BEAUTY / GARNIER MICELLER WATER

After trying out L'Oreal attempt at a Miceller Water, I decided to try it's larger bottled rival from Garnier. The main reasoning behind this being it is a larger bottle for cheaper! In the past Garnier products and I haven't gotten along. I have very sensitive skin and certain products strip any moisture out my skin causing an eczema outbreak. Previously the Garnier  Soft Essentials range caused havoc with my skin, it dried out my skin to the extent that my eyelids become so dry they were swollen to double the size. Not my best look.

Unfortunately after a couple of days of use, this product has done the same which is a shame because it is a nice product but I will admit I prefer the L'Oreal. I didn't feel it removed my make up as thoroughly and was a tad abrasive on my skin. Take this with a pinch of salt if your skin isn't a very sensitive. I am passing it on to my mum to use so hopefully she can get some use out of it.

Have you tried this?

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N E W - B U Y S

So apparently I have a shopping problem and find the need to display my purchases on erratic glamour. This week is a little mix of beauty products and some fashion goodies.

A few weeks ago I talked about the Skin Perfecting Miciller Water from L'Oreal  that I picked up as my new make up remover. Don't get me wrong, I still love this product but being a bit of a product lover of course I had to have a nose at the Garnier Micellar Water! My main reason for doing was the fact that the bottle is 400ml opposed to the 200ml of it's L'Oreal counter part. Being roughly the same price giving Garnier a shot seemed like the sensible thing to. Keep your eyes peeled for my thoughts on Garniers contribution coming soon.

To accompany this, I picked up another Barry M Gelly polish in Lychee. I wasn't overly fussed about this polish for a long time but for some reason I just couldn't resist it this time around. The fair taupe, putty tone called me name and I answered!

While browsing the New Look website in search of a blazer I came across these little gems. Reduced from £27.99 to £14.99, I couldn't resist really. A decent heel for daytime without being huge and some detail - winning. And they were a total steal. I did pick up a really lovely black jacquard blazer for £9 but sadly it is too tight across the back so the search for the perfect blazer - white and black - is back on. 

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F A V O U R I T E S / F E B R U A R Y

February has drawn to a close. That cheeky little month sandwiched in between Winter and Spring has made way for March and hopefully means brighter days, less of a nip in the air and the winter coats getting hung up. Being a Farmers daughter is also means the beginning of an even busier time of year for my dad - lambing time.

I have never really been a monthly favourites kind gal but hey, doing new things is never a bad thing! So without further ado let me introduce my favourites of February 2014. (I don't know why but in my head the Radio 2 Pick of the Pops music played and coming in at number 10 ran through my mind?! If that idea works for you get ready to count down with Tony Blackburn!)

MUSIC

This month saw me fall back in love with Gaslight Anthem. Last summer they were probably my most listened to tracks but over Autumn and winter other artists popped up on my radar leaving Gaslight in the summer of 2013. There is something about there tracks that is just so easy to listen too. There lyrics are well structured and having meaning rather than poorly structured lyrics that mean diddly-squat.Think Black Eyed Peas My Humps if you need some inspiration for meaningless song lyrics...

Other music I've enjoyed in Feb: Gabrielle Aplin, The 1975, Sam Smith, Lily Allen

BOOKS

February was the month of Paris Revealed by Stephen Clarke. It seems like months ago that I finished this perfect little venture into Parisian life but it was about 2 weeks ago! How time flies! I have a book review of this absolutely perfect piece of work - here - so I won't go into too much detail/any!

I started my March 2014 book in February - shhhh! - which is Daphne Du Maurier Jamaica Inn which by Chapter 3 has completely and utterly swallowed me up. It is too wonderful. More on that at the end of March. WARNING: Do not research authors on Wiki if you value the mystery of a plot line.

FASHION

This month saw my first day in my new job so naturally I had to adopt a smart casual dress sense. To be fair, I would consider myself a smart/casual kind of dresser anyway so this wasn't too much of a struggle for me. The most exciting part was being able to wear my own clothes rather than a minging uniform 5 days out of 7.

Topshop Printed Skirt (Very old) / H&M Leather Trousers / Zara (Sale) Spotty Blouse 

BEAUTY

Another perk of my new job is nail polish. In my previous place of employment this was prohibited so naturally I went a little cray-cray. To the extent that I whacked on some fake nails and painted them red! I feel so Jane Russell.

Kiss Round Nails (Filed & Cut down) Available from Boots / L'Oreal Miceller Water (Review) / Barry M Lipgloss in No4

And that is my February 2014 favourites! What have you been liking this February?

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Beauty: Skin Perfection Purifying Micellar Water

I'm not getting any younger, sadly, and looking after my skin is becoming more and more important. I've never properly invested in a well structured skincare routine but recently I've been researching different brands and products. I've thought about getting Bioderma for a long time but have never actually completed the purchase. While browsing blogs I came across the Lloreal Skin Perfection Purifying Micellar Water. Often described as a high street dupe for Bioderma, I made the decision to try it. (The fact it was on offer in Superdrug also helped in finishing off this purchase.)

Your skin feels so clean after you've taken off your make up with this, everything just feels fresh and clean which with other cleansers I haven't found this to be the case.It's affordable, easy to find a store to buy it and after a weeks worth of use, I would 100% say it works. My skin feels clean and has a nice healthy glow to it. Definitely go check this stuff out if you are in the market for a new addition to your skincare routine. 

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Beauty: Nail Varnish Favourites.

When it comes to nail varnish I tend to swing from one end of the spectrum to the other. From jet black to bright milky white and everything in between. The box where my nail polishes live is probably a touch big, no one needs 6 reds really but they are all different shades... slightly... kind of... not really...

My favourites change a lot, I will have a phase where all I want is dark colour then I will crave a bright, girly colour like nothing on earth. Currently I am in a dark phase... how deep does that sound! Not that deep...

Without further a-do or rambling of the nonsensical nature let me introduce you to my Current Favourite Nail Varnishes. Drum roll please!

Nails Inc in Savile Row : A deep plum toned shade that looks like a flat dark but actually on closer inspection has a beautiful rich depth to it without being over powering. A magazine freebie, this is a nail colour I go back to again & again. It is dark enough to almost look like black but doesn't hold the same harsh quality that a true jet black can sometimes hold especially against a paler skin tone.

Nails Inc in Piccadilly Circus : The most exotic of the 5, Piccadilly Circus was another magazine freebie! Brighter than the deep plums, Piccadilly Circus is a deep cerise shade that is bright enough to be different & eye-catching but not too in your face with a deep burgundy look in certain lights.

Estee Lauder in Blackberry : A 21st Birthday present, this polish has stood the test of time. As perfect as it was on that day back in 2010! Deep, rich colour that last for days and days on the nails. A little more expensive than other nail polishes but 100% worth the £14 price tag. An interesting dark that polished & put together. Perfect.

Nails Inc in Victoria : This is the oldest of the 5 - as shown by the old school Nails Inc bottle - but although having a few more miles on the clock, this polish is still in tip top condition. Still applies beautifully, has lasting power & remains a firm staple in my collection. A deep cherry red shade - and I mean deep - this is another beauitful colour that from a distance looks like any other dark polish but on closer inspection has depth & an edge to it that makes it a lot softer & more flattering than a jet black. *It sounds like I am bashing jet black nails, I'm not, I love jet black nails too just not as a favourite at the moment.*

Barry M Gelly in Watermelon : This is a very recent buy but after buying 3 from this line there was not any umming or ahhing over which one I would be jazzing up my nails with first. Watermelon is as the name states the gorgeous deep, rich blue toned green of the outside of a watermelon! Being a fan of dark brown, blue & purples, Watermelon is a nice change without having to venture over the the bright side. It's a bit different, it's fun & the formula is so beautiful.


What are some of your favourite polishes? Aid me in adding to my addiction!

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Beauty: Favourite Foundations

Foundation truly sets the starting point for your make up. It can take a add to a relaxed vibe or pull a vamp-y look together with a quick application. Personally going without foundation is not something I am willing to do - unless extremely ill, hungover or forced at gun point - it is the base for my make up, it provides an even canvas for me to do what I feel that day. Of course with this much passion for those little pots of magic, I would naturally have some favourites. So let's get cracking on my current favourite foundations, shall we?

Bourjois Healthy Mix Radiance Reveal

Price: £9.99

Finish: Dewy. Healthy Glow.

Radiance Reveal promises 16 hours of radiance that will battle fatigue and maintain a youthful complexion. Whether this is true or not is debatable however there is no doubting that this foundation gives the skin a glowy, well rested look while remaining natural. Of course it can be built up in order to gain a heavier coverage. From the three foundations, I would say this one if my favourite simply because I've not found it to be difficult to work with or had any issues. 

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum

Price: £10.99

Finish: Dewy. Semi Matte. Buildable coverage.

Being a gel based serum formula this foundation works perfectly on dry skin which I why I think I love it so much. A little goes a long way and it can easily be built up if more coverage is desired. As with all the Healthy Mix range, this product gives a beautiful healthy glow that covers signs of fatigue seamlessly. My only bit of criticism about this foundation is that sometimes I do find it to gather a little on my nose and chin if it hasn't been worked into the skin properly. 

Revlon Nearly Naked 

Price: £8.99

Finish: Seamless, natural coverage. 

I will get my only complaint about the Revlon Nearly Naked out of the way, it has no pump! This foundation makes a mess, if you pour out too much it can be wasteful and at least once you will end up smearing it everywhere! Apart from the lack of pump, Nearly Naked it a beautiful foundation. Very light and sheer but still buildable for those days when a little extra coverage is required and doesn't require a lot of blending as it practically melts into your skin! 

Although I said Radiance Reveal is probably my favourite, I'm the sort of person that gets bored of a foundation so switches it up and the chances of me choosing one of the other two are extremely high. No matter how many times I try out a new foundation release, at one point or another I will no doubt venture back to my old trusty favourite of Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum, Radiance Reveal or Revlon's Nearly Naked.

Have you tried any of these foundations? What do you think about them?

Happy Monday! 

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Beauty: Feeling Fragrant.

Through out my teens fragrances were never something I was drawn to. I was all about make up products, fake tan and hair styles. Recently this has changed, possibly more I have changed?! I am still a massive make up product fiend and do enjoy a hairstyle or two, fake tan not so much anymore. This being said, there was a gap in my product loving subconscious which ultimately resulted in a brief fling with a fragrance being rekindled.

I was given a bottle of Jean Paul Gaultier Classique X for my 21st Birthday from my older brother, a scent I ultimately couldn't get enough of. Following using up my bottle, it didn't occur to me to repurchase. The fragrance itself is beautiful. Very fresh with hints of orange, vanilla, bergamot and mandarin.

Scents need to be light and fresh or we will not get on. Heavy, strong scents lead to migraines for me therefore a light scent is my only option. Classique X is exactly that. I recently repurchased a 100ml bottle from Cheap Smells as I had a little tester of this and when I wore it I got lots of 'Oo don't you smell nice' compliments. Sure sign, it is a good fragrance.

What is your go to fragrance?

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Trying out

If you follow me on Twitter you will know that recently I have been having trouble with my skin. For whatever reason my face has decided a spot party would be simply the best idea ever, I disagree.  I saw another blogger talking about Avene samples from the company's website so I decided to take up on the chance of trying some higher end skin care seen as a week today I turn the grand old age of ... 23 *weeps in hands*

I got a sample of Gentle gel cleanser and the Light hydrating cream, I am really looking forward to trying them out after hearing so many good things about them. Here is hoping I will wake up tomorrow morning with flawless skin ... I can live in hope!

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