MakeupSavvy - Makeup And Beauty Blog

NOTD - Barry M Sequin Nail Effect White

2013-05-25T10:30:00.000+01:00

Barry M have recently upped the stakes when in comes to interesting nail polish effects on the high street. From textured to confetti effect and huge range of glitters, Barry M now offer an amazing amount of unique nail paints for £3.99 each.

The fairly new Sequin Nail Effects come in three shades - SNP1 (white), SNP2 (black), SNP3 (pink). You can always rely on good ol' Barry for some creative nail polish names - not!

The Sequin Nail Effects are described as textured sparkle for your nails and they are just that... but I'm still a bit on the fence with this 'textured sparkle' malarky. I received the Sequin Nail Effects in White as a present for my birthday, which was a good neutral choice to try out. However from applying it straight to my nails I decided it was a bit too sheer and I wasn't sure on the white, so I decided to apply it over Barry M Lychee (NOTD of Lychee here).

In my head I was hoping for a 'cookie dough with glitter' look to my nails and it kind of is, but there is just something about the texture (which is like liquid sand) that I'm not too sure about.

I kind of feel the texture doesn't need to be there really and if it was just a smooth sheer-ish nail polish with suspended sequins it would be similar to jelly sandwich nails (here is an example if your aren't sure what I mean) which would still be unique but pretty. So to remove some of the texture I decided to apply Models Own Pro Matte Top Coat which did help but again I'm not that in love with it. Having said all of that I have seen swatches of the Sequin Effect in Pink and it does literally reminds me of birthday cake on the nails which I actually really love!

As for application I found it did apply fairly well though it does feel a bit gritty to apply and the finish definitely isn't smooth to touch but quite rough and semi-matte. But I guess a clear or matte top coat could be applied to fix that.

This is definitely a unique range of nail paints from Barry M but I'm just not sure!

What do you think of this textured sequin effect?

Fee xo.

10 Things I Hate About Makeup - Part 1

2013-05-23T10:30:00.000+01:00

Cheery title I hope you'll all agree!
Today instead of praising beauty products I thought I would let you know my pet-peeves when it comes to all things makeup related.

I will also be doing a '10 things I love about makeup' post so that it isn't all doom and gloom.

*Warning - This may be a ranty post*

1. Eyeshadow applicators
Just why? It is now 2013 and I think most of us have realised that using our fingers is a much better tool than the crappy foam/plastic applicators that come with eyeshadows. I think the only time I have used one with an eyeshadow was when I first tried eyeshadow and surprise surprise realised how rubbish the applicators were so ditched them for using my fingers and then finally in my late teens discovered makeup brushes. Eyeshadow applicators just need to be eradicated!

2. High Street makeup is becoming too pricey!
For me high street makeup has always been the savvy option. Pop into Boots pick up a few things and spend £15 max... now you pick up a few things that you want to try out and maybe repurchase that mascara you love and BAM your receipt states £35 and you shed a little tear and try to think 'ooooh but the Boots Advantage points I will have now'... or maybe that is just me. Of course you could say it is the rate of inflation but I really am sure most mascara were around the £5 mark a few years a go and now the likes of L'Oreal, Bourjois, Max Factor etc are bringing out mascaras that are £12... I don't care about how it will 'nourish' my lashes or give them '3D volume' I want a mascara for £5 again!

3. 'Beige' should never be a foundation shade nor should it be the only shade that free foundation samples come in!
Warm beige, true beige, sand beige, classic beige, deeply beige, creamy beige. These are just a few of beige shades that can be found in foundation ranges. Sometimes a foundation with only 9 shades can have three different types of beige. Yet I have never heard of anyone class their skin tone as beige - ever! Warm, olive toned, honey maybe but beige is just a shade that old people like to wear, a lot. As for foundation samples in magazines I don't know where to start really, so I won't, but it is definitely frustrating that all brands follow the same path and don't cater for lighter and darker skinned people when it comes to free sachet samples.

4. Unhygienic makeup stands, disgusting testers and opened makeup!
Where to start with this one! Of course I am pointing my attention towards unmanned stands in places such as Boots, Superdrug and various supermarkets as they generally aren't up kept to a good standard and are pretty darn messy and un-hygienic. Clearly it is annoying that testers are messy and aren't wipes with alcohol but what really annoys me is when people open actual products and test them?! So many times I have not been able to buy a lipstick/concealer/foundation etc in a specific shade because they have all been opened and used. Or even worse is when you purchase a product to find out it's already been used when you get home! But for that I see a simple solution - a sign on the makeup stands that states that if you open any product that isn't a tester you have to pay for it. It of course wouldn't solve the problem but I'm sure it would reduce it. It really does need to be made clear that it isn't acceptable.

5. Cheap but Useless Makeup sets
I guess this one doesn't apply to me now, but I remember when I first got into makeup (I would be around 13) I wanted one of those large makeup sets that contained everything. You could normally buy them from Argos or Bodycare for around £10. I'm even sure they still exist. But looking back they were such bad quality! I'm talking crumbly eyeshadow, course makeup brushes and dodgy shades. I was hoping that the beauty industry/brands now, over 10 years on, would be a bit better but it really doesn't seem the case as I found out when playing with my nieces Hello Kitty Makeup set last Christmas . The £25.00 case from Argos contained hair bobbles, a brush, nail separates and then of course the usual glitter, lip gloss, eyeshadows and mini nail polishes, all of which were terrible quality. I really was amazed at how rubbish everything was... the nail polish didn't actually dry, the lip gloss was a sticky mess, the eyeshadow didn't transfer onto the little applicators and it was all in the cheap plastic packaging that actually ripped and became sharp! Brands such as MUA and Beauty UK have proven that makeup can be pretty good quality and cheap so there is just no need for nameless brands to cash in when it comes to large makeup sets for young girls and teens.

As I rambled on so much I have decided to write a part 2, so you can look forward to more ranting soon!

Let me know what you hate most about makeup.

Fee xo.

Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Speed Dry Drops Review

2013-05-22T10:30:00.000+01:00

Today I have a bit of a miracle product to share with you, if you paint your nails often or always leave painting them until the last minute before heading out the door.

I purchased the Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Speed Dry Drops back in February and since then it has become one of my staple nail items.

The Speed Dry Drops are designed to be used after painting the nails to speed up the drying time. Just simply add 1-2 drops of the liquid on to each nail and wait. Within 1-2 minutes the nails are touch dry and within 4-5 minutes the nail polish will be set hard, so no risk of smudging or denting them! To give you an idea of the normal full drying time if I applied 3 coats of nail polish to my nails it would take about 15 minutes for them to be fully dry so this really does speed things up!

When you add the drops to each nail the drops do spread over the nail and floods the cuticles which is supposed to condition them, however I can't say I have noticed any difference... though I do take care of my cuticles anyway. Within a minute or so the drops have been absorbed which doesn't change the finish of the nail at all - always a good thing.

This is just a handy addition to your nail kit if - You enjoy nail art and want a totally set base to work on. Are always on the last minute painting your nails. Or like me, seem to always do them before bed and then end up with the thread print of the duvet embossed in the nail polish!

You can find the Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Speed Dry Drops on eBay for £3.99 with free p&p - here.

Fee xo.

Oh My Birthday Haul - May 2013

2013-05-21T10:30:00.000+01:00

As promised, here is my Birthday haul!

Apparently I'm hard to buy, or so I'm told! But this year I received so many lovely gifts that are me all over. My favourite gifts were the Charbonnel et Walker Pink Champagne Truffles as they are my absolute favourite chocolates that I only have at Birthdays and Christmas. Also the Orchid I received is just amazing as it's actually artificial so I will be able to keep it forever!

As for beauty related presents I received so many new nail polishes (Color Club, Barry M & W7) which are just perfect for summer. Plus lots of lovely Revlon lip products courtesy of the wonderful Maxi from The Lipstick Blog... I think this was because she was shocked I hadn't tried out any of the Revlon Lip Butters! She also tracked down the Chanel Peridot nail polish iPhone case that I was seriously lusting after.

If you would like reviews of anything in this post just let me know in the comments.

Thank you for all the birthday wishes, I received so many that I couldn't reply to all of them but it certainly made me feel very special!

Fee xo.

My Top 3 Moisturisers for Combination Skin

2013-05-20T10:30:00.000+01:00

Skin is a difficult old thing isn't it!

From my teens until my twenties I was adamant my temperamental combination skin didn't need moisturising. I had visions of any cream making my skin more oily and breaking me out, so I stayed well away from moisturisers.

However over the past 5 years my knowledge of skincare has grown so much and I now realise I should have been using a moisturiser all along, even on the dry areas of my face at the very least. With better skincare knowledge I have now incorporated a few light moisturisers that have really helped my skin out. It did take a lot of trial and error with moisturisers that were too thick/heavy but I finally have three moisturisers I wouldn't be without.

No7 Beautiful Skin Day Cream for Normal/Oily
£12.50 here

This was the first moisturiser that I felt I could use daily and it wouldn't over hydrating my skin. It is light, gentle and plumps up the skin slightly before foundation, which it creates a nice base for. When I have a dry patch (normally on my head or the sides of my nose) I really moisturise this on to the area and the dry skin vanishes.

If you feel your skin type is confused with the odd blemish and dry patch then this is definitely worth giving ago when the No7 £5 off skincare vouchers are around... which is now!

Positives - Specifically for normal to oily skin, contains SPF, Hypo - allergenic.

Negatives - It's in a pot; not hygienic, not fragrance free.

Kiko Skin Glow Light Effect Day Cream

£12.90 - here

Kiko is still a bit hard to get hold of in the UK, unless you live in London and can visit one of two amazing stores. However you can shop online but delivery costs are a bit steep at £5.90 (as the products come direct from Italy!). But if you are shopping at Kiko because it's actually an amazing brand (think MAC for the shade ranges but a lot cheaper) then this day cream is a must for summer for all skin types. I say this because it is just so light and soaks into the skin immediately.

So even though this cream isn't specifically for oily/combination skin types it will work well with it... unless you have super oily skin and don't want to add a glow/shimmer. For me I use this on days when my skin is feeling quite balanced - not too oily, not too dry and it just add a subtle glow to my skin before I apply my foundation. This could also be used on it's own for makeup-free days. I have tried many creams that have an added shimmer but this one is just spot on as you can't detect the shimmer when it's absorbed into the skin. It just brightener the whole face somehow. Really impressed.

Positives - Super light, brightening, contains SPF, nice packaging.

Negatives - Only 40ml, not fragrance free.

Super Facialist Tea Flower Mattifying Moisturiser

£12.99 - here Boots online or in-store

This is the moisturiser I turn to when skin isn't behaving and is becoming overly oily in areas and I'm seeing breakouts. The mattifying moisturiser of course does just that - mattifies the skin before applying makeup but it also re-balances the skin after continuous use. So as I mentioned, if my skin is feeling a bit rubbish I ditch my other moisturisers and stick with this for a week or so and with spot treatments (Origins Spot Remover) my skin does get back to normal.

Also for the price this really does feel like the ingredients are beneficial for the skin and a lot of thought has gone into making it a moisturiser that is just right for oily skin that is feeling unbalanced and needs sorting out.

Positives -The ingredients - contains Salicylic Acid, great quality for the price, larger than normal volume with 75ml.

Negatives - None that I can see!

It is tempting as a beauty blogger to try out more moisturisers (and skincare products in general!) but I have realised my skin is happy with the products I use and know adding more in to the mix is risking breakouts etc. So for now I have my No7 Day Cream which I use the most, the Kiko Skin Glow for when I want a glowy, fresh finish and to enhance when my skin is at it's best and finally the Super Facialist moisturiser for when my skin needs some good ingredients to get it back on track after being rubbish. I also sometimes use the Organic Surge Blissful Daily Moisturiser (£8.49/50ml) if I have any really dry patches that need sorting out instantly.

Finding a moisturiser when you have oily/combination skin can be difficult, but trust me finding the right one for your skin is more than worth it!

Fee xo.

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

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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.