Friday 30 March 2012

Mini Break!

Hello my lovely followers!
It's nice to see that I've gained so many new followers over these past few weeks so I'd first of all like to say a big hello to you all. It's great to have you along and I hope that you enjoy reading my blog.
themindthatblowing:

Happylazy day - cat
However, unfortunately for me I have a lot of university work at the moment and for the next few days, I really need to focus on it. I didn't just want to leave you all wondering where I was so I thought I'd just give you a little heads up. Expect some posts late next week - possibly Thursday/Friday/Saturday time. So not too far away but far enough away I guess. I'll miss blogging but for once, I need to put my work first!
Have a good week and remember if you need me, tweet me!
xxx

Wednesday 28 March 2012

Mini Boots & Lush Haul

Today I got paid after having no money for the past month and seeing as I've done well in my last 3 assignments, I thought I'd treat myself to a few things.
 It's 3 for 2 on all make up at the moment and I was in need of a new foundation. I love my high end foundations but I've been using them daily and I just can't afford to do that any more. I've read some good reviews on the 17 Miracle Matte foundation and I can't wait to give it a try. I also picked up a 17 Pressed Powder. I had a voucher for a free 17 Shine Control Pressed Powder but unfortunately, they didn't have any in and I didn't want to wait. I've popped this one on though it does control shine pretty well. It also adds more coverage which is what I'm after because I'm not happy with my skin at the minute. And finally, I picked up a darker Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection concealer as I've been applying fake tan and my usual one is too light for me. I also bought some Sanex deodorant for my sister (which came to 93p instead of £2.35) and some Boots Smile toothpaste as I had a voucher for it. But I don't think they're interesting enough to show!
Finally, I nipped into Lush. It's been a while since I've been in Lush and I'd forgotten how beautiful it smells. Me and my sister are going home soon so I thought I'd treat us both to a bath bomb each. I'll also do reviews of them both when we use them. For myself I got the Fluffy Egg bath ballistic which reminds me of the smell of Snow Fairy which I love so much! And for my sister, I  bought Butterball as it smells of vanilla which is her favourite scent.
What have you been buying recently? Are you loving the weather?
xxx

Holland & Barrett - Natural Beauty

'In recent research by Holland & Barrett, nearly half of women surveyed (48%) revealed they ditch their make-up on a regular basis, yet the words 'natural look' can still spread panic among those who never leave the house without a make-up safety net.'
And I can say that I'm one of those people. I do sometimes leave the house without make up but I also feel awful and very uncomfortable around it.
So when this beautiful pink box arrived inside my flat, I was a little bit excited. Okay, scratch that. I was super excited. And when I saw the little card saying 'Holland and Barrett' on the top of it, I was even more excited. When I first starting suffering with bad skin, I loved going into Holland and Barrett. Me and mum would be in there often seeing if there was anything to help my skin but of course, I can't take tablets so I could never rely on vitamins. But they do have some wonderful skin care products in there. Me and my friends also used to go in after school and get some 'yoghurt coated bananas' which are just beautiful. So yes, I was excited.
Back to front, L-R 
Perfectly Pure Coconut Oil (£14.99, 453g) this melts into the skin and gives life to dry and rough skin. It's also great for conditioning the hair and can be used within cooking.
Skin, Hair and Nails Formula (£13.99, 120 caplets) as the name suggests, this supports healthy hair, vibrant skin and strong nails. It's a 3-in-1 tablet that contains antioxidants vitamin A, vitamin E and selenium.
Hydrolysed Collagen (£19.35, 180 caplets) this boosts collagen in the skin. It uses a complex protein to provide the major building material for growth, repair and maintenance of the skin (and also nails and hair). It also contains the antioxidant vitamin C which contributes to normal collagen formation.
Dr Organic Anti-Ageing Hand & Nail Cream (£6.19, 125ml) this hand cream has royal jelly inside it which is super rich in plant hormones, nutrients and amino acids. This cream strengthens the collagen matrix which is vital for healthy looking skin and nails. 
Dr Organic Manuka Honey Skin Lotion (£7.19, 200ml) this lotion is blended with natural ingredients and vitamins which rebalances the body's natural moisture levels and leaves the skin feeling healthy, silky smooth, firm and in perfect condition. 
Dr Organic Rose Otta Facial Serum (£12.29, 30ml) this uplifting aromatic essential oil is a super serum which is absorbed instantly to lock in moisture and leave a soft, toned feeling of balanced hydration.
Argan Oil (£12.99, 59ml) this oil helps to prevent the skin from wrinkling as by using it, skin becomes more toned. It's not only great for skin but also it helps repair the hair from sun and chemical damage too. 
Hyaluronic Acid (£9.75, 30 capsules) this is a substance that occurs naturally in the skin which means it's perfect for those with allergies or sensitive skin. This supports supple, firm and youthful skin tone whilst the vitamin C helps to support the formation of collagen.
Pycnogenol (£11.85, 30 capsules) this is an antioxidant and helps to improve skin hydration and elasticity in women. Pycnogenol promotes glowing skin and reduces the appearance of skin inflammation which results in a more even complexion.
Unfortunately, I can't swallow tablets/capsules/anything so one of my best friends, Laura will be trying out the vitamins on her blog. I'm hoping to try and swallow one of these capsules as the Pycnogenol sounds perfect for the scarring on my skin. But I'll let you know if I do. I'm really excited to use all of these products as I'm all about natural beauty. 
Another great thing that Holland and Barrett are now doing is the Rewards for Life loyalty scheme. This means that you can earn points on every purchase and you also get money-off vouchers emailed to you every 3 months. I was lucky enough to be sent one of these cards with some points pre-loaded onto them. So I popped into my local Holland and Barrett's today but unfortunately I found out that you get vouchers sent to you every month. So I haven't yet been able to pick anything up but when I do, I'll let you know what I get!
xxx

Monday 26 March 2012

OOTD - Sun!

I've been working for 4 hours straight now and I've just gotten ready to go out and check on my car. So I thought I'd show you my outfit of the day! It's nothing special but I'm really excited that I can finally wear cute, girly outfits again! Cue scary looking face..
Cardigan - Warehouse
Top - Primark
Skirt - Primark
I also posted a picture of my eye on Twitter.. I used Avon's ColorTrend Kajal Stick in the colour Light Blue/Black in black and it looked beautiful. Really easy to apply aswell!
kz2kx.jpg 
xxx

Monday Summary - Week Thirteen

I went my sister's cup final match last Wednesday. It was a beautiful day and a good trip out and you can see a picture below. Unfortunately, the end result was 2-1 to the other team but it was a very equal game. My mum also took a trip down to see me and my sister on Saturday which was lovely! The above picture is from Saturday on the Brayford and although the weather looks dull, it was a beautiful day.
 
And finally, work. Lots of work. And still lots of work to do. And the weather is beautiful. So depressed.
xxx

Sunday 25 March 2012

My Must-Have Summer Products!

With the sun shining beautifully down on England today I thought that today is the perfect day to show you my summer must-have products! If you click on the product names then you can see some past posts where I've mentioned these products. Some of them are full reviews and even have swatches!
 Back Row L-R 
Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist* This mist is perfect for taking in my handbag on long days out. It really refreshes the skin and also balances it out. In summer, I tend to get very oily skin and this keeps it shine free throughout the day.
Wilko Suncare Facial Sun Cream SPF 15* My skin is very fair and I burn exceptionally easily. I've been loving this sun cream for the face so far as it isn't greasy and sinks instantly into the skin. I apply it after my moisturiser and before make up and it keeps me protected throughout the day.
Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint SPF 15* In summer, I never want a full face of make up so when my skin is looking half decent, I turn to this skin tint. It provides sheer/medium coverage that can be built up and it doesn't cake the skin. It's really lovely and even lasts throughout the day.
Britney Spears Fantasy Perfume A beautiful, girly perfume that lasts throughout the day and makes me smell really sweet! I love this for summer.
ProActiv Daily Oil Control* Like I previously said, my skin is very oily in summer so I use this daily oil control cream with my foundation and it ensures that my skin doesn't look greasy. I also don't like powdering in summer so this and the balancing mist work great together to keep shine at bay.
Wilko Suncare Scalp Protector SPF 15* My hair is very delicate and in the summer, it falls out and breaks even more. I've started using this scalp protector to make sure my scalp and hair doesn't burn and so far, it's doing a lovely job!
No7 Stay Perfect Nail Colour in Me! Me! Me! A really bright in-your-face pink that is perfect for summer. When I'm wearing this, I just feel happy and ready for summer!
Front Row L-R
Boots Extracts Brazil Nut Body Butter This body butter smells beautiful and it lingers on the skin throughout the day aswell. It smells just like summer and reminds me of sun tan lotion. It's also wonderful for keeping skin soft and supple which is a must have for when you have your legs out in summer!
JML Ped Egg* In summer, I always wear sandals so I use the Ped Egg daily to make sure that my feet are in tip-top condition. It buffs away dead skin and reveals smooth skin without causing any pain. It also collects all the dead skin inside the egg so it doesn't get everywhere.
Vaseline Sun Protection SPF15 Of course, the lips need protecting in the summer and this one is lovely. It's just like the other Vaseline's and it keeps the lips feeling soft.
He-Shi Fusion Multi Bronze* I don't tan very easily so I use this bronzer on my cheekbones to give me a lovely, healthy glow. It's a really pretty colour that adds a little bit of shimmer and doesn't have a hint of orange inside it.
Lancome Juicy Tubes in Fraise This lipgloss is wonderful in summer. It's not too bright but it adds a nice shimmery colour to the lips that's an instant perk-me-up. It's also not sticky so you don't have to worry about getting your hair in your lipgloss.
Nivea Glamorous Gloss in Natural This lipgloss is wonderful for moisturising the lips and keeping them glossy. I also have a few matte lipsticks that for in winter are lovely but in summer, I want a bit of gloss so I use this as it's a clear colour.
And finally of course, you want your nails to look beautiful and tidy in the summer so I use the Dirty Works Cuticle Trimmer* to get rid of any nasty, unwanted cuticles. I was a bit worried about using this at first in case it hurts but it's completely pain free. I then use the Dirty Works Fingernail Clipper* to cut my nails down so they're not too long. I don't like long nails as I find it hard to type and text. I also use the Dirty Works 4 Sided Buffer Block* to file and shine my nails. It ensures that nail polish applies lovely and it makes sure that it doesn't go on streaky. It's also great for when you don't want to wear any nail polish as it buffs away any ridges. 
What are your must-have summer products? Have you tried any of the above?
xxx
*PR Sample but this doesn't affect my review at all!

Saturday 24 March 2012

Molton Metallics Eye Make Up

 Ever since I opened my Urban Decay Naked 2 palette I fell in love with the metal colours Verve, Half Baked and Chopper. All of them contain finely milled glitter and pack a real punch when applied to the eyes. For this look I used Verve as a highlight on the inner corner of my eye and underneath the brow bone. I packed the colour on as I wanted it to be really 'in-your-face' but if I was wearing it during the day time, I wouldn't use as much. I then blended Half Baked onto the first half of my eye and Chopper onto the second half of my eye. I used Chopper in my crease and on the outer wing as well. I then blended both Half Baked and Chopper together and used them underneath my eyes. The eyeliner that I used is Avon's Color Trend Kajal Stick in Light Blue and Black and the mascara I used is 17's Wild Curl mascara.
L-R Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette Verve, Half Baked and Chopper
Do you like this metallic look? Have you ever tried anything similar?
xxx

Real Life Dolls

I was very excited when my sister and her friend told me they'd like me to do their hair and make up for them for their society awards night yesterday. Of course, I jumped at the offer and I thought I'd show you the finished look.
This is how I did my sister's friends eye make up. I used Urban Decay's Verve, Pistol and Gunmetal to create  a silver/black smokey eye. I used Verve on the inner half of the eye, Pistol in the crease and Gunmetal on the outer half of the eye. I didn't want to do too dark as she never really wears eye make up so I wanted to keep it nice and simple.
My sister was a bit camera shy but here I've used Estee Lauder's Double Wear as foundation and contoured with Sleek's Contour Kit in Light. I've then dusted Nars Deepthroat blush on her cheeks and used MAC's Costa Chic on the lips.
They both looked really beautiful and I loved having 'real-life dolls' to play around with!
xxx


Friday 23 March 2012

Is abroad different to the UK?

I bought these trousers last summer in preparation for my summer holiday and I loved them. I really liked wearing them abroad but when it comes to the UK regardless of the weather, I just can't bring myself to wear them. I'm not sure why but I think the rules are different abroad. You can be a bit more experimental and 'out-there' with your clothing when you're on holiday. But when you're in England, it's different. These are very 70's and in-your-face and I think I'd get funny looks if I wore them over here. So I was just wondering, do you have any clothes that you'd dare to wear abroad but not in the UK? Or am I the only one?
xxx

Dr Nick Lowe Super Light Skin Tone Perfecter Cream Review

I have scarring on my skin that has been left from the awful spots that I used to have as a teenager. I still do get spots but they're no where near as bad as they used to be. I hate my scarring and they really do affect my confidence. When I first saw this product, I knew that I had to try it out. It promises to reduce pigment production and reveal a more even, luminous complexion. It contains 9 powerful, proven active ingredients which work together to attack pigment product and its spread in the surrounding skin. This cream is very lightweight and I use it twice daily underneath my moisturiser. It makes a lovely serum and leaves skin feeling soft. It doesn't make the skin look greasy or dry it out and it hasn't broken me out in spots either. I've been using this for two weeks now and so far, I have noticed a difference in my scarring. It's a lot less red and I don't have to use as much concealer to cover it up. It's a pleasure to use it and a little goes a long way. I'll keep you updated on how I get on with it and hopefully, it'll completely eliminate my scarring. This cream retails for £18.99 and you find out more information and buy it here.
Do you use any dark spot fading creams? Which ones would you recommend?
xxx
*PR Sample but this doesn't affect my review at all.

What's In My Shower?

I absolutely love these as YouTube videos but as always, I don't think I'll ever be ready to put up with the negativity on YouTube so I'm bringing 'What's In My Shower?' to blogger! Click on the links to either see my full review of the product or find out where to buy the product.
I love having a variety of different shampoos in my shower and the reason for this is that my hair changes its type all the time. Sometimes it'll be dry, other times it'll be flat and sometimes, it'll need reviving. The shampoos I keep in my shower all the time are the TRESemme 24 Hour Body Shampoo as it's great for not weighing the hair down. It adds beautiful volume and also smells fresh. I usually use this before I'm going out at night as it helps hold the volume all night. I also keep the TRESemme Split Remedy Shampoo and Conditioner* and the TRESemme Split Remedy Intense Recovery Masque* in there too. My hair is very fragile and it's constantly breaking. So in between hair cuts, I use this range as it helps to cover up split ends and repair the hair. It's my daily shampoo and conditioning range. I also love the Organix Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo for when my hair needs shine adding to it. It doesn't weigh the hair down and really adds a beautiful, glossy finish to the hair. I use a lot of product in my hair and I often get nasty product build up in there so the VO5 Revive Me Daily Shampoo is great for pre-washing my hair in order to remove any of the product. And finally, I will always have a Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Luscious Long Deep Treatment in my shower. It's a wonderful treatment mask that leaves hair feeling silky smooth.

I don't keep many face washes in my shower as I prefer washing my face after I've been in the shower so that I can remove any shampoo from the skin. But I do keep the OXY Seaweed Power Clear Pore Exfoliant* in there as it's such a wonderful exfoliator. After using this my skin feels super soft and it's the perfect thing to use before applying face masks. I use this 2-3 times a week and my skin looks clear after using it. When it comes to body washes, I always have a Soap and Glory Clean On Me Shower Cream in my shower as it's my all time favourite body wash. It smells beautiful and leaves skin feeling gorgeous and soft. The scent also lingers on the skin and I use a lot of Soap & Glory products and it's sort of become my 'signature scent.' I also have the Wilko Fruity Berry Shower Smoothie* in there at the minute as I received it at the Wilkinson's event. It smells incredible and also exfoliates the skin at the same time as washing it. My all-time favourite body scrub is the Soap and Glory Pulp Friction Foaming Fruity Body Scrub. A little goes a long way with this scrub and it's great for using before applying fake tan. It also has a lovely smell to it and really scrubs the skin without being too harsh. And finally, I have the JML Shower Feet* stuck in the bottom of my shower. I absolutely love this little product. It's perfect for after I've been on a night out and my feet are killing me. It massages the feet whilst also cleaning them and is great as you don't have to bend down. It sticks firmly to the bottom of the shower and doesn't move so it means you won't slip. There's also a pumice stone attached to the heel which smooths away dry and damaged feet.

I also have a lot more products in my drawers next to my sink but I'll take them into the shower with me. These are just what are in my shower permanently. I also use this shaver in my shower but it's stuck on my wall and therefore I couldn't really take a picture of it. I keep all of the above products (except for the shaver and the JML Shower Feet) in this shower tidy from IKEA which is unbelievable cheap but also very sturdy.
What products do you keep in your shower?
xxx
*PR Sample

Tuesday 20 March 2012

Favourite.. Body Moisturisers

You only have to look at my skin care routine (part 1 & part 2) to know that when it comes to my face, I really look after it. This is probably because the skin on my face is far from perfect.. In fact, it's pretty much a mess! But for some reason, I've never really looked after the skin on my body that well. I do exfoliate it twice a week and before now, I'd apply moisturiser 3 times a week but that was all. And recently it's occurred to me that I should actually look after the skin on my body too. After all, it's not just the face that ages!
L'Oreal Perfect Slim Anti-Cellulite + Firming Body Gel - I must say, I haven't noticed that much of an improvement in the appearance of my skin but to be honest, I haven't been monitoring it very well. I started using this moisturiser a few weeks ago when I went back home and the reason it struck me was because it's a body gel. I don't have dry skin on my body in fact, the skin on my body would definitely be classed as 'normal.' And this gel is perfect because it isn't too heavy and you can really work it into the skin nicely. It does leave a sort of 'tingling' sensation on the skin once applied which is nice as you know it's working. It's very refreshing, cooling and also moisturising.
Astral All Over Moisturiser: Light & Creamy* - I'd noticed this moisturiser on the shelves when I first started working at Boots and for some reason, it jumped out at me. The simple packaging really caught my eye and I fell in love. I knew I wanted to try it but whenever I did my *weekly* shopping in Boots, I'd forget about it as normally, I walk past the body moisturisers. So when this found its way into my post box the other week, I shrieked in excitement! It's a lovely thick moisturiser that is very light and creamy (hence the name) on the skin. It hydrates and conditions the skin leaving it feeling soft and supple. It's non-greasy and quickly sinks into the skin. And the aloe vera and vitamin E makes it perfect for sensitive/ageing skin. I must also talk about the fragrance; very light but very refreshing and subtle. 
What body moisturisers do you recommend?
xxx
*PR Sample

Real Techniques Stippling Brush Giveaway

To celebrate 400 followers on my Twitter, I'm giving away a Real Techniques Stippling Brush on Twitter and Facebook. To win, all you have to do is either follow me on Twitter and retweet this tweet or like my Facebook page and like this photo.
Thank you and good luck! P.S sorry for the awful photo above. It was taken on my phone and I had to print screen it from Lockerz. Also, your brush will be brand new. The above one is mine.


xxx

Monday 19 March 2012

Monday Summary - Week Twelve

I posted this mug shot on Twitter earlier because even though I'm only going to the library, I like how my make up turned out. Probably because I'm wearing my all-time favourite lipstick; MAC's Lazy Day. The only problem is, it was a limited edition lipstick and it's on its last legs so I'm really scared to use it. MAC, please bring it back! Anyway, on to this weeks Monday Summary. Quite a lot has happened this week.. well ish. First of all, I got a new phone! You've probably seen on Twitter because to be honest, it's amazing and I'm completely in love with it. It's the Blackberry Bold 9790 and it's so beautiful. It takes wonderful pictures (the one above was actually taken on the phone in low lighting and to be honest, it looks pretty damn good), films in HD, is touch screen and very, very quick! I can't recommend it enough. I also went to London on Thursday which was definitely the highlight of the week. You can see my full write up here but in total, it was a wonderful day and I felt like a real grown up - hehe. So originally I know I said a lot happened this week and now I'm writing this I'm starting to think, did it really? But I guess the things that happened were big things for me! So, what have you guys been up to recently?
xxx


P.S I'd really appreciate it if you could all take my survey for one of my university assignments. You can take it here and it should only take a few seconds/minutes! Thanks :)

Sunday 18 March 2012

You Can Do It!

 
It's been over 5 years since Britney was going through her very public breakdown and she ended shedding her past and decided to shave her head. Since then, Britney has won 147 awards including the well renowned Video Vanguard Award, she's had 3 number one albums, 6 number one singles, 2 worldwide tours including The Circus Starring: Britney Spears which became the 5th highest grossing tour ever by a female artist despite only having 97 dates, she's appeared on both How I Met Your Mother and Glee (and given them their highest ever TV ratings).
Being a huge Britney fan since 1998 it's amazing to say that she's pulled through probably the most difficult time of her life and she's came back stronger than ever. I'm very proud to be a Britney fan and so, so proud to see her back on track and still on top of the game. I wanted to write this post to show you that no matter what you're going through, you can pull through and you can become stronger than ever. Use Britney as inspiration, I do and I'm happy to say that I'm a strong person who can overcome pretty much anything. You can do it.
xxx

How To.. Refresh Your Hair

If you read my blog often then you'll know that I usually have to wash my hair daily as it gets greasy very, very quickly. It's also pretty dull looking and flat. So I will literally do anything to make my hair look 'alive.' I've tried products upon products but I can always feel the product in my hair and it usually weighs my hair down making it look even more tired and flat. But this morning I decided to try out my new Wilkinson's products and I was pleasantly surprised by them!
I last washed my hair on Friday morning and normally by Friday evening my hair will already look an absolute mess - and it did. Being a lazy student, I didn't go out yesterday (I was doing work so maybe I'm not that lazy) and this morning I had work. I didn't really want to wash my hair as I'm trying to wash it less often so I decided to use 3 Wilkinson's hair products and to my surprise, my hair looked as if it'd just been washed and blowdried!
Salon Styling Thermal Defence Protection - This heat protection protects hair up to 220 degrees and it also adds strength. It's also great at smoothing down frizz. The thing that I love the most about this is that the spray nozzle is incredible; one spritz of this is enough to coat one side of your hair. It's amazing!
Fruity Tropical Hair Mist - My favourite product that I received from Wilkinson's on Thursday. This hair mist refreshes the hair and adds shine. So when you have a day old etc hair, this just gives it that glossy 'just-walked-out-of-the-salon look.' It also smells absolutely incredible and when I get paid, I'm going to pick up the other scents!
Salon Styling Express Refresh Dry Shampoo - This dry shampoo has been compared to Batiste but I believe it's better. I do love Batiste dry shampoo but for me, it does leave residue that you can feel in your hair. This one doesn't. It literally feels like there is nothing in your hair. It adds volume and mops up oil incredibly and I can't recommend it enough! 
So as you can see from the pictures above, my hair looked incredible and I can't thank these products enough. I wish I'd have taken a picture beforehand but I wasn't planning on writing a blog post but the end result amazed me so much that I just had to. The greatest thing though is, all three of these products equate to the grand total of £3.46!
Have you ever tried any Wilkinson's products?
xxx
* These were all given to me free of charge at the Wilkinson's event but this does not affect my review in any way.

Saturday 17 March 2012

Happy Birthday Mum!

Today is my mum's birthday and for her birthday all she wanted was a new make up kit. I, of course loved it when she told me this and rushed out to Boots to buy her some new make up. She isn't as obsessed with me and she's beautiful as it is so unlike me, she doesn't really need high end make up so I stuck to drugstore (and I'm skint too)! I thought I'd kill two birds with one stone and show you what I bought her and also do a little 'how to apply guide' to help her out and she's not very experienced in make up.
Maybelline Dream Nude Airfoam - My mum usually uses the Dream Satin Liquid Foundation but when I saw this one in Boots, I decided to pick it up instead. It looks asthough it's a lot easier to use and provides a lower coverage which is great considering my mum's skin is almost perfect. She just has a little bit of redness. Without using it (but through reading reviews) I'd say the best way to apply this is using your fingers first to blend. And then finishing it off with a foundation brush to create a flawless finish.
17 Hide & Chic Eye Brightening Concealer - I absolutely adore this concealer and I wrote about it here. My mum does have a problem with under eye circles and eye bags and I've used this on her once before and it covered them wonderfully. So I decided to pick it up!
17 Pressed Powder - My mum usually uses Rimmel's Stay Matte which is I love and it's my favourite. But I don't think she should be using matte powders as her skin is quite dry and I'd love to see her with a glow. So I went with this powder instead of the matte version. A light dusting of this will add a tiny bit more coverage and help to keep make up in place throughout the day.
No7 Lift &Curve Eyelash Curler - Once again, I love this and I wrote about it here. I did ask my mum if she'd like some eye lash curlers and she quickly replied 'no, I'm scared to use them.' But of course, I decided to buy her some anyway. They're really simple to use and will change the way your mascara is applied. A few 10 second squeezes before mascara will ensure that my mum's tiny lashes are looking beautifully fluttery!
17 Peepshow Mascara - I've read good things about this mascara and it's supposed to lengthen the lashes. My mum isn't one for big out-there lashes but she definitely needs some length adding to them. So I went with this one mainly because of that - and because of the gorgeously girly packaging.
Natural Collection Blush in Pink Cloud - This blush is well loved in the blogosphere as it's cheap and lovely. So I picked it up for my mum. It's not the most pigmented but that's good seeing as I don't really want her looking like a Barbie doll. 
17 Instant Glow Shimmer Brick in Gold Bronze - And finally, my mum loves her bronzer and once I saw this Shimmer Brick, I couldn't resist. It's so beautiful and will add a lovely glow onto her skin. The different colours can also be used indiviually as eye shadows so it's a win, win situation!

Once my mum has opened these products and I've been to see her, I should hopefully be getting some swatches up (and trying them out for myself if she'll let me) so I'll let you know how I get on with them!
xxx

Friday 16 March 2012

Wilkinson Health & Beauty Exclusive Preview Evening‏

If you follow me on Twitter then you'll probably know that yesterday, I took a casual stroll down to London for the Wilkinson's Health and Beauty event. It is pretty much my first event that I've been to - other than the TRESemme one which was in Nottingham so it was a lot easier to get to. And doubt about it, I was very nervous. For starters, I had to navigate myself around two train stations and for me, that's as bad as it gets because quite frankly, my sense of direction is shocking. But surprisingly, I managed it! I then had to find my way around the tube (which cost me £7 by the way) which could've resulted in a disaster. I have been to London before with my sister and I got on pretty well with the tube but back then, I wasn't alone. Luckily, I did it perfectly. Not bigging myself up here or anything but I waltz around the tube like I was a seasoned Londonder. But then came the hard part; finding the venue. No joke, it took me a full hour to walk from Covent Garden underground station to The Hospital Club. Now, if you're a true Londoner (like I myself now am) then you'll know that the walk from those two places is around 10 minutes. So yes, it took me a very long time to find it. But nevertheless, I made it. In one piece! And in fact, I was early so I was allowed to have a 'sneak preview' at the items before anyone else was!
Walking into the beautifully decorated room felt like a magical experience. It took me back to being on holiday back in September and of course, who doesn't want to be on holiday?! All the products were surrounded by tropical fruit and the TV was playing a lovely sea tune - definitely a relaxing and chilled atmosphere. I was also offered some champagne and of course I said yes - who would pass up on that offer? So I wandered around the room looking and sniffing all of the products, drinking champagne.. I definitely felt very professional. 
First up is their wonderful bath and body range. One great thing I learnt at the event is that the buyers of the products actually go to a lab and hand pick every single scent themselves. This means that the smells of these products are 100% exclusive to Wilkinsons - how amazing! And because they're exclusive, you definitely need to pick them up from there because I can confirm that they smell incredible. The great thing about this range is definitely the price; prices start at 68p and go up to no more than £1.48. Plus there are '2 for..' offers on the majority of them so you're definitely saving a lot.
The Skin Therapy skin care range is a big hit and includes one of their biggest selling the products - their skin wipes which retail at just 57p! The whole range is designed for those with sensitive skin. The range includes a cleanser, toner, moisturiser, hand & nail cream, chin & forehead strips, nose strips, face was, eye make up remover, shower cream, bath cream and shower gel. So a lot to choose from! And once again, the most expensive product in the range is £1.48 for 200ml of hand and nail cream.
The hair ranges are really beautiful. One range is very bright whilst the other range is more professional looking. The Salon Styling range includes a heat protectant that protects hair up to 220 degrees and also improves smoothness. There's also a setting lotion, a hair serum and a dry shampoo. All of these are on par with more high end hair products and the dry shampoo has even been compared to Batiste! Prices start at just 98p and go up to just £1.75. The hairsprays and mousses have been specially formulated to contain Pro-Vitamin B5 which gives hair added strength, extra shine and protects against UV damage. These start at 55p and go up to £1.17 for 450ml of hairspray.
And finally, the suncare range which surprisingly, I was most interested in. I'm very fair skinned so when it comes to sun protection I'm willing to spend a lot. But thanks to this range, I don't have to. Each product has a 5 star UV rating (which is on par with Sol-Tan and higher than Nivea) and prices start from just £1.50. There are lotions, sprays, aftersun lotions, gels, body butters, scalp protection, lip butters and even a kids range to take your fancy! Each product ranges from SPF 15 all the way up to SPF 50 for the kids. But the real gem in this range is the £10 family care pack which is has everything you need - SPF 15, SPF 30, aftersun lotion and SPF 50 kids lotion all in a plastic travel bag!
In true tourist style I took a picture of the underground. But I actually got shouted at by the 'underground man' for taking flash photography on the underground. I apologised but he felt the need to tell everyone on the platform just in case they followed my lead because I'm so influential you see!
The goody bags we received were exceptionally generous and I received a Fruity Berry Shower Smoothie, Extra Firm Hairspray, Skin Therapy Face Wash, Thermal Defence Protection, Fruity Tropical Hair Mist, Express Refresh Dry Shampoo, Facial Sun Cream, Total A-Z Multivitamins & Minerals, Scalp Protector and Skin Therapy Fragranced Facial Wipes.

And I thought I'd leave you with a few things I found out whilst on my journey to London -
  • Trains don't have seatbelts. Sounds obvious yes but I was genuinely shocked by this revelation!
  • Trains do have plugs. And the plugs they do have are very handy. Unless the girl next to you is sleeping and blocking the plug.
  • Try not to listen to music on headphones whilst travelling on a train because you probably will miss your stop.
  • No flash photography on the tube!
  • In London you have to pay to use the toilet. They charge you for natural urges.
  • London is posh. It took me forever to find a McDonalds and it was tiny.
  • It's hot in London. A lot hotter. I know it's closer to the equator but only by a teeny, tiny bit! 
  • Trains go really fast. I thought I was going to die when one shot past me at Newark station!
I'd just like to say a big thank you to all of the lovely PR girls and Wilkinsons team. They truly made the event special and their hospitality was outstanding. It was lovely being able to chat about beauty products and get all excited about new products and ideas!
xxx

Everyday Eye Make Up - Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette #3

When I saw this make up look on ByCelina I just had to recreate it. It looks so beautiful and it's very easy and quick to do. I don't usually use eyeshadow underneath my eyes  but as you can tell from the pictures, Half Baked just looks absolutely stunning there and it's definitely something I'm going to do from now on.
As you know from ByCelina's blog post, I used Tease in the crease, Snakebite on the outer half of the lid, Half Baked on the inner half of the lid and Verve and Bootycall mixed together to highlight the inner corner. I then repeated this underneath my lash line. I used my usual 17 Liquid Liner to line my upper lid and Avon's ColorTrend Kajal Stick in Light Blue & Black to line my tight line and water line. The mascara that I used was Barbara Daly's Lash Boost mascara.
L-R Urban Decay's Bootycall, Verve, Half Baked, Snakebite and Tease, 17's Liquid Liner and Avon's Kajalstick.
I'm definitely a big fan of this eye look. As you can probably tell, I'm starting to truly fall in love with my Naked 2 palette!
What's your favourite eye combination?
xxx

Thursday 15 March 2012

Mothers Day Gift Ideas

As you will all probably know by now, Mothers Day is coming up very soon - on the 18th of March to be exact. Unfortunately for me, this is just one day after my mum's birthday so I've combined the two together to 'create' her gift. I thought I'd compile a quick gift guide on some products that I'd recommend picking up and treating your lovely mums with!
Britney Spears Cosmic Radiance Fragrance - It wouldn't be a 'Bamboozle Beauty' post without Britney being featured. I do have every Britney fragrance and whilst I'd recommend them all, I definitely think that this one is the most 'mother appropriate.' It has fruity, white floral, citrus, vanilla, sweet and woody notes which all combine together to create a beautiful and unique scent that lasts throughout the day. Prices for this fragrance start at around £23 from Boots and at the moment, their gift set is on offer for just £11.50 which contains 30ml of fragrance and a cute bag!
No 7 Products - As you all probably know by now the No7 £5 vouchers are back so now is the perfect time to treat your mum to No7 products. I'd definitely recommend having a look at their new skin care ranges  - I'm personally a big fan of their normal/combination range which I reviewed here. But another great gift set that's on offer at the moment is this one which includes the Protect & Perfect Intense Day Cream, Night Cream and Beauty Serum for just £32 instead of £66!
Lancome Le French Touch Lipstick - If your mum is a lipstick/make up girl then I'd highly, highly recommend taking a look at their current limited edition lipsticks. They're beautifully packaged and feel so expensive and luxurious - such a pleasure to use. I reviewed and did a swatch of their Soft Marshmallow lipstick here and you can take a look at the other two colours here. They retail at £23.50 which is definitely a lot for a lipstick but words can't explain how beautiful they really are.
Jurlique In Full Bloom Rose Hydrating Duo* - This gift set is really beautiful. It packaged with such care in a lovely way and it contains two products from Jurlique - their Rose Love Balm which is a skin treatment that moisturisers and soothes sensitive, dry or chapped skin. And their Rosewater Balancing Mist which I must say comes in the most beautiful glass bottle! This leaves skin feeling refreshed, balanced and soothed. It's great for spraying on top of make up to revive it. This retails at just £18 on the Jurlique website.
I hope this gift guide has helped you a little bit. What are you planning on getting your mums for mothers day? Any special way you're planning on spending it?
xxx

Everyday Eye Make Up - Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette (Again)

I'm really starting to get into using my Urban Decay Naked 2 palette. I wouldn't say it's replaced my original Naked palette as I believe they can co-exist in perfect harmony together.
I used the colours Bootycall, Snakebite and Busted to create a sort of gradient effect. The camera didn't pick it up very well and washed it out a little bit but in real life, it looked beautiful. Very subtle but defining. For mascara I used Revlon's Double Twist as it's great for adding volume, length and also separating the lashes.
What do you think about this eye look? Do you prefer the original Naked palette or the Naked 2?
xxx

Wednesday 14 March 2012

BRITNEY SERIES: Radar Make Up

This make up isn't perfect and if I could, I would've used a completely matte grey that was a few shades darker than the one I used. But unfortunately, I don't use greys very often and I especially am not a big fan of matter eye shadows so I don't own one. But this look was pretty simple to recreate. It's from Britney's music video for her single Radar. It isn't one of her best music videos but there's no doubt that she looks beautiful throughout it - that is including her make up.
On the eyes all I used was Urban Decay's Pistol colour. I pressed it onto the eye lid and blended it outwards to create a 'V' sign and elongate the eye. I then used Urban Decay's Blackout as an eyeliner as Britney's eyeliner is this look is pretty soft which is something that's hard to achieve using an actual eye liner. The mascara I used was Lancome's Hypnose for reference.
I also don't own any red lipsticks so I tried my hardest to recreate a red lipstick using coral colours. I used MAC's Costa Chic and Barbara Daly's Coral. Once again not perfect, but the closest I could get.

I actually really like this but I do think it'd look a lot better with a matte grey eyeshadow like the one Britney is wearing.
xxx

What I Use On.. My Eyes

My eyes have been really red and irritated recently so I've started to take greater care in my eye routine. Plus, I'm 19 now and my eye bags are starting to get worse - not good!
Lancome Bi-Facial - this is pretty much the best eye make up remover that I've ever tried. It dissolves make up instead of moving it around on the skin and it does it quickly. It's gentle on the eyes aswell. The only problem is that it leaves a residue behind so it's recommended that you wash the eye area with water afterwards to ensure that the residue doesn't affect your eye make up.
Liz Earle Smoothing Line Serum - I really love this serum. I also use it underneath my moisturiser sometimes but it's lovely on the eyes too. Very soothing and acts as a great primer.
Boots Essentials Eye Make Up Remover Gel - I alternate between this and the Bi-Facial because this is a lot more affordable. In a perfect world, I'd use the Bi-Facial every time I remove my eye make up but this is a great alternative. I also reviewed this product here
Skin Wisdom Instant Benefits Eye Roll On - This eye gel is very refreshing and great for in mornings as it brightens up the eye area and instantly makes my eye bags disappear. I also reviewed this product here.
Liz Earle Daily Eye Repair - A great all-rounder that I use every night before bed. You can see my full review of this product here.
What products do you use on your eyes?
xxx

Midlands Blogger Meet Up

If you've been reading my blog since last year then you know that I've been wanting to organise a Midlands Blogger Meet Up for a long time now. I did get very close to hosting one in November last year but due to other commitments, I had to cancel. Which was very unfortunate as I had quite a lot of interest in it. But I'm back and I'm hoping that you're all still up for it! 
I've created a Facebook event as I think it'll be a lot easier to organise an event on there. Any suggestions are welcome and you can invite whoever you like. It's also public so just click 'join' and you'll be kept up to date with everything. You can view the event here
Everyone is welcome. You don't have to be a blogger. Even if you're a blog reader please feel free to click attend! Also, I'm hoping to generate a lot of interest for this so if you could tweet about it etc then that'd be great! If you could also retweet this tweet then I'd be forever grateful!
Thank you and I hope to meet you all soon :)
xxx
P.S any further questions either tweet me, leave a comment or write on the event wall!

Tuesday 13 March 2012

OXY Seaweed Range & Clearlight Review

On Thursday I received a lovely parcel which included all of these products. And they couldn't have arrived at a more appropriate time. If you read my blog often or know me, then you know that my skin has the tendency to break out. Recently, I've gotten it under control but every now and then, it will flare up like crazy and make me feel so uncomfortable with myself that I don't leave the house. And when these products arrived my skin had flared up - I'm not sure if that's lucky or not? But it was the perfect time to try this range out.
Seaweed Power Fresh Skin Wash - I don't usually expect much from drug store face washes. I much prefer using an expensive face wash/cleanser to remove my make up with but this surprised me. It's a very fresh scent and has tiny beads inside it that burst when massaged into the skin. After using this, I notice that my skin isn't so shiny or red and it definitely leaves my skin feeling baby soft. It also didn't dry my skin out which is something that most spot brands do.
Seaweed Power Clear Pore Exfoliant - OXY recommend using this once/twice a week in place of the Face Wash and that's exactly what I did. It made a nice change and deeply cleansed my pores. The exfoliating beads weren't too harsh either and I found that it did remove my make up. The only problem is you obviously can't use it around your eyes. But I do tend to use an eye make up remover for that anyway. After using this, my skin looks remotely brighter and clearer and of course, feels very soft and lovely! My pores are also a lot more refined and less noticeable. 
Seaweed Power Deep Calm Balm - I don't usually use moisturisers that are aimed at spot-prone skin because I find them too drying and typically, I have combination skin but more recently my skin has been very oily. This helps to control my oil throughout the day and also feels very refreshing. It calms down my redness and also stops my spots from feeling painful. I'm a really big fan of this moisturiser, it feels lovely on the skin and also creates the perfect base for make up.
Emergency Spot Treatment Gel - My sister used to use something along the lines of this for her yearly spot (see my sarcasm there)? And she did used to love it. She's a big OXY fan. And I can see why. I don't know what's inside this product that gives off a 'cooling sensation' but I definitely love it. It calms down the redness of spots and I generally notice a different in the size of my spot within 4-5 hours which is amazing. 
Oxy Clearlight - Now this is what I was most excited about. I've seen many of these devices in magazines before but I've never been able to try them because of the price so it's nice to know that OXY have brought out a more affordable product. This device emits no heat or harmful UV rays and it is kind to skin because it doesn't cause drying, peeling or discomfort. It contains a technology called blue light therapy that has been used for years by dermatologists in specialist clinics. The device itself is very sleek in design and easy to use. It also comes with incredible instructions that are very detailed and make using the product a lot better. Basically all you do is press a button in, place the blue light on your spot and leave it there for 3 minutes until it beeps to let you know it's finished. It doesn't hurt but if you have a few spot, the device obviously radiates a tiny bit of heat but not enough for it to be uncomfortable. 
All products have no parabens, no SLS and no alcohol in them except for the Emergency Spot Gel which does have alcohol inside it. They're also suitable for sensitive skin. Oh and another thing, Britney has been linked to using OXY which is obviously a major plus for me!
So does this range work? Well, I received these products last Thursday and I can now safely say that my skin has fully cleared up. I noticed a remarkable difference to my skin on the Friday so you can see how quickly these products work. Unfortunately, I can't say which products are most responsible for getting rid of my spots as I used them all together but as a skin care range, this is definitely one to consider. Unlike most spot-prone skin care ranges, this one doesn't dry the skin out and actually leaves skin really refreshed. It doesn't irritate the skin but instead it 'nurtures' the skin. I'm a big fan and I shall continue to use it in the hope to not only remove future breakouts but to prevent them.
I must also add that OXY have repacked their products and I love them! As you can see from the pictures they're not packaged in white tubes that look very sophisticated and expensive.
Have you tried any products from this range?
xxx
All products were sent to me free of charge for reviewing purposes. This doesn't affect my opinion whatsoever.

BRITNEY SERIES: Hold It Against Me Make Up

Seeing as my last Britney Spears make up tutorial thing was pretty successful, I thought I'd do another one from her Hold It Against Me video. This video is definitely in my top 5 favourite Britney videos. For the general public, it's just a well put together video but for the fans, it has a deeper meaning. It subtly showcases her life and it's also made better by the fact that she looks beautiful. Her make up in the video is on form and I've always loved it. It's a simple eye liner look that when trying to recreate, is very hard! I'm not terribly happy with how this turned out but seeing as I don't really have anything else to post about today I thought I'd show you the final eye make up.
The eye liner that has been used is 17's Falsifye and the and the false lashes are Kiss Premium Lashes in 02. The eye liner was actually very hard to do and it took me a while to do it. It did look a lot sharper in real life but when it transferred to pictures, it looks a lot softer and doesn't have such a 'clean cut' edge. I'm hoping to re-do this soon and hopefully make it look a lot better.
On skin, I'd have used a full coverage foundation as Britney's skin is so flawless. I'd have added a little bit of Benefit's High Beam to add a lovely glow and MAC's Pink Swoon blush to add a pop of colour to the cheeks. On the lips, I'd have used a pink lip gloss such as Avon's ColorTrend in Sheer Pink. I also thought it'd be a good idea to post the video for you as the above picture isn't that good.. Plus the video is too good to miss!
Would you like to see more of these looks? I'm considering recreating Britney's Slave 4 U make up? 
xxx