How To: Clean Makeup Brushes

It was only fairly recently that I decided to invest in some decent makeup brushes. I was always just using my fingers to smother it all on or sometimes I used those naff ones that come with Christmas box sets. I first decided to purchase some brushes from Eco Tools (Boots) but then invested even more into the Real Techniques brushes. Since I made the decision to spend a small fortune on some decent brushes, the realisation came that they needed to be looked after and nurtured. With a bit of research on brush cleaning, and various, previous attempts, I think I've finally found the best way to get rid of all the build-up of makeup.

1. Gather up all brushes that need washing, to save running around later on with soap suds flying everywhere (I have learnt by experience).
2. My brush cleansing routine has four steps per brush (cleaned one by one). It may seem a lot but this is my deep cleanse, so I want the job doing properly. Now may be the time to mention, these are personal use only brushes. I never use them on any other person, and if I did they would be cleaned thoroughly both before and afterwards. They also get cleaned between product changes, whether it's just a change of eye shadow colour or a new foundation. However, if an eye shadow brush has only been once and I want a new colour, I tend to just give it a good wipe over using Sensitive Wet Ones.
3. For the first stage I like to remove as much product as I can before using any 'real' cleaning products. For this I just use any hand soap, it's brilliant for getting removing makeup from brushes in bulk. The brush is scrubbed around in the palm of my hand and run under luke warm water until no suds remain and the water is running almost clear.
4. Next I use a cleansing shampoo, today I used Toni&Guy Cleanse Shampoo for Advanced Detox (usually on 3 for 2 in Boots). Surely if the product can deep cleanse hair, it will be much better for with brushes? The logic seems to work in my head anyway, and it does seem to give a much more thorough clean.
5. Due to the last two, deep cleansing, steps, the next is to hydrate the brush again and as with hair again, I use a deep conditioning shampoo. The Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Shine is brilliant for this but any good conditioner will do. I only leave the conditioner on for around 30 seconds then rinse the brush ensuring that this time the water runs completely clear once it is completely rinsed.
6. Then, because I'm a bit of a germaphobe and I don't trust leftover chemicals, I spray the bristles with the Clinique Makeup Brush Cleanser then swirl them around on a piece of kitchen roll. Although the bottle says to rinse with water, I tend not to. Mainly due to laziness but mostly because I like the active ingredients to carry on working. I do however, tissue dry them as much as possible while working them back into their individual shapes. They are then left to dry over a surface edge, eg. the handles on a shelf with the bristles over the edge, to allow them to dry at all angles (see picture 1, much faster).

 

 

One last thing, remember to wipe clean all your makeup holders/cases! There's no point in washing and disinfecting all of your brushes if you are just going to put them back in their place to fester in the same, old germs. I like to give mine a quick wipe down with Halo Hygienic Wipes which are antibacterial.

 

Happy Cleaning!!

 

A

 

xx

Essie After School Boy Blazer

Yes, I crumbled and gave in to the new 'it product of Autumn. After School Boy Blazer from Essie's new collection is the most coveted colour right now and I can definitely see why. The colour is a very dark navy with a slight hint of glisten. In some lights it can look black, but in others the perfect deep navy. It's absolutely stunning and definitely one to look it if you don't want to go with full on black nails. It's also a really lovely colour to wear if you don't want to be completely traditional with your Autumn nails this season. Everybody does the reds, burgundies and grey/nudes at this time of year, so it's nice to have such a fitting but different colour.

If you want to get this, beautybay.com actually have it on sale right now here. Even more reason to pick it up!

A

xx

Bzz Agent Campaign: Introduction to the Foreo Luna Mini

Yesterday, I finally got asked to take part in another Bzz Agent campaign and I'm so excited about this one! Obviously I only accepted yesterday and so haven't actually received my kit yet but I thought I'd look a bit more into the product. Firstly, I checked out what it actually looked like, so here's a picture I found.

I think the design looks really user friendly and not too complicated. Reading more into the design of this product, I found that it boasts a three-zone design which is suitable for all skin types. It is also fully waterproof, which sounds amazing. There's nothing worse than using a product, knowing you're going to have to clean it or use it with water, to realise that you're not meant to actually get it wet. The actual brush part of the Luna Mini is made from silicone, which is supposedly more gentle on the skin than regular cleansing brushes. The silicone also means that no bacteria is built up, and so is pretty hygienic.

The Foreo website promises that the Luna Mini will result in clearer, brighter and healthier looking skin. It uses T-Sonic technology and channels transdermal sonic pulsations across the skin, and apparently after just three days I should notice a difference in the condition of my skin.

The Foreo Luna Mini even comes in five different colours; Petal Pink, Turquoise Blue, Magenta, Purple and Cool Grey. I just hope this product lives up to the claims made about it. I was going to buy the No7 (clarisonic-like) cleansing brush but as soon as this campaign was offered to me, I jumped at the chance! I seriously cannot wait for this to come in the post. I will do an update once I've been using it for a week or so to let you all know what it's like.

A

xx

Glossybox September 2013, Operning and First Thoughts

Yay it's Glossybox time!! I was so excited when I saw the box spoiler this month, it looked amazing and didn't disappoint when it arrived. It's definitely becoming a 'thing' with Glossybox, that the special boxes contain much better products.

 

This month's Glossybox theme is 'The London Edition', and the box has a brilliant Union Jack design. This box also came with the new GB magazine which is a really lovely addition to Glossyboxes. My box was filled with the best goodies I think I've ever received in a box!

 

Product One: Elizabeth Arden Untold £48 for 50ml (5ml sample size worth £4.80)

This is a brilliant sample size to get in a Glossybox, and the bottle is really cute and pretty as well. If only it had a spray, but you can't have everything I suppose. The scent smells quite floral and I did try it out today. I'm not too impressed with the lasting power, I seemed to stop smelling it after an hour or so. Not sure if I would buy this again but I was a bit frugal with how much I used.

 

Product Two: Eylure Pre-Glued Lashes Full size worth £5.06

I was happy to see these in my box, even though I'm not usually a fan of lashes I'm willing to try out different brands and types to see if some work better than others. So far I've not had much luck but I'll definitely give them a go!

 

Product Three: Toni&Guy Hair Meet Wardrobe Classic Shine & Gloss Serum Full size worth £7.19

The limited edition packaging of this product is gorgeous! I love the colours and I think they're perfect for this time of year. I haven't tried the serum yet but I do use serum at home. At the moment I use one from Aussie which is a little bit cheaper that this one, but if the results are good then I don't mind paying a bit extra.

 

Product Four: Be A Bombshell Cosmetics Onyx Eye Liner Full size $14

This was the product which made me extra excited this month! I've been thinking of trying a liquid liner with marker like nib for a while now, so this came at exactly the right time. I immediately tried it out on the back of my hand and loved how easily it glided on and how I was able to create thick or thin lines. It isn't a waterproof product but without water it will not budge. However, when I did my makeup this morning, I really struggled to get any product out. It might be because I'm just not used to the application or because I had makeup on my eyes already for it to layer over. I'm definitely going to keep practicing with this product though because I just really want it to work and be amazing.

 

Product Five: Dr Lipp Original Nipple Balm for Lips £11.50 for 15ml (3ml sample size worth £2.30)

I had heard of this product before but was always a bit unsure about it. Why keep calling it a nipple balm if it's really a lip balm/multi-purpose balm? I couldn't even bring myself to tell my mum it's actual name. However, this balm is said to be brilliant for almost anything from lips and eczema to even helping to treat burns. If it's as much of a miracle as it sounds, I would definitely look into buying this again.

 



 

So that's it for this month. My box in total was worth £28.20! I am completely in love with my box this time around and will definitely be getting more in the future. I have earned a free Glossybox by saving my Glossydots but as next month is likely to be a not so good box, I may wait until the November box to order again. Until next time!

 

A

 

xx

 

 

New Look Wish List: Autumn 2013

So, because I've decided to book a big holiday for the start of next year, I'm living on a budget. My decision to start writing these posts came from my addiction to online shopping, but not being able to buy everything (sigh). Hopefully, by searching for lovely clothes and being able to share them with everyone, it will lessen my need to purchase.

 

 

1. Checked Shirt, £17.99 - a classic but reinvented, this year with different colour schemes (more tartan inspired) and sleeveless. Previously checked shirts have been worn as a kind of 'throw-over' but this year they're worn as a 'traditional' shirt. I can imagine this one with leggings or denim shorts for the daytime but it could be dressed up tucked into a black pleather skater skirt or disco pants.

 

 

2. Hair Bows, £3.99 - gorgeous and simple bows to wear in your hair. I love bows on anything but I especially love these for a little cute detail. They're especially good for hiding hairpins when your hair is in a bun. I've got 9 of these bows already, and I'm addicted!

 

 

3. Bobble Hat, £7.99 - Now the colder weather is on its way, yet again we are forced to bring out our warmer clothes. A beanie like this is perfect for keeping your head warm but looking stylish as well, they're a staple for winter style (and help to hide those bad hair days too!).

 

 

4. Limited Edition Cut Out Boots, £69.99 - The most expensive thing on my list, and SHOCKER, my favourite item! I desperately need these shoes in my wardrobe, just hope they're still available when my student loan comes through! Sensible yet stylish footwear perfect for the coming winter weather.

 

 

5. Structured Pocket Dress, £32 - Yellow is a colour I wouldn't usually go for, but this dress is absolutely stunning. The structure of it is so different to the dresses I've seen recently and looks so flattering! I suffer from having a 'boyish' figure, so the silhouette of this would help give me a few curves. I think I'd pair this with some killer red shoes and a bold clutch.

 

 

 

 

6. Pinafore Dress £19.99 - This is absolutely perfect for the 'dungaree' kind of trend that's going on at the moment, for people who want to work it a bit differently. New Look are also selling a white shirt with black hearts on at the moment which would look amazing with this dress! Summer may be coming to an end but this could look brilliant with a pair of chunky black tights and a pair of black boots.

 

 

 

 

7. Boyfriend Cardigan, £22.99 - A bit steep for a cardigan I'd say but if the cardigan is as cosy as it looks in this picture I'm all for it. There's a lot of cardigans out there at the moment but I've not seen any which caught my eye quite as much as this one did. The perfect shade of cream with big brown buttons, perfects for autumn.

 

 

 

8. Roll-sleeve Burgundy Blazer, £24.99 - This colour is so gorgeous and I think it makes everything look so much more flattering. Blazers are perfect to wear with almost any outfit, dress up jeans or pair with a pair of printed trousers to go out at night. Don't ever buy a blazer if it doesn't fit you perfectly. An often tedious rule but an important one.

 

9. Teal Slouch Bag, £24.99 - Everything about this bag screams PERFECT for summer to autumn transitions. It will go with your bright summery clothing to those new, dark florals that we're seeing in shop windows! And what's better than a bag with both handles and a shoulder strap? That chain might hurt after a while though. No pain, no gain right?

 

10. Tapestry Print Bangles, £6.99 - What girl can't go without some pretty accessories. What more is there to say?



 





Getting Creative: Glossybox Storage Drawers

Recently, there's been a lot of these sorts of posts on the internet and when I saw them I knew I had to have a go myself! So here it is..

 

1.  Choose which 3 Glossyboxes you want to use. I decided on two plain pink ones and the pink floral design. Pick two lids which will be used as the sides of the drawers and decide on which way round you want them. Fold down one of the longer sides on each of the lids and stick down. You may need to cut the lids at the corners to do this.

 

 

2.       You will now be able to see where the drawers will slot into place. I chose not to make back or base boards for mine, just because I didn't have any spare cardboard lying around and couldn't justify cutting up another Glossybox, for parts that can't be seen anyway. Where the cuts and folds were made on the lids, I covered the exposed messy bits with little snips of ribbon. This isn't necessary but I just thought it looked tidier and really cute. You can get this (pre-glued) ribbon from most craft shops, usually in the card making section.

3.      To hold everything into place I used the third and final box lid, stuck upside down to each of the side panels was perfect. Everything feels secure and it can really hold a lot of weight. I wanted to have the top as another storage type thing, to hold all my perfumes in.

 

4.      Finally I made three cute bows to use for the front of each drawer. They are just made from one Glossybox ribbon, sewn in a bow shape with a bit of cotton. I added a few beads to the bows as well just because I found a few lying around and thought they would look pretty. I used a needle to punch a hole through each draw and the cotton still attached to the bow, was pushed through and glued on the inside. They definitely aren't sturdy enough to use as handles but because I didn't have a back board I just push the drawers out that way.

 

I loved making these and they really didn't take that much time at all. There's so many different versions online to look at and it's my favourite way of getting some inspiration! Let me know if you try this yourself, I'd love to see pictures!

 

A

 

xx





Glossybox August 2013: Box Opening, First Impressions and Review

It's that time of month again! My Glossybox has arrived! We are back to the standard box design again (not that I'm complaining), I do love the simplicity of it. This month's theme is Highflyers  'filled with beauty goodies perfect for the girl on the go'. My first thought was, 'oh, more travel and holiday products'. To be honest, I was expecting something more around a 'start of autumn' theme,  but hey ho.

Product One: Urban Veda, Neem + Botanics Purifying Day Cream

10ml Tube worth around £2.60 ( Full Size 50ml, £12.99)

 

The first thing I noticed about this product was it's strong scent, of TOOTHPASTE?!  I've just applied this to my face to and its all I can smell and it's even making my eyes water. Not a good start. However, this product promises to naturally combat pollution and leave skin less vulnerable to the environment, with no SLS, Parabens or GM ingredients. If I see a difference from using this over the following week, I may change my mind about the smell. At least it's minty fresh and not a horrible scent. As it is designed for oil-prone skin, the cream simply melted into my skin and didn't leave any sort of residue. I love that, as it is nice, quick and easy to use in the mornings.

 

Product Two: TRESemme Keratin Smooth Concentrated Treatment Shot

15ml (Full Size) Tube worth £1.49

 

 

I do love trying out new products like this, that I would be sceptical about purchasing for myself without trying them out first. I've tried many different conditioning treatments before now and many have really let me down. However, I do often use TRESemme products so it will be interesting to see how well this works on my hair!

 

 

Product Three: Oceane Make Up Remover Pen

Full size (I think), not yet available in the UK

 

Firstly, I don't understand why in the UK Glossybox we are getting sent things that we aren't going to be able to re-purchase? It seems completely bonkers to me. With a quick search on ebay, I did find quite a few for sale, but I really don't like buying make up products in that way. Especially for products to be used on the face, unless you buy them from an official ebay shop, you're in no way guaranteed that it is completely safe to use. I'll probably use this just to remove any mistakes I make with eyeliner or mascara but I don't see a way that I could re-purchase this if I wanted to. A real disappointment to be honest.





Product Four: Emite Make Up Eyelash Curler

Full Size, Worth Approx. £20

 

Another 'iffy' product from this month's Glossybox. I don't understand why everybody loves eyelash curlers?! They look like a torture tool and never have any visible or lasting effects. I am fortunate to have rather long, curly lashes so I wouldn't say I needed them anyway, but surely investing in a good mascara does the trick anyway. My mum who has blonde, short eyelashes doesn't use eyelash curlers either, just a good mascara. I just really don't understand the hype. I probably won't use these at all to be honest.

 

Product Five: Jelly Pong Pong 2-in-1 Eyeliner & Shadow

Full Size worth £10.50

 

Now, I'm always dubious about any product which claims to be '2-in-1' as to me it sounds like just another marketing idea. With this, I found it sort of agreed with me but not how you would think. The eyeliner was awful to apply and there's no way anyone could apply a neat, thin line with the pencil. But when I then went to smudge it out, it blended so nicely into a gorgeous smoky eye look, and didn't even have a base coat of colour to blend with. It looked magnificent just on its own. Just one downside was that the product could work better with a smudger attached to the bottom of the pencil to save getting my fingers covered in black eyeliner. I'll be keeping an eye on how well this eyeliner/shadow lasts as well, because surely anything that smudges so easily can't last a significant amount of time? We will see!

 

 

 

 

Overall, this month's Glossybox hasn't been the best I've received but I think that's just part of how it works. Last month's was absolutely amazing and this, not so much. I do look forward to using the hair treatment and eyeliner pencil for sure. The box totalled over £34.59 without including the not yet available make up remover pen! So, I guess it is still worth more than I paid for it, and so worth the money!

 

A

 

xx



Boots Haul!

Naughty me decided to do a bit of shopping at boots. If anyone asks, yes I did need all this stuff! This was bought over three different times, but I thought I could just do a bit of a collective haul on one post.

 

So, to begin with I nipped into boots to re-purchase the Loreal Nude Magique CC Cream Anti-Dullness (£9.99). I was sent a sample of this product a few months ago, and absolutely fell in love with it! The consistency is perfect for summer, giving just a light coverage that can be built up or even mixed with foundation to allow more coverage. I've just been wearing this one its own with just a touch of concealer, and it's been brilliant! I also thought, seeing as I loved the CC Cream so much, I should try a Loreal concealer. I went for the Touche Magique True Match Anti-Fatigue Illuminating Concealer (£8.19). I haven't given this a try yet but my fingers a crossed for good things! As there was a 3 for 2 offer on Loreal products at the time, for my free product I chose a Glam Shine Miss Candy Lipgloss in the shade Tart Lollipop. It comes out quite sheer on the lips with just a hint of a coral colour. Perfect for everyday use in the summer!

 



 I then had a search around on boots online shop and, decided to treat myself to a few different things, not available at the store near my home. I've been wanting to try out the Maybelline Baby Lips for ages, since seeing reviews on youtube. Though I've heard the ones in the UK are a different (and not as good) formula to the ones available in the US. I got the flavours Peach Kiss, Pink Punch, and Intense Care (all £2.99). There was again, a 3 for 2 offer on so I only paid £5.98 for all three. I also bought myself a Balmi Lipbalm in the flavour Coconut (usual price £4.99, but there was £2 off so I paid £2.99). I saw the kardashians using this so when I realised I could buy it in the UK I had to get it! So far I am really impressed with it, the packaging is so cute and it feels really moisturising on my troublesome lips.

Continuing with my online purchases, I really wanted to see what the Sinful Colors Nail Polishes were like, after seeing a good review about them. I chose the colours, Cinderella (baby blue with pink sparkles), Island Coral (a very pale, pinky coral) and Bali Mist ( a sort of metallic looking purple). I'm really excited to try them out!

For my third group of purchases from Boots I went to a bigger one not far from me which stock a much larger variety of products. I had to re-purchase my much loved (previously mentioned) Barry M Yellow Topaz Glitter (£2.99) and saw there was another offer on Barry M Nail Paints. It was spend £6 and get a new limited edition nail paint for free. I'd wanted to get another Gelly (£3.99) colour anyway so decided to buy the colour Prickly Pear, in order to get the free limited edition Yellow (it has no fancy name?).



Finally I had to catch up on 'essentials' and decided to try out a new deodorant. I've been more into using roll-on deodorant in the past months, it just seems to work more effectively and I don't get a mouthful of deodorant every morning. Dove have brought out new scented deodorants, and I chose the Cucumber and Green Tea (£2.35). It does smell really lovely and works well, I'll probably use this as my all-round product now. Then for a handbag essential, Wet Ones, because I'm that one person who always spills things/drink explodes etc. These Be Zingy wipes (£1.15 or 2 for £2) smell so fresh and are just lovely and handy in summer. My other essentials, that I would recommend to anyone, especially for this time of year are the Batiste Dry Shampoo Tropical Scent (£2.99), Maybelline The Falsies in Blackest Black (£7.99) and Boots Botanics Rosewater Toning Spritz (£4.99).

If you want any in-depth reviews of any products mentioned in my haul then please feel free to request them. I love shopping in Boots and especially love searching for bargains. Remember to always take advantage of what's on offer and if something isn't on offer one week, it's likely to be the following week. Also, make sure to check your receipts if you shop in-store, there are loads of vouchers given away to take advantage of. For one of these purchases I used a 'Double Your Points' voucher, and then I got two more vouchers after that purchase as well!

A

xx

My Nail Polish Collection: Barry M

I've decided to create a series of posts about my (ridiculously huge) nail polish collection. So, I'm going to begin with my Barry M Nail Paints. I have 34 altogether! I just can't seem to help myself, every time I go into Boots or Superdrug I just have to buy more! They're so affordable at either £2.99 or £3.99 a bottle, how can you not?! Even better if there's a 3 for 2 offer on! So here goes..

'Lets start at the very beginning. A very good place to start.' - Original (Block) Nail Paints
These are the simple colours from Barry M.

 

Colours from top to bottom, left to right: Emerald Green, Teal, Mint Green, Berry Ice Cream, Bright Purple, Vivid Purple, Indigo, Cobalt Blue, Grey, Lemon Ice Cream, Peach Melba, Pink Flamingo, Lusky Mauve, Raspberry and Shocking Pink. (I did used to have 'Pink Ice Cream' (?) but I ran out, oops!)
I love Mint Green, Berry Ice Cream, Cobalt Blue and Peach Melba for the Summer months. Vivid Purple and Raspberry are the perfect colours for winter time! However, I definitely wouldn't recommend buying Lusky Mauve, in the shop it looked lovely with all the bright lighting but when I tried it, my nails just came out a murky brown colour. Huge disappointment!

Second Mini Collection - Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine Nail Paints.
The most brilliant Nail Polishes I've tried in a long time! The formulation is amazing!

 

I can't actually believe I've only got 4 colours of this! (Must buy more!!)

Colours left to right: Satsuma, Guava, Watermelon and Blueberry.

These nail paints are becoming a cult must-have in the beauty world and EVERYONE is getting them! Most people seem to have bought the Blueberry colour or the lilac shade that's available, but my ultimate favourite has got to be the Guava shade. It makes my tan look even darker and I got so many compliments when I wore it! The picture doesn't quite show the true colour of the Watermelon shade, which is what I think of as an ivy/forest green. Perfect for winter!



Part Three of My Obsession Collection - Barry M Nail Effects

The more 'out there' part of my whole nail varnish collection! Obviously I bought the crackle effect bottle (as did every girl in the UK) which I loved to pieces! I then bought the gold version thinking it would make a lovely top coat, but I couldn't have been more wrong. It come appears as a dirty (not glittery) yellow and doesn't even seem to 'crackle'. I also purchased the crocodile effects bottle in black, but that had similar effects to the gold and ended up in the bin. Yet another disappointment was the Textured Nail Effects in 'Atlantic Road', this polish just doesn't look right even when freshly applied, and chips almost instantly. My boyfriend hates the feeling so much, he won't hold my hand if I have this on. So definitely a no no. On to brighter notes, the silver foil effects is brilliant (even better with a silver glitter top coat) as is the Silvery Lilac, which looks on your nails just as it looks in the bottle (far right). Finally the Chameleon Colour Change nail effects are also exactly as you expect. The concept still baffles me though.

The last but certainly not least - Barry M Nail Paints GLITTER COLLECTION!!
My favourite ever! (Maybe because I've always been a bit obsessed with anything that sparkles)

 

Colours from top to bottom: Rose Quartz Glitter, Diamond Glitter, Yellow Topaz Glitter, Black Multi Glitter, Silver Glitter, Pink Silver Glitter, Copper and Red Glitter.

The first five are more top coat type glitters where as the other can be used as a block colour or as a top coat. The Diamond Glitter and Yellow Topaz Glitter and by far my favourites! I've never seen such nice glitter polish in all my life, I always get so many compliments when I wear it! I've been sent off to the shop to buy more of this for people because as soon as they see it, they want it for themselves. The other colours are all also absolutely brilliant, I especially love the red glitter over a bright red base! It's my staple nail varnish for Christmas!

 

 

 

So, there you have it. That is all of my Barry M polishes with a couple of reviews chucked in there to! Let me know which ones you have and would recommend!

All these polishes can be found at Boots or Superdrug, in most stores or online! Look out for those 3 for 2 offers for the best bargains!

 

A

 

xx

 

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Glossybox July 2013: Box Opening and First Impressions

So, today my fourth Glossybox was delivered and I was even more excited after missing the June box. I have been away quite a bit for the past month so I missed most of the hints about this box (which I loved). Sometimes I just prefer a full on surprise! One tip-off I did see however, was a preview of the box. Now, don't get me wrong, I think it's nice and something different is always worth getting excited about. But, the box pattern just didn't hit it off with me personally. But enough of the drag.. and on with the important stuff. INSIDE!

 

This month's theme was 'Seaside Splash' and is about transforming into the 'ultimate beach babe' with their 'current summer must-haves'. (Hence the seaside packaging)

Product One: Alterna Haircare, Baamboo Style Boho Waves Tousled Texture Mist

25ml Bottle worth £4.60 (Full size 125ml, £23)

With this theme, a texturizing spray was inevitable. True to Glossybox's word, texturising sprays are brilliant to use in summer! I love to use mine when my hair is freshly washed to make it easier to style, or second day hair to really re-invent your 'do. I am excited to see how this works on my hair, though I must admit I'm pretty addicted to using my Charles Worthington, Style Setter Salt Spray 200ml (Boots, £6.99). This product will have to really impress me, in order for me to go out and purchase the full size product. Get it here.

Product Two: Anatomicals, Spray Misty For Me Facial Spritz

Full size product worth £6

As soon as I saw this product I was ecstatic and could not wait to try it out! I'm currently using the Anatomicals, We Never Forget A Face, Memorably Good Daily Moisturiser (ASOS, £4), and am loving how it works on my skin!  I've also never really used a facial mist before, but as soon as I spritzed it on my face I loved it! It was thirty degrees outside at the time and WOW did it feel good! As for the long-term benefits I'm not sure yet, but this will definitely be a staple in my handbag throughout Summer from now-on. For stockists search on www.anatomicals.net

Product Three: Coola Organic Suncare Collection, Coola Classic Face SPF 30 Cucumber Moisturiser

7ml Tube worth £3.64 (Full Size 50ml, £25.99)

This month's 'not so wow' product for me. Yes, suncream is a necessity for summer. Yes, I should use it every day. But.. I'm ashamed to say I honestly don't, especially face suncream. I find that it just sits on my face and feels like it is suffocating my skin. I did try the product, and it does smell completely divine but its just not for me. It certainly didn't excite me all that much. However, I did pass it on to my mum who was rather happy at finding a product to use on her face, 'without ridiculously high SPF like all the others'. So we will see how she gets on with it. Though with the full size costing £25.99, I highly doubt she will want to re-purchase it.

Product Four: Sleek Makeup, Pout Paint

2x 8ml Tubes worth £9.98

At first I was really pleased to see something from Sleek in this month's box, as I've wanted to try out some of their products for a while now. However, as I read the back of the tubes I realised that they're meant to be lip stains. Every other stain I have used has worsened my already dry as a bone lips so this made me a bit wary. But, I am sat here wearing the 'Lava' (orange) colour as I type and I am pretty impressed so far. My lips feel sufficiently moisturised and I've got lips which aren't glossy but aren't matte. Just the right texture for my liking. I'm not sure how wearable these colours (I also received 'Pinkini') will be on their own (They're rather bright and I'm a bit of a wuss) but according to my information booklet, they can be mixed to 'create your own unique shade'. So I'm definitely looking forward to trying that out more! Find it at Superdrug.

Product Five: Ciate London, Paint Pot

Full size product worth £9

The colour I was sent (The Glossip) is absolutely gorgeous and I can't wait to see how the colour comes out on my nails, seeing. It is definitely on my to-do list for tonight! I do already own a few Ciate nail polishes so I know how well they live up to the brand hype, and who can resist those cute bows on the bottles? Definitely a must for any nail polish loving girl!

So altogether I do really love this month's Glosssybox and it totalled £33.22! Absolutely amazing! I already can't wait for my next one to arrive!

 

A

 

xx

Floral Nails

A couple of weeks ago I was having a flick through Instagram and saw this picture, posted by llymlrs, of gorgeous floral nails. I immediately decided to try and re-create the look for myself.

I began with the Sally Hansen Doubly Duty Strengthening Base & Top Coat, (£5.25, Boots) as always. Then proceeded to apply two coats of Barry M Gelly Hi Shine Nail Paint in Light Blue, (£3.99, Superdrug).

When the nails were fully dried, I then made a rounded cross shape using the Essie Nail Polish in Fiji, (£7.99, Superdrug). You could use the brush itself to do this, like I did, or use a cocktail stick if you find that easier. I chose to create 4, larger flowers per nail, but this is optional depending on what sort of look you're going for.

 

For the next step I used the Barry M Nail Paint in Lemon Ice Cream, (£2.99, Superdrug). This is just done by placing a dot in the middle of the shape you've just created. The first shape should be relatively dry, but I found that it gives quite a nice effect when the two flower colours blend into each other a bit, rather than having sharp lines. Again this is optional, depending on how you want your nails to look.

 

 

To finish off I used the Sally Hanson Insta-Dri Anti-Chip Top Coat (£5.99, Boots). Since I began using this combination of base and top coat, I have noticed a significant difference in how long my nail colour lasts. My nails used to last 2-3 days max, and now they last up to 6 days depending on what I'm doing. Definitely worth investing in for anyone who has trouble with their nail varnish chipping.

 

 

 I used a combination of colours similar to those used by llymlrs, but any could be used. I might try this design using pinks, purples and oranges to switch it up a bit. I love these patterned nails, sometimes I feel a block colour needs a switch up. Creating your own designs allows you to use materials you already have, and saves you having to specially invest in and 'faff' around with nails wraps. This may seem long winded but this was my first attempt and it took a maximum of 20 minutes.

Good Luck!

A

xx

BzzAgent: E45 Campaign

So, I was recently sent the new E45 body lotion to try out. I've used the original before and wasn't overly impressed. In my kit I was given 2 full size samples, 10 samples to hand out and a booklet with all the information I needed.

On the E45 website, the Nourish & Restore lotion is described as 'Specially enriched with natural oils and Vitamin B3, making it a fantastic gentle skin care product for mature skin. It nourishes and helps restore supple, softer and noticeably glowing skin in just three weeks. Its unique formula is enriched with naturally derived lipid and glycerine that work with your skin to replenish lost hydration and then build and maintain it throughout the day. E45 Nourish and Restore body lotion is light weight and quickly absorbed, non-greasy, hypoallergenic and lightly fragranced, making it perfect for normal to dry skin, and it is even a good sensitive skin moisturiser.'

My skin type is normal-dry, and can be quite sensitive. When I noticed that the new lotion was scented I was unsure about how my skin would react. However, the slight scent is designed to not irritate delicate skin, which means this lotion is perfect for people with skin like mine, who can't usually enjoy using scented products.

The lotion itself is the same texture as the original has always been, soft and silky on the skin. It also absorbed really well, I don't like lotions to stick on the skin and create almost a barrier. But lotions which sink in quickly are often not moisturising enough. This lotion was somewhere inbetween, it wasn't sticky but it still felt like it was doing something.

After a week of use, morning and night applications, I was surprised how much my skin has changed. I definitely noticed a significant improvement to the appearance and overall condition of my skin. It is definitely worth investing in, especially for those with dry, hard to please skin.

At Boots the 400ml lotion is priced at £5.49, reasonable for the results it provides. The people at E45 are currently giving away free samples, so if you fancy a try click here to receive yours.

A

xx