Jeanie Babbles Beauty

Super Facialist Sunday....

2012-11-11T18:50:00.003+00:00

This is a relatively new brand to my huge Face Mask collection called Super Facialist, its created by a woman called Una Brennan who is pretty big in the world of Beauty. She looks after the skin of the beautiful people such as Sienna Miller and so on, I wasn't expecting miracles but even a slightly more 'celebrity polished' look to my skin would be great.

This mask is called the Tea Flower Deep Clean mask which is designed to purify the skin, its supposed to drag out any nasties that block your pores and balance your skin. The texture and smell of this is no different to any other clay type mask I've tried, it has that typical green/brown shade to it and is thick and mud like as most are. This type of mask I used to think was the best for my oily skin as it is slightly stronger and does leave your skin squeaky clean. However after years of using them I have realised that i was wrong, I actually think my skin hates it and rebels badly. I have started only using these every 1-2 weeks and use a milder one in between.

This I usually apply straight after cleansing my face, I apply it pretty much to where my skin is serious need of help (usually my tzone) and then leave it on for 5 minutes and wash off with a hot flannel. Now I have to say the first few times I used this it made my face a bit sore and I was seriously considering chucking it away but I kept going and its actually pretty good. I don't get any tight sore feeling after and my skin feels smooth and its brighter. The celebrity polished look however is still nowhere to be seen, but you cant blame a gal for having some (deluded) hope!

I haven't tried anything else from the range yet, are there any you guys can recommend?

17 Holo Nail Polish....

2012-11-08T18:00:00.000+00:00

So we all know how much I love nail polishes and when a new nail trend comes out I'm always there. The Holographic trend that has started is something I wanted to try straight away. I love nail colours that change in different lights, it takes a matte colour and makes it pop and catches your eye. This 17 nail polish for me does exactly that, it goes on great, non streaky and is definitely a winner for the holographic trend. At £3.99 you cant go wrong, it may not be for everyone but if you want to try then this is the best high street option I have seen so far. I do quite like the 17 range as an affordable high street brand, they are always on point with trends but keep it purse friendly. Hopefully we will see many more nail 'trend' polishes coming through from 17 over Christmas. Have you all tried this? did you like it?

MAC Mineralize

2012-11-05T14:00:00.000+00:00

MAC Mineralize Skin finish in Light Plus £21 (MAC at Selfridges)

This isn't anything new or exciting to blog about I know but I just thought I would talk about my favourite face powder at the moment. (I say at the moment because we all know I'm fickle). As I moan about constantly I have oily, sometimes blemish prone skin and my makeup never seems to hold up against the dreaded midday oil. I always need to use a powder to hold my foundation and to add an extra cover to my daily makeup. The problem with powder and especially oily skin it can often look slightly chalky and mask like. I have had this problem for years and after trying many powders I do always tend to go back to MAC as I love the finish they give. I normally go for Studio Fix which Is technically intended to be used on its own but always layered it over my foundation. Now this worked fine but if I needed to touch up during the day it would sometimes leave a thicker layer around my Tzone that from a far looked fine but up close did look slightly dry.

So during my last trip to MAC I decided to take the plunge and try the Mineralize Powder, and I'm glad I did as I love it. It leaves a lovely slightly candle lit glow on the skin and holds my foundation on perfectly without looking over done. Now obviously I still get the midday oil but it doesn't cake over the top it mattifys it slightly and recovers any part of my makeup that has faded due to weather and so on. It also comes in many shades ranging from light to dark but you can have the added 'Plus' which leaves a slightly darker colour on the skin, now I really like this as it doesn't leave me looking whiter than Michael Jackson but healthy and awake.

Are you a fan of the Mineralize range? Or are there any other powders you think I should try?

Gobsmacked

2012-11-04T14:00:00.000+00:00

Butter Nail Polish in Gobsmacked £12 (Selfridges)

Now anyone who has read posts on my blog before knows I'm a sucker for nail polishes especially from Topshop, but occasionally I like to branch out and try new ones. I have heard of Butter quite a few times before but never really gave it a thought as my love for Topshop varnishes has been so strong!

Ive been after a dark grey varnish for a long time but most I find leave my hand looking corpse like, so when I was in London I spotted this and had to have it. Its the perfect shade of grey for me and the added texture and slight shimmer takes it from being boring to amazing. It looks a lot more glittery in the picture than it actually is it has a slightly more matte look and a rough texture to it in the daylight which I really like.

I have to say I actually really enjoyed wearing this and find Butter varnishes to be a really lovely quality and the colours are pretty much all delicious and I will 100% be needing to stock up on more.

Have you tried this brand? Is there any colours you think I need to get?

Antipodes Grapeseed Butter Cleanser

2012-11-03T14:00:00.000+00:00

Antipodes Grapeseed Cleanser £24.99 (Feel Unique)

So a couple of days ago I blogged my new found love of all things Antipodes, well not long after buying the Resurrect Toner which I blogged about HERE, I decided to take the plunge and try the Grapeseed Butter Cleanser. Now I know I have really oily skin that is prone to getting blemishes around my tzone, butter cleanser sounds like hell for my skin type but Its actually the opposite. This cleanser is great its helped to draw the not so nice stuff out of my pores when taking my makeup off after having it on all day. It really softens on the skin making it easy to take all my makeup off in one hit. Another plus as I said before is that it is organic and although it isn't necessarily something I go for every time I definitely feel better about what I'm putting on my skin. I have been using Micellar waters and I do love them but I feel like I'm using so much cotton wool when I take my makeup off its insane!

I was surprised when it arrived from Feel Unique as its actually quite a small pot and for £24.99 my initial thought was 'oh' but actually its plenty big enough. It comes with a tiny spatula to remove the product without having to get your fingers in and making the whole process messy. My first reaction was to scoop a wedge out, although I was so wrong as you really only need a pea sized amount. You warm it up in warm dry hands and it suddenly spreads and you end up with loads. I basically apply it from dry hands to a dry face and then massage it in till I feel its ready to come off, then I wipe it away with a flannel and hot water. After doing this I have to say there isn't a scrap of makeup left on my face and it feels amazingly soft and clean, no heaviness or residue.

I don't tend to use this in the mornings as I'm not sure if it would affect the staying power of my makeup, I generally use it as a part of my night time routine. This has helped my skin no end I feel like along with the toner it has helped to take the redness away and calm down any blemishes that pop up and keep my skin clean and detoxed.

I am seeing a lot of talk about the Honey mask and I think I may have to cave and buy this next! Has anyone else tried this?

Everyone Loves A Drama..

2012-11-02T18:00:00.000+00:00

Lancome Hypnose Drama Mascara £21 (Selfridges)

I always struggle to find a good mascara as my eyelashes can be a bit unruly and sometimes stick out all over the place for some reason one side grows straight!? I need a mascara that can control them and make them look normal instead of uneven and in places non existent. I have tried them all but this Lancome Hypnose Drama mascara has been my favourite so far, I cant fault it as it lasts all day it doesn't run and keeps my lashes in good condition. The brush is light and curved so it can coat every lash easily and lift them without leaving blobs everywhere. The colour I have is jet black and is really true to colour, for some maybe too much for an everyday look but as I don't wear eyeliner during the day I think it looks fine. I have heard a few people say that its clumpy and sometimes too heavy but I personally feel this is down to there being too much on the brush, you really only need a small amount to get a great result. I love that you can really build it up for the evening and not have to use the dreaded false eyelashes, I'm really not a fan of these as they always fall off when I wear them!

Now I know the one thing that may put people of is the price, at £21 it is in the higher price bracket when it comes to mascara. I know there any so many good high street brands out there that do a great job, but for someone who needs their eyelashes tamed this is brilliant. I would definitely recommend this to anyone out there who is looking for a mascara that does that little bit extra.

Have you tried this? What is your favourite mascara brand?

Clinique or not to Clinique?

2012-10-31T18:30:00.000+00:00

Clinique Anti Blemish Solutions Cleansing Bar £14 (Boots)

Clinique is another brand that hasn't appeared on my blog before as its not usually my go to brand for skincare. Its not that I don't think they are any good, I hear a lot of great things about them but I have also heard in the past that the products are full of chemicals. After hearing a few bad things about them I stopped buying from Clinique and never really even thought about trying it again. Recently over the past week or two my skin has flared up due to a hormonal imbalance and my face has needed some serious attention especially around my Tzone. I have suddenly started to suffer with really painful blemishes around my chin and jaw, they have been very stubborn and wouldn't budge no matter what.

I decided to bite the bullet and stop listening to hearsay and go back to Clinique as I know the Anti Blemish range has pretty good results. Facial soaps are normally very drying and harsh and to be honest unless you are suffering from painful blemishes I wouldn't recommend this. It is quite abrasive when it comes to the skin but It has helped to calm down the areas that needed treating. Its not an everyday soap I will use this only when I have a severe break out, recently I have been using it in the mornings in the shower and then using an antipodes cleanser at night.

I think as long as you use this carefully (its a serious no go on the eye area) then I think you will achieve good results with any stubborn lumps and bumps. Its also great on the body too as its refreshing and really leaves you skin clean without drying it out.

How do you feel about Clinique? I would love to get back into trying Clinique products are there any you can recommend for my oily skin?

Gelly & No Ice Cream

2012-10-31T12:30:00.000+00:00

Gelly Hi-Shine Nail Paint by Barry M £3.99 (Superdrug)

So finally I know its a shock but I have been branching out from Topshop Nail Varnishes, its hard as I love them and feel like I'm cheating on them when I wear a different colour (dramatic I know). I have had Shellac nail manicures in the past and couldn't fault them for the result it was shiny right up until I took it off and lasted for weeks. When I saw that Barry M were doing a gel version of their beloved nail paints I new I had to try it, Shellac is great but it damages your nails and can be really pricey. I thought wow shiny gel nails for £3.99 Il jump straight on that band wagon please!

Now it isn't because I'm biased or because I'm negative but I have to say this just didn't really do it for me. I found it patchy and sticky when applying and after using my normally top coat It chipped not long after. Maybe it was applied to thickly or I rushed it I'm not sure as I have seen some reviews where people loved it, for me it wasn't an immediate love. I will be using it again as I want to love this as the colours are lovely and I really love glossy nails, but I feel it may have to grow on me.

How did everyone feel about these? Did you love them or feel the same as me?

Antipodes Resurrect Toner

2012-10-30T10:32:00.002+00:00

Antipodes Clarifying Toner £19.00 (Selfridges)

I have heard of this brand Antipodes a lot over the past few months but I never really took notice or felt compelled to try it. When I was down in London visiting a friend I went into the Beauty Hall at Selfridges and for some strange reason I was drawn into this brand straight away. Its funny because usually you find the ones you don't expect anything from infact become the brands that you love forever, and this is what has happened with this. Ive been converted to this brand and have since bought other products from the range, I just find that it does exactly what it says which is very rare. I find a lot of products preach about how amazing they are but very rarely do they actually do what they claim. Obviously another big plus for this is that its organic and doesn't contain any nasty chemicals that although work also cause severe damage to your skin especially the delicate areas on your face. Anyway after my overspill of love there for the brand.....

This is the Resurrect Clarifying Toner which claims.... " this active clarifying toner helps reduce the appearance of visual and open pores". I have to say my pores aren't really too much different in size as I have always struggled and don't think even the most amazing products will be able to help. Although It does help to refresh and tighten my pores and leaves my skin feeling amazing, It has also helped to balance out the oil production around my very oily Tzone. It feels like its working from the minute it hits your skin, and has definitely improved and faded any redness that usually appears around my nose and cheeks.

I usually apply this in the morning and night after cleansing, I spray across my face and neck and then leave it to dry before applying the rest of my routine. It doesn't affect any of the other products I use in my routine it actually adapts and works alongside them. I love the fact that its a spray bottle, you get an even layer of the product without having to use cotton wool. I do find when you use a toner with cotton wool you often end up wiping half the product away before its worked its way into your skin.

I cant rave about this toner enough it is amazing I think it would be great for any skin type, I would definitely recommend this to anyone who wants to try this brand. Have you used this before? What do you think of Antipodes?

London Baby...& Cake

2012-10-14T21:27:00.001+01:00

Last week I took a trip down to London to visit a friend for two days, I got a little snap happy and thought I would share these little photos with you. I went to see Michael McIntyre at the O2 and on the way home we got the boat up the Thames, it was absolutely freezing but the sights were lovely at night everything is lit up and looks wicked. We also went for a Pret A Portea at the famous Berkley Hotel, it was AMAZING as you can see by the pictures we had a feast. Each cake is inspired by the catwalk of S/S12, I have to say although they were beautiful masterpieces I ate them all and they were delicious!

After I ate my body weight in cake we went to check out the new Beauty Hall at Selfridges, Ive heard so much about it and couldn't wait to get there. I was like a kid in a sweet shop and ended up buying a few things that obviously I will be reviewing on the blog over the next week. I wouldn't say its glamorous to look at and you got pounced on as soon as you entered but I did love the fact that everything was more accessible. The beauty hall in Birmingham is great but it doesn't feature as many of the brands as the London one does, its annoying but it does gives me another excuse to pop down to LDN again.... Enjoy!

She Said Beauty October....

2012-10-14T20:02:00.001+01:00

This months October She Said Beauty box was definitely dedicated more to skin health than past ones I have received. I really like that most of the boxes I receive include brands I haven't heard of before, I'm a fan of cult brands but I am always searching for something new to try.

My favourites from this box have to be the Biao Beauty Rejuvenating Night Creme and the B.liv Off With Those Heads Gel. I used the Biao Creme every night along side my antipodes toner and I have to say I loved it, my skin was blemish free and soft. Now with the change in the weather I tend to get dry patches around my Tzone and this sorted them out a treat without any greasiness or spots. The B.liv gel is also a great primer for the Tzone I do suffer pretty badly with black heads especially as I do wear makeup most days, this has definitely helped to stop them looking so prominent under my makeup. I have to say I haven't used it for long enough to see any change in appearance concerning my pores/black heads, It has helped to keep the ones I have under control and I haven't seen any more appear.

I did also like the Cellinique Advanced Bio Renewal Masque although you only get a very small sample so its hard to determine exactly how great it is. I have heard of the brand before I know it isn't easily available but the products I have tried and heard about before get great reviews. The Herbacin Wuta Kamille Hand Cream was also a good full size product, now the cold weather is here its helped my dry hands but I am not overly keen on the scent. I am a massive fan of the Bliss hand creams and I find it hard to let go of them!

The only two products I wasn't as bothered about were the Palmers Cocoa Butter and the MyVitamins, I find Palmers a bit heavy for me (I gave it to a friend who loves it) and the Vitamins are something I wont be using I'm not a fan of adding anything unnecessary to my body.

Overall I thought this was a great box and I will be purchasing the Biao creme and the B.liv gel, so they will get full reviews later on my blog.

How did you feel about your box? Did you like the vitamins?

Aye Eye....brows

2012-09-30T20:56:00.001+01:00

Rimmel Professional Eyebrow Pencil 'Dark Brown' £2.99

Ive always been obsessed with makeup and I'm always searching for products that helpme to achieve a perfect everyday look. Ive tackled most areas of my face apart from my eyebrows, for some reason I have always left them out. I think its a mixture of my changing hair colour and fear of getting that 'scouse brow' I see on too many people. The thing is since changing jobs I now travel quite far everyday so getting up and doing a full face of makeup is too much effort for me. Ive cut down on my everyday makeup quite a lot recently but I always regret it when I get to work and I look tired before Ive even started.

As everyone knows a quick way to brighten and frame your face is paying attention to your eyebrows, so I had to take the dreaded plunge and purchase an eyebrow pencil (I broke into a sweat when I bought it). There are some brands out there that do some amazing Eyebrow kits, but the problem is they are quite expensive and for a newbie I wanted a high street, purse friendly pencil to try. This Rimmel pencil ticks all the boxes for me in terms of price, packaging and colour its really easy to use and at £2.99 you cant grumble. It comes with a handy brush on the end of the lid which helps to blend the colour without leaving any patches or lines. Overall I have had good results from this so far, and not a 'scouse brow' in sight.

There is one slight downfall as there isn't a huge array of shades, I would mainly recommend this for people with a darker brow. Even though my hair is a red tone I decided to go for the Dark Brown, I think you should go slightly darker with a pencil its slightly more forgiving. I find if you go too light with a pencil you end up with that orange glow around each brow, trust me Ive been there many a time....

I'm not sure how I feel about my eyebrows at the moment, I know they look better since using this pencil but its taking some time to get used to. Its not even a drastic change to my makeup they just look fuller and not quite so patchy but Im still on the fence about whether its really necessary? Im not even sure if a pencil is the best product for me to use as I hear great reviews about the gels and powders.

How do you feel about eye pencils? Is there a better product out there I should try?

Black Velvet...

2012-09-20T22:51:00.001+01:00

Estee Lauder Pure Color Velvet Lipstick In 'Black Cassis' £19.50

This of course is a lipstick from the Violet Underground Collection from Estee Lauder, I picked it up in Debenhams last week while I was meant to be browsing for perfume. I don't usually go to this brand for my lipsticks but I have to say I was impressed with the range they have. They are quite pricey to be fair I did feel a bit guilty as I definitely don't need another lipstick, I also know there are so many high street versions that are cheaper. The thing is as a girl who LOVES makeup I like having a few nice pieces in my makeup bag to reach for when I want a change from my daily makeup. I mean come on who doesn't like shiny gold fancy cases?!

Ive seen this on a few blogs over the past few weeks so I know its not new, I usually I try my hardest not to cave into a hype but obviously I did (nothing new there...) I love dark lipsticks especially in the winter, I usually swap my summery brights for darker matte lip colours when it gets colder. Lets face it summer has gone now and so its time for the winter hauls to come out, plus this shade will detract people from looking at my shiny red nose.

excuse the hair it wouldn't behave that day....

The one thing I do have to say is it is no where near as dark as it looks, as you can see on the picture above its more of a deep red. Don't get me wrong I will be wearing this a lot over the cold months, the shade is lovely but I have even seen it darker on other bloggers pictures.

Have you tried this? What do you think of the colour?

Hanging In The Green Room....

2012-09-19T21:31:00.002+01:00

Now we all know my obsession with Topshop varnishes so I wont go on too much....But this is a new colour I picked up a few of weeks ago. I went in for jeans and came out with jewellery and nail varnishes as usual. I love this colour 'Green Room' Ive worn it a lot since I got it, I used to hate blue and green nail varnishes but now I seem to have a new found love for them. Its a lovely sea green/aqua shade that pops and adds a bit of brightness on these new rainy days that have appeared.

I wasn't sure if this was going to be more of a summer colour but to be honest as its got a cool tone to it I'm going to drag it out through the winter too. It also looks great next to silver jewellery and surprisingly goes with most outfits Ive worn despite it being a distinctive green/blue. Ive also worn it with one of the Louise Gray blue glitter varnishes over the top and it looked amazing.

What do you think is this the kind of colour you would choose? Can you recommend any other Nail varnishes out there I should try?

Uniq One

2012-09-17T15:46:00.000+01:00

I received this in a beauty box a while ago in a sample size, as I like to review each product I thought id give it a go even though its not something I usually reach for. I'm not usually a fan of leave in conditioning treatments as I have fine hair, normally most hair products weigh my hair down leaving it flat. I usually find less is more with my hair type so I wasn't expecting much from this, its annoying really as I love big hair and crave it constantly!

This Uniq One All In One Hair Treatment I have to say is different, its light weight, easy to use and smells great. I was so surprised as I looked in the mirror after drying my hair upside down, once I patted the Wayne's World style down it looked so much better than it usually does. It was shiny and smooth but it also had added volume which is something I wasn't expecting, I would even say it looked slightly thicker.

It comes in a spray bottle which makes it easier to use and gives an even coverage without having to faff too much, I'll admit I know it gives good results but I find it a chore sectioning off my hair ( I know I'm lazy).

I would definitely recommend this to anyone who feels they need to give their hair some love, whether its damaged, flat or just dull it will give your hair a boost. It also works great along side any other hair products you use, although I will say just a few sprays is sufficient you will know when you have over used it as it dries hard.

Have you ever tried this? What did you think?

September She Said Beauty

2012-09-16T21:21:00.001+01:00

I'm sure everyone has blogged about this already but I thought I would get my 2 cents in and talk about this months She Said Beauty box. I have to say I loved this box there wasn't one product in it that I wouldn't want to try. I have tried each product over the past couple of weeks and have found a favourite in there that will take place in my already massive beauty regime.

First off I tried the Collection 2000 Primers, now I love primers but I have never found one that was 'perfect' for me. I was excited to try these as they are so reasonably priced compared to others I like that range from £20 upwards. I used the Primed & Ready Smoothing Primer first over my daily skincare, I found it to almost disappear when it touched my skin. Now this sounds like a great quality I know, the problem was it didn't feel like I had put anything on it almost melted away which disappointed me. It didn't leave me with a smooth even base it just felt the same as before I applied. After applying my daily makeup base I spritzed this onto my skin, it didn't leave any wet patches and felt like it had set my makeup slightly, however it didn't last I'm afraid my usually annoying oily skin showed up 2 hours later. Unfortunately I think the cult expensive primers are still in the lead for me.

The next products I tried were the Ginvera Green Tea Whitening Marvel Gel and the DHC Deep Cleansing Oil. I'm not ultimately sure what the Whitening Gel does I didn't see any difference when I used it. I did as instructed and applied it to dry skin, it almost disappears into the skin leaving only a slight residue after which you apply your cleanser and wash it off. It didn't leave my skin feeling amazing and there wasn't really any immediate results, I'm not sure whether this is a product that needs to be used over a period of months? After the Ginvera gel I then applied the DHC Oil, this went onto the skin really well and removed all traces of my makeup without leaving it dry. I really did like this product actually more than the cult Shu Umera oil. I'm going to continue to use this daily till it runs out to see if my skin benefits from this.

Finally my new favourite is the Amie Spring Clean Cooling Clay Mask, I love this its amazing I'm definitely going to be rushing out to buy this. I love face masks as I often get breakouts and suffer from oiliness, masks always help to calm and control the bad areas. This mask smelt great and felt lovely when I applied it to my face. It left my skin smooth and soft, my blemishes actually had calmed down just hours after and it helped to decongest my tzone. For £4.95 I thin this is great and I definitely would recommend this to anyone who has combination/oily skin like me as its so refreshing.

What did you think of this months box? Did you find a new favourite?

Where Have You Been All My Life....

2012-09-15T19:58:00.001+01:00

Well first off I have to say I haven't disappeared off the face of the earth....I'm still here maybe a little bit broken but here anyway. Now I have been terrible at this for the past couple of months I haven't blogged at all,to be honest I suppose you couldn't really call this a 'Blog' at the moment. It hasn't been anything to do with the blog itself but my personal life, I haven't been around or in the right frame of mind to dedicate myself to my blog. Sounds bad I know its just I think for readers you need a dedicated blogger who puts everything into their posts, If I had been blogging I certainly wouldn't have been able to so I simply haven't.

At the beginning of this year I was involved in a very serious accident which left me in a bit of a mess, the result was broken bones and much more. I was hit by a car and that unfortunately put my life on hold for most of this year. Over the months of recovery I blogged and put a lot into what I was writing, even through countless hospital/solicitor I still made sure I posted.

The past two months however have been extremely stressful for me and my family and friends (who I have to say I'll never ever be able to repay them for how great they have all been). Ive had daily physio, court, solicitor appointments and finally the cherry on top.....another operation. I don't want to make this a negative post though, I just wanted to share my personal story and why I have been mute over the past few weeks. I believe that everything happens for a reason and instead of being a martyr I will be pushing myself further. I feel thankful that I'm here to live the tale, I now understand what it means to get that wake up call. I cant preach enough that we only get one life and we need to push it and live it to the fullest.

My current state at present....sorry if this picture is offensive or off putting for anyone....especially the lack of makeup!

I'm happy and healthy (despite the picture) and will be soldiering on and dedicating more time to my blog. I feel although Im not up there with the top dogs in the blogging world, I do have a lot I think to offer and I would love to get the chance to share my life with everyone.

That's if you will be willing to except me back.....

Blitz Nails

2012-08-17T21:25:00.000+01:00

Here's another Topshop nail post guys.....I know I don't seem to buy my varnishes from anywhere else at the moment. I bought this earlier on in the week and Its another winner for me from Topshops Nail Varnish colour range. This is called Blitz and its a bright jewel pink colour that pops on the nails, It has a slight sheen to it and is multi tonal on the pic it looks glittery but In person its actually a light shimmer. In the sunshine (I know I only caught a glimpse of it) it looks amazing, Its bright, vibrant and summery.

I'm not sure whether this will carry on as a winter colour it may have to be only for the few summer days and probably nights out, either way I'm going to wear it for as long as I can get away with it.

I have actually bought two other varnishes from...Barry M, SHOCKER I know, I willl be posting some nail art for the first time this weekend. As I am a mere novice I'm guessing it wont be of a high standard but I'm willing to give it a try.

Do you have any handy tips for my first time doing nail art?

Kensington Caviar...Dahlings

2012-08-14T21:49:00.004+01:00

I know this isn't the next cult product or anything new and exciting, but I just thought I would share with you my favourite nail must have. As a fan of all bright colours and glitters, when it comes to my nails I like them to stand out and look immaculate. I'm not too fussed about shape as I tend to file mine square and short, its the colour application for me that has to be pristine. If there is any sort of smudge, bubble or overlap I have to take it off and start again. So because of this I tend to have to change my varnish every three days because chips are a HUGE no no for me! (I know I'm sad)

This Nails Inc Kensington Caviar set is perfect at getting that finish I love, I find my varnish goes on smooth and stays bright until daily wear and tear causes it to chip and then out comes the remover....and on I go painting them...again.

The base coat as you can see in the picture is a cloudy pink colour, when applied to the nail obviously its clear with a slightly thicker texture to protect the nail and almost act like a primer filling in any grooves. I usually wait till its dry completely before applying which ever colour (usually Topshop) takes my fancy, I find the base helps the colour not to streak and to coat the nail evenly.

After waiting for the colour to be near enough dry I then apply a thin layer of the Top Coat to my nails which helps to dry and lock in the colour. It really does do what it says on the tin, It dries fast and sets on the nail so its literally bone dry within a minute. I have tried it on my toes too and its great when you have to paint them in a rush and stick your shoes on straight away. The one thing I will say to anyone who wants to try this, you have to apply a thin layer of the Top Coat, too much and it will bubble slightly you might not mind this as most normal people don't but it always bothers me!

I think this is a great value set from Nails Inc and has been a staple of mine for a couple of years now. You can pick this set up in Boots for £10 the bottles are small but I find they last for ages as you don't need to use a lot to get the desired finish.

Have you ever tried this? Or is there another nail product you think is better?

Mother Sucker.....Not Another Cult Product

2012-08-12T18:26:00.000+01:00

I almost felt like not blogging about this as its been such a cult product over the past couple of months I know everyone is sick of hearing about it. My friend went to Paris a couple of weeks ago and managed to get her hands on this for me as I had been wanting to try it for a while. I have been using Etat Pur and I love it, you can check out my review from a while ago HERE. The Bioderma range I think is something that you just cant help but want to try, so many bloggers have reviewed and raved about this I had to get it.

I have to say I totally see why everyone loves it, Ive really enjoyed using it I even neglected my Etat Pur for a while. But as Im a huge fan of Etat Pur I will be back to using my favourite Micellar Cleanser, Im very loyal....and It works wonders on my skin!

I wasn't sure which one to get as I know I have oily skin but It is also dehydrated, my skin doesn't like oil control products as they are usually too strong. This however doesn't leave that tight feeling I usually get and it clears away all traces of my makeup with two cotton pads easily. The only downside with this is because its designed to control oil its way too harsh to use around the eye area. With the other Bioderma ones and my Etat Pur Micellar Water you can use them everywhere including the eye area, this however definitely should not be used to remove eye makeup. Its not a bother to use a separate eye makeup remover at all, but I do love being able to use one product to do everything (yes I'm lazy...)

I'm not going to say much more as I think everything has been said about this already I just wanted to show you that no matter how hard I try to resist certain cult products will get to me!! I'm such a sucker I'm almost ashamed, but at least my skin looks good....every cloud and all that.....

She Said Beauty 3

2012-08-12T12:54:00.000+01:00

You probably have seen a million blog posts for this so I will keep it short (well...shorter than normal) I have to say straight off that this is the first She Said Beauty box I have been disappointed with. Just quickly to get the bad out of the way....I always say I really don't like perfume samples, I have requested on my profile not to receive them but I still seem to get them. Also I received Nail Foils in a colour that I personally wouldn't wear but I will apply these and post pictures of them to show how they are. I'm hoping even though the design is really not for me the quality of the foils is good so I could purchase a design more suited to my taste.

The upsides are the Redken Color Extend Radiant Spray, I really like this as a regular home colour user I find it fades so anything to help keep the colour is great. This spray is non greasy and leaves a light shine, it also leaves a texture to my hair that adds volume and doesn't flatten it like some. You only need a few small sprays to get the desired effect, I did over use it once and I ended up with a slight crispy feel at my roots that felt horrible. I think the problem is the price may be a little off putting if I'm honest as its £19.99 for 170ml, you might as well buy Bumble & Bumble of you are willing to fork out £20 for a spray. So even though I like it I probably wont repurchase this in the future unless it goes down in price.

I also liked the Rachel Powder Paper, as I have really oily skin anything that absorbs oil is a winner in my eyes. Easy to use and in a handy booklet that can go in your bag they are great, I'm not usually a oil paper user but these may convert me.

The Balance Me Rose Otto Intensive Lip Salve is another standard product I had, don't get me wrong I love lip products but I have so many lip balms its crazy. It has a nice fragrance and leaves your lips smooth and hydrated, its slightly on the glossy side though so a little goes a really long way if you don't want it dripping down your face.

The last product was the White Glo Toothpaste which was a bit random, I have actually been using White Glo for a few years now. I use the one for Tea and Coffee drinkers as I love me a cuppa! It does a good job of shifting stains from teeth without being to harsh and its not a bad price for the job it does. I'm saving this for travelling though as the small tube will be so handy!!

Just realised this post isn't short at all...sorry guys!! What did you think of this box? Do you feel the same way about perfume samples as I do?

All About Amethyst

2012-08-11T22:40:00.001+01:00

Topshop Metallic Nail Varnish in Amethyst £6

So anyone who has read my blog will know about my love for Topshop Varnishes, I love them A LOT and every time I go in I pick up a new colour. This week I bought two (which is good for me) and this was the first one I was eager to try out straight away. The shade is called Amethyst and is part of the Metallic range of varnishes, there is a great variety of colours in the Metallic range at the moment. I think at £6 its not a bad price and they bring out new colours all the time so its not too much of a bruise on the bank account if you love painting your nails in the latest trends.

Now I love all nail varnish colours but as I'm so pale there are some colours that make me look like I have what I call 'corpse hands'. Colours that are shades of Gold, Yellow and Brown make me look awful so I tend to stick to either really bright or really dark shades. As this is a two tone colour I have found it really hard to capture it in the pictures to show you exactly how it is. In different lights the shade can go from a jewel like purple to a copper/purple. I described the colour as Cadburys purple and I have to say I love it I will definitely be picking this out over the next few weeks, I think its a colour I could wear in the winter too.

What do you think about the Topshop Varnishes? Are you also a nail varnish addict?

Miners Bronzer Review

2012-08-05T21:04:00.001+01:00

I have to share this with you as this is my new favourite bronzer, this came in my last She Said Beauty Box which you can see HERE. Miners is a brand I used when I was a teenager a couple of times but I actually thought they had disappeared as I haven't seen them around for a while. When I saw this full size bronzer in the box I was definitely interested to try it, being pale I'm always on the look out for a decent bronzer that doesn't make me look like I should be an extra on TOWIE. I find a lot of bronzers sit on my skin and look terrible, they usually make me look either dirty or way too glittery and shiny.

This bronzer ticks all the boxes for me, its matte but not dirty looking and takes the edge off my overly white face by giving it a light glow. I think for darker skin tones you could easily build up the colour without going over the top or caking it on. It doesn't have any of the gold/glitter particles you get in most bronzers on the high street either, this always annoys me as I end up looking like I've dunked myself in a vat of glitter and Vaseline. The other amazing thing about this is the price £4.99 is a steal for me, I have paid way more in the past for a bronzer only to throw it back in the pile along with all the others. I 100% will be buying this again and am looking forward to purchasing more from this purse friendly range, also how much does it look like chocolate mousse?! It took all my effort not to lick it.....

Have you tried anything from the Miners range you think I should try?

Blow out...

2012-08-05T13:06:00.000+01:00

I have slightly unruly eyelashes some grow straight out, some grow down and the rest just do whatever they are feeling like that day. Its a hassle trying to find a mascara that controls them and makes them fuller and longer. I have tried almost all out there from high street to high end, I have found a few that I like but nothing that I have wanted to repurchase straight away.

When a new mascara comes out in Boots you can guarantee I will be there in the corner giving it the once over and deciding whether I should buy yet another one. I saw this 17 Blow Out mascara and thought why not try it, since they have had a slight revamp a lot of the products have had good reviews. This mascara unfortunately for me wont be joining the good review pile I'm afraid it was a total flop. It claims to make lashes thicker and fuller and even uses the word 'Bouffant' (weird) and is full of Vitamin E and Argan oil. Now Argan oil has been sought after for a while and has many amazing properties, so with this in mind you would think this would make a great mascara. It didn't lengthen them or make them fuller at all even when I used my eyelash curlers. I actually looked tired like I hadn't applied any at all, also a tell tale sign for me when its bad is when I take it off at night I knew that it wasn't that great as in one wipe it was gone completely.

This is disappointing as I do think 17 is a good high street brand, they usually have their finger on the pulse with certain products and offer them at an affordable price. I'm not giving up on the brand but I will think twice about purchasing in the future as I was so unimpressed.

Have you tried this mascara? What did you think?

L'Occitane Hydration Creme

2012-08-05T10:34:00.000+01:00

Just like my previous Kiehl's post L'Occitane is another brand that although I hear great thing I have never given it a thought when buying skin care. This brand has been around for a very long time and has great credibility, so when I received this Hydration Creme I was looking forward to finally trying something from the range.

This cream claims to plump and hydrate the skin whilst adding radiance, this sounds like a dream to anyone who suffers with dull dry skin. Although my skin can be dull and I get flaky skin around my Tzone sometimes I certainly don't fall into this category with this product. I didn't feel like I could give it a great review, as with most hydrating creams my oily skin gets worse when I apply them. My Tzone gets greasy quickly and so when I apply a thick cream to my skin it instantly feels heavy and uncomfortable.

I think to truly get a great result from this cream it needs to be applied to a drier skin type maybe with early signs of ageing. I didn't have a bad experience with this cream, overall the texture was nice and the smell was lovely. I would recommend to dry skin types, but I definitely wont be purchasing this cream any time soon.

How do you feel about L'Occitane? Is there anything great in the range for oily skin types?