Two New BarryM Palettes!

Hey lovelies!

 

A look at two new BarryM palettes for you today, and I must say they are lovely.

There are 3 palettes available; The Natural Glow, Smokin' Hot, and Glamour Puss. I decided to get the natural and smokin' palettes, as for me the colours had the most appeal.

 

 

Let's begin with the packaging! Ok, so it's not the greatest packaging, but it's certainly not the worst. I feel like they will get marked and messed up pretty easy as they are like a cardboard-ish material. However when opening the palettes up, I find the layout and the mirror very good. For the price I wasn't expecting a mirror, and it's a very clear, decent sized one. The eye shadows and blush themselves are a very good size (very Naked look-alike!) and you definitely get a good amount of product!

The products themselves are very good quality, and I was pleasantly surprised! As with all palettes that are from the drugstore, I am naturally very dubious on the actual quality, but BarryM have definitely not disappointed.

The Natural Glow palette is a great every day essential, and come with some beautiful shades, and a nice range of matte, and shimmer shadows. The pigmentation of the lighter shades are the best but they give enough colour payoff for everyday. The darker, more shimmery shades are lovely, and will be great as crease colours, or for use as a liner to give a more subtle look.

The blush is nice, but I wouldn't necessarily use it as a blush, as I find I don't seem to get much colour at all. I do think however that this is a really pretty highlight, as it has soft but lovely shimmer.

 

 

Now onto the Smokin' Hot palette. I think that this is a really good day to night palette, as the first 3 shades are great to wear for a subtle everyday look, and the last 3 shades are really pretty, night-time colours. As with the first palette, the pigmentation is just lovely, and I'm so pleased with them. A big difference from the first palette to this one, is the blush has a much better colour payoff. It's a very pretty dusky pink colour, and has a very light shimmer, but nothing too in your face!

All in all I give these palettes a 8 out of 10, and congratulate BarryM on a lovely product, at a good price!  

 

The Autumn Tag.

Hello lovelies, hope your all well!?

I saw this tag on Fee's blog and loved the questions, and I love Autumn, so thought why not!

Feel free to do this tag yourselves, and leave your links below because I'd love to check them out!

 

 

1} What is your favourite thing about Autumn?

As much as I love summer, and all the clothes and bright colours, and not having to pile on 15 layers before leaving the house, I actually enjoy that part of things when the weather turns colder. I love coming in from the cold outside, lighting a candle, and jumping in a nice hot bubble bath! I love the cosy feeling of Autumn. When the nights start to get darker early, and you can just get all snuggly and warm, (and delve more into my obsession with Breaking Bad!).

 

2} What's your favourite drink?

I'm not the world's biggest lover of hot drinks, but there's one I do love having in the colder months, and that is Horlicks. I do love the stuff! It's just something that I make a mug of before getting into bed for the night and drink whilst reading a book or watching something. It makes me lovely and toasty, and helps me get to sleep.

 

3} Favourite scent/candle?

Again, I don't really have a favourite scent, I wear whatever I feel like, whenever I feel like, whatever the season! However, candles on the other hand. I LOVE candles. Anything warming and homely in the winter I welcome. I do enjoy Yankee Candles Vanilla Cupcake, but at the moment my Mum is burning Yankee Home's Cherry Vanilla, and it's lush. Fills the whole house with scent. I would really like to try Yankee's fireside treats.

 

4} Best Lipstick.

I'm a complete lipstick junkie so this is really hard to name favourites, but some that I do enjoy in the Autumn are Bourjois ShineEdition number 23 - Grenade in, Revlon's 725 Love that red, and of course Kate Moss for Rimmel 107!

 

5} Go to Moisturiser.

I have really dry skin anyway so I like to use Avon's Intensive Moisture Face cream. It's a lovely thick cream, that my make up applies well on top of. Also Bio-oil. Although this is not a moisturiser, my face loves it in the winter time right before you go to sleep. For me it's a must-have any time of year.

 

6} Go to colour for the eyes.

Any nice natural browns, beiges, taupe's. I love MUA's Undress me too palette, which is a complete steal for the quality! I also am loving BarryM's Natural Glow palette (review coming up soon -stay tuned!).

 

7} Favourite music/band/singer to listen to?

I don't really stick to seasons to listen to music in. I kind of just listen to whatever's taking my fancy at the time.

 

8} Favourite outfit to wear.

I can't specifically say I stay to once outfit that I love wearing in the Autumn/Winter months, but any outfit of mine would consist of chunky, cosy knitwear, boots, and a cosy scarf. They are my Autumn musts.

 

9} An Autumn treat.

Well, I'm a bit of a foodie (which isn't a good thing when you're trying to lose weight), but an autumn treat would be a big stinking hot chocolate, or a takeaway. Or both! Why the hell not. Once out of my lovely hot bath, the last thing I'd want to do is cook!

 

10} Favourite place to be.

Indoors.

All locked up, and cosy with my family and my cats.

 

 

The infamous top coat I have a love-hate relationship with.

Hey guys!

A post today about something that has been hyped up to the max in the blogging and YouTubing world, and that my friends is the infamous Seche Vite Fast Drying TopCoat .

I thought I'd write a little post although you are all probably sick to the back teeth of hearing about it, but I need some help!

I do on the whole think that this is a great top coat, and does exactly what it says on the bottle. It dries super fast, I mean the fastest I've known any top coat dry. The problem I have is that it tends to chip like a bugger... well not necessary chip, because I know it's not advertised as an anti-chip top coat or nothing, but it seems to make my nail polish peel able...?

Does this happen to anyone else? Perhaps it's a combination between my base and top coat that causes it? But I literally do not even have to polish remover as I can sit and peel it all off! (Really bad to do that to your nails I know *slaps hand*).

So if anyone else has this problem, or if you have suggestions on solving it, please let me know! :)

I do so love this top coat, but I also love having my nails painted for more than 2 days too!

 

 

Primark Home: Raspberry & Papaya Candle

Hello Lovelies!

 

I think its ok to now say that summer is officially over for us in the UK, (however whilst I am writing this the sun has come out - typical).

One thing I welcome happily in the colder, darker nights, minus snuggly pyjama's, is a lovely candle to fill my room with a delicious smell.

 

I have to admit, I did actually buy this in July, and had it burning through August, I don't really mind burning candles in the summer months, as long as the scent is right, and boy was this a good scent!

It's a very light, sweet, fruity scent, that when lit, smell exactly like how it does in the container. The raspberry comes through ever so subtly and isn't sickly whatsoever.

 

I picked this up in Primark for a mere £2, and didn't really expect to much for that price. I'm quite sceptical on Primark candles as I've had a couple in the past, and didn't really get a great scent payoff.

However this was completely the opposite, and my Mum said that she could even smell it downstairs!

 

I will definitely pick up some more Primark candles now the winter is truly upon us!

 

What's your experiences with Primark candles? Any great ones out at the moment?

Let me know!

Avon's Opal Top Coat

I finally managed to get my hands on the Avon Opal Top Coat - and at a bargain price too (£2.50). I must say, it certainly does live up to my expectations and hopes!

 

We all know now that I'm a complete nail polish addict, so I naturally get excited about polish anyway, but the look that this gives to any polish is just so pretty.

 

Its a very dainty glitter but without the glitter, if you catch my drift. It adds a beautiful sparkle to any nail polish, and looks lovely when it catches the light.

 

I will certainly be getting my use out of this polish this winter and Christmas time, as its a great addition to turn any mani from a day to night look!

 

Yet again, Avon have come up with another beautiful polish. 10/10 from me :)

Random Post: Motivation And Losing Weight.

Hello there!

 

I was sat staring at the telly, all alone as Toms at work, and bored. So thought why not write a blog post? Trouble was I hadn't prepared anything and hadn't taken any photos of my products yet.. then I realized that the whole reason I started a blog in the first place was because I wanted somewhere to share anything and everything. Even if I was writing for the hell of it!

 

I'm afraid this is a abit of a random, moans and groans post! 

 

First thing that seems to be pissing me off is my motivation levels. Does anyone else want to do so much, and has so much to do, but you can never seem to muster the energy to do it, and instead you just sit there staring at the telly all doing sweet FA!? Yeah. That's me.

This seems to be slowly ruling my life and I need to stop this before it really starts, but I don't know how. If any of you guys have any suggestions please get in touch!

 

Secondly, I cannot seem to stick to this diet. Or any kind of workout routine. Its really bugging me because I would love to lose about a stone in weight and completely tone up, and I just cant seem to stick it. I'm thinking of joining a slimming world group as there's one setting up right near me... anyone have any feedback on slimming world? From what I cant gather people seem to get results with it. The reason I'm thinking about joining a specific group is that then perhaps I will become more motivated and more determined if I know I've got like a weigh in every week or whenever. I dunnoooo... I need guidance and advice!

 

I'm really sorry at such a random moany post but I just needed to get it out, and who knows! Maybe even writing this will help me get back into perspective. Here's hoping.

 

 

Review: Nivea Express Hydration Primer

Nivea Daily Essentials Express Hydration Primer - £5.00

 

Hiya Guys!

 

Back with a review for you now, of something that has been around for a little while now (and I did actually purchase when it first came out so the pictures aren't true to how much I've used now!).

 

This product really interested me when I first saw it as for one, its a primer, and I've never used a primer before, and two, because it is also a moisturiser for dry and sensitive skin - which is me! And for £5.00 for these two things I couldn't really not say no.

 

I'm glad I did as I have now used it all up, and thought it was a lovely product, as with all of Nivea's products

(I'm a bit of a fan!), however I'm not entirely sure of its primer-qualities. I didn't particularly feel that it help made my make up stay on any longer than normal, and seeing as I've never used a primer before, I couldn't really tell that I was using one then.

 

On the other hand, I felt it was a great moisturiser, and was absolutely lovely to use in the hot weather we've been having, as it felt like a cool gel, rather than a cream. It did seem to do a good job at keeping my dry skin at bay.

 

On the whole I'd give this product a 6/10. It was a good moisturiser, but seeing as I wanted a primer really I'm not sure if I'd buy it again.

 

  

Update: I know its been a while!

Well jeez Louise, it's been a heck of a long time since I sat an wrote anything on this blog.

 

I'm not going to sit and apologise and ramble on about where I've been and why I haven't blogged in a life time. I guess things just all got to hectic and when push came to shove, this was the last thing on my mind. 

 

So, after pondering and pondering and signing in, I realized when reading everyone else's posts, and seeing all the great YouTube videos, that I do really miss doing it. I decided to get a blog in the first place to have a somewhere to write about anything and everything, weather or not anyone reads it. Also to do with the fact that I like reading about beauty bits and bobs, and getting ideas and sharing things with other people, and that's the reason I want to start a fresh.

 

I really want to learn a lot more about the technical side of things to do with blogging, for example, how to create a better looking blog, something I'm proud of. The same also goes for my YouTube channel too.

I'm also starting a diet, and keep fit program in my life at the moment, as I've just become to unhappy about the way I look. I think restarting my blog will help me maintain that too!  

 

Those are my goals, and hopefully this time I will achieve them.

 

But that's my little opener before normal blogging resumes :)

 

TTFN,

My First Empties!

Hey Guys!

 

I'm really loving having a YouTube channel at the moment, and even more so loving the fact that I'm finally getting the hang of editing! Apart from when it wont let me upload my custom thumbnail *smacks head!* so hence the dodgy face shot that got picked!

 

So my most recent video I uploaded was my first empties one! I'd really love it if you could all go take a look, to find out what I've used up recently, and if you want to subscribe, then that would be great to :)

 

 

Rimmel Scandaleyes Shadow Stick | Bulletproof Beige

Hiya Guys!

Recently I bought a few beauty items from Very.com (they were having some great deals, I couldn’t resist!).

One of the things I bought was a Rimmel Scandaleyes eye shadow stick in bulletproof beige. This is actually my first eye shadow stick, as to be honest I’ve never really felt the need or want to try them. I guess it was because I wasn’t too sure on how great eye shadow, in stick form would actually work! However when I saw a scandaleyes stick, I thought I would give it a go, as I’ve heard nothing but great things about the scandaleyes range, and the way that Rimmel are on fire with their products at the moment, I thought now would be as good a time as any to try one! I’m certainly pleased I did.

It’s a really nice shimmery champagne colour, that I find works well as a daytime or evening shade. Also, it works beautifully ran across the bottom lash line to give you a bit of colour and finish a neutral look! Because it’s in a stick form, it makes doing this so simple.

You can buy them from Very here I will defiantly be getting a couple more!

 

Honeydew Dazzle

Hello there!

 

I know long time no post, but if I’m honest, I just really couldn’t have been bothered recently! That does sound bad, but hey! We all have them times, where you come home from a busy shift at work, and just want to veg in front of the box with ya pj’s on!

 

So after that brief introduction, on with the post!

 

 

I made a little Avon nail polish purchase a couple of weeks ago and one of the polishes was ‘Honeydew Dazzle’ which as you can see is a really lovely mint green colour. I was pleasantly surprised when it got delivered and I took it out of the box, as I wasn’t expecting the colour to be as lovely as it is. It’s always hard to get a true idea of a colour when it’s printed in a book!

Another thing I really like about this polish is the subtle shimmer in it. I don’t know if the picture is really doing it any justice at all, but it was rather hard to capture. The shimmer is also a silvery mint green colour and adds just that little bit extra for the polish.

One drawback if you will, is I’ve noticed that on one of my nails, the polish has started to change colour, and seems to be slightly yellowing... I’m not entirely sure why this is, or if it’s because of the polish. If anyone owns this and has the same thing happen, I’d love to know about it, as this is the only polish this has ever happened to me with.

Review: Avon SuperShock Mascara

 

Hello, Hope you are all well?

I have a mascara review for you all today, and it’s the Avon SuperShock mascara.

I must say, I absolutely love this mascara! I did own this a fair few years ago. It was like my first ever mascara that I bought myself, and to be honest, back then I didn’t really pay much attention to how good products were. I just wanted something to do that specific job, and as long as it did I was happy! However I did remember that it was affordable, and that I liked it. So when I saw it in an Avon book recently, I knew I wanted it again. Plus it was on a really good deal where I got a gel eyeliner free (which is also fab!).

The main thing I love about this mascara is how well it works for me. I love the way it separates my lashes, and really elongates them. It does a really good job of separating even the little lashes that are sometimes hard to get too, and I can also do my bottom lashes with this too.

The brush is great, and I really get on with it. It’s a decent size, and not too big.

The picture shows just one coat of mascara on, but it does work well with adding a couple of coats for more volume.

This is a really good mascara for its money (I believe I paid £4.50 for mine), and is great for anyone just starting out, or if you just fancy trying something different. P.S, I don’t get any clumps from this mascara either!

 

 

Review: Barry M Textured Polish in Ridley Road

 

This is one nail polish I am not 100% sold on. It wasn't until I was editing these pictures that I realized just how crappy this applied. Like around the outside of my nails the texturedness seems to have travelled... nevermind, on with the review! :)

 

The colour of this is completely lovely, and that's probably the only thing I am sure on with this polish. Its a really lovely colour, infact all the Barry M textured ones are really nice spring colours. However the actual texture is what I'm uncertain of.

 

When I first applied it I thought there was no texture to it at all! It seemed to come out of the bottle just like any normal polish. Then when it began to dry, then the texture of it really start to show. To me it just looks like a cheap polish that's bubbled or gone all weird, I'm not entirely sure I like the end result, it does take a while to get used to!

 

 

What do you lovelies think of the Barry M textured polishes?

 

TTFN

 

Avon Lipstick Haul & Swatches

Hiya Lovelies!

I recently made an Avon purchase that I am completely over the moon with, so thought I'd share it all with you!

*If you like lipstick, stay tuned! This is all lip!*

 

Reduced to £2.50

 

So this is the first lipstick I bought is one of Avon's 24k lipsticks in 'Rosy Gold'.

Its a really pretty natural looking pink, with gold flecks in it. So, so pretty! The consistency is lovely too, and really quite moisturising!

 

The next three I bought were not only bargains, but complete and utter surprises!

They are from the 'Colourtrend' range at Avon, which to be honest, before now I though were rubbish. I've bought a couple of eye shadows from that range in the past and didn't think they were all that, but these lippy's are the complete opposite, and I love everyone of them!

 

They were buy one, get two free!! So I got these next three lipsticks for a grand total of £3.25!!

 

 Rich Ruby

 

 Passion

 

 Doll Pink

 

 

And that's that!

Overall I am really pleased with every lipstick I purchased, and will most definitely be trying out some of the other Colourtrend range, including more of their lipsticks!

 

TTFN

 

Youtube Channel!

So, I have decided to set up a new YouTube channel.

I did have on previously but nothing really ever felt right on there, and I just felt like I

wasn't really progressing anywhere with it.

 

I now have a new channel, that already, I am 100% happier with, and I've only uploaded one video!

I would very much like you all to subscribe to it!

It's just a little place where I like to put hauls, monthly favourites, empties, etc!

 

New sparkly channel..

 

 

 

TTFN,

 



NOTW - Lets get the neon out!



*I'm not entirely sure that the pictures really do this justice, but here we go anyway!*

 

Its not quite summer yet but I bought this yesterday and couldn’t resist trying it out straight away! I got this from Primark in a set of 4 for £2! (which makes this polish only 50p – yes 50p!).

Anywho I’m really impressed with the colour payoff and the application of it. It took two coats, mainly just because I wanted it really bright, but it could have easily sufficed with one coat if you wanted a quick pop of colour!

I was really quite surprised how bright it did turn out I mean for £2 for 4 polishes, you don’t really expect a lot, but I really like it! I bought this set yesterday in Primark because I’m trying to curb my need for the models own neon ice collection, and to be honest its working. Which I’m really pleased about because as much as I’d love them, I don’t particularly have a spare £20 odd quid lying around.

I think this set is going to be great in the summertime, and I believe I will be getting a lot of use out of it.

Products used:

Sally Hansen - Double Duty

Primark Beauty nail polish - Neon Pink

Avon nail experts - Revitacool base coat

The whole set. £2!!

 



Oh my gosh, a nail of the week post!? (New layout)

Yes. This is indeed a nail of the week post! It has been a while since I did one of these, but to be honest its been a while since I've done any decent blogging so, instead of boring you all, we're just get onto the post. :)

Spring is here (almost), and the sun is shining (well, occasionally!), so I thought it was time to get some pastel-ness going on. As if that wasn't enough for me, I went all out and went glittery!

I'm really pleased with how cute this turned out, its very girly, summery, and fun. The glitter polish is actually a new one, that came in the post this morning, and I knew I had to try it out straight away.

Polishes from left - right:

Bourjois - Rainbow Apparition. I bought this from very.com for £6, and I'm really pleased with it! Its so pretty, and the glitter in it is so fine its just enough to add a girly sparkle to your mani. Its a bourjois 1 seconde gel nail polish, meaning that it supposed dries in one second, whilst also giving your nails the look of a gel manicure. I completely agree. My nails do look like they have had a gel manicure, however one second drying time is a little over exaggerated. I would say it took under a minute to become touch dry.

Avon nailwear pro - Luxe lavender. £3. This is just a really pretty pastel lavender. I've had this in my collection for a couple of years now, and I wear it every summer. This shade works perfectly with the Bourjois polish. I never have a bad word to say about Avon nail polishes, they are just brilliant.

Sally Hansen - Double duty strengthening base and top coat. £4, Lloyds pharmacy. After finally coming to terms with the fact that my Nicole by OPI top coat isn't really all that (no matter how much I paid for it *sob sob*) I decided to pick this up when I saw it. The main thing that drew me to it was the strengthening properties it said it had. My nails, especially my thumb nails, always seem to break right down, as soon as they've grown past a certain length - no idea why! This polish is great as a base and top coat. It really protects, and is such a shiny top coat. However I'm not entirely sure it has any strengthening benefits at all.

Statement necklaces

 

So lately I've been wanting to change up my jewellery collection, and slowly start to sort it out and get rid of the stuff I'm never going to wear, and start buying key pieces that hopefully I will have for a while, and get a lot of use out of!

 

Stepping into Primark last week, I saw there was a sale on a whole bunch of statement necklaces, and thought that that would be a great place to start. I've never been a statement necklace person, but lately I have seen a lot of really pretty ones circulating the bloggersphere, and YouTube (like the cranberry coloured one that you've probably seen a million times!). Plus these were all half price, and at £2 each, I couldn't complain.

 

I'm really pleased with what I managed to pick up, and feel like I will have all these for many years and get a lot of use out of them! The one on the far right will be lovely in summer, as it has great colour changing qualities. The black and white one I feel is just very classy, and will look great on a night out, or even for an interview! The cranberry one I just love. The colour, all the detail, everything, and will be great come winter and Christmas time.

 

So there we have it, if your looking for a few new pieces, but don't want to spend a bomb, then Primark is definitely the place to pick up a few bargains :)

 

TTFN

xox

25 facts about moi.

Although I myself haven't blogged properly in a while, I have still be reading all your fabulous posts and enjoying them. One of the posts I have seen around a lot lately is the 25 or 50 facts about me thing. I've really enjoyed reading other peoples, and felt like today is the day to get back into blogging again!

However 50 facts is rather a lot - so 25 it is!

1. My name really is just Alex, not Alexandra. My parents knew it would get shortened anyway.
2. I have the worst fear of the dentist EVER!!
3. I like to lick the flavouring off Doritos first, then eat them. (weird I know!)
4. I have been with my fiancé for 3 years in august, and engaged a year.
5. I am an only child.
6. My favourite colour is black.
7. At the moment, I feel I am struggling.
8. I have two black cats (max and milo), and two gerbils (alex and tom).
9. My dad died when I was 8.
10. My addiction for nail polish is terrible.
11. I'm a time freak. I like to be on time, and hate it when others aren't.
12. I like pickled onions.
13. I can be rather paranoid.
14. I love lighting candles, and will even do so in summer.
15. I do like gaming. I own a ps3, xbox, and Nintendo 3DS XL.
16. My favourite chocolate is galaxy.
17. I can re-watch 'The Hills' over and over.
18. I really want to start getting fitter, because as each day goes I'm getting more and more unhappy.
19. I learn a lot from other blogs, and youtube videos.
20. Me and my mum are more like sisters. We're really close.
21. I'm currently going through steps to ombre my hair, and so far, I like it.
22. I hate plucking my eyebrows, and shaving my legs. I can never truly be bothered, but always do it.
23. I constantly suffer with itchy, flaky scalp, and greasy hair. Which annoys me to no end.
24. I used to be scared of the dark, but now I hate it if there's one bit of light in my room!
25. I spend most of my time in pj's/joggers, rather than normal clothes.

There you have it!

Hope you enjoyed my 25 facts.

If you have done something like this, feel free to leave a link!

 

TTFN

xox 

Where am I? What have I been doing?

Hello there lovelies!

 

Now, you may be wondering who this stranger is popping up on my blog feed, and you may even of forgot you've subscribed to me! I apologise.

There's not really anything I can say that's been problem as to why I haven't blogged or filmed in a very long time, apart from generally feeling knackered.

 

We all have times in our lives where we feel so tired in the day we could fall asleep given any opportunity, and you are so thankful when you finally get into your bed of an evening a fall into a wonderful slumber! Lately however, that has not been happening for me :(

I am tired pretty much 24/7, and its not like me at all. The thing that's making it worse, is I'm not sleeping really all that great at night, and its turning into a vicious circle!

 

Today came the point where enough is enough in more ways than one, as I've gone to see the doctor. Along with a few other symptoms, like drinking a lot a points, the doctor has given me an appointment for a fasting blood test, and iron check on Wednesday morning. My first one everrrrr!! Yes. I am 21 and never had a blood test :)

 

I have a family history of diabetes too - as my dad was type 1, and my mum is type 2, and I've always been told to keep an eye out for anything like this.

 

So we shall see what a week Wednesday brings as I have to wait for my results. I just felt like writing today, and I felt like you guys deserved an explanation as to why I've been absent.

Hopefully, I can start to feel like my old self again sometime soon, and get back to blogging, and all the other things I love!

 

xox