Review: No7 Cleansing Brush

Hi Guys!

As I showed in my Christmas 2014 haul my mum got me (and my brother hahaha) a cleansing brush from No7. Basically a rip off clarisonic; an electric toothbrush for the face!

When the Clarisonic was first getting hyped on youtube and on beauty blogs I was interested - I do love to manually exfoiliate but then I didn't think it would be too wise to test it out on my face, especially for a price point of way more than £100. 

But now I own this nifty little thing so I thought they'd be no harm in giving it a go. I don't know the price but considering mummy got two and also two packs of extra brushheads I am assuming No7 (Boots) gave her a good deal. 

In the box was.....exactly what you see, plus an instruction manual (press start and move it around your face!), plus 2 batteries. 

The thing I searched out for on the instruction manual was the whole water issue. I didn't want to risk electrocuting myself! But this is safe to use, even in the shower, but it says "don't submerge in water". I use mine at the sink anyway so unless I drop it in the toilet, we're a-ok here.

So....I remove makeup and cleanse my face as usual, and use this once a week for a deep cleanse. Wet the face, blob on my face wash and then press the 'start' button and gently (don't press down - I assume your face is softer than your teeth!!!) move it around your face.

I like that this is really easy to use and considering how sensitive my skin is the brushes are the right combination of soft and firm. It's been about a month and I have no complaints. I love washing my face and am tempted to use it all the time but even though I've had no bad results I don't want to tempt the skin Gods!

New.....

Hi guys!!!

This is a scheduled post. As this goes up I will be.....starting my new job!!!!

I've not wanted to say anything until everything was sorted....but as I type this there's less than 2 working days until I start so I'll assume everything is sorted.

As per usual I can't say where I'll be working or what I'll be doing, but I will be based near Westminster and I am really really looking forward to starting.

My last day at my 'old' job was 14/02/14 and I'm currently on annual leave sorting out bits and bobs. I cried a lot saying goodbye to my friends and am really sad to be leaving. But this is a new chapter and I hope I make new friends and enjoy my job as much as I did my last one.

And....my little secret was the reason for all the recent shopping that has been happening! I haven't won the lottery or anything but a new job does mean new shoes, bags, coat, hair and make up is needed lol

Starting a new job means putting your best foot forward, and that can't be done in scruffy shoes can it?!

Zara and H&M Coat Haul

Hi Guys!

I got two coats and so excited to share them with you. 

The first coat is from Zara - a wraparound black wool coat. RRP £89.99 and I paid £49.99 in store (this coat is not available online). Ok so let's get this out of the way - Zara does not have a plus size section but somehow (with great force and determination) I managed to fit into an XL. I tried to take a picture with it on but I can't capture the design details, it looks like just a big black thing. Anyway, hopefully from the model pics you can see that the coat has a giant collar thing and wide sleeves and most importantly, quite wide short sleeves. I lied, the most important thing is that this coat has no fastenings - no buttons, poppers, toggles or zippers. I love the way this looks (even on me), effortless and stylish. You could throw this on with skinny jeans and Converse's (sob sob not that I can do this) and look oh so cool, or you could be wearing stilettos and carrying a Chanel and the coat would still be looking good. Jesus I am in love. 

Next up I've ordered this from H&M's website and haven't received it yet but thought I'd share it with you anyway. It's from the plus size section and is a nice plain trenchcoat with concealed buttons. I am hoping that this will give off a similar vibe to the Zara coat - "I'm so cool and I have a nice coat" but the website says it's made from stretchy crepe and I can't even imagine what that would look like in so much material. The coat is also machine washable so I am imagining this is going to be really light but I'm praying that it doesn't look cheap or flammable. 

I don't really like the way it looks on the model but I think that's because the styling is a bit blah (actually it doesn't look like anyone bothered to style it at all - I put in more effort when I throw on my dressing gown!!!), but I like the way it looks in the picture above.

Let's talk money. RRP £49.99 but I did a bit of Penny magic and got it for....a really good price. There was a code online for free delivery (otherwise £3.90) if you spent £50 or over, so I added a credit card holder into my basket for £2.99, got free delivery, and also googled "h&m discount" and found another code for £5 off and then I signed up for the newsletter and got 25% off one item (obviously I took this off the trenchcoat duh!) so in the end both items came to just over £35. Crazy. Let's hope it's beautiful. 

Boot haul: Melanie Jane ankle boots

Hi Guys,

Still on a hunt for some good footwear. Apologies for the really dodgy pictures but I wanted to share with you my new black ankle boots, the Melanie Jane's from Clarks.

Let me just get this out of the way - Clarks is not my favourite shop ok! I just happen to live and work really close to one, and their customer service and website is on point! You can order online to collect in store - and you don't have to pay until you pick them up!!! So what I did was order into the store two pairs of the same boots and paid £0.00 and then went into the store, tried on both and paid for the one. It's great cos usually I end up paying loads online ordering different sizes and even though you end up getting your refund it's still a bit crap having the money leave your account. Ok - that wasn't suppose to be a long Clark' praise - I was trying to say that I haven't turned into a granny!

These were in the sale and I paid £39.99, I think full price was £59.99?
I admit that I am not keen on how they look on me; I'm convinved that they look like boots, but I am getting desperate and these have a good heel height and a good study rubber sole (jesus I am a granny!!!)

They also have a little notch in the front which is a detail I really like. Doesn't stop them looking like boats or my ankles looking like pork chops but still, I think these are a keeper? TBH I've been into my local Clarks so much I'm embarassed to go in to return them. The dude knows my name.

 

Rave Review - Hydraluron

I LOVE HYDRALURON!!!

I have so much love to give to this product that I am feeling slightly overwhelmed. I want you to understand how great this product is and am worried I won't do it justice.

*deep breath*

Ok, this is Hydraluron by Indeed Labs and is available exclusively at Boots. It rrps for £24.99 for 30ml. (I got mine while it was on a promo for £16).

Let's just deal with this now - it is pricey for 30ml but knowing what I know, I wold pay even more for it. In fact, after 3 days of using it, I got myself 2 more tubes of the stuff. If that doesn't tell you all you need to know then I don't know how else I can show my love. Putting my money where my mouth is!!!

It's a moisture booster. On all the reviews I read prior to parting with my money had basically copied and pasted the whole official spiel and it's like who cares! I am not a scientist, I am not trying to make it myself at home, WTF is it supposed to do and does it work!?

What does it do? MAGIC! On my face I have some broken skin and cracks from when I had an allergic reaction that literally tore my face a part. Thank god it is managable nowadays, no weeping or bleeding (jeez, sorry) but it is bone dry. I am constantly rubbing vaseline and 8 hour cream on it. I just thought it was dead skin. I put Hydraluron on my nose/mouth area and BAM! after 3 days I notice that my skin is....getting better. I don't want to say it's healing, but it hurts less, looks less angry/raw and it's not as discoloured. So that's basically why I love this and stocked up. It boosted life into my skin! (And it's silicone free which is great for me.)

It's a colourless watery gel type texture (serum!) and when you apply it on your face (I also use it on my whole face a few times a week - I'd use it everyday but it is pricey lol) it feels slightly tacky for about 2 seconds. You then put on your normal face cream (this is important, Hydraluron is not a moisturiser) and that is when you feel the magic happening.

Like I said before, I am not a scientist, and there are loads of great reviews/information out there if you are interested, but I think (very very very very) basically that hyaluronic acid can hold 1000 times its own weight in water. It is already in our bodies/skin? but hey extra help is always a good things. So anyway, you put it on your face and your other stuff and it just holds moisture. It's like a supercharger. Gummy bear juice for your face (if you get that reference then you are old enough to be using this regardless of the state of your skin!).

A little of this goes a long way. If you have dry or dehydrated skin you need this in your life. Apply it to your whole face, problem areas, whatever. Even if you buy this just to have for days when you're having a not so great skin day, or you've been partying too hard - it is worth it.

If you buy it, tell me what you think!

New year, new shoes! Asos shoe haul

Hi Guys!

I made an asos order and it's arrived. There was a note in my post box saying my parcel had been left under the doormat. Is this guy making fun out of me!?!?! LOL

I ordered two pairs of shoes, and a pair of boots. I ended up selling on the boots to SF, returning the gold tip shoes, and keeping the tassel loafers. No I was not drunk when making my decision!!!

So the tan cutout boots are actually from Newlook but purchased off of the ASOS website (on a side note, I love that Asos Curve sell Newlook's Inspire range) - I love them but I really didn't need them. I was ready to send them back when SF also fell in love with them. £14.50 in the sale. I wish I had kept them, but since they aren't really suitable for work and I don't leave the house on the weekend I had to make the mature choice and say goodbye!!!

Next pair of shoes were ASOS brand and they were the gold tipped loafer. My friends think I am going mad, but I know what I was thinking. They were in the sale for £25 and I would have totally kept them but they were so narrow I nearly lost consciousness when trying them on!!! Goodbye funky shoes!

Finally! I found my 'solemate' lol

Black slighty shiny (not patent, but that proper fake leather, you know what I'm saying?) loafers with a fun tassel. Asos brand and £22 in the sale. They are really comfortable. And again my friends laugh at me but I really wanted a flat shoe that wasn't a pump.

Apologies for the terrible quality picture but here's me dancing around on my furry carpet. These shoes aren't pretty but they make me happy :)

Perfume haul

Hi guys!

Just a very quick post because I haven't even unwrapped these yet but I also got two perfumes as part of my new year present.

My mum likes to bulk buy (who does that remind us of?!) and she's been hiding Heat by Beyonce for ages to give me for 2014 and now she can't find it...so lucky me I ended up with Alien and Flowerbomb instead :)

I'm excited to try Alien because reviews suggest it's my kind of scent. I know that people love Flowerbomb but not to sure if it's my thing....but I'll enjoy using it all the same. I hope everyone is having a great 2014 so far. I cannot believe it's February already!!!

Monica Vinader - Ava bracelet

Oopsy! Another post I forgot to publish!
I was very lucky this Christmas and I also got the Monica Vindader Ava friendship bracelet.
Ava is a simple bracelet with a slightly hammered gold plaque, which I have engraved with my name. 

The Ava friendship bracelet looks great with the others, and it also matches the pendant on the chain my mum got me.
A lot of Monica Vinader items can be engraved and they offer the service free of charge. The bracelet itself was rrp £85 for the gold. I think this makes a lovely simple gift for a special friend. 

I also love all of the bracelet straps (blank mind...can't think of the word...but the picture above is what I'm talking about) when they are stacked together, looks cute :)

2nd attempt at Homemade Kale Chips

So I decided to give the homemade kale chips dealio another go and #fail.

This time I left them in too long and they burned (no poop Sherlock!!). I actually ate most of it anyway. It tasted burnt(!) but at least I know I can get then crispy.

I'm like Goldilocks and I'm almost there. Don't give up kids!

Homemade Kale Chips

Hi Guys!

I had a go at making Kale Chips (the latest blogger's food fad!!!) and thought I'd share the experience with you. I say experience because truth be told it didn't quite go to plan!

The taste was good (seasoning) but I didn't leave the kale in the oven long enough so some were perfect and crispy, and then some was just a bit like stir fry.

In terms of taste and what I was aiming for - think seaweed from the Chinese takeaway. 

My kale was already prepared so the first thing I had to do was wash it under water but if your kale isn't already cut up then just grab scissors and cut the leaves off the hard stalk bits (cos these don't crisp up - if you wanted I guess you could just bung the whole thing in the oven - want not, waste not - waste not, want not?)

Then dry your kale (super duper duper dry) and place on an oven tray. Season with olive oil and whatever you want really. I ended up using salt, pepper and sugar to make it taste just like the Chinese seaweed stuff.

Put in the oven until crispy!

So erm. Like I said, mine weren't exactly what I was hoping for, but hopefully I'll master the baking technique second time round.

LESSONS LEARNED

1) DRY THE KALE DRY THE KALE DRY THE KALE - after washing make sure the leaves are dry, otherwise they will not crisp up in the oven, DRY THE KALE. I dabbed at mine with kitchen roll but was a bit lazy about it tbh so I deserved my soggy kale. DRY THE KALE. The one thing I would say to you is DRY THE KALE. Ok, do we get the point now? Because I read a few 'how to's' and I still didn't fully bother. DRY THE KALE. DRY THE KALE PROPERLY. KALE NEEDS T BE COMPLETELY DRY DUDE!!!

2) Don't overload the oven tray. This is probably common sense to most people - but I am not most people so I overloaded the tray and even if my kale had been dry it probably still wouldn't have had room to get crispy.

3) I've purposedly left out times or oven settings because I can't be trusted. I might edit this if I improve, but for now, read these idiot proof notes, but go and get the techy bit from somewhere else.

I've got half a bag of kale left and will be making more this evening (practise makes perfect...hopefully?). Despite my mishaps I would definitely recommend you give these a go - a healthy and yummy snack, that's "easy to make" (hahahaha).

Monica Vinader - Rio friendship bracelet

Hi Guys!

Omg I was just checking my posts and realised that I didn't post about my rio bracelet!

For Christmas my parents got me this Monica Vinader friednship bracelet. It's the Rio bracelet, gold with black and the rrp was £130. Out of all my MV bracelet's this is the easiest to wear/put on, and fits a bigger wrist.

I was eyeing this up on the MV website for a while, and the customer service guy (I emailed about sizes) recommended the Rio but I wasn't too sure how it would look and if it was worth the money, but then I went to Selfridges with my mum and saw the real thing and I fell in love with it. I thought it was fun and understated, but stacked up looks good (not too young or like I'm a hippy!) and I get a lot of compliments on it :)

I guess I've only had this for 2 months (or not even 2 months?) but I really like it and am so grateful that I got it :)