Weight Loss Motivational Beauty Box

Image We Heart It - Edited by myself

You may or may not know that I'm trying to lose weight. I touched on it briefly in my Weight Loss motivation post but haven't said much about it since. Without boring you without all the sweaty details I've lost a total of 26lbs and have a fair few to go. Motivation doesn't come easy to me so when I read Louise's post from Confetti Letters about her Slimming World updates and that she buys herself makeup as a reward when she has reached a goal it gave me an idea.

Now, I'd never thought of this before and commented what a great idea I thought it was. Knowing myself pretty well though I knew as I had the product in my grubby little hands I'd still be struggling to keep motivated to hit my next goal. This is where the beauty box idea came from. I decided that for every 7lbs I lose/have lost I'm going to buy one product I've wanted for a while and pop it in to an old Glossybox and to only open everything once I have reached my final goal. This may sound like a strange, even weird concept to some but I know a box of sparkly new makeup products will keep me motivated along the way and stop me from giving in to the bad things that I love so much, Chocolate and Pizza, I'm looking at you. 

So that's the basic jist, if you have any motivation tips and tricks I'd love to hear about them! Also, if you're also on a weight loss journey I'd love to hear about how you're progressing. 

Lisa x

Carex // Hands On Awards // Competition

Today I have a fun competition to share with you which can involve a bit of a beauty bloggers favourite, photography. In celebration of their 20th anniversary Carex have launched a competition to reward 20 pairs of hands from around the UK.

There will be 20 lucky winners of this competition with the best entries will win a years supply of Carex hand wash and £500 Red Letter Days vouchers to spend as you wish. I already know that I'd chose - a day on safari or spend the day being pampered at a luxurious spa, it's always good to be organised ha ha.

All you need to do to enter this competition is share a day in the life of your hands and show exactly what they get up to. Entries can be a few sentences, a short diary, pictures or even video footage showcasing what your hands get up to on a day to day basis. 

To enter visit Carex's Hands On Awards and submit your entry. Good luck and don't forget to let me know what experience you would chose :)

*Sponsored Post

MAC RiRi Woo Lipstick

Like many excited MAC lipstick fans I've been eagerly awaiting the arrival of Rhi Rhi Woo in the post. I'm shocked I managed to get hold of one as the website was being really, really slow but luckily I managed to place an order. It arrived yesterday and I couldn't wait to try it out.

I wasn't initially interested in the Rhi Rhi Loves MAC collection but when I seen the promotional picture of the lipstick and reading it was based on the original Ruby Woo, which is my favourite MAC lipstick, I had a bit of a want for this.

RiRi Woo is a Retro Matte lipstick that is a gorgeous true red with RiRi embossed on the bullet. It applies the same other MAC  matte lipsticks and has that traditional tug on the lips when applied. The colour is extremely similar to Ruby Woo but has more of a 1940's glamour feel to it. Apart from that, the only difference I can pin point is RiRi Woo is more of a Cherry Red where as Ruby Woo is more of a flat Red. All in all, I love both colours and have happily welcomed RiRi Woo into my collection, I'm just hoping the other items in the collection will be a bit more unique.

Dermalogica £100 Voucher Giveaway With Pure Beauty

Hello everyone! 

I was recently contacted by Pure Beauty, an authorised Dermalogica website, and was asked if I wanted to run a giveaway. I'm a fan of Dermalogica as well as the majority of the beauty community so I jumped at the chance. Pure Beauty have really kindly given me a £100 voucher to giveaway to one lucky reader and in all honesty, I wish I could enter myself ha ha ha.

All you need to do is enter is in the Rafflecopter widget below. If you're 16 or under please ask permission as I'll need your address. Also, If you're a winner of this giveaway I'll need your name, address and email address to send you your voucher :)
UK only, sorry 

GOOD LUCK
x

a Rafflecopter giveaway

April Favourites

MAC Lady Danger (Matte) - £14.00

My newest adition to my MAC Lipstick collection! I've wanted this for months so a few weeks ago I decided to give and got my hands on it. Lady Danger is a bright orange/red lipstick that is certainly a loud statment colour. Being a red hoarder I'm glad I gave in.

John Freida Frizz Ease 3 Day Straight - £6.99

I've raved about this recentely in it's own review so I'll keep it short and sweet. 3 Day Straight is a spray that when locked in with straighteners keeps your hair straight and sleek until it's next wash. I can't say enough good things about this product.

Illamasqua Medium Pencil - Hex - £13.00

We all know the white eye liner trick for opening and brightening the eye area but I find it can be a bit harsh for every day wear. I decided to give Hex a whirl as it's more of a nude colour and I think it's fantastic. Hex gives just enough colour to brighten the eye area naturally and is very long lasting. Also, I think this is the softest eye pencil I have ever used.

HD Brow Kit - £19.96

I bought this after the Glossybox hype as I had seen and heard everyone commenting on how amazing it is. I liked it, then I didn't, then I did again. I'm still not 100% sold on this but it's in my monthly favourites as I've been using it a lot more often. I like how there are 4 colours that can be mixed easily if needed and that they also double up as eye shadow. I also think that they apply really well and have an impressive lasting power. That said, I still think the price tag is a bit on the hefty side. (If anyone in the UK is interested in buying this you can click the link and it takes you to where I bought mine. I've seen a few people say they can't find anywhere to purchase it)

Original Source Tea Tree and Mint Shower Gel - £2.30

Gosh, I love this stuff! I discovered a stash in my room from when I stocked up while it was on offer (oooh, thrifty) and couldn't wait to start using it again. It's so minty and refreshing I can happily use it all summer. Although I could talk on and on about how much I love this that would be really boring so I'm just going to say I love it.

Hair Removal // Fighting The Fuzz

Picture from Google - edited by myself

Hair removal has to be one of the least enjoyable beauty regimes there is, the silky smooth after effect is worth it but finding the right process for you can be tough. My first experience with hair removal was the trusty razor, I remember feeling excited by being 'grown up' the first time I used one. Looking back I have no idea why! Shaving was fine for a while, mainly through my teenage years but as I got older my skin started to become more sensitive. If I use a razor more than once a week now my legs become a very attractive shade of red and are blotchy. I also suffer with ingrown hairs/razor burn which is annoying, uncomfortable and generally really unattractive! Ingrown hair is one of my pet hates so I try to use other hair removal methods 99% of the time. The other 1% is obviously when I'm being lazy ha ha ha.

Hair Removal Cream was my next big phase, I loved how easy it was but not so much the mess. Hair Removal Cream is great when you want legs like the ladies on the Venus adverts but the smell is disgusting! As this is a pain free method, I put up with the vile smell for a while and carried on using it. My legs were always left silky smooth but within a day, like shaving, the stubble would decided to rear it's ugly head. I eventually decided this was more hassle than shaving and the time the hair took to grow back was the same so decided to try something else. Don't forget, if you do use Hair Removal Cream, always read the label, a red patchy upper lip removes the subtlety of removing your mustache ha ha.

Waxing, although painful, is one of my favourite hair removal methods. Even though it can sometimes be messy, sticky and somewhat embarrassing when you have a sneaky strip attached to you it's very effective. I never really wax my legs but I do often wax more sensitive places like my upper lip. Even though it stings, it's a lot quicker than plucking and removes the hair in seconds. The results of waxing last so much longer than shaving or Hair Removal Cream so for me, a bit of pain is worth it instead of re doing the same job every 2 days.

My main method of hair removal is using an Epilator (I actually use the one in the picture). Epilators remove hair from the root, like waxing but are less messy and rechargeable. Like waxing, they can be a bit painful but investing in a quality epilator can save a lot of money in the long run. As well as saving money, they also irritate the skin less, you don't have to worry about ripping a layer of skin off and if you exfoliate before can remove all hair in one use. I'd be lost without my Epilator now but I'd never advise to use them on sensitive areas unless watering eyes are your thing haha.

Lastly is something I've wanted to try for a while. LittleKiva mentioned she had laser hair removal in one of her YouTube videos and have been keen to try it ever since. It works by focusing a laser beam at the base of the hair follicle, halting hair growth. Laser Hair Removal is available at sk:n and isn't as expensive as I thought it would be. It can be used on any part of the body and is said to be virtually painless and only needs to be repeated every 4-6 weeks for around 8 months. Imagine how much time we would save, ladies! 

What is your favourite method? Do you stick to one or do you use different types for different areas?

Revitalash Fine Line Primer

Revitalash Fine Line Primer* - £46.50

If you have not noticed from my pictures I'm one of the lucky ladies that suffers with fine lines under my eyes, around my mouth and on my forehead. This is annoying as I'm only 24 but becomes even more of a problem when applying make up. Like with large pores, concealers and foundation love to sit in fine lines and make them look worse so a primer to combat this is an additional step I take in my make up routine. I know at some point I will need to invest in an anti wrinkle but until then, I use primer. Although this improves the appearance, it's not amazing and have never tried a primer specifically for fine lines so when QVC gave me the opportunity to road test Revitalash's Fine Line Primer I was exited to say the least! They're known for selling amazing Skincare so had high hopes for this product!

Revitalash Fine Line Primer claims to create a silky, smooth texture to help minimize and soften the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and create a smooth base for make up. It's packaged in a frosted, weighty 15ml glass jar that looks very sleek and high end. The texture of this primer feels soft with a silicone feel, I know a lot of people dislike this but personally I find silicone based products more effective at minimising imperfections.

To apply this primer you need a tiny, pea sized amount, if that. Applying more makes it harder to settle which causes it to slide and makes make up application harder. Once applied to the areas that have fine lines it leaves an airbrushed look which as claimed, minimizes the appearance. I think this product works a lot like a pore minimizer as it blurs imperfections, it has the same effect but this has been specifically formulated for fine lines and has tiny pearl type flecks that brighten the eye area. 

In conclusion I've been very impressed with this primer, fine lines are something I've become self conscious of for some time and although normal primer helps, it doesn't achieve anything anywhere near the results I have archived with this. Fine Line Primer may have a larger price tag than most, but as you need such a small amount I'm confident it will last longer than a normal facial primer.

Do you have fine lines? Do you use anything to minimize them?

NARS Blush - Orgasm

NARS Blush - Orgasm - £21.50

Can we all just take a second to appreciate how pretty this blush is? NARS Orgasm needs no introduction as it's one of the best cult products in the beauty community. This had been on my wishlist for months but I really couldn't justify spending £21.50 on a blush so when it popped up on Buyapowa about 6 months ago I couldn't resist the urge.

Orgasm is described as a Peachy Pink with a Gold shimmer which is an extremely accurate description. In the pan it looks a little intimidating but when applied with a light hand it gives a natural subtle glow that's easy to build up if you like more dramatic blush. The lasting power of this is amazing as it lasts for hours and excels other shimmer blushes as it doesn't transfer glitter/shimmer to other parts of your face. Another huge plus is Orgasm has a sufficient amount of shimmer so that you can skip using a highlighter, obviously this is personal preference but I love the look of this alone with subtle contouring for a fresh and dewy look, especially on warmer days. The only downfall of this product for me, as I've said before about other products, is the price. £21.50 is expensive but as it's a high end brand and a quality product I think it's worth spending the extra money on rather than buying cheaper blushes that get worn once and discarded to the back of your make up drawer. If £21 is completely out of your price range Sleek Makeup have a really impressive blush range and a really great dupe of Orgasm called Rose Gold that is just as pretty. If anyone would like to see a comparison post between the two let me know in the comments. 

Zinio Digital Magazine Subscription Giveaway x10

Today I have an exiting giveaway to share with you. I have teamed up with Zinio to give 10 of my readers the chance to win a digital magazine subscription of their choice.

If you're unsure what Zinio is, it is an online website that allows you to chose from thousands of magazines that allow you to read on your computer, iPad, phone and other technology devices! (a laptop and a phone is as complex as technology gets for me ahaha). The Zinio website is simple to browse and have different sections so you can look through the category's that interest you the most. Zinio also offer a host of deals -

2 years subscription for 1 on 48 titles, 99 cent back issues on Fast Company, Inc, iPhone Life and Kiplinger's. You can keep up to date with their daily deals on Facebook & Twitter (I know most of us are far more interested in what Kim Kardashian is wearing than football haa)

The rules of the giveaway are -

Follow via GFC & Bloglovin' - just enter your details in the rafflecopter widget below :)

I will need your full name and email address to set up the subscriptions.

GOOD LUCK

x

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Illamasqua Lipstick - Sangers

Illamasqua Lipstick - Sangers - £16.00

I've made no secret of my love for red lipstick and will declare my love to anyone who will listen so today I thought I would share one of my favourites. This was my first Illamasqua lipstick and I've been a fan ever since lusting after more shades to add to my collection.

Sangers is bright yet sophisticated blood red that is perfect for that 50's glamour classic red lip. The formula is slightly creamier than a normal matte lipstick, it has a slight sheen but dries matte so I would always advise to apply a small amount of lip balm before. The most impressive feature of this lipstick is the lasting power, matte lipsticks tend to have the best staying power but this is one of the best I have used. It doesn't fade and can last for hours before it needs to be re applied. Sangers Lipstick also looks amazing teamed up with Illamasqua's Succubus lip gloss which is the 'matching' gloss for a more dramatic look. Overall, I think this is one of the more impressive lipsticks in my collection and will re purchase this over any of the other red lipsticks I own.

Quick note - Sangers is one of the lipsticks that normally always features when Illamasqua have a sale so check their website if this is something you are interested in trying :)

John Freida Frizz Ease // Straight Ahead Shampoo // Smooth Start Hydrating Conditioner // 3 Day Straight

John Freida Frizz Ease Straight Ahead Shampoo*

Straight Ahead shampoo works wonders on hair that's prone to that annoying frizz before or after drying. Using this has certainly helped straighten out kinks as well as being full of moisture. It's thick and creamy which leaves your hair feeling straighter, sleeker and smoother. A big hair hate of mine is when after drying it it can become frizzy and "puffy" again because of heat but this shampoo has helped to maintain straighter, less frizzy hair. I wouldn't say you could skip using hair straighteners if straight is what you are after, but it helps to smooth your hair straight so you have straighter hair after blow drying which can help you use less heat on your hair. 

John Freida Smooth Start Hydrating Conditioner*

Smooth Start conditioner it's not called Smooth Start for nothing! When using this my hair naturally dried sleek, soft and looked well looked after. As my hair has now grown out to my natural colour this is a bit to hydrating for every wash use as it's not as frizzy and can become greasy quickly. This conditioner isn't heavy nor does it leave any residue but I personally can't use deep/hydrating conditioners every time I wash my hair, only on the ends.  I have been using this once a week with the shampoo to give my hair a moisture boost or on a certain day if I want my hair to look good for a certain occasion as it makes drying and styling a lot easier.

John Freida Frizz Ease 3 Day Straight*

3 Day Straight has well and truly proved my expectations wrong. As a woman who has hair that flicks up at the ends at any sign of moisture I have tried and tested a fair share of straightening products so I didn't expect much. I was wrong .3 day straight is a spray you apply on to wet hair which when dried and locked in with straighteners keeps your hair straight for 3 days or until it's washed again. The product contains keratin which is amazing for hair repair so it leaves hair looking shiny and nourished. Normally when I straighten my hair the ends can look a bit frazzled but this completely put a stop to that. When applied it can feel as if there's a residue in your hair but ones dried and straightened this disappears and its left smooth with no sticky build up.

I put this product to the test by leaving my hair for 3 days with out straightening it again. I noticed that when sleeping or heading out in cold weather (mild snow) this product stuck to its word apart from a few kinks.  The small kinks or flicks can be easily be removed when you brush your hair again leaving it just the same as when you styled it. The only downfall of this product is the bottle size, Id personally like it to be bigger but apart from that I really cannot find a negative to this product. I think I may have found a new holy grail product ladies and gents!

John Freida have a whole array of products for different hair types which you can view if you click here. I'm very impressed with all three products, 3 day straight especially, this is certainly going to be re purchased  as it's the only product I've used that has lived up to the claims. Have you tried any of these products? I'd especially like to hear if you have tried 3 Day Straight.

Philosophy Gingerbread Man Hot Salt Body Scrub

We all love a good body scrub. There is something quite satisfying about exfoliating as it leaves your skin feeling fresh and silky smooth. There are thousands of scrubs available that smell gorgeous but I find them to be a bit lacking in the actual scrub department. Personally, I like an exfoliator to be gritty and thick, not a shower gel/cream with a few added beads packaged as a luxury body scrub. Damn being a sucker for packaging.

Philosophy bath and shower products are some of the best smelling I've ever used, I've been a huge fan for many years and absolutely loved their Sugar Cookie, Strawberry Ice Cream and Sweet Talk bath and shower gels (unfortunately they only bring certain products out for a limited time) so have enjoyed moving on to try their scrubs, skincare and makeup - they just always seem to get it right!

Gingerbread man is a Christmas themed product that normally makes an appearance just after Halloween. I know you're probably thinking I'm a few months late but as you can sometimes pick this up on eBay and it's back every year so I wanted to write a review anyway. The scent of this scrub is love/hate with some people, from reviews I've read from other bloggers they have expected it to smell exactly like Gingerbread Men. In my opinion, I always thought of this as a ginger based scent with a cute quirky name in reference to the ginger but that is just my take on the Gingerbread Man range. The scrub does smell strongly of ginger but it's mixed with a fresh citrus scent which is gorgeous but hard to describe.

The scrub itself performs brilliantly, its thick and gritty which allows you to really slay away any dead skin cells without drying out or irritating your skin. When washed off your skin feels moisturized but not enough that you feel that theres residue left behind, its a lot like an oil texture that washes off. The instructions direct you to apply to dry skin but I find this a little coarse and hard to use, I think its much better when used on damp skin. Using it this was also avoids a lot of unnecessary mess. The box also claims that this is a hot salt scrub, this is something i don't agree with as i haven't noticed any warming effects while using this. I think this the only downfall of the product which is a shame as I imagine a warming effect would be an impressive bonus.

I'm sure you have guessed that I love this scrub from my very drawn out review aha. I would even go as far as to say this is the best I have ever used. Philosophy have other scrubs in different scents with the same formula that I also love and would recommend going to try if you are lucky enough to have a store that stocks them in your town.

 What is your favourite body scrub? Are there any I should try? 

The Thrifty Fashion Challenge

If you've ever been guilty of spending too much money on clothes and accessories please raise your hand now.... We've all been there! I've been guilty of this as well as buying things I really don't need and can completely get caught up in the shopping buzz. This is something, as I've got older, I've tried to curb so when contacted about taking part in the Thrifty Fashion Challenge I couldn't wait to get involved and see what I could come up with for £50.

I decided I was going to keep the outfit theme casual to stay true to what I wear daily so firstly, I headed over to Urban Outfitters. This was a little optimistic as they can be a bit expensive but they have a 70% off sale on. I found this Truly Madly Deeply Pyramid top for £14.00 on sale from £28.00 which is A) right up my street and B) a complete bargain! Next up was New Look, after trawling through their massive sale I settled for a pair of very predictable Red Denim Look Jeggings that are on sale for £7.00 from £12.99. As the challenge is to spend £50 or under I could have easily picked something more a little more exciting but I'm a creature of habit and rarely stray away from skinny jeans and jeggings, boring, I know! The next website I headed over to was Very.com. I'm not frequent visitor of the site but as they were having a 75% off clearance so decided to have a look. After being distracted by them selling everything from home ware to lingerie I spotted their South Tall Supersoft Boyfriend Cardigan for £9.00 from £18.00 and although I love to wear black, I may just have to buy one of these in the colour Spearmint. To finish off the outfit I needed shoes and a bag so had a quick look around Matalan and found a lovely pair of Black Tassel Loafers for £7.00 on sale from £14.00 then headed to Boohoo to find a bag. I love Boohoo accessories so it of course I had to look through the entire sale before making up my mind. I finally picked the Molly Pin Lock Handbag for £12.00 from £18.00, it's small, sweet and the gold adds a small amount of detail to a casual outfit.

In total my outfit total comes to £49.00, I think that's pretty impressive for a whole outfit including a bag even  if I do say so myself haa. To put this outfit together I used the website netvouchercodes.co.uk to search for sales, offers and voucher codes and have chosen some complete bargains! This Thrifty Challenge has certainly showed me that shopping around and keeping an eye on up and coming sales can save a lot of money when buying staple pieces and general clothes online. 

Are you a savvy when shopping online? Do you keep up to date with the seasonal sales?

March Favourites

Avene Eau Thermale Thermal Spring Water 150ml - £6.50 
I bought this on a whim in the sales after seeing glowing reviews then never really used it. For some reason my cheeks have become sensitive (I love combination skin) so have been spraying a small amount on my face after cleansing. This spray, as claims, soothes and calms skin and is also great for freshening up make up. I'm going to start making more effort to use this from now on.

MAC Please Me Lipstick (Matte) - £14.00 

Some times I get so caught up in the array of bright lipsticks available I tend to forget about natural shades then complain about not having any so decided to buy a nice sensible "nude" type colour. I picked the colour Please Me which is a matte soft dusky pink that is very subtle as long as it isn't layered. This is a perfect everyday colour and beats all of the washy out nudes everyone seems to love. The only downside to such a pretty lipstick is it's very drying like most mattes but as matte is my favourite texture, I can deal with using a little more lip balm.

Philosophy The Microdelivery Purifying Peel - $42.00 

This one minute enzyme peel is a wonder product for me and has been for some time. This gives skin a good shake up when it's looking a bit dull and dreary and as it contains Salycic Acid gives acne the boot. As much as I love it, it stings/burns so can be a little over powering depending on how sensitive your skin is.

DHC Deep Cleansing Oil - £4.50 
I had this little bottle in a Glossybox and initially dismissed the idea of using it as a cleanser. As I have Oily/Combo skin I didn't think it would be right so used as a gel eyeliner remover. When I decided to give it a go I was surprised at how soft my skin felt with out any greasy residue left behind. This would be perfect as a night cleanser during harsh weather when your skin needs that extra TLC.

Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream - £14.00/£20.00 -

Another Glossybox sample I've started using through March. This is the only the second eye cream I've tried and liked. It's light, sinks in straight away and leaves the eye area feeling nourished without that thick and heavy consistency.

Urban Decay Naked Basics

Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette - £20.00 

Along with lipstick, I'm a massive eye shadow hoarder. I own silly amounts of both and in the past have found it so hard to resist temptation, especially if either are in bright, bold colours. Urban Decay are top of my list with eye shadows as their quality is outstanding, I don't really need to tell anyone how good their Naked palettes are, they're a cult product for a reason. When they announced they were releasing a Naked Basics matte palette I decided I had no intention of buying one as A) I wasn't blown away by it (ANOTHER repeat with Foxy) and B) I had more eye shadow than I could ever wear.

That said, after reading multiple posts I did have an urge to purchase one so ended up going back on my strict no more eye shadow policy and entered a co buy when it popped up on Buyapowa. Much to my surprise, I won the co buy (first time I've won) so received this little cutie for free! (Thank you again, Buyapowa)

The palette is much smaller than the previous Naked palettes and contains 6 shadows, VENUS - FOXY - W.O.S - NAKED 2 - FAINT - CRAVE. I was a bit disappointed in the repeat of the colour Foxy but at least it wasn't Half Baked again hahaa. All colours are the same amazing quality as the previous palettes, they blend effortlessly and allow you to be as neutral or dramatic as you dare. If Urban Decay had released this palette first I don't think I would have been so eager to purchase the other two and would have been happy to stick to this. It's a lovely addition to any make up collection but I think it's perfect for someone who is just starting out with an interest in make up or has a sensible approach to buying make up (sometimes we just need to carry 10 lipsticks around).

Have you purchased this palette? I'd love to hear if I'm not the only one who gave in ahaa. 

I'm having an Urban Decay Naked Basics giveaway that you can enter here

Acrylic Trapezoid Lipstick Holder 24

                                              Acrylic Trapezoid Lipstick Holder 24 - £3.55

Acrylic storage has become a bloggers best friend and with expanding make up collections we all get excited when we see a make up storage post or video. While I think a lot of acrylic storage can be expensive and a bit small for storing things other than everyday essentials I do love the lipstick holders. I've been on the hunt for one of the flat lipstick holders but for some reason they never seem to be in stock so when I seen a post about the trapezoid version by Gemma from MissMakeupMagpie I decided to order one for myself. The flat lipstick holders are roughly £12 and hold about 16 lipsticks whereas this little gem was £3.55 and holds 24, I love a good bargain! As there isn't much else I can say about a lipstick holder I think it's time for a bit of organising and a spring clear out. Oh, and yes, 24 lipsticks is a perfectly reasonable amount for one person to own ahaa.

NYX Concealer Jar - Green

NYX Concealer Jar - £5.00

Green Concealers are a brilliant invention, they cancel out redness which allows you to conceal problem areas with out caking or layering traditional concealer. As I have rosy cheeks that sometimes, with cold weather, can become a more irritated version of rosy and a fair amount of Hyper pigmentation to deal with I thought I'd move to the green side and try the NYX Concealer Jar. As I'm a fan of NYX products I had high hopes for this product but unfortunately it wasn't for me.

NYX Green Concealer is a soft, thick concealer that lives in a small plastic jar. The texture is creamy and applies with ease regardless of if you're covering a small or larger area. Unfortunately, this concealer doesn't conceal as well as it applies and only gets worse when you attempt to blend it.

When applied this concealer isn't fond of doing much else apart from sitting on your skin. I first tried to cancel out the redness from Hyper pigmentation scarring around my chin area as that is what bothers me most. I applied tiny amounts only on the area that was effected and stippled this in to my skin. After stippling, the concealer seemed to lose the green colour and blend to nothing but an odd off green/white shade. I then repeated the process a few times but still had the same result. As this didn't work I changed tactics and blended the concealer on to my cheeks as well as my chin, this resulted in making it look worse than before. The concealer leaves a powdery white/off green finish which in no way covers any redness, in fact, I'd say it highlights what you're trying to cover. Fast forward a few months and I decided to give this concealer a last try and decided to try mixing it with my normal concealer/foundation, this had the same effect but just gave it a less matte finish. After trying different methods to make this concealer "work" I can safely say this is not a great product.

As much as I love NYX products this concealer gets a massive thumbs down from me. I've read great reviews on this product so the only thing I can put it down to is it's not great on oily skin. I think in future I'll stick to a high coverage concealer instead of layering a medium coverage product or searching for a reliable green concealer.

700 FOLLOWER GIVEAWAY // Urban Decay Naked Basics Giveaway

I know everyone seems to say this but I was honestly shocked when I hit 700 followers the other day. As much as I love blogging I didn't think many people (even one really ahaa) would be interested in anything I'd have to write about so reaching 700 is massive to me. As a thank you I thought I'd hold a little giveaway to say thank you as I've only really held one before. Thank you to everyone who reads and comments <3

All you need to do to enter is in the Rafflecopter widget below :)

The only rule is you must be following via GFC and for anyone under the age of 16 please ask permission as I will be needing your address.

(UK only sorry)

GOOD LUCK

X

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DD+ Bras // Rant // Busty Girl Problems

Image | weheartit.com

I'm not normally one to bring "rants" on to my blog but I have a few things I'd like to talk about. Don't worry, this isn't going to turn in to a Jeremy Kyle blog post I just have a few things I'd like to get off my chest (pun intended lol). For as long as I can remember I've found it difficult to find bras that are for the more top heavy ladies never mind at an affordable price. I've always been jealous of my friends that are able to pop in to a shop, pick up a cute matching bra set and have change from £10 - I've only ever been able to do that ONCE. With all the articles flying around the internet about how many percent of women are wearing the wrong bra sizes yet the industry has remained exactly the same? Has no one stopped to think about why some women feel they HAVE to wear the wrong bra size? 

Sizing 

The main thing that completely baffles me is that even though there are now bra companies that specialise in DD+ bras, their sizes are still way off - it still seems an impossible mission to get the right cup and band size attached to the same bra. I'm not talking about every bra company in the United Kingdom, just the ones I've personally attempted to buy from and I've tried a fair few. With Breast Augmentation (enlargement) being "the norm" now and with it being 2013 I would personally love to see more companies catering to everyone. Sure, a lot of companies now range from a DD onwards but what about band sizes? Not every woman with larger breasts wears a 30G bra, back fat still very much exists. Personally, I'm broad in the shoulders and back then have a smaller waist and with being on the "chubby" side I have my fair share of back flab to go with it (sexy, I know) - this normally results in having to wear a band size that's smaller than I need which leads to back ache. Brilliant. 

Price

I'm sure a lot of you who have read this far have been thinking "why not go to Marks & Spencer's or BHS" - The price is why. I love the selection, sizes and quality of both shops but unfortunately, they are expensive. I know from personal experience that when bras are expensive and it's hard to find your size you can sometimes be left with just one or two bras that you're able to wear comfortably. Bad times. I understand that when producing a line of larger bras they need to be more supportive than your average bra but does that really mean they need to be an extra £20. Personally, I find £20+ for a bra excessive. 

Design

I'm sure there are plenty of women who still like to wear a nude coloured T-shirt bras but a lot of us ladies would like a bit of variety. Every time I find a bra that's actually in my size 9 times out of 10 it's hideous. There are bras available in every colour and pattern you can imagine on the market for average sizes but when it comes to DD+, there are about 3. A few months ago I found a lovely floral patterned bra in ASDA for a reasonable price and was over the moon about it. In hindsight, it's pretty sad how this is still a problem for me and thousands of women who are actually excited by finding a pretty bra in a larger size.

I know I've rambled on a bit but this has been my gripe for as long as I've been wearing bras, I'm sure I'm not alone on this topic and would love to hear about your experiences.
Lisa x

Lush No Drought Dry Shampoo

Lush No Drought Dry Shampoo - £6.50

Dry Shampoo's have moved on from the days of putting baby powder in your roots and now traditionally come in a spray can, as much as these are convenient, I always seem to use them up faster than I'd like to. I'm a fan of the original Batiste Dry Shampoo and think their range is brilliant but I'm not a lover of Dry Shampoo in the various scents on offer apart from anything that smells clean or fresh. As I've mentioned before I once ruined my hair with bleach so have now grown out my hair and try my best to look after my hair as best as possible, unfortunately, this includes not washing my hair as much as I used to. 

With my stop abusing your hair policy Dry Shampoo is now a staple and while on the look out for a new one I came across No Drought. What initially drew me in is the scent, it's made with Grapefruit and Lime oil which gives it it's lovely fragrance of citrus - perfect. To me, there is nothing worse than having slightly greasy roots and then putting something tropical on top. This may sound silly as  I know a ton of people love different scents but to me it tends to stick around all day and becomes a bit 'slickly'. 

I find No Drought to be a brilliant dry shampoo, it does everything it's suppose to and leaves a lovely clean smell that doesn't overpower. It has a good lasting power and because my hair is a light brown it leaves it looking as it's just been washed and blow dried. As this product last such a long time (115g) I think the price isn't overly damaging to the bank, for the amount of time I've had this I would have probably gone through at least 2 spray cans and it's hardly made a dent in the powder. The downside? The mess. If you remember the days of baby powder you'll remember it was a bit of a messy task. As this is a powder, it's harder to control than a normal can so can take a bit of getting used to. My advice is to use it in the bathroom over the sink or bath to make things a little easier. Also, you need to brush through your hair and give it a quick check to avoid any powdery patches, making sure you don't overload your hair will help avoid this but after a few uses you learn to judge how much you need. I will certainly re purchase this but at the moment, I think I have enough for a long time. 

Blinkbox from Tesco

Before Christmas a lovely lady contacted me about trying out a website called Blinkbox. Blinkbox from Tesco is an online website that allows you to watch movies online with no subscription fee. As I had just ended a subscription from another website I was more than happy to try it out! 

The website itself is clean, clear and well presented with a huge choice of films. They are all separated in to categories so you can find a film from a genre of your choice and also has an option to look at the best sellers, featured movies, special offers and what is coming soon to Blinkbox as well as a separate section for TV series' - Game Of Thrones anyone? 

My choice of film was The Perks Of Being A Wallflower, I had heard a lot about it and must admit I thoroughly enjoyed it. The transaction was smooth and hassle free and within seconds I was happily watching trying to avoid eating my weight in snacks.Also, as I needed to pop out half way through the film I paused it and easily picked up where I left off with out any problems, buffering or freezing. 

As I'm one of those people who regularly say "I'm going to see that film" then never actually get around to it I'm a huge lover of being able to watch movies online. Blinkbox is a website I will 100% be using from now on as it's easy, straightforward and best of all there is no ridiculous subscription fee. 

Meet The Bloggers

Laura // By The Power Of Grayskull

This 27 year old mother-of-two, Laura, blogs mainly about her love for movies. With recommendations, personal favourites, worsts and reviews. Still a fresh blog, she is also set to include other features such as the occasional fashion post, along with beauty, fitness and family life.

Carly // Carly Watts Art & Illustration

My name’s Carly and I’m an Illustrator based in Sheffield, UK. I have a love for all things cute and adorable and I try to reflect this in my illustrations. I mainly work digitally these days as I love the vibrant colours that can be achieved through Photoshop, and I just find it so much more fun to experiment with my style in this medium. I’m always available for commissions, and I've even just started selling necklaces based on my artwork! My blog is filled with cute and quirky characters, so if that’s your thing then please stop by!

Helen // Forty Percent Fringe : Sixty Percent Face

Forty Percent Fringe : Sixty Percent Face is a UK life and style blog featuring fashion & beauty, food, art & design, photography, travel and current inspirations as well as recipes, craft tutorials and DIY how-tos.

Angela // British, Bargains and Beauty

I only started writing my blog three weeks ago because after reading hundreds of blogs over the past several months. I was shocked to find so few written by anyone over the age of 40! So, I decided to write my own. I'm 52, but feel 29, and the world of beauty blogging isn't always relevant for me. I want to see how make up looks on women with lines sometimes, not on perfect smooth faces. Not to say I don't want to appeal to younger readers, because I do. Many of my posts will be relevant to anyone. But when I review make up I will make a point of saying how it works on older skin. 

As the name of my blog implies, I also write about bargains. If I get a good deal, or buy a sale haul, that will be in my blog, because let's face it, not everyone can buy Dior, Chanel or MAC make up. As part of the thrifty theme of my blog I will be holding lots of giveaways, to help those, like me, who don't have mountains of disposable cash to win some lovely things to make them smile. I had decided from day one of writing my blog that I would hold a givaway when I hit one hundred followers and honestly I expected it to take 6 to 12 months, but within 10 days or so I reached my target and so I am now in the middle of my first giveaway, exciting stuff!

Sarah // SarahLou

My blog is mostly beauty related with a mixture of reviews of make-up, hair and skincare products, plus wish lists, NOTD and FOTD posts. I also like to throw in the odd baking, lifestyle or fashion post every now and again too!

Lauren // Makeup By Lauren Marie

Makeup By Lauren Marie is a blog run by a makeup artist that offer easy to achieve tutorials with step by step videos. There is also reviews on all the latest beauty products and of course the odd giveaway.

Tracy // Fantastic, Fun, Fashion

Hey I’m Tracy from Fantastic, Fun, Fashion. I have always had an obsession with fashion thanks to Cher Horowitz (Clueless), it started with scrap booking my favourite outfits from magazines then to a shopping addiction and finally blogging. I love the nicer things in life and I get excited by designer products but at the end of the day I am a mum first so my outfits need to be practical and reasonably priced but that doesn't mean I can’t be stylish and fabulous at the same time.

Amy // Pretty Young Thing 

PYT is a fashion , beauty and lifestyle blog. I love to review products and post my outfits. I love photography! I take photos of everything mostly my cats! I love Cath Kidston and pretty shabby chic things so my blog is very floral and cute.

Hannah Waterman's Body Blitz

Hannah Waterman's Body Blitz - £9.99

I'm no stranger to fitness DVD's and over the years have tried and tested my fair share as my collection has grown. I've occasionally been sucked in to a few of the "poser" DVDS aimed at people who need to lose a few lbs but have also discovered a few brilliant additions to my exercise routine along the way. Body Blitz is based on Interval training, it's probably one of the most challenging forms of exercise but is very effective. Interval training is short bursts of high intensity exercise combined with body resistance and slower paced exercise.  This method is said to be the most effective for fat burning,  4/5 times more effective than other exercise and burn the same amount of calories in 20 minutes than an hour of normal aerobic exercise. 

This DVD is sectioned in to three 20 minute routines - 

Cardio Blitz - This involves a lot of high intensity exercise (skipping, running on the spot) with active rest periods. Cardio is what I found to be the hardest section and can be a real shock to the system at first. 

Box Blitz - This is intense intervals of high speed boxing moves. This is my favourite section, it includes a lot of punches and kicks and moves that need power behind them. It's also great for getting out some of your frustrations.

Tone Blitz - Just when you thought things would get easier this sections offers you some lovely high energy burpees. The first time I attempted this section I could not finish it and ended up in a heap on the floor. When your body becomes a little more familiar with the dreaded Burpees you start to appreciate the toning active rest periods.

Belly Blitz - This is all about those abdominal exercises. 10 minutes of those pain filled crunches then you're allowed to enjoy a 5 minute cool down and stretch. Stretching never felt so good. 

The Verdict 

My personal experience with this DVD has been amazing. It's tough, challenging and agony at first but as the saying goes "no pain, no gain". Body Blitz works you from head to toe and if kept in your routine can give you amazing results. Exercise DVDs are a great addition to gym routines or for those who dislike/can't afford the gym. I would recommend Body Blitz to anyone wanting to lose weight and work on those problem areas. 

January Favourites

Toni & Guy Iron It Heat Defense Spray - I recently rekindled my love for this heat spray as I started to straighten my hair a bit more before I cut the last of the blonde out. As you all know Toni & Guy products smell amazing and this particular heat defense spray not only protects the hair when using heat but it helps straighten and keep it straight. Unfortunately, I'm not sure if this is even still sold as Toni & Guy have changed all their packaging.

Phyto PhytoNeutre Clarifying Detox Shampoo | £10.20 - As I've probably mentioned before, I'm a lover of anything minty, this clarifying shampoo contains Eucalyptus oil which smells lovely as well as doing it's job. I'm a fan of this because it leaves your hair clean, it removes any build up and as a plus it also stimulates the scalp which can promote hair growth.

The Body Shop Almond Hand & Nail Cream | £10.00 - I bought this best seller in the January sales for £5 after being on the hunt for a new hand cream. A lot of hand creams seems to focus more on the scent than the actual cream so decided this one would be better. It's rich, smooth, sinks in quickly, leaves your hands soft and has a lovely non overpowering smell of Almonds.

Benefit The Porefessional | £23.50 -  Another product I've rekindled my love for! As I'm getting older my skin seems to keep changing. Since being a teenager I've had oily skin but now it's a mixture of every skin type going ha.. Now my skin has calmed down on the oily front this has been perfect, it smooths the surface of your skin and as I'm having less problems with excess oil, it has a longer lasting power.

MAC Lipstick "Rebel" (Satin) | £14.00 - A hyped lipstick that has been all over the blogging community this A/W and for good reason. Rebel is a gorgeous purple shade that is perfect for the colder months, it's a welcomed change from my everyday red lipstick.

Kérastase Nutritive Nectar Thermique

Kerastase Nutritive Nectar Thermique-150ml - £16.05

Seeing the brand Kérastase pop up on blogs and reading raves on how good their hair range is I decided i wanted to have a little try myself at some point. Delving in to a new brand with such a huge range can be a bit overwhelming so i decided to go with one of their most popular. Enter Kérastase Nutritive Nectar Thermique. I'm not as swayed by the hype as much as when i first started blogging but this product is right up my street and I'm pretty pleased I tried this product first. I normally chose hair oils over hair treatments but I wanted something more along the lines of styling. 

Kérastase Nutritive Nectar Thermique claims to add moisture, smoothness and shine, protect your hair from heat, improves styling and drying performance and make hair soft and supple, to my delight, I can agree with these statements. It has now officially become one of my holy grail products. I use a small amount after washing my hair, work it in to the ends and use the product left on my hands through the rest of my hair and fringe. With this product I noticed straight away that my hair dried a lot quicker, straighter and softer from the first use, with or without heat. As I have wavy, frizzy ends I thought this was the my hair behaving because it was a new product, but, months after it still works just as well. I love how soft and manageable my hair looks when I've used this. Normally after my hair dries, especially after using heat, it becomes frizzy and has a 'bitty' texture at the ends but this product isn't phased by this. There is only one down fall to this product, the price. £16.05 to me is a lot to spend on a hair product, I bought this in a percentage off sale from Feel Unique but they do not happen that often. I would re purchase this as it's one of the best hair products I've used but I'm very careful with how much I use. That's OK, right guys?