Saturday 30 June 2012

HAUL: Primark

I'm going on holiday in one weeks time so I thought it was about time that I bought a few new clothes. So off I went to Primark. After a lot of sighs and groans due to the state of the shop I managed to find two pretty dresses and one basic tshirt.
The white tshirt was just £4 and I bought it in a few sizes up so that it ends up being an oversized tshirt as I don't like clothes too fitted around my stomach. The dress in the middle was £10 and I'm still a bit undecided on it. I love the print but I'm not too sure if I like the fit as it sort of clings around my chest area as the waistline doesn't pull in at the waist. But I'll see as sometimes I do like it. And finally, the last dress was £13 and I thought I'd take a picture of me wearing the dress because on the picture on the hanger it looks so boring. But it fits amazingly. It really pulls you in at the waist and goes out a beautiful skirt that covers the stomach lovely. I wish they had more dresses like this in different prints as this is my favourite type of fit. I must also apologise for the quality of some of the pictures. I had to brighten some up quite a bit so the door looks aqua instead of green as where I take my clothing pictures the lighting is really bad. And also for the picture of me wearing the dress I had to crop it down to size because I didn't zoom the camera in quite enough - oops!
What do you think of these clothes? Do you like Primark?
xxx

Friday 29 June 2012

MORE: Holiday Essentials

Since my last holiday post I have picked up/gathered together a few more bits and pieces for my holiday and I thought I'd show you what they are. I haven't gone into too much detail about each product as some of them haven't been tried before or I've previously reviewed them (and provided a past link).
I've started washing my hair every 2 days to try and correct it and stop it from being greasy so recently, I've been relying on dry shampoo to revive my hair in between washes. I haven't tried this version before but hopefully it'll smell nice.
I didn't want an expensive toothpaste and ideally, I wanted a travel sized one but I couldn't find one anywhere. So I just went with this cheap Boots one that I can throw away if I don't want to bring it back with me.
Hopefully the weather will be nice and I'll be able to get my legs out so I definitely needed some shaving gel. I've not tried this one before but it smells absolutely gorgeous and the travel sized bottle is so cute!
This is my favourite hand moisturiser so I had to take it away with me. It's the perfect size for travelling with aswell. You can read my full review of this product here.
Boots still have their 3 for 2 offer on and I was in need of a third item so I picked this body spray up. It smells beautiful and I need to find a full sized version. I'm trying very hard not to use it before my holiday but sometimes I can't resist. It smells very clean and fresh and it does add moisture to the skin.
Listerine is my favourite mouthwash as they taste isn't very strong so when I saw the travel sized version I couldn't say no as the bottle is just so cute!
I had to bring this product with me and the fact that it's a small sized bottle made me want to take it even more. I won't go into too much detail about this as I've done a full review here.
I decided that I needed another body wash in case the one that I had wasn't enough so I went into Boots and picked up a Clean On Me as it's my all time favourite body wash.
GLAMGLOW* - £49.99
This is the best face scrub/mask that I've ever tried and because I have a small sample size I decided to take it on holiday with me. You can read my full review here but I'll also just say that it completely transforms your skin in an instant, perfect.
Boots Extracts Bergamot Body Butter - From a Christmas gift set (a similar one can be found here.
This smells beautiful. When I first bought the gift set I stayed away from this body butter as I had no idea (and I still don't) what bergamot is. But whatever it is smells bloody lovely! It's a fresh scent that isn't overpowering and the body butter itself leaves skin feeling soft and smooth.
Boots Travel Toothbrush - around £0.50p
I managed to find a travel toothbrush! It was really cheap but I can't seem to find it online anywhere.
I've been using these so much lately and I have one unused one that I thought I'd take on holiday with me. They're pretty big so remove cleanser instantly and they also exfoliate your skin at the same time.
I can be quite messy so I decided to take some wet wipes with me. These ones sooth and refresh the skin whilst cleansing them.
Are you going on holiday this summer? What essentials are you taking with you?
xxx
*PR Sample

Thursday 28 June 2012

NEW Rose Gold Watch

Today I decided that it was about time that I bought a watch. I've been holding out for years now waiting for a Michael Kors or Rolex watch but finally I've decided that if I stick by that, I'll be waiting a good 20 years. 
 I wanted a rose gold watch; I think it's impossible to not want a rose gold watch if you're a fan of Fleur, Ingrid and Tanya on YouTube. I didn't want a very expensive one so I went to Argos and I found this one by Identity London. As soon as the woman showed it to me I knew I needed to buy it.
It's big, very big as it's a boyfriend watch but it's very sturdy and feels more expensive than it is/was. I really love it but now I've got to get used to actually wearing a watch as it's strange haha. The pictures really doesn't do the watch any justice - even the official Argos image doesn't. So if you're interested then I highly recommend heading down to Argos and checking it out for yourself. Be careful though, you will fall in love.
This watch is available from Argos here and retails for just £14.99.
xxx

Monday 25 June 2012

What Is A BB Cream?

Working in Boots means that I get asked the question 'so what exactly is a BB cream' a lot. I answer this question by simply saying; 'it's pretty much a re-formulated tinted moisturiser.' I split up BB cream into two categories - the original ones and the new ones. The new ones are the BB creams from brands like Garnier and Clinique - basically Western BB creams. And the original ones are those that were originally introduced into the Asian market from brands like Skin79 and Missha. 
Western/New BB creams:
To me, these are tinted moisturisers with added skin care benefits. They don't provide any coverage and you're lucky if these cover up redness never mind blemishes. They have a high level of SPF in them and they don't irritate your skin but what is the point in them unless you have perfect skin to begin with? Apparently you don't have to wear moisturiser or primer with these BB creams either but I've seen no end of reviews disagreeing - once again, maybe you don't have to if you already have perfect skin.
Original/Asian BB creams:
These are very lightweight in texture but provide coverage that is on par with foundation. These also have a high level of SPF in them and the skin care benefits are great as they were originally formulated for those who had had skin surgery in Asia. The only problem with these is that they aren't available in a variety of different skin tones so if you're anything darker than light/fair then you'll have a hard time finding one in your shade. I have one of the Skin79 BB creams and you can see how wonderfully is covers here.

So I guess you could say that this is a 'harsh' way to describe what BB creams are. I'd recommend the original BB creams if you require more coverage and are fair-light skinned. But if you just want something to mix with a heavy foundation to make it thinner, go for one of the new BB creams as the skin care benefits are great but the coverage is shocking.
What are your thoughts on BB creams? Are they worth the hype?
xxx

Sunday 24 June 2012

How To... Get Glowing/Healthy Looking Skin

I've been loving glowing, healthy looking skin at the moment and I've come across the perfect products to create this so I thought I'd share it with you. 
I only use the highlighter out of this kit as at the moment I prefer the Liz Earle bronzer. The highlighter is a beautiful light rose gold colour that really highlights the cheekbones. You only need a tiny amount of this though because it's very strong.
I reviewed this product in full here and I've been using it not only as a contour colour but also as a blush sometimes as it's really versatile. It adds a gorgeous glow to the skin and makes skin look glowing, healthy and naturally bronzed.
I use this underneath my eyes and it does a fabulous job at concealing under eye bags and just generally brightening the eye area up and making you look more awake. It's also great on blemishes and it really blurs imperfections.
 My favourite foundation at the moment. I did a full review of this here and I've worn it every day since buying it. As the name suggests it makes you look awake, lasts all day with a primer and covers very well.
This primer is amazing. It helps make up lasts all day long whilst adding a natural and beautiful glow to the skin. If I haven't had much sleep then I can rely on this primer to really perk my skin up.
And finally, I've switched my mattifying powder for a 'normal' powder to let my skin shine through. This one is great because it keeps oil at bay but it doesn't leave your skin looking dead matte.
And of course I've included a few swatches for you.
L-R Liz Earle Natural Glow Bronzer, Sleek Contour Kit Highlight in Light
And this is my skin with all of these products mentioned above. I wore this make up for work last Sunday and it lasted on my skin all day and really made me look glowing and healthy. I also had a bad breakout last week on the right hand side of my face but as you can see, the Wake Me Up foundation really covered the breakout pretty well.
What products do you use to get glowing skin?
xxx
*PR Sample

Saturday 23 June 2012

Boots Summer Holiday Hauling

In a few weeks time me, my sister and our friend are going on holiday. It was a birthday present from me to her for her 21st birthday. And of course going on holiday means buying lots of new things. I did want to get a whole new wardrobe to go on holiday with but instead I decided to spend some of my wages on new beauty products - because quite frankly, I'm an addict. So I went into Boots and these are the things that I bought. Of course, I'm taking other things but I wanted to keep it as a haul. Before I go on holiday I'll show you everything that I'll be taking with me. We're staying in the UK so it means that there are no limits!
I originally went to pick up the Daily Energizer Cleansing Gel but when I saw this kit I knew I had to get it. It contains the Clarins Daily Energizer Cleansing GelClarins Daily Energizer Wake-up BoosterClarins Daily Energizer Cream and the Clarins Beauty Flash Balm. They're all mini sizes but to say they're mini sizes is a bit unfair considering I think they're decent sizes. I thought it'd be better to buy this kit beforehand and see if the range agrees with my skin. And also, I have been wanting to try the Beauty Flash Balm out for a really long time now. Unfortunately, I'm taking this on holiday with me so there won't be a review for a few weeks. I don't know how I'm going to resist using the products.
Sun protection for the face is a big must have for me so it's taken me a while to decide on this one. Like Soltan this has a 5* UVA rating and the great thing about it is that it protects against dark spots which is something that I suffer with due to my scarring on my face. Unfortunately, it's only SPF15 but I am only going away in the UK so it should definitely be enough.
I have the full size of this and also a mini size that's nearly running out so when I saw that this was on the 3 for 2 offer that Boots currently have on, I couldn't say no. It has the classic Soap and Glory scent and it smells so beautiful. Definitely my favourite body spray.
I have been wanting to try out this range for a while so when I saw the mini's I immediately put back the TRESemme shampoos that I was holding and picked up these. I decided to go for two shampoos and one conditioner as these were also in the 3 for 2 and one mini bottle of shampoo isn't enough for me on holiday.
I needed some skin care wipes for removing any eye make up and just if I've had a late night and I'm feeling lazy so I picked these ones up. They're great face wipes and one of the best that I've tried. They remove all make up and leave the skin feeling beautifully soft.
I've seen this floating around the blogosphere for a while and I really wanted an antibacterial hand gel but I don't tend to like the alcoholic scent of them. So when I picked this up and smelt it I immediately popped it into my basket. It smells like once again, the classic Soap and Glory scent.
And finally, a body wash! I was going to go for the Clean on Me one but I already have one mini size of that plus two full sized bottles as it's my favourite body wash. So I decided to go for the alternative body wash as it's one that I've never tried before.
So altogether this cost me £25.79 instead of £47.47. It cost me a lot less than it should've done because of 3 for 2's, staff discount and vouchers. I even shocked myself when I added up the receipt price and the actual price and I can't wait to try out some of the products. As always, I highly recommend going to the Advantage Card kiosks before buying anything in Boots as they have some great offers there.
I hope you're all well. Are you going on holiday this summer?
xxx

Thursday 21 June 2012

A Quick Update

Hello, I hope you're all well?
I'm really sorry that I haven't blogged for a while but I've been working really hard and just haven't had time. I've missed blogging a lot and I'm hoping to be back blogging regularly very soon. The good thing about working a lot is that I now have a lot more money than usual so I should be buying lots of nice things that I'll be able to blog about! I'm also hoping to attend a few events soon due to possibly being able to afford train tickets so it's very exciting! I am back in Lincoln every Saturday for working on Sunday's which means that I should be able to get at least one blog post a week up which although isn't a lot and I'd like to do more, it'll have to do for now. I thought I'd leave you all with the video to one of my favourite songs at the moment -
I'd also highly recommend listening to Justin Bieber's - Believe album, it's incredible.
Have a great week :)
xxx

Sunday 17 June 2012

WANTS: Kelly Brook For New Look

Ever since I bought my Kelly Brook Playsuit I had always wanted to go back to New Look and buy more from the range. If you can remember when I was looking for an outfit, I was pretty stressed out because no playsuits seemed to fit me around my chest area but when I tried this one on, it fit me perfectly.

I really want to buy these items. I think the Kelly Brook range is really cute, simple and for me, it fits perfectly.
Have you tried anything from this range?
xxx

Saturday 16 June 2012

Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation Review & Comparison Photos

After all the glowing reviews of this foundation popping up on both blogs and in YouTube videos, I couldn't resist making the purchase especially since I've noticed a change in my skin (I'm looking to overhaul my skin care routine) - it's a lot more dull than it used to be. I also noticed that in Boots this foundation is currently on offer for just £6.99 (£6.12 with discount) which is an absolute bargain, so I went out and bought it.
 And I'm so glad that I did. First of all the packaging for a high street foundation is lovely. It's very sturdy, made of glass, comes with a pump for hygiene and also is very pretty - I particularly love the bright orange lid which is something that I love seeing in mornings. The scent of this foundation is very nice; it's fresh and clean which is refreshing for me as my foundations normally smell like paint. The foundation feels very light on the skin even though I'd say it's medium/full coverage. It isn't matte but it isn't completely dewy it just makes your skin look radiant, glowing and awake. It's very easy to apply and blend and also contains SPF15 which is great for summer - but not so good for photographs.
My skin is pretty bad at the moment and as you can see this foundation covers all my imperfections. The scars still kinda show through which isn't a problem for me (unless I'm going on a night out but that's nothing that a concealer can't fix). As I've already mentioned it makes the skin look glowing and you can see this in the picture above.
It's a great foundation and it's the best I've tried from the high street so far. I've only just purchased it yesterday but I'm already in love with it. I even went out earlier and bought another one for my mum. You can buy it from Boots on offer for £6.99 here (normal price £8.99).
Have you tried this foundation? What do you think?
xxx

How I... Look After My Nails

I've recently started looking after my nails quite a lot. Before this routine, I pretty much just used to apply nail polish and that's it. And that's probably why my nail polish always applied gloopy and not nice. 
I start off by cutting my nails if they need cutting. My nails don't really grow that long but if they ever do then I'll use the Dirty Works Finger Nail Clipper* - £2.49. I then go on to filing my nails down. I'll either use the Dirty Works Printed Emery Board & Case* - £2.99 or the Anatomicals Nail File - £2.00. Both are great nail files are get the job done quickly but without breaking the nails and damaging them. The Dirty Works one is also great for travelling as it comes in its own case. I then use my No7 Nourishing Nail & Cuticle Care - £7.00 to soften my cuticle before pushing them back using the Boots Essentials Manicure Sticks - £1.00. The No7 Cuticle Care is something that I recently bought using the No7 £5 vouchers and it's such a lovely product. It does a great job of softening them and looking after them. If I need to trim any cuticles on the side of my nails then I'll use the Dirty Works Cuticle Trimmer* - £6.99 as it's really gentle, quick and easy. I'll then use the Dirty Works 4 Sided Nail Buffer Block* - £2.99 to make my nails look smooth and get them ready for applying nail polish. And finally, I'll use the Natural Collection Nail Colour in Clear - £1.89 as a base coat and a top coat as well.
 These are my nails. They aren't the most beautiful looking and that's one of the main reasons that I always use nail polish - to cover up them up. They're prone to breaking and they're very brittle but this routine that I do is pretty gentle and I've noticed an improvement in my nails since doing it. I'm hoping to invest in a base coat that strengthens the nails but I just can't bring myself to do it in case they don't work - it's weird how I'll always invest in skin care but not in my nails. So if you have any recommendations, please let me know!
And finally, I store all of my nail accessories in the Dirty Works Cosmetic Bag* - £4.99. It's a very nice bag that's just the right size. It's also great as you can just wipe it clean if it gets dirty.
How do you look after your nails?
xxx
*PR Sample

Friday 15 June 2012

GLAMGLOW Tingling & Exfoliating Mud Mask Review

I briefly mentioned GlamGlow here and promised that I'd do a full review of this product and here it is.
I only have the sample/travel sized version of this product and the full size actually comes in a tub so all you have to do is dip your fingers inside it and pull out as much product as you need. I think the full packaging looks better but the sample sized packaging is a lot more practical as I prefer squeezing products out of tubes. This product is a face mask and a scrub in one which has done a lot before but there's something special about this. It started off by being used on Hollywood film sets and more recently, it's made its way to the UK and I'm so glad that is has done. I apply this to my skin, let it set which takes about 10 minutes then add water to exfoliate my skin, wash it off and the results are just incredible. It's very hard to explain how this mask does it but it does. My skin looks glowing, bright and clear. It hasn't broken me out and I've used it about 3 times since receiving it. It's absolutely wonderful and is a great boost for your skin that doesn't just last for a few hours - the glow lasts for around 3 days on average. It really is a wonder product but the only downside is the price. A small 15ml tub retails for £19.99 and the bigger 50ml retails for £49.99 which is very expensive. But don't get me wrong, it's worth the price and when I'm older and hopefully rich, I will be purchasing this constantly. But for a poor student like me, it's no good. So I'm currently cherishing this sample and only using it as and when I need. And seeing as it's June and half way until Christmas, this will definitely be making its way onto my Christmas list.
Have you tried this product before? What are your thoughts on it?
You can view the GlamGlow website and buy the product here.
xxx
*PR Sample

Thursday 14 June 2012

What's In My... 'Travel' Make Up Bag

First thing's first, I must apologise about the shocking picture. This was the best of a bad bunch and for some reason, these products (minus the HD Brow Palette) didn't want to photograph at all. But I really wanted to write this post so I thought a bad picture is better than no post! Recently I'm in between Mansfield and Lincoln because university is finished but I still have my job out there. I don't want to take all my make up back to Mansfield yet as I love blogging at Lincoln so I've just taken a small bag full of my current favourite products at the moment and here they are...
On my skin I've currently been loving both the No7 Shine Free Primer - £11.00 and the Benefit Porefessional Primer - £23.50. I use the No7 primer on my t-zone to keep my skin matte and the Benefit primer on my cheeks to cover up my pores. The combination of both works really well and I've been using these two together every day. When it comes to foundation I've rediscovered MAC Studio Sculpt Foundation - £23.00. It provides great coverage that's natural looking and isn't too heavy when applied to the skin. I do sometimes get red skin so I usNatural Collection Corrector Stick - £1.99 which I bought just so I could get 50 Boots points. But I do love it. It's a bit chalky so it needs warming up but it does a great job at concealing redness for such a cheap price. I've been combining two concealers together; the Max Factor Pan Stix - £6.99 which essentially is a foundation but my skin hasn't been that bad recently so I don't use it as a foundation as it is full coverage. And the No7 Quick Cover Blemish Stick - £8.00 which provides good coverage that lasts throughout the day. I haven't been using any powder on my skin as my primers are that good but I have been using both the Liz Earle Natural Glow Bronzer* - £19.50 and MAC Powder Blush in Pink Swoon - £17.50 to perk my skin up and provide me with a lovely colour. Both are very natural, matte and do a great job at warming and brightening the skin. Of course on my eyes I've been using the Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette - £36.00 which is the best nude, natural palette out there. I've then been using the 17 Liquid Liner - £3.99 to define my eyes and finishing off with my new favourite mascara, No7 Exceptional Definition Mascara - £12.50 which is great for volumising and defining the lashes. On my bottom lashes I've been using a mascara by Flutter which I received at Christmas. It's a small mascara which is great for using on the bottom lashes. As always on my eye brows I've been using the HD Brow Palette* - £19.95 to fill my brows in and setting them with the Collection 2000 Colour Lash Mascara in Clear - £2.99. And finally I've been completing the look with 17 Mirror Shine On Lipstick in Belle - £4.59 which is a lovely nude lip colour that hydrates the lips.
xxx

FREE Angela Langford Natural Skin Care Sample Pack

Hello!
Just a quick one from me to let you know that Angela Langford is offering free skin care sample packs to everyone. These sample packs will be tailored to your skin type so you can get the most from your beauty regime. All you have to do is log onto her website, select the free sample pack, proceed to the check out and fill out a quick consultation form. Angela herself will then select the best products for your skin and you'll end up with a lovely bunch of goodies!
Home
These samples are all free minus the postage and packaging which costs just £4.50. 
I've tried a few products from Angela Langford before when she did something along the lines of this last year and I must say, I do love the products. They're very gentle on the skin and get the job done so I definitely think this idea is great. It's also wonderful to be able to try out some products before you buy them in case you have any reactions - that way, you're not going to be wasting any more.
Will you be ordering a sample pack?
xxx

Monday 11 June 2012

Skin Care Overhaul

From a young age I've suffered with blemish-prone skin and from then on, I've always been in the mindset that I need to buy products for oily/blemish prone skin. However, I've started to realise that recently, my skin has changed. If I apply foundation it will soon start to look patchy, horrible and dull and it's not just the foundation either as I've switched many times. So it must be my skin care routine. I now think that I have normal-combination skin that suffers with the odd breakout and my skin is definitely very dull. So I've recently decided that I need a skin care overall. I've chosen a few products from Boots and I'm going to do a lot of research into them and visit a few counters to find out if they're perfect for me. As you can see, they're pretty expensive so I don't want to rush into buying them straight away. I will also add that I will be keeping my Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish as my nighttime cleanser, my PanOxyl as my spot treatment and my No7 Beautiful Skin Night Cream for Normal/Oily skin as my night cream just because I love them so much!
As soon as I read this I knew that I needed to have it. It's a foaming gel that promises to remove make up and pollution for clean, blemish-free, detoxified skin. The Clarins Daily Energizer range sounds wonderful and it's targeted for 18-late 20 year olds and ensures that young skin looks clear, fresh and glowing and feels soft and smooth every day. This is thanks to its energy boosting shot of vitamin C which stimulates the skin's natural defences. It also has turmeric which is a powerful antioxidant, alchemilla which regulates sebum production and ginkgo biloba which brightens the skin and boosts its radiance.
A good moisturiser is key to good skin and great looking make up and I wanted one that boosts radiance whilst protecting the skin. This moisturiser is lightweight and provides antioxidant protection whilst improving skin texture and tone to leave is smooth and radiant. The moisturise improves skin radiance and gently exfoliates to reveal smoother, healthier looking skin and texture.
This toner is designed with plant extract which helps to refine skin texture and brighten the complexion. I'm still a bit unsure whether to go for this toner or the Clarins Daily Energizer one. I do have enlarged pores but even though this one claims to be gentle I'm still worried about toners completely stripping my skin. But then again I don't want to go for a moisturising one as my make up would literally slide off my face. Or maybe I should leave a toner out altogether? Or maybe I should just buy another Caudalie Beauty Elixir as I loved it so much last time. Or maybe the Caudalie Grape Water as it's pretty cheap and sounds decent. Decisions!
With my staff discount I would get these products for £52.82 which to be honest, I don't think is that bad. Especially because I'll just be using them once a day so they're guaranteed to last me a while. And also, the moisturiser is 60ml which is huge!
Have you tried any of these products? Would you recommend any of them? Or would you warn me to stay clear of any?
xxx

Sunday 10 June 2012

1000 Followers Giveaway Winner!

Thank you so much to everyone who entered my giveaway - it really means a lot to me that so many people love reading my blog. It's become more than just a hobby for me now, it's become a great way for me to 'escape' reality and write about things that I truly love.
So without further ado the winner of my giveaway is...
Congratulations Anna! I've emailed you so make sure you reply and I'll get your products sent to you. Once again, thank you for entering and I'm sorry if you didn't win. But stick around as I will be holding more giveaway's soon :)
xxx

Saturday 9 June 2012

COLLECTION: Primers

I bought this with my £5 voucher as I was in need of a primer and minus the £5 of staff discount it was a very good price. This doesn't have the nicest consistency and it's pretty hard to 'spread' around the skin but it does the job. It keeps skin matte free all day and helps make up last a lot longer. I wouldn't pay £11 for it but with the voucher it's definitely worth it.
Sorry about the little Clinique pot but the Primer Potion's old packaging was awful and I managed to decant so much product from it that this little tub has lasted me a further 6 months (and I've barely used it) so make sure you decant the product. This is the ultimate eye primer. Not only does it ensure that your eye make up stays in place all day long it also makes the colours look more vibrant and 'alive.' I've had this for over 2 years now and I can see it lasting me another year at least so definitely worth it.
I was in need of a primer and Rimmel had just brought theirs out so I thought 'why not?' It's an okay primer. It ensures that make up lasts a lot longer than it normally would but I don't believe it does anything else for the skin. Especially not the 5 results that it claims it does. It is though however a lovely consistency and applies like a dream.
Sheer Cover Base Perfector* - prices start from £29.99
The only bad thing about this primer is that you have to buy it as a set with some other Sheer Cover product.(Don't get me wrong, the set is lovely and works very well). But it's not good if you just want the primer. The primer is lovely. It's of cream consistency and glides on the skin covering up imperfections and pores whilst ensuring skin is matte and make up lasts throughout the day.
Once again I bought this because it was cheap and from what I remember it was the first drug store primer. Maybe I'm dreaming that one... But yes, it's a decent primer. It reminds me of GOSH's primer with it's consistency as it's gel and glides over the skin beautifully. It fills in pores but I don't believe it prolongs the life of make up that much. If I don't have a busy day then I'll use this but if I need my make up to last very well then I'd go for something stronger.
I guess this isn't a primer but I use these every day before applying my make up as they make my eyes look a lot brighter. I wouldn't be without them and I now see them as a valuable part of my make up routine.
I received this with Glamour magazine and I really love it. It glides over the skin, makes make up last all day and covers pores perfectly. I really cannot rave about this enough. It is as perfect as a primer get. Oh and you only need a tiny amount as well so it will last a long time if you cannot justify the price.
I have a primer addiction at the moment; what are your favourite primers?
xxx
*PR Sample

Wednesday 6 June 2012

FAVOURITE... Miniature Products

I love miniature products. So much so that when my sister went on holiday earlier this year I bought her a few sample sized products to take with her - even though some of the full sized products were cheaper. They're so cute and sometimes a great way to decide whether or a not a product is perfect for you. Here's some of my favourites...
 Charles Worthington Takeaways Sun-Shine UV Protection Styling Spray - £1.99
I absolutely love this and whenever the sun is shining I'll throw it into my handbag to keep my hair nice and protected from the sun throughout the say.
Xen-Tan Dark Lotion* - £28.99
Oh my god I need the full size version of this. It's the most perfect fake tan out there. It's moisturising, last's up to 7 days, smells gorgeous (almond is my favourite scent) and doesn't streak. It really is perfect.
Lancome Bi-Facil - £20.00
I received this as a GWP and it's served me well. It's definitely one of the best eye make up removers out there as it melts make up instead of spreading it around the skin.
Weleda Birch Cellulite Oil* - £19.95
It's summer soon and I need Kim Kardashian's bikini body. Ok, maybe I'm being a bit ambitious there. But I need a niceish one. So I'm trying this out. So far I really like it. It smells lovely and absorbs quickly. Word of advice though - don't use it after applying fake tan like I stupidly did.
Good Things Miracle Mattifier Lotion* - £7.99
I have the full sized version of this and I love it. You can see my full review of this here
Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist* - £16.50
This mist is wonderful for balancing the skin and keeping it hydrated throughout the day. I've also blogged about this a few times and you read the posts here.
Benefit POREfessional Primer - £23.50
Of course, I received this free with this months Glamour magazine and I absolutely love it. I'm definitely contemplating whether to not to buy the full sized version. It slides over pores and completely fills them in.
Etat Pur Oil-Free Quenching Fluid* - £7.80
I blogged about receiving these free samples a while ago and I'll definitely be doing a full review of them and the brand as a whole. But I really love both this moisturiser and the other moisturiser (down below). They're great value for money and work really well with my skin.
Orla Kiely Eau De Parfum* - £55.00
I'm really bad when it comes to perfume and normally I just wear Britney ones. I love Britney of course and when it comes to perfume there's just too many out there for me to choose from. This one though is lovely and I think I might have to purchase it in full. It's a very nice fresh scent that's great for summer.
Etat Pur Light Moisturizing Emulsion* - £7.80
I blogged about receiving these free samples a while ago and I'll definitely be doing a full review of them and the brand as a whole. But I really love both this moisturiser and the other moisturiser (down below). They're great value for money and work really well with my skin.
Glam Glow Mud* - £49.99
I will definitely do a full review of this product. It's a mask and a scrub in one and once you've used it once you will instantly see a difference in your skin. A tiny bit goes a long way and it's marketed at all skin types - from very dry to acne prone. I used this as a mask for 15 minutes then scrubbed my skin and washed it away and immediately my skin looked clearer and my face looked glowing. It's so expensive but I know that when I get my student loan I'll be buying this. Now, I just have to wait until September..
What are your favourite miniature products? Do you like buying the sample sizes first?
xxx
*PR Sample

Saturday 2 June 2012

imPRESS Press-On Manicure Review

Ever since I first saw imPress nails in Boots, I knew I wanted them. But I'm a novice when it comes to false nails. I struggle to do my every day tasks when I'm wearing them so I didn't want to spend the money on them. So when I was given the chance to sample them, I couldn't say no.
 I absolutely love the packaging. Even my sister says  it's possibly one of the coolest things she's ever seen. The nails are housed in a sturdy nail polish bottle and the bottle comes with 24 nail covers in 12 different sizes so you're bound to find a nail to fit yours. The beauty of these is that you don't glue them on. You simple peel the tab off the back, push them up to the cuticle, hold for about 5 seconds and tada, beautiful nails in an instant.  
 I was sent the colour 190 Call My Agent* which is the most beautiful, true red I've ever seen. I love this colour because it's great to wear with anything and I can see myself getting a use out of these nails. The whole stick on effect only lasts once. Once you've peeled off the sticker, applied them and then used them, you can't use them as press ons again. But you can use them as normal false nails which is good enough for me!
They last a really long time - up to seven days. The pictures above are the nails are 4 days and they were still going strong. Only one nail started to fall off and I'm guessing that's because when I first applied them, I started fiddling around with them. But a little bit of nail glue and they're as good as new again.
I really love these and I'm a true convert. I can see myself buying more packs. I'm especially interested in Rock ItEstatic ClingTGIF and Totally Busted
You can see more colours and designs here and these are available from Boots and Superdrug for £7.99 or £8.99 depending on the design you choose.
xxx
*PR Sample

Friday 1 June 2012

Outfit & Face of the Night: No Longer Freshers

Last night was pretty much the end of my first university year. Yesterday, me and my friends went out for a meal and then went out to a nightclub to celebrate the end of our first year. We also ended up having a sleepover at one of my friends flat and finally when we woke up this morning (or should I say afternoon) we took a trip to Morrison's cafe. Some of us are still here and we'll definitely be coming back to university for a few days at a time but last night was what I'd say was our last night as freshers. It's going to be strange not being around my friends at university any more as we've pretty much spent every hour of every day with each other. It's been a wonderful year.. definitely the best of my life and I can't wait until September!
This is the outfit that I wore. Both the play-suit and the shoes were both from New Look. And surprisingly, the shoes are very comfortable and I rarely ever took them off. If you know me, then you'll know that when it comes to heels, I walk to the club in them and take them off pretty much instantly so this is a big achievement for me! I really love the play-suit but it is pretty revealing and I had a few people on 'boob watch' all night. We even used body tape but that was useless and lasted for around an hour.
Unfortunately I didn't take any pictures of my make up before I went out but these are the pictures that probably show it off best. I went for a more natural look with my eyes and I used Urban Decay's Sidecar and Darkhorse from the Naked Palette on my eyes as well as my favourite eyeliner from 17 and my favourite mascara from 17 also. On my eyebrows I used my trusty HD Brow Palette* and my Collection 2000 clear mascara to keep them in place all night. You can find out how I did my base make up here - the only difference is that I used the wonderful Benefit Porefessional Primer before all of my foundations/concealers/bb creams/powders etc. To contour my face I used the Liz Earle Natural Glow Bronzer* and to brighten my face up I used my favourite blush which is Nars Deepthroat. My fake tan is also Xen-Tan* and my nails (which you can't see but I will be doing a blog post on) are from imPress nails.*
A few of us who went out.
Overall it's been a wonderful year and I wouldn't change any of it. I've met the greatest people and I know we're all going to be good/best friends for the rest of our lives. If I could say one thing to anyone; if you have the chance to go to university, go. You won't regret it. And the debt? Doesn't matter one bit. It's all worth it.
xxx
*PR Sample

FATHERS DAY: Other Gifts

I posted a beauty fathers day post yesterday and today is the final in the 'series' and these are just a few extras for you.
My dad absolutely loves reading - especially autobiographies. But these books are a little different to what he'd normally read. The Top 10 of London - £10.00* is so interesting. It features literally everything to do with a London and presents it into a top 10 list. For example 'top 10 oldest hotels,' 'top 10 retail centres in London' and 'top 10 film sets in London.' It's a great read and if you're obsessed with London like I am, this is a must! I personally think my dad is a great cook and he enjoys cooking and barbecues so if your dad is like mine then Weber's Barbeque Anytime - £15.99* will be perfect for him. Every recipe is illustrated and the instructions are pretty simple too. The recipes are great and they're things that you wouldn't think to try out on a barbecue.
If you're planning a splurge then I'd definitely recommend the Classic Aviator’s Men's Watch by BOSS Black - £275*. This watch is so beautiful. When I first held it in my hand I was amazed by how stunning it really is. It also feels very sturdy so you know that for the price, it's going to be very good and you're going to get your money's worth.
Mugs! You can't really go wrong with mugs and I really like these two. Both mugs retail for just £3.52 each.
And of course, cards. I personally love the one in the middle. My dad is a big Northern Soul lover and when he was younger he had lots of records so the middle card is wonderful. Card prices from L-R £1.50, £2.00, £2.00.
What are you getting your dad for fathers day/how are you celebrating??
xxx
*PR Sample