Superdrug Bargains!

Hey guys! I popped into Superdrug earlier on today and picked up a few bits and pieces so I thought I would show you what I bought!
  The first thing I picked up was this Batiste Dry Shampoo for Dark & Deep Brown Hair, I actually have an original can of Batiste Dry Shampoo that is almost full sitting in my cupboard but this one was only sale for £1.95 so I thought it was a good idea to stock up whilst I could! I bought the dark and deep brown one as I do sometimes find it a pain to get rid of all the white that the original dry shampoo leaves in my hair.
  I also bought Palmer's Cocoa Butter Moisturizing Lip Balm, I needed a new lip balm and this one had been recommended to me a while ago so I thought I would try it out and see how I got on with it.
  I have never bought any MUA products before, but I picked up three lipstick's today seeing as they are only £1! I got Shade 13, Shade 11 and Shade 15 Juicy. I have heard positive things about these lipsticks considering the price so I will be sure to let you now how I got on with them!
  Finally I picked up a packet of Mr Sneeze Tissues For Little Sniffles just because I thought they looked cute and when I was younger I used to adore Mr. Men!

My New Life Saver: Kleenex Shine Absorbing Sheets!

Hey guys! If you read my blog regularly you may know that I have very oily skin, well I have been seeing these Kleenex Shine Absorbing Sheets quite a lot recently and decided it was about time I tried them out myself. They were only £2.99 from Superdrug so I thought for that price they were definitely worth a try!
  These sheets are powder free so whilst they take away any oil from your face they don't make your face look like it has been caked with powder. When I use these, though, I do powder afterwards to try and keep any more shine at bay.
  These sheets are amazing because they don't move or take away any of your makeup at all! When I first used them I expected to have to touch up my makeup afterwards but there was no need, everything was left perfectly intact from before, as it says on the box.
  I have only had these sheets a few days and they are already a must-have in my handbag, I don't think I could be without them now. If you have oily skin, or any areas of your skin get oily I would highly recommend these to you! For just £2.99 they are bloody amazing if you ask me!

Nail Care/Polish Haul!

Hello guys! If you live in England you will know that yesterday was a rainy, miserable day! So to make myself feel a little better about the rubbish weather I went shopping! I bought two nail polishes and a nail treatment, so I thought I would show you!

I realised that as we are now coming into Autumn I don't even own any red nail polishes, so I ended up buying two red shades from OPI - haha! The first colour I bought is called 'Get Your Glamour On,' it is just a nice, matte shade of red that I think I will wear a lot in the coming cooler months. The second colour I bought is called 'Animal-istic,' it is a beautiful dark-ish red shade with flecks of pinky/red glitter, I tried to resist buying this but it looked to pretty! 

I also bought this nail treatment from Sally Hansen called 'Natural Nail Growth Revitaliser,' unfortunately my nails are thin and weak and they take ages to grow but this product claims that it will solve all three of these problems in just five days, so I thought it would be rude not to try it and see if it works! I will post about this again in a week or so, so I can tell you if it has done the job!

August Empties!

Hey guys, I hope you're all well! I cannot believe it is already the end of August - where is this year going?! Anyway, it is time for my August Empties post!

1. Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula for Stretch Marks.
This is a product I tend to go through quite quickly! I apply it to areas where I have a few stretch marks, it doesn't magically make them disappear but I do think it has faded them somewhat. This is something I will repurchase!

2. Blistex Intensive Moisturiser.
I wrote a post about a few of my favourite lip balms/moisturisers here, and this one was included in it! I have really enjoyed this product, I found it did wonderful things for my lips. I will probably repurchase this at some point in the future but not just yet as I like to try out lots of different lip balms.

3. Burt's Bees Lip Balm with Mango Butter.
This was also in my post about my favourite lip balms. This is another lip product that I have really enjoyed using but will wait to repurchase I can try out other lip balms in the meantime!

4. Soap and Glory Hand Food.
This is my favourite hand cream of choice, I always have a tube to hand in my handbag and I use it every day! It smells really nice, and it moisturises my hands really well. I have already repurchased another tube of this!

5. Clinique Superdefense Moisturiser.
This moisturiser is meant for drier skins, but I used it on any dry patches that I often get around my nose and on my chin and it did the job well. I probably won't repurchase this as it really isn't essential for my oily skin but I liked the product nonetheless.

6. TRESemme Extra Hold Hairspray.
I keep a giant can of this at home to use before I go out but I kept this smaller bottle in my handbag and it was really handy when I needed to touch up my hair during the day! I will probably buy another can of this to fit into my handbag for when I need it.

No. 7 Triple Protection Tinted Moisturiser.

Hello guys! I got this sample of No. 7's Triple Protection Tinted Moisturiser a couple of months ago when I bought a couple of other products from No. 7. I thought I would like this product as this has been a staple in my mums makeup bag for a long time, so I was excited to try it out.
  I wasn't let down, this tinted moisturiser is really nice. It has quite a sheer coverage but it still evens out the skin tone and gives your skin a lovely, healthy glow. Because my skin is oily, I have to powder my skin quite frequently during the day when I wear this but it doesn't make my skin look super, super shiny which is good!
  This tinted moisturiser has an SPF 15, which always really appeals to me when I buy makeup as I like my skin to be well protected against the sun!
  I am definitely considering buying the full sized tube of this when I am out of the sample tube, I think I would wear it a lot!

Liebster Blog Award

Hello guys :). I have been tagged by Anette from http://livingtherepurposefullife.blogspot.co.uk/ to do the Liebster Blog Award, I was delighted to be tagged to do this as I have read a lot of these tags and I quite enjoy them!

In order to complete this tag I must: Post 11 things about myself.
                                            Answer the 11 questions set by the person I was tagged by.
                                            Create a further 11 questions for the people I tag to answer.
                                            Choose 11 bloggers with less than 200 followers and tag them.
                                            Tell the 11 bloggers who have been tagged.

So here it goes! Here are 11 facts about myself:

1. In my spare time I row! It isn't the most glamorous of sports, my hands are always blistered and sore. But I really enjoy the competitiveness of the sport, I get such an adrenalin rush during races, so I guess despite all the boring training and sore hands it is quite worth it!  
2. I have two Guinea Pigs, they are called Fifi and Lola.
3. I'm scared of dogs! It's pathetic, I know, when I visit my best friends house I make her shut her dogs off in a separate section of her kitchen. It is a fear I really need to overcome!
4. I have a massive girl crush on Lana Del Rey, I think she is gorgeous and I really do love her music. I think I know every song word for word!
5. I am such a bookworm! I just love reading, I read whenever I can, before bed, when I wake up in the morning, on the train and any other time I can!
6. I have just completed my GCSE's and will be returning to school in a couple of weeks to study A-Level's in Psychology, English Literature, IT and Philosophy & Ethics.
7. I am a complete neat freak! All my books on my bookshelf are arranged by author and are roughly in alphabetical order, all my nail polishes are stored in colour order etc...
8. I am a typical girly girl, my favourite colour is pink, and the majority of the things I own would appear to be pink!
9. I'm seeing Professor Green live on the 20th October, I am already really excited!
10. I am really boring in that I would rather sit an eat a bowl of fruit than a bar of chocolate.
11. My favourite film as a child was Lilo and Stitch - I still watch it now if I am having a bad day to cheer me up! 

Anette's 11 questions:

1. How and when did you start blogging and why?  

I began blogging in June this year, I had been watching a lot of beauty vlogs on YouTube and it inspired me to begin writing my own blog.

2. What's the best beauty tip or trick you have learned recently?

I was told a few weeks ago that nails which have been stained by nail polishes should be dipped into half of a lemon and held there for a few minutes to brighten the nails. I haven't tried this yet but I definitely will at some point!

3. Do you have a beauty confession?

At night I always take care to make sure all the makeup on my skin has been removed, but, I hate to admit that often I can't be bothered with thoroughly taking of mascara and eye makeup and just leave it on!

4. What's your favourite item in your wardrobe at the moment?

I have been wearing this hoodie from Gilly Hicks a lot recently, as the evenings have started to get cooler I find this so comfortable and warm and I also love the colour - bright pink!

5. Food you can't live without?

This is a difficult one! But I am going to say frozen yoghurt, I am just always eating it, it's so tasty!

6. Do you have a signature scent?

 This summer I have been wearing Calvin Klein's Eternity Moment perfume a lot, I have a blog post about it here.

7. What's the colour of your nail polish at the moment?

I am currently wearing 'Sophie's Pink' by Models Own, but I really need to re-paint my nails.

8. Top three fashion stores?

I have always been a fan of Jack Wills and Topshop, but I have also been loving Gilly Hicks recently.

9. What is the accessory you can't do without?

I am always wearing two rings, one was my granddad's great aunt's engagement ring and the other is a gift a cousin sent to me from their home in Australia, they are both really important to me and I wouldn't be without them.

10. Which season do you prefer the most?

Autumn has always been my favourite season.

11. What are your beauty and fashion musts for the upcoming Autumn/Winter season?

My fashion musts include an army jacket and plenty of chunky, granddad cardigans. My beauty musts will include plenty of nice, nourishing lip balms/moisturising lipsticks as my lips tend to get very dry during cooler months.

My 11 questions!

1. What is your biggest beauty pet peeve?
2. What is your favourite TV show?
3. What is your favourite shade of nail polish?
4. What have been your beauty musts for spring/summer?
5. What will be your beauty musts for autumn/winter?
6. What is your favourite colour lipstick?
7. What is your favourite makeup brand?
8. What is the most important thing in your handbag/purse?
9. What is your favourite foundation?
10. What inspired you to start your blog?
11. What is your favourite food?

Who I tag for this blog award!                                                       

We Love Swatches: http://weloveswatches.blogspot.co.uk/

Heatherann's Beauty Stash: http://heatherannsbeautystash.blogspot.co.uk/

Viola Beauty: http://violabeauty.blogspot.co.uk/

Rubik: http://at-rubik.blogspot.co.uk/

Abundance of Erica: http://abundanceoferica.blogspot.co.uk/

Peace Love and Shimmer: http://peaceloveandshimmer.blogspot.co.uk/

Vicki's Beauty Blog: http://vickisbeautyblog.blogspot.co.uk/

Gillian, etc: http://www.gillianetc.com/2012_06_01_archive.html

The Beauty Mist: http://thebeautymist.blogspot.co.uk/

Underscore Bethany: http://underscorebethany.blogspot.co.uk/

Dime Piece on a Dime: http://www.dimepieceonadime.com/

NOTD: Sophie's Pink

Hello guys! I feel like I haven't posted in ages! I hope all those who have received their GCSE results today are well and happy!
  Anyway, today I am wearing this Models Own nail polish, it's called Sophie's Pink and I'll be honest, the name is the only reason I bought it. I actually forgot I owed this polish until today when I was looking through my collection for a colour to paint my nails with, but I really like the colour! It's just a lovely, bright shade of pink. I really like this colour and I can't believe I've never worn it before!
 

Thank you for reading! What is your favourite shade of pink nail polish?

Friday Wishlist!

Hello guys, I have never posted a wishlist before, but I was just sitting on the internet lusting over various items, so I thought I would share with you what I have been wishing for this past week-or-so!

Alexander McQueen scarf - I haven't been lusting over this for just the past week-or-so, but since I laid my eyes on it! I think it is a beautiful scarf and I keep telling myself that I will own one, one day!

Clarins Instant Smooth Crystal Lip Balm - I love the look of these lip balms from Clarins! The colour shown in the picture above is 01 Crystal Coral, and how gorgeous does it look?!

Jeffrey Campbell Martini Gold Stud Nude - I have been loving the stud trend recently, I think it is really edgy but wearable and cool! I also love Jeffrey Campbell shoes, I'm not brave enough for Nightwalk's but these I would definitely wear!

River Island Army Jacket - I saw this in store a few days ago and fell in love! I am definitely considering buying this for the coming cooler months!

YooMoo Frozen Yoghurt - a slightly random one! I finished my last tub of YooMoo Frozen Yoghurt the other day, but I am really craving some right now! Haha.

Thanks for reading :). Are you lusting over anything today?

REVIEW: Clinique Stay-Matte Foundation.

Hello guys! So I have oily skin and I'm a complete sucker for a Clinique foundation so when I saw this at my local Clinique counter I almost jumped with joy, it sounded just perfect for me!
   I have been wearing this foundation non-stop since I bought it, it really does stay matte all day! Usually I have to powder my skin every few hours, but since I have been wearing this I have literally only needed to powder my skin once during the day.
   This foundation is a gel formula, which I quite like, so when I apply it I pat it into my skin using my fingers then blend it into the skin with a brush - the first time I used it I just used a brush and it looked so streaky! On the box for this foundation it says it has a sheer-moderate coverage, I think it is definitely more on the moderate side, it still covers where I need it too. Because this foundation isn't full coverage I think it is lovely for these summer months.

TAG: 8 Most Worn Things! Summer Edition

Hello guys! A bit of a random post from me today but I am going to do the 8 Most Worn Things Tag! I haven't been tagged by anyone to do this, but I have seen this tag a lot around YouTube recently and thought it would be fun do it myself here!

1) Most worn nail polish:
'Mint Green' By Barry M, I wrote about it in My Top 5 Summer Nail Polishes post.
2 Most worn hair product:
This is a bit of a random one but it is actually just TRESemme's Heat Defence Styling Spray.
3) Most worn bag:
Cath Kidston Day Bag.
4) Most worn shoes:
I got these shoes at Faith in Debenhams a few months ago, I have worn them so much, I just love them!
5) Most worn accessories:
I have worn my Ray-Ban 'Wayfarer' sunglasses loads these past few months, I love them immensely!
6) Most worn clothing item:
This playsuit from River Island, I just love the colours in it and I think it is so summery and fun!
7) Most worn foundation:
Clinique Superbalanced Makeup - I just love this stuff!
8) Most worn blush/bronzer:
I was never a massive blusher or bronzer person, but in these summer months I have been loving Rimmel's Natural Bronzer.

9) Most worn lip product:
'Patisserie' by MAC.
10) Most worn mascara:
This would have to be my Bourjois Volumizer Mascara, it's amazing!
11) Most worn eyeshadow:
My most worn eyeshadow this summer has definitely been this quad from No 7. It is called the 'Smokey Rose Quad.' Unfortunately I got given this quad by No 7 free when I bought one of their mascaras and I don't think it is available to buy :(

Thank you for reading! And I tag all of you reading to do this, if you do this tag leave me a link to your tag in the comments as I would love to read it! xx

A Very Small Haul!

Hello guys! This isn't a massive haul, it probably isn't even very exciting for the most of you, but I bought a new bag today, and I wanted to share it with you because I really like it. I've been looking for a new bag for a while now, for a long time I have been using my Cath Kidston Day Bag, I do really like this bag just sometimes I find it too small for all the things I need.

I saw this bag by chance in Accessorize earlier on today, at first it didn't catch my eye and I just walked straight past it, but my mum picked it up and pointed it out to me, and I soon grew to really like it. It is called the 'Mari Tote' and it was £38. It is bigger than A4 so when I go back to school for my A-Levels it will fit all the folders and things I need in it nicely. It does actually come with a cross-body strap, but I personally don't think I will use that, I'll just wear it in the crook of my arm using the smaller straps.

Have you bought anything exciting recently? Thank you for reading :)

Bio Oil vs. Rescue Oil!

Hello guys! I have to admit, I have never really ventured into Poundland before. There isn't any particular reason for this, I guess I have never needed to go in there! Anyway, my friend bought me a bottle of Rescue Oil from there, she told me it was a perfect alternative to Bio Oil, so I thought I would try it and see what I thought!

  The first thing I want to talk about is the price, Rescue Oil (40ml) is obviously £1, being from Poundland I would hope that is quite obvious. On the other hand, Bio Oil (60ml) is £8.99, so I'm sure I don't need to tell you who is a winner from this perspective!
  But onto the most important thing, how they both work. All I can say about this is that if you put both of these products into a blank bottle so I didn't know which was which, I would not be able to tell the difference. Honestly, I cannot express how similar these products are. The only noticeable difference is the smell, quite frankly I don't like the smell of Rescue Oil, but for a product that works the same as Bio Oil but for a fraction of the price, can I complain? Probably not!

Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer.

Hey guys! So for a while I had been hearing quite a lot about this concealer, and I wanted to see what all the fuss was about, so I went out and bought it so I could see for myself. The only thing I can really say about this concealer is 'WOW... Coverage!' The coverage it gives is just so amazing, within two days of having this it replaced my old concealer in my everyday makeup bag. It covers up both dark circles and blemishes really nicely and leaves the skin looking flawless. It claims to last up to 16 hours, I can't tell you if this is true or not as I haven't worn it for that length of time, but it does last really well on the skin.

What's in my weekend away make-up bag?

Hi guys! So the week before last I went on a little adventure for the weekend, and I thought I would show you what I took with me in my make-up bag!

Simple Sun Sensitive Protecting Facial Lotion SPF 50 - I wear this underneath my make-up, just for an extra layer of protection from the sun, the foundation I used on this weekend has SPF 15, that wouldn't do much to prevent sunburn on my skin so I wore this higher SPF underneath.

Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions Clearing Moisturiser - I took this moisturiser from Clinique with me purely because it was a sample size so it didn't take up too much room in my make-up bag, I hadn't used it before my weekend away but I actually really liked it, and I have used it a few times since!

Clinique Even Better Foundation - I find that when I'm tired, this foundation can make me look a bit more awake, so I thought this was quite essential. Read about my three favourite Clinique foundations here.

Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer (review for this coming soon!) - I love this concealer, it is fairly new to me but it really does just conceal everything I need it too nicely.

Rimmel Clear Complexion Clarifying Powder - This is essential for me as I have oily skin, and this keeps shine at bay!

Natural Collection Eyeshadow 'Crushed Walnut' - I use this to fill in my rather sparse eyebrows, I couldn't be without it!

Soap and Glory Smoulder Kohl - This is another product I couldn't be without, I simply look scary with no eyeliner!

Benefit BADgal Lash Mascara - Again, I brought this with me because it is a sample size, it is the sample that I received in Glamour Magazine a couple of months ago, when I first reviewed this (read my review here) I didn't really rate it, but I have warmed to it a lot since then.

Revlon Lip Butter 'Pink Truffle' - I brought this with me as it is bang in the middle of a lip balm and a lip stick, so I knew that it would keep my lips moisturised, add a little colour and wear away nicely!

Vaseline - I used this overnight to make sure my lips were nicely moisturised when I got up in the mornings.

Barry M Magic Lipstick!

Hey guys! I bought this lipstick ages ago and have been meaning to blog about it for ages because it is just so cool! I was hesitant to buy it at first, because all of the Barry M lipsticks that I have bought in the past I found very drying, but I looked past that and bought this anyway - just because it looked cool.

So as you can see, in bullet form this lipstick looks quite scary, but when you put it onto the lips it changes to suit your skin tone (although - when I bought this, two of my friends bought it too, and all our lips ended up a very similar colour) it goes from quite a sheer pink at first to a bright, vibrant pink within about ten minutes.

I didn't have a problem with this lipstick being very drying at all and, my gosh, it lasts a long time! Even after eating and drinking, it barely budges - so it would be brilliant for a night out! - if I ever find my lips drying out whilst wearing this I will just apply a lip balm over the top and it's fine.

The 'magic' lipstick immediately after applying.

Roughly ten minutes after application (it doesn't look particularly
bright here, it comes out brighter on the lip!) 

Nivea Tinted Moisturiser Day Cream.

Hello guys! I have quite oily skin and usually steer clear of tinted moisturisers but as it is now summer I haven't wanted to wear something as heavy as a foundation, so a few weeks ago I picked up this tinted moisturiser by Nivea in Boots, just too see how if I like it or not - it was only £3.66 so a complete bargain!

When I tried it out the next morning I was surprised about the coverage it gave, it isn't at all completely sheer which is half what I expect from a tinted moisturiser, it still gives a fairly light coverage but at the same time covers any imperfections, I also find it to be quite build-able, so if I am having a 'bad skin' day, I can just apply another layer of this and it's fine.

Because my skin is rather oily, I was worried that this would leave me looking super shiny, but as long as I powder my skin after I have applied this it's fine, it leaves me looking like I have a healthy glow with shine in all the right places.

My only problem with this product is that it only comes in one colour 'Natural' this matches my skin quite well at the moment, but it would be too dark for me if I wasn't tanned.

To conclude, I think for £3.66 this is a great product, it has encouraged me to want to try out some higher end tinted moisturisers and see how I get on with those... Do you have any recommendations?

Thanks for reading!

REVIEW: Bourjois Volumizer Mascara

Hello guys! When I finish a mascara, I very rarely go back and re-purchase the same one, simply because I like to try different mascaras. Just over a month ago I bought Bourjois Volumizer Mascara and it is amazing, I have used it almost every day since!
  This mascara has two different steps, step one is good enough to be used alone if you don't like really voluminous lashes, it simply lengthens and separates your lashes, then when you apply step two... WOW! A lot more mascara comes onto the brush and allows you to get a really, really full voluminous look.
  I have long lashes naturally, so I often find myself brushing through my lashes after using step two wish an empty mascara wand because my lashes can look a bit "OTT", but even after doing this my lashes still look gorgeous! I like this mascara so much I can definitely see myself re-purchasing it when I have finished this one!

My Favourite Summer Scents!

Hey guys! I'm staying on the same 'summer favourite' theme as my last post, but this one is about my two favourite summer scents! I personally don't own hundreds and hundreds of different perfumes because I like to have one 'scent' that people can recognise me from, but I do like to change my perfumes in the summer and winter!
  These past couple of months I have been loving Eternity Moment by Calvin Klein, it's a pretty florally smell but it isn't too sweet or strong. When I go out during the day I like to carry a body spray in my bag to use to freshen up throughout the day and I have absolutely been loving Mist You Madly by Soap and Glory, you may know that I love everything by Soap and Glory, especially the smell, so I wasn't surprised when I fell in love with this!

My Top 5 Favourite Summer Nail Polishes!

Hello guys, sorry I haven't posted anything in a while - I've had a pretty hectic week or so - but I am back! And finally summer is starting to look like it has arrived so I thought I would tell you about my 5 most reached for nail polishes in the summer months!

1. Topshop - Big Smoke.

I like this colour for summer simply because it is so easy to wear - it is just a nice nude colour that goes with anything, also, when I wear this I often find it lasts for ages before chipping and that makes me happy.

2. Barry M - Pink Iridescent.

Who doesn't like a bit of glitter on their nails, in the sun or rain?! I think this polish is super pretty, and I'll wear it on its own or over the top of another colour to add a little sparkle. 

3. Collection 2000 - Fruit Salad.

Not only was this nail polish super duper cheap, it is a gorgeous colour and it dries in just 60 seconds! This is my go-to nail polish if I am going out and I'm in a rush to get ready - I think I need some more Collection 2000 nail polishes in my collection as this is my only one!

4. Topshop - Marine Scene.

I was given this nail polish by a friend because they didn't like the colour of it against their skin, so I didn't really expect too much of this polish - but I absolutely love it! It is such a lovely colour and so easy to wear. The only thing I dislike about this polish is that it stains, a lot, a base coat is essential!

5. Barry M - Mint Green.

I bought this nail polish ages and ages ago and forgot that I owned it, but I found it the other day and - after a drop or two of nail varnish remover to make it a little less gloopy - I realised how nice the colour was! It is a perfect summery minty green (as the name would suggest!) and I will definitely start wearing it more often.

Glamour Magazine Freebie: Balance Me Rose Otto Intensive Lip Salve.

Last month I bought Glamour Magazine just so I could get my hands on a couple of free Benefit samples, I was never too interested in magazines, but I did read last months issue and I actually quite enjoyed it, so I decided to purchase this months, completely oblivious to the free Balance Me gifts in this months issue!

  I have never tried any Balance Me products before, so I was very excited to try this. With the magazine there was a choice of three Balance Me products, a moisturiser, an eye cream, a face wash and a lip salve. I chose the lip salve as I am always on the hunt for a good new lip salve!

  I have only been using the products a couple of days but I already LOVE it! First of all, because it is rose it smells and tastes heavenly. It is very moisturising and has a nice texture - on the tube it claims that it 'plumps, smooths and hydrates' and I agree that it does all three. This product is also 100% natural origin, and I like that.

  A full sized tube of this product is £12, I would happily go and buy a full sized tube when I have finished the tube that came with the magazine, I have already used it a lot - even in place of a lipgloss or lipstick throughout the day, I just love it!

  

I would love to try some more Balance Me products, do you have any recommendations? If you do please leave them in the comments:). Thank you for reading!

   

How I deal with my stretch marks!

Hey guys! I often get asked 'how come you have stretch marks? You're not tall or overweight at all' well, when I was about 13 I had my growth spurt and haven't seemed to do much in the way of growing since then! I suddenly grew really fast, and was therefore left with stretch marks. These are something I have been self-concious of ever since - to the point where I don't even like to put on a bikini in front of my friends in the summer! I thought I would share this post with you in case anyone reading suffers from the same problem and would be interested in what I do to help improve the appearance of my stretch marks.
  I exfoliate my affected areas every other day using either an exfoliating glove or Soap and Glory Pulp-Friction Body Scrub. Then when I get out of the bath or shower and my skin is still slightly damp I apply Palmer's Massage Lotion for Stretch Marks. In the evening before applying the Palmer's Lotion I rub a thin layer of Bio Oil into my stretch marks, and then put the Palmer's Lotion over the top.
  Results aren't instant, improvement takes a couple of months - and patience! And I personally don't think that doing this will clear stretch marks completely, just improve the appearance somewhat - which is better than nothing, right? I know there are other methods to clear stretch marks, such as laser removal, and considering how self-concious I feel about my stretch marks, it isn't an option I have completely dismissed, but first I'll definitely just see how I get on with the products I am using at the moment!

My Skincare Routine: Clinique 3 Step

Hey guys! For me personally, skincare is probably the most important part of my beauty routine - why cover your skin in make-up and other products when you are not going to look after it. My skincare routine has never really changed, I have used the Clinique 3-Step religiously for a long time - the only thing I change is my moisturiser occasionally, for example more recently I have been using the Superdefence moisturiser for dry combination skin rather than the Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel (which is specifically step 3 of the 3-Step skincare routine), because my skin hasn't been as oily recently! I've still had an oily t-zone but dry patches on my chin and cheeks.
  I like the Clinique 3-Step because it isn't too harsh on my skin and it doesn't break me out at all! I know it is frowned upon by some because of the price, but personally I don't think it is at all overpriced, the products last for ages work really well!
  I went into Clinique today to stock up on some skincare, and I was pleasantly surprised to find out that, at the moment, with any two skin care purchases you receive a free skin care kit, there was a choice of 5 kits (I think) and I went with the anti-blemish solutions one, I wonder how this will compare to my usual 3-Step skin care routine?!

Getting my feet ready for summer! Soap and Glory Heel Genius.

Hello guys! It may seem a little late to be preparing my feet for summer, but in England summer still looks as if it's ages away, and preparing them now is better late than never! All through the winter, I have to admit, my feet were probably a little neglected, they were kept warm all cooped up in thick socks and boots, but I allowed the underneath of my foot to go dry and crack (gross, I know), so I thought it was better late then never to save them so they would look presentable in sandals and flip flops in the coming months!
  This foot cream is a light bluey-green colour which I quite like, it is also very thick, for me this is a good thing because I find body creams of any sort a little pathetic when they are all watery and runny. I pop quite a generous amount of this onto the soles of my feet every night before bed and wear socks over the top to help the cream sink in and do the job.
  I don't particularly like the feeling of wearing socks full of foot cream to bed but I think the results make it all rather worth it. Even after a night or so, the state of my feet had improved and were no longer quite so dry. It also, like every other Soap and Glory, smells lovely, so surely that is an added bonus!
  I paid £.5.50 for this product and it seems to have lasted forever, so I think it is quite a small price to pay for a foot cream that really works and goes a long way!

Thanks for reading :)

How much does your face cost?

After reading Describing Beauty's post on how much does your face cost? I was instantly curious about the cost of my own face, if not a little nervous! I decided to find out anyhow and share it with you all!

Moisturiser: Clinique Superdefence £37

Lip Balm: Blistex Intense Moisturiser £2.59

Primer: No. 7 Colour Calming Primer - £11

Foundation: Clinique Superbalanced £21.50

Concealer: Which (I don't think it has a name?!) £4.99

Powder: Rimmel Clear Complexion £3.99

Eyebrows: Natural Collection Eyeshadow 'Crushed Walut' £1.79

Eyeshadow: Natural Collection 'Sea Shell' £1.79

Eyeliner: Soap and Glory Smoulder Kohl £5.00

Mascara: Bourjois Volumizer £10.49

Lipstick: MAC 'Patisserie' £13.50

Lipgloss: Soap and Glory Sexy Mother Pucker 'Candy Gloss' £9.00

Total: £122.54 - eek!!

You may have noticed I haven't included blush or bronzer, this is because I only wear these products on special occasions or nights out because I have very red cheeks naturally so I don't feel like I need the extra products in the daytime.

I'd be interested to read your 'how much does my face cost?' posts too! Let me know below if you post one. Thanks for reading!

Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector - All-In-One B.B. Cream.

Hey Guys! I have never really thought of trying B.B. creams too much before, but when I received a free sample of Garnier's B.B. Cream (I ordered my free sample here) I thought I may as well give it a go!
  The product is described as a 'Miracle Skin Perfector' but personally I wouldn't say it was a 'perfector' it has a very sheer coverage and therefore didn't completely perfect my skin. Nevertheless I do really like this product, I like that it has quite a sheer coverage, I think it's nice, especially for summer, and it is very moisturising - maybe a little too moisturising for my oily skin but it is fine as long as I set the B.B. Cream with powder immediately after applying it, and touch up my makeup every few hours - but for drier skins I think this would be just lovely. This product also has SPF 15 which I like and it smells good but hasn't broken me out (yet)!
  The sample I received was in the colour 'light' this matched my skin fairly well, it was a little dark for me but it wasn't too bad when it was blended the product down my neck, but I thought that the colour was way to dark to be called 'light'.
  This B.B. Cream claims to even, cover, illuminate, hydrate and protect your skin, I agree that it does most of these things apart from 'cover', as I have said it is very sheer and therefore doesn't really cover any blemishes or imperfections on the skin. The packaging also says that this B.B. Cream can be used 'as a primer' when I tried this I thought that the B.B. Cream made my pores stand out more so than what they would have done if I had used a normal primer or even just my foundation, so perhaps I wouldn't recommend it for use as a primer!
  I don't think I like this product enough to go and purchase the full sized tube, but I think maybe I would like it more if I had a drier skin type and Garnier offered a wider colour range!

Thank you for reading, have you tried this or any other B.B. Creams? Let me know if you have and what you thought about them in the comments below!

Glamour Magazine Benefit Sample Reviews #2: The POREfessional Primer

Hey guys! I know this review is probably a bit late - I am sorry!! But I thought I would review this product anyway, because I just love it! After being disappointed with the mascara I was left unsure of what I would think of this product - but even after the first time I used it I loved it!

  I found it really did fill out my pores and make my skin look more even, this obviously improved the way my foundation looked on my skin. I also found it made my foundation last longer, which I find difficult with my oily skin!

  When I first got this I wrote a blog post on my first impressions and said how I was a little worried the primer would make me break out because it had a nice smell, but I didn't have this problem at all! It was absolutely fine on my skin - in fact, I like it so much I think I might go and buy the full size product, I have been looking for a good primer for a while, and I think this is my answer!

  Thank you for reading :)

Dove Summer Glow Lotion

Hello lovelies! I'm not really one to use fake tanning products, so this is unusual for me! Naturally my skin is fairly pale, and I don't mind that so never before have I fake tanned. However, it is now summer (apparently) and I'm not going away this year, so I thought I would try out this product and see how I liked it. I bought the Dove Summer Glow Lotion rather than an actual fake tan because this is said to "gradually build a beautiful tan" and I didn't want to use it to the extent that I looked I had been on holiday for weeks, I just wanted a natural glow.

  When I first applied this product I was scared that I would end up looking streaky, but that didn't happen! I was also worried about turning out orange but even after the first time I applied this product I noticed a difference in the colour of my skin, it had a more bronzed (not orange!) look, but it was still very natural. I have only been applying this product every few days as I don't want to look too tanned, as I have said, I just like my skin to have a natural glow.

  One thing I don't like about this product is the smell - I apply it in the evening in the hope that when I shower the next morning and apply body butter the smell won't show through so much. Also, I only apply a very light layer over areas such as my elbows and knees as they can turn out a lot darker than the rest of the body.

  Overall, this product has changed my views on fake tan completely, and it is now one of my must-haves for the summer!

  

Dove Summer Glow Lotion.

Glamour Magazine Benefit Sample Reviews #1: BADgal Lash Mascara

Hey guys! A little while I posted about Glamour Magazine's free sample of one of two Benefit primers and a Benefit mascara, I wrote about my first impressions and promised full reviews - well here is the first review!
  In my previous post I wrote about how I like the size of the wand on the mascara and the way the mascara smelt. I had high hopes for this mascara, I really wanted to like it but when I tried it out I can't say that I was wow-ed by it! I would describe the mascara as 'all right' - I would happily wear it out and it looked okay but I don't think I would go into a store and spend £16.50 of my money on the full sized product. I did try to really like this product, but I just found that it didn't do much for my lashes apart from maybe add a little bit of length. Although I have to say, it is not at all clumpy which I think is a definite up-side!
 

HAUL: Clutch Bag, Makeup, Nail Polish and Shoes!

Hey guys! I have been a busy little shopping bee this week, and I know my purse isn't thanking me for that, but I could not resist (some things we're essential, I promise!).

  My first two purchases were two cute Essie Nail Polishes which, when I saw them, I just had to buy them! The pink colour is called No Pre-Nup, it is a pretty sheer pink. The second colour I bought was called Mint Candy Apple, I think this will be a gorgeous colour for summer.

  I then went and bought Bourjois Volumizer Mascara after hearing Tanya Burr (pixi2woo) rave about this, and I can tell you, she's right! This mascara is amazing! I also bought a Natural Collection Eyeshadow in Crushed Walnut to wear through my brows, it was cheap (£1.79) but it does the job well. Also, in Boots, I bought the Soap and Glory Smoulder Kohl Eyeliner in Cocoa Bean - this is a really nice eyeliner and it was only £5.00, very reasonable in my opinion!

  I also bought a clutch bag and a pair of shoes to wear out this Thursday night (see, I told you some things were essential buys. Haha!). The clutch bag was from New Look, it is called the Grey Envelope Clutch.

  The purchase I am most excited about, though, is this pair of shoes from Office, they are called 'A Starry Night Black Kid Suede' I ordered these on-line, luckily they still had my size left when I ordered them but they now only have sizes 7 and 8 left. I love these shoes! They remind me a little of Kurt Geiger's Gen Heels. I might post an OOTN with these shoes and my new bag on Thursday night, let me know if you would like to see that.

Thank you for reading! :)