Black Nails....

This is a really touchy subject for me. Black Nail Polishes are classically a really difficult thing for me to buy. They are usually either too watery and sheer so they give you a very grey, patchy finish which isn't great or are too thick and opaque and take forever to dry so almost always end up smudged and ruined. See my problem?

Well, when i came to pick up a new one the other day i thought I'd

go for the pretty consistently good Barry M nail polishes in 'Black' (What Really?! :) ). But honestly, i was so so let down. It's exactly what you don't want from a nail polish. Watery, streaky, sheer, grey and takes ages to dry so it smudges something chronic. I was super disappointed by this as all the Barry M nail polishes i have tried in the past have been pretty decent so i was hoping for good things from this polish. I might have to try the Gel Formula Black when i can get my hands on it- or when there is a fabulous offer on in Superdrug.... 

But onto one that i do think is worth trying although there is a risk the formula has changed since i purchased my last bottle a year or so ago. This one is the Maybelline Colour show collection and my

bottle is 'Blackout'. This is a formula i swore by a while back and i must have bought a couple from there since but i kind of just forgot about it as you do. And when i finally reached for it again, months and months later, it had dried up and was almost empty. And then i just didn't go back to it, which in hindsight was a stupid move but there we go. It's a really opaque formula but not streaky or thick at all, it also sets to a really nice glossy finish and sets pretty damn quickly and is really quite chip proof which I really think is great. My only complaint is that it kind of sets in the bottle, even with the lid on tight, it doesn't really last that long, it might have just been me but that's my experience. 

I also can't say I've tried any of the other colours from this range so I can't tell you it's constantly good but if they are anything like this one, I'm an idiot for not testing more out. 

The Maybelline and the Barry M are actually the same price, so i would 100% choose the Maybelline one in the future but as i mentioned, that is not flawless either. So if anyone has any suggestions for their favourite black polishes,any ideas would be most appreciated. 

Thankyou Guys! x

Holiday Gifts for the Boyfriend....

As you probably aren't aware, i headed off to visit a good friend of mine last week who lives in Germany and i really did have an amazing time whilst i was out there, it was a really nice break from everyday life and Hamburg is such a stunning city, honestly, it was amazing. 
But.... That's not what I want to talk about in this post. I'll probably drop it into another post in the foreseeable future all by itself but at the moment, what I actually want to talk about is what i got on the plane. I also noticed they were available in Duty Free so if your looking for a gift for a man in your life or for yourself, these are really good value. I actually got the set as well with an extra 20% off which I thought was amazing so I got these for so much cheaper then they normally cost. I also bought a Bare Minerals set at the same time which I'll review soon too alongside all the other make-up I bought in Germany (Whoops).

 
ANYWAY, oh my god I'm rambling. But my point is, for my boyfriend I bought an Armani Perfume Sampler set with five different scents in 5-7ml tester bottles.  And i thought it was super good value. The bottles, okay, aren't that big. But for someone, like my boyfriend, who enjoys changing his scent up but can't afford to buy full sized products in everything, it's really excellent. 

I knew this kind of appealed to me following my Dad buying me a Daisy Marc Jacobs set last year and me really enjoying it and funnily enough, for it to last a really long time, so i was happy to purchase this set. 

The set itself has something for everyone which really does appeal to me. There are sweet fragrances, more deep musky fragrances and more herbal scents also. This makes it appealing to everyone and it doesn't really matter whether you don't use it or not because, they are so small and such good value for the money. I also think that if you found one of them that you really liked, you could purchase the full size, so it allows you to have more then a tiny tester in a shop to decide whether the full size is worth the money. I don't know really, it's just my opinion from my experience with the Daisy ones last year. 

I think in the end this little set cost me about £21 so for 5 small but quality perfumes I'd say that was pretty decent and my boyfriend was super happy with them. 

Thank you for reading guys and hopefully I'll be able to get some more posts up now I'm back and I'll be able to start some series' that i have been planning for a while. 

Jo x 

Garnier Summer Body Moisturising Lotion....

This is a new love of mine for summer. On a trip to Tesco, completely not intending to buy a body lotion, i picked up a body lotion. I saw this one on offer and after taking a quick sniff of it, i decided it smelt too good to leave on the shelf. And i was kind of interested in the product itself. But it really was the scent that did the deal for this product. 

The product itself is pretty cool as it goes. It's a body lotion with a hint of self tan so when you apply it goes on as a gorgeous body lotion that is super fast absorbing and light and doesn't leave that horrible tacky feeling on the skin, but then when you wake up the next morning it gives you a really subtle glow of a slightly sun kissed look to the skin that isn't too much or patchy.

My only gripe with this sort of product is really my own fault. If you apply one layer of this product it's great and leaves a lovely glow to the skin. Then, if your like me and your skin needs a little of something applying to it everyday and you reapply the next day, consequently layering the product up, it starts looking quite patchy. I feel it is the sort of product that doesn't need layering but it would have to be used in conjunction with another product in between showers to stop it looking a bit rubbish and 'dirty mark' like. I think it is an apply after a shower sort of product and then something needs to be used in between which of course isn't ideal.

But when i do apply this in one coat, it does fade really evenly and naturally and doesn't look like your caked in fake tan or anything like that. The other thing about this product is that because it does contain fake tan, it will stain your hands if you are to apply with your hands. You do need to give them a wash after applying which is always a bit of a pain but i've found a handy way of avoiding this. Use a tan mitt. That sounds so obvious but my boyfriend's mum gave me one she got for free the other day, a little velvety one from Bondi Sands which does the job so well and works so evenly and looks so natural. So if you have one, give it a try but it's not an absolute necessity. 

The smell like i mentioned before is amazing, oh my goodness. It's an apricot fragrance and it's just lovely. Really light and fruity and fresh without being overpowering or strange on the skin. The actual texture of the lotion is almost gel like, not too creamy and it works into the skin really quickly so it avoids that horrible sticky feeling. I also really think it does something for the skin, it really works dry skin and makes it so much softer and smoother which you know, is the idea of a body lotion. 

I've heard a lot of these Garnier body lotions and so many people rave about them and this is so cheap and so effective i really am using it nearly every day at the moment and i am really seeing a difference and a benefit to my skin as well as a lovely different effect to my skin which is always nice especially for the summer. The tan without the damage for pale people or people that aren't that comfortable using fake tan. This is a great alternative to fake tan and does two jobs in one and there is no fear of it going really terribly wrong as it's so subtle. 

Anyway this is my current favourite body lotion and i'd really recommend this product. It's really cheap and available widely and is often on offer as i've noticed now. If you can get a good deal i'd recommend a try as when my friend tried it she was a total convert after my recommendation to her of it. I believe it's £5.49 from boots but i'm sure i got mine from Tesco for much less then that, maybe half price? So keep an eye out, it's a really great product if you can get your hands on it. 
Thanks Guys x

Batiste Dry Shampoo...

Okay so i know this is absolutely raved about online but i'm going to give my take on my favorite dry shampoo as well as my favourite scent from the line. This is the Batiste dry shampoo in Tropical.

I'll talk about the scent first because the texture and effectiveness is all over the internet so i see little point in going into it in too much detail. I know Batiste do so many scents now, there is literally a scent for everyone's tastes now. This one is super coconutty and fresh which is always good and it is really something that i don't mind putting in my hair in terms of scent because at the end of the day you don't want to be putting something in your hair that smells awful because it does last all day and you will get sniffs of it here and there throughout the day. Before all the different flavours came out, i  ended up spending half my time trying to cover up the distinctive smell of dry shampoo with anything else that smelt of anything other then the smell of in essence, dirty hair. So these different scents have been a god send for me as there is so many scents there is no distinctive dry shampoo smell anymore that is recognisable and i think it's such a good way of making your hair last between washes.  But when you do dye your hair, like me, and it does tend to get super dry the more you wash it, there has to be a balance between the amount you wash it in order to keep it looking and feeling somewhat healthy.

So in between washes, two to three day old hair can still be worn up or even down with a dowsing of this stuff. It really does what it says in the tin and really is oil absorbing and makes your hair look and feel fresher. I'm not sure whether i particularly like the feeling of it in my hair but then i'm very fussy about anything in my hair, i don't even like heat styling it because i can't put up with the slightest change in texture so i'm not really a fair judge of the feeling. However, i can tell you that it's not too heavy. It doesn't feel drying or uncomfortable and it definitely adds some body and volume to your hair so i even spritz a little of this in my hair when it's clean to give it a little extra volume if it's looking a bit drab. For me, it does many things rather then just the bog standard dry shampoo.

I can see one thing about this however that some people won't be a fan of. And that is the powdery residue that you are left with afterwards. For people with medium to dark hair, this could be a problem as it leaves a very visible white powder that needs blending in properly to the rest of your hair. It is worth noting however that there is one for brunettes that i haven't tried which is supposed to be a different colour residue which could make an improvement if this is an issue for you. However for blondes of even light brown haired people, it's easily blended in and for bleach blondes it even hides roots to some degree.

I really love this dry shampoo and this is my favourite for refreshes in between washes and for adding volume and body without it feeling gross in my hair. It also brushes out super easily and doesn't feel sticky or horrible in the hair which is perfect for me. These are all super cheap and i have them in literally all the sizes in the tropical scent and i use them for on the go and at my boyfriends and at home and everywhere i can't be without them.  Have a try sometime and see if you can find a flavour you love, if you do let me know if there is anything you think i should try as i'm thinking of getting a different fragrance next time.

Thanks Guys x

Madame Tussauds...

During our recent adventure to London to see Ed Sheeran play live in Wembley (IT WAS AMAZING) , we had a bit of time the day after to have a little wander round London and we thought why not head over to Baker Street and go to Madame Tussauds. Now we went on a Saturday and it surprisingly wasn't too crazily busy, like don't get me wrong the queue to get in was a bit mad but we had pre-booked tickets and only had to wait five minutes to get in actually. They were really sound about storing our little suitcases too and it was super cheap and actually we managed to leave them there for most of the day which was nice that we didn't have to carry them around.  

We pre-booked tickets like i said, which was not only cheaper but was so so so much quicker to get in and much less waiting time so if you're thinking about going i'd recommend booking online in advance to save yourself a hell of a lot of time and money. When we eventually got in, we walked straight into perhaps the busiest bit of the whole visit which was the initial room with all the actors and TV personalities in set out like a party. Although this was sort of busy, it wasn't to the point where it was impossible to see anything so it was manageable. We got all the photos we wanted and what was really excellent was that you were able to spend as much time with figures as you want and your able to touch and pose with the figures to your hearts desire which really enriches the experience rather then just wandering round taking photos from afar. 

The figures themselves were just incredible, truly amazing. They all looked scarily realistic and were so perfectly made you couldn't even begin to imagine how much time and effort had gone into making them. And there was something for everyone, it wasn't just all really up to date modern celebrities, there was everything from Bollywood to Royals through the ages to politicians to musicians which really made it a good family day out.

I also think that there was enough to see for your money. Like it took a good couple of hours to get round but that wasn't super tiring or draining or anything, honestly there was so much to do, even to a 4D cinema experience which was incredible, the Pride of London ride which was really cool, a exhibit on how the figures are made and then there was the Chamber of Horrors. 
The Chamber of Horrors is where the models of criminals and 'bad guys' throughout history were displayed  and when you first go in, you are told to either get in the 'Scary lane' or the 'Not so scary lane'. Me being a wuss just went straight through the not so scary part and although my friends were willing to go in, the queue put them off so we all decided to just skip it. However, when i came to the other side i'm very glad i did, there were people coming out in floods of tears and even the tiny part i saw was enough to freak me out so it really wasn't for me. But i know that people do rave about it and it really is an experience if that floats your boat. So, if you're a thrill seeker or love shocks and surprises of people jumping out at you and dark and scary stuff, i'm sure you'll really enjoy it.

At the end of the whole journey, there was a gift shop which strangely was not massively expensive and as a result i picked up a teddy bear (Yes i am 17 shush) and off we went. It really was a really excellent day out and i feel like i haven't quite got the point across of how much i loved it but seriously it was a real highlight of trips and places i've been over the years. If your in the area and have a few hours to kill i'd completely suggest you have a trip round because i'm sure you won't be disappointed.

I'll insert some pictures from the day if anyone is interested.
Thanks Guys x

SuperCat....

This is a post about my all time, go-to, go-back-to, repurchased, tried, tested, absolute favorite eyeliner. Honestly i cannot go on more about this,it's just my perfect eyeliner and i've tried so so many and nothing has ever lived up in my expectations and results as this.

I had heard mixed reviews on this eyeliner before now and i have had about five lots of this now and i might have just been lucky but i have never had one dry up quickly or that has lost its pigment or any of these usual complaints that people have with eyeliners. It automatically wont be for everyone because from the off, it's a felt tip pen style liner. The pen is also reasonably thick too, and i don't mean, for me anyway, too thick. I've been able to achieve very thin dainty lines with the pen as well as been able to build it up to a much thicker line also. But then i've known someone that is an utter whizz at makeup be completely unimpressed with the thickness and having to buy another liner for thinner lines. I guess it is just totally down to personal preference and what one person may love, another person may hate. It's really not clean cut, even if i love it, you might not.

But, for me, i really really love this liner. I find it really easy to control in the 'felt tip' sort of format to start with but the nib on this is neither too long or too short or too stiff or too flexible. Much like the three bears, this eyeliner is just right on all those accounts, for me at least. When a new one is bought, it's super smooth and doesn't drag in the slightest and this lasts for such a long time without drying up and dragging, i cannot complain about buying a new one. As someone who does wear eyeliner every single day without fail, an eyeliner that dries up really quickly just doesn't make the cut. But with this one, it can last months and months and still work beautifully which is just such a huge tick in favour for this product. 

Another great feature is that unlike many other liners with the felt tip that i've tried, the nib has never split or bent or become too soft at the very tip which, those of you who are regular liner wearers will know, is a massive massive pain as it deems a eyeliner totally wasted. And it's not even like you can replace the felt tip or use a brush instead which of course, is a massive let down with many products. But like i said, i've never known this to succumb to this and i always end up throwing mine away only if they are literally dried out or totally empty. 

Okay, this liner is not the cheapest on the market but compared to the others, it's totally worth the money. Not long ago i decided to branch out and try a Rimmel eyeliner that i used to love- and which was a bit cheaper, but it really disappointed me as i was so used to the SuperCat. Soap and Glory isn't a brand i've tried a lot from, but what i have tried i've been generally pretty impressed with and i definitely want to try some more products. 

As a side note, i genuinely went back to my old pretty much dried out SuperCat instead of the new Rimmel one, i missed it so much. Yeah i'm that obsessed. 
So if your into the same sort of liner as me, with the felt tip, i'd definitely, without a shadow of a doubt have a try with one of these. Soap and Glory is available in Boots and this liner seems pretty popular as it always seems to be on the stand even if it's a pretty small display. I believe it's about £6 and there is an offer on at Boots at the moment, at least online where Soap and Glory is 3 for 2, so it might be the time to have a try. 
Thanks for reading guys, i really appreciate it and i'm trying to keep a steady flow of posts at the moment as my summer is just about to start and i can genuinely say i'm enjoying blogging more then ever at the moment, so hopefully my content will reflect this.

Jo x 

Go-to perfume.....

I'm not really one for perfumes, I just don't really have the money to spend on something that just smells nice.  I normally just rely on presents and ask for the ones I really want for my birthday and Christmas presents. 

This one was no different. My sister bought this for me a couple of years ago and I was really happy with it when I first opened it. My friend had the green one and I knew I loved that one, so when I opened the red one I was really happy that I loved it even more then the green. 

It fast became my everyday staple and I chose this one over any other I had. 

The smell itself isn't super sweet, but it is fresh and as the bottle suggests without a doubt smells like apples. 

It's not that expensive (she says) as perfumes go and I can make a perfume last a really long time and this one is quite potent so once it's on, it's the sort of lipstick that lasts on your clothes and skin and you can smell it next time you put that jumper on. 

Soooo, what I'm saying is, there is no need to rush out and buy this but I'd defiantly recommend a sniff if you spot it in Boots sometime, it is usually on offer as well which is always a bonus. 

The perfume is called 'Red Delicious' by DKNY and I've seen it in pretty much every boots I've been in so its really readily available. I also know there are so many variations on this specific type of perfume but this is my definite favourite but i really love this line for its variety as it kind of means that to some degree there is something for everyone which is always a bonus. From Boots it is available for £45 for 50ml  but i know for a fact that a quick google shows it for much better prices so my advice is definitely to shop around a little and see what you can get because you can get really good deals on pretty much anything if you check online first if you do decide to buy.

Thanks Guys x