Escentual Lovin'

Escentual is definitely one of my favourite online retailers. Their French Pharmacy promotion is probably one of the reasons why. Escentual stock a great selection of Bioderma, La Rochey Posay, Avene, Caudalie etc and occasionally they offer up to a third off. While the promotion was on I thought I better stock up on a few essentials. 

The Klorane Mango Butter Conditioning Balm is my go-to conditioner at the moment. It’s rich enough that it helps hydrate my naturally dry, curly hair without weighing it down. It’s also amazing as a hair mask. Like the Ojon Rare Blend treatment, I like to pop it on while I’m in the bath so that the heat intensifies the treatment.

One of my first posts declared my love for Klorane Oatmilk Gentle Dry Shampoo and this love affair is still going strong. This dry shampoo is a firm staple in my hair routine, I use it almost every day. I’m just coming to the end of my current bottle so I thought I’d be better picking up 2 while they were offering such a good discount. I like to be prepared. 

The Nuxe Reve de Miel lip balm is a blogger classic and for a good reason. I was given this as a present at Christmas and I’ve never looked back. The smell is gorgeous and it leaves lips feeling so soft and hydrated. I mainly use this at night and I have the stick for every day wear.

Yes, I’m sorry, I’m continuing with the cliche. I only tried Bioderma Sensibio H2O a couple of months ago and I really wanted to not like it. But I can’t. It’s wonderful. I fully understand the hype. I only use this when I’m wearing a lot of eye makeup or if I’m being lazy (to take my makeup off before I properly cleanse instead of using an oil), but it removes makeup really effectively (even Double Wear and Benefit’s They’re Real Push Up Liner)

Klorane Peony Shampoo for Irritated Scalps was a last minute addition to my basket. As I’ve mentioned before, I have psoriasis on my scalp so I have to be conscious of shampoos as a lot of things can irritate my scalp. As this promised to have soothing and calming properties I thought this would be a possible alternative to my favourite shampoo, Philip Kingsly Flake Away. It didn’t aggravate my scalp but in all honesty it didn’t really wash my hair either - and I wouldn’t say I had particularly oily hair. I normally wash my hair every other day but I found myself having to wash my hair the following morning as my hair just didn’t feel clean. I’d image this would help calm everything down if I did try something that doesn’t really agree with my skin so I can’t see it going to waste but it certainly doesn’t make it to the shower shelf.

Did you get anything during the French Pharmacy promotion? 

How to Survive T in the Park

I’m by no means seasoned festival goer but I have went to T in the Park a couple of times and surprisingly I made it home without any major breakdowns (mud/urine/camping aren’t really my thing). I think going to a festival is something that needs to be done and for many, it’s a right of passage. For any festival, being organised is key. Especially if you’re camping. Yes, there are vendors who have most of the essentials so if you do forget anything, don’t panic (although their definition of essential is massively different from mine - hello skin care). If you’re going to T for the first time, I will just warn you that the walk from the drop off points to the camp site is horrific, so I would seriously consider how much you can actually carry. 

Clothing

1. Take a jacket

Although everyone wants to look fashionable, the temperamental weather in the UK is something that needs to be considered. A light, waterproof jacket with a hood which can be thrown on if it rains, but can be folded away into a bag if it’s hot is essential. New Look and Primark are perfect for this as they’re pretty inexpensive. Chances are it’ll get covered in mud anyway. 

2. Avoid jeans

If you get wet, they’re heavy and take an age to try. If it’s sunny, you’ll get too hot. Dresses etc are light to pack and easy to wear. 

3. Waterproof footwear

Hunter wellies definitely are an investment, but oh my goodness, they are comfortable. I bought mine 5 years ago and they’re still immaculate, even after a couple of festivals/having a horse/crazy snow/general Scottish weather. If you’re looking for something purse friendly, be aware of how long you’ll be wearing them each day. You’ll be standing a lot. 

Toiletries

1. f you’re going to overpack anything, make sure it’s hand sanitiser. 

2. Pack light

Unless you get a Refresh Band (which was the key to my survival), you have much access to running water other than the taps spread across the campsite. In terms of skin care, micellar waters are great. Pack some micellar water, lots of cotton pads, moisturiser and a good SPF. It’s tough, but a few days won’t kill you. 

3. Babywipes and suncream

Classic festival essentials.

Extra

1. Take black bags

You’ll need them for bringing clothes home. And they’re handy to sit on.

2. Don’t just take alcohol. 

Being hungover at a festival does not sound appealing to me in the slightest. I always took capri sun, they’re easy to pack and don’t taste horrible if they’re slightly warm. 

3. It can be an expensive weekend.

Take some cash. There will be cash points but chances are the queue will be crazy and/or they will charge a fortune to withdraw money. Like everything else.

Yes, I used to be blonde

And of course, have fun! There's such a great atmosphere at festivals and everyone is always really friendly. Just remember, if something cold lands on you, you're fine. If it's warm, you're not...

What are your festival tips?

What I've Been Reading #1

1. Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
2. Dark Places by Gillian Flynn
3. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
4. Look Behind You Sibel Hodge
5. The Accident by C.L. Taylor
6. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ranson Riggs

Despite the hype, I really wasn’t a massive fan of Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. I found it frustrating to read and couldn’t connect with the characters. Dark Places and Sharp Objects were entirely different. I couldn’t put either of them down. I love the complexity of the characters and I love how many unpredicted twists there were. I’ll definitely be looking forward to any future books by the author.

Lolita was one of those books that I always wanted to read but was worried that it would be a bit too heavy. The book was wonderfully dark and well written, although be it a little close to the bone at parts. I definitely understand why it’s considered a classic but if you’re easily offended, it might be one to avoid.

After reading Sharp Objects and Dark Places, I am well and truly going through a thriller phase. Look Behind You and The Accident were easy reads and perfect for commuting to and from work. Although they were a little predictable at points and not very memorable, they were both page turners. These would be great for taking on holiday. 

I LOVED Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. It’s so dark and quirky - reminded me a lot of Tim Burton. Apparently they’re making a film out of it - fingers crossed he’ll get involved. It’s a horror/thriller/mystery based around a 17 year old trying to find out more about his family history with some bizarre goings on. It’s in the Young Adult category, but it’s by no means another Twilight/Divergent type of story.

What have you been reading lately?