L'Oréal 3 in 1 Purifying Micellar Solution

The L'Oreal Paris Skin Perfection 3 in 1 Purifying Micellar Solution is a product that seems to be slowly but surely creeping it's way onto the skincare scene. 

This 3 in 1 purifying micellar solution is pretty much just a dupe of Bioderma, and I absolutely love it! It's an all in one make up remover, cleanser and toner (hence the name!) I don't think you can go wrong with this product, it's cheap and so easy to use. I have very sensitive skin and react to a lot of products that claim to be suitable for sensitive skin but I've not had a problem with this product at all, I think this may be partly down to the fact that it's not fragranced. To use, just put a bit of the solution on a cotton wool pad (or whatever you use to take off your make up) and wipe it over your face... it's so simple! When trying to take off waterproof mascara with some make up removers, it's been a right battles at times, but the L'Oreal solution takes it off so easily. Once I've used it, my skin feels so soft and clean. L'Oreal say "used by make-up artists, this solution feels as gentle as water on your skin but acts like a make-up remover, toner and skin soother all in one. Swiftly dissolving all traces of make-up, the micellar solution acts like a purifying magnet on the skin's surface to capture and draw out excess oil and impurities rather than spreading them around your face like some wipes can. So gentle, skin feels soothed and tone."

I purchased my bottle from Boots at an incredible price of just £3.33. It really doesn't break the bank at all, so I very much suggest going and buying it. 

If you've used this product before then I'd love to know what you think! Leave me a comment below or sent me a tweet at @sparks_serenity. Thank you for taking the time to read this! I hope you have a lovely week ahead, Charlotte x

SOTM: August.

My Songs Of The Month for August are: 

• Katy Perry - Roar
• Tom Odell - Heal
• Deaf Havana - Kings Road Ghosts
• Demi Lovato - Made In The USA
• The Fray - I Can Barely Say
• Twenty One Pilots - Holding On To YOu
• Artic Monkeys - Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High? 
• Macklemore, Ryan Lewis and Mary Lambert - Same Love
• Fall Out Boy - Sugar We're Going Down
• The Lumineers - Duet 

What songs have you been loving this month? Charlotte x

Schwarzkopf texturizing salt spray

The new Schwarzkopf got2b beach matt mermaid look texturizing salt spray is a product that I've used most days this summer. I bloody love it.  

After using the spray

 

I saw this in Superdrug and just bought it. I have no idea why. I'd never heard about it before, I didn't really read the bottle, I just had a little spur of the moment spree and ended up buying it. I got it in June and have used it A LOT and I still have a little bit left, so it's lasted really well! I think it was retailed at about £3 when I bought it, but I've just looked on the Superdrug website and it is currently £2.70, originally £4.05. Click here to view the spray on the Superdrug website.  

Before using the spray

Before using the spray

 My natural hair is probably the weirdest thing going. If I wash my hair and don't brush it, it will dry really curly. If I wash my hair and brush it (when it's still wet) it will dry quite straight and fluffy. In these before images, I'd used the spray the day before so it had already lifted and textured my hair quite a lot. 

After using the spray

 I've not tried a lot of salt sprays before so in comparison to other things on the market right now, this product could be totally crap. I'm looking to try a different brand of a salt spray so if you have a any suggestions please leave me a comment below or tweet me @sparks_serenity! Thanks for reading, Charlotte x

STYLE STEAL: Perrie Edwards

Perrie Edwards from Little Mix was spotted out in London this week and I absolutely loved what she was wearing. It's not something I would personally wear, only because I don't have the figure for it. It's a very effortlessly classy outfit. 

Her top is the Latrecia Sleeveless Bandage Waist Crop Top in white from Missguided and it's only £9.99! It's also available in other countries outside of the UK, but I'm not sure on the price for the other countries. You can buy/view her top by clicking the link here 

Perrie's trousers are from American Apparel and they are the Micro-Poly High-Waisted Pleated Pant in the shade 'stone'. They are currently in the sale in the UK, reduced from £68 down to £34, so if you like them then buy them quick! You can view or buy these trousers online by clicking on the link here. 


What do you think of her outfit? If there's any other celebrities you'd like me to do a style steal on then just let me know in the comments below or send me a tweet: @sparks_serenity. Hope you've all have a lovely week! Charlotte x

Liebster Award

Amazingly, I've been nominated for the Liebster Award!

The rules of the liebster award are: 

1. You must link back to the person that nominated you.

2. You must answer the 11 Liebster questions given to you by the nominee before you.

3. You must pick 11 bloggers to be nominated for the award with under 200 followers.

4. You must come up with 11 questions for you nominees to answer.

5. You must go to their blogs and notify your nominees. 

missmajestic2.blogspot.com nominated me for this award, which I am very thankful for! If you don't already follow her blog then please go over and do it now! 

1. Why did you choose to start a blog ? 
   I'd read other peoples blogs for a long time and it was something I thought I'd like to give a go because I love writing and the things I liked writing about, people seemed to be interested in. Like Louise (from Sprinkle Of Glitter) says, it's like my own little slice of the web.
2. What are your goals for your blog in the future?
   I'd love to reach 50 followers and also make my posts more consistent. 
3. What is your favourite pass time ?
   I'm not entirely sure I know what a pass time is, so this answer may not make any sense!! But I used to love going to visit this horse sanctuary (one of the World Horse Welfare's ones) with my Grandad when I was little. 
4. What do you want to be when you grow up ?
   A nurse :) 
5. What is your most prized possession ?
   Sadly, my phone.
6. Have you ever been in love ?
   At the time, I thought so. But now I'm not too sure!
7. Are your parents separated ?
   No although I'm not sure how much longer they'll be together. 
8. What do you want your viewers to learn from your blog/yourself ?
   That it's okay to not follow the crowd, do your own thing instead.
9. Favorite animal ?
   Horse!
10. Your favourite quote ? 
    I have a lot, this isn't my all time favourite but "if you're going through hell, keep going", because it empowers me to keep sticking out the tough times.
11. One word to describe yourself. 
    Different. 

The 11 blogs I am going to nominate for this award are: (in no particular order)

• http://stylewithgracehairdesign.blogspot.co.uk/ 
• http://herweightlossdiary.blogspot.co.uk/
• http://frecklesandflawsbeautyblog.blogspot.co.uk/ 
• http://www.blog-me-beautiful.com/ 
• http://www.betsyboat.com/ 
• http://www.britishbeautyaddict.com/
• http://sofiescurlymess.blogspot.co.uk/ 
• http://lyonsnotes.blogspot.co.uk/ 
• http://bambisbeautyblogs.blogspot.co.uk/ 
• http://beautyramblings-x.blogspot.co.uk/ 
• http://ahealthymakeoverjourney.blogspot.co.uk/ 

The 11 questions I'm going to leave for my nominees to answer are:

1. How old are you?

2. What made you start blogging?

3. Would you ever consider doing you tube to back up your blog?

4. Do you consider your blog to be more business or pleasure?

5. What is your aim of your blog? 

6. What are your favourite things to read about on other peoples blogs?

7. What is your favourite TV show? 

8. Who is/are your favourite music artist or band? 

9. What country do you live in? 

10. What milestone are you currently working towards with your blog?

11. What is your job/ what job are you hoping to go into? 

Once again, a massive massive thank you to the gorgeous Makayla for nominating me for this award, and I hope you guys all enjoy it as much as I have! Charlotte x

The Guardian by Nicholas Sparks

This isn't a book review because I have no idea how to write a book review... but I've just finished reading "The Guardian" and I just thought I'd share my thoughts.  

I do not own this image, no copyright intended.

To be totally honest, I'm not sure what to think of this book. It's so broken and confusing yet flowing and logical.. it frazzles my mind at how that is possible! 

The book is about a woman called Julie who's husband died and he left her a dog (the bit about the dog becomes a lot clearer towards the end of the book). Julie goes on a few dates with a man called Richard but then ends up getting into a relationship with her dead husbands best friend, Mike (I don't mean to sound so blunt there!) At first the book seems to be about Julie and dating men and how she finds herself after the death of her husband. Then the middle part of the book is very slow-paced turning away from the finding love aspect and more towards the sociopathic criminal aspect... I'm not sure if sociopathic is even a word, but basically one of the characters is a sociopath kinda guy! The end of the book was very fast paced. 

It had taken me AGES to read this book, I'd even stopped reading it and read a few other books in between but then towards the end of "The Guardian" I just couldn't put it down!

Personally I wouldn't say this book is a love story. There are romance aspects but I think the main storyline has more aspects that I would describe as a thriller... but I don't know anything about book genres so I could be totally wrong! 

Having looked at reviews online, it seems like most other people who've read "The Guardian" don't have the same opinion as me. The majority of the reviews I've read are singing the books praises very highly indeed. All in all, I wouldn't say this book is a definite 'must-read' but if you enjoying reading regularly and want something not too intense but quite gripping, then "The Guardian" would be a well suited book for you. 

So yes, there are my thoughts on the book! I'm hoping to start reading a lot more so maybe there will be some more review type things (excuse my hideous English!) on the way :) Charlotte x

SOTM: JULY

Some of my favourite songs last month: 

• Artic Monkeys - Do I Wanna Know
• Nina Nesbitt - Way In The World
• Ed Sheeran - This
• The Fray - Fighter
• Chris Malinchak - So Good To Me
• Icona Pop - I don't Care
• Of Monsters and Men - Mountain Sound
• Lorde - Tennis Court
• Ellie Goulding - Burn
• Carrie Underwood - Two Black Cadillacs 

Charlotte x