High End or High Street: Mascaras

Welcome the the first in a new series of High End or High Street posts - I'll be testing out three similar products of different values (£5 and under, £10 and under and £20 and under) and putting them to the test to see which one performs the best. Vouchercodes.co.uk set me the challenge of finding out whether or not buying higher priced makeup really makes a difference and I'll be giving my honest thoughts, no matter the price.

This time I'm testing mascaras. Mascara is the one product I never leave the house without and I must have tried dozens of them over the years. I'd say my holy grail mascara is either the YSL False Lash Effect or Tarte's Lights, Camera, Lashes and both of these definitely fall into the high end bracket. Experience has taught me that expensive isn't always better, but these two give me the dream lashes I always want.

For this experiment, I've picked three mascaras that claim to give lots of volume or a false lash effect. All of them are black in colour and none are waterproof.

£5 and under - Collection Big Fake Ultimate £4.19

This Collection mascara has a super large brush, and promises to give a false lash effect to lashes. The formula on this one is quite wet and really does take a bit of practice to make sure all of your lashes are covered. It went on a bit clumpy for me, and I ended up with quite spidery looking lashes, despite only using two coats. Lasting power was good, with no smudging or flaking, but even given the low price I don't think I'd buy this one again.

£10 and under - Maybelline The Mega Plush Volum' Express £7.99

One of Maybelline's newer offerings, this has a flexible brush that promises to add volume and catch every lash. I found the brush a bit odd - it definitely takes some getting used to, but it does a good job at adding a little volume to the lashes and doesn't get clumpy. I didn't experience any flaking, however by the end of the day my lashes looked less black and the curl they had in the morning had definitely started to droop. If you prefer more natural looking lashes, then this would be a good option for you, but it didn't give me enough of a false lash effect to want to buy it again.

£20 and under - Laura Mercier Faux Lash Effect £19

This has a very big brush that can make application a bit tricky. You need to be very precise in order to avoid smudging mascara on your lid by accident. The formula is a little wet, but gives extra big lashes without much effort at all. I love the final effect I get from this, however you do need to work quite quickly to layer it up as it dries pretty quickly. This lasted all day without any colour fade, flaking or drooping, but it does take some perseverance when you try to remove it - an oil-based remover is a must.

None of these mascaras was a stand out for me - at a push, I would pick the Laura Mercier as I think this gave the most impact to lashes, however, I'd rather repurchase my trusty Tarte mascara (around £15) than any of these!

I'd love to know what your favourite mascara is and what budget it is. If I'm missing any amazing bargains do let me know and I'll get testing!

An introduction to Lola makeup

I love finding new makeup brands and after being introduced to Lola at a recent press day, I feel like I've stumbled across a hidden gem!

Lola by Perse are a UK based brand which have recently launched into the beauty halls of larger Marks and Spencer stores. They promise professional quality makeup at reasonable prices and feature a wide selection of both classic and trend led shades. I've been testing out a range of their products - some from the new Spirited Away SS14 shades and some from the main line and have to admit, I've been really impressed.

Wearing the matte orange liquid lipstick

My absolute favourite of the bunch has to be the orange matte liquid lipstick. A terrifying orange colour in the tube, this has a handy brush applicator which dispense product as you twist the end of the wand. The lipstick has a thick liquid consistency, and applies to the lips slightly glossy before drying to a matte finish. One dry, it doesn't budge for hours and hours - mine lasted pretty much intact throughout several meetings and lunch without leaving me with that horrible lip liner effect you get sometimes. The orange colour is bang on trend for this season, however if it's not to your taste, I highly recommend trying one in another shade. I'm keeping my eyes peeled for a hot pink version! £12

The nail polishes apply smoothly and are opaque in two coats. I love the combination of this hot pink and orange shades together - it's a bit of a tropical effect for your nails. They're not the longest lasting polishes I've tried - mine made it two days without chipping, but they are super glossy and pretty quick to dry. £8 each.

I love the range of eye shadow shades that Lola have brought out for the summer. The mix of soft turquoise and green will look lovely on anyone with darker features, whereas the light gold and orange shades will work well for paler complexions. The formula blends well, is long-lasting and although they swatch up quite sheer, they can be layered up for a deeper colour. £10 each.

The Lip Primer is a clear looking lipstick which helps to prepare your lips before you apply your chosen product on top. It gives a small plumping effect, and also helps your lippie to last a bit longer. I prefer something slightly more moisturising, especially if I'm wearing a matte colour, however this would be great under a gloss or sheer lipstick to help increase their lasting power. £12

I've really enjoyed testing out my first few  Lola products. I've been impressed with the quality of them, and will definitely be investing in more. Marks and Spencer are the exclusive stockists of the brand, so make sure you get yourself down to your local store and check out the beauty area. The sheer number of great brands they have is amazing, and you can pick up some biscuits at the same time!

Do you like the look of Lola makeup?

*PR samples

Top products for dry, damaged and coloured hair

Since having my hair ombred, it's became quite dry at the ends and needs a bit more looking after than it did before. I've been using a range of products to add back in moisture and to help keep it feeling (and looking) shiny and healthy. 

Yes To Cucumber Colour Care Conditioner - I picked up this jumbo sized conditioner ages ago in a TK Maxx haul, and I'm so glad I did! Not only does it help keep colour looking vibrant, but it also adds a nice amount of moisture to the hair without weighing it down. Yes To have just relaunched in the UK, so this product might have a slightly different label now, but I definitely recommend grabbing yourself one (find it in Waitrose)! £8.99 500ml

Naturtint Nutrideep Multiplier* - Naturtint offer a range of naturally based hair care and dyes, and the Nutrideep Multiplier aims to be both a day to day conditioner and a weekly intensive treatment. It's quite lightweight, and because it doesn't have any silicone in it (lots of conditioners do - silicone coats the hair in a film, making it look shiny, without it necessarily being healthy underneath), it can take a little getting used to. I found that this wasn't quite moisturising enough for me to use as a deep treatment, however if you haven't got bleached hair, I think it would work a treat. Instead, I use this as a day to day conditioner, and it leaves my hair feeling soft and healthy. £7.99

Weleda Nourishing Hair Oil* - Unlike a lot of hair oils which are mostly silicone and a tiny bit of oil, this one is packed with natural oils to give hair a shiny finish and nourish it at the same time. You can apply it to damp hair before styling, or on dry hair after styling, just be sparing - a little bit goes a long way! It has a refreshing rosemary scent which doesn't linger once applied, and I also like to use this mixed into my Macadamia weekly treatment sometimes for an even more intensive boost. £8.95

Free From Frizz Watermelon Blowout Conditioner* - Free From Frizz is designed to help reduce the amount of flyaways and frizz in hair rather than be a hardcore conditioner, but I've found that the frizz-taming properties have also done a great job at nourishing my dry ends. I rotate this with a few other conditioners throughout the week as it's quite lightweight, but it's my favourite to use when I leave my hair to dry naturally, as I know it will keep it looking smooth, even without lots of heat styling. The watermelon scent is also pretty special! Find it in Boots for £5.99. 

Macadamia Deep Repair Masque - a staple product for me, this super-nourishing mask leave my hair feeling super shiny and silky, without weighing it down. I tend to use this as an intensive treatment once a week to help repair my hair. I keep buying sachets for some reason, but I think I just need to bite the bullet and buy a massive tub of this, as I always end up coming back to it! £22.90 250ml

What are your favourite hair treatments? 

*PR samples

Beauty News: Selfridges Beauty Project temporary tattoos

On 1st May, Selfridges are launching the Beauty Project - a six week long programme of events and thought-provoking debates across their stores. I'll have more information on those coming up, but in the meantime, it's time to indulge your inner child.

As part of the Beauty Project, Selfridges are celebrating the different types of beauty and the amazing amount of ways we can change our appearances. They've collaborated with a range of amazing street wear designers to develop a limited edition range of temporary tattoos.

You can choose from designs created by the likes of Topshop, Eleven Paris, Marc Jacobs, and my favourites (being a big kid for a while) My Little Pony.

If you ever thought of getting a tattoo, but didn't like the permanence of it, now's your chance to get creative and have a bit of fun. All of the designs will be available from 1st May, and will cost £3 each or 5 for £10.

You can find more details on the Beauty Project over on the Selfridges website.  I'll be the one with a purple My Little Pony on my shoulder - see you there!

Kiko Life in Rio collection review

Kiko have become one of my favourite high street makeup brands. Originally hailing from Milan, they've recently opened more stores in the UK and I love their limited edition collections that get launched every few months. For spring/summer, they've created the Life In Rio collection*. A mixture of bright colours and carnival inspired products, I think this will be a bit hit.

L-R Bronzer, pink side of blusher, all of blusher swirled together

My favourite item from the collection has to be the dual ended creamy eye shadow sticks. These feature two complementary eye shadows in crayon format, that can be applied straight from the pencil and then blended out with a brush. These are really long lasting and don't crease, as they dry to a powder finish. The beige/brown combination is my favourite and I've been wearing this all week. There are also a lot of brighter combinations for the more adventurous, but I'm staying firmly in my comfort zone with these neutrals! 6 shade combinations, £9.90 each.

Also for the eyes are the Tropical liquid liners. These are long-lasting, highly pigmented liquid liners that come in a choice of 6 shades. I was sent a bright turquoise and a purple to try out and these really do have a bold colour pop to them. I normally stick to black liner, however I've been using the turquoise shade as a little highlight over my black to add a splash of colour without looking too bold. £7.90 each.

The Sun Lovers baked blushers from the collection have also caught my eye. These are almost like a bronzer/blusher combination as they feature a darker side on the left, and then a brighter, more shimmery blusher on the right. You can wear all three colours blended together, or use them almost like two separate products to create a custom finish. The blusher is quite shimmery, so do be careful when applying, but it looks lovely dusted over cheeks with just a hint of the darker shade blended with it. 4 shades to choose from, £14.90 each. 

There's also an Essential Baked Bronzer as part of the collection. This is a really large palette and could easily be worn dusted over shoulders for a hint of colour as well as the face. The shade is quite dark, so not great for me, however, would look lovely on someone with a medium/dark skin tone. £16.90

For the nails, there's a range of 10 Sun Show nail laquers, which are all shot through with an intense shimmer and reflect in the sunlight. I love this blue shade (Tropical Blue)) as it's a bit different from the usual summer nail polish options, and it makes me think of sipping cocktails by the beach somewhere hot and sunny!  £5.90 each. 

The Exotic Shine Lipsticks are a nice addition to the collection, but don't necessarily feel that 'summery' to me. The coral shade I tested out is definitely a winner, and the formula is creamy and non-drying and wears pretty well. I think I was expecting something slightly more glossy, however these are almost semi-matte, so if you prefer a high-shine finish, pop a slick of gloss on over the top. There are 6 shades to choose from and cost £8.50 each.

Last, up is the double ended face brush. I'm never keen on giving brush reviews before I've used them a lot in case they start shedding after a few washes, but initial impressions for this one are good. There's a foundation brush at one end and a slanted contour/blusher brush at the other end. Both feature super soft bristles and blend makeup nicely. £16.90

All in all, I think this is another great collection from Kiko. What do you like the look of from the Life In Rio collection? 

Colour and mood - what does your favourite say about you?

Colour. It’s something that we see every day but often take for granted how a change of colour can make us feel. This time of year, we get to see so many happy colours – pink cherry blossom on trees, beautiful tulips and even woodland bluebells, but do many of us feel the same about our clothes?

I love black. I feel completely myself in a monochrome outfit and if you peeked inside my wardrobe, you’d see a lot of black and white! To stop it all getting boring, I use bright accessories and the occasional bright item to liven things up a little. A hot pink pair of shoes, or a flame red bag and always, always, always, bright nail polish.

Now that we’re fully into spring, a mint green jumper has become my ‘go-to’ piece in my wardrobe as it makes me feel happy, even when it might be raining outside! Wearing the right colour can make our complexions look brighter and healthier and even make us smile that bit easier. New Look have done a lot of research on the topic of colour and mood and have put together a really interesting info-graphic about how different types of colour can influence us, and what might suit you best.

View the full Colour and Mood graphic by New Look

I’d love to know what’s your favourite colour to wear and why. Are you a monochrome lover like me or do you branch out into pretty pastels and bold brights?

Top tips on finding bargain beauty products and treatments

We all love a good pamper session, but they've even better when you can bag one for a bargain! I've put together some of my top tips for getting either bargain treatments or free products, which will keep you looking and feeling fabulous.

What's In My Handbag 'Try' - WIMH is a site that offers you a sneak peek inside other women's handbags and at the products they carry with them on a regular basis. On top of that, they also often offer free 'trys', which you can sign up to and potentially be sent a free product to test out. I've received a couple of things from them in the past which have been good travel sizes (including an Emma Hardie cleansing balm), and while you might not always get selected, it's definitely worth signing up.

Liberty beauty rooms - If you're ever in Central London, I highly recommend a visit to the Liberty Treatment rooms, hidden inside the Liberty department store. Most of the time, the cost of your treatment is redeemable on products afterwards, so is definitely good value. You can see which brands and treatments are coming up in their treatment calendar - just make sure you book in advance as they get very busy.

Tesco Clubcard vouchers - sometimes your food shopping can have hidden bonuses. As well as being able to spend your Clubcard vouchers in store on food, you can also swap them on their Deals website for vouchers to spend on other sites. Why not trade them in for Beauty Expert vouchers and receive double their value, giving you a mini haul for next to nothing.

Book a makeover - I love getting my makeup applied (despite having had a few bad makeovers in the past) and lots of the large beauty counters offer free, or redeemable makeovers (you pay a small fee which can then be spent on products) and makeup lessons. Bobbi Brown and MAC offer a whole menu of different ones, although you do need to book in advance for these.

Get a Boots Advantage Card - points mean prizes, or in this case, free makeup. Save the points you get from your normal purchases for a high street haul or high end splurge. Make sure you use the pink machines they have in store which often have extra points offers and are well worth checking out if you're planning a big shop. 

Back to MAC - if you're a bit of a MAC fiend, make sure you save those empty black cases. Trade any 6 in for a new lipstick of your choice (yay!). 

Be a hair model - a slightly scary option, hair models are often used by trainee hairdressers to practice on. You'll usually get a free cut (and sometimes a colour) and don't panic, the students are supervised at all times! It might take a bit longer than usual, but I've had some great student cuts before and they were totally free. Try the Vidal Sassoon or KMS training academies, or pop in to your local salon and see if they're in need of models. 

Sample swap - if you're like me, you might did you've got a box of travel sizes and perfume samples you've collected that you're not really keen on. Why not swap with a friend or another blogger and get to test out double the products at no cost.

What are your top ways to get pampered at a lower cost? 

Little bit of blog love April

This month's blog love post features a round up of some of my favourite posts from the past few weeks. There's quite a variety of beauty, fashion and lifestyle, and I hope you find some exciting new reads!

Pampered Prince - why cleansing is so important - Andy dispels the myths around cleansing and tells us how to make sure we're doing it properly in this skin care post.

Frock Me I'm Famous - Post Holiday SOS Skincare - I've loved seeing Hayley's travel blog posts over the past few weeks (I think it they will make anyone want to go to Thailand!), and this post features lots of products to help with post-holiday skin.

Zoe Newlove - Williams and Coburn Loreal Colour Trophy Experience - Zoe talks about her modeling and showcases some amazing hairstyles, I LOVE Zoe's new bob!

Laura Lou Beauty - Brow, Brows, Brows - the best post I've seen on brows and top brow products for a very long time. Fantastic for any brow questions you might have and I now have a list of brow products I need to buy after reading this.

The Black Pearl - Homemade Nut Milks with Vitamix - I've been giving almond milk a try after trying to avoid cow's milk, and I love the idea of making it myself at home. Sandra's post explains exactly how to do this and makes it sound so simple!

The Love Cats Inc - Easter Bunny Nail Art - Easter might be over, but I think these cute bunny nails are perfect for any time of year. Helen's easy to follow tutorial is something I will definitely be trying over the next week or two.

What's been your favourite blog post of the past few weeks?

Macadamia Flawless Cleansing Conditioner review

Since bleaching the ends of my hair, I’ve been testing out a lot of products that will help keep it looking shiny and feeling soft and supple. I’ve got another post on some of these coming up, but Macadamia’s new Flawless Cleansing Conditioner needed a post of its own!

The latest in a breed of ‘cleansing conditioners’, Flawless* offers a one-step solution to shampoo and conditioner, cleaning hair while conditioning. Let me reassure you – this is a long way off from some of the two in one shampoos and conditioners of old. This feels, acts and looks a lot like a conditioner. There’s no foaming action when you use it - you simply massage into your hair, leave for around 5 minutes and rinse well!

Flawless claims to offer 6 benefits – cleansing, conditioning, detangles, eliminates frizz, reduces drying time and enhances volume. I was a bit sceptical about this product to start with, but after a couple of uses, I’m a bit of a convert! It leaves my hair feeling fresh, clean and most importantly looking healthy and shiny. It also doesn’t weigh hair down, which is a definite bonus for someone with fine hair like me.

I don’t feel like it particularly adds a lot of volume, but that’s something I prefer to use styling products for anyway. I’ve always loved Macadamia’s Deep Repair Mask, and can definitely see Flawless becoming a regular part of my hair routine. I do still like to alternate this with a shampoo every other wash, but it’s made a big difference to how dry the bleached ends of my hair now feel.

Flawless costs £8.75 for a 90ml can, which is about enough for 6-7 washes or £25.75 for 200ml. You can find it online from Beauty Bay (slightly cheaper), Look Fantastic and also in store and online at Harvey Nichols.

Have you tried a cleansing conditioner before? What do you think of Flawless?

*PR sample

Marc Jacobs Shocking Nail Polish Review

Marc Jacobs Beauty has been one of those brands I’ve been lusting over for months, and its elusive presence in the UK made it even more of a lust-worthy item in my eyes (I always want I can’t get!). After finding out via British Beauty Blogger that the entire line had in fact hit our shores very recently, I used an afternoon off and a Mayfair appointment as an excuse to get myself over to their Mount Street shop asap.

The Marc Jacobs shop takes a bit of getting to, but once you’ve powdered past the other designer boutiques, and finally got inside, it’s well worth the trip. For once, I completely ignored the handbag section and made my way straight over to the beauty counter, which launched on 27th March.

After having a major swatching session, I bought two items – a 7 shadow eye palette called The Lolita and one of the nail polishes in Shocking. A full review of the Lolita palette will be coming soon, but today I want to talk about nail polish.

At £17, this is the most expensive nail polish I’ve ever bought. I felt a little bit silly as I handed my card over, but at the same time, was completely seduced by the sleek packaging and luxury brand name. I’m pleased to say, I wasn’t disappointed.

The hot pink shade is nothing new, but the formula is super glossy, long-lasting and looks almost like a gel polish once applied. For £17, I was expecting a lot from this nail polish. I usually end up with chips after 48 hours, no matter the brand, so I’ve been pleasantly surprised to get 5 days wear out of this one with no chips or loss of shine.

The packaging is very sleek and definitely looks expensive, however do be careful it’s on a safe surface when applying. The base of the bottle if very narrow, so may tip over more easily than standard round or square ones.

These are definitely a luxury purchase, and I can’t honestly see me justify buying another one (no matter how much I try to sell it to myself!), but I’m so glad I tried it! I will definitely be going back to the Mount Street shop for another browsing session soon – the liquid liners and foundations are calling my name…

At the moment the London shop is the only UK stockist, however the team there will happily post items to you for a postage fee, so if you’re desperate to try the range, definitely give them a call.

Have you tried anything from Marc Jacobs beauty? Is there something you’d like to try?

L'Oreal Glam Matte Lip Gloss review

L’Oreal have got some exciting new makeup launches coming out in May, and top of my list has to be the new Glam Matte Lip Glosses. Matte lips are having a bit of a revival, with both high street and high end brands launching their own versions over the past few months. I’m a big lover of matte lips, so was really excited to see these coming from L’Oreal.

Fuchsia Flare swatch

The Glam Matte Lip glosses come in a creamy formula, and at first glance look more like a traditional lip gloss than a matte version. Inside the tube however, it’s a different story. Highly pigmented, creamy and non-drying to lips, the Glam Mattes apply smoothly, drying to a long-lasting matte finish.

The pointed sponge applicator means it’s really easy to get a good line around your lips, before filling in the rest. I’ve worn mine both as a full on, high impact lipstick and also buffed in with my fingers to create a softer looking stain. Both ways last really well, and even after eating a meal, I still had a hot pink stain left on my lips. They’re so long-lasting, I actually had to get my makeup remover out to get rid of the stain before bed!

Matte lipsticks can often be quite drying, but I found that with a slick of lip balm underneath, I had no trouble at all when wearing this – a definite bonus for matte finish lovers!

At the moment four shades are planned for the launch – 412 Fuchsia Flare, 508 Coral Deminista, 510 Cherry Pop and 513 Zip It Red. I’ve tested out 412 Fuchsia Flare which is a super bright, blue based pink and adore the formula. I also have my eyes on Cherry Pop when they launch into the shops.

You’ll be able to find the Glam Mattes on L’Oreal counters from May, and they’ll be priced at £7.99 each. Do you like the look of these new matte lip glosses?

Purifyne Juices Til Dinner cleanse review

Juice detoxes have risen in popularity over the past few years, and claim to not only help you lose a few pounds, but also give your body a bit of a boost. Traditionally, you go on a bit of a food fast – taking in nothing but fruit and vegetable juice, water and herbal teas for a set period of time.

I’m what you call a hungry person. I really like eating – it doesn’t matter if it’s a salad or a cake, I just like eating (ok, I probably like eating the cake a bit more, but no-one’s a saint). The idea of chewing nothing for 3 days put me off juice cleanses before, but this was until I found out about Purifyne’s Juices Til Dinner Cleanse*.

Juices til Dinner is just that – you juice through the day and have a small, healthy meal about 6pm. Purifyne say that this is great for juicing novices like me, or for those who have hectic schedules but still want to juice. 

Inside your Juices Til Dinner cleanse kit you’ll find: three juices per day, a bottle of coconut water, a 500ml bottle of spicy lemonade, superfood greens powder, liver support tablets, full instructions of what to take and when, plus recipe ideas for your evening meal. On top of this, you also get to choose between an at home enema kit (yes, really), or some Colosan powder, which my work colleague kindly pointed out looked a bit like talcum powder in a bag. This is a herbal laxative that has a similar effect to the enema, but is mixed into a drink rather than requiring a bath and some assistance. I went for option B – the Colosan powder.

My parcel was hand delivered to my office at 9am on the first day of my cleanse. As all of the juices are freshly pressed and don’t contain any preservatives, if you’re juicing for 5 days or more, then you can expect to receive two deliveries during your cleanse. My package had everything I needed in order to complete the three days, so after a hot water and lemon, I set off on my first supplements and juice of the day.

Every morning starts the same with a Liver Bliss juice – this was a yummy mix of apple, carrot, beetroot and ginger and I could quite happily have drunk this every morning for a month. The other juices vary – you get to choose which ones you drink at lunchtime and mid afternoon, so I tried to have a good mix between the green, more vegetable based juices and the slightly sweeter fruity ones. I didn’t come across any that I really couldn’t drink – even the super green ones were quite palatable, although one did have quite a strong celery taste that I wasn’t overly fond of.

For the first day of my cleanse I honestly felt fine. I was very excited by the whole thing and although I was ready to eat my evening meal by the time 6pm rolled around, I hadn’t got to the horrible ‘empty’ place I usually get when I don’t eat for a while. By day two (Saturday), I was feeling pretty energetic until about 2pm when I started feeling quite cold, tired and generally pretty irritable. That feeling carried on for much of the day and into Sunday, but I kept drinking my juices and eating my small, healthy meal in the early evening. 

After the three days were up, I tried to make sure my food choices were better than they had been before the cleanse. More veg, fruit, meat and fish along with lots of good fats and small amounts of carbs. I definitely noticed that after the cleanse my tummy was a lot flatter and my skin looked really healthy and had a bit of a glow to it. I’m really pleased that I did the cleanse, however I don’t know if I would do one again. The juices were really tasty, and I even enjoyed the green superfood powder (something which I will be adding into my daily regime), but if I’ve learnt one thing from this, it’s that I get seriously Hangry (angry when hungry).

I think that these types of cleanses are great if you’ve over indulged and are looking to detox, or want to kick-start a new way of eating – I know that the few pounds I lost spurred me on to eat a lot better ever since and up my fruit and veg intake which had been pretty poor beforehand! You will need to make sure you don’t stray too far from a loo (sorry, but eating no food and drinking 3 litres of fluid a day makes you pee. A lot.) and I’d also recommend doing it when you have chance to take it easy – over a weekend worked best for me.

Purifyne offer a range of different juice cleanses from a one day taster, right through to bridal plans and anti-ageing cleanses. I definitely recommend considering them if you’re thinking of cleansing – they offer a great amount of support over email if you have any questions and were very helpful in helping me make the right choice about which plan to take.

The Juices Til Dinner cleanse costs £199 for three days and £285 for five days. Have you tried a juice cleanse before? What are your thoughts?

*PR sample

Deborah Lippmann Two of Hearts nail polish gift set

I wouldn’t call myself a ‘girly girl’, however mention the words ‘pink’, ‘glitter’ and ‘nail polish’ together and I start to get excited. When I first saw Deborah Lippmann’s Two of Hearts nail polish duo gift set*, I actually let out a little squeal of excitement. Not only does this fab set of mini polishes cover the pink and glittery part, it also comes housed in its own glittery mini makeup bag, making it a perfect gift. 

Deborah Lippmann is a US based nail polish brand, created by celeb manicurist Deborah Lippmann. Deborah originally worked part-time as a manicurist to support her singing career, but after giving a manicure to Bobbi Brown back in the 90s, she shot to fame as one of THE people to go to for amazing nails. Her range of nail polishes are all named after her favourite songs and cover a huge range of shades and finishes.

The Two of Hearts duo features two mini sized polishes in cult favourite Candy Shop (a pink based multi-glitter) and Shape of My Heart (a soft pink blush crème). Both look gorgeous worn alone, but really come together when worn as a pair. 

Candy Shop has a very light, bubblegum pink base to it, with lots of multi-coloured glitter flecks within. It would look lovely worn over Shape Of My Heart as a top coat, but my favourite way to wear it has to be layered up on its own as an opaque polish. It needs 3 coats to get that effect, but as you can see in the swatch, it’s definitely worth the drying time! Wear time is also very good – I went several days without any chips, however do prepare yourself for the removal – it’s the usual glitter pain in the bum. 

Now, I mentioned that these are mini polishes, however they’re actually 8ml each, so really quite good sizes. Deborah Lippmann polishes are usually 15ml each, so are pretty big bottles compared to others on the market. 

The Two of Hearts duo is £17, just £1 more than the price of a regular Deborah Lippmann polish and I think it would make the perfect gift for any nail polish lover (or yourself). The glittery bag is definitely on the mini size, but surely size doesn't matter when it’s this cute? 

You can find this gorgeous duo from Selfridges and Look Fantastic. Do you like the look of it? 

*PR sample

Real Techniques giveaway with Cohorted

I've teamed up with the lovely people over at Cohorted to bring you an exciting giveaway. Cohorted is an online shopping experience, which holds 'cohorts' - a product is available to commit to buy for a week, and when an individual commits to buy, the price drops by a certain percentage. The more people who buy, the cheaper the product gets. The starting price is always below RRP, so you will always end up with a bit of a bargain.

To celebrate their launch, they've given me a fantastic trio of prizes to giveaway to one reader - a Real Techniques Brush Starter Set, a Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge and a leather brush holder to keep them all in.

To enter the giveaway, simply complete the Rafflecopter entries below (some are mandatory). This giveaway is UK only and closes on 20th April. Cohorted will be picking the winner, and will post you out your prize shortly after the giveaway ends. Good luck! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Spring clean your skin care regime

Spring cleaning is a long standing tradition as we de-clutter our homes and lives, sort out the old and bring in the new, and our skin care routine should be no exception.

In the winter, our skins moisture requirements will be very different than our summer skin requirements, and as such it is vital to tailor our products according to the seasons and also to our age group. As the largest organ on our body, our skin can also become tired and dull when using the same products day in day out year on year, so it is important to try out new products one by one every few months to see how can they enhance your current regime, nourish your skin and improve your appearance.

One of the latest uber chic skincare companies on the market are Anatomicals, who offer fabulous products with no broken promises. The Anatomical strap line ‘we only want you for your body’ speaks volumes about this fresh, fun loving company who don’t take themselves too seriously in the elitist world of skin care. We love the funky bold packaging, adorable illustrations and entertaining product names including No Old Bags Allowed Eye Gel and The Hottie Totty Is Never Spotty.

If like me, you have enough unwelcomed luggage to rival Victoria Beckham’s entourage circling your lower eye lids then the No Bags Allowed Eye Gel is the perfect solution. With its instant cooling effect, this smooth light gel gently hydrates and plumps the delicate under eye area in no time at all, and regular use has even reduced the need for my fail safe Touche Éclat concealer!

There is nothing better than trying a product that really works, and the Anatomicals range is such great value for money. With products starting at just £3.99 you can dabble in all the pore perfecting potions without breaking the bank, and the London Perfume Company are even offering free delivery and a free gift for beauty babes on a budget. Why not review your skin care routine this spring and update your staple beauty products from the comprehensive list of super cute Anatomicals products.

*Sponsored post

OOTD spring into the 70s

It’s been a while since my last outfit post, but the sunny weather got me all inspired. Today I’m wearing a 70s inspired outfit, with a River Island denim dress over a Betty Barclay coral-pink blouse*. As a redhead, it can be tricky to wear pink shades, but I think the denim dress helps to balance it out nicely. 

Dress – River Island Chelsea Girl 

Blouse – Betty Barclay* 

Shoes – Office 

Necklace – Primark 

Rings – Turquoise – birthday gift, Gold with stones – my Nan’s 

Sunglasses – Dior via David Clulow 

I’ve added on some tan stacked sandals, a gold statement necklace and two rings, plus some over-size sunglasses to complete the look. I love the 70s era, and hope that this outfit gives a modern take on a 70s look, without mimicking Charlie’s Angels too much!

I think this pinafore dress will be getting a lot more use throughout the summer with different tops underneath it – I bought in the sale at River Island just after Christmas, so it’s nice that it’s finally warm enough to wear it!

What are you looking forward to wearing now that spring is finally here?

Joan Collins Timeless Beauty makeup review

Joan Collins has always been one of my guilty pleasures, so when I heard she was releasing her own line of makeup, I let out a little bit of a squeal.

Timeless Beauty was originally developed with more mature women in mind, but the classic packaging and range of shades means it’s pretty accessible to all ages. The vintage inspired gold packaging looks really expensive and is definitely something you wouldn't mind getting out of your handbag for a cheeky top up on the tube.

Fontaine lipstick and Velvet Blusher swatches

I’m a big lover of vintage accessories and use an original 1960s compact mirror, and these products really remind me of something that could be kept for a long time and treasured.

Inside the range, you’ll find lipsticks, blushers, nail polishes ad powder compacts, plus a gorgeous lipstick/powder duo that’s perfect for top ups when you’re out and about. All of the shades have been named after Joan Collins characters from some of her famous shows, giving you the chance to be Alexis for a few hours (woo!).

I’ve been testing out a couple of the products and have to say, I’ve been impressed. The Velvet Blusher* is very finely milled and quite light in terms of pigmentation, but lasts all day and has a very subtle shimmer with no sparkly effect. It comes with its own applicator brush which I’d normally advocate just throwing away, but this one is pretty good quality and will perform well if you need a top up throughout the day.

My favourite product has to be the Paparazzi Ready Lip and Powder Compact Duo*. Inside, you find a full sized lipstick (you choose the shade, mine is called Fontaine), and a neutral face powder with applicator puff. The lipstick is really creamy and leaves lips feeling hydrated, but without a greasy texture. The powder is also finely milled and while not translucent, will work for most light to medium skin tones.

Now, the price point is definitely high end – blushers are just over £20 and the duo is almost £30, but I think they’re worth a little splurge.

You can find the Timeless Beauty range online at QVC - do you like the look of this makeup?

The Ultimate Natural Beauty Bible 2014 edition

We all love to read reviews of products before we buy them and discover which ones are really worth spending our hard-earned cash on. Sarah Stacey and Josephine Fairley have the answer for natural beauty enthusiasts with the latest edition of the Ultimate Natural Beauty Bible*.

The Ultimate Natural Beauty Bible is a compendium of tips, tricks and most importantly, product reviews. What makes this book different, and in my opinion, a fantastic resource, is that all of the product reviews have been done by 'real' women. They recruit thousands of product testing volunteers for each issue, sending out a bundle of products to each one. Every product featured in the book has been thoroughly tested by a group of ten people, and both the comments and ratings you see in the books are taken direct from the product testers. 

The testing process is pretty intensive! I actually took part in one of their testing programmes about 18 months ago, and can vouch for the effort that goes into testing each product you get sent. Sometimes you're asked to test out a moisturiser only on one side of your face so you can really compare if it makes a difference. After a month or so, you complete an intensive questionnaire about each product, and it's these comments that then feed into the content of the book. 

Inside the book you'll find reviews of a massive range of brands - everything from Liz Earle to Eve Snow to REN. The content is laid out beautifully, and among the range of product reviews are some great tips, ideas for products you can make at home, and some gorgeous photos. 

This book has become a firm favourite of mine, and is definitely something I go to to look up products before buying them. It makes a nice change from reading lots of blog posts to get a balanced opinion - I know the reviews here have been compiled from 10 people, giving a good balance of comments and a clear score out of ten.

The Ultimate Natural Beauty Bible costs £19.99 (although Amazon have it for £16.99), and can be found from Waterstones, Amazon and in store at some of the brands featured within. If you fancy becoming one of their product testers for future issues, you can sign up here, and also see the range of other Beauty Bible books to choose from. 

Do you like the sound of the Ultimate Natural Beauty Bible? Have you read any of the previous Beauty Bibles? 

*PR sample