La Vida Fresa // The Strawberry Life

The ultimate micellar cleansing water!

2013-05-23T21:47:00.002+01:00

Hey everyone, remember that #micellarblindtrial I told you about a couple of weeks ago? Well I've now finished it and I thought I'd give you my results before the real results are out from Escentual!

I just want to say when I finished the trial I was so overwhelmed by micellar waters and although some people complained the trial wasn't long enough, I'm glad I got them out of the way quickly as they all started to blend into one very quickly. I think from this trial, brand and price depending, I'd purchase the full size of either sample C or D. Both were equally as good, but C won by a fraction. Knowing my luck, C will be Dior! I have no idea which one is Bioderma after that being the only one I tried. Oops!

So lets get straight into it, these are my results that I typed as I went along briefly.

Sample A - Strong scent, stung my eyes a bit but cleansed well and felt refrehing, albeit a tad sticky.
Sample B - Guessed at Nuxe Rose - strong rose scent, didn't like it much but cleansed like the others. Face feels a bit tight, skin a tad dry too.
Sample C - Not Bioderma (I don't think), feels very refreshing. Light, smelled really nice and clean. Mascara came off easily and face felt not so dry. Favourite so far.
Sample D - Predict that it's Avene. Refreshing, skin normal. Nice smell, not as nice scent as sample C. 2nd favourite. Cleansed well and all makeup removed.
Sample E - Smell in bottle was ok but when applied to skin was horrible. Didn't like it too much but neither liked nor disliked. Skin felt ok but not super clean. Wouldn't purchase. Didn't remove all makeup.
Sample F - Wasn't wowed by it, didn't feel very clean. No scent or facial tightness. Was just "ok". All makeup removed. Possibly Bioderma?
Sample G - Didn't like much. Didn't remove all makeup very easily. Didn't mind scent. Face felt quite tight but not overly. Still prefer sample C.

So there we have it. I'd love to see other people's reviews. I've given my results in the survey so I will look forward to seeing the 'real winner'. What do you think if you took part, which is your favourite?

Crazy cat lady

2013-05-21T19:53:00.001+01:00

Leopard Cat Ears Watch - £20 ASOS here

Let's all take a second to admire this beauty. If you know me well enough, then you'll know that I love cats. Call me crazy cat lady, or pet lady really, but I ♥ cats. When I spotted this leopard print (another huge favourite) combined with cats in a gorgeous, affordable watch I had to have it. I sent the link to my Boyfriend and then thought do I really need another watch? I decided against it. A few days later I got home to a parcel and was confused since I hadn't ordered anything from ASOS. I opened it and this cute little thing was smiling at me.

It's pretty and what's more, it's different. They do the same watch in plain black if leopard print isn't your thing too. I'll link it below the photo but the black one is linked here at the same price. I love it and ASOS do some pretty funky watches I must say. While I was looking the link up I've just spotted another crazy animal watch too. A rabbit ears watch (link)! Is it just me that thinks these are so cute? Not quite appropriate for every day office wear but still...

I love it anyway and that's all that matters! On another side note, I love ASOS and find so many bargains on there. I need a whole new wardrobe, anyone care to help me? Better still, winning the lottery would be nice.

What's your favourite purchase been recently?

Products I've fallen back in love with.

2013-05-20T20:17:00.000+01:00

Hey everyone, ahh Monday again.. Hopefully this week will go mega quick because I've got an exciting weekend planned! I'm off to Oxford on Friday and then London on Sunday for the day so I'll be making the most of London shopping hopefully if I get chance!

I thought I'd do a post today showing the products that I fell out of love with over the Winter season and have recently rediscovered. First up is Bourjois Healthy Mix, This was my first ever foundation which was only nearly 2 years ago (look at me now eh?!) and although I liked it, I found others and became bored quickly. Recently I've been quite attached to my beloved Xen Tan and all my other foundations look too pale so this one in 52, which is still quite pale, but is the darkest shade I own at the moment so I've been reaching for it more and more lately.

I got Benefit Dandelion Blush over a year ago at a blogging event and I loved it but it was quite pale for me and I didn't get it to show up very much, same applies for the Mac blush in Well Dressed. Lately I've been trying different brushes and using it when I've got more of a tan and I much prefer them. They're my go to daily blushers at the moment.

Mineral foundation is great for days I've got bad breakouts or just generally fancy a change. My favourite I've tried so far is by the brand Lily Lolo. This is actually a sample pot in shade Blondie and I love it. It makes my skin look flawless, I apply it with my Elf Mineral Foundation brush and buff it into my skin. It lasts all day and I don't have to worry about it being cakey. Will re-purchase the full size once I've ran down my stash a bit more!

Elf Matte Lip Colour was a purchase when Elf had a frequent 50% sale and I went mad. I bought this in the shade Tea Rose and really wasn't keen so threw it in my drawers until recently when I fancied going for a nude sort of shade which I never do and was pleasantly surprised. It's great for a toned down look for work and although it doesn't last long, it was around £2 so all isn't lost.

Fashionista do absolutely great custom palettes, they do eyeshadows, blushers and bronzers so it's great for on the go. They're £4 each from Superdrug and are usually 4 for £10 which is pretty good. Recently my larger Superdrug (damn you Superdrug) has completely pulled the stand and replaced with yet another nail stand. So now I'm unable to buy it anymore, except on Superdrug's website which is annoying when I like to swatch each shade but hey ho. The shades I picked that are currently in my palette are beyond messy but well used. The 2 blushers are very muted, although they look quite scary in the pan. The light eyeshadow is quite unloved recently but I should use it more often. The bronzer, well, it was dropped and smashed so I need to re-purchase it as I hate having it look like that, is it just me that would drive up the wall?!

Does anybody know if Fashionista are still in their local Superdrug stores and are still making their products?

Anyway enough of me ranting. What products have you fallen back in love with recently?

Tigi Dumb Blonde

2013-05-19T18:09:00.002+01:00

Around Christmas time when I had some leftover money from family, I decided to treat myself to some expensive haircare to see if it really made a difference to my dyed, brittle, blonde hair. I was out shopping and noticed the Tigi Bed Head Dumb Blonde range in TK Maxx, well only the shampoo but I thought I'd get it anyway. I paid around £10 for it which is way more than I'd usually pay but I figured for a huge 750ml, it will last me forever.

I've been using this on and off now since Christmas time and I have to say I'm pretty disappointed. Tigi Dumb Blonde retails for around £18 for the salon size (750ml) so I still got a bit of a bargain. The scent of the shampoo is an important factor when I re-purchase them and general usage and I do really like this. It tends to linger in my hair but it depends what conditioner or mask I team it with.

As for the colouring side which is what the product is marketed at. It's not brightened my hair in any way or made it last longer in between, but maybe that's just me. The one massive negative to this shampoo? It makes my hair so knotty!! I'm not one that usually gets knotty hair so I know it's definitely down to this shampoo. I've started to brush my hair in between shampooing and conditioning stages to try and reduce this along with de-tangling products but it's more effort than it's worth. I'll be glad when I eventually use this up but I'm currently using this every other wash as Neal & Wolf is my current favourite!

Overall a bit of a disappointment but I wanted to tell you all just in case the Tigi Dumb Blonde range has caught your eye recently. Is there any hair recommendations that I should try? I'm booked in to have my hair done again in a couple of weeks and hopefully I'm attempting the ombre look so my hair shouldn't be quite so damaged!

#Micellarblindtrial

2013-05-12T20:24:00.002+01:00

Hey everyone, I just wanted to inform you all about an exciting challenge I've got for the next fortnight. I am taking part in the Escentual Micellar Blind Trial which if you haven't heard all about, then keep on reading. I am a big fan of the famous Bioderma cleanser and find it does everything I need, but I am keen to find out whether it is the best micellar water in my eyes when the brand isn't there. There are 7 samples labelled a-g and I am testing them out for the next 2 weeks. So far I've only trialled sample A and I will be revealing all my results in one go once the 2 weeks is up so stay tuned!

I can't wait for my results to be shown and hopefully we all can choose the ultimate micellar water! The survey will be based upon their smell, waterproof makeup removal, texture, comfort, colour of skin and more. My notes have already begun and I'm trying to be as descriptive as possible and using each water for 2 days each to get a fair test.

The waters on trial are:
- Dior Instant Cleansing Water
- Nuxe Micellar Cleansing Water with Rose Petals
- Caudalie Make-Up Remover Cleanser Water
- Avene Micellar Lotion Cleanser and Make-Up Remover
- La Roche-Posay Physiological Micellar Solution
- Bioderma Sensibio H20 Micelle Solution
- Vichy Purete Thermale Calming Cleansing Micellar Solution

I have loved most Caudalie and Avene products I've tried so will this remain the case? Let's see! I'll definitely be intrigued to see the big reveal for each sample!

Is anyone else taking part in the #micellarblindtrial? Keep checking for updates on the Twitter hashtag for more details!

Caudalie Lip Conditioner

2013-05-08T20:12:00.001+01:00

Caudalie Lip Conditioner - £4.95 Gorgeous Shop (Link)

Hey ladies (and Gents), I'm back today with a new review of my latest favourite discovery from Caudalie. After reading the lovely Gemsmaquillage's blog, I saw a review in which she said how much she loves the Caudalie lip conditioner, obviously that meant I needed it. I expected it to be very expensive and was surprised when I got it for £2.75 including delivery - massive bargain!

Since then, it seems they've shot the price up to £4.95, cheaper than my lost Nuxe Reve de Miel but a tad more pricey than my ultimate favourite, Burt's Bees. As a one off occasion, (yeah right) I thought I'd treat myself since I'm currently on a saving ban after buying too much stuff I don't need, ahem. The thing is, I'm not sure what makes this lip balm so special. It's not tinted, it doesn't have a particular scent yet I'm hooked. I swear Caudalie puts something in their products that makes me love them all! The lip conditioner does as it says and it's quite creamy. I can use this day or night and it's good at reviving my lips when they're chapped all year round.

I wish I'd got 2 when I bought them for that price but Gorgeous Shop are the cheapest I've found including free delivery. It took around a week to get to me which was quite frustrating but I'd use them again as they have some great skincare, haircare and makeup on there! I'd recommend this if you fancy a treat for your lips without going OTT. Yet again I'm hooked on Caudalie and will look forward to trying something new next time!

Have you tried Caudalie? What's your favourite product from the brand?

Weekly Round Up

2013-05-06T21:05:00.003+01:00

Hey everyone, hope all of you in the UK are enjoying your extra day off (if you're lucky enough to that is!). I'm not feeling my blog this week and have been too busy with work, the gym or trying to relax once I finally get home, that I've barely had chance to tweet let alone read blogs or even work on my own blog.

This weekend has been so chilled and I wish it was actually a 4 day weekend but the good news is that we have another bank holiday in a few weeks yay! I'll actually be going down to Oxford and London over those days as I'm going to watch the Rugby, which is a very belated Valentines Day gift. Today was the only sunny day, good old Northern England but we certainly made the most of it while it lasted. Me and my Boyfriend went to the gym followed by a nice leisurely stroll around one of our local parks which was packed, no ice cream to be seen though so we had to settle for cake...

My phone broke on Friday and couldn't be revived, thankfully I was very near the end of my renewal date so Three ~~kindly~~ let me pay to upgrade early which was a massive rip off. I decided on the new Samsung Galaxy S4 as I preferred its' features to the Iphone. Sorry Iphone fans, I just think it's about the brand now and people buy the phone regardless of its' features. 2 year contracts are too common and it's a long time if you end up hating the phone after a few weeks. I'm loving it so far, it is huge but you soon get used to it.

Anyway, I'll be back soon as I've got a new favourite lip balm, shock horror I know. I find a new one oh too often.

MUA Pistachio Ice Cream

2013-04-29T13:12:00.001+01:00

Top Right - 2 coats MUA Pistachio Ice Cream + 1 coat Sally Hansen Insta-Dri

Similarities in packaging?? Also see the size difference

MUA nail polish - Pistachio Ice Cream - £1 here

Hi everyone, hope you're all ok and having a lovely weekend. I wish this rain would go away though! I went to see the lovely Lisa and baby Mollie, who is so cute! I hadn't seen her since she was pregnant so it was a lovely afternoon and we took a trip into Preston to do a little shopping. We didn't really do much though, one of the purchases I bought was this MUA Pistachio Ice Cream nail polish for a bargain £1. The shade is what drew me alongside the very familiar packaging. I'm not complaining though, it looks more expensive than it should be.

Although I've had it only a couple of days I thought I'd give you my first impressions on the polish. In previous experience I've hated MUA nail polishes, especially the one from their £2 range so they had to impress me on this one for me to carry on purchasing the brand! The size of the polish itself is pretty small but since it's only £1 you can't complain too much. You can see the size difference between Essie nail polish and MUA in the second photo too. The brush is quite small as you can imagine in proportion with the bottle but it's easy to work with. The first coat I applied it was very watery/streaky and I was about to throw it in the bin but then I persisted and waited for the coat to dry. After a couple more layers it started to look like it does in the bottle which is a gorgeous mint shade, a tad darker than the bottle looks.

As you can also imagine for £1, chipping is frequent and after a night I only had 2 chips but they were pretty big ones both on the same nail, my index finger on both hands.Since I didn't want to take it all off this morning I hoped I could smooth over it for today at least and it did. It doesn't look obvious either. Finishing off with the Sally Hansen Insta-Dri top coat works wonders too - that stuff is seriously amazing!!

I'll be trying other colours but I have another minty shade to try out soon, Barry M's Gelly polish in Greenberry. Who'd have thought I'd never experimented with green/mint shades before this?! All we need now is a bit of sunshine!

*On another note I'm thinking of expanding into health and fitness updates, would anyone be interested in seeing them?*

What's your favourite nail polish brand? I need to pick up a nail strengthening polish too so any recommendations?

My first time at a hair salon!

2013-04-27T13:28:00.001+01:00

The most unflattering photo but the only one I ended up taking! This was when we were deciding on a hair style to re-create.

Hey everyone, I've got a (quite delayed) post about my experience going to a hair salon for the first time. Yep, you've read correctly. I've had a mobile hairdresser all my life, not the same one though. 2 different ones and have had the same sort of style and shape most of my life too which is obviously quite boring. I've been terrified at the thought of going elsewhere to get my hair done but since it was in bad enough condition I thought no harm could be done anyway!

At the #northmeetup event in Manchester I managed to get the chance to speak to the lovely Celeste who runs celestearnoldhairandmakeup.co.uk and Emma who is one of the stylists at the salon. In the goodie bag was a complimentary cut and finish for the salon which is based in Edenfield, Rossendale Valley, Lancashire. It's quite far from my house but since me and my Boyfriend have been skiing in Rossendale several times, we know the area quite well now. I sent Emma (@emmabeveridge07) a message on Twitter to book in for my cut and finish and the date came round pretty quickly which was exciting, but very nerve racking.

The salon is beautiful. It was renovated last year so everything still looks brand new. We found it pretty easily as it's next to a pub so I parked up round the corner which was handy. Emma was already with a client when I arrived so I had a little look round and read a few magazines before it was my turn. I didn't have any style in mind when I arrived so I was probably a nightmare client but I was happy to be Emma's Guinea pig. We eventually agreed on the same style which was lots of volume, layers and quite a few inches off my former chest length hair. First up was a relaxing shampoo and conditioner followed by a head massage using my favourite new hair brand, Neal and Wolf (honestly their products just smell divine!) conditioning treatment.

I felt very at ease with Emma and trusted that she is extremely skilled in her work. The whole process made me wonder why I'd never been to a salon before! I wish I took photos of the whole experience, since I brought my ever-so-patient Boyfriend for the ride, but we both got distracted and completely forgot. I'm so happy with the salon that I'm ditching my old hairdresser (sorry!) and this will be a new regular visit. I had lots of compliments on my new hair afterwards and we went straight to a house party so I completely forgot to capture the moment. I've not quite been able to get my hair quite as nice as Emma did it but I'm loving how quick and easy it is to blow dry and style! I'm due to have my colour done so Emma, if you're reading I'll be back very soon!

For all those that also got the complimentary cut from the #northmeetup it's worth the journey to go and get your locks done - honest! Oh and both myself and my Boyfriend were treated with a lovely glass of Cava which I wish I could have had more of, shame I was driving! Am I the only person that's never been to a hair salon?!

*Although the cut was complimentary I am completely honest in how great it really is and I think if you're local, you should all check them out too!*

Witch Blemish Stick

2013-04-22T18:47:00.000+01:00

Witch Blemish Stick* - Superdrug (currently £1.80 RRP £2.89) | Boots £2.89

Hey everyone, hope you all had a fabulous weekend. Saturday I went off to Celeste Arnold Hair & Makeup in Rossendale, Lancashire for a new 'do! I spoke to Celeste at the #northmeetup and also attending was Emma, one of the stylists from the salon who did my hair. The whole experience was amazing and I will definitely be doing another post on it later on in the week telling you all about it!

I thought I'd tell you about a new product I've been using since the #northmeetup on my skin. I'm not one that is prone to spots but occasionally when I switch up products the odd one can creep out. Once I've completely cleansed my face, I then use this on odd blemishes. There is a slight tingling sensation which I personally like as I feel like it's working. It's not uncomfortable though. It dries quickly so you can apply serum and moisturiser afterwards.

The stick itself isn't the most hygienic as I am worried that it could make spots spread if you apply it straight to your face. Sometimes I'll use a cotton bud to apply it which isn't as good as most of the product ends up absorbed. Overall I really like the product, but it's nowhere near as good as the Neutrogena Rapid Clear Acne Eliminating Gel. For a mere £1.80 that it's currently on offer for at Superdrug at the moment, I'd definitely throw it in my basket when I run out. I'm unsure how long this will last

If you're looking for a new product to help reduce spots then why not try the Witch Blemish Stick?

Neal & Wolf Super Shine Spray

2013-04-18T20:38:00.001+01:00

Neal & Wolf Super Shine Spray* - £9.50 Beautybay (Worldwide free delivery!)

One of the best things about being a beauty blogger is trying new brands. When I went to the recent #northmeetup event, one of the brands that were representing Neal & Wolf was one of their stockists Celeste Arnold Hair & Makeup based in Rossendale, Lancashire. On a side note I am actually visiting the salon this weekend so I will be sure to post about my results from my ~~scary~~ first time at a hairdresser salon! Anyway I was actually very kindly gifted the Super Shine Spray and the Daily Cleansing Shampoo and I simply love them both. My hair has never felt cleaner, not to mention shinier and the smell...wow! I'm in love.

I can't even begin to describe the scent, apart from that, it's amazing and not like any other hair product I've tried before. I'd say it's more of a "grown up" scent than the usual sickly, sweet smelling hair products. The best thing about the Shine Spray, is definitely the scent, as well it makes my blonde hair glossier than it would prior to using it. I definitely need to purchase the conditioner to have that all over Neal & Wolf signature scent! I was sold after first use and now I'm a bit scared I'm going to run out of everything within weeks! I've found Neal & Wolf on Beautybay which is a website that does worldwide free delivery for all of you outside the UK and I think their products are a reasonable price considering how good they are. They only have a concise 10 products available but if they're as good as the 2 I've tried, they'll do for me!

Recently I've been having major problems with a Tigi Bed Head Dumb Blonde shampoo, after spending around £15 for it, I found it left my hair greasy and so knotty that I had to keep tying my hair up out of the way. Not what you want when you spend so much money on a product. The conditioner wasn't much better either although it was the Tigi Bed Head Control Freak rather than the matching Dumb Blonde range but it just wasn't suited to my hair type it seems. I'd describe my hair as being quite dry at the ends, very oily at the roots and I wash it every other day which took years of training after being a daily washer!

Overall I'm loving Neal & Wolf, if you can't already tell and can't wait to try more products and stock up on the large shampoo and conditioner. Now, after all that I'm off to bath and use the Daily Cleansing Shampoo and a conditioning treatment!

Have you tried Neal & Wolf's products? What's your favourite shampoo and conditioner?

Branded Watch Shop

2013-04-17T20:45:00.000+01:00

My Branded Watch Shop Picks

Hi everyone, hope you're all ok. I thought I'd tell you all about a website I was introduced to recently that I thought you may be interested in. I don't know about you but the first thing I do in the morning is put my watch and ring on and as soon as I get home I will take both off. I feel naked without a watch and although everything I carry has a clock on it, ipad/phone etc, it's comfort and sentimental.

Branded Watch Shop stock the likes of Vivienne Westwood, Rolex, Ice Watch and Juicy Couture, all at a reasonable price. Heads up for all you bloggers out there, I'm sure you'll know about the famous Michael Kors Rose Gold Watch. If you're still looking for it, you can save yourself 15% by purchasing it through Branded Watch Shop instead!

I suppose you could say there's a bit of a theme going on with the watches I've all chosen...yep you've guessed it, they're all pink and girly. If I could, I'd buy all these on my wishlist but I don't have 6 arms unfortunately. One time when I was shopping with my Mum, I spotted the cashier's watch in Topshop and loved it so much I asked her where it was from and she said it was an Ice Watch. When I googled it though, it was near enough £100, I've since found it again and it's currently half price and less than £35. Bargain!

I have also contemplated getting a silicone watch for the gym. I take my beloved DKNY watch off before exercising as it gets too tight, my Boyfriend swears by Casio watches for the gym and general day to day wear as they are so durable. I prefer fashion watches though even when I'm getting sweaty - nice! Next time you're watch hunting, make sure you check Branded Watch Shop for discounts on your favourite brands.

Are you a frequent watch wearer? Which is your favourite from my picks?

*sponsored post but as always my views are unbiased and honest!*

Derma V10 Cocoa Body Butter

2013-04-16T19:51:00.001+01:00

Derma V10 Cocoa Body Butter - Around the £1 mark!

Hi everyone, hope you all had a lovely weekend . I didn't do much. Saturday was fairly warm so me and my Boyfriend took ourselves off to a local seaside town which got a tad too windy, so we retired to a cute little cafe that we visit regularly. Weekends go far too quickly but at least it gives us all something to look forward to!

You may remember last week that I went to an amazing event hosted by the lovely Em from Emtalks.co.uk and we got the huge goody bag..yep I'm sure you've already read about it. If you haven't, then why not read about the #northmeetup here. Along with the humongous goody bag was a smaller bag from Derma V10. I've bought quite a few Derma V10 products in the past in my favourite cheapy shops, i.e Poundland, Home Bargains and the likes. Nothing has ever really sprung out at me, until now. This body butter ladies and gents, is amazing. In the past few weeks I've been erm, let's say a bit obsessed with my favourite tanner, Xen Tan. So much so that my Boyfriend has insisted on giving me a new nickname for my darker skinned alter-ego.

Xen-Tan is definitely due another post soon but my favourite combination at the moment is using the Derma V10 Cocoa Body Butter. Body butters can sometimes be a massive fail, if they're too thick, I will hate it, if it's too runny in consistency then I will also hate it. What I'm trying to say is that it needs to blend perfectly, oh and smell amazing too. Not too much to ask right?

I will definitely be finishing this tub sooner than I expected and will be on the hunt for a new one soon. If you type in Google Derma V10 Cocoa Body Butter and go to the shopping section, there is always free delivery deals on different sites so be sure to check it there for around the £0.99 mark! My Boyfriend has already tried to steal this so it gets a male seal of approval too!

Have you tried Derma V10 products before? Which is your favourite body moisturiser/body butter?

Along Came Betty Bronze Me Up Review

2013-04-12T10:26:00.003+01:00

Along Came Betty Bronze Me Up - £7.99 Tesco*

Hey everyone, hope you’re all ok! I thought I’d show you a brand and product that you may not be too familiar with that I’ve been trying out lately. It’s the Along Came Betty Bronze Me Up which is a lovely bronzer and highlighter 2 in 1. The bronze shade is quite light so maybe not ideal for those already with darker skintones and wanting to use for contouring. However, since I’m extremely pale, this works well for me to contour and a general overall bronze glow. The bronze has got a little shimmer, but nothing too obvious. The highlighter is a lovely shade though and I find using my Real Techniques contour brush is small enough to pick up the product and dust it lightly on the tops of my cheekbones.

I really like Along Came Betty’s products. They are available in Tesco which is great when you’re doing your shopping and you can throw in a few treats too, doesn’t make it feel as much of a chore! I’ve got their bubble bath too (forgot the name oops!) but it makes tons of bubbles makes my skin really soft which is always a bonus. They’re reasonably priced and I’ve seen a few gift sets for around £3-4 on the Tesco Direct website, currently out of stock though so keep an eye on them here.

The price for Along Came Betty Bronze Me Up is £7.99 which isn’t too cheap but I prefer the likes of Sleek contour kit which also contains a bronzer and highlighter and is a bargain £6.49 for the quality. Overall I do like the product, but I don't love it. I'd definitely recommend having a look next time you shop in Tesco, or online to see what bargains they have at the moment. I've seen quite a few offers on the brand so it's worth checking out.

Have you tried Along Came Betty products?

PS. I'm not one to spam but just to give you a heads up, my giveaway has one day left! Win yourself a magazine subscription to ones you can't normally get here.

Real Techniques iHerb

2013-04-09T19:27:00.000+01:00

Hey everyone, I thought I'd share my favourite bargain of last month that I completely forgot to review. I read on the lovely vipxo's blog that she found an amazing discount from a company called iHerb. I'd never heard of them previously, they're based in the States and specialise in herbs (obviously), vitamins, supplements and Real Techniques thankfully! Since I already owned quite a few, I thought I'd go for the 2 collections I didn't have, the On Location Travel Essentials, the Your Base/Flawless Foundation brush and Your Eyes/Enhanced Eyes Starter Set. Oh and a cheeky lip balm we can't get in the UK (that turned out to be horrible!!)

It came to $45.42 with the lip balm being $1.45. On your first order, you get $10 off which is already a massive bargain. Convert that into £ and I jumped at the chance. The only downside, like anything being imported it takes a while to arrive. It took about 3 weeks for me but it depends where you live. Shipping was $6 to the UK which isn't too bad considering the distance. I'd definitely use iHerb again though. I heard some people had to pay customs charges but I got lucky and didn't!

Real Techniques Travel Essentials Brushes (L-R | Essential Foundation Brush | Domed Shadow Brush | Multi Task Brush) - RRP £20.99 Feelunique/Beauty Chamber or $17.99 on iHerb (£12.02)

Anyway, the brushes themselves...well. The Travel Essentials was my favourite out of all that I bought. The best brush is the one on the right of the final picture, the Multi Task Brush. I have been using this for blusher, bronzer, highlighter or even powder if I forget other brushes. I wouldn't use it for any sort of foundation personally though. I've been using the middle brush for concealer which is my new go to brush, although I have also used it for shadow too a couple of times. The foundation brush isn't my favourite. I've accumulated 3 flat Real Techniques foundation brushes and I'm not quite sure how...I prefer the RT Buffing Brush - it's amazing for blending liquid foundation perfectly!

Real Techniques Flawless Brush - RRP £8.99 Feelunique/Beauty Chamber or $7.99 on iHerb (£5.32)

The RT Angled Foundation Brush is better than the one in the Travel Essentials set however I haven't really used this much. I find it really streaky so I've used the Buffing Brush after using this from time to time, to make sure I don't get any foundation death lines (aka orange line of death). It's generally quite a nice brush but I won't really use it enough to warrant the price. I added this just to make up the $40 on iHerb so all is not lost in my eyes!

Real Techniques Your Eyes/Enhanced Starter Set - RRP £21.99 Boots | $17.99 iHerb (£11.98)

Last but not least is the Your Eyes/Enhanced Starter Set which I wanted to try the most. There are a few good brushes, a few not so good. Again it was a massive bargain at £11.98 for the set! The Base Shadow Brush isn't that great for applying the shadow onto my lid and I find a lot of fall out but maybe I'm just not used to using it yet! The Deluxe Crease Brush is a good size for concealer or blending the crease. It's not as fluffy as I'd like though for blending but I make it work. I've not tried the Accent Brush yet or the Pixel-Point Eyeliner Brush so I can't comment on those. The Brow Brush is really good, the size is handy for doing the brows (obviously) and it picks up product well. The 2 sets come with a handy case that also acts as a stand too.

Overall I'm pretty impressed with iHerb and I love Real Techniques brushes but if I was to choose I'd definitely recommend the Core Collection and the Travel Essentials sets.

Have you used iHerb before? What's your favourite make-up brushes?

#Northmeetup

2013-04-08T20:37:00.001+01:00

Hey lovelies, I've finally managed to sit down after a hectic weekend but wanted to share with you my mega fun-filled Sunday when I attended the #northmeetup organised by the lovely and gorgeous Em from Emtalks.co.uk. I'm astounded at how much Em organised and it really was an amazing day! It was nice to meet people who's blogs I've read for quite some time too and put a face and voice to a blog! I was a bit of a silly billy and forgot my camera and my phone battery rapidly decreased so I will point you in the direction of a couple of other blogs who I attended with that have photos from the day.

I set off my journey on the train and met the lovely Emma from Em's Mixed Bag (check her out) who was just as lost as I was. Thankfully the also ever so lovely Shen from Shenmoo Blog (check her out too!) came to rescue and direct us to Revolution on Deansgate Locks. Since I was driving from the train station I couldn't drink (booo) but there were 2-4-1 cocktails which looked yummy! The event was way more than just drinks in a bar though, there were a few talks, representatives from brands doing some demonstrations and general mingling amongst bloggers. I think we scared the poor people that came in for a quiet drink to all us in the upstairs part of Revolution!

Capital FM were there too to give us some paparazzi shots and there were talks from the likes of Xen-Tan, Glamglow and Arbonne. I'm a long time fan of Xen-Tan and Glamglow so I was already sold on them but Arbonne isn't a brand I'm familiar with. The goody bag looks good from what I've seen so far though. Next we wandered around to check out the stands with the brand representatives chatting to us about their products.

We chatted to a hair salon who used Neal & Wolf hair products which smell divine and I can't wait to use, they also gave us a card for a free cut and finish! We also spoke to Nikki who works at a salon in the Lake District and also runs her own blog at http://beautyshaker-x.blogspot.co.uk/ and she gave us some Anne Semonin goodies. She swears by the brand so I will have to find out for myself! Next up was a chat with So in Fashion, Blanx, Ilah Brows and Xen-Tan (to convert Emma!). All brands were lovely and it will take me ages to get through all the business cards and leaflets they handed out.

I'm not bragging but wow! Look at all that, it practically fills my double bed!

I am still gob smacked at just how much goodies we received! Em did an amazing job and she should be proud for sure, I hope there is another event sometime soon, although next time I'll bring an empty suitcase just in case! My arms were killing by the time I stumbled to the train station and I was so glad to get home. Maybe I'm just too unfit though! Thanks again Em, you're a star!

Not a massive fan of the photo but L-R Em, Me and Shen

I could ramble all day about the event but there isn't enough time in the day so I've left you some photos to nosey at. Make sure to follow the hash tag for future updates and if you was there yesterday please comment/tweet me with your blogs :) I wish I could have talked to everyone but there were so many people!!

Zinio Giveaway

2013-04-06T20:51:00.000+01:00

Hey everyone, I hope you've all had a lovely weekend so far. How lovely has the weather been today in the North of the UK at least?! I'm off to the #northmeetup tomorrow thanks to the lovely Em from Emtalks.co.uk and I'm pretty excited. Are any of my lovely readers going too? Tweet me or say hello too if you spot me!

I am back with a giveaway today. You may have already seen this previously on a few other blogs but if any of you are obsessed with magazines like I am, then you are in for a treat today! Zinio have kindly offered me the chance to giveaway 10 magazine subscriptions, these include iPads too and I was also offered to keep one for myself (who wouldn't?!) so I am giving away 9 subscriptions to you lovely lot.

For those of you that haven't heard of Zinio. They have thousands of top magazines from around the world. You can browse and purchase subscriptions or single issues instantly from your computer or mobile device to read wherever and whenever you like. You can use the subscriptions on iPads, iPhones, Android mobile phones and tablets, laptops or desktops. I don't know about you guys but I'm looking at Allure or Company magazine for sure! The women's lifestyle section is here and the 50% off April deals are here, the hard part is choosing which I prefer!

All I need from you is to fill out the Rafflecopter details below for your chance to win. The giveaway is open from now until 14/04. Make sure you leave your email and Twitter name to be in contact if you win :) Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Percy & Reed Volumising No Oil Oil

2013-04-04T12:55:00.001+01:00

Percy & Reed Volumising No Oil Oil - RRP £14

Hello everyone, long time no blog! I've had quite the lovely break. I still felt quite uninspired but with us now hitting British Summer Time (kind of), it's enabled me to take more photos when I'm short for time and then I can do the posts on my ipad and schedule them. I've been off work this week which also has been pretty amazing. I wish every week would go as fast as this one has! I never thought I'd say "aw it's nearly Friday already."

I thought I'd come back with a review on a product I'm slightly on the fence on. I've been using it quite a bit recently instead of my usual Moroccan oil, which I cannot fault! I received this as a freebie from my monthly Glamour magazine subscription but I've seen it retail for around £14 full size. Not cheap however I usually pay around £30 for my Moroccan oil so it's not too bad. Hopefully when I go to Morocco in September (excited already!) I can pick up some Moroccan oil then.

Anyway, as the title suggests, the oil is advertised as volumising no oil oil. The consistency is very watery, which I find quite odd as it disappears pretty quickly as soon when I apply it into the ends of my bleached blonde hair. I hate the feel of oils so I prefer it to be more watery, I just can't feel anything beneficial, nor have I seen any improvement to the smoothness or overall appearance of the ends of my hair.

I won't be purchasing the full size of the no oil oil, Moroccan oil lasts me a good year when I use it sparingly so I can justify the cost. It certainly doesn't volumise my hair but its a small enough sample to throw in my travel bag when I'm on the go a lot.

Have you tried Percy & Reed's Volumising No Oil Oil? What did you think about it?

Holy Grail Makeup Products

2013-03-17T11:35:00.000Z

Hey everyone, hope you've all had a lovely weekend so far. I've been ill most of it and feel even worse today so I'm staying in bed today and reading blogs! I wanted to do a post for a long time telling you about my holy grail make-up items that I will re-purchase over and over. They are all fairly new to my collection but I've already re-purchased a few over and over (crazy make-up lady much?!).

There are only 2 foundations that I can say I absolutely love. I've tried many more in between both and the shade has been all wrong for my skin tone and the finish. The foundation and concealer duo on the left is the Daniel Sandler Invisible Radiance Foundation and Concealer. I reviewed this here so I won't go into too much detail but I equally love the concealer in the lid. Wish it was sold separately but I'd happily buy both! I have shade Porcelain which is an amazing match, I don't tan naturally in Summer so I mainly stay the same shade throughout the year.

Another foundation is the No7 Stay Perfect foundation. I bought this when the No7 match made service was released last year. I was sceptical but as soon as I was matched I was impressed. Same applies as above, this hasn't changed in Winter or Summer so I can keep it for longer, one bonus of being a pale girl all year round I guess!

I have 2 mascaras that I love, although I do like the Maybelline Falsies, I just don't have it at the moment. Maybelline are generally a fail-safe choice for mascara and I've always loved them since I first experimented with make-up over 10 years ago. The Colossal Volum' Express Mascara is great for volume for my tiny lashes. The Rimmel Lash Accelerator Endless Mascara is what I use on my first coat, the Maybelline Colossal on the second coat. I find the Rimmel Lash Accelerator is great for separating my lashes and lengthening.

My second favourite concealer is the Collection (2000) Lasting Perfection. I've used this for a while now and went off it for a bit until I used others and realise the shade and formula beats no others for my dark circles. It's cheap and cheerful, I love it!

Illamasqua are a brand I'd wanted to try for so long and bought this online on a whim after not doing much research which considering it's not cheap (£18), it was a bit of a gamble. Promise is the perfect pink "pop" of colour for me and it can be built up for a strong look or used under foundation if you want a real subtle hint of colour. I use a stippling brush to apply this, hence the shoddy packaging but hey we can't have it all. The lasting power is second to none and I'll happily re-purchase this over and over.

Urban Decay Basics palette is another great investment. It's the only palette I go to daily and I use all the colours except the black shade, unless I'm going on a night out/date night. They're all so wearable and matte shades which I prefer. I've nearly hit pan on the Venus shade (lightest on the left) which makes me sad as it's obviously my favourite. I've done a more in depth review here if you'd like to take a look.

Last but not least is my favourite powder and favourite powder blusher. Mac Peony Petal is a discontinued shade which I found in a CCO (Cosmetics Company Outlet) last year. Again, it's just the most amazing pink shade to make me look more alive and I'll be sad when I hit pan on this. Anyone know of any similar shades by the way to Peony Petal??

Rimmel Stay Matte...ahh I'm sure you've all heard about this cult powder. I didn't used to use powder until a few months ago but I kind of regret using it. The more I've used it when I didn't need to, I've found the more shiny I get?! Ironic. It mattifies my skin when I need it to and doesn't last more than 5 hours on me but I don't usually need it to.

What are your holy grail makeup items?

A very honest review

2013-03-16T13:38:00.000Z

Hey everyone, hope you're all ok. It's been a whirlwind few weeks but finally I'm back on track now. I got a new car last weekend (hooray) as my old one was just far too unreliable so that's a happy note! I'm getting totally sick of the cold weather now, hurry up Summer! I wanted to do a review today and unfortunately, it's not a happy one. I've bought several things from Fragrance Direct before as they have really cheap items and I'm always sceptical when things are "too" cheap. My theory is that it's out of date items or factory seconds but in this case, the product itself I believe is the reason for the price tag. I'll get straight into it as this may be a long one! Oh and before we start, all the products I bought are £1.99 each.

The first item I chose was the Dainty Doll concealer in shade 001. I chose this as I like to have a light concealer, this is way too light but that's my fault not the product. Dainty Doll products are catered to us fellow pale skinned girls but I didn't realise how pale they went! The concealer itself, let's just get this out there, it's horrible! It's cakey, feels really dry and looks a mess under my eyes which is the reason I bought it. Yes it is only £1.99 but I'd much rather use that money on something I'll use than throw away. The pigmentation is very poor, I have to drag my finger to even get any amount of product. Normally I'd say maybe it's just a dodgy product that I got but as for the other 2 products...

Next up is the Dainty Doll powder blush in 004. This looked a gorgeous shade online, although I couldn't find any swatches to go off. The powder blusher is quite a bit bigger than the cream blusher I bought although I've no idea why. The shade itself when swatched is a little like the Sleek Rose Gold or Nars Orgasm if I likened it to anything. It irritated my skin and gave me a bit of a rash so I removed it immediately and haven't worn it since. The shade is way too glittery on my skin and made me look like a barbie doll - not a good look!

Last but not least is the cream blusher in 002. This is probably the "best" out of all the products but still not a wearable product. The shade isn't dissimilar to the powder blusher above which was a bit of a let down too. The pigmentation is not great but I don't have to fight to get any product onto my finger/brush at least. I can't say the lasting power because it just didn't suit me so I removed it and applied something else.

Overall I'm massively let down and I thought I'd tell you my Fragrance Direct/Dainty Doll story, even if it was a negative one. Maybe I did get rubbish products but the worst by far I've ever tried is the concealer.

Dainty Doll products start from £0.99 at Fragrance Direct here if you want to try them for yourself. RRP £10.50+

Have any of you bought anything from Fragrance Direct? What do you think of the Dainty Doll products?

Bye Bye Google Reader

2013-03-14T19:02:00.002Z

Hey everyone, just a quick heads up for those that haven't already seen.

Google have announced that they are shutting down Google Reader which I am so, so sad about. I use a lot of Google Reader incorporated apps on my iPad to follow blogs such as Feedly (which is amazing by the way!) but a popular way that has spread my Twitter feed today is Bloglovin. I've had Bloglovin for ages but never really used it much (if truth be told I prefer Hellocotton) but Bloglovin have given in to demand and created a way of importing all your Google Reader blogs into Bloglovin. It's super easy, even I can do it so if you don't want to lose your blogs then look here. I have also linked Tiny Paint Pot's tutorial on how to do it which is easy to follow.

If you're unhappy like me about this sad news, sign this petition here and be sure to Tweet and Facebook it etc! As always, there are other ways of following me which are always linked in my sidebar. She Said Beauty also links my posts here, I'm pretty lonely on there too so come say hello!

Any questions feel free to comment. I will be back with posts soon, I have taken a short break as I was very uninspired but I have lots to talk about, as well as lots of photos to take so bear with me! I'll be back soon :)

For now, follow me on Bloglovin here!

Melvita Moisturizing Rose Nectar

2013-03-05T20:05:00.003Z

Melvita Moisturizing Rose Nectar* - £24

Hey everyone. Hope you're all having a good week so far. The good news is we're nearly halfway through! I wanted to share a new love with you today in the form of Melvita Moisturizing Rose Nectar. It's basically a simple moisturiser. Any long time readers will probably know I hate rose scented anything, but this is quite mellow and it settles quickly on your skin so if like me, you hate the smell, don't fret as it soon goes!

The moisturiser itself is a tad thicker than my usual Nivea primer but as long as I leave an extra few minutes to settle before applying makeup, it's a great base for my foundation. The sample size is handy enough for travelling and the packaging is still really cute too. I was impressed, until I saw the price for the full size (£24). I go through moisturiser like it's nobody's business at the moment with my dry skin too. Using Simple and Nivea skincare is enough to combat my dermatitis and dehydrated skin (and much cheaper!). I wish beauty products weren't so expensive!

Rose floral water is one of the main ingredients in the Moisturizing Rose Nectar which I hadn't heard of up until then. Rose floral water acts as a direct source of hydration, while the extract of fresh roses helps to hold in the skin's natural moisture. Rose Nectar is 100% organic and provides up to 24 hour hydration - that's a big claim! You can read all about it on the feelunique site here. I'd recommend the Moisturizing Rose Nectar for anyone with dry/normal skin, unless you use it as a night cream, in which case all skin types should be fine with it if you add an extra layer or 2. I'm not completely sold to purchase it, but I like the fact that the ingredients are organic!

Have you tried Melvita Skincare? What's your favourite day moisturiser?

Yankee Candle Vanilla Cupcake Review

2013-03-01T12:35:00.000Z

Hey everyone, hope you’re all ok. I thought I’d do a lifestyle post today about one of my favourite things at the moment. It was actually a Valentines gift from my Boyfriend but I have already smelt this gorgeous Yankee Candle before. If any of you are well into candles like I am, you will probably agree there is no other candles like Yankee Candles. I’ve recently tried out one of the Neom candles that I also reviewed last month. As pretty as it is, I found the scent didn’t linger as much as the Yankee Candles do. Even their tiny candles give off quite a bit of scent!

Vanilla Cupcake is one of my new favourite Yankee Candles but I always love to try new ones, Fluffy Towels being next on my list. I love clean, fresh smelling scents usually but for an evening pamper and relaxation, there is nothing better than lighting this with a nice hot bath to go with it. Vanilla is easily one of my favourite scents and is usually my car scent of choice too. Yankee Candles are pricey, but well worth it trust me! I have the large jar which burns for around 85-90 hours. I use it sparingly though and in the meantime, use up my beloved Ikea candles.

Do you love Yankee Candles as much as me? Which is your favourite scent, do you have any recommendations?

Primark S/S Collection 2013

2013-02-27T09:30:00.000Z

Hey everyone, I'm a tad late to this party but I was browsing Primark's latest Spring/Summer on Look.co.uk and couldn't help but spot some amazing good deals that I thought I'd share with you all. Primark have gone a tad more expensive lately but there's still some great bargains to be bought. I've blogged about my favourite 6 but if you want to check out the complete list then it's at this link here.

1. Heart shaped cut out dress - I love the shape of this dress. It flares at the waist which flatters my figure and I love the heart back too! Hearts are one of my favourite things to draw, random fact there too.

2.Coat - This coat screams classy and elegance. For £30 it's still quite cheap for a decent coat but I'd love to try it on first to see how it fits as they can drown my size sometimes.

3. Dress - The colour of this dress is not like anything I currently own. I'm always on the search for holiday clothes and yes it is miles away until my holiday..7 months and counting. I always need new clothes for a holiday even if I've got stuff in the wardrobe, Ebay can have my old ones, when I get round to it...

4. Striped midi dress - Midi dresses are something I'd love to wear, but usually can't. I'm sure this would still be too long for me since I'm 5 ft 1 but I'd love to wear it as a maxi dress anyway. It's a bargain at £7 and I will certainly be buying this if I spot it. Primark why don't you do online shopping?!

5. Belted tailored trousers - Another piece that I don't own anything similar of. I want to get into something other than jeans and dresses which is just out of habit really. During the week I only wear PJ's and gym clothing at the moment. (just me?)

6. Studded black bag - This coat doesn't look like Primark's usual bags that can be quite tacky sometimes when I'm venturing round my latest store. I'm still on the studded trend and just bought some new studded boots actually from Dorothy Perkins for a bargain £15 including delivery!

I've really enjoyed looking at what Primark's Spring/Summer 2013 Collection looks like and can't wait to spot some of it in store. I haven't been to Primark in at least 2 months now so I definitely need to take a trip, something my Boyfriend ~~doesn't~~ loves.

What's your favourite piece from the S/S 13 Collection?

LP Skin Therapy

2013-02-26T13:39:00.001Z

LP Skin Therapy L-R Uplifting Facial Water, Multi-Task Day Cream, Overnight Replenish Cream*

Hi everyone, I’ve recently been trying out some new skincare products that I wanted to tell you about that are coming soon to QVC, a channel I love to secretly watch too often to look out for bargains, especially Daniel Sandler products! The products I’ve been testing are some products from the Dr. Linda LP Skin Therapy Anti-Ageing Starter Kit.

The Starter Kit contains 6 deluxe samples which would be perfect for travelling, holidays or even a gift, Mother’s Day is just around the corner too Ladies! The kit contains 3 weeks worth of product and I’d say that’s quite accurate from what I’ve been testing out although some could easily last longer. The range is different to some others of late as it’s not led by your skin type, it’s about addressing underlying causes of skin deterioration, in most cases is stress. Dr. Linda developed this range herself which personally makes me trust the ingredients that’s going into the product.

So that’s a little bit about the kit itself, the link is here on the LP Skin Therapy website and it will be on QVC on Thursday 28^th on Alison Young’s Beauty Fix so look out for that!

I’ve been using the Multi-Task Day Cream and Overnight Replenish Cream for about a week now but wanted to tell you my initial thoughts. The day cream is lovely and makes me feel quite soft, I wouldn’t say it’s a great base for my makeup personally as it can be quite sticky and make me look a tad oily. Although that being sad, if I wasn’t going to be wearing much, or any makeup that day I’d gladly mix this with something like the Origins Vitazing which gives me a bit colour than normal. I’m not a huge fan of the scent but as the cream settles pretty quickly the smell doesn’t stay for long.

The size of the sample is 15ml which doesn’t sound very much but I think 3 weeks is accurate for this product, especially for daily use. This isn’t something I’d purchase the full size of but let me tell you about the other products first.

The Overnight Replenish Cream is a bit of a treat for me. I don’t normally have such rich moisturisers on overnight but I wanted to try this out for as long as possible before reviewing. Up until today I’ve used this for about 5 nights and must say my skin does feel a lot better. It's basically a rich moisturiser that you slather on, well I do anyway, then in the morning you wake up with baby soft skin. I've been looking for an overnight treatment or at least moisturiser for a while that's targeted for ant-ageing (hey I want to stay 22 for as long as possible!). I'd buy the full size of this.

Last but not least is the Uplifting Facial Water, this is my favourite product of the lot! This is suitable for all skin types which is great as mine is in the middle of so many at the moment, I'm having a bit of a skin crisis! I don't know about you, but the sound of using Gold on my skin makes me feel pretty luxurious!

I spray this directly onto my face usually for a few different reasons. If my skin is feeling a little irritated and red, which happens a lot then I just spray this on to settle my skin which happens within minutes provided I leave it. I also use this to set my makeup once I've completely finished which feels quite refreshing but also doesn't move my makeup in any way. I will definitely be purchasing the full size of this as I think this is way better than the likes of Caudlie Beauty Elixir and the Elf spray. I'm intrigued to see what Dr. Linda has to say on the show as to how these can help improve stress so I'll be watching!

Will you be tuning into QVC on Thursday at 4pm? Have you tried any of Dr. Linda's LP Skin Therapy range?