The Beauty Blogger Tag

Can anyone believe how dark and cold its got so quickly? I cannot believe that I actually had to de-ice my car the other morning, that definitely got my pulses racing especially as I'd left my coat in the house! Today I thought I'd have a go at the Beauty Blogger Tag, whilst I don't claim to be an expect on beauty I do like giving my two penneth so here it is...

What is your natural hair colour?

Years ago my hair was dyed quite often, darker, lighter - even purple at one stage. But nowadays I'm au natural. Its kinda like a mousy dull brown, pretty exciting huh?

How often do you wash your hair?

I cant get away with washing my hair twice a week thank god. Its the biggest chore ever!

Do you wear the same style everyday or change it? 

I'm the laziest person when it comes to my hair. I wash it, let it dry naturally and then it goes in a bun and says that way until the next wash.  

Do you do your own mani/pedi or go to the salon?

I'm DIY all the way. I'd love to get it done in the salon because I can imagine its a nice treat, but it can also be pretty expensive. Plus I like changing up my nail colour regularly.

How long does it take you to do your make up?

This definitely varies depending on the mood I wake up in the morning. If I'm feeling with it when I wake up I'll spend longer doing my make up but if I'm a tired Kelly then I'll opt for longer in bed!

Do you 'collect' make up or just buy it when you need it?

I am guilty of being a hoarder and a spendaholic and when make up gets involved it all gets a little crazy. Its a little sad to say but I do tend to collect make-up although I am trying to get out of the habit. 

How often do you wear false lashes?

Like never. I've got about 4 pairs which I've attempted to wear but I never get further then the front door with them on. I just worry that they are going to fall off mid nightout which is not a good look!

Will you leave the house without make up on?

Quite often I'll go out without make up on, to be honest it really doesnt bother me. Am I bad beauty blogger?? I'll often go to work, pop to the shops or round to a friends without make-up and whilst I might not feel at my best I dont feel uncomfortable. 

Do you wear make up when you are home alone/with family?

Nope. If I've got nothing planned during the day I wont bothered putting on make up, and when I get home after work taking it off is the first thing I do.

Do you plan your OOTD every night or decide when you get up?

There isnt any set pattern for this, sometimes I have an idea in mind if I'm going somewhere special but during the week I always just chuck on whatever is clean and doesnt need an iron!

How often do you change your handbag?

I have about 3/4 handbags that I have on rotation depending on where I am going and what I'm wearing. 

How tall are you?

I'm 5"7

Do you speak a foreign language? 

I wish :( 

Do you read the comments on your posts?

Of course! I have so very little that it would be rude not to! It always makes me smile when I get a comment as it makes me feel like someone actually read my post. 

Do you keep a list of products to try as you read other blogs?

My phone notes are full of lists of products I need want.

How did you come up with your blog name?

It took quite sometime, I was playing around with names for a while but one day it just popped in my head and stuck. And no I havent ever watched Along Came Polly....

What kind of camera do you use for your photographs?

I have a pretty simple bridge camera that I've 'borrowed' from Allan which comes in very handy but recently I've got the new iPhone 6 so have been using that as the picture quality is so good. Its also a bonus that its pretty easy to use. The only thing I don't like is the picture size and orientation...I dont know if I'm doing something wrong, I just want them big and beautiful! Feel free to pass over tips...please?

What is your favourite colour?

Purple purple purple

Be sure to let me know if you do the tag, I'd love to read your answers. 

Getting Into Autumn | MAC Hot Tahiti

The idea of summer is a lot more desirable than actual summer for me, I get so hot and unconformable, I never know what outfits are acceptable to wear and sleeping at night becomes near to impossible! I always have more of a smile when I see the leafs on the trees starting to turning colour and the days getting cooler. 

To help get into an autumnal mood (not that I need any encouragement) I've been loving wearing MAC Hot Tahiti, its the perfect transitional lip colour. Described by MAC a soft reddish coral, one that's great for those (including me) that are too scared for the really dark colours or just not ready for the full autumn/winter look. Although in the bullet it looks very dark it translates lighter on your lips. Its a glaze formula so not the most long lasting product available but its one that I've been reaching for a lot during the day, paired with a soft smokey eye. 

I picked up Hot Tahiti at IMATs back in June but its only been in the last couple of weeks I've been using it and I cant wait to wear it more often. It may be one that I you might overlook amongst all the other lovely colours at the MAC stand but its one I really think you should give a try at this time of year. 

What lipstick have you been loving at the moment?

Have you tried Hot Tahiti before?

Empties #6

Hello, remember me? I'm the girl that hasnt blogged since the beginning of August! Anywho, lets not dwell on that too much! To ease myself back in I thought I'd start off with one of my favourite posts to read and to write...my empties!

There's quite a lot here as you can see but I have to say that there were a few things that I just binned by accident over the last couple of months, but here's what I've managed to keep hold of! Some would say this is the mascara edition...

Champneys Spa Indulgence Distance Shores Shower Mousse - The smell of this mousse is ah-mazing! The passion fruit really comes through and makes me think of holidays in exotic places! Its a liquid in the bottle but pumps out as a soft foam mousse. The smell didnt linger too long on my skin which was a shame, but it was a lovely wash to use on a Sunday night during a pamper evening. 

Would I repurchase? Yes

The Body Shop Camomile Eye & Lip Make-up Remover - With lots of good feedback about this from other bloggers I was disappointed when I just didn't feel the same. Being a bi-phase formula it did leave my eyes a little greasy and not as gentle on my eyes as I'd hope. I did have to rub away stubborn eye make up a little more then I do with Liz Earle C&P. Smell was very pleasant though.

Would I repurchase? Unfortunately not

Batiste Blush Dry Shampoo Mini - I think I've a dry shampoo in every empties post so far! Think that speaks volumes...

Would I repurchase? Over and over again

Garnier 5 Second Blur - This is a primer which I used pretty much every day, it has an optical blurring effect which smoothes and provides a good base for foundation. It has a very soft feeling, kind of reminds me of the of Benefits Porefessional but a lot cheaper. 

Would I repurchase? Yes

MAC In Extreme Dimension Lash Mascara - Being my first MAC mascara purchase I wasn't sure what to expect, especially at a price of £18 (now £19!). I was really impressed with the volume, length and definition it gave to my lashes, it was quickly promoted to my favourite going out mascara - does anyone else have mascara that they only use for evening looks?! I would put this on par with Benefit They're Real. 

Would I repurchase? Yes

Clinique Liquid Facial Soap Mild - In the mornings I like something gentle and easy to cleanse my face and little mini did a good job of freshening up my face first thing. Due to finding it a little drying and more expensive then some of my other morning face washes, I wouldnt pick this up again.

Would I repurchase? No

Maybelline Big Eyes Mascara - Once this has dried out a little it was a really good mascara, and I liked that there was two brushes, one for top lashes and the other for bottom. I did prefer the bottom lash wand, I just wish it was sold as separate mascara! It really helped to separate my bottom lashes and add a little colour without packing on loads of product, in turn avoiding the spider look. I'd pick this up again just for the bottom lash side. 

Would I repurchase? Yes

Maybelline Great Lash Mascara - As I've mentioend before I use this as a bottom lash mascara and think as a normal mascara it doesnt really have much effect on my lashes. Since getting the Big Eyes mascara it was demoted to the back of the queue. 

Would I repurchase? Only if I couldn't get hold of Big Eyes

Clinique Lash Power Mascara - My first use of this mascara was pretty disappointing, the formula was far too wet and didnt hold a curl in my lashes at all so I didnt use it for a little while. But then I decided to give it a second go and it was a lot better after it has dried a little, and it did turn out to be a good egg. It really gave a feathered look and was perfect for an every day look. 

Would I repurchase? With boots points yes

Collection Fast Stroke Eyeliner - With a short but steady nib this was really easy to apply - even for an eyeliner noob like me. My only problem was that it was very black, more like a muted black/grey. It lasted well on my eyes during the day, there was no fade but I think that was because it wasn't very dramatic when first applied. For £2.99 though its a bargain if your on a budget. 

Would I repurchase? Yes if it was a tight budget

Now I'm can finally clear under the sink and start a fresh! 

Have you tried any of these products?

Cheeky Shopping Trip

I just cant help myself. Whenever I'm bored it results in a trip to the local shopping centre and my card gets a bit of a bashing. Luckily this time I had a few Boots points to play with so my bank card was a little happier then normal. 

I'm a bit obsessed with finding the perfect foundation so I'm always picking things up left right and centre and this trip was no different. First in my basket was the Estee Lauder Double Wear, its much talked about due to its heavy coverage and long lasting abilities so I knew it was one I needed to try. Sticking on the base products I also picked up the Maybelline Fit Me Foundation Stick, this one was on a bit of a whim although I'd seen a lot of people mentioning it I haven't really read too much about what its like - expect a review in the future! 

After my recent Mascara Cull I needed to pick up a couple of new mascaras to top the stash back up, after wondering around the aisle for what seemed like forever I decided on Rimmel Lash Accelerator Endless Mascara which promises to lengthen and extend lashed by up to 99%, now I'm not sure about that outrageous claim but only time will tell! If you read my blog regularly you'll know I love Maybelline Great Lash as a bottom lash mascara but decided to see how it compared against Clinique's Bottom Lash Mascara and so far I only have good things to say about it!

In need of a new night cream I decided to stick with Boot Botantics and opted for the Ultra Calm Night Cream offering. I haven't yet tried this but it will soon be in rotation. The last thing I picked up in Boots was a Maybelline Colour Sensational Shine Gloss in Cashmere Rose. I've heard these are very similar to the Clarins Instant Light Perfectors and as I have been lusting after them for some time I decided to pick up the cheaper option before splashing out. 

As always I went for a wonder around Lush, I love the smell more than anything else and although I told myself I didn't need to pick anything up I left with a couple of things, a Shampoo Bar Tin and 9 to 5 Cleansing Lotion. I've got a shampoo bar from Lush but hadn't got round to using it as I wasn't sure what to do with it in between washes so when I saw this it when straight in the basket I shouldn't have picked up as I walked in! Recently Vicky from Describe the Sky had talked about her Lazy Day Skincare Routine and the 9-5 Cleansing Lotion was included, she said it was calming and quick and easy to use so I just knew it would be perfect for the evenings when I want to head to bed pronto! 

Although I love writing these posts almost as much as I love shopping I'll be cutting down now in favour of saving sigh its not my most exciting idea but it is the most practical one :( 

Have you been shopping recently? Leave your links below as I love haul posts! 

K x  

Mascara Cull

With so many mascaras on the market these days I cant help but want to try every new one that pops up so I often have 5/6 mascaras on the go and a couple more unopened waiting in the wings. Some promise more volume, or longer lashes but its hard to come across one that will make me want to repurchase. I'm very much a drugstore kinda gal when it comes to mascara as lets face it they don't last too long and I don't want to be spending £20 upwards when I can get something as equally as good in Boots. Now that's not to say I haven't  on occasions picked up a MAC or Benefit mascara when I've been at the till! 

I figured it was about time I had a bit of a clear out of mascara's - some of them had been sitting there for sometime looking sorry for themselves. 

For me its all about length, I love the look of long lashes and if the mascara helps with volume then its a bonus. My favourite mascara that I have come across is most definitely one I am going to have to repurchase no matter what, its the L'Oreal Telescopic Extra Black. This little beauty gave me the longest lashes without sticking together to give that awful spider leg look, I am very sad to see this one leave from my stash but very happy when tomorrow I get a shiny new one! I have to admit I do fall for a lot of beauty hype and more often than not will purchase something on a whim, this is exactly what happened with the Avon Mega Effects Mascara. I was so intrigued by the applicator that I just had to hunt it down. Unfortunately it was such a disappointment, it was really hard to apply and didn't do anything for my lashes apart from darken them, no lift, no curl, no volume, not my cup of tea. 

Just before Christmas Soap and Glory did their massive gift set which of course I couldnt help but pick up and included in there was the Thick and Fast Mascara. So many people raved about it and I could see why, my lashes looked so voluminous but didn't give me my much loved length I desire. Does anybody else get upset/frustrated/annoyed/confused when a brand discontinues one your favourites? Well thats how I'm feeling about Rimmel Sexy Curves, I love this mascara as its a really all rounder. My lashes look fuller, longer and gives a really good curl, its my perfect every day mascara but Rimmel went and discontinued it *sadface*. But its does mean that for a short while Fragrance Direct have it at the bargain price of £3.99. Excuse me while I go and stock up. 

The last one that is going off to mascara heaven is L'Oreal Miss Manga, another one of those pesky hyped up products that just didn't do it for me. I couldn't get along with the wand, the bristly brush didn't catch all the little lashes and I just ended up with clumpy messy lashes although I have to say I did like the stylish black and pink packaging! 

I cant wait to get my new mascara's on the go, its such a satisfying feeling putting on a fresh mascara although I do find it a little daunting as I never know if it will live up to my precious Telescopic! 

What are your favourite mascara's? Do you hoard them just like me?

K x

Books | Lauren Conrad - Beauty

 

As much as I love spending hours pouring over different beauty blogs I still love having a read of an actual book. I can't quite remember where or how I stumbled upon this book but Lauren Conrad's Beauty book was definitely the start of a beauty romance. I had always been fond of make up and skin care but didn't know what to do with either so a lot of what I did was just from experimentation. I'm still a novice in lots of areas, with lots to learn but this book really helped me to learn the basics.

 

Lauren covers a lot of different area's in her book including, skin care, hair care and even delves into how stress can affect you and your body. Whilst each section only scratches the surface its a great starting point. There are plenty of how-to's with a good mixture of pictures and text. With Lauren being the winged liner queen, it was only right I learnt from the best, and this is something she covers in the book.

Since the Beauty edition, Lauren has also released a Style addition which I have yet to get my hands on, I will soon though as I've loved her style from way back when she was in Laguna Beach & The Hills. You can pick up Beauty from Amazon here for only £10.34 (who thinks up these random prices?!)

Have you read any beauty books? I'd love to pick up a couple more so suggestions are welcome!

K x

Change Up Wishlist

Change is not some I like, in actual fact I will do anything I can to avoid it. If things are working for you why would you look to seek something else? Well I've realised that doesn't get me too many places so recently I have been trying to get out of my comfort zone and try new things/brands that I wouldn't normally go for. So one rainy afternoon I decided to pick out a few items from different brands that I'd like to get my hands on in the future.

Redken All Soft Gift Set - £21 - My name is Kelly and I have a massive problem...with frizz! No matter what products I try, whether I blow dry or let my hair dry naturally I will always end up with my hair looking like a big ball of frizz. For some reason my boyfriend loves my 'crazy hair' but that does not make me want to keep it. It promises to smooth, de-tangle, nourish AND control frizz - where do I sign up?! As Redken products are, in my opinion pretty pricey, they are not something I want to pick up on a whim so this set will mean I get to test out the products and save my self a few pennies too. 

Save the Blow Dry Moisture Eliminating Queen of Shower Caps - £9.95 - I'm a big fan of shower caps, I cant be doing with washing my hair everyday but showering can be quite difficult without using a shower cap. Currently I'm sporting a Rudolf shower cap with a nose and everything which is soooo last season so its about time I got an upgrade. This one sounds perfect, I've seen a lot of people reviewing it lately and I've only seen good words written about it. Its dual purpose too, so you can use it as a shower cap to keep moisture out so there are limp locks in sight but its also reversible so you can use for hair masks which I think is a bloody brilliant idea!  

Clarasonic Mia 2 & Lancome Set - £125 - I'm sure I don't need to tell anyone what a massively hyped electrical beauty item this is, so I'm sure its no surprise that I want it! Yes, £125 is a lot for something you'll use to cleanse your face when you can buy a pack of flannels from Primark for about £1.25 but I can just imagine how glowing my skin would look if I used this! It also comes with a limited edition Lancome set which I haven't tried anything from so I'm killing two birds with one stone here - how money saving of me ;) 

St. Tropez Self Tan Starter Kit - £12.75 - Living in the UK means we are not blessed with the most sunniest of weathers so lots of people look to fake tan to summer themselves up. I'm still stuck in my pale rut and I have to say I have never dabbled with fake tanning - yes I've used Rimmel's Instant Tan - who hasnt! - but I haven't tried the proper stuff. Its safe to say I know NOTHING about fake tan but I do know that St. Tropez is up there in the fake tan stakes so its only right to start with the best, this little set will definitely help me get on the glow ladder before summer approaches. 

Elemis The Gift of Great Skin Collection - £30 - Shopping channels are my guilty pleasure, specifically QVC. Whilst I've yet to purchase anything, that's where you'll find me when they are showing something beauty related. That is where I've come to learn about Elemis, its so heavily featured but I've always been a bit of a wuss to purchase so when I saw this little collection on Feel Unique I thought it would be perfect to test out a few items before buying big. It has the very well known Flash Balm included - what it does I don't know but I need it!

With last weekends 15% off sale on Feel Unique I was so tempted to pick up a few items but with my bank account looking very sorry for its self right now I managed to stay away - or in other words my boyfriend had to keep closing the window at the check out page - how very rude!

What products/brands would you like to try? Anything you think I should pick up? 

K x

Empties #3

These kind of posts are my favourite as you get to see what people have been using up and you a get a mini review all in one, they are also one of my favourite to write although mine tend to turn into super long reviews because I ramble on so much - hopefully you don't mind too much :) So onto the reason your here...

Radox Coconut Kiss Shower Cream - This has a gorgeous smell about it, think holiday and coconut cocktails. Its fairly moisturising on the skin but nothing I'd write home about. I'm not sure I'd pick this one up again unless maybe if it is on offer when I'm picking up holiday bits. 

Herbal Essences Bee Strong Shampoo and Condition - I'd be lying if I said I didn't pick this up purely because of how amazing Nicole Scherzinger looked on all the advertisements - surely I cant be alone?! I also like getting smaller bottles of shampoo and conditioner as my hair always tends to get a bit complaisant after I use the same one for too long. This little duo was great for my dry damaged hair, it really brought it too life and looked and felt a lot stronger and shinier. As with all Herbal Essences products it smelt amazing! I'll definitely be picking up another set in the future. 

Garnier Pure Active Fruit Energy Daily Gel Wash - Apart from having a really long name (I even shortened it!) this product is a fav of mine. I used this in morning as it had a really fresh smell that woke me up as well as giving my skin a good refresh. It was really gentle on my skin, I even used to wash off the pesky mascara that stuck around after the previous night's cleanse and it didn't sting at all. My current morning cleanser really isnt living up to this one so I'll definitely be repurchasing very soon! 

YSL Top Secrets Eye Make-Up Remover - I received a little sample bottle of this in a set at Christmas and I put off using it for quite sometime as at £24 for 100ml I was worried that I was going to fall in love and want to repurchase but fortunately for my bank balance I really didn't love this. Yes it removed my eye-make up but no better than a micellar water which is a lot more cost effective, it even left an oily residue behind which really didn't sit well with my skin. Its safe to say this is not going to put in my shopping bag anytime soon. 

Bourjous Healthy Mix Serum - I remember this one of my first ever beauty blog induced purchases way back in summer last year! I was so intrigued by all the hype I just had to get it. This for me is right up there in the foundation stakes, it sits well on my skin, gives coverage as its so build-able and didn't break me out at all. It gives a really healthy glow to the skin and blends in so well using my Real Techniques Buffing Brush. 

Dove Go Fresh Nourishing Body Wash - Not much to say about this one in all honesty, it smelt pretty nice, underneath the pomegranate and lemon you can smell the signature Dove scent which is really comforting. It lathered up well in my but I have to say I think next time I'll pass on this one and try something different. 

I hope you liked seeing my recent empties - I'd love to take a look at yours so please do leave a link below!

K x

My First Beauty Swap

 A few months back I noticed that Kat from Tales of a Pale Face was helping bloggers get together to take part in a beauty swap! Knowing that its been something I've wanted to take place since I first reading blogs I signed my self up straight away. I didnt think anything else of it until I received an email from Kat introducing me to Julie from Just Julie who I would be swapping with! We agreed a budget and chatted about the things we were interested and set a date for when we would be done by. 

I received my parcel at work, it was tempting me all day to open it but I did just about manage to wait until I got home that evening. Inside the box each item was individually wrapped so it was like my birthday had come early! There was even a little note but I had to wait until the end to open this.

As Julie knew I hadn't been sleeping so well as of late I received A French Kiss bath melt from Lush which I could smell as soon as I opened the package! I cant wait to try this whilst burning the French Lavender Yankee Candle that I also received in a very cute purple candle holder which will sit well on my dressing table when I'm done in the bathroom. 

One thing I did mention to Julie was that I was looking to get into the whole brow malarkey as I havent yet dipped my toe into that side of beauty so I was really pleased to see the Sleek Eyebrow Stylist, I've heard so many good things about this and even Julie herself uses this so I knew it must be good. I've had a little dabble with it and so far I'm liking it! I think it is going to take me a little while to get the hang of the whole brow thing but with this little baby I don't think it will take me long. 

Staying on the eye theme I also received a Rimmel 5 Pan Eyeshadow in Foggy Grey which has a good assortment of neutral colours including a black with a slight silver shimmer running through which will be great for creating a smokey eye! Next up I received a L'Oreal L'Extraordinaire liquid lipstick in the colour Fuchsia Drama which weirdly enough we both got each other, although I cant quite remember the shade I got Julie! I've used this already and I only have good things to say about this. To match the lipstick there was a Rimmel nail polish in Dont Be Shy which I know will be my go to spring/summer shade!

As Julie knew I was having a terrible time with my skin she thought Lush's Grease Lightening would be a product I needed in my life, and she wasn't wrong. I've used this already as the day I'd received the parcel my skin had broken out, it really calmed down my naughty skin and so far hasn't dried it out. Lastly I received a trio of products which I cant wait to try out, its the shampoo, conditioner and hair mask from Charles Worthington's Salon at Home Moisture Seal range which as the name suggest is designed for dry hair. I'm hoping that this will add some much needed nourishment to help soften up my dry locks. 

Overall I am so pleased with everything that Julie chose for me, I know she put a lot of thought into each and every item. I loved the little note she made which explained the reasoning for each product as it made it extra special. I have learnt a lot from my first swap swap and I cant wait to take part in another one! I even managed to tick off a 101 things in 1001 days list! Now you've seen what I received, take a look at what I got for Julie here. 

Thanks again Julie! 

K x

Review | Sanctuary Spa Sleep-In-A-Box

Sleep doesn't come easily to me these days. I know I'm tired and could sleep for a week but my brain has other ideas. It likes to play the game 'What would you do if...' and starts making up all these hypothetical situations that never in a million years could happen and makes me toss and turn with worry! So when I was wondering the aisle of Boots this little set caught my eye, and not just the fact its my favourite colour - okay well that was the first reason! With the promise of reducing tension & stress and helping prepare for a restful sleep I knew it was something I needed to try.

With social media, phone, ipad etc etc turnt off I hid away in the bathroom for some me time. First off I used the Calming Luxury Bath Float which I have to admit didn't make the most bubbles but the smell made up for it 10 fold! As soon as the smell hit me I felt my troubles start to disappear, you could really smell the Ylang Ylang but it wasnt so powerful that it gave me a headache. Once in the bath I read a couple of chapters of the book I've got on the go, I felt so relaxed I nearly dropped the book in the bath! I then used Smoothing Silk Polish which I used on my legs, arms and the back of my shoulders, the light exfoliation felt just right on my skin, not too soft that I didn't feel it was doing anything and not too abrasive that it woke me from my soon to be slumber.

Finally I used the Comforting Night Butter, this I have to say was the star product. The smell was amazing, really calming and sleep inducing without a hint of lavender in sight! I always find that sleep products are packed with lavender which can be really over powering, so this was a big surprise. Although the smell is out of this world, dont be fooled into thinking that the moisturising properties are going to be lacking but its not the case at all! It rubbed in nicely whilst the smell lingered on my skin for a good few hours - enough time for me to slip into my fresh PJs and cuddle up in bed. That night I slept right through the night without a toss or turn in sight, it was heaven! I woke up feeling refreshed and a lot calmer then I could ever imagine.

Next time I will definitely be using the body oil - I must have forgotten it was in the box! When ever I'm feeling stressed and tired after a long day at work this is definitely the routine for me!  You can get this (slightly redesigned) set from Boots here for only £12!

K x

Empties #2

I love these kinds of posts as its like lots of mini reviews all wrapped up in one post. Much like January, during the month of February I was trying to use up lots of old products as I had lots waiting in the wings which I wanted to try out. 

L'Oreal Skin Perfection Micellar Solution - Taking my eye make-up is always a chore but with micellar waters it makes life a lot more simple. This was the first one I had tried and I really liked how easy and effortless even waterproof mascara was removed. It did sting my eyes a little if too much was used and I did feel a lot was wasted when you put it on the cotton pad as it squirted everywhere! After repurchasing this a few times I have since brought the Garnier version which is pretty much the same, but you get a lot more product for your dollar. 

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish - Cleansing my skin has never been so relaxing, this smooths on so nicely, it has a lovely aroma and makes a real difference to the texture of my skin. It has cocoa butter to soften, smooth and moisturise which it really does. I feel it really helps break down all my make up from the day and you can even use it to remove eye make-up. It leaves your skin feeling smooth and really clean! For £14 a bottle it is a little on the pricer side but I do think it is worth it. I'd look to buy this is the future, but maybe buy a bigger bottle as it works out a lot more cost effective. 

 Herbal Essences Hello Hydration Intensive Mask - I was really sad to come to the end of this pot of dreams. First off it smells A-M-Azing, just like a holiday in a hair mask. Its designed for dry damaged hair, which my hair definitely is, I used this one a week to give my locks a quick burst of hydration. Straight away I could feel and see the difference it made to my hair, it was stronger, softer and shinier which is all good in my books. I'm not much of a fan of any other products from Herbal Essences, although the smells are gorgeous but this is one product I'll be picking up again once I've used up a few different samples I have hiding in the cupboard. 

REN Invisible Pore Detox Mask - This was my first ever REN mask, I got it back in November in the British Beauty Blogger box and I have to say I wasn't exactly wowed by it. I got 3/4 uses out of this little tube which is really good but I felt that it didn't do anything that a cheaper mask couldn't do. I do have quite a few large pores on my nose which I was hoping would look a little better after using the mask but I couldn't really tell a difference. For me this isn't something I will be looking to get in the future.

Lush Snow Fairy - This was my first ever Lush shower gel - shock horror! But my gosh I chose a goodun! I love sweet scents and smelling this was like smelling heaven. I'd seen so much hype over this product but couldn't believe that a shower gel could be so amazing, I was very wrong. I remember when I mentioned to my boyfriend I'd brought this he rolled his eyes as normal, but he soon changed his tuned when he used it later on! I cant wait until next Christmas when this comes back again, I'll be added a few big bottles to my basket. 

Dead Sea Spa Magik Cleansing Facial Wash - You'll soon notice I have a lot of little samples, all of which I get from beauty boxes, and this is no exception. In the mornings I like to use a foaming cleanser as they really wake me up and they are quite light on the skin. Although this is a foaming cleanser it has the finest foam I have ever seen, it was like cleansing with air, it really gave a good squeaky clean and smelt really fresh - perfect for first thing. It even has the added benefit of fighting bacteria which with my current spotty phase is really handy. I'm fully stocked up for facial wash at the moment but may look to get this in the future.

Baylis and Harding Wild Rose and Raspberry Leaf Hand Wash - This massive bottle (500ml) has lasted me months! I got this as a gift for my birthday all the way back in May and although I used it numerous times a day it just never seemed to go anywhere! Rose isnt my most favourite scent, in all honesty I normally try to avoid it as it can be so over powering but the Raspberry Leaf really tones it down and leaves your hands smelling gorgeous. I'd love to try the Lavender scent in the future. 

L'Oreal Ever Sleek Shampoo - Normally I am not fussy about shampoo and conditioner, as long as it cleans my hair and smells pretty good I'll use it. Obviously I got caught up in all the hype of this range, but unfortunately I just don't know what the attraction was. It didn't lather up at all so in turn didn't coat my thick hair very well, I know that this is down to the no sulphate solution but surely that's what you need in a shampoo. After using this and the conditioner I felt like my hair was greasy and needed a good wash already. In the end I gave this to my boyfriend, and even without prompting he commented on how crappy it was, although he did use it all up in the end. 

No doubt my empties box will soon start to build up again - there's nothing more satisfying then finishing an old product and starting a fresh new one! 

K x

First Impressions | Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm

Do you ever go into a shop to buy one thing and one thing only, to then find they don't have it? There's then a mad panic because you cant dare leave the shop empty handed but you haven't preplanned another purchase! Well that was me in Space NK a few weeks back. I'd popped in to see if they had the new Nars palette in but it hadn't yet made its way into the shops. I should of walked out then but I had a little wonder around the shop seeing what I could pick up in its place. My mind was saying there's the door go through it but my body was having none of it and walked over to the Emma Hardie section picked up the cleansing balm and waltzed straight over to the till. £34 later I was shaking my head wondering what I was playing at! 

I'd seen review after review of this but it had never grabbed my attention. There are so many cleansers in my drawers that I didn't feel the need to add this to my stash but clearly something in me thought otherwise. It promises to thoroughly cleanse and moisturise whilst minimising the look of open pores. Now I'm not saying this doesn't remove make-up because it does, very well, its just not the amazing product that I had imagined in my head.

When I used this for the first time I couldn't help but wonder what the bloody hell was wrong with the scent! I know a lot of people rave about it saying that its relaxing and what not but for me it just smells likes plants, not flowers, plants. You know the type you find in your Grandads green house. So from the get go the balm was on the back foot. Now application wise it went on like a dream, gliding around my face like Torvill and Dean. I could really feel it breaking down my make-up, I just used one of my trusty Primark flannels to remove it with warm water and away came the days make-up. It did make my skin feel a little plump after use but I'd have to say that's where it really stops. I didn't notice any difference with my pores, which I have to say I do suffer with so maybe it might work better on someone who has less visible pores to start with.

Packaging for me is not that important although I do like things to look nice next to my sink which this does. I just find that the lid just doesn't ever sit right, it takes a few turns on and off to get in placed right and after 2 or 3 uses the plastic cracked! I had heard a lot of other people mentioning the poor packaging cracking, I had thought they had sorted this problem or maybe mine was not the updated version. You just wouldn't expect something that is on the expensive side of the spectrum to have naff packaging. 

Rightly or wrongly I was expecting such good things for the price of this balm but overall I feel that it does what any good cheaper cleanser can do. As I've only been using this for two weeks or so I do feel I need to give it a good chance to change my mind. Maybe I'll be able to get over the smell and fall in love - I really so or it would be a very expensive mistake to make!

Have you tried Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm? What do you think? What's your favourite cleanser?

Wednesday Wishlist #3

So the spending ban is well and truly over as I'm sure you can tell from my recent haul! I thought shopping would make me feel whole again but I can only say it made me feel guilty! So I've decided to be more strict on myself when it comes to buying things by asking my self four simple questions, read about all about it here. It doesnt stop me wishing though!

1. Seche Vite Top Coat - £5.59 - I love a good top coat, anything that promises to add shine and dry my nails quicker than a normal top coat is gets the tick of approval in my book! Although my faithful Barry M top coat is a couple of pound cheaper I'd happily part with it if does stop me getting imprint marks on my nearly dry nails which seems to happen every time I paint my nails.

2.Origins No Puffery - £24 - Recently I've noticed dark circles under my eyes, something I've never really suffered with in the past. I've tried sleeping more, and drinking more water but they don't seem to be going anywhere anytime soon. I've heard a lot of good things about this eye cream although my eyes are watering at the price tag! I'm not sure I could justify £24 on an eye cream, its going to take a little bit more thought.

3. Oasis Coat - £98 - I know that supposedly the weather is supposed to be getting slightly better but I cant help but be a little sceptical and think that the cold weather is here to stay longer, read I want another winter coat. This one from Oasis is perfect, it nips in at the waist whilst still covering my bum which is a must in the coat department! The only tough decision is whether I want black or cream!

4. ghd Wonderland Styler - £99 - I've had about 3/4 pairs of GHD's through the years, yes I know they last for years. Why don't mine I hear you ask...well mine have always been the fall off the lorry kind of purchases so the chances are none of them were actually real. For this reason they are always breaking, wires snapping - you get the picture. So its about time I invested in a proper pair and at £99 these beauts are a must! The design is really nice and right up my street! This might be one purchase I really cant do without!

5. Dior Lip Glow - £22.50 - Who doesn't want a lip balm that changes colour to suit your lips! Well I sure as hell do. This product is supposed to protect and moisturise with wild mango and luffa cylindrica (yeah me neither!) whilst providing a customised colour to suit your very own lip colour. Now I know this is a very unnecessary product but I cant help but be intrigued as to how it would look on me. Maybe this will be one for the birthday list in May!

So there you have it my wishlist...I'm sure none of these items will come into my possession but I'm just getting it all ready for when my lucky numbers come up on the lottery tonight!

What's In My Bag

I'm a bit of a nosey parker and I didn't think I'd be the only one out there who likes a good rummage through peoples bag so here I am offering mine on a plate! I have to say that I'm a bit of a hoarder when it comes to handbags, I've got so many that I find it difficult to choose which one I am going to use. I am for ever swapping bags so I need all the bits to be easily transferred. I'd say the contents of my bag are very basic with most things being a necessity. 

Without fail you'll always find my Filofax in which ever bag I've chosen that day. Without this I wouldn't know what I was supposed to be doing. I like to be very organised and although I know most people have got up to date with technology and they use their phones to keep up to date but for me I like having a physically diary where I can see everything written down. I've had this diary for about 4 years now and its still going strong. Initially I was sceptical about paying a big chunk of money out for a diary but little did I know how it would change my life! Maybe I'll do a separate most on my love of this little book of pinkness! 

Keeping on the theme of writing things down I always have a note pad and pen with me so I can write down little snippets, ideas and wishlist items on the go. Normally this is where my to-do list is found. My boyfriend often laughs at my dot system but I love it! For those that are intrigued, when I write my to-do list I start each item with an open bullet point and then when I've completed that item I will fill in the dot - voilà - the dot system! Its what we have been taught at work and somehow its made its way home!  

Next up we have ear phones, I love listening to music as it really helps me to switch off and keep the world out. My purse is a recent purchase from River Island. I love the bags and purses from there as they look a lot more expensive then what they are and they last really well. My previous purse was also from River Island but it was starting to look worse for wear after a few years so I decided this one would be perfect. There are lots of compartments for coins, cards and cash and especially all those loyalty cards I seem to be accumulating. Obviously my Nando's one is the most used - gotta love that chicken!  

To help swap from one bag to another I like to keep all my little bits and pieces in this Ted Baker bag which I got for Christmas a few years ago. Its the perfect size and I really like the cute ballerina design on the front. As its a soft material there is a bit of budge if I do need to fill it with more things. I also have a couple of odd bits in here such as the Eurax cream and Iglu, but I find these really useful to keep in my bag as during the summer months I'm for ever getting bitten by creepy crawlies and find the Euraz really helps to soothe. I'm also really unlucky to get ulcers quite often, some would say I'm greedy as I'm always biting the inside of my mouth but I say its so easy to do! 

In here I have everyday essentials such as hand cream, paracetamol, chewing gum and a little mirror. In the lips department I always have at least two or three products including balms and lipsticks. I'm always switching these up depending on what I'm wearing that day or what condition my lips are in. Today we have NYC Applelicious Lip Balm in Apple Blueberry Pie, I have a couple of colours of this balm as I feel like they are conditioning my lips as well as providing a little pop of colour - its nothing to do with the fact they smell like apples, I promise. I also have a Nivea Lip Butter in Vanilla and Macadamia which smells exactly like the Milky Bar yoghurts, yum yum. Finally I have one of the new Revlon Colour Burst Matte Balms in Elusive, this is great everyday colour although I do find at the moment that my lips are a bit too dry for this formula as it doesn't sit quite right. Hopefully when the weather warms up a little I'll get more use out of it. 

I keep a couple of face products in my bag should I feel the need to touch up during the day. In all honestly its always the one thing I forget to do until 4.59pm and who wants to touch up just before home time! I have the Revlon Nearly Naked Power which I find is really light weight but does take shine away with out leaving you looking cakey. I also have two Benefit products which are Some Kind of Gorgeous Foundation Faker which I like to use on my cheeks if my foundation starts to wear off to reveal my red cheeks and also Erase Paste which is a god send for the bags under my eyes and red bits around my nose. I only have this in a sample size buts its only a matter of time before I bite the bullet and get the full size. 

Lastly I have little mini nail files which I received last year in a Glossybox, at the time I thought it was a bit of a naff idea but who knew they would be such a good send! We've all been there when we chip a nail whilst out and you get that annoying bit flaking off that you cant stop picking. Well with these in my bag I am always prepared! 

So there you have it the contents of my bag! I hope you liked having a little nose around! If there's anything you think I should be adding please let me know - I always like to be prepared! 

Mad About Mascara

I'm going to admit something here that I'm not proud about, but hey we're all friends right? I have an addiction. A very bad addiction I am addicted to...Mascara. Phew, that felt good getting that out there, its what they say isn't it, the first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem! No-one needs to know that I have no intention of recovering from this particular addition though. Currently I have 11 mascara's on the go. I know, I know, I have one set of eyes but man do I like those eyes looking gooood. Some mascara's that I have I hate with a passion for one reason or another and I should probably think about getting rid but I can be a bit of hoarder so we'll leave that for another day.

Today I am going to talk (well blog) to you guys about my favourite three of the moment. If you too have an addiction to Mascara (surely I cant be the only one?!) please be careful as I'd hate to be the one to make you run out to the shops to grab one - although I would strongly recommend you get all three while your there!  

For me its all about the length, I love me some good lengthy lashes and the L'oreal Telescopic Extra Black definitely helps out in that department. The plastic comb wand really helps to coat every lash even the teeny tiny centre ones that I always find hard to get to, and you can get right to the root of the lashes to help bring the lashes up and out. There is a normal black option but I tend to normally go for the blackest of blacks as what's the point of going to all the trouble of lengthening the babies if they are so light you cant see them. This is my go-to mascara, I use it so much that the writing is starting the wear away.

Next up we have my going out-out mascara (just me?), its the MAC In Extreme Dimension Lash. When I want that extra bit of oomph with my lashes this is mascara I pull out, it offers extreme length, volume and the deepest darkest black. You do have to work with this a bit as sometimes it can be a bit clumpy although there is a new hybrid version out that is supposed to control how much product is on the wand to help avoid the clumpy look. I would say that this gives Benefit They're Real a run for its money. I think both this and the Benefit option have similar brushes with the little knobbly bit at the end, and they are both a bloody pain to get off! 

What a sexy brush that is I hear you say, yep that's Rimmel Sexy Curves, this is one of the most amazing wands I've ever used. I'm sure you can tell by now that I'm a big fan of plastic wand's whether they are combs or bristles. I just don't like the natural bristles, I'm not quite sure why but I don't feel they give me the look I go for. Anyway, I'm digressing, back to the beauty that is Sexy Curves. This as the names suggests give a great curve to the lashes without giving the spider leg look. It holds really well, I tend to find with some mascara's that they fall down half way but this gives long standing curl. This one is brown/black as it was a gift from my sister - Thanks Alice! - but I'd say this has no hint of brown at all but does give that natural colour to the lases.

So there you have it you've all found out about my secret addiction! Soon I'll do a post on the mascara's that I don't like but cant rid, hopefully it will help make me throw them out! To make room for some new ones no doubt ;) 

January...A Month of Firsts

January has been a great start to the year. I know most people look forward to getting January out of the way but for me I've loved - almost - every minute of it. Last month saw a number of first's for me so I thought I would share them all with you as well as throwing in a few of my favourite things of the month.

This month I....

• Wrote my first blog post! It was daunting, very daunting in fact to hit publish but when I finally did it, it felt really good. So far I'm loving blogging, I'm finding it a great outlet for getting everything on paper (well 2014 style!) and I love writing about things I have a passion for - mainly beauty related things!

• Ran my first Park Run.Training for my 10k is hard, mostly down to the fact that I never seem to have the time to get outside and when I do its bloody freezing but the Park Run on a Saturday morning really keeps me focused. I just need to get some longer runs in before 1st March! You can read about my first Park Run here.

• Have been on a spending ban. I love shopping as much as the next girl so opting for a spending ban in January seemed to only spell disaster but I was pleasantly surprised that I coped pretty well. Now I'm not saying I'd jump at the chance to do it again but with saving being my main aim this year I do think I need to cut down on my spending - bar today though as I had a major spend up! Watch out for that haul coming soon! 

Some of the things I've been loving this month are:

MAC Lipstick in Creme Cup - This has been my go to lipstick since I got this at Christmas. Its a great pinky nude that is prefect for adding a touch of colour. I've been wearing this nearly everyday for work as I tend to go for the more natural look. Its a Cremesheen finish, now I dont really know much about the different types of finishes but I do know that this feels really smooth on my lips and has a gorgeous vanilla scent that all the lipsticks seem to have. 

Garnier 5 Sec Perfect Blur - I've got primers coming out of my ears but this one is always the one I come back to. I love the way it glides on like air and leaves my skin feeling silky smooth. It gets in all those pesky pores and leaves a smooth canvas ready for the main man, foundation. Although I cant really talk about the effect it has on wrinkles, thankfully I don't have any yet, but I can only imagine the wondrous job it would do on them. The only negative about this is the packing. Even when I bought the product it seemed half full, you really had to give it a good squeeze for anything to come out. Its like its jam packed with air! Other than that and maybe the price - £12.00 - I think its a great primer that I'll come to repurchase in the future when its on offer. 

L'Oreal Telescopic Extra Black - This mascara does it all for me, lengthens, divides the lashes so they're not all clumpy and gives them extra colour. I've been wearing this nonstop since I got it just before Christmas, so much so the writing is fading off the tube, I'm definitely going to be getting another one of these very soon.

Roger and Gallet Fleur de Figuier - Back in the summer last year I received a sample of this in a beauty box, it was a brand that I've never heard of and probably wouldn't have looked twice if I saw it in the shop. But oh my, I'd been missing out, this is the most amazing scent, really floral and grown up I'd say. I'm awful as describing scents so the next time your in M & S (that's where Roger and Gallet is stocked) definitely have a sniff of this. Whilst your there take a sniff at everything else they do because let me tell you its all good.

Yankee Candle Christmas Cookie - Christmas is well and truly over but this doesn't mean the candles have to be put away, and especially not the Christmas ones! I got this and Merry Marshmallow as a gift and they smell amazing. Christmas Cookie has a sweet buttery scent which fills my whole room with vanilla yumminess. What's not to love! I dont like the idea of putting the candles away until next year as I'm not sure they will keep as I have started to burn them so I'm going to carry on the Christmas spirit until they are gone, which I think will be awhile as these things last so well! 

James Patterson Along Came a Spider - Before the world of Facebook, Twitter and blogs I loved reading. I'd stay up late trying to get through all the goods bits because I didn't want to put it down. Then it was just on holidays that I used to read, but still managed to get through 2/3 a week. So this year I'm making a conscious effort to get my reading list back up and I started with Along Came a Spider. I've read a few of James' books before but never any from the Alex Cross series so I'd do the right thing and start from the beginning. If you love detective, homicide stories this one will be right up your street. It's a real page turner with crime at every corner, and there's even a bit of romance in there too. I wont spoil it in case you do decide to read it (I urge you to!) but just when you think you know how its going to end it will all get turned upside down. 

So there you have it my January favourites if you will. I hope you liked hearing about the things I got up to and what I've been enjoying. If you have any books you think I should check out please let me know! 

Review | Lush Blackberry Bath Bomb

Everyone loves a good bath bomb right? Well I know I do! The relationship between me and bath bombs has only been a short one so far but I just know we are going to be going places! For Christmas I got a lovely set from Lush, the 'Don't Knock It 'til You've Tried It' set. Its full of some really gorgeous bits but to start with I tried the Blackberry Bath Bomb. Well well well, what can I say about this lovely blue ball of goodness! First, the smell. Bergamot is the main oil along with frankincense, both helping you to relax and float your troubles away and it smells divine. What I also love about this bomb was that there was no gritty bits floating around the bath, it just made the water a gorgeous bright purple - which happens to be my favourite colour! What I did feel it was lacking was the moisturising factor that you get with Butterball but overall this was a good bath experience all round! Have you tried any Lush bath bombs? What's your favourite?