March Favourites!

Yeeeah! March favourites *dramatic music* B-)

I swear this month has just flown by! I cannot believe it's April tomorrow... 

Any doodle, I thought I would just shove in one nice place a couple of the things I've been loving this month. I've seen a few bloggers do this, and I think it's a fab idea. So I'm jumping on the bandwagon and hoping it's not a complete fail.

1. MUA's ProBase conceal and brighten kit:  It's lasted me ages, I've had it since September I think, possibly longer. It says that it's idea for blemishes, scars and stretch mark cover up. Although I haven't really tried it on any scars, as the ones I do have aren't really on my face, it does do wonders for hiding red marks, any unwanted zits (although sadly some DO escape its magical cover up ability) and best of all dark circles! It has a highlighter too, but sometimes I have admittedly used that as concealer because my skin is just that pale. The only down side is the mirror on the inside of the case, it's just way too small, even for traveling with. I purchased mine in the shades 'porcelain - beige'. It may also be good to note that on red stretchmarks it does do a good job of dulling them down, they don't disappear completely but I did notice a difference. Mine didn't come with a brush but it applies okay with fingers if you don't have your own.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="300"] MUA's Conceal & Brighten Kit. Image: MUA[/caption]

2. Company Magazine's Freebie Mascara: This one actually makes me really sad, because it was a freebie from a magazine I purchased, and I've been searching high and low for a replacement for when this tube has finished. I doubt there will be one... :-( The mascara itself was quite a simple little thing, there was no boasting about amazing curly and explosive lashes; just simple black packaging. But it did the job, which I think so many mascaras out there just don't do! It coated my lashes evenly, they looked natural and there was no clumping, even when I applied a second coat without letting the first one dry completely (yay for being in a rush!) It was black and my eye lashes are quite dark anyway, but I noticed the colour difference once applied. I think that because they were more evenly spaced out my eyes didn't look so washed out. Either way I will be really sad when this is all gone...

3.  Beauty Works Supreme Cream: I did a blog post about this maybe a week or so ago, here. To say it was an accidental purchase, I've really enjoyed using it! I've been using it on my legs mainly as they're my problem dry skin areas, and I can definitely say they feel really hydrated and there's not a bit of dryness in sight! Even if I miss a day, my legs don't seem to be as dry as they were before, so it's definitely not a moisturiser that's masking the problem. Yay for Beauty Works! :-D

4. Angels on Bare Skin, Lush: This one really doesn't need an introduction, my original blog post about this can be found here. It's done wonders for my skin, it's really soft, hydrated and my cheeks aren't so red. I don't get out of the shower feeling like I need to dunk my head in a bucket of moisturiser either with this one, which is a winner in my eyes. I'm not a huge fan of the smell but I can definitely live with that.

On a side note, I've being tempted by the Company magazine promotion they have on at the moment, apparently you can get Baylis and Harding gift set if you subscribe. Must. Resist. 

Have any of you tried any of these? I'd love to know what you've all been loving this month! :-)

Big Blue - LUSH

Hi everyone!

I thought I'd do a quick post on the Big Blue bath bomb from Lush. Although I suppose my definition of quick post and yours may be completely different, especially when the images have been uploaded too...

It's actually a really nice bath bomb, although for me it had an irritating floor that may or may not put me off purchasing it again. I suppose it all depends on how 'bothered' I feel when it comes to bath time again.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="272"] Photo courtesy of the lovely Lush. Look how lovely and summery they all look![/caption]

It was a GORGEOUS shade of blue, which is my all time favourite colour. What I really loved about it was the colour it turned my bath water... It turned it into the kind of blue you seen on the TV when they advertise holidays and its like white sand and amazing blue/green sea. The smell is quite summery, or at least I thought so!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="300"] My camera doesn't do the colour any justice, the blue was amazing. <3[/caption]

 

It smelt fresh and clean with a hint of citrus. It's quite a light and refreshing sort of citrus smell, not too heavy or chemically either. It's both calming and energising so I suppose it's the ideal bath bomb as you could use it in the morning or evening, or mid afternoon if that's you thing! It also left my skin feeling really nice and soft, no dry bits, no weird blue coloured skin and best of all NO GLITTER! (Unlike the last bath bomb I used...) It is definitely one of my favorite Lush items because my skin wasn't just soft, it seemed to hydrate it a little, I swear my dry skin patches were a lot better for days after using this.

However, and this is the only downfall for me, it was LOADED with seaweed. Absolutely loaded. I cannot even begin to imagine how they crammed that much seaweed into such a small ball. My mind was blown. I will admit, it freaked me out a little bit. I wasn't expecting so much, although I knew it would contain a bit. I kept 'forgetting' and then I would move in the bath and these black things would float near me and I would panic. I don't know what my brain was thinking but it was the same kind of feeling you'd get if you opened your eyes to see a spider sat in the bath with you.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="300"] I wasn't too happy about sharing my bath with this![/caption]

 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="300"] The plug hole, aka swirling black mass of seaweed doom.[/caption]

 

Also, the seaweed clogged the plug hole. It was so gross. I was torn between bending over the bath and fishing them out, or just seeing how many I could poke down the plug. In the end I did both, if I'd have poked it all down the plug I think it would have blocked the drains... trying to cram that down a plug hole was pointless, but pulling it out the plug hole was about as disgusting as it can get.

But apart from the extra effort and the slight over use of seaweed, this was another one of my Lush loves. <3

 

The Leibster Award! #1

Hi everyone! I have been nominated for the Leibster Award by the wonderful The Little Scottish Corner ! Yay! :-)


 

I have been given 11 questions to answer, but if anyone else wants to ask me something feel free to! Here we go:

1. Can you remember what your first piece of make-up was?

I've been wearing make-up (on and off) since I was about 5... before you all sit there and jaw drop I used to dance at the Theatre, and you HAD to wear make up on stage. I used to wear foundation, blush, eye shadow, eye liner and liptsick. I'm not sure if they were my mums or if she bought them especially for me to use for the theatre but they were all Boots No. 7 products and I used to love to smell the make up bag she used as it smelt oddly comforting. I used to hate it when my mum applied my lipstick or eye shadow as it used to tickle something terrible! I'm pretty sure the first bit of make-up I wore out of the theatre was a freebie from a magazine. Some friends of my mum and dads used to own a news agents, and they would collect all the free things that used to fall out of the magazines in transit and give them to me and my sister whenever they visited. When I was about 7 or 8 years old I managed to bag some tacky lipstick. It came in a lovely blue tube (probably why I chose it as I loved blue!) I think it had white snow flakes or stars on the tubing... either way the lipstick was SILVER and to top it all off it was glitter loaded. Yeah. I used to be 'scared' to wear it in front of people, so me and a friend used to dress up and wear it. We must have looked hilarious. Looking back it may have been from a top of the pops magazine... *face palm* so embarrassing.

2. Do you prefer summer or winter trends?

Errr, winter I think. Because I don't like to 'bare skin' as such. I feel uncomfortable in short sleeves and shorts. Give me some tights, leggings and some funky slippers any day. Usually by the time Christmas is over I'm looking longingly at summery clothes though.

3. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Finland, I'm in love with the idea of that place. It's just so beautiful.

4. Least favourite food?

I'm not a huge fan of really spicy foods. Oh and quiche. I absoluletly cannot stand quiche, it is one of those foods I can't even force myself to swallow, it makes me gag. Egg custards too, although this is because I don't like how they look, my sister used to love them and I used to hate the way the custardy jelly middle used to come away from the pastry. *blurgh*

5. Do you have any siblings and did you get along with them?

I do, 3 of them in fact! 4 if you count the dog hehe. I have 3 sisters, all younger than me. I get on with all of them, but there is a big gap between myself and sister 2 and sister 3 so our relationship is slightly different to the one sister 1 and I have. Myself and sister 1 are only 3/4 years apart. And if you count the dog, then we get on so long as he's had a bath and isn't barking at next doors cat. :-)

6. Favourite colour and least favourite colour?

Blue is my favourite, like an icy blue or the blue colour of the 'publish post' button. I really hate a certain shade of blue, its the primary shade of blue you often see on cars, or in those paint bottles in school. I don't really like the colour Ochre either, its like a mash up of orange, yellowy mustardness. It makes me feel sick.

7. Do you collect anything?

Not really, not hard core collecting anyway. I used to collect Jasmine Becket fairies, the little ornaments, not the paintings she does. I'm not keen on the paintings, but in ornament form I think they're so cute! I have several of them but I sort of stopped collecting because I had nowhere to put them. I don't look at them online anymore because it makes me want to buy them all. I used to collect buttons, sequins, stickers and lego men when I was a child.

8. In a years time can you still see yourself blogging?

Yes, even if no one is listening I'll still be babbling on my little corner of the internet. Maybe I'll be the blogging equivalent of the crazy cat lady? Who knows!

9. Best drugstore product and best high end product?

A few weeks ago I think I would have found this difficult to answer, but recently I have discovered the Collection 2000 brightening and concealer pen for the best drugstore product. It doesn't last very long but it is by far the BEST concealer I have used to date. Currently my favourite high end product is Boots No.7, I love their eye liner, foundation and mascara but if I had to pick one it would be their 'exceptional definition' mascara. It iss the bee's knees.

10. Signature hairstyle?

I usually just wear my hair down, and just style my fringe, I don't know what you would call my signature hair style! If I wear my hair up 9/10 times I will put it in a pony tail and then clip it up so it goes all 'poofy'? I've just asked a friend on facebook and they said whenever they think of me they think of me with two plaits... but that hair style makes me look 12, so I don't wear it often.

11. All time favourite band of musician?

My music taste changes like the wind. I usually listen something to death and then can't stand listening to it again for months. But Kate Bush is my all time favourite, Enya and Within Temptation are my current favourites... and the Frozen album is also on my top 10 amazing music list at the moment.

 

The Leibster rules state I have to choose 11 bloggers who have 200 followers or less. BUT as I'm really not sure how many followers you guys all have, I'm just going to pick 11 of you, should you choose to accept of course! :0)

Nominees: 

Dr Icecream

Yuurisans Cosplay

The Girl in the Little Black Dress

A Little Bit of Girl Geekery

Laura DuVall Makeup Artistry 

Rainbows and Polka Dots

Hearts and Daisies

The Celtic Beauty

Olivia's Teen Beauty

Vicky Finds Work

Underneath the Shell

If you have been nominated, here are your questions:

1. What's the farthest away from home you have ever been?

2. Do you have any subconscious habits?

3. What is the most expensive decorative object you have ever bought?

4. Favourite sandwich filling?

5. If you could be an animal, what would you be?

6. Have you ever been to A&E?

7. Do you have any pets?

8. Who do you look up to the most?

9. If your house was on fire and you could only save 3 things, what would you save?

10. Are you a tidy or a messy person?

11. What is you favourite 'me time' thing to do?

Dirty Works - Supreme Cream

I had one of my mini 'fail' moments today. We went to Sainsburies, as you do, and there were quite a few of those reduced shelves, practically one on the end of each isle. Reduced shelves get me all excited, and so after raiding the Easter section for their £1 mini egg bags I saw what I thought was a reduced Soap and Glory bit.

Um. No. Not quite Soap and Glory! But the packaging looks suspiciously similar, and I didn't notice the difference until I got it home and proudly announced the arrival of '£2 for Soap and Glory body butter!' I was met with the stunned silence, as my tortoise was more interested in the small cherry tomato and slate place mats I'd bought for him. (Slate place mats are great for placing food on and keeping his beak nice and trim... if you're interested in that.) and my husband just doesn't get the whole make up and beauty products thing! What I actually picked up was 'Dirty Works Supreme Cream.'

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="416"] Not quite Soap and Glory, but boy do they look similar...[/caption]

The lid says 'Dirty Works - Good Clean Fun - Supreme Cream' although I have yet to find applying moisturiser 'fun'... Actually, to say I was a little dissapointed at it not being Soap and Glory was an understatement. BUT, and this is a huge and happy BUT, not only does this little gem smell AMAZING it's quick absorbing and actually feels really hydrating. Mind. Blown.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="421"] Looking at it, I wonder how I could have possibly mistaken it for Soap and Glory in the first place... Doh.[/caption]

All winter I've been using the Vasaline intense moisture cream, because my skin was practically screaming in agony, it was that dry. But for those that have never used Vasaline moisturisers; they tend to sit on the skin and take a while to absorb. Once they do, they are fantastic but when you really need to get your jeans on because you've left things til the last minute, urgh. No. Not happening.

So I'm really really really looking forward to using this instead. I've been using it on my hands because I can't get enough of the smell. Although it is a little too smelly I think...  it is a lovely smell, don't get me wrong, but I'm starting to find it a bit heavy. You can definitely smell the almond, it makes me want to eat it.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="416"] Yay! A non-sticky, quick absorbing super duper body butter. Pretty chuffed with this purchase, as you can tell...[/caption]

 It has Shea Butter and Sweet Almond Oil listed as the main selling ingredients! Apparently "your skin will feel super soft and utterly divine" and I must say, it has left my hands feeling pretty soft. I'm going to have a look next time I'm in Sainsburies to see what else they do. I think I spotted exfoliating cream, bath milk and some pampering sets in the reduced section.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="416"] Pretty standard stuff texture wise, and smells amazing![/caption]

Texture wise, its pretty ordinary. When you first put it on your skin it does feel like one of those products that's going to sit there and refuse to absorb. But within seconds it has and you don't go leaving icky mess everywhere. Only time will tell if I can get my jeans on after applying this!

Review: Colour Couture Magnetic Nail Polish

*It's a long one!*

I received a gift set of Colour Couture nail varnish at Christmas and it's been sat looking lonely for far too long! I have a lot of nail polish, so I'm trying to either avoid buying it, or to be ruthless and sort out the colours and bottles that I'm not wearing and will probably not wear again.

[caption id="attachment_911" align="aligncenter" width="164"] This is the gift set I received! Image: Google, as I threw my package away.[/caption]

Initially the shades didn't strike me as anything special. To make matters worse, the bottles and the packaging seem to be lacking in terms of names! So I have no idea how I'm supposed to repurchase any if by some miracle I use the bottle up.

The gift set came with four shades of polish, three cuticle sticks and a double sided nail file. The shades of polish are basically what I would class as; metallic blue, metallic gunmetal, metallic red and what I thought was a 'dirty silver' colour which is actually purple! It looks silver on the bottle, but if you shine light on it (I used a torch) it is actually a rather nice shade of purple. Sadly they have no names, numbers or any other way of identifying them. After Googling the polish I can't seem to find the bottles I have. However if you're interested in trying out some magnetic nail polish, then Barry M do a nice looking one.

[caption id="attachment_952" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Blue, Gun Metal Grey, Red, Purple[/caption]

The red is clearly red, and the blue is clearly blue, but the gunmetal and purple look really similar in shade whilst they're in the bottle, so to tell them apart I had to put them in direct light. When applied in some light the purple looks blue... Despite the lack of identification I would LOVE to buy more shades of this. The polish itself has lasted me nearly four days, which is pretty good in my books, only my index finger and thumb are showing signs of damage. I know my Barry M polishes usually last me 2-3 days before I start chipping, I don't know if their version of metallic polish is any better, I may have to try some... Only one bottle of polish has the magnetic topper, the blue, identified by those squiggles on the lid.

[caption id="attachment_951" align="aligncenter" width="300"] The polish in ordinary light[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_960" align="aligncenter" width="300"] In direct sunlight.[/caption]

Anyway, the polish itself is really quite nice alone, the brushes give you good coverage and don't clump or streak the polish, and it dries uber quickly.

[caption id="attachment_954" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Single Coat Applied, quite pretty! :-)[/caption]

In order to use the magnetic feature of the polish, you have to use the lid with the magnet on top. In my gift set, only the magnetic blue had the magnet attached to the lid, which was okay, but proved a pain when I wanted to use the blue one in my opinion, as you have to wiggle your hand funny to get the magnet on without touching the exposed brush. The pattern on my magnet is like an upwards arrow, and on my first attempt my nails had a diagonal pattern, but by the time I was onto my last few fingers I'd got the placement just right and had the arrow shape! To use the polish:

1. Apply base coat


2. Paint a single layer or polish on each nail and leave to dry


3. Doing each individual nail separately apply a second coat and quickly hover the magnet above the nail, holding in place for about 15-20 seconds. (There is a little bump to rest on your finger so you don't accidentally stick the magnet in the polish...)


4. Repeat for other fingers


5. Once all are dry, apply a top coat

[caption id="attachment_950" align="aligncenter" width="194"] Top view of the magnet, which shows the design it SHOULD take on when used![/caption]

It's really simple, although when I read the instructions I had to do deep breathing and nail yoga because I was convinced I was going to make a hash of it and it wouldn't look anything like it did on the box! But my nails looked amazing! And I've had three people at work comment on them and ask how I've done them. I'm going to wipe it all off tonight and try the red colour! :-) I've also been have a look on Amazon, and there are quite a few brands that do this sort of thing... Rio do the most expensive set I've seen at £29.99, but you do get five different magnets, and eat one creates a different effect, their finger print one looks pretty cool. You can also buy magnets alone for about £4 each, they have different designs on like hearts, circles, swirly patterns and so on...

Here are all the colours after the magnet has been applied. Eeeek I love these so much! In the image below, excuse the wiggles and uneven pattern... I'm still getting the hang of perfect placement.

[caption id="attachment_955" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Side by side, 'Purple', 'Gun Metal Grey', 'Blue' and 'Red.'[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_959" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Day 4 Damage: badly peeling on one finger, and chips to the tip of thumb.[/caption]

Do any of you actually empty bottles of nail polish? Or do you chuck them out when they go a bit funny? I'm interested to see how many people actually use up all their polish :') Also, if anyone knows what the shades are really called, please feel free to comment the names/numbers! <3

29th Feb babies...

A random thought occurred to me today... who out there was born on the 29th Feb!? I have never known anyone who's got that birthday but obviously there are loads of people out there that must have.

I know plenty of people born on the 28th (5 people in fact, as well as 3 people born on Valentines day, and 2 on Christmas day... yikes!)

Do you go for a Feb 28th Birthday? Or aim for 24 hours younger and go for a 1st March Birthday. Hmm... I think I'd go for Feb 28th personally.

I also used to have it in my head when I was in primary school that if you were born on a 'special day' like Halloween, Christmas or say the 29th Feb, then you had some sort of magical powers. I'm quite glad that's not true as I'd be very jealous.

I also wonder how many times parents have jokingly told their kids they're not having a birthday this year because there's no 29th Feb. Haha... Or if they did that seriously, well that's so mean. Bad parents!