Spring Has Sprung

So as daffodils start sprouting and the sun is finally shining, it's really beginning to feel as if spring has finally sprung. With spring I feel the need for brighter, lighter, fresher products are in much need.

Introducing new patterns and colours into my wardrobe slowly to lighten it up in transition for summer. But beauty wise it's a chance to wipe the dust of the pale nail polishes, pull out the pink lipsticks and pull out the florals print clothing.

Something I've been thoroughly enjoying lately is expressing my mood and self with my scent. May sound weird, but a scent can bring amount memories, feelings and emotions attached to them. It's too easy to get stuck in rut, keep going for the scent that you've had for years or the same kind of smell. If you're a musk kinda gal sticking to heavy scents, or if you're used to light floral smells sticking to much of a muchness. But I've tried to expand my collection of perfumes in order to be able to wear different scents with my mood, season, outfit, moment, or occasion.

So here is an insight into a few perfumes I have in my little collection.





Gucci, Bamboo - Quite a heavy musky scent. Definitely a less is more kinda job. With floral tones I like to wear this when I'm feeling 'grown up'. I imagine women who are jet setters, business women, fashion forward trendsetter women smelling like this. As a more expensive brand I tend to save this for special occasions when I'm feeling a little fancy. It lingers so nicely, so no need to splash it on, just a little will go a long way.

Moschino, Pink Bouquet - This perfume is definitely a does what it says on the tin product. Smells so sweet light and packed full of floral scents. It's youthful, fun, fresh, great for the spring and summer and perfect for those who don't like anything heavy. Lasts okay throughout the day, would probably need topping up in all honesty. This is what I imagine Disney Princesses to wear.










Christian Lacroix, Ambre - Fragrant, rich, sultry. This scent reminds me of romantic dinners out, middle eastern vibes in the fragrant undertones. Confident women, beauty and grace. I get an awful lot of comments on this whenever I wear it, whenever I wear this other women comment on how nice it smells. Lasts very well too.











Avon, Luck (for her) - Perfect perfume for those of you who don't like florals and don't like anything too heavy. Still fresh in smell, it has a fun elegance about it. Great for everyday, youthful yet sophisticated. A recommendation by a friend, lovely everyday smell.







If you would like to see anymore of my fragrances from my collection let me know! Until next time, take care.

Feeling Fresh as a Daisy - Avon Cleansing Brush - First Impression.

I have ordered from Avon for many years I used to spend my pocket money as a 12 and 13 year old on their colour club cheap makeup range - perfect for those wanting to experiment with fun colours in their youthful packaging. I spent many a weekend playing and experimenting with cosmetics in the confines of my bedroom with music blaring.

Years later I am still impressed with their products now discovering the wonders of their skin care ranges and slowly becoming a hoarder of Avon scents. Having a best friend who does Avon is awesome; personal, honest and subjective opinions mean great recommendations for products. She has never got it wrong yet. Just goes to show how well she does her job and how Avon products really do deliver.

For quite some time I have lusted after my own Clarisonic Mia sonic face cleanser but could never quite bring myself to pay out the hefty price. At a price bracket of around the £100 mark it is an investment into your skin care routine. One I wasn't sure I could ever justify as my skin care routine in all honesty is a little sporadic. So its safe to say I was pretty chuffed when perusing my friends online brochure one evening, I discovered Avon did a similar concept for just £16.00 with their cleanser gel at £4.00 a grand total of £20 seemed very achievable budget wise compared to the Clarisonic I had once lusted for.

First impression its relatively light weight - very tactile, fits in the hand well and its very straight forward to use. Simply pull the brush and silicon heads off and click them back into place. It has two speed settings. And the pamphlet comes with recommended times for how long you should focus on each section of your face. Simply wet the head of the cleansing brush - add a small amount of gel cleanser I used the same amount as I would toothpaste on a toothbrush - wet again and turn it on using the button. Starting with the forehead allow the rotating head to push the product into your skin.   It works best if you dampen your skin first with luke warm water. Once you have gone over all the skin rinse any residue cleaning gel off your skin. I was left feeling fresh, crazy clean and my skin supple and soft. 

Would highly recommend. Particularly for those who like me are a little lazy with skin care - 30 second job to feeling as fresh as a daisy. I'm going to enjoy this product. I have quite sensitive skin but this was invigorating enough without being too invasive and abrasive. 

If you would like to find this product - ask your local avon representative. 

Autumn Colours

So as Autumn is fully in swing now, I thought I would write a quick post about my current favourite colours to wear on my nails this Autumn.

Be prepared to FALL in love! (Get it? like the leaves fall....sorry bad pun.)

First up is the colour I am currently rocking. Revlon Colourstay - Longwear Nail Enamel, 11.7ml bottle. In the colour 220 Rain Forest. Its a deep bottle green colour with an iridescent pale green glitter. Its perfect for a bold statement and because of its dark tone, it'll go with a lot of outfits. I picked up this bad boy in T K Maxx for £2.99. A right steal if you ask me.

Next is a little birthday treat purchase with birthday money I had. (Sorry in advance for the messy application I was excited). Its a beautiful purple toned red. From the Rimmel London Salon Pro range, it has lycra in it which is supposed to pro-long your mani for longer wearing beautiful claws. This particular colour is 402 Urban Purple. £4.49 a bottle in Boots.

So these are just two shades I'll be loving this Autumn. Leave me a comment below with the colours you'll be rocking this season. And don't forget to head across to our Facebook Page, as we're 6 likes away from a giveaway! 

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Love L'Octaine

So the best place to find new products to try out? The magazine isle at the supermarket.

Seriously? ... SERIOUSLY. You get to read a somewhat fashionable magazine, whilst trying out a product for free. Some of the higher branded magazines have larger sample sizes and better brands included as a gift. But if you're looking for a new nail polish brand last month Orly Polish was a gift with I believe Elle magazine, and Instyle Mag were giving away free two L'Octaine Provence products, a Shampoo and a Conditioner.

So here we are. A magazine section at Tesco later. Two L'Octaine en Provence bottles in hand, and a love affair has started.

Back in April I had a 16"pony tail of hair cut off in the name of charity. Since then I've been growing out my pixie crop, and its gotten down to my shoulders. But I have struggled in keeping my hair in good condition. I always find at a certain length when my hands are running through my hair more, I find that my hair becomes more oily, and responds less well to my usual shampoos such as Pantene, Alberto Balsam, and Cien. As my hair grew I found myself washing my hair more often, which is actually bad for the hair, as it strips your hair of the natural oils in it. So I was doing my hair no justice. Its a battle. A battle for glossy tresses.

But when I saw L'Octaine en Provence I HAD to try it. For one it was free, and secondly it was with Instyle Mag which I've never read before. Perfect excuse to spend £2.50 I think.

I have used the Shampoo twice now, (I tend to only condition my hair once a week, otherwise it weighs my hair down.) It is packed full of essential oils, which I thought would only make my hair more oily. But in fact it has worked well for me. My hair feels lighter, bouncier, and more nourished than before. I think it'll also help in trying to wash my hair less.

It smells divine too, which of course is very important. It smells like pouring Ian Snows onto your head, or walking into spa and the smell you experience after a massage, with all that essential oil, and incense. Its a calming scent that feels like you're lapping your hair in luxurious liquid.

I hope this review has encouraged you to scout out the supermarkets for your next favourite product!

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So... Shellac

I recently had a birthday, for which I was treated to my first ever Shellac manicure.

I have been aware of the phenomenon that is the world of Shellac Nails but had always been a little wary of the idea of a polish being on your nails for so long. Weird eh? I just thought that something that sat on the nail for so long could be really damaging, despite what I was being told by reviews and nail techs etc...

I got mine done at Centre Parcs Aqua Sana Spa, by the fabulous Kylie, she is the Nail Specialist at the Whinfell Forest Centre Parcs and is by far the most amazing person I have ever met in the Salon and Beauty industry. She is really passionate and so welcoming - she even remembered me from the year before! Her customer service is second to none and you should deffo give her a visit if you're ever near there. Last year I was there for my birthday and she gave me a bottle of sparkling wine, and a card. Literally how many people ever go that extra mile anymore?

In the short of it, she greatly inspired me to continue with this blog and look at training in nails (more about that another time.)

So back to Shellac. I chose a metallic antique gold colour, which I thought would do for my birthday and would look nice everyday after for as long as it would last. Which is has - I didn't purchase any cuticle oil - which is suggested as it helps preserve the quality of the Shellac, instead I have been rubbing my Bio-Oil into my cuticles at night and that seems to be doing the job just fine.

I have had mine on now for two weeks, and they are still great - no chips no breakage of the nail and still looking as fresh as they did when I first got them done, and I've been doing other peoples manicures since using nail polish remover and other chemicals and they've been unaffected. So very impressed.

The only downside is that my nails grow really quickly so I have perhaps about as much as 1millimetre re-growth that is showing, but I have some ideas to use black polish and do a backwards french mani to help cover the re-growth so I can keep it on for a little longer.

You can remove your own Shellac by soaking your nails in nail polish remover and then gently scraping away the Shellac with a cuticle pusher. But as its my first time using Shellac I want to get it removed by a professional just so I can see it be done exactly, and will be able to then know exactly the technique to use - as I wouldn't want to go ahead and remove it myself to then do it incorrectly and ruin my nails!

I have attached some photos for you - one taken day of my manicure, and the second two weeks later so you can see how its lasted.

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Passport to Colour

What better way to cure airplane anxiety than splurging on some exclusive O.P.I nail polishes from the duty free shopping during the flight!

We flew with Thompson and they offered some beautiful beauty products onboard the flight. I just wished I had taken some more funds to treat myself with last minute on the way home!

Anyhoo, I was flicking through the brochure and found these beauties from O.P.I they are super mini in size but that doesn't bother me as I think I'll use them more as a display and memoire of the trip rather than for their nail painting purposes. Having said that I will whip them out I think as my go-to travel colours in the future.

From nudes to daring reds this mini collection has a shade for every occasion. What I love also is that it gives nail art design ideas on the back of the box. Something which I adore!

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Holiday Beauty - Holdall Makeup

So this week I am vacay-ing up with my siblings and their partners for a week. It'll be lovely and relaxed, there is nothing better than just being able to lounge around with family and laugh and giggle your week away.

So in light of me holidaying it up I thought I would share with you my favourite beauty products to take abroad or on a staycation if you are staying at home.

For the plane obviously smaller products are better so I'll be sharing my holdall favourites with you in part one and tomorrow you can find out what my favourite products for staycations are!
My little makeup bag here is from Ruby and Milly it is part of a carry case set. Its the perfect size to throw in your handbag or holdall luggage. You dont want a large amount with you just the bare essentials, especially if you are travelling longhall and need to touch up or apply before landing.So my basics include mascara, khol eyeliner, tinted lip balm, moisturiser and hand lotion, brow gel, perfume, cotton buds.

• Mascara - my current fav and the one I took abroad this summer was my Max-Factor Clump Defy by False Lash Effect. Its nice and light weight not too heavy looking on your lashes, it separates them beautifully and makes them look super long. Perfect for travelling as they look like your actual lashes just at their best! 

• Lip Products - I take a lip balm as airplane air can dry my lips out really badly, my favourite is Notabene 100% organic Pink Grapefruit Lip Balm. Its super softening and hydrating to the lips without feeling like your super aware you have anything on them! Its made from bees wax and natural oils. Its my favourite thing ever right now and has really saved my lips from cracking. I also like to carry a Maybelline Baby Lips in Peach Kiss as as well as moisturising my lips adds a little tint of brown which helps to brighten them up especially after being on a plane for hours!

• Eyeliner - I think a little brown eyeliner in the outer corners of the eye can wake any sleep deprived travellers face. Mine is from Avon Colour trend in Dark Brown.

• Brows - I like to keep my brows in check, brows really help to define your face with or without makeup. So by packing my clear mascara I can make sure every hair is in place. And help to define them without packing on product. My current one is Collection Colour Lash in #11 Clear.

• Moisturising is very important whilst on a flight as the air is really dry. If you're suseptable to dry skin I would highly recommend carrying a small travel size moisturiser to keep your face hydrated. The one I use is a hotel freebie, Eau De Rochas Creme Hydratante. As its only 12ml you can carry it on without any problems at security just remember your clear baggie!

• Perfume - for me is a must especially if you are travelling long haul. It helps you feel fresh at the end and allows you to feel you can at least approach people without feeling embarrassed about smelling. My current summer favourite which happens to be below the 100ml limit is Avon Fleur 50ml its slim designed bottle will fit in most makeup bags and its light fresh floral scent will leave you smelling fresh without being too heavy and imposing on nearby passengers.

• Cotton buds, when applying makeup on a plane it'll be just your luck that you are applying your mascara at the same time a burst of small turbulence hits. So its super handy to carry a couple around in the bottom of your makeup bag for those incidental touch ups.

• Eyeshadow - to me its not a must because if you've been travelling all day you don't want too much to have to take off at the end of the day! But a cute quad like my Avon True Colour in Emerald Cut is perfect to have if and when you may feel like it. The range of colours are perfect for brightening up your eyes a bit or adding a little drama if you're headed straight out to dinner after flying. Don't forget to pack your favourite fluffy blending brush as on a plane blending will be your best friend to blend those mistakes away. Mine is the MAC 224.

So there you have it folks my small quick guide to travel makeup! Hope this inspires you to pack light as you dont need a full face when on holiday just make sure you have your SPF products for sun protection and brighten up your look here and there with small amounts of makeup.]

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