Antipodes Manuka Honey Mask - The Neglected Face Mask

Having dehydrated but combination/oily skin means that it’s a constant battle to keep my skin hydrated while trying to control oil and breakouts. Like anyone who’s obsessed with skincare I have a plethora of masks to suit all occasions however having temperamental skin, I very rarely mix it up. Aesop Parsley Seed Masque and Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel make a weekly appearance and when I need to bring in the big guns out comes Origins Clear Improvements. I’ve had Antipodes Manuka Honey Mask in my skincare basket for quite a while and despite the hype, it  was left pretty much neglected. Until now. 

If you’re a regular on the beauty blog circuit I’m sure this mask needs no introduction - moisturising, cleansing and packed full of antioxidants this mask does it all. It contains glycerin, avocado and natural oils to hydrate and of course, manuka honey known for it’s anti-inflammatory, anti-sceptic and healing properties. It’s a slightly odd texture, it’s more like a rich gel than a mask and you can barely feel it on the skin. Once you take it off, now that’s a different matter. Skin is soothed, hydrated and just looks healthy. I’m not 100% sold on the clarifying side of the mask but it’s certainly calms and soothes the skin.

Antipodes Manuka Honey Mask is well and truly back in rotation.

Have you tried Antipodes Manuka Honey Mask?

What I've Been Reading #5

The Girl With All The Gifts - M. C. Carey

It’s really hard to give a synopsis of this book without ruining it. I’d seen this mentioned on a couple of blogs but I hadn’t actually read what it was about and I’m glad I hadn’t - it’s better going into this book blind. What I will say is that it’s set in dystopia where there are very few survivors. Ten year old Melanie spends her life going between her cell and a classroom where she loves learning and loves her teacher, Miss Justineau. We’re quickly made aware that things aren't quite as they seem as Melanie and her classmates are shackled to their seats and are starved of psychical contact. It’s one of those books that haunt you even after you’ve finished it. It’s emotional and gripping and definitely one of my favourite books I’ve read this year.

The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August - Claire North

I’d first like to point out that I’m really not a fan of time travel. I couldn’t finish The Time Travellers Wife (possibly the only book in the last 5 years that I point blank refused to finish reading), I refused to read the second of the All Souls Trilogy despite really enjoying A Discovery of Witches and even frowned slightly at Hermione’s Time Turner. I bought The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August without really reading much about it after it came up as a suggestion on Amazon. It could have went horribly wrong but surprisingly it didn’t. Think Groundhog Day mixed with Captain America without the superheroes. Every time Harry August dies he is reborn into his past life with with all of his previous memories. Throughout his first few lives he tries the family man approach, becomes a doctor, an academic before finding that something is causing havoc earlier in each of his lives and he must try to stop it. The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August is certainly a page turner and good sci-fi for those who don’t like sci-fi. 

Where She Went - Gayle Forman

Following on from If I Stay but from Adam’s point of view at the height of his musical career. It goes into how the accident effected him and what happened to Mia. As I mentioned in my last What I’ve Been Reading post, I really enjoyed If I Stay but the sequel just didn’t do it for me. It took the “I can’t live without you” approach that I really don’t enjoy in teen fiction. 

The Humans - Matt Haig

This was described as “a love letter to humanity” on Amazon and I really couldn’t describe it any better. After a mathematician makes a breakthrough which a certain alien civilisation doesn’t think humans can handle, an alien is sent to take over his body to make sure that his findings are never brought to light. Having never experience emotions, this alien ends up developing relationships and learning what love is. There’s one particular part where the alien is giving his pretend son advice for life which brought me to tears. It’s funny and leaves you with the “maybe humanity isn’t so bad” feeling.

I Am Pilgram - Terry Hayes

Oh how I love a thriller. This is Homeland mixed with James Bond with a little bit of B613 from Scandal thrown in. Pilgram is first introduced as an agent from a US Intelligence group who is looking to retire. This retirement is short lived when he is asked to help with a potential global crisis. At 700 pages, you’d need to be a committed reader for this one. At times Hayes drags the story but it’s worth persevering. 

American Psycho - Bret Easton Ellis

After discovering just how much I enjoy reading Irvine Welsh books I thought I would try some Bret Easton Ellis. This is without a doubt most horrifically disgusting book I have ever read however the way Patrick Bateman’s character is developed throughout the book and how he normalises his violence is fascinating. Not one to read if you have a weak stomach but it’s definitely made me want to read more transgression fiction and I now think that everyone I pass in a suit is a psychopathic serial killer. 

Bridget Jones’s Diary - Helen Fielding

This is often considered a must-read book however after reading it I really don’t understand what the fascination is. I’m sure you’re all familiar with the story - single, 30-something Bridget obsessing about her weight and love life, something I’m sure all females can relate to to some extent. It has laugh out loud moments and who couldn’t love Mark Darcy but I was just left feeling a bit meh. 

What I've Been Watching #1

American Horror Story Freak Show

Despite being an absolute wuss, I’ve been addicted to AHS from the start. The stories, the characters and the overall weirdness just suck you in entirely. Now in it’s fourth series, Freak Show looks as though it’s going to be just as creepy as Asylum (The Cover was a bit disappointing, so we’ll not go there) and I’m only on the second episode. Probably not one to watch when you’re in the house on your own though…

Gilmore Girls

Without a doubt one of favourite TV series (thank you Lauren). Gilmore Girls is one of those programmes that you end up going through the emotions with the characters - you feel their happiness, their sadness and their frustration. Rory and Lorelai aren’t your typical TV family - Lorelai is a single mum from a teenager pregnancy and their relationship is more like best friends than mother daughter. Throw in Melissa McCarthy as Sookie and other hilarious characters along with the cutest town on TV and you have a seriously addictive TV programme. 

Ru Paul’s Drag Race

Oh. My. Lord. These ladies like to throw some serious shade. A girl at my work has been obsessed with this for months and I wish I’d listened to her sooner - I’ve basically been binge watching this non stop lately. It’s basically America’s Next Top Model for Drag Queens so think seriously fierce makeup and hilarious personalities. What more could you want?! Halleloo!

The Maze Runner

I’ve recently spoken about finishing the book series so I was really looking forward to the film. Thomas wakes up in an lift with no idea who or where he is. He finds himself trapped in the Glade surrounded by The Maze as part of a community who seem to have given up hope of ever escaping. When a girl shows up with a note saying that she’s the last one they know they have to make their move. It’s fast paced and keeps you thinking. My boyfriend hasn’t read the books and really enjoyed it. As someone who has read the books, I did enjoy it but I had the usual frustrations at how much the film deviated from the book. I understand that film adaptations need to adjust for the cinema but this is quite an extreme example. In it’s own right, a good film but I wouldn’t say it’s a very good adaptation. 

This week Criminals Minds and Grey’s Anatomy are back on Sky Atlantic too - I’m probably more excited than I should be for TV just now.