Tuesday 30 December 2014

Disappointing Products of 2014

We've all been there, purchasing a product and it not being quite up to what we expected. Here are products that have disappointed me this past year:

The Visible Difference set from Elizabeth Arden - I was drawn to this set as I know everyone raves about Elizabeth Arden and but all i can say is this duo really let me down. After like the first couple of use's i really did not enjoy using it. The exfoliator stuck to my skin and did not exfoliate my skin at all. The beads would not come off and it took more than 5/6 washes as well as using a face cloth. Normally exfoliators for me take one good rinse and i finish it off with a cloth to make sure and i am done. The toner just made my skin feel dry and i did not notice any results at all to my skin. I would advise you avoid this set and range because it really is just not worth it. The set seems like a good deal at £15 (might be a little more because i bought it at £12 from £15 at the start of this year) but honestly it's really not.  

Yes to Cucumber Daily Gel Cleanser - So like everyone i have used to face wipes and LOVED them so i thought i would give this Cleanser the same range a try. I soon regretted my decision. The gel was so difficult to use in all aspects. The product was extremely runny, in a way like water which makes it really difficult to work with. Getting this product to foam up to clean your face is really difficult and when it does the foam is very little and it did not really clean my face at all. Removing this product is more of a nightmare than getting make up off, it really turns into glue!  I could not see any results from using the product on my skin. All i can say is, the wipes are good but this is really not. It has put me off trying any of the other items in their range but if there is anything please let me know. 

The Glamour Beauty Box sample version of the HD Brows Eye and Brow Pallette (Link to the full sized product only available now) - Did anyone work out how to use this product? as i'm sure not just I received this in one of the first glamour beauty boxes from latest in beauty. I have no idea why this kit is now on sale as a full sized kit AT ALL. The brow colour is far too dark for anyone who has brown eyebrows, even though it seems more advertised at someone that would have. Not just that the three other colours which i assume are for eyeshadows were some of the worst i have ever had to work with. The colours in the set would not blend at all. This is a Really disappointing product, i hope they have change the formula of these for the full size set i honestly cannot think of anything worse to put on my brows or around my eyes. I think i'd stick to the Archery from Soap and glory or a new favourite from Eyelur for brows because this kit makes HD look Analogue. 


Maybeline New York Fit Me Concealer - I am not sure about where the hype about this product came from in all honesty because this is a dry skin clinger. I picked up two shades, fair and sand and neither of these two concealer's looked even close to my fair skin tone, the shade range does need drastic improvement.  The concealer was easy to blend and all but i noticed after a few hours the effects were gone and if i had dry skin, this would cling to it and make my skin look herrendous. Stick to the Collection concealer or NARS concealer, these two have an amazing shade range and do not cling to dry skin patches.  

Jessica Damaged Nails Kit - After bad hiccup with some shellac nail removal, I bough this kit with high hope that It would help my nails restore back to full health. I used this kit for good three months, as well as buffing my nails and this really did kit really did nothing to help the process. It seems this kit is one of those, let's attempt to mask the problem and not fit it. My nails still looked damaged and were not healing as the kit claims. If you want any help at all get the Dr Lewinn's kit, it's miles better than this tragic trio and was one that helped my nails to recover. 

Rimmel Scandal Eyes Mascara - I got this free when i bought a foundation and concealer from the Rimmel and i wish i had never opened it. This is the definition of clump central, a mere few weeks after i opened it. Now I have had mascara's that have lasted a good few months before drying up and going clumpy, so i was extremely disappointed with this product. On the plus side the brush design it's just a shame that the product did not match to the standard of the brush.  I'd advise looking further for mascara.

Soap and Glory Sexy Motherpucker Lip Lacquers - Now i love the sexy mother pucker gloss sticks, so when i saw these i thought i would give them a go. This product a bit like the yes to cucumber gel and was was basically like glue, but instead of sticking to my lips, it stuck to the container. The gloss was sticky and horrible and you could not apply it at all to the lips. It's a real disappointment for me because the majority of soap and glory products have really hit leaps and bounds above some of the more high end products for me but this one did not make the cut. Try the Rimmel Lip Laqure's for a great budget find. 

So there you have it, another year closes and these are the products I wish I had never met in 2014. Keep away from these when out shopping because they will give you nothing but none refundable trouble.

Happy New year.

Sunday 28 December 2014

Sale time! - Best Beauty Sale Picks Online

It is sale time, and it's time to look for those cracking savings. A lot of blogger out there have already posted their opinion's and in this post i'm going to look for some of the best saving's on some of the top products on the market.

Feelunique - 10% Off their top ten brands and the following great offers:

Macadamia Deep Repair Masque 500ml - was £39.95 - Now £28.97 - £10.98 saving - Top selling and rated hair product with a great saving!



NUXE Prodigieux Fragrance Set - Was £39.00 - Now £27.30 - Saving £11.70 - A lovely scent and this set is amazing, the scent itself is currently £36.55 so basically you get the fragrance for a bargain and a free candle. 



Baremineral's Get Started Kit - Was £49.00 now £35.33 - Saving £13.67
This kit is great for new and old Baremineral's fans, it has a new set of brushes, two foundation shades, a primer and warmth. Perfect to get started or for a new set of brushes and make up.
Elemis Pro-Collagen Marnie Cream 30ml - Was £60.00 - Now £45.00 - Save £15.00 - Amazing Moisturiser, whenever you find a saving on this it's worth purchasing. 

Spacenk - Has a few sale items so take a look and one item i thought was a steal:

Ren Rose Duo Gift Set -  Was £36.00 - Now £18.00 - Saving £18.00 - HALF PRICE Includes the Rose Otto Body Lotion and Body Wash 300ml - Perfect shower combo and at 300ml each you cannot go wrong with these perfect Ren finds.

Boots - Has a lot on offer online and in Store - my best picks are:



Scholl Velvet Smooth Pedicure Set - £79.00 now £34.99 - Saving £45.00 - WOW this is a steal, get your feet in utterly amazing shape. 

Gucci Minatures Gift Set - was £35.00 - Now £23.33 - Save £11.67 - Love Gucci but wanted to try more of their scents, this set is an amazing way to try five of their top scents. 


Lancome In Style Party Perfect Picks - was £40.00 now £26.66 - saving £13.34 - This is a perfect kit for NYE and beyond, it comes with all you need to go out and party. 


The Bodyshop is racking up those sales but my favourite has to be the:

Raspberry Body Butter - Was £13.00 now £6.50 - HALF PRICE - BARGIN, there body butter's are my all time favourite and this one smells and feels like a dream on the skin. 

Happy Shopping :)

This is not a sponsored post.

Wednesday 24 December 2014

Merry Christmas



Thank you to all of you who have recently followed me on here and on bloglovin on the start of my blogging journey. I just want to thank you for your support and I am excited to be blogging more into 2015. So enjoy the day tomorrow with your family and or friends and hopefully Santa will leave that special something under the tree this year.

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy new year.

Love Lauren x

Saturday 20 December 2014

Golden wonder - Lush Bath Bomb





Golden Wonder is one of the top selling bath bombs from Lush, especially at the Christmas period. It is a glittery bath bomb in the shape of a present with a fresh white bow on top. But the interest that sparked my attention is what's in that present, if you shake it you will hear some sort of rattle inside and when i picked this one up at Lush, i really wanted to know what makes you wonder about this golden surprise. 

As i dropped it in the bath, i was surprised to see after a few minutes that the bath doesn't stay the golden colour like you would imagine it to. Instead inside the bath bomb is a blue coloured layer which once mixed with the gold, it turns your bath green. 

This is a great idea, however for a Christmas Bath bomb, the bath turns more of a lime green which to me isn't really the green of christmas. However the added fun of the bath really was nice to see. 

As the bath bomb began to disolve further the rattling surprise became apparent and i begn to see little stars floating around in the bath. I can't say i was overall impressed by this and the stars were a bit lacking.


However Lush has improved with it's products and Golden Wonder highlights this especially.  In a lot of the older lush products, these little surprises used to contain little plastic parts which have sadly been found in dead fish and marine life across the world. As Lush's policy is against animal testing and product threats to animal life, Lush soon changed these Part's to more dissolvable substances which will now form a part of the water cleaning process and will not end up in our lakes, rivers and surrounding oceans. Major props Lush!


Overall for me the bath bomb is great but i can't say that it will be one on my list to repurchase. My favourite lush bath bombs are more creamy and moisturising and as someone who suffers from dry skin, i really love the bath bombs that help me out just that little bit. I feel this is one for a bit of added fun for your bath time and if you really love to look that much more glittery than normal.


Golden Wonder is a Lush Christmas only Bath Bomb and will not only be available in Lush stores participating in the Lush Christmas stock sale. 

This item was purchased by me, for me and this post is not sponsored. 


Thursday 18 December 2014

Boujouis Healthy Mix Serum Gel review

There is so much hype surrounding the healthy mix gel foundation that I had to give it a tester. Everyone says the foundation has fantastic coverage properties, it is light and has near perfect colour match. Let's get down to it. 

The packaging itself is nice, it's simple with an explanation of the product and what ingredients it's uses. The colour match for me is near perfect, I chose the light beige option because of my fair complexion and I can say it looks one of the best I've tried. The foundation is smooth and glides on well and is very blend able. 

The coverage however is another question and for anyone who likes a heavier finish won't be too happy with this. It also is not great for covering any hormonal spots either. 


Overall I think this is one to get out in summer before the tan and leave it tucked away for summer. I believe I need a heavier coverage at this time of the year to avoid covering my face with more concealer than actual foundation. The foundation itself does not last too long either. I would put it as around 3-4 hours on a busy day. More of you are taking it easy. 

Overall I think this product is fantastic to work with and really isn't to blend and it's not one to look Cakey. All in all for winter I prefer their original foundation which has slightly longer lasting power and a thicker coverage. 

This is not a sponsored post. 

Thursday 11 December 2014

Beauty Haul - FeelUnique and Selfridges


So as it was Black Friday and Cyber Monday, i decided to have a look for some deals and see what items i could get my hands on.

I first turned to FeelUnique which had a great 15% off all items in the sale and this were the goodies i picked up 



COLAB Dry Shampoo Tokyo 200ml- I have a love hate relationship with dry shampoo and since my favourite Dove Dry Shampoo is really hard to come by, i thought i would pick up this shampoo to try.. I really hope this will be as good as i have heard many great reviews.and i have high expectations for this product, especially as this product claims to have a invisible sheer formula. 

Vichy Aqualia Thermal Serum 30ml - Vichy have impressed me with their shampoo and now i have ventured to see what their skincare has to hold. I have not ventured too far into serum's but since the only one i have tried has a been a few samples of BioEffect EGF serum which is sadly £125 a go for 15ml! I was on the hunt for something more in my budget.

Caudalie Moisturizing Toner 400ml - I love Caudalie, their body moisturiser and of course the most highly rated product the Beauty Elixar is one of my all time favourite product's i wanted to see what the toner was like. This is one step i usually skip in my routine and i really want to put it in, and this will give me the chance to give this a whirl. 

I also got the Loreal moisturiser sample to try and the Guerlain Perfume, which were two samples i wanted to give a shot as you can never try too many of either and i am always after a better moisturiser and a new perfume scent, so hopefully these will be ones i do like too. 

Bare mineral SPF15 Original Foundation in the shade Light - I could not believe Selfridges deal on bare mineral's this christmas for £12, which gives you a full size pot of mineral foundation (usually retails from like £18-27), I had to take up this offer and stock up as this is my favourite foundation. The offer is still on but sadly the shade changes from time to time. From the look's of offer and from my delivery it appears they are having an overstock clear out on this product, so be prepared for two completely different lids like the ones above. Both are the same product and the same shade, so do not panic when you get these.



DISCLAIMER: These items were purchased by me and for me. This is not a sponsored post and all opinions on the items talked about are mine. The photography in this post was shot by myself for this blog. 

Saturday 6 December 2014

Christmas Gift Guide - Christmas Fashion 2014

It doesn't just stay there at jumpers, Christmas is all about the all around novelty clothing and continues to grow bigger and bigger every year. Here is my top pics of Christmas fashion which you can wear all through the month of December, so get rocking around the Christmas tree with these holiday finds. 


The Ladies



Coca-Cola Holidays are Coming Tshirt - Primark (£6.00) - We all know that it isn't Christmas till the bells ring, the choir sings and that big red van is zooming into our tv screens, well look no further because Ladies it can be here all year round  on this amazing novelty T-shirt.


Navy Fairisle Slipper Boots - New Look (£12.99) - I own a pair of these and they have been one of the best purchases of the holiday season i have made. These slipper boots are so comfy and keep my feet so toasty and warm. Perfect for this Christmas season. 



ASOS Mr And Mrs Claus Christmas Mittens - Asos (£8.00) - Really bringing Christmas to your hands is these adorable Mr and Mrs Claus Mittens. These mittens look so warm and cosy and they are very good value for money. 



Navy Stocking Print Socks - Dorothy perkins (£2.00)  - Socks on sock on socks on socks? These socks are so Comfortable and really bring out the christmas cheer to your feet. Give someone socks this christmas that bring the cheese all year around.



Gentleman



Mens Reindeer Christmas Print Shirt - Primark (£15.00) - This is a really rather stylist Christmas shirt with a lovely themed Reindeer print. This will look great for any Christmas office Party or to wear on a night out during the Christmas Break. 



Xmas Pudding Bobble Hat - Burtons - (£7.00) - This hat screams style and Christmas all in one, keeping your head warm in these winter month's is essential and this hat won't make you look the laughing stock but more like the yummy stock of the crowd. 

Christmas Watch - ASOS (£18.00) - Guy's we all know you struggle with what watch to wear, well this holiday season you can look no further with this stylish christmas Santa watch. At first glance you would be taken a back by it's unique christmas jumper style in your watch, but don't peak, Santa knows you can tell the time. 



2 Pack Blue and Brown Christmas Print Socks - New Look (£5.50) - Everyman get's stocks for christmas but why not give him some that bring the spirit to his feet, these funky coloured socks will really out these bland black shops to shame. 




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Saturday 29 November 2014

Christmas Gift Guide - Fashion - Christmas Jumper 2014


So i didn't plan on writing this blog post but because it tis the season very shortly and everywhere and i mean EVERYWHERE has their own twist on the Christmas jumper. So getting into the Christmas spirit I thought I would take a look and pick out my favourites of 2014. 

The Ladies




Sequin Christmas Tree Sweater From Topshop (£46.00) - This one is a little on the midrange to high end priece range but this jumper is really stunning. It has a basic design but the Sequins on the jumper make you Sparkle and really look the top of the show this Christmas. The grey is perfectly on trend and the jumper is warm and flattering. Oh Christmas tree...


Gingerbread man Novelty Christmas Jumper - Primark (£9.00) This gingerbread man jumper really brings one of the true loves of christmas and shows the poor shock horror as someone takes a bite of the poor man's leg. I love the decoration and the christmas hat on the design of the jumper. Poor thing. 


Fashion Union Tinsel Rudolph Christmas Jumper - Next (£20.00) - This looks like Poor Old Rudolph has got stuck in a snowstorm and it is so cute. This cosy tinsel effect jumper really brings out two elements of christmas and make it an xmas jumper.





JANE BAUBLES FAIRISLE CHRISTMAS JUMPER - boohoo.com - (£15.00) - This jumper is for the lady who doesn't quite like the novelty look but wants to join in the with the Christmas jumper theme. The design is really stunning with trees's, snowflakes and baubles all over. This jumper is also great if you don't like the colour as it also comes in red.








Gentleman




This is one for the man who isn't really into the novelty look but still wants to get into the Spirit, this simple design of snowflakes is really sophisticated and looks smart. The colours are on trend and it really gives you the fashionable style with a hint of christmas thrown in.





We love a good ugly style Jumper but this one actually puts the style back in, this repetitive reindeer design is wonderful with the reds and green's of christmas. This looks perfect with jeans for Christmas, but don't think you've got out of style men, the christmas cracker hat awaits to cramp it! 



Cobalt Novelty Christmas Scene Crew  - Next (£23.00) - I have never before seen a Christmas jumper before like this and i love it. This jumper has a beautiful colour scheme and the scene truly is magical, Santa on his way in the night, flying through the sky to deliver his presents. Love it.





CREW JUMPER WITH AZTEC RAGLAN SLEEVES - Boohoo.com (£20.00) - This jumper is fantastic as it keeps the ugly jumper to a minimum but it still feels christmasy. This is perfect for that cheeky monkey trying to run from the novelty jumper look.



The Kids


Kids 3D Rudolph Christmas Jumper - Primark (£8.00) A cute rudolph jumper here for the kids, this jumper is so cute because Rudolph looks relatively sneaky in his Christmas hat. The nose is a little sewn on nose which is great for the kids as it really brings the jumper to life. More so for the boys than the girls


Teen Red Skater Penguin Jumper - New Look (£17.99) - This is a lovely jumper here for the teen girls in your life. The cute penguin with novelty 3d white snowballs are really adorable this christmas. I love the skates and how it looks like your penguin is having a whale of time scooting of in this festive tradition.

Elf Christmas Jumper - ASDA (£8.00) - You can tell your kids to quit elfin around in this Jumper number. This jumper is a fun one for kids to run around pretending they are helping Santa to load their presents onto his sleigh. 


Me to You Tatty Teddy Jumper - Tesco (£14.00) - Every girl loves the tatty teddy and you can't help wanting to give this jumper a good home as Tatty looks really rather Sad. This jumper is great for the older girl in your life.  




Babies


Baby Christmas Penguin Jumpers - Next - (£13.00) - This of the cutest Christmas Jumpers i have ever seen. Not even your baby can escape the Christmas Jumper phase but why would you with this? This soft jumper really will make your baby look and feel snuggly this Christmas. 



Girls Christmas Pudding Jumper - Matalan (£10.00) - This another oh so adorable little jumper for your baby to look and feel christmas. Not that they will be taking a bit of that pud till way after the event, this will make for a good snap to show the kids, remember when?





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Friday 28 November 2014

Christmas Gift Guide - Skincare and Grooming - Men

Men are changing in the skincare and grooming world, but there are still a few of your out there who are struggling, so let's hope i can give you and your ladies a little help with that special gift for you under the tree.

Ren Grab and Go Kit - I have started with a big bang here. This 

is the Grab and go kit from REN, this pack is jamb packed with everything you need to keep your skin and hair looking prim to perfection. REN is a very popular and raved about brand by the ladies of the blogosphere so this really is fantastic for men. This pack includes a cleanser, shampoo, eye gel, body wash, conditioner, body cream, lip balm and moisturiser. I mean wow! This pack has everything you could possibly need! This kit might not be for someone who wants a simple routine but more for a man who likes to or really wants to up his skin and haircare game. So line up men, your skin and hair will feel dreamy.


Clinique for Men Essentials Kit - Clinique has stepped up to the plate and also brought two fantastic kits with all the basics here to get your skin looking Sharp. The kit includes a face wash, scrub, moisturiser and eye cream. Another fantastic kit for skin care fans or for a gift for someone who wants to take care of their skin better. This kit isn't as overwhelming as the REN and great to get you started if you feel too many products and focuses on the skincare side. I wouldn't be knocking that bauble of the tree to see this kit in a man's hands. 

Gillette Fusion ProGlide Gift Set  - I have heard a lot of men rave about this brand new styler and I can see with good reason why. The set comes with four different blades and a clear gel which makes seeing what you shave easier. This tool allows you to style and to shave your beard completely. A nice new different shaver, more close to the clean razor shave comes this pack. Get grooming.


 Joop! Homme - I know, it's Pink but this affordable priced Cologne is really masculine and fresh. It is a very woody, tree and floral scent but not at all feminine, i really like this scent and i think it is great for the younger man in your life. 


Old Spice Whitewater Gift Sets - For the older man in your life, Old Spice is a classic, but this one is the White Water range which is a little fresher and more youthful smelling than the original. I thinks this is a great upgrade of the old spice lover to give them a twist on their classic favourite. Spice up your life. 


Ralph Lauren - World of Polo - For the more sophisticated gentleman the world of polo set is a fantastic kit to top up or introduce the range of polo fragrances. This set in a lovely presentation box is a perfect gift for christmas and will make your man smell top mark.




John Lewis Grooming Tim - In the theme of Movember, maybe your man is carrying on with Decembeard. This little handy travel kit will allow your man to brush and trim that beard till it is neat and perfectly shaped. It comes with all the basic tools to keep up to the beard and hopefully allow you to avoid the prickles.

And that was my mens skincare and grooming List. Fashion Gift ideas coming soon...

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