Thursday 21 May 2015

New beauty bits I've been loving

Over the last couple of months I have been splurging a lot more than I normally do. I don't really know why, I have just got out of my comfort zone, and started trying more beauty items.I will repeat it, I have been buying these products over the last few months, so I defiantly didn't buy all these products in one go. So I'm going to show you some products that I've been loving, and that I would defiantly re-purchase once they run out.Each product has a mini review on, so if you are looking to try any of these products, keep reading.. 

Skincare:

Estée Lauder - Perfectly Clean, Multi-Action Foam Cleanser. 
I have been absolutely loving this stuff recently! I don't use this every day, just a few times a week - when I want to treat myself. You really don't need much at all with this, a little goes a long way. I have been using it as my cleanser, so I wet my face, pop a little bit on with my hands, it foams up beautifully and then I rinse it off. It leaves my skin feeling so clean and silky. 
rrp: £22

Liz Earle -Cleanse & Polish, Hot Cloth Cleanser.
 Liz Earle skincare really is just lovely, it really works for my skin. Like the Estée Lauder cleanser, I don't use this one every day, probably around 3 times a week. This one is so good at getting rid of your makeup, dirt and grime that may be on your face. All I do with this is apply 1 or 2 pumps on dry skin and rub it all over my face and neck. I then get my muslin cloth and wet and rinse it with warm/hot water and then just polish the creamy cleanser off. It leaves my skin feeling so much smoother, cleaner and it has helped my skin throughout breakouts in the past. 
rrp:£15.50 (starter kit)
Makeup:

Collection - Lasting Perfection Concealer.
This concealer is a re-purchase, I have gone through literally thousands of these. If you are looking for a full coverage concealer to cover blemishes or redness, this is perfect. I have different jobs for my concealers, therefore this concealer is for any blemishes I may have, redness or discoloration on my face. I don't use this concealer under my eyes, purely because I prefer something light weight under my eyes (Rimmel Wake me up concealer - Ivory). I find the Collection concealer creases under my eyes, because its so full-coverage. It says its 16 hour wear, however I have never worn any concealer for that amount of time.. (has anyone?!). But it does last the 8/9 hours my makeup is on my face. I use the shade 'fair' there is three shades in this concealer (I think!) However I am very pale, so fair is perfect for me. 
rrp: £4.19

Essie Nail Lacquer. Shade - Maximillian Strasse Her.

I have been loving this shade recently, when I saw it in the website (I got it from Debenhams) I just fell in love. I have really been into greeny/greys and pastel colours recently. As a whole, I love Essie. The nail polishes stay on my nails for around 4/5 days without chipping. I find two coats is perfect, however you could get away with one if you were in a rush. I need to paint my nails as soon as I finish writing this blog post.. they look awful - chipped isn't the word, haha! 
rrp: £7.99

M.A.C Lipsticks. Shades - Mehr & Honeylove 


For some reason I took more pictures of this product than the others, not too sure why. Anyway.. I love MAC lipsticks so so so much, they are my favourite MAC product. Both of these shades are Matte (if you would like me to do a post on my MAC lipsticks including finishes - comment below). However, yes these shades are both Matte finishes, not sure why. I didn't even buy them on the same day, I must just really be loving matte lipsticks. Whenever I am in MAC, I go straight for the lipsticks, pick & swatch a few, look on the bottom for the colour and I always put them down and say to myself (I've already got that colour..) haha. Although the last few times I brought the shades Mehr (which is probably my favourite out of the two) and Honeylove. Mehr I have been wearing a lot recently, it's just a gorgeous dark pinky shade, which is perfect for the day time and the night time. It's just a little bit darker than my natural lip colour. Honeylove is a browny/nude shade. But it's not too nude, it's not like you have foundation over your lips, it's more browny/orangey. I really do like both of them. If you are scared of having a matte finish, sometimes in my skincare routine in the morning before my makeup, I apply a thin layer of lipsalve, so it sinks into my lips whilst I'm applying my makeup. Then by the time I put my matte lipstick on, my lips are moisturised. 
**swatches are with the next product - just below**
rrp: £15.50

M.A.C Lip Pencil. Shade - Stripdown. 

This is the first MAC lip pencil that I have purchased. I am always looking for the lip pencil in the shade soar. But it's always out of stock :(. I'm not saying that I am not happy with this colour because I am. It goes perfectly with the shade 'honeylove' that I just spoke about. It complements the orangey/brown shade, because this pencil is brown. I really like how creamy it is, sometimes I just wear the pencil without anything else. I'm really impressed with it. 
rrp: £12.50
Swatches of the 2 lipsticks and the lip pencil.


Soap and Glory - Solar powder.

Ever since I brought this I have been in love, it's without a doubt the best bronzer I have ever used. I always used to see it on the self, but I would never by it for some reason. I wish I got it sooner. The reason why I love it so much is because of the colour, you get one lighter bronze colour and then a darker one. I primarily wear the lighter shade, because I am pale. However, when I wear fake tan, I swirl my brush into both shades. The shades aren't orangey, which is great! The product is a powder, however it is a creamy powder so it just goes onto your skin beautifully. I would give this one a try if you are looking for a new bronzer that doesn't make you look orangey. 
rrp: £11

Barry M Speedy Quick Dry Nail Paints. Shades - Eat My Dust 506 & Pole Position 507.

The reason why I picked these up from Boots, is 1. Because they are new, and I love to try new things! 2. They say they are 'speedy quick dry' and I cannot stand waiting for my nails to dry. I just can't do it, they either smudge, it goes everywhere. I have only tried the blue/purpley colour (Eat My Dust). Like I said before in this blog, I have been loving the pastel colours on my nails, and I think the greeny colour will look gorgeous in the summer. However, when I have been applying Eat My Dust, it defiantly needs two coats, maybe even three. The speedy dry does work, for example when I start on my thumb, then paint all 10 fingers (yes I know I have 2 thumbs - haha) by the time I've come back to the thumb again, it is dry and ready for the next coat. 
rrp: £3.99

M.A.C - Pro Longwear Paint Pot. Shade - Painterly. 


 I have been looking for a product like this for a while. I use it basically to prime my eyes, and also to get rid of the veins on my eye lids. Or sometimes I just use it on my eyelids and apply liquid eyeliner, I really like that look. It works really well and the colour is perfect, there is other shades so go and take a look! I have used it quite a bit, I got it around a month ago. However from the picture it doesn't look like I've used it much at all. I find you don't need too much product either, it just does all the work for you. I don't use a brush to apply either, just my fingers because I find it easier to blend it in. 
rrp: £15.50





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Tuesday 19 May 2015

Blonde to brown to blonde

Over the past few months I have been experimenting with my hair. My natural colour of hair is a mousy/browny shade, which goes blonder in the summer months. Also I have always had highlights in my hair, which made my hair completely blonde over time..

((There's gunna be a lot of selfies in this post - BUT who doesn't love a selfie??)) 

As you can see from the picture to the left, my hair was completely blonde. And I did love that, and still do. However I have been blonde for what, like 18 years?? Basically my whole life. So I thought, time for a change. Yano the score, when it becomes a new year, you think new me, changed me all that shizzz. Well I was on that train of thought, and in March I dyed my hair brown.



So here I am as a brunette. Just to point out - I dyed my hair myself (with my mothers help of course) so they were box dyes. L'Oreal Paris Casting Creme Gloss, shade - 613 Iced Mocha. It wasn't permanent, it was a semi. purely because I wasn't sure what it would turn out like, it could of turned green for all I knew!















But it started to fade quite a lot! So basically I was sure I wanted to be a brunette, so I dyed it again..
  










After dying it a second time (with the same shade) I believe it was a lot darker than the first time. You could tell a lot more in person. However I was getting a lot of comments on my hair, and most people said they preferred my hair lighter. I think I did as well, I know now that I am always going to be a blonde at heart. So.. have a guess what I did???


COMMENT BELOW NOW - DO YOU PREFER ME BLONDE OR BROWN?!


((this image on the right looks gingerish - I promise it wasn't, it's just the lighting and camera)) 









Yes, I went blonde again.. Although I didn't want to go as blonde as last time, because the bleach did ruin my hair. Especially with all this hair dying in the past few months, I didn't want to damage my hair too much! So I got a highlighting kit, and highlighted my hair. 




I am now so happy with my hair, I prefer this colour so much more than the blonde and the brown before. I think it is so much more natural and my hair is in such a better condition! 

I am of course still trying to get my hair to a really really good condition, any product recommendations you think I should try or want me to review?? Please leave them in the comments section below :) 
Also, apologies again for all these selfies, haha. 






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I went to Jersey!

Firstly, I'm sorry for not posting this month! But from the title of this post you might of guessed why.. 
Yes, I went to Jersey. I went with my boyfriend and his family. We went to the capital which is called St. Helier (Helen - yaaar I know, perfect for me!!) I have never been to Jersey before, but it was bloody brilliant! Don't worry, I'm gunna share some pictures with ya so you won't miss out.. too much. 




Firstly we took the Ferry to Jersey! The reason for this is basically, pretty much because my boyfriend is s**t scared of flying, bless him. However, I do travel better on planes - purely because its quicker! (50 mins from England to Jersey by Plane) whereas it took us nearly 4 and a half hours from England to Jersey! 




We did all sorts of cool stuff when we were there. For example seeing these beauties of animals at the zoo. 






I took so many pictures on the day we went to the zoo, forever had my camera on me! It did loose battery as well, worst thing ever :( 



And of course we had some delicious meals out.. Here's a few foodie things! Hope you aren't hungry..





Random pictures & selfies! 





Instagram - helenmmx



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