Smoothies are such a healthy way to start the day and if you're here then hopefully you've read 

Chia Seeds

These little black seeds are from the Salvia Hispanica Plant and they pack a powerful nutritional punch like you wouldn't believe. Jammed full with Antioxidants, chia seeds are one of the best food sources for their nutritional value. I love them because they're low in Carbohydrates and the majority of these carbs are fibre (which I think we've mentioned before are vital for a healthy digestive system). Being high in protein makes chia seeds great for anyone on a high protein diet and because the seeds can absorb more than 10 times their weight in water, they will expand and make you feel fuller for longer, making them a good appetite suppressent. Similar to Flaxseed, chia seeds are rich in Omega 3 acids which contribute to better metabolic health and believe it or not, these little seeds contain more Omega 3 Acids than salmon. You'd better believe it! I don't really find they taste of much at all so they can easily be added to breakfasts, meals and smoothies to top up your fibre, protein and many other nutirional intakes. I use Sevenhills Wholefoods Chia Seeds which can be purchased here on Amazon for a bargain price!

Whey Protein

If you have a partner or friend whose a bit of a gym goer then you'll probably recognise whey protein as a drink that is consumed before or after exercise/workouts. Yes you would be correct, but that doesn't have to be the only time it is used and there are benefits of using it as part of a diet as well as before and after the gym. Proteins are often used in low fat/low carb diets, as well as being utilised to give energy and repair muscles. The bottom line is, that proteins are often what make you feel full, and of all the proteins, whey is one that will leave you feeling full more successfully. Adding whey protein to your smoothies has so many benefits aside from making it taste absolutely delicious. Whey helps to maintain muscle mass, suppress your appetite, boost your metabolism, aid fat burning, help muscle recovery, lower cholesterol and lower blood pressure. If that isn't enough to convince you to stick a spoon full in your smoothie then I don't know what is. I prefer to use Diet Whey Protein simply because it's much lower in fat and carbohydrate. The ones I love to use are the one shown in the photo which is Winning Ways Sports Diet Whey Protein which can be purchased from Health Rack. The other I like to use is the Pulsin Natural Whey Protein which can be purchased from Amazon. 

Unsweetened Almond Milk

Now personally, I don't like the taste of cows milk so there is a reason that I started using Almond Milk in my smoothies as a pose to regular milk. However, there are many benefits to having Almond Milk over cows milk so have a little read and consider whether you might like to make the change in your smoothies (or even your cups of tea/coffee). Firstly, Almond milk doesn't contain any cholesterol or saturated fat making it a lot lower in calories than regular milk and a better alternative if you're hoping to lose or maintain a healthy weight. If you're worried about your blood sugars or lactose intake then again, almond milk is a fantastic alternative as there are no sugars present in Almond milk such as in Cows milk. Any carbs found will be used as energy rather than stored as fat, so it's a win win for the almond milk! In fact, the only downside to it is that it doesn't contain as much calcium as cows milk, however there are much fewer calories so you can drink more of it if you want to achieve your calcium intake. Some brands even supplement their almond milk with extra sources of calcium to make them just as good for nutritional benefit as regular milk. I love using almond milk in my smoothies because I know it's A. barely adding any calories B. giving that same smooth, milkshakey texture and C. giving a better taste for me personally than milk does. I always go for an unsweetened version of Almond Milk, otherwise what would be the point in me rambling on about the benefits of it being good for you? I like to buy the Blue Diamond Almond Milk from my local Tesco Supermarket but any unsweetened version would be super duper!

Here is a list of all the products that I use if you'd like to try them yourself;

Sevenhills Wholefoods Chia Seeds

Winning Ways Sports Diet Whey Protein

Pulsin Natural Whey Protein

Blue Diamond Almond Milk

I recommend trying all of these products in your smoothie if you're looking for a super healthy start to the day. Let me know if you try any of these or if there are other products that you would recommend for me and my readers!

During the colder months my skin has been more dehydrated and dull than usual. Suffering with Cystic Acne often makes it difficult to find products that achieve results without breaking me out in painful lumps underneath my skin. Now during the day I don't want to apply anything too heavy to my skin as it doesn't work well for me underneath makeup, however at night I am able to apply something a little more luxurious in the hope for beautiful skin the next morning. Obviously nothing performs miracles to the extent many of us would like but I have found 2 products that really do give me overnight results and that is why they are my overnight skin saviours.

Introducing Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask and Resultime Regenerating Collagen Gel*.

Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask

Being a victim of Cystic Acne - yes victim seems like an appropriate term to use for this problematic skin condition - I try to use natural products without parabens, mineral oils etc that might irritate my skin further and that's why I love the brand Origins. The Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask is no exception to their wonderfully pure products that are made with natural, organic, plant based ingredients. Containing natural fruit oils such as Avocado and Apricot Kernel this products claims to be instantly quenching which is great news if you need a quick injection of moisture. Furthermore the scents of all Origins products are created using natural essential oils rather than perfumes, another reason I love their products. 

To use the Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask you simply apply a generous layer of the creamy gel-like product to your skin before bed (preferably to clean skin with no other product) and literally let your skin drink it up overnight. I apply this to my skin straight after my evening cleanse whilst my skin is clean and free of any other products. It does recommend applying a thick layer to the skin and tissuing off any excess but in my opinion that causes waste and Katie don't like waste. I simply apply an even layer as I would with my normal moisturiser (about a pea sized amount) and then get some beauty sleep. 

The following morning my skin appears much plumper and considerably more glowing with a lovely dewy appearance and not a patch of dryness in sight. Because this is heavily moisturising I always make sure to cleanse my skin again in the morning to remove any excess product as I find it leaves me with a greasy film on my skin. I've heard that some people leave the excess product on or even use it lightly as a daily moisturiser but personally I find it too heavy and I worry it would clog my pores under makeup so I simply stick to applying it overnight. At £23 for 100ml you might think this product is quite expensive if you're a budget beauty lover, but I can promise you this product will last quite a while. I only have the 50ml miniature which came in a set at christmas, but I've barely used any and I use it at least once a week.

Resultime Regenerating Collagen Gel*

I was kindly sent a few products from Resultime a few weeks ago now and I have been trialling them since Day 1. The regenerating collagen gel has fast become a staple product in my skincare routine and I have literally fallen in love with it. One reason is that you can use this product in a few different ways; as a serum/primer underneath your regular moisturiser, alone as a serum/moisturiser or even as an overnight mask in a slightly thicker layer. Talk about multi-purpose! I was a bit dubious about some of the ingredients at first because although it doesn't contain any parabens or other nasties it is very heavily scented which is quite unfortunate. Luckily for me, perfume in products doesn't usually irritate my skin but if you do find you are sensitive to perfumed products then this might not work for you, obviously I can only comment on my experience with it which has been fantastic but I would definitely rather have a product that is naturally scented.

Effectively what this product does is encourage generation of collagen in your skin, and if you know anything about skincare/anti-aging you will know that collagen production slows down the older you get hence the reason our skin gradually loses it's elasticity. Now I am only 25 so anti-aging isn't  something I've really thought about before, but did you know it is at age 25 that your collagen production starts to plummet? WHAAAT! Yes, seriously, so 25 isn't actually a bad age to start adding some extra collagen into your skincare routine to prevent the loss of skin elasticity. I discussed my skin type with a member of staff at Resultime and we quickly established that the regenerating collagen gel would have plenty of benefits aside from anti-aging for someone like myself who suffers with Cystic Acne so I was eager to receive the Regenerating Collagen Gel and give it a try.

The results from this product have been very noticeable for me. Firstly I love the jelly like consistency of this product because it dries remarkably quick and doesn't leave any greasy residue on my skin. In fact, after application my skin immediately looks fresher and brighter with less shine. The magic happens though when you leave this product on overnight as a mask. I have found that my acne scarring has faded more than any other skincare product has ever achieved and my skin tone is much more even than it has been in a long long time. But thats not all! The most noticeable aspect for me, is how much faster my skin is repairing itself when I have a break out. Seriously people, if I notice a cystic acne lump forming underneath my skin, I can apply this product and the following morning any redness is noticeably reduced and that's something that never happens! As well as reduction in scars, redness and breakouts my skin has been well hydrated and oil production seems to be better controlled. What is there not to love about this product?

Unfortunately the only downside is that this product is quite pricey at £47 for 50ml. In all honesty had I not received the opportunity to review it I probably would have never taken the plunge, but my god I would now that I realise the effects it's had! In fact, already I find myself using the smallest amount of product I can manage so that it lasts me as long as possible because I can't bear the thought of it running out. The effects of the Resultime Regenerating Collagen Gel have in fact been so good that I have reduced my acne medication. Does it get much better than that? I will more than likely be repurchasing this product when it runs out (which I will point out might take a while because a little really does go a long way) and I urge anyone who suffers with acne or visible scarring to try it, because it's worked wonders for me and even Caroline Hirons recommends it!

*This product was sent to me for review but I have truly fallen in love with it and all content is 100% honest!

If you have sensitive skin then I strongly recommend both the Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask and the Resultime Regenerating Collagen Gel* for overnight purposes. They make great masks and work well in conjunction with each other. Both products are free of parabens and contain a vast array of ingredients that are skin friendly, especially for those who suffer with skin conditions such as acne like myself. Product links are listed below, let me know your thoughts if you try either of them or if you have any other recommendations for overnight products.

Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask

Resultime Regenerating Collagen Gel*

I've been feeling a little unenthused about some of my makeup products recently, namely my eyebrow products and under eye concealer. I was having a browse through boots and picked up a few little bits to try and brighten me up again and make me happier with those problem areas of my makeup routine, and here's what I purchased.

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer

This is the only item which is a repurchase but it's a concealer that I love and use everyday. Unfortunately more recently I've been feeling a little disappointed with applying this concealer to my under eyes. Although it has coverage power like no other, I find it a little dry and it starts to sit in any creases under my eyes which isn't an attractive look. I'm also enjoying looking very bright and highlighted and since this is a very matte finishing concealer with no highlighting properties, I've been sticking to using it for blemish and redness coverage only. Despite feeling I want something different under my eyes at the moment, I do strongly recommend this concealer if you want high coverage. If you see my minimal makeup looks on Instagram you'll know that I'm not a regular foundation wearer but the reason I can still make my face look pretty flawless is because of this. Sometimes I even buff it in lightly all over my face to give me good coverage without a foundation and it does the job perfectly.

Maybelline Eraser Eye Concealer

I've been looking for a brightening under eye concealer recently, and after watching a video by Pixiwoo and hearing her recommend this Concealer, I was sold. I picked this up in the shade light as the nude was quite orangey and so far I am quite impressed. There are no creases in sight and although the coverage isn't as heavy as the Collection lasting perfection concealer it benefits from a highlighting effect which takes the concealing abilities up a notch. It certainly does brighten my under eyes and I have also been using this to highlight down my nose and across my forehead. The consistency isn't nearly as thick as concealers I have been using under my eyes previously so it's not as dry and doesn't crease, even with prolonged wear. Win win!

Maybelline Brow Satin Duo

Every brown brow product I have used of mine recently seems to leave me with an orangey brown tinge that totally clashes with the colour of my brows. Clearly my eyebrows are a cool tone of brown and the warmer shades just clash completely so I went on the hunt for a cool toned brown eyebrow pencil, that would leave me without orange tones. Introducing the Maybelline Brown Satin Duo. This product has caught my attention a few times but I'd never actually made the purchase. Well this time, I did! I purchased this product in Dark Brown and I am very happy with the colour and overall application. The shade of brown is very cool toned and a sort of taupe shade which is perfect for me. On one end of the product you have a brow pencil which can easily create natural looking brow strokes and on the other end is a powder applicator to fill in the colour of your brows. The only thing missing is a setting gel but I'm happy going over my brows afterwards with the Maybelline Brow Drama Sculpting Mascara in transparent to set them into place.

Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge

The final purchase I made was the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge. A week or so ago I made my first beauty sponge purchase and that was the budget W7 power puff face blender sponge. I didn't want to spend a great deal on my first one because I wasn't sure if I'd prefer it to my makeup brushes and although I was disappointed with the W7 version I wanted a better alternative. The real techniques miracle complexion sponge has taken my whole makeup routine up a notch and given it a fresh new appearance that I didn't realise I could achieve. Using this sponge gives my makeup such a flawless, airbrushed, dewy appearance and it is so easy to use. I'm actually in love with this makeup sponge and I plan to write a post comparing the two different sponges that I have purchased.

If you're looking to up your makeup game a bit then maybe you could try some of these products or if you'd like to recommend any other alternatives then I'm happy to hear them.

Here is a list of the product links that I have purchased.

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer

Maybelline Eraser Eye Concealer

Maybelline Brow Satin Duo

Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge

This month I've finished quite a few products, most of which are favourites of mine that I will be repurchasing, so I thought I'd share them with you. I have way too many bottles filling my bathroom shelves, cupboards, drawers and so on so forth, therefore it's rather satisfying when I use some things up and de-clutter a little. The down side to it is, that if I've really enjoyed a product, then I'll want to repurchase it and then re-clutter my shelves, cupboards, drawers and so on so forth! Vicious circle really isn't it.

Anyway, on with the meaty stuff!

Batiste Dry Shampoo

I only wash my hair 2/3 times a week at most so Dry Shampoo is something I am always stocked up on and going through like it's going out of fashion! Batiste is my absolute favourite. I have tried others, such as CoLab Dry Shampoo, Superdrug Dry Shampoo etc etc but I always come back to Batiste because in my opinion it really does the best job. I don't particularly mind which scent I use, it differs each time I repurchase one (depending what mood I'm in). I think my favourite is the tropical scent because it reminds me of summer holidays, but sometimes I like to go for a sweeter scent like Sweetie here (and the packaging of this one is so cute). If you're looking for a good dry shampoo then go straight for Batiste, I doubt that you'll be disappointed. I do have another review of the Batiste Dry Shampoo in comparison to Superdrugs version here - Dry Shampoo Reviews

Lily Flame Rhubarb Scented Candle Tin

I am so sad that this candle has come to an end because it made my bedroom smell like an old fashioned sweetie shop. I bought this whilst me and my partner were camping up and down the UK in the summer last year. I went into a little gift shop in Somerset that was swarming with Lily-Flame Candles and I could resist repeatedly taking off lids and breathing in the lovely aromas. I knew I had to buy one and this was my absolute favourite. It literally smells like a packet of Rhubarb and Custard sweets - mouthwatering and amazing! I loved it so much that I wrote a full review about it here - Lily-Flame Rhubarb Candle Review

Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser

Do you ever have one of those experiences when you run out of your favourite cleanser and think "I have so many other cleansers to use up so I'll use those before I repurchase this one again". BIG MISTAKE! I only ran out of this a week ago and went on to using something else and in the space of a few days I came out with about 3/4 cystic spots and I deeply regret not repurchasing Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser straight away! Safe to say I have now rushed out and bought a new one to calm my skin down again. The difference it has made already is quite astonishing and my cystic acne has calmed down and nearly gone. Phew! Never again will I let myself run out of this without an immediate replacement. Read my full glowing review of the Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser here.

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish

I mentioned this particular edition of the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish in my January Favourites because I really enjoyed the tingly feeling it gave my skin when I used it as a sort of face mask. Cleanse and Polish is another product that I am always stocked up on and I like to alternate it with my Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser. The cleanse and polish really is the master of removing makeup, as it so easily removes all makeup including waterproof eye makeup without any difficulties. I often use this first to remove all of my makeup and then give my skin a second cleanse with Cetaphil. I love how natural this product is, how easy to dispense it is, the creamy consistency and just everything about it basically. If you're looking for a natural skin cleanser that has super strength makeup removal powers then look no further.

Fudge Clean Blonde Shampoo

I feel like I have been seriously promoting this stuff recently and quite simply that is because I love it and can't recommend it enough for blondies. It is my absolute favourite violet toning shampoo and nothing else I've used even compares to it. The pigment in this is quite strong but that's how I like it and I find it really moisturising which is something most other Violet toning shampoos lack. I don't like to settle for an average shampoo just for it's violet toning properties so I'm so happy that this has all the perks of a great shampoo plus the ability to banish brassiness from my blonde hair. Read a more in depth review of the Fudge Clean Blonde Shampoo here - Fudge Clean Blonde Review.

The Body Shop Frosted Cranberry Body Polish

I love the majority of scents from the body shop shower products and this one is no exception. I received the frosted cranberry body polish in a set for christmas with a shower gel and shower puffy. Safe to say that the frosted cranberry shower gel was used very soon after christmas whereas the body polish (which I don't use as often - maybe once a week) has only just seen its end. The fragrance is a really fresh and quite sharp cranberry scent which reminds me of christmas and festive spices. I like this body polish in particular because it lathers up and can be used in place of a shower gel when you need an extra scrub to brighten up your skin and remove dry patches/dead skin. I doubt that I will repurchase this product because there are other scrubs I prefer using, however I did enjoy it - particularly the scent - and maybe next christmas I will be blessed with it once again.

There we have it, my March empties - most of which I am very sad to see gone. I have already purchased the majority of these items because I love them so much and they are regulars in my shower/haircare routines. Although I am not repurchasing the Lily-Flame candle, (because I literally have a stockpile of candles) I do love the brand and the variety of candles they have, so it's definitely one I'll consider buying from in the future. The second product I won't repurchase is the Body Shop frosted cranberry body polish but I am always using body shop products and I like to try different things from their shower range, so no hard feelings there. I honestly recommend all of these products which is probably quite surprising for an empties post but that's why I felt inspired to write this post in the first place because there were so many products that I loved here. 

Let me know if you try any of these products or if you have a love/hate relationship with them yourself.

Here are the links for all of the products I have mentioned above;

Batiste Dry Shampoo

Lily Flame Rhubarb Scented Candle Tin

Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish

Fudge Clean Blonde Shampoo

The Body Shop Frosted Cranberry Body Polish

The product I am reviewing today is the Lee Stafford Bleach Blondes Shampoo. I've had some fashion of Blonde in my hair for quite a long time now so understandably I've tried the majority of violet toning shampoos on the market. I have my favourites (Fudge Clean Blonde Shampoo) along with some that do the job of toning but without the other lovely benefits of a good shampoo and this unfortunately is the latter.

If you're blonde you'll understand that it isn't the easiest of colours to keep looking fresh, bright and non brassy. If you think being blonde is an easy, lazy hair colour to go for then you are wrong. Unless you use the correct products and look after your blonde then you are going to become very dull and extremely brassy very quickly and that is not an attractive blonde to be. The good news is, with just a few simple switches in hair care products you can keep your blonde looking almost as good as the first day it was coloured. The most important one in my opinion is a violet toning shampoo. There are plenty out there and you don't need to pay a great deal of money to get a good one, but of course everyones hair needs are different and that is why I am sharing this one with you.

Unfortunately for me the Lee Stafford Bleach Blondes Shampoo just didn't tick all the boxes. It's one that I used a while back but couldn't really remember how impressed I was with it so I purchased it again recently to try and review. So lets start with the positives.

Pros

One thing I do like about this shampoo is that the violet pigment isn't too strong, meaning that it would be ok to use regularly without fear of your hair turning purple. I washed my hair and left this on for around 5/10 minutes whilst I got on with doing other things. I was quite wary about doing this as I wasn't sure how strong the colour would be, but I guess I wouldn't know if I didn't try and I wouldn't be here telling you that you're safe to leave it on for a little while.

Secondly I have to mention the scent of this shampoo. As with all Lee Stafford Products this smells amazing and it does lightly linger in your hair afterwards.

I wouldn't say this shampoo is particularly moisturising but it certainly didn't strip my hair of any moisture it already had. I hate when I use a shampoo that leaves my hair with that squeaky clean feeling that causes tangles and a matted mess and this one certainly did not do that at all. It left my hair quite manageable just after shampooing which I was slightly impressed with.

Now unfortunately for me, the pros end there. That's not to say this product wouldn't be suitable for you so please read on.

Cons

As with all shampoos I start off with a small amount on my hand (about the size of a 50p) and only use more if I need to. I rub my hands together first to start lathering the product before I apply it to my hair. When I put my 50p sized blob of Lee Stafford Bleach Blondes Shampoo onto my hand I thought it resembled blackcurrant jelly. Seriously it was wibble wobbling all over the place with its jelly like consistency and I was a bit dubious as to how well it would lather. I was quite disappointed as I must have had to use about the equivalent of four or five 50p pieces to get enough lather to feel that I was shampooing my hair effectively. This doesn't make the product cost effective at all, and I would rather spend a bit more money on a product that will last longer because I don't need to use as much. It isn't overly expensive at £6.99 for a 250ml bottle but when I can spend £9.95 on a 300ml shampoo that lasts me months and meets my needs better, I wouldn't bother.

I don't use a violet toning shampoo every time I wash my hair. I would say I use it 1 in every 3 washes just to keep on top of any brassiness. Usually when I have used a violet toning shampoo I can really tell the difference once I have washed and dried it. It leaves me with really white toned blonde sections in my hair and I can 100% tell the difference to before. With this shampoo, I couldn't really see much difference. No, there wasn't particularly any brassiness, but there wasn't any bright white blonde either. I guess this would be perfect for you if you weren't looking for such a dramatic effect but wanted to keep your blonde a little brighter, but for me it didn't impress me enough compared to other products I've used.

Once I'd dried my hair I wasn't blown away with how my hair looked. It was quite dull in comparison to what I'm used to and although it had quite a lot of texture it didn't feel as clean as usual.

Blushers are a makeup product that I'm not too fussy about it terms of price. I don't need a high end blusher to make me happy and I think budget blushers can be just as good as their high end alternatives. The thing I love most about these bargain blushers is that I can probably buy about 10 for the price of one high end blusher and then I can experiment easily with different colours and find what suits me.

Introducing the Natural Collection Blushed Cheeks

I have two different shades of the Natural Collection Blushed Cheeks and I think the question is, why don't I have more? At only £1.99 per blusher, these little beauties are an absolute bargain wouldn't you agree? Especially when boots have 3 for 2 offers on and you can get 3 different blushers for just short of £4. Amazing. The colour range isn't massive as unfortunately there are only 6 shades and these are quite limited to pinky tones. It would be absolutely amazing if Natural Collections Blushed Cheeks experimented with peach tones as well as pink.

The shades I have are; Rosey Glow (shown on the left swatch) and Peach Melba (shown on the right swatch). 

Application

I can't begin to explain how silky smooth the Natural Collection Blushed Cheeks are. If you run your fingers across the blusher you'll notice that they have a real velvety texture and they apply as a matte blusher. I love using matte blushers when I am teaming it with highlighter because I don't want too much of a highlighted area, and these prevent that from happening. The colours aren't hugely impressive on the pigment front, however they are buildable, and you'll find your makeup brush picks up the colour fairly easily. If you're like me and prefer quite a subtle blush colour then these will be right up your street. As you can see on the swatch above, both Rosey Glow and Peach Melba are quite natural colours which fit in perfectly with my preferred minimal/natural makeup looks recently.

If paired with a good makeup primer and foundation, these blushers have pretty impressive staying power. When I am using them on minimal makeup days (quite often) they tend not to last as long because I don't wear foundation and therefore the colour doesn't really have anything to grab onto. If you are using them without foundation then I still advise applying a primer beforehand to give them a better chance at lasting. Generally for £1.99, I cannot complain at all about the quality of these blushers and I recommend that you try them.

If you haven't experimented much with Blushers or are just looking for a budget one that is of good quality, then look no further. I've tried quite a number of budget blushers and these by far come out on top for me. I'd just like to point out that you could by the whole set of Natural Collection Blushed Cheeks for just short of £12 if you wish. Now, when you could spend that much on one high end blusher, why wouldn't you be tempted? These silky, matte, natural blushers are perfect for the budget beauty lovers amongst us. They certainly suit my needs.

Let me know what your favourite Bargain Blushers are in the comments below and don't forget to follow me via BlogLovin' so that you never miss a post!