Tuesday 25 February 2014

London Town Haul


Camden Town From My Instagram: nataliewhee

I hopped on the coach last week to London, and I may have done a little damage to my bank balance. How can you say no to Oxford Street?!

I met up with a friend and we visited Forever 21 first, where I bought a pair of fairly sophisticated black boots, if I do say so myself. I was in desperate need of some simple, wearable black boots, and have been on the hunt for weeks, if not months. I was over the moon that I finally found staple black ankle boots that will go with everything. Plus the gold detailing adds a little something extra.

Classic.
Then we stumbled upon Urban Outfitters. I abso-freaking-lutely love Urban, they have the coolest clothes, accessories and homeware. If I could own the whole stock I would. I purchased a new pair of sunnies, a blue beanie, and a new bag. Again I can justify the bag, as my old faithful was truly dropping to bits. I chose the maroon shade, as I wanted something a bit different to the typical black, I was drawn to the colour. I feel I will be able to pair it with brown or black more easily, than if I chose one or the other.

My Top Says Dork...#truth. 

Handy Zipped Pocket On The Back




















We then ventured to the Slug and Lettuce (yum) for lunch and met up with another friend. Who then proceeded to show us some really cool vintage places. One place was named Beyond Retro, and this is where I picked up my favourite find of the trip; a heavily patterned, and very in your face bright 90's style jacket from the men's section. Think Saved By The Bell. It is certainly a love or hate piece, and I love it.

   
Should Be Wearing My Sunglasses. That Jacket is Bright!
We then wandered around Camden Market, which I had never been to prior. What an experience. I didn't find any must haves this time, but I will definitely return. What a fantastic spot to people watch though! Fascinating.

I love London's diversity when it comes to shopping, and thoroughly enjoy finding new favourites each time I visit. Where's the best place to shop in London, or where would you like to try out in the future? Next on my list is to browse at Harrods... 

Monday 24 February 2014

Empties!

My absolute favourite blog posts, or YouTube videos are empties related. I get an obscene amount of satisfaction from finishing up a product. Even if it is not a favourite, I feel I have accomplished a task, I have used up something I spent money on. It's a win regardless. I am aware that's rather sad, but hey ho it's the little things in life folks.

Empty Products Galore!
I started collecting items for this empties at the beginning of January I believe, and I am rather amazed at how many various things you can finish in such a short space of time. I am going through a stage of attempting to clear out the clutter in my stash, and only repurchase a product if I have no similar products left in my collection. It's liberating.

Products I Used Up:

Original Source Shower Gel in Vanilla Milk and Raspberry - £1.20. It is super cheap, it lathers up nicely when used with a loofah (what a hilarious word, loofah. haha.) and smells exactly like raspberry yoghurt. Whilst also being completely vegan, and with great packaging. What is not to love?

Would I repurchase? Yes.
Product I replaced it with? Balance Me Super Toning Body Wash.

Nivea Pure & Natural Cleansing Toner - £3.45. I appreciated all the natural properties of this product, including the bio argan oil and bio aloe vera. However, this toner due to the natural ingredients is produced to be extremely gentle on the skin, and i prefer to feel like my toner is doing something. Despite that, the toner did remove any remaining make up and the fresh scent was delightful.

Would I repurchase? Maybe. Nothing I would run out to get though.
Product I replaced it with? Lush's Eau Roma Toner Water.

Johnson's Pure Cotton Make-Up Pads - £1 (roughly).

These were standard soft round cotton pads, perfect for taking off nail polish or make-up. Nothing unique.

Would I repurchase? Yeah if they were available in the shop.
Product I replaced it with? Boot's Cotton Wool Double Faced Oval Pads.

Roques Oneil Therapie Himalayan Detox Salts (sample sized packet of 100g)- regular sized 400g, £35.

The bath salts were lovely, full of rich oils and warming scents, creating a relaxing bath-time soak. I also had around three baths with my 100 grams so 400 grams would last you a long time. Nevertheless they have a cult status of being a miracle worker and getting you sleep like a baby, and I may have over hyped the product in my mind. I tend to spend a lot of late nights on the internet, and believed these would be the answer to my prayers and get me to have an early night when I got out the bath. No such luck. It is possible I tried too hard to get them to work defeating the relaxing purposes, who knows. But they did not work for me.

Would I repurchase? For that price no way.
Product I replaced it with? Aromatherapy Associates Inner Strength Bath and Shower Oil.

Express Nails - 8.99. I have reviewed these on my blog already (here) but would like to add that on the first day I lost one nail, but found it again and reapplied it but it just did not stick on right, so replaced it with another from the set, and they remained intact. I kept them on for four days, and removed them not because of losing any, but I had kept them quite long in length and they became a little bit grubby underneath so I decided to remove them. However, if I had shortened them I think they could have lasted a few days longer easily. I wouldn't recommend them for everyday wear, but they would be smashing for a special occasion. I also received many compliments whilst wearing them.

Would I repurchase? Yes.
Product I replaced it with? None. They are for special occasions, I will use normal nail polish usually.

Clean & Clear Deep Cleansing Lotion - £2.99. I love that this is a product I can use when being lazy. It is a one step product to remove any dirt from your face. I like that it stings a little, it feels like it's doing it's job. No water is needed which makes it hassle-free, and it actually works.

Would I repurchase? Yes.
Product I replaced it with? Neutrogena's Blackhead Eliminating Daily Scrub.

Bath and Bodyworks Candle in Mahogany Teakwood - $20. I have already reviewed this product on my blog (here) and I stand by that to the very last burning second.

Would I repurchase? YES.
Product I replaced it with? Bath and Bodyworks Candle in Cinnamon Caramel Swirl.

Q: Radiance's The Fine Fragrance Body Spray - £2.29. I just used this on pop to the shops kind of days, it's a typical body spray. The scent of rose and bergamot was fine but not a favourite of mine.

Would I repurchase? Nope.
Product I replaced it with? Next's Just Pink Perfume.

Listerine Total Care Mouthwash in Clean Mint- £2.30. It was a usual mouthwash, with a stinging sensation. The burn makes me imagine bacteria being physically destroyed. Great stuff.

Would I repurchase? Yes.
Product I replaced it with? Colgate's Max White One Mouthwash.

Marks and Spencer's Earth Spa Intensive Cracked Heel Balm - (unsure on price, it was part of a set). This had the typical peppermint scent of most foot products, and was incredibly moisturising.

Would I repurchase? Not specifically.
Product I replaced it with? Weleda's Skin Food.

Three H&M Face Masks - £0.99 each. Full review of each on my blog (here)

Would I repurchase? Yes for an inexpensive treat.
Product I replaced it with? Ren's Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask.

Mitchum Advanced Control 48 Hour Strength and Protection Deodorant in Waterlily - £1.99. Smells pleasant, but not overpowering. 48 hour protection is definitely a stretch. Nonetheless, it is a good deodorant.

Would I repurchase? Yeah.
Product I replaced it with? Revisiting my Dove Roll On Deodorant.

L'Oreal's Preference High Shine Conditioner - (unsure of price, part of a home hair dying set). I did not rate the actual hair dye, but used the conditioner as a deep conditioner weekly. It smells lovely, and made my hair feel super silky. 

Would I repurchase? I'm unsure if that is possible, but the individual product is worth repurchasing. 
Product I replaced it with? Aussie's 3 Minute Miracle Re-constructor Deep Conditioner. 

So, there we have it, a whole load of empties. Mostly quite positive reviews, so worth the money for the most part. What's a product you have finished recently? Leave a mini review in the comments, and don't forget to post your Blog URL with it... 



Sunday 23 February 2014

Would You Rather...Beauty Edition - TAG




I fancied doing a beauty related tag today so found these questions in an amarixe YouTube video. I also borrowed the photograph from Belle-Amie. Hope you enjoy...

1.) Would you rather lose all of your mascaras, eyeliners, lipsticks, and lip glosses or lose all of your palettes and eye shadows?

This is awful already. My most prized make-up possessions are my eye shadow palettes, but really thinking this through, that is just one aspect of your face and make-up routine. Without all the other products listed, you would just have a very plain face. Plus you can use your eyeliner as a substitute for eye shadow, and make do with that and mascara to enhance the eye area.

2.) Would you rather chop off all your hair or never be able to cut it again?

I have pretty much chopped all my hair off before (to a pixie cut style) and although I loved it, now my hair is growing I would prefer to keep it lengthening. However, even now my ends could do with a trim, so I can't imagine never cutting it. So, if I cut my hair off once, when it grows back can I cut it whenever I want? If so then I choose you Pikachu.

3.) Would you rather have a coral cheek or a pink cheek?

Hmm. I don't really mind, I own both shades. Although pink is slightly more natural looking, so I shall go with that.

4.) If you had $1000 to spend, would you rather buy clothes or makeup?

Why can't I choose both! Due to the large sum of money, I would probably say clothes, as I think spending that small fortune solely on make-up at one time would be a tad excessive, whereas clothes can be pricier (even on the high street). Also if you chose timeless pieces, they can last for years and years, whereas make-up comes with an expiration date.So, I think clothes would be the wiser decision.

5.) Would you rather apply lipstick as eyeliner, or eyeliner as lipstick?

Definitely eye-liner as lipstick. It would be like applying lip liner, which would give high pigmentation and a more long-lasting finish. I feel like lipstick for eyeliner could be a bit sticky.

6.) Would you rather only shop at MAC or Sephora?

Sephora. I certainly shop at Sephora more now anyway. Plus they stock a variety of brands to choose from, so you wouldn't be as limited, than if you only wore Mac.

7.) Would you rather only use one eye shadow color or one lip color for the rest of your life?

I would have to say eye shadow. I would wear my usual light brown shimmer from my Dior palette, as it goes with everything, and it is my go-to everyday shade right now. Lips are usually what finalizes a look for me. To be able to choose a bold red, or a dramatic berry, or a pretty pink can create numerous looks. Even if the rest of your make-up remains static.

8.) Would you rather wear winter clothes in summer or summer clothes in winter?

Either way it sounds like torture. I would choose to wear winter clothes in summer, just because winter is about layering so I could lose some of the layers? I do not fancy walking around in the snow wearing only shorts and a tank top.

9.) Would you rather have dark nails or bright nails all year round?

I love both, but dark nails are more me. I have always loved black nail polish, I am attracted to the way it looks on my toes especially. While my most used nail varnish is fuchsia, which is on the darker than brighter side. But it is a difficult decision, because bright nails are so much fun and are more cheerful to look at.

10.) Would you rather give up your favorite lip product or your favorite eye product?

If these are specific to your collection then I would prefer to give up my favourite lip product. My current favourite lip product is Dr. Lipp's Nipple Balm (reviewed here) as it does wonders for my lips, but I have replacement products at the ready. Whereas my favourite eye product I own is my Dior palette in 'Tropical Light' which gives me plenty of options, and I use all the shades; three out of five on a daily basis.

11.) Would you rather only be able to wear your hair in a ponytail or a messy bun?

These are literally the only hairstyles I regularly use. I am not great at hair, and do not experiment that often. I would probably choose the messy bun, I love the way it looks. Plus I think you can dress it up more, with accessories. Nevertheless I love a high ponytail, and sometimes a pony is the only way to go when in a rush on a bad hair day.

12.) Would your rather never be able to paint your nails again or never use lip gloss?

I feel like I am trying to avoid the questions haha. Plain manicured nails would be fine, but colour is so much more fun and flattering. So, I pose the idea of using lip balm layered on top of lipstick instead of lip gloss and then the dilemma is taken care of. You can have painted nails and glossed lips.

13.) Would you rather shave your eyebrows and have none at all or sharpie them in everyday?

That is so funny. I love it. I would say shave them off, and then I would either tattoo them on, or use a normal eyebrow pencil to try and draw the most natural looking brow possible. Sharpie on my eyebrows everyday would be a nightmare to wash off as well.

14.) Would you rather live without makeup or nail polish?

This is easy-peasy. I would much rather live without nail polish, I mean it can complete an outfit, but without any make-up at all ever I would never be leaving the house, so put together outfits would not be required. So, that's that. However, I would like to manipulate that question (a pattern seems to have emerged with my answers *avoid answering the question, make it suit you* haha). If it was the world without make-up or the world without nail polish, I would choose to live in a make-up free zone. Although I adore make-up, it's a fantastic invention, I would be interested to see if beauty would be interpreted differently if everyone's 'flaws' were always on show.

What do you think? Would it change the way we view beauty? And the stereotypical beautiful person? Let me know in the comments below...

Also feel free to do this Tag, it's a fun one to think about - leave a link to your post below too, if you complete it x

Saturday 22 February 2014

Ren Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask Review

The Ren Mask Retails at £30.


This mask has been raved about all over the blogosphere, so I wanted to test it out for myself, and by golly the results are fabulous. I use a couple of pumps and spread the orange gel all over my clean face, where it goes on clear and shiny. The smell reminds me of orange sweeties, still fruity but slightly more tangy and artificial, no complaints though, the scent is welcome all over my face. Then I leave it on for the 10 minutes recommended. The mask comes with a little cloth, however I find this is not the best quality, but adds to the collection of cloths I seem to be accumulating. The mask itself comes off really easily with a little bit of water and a cloth. Thus the mask can be used as a quick skin remedy or for a more laid back pampering session, due to the fuss-free application.

Then for the most important part - the results. My skin looks and feels brighter, lighter and ten times smoother. It feels like a new layer of skin, which surprised me as I did not feel tingles or tightening to much extent when the mask was working it's magic. The instant gratification from a product is always a plus in my book, as I can become impatient when a product reads "results within 3 weeks of use". I want results and I want them now. However, I am hopeful this product will continue to help rejuvenate my skin, and continue to amaze me. I don't ask for much from my products do I?

A Top Tip: On purchasing the full sized Ren Mask from the counter in Fenwicks, the lovely sales-girl gave me the sample size of the same mask, as an added bonus. So, I would recommend asking for a sample size prior to buying the full size (whether you intend to buy or not, it's free stuff!), to test it out. They seemed to be willing to give out free samples, and when paying 30 pounds for a product you should know whether you really want it first.

Have you tried out this Ren product, or any others from the brand? Let me know any worth trying out in the comments below... 

Thursday 20 February 2014

Birthday Goodies



I turned nineteen years old today, on the 20th of February 2014. One year as a teenager remains, and I intend to make the most of it! On turning nineteen, I was very spoilt, I am extremely grateful and appreciate how lucky I am. My parents are visiting for four days over my birthday, so them being here is a present in itself, as there is quite a distance between us throughout term time, so spending good ol' quality time as a family is a rarity. They also came bearing gifts, which is a more than pleasant but unexpected surprise. I had asked for a juicer a month or so ago, and mum had agreed, she had said she would give me the money to purchase one, so I thought that would be my present. However they arrived with a few wrapped parcels - there is something about unwrapping gifts that makes it that much more special isn't there?


I received a box of chocolates (my old favourite, Milk Tray), the most beautiful bouquet of flowers, and a lovely warm blanket that matches my room for my bed, then out came the juicer. It is phenomenal, it is the Heston Blumenthal Sage juicer, and after testing it out today, I can confirm it works like a dream and I will be testing out weird and wonderful concoctions for juices and juices to come. The bonus being that it is a completely healthy hobby! Then came the totally unexpected surprise on which I am typing this post, an iPad air, and a case with a built in keyboard. It was completely unexpected and such a fantastic surprise, I had never really considered an iPad before, but I adore it, and will definitely get a whole lot of use out of it. It is practically a mini laptop, with the easily attachable keypad.











In addition, my Aunty got me the credit card version of Monopoly, a controversial choice I know...haha. But I have had my heart set on trying it out for a while, and a modern twist on such a classic should be a laugh. My friend (and flatmate) got me one of my favourite scents of all time, Next's 'Just Pink' in the 30 ml perfume, the hand cream and the candle. So thoughtful of her, and they all smell delicious.While another of my best friends went down a slightly more bizarre yet thoroughly entertaining route. The 'let's go to Poundland and buy the most random items imaginable', these included Tracy Beaker series 5, a One Direction goody bag, and a train set, within a very eclectic mix of presents.












Then the cutest present of all came from my little five year old cousin,who apparently had his heart set on buying me a notepad with flowers on it, but everything the adults showed him or recommend, he refused. until he saw the cutest little flower printed box filled with little cards inside. He has great taste, I must say. He even wrote a card out all by himself that reads "I LOVEY OU" which I will treasure forever.


A spectacular birthday was had, eating cake and enjoying my parents company, going to finish it off in a chillaxed way with a Chinese take-away, a lovely last teen-birthday.

What is your most favourite birthday gift you have given or received in the past? Let me know in the comments below... 

Friday 14 February 2014

Valentines Express Nails

'Trend Minnie' Express Nails Retail at £8.99.


 I thought I would treat myself this Valentines day, since it is my Birthday in less than a week, why not try something a little different and extravagant. I am no artist, so nail art is completely out of the question, so I was drawn to Express Nails and the variety they had on offer. I have just applied my Express Nails an hour ago so I cannot comment on the longevity of them, but I will let you know in an empties post coming up soon. However, they applied like a dream, the instructions are incredibly easy to follow, and in the pack there are two nail sizes so you should be able to find a size to fit your nails well. Also included is a nail file to create more natural looking nails after application, and a nail wipe to use prior to use. I have since filed my nails down a touch, just to make them easier to handle. I love the Minnie Mouse inspired print, but they also had some other fantastic choices, including hearts, and tie-dye style nails. I have doubts they will last the week long they claim to last, but I hope they stay intact at least a few days, then I would say they are well worth it. They are super cute!










Fake nails can cause some trouble, in the past I tried another brand out, and they kept coming off all over the place. I felt something down my trouser leg scratching me, so confused as to what it could be, only to find a fake nail!

Have you had any embarrassing fake nail-related stories? Share them in the comments below...  

Monday 10 February 2014

Valentine's Inspired Face Of The Day

This is just a quick and easy day make-up look that I created using products I already had in my stash. I thought I'd add a little pop of colour to brighten up a cold February day.


For my base I used Rimmel's Wake Me Up Foundation, to conceal I used Collection's Lasting Perfection Concealer, with Rimmel's Wake Me Up Concealer under my eyes, with a light dash of Sephora's Matifying Powder Foundation as my setting powder. Followed by Bourjois' Chocolate Bronzer, and Dior's Blush in 'Sunrise Party'. Then I filled my eyebrows in with the dark brown in the Dior 'Tropical Light' eye shadow palette, and used the pale pink shimmer as a brow and inner corner highlight, complimented by the Boot's 17 palette colour compact's deep purple, on the crease and lower lash line, with Model Co. Black Mascara applied to curled lashes.Then to finish off the look, Rimmel's Kate Moss Lipstick in 05, with Rimmel's Stay Glossy's 'Fuchsia Forever' layered on top.


A super simple Valentine's inspired look, which deviates from the every day neutrals. 

Share your Valentine's top make-up tips in the comments below...

Saturday 8 February 2014

Soft, Silky And Smooth Hair In A One Step Wonder!

Alterna's Bamboo Smooth Kendi Oil Dry Oil Mist retails (for full size of 50 ml) at £14.99.


I have the sample size of 25 ml which is perfect for travel, as it's so titchy tiny.  In addition, the spray nozzle on this product is fantastic for direct application, as I've had other hair care products that also have the spray function but in these cases the product has gone everywhere (including all over my face!). This is much more of a precise application. The product itself is incredible; it protects from heat, it enhances shine, and protects your hair colour. I spritz approximately 6-8 pumps all over my hair, and then run my fingers through it to even the product throughout, just before blow drying. I find my hair to be much smoother afterwards, which is down the the bamboo, and stronger due to the kendi oil. It smells great too, which is a bonus. 

Over all it is an easy product to master, and helps control your hair without much hassle at all. Do you have any hassle-free hair care tips? Share them in the comments below... 

Wednesday 5 February 2014

H&M FM's

H&M's Face Masks retail at £0.99.
For a pamper night in with your gal pals, or destressing after a hectic day, I enjoy the company of a good face mask. I tested three from the H&M face mask collection, over the space of a month. I found that each sachet had two face masks worth inside, however the packet is not resealable and becomes rather messy. So I used the same mask twice in one week, in order to use up the product and not allow it to go to waste by drying up, and to avoid making a mess of my bathroom. All three masks stated they served a different purpose, however I'm not so sure.


The blueberry mask states it nourishes, protects and refreshes. On application I welcomed the subtle smell of blueberries, although the mask made my face feels slightly cold and tight, it certainly was rather refreshing. The product came off easily with a cloth after the 10-15 minutes required (but the pink in the mask has left my wash cloth stained - a little warning there). My face immediately felt soft and smooth, something to do with the cooling sensation on my skin I imagine. However, I wouldn't say I noticed a dramatic difference in protection, but my skin did feel refreshed and nourished after the mask.
Lil' Scuuury 

Next on my hit list; the melon and pear mask, benefits include being refreshing and calming on the skin. A lovely light green colour, as opposed to the shocking purple blueberry one(I felt like an alien with that plastered on my face). But I felt similar traits with both masks while on my face - cool, calming, mask-like. However it differed to the blueberry mask once it was removed, my face felt squeaky clean, which was pleasant but it felt it had a more drying affect than the other. I would advise moisturizing immediately once finished. It did not appear to have made a drastic difference to my skin but felt lovely.

The third mask was the one I was most excited to try out, and that was the dead sea mineral mask, aimed to revive tired skin. It was as pleasing as the other two masks, but it did confirm my suspicions that all the masks seem to be incredibly similar, with similar results. 

Nonetheless I have been experiencing better skin recently so possibly a combination of the masks over time and with the help of other products, they have provided my skin some needed TLC. Also, for the price of these masks, I think they make great little additions to a girly sleepover, where you are able to treat your friends or yourself without breaking the bank. 

Have you tried any of the H&M masks? Do you feel they each serve an individual purpose or are they all much of a muchness? Let me know in the comments below...