ELF

I had never tried any ELF products before – but have seen them on a lot of other people’s blogs and wanted to try some out for myself!

I do believe you should invest in quality make-up brushes, but sometimes the price doesn’t exactly match the quality! I was unsure what the ELF brushes would be like as they’re so cheap compared with my other brushes. I tried two brushes from the bamboo range (more expensive than the other £1.50 ELF brushes but still very good value).

The Bamboo angled blush brush is priced at just £5.50 and really does feel very good quality. The brush is soft enough to feel kind to your skin and allow the blush to sweep across your cheeks, but firm enough to keep its structure. I like to use this brush for face contouring as the angle is great for getting in just below the cheek bones!

I also got the bamboo lip brush, it is also priced at £5.50 – overall a very good little brush, it keeps its shape whilst you’re applying your lipstick which is a must for any lip brush or you’ll look like you put your make-up on in the dark!!!

Another plus point to this range is that the brushes are made from antibacterial Taklon bristles and the bamboo is from a sustainable source – so no need to feel guilty about anything!

Trilogy Face Care Cream Cleanser - guest post

I have been using Trilogy Face Care Cream Cleanser for the past week. The cream has a firm consistency and is easy to dispense and apply to the skin. Just a quick massage of the cream into my face and a rinse with warm water and my face was perfectly clean and refreshed, without that ‘tight’ feeling.

The Evening primrose and Rose hip oil contained in the product also provided some moisturising – great when you are in a hurry and forget to use moisturiser. My skin felt so much firmer and healthier after using the Trilogy cleanser – I am really surprised that a cleanser can make such a difference. It is also good to know that the product is produced ethically and with minimal impact environmentally. I look forward to trying more of the Trilogy range.


This post was written by my Mum! x

Skinny for Summer - A cheat's guide

Well, it's no quick fix, and not exactly cheating... as you still have to put the time in, just not  the hours slogging away at the gym!

I like to call these magic pants! But the actual name is... Bio-Fir High Waisted Massage 

Bermuda Anti-Cellulite. Pants that make you thin and comfy? Yes please!  

The Scala range has proven results, with 80% of women who tried the range seeing a reduction in inches around the waist and a reduction in cellulite. The only down side to these were that I got quite hot in them - luckily you can wash them as many times as you like and they still work because Scala's anti cellulite properties are woven into the fabric.

Apply your fatgirlslim cream twice a day to 'get rid of junk in the trunk, jelly-belly, back-of-the-arm jiggle or any other unwanted wiggle. Clinical studies have shown that:

87% saw a firming effect
85% felt a slimming effect
73% noticed a reduction in the appearance of cellulite

I've only tried mine out a couple of times, so I can only tell you what the cream feels like. It's very runny, but in a nice way it's almost a cross between to a body oil and a moisturiser, so you can really massage it in to your skin.  Definitely a must have a few weeks before holidaying for a bit of a body/confidence boost!

Care for your feet!

We spend a lot of time caring for our hands and painting our nails... rightly so as they're on display everyday... But what about our feet? If feet could talk I bet they'd want us to give them some well deserved attention! After all, we are pretty reliant on them.


Pampered Toes are made by the same people who brought us the Ped Egg:

Pampered Toes are designed to fit any shoe size - they're quite squidgy but still feel sturdy (a bit softer than those jelly shoes you might have had as a kid). After a long day on your feet you simply pop off your shoes and socks, and place on your pampered toes, the product is designed to stretch out those cramped toes and refresh your tired tootsies. Although this isn't exactly what the product was designed for... I must admit I also used mine when painting my toe nails... it's so much better than using a foam toe separator as your feet feel secure and comfy too!

Now, to paint those nails...

This range was created by the award winning celebrity nail technician Andrea Fulerton. Some of the products in this range were previously only available to nail art professionals, but have now been made accessible to the masses. Yay! Check out the website here and have a browse for yourself! 

Have you tried out anything from this range?

Fake it! Spend Vs Save

We all know the dangers of sun exposure... and the ugliness of peeling skin. Yet sometimes it just looks prettier to have a bit of a healthy glow, and if you're anything like me (Pale!!!) the only way to achieve this look is to fake it.

Rodial Brazilian Tan Airbrush 

My absolute favourite fake tan is Rodial Brazilian Tan Airbrush available exclusively from ASOS. It is a little pricey at £40, however, it smells amazing (almost chocolatey) and can be applied perfectly every time - the airbrush allows you to gently build up the colour to as little or as lot as you wish! 

St Moritz

St Moritz. This fake tan is great for when I'm completely broke! The bottle looks very like a certain expensive brand ;), and in all honesty goes on pretty much the same! I think this fake tan is better suited to those who already have a little colour and just need a tan top up. When applied to my skin it does tend to have a slightly orange undertone. I paid around £3 for a bottle of it so even if I am slightly tangoed it's a bit of a bargain. St Moritz is quite hard to get hold of in the shops but easily available to buy online.

I would never apply a fake tan to my face, mostly because I don't want to clog my pores but also because using cleansers and wearing make-up everyday would quickly make the tan fade and become uneven. I instead opt for a bronzer to gently build up some colour on to my face, I love the He Shi bronzer, it has a really light texture and a matt finish so it gives my skin just enough luminicity without making me look fake!

Do you have any tanning tips?

I just can't live without...

Ok so I'm sure I could live without these... but I really wouldn't want to!!


Monu Cleansing balm, priced at £35 is without a doubt the most luxurious cleanser I have ever used. When in the pot this cleansing balm is very thick, but almost like magic when applied to the face it simply melts into an oil that deeply cleanses the skin and removes all traces of make-up and impurities. This balm contains evening primrose, blackcurrant and rosehip seed oils which are all a rich source of essential fatty acids which help to maintain your skins suppleness and elasticity. Simply was off with water to reveal beautifully soft clean skin.

Saicara Body Fizzy Gel, moisturising has never been so much fun. This fast absorbing, crackling ice foam gel cools and refreshes the skin. I use mine after a long day at work on my feet, the cooling effect is brilliant - but my favourite thing about the product is the noise it makes (it sounds like crackling fireworks!). The gel is completely non-greasy and absorbs on the skin straight away so you can put it on just before bed or getting dressed without a worry. You can also buy this fizzy gel in gold - perfect for holidays to give those sun kissed legs a gorgeous glow.

Batiste Dry Shampoo, oh how you've saved me on so many occasions! I don't think I even need to explain the genius that is dry shampoo to you, but just in case you've been living under a rock... 'Batiste Dry Shampoo banishes oily roots, giving dull, lifeless hair the makeover it needs without any water. A burst of Batiste not only refreshes hair, but leaves it full of body and texture too. So whatever last minute plans come up, you can grab life by the hair' Batiste, I bow down to your greatness! 

Montagne Jeunesse Cranberry and Aloe Vera Balm, the most lovely lip balm I've used all year. I never knew until last week that Montagne Jeunesse even made lip balms!! The balm is lovely as it slides on easily and stays for hours, leaving your lips feeling healthy and soft.

Even if you don't want to admit it, you probably do suffer from the odd blemish or two! The new Nelsons Pure & Clear anti-blemish range has the best anti-blemish face wipes ever! They actually get all of your make-up off, and leave your skin feeling fresh without stinging. Definitely a must have, even if it's just for your weekend bag!

White Glo Toothpaste (and toothbrush!), this toothpaste is super popular in Australia and is making it's name over here in the UK. White Glo now have a special formula for you tea and coffee lovers to not only prevent but also to treat stained teeth. They also have really great toothbrushes, ones with a little sucker on so you can stick it to the bathroom tiles! 

What products do you swear by?

Blogger, Elizabeth xx

Garra Spa - Fish Pedicure

Last week I experienced my first ever Garra Spa treatment at the gorgeous Taylor Made Salon on Wigmore Street.

There has been a lot of media coverage on this treatment in magazines recently so I was keen to try it out and see if it lived up to the hype. It certainly did!

                                         

The treatment itself involves the tiny garra rufa fish eating the dead skin off your feet, leaving them silky soft! Fear not, it isn’t as scary as it sounds. The fish don’t have teeth, they act more like a little vacuum sucking away the dead skin. I thought I’d find the experience extremely ticklish but it was actually very relaxing, it felt as though the fish were gently massaging my feet. I’ll definitely be going back and having this treatment done before I go on my holidays.

What I thought was lovely about this Garra Spa treatment was that the tank is designed to be big enough for two people, so you can go along with a friend and make a girly day of it. I think this would also be good if you were a little bit nervous to try the treatment, having a friend with you for a little bit of reassurance. I however, was far too fascinated watching the fish to even read a magazine, never-mind remember I was actually a bit scared of fish! 

The tank is dark enough to allow you privacy whilst receiving the treatment, but still allows you to see the fish working away at your feet. I totally understand the hype and will be recommending this treatment to all my friends.

Images sourced from Google and http://garraspa.co.uk/

Have any of you had a Garra Spa treatment before?

Favourites :)

Last week I tried out a lot of new products, here are some of my favourites:

Toshop Lipstick (shade: Brighton Rock)

I just adore this lipstick, it's got a real pop to the colour. I've worn this out twice, and both times I've received compliments - it's just so nice to wear a bright lipstick when the weather is being so dull. Plus I think it's a bit of a bargain at just £8 for such a durable lipstick.  Love, love, love it!

Camitz Sparkling Vodka

It's in a champagne style bottle - but it's Vodka (40% Vodka!!!!), such a great drink to bring to a party, best to share it with friends though as the sparkle only lasts for 3 days.


Klorane: Mango Butter Nourishing Balm 

This nourishing hair balm smells as good as it sounds! Mango butter is high in fatty acids which nourish the hair shaft. It's got quite a thick texture, as you'd expect from a balm, this allows it to really get around each individual hair and makes my hair a lot more manageable!  


Bath Roses from Tesco

They're so adorable and affordable, brighten up a boring bath with these beautiful petals :) oh and they only cost £2!

And the winner is...

And the winner is...

KARLA

Winner picked via random.org
Thank you all for entering, I hope to do another giveaway very soon.

BROWHAUS LONDON

I adore Covent Garden – beautiful shops, cafes and street artists… and the best eyebrow and eyelash experts you could wish for. I give you Browhaus.

Browhaus was originally founded by global entrepreneur and style maven Cynthia Chua in 2004 as Singapore’s first total concept brow grooming salon; since then, Browhaus has expanded to include 11 salons in Singapore and 7 other countries including retail outlets in Shanghai, Jakarta, Manila, London and New York City’s Nolita.

Browhaus have recently extended the treatment list and offer a new lash extension treatment called Express Lash in Bloom – if you’ve ever been to Browhaus before you’ll know that they offer a treatment called Lash in Bloom (this treatment uses individual lashes) whereas Express Lash in Bloom is cheaper and quicker because lash clusters are used. The overall look however is still amazing – the technicians are highly skilled and very friendly. You’re given the option to choose the style you’d like, be it natural or glamorous. If you look after your lash extensions, i.e don’t start tugging on them or use oil based products around your eyes then they should last for 3-4 weeks. 

I got my lash extensions done on Tuesday and I love them, partly due to the amount of compliments I’ve had about them, but also for the extra 5 minutes I get in bed now that I don’t have to do any eye-makeup.

Check out the Browhaus website here for more information :)

Blogger, Elizabeth x

Marble Nails

My attempt at marble nails! Sorry for the dreadful quality of the images - really need to invest in a good camera!!

I used Barry M - Blueberry Ice Cream and Nails Inc - Denim (the free one when you buy two diet cokes). You can of course use any colours you like - I wanted a subtle look as I had never tried this technique before and had work the next day. Next time I use this technique I'm going to use contrasting colours so that the effect can really be appreciated.

Considering this was my first attempt at marble nails - I was pretty happy with the effect... I'd imagine it'd be a lot easier to do on false nails because you wouldn't get varnish all over your fingers.

Tip: Use either a thick layer of Vaseline or sellotape around the finger nail so that you've got less to clean up when you're done! If you use sellotape... make sure you're not too quick to take it off as you'll just end up smudging the pretty marble effect.

For how to create this effect check out the YouTube videos here :)

P.S, if you haven't already entered my giveaway you can still enter, closes tomorrow.

D&G Giveaway - The Best Beauty Buys

Blogger, Elizabeth x

Simples! - Guest post from Fran

Ok, so the weather is STILL cold, your bank account is still scarily empty, the novelty of that gym membership malarkey has already worn off, you REALLY want that new WonderWoman range of MAC make-up, AND your skin has decided to become  mind bogglingly dry, flaky and simply dreadful.

Well, I may not have the ultimate cure, but for someone who has struggled with dry skin as a result of that irritatingly non-curable skin pest known as eczema, I have tried, literally hundreds of different moisturisers and can definitely suggest a few ideas.

My FAVOURITE at the moment, which can be used on any type of dry skin whether it’s only slightly flaky, or a full blown eczema rage, is the Simple Derma range. I have the hand cream, the face cream, the body cream, the lot. I’m keen to try the shower gel too, as it is so difficult to come across bathroom products which don’t result in my skin getting annoyed and angry at me. The Simple Derma range is not expensive at all; it relieves skin from that horrible itchy feeling and has long lasting effects on keeping that dryness away, without feeling heavy or making your skin appear oily.

The Intensive Relief Hand cream, which is especially good for dry, chapped hands in this weather, was only £2.99 in the chemist opposite my office, (Bargain!) and just over £4 in Boots. Very effective after washing hands, and doesn’t leave your hands feeling sticky or greasy at all. The Intensive Relief Face and Body Cream is equally as cheap at just over £2 for 50ml in Boots. Can be applied as regularly as one likes, and I find it a great base before putting my foundation on in the morning, as it stops all those dry bits from poking through your make–up halfway through the day.

The basic Simple range is obviously still one of my favourites, and these face wipes are great, especially when you’ve had a long, tiring day, as they are also suitable for eye make-up. One quick wipe and you’ve cleansed, toned and freshened up your skin without messing about with 10 different bottles of different coloured liquids. Leave your extensive and time consuming skincare routine till the weekend to avoid drying out your skin even more with too many products.   

Under £5 for a packet of 25 in Superdrug, they are frequently on offer at various places, where it’s good to stock up!

For great skin, use Simple Derma… Simples! For more information on the Derma range, click here.

This post was written by Fran, check out her lovely blog here :) !!

TOMMYGUNS

I've been trying out this shampoo and conditioner for about a week now, and I've got to say I love it! I often use moisture nourishing shampoos etc, but they tend to leave a slight residue on my hair despite rinsing the conditioner out for a long time...

Tommyguns Jasmine and Wild Nettle is designed for thirsty undernourished hair.  

The shampoo: this cleansing shampoo will leave your hair feeling moisturised but also balanced. Active ingredients include Wild Nettle, gently soothes scalp & hair, calming, conditioning & moisturising. Jasmine to help nourish & revitalise hair.

The conditioner: rejuvenates & conditions your hair improving detangling, protecting colour & bringing out your natural shine. Active ingredients include Sweet Almond for intense conditioning, strengthening & softening your hair. Wild Nettle to moisturise & condition. Jasmine to help revitalise and nourish your hair.

This shampoo left my hair feeling super cleansed and soft, normally after 1-2 days my hair is looking lifeless or greasy but with this shampoo I got to day 3 (unheard of for me!) and my hair still looked respectable! The conditioner is very watery - this isn't a bad thing, just a warning that you don't squirt half of it out the first time you use it! With it being so liquidy rather than creamy you're able to quickly and evenly apply it to all your hair. 

I loved the smell of this shampoo and conditioner set - it smelt super fresh and left my hair soft, manageable and full of body - can't really ask for any more than that!!

COSMO Smokey Eye Brush Set - Review

The smokey eyed look suits all skin types, eye shapes and eye colours. The great thing about smokey eyes is that you can have a strong smokey eye, a soft smokey eye, and use any colours you wish to. Of course the classic look is a grey-black smokey eye... but the look can be just as flattering with other colours.

A lot of smokey eye sets come with eyeshadows in them, but realistically (if you're anything like me) you probably already have all the eyeshadows you need! So why not just invest in the correct tools to create the look instead?

I like the Cosmo smokey eye brushes - they do exactly what they say on the packet and because they're pretty cheap they're ideal for your make-up bag. This trio of brushes costs £5.95 and is available in Tesco and Superdrug :)

How to create the classic smokey eyed look:

1. Using the smokey eyes base brush apply a light coloured matt shadow all over the eyelid and up to your eyebrow.

2. Using the smokey eyes base brush apply a dark eye shadow on your eyelid and blend upwards, gently pressing the colour onto your eyelids to intensify the colour, then softly brush the shadow to finish just above your natural socket line, blending well with your brush for a soft graduation in colour. Sweep along your lower lash line to add a hint of colour.

3. Apply eyeliner close to the lash line and smudge into the roots of your lashes with the smokey eyes smudger.

4. Take the smokey eyes angled blender with a darker toned eye shadow, sweep along both the upper and lower lid line to bring out the colour of your eyes. You can dampen the brush with water to increase the depth of colour. Use smokey eyes smudger to soften the edges to complete the Smokey eye look.


Et Voila!!! Beautiful eyes :) 

Bagatidy - What a clever idea!

I just had to share this with you girls – it’s such a clever idea!!

Research shows that the average woman spends a whopping 76 days of her lifetime rummaging in her handbag!!Seems utterly insane right? 

The Bagatidy comes in a range of colours and fabrics so you can chose one that suits your own style! Denise Welch and Lorraine Kelly both swear by this product. So if you’re losing precious hours trying to locate your keys or your phone then this could be just what you need!! It has 14 pockets, so there’s room for your lipsticks, phone, cards and pens. There’s even a special hidden pocket for credit cards, pills or other personal items and all Bagatidy’s also incorporate an integral key holder. What I love about the Bagatidy is that you can quickly transfer all your items from one bag to another without accidentally forgetting your purse or your keys!

They cost less than £20 and are available online from www.bagatidy.co.uk

Dry Skin Vs Dehydrated Skin

Dry skin and dehydrated skin are often confused with one another as the symptoms are so similar; tight, flakey, rough and even uncomfortable. Dry skin is caused by not having enough oils in the skin whereas dehydrated skin is from not having enough water in the skin. The lack of water in the skin isn’t necessarily from drinking too little – it could just be that your skin needs a helping hand now that the weather outside is particularly harsh, and/or the heating and air conditioning inside is taking some of the water out of your skin.

It is possible that if you have dry skin it’s a genetic thing – however nowadays it’s thought that the most common cause of dry skin is actually brought about by harsh chemicals that occur in commercial soaps and cleansers. These soaps and cleansers can strip away the natural oils in the skin that are necessary for keeping moisture in the skin.

If you've been reading my recent blog posts you'll probably notice I've recently been trying to go organic with a lot of my skin care products in the hope that I will eventually have the perfect complexion! I am noticing a marked improvement already and I’ve only switched to organic for a few weeks now.

Here are a few of my latest organic moisturisers:

Pai organic skincare for sensitive skin. I really like the Pai skincare range, and can't believe I didn't discover it sooner. It was rated the number one organic skincare brand by Grazia UK! Pai's simple yet effortlessly pretty packaging leaves you knowing exactly what you're getting. It even tells you on the packaging just how organic the products are!

If like me, you won’t go anywhere without a bit of eye make-up on, you’ll know just how damaging on the eyes removing it can be. Rubbing the eyes to remove make-up can leave them red and sore, so you need something that is going to sooth your delicate irritated skin. 

Pai's Echium Anti-Ageing eye cream is rich in Gamma Linolenic Acid and Stearidonic Acid - naturally occurring ingredients with proven anti-ageing properties. I checked on the website as I wasn’t exactly sure what these acids were. “Stearidonic Acid is a rare form of omega 3 that helps to regenerate skin and smooth fine lines. Recent research has shown that Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA) has strong anti-ageing and cell regeneration properties.  Echium is the richest known natural source of both Stearidonic Acid and GLA, and many are calling it the new "wonder ingredient" for anti-ageing products”

The Avocado and Jojoba hydrating day cream from Pai is suitable for all skin types, it says on the website to  “apply to face and neck whenever your skin needs a moisture top-up.” I’ve been using mine before bed as a hydration mask. The avocado oil hydrates the skin, and the jojoba improves the suppleness of the skin. There is also thistle oil in this product, which apparently reduces open mores and promotes skin absorption! 

Aubrey Organics Rosa Mosqueta Luxurious Moisturising lotion… technically it’s a body lotion, but I just leave this one at work and use it a few times a day as a hand lotion, it’s full of indulgent ingredients such as vitamin E and macadamia nut oil which leave my hands feeling nourished and soft without feeling greasy. You can view the full Aubrey organics range here.

Black Chicken Remedies Love Your Body Oil - Review

Ahhh finally, February is here... and with it comes the launch of Black Chicken Remedies' Love Your Body Oil. This oil is 100% natural and it's mixture of ingredients (a combination of twelve remedial oils - avocado, rosehip, hazelnut, coconut, vitamin E and essential oils of sandalwood, geranium bourbon, patchouli, lavender, carrot, ylang ylang ,and nutmeg) help to rehydrate the skin in a chemical free way.

The oil smells extremely indulgent, but it’s hard for me to describe the exact aroma to you because it’s got so many elements to it! The texture of the oil itself is at first very slippery (as you’d expect!) but it very quickly totally absorbs in – e.g, when using the oil on your hands, after 5 minutes you’re left with rehydrated hands without feeling greasy. The great thing about this oil is it’s for both men and women, so you can get one for the bathroom and let everybody try it if you’re feeling in a sharing mood :)

Chicken Remedies Love Your Body Oil is available exclusively from selfridges online priced at £45.50 for 100ml.


What indulgent products do you enjoy?


Blogger, Elizabeth x