Video: What's in my Handbag? (Weekend Edition)

I hope everyone had an amazing Easter break. I just stuffed my face with some delicious Nigerian Jollof Rice and had some Walnut cake as dessert so I am pretty full. I even forgot to let you guys know that I have a new video up on my channel. This is the one where I chat about my weekend bag from Primark which I am obsessed with at the moment. I recently downsized my weekend bag and my everyday bag (Longchamp LM Metal-review here) is definitely over the moon because I use it everyday. The Primark Bag (review here) is just perfect for the weekends and I have got so much use from it. It is very compact yet it still manages to store all my weekend essentials and a few extras. Let me stop rambling and leave you to watch the video. Here is a direct link to the video here and it is embedded above I would love it if you subscribed to my channel here. I would see you in my next post. Don't forget to enter the La Roche Posay Giveaway currently running now and it's open internationally too!!

Primark Haul (Video)

I never understand why people look down on Primark! It is one of my favourite stores to pop into; granted it may not have the best quality every time. Primark has really improved over the years especially with the quality and price (I have to add). One thing I really like Primark for is the wide range of items available there. They are also very good at creating dupes for many higher end and some high street stores like the Zara Mini City Bag look alike which I featured in a recent post. There are so many hidden gems in Primark and you just have to look and find the right one. It may be very chaotic on some days but it's always a nice store to pop into for basic items. I would stop rambling now and dive in. As always, I filmed the haul and it's on my channel on YouTube which you can find a direct link to the video here and you can watch it below if you wish. It would mean a lot to me if you subscribed here so you don't miss any updates.





I picked up two tops/blouses which look really lovely and very Spring appropriate. They both have lace detailing at the top which gives way to a pleated chiffon flowing body. I got them in Peach and Black. I always wear a nice camisole underneath because it is transparent/see-through. I also got some workout wear which is surprisingly good. I love H&M Sports wear and I thought they were the best affordable ones out there but the Primark ones are really good and slightly cheaper. I picked up a workout top, bottoms and a fleece jacket and the total cost for all three was just under £15 which is such a bargain. I also picked up some accessories including the Primark Mini City Bag (featured here) and two sunglasses which I adore. That's pretty much all I picked up and i hope you enjoyed this video. Have an amazing week ahead and see you in my next post...xx

Primark Mini City Bag (The Weekend Bag)

I have quite a few handbags in my stash and I actually think I will be donating them all away because I never really get to use them all.  I generally reach for about five of my hand bags in a year and they are mostly my Zara ones (reviews here and here), Whistles Clutch (review here) and Longchamp LM Tote (review here)) and I think that’s ridiculous.  However, I realised that I needed a weekend handbag because my Longchamp LM Metal is my everyday bag and it is screaming for some rest. Honestly, it is one of the best bags I own because it has lasted a long while seeing that I use (and load it) every single day. It is still going strong but I think it's crucial I give it some downtime during the weekend which is how this Primark Beauty came into my life. We can all agree that Primark aka Primarni has really changed over the years in terms of quality and prices. While you can still find some cheap stuff there, some things now cost £25 and even £30 which I think is insane. However, I have to say the quality has improved from previous years and I own some pieces that have lasted me for more than three years. I know some people don't like Primark but I love going there because one can get really basic everyday stuff and even a few gems like this bag from there.

I am surrounded by two Primark Stores (one near work and another a little distance from my house) so I tend to pop in every now and then to see what's new or replenish some basic items. I actually like Primark Bags because they look pretty and some of them last a really long time. For the price, you can't expect the same quality as you would get from a designer bag or other high street stores but it is a reasonable quality. Most Primark bags don't have names but this one really reminds me of this Zara Mini City Bag (which also slightly reminds me of the Celine Nano Bag...just only slightly!). I am actually going to christen it the Primark Mini City B....there! a nice name for a nice bag. I love that it is structured and it stands really well on its own. I have a thing for structured bag although I still love my slouchy Longchamp Tote. I think the size of this Primark bag is perfect for the weekend because I only put in my barest essentials. To be fair, I hardly go out during the weekends except I am off for little errands or just window shopping. I just love to lazy around during the weekend. However, the few times I have been out, this bag has been fantastic.

Specifications

Just like the Zara Mini City Bag, it is made from Polyurethane so it really feels and looks like leather but it is not.  I like that it's so compact and portable yet it can fit in a lot of items without looking bulky. It's a gorgeous deep navy blue shade which I adore and it looks great with anything I wear including denim. Its handles are lined with faux croc/snake skin which gives it a nice expensive feel. It has three compartments which contain two zipped sides and an open middle section with a buckle to secure it. The corners can be expanded out like the Celine (hahaha) and it can be buckled back in for a more structured look. I prefer to leave it buckled because I feel it looks cuter that way.  Inside the middle section, there are two other compartments; one is a zipped compartment and the other is a mobile phpne compartment.  It also has a small padlock in the front compartment which adds some character to the bag although I am not sure if I like it or not. 

Cost and Overall Thoughts

The best part is it comes with an adjustable long strap so you can choose to wear it over the shoulders or you can tuck it away and carry it by the handles. I generally prefer to hold it by the handles because it is not heavy at all and I feel I have more control over it that way. Also, it just looks very chic holding bags from their handles, I think.  It comes in other colours like Black, Grey, Blue and Navy Blue. I am tempted to go back for the grey but we will see. It costs only £8 so it's not one to break the bank. I don't expect it to last forever but seeing that I will be using it only during the weekend, I think it will be around for a while. I absolutely adore this bag and if I didn’t have the original Zara City Bag, I would have picked up the bigger city bag which Primark currently have for £10-£12. If you could not get your hands on the Zara City Bag (regular or mini size), I think this Primark version is amazing dupe for a fraction of the price. That's all folks! Have you been to Primark recently? They have some amazing new stock and their Spring Collection looks really amazing!! See you in my next post...xx

Haul:Primark Fall/Autumn Wallet

Hi My Lovelies,
I feel like i have massively neglected this blog for a long while and i apologize for that. Not for not publishing new posts but for not letting you, my lovely readers, know that I would be taking a hiatus for a short while. I am tempted to say I have gotten my blogging mojo back but I have not got it back completely and I will be the last person to put up a half-baked post when I can skip it altogether. Having said that, I have missed blogging and I see myself completely back in a short while. Thank you so much for always stopping by and leaving all the love on here; it really goes a long way. I have quite a few blog posts planned in my drafts which i will be whipping out when I get back to my lovely blogging self but in the mean time, I will leave you with a lovely little purchase i got from Primark which i think is perfect for the Fall/Autumn Season. I must say Primark aka Primarni is really stepping up their game both in quality and price. Oh yeah, gone are the days when you could walk into Primark with a tenner and come out with a bag of goodies. But I must say the prices have gone up almost in proportion to the quality and style they have got in there which is bang on trend!!





Primark Red and Gold Embossed Wallet
Can we just take a moment to appreciate the super posh name I christened my beautiful wallet. Hahahha, this is what the other big brands do and attach hefty price tags to their products. Note to Primark: Thank me later for this wonderful name!! To be honest, I do love wallets and I will like to have a fancy pancy one someday but for now, most of my wallets have been from normal high street brands like River Island and Dorothy Perkins and I do use my wallets for a really long time, sometimes, as long as almost 2 years. My last one was properly battered and i will spare you any pictures for fear you may click off this page prematurely. Anyways, I went into Primark and this wallet totally caught my eye!! it was very cute with its gold plated little bow and it had a variety of colours but I was attracted to this rich red colour because it seemed to call out to me. I promptly snatched it up before it went away.







Details
It is a pretty decent wallet and it appears stronger than some of the other Primark Wallets that were on display. I have to say Primark has quite a few lovely designs with better than average quality so I was quite pleased to see this wallet in this rich red colour complete with the gold plated bow which also doubles as the clasp for the wallet which you can twist to lock it. The outer material is made of soft faux leather which feels, surprisingly, like good quality leather but i know it is not. Anyways, time will Inside the wallet houses various compartments for cards, notes and coins. It also has a separate compartment with a zip where you can store additional cash and other bits and bobs. I never carry cash especially here in the UK as i prefer to use my cards so this is excellent for me. The zip feels really sturdy and does not snag or act dodgy when zipping as some really cheap wallets do. I am also happy to report that the card compartments fit your cards properly; not too tight or loose and it is quite easy to pull your cards out when you need it. I once bought a wallet a little while ago on sales, which has been promptly returned if i may add, but it would not fit my cards properly; what's the point in that? Now, I always make sure i test if my cards fit before purchasing any wallet.






Cost
As usual, this was very affordable which is the reason why i always pop in every now and then to Primark. This wallet set me back by only £5 and i think it is pretty lovely for such good quality but I can only say time will tell how long and hard wearing this wallet will be but I won't stress myself too much if anything untoward happens to it. I totally doubt this wallet will let me down because my sister has another lovely wallet also from Primark which she has been using for almost a year and it looks the same way as it was when she bought it. I had been scheming earlier to get (tiff) that wallet from her but my plans have failed and I think with this new wallet, I have decided to bury that plan...for now!! You can pick this up in any Primark nearest to you hehehhehe.



I hope you enjoyed this post and I hope to be back with more posts during this week. So say a little prayer to get my Blogging Mojo back...toodles...xx

Top Acne/Spot/Pimple Treatment Gels

               
Hey Lovelies,

So, it is Day 4 of my consecutive posting week and I am ecstatic that I have been able to do this so far. I won't lie to you; it's been a little pressure but good positive pressure so I am not complaining. Today I'd be reviewing my top, favourite and most reached for spot treatments. If you are like me and you have spots/acne cropping up every now and then when you least expect, this is the post for you. 

Since I hit teenage years I started experiencing the odd pimple/acne/spot occasionally but it was not frequent and it did not really have any atrocious effects on my face. When I got into my early twenties (...fret not, I am not fifty, I promise) and started using foundation, the pimples went full throttle. Not only that, it left a lot of unwanted souvenirs on my face which has taken me a really long time trying to get rid of. 

Thankfully, I have learned to nip those naughty pimples/spots/acne, whatever you want to call them, right in the bud with these amazing spot treatments which I would share with you. These products have worked for me. Sometimes, I use them together and other times I just use them on their own depending on how my skin feels and how severe the acne is. Before we dive into the post, I'd like to write a little blurb about Benzoyl Peroxide which is the active ingredient of many acne treatment gels.

Does this post not remind you of a lecture?

                                           
Benzoyl Peroxide as an active ingredient for Acne Treatment
You may not know this but I love the Sciences so much that I had both my Undergrad and Master's Degree in it because they interested me so much and I am still very passionate about it. This bit may be a bit boring if you don't like anything scientific but I would try to make it as interesting as I can because I think it is always important to know how some treatments work to improve our skin.. So, here goes... Benzoyl Peroxide is an organic compound which breaks down to free radicals that further break down to Benzoic acid and Oxygen. 

Now, once Benzoyl Peroxide has been absorbed by the skin, the oxygen produced earlier would react with the bacteria responsible for causing acne known as P. Acnes and cause it to die. This is easily possible because P. Acnes is a bacteria that does not need oxygen, therefore, introducing oxygen to it and its surrounding environment causes its death. Voila!! End of Acne. Furthermore, Benzoyl Peroxide also dries up the skin (P.Acnes proliferates where the skin is moist) and increases skin cell turnover so new skin is easily regenerated. Not everyone can tolerate Benzoyl Peroxide which is why it is important to do a patch test before purchasing it. 

                                                                    courtesy: www.drugline.org

Despite how strong it could be, it is still sold as an over-the-counter treatment for acne which is good. It is advisable to start with lower concentration from say 1% and gradually increasing to 5%. I know there are some treatment gels that contain about 10% which I think may have to be accompanied with a Doctor's prescription in some countries. It is very important to use sunscreen if you are going to be outdoors after using Benzoyl Peroxide treatment gels because it can enhance hyper-pigmentation when it reacts with the sun's UV rays which is not very cool. It can also bleach or stain fabrics so you have to be careful with your nightgown and pillowcases when using this. Honestly, I have never experiences any untoward reactions except just for the occasional drying on my face but I prefer to reserve my Benzoyl Peroxide acne treatment gels for application at night only. That was not too boring, was it?...Now to the Review..

Mary Kay Acne Treatment Gel
This has to be my Holy Grail acne treatment of choice. I have been using this for years and it has always worked for me. Mary Kay is a popular brand which specialise in all kinds of make up, skin care, fragrances and of course, my beloved acne treatment gel. It contains 5% Benzoyl Peroxide which is the active ingredient which works effectively to attack the acne. There are so many Acne treatment gels out that which contain Benzoyl Peroxide but I prefer this Mary Kay formula because I find that my skin tolerates it perfectly. 

The Mary Kay Acne Treatment Gel promises to help in the management of acne, dry up the acne pimples and help prevent new acne pimples which I can confidently say it does. Although, some acne/pimples have a mind of their own and can still appear after you have stopped using this treatment gel but it is really hard for any acne to appear when you use this treatment gel continuously. It is a little drying but not to the point of causing any skin peels. Honestly, this works like magic and I usually apply it at night to wake up to a bumpless, acne-free face. The spot just reduces drastically in size.

 It is that AMAZING!! As with any treatment containing Benzoyl peroxide, it is advisable to use sunscreen if you are going out doors to prevent hyper-pigmentation. I don't have any problem with it because I use this only at night. Mary Kay advises to start in a gradual way to use this treatment gel to understand how well your skin can tolerate it. You can start from one application daily and then increase to about two or three times daily if need be. 

Apart from Benzoyl Peroxide as the active ingredient, it also contains Horse Chestnut Seed Extract and Cucumber Fruit Extract to help reduce any irritation the acne is currently causing. I love this gel so much and I always have at least 2 tubes. I have never bought it in the UK but I am pretty sure you can get it here through one of their beauty consultants online. I always get mine from Nigeria whenever I am on holiday or I just ask my sister to get some and send it through anyone coming my way...It is definitely my favourite acne treatment gel hands down.

Clearasil Blemish + Marks Treatment Cream
I have already previously reviewed this product in a previous post here. Although, it says it is a blemish and marks treatment cream, it has not worked for me in that way. Instead, it has been effective in reducing the size and chances of Acne making an unwarranted appearance on my face which is why it has found its way into this post as one of my favourite acne treatment gels. It contains Salicylic Acid which is also another active ingredient to fight acne/pimples/spots. 

Salicylic Acid helps in exfoliating the skin and reducing the impact and size of inflammation caused by these naughty pimples. When absorbed in the skin, it helps unclog clogged pores by destroying the cement/hold the sticky cells causing these clogged pores have formed. So, you can safely say it helps unclog pores. Unlike Benzoyl Peroxide, Salicylic Acid also has a soothing and calming effect which is why it is also viewed as an anti-inflammatory. I know the Clearasil Treatment Gel also contains a unique ingredient complex containing Vit B3 which helps to reduce the appearances of blemishes but it has not been very effective for blemishes for me. 

However, I love how it takes care of the pimples/acne at hand and I know I can rely on it for that. It also has a drying effect which is why I try to moisturise with it. The difference between my application of the Clearasil treatment gel and the Mary Kay one is that I tend to use this more during the day. It is advisable to wear a sunscreen as well but personally, I feel it may not increase hyper pigmentation as much as the Mary Kay one. It's just my two cents/pennies in that aspect. You can purchase this in Boots or Superdrug or any Pharmacy/Beauty/Drug Store.

Spot Swat Treatment Gel
I really love this attractive little treatment gel because it looks so playful and colorful; It also has some very good spot treating qualities. I bought this in Primark a little while ago for just 50p and I really wish i bought a lot because it is really nice. It does not have any active ingredient like the other treatment gels rather it has some oils which help soothe any acne/pimple you may have. If you have suffered or are still suffering from Acne/Pimples, you'd know that it could sometimes be very uncomfortable, itchy and painful. The most annoying aspect is the more you touch it with your hands, the more it gets infected, spreads and leaves awful dark or red patches on your face. 

This lovely little gel contains Tea Tree Oil, Mint Oil and Eucaplyptus Oil which are all natural soothing agents and help reduces the inflammation and the urge to itch/scratch your spots. It also contains a little amount of salicylic acid but I think it has more of the soothing oils. I usually apply it first on my acne/pimple after it has been cleansed and may be trying to act up before I use the other treatment gels. 

Sometimes, I just use it alone when my face feels very irritable and it actually works well and helps reduces the size of the spot. You would experience a tingly feeling on your skin after application which is the sensation the soothing oils give. Other than that, I don't think I have experiences any other reactions and it does not dry my skin out courtesy of these wonderful oils.

As I mentioned at the beginning of the post, sometimes, I may use one or more of these treatment gels depending on how my skin feels although I secretly think only one at a time can still do the work. If I were to choose one based on really fast action, it would be the Mary Kay Acne Treatment Gel and if I wanted one that would not dry out my skin at all, I would opt for the Spot Swat Treatment Gel. If I wanted one for day time, I would choose the Clearasil Acne Treatment Cream. 

I hope you enjoyed this post as much as I enjoyed writing it up. Have you been having a nice weekend? Mine has been really amazing despite some slowly looming deadlines trying to dictate my life..Hahaha.. See you in my next post..tooodles...xxx