New Love: Accessorize Makeup!

Every time I buy a new mascara, I tend to search for a new type/brand to try out. I'd stuck to MaxFactor for a while, but I really fancied a change, always thinking that there must be a better product out there somewhere!

So last week, I came across the Accessorize brand of cosmetics.. and I fell in love instantly! I have to admit, my attraction was purely to the packaging (at first), but I actually love the products!

Because of the gorgeous pattern, I purchased the Volumising Mascara, at £6.49.

For the product, and other mascaras out on the market, this doesn't seem too unreasonable. Unfortunately, most of their items aren't actually available online (Superdrug- or the Accessorize website), but they have a fantastic range in store- but they're not just a pretty face, I absolutely love the mascara!

Although I've had my Benefit BrowZings for years, and it's not even on its' last legs, once it's finished, I will definitely be trying the Accessorize Brow Palette, which appears to contain exactly the same product- and great brushes (I will keep you posted)!

Definitely a great up-coming makeup brand- and they seem to building up their product range every time I visit the store!

Don't forget you also get 10% student discount at Superdrug- check it out!

£1?!?!

  As I recently described my difficulties with the Cosmopolitan foundation brush, I returned this to Superdrug, only to find that I was able to exchange only.... No refunds! (Also, the lady was extremely rude- annoying).

So, whilst wandering round the shop looking at things to buy with my £6.99, I came across the MUA cabinet of makeup.

My housemate had recently purchased a few lipsticks from the brand, but I hadn't considered their cosmetics since I last used her nail polish (see earlier blog).

What I hadn't realised was that most items were £1, I had thought it was only the nail polishes!!

I came across a gorgeous lipstick, no.15, Juicy, just the colour I love; a pale, orangey coral colour!

I was really skeptical about how good it would be, but for £1 you really can't go wrong! 

But, I'm pleased to announce, it is actually REALLY GOOD! Unlike some cheap lipsticks where the colour is really difficult to transfer, the MUA lipstick goes on extremely smoothly, with an almost moisturising texture! I am in love, and this is my new favourite thing! (Since Topshop stopped stocking my fave lippy in Whimsical!)

Much to my surprise, the bottom also unscrews to reveal what I can only assume is a primer/balm! I have researched the purpose of this little hidden gem extensively, and I am yet to confirm what it actually is- any helpers?! 

Long story cut short, MUA lipstick, absolute bargain, I'm 100% going back for more!

Perfect for us students! 
(Available at most Superdrug stores.. and online: www.muastore.co.uk)

Foundation Brush Dilemma

I like to replace my foundation brush every few months- despite constantly washing and taking care of them.
I know I've blogged about the fantastic eco-tools set before, but this time I decided to invest in a different brand to give it a go- and boy did I regret it for a while.
I'd never seen a review on the COSMOPOLITAN brush collection (now I know why!), so decided to give the foundation brush a go. At £6.99, I guess you could say it is a reasonable price- not necessarily one of the cheapest or most expensive.
At first I thought this brush was, what can i say.... alright?! The bristles are not very firm, which isn't always a bad thing as it means the product can often be applied over a wider area.
After about the fifth use of the tool, I started to notice the bristles clumping together and also a few falling out. I never apply my foundation too thick, so to notice the bristles forming into one after only a small use of product was really, well, irritating!
It actually got to the point where I could no longer bring myself to use it- and referred back to my older brush (I will definitely be returning this).

The main reason for my annoyance was probably the fact that I had a massive dilemma whilst in the shop about what to buy! My other option had been the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush. At £8.99, I had chosen to go for the cheaper option- and REALLY regretted it!
So, putting my disappointment aside, I went and purchased the RT brush, and gosh am I impressed!

The shape of the brush is so innovative- a rounded head (in comparison to the usual flat type as seen on the cosmopolitan brush), which makes application amazing! You are able to use circular motions to work the product into the face- avoiding caking in certain areas. A multi-use brush, perfect for mineral, powder, liquid, mousse and gel products- truly one for all. I have now used the brush multiple times- and it's still in fabulous condition- no sign of bristles lumping together or product residue.

Lesson learnt- you really do get what you pay for!
I'll definitely be investing in the Real Techniques range once I have the 'dollar'!

£6.99 at Superdrug

£8.99 at Superdrug

MY NEW LOVE

So, despite pulling my leg at the gym yesterday (very annoyed), as I have mentioned in previous posts- I am really trying to keep fit and healthy this term at University! Eating the right foods, exercising and drinking plenty of water have been key on the agenda.
As I am sure many of you will understand, this is extremely difficult on a student budget- and it's so easy to reach for cheap convenient snacks like chocolate and sweets whilst reading laborious articles and research documents in the library!
Whilst at a friends a few weeks ago, she introduced me to 'Velvet Crunch' crisps. I have completely fallen in love with them!
At 84 calories per pack, and containing only 2 grams of fat, they are the perfect campus companion!
My favourite have to be the Sea Salt & Malt Vinegar Flavour, but Cheese & Spring Onion and Thai Sweet Chilli are yummy too!
At only £1.59 (Tesco) for 6- you can't really go wrong, all in-keeping with the student budget (and they're quite often on offer at £1!)

QUICK POST: LATEST H&M DISCOUNT CODES

Just quickly though I'd post the latest H&M discount codes I've come across:

0560- £5 off
1304- 25% off the most expensive item in the basket


x

Polar FT4F Heart Rate Monitor & Sports Watch

Since I've been back at University, I've tried really hard to get back into going to the gym, eating healthily and drinking lots of water! It often becomes quite difficult when I start to feel the pressure of lots of work to complete, but I try to do the best I can.

I've recently got into using the MyFitnessPal app on my iPhone, which allows you to count your days calories accurately by entering the food you have consumed into the diary- by either searching or scanning for an accurate result.

I absolutely love this app, as it easily sets you a calorie figure for a specific weight loss goal (calculated by taking into account your weight and height), and helps you to manage keeping this under control. 

I have been finding it really difficult to stick to my 1200 target, so as I have been attending the gym more regularly, I have been adding in my calories burnt to the calculations in order to ease the difficulty of my target. 

I NEVER trust the machines at the gym for an accurate calorie count, so about a month ago, I looked around to purchase a 'calorie counting watch.' After reading a few reviews, I established that the watch itself cannot actually give an accurate heart rate reading from the wrist alone, so in order to be more specific, it's best to look at products with a chest band.

With this in mind, I purchased the Polar FT4F Heart Rate Monitor and Sports Watch! I had read some really great things about this product online, so thought I'd give it a go- and I am so impressed!

Not only am I able to get an accurate reading of calories burnt in each session, but I am also able to monitor my heart rate to be working in my best fat burning zone.

Although I bought the watch to manage my calories better, I actually find it a huge motivation to go to the gym! Whilst I am working out, watching those calories add up really spurs me on to keep going- all my gym buddies out there, you should definitely give it a go! (Search around on eBay and Amazon for the best deals- it's really worth it!)

Lauren's Way

I've been using Lauren's Way Tan for quite a while now. As my family and friends would be sure to tell you, I'm a bit obsessed with trying any tanning product I can get my hands on!

What really attracted me to the range was the 'Darker than Dark' tan, as apart from Dark St.Tropez (which definitely turns out a little green!), I'd never really tried anything other than Medium colours. I would usually apply a few layers of any medium coloured product, as for nights out I really like to be quite a dark bronzed colour- and this can get a little annoying..and not to mention expensive!

I always apply my tan with a mitt- as although some tans wash off, I still find it impossible to remove the staining from the palms of my hands. Applying with a mitt allows you to achieve a nice smooth application and keeps it perfectly mess free!

n.b. Image taken from Twitter.

I use the mousse version of the Lauren's Way tan, purely because I have always used mousse and I know it sits well on my skin.
I found the colour perfect- a natural brown/gold tone- nothing too orange or fake looking! After one application there is a visible difference which is what I love most about this product! It stays on perfectly- dries quickly and doesn't transfer onto clothes easily.

This is definitely my new favourite tan!

Visit Laurens Way to buy yours now- they do a fantastic range of other beauty products too!

TOP 2 FALSE LASHES

I didn't start wearing false eyelashes until first year of uni, when I knew that mascara was just getting far too expensive to keep coating on every night I was going out- especially as a FRESHER! So, after a few years, I thought I'd write a review of my two favourite pairs for various different occasions- and it did take me quite a while to get used to putting them on properly!

NUMBER ONE: No7 Extreme Length Eyelashes (Style 20)

£7.50 at Boots

I actually only discovered these a few weeks ago when I was leaving for uni and thought that they were worth giving a try. The great thing about these is that the glue is clear! Unlike the blobby mess you can sometimes have when the glue left on the lash remains white (this always happens to me- I'm hopeless). They're also the perfect shape and size- reasonably small and short- so they look perfectly natural without having to chop and trim!

They may seem quite expensive- but when on offer (£3 off coupon), they're cheaper than the average pair anyway (these no7 vouchers are out around four times a year- so stock up!). I've used mine about 5 times now and they're still going- clearly well made!

NUMBER TWO: Eyelure Ultra Naturals Full 

£5.45 at Boots, Currently £3.66 at Superdrug

As you can tell from the previous pair, I much prefer the natural looking eyelashes which enable you to build volume and definition yourself with mascara and eyeliner. I've used this pair for about a year now, after trying many, many different eyelure variations! The only downside is that they only really last a few applications, but they are so easy to use!

Cleansing, Toning, Moisturising...

About a week ago, I posted an entry about a lovely day I'd had at the spa with my mum..
Whilst having the Mii makeup session which I spoke about, I also got many hints and tips about looking after my skin in general- before and after applying makeup.
I've had many people emphasise the important of cleansing, toning and moisturising to me in the past, but I'd always loved the convenience of a pack of face wipes and thought that they were so much easier!
So after receiving all the handy makeup tips I thought I should start looking after my skin before it gets too late.
I decided to just get some reasonably priced products- I've always used the Simple Range, so it seemed easy enough to just go for their products as I knew I'd used them in the past.
I love the routine, and to be honest it really doesn't take much longer than wipes!
I feel as though the quality of my skin has improved massively, although I did go through a period of patchy break-outs, it seems as though this was just my skin getting used to the products.
Every evening and morning, I use their eye-makeup remover, cleanser, toner and moisturiser- it feels great and I've noticed a great difference in my makeup application too!

REVIEW

As mentioned, I had to do a review on the book:
The Graduate Jobs Formula: How to land your dream career, Paul Redmond.

Like many of other third year students, this term is all about frantically applying for various graduate schemes and job opportunities. But it's all a lot more difficult that I originally thought.
It's not just a case of filling in personal details and attaching a CV- it's all about competency questions, thinking about what each company are looking for and of course.. the dreaded aptitude tests!

After filling out one application and being rejected- I definitely knew I needed to spend a bit more time thinking about all of this in more depth. There are so many resources with helpful advice online- but looking around- it led me to Paul Redmond's book.

In the current job market, it's obviously important to be on top of your game and after reading a few reviews online- I knew I had to purchase the book and give it a go.

THIS IS SO USEFUL!
It has absolutely everything you could want to know about entering the big wide world! From CV writing, applications, recruiter strategies, interviews, assessment days, psychometric tests and hints and tips for online resources. Although certain areas of the book state what might be fairly obvious to a third year student, this book is undoubtably helpful for all.

To be honest, I wish I'd had this book in Year 12/13- it really sets you up for what to do when choosing universities/subjects in order to pursue your certain career.

The book was published in 2010 and I am so surprised it isn't more popular and that I hadn't heard of it before.

YOU ALL HAVE TO BUY THIS!

Buy now at Amazon!

REVIEW COMING SOON

The Graduate Jobs Formula: How to land your dream career, Paul Redmond!

EcoTools Makeup Brushes and No7 Brush Cleanser

I fancied doing a blog post about this fantastic set of EcoTools brushes.

I purchased these around May/June last year, and they are still going strong! Compared to other brushes on the market, they are reasonably priced and are often on offer at many retailers.

I have replaced my foundation brush twice as I often find for hygiene reasons it's great to do this (and because they aren't too expensive). But, to be honest, I really don't rate their eyebrow brush and comb- I have had two of these over the period of a few months- but the comb falls apart and the bristles fall out (DO NOT BUY!).

I make sure I cleanse these brushes regularly, and I've found the No7 Makeup Brush Cleanser a fantastic reasonably priced non-greasy product to use- MUCH better than the mac comparison!

I definitely think that this is the key to keeping your brushes lovely for longer!

£8 at Boots

Absolutely SensationNail!

Like a few of my other recent posts, I have been meaning to write about the SensatioNail nail system for a while!
I've had this machine for around 6 months now and I've been using it non-stop! At £69.99 for the starter kit, I was a bit hesitant to invest incase it didn't quite live up to my expectations.. Luckily, my mum decided she would also like to try it- so we ended up sharing the price- not so bad after all!
This kit is AMAZING! If you think.. you'd pay £30 for a good gel nail polish application, you basically earn your money back in two sittings!
The look is fantastic- shiny, professional nails that are so easily done (just like normally painting your nails- except with a UV light). One of the great things about this is you have the freedom to do both your toenails and fingernails, which would undoubtedly cost you a bomb in any decent salon.
I've even done a few friends nails for summer balls etc., and it's great. They have a huge range of colours (see here)- from pastels, to neons, vibrants, french manicure and clears and they will last forever (I've included a small image of my growing collection)...
The kit comes with an easy step by step guide too- no trouble at all.
Check the website too, they're ALWAYS doing fantastic bundle offers on colours and starter kits!
The process can damage your nails, so make sure you routinely use cuticle oil and give your nails a few days break with a treatment polish.
Enjoy!
http://www.sensationail.co.uk/
Also available at Boots and other retailers.

Pink Chiffon

Tag me Taupe

Heirloom Lilac

Pink Bouquet

Colgate Max White One

For the last few weeks, I've been testing out the new 'Colgate Max White One'. It was on half price offer, so I thought why not! I have to say, at the usual RRP price of £3.99, this seems rather too expensive just for a toothpaste! £1.99 still seemed quite a lot for me, when toothpastes are usually on such great offers (but, don't worry, it seems to always been on offer somewhere!).

I'd actually heard great things about the toothpaste! Teamed with the fact that I had always desired whiter, brighter teeth, meant that I had to try it.

I should have probably pictured my teeth to track the progress, but, it doesn't actually seem necessary with the results I got!


Colgate claim:

Colgate MaxWhite One with White Accelerator micro-crystals contains ingredients similar to those used by dentists.

It safely removes stains and prevents tartar build-up to help your teeth become one shade whiter in just one week.

Continued use will help keep them whiter for longer!

My dentist has always told me to avoid using whitening toothpaste as it can damage the enamel- so I'd be really interested to hear any professional opinions on this product!

Within a week, I definitely saw a visible difference!

I highly recommend- I've even got my mum hooked too!

(I use the 'Active' version: Buy it now at Boots and receive a free Nails Inc Nail Polish!)

Bee Strong!

I've been saving up a few posts that I have composed over the weekend and hadn't had time to submit!
Every spare minute I get, I'm typing up a blog post as a note on my phone ready to publish!

I'd been meaning to write this post for a while! About a month ago I started to use the new Herbal Essences: Bee Strong.
I'd been a massive fan of Hello Hydration for quite a long time, so I was a bit hesitant to swap to something different..

But actually, I'm converted! Not only does it smell absolutely divine, it gives the same moisturising effect as Hello Hydration, but without masking and making the hair feel heavy. I hate that just washed weighty hair that won't do anything- but this is great! I'm really looking forward to trying out their range of intensives!

Definitely one to try!

Shampoo/Conditioner: £3.89/400ml
Other products available!

Buy it now!

SPA DAY!

I HAD to write a post about this amazing product I discovered the other day!

I went for a lovely spa visit with my mum for a nice mother daughter day before I head back to university! We've been quite a few times and always have such a nice time chilling by the pool, going in the jacuzzis and having a yummy lunch. Quite often, we treat ourselves to a massage or a facial, but this time we decided to do something different- a Mii makeup lesson!

Me and my mum are such PRODUCTS fans, we love trying the latest things on the market- and we were really intrigued to try the Mii brand, especially as neither of us had ever tried mineral makeup!

We sort of expected a small session explaining how to apply and use the different items, but it ended up lasting around an hour and a half! We were taught how to best use each individual product and which colours would best match our skin tones and colouring. We went through foundation, bronzer, concealer, eyeshadows and also cream pencils- it was really great!

But, the one product which really stood out to me was their Heavenly Bronzing Gel. I have never seen anything like this before- a light gel which adds such a nice colour and glow to the skin. I am always fake tanning, so this instant bronzed look was just up my street, no faffing around with anything before I go to bed. At £18.50, the 30ml bottle is quite pricey- but so versatile! You can apply straight to the face prior to your base (I use a large brush- but you can also use fingertips), mix with foundation or moisturiser to darken your look or even wear alone! The product is also SPF15, which is great for protecting your skin all day everyday!

Honestly one of the best products I have EVER used- so simple. I have been using now for around a week and I have had no break outs or problems! Definitely one to try- the consultant said her bottle had lasted her over a year!

£18.50 (30ml) - One colour suits all: Goddess

Mii Cosmetics

Montagne Jennesse Blemish Mud!

So, I know I haven't blogged for quite a long time, but I thought.. no better comeback than to tell you all about my new amazing discovery!

I've just had a long summer break from university and I am heading back to my studies in a few weeks! I've been really busy working, so I haven't really had a chance to post my reviews and ideas, but now I do!

I've got so many things to tell you all about, but I am just dying to write a piece on a product I discovered a few days ago... Montagne Jennesse Blemish Mud!

Now I'm sure you've probably all heard of this brand as it is sold by various big health and beauty retailers but I'd never seen this particular product before. I'm always buying face masks, especially at uni as it's such a relaxing treat lying in the bath on a Sunday evening with a fruity face mask.

Recently.. I don't know whether it's been the hot weather or the amount of sweets and chocolate I have been eating, but my skin has been awful! I absolutely hate having bad skin and will always try my best to find some form of solution each time, whether it be toothpaste or tea tree, you name it, I've tried it!

Whilst I was browsing Missguided online (as you do....), I was purchasing two dresses, which very annoyingly came to £39.98 (FREE POSTAGE WAS £40)! This lead me to the beauty section where I discovered this gem! I thought perfect, that'll do it.. not really feeling very excited about the product at the time.

I experimented with this yesterday, it smells absolutely gorgeous and is so easy to apply with great coverage- I think you could even get two masks out of one packet! I had several blemishes around my chin and forehead, and after wearing the mask for around 10-15 minutes, I felt a visible difference in both swelling and colour when removing with a warm cloth! The mask contains both Aloe Vera, Witch Hazel, Dead Sea Salt, Clay and Willow all excellent ingredients to fight spots, soothe and aid inflammation.

I have to say, a day after, my skin is looking a lot more radiant and fresh and my blemishes appear to be drying up and on their way out.

I don't think there is a perfect, instant solution to clearer skin, but this product certainly helps! I am going to continue to use this around once a week- I'll let you know how I get on!

Get yours for 99p:
http://www.missguided.co.uk/catalog/product/view/id/88283/s/blemish-mud-face-mask/category/545/

Been rather busy

Been rather busy since my last post! Months and months of coursework have meant I really haven't had the opportunity to Blog!

I aimed to begin both at Christmas and Easter, but like everything... it never happens!

Now exam time is looming once again, it seems fitting to start- simply to avoid revision!

HERE GOES!