April Favourites | Sleek | Bourjois | Clinique | Tresseme

Hello There!

Yay, a second month of favourites. This is my favourite type of post because I really love the products that I'm talking about! 

Sleek Face Contour Kit | Light:

I've really been enjoying this kit in April. My previous contouring powder was too dark, so I found this to try instead. It's a really light powder to use, which you build up, so it's really great for extremely pale people such as myself :)

Full review here.

Argan Oils:

I've really been enjoying products containing argan oil (I may have gone slightly overboard with them), but I've been trying to find the most effective product. I really like them for straight after I've styled my hair to help reduce frizz and emphasise layers :)  

Reviews to come soon!

Bourjois Queen Attitude Kohl Kajal:

Another product that it's no secret that I've been loving this month is this kajal eyeliner by Bourjois. It's a really great product for me because I love to have an eyeliner that blends into eyeshadow. I don't like plain black lines (except occasionally with liquid eyeliner), and this kajal eyeliner looks as though I've used powder but without messing up my foundation.

Full review here.

Primarni Sunglasses:

Ok, I couldn't do a favourites post without saying how much I've been loving my sunglasses. I buy a pair of primark sunglasses every summer and this year has been no different - very happy girl with her sunnies :) 

What have been your favourites this month?

Let me know in a comment, I love trying new products!

Ciao for now, G x

Fat Hair "0" Calorie Amplifying Mousse

Hello There!

Today I'm talking about the mousse from a brand called Fat Hair. So as the name suggests it's a range that makes your hair 'fat', well voluminous. I'd heard great things about the shampoo and conditioner, but I'd already bought new bottles from a different brand and so I thought they'd be a waste of money at the moment. But I still wanted to try the range so I bought the mousse instead. 


I'm not going to lie, the first time I used it I had to wash it out straight away. My hair felt gross. But I assummed that I'd used too much product (a little really does go a long way). And the next few times I used it less product in my hair, it still felt a bit weird -but I could cope with it. 


I eventually realised that the weirdness in my hair was the new volume (duh). I know that sounds really stupid, but I'm used to my thin-but-a-lot-of-it hair. So when it was volumed-up I found it really hard to manage just because I wasn't used to it. 

I was literally about to give up on it and name it 'the product I most regret buying because there is literally nothing good about it', when I had an epiphany. I understood that I had to change my hairstyles to be specific to voluminous hair. Mainly, for me, a high crescent bun..

             And now I love this product! 

It makes this bun so easy to have. I plan my hairstyles so that they work for thicker hair, and if you spend the time getting used to how different your hair works and feels, it's really great to use!

I used to have to spend a half hour trying to get a high bun that is the right shape and stays in place - and whereas I usually had to wait until my hair had gained some grease to make it styleable (freshly cleaned hair is a bugger to get to stay in place), with the Fat Hair Mousse I can do this as soon as I've blow-dried my hair.

 Usually I really have to backcomb my buns to get them not to be limp and pathetic - it also takes a million bobbypins to keep up. But I literally used 4 pins for this bun which is a record for me. It was up all day with me running around and I didn't have to faff with it once, yay!

For me, this product is perfect for the summer days that we're seeing at the moment (touch wood they'll stay). It's great for updos where you want to have more volume up top, and in a hot summer this is a must because I literally die of overheating from my hair on my neck in the sun. 

The only thing I'll say if you go get it, is when it says rub a small amount, it means a SMALL amount.. Think grape size...

Have you got any suggestions for summer hairstyles?

I want to expand my range of looks, I'm kind of stuck with just the bun at the moment..

Let me know in a comment!

Ciao for now, G x

Dolce & Gabanna Make-Up | Eyeshadows | Gold Smooth Eye Colour Duo

Hello There!

So, if you've read a few of my posts you;ll realise that my favourite make-up brand is Dolce & Gabbana. I know I'm a little bit different, everyone else loves NARS and MAC, but, hey, I'm a fruit loop in a bowl full of cheerios :)

If your going to start using D&G products, I'd recommend starting with the 'Secret Eyes Mascara' (review here). It has never let me down, and I always end up going back to it!

Anyway I digress. Today I'm talking about D&G eyeshadow.

Now, I'm a serious rookie when it comes to eyeshadow. I've been easing myself in, only buying low-end/budget products to get myself familiar with the different looks and techniques. But, I've decided to try more, and thought I'd start with my favourite make-up brand. 

And here's what I got. I'm starting subtle and when I've perfected my technique I'll maybe get into brighter and bolder looks. But for now, I'm sticking with the 'Gold Smooth Eye Colour' palette. I say palette, its a duo with two eyeshadows. But I've been very pleased with them both! They come in a gold compact with and two sponge-tipped applicators. These photo's don't really do the colours justice. The swatches are better representatives of them - a true yellow, and a coppery brown, both metallic.

Here's the end result:

 I know that these aren't the greatest photos, but it does create a really natural look. The colours are glittery/metallic and I've learnt that products containing 'glittery bits' (like Rimmel's Wake-me Up foundation), give you a fresh, wide-awake look. Whenever, I've worn this, I been told that I look 'well' and 'awake' (which I hope are compliments). 

I also like that they aren't grey/darkbrown, which are the colours I've been sticking to until now because I love a good smokey eye. But I have decided that yellowy/orangey/browny tones are the go-to colours for me now. I think they work best with dark hair and pale skin such as my own, because they add a colour to my skin, and whereas dark eyeshadows can sometimes give me a sullen look, these lighter colours lift your eyes and make them look bigger and brighter!

The quality of these D&G eyeshadows is increadible. They last all day without any movement, even without eye primer (something which budget eyeshadows do not do!) They're really pigmented as expected, but are really buildable as well because they're a fine powder - so again great for smokey eye'd looks and blending. 

In these pictures I've teamed it with the Bourjois Queen Attitude Kajal eyeliner (review here) and Mac Zoomlash mascara.

So, overall, I've been loving this look, and plan to hit pan on these eyeshadows eventually, because I'll be wearing them everyday! I'm also going to be getting more colours as well and see what other looks I can come up with.

 What have you been up to this weekend? Anything planned for the week?
I'd love to hear in a comment :)

 Ciao for now, G x

H&M Nail Polish | Active Blue

Hello There!

Today I'm talking about this little snip I bought in H&M. I'd read some blog posts about H&M nail polishes, so when I was in Manchester at the weekend I dived into H&M to grab a nail polish or two. 

So I spotted this beauty and bought straight away. I'm not going to lie, if the nail polishes weren't only displayed in the queue area I would have bought more, but I was pressured by other shoppers who wanted to make their purchases.

It was literally a snip at £0.99 only, and I really didn't have high expectations for this nail polish, as with most products on my blog it seems. I just thought 'that colour's cute for a night out' because it's really sparkly. It was so pretty I tried it as soon as I got home. 

It only took 1 layer to get a thick coat of polish which I was thankful for because let's face it, it's a pretty small bottle.  And then, I had 3 days of chip-free polish - and it's not long-lasting or anything. I was literally gob-smacked! I am an expert at chipping all nail polishes even non-chip polishes, and it didn't happen :O

So a truly smashing nail polish and I will be sure to pick up a load more next time I'm at H&M. I'm recommending to everyone!

Have you been really impressed by a nail polish recently?

Let me know in a comment!

Ciao for now, G x 

What Can You Buy On Ebay? Ebay Spree... Part 3: Rings

Hello There!

The sequel becomes a trilogy! This is part three of my series of 'What Can You Buy On Ebay?'
(Part 1 -What Can You Buy on Ebay?)
(Part 2 - What Can You Buy On Ebay? Part 2)

Todays focus is in the title : Rings

If you've read Part 1, you'll see that I bought some rose shaped earrings as part of my 'grown-up' earring collection. But I'm a stickler for co-ordination, so I had to buy accessories to match. And these were what I found.
Available here.

Left: Again, this ring was for co-ordination purposes. A subtle piece that I think will work well with a more sophisticated outfit.

Available here.

Right: An antique-style ring that I really liked the look of. So I bought it. :)

Available here.

These were unique rings that I found on Ebay and just couldn't resist!

Left: This was a quirky little ring that I found on my travels through the interweb. 

Right: I saw someone else with this ring, and had to have one with my own letter on it. I think it's cool, but then I think scrabble is cool. It goes with anything because it's a cream colour and I like it to add a little fun to a serious-looking outfit. 

Available here.

Have you found any good bargains on Ebay recently?
Let me know in a comment, I do love a good bargain :)

Ciao for now, G x

Sleek | Face Contour Kit | Contour Kit For Pale Skin

Hello There!

Today I'm reviewing the Sleek Contouring Kit in Light.

I've been faithful to the Collection 'Shimmer Shades' for contouring and highlighting over the past 4 months or so. But I've been finding it too dark of late - either there's more light now it's Spring and you can see my face better or I've reached a new level of paleness. 

Either way I was looking for an alternative contouring kit. And this was the lightest palette that I found, so I decided to give it a go. 

About the Palette:

1))    2-in-1 palette. Contouring and highlighter
2))   Compact and portable (Handbag Size)

The contouring powder looks quite dark, but it's a light powder so when you apply it you start thin layer of colour, which is great because you can then build it up until you get the contouring you want! 

The highlighting powder also has a shimmer to it giving a wide-awake, bright-eyed look -perfect for Spring and Summer.

This kit is a new favourite of mine, so much so that I may even be purchasing the next darkness down when I've built up my glowing tan from the summer sun (which will be shining!) 

And at just £6-7 it's incredibly reasonable for the quality.

So, if you're on the hunt for a new contouring powder, I'd definitely recommend this!

Have you been really impressed by a make-up powder recently?

(blusher/bronzer/hightlighter/contourer/powder foundation?)

Let me know in a comment, I love trying new products!

Ciao for now, G x

Gucci Premiere Perfume | Evening Scent for Spring

Hello There!

Today I'm talking about Gucci's perfume called Gucci Premiere...

This was an Autumn purchase for me, and I had so much on that I kind of forgot that I had this perfume. (I know that sounds strange for the price of it, but you know, it happens.)

I bought the 30ml version and this size retails for £45. 

It is also available for purchase in 50ml and 75ml versions.   

So the reviewing bit:

The Bottle: Undeniably the theme is gold. Gold, gold, gold gold. There couldn't be any more bling on the packaging. But, it's not tacky gold, and personally I love a bit of bling now and then, it looks great on your dressing table. But it's actually a clever design because it is translucently blue (if you get my drift) in certain light so you can see the fluid inside. 

(and you'll know when you're near to re-purchase!)

The Scent: Lets face it, most people don't buy perfume for the bottle design (though sometimes we do...), but lets face it, the smell is pretty important. It's a musky scent described on the Boots website as 'woody and musky'. I'd rather describe it a newcarsmell crossed with orangy/fruity smell crossed with flowery smell. But I guess that's not that great a description. 

This is how Gucci describes it:

"Inspired by timeless hollywood glamour, it is an invitation to embrace one's own red carpet moment.

- a sophisticated woody musky fragrance

- top notes of bergamot and blackberry

-heart notes of orange blossom and musk

- base notes of patchouli and sandalwood"

So I was actually pretty accurate, yay! I can smell!

It's a heavier scent, which is why I wear it as an evening fragrance for dinner-out/party etc. 

It's also a really elegant scent, also making it great for 'posh-dos and that'. 

The undeniable quality of this perfume is the duration of the scent. Once you put it on, it will smell exactly the same at the end of the evening. It lasts forever. Which is a quality I really appreciate in a perfume because I hate being forced to carry a bottle around in my handbag because a scent doesn't last long enough. So that's another yay from me!

This is a definite new favourite of mine. And it's become a regular on my dressing table. 

(That's quite an achievement)

Have you got a signature scent? Have you been surprised by a scent recently?

Tell me in a comment, I read them all and I'd love to know!

Ciao for now, G x

Mini Spree! | Primark | Superdrug | Boots

Hello There!

If you've read the 'About Me' section of my blog, you'll know that I don't get to go to 'big towns' much. I live in the middle of nowhere and so some shops don't have stores near me, or  more products are available in the bigger shops. So when I got the chance to go to Manchester at the weekend I jumped at the chance. Primark was my first destination, but with only an hour for shopping, I had to make my time in each shop count.

Just some things I picked up in ol' Primarni:

I loved this rose necklace when I saw it on the rack. It was shimmering, and caught my eye. I'm going to use this to add a splash of colour to a monochrome outfit, a trend which is really in this season. Also the pastel colour is really uplifting for Spring. 

I really liked this necklace because I often sport nautical looks - combinations of red white and blue.  I think the way the necklace wraps around the anchor is really cute and I've been really interested in layered necklaces because they really spice up outfits that are a bit plain up top!

I also had to buy some sunglasses - I buy a Primark pair every summer, I just can't help it. I really liked these beige glasses, they're a bit different because the frame doesn't go round the edges, and the lens shape is great for my face shape.

And when I got home, I realised just how many pairs I've collected from Primark over the past 3 years. I went a bit mental with them last year. Oopsy.

And of course, I had to buy beauty products when I was out - I can't help myself. So I'll be trying these products out soon, and if I really like any of them there'll be a review on my blog soon enough :)

You may have noticed that I've made some improvements to my blog.. I've been teaching myself html coding, and if anyone wants any help with their blog designs, I'll be happy to spread the knowledge!

Happy Monday  :)

Ciao for now, G x

Liebster Award

Hello There!

Today's post is about the Liebster Blog Award. I was nominated for this a while back, but it's a pretty hefty post as you will see! I really like it though because it gives me the chance to tell you more about myself and I can big-up some really great blogs!

Rules if you are nominated for the Liebster Blog Award:

1. Tell 11 things about yourself.

2. Answer 11 questions asked by the nominating blogger (the one who nominated you)

3. Nominate 11 new bloggers with less than 200 followers.

4. Ask 11 questions to the bloggers you nominated.

5. Inform the bloggers you chose.

So, 11 Facts About Me:

1) I fall over. A lot.

2) I went to a boarding school full-time from the age of 12 (best time of my life) 

3) I've broken my nose twice - once when I was blindfolded in a PE lesson aged 4 (strange I know) and I was guided into a tree. Second time, I jumped out at my friend and she hit me in the face with a badminton racquet. My bad.

4) I am a shopaholic, to insane levels. And because I lived away I have two of everything (pretty much). I started to get claustrophobic in my bedroom, so I had a massive clear-out, but my room's still not big enough :)  

5) I obsess over TV programmes (especially sitcoms) and when I get into one, I'll watch all the episodes in one go, doing sequential all-nighters.

6) I have the 5 best friends in the world..  We grew up together in the boarding house, so technically we're  family. 

7) I broke my toe with an inflatable gym ball... Still not sure how that happened?

7) For some reason, as a child I had an obsession with beards. I drew them on all of my dolls. 

8) I was in the newspaper when I was 6 because I read 12 books in 12 hours at the local library. (I really liked Jacqueline Wilson)

9) I've been a bridesmaid twice. The first time I cried because I couldn't go in the car with the bride to the reception. I stopped crying when they gave me bubbles.

10) I had 12 stitches on my forehead because I fell forward onto a concrete step. Also when I was 4. I still have the stitches in a jar....


11 Questions Answered:
1. What is your favourite nail polish colour?
Navy, I love navy.

2. What is the last make-up item you purchased?
Sleek I divine palette.

3. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Somewhere really hot in summer and snowy in winter.
Not sure where exactly, probably in the USA...?

4. Why did you start blogging?
I've been trying different beauty products for-ever and nobody at my house is interested when I find products that I really love. So I started my blog to ease my frustrations :)

5. What is your favourite film and favourite song?
Favourite song:- All Star by Smash Mouth... Go listen to it, it's in Shrek
Favourite Film:- Bridget Jones' Diary - Classic

6. Favourite makeup brand?
Dolce & Gabbana

7. If you could spend $300 at any store, which would you choose?
Probably Primark - I'd have to get a van to get it all home. 

8. Item of clothing that you last purchased?
A sleeveless, black peplum top.

9. Top 3 favourite Spring colors?
Mint, Nude, Baby Pink

10. Favourite Animal?
Bunny Rabbit

11. If you had one wish, what would it be for?
Probably 3 more wishes

My Nominated Bloggers:
MaybeItsMeganLeigh
GrannyGee
TheDeenaDiaries
ElleBlogsBeauty
LittleRenault
MadeYouStare
AntoniaApril
LittleBeautyLashes

My Questions For You:
1) What beauty thing are you rubbish at?
2) If time travel existed would you go back in time to see your ancestors or forward to see your great-grandchildren?
3) Bronzer or blusher?
4) If you could have a magic power what would it be?
5) Favourite sitcom/comedy?
6) Would you rather have perfect hair or perfect skin?
7) How did you learn to do make-up
8) Do you  have any phobias?
9) Make-Up product you couldn't live without?
10) What do you love most about blogging?
11) Favourite beauty tool?

Just want to say a hearty thanks to Athena at http://modestlysophisticated.blogspot.co.uk for nominating me for this award... It's nice to be appreciated :)

Ciao for now, G x

WetNWild BeautyBenefits | Shadow & Brow Kit

Hello there!

Today I'm talking about a beauty snip that I found on ebay. I've been looking for a eyebrow palette for a while now, and in my search I stumbled across this little number. 

It's the Wet n Wild, Effortless Eyes shadow & brow kit. 

It was very reasonably priced, and I'm always looking to find the best-value-but-not-sacrificing-quality products that I can. So I ordered it.

I decided to give it a go the other day. I followed the instructions on the back so that I could see the look that the palette was intended for. And I was pleasantly surprised. Given the price of the palette, I didn't have high expectations for pigmentation, but having used it I remind myself:  Never Judge A Book By It's Cover.

Here's how it looks:

 I was pleasantly surprised by the look I achieved from the palette. It's a lovely daytime look that's really quick and simple to achieve. The only thing I can criticise it for is the lack of mascara (there isn't one). But I think I'd prefer my own mascaras anyway.

I think this is a really nifty little palette, and it's great for me to just throw in my handbag if I'm having a night or two away from home.  And you can use the same palette to create a night-time look. By using the liner/eyebrow sections you could easily create a smokey eye look. 

Available online from ebay.co.uk

A bargain at only £3.48 (inc delivery) 

Have you been surprised by any beauty bargains recently?  

Hope you're having a great day!

Ciao for now, G x

Bourjois Queen Attitude Kohl Kajal

Hello There!

Today I'm talking about one of the scariest looking eyeliners that you've ever seen!!

Bourjois Queen Kajal Eyeliner

Prepare yourself...

Ok, so it's not thaaaaat bad.. But imagine if it got shoved in your eye.. It'd hurt. Bad

It used to be pointier, but I've used it quite a lot so it's now less pointy and dangerous...

This was a February addition to my make-up collection, and I've been using it since. I'm a big fan of khol eyeliners because I prefer a smudgy (is that a word?) look, but haven't tried many kajal eyeliners. 

So I decided to give it a go. It's supposed to be an eyeliner that will stay on your waterline all day. And it does surprisingly. It does fade, but it's still there! 

I've had an on-off relationship with putting eyeliner on my waterline because:

a) it hurts my eye (I tend to poke...)

b) it doesn't last long

So this definitely conquers the second one, maybe not the first...

It applies really easily (like a kohl), but makes a defined line (like normal eyeliners).

But the best feature is the kajal bit. Where you can smudge it into your eyeshadow so that it looks like you've used powder as a liner (without black powder ruining foundation), which is the look that I prefer, YAY!

I'd recommend this kajal to people who are fans of eyeliner in their waterlines. It lasts way longer than any other eyeliner I've used in my waterline. So, it applies like a waterproof eyeliner, but the best bit is that it removes just like a normal eyeliner with an oil-based make-up remover.

It is now a regular eyeliner for me and has replaced  Dolce & Gabbana Colour Intense Eyeliner (review here) as my everyday eyeliner. 

Have you tried Kajal eyeliners?

Let me know what you think of them in a comment!

Ciao for now, G x