Recent Empties.

Hey guys, hope you've all had a lovely week!

Today's post is a classic empties post, I didn't have enough to do a proper post at the end of January so thought I would do it now before it all builds up and there's too much for the end of February (vicious cycleee).
 

Back l-r: Gel douche gourmand (Apple scented shower gel) - This is an own brand product from a French shop called Monoprix, but the range is pretty similar to Original Source shower gels, which I love! This cost around 2euros. I won't be buying again though because I felt I had to use a lot of this shower gel compared to others.

John Frieda Radiant Red Enhancing Conditioner - This I bought in Boots when they had a 3-for-2 on haircare back in August but I only started using this in November. I think it lasted pretty well, seeing as my hair is loooong so I do use a lot of conditioner! I would definitely buy this again as it left my hair delicately scented and so soft, but I will definitely be waiting until I'm back in England as it's a bit more expensive here in France.

L'Oreal Smooth Intense shampoo with Argan Oil - Being in France, L'Oreal shampoos are everywhere and I think they actually have a wider range available here, and it's a bit cheaper than in England. However this one is also available in Boots, I've checked online! I tried this particular one because it contains Argan Oil and I have heard this is great for your hair. I have noticed that my hair does feel healthier, so I would buy this again, maybe after I've used up my current one!

The Body Shop Body Butter in Japanese Cherry Blossom - I received this as part of a birthday present. I adore the scent, it's so delicate so it isn't overpowering. I love the body butters from the Body Shop so will be buying again, but I do love trying the different scents.

Middle: The Body Shop Body Butter in Pink Grapefruit - again, this was part of a present, but a different one. I love the refreshing scent and I used it a lot during summer but forgot about it, so I've only just finished this one.

Front l-r: Vivienne Westwood Cheeky Alice Eau de toilette - I love this perfume, every time I use it it makes me smile (geek). I have had this for over a year now because I like to use different perfumes on a daily basis. I would buy this again, or I would like to try the Naughty Alice Eau de Toilette also.  

Vichy Aqualia Thermal cream - I bought this in France and it's a teeny bit cheaper here than it is in the UK. My skin was feeling really dry and the pharmacist said that this would sort it out! It definitely did! Also, I have extremely sensitive skin and this didn't irritate it at all. I won't be buying this again in the foreseeable future, though, because I want to try as many French skincare brands as possible whilst I am out here - I will definitely keep this one in mind though!

Have you tried any of these products? What did you think?

xxx

Roses are Red.

Hello!

Whether you actually have a date or heading out with friends, all things Valentine’s Day related will be pretty difficult to avoid this Thursday! So in preparation, I thought I would do a little round up of my favourite red lipsticks which I think would be perfect for whatever you have planned.

Lacura Beauty Lipstick in Classic Red (review here) - £1.99 - unfortunately this range isn't available on the internet but it's available in all Aldi stores, and there are quite a few dotted around! Really great if you are on a budget.

Revlon Super Lustrous Matte Lipstick in Really Red - £7.49 - available at Boots. This is a really great, long-lasting lipstick. The colour is really deep so if you are into your red lipsticks this is a must-have!

MUA Lipstick in shade 1 - £1.00 - available here. This is again a great lipstick if you are on a budget. The colour is more of a purpley-red which is a nob towards the plum lipstick trend. 100% recommend, and I look forward to trying the different shades in the collection.

And finally, Revlon Lip Butter in Macaroon - £7.99 - available here. There has been so much hype about these on different blogs recently so I'm sure everyone is familiar! Not strictly speaking a lipstick but I love it so I added it into the round up. I think this would be a great option if you aren't usually a lipstick wearer, or you are suffering from dry lips due to the cold weather/ central heating combo.

 As always, I would recommend that you apply lip liner around your lip line and then fill in your lips before applying lipstick - this well help it last longer. Also, Lipcote is amazingggg, but it only works with matte or quite dry lipstick formulae.

I am single this year so no hot date for me - I'm staying in and watching Dexter with my friends. What are your plans for Valentine's Day?

xxx

John Greed Jewellery's Valentine’s Day Blogger Challenge - I would pick you anyday...

Hi guys!

 

I noticed that John Greed Jewellery was running a competition, requesting bloggers to draw up their Valentine's Day wish lists and I got very carried away - I'm sure I'm not the only one who would love to receive a nice bit of jewellery to open on Valentine's Day (or any other day for that matter!).

 

The challenge is to create a mood board of pieces from the John Greed website, using at least 4 different pieces totalling no more than £250. The best part is that the winner, which will be announced on the 14th, will actually win all of the items they include in their post. Wowwww.

 

 

I created a romantic and elegant look using pieces which compliment each other, without being over powering. I would team this look with a simple LBD and heels, to really let them shine through.

 

I wanted to centre the look around a classic pearl necklace and I chose the Talia Classic Large White Silver Pearl Necklace, priced at £99, made with hand selected freshwater pearls. This is just so simple and gorgeous and brings to mind classic beauties such as Grace Kelly - I think every girl should own a pearl necklace!

 

I love the simplicity of the Virtue London 9ct Gold Buttercup Stacking Ring (£80). I chose this because one of the only pieces of jewellery I wear every single day is a small gold band, studded with three small diamonds. Therefore, this is extremely in-keeping with my personal style, and I can imagine how lovely this would look teamed with my existing ring.

 

To continue with the flower theme, I chose this beautiful Pilgrim Marguerite Gold Plated White Leather Wrap Bracelet. I think it compliments the ring and necklace perfectly, incorporating elements of both into the one bracelet. I am astonished that this hand-crafted beauty is only £29.99! This would be perfect for spring and adds a touch of girly glamour to any outfit.

 

Finally, I settled on these Martine Wester Gold Plated Pearl and Cubic Zirconia Bow Drop Earrings, which are priced at £21. They are just so cute! To showcase these to perfection, I would wear my hair in a high ponytail or bun.

 

What do you think of my picks? What would you choose from the John Greed Jewellery website? If you have also entered, please feel free to leave your links below as I would love to see what others have chosen.

 

xxx

 

P.S. Find details on the challenge and how to enter here.



KanziLingua - blogging community for language learners

Hey guys, this is just a quick post to tell you all about another blog I write for. As you may know, I study French at university and I'm currently on my Year Abroad in France (and I'm having the best time!).

 

Cathedral in Tours

 

KanziLingua is a blogging community for language learners so there are loads of posts my loads of people learning different languages - from French, to Mandarin and even Sign Language.

 

 

If you study another language, if you are interested in learning a new language or if you are just a fan of different cultures, I would recommend you check out this site!

 

 

xxx

 

P.S. You can find my posts here.

February Wishlist

 

Hey lovelies! This month my wishlist is predominantly not to do with beauty, but I thought I would share with you (just in case there is someone who wants to treat me?... no?).

 

 

 

 

1. Marc by Marc Jacobs Orange Watch - £135 - available here. I love it! I'm not sure I can justify such an expensive watch at the moment though!

 

2. Coconut Oil! Any brand would do - I'm really keen to try it as a hair mask as I have heard it works wonders. I know it's available in loads of shops and online really cheap - the problem is I am living in France at the moment and I have only found one place that sells it and it was 12 euros... I think not.

 

3. Clarks Scent Eley sandals - £79.99 - available here. Clarks have collaborated with Eley Kishimoto, who have worked with the likes of Louis Vuitton, Alexander McQueen and Marc Jacobs, to create a lovely range of shoes for summer. Definitely worth checking out! The range hasn't actually gone on sale yet but I'm hoping it's soon!

 

What's on your wishlist this month? Comment with your links!

 

xxx

 

MUA Brow Kit review

Until a few months ago, I wasn't really bothered by how my eyebrows looked - obviously I plucked them like all girls but I definitely didn't see the point in filling them in. Also, when asking about brow kits, I had always been recommended the Benefit Brow Zings. While Benefit is a brand I admire and love, at £22.50, the product was far too expensive for me to buy on a whim and not knowing whether I would like it or use it. However, I was told that the MUA Brow Kit is pretty similar and at £3.50 it was a much more affordable product so I thought I would give it a go!
 

  

 (Forgot to take a picture of the product on it's own before use and it looks awful now so this will have to do - sorry!)

As you can just about see in the picture, the Brow Kit includes a set of small tweezers, an angled brush, two shades of brow powder, a lighter, highlighting shade and a setting gel.

I have to admit that I have only used the tweezers once and I find them too small, but they are a nice addition to the kit. I really like the large mirror and the stiff brush, which make application really easy.

I use the lighter of the two brow powders, even though my hair is on the darker side. I think once you apply the powder to your eyebrows it does appear darker than in the pan.  I don't really use the highlighting shade much though. 

Once applied, my eyebrows do tend to stay in place for the day but I do re-apply if I am going out in the evening.

I have had the kit since October and the shade of brow powder which I use and the setting gel are starting to run out, after almost daily use. 

The only downside I can think of is the size - with three powders, the gel and tools it is rather large. Also, seeing as I only use one powder and the gel, the rest is a bit redundant... it's a shame we can't buy the shades separately! (However, as this was the first time I bought the kit I am glad that it all came together because I think I would have bought the darker shade!).

Overall, such a great product and for £3.50 you really can't go wrong! 100% recommend, and will definitely be repurchasing.

xxx

MUA Brow Kit is available here.

Archive: NOTD - Essie 'Don't Sweater It'

As you know, I've just moved my blog over to Blogger (haha) so I thought I would post a little archive article - this is possibly my most viewed post! Also, I wear this nail varnish alllll the time so it's still current!

 

 

 

Having bitten my nails for years, I think I have finally stopped ( I have been bite-free for over a month and a half) and my nails are finally at a length where I can paint them! So, I'm pretty behind the times but Essie in 'Don't Sweater It' is the first Essie nail polish I own.

I absolutely love it - the fomula, the colour, the brush, everything! Obviously I'm a nail painting novice and I think I managed to do a pretty neat job ( yes?) because the brush was just the right size for my nails. I applied three coats but this is only because after having done two I did the dishes so I wanted to freshen my nails up a bit before I look the pictures - I think a base coat and two coats of Essie would suffice otherwise. The colour is a mauvy, mushroomy, grey which for me is the perfect neutral autumnal colour for the nails. I think 'Don't Sweater It' looks great paired with jewel colours such as deep purple and emerald green ( I wore a purple jumper today and I thought it looked so lovely with my nails!).

 

I will definitely be buying Essie polishes again - I already have my eye on 'Head Mistress' and 'Recessionista' from the same Fall 2012 collection. Essie nail polishes are available at www.essie.com priced at £8.50 and from Superdrug for £7.99 (after a quick look on the website, I don't think they have the Fall collection though). Also, Feel Unique sell the Fall Collection however they only have the shade 'Little Brown Dress' in stock.

 

xxx
 

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