Thursday 26 September 2013

MAKE UP | Per-fekt Lip Perfection Gel in Melrose


Today, I have a story that I'd like to tell you. Sit back, relax and I hope that you enjoy the latest "product discovery" to grace my collection.

Once upon a time there was a young girl called Jemma who had a lipstick obsession. This lipstick obsession would've been all well and good if it wasn't for Jemma's awful lips. They were thin, unshapely and lip products tended to stick and highlight any dry patches. One day, there was a knock at the door. Jemma ran out of bed and twirled her way down the stairs and opened the door to see the Postman standing there in front of her. In his hands were a few parcels. Jemma twirled back upstairs and quickly tore them all open. In one of the parcels was a lip product. Jemma tossed it aside thinking to herself that'd be another beautiful lip product that she wouldn't be able to don due to her terrible lips. Fast forward a few days and Jemma was scouring her drawers when she saw the Per-fekt Lip Perfection Gel in Melrose* staring sadly back at her. After a bit of research, Jemma decided to give the product a go. The gel glided onto her lips, revealing the most perfect "my-lips-but-better" shade and instantly plumped her lips up and perfected them. It was love at first application and now, Jemma has found her "go-to" lip product for everyday wear.

The Per-fekt Lip Perfection Gel perfects and enhances the appearance of the lips as it works as a lipstick, lipgloss and lip treatment in one. It effortlessly glides onto the lips and improves the appearance of dry, chapped and thin lips while offering a hint of colour. It uses many different ingredients (such as hyaluronic microspheres, peptides, jojoba, vitamin A and C, spearmint and many more) which combine together to moisturise, reduce the appearance of fine lines, stimulate the production of collagen and taste great. The applicator, in my opinion, works as a lip scrub as it exfoliates the lips and buffs away any chapped skin leaving behind beautiful looking lips with a touch of colour. For a product that I originally showed no interest in, this lip gel has quickly become an everyday love of mine that I couldn't live without.

You can buy the Lip Perfection Gel here where it retails for £16.20.

Have you tried any products by Per-fekt? What are your favourite lip products?
*PR Sample

Wednesday 25 September 2013

WISHLIST | South Africa's equivalent to Primark & competition


1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

Just when I thought Primark was "the one", I stumbled upon MRP. Basically, MRP are the South African equivalent to Primark except their prices and clothing range are better and cheaper. The cheapest item in the collage above is just £2 with the most expensive being £12 - incredible. I've spent the entire morning (procrastinating as usual) browsing the website and falling in love with so many pieces. Above is just a small selection of items that I'll be ordering once my student loan graces my bank account. I've been in need of a new wardrobe for yonks now and MRP seems like the perfect place to start. They also ship to the UK for just £4 (or for free if you spend over £34) which is cheaper than some UK high street stores. 

What's better is that MRP are running a competition where you can win a years supply of clothing from them. All you have to do be in with a chance of winning is click here and enter a few details.

Have you ever heard of MRP before? Do you think you'll be checking out their website?

Tuesday 24 September 2013

MAKE UP | MUA One Direction Cheek Tint in Coral Cutie



After falling head over heels in love with the MUA One Direction Lipstick in Moments, I knew I had to explore the collection further and after seeing rave reviews about the Cheek Tints, I searched high and low in order to get my mitts on one. I went into four Superdrugs when I was in the New Forest for five days a few weeks ago and the majority of the collection was sold out. Southampton ended up being my saviour and I managed to quickly snap up the Cheek Tint in Coral Cutie.

As you can tell from the image above, mine sadly melted in the heat so although it's still usable, it's no longer as pretty looking. The packaging isn't as beautiful as the lipsticks (it's pretty childish if I'm being honest) but it's practical and makes the tint easy to apply. I dot this onto my cheeks and blend it by pushing it into my skin using my Real Techniques Stippling Brush. It gives the cheeks a hint of colour and despite there being no shimmer in it, it makes the complexion look glowing. The colour is beautiful and the formula is nicely pigmented. The swatch above shows the product heavily swatched but a couple of light dots of this onto your cheeks is more than enough. It lasts all day long once set with powder and for £3, it's an absolute bargain.

You can buy this Cheek Tint here where it retails for £3. You can also browse the entire MUA and One Direction collection here.

Have you tried anything from the MUA One Direction range?

Friday 20 September 2013

MAKE UP | MUA Undress Your Skin Highlighting Powder


After trying to source the MUA Undress Your Skin Highlighting Powder for yonks (I was in the New Forest for five days last week and tried five different Superdrug's with no luck), the wonderful Becky from The Little Blog of Beauty told me that her Undress Your Skin was feeling a bit neglected and told me that if I wanted it, I could have it. Of course, I didn't just want - I needed it so I quickly snapped it up. And you have no idea how glad I am that I did.

Having enlarged pores, I'm not the biggest highlighting fan but since minimising the appearance of my pores recently (good ol' skin care products), I've been loving using this. This highlighting powder provides sheer coverage and a soft-focus effect that leaves your skin looking beautiful. It isn't loaded with glitter which means that it doesn't settle into your pores. Instead, the peachy pink powder creates a radiant, natural glow that emphasises the high points of your face.

To say how wonderful this product is, it's shocking that it retails for just £3 from the Superdrug stores. At £3, it's the cheapest highlighter I've ever used and without a doubt my absolute favourite. The finish is stunning and one that completes a look. The only problem is - sourcing the highlighter is damn hard. Like I've mentioned, I searched Superdrug's high and low with no luck whatsoever. So if you spot one of these on a blog sale, snap it up. You won't be disappointed.

Do you own this highlighter? What's your favourite highlighter?

Thursday 19 September 2013

The skin saviours





If your skin is anything like mine then it will be bipolar. One day my skin will look beautiful and glowing, the next it'll be dull and congested. One day my skin will be an oil slick and the next it'll be drier than the Sahara desert. It's an absolute nightmare and it means that I have to have an array of products to sort out each skin condition. My skin is usually either blemished, dull or dry and I've come across a variety of products which are wonderful at combating these nasty problems. If you follow me on Twitter then you'll have experienced my recent skin meltdown - it's been awful and most of the time I've wanted to sit in my room, crying all day. Luckily, these products are sorting dry and peeling skin out.

Blemished skin:
Over the years, I've used many products aimed at blemished skin. Some worked, some dried my skin out badly and some even bleached my eyebrows. But luckily, times have changed and there are now some wonderful - and gentle - products out there that do a fabulous job when your skin takes a turn for the worse.

When my beloved FaceB4 Daily Cleansing Foam ran out, I was heartbroken. It was everything I wanted in a spot treatment and face wash but being a student, £15 isn't something I can afford right off the bat (unless my student loan shows its face). So it's safe to say that this face wash by Clean & Clear was a god send. It contains salicylic acid and natural aloe vera which work together to remove impurities, dirt and oil while soothing your skin without drying it out. It smells clean and my face feels fresh and balanced after use. It's not quite as good at fighting spots as my Face B4 wash but for £10.00 cheaper, I can make do with an extra couple of days blemished. 

Potters is a brand that's been around for over 200 years. It's a tried, tested and loved herbal medicine manufacturers which includes three skin care products in its extensive range. Their Skin Clear Lotion is a must have for you blemished beauties and at £4.15 it's an absolute bargain and works as a wonderful morning cleanser or an evening toner. I sweep this over my skin using a cotton wool pad and my skin immediately feels clean and refreshed. It contains a blend of Witch Hazel, Benzoin, Oils of Lavender, Pine and Tea Tree which all work together to combat blemishes. This does dry your skin out at first but after a couple of uses, your skin will start to appear balanced and clear as it gets used to it.

I've mentioned this product many times before and it's certainly done the rounds of the blogosphere this past year. It completely lives up to the hype and does a wonderful job at purifying the pores, diminishing blemishes and leaving the skin feeling and looking smooth and clear. I use this every day as a serum before my moisturiser and it helps keep spots at bay. I still get the odd monthly breakout but its nowhere near as nasty and aggressive as it should be.

Dull skin:
Ever since my skin decided it would turn against me and leave me scarred, my skin has been dull and lifeless. Sometimes, my skin looks glowing but other times, it looks lacklustre and tired. Recently, the beauty world seems to have exploded with products that help with uneven skin tone and I couldn't thank them enough.

I'm a lover of chemical exfoliation but every now and then, there's nothing quite like a good manual scrub. The grains of this one by Novexpert are fine which mean that they don't scratch the skin while being abrasive enough to invigorate the skin. I love using this in a morning to kick-start the day as the Vitamin C brightens and renews the complexion instantly. It's a quick fix for congested, dull looking skin as it leaves it looking healthy and radiant.

When my skin is feeling a bit down I love washing it with the C-Effects Super C Cleanser. This gentle face wash washes away dirt and impurities using a 10% complete Vitamin C Complex with Ester-C and Beta Hydroxy Acids. It claims to remove make up however I prefer to use this in the morning to freshen up and revitalise my skin as it isn't the best at make up removal. It doesn't dry the skin out and leaves it feeling clean and ready to face the day. A nice face wash that does the job for a decent price.

These two products are new to the L'Oreal skin care range and the first from the brand that I've tried. They aim to "correct" imperfections, enlarged pores and uneven skin texture. The serum has been enriched with Perline-P and patented LR 2412 (I don't understand these big words either!) which penetrates through the skin's epidermis layers to transform the appearance of the skin. I haven't been using these long enough to notice a massive difference to my skin tone however they both leave my skin feeling silky, hydrated and beautifully radiant. They're a lovely edition to my skin care routine and marginally cheaper than the Eucerin Even Brighter range (which I love) so if these perform as well in the long term, they'll possibly replace Eucerin altogether.

This gel serum aims to instantly moisturise and smooth the skin using reflective micro-pearls which blend with the skin to even out the complexion. When I first applied this, I almost let out a shriek as my skin looked a bit Twilight-esque however after I'd applied foundation over the top, my skin looked glowing. And not glowing in an "I have very oily skin" way but in a "my skin is naturally this radiant and youthful." Simply beautiful.

Dry skin:
This is the skin type that I feel like I can't live with. When my skin gets dry, my foundation clings to the dry patches and leaves me looking like I have a skin disease. In the past, products aimed at dry skin used to break me out and clog up my skin however, these products are light enough to use on blemished prone skin.

Whenever my skin is in need of hydration, this is the product that I immediately reach for. This treatment is an oil-free moisture gel that feels like jelly and provides deep hydration using marine botanicals. It instantly replenishes the skin and eliminates any dry patches that I may have. H2O also say that this contains phospholipid microspheres (yup, that wonderful ingredient that's easy to pronounce) which deliver time released hydration to keep skin looking revitalised all day and I agree with this - my skin is kept hydrated and scale-free throughout the day.

Being a big fan of the Super Facialist range, it was vital that one of the products from the brand appeared in this blog post. This moisture mask is my "go-to" product for when my skin is feeling tight, dehydrated and parched. It blends White Willow extract, Vitamin E, Urea and Marshmallow extract which injects moisture back into the skin instantly. Afterwards, my complexion looks calmer and feels beautifully soft. The mask smells absolutely divine and this is my second tube of the stuff.

I'm not a big eye cream lover but I've recently rediscovered this. Sadly, when I first reviewed this in May 2012, it was £10.90 - a bargain for such a high standard eye cream - however in just over a year, the price has crept up significantly. It is a lovely eye cream that instantly moisturises the delicate eye area.

This moisturiser is expensive - one of the most expensive that I've ever used - but it's definitely a treat. It contains a high concentration of extra-pure hyaluronic acid which helps to moisturise and hydrate the skin. Luckily, I don't suffer with wrinkles or fine lines yet but Filorga claim that this helps to fill them in and leave the skin looking plumped up. This makes my complexion look radiant and my dressing table look beautiful. Definitely a splurge but sadly, one that despite how much I love it, I won't be repurchasing for a long time. Damn you expensive price tag!

Does your skin behave badly like mine? What are your skin saviours?
*PR Sample

Tuesday 17 September 2013

The long term hair volumising solution with Nioxin

Photo credit thanks to Laura from Belles Boutique

Being 20 years of age, thinning hair is something that I don't necessarily need to worry about (*touch wood*) however, I do have exceptionally fine hair that lacks a lot of volume. Regardless of how many products I use on my mane, I can never keep the volume up in my hair - it's okay for one night at most but the next morning I wake up with hair that's incredibly lacklustre. I envy those who have long, flowing hair that holds beautiful shape regardless of the weather and I'm constantly on the lookout for products to help me achieve this. I've decided to look past the "we hold volume for a couple of days" products and look into products that offer long term results.

A brand that has been doing the rounds on blogs lately is Nioxin. Founded in 1987, the creator of the brand, Eva Graham, experienced thinning hair herself and decided to do something about it. She developed the range that has now helped more than 50% of thinning hair sufferers worldwide. The range promises to give you thicker, fuller hair through a variety of different products including shampoos, conditioners, hair masques and scalp treatments. The products also look after and protect the scalp. When I was looking at the products available, I was overwhelmed by the choice however Nioxin have a great consultation tool online which is a wonderful way to find out which system would suit you the best. 

Although the hair care brand Nioxin is specifically targeted at those with thinning hair, I've also heard a lot of people saying that it's wonderful for fine hair and that's where I need your guys' help. Have you tried Nioxin before or do you know someone who has? How did it work for them? I'm seriously considering investing in the Hair System Kit 1 to try and improve my shockingly fine and annoyingly lacklustre locks. A long term solution seems like the way forward and I haven't come across one negative review about the range yet.

You can browse the Nioxin range here where it's available on 123 Hair & Beauty where the selling price is much cheaper than the RRP - a great excuse to try the products out. It's definitely something I'm looking into and considering (when I get my student loan - oops)!

Have you tried Nioxin before? Is it a brand that you've heard of?
*sponsored post

Monday 16 September 2013

MAKE UP | Rimmel London Scandaleyes Lycra Flex mascara



Left to right, top to bottom: no mascara, one coat, two coats, three coats
When it comes to mascara, I'm not one to splash out as I don't see the point in doing so. There are many drugstore mascaras out there that are just as good as ones double or triple their price. And the Rimmel London Scandaleyes Lycra Flex mascara* is an example of this. After applying this mascara just once, I fell in love and it quickly became my all time favourite mascara. Retailing for just £6.99 it's an absolute bargain and as you can see from the images, it does the job perfectly. 

This mascara has been enriched with a weightless Lycra technology which ensures that lashes never feel stiff or brittle and continue to flutter throughout the day. Rimmel promises that this mascara doesn't clumb and I agree to a certain extent - after three coats, my lashes started to get a tiny bit clumpy however, after two coats I didn't believe I needed any more mascara anyway - win win situation! This mascara does everything in one go: it lengthens, defines, adds volume, curls and stays put throughout the day. The brush uses bristles which catch every lash to give an even coat of mascara. The brush is quite big but not so big that it's hard to use and it ends up going everywhere.

For the past month or so, it's the only mascara that I've been using and I've received compliment after compliment about my lashes. It feels weightless on the lashes, doesn't smudge and the bright green tube means that it's one I'll never lose. Did I also mention that it retails for just £6.99?! When you consider the rising prices of drugstore mascaras (some almost the same price as higher end ones) this is wonderful. You can buy this mascara here and it's one that I highly, highly recommend having a look at.

Have you tried this mascara before? What's your all time favourite mascara?
*PR Sample

Friday 13 September 2013

Guest post on A Little Obsessed



No blog post from me on this blog today however last night, I graced one of my favourite blogs - A Little Obsessed - and I'd love it if you could head on over and give it a read. I created an eye make up look using purples and added a few brown-y shades to make it more wearable. It's one look that I definitely can't wait to recreate during Freshers Week as I believe it's dramatic yet subtle in a beautiful way. You can read my blog post on Sabrina's blog here where you can find out the products I used and how I used them. I really hope that you like it!

What do you think about this look? Is it something that you'd wear?

Thursday 12 September 2013

KIKO Dark Heroine Face Brush





Finding the right brush can be a bit of a pain. I don't know about you guys but whenever I take to the shops brush hunting, I can be left feeling a little bit overwhelmed and sometimes dissatisfied. Real Techniques have been my "go-to" brushes for quite a while now and knowing that they work for me means I haven't strayed far from the brand. However, the latest instalment to the KIKO brush collection is a good 'un.

The Dark Heroine Face Brush* was born into the Limited Edition Fall Collection and I can't tell you how grateful I am to have been introduced to such a wonderful brush. As the brush is double sided, it's perfect for travelling and taking out and about with you. It's compact, sturdy and you can tell it's well made. The smaller "kabuki-esque" side is perfect for stippling, buffing and blending cream formulations into the skin - think foundation, concealer and cream blusher. It gives the skin a flawless finish as the bristles are incredibly dense. I love using this to stipple concealer over my scarring as it gives the concealer full, industrial coverage that looks natural. The bigger slanted side is absolutely divine when it comes to applying powder products, in particular bronzer. As you can tell from the images, the brush is quite thin which means that it fits into the hollows of the cheeks so perfectly that contouring the skin becomes faultless. The combination of the brush and the Loud Night Bronzer in Supple Satin Honey* (review here) ensures that when bronzing up the complexion or contouring it, you end up with a professional finish. 

The bristles themselves are synthetic and incredibly soft. They wash nicely, dry pretty quickly and so far, I've experienced no shedding from them. This face brush is now the one that I reach for most often as it's one that I can do all of my base make up with. Foundation, concealer, powder, blush, bronzer and highlighter? Check. This face brush can be purchased in KIKO stores (which the UK desperately needs more of) and online here where it retails for £15.90.

What are your thoughts on this face brush?
*PR Sample

Wednesday 11 September 2013

LIFESTYLE | The 90's tag

My Emma Bunton doll - RIP

My sister and I with our cousin

Me and my sister with our grandad

Me and my grandad

Me and my sister

Me, my cousin and my sister with our grandparents


Ever since I saw the 90's tag, I've wanted to do it. I'm a big 90's kid, a huge fan of the decade and I absolutely loved my childhood so reminiscing on it sounds like a wonderful thing to do. I've seen this tag an awful lot on YouTube but not so much on blogs sadly however, I decided to "bring it into the blogging world." If you've previously done this tag or you're going to, please leave a link below in the comments so we can reminisce together.
  
Favourite Disney film?
Surprisingly, this is a hard question. I absolutely adore Disney and my favourite film now I'm older is definitely Lion King. However, when I was younger I have no idea what I used to watch all the time. So I asked my mum and she said that me and my sister were addicted to Lady and the Tramp, Pocahontas and Mary Poppins, much to her annoyance. Another little story that I should probably tell you is that my sister's favourite Disney film was Pinocchio and she used to have it on video tape. One day, I put it into our fish tank so it obviously broke and she was incredibly upset. Which kinda leads me onto the next question...

Favourite music artist?
The Spice Girls. Without a doubt. I was obsessed. So you can imagine how incredible it was when I got to meet them. I was three years old when they first came out and they were my first ever album. I had it on cassette and I used to listen to it constantly on my purple boom box. There are literally so many videos of me as a child on hotel balcony's and on the beach dancing and singing to the Spice Girls. I was obsessed. I had everything of theirs. The reason that my little Pinocchio story lead me onto this question was because my sister did end up getting her own back on me. I had an Emma Bunton doll (first picture) and she pushed its head down so it had no neck. I was absolutely gutted and I've still never forgiven her! And then of course in 1998, my love transferred to Britney Spears. I was a true pop girl and I still am twenty years later.

Favourite candy/sweeties?
Literally no sweets will ever come close to the original Pic N Mix. One of the shops near our house used to have the best selection ever and my parents would send me and my sister down there with 50p each and we'd come back with 50 mini sweets as they used to be 1p each. Actually incredible. And sometimes we'd lie a little bit and say we had 50p's worth when really we had 55p's worth - such mini thieves!

Favourite game (board game, school game etc)
Me and my sister used to make up our own games. One of our favourite games was to play "hotels" and we'd have this elaborate hotel on our street and we'd show potential guests around our "showroom" which was our parents bedroom - it was so good. We had notebooks filled with booking information and everything. We also LOVED playing banks and Post Offices and every summer we'd become some form of tennis stars when Wimbledon was on. As for board games, Fib Finder was actually the best ever. 

Favourite McDonalds Happy Meal Toy?
Happy Meal toys have most definitely gone downhill. I used to love it when they did the toys for boys and the toys for girls. So the boys Happy Meal would have something like a Hot Wheels car inside of it and the girls one would have a mini Barbie - they were amazing. I also loved the TY Beanie Babies but my favourite ever ones were the big Snoopy dogs. I wasn't a Snoopy fan at all (not as far as I'm aware) but the toys were huge and there were so many different Snoopy dogs to collect from all around the world.

Favourite book?
For Christmas one year, my dad bought me a Jacqueline Wilson book boxset and from that moment on, I was addicted to reading. I literally read all of the books in a couple of weeks - I couldn't put them down. I think I've read every "old school" Jacqueline Wilson book that was out and I absolutely loved her. Ones that I remember when I think of her are: The Diamonds Girls, Cliffhanger, Vicky Angel, Tracy Beaker, Double Act, The Bed and Breakfast Star, Buried Alive and The Girls Collection. But I could literally go on and on and end up naming them all.

Favourite clothing store?
Without a doubt Tammy. Our Tammy store used to be joined onto the back of New Look so my mum would be browsing New Look and me my sister would say: "we're going to Tammy" and we'd spend forever in there picking things that we wanted. My favourite clothing trend as a child was skirts over trousers - I absolutely loved that trend and I was so excited when I got some of my own... I don't think I ever took them off. I also remember flares being HUGE and wanting jeans with writing on the back of them like "boys suck, girls rule." So cringy now.

What would you watch when you got home from school?
Disney Channel was definitely big in our house and me and my sister loved That's So Raven and Lizzie McGuire, of course. But we also used to love watching Dexters Laboratory on Cartoon Network. My absolute favourite shows though were the ones that were on CITV such as Get Your Own Back and 50/50. Get Your Own Back was amazing and it was when children "got their own back" on their parents. Their reasons used to be ridiculous like "my dad smells" or "my mum doesn't let me stay up past seven on a school night." I used to dream about taking my parents on there.

Are you a 90's kid? What was your favourite thing about the decade?

Tuesday 10 September 2013

BODYCARE | Johnsons Baby Light Oil Spray



I've been a big lover of Johnson's Baby Oil for a lifetime now. My mother used to use it on me as a child and it's something that I've continued to buy throughout my years whenever I've seen that it's on offer. It's a cult product, a favourite and something that seems to be a necessity in the family cabinet. However there's always been an issue with the product's design - the bottle used to have a pour cap which made is extremely messy making using the product hard and quite frankly, horrible. Until now. Thankfully Johnson's have released the Baby Light Oil Spray* which is basically the same product in a spray bottle. This bottle makes applying the baby oil easier, quicker and most important of all, cleaner. Gone are the days of the slippery bottle. Now this product delivers beautifully soft, gorgeously smelling skin that's gentle and trusted. It doesn't leave behind a nasty film and it sinks into the skin instantly leaving your skin feeling moisturised and as soft as a baby's. Perfect.

You can buy this product here where it retails for £3.11. Boots always have some kind of offer on the baby section (3 for 2 at the moment) so it's definitely worth having a look next time you're in store.

Have you tried the Johnsons Baby Light Oil Spray before? Are you happy they've finally put the product in a spray bottle?
*PR Sample

Monday 9 September 2013

Disappointing Products #1




This is my first ever "disappointing products" post. Can you believe I've never wrote one?! Me either. But personally, I don't get disappointed easily and I find myself liking products because most of the time, I do a lot of research before parting with my money. However, a few have managed to slip away and I've been sucked into the hype and needless to say, I've been left disappointed and dissatisfied.

I bought this in the Boots clearance section as it was only £1 a bottle. No, scratch that. I bought three bottles of this in the Boots clearance section and now they're just laying around, unloved and unused. I've never found a dry shampoo that I didn't like - they all tend to do the same job but for different prices. This one however, is shocking. For me, dry shampoo mops up oil and injects a bit of volume and oomph into the hair. Don't get me wrong, this one isn't bad - it doesn't make my hair greasier or anything - it just doesn't do anything. I spray it into my hair and well, it looks the exact same. A complete waste of time.

I was so excited for this foundation when it first came out - I'm a lover of the Maybelline Dream Satin Liquid - but I was left extremely disappointed. To say that this foundation is supposed to "fit me" and be a perfect colour match, I struggled to find a colour that wasn't overly orange. The coverage is also not to my taste and I find that it barely covers scarring and can't be built up without looking cakey. Another major thumbs down is the fact that it's very hard to blend and I end up looking like a five year old has applied my foundation.

I hate to say this because I know so many people love this product but I really do hate it. It's sticky, bleeds, tastes disgusting and looks a mess. Is there a special way to use this lip lacquer? Am I missing a trick? If so, please do let me know because I'd love to love it. The colour above is Celestial which many bloggers branded as a colour to suit all but it doesn't suit me. It looks awful.

This isn't a bad product and I know many people love it but £7.99 for 2.5g's worth of product?! Yikes. I believe that the MUA One Direction Cheek Tints are much better and they're just £3 for 4.8g of product. I won't be repurchasing this (and I will be doing a review of the MUA 1D Cheek Tints - sneaky). For reference, the shade above is 02 Healthy Glow which is a gorgeous colour no doubt.

I bought this on holiday a couple of weeks ago because I ran out of my cleansing balm and needless to say, it's a product I actively dislike. It doesn't remove make up easily, it stings my eyes and it dries my skin out. To say that this is "ideal for normal to dry skin" it's a shocker considering I have combination skin. The No7 Melting Gel Cleanser is 1,000 times better (and a lot cheaper with the £5 No7 skincare vouchers).

I'm going to keep this nice and simple: for a minimum of £11 a nail polish these are an absolute rip off and the Sinful Colors nail polishes (that retail for £1.99 each) apply more evenly than the Nails Inc ones do.

When I first tried this, I loved it. I wasn't an oil lover and this converted me. It's a dry oil so it doesn't leave you feeling or looking greasy and it's extremely versatile - you can use it on your body, face or hair - and it smells divine. However, for £27 I don't believe it's worth it and since then, oils that do the same job for a fraction of the price have been released that I've fallen in love with.

So there you have it. I feel a bit mean right now. I'm going to go out and donate to charity to make myself feel better haha. Sorry products. I'd love to love you but I just don't.

Which products have disappointed you? Do you like any of the ones mentioned above?
*PR Sample

Friday 6 September 2013

The bag of essentials







I'm not someone who touches up their make up throughout the day. Mainly because I don't really go out anywhere for long periods of time - a quick workshop here, an hour long lecture there and I'm back home. However, I do like to carry a bag of essential products and items with me everywhere I go. I've done this since the beginning of summer and I believe it's about time I showed you the products that have ensured my life is that little bit easier.

Lady essentials
Of course, these had to be in there. The case comes with Bodyform packs from Boots which are currently on offer for £1 - a bargain if you ask me. The case makes sanitary towels discreet, pretty and easy to carry around with you.

Soap & Glory Mini Hand Food - £2.50
My hands don't tend to get all that dry but I do like to keep them moisturised and nourished. This is my favourite ever hand cream as it smells delicious and sinks into the hands pretty quickly. I love the mini version as it's perfect for carrying around with you and just to let you know, I have two bigger tubes of this dotted around the house as well. I just can't be without the stuff!

Halo Handy Hygienic wipes* - £1.09
A definite must! If you're going out for the day then you aren't always guaranteed a sink to wash your hands in. These hand wipes come in handy all the time and I love the Halo ones because they aren't drying on the skin and smell delicious. I love how convenient they are and although I was worried about the pack drying out, I haven't had any issues with it thus far and I used these all the time whilst on holiday. I've also stocked up as they're currently on offer at Boots.

Toothbrush Holder - £0.50
I do have braces so carrying a toothbrush around with me is most definitely essential. Inside my holder I carry a Boots Expert TePe 0.7mm Interdental Brush - £3.09 and a Wilko Kids Toothbrush - £0.70. The kids toothbrush fits inside the holder better and allows me to get a close clean when it comes to my braces. I also carry around a Boots Smile Mini Toothpaste - £0.50 as I like to brush my teeth after meals regardless of where I am.


John Frieda Full Repair Touch-Up Flyaway Tamer* - £10.99
This product is quite new to me but I absolutely adore it. As a fan of the Full Repair range, I was dying to try this out when I saw that it was released. It uses Inca Inchi Oil to smooth down flyaways and frayed ends to ensure that your hair is looking healthy and full of volume throughout the day. The applicator is the same as a mascara wand which makes brushing the product through your hair easy peesy and the small tube is perfect for my essentials bag. I have little baby hairs around my fringe and when I haven't blowdried my hair properly, they stick up like crazy which looks awful. This smooths the flyaways down without weighing the hair down or leaving it feeling crispy - perfect.

I have long hair that gets tangled easy and lacks volume so a comb is a must. I'd love to have a brush in my essentials bag but unfortunately, one won't fit. This comb is compact and does a good job at backcombing my hair throughout the day. It takes a while to get the knots out of my hair but I can cope with that.

Like I've mentioned, I don't top up make up throughout the day but I do take a face powder and brush with me to eliminate any shine that manages it sneak its way onto my face. I love this bronzing brush as it comes with its own carry case so it doesn't get dirty in the bag. My face powder of choice is the No7 Crème Touch Face Powder - £8.50 basically because I need to use it up. It isn't my favourite but it does eliminate shine and add a teeny bit more coverage.


My nails are pretty brittle which means that unfortunately, they break easily. This tends to happen when I'm out and about and for me, there's nothing worse than an uneven nail - they just look so awful and it makes me want to bite them even more, disaster! So I carry this nail file around with me for emergencies. I also love the fact that it comes with its own carry case.

Compeed Heel Blister Plasters* - £5.99
I suffer from blisters badly regardless of if I've been wearing heels or new shoes. I recently went on a Twitter rant about blister plasters as I've always used and bought Compeed ones which are quite expensive. I picked some up from Wilkinsons the other week and they were an absolute bargain at £1.35. However, they aren't the same as my trusty Compeed ones. The Wilkinsons ones were essential plasters but bigger and they needed changing everyday. Compeed Blister Plasters last forever and they won't remove themselves until the blister has heeled itself and disappeared. A complete must have.

An essential bag wouldn't be an essential bag without lip balm and this is my current one of choice. It nourishes the lips, adds a bit of a sheen and tint and smells and tastes delicious.

Swiss Army Knife Victorinox travel spray holder*
This was a limited edition item that  PR company sent me and I absolutely love it. Not only is it pretty but it's also convienient and I use it to top up my perfume all the time.

Other essentials: a mirror, hair band & grips
Of course! My mirror is a Hannah Montana one that I've had forever, my hair band is from Primark and my grips are from Boots. Definite essentials.

What essentials do you carry around with you on a day-to-day basis?
*PR Sample