Beautylicious Love

Christina Aguilera Secret Potion Eau de Parfum

2012-02-08T10:02:00.000Z

To be honest, Im not really of fan of Celebrity Perfumes. Ive tried quite a few of them in the past and I always think they have a young "teenage" feel about them. With me being a few years older than a teenager, smelling like a one doesn't really sit well with me. One Celebrity fragrance which has really impressed me though is Christina Aguilera's Secret Potion.

Secret Potion is described as "a mysterious and erotic evening fragrance for women who like to be in the spotlight, whose beauty lies precisely in their strength and confidence" and the description fits its perfectly. If you have read any of my previous fragrance reviews, then you will know that I like my fragrances to be sensual and sexy. I tend to not wear perfume that much during the day, so light fresh scents don't really do it for me. I like a nice seductive scent. Secret Potion is just that. On myself I find it smells quite sweet but a little musky too, which for me makes it that little bit seductive. Its not as strong and powerful as the normal fragrances I go for, but then I wouldn't expect it to be, with it being in the category of a Celebrity fragrance. It is however long lasting though and it really holds out well and lasts throughout the evening.

Overall its definitely the best Celebrity Fragrance I have tried. I think it fits all age categories and if a subtle but seductive scent is your thing, then its definitely worth having a sniff!

Available to purchase at Boots with prices starting at £19.90 for 30ml.

Don't forget to check out my GOSH giveaway HERE.

GOSH Cosmetics Click 'N Conceal - PLUS GIVEAWAY OF 10 TO BE WON!

2012-02-07T20:29:00.000Z

Concealer. The one product most women cannot live without. It works wonders and hides a multitude of sins. When GOSH recently released their NEW Click 'N Conceal pen, I was interested. Im a fan of GOSH's Touch Up Concealer and have re-purchased it many times, so I was interested to see how this compared for use on the under eye area.

The Click 'N Conceal promises to Boost Skin Radiance and wave goodbye to dark circles, blemishes, imperfections and reduce the look of fine lines. It contains light reflecting properties and 'light magnification' to increase luminosity, hide perfections and leave the complexion looking more radiant. It is available in 4 shades, all of which I have kindly been sent. The four shades are: Light, Medium, Dark and Green. With Green being for anti redness.

Light -

Medium -

Dark -

Green -

I've been using shade light for the past couple of days and have found it really impressive. Its slightly thicker than the Touch Up Concealer, but it does a fantastic job of covering my dark circles, without looking heavy. I did think with it being slightly thicker than it might looked a bit caked and maybe settle into my fine lines, I experienced neither though. Overall I've got no complaints and the fact its budget friendly at £6.99 makes it ideal if you're looking for a budget concealer that does as it says on the tin and covers areas that need concealing with ease.

If you fancy giving Click 'N Conceal a whirl for yourself I have 10 to giveaway! To enter simply follow the rules below.

- Comment with "enter me " and state which shade you would like. One comment per person. Please leave your email address.

- Giveaway ends 14th February (1 week today)

- Open to blog followers only. New followers are welcome to enter but please show your support for Beautylicious Love and follow with google friend connect (to the right) first.

- UK only. Sorry international readers!

- It would be appreciated if you would also head over to the GOSH Facebook page - link - and hit the "Like" button to be kept up to date with new launches and take part in exclusive Facebook Fan comps and offers.

Good Luck!

Clarins Colour Breeze Spring Collection 2012

2012-01-26T12:49:00.000Z

Clarins Colour Breeze Spring Collection 2012 will Launch this February and I have quite a few products from the collection to share. Full reviews will be coming soon, but for now I just wanted to share some images of the fantastic products on offer....

It’s like the first signs of spring, a certain poetic grace and a hint of casualness. It’s the sheer lightness of a high-shine lip gloss, exquisitely smooth powders, fresh and truly unique textures; tender yet vibrant shades. It’s a bright, luminous complexion, beautifully enhanced cheek bones, ultra-shiny lips and naturally unsettling eyes.

Blue Sky Eye Quartet Mineral Palette £30.00

Colour Breeze Face Palette £30.00

Instant Light Blush £19.00 Left to Right: Vitamin Pink, Coral Tonic

Gloss Prodige Lip Gloss £15.50 Left to Right: Candy, Blackberry, Papaya,Chocolate

Joli Rouge Lipstick £16.50 in Baby Pink

Joli Rouge Perfect Shine Sheer Lipstick £16.50 Top: Pink Magnolia. Bottom: Pink Coral

Swatches and full reviews coming soon! Anything caught your eye?

Today's Nails - Nailene Studio Nails in Red

2012-01-23T16:31:00.000Z

It's no secret that I love false nails. My own nails are very thin and break easily, which for me is too annoying to put up with, so I choose to wear false nails. I've used Nailene nails in the past but this is the first time trying their coloured nails. I normally just go for the french look, or clear ones which I paint over myself. I have had SO many compliment these past couple of days on my gorgeous red nails though, that I definitely want to try some of the other shades from the range. What is impressive, is that people have actually complimented the colour and have assumed that the nails are in fact my own, which is what I aim to achieve when wearing false nails.

Apparently Ive been told by nail technicians that I have odd shaped nails and sometimes I do actually struggle finding a fit for some of my fingers. I had no problems whatsoever when applying these though, they fit nice and snug and look a lot nicer than my own nails could ever look.

Ive had mine on now for 5 days and they are still going strong. Still looking perfect, with no chips and with actually no sign of coming off. Impressive!!!!

If you fancy trying some for yourself, they're available at boots priced at £4.69

Dress lust at Boohoo!

2012-01-20T12:01:00.002Z

Boohoo has got me lusting over so many dresses at the moment. So I thought I'd share a few of my favourites with you. If anyone is feeling generous, just drop me a line!

Carrie V Neck Embeliished Back Dress (£12.00)

Emily Leopard Bustier Strappy Dress (£20.00)

Carly Lace Back Ruched Sleeve Dress (£20.00)

Gracie Button Waist Wrap Dresss (£20.00)

Veronica Slinky Wrapover Dress (£20.00)

I honestly could have stayed here all day and written a mammoth post showcasing all the dresses I have my eye on. I don't think Boohoo can be faulted on price either. Each one is nice and affordable and fits into my budget perfectly.

Now I just need that lottery win!

All dresses featured can be found on Boohoo.com

Aromatherapy Associates Miniature Bath & Shower Oil Collection

2012-01-19T14:02:00.000Z

Im sure Ive mentioned numerous times how I love nothing more than a long hot soak in the bath. Its my time to wind down, relax and have 5 minutes peace and quiet. Aromatherapy Associates are well known for their award winning Bath Oils and I've been eager to give one a try for a long time. The hard part was deciding which one to try though! There is so many to choose from, which is why the Miniature Bath & Shower Oil Collection is just perfect!

The Collection contains 9 3ml miniature bottle of all the oils; Relax, De-stress, Revive and Support.

Although the bottles are small, they contain the perfect amount for one bath. I was actually really surprised, as I didn't think one bottle would be enough but as soon as one is emptied into a running bath, the aroma fills the bathroom and it truly is like having a home spa experience. The strength is of the oils is so powerful. My favourite is definitely the Award winning Deep Relax. Its easy to see why this is an award winner and continues to be a best seller. I've had trouble sleeping lately but after using my miniature bottle, I had the best nights sleep Ive had in Months. The essential oils of Vetiver, Camomile and Sandalwood helps to totally relax the body and mind and do what they say they do and promote a good nights sleep.

The Miniature Collection is the perfect way to try each oil and find out which is your favourite before purchasing a full sized bottle.

You can pick up the collection from Victoria Health priced at £28.50 with free delivery.

Dirty Works Buff Your Stuff Body Scrub and Soak It Up Moisture Spray

2012-01-11T17:01:00.000Z

I've read a lot of glowing reviews on the Dirty Works range which is sold exclusively at Sainsburys, so Ive been eager to give some of the products a try for quite a while. The brand is obviously aimed at women, with its chic retro packaging and reminds me a lot of Soap and Glory.

Two of the products which have impressed me from the range are the Buff Your Stuff Body Scrub (£3.99) and the Soak It Up Moisture Spray (£4.99).

The body scrub is extremely impressive and everything I look for in a body scrub. I like my body scrubs to be rough, I like to know Im getting a decent exfoliation, I like the sugars to produce a good scrubbing action, I like to feel it getting to work on my skin and this fits the bill perfectly. Its packs one hell of a scrubbing action and the sugars are tightly packed meaning I don't squeeze and end up with nothing but liquid coming out. Its definitely a winner for me and leaves my skin thoroughly exfoliated, soft and supple after use.

The Soak It Up Moisture Spray is perfect for me as I can be very lazy when it comes to moisturising my body, especially in the morning. I actually use Soap and Glory's Girlingo Moisturising Spray quite a lot, so finding a cheaper alternative has made my day. If you suffer with dry skin, this might not provide enough moisture for you, but if you're skin is normal like mine, then it'll work perfectly at lightly moisturising your skin without any hassle.

Both products are availiable to purchase from Sainsburys Stores Nationwide.

Going from dry to wet with Andrex Washlets and the Andrex Clean Campaign

2012-01-08T10:59:00.000Z

Well I never thought I'd talk about my toilet habits on here, but there's a first for everything I guess! Fear not though, Im not going into too much detail, that would just be wrong. I am however taking part in the new Andrex Clean Campaign and going from "dry to wet" with the help of Andrex Washlets.

My beautifully gifted packet of Washlets!

Whats it all about?

Journalist and TV presenter Dawn Porter has teamed up with Andrex and is going around the country on a Clean Campaign. Her mission? To change what we mean by clean. Dawn is on a mission to covert the nation to wet wiping with Andrex Washlets.

“Why are the Brits so embarrassed about toilet behaviour? And why don’t we wipe our bottoms wet, wet cleans better than dry, fact,”

Dawns journey will be captured on film and will form the content for six advertorial mini-episodes that will appear on Channel 4 in January and February 2012. She will also be posting pictures and videos on the campaigns facebook page and encouraging people to get involved and take their own challenge by trying the wipes.

Interested? then head over to the facebook page for more info. LINK

Revlon Grow Luscious Lash Liner

2012-01-06T11:22:00.000Z

A girl can never have too many black eyeliners eh. Well that's the case for me anyway, as they are forever going missing. Im sure I have a make up ghost, who just likes to steal and hide things to wind me up. So as Ive decided I need more than a few in my little "Eyeliner Holder", the latest one I've purchased is Revlon's Lash Liner. After reading the gorgeous Tali sing its praises and say how amazing it is, I knew It was worthy of a purchase.

One word - amazing! Tali was not wrong to sing its praises, it matches up to my favourite Urban Decay 24/7 Liner and comes in at around £5.00 cheaper! Its soft to use, doesn't pull or tug and It stays put ALL day long,doesn't budge, doesn't smear and even lasts on my waterline. Its perfect.

Definitely give it a whirl if you're after a high street eyeliner that is worthy of every penny.

RRP: £6.29 from Superdrug.

Test

2012-01-05T18:21:00.001Z

TF6B7ESYDFP9

Indulge yourself in the new Bath and Body range from Sir Terence Conran - Conran Bath & Body

2012-01-04T17:12:00.000Z

Over the past couple of weeks I've had the pleasure of trying out some fantastic new products from Conran Bath and Body range from the iconic designer Sir Terence Conran.

The full range of products which consists of bath washes, body scrubs, body lotions, shower gels, hand washes and hand lotions comes in two unisex fragrances, simply named 1 and 2. Fragrance 1 is described as smelling like warm, old-fashioned cologne with spicy nutmeg and sweet cardamom, while fragrance 2 is described as a refreshing clean and cooling scent with tingling top notes of summer lemon, watery fresh cut green stems and a hint of mandarin. Both scents are actually inspired by some of Sir Terence Conran's favourite scents and were created by one of the top 10 perfume houses in the world. Pretty impressive stuff!

When contacted and asked would I like to sample some products from the range, I was given the choice of fragrance 1 or 2. Now as I love to use product that produce a warm comforting feeling, I opted for Fragrance 1 and was very kindly sent a Shower Gel and Body Lotion to try.

First up the paqckaging of these products cannot be ignored. Inspired by Kilner Jars, the packaging is So simple and innovative, yet so elegant and stylish. There is no denying that having these on the bathroom shelf is well and truly injecting some gorgeous and unique Conran style into the home. Products which are without a doubt made to be proudly displayed.

The shower gel is an absolute pleasure to use on these dark cold nights. The scent is amazing and produces the feeling of warmth and comfort that I love so much. Its apparent that the ingredients used in the products are of high quality. The shower gel not only leaves my skin with a scent that lingers for hours after use but also feeling very soft to the touch.

The Body Cream I simply cannot get enough of. I am actually quite addicted to use making sure my whole body is covered with it, as the scent is truly amazing. It’s definitely a unisex scent, its not overly feminine nor is it too masculine, it just cuts a line between the two. The formulation is perfect for me, as I am quite picky with my body moisturisers. Although I like them to be thick and luxurious to use, I also like them to rub in with ease. I cannot stand a moisturiser that needs excessive rubbing to sink into the skin. This literally melts into my skin, which did shock me upon first use, as with it being quite thick, I did think it would need some work, but I was wrong. As soon as it hits the skin, my skin just seems to drink it up and Im left with gorgeously silky smooth skin.

Both product have seriously impressed me and I definitely recommend taking a closer look at the range, if you want luxurious products at reasonable prices.

The full range of Conran Bath and Body products can be purchased from John Lewis and Selfridges as well as many online retailers. A full list of Stockists can be found here.

MeMeMe's NEW Dew Pots

2012-01-03T18:00:00.001Z

I definitely recommend taking a closer look at MeMeMe's NEW Dew Pots when they launch tomorrow, 4th January 2012.

Available in 8 stunning shades from neutrals to striking metallic shades, there's fun to be had with these little pots. The shades are rich and the cream texture is easily blendable, so shades can be mixed to create some real drama on the eyes. They can be used to add either a full wash of colour over the lid or used with an angled brush to simply line the eyes with a bold flash of colour.

The two shades I have are Silent Storm and Willow Whisper. Silent Storm is a vibrant electric blue and although I've not actually had time to have a play with it on my eyes yet, Im looking forward to using it and seeing how well it will work with my eye colour. Willow Whisper is the is a gorgeous neutral, perfect for a simple wash of delicate colour over the lids.

Silent Storm

Willow Whisper

As Ive not actually tried both products properly as of yet, I cannot comment on how they wear and if they are indeed crease and smear free, as they claim to be. I will however post on update. Could these rival MAC's Paint Pots at a fraction of the cost?

Available: January 4th 2012 from http://www.mememecosmetics.co.uk/ and Superdrug stores nationwide priced at £7.25

Favourite products from 2011

2012-01-02T11:52:00.001Z

2011 Favourites

Cleanser -

Out of all the cleansers Ive tried this past year, Burt's Bees Sensitive Facial Cleanser came up trumps for me. Review here.

Eye Cream -

Elemis Pro-Intense Eye and Lip Contour Cream and Vichy Liftactiv Retinol HA Eyes. Elemis Pro-Intense Eye and Lip Contour Cream was a big hit for me and a product I have repurchased more than once. Vichy is my current night eye cream and that wont change. It address all my needs and will be permanent without change. Reviews here and here.

Serum -

2011 saw me go back to an old favourite No.7 Protect and Perfect Beauty Serum. I used this for many years and rekindled my love for it towards the end of the year. Review here.

Moisturiser -

This is actually a tough one for me to choose. Ive used so many moisturisers over the past year and to be honest I still haven't found one Im 100% happy with. I guess that just means I need to keep searching! I do have my HG night cream though, which is Vichy Liftactiv Retinol HA Night. If I do decide to try another eye cream, it will have to do a damn good job to steer me away from this. Review here.

Additional Face Products -

Paula's Choice 2% Beta Hydroxy Acid Liquid and Alpha H Liquid Gold. Two products I have raved about countless of times. These two will always be a part of my routine. Reviews here and here.

Foundation -

Apologies for the stock photo, I am in need of a re-purchase.

Without a doubt, my HG foundation is Lancome Teint Miracle. I do use other foundations regularly, but this is my all time favourite and the one I always turn to when I need to look perfect.

Concealer -

I found my HG concealer just towards the end of this year. Origins Quick Hide! Long Wearing Concealer. Fantastic Concealer at a fantastic price. Review here.

Mascara -

Ive been loyal to L'oreal Voluminous Carbon Black Mascara for a few years now, I have tried plenty of different mascaras, but always seem to come back to this. I do have a few new ones I want to try this year though.

Blusher -

Without a doubt, my most used and most loved blusher this past year has been MAC Bite of an Apple blush which was released as part of the Venomous Villains Collection. It gives me the perfect pop of colour and I will be devastated when I hit pan on this. I hope they re-release SOON!

Lipstick -

My most worn Lipstick and most re-purchased is ELF Natural Nymph. Cheap, reliable and I just love it. Review here

Fragrance -

I have tried SO many perfumes over this past year. My favourite has to be Thierry Mulger Alien. Its everything I look for in a perfume, strong, sexy and seductive. Review here.

Here's to another year of finding fab products!

All the best for 2012 folks!!!!!

2011-12-31T19:36:00.002Z

Whatever you're doing tonight, I hope you welcome the new year in with a glass in your hand and a smile on your face!

Happy New Year!!!!!!

Well thats it for another year........

2011-12-27T09:56:00.001Z

Christmas is done and dusted for another year. I hope you all had a fantastic Christmas Day with your loved ones. Mine was just perfect. I ate a lot, drank a lot (not alcohol though) and played with a shit load of new toys. My eldest son now has a better phone than myself and Im feeling slightly jealous and my youngest son thinks hes Steven Spielberg with his new Video Camera. Only 360+ sleeps till next year eh!!!!

Cetaphil Winners Announced!!!!!

2011-12-23T16:19:00.000Z

The 5 winners from the Cetaphil Cleanser giveaway are:

Sophie

Serenity of Beauty

Emma

MISS LUCY...

tousledkitten

Emails will be coming your way shortly!

Last minute Gift Idea for the man in your life - Molton Brown Solar Men's Body Wash Gift Set .

2011-12-22T19:22:00.000Z

If that special man in your life, whether it be your Father, Brother or Boyfriend loves a little luxury in his life then Molton Brown have the perfect gift with their Solar Body Wash Gift Set.

Th set contains four of Molton Browns body washes in different signature scents; re-charge black pepper bodywash 300ml, Cool buchu bodywash 100ml, Fresh bushukan citrus bodywash 300 and Bracing silverbirch bodywash 100ml and will guarantee to please any man and keep him clean and fragrant for a goods few months.

As soon as the lid if lifted off the box, the scents of the washes can be smelt immediately. Each wash smells divine and to be honest, I would use the washes myself without a second thought, even though they are for men.

You simply cannot go wrong with any product from Molton Brown, the packaging alone makes it easy to tell that the products are of high quality and luxurious. If you want to be in your significant others good books for a long time to come, then take my word for it and treat him to some Molton Brown.

Solar Men's Body Wash Gift Set is available from Stores Nationwide and online priced at £49.99

Can Cosmetic Dentistry help you?

2011-12-16T13:18:00.000Z

Cosmetic Dentistry is something that has always interested me. This may be due to the fact that I long for that perfect white smile and plan to have Porcelain Veneers in the near future. I thought the article below may be helpful, in case you too are looking into having some form of Cosmetic Dentistry.

Cosmetic dentistry offers a wide variety of services that help to improve your smile. If teeth are chipped, stained, cracked, crooked, or spaced wrong then this type of dentistry is right for you. Most of these treatments can be done in an office and all within one or two visits. It is worth every penny when you can smile and feel good about yourself.

Dentistry today is very different than what it was ten years ago. There are new ways to do a procedure and there are new procedures to do. You can relax when you go to the dentist now. Here are a few services offered with cosmetic dentistry.

Tooth Whitening

Everyone wants a whiter smile and although there are products available over the counter to help whiten the teeth, there is no guarantee on how much whiter the teeth will be at the end. When you get your teeth whitened through cosmetic dentistry you get a professionally white smile that is worth every single penny. In order to whiten your teeth, a cosmetic dentistry office will use a laser procedure to whiten the teeth. With this professional procedure the application will last longer and take less time.

Dental Implants

As a person ages, there are many factors that can affect the health and stability of their teeth. Eventually teeth begin to chip, crack, and break off leaving you feeling embarrassed every time you smile. Dental implants can make a difference in restoring your smile and raising your self esteem. Most of the work can be done in as little as one visit with minimal discomfort.

Porcelain Veneers

If you want a smile that looks completely brand new without losing your teeth then porcelain veneers may be the choice for you. Your teeth need to be healthy enough to attach the adhesive to the natural teeth and then a thin porcelain covering will go over each tooth giving you a brand new smile. The porcelain veneers can hide imperfections such as cracks or chips in the natural teeth. Porcelain veneers are usually completed in two appointments because in most cases, you will need to get fitted for them and then come back on the second visit in order to have them applied to your teeth.

Dental Crowns

When the tooth becomes damaged and decayed on the inside, then dental crowns may be the answer. Once the tooth is hollowed out and the nerve has been destroyed, the crown will be moulded to fit the original tooth. This procedure is quite expensive but you will not need to replace your teeth anymore.

Your smile is important; it is a part of you that makes you who you are. If you are not happy with your smile then visit a cosmetic dentistry office to find out how you can look and feel better about yourself. Once you start cosmetic dental procedures it is very important to finish them otherwise your smile won’t be the way that you want it to look and you be even more embarrassed then you were to begin with.

Barefoot giveaway winners announced

2011-12-16T10:36:00.000Z

The two winners of the Barefoot face wash are:

Beauty Bee

@georgiegirl1985

Congratulations. I will be contacting you both very shortly.

Clinique's NEW RepairWear Laser Focus Foundation

2011-12-15T10:24:00.000Z

After trying and loving Cliniques Laser Focus Wrinkle and UV Damage Corrector, I knew it wouldn't be long before I had to try Clinique's NEW RepairWear Laser Focus Foundation, which has been designed to work along side the Damage Corrector to not only cover the skin as a foundation would, but to also treat the skin and boost natural collagen production.

The foundation is quite thick in texture and reminds me of Revlon Colourstay in a lot of ways. It even smells slightly like it. I'd say it offers medium to full coverage and provides a really nice finish leaving my skin looking healthy, whist also covering up all my flaws. Although it is quite thick and very different to my beloved Lancome Teint Miracle I find it doesn't feel heavy on the skin and my skin is still able to breath.

Although this seems to be the "New RepairWear" after the original RepairWear was discontinued. I cannot comment on how this compares to the original as I never tried the original. For me, its works though. I like the coverage, I like the finish and I like how long it lasts on my skin. The only thing that I dont like is that it has no pump, as I do waste a bit of product each time I use it.

I do have a couple of pics of the foundation in action. You will have to excuse the flash though!

Avilable from Clinique Counters nationwide priced at £27.00

Neom Christmas Wish Home Candle

2011-12-14T11:24:00.001Z

Fear not, Im not turning into a candle blog. I just have a serious obsession going on lately. There is literally candles all over my house. In the bathroom, in my bedroom, in the kitchen, I think the only place I don't have one is in the downstairs toilet! The latest one to grace my living room though is Neom's Christmas Wish Home Candle.

The perfect Christmas candle. The scent of Cinnamon, Ginger, Mandarin & Tonka Bean is absolutely beautiful. Comforting, warm and cosy. Ideal for lighting on these cold winter nights leadin up to Christmas. When I first lit the candle and the scent started to fill the room, the warm and comforting feeling I had inside was indescribable. Having it lit made me get through my gift wrapping with ease and actually made it relaxing and enjoyable, which is a good thing as wrapping is a chore which I normally detest.

For each candle sold Neom donate £1 to Make-A-Wish Foundation, granting magical wishes to children & young people fighting life-threatening illnesses. So not only will you be treating yourself or a loved one to a gorgeous christmas edition, you will also be doing your bit for Charity.

Available to purchase from Beauty Bay priced at £40.00. It is actually out of stock on the Neom website, which I guess is a sign of just how popular this beautiful limited edition candle is.

Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser - 5 bottles to be won!

2011-12-12T09:53:00.001Z

For so long Cetaphil was a cleanser that us UK women couldn't get out hands on. It was raved about by American women on a regular basis and I for one, was always interested in what the hype was. Now that its available on UK shores, Ive had the chance to try it and thought I'd share my thoughts.

Cetaphil® Daily Facial Cleanser is effective for normal, combination or oily skin. Its non-irritating formula is designed to remove surface oils, dirt and makeup without leaving skin feeling tight or overly dry. This non-comedogenic, low-foaming skin cleanser leaves skin with a fresh feeling and won't leave behind an irritating residue.

Basically if you are looking for a standard gentle cleanser, which will do the job and wont cause any irritation to sensitive or acne prone skin, then its well worth looking at. Its mild to use, Dermatologist recommended, doesn't strip my skin of moisture leaving it dry and it gets the job done with regards to removing my make up. I have to admit though that if I am wearing a heavier foundation, it does struggle a little and an extra cleanse is needed. I'd personally say its best for teenage skin, acne prone skin and people with any other skin issues like eczema or excessive dryness etc.

If you think Cetaphil would be the perfect cleanser for you, then I've been provided with 5 bottle to giveaway to 5 lucky readers.

To enter simply follow the rules below!

- Comment with "enter me".One comment per person. Please leave your email address.

- Giveaway ends 19th December (1 week today)

- Open to blog followers only. New followers are welcome to enter but please show your support for Beautylicious Love and follow with google friend connect (to the right) first. Twitter followers are also welcome. Please leave your twitter name and email.

- UK only. Sorry international readers!

Good Luck!

Cetaphil is available to purchase from Boots priced at £9.18

Getting into the Christmas Spirit

2011-12-11T09:55:00.000Z

So I thought I'd go all Christmassy with the nails. You know, get into the Christmas spirit and all that, can't beat a bit of red glitter.

I'll let you into a secret though. The above nails are actually my bargain find. £2.00 from my local market.

I actually purchased these on a whim, I didn't really think they would be up to much, but they totally surprised me. I didn't struggle to find a fit for any nail, they fit perfectly and look so gorgeous! My picture honestly doesn't do them justice, they look so much nicer in person. Ive had so many compliments on them. I'll definitely be popping back to the market this week and picking up some of the other designs.

If you fancy trying some Royal false nails yourself, they can be found on ebay.

Blush Professional 88 Colour Earth Tones Eyeshadow Palette

2011-12-10T16:54:00.000Z

I've told you all how much I love eyeshadow palettes right? I have an overflowing drawer of single shadows and duos which don't get much love, because I love the ease of a palette. All the shades I need in one place. No rooting around my singles to find different shades. Maybe Im just lazy, who knows, but single shadows don't really rock my boat anymore and if one does happen to catch my eye, then it'll be loved for a few days then forgotten about.

The newest edition to my palette family is Blush Professional 88 Colour Earth Tones Eyeshadow Palette.

The palette consists of 88 Matt and Shimmer eye shadows presented in a matt black compact case with a mirror included, which makes it a handy palette for travelling. For the price, it really is a bargain palette. The shades are soft and pigmented with some of the shades actually give a better colour payoff than shades in my MAC palette.

Random swatches -

They apply well and last well on my lids without a primer (I tend to not use a primer anymore). Some of the shades are a bit more chalky and crumbly than others, but the vast majority of them are nice shadows. The palette is ideal for neutral lovers are it has every shade imaginable, its also fantastic for someone just starting out in make up, as you can never go wrong with a palette of neutrals.

Available to purchase from Blush Professional priced at £8.99

Christmas Gifts from all your favourite brands!

2011-12-09T15:00:00.000Z

Stuck for gift ideas? then Its a good job Im in a blogging mood because Im here to help with some of the hottest Christmas gifts your favourite brands have to offer!

L'Occitane Romantic Rose Collection

I challenge you to purchase this as a gift for someone and not want to keep it for yourself! It is absolutely gorgeous. The rose scented products are gorgeous and I love the added bonus of a candle, which is rose coloured and smells divine. The full set contains: 75ml Rose 4 Reines Eau De Toilette, 100g Rose 4 Reines Candle, 75ml Rose 4 Reines Shower Gel, 75ml Rose 4 Reines Body Milk,30ml Rose 4 Reines Hand Cream.

Available from L'Occitane.com priced at £46.00 (currently on sale!)

KMS California Color Vitality Christmas Gift Set

Every woman loves their haircare products and you cannot go wrong with the lovely Gift Sets KMS California have to offer. Each of the 4 Gift Sets available are tailored to a specific hair type. Free Shape, Moisture Repair, Silksheen and Colour Vitality, which is pictured above. The sets include Shampoo and Conditioner as well as a medium sized paddle brush.

Available to purchase from Gorgeousshop.co.uk priced at £17.71

Crabtree and Evelyn Smokey Amber Scented Candle

I doubt there's a single person, well female, that wouldn't be thrilled to receive a gorgeous Candle on Christmas Day and Crabtree and Evelyn have some fantastic ones on offer. The gorgeous Smokey Amber Candle above would make the ideal Christmas Gift. Presented in a beautiful purple glass with flower and pine cone overlay, the scent is apparent without the candle even being lit. With an average of 50 hours burning time, Its sure to last over the festive season and more.

Available from Crabtree and Evelyn priced at £22.00

Molten Brown Hand wash & lotion Christmas gift set

If your loved ones have never tried Molten Brown products then Christmas is the perfect time to introduce them to the brand and their fantastic products. There's a whole selection of gorgeous Christmas Gifts available this year including the Hand wash & lotion Christmas gift set. This would make the ideal gift for the home, with the lenticular arc being something they can not only keep for Christmas but through the year too.

Available to purchase from Molten Brown priced at £55.00

Rebel Lip Gloss Set & Edge Eye Palette from Wilkinsons

If you've been looking for some affordable stocking fillers then head down to your nearest Wilkinson's and sample the affordable make up gift sets they have on offer. The Lip Gloss set above consists of 5 double ended Glosses in a variety of shades, perfect for the party season, while the Eye Palette offers 4 co-ordinating shades ready to enhance the eyes with a splash of colour.

Both available from Wilkinson's

Green People Skin Sparkle - Organic Pampering

Skincare can be tricky to buy for other people, but you really cannot go wrong with the Christmas offerings from Green People create 100% gentle, natural, organic products, which would be suitable for most skin types. The Skin Sparkle gift set contains a gentle cleanser and a day solution creating the perfect organic duo to lift the complexion and leave skin radiant.

Available to purchase from Green People priced at £20.00

N-Spa Indulge Luxurious Body Treats Bag Gift Set

Ive mentioned n-spa products on the b log a few times in the past and Im quite a fan of their products. Sold exclusively at Asda, they are affordable body body which have a quality feel about them. The Indulge Luxurious Body gift set contains 4 items to pamper to perfection, each fragranced with Oriental Spices, Lily, Bergamont, Orange infused with Sandlewood and Red Berry.

Available to purchase at Asda stores nationwide priced at £10.00

Prep for your party with firm smooth skin this winter season

2011-12-08T13:58:00.000Z

The holiday period is the ideal time to try new anti-wrinkle treatments and non-invasive rejuvenation procedures.

This season UK based dermatology centres sk:n clinics are offering amazing deals on Botox prices and other rejuvenation treatments. But before delving into these treatments it’s imperative to know the risks, and what steps responsible dermatologists like sk:n clinics have taken to ensure the safest, most hygienic environments for superior results.

Did you know that there is no government regulation on Botox? This means literally anyone can give the treatment. Unfortunately, a number of beauty salons and nail bars who offer low Botox pricing do not have qualified medical professionals on staff.

So what other actions have been taken to protect consumers? To protect consumers from botched Botox jobs a trade group representing medically trained professionals, the IHAS, launched an initiative called ‘Treatments You Can Trust’. The initiative’s website states its reasons for pushing education and identifying trusted professionals with the following statement, “You need to take care when choosing who treats you, and where, and with what. It is your body after all - take care of it.” Consumers can only be sure the person they are going to allow to inject him/her is a suitably qualified and the premises safe when they see the IHAS Quality Assurance Mark displayed in the practitioner’s clinic or office.

Actress Sally Farmiloe-Neville was recently interviewed on ITV and she revealed details of her botched Botox job at the hands of a beautician who was not medically qualified. When administered by an expert with medical training, small doses of Botox injected into the skin will smooth lines and wrinkles by blocking nerve impulses that trigger wrinkle causing muscle contractions and reversing the tell tale signs of ageing. Farmiloe-Neville’s botched Botox job caused the area around her eye to bulge and swell.

Botox pricing should not be your only consideration when deciding on where to have the treatment done. As Botox involves the injection of a purified form of the toxin Botulinum, you should only trust a skilled professional to perform the procedure like those at our clinics.

Here at sk:n we are proud of the fact that we were the first network of clinics to be added to the IHAS’s 'Treatment You Can Trust' register. Botox is non-invasive and safe to use if administered by a qualified professional. Our experts in skin are trained to inject Botox in correctly so that the skin looks relaxed and refreshed and not stiff and expressionless. Furthermore, with over 20 years experience of effectively treating lines and wrinkles, we are the UK’s leading clinics for Botox treatments, performing more treatments than anyone else. With all this in mind, you know you are in safe hands with our expert doctors.

We also understand that in this financial climate our customers must manage each pound smartly. This is why we offer 0% financing and regularly run special Botox pricing through the year. Don’t compromise quality for cost.

Sponsored post

GIVEAWAY TIME!!! - If its good enough for Frankie Sandford its good enough for my readers!!!!

2011-12-08T10:14:00.001Z

CLOSED

A little bird told me the secret to The Saturdays Frankie Sanford keeping her skin looking in tip top condition.

Frankie's a fan of Barefoot SOS skin rescue range and has been using their SOS Face & Body Wash to calm down her sensitive skin before the Saturday’s officially kicked off their UK tour this week.

Soothing Face and Body Wash – 200ml £16

A gentle non-drying wash with Panthenol (Vitamin B5) and Allantoin to maintain skins moisture level, Evening Primrose and Jojoba oil to condition, Chickweed and Burdock extracts to cool and soothe and Geranium and Lemon Tea Tree essential oils to create an enlivening aroma.

Sounds good eh? Well Ive got 2 washes to give away to 2 lucky readers!

To enter simply follow the rules below!

- Comment with "enter me".One comment per person. Please leave your email address.

- Giveaway ends 15th December (1 week today)

- Open to blog followers only. New followers are welcome to enter but please show your support for Beautylicious Love and follow with google friend connect (to the right) first.

- UK only. Sorry international readers!

Good Luck!

The full range of Barefoot products can be found HERE.

Thierry Mugler The Taste of Fragrance Angel

2011-12-07T14:39:00.000Z

2011 saw the release of a new Thierry Mugler collection Taste of Fragrance (Le Gout du Parfum). The collection consists of the four main Mugler fragrances Angel, Alien, A * Men and Womanity, all of which have been shaen up and have been enriched with a Gourmand note - a taste enhance. Not following? No.. Im not sure I am either its all a bit complicated. Basically they all still smell virtually the same, but with an added erm..... food smell.

The original Angel is one of those scents that has completely divided women over the years. Its a love/hate fragrance. Many women love it while many women literally do hate it. Its definitely an acquired taste. Its strong (like all Mugler scents), sweet and divides opinions like no other fragrance I know. The new taste of Fragrance Angel with its added kick of bitter cocoa powder is going to do just the same I think.

I was going to say if you are a chocolate lover then you will probably love this, then again I guess there's a big difference between liking chocolate and wanting to smell like chocolate. That cocoa scent is VERY apparent and its strong with it. Its distinct and it has completely torn me. I honestly cannot decide what I think of it. Upon that initial spray my first thought was "On no... that's disgusting" It took a long time for it to settle on me and soften. Once it settles though and some of that bitter cocoa scent has dried down, Its not half as strong and off putting. It very sweet but with a kind of dirty twist to it. Really hard to explain. Its definitely not a scent you could purchase for yourself or as a gift for someone else, on a whim. This needs to be sprayed in store and left on the skin a whole day to be able to form an opinion.

Me personally... Im still on the fence. Like I said earlier I honestly cannot decided whether I like it or not. Its going to need a few more outings on my skin for me to get used to it and then decided. Its unlike any other fragrance I have ever smelt and believe me when I say I own a lot of fragrances. Im also intrigued to see what it will smell like on others, so Im roping in a few friends for some smell tests. Hope they are chocolate lovers!

Foundation Brush or Fingers?

2011-12-05T20:05:00.000Z

Quick question for you Ladies:

Foundation Brush Or Fingers?

Me personally Its fingers all the way. I cannot get to grips with using a foundation brush to apply a whole face of foundation. I feel like it doesn't blend my foundation enough, like around my ears and down my neck line etc. I feel like Im painting my foundation on. I don't like the finish after using a brush. Basically I just don't rate or like them. That being said, I do use a foundation brush daily. My trusty No.7 one, which I use to apply concealer around my chin area. Small concealer brushes don't cut it for that area.

Which do you prefer to use to apply your foundation?

Unique Christmas Gifts!

2011-12-05T08:16:00.000Z

Christmas can be a pain in the derriere. Well its not so much Christmas that's a pain, its the buying for people that's a pain. So I thought I'd help you out over the next couple of days... with a few gift ideas. Because Im nice like that.

One place that you're certain to find a gift is http://www.find-me-a-gift.co.uk/. They literally have gifts for everyone! Gifts for men, gifts for women, gifts for children, secret santa gifts, personalised gifts, you name it... you're bound to find it. A great majority of the gifts are pretty unusual too, not the bog standard Christmas gift. Cue the Snake Willy Warmer -

Well it is Winter!!!!!!!

I also kinda like the Roulette Drinking Game Spin N Shot can't beat drinking games over Christmas!

The Lipstick Pen Set would make an ideal stocking filler.

My Harvey would love the Astro Projector Torch he loves anything that lights up so this will be definitely one of his stocking fillers.

The Dear Mum From You To Me Journal - Me To You Life Diary would also be a perfect stocking filler for all the special mums out there.

If you're looking for something unique for your loved one to open on Christmas morning, then its defo worth heading on over to the website and taking a look around.

Link - http://www.find-me-a-gift.co.uk/

Barry M NEW 154 Lip Paint

2011-12-04T15:04:00.000Z

So I heard there was a new nude in town.......

Barry M 154

Nude lovers... you need this in your life. Enough said.

Candle Love - Rodial Lounge Scented Candle

2011-12-04T09:18:00.000Z

My love for candles have grown SO much over the past months. I honestly cannot get enough of them. There's nothing more I love than taking a candle lit bath and just feeling that total relaxation after a busy day. I also love lighting them on a cold winter night, especially around Christmas time, not to mention they also make fantastic Christmas gifts. I love it when I open a present and find myself presented with a gorgeous candle. Just though I would drop that in, you know... just in case any family members are reading this. Well you never know!

One candle I have absolutely fallen in love with at the moment is from Rodial and it is their Lounge Scented Candle.

Rodial is most commonly known for their skincare products, although this year they released a Brand new range of products - Life & Style. The luxurious range consists of delicious whipped body soufflés, calming & soothing scented candles & relaxing bathing balms. The Lounge Candle is a true indulgence with the HoneyComb and Vanilla scent filling the room and creating such a warm calm and relaxing atmosphere. Its perfect for taking in the bathroom and soaking in a nice hot bath and letting the aroma of the candle gently calm the senses and ease away the stressed of the day. I can only imagine what the other products in the range are like, but going by the scent of the candle Im eager to find out! Without a doubt I also NEED the other two candles in the range - Rehab and Socialite in my life. Lets hope a nice generous family member is reading eh!

Available to purchase from Rodial.co.uk priced at £45.00

Clarins Passion Face Palette

2011-12-03T17:28:00.001Z

If there's one item of make up you need on your Christmas list, I suggest the NEW Passion Face Palette from Clarins.

A lightweight, soft, magical compact powder.

Touches of ultra-fine pearl subtly illuminate the face and décolleté.

Adaptable colour for all skin tones.

For a perfectly smooth, even and luminous complexion.

Even looking at the pictures makes me swoon! There's no denying Clarins have come up trumps once again with this Limited Edition Face Palette. I can admit that Its almost too pretty to use and I did actually consider just keeping it for admiring purposes but make up is for using in my world and I cannot wait to dust this across my face and body during the party season.

Does it make you swoon as much as it does me?

Available from Clarins counters nationwide priced at £35.00

New CID i-blush

2011-11-30T12:55:00.001Z

My make up never feels complete without adding blusher and highlighter. You will never see me step outside without both, unless its on the school run or to the corner shop, you know... no where important. I look dead without blusher and for some reason my face feels round without highlighter, I like my cheekbones to be enhanced to ass a bit of shape to my face. I love the effect a highlighter adds. So, as you can imagine a perfect product for me is a blusher and highlighter in one, enter New CID i-blush in shade 3110.

This gorgeous compact offers a pairing of a beautiful pink blush with a shimmery and light Golden Highlighter. The compact is sturdy and travel friendly and comes complete with a light up mirror which can be flicked on and off by the little black switch.

I actually like the fact the light is not permanent, as I think I would feel like a bit of a showoff pulling in out in a nightclub toilets for example. Its handy for a touch up in the taxi on the way to a club though! *thumbs up*

The blush reminds me a little of Nars Orgasm and Benefit Coralista, its very much in that shade family anyway.

Its smooth to apply but very pigmented, so a light hand is needed. The highlighter is gorgeous and add a lovely glow to my cheekbones. It perfect for daytime wear and also evening wear as it can be built up nicely for a more intense look.

Its also worth mentioning that I think the price is very reasonable considering you are getting two products for your money. A quality blusher alone these days can cost over the £20 mark, so two product for £24.00 is not bad at all.

Available from NewCIDcosmetics.com priced at £24.00

Concealer at its finest - Origins Quick Hide! Long Wearing Concealer

2011-11-29T09:50:00.000Z

About 6 months ago, I was pretty convinced I had found a concealer that I was going to stick with in Dior, I re-purchased twice but then curiosity got the better of me and I wanted to try something new. You know what Im saying don’t you? Its that make up junkie thing, new products always there to tempt us, so along came Origins Quick Hide! Long Wearing Concealer.

Forgive mine for looking a bit tatty with the text rubbing off, but that's just an indication of how long a tube of this stuff lasts!

This is Holy Grail baby! I don’t want any other concealers trying to muscle in now and tempt me away from this... Im in love! The amount of under eye concealers Ive tried is well....... a joke. Ive been happy plenty of times, but not happy enough to stop me thinking “Maybe that one will work a little better”. This time though Im reluctant to try another other concealer for my under eyes as for me, Quick Hide! Is perfection. To simplify it, Im going to list the pros and cons. Well Pro’s to be honest, as I have no cons!

- Light, creamy and easily blendable with fantastic coverage

- Natural looking and SUPER long lasting

- Easy doe-foot applicator which makes it simple to dot the product around the eye area and then use a brush to cover and blend

- Doesn't settle into fine lines, or look chalky

- If my eyes are looking a bit worse for wear with dark shadows etc, I can easily apply more as it builds up so easily and still looks so natural

- Not only do I use it for under my eyes, it doubles up as a fantastic spot concealer too.

- Its only £13 and lasts absolutely ages!

- Shade Light/Medium is the best shade match of concealer Ive come across

Concealer in action! Oh and I don't wear them glasses in public, incase you were wondering.

If you are looking for a new concealer then this is one concealer I highly recommend and at £13.00 it is a bargain! I’d gladly pay more for this, although that doesn't mean I want you to up the price, just in case you’re reading Origins!

Available from Origins online priced at £13.00

Current skincare products

2011-11-28T12:20:00.000Z

For the past 2-3 months or so, my skin has been perfect. I can honestly say I've not had one single breakout, my monthly bitch spots have not surfaced and my skin is generally looking healthy and younger. I obviously sound like Im blowing my own trumpet here but I keep getting told I look 23, which is not bad at all for a 30 year old, so Im going to keep on blowing! I do think my good skin as of late is down to the fantastic products Ive been using, so I thought I would share what products have been rocking my boat lately!

Cleanser wise I've decided to stick to the two cleansers lately and stop swapping and changing, until Ive used up my current ones. My cleanser obsession was getting a bit out of hand, so I chose to give Burt's Bees new Sensitive Facial Cleanser a go and have been using it every single night for over a month now.

I cannot praise this cleanser enough and have well and truly fallen in love, this will be getting repurchased and might even stay permanent in my routine (she says, until another one catches her eye) Its specially formulated for sensitive skin and includes softening Cotton Extract which helps skin replenish its outer layer and minimize the effects of potential irritants such as harsh soaps or cleansers, it also moisturizes with Rice Extract and soothes with Aloe. It can be used on the eyes and removes even the heaviest eye make up with ease, without an irritation or stinging. I definitely think using such a gentle natural cleanser, has helped my skin a hell of a lot and sticking to just the one instead of swapping and changing helps too.

The other cleanser I have on the go is sk:n Vitamin Rich Cleanser - oily skin.

I use this if I feel my skin is feeling a bit temperamental and I can sense a breakout is on the horizon. It contains glycolic acid which is an AHA. AHAs help eliminate trapped oil and dirt that creates spots and blemishes, so its perfect to use when its "that time of thew month" and my skin is due its monthly breakout.

With my daily moisturiser Ive gone back to basics and I've been using a moisturiser that I first used a few years ago. OLAY Total Effects Anti Ageing Blemish Care Moisturiser.

I was a big fan of this moisturiser years ago but as Im constantly trying out different products I kind of forgot how much myself and my skin loved it. Its perfect for me as it helps fight ageing and the appearance of blemishes at the same time. The 7 added vitamins and minerals satify my anti ageing needs while the "salycilic" anti-blemish complex works at helping to keep my skin clear. Its a incredibly light moisturiser to use and soaks into the skin immediately, although its light its still strong enough to keep any dryness at bay and keep my skin soft and supple. I'll always be a fan.

For eye creams Ive been using two lately. One is a new addition while the other is a re-purchase and a staple from now on. Origins Plantscription Anti-aging eye treatment and Vichy Liftactiv Retinol HA Eyes

Origins Plantscription is my new addition, which Ive been using for just over a month. I use this first thing in the morning. Its very light and and absorbs very quickly, so its ideal for when Im rushing in the mornings and want to apply my make up near enough straight after applying my skincare. I find it keeps my under eye area hydrated all day long and also seems to help with morning puffiness. I don't have a bad word to say about this, its perfect for day time use and addresses all my anti ageing needs.

Vichy Liftactiv Retinol HA Eyes is my holy grail product. I couldn't be without this in my life now. This is my second tube and It will be a permanent fixture. It contains a nice low dose of Retinol+A Complex combined with Hyaluronic Acid which is perfect for the under eye area, as any higher dosage would end up drying the area out. My eyes have improved greatly since I started using this. Ive always suffered with thin skin under my eyes and this has helped to tighten and plump it so much. I wouldn't recommend this if you have dry skin under your eyes though as you may find the retinol will just dry the area even more and not provide the under eye area with enough moisture.

My choice of night cream is again another re-purchase, another Vichy product and another staple. Im weary to use another night cream now as this one caters for my every need and works perfectly with my skin.
Liftactiv Retinol HA Night. (Did someone say Retinol obsessed?!)

If you are thinking of started to use Retinol based products, then this will be ideal for your first product. It contains a Tri-Dose of Hyaluronic Acid + Retinol A complex but is still very light and non drying (Retinol can be extremely drying on the skin) and is perfect for the first introduction to Retinol. Retinol is a proven ingredient in skincare to help ease out wrinkles, so Its well worth looking in to retinol based products if you are serious about fighting ageing, retinol is also good for people with acne prone skin. So again this is a product that perfect for me. Since I first started using this, the whole look of my face has improved, like I mentioned earlier, I am constantly being told I don't look 30 and to be honest, this has only started to happen since I started using Retinol products. It also offers instant results, the morning after my skin always looks so healthy, plumped and hydrated. Ive never used a night cream and been so pleased with the results as I am with this. I definitely recommend!

Two other products which are staples in my routine are my beloved Paula's Choice 2% Beta Hydroxy Acid Liquid and Alpha H Liquid Gold.

I have already expressed my love for these two product, so if you fancy a read my thoughts can be found HERE and HERE.

Christmas Scents for Him/Her

2011-11-28T09:27:00.000Z

I have a rule. If ever Im stuck what to buy someone for Christmas, I'll buy them a fragrance.Although it can be hard buying fragrances for other people, as everyone has different tastes, I do think there are a few out there that almost everyone seems to love. Scents that you just cannot go wrong with, they are either a time old classic, or a recent winner which seems to be to most peoples tastes.

Here are my recommendations for that perfect Christmas scent!

For him - Hugo Boss Bottled

A true classic and the original Hugo Boss Fragrance for men. There is nothing to not like about this fragrance. My dad likes it, my partner likes it and my brothers like it! It's just a scent you cannot go wrong with. It stays long and close on the skin and the scent can still be apparent after a good 6 hours of wear. It has a subtle hint of sexiness which is not too full on, but its enough to tempt people to lean in further and wonder what fragrance is being wore. It works perfectly for day or evening wear. Personally this is probably my favourite male scent, along with Tom Ford Grey Vetiver, although I do think that is much more of a desired taste.

For her - GHOST The Fragrance

The GHOST fashion house established by Tanya Sarne in 1984 launched its first fragrance, Ghost the Fragrance in 2000 and it has been a popular choice for women ever since. GHOST is a sweet and feminine perfume. Upon first spray it does come across as quite strong and spicy but after a while it settles into a more soft and delicate scent, with a nice sensual feel about it. Its a scent that Im positive many women have owned and re-purchased over the years and I can probably guarantee that near enough every mother has had a bottle on their dressing table at some point. Its a timeless classic.

RRP: Hugo Boss Bottled 50ml £31.45 & GHOST 50ml £24.80 both from Feelunique.com

My straighteners have passed away so for Christmas I want.........

2011-11-23T17:31:00.001Z

The ghd Scarlet Deluxe Collection Set!!!!

•ghd Gold Classic styler with delicious red plates

•Limited edition travel hairdryer

•Protective plate guard

•Scarlet inspired heat resistant styler clutch Vanity case

•2 x ghd sectioning clips

How gorgeous are they! Admittedly I don't swoon over hair straighteners often, but since mine have completely died on me, I need some new ones and the Scartlet Deluxe Collection has caught my eye! I love how ghd bring out different collections regularly. I remember wanting the Midnight Collection not so long ago, so Im actually quite pleased that mine held out till now, because I so want the shiny red ones!!!!

I should admit that Im fussy with hair straighteners, probably because Im fussy with my hair and I want it looking its best. If Im honest and I think its hard to find nice cheap ghds and be safe in the knowledge that they are real, that's why I would always choose to purchase them from the official website. That way I know Im not purchasing a dodgy fake set and I always have piece of mind knowing that my news straighteners come with a 2 year manufacturer guarantee.

Now I just need to find someone to buy them for me. Sigh!

Sonicare Diamond Clean Rechargeable Sonic Toothbrush Review

2011-11-23T13:44:00.001Z

Teeth to me are everything. I think bad teeth have to be the biggest put off. Mine are far from perfect, but I like to think I look after them and I'm constantly trying new products to help clean them the best I can. When I was contacted a few weeks ago and asked if I would like to trial Sonicare's NEW Diamond Clean Rechargeable Sonic Toothbrush, I replied within an instant with a big fat YES. Up until about 6 months ago, Ive always used a manual toothbrush, then I was introduced to a battery operated toothbrush, which I actually thought was the bee's knees, until I tried my AMAZING Sonicare Diamond Clean.

Before I start singing its praises and tell you why each and every one of you should add this product onto your Christmas wish list, let me first give you some basic info on the brush.

The new DiamondClean toothbrush is equipped with new innovative technology that is clinically proven to remove up to four times more plaque than a manual toothbrush. It has also been proven to increase gum health in only two weeks and whiten your teeth in as little as one week! It features a sleek and slender handle with five cleaning modes to target specific areas of your mouth, allowing you to specialize your brushing. The five settings are:

• Clean - the standard mode for a whole mouth clean
• White - removes surface stains to whiten teeth
• Polish - brightens and polishes teeth to bring out their natural brilliance
• Gum Care - gently stimulates and massages gum
• Sensitive - an extra-gentle mode for sensitive teeth

Not only does the toothbrush itself look expensive and is well made, I love the added unique charging glass. The toothbrush rests in the glass which then sits on the silver charging base, and somehow charges! Ive not quite figured out how this works yet, but it does! Once fully charged, the battery lasts around 2 weeks, when using twice daily.

Believe me when I tell you, this is not just a toothbrush, its a machine! It has a Quadpacer 30-second interval timer which encourages even brushing, you actually feel the toothbrush change direction, to tell you to move onto a different section of teeth. It also has smartimer which helps to encourage the recommended 2-minute brushing time. The brush head is angled which makes it a whole lot easier to reach back teeth, removing plaque in those hard-to-reach areas, that sometimes don't get a proper clean with a manual toothbrush. The illuminated display makes it easy to indicate which of the brush's five cleaning modes you're currently using and you simply swap modes by pressing the power button to flick through to the mode you require.

Basically if you want some serious results from a toothbrush, then this is the one for you. I have been using mine now for about 3 weeks and I'm amazed by the results. I will admit I was a bit scared to use it when I first received it, as I switched it on and it fell so powerful, I thought it was going to knock all my teeth out! From that first use though, I could tell the difference straight away. I'm finding it hard to describe how clean not just my teeth looked, but how clean my whole mouth felt. If ever the term "squeaky clean" was meant to be used, its definitely now. Over the weeks Ive been using it, I've noticed my teeth look notably whiter and also Ive not suffered with any bleeding gums, which I actually was experiencing before I started to use the Diamond Clean.

The biggest question that I know is going to be on everyone's mind, is if its worth the £250 price tag. To which my reply is HELL YES! At the end of the day, our teeth have to last us till we die and If money is no option, then why not look after your teeth in the best possible way you can. This is definitely the daddy of toothbrushes and I honestly cannot thank the lovely pr enough for giving me the opportunity to give my teeth a little luxury!

Available to purchase direct from the Phillips website priced at £250.00

Product provided for free for review purposes.

Dove giveaway winners announced!!!!!

2011-11-16T16:38:00.000Z

Thank you to everyone that entered the Dove giveaway, the 6 lucky winners are:

harpreet.bedi1@gmail.com
Dannii49@hotmail.co.uk
unetasse@hotmail.com
jessicathomas133@gmail.com
rebeccajlsk@gmail.com
NicolaAnnaLou@gmail.com

An email should be with you all very soon!

Giveaway time! - 6 bottles of Dove Intensive Nourishment Body Lotion up for grabs!!!

2011-11-09T19:55:00.000Z

What better way to get back into the swing of things, than with a giveaway!!! The lovely pr for Dove have kindly offered to provide 6 lucky readers with a bottle of their new Dove Intensive Nourishment Body Lotion.

"Everyone can have skin that feels great – some of us just need a little extra help. Which is where Dove Intensive Nourishment Body Lotion comes in. It’s highly effective non-greasy Cream-Oil formula combines rich cream and skin-nourishing oil to provide extra dry skin with the care it needs to become extra soft and extra smooth".

I've been using the lotion for the past week and have completely fallen in love. Ive mentioned countless of times on the blog, that when it comes to body lotion I like them to sink in fast, be non greasy, leave no residue and offer me maximum moisture, which is just what Doves Intensive Nourishment provides. As with all Dove products, it also leaves my skin smelling absolutely divine, which lingers throughout the day.

If you fancy getting your hands on one of the 6 bottles up for grabs, simply follow the rules below to enter!

RULES

- Comment with "enter me".One comment per person. Please leave your email address.

- Giveaway ends 16th November (1 week today)

- Open to blog followers only. New followers are welcome to enter but please show your support for Beautylicious Love and follow with google friend connect (to the right) first.

- UK only. Sorry international readers!

Good Luck!

A quick hello....

2011-11-02T17:09:00.000Z

I'm still alive Ladies, not joshed it yet! ha.

I know Ive not been around on the blog for a couple of months or on twitter and to be honest... I've missed you all so much! I've had a lot going on in my life the past few months and I just needed to take a break. I intend to be back up and running very shortly though!

Thank you to those who have emailed me, It actually feels so nice to be missed and I was so touched when I read my emails.

So what have I missed? any goss?

Waves

2011-09-19T11:03:00.000+01:00

Im still here people!!! I've not been posting as much as usual lately, but I can assure you I will be back up and running and posting daily, as soon as possible!!!

Hope you're all well!!!

Jo xx

Kleenex launch a brand new cleansing range!!!

2011-09-16T16:30:00.000+01:00

Kleenex goes back to its roots this month and releases a brand new facial cleansing range! The brand that we know and love for their reliable tissue actually started out in beauty and has decided to venture into the world of beauty again and bring us FOUR new products!

Facial Cleansing Wipes and Eye Makeup Removal Wipes:

"These soft, quilted wipes contain natural fibres to provide a gentle and effective cleanse, removing your “mask” at the end of the day. They are suitable even for sensitive skin and the Eye Makeup Removal Wipes effectively remove stubborn waterproof mascaras. RRP* £2.99 for 24 wipes."

Facial Cloths:

"These gentle, quilted, soft sheets made from natural fibres are not only larger but also softer than cotton wool. They are soft and strong when wet or dry so you can use them not only while applying cleanser and toner, but also while removing face masks and even nail varnish. RRP* £1.99 for 30 cloths."

Shine Absorbing Sheets:

"An essential for every busy woman’s handbag, the Shine Absorbing Sheets provide an efficient and discreet way of blotting excess shine caused by oil that builds up on your skin during the day. The sheets remove the shine without disturbing your makeup so are fantastic for quick touch-ups to keep you looking immaculate. RRP* £2.99 for 50 sheets".

The new range and the facial cloths in particular, take Kleenex back to its beauty heritage. In the 1920’s, the original Kleenex tissues were used to remove cleansing cream or makeup by women who sought a hygienic, disposable and softer alternative to towels or wash cloths. The tissues were a revolution in skincare for women and were dubbed as the “new secret to keeping pretty skin”.

I'll be using all of the above products over the coming weeks and will be sure to let you know my thoughts! Cleansing is the best part of my day for me, I love nothing more than taking off my days make up and relaxing, so Im really excited to give these products a try tonight!

Yankee Candles!!!

2011-09-15T13:47:00.000+01:00

Not so long ago Yankee Candles were being mentioned on a lot of blogs and everyone seemed to be buying them. At the time though, I wasn't really interested in candles, so I never gave them a second look. The more my interest in candles has peeked though, the more Ive been wanting to try different candles and it was only fair that I sampled the famous Yankee Candles!

If you're not familiar with Yankee Candles they are an American company who offer the world's largest and most compelling selection of candle's and home fragrance scents. The fragrances are grouped into a number of families : fruit, floral, fresh, food & spice and festive.

The two I have are; Kitchen Spice and Warm Spice.

Kitchen Spice is described as a modern blend of sweet orange, clove, ginger and cinnamon. The cinnamon is really strong, so if you like the scent of cinnamon you will love this. For some reason it reminds me a lot of Christmas when its lit and seems to just make me feel all warm and festive inside, even though we are not anywhere near Christmas yet!

Warm Spice is described as deliciously indulgent and creamy ... a classic blend of vanilla, brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. This is the perfect candle to fill the house with warmth this Autumn. The scent is really comforting and perfect for when they winter nights come drawing in.

What I love about Yankee candles, is that the scent lasts, even once the candle has been blown out. There is also such a wide choice of scents on offer, that every single mood you in and every emotion you want to feel can surely be catered for. The range of fragrances are also available in home fragrance products, car fresheners and candle accessories, so if candles are not really your thing, you could try on of their room sprays or potpourri to samples the gorgeous fragrances.

Yankee Candles can be purchased from the UK website and are available in small jar,medium cars and large jars.

Have you tried Yankee Candles? any recommendations?

Burberry Body Eau de Parfum

2011-09-08T08:31:00.000+01:00

On September 1st Burberry launched their new fragrance Burberry Body and I've been extremely privileged to get my hands on a HUGE 85ml bottle, to share my thoughts with you.

The idea behind the fragrance wads to develop and iconic scent and the man behind Burberry Body - Christopher Bailey, has worked intensively on it for the past couple of years, hoping to have created the first signature Burberry Fragrance. The result being a very sensual and very British perfume.

The advertising for the launch of the new scent was fronted by actress and model Rosie Huntington -Whitely, (star of Transformers 3 - Dark of The Moon) and features Rosie in some very sensual and seductive images.

The images for the launch immediately grabbed my attention, as when it comes to fragrance, I like my scents to be very sensual and sexy. I tend to not wear perfume during the day and only wear it of an evening if Im going out etc, so when I do wear it, I like my scents to make a statement, I like them to get noticed and most of all I like to feel sexy. Burberry Body Fits the bill perfectly.

I normally go for very strong sexy fragrances along the lines of Thierry Mulger Alien, which from the first spray is very strong and full on. For me, its sexiness in a bottle where as Burberry Body is totally different. It is so very delicate and so beautiful, but extremely sexy and sensual at the same time. I think they couldn't have chosen a more better person that Rosie Huntington to front the advertising campaign, as she sums up what this fragrance is all about to me - Beautiful. Normally I can pick out different words to describe a fragrance and very rarely do I sum one up with just one word, but right from the initial spray all I could think was how beautiful it smelt on me. Very feminine and sophisticated, with a chic sexy feel to it. The bottle is very unique in its own right too and makes a statement that this is a expensive and luxurious item.

Available to purchase from Debenhams with prices starting at £40.50 for 35ml.

Blog shout out - The Cosmetic Crave

2011-08-28T09:03:00.000+01:00

I just wanted to give a shout out today to a fairly new blog which I have been following for a few weeks and which I think is fantastic!

The Cosmetic Crave

If you like a mixture of FOTD's, OOTD's, and honest reviews of both high end and high street products then head on over and follow Joselins blog, which you can find HERE.

Estee Lauder Modern Mercury Eyeshadow Duos

2011-08-27T11:32:00.000+01:00

Three new Pure Color Eyeshadow Duos (£22.50) were released with Estee Lauder's fall collection - Modern Mercury. One of which will be permanent and the other two limited edition.

Platinum's - (Permanent)

Platinum's consists of a gorgeous light taupe and a basic white highlight shade.

Modern Mercury (Limited Edition)

Modern Mercury consist of a satin silver/white and a soft cool grey shade

Black Chrome (Limited Edition)

Black Chrome consists of a dark matte black and a sheerer shimmery black shade

Each duo can be used wet or dry and my favourite of the three is definitely Platinums, although I did find that it swatched on my hand a lot darker than it applied on my lids with a brush, which was a little disappointing. This could have been due to the brush I used though, so I do need to put it to use again, with a different brush.

Did you purchase anything from the Modern Mercury Collection?

Get your skin assessed for free!!!

2011-08-26T14:53:00.000+01:00

Sk:n clinics have a great offer running at the moment, where you can get your skin assessed for free (instead of £25). So if you’re worried about what damage you may have done to your skin, exposing it to harmful UV rays this summer, you can book in at your local sk:n clinic for a consultation with one of their experts.

The sk:n skin health assessment consists of a consultation with one of sk:n’s experts and facial scanning using state of the art technology, to highlight any existing damage with UV light. The consultant will also calculate your skin age based on its condition. The skin health assessment usually costs £25, but for a short time only, sk:n will be offering them absolutely free.

The offer is all part of the skin health campaign, fronted by the England cricket team to raise awareness about the dangers of the sun’s rays on the skin. As part of the campaign sk:n clinics will be donating £10,000 to the British Skin Foundation to fund vital research into important dermatology issues.

So to get involved in the campaign and book your free skin health assessment visit http://www.sknclinics.co.uk/ for more information or call 0800 028 7222

FOR SALE: Guerlain Lingerie De Peau

2011-08-26T12:52:00.000+01:00

Guerlain Lingerie De Peau foundation for sale.

Used twice. Still in box. 02 Beige Clair. £25.00 with free postage. I payed £35.00.

If interested please leave your email address and I will drop you an email.

Maison d'Anu - Genie in a Bottle Oil Cleanser

2011-08-25T15:29:00.000+01:00

I love it when I get to try out a new product from a brand Im not familiar with and its instantly a hit with me. I do get occasionally get sent products to trial, and they only make it on the blog if Im impressed. Im never obliged to review any product I am sent and if they are simply not worth a mention or just a bit "meh" then most likely they wont get featured. If Im really dissapointed with a product though or have had a reaction to it etc, then in this case I do post to share my experience and give an honest review. I don't really like my blog to be negative though, I like to share the good things in life! Hence today's post.

I was recently contacted by the pr for a brand called Maison d'Anu - A luxury skincare brand dedicated to delivering the most natural products through scientific know how. The range consists of Face and Body products, Hair products, Nail products and they also cater for pregnant women, with pregnancy products.

I was given the opportunity to sample a few products and I was instantly drawn to the Oil Cleanser. I suffer with an oily tzone and blemish prone skin and the best type of cleanser for my skin type is an oil cleanser. I have occasional breakouts and when cleansing during a breakout its best for me to cleanse with an oil cleanser as basically oil dissolves oil. Using an oil to cleanse the face works with all the clogged oil and sebum which are trapped inside the skin and helps to dissolve them.

Maison d'Anu Genie in a Bottle - Rinseable Oil Cleanser - (£28.00)

"Genie in a Bottle is a natural cleanser and makeup remover that is water soluble and gently lifts dirt and makeup without stripping or disrupting your skin’s natural protective barrier (the acid mantle). Suitable for all skin types. 99% Natural."

This products ticks all the boxes for me when it comes to Oil Cleansers. Its not greasy and breaks up my make up so easily when massaged onto the skin. It emulsifies really well into a milky kind of liquid once a little water is added and all the dirt, grime and make up on my skin is easily wiped away with a clean muslin cloth., leaving no oily residue at all. For me its the perfect cleanser to use when my skin is bad. Its very gentle with no unnecessary ingredients added, so it doesn't add any irritation or contribute to my breakout. It just does a fantastic job at removing all my make up, while helping my skin put up a fight against any more blemishes appearing.

Genie in a Bottle is definitely worth a look at if you favour an Oil Cleanser. Its one of the best Ive tried.

All Maison d'Anu products can be purchased directly from the website.

Smooch Blushers - Kookie Crumble and Peachy

2011-08-24T19:41:00.000+01:00

When I heard there was a new make up brand on the block, I was on it. And fast. The name grabbed my attention first - "Smooch" then once I was on the website and saw the prices were pretty reasonable, the blushers started screaming at me to buy them. So two popped into my basket. Kookie Crumble and Peachy.

The packaging of the products is obviously Nars inspired. Sleek black rubberised with the Smooch logo.

Peachy -

Peachy is a gorgeous shade and one that I had no problems with at all. It is a gorgeous peachy/pink and actually quite a lot more pigmented that some of my other peachy/pink blushers. Although its described as a duo blush, I can't see much difference with the two shades apart from the left shade being a bit more shimmery.

Shades swatched separately

Both shades together

Kookie Crumble -

With this I had a problem. You will see from the images below that the lightest shade has scratch marks on it. That is simply because that was my only option to basically get the product to work. I tried swatching it and nothing. No product was coming off at all. It was like it had some sort of film on top of it. Once I scratched the surface though, I could then swatch it. If Im honest, this pissed me off. I feel like Ive had to wreck my product in order to use it. Its fair to say I wasn't happy.

Right shade swatched

Left shade swatched, after it had been scratched

Both shades together

Although this is again described as a duo blush. There's no way I could use the lighter shade as a blush. Possibly as a highlighter, although I haven't tried that yet. When both shades are used together though I do love the end results.

Overall I was pleased with my purchases, just not as pleased as I could have been. I do love the shades, Im just slightly dissapointed that I had to scratch the top layer off one of them, as that really shouldn't have been needed.

Both items can be purchased from Smooch priced at £8.50 each. Although there is a 50% sale off everything at the moment, so I payed £4.25 for each blusher.

Sure giveaway winners announced!

2011-08-21T16:31:00.000+01:00

Thank you to all that entered the sure giveaway. The three lucky winners are:

Strawberry Blonde

The Cosmetic Crave

Nicola

Congratulations! If you could all email your postal details to Joanne@beautyliciouslove.com and I'll pass them on to the Sure pr team, who will send out your prizes.

Sleek Make Up - Nude Collection.

2011-08-20T15:23:00.001+01:00

- 12 gorgeous nude eyeshadow
- Nude Blush
- Nude Pout Polish

As a nude lover, this collection is perfect for me. The blush is totally different from any I currently have, so Im really looking forward to using that. The only gripe I have is that the pout polish is not as tinted as I thought it would be. The swatch is very accurate and it is very sheer. I did think it would be more peachy.

The full collection is PERMANENT and will be available to purchase from August 31st at Superdrug stores and Sleek Make Up.

Stargazer blusher shade 09

2011-08-20T15:01:00.000+01:00

When it comes to blusher, my normally shades are peachy/pink shades or mauvish shades. My stash is full of basically the same kind of shades, just by different brands. Lately though I've been loving a shot of dolly pink on my cheeks and Stargazers 09 is the blush I've been reaching for the past couple of days.

To be fair, I don't know much about Stargazer products and this is actually the first one of their products that I've used, but for £3.50 Ive got no complaints at all and want to pick up some of the other 12 shades available. The packaging is simple black plastic, nothing special, but packaging doesn't bother me at all with products. Its about whats inside for me. I do like the fact it has a mirror included though and also a handy little brush. Obviously I don't use the brush for application, but if Im ever out and about and need a top up Im sure it would do the job. The pigmentation, colour pay off and finish cannot be faulted. It really lasts when on the cheeks and doesn't fade at all as the day goes on. It needs a tiny bit more work blending wise, compared to some of my high end blushers, but then again it'd be unfair to compare it to my NARS blushers for example, which cost 3 times as much.

Overall Im impressed and in love with the shade.

Stargazer products cannot be purchased at stargazer-products.com and New Look stores.

Finally!

2011-08-18T20:01:00.000+01:00

After months of lusting and deliberation, Dior Amber Diamond is finally mine! I love the look of a highlighter swept across my cheekbones, so it was obvious at some point that I would add the daddy of all highlighters - Amber Diamond, to my collection.

Pricey - but worth it. Im in love!

I think I need Rose Diamond in my life now.

*swoons*

Urban Decay 15-Year Anniversary Eyeshadow Collection

2011-08-16T20:03:00.000+01:00

Midnight Rodeo, Tainted, Deeper

Midnight 15, Junkshow, M.I.A

Vanilla, Omen, Ace

Flow, Evidence, Blackout

Chase, Deep End, Half Truth

My thoughts -

Absolutely love it! 15 shadows to celebrate 15 years of Urban Decay and each one is stunning! I never thought my naked palette could be beaten, but I like this a hell of a lot more. It contains all the right shades for a neutral eye and also all the right shades for a smokey eye, both of which are my staples. Not one of them lacks pigmentation for me, but then again UD shadows rarely do. The black didn't swatch as dark as I thought it would, but I will have to see how that is on the eyes to judge it fully. Its everything I wanted and more. I'm one very happy make up junkie!

Available from Debenhams priced at £39.00

Will you be purchasing?

Burberry Light Glow - Natural Blush in 02 Cameo

2011-08-16T10:17:00.000+01:00

If I had to choose my most favourite product when it comes to make up, it would be blusher without a doubt. There's just something about a new blusher that makes me go weak at the knees. Ok.. a little exaggeration but I do get a little excited when a new one is added to my collection.

The newest addition to my ever growing collection is Burberry Light Glow - Natural Blush in 02 Cameo

To look at the blush in the pan, I was a bit miffed as to why they chose to call the line of Blushes Light Glow - Natural Blush. It doesn't look like a blush that is going to give much of a glow and looks fairly matte and dull in the pan. However once on the cheeks, this blush really does come to life. The texture is so silky smooth and applies and blends so beautifully and it does indeed impart a subtle glow on the skin which looks like it is coming from within. Some blushers can just look sat on the skin, where as this really has the most amazing natural finish.

The shade Cameo is what I would call a mauvish pink. A shade that I think would flatter most skin tones and a shade that is a welcome addition to my large collection of pink/peach blushers. Although the price tag is pretty hefty, the quality is definitely apparent and the finish is beautiful. Worth every penny I would say.

Available to purchase from Harrods priced at £29.00

Giveaway time!!!! - Prizes to be won for THREE lucky readers! NOW CLOSED

2011-08-12T10:48:00.004+01:00

NOW CLOSED

Ok, so hosting my own giveaway gets me a little excited, but I just love being able to give something back to all my readers for their continuous support.

So whats up for grabs today?

Well the fantastic pr for SURE has kindly offered to give THREE of my readers two aerosols and two roll ons (each) of their fantastic breakthrough deodorant formulation, Motionsense.

Sure is the only deodorant to include the new motionsense system,which works by responding directly to body movement to release little bursts of freshness throughout the day. So we are kept fresh all day long, while being constantly on the go.

I've already put Motionsense to the test myself, a couple of months back and can tell you now that is it one fantastic deodorant. My full review can be found HERE.

To be in with a chance of winning, follow the simply rules below.

RULES

- Comment with "enter me".One comment per person. Please leave your email address.

- Giveaway ends 19th August (1 week today)

- Open to blog followers only. New followers are welcome to enter but please show your support for Beautylicious Love and follow with google friend connect (to the right) first.

- If you would like an extra entry, feel free to copy tweet the following - I've entered to win some SURE motionsense on @sweet_miss_Jo blog. Have you? - http://bit.ly/nAIY32

- UK only. Sorry international readers!

Good Luck!

Blinging the Nails and Eyes with Myface Cosmetics!

2011-08-11T21:20:00.000+01:00

Matching Nail Colour with Eye Colour? Admittedly its not something I have tried or even thought about doing it the past. I normally match my nail colour to my outfit in some way, or if its summer, a bright shade will normally be adorning my nails. Myface cosmetics are setting a whole new trend though with matching metallic eye bling and nail bling shades.

Now Metallic I can do on my nails, but on my eyes? that's a whole different story. The shades of Blingtone Eyeshadow and Lil'Bling Nail Polish I had the chance to try out are both named Bellbottom Blue - A mixture of deep, midnight and electric blues.

Like I said, Im all for Metallic on my nails and couldn't wait to try the Nail Polish, although first look at the eyeshadow scared me a little. You're talking to a girl here who is a firm neutral lover. However I was interested to see how the eyeshadow applied, as in the pan is does look very grainy and full of chunky glitter, which I thought would actually be a nightmare to apply.

I was wrong. I was surprised to find the shadow is actually buttery soft and applied with complete ease on my lids and was very easily blendable.

Although it's not a shade I would wear and it does clash with my eye colour, for someone who is not afraid of a bit of colour, well in this case a lot of colour, these shadows are definitely worth a look at.

The Lil' Bling Nail Polish is again another winner for me, not only is the shade absolutely stunning, as you will see on the images below, but the formulation of the polish is a complete winner.

Application was a breeze. I could have easily left my nails with one coat, but I do like to apply a second. I definitly plan to pick up a few more shades in the range and bling my nails out to full capacity!

myface lil bling nail chromes - £5.99 & matching blingtone eyeshadows - £9.99 at Boots stores nationwide, Boots.com and http://www.myfacecosmetics.com/.

Fashion - Sale bargains!

2011-08-11T14:18:00.000+01:00

I've been shopping the sales a lot recently, so thought I would share with you a few items Ive got my eye on in the K&Co women's sale section. If you're unsure what K&Co is, its the new name for Kays, Great Universal and Empire Stores, which were merged together this year.

Glam By Caprice Pleated Mesh Bustier Dress (was £75.00 Now £45.00)

South Sequin Front, Split Back Vest (was £49.00 Now £27.50)

Ravel Extreme Platform Leather Court Shoes (was £105.00 Now £73.00)

Fiorelli Black Virgina Medium Satchel Bag (was £115.00 Now £69.00)

Wonderbra Lace Push Up Bra (was £32.00 Now £22.00)

A woman can never have too many Wonderbra's!

What I like about K&Co is that they the latest trends in sizes 6 – 32, plus a range of tall, petite and plus size options. Tall is always a bonus for me, as Im 5ft 10". They also offer free delivery and returns and also buy now pay later options, which is actually quite dangerous for me as I get slightly carried away!

I need to get hinting at Gareth now for that bag. I love it!

Clarins Colour Definition Autumn Collection (PART 2)

2011-08-10T14:02:00.000+01:00

Following on from my previous post on the Clarins Fall Colour Definition Collection 2011, today I'll be showcasing the other products in the collection.

Limited Edition Colour Definition 3D Radiance Face Powder (£30.00)

"A striking compact containing a super-sheer, velvety-smooth, radiance enhancing and complexion perfecting face powder pressed and embossed with a four-toned colour pixel motif. The combination of beige and peach pixels evens and illuminates all skintones while the raised pink and lilac pixels add a fresh youthful glow. Presented in Clarins signature pale gold compact with mirror."

This is simply a gorgeous product. Not only to look at but also to use. I apply mine as an all over face powder which not only sets my foundation beautifully, but it also adds such a subtle difference and a really nice effect to my overall appearance. I also find that it seems to control my oil quite well too, which I was surprised about.

Instant Liner - (£19.50)

"An inky black liquid liner which is easy to apply with its fine, flexible, precision tapered foam applicator. Just one swift stroke defines eyes with a precise, sweeping black line which is quick drying and long lasting".

I find it quite hard to find a liquid eyeliner that Im happy with, most of the time I find that the applicator is either too soft and floppy for my liking, or too stiff and hard to use. I very rarely find and in between, but with this I have. I can literally apply this is one go, just one easy swipe and the line on my upper lid is completely perfect. The pigmentation is amazing, its definitely the blackest of the black, which lasts all day long and doesn't fade.

Fig and Grenadine Joli Rouge Lipstick - (£16.50)

Fig -

Grenadine -

"Two new shades of Clarins deeply moisturizing and colour-rich signature lipstick. The texture is soft and creamy and the colour finish vibrant and long-lasting. Plus the formula nourishes, repairs and protects with mango butter, acollagen-boosting tripeptide, pro-ceramides and vitaminE. The flavour and fragrance: blackcurrant with a touch of liquorice and vanilla".

I already own a couple of Joli Rouge Lipstick and I personally think they are one of the best Lipsticks on the market. They are so moisturising and creamy to apply. The colour payoff is fantastic and the longevity is also impressive. Grenadine is my perfect darker shade. It suits my complexion so well and Gareth seems to really love it on my lips also, which is always a bonus! Joli Rouge Lipsticks are well worth a look at when you are next near a Clarins counter and if you are looking for a nice berry red, then you will love Grenadine.

Peach Sorbet, Rosy Coral & Creamy Toffee Rouge Prodige Lipstick - (£17.00)

Peach Sorbet -

Rosy Coral -

Creamy Toffee -

"Three new shades of Clarins ultra-comfortable long lasting lipstick. A transparent High Fidelity Pearl polymer traps and reflects colour pigments to add depth and radiance. Thepolymer is also super-adherent for long wear.Ultra-fine plant oils leave a sheer ‘topcoat’ over the lip surface which smoothes, protects and adds glossy shine. While laminariaalga eextract, ceramides and waxes nourish, soften and keep lips supple and comfortable".

If you like the look of lip gloss but hate the feel of it, then Rouge Prodige Lipsticks could be your answer. They are semi sheer lipsticks but are so glossy and so shiny. Rosy Coral is an absolute gorgeous shade and I've been wearing it a lot during the day. The wear on these is fantastic and they really do hold out for a hell of a long time before a touch up is required, but it quite unusual for a sheer lipstick.

In general I really don't think you can go wrong with Clarins products. They are pure quality right down to the packaging. The Colour Definition collection is definitely my favourite collection so far and all of the items are worth taking a closer look at when near a Clarins Counter.

Don't forget to check out my first post on the collection here, featuring the six new eye quartets.

The Fairy HobMother visited me!!! - Get your wishes in!

2011-08-08T16:49:00.000+01:00

As many of you are probably aware, the Fairy Hobmother from Appliances Online has been doing her rounds lately and granting people a wish. After reading Get Lippies post on how her wish had been granted, I left a comment myself for a little wish (or two) and Ive had my wish granted!!!!!

Now obviously the Fairy HobMother doesn't have a huge budget, as she has been granting a lot of wishes and wants to carry on, so I think my wishes were a little bit out of her budget, but she couldn't have surprised me more by offering me a £75.00 amazon gift card to spend on anything I want! I cannot tell you how much this has made my day, I am absolutely over the moon, I really am. I haven't got a clue what Im going to spend it on yet, but boy am I going to have fun choosing!

Make sure you leave a comment below with your wishes and you never know, the Fairy HobMother could pay you a visit too!

Oh and if buy any chance, you are looking for a new washer (well you never know), they have some fab ones here.

My little weapon against spots - Origins Super Spot Remover

2011-08-08T10:04:00.000+01:00

I don't need a calender to remember when Aunt Flo is due to stay for the week, my face tells me. Guaranteed when its 'that time of the month' spots that resemble a second head will appear. Its not nice. I'd love to be able to have clear skin constantly, but that's never going to happen so I've learnt to live with my monthly bitch spots and have also found a product they hate - Origins Super Spot Remover.

Spots seriously hate this stuff, because it works miracles! It contains Salicylic Acid which gets to work on the spot straight away and speeds up the healing process and also Caffeine and Red Algae which both work to help visibly relieve redness of the spot and spot any pain from happening. I no longer suffer with red and sore spots since this was introduced into my life around 2 weeks ago. As soon as I can feel or see one appearing, I simply dap a tiny amount of gel on it and leave it to work over night. When I wake up in the morning, instead of having a mammoth, painful, red spot which is what I'd normally be faced with, Im left with just a tiny bump apparent on the skin, which no soreness, no redness and which completely vanishes after using the gel a few more times.

This really is my little wonder product and although the bottle is small at 10ml, such a tiny amount is needed that I know its going to last me absolutely ages. I think its really well priced at £12.00.

Available from Origins and Boots.

Impressed!! - Barbara Daly Lash Boost Mascara

2011-08-07T10:49:00.000+01:00

I love it when a product impresses me, especially when its a mascara. I buy so many mascaras and Im let down the majority of the time and find that their claims rarely live up and they don't give me the results I want with my lashes. I have a few mascaras which I love, well probably two or three, that I always going back to and repurchase. Another has just been added to that list, Barbara Daly Lash Boost Mascara.

Im assuming most of you are familiar with Barbara Daly products, but if not I'll give you a quick run down. Barbara Daly is a professional make up artist who's own line of products are sold at Tesco stores nationwide. She's worked with many celebrities, applied the make up for princess Diana on her wedding day and even has an OBE for for services to the cosmetic industry. So yeah, she's pretty famous.

The Lash Boost mascara is pretty different for any of my other mascaras, as It has a totally different and unique shaped curvy brush.

Apparently the brush has been developed to both thicken and lengthen lashes and that it does! The formulation is just perfect, not too wet and not too dry. Once I start applying, it instantly lengthens and separates my lashes and give them a much more thicker appearance. It really does apply like a dream, nice and evenly with no clumping whatsoever. I really love the natural but dramatic at the same time look this gives my lashes. It really emphasises them and gives me the lashes I wish I was born with naturally.

Excuse the messy application!

This is definitely one mascara I recommend you take a look at if you are ever in Tesco food shopping. Its cheaper than most on the market at £6.75 and it rivals my favourite high end mascara Lancome Hypnose with ease.

NEOM's NEW Sensuous Treatment Candle.

2011-08-03T20:10:00.000+01:00

After months of lusting over NEOM Candles and reading some fantastic reviews online, I've finally had the chance to try one and it has more than exceeded my expectations. The candle is question is their NEW Sensuous Treatment Candle.

"NEOM’s new Sensuous candle is designed for those needing to hibernate and de-stress. Ylang Ylang, frankincense and patchouli combine into a rich warm blend that eases tension and anxiety, working to create a romantic and sensual backdrop. Perfect for times when you’d rather lock yourself away from the outside world."

Firstly, I have to address the packaging. It is absolutely gorgeous and to be honest I didn't really want to remove my candle and burn it. Obviously once I lifted the lid on the box though, the scent immediately hit me and I couldn't wait for the evening to draw in so I could relax, place it on my fireplace and light it. I could tell instantly that NEOM are true to their word when they say all their candles are made with high quality ingredients. I also have to mention the quote which is written on the flip down part of the box. It's such a nice touch.

All the home candles have 3 wicks made of pure cotton, which I love as it means the candle burns down nice and evenly, with an amazing burn time of up to 55 hours. The scent that fills the room once I light it, is simply gorgeous. It really is a sensual smell which helps to totally relax me for the evening. A scent that not only fills the one room where the candle is lit either, it seems to travel all around the house.

All NEOM candles are made with the finest blend of organic ingredients, vegatable waxes and pure essential oils which also work as holistic treatments as they fill the room. No paraffin wax or synthetic scents are used in the candles, uunlike paraffin wax candles which are what are mainly sold these days, they burn without releasing harmful pollutants, which means no nasty chemicals or black smoke is emitted into the home or the environment.

My first experience with NEOM Candles gets a massive thumbs up from me and I will be definitely adding the Serenity Candle to my Christmas list (Its only 4 months away you know!) and treating some relatives to one. They make the perfect treat for yourself or as a present for someone else.

I'm off to lie in a nice hot bath now while my candle burns in the corner, but I'll leave you with the words of Kate Middleton (Duchess of Cambridge) - “I have been burning NEOM’s candles at supper parties and everyone always comments on the wonderful scents.” If they are good enough for Will's Mrs then they are good enough for Jo!

The Sensuous candles are available directly from the NEOM website both as Home Candles 3 wicks, 1kg and burning for up to 55 hours (£37.50) and Travel Candles 1 wick, 75g and burning for up to 20 hours (£13.00)

Added info! When you visit the website, a pop up appears offering 15% off your first order. Get shopping!

Toma “Any colour as long as it’s black…” collection

2011-08-03T10:30:00.001+01:00

If you're a fan of all things Black, especially on the nails then you seriously need to check out Toma's NEW Collection which is turning black from basic and boring to dramatic and intriguing.

L- R:

Black Onyx – black with a generous sprinkling of silver glitter.

Black on Black – pure black - the deepest and darkest of them all.

Prima Donna – black with a dusting of the finest red glitter.

Wicked Witch – mystical black with amethyst overtones.

Rocket – a vampirical black with a dark blood red tint.

I just have to show you a close up of Prima Donna and Black Onyx in the bottles, as they are both amazing!

On the nails starting from my thumb:

Prima Donna, Black Onyx, Wicked Witch, Black on Black, Rocket.

Prima Donna

Black Onyx

Wicked Witch

Black on Black

Rocket (sadly my camera never managed to pick up its true shade which is a gorgeous deep dark red)

This is actually my first time wearing any shade of black on my nails and Im absolutely loving each one of these shades. Without a doubt Black Onyx is my favourite though.

Toma Nail Polish retails at £7. 25. For stockist information or to view the TOMA Collections together with other MAD Beauty products: Visit http://www.madbeauty.com/

Collection 2000 Colour Match Foundation

2011-07-31T16:55:00.000+01:00

Collection 2000 have come to the rescue of women that suffer while trying to find the perfect foundation shade match, with their NEW Colour Match Foundation.

"Collection 2000 Colour Match Foundation contains a unique skin tone technology that adapts to the skin’s natural tone and works to enhance, correct and harmonise, delivering a subtle, flawless look that lasts.

With an additional hydrating complex and super safe SPF20 protection, you can count on Collection 2000 Colour Match Foundation to keep your skin moisturised, fresh and gorgeously glowing."

There's 6 shades available to choose from and you need to bear in mind that when they say the foundation will adapt to skins natural tone, this doesn't mean that you can purchase any of the 6 shades and expect it to just match. Thats not going to happen. Obviously you choose the shade closest to your skin tone.

I was sent two shades to try out and number 2 and number 3 natural. On first impressions fair ndid infact look like it would be too dark for me and I started to think that maybe number 1 would be more my shade. However once I started to apply it, it really did adapt perfectly to my skin tone and was a perfect match. The coverage is light to meduim, which actually doesn't benefit me at the moment, as my skin is in a bit of a state with hormal breakout, so I need a more heavier coverage. I am looking forward to when my skin clears though, as the finish leaves a quite impressive dewy look to the skin. As its so light is it also perfect for the summer weather were having lately.

I do think this is more suitable for those with Normal/Combination skin as I was a little dry on my forehead (through Retinol Use) and the foundation seemed to emphisise my dryness.

You will like this if:

- You like a light/meduim coverage
- You have normal/combination or oily skin
- You like a dewy finish

Skip this if:

- You prefer a heaveir coverage
- You have dry skin or suffer with dry patches
- You prefer a matte finish

RRP £5.99 Available nationwide in Superdrug from 31 August and Boots from 7 September

Clarins Colour Definition Autumn Collection (PART 1)

2011-07-30T00:12:00.000+01:00

Clarins Colour Definition Autumn Collection is due for release during August and its a biggie! The collection consists of 13 brand new items, all of which I have to show you but Im going to have to split it up into two posts so not to overload you with images and swatches.

Today I want to share with you the collection of six Eye Quartet Long Lasting Mineral Powder Palettes which will retail at £30.00 each.

Each Palette contains four toning shades of satin and iridescent long lasting, super silky and blendable pressed mineral powder eyecolour.

Presented in Clarins signature pale gold compact with mirror and two quality foam tipped applicators; one for defining the eye and one for shading and blending.

01 Pastels

02 Nudes

03 Rosewood

04 Indigo

05 Violet

06 Graphite

I honestly cannot choose a favourite. I love every single one of them! Any of them catch your eye?

The rest of the collection will be coming soon!

Gorgeous Gift Sets from MeMeMe

2011-07-29T12:40:00.000+01:00

MeMeMe have just released 10 gorgeous gift sets all presented in luxury rigid presentation boxes. Perfect for if you have Birthdays coming up and are stuck on what to buy. The sets include the most coveted products of the MeMeMe range and are all available exclusively at Argos Stores Nationwide and Argos online.

Pure Indulgence Collection (£29.99)

"This Pure Indulgence Collection contains everything you need for the ultimate pampering experience with body polishing puff, Aromatherapy bath oil, Softly Softly hand and nail cream, nail file, Innocent Nail Gloss, Seventh Heaven moisturising primer and a stunning scented candle".

Nail Care Collection (£19.99)

"For the ultimate at home manicure treat your loved one to the Nail Care Collection containing buffer, nail file, Softly Softly hand and nail cream together with the best selling Innocent and Graceful Nail Glosses and features the New rapid dry Prime and Protect base and finishing gloss".

Mini Nail Collection (£14.99)

"The Mini Nail Collection if the essential girl on the go gift set containing six handy sized nail glosses in a range of bang on trend colours".

Best Seller Collection (£15.50)

"Treat makeup junkies to these best selling gift sets containing MeMeMe’s hero products including the Blush Me blush box, Nail Gloss and Light Me Up Lipgloss. Available in Rouge and Pink".

Goddess Collection (£29.99)

"Let your goddess glow this summer with this essential collection of best selling golden goodies, including the Goddess Eyes Baked Quad Eyeshadow Palette, Sunbeam illuminating highlighter, Bronze Shimmer Stack, Elegant Nail Gloss and Light Me Up Lipgloss in Captivate".

Create the Look Collection (£15.99)

"The ultimate kit for aspiring makeup artists; these four essential Create The Look gift sets contain everything you need to create the hottest looks this season each containing one Eye Palette, Eye Line Kohl Eyeliner, Eye Sweep precision pen eye liner and Fat Cat Volumising Mascara with a step-by-step guide to achieving these bang on trend looks. Available in Drama Eyes, Goddess Eyes, Ocean Eyes and Smokey Eyes".

I think I have my nieces Christmas Gifts Sorted. Its never too early to start!

All available from Argos.co.uk

Revlon Premium Brush Collection

2011-07-28T10:27:00.000+01:00

There's a whole new range of brushes in town Ladies, which are purse friendly and seriously impressive!

Revlon Premium Brush Collection.

The collection consists of 7 brushes in total, 6 of which I have been suing for around the past week. They are described as ultra soft, all natural hair for professional results. They are perfect for someone who is looking to purchase some good quality brushes but without the hefty price tag. They are also perfect for travelling, as they are a lot smaller than most standard brushes, which I really do prefer as I feel like I have more control when using them.

Powder Blush (£9.99)

The powder brush is quite smaller than the rest of my powder brushes, but still works just as good. I never actually thought I would like a smaller powder brush, as I do like mine to be fairly big, but this is just so easy to use and picks up and applies powder smoothly.

Foundation Brush (£8.99)

If you are a fan of No.7's foundation brush then you will love this one, as its virtually the same, only the head slightly smaller which I prefer. It applies my liquid foundation beautifully, with no streak just a perfect even coverage.

Concealer Brush (£5.99)

I love this brush! I was looking for a small concealer brush for a while, one that was perfect for the inner corner of my eyes and now I've found it. Most of the other concealer brushes Ive tried, Ive found that they have been too firm for my liking, but this is so soft and works a treat for my inner eye corners and also them pesky little spots.

Contour Shadow Brush (£5.99)

This is very similar to my MAC 219, which I adore, so Im really pleased to find a dupe at such a reasonable price. Its fantastic for crease work and also works well at blending.

Double Ended Smokey Eye Brush (£5.99)

This is a two in one slanted eyeliner and smudge brush. I love the eyeliner brush for applying shadow along my upper lash line and also gel eyeliners and the smudge brush I use to apply a bit of shadow just under my eyes.

Blush Brush (£8.99)

Just like the powder brush this is super soft and the perfect size for the apples of my cheeks. It picks up just the right amount of blusher and applies it perfectly.

There is also a covered Lip Brush (£.5.99) which I don't have but Ive added a picture below.

All brushes are available to purchase now from larger Superdrug stores.

The £4.00 palette EVERY woman needs to own!

2011-07-27T08:42:00.000+01:00

MUA Pro Heaven & Earth Palette

12 shades of Neutral Eye shadows all in one handy palette
Priced at under £5.00
Pigmentation and quality is excellent
Shades are super soft and apply and blend like a dream

For £4.00 this palette is a must have. I have been using mine daily and I am well and truly in love. If you haven't purchased this yet, then you are seriously missing out. Head to Superdrug and BUY!

A few make up faves...

2011-07-27T07:42:00.000+01:00

I haven't done a favourites post in SO long, so I thought I'd share what make up products Ive been loving lately.

Benefit the Porefessional

I remember seeing this product first put to use on Hell Candy's blog and Immediately thought "WOW". This stuff truly works. Its like polyfiller for pores!

Clarins Mosaique Summer Bronzing Compact

If you have not yet snapped up this bronzer then I urge you to do so! Not only is the packaging gorgeous but the bronzer itself is just perfect.No orange tones at all, it just gives a beautiful sun kissed, natural finish.

LOreal Lash Architect 4D Mascara

My mascara of choice at the moment. I haven't actually used another mascara since getting this one. Its perfect for me. It just seems to do everything I want. It lengthen, adds volume and really holds the curl.

Rituals Eye and Cheek Palette in Sunglow Peach

I was recently sent quite a few Rituals products and this was immediately the stand out product for me.Its absolutely gorgeous! As the name suggests, it can be used on both the eyes and cheeks, and I use it on both. For the cheeks I love swirling my brush in all the shades for a gorgeous peach glow and for my eyes I love the white shade as a highlight shade and the brown shade as an all over lid colour.

Shiseido Translucent Face Powder

My powder of choice at the moment. I plan to do a full review of this as I love it. So keep your eyes peeled!

Max Factor Burnt Bark Eyeshadow

I love my taupes and this one is gorgeous. I've been using this a hell of a lot lately.

MAC Studio Fix Concealer

I purchased this months and months ago and originally used it to cover blemishes. However recently Ive actually been using it as an under eye concealer, which works so well when used with my Sigma F40 Brush. Used without a brush I find it a little hard to work with under my eyes, but with a brush it makes such a difference.

MeMeMe Blush Me in Rouge

I don't know why it took me so long to get my hands on this blush, but once I did, I fell in love. A gorgeous peachy/pink.

There we have it, a few products I've been seriously impressed with over the past weeks.

LOVE! Ojon's NEW Colour Sustain Shampoo and Conditioner.

2011-07-25T10:55:00.000+01:00

Ever since I started to colour my hair, I've been looking for effective products to maintain my colour. Colouring hair is costly and time consuming, the last thing I want is to watch my new colour wash down the drain every time I wash it. Plus the effects of dying the hair constantly are not good. It strips the hair of all its natural oils and leaves mine pretty dry.

The latest colour protecting products Ive been using are Ojon's NEW Colour Sustain Shampoo and Conditioner.

Please excuse my awful picture quality. Harvey (my two year old) has been messing with my camera and changed all the settings!

If you're not familiar with Ojon, all of their products are made with natural ingredients and they are also an animal ingredient free company. Massive thumbs up from me! This hair on my head has got to last me a damn long time, so knowing a product is jam packed full of natural ingredients to nourish and protect makes it even more of a pleasure to use.

The Color Sustain range contains a breakthrough technology that helps seal in color and keep it vibrant for up to 6 weeks. Each products contains pure Ojon oil, nature’s hair-repairing golden elixir, plus Tahitian Monoi, Sunflower Seed Oil and Rosemary Leaf Extract lushly lathers to remove dulling residue and build-up, revealing luminous, multi-dimensional, shiny hair. And that it does! My dark brown locks have never looked so good! The shine is amazing after using both products and my hair feels in better condition that it has done for a long time.

The shampoo is luxurious, creamy and rich and lathers so well. It is also water repellent so no more watching that colour disappear down the drain. Colour is more long lasting, richer and has a much more vibrant appearance. The condition partners the shampoo so well and is just the right consistency, its not too heavy so that it weighs my hair down nor is it too light where it basically has no effect at all. It works wonders on my horrible dry ends of hair.

The full range also contains contains a colour protecting cream and a hairspray although Im not sure if this is available in the UK, but I will find out as I want it!

All products can be purchased from House Of Fraser with the prices shown below.

Ojon Colour Sustain Shampoo, 250ml £18.00
Ojon Colour Sustain Conditioner, 250ml £19.50
Ojon Colour Sustain Protecting Cream, 100ml £22.00

Summer fashion at Very.co.uk

2011-07-25T09:50:00.001+01:00

Admittedly we haven't had a lot of sun this summer, but Im still hoping that's going to change and hopefully we'll have a scorching hot August. I have summer clothes begging to be worn and also have my eye on so many new pieces that I want to purchase. I've been shopping a lot at Very lately so I thought I would share with you some of the item I'm lusting over at the moment.

Love Label Bandeau Top (£12.00)

I will never have enough of these kind of tops in my wardrobe

Love Label Heart Dipped Hem Vest (£16.00)

Such a gorgeous top! Teamed with a nice pair of denim shorts.

South Tape Embroidered Denim Shorts (£20.00)

Perfect to wear with the above top.

South Lila Rose Trim Sandals (Was £30.00 Now £15.00)

Summer wouldn't be summer without sandals!

And just in case I decide to be brave and hit a beach somewhere....

Resort Shapewear Bandeau (£16.00)

More Very fashion can be viewed and purchased directly on the website, where free returns are offered, next day delivery and buy now pay later options.

This post is in association with Very.

Current hand products

2011-07-24T19:10:00.001+01:00

My hands have been in shocking condition lately. Im not exaggerating either. They've been dry, peeling, rough, just horrible. My face looks 30 and my hands have been looking 60. Its my own fault they have been such a state though, as I just cannot stick to using hand creams. I went through a period about 6 months ago, where I really stuck at it and my got my hands as smooth as a baby's bum, but once they were in good condition, I started to get lazy again. I have the kind of hands that need to be treated all year round I think. For the past few weeks, I got my self into a routine again, so I wanted to share with you the FAB products, that I've been using day and night.

Creams.

Bliss high intensity hand cream (£18.40)

I use this all through the day. It smells DIVINE, which is such a positive as it means I cannot stop applying it! Its incredibly light and just melts into my skin. The ingredients of soothing glycerin, nourishing grape seed extract, hydrating macadamia nut oil, softening vitamin B5 and antioxidant apple extract, leaves my hands feeling super soft to the touch, which last a good few hours before I need a top up. It is expensive at £18.40 for 75ml, but I personally think its totally worth it. I can go through cheaper hand creams so fast, as I find I have to constantly re-apply, but with this I don't. A little goes a long way and keeps my hands silky soft for hours.

Elemis Wild Lavender Hand Lotion (£16.00)

I apply this just before bed. The Elemis Sp@Home Body Soothing range is about slowing down the pace at the end of the day, taking time to nourish the body and de-stress the mind. Its all about relaxation, which is the main reason why I choose to use this at night time just before bed. I find the lavender really helps me to relax and wind me down. I find some Lavender products can be a bit too strong for my liking, but the scent of this is just perfect and as I always sleep with one hand under my cheek, the scent really does help me to drift off into a nice sleep. Basically its a two in one product for me. The richly hydrating jojoba and gold of pleasure oil soften and moisturise my hands over night, so I wake up to gorgeous soft hands and the lavender helps me drift off to sleep. Again, its not a cheap product, but its a whopping big 195ml bottle, so its definitely worth £16.00.

Treatments.

Bliss Glamour Gloves (£36.80)

Admittedly not the most attractive of items and definitely not the cheapest, but they do work a treat! and truly gives hands some much needed pampering. They are self-activating gloves which are ceramind gel lined with grapeseed oil, Olive Oil and Vitamin E and last up to 50 uses. I normally use mine once or twice a week for 20 minutes at a time, to give my hands some serious pampering. They can also be used in conjunction with hand cream if hands are overly parched and dehydrated, for a really intensive treatment. I would say these need to be used if you are a regular hand cream user, they are more of a quick fix. They do leaves my hands nice and soft after use, but they are a treatment, I couldn't just use these twice a week without any hand cream being applied at all and expect my hands to stay in top top condition. I do find them to be effective and they do offer a fairly long-lasting boost for dry/aging hands.

Flikkerts Vitamin E Oil (£5.99)

This is a new product that was sent to me around a week ago. I had a twitter conversation with a lovely lady called Hilary who works for the company called Flikkerts, which is a family run company specialising in natural bathing and skincare. Hilary explained to me how Flikkerts Vitamin E oil had worked wonders on her hands and offered to send me a bottle to try. I've never tried using an oil on my hands before, I do love the benefits of a good body oil, so I was keen to see how effective the Vitamin E oil was on my hands. As its an oil, I choose to use it at night, twice a week. Oily hands during the day are obviously not good. Vitamin E is an antioxidant which is an excellent moisturiser and extremely beneficial for dry, damaged or ageing skin. Seen as my hands are both dry and ageing, its right up my street. As mentioned I apply this at night twice a week and there has been a noticeable difference in the overall appearance of my hands. They look a lot more healthier looking and smoothed out with less creases. It doesn't feel particularly nice going to sleep with oily hands, but I see the oil as a much needed drink for my hands and it does work wonders. The best thing about the product is the price. A 100ml bottle is only £5.99! Considering Vitamin E oil is a multi purpose product too, that's damn good value for money.

Stockists:

Bliss high intensity hand cream, Bliss Glamour Gloves and Elemis Wild Lavender Hand Lotion are all available to purchase from http://www.timetospa.co.uk/.

Flikkerts Vitamin E Oil is available directly from the Flikkerts website.

Jo asks....

2011-07-23T20:46:00.000+01:00

What Moisturiser (day and night) are you currently using?

Accessorize Summer Nails SWATCHED

2011-07-22T14:14:00.000+01:00

Following on from my previous post on the HOT new summer colours from Accessorize, I've now swatched them, so you can see them in all their glory.

L-R: Sunny Day, Teal, Zesty Orange

I decided to also swatch the other two Accessorize polishes that I have. L-R: Midnight Blue, Electric Purple

All available from Superdrug stores nationwide priced at £4.00 each.

Famous by Sue Moxley Baked Bronzers

2011-07-21T14:18:00.001+01:00

A girl can never have too many bronzers, that's what I tell myself anyway, which is why more and more keep being added to my collection. Going out without bronzer on would be like going out naked for me, but probably less scary. I tend to resemble a corpse without any bronzer on and it's not a look I like.

The two newest bronzers to be added to my collection are from the Famous range by top make up artist Sue Moxley.

Famous By Sue Moxley Baked Bronzers.

The first thing that catches the eye is the sleek mirrored compact, which screws off to reveal the product and also a handy mirror in the lid. I do like nice sturdy packaging, just in case I do need to travel with my products.

The bronzers themselves come in 4 shades, so whether you're looking for natural glow in the sun deprived winter or a hot summer kissed glow, then there's a shade to suit all. The two shades I have are shade 2 - Hawaii and shade 3 -Tahiti (you don't know how much them shades names make me want to book a holiday!)

L-R: Hawaii, Tahiti

The baked texture of these bronzers is absolutely gorgeous and without a doubt match up to MAC Mineralized Skinfinish's in terms of quality, bearing in mind these are only £6.00 each! They apply beautifully, with a nice smooth application, and are very easily blendable which is what I definitely look for in a bronzer. I don't want to end up with dark patches of colour which is impossible to blend. They are formulated with a hint of shimmer, which is not over powering, but instead just adds a lovely effect. Shade 2 Hawaii seems to have slightly more shimmer than shade 3 Tahiti, so I prefer to wear this lightly dusted across my cheekbones.

For £6.00 these are without a doubt top quality products and I definitely plan to pick up the other two shades in the range.

Available to purchase from Superdrug Store Nationwide.

Accessorize Summer Nails

2011-07-20T14:30:00.000+01:00

Summer isn't summer without some bright shades of polish and Accessorize have nailed it (no pun intended!) with their Summer nail colours!

Top to bottom: Sunny Days, Teal, Zesty Orange

All three shades are bang on trend for this summer! I personally love orange shades on my nails, but yellow has been big business lately ever since Chanel released the much talked about Mimosa. Chanel polishes are a bit over my budget though so I'll be going for the much purse friendly option and giving Accessorize Sunny Days a whirl.

Available to purchase from Superdrug and Accessorize stores and online priced at £4.00 each.

Put your friend on Cloud Nine - Enter the FAB Cloud Nice competition to win prizes for you and your friend!

2011-07-19T13:54:00.000+01:00

Cloud Nine currently have a FANTASTIC competition running on their facebook page, with some serious prizes up for grabs.

Do you have that one special friend that you think is special in every way and deserves some pampering? Cloud Nine are giving the chance for two of their loyal fans to visit a cloud nine salon of their choice for the ultimate lush and lavish pampering!!!

Both you and your friend will be given an expenses paid makeover courtesy of Cloud Nine. It doesn't end there though Ladies. The deserving friend will also receive TheO – Gift of Volume (worth £199.95) and the friend who nominated gets a Cloud Nine Iron of their choice!!!!

Entry is as follows:

1. Simply upload of photo of you and your friend on the Cloud Nine facebook wall

2. Tell them why you and your friend deserve to be put on cloud nine

3. Get your friends to "like" it, the one with the most "likes" wins!

How easy is that!!!! What are you waiting for Ladies, head over to the Cloud Nine facebook, which can be found HERE and get uploading! Be quick ladies, as the competition is only running till 31st July and the winners will be announced on 1st August.

Keep your eyes peeled later this week too, as I will be running my own competition to win yourself a fab Cloud Nine Micro Iron!

Current Eye Creams - Origins and Vichy

2011-07-19T10:37:00.000+01:00

If you are a regular reader, you'll know I swap and change my eye creams often. I've found some fantastic ones over the past couple of years and have re-purchased a few particular ones many times. However, its hard to stick to one product continuously where there are so many new and existing products out there which are begging to be tried and tested.

I wanted to share my thoughts on the two eye creams that Ive been using for the past two weeks, as I am really impressed with both.

Day - Origins Starting Over Age-Erasing Eye Cream with Mimosa (£25.00)

"Clinically tested, our advanced Mimosa and Fennel Seed formula helps to reduce the appearance of eye area lines and wrinkles. It helps to smooth crepiness on eyelids so makeup looks fresher".

As soon as this was released, I was interested. I have used the Starting Over Moisturiser in the past and was really pleased with it, so when the eye cream was released, I knew it would have to be tried and tested. The product contains the same fantastic natural ingredients as the facial moisturiser, so I knew I would love it before I even tried it, if Im honest. Its very lightweight to use and absorbs nice and quickly, so make up can be applied near enough straight after use. I find it moisturises really well and keeps my under eye area nice and hydrated all day long and also seems to plump the area too, resulting in my under eye area not looking so puffy. It also does help to smooth out the crepiness which I unfortunately suffer with on my upper eyelids. If you are looking for a new light and effective eye cream for day time use, then this is definitely worth a try.

Night - Vichy LiftActiv Retinol HA Eyes (£22.00)

"The hardworking formulations visibly targets 3 wrinkle types for immediate results. Deep wrinkles are reduced, filled and the entire eye area is brightened. Dehydration lines are replumped with moisture. The appearance of future wrinkles is delayed.

Enriched with Retinol+A Complex combined with Hyaluronic Acid. Rich gel texture that is both nourishing and fresh with a non-greasy finish. The texture is better adapted to the eye contour area with soft focus ingredients to help diminish the look of wrinkles".

I introduced Retinol based products into my skincare routine a few months ago, the thought of hitting 30 started to scare me, so I decided it was time to get serious with my skincare and introduce the daddy of all anti ageing ingredients into my routine. Retinol is basically a form of Vitamin A that plays an important role in anti-aging skin care. The purest and most active form of Vitamin A - Retinol, aids in the resurfacing and rejuvenating of skin and has been proven to work in clinical tests. I've been using this product now for around a month and Im so pleased with it and have so much to say about it, that Im just going to bullet point it and lists the benefits as simply as I can.

Non greasy and applies and absorbs beautifully
Caused no reaction to the under eye area which some retinol based products can do.
My eyes look plump, hydrated and feel moists to the touch every morning.
The few fines lines I have, have definitely been smoothed
My whole under eye area is looking and feeling a lot tighter each day

I really cannot fault this eye cream in any way. It's delivering results, making it a pleasure to use. If you are looking to introduce some retinol based products into your routine then this is well worth taking a look at. I should also point out the packaging of the product. Its important for creams that contain active ingredients to be kept fresh and protected from air and light at all times. The unique nozzle of this, which when you press on the tip of your finger, it auto dispenses, is a fantastic and unique way of making sure the ingredients are kept protected.

Purchase information:

Origins Starting Over Age-Erasing Eye Cream - Origins online and counters nationwide.
Vichy LiftActiv Retinol HA Eyes - Escentual.com