Nivea Dry Confidence: The best antiperspirant of all time?

Sweat. Not the most glam topic in the world, yet something we all have to contend with from time to time.

Let me give you a bit of background on my sweat history (did I really just say that??). As a teenager I was quite sweaty. There, I've said it. Not in a gross, smelly, guy-from-the-Lynx advert kinda way, just in a normal teenager going through hormonal changes kinda way. Put it this way, tight grey t-shirts were a big fat no-no.

Fortunately my body sorted itself out when I hit my twenties, and now I would say I sweat a normal amount but, as a result of my slightly soggy youth, I am still always very aware of what my armpits are up to.

I've tried literally hundreds of deodorants and antiperspirants over the years, lured in by promises of 48 hours of dryness and girls on adverts prancing around in symbolic grey t-shirts, but rarely find one that I'm satisfied with.

I have pretty sensitive skin so the strongly formulated, extra dry options (such as Mitchum) are out of the question for me, as after a few days I develop a red, itchy rash. The same goes for the highly perfumed varieties.

I've always enjoyed Nivea products. I find them gentle on my skin and, although they always have a pleasant smell, they are rarely overpowering.

For the past few years I've been using Nivea roll-on antiperspirants and about two years ago I stumbled across the Dry Confidence version.

Its creamy texture glides on nicely and dries quickly, so you aren't required to flap around before getting dressed. The formula is incredibly gentle on the skin and can be applied directly after shaving without stinging at all.

But, the reason why I love this product so much is that I literally don't smell at all with it, even at the end of a long hot day (I find some of the other Nivea antiperspirants don't protect me 100% from smelling a bit sweaty).

Although the product is called 'Dry Confidence', don't expect your armpits to be bone dry all day. For me, personally, I prefer this. The antiperspirants that leave your armpits with almost a waxy layer over them really aren't for me. I find them hard to wash off at the end of the day and I feel unhealthy in the knowledge that my pores are completely blocked.

I've never had a problem with sweat transferring to my clothes, however, with this product. At most the skin feels ever so slightly damp to the touch.

I would rate this product 10/10 and would recommend it to anyone who's prone to a bit of sweat but also has sensitive skin. As it says on the Nivea website, this antiperspirant is 'the perfect combination of mild care and reliable protection'.

Until next time.

Josie x


This post is not sponsored.

Review: Origins GinZing Refreshing Scrub Cleanser

The first thing you notice about the new Origins GinZing Refreshing Scrub Cleanser is its delicious, citrusy smell (grapefruit, lemon and spearmint, apparently). This burst of freshness couldn't fail to wake even the tiredest of skin on a dark, dreary winter's morning.

Described as a 'multi-tasking scrub cleanser', this product claims to both cleanse and exfoliate the skin. And it does.

The cleanser part is medium-thick in texture and foams up into a pleasing lather when applied, making you feel like it's really working. I know products don't have to lather to do their thing, but there's something quite satisfying about a good dollop of soap suds.

The exfoliator part (jojoba and carnauba wax) are gentle on the skin. Personally I would prefer a slightly higher ratio of exfoliator to cleanser, as I find myself using a bit too much to get a decent amount of grains.

It is implied that this product is gentle enough for everyday use. However, I tend to only use it on mornings when I've exercised, when my skin needs a really good clean. And boy, is it clean afterwards. Almost squeaky clean, actually, which I think might be a bit drying for my sensitive skin, if I used it everyday.

After I've used the scrub my skin definitely looks more radiant (that'll be all that 'radiance-boosting panax ginseng and caffeine,' I should expect) and it feels very soft to the touch, making makeup application just that little bit easier.

I would give this cleanser/scrub an 8 out of 10 and am intrigued to try other products from the range.

Until next time.

Josie x

Holy grail beauty products

I can be quite butterfly minded when it comes to beauty products. I like to chop and change my routine, based on what's new in the shops and recommendations from other bloggers and YouTubers.

However, there are four products which have become a staple part of my make-up bag - my holy grail go-to, fail-safe items - which I have been using for years and would be lost without.

The first is the Simple Kind to Skin Replenishing Rich Moisturiser. An unusual choice, actually, as pretty much all my other skincare favourites are from high end brands. But the Simple moisturiser was somewhat of a God send to me during my teenage years and seemed to be the only moisturiser that didn't make my already spotty skin even worse. But, it's not like I've just stuck with it because I'm scared to try anything else. In fact, I'm a bit of a skincare snob so have tried many other, far more pricey daily moisturisers, but am yet to find one that I prefer.

Although it is described as a rich moisturiser, I actually think the texture feels quite light and non-greasy. It absorbs quickly and leaves a semi matt finish to the skin - a great base for make-up, which doesn't seem to move around throughout the day. And, as you would expect from the name, it contains no colour or perfume to irritate sensitive skin. Oh, and it's only £3.99!

The only slight negative I have is that it isn't quite strong enough to cope with my dry patches during the winter, and occasionally I have to double up with another richer product.

My second choice is the Sheer Skin Tint from Liz Earle, in the shade 01. I discovered this product a few years ago, whilst jumping on the Cleanse and Polish bandwagon.  It was sent to me in a sample (something I love about Liz Earle, they don't hold back on the freebies). I tried it, and was hooked.

I've never been one for wearing foundation every day, as I feel like my skin can't breathe properly. In the past I'd tried tinted moisturisers, but never found one that was able to blur out my imperfections in a way that foundation would.

The sheer skin tint magically seems to be able to do this, despite being incredibly sheer (oddly enough!) I'm not sure what it is about the formula but somehow, as soon as it's applied, skin almost looks airbrushed and has a lovely dewy texture, without being shiny. Obviously, being sheer, it doesn't cover big blemishes or dark patches but I do find myself using a lot less concealer now.

It is also quite buildable, for areas on the chin, cheeks and around the nose. You just have to be careful not to go too thick, as it can slip around a little bit. Although I'm in my late 20's I think this product would be perfect for someone with mature skin, to add a healthy glow without looking cakey. And it has the added bonus of containing SPF15.

My third product is a matt eyeshadow from MAC in Omega.

I am not blessed on the eyebrow front. They are fair and sparse (due to over plucking as a teenager), so I have always had to fill them in. For years I scoured the aisles for a pencil that gave a natural look but could only ever find ones which, once applied, made me look like I had two ginger caterpillars stuck to my face. Why do all eyebrow pencils have a red tone??

Then i started watching YouTube videos and realised that everyone in the know was actually using eyeshadow to create a natural looking eyebrow, applied with an angled brush such as the MAC 266.

I've accepted that my eyebrows will never be as bushy as Cara Delevinge's or as immaculate as Cheryl Cole's, but by using an eyeshadow I think they now actually complement the rest of my make-up, rather than standing out like sore thumbs.

The trick is to always make sure you're using a clean brush, so the eyeshadow doesn't go lumpy, and to do soft upward strokes on the inside (for a natural look) and a more defined line towards the outside. I also always set mine with a clear mascara.

My final item is a relatively new addition in comparison to the others and it's the NARS Illuminator in Copacabana, as recommended by beauty blogger Hannah Maggs.

Hannah uses a dot mixed in with her foundation, to achieve a healthy glow. However, I'm slightly prone to grease so can look a bit sweaty if I do this. Instead, I blend the highlighter across my cheek bones, brow bone and down the bridge of my nose to create definition to my face.

This highlighter has a gorgeous consistency (more shimmery than glittery) and looks great when paired with a cream blusher, especially in the summer.

So, there we have it, my four desert island essentials that I wouldn't go anywhere without.

Until next time.

Josie x

"You can't live in Devon without a dog!"

These were the words uttered by my then-boss, in a moment of panic as she realised her Louboutins and Rolex really weren't cut out for Devon life. Swiftly after this epiphany she returned to her native Oxford.

I remember feeling quite insulted at the time. How dare she make such a sweeping, stereotypical statement.

Three months later we picked up Coco.

I've always been the outdoorsy type. I grew up surfing after school, going for long bike rides along country lanes and helping my parents in the garden at weekends. Then, as is often the way as the veil of 'being all grown up' flutters down and settles on your shoulders, I became more and more of an indoorsy kinda girl. Verging on sedentary at times, actually.

I guess, growing up in such a beautiful place, I'd become a bit blasé about the miles of sandy beaches and rambling hillsides. Why make the effort to get in the car and contend with the holiday traffic, when you can sit on your nice quiet sofa and stagger from one YouTube video to the next, living your outdoorsy life through others' adventures?

All this changed, however, when we (my husband and I) moved out of town, and suddenly found ourselves just moments from the beach. We started venturing outside again, favouring strolls at sunset over nights in front of the telly.

However, walking with no purpose felt weird somehow. Were people looking at us, thinking 'Where are they going?' 'Isn't it a bit late to be on your way to the shops?' 'Who goes to the beach at nine o' clock at night??'

We'd look at other couples with little four legged friends and start up conversations about what we'd call a dog if we got one, what breed it would be, would we get a girl or a boy?

It wasn't long before I was browsing on Pets4Homes. Ok, browsing is a slight understatement. Obsessively stalking the app would be more accurate.

Before long I fell in love with a litter of labradoodles and on Valentine's Day last year we collected our little ball of fluff.

I can honestly say Coco has transformed and enhanced my life in every single way. Walks on the beach suddenly don't feel weird, I have a reason to get up at 8am on a sunny weekend to give her a walk before the tarmac gets too hot and there's always a delighted little face waiting for me when I return from a stressful day at work.

Since having Coco I've discovered places that, after living here for nearly 30 years, I still didn't know existed and even on the darkest, wettest, coldest night I have an excuse to get a 'blast of fresh air' before dinner (not always a bonus, but I feel good afterwards!).

So, going back to my boss's flippant remark, I have to admit (and it pains me to say this) that she was right. Although you can obviously 'live' in Devon without a dog i don't think you can truly live in Devon without a dog.

<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/12481821/?claim=jkswcp8tp7j">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>