Friday 30 December 2011

Swatches: Nails Inc Glitterati Collection.



I'm a complete glitter bug so this is one of the prezzies I asked santa for. The trio cost £25 but its now priced at £18 on the Nails Inc site.

Hatton Garden


Hatton Garden is a clear base filled with teeny tiny flecks of silver glitter and larger holo/silver glitter. I had no problems with the application and used 2 coats.



This has to be one of my favourite glitters ever, it twinkles like crazy and flashes blue, red, green, purple, orange. I just love it! The texture is quite gritty but a good top-coat sorts that out.

Buckingham Street


Out of all 3 colours, Buckingham Street had the most problems. Looking at the polish in the bottle I thought the base was a black jelly packed with magenta glitter but the base is actually a random blue shade. I needed 3 coats to achieve full coverage but it  just looked so lumpy and thick! There was shrinkage at the tips, it just looked really sloppy.


The texture is thick and gloopy, it was a nightmare to apply. The finish was incredibly dull and I know thats typical of glitters but no matter how many layers of top-coat you put on, it just seems to disappear.

Chelsea Embankment



Chelsea Embankment is the one I expected to like the least but i love it. I'm usually not a fan of gold polish but the tone suits my skin more than any I've tried in the past. Theres no larger chunks of glitter, the glitter is small and not overly gritty.



The formulation is spot on and it applied smoothly.

With top-coat, all 3 polishes had a glossy finish but its worth applying another layer of top-coat the next day.

Has anyone tried these? Which is your fave?
xo

Wednesday 28 December 2011

Review: GREENPEOPLE Gentle Cleanse Make Up Remover & Cleanser.

GREENPEOPLE Gentle Cleanse Make Up Remover & Cleanser £16.95, 200ml. Made with 93.77% organically grown ingredients.

I've been really interested in skincare ingredients for the last year or so, I've tried to educate myself a bit on what the mumbo jumbo on the back of packaging really means and as a result, I try to go organic wherever possible. I was sent Gentle Cleanse to try so I'll list what GreenPeople products dont contain rather than what they do.

Naturally made without: Parabens, lanolin, alcohol (ethanol, ethyl, alcohol), sodium lauryl/laureth sulphate, PEG's, phythalates, propylene glycol, petrochemicals, colourants, DEA, TEA, PABA sunscreen or any other harsh additives.


Gentle Cleanse is suitable for vegans and vegetarians, fairly traded, never tested on animals and the winner of Natural Health magazine beauty awards 2011. I received the 50ml size which comes in a simple pump dispenser. I really love products with pumps, its more hygenic, stops the product drying out and stops me being heavy handed and squeezing double the amount out.


The texture is a light cream and suitable for all skin-types. 'Formulated to balance, nourish and moisturise. Anti-ageing and anti-inflammatory properties. Rich, sensual aroma from pure plant sources. Suitable for areas of sensitive skin and safely removes eye make-up (including waterproof mascara)'
The scent reminds me of the Figs & Rouge Geranium Balm from Decembers FeelUnique Beauty Box but nowhere near as strong, thankfully.

Directions: Apply in small circular movements. Remove with either tissue, cotton wool or remove with lukewarm water and then a splash of cold. (I use a muslin cloth or flannel mitt). Because the cream is light, its easy to remove and doesnt leave a film over the skin like some cleansers can. Removes makeup quickly and easily and didnt break me out at all.
Greenpeople do a whole range of different products including an unscented line which I'm tempted to try. If anyone has tried any other products from this brand I'd love to know what you think and what you would recommend.

I should mention that at the mo theres a 25% off everything sale and free delivery untill the end of the month. http://www.greenpeople.co.uk/ 

xo

Products sent for review.

Tuesday 27 December 2011

Mini Haul and Christmas NOTD.

Nails Inc Edinburgh Gate

I thought the colours in this polish were perfect for christmas, it's like Christmas in a bottle. A clear base fully packed out with silver, gold, red, green and blue glitter. I used 2 coats with the usual drag/dab technique and got full coverage.


I finished with a thick layer of top-coat (Nails Inc Kensington Caviar) and done another layer of top-coat the next day as the glitter still felt quite rough. I had no chips and no noticeable tip wear, kept it on for 3 days then removed as I wanted to try out some new colours.


I went into town yesterday but it was packed, I only went into a few shops then headed home!
L-R:
Eucerin Shampoo: I'd read about this on someones blog, think it was Fleurs. I thought I'd found a shampoo that would finally sort out my crazy scalp but sadly it has went back to being a nightmare. I'll give this a while to work then do a review.
The next 3 are from Lush.. Golden Wonder, Abominable Snowman & Gingerbread House: All the Christmas stuff was half price so I decided to pick up 3 that I hadnt tried before. The Gingerbread House smells gorgeous, I want to eat it! I regretted not buying more so went straight online but everything was sold out. :[
Marc By Marc Jacobs Jungle Black Leather Wrap Bracelet: I got this for £35 in the Cruise sale, I'm not sure of the original price but i think it was around £80. I love wrap bracelets and I loved the price so I had to get it.



I used Golden Wonder earlier and got a bit snap happy..

Gold stars :]

How pretty is the gold shimmer :] I'm easily pleased.

 I was going to upload some of the prezzies I got but think I might just wait untill I've tried them out. Hope you all had a lovely Christmas.
xo

Thursday 22 December 2011

Review: 100% Organics Night Balm.

Night Balm 50ml, £32

So, I've been trying out a few things from a brand which is new to me and I've saved the best till last. Apologies for doing three seperate posts but imagine how long the review would have been if they were all together.

When I first received all three products I noticed that the Cleanser and Night Balm look exactly the same and smell almost identical. I was starting to think it was the same balm in both tins but after using each I realised this wasnt the case, although they're both balms, the Night Balm sinks into the skin whereas the Cleanser has a never ending 'slip'.

The scent - AMAZING! I find myself reaching for the tin while I'm watching TV just so I can have one more sniff. Very sad but very true.
'This night balm is a specially formulated mix of 100% organic ingredients, including pure tamanu oils, tomato extract and delicate rose extracts.' I promise theres no tomato scent at all lol

Texture - Its a balm, I dont think theres any other way to describe a balm, is there?

Only a small amount of product is needed to cover the entire face and neck. As long as you dont go overboard, you wont end up resembling a basted turkey, Though there has been a few nights when I felt like my face needed some extra TLC and opted for this look, by morning it had fully sank in and my face was a happy bunny!

Up untill last year I would have ran in the opposite direction from any type of balm or oil but now I cant get enough! Girlies with oily skin, dont dismiss balms without atleast giving them a go first, I've found they help reduce the amount of natural oils the skin produces and I've noticed less shine during the day :]

Take a look on the site if you havent already http://www.100percentorganics.com/ theres a lipbalm which sounds lovely, I'll be ordering it as soon as I've finished the one I'm using at the mo.

Hope you all have a lovely Christmas, I cant wait to read about everyones prezzies. :]
xo

Products sent for review

Wednesday 21 December 2011

Swatch It.

Nails Inc - Whitechapel

I've got swatches of 2 polishes, I've mentioned both on my blog before but I've never worn them on their own so just thought I'd upload a few photos.

Whitechapel is a delicate pearlised white shade, sometimes it looks like a glossy white (minus the chalky effect that most whites seem to have) but most of the time theres a soft baby pink sheen running through. For the above photo I've used three coats. I adore this colour, most days I'm wearing vulgar shades of glitter so this makes a nice change, it makes me feel very lady-like haha and gives a nice healthy look to the nails.  I'm not into 'sheers' at all, I prefer to have an opaque nail but for anyone who is then this would be perfect, one coat gives the effect of a really natural french mani.



Whitechapel doesnt come across well in photos but its such a lovely shade and the fact that I dont own anything similar makes it even better. Enough of the gushing.. this polish has a few problems. One coat - fine, two coats - nightmare, it just wouldnt apply evenly, it didnt level itself out and theres a few visible brush strokes. The formulation is quite gloopy, if I applied another coat theres noway it would have dried!

Models Own - Disco Mix

This polish is packed with blue and purple glitter! I found that rather than painting as you normally would, lightly dragging/dabbing works best. Using normal brush strokes spreads the glitter out way too much and achieving an opaque finish would be almost impossible. I used 2 coats for the above pic. I cant really comment on how much of a pain removal would be as I have a habit of peeling glitters off but I'd imagine its just the same as all the rest.. A Bitch with a capital B.

xo

Monday 19 December 2011

Review: 100% Organics Toner.

Hello girlies :]
A few days ago I reviewed the 100% Organics Cleanser and explained a bit about the brand, you can read it here I'm always wanting to try skin care that doesnt contain any parabens, sulphates etc but many companies who claim they're organic usually still have some nasty ingredients in their products but because many of us dont know the fancy, foreign looking names in the ingredient lists we just tend to believe that what we're using is completely organic.

I was sent a few products to try from the range and it feels so good knowing that what I'm putting on my skin really is organic. Anyone who cares about ingredients and likes to know exactly what is being absorbed into their body needs to check out this brand. The products are simple and straight to the point, there's no wild claims and no gimmicks.



 All products are presented in sleek tins with brightly coloured packaging, all locally sourced and recyclable.

Toner, 100ml - £19

'This toner is the perfect mix of pure, organic ingredients, including refreshing orange and witch hazel floral waters and grapefruit seed extract, which leave skin naturally purified.' The bottle has an open neck which I prefer as I like to use toners with cotton wool and swipe across my face but for those who like to spritz instead its easy enough to decant some product into one of those small travel spritzers. I dont know if its because of the weather or the tin but everytime I use this it is lovely and cold, I swipe it across my face after cleansing then leave 2 soaked cotton pads on my cheeks for a few mins and it helps with any redness or irritation.
I'm not a lover of the scent but my mum had a sniff and didnt mind it so maybe its just me? Anyway, I'd much rather use a product with a natural scent than a product with a nice but synthetic fragrance.

Directions For Use:
Use cotton wool (preferably organic) to wipe over face and neck, using a circular motion. Use anytime during the day for instant freshness. Ideally use after our Cleanser and follow with our Moisturiser for healthy, happy and radiant skin.

I dont have anything negative to say about the toner, apart from the scent but thats just a personal thing. I've really enjoyed using it, It leaves no tightness or sting behind and I would say, out of all the toners I've tried its in my top 2.

You can check out the whole range at  http://www.100percentorganics.com/
xo

products sent for review


Sunday 18 December 2011

Better Late Than Never.

I'm probably the last Glossyboxer to do this post this month but I wanted to wait untill I'd tried out the Deborah Lippmann polish.



I'm not going to start going on about the ins and outs of Glossybox, most people know what it is and reading about the whole concept each month gets a bit irriating.
Glossybox ticked all my boxes this month, theres nothing in the box that I wouldnt use. I was praying for the Nouveau Lashes mascara when I first saw all the posts going up and thats exactly what I got :]

Cargo Cosmetics Lip Gloss in Serengeti
Deborah Lippmann Razzle Dazzle Mini Nail Varnish with Stripped To Go Sachet
FAB Face Cleanser
Nouveau Lahses Noir Mascara
Rituals Foaming Shower Gel in White Lotus and Green Tea

The only thing I've had the chance to try so far is the nail varnish

Indoor

Outdoor

This is my first time using a Deborah Lippmann polish, I've read so many rave reviews so was really excited to try it out. Razzle Dazzle retails at £16, crazy. The bottle is amazing, its so different to other polish bottles. It took 3 coats to get a full finish, if I paid £16 for a nail polish I would expect full coverage with 2 coats, I would want to make it last as long as possible. I do like the colour and its fascinating to look at under different lights but I'm really not wow'd by it. I'm glad I got the chance to try a Lippmann polish and even though I do like it, I cant say its made me want to part with £16 to try more shades.

I've read so many blogs complaining about people complaining about Novembers box (did that make sense? lol) We all have an opinion, we're allowed to be happy/unhappy with what we receive. I stand by everything I said last month, the box I reveived was a joke and my problem wasnt anything to do with the sizes of the products, it was the fact that a bag of bath salts was being passed off as a luxury product. I dont think so some how. Everything I say on this blog is honest, I'm not going to lie and say I'm pleased with something when I'm not, in fear of 'brands' reading it. That would just be pointless and I doubt my followers want to read lies.

xo

Saturday 17 December 2011

December: Used, Abused And Reviewed.

I know it's not the end of December yet but I cant see myself fully using up any more products between now and then so I'm just going to go ahead and post this. The whole point of doing the 'Used, Abused And Reviewed' posts was that hopefully I'd concentrate more on what I already have instead of letting it go to waste and buying more products that I want rather than need. If you want to read last months post then here it is.

Ok so enough rambling


Liz Earle Botanical Shine Shampoo & Conditioner. 200ml, £8 Each: I've already reviewed both of these here.
Would I Repurchase? Shampoo - yes. Conditioner - probably not.

Max Factor False Lash Effect Mascara (Black) £10.99: 'Finding a high impact volumising mascara that doesn't leave your lashes looking clumpy and clogged can be a challenge. Masterpiece Max Mascara is the next generation of mascara. It delivers bold, thick lashes with up to 400% volume but defines and smoothes at the same time for a surprisingly, sleek effect. One swipe of its high tech IFX brush gives a chic, catwalk finish in seconds - no wonder it was the official mascara of Milan Fashion Week!' A decent mascara with a big plastic brush. I prefer big brushes but would rather have bristles than plastic/rubber. I wouldnt describe the results as the same or even similar to false lashes but still, it does a good job and wont break the bank. I did find though that after a few hours it tends to flake a bit but I can deal with that.
Would I Repurchase? Yes, if there was a 3 for 2 offer on but it wouldnt be my first choice.

Philosophy Eternal Grace Shampoo, Bath & Shower Gel. 480ml, £19: A luxurious shower gel that can be used as shampoo or even a bubble bath. Infused with crisp citrus notes, and delicate floral scents of eternal grace. Like most things I own from Philosophy, this came in a set from QVC. I'm a huge fan of all the 'Graces' they smell so clean and fresh and the scent tends to stay on your skin for hours after plus it fills your bathroom aswell. I used this on my hair once, I didnt find it the best for my hair type (Coloured/Dry) but it did give an amazing shine and everytime I swished my hair I'd be able to smell it, even after the first day.
Would I Repurchase? In a set, yes.

Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic. 200ml Bottle, £12.25: 'Moisten a cotton wool pad and sweep over face and neck every morning and night after cleansing with Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser or using one of our special treatment masks. Whether your skin is dehydrated, oily, dull or congested, the nourishing and brightening botanicals will help to leave your skin feeling soft and looking fresh for longer. It also primes your skin perfectly for your choice of Liz Earle Moisturiser.' I've lost count of how many bottles I've gone through now, maybe 6? Skin Tonic (toner) comes in different sizes and also as a spritzer. It has such a calming effect on the skin and after using, the skin is left feeling really moisturised. Brilliant product and the price isnt too bad either. Anyone on the look out for a new toner or even if you've never used a toner before but want to introduce one into your skincare routine then definately give this a try. Theres no sting like you get from most drugstore toners. I know a lot of people dont bother using a toner but its essential, cleansing removes the skins acid mantle, to restore this you need to use a good toner to reset the skins natural PH balance, it also helps remove any dirt you missed while cleansing.
Would I Repurchase? Definately.

Friday 16 December 2011

Review: 100% Organics Cleanser.

About The Brand:
100% Organics is a luxury skincare brand dedicated to creating high-performance products, with both skin health and emotional wellbeing in mind. Science working with nature to evolve a highly effective, performance-led natural skincare brand, are the principles behind 100% Organics.



100% Organics are one of only a handful of ranges worldwide to entirely use organic ingredients and it is the remarkable ingredients selected which makes this young and vibrant brand so distinctive. This oil-based range has been created to work in synergy with the skin, delivering the benefits of the theraputic ingredients directly into the deepest layers of the dermis. Using only non-comedogenic oils, 100% Organics products will not clog pores but will melt into the skin, providing deep and natural nourishment.

One of the natural wonder ingredients used in 100% Organics products is Tamanu Oil, which has been used for thousands of years by Pacific Islanders and has legendary healing, anti-aging and skin smoothing properties. As one of the first European companies to harness the power of this extraordinary seed, Tamanu Oill is truly sustainable and has been selected as it is naturally rich in Omega 6-3 and Calophyllic acid - Both amazing nutrients for the skin.

Designed to enhance all skin types, Products range from the everyday essentials such as the cleanser, toner, moisturiser and lip balm; intensive treatment products such as the anti-wrinkle and night creams through to the indulgent body butter. Each luxury product is a fusion of premium organic ingredients, all chosen for their affinity with the skin.

Developed by the Walsingham Clinic, a well-respected natural health centre and its team of expert practitioners in Cornwall, 100% Organics formulations have been created to not only improve skin on a daily basis but also to alleviate common skincare issues.

Clinic director and creator of 100% Organics, Angela Young Is passionate about the physical and emotional benefits of organic skincare. She truly believes that adopting an increasingly organic and natural lifestyle by cutting-down on chemical intake in all aspects of life is an important choice for wellbeing and the enviroment. With a young family, Whose health and happiness is at the heart of her motivation, Angela adopts a natural and organic lifestyle where ever possible and is keen to prove that there is no need to compromise in the search for skincare products that are healthy, benefical and luxurious. By starting with switching to organic skincare, this is an easy but important choice for personal wellbeing and of course, for the enviroment we all inhabit.

Angela kindly sent me a few products to try so I'm going to start with the cleanser..

Cleanser, 100ml - £29

'This cleanser was handmade on a Cornish farm. Its the perfect mix of 100% organic ingredients, including pure coconut, tea trea oils and delicate rose extracts' The first thing I noticed about the cleanser (apart from the gorgeous packaging) was the scent. After reading that it contains tea-tree oils I was almost dreading the smell but thankfully theres no tea-tree scent at all, its just a really lovely, calming, spa like scent. The main thing I love about this is the 'slip' its a balm texture and unlike alot of other cleansers, it doesnt fully dry/sink into the skin and allows you to do a good facial massage before removing.

Directions for use:
Apply to face and neck. Leave for 1-2 mins then rinse off with cotton wool using either toner or water.

I dont like removing cleanser with cotton wool so as usual, I've been using a wet mit or muslin cloth. A few days before I started using this cleanser, my cheeks felt so uncomfortable and sore because of the weather and from having the heating on almost constantly, I usually have quite oily skin so was nervous about using a balm but it has been a godsend and will definately be my cleanser of choice through the winter months. My skin and lashes feel conditioned after use and it also removes makeup which is great as having to use a seperate makeup remover puts me off from even trying a cleanser. If you have skin then you need this cleanser, I really couldnt say it would only be good for one or two skin types. I'm in my 20s, my mum is in her 40s and my nan is in her 60s..It worked for all of us.


100% Organics range is certified by the Soil Association.
None of the products are tested on animals and are all vegetarian friendly.
As an oil based range, containing no water, the products are highly concentrated so a little product goes a long way. A traditional cold process is used to extract the oils which ensures that the benefical qualities of the originating plants are preserved. (100% Organics toner is the only product to contain water)

The brand was only launched in 2010 and has already won Best New Luxury Bodycare Product for their Body Butter  at the UK Beauty Awards 2010.

Has anyone tried any products from this range?
xo

Products sent for review

Tuesday 13 December 2011

Harpers Bazaar Freebie - Leighton Denny Polish.

On Saturday while in Sainsburys I picked up Harpers Bazaar, there was a few different nail polishes from Leighton Denny but I decided to go for 'Sensual Glam' as the others were far too similar to what I already own.


Sensual Glam is described as A sheer creamy shade with a multitude of shimmer particles. In the bottle, I love it but on the nail its very sheer, reminds me of a bridal colour. I used 3 coats and it still wasnt fully opaque, there is still VNL even if it isnt showing up in the photo. Its also quite streaky.



It's one of those colours that make my hands look dirty. It would work perfect for french with 1 or 2 coats but as an opaque colour it just doesnt work with my skin tone. Did anyone else go for any of the other shades?

Ring Finger: Nails Inc Oxford Circus (2 coats) from the December Feelunique Beauty Box. This is one of my fav pinks ever! I've had a mini of it before but every time I go to buy the full size its out of stock, boo!
xo

Sunday 11 December 2011

Tinsel Tips.


Leighton Denny The Heiress with Models Own Disco Mix Tip's.

The Heiress is a blue-belle purple from S/S 2010 but is still available from the Leighton Denny Site at £11. Glides on evenly and is opaque with 2 coats.

Disco Mix is fully packed with small blue and purple/pink glitter, I used 2 coats for the tips and it covered brilliantly.


The Heiress is hardly what I would class as a wintery colour but the glitter changes that.


By the 2nd day my nails started chipping like crazy, I'm guessing from the tips being slightly thicker because of the glitter.




I havent tried Disco Mix on its own yet but I'm hoping it wont be a chip-fest. Has anyone else tried it?
xo

Thursday 8 December 2011

Review: Liz Earle, Botanical Shine Shampoo & Conditioner.

My Scalp Saviour
For the last few years my scalp has been giving me loads of bother, it  felt irritated and itchy, and always seemed to be worse around my hairline. I thought that hairspray was maybe causing it so I stopped using it but there was no improvement, tried every anti-dandruff shampoo you can think off but they made things worse and stripped my colour in the process.
I was really fed up so went online to find out what was the cause and how to get rid of it.. Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulphate kept popping up. For those of you who dont know, SLS is a potentially harmfull chemical used in so many mainstream haircare lines, it not only damages your hair but also your skin and health, it really dries out the scalp and theres some evidence that SLS may cause hair loss too by attacking the follicles.
I started searching for a shampoo that didnt contain any then remembered that Liz Earle doesnt use them in her shower gels so probably wouldnt use them in her shampoo either.





I've just finished my second tube of this and it has made such a big difference to my scalp, even after the first use! The shampoo like Cleanse and Polish (for the face) is for all hair types. It contains west african shea butter, natural source vitamin E, shine-boosting apple and orange extracts plus naturally derived cleansers. The shampoo gently cleans without stripping to leave hair soft, shiny and smooth. A shampoo has never made my hair as shiny as this one has and because it contains no silicones it really leaves the hair squeaky clean. Its not the most moisturising shampoo in the world, my hair tends too be a bit fuzzy once its air dried but I'd rather have that than hair with a false softness due to silicone build-up. The smell is amazing and lasts untill you next wash your hair. Because theres no SLS, SLES it takes a bit longer to foam up but instead of adding more shampoo just add more water to your hair.
I'd recommend this to anyone with scalp problems.

I also got the conditioner, there is 3 options.. Fine or oily hair, normal hair, dry/damaged hair.




I went for the dry/damaged option. This also smells amazing but unlike the shampoo, it isnt a 'must have' for me. It's specially formulated with west african shea butter, yangu oil, blue seakale and shine-boosting apple and orange extracts. 'Our ultra-rich colour safe conditioner leaves dry or damaged hair hydrated, under control, soft and smooth.' I've still got another tube of this to use up but once its gone, I dont think I'll repurchase. The texture is almost balmy and takes longer to rinse out than other conditioners but that doesnt bother me, I just dont feel that its moisturising enough for my hair.

The whole SLS thing has made me more conscious about what I'm putting on my skin, I'm being sent a few Organic products to review so I'm really excited to see what difference I notice in my skin while using them. I'd love to say that I'll only buy products that contain no nasties but I'm only human, I like to try different things but I definately try to avoid products packed full of parabens etc.
xo


Tuesday 6 December 2011

NOTD: Nails Inc - Piccadilly Circus.

I'm a complete ditz, I painted my nails, took photos but forgot to write down the name of the polish then left it at my mums so I'll update this tomorrow with the name.

This is 1 of the Nails Inc polishes I bought last week and I'm in love


It's like purple, pink, red and berry all mixed together.



You could get away with only 1 coat, the formulation is brilliant but I always do 2, as I find polishes last a lot longer before chipping.



The colour is so rich and deep but it doesnt really come across in the photos. The gloss is amazing even before putting on a top-coat, Definately a colour I'll get a lot of wear out of. I'll post the name tomorrow and if you dont already own it, make sure you check it out in person if you're ever near a Nails Inc counter!

xo

Saturday 3 December 2011

Review: Avon Glazewear Silky Shine Lipstick.

I havent ordered anything from Avon in such a long time, mostly because the makeup swatches are so inaccurate, I'm sure you all know what I mean. You order an eyeshadow that looks grey in the swatch but in reality its a shade of blue that only Pat Butcher would be stupid brave enough to wear.

Last month an Avon rep posted a brochure through my door, I was just having a quick flick through it and saw that there was a clearance brochure inside. I didnt plan on ordering anything but a few products caught my eye, they were less than half price so I decided to go ahead and order them. The only thing I've had the chance to try out so far is the Glazewear Lipstick in Nectar.



The packaging is sleek and shiny with a rose gold tone, its certainly not what we're used to seeing from Avon. It wouldnt look out of place amoung high-end lippies. I'd describe this as a cross between a lipstick and a gloss but without the stickyness that comes from most glosses. Glides on smoothly leaving a sheer wash of colour and lips are left feeling moisturised almost immediately. Theres a peachy scent but its not overpowering at all, I quite like it.



The colours arent anything to get excited over, theres only 5 in the range and when I first saw 'Nectar' in person I didnt like it, it just looks like a boring shade and not a colour I would ever wear but on the lips its sheer and glossy with just a hint of colour, perfect for anyone who doesnt like wearing brights or needs to keep their makeup natural for work etc. I'm kinda wishing I'd ordered a few different shades now, especially at that price. I can see this being a go-to lippy for me.





 Avon Glazewear Silky Shine Lipsticks usually cost £8, I got mine for £3 but they're still on offer for £3.50
xo

Philosophy Review: Tiz The Season To Be. . . . Bathing.

Bath Or Shower?
I'm definatley a shower girl but during the winter, baths are my best friend. I could quite easily spend 3 hours in the bath BUT, i need some lovely bubbles. I'm in love with all bath/shower products from Philosophy, especially the 'Grace' range but a few months ago I bought a trio in foody scents. Some people hate foody body products but I love it, same with candles. mmmm.

Double Rich Hot Cocoa
Hot Buttered Rum
Hazelnut Espresso

On the front of each bottle theres instructions on how to make each drink. lol

All 3 are from Philosophy and can be used as shampoo, shower gel and bubble bath. I cant comment on how well they work as shampoo, my hair is a nightmare so I take no chances and stick to what I know works but I'm guessing they would work best for people with normal hair. Anyway, all 3 are 480ml each which is decent and you really dont need to use much each time, they bubble up brilliantly.



Out of the 3, I didnt really expect to like 'Hot Buttered Rum' I dont like anything that smells like alcohol but I love this, its like warm caramel and makes me want sticky toffee pudding :] its definately my fave of the 3.
After using these my skin and bathroom smell beaut but it dosnt last all that long, which is a bad point (for me) 'Hazelnut Espresso' smells more like coffee and chocolate than hazelnut and 'Double Rich Hot Cocoa' does smell like hot chocolate but theres something different, sometimes it smells a bit floral or maybe its just synthetic?

My skin can be quite sensitive but I havent had any reactions from these and they leave the skin really soft. I know I should moisturise but I never feel the need to after using any of Philosophys Bath/Shower products.

Philosophy can be pricey and not a lot of places stock the range, I know SpaceNK used to but I'm sure they stopped. House OF Fraser is the only other hight street place who I know definatley sell it but I saved myself some pennies and got mine from QVC.
xo



Friday 2 December 2011

Help With Puffy Eyes.

Hello girlies.
Just thought I'd ask if any of you know any cures for puffy eyes? I havent been well lately and my eyes are just so puffy, they're worse when I first wake up but they dont get much better as the day goes on. They just look really tired and feel irritated most of the time. I've tried all the usual stuff like tea bags, cold spoons etc and I've been using Liz Earle EyeBright and SBC Cucumber Gel, they do cool my eyes down for a while but have no real effect on the puffyness.

I'm hoping one of you will know of some miracle cure. If anyone knows of anything I havent already listed then please let me know, I'm willing to try anything to get rid of the frog eyes.
Thanks.
xo