't warrant its' own PRO bullet point) is that you can get lots of discount codes online for your first box but after that it comes in at around £41.99 for five meals, so that's not including weekends for us. When we thought about what we'd need to add onto our 5 meals (things like treats, snacks, lunches etc) it didn't make our weekly spend any less overall.

PRO: The recipe cards are simple to follow so everyone can have a go

We take it in turns cooking in our house but it does mean that there are certain meals that we've nailed individually and have become our signature dishes so we don't share the recipes for these and as I'm out quite a few nights a week I have to plan meals for our weekly shop that Rob is confident at cooking whilst I'm out. With Hello Fresh anyone can grab the ingredients and pick up the easy-to-follow card so no worries about having to leave instructions or being restricted on what you can plan for meals.

CON: If there are ingredients missing you could be stuffed

We tried the loaded beef mexican wedges recipe last night and it turned out delicious - thankfully that's because I had a carton of passata and some garlic granules in the cupboard because the package was missing the passata and a garlic clove. If i'd not had any passata in then we'd not have been able to make that recipe at all so that's slightly frustrating. As someone who likes to plan and prep I find it a little tricky to put my food shop/plan in someone else's hands!

PRO: There are lot of different boxes to choose from 

Whether you're vegetarian, trying to stick to a high-protein diet, cooking for 4 or cooking for children Hello Fresh offer a wide selection of boxes and they even offer a quick-cook box with recipes that take 20 minutes or less to prep and cook which can be great if you're in a a hurry each evening!

CONS: The recipes aren't low-fat enough for us 

This will of course differ from person to person but recently we've been loving Slimming World recipes and although soured cream and full fat cheddar tastes real good I know in the long run it's not going to be much good for my waistline!

Personally, I don't think that we'll stick to Hello Fresh going forward, it's been great to give it a go and experience it and the meals have been delicious but I think for us planning our meals and doing a weekly shop each week is just easier for us and cheaper in the long run!

If you're thinking of giving Hello Fresh a go then have a google for some discount codes, some are offering 50% off so this is the perfect opportunity to trial it out!

The Ordinary Skincare: Is It Worth The Hype?

I posted on my Instagram a few weeks ago that I'd treated myself to a few products from The Ordinary range and said that I'd give you a review once I'd given them a go properly so here we are!

I've never been great at skincare or looking after my skin (despite having really awful breakouts during my teenage years so I know I'm a bit silly) but over the last couple of years I've really begun to take some care over my skin and invest in some great products to give it a helping hand.

The first great thing about The Ordinary products is just how affordable they are, they're available on the Boots UK website and when you compare them to some other brands in the same area they just come out tops really on great reviews vs cost and affordability. 

I have started out my collection with three products which I'll go through below in more detail but I had a very small checklist of things I wanted these products to tackle, they were pore-minimising, smoothing, evening out skin tone, keeping my skin blemish-free and reducing any hyper pigmentation. I spent a lot of time looking at reviews and descriptions of each product, as you'll see they're named after their solutions so it's really important to see what will work for you.

Their website is super informative though and it helped me massively to find a small collection of products which would work for me and my skin. Below is what I opted for, please keep in mind I have quite blemish-prone, combination skin. 

Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12%, £8.90

I knew when I was looking through all The Ordinary products that I wanted a Vitamin-C product. I have quite dull skin and it could sometimes make me look really washed-out and even poorly as it really lacked any brightness or glow! 

This product is a brightening serum with an antioxidant to reduce signs of ageing and even out skin tone  - bingo! Ascorbyl Glucoside is classed as one of the best Vitamin C derivatives and this is a solution which is water-based so easily applied and doesn't feel harsh at all on my skin.

Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%, £5.00

This product is a dream come true for oily skin. It targets breakouts and minimises pores by regulating the amount of sebum (oil) that your skin produces. Its' two main ingredients Niacinamide and Zinc are two of the best blemish-battling ingredients out there so for me it ticked a lot of boxes!

I've found this solution slightly sticky initially but this soon wears off and I can really feel the smoothing effects, my skin doesn't feel at all oily when I use it but it definitely doesn't dry my skin out by any means either, so winner winner!

Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA, £7.00

The final product I opted for is one that targets hyper-pigmentation. If you're not sure what that is, hyper-pigmentation can be any dark patches or spots on your skin, for example they're quite common on the upper lip (which can sometimes give the awful illusion of a moustache) but can show up anywhere. This product has a high potentcy of Alpha Arbutin which tackles these tricky spots to reveal more even, younger-looking skin!

I've 100% noticed a difference since using a combination of the above in my daily routine, my skin is so much brighter and I've gone many days without wearing make-up now due to how much more calm and even my skin-tone is looking. My dark spots aren't as noticeable at all and my skin just has a much healthier look and glow about it. 

Make sure you use the brand's handy regime tool to work out which products you can and can't miss, when to apply them and what they're good for!

I Tried £1 Contact Lenses!

I've been a contact lens wearer for years now, I needed glasses in secondary school and after a year or so of losing/breaking them my Mum took me to the opticians to try out contacts lenses. I was both excited and terrified of the prospect; yes, I'd be able to see without glasses BUT would they get lost in my eyeball forever, is there a chance I'd put them in and never get them out again?!

My worries partially came to fruition when the optician put me in my first pair of lenses, wow, it was amazing and off I trotted home so pleased with myself until I tried to take them out later that day and couldn't. I had to go back to the opticians so she could actually get them out of my eyes. Despite this I persisted and now all these years later I'm still a daily contact lens wearer.

The only downside to this is the price of the freaking things. Around 10 years ago my optician changed my contact lenses due to my eyes feeling super prickly and dry and alas, she put me onto the most expensive variety on offer which set me back a whopping £44 each month - for something disposable that gets lobbed in the bin every night, I know!

So over the last few months I've been on the hunt for a cheaper alternative for lenses and came across Hubble. I'd seen all the ads on Instagram and thought you know what, for £1 I'll give it a go.

Nellie Tries Pure Pet Food

Since we rehomed Nellie at the end of 2018 we've had a hard time getting her to kick some of the habits she'd picked up as a stray before she was handed into Cat's Protection, part of this process included finding a really high quality cat food for her to fill her up and give her all the nutrients she needed to put on a little weight and stay healthy. She would meow, meow and then meow some more at us almost as soon as she'd finished her breakfast or dinner and after ruling anything like worms out at the vet a quick Google told us it could be that she's just not getting filled up - what, after four sachets a day?!

FREEDOM MAKEUP PRO BLUSH & HIGHLIGHT PALETTE COLLECTION REVIEW

If you're not familiar with Freedom Makeup then let me give you the lowdown. From the same team behind Makeup Revolution, Freedom Makeup is a budget beauty brand currently exclusive to Superdrug stores. Personally, I much prefer the products and packaging in the Freedom Makeup collection over its' sister brand Makeup Revolution's but that's just me.

I've got quite a range of products from Freedom but this particular post is all about their Pro Blush and Highlight Powders because they're not only affordable and great quality but they're also so very pretty!

Now, like other budget beauty brands these lovelies come with their flaws, don't get me wrong; they're not as long lasting or wearing as a more expensive brand, however they are perfectly suitable for the days when you want to try out something new or you've run out of your favourite blush or bronzer and have a great backup handy.

The four palettes I purchased are 'Bronze and Baked', 'Pink & Baked', 'Peach & Baked' and 'Highlight & Baked' and each palette only set me back £6 each - bargain!

Each colour is highly pigmented, as you can see above there are plenty of shades included meaning it's super easy to switch from a bright, hot pink blush one day to a muted rose shade the next using only one palette. The highlight palette includes six creme to powder highlighters and two baked highlighters which again makes it really simple to go for a maxed out super sheen highlight and then switch it up to a soft, natural glow another day.

One thing I love about this brand is their packaging, the palettes remind me a little of the Makeup Forever range, super sleek and compact which is perfect for storing (boring, I know but these things are important and I'm all about the space-saving).

Have you tried anything from the Freedom Makeup collection? Would you like to see a review of more products? Let me know in the comments below!

BOOKSHELF: THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN BY PAULA HAWKINS

A love of crime/thriller novels is one I think I've inherited from my mum, after first borrowing her James Patterson books I discovered a love for all things gruesome and grisly (I know, how weird does that make me sound) so when I first heard about this book I was dying to read it. This post won't contain any spoilers. Zero, zilch, nil!

The Girl On The Train* is told through the perspective of three different women; Rachel, Anna and Megan. Rachel is ultimately the girl on the train. She makes the same two journeys each day in and out of London and in the morning her train stops, like clockwork, at the same signal. From the train she can see into the lives of a couple that live in a house that backs onto the train tracks.

She names them; 'Jason' and 'Jess' and day in, day out she watches them, making guesses about their lives and relationship until one day the train stops at the signal and Rachel sees something that changes everything and she finally has a chance to become more than just the girl on the train.

The story is gripping, with insane amounts of twists and turns, some slightly predictable and if I am completely honest - which I always aim to be when writing my bookshelf reviews - the ending for me was less of a surprise and more of a confirmation of suspicions I'd had throughout. That's okay though, as it's not always necessary to be kept entirely in the dark where crime and thrillers are concerned, you'll want to keep reading regardless to find out if your theories are proved right in the end.

I quite enjoyed the fact that I found Rachel a difficult lead character to like, she had traits that I'm sure most women can relate to on some level but at times I was frustrated with her and I've rarely felt like that about a protagonist in a novel before.

It's tricky for me to talk about The Girl On The Train without spoiling aspects of the plot but I would 100% recommend this novel if you're a fan of twisting and turning mysteries and thrillers. This book isn't as gruesome or grisly as some others I've read, like YOU by Caroline Kepnes, but it's gripping nonetheless with a lot more insight into the emotional damage left behind by betrayal and broken relationships which is the recurring theme throughout.

Let me know if you've read The Girl On The Train, I'd love to hear your thoughts!

*This book was sent to me for review by Transworld Publications.

MAKEUP REVOLUTION ULTRA EYESHADOWS IN 'FLAWLESS'

If you're not familiar with Makeup Revolution then they're a budget makeup brand sold by Superdrug for extremely good prices, starting as low as just £1. Now, don't get me wrong, I love NARS, MAC and also loads of high-street brands like Rimmel and Maybelline but sometimes if I'm feeling experimental and want to try new shades that I'm unsure about, then I don't always want to splash out on products.

The Flawless palette consists of 32 matte and shimmer eyeshadows in beautiful shades, perfect for fall and winter. The colours are extremely well-pigmented which means that you get fantastic value for money - even for £8, it's always good to know you're not going to need to spend another £8 on the same product in the space of a month or two. I'm also in love with how sleek the packaging is. I'm a sucker for less-is-more when it comes to product packaging, especially palettes, and I even love the rose-gold foil box so much I tend to keep the palette in there when storing it.

The palette boasts shades such as Paper; a light nude shade, perfect for a base colour, Raw; a matte neutral shadow and Darkest Shimmer; a burnt orange hue great for defining your outer lid and crease. These three shades also happen to be fantastic dupes for the three MAC shadows I purchased earlier this year so if I'm looking to recreate that warm smoky-eye on the regular then I'll use my Revolution palette, saving my MAC shadows for special occasions.

Now, Makeup Revolution have released the all-new 'Beyond Flawless' palette, featuring 32 new shades in much more neutral tones. If you'd be interested in seeing a post on this palette then let me know in the comments below.

MakeUp Revolution Flawless Palette costs £8 and is sold in Superdrug, you can also purchase online at Makeup Revolution's website.

BEAUTY CROWD PRO MILANI BOX

I've only been a member of Beauty Crowd Pro for a short while but so far, I'm super impressed! If you're not familiar with Beauty Crowd Pro, it's an exclusive online community and marketplace for bloggers and vloggers. There's a forum for members to discuss their favourite products, an online shop with exclusive deals and also an area where you can apply to collaborate with brands.

One of the latest promotions that Beauty Crowd Pro offered was a box filled with full-sized Milani products called the Milani Pro Collection Box. Beauty Crowd Pro were selling this amazing collection for only £15 and although there were limited numbers - and it's now sadly sold out - I was lucky enough to get my hands on a box!

The Milani Pro Collection Box contained six full-size products; Color Statement Moisture Matte Lipstick in '67 Matte Confident' $5.99, Rose Powder Blush in '01 Romantic Rose' $7.99, Runway Eyeshadow Palette (sadly my palette broke in transit so I wasn't able to photograph it for this post), Runway Eyeshadow Single in '03 Bronze Doll', Bella Eyes Gel Powder Eyeshadow in '06 Bella Espresso' $4.49 and an Anti Feathering Lip Liner in '01 Transparent' $4.99.

Prices above are in dollars as Milani isn't actually stocked in the UK yet - another reason why this offer from Beauty Crowd Pro was so exciting! I haven't given these products a go yet but I'm very excited to try them all out, they're all in perfectly wearable shades - no crazy colours or anything that's not seasonal. If you're a blogger or vlogger then I recommend heading over to Beauty Crowd Pro to take a look and if you're not a blogger then there's BeautyCrowd.com which features a lot of amazing deals and offers so you don't miss out!

NARS LAGUNA & LUSTER

So I'm late on this particular bandwagon, I know, but last weekend I purchased the NARS Laguna bronzer. I've heard so much about this product and I know it's the 'holy grail' of bronzers for a lot of beauty bloggers and YouTubers out there.

The packaging is standard NARS, slightly larger than the blush packaging and still with that super sleek black casing - which, is it just me, or does it seem to attract smudges and smears?! The product itself is beautifully matte and can look a little scarily dark at first glance but I held back reservations until I'd given it a go.

I loved how well pigmented this bronzer is, it gives my skin a sunkissed, healthy glow with only the slightest hint of a shimmer. It can be difficult with some bronzers to avoid that awkward orange undertone but with Laguna there's nothing of the sort. Due to it's matte nature, this product is perfect for contouring and I use it with my Real Techniques Sculpting Brush for a really defined contour. Laguna blends out really flawlessly too so you're not left with harsh lines.

This bronzer does come in a little on the pricey side at £27.50 but in my opinion it's absolutely worth it.

When I picked up Laguna, I also bought NARS blush in the shade 'Luster'. I own a lot of pink blushes and decided that now fall and winter is practically here, it was time to invest in something a little warmer so I went for the beautiful, peach tones of Luster.

Luster has a really soft, smooth texture and just like all other NARS products is super well-pigmented so I find that I don't need to use a lot of it at all to get a really pretty warm glow. Personally, this shade is just right for my skin-tone but I am not sure how it would look on someone who is quite fair or pale as the blush does carry a lot of orange-undertones but like I said before, you don't need to use a lot to get a well-pigmented shade so just use a lighter hand if you do happen to be blessed with paler skin.

I'm incredibly happy with these two NARS purchases and they've become staple products in my everyday make-up routine, if you'd like to see me use these for a fall/winter look then leave a comment below.

BOOKSHELF: DEATH CURE BY JAMES DASHNER

This book, guys. I can't even. I finished it a few weeks ago and hadn't got round to writing up my thoughts on it until now but I suppose I should start by saying there will be no spoilers in this review, as always.

I've mentioned many times now that the Maze Runner series by James Dashner is one of my favourites ever and this third book just had me curled up in a giant ball of emotions. This book follows on from The Scorch Trials and the Gladers are trying to figure out what the hell is going on - still. They've endured two hugely challenging trials, the Maze and the Scorch and are now faced with another two challenge, maybe a little closer to home - having their memories back or not and finding out if they are actually immune to the dreaded flare or not.

This book is the final chapter for Thomas, Newt, Teresa, Minho and the other characters and it's hard to talk about the story in depth without giving too much away. The Gladers get separated at WICKED HQ and Thomas, Newt, Minho, Brenda and Jorge are on a mission to escape the wrath of WICKED once more and they venture to a new city, built behind tall walls and supposedly safe from cranks, to find the friends that they've lost. Here they encounter a blast from the past as well as discovering that nowhere is safe from WICKED and the deadly virus that is sweeping the earth.

This book is intense and honestly I never wanted to put it down until I read a certain chapter - when you read it, you'll know which chapter I'm talking about - and then all hell broke lose and I was a wreck, more of a wreck than I was when I read PS. I Love You or The Fault In Our Stars. Yes, that emosh.

I loved it though and the only thing that will stop me missing reading about these characters is knowing that I'll be able to do it all again when The Fever Code is released in 2016!

LUSH TEA TREE WATER SPRAY REVIEW

I've been super lazy recently with my skincare routine and I've also been forgetting to take my Hair Burst pills (which I felt really made a difference to my skin) so, to get back on track I've invested in a new product to keep my skin feeling fresh and clean after I remove my make-up.

This is the Tea Tree Water, £7.95 which is a toner water from Lush and I picked it up from their Kingston branch last weekend, with the help of the absolutely lovely ladies who worked in the store. I watched Lauren Elizabeth (the YouTuber who I share both a first and middle name with) review this product and include it in her beauty favourites and I was dying to try it out.

This water contains only six ingredients, four of which are all natural; Tea Tree Water, Grapefruit Water, Juniperberry, and Limonene. The first of these three ingredients are well known for their antibacterial properties. The grapefruit is great for balancing oily and problematic skin which luckily I don't really suffer with, except a few little mishaps in the T-Zone area. Since using this spray after removing my make-up and washing my face - it's the final step in my skincare routine before my head hits the pillow - two zits I had on my chin have vanished into nothingness so already I'm loving it.

The ladies in Lush did mention that it can be used to remove make-up, I haven't tried this yet as I'm a big fan of the Yes To Cucumbers wipes, followed by a Freederm facewash which together get rid of 99% of my make-up, I will definitely spritz a little on a cotton pad and give it a go soon.

What I liked most about this spray, as I've used tea tree products in the past, is that this one doesn't smell medicinal or like something you'd drink when you've had a cold or the flu for a week. It's only lightly fragranced and there's no lingering smell after you've sprayed it. The bottle is easy to use and the pump distributes the spray evenly so you're not blasted in the face by a stream of toner water!

Do you use a toner? Would you try this one from Lush?

BOOKSHELF: THE MAZE RUNNER TRILOGY - THE SCORCH TRIALS

In my opinion, The Maze Runner series written by James Dashner, will give The Hunger Games a run for it's money! It took me a good few chapters to get completely sucked into The Scorch Trials; the second book from the trilogy, but once I was I couldn't put it down.

The Scorch Trials follows the same characters from The Maze Runner, Thomas, Teresa and the other Gladers as they face new threats following their escape from the maze. Solving The Maze was supposed to be the end and Thomas and his friends were sure that escape would mean freedom but WICKED isn't done yet. Phase Two has only just begun. In The Scorch there are no rules, no help, no mercy. You either make it or you die and the Gladers have one challenge; to cross The Scorch and reach a 'Safe Haven' in only two weeks. All bets are off and The Scorch Trials make The Maze look like a stroll in the park...

Like I said before, it did take me a little while to get stuck into this book and I think that was mainly because I read The Maze Runner almost a year ago and saw the movie back in January so the storyline and characters weren't fresh in mind, it took a little while for me to invest in them again. Once I had, I was sucked in by the fast-paced, exhilarating plot which twisted and turned when I least expected. There's no let up in this novel at all and just when you think things might be settling for the Gladers something more sinister and threatening than the last is thrown in their direction.

I don't want to say too much about this novel because I would hate to spoil it for you. After watching the trailer for the movie adaption there doesn't seem to be many similarities between the two so it's not going to matter a great deal if you watch the movie when it's released next month before you read the book. I would still highly recommend adding this to your reading list though, there are so many details and scenes which I'm sure they haven't included in the film, so don't miss out!

I've just started the third book in this series, Death Cure now and have the prequel to the series (but the latest book to be released) lined up afterwards. I know the author James Dashner wanted to expand the post-Flare world but did not want to involve the main characters, resulting in the prequel The Kill Order and the upcoming 2016 release Fever Code. Make sure you keep checking here and over on my twitter @laurenfell for my latest thoughts on this series - spoiler free of course!

BOOKSHELF: YOU BY CAROLINE KEPNES

As always, there will be no spoilers in this Bookshelf post so if you haven't read the book then don't worry, hopefully you'll want to by the end of this feature!

You may notice a recurring theme with my Bookshelf posts, I'm kinda going through a creepy-thriller phase which is probably partly down to the fact I had a bit of a chick-lit binge while I was on holiday earlier this year and now that's out of my system I needed something a bit more gritty.

I picked up YOU, written by Caroline Kepnes, while in Tesco which I love for book-buying because almost all of their paperbacks are £3.97 or two for £7 so my mum and I usually end up leaving the weekly food shop with three or four books between us. Once again, I was drawn to this book because of the amazing one-liners and ratings that adorned the back cover. I also really liked the comparison to 'Gone Girls meets a sinister Girls' as I thoroughly enjoyed reading Gone Girl and I'm hooked on the TV show Girls.

When a beautiful, aspiring writer strides into the East Village bookstore where Joe Goldberg works, he does what anyone would do: he Googles the name on her credit card.

There is only one Guinevere Beck in New York City. She has a public Facebook account and Tweets incessantly, telling Joe everything he needs to know: she is simply Beck to her friends, she went to Brown University, she lives on Bank Street, and she’ll be at a bar in Brooklyn tonight—the perfect place for a “chance” meeting.

As Joe invisibly and obsessively takes control of Beck’s life, he orchestrates a series of events to ensure Beck finds herself in his waiting arms. Moving from stalker to boyfriend, Joe transforms himself into Beck’s perfect man, all while quietly removing the obstacles that stand in their way—even if it means murder.

YOU is different from a lot of other books I've read because it's told from the villain's point of view. You read the book from inside Joe's head and as a result you discover his deepest, darkest thoughts. He also refers to Beck as 'you' throughout the whole novel and although at first it was a little strange, after a while it made everything a little bit more personal and a lot creepier. This book isn't for the faint-hearted, it contains a lot of very mature themes and violence and just as you think Joe can't get any crazier, he does.

I found this book utterly mesmerizing and it only took me a couple of chapters to become absolutely hooked. I loved the inclusion of modern day movies and celebrities , for example Beck has an obsession with Pitch Perfect and Joe seems to mention Taylor Swift multiple times throughout the book. If you're looking for a thriller that will really test your boundaries then you will absolutely love YOU by Caroline Kepnes.

Have you read YOU or would you like to? Tweet at me @laurenfell or comment below to discuss! 

NEW ZOELLA BEAUTY RANGE REVIEW

I'm only 24 but as I stood in Superdrug next to a pair of fourteen-year-old's who were pondering over Zoella's new beauty range I've never felt older. However, that doesn't mean I'm ashamed to have snapped up almost every item from Zoe Sugg's new products, not one bit, as they are bloomin' brilliant!

Obviously, I've heard all about this collection and seeing as I never got round to trying anything from Zoe's first range, I just had to give these a go. After getting home and googling the newest line, I realised I had actually bought one of everything except the Foam Shower Gel, so I might have to grab that one next time I'm out and about and also the Cosmetic Purse.

I've given each of these products a go, except the Scrubbing Me Softly Body Scrub and the Fresh Fizz Bath Fizzer but I've posted loads of lovely pictures and first impressions of those products as well as everything else in this post so it's worth checking out.


Scrubbing Me Softly Smoothing Body Scrub, £7.00

There's one common theme that runs with each of these products and it's the heavenly, delicious fragrance. I love fruity, sweet smelling beauty and bath products and this body scrub definitely ticks that box. This product contains acai, coconut and blueberry so I'm sure you can imagine just how good it smells! I'm excited to use this product pre-self tanning as I think it will provide the perfect amount of exfoliation for a streak-free tan.


Kissy Missy Lip Balm, £3.00

The one thing I'd read online about this particular product was how well pigmented it is for a lip balm and that got me super excited. I currently use the rose tinted Vaseline balm on a daily basis so I was really looking forward to giving this a go. One layer of this tinted lip balm will give you a minimal-colour, nourishing lip balm but if you whack it on another one or two times then you can build up a beautiful bubblegum pink colour which not only smells amazing but also feels non-sticky and light to wear.



Let's Spritz Fragranced Body Mist, £8.00

On a day-to-day basis I'm definitely a body mist kinda gal, with Victoria's Secret Fresh & Clean Body Mist being my go-to for years now. However, I think the fragranced Let's Spritz Body Mist might just  take the top spot from now on. Not only does it come in the prettiest bottle, with lace print and polkadots no less, but it smells fruity, floral and feminine; the perfect body mist combination in my opinion.


Candy Cream Softening Body Lotion, £5.00

Like the Smoothing Body Scrub, this cream contains acai and blueberry so it'll come as no surprise that it smells absolutely delish. What I love most about this cream is it leaves your skin feeling moisturised and nourished without feeling sticky or taking forever to absorb, which let's be honest, none of us have got time for!


Fresh Fizz Fragranced Bath Fizzer, £5.00

This pretty product looks and feels like a bar of chocolate, which is probably why there are stickers on each end and a note on the back reminding buyers not to eat it as it is not food which made me smile. I haven't given this one a go yet but I have opened it up to have a look and I love how it's split into four chunks which makes it easier to break off a piece and drop it into a lovely hot bath!

Have you tried any products from Zoella's new beauty range at Superdrug yet? 

Bookshelf: The Never List by Koethi Zan

Wow. This exciting, terrifying thriller written by Koethi Zan had me hooked from the very first pag and although I'm never one to spoil a good story, let me set the scene for this incredible book that gives Gone Girl a run for it's money.

In The Never List, two young women - who have been overly safety-conscious and wary since they were children - are kidnapped and thrown into a cellar where they are kept for years by a sadistic psychopath who uses them - and other girls - for his experiments. With four girls inside the cellar, only three manage to escape. The story follows survivor Sarah and her quest to find out what really happened in that cellar to the friend she never saw again.



I absolutely loved Gone Girl and I will gladly hold up my hands and say I enjoyed this book even more. The story is gripping to say the least and if you love a book that will push you to your limits then this is the one. The story is dark and grim but I don't know a great thriller that isn't.

The author Koethi Zan has a way of writing the gruesome and grizzly parts of this story in a way that makes you go back and read what you've just read a few times over, just in case you thought 'no, surely he didn't do that..'.

If you've read The Never List then I would love to hear your thoughts. Tweet me about it @laurenfell!

 

St Tropez In Shower Gradual Tan

As an avid fan of sunless-tanning I'm always on the look out for that natural looking glow, which is why I'm always drawn to gradual tans. I love the St Tropez brand, their mousse was the first fake tan I'd ever tried so when I knew the brand new 3-Minute In Shower Gradual Tan was launched I had to give it a go!