MakeupSavvy - Makeup And Beauty Blog

Battle of the Lip Scrubs - Sara Happ Vs. Lush

2013-05-19T10:30:00.000+01:00

The Lip Scrub market is a pretty small one, in fact I can only name three companies that sell little pots of lip scrub. But I personally feel there should be more as they make great lip care products and always look so lovely.

Maybe in the future they will have a bigger presence in the beauty industry but until then I thought I would compare two lip scrubs that I own and are availible in the UK.

Two yummy sounding lip scrubs here but at two very different prices (the price difference is nearly £14). So it should be interesting to see how they fare against each other!

My first experience with a Lush Lip Scrub was with the festive limited edition 'Pow Wow' which was a bright green popping candy scrub with a lovely zingy taste to it. Lush now offer three Lip Scrubs - Popcorn (previously a festive limited edition), Mint Julips and Bubblegum all priced at £5.25 from Lush online and in-store..

Packaging

The Lush Lip Scrub comes in a weighty glass jar with a good screw top lid, which for the price is impressive. This definitely makes it feel worth the £5.25 price tag. However from owning a lip scrub from Lush before I do know the paper sticker on the top and label around the glass jar does get a bit worst for wear and tatty looking. But on the whole the packaging does please me!

Texture

The texture of this lip scrub is a problem for me as there is nothing to bind it together making it quite a dry sugar (with a slight bit of oil in there) consistency. This means when you try to scoop up some scrub to use on your lips you do need to almost pinch/scoop it as it doesn't stick to the finger to easily rub it on the lips. However the texture does feel fine on the lips even though it does crumble off slightly.

Taste
In my head I imagined this scrub to be some kind of yummy buttery popcorn but I will admit in reality it isn't what I expected and I do dislike the taste. The problem I have with it is the salty and sour taste which I just wasn't expecting - I also know a few other people that dislike this scent/taste. But I'm also sure some will love it. I think me and the Bubblegum Lip Scrub would be a lot better suited! On the label it actually states you can lick the scrub off your lips which I do with my Pow Wow scrub and it's soooooo good!

Scrub Factor
The exfoliating sugar grains and sea salt in this do make for a good lip scrub and it does really prep the lips before applying a lipstick/lip product. However after exfoliating the lips they do feel like they need a lip balm so I tend to use the lip scrub after washing my face, as I'm getting ready, then apply a lip balm. Then after I have applied all of my makeup I wipe off the lip balm and apply a lipstick. I feel it does need to be slightly more moisturing but for a lip scrub it definitely works.

Sara Happ's range of luxury lip scrubs came about when she realised there was a hole in the beauty industry for them, so as a lover of all lip products she created the lip scrub line with other lip products to follow and a body scrub. The Lip Scrub range comes in 6 different scents/flavours in the UK - Vanilla Bean, Brown Sugar, Cocoa, Blood Orange, Peppermint and Red Velvet, all priced at £19.00 from Beauty Bay.

Packaging
Now clearly the outside packaging is lovely - the bow, the little box... just ideal for giving as a gift. However for £19.00 the lip scrub itself is quite a cheap feeling plastic jar, which is a let down if I am totally honest. If it was a glass jar like the Lush Lip Scrub (which is a much cheaper product!) then this would be a truly luxury product all round. I do however like the labelling and the clear lid so you can see the scrub.

Texture
After trying the Lush Lip Scrub and it being quite a dry scrub I was expecting this to be a bit more 'together' being a more expensive scrub. But 'together' just isn't the word for the consistency of this... it is gooey, sugar-y and just perfect.

Taste
Describing a taste is as hard as describing a fragrance/scent so I will just say that this is the yummiest lip product - ever! It tastes exactly like vanilla and sugar... and just to explain how much I love the taste of this, it advises to wipe off the scrub once done exfoliating the lips, but I just lick it right off as I feel I can't waste it! This may be bad but I really don't care.

Scrub Factor
I would say this is a medium scrub, not too harsh feeling as you exfoliate the lips as the sugar granules feel quite a good size. Plus as it contains two lovely oils and petrolatum it leaves the lips with a balm feel, almost like after using a luxury body scrub, which keeps the lips hydrated... something I really like about this lip scrub! My lips after using this are smooth and hydrated.

The Winner

For me it has to be the lip scrub by Sara Happ. Yes, £19.00 is steep for a lip care product however such a little amount is needed that I am certain this will last way over a year and more. However if the price is just too much (which I can understand!) there is an interesting Missha Melting Sugar Lip Scrub (£5.92 from eBay here) that does seem fairly similar. I'm sure I will be trying it out in the near future to see how it compares.

If you have tried any of the Lush Lip Scrubs I would love to know which is your favourite flavour as I'm sure I will give another one a go!

Fee xo.

NOTD - Neon Leopard Print Nails

2013-05-18T10:30:00.000+01:00

Some super bright Leopard Print nails for the weekend, today!

Since purchasing Barry M Gelly nail polish in Lychee I have been dying to try out some nail art over the top of it. I could see it would make a great base some some nail doodles, so I did just that with a few Models Own nail products.

What I really love about Barry M Lychee is that it is such a neutral base, it isn't a pink toned nude or too dark, it's just right, which makes it great for showing off bright nail art. You can see a full NOTD of just Barry M Lychee here.

To create the neon leopard print...

I dotted random blobs of Models Own Luis Lemon (from the Ice Neon collection) on to my nails with a medium-large dotting tool (the set of 5 dotting tools I use can be found on eBay for only £1.02 here). The only thing to be aware of with this is to not have thick blobs of nail polish on the nails or it just won't dry. So make sure to only load the dotting tool with a small amount of nail polish.

Once the neon yellow blobs had fully dried I used a Models Own Nail Art Pen to create wiggly lines around each blob and added a few dots/marks to fill in any gaps and add to the leopard print design. To finish I applied a single coat of Color Club Top Coat for a glossy finish.

If you did want the neon spots to look even brighter than this you could use a white nail polish base to really bring out the brightness of the neon and even use different neon shades for the leopard print spots.

A simple nail look that has a nod towards summer!

Fee xo.

40% Off at The Body Shop - Instore & Online!

2013-05-17T10:30:00.000+01:00

I'm not one for posting offers on my blog all that often, but when they are as good as this one I feel I cannot not mention them. Plus I may have also taken advantage of this offer as well!

Until the end of Sunday 19th May in store and the 2pm Monday 20th Online The Body Shop are offering an amazing 40% off all products. Plus if you spend over £5 online you recieve free delivery! So for example if you spend £30 it will be £18! Of course this isn't in conjunction with any other offers.

The codes are on the website but online code is 'HONEY' which you just enter at checkout and in-store it is '14315' which you can show to a member of staff just on your phone or print off the voucher - either works. You can find the page with both codes on here.

Here is what I picked up and how much I saved...

I purchased the Moringa Body Mist 100ml, Banana Conditioner 250ml and two Born Lippy Lip Balms in Toffee and Pomegranate, which should have came to £20.99 including delivery online but with the 40% code it came to £10.80! Plus I have been pleased with all of my purchases,all really perfect for summer! Also with my receipt I received a code for both online and instore for £10 off when I spend £25 in June.

I know I shouldn't compare shops but this is what Lush are lacking - discounts! The Body Shop seem to continuously have great savings and events on, but I don't think I have seen Lush ever have a special event on.

Reviews to come on the Born Lippy Lip Balms and Body Mists as I'm thoroughly impressed with both products!

Fee xo.

Very Cherry Birthday Nails

2013-05-16T10:30:00.000+01:00

As some of you may know it was my birthday on Tuesday (I turned 25 which feels like a grown up age!) so I decided to take a few days off from blogging, to open presents, go shopping and eat chocolate!

But all back to normal now! So I thought I would show you the nails I created for my Birthday day.

Loving nail art so much I definitely needed some nice nails for my birthday. My first thoughts were to do some pretty Cupcake nails, which I've never actually tried before but then I spotted some amazing Unicorn nails on the Wah Nails Instagram account and was tempted to do them also (I will be doing these very soon as they are A-mazing!). But I didn't want to mess up either so I went for a favourite of mine - cherry nails in a slightly Cath Kidston style.

I love all things cherries... especially Maraschino Cherries in a jar so cherry nails are something that make me happy... and they are so easy to do with a dotting tool!

For the base I used Models Own Snow White (from the MO duo nail polish as my Collection 2000 manicure white has gone a bit gloopy) and then MUA Pistachio Ice Cream. For the cherries I used a medium sized dotting tool with Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in Rapid Red. Then for the little cherry stems I used Beauty UK in Go Green with a small nail art brush, just creating little 'V' shapes. To finish off I used a small dotting tool to dot white dots on to the background and to highlight the odd cherry. Lastly I applied a clear top coat, which always makes nail art look finished off.

Would love to know if anyone would be interested in seeing the birthday presents I received in a haul style post. As I received quite a few beauty presents and some lovely homeware gifts!

Fee xo.

Amie Spring Clean Cooling Clay Mask Review

2013-05-13T10:30:00.000+01:00

A few month ago I wrote a review of this very face mask based on a sachet that I received in a Beauty Box. Since then I have got my hands on the full size product so thought I would write a full review as it's my favourite high street mask for oily skin!

Firstly Amie is a brand I have only discovered this year but I have been liking it more and more... I think this is because it's having more of a shop presence as I know you can now get the products from Boots and Waitrose (and other places I imagine). The line seems to be aimed at teens to twenties who have oily, blemished prone skin and want to treat it with skincare that is fairly nature.

So this specific mask is free from Parabens and contains over 94% natural ingredients, such as organic peppermint, french white clay and lime butter, which all sound like lovely ingredients to me! It is also of course not tested on animals and is suitable for vegetarians.

From my first sachet of this I knew it was a product I needed in my bathroom, as for a high street priced mask it really impressed me on the ingredients, how it felt on the skin and of course the glowy after results. You can read my first review of the face mask here for a more detailed idea of how much I like it and how it feels on the skin etc.

Since getting the 75ml full size version I have been applying this twice a week before I have a shower (I leave it on 10 minutes before getting in) then removing it in the shower as it is quite thick and does need removing with a flannel or muslin cloth. I really believe since using this the oily areas of my face (chin, nose) have started to produce less oil and I have noticed less blackheads which has really impressed me as I have tried so many face masks specifically for oily skin and the only one that has had similar results was one from Yes To Tomatoes costing £12 for 50ml.

In terms of consistency, smell, feel and results this really does get marks out of 10 from me. I really cannot fault it! Well except that I feel for £4.95 it should maybe contain more than 75ml of product.

You can find this face mask in Waitrose, Boots and Boots online here.

Fee xo.

Amazing £1.99 Lipstick from The Fragrance Shop!

2013-05-11T10:30:00.000+01:00

Today I think I have the ultimate savvy beauty product to share with you. This amazing red lipstick ticks all the right boxes for me and is a mere £1.99!

Salvador Dali Rubylips Lipstick is a rich and creamy ruby red lipstick that is available from The Fragrance Shop online - here and can be delivered to store for free so no additional costs are incurred!

Firstly I think I need to talk about the amazing packaging! Never have I seen a lipstick in the shape of a pair of lips before, and even though it clearly is tacky I really do love it! I'm really not sure who the lipstick is by as of course it isn't Salvador Dali himself however the lipstick shape is inspired by one of his paintings titled 'Il volto di Mae West' which is where the iconic lips sofa came from.

As for the lipstick itself I really wasn't expecting a lot but I was so surprised when it applied with ease and was amazingly pigmented in just one swipe. Also this is somehow comfortable on the lips but long lasting which I didn't think I would get getting for only £2. Plus as the packaging states it does have a shiny finish to it which I feel makes the lips appear plumped up/ fuller.

In actual fact other than a lovely deep red lipstick I have fron NYX I don't own a rich red shade similar to this, so I know I will be getting a lot of use out of it.

The only negatives about this lipstick would be the granny scent to the actual lipstick but when it is on the lips it somehow isn't noticeable at all. Plus it probably does need a lip liner if you wanted a neater finish with not feathering... I was just lazy and applied it straight from the bullet.

For £1.99 this is definitely worth picking up if you're in to red lipsticks or love quirky makeup packaging.... or even as a unique but cheap gift.

Fee xo.

New NYC Nail Polishes for Spring 2013

2013-05-10T10:30:00.000+01:00

A few new pastel nail polish releases from the budget brand that is NYC today.

The NYC In A NY Colour Minute Nail Polish range have some of my favourite high street nail polishes. Favourites have to be Rock Muse Smoky Top Coat (£1.99), Full Metal Jacket (£1.79) and their clear Quick Dry Top Coat (£1.79) which is in fact my all time favourite clear top coat! I find the formula applies well and evenly, the drying time to be pretty damn speedy and the finish to be glossy, plus they are so affordable.

The 3 new spring shades which are available now in Superdrug stores are - Raindrop, Spring Tulip and Blue Sky (all £1.79 each) which brings the In A NY Colour Minute Nail Polish range total to 21 nail polishes.

All three nail polishes are cream formulas (so no shimmer or pearl finish to them) and are ideal for spring. My favourite has to be Blue Sky as I love blue pastel nail polishes however I will say I don't see the point in a similar blue shades being one of the three new nail polish shades. I would have loved to have seen a pastel peach or mint shade instead of Rain Drop.

To try out all the new shades I decided to do some quick watercolour nails (you can find my easy to follow tutorial here) with the base colour being Raindrop.

NYC have also recently launched a totally new nail polish range - Foil Explosions (£3.99). I will be showing swatches and I am almost sure some of you will love them but they just aren't my cup of tea!

Fee xo.

L'Oreal Skin Perfection Micellar Solution Review

2013-05-09T10:30:00.000+01:00

In the past year L'Oreal have really impressed me. From their Lumi Magique Foundation to their amazing Confetti Top Coat and Pore Minimising Serum. But my new favourite from them has to be their Skin Perfection 3 in 1 Micellar Solution.

This has already had a mention in my Lazy Girl Cleansing Routine post (here) back in April. But since then I have been using it as a pre-cleanse as well and loving it even more so I thought it deserved a full review.

So what exactly is Micellar Water?

Micellar Water is an alcohol-free makeup remover that combines both water and oil with no repulsion (where the oil and water are separate with the oil sitting on top of the water). Which is why I like to call it magic water instead of micella water, as this formula is amazingly affective at removing makeup but the oil is almost hidden in the water so there is no greasy residue left on the skin (or oil spreading the makeup around your face) making it work for all skin types, but especially oily ones.

Quick Cleanse

If you had a read of my lazy cleansing routine post where I talked about how I sometimes remove my makeup from bed, then you will know instead of being super lazy and using face wipes, which do nothing for the skin AT all, I use the L'Oreal Micellar Water and finish up with a Lush Toner Water to just make sure I have got all the makeup off my face. But now I poured half of the L'Oreal Micellar Solution in to a travel bottle which I keep in the bathroom with some cotton pads to use as a pre-cleanse.

Using is a Pre-Cleanser

Now when doing a full cleanse I will use the micellar water to pretty much remove all of my makeup, but most importantly my eye makeup. Then I cleanse again with either a cleansing oil, hot cloth cleanser or a SLS-free facial wash. With this I find my face is thoroughly cleansed and very happy.

I am not going to say this is a cleansing water to be used on it's own to remove makeup day in day out. But on lazy days it without a doubt a better option to face wipes and it also makes a great quick pre-cleanse before using what you would normally use.

If you want to try out a micellar solution for the first time or as a cheaper option to the much loved Bioderma then I really do highly recommend this.

You can find this for £4.99 in Boots & Superdrug but I am sure both still have offers relating to this product so you may be able to pick this up quite a bit cheaper.

Fee xo.

NOTD - Summer Nail Art with Sinful Colors 24/7

2013-05-08T10:00:00.000+01:00

Apologises for two nail post in a row! When the sun comes out I seem to want to paint my nails more often and give myself al fresco manicures. Anyone else do that?

Bank Holiday Monday actually turned out to be the warmest day of the year so far, so I sat in my garden and painted my fingers and toes in my latest nail polish buy - Sinful Colours 24/7. Then after a bit of magazine reading I decided to add some nail art doodlings to make them even more summery!

Quite frustratingly Sinful Colors 24/7 doesn't actually show up on camera true to colour at all and by doing a quick Google image search it seems no one has been able to capture the correct pink neon of it. So you will just have to imagine the brightest fluro neon pink you can... then double the brightness as this is one bright, bright nail polish. The kind that makes even pale skin seemed tanned against it. Nothing pastel or creamy about it, just in your face neon hot pink!

I should point out Sinful Colors, which is an American nail polish brand, are now stocked in selected Boots stores for only £1.99 each - bargain! You can find your nearest stockist here or you can purchase them from the Boots website here... but will have to pay the £1.95 delivery-to-store charge (or standard delivery charges), unless you spend over £20. It did use to be free... tut tut Boots.

I also had to look up on the interwebs to see if this was actually a matte finish nail polish because the polish dried (which is did as I was painting it on to my nails in the sun!) to such an odd rubberised finish which was definitely more matte than glossy. However apparently this is in the normal Sinful Colors line... but for me I would always have to wear this with a clear top coat as the finish was a bit 'urgh' looking.

As for the nail art, I did this when my nails were fully dry with a Muji pen (only £1!). If you are in to your nail art then Muji is without a doubt the place to get some pens from as they don't streak at all when applying a top coat and they are so fine and precise - just perfect. I decided to go for some simple tribal nails which I made up as I went, I just tried to make each nail a bit different. As for my thumb nail that was the most fun to do and was actually really easy!

I think I will be trying more detailed nail art from now on as I was surprised at how easy it was.

Fingers crossed we have more warm weather soon!

Fee xo.

NOTD - Barry M Gelly Nail Paint in Lychee

2013-05-07T10:30:00.000+01:00

When the Barry M Gelly Hi Shine range first came out I instantly thought I'd rather pay the normal £2.99 and not £3.99 and use my glossy NYC Top Coat over the top.

However the one shade I gravitated towards instantly was 'Lychee' as it is just such a great shade. But for some reason I wish it had a nice sounding name to match. 'Salted Caramel' is what I would have called it.

However the five new additions to the Gelly Hi Shine range (out June 5th in Superdrug) have grabbed my attention as there are some great summer shades in there - you can see a preview of the shades here. I know I will be picking up Passionfruit and Keylime 100%.

Back to Lychee though for now as this is a shade to can pick up right now and is a must for nude nail polish lovers.

R.R.P £3.99 - Boots or Superdrug or any Barry M stand

For me Lychee is the perfect warm nude shade. It may sound odd but the shade is so smooth and butter and this is only highlighted by the glossy finish. But these are my thoughts on the shade against my pale skin and I think it would appear differently against darker skin as the lightness of the shade would be more apparent, but still beautiful none the less.

As for application I really am impressed. A lot of light pastel type shades can be quite hard to apply/work with and look pretty streaky but this went on smoothly and only needed two coats, which is pretty damn good if you ask me.

I love how Lychee looks on it's own but I know this will be the most perfect base for glitter nail polishes such as the L'Oreal Confetti Top Coat or even some nail art leopard print.

If you love nude nail polishes you NEED this in your life, stat!

Fee xo.

Oh My Haul - April

2013-05-06T10:30:00.000+01:00

As you can maybe tell I did quite a bit of shopping in April. But I assure you they were all total bargains.

I actually find getting things on sale or for a reasonable price really rewarding these days.

My favourite places online to find bargains are - ASOS outlet/sale, Amazon (though prices seem to go up and down daily), Fragrance Direct and eBay. Offline I find Waitrose & Tesco sometimes discount beauty/skincare products really well. Oh and of course Poundland!

Designsix Leaf Pendant Necklace

£5.00 - ASOS (Designsix range - here)

I purchased this in the ASOS sale last month so it is sadly now sold out. I've never tried anything from Designsix or even heard of the brand before but I was quite impressed with the quality and there are still some charm style necklaces still available. I now have my eye on some heart shaped stack bangles in gold that look really lovely - here.

Diamante Metal Necklace

£3.00 - Primark (spring/summer 2013 stock)

How amazing is this for only £3.00. I am so impressed with it! Primark really have some great pieces of jewellery in at the moment which is such a great things as a lot of the high street shops have gone so pricey when it comes to necklaces. How has £17.99 for a necklace in H&M become the norm?! Also really love Primark for peplum tops, printed skirts with thin belts, and summer dresses at the moment.

KMS Hair Play Makeover Spray 200ml

£3.00 reduced - TK Maxx

Finally I have found the best dry shampoo ever! I have tried so many different brands of dry shampoo but this just tops them all. It soaks up excess oils in the hair so well and adds volume without a trace of white powder-ness going on. Also it has a nice peppermint scent to it. The only problem is the normal price of it is £9.75 (Cheap Smells - here) which is a bit too much for dry shampoo really... for me anyway.

Real Techniques Core Collection Kit

£16.83 - Amazon here

I have mentioned this set a few times now but for anyone that missed it Amazon have all three Real Techniques Kits at discounted prices. I did get this set for £14.99 but since when it has gone up in price slightly. So far I am absolutely loving this set, the bristles are so soft and the brushes work perfectly. Favourites so far have to be the Contour brush and Buffing Brush.

New Nail Polishes

Barry M Lychee - £3.99 (Superdrug - here), MUA in Pistachio Ice Cream and Frozen Yoghurt - £1.00 each (Superdrug here & here)

Purchased a few nail polishes I have been wanting for a bit. Namely the fairly new Barry M Gelly Lychee nail polish as it's an amazing shade... though I really don't get the whole 'gelly hi-shine' aspect to the range. Also the newly packaged MUA nail polishes called to me with the range being full of lovely pastels for summer (free delivery at Superdrug until Tuesday FYI). You can see a NOTD of Pistachio Ice Cream here. I really am going to have to cut back on my nail polish buying as I counted my collection this week and discovered I have TWO HUNDRED EIGHTY nail polishes. I actually thought I had no more than 150... oh dear, oh dear.

Cake Erasers

£2.50 - Random Interior/Gift Shop

I picked these up in the most lovely gift shop in Southport which had some amazing things by Rob Ryan and Fiona Hewitt. There was actually so many pretty things I was a bit overwhelmed, so I ended up just going for these amazing little rubbers. I know I won't ever use them probably but I love minature things and they can sit nicely on my desk looking pretty. You can find similar ones to these if you search for 'Kawaii Erasers' on eBay.

Bronzed Ceramic Pineapple

£4.00 - Antique/Collectibles Shop

This was another find in Southport in a huge antique shop that was spread over at least 5 floors and a maze of rooms. I spotted something very similar in Dwell last year, it may even be from there and love it back then, so I had to get it. This is now sitting on a stack of magazines in my dining room.

Amie Facial Cleaning Wipes

£3.49 - Waitrose here

Last month I was sauntering around Waitrose (saunter is what you do in poshier supermarkets you see) looking on the amazing beauty aisle and marvelling at the lovely homeware section. In the end I ended up getting the Waitrose Baby Bottom Butter (only £2.89!) which is actually their best selling skincare product... and I can totally see why as it's amazing. I also picked up some wipes as they were discounted by £1 and I really like Amie (obsessed with their clay face mask).

Silicone Makeup Brush Cleaning Glove

£2.50 - eBay here

I won't ramble on about this as I wrote a whole blog post on it here but this has been a pretty great eBay find. So similar to the Sigma Brush Cleaning Glove but at quite literally a fraction of the cost. I have been cleaning my brushes with it ever since I got it and it's just makes cleaning them so much faster. Super impressed with it. Actually think I will get another one for using as an oven glove.

This has been a bit of a long haul but I hope you have enjoyed it.

I may have to do another extra special 'Oh My Haul' this month as it is my birthday in the middle of the month... I will be 25, eep!

Fee xo.

Beauty News - New Products & Free Stuff

2013-05-04T10:30:00.000+01:00

Glossybox 2nd Birthday Event in Covent Garden

Glossybox are celebrating their 2nd birthday this month and will be holding a special event with a giant Glossy Box on Wednesday 8th of May in Covent Garden. At certain time throughout the day the giant glossy box will be opening and free Glossy Boxes will be given out to the public for 10 minutes before the giant box is closed again! The scheduled opening times are 12:30, 13:45, 14:30, 16:30, 17:30, 18:45. Also I hear this month's birthday box is going to be a very great one!

Walls Ices Lip Smackers in Primark

I can't describe my excitement with the upcoming collaboration with Walls Ice Cream and Lip Smackers. I love Lip Smackers anyways but these are just too good to be true. There will be 4 icecream flavours - Feast, Mini Milk Vanilla, Twister and Strawberry Split and will be priced at £2.50 each, launching in Primark stores from late June. I will be getting my paws on a Mini Milk and Feast!

Free Delivery at Superdrug online
until 7th May - here

This one is pretty self explanatory. But I thought it was worth a mention if you don't have any of the newer MUA products in your local Superdrug (I know my local stand is pretty rubbish) such as the new nail polishes or products from the MUA Pro range.

New Limited Edition Benefit Makeup Kit

Benefit have teamed up with fashion designer Matthew Williamson to create a new and exciting makeup kit - The Rich Is Back. The kit includes eye shadows in Solid Gold, Get Down Brown, Disco Dust and Feel So Teal, deluxe mini They're Real mascara, Gimme Fever cheek powder with mini brush and lip gloss in Inferno. The kit will be launching at Debenhams on 15th June for £26.50.

This month's magazine freebies - here

Lots of great freebies to pick up this month!

Hope you're all having a sunny relaxing weekend.

Fee xo.

Amazing Products at Fragrance Direct

2013-05-03T10:30:00.000+01:00

I have been shopping online at Fragrance Direct for many years now. From my favourite fragrances to bargain nail polishes from the likes of Essie and Sally Hansen. I would without a doubt say it is my no.1 website to visit to find total bargains.

So when Fragrance Direct contacted me in April asking me if I wanted to review some products for their newsletter I jumped at the chance!

Time and time again on Fragrance Direct I find I discover products I have never seen before or would have never have purchased full price, whilst also spotting cult products at amazing prices (£1.99 Essie polishes, anyone?). So here I have selected some great products that are just that. A few new discoveries with the amazing Invogue nail polish and Revlon Color Creme, along with some more recognisable products such as a beautiful fragrance from Estee Lauder and a cute palette from Urban Decay.

Vera Wang Princess Eau De Toilette Spray 30ml

£28.99 - here

Much like the girly bottle this is the ultimate girly fragrance that has a romantic, soft edge to it. The main notes in this are vanilla, dark chocolate and for me, tuberose. Making this a sweet but smooth floral/gourmand fragrance that really does seem like it was made fit for a princess. But what makes it stand out the most is that it isn't sickly or over sweet unlike a lot of girly scents I have tried, I would actually describe the scent as 'pretty' and 'feminine'. The bottle and notes in this may also comes across as being someone young however I think this could be worn by anyone in their teens to someone in their 30's.

This is definitely one for day wear and for anyone that loves dreamy feminine scents.

Revlon Professional Nutri Color Creme 250ml (available in various shades)

£11.99 - here

I am sure anyone with colour treated hair can related to that annoying in between hair dying stage where roots are noticeable and the colour is looking a little dull. I always find I notice this when I am going out somewhere and I want my hair to look nice however re-dying my hair every 2 weeks is just out of the question - due to expense, hair damage and time. However I came across Revlon's Professional Nutri Color Creme on Fragrance Direct (I didn't even know this was a product ) and I really do think this is the answer to the above problem.

Revlon Nutri Color Creme is described as a 3-in-1 cocktail for coloured hair to add colour, softness and shine all in 3 minutes! I will admit I wasn't expecting wonders from this product however I gave it a go actually in the shower. As instructed I washed and towel dried my hair and applied 10 pumps of the cream all over my hair and combed my hair through with my fingers (whilst wearing gloves). At this point I was certain it would miss parts of my hair especially my roots as 10 pumps didn't seem that much and the cream didn't have a hair dye smell to it at all. I then rinsed it out after 3 minutes and voila! When I stepped out of the shower my hair was a more glossy rich brown and my roots were no more, plus my hair felt conditioned and not like it had been dyed at all. To top this off the product contains up to 15 applications meaning this will be my inbetween quick fix for at least a year! I will be certain to do a full review of this product as I'm pretty amazed by it.

Urban Decay 80's Roller Girl Set

£12.99 - here

Here we have an amazingly fun & summery palette by Urban Decay at a really great price. The 4 eyeshadow palette (I've decided it is a 3 neutral eyeshadows and 1 blush palette as Woodstock actually works as a blush) comes with an additional travel size 24/7 Glide-on Eye Pencil in Whiskey (perfect everyday shade) and a mini Lip Junkie Lipgloss in Crush.

Like all Urban Decay eyeshadows you can expect velvet-soft textures and great pigmentation from all 4 eyeshadows in this cute retro palette and the 3 neutral shades can definitely be worn any time of year. The 24/7 eye pencil in Whiskey is a perfect addition to the neutral shades being a matte brown shade that really does glide on and then stays put! As for the Lip Junkie Lipgloss in Crush I really can't get enough of the vanilla mint scent to it and the bright pink sheen it adds to my lips - fresh, summery and glossy!

This set it just so usable and perfect for anyone that loves the quality of Urban Decay products.

L'Oreal Derma Genesis Pore Minimising Serum 15ml

£5.95 - here

For the past year or so serums have been all the rage and of course being a beauty blogger I have introduced one into my skincare routine before apply my makeup. However using a serum, moisturise and then a primer (for the unsightly pores around my nose and on my chin) does seem a little much. So this product instantly intrigued me as it combines the pore minimizing properties of a primer whilst also being a serum.

I really don't know where to start with this mini review of the serum as it just seems to have so many benefits/qualities. It's refreshing and light to apply to the skin, it soaks in within seconds, it helps with oil control, it smooths the skin making it look and feel softer and it does diffuse pores. On top of that I also feel it is providing more long term benefits to my skin by moisturising it as it is actually a skin care product. My only criticism would be that 15ml is quite a small amount for a skincare product but besides from that I really am impressed.

Invogue Nail Lacquer Feather Effect 'On The Money'
£2.50 - here

It would be an understatement to say that nail art and nails effects are in trend at the moment. From Concrete nails, to Feather nails and everything inbetween, Invogue cater for all these nail trends but at such an affordable price.

Here is one of the three Feather Effect nail polishes available from Invogue at Fragrance Direct and for only £2.50 it really is an amazing buy. 'On The Money' is a perfect one for spring/summer with it's blue and yellow pieces to create the beautiful feather effect and was as easy to apply as an normal nail polish. I know I will be purchasing the other two shades in this collection plus trying out one of the Liquid Metal formulas.

Estee Lauder Sensuous Eau De Parfum 30ml
£22.95 - here

This fragrance has to be one of the most sexy fragrances I have ever tried. It is smooth, warm - in a woody kind of way, subtly sweet and expensive smelling. Sensuous really does have depth without being an overpowering fragrance. The main notes I can pick up in this are honey, amber and sandlewood, so a lovely mixture of sweet, warm and woody notes. This is a perfect perfume for warm summer skin that will grab people's attention. Theirry Mugler's Angel has always been the fragrance known to 'attract' men but I really believe this is a lot more sensual and alluring.

As for packaging, it is a simple yet sleek bottle that is surprisingly heavy. The grooved back and rose gold top with embosses EL initials are lovely features.

If you wish to see full reviews of any of the products mentioned please just let me know.

You can find a few of my previous Fragrance Direct hauls here & here.

Fee xo.

Escada Cherry In The Air

2013-05-02T10:30:00.000+01:00

When it comes to summery fragrances I love nothing more than fruity or floral scents. Anything juicy smelling in summer really floats my boat. I also love anything to do with cherries so I was eager to try Escada's new limited edition Cherry In The Air fragrance.

Unlike Escada's past summer fragrances this is a mixture of floral and gourmand notes make it ideal for spring/summer day use and is a little more grown-up. On first spritz the sweet/tart black cherry and raspberry notes are instantly noticeable. As it dries down it becomes more creamy and slightly peppery but still the tart black cherry note linger like a freshly baked cherry pie!

This is without a doubt a fragrance to wear with a cute summer dress when the sun is shining as it is fruity, fresh and uplifting. Also for an Eau De Toilette it is quite a strong scent that lasts for quite a few hours, especially when spritzed on clothing.

Another huge appeal with this summer scent is the affordable price. You can purchase the 30ml size with a cute vanity case for only £19.99 from Fragrance Direct here or £21.25 from Escentual here (50ml size shown in this post) which I think is the ideal size to last you over summer, especially as it is limited edition. You also receive a sweet free cherry elastic ring/hair tie on the neck of the bottle.

If you like fun, sweet, fruity scents then this is definitely one to try out before we get into summer.

Fee xo.

The Procrastinating Beauty Blogger Tag

2013-05-01T10:30:00.000+01:00

I sometimes feel my middle name should be Procrastination as I partake in it that often. I literally am the worlds worst for it. So when I spotted this tag over on We Were Raised By Wolves ... whilst procrastinating! I knew I had to do it.

Rules:

1. You must copy and paste these 'rules' onto your post when you write it, it doesn't take long!.

2. You must state that this tag was created by 'The Beau Bow' and link www.thebeaubow.blogspot.com

3. You must thank the person who tagged you at the start of your post (link their blog as well) - follow them if you're feeling nice!, and then at the end of your post state who you tag, and then comment on their blog on their latest post to let them know you tagged them, and link your post so they can see what to do.

4. Title this post 'The Procrastinating Beauty Blogger TAG' so everyone knows what it is about.

5. Have fun!

1. Name a beauty regime that you rarely do?

Much like Evelyn of We Were Raised By Wolves it would have to be my eyebrows. I normally spot they need plucking when I am applying my makeup and think that I need to remember to do them, but always forget. I also rarely fake tan, though more out of choice than laziness... though when I do decide to apply fake tan in summer I don't keep it up, which is due to laziness!

2. Is washing your make-up brushes something that you do regularly?

I'm not so great with keeping up with washing eye brushes but face brushes such as foundation, contour and powder brushes do get a regular clean. Mainly for hygiene reasons as I feel dirty brushes can contribute to spots but I also feel a used foundation brush doesn't apply foundation as nicely as when it's freshly washed. I use to wash my brushes while in the shower but I now use a super cheap brush cleaning glove (post here) which makes washing my brushes a lot quicker!

3. How long will you last with chipped nail polish?

For me I either have painted nails or I don't. As soon as my nail polish starts to chip I remove it. However for nail posts I have been known to paint just one hand so the other hand will either not match or be un-painted!

4. How long will you put off buying/replacing a beauty product, even if you need it?

If it is an essential such as shampoo, deodorant, soap I actually re-purchase before the product runs out so I am actually really good on that front. However if it's a makeup or skin care product I'm not so good. For example at the moment I have the smallest smashed up bit of Bourjois Bronzing Powder left which I love and use daily but for some reason I still haven't replaced it! Also when I run out of my favourite perfume it takes me months to repurchase it as it feels too much like a treat.

5. What is your worst beauty habit?

It isn't something I am keen to admit but my worst beauty habit is squeezing any spots on my face I have or even noticeable black heads. I thankfully don't get as many now but from time to time I do get the odd spot and I really can't help but 'get rid of it' as I'd prefer a red mark on my skin than the actual spot. But I do realise it is bad for my skin and can cause scarring!

6. Name something non-beauty related that you put off doing all the time?

That would be washing my clothes - that sounds so bad, but don't worry I don't go around in dirty clothes! It's just that I'd prefer to wear all the clothes I have then do lots of washing than do it a few times a week. I'm really coming across as quite lazy in this post but I feel like it is such a chore to do.

7. When going out somewhere, do you leave getting ready to the last minute?

If I am going somewhere special I will start getting ready a few hours before as I hate feeling rushed. But in general if I am going out shopping etc I normally start getting ready right at the last minute, then I am late. I blame the internet for this as I am always either blogging or watching videos on YouTube.

8. Can you commit to spending bans?

I haven't ever made myself stick to a spending ban however I do know when to curb my spending.

9. How organised is your make-up and nail polish collections?

I always feel both my makeup and nail polish collection could be more organised due to lack of storage however over the past 6 months I have purchased more storage from Muji and Ikea and now I'm pretty pleased with it. My daily makeup is stored on my desk in clear acrylic Muji drawers and most of my brushes are stored in Ikea plant pots - you can see images of my makeup storage here & here. As for my nail polish it definitely isn't as organised as it's currently stored on the floor of my makeup room in different beauty boxes. However I am hoping to purchase some Ribba Picture Ledges from Ikea which is a storage idea I mentioned in this post.

Feel free to copy & paste the questions (even use the image I created above) and do the tag for yourself if you have a beauty blog. If you do the tag make sure to leave a comment with the link so I can have a read.

Fee xo.

Magazine Freebies for May 2013 (June 2013 Issues)

2013-04-30T17:30:00.000+01:00

Some lovely spring magazine freebies are coming up in May. So I thought I would leave it right until the last minute to tell you about them so you don't have to wait too long at all!

Here are some of the freebies to expect on magazine stands this week...

Marie Claire Magazine (£3.80 on sale 2nd May) - Choice of Avon Smitten Red Lipstick, Brow Definer or Gel Eyeliner, plus a sample of BB Cream with each magazine.

Elle Magazine (£4.00 on sale 1st May) - Mini Benefit They're Real Mascara worth £9.50

Red Magazine -New Le Volume de Chanel Mascara mini EDIT - Sadly for subscribers only! Sorry about the misinformation with this.

InStyle Mag (£3.80 on sale 2nd May) - Choice of 3 full size Nail Inc Nail Polishes (I wasn't sure on this one but can comfirm it is a freebie this month)

Harpers Bazaar (£4.20 on sale 1st May) - REN Moroccan Rose Otto Body Cream 50ml

Which freebies will you be picking up?

Fee xo.

NOTD - Models Own Artstix Duo Polish in Pink Stuff

2013-04-30T10:30:00.000+01:00

Some super girly nails for you today with Models Own fairly new Artstix Duo Nail Polish in Pink Stuff which is Models Own Pastel Pink with Hot Stuff glitter top coat over the top.

You can see my nail swatches of Snow Mix and Blibble here and find out more about the entire range of duo polishes.

I wasn't sure what I was expecting from Pink Stuff but I thought it would be my least favourite from the duo polishes but I actually really love this combination. I already own Hot Stuff nail polish but would have never of though to use it over a pastel pink but it really brings out both the raspberry coloured glitter and multi-faceted glitter.

I also added a clear top coat with my favourite NYC Quick Dry 'Grand Central Station' Top Coat to make the manicure super glossy which I think really finishes it off. Any nails like these remind me of Barbie or Nicki Minaj nails because of the bubblegum pink and how girly they are. A perfect combination for summer!

I really do think the Models Own Artstix Duos (£6 each from Boots, Westfield Bottle Shop or online) are a great idea and when I spot 'Freak Betty' at a Models Own stand in Boots it will be mine as I can see the a blue glitter top coat over dark blue nails being amazing.

So pleased with Models Own Pink Stuff that I may love it more than Snow Mix (NOTD here) now!

Fee xo.

Disliked Beauty Products #2

2013-04-29T17:30:00.000+01:00

I'm back again with a whole bunch of products I just can't seem to get on with. But this time I thought I would up the ante and only select products from brands I usually love!

So sharing my disliked products this time round shouldn't be as easy as my last post (here) but it is good to show that all brands can come out with the odd product or two that you just won't get on with, however much you love the company/brand.

The Body Shop Earth Lovers Shower Gel
I haven't specified a certain scent of shower gel here as I purchased three of the Earth Lovers Shower Gels and dislike all of them - so I basically dislike the whole range. I purchased these as they are SLS-free as I like to try out as many SLS-free shower product as I can, in hope I will one day find my holy grail. But sadly these are far from even the SLS-free standard I am use to. The consistency of the shower gel is the problem, it's just soooo thin and doesn't foam at all. Also the scents are pretty rubbish too. I literally had to take this out of my shower and stop using it because it was annoying me every time I used it. It really did feel like a very watered down shower gel.

Carmex Cherry Lip Balm
I normally really like Carmex lip products and when I spotted they did a Cherry Carmex it was in my basket faster than I could think maybe it's an odd combination. And that is what it is... the Carmex scent is a strong scent which I love but mixed with the artificial cherry scent it turns into some nasty smelling cough syrup that you want to instantly wipe off your lips. But having said all of that I am sure some with love the scent. But as Carmex lip balms are quite thick on the lips and quite scented I just couldn't stand to keep it on. Back to the trust original formula for me.

Models Own Clear Top Coat
I am a huge fan of Models Own nail polishes, especially their glitters. But there is just something about this top coat that I can't get on with. The consistency of the top coat is perfect, just how I like it, it also doesn't bubble and it's nicely glossy on the nails. But my problem is I am sure it has a blue tint to it. In the light I have photographed it in you really cannot see but if you tilt the bottle in sunlight you can slightly notice it and on the nails I really do think it alters the shade of the nail polish underneath and especially nail art. I really thought I was going a bit mad when I first started to use it but I certain it has a subtle blue tint to it now!

Naked Skin Soothing Eye Gel
Another brand I really quite like and have used a lot of products from (namely their shampoos and lovely sachet conditioners). But I have to admit I'm not as keen on their skincare range. Maybe it's not that suited to my oily skin but I have never loved anything that much in their skincare range. But the one product I really can't get on with is the Naked Soothing Eye Gel. I'm actually thinking I may be over sensitive to one of the ingredients as this is for sensitive skin, but as soon as I apply this around my eyes they start to water and feel itchy and I do make sure to not get too close to the eye. This will definitely be going to my sister (if she will use it!) so it's not wasted.

Jelly Belly Very Cherry Jar Candle
This has to be the best smelling candle ever... well to a cherry lover! So instead of purchasing the small tin candle size first I got overzealous and purchased the large jar candle (which isn't that cheap at around £8). I had such high hopes after sniffing the jar but as soon as I started to burn it, it just didn't smell at all like cherries and I just couldn't make out what it smelt of. It also gave me a headache with half an hour of burning it as it was so heady but in a very artifical way! Again I will be needing to find a new home for this as I don't want to waste it.

17 Blow Out Mascara

17 or should I say Seventeen (their new brand name) are one of my favourite high street brands with one of my favourite ever mascaras being their Wild Curls mascara so I had high expectations when trying out their fairly new/not really that new Blow Out mascara. Now to be fair I knew I wouldn't like it as soon as I opened it and saw the HUGE brush. You see big bristle-y mascara wands just aren't my thing, I find them hard to use, they never seem to volumise my lashes as I can't manage to get right to the roots and wiggle it around and I always get the mascara on my eyelids because the brush is just too big for me. So that is exactly what happened with this mascara. If you are a fan of say the Benefit Bad Gal mascara because of the brush then you may like this. But for me this was a big n0-no.

So there you have it. My disliked products from the brands I love!

It actually wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. So please if you have any hated products from brands you normally love them please do share in the comments.

Fee xo.

Carex Hands on Awards Competition

2013-04-29T10:30:00.000+01:00

Today I wanted to share with you a great competition Carex are running to celebrate it's 20th birthday.

Carex with be treating 20 busy pair of hands to a year's supply of Carex hand wash plus £500 worth of Red Letter Day vouchers to spend on whatever treats & days out you like!

To be in with a chance of winning these great prizes Carex want you to share a day in the life of your hands which Carex will pick 20 of the most compelling entries. Your entry can be a couple of sentences, a short written diary, some photos or even video footage.

The competition is open to all, whether you are a busy mum, a gardener always getting your hands dirty or even a beauty blogger! To enter the Carex Live Life Hands On Awards visit http://www.carex.co.uk/carex-live-life-hands-awards

The Red Letter Day vouchers can be spent on a whole host of days out and things to do, such as wonderful Spa Days, Theatre trips, Afternoon Teas, Family weekends away and dining experiences!

This really is a great competition if you lead an active life through your hands or if you fancy entering a competition that makes you get a bit creative!

If you do enter then really good luck!

Fee xo.

Quickie Pamper Night

2013-04-28T14:00:00.000+01:00

The other night I decided to have a bit of a pamper night. I was planning to have a shower anyway so decided to first apply a face mask and also use some of my favourite products.

I love having the odd pamper evening and after a stressful and long week I felt it was needed. But I'm not one for pampering myself all night so I picked out some products that are lovely to use but quick.

Here are the products I used and really do rate...

Good Things Five Minute Facial Mask 100ml

£5.99 - Boots here
Before getting in the shower I applied the lovely Good Things fruity face mask. I love Good Things for their summery fruity scented products but I also find them very affect as well. The mask only needs 5 minutes on the skin and dries in that time, but not in a tight can't move your mouth way. I actually have a mirror in my shower so I removed this with the Botanics Facial Brush (which I have loved for many years) and could see how radiant my skin looked. It really is a good mask for a quick brightening fix.

Macadamia Deep Repair Masque 100ml

£8.85 - Cheap Smells here
Pre-shower I also applied the Macadamia Deep Repair Masque to the ends of my dry unwashed hair for a more intensive treatment and put my hair up off my back with a big hair claw clips (I purchased mine for £1 from Primark) so that I could get in the shower. This mask is without a doubt the most affect treatment for my slightly over processed hair and leaves it so managable and frizz-free. I really couldn't be without this hair mask now!

Sara Happ Vanilla Bean Body Scrub 238g

£36.00 - Beauty Bay here
I'm pretty sure the gooey, sugar-y, vanilla image of the Vanilla Bean body scrub above shows how amazing it is but if you aren't convinced let me tell you how this is the most amazing smelling and feeling scrub I have ever used. I love Soap & Glory's The Breakfast Scrub but this is on a whole other level of yumminess (I may have even tasted it whilst in the shower...!). The wonderful scrub just feels so indulgent as it warms up on the skin and the sugar particles gently exfoliate. This also leaves behind just the right about of oil to moisturise the skin after bathing/showering. If you want to splurge on a luxe body scrub this really is the one to go for.

The Body Shop Shea Body Butter 50ml

£5.00 - Body Shop website here

After my extended shower I buttered up my skin with a the lovely Body Shop Shea Butter Body Butter which is just amazing to use. I absolutely love the texture of this and it smells perfectly nutty and creamy. I have so many other moisturisers and oils I love to use but this really does make me feel pampered due to the feel of it on my skin and the smell.

Rose & Co Sweet Vanilla Salve 20g

£5.99 - Amazon UK here

I also pulled out one of my favourite lip balms to use as I love my lip care and anything that tastes yummy on the lips. I have had this salve for such a long time now but this 20g tin is still going strong. This is the best vanilla lip balm I have discovered.

Elysambre Nail Care Oil 5ml

£9.29 Henna Herbals here

This is my favourite cuticle oil to use but sadly it is quite pricey for a small bottle of oil and it is only available on smaller websites. I have tried many cuticle oils and feel this one works so well because of the sweet almond oil in it as it soaks into the cuticles and skin so well. So a good alternative would be The Body Shop Almond Nail & Cuticle Oil - £5.25 here... though I have also heard some great things about the Superdrug Conditioning Cuticle Oil Pen which is only £2.99.

After using all of these products I settled down in bed and watched Seven Pounds which is one of my favourite films.

Hope you've all had a lovely weekend.

Fee xo.

Boots Seventeen On The Spot Foundation

2013-04-27T10:30:00.000+01:00

Today I have an exciting new product release from Seventeen (formally known as 17) to share you with!

Seventeen On The Spot Foundation is a new foundation to be launched in Boots stores nationwide from 13th May costing £6.99 for 30ml. The new foundation claims clearer skin in 4 weeks and aims to provide a full coverage finish.

The reason for these bold claims by Seventeen is that the foundation contains Salicylic Acid, a known spot fighting ingredient and whilst looking through the other ingredients I spotted Kaolin which helps to draw out impurities in the skin and is often used in clay face masks to help spots. So I will be trying to stick to using this foundation to see if it does help clear up the blemishes I currently have on my cheek. Yes, I did say my cheek! Worst place to have spots after the tip of your nose.

I have used this twice already and my first reactions to it are that it is full coverage and covers spots well and also Porcelain (the lightest shade is Porcelain - 6 shades available) is pretty good, not overly yellow or pink just a neutral pale shade. But if you are super pale it may be a little too dark but there will be testers of this in Boots when it comes out. The only thing I am not sure about is how it blends as it seems to set on the skin quite quickly, however I did apply it with my fingers so I will be trying it out with a brush next time. Though I will be doing an update next month to see if it has helped my skin and I can let you know which way I find best to apply it and if blending it is an issue.

I am actually really pleased to see this type of spot targeted foundation hitting the high street as there are just sooooo many foundations to pick from and none specifically say for blemish prone skin except for the Witch range.

If you are eager to try this then you can sign up to be notified of then this goes on sale on Boots.com here.

Fee xo.

No Mess Watercolour Nail Tutorial

2013-04-26T10:00:00.000+01:00

A while ago now I posted a nail of the day with some watercolour nails for spring (full post - here) and I promised to share a tutorial on them as the technique is so quick and easy to do - so here it is!

The great thing about this watercolour technique is that it doesn't require water or any nail art tools. Plus there is minimal clean up, in fact I didn't need to use any nail polish remover with these nails.

Another great thing about this technique is any nail polish combinations can be used. Here I used two shades of blue nail polish but you could definitely go for a multi coloured effect with more nail polishes.

As you can see you don't actually need many products for these nails. My only tips would be to use thin plastic bags, I would say you need two maximum and you can even cut them into rectangular pieces that are double the size of your nails to make things a bit easier.

Also I would suggest using an old top coat as you need to apply it while the nails are still wet to get the best effect and that can make the top coat in the bottle a bit cloudy.

Step 1 - Apply a few dots of your chosen nail polishes on to the nail using the nail polish brushes. Tip: I find it easier to open all the nail polishes I will be using first.

Step 2 - Taking your plastic bag you want to place a corner/section of it over the nail and lightly press down. As the sandwich bag is clear you will be able to see how far to the edges of the nail you are with the nail polish, so that you can press down a little harder is certain areas to spread the nail polish about.

Step 3 - Simply peel off the plastic bag and apply a clear top coat over the wet nail to merge the shades together more Tip: With the used part of the plastic bag simply fold it over while the nail is still wet so that is adheres and you don't get nail polish all over your hands.

As you do need to be quick so the nail polish doesn't become tacky this is 100% a do-one-nail-at-a-time jobbie. But it is simple and easy to do meaning it doesn't take any time at all and you can do the other hand without too much of a struggle!

But you don't need to stop there if you want extra summery nails! Just wait until your nails are fully dry and repeat the process with different coloured nail polishes. For my index finger I used Models Own Ice Neon in Bubblegum (I love how neon shades look over this), middle ringer I used Nails Inc Hampton Court Palace Gardens, ring finger China Glaze Wicked Style and little finger was Models Own Ice Neon again in Toxic Apple.

Then to finish off I applied a clear top coat to merge the shades and to make them look super glossy. Of course if you do have excess nail polish on the cuticles or skin then pour a little nail polish remover into the cap of the remover bottle and dip a cotton bud or nail art brush into it and remove it all that way.

I think creating this nail tutorial has convinced me I need to do a lot more tutorials for spring/summer.

Hope a few of you will give these nails a go!

Fee xo.

A Super Cheap Sigma Brush Cleaning Glove Dupe!

2013-04-25T10:30:00.000+01:00

If you own makeup brushes I am sure by now you have seen the fairly new Sigma Spa Brush Cleaning Glove (here).

I do love Sigma products especially their brushes and was actually impressed by the product idea... I mean why has anyone thought of it before now! But lets be honest it is a glorified silicone oven glove for £26?!

Which is why I decided to take to eBay and find myself a £2.95 version (various colours here - UK eBay seller). No, it doesn't have all the different cleaning 'textures' for different brushes but I really don't think that is needed at all. However it is just as thick, made of silicone and does have ridges to it.

As you can see for £2.95 you receive a pretty large thick silicone oven glove with different sized raised hearts on it. So you could say it does have different 'zones/textures' to it - the smaller heart ridges for eye brushes at the bottom of the glove and the large heart ridges for face brushes at the tip of the glove. Though all the ridges just work as well if I'm honest.

Trying it out for the first time the other day, as I had a ton of brushes to clean, I noticed some of the benefits to using the mitt instead of just washing all my brushes by hand. Firstly it of course keeps your hands dry which is great as washing brushes regularly by hand with a makeup solution/shampoo/washing up liquid can be quite drying on the skin. Also I found I needed a lot less shampoo with the mitt as the ridges when rubbed together created a lot of lather.

But the main benefit was without a doubt - time. It was just so much faster to clean each brush as you can really work the brush against the raised silicone and within a matter of seconds it the brush is clean and just needs rinsing under the tap - I even found you can clean eye brushes at the same time! Dare I even say it was actually fun to clean my makeup brushes this way, though I'm sure the novelty will wear off, but at least it will still be speedy cleaning with the oven mitt.

Lastly I found the mitt gave larger brushes a much better deep clean than I could do with my fingers, you can work up the lather inside the brush and really get the ridges cleaning it properly. That does soon a bit gimmicky but I did actually feel I was giving the larger brushes a much better clean in a shorter amount of time.

I am so impressed with how the cheap-y silicone oven glove works with cleaning makeup brushes. I think it is just one of those things that Sigma has over developed so they can stick a hefty price tag on it and it really doesn't need to be that complicated at all.

Really worth getting if you are a MUA or have a large collection of makeup brushes!

Fee xo.

Mid-Week Catch Up

2013-04-24T10:30:00.000+01:00

Today I thought I would have a bit of a catch up with you all as I have a few bits I wanted to share with you so thought I'd smoosh them all into one ramble-y post.

Firstly last week I won a giveaway! I never win anything as I don't enter many giveaways but I decided to enter Tanzina Zinio Magazine Subscription giveaway as she had 10 online magazine subscriptions to giveaway on her blog. Now I have actually used Zinio for a bit as I love reading international magazines but the price to have them delivered is way too much so an online subsciption is the next best thing.

International Magazines

I am subscribed to Inc. Magazine (an American business magazine), Marie Claire U.S, Elle Canada and now with winning Tanzina's giveaway I am subscribed to Fairlady (a South African lifestyle magazine).

I actually find south african magazines to be more similar to UK magazines than U.S ones and Fairlady really reminds me of a UK magazine I loved called Eve that closed in 2008. A few years ago I also use to subscribe to Elle Decoration South Africa as it was a lot more creative than any UK interior magazine. Anyways I am rambling now, but I am so happy that I won the giveaway. You can find Tanzina's lovely blog over at Makeup A to Z.

Bargain Real Techniques Brushes

Also at the end of last week I receive my bargain Real Techniques brushes from Amazon! I have seen so many reviews of the brush kits and decided on the Core Collection as I knew I would get a lot of use out of the larger brushes as I love perfecting a flawless base. However the only thing is that I want the Starter kit as well now!

I have only just started using them but based on all the positive reviews I am bound to love them. But once I have fully tried them out I will do a review of them or even a brush collection post as I have a good mixture of Sigma, No7, Royal & Langnickel and Eco Tool brushes.

I purchased the Real Techniques Core Collection Kit from Amazon for only £14.66 here however the price has now increased to £19.91 but I would definitely check the page every day as they do seem to be going up and down in price daily! So you could still snap up a bargain with either this set or the starter kit.

6 Week Sun Spot Challenge & ASOS

On other new things I have decided to dedicate 6 weeks to trying out the Eucerin Even Brighter Spot Corrector (£14.50 from Boots here), well hopefully longer if I see results! The reason for this is for the past year I have noticed quite a few sun spots around my eyes which even though as fairly faint (similar to larger freckles) I highly dislike. They seems to be a few dotted just underneath my eyebrows and them more under my eyes where eye bags normally form. I really believe the reason for this is many years of wearing glasses on sunny days and not sunglasses. However I haven't done anything to try to fade them, up until now that is. So far I have only been using it for 3 days, in the morning before I apply my makeup but I am actually going to try to photograph the spots and then in 6 weeks time I can compare the before & after images in a blog post. I really will be so impressed if there is a noticeable difference in under 2 months.

Lastly as you can see by my ASOS magazine I decided to re-subscribe for an ASOS Premier account. My premier account ran out in January and since then I have ordered a few things so I decided it would be handy to have it again. I actually have an order coming tomorrow with some ASOS sale bits. If you order from ASOS quite often then a premier account is pretty worth it for the next day/specific day delivery, free ASOS magazines and exclusive discounts.

I think that is me all caught up!

Tomorrow I have quite an unusual dupe but is it amazing and so cheap - I cannot wait to share it!

Fee xo.

My Lazy Girl Cleansing Routine

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When it comes to removing my makeup at the end of the day, nine times out of ten I cannot be bothered. However experience have taught me that if I don't want spots I need to never sleep in my makeup!

So I either remove my makeup as soon as I get home from where ever I have been, which is when I use a cleansing oil and muslin cloth soaked in hot water etc or if I am being lazy/ I get home late I opt for my lazy routine which can be done from bed and only takes a minute at most. So I thought I would show you, especially as I have updated it a bit in the last week and it's working better than ever for me.

As I have mainly oily skin with a few dry patches I like to go to sleep with all makeup removed and no residue of cleanser on my skin at all. This also means no moisturiser at night (I would just wake up with an oil slick over my T-zone, bluergh). However I do apply eye cream and moisture my neck & chest most nights.

My 3-Step Routine

My two main aims when removing my makeup at night are to quickly remove all makeup and to lay down for sleep times. Simple! So I have all three products on my bedside table and a stack of the larger cotton pads. I now even have a bin in my bedroom so I can just throw the used cotton pads straight into the bin from bed!

Step 1
Micellar Water to remove bulk of makeup

I first got into Micellar solutions when I tried the Taaj Micellar water (my favourite so far) that came in a beauty box, then I tried a lovely Melvita Rose one and now I am on to the new L'Oreal 3 in 1 Purifying Micellar Solution 200ml (currently £2.48 Superdrug here /2 for £6 in Boots). The reason why I love Micellar Waters is that the solution actually feels like you are using some sort of "soft" water on your skin. Which sounds odd, but it somehow feels like water but nicer. It dissolves makeup instantly and doesn't move the makeup around your face at all, which I LOVE! Right now I cannot recommend the new L'Oreal Micellar Solution more highly, it is just great. Also it is on offer everywhere right now. I picked up mine from Superdrug for under £2.50 - bargain!

Step 2
Eye Makeup Remover

Next step is to quickly remove my eye makeup. If I am wearing a lot of waterproof mascara I opt for the Bare Mineral Instant Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover (120ml for £12.96 from Look Fantastic here) which gets the most stubborn mascara off in seconds however this does leave the eye area quite greasy and I always seems to get the oil into my eyes making my vision blurry. However it really is a great product. But for general day-to-day eye makeup I use Clarins Gentle Eye Makeup Remover (125ml for £13.60 from Escentual here) for sensitive eyes, which is a none oily solution so doesn't leave much residue at all, if any really, and doesn't irritate my eyes. This isn't as instant however if I place the cotton pad over my closed eye for 10-15 seconds I can then sweep away most of my eye makeup and then rub lightly to remove all of my mascara.

Step 3
Toner to remove excess makeup and residue

My last step is to spritz another cotton pad with Lush's Tea Tree Toner Water (100g for £3.95 here) and sweep it all over my face to make sure I have removed all of the makeup and wipe off any oily residue on my face. I also feel this slightly cleanses my pores without any tight feeling at all. I love all of the Lush Toner Waters as they are so mild on the skin but refreshing.

Then with expertise I slam dunk my three used cotton pads in the bin and can settle down in bed to catch up on some You Tube before sleep.

I think in the near future I will write a post on my more thorough cleansing night routine as like my quicky/lazy routine I now have it down to a T for my skin type.

Fee xo.