Dresses everywhere

I moaned on Twitter recently that I couldn't find any dresses that I liked in the shops - well, that's all changed now, I don't know if the shops are getting their Christmas stuff in or what but I could literally buy dresses all day long at the minute.

1. ASOS Metal Work Print Bodycon Dress - £40
2. Warehouse Black Chiffon and Leather Dress - £140 (cheaper version from New Look here*)
3. Missguided Bonitta Origami Mini Dress* - £19.99
4. Missguided Maia Chiffon Cross Over Mini Dress In Nude* - £29.99
5. boohoo.com Megan Long Sleeve Wrap Dress* - £20
6. Love Shift Dress with Lace Insert - £34
7. ASOS Metallic Panel Shift Dress - £55
8. Lipsy Long Sleeve Tribal Midi Dress - £50
9. River Island Blue Metal Plate Tunic Dress - £40
10. River Island Pink Embellished Sleeve Bodycon Dress - £40

I think 2, 3 and 7 are my favourites but I really like them all!  Now, I just need to win the lottery or something...

Vita Liberata pHenomenal 2-3 Week Tan Dark Review - does it really last 2-3 weeks?!

I'm sure I've said this before but I love the look of being tanned but I'm so lazy when it comes to a beauty routine that I can't be bothered with the whole fake tanning rigmarole every week or more.  So when I heard about Vita Liberata's pHenomenal tan which promises to last 2-3 weeks a little while ago I was very interested!  I prefer to use up one product before moving on to the next one so I waited until I used up my existing tanning products before splashing out on this.  It isn't cheap at all but if it does actually last two weeks or so then I'm happy to pay that.

This tan was really easy to apply with a tanning mitt, it's a mousse formula which I find the easiest to use anyway, and I actually felt like it was really quick.  Be warned that this also dries very very quickly which is a good thing as it means you're not hanging around for ages but it also means that any mistakes you make will show up so be careful - the guide colour does help with this though!  The tan comes with really comprehensive guide of how to apply it so if you're not confident about tanning then this would probably be helpful.  It smells pretty nice too but has an undertone of tan smell to it.

To extend the length of our tan you need to wash it off 3-24 hours after applying with just water and then reapply the tan, apparently one application will last 5 days, 2 applications will last 7 days and 3 applications will last 10 days approx.  Not sure what I make of this, would this not work if you did it with any tan? In my head - and because I didn't do that much research I just assumed you applied it as normal and it lasted for 2 weeks but never mind!

I have to say, considering I used the dark version, I was surprised at how not dark it was when I washed the first coat off (I feel like a fence) - I'm not into the Ronseal/Oompa Loompah look but this was a nice, natural glow rather than what I'd call a dark tan.  The second coat definitely looked darker but unfortunately was a lot patchier too - I wasn't happy with how the tan looked on the backs of my hands or on my ankles/feet at all.  I don't think it was my application either as I never have these problems with tan ordinarily.  Also, because everything specifically says not to apply moisturiser beforehand I found that it really clung to my knees and elbows.

This tan didn't really last the recommended week for 2 applications (I couldn't be bothered subjecting myself to a third coat), it was kind of patchy and faded by about day 4 or 5.  I wouldn't buy this again but I'll still use it up (one coat only) until it's finished before going back to my usual Xen Tan*.  This didn't really live up to the hype for me, which is a bit disappointing.

If you want to try this out and see if it works for you, it's available from feelunique.com* for £37.

Paul Mitchell Flexible Style Fast Drying Sculpting Spray Review

I'm constantly looking for ways to tame my fairly unruly, damaged hair as it tends to go frizzy easily (especially if there's an millimetre of moisture in the air - when I go on holiday I'm like Monica in Friends in that episode where they go to the Caribbean!) but I don't want it to look like I've got loads of product in, I just want people to think I've got naturally great hair.

Step in Paul Mitchell Flexible Style Fast Drying Sculpting Spray.  It's ridiculously easy to use, you just spray it on to damp hair then blowdry as usual (you can apply it to dry hair too).  I use it most on the roots of my hair underneath to create volume and lift and it really does work for me as well as keeping my style in place and looking shiny.  It smells good too, kind of watermelon-y but not overpoweringly so.  Another good thing is that it has UV sunscreen so I suspect it would be good if you were on holiday to stop your hair getting too damaged.

It really does help to get some shape and hold in my hair without actually making my hair feeling crispy, sticky or full of product.  It feels really weightless and you can still run your fingers through your hair without them getting caught which is nice.  I actually find as well that this works well to refresh my hair too if I don't want to wash it but it's gone a bit fuzzy while I've been asleep.  I just lightly spritz this on and really quickly blowdry my hair with a round brush and it really perks it up as it's reactivated by heat or water.

Paul Mitchell Fast Drying Sculpting Spray is available from wantthelook.com for £11.50

John Frieda Full Repair Shampoo and Conditioner Review

I was getting a bit bored with the shampoo and conditioner that I was using so I was sent these to review at the right time.

These smell lovely, lather really well (so you don't need to use loads) and feel really creamy on the hair.  After using them my hair was really smooth, full and shiny - if you like big, groomed hair then this is probably the shampoo for you.  I hate to say but I didn't have massively high expectations for these but I was definitely pleasantly surprised.  My only criticism was that I didn't really feel like the conditioner smoothed my hair that much at the ends, but that might be because I desperately need it cut and actually it's probably part of making your hair big and full.

The other thing I found is that these products aren't heavy and don't make my hair go greasy quickly at the roots which can sometimes be the case when I try new shampoos.  I've actually managed to leave my hair an extra day without washing it (not out of choice, I just got up late yesterday!) which I couldn't usually do, I needed a tiny spritz of dry shampoo and I was good to go.  I wouldn't normally dare do this, especially not without tying my hair up.  I left it down which was a nice change.

I would definitely buy these again in future, they seem to work well for my dry, damaged hair and are at a price that won't break the bank.  These are currently on offer (2 for £8) on Boots.com* so if you want to give them a go now might be the time!

John Frieda are also giving away hundreds of prizes on their Facebook page, like their page to find out more!

Follow me...

I've taken the plunge into Google+ so just thought I'd remind you of the ways you can follow Beauty and the Blogger:

Google+

Bloglovin'

Twitter

Pinterest

I don't use Instagram, YouTube or Vine (yet) but you'll be the first to know if I do!

I bought hair extensions for £6.99 on Ebay...

Just lately I've really been hankering after getting some proper hair extensions again.  I first had hair extensions in about 10 years ago before they were really popular and readily available everywhere like they are now and they were ridiculously expensive, only one salon in town did them (I had them woven in) and the ones I had weren't overly long.  As a kid I had really thick hair but from using bleach on my hair and quite a bit of heat styling over the years it's got quite a bit thinner which is disappointing, my Mam has got really thick hair still!

I then found another woman who lived near me who would weave extensions in if you provided the hair.  I went a bit ridiculous and wore 24 inch ones for a few years!  It was expensive, time consuming there was a lot of maintenance and I shed more hair than an alsatian.  This is the stuff I tell myself whenever I get the urge to get extensions put in properly.

Following on from that I used to wear clip ins quite a lot, mainly on nights out and for special occasions. I love that extensions are way easier to get hold of now.  I decided that rather than buying some really expensive extensions that I would hardly wear that I would go low budget and if they weren't right I hadn't wasted a lot of money.

So I found these on Ebay, they're synthetic but do a really wide range of colours (important to me as I have so many different blondes in my hair now), come in wavy or straight and are all on one single clip in.  The ones I got were trio blonde/wavy/24 inches which was a bit longer than I wanted as I really only wanted them for volume so I trimmed about 4 inches off the bottom of them.  It made them look a bit better as without the trim they looked a bit straggly and synthetic.

For £6.99 these are actually ok and definitely wearable for the odd night out, they don't look too shiny either and for synthetic extensions the colour is really good - not too Barbie blonde.  They're really easy to put in as well as there's only one row of clips.  They haven't quite got rid of my urges to go and get loads of hair either woven or put in with micro-rings but they've calmed me down for now.

New Jessica Nails Collections

As you will probably know by now, I absolutely love nails and just recently I've been looking at the Jessica range, especially the Effects Glitzy collection and the A Night at the Opera Collection.

The Effects Glitzy collection contains all different types and colours of glitter - really on trend right now!  There's bar glitter, large hexagonal pieces, holo glitter and some normal glitter too.  These would be great as nail art over your normal polish or even on their own I think?  With some of these I think an accent nail would work really well.

The Night at the Opera collection isn't one that I've seen before but I absolutely love the mix of glitter and semi matte finishes, especially in the more muted, wintery colours that mean they don't look too much.  The glitter looks really fine and subtle too.

I definitely want to try these out, I think that some of them would be great for toes.  I might even treat myself to a specialist Jessica pedicure or actually I think that gel nails are a great alternative as they last a bit longer so I might get gel toes put on?  I'm a bit lazy when it comes to painting my toes and tend to only change the colour if I know I'm going to have my toes out in sandals or something.  You can find your nearest gel manicure salon here if you're thinking about something longer lasting.

Have you ever tried Jessica polishes?  What did you think of them?

* Sponsored post

2013 Beauty Advent Calendars - which will you count down with?

UPDATED 16/11/2013

For the last few years I've absolutely coveted the Selfridges Beauty Advent Calendar but usually while I'm dithering about spending £84 on a load of random beauty products I'm not sure I want it sells out!  It's out again this year but there are also some cheaper alternatives so I thought I'd do a little round up of what's available.

Christmas Advent Calendar

This is the original beauty advent calendar which brings you minis from high end brands such as Viktor & Rolf, YSL, Kiehls, Giorgio Armani, Lancome and Maison Martin Margiela to name but a few.  It comes with a luxury price tag too - available from Selfridges* for £84.  I'd hurry if you're wanting it, usually this sells out pretty quickly!

Boots Beauty Advent Calendar

I've actually bought this one to try and end my cravings for these types of calendars!  It's the cheapest one available but still not bargain bucket at £30.  It contains £65 worth of product from brands such as Botanics, Carmex, Juicy, Ghost, Nails Inc, Mavala, Soap & Glory, Rimmel, Seventeen, Umberto Giannini, Paco Rabanne and Vichy.  Way more at my price point but still some fab stuff.  Available now from Boots.com* for £30 - apparently you get triple points on any full size purchases you make that you tried in the calendar, excellent!

Ciate Mini Mani Month

This is a Selfridges exclusive and contains 17 of Ciate's best selling mini paint pots, 4 mini Caviar blends and 3 exclusive Paint Pot glitter shades.  I think this looks fantastic but as I haven't tried Ciate polishes much before, this would feel like a bit of a baptism of fire I think!  This is available from Selfridges* £42.

Benefit Countdown to Love

This pop art inspired calendar comes filled with Benefit goodies so perfect if you're already a big fan of the brand.  There's a full contents list on the website, it'll be out in the next few weeks for £50.  I wanted a mix of brands rather than just one so didn't really fancy this.

You Beauty Advent Calendar

This one costs a relatively budget friendly £49.95 (plus postage for non members as it's only available online) and includes a mixture products worth £240 from Caudalie, ESPA, Dermalogica, Leighton Denny, Sisley and Stila.  I absolutely love Dermalogica and Leighton Denny so my ears pricked up a little bit with this one!  I think if I hadn't already bought the Boots one, I may well have got this even though it's slightly more expensive.  You can buy the You Beauty Advent Calendar here.

Freedom at Topshop

Now, I know that strictly speaking this isn't a beauty advent calendar but I think it's rather interesting!  It's by Freedom at Topshop and contains pieces of jewellery for each day - it contains 12 pairs of earrings, 4 bracelets and 8 necklaces.  I'm a bit picky with jewellery so chances are I wouldn't like about 75% of what's in it but if you're a bling fan I think this is great!  You can always share/give away anything you don't like.   This is available from Topshop for £28.

If you still want a chocolate advent calendar but something a bit fancier than Dairy Milk I'd recommend the Hotel Chocolat ones, so yummy!  In other news, there's apparently no Liz Earle calendar this year which I'm sure fans of the brand will be thoroughly disappointed by.

Win an Enrapture Totem Styler this halloween!

As someone who is already a big fan of Enrapture styling products (I reviewed their heated rollers here and still use them on a weekly basis), I was so thrilled when they contacted me to ask if I wanted to give away their Totem Styler for Halloween.  Enrapture asked me to create my best halloween look using the styler, and being a big zombie film fan I went for the zombie look!

Here's my halloween make up look below, I went for a got-bitten-by-a-zombie-on-the-way-to-a-party look.  I used the totem styler to create these gorgeous curls and backcombed my hair at the roots to give a pretty, full of volume look.  What do you think?

I used Stargazer white foundation, contoured my cheeks and under my eyes with a dark Smashbox eyeshadow and lined my eyes with lipliner.  I wanted to put coloured contact lenses in too but as I only had my laser eye surgery about 3 weeks ago I decided against it.  This actually looks a bit like me first thing in the morning but with better hair!

So how did the Totem Styler fare? I loved it! What's innovative about this is that you can change the settings at three different point on the styler to create a variety of different styles of curl. Fantastic! I used setting 3-3-3 to create the loose, vintage style curls above.  It also heats up really quickly which I think is essential.

It's really easy to use as the curler actually swivels at the bottom so it's way easier to roll it in and out of your hair.  The cord is really long too which sounds random but I think it's quite important so you're not contorting at odd angles trying to curl your hair with a plug that hardly reaches away from the wall.

Whereas I use my heated rollers if I'm going out at night out and have plenty of time to get ready as I can sit and do my make up, paint my nails etc. while sitting with my rollers in, the Totem Styler is one that I use if I want to curl my hair quickly if I'm getting ready for work or I have limited time. Including heat up time I can curl my full head in about 20 minutes maximum which is great!

I would definitely recommend this if you're looking for a new hair curler.  It's good quality, very easy to use and it's like having a variety of different curlers in one because of the ability to customise the settings on the styler.  You can find out more about the Totem Styler here.

So, now that you've heard about the styler and saw the results of my zombie makeover, are you ready to enter my giveaway to win one? Yes?  Here's what you need to do:

• Send a picture of your best halloween make up look to me before midnight on 31st October 2013 (GMT)
• You can either email your entry to me (lucy@beautyandtheblogger.co.uk) with the subject heading ENRAPTURE HALLOWEEN COMPETITION, tweet me (@LucyBATB) or if you use Instagram/Pinterest or anything just leave a link to your make up look below.
• Leave with me with a way to contact you if you win!

Good luck, can't wait to see your entries!

I'll add all the entries to my Enrapture Totem Styler Competition board on Pinterest, and the winner will be chosen on 1st November and notified.  Sorry, UK only!

RiRi♥MAC Fall Collection - not sure which lashes I ended up with?!

Ok, I'm not usually a giant MAC collection person, as I don't really wear eyeshadow or contour my make up much (I'm starting to get into that though) so I tend to find that I only ever want blushers and nail polishes and I have plenty of those. I really liked a few things from Rihanna's latest collaboration with MAC but the #36 lashes were my favourite, they're long separated lashes with slightly fluffy ends...just my sort of thing!

I'd actually made a MAC order the night before (not realising that this collection was coming out the next day!) so I restrained myself and just ordered these lashes in the second wave of the collection becoming available.  When they came I thought they looked a bit different to what I was expecting and that's when I realised...the lashes I received were the other lashes from the collection I think, the #35's.  These are less spaced out, thin and more angled - kind of my eyelash style from hell!

Looking at them side by side I'm still not totally sure - to me the shape of the lashes looks more like the #35's.  What do you think?  I don't get it at all though because the box they're in says #36 on them.  I'm not keen on these eyelashes at all and don't think they do anything for my eyes.  Annoyingly both sets of lashes are now sold out so I can't get my hands on the ones I really want.

Did anyone else order the lashes from the and experience the same problems?  Have MAC mispackaged the lashes in the collection or put the wrong number next to the lash style on their website?  I'm really disappointed but MAC customer services have refunded me which is one thing I suppose.  I might have to nip along and see if I can buy some in store, then I'll definitely know that I'm getting the right ones - I suspect they might be sold out there too!

Just a quick update...

It's been just over two weeks since I got my eyes lasered and I'm pleased to say I'm still ridiculously happy with the results.  I had my 7 day check up last Monday and was told that my vision is now better than 20/20 (I can see down to the bottom of the eye chart now - something I couldn't even do with my glasses before!) and I'm clear to drive.

I also no longer need to use antibiotic or anti inflammatory eye drops, any swelling that I had right after surgery has gone.  My eyes are also feeling much less sensitive than they did at the beginning with no discomfort at all. I'm still using my trusty artificial tears for the next month or so just to avoid any eye dryness, the only time my eyes feel really dry is when I first wake up, and then only my left eye.

I probably could wear eye make up now but I'm playing it safe and leaving it for at least a couple of weeks...maybe even up to my next check up in a month.  Have to say my follow up visits so far have been really straightforward, informative and helpful - any questions or concerns I've had have been answered straight away by the optician or other staff at Freedom Vision.

As daft as it sounds, I really do feel more confident now that I have clear, reliable vision.  I can't explain it really but I think maybe my eyesight has been more of a hindrance than I thought and I've just been coping with it.  Hopefully it'll help my terrible sense of direction too but maybe that's too big an ask.  It still catches me by surprise/amazes me that I can see - even silly things like doing my hair is much easier as I don't need to sit an inch away from the mirror to make sure it's neat any more!  It's kind of like having HD compared to an old TV.

I would honestly say that getting my eyes lasered at Freedom Vision is one of the best decisions I've ever made and I only wish I'd got it done sooner instead of struggling along for the last 10-15 years.  To find out more about corrective laser eye surgery click here.

You can find my previous posts about my laser eye surgery here.

Imperial Leather Foamburst in Bewitching Blackberry and Wild Fig

I love foam shower gels, they feel so luxurious and are really easy to use in the shower. I was just about to buy another when this little beauty popped through my letterbox for review.

The packaging of this ticks a lot of boxes for me, I love purple and I think it's actually pretty glam.  The dispenser nozzle is basically like shaving foam , press the button on top and foam sprays out.  A little goes a long way with this as it lathers up really well so you don't need to dispense loads of this (found that out the first time I tried it and used way too much!)

My favourite thing about this is the smell of it, it's really fruity and blackcurrant-y which I love.  It's not too overpowering which I prefer because I still want to be able to wear perfume etc without it's clashing.  The foam has a purple tinge to it too which I think is a a nice touch.

The foam leaves your skin feeling really soft and moisturised without being oily.  If you're looking for a new body wash or just want to try something a bit fancier I'd would definitely give this a go.  It's part of the new Imperial Leather Foamburst range and costs £2.99 so you can get a little bit of luxury without breaking the bank.

You can find out more about Foamburst at www.imperialleather.co.uk or on Twitter @ImperialLeather. You can also follow them on Facebook.

I'm Ebaying!

Just a quick post to say I'm selling a couple of bits on Ebay at the minute including a Zara Skort, Lady Million Perfume, River Island sandals and lilac Cambridge satchel.

You can check my items out here.

Jilali Argan Oil

I didn't get too wrapped up in the Argan oil revolution of the last few years as there was quite a bit on confusion about the percentage of Argan oil certain products had in them and it kind of put me off.  I kept meaning to try it but never did really.

I was sent this pure Argan oil to review by Jilali and I have to say, I'm really impressed and I might actually become an Argan oil convert!  I've used this on both my hair and skin.  It feels really nourishing and moisturising without feeling greasy.  A little goes a long way as it absorbs really well and it's so easy to use. I'm a sucker for a multiuse product!  It doesn't have a strong or distinct smell, it's just quite neutral and pleasant.

The packaging is quite no-nonsense but it's practical and has a pump dispenser rather than messing around trying to pour oil out of a bottle.  Overall I feel like this is a great alternative to greasy body oils and serums - would definitely try this again in future.

You can find Jilali Pure Argan Oil here.

Illamasqua Nail Polish in Facet (from the Sacred Hour collection)

I'd describe Facet as a dark taupe (that leans towards grey) with a fine gold shimmer running through it.  This gorgeous, subtle shimmer seein s to be an Illamasqua signature which I love!  As with every other Illamasqua polish I've tried application/formula is really straightforward, drying time's good and wear time is fantastic. I don't know what it is about Illamasqua polishes (can you tell I'm a fan?!) but they last really well on my nails without chipping, even if I use a fast dry topcoat like Seche Vite which is notorious for making polishes chiptastic.

As you can see my nails are pretty short at the minute but I think this polish really works with shorter nails as it's a really interesting colour without drawing loads of attention to your nails.  Having said that I do think it would look amazing on long pointed nails!

Facet is from the Illamasqua Sacred Hour Collection which is one of my favourite collections for a while.  I absolutely love the imagery and the make up looks that have been created for this collection:

I'd actually happily buy half of this collection, I love the lashes, the nail polishes, the blushers, the sacred stones and even the lipstick in Shard which is way darker and more wine-y than I would usually wear. Yay Illamasqua!

You can buy Facet or check out the rest of the Sacred Hour Collection on the Illamasqua website.

Origins VitaZing Energy Boosting Moisturiser with Mangosteen Review

I genuinely could have reviewed this years ago as I've been using it for that long!  I first came across it in my Mam's bathroom and since then have sneakily used it every time I've been round to her house ever since.  For some reason I've never got round to actually buying some but I guess my Mam finally got sick of me nicking hers as she bought me a tube for my birthday!

It's a brightening moisturiser with a slight pearliness to it and it really does make you look fresh, bright and awake. I apply it after cleansing my face on a morning and it absorbs really quickly while still keeping my skin feeling hydrated. It isn't heavy or oily at all.  The pearliness/slight pinky undertone to this is really subtle and doesn't look too shimmery or show through your make up. It smells nice and contains SPF too!

For me - now that I finally own a tube - this is a must have product that I think will really boost my skin over the coming winter months. It's ideal if you're looking a little tired/rundown/hungover as it really does give a glow that makes it look like you got enough sleep/vitamins/water. I think the name VitaZing sums it up perfectly!

VitaZing is available from the Origins website, selected Boots stores and John Lewis from £28.  It's not cheap but I do think for me that it's worth it as you only use a tiny bit every morning.

I got my eyes lasered...

You might have read some of my previous posts about my up and coming laser eye surgery, well I'm pleased to say I finally had my wavefront guided Intralase LASIK surgery at Freedom Vision in Manchester on Monday! Well, where do I start?

As with my previous visits the clinic was clean and tidy, the staff were all really welcoming and friendly and I was seen on time.  As it's a smaller clinic they really do have the personal touch and you don't just feel like a number on a conveyor belt.  My boyfriend came with me as you definitely can't drive afterwards so he offered moral support and a lift there and back!

You have a few eye tests again to make sure that nothing has changed and to programme the machines for your surgery then you have a chat with your surgeon before going and having an in depth discussion about aftercare. After that it's time for surgery!

I was a little nervous but the staff really put my mind at ease.  The surgery itself isn't massively pleasant but you have anaesthetic in your eyes so you can't feel anything other than a bit of pressure and you can't really see either. I also felt like the procedure was explained really well and any questions I had were answered so I knew what to expect.  The best part was that it was over really quickly! It's a bit noisy with the machines but the nurse and surgeon explain what's happening and what they're doing as they go along.  The machine already has all your eye measurements programmed in so it really is tailored to you, it also cuts out if you pull away or sneeze or anything...phew.  It's all so sci fi and high tech!

Afterwards I couldn't really see, it was really blurry. You have a sit down in a recovery room before heading off home with antibiotic and anti-inflammatory eye drops to use for the first week plus artificial tears to use for 4-6 weeks to avoid dryness. You also get some rather sexy goggles to sleep in for the first week!  Once I got home I just put the goggles on and went and sat in my dark bedroom for a few hours with my eyes closed as my eyes were quite sensitive to light, felt really heavy and a bit gritty. It got better as the night went on and the next day when I got up...I could see!  My eyes were still a bit gritty feeling but much better.

You have a follow up appointment the day after (then a week, a month and 6 months later) and at my follow up it was confirmed that my eyesight has been corrected. My eyelids were slightly swollen the day after so to be on the safe side I had an earlier follow up appointment made and I'll be going on Friday too. I went back to work the day after surgery and I believe the majority of people are signed off to drive the day after surgery...amazing!

Two days on and my eyes feel way better, plus I can see! After 10 years or so of glasses and lenses I'm absolutely amazed by the fact I can see! It makes me realise just how poor my eyesight was.  In total in was there for just over an hour and my time in surgery was just 7 minutes which is such a tiny amount of time for something which I personally feel is a lifechanging experience.

If you're thinking of having corrective eye surgery I would thoroughly recommend Freedom Vision, the treatment and service I've had from them has been excellent.  The difference that this will make to my life is huge and I can't wait until it all settles down. You can't really wear make up or anything that sprays in case it gets in your eyes while they're healing so I kind of feel a bit like I'm in a transitionary period at the moment - I'll keep you updated with my progress as I go along.  I already feel like this has been one of the best decisions I've ever made!

For more information about laser eye surgery at Freedom Vision click here.

Glo Minerals Carnival Queen Collection - Lipstick in Siren

Glo Minerals is a mineral makeup brand that I haven't come across before, possibly because I'm not a huge fan of mineral foundation and concealer.  Siren is part of their Carnival Collection.  I'd describe Siren as a dark coral lipstick that veers towards red.  It isn't necessarily the sort of colour I'd usually go for, I tend to wear more pinks and true reds - I might occassionally wear a nude or a more orange type of coral colour.  I sound really boring actually don't I!

The packaging on this is pretty nice, I like the silver lipstick packaging and as it's a standard size it fits easily in your bag etc.  The actual box got a bit beaten up in my handbag so sorry about it looking a bit worse for wear in the pictures.

The pigment on this is really good and the colour is definitely well represented by the colour you see in the lipstick bullet.  It's not at all drying not is it so glossy that it just slides off the lips, it does last quite well and even after eating and drinking there's still colour left behind.

For me this is more of a night-out-with-a-tan-on colour as it really contrasts against my natural skin colour - I'm not that brave.  I would be great on someone with more olive or darker skin than mine.  Overall I was really pleased with this lipstick and I'd definitely look to try some of the other colours out.  The lipstick range is available from http://www.glo-minerals.com/.

Laser eye surgery checklist for Monday

Well, it's finally just around the corner - my laser eye surgery appointment at Freedom Vision is this Monday....eeeek!  As I mentioned earlier, I'm a mixture of excited and nervous but definitely more excited. I can't wait to be able to see and not to have to even think about it any more.  I don't know if I'm just being hypersensitive or I'm just tuned but everywhere I go people seem to be talking about laser eye surgery or their eyesight.  Maybe because it's National Eye Health Week?

With this in mind, here's what  I've been doing in preparation for my surgery on Monday:

• Avoided wearing my (soft) contact lenses for the last couple of weeks as they change the shape of your eye slightly - Freedom Vision recommended not wearing them for a week but I've left it for two.
• Filled in my consultation form to take with me on the day
• Made an hair appointment for tomorrow as I really need my highlights done and you're meant to avoid dying your hair for a week after surgery...obviously I have my priorities right!
• Booked a half day off work for my surgery
• Arranged for someone to take me and pick me up from the surgery (and made plans to get a takeaway on the night as I don't think either of us will feel like cooking)
• Booked my follow up appointment for the next day
• Re-read all of my information aftercare advice so I know what to expect (I found some of the info here really helpful)

So I think I'm all set! I'll be back next week with an update on how it went and how I feel plus regular updates on my progress. I'll only be under the laser for about 30 seconds per eye and head off home straight afterwards.  I should be have better, clearer vision by the next morning which I think is amazing!

 Reading some of the testimonials on Freedom Vision's website has been putting my mind at ease, hopefully you'll see mine there soon!  In the meantime, read all of my laser eye surgery posts in one place here.

Best bath I've had for a while...

As I mentioned last week, the weather has gone really wintery hasn't it!  As well as getting my winter woollies out and really wanting to just hibernate, I'm getting back into having really hot baths.  Like baths that are slightly too hot that any normal person would step straight out of.  I'm definitely a bath person and if it wasn't for the fact it's awkward to wash my hair if I have a bath I'd probably have one every day!

I was recently sent some products to review by St Grape, a natural skincare brand that aims to provide pure, gentle and high quality products to use at home.  I hadn't heard of the brand before but I really enjoyed using the products and I would definitely repurchase some of them in the future.

This Exotic Pink Salt is pink and smells a little bit mentholly as it warms in the water, but not overpoweringly so.  It dissolves well and can be used as an exfoliator too.  It containt grade A Himalayan mineral crystal pink sale which contains up to 84 minerals and is millions of years old!  I don't know what it is about this but it's a really nice relaxing, lovely product that I enjoyed using.

The Aqua Bliss Bath Scrub was my favourite product out of those that I tried.  It's the finest exfoliator I've ever used, the grains in it are tiny and it almost feels like a paste.  It doesn't feel too scrubby at all and left my skin feeling really smooth and nourished without feeling greasy or covered in product.

The Ancient Foot Scrub (hate the name, it makes me think of old feet) looked really dry in the tub but it wasn't. Again this feels great and isn't too rough (but isn't as fine as the other scrub) or oily.  It felt really refreshing and I imagine it would be fantastic if you had achy or tired feet.

The Invisible Skin Massage Oil was another lovely product.  I don't really like the packaging, it reminds me too much of olive oil packaging and I don't feel like it's particularly transportable, I would worry about it leaking.  Again this smells really nice and a bit minty.  The best thing about it is that - especially for an oil - it doesn't feel at all greasy and absorbs into the skin really well.  Fantastic!  It contains 9 different types of oils which I think is great.

My only moan is that the packaging and brand name aren't really to my taste but that's a personal preference and probably just me being odd.  As regular readers will know, I sometimes like to include insights from my boyfriend - who really doesn't "get" beauty - in my reviews as some of his comments make me laugh.  I ran him a bath using the bath soak and his comments were "this bath is AMAZING!  I'm SO RELAXED!" So, er, there you go!

You can check out St Grape products at http://www.saintgrape.com/, I actually think they'd make a really lovely gift (I'd be happy if I received it!). 

Want to learn a new skill or hobby face to face? You need LearnCliki!

Online learning and tutorials are nothing new -as I went into my last year of the Open University, there was a massive shift towards webinars and video tutorials rather than sit down sessions that not everyone could attend - especially with the advance of YouTube.  But don't you sometimes wish instead of watching a tutorial video, then having some questions and either having to do further research or leave a comment (and remember to check back to see if it's been answered at some point) that you could actually have a face to face tutorial without the inconvenience of having to travel or be left with unanswered questions?

Well, you can now with Learncliki!  This new service allows you to log in, select a topic you want to learn more about and have a face to face, live tutorial with a tutor who you can ask questions of in real time and really tailor the session to your needs.  There's a variety of subject areas from academia to hobbies and interests, so whatever you're keen to learn more about, you're likely to find it here!

Or if you've got a skill that you think others might want to learn, you could always sign up as a tutor and impart your knowledge, whether it's about floristry, fashion or finance!  What are you an expert in?

For more information about LearnCliki whether you're interested in being a learner or a tutor, visit http://www.learncliki.com/

*Sponsored post

New perfumes - YSL Manifesto and Emporio Armani Diamonds Rose

I was lucky enough to get, not one, but two new perfumes for my birthday last week and I really like both of them.

YSL Manifesto
I fancied this perfume for ages but always had something else to buy so I asked subtly hinted for it as a gift idea and luckily I got.  I love the packaging on this (even the box it comes in and the lid), it's all very opulent and typically YSL, great on your dressing table.

Described as a "woody floriental scent with blackcurrant, white flowers and a blend of vanilla and woods."  I'd agree with this really, to me this is a sweet fruity, floral which isn't too sickly or overpowering. The fragrance lasts really well and you don't need to spray loads on which I always think is a good quality for an expensive perfume.

Emporio Armani Diamonds Rose
This was one a total surprise but I really like it!  I can be a bit of a fusspot with perfumes but the person who bought me this obviously knows me well.  The packaging is pretty and looks fresh and clean, which I think is a good reflection of the scent.  Another pretty addition to my dressing table!

The scent is apparently a fresher version of the original Emporio Armani Diamonds (which I haven't smelled).  This has a hint of fruity sweetness too but is a bit lighter than YSL Manifesto, again it has topnotes of blackcurrant and some woody basenotes but these two pefumes don't really smell alike at all.

I'm really pleased with both of these perfumes and I'd recommend that if you're looking for a new perfume you check these two out - especially if you like fruity or sweet scents that aren't at all sickly.  Both are available from feelunique.com*.

St Moriz Dark Tan Mousse Review

I was recently in the slightly odd position of being away from home and running out of my usual Xen Tan halfway through my application so I had tanned legs and pale everything else! The only tan I could get my hands on was St Moriz Dark, a budget tan that I've heard so many people rave about.  I was wearing a long sleeve top anyway so I wasn't too worried if I had a massive disaster or ended up two different colours.

Application was easy, the pump bottle dispensed well and the mousse sank into my skin.  My only worry was that the mousse really did look grey rather than brown or white which I'm far more used to.  I went ahead and applied it anyway, feeling paranoid all afternoon as I felt like my arms and chest had a bit of a blue tinge.

Once I washed it off I was left with an even, streak free tint that isn't at all orange (and thankfully not blue!) - not as dark or golden as Xen Tan but it is about a tenth of the price.  It didn't fade patchily either which is always a bonus but I have to say I don't feel like it lasts that well really, 3 days on and I can't really tell I've got tan on my arms.

Overall I thought that this tan was a decent budget option and I'm glad I tried it to check out the hype as people seem to really love it but I 100% prefer Xen Tan to this so I'll carry on splashing the pennies out on that and Melvita Gradual Tan when I want a more subtle glow.

I bought mine from Home Bargains but you can get St Moriz Dark from feelunique.com* starting from £4.99.  Have you tried St Moriz? What do you think of it?

So, the weather's gone a bit colder hasn't it?

It's September, month of my birth, and that month when the weather gets much darker, colder and wetter and we all want to start eating soup. It also means that I need to look into my winter wardrobe  and possibly buy some new things - I tend to stick myself in cosy jumpers and printed leggings for winter.  There are some really nice chunky knit jumpers for women around already which I think I'm going to be treating myself to sooner or later I think!

I'm also thinking a bit about how I need to change my beauty routine to take into account the colder weather.  I'm definitely going to be investing in a more heavy duty moisturiser to protect my skin from the cold weather and harsh heating indoors, ditching the fake tan and wearing my hair curly more often as there's no way it's going to stay sleek and straight in the rain and wind so it's easier to just style it appropriately!

As much as I love the sunshine I actually think autumn and winter are my favourite seasons, I know it's cold and a bit dark at times but I love those crisp mornings where it's really light and bright (as long as you're wrapped up) and going and sitting somewhere nice and nosy while the wind races around outside.  Do you have a favourite season or do you think I'm a bit weird for liking the slightly gloomier of the four seasons?

*Sponsored post

Maybelline Fit Me 2 in 1 Anti Shine Foundation Stick

I've always had a little soft spot for stick foundations, whether it's a bit of nostalgia (the Max Factor stick foundations were some of the first I used) or just a love of convenience that drives this I don't know but when I first saw these advertised I was very interested!

After some swatching I decided on the shades that I wanted but unfortunately the stockists near me had none available that hadn't had someone elses fingers wiped over them - I've no general OCD about this type of thing but I just think when I'm spending money on a foundation I want one that's unused and clean!  So I bought it online from Superdrug*, thank you internet!  The shade I got was Natural Beige.

This is marketed as a "gel foundation with an anti-shine powder core inside" which I agree with to some extent.  It applies really easily and feels very smooth and soft on the skin.  It blends really well and provides light-medium coverage but you can build it a bit if you need to.  It doesn't feel heavy at all on the skin which I think is great for everyday wear.  In terms of being anti-shine, I do still need to use powder over the top (my skin is more on the dry side but I have an oily t-zone) but then again I prefer a pretty matte look when it comes to foundation.  I carry it with me too and do a bit of a top up through the day which is convenient!

Overall, I like this product and I'm happy I bought it.  It's not my favourite ever foundation - that's Estee Lauder Doublewear - but it's a good, reasonably priced everyday foundation that is buildable and does what it needs to do.  I would happily repurchase this to use on a daily basis and save my Doublewear for special occassions.  The fact it's a stick is good for when you're on the go or carrying your make up bag around as it won't leak or crack anywhere.  I think it would be a great holiday product and I wonder how good it would be to get some different shades for contouring (something I'm getting really interested in though I don't really have the skills).

Maybelline Fit Me 2 in 1 Anti Shine Foundation stick is available from Superdrug* for £8.99.

I want, never gets.

There's a lot of clothes and accessories I want to buy at the moment but I'm holding off rather than hitting the shops (for now) so I just thought it might help me to put everything in a bit of a list so I know what I want:

 

River Island

 

Pink Faux Fur Collar Double Breasted Coat - £65

Cobalt Blue Leather Belted Biker Jacket - £120

Black Leather Croc Structured Tote Bag - £80

Gold Tone Diamante Box Clutch Bag - £30

Blue Iridescent Curved Bangle - £12

 

ASOS

ASOS Mini Bodycon Vest Dress In Rib - £15 

ASOS Sweetheart Bengaline Pencil Dress - £40

ASOS Pencil Dress in Bengaline with Square Neck - £38

ASOS Pencil Dress with Ruched Wrap and 3/4 Length Sleeves - £38

ASOS Exclusive 50's Halter Bikini -£28

Topshop

Knitted Tulip Stitch Cardi - £36 

Rolled Edge Snood - £18

Cutwork T-Shirt Playsuit - £48

 

 

Miss Selfridge





Hawaiian Print Bikini - £28

NOTD: Essie For The Twill Of It

I've totally fallen in love with this polish!  For The Twill Of It is part of Essie's A/W 13 collection.  I'd describe it as a metallic dark grey with purple and green duochromes.  It's one of those polishes that people notice, and someone at work called it the most beautiful colour she's ever seen!  It's also one of those polishes that I sit and look at on my nails.

My photos don't really do it justice, they don't capture the gorgeous duochrome in anything like enough detail, but here's my attempt anyway:

I wouldn't say it's a unique colour - plenty of nail polishes have been out in recent times with a duochrome to them, some which are pretty similar to this - but I do think it's absolutely gorgeous.  Application is easy and wear time is ok for a metallic polish.  Really glad I bought this polish, definitely my favourite from Essie's latest collection.