Skincare Haul: Origins, REN

Last week I made an online order with both Origins and REN. I decided to order straight from the brands website for both due to the perks of having free delivery and samples from each. That said, I had quite different experiences ordering from each of them.

Origins
Nearing the bottom of my jar of the GinZing Energy-Boosting Moisturizer, I took to the brands website to repurchase another when I found their Extra-Zing Energizing Set. This set included the moisturiser I was looking for as well as 4 single use sachets of their Clear Improvement Mask, all for the same price as the moisturiser alone, £23...so I thought, why not? I was also able to choose 2 free sample at the checkout, most of which didn't appeal to me but I chose what I thought were the best options for myself.
The brands online store has free delivery on orders. This is standard delivery of 2-5 working days, and they inform you that the package has to be signed for. This worried me at first as I can't guarantee I will be home to sign for it. This said, it turned out to be fine. The company used the Royal Mail Delivery service, so when I wasn't there to sign for it I simply collected it from the delivery office in the town I live in.

REN
For quite a while now I've been wanting to buy a second cleanser to use in the mornings. The ClearCalm 3 Clarifying Clay Cleanser was top of my list, but whilst browsing their online store I came across the Hydra-Calm Cleansing Milk. Both looked like suitable products to fill the space missing in my skincare routine, but I stuck with my original choice and was luckily able to chose the other as one of my free samples at the checkout. The other free sample I chose was the Glycolatic Renewal Mask. I already own this...but who doesn't need more, right? The final product I added to my basket was the No.1 Purity Cleansing Balm, which I'm almost out of so while I had the chance of 10% off my first order, I added a back-up to my stocks.
Delivery was also free from this brand but didn't go so smoothly. They use a delivery company who insist on a signed delivery. They also say 2-5 days, but send you a text the morning of the delivery with a one hour delivery slot. I wasn't able to be home on their first 2 attempts of delivery so had to phone up and rearrange it for a much later date than I'd hoped when I knew I'd be at home all day. I never knew it could be so hard to get an online order delivered!

What has your experience been like ordering from beauty brands online? Any recommendations from these brands?

January Beauty Favourites

I only have a few products that have really stood out to me this month. About 2 months ago I switched up the shampoo and conditioner I was using to to the Herbal Essences Bee Strong Strengthening Shampoo and the TRESemmé Split Remedy Conditioner, when I ran out of the ones I was previously using. I don't know which one of these is contributing, hence why they are both a favourite, but I've noticed that my hair is more shiny that it was before.
I've also been loving my REN No.1 Purity Cleansing Balm. This deserves a whole review of its own. It feels very luxurious to massage into your face and removes all my make up without making my skin feel stripped. It has a slight rose scent, which I happen to quite like. There's really nothing to complain about with this one.

Any tips for fixing/preventing split ends? What are your favourites this month?

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

After getting hooked on Delirium, I went straight on to reading the following book in the trilogy: pandemonium. I've started writing this review just minutes after reaching the end of the book.

I'm including the synopsis of this book below, but it really doesn't give anything away:

Love, the deadliest of all deadly things. It kills you when you have it. And when you don't.

I'm pushing aside the memory of my nightmare, pushing away thoughts of Alex, pushing aside thoughts of Hana and my old school, push, push, push, like Raven told me to do. The old life is dead. But the old Lena is dead too. I buried her. I left her beyond a fence, behind a wall of smoke and flame.

It took me a while to get used to the way this book was written, and I never quite worked out if I liked it. The book covered two stories both running in parallel, with each chapter alternating between 'then' and 'now'.

The 'then' story follows on from where the previous book left off. It tells the story of Lena's escape into the wilds and how she fits in and adapts to a new way of life. The 'then' story never fully catches up to where the now story starts.

The 'now' story starts by introducing Lena with a new identity, living in Manhattan and working as part of the resistance. She has orders to attend a demonstration and keep watch of one of the leaders. The story takes a turn when herself and the boy she was watching get kidnapped when trying to escape after the demonstration gets boycotted.

I won't give anything away, but the ending was very unexpected. It made me think 'wow' and I instantly wanted to start reading the next book.

Have you read this book? Would you recommend it?