Classic IV Professional GHD Styler

GHDs were all the rage when i was younger (think plaited wet hair to wavy frizz central kinda times) back then you name it every girl maybe boy wanted some either that or their mums already owned a pair.

Fast forward 8 years, after going though a dozen well known high street brands from Babyliss to Remington. I now thought it was time for an upgrade.

So with one of the best beauty tools in the business that has been around for years along with the many upgraded versions on the market I stuck with the original classic pair with regular slim line short plates.

Compared to ones i used to use these work wonders for thick hair from giving me a sleek straightened style holding a curl, for the duration of my night or day.

The curved edge of the barrel helps make the perfect loose or tight curl too.
In an instant they heat up (30 seconds to be more precise) giving a beeping indication when they are ready to beautify your locks, giving a heat temperature of 230 degrees this does scare me a little so of course its common sense but always remember to use a heat defense spray to help prevent more damage than is necessary.

If you are looking for a pair of new straighteners, with the technology high street brands are bringing to the market there will always be that one question which one do i choose?

Taking that chance is something we have to do but in this day and age the possibility are endless so its super exciting to see what brands like GHD will come out with next.

GHD Professional Styler £79

Barry M Gelly Nail Paints | Gelly Collection

I confess... I love Barry M Nail Paints,

After buying my first ever shade in bright purple a few years ago now, i've not look back since.

Dabbling in other brands and formulations although they do fulfill my nail painting needs some just don't last or  they peel, chip, even make my nails weak.

So with Barry M being some of the best i've used these are from the newish Gelly collection.

The gorgeous shades above are the ones I gravitated towards when purchasing so we have from left to right:

Grapefruit is a shade made for toes. With a tan or without your little tootsies will look amazing in this red colour with pink undertones. BONUS it looks opaque in one coat. 

Rose Hip looking at the bottle makes me smile, a strawberry milkshake pink to glorify my nails, oh yes please! Although this looks the part it takes time as well as effort to stop it from looking like a streaky gloopy mess as the shade is so pale every imperfection will be on show.

  Sugar Apple a lovely light bluey pale green shade accompanied by a sweet name.

  Greenberry everyone surely has to own some variety of a mint green in their collection, this is my mine appropriately name.

Guava this was actually a birthday gift from my mum which I love! It's quite a unique green turquoise shade also applies perfectly in one coat too.

 Blue Grape my all time favourite with a cobalt blue colouring, better yet one coat does the trick then your good to go. 

These are the best of the bunch if your looking for an extra high shine glossy finish.

They wear well up to 7 days depending your desired top coat, not forgetting the base coat too always helps.

I've found this formula less prone to peeling as one-two applications is all that's really necessary as for drying wise just like any other brands out there it usually takes between 7-20mins to be completely dry (if not thickly applied.)

Last of all keep in mind that when it comes to paler shades of any kind build up thin layers slowly to avoid a big mess not recommended to use if your in a rush!

What nail brand are you loving right now? 

Hydraluron Serum Review

Seeing the hype surrounding the products from the indeed lab series and especially being intrigued about the particular Hydraluron Serum there was only one thing to do of course try it out for myself.

Reading reviews about the product before buying it, seemed the right thing to do after what i was reading i couldn't wait to get my hands on it.

What it could offer

Over time, this serum increases skin's hydration level and minimizes the need for frequent topical moisturising. This increase in moisture levels has been shown to increase skin elasticity and reduce surface roughness.

The product itself is a clear gel it has a thin formula which doesn't clog pores and is really lightweight. It's not scented either.

The Results

Even though i maybe 18 i still felt my skin needed a helping hand.

The main problem with my skin is it has a dry combination & is super oily at the same time. (trust me,not a good look)

So really to help combat the dryness this seemed like it could do the job.

After using the hydraluron in conjunction with my daily moisturiser for 2 - 3 months i saw an improvement in the elasticity of my skin after this time it did feel a lot more hydrated even smoother to touch.

However even though what i felt after this period of use my skin seemed great with only the tiniest of dry areas when i started using it less frequently, bam the dryness was back. This in a way showed the product actually works.

For this i can't praise it enough, it helped with my skins hydration problems to an extent.

But to me having my skin be dependent on something that if i discontinue to use in short spouts makes my skin go to ruins do i really want this part of my daily skin routine?

Although this product actually works wonders, I guess for me as much as i can say i like it i don't know if i love it enough to go repurchase at £24.00 a pop. 

(FYI i thought the tube was going to be soooo much bigger before opening the box how i was so wrong!)  

I did purchase this whilst on offer but even so I'm torn between whether or not it would be top of my list to rush out for just yet, I'll be sure to update when i finally have a decision.

Watch this space i may have found myself an alternative sort of.

Have you tried any indeed labs products?

          

 

Kleenex Oil Blotting Sheets Review ... Summer Essential

These bad boys are a face saver when it comes to heading out in the summer weather or just in fact any weather if you're blessed with the almighty fantabulous combination/oily skin. So if your anything i like me I'm more often than not, on a search of products that will help keep my shine at bay.

Now this is where the Kleenex Oil Blotting Sheets make their worthy appearance these have been a staple in my bag ever since i picked them up on a whim at the beginning of June, to me this product is everything i could ask for.

 What they claim to do?

"Dab away excess oil and keep your make-up intact."

In all honesty this is true they're the best I've tried yet. 

They don't leave a residue of powder on skin, they come housed in a sturdy cardboard envelope (with a peel away sticker to help remove one sheet at a time from the pack as and when you need them.)

Also with the actual sheet being purple i was a bit skeptical in case they made my face turn a funny colour but i can say they defiantly don't transfer anything, other than taking away your excess oil away leaving you with a slightly matte shine free face. One of the many great things about this product too is they have a pretty floral design on one side while the other is a mattiyfied paper which does all the magic.

So you can blot in style.

A definite all year round handbag staple they also work a treat on a night out if you've been in a packed bar  etc. (Great to take for extra clutch bag space.)

Kleenex Oil Blotting Sheets x50 retailing at £2.99 from Superdrug/Tesco

What products do you use to combat your shiny skin?

twitter /  bloglovin' / hellocotton / facebook / she said beauty

beccalousie oxox

Nip + Fab Pistachio Sundae Body Butter

Yes after hearing so many amazing things about the Nip+Fab Body Butter I give in and purchased one.

It just had to be done didn't it?........

 

 Upon buying i never opened it in-store i just assumed as everyone else was a fan I'd like it too?

You couldn't be anymore wrong, the formulation has a thin creamy texture which really gives my dry skin a good treat, it doesn't feel sticky after rubbing in and it also soaks in super fast (so your not left flapping about like a chicken waiting to dry). The Nib + Fab Body Butter could even be a great slightly cheaper alternative to my Body Shop Body Butters. But with all the praise i can give to this tiny tub of it all fades away in an instant THE SCENT oh my, me + the pistachio scented body butter is not a great combination i really can't stand the way this product smells defiantly not my cup of tea!

I did persevere with trying it out but as much as i enjoyed the moisturising benefits its just something I'm unable to use without wanting to be sick.

SO it is great and if you have a love of pistachio scented products and dry skin then your certainly onto a winner but if your anything like me try out the other scents first or in this case smell before you buy!

Nip+Fab Body Butters 200ml - £8.49

twitter /  bloglovin' / hellocotton / facebook / she said beauty

beccalouise oxo

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer Review

Oh what's this i'm writing a blog post i think it's about time becca!

So this month has just been abit how'd you say blahhhhh. 

I've been super unproductive and unmotivated which resulted in me eating too many cookies and drinking 500 gallons of strawberry nesquik (takes me back to being a little kid, oh how times fly).

Also if you couldn't tell blogging had been put on the backburner but i'm back with my mojo intact.

SO i'm determined to make june a somewhat better month and i should probably go on a diet too (lets see how that lasts ha).

Now i've got that out of the way, lets get started on what you actually came here for....

The Collection (2000) Lasting Perfection Concealer has done its rounds a plenty and more in the blogging world but why not add too that right?

This concealer promises all of the below points but it did it live to my many expectations?

Ultimate wear concealer conceals flaws, imperfections and blemishes for up to 16 hours.

Transfer proof and water resistant for full and long lasting coverage.

Provides beautiful, shine-free, blemish-free skin for every waking hour.

In a way yes it was better than any other cover up stick in my collection but all being well they're some things about this product that dont work for me.

I purchased the concealer in Fair 1 which is a near perfect colour match for my ghost white skintone,

The constancy of this product is thick and creamy nothing like i've ever tried before and the doe foot applicator is a great feature as you can keep it somewhat free from germs by applying to the back of your hand rather than straight onto the face.

The rest of the packaging not so great as the writing on the outside of the tube rubs off instantly and can make it look a tiny be tacky but i can live with that.

I can definatly not get away with keeping this on my face for a whole 16 hours (never gonna happen), 

that is because i have the infamous oily/combination skin, a little bit goes along way for me when it comes to covering my red angry blemishes. 
As opposed to if i were to overload blemished areas of my face with this product (especially on my oily t-zone) the concealer just seems to just sit on top of my skin making it look super cakey as it just doesn't want to blend, eventually if is does blend making my skin look flawless and imperfection free as soon as my face becomes oily again it just looks horrendous it seems to oxide and turn an orange'y colour making my face turn into patchy mess. 

Don't get me started on using it as a cover up under my eyes big no no.

But don't let my ramble put you off as it is great to cover up imperfections as its not drying and it doesn't leave your face looking horrible + flaky.

Other than all that i'm not totally impressed but on a whole its something i can get wear out of in the winter months when my face turns a little drier. It also comes in handy when used in moderation but less is definitely more when it comes to using, especially in the summer too! (Damn you oily skin!)

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer £4.19 for 10ml at Superdrug

twitter /  bloglovin' / hellocotton / facebook / she said beauty

beccalouise oxo 

Neutrogena Pore & Shine Visibly Clear Scrub Review

After seeing this scrub appear on a few blogs i just knew i had to pick it up, i suffer from oily combination skin and this product just seemed perfect but is it?

In one word YES i'm a big fan of Neutrogena scrubs and washes it's definitely my go to brand for skincare goodness so after using the Pore & Shine scrub for around 2 months it's time to tell you what i think.

The product itself has a white runny consistency with green coloured beads which has tiny sand particles that  all help with the scrubbing action.

It aims to visibly mattify skin tighten pores with help from the tangerine & lime goodness plus it has a scent of tangerine & lime, so refreshing especially when using it as a morning pick me up!

Just from using this i don't see a massive difference with visibility of pores but with the shine aspect of things i really do feel it's helped reduce shine for a couple hours during the day and because of this my face doesn't feel super clogged up as it would a few months ago!

I only use this once a day as it actually instructs to do, which i like a lot, as with any other wash or scrub my face turns into the sahara desert , it just can't handle excess washing so in the morning i actually use the Pore & Shine daily wash, just as good but without the scruby dubby bits.

So all in all it helps prevent me from getting blemishes and really has reduced my shine what more do you want!? 

150 ml for £4.49 at Boots,

 Plus the wash I mentioned is £4.49 also from Boots!

twitter /  bloglovin' / hellocotton / facebook / she said beauty

beccalousie oxox

Herbal Essences Beautiful Ends Split End Leave In Cream Review

So with my hair growing to be in competition with rapunzel, i'm holding out to get it cut as i'm in two minds whether to go short or stay long, with that in mind i wanted something to keep my hair in reasonable condition as its getting a little bit brittle/ dry, plus i tried to ombre it using the L'oreal wild ombre kit but i didn't leave it on long enough for it to show a difference so i may try doing that again.

But before i do i want smooth luscious locks that are in tip-top condition, a girl can dream!

The Herbal Essences Beautiful Ends Cream was on offer when i picked it up in superdrug which made the decision of getting it that little bit easier.

The product is a leave in conditioning cream, with a thin consistency housed in a pump action bottle, it's just a white coloured cream which smells amazing of fruity raspberry goodness which you apply onto towel dried hair, which it claims to smooth and protect the ends of your hair.

I've found it does this brilliantly you can definitely see and feel a difference compared with when i wasn't using it at all. 

A little bit of this product goes along way as i found out the hard way. I just kept adding more and more to not just the ends which wasn't a great idea the next day was a greasy disaster. So just remember the product is only for the ends of your hair! 

The only downside for me is the cream has such a lovely smell upon application but once you dry your hair there's not much scent left hanging around maybe its just me but other than that i couldn't fault it!

Would i repurchase? Of course but only if my hair needed a little pick me up! But i'm sure this bottle will last quite a while.

150ml for £4.79 currently on offer at superdrug 2 for £6!

twitter /  bloglovin' / hellocotton / facebook / she said beauty

beccalouise oxo

Models Own Toxic Apple Review

So a few weeks ago Models Own brought out the oh so amazing Fruit Pastel and Ice Neon collections, upon browsing as well as lusting over them both I realised I actually own one of the polishes from the neon nail collection in the colour Toxic Apple.

I'm not overly sure but by reading the description online the neon's are packaged in frosted bottles..

'The only way to keep fluoro really bright is to KEEP IT COLD! We've packed this collection in specially-designed frosted bottles that you should keep refrigerated to protect the intense fluoro colour from fading. These on-trend neon shades bring summer alive with fluoro flavour, bold and bright'

Which the one I have isn't but nevertheless it's still green and neon so guess there's not so much difference after all.

The colour is pretty intense traffic stopping in fact, (ok not so much but eye catching at the very least)

and it's a great addition to your collections right now what with the neon trends making there presence known once again, but there's something I have to say I'm not the biggest fan of the formula I just find them that little bit too runny/too watery side for my liking, I even find the brush to long to be able to control the amount you actually put on your nail and for this particular polish a base-coat is ESSENTIAL, otherwise it'll look like you've been doing a spot of gardening.

So although the Models Own paints aren't my first choice of polish there bearable and I guess reasonably priced at £5.

What are your thoughts on the Models Own Polishes?

twitter /  bloglovin' / hellocotton / facebook / she said beauty

beccalouise oxox

Soap and Glory Thick & Fast Mascara 'Review'

I got this in the Soap &Glory Best Of All Gift for Christmas and I was so excited to try some S&G make-up products, and as a mascara fiend this was perfect.

 This is my kind of Mascara I love the wand, the intensity of the black and the fact that one coat can make the biggest difference, I've found it grabs all the lashes and coats them instantly, it lengthens, multiples and stays for most of the day which is all you can ask for from a 'high street' mascara.

The only downside to it though is at first I found the brush to be rather humongous for my eyes but by not giving up it works brilliantly now. The brush however gets a big thumbs up overall though as it's a brush brush not one of those plastic ones that scratch your eyes plus I find them difficult to use.

 
This retails for around £8 pound which it reasonable but they recently released a new collagen mascara in gold packaging which I will defiantly be picking up and trying as it sounds just as good as this one is.

What Soap & Glory make up product would you recommend?

twitter /  bloglovin' / hellocotton / facebook / she said beauty

beccalouise xox

Taylor Swift Wonderstruck

So this perfume has done plenty of rounds in the online blogging beauty land so why not add too that?

 First of all the Bottle... it's so mesmerizing i could just sit there for to long more than i care to admit just moving it to catch the light, just to see the holographicness look amazing but who does that. Not me......

I bought this on a whim without even testing it out just because i wanted to try it and the price it was at, was too good to miss. But i have to say that whim paid off and it is surprisingly a really good scent. 

To me it smells fresh full of fruity sweet vanilla notes but it's described to have apple blossom, peach and raspberry + many others none of which i can detect, but regardless it's a beautiful girly scent and it reminds me of a Bratz doll i once had which came with it's own perfume. So all in all i get the hype around this little bottle of amazing'ness and for the price it's so worth a try. 

I picked up the 30ml Eau de Parfum for £13 at boots but at the moment you can get the 50ml bottle for £17.40  Bargain!

Have you tried this perfume would you agree with all the hype?

Becca :) x

Benefit They're Real Mascara Review

 I purchased Benefit's They're Real Mascara a few days before Christmas for a gift to myself as you do and boy i'm glad i did, it's just wow.

Upon using this mascara i didn't realize that it has a plastic bristled brush something i don't get on well with but i persevered for the sake of £18 pounds and now i can't stop using it. I like it that much I've abandoned all my others because it's really that good. 

It intensify's, lengthens and makes my fair coloured lashes look amazing and even with my oily eye lids and skin it stays put throughout out my working day which is perfect and just what i want from just ONE mascara! 

Also i have found it doesn't clump and the best thing about it is the spiked bristles at the end of the brush not only does it help to separate the top lashes it's a savior in helping to coat my bottom ones too.

The little instructions that come in the box work a treat and help get the best out of this mascara to.

Such an amazing product so worth the price tag.

   

   What Benefit products would you recommend?

Becca :) x

Loverdose Diesel

After about a year or so of smelling this perfume i finally decided it had to be mine. It's been around for quite some time, but now it's finally mine. Diesel Loverdose in my eyes is much more of a mature scent for myself.....

As i'm the kind of girl who sticks to scents full of sweet, citrus'y fruity goodness.

 I like to try new things so this defiantly appeals to me as it's not totally different to others i use. 

So the best way for me to describe this is it's, earthy, woody, sweet orange'y with i feel a hint of floral'ness going on once it's settled onto clothing and skin. 
The names quite fitting considering that doom depressing day is looming upon us (valentines day!) and although the website description feels you with hope and a chance that you WILL have a line of attractive men trailing behind you i wouldn't be able to say that's 

happened but one day most likely in my dreams....

Moving swiftly on, i love this Eau de Parfum and it's so worth a sniff next time your out doing some shopping. I purchased the 30ml bottle from boots at £32.40 as they have 10% off selected fragrances at the moment, but if you fancy something a little lighter they also do this in a Eau de Toilette version with a slightly different scent which is just as good but i just preferred this one.
Also it's staying power is great it fizzles out throughout the end of the day but the scent is still detectable which is a bonus! 

What's your all time favourite signature scent? 

Becca :) x