The 3 Monthly Playlist | ONE

Listen here

Vitamin E

I’ve got what polite beauty bloggers would call ‘combination skin’ – an oily T-zone and dry skin everywhere else. Except my nose, which is very dry but laden with blackheads. I don’t really know how that works. Anyway I used to use Soap and Glory’s Daily Youth Moisture Lotion (which is smells freaking incredible but is pretty pricey), and then alternate between Soap andGlory’s Face Soap and Clean and Clear’s Blackhead Clearing Daily Scrub. The former was too harsh while the latter wasn’t harsh enough, and honestly they both smelt pretty clinical which I found quite unappealing. Around a year ago, I started going cruelty-free with my makeup and skincare, so decided it was time to establish a new routine with it all. I also had aims to cut down the amount I was spending in this area, and I have one hundred percent found exactly what I was looking for.

Superdrug’s Vitamin E Skincare Range has been mentioned in passing by friends, family, and bloggers alike, but I’d always had a bit of an aversion to ‘own brand’ products under the assumption that although cheap, they would not be cheerful. As well as combination, I’ve also got pretty sensitive skin which has difficulty getting on with even Lush products, so I was actually taking quite a risk. All of the products I’m about to mention are branded as suitable for normal to dry skin, although they work perfectly for me.

The first product I bought was the Radiance Moisture Cream, and it’s the only moisturiser I’ve ever bought that people have noticed, and decided to mention, on appearance alone. I kid you not when I say words like ‘radiant’ and ‘glowing’ have been used multiple times to describe my face using this stuff. This is because there’s a tonne of light-reflecting pigments in it, which can seem almost sparkly in a certain light. Under makeup however, I find it acts a fresh and healthy-looking backdrop to whatever you place on top of it. It’s got a thick-ish consistency which stands in peaks if I dab it around my face, but a little goes a long way and it only takes a minute or so to sink in. Also, SPF 15 – fab.

The Moisturising Day Cream is great too; quite a bit thicker but again spreads further than you’d think. Despite being branded a day cream, I like to use it before bed (although the range includes a similar-looking night cream which I have yet to try). This moisturiser has the same fruity, floral scent of the Radiance Moisture Cream, but stronger, however both of them do have a slightly suncream-esque background smell which doesn’t bother me – that’ll be the SPF.

And finally the perfect accompaniment to the aforementioned products, the Gentle Oatmeal Exfoliator. If you try to avoid products with too many beads and such in them, this is not for you. It’s jam-packed with oatmeal and walnut shell granules, giving it a very chunky consistency and the most beautiful, organic scent. In fact, it kind of reminds me of the face masks you might make at a sleepover when you were 12. This. Stuff. Is. So. Good. Somehow it exfoliates deep enough around my nose to eliminate my blackheads, while at the same time gently cleansing my cheeks and forehead. My face is left with a smooth and even consistency; there’s no dry patches or tight shiny areas, and there definitely weren’t any rashes as I’d expected there might be. In conjunction with either moisturiser, my skin is flipping excellent, I’m not gonna lie to you.

The best thing? They're £2.99 each. Wooooooooo! 10 out of 10 to all three products. The range also includes an eye cream, body butter, face mask, and hair oil which I cannot wait to try.

Word of advice though, don't moisturise and then put your contact lenses in. Just take my word for it.

The Monthly Wishlist | March 2017

1. Enamel pins $12.00 / £9
My love of enamel pins sprouted quite a few months ago from the Instagram of @sighh.co, and I've got a feeling it won't be going anywhere fast. I've recently started following @kategabrielle on Instagram too, and oh my, I am telling you now, she's got a tonne of hilarious and relatable pins to die for. They range from feminism to Jurassic Park to presidential candidates and I guarantee you won't be disappointed if you give her link a click. There's loads of patches and prints on there too - you'll love it, I promise.

2. Pigma Micron Fineliners £8.50
As the brand new keeper of a brand new bullet journal, I really need to get myself some of these bad boys. I've got the Leuchtturm 1917 notebook with dotted pages, and fineliners are essential to fitting all the information you need in the space you've got. Of course there's the Muji fineliner pens and Paperchase do a pretty good set of coloured ones too, but Microns have always had my heart. I'm gonna take this opportunity to recommend the Pilot V-Ball Rollerball (0.5mm), because it's proper good and I thought you should know.

3. ASOS Short Sleeve Oversized Stripe Top £18.00
Hi, my name's Holly, and I'm addicted to stripes, ASOS, and baggy tops. What you're looking at is essentially my dream t-shirt. I plan on purchasing at least three.

4. Divide by Ed Sheeran (Deluxe Edition) £11.99
Because I don't live under a rock, I know our mate Ed has an album coming out tomorrow. I've always had deluxe versions of his albums, and don't plan on stopping now. As well as being the nation's resident ginger and just downright incredible, his music speaks to everyone and everyone can speak through his music.

5. Starbucks' 3 Region Blend Whole Bean Coffee £4.50
This tastes bloody magnificent! I work in Starbucks and we've been using this blend for coffee tastings as often as possible because it's sooooo delicious. The '3 regions' are South America, Africa, and Asia/Pacific; it's a medium roast, so it's not too strong, and tastes quite citrusy. It's smooth, and rich, and bold, and tastes really good with lemon drizzle cake. And the packaging is crazy pretty. So win-win.

6. Kat Von D Tattoo Liner liquid eyeliner and Immortal Lash 24 Hour mascara £18.00 / £16.00
Both of these products are re-purchases, and I can honestly say, hand-on-heart, that I have found my perfect duo. The Tattoo Liner is the reason I can finally do a cat eye, thanks to the felt-tip pen nib, staying power, and blacker-than-black colour - a combo I've found mutually exclusive in many other eyeliners. Alongside this, the Immortal Lash mascara is absolutely ah-may-zing. I've always preferred my eyelashes to look splayed and fluttery, and the Kat Von D one does this as well as thicken my lashes just the right amount. No matter how many layers I put on, I find it just doesn't go clumpy. Also, true to form, it lasts ages (but I can still get it off with a makeup wipe).

I can't wait for payday this month, it's been a looooooong time coming. I can't wait to chill out in my new t-shirt, wearing new makeup and badges, while doodling away in my bullet journal, sipping 3 Region Blend coffee and listening to Ed Sheeran.