Wednesday 25 July 2012

Repurchased Products #1



Its not very often I repurchase products, unless I really like something. I'm often too swayed by a new product, or something being on offer, or just wanting to try something different, to religiously buy the same stuff every time something runs out. However, there are certain things I always end up going back to. In some cases I may have tried other things in between, but these are the things I've used time and time again.

1. Collection 2000 lasting perfection concealer.
I think everyone has used/blogged about this. And rightly so, its the best drugstore concealer I've ever used. I currently have 3 of these on the go (not entirely sure why?!) and would be lost without it. The only thing I don't like is the way the writing rubs off so quick.  I use shade 2, which is light.


2.No7 Radiance Boosting Hot Cloth Cleanser
I bought this with the intention of getting the Liz Earl Cleanse & Polish once it had ran out.  I'm on to my fourth tube of this now and I love it.  The muslin cloth that comes with it isn't the best, but I just bought a pack of 5 large muslin cloths and cut them up.  I use this a few times then just chuck them in the bin, instead of washing them.  No7 have changed their skincare recently and this is now known as the 'Beautiful Skin Hot Cloth Cleanser'.  I'm hoping they've not changed it too much!

3. Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation.
I was reluctant to try this after my previous dalliance with a Rimmel foundation (Match Perfection I believe) broke me out.  However, after hearing so many great reviews on this I decided to give it a go, and I'm really glad I did.  It's the perfect coverage for me and I'm happy to use it day or night.  It doesn't feel heavy or cakey and it really does wake my skin up.

4. Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs.
Fake tan scares me.  I wish it didn't because I could do with the extra bit of colour, but I just can't get to grips with it.  This product has been my saviour on many an occasion.  It gives my legs just enough colour to bring them from their natural white, but without making them look way more tanned than the rest of my body.  It's so easy to apply and takes seconds. Love it.


5. Max Factor False Lash Effect Fusion Mascara.
I like this even more than the original False Lash Effect.  It's a bit pricey, but I got it as part of a 3 for 2 deal so that makes it a bit better.  I'm always trying out different mascaras, but I always go back to this. I love the pretty purple tube too!


6. Soap and Glory Breakfast Scrub & Righteous Butter.
I'm a massive Soap and Glory fan, and have been since it first came out. I first got this body scrub in one of the massive Christmas gift sets, and since then I've bought another 3 tubs.  Out of all the Soap & Glory scrubs, this is my favourite.  It smells amazing and makes my skin super smooth.  I think everyone knows how fabulous Righteous Butter is. I've lost count of the number of tubs of this I've got through.  I currently have two on the go - I thought I'd lost one, so opened my back-up, then found it again! I think I'm going to try the lotion version when one of these runs out.  As much as I love it, I sometimes think it can be a bit too thick and heavy for day time, especially in warmer weather... is that just me? Let me know!


What are your most repurchased products?
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Sunday 22 July 2012

My First NOTD!


I've been off work this week which means I have been able to paint my nails!  I love nail varnish, and have a good 50+ bottles, but because of work, I hardly ever get to wear it.  I used to always wear it on my days off but half the time, I can't be bothered putting it on for a day, then having to take it straight off again that evening.  But as I had a whole week off, I really made a point of painting my nails.  If I'd been a good blogger, I'd have taken photos each time I painted them, but never mind, maybe next time I'm off I'll do that!

Anyway, this is how I did my nails for the weekend.  I had no major plans;  just a trip to Nandos and the cinema last night, then a bbq at a friends house today, but as it was the weekend I decided to jazz them up a bit and add a bit of glitter.  


First I used Amethyst by Accessorize.  I actually really like these nail polishes and keep meaning to buy more.  They're available in Superdrug and Accessorize stores and only cost £4.  They seem small, but are 10ml which is about average I think.  There's a pretty good range of colours too and the small brush & chunky lid make it really easy to apply.  



I then used a Nails Inc Special Effects varnish in Bloomsbury Square.  I bought this on a whim late last year,  along with Connaught Sqaure  (a blue with purple glitter) as I couldn't decide which I liked the most.  I've always worn these on their own, applying three coats to get a really opaque glitter effect.   This time I just applied the one coat over the Amethyst to give more of a shuttle shimmer, and the purple underneath still gives it that opaque look.  

I finished with a Bourjois topcoat that I got in a French manicure set for the simple reason that it's the only one I have!  I usually skip topcoats simply because I only really get to wear nail varnish for one or two days at the most, so it doesn't really get time to chip too badly.  I think I need to invest in a good topcoat though so if you have any recommendations feel free to let me know in the comments!
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Friday 20 July 2012

Review: Lee Stafford Nourishing Miracle Oil



With the hype surrounding Moroccan Oil, its hardly surprising that the high street are coming out with more affordable alternatives. At around £30 a pop, I've yet to try the 'proper' stuff, but I picked up this offering from Lee Stafford in Boots as part of a 3 for 2 deal and I'm pretty impressed!

I'm not gonna lie, one of the things that attracted to me to the product was the packaging! I'd already chose a shampoo and conditioner and was just looking for something to be my 3rd product to take advantage of the offer.  The pink and orange box caught my eye, and after hearing so much about Moroccan Oil, I decided to give it a go. 



Lee says
"my nourishing oil is a special blend of ingredients which help to create soft,shiny hair leaving it in superb condition. This miracle oil nurtures hair and helps enrich its natural shine, delivering a smooth, shiny, silky finish without any product build up!"
 
 
The consistency is (obviously) very oil like, almost like a slighty more runny hair serum.  You can apply it to wet hair to help seal in moisture before blow drying, and you can also use it on dry hair to add shine, and tame flyaways and frizz.  Obviously you need to apply less to dry hair, because as it says on the bottle, you can always add more, but you can't take away!


I really like this product, it leaves my hair soft, shiny and manageable.  I really like the smell too, it's not too overpowering.  Other reviews have described it as being very similar too other Lee Stafford products.  Having not used  any others for quite a while, I couldn't say. But nevertheless, I do like it.  Personally I think it does smell 'oily'....   not in a horrible greasy chip pan type of way (eeww!)  but more like a massage oil may smell like.  


Lee Stafford products are available in Boots, and this particular one was £11.99 for 50ml. Pretty pricey I think,  and I probably wouldn't have bought it if not for the 3 for 2 deal.  I do wonder how it compares to the "real" Moroccan Oil.  At around £30 for 100ml it works out at around £6 more than the Lee Stafford,  which when you think of it like that, it's not too bad a deal.  After liking this so much I am tempted to splash out once it's ran out!


Have you tired the Lee Stafford Nourishing Miracle Oil? Or the Moroccan Oil? How do they compare? Let me know!
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Tweet, Tweet!

I signed up to Twitter recently and am a bit lonely on there at the moment! Feel free to follow me, and hopefully we'll chat soon!


@lipglossandcake

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Tuesday 17 July 2012

Cakespiration

 
Just thought I'd share these pretty cupcake cases my Mam bought me on a trip to York yesterday.  I normally tend to go for basic, plain white cases but I actually really like these.  They've got a very vintage look to them,  and would be perfect for an afternoon tea party.  I can imagine them  on a china cake stand, with little finger sandwiches, and scones with clotted cream, with tea served from vintage china.... you get the idea!  I'm going to use these next time I bake (tomorrow hopefully!) and have spent this morning looking for ideas on how to decorate them, and I'll be sure to at least tweet the results. But for now, here's a few of the lovely pictures that I found.
 
 
Source: creative cake academy

Source: cupcakes 2 delight

Source: jotasteofhome

Source: vintageandcake


Source: vintageandcake

Not sure my finished cakes will be as good as these ones,  need a bit more practice!
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Friday 13 July 2012

Maxi Dress Hunt!

Despite being barely over 5ft tall, I've never had a problem with clothes I've bought from the 'regular' ranges in the high street. Yes, I'll try and go for the 'short' leg length in jeans, but apart from that everything else fits fine. I tend to steer clear of the petite ranges, I find them to be a bit 'skimped' all over, and my usual size 10 feels a bit snug and just doesn't look right.  The only real problem I've had is it when it comes to maxi dresses, which are always a good six inches too long.  I used to be a bit wary of them as I thought they would just make me look even shorter, but after trying one on from the petite range at Wallis last summer, I decided I could perhaps get away with one after all!  Unfortunately I didn't buy the dress; it would have been perfect for a wedding I was attending later in the year but I had already spent £200 on my outfit for that, and it just seemed a waste of money. I'm kicking myself now! I wish I'd had the spare cash to buy it, as I can now think of fair few occasions where it would have been perfect for it! 

My local high street didn't have much to offer, and to be honest there wasn't a great deal online either, but here's my favourites from a not-bad-but-not-great bunch!



1. Dorothy Perkins;  £39.50. Dorothy Perkins is one of my favourite shops. I think it's great for day to day, wear, or for a smart/casual look. I really like the halterneck style to this one, it has a bit more shape than the strapless ones which I think would be more flattering on someone like me. 
2. Topshop; £55. I'm more a fan of the print on this one than the style of the dress to be honest. I think it may be a bit too baggy on top for me. However the colours are gorgeous and it'd look great with a tan.
3. Miss Selfridge; £33.  Another beautiful print, I think this one would be perfect for a summer wedding.  It does seem as if it'd be a little baggy on the waist, so I'd perhaps team this one with a high-waisted belt to give it a bit of shape.
4. Miss Selfridge; £39. Would you believe me if I said I had a thing for flowery dresses?! Pretty much every dress I own has some sort of flower print going on! This is the perfect maxi dress to take on holiday, it'd look great on the beach, or doing some sight-seeing, and would just as good when hitting the bars!
5. Wallis; £48. I'd say this one is more suited to evening wear, than day-to-day, though I'm sure it can be accessorized to incorporate whatever occasion!  Again, I like the halter-neck style, and I think the 'panel' in the middle would give an illusion of length, a must have when you're a shorty like me!


Out of these, I'd probably go for 1 or 5.  I think these would be more flattering on my body type.  I'm not super-skinny, and I think that teamed with my height (or lack of!) would mean that the strapless ones wouldn't do a lot for me.  I'm a little disappointed with the lack of choice to be honest, although in general the petite ranges aren't all that great; another reason why I avoid them!  


Has any other shorties had any luck in finding a nice maxi dress? Let me know!
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Wednesday 11 July 2012

Howdy!

I always feel a bit silly writing these sort of posts! Oh well, here goes. I've blogged before but never really got in to it properly and I've decided to give it one last attempt, but with a bit of a difference! (hint: look at the blog name!)

As much as I love make up and beauty products, I'm not sure I buy enough... okay I probably do buy enough, but I don't really wear much on a day to day basis to focus solely on that.  I thought it might be fun to add another dimension to my blog to make it a bit different and just to add a bit of variety really! I love baking, especially cupcakes! My friend got me The Hummingbird Bakery book a couple of years ago now and basically that's where my obsession came from! I'm just a hobby baker for the time being, maybe I'll set up a business one day but for the time being I'm happy just doing it for fun!

So with this blog I plan on doing a variety of posts; I'll show off my cupcake efforts, talk about new (and old!) products that I love (or hate!) and tell you about anything particularly exciting that's happened in my life... hmmmm maybe not to many of those, my life is fairly boring hehe!
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