New Holy Grail: No 7 Hot Cloth Cleanser

So, I was in Boots last weekend, armed with several vouchers, including double points and more importantly, those lovely £5 off No 7 coupons.

I had a long look (much to my boyfriend's dismay) and then the Hot Cloth Cleanser caught my eye. Normally sold at £10 - which for good skin care is a bargain anyway really - but with that voucher, the cleanser is a very bargainous £5!

I was really excited to try it, and it did not disappoint. It claims to bring a little bit of spa to your home routine and I couldn't agree more. There seems to be a lot of product, 200ml will last me a long time. It also comes with a nice quality muslin cloth. Like all other No 7 products, it is hypoallergenic which sold it for me as I am very cautious with what I put on my face as it has had it's annoying sensitive moments in the past.

One pump of the product is enough, you rub it in to your skin then rub the warm wet cloth in gentle circular motions on your skin, finally rinsing with cool water to close your pores. I kid you not, my skin looks radiant with every use, I barely want to put any foundation on after because it makes my skin feel and look amazing and glowy.

It smells like a spa, fresh, clean and expensive. As I have just recently came back from holiday and have a tanned face, I usually find my face gets quite patchy some days after returning home. But not this time; I really do feel the cloth is working wonders for evening out my skintone too. Another massive thing I have noticed is the clarity of my skin; most people who know me would say I never get spots, but I do get the odd one here and there, on my cheeks or near my eyebrows (!?) but since using this, not ONE spot has intruded my face.

If you have any vouchers (and they're still in date..? Not sure if the promotion is still going) and are looking for a new cleanser, definitely give this one a go. I am in love and will definitely repurchase for the forseeable.

I have never personally tried Liz Earle but the way this cleanser makes my skin look is how I imagined LE to be like. So for anyone who can't afford the LE price tag, with the Boots voucher, this could be your new best friend.

Hope you've all had a good weekend xx

The April Glossy Box!

Once again, my blogging efforts are less than adequate. I keep thinking of things to say but switching on the laptop is a rare occasion for me these days, as the iPhone well and truly feeds my internet habits.  The Blogger app for iPhone however is dire.  I find it's only really any good for the short and sweet posts like nail-of-the-day etc.

Anyway, Glossy Box. I found myself subscribing in March, when the whole Harrods box was being hyped about, so of COURSE I wanted in. I have been umming and ahhing about subscribing to GlossyBox for months, but the Harrods collaboration tipped me over the edge.  And I enjoyed my Harrods box, although I thought the other samples that the usual bloggers I follow were much better than mine; I would have loved the Burberry lippy or the Leighton Denny nail polishes. Hey ho. I did especially love the Clarins Extra Firming Body Cream, so much so that I bought it a week ago when my sample ran out.  I really felt like it does what it claims to do, and my boobs and tummy feel amazing since using it regularly. *Not an excuse for avoiding the gym like I have been doing for God knows how long*.

Onto the April Box:

 Inika Eyeline in SAPPHIRE: Gorgeous. Blue is not really the best colour for brown eyes, but I think it makes my own pop in a good way, there must be some violet undertones to the blue that compliment my eyes. It glides on the waterline like a dream and lasts a long time. Definitely a fan of this kohl formulation.

Caudalie Vinosource S.O.S Thirst Quenching Serum: Lovely, have been applying this after cleansing, before moisturising in the mornings and evenings.  It doesn't feel like it does anything when you apply it, but my skin looked especially soft and dewy the morning after an application and a decent sleep.  Not sure if I'd repurchase just yet, but its nice trying a skin serum for the first time so we'll see.

Monuspa Enriched Body Cream: Can't complain at a body cream sample, I always like to have one in any of my rotating handbags. This one is nice and moisturising, but nothing I would rave about at this point.

Figs & Rouge Lip Balm:  I once got one of theses as a freebie when I ordered something from the website www.salonskincare.co.uk and I loved it.  I was gutted when it must have overheated in my bag last summer, because it became all weird and crystallised like sugar in a balm.. not exactly luscious lips material.  And this sample I've received from GB is the exact same one I had before, so yippee! It really is a lovely lipbalm.. you can never have too many.

Lastly the Philip B Drop Dead Straightening Balm: I have been a total Moroccan Oil convert since... I don't know it's been a good 3 months at least.  I really do sing the praises of Moroccan Oil as I have never known my hair to look so healthy almost 3 months since it was last cut.  I do sometimes find with MO that my hair REALLY does need washing by Day 3, so it probably does build up a lot of residue in your hair.  I gave this balm a go yesterday, applying it to my wet-damp hair before blowdrying my hair upside down as usual.  I loved the result, my hair felt light and bouncy with a smooth finish. I wouldn't say it made the hair "dead straight" but I don't like that look anyway.  My hair feels much lighter today at Day 2 since washing as opposed to how I usually feel using MO, so I am definitely going to use more of Philip B.


What did you get in your Glossy Box this month?

I enjoyed these contents a lot this month, so for now, am continuing my subscription.  :)

Sally Hansen NailGrowth Miracle.. Is a miracle!

While in New York last month, I was determined to find a Target and lose myself in there but unfortunately, no Target in Manhattan. The nearest one was in Harlem or something and there just wasn't the time to go.

However, there is always Walgreens! While browsing, I found myself face to face with a huge display of Sally Hansen nail care and polishes, much bigger than any stands I have seen in Boots or Superdrug. Usually you only tend to find Sally Hansen topcoats of strengthening base coats but in Walgreens I was amazed at all the SHADES within the ranges. In particular, the "Nailgrowth Miracle" range caught my eye.

My weak, incapable-of-growing nails have always been the bain of my life. I've been there, done that, with the false nail phase, which only really made my nails worse. I haven't worn falsies for well over a year now, I eat well etc, but unfortunately, strong nails have never been my forté.

So I picked up a bottle of the Nailgrowth Miracle in a nude-pinky shade and I have been nothing but amazed at the condition of my nails since using it. Most of my nails have tiny tips that peer above my fingertips now, and the nail feels much stronger than it ever has before. My nails rarely grow much before they start breaking,, so I am really impressed with how it's been working for me.

I'm just gutted I didn't buy a few more shades. The bottle cost me about $6 (£4) but they retail at almost £10 here in The UK which is just heartbreaking. Or even nailbreaking when you think about it. *sigh*

Anyway, next time I hop over to the States (which will be in a few months again I hope!) I will be stocking up!

I am back and I mean it this time..!

So, false promises and good intentions went out of the window since my last blog update. I'll have you know I have been a very busy bee still, so much so that I have hardly watched Youtube and read any blogs since December. Tell you what though, not reading or watching anyone else's current beauty and fashion purchases/obsessions have probably saved me a tidy amount of money over the last couple of months. I can't actually remember the last time I bought a dress I didn't need from Asos, or a blusher I could do without from MAC. I do miss the excitement of getting a new product or wearing new things all the time but you have to draw the line at some point and to be frank, I have zero space for any more un-needed tat in my bedroom.

However, I miss being a part of the beauty-obsessed community, and have found myself thinking about talking about this and that product I have been loving, plus I have started back watching more Youtube and paying attention to Bloggers again. So, I'm back..

Watch this space for my new favourite Nail Varnish that has literally been a "miracle" worker to my usually weak nails.

Xo

4 Birthdays. Same Old Hair

Instead of sleeping, which is what normal people do at almost-3am, I was having a little reflection over old photos on FaceBook. Because, I haven't got to get up for work in the morning; not.

Anyway, I came to the awful realisation that for the past four birthdays I've had - that's 19, 20, 21 and now 22 - I have gone out in my little party dress rocking the SAME OLD MO'FO hairstyle!

Granted, there are slight variations: there was a bit of the old side fringe going on in all but my last birthday, and there is some definite differentiations in hair length and curl type or rather, "curl ugliness" let's be real.

As you can see from the picture I have collaged together using Diptic for iPhone:

19                                                20                                                       21                                                 22

- At 19, I look SO young, my face is round, make up is basically not there (even though it was) AND those curls are awful. I had them done with rollers at my local hairdresser. Great then, but looking back.. Wah. I thought I looked so hot that night. Paaah. Nights like these make me want to delete all photo albums from FB pre-2010.

- At 20.. Ah, I remember this phase i entered of falling in love a bit TOO deeply with the old bronzer. And it was bog standard Maybelline I'm sure. These curls were done with a straightening iron (most prob a GHD) at a different hairdresser. And I definitely knew what false eyelashes were, at last.

- 21. Sigh. Feels like forever ago. Actually another roller at hairdresser job. But not so bad, bigger rollers are better. I remember being absolutely coated in St Tropez in prep for this night, and thinking that in most of my photos that night, I looked like Big Bird (aka very yellow). I still look quite young though.

22 - I have been saying this all year and I'm gonna put it in writing: MY FACE HAS AGED. I'm not saying "I have wrinkles" but seriously, I very rarely look in the mirror anymore and think "this is the face of a little girl". I'm becoming more of an actual woman infront of my own eyes and it's scary.
Anyway.. THESE curls were acheived with the wonders of the Babyliss Curling Wand, which is FYI the only curling thing I have personally used that lasts. What infuriates me is that I have the jumbo Glamour Curls iron from the SAME brand and my hair ALWAYS drops that style. Also, don't tell anyone.. But a little bit of this photo isn't my hair. Only a little. Don't tell anyone or I'll know it's you.

I don't really know what I'm concluding here except 1) When I turn 23 I will NOT be curling my hair and 2) I'm getting old.

Enjoy life xo

Best Friends Buy The Best Presents!

Ever since I turned about 15/16, my parents dubbed me as "hard to buy for" as, apparently, I "have everything". I think I'm easy to please. Know me a short while and you'll know I'm very much so a girly girl and pretty things make me smile.

So, for the most part of my later teens and beyond, money has always been my main present. Which I do not begrudge at all, don't get me wrong. But I miss how I used to feel at 5 unwrapping a box that could possibly contain a Barbie/My Little Pony/Care Bear/Whatever I had on my little girl wish list.

So I don't really feel that anymore. Except for with my friends, because, I don't know about you, but I don't so giving friends MONEY as a gift. When it comes to the girls, we try to pick random things we know eachother wants/needs/will adore.

MY wonderful besties (There are 4 of us, we call ourselves The Square) paid attention to my shopaholic-yearning tweets about the new beautifully packaged Stila "Dream
in Full Colour" pallette and to my delight, there it was in my gift bag ! As someone who is well and truly in a whirlwind romance with makeup, that is set to last forever, I wasn't sure if I could bring myself to buy yet ANOTHER pallette. After already building quite a collection so far: The UD Naked Pallette, a Chanel d'ombre eyeshadow plus 4 MAC shadows, all since March this year, I had to hold back. Receiving it as a present has made owning it even more exciting.

On top of this, they also got me a new charm for my Svarovski bracelet, a miniature lipstick - perfect.

I love my square :)

Xxxx

NOTD: Nails Inc "Picadilly Circus" FREE with December's Issue of Glamour

Another nail post, I'm afraid.  My Glamour subscription came a few days ago and with sheer happiness I realised there was a little bulge in the postage envelope which could mean only one thing: FREEBIE!


And happiness escalated when I opened it and realised said freebie was a FULL SIZE Nails Inc polish in a colour that is right up my street.

PICADILLY CIRCUS is a beautiful plummy, pinky berry colour.  It actually reminds me of my favourite Barry M nail paint in RASPBERRY, but my one issue with that Barry M one is that it seems like, as time goes on, the colour goes from vibrant berry to a dark bloodish red which is not as nice.

I much prefer my little freebie as the hue of the polish is MUCH more like a berry and less like a vampire's lunch after a couple of days wear.  It did chip after 2 days however, but I didn't apply a top coat I guess.  My nails rarely last long anyway, I think it's swimming teaching that does it. All that time in treated water can't do wonders for the lasting powers of any nail polish.

I am so tempted to go and buy three more issues of Glamour when it comes out in the shops, just so I can collect the other three shades!! Is this really awful? :)  Considering they usually retail at £11, and you get it free with Glamour which only costs £2, this is an amazing freebie.

xo