Eva Cosmetics Mystic Diamond Argan Oil Hair Elixir

There’s always one little treasure featuring in each Glossybox and during October it was this beauty.

If anyone knows me well enough, I’m sure they’ll tell you how in love I am with Argan Oil. To this day, I have never found any other product that will nourish my hair like Argan Oil does. I’ve always suffered with really dry ends and this can get worse after my hair has been coloured, so Argan Oil has become my hair-saver.

But you’re probably thinking, what makes this product different to others? The answer is simple…Diamond Dust.

This gorgeous little product contains a small amount of Diamond Dust - a special ingredient that gives hair an amazing shine. Combined with the Argan Oil for nourishment, it's a match made in hair heaven.

I received my sample from Octobers Glossybox, but you can buy the full size (100ml) for £22.70.  

Lancôme Hypnose Drama gift set

Last week I turned 26. A milestone age in my opinion. I no longer belong in the 18-25 age category. It also dawned on me that I would be in the Overs category on X-Factor too.

However, being 26 isn't bad. I'm proud of what I've achieved and how far I've come. Aside from the soppy stuff, you also get the best gifts too! 

One of my favourites was this very special gift set from Lancôme. The Hypnose Drama gift set comes with two mini versions - the Bi-Facil and Crayon Khol Noir and the full sized version of the Lancôme Hypnose mascara. 

Being a beauty blogger, I'm embarrassed to say I've never, ever used a Lancôme product before. I could never justify the price tag, and so, I just awed from afar. But now I can definitely say the products are certainly worth the money.

 

In my quest to find the ultimate eye makeup remover, I think I may have found a very strong contender. The Lancôme Bi-Facil is a sensitive, non-oily liquid that almost melts eye make away in one sweep. A full bottle of this stuff costs a pricey £26, but you really don't need that much. 

Another product that came with this gift set was a mini pencil eyeliner. Pencil eyeliners are about as simple as they come, but this one has definite staying power and doesn't budge from the moment you apply until you remove it at the end of the day. In fact, I'd tested out on my hand and two days and two showers later, it still was there. I wasn't sure how I felt about that at the time, but it's actually a perfect day to night product. 

The last product in this gift set was the Hypnose Mascara. Mascara is my favourite kind of makeup product and I was gutted to be so disappointed by this one. For a £22 mascara, I thought it was going have a bit more of an impact. Instead I found the wand too clumpy and the mascara slightly flaky and there's a perfectly good reason for this - natural bristle wands and me do not get on. I find that they hold too much product and don't give lashes the natural look a plastic wand does. 

Apart from the disappointment with the mascara, I was really impressed with the other products. I'm not sure I'd pay out the amount to buy the eyeliner and mascara but I'd definitely invest in the Bi-Facil. 

For more information on Lancôme products, visit www.lancome.co.uk. 

Full-sized products are priced at:

Lancôme Bi-Facil £26/100ml

Lancôme Crayon Khol Noir £16

Lancôme Hypnose Mascara £22 

nails inc. Lucky Dip #2

If any of you are signed up to the nails inc. newsletter, you would have seen the other day they were offering seven nail polishes for £18 - a bargain that I couldn't possibly miss and considering I've purchased from the nails inc. Lucky Dip before, it wasn't long before my bank card was out of my purse and I was typing the digits onto the screen.

My lucky dip this time around was just as good as the last. I love how they really mix up the colours.

Left to right: mortimer street, chancery lane and sloane gardens.

Left to right: richmond terrace, mayfair, pembridge crescent, mornington crescent.

I'm loving mayfair - a gorgeous pearly white;  richmond terrace - a rich, deep brown; and sloane gardens - a dark, glittery navy, perfect for the Christmas party season.

Nails inc. nail polishes are priced at £12 each. For more information visit www.nailsinc.com. 

We have a new look!

If you're a regular visitor to my blog, you may have noticed that it has adopted a whole new look!

I've been meaning to update my blog for a while, but once I started fiddling, I ended up breaking it and I felt I needed to get a professional in. This is where Felicity from The Pursuit of Felicity came to my rescue and by god, hasn't she done a fabulous job!

Felicity was so easy to work with and produced the most perfect design that was exactly what I was looking for. You should definitely check out Felicity's blog and have a look at her wonderful designs too! 

Face Soap and Clarity: 3 in 1 Daily Detox Vitamin C Facial Wash

I'm a bit lazy when it comes to skincare and makeup removal. So in order to branch away from my usual routine, I took full advantage of the 1/3 off on selected Soap and Glory products in Boots and purchased this little gem.

Now I'm not the biggest Soap and Glory fan. I feel like I'm paying more for the packaging than the product itself and having not been wowed by previous products, it's not really my brand of choice. Needless to say, I was quite pleased I picked this one up.

For me, a good face wash is one of the hardest skincare products to find. There's plenty out there, but very few live up to their claims. I want one that requires a one-step process - that's removing my make up with me having to go back over it with make up remover and you know what, I may have found the one!

Face Soap and Clarity 3-in-1 Daily Detox Vitamin C Facial Wash is infused with soft jojoba beads for scrubbing, vitamins and minerals for detoxing, protecting and rejuvenating, glycerin for leaving skin super soft and SUPERFRUIT YUZU for skin energising, toning and brightening. Basic it's just one killer cleanser and it certainly lived up to its claims too!

What makes this face wash different from others is that it leaves you skin feeling squeaky clean from the moment it touches your skin. It has quite a refreshing feel and the jojoba beads aren't harsh either. In fact I was surprised to see that it has removed most of my makeup in the shower, where as previous face washes have meant that I've had to almost re-cleanse before applying my moisturiser.

Basically it was love at first sight (or use?!) and it is by far my most favourite product I've used this month. Considering I've used almost half product already, I will definitely re-purchase one it's finished!

I bought this product from Boots. Current price £8

Maybelline Baby Lips

I recently had a bit of a haul in Boots and ended up spending a fortune on a huge range of products. One of those products was the much raved about Baby Lips from Maybelline. Yes, that's right I jumped on the Baby Lips bandwagon!

I'm sure you're all thinking the same as what I was - but its a lip balm, what's the big deal - and to be fair my opinion remains the same. But the fact that it was a Japanese and US only product gives it its exclusivity.

I'll be honest and admit, the reason I picked up this product was because my lips had become dry, cracked and sore in the sudden change in the weather and I was on a mission to fix them before they became a horrible mess. I picked up the moisturising lip balm and was quite impressed at the results.

Promising 8 hour hydration, it's actually a really good lip balm. The packaging is colourful and fun and rather than coming in a tiny pot that gets lost in your bag, it comes with a roll stick for quick application.

I would definitely consider buying another product from the range, and for £2.99 (Boots) each, it's definitely worth every penny.

For more information on Baby Lips products, visit www.maybelline.co.uk.

Rimmel Apocalips Lip Lacquer

Since this product launched in January I've read many mixed reviews - some loving the product, others finding it mediocre, but each one commenting on the range of colours. With eight colours to choose from, I opted for nude. The reason for this being that I'm not exactly the most daring when it comes to lip colours. I don't ever believe I could pull off the red lips look and bright pink can make my lips look like they've disappeared, which is why I played it safe.

On first impressions the consistency of the product is fantastic. I'm really not a fan of the sticky, tacky feel that you can get from similar products, instead this one provided a smooth, silky finish. The colour is fully opaque, even with the nude.

What I love the most about this product is the brush. It has a tiny hollow hole at the end, which holds more product than the usual lipgloss applicator. This is perfect and also means I'm not constantly dipping in and out of the pot for more product. 

I must admit I'm completely won over by this product and might even invest in another colour! I purchased this product from Boots for £6.49, but it is available from other drug stores. 

Glossybox: August 2013

So, it occurred to be the other day when opening my Glossybox that I have never, ever blogged about it, and considering I was so impressed with this months, it seemed like the perfect opportunity.

This month saw Glossybox appoint new CEO, Rachel Kavanagh, and you can definitely tell. August's  'High-Flyers' box was filled with impressive beauty goodies for girls on the go - which in my opinion is every girl on the planet. I was so impressed with the selection and for once I can honestly say I've used every product. The product I was most impressed with was the Urban Veda Purifying Day Cream.

I suffer from a really oily t-zone and have quite visible pores, and I struggle to find products to completely tackle this problem, but this product seems to be half way there. The day cream contains detoxifying botanicals of pure Neem oil, witch hazel and spearmint, working to reduce sebum, tighten pores and support healthy cell renewal. Although it hasn't exactly banished my oily t-zone, but I was surprised to see a difference in my pores. This is the exact reason why I signed up to Glossybox - to discover fantastic products I would have never have discovered otherwise, so thank you Glossybox.

Other products in this month box include a Jelly Pong Pong 2-in-1 Eyeliner & Shadow, Oceane Make-up Remover Pen, TRESemme Keratin Smooth Concentrated Treatment Shot and Emite Eyelash Curlers.

If you haven't yet signed up to Glossybox, I would highly recommend it, especially if you're a beauty junkie who loves discovering new treats like these.

Eyelash extensions review

I've always loved the thought of having eyelash extensions, but the price has always put me off, but with our best friends wedding on the horizon, I thought I'd treat myself. I was recommended Alex at The Beautiful Truth in Peterborough, by a friend who'd previously had hers done and wow, what a recommendation it was!

For those of you who are considering having eyelash extensions done, I would highly recommend it. The treatment is completely pain-free and strangely relaxing. The treatment lasted approximately an hour, with 30 minutes spent on each eye. Individual synthetic lashes were glued to my own eyelashes with strong, black, eyelash glue. Although they are attached to your own lashes, they cause no lasting damage and fall out naturally with the cycle of your own lashes.

After discussing with Alex the type of look I was after, I decided to go for a natural with extra volume and I was so impressed with how amazing they looked. Still, two weeks later they look just as good. Naturally, a few have fallen out with the growth of my own lashes, but they still look as full as they did on the day.

I would highly recommend lash extensions to every female out there. Not only do they give you amazing lashes 24/7, but you don't have to worry about applying mascara, saving no end of time in the morning! They don't drop, run or clump like natural lashes and with a simple comb in the morning they stay perfect all day.

My lash extensions were £50 from The Beautiful Truth in Peterborough. Lash extensions are available nationally at a number of beauty salons.

Palmolive Ayurituel

Every girl loves a gorgeous smelling shower gel and Palmolive do this perfectly. Especially now they have extended their sumptuous Ayurituel range. The range, which already includes two shower gels - Joyous and Energy - has now been joined by Peaceful, a shower gel designed to sooth your senses with Neem and Jasmine. 

This exotic range is inspired by the ancient Ayurvedic traditions, a traditional medicine native to the Indian subcontinent and a form of alternative medicine. The indulgently scented shower gels are said to create a harmonious body and mind experience that leaves you feeling balanced and energised - the best way to kick of any morning! 

Palmolive shower gels are available from Sainsbury's, Tesco, Asda and Boots for £2.99. 

Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred - Level One

So, at the weekend my boyfriend and I booked an 11 night trip to Tunisia with the aim of relaxing, spending some much needed time together and enjoying a cocktail or two. But there’s one thing that makes me anxious about stepping onto the beach in a bikini - the dreaded winter wobble.

Throughout winter, baggy jumpers and wholesome food get the better of me. I gouge on yummy food and my fitness regime turns to a mere thought in the back of my mind – why work out, when I can eat cake. But when summer time hits, so does my winter wobble and it’s out there for everyone to see. Now, considering I don’t have much time until I jet off abroad (6 weeks to be exact) I need a get fit, fast remedy and seeing so many fantastic reviews about Jillian Michaels’ workouts, I thought why not give it a try.

Now before I start I will be honest and say I’m a healthy weight, an average size with a boyish frame. I by no means need to shed the pounds, but be more toned, especially in the tummy area, which is why I thought this DVD was perfect for me. I have always enjoyed circuit training type exercises and Jillian’s 30 Day Shred works in a similar way. It combines strength, cardio and abs in a 3, 2, 1 workout. That’s 3 minutes of strength, 2 minutes of cardio and 1 minute of abs, repeated three times. Each circuit uses a different exercise and works on strengthening different areas of the body. Plus the DVD is split into three levels, level one, two and three all of which you do for 10 days at a time.

After measuring my key areas and taking a before photograph (for my eyes only) I was ready to start level one.

I’m not going to lie but level one wasn’t the hardest workout I’ve ever done. The cardio is great for getting your heart pumping, but not enough to completely wipe you out but the strength and ab exercises are tough.

After a week or so, I definitely saw a change in my fitness. After day 5, the cardio became much easier and I became a lot stronger – instead of stopping for a 5 second rest during the push up exercise, I could carry on right through and the same with the bicycle crunches.

However, slight mishap on my part. When I started doing this workout I didn’t have any hand weights, so I used tinned tomatoes instead – not the heaviest of items! On day 8, I started using 2kg weights and really struggled with some of the exercises, which made it even harder when I started level 2 because my body wasn’t used to the strength.

Jillian Michaels on the whole does get a little irritating. Her Americanisms grind on you, especially when you’re caught in the middle of a bicycle crunch. But after a while you learn to ignore and concentrate on gaining a body like Natalie’s.

Day 1, Level 1 starting body measurements:

Arms 27cm

Thighs 54cm

Upper waist 76cm

Lower waist 81cm

Hips 92cm

Lets see how I cope with level two...! 

Pastel Perfection

Summer has officially arrived and what better way to brighten up your nails than with a pastel colour!

I've become slightly obsessed with the colour green at the moment, which is why I've opted for this mint green from Barry M and a little sparkle from Models Own Emerald City.



What are your favourite summer nail styles? 

Garnier Moisture Match: Shine be Gone

I’m not one for bad mouthing beauty products on my blog, because I believe that everyone’s opinion is different. Just because I didn’t like the product, doesn’t mean that you won’t either. So I’m more about giving an honest opinion and sharing the positives and the negatives, rather than just the negatives. Needless to say, the reason I am blogging about this product is because I’m interested in hearing your views and opinions, because I didn’t seem to get on with it too well.

Not that long ago Garnier launched a new product to add to their collection, Garnier Moisture Match. I’m usually quite picky when it comes to a face moisturiser, but what attracted me to this one was the fact that there were five different moisturisers to choose from: Protect and Glow, Start Afresh, Goodbye Dry, Wake me Up and Shine be Gone - each one individually aimed at a different skin type and concern.

Now if I’m honest, I could do with every single one of those moisturisers, but I decided to opt for the mattifying one, simply because I’m prone to a shiny t-zone now and again and I would do anything to stop myself looking like a china doll in photographs! (If anyone has any products to recommend for this, please do!)

After using the moisturiser for the first time, I was quite surprised at how tacky it felt. Instead of sinking into my skin, it felt like there was a layer sitting on top, almost like a primer. But then again, maybe what mattes the skin, but I don’t know. When it came down to shininess, I didn’t notice a huge difference in how my skin looked, which is what made me believe that it wasn’t doing its job properly. Maybe I should have used the product for longer, but I just couldn't get used to the feeling on my skin. 

I think the reason I'm still pining onto the idea of this product is because I absolutely love the concept. Maybe I'll just have to try another one from the range instead. 

Have you tried any of these moisturisers? If so, how did you get on? 

Models Own Fruit Pastel Collection - Strawberry Tart

I love a good scented nail polish. In fact the first one I ever used was a Revlon product a couple of years ago. I love Models Own too, so naturally this was a match made in heaven for me. The only problems I find with pastel polishes, is they're incredibly hard to make perfectly opaque, especially when painting yourself, but Models Own haven't done half bad...



I wouldn't say this polish has an overly strong strawberry smell or that it lasts very long. But I'm a sucker for a gimmick. Plus it's a gorgeous colour too!

Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation

Ever since this product was launched I have seen rave reviews, in fact I haven't read a bad one yet. So after browsing Boots the other day (and after picking up a really bad foundation previously) I wanted a piece of the action and to find out why everyone was such a fan.

After being a complete BB fan for a while, I wasn't used to applying a thicker consistency to my skin first thing in the morning. But when looking at it, it isn't actually that thick, I mean I have used mud-like formulas before, so this is quite light in comparison. It smooths onto the skin easily and provides a good coverage too.

When looking at the product inside the bottle, you can see a subtle shimmer. This is visible on the skin, but not overly obvious and more so in artificial light. I guess you could say this is what gives the skin a dewy finish, helping you're complexion look fresher than a daisy.

One thing this foundation promises to do is wake-up tired-looking skin and to some extent I agree. It evens out skin tone and like I said above, gives the skin a dewy finish. The only dislikes i have about this product is that you have to use quite a bit in order to cover the whole face. I have used foundations in the past where one pump is plenty, but with this one you easily have to use one and a half. Secondly, this foundation doesn't apply well with a brush. I have found that application is a lot easier with your hands (clean hands that is) and an applicator sponge.

Overall, I'm sure I would re-purchase this product. I've never really rated Rimmel foundations in the past, but I guess this one passes.