Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

So Wednesday was the day that many children had been waiting all year for and and the day that adults had been saving for all year. Wherever you live, whoever you spend it with, we all have our traditions and celebrate in our own way. Over the years in my house, something things have changed, many have stayed the same.

From the beginning, me and brothers were never allowed to open our presents in our pyjamas and I always felt slightly deprived of that Christmas experience. My dad said it was because we were too excited, therefore if we opened our presents in our pyjamas, we would never get dressed. 23 years later this still applies, although we're not too bothered about having to wait, and usually I'm waiting for my hungover  brother to venture out of bed around midday. We then had to have breakfast first too before we could open anything (except our stockings), then finally we could open them.

This year was no different. I woke up to the sound of my brother throwing up from too much alcohol then waited for everyone to sort themselves out so we could open our presents. A couple of hours later my nan came round and waited impatiently for dinner, and this year their were no arguments over the pigs in blankets as mum made enough. Then a few hours of soap specials, where we watched Leanne get slapped in Coronation Street and Janine get her comeuppance in Eastenders (not quite the Christmas spectacular in soap land this year). Then my nan went home before she fell asleep in the chair and we all sat down and watched a film (this only ever happens once a year!) and the chosen one was 'The Butler', which I recommend watching. So, it might not be the most exciting Christmas, but it was spent with the people I love, who drive me crazy at times, but I wouldn't change them for the world.

I just wanted to share with you a couple of the gifts I received. I don't get many these days (old age), but the gifts I did receive were lovely and thoughtful, from the people that know me the best. I also received some money which will go towards a new Smart TV so I can watch hours of Netflix on the big screen (the exciting life I lead).

First is the thing I've been waiting two months for since I picked it myself whilst in America, and that is my Michael Kors watch. I love the Rose Gold colour and the fact the it's not too over the top and quite simple in its design, with the ridges around the face giving it that extra something. 

Burt's Bees Tip and Toes Kit. I'm looking forward to trying this as I've heard lot of good things about their products. 

The Bright Side Recipe Holder. I love to bake and this will be perfect in my kitchen. The Bright Side does lots of interesting and quirky things and this is something different that I would never of thought of buying, but I can't wait it fill it with lots of different recipes. I also received the latest hummingbird bakery book, Home Sweet Home. I have their last book that they have some amazing recipes so I'm looking forward to trying out these new ones.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and got everything you wanted :)

Merry Christmas

xoxo

Avon Mega Effects Mascara

 

 

Avon Mega Effects Mascara is a new product of theirs and I was instantly intrigued by it. It is described as "The Wonderbrush that's going to change mascara history." It claims to provide panoramic volume and corner to corner coverage for dramatic definition and flake and sweat proof.

What attracted me to this product was this different shape. The packaging itself is more like a block and you wouldn't think it was a mascara at first glance. Unlike a normal mascara wand that is long with a large grip, this is small and flat. The handle also bends to your desired angle, allowing you to adapt it to whatever suits you best.

I did find it a bit strange holding it because it's a small handle and a completely different shape to the usual mascara wand I'm used to. One of the downsides to it is that it can be a bit difficult to hold and manoeuvre at first and it does take some getting used to as instead of holding it horizontally to side, you have to hold it vertically then glide upwards. However the curved shape is great for getting to the inner corners of the eye and once you get used to it, it becomes a lot easier.

I have to say that it gave my lashes so much volume and length. For me, it made applying the mascara a lot quicker and two coats done the trick (you can always do more depending on your preference). It is most definitely one of the top mascaras for me at the moment.

It at the slightly higher end price for a high street product at £10, but I do think it's worth. Most decent high street mascaras are around the £7-£10 and I do think it is worth the investment. You can purchase this from a catalogue from your local Avon representative, or online at www.avon.uk.com

Have you tried Mega Effects Mascara? What did you think of the adjusting handle?

xoxo

MAC Divine Night Lipstick in Private Party

Divine Night is a new collection for MAC and I had been looking forward to trying out some of the products. But like most new collections by MAC, they sell out very quickly so I was lucky to pick this up and it was the one I was most looking forward to getting and it hasn't let me down. It was really hard to get a picture of the true colour,as it is either showing as too dark or too light, but it's more purple on the lips with a hint of pink. As I found it really hard to get a good picture, I took the second one off the internet so I can't take the credit for that one, but it's the best I could find. Private party is described as a dirty plum mauve with a satin finish and is definitely a great autumnal/winter colour. It glides on very easily and one coat was enough for me. Like all of the MAC lipsticks I have tried, it is highly pigmented and lasts a long time on the lips.

I definitely think this colour will suit all different skin tones as it's not a bright purple, contrary to the picture, so it's a lot more flattering then some on the market. 

I love the packaging on this and I'm glad they only changed it slightly from silver to gold as I wasn't the greatest fan of the packaging for the Rihanna Collection. It's a subtle change but I think it's great for the Divine Night theme.

Divine Night Lipstick comes in 5 shades and costs £16.50. They currently say sold out online at the moment but no doubt they will be back in stock soon, but you may have more luck going to a MAC counter, or better still a MAC store.

Have you tried any products from the Divine Night Collection? What's your favourite piece?

xoxo

Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask

So tomorrow I will be flying high in the sky on my way to America! It's been ages since I've been so I'm really looking forward to seeing my family and to shop shop shop! Before I go I thought I would squeeze in this quick post as I don't know when I will be doing the next one due to my holiday.

I'm not bothered by flying, but I wouldn't say it's my favourite pastime. With the high altitude and air pressure, its not exactly good for your skin as you become more dehydrated in the air and your skin dries out. One thing that I will taking with me on my travels is Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask. 

This mask claims to help skin feel smoother and hydrated, replenish the moisture in your skin and build a 'storage' of moisture for tomorrow. Unlike a normal mask, you don't remove it after a certain amount of time, hence it being called an overnight mask. Instead, gently massage onto clean skin before bed, leaving a layer on your skin. 

Overnight, the mask will be soaked up, leaving you with smooth, soft skin when you wake up. By the morning, there is no mask left on my skin and it feels incredibly moisturised and soft. I've never woken up with my skin feeling like that as it's naturally drier in the mornings. But this definitely works wonders and I'm so glad I listened to all the great reviews and tried it. The only problem is trying to not get the mask onto your pillow, so I apply it about 30 minutes before I plan to go to bed so it has time to soak in a bit. This will be the first time I will be using it for a flight but I have heard great things about it from a few friends, so fingers crossed I get off the plane with soft and hydrated skin and not desperate for some moisturiser.

Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask costs £11 for 50 ml or £22 for 100ml and is available online at www.origins.co.uk, selected Boots stores and House of Fraser. It is slightly on the expensive side but you don't need to use a lot each time and I really think it's worth the price. 

Have you used Origins Drink Up for a flight or in general. What were your thoughts?

xoxo

Hemp Hand Protector by The Body Shop

Winter is fast coming and for me that means my skin gets drier. The cold wind hitting your hands and face does nothing for your skin and I'm constantly reaching for the hand cream as they're the most exposed part of my body. My main issues with creams in general is their consistency. There's nothing worse than a watery cream that dries up after 10 minutes. I can't count how many hand creams I've tried over the years, trying to find one that actually keeps my hands moisturised for a long time. I think we take our hands for granted and given the fact that you use them all day everyday, it's really important to look after them. 

Hemp Hand Protector by Body Shop is something I have recently discovered through a friends recommendation and I'm so glad I invested in this. It is incredibly thick and I honestly haven't found a cream quite like it. It is aimed for very dry skin, (although my hands aren't drier than your average) and claims to restore moisture and suppleness. The smell isn't my favourite as I usually go for something sweeter, but to be honest I'm not that fussed as the cream to me is just amazing. I only need to reapply it if I've washed my hands as they stay moisturised for so long; it really is a great product and I can't get enough of it.

Hemp Hand Protector costs £5 for 30ml or £10 for 100ml. I'll admit it is quite expensive for a hand cream and usually I wouldn't pay that much, however for me, this is one exception where I think the investment is entirely worth it. They also have a range of Hemp Hand Care products for all your hand care needs.

Have you tried Hemp Hand Protector? What is your best hand care product?

xoxo

Baby Lips by Maybelline

Baby Lips by Maybeline are a new moisturising lip balm that claims to moisturise lips for a full 8 hours and renew lips in a week. 

I often find that my lips go through periods of becoming very dry, especially during the winter, as I'm sure a lot of people find and that's the time when I tend to reach for a moisturising balm even more often. Baby Lips comes in 6 colours and I chose Cherry Me and Pink Punch. I have to say I was quite surprised how pigmented they come out. Pink Punch in particular almost looks like a lipstick when applied. Whether it keeps my lips moisturised for 8 hours I don't know because I've eaten and drunk within that time frame. They do have shades that don't have colour, or are more subtle than the ones I picked.

I don't think that it's as good as a moisturiser like Carmex for example, however it still makes my lips fill moisturised and has the added bonus of colour. So if my lips are dry but I still want some colour, then Baby Lips will definitely come in handy.

Baby Lips cost £2.99 available in Boots, Superdrug and selected supermarkets 

Have you tried baby lips? Do they leave you lips moisturised for 8 hours?

xoxo

Bioderma Sensibio H2O vs L'Oréal Paris Skin Perfection 3 in 1 Purifying Micellar Solution

Bioderma Sensibio H2O

There are lots of makeup remover waters on the market at the moment, known as 'micellar water', aimed at being gentle on the skin and free from chemicals, and no doubt one of the biggest brands out there is Bioderma. Bioderma Sensibio H2O comes from France and is a non-rinse micellar water solution, claiming to gently cleanse sensitive and normal to dry skin, remove makeup from the face and eyes whilst removing impurities. It aims to prevent irritation and make the skin feel refreshed instantly and clean from all dirt and makeup.

I have been trying Bioderma Sensibio H2O for a couple of weeks now and I absolutely love it. It removes my makeup quickly without having to rub my skin, causes no irritation and removes dirt, so it saves me having to use a separate cleanser. I bought this whilst on holiday and it was the only one they had, however, they do have Bioderma Sebium H2O, which is designed for combination to oily skin and maybe even better suited for me and I will probably try that when this one runs out.

L'Oréal Paris Skin Perfection 3 in 1 Purifying Micellar Solution

New on the market, L'Oréal have launched their version of micellar water. Suitable for sensitive skin, it is makeup remover,toner and skin soother all in one, with no need for rubbing, but just gently wiping with a cotton pad. It has the same principles as Bioderma and is alcohol and perfume free and hypo-allergenic.  

A big difference between the two is the price. Bioderma costs £9.99 for 250ml, whereas L'Oréal costs £4.99 for 200ml, available in Boots and Superdrug. Bioderma also comes in a few different sizes and is available at http://www.escentual.com. It has only just been realised in the UK a few months ago, so it's pretty hard to get hold of in stores at the moment, which maybe why it costs so much and because it's imported.

So which one would I recommend? Well to be honest, I really can't see that much of a difference between the two, other than price. I think the good thing about Bioderma is that they have an alternative for oily skin, whereas L'Oréal only has the one. I also found that with both products, if there was too much on the cotton pad and I wipe my eyes, it did go in them and cause a slight discomfort, but not too much, so just be careful of how much you are using because you don't need a lot. I did find that Bioderma removed my makeup a bit quicker, but that's not really a major factor. Personally, as I have sensitive skin, I think I'm slightly more inclined to lead towards Bioderma, purely because they are skin specialists, but L'Oréal is still a great product for a really good price and I would still get it if I can't get any Bioderma. I will definitely be sticking to micellar water from now on and have said goodbye to wipes. 

There are lots of other Micellar water products out there at the moment, have you tried any? And what are your thoughts on them?

  

xoxo

Are makeup wipes bad for your skin?

Makeup wipes- Easy, convenient and relatively cheap. We all love the efficiency of them, but do we really know what they're doing to our skin? There's a lot of talk about makeup wipes and how bad they are for your skin, but are they really that damaging, and if so, why?

Well according to skin experts, wipes are soaked in a lot of chemicals. The wipes are packed on top of each other, which is a breeding ground for bacteria. For wipes to be kept on shelves for a long time, they requite preservatives, anti-bacteriaal agents and alcohol. I also find that with wipes, they require you to rub them quite vigorously, especially around my eyes when trying to remove stubborn mascara, therefore we are pushing these chemicals into our skin. You are also pushing the makeup into the skin, so in actual fact, all of the makeup doesn't get removed, it just goes deeper into your pores. 

As a person with sensitive skin, I've always found it difficult to find wipes that don't cause irritation, as they have often given me rashes and dried out my skin. Irritation is definitely the biggest turn off with wipes and even some of the sensitive ones I've tried still gave me a rash. I also hate that they can be expensive, with some wipes costing £3/4 a pop and some of them are not moisturised enough and feel dry as soon as you open a new packet. The wipes I have been using for a long time are Lacura by Aldi. They are only 89p and the best wipes I have ever used. They are highly moisturised and never irritate my skin.

 Even though I love these wipes and the convenience of them, after reading all of the bad things about them, I've decided to ditch them, but what do I use now? Well makeup remover creams are much better as they contain moisturiser so they don't leave your skin feeling dry, but then you need to buy cotton pads, so its down to whether you want the convenience or good skin. However, I've decided to try the new craze at the minute which is micellar water. Aimed at all skin types, but particulary those with sensitive skins, these waters are alcohol free and many are removers and toners in one. I have started to use Bioderma Sensibo H2O and I'm also trying L'Oréal Paris Skin Perfection 3 in 1 Purifying Micellar Solution and I will be reviewing these products soon.

So, will you be trading in your wipes for a cream or micellar water??

xoxo

Bourjois Paris Shine Edition Lipstick

Bourjois Paris Shine Edition Lipsticks are new on the market and I was waiting for them to come out for a while and I wasn't disappointed when I finally got some. I chose shades 1,2,3 Soleil and Mauve Tabloid, which took me a long time to make a decision as I could of bought all of the shades as they're so nice. They remind me of Revlon's Colorburst Lip Butter that I posted about here, in their texture, but slightly less glossy. These lipsticks have a lovely creamy texture and one coat seems to do the trick. I really love 1,2,3 Soleil and I wore it a lot over the summer, especially on holiday as it kept my lips moisturised and is a lovely summer shade. 

Mauve Tabloid is great colour for the autumn and if your'e looking for a purple shade but nothing too dark, then this would be a great colour for you. Unlike 1,2,3 Soleil, this shade has slight hint of shimmer and again I really love the colour. Both initially look quite dark, but as you can see from the swatch, they're a lot lighter and 1,2,3 Soleil is a lot more coral than it appears and Mauve Tabloid is lighter, so it's worth trying them out first before you buy.

Shine Edition Lipstick costs £7.99 available online and in store at Boots, and Superdrug currently have them on offer at buy one get the second half price! 

xoxo

NARS Multiple Duo in Maui/Palm Beach

Firstly, my apologies for not posting anything for a while, I've just got back from holiday so I've been really busy. But I have lots of things to post about coming soon!

NARS Multiple Duo comes in a small, lightweight compact, claiming to create "countless combinations of healthy flushes and gentle shimmering effects for the eyes, cheeks and lips". I picked this up when I attended IMATS earlier in the summer and I'm really pleased that I did. 'Maui' is a cream blush that blends in well on the skin.I think that cream blushes make your cheeks a lot more moisturised as powders are dry, and as stated, it can also be used on the lips too. The bronzer in Palm beach is also a cream, so it can't be used all over the face like a powder, but is good for highlighting the key areas on the face and the colour has a lovely glow to it.

Maui initially looks quite bright in the compact, but you can see in the last picture that it is a lot lighter once on the skin. I like that fact that you can just bring this compact out and touch up your blusher and bronzer without needing different products and I used this a lot on holiday. It definitely helps to give you that summer holiday glow!

The Multiple Duo comes in a variety of shades and is available on the NARS website for £33.

xoxo

The Fast Diet (5:2) Follow-up

Back in May I posted about a new diet that I had started called the Fast Diet, better known as 5:2. I meant to do a follow up post sooner but I actually forgot, so I apologise for that.

A quick recap of the diet- eat what you want for 5 days a week, then for 2 days a week you fast on 500 calories, 600 for men, eating as healthily as possible on the fasting days. I continued with this diet for around 8 weeks or so and here a my thoughts and results.

So initially after the 4lb weight loss in week one, things started to slow down, which I expected. After a diet day, I would lose 2/3 lbs, then gain a pound on a normal day etc etc and after a week it would even itself out and I lost 2lbs per week on average in the beginning. After around 6 weeks, I had lost a total of 8 lbs, which I was pretty happy with, but I just couldn't seem to get past that mark. For some reason my body just said "no, that's it, you're not losing anymore". I thought that because I had been doing it for a while that my body got to used to it and the drastic withdrawal of calories was no longer having the same 'shock effect' on my body. As a friend of mine had a break from it and then went back on the diet and lost more weight, I thought the same might work for me, but it didn't. I believe that everybody has a certain weight that their body gravitates to naturally, however I don't feel like I'm at that point yet, so I'm trying to hard to push past this 8lb point! 

I said in my previous post that I aimed to plan my meals for the week in advance, so that I would have different choices and make things a bit more interesting- I failed in that area. To be honest, as boring as it was, it was just easier to stick with what I knew to save time and hassle. Soup was my best friend a lot of the time as it involves no preparation whatsoever. The picture below is just an example of some of the foods I would have on a fast day.

A typical day would be:

• Breakfast- Lemon Ginger and Mango Tea (Asda) (any tea is fine as long as its calorie free)
• Morning snack- A piece of fruit or a cereal type bar
• Lunch- 3 Ryvita's with Philadelphia Light Cream Cheese (I ended up switching to Aldi's version of Ryvita's as they're much cheaper and taste the same)
• Dinner- Either a chicken breast with Cous Cous or a two egg omelette with a few chorizo slices or something low calorie, just not cheese :( 

So after I couldn't get pasted the 8lb mark, I let the diet slip. I was still continuing to exercise throughout the process, but after I stopped the diet, I started to add weight training to my fitness regime as its the best way to tone up, as well and turning that fat into muscle. I have gained a few pounds back since coming off it, however I do believe that some of it is now muscle because I have noticed that my body is a lot more toned and defined then it was before. 

In terms giving me adding health benefits such a reducing my risk of getting certain diseases, I can't comment as I never knew my risks before, but if you're someone who is keen on finding that stuff out, it would be good to know how the diet has effected that. As a short term diet, I think this can definitely be for everyone if you have willpower on those days, and its great if you just want that quick weight loss before a holiday or wedding for example. It did give me the boost I needed to start losing weight and I definitely want to continue losing more, however as we all know, the key to long term weight loss is regular exercise and a healthy balanced diet. In The Fast Diet book, one of the authors said she always has one fast day a week because it is second nature to her, but for me I can't see myself doing this for the rest of my life, even if its just for one day, because lets face it, life gets in the way.

My relationship with food is something I'm always trying to change, but to be honest I love food so much, that I don't think it ever will. I enjoy going out for meals and finding new places to eat and that doesn't always mean it has to be unhealthy. Food brings me joy and I've realised that that's ok, I just need to moderate what I have. Although I know all of these things and what the best way to loose weight is, I can't say that I won't try another diet again because the chances are I will, and every now and again I do want to do the fast diet, as maybe an even longer break will be even better for me in terms of weight loss, who knows! Wish me luck in my next weight loss adventure, whatever that will be!

xoxo

Lip Paint by Inglot

 

 Shade 68

Shade 51

These are the first Inglot products I have used and I picked this up when I was at IMATS London this year. I usually buy lipsticks and gloss in a stick, purely for the convenience  of them, however I was attracted to this product as they seemed highly pigmented and a mix between a lipstick and a gloss. I have to say having used both colours I really pleased with the choices I made and how well they go on your lips. Shade 51 came out slightly lighter on my lips, however I still really like the shade. Shade 68 is definitely on the brighter side but it's good if you just want that statement lip with minimal makeup. They are also very long lasting and didn't need touching up too often. It is also really easy to build up colour with them, if you didn't want it too bright for example. 

The only downside I found with this is that you need to have a lip brush with you to apply it. I knew this when I bought it but it does mean you have to remember the brush each time you take it out. I would recommend that if you do buy this product, then to also pick up a cheap retractable lip brush if you don't own already, so you can fit in your bag nicely and the colour won't go on your bag either.


Lip Paint's cost £10 and are available online at http://www.inglotuk.com

Have you tried Lip Paint or any Inglot products?

xoxo

Revlon ColorStay Ultimate Suede Lipstick

A while back I posted about Revlon's Colorburst Lip Butter and raved about how much I really liked the product, so I was really looking forward to try their new ColorStay  Ultimate Suede Lipstick. The shade I went for was High Heels and I really love how the colour looks on the lips. It definitely lives up to the name suede as it feels so soft and velvety when applying and it makes my lips feel very moisturised. 

After my initial happiness of this product, I was left disappointed after an hour or so as when I looked in the mirror, the lipstick had left a cracked look on my lips. I expected a bit of wear like usual but this had never happened to me before. When I then tried to touch it up, it was difficult because it had cracked and I couldn't get it back to the beginning look. I wasn't sure whether this was the product itself or my lips, so I tried again twice on two different days and the same thing happened. Strange! I don't know whether anybody else has had this problem or if it's just my lips, but I would love to know if it's happened to you. End result, really disappointed as I initially loved the everything about this lipstick. Maybe you will have more success than me!

Revlon ColorStay Ultimate Suede Lipstick costs £8.99 and available in store and online in Boots and Superdrug.

xoxo

Illuminator in Super Orgasm by NARS

NARS is a brand that I keep hearing a lot lately and seeing lots of reviews on their products and it wasn't until the last year or so that I paid much attention to it. But as I've heard so many good things about them, I finally decided to invest in a few products and I've really been looking forward to trying them out.

One of my purchases included Illuminator by NARS, which is a lightweight liquid aimed at "illuminating" the skin. It says it can be applied all over the face or as a highlighter, but given the colour I had, Super Orgasm, I thought it wouldn't be wise to apply a pink shimmer all over my face. It does come in a bronzy shade so it could be used all over. The colour initially looks quite bright, but is a lot more subtle on the skin and really gives a lovely glow and colour to my face. When it comes to blushers, I usually go for the brighter colours as I have a darker skin tone, and definitely towards the pinky shades, although I do like a coral now and again. I use this as a blusher/highlighter and apply it using my fingertips, then a blush brush to even it out. 

What's good about it is because it's so lightweight, you don't feel that its caked on to heavily and this is ideal for the summer and will most definitely by one of my holiday essentials. 

Illuminator is available in 4 shades and can be bought online at NARS Cosmetics or at your nearest NARS counter for £22.  

xoxo