Skincare || Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm

I picked up Clinique's Take the Day Off Balm after hearing many, many good reports. I was on the lookout for a balm cleanser to use alongside my Micellar Cleansing Water mostly out of the need for a change of routine after years of painstakingly removing my makeup with cleansing waters and lotions via cotton pad; a time-consuming process that I actually used to procrastinate for hours, which I know is a bit ridiculous!

I was initially drawn in by Take the Day Off's promises of being able to quickly dissolve even the most stubborn of makeup, which given my experience seemed like a dream come true, and I'm very pleased to confirm that this product really does do exactly what it says on the tin! (Or the tub, in this instance). In its tub it has a firm waxy consistency and melts at the touch of your fingertips. It also feels lovely and silky on the skin and really does remove every trace of makeup with just a few swipes of a flannel.

I've noticed that a cause of contention about this product is the fact that it's completely odourless. This personally doesn't bother me at all since I'm very easily put off by smells. I actually stopped using Soap and Glory's Ultimelt Hot Cloth Cleanser because I could not stand the smell of it, but that's a story for another day.

One thing I'm a little bit on the fence about is the fact that it comes in a tub. On the one hand I like it because there's obviously something very satisfying about cracking open a fresh tub and having that smooth untouched surface, and then there's the fact that having it in a tub allows for its consistency which I love so much. However, perhaps it's not the most hygienic? Particularly if you ever happen to forget to put the lid back on (which I've done once or twice). That being said, provided you use the product with clean hands and remember to replace the lid after use, this shouldn't really be an issue.

So to review, a few pros and cons to Clinique's Take the Day Off balm cleanser:

P R O S

• Quick and easy
• Leaves skin feeling squeaky clean
• A little bit goes a long way!
• Great for sensitive skin
• Odourless

C O N S

• Comes in a tub 
• Odourless

Have you ever used Take the Day Off balm? What did you think?

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Mothers' Day || Afternoon Tea at Maryville House

Before this Sunday past I'd never been for afternoon tea before, despite always wanting to go. In my mind I suppose it was always a little bit too expensive to justify, with most places charging upwards of £20 a head. However, when my sister made a surprise booking for Mothers' Day at Maryville House for the two of us, our mum and our grandma, there were absolutely no objections. It sounded like the perfect Mothers' Day treat, and in the end it really was!

Perhaps one of the best discoveries of the year for me, Maryville House is a beautiful Victorian bed and breakfast and tea room with all the charm of a quiet countryside retreat despite being nestled just outside Belfast City Centre, on the busy Lisburn Road. When I'd played around with the idea of afternoon tea before I don't think I would have ever considered Maryville, with afternoon tea at places like the swanky Merchant Hotel in the Cathedral Quarter being so well-known locally. However, kudos to Anna for this gorgeous find; I now can't think of anywhere better to experience some traditional afternoon tea, or even just to spend a very special Sunday afternoon!

Once we had arrived and were seated we were each given the choice of a huge selection of loose leaf tea and coffee. However, being the adventurous family we are, we all chose Maryville's own blend which was essentially a simple English breakfast tea- but it was delicious! Breakfast teas usually all taste the same to me, but this was exceptional, and the fact it was served in the most enormous china teapot did certainly add to the experience. 

Since it was Mothers' Day we were also all offered a lovely complimentary glass of prosecco, i.e. my most favourite thing, which as the designated driver I couldn't actually take advantage of! Very upsetting, though I may have still had one very cheeky sip!

After we'd each settled down with our tea and prosecco we were brought over a lovely plate of sandwiches and hors d'oeuvres- which didn't last for very long!- before we were presented with this glorious assortment of scones and cakes. There was everything from little meringues, to cupcakes to macarons. It's honestly making me hungry again just looking at the photos. I don't half wish I had a plateful of these in front of me again!

Finally, absolutely stuffed full of tea and cake we finished off our afternoon with a walk in the nearby Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park before heading off home. I really couldn't recommend Maryville House enough. Aside from the amazing food and tea, the girls who were serving us were so lovely and pleasant and it really made for a memorable day.

What did you get up to this Mothers' Day?

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