Lived with love

Project Perfect!

2012-02-26T06:29:00.001-08:00

Amy from Flaws and All contacted me a while ago on her Project Perfect posts she had set up, after seeing Gok's Teens: The naked truth. I also watched the show and could relate to it, i had a lot of body issues when i was younger that led to me extreme dieting/binging/purging. When i read what Amy wanted to do i was more than happy to participate for this amazing cause!

Here's what you have to do;

1. Post a photo that you like of yourself and say in a couple of sentences why you like it.

2. State some things that you DON'T like yourself but say why others may love to be like that.

3. State 3 things that you DO like about yourself.

My photo of myself i like;

I like it because i like my long hair and how small my waist looks!

Three things i don't like about myself but others may like.

1. I have biggish thighs/hips compared to my waist but i have friends that would love to be more 'womanly'.

2. I don't like my eyes, i wish they were bigger and more round and green/blue but some girls would love the have deep brown eyes.

3. I'm only 5'4 and sometimes wish i was a bit taller like 5'7, but i know girls who are taller and don't like wearing heels because then they are too tall.

Three things i like about myself.

1. I'm lucky that my tummy has mainly been quite flat and i do have a small waist.

2. I've always liked my lips as they are quite big and plump!

3. I've always liked my boobs, even though at school i was self conscious about having bigger boobs, i am grateful for them now, i don't have to shell out a lot of money for a boob job!

If you want to participate then go ahead and do a blog post! Just tweet Amy to let her know! :)

Aromatherapy Associates Bath & Shower Oils!

2012-02-08T08:19:00.000-08:00

Ever since training with Aromatherapy Associates, i fell more in love with their oils and aromatherapy is general. I'm a big believer in aromatherapy and the effects different oils have on your mind, body and soul.

I was lucky enough to receive these little minis after we had finished our training. Each one is to help treat something different and so has different combinations of oils in. I have only used 2 oils so far (De-stress muscle & Support peppermint & lavender) because they're so precious to me i don't want to use them up! I do want to purchase all the full sizes eventually, but that will be an expensive (but well worth it) day!

A background on Aromatherapy Associates Bath & Shower oils;

-The oils are derived from organically grown plants and single plant species,

-They are 30% concentration (need to be diluted in bath/shower),

-Contains no mineral/sulphonated oils, GM ingredients, SLS, Petrolatum, Propylene Glycol, Synthetic colours/fragrances, Parabens, Talc.

There are some contraindications for some oils and non of these are to be used during pregnancy!

Here's a little run down of each oil, the main essential oils in there and what it's good for.

Deep Relax

Main oils; Vetivert, Camomile & Sandalwood.

Benefits; - Used as an alternative to sleeping pills, For someone suffering with trauma or jet lag.

Note; Not for anyone with depression, Careful if breastfeeding, Can cause nightmares/bad dreams.

Light Relax

Main oils; Lavender, Ylang ylang, Petitgrain.

Benefits; - Used as an alternative to 'a glass of wine' after work, Irritable, tense people.

Note; Good for blood pressure fluctuations.

De-Stress Mind

Main oils; Camomile, Frankincense, Petitgrain, Rosemary.

Benefits; - Used for busy, overactive minds, Mentally refreshing, Sympathetic, dominant people.

De-Stress Muscle

Main oils; Black pepper, Ginger, Rosemary, Lavender.

Benefits; - Muscular relaxant, Anti-spasmodic, Stimulates circulation, Natural pain killer, Anti-inflammatory.

Note; Careful with high blood pressure, Not for anyone with epilepsy.

Revive Morning

Main oils; Pine, Juniper berry, Rosemary, Grapefruit.

Benefits; - Liver cleansing, Good for hangovers, Those who are detoxing, Stimulating in the morning, 'Wake-up' oil for the morning.

Note; Not for anyone with epilepsy.

Revive Evening

Main oils; Ylang ylang, Patchouli, Sandalwood, Geranium.

Benefits; - Aphrodisiac, Good for confidence, Mood booster, 'Party oil', Anti-depressant.

Support Breathe

Main oils; Peppermint, Tea Tree, Eucalyptus, Pine.

Benefits; - Reduce fever, Respiratory aid, Helps immunity, Decongesting, Clears mucus.

Note; Good for people with asthma.

Support Lavender & Peppermint

Main oils; Peppermint & Lavender.

Benefits; - Digestive aid, Good for IBS, headaches/migraines, Natural pain killer.

Note; Good for sunburn.

Support Equilibrium

Main oils; Rose, Geranium, Frankincense.

Benefits; - Balancing on hormones, 'new mum' oil, symptoms of PMS, 'hug in a bottle'.

So thats all the bath & shower oils and what you can use them for.

I'd recommend all of them for different reasons, but my main oils are;

I personally, highly recommend the De-Stress Muscle for anyone who does a lot of exercise and gets painful muscles or just generally tight shoulders. If you get really bad menstrual cramps like me as well, this works AMAZINGLY! It helps the pain and the cramping-like-spasms you feel. I also used mine when i fell over and bruised my coccyx badly, i could hardly walk it was so painful but the night after i used the muscle oil, i could stand straight and walk better.

The second one i'd recommend is the Support Equilibrium, bloody brilliant for symptoms of PMS and when you just generally feel quite emotional/sensitive.

I've also used the Support Lavender & Peppermint for my migraines/tension headaches! I don't always use them in the bath/shower, sometimes i inhale them on a tissue just to get them into the body, without having to have a bath. This is still a great way to use them :) It also is great to bath with for symptoms of IBS.

So there you have it, The most amazing oils in the world!!

Do you use aromatherapy oils? Have you tried any of these? What did you think?

The best (real) eyelashes i've ever had...

2012-02-06T03:22:00.000-08:00

I'm ALWAYS on the hunt for the best mascara, i search high and low and have tried endless mascaras to give the effect i want. My problems are either mascara making them too clumpy or too thin. My lashes also don't hold a curl properly but waterproof mascaras never come off when i remove my make-up or are too drying and flake off. Phew, thats ALOT of problems!

Well, low and behold i have found my perfect lash routine!

These 3 products are the best! I know a lash comb is probably the most basic, but i have never used one to brush through my lashes before mascara, i didn't think it would make any difference, now it's part of my daily routine!

The Clarins double fix mascara is to make any mascara/eyebrow pencil waterproof and keep it in place. I do use it for my eyebrows (but thats another post) but for my lashes, i use it before my mascara as a primer. It works amazingly and helps 'bulk up' my lashes before putting any colour on. It does as well make it waterproof so no smudging and helps my lashes keep their curl!

Next, i apply my new love, Avon's spectralash mascara. I heard about this through Tanya Burr and her lashes always look amazinggg so i ordered it right away! I have never been happier with a mascara! The formulation is perfect, as is the brush.

It's got the dial on the end so you can choose 1, 2 or 3 for what kind of lash you want, from natural to full. I always use the number 3 a i like my lashes to always look their best so i haven't tried 1 or 2. I love that the brush is not plastic, i hate plastic brushes on mascaras! The formulation is not too drying to make the lashes flaky but not too runny to only give a thin coat of colour. It also works very well on my bottom lashes and this whole routine helps keep them all separated.

These (bad iphone) photos are with a coat of the Clarins double fix and 2 coats of the Avon Spectralash, top and bottom. I always build it up more to about 4 coats when i go out and you are able to just keep buildng without them clumping badly! On this bottom picture, you can really see the curl of my outer lashes which i usually struggle to get and keep.

So that's my new mascara and mascara primer! If you're looking for a new mascara i highly recommend this one! I got mine from my Avon representative for only £5 in the january sales!

Do you prime your lashes? Have you tried either of these products?

PS. Check out my amazing chocolate and banana protein pancakes!

St Moriz Dark Mousse!

2012-01-29T14:44:00.000-08:00

I'm a big fan of the St Moriz original mousse and now being a more experienced (and more brave) tanner, i thought i'd try the dark version.

I was expecting good things from this but i'm a little bit torn on my decision. The consistency is obviously a mousse, and it does come out very dark.

Not the most attractive photo but this shows how dark it is! As i started to apply it, i did feel a little bit scared as the difference was so stark!
As i worked my way up my body with the tan, i realised that if you don't shake the bottle before each pump, it will just come out as a liquid and get very messy! But shaking the bottle between each pump is also very messy!

I ended up flicking this all over my floor, sofa, walls, arms... you name it, everything got covered! Needless to say my boyfriend was not happy and it was quite traumatic applying this! I was glad when it was over!

I also noticed that this didn't dry as quickly as previous mousse-type-tans i have tried and it was actually very sticky/tacky for a long time. I slept and woke up with the sound of my boyfriend saying i looked like i had changed ethnicity overnight. I was automatically horrified when i saw my hands...

How dark!!
I jumped in the shower and tried to scrub most of it off. I didn't have much luck and my hands still look funny. One thing i can say is that it is more brown than orange which is definitely a good point! Another good point is that it's the only tan thats actually taken on my legs and help make them look even remotely brown! On the down side it did all wash off my chest/stomach. No tans ever really takes to those parts much on me but they've never washed off completely.

I'm a little bit in between with this tan because when i woke up, i was horrified and thought i was going to look ridiculous! However, looking back at the photos, i think i look nice and tanned, but i didn't have much skin on show purely because every part of me was a different shade of brown!

Wether i use this again, i'l let you know!!

What did you think if you've tried this? What is your favourite tan?

Pre Christmas Haul & recent beauty buys!!

2012-01-23T07:34:00.000-08:00

This has been long awaited and sorry for the lack of posts recently but i don't have a camera apart from my iphone! They're obviously not the best photos but never mind!

So before christmas i stocked up on some winter warmers! I needed some new clothes for the winter and wanted some new boots also.

We're saving to buy a house at the moment so cheap clothes are my friend!

First up, my best buy was definitely my new boots! I didn't own any knee high flat boots and these fit the bill perfectly! After trying every other pair on in Primark, these were the only ones i loved.

I feel they're great quality as well and were only £20! I love the colour, the little heel and the shape of them at the top (which you cant quite see).

I love all the gold hard wear, they have zips on the inside and buckles at the top on the outside. The inside is lined gorgeously aswell and i love the print and colours of the material used!

I also picked up some basics from primark as i'm aways sure to do! Leggings and long strappy tops and the foundation of most of my outfits!

Next i wanted some blouses to wear, just to make my outfits more interesting. I picked up these 3 beautiful blouses. The blue and red one are from select and the leopard print one is from F&F at tesco.

I love all of them and have been enjoying wearing them. I wore the leopard print one when we went to Liverpool in November and on Christmas day with my brown leggings and boots and adored it! I also wore the blue one boxing day to the races and the red one on new years eve! Here's an idea of how i wore the leopard print one and the red one.

Looove them!!

I also bought myself a new coat! I loved this one as soon as i saw and my boyfriend liked it too which is a bonus! I love the warm colour, it's a thick heavy coat to keep me warm with gold hard wear to match my boots and blouses and has the gorgeous faux fur collar, which is removable! What else could you want?

On the beauty front, here a few recent buys! Post/reviews on some of these to come!

What are you wearing this winter?

Most used/worn make-up products in 2011!!

2012-01-04T23:38:00.000-08:00

It's the perfect time of year to reflect what products i LOVED and used to death in 2011. Especially as i'm running out of all my make-up at once, looking through helps me decide what i'm going to repurchase and that i use on a daily basis.

First up, most used foundations of 2011.

Estee Lauder Doublewear, and Bareminerals original and matte foundations. I do love Estee Lauder but it can be hard to blend, but at least it stays on my skin! Bareminerals is love but still not enough coverage for me with my acne scarring. The finish is incredible.

Concealers has been the same most of the year!

Towards the end of last year, i did start using Collection 2000s lasting perfection concealer with this. See how here.

Bronzer has been MACs Harmony blush, it's the perfect colour for me to either contour with or use all over my face to add warmth if i've tanned.

Blush HAS definitely been MUAs blush in Shade 1. It's the perfect pink for everyday and i have hit pan on this, i did think it would be powdery when applied but the finish is great, i can't believe it's only £1!

Most used eyeshadows have been Clinique's duo in strawberry fudge and MACs Gesso & Nocturnelle.

Eyeliner's have been BareMinerals Big & Bright Eyeliner in Bronze (i have basically used this up :( need to repurchase!) and also my Rimmel Glam Eyes liquid liner!

Mascara has been a mixture! I've used a lot up but not repurchased the same one! I would say mainly Collection 2000 big lash mascara, Estee Lauder's Sumptuous mascara or Bareminerals flawless definition volumizing mascara!

Lipgloss has to be my Jemma Kidd trio i got with my magazines! They are the best formulation and colours!

Also, my New CID lipgloss i was sent, it's a staple in my bag because of the handy mirror and light, it's also the perfect baby pink that goes with any look and feels so nice on the lips! Such a winner!

What were your most worn make-up items last year?

P.S. I'm in desperate need of a new mascara right now, so any suggestions, chuck them at me!!

What i got for Christmas!!

2011-12-27T07:36:00.000-08:00

I hope you all had a great Christmas! I got absolutely spoilt, i didn't expect to get so much but of course i'm glad i did :) I thought i'd share some of the things i got with you because it's pretty much like a haul! I got everything i wanted :)

First up, i was most excited to get the Korres Vanilla Freesia Lycee EDT.

I saw this on someones blog, comparing it to Flowerbomb and knew i had to have it! It smells delicious and i love anything that smells of vanilla!

Next were my 2 MAC lipsticks i asked for, Girl about town and patisserie.

I've worn them both and i am thrilled with both of them! Patisserie is the perfect creamy nude for me and being a lustre is so nice to wear and not drying. Girl about town is the perfect bright pink but also a very flattering shade!

Here's me wearing patisserie;

and Girl about town;

I also got some lovely bits of jewellery!

The matching earrings and necklace on the left is more green than yellow in real life and at first i wasn't sure on the colour but i think it will go really nicely with certain styles and adds a nice bit of colour to an outfit!

The last things i'm going to show you are some hair appliances! I had asked for both of these and i'm soo glad i got them! I love them!

Amazing pink and zenba mark hill hairdryer and my Babyliss big hair! yay! So excited to try this out!

So there we go! Just a few things i got that i thought were beauty blog appropriate! I hope you all got what you wanted and had a great day!

If you want to see a more family orientated post about our christmas days, click here!!!!

Our life blog!!

2011-12-14T06:29:00.000-08:00

I know i've had a few of these blogs before, but this time it's different. The blog and the relationship!

Me & Warren have been together just over a year now and have nearly lived together for a year. This time we know it's different and we know it's going to be for a very long time, hopefully forever. I made the blog so we can document our life together! We have so much fun together, some great friends and so much to look forward too! Our blog will give us the memories to look back on.

Find it here and follow if you wish! :)

Flawless face foundation routine!!

2011-12-05T11:36:00.001-08:00

My current foundation is my absolute new love and i've been raving about it from the rooftops! I think a perfect base is key to any other make-up you follow it with so here's my foundation routine!

Pictures;

New hair colour!! John Frieda Precision Foam Colour.

2011-11-28T11:24:00.001-08:00

I was contacted maybe a week or two ago, and asked if i'd like to try out a new shade in John Frieda's precision foam range. I'd spent the week before complaining to my boyfriend that my hair looked faded and i desperately needed something done to it, so this came at just the right time!

I chose the colour 'Medium copper brown' as i naturally have reddish tones in my hair and always go along that road to suit my skin tone. This was the first time of using John Frieda's Precision Foam so i dug out the instructions to make sure i did it right.

They were perfectly good to follow and i'm glad i read them because i probably would have shaked it all up, not just tilted it backwards and forwards! I did also have some hesitations about the outcome of this product. Firstly, i have super long hair and i did not think one box would cover it all, I also thought it was bound to go patchy even though it claims not too. I followed the instructions but was a little worried when i read my hair should be as foamy as the picture! That was not the case...

No foam to be seen! I then had very little hope that this was going to work! After leaving it for the acquired amount of time, i washed it off and used the conditioner it comes with. I was impressed at the size of the conditioner as usually with hair dyes they are a ridiculously small size! It was very nourishing and upon drying my hair, it felt amazingly soft!

Here are the before and after photos of the colour;

Before, it was a faded brown..

After, a nice hint of red.

The colour wasn't a drastic change but just a little darker and added the red tones in. I do think it's a nice colour and i definitely would repurchase it! The one box did cover all my hair and there are no patches! I even asked my friend (who is a hairdresser) to have a look and he thought it did a good job!

Overall, i would recommend these hair dyes! No mess, no patches and plenty of product in one box!

Have you tried these hair dyes? What did you think?

Lipstick love & a lipstick dupe!

2011-11-19T23:19:00.001-08:00

This week, i've been loving pink lips and in particular, this combination!

Clarins Joli Rouge lipstick in 707 'Petal pink' and L'oreal glam shine lipgloss in 171 'Sheer pink'.

The Clarins lip glosses are so glossy and feel so lovely on the lips, the pigmentation is amazing too, they don't really need lipgloss unless you want to add a shimmer or you want EXTRA glossy lips.

The L'oreal glam shine's are a great formulation too and packed with sparkle. This pink is perfect for the ultimate girlie girl who loves pink, glossy, sparkly lips! Paired with the lipstick, i think it makes the perfect muted/dusty rose colour!

They work perfected together, the lipstick tones down the 'pinkness' of the gloss and the gloss just adds a little bit more colour to the lipstick to stand out that tiny bit more.

A great dupe for Clarins lipsticks are MUA's lipsticks.

With flash

Without flash

Top; MUA shade 6,
Bottom; Clarins Petal pink.

I didn't dupe these for the colours, but actually the formulation. These colours do look pretty similar here but the MUA lipstick is actually quite a bit darker than the Clarins. The texture of these are very similar and you would never know there is a £15.50 price difference at all! They both feel so creamy on the skin/lips and feel very moistursing and they both have great pigmentation. The MUA even has similar packaging to the Clarins and they both smell nice! These are a great steal and dupe for the Clarins lipsticks for only £1! I will be stocking up in every colour!

What have you been wearing on your lips this week?

Clarins Everlasting Foundation; HG material!!

2011-11-14T06:04:00.001-08:00

If you love Estee Lauder's Doublewear foundation, then you need to try Clarins Everlasting foundation! Hands down, it is my perfect foundation.

What Clarins says; "A melting, lightweight texture for absolute comfort, perfect make-up results and impeccable hold that lasts 15 hours thanks to the High Fidelity System. Make-up stays true all day long."

Active ingredients; "High Fidelity System : an innovative film that ensures long-hold.

« Light-Optimizing» complex : ensures complexion radiance.
Plant-based micro-patch: controls moisture to keep skin toned and comfortable.
Triple protection against free radicals, pollution and UV rays." source.

What i say; This foundation does exactly everything i look for in a foundation. Here's the checklist of a great foundation;

-Evens out skin tone,

-Gives great coverage,

-Perfect colour match,

-Smooths over pores and imperfections,

-Doesn't feel/look cakey or heavy,

-Doesn't feel greasy/sticky,

-Radiance boosting,

-Allows skin/radiance to shine through,

-Smells good,

-Lasts all day,

-Feels silky on application.

It really is amazing and does every one of these. It glides on and does literally seem to 'melt' into the skin. It's undetectable on the skin's surface yet gives the most amazing coverage and finish and still feels like skin. It gives a great glowy look without being dewy or sticky and lasts all day with barely any touch ups. I can't find one fault with this foundation, even the price is great at only £24! This is literally heaven to use on your skin and i urge you to go and grab it!!

Take a look at my latest video to see what else i'm loving for autumn/winter!

Have you tried any Clarins foundations? What's your next foundation to try on your wishlist?

CLARINS goodies & new job!!

2011-11-09T13:01:00.000-08:00

So you may know that recently, i stopped being self-employed with my business and was on the hunt for a job. It's always stressful finding a job and especially when thinking of changing your career direction. I love being a beauty therapist but just felt like i needed a change, whilst still being involved within the beauty industry. I won't go into too much detail about how i got my job but it was a miracle i believe! It was the perfect job at the perfect time as i had turned down another job the same morning (to work on a benefit brow bar to be exact!), I was worrying i had made the wrong choice when i got a phone call for this one and it sounded PERFECT.

So i am now, Duty Manager of an amazing hair & beauty spa in Bristol. I love the company, how they work and the atmosphere they provide. They're very flexible and work well with their employees and treat everyone equally. I am SO happy!! I do all the Reception work too but have all responsibilities of a manager and am a key holder. I can also do a few treatments if i want to change it up and hopefully will be the IPL specialist when they start offering it. It is long hours (9-8 thurs/fridays and takes me 35-55 mins each way) but so far i'm LOVING it :)

Anyway, sorry for the rambling but you can tell i'm excited! Today, i was told i will the face of the Spa and have to go under go a make-over! Nothing dramatic just a specific look. We chose and ordered my uniform and they gave me this bag of goodies for me to use. We use Clarins make-up and skincare for retail and treatments. There is a mixture of skincare and make-up to help me look my best!

L to R; Vital Light Night Cream, Vital Light Day Cream, Eye Contour Gel and Skin-Smoothing Eye Mask.

I have a feeling the eye products are going to come in handy with the early mornings and long hours! If any of these products stand out i will do separate reviews for them but this is just an overview of what i got!

Everlasting foundation in 'Honey', Instant Definition mascara in 'Intense Black', Double Fix Mascara, Joli Rouge Lipstick in 707 'Petal Pink' & Rouge Prodige Lipstick in 120 'Fusion Red'.

This foundation wasn't matched up to me specifically but it doesn't look like a bad match. It reminds me very much of my Estee Lauder Doublewear in terms of formulation and from what i can see, coverage. Excited to try this tomorrow!

Next is the mascara, i'm not too excited about this, from the brush i have a feeling it will do what it says; 'define' but i don't think it will give much thickness/volume to my lashes.

Obviously, with working long, busy hours, you want your make-up to stay in place so you don't have to touch it up throughout the day. I've never had a problem with my mascaras transferring or anything but my eyebrows are a nightmare! I just use a powder and they always smudge or i rub them off so hopefully, this will solve my problem.

Next, is my two lipsticks which i am most excited about! The pink is a gorgeous colour and i applied it as soon as i was given it. It's th eperfect baby pink and the formulation is so silky and pigmented, perfect!

The red will be my signature colour when i have my uniform, obviously Clarins is known for it's red colour theme and i will fit in with that! The make-up brief is natural make-up with a defined red lip. I haven't tried this colour yet to see if it suits me but i hope it does! It's a little bit darker in real life but the flash brightened it up alot! Maybe when i start having regular spray tans it might suit me more?!

So that's all that was in my goodie bag! A good selection i think and i'm excited to try them all, i definitely know my collection of Clarins will grow after a few pay days! I already have my eye on the Energizing Day Cream!

Have you tired any of these? Anything i need to try out?

Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector BB cream; A review!!

2011-11-04T08:37:00.000-07:00

I received a few samples of the Garnier BB cream recently. These kind of creams have been all over the blog world and they have never appealed to me. I think of the as the same as tinted moisturisers and i don't particularly get on with those. I though i would try this one out just to see if my opinion had changed.

I love the idea of a product that can do it all, i mean, what girl wouldn't? Now that my skin is clearer, i have been flirting with the idea of using something with a little lighter coverage and just concealing blemishes but never been able to fully commit.

When this little number popped through my letterbox yesterday, it was a nice surprise and I was barefaced so i had the urge to try this straight away! The packaging got me excited, its fresh and clean but also very informative, which i loved. I know a lot people don't know what a bb cream is or what it's meant to do, so these little paragraphs below are perfect.

I got a generous 3 sachet of the cream (in the colour 'Light') so i can really try it out, as we all know first impressions can soon change! I also got a £1 off voucher to use on a selection of their products, including this one!

On first squeezing out the product, i noticed that the cream was quite thick which i wasn't expecting and it also looked quite pigmented, which again, came as a surprise. You can see the colouring isn't bad but i can imagine this would not be light enough for some skin tones, it has got a rather warm 'tanned' undertone to it.

When i applied the cream, it did go on very nicely, blended well and the colour match wasn't too bad. It gave my skin a nice warm glow, in colour and dewyness. It did offer more coverage than i expected, it covered and evened out my skin tone and redness but i would still have to conceal problem areas such as a breakout and acne scars.

Here are the pictures you're here for, before and after photos!

You can see a tide mark on my chin, sorry about that, but i literally put it on, took photos, and took it off! Obviously, because of that i won't be able to review how it wears throughout the day.

You can see it's reduced my redness and evened everything out to match my neck slightly better. It's not heavy or too full in coverage as you can still see some freckles/sun spots/imperfections. Sometimes i do prefer this look, i don't mind a few imperfections poking through if it means i don't look like i'm caked in make-up.

The formulation is VERY moisturising i found personally, and after around 10 minutes of having this on, i had a very greasy face, so much so, my loving boyfriend commented on my shiny face! I did however apply moisturiser earlier on in the day, before i knew i would be trying this. If you have quite dry skin or maybe don't apply moisturiser first, it might not be such a problem.

Overall, i was surprised at how i didn't instantly hate it (like some tinted moisturisers i've used!), the coverage was good and impressed me. The shininess on the other hand, is something i hate, i love to be matte and not have a dewy finish. It would be a product i would use if maybe i was a little hungover when my skins a bit dehydrated or if i just needed to quickly whip some coverage on to pop to the shops etc. Having said that, i don't think i'd go out and purposely buy it just for that reason, i think i can live without it!

EDIT: I forgot to mention this cream is quite high fragranced so may not be suitable for sensitive skins! I have woken up with a big spot on my chin, on the side i applied this, but wether it's down to this, who knows!

Have you tried this BB cream or anything similar? Do you like a lighter coverage all the time?

Interview OOTD & FOTD!

2011-11-02T09:00:00.000-07:00

Today, i had a second interview for an excellent position i applied for. It was very formal and professional so i had to emulate that with my dress code. I thought i would post it as some people never know what to wear for interviews! This is my fail safe, go-to outfit for formal interviews.

I've uploaded my video explaining where everything is from. Check it out below!

For my make-up, i kept it quite neutral but defined my eyes with a darker shadow through the crease and outer corner. I used mainly products i always do so i'm not going to list them, just show you them altogether. Ask any questions if you want to know what a specific thing is :)

This was the final look!

The interview went extremely well and i have a 'trade test' on Friday doing the job for 3 hours to see how i'll find it! I'm very nervous but will obviously do my best! I'll let you know how Friday goes :)

What would you wear to a formal interview?

My ultimate skincare routine!

2011-11-01T04:38:00.000-07:00

As beauty bloggers, we are always trying out new products and i especially, am always trying out new skincare. Skincare i something i am passionate about and having suffered with acne, it's very close to my heart. Keeping my skin clear and radiant is VERY important to me because it affects my self-confidence more than anything else.

I have done separate reviews of most of these products, which i will link in for you, but i just wanted to document them altogether really for myself, so i can remember what works for my skin if i ever try new products and my skin starts playing up!

MORNING PRODUCTS;

L-R; Clinique rinse-off foaming cleanser, Clinique clarifying lotion, Clean & Clear dual action moisturiser & Soap & Glory super eyes, super eyes.

My morning routine is pretty simple. I'll use my cleanser just once to rinse off any dirt/sweat/grime, use my clarifying lotion on a cotton pad and swipe it all over my face. Then i just pop on my eye cream and my moisturiser. Easy! You can read all the reviews on these products to see how amazing they are!

EVENING/MAKEUP REMOVAL PRODUCTS;

L-R; Clinique rinse-off foaming cleanser, Clinique clarifying lotion, L'oreal gentle make-up remover, Clinique repairwear eye cream, Simple replenishing moisturiser.

To remove my make-up, i firstly use my eye make-up remover on some cotton pads and then go on to cleanse my face twice, with the same cleanser. I'm actually not a fan of this eye make-up remover as it does tend to sting my eyes quite bad! They are blood shot most evenings after using this, attractive! I included it because it is what i'm using, if you have any recommendations, please let me know! Again, after cleansing twice, i use my clarifying lotion in exactly the same way an follow with my eye cream and moisturiser.

This eye cream and moisturiser is heavier than my daytime ones because we want more moisturiser over night to help our skin repair itself. These 2 are just basics i would say, there is nothing incredibly special about them but they do their job without irritating my skin or breaking me out. They moisturise well and leave my skin with a natural radiance and that's all i need! :)

OCCASSIONAL PRODUCTS;

Dermalogica sebum clearing masque & St Ives Apricot scrub.

These are the products i reach for when i feel i need a little more 'clearing out'. When i feel a bit yucky and need a deep clean. I use the Dermalogica masque quite rarely, maybe every 2-3 months, as i find it works great for a serious breakout, which touch wood, i haven't been getting regularly. I also tend to use it more frequently in the warmer months to help with oil control.

The St. Ives scrub is a old classic to most people, i personally, have only just started to use it regularly; maybe twice a week. It's amazing for just refining the look of pores and any blackheads on the nose/cheeks/chin areas. I normally use this in the mornings (after cleansing, but before my clarifying lotion) so my make-up goes on smoother. I wouldn't use this if you have any 'active' spots/acne as it can spread the bacteria and result in more.

SPOT TREATMENTS;

Neutrogena visibly clear spot stress control & Garnier Pure A Night treatment.

These are the 2 best spot treatments hands down. The Neutrogena one is great at calming redness down and reducing a spot's size. It's very hydrating so doesn't leave that 'crusty' look when the spot dries out and smells like watermelon! It's great to use in the day under/over make-up or on its own. The Garnier pure A is amazing for night and helping to get rid of the marks when a spot has disappeared or been extracted and is healing. Do not apply either of these to broken skin if you have just extracted a spot and it is 'open', wait until the spot has healed over. Whichever one i use and be it morning or night, i always apply it directly to the spot on clean skin, before my moisturiser.

So that's my skincare routine that i have found works best to keep me and my skin happy!

What's your failsafe skincare products? What couldn't you (or your skin) live without?

Review; Daniel Sandler's eye Delight in 'Peach'!

2011-10-28T06:48:00.000-07:00

Now when i first saw this in my Carmine Box, i thought the colour was right up my street! I love peaches & golds and think they suit my skin tone wether i have a (fake) tan or not!

It's a gorgeous shimmery, loose eyeshadow powder in this gorgeous 'peach' shade. It's a great product, i love how shimmery it is and thought i'd be using this every single day in the tear duct, however, it's too peachy for me and almost comes across as rather orangey.

Swatch with no flash.

Swatch with flash.

I've worn this as eyeshadow a few times and i'm still unsure about it. It is a beautiful product and colour, but i just can't love it on my eyes! In the photos, it does highlight the inner corners beautifully, but with a flash, in 'real life' it's a lot more orange toned as you can vaguely see towards the outer corner of my eyes. As i don't like it as an eyeshadow, i may experiment using it as a blush/highlight for nights out!

What do you think of this colour? Would you wear it on your eyes?

Review; Balance Me Super Moisturising hand cream!

2011-10-25T09:35:00.000-07:00

When i received my Carmine Beauty Box, the Balance Me Super Moisturising Hand Cream was the product i was least excited about. Why? Well, I'm not really a hand cream snob and to be honest, i rarely even use one. I tend to stick to a bit of cuticle oil and the remnants of any body lotion i apply.

I did apply this straight away when i first opened my box and what hit me first was the aroma. I could smell it as soon as i'd opened the tube, i personally, could detect lavender and geranium, which is very relaxing/ uplifting and a welcomed scent by most. I've heard that some people think this is slightly greasy to touch, but not in my books. It sinks in lovely to leave no grease/residue, just smooth, soft and moisturised hands.

It's your standard thick, rich white cream to look at but performs well above this. I'm sure as most people, i would use this just as a hand cream and nothing more, but after seeing Fleur's interview with Sian, i have been using a tiny bit on my knees when i emerge from the shower every day. The results? WOW! The only cream that has managed to remove the patches of dry/flaky skin on my knees, the ones that fake tan always seem to be attached too... quite literally. This product is now a must have for my pre-tanning rituals to not only ensure an even tan, but beautiful, soft, touch-me skin too.

Have you tried any of the 'Balance Me' range? Do you have a favourite hand cream that out-performs others?

Carmine beauty box!!

2011-10-20T09:30:00.000-07:00

I've been excited about this day for a while, not specifically for 'Carmine' but for any beauty box. I have been watching these boxes unfold from afar, but never got up close and personal with any. Until today. As you may know, Holly & Milly have become freelance beauty writers working with Carmine and this is how i really decided Carmine might be my box of choice. I religiously read both of their blogs and trust what they say in their reviews, so knowing they are on board with Carmine, made me think it must be great.

Carmine is different in the way that once you are signed up, you can complete a 'beauty profile' so they can personalise your products to you. I'm not the type of person to buy something i wouldn't normal buy/use just because it's 'on offer' or a 'bargain', so this concept will ensure i get the most for my money. I ordered this last Friday and it arrived today (Thurs), which i think is good considering i joined Carmine after the 'original' October box had initially been sent out.

You get the card inside with all 5 products listed on there, a little explanation of each and a discount code for if you want to purchase the full size or anything else in their range which is a great bonus! I will be doing individual reviews for each products when i've trialled them for a while.

From L - R; Trind Nail Repair Natural treatment, balance Me super moisturising hand cream, Caudalie quenching sorbet creme, The balm 'Frat boy' blusher and Daniel Sandler Eye delight in 'Peach'.

Fortunately, i appear to LOVE everything in this box and know i will use it. The colours of the blush & eye delight are totally down my street as i love peaches. As for the other products, god only knows how much this cold weather is affecting my skin. I have a feeling the the nail repair, hand cream and quenching sorbet will be my winter wonders!

What beauty box do you prefer? Will you be giving Carmine a chance?

Autumn Earthy tones; Bronze & Khaki!

2011-10-14T07:11:00.000-07:00

So i jumped on the bandwagon of doing Autumnal looks, i've done it as a tutorial on youtube too, but the pictures are a little better to see for the eyes, i don't know what was going on with my camera!

The whole look is using this Maybelline eye studio palette in 22 Bronze drama which is perfect for Autumn! Bronze and Khaki's are something i'd never put together, so i used this palette to create a look which i actually quite liked in the end! The palette does have great pigmentation and all 4 shadows are shimmery! I did say on the tutorial that this was going to be a day look, i used the colours very softly to reflect this, however, because they are all so shimmery, this may not be a good day look for everyone.

On the back, it does have a little demonstration of where to put each colour. I think this is very helpful if you're starting out in make-up or if you're using colours you don't usually work with. It also comes with a little brush, a sponge oval applicator for eyeshadow and then a thinner, more pencil like end to use the darkest colour as eyeliner.

I used the colours exactly how it said, except i added some of the highlight colour to the inner corner. I also used the darkest colour and mixed it with some water to make it more like eyeliner. I didn't use the brush it comes with.

I do like this as a daytime look as far as the tones and colours go, however, i would definitely use more of a matte khaki colour to balance out the shimmer. I love the colour of the eyeliner, it's not too stark but adds good definition and ties the other colours together beautifully.

To see how i did it step by step, watch my tutorial!

What colours do you like for Autumn? Would you wear bronze & khaki together?

Soap & Glory Super eyes Super eyes moisturising eye gel!

2011-10-11T11:42:00.000-07:00

So as i'm approaching the grand age of 21 next year, i though it was time to add an eye cream into my routine. I've used different ones on and off but never included one permanently in my abundance of lotions and potions.

I had a browse on the internet for what was relatively cheap and popular but that also seemed to do it's job. I came across Soap & Glory's Super eyes Super eyes moisturising eye gel. I read many of the great reviews on the boots website and at only £9, i thought i'd give it a shot as my first eye cream.

What it says;

''Soap & Glory Supereyes, Supereyes™ Moisturising Eye Gel 15ml is possibly the world’s most effective instant firming eye moisture gel. By deploying our exclusive SWIFTLIFT™ technology, it reduces visible wrinkles almost immediately and fights fine lines long-term too.

It's What’s inside Soap & Glory Supereyes, Supereyes Moisturising Eye Gel that counts?

A Swiss Snake–Venom simulating age fighting Tripeptide complex – to help smooth fine lines and wrinkles by inhibiting the micro-contractions on the surface of the skin. A collagen-stimulating tripeptide to firm and regenerate
SWIFTLIFT™ technology , our instant skin tightener
Micronised light-reflecting pigments that instantly camouflage fine lines and wrinkles
Caffeine – it depuffs your thighs, so why not use it on your eyes?" source.

Being a gel, this is perfect for mornings. It's very lightweight, sinks in easily and it does seem to have the immediate skin tightening effect. Result! I tend to get some puffiness on my brow bone and it does help reduce that in the mornings as well.

This super eye gel does have the light reflecting pigments too, it has that pearlescent glow that is very beautiful, but very hard to capture with inadequate camera. These photos are my attempt to show the purple haze that shows through! Click to enlarge all photos!

However, you can see it better when i put it onto my skin. There are little beads of sunshine that burst when patted/rubbed in the skin to create a brightening, refreshed look. Once again, i apologise for the quality, but you can just about see the tracks of glitter left by the burst of the beads!

This glitter is very undetectable when under the eyes so don't worry, you won't look like a disco ball in the natural daylight! Make-up glides over smoothly and doesn't cake or crease during the day. It doesn't feel heavy or greasy, just light and refreshing and it does it's job very well!

I'd definitely recommend this eye gel if you're younger or starting out with eye creams and if you don't necessarily have wrinkles or fine lines, just a few small, superficial dehydration lines and want to look brighter and more awake!

This is the first Soap & glory skincare product i have tried and i'm excited to try more! I've already put them on my christmas list ;)

Have you tried this eye cream? What's your favourite soap & glory product?

Lilac look

2011-10-06T07:22:00.000-07:00

I've been dying to try out my MUA eyeshadows since i bought them, but as i'm off work i haven't really had anything to put make-up for, as i've just been doing the wife chores! Today i needed to stock up on food and thought i'd try them out!! I opted to add a little lilac into my life, even though, it's not a typical autumn colour!

This is the MUA eyeshadow shade 4 which as you can see is gorgeous! I'm not usually one to add colour to my eyes but lilacs and purples are great colours for brown eyes, so i thought i'd give it a go.

This is shade 11 and i think these 2 go really nicely together. I used the lilac all over my lid and along my lower lash line and then used the darker colour just to define my crease a little bit, nothing to heavy or noticeable.

As you can see, these shadows do not disappoint, they are really pigmented and i didn't have a lot of fall out when applying them. I am SO in love with this lilac colour, i don't think these pictures do it justice!

It's the perfect way to add a little colour in without being overpowering. It has beautiful shine and brightening that i didn't even need to use a lighter/brighter colour on my inner corner, this one does it all.

I purposely wore these shadows all day without a eyeshadow primer to see how they lasted. They were amazing! No creasing, smudging or fading. I am so impressed with these and been wearing them everyday, i would say they are similar quality to MAC shadows, just without the price tag! Bargain!

I'm wearing this look in my latest video so take a look at how they look overall!

If this does not persuaded you to pick some up, i don't know what will! (Disclaimer; i have not been paid to do this post or been sent the products to review, i just love them THAT much!)

What's your favourite colour from their range? What do you think of lilac shadows?

How i faded my acne scars!

2011-10-03T07:10:00.000-07:00

If you've followed my blog for a while, you will know i struggled with acne for a good few years before finding anything that works.

Once i got rid of the acne, i was left with another problem, the acne scarring. I had scarring in terms of pigmentation, not textural problems. I had a lot of red/purple scarring all over my face, which is luckily easier to treat than indentations or pitting, but treating is still a task.

This was my barefaced acne scarred skin on 16th May 2011.

Clearing up your acne is half the battle to prevent new scars from forming, you can watch my video on how i did this.

Once the acne has cleared up, fading the scars WILL take time. The one product i truly believe that helped fade the scarring is my Clinique Clarifying lotion.

I use this twice a day, morning and night. Exfoliating is the main way to help the skin regenerate itself and this does in a gentle way which is great for acne prone skins. It's also a little drying on the skin, but again, this helps keep the acne away. The exfoliating also keeps your skin looking glowy, smooth and healthy!

I recently ran out and didn't repurchase. My skin broke out on my chin and the bumps under the skin came back on my forehead/cheeks. As soon as i got another bottle of this and started using it, within 1 week my skin was back to 'normal'.

This was my barefaced skin on 7th July 2011.

In under 2 months all the scarring has nearly gone and what is left has faded significantly! The redness in my cheeks has also been reduced.

A month on, my skin is continuing to stay acne/scar free.

I am so grateful i found Clinique skincare and it worked for me, i want to scream it from the rooftops! I would urge you to try this if you're struggling with your skin, even if you've tried it before. They do a great 3 step trial pack for £20 which is perfect for you to see wether it will work for you or not! I don't use their moisturiser at the moment because what i use is working for me, so far, but their cleansers and clarifying lotions are unbelievable.

Just so you can compare easier, here is before and after again.

Have you struggled with acne scarring? What helped your skin?

Review; MUA £1 make-up!!

2011-09-30T05:20:00.000-07:00

Walking past superdrug last Sunday, i remembered i wanted to pick up some MUA products to try out. So i quickly dived in through the crowds of people and picked out 7 items. I got 4 eyeshadows, 1 blush and 2 lip products.

I'll start with the eyeshadows and this is what i'm most excited about! For only £1 i didn't have much hope for these but i'm pleasantly surprised.

I got a selection of colours, 2 from the neutrals and 2 of the brighter colours.

The neutrals i got are Shade 1 and Shade 11.

A gorgeous pale beige with gold shimmer in, perfect for highlighting and then a beautiful brown/taupe colour which is very similar to my favourite EVER eyeshadows, MACs satin taupe!

Here there are compared;

Top; MAC Satin taupe.

Bottom; MUA Shade 11.

This is a great dupe for those who can't afford mac eyeshadows or don't want to buy mac eyeshadows.

The next 2 colours i got were shade 6 and shade 4.

These are a little out of my comfort zone, i usually stick to neutrals but these were so pretty i couldn't resist! I have yet to try these within a look as i'm not really sure what to do with them or pair them with! Any ideas welcome :) The pigmentation of these are amazing & i will definitely go back and purchase more of these in all colours!

Next up, i got a baby pink blusher in Shade 1.

I don't usually go for pinks, but lately i've been wearing pinkish lips and haven't got quite the right cheek colour that ties everything in. This looked like the perfect blush, however, my first impressions is that it isn't that great. The colour is pretty and has a nice blueish undertone with small silver shimmer running through.

Again, i haven't tried this yet on my cheeks, but it isn't that pigmented at all, completely different to the eyeshadows and is quite chalky/powdery in texture and finish.

Lastly i got 2 lip products, a lipstick in shade 6 and a lipgloss in shade 5. They're both pretty pinks but the lipstick is a little bit darker than i would typically go for and is more 'rose' toned. I thought this would be good in the Autumn/Winter without going too dark!

The lipstick is great quality and it glides on lovely and feels moisturising. I'm not sure how it will look, as again, i haven't used this, and i'm not sure if the shimmer will be too much for me.

You can see from these swatches the gorgeous rose tone of the lipstick. The lipgloss is a more sheer baby pink and does have quite a lot of small shimmer running through it. The lipgloss is not that great as it's hard to get any out of the tube but obviously the colour is pretty!

Overall, my picks that i have tried from this range would be the eyeshadows and maybe the lipsticks. Other products in this range include Eye glitter, Mascara, Eye dust, Nail polish, Tube lipglosses and Liquid eyeliners. All for £1 in a range of colours!

Have you tried MUA products? What are your picks from this range?

Blue nails for Autumn?!

2011-09-27T00:57:00.000-07:00

As Autumn is finely here, it's that time to change up your nail polish. The trends are deep garnets, inky navy blues and earthy golds. However, i decided to 'break' the trend and go for... light blue!

This kind of blue always reminds of that 'winter wonderland' feel, the perfect nail polish for when snow is falling. I also think it looks great with my pale skin (for once!). I chose to wear this with a mainly all brown outfit, i used the blue nails to help 'pick out' the blue in my silky scarf i was wearing.

This colour is 'Night at the barbados' by SinfulColors. At only £2.99 they are amazing quality, the formulation of these are really good, although i did need 3 coats to get these babies bright enough for my liking. With 1 & 2 coats, it was still a little bit transparent.

This is a gorgeous baby blue with a really nice white/silver shimmer running through. It's hard to show through pictures but it almost has a pearlised effect, and when caught it the light is the prettiest purple/pink tone. I'm now addicted to blue nails, even if it is Autumn!

I'm now addicted to blue nails, even if it is Autumn! I would definitely check out Sinful Colors if you haven't already, they have a gorgeous range of colours and the price is unbeatable!

What do you think about blue nails? Have you tried Sinful Colors?