NicolaVC86

Spring Has Sprung

2012-02-27T20:33:00.002Z

Hey Ladies,

We've had what I would call a spell of decent weather ie its not freezing & I've seen the actual sun once or twice so my winter coat has been banished & I officially am declaring Spring! Cue pastel nails & not only that every pastel nail shade I could possibly fit on to my hands.

Pinkie - Essie Van D'Go, Ring Finger - Color Club New Bohemian, Middle Finger - OPI Rumple's Wiggin',
Index Finger - Orly Cotton Candy, Thumb - Orly Cashmere Caardigan.

I'll do a quick summary of each shade but they're pretty accurate in the picture;

Essie Van D'Go - A very light peachy pink, the formulation is good as long as you leave your layers to dry adequately & a gorgeous colour to have on your nails for a polished look.

Color Club New Bohemian - One of my favourite shade families in the nail polish world are these pastel jade shades, this one has a slightly more grey tone to it & at first I wasn't keen but I love it now.

OPI Rumple's Wiggin - This I would describe as a true lilac, theres no real swing towards a blue or pink tone it's right in the middle with a slightly grey tone, I really love this shade!

Orly Cotton Candy - This is just a gorgous mid tones pinky peach, some lights it can look pink some pink, one of my favourite nail polish shades, it's so easy to wear & a classic.

Orly Cashmere Cardigan - A very unique pastel periwinkle, probably too dark for this post but I actually don't think I own a pastel light blue any more so it had to do!! Love this shade & wear it all the time which is unusual for me but it's such an easy shade to wear!

So those are my spring nails I have to say, I TOTALLY love wearing all different shades, my boyfriend even said he likes them!! What are your favourite pastel shades??

Product of The Week: Caudalié Eau De Beauté

2012-02-25T20:38:00.002Z

Hey Ladies,

Apologies for my absence, I can't really blame anything but tiredness & lack of motivation to type but I wanted to show you a product that i've loved over the past few weeks, it will definitely be featured in my monthly favourites as well (which I will be filming tomorrow!)

Caudalié Eau De Beauté

'Caudalie Beauty Elixir is a part-toner, part-serum mist of essential oils and plant active ingredients. This elixir smoothes the skin, tightens the pores and provides an instant burst of radiance, as it stimulates microcirculation'

I had this in my skin care drawer since about September & just thought it was one of those facial refreshers that basically make you look .... well refreshed & that was about it, sort of like glorified water. Once I heard Victoria Beckham used it & Gemsmaquillage recommended it when her skin was breaking out I thought i'd give it a try as I was suffering from a few spots.

I give my face a spritz of this after cleansing in the morning & evening & I have to say love it, it has a real peppermint scent & really makes you more alert in the morning & gives you that little boost at the end of the day before bed, not only that but I really have felt a difference in my skin since using it, it's softer (thanks to the essential oils) & I have to say I've had no spots appear since using it.

All together a total winner for me!! It's priced at £21.60 for 100 mls or you can try the 30ml size out for £8.00 if you're unsure. I am nearly out so i'm off to purchase another bottle once this post is done!

Have you tried this or any product like this before? Let me know how you got on.

Date Night Tesco's Treat

2012-02-14T20:16:00.000Z

Hey Ladies,

I've had my Tesco Club Card in my purse for the past 10 years probably & used it about 3 times, this is despite going to Tesco everyday, I kind of thought it was pointless because I had no idea what the points were actually for. Turns out you can do some pretty amazing things with the points.

Now you can use your points in two ways, once you have reached 150 points they are converted into £1.50 vouchers which you can spend in store or online, I hope I don't need to point out that the more you spend the more vouchers you get, which come in your monthly statements from Tesco.

Alternatively you can opt to save up the vouchers in exchange for their Clubcard Deals which is anything from days out to actual holidays, there are some amazing deals including villa holidays, days to disney land Paris or you can use them towards Virgin Holidays. I just wish I knew that before my holiday quote to Hawaii!!

Obviously if you don't have your head in the clouds like me at the moment there are loads of different deals you can 'buy' with your points, if you fancy a meal out £10 of points can get you £40 of vouchers at Pizza Express or Bella Italia or go to the cinema to Cineworld with £4 of points for an adult ticket, if you're on a budget this Valentines day it's a great way to spend your points instead of a night at home.

Also if you've treat yourself to a valentines night out with your beloved & have some points spare Tesco have Clubcard Deals which allow charitble giving, you can help Tesco's Alzheimers charity who are aiming to raise £5 million for the cause, you can provide clean drinking water for 10 people by Oxfam or to the Woodland trust if you are more environmentally friendly & want to help your carbon footprint by helping the Rainforest's recover from all the damage done to them.

There are so much rewards with a clubcard i'm definitely going to be using mine whenever i'm in Tesco even if I don't manage to save the points up for anything for myself I know giving it to Oxfam will be my top choice, the people they help are in much more in need than me.

Sponsored Post

REVIEW: Tangle Teezer Vs Tangle Tamer

2012-02-12T23:02:00.000Z

Hey Ladies,

I was in Boots on Saturday & saw the Denman Tangle Tamer & finally caved & bought it! (I know a whole £6) So I thought i'd do a comparison between this & my Tangle Teezer I have had for a while, they're are pretty much in competition with each other being that they're bright pink & hair brushes after all & both hyped up as the best things since air.

Tangle Tamer

Tangle Teezer

Lets hear the blurb;

Tangle Teezer £10.99

"The Tangle Teezer’s unique teeth configuration delivers rapid, pain-free detangling as well as polishing hair for high shine."

Tangle Tamer £6.50 give or take

"The super-soft nylon bristles gently glide through the hair, removing tats and tangles. An air-cushioned pad follows the contour of the head for smooth damage-free grooming. With a bright pink handle, this Denman hairbrush will be every little girl's favourite accessory!"

After hearing so many amazing things on the Tangle Teezer I bought one about a year ago & pretty much penned it down as a massive disappointment the second I ran it through my hair, I don't know if it is because the 'teeth' are too flexible so it doen't actually seem to do anything in my hair (you can see how much they've curved over the year) or the fact that the 'teeth' aren't long enough but this doesn't manage to make it through my hair when its wet or dry, I have to use my other hand to press my hair against it to get it to detangle anything. I may point out here that I don't have thick hair by any means, I have a lot of hair it's just not thick & nothing a paddle brush doesn't sort out with ease. The design of this is supposed to be ergonomic i.e. fit to the shape of your hand but I just find it annoying, it's based on the design of a horse brush I believe just one thing to note, I am not an effing horse.

Moving on ...

The Denman is the Rolls Royce compared to the 3 -wheeled equivalent that is the Tangle Teezer in my opinion, the bristles are longer, it gets through my hair with complete ease & smooths it amazingly without any annoying static behaviour I can sometimes get. It has a handle, is cheaper & all in all kicks the Tangle Teezer's arse, there's a reason Denman has been around as long as they have because they produce amazing brushes that aren't anything to do with gimmicks or unique selling points just quality functional brushes.

BAM!

If the Tangle Teezer floats your boats & works for you then I bow down to your hair because mine don't like it too much, if you found the same thing as me that it doesn't actually work try the Denman it's amazing & the fact that it's 'every little girls favourite accessory' just makes it that much cooler!!

REVIEW: Lush Godiva Shampoo Bar

2012-02-05T22:36:00.000Z

Hey Ladies,

Despite the fact that I always insist I'm not a Lush fan I seem to want to try quite a few of their products, my current obsession was with their shampoo bars, I'd seen some on a YouTube videos & was intrigued so I popped down to my local Lush for a nosey.

Godiva Shampoo Conditioning Bar

It's not often as a Blogger I haven't heard of products so I don't know how I missed these, it's quite nice to go into the store with no preconceptions of what they're like, smell like etc & the same for testing it. In terms of my choice of shampoo bar I chose Godiva over the others as I personally found it was the only smell I could stand of all their offerings, I have a rather sensitive nose to things that smell awful.

Ok so when it came to shower time tonight I stood there & wished I'd read some instructions on what you're actually meant to do but I improvised & went with just rubbing it over my wet hair & I have to say it lathers up very well (more on that to come) & made my hair feel very very clean. It is described as having added conditioning properties but to be honest I needed to follow with conditioner, I could have braved it to see what my hair would be like to brush afterwards but i'm really not brave enough, is it just me that's paranoid about the amount of hair I shed to the point of looking at products aimed at hair loss in women, I was afraid it would be impossible to brush out so I caved & conditioned it.

Once I blow dried my hair quickly I noticed a couple of things, my roots felt amazingly soft (where I hadn't conditioned) & really really light & bouncy, I think this would count as a clarifying shampoo in my books so not one I'd use regularly but once a week/twice a month otherwise the ends of my hair would end up extremely dry but it was nice to have some sort of conditioning agent (although not enough for my long hair) added to my roots as I only ever condition the ends

Overall I have to say I quite like using this, the smell of the shampoo does linger in your hair so make sure you like the smell of the one you go for & it does clean your hair really well, I have just one problem, why is the number one ingredient Sodium lauryl sulphate? I thought Lush was all about the natural ingredients yet they use an artificial foaming agent like this, I have use plenty of SLS free shampoo's that I swear by so I don't know why Lush can't replace this ingredient for a more environmentally friendly natural one. For that reason I probably wont purchase this again & go back to the more natural ones & is why I probably wouldn't want to recommend this to people, it's not worth the £6 they charge when the top ingredient is SLS, go for the Tresseme Naturals shampoo instead (smells a lot better & suitable to use everyday as well).

Have any of you tried a Lush shampoo bar? what did you think about it??

My Breakout Buddies

2012-02-01T23:21:00.003Z

Hey Ladies,

Well me & my skin are so not friends at the moment, for some reason I have gained a few friends who have set up camp on my chin & jaw line & whilst the odd spot or two doesn't bother me when its several all at once I introduce them to my breakout buddies & I thought i'd share them with you.

Origins Clear Improvement Mask, Lush Breath of Fresh Air Toner, Alpha H Micro Cleanse & Liz Earle Spot On

Origins Clear Improvement Charcoal Mask - £19.00 rrp
You can see this is well loved & it is for a reason, this is probably my 2nd favourite face mask that I use regularly as it improves your skin pretty much immediately, if your skin is a bit congested or suffering from a breakout this just helps to clear it up by bringing all the spots to the surface super quickly & manages to do it without drying out the rest of the skin.

Lush Breath of Fresh Air Toner - £7.00
This is a great toner to use when the skin is breaking out as it is very soothing, I think if you have a seperate spot treatment there's no point covering your face in a very stripping toner as it's probably going to do more harm than good, so I use a gentle toner with aloe vera to sooth the angry red spots & a spritz over the face does wonders during the working day!

Alpha-H Micro Cleanse - £24.00
I don't know whether it's the glycolic acid in the product or the micro beads that exfoliate but this stuff makes even the dullest skin shine, it manages to rid me of blackheads like no other product (ok well maybe one!) plus when I am in the middle of a break out it makes my skin squeaky clean & prevents further break outs by making sure the pores are without any dead skin cells ready to clog them up.

Liz Earle Spot On* - £8.50
I use the Liz Earle as my topical treatment which I can concentrate on the actual spots, its choka block of tea tree for its antiseptic & antibacterial properties & Lavender to soothe & calm the buggars. Let me say tea tree & lavender are possibly my least favourite smells in the world & Spot-on is no exception to my rule I hate the smell of it but this stuff works on my spots so I let it do its thing & hold my nose! The reason I prefer this to the other million or so on the market is that it isn't a gel (which you can't wear under makeup as they tend to peel off your face) this is a liquid which soaks into the skin so I feel it is more effective (of course this could be utter nonsense but hey it works).

So these are my break out buddies, who are yours? what do you use? I have a horrible feeling this is happening to me because I haven't been using my Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish or is it all psychological because I assumed this would happen? Either way i'm eyeing up a very good Liz Earle deal on their site for their entire skin care essentials regime for £41.00 ... Hmmm.

Grey Is The New Black

2012-01-20T16:35:00.000Z

Hey Ladies,

I appear to be having a little love affair with the colour grey! I can't seem to get enough of it, its appearing in my clothing, shoes & now nails.

China Glaze - Recycle

Recycle by China Glaze is a very lovely mid toned grey creme, I'd say the truest grey I own as they all tend to be on the blue side, it applies like a dream & is like a cloudy rainy sky. I'm not really selling it to you am I??

The same shade as my new Converse!!

If you didn't see my recent haul video I've embedded it for you below!!

Anyone else obsessed with grey, you'll see mine to the full extent soon (a couple of bags will prove my loyalty to the shade to you all)

Griege Is The Colour Of My Soul

2012-01-16T22:15:00.000Z

Hey Ladies,

I thought I'd do a NOTD for you today as I've had a few new nail polishes arrive on my desk & soaked off my Glitter Tips so thought I'd give one of the shades a test run (I am going to be getting some more press on nails but I've had major banking issues which you'd know if you follow me on Twitter so postponed buying some for now!)

Essie Merino Cool

Of course I reached for the griege type of shade first, they really are my favourite shades of polishes, they go with every outfit, look classy & flattering to most skin tones. Essie Merino Cool was released as a part of their Fall 2010 collection & is a beautiful mix of brown, grey & purple and is more on the purple scale than other grieges around. What I love is it looks different in all different lights so it never gets boring, I can just stare at it for ages. You can still purchase the shade & it is such a classic I hope it will be around forever, I purchased mine from eBay.

I have a serious problem!

.... Told you they were my favourite shade of polish!

Urban Decay Yawn, Hello Bobbi Brown!

2012-01-15T21:37:00.000Z

Hey Ladies,

Well the Urban Decay Naked Palette 2 is officially out and am I the only one who is completely underwhelmed by it? It looks the exact same as the 1st one except there's a black in it & the shades are in a different order.

I owned the first one & like everyone else loved it but it slowly made its into the back of my makeup drawer because sometimes too much choice is a bad thing & I never reached for it & when I did, I used one shade! (Sidecar .. why you gotta be so sparkly?) So it got sold!!

Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette

Bobbi Brown Neon & Nude Palette

Say hello to the Bobbi Brown Neon & Nude palette, this I will own, it is just the perfect mix of nude & sparkly shades in a compact that can actually fit in my make up bag & be used everyday. I rarely use more than one eyeshadow at once as my eyes look better bright & simple with a bit of liner, each one of these would be perfect for that look & a darker shade if i'm feeling adventurous. To me this sums the brands up, Urban Decay all about choice & young & hip & Bobbi Brown chic & classic understated sophistication! The Bobbi Brown collection isn't out in the UK yet but is in the US & the palette retails for $45, I don't have the UK price but it'll be released this month some time!! Link to the shade descriptions ---> Link

Sometimes less is more!! What do you think? Will you be owning the Naked 2 palette or already have run out & bought it?

Of Course They're Real

2012-01-10T19:30:00.000Z

Hey Ladies,

I love mascara, I am very fortunate that I have long curly lashes naturally so when it comes to mascara i'm pretty easy going, a cheap one will normally tick all my boxes. I used to use Dior Show religiously but when I discovered that the Rimmel Sexy Curves pretty much gave me the same results I swore I'd never purchase a high end mascara again. Of course I was talking BS because when I see something that is raved about I have to try it!

Benefit They're Real Mascara

Excuse the lack of under eye concealing!

So I betrayed my sworn oath to myself & bought an expensive one, this mascara was incredibly hyped up when it was released & I wanted to try it immediately, I was patient as I have a million mascaras to use & when I saw it on offer I couldn't resist.

This mascara is fantastic, It gives you incredibly black, long, thick & curled lashes in no time whatsoever not only that but they aren't crispy & feel like they'll snap & the results last all day, I apply this mascara at 7:30am & when I take it off at 9pm my lashes are as curly & lifted as when it was applied & no smudging underneath either. All in all the perfect mascara, its fairly easy to remove too which is good for the lashes underneath as you dont have to pull & tug.

They're Real Mascara retails for £18.50 which hurts to say, it is a very expensive mascara when you are used to el cheapos like me. Now what's even more painful is that I would buy this item full price (I got mine from BuyaPowa) which means this is going to be an expensive habit! Totally worth it though!!

Diet Coke have currently collaborated with Benefit Cosmetics in the UK & if you buy one of their very prettily designed cans you can get £5 of a £20 spend on Benefit's website!! Time to stock up I think! (this sounds like a sponsored message .. it isn't I happened to see it yesterday & thought it was useful to include)

Glitter Tips

2012-01-08T16:48:00.002Z

Hey Ladies,

You know I love a bit of glitter nail polish right? Well after buying some TERRIBLE Elegant Touch nails last week I challenged myself to make them wearable.

The Results!

You Will Need:

A Glitter Polish - China Glaze - CG In The City
A Top Coat - Jessica - Top Priority
Nail Glue - Elegant Touch Brush On Nail Glue
White Polish - Topshop Nail Art Pen
False Nails - Elegant Touch Classic French X Short

Step 1 - Apply Nails

They Are just terrible, they are supposed to be x-short but the tips are too short & the pink is too long, so your actual nail tips show underneath!

Step 2 - Correct Tips with a white nail polish

It doesn't have to be perfect but it will mean less coats of glitter!

Step 3 - Paint over the tip with Glitter

It'll take about 3 or 4 coats

Step 4 - Add a couple of layers of top coat

Hey presto! Glitter tips, if you actually find some nails that fit you nicely you can do the painting first & it'll make it a lot easier. I personally love the brush on glue you can buy separately it makes applying the nails so much tidier & there's no sticking your fingers together (just me?) of course you can use the glue provided.

I LOVE this glitter from China Glaze, it is like a gun metal glitter in a very sheer black polish!! I am officially addicted to press on nails again, if you remove them properly by melting them off with acetone they don't damage your nails & allow your natural nails the protection to grow underneath. Plus your nail polish never chips on them .. Time to break out all my Zoya polishes which chip immediately on natural nails.

Any tips for applying the nails so you dont get any of the air bubbles underneath?? Which are your favourite glitter polishes?

Speed Review: Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment

2012-01-05T19:41:00.001Z

Hey ladies,

I thought I'd introduce some speed reviews so that I can blog a bit more on my lunch break & get some posts scheduled. Sometimes I don't half waffle on & there's some products that don't need major reviews! (see i'm waffling again! I can't help myself)

The Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment is finally available in the uk, I've seen this on many YouTubers videos & wanted to try it, I am a total lipbalm-aholic.

I got it in the Sugar Flirt gift set which includes the Brown Sugar Body Cream, the Sugar Lip Treatment & a little makeup bag it retails for £16.

First of all the lip balm & body cream smell lovely, not too strongly but a really lovely lemon smell, the body cream works a treat & very good for dry skin types.

The lip balm is amazing, no other words are really necessary, there is a reason it is so popular, it is moisturising to even the driest of lips even though it is in a stick it feels like a lip butter that melts on contact with your skin & stays on your lips for hours without rubbing away. Once it has actually gone your lips feel so much healthier than before unlike a lot of lip balms I have which relieve the tightness when you put them on but don't actually do any good long term!

This treatment has saved my lips over the last few months & I am certainly going to buy another when it runs out, you can only currently purchase this in the Fresh shop in London or by email/over the phone on 02074864100, which is slightly annoying but nothing I haven't resorted to in order to get products before or alternatively get an American buddy to do a swap/custom purchase!

Have any of you tried these before? If so let me know what you think. I might try & get some for a giveaway when I place my order, the tinted ones look amazing!!

New Years Beauty Resolutions

2012-01-03T21:50:00.000Z

Hey Ladies,

I hope everyone had a wonderful New Year, I got dressed up even put up my hair & had a night out with my friend Jade, it was shockingly quiet but I had a great night!! So now comes the time of the year when everyone tries to improve themselves. Personally I'm perfect & don't need to change (or too lazy to, whichever one you believe go with it) but beauty & fashion wise I definitely can improve my behaviours/habits so I thought i'd share them with you.

Now i've gone very basic so that they are achievable! So without further a-do!

Finish A Foundation Before Buying Another

This is my current foundation collection plus at least 4 more that I know are missing (eeek) I need to seriously do some slapping on & get through at least one before purchasing another. If you saw my Wish list for 2012 there was a few foundations on it, I clearly have a problem so by finishing some of the ones I own I will not be feeding my addiction. Ahem.

Use Hand Cream & Cuticle Oil Everyday

I have so many hand creams & cuticle oils/balms/creams which I use very sporadically so I am vowing to get some use out of them & get my hands in tip top condition, my favourite hand cream is Hand Repair by Liz Earle its super thick & moisturising. I thought i'd keep my Nailtiques cuticle oil in my handbag so I can use it at work & then my new China Glaze one for home use, I can keep on my bed side table to remind me to use it!

Wear More Jewellery

I got this amazing Talullah Tu necklace for Christmas from my friend Jade and It made me realise I am just too lazy when it comes to accessorising, I mean I own a Jewellery Shop & yet I don't ever wear bracelets or necklaces. I tend to stick to my Zoe & Morgan Love ring & that's it, so this year I aim to accessorise & hopefully start some outfit posts for you as well so you can track my progress!

I think that's a reasonable resolution list, obviously blog more etc will be always be something I aim to do, my dot com is officially working again which makes me incredibly happy, it was seriously stressful, all I can say is transfer your domain away from blogger because they have done some serious messing since they bought blogger!!

What are your resolutions?? And more importantly do you ever stick to them!?

2012 Wish List

2012-01-02T18:45:00.003Z

Hey Ladies,

Each year I like to do a list of my most coveted products for the year ahead (so far most of them I haven't stuck to!) This year I will be different, yes I'm actually having a New Years resolution to actually buy things! So I thought if I picked 12 things that's one a month (duhh) so easily achievable! I have such high achievements in life I need to fulfil don't I?

Estee Lauder Maximum Cover Foundation - £26.50
Heard so much about this for being amazing at covering dark circles, if it can tackle mine then it will be a miracle.

Georgio Armani Lasting Silk UV Foundation - £32.50
Water based, satin matte & medium coverage this sounds a lovely foundation & I've not tried any Georgio Armarni makeup so I think this is a good place to start.

Chanel Poudre Universelle Libre Powder - £31.50
I have been recommended this quite a lot & it's always been on my wish list but the price has always put me off purchasing it, 2012 will be the year I bite the bullet.

Laura Mercier Mineral Powder - £31
Like the Chanel powder I have been recommended this quite a lot, it is a mineral foundation powder which I personally love to set my makeup with, currently I use the Bare Minerals Matte so it will be interesting to compare the two.

Laura Mercier Creme Smooth Foundation - £42.50
Since the moment I heard about this foundation I have wanted it, yes all these face products may seem a tad too much in one year but sometimes my skin goes through oily patches (the Georgio Armani & Laura Mercier powder will be for these times) & sometimes its dry which the Creme Smooth Foundation will come good for me hopefully, at £43 it is going to be painful but hopefully worth it for the hydrating & skin smoothing formula.

Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment - £27.00
I have been needing a new eye cream for ages & I have the driest eyes in the world so this one has always popped up when I've asked for recommendations on Twitter. It is supposed to be incredibly rich so will be my night time eye cream & my face serum can be sufficient for under my makeup during the day.

Models Own Jucy Jules - £5.00
Bit of a cheap one for the list so completely achievable (she says) but this glitter polish is basically Mac 3D silver pigment in a nail polish, holographic glitter on your nails. I don't think I need to say anything else.

Violent Lip Tattoos - £12.00
These have intrigued me from the moment I saw them, tattoo's for the lips is a genius idea & one i'd totally wear on a night out, I can't decide between the leopard print or the sparkly light pink though.

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Boy - £23.00
Another product I've heard so much about, I tend to wear sheer hydrating lipsticks more than others so this one will probably get a lot of use which is handy if you're paying £23 for a lippy.

Laura Mercier Brow Definer - £16.50
My brow obsession is going through a revival since I finished my Mac Impeccable Eye Brow Pencil (which is amazing) I want to try other products before buying another just to make sure there are no better ones & what better place to start than Laura Mercier.

Illamasqua Brow & Lash Gel - £11.50
I've been wanting to purchase a brow gel for a while but my ELF one doesn't seem to want to run out so this is on hold until it does, it's supposed to be fantastic at holding the brows in place, I just wish Illamasqua did it in different colours (mainly so the brush doesn't go a horrible colour from the brow colour it will be on top of)

So there's my list for 2012 you know if the earth doesn't fall apart like it's supposed to! (not that I believe that nonsense) Have you tried any of the products if so what do you think? Am I wasting my time?

I think i'd be happy with a total spend in the year of £259 but lets face it like thats ever gonna happen, but it's a great place to start!

My Top 11 of 2011 -TAG

2012-01-02T18:45:00.002Z

Hey Ladies,

I was tagged by the gorgeous Tali to do this tag so here goes ... My Top Eleven of 2011

Benefit They're Real Mascara
I heard so much hype about this mascara when it was first released & I can see why, it is seriously fantastic, it gives you the longest, curliest & blackest lashes you could wish for & in without any effort. The only negative of this product is the price tag of £18.50, but you can get it cheaper if you shop around so many department stores sell it these days you'll find an offer & stock up when you do. I will do a full review soon.

L'oreal Superliner in Carbon Gloss
I have never come across an eyeliner that stays put all day whether I wear a shadow underneath it or not, this doesn't move it remains completely black & glossy all day & doesn't transfer onto the top of your eyelid, plus at around £7 it is a complete bargain.

Chanel Illusion D'Ombre
These are fantastic, the strangest texture you'll ever come across but they work like no cream shadow i've ever used (including my beloved Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadows) they are buildable so you can wear them alone or perfect under a powder shadow for a really intense look, the thing that makes them special is they do not crease at all. Yes they're expensive but worth it for a treat.

Laura Mercier Secret Concealer
If you have tried the Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage & used it under your eyes you made an error with Laura Mercier Concealers as that is for use on blemishes. The Secret Concealer is amazing for under the eyes as it is incredibly creamy & opaque perfect on my dark circles & dry under eyes, I have nearly gone through a pot after 3 months but it's totally worth it!

Chanel Vita Lumiere Aqua
This was my summer foundation, my original review is here for you to ponder but in fewer words it is a light medium foundation that is buildable, it feels and looks like you have nothing on your skin but gives you a decent coverage & effortless looking skin, smells great too.

Mac Studio Fix Fluid Foundation
At the opposite end compared to the sophisticated Chanel foundation & to be a total contradiction to myself I have to say this winter I have loved Mac Studio Fix Fluid, its crude in every sense of the word compared to the Chanel, heavy coverage, heavy texture & smells awful but do you know what it makes my skin look flawless & lasts & lasts & doesn't highlight any dry areas on me. I can't believe I am mentioning it let alone putting it in my yearly favourites but I have to say there's a reason it's mentioned so much.

Sleek Makeup Brow Kit
The day before I received this I actually looked round Boots & thought to myself there are actually no decent high street brow products, well now there certainly is one! The Sleek Makeup Brow Kit I have used everyday since I got it, the light version is perfect for lighter hair shades, it gives you a decent colour not too dark & not too light & the actual powder & wax have great formulas which are long lasting.

Moroccan Oil
I am late to this bandwagon but I'm glad I've hopped on, this really is a fantastic hair product not only as a treatment before drying your hair to help detangle & de frizz but also for dry hair that looks a little bit frazzled and frizzy and providing you don't use to much it doesn't look greasy or weigh it down. It is quite expensive so an honorable & cheaper alternative is the Lee Stafford Argon Oil, it doesn't smell as nice but it very effective on damp hair to make it smooth & silky.

Chanel Particuliere Nail Polish
This was probably my favourite polish of the year, its formulation is fantastic (should think so for £17.50) & the colour is a sophisticated mud. Grown up & yet still young & edgy one you can wear to the office & a night out as well.

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish
How can I not mention my beloved Lizzy E, the most perfect cleanser of them all my original review is here but again to sum it up, smells lovely, ultra gentle & rids you of every scrap of makeup on your face, doesn't cost the earth either. I will never be without it & if I run out before I get hold of another bottle my skin doesn't thank me for it I can tell you, this an addiction I am happy to have.

So those are my products of 2011, If you've tried any let me know or let me know what are yours below, they could end up on next years list!

I tag Kelly, Gemma, Laura, Zoe & everyone else!!

Cheeky Haul & Topshop Nail Art Pens!!

2012-01-02T18:45:00.001Z

Hey Ladies,

You may have noticed the lack of YouTube videos ... even more so than usual, it's because my silly iMovie keeps knocking my video/audio out of sync so I've given up on making more videos til its sorted! Sooo I thought a mini haul on here was in order as i've picked up some products this week which are amazing!

Yankee Candle Cake - Vanilla Sandlewood
This smells amazing, I'm a massive fan of vanilla scents but don't like overly sickly ones, this sandlewood one is perfect for me it's a really rich smell kind of masculine & homely.

Benefit They're Real Mascara - I bought this on Buyapowa this week, I did attempt to explain this concept but it got erased as it was complete rubbish, if you've not heard of it just look here. I ended up getting it for £12 & I received it within 2 days, majorly impressed & will be participating in future deals!! Used the mascara this morning & all I'll say for now is WOW!!

Moroccan Oil - I only got the mini size because I really wouldn't be able to look at myself in the mirror if I bought the full size for myself just before Christmas! I fell in love with this when I had my hair done at the Trevor Sorbie salon in Manchester (A post to come) & I love it even more now i've got some!

Topshop Nail Art Pens in Barbarella (pink) & Frozen (White)

These are AMAZING, they give you the most precise line I've ever had from a nail art tool, the normal ones come out so 'blobby' for straight lines & intricate designs whereas these are perfect, if you don't put a topcoat over it does come off with a bit of rubbing which again is great if you are super OCD about getting designs nice & perfect.

I kind of enjoy looking at this mini haul, not too OTT & exactly what I wanted!! Have you made any cheeky purchases for yourself instead of Christmas Shopping??

Trilogy Active Enzyme Cleansing Cream Review

2012-01-02T18:45:00.000Z

Hey Ladies,

Sometimes I come across a product that does exactly what it says & it gets so integrated within my routine I completely forget to let people know how fantastic the product is. So Ta Dahhhh .....

'Cleanse and renew skin for an ageless complexion you can take pride in. Active fruit enzymes from Papaya and Pineapple gently polish skin, removing the build up of old skin cells and impurities that can dull your complexion.'

Now I love my Liz Earle I really do & use it everyday to remove my makeup but I always double cleanse & this is where the Trilogy cleanser comes in, you can't use it on eyes so when I got it I was a bit stumped as I love all in one cleansers but I'm so glad I gave it a place in my routine as my second cleanser, not only is it fantastic but it makes my Liz Earle last longer as I only have to use it once a day.

This stuff is amazing, you dampen your face & the creamy texture sort of turns into a thicker mousse like substance on your face, not a foaming type but just an opaque thick mousse, once you've massaged it in I just wash off with water in the morning or my cloth at night and it makes your skin squeaky clean without drying it out, my face doesn't feel tight and I don't feel the immediate need to apply my serum & moisturiser like other cleansers i've had, it is a lovely cleanser to use, easy to apply, wash off & it doesn't have a particular distinctive smell or any smell at all come to think of it.

I realised yesterday the difference it has made to my skin because I got this on the 14th of November (my birthday) & I haven't felt the need to exfoliate my skin ONCE since I have been using it, this coming from a girl who used to use her clarisonic & exfoliate EVERY DAY. I am amazed at this because no product i've ever used has stopped me exfoliating, If I didn't use some sort of abrasion everyday my skin would feel awful & i'd see the difference so it astounds me that I haven't reached for any exfoliating products in 3 weeks.

At £25.50 it is expensive but you get 150ml and you use very little so it will last you a while, don't be put off with the fact that it's from the 'Age Proof' line, when it comes to cleansers how much anti ageing can it really give you? This retexturises the skin with the fruit enzymes, so if you have younger dull looking skin this would be perfect for you. I would also like to point out at this point, I break out at any sort of retexturising product (there's a Nuxe skin cream that makes my skin look awful but I keep trying it in the hope it will work) this cleanser hasn't provided me with any of the breakout nonsense so this is a keeper for me! I have actually a few Trilogy products in my routine so probably should tell you about those too one of these days as I love the brand!!

Anyone else tried Trilogy? or have an enzyme-y product that works as well as this to recommend??

Christmas Nails!!!

2011-12-20T23:51:00.001Z

Hey Ladies,

'What's A Christmas Gram, I Want One' (from ELF) is possibly my most frequently used sentence at the moment, what can I say it feels right. Apologies for lack of blogging with my dot com currently broken i've had to buy the dot co dot uk for the time being! All I can say is I hate google with a passion now, I will do a post if it ever gets sorted so if it happens to anyone else it may help!

I wanted to post on this particular nail polish as it's nearly Christmas & I am not in any festive mood lately (my to-do list is 3 pages long) so need all the help I can get.

Deborah Lippmann - Razzle Dazzle

I got this mini Deborah Lippmann nail polish in this months GlossyBox & it is amazing, just Christmas in a bottle.

It is a sheer black base with tonnes of deep red glitter, on coat number one you think to yourself 'this is going to take about 5 coats to get enough coverage' but somehow on the second coat it is opaque & your nail is covered in glitter! A Christmas miracle!! Not only that but this stuff has some lasting power! I really need to buy more of the Deborah Lippmann polishes.

Sorry for a slightly boring post, i've been so busy trying to get my dot com sorted & sort out my online shop I've not had time for anything not even done any Christmas shopping yet! I hope you're all well, I have to say I LOVED this months GlossyBox, give me some glitter & you win with me!! I will attempt to do another post before Christmas but if my hands drop off (you never know) I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas!!

Crystal Clear Microdermabrasion Review

2011-12-04T23:01:00.000Z

Hey Ladies,

I had a facial done a while ago & I kept meaning to post about it because I can't recommend this treatment enough, so when Wahanda approached me to write a post about their site I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to review a treatment I love.

'Microdermabrasion offers a safe, controlled method of skin exfoliation and allows superficial peeling of the Stratum Corneum reducing its thickness through mechanical abrasion of the dead skin cells.

A flow of crystals impinges directly on to the skin surface and the speed of the crystals together with their abrasive nature will gently remove the epidermal cells layer by layer.

Used crystals and dead skin cells are drawn away through the vacuum action, allowing for the controlled exfoliation of the Stratum Corneum.

The gentle vacuum action also achieves an immediate lifting effect on tired muscles and stimulates the blood supply to the skin's surface to help promote new collagen and elastin formation'

I decided to have this treatment as my skin was looking a little congested and dull so I chose microdermabrasion rather than a regular facial as it is much more targeted at clearing out your pores than a regular facial as the machine literally removes a layer of skin & then the vacuum pulls all of it off the your face as well as drawing blood to the skin which plumps it all. It feels very strange at first as your therapist navigates your face with the wand (i'm calling it a wand because it's magic! ... or I can't think of the correct terminology) but after a minute you do get used to it.

The normal treatment starts with make up removing & cleansing of the skin, I personally always try to find salons that use Dermalogica in their salon as I know it doesn't break me out. Then the therapist will start with the machine, as I said it is a slightly strange feeling but not unpleasant and will go over your face and then concentrate on any problem areas for me it was my chin & cheeks, this takes normally about 30 minutes. A face mask will then follow, if it is a Dermalogica facial they mix it up & its a peel off mask which is lovely & cooling on your face as it feels quite warm after the machine. During this mask setting phase you can have a kip or if you're me check your emails/twitter/facebook whilst your therapist judges you for not relaxing (I've actually had my phone confiscated on occasion). Once the mask is set it is removed & then your face gets a nice moisturiser applied & you get a neck & shoulder massage.

Then you can get up & admire the results, what you can expect to see is brighter clearer skin and what you feel is silky soft smooth skin, the difference is immediate and worth every penny, if you opt for a course of them the effects are amazing but for a quick pick-me-up it does the trick of improving the look of your skin immediately, perfect for this time of year when you need to look good for parties but your skin might be letting you down due to the weather, fatigue or over indulging.

If you have dull or congested skin this treatment is perfect for you, I personally wouldn't recommended it for people suffering from acne as it might just irritate your skin or sensitive skin may struggle but the treatment is adaptable with the level of exfoliation, I told my therapist to whack it up to the max for me, as I have had it done before.

The prices do vary depending on the salon you go to but on average I'd say it was about £45, I paid a little less as it was on offer at my local salon, you can always find deals on Wahanda for the treatment & a perfect Christmas gift would be the Wahanda Spa Gift Vouchers.

This is a sponsored post - although I am being sponsored to write this post, I paid for the treatment and the content of the post was entirely my decision as I love microdermabrasion so used the opportunity to tell you all about it.

Let's Hustle!

2011-11-30T23:17:00.000Z

Hey Ladies

When I was given the choice of pieces from the River Island Hustle collection I knew immediately what I wanted, I've been after a kimono for a while & the one from this particular collection is stunning. Now I planned what I was going to pair it with but unfortunately postage delays means I haven't actually gotten hold of it yet but I tried it in store & can't wait to get it so I thought I would show you via Polyvore how I will style it.

Click for all the details of the items featured

I wanted to get it published today because there's only a few days left to enter the Postcards From The Past Facebook competition to win nine pieces from the Hustle collection, all you have to do is spot the pieces in the postcard to potentially win £400 of clothing! Simple as that kind of like a grown up girls Where's Wally!

I love the 70's inspired pieces in this collection as it is just my favourite fashion time period, big hair, bling & glamour! The shoes in this collection are to die for you can see them on Kelly's blog, there's no way I could walk in those bad boys after a cocktail!

Hopefully it'll get to me soon & I can actually do a post with me wearing it!

Jemma Kidd Make Up Favourites

2011-11-23T22:45:00.000Z

Hey Ladies

I've heard a lot about this brand A LOT A LOT. Now I've had a taste of the pie I can see why (that wasn't meant to rhyme) So I wanted to show you my favourite products from the range.

Jemma Kidd Light As Air Foundation

Light As Air Foundation RRP - £19.95 here
This is such a strange foundation, the texture of it is so light but the coverage is amazing, definitely a medium coverage foundation that dries to a matte-ish finish, I wouldn't recommend for really oily/ really dry skins but combination/normal this will be perfect for you. The shade range is a little limited & just for reference i'm currently an NC20 & I wear a light/medium, it lasts all day on me with a setting powder over the top, brilliant everyday foundation or weekend foundation. Thumbs up!!

Jemma Kidd Blushwear Creme Cheek Colour in 03 paw paw

Blended in & solid swatches

Blushwear Cream Cheek Colour RRP - £10.50 here
Firstly the shade Paw Paw is possibly the most perfect shade for me, I love anything peach & this is just lovely, not too in your face it just gives you a pretty natural peach flush. The main reason this is great is because it is a cream blush that dries to a powder finish, so if you've got oily skin & always wanted to use a cream blush but was afraid it would be too shiny or highlight your pores, try this it is beautiful.

Hi-Shine Gloss Stick

Bridge Town & Holders

Holders, Bridgetown

Hi Shine Gloss Sticks RRP - £10.50 here
These lipsticks are possibly the loveliest formulas I've tried, they are so hydrating & give your lips a sheer wash of colour so if you're afraid of strong lip colours try these, the Bridgetown shade is now my staple shade it's just one you can apply without thinking, its a brownish nude & reminds me of Mac Freckletone but sheerer which is better for lighter skins. The shade Holders is a nice red toned coral, maybe a little off season but if you apply it lightly you can get away with it any time of the year or just an effortless night out shade.

Overall I love these Jemma Kidd products, also I love the flat topped foundation brush but I will be doing a separate post on as it needs a good old wash before taking a picture. Totally recommend you give these a try, they're not too expensive & the quality is fantastic. My wishlist of products from the range has increased since getting them.

My John Frieda Selected By You Video

2011-11-21T20:04:00.001Z

Hey Ladies,

I recently had a trip to the John Frieda salon in Mayfield to try out the new Precision Foam Colour in 10A Extra Light Ash Blonde as they are releasing some new shades in the range and with each shade they have a Selected By You dedicated video so I thought i'd show you the results.

It was such a fun day & most excitingly my friend Jade (who has a blog that i'm totally pimping) is in the video as well for a brief second, I'm so proud!! I really like the Precision foam colour (& i'm not being paid to say that) I did a review when they first came out you can see here & my opinion hasn't changed.

Essie Carry On Fall 2011 ... FINALLY!

2011-11-20T09:36:00.000Z

Hey Ladies,

I am a huge nail polish fan as you all probably know by now, rarely do a see a collection & want every bottle (this is a good thing) but the Essie Carry On collection I wanted EVERYTHING. Thankfully Essie release miniatures of their collections so you don't have to buy four bottles full size but I couldn't find them anywhere. I got mad & actually just considered buying the entire collection full sized, I must have had my sensible shoes on that day & decided to just wait & if I REALLY wanted them to then buy them. Thankfully I didn't have to.

Index to little finger ---->
Power Clutch, Very Structured, Carry On, Lady Like

I also want Glamour Purse but that'll have to wait for another day, I love the collection all the shades are gorgeous and good Essie colours that aren't a pain in the arse to apply, 2 coats was all I needed!!

My descriptions will most likely be gibberish but i'll give it a go;
Power Clutch - is a deep khaki with a hint of gray, a really interesting shade & no colour I own already is like this. Thumbs up
Very Structured - A brownie orange is the closest I can think of, autumn to a tee, it looks like pumpkins/ginger bread men.
Carry On - A very dark warm purple/berry, really perfect for autumn but one that can be worn all year round I think.
Lady Like - It looks like a basic nudy/pink in the bottle but when you get it on your nails it transforms into an elegant pink with grey & lilac tones mixed with the slightest hint of brown to make it a warm shade. This is by far my favourite as it's so wearable & chic. It makes me feel grown up wearing it ... apart from the cheeky glitter nail I added of course, NOTD coming up.

I thank god I spotted it in Selfridges whilst trying to find the Illamasqua counter, saved me buying the full sizes so I saved money buying it ;) you know how my girly maths works!!

Hope you're all well, I've got a weekend to myself so lots of blogging will be done & scheduled!!

My Perfect Manicure Essentials & NOTD

2011-11-10T23:41:00.000Z

Hey Ladies,

You know I love nail polish & like everything in life, the foundations & finishing touches you make make all the difference to the result & longevity of your hard work (manicure) so I thought i'd share my current favourite base & top coats with you. I own more than the regular persons nail polishes & of course base & top coats as well so I know what i'm looking for, I probably have at least 10 in each category, I can't resist the marketing crap that it will make my nails longer, stronger, keep my nail polish chip free for a week etc.

Jessica Nails Reward Base Coat For Normal Nails - £9.70 - LookFantastic
I actually got this by mistake, I won the top coat on eBay & the seller sent me this instead, I ended up buying it to get the other sent (I'm too lazy to send stuff back) This as the name suggest isn't a repairing type of base coat (which I usually go for) its for nails that are in a 'normal' state, well mine aren't but it is a really great base for nail colours on top, it fills in any ridges & imperfections and makes applying the colour on top more even & protects the nails from any staining from the polish. If your polish applies more evenly you need less coats & so its less prone to peeling/chipping. I love this stuff!

Jessica Nails Top Priority Topcoat - £10.60 - LookFantastic
This is supposed to make your nail polish last for 2 weeks by reapplying every couple of days with it after your initial manicure, now this seems a bit loopy to me & so far I haven't tested this out but what I can say about it is that it dries super quick, not Seche Vite quick but literally a minute longer, what it does give you is super shiny nails. Unlike Seche Vite it isn't a thick formula (which goes gloopy after 3 weeks) but a thin easy to apply formula which has all the characteristics of Seche Vite without the annoyingly short 3 week life! This is seriously good stuff & is officially my favourite top coat!!

Zoya - Kelly

I am totally obsessed with grey at the moment, in fashion & on my nails, so it was only a matter of time before I reached for this polish. I HATE Zoya polishes, every single one I have pretty much chips within 24 hours even on my bloody toes, maybe I have been very unlucky with shade choices being more chippy (?) than others but it's not painted (gettit??) a good picture of the brand for me & I won't be getting anymore (famous last words?) Does anyone else have this issue? Anyway this is the ultimate test for the top coat so fingers crossed its a happy marriage (resisting a Kim Kardashian pun)

Hope everyones well & If you love your nail polish I seriously recommend checking Jessica Nails out they have some lovely shades!!

Revlon Just Bitten Lip Stain Review

2011-10-28T19:40:00.000+01:00

Hey ladies,

I'm making up for lost time & blogging my bottom off! I've even got a couple of none favourites videos to edit on YouTube. You lucky lucky ducks!! ... Yes I did say ducks not .. Anyway!

Today I thought i'd share with the class my review on a product I've been getting loads of use out of recently.

Revlon Just Bitten Lip Stain in Passion.

Revlon Just Bitten Lip Stains have been out for a few months & whilst I was tempted to get one the shades just didn't appeal to me, I was gifted one after some work I did with John Frieda (will let you know all about it when I can) & realised that all the testers I'd tried we're doing the shades no justice & I realised just how lovely the shade Passion is.

The swatch is a little misleading as it isn't that light on your lips due to your own lip pigmentation but if you build it up it is the most gorgeous bright bubbly pink!

Yes lip stains do feel dry on your lips but once I apply the balm it's fine, I would say avoid using everyday as it won't do your lips much good but for a night out this is a must.

It's a must because seriously it doesn't come off, I have had this stuff on for literally a full day & night & even after full cleansing my lips have still been stained. This is a major positive for me perhaps not to some! I'm lazy & hate reapplying lip stick so these are perfect!

At £7.99 I think they reasonably priced & I will definitely look at some of the other shades, definitely worth a risk if you're lazy like me!!

Let me know if you've tried these or any of the lip stains out that seem to be everywhere! I need more!!