March Favourites

So we are coming towards the end of March now and (hopefully) closer to Spring weather - it is still freezing here in sunny Britain! I've loved quite a few products this month but here are my favourites.

 

 

Elizabeth Arden - Eight Hour Lip Protectant

 

This lip protectant is absolutely perfect! I have always had an issue with getting chapped lips easily but this product has helped me so much. It is the 'lip version' of the very popular Eight Hour Cream by Elizabeth Arden, which moisturises your lips beautifully, leaving them soft for hours on end. I only find myself having to reapply this once during the day. This lip product is a million times better than most, average lip balms which moisturise your lips for a short while and after years of using cheap brands, you really see the difference when you start using this. It is expensive but it is worth every single penny - one of my proudest purchases ever!

 

 

Murad - Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisture For Eyes

 

This eye cream is an essential during the cold weather. As well as my usual moisturiser, I am also applying this product daily too. Of course, the eye area is a lot more sensitive and gets damaged much more easily than other parts of the face so having a good quality eye cream is a must. It keeps the area around the eyes feeling soft all day long, while also brightening the eyes and reviving tired skin.

 

 

Soap & Glory - Rich & Foamous Body Wash

 

I'm sure you have already seen my review on this product? (Click HERE to read this review!) A few weeks later and I am still in love with the smell of this - it seriously smells like cakes.  Its ingrediants are M-Suds MoistureBoost, raw flower honey, almond milk and supersoft skin conditioner with a yummy almond, oats and brown sugar scent which is such a brilliant combination. Not only does it smell gorgeous but it leaves your skin feeling super soft and moist too.

 

 

Miss Selfridge - Black Ankle Boots

 

I have been wanting to buy some ankle boots like these for ages and ages! After visiting almost every shop in the Trafford Centre, I finally found these. They are black suede boots with a slight 'wrinkley' effect on the front and black tassles on the back. They are flat-heeled which is preferable seeing as I'm very tall. They are the type of boots you could wear with a nice dress on a night out or pair with some leggings and a casual shirt, which is another reason I love them. They're stylish and comfy - brilliant find!

Review: Trevor Sorbie 'Curl Cream'

Working next to a Boots store is really bad for my debit card! It doesn't help that at the moment, Boots have a '3 for 2, mix & match' offer on which applies to a variety of products; probably 1/2 of their products have this offer so I see it as an amazing chance to try out new things and that's when I purchased the Trevor Sorbie 'Beautiful Curls' Curl Cream.

 

I was attracted to it because it seems easy to use and looked like a fun and less damaging alternative to straightening my hair every day, which works by defining natural curls. I can't always be bothered to do my hair every day, especially if I'm not going out anywhere so the curl cream was basically, an excuse for me to be lazy but without having a bad hair day.

 

 

 

 

Yes, the Curl Cream did work but I wasn't wowed by the product. It defined my natural curls but required quite a bit of encouragement to do so: I was scrunching and twisting my hair for a good 10 minutes before I got it how I wanted. I think I must of been expecting a miracle or something! To apply, I poured a small amount of the cream on to my fingers before rubbing it into the ends (ears downwards - otherwise you'd get greasy roots) of my hair. While doing so, I scrunched and twisted my hair to get my desired curls. I did find myself applying a little more cream whilst doing so - but I have got very thick hair so that could be why!

 

The Curl Cream defined my natural curls but not to the extent I was hoping. Also, it did require some hairspray to stay in place.

 

Trevor Sorbie 'Beautful Curls' Curl Cream - £5.10/150ml

http://www.boots.com/en/Trevor-Sorbie-Beautiful-Curl-Cream-150ml_1014716/



Beauty deal of the week #1

THIS IS A NEW WEEKLY POST TO MY BLOG!

 

Like all beauty bloggers and other product obsessed young women out there, I love trying out different products but haven't always got the money to splash out so I've decided to start writing a weekly blog post featuring the 'best beauty deal of the week.' I'm hoping to make this a weekly addition to my blog but of course, this depends on the availability of offers. Hope you enjoy this! :)

 

http://www.boots.com/en/Elizabeth-Arden/#1

 

My favourite offer this week is a FREE Elizabeth Arden beauty gift, worth £77, when you purchase two or more Elizabeth Arden products - at least one being skincare - from the Boots website. Also, you don't have to worry about delivery costs as Boots deliver free to your selected store within 3-5 working days, when you spend more than £25. They also deliver for free to your home address when you spend over £45 - though their are many cheap delivery options available if neither of these apply to you.

 

The gift contains:

• 50ml Visible Difference Skin Balancing Exfoliating Cleanser
• Ceramide Capsules Daily Youth Restoring Serum, 14pcs (replica)
• 15ml Prevage AA Moisture Cream SPF 30 PA++
• 15ml FRAGRANCE FREE Eight Hour Cream Skin,
• 2.2g Quad Beautiful Color Eyeshadows in Sterling, Sugar Cube, Black Tie-Contour  

 

I've ordered mine - I'll share with you what I think when I receive the products!

 

 

Would you like to see a beauty offer every week? Let me know!

Spring Lookbook

Hey everyone! I've been hoping to do a Spring lookbook for quite a while but the weather here in sunny Britain isn't very 'Spring' at the moment: we're suffering with freezing temperatures and snow, which is crazy considering it's the end of March! But anyway, I decided to lighten the mood despite this with some cute Spring outfit ideas for all occassions. Now, where's the sun? I'm also planning lots more Spring posts - including Spring themed NOTD, which will be coming up shortly.

 

Look #1 - Shop 'til you drop:

 

 

Look #2 - Cute and girly:

 

 

Look #3 - Cocktails and dinner date:

 

 

Look #4 - Cool and casual:

 

 

Look #5 - Day in the office:

 



Review: BM Beauty 'Dewy Perfection Finishing Powder'

(UPDATE/CHITCHAT: Hi everyone! Im really sorry about how distant I have been this week. Like I said in my previous posts, I've been very busy but I'm pretty much back to normal now. I've followed back and replied to all comments left - sorry it took so long! I was hoping to do a Spring lookbook this month but it is currently snowing at the moment - typical British weather - so I'm going to wait until it brightens up a little. Any requests are always welcomed but I've still got plenty of posts planned.)

 

 

I am currently loving the Dewy Perfection Finishing Powder by BM Beauty. I've always had trouble when it comes to finding the right powder for me, which lasts all day and gives me amazing coverage but this product has solved all problems. I received a tiny 1g sample of this product in a Glossybox a  few months ago and loved it so much that I purchased it - and it is quite rare that I purchase a product after receiving a sample of it in a Glossybox.

 

 

As you can see from the image above, I have used nearly all of it and am definitely going to repurchase when I get paid. So why do I love it so much? The powder is fantastic for applying after foundation and concealer as it keeps your make-up in tact for the rest of the day. You genuinely feel 'photoshopped' after using as it gives you such flawless coverage with light diffusing radiance. It's perfect for covering up any bits you don't like - including spots and fine lines. Also, it gives you a great colour. It's a celebrity-style product, famously used by Kimberley Wyatt, but without the price tag. It retails at just £8 and lasted me around 6-8 weeks.

 

 

The only issue I've noticed is that the product only comes in one shade - or at least, I've only been able to find one shade of it. Luckily, it is my colour but I'm wondering whether some girls may feel a little bit limited due to it not being their colour. (Please inform me if I am wrong and it does come in mulitple shades!) I'm very keen to try out other BM Beauty products.

 

http://www.bmbeauty.com/internal/product_info.cfm?dewy_perfection

NOTD: Typically British

(UPDATE: Hi all! I'm pretty busy this week so am creating a few posts beforehand because I'd hate to leave my blog desolate while I'm away. So yeah, Sunday's post and this post are scheduled posts, written on Friday and Saturday evening - I'm so organised, just like I promised. I'm at a wedding all day Sunday, staying overnight and am busy the following day - most likely consisting of recovering from a disgusting hangover while chilling in a spa. On Tuesday, I'm travelling for an event with work, which also involves an overnight stay and then I'm working Thursday - gonna be super busy! I've got blogging ideas coming out of my ears at the moment; I've shared some in the 'Coming soon' section of my blog but I've got plenty more up my sleeve.)

 

 

I am absolutely loving this nail polish at the moment! It's a true British shade: pillarbox red, but with a slight hint of rose pink. The flash on my camera makes it look a lot more pink that it actually is... Oh and, please excuse my messy thumb! I hadn't tidied it up yet. On top of this, I used the Nail Inc Top Coat to ensure that the colour stays on for as long as possible, without chipping and it has given it a lovely shine too.

 

 

Nails Inc - St James



Samples haul and review!

I seem to have gained a large number of samples over the last 6 months from different places: some are from Glossybox's and others are whilst I was out and about shopping. I am a firm believer that if you don't love something when you first try it, you never will - so I guess this is when samples come in useful.

 

I have watched a few 'sample haul' YouTube videos from beauty vloggers and I've really enjoyed watching them, so I've decided to try it out too. I have a box full of samples and I have picked out a few to let you know whether it was love at first erm.. use or whether it will be shoved in a drawer and forgotten about forever!

 

 

 



Lemon by Mary Greenwell

 



This sample is teeny tiny and I would literally have gotten a handful of uses out of it, if I could have brought myself to use it more than once! When I saw the name 'Lemon' I was excited for a fresh, citrus scent but instead I was met with something an old lady would wear, but with the slight hint of grass. I honestly don't know why anyone would want to smell like this. The packaging is so pretty and it's yellow (my favourite colour) - so misleading.

 

Would I purchase based on the sample? No way!

 

 

Dermalogica daily microfoliant

 

The full-sized version of this product is pretty pricey - £38 and as you'd imagine based on that, it is popular with a number of celebrities. I can definitely see why because it is amazing! This daily microfoliant is a powder which you put on the palm of your hands, wet and rub your hands together to create a lovely, foamy substance - it pretty much acts as a fancy face wash. It's super easy to use and leaves your skin feeling unbeliveably soft and squeeky clean. I'd be really keen to try out more of their products or perhaps see if they have a cheaper alternative?

 

Would I purchase based on the sample? Yes - though I would need to have extra money lying around.

 

 

Monu Micro-exfoliant

 

I have previously written a review on a different Monu product (http://rainbowsandbeauty.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/monu-gentle-cleanser-review.html) and before I used the product I reviewed, I tried out something else which I fell in love with - yep, this sample is that product! Monu are so little heard of in the beauty community and it's so unfourunate because they make amazing products and really look after your skin. The Micro-exfoliant is easy to use and doesn't leave behind any residue or other nasty surprises. You literally just wet your face, rub it in and wash it off - simple! I always love products with microbeads; is it just me who feels like they work better?

 

Would I purchase based on the sample? Yes, and I've been converted to their other products.

 

 

Burberry Body

 

I was a little bit apprihensive when I first received this product due to its well-known 'chav' connotations but you should never judge a book by its cover. Despite the lid on this product being broke, meaning the squirty part (apologises for the bad technical terms) not working, it is a good product. It smells lovely and though it isn't the usual scent I would go for, I would buy it. It's perfect for a night out or a fancy meal, though I wouldn't wear it for day-to-day use. My fiancé also has a Burberry fragrance (Burberry Touch) and I think that smells great too. In conclusion, Burberry make good smelling fragrances!

 

Would I purchase based on the sample? Yes.

 

 

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream

It is mainly known for being a skin cream but I can't stand it on my skin because of the consistency: it's very thick and gel-like, as opposed to soft and creamy. However, it is an AMAZING lip balm! I could certainly see the difference through just one use of this product after many years of using cheaper lip products. My lips feel super soft and moisturised and it only needs to be reapplied once or twice more throughout the day. I couldn't recommend it enough as a lip balm - best find ever!

 

Would I purchase based on the sample? I already have!

 

Would you like to see more sample hauls?

Soap & Glory 'Rich & Foamous' Body Wash: Review

I have been using the Soap & Glory 'Rich & Foamous' dual-use shower and bath body wash (what a mouthful!) for around a week now and I am absolutely, crazily, madly in love with this product!

 

 

I am new to Soap & Glory products; I've heard girls raving about them for quite a while but I had never tried them before. Anyway, I ran out of my regular shower gel and decided to give this one a go for a change. When it comes to shower or skin products, I'm instantly attracted to anything that smells good. I love those sweet or fruity smelling products which makes you want to just eat it all up! (though eating a body wash isn't recommended!) Also, the bottle has a pump at the top which I find really useful, especially for using in the shower.

 

I picked up the 'Rich & Foamous' body wash because I fell in love with the scent: it smells like cakes - that is literally the best way I can describe it. Its ingrediants are M-Suds MoistureBoost, raw flower honey, almond milk and supersoft skin conditioner with a yummy almond, oats and brown sugar scent which is such a brilliant combination. I genuinely get excited to shower because it means I can smell this beauty.

 

It's not just the smell that is perfect either: this body wash leaves your skin feeling super soft and moisturised. It's got an amazing, creamy consistency and when you rub it in your hands, it turns bubbly. Also - though I haven't used it myself in this way - it can also be doubled up as a bubble bath if you squirt the product under a running tap.

 

It currently retails at £6.50 and is worth every penny!
 

http://www.soapandglory.com/rich-foamoustm

 

I am really interested in trying out more Soap & Glory products - what do you recommend?



Nominate me?

It would be absolutely massively appreciated if you could take a minute to nominate me for the BEST PERSONAL STYLE NEWCOMER BLOG AWARD, hosted by the Company Style Blog Awards 2013, in association with New Look, by clicking here.

 

I've literally only been blogging for a few weeks so winning this award would mean a huge amount to me. If you vote for me, let me know! I'll be sure to give you a mention :) thank you.


Thank you for voting for me!
Kay @ http://seekvintage.blogspot.com

Glossybox UK March: Opening

(I was originally intending on posting a video of me opening the box so you could see my genuine first reaction to the products. I actually filmed this but because I'm impatient and couldn't take ages getting ready before I opened it, I looked like rubbish in the video so have decided not to upload it. I'm sorry! Haha. But I think that the descriptions below will probably benefit you more anyway. Hope you like this. Did you receive different products? Let me know! I always love hearing what everyone else received.)

 

 

This is the Glossybox as I received it; it looks pretty empty. The product sizes are quite small and I only received one full-sized product this month, which is kind of disappointing. Overall, I liked what I received but thought that the samples could have been a little more generous. There is plenty of variation of products too: 1 hair product, 1 fragrance, 1 nail polish, 1 make-up product and 1 skin product - which is how it should be every month.

 

This is the first time ever that I have actually heard of the majority of the brands. This is good because I guess they're more popular brands but on the other hand, it's a bad thing too because the theme is 'city chic' so I was expecting more international brands that perhaps, aren't that well heard of in Britain. Also, Glossybox is supposed to give us luxury products to try out - Tresemmé and Nails Inc aren't what I would call 'luxury products.'

 

 

The theme for this month's Glossybox is 'city chic' which is something I wasn't expecting but I was really excited to see what was inside. We received the usual leaflet with a list of the products inside and also a travelling book which I thought was quite cute; it has a number of cities and countries in it featuring images of their main attractions and a few random facts. It honestly looks like it took a while to make and a lot of thought has clearly gone into it. It made me want to see the world! Haha.

 

 

Juicy Couture - Couture LaLa - £63 / 100ml

 

When most people open their Glossybox and see a perfume sample, they think "uh-oh" but I love receiving fragrances because the majority of the time, they smell great and I discover brands I would never have considered buying. Couture LaLa is another one of them fragrances I would never have considered buying, but now I have smelt it - I want it! Juicy Couture is known to be quite chavvy (sorry) and isn't what I would consider to be a luxury product. However, I love the scent so I can't really complain. It's my favourite kind of scent: fruity, fresh and girly. I would definitely purchase this - though it is pricey.

 

 

Tresemmé - Salon Finish Extra Hold Hairspray - £4.69/500ml

 

I wasn't expecting to receive a Tresemmé product in a Glossybox but I am looking forward to using this. I love the smell of Tresemmé products (not sure why) so they are always a win for me. I have never tried their hair spray though so I can't wait to use it. It is 'extra hold' which is fantastic for me because I always go for the stronger hold hair sprays because my hair is thick and out of control at times. But still, Tresemmé in a Glossybox?

 

 

Nails Inc - St James - £11/10ml

 

This nail polish is London's 'contribution' to the city chic themed Glossybox. I love the shade; it's not blood red but more of a bold red with a slight dark-pink tint. This is the type of shade I would usually go for anyway so I can't wait to wear this. I was a little bit disappointed that we didn't receive a full-sized product of this considering nail polishes are generally small products anyway. But still, you could get a few uses out of this 4ml version. I really hope it's not one of those nail polishes that chips after 2 days!

 

 

Elizabeth Arden - Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant - £25/50ml

 

This sample is absolutely teeny tiny and in all honesty, I can't really understand its purpose. It is a 'New York' skin cream to revitalise tired skin - apparently it's best for those busy girls who are always on the go. I would be surprised if I got more than one use out of this product because it is only 7ml; it is the same length as my little finger! However, I am always open to new things and seeing as it's expensive and such a well-known brand, I have high hopes.

 

 

Jelly Pong Pong Cosmetics - Lip Blush - £12/2.5g

 

This lip blush is a full size product (YAAAAY!) Jelly Pong Pong is the only brand in this box that I haven't heard of so if I like this, I would buy more of their products. Perhaps they are bigger abroad? I couldn't figure out where the brand is actually based. It looks like an over-sized crayon, which isn't terribly convincing and it smells like an over-sized crayon too. However, I love the shade and I think the red tone would suit most skin tones so it is very well chosen.

 

 

Let me know what products you received. What did you think?



Outfit Of The Day: Wedding

It can always be tricky to find a suitable outfit to wear for a wedding so here is just one of my outfit ideas, which I am planning on wearing to a wedding soon. Very cheap too. This is the first time I've ever posted a 'fashion' post as opposed to beauty. Hope you like this :)

 

 

This is my 'outfit of the day' for an upcoming wedding.

 

 

This is the dress close-up. It is a floral, fitted, chiffon-style dress with a v-neck and frilly sleeves (to describe it best I can). I honestly just fell in love with it as soon as I saw it and I think everyone else did too because it's sold out of most sizes at all of the Lipsy suppliers (including Lipsy website, Next, Debenhams, Asos).  I'm very fussy when it comes to dresses so as soon as I see one I like everything about, I just have to buy it. It's so pretty!

 

 

Because the dress is very bright and colourful, I decided it would be best to tone it down with a simple bag. I purchased this navy, snake-print, clutch-style bag from New Look. It has a gold chain attached to it so you have to option to either wear it hanging from your shoulder or you can tuck the chain inside and wear it as a clutch.

 

 

The navy heels match my bag. I am really tall (5'10 to be precise) so only wanted small heels because I look silly in anything bigger than like 2" which is such a shame! Luckily, I loved these as soon as I saw them and am really thankful that they match my bag too. If you're having a bright, colourful dress like I am, it's always best to keep your shoes, bag and accessories simple.

 

 

The gold bracelet goes great with the bag too, matching the gold chain.

 

 

Product details:

Dress - Lipsy - £55

Bag - New Look - £14.99

Shoes - New Look - £10 (reduced from £12!)

Bracelet - Unknown, it was a present



Recycling my Glossybox's

(This isn't necessarily a 'beauty post' - it's just something extra for my fantastic followers!)

 

 

Like all the other beauty box subscribers out there, I have lots of empty Glossybox's lying around. I hate throwing them away because they are just so useful for pretty much everything. I am using the February box for all of my make-up:

 

Here's a few other ideas on what to keep in your empty beauty boxes:

 

Jewelry

Nail polish

Gift boxes - you could wrap it with gift-wrap?

Make-up brushes

Make-up products you don't always use

Perfume

'Lush' bath bomb storage

CD/DVD's

Stationary

Art stationary: paint brushes etc

 

 

I also always keep the tissue paper and ribbon as it is handy for either wrapping presents or putting at the top of a gift bag so they can't see inside.

February Favourites!

(First of all, I apologise for being a little distant this past week or so. It really isn't good enough, I know! I've been pretty busy and I guess I'm still trying to 'find myself' in this whole blogging thing. I've decided to be much more organised. Of course, I'm new to all of this so any feedback would be fantastic and Id love to check out other bloggers, especially if you're just starting out too.)

 

 

Anyway, today's post is about my February favourites; it's quite a weird combination of every day products but I have just been loving them this month. You can find love in such unlikely places sometimes!

 

 

I honestly believe that it was love at first sight for me and the Ayuuri face cream. Their products use only natural extracts making it suitable for all skin types. On top of that, the Indian rose, jasmine and aloe vera scented combination smells fresh and floral, which is why I think their products will be a huge hit this Spring. I feel like this face cream will last a very long time as it is a 200ml bottle yet you only need a tiny amount of it on your face for it to work wonders.

 

The Ayuuri Indian Rose Face Cream leaves your skin feeling moisturised and ready for whatever the world has to throw at you. I can't even describe how smooth skin feels after use. It blends in beautifully, without feeling greasy. It's such a bargain too - just £4.95 on their website and I believe it is available in some supermarkets too. I can't wait to try out more of their products!

 

http://www.ayuuri.co.uk/products/Moisturising_Indian_Rose_Face_Cream-18-8.html

 

 

This will probably seem like such a strange thing to show you but I have fallen head over heels for this essential. The Tresemmé Heat Defence spray is an amazing product to add to your daily routine. Of course, using heat on your hair can cause a lot of nasty damage so if you regularly straighten/curl or even just blowdry your hair, it is well worth the investment. I fell in love with this particular brand for a few reasons: the scent was the first because I felt as though my hair was being given a new lease of life through every spray. Also, it works! My hair felt soft and unharmed after both blow-drying and straightening on a daily basis. This works even better when combined with Tresemmé shampoo and conditioner.

 

http://www.boots.com/en/TRESemme-Heat-Defence-Styling-Spray-300ml_14150/

 

 

I purchased the Bioré Deep Cleansing Pore Strips after reading about them on a few other blogs. Those who used them were literally just raving about the product so when I came across them on the Boots website, I decided to give them a try. Like a lot of young women and teenagers, I suffer from blackheads on my nose but I've never found anything which has helped get rid of them. The Pore Strips really work and you can see that they work due to what you 'find' on the strips after use (I don't know how something that looks so disgusting can feel so pleasurable to see!)

 

I used the product after showering so that the steam would open my pores. I wet my nose and stuck the strip on. I chilled out for around 15 minutes (laughing at myself in the mirror - i looked ridiculous with a big, white plaster-type thing on my nose) and when that time was up, the strip was rock solid. I pulled the strip slowly at the same time from both sides and the results are literally right in front of me. Though my pores felt very open and prone to bacteria afterwards, I was content with the result. I have decided to only do this once a month as I feel that weekly may be too often and I may not see as much of a result.

 

http://www.boots.com/en/Biore-Ultra-Deep-Cleansing-Pore-Strips-6-Nose-Strips_1250117/

 

 

I received the Miners lip colour in the February Glossybox and I have been using it a lot this month. I don't often wear lip products on a daily basis but this shade is very natural so you can easily get away with it. The shade is cinnamon; a light pink but not too pale - it's perfect for wearing day to day. It sticks to your lips really well and gives them a beautiful, natural shine. Also, it has a strawberry taste to it, which will always make it a winner for me. I have had a look around the Miners Cosmetics website and they stock a variety of girly make-up - all at affordable prices. This lip colour is only £3.99 - I wonder why it is so cheap?

 

http://www.minerscosmetics.co.uk/lips/lipstick/lip-colour/lip-colour-cinnamon.html

 

 

So you're probably thinking: why is she showing me a pack of face wipes? Because this badboy gets anything off! With every pack of face wipes I've ever bought, I've never found one that will easily take off waterproof make-up (especially mascara). But the Nivea Refreshing Facial Cleansing Wipes take your make-up off so easily. I literally just wipe it over my eyes and it's all gone. It saves so much time and the fresh, creamy scent reassures you that its good for your skin too. As with all Nivea products, it is suitable for sensitive skin with no nasty, hidden surprises. I've had a lot of trouble with face wipes recently; they usually just make me break out so I'm really greatful that I've found something that not only is kind to my skin but also works incredibly well.

 

http://www.nivea.co.uk/products/face-care/aqua-effect-essential-care/normal-skin/Refreshing-Facial-Cleansing-Wipes