Favourite Skincare Products | Origins

After hearing various bloggers and YouTubers rave about Origins skincare products, I knew I had to try them out. The idea of my skincare products being full of natural ingredients was a major incentive for me to try these products so, at Christmas, I received some sample items and I'm going to post my favourites.

GinZing Moisturiser

This moisturiser has definitely become a firm favourite of mine. I use this on a morning and the citrusy smell is great at waking me up from my early morning sluggish mood. I also love the fact that its oil free meaning my skin isn't built up with excess oils which I have found with some other moisturisers, cough Nivea.

Checks and Balances Face Wash

What I love about this face wash is that my skin does feel extensively cleansed after using it. This product is perfect on my combination skin and any excess oil around my T-Zone is removed and kept at bay for nearly the whole day, whilst my cheeks are kept in balance.

Modern Friction Scrub

I found it really weird using this product for the first time and I can only describe it as rubbing creamy sand onto my face. However, after using this scrub twice a week I can safely say I've noticed the difference in my skin and how vibrant it looks after using it. Any build up, which particularly enjoys invading my forehead, is significantly reduced leaving better and smoother skin in its place.

Clear Improvement Mask

I honestly can't praise this mask enough to be honest. I use it once a week, after my skin has spent the week fighting all the cosmetics I use and what a difference it makes. You don't even need to use this mask on the whole of your face, just on problem areas, and any redness/blemishes that you may have virtually disappear. It gets a 10 from Len. What are you on about Vicky you don't even watch Strictly?!

If anyone else has used any other Origins products with a good or bad experience please do let me know as they are slightly on the pricey side, but I'd love to try out some more.

Victoria ♥

5 Bag Essentials | Office Job

I have recently landed myself a new job as part of an apprenticeship scheme meaning I now work in an office. This is my first 9 'til 5 job since I left 6th form and I have found that organisation is key to not collapsing from exhaustion.

To help others who might also be new to their situation, I have compiled a list of what I believe are, for me, are essential items for working in an office environment.

Accessorize

(The bag itself is not on the list) but if you're someone, like me, who has to haul their laptop, charger and other large items around, then a big bag to carry it all in one is the way to go.

A travel mug/Flask

1. As I've got older I feel like I can't really go a day without a hot drink, preferably a tea. Since I'm too lazy to actually move from my chair to actually go make myself one at work, I feel it's more convenient to make one at home and take it with me. In the cold winter months it also really helps keep me warm while waiting for buses.

Card holder/Mini purse

2. If like me you have to use public transport to get to work, sigh, having a large purse can seem a bit excessive and a bit too much of a bag filler. A little money/card purse is much more convenient for carrying change for lunch and these purses are great for bus passes too. 

A Notebook

3. If you're more old school and don't trust technology to keep your notes safe and secure then a notebook is the way to go. On more than one occasion I've had laptops crash while I'm doing something important and if I didn't have my notes jotted down in a pad, I'd have probably had a meltdown to be honest.

A drink/snack

4. Keeping hydrated is very important so I recommend always keeping a bottle of water in your bag just in case. I also would keep a small snack in there too as I don't know about you, but as soon as lunch time rolls around my stomach decides to make noises which I can only describe as what I imagine an exorcism would sound like. If you like me also have this problem it's a good idea to keep a small snack to consume before hand to save A LOT of embarrassment. 

Lip balm

5. This isn't really an ESSENTIAL item but since my lips tend to dry out very quickly I find keeping a balm around very handy.

I also recommend keeping some chewing gum/mints around to evade coffee breath.

Victoria ♥

Learning to.. Knit?

Knitting is something I learnt to do from various older relatives as a child. As I have got older however, I have completely forgotten what I am doing. So, my gran has offered to help teach me again and.. here's one I made earlier?

This is by far from perfect but I'd say it's a decent effort considering I've only just started doing it again. My gran does keep telling me it's not rocket science, but I know full well there would be scientists who have a hard time getting their head around an Aran stitch.
I also know anytime I now watch a period drama, such as Call the Midwife, in the future, I'll definitely have that bit of added respect for any lady with a pair of knitting needles in their hands.
Whilst it may not seem all that easy at first, I must say it's a great way to wind down my brain and I often feel tired after a while meaning it would be great if anyone is the occasional insomnia sufferer like I am.

So if anyone out there is looking to try out a new hobby, I really do recommend trying to learn to knit whether it be from a family member/friend or even just a YouTube tutorial.

Victoria ♥

P.S. if you're a beginner and not too great at first don't worry it takes time but I don't recommend drinking wine whilst doing it as you may get a bit hot and bothered/a bit weepy.. note to self Vicky, oops..

Film Recommendation | The Theory of Everything

Last weekend I went to the cinemas, with my mum, to go see The Theory of Everything, a film about the relationship of Stephen Hawking and his then wife Jane. 
The film progresses through his university education, diagnosis of motor neuron disease and the ups and downs that occured throughout their marriage.

I was honestly just so captivated by this film when I saw the trailer in the cinemas and I knew I had to see it as soon as it came out. 

The reason I recommend this film is the simplicity of it and how it is able to portray humanity at its most vulnerable. Due to the films fictional aspects, I was worried I would find the film rather upsetting at the time, but I truly found it uplifting the whole way through. I was also surprised at comedy aspects that featured quite a few times which I also feel helped the film stay shockingly up beat at times and personally, not as heart wrenching as I had imagined (the British stiff upper lip and all that). The film shows the courage of Stephen and Jane, especially on her part and how despite all that was against him with the progression of his disease, he still managed pursue his desire to study physics and become one of the most well known physicists in the world. 

Both actors play their roles amazingly and at times I complete forgot I was watching Eddie Redmayne and felt like I was watching Stephen himself.

I can safely say The Theory of Everything is definitely one of the most beautiful films that I have watched in a long time and strongly urge anyone to go watch it while it is still out in the cinemas.

Victoria ♥