December favourites

December has been an odd month beauty wise. I've been so wrapped up with Christmas (no pun intended) that I've hardly found the time to try and test new products. Therefore this months favourites are a little on the slim side.

Clinique Makeup Brush Cleanser

Boring this product may be, but every beauty addict needs a brush cleanser in their life. I love how easy this product is to use - just spritz a little on your brush and wipe with kitchen roll to clean. 

I like to clean my everyday brushes at least once a week and then give them a deep, thorough clean with Johnsons Baby Shampoo once a month. Clinique's Makeup Brush Cleanser is great at acting as an interim cleaner but there's nothing more satisfying than thoroughly clean brushes.

bareMinerals Marvelous Moxie Lipgloss

I blogged about this product back in September and have been loving it ever since - a fantastic product that accompanied many winter looks throughout December. It's a fantastic lipgloss that stays put much longer than any other I have tried and the colour is just perfect too. You can read the full review here.

You can purchase Clinique Make Brush Cleanser (£13/200ml) from all Clinique in store counters and bareMinerals' Marvelous Moxie Lipgloss (£16) from most bareMinerals in store counters. 

Lastly, just a little update - in November I blogged about the Eau Thermale Avene Cleanance Gel Soapless Cleanser. Since using the cleanser I discovered that I was developing copious amounts of zits that were appearing all over my hairline, chin, forehead and neck. When one lot cleared up, another two, three, four would appear. I actually ended up heading to the doctors and being prescribed an acne lotion but this only acted as an interim solution until the next ones appeared. I stopped using the cleanser over Christmas and low and behold my 'acne' cleared up. As much as I loved the idea of the product, it really didn't agree with my skin type. So I am on the lookout for an alternative. If you have any suggestions, I'd love to hear them.

2014 Jade-Emma in review

Firstly, Merry Christmas. I hope you all had a fantastic couple of days filled with family, friends, food and very little movement. From the sofa that is. Now that Christmas is over and New Years is just around the corner, I thought I would celebrate by giving you a round up of my five most popular blog posts in 2014.

The best beauty products for blemishes - if you want to know my top picks for tackling pesky spots and blemishes, then this blog post is worth a read. I still use most of the products included, but since February I have discovered a few more. Keep your eyes peeled for an updated blemish post soon. 

John Frieda Sheer Blonde Colour Renew Tone-Correcting Shampoo - back when I had my dip-dye I was struggling to find a shampoo that tackled that horrid yellow, brassiness. You know, that awful colour that comes as a result of having your hair bleached. This product was fantastic and in fact still my go-to shampoo that I use once a week. 

Tigi The S Factor "Serious" Conditioner - turns out haircare reviews are pretty popular on Jade-Emma and there was no surprise with this one. The likes of Zoella rave about this deep conditioning treatment and I couldn't agree more. 

The Mascara Monologues: Benefit They're Real Mascara - the hype behind this product at the beginning of 2014 was crazy after receiving as a gift last Christmas, I couldn't wait to share with you guys my personal opinion. And trust me, it's an honest one...

The Mascara Monologues: Maybelline Big Eyes Mascara - probably one of the better products I have received in a Glossybox, but despite loving the idea, I was left a little disappointed. Find out why...

I love looking back at blog posts from the year, it fills me with a sense of accomplishment and a feeling of I still can't quite believe people want to read my blog. So here's to writing more blog posts and a happy, prosperous 2015. 

Homemade Christmas gifts

I've always loved the idea of making little homemade Christmas gifts. Not only are they super cute but they add a little personal touch too. This year I decided to make these cute little hot chocolate pots for two of my closest friends. 

To make this cute little gift, you will need:

One small Kilner jar (or similar)

Good quality hot chocolate

Marshmallows

Chocolate drops

Cute Christmas ribbon to decorate

Firstly, make sure you give your jar a good clean (If you're struggling to find a good jar, I purchased mine from TK Maxx - they have a good selection at a good range of prices) and let it dry. 

Pour in enough hot chocolate to fill half way and then add a layer of chocolate drops (flavour - your choice - however, I went for milk). 

Next add a layer of marshmallows. They can be any marshmallows you wish. I went for slightly larger marshmallows as they're more fun and it means you can allow for a few extra for eating on their own! 

To really give this hot chocolate a kick, I've included a little mini Bailey's Irish Cream bottle. These are super easy to buy, in fact I ordered mine from www.justminatures.co.uk but you must be 18 and over to purchase. 

Lastly, decorate your jar with some cute Christmas ribbon. I ordered mine from eBay, where you can find a huge selection of different colours, patterns and styles.

This mini jar is super cute for Christmas and you don't just have to limit yourself to hot chocolate. Why not make your own gingerbread body scrub or a Christmas cookie mix?

I would love to see your homemade Christmas gifts that you are giving this year. Leave your links below!

Christmas gift guide: your mum and nan

Christmas gift guide part one

Christmas gift guide part two

Two very important women and what better way to show them how much they mean to you with a special Christmas gift. For most of you, buying for your mum or nan is relatively easy however, for a nan who doesn't want much or a mum whose been overly spoilt, here are a few extra gifts to show how much you care...

Starting from top left to right: (1) Scuffette II Slippers (£70) Ugg Australia; (2) L'Occitane Shea Butter Delights (£10) John Lewis; (3) Pandora Moments Charm Bracelet (£55) Pandora; (4) Olivia Burton Women's Midi Date Dial Watch (£70) John Lewis; (5) Personalised Thanks Mum Print (£28) Elephant Grey; (6) Travel Candle Collection (£62) Jo Malone London. 

Keep your eyes peeled for the last instalment of my Christmas gift guide where I will be looking at those last minute gifts for super special fathers and grandads. 

Christmas gift guide: your boyfriend and brother

Christmas gift guide part one.

If your boyfriend/brother is anything like mine, then buying for them at Christmas has to be one of the most challenging tasks. Boys don't really have 'wish lists' like us girls. They like something, they buy it. Simple. So if you're struggling to find something for the special men in your life, here's a quick gift guide with some fab gift ideas

Starting from top left to right: 1. Nutri-Bullet, Selfridges (£149.95); 2. Born Idol Apollo Tee, Urban Outfitters (£28); 3. Personalised Leather Sleeve for iPad, Brit Stitch (£30); 4. Navy Reindeer Christmas Jumper, Topman (£30); 5. Men Collection Grooming Essentials, Clarins (£38); 6. Lonely Planet Instant Expert Book, ASOS (£14.99).

If you enjoyed this, keep your eyes peeled for Christmas gift guide for your mum and nan - there are some fab gifts! 

Christmas gift guide: your best friend and sister

No matter how much you love and enjoy Christmas shopping, there's still those really difficult people who we struggle to buy for. This post looks at those sisters and best friends (because let's face it, some of our best friends are our sisters) who have everything...

Starting from the top, left to right: 1. Navy Check Poncho, Accessorize (£35); 2. Make up Bag, Lola & Gilbert (£12.99); 3. Candy Cane House, Ciate (£25); 4. Black Tartan Check Reversible Scarf, New Look (£14.99); 5. Rose Golden Luxury Set, Zoeva (€65); 6. Leather Stab Stitch Bag, Ted Baker (£149). 

Keep your eyes peeled for the next installment - Christmas gifts for brothers and boyfriends. 

The best of: Autumn 2014

This autumn has been rather quiet and I am thankful for that too. I needed time to recuperate after the most hectic spring and summer of my life. So although I haven't taken many photos this autumn, here are just a few of my favourites...

For the last couple of months we have spent time catching up with friends and family and spending our weekends going on long country walks with our beloved pet pooch.

The middle top photo wasn't a recent one, but it popped up on my Timehop just after Halloween. It was a simple reminder of how much fun I had at university, especially when we had chance to dress up.

The fourth and sixth photos are of our three nieces - the most adorable, beautiful little girls you will ever meet. They brighten up a room and they are a pleasure to spend time with.

Although there wasn't many photos this autumn, I'm looking forward to the excitement, warmth and fun that comes through winter. We've got lots planned and I can't wait to share it with you lot.

I'd love to see your 'best of' blog posts. Leave your links below!

Eau Thermale Avene Cleanance Gel Soapless Cleanser

Facial cleansers, we have a kind of love-hate relationship. I love to use them, but they hate my skin. But all is not lost with the Eau Thermale Avene Cleanance Gel. 

This mild cleansing gel is perfect for blemish prone skin. I have been suffering from spots in and around my hairline recently of which I'm putting down to not removing make-up properly. So I figured my skin needed a little more of a helping hand to tackle these problem areas. According to Avene, the cleanser helps purify skin and regulate oil secretion - a breeding ground for blemishes and zits. 

The one thing I love about this cleanser is that although it is soapless, it still has the same consistency of a soap and cleanses just as well, if not better. The Cleanance Gel smells amazing too - not too overpowering but pleasant enough to use daily. 

Although at £11 it may seem slightly more expensive compared to other cleansers, it is worth every single penny. I picked mine up from Boots for £11/200ml. 

For more information on other Eau Thermale Avene products, visit www.avene.co.uk. 

Schwarzkopf Got2B Oil-licious Tame and Shine Styling Oil

I picked up this cute little product while doing a quick shop in Co-op, of all places, for only £4.07 (50ml). And yes, I know what you're all thinking - another styling oil! But this little product packs a pretty good punch. 

The non-greasy formula, packed with Argan Oil, is super light and offers the ability to be used in numerous ways. I personally prefer to apply to newly washed and dried hair, just before styling, but you can also use on damp hair pre-style, to the ends of freshly styled hair to set and tame any fly-aways and to hair pre-wash for extra shine. 

Another great thing about the Tame and Shine Styling Oil is that it makes a fantastic de-tangler after washing too. Considering 50ml may seem like a small amount, a little really does go a long way. 

You can pick this product up from most supermarkets that stock Schwarzkopf products or from www.got2b.schwarzkopf.co.uk.

15 things I've learnt...

Image credit: weheartit  

So, last weekend I turned 27. A relatively good age in my opinion. The wrong side of 25 some others might say. Needless to say that in twenty seven years I have learnt a lot...

 

1 Giving is so much better than receiving: it's totally okay to be more excited about Christmas shopping than the day itself. Likewise for birthdays, Mother's Day, weddings...the list goes on.

 

2 You will still make fashion disasters: Cheryl Fernandez-Versini style combat trousers didn't work for her and they didn't work for me either.

3 You will become more emotional: One Born Every Minute, Don't Tell the Bride and even Hollyoaks, shedding a tear to my much loved television programs has become more frequent than Dodger taking his top off.

4 Wine and chocolate will be best friend (sometimes): the reason being? See above.

5 Make time for those who matter: my father once told me that when I become an actual grown up, counting my best friends on one hand would be normal and right he was. But this isn't a bad thing by any means.

6 You meet some rather amazing people: as I've aged, I've developed more friendships than I ever did as an adolescent, all of which I know are lifelong.

7 Staying in is the new going out: there's no denying it, enjoying a glass of wine with the TV definitely trumps a sweaty nightclub.

8 Grown up drinks become more grown up: wine is enjoyed with dinner and not in the bottle with a straw!

9 Its okay, not to be okay.

10 You won't take BS from anyone: with age comes the ability to stand up for yourselves, be it in the workplace, out and about or sadly, over social media.

11 ...But you'll always be polite: temper tantrums and awkward arguments are a no-no.

12 It's normal to have more than three weddings in a summer: all of which will be special, exciting and magical in their own way.

13 Grown up talk turns to bills and babies: no more boys and bad nights out!

14 But you become less scared to say what you think: honesty is always the best policy.

15 It's okay to ask for help: growing up means standing on our own two feet, but sometimes we all need a helping hand and it's okay to admit it.

What about you? I'd love to hear yours?

Autumn nails

Autumn is definitely one of my favourite seasons. The night’s drawing in, fashion gets warmer and autumn nails really pop.
 

This autumn, nail trends couldn't be more, well, autumn. From fancy fuscias to dark greens – there’s a nail colour to suit every single style. Here’s a selection of a few of my favourites.

Going nude

The great thing about nude polishes is that there is a shade to suit every skin tone – from super subtle transparent hues to dark, opaque tones – there are hundreds to choose from.

This autumn I will be sticking to a slightly lighter shade with a pink hint. I find that lighter toned nudes really flatter pale skin, like my own. My favourite at the moment is Charlotte Street from Nails inc (£12)

Make like a tree...

It goes without saying that the autumn months bring out the most beautiful, natural colours so why not reflect these on your nails. Dark blues and mossy greens are right on trend this autumn and were seen on the catwalks of Julian McDonald and Burberry. 

I love British Racing Green by Butter London (£12) and Max Factor’s Prusian Blue (£3.99).

A different shade of red

Red – a classic shade that can really pop. This season, the deeper and more orange, the better! 

To really add a hint of autumn go for a slight shimmering shade like Butter London’s Sun Baker (£12) and Models Own Tropical Sun (£4.99) from the Beetlejuice collection.

Heavy metal

Need a nail colour for those dark, autumn evenings? Metal based polishes are always hit at party season and can add instant wow to a simple party outfit. This season I love Chanel in Black Pearl (£18).

For those of you who prefer simple, classic outfits, adding a metallic nail can really finish it off. Something like Essie Shifting Power (£7.99) or if you want to try something a little different, nail wraps are perfect. Rebel Nails offer a huge range of nail wraps from Bright Mirror Nail Wraps (£7.99) to 22 Carat Gold Stunning Swirl (£14.95).

 

So with plenty of choice, I know I’m definitely going to have fun with my nails this autumn.

I would love to see your autumn nails – leave links to your blogs below! 

The Mascara Monologues: bareMinerals Flawless Definition Mascara

So, you may have recently read one of my blog posts last month – bareMinerals a Flawless Future Collection (if not, you can have a sneak peak here). I raved about how much I loved this collection, but didn’t divulge much information about the Flawless Definition Mascara. That’s because I wanted to dedicate a whole separate post (because I loved this product ALOT!). So here goes...

When I started writing the Mascara Monologues I never imagined that I would come across a mascara that I well and truly loved. All the others have been a bit mediocre, so I came to the conclusion that maybe I just had high expectations. However, this beaut left me more than impressed.

When you look at the product from the outside, it’s not the type of product that would stand out on the shelf. Its matte black...and...that’s about it. The wand is...simple...and...that’s about it. What else is there to love? But this mascara is so god damn good!

First of all, the small 360 fine-toothed wand comb grabs and coats every single eyelash, even those hard-to-reach lashes in the corners. It covers them and gives them a dramatic lift replicating those that false eyelashes create. Lashes look full of volume and defined. The staying power is incredible too – one coat is enough to last you from day to night and it doesn’t smudge, run or disappear.

The bareMinerals Flawless Definition Mascara has to be my favourite mascara to date and I will definitely repurchase again and again. Or at least until another fantastic product comes along.

The bareMinerals Flawless Definition Mascara is available from www.bareminerals.co.uk for £16/10ml. 

What did you think of the bareMinerals Flawless Definition Mascara? Do you have any others you could recommend?

bareMinerals: a Flawless Future Collection

If you are regular reader of this blog then you will know how much I adore bareMinerals make-up. So imagine the squeal that left my mouth when I recently discovered a fabulous offer on Feel Unique (via Money Saving Expert).

Now, I have never purchased a ‘group’ of products like these. It has been the occasional item here and there, so the whole bulk buy is new to me and also one of those things where I will plan on using every single item, when in hindsight I won’t. Needless to say, I absolutely love them.

I won’t talk too much about the Original SPF Foundation because I have previously spoken about it here, but the other products are also great. To start with the Clear Radiance All-Over Face Colour is great for giving complexion a quick boost. During winter we start to lose our natural summer glow and this is great for giving skin a subtle hint of radiance without looking too overdone.

Secondly, the Frame & Define Brow Styler (in Universal Taupe) is just your simple eyebrow pencil. I really, really like this product and its all down to how slim the nib is. I usually use a well-known Benefit eyebrow product, but often find the brush really hard to work with, so the Brow Styler from bareMinerals is perfect, plus the colour is a very good match too – I have mousy brows so finding a colour that isn’t too dark is often quite difficult.

I’m not really a huge fan of highlighters. They’re one of those products that I know are important, yet I’m really unsure on how to use them (note to self: must YouTube) and therefore they end up sitting in a drawer until they’re ready to be thrown out. I imagine the same habit will follow with the Stroke of Light Eye Brightener. bareMinerals claim to immediately brighten and defuse dark shadows around the eye area, as well as reducing the appearance of fine lines over time. Now, as much as I want to believe this, I’m not sure I can. I thought this was what eye creams and concealers were for, but we shall see.

Now the Marvelous Moxie Lipgloss (in Go Getter) is, by far, the most impressive product in this collection. I usually HATE, and hate is a very strong word, lipgloss – they’re sticky, slippery and disappear within minutes and trust me, I have tried a fair few. I put this to the test at the weekend. I was drinking and eating and it did a real good job of staying put and I only reapplied on a couple of occasions. The colour is nice too, a subtle pink that can be worn anytime – day or night.

Now, I really don’t want to discuss the last product, Flawless Definition Mascara too much because I will be reviewing it in my Mascara Monologues series. But I will let you into a little secret – it got me more excited that the gloss. So keep your eyes peeled soon.

All of these bareMinerals products can be purchased from www.bareminerals.co.uk or www.feelunique.co.uk. Prices are below:

Original SPF Foundation £25
Clear Radiance All-Over Face Colour £19
Frame & Define Brow Styler £13
Stroke of Light Eye Brightener £22
Marvelous Moxie Lipgloss £16
Flawless Definition Mascara £16

The best of: Summer 2014

Can you believe that we're almost half way through September already? No, neither can I! But with the nights drawing in I think it's fair to say that summer is officially over.

There's only one word to describe my summer and that was BUSY! Nearly every weekend has been filled with socialising, weddings, hen parties and holidays. But as much as I have enjoyed the summer of 2014, I am definitely looking forward to sitting back and spending a few cosy nights indoors during autumn. So to celebrate this summer, here's just a few of my favourite summer snaps this year...

The start of summer was definitely one of the busiest I think we've ever had. Firstly, we saw two of our best friends tie the knot and then three days later jumped on a plane to Thailand, landing in Bangkok before heading over to Koh Samui. We created so many memories - from holding baby monkeys and riding elephants to enjoying the nightlife of Khoa San Road and eating the most delicious food we have ever had!

This summer has also been spent creating memories at Eminem's Wembley Stadium concert, seeing an old university friend marry her prince charming and spending the weekend at The Mere Resort Golf & Spa in Cheshire for relaxing pre-wedding celebrations!

I think it's fair to say, this summer has been one of the best and I can't wait to see what autumn and winter have to offer.

I'd love to see your blog posts like this one. If you have any, please leave your links below!

Toni & Guy Nourish Reconstruction Mask

You know when you impulse buy a product on a whim, well this was one of those. Naturally, I had ran out of my usual leave-in conditioner and needed a new one to replace it. I'm not quite sure what made me pick up this one, but it was a pretty good choice. 

I really don't get on with Toni & Guy shampoos and conditioners but they're styling products are pretty spot on, plus they're affordable too (and cheaper than some other haircare products that are no where near as impressive). The Nourish Reconstruction Mask, however, was really pleasant to use. Made with a deep conditioning formula, it provides advanced repair and replenishment for distressed hair, and after years of colour and heat damage, my hair needs all the help it can get. 

The Toni & Guy Nourish Reconstruction Mask is applied to freshly shampooed, damp hair and left for between 3-5 minutes before rinsing out. By leaving it in for longer than your average conditioner, it deeply penetrates the hair follicles to repair and replenish any lost moisture. I have been using it for the last couple of weeks and have definitely noticed a difference. 

Apart from its conditioning properties, the one thing that really sells this product to me is the smell. You know that smell that you only get from visiting the hairdressers? Well this hair mask has that.

If you're looking for a hair repair mask that intensely nourishes, then I would certainly recommend this one. It's affordable, at £6.29/200ml, and will last a considerable amount of time too. 

The Toni & Guy Nourish Reconstruction Mask is available from most drug stores, but you can also purchase from www.toniandguy.com.