Check out my ebay items!

Hey guys!

Just a quick post to tell you I'm selling a few bits on ebay - Mainly clothes but a few pairs of shoes on there too. Brands include Topshop, Asos and Motel!

Let me know if you would like to make an offer off-ebay in the comments, or by emailing me at lipsticksandheels@gmail.com :)

My ebay listings : here.

xxx

Recent Empties.

Helllooo.

I've been saving up these empties for ages, and now I'm having to split them into a couple of posts as I have too many haha. Typical.

Yea.. please excuse the terrible picture, I took it in a massive hurry and it's really terrible. Ah well. If anyone has any photography tips, let me know!

(l-r)

Batiste Dry shampoo in  Tropical and Blush - the tropical one is pleasant enough but I wouldn't buy the Blush one again as the scent is far too sweet and overpowering for me. It works really well, though.

got2b Guardian Angel - I liked this. I'm not sure if it really protected my hair as I had let my hair get into terrible condition anyway. I would buy again as it's pretty cheap, but I have a hear protector that I got in a Birch Box last month so I'm not on the market for it.

L'Oreal Elvive Triple Resist Shampoo - I bought this in France, hence the French bottle. This was supposed to help hair that has a tendency to fall out, however I think this is wishful thinking! It's a nice enough shampoo, though.

Le Petit Marseillais White Clay and Jasmine conditioner - Absolutely love this! Would 100% buy again and definitely recommend if you're going to France. Read my review here.

Caudalie lip conditioner - Lovely lip balm, nourishing and moisturising. I wrote a review on it here.

Revlon lip butter in Peach Parfait - I think the entire world has a Revlon lip butter. I really like the formula and this is possibly my fave colour in the range. I do think they are a tab expensive as they aren't all that long lasting on the lips, however I would buy again as it's the perfect middle between boring lip balm and a full on lipstick.

(front row)

La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 Soothing Repairing cream - Great multipurpose cream, really sorted out my dry skin in the winter! I do wish I'd bought the larger tube. Read more here.

So have you tried any of these products, what did you think?

xxx.

How to : motivate yourself to work from home.

Hiya guys and girls!

This is the first in my upcoming series of 'how to' posts - a series which will probably consist of mainly lifestyle/advice posts but maybe some tutorials or something too. Who knows! Anyway, I got the idea for this post earlier today when talking to a friend. As you may know, I am currently doing a PR internship and today I had to work from home. So, I had to wake up at 8:30 and get ready for work but not actually leave the house... My friend said that she would find this pretty difficult, but I think one thing I've picked up at uni is how to motivate myself to do work without actually going to work! So here is what works for me:

1. Get dressed - I know this sounds stupid, but what I mean is, don't be tempted to just work in bed in your pyjamas. If you actually get up and get dressed, you will feel ready to start your day of revision or work.
2. Don't open Facebook/ Twitter/ whatever when you start up your laptop - treat it the same as if you were at work, you wouldn't sit there checking your personal newsfeed for half the morning would you? Obviously if your job involved social media then do open up your business ones, just avoid your personal ones!
3. Have a tea break - you may as well make the most of the fact that you are at home and make yourself your favourite drink without having to pay millions for a Starbucks one.
4. Do sit at a desk - when on the laptop I tend to lounge on the sofa, but sitting at a desk with my laptop, notebook and cup of tea really makes me feel like I'm ready for work!
5. Finish on time! - because you are at home, it's very easy to work for longer than you usually would, so make sure you finish any work or revision related emails or reading by the time you would usually finish work or uni. I cannot count the number of times I've carried on revision until waaaay past an acceptable hour.

So that's what helps me, have you got any tips?

xxx

(Photo credit here.)

Sample Sunday - Origins GinZing Energy-boosting moisturiser.

Hiya!

How are you? This is suuuuper late but I thought I'd do a Sunday Sample post seeing as it's sunday, and I used a sample-sized product today. Makes sense, right? 

This week's sample is by a brand I've never used but have heard a lot about - Origins. The reason I haven't used it is because it is a but out of my price range as I do generally try and use budget skincare and make-up seeing as I am still a lowly student. So, when Adrienne over at The Sunday Girl (do check out her blog, she's one of the reasons I got into blogging!) pointed out on her blog facebook page that Boots were giving away samples of the Origins GinZing Energy-boosting moisturiser, I jumped at the chance. 

As you can see, I got a 1.5ml sachet. I've used around half this morning, and completely forgot about it the evening so I've got enough for another application left for tomorrow morning. Now, although the product is recommended for both AM and PM, because of the invigorating orange scent (hence the 'Energy-boosting'), I would personally use it in the morning to really wake me up. It doesn't have an SPF in it, so if this is something you're after then check out the rest of the Origins range to check out their day moisturisers which have SPFs. I don't mind this as I'm using a CC cream with SPF in it, and apparently layering them makes them less effective. Don't quote me on that, it's just something I heard!

Overall I would recommend this to a friend, however I don't think I will be buying it myself anytime soon as I already have a moisturiser which I quite like so I'll be using that up before I buy anything I think! This cream actually isn't as expensive as I thought Origins would be though, so I would consider buying this when I'm on the market for a new moisturiser!

What's your favourite Origins product?

xxx

Origins GinZing Energy-boosting moisturizer is available at Boots priced at £23 for 50ml.

Internship update!

Hey beauties!

I thought I would try something new and write regular updates of my work experience at Evelyn PR. Let me know if this is something you guys are interested in - I know I like reading stuff like this but everyone is different! 

Evelyn PR is a boutique PR agency run by Sarah specialising in the beauty sector, which is great as it's something I'm already interested in. With it being a small company, the position is unpaid (however, you will find that in the PR sector, a lot of internships are unpaid - it's just so competitive!). Luckily, I've been working all year in France and I of course have my student loan, so this isn't a problem for me. I would say that if you are serious about PR, be prepared to take opportunities such as this - the experience you will gain far outweighs the lack of pay! 

Anyway, I started last Monday so I've been working for just over a week now and I'm really enjoying it. Another benefit of working at a small company is that I've had the chance to do more of the 'important' things, such as emailing journalists and clients, and writing press releases! Last week started off with a client meeting, and I met the owner of one of the brands we do PR for. It was great to see the brainstorming and planning which goes into organising events. For the rest of the week, I worked with Sarah on promoting this particular event (it's huge!), as well as writing a few pieces of copy for magazines on another brand. So far this week, I've written a press release with the help of Sarah. Hopefully I'll be sending this out over the coming weeks and it would be really exciting to get some coverage from that, too.

Today, another girl joined us for work experience and by some miracle we are both bloggers, and both go to university in Birmingham - small world. However, this also makes me realise how there are lots of similarly experienced and qualified people out there. This is something we should all keep in mind for when we are job-hunting.

So, that's a quick summary of what I've been up to. Let me know if you have any questions or if there's anything else you guys would like to know. 

xxx

P.S. Feel free to check out Evelyn PR, and we have a twitter too : @evelynprteam

Life Update - Back in England!

Hey guys!

So it's been a while (understatement)! I don't know why I haven't blogged in so long - I think it's just because I was so busy for the last month in France, and then I was feeling veeeryyy down in the dumps once I got home. Don't get me wrong, I love home but compared to all the travelling, easy work and packed schedule, back to reality is nowhere near as exciting.

I started work experience at Evelyn PR on Monday, and I'll be working with the lovely Sarah part time for most of the summer, hopefully! It's really great to be doing something that I enjoy and can get stuck into. I'm still going to look for another part time job for the summer as I like being busy!

Hopefully now that I'm in a proper routine, I can finally get back into a proper blogging schedule and post every other day like I used to.

How have you all been?

xxx.

Guest Post - Spring Trends by Grace over at Belle Mode.

Hey! Today's post is a lovely fashiony one, by the lovely Grace over at Belle Mode, do check out her blog!

Hello everybody, I am Grace and I blog on over at Belle Mode. Today I am taking over Alexandra's blog, Alexandra kindly asked me if I would like to do a guest post on her blog so I said of course!  As I am a fashion blogger I have a spring trends post for you all. Ill be showing you some of the trends that are around this season and some pieces. 

Monochrome.

River Island Style Tip ' Stripes, graphic and geometric prints transform a black and white palette, with a touch of cobalt blue or red will add an unexpected colour pop'

Here are some monochrome pieces...

1)  Blue Mesh Dress,  River Island £35.00

2) Graphic Treggins, Topshop £28.00

3) Monochrome Maxi Dress, Boohoo £18.00

1) Skater Skirt. River Island £28.00

2) Geometric print blouse, River Island £25.00

3) Striped tube skirt, Topshop £22.00

I really love this trend and actually own the blouse in the second collage.

White

River island style tip 'Pair white with neon accents for a fresh colour combo that's bound to get you noticed'

Here are some pieces...

1) White peplum jacket, River Island £45.00

2) White denim dungarees, Topshop £38.00

3) Neon Sheer Vest, Lavish Alice, £7.50

4) White Snake Shoes, River Island. £50.00

I love how adding a neon or a bright to a white outfit can add definition to the outfit.

 Western

Here are some picks...

1) Western ankle boots, River Island. £55.00

2) Cream embellished playsuit, River Island, £60.00

3) Pink floral print frill crop top. River Island. £25.00

I love this trend. It will be very nice to wear in the warm summer months and on holiday.

These are just 3 of the trends that are in fashion this season but there are many more! I hoped you enjoyed reading this post.

I would love to pop over to my blog. Thank you Alexandra for letting me take over your blog today!

Thank you.

Grace xx

A bit of a different post - Ted Talk by Steve Jobs.

Hello!

This is a completely different post to usual, and I would also like to apologise for the fact that my blog has been majorly quiet this last week. My time in France is quickly running out and I have been so busy trying to profit from the time I have left that I just haven't had the time to sit down and write. 

One of my friends is completely obsessed with TED Talks, and plays them to me at any opportunity (not that I mind as they are extremely informative and eye-opening). 

For a bit of background, one of the units I have had to teach at school this year is called 'Myths and Heroes', and a lot of my students said that Steve Jobs is a hero. Now I do not agree with this, but he was a huge success during his lifetime, so obviously he was doing something right, right?!

I'm constantly worried about what I'm going to do with my life, after university, so this speech is great for reminding me that even one of the richest, most successful men in the world did not know what to do with his life when he was at university (so much so that he dropped out!).

So here goes, I recommend you watch this video!

Also, check out the TED Talks website, there's loads of great stuff on there.

xxx.

Sample Sunday - Giorgio Armani Acqua di Gioia perfume review.

Hey guys, how are you?

I missed last Sunday's Sample Sunday post because I was away on holiday and didn't have time to schedule a post before I went, but all back to normal now! Today's product is a perfume, which I think are quite hard to review because it all comes down to the scent, which I can't really send over the internet... unless you fell for Google's April Fool's Day prank? But anywayyyy... the perfume sample I've been using is Giorgio Armani Acqua di Gioia Eau de parfam. 

So this is a 1.5ml sample I received with a recent makeup purchase, and although 1.ml doesn't sound that much, I've used it pretty much everyday this week and there is still plenty left - obviously, unless you drown yourself in perfume, a spritz or two really isn't too much. I've visited The Perfume Shop page for this perfume, and I can definitely smell the jasmine coming through - which I'm loving, just in case you missed my last conditioner review! It really is a lovely, fresh spring/ summer fragrance and I'm glad I have come across it in sample form as Giorgio Armani perfumes aren't something I've tried before. I would definitely consider buying the full-size version once I run out of my Chanel Chance.

Have you tried this perfume before? What are your fave S/S smells?

xxx.

France Alert! - Le Petit Marseillais White Clay and Jasmine conditioner review.

Bonjour mes petits pois!

I thought a French intro would be all the more suitable today as I'm writing a quick post about a French product - sooooo I know the majority of my readers live in the UK and therefore can't get this product, I thought I would write this review as a heads up, just in case any of you have a cheeky Parisian weekend coming up haha. The product is Le Petit Marseillais White Clay and Jasmine conditioner.

The main thing I absolutely love about this conditioner is the scent - it's just like a Dior perfume my mum uses (Diorissimo, perhaps?). It makes showering a dreammmm and believe me with the awful excuse of a bathroom I have, it's a much welcomed product haha! The scent isn't too overpowering though, meaning that it doesn't linger too much after rinsing and doesn't interfere with perfume. 

The formula is luxuriously thick, and it really coats the hair very well, and detangles it, too. I can feel the difference in my hair as soon as I put it on - it really does get rid of a lot of knots in the lengths. Which is great because my hair is soooo long at the moment. 

I'm not sure if I can make a comment about whether it has greatly affected the condition of my hair (above the usual level) because I am in need of a haircut at the moment so my ends are horrendous and I doubt there is any conditioner on the planet that would salvage them! But, this is a great, inexpensive, everyday conditioner and if you are after a great smelling and luxuriously feeling product on a budget (and happen to be in France) then definitely pick this up!

I would also recommend you try the other products by Le Petit Marseillais - they have shampoos, conditioners, shower gels and soaps, and they all come in gorgeous scents!

Have you ever tried anything by Le Petit Marseillais?

xxx.

P.S. This conditioner, along with other Le Petit Marseillais products, is widely available in all supermarkets and some pharmacies and department stores in France.

Archive - L'Oreal Collagen Filler Lip review.

Hey guys!

So today's article is actually an archive article from my old blog! Hope you enjoy.

 

I have wanted to try this product out for ages having seen adverts for it on TV (who doesn't want fuller lips?!) but always thought it was a bit expensive seeing as I was a bit dubious as to whether it would actually do anything. But a few weeks ago I was browsing TKMaxx and saw it for only £4 so I thought why not give it a go!

I have been using L'oreal Paris Collagen Filler Lip for about 3 weeks now, morning and night. The product consists of two creams: one for around the lips and one for the lips. You apply the Anti-Feathering Cream around your lips and gently dab it into the skin, and then you use the Plumping Serum on the lips. The Anti-Feathering Cream is very light and absorbs very quickly, which is great as no-one has time in the mornings to wait for heavy creams to absorb! The Plumping Serum is a little bit thicker, but still absorbs really quickly and has a lovely moisturising effect on the lips.

As you can see, the applicators are really well designed making the product easy to use - you don't even need a mirror! It's probably one of the reasons I have actually used it everyday.

Right, so has it actually worked though? I haven't really got any lines around my lips as I'm only 21, so I suppose there wasn't really much for the product to do in the first place. Apart from the fact that my lips do feel like they are in better condition due to the moisturising effect, I am sad to say that my lips and the surrounding area haven't changed much. However, I think I would give this product a go again in a few years when I might have more wrinkles as I think it would be a fairer test.

I look a before and after picture, can you see any difference?

I would love to read a more positive review of this product, anyone written or seen one?

xxx.

The product is available here priced at £13.99 - or maybe you'll find it in your local TKMaxx too!

(Another...) NOTD - Sephora in Where's My Purse?

Bonjour!

I had a look at my post views the other day, and a lot of my NOTD/ nail varnish reviews seem to be pulling in the most readers and comments, so I'm taking this as a sign that you guys like reading them? Anyway, I've been majorly busy so I haven't had time to photograph anything so NOTDs are the easiest thing to do I think. So as you know, I'm living in France at the moment (only a month or so left, booooo!) so of course I've made a few trips to Sephora, and I picked up one of their own-brand nail varnishes in shade L23- Where's My Purse? I'd been after a nice nude shade for a while - I think it's great for when you haven't got the time to paint your nails properly. It's just a lovely neutral.

I would describe this shade as a milky tea colour. I personally hate milky tea (and milk in general) but I'm loving the colour! I think it's really classy and simple, making it very easy to wear in any season.

I'm very disappointed with the formula, though. It's obviously a very sheer colour so I had to apply three coats to achieve a nice level of coverage - no problem with that as my fave Ciate varnish also takes three coats to look good. However, this varnish started peeling off in large pieces after about a day, not great! What's worse is I've actually bought two Sephora varnishes for a friend, so if she does a post on them we will see what she thinks! Overall, the range is very affordable to I probably would buy a few more colours, but as least now I know what the expect wear-wise.

What's your favourite nude? Have you tried Sephora varnishes?

xxx.

P. S. Remember you can also 'Like' my blog on Facebook - here - and keep up-to-date with posts on there!

Sample Sunday - Dior Capture Totale Eyes Essential.

Happy Sunday, readers!

To carry on with my 'Sample Sunday' series, I'm reviewing a sample of Dior Capture Totale Eyes Essential Eye Zone Boosting Super Serum. 

I received this sample with a purchase of a perfume a few months ago, and have been using it on and off since. The bottle doesn't actually state how much product is in the sample, but it's actually a fair amount, especially seeing as I usually use a tiiiiiny amount for each eye - a little goes a long way! It's a lovely eye cream actually and doesn't irritate my eyes one bit, which is a miracle haha. The texture is very luxurious and I can definitely feel the moisturising effect around my eyes more so than with a cheaper or thinner formula cream. However, the price tag is a hefty £49 for 15ml, and although  I do love this product, I don't think it's something I can afford to buy seeing as I am a student... once I have a real job I will definitely consider buying this though!

Do you use an eye cream? What's your favourite?

xxx

Available at Boots priced at £49 for 15ml.

The Procrastinating Beauty Blogger Tag.

Hello! I was tagged by the lovely Millie over at Hidden Beauty, do make sure you check out her blog.

1. Name a beauty regime that you rarely do.

Hmmmm, I can't think I can't think. I suppose I am rather bad at moisturing my body usually, I only get around to it like once a week...

2. Is washing your makeup brushes something you do regularly? 

I wash them about once a week, depending on usage! I don't wear a lot of make-up during the day (or nothing that requires brushes anyway) so if I don't do anything exciting, I might not use my brushes for two/ three weeks! Crayyy.

3. How long will you last with chipped nail polish?

If my polish chips, I end up peeling it off! So not very long, a couple of hours haha.

4. How long do you put off buying/replacing a beauty or nail polish product even if you need it? (i.e purchasing a new topcoat, or a new foundation etc.)

Usually if I know I'm running out of something, I go and buy it, especially if it's an essential like moisturiser or mascara. If it's something that I don't actually need, I can go months without buying it, eg. bright pink nail polish = not essential if you're running out of student loan!

5. What is your worst beauty habit?

I bite my nails - I always have and am trying to break the 'always will' part. At the mo, my nails aren't too bad, but I go through this cycle ALL THE TIME, so only time will tell!

6. Name something non-beauty related that you put off doing all the time?

That would definitely have to be laundry. I live at a school and I don't have a washing machine so I have to take a bus to get to a laundrette, and it's so much effort. I usually only have enough clothes/ underwear for like two days by the time I do actually go!

7. When going out somewhere, do you leave getting ready until the last minute or not?

I actually really enjoy getting ready - the longer the better. I would ideally spend the majority of the day getting ready for a night out or big event. Buuuut sometimes I don't have all day so it's a last minute thing.

8. Can you commit to spending bans?

I've never tried... I think I could potentially do it but I don't particularly have any reason to because I get student loan and I have my job! Maybe next year I will give it a try when it's back to uni.

9. How organized is your makeup and nail polish collection?

Pretty organised, nothing is labelled or anything but everything has it's place!

10. What is the longest amount of time you have gone without writing a blog post?

A month I think, I don't want to force a post that will be boring to read - what's the point?!

Rules:
1. Copy and paste these 'rules' into your post when you write it!
2. You must state that this tag was created by Laura from The Beau Bow.
3. You must thank the person who tagged you at the start of your post, follow them if you're feeling nice and at the end of your post state who you tag, and comment on their blog  to let them know you tagged them.
4. Title this post 'The Procrastinating Beauty Blogger TAG' .
5. Have fun! :)

There you have it! So I tag the following people - 

Shona from Fresh Beauty xox

Grace from Belle Mode

Hope from What Hopes Hearting

Clair from Bags, Bows and Boots! 

And of course, any of you lovely readers. Just link back to me if you do it!

Also, I made a Facebook page for the blog yesterday, so head on over and 'like' the page to keep up-to-date with all my posts! Click here.

xxx 

NOTD - Barry M Gelly Hi Shine Nail Paint in Blood Orange.

Hello! 

I've been doing so many NOTD posts recently, hope no-one minds! I usually have the worst nails so now that they are a bit longer, I am so proud and I want to show them off and paint them all the time haha.

So today's NOTD is Gelly Hi Shine Nail Paint by Barry M in Blood Orange. This is one nail polish which has been reviewed so much recently but I haven't seen this particular colour - I also love the Pomegranate one, definitely one that I need to add to my collection!

As you can see, it's a lovely, classic red which is exactly what I want - I love experimenting with nail colours but you can never go wrong with a classic red. It definitely lives up to the 'Hi Shine' name and the only reason I added a top coat was to increase longevity! I love the glossy finish - it's all very femme fatale, don't you think? Overall, I am actually a very big fan of Barry M polishes as they are purse-friendly and come in a great range of colours and finishes, and I will hopefully be adding more of the Gelly Hi Shine range to my nail polish collection.

Have you reviewed this nail polish? Leave me a link below! 

xxx

Sample Sunday - L'Oreal Extraordinary Oil.

Hello, how are you?

I realised recently that I have loaaaads of samples that I've received when buying other products, so I thought I would do a little 'Sample Sunday' series to use them up and do a mini review on each one. If you do something similar, leave me your links in the comments below. I have by no means come up with this idea so I'm not claiming it at all haha.

So the first product in this series is the L'Oreal Extraordinary Oil. I had a 3.5ml sachet from Red Magazine. I decided to use this because my hair is majorly long and the ends aren't in the nest shape at the moment, but as I have just booked two holidays, I can't really afford a haircut (especially seeing as hair salons are totes expensive here in France). So I cracked this out to try and remedy my ends a bit. Obviously 3.5ml only covered my ends, but then I'm not a massive fan of applying hair oil to the whole head anyway. 

 The product says that it's a versatile product and lists four different ways of using it - so before shampooing, as a masque, before styling, or as a finishing touch. As I said, my ends are in dire need of moisture so I decided to apply the oil and put my hair in a bun whilst I did some work for around 30mins. Then I shampooed and conditioned as usual. I should have taken pics of my hair afterwards, because I think it actually did make quite a bit of difference to the appearance of my hair - I had less frizzy bits and even the very ends were glossy and shiny. Overall, I will definitely be looking out for this product in the shops.

What's your fave hair oil? Have you tried this one?

xxx

L'oreal Extraordinary Oil - here - priced at £9.99

NOTD - Essie Mint Candy Apple.

Bonjour mes petits!

I've got a quick NOTD post for you guys today, and it's the lovely Essie Mint Candy Apple. I know it's probably not quite the season to be cracking out the pastels yet, but I won this particular polish in a giveaway in December and haven't had a chance to try it yet, so I couldn't resist. Also, so sorry but I can't remember whose blog the giveaway was on - if it was your blog, please do let me know as I would love to thank you again.

I think it's a lovely shade actually and can't wait to wear it in summer teamed with some nice pastel yellows, perhaps! I also bought an orange watch from eBay recently, and I think it would go with this polish rather nicely.

What are your favourite Essie colours?

xxx

Other ways to follow Lipsticks and Heels.

Hello! 

I'm sure you're all aware of this whole Google Reader disappearing act, so just in case GFC will do the same (and there is a lot of speculation), I wanted to update you all on other ways to follow me.. if you want to.

A lot of people have been saying that this all shows that the majority of bloggers are only in it for the followers - I don't think this is the case for the most part, definitely not for me. Basically, it's easier to keep up-to-date with posts if you are following, right?!

Anyway...

1. Bloglovin - you can click on the widget, or click here.
2. Hello Cotton - you can click on the widget, or click here.
3. Twitter - I always tweet all my latest posts @lipsticks_heels

xxx

Winter Essentials - Caudalie Hand Cream and Lip Balm review.

Hey lovelies!

I've been absent for longer than anticipated - just too much going on at the moment and I didn't want to write a rubbish post just for the sake of it, so apologies. However, I'm scheduling lots of posts for the next few weeks so should be able to keep on top of everything now. Bear with me!

Even though it's March, we are still experiencing winter weather, so I wanted to share my thoughts on these two fabulous Caudalie products I've been using recently. I bought them in France for 4,90e for both! I was looking for a lip balm but as this packet was only a euro more expensive, I decided to give it a go (that's how they get you, right?).

 

So this lovely packet contains the Caudalie Lip Conditioner and the Caudalie Hand and Nail Cream. So first of all the lip conditioner - it took me ages to figure out what it reminds me of but finally I remembered. I think it's very similar to Blistex Daily Lip Conditioner in texture and fragrance. However, I do feel that the tube is more convenient than the pot that the Blistex comes in! I do think that my lips are staying hydrated for longer since I have started using it. It also absorbs pretty quickly, meaning that I can apply it before lipstick and it won't affect the staying power at all. I would definitely buy this again!

The hand and nail cream is also a nice product. It smells lemon-y and has a lovely rich texture which again, absorbs quickly. I also like the 30ml tube because it's small enough to carry around in your handbag - I sometimes think that hand creams come in tubes which are too large for everyday use. I would probably buy this again, and definitely if I chanced upon a set like this!

What are your Winter Essentials? Have you tried any Caudalie products?

xxx

Both are available at feelunique.com

Sorry, readers!

Hey guys!

This is just a really quick post to say that I will be away on holiday (Prague, Vienna and then Budapest) until next Sunday, and being as disorganised as I am, I didn't manage to get any posts scheduled for this week. Hope everyone forgives me, and you have some hopefully fun-filled posts to read when I get back and update you on my travels.

In the mean time, what are you up to this week?

xxx

NOTD - Barry M Chameleon Colour Change in Chameleon Pink.

Hi my lovelies!

 

Hope everyone's good and ready for the weekend. Just a quick NOTD post today - I got the Barry M Chameleon Colour Change polish in Chameleon Pink as part of a Christmas present from my best friend, and this is the first time I've actually used it! Basically as the name suggests, the colour of the polish changes - so you apply a base coat (I used Barry M Basecoat, Topcoat and Nail Hardener All In One) and then you apply the Chameleon polish - it comes out as a glittery, metallic pink, which is actually lovely. My mum has used this a few times and just left it as it is, without a topcoat.

 

This is before the colour change!

 

I actually only applied one coat because I forgot to add another one but I think it actually looks fine - maybe I did apply a bit thicker than usual...

So then I applied a coat of Revlon Quick Dry Top Coat and the colour changes to a shiny, pearlescent, deep purple which is utterly gorgeous! I think it's a great winter colour and it's bang on trend.

 

After the colour change!

 

Ok so this polish is just a bit of fun really, there's no real point to the colour change thing! I think I will try doing some sort of pattern with the top coat and see how that turns out. Really, you are just getting two different colours for the price of one - and no-one's going to complain about that, right?

 

What do you think about the colour change effect?

 

xxx

 

Barry M Chameleon Colour Change - £3.99 - available here.

 



Review - La Roche-Posay Cicaplat Baume B5.

Hello all!

 

A couple of weeks ago, I posted a little French Pharmacy Haul and this is the first full review of one of the products I bought - La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5.

 

 

It is described as a 'soothing repairing balm' and it is said to speed up the natural repairing of the skin. As I have mentioned, my skin is pretty dry and I read an article here which said that this moisturiser was great for winter skin, so I thought I would give it a try. It doesn't contain any parabens or perfumes so this is a great sign that it at least won't irritate my skin!

 

I apply a this twice daily, so in the morning and evening. I have found that the moisturiser does in fact leave my skin feeling soft and moisturised for most of the day - obviously if it is particularly windy or cold, dry patches do appear towards the end of the day but this is not everyday. The consistency is very pleasant - it's thick, yet it absorbs relatively quickly which is great in the mornings (who wants a shiny, moisturiser face?).

 

I bought the smaller version, a 40ml tube. I think it also comes in an 80ml tube. I think the smaller size is more convenient to be honest, and seeing as I do a lot of traveling, I don't want to be carrying around huge amounts of skincare! I do think that this will still last me quite a while - as I said, I use it twice daily and I haven't made much of a dint in the bottle. I usually use a blob about the size of my middle finger tip (precise measurement I know...).

 

I do think that this is a great winter/ cold weather moisturiser, and I have noticed that my skin doesn't get that tight feeling in the mornings if I have used this the night before. I do however think that it might be a bit much in summer for everyday use BUT because of the repairing qualities, I will definitely be taking a tube to Morocco to apply if (probably 'when') I get sunburnt as I think it would have a lovely, cooling effect.

 

Have you tried the Cicaplast Baume B5? What other La Roche-Posay products should I try?

 

xxx

 

La Roche-Posay is available at Boots. I bought this one in France for around 8euros.

 



Weekend Update.

Hey lovelies, hope everyone has had a lovely weekend.

 

I just wanted to write a quick post to update everyone on what's been going on. This weekend has been eventful. Six members of my family are visiting me in uncharacteristically sunny Chalon-sur-Saone this weekend - so, that's my mum from England, and my grandparents, two uncles and aunty from Finland. I haven't seen anyone (bar the mother) since July 2012 so I've been looking forward to this for aaaages and it's been great.

 

My mum arrived on Friday evening and we had a lovely catch-up over a traditional French dinner of foie gras and onglet du boeuf ( a beef casserole type thing), accompanied my a bottle of wine and some Kir Royales ( Blackcurrent alcohol with sparkling wine - mmmmm!). On Saturday morning we went to near-by Dijon for a spot of shopping. Lovely.

 

The rest of the fam arrived on Saturday and we had a casual walk around the town before heading for dinner - a nearly 4 hour affair. I had snails (not for the first time) as did my mum, uncle and aunty. My grandparents and other uncle, however, refused - my uncle is notorious in our family for being a picky eater so it was a pleasant surprise when he said he enjoyed the meal he did order. Success!

 

Les escargots!

 

We also tried a local wine. It was one that I hadn't personally tried before, which is surprising seeing as my friends and I have made a considerable effort to try all the wines in the local supermarket...

 

 

Finally on Sunday morning we met up in the morning to have a look around the city's market, which always attracts a lot of people. It was great and my granddad even bought some dried donkey sausage to try! I'll report back...

Afterwards, we drove the scenic route to Beaune, which is a village very famous for its wines. This was a huge hit with everyone - we went to a museum called 'Les Hospices de Beaune' and an antiques fair which happened to be on.

For Sunday dinner, I decided to make raclette for everyone. This is literally just boiled potatoes, saucisson sec, and melted cheese. I served it with a quick salad and the obligatory baguette and cheese. Despite the simplicity, everyone loved it and we were stuffed. It was actually a really nice experience to be able to cook for my family like this and I would definitely like the chance to make something more adventurous next time!

 

Has anyone else ever tried snails? Or what's your favourite 'weird' food? I would love to hear from you so leave me a comment!

 

xxx

 

P.S. If any of my readers happen to be a language graduate in a language related job, I would love to ask you a few questions! Leave me a comment, tweet or email me! And please pass on my details if you know of anyone - it's for a post on kanzilingua.com

 

35 Questions.

1. Is your hair naturally curly or straight? - Straight!

 

2. What is your natural hair colour? - Well, I always say it’s ginger but apparently it’s red…

 

3. Do you dye it yourself or go to a salon? - I don’t dye my hair, I love my natural colour.

 

4. How often do you wash your hair? - Every other day, otherwise it’s a big grease ball. Not nice.

 

5. Do you wear the same style every day or change it? - I do usually just wear it down, but sometimes I experiment with a ponytail or bun.

 

6. Do you do your own mani/pedi or go to a salon? - I love getting pedis! But usually I do just do them myself, faaaar cheaper.

 

8. Do you polish your toes in the winter, too or just in the summer? - Always. I can’t remember the last time they weren’t red.

 

9. How long does it take to put on your makeup? - It depends how much time I have! If I only have 5 minutes then that’s all it takes. If I’m honest, the only makeup I wear on a daily basis is the MUA Brow Kit, Mascara and a nude lipstick. When I go out, it takes me longer, maybe half an hour but I like to do it slowly whilst listening to music etc so I could probably do it a lot quicker.

 

10. What do you do first? Face or eyes? - Well as I said above, I don’t usually wear anything on my face – but I would always but foundation on before eyes.

 

11. Do you "collect" makeup or just buy what you need when you need it? - Ermmmm, essentials such as mascara I buy when I’m running out. However if I see something I really want to try and I haven’t run out of the previous one I’m using, I will buy it (therefore I have three different mascaras on the go at the moment!).

 

12. How often do you wear false eyelashes? - I used to wear them a lot for dance shows and I think I personally look absolutely awful in them! However, other people look fab so I have no problem with them, they just aren’t for me.

 

13. Do you do a full face of makeup every day? - Nope!

 

 

14. Do you wear makeup when you are home alone (or with family)? - I do usually do my everyday makeup everyday because there aren’t many days when I literally don’t leave the house all day.

 

15. Will you leave the house without makeup? - Nope, although if I had to or I was feeling awful and couldn’t be bothered to put on makeup just to go back to bed after popping to the shop, I would (I’m getting a feeling some of these questions are the same just reworded…).

 

16. How many high end products do you have? - Not many, I have a few mid-range things and a couple of Chanel lipsticks but I’m a poor student.

 

17. How often do you wash your makeup brushes? - Weekly, but it does depend how often I use them.

 

18. Do you plan your OOTD every night or decide when you are getting dressed? - If I have to be up particularly early or I’m doing something spesh, I will plan my outfit. But day-to-day, no.

 

19. How often do you change your handbag? - Haha hardly everrr. I have three that I use regularly in the day.

 

20. What time do you get up & go to sleep? - It completely depends what I’m doing. I usually just get up in time to get ready for whatever I have to be ready for – so if I’m teaching at 8 I will get up at 7, but if I don’t start until 11,  then I won’t wake up until half 9/10ish. I go to bed depending on what time I have to be up!

 

 21. How often & when do you workout? - I go through phases where I swim every other day and do an exercise video afterwards, but at the moment I haven’t done anything since last week… Awful, I know.

 

22. Left-handed or Right-handed? - Right-handed.

 

23. How tall are you? - I’m not 100% sure, how bad is that? I’m like 5’8ish.

 

 

24. Do you speak a foreign language? - I’m Finnish so believe it or not, I speak Finnish. And I study French and am currently living in France, so I speak French.

 

25. How many pets do you have? - We have a Border collie called Sally. She’s so loving, I miss her!

 

26. How often are you on Blogger? - Daily.

 

27. Do you read the comments posted on blogs? - Yep, and I reply to each and every one.

 

 

28. Do you keep a list of products to try as you see other posts? - Yes, I do make a note. I bought a blogging notebook today so that will make it easier I think.

 

29. How did you come up with your blog name? - Ermmmm, it took me a while. I googled things like ‘what should I call my blog’ (cringe). Basically, I wanted it to convey what kind of stuff I would be writing about.

 

30. What kind of camera do you use for photographs? - I have a Nikon Coolpix, it’s not the best but it does the job!

 

 

31. How often do you clean your house? (Daily, weekly, other) - When it needs cleaning, so I do a bit every day! I’m a bit obsessed with having a clean bathroom though so that is daily.

 

32. What is your favourite colour? - Red!

 

33. What is your favourite beauty/fashion magazine? - I love Vogue but I don’t buy it often, I just read the website. I also love Glamour.

 

 

34. Do you swear? - Well, yea… not like all the time but the occasional profanity might slip out.

 

 

35. What are you doing with the rest of your day? -  have to plan a lesson for tomorrow… Reaaaaaaally can’t be bothered but it has got to be done!

 

 

I tag everyone! Let me know if you do this tag.

 

xxx