#mydubai Day 4

Our fourth day in Dubai we decided to break our days of sitting round the pool and evenings dining out   for a trip to Dubai Mall. I'd heard many stories about the shopping in Dubai so I was keen to take a look round and see what they had to offer. The girls ditched the boys round the pool early and headed for some shopping.

It's rather bizarre walking round the opulent mall which is about ten times the size of any local mall you will know and see New Look sitting beside Bath & Bodyworks. Us girls made a beeline for Victoria Secrets which wasn't as cheap as the US but as we all know, money spent on holiday doesn't count. 

Before we departed for Dubai I spotted a clutch bag from Kate Spade with flamingos on it. Somehow I managed to resist instantly purchasing and decided it would be my 'Dubai purchase'. Walking into the Dubai store (which took forever to find even with our map) I was pleased to spot it immediately. Once I get some decent photos I will put up a post on my Kate Spade clutch including this one.

Despite all the amazing options for dining in Dubai the one on my list which was a must do for me was The Cheesecake Factory. Luckily the Dubai branch is at the Dubai Mall so whilst it meant that alcohol was not on the menu and it took some convincing of everyone else saying 'I don't like cheesecake' we reserved our table.

Thankfully it was well received by everyone, especially when they saw the portion sizes going round. We started by ordering the mini sliders to share. We were all starving by this point so I didn't have an opportunity to snap a photo but these were not mini burgers as you know them. They were huge, ok maybe not huge but certainly McDonalds Happy Meal size. After gorging on them we really weren't in need of our mains, especially as we'd also been devouring sweet potato fries that had been passed on from some friends who we'd seen in the restaurant.

I of course went for my favourite Cajun Chicken Little's as standard and everyone else has a mix of burgers and pasta from the menu. Stuffed to the brim we all rolled out for a photo op at the aquarium and then made our way outside to see the fountains and take some photos of the Burj Khalifa which we were too exhausted/stuffed/hot to consider climbing to the top of.

On our way to find a taxi home we spotted an ice cream stand and Jo and I couldn't resist treating ourselves to some dessert.

Our shopping trip was a nice break from the usual routine we'd fallen into whilst holidaying in Dubai but it is really just an amazing Mall as you would expect. You could spend hours looking at everything and it's certainly good to have something in mind to avoid roaming around aimlessly. Also remember as I said, alcohol is not served in the Mall so don't expect to find any and keep those shoulders and knees covered ladies.

July Beauty Haul

I'm still on a mission to use products I have before buying new ones but one or two items have made their way into the empties pile which gave me an opportunity to make some repurchases and of course, one or two other things made their way home with me.

Nip+Fab Glycolic Fix Exfoliating Facial Pads

I recently discovered First Aid Beauty's Facial Radiance Pads and really enjoyed using them, so much so that they appeared in my May Favourites and I whizzed through them with some speed. When I reached the end of my small tub I was all set to make a reorder when I received a notification that Superdrug had an offer on the Nip+Fab version. For a steal at just over £5 I couldn't resist giving these a try to see how they compare. I shall report back.

L'Occitane Hand Cream, Vitoria-Regia
This was actually a gift from mum who knows how much I love a hand cream. Also minus the C it's almost named after me. Aquatic Floral notes are how L'Occitane describe this scent and I can't argue with that. It's a nice change from my favoured citrus scents and only Roger & Gallet have come close to  competing with L'Occitane in the hand cream stakes. Whilst the speed with which I go through hand cream these days makes larger tubes more desirable I can't deny enjoy the practicality of these smaller tubes especially for my handbag.

Makeup Revolution Highlighter, Pink Lights
This will be my first foray into Makeup Revolution products and I think I've made a good starting point. With strobing all the rage at the moment and deciding I had a gap in my highlighter I decided to give this a try. I was amazed at the first swatch and whilst yet to dive into using as instructed I'm looking forward to it.

Maybelline BROWdrama
This is my third tube of Maybelline's BROWdrama and it's safe to say I'm a big fan. Another product making it's way to holy grail status I favour this over even the Anastasia Brow Wiz. This product is so quick and easy to use and takes minimal effort. I was even using this on holiday when usually I wouldn't bother worrying about eyebrows whilst lounging round the pool.

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer
Was it completely necessary to repurchase this concealer when I have other 'adequate' offerings in my stash? Probably not but continuing the holy grail theme and with an offer on Maybelline products in Superdrug it was thrown into the basket. I don't tend to do much concealer other than dark circles and this works a treat for me. Creamy and easy to blend (adopting Mary Greenwell's patting method of late) this doesn't crease or settle into my fine lines. Hailed as a dupe for the Nars blogger favourite I'm happy with my more affordable offering.

The Wet Brush, Safari Collection

I do love The Wet Brush and this is my third purchase due to them not travelling too well. The delicate bristles can be squashed if you squeeze into a make up bag, you can slightly see some damage already to this one after taking it away for the night last week. Not to self find another brush for travelling but otherwise I have no complaints. I quite enjoy the repurchase of The Wet Brush as it gives me an opportunity to choose a different colour way. As you can see this time I embraced my love of animal prints.

What have you been repurchasing lately?

Skincare Empties June 2015

I have ploughed through my skincare products lately and a random mascara thrown in for good measure. You know how these posts work so let's get to it. 

Soap & Glory Peaches & Clean Cleanser
Repackaged and renamed Peaches & Clean Cream Cleanser this is a product I enjoyed using. It was my regular morning cleanse and the pump bottle was perfect. I would definitely repurchase for it's peachy scent.

Sleek I'm Conditional Mascara*
Promoting strong, long and healthy lashes I'm Conditional formula aids growth. The thick double bristle brush gave some amazing length and I was disappointed that the mascara went off before I had a chance to use in its entirety.

L'Occitane Angelica Hydra Vital Cream
I took this pot to Dubai with me but really didn't enjoy using it. I did persevere but it's balmy texture was not enjoyable to use as a moisturising step and I found the scent too waxy.

La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo[+]
Another one of those products that is always cropping up in these posts. You can read the Effaclar Duo Review here or take my word for it that this is a must have for those who suffer from frequent blemishes or the odd one or two.

Proactiv Skincare Regime*
You can read my full review on the Proactiv Skincare Regime in this post. In short I was a fan of the regime although it's nothing something I would repurchase long term as 'at my age' I require a few more hardier products in my routine.

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish
An oldie but a goodie. Whenever I travel I can always rely on Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish and this tube making it's way into empties shows it's had some love during recent trips. I will certainly repurchase for future trips.

Dr Organic Snail Gel Facial Serum*
Would you use 'snail gel' on your face? Well I did. A whole bottle of it and loved it. You can read my review of Dr Organics Snail Gel Facial Serum for a full rundown but let me tell you this is one of the nicest smelling serums I have used. 

Soveral Floral Rain Hydrating Face Mist*
If you have already read my Holiday Skin Regime you will know that I was not a fan of Soveral Hydrating Mist. It was quite simply 'too floral' for me. This would not be a scent I would've repurchased for myself but frangrance aside it was a nice product to use.

Prai 24k Gold Wrinkle Repair Souffle*
This product is definitely a case of packaging over product. Very attractive it may be but I was disappointed to see how little product was inside such a large tub. Furthermore despite it's 'innovative algae active' I didn't find this cream any better than other more affordable options. It's also heavily fragranced and felt like quite an 'old lady' product. On the other hand I don't think I necessarily look any more wrinkled since using it so it's not all bad.

What skincare products have you been finishing lately?

*PR Sample

In Flight Essentials | Short Haul Flights

Most of my previous flights to date have been long haul and therefore my in flight essentials have been hardier than what was needed for a two hour trip to Ibiza. That said I still wanted to have one or two items with me to ensure that I didn't look too travel wearing when I arrived at my hotel.

Avenue Thermal Water Spray*
Yes this is essentially a can of water but it's nonetheless a travel essential for me and always appears in my beach bag or as part of my sightseeing kit. For flights it's just the thing to refresh the face and combat dehydration from the cabin air. It's also handy to have on hand for sunburn and other irritations you might experience on your trip.

Soft & Gentle Orange Blossom & Grapefruit Deodorant*
This is in no way a contender for Sure Maximum Protection but it's perfectly adequate to freshen up before your land and board a sweaty coach to your destination. It was also handy to throw into my bag when I travelled to visit my parents on the Island or reach for when needed. Sometimes a spray is what you need to feel the gap when a cream would be too messy.

Bath & Bodyworks Hand Sanitizer
I travelled to the airport by train for this trip so on top of that, the flight and a coach journey a hand sanitizer was definitely required. I also knew I was in a middle seat on the plane and unsure how easy I'd be able to get in and out of my seat so wanted to ensure I could still keep my hands clean as necessary. The current flavour I'm using is Candy Apple from the Halloween range - it makes me smile every time I use it as it reminds me Apple Sourz from my youth!

Josie Maran Coconut Watercolour Cheek Gelee, Getaway Red
I love this Cheek Gelee from Josie Maran I often wonder why I haven't purchased more from the range. In any case this is a perfect blush for travelling as it requires no brushes and adds a flush of colour which can be needed if feeling a little peaky from travelling.

Trilogy CoQ10 Age Proof Eye Recovery Concentration*
I've become quite taken with this rollerball from Trilogy since featuring it in my Hydrating Skincare Favourites post. When I was putting together my inflight kit I knew this was perfect for travelling with me. For a two hour flight I knew I wouldn't be bothered with removing make up and applying creams and such but also that my eyes would suffer more than most. Having this rollerball to hand for reapplying when my eyes needed it ensured I didn't look like I'd spent the night in club already.


NYX Butter Lipstick, Coral Red*
Since appearing in my April Favourites I've found it hard to turn to any other lipstick lately, fearing this might actually be one I used up before the end of the year I use it so frequently. As I mentioned in that post it's the perfect red for the time of year and the formulation doesn't leave lips dry.

Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Powder
My Holy Grail Product and one I'm never without. A touch up of this powder and an addition of the aforementioned lipstick and cheek gelee and I was good to go on arrival. Obviously this powder was also perfect for tackling shine throughout my holiday.

Roger & Gallet Fleur d'Osmanthus Hand Balm*
I used this hand cream religiously on holiday. I don't know what was going on but whatever I seemed to do my hands were crying out for moisture. This was a fruity fragrance just perfect for a Summer holiday.

DrPawPaw Original Clear Balm*
Not only perfect for your holidays this is a product that could also come in handy during the festival season. A balm containing papaya, olive oil and Aloe Vera oil that is perfect for skin irritations such as sunburn. This tiny tube can be used to stray hairs, massage into cuticles and as a lip balm. I had it on hand mainly for it's lip balm properties but during the week I was away it was nice to have something for looking after my nails. Even better it's a UK made product.

So there's a peek at what I take on a flight with me, what are your essentials?

*PR Samples

BruzZ - The Hygienic Nail Brush

Bruzz Hygienic Nail Brush*

I have a new addition to my nail kit and it's not the sexiest of products but it's one of value, BruzZ, the Hygienic Nail Brush*. Invented by a beauty therapist for quicker, easier and more hygienic nail cleaning this is a quirky little product I've made part of my regime.

I must confess until this point I had never really used a nail brush nor even owned one. Of course I clean my hands regularly and have cleaned under nails with an orange stick and similar I've never really  tackled them properly. Ridiculous when you think of how much dirt and bacteria fingernails can harbour.

I have regularly had manicures and nail treatments in salons but you'll never see a nail brush in the salon as they're pretty impossible to sanitise properly and can be very harsh. Beauty therapist Emma Myers decided to set about creating something that she could use on her clients.

The first difference between the BruzZ and your standard nail brush is that the bristles are self contained and will clean the top, underside and tip of your nail in one quick action. The bristles are even contain vanilla extract for a luxurious touch.

Squeeze liquid soap into the centre of the BruzZ and this is all that's needed for cleaning your nails. Due to it's ball design all the liquid is self contained meaning that airborne germs and bacteria will not get in nor will your bathroom be covered in soapy spray.

For those of us that wear gel and acrylic nails and certainly wouldn't want to risk damaging them, the BruzZ even works on them and is gentle enough to not cause any lifting.

Once finished simply remove the bristles and clean - you can even pop them in the dishwasher.

I one for one have made cleaning my nails part of my nail regime, have you?

*PR Sample