Over the past few weeks I've been testing out some new skincare products by Green People. I've been fortunate enough to incorporate three new products into my skincare regime, all from their latest Organic Young range. This range is designed for problem-prone, teenage skin; the products were curated for sensitive skin and are 100% cruelty-free! There are several incredible ingredients within the tree products from the 'Clear Skin' range that actively work to fight against bacteria, prevent skin damage and promote smoother, softer skin! My skincare regime is very strict; through my late teen years I have realised how important looking after my complexion is and make it my utmost priority every evening to give my skin some TLC. Without further ado, here is how I got on with Green People and their 'CLEAR SKIN' products...

Clear Skin Foaming Face Wash

The first product I reached for was the foaming face wash. The aim of the facial wash is to encourage blemish-free skin and defeat any teenage spot breakouts. Containing willow bark and tea tree extract, this facial wash reduces inflammation, controls and kills bacteria collaboratively. On the tube it suggests to use this product twice daily but I tend to use it only in the evenings. If you struggle with spots and breakouts then I definitely recommend this for you - I only tended to use it once everyday because I don't suffer regularly with blemishes. With a simple shake of the bottle, a couple pumps and leaving the foam on for about 5 minutes, I simply rinse the wash off with a flannel. The formula is really smooth and gave my skin a refreshing feel whenever I removed it!

Shop the product here

Clear Skin Cleansing Moisturiser

My favourite product of the three has to be the cleansing moisturiser; I seriously suffer with dry, dull skin so moisturiser is an essential part of not only my evening skincare regime, but my daily life! I reach for moisturiser several times a day, so you can only imagine how excited I was to try out something new. Formula-wise, the product was rich and creamy, deeply cleansing my facial pores and leaving a smooth base once rubbed in. Moreover, the formula is non-greasy so if you suffer with oily skin then you can also use this product with no awful side effects. Alike the facial wash, this product contains willow bark and green tea to reduce inflamed spots and kill bacteria; it also includes prebiotics to support a healthy skin balance! An incredible moisturiser that is suitable for all skin types.

Shop the product HERE

Clear Skin Purifying Serum

Finally, I've been trialing the purifying serum from the Organic Young collection. I don't usually use serum on a daily basis but I'm so glad I now have this in my routine. To be honest, I never fully understood what a serum actually did but I'm so glad I know now! Serums are essentially a lighter moisturiser that actively aids the skin by penetrating deeper and providing your skin with natural products that help with bacteria destruction. This specific serum advises you to use daily to target spot prone areas. The main ingredients include: Yucca that deeply cleanses/gently removes dead skin cells, alongside rosehip oil to promote that airbrushed complexion. If you suffer with acne or going through a hormonal time with your skin, invest in this purifying serum as it will do you wonders. I love using this on my dry skin and cannot believe how much it has helped!

Shop the product HERE

What are your favourite skincare products?

Lots of love

I've been digging through my blog photos and found these incredible shots from Mexico last summer. I honestly don't know why I haven't shared these before but it's definitely inspired me to write about travelling. Currently sitting at my university desk studying, all I can think about is travelling the world and seeing new places. I can't wait to experience the Italian culture in March where my boyfriend and I will be venturing from Milan ----> Florence ----> Rome! If you guys have any recommendations then make sure to hit me up on my socials (all linked in the top left of the blog) - I always love having chats with you all. Back to the post, I've decided to collate all the reasons I absolutely love to travel, share them and hopefully inspire you lovely lot to travel more. There are many reasons why travelling is so great for the mind and body; here is why you should travel more often too...

ESCAPISM

This particular time in my life can be very challenging - the dramatic change of lifestyle from teen to adult is more overwhelming than I ever imagined. I moved to university in September and since have learned a whole number of this about adulthood and more importantly, myself. If we endure through these challenging and stressful experiences, we find incredible traits about ourselves that we never knew; how to cope in awkward situations, what to do if something goes wrong and how to deal with intense emotions/fears. University is such a whirlwind and can become very draining at times. This is where my love for travelling comes into perspective - escaping from normal life can be the best way to put my mind at ease. Taking a step into a temporary location can help to reevaluate your life, appreciate all the small and amazing things that we sometimes take for granted. I'm so blessed to be able to get such a great education; learning is something I've always enjoyed, despite the difficult social problems I suffered with at school. Education is something a lot of us take for granted and by experiencing a new culture, we take this step back and realise how lucky we are to live the life we do. Escaping routine life is so important for the mind and I recommend you try it too, even if it is just for a weekend away.

Different Cultures

Embracing a new culture is fascinating to me - watching people go about their everyday lives and comparing (in the best way possible) how different they can be to our own. Here are some of my favourite tips to experience a new culture to its full potential:

1. RENT AN APARTMENT. Something I'm looking forward to about my upcoming trip to Italy is the two apartments we've booked. We only managed to find an Air BnB for Milan and Florence; however, I think renting an apartment really gives you a feel for the city/place you are staying.
2. Public Transport. Even things like transportation are fun to experience when visiting a new country...the metro in France is even slightly alternative to the London tube system.
3. FOOD. ALL THE FOOD. Everyone loves food - trying a new delicacy is something I always seem to enjoy when I travel to a new destination. It's so exciting to see and taste something that all the locals eat on a daily basis.

Hopefully I've made you want to discover a new part of the world, where are you jetting off to next? If you are looking for a cheap holiday then head over to https://www.holidaygems.co.uk/  to have a look at all the amazing deals on hotels and flights they have to offer!

Outfit Details

Two Piece - ROMWE (similar style)
Bag - Primark
Shoes - VANS

Where do you plan to travel to next? Why do you love to travel?

Lots of love,


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This is a sponsored post for Holiday Gems; however, all opinions and experiences are honest and my own. 

Today I'm kicking off the blog tour of 'Something Changed' by Matthew Williams with a couple other bloggers. I cannot wait to share my thoughts, the author and what I experienced when reading this book. This is something very new to me; I've never really read anything quite like it before so stick around to hear my overall thoughts at the end of the post!

Order 'SOMETHING CHANGED' on Amazon here!


BLURB

Life can change forever in a moment...

In the aftermath of marriage breakdown how do we pick ourselves up and start again?
In August 2014 Matthew Williams was forced to do just that. In Something Changed he navigates us through his journey with wit and wisdom, taking in divorce, dating and self-discovery while facing the dark spectre of depression.
Hopes and fears, laughter and tears - all are encountered along the way to learning some important lessons about love, loss and life.

'Have you ever noticed how life's biggest lessons are also the most painful? Maybe that's just life's way of making sure we don't forget them...'



AUTHOR

Matthew Williams is an author, blogger, speaker and coach. He lives in the North East of England with his two young children. Matthew is passionate about positive change and turning life's challenges into lessons for creating a better future. He hopes that by writing about his own experiences he will be able to inspire others to make positive changes in their lives.

Something Changed is Matthew's first book. More of his writing can be found at his blog Love, Laughter & Truth.


MY THOUGHTS

Matthew Williams has written a book with deep meaning; sharing his mentally enduring battle with depression, his story of coping with divorce and dating anecdotes. The section that really hit home for me was Williams story of depression; the beautifully worded poems scattered throughout the book are hard-hitting and I, for sure, empathised with some of Matthew's thoughts. Mental health is such a important topic to speak out about; the stigma behind it is being broken down day by day in modern society which I'm extremely happy about. It is lovely to see a man's perspective of how mental health can have a dramatic impact on one's life; most men seem to shy away from talking about these sort of topics but it was refreshing to see Matthew open up about his troubles, struggles and endless battles with himself. Completely tugged at my heart strings! Being able to empathise with someone else who has suffered mental health issues was also reassuring - you are not in this alone. Overall, I feel like is an essential read for those struggling to cope with divorce, anyone who is currently dating new people or has suffered mental health in the past. It is also a great read for those unsure of mental health and want a greater insight if someone close to you is currently suffering right now. Every chapter is a snippet of Matthew's thoughts or a mini story - approximately 5 pages maximum to a chapter so you can easily pick the book up for five minutes+ every day! To conclude, I am extremely impressed with 'Something Changed' and would highly recommend this story of complete and utter reality to everyone.


GIVEAWAY

Fortunately, there will be a chance to win 2 x £10 Amazon giftcards and a copy of Matthew Williams 'Something Changed'. Fill in the Rafflecopter below to find out how to win - this competition is open internationally.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What is you favourite genre of book? Have you struggled with any of the issues Williams has opened up about?

Lots of love

I have become obsessed with milkshake over the past year. I love making myself a healthy milkshake full of chia seeds, almond milk, protein powder and banana for breakfast, even for a snack or dessert throughout the day. I LOVE THEM. Therefore, I'm absolutely buzzing to share with you an incredible brand today that I'm so lucky enough to work with - Shaken Udder.

Shaken Udder's fresh, delicious milkshakes were brought to life in 2004 and have since made their way into Harvey Nichols, Waitrose and are now sold in retailers, like Tesco. You can pick these up in a variety of superstores so they're easily accessible - they are also available to bulk purchase online! Fortunately, I was able to taste all of the 330ml amazing milkshake flavours that Shaken Udder have to offer! They also produce kid-size milkshake cartons or large 'Uber Udder' bottles if you have that ONE favourite flavour!






SHOP THE BRAND HERE

Have you ever tried Shaken Udder before? What is your fave milkshake flavour?


Lots of love

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These products were sent for review; however, all opinions are honest and my own.

Valentine's is a day that most people have a love/hate relationship with. Personally, I really enjoy the day no matter what I'm doing. I love sharing the love with my friends and family, as well as my long term boyfriend that I will be spending Valentine's day with early this weekend for the fifth time! If you haven't got a partner, don't worry...grab your gal pals and do something fun. My best friends at uni (Hattie & Megan) are the most amazing people in the world and I cannot wait to be spending this Valentine's day with them in Lincoln (despite not making any specific plans yet...). Being in a long distance relationship is really strange as my boyfriend and I have been together for so long and in each other's companies throughout our childhood. However, it's been a lovely break to spend my university days so far with my best gal pals - it makes it even more exciting to see my boyfriend now that we don't see each other every day! Anyway, this post is all about how to do Valentine's day on a student budget with you best mates! I hope you all enjoy...

This post is in collaboration with my blogger besties Abi Hunter and Lily Rose - make sure to head over to their blogs after you've read my post to check out their variations of Valentine's Day. They are my longest blogger besties and I'm hoping I finally get to meet them at some point this year. Head over to their blogs and check out their amazing content - I love them a lot!

Abi's Blog
Lily's Blog

In Lincoln, there is an overwhelming amount of quirky cafes, tearooms and small independent places around ever corner - I'm definitely not complaining though! Something cute and simple to do with your friends, boyfriend or family (if you aren't into the whole cheesy concept of Valentine's day with an intense dinner etc) is go for a hot drink, cake or brunch in the day. Stereotypically, everyone seems to go out in the evening to spend Valentine's day but why not do something different during the day? To keep the budget student friendly, find a new cafe near you, take your friends and change it up! The budget is much more affordable than any fancy restaurant and you will be able to chat away and enjoy the comforts of the cafe environment. I feel like this is a lot less intense if you are going out on a first date or you're not a fan of the whole dinner situation.

Something we love to do at university in general is window shopping. This may seem really stupid but going out with your friends and just having a look around the shops is just as fun as if you were going on an entire shopping spree. It gets you out the house, chatting to your friends and may even come across somewhere new that you haven't before. We absolutely loved this cute little succulent and flower stall that a man had set up near the market. There are so many little markets and fairs that go on in Lincoln city central; if you live near by, you should have a look on the Visit Lincoln website to see what's going on. 

"One's destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things"

The element of change is a concept that always scared me; however, I've come to realise that change is such an incredible thing. This has allowed me to venture out more and trying new things. One of my favourite things to do in Lincoln is explore the area; every single time we leave the house we happen to find somewhere new. There is so much to do compared to my tiny hometown (obviously this may not be the same for people how lived in large cities before). If you are into experiencing new things, like myself, take a road trip to a random place - it could even be a nearby city or town that you are yet to explore. I always find trying somewhere new is sentimental, as you will always remember the first time you do something, you you were with and all the small details of what you did. Here are a few more expensive yet adventurous Valentine's Day ideas that are VERY different to the cliche dinner date:

Escape Room
Zip World
Ice Bar
Cafe Brunch
Silent Disco Boat Party
Creative Workshop (calligraphy, cocktail making)
Sky Diving

Make sure to check out the other girls Valentine's Day posts by heading over to their blogs down below. 

Abi's Blog
Lily's Blog 

What are you doing this Valentine's Day? 

Lots of love