24.2.14
Hair Hero: Charles Worthington Volume & Bounce Texturising Spray
20.2.14
Beauty Product Expiration Explained
17.2.14
Giveaway Winner
14.2.14
Worth The Hype? Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm
My skin has changed over the last couple of years, it can be prone to the odd spot (or two...) and is extremely dry and sensitive. As a result, I have been swapping and changing skincare like theres no tomorrow, trying every cleanser under the sun, in the hope of finding one that works for me. And although I have liked a few of the cleansers I’ve tried (Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish deserves a mention here), I never found one that has wowed me and made a huge difference to my skin. So when I saw that FeelUnique had the cult cleanser that's Emma Hardies Cleansing balm on sale for £28, I just had to buy it and Im so glad that I did. This cleansing balm is certainly a talked about beauty product in the beauty blogging world and a product which I have forever had on my wish list. I don’t always jump on the ‘hype’ bandwagon, however after Caroline Hirons recommended this product I just had to have it. Caroline, is an amazing skincare expert and I trust her opinions and recommendations 100%. You can find her blog here. I have been using this cleanser every evening for over a month now and I have been itching to share my opinions with you all.
This balm cleanser is a skincare hero in my eyes - I cant fault it! Let me start with the ingredients; moringa seed extract, wild sea fennel, vitamin E, orange, mandarin, jasmine and rose and no mineral oil in sight! All of these ingredients work in wonderful ways, to help hydrate, moisturise, smooth, calm and brighten your skin. This 'luxurious botanical cleansing balm’ smells fresh and very natural, it is super nourishing and has honestly helped my skin no end! I saw instant results the first time I used this cleanser and I remember thinking "wow - my skin!" and a month on, Im still seeing results! My skin is less dull (which is often the case with dry skin), my skin is far softer, hydrated and calmer - especially since I have started using this product with my Magntione Pulsar*. I must say it is the first product, that has truly helped to minimise pores and reduce breakouts - HURRAY.
I use this cleanser mainly in the evenings, after I pre cleanse using Bioderma, or more recently Garniers Micellar Cleansing Water*. I apply a small amount to my (dry) face and massage it into my skin, including all round my eyes. The balm then melts into my skin and turns into a milky oil - it feels lush! I then wipe the product away with a warm flannel (no fancy muslin cloth, just a plain white Primark flannel). And my skin feels so clean, but not stripping like gel cleansers and moisturised, which is a nice change, as most cleansers leave my skin feeling tight and dry. I also love the fact this balm is multi functioning and can be used as a quick, or overnight mask and can also be used as a rescue balm for your lips, knees and elbows (bonus points for a multipurpose product - we all know how much I love those!). And if I’m feeling a little lazy and can’t be bothered to pre cleanse, it doesn’t matter, as this is the only cleanser I have ever used that actually takes everything off - including waterproof mascara.
I was a little apprehensive initially at how long this tub would last, as it is on the pricey side at £34 a pot (100ml). But actually, a little goes a long way (the pot is deceiving) and like I mentioned I have been using it for just over a month now and I haven’t even used half of the tub, or hit the bottom. I would happily purchase this product again at full price.
10.2.14
Tanya Burr’s Lips & Nails // First Impressions & Swatches
Look what the postman bought to my door today (YAY)! Finally, after what seems forever (11 days to be exact), Im a proud owner of four products, from Tanya Burr’s Lips & Nails range. Due to popular demand many orders have been put on hold, so I thought I would share these products with you all today.
If you haven’t heard of Tanya Burr already, where have you been!!? Tanya is a beauty guru on youTube, with over 1.8 million subscribers. Tanya is a fully trained makeup artist and comes across as a very genuine and kind person (she’s very sweet!). I have watched her videos for years and was very excited for Tanya when she announced that she had teamed up with EyeCandy and has spent the last year and a half creating a lip and nail collection. Tanya has been very hands on in creating her collection and I think she has done a brilliant job - even if I might be a little bias!
She has created two lines - lip glosses and nail polishes. Across both lines, there is a fabulous mix of colours to chose from (something for everyone) and all of the products have very cute names such as mini marshmallows, picnic in the park, Aurora, riding hood and penguin chic.
There are 10 shades of polish to chose from, all of which are in square, NARS-like bottles, with Tanya’s logo on the front and a little love heart on the top of the lip (cute little touch). I bought the colours Little Duck which is simply a duck egg blue (reminds me of the Tiffany packaging) and Peaches & Cream a peachy coral. Im not going to lie, the moment this parcel arrived, Little Duck went straight onto my nails and I love it! The applicator brush is a standard shape, but the formula is fab for just £5.99 a bottle! I was pleasantly surprised at how opaque the colour is in coat and even more surprised at how quickly it dried. The polish was easy to apply and the finish is smooth and glossy. The polishes claim to be long lasting, chip resistant and non fading - only time will tell and I will update you all on this. Overall I’m very impressed with the polishes.
There are 12 shades of lip glosses in the collection, from nudes to reds. The glosses come on a cardboard back, which could be seen as a little unnecessary, however this does stop people from trying them in store, rather than using a tester and I presume they will be displayed on a rack. Also on the back of the packaging, is also a nice little message from Tanya herself. The glosses are in hard, square bottles, once again with Tanya’s logo on the front and a little love heart on the top of the lid. I bought the shades Afternoon Tea, an everyday pink with a peachy undertone and creme finish and Just Peachy, which if the name doesn’t suggest is a peachy nude, with a very subtle shimmery finish. Both of the glosses are highly pigmented, however I would suggest to those with very pale complexion, that Just Peachy may get a little lost on you as it is very nude.
The glosses have a subtle sweet scent (rather a candy shop smell) which is a nice touch. They apply beautifully to the lips and have a rich, smooth texture and a wet finish. And you will be glad to know that they are not sticky in the slightest. The applicator is a very soft, double sided flat sponge, making the application very simple and even. And lastly the formula is very moisturising and hydrating. Once again, overall Im very impressed - bravo.
Like I said, I may be a little bias, but I’m honestly so impressed with this range and I will without a doubt be getting my hands on a few more products when I get paid. Just to clarify my opinions on these products would be exactly the same even if they weren’t from Tanya Burr’s collection! Im also very excited to see her range develop - maybe a few mascaras too or even foundations? Tanya Burr’s Lips and Nails is available online at both FeelUnique & Superdrug - get yours now! You’d be silly not too - especially at such a reasonable price! And congratulations to Tanya on such a fabulous collection.
6.2.14
Bloom & Wild | Subscription Flowers By Post
When I got home from work this afternoon, I came home to find the loveliest box of flowers from Bloom&Wild, which I had luckily won in a giveaway, hosted by Em Sheldon (EmTalks) via Twitter and I’m so impressed by what I received, that I had to share them with you all.
Bloom&Wild are unlike any other flortist I have ever come across. I have on occasion bought flowers online, to be sent to friends and family and in all honesty, I wish I had known about this company before now. When I found out I had won a bouquet of flowers, I never imagined they would come in a box, that could fit through my letter box (they are the UK’s first subscription letterbox florist). I opened the box to find white flowers lying side by side, wrapped beautifully and in what where effectively little socks, to stop them from getting damaged. Once I emptied the contents of the box, I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of flowers that came out of such a small amount of space! I received:
1x Lily
5x Roses
5x Lisianthus
5x Carnations
3x Sandriana Victory
On the inside of the box were simple instructions about the ideal vase size, water and flower food (which was included). I also received a little card which listed what I had received, along with a personal message congratulating me on winning the competition. The booklet also had an arrangement idea, which I followed and it was actually really nice arranging them myself. The flowers look stunning and are actually better than anything I have ever purchased from a florist before. Soon after I went online to have a look at Bloom&Wild and was once again pleasantly surprised at the price range of their flowers. The cheapest bouquet is £16.95 and the most expensive bouquet is just £27.95! I honestly thought that the bouquet I received would have been far more expensive - it is so luxurious! They also offer flower subscriptions which is another fab idea. They also claim their flowers will last for over a week! I will have to update you all on this.
If you are looking to buy flowers this valentines, or looking to treat a friend or family member, I really recommend Bloom&Wild - the whole concept is fantastic.
Once again, thank you to both Em Sheldon and Bloom&Wild.
5.2.14
Steal, Spend & Save: Beauty Reads
You apply a face mask, light a couple of candles and slip into a nice hot bath and something is missing and no, its not 1D’s album, or a nice cold drink, but a good beauty read (although 1D’s album isn’t a bad shout - don’t judge, we all love them really)! I have in the past spent £10 plus, in my local supermarket on magazines, in the hope of finding a decent beauty section, amongst oodles of pages of adverts and style sections. Im never quite satisfied with one magazine and the five or six pages it offers too me, I want nothing but beauty... So, today Im going to share with you my top three beauty reads, which are just that.
STEAL = Boots Health & Beauty Magazine
I have been picking up Boots magazine for as long as I can remember! And let me start by saying that Boots Health & Beauty Magazine is such a steal at just £1, or free with a Boots advantage card! Its normally the last thing I pick up, as I head towards the counter (with normally a full basket might I add!) and often one of the first thing I do when I get back, is to throw myself onto the sofa and give it a good read! Boots magazine is edited by Helen Daly, who used to be deputy editor of Cosmopolitan magazine and she is doing a grand job. The women on the cover of Boots magazine have not been airbrushed or retouched etc - I think it is great, that Boots are celebrating real, realistic women. Now moving onto the content, in the magazine you will find everything, from how to recreate the look of the model on the cover, to health and fitness articles and of course, it is jam packed with beauty products, all of which can be bought at Boots. You’d be silly not to pick it up next time your in store - the content of this magazine, is far better than some of those you pay for! I also forgot to mention that in the back of the magazine, you will find vouchers to use in store. You can also find Boots magazine online here.
SPEND = Allure Magazine
I wasn’t aware that this magazine existed until I started blogging back in June and it didn’t take me long to sign up for a subscription to the US published magazine! Every month, I throughly look forward to receiving a copy of Allure in the post. It is possibly the best magazine ever, there is page, after page of beauty features, which are without a doubt giving me the beauty fix I require (yes I do require this!) without buying several magazines. The content is second to none. I have learnt so much from Allure and one of my favourite parts of the magazine is the 101 Beauty page, where Allure share some top tips about makeup, hair, fragrance and tools. I can’t get enough of this magazine - I love it! I buy Allure online here, as it is renowned for being hard to get hold of and although I have heard it is now available in selected WHSmith stores, it certainly isn’t at my local smiths (boo!). One copy is £5.95, but there is the option to buy a subscription of your choice which makes each copy cheaper. I cant recommend this magazine enough, like I said the content is second to none. Allure also have online website which can be found here.
SAVE = Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual
2.2.14
INTERNATIONAL GIVEAWAY: Best Of Being A British Beauty Addict 2013
★The
giveaway is International
★1 person
will win all 5 products
★To enter
use the Rafflecopter widget below
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be following me on bloglovin’ to enter:
★The
giveaway will be open for 2 weeks from the 02/02/2014 to the 16/02/2014
★There’s a
few additional entries too, if you want to increase your chance of winning
★The
winner will be selected randomly by Rafflecopter
★The
winner will be contacted within 24 hours of the giveaway closing and if they
haven't got back to me within 48 hours, another winner will be chosen at
random.
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