Thursday 1 September 2011

Musing about weight loss

Or lack of it at the moment!
Losing weight is hard, no 2 ways about it. It is even harder in the holidays! My loss has stayed at 12lb since the start of the 6 week break. Which in itself is an achievement! One of the worst things is that for the past 2 weeks I have not had breakfast or lunch, I have just been pick, pick picking! A dieters downfall.
For me, and most mums, the new start for regimes and resolutions is really when the kids go back after the long holiday. In fact my diary even starts in the September and not January!
Once I am back into the swing of things and routine is back in place, I can then focus on my healthy living again.
I will get back to planning meals properly, me and my best mate will start going to classes again, and I will get back to running. I also start studying again, how scary!
But change is good, also want to get on with having another baby if not Mr Mad wants a dog, I much prefer babies!
So Slimming World better save me some stickers as I will be earning them again soon!

Leighton Denny Crystal nail file

If you like doing your nails, or if you file regularly, just BUY IT!


I was a bit dubious about spending £9 more that I would normally for a nail file, but got it this morning and literally less that 5 minutes later my nails were done! It shapes gently and super quickly and if you cannot file the way that manicurists do then it doesn't matter, you can do it back and forward with this file. Its not heavy or cumbersome and comes in its own protective case, which you will need.
Don't drop it, that would be sacrilegious! Do though, buy one!

Wednesday 31 August 2011

Boots Botanics Cleansing Balm review 2 plus moisture balm

Well I gave this a real test today, with foundation and mascara thats quite a grabber on the old lashes!
Again half a spoon, if that really, massaged over the face and even the eyes (not recommended for sensitive peepers) and after 2 wipes with the cloth warm all my make-up was gone! It still left a slight film but it went with a swipe of toner, which I only used to test for make-up traces.
To be honest the film left doesn't really bother me as within an hour its absorbed. If I cleansed and had to put my make-up on quickly, I would tone.

Onto the moisture balm. Ooooooh it honestly feels luxurious, having long nails I do have to tentatively wipe around the sides of the teeny jar! Teeny it certainly is, but the smallest amount goes far, especially if like me, you have combination skin. As it is night time I have used it all over, and I shall decide if I would use it in the day when I feel my skin tomorrow, but as it is it just feels soft and supple.

Both of these balms will be a winter staple for me, I really hate the tight feeling I get in biting winds and rain, so these get a thumbs up from me! Although I am hankering after a go with some other cleansing balms now!

My first Face Of the Day and a brave one!

This is the L'oreal Infallible eyeshadow I got free in the gift pack. Its ok, patchy application though, will dampen the brush next time. Keep the black disc, it keeps the powder pressed down, even if you shake it (of course I did!) the shadow is still patted down. This is shade Hour Glass BeigeOk, so I am not blonde! But this red caught my attention, the raspberry shade was far too pink, so went for this in Cassis Passion and its pretty nice, smells of Parma Violets though, which I hate!



The lippie is pretty glossy, as this is my first foray into red lips for a long time, I blotted twice to take the shine away. Maybe when I am braver I will leave it!

So products used

Garnier BB Cream Review!

please excuse my non sleep morning face, eeeeek!
I went for this in light as medium was 2 shades too dark, light is fairly pink toned, medium slightly more orange/yellow
The texture is pretty moisturiser like, unlike Cliniques Moisture Surge, this is easily applied, spreads like a dream and barely any blending was needed.
Once blended it is almost invisible on the back of my hand.
Ta-da! Scuse the awful photography and light, its grey here! But this is actually quite nice, it smells lovely, as most of Garniers moisturisers do. I feel the coverage is just right for me, at this time of the month, ie, no spots! Its quite a luminous finish, I did need a touch of powder on my t-zone, but I have combination skin.
I didn't use blusher after I finished my make-up as this is sheer enough to allow my natural colour through, normally a bug bear but this masks some of the ruddy red I get. I actually love it! Not something I would use for a night out but I want to try this over the primer I am getting today to see how it fairs. All in all, a worthy buy, even at full price.
Garnier BB Cream is available in Light and Medium and RRP is £9.99 currently from Boots and Superdrug

Tuesday 30 August 2011

Dr Nick Lowe Bargain!

This is £15.31 in Boots. If you have a Savers store....... £2.99! He is a Harley Street doctor, my friend met him when she went for a Botox consultation. I shall post a picture of my before, and then after a month of daily usage, if no problems occur.

L'oreal Gift with make-up purchase over £15


Admittedly I was a bit dubious about this offer, but glad I got it, I wanted a red lipstick and lost my foundation, so it made sense to buy them at Boots where this offer was still on, I got the last of the boxes on offer, not sure if they had more. I shall blog about the bought make-up and the free gifts with swatches and pictures of my mug!

Boots Botanics Cleansing Balm review

These were 3 for 2. Today I tried the balm.
First impressions, its smells luscious! So I scooped out about half a teaspoon, not used a balm before so was guessing! This seemed to be enough, I warmed it up in my hands and it became like a thick oil. I massaged it into my skin for a minute or two, releasing the lovely fresh scent.
I was quite concerned when I washed my hands to open the packet the cloth came in and it seemed to not want to wash away! I hate the feeling of stuff being oily on my face. But I soaked the cloth in hot water and gently rubbed my face in circular motions and after 2 goes of this I then followed on with cold as suggested.
Whilst I did feel slightly like there was an oily film on my face I just massaged gently and after half an hour my face just felt soft and clean.
Will this take the place of my favourite facial oil? Not sure yet, but the smell of this is much nicer than this http://www.dhcuk.co.uk/DHC/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=300 which is amazing, but stinks!
Time will tell with the balm, especially tonight when I take my make-up off! Looking forward to trying the moisturiser balm, that will be reviewed separately.

Monday 29 August 2011

Cheap hair goodies

I am not loyal to brands, nor products. But if I find something I love I stock up, especially when its cheap. The links here are for Amazon, but Superdrug stock them, as do my local 99p store, score!
This Shampoo and conditioner are amazing. They retail for £1.99 each in Superdrug but they often do half price deals. Bargain century! I have never bought products for dry hair before, but was tempted by the breakage promise on the bottle. On using, well it was a revelation. I love the smell, it lathers nicely and the shampoo is rich and luxurious. The conditioner is thick and clings well.
All well and good, but oh my, once my hair was dry *hello shine*! Amazing, so I went and bought 4 bottles of each when they were half price in Superdrug!

Underated!

So I decided to try this shampoo and conditioner for coloured hair. They are ok, but don't seem to do much more for my coloured hair than the ones above!

What to do on a bank holiday monday....




Dye my hair with L'oreal Sublime Mousse
This pic prompted me into action, part grey, part
brown, part black, lovely.
I look impressed don't I? Now usually I rely on the Original Mad Mother to do

my hair, but she hates it and also dyed my carpet (living room btw!) a lovely shade of blue/black!
So it was down to me, and the mousse!

Its impeccably easy to mix, no more getting Mr Mad to shake until mixed, the formula means I don't have to buy two bottles, although that was post lopping 6 inches off.
It is virtually mess free, I do need to wipe my ears and shoulders but no more drips all over the floor, wall, my back, clothes etc.

But...... the wait, 30 minutes *yawn* Clearly I had got used to my excelle 10! So I sat playing with my phone for 25 minutes on the loo, fun fun fun!

This shows how non drip it is. It clings well to hair
I do not worry about slidage, it feels well and truly

stuck to the hair. Easier than most to rinse too,
but the conditioner that comes with it stinks, I mean stinks! Far worse than the dye, which after the cat wee smell has gone, is pretty ok.
I do use the conditioner but with this one I wish I hadn't bothered. My hair felt awful so used this
as well.
Tomorrow I shall post a before and after to show grey coverage and shine

Ciate Paint Pots


Closest match

I had a lot of comments on my nails since painting them with Ciate. The link above is the closest shade to what I have on, mine actually came free with Marie Claire magazine, score! But in 4 days it is being withdrawn from sale as the October issue comes out. I will say that I will be repurchasing Ciate in the future, it may even *whisper* take over from Nails Inc as my favourite! Now, I do not EVER shake polish before applying, but I dropped this before applying and couldn't wait until they dispersed so recklessly did them anyway. Bubbles on surface, gah! Next morning, smooooooottttth as silk! Amaze-balls! The colour is certainly eye catching, purple with teeny weeny flecks of red shimmer that catch the light and make the shade look almost magenta pink - be still my beating heart!

Update - These pics were taken today (bank holiday Monday 29th Aug) and they were painted on Wednesday the 24th Aug! As you can see there is mild tip ware, but thats from click clacking on the laptop! Otherwise I have to paint them again because the cuticle end of my nails is looking bare! Amazing!

Bobbi Brown Metallic lip

Metallic Lipstick

My first ever 'high end' purchase. Although at the prices of mid range make-up nowadays this will soon not be the case! I am starting to make more luxury purchases now, why pay £12-15 for what were the easily accessible, when you can pay just a couple of pound or even pay the same, for more professional brands that last longer. I love this lippie, I spent a long time at the counter being helped to find this shade. I adore the colour, until I open my mouth and I am paranoid that one diet coke later this shade makes my teeth look I need to bleach them sharpish!

BootS No.7 Mascara

Exceptional Definition

I have more mascaras than I care to admit, or actually count. I LOVE this. Love it. Buy it, especially if you can get a lovely £5 voucher, as I did! I love rubber bristles, this is the only mascara I have used that doesn't require a comb through after! Love!

Bourjois Ombre Stretch

Where has this gone?

This is sadly, bloody hard to find now! Now, controversial admittance follows I don't like Little Round Pots! I know everyone else loves them and I had and still have numerous amounts of them, don't know if I am missing the trick but I can't get colour of them unless I scrape the top and build up a 10 layer lid!Ombre Stretch is heaven, first though, the brush added is poop, I only use it to line my lower lid with the shadow. But what a shadow, I have this in purple, grey (last nights eye) a browny, silvery shade, a green and a shimmery white chocolate shade. They are impossibly light, easy to blend and some of my favourite shadows!

Maybelline Blush

Dream Mousse Blush

I love the colour and texture of this. Therefore I want to love it, but I don't. It is like I paid someone £6 to rub air onto my cheeks. But too much and its glitter ahoy! This really needs to be sent out of my make-up bag(s) but I keep trying, and keep being disappointed.

Benefit It Stick

It Stick

Why this comes in just one colour I don't know. I do not like it for my monthly spot outbreak. But I used this under my chin where I had a scab from accidentally tweezing some skin off sans hair! Thick, waxy texture, easily blendable and the pencil makes it perfect for precision. In times of extreme shadows, this is pretty nifty in the eye area but can be a little heavy.

Bourjois - 10 Hour Sleep effect

Well 2 things have become apparent, 1. I am lazy, this should have been done last night and 2. I need a good camera. Which may just happen soon since Mr. Mad is hankering after a fancy pants SLR something or other!
So links today I am afraid.


I must confess that out of my myriad of foundations (is there a woman who owns just one?!) This is not one I reach for often. It comes in a very limited range of colours. The palest made even my then, paler self, look like something from Twilight! So I went for Rose Clair, which when tested on my jawline, seemingly in the light of the shop, blended nicely. Until the next time I wore it and I had been tangoed by a banana! But now I am tanned it sits nicely. It is not matte, and it is not dewy. I didn't need much powder to finish, just a touch on my nose. Nice coverage, but not heavy. Did I look like I had had 10 hours sleep instead of the 5 fitful hours I really had. No!

Boots Stay Perfect Liner

Liquid Liner

Well, Stay Perfect. Yes it does. In fact I still have mine on now, it lasted through sleep (oops!) and it has even lasted through my make up removal this morning. Great stuff. So I am sitting here now bare faced bar some bronzey gold eyeliner. Luckily I am staying in as I would look strange unless I do my whole face again. I do hope it comes off when I do my face tonight or I will be quite cross as I cannot use proper eye make up remover!

Urban Decay Deluxe

Eyeshadow Single

I wear this for my daytime look, in Shag (how rude *blush*). It is highly pigmented, long lasting and has a gorgeous burnt gold sheen. I would say bronze, but it is not brown enough. It is a dream to apply, both with a finger or a brush and it lasts well and doesn't crease into my well, eye crease!

Clinique Glosswear

Long Last Glosswear

I have this in Air Kiss, a beautiful, fairy pink with a pale golden flecked shimmer (no glitter) through it. I was sceptical about a long lasting gloss. But the formula of this is actually very long lasting, it holds up well when talking, which I do. A lot! It lasts through drinks, but not so much eating, although I hate eating when I have lip product on. Again this shade is a day time, shade, muted and glossy without being a plastic looking gloss.

Miners Auto Lash Mascara

Auto Lash Mascara

Ok, I didn't buy this. I got it free when I subscribed to Glamour magazine (along with loads of other make-up) but having got annoyed with a different mascara (more on that another day) I grabbed this. It is lovely! Not a night mascara though, unless you like subtle lashes. But for day time it is wonderful. The brush is pretty generic, old school. None of the fancy combs and new fangled wonders of modern mascaras, but it pulls through the lashes beautifully, has just the right amount of product per removal from the tube and coats, curls lightly and defines lashes just enough to make a difference but not in a dramatic, false lash way. A Bargain!

Benefit Eye Bright

Eyebright

Does what it says on the tin, er, pencil. This in the inner corners of made up eyes and pow, instant bright, fresh and awake eyes, even if your children only let you have 4 hours of sleep!I have always used this make-up trick, I used to use a silvery shadow with a wet liner brush, gives the same effect, but this is just the perfect colour to really waken the area.

Benefit High Beam

High Beam

This is one of many highlighters in my make-up bags. I put it away for a while, but it always makes its way back into my daily make-up bag. I use it on my cheekbones and under my brows and love the subtle, non glittery shimmer I get from it. Be sparing on the cheeks, unless you like the two-hours workout sweaty look, nice!Easy to blend, and far less mess than powder highlighters.

Benefit Benetint

Benefit Benetint

To be perfectly frank I don't know why I use this! I cover my ruddy farmers wife cheeks in foundation and powder to cover them, and then put this on! Although I do love the doll cheeked look I can achieve before my foundation and powder inevitably slip and I get my ooh ar my lover cheeks back!Its easy to apply, but be quick, blend as soon as or you might get red dots on your cheeks! Not such a hot look and hard to remove. Can you tell I have experience here! Looks lush on lips though, and tastes foul, unless you like the taste of roses! It is quite lasting on the lips, but do keep a balm or gloss handy as it dries dry. Really dry!

Rimmel Powder

Stay Matte Pressed Powder

Ah, my go to powder since the tender steps into make-up aged 14! I have always and still use Peach Glow. I shudder at the memories of applying this with a puff, leaving a chalky texture on my face, which I then thought was normal!Now I just dab on my t-zone with a lightly loaded brush. I have gone to other brands of powder over the years, loose, mineral etc etc but find this is comfortable and matte for my oily t-zone.

Clinique Moisture surge Tinted Moisturiser

Moisture surge Tinted Moisturiser

I am not my usual colour at the moment, thanks to the 'rainy' weather in Disneyland Paris! I would usually buy a No.1 in most foundations, but am currently a 2. Although with this I ended up getting a sample of 3 as number 2 was just too yellow for my skin and I looked like I had been tangoed! For a tinted moisturiser it is actually pretty good coverage wise. But alas, I cannot use this unless I moisturise first, as it is nothing like the Moisture Surge stand alone moisturiser. It is far heavier and unless I spread quite quickly and pretty heavy handed then it is really hard to blend.I found that I don't need to use under eye concealer with this, and only need to cover a spot if it particularly red and angry (usually once a month!) I think I will buy this, but not until my face has faded to its usually white and ruddy cheeked look!

Sunday 28 August 2011

Autumn is a-coming!

My favourite time of year is upon us. This is generally when I think about resolutions and new starts. The kids back to school, well one going back and one going to big school *sob*, for me it signifies the 'real' new start and I am aware that many mums agree with me!

So I have a few things I want to do/change/organise etc and here is where I will list them, I mean, if I write them down then I have to keep to my word, right?!

1. Today it has occured to me that I have beauty stuff everywhere, literally everywhere. Upstairs bathroom I never use? Check. In my room where I never actually apply make-up, body moisturisers etc? Check. On my mini bookshelf? Check. Mini cupboard of doom? Check.
Living room windowsill? Downstairs bathroom cabinet? Big pink box? Check, check and check.

I have a month where the kids are at school and I have not much to do until my college course starts. Soooooo, I shall sort out my beauty bits, chuck stuff that I don't use, bring my make-up downstairs, sort out all the little sachets I have yet to sample and review and have proper places for my stuff.

2. Start running again. This is a MUST. Truly.

3. Be braver with make-up. I want, no need a rich berry and my perfect red for my lips. I want to find a beautiful pallet with colours I will use for different things. Not just one where I will use one colour and ignore the rest.

4. Keep my nails looking shipshape, I love a dark nail in Autumn, heck, I have been rocking dark hues for 2 weeks considering our summer has all but gone. I will admit to the heinous crime of not removing chipped polish. Even picking at chipped polish. No more of that thank you very much.

5. LOOK AFTER MY SKIN. Yes, I am shouting at myself, for years, yes actual years, I have promised myself that I will cleanse, tone, moisturise twice a day. It is 5 minutes, 5 minutes that even I can find and never seem to. I guess its just something I don't do enough to make it a habit. Must fix this. 31 nearly 32 and my face is showing it!

6. Try more treatments. I would love a facial and I endeavour to try one one day. I also need to make time, and money for regular threading. I don't do much or spend much on myself and I really should make more of myself.

7. Another shameful one. Stop sleeping in make-up. I know, I know, I can hear the tutting from here. Big crime, lock me up and make me promise to not be lazy. Its not like I even do it in extreme 10 sambucca nights, its literally forgetting I have the bliddy stuff on!

8. Do something with my hair. Currently I dye my hair black every 8-12 weeks. I wear it in a ponytail every day. *Yawn*

So there we have it, my list. Come December I shall see if I have managed any of this - hmmm