If it's dynamite, its all here...: April 2013

Monday 22 April 2013

Face 2 Face...

I spent all of last weekend in bed with a horrific cold. Typical isn't it, I avoid serious illness over winter but yet get struck down with a cold/flu just when the weather starts to get warmer!

I always find that when I've been ill my skin goes to pot (probably because of the fact you are run down and your skin isn't at its fighting best) so, of course a face mask to help my skin along back to its usual normality was much needed. I literally have a cupboard full of facemasks. I do love trying new ones, and trying new brands to see which ones give the best results for my skin. But, I do think I must be slightly addicted. I can go to Boots/ASDA for something as simple as toothpaste, and come out with a facemask as well! I try to use at least one mask a week. I guess it's my thinking that if I have a strong face care routine, then it will keep the wrinkles away for longer! Haha ;-)

I decided to use Boot's 'Natural Collection' Wild Strawberry mask. Unlike the premium 'Sanctuary' range, 'Natural Collection' is Boot's colourful cheap n' cheerful range. The emphasis is very much on smells, with all the products in the range smelling distinctly like you could eat them. But, however good they smell, please don't mistake them for desert! Coming in at just £1 for the sachet, it is also very purse friendly!

When I first opened it, I was hit with a wonderful smell of strawberries. Kind of like a strawberry yogurt smell. When I applied, it went on well but started to sting quite a bit. Not a massive 'oh my god get this product off my face' kind of sting, but a slightly unpleasant feeling to say the least. It was quite easy to remove after the allotted time had passed, but my face felt very dry and 'cracked'. I don't expect my face to feel that dry after a facemask so it definitely looses marks for that.

Final verdict?

6/10 - I won't be rushing out to buy this again, because I don't honestly think it suits my skin type at all. However, at just £1 you can't fault the price, and after a week of not being able to smell anything due to a blocked nose, the sweet scent strawberry was lush!

Final final verdict?

Bargain basement beauty at its best!

Until next time lovelies x

Monday 8 April 2013

Spring Has Sprung...

Dare I even use that title? I think spring has finally decided to rear its dewy fresh head once more. For the past few days it has been pleasant weather, I've been wearing sunglasses when driving, there hasn't been anymore snow, and I've seen a few daffodils on my travels up to the country lane near my house.

The clocks have also gone back. So, yes, I think we can maybe (finally?) bid goodbye to the bleak winter!

Just like January is associated with 'New Year Resolutions', spring is the home of the 'Spring Clean'. Yes, that time when we blow the cobwebs of winter away and de-clutter our lives. For most of us I think this notion is easier said than done. I for one have so much stuff! But, if you are planning to spruce your living space up a little, here are a few tips:

Notes on a Spring Clean...

- Clear out your wardrobes. Take clothes you no longer wear/want/ that no longer fit to charity shops. That way at least someone else will get wear out of them. Hang things like dresses and trousers up on the rails, and neatly fold t-shirts and jumpers and place on the shelves. If you want to make things easier, separate clothes into categories, e.g. work wear, evening wear, weekend wear. Or, if you want, colour code items.

- A spring clean doesn't have to mean completely re-decorating your house. Doing that is costly. Money that most of us don't possess! Instead, simply change those items that fall under the category of 'soft furnishings'. Buying new bedding, cushions, paintings, curtains etc can easily update your house and breathe new life into rooms that have begun to look a bit 'boring'. Places like Next, Matalan and Asda do pretty and modern soft furnishings at a price that won't break the bank.

- Dust those hard to reach places, things like lightshades, bookshelves and DVD shelves. Take all the items out and give them a really good clean.

- Make windowsills whiter than white again by giving them a single coat of gloss paint.

- If you have a garden, begin to tidy it up. Sweeps away leaves, cut the lawn, and start to think about what bedding plants/hanging baskets you may want when summer finally comes around.

Good luck with your spring cleans!

Until next time lovelies x

Tuesday 2 April 2013

Hard As Nails...

Or, the lazy girls guide to nail art!

I did blog a while back about the trend for nail art. Well, since that blog, I think that nail art has taken off in a bigger way than anyone really imagined it would. I've seen intricate Christmas scenes, Easter bunnies, spots, stripes, and all manner of wonderful art forms adorning nails across the country. Nice. But, what if you are like me, and can't do nail art to save your life? Or simply don't have the time to do these sorts of manicures?

Thank god for Barry M, and their crackle nail effect polish. Simply paint your nails with a desired under colour, and leave to dry. Then paint over them with the 'crackle' effect, and exactly like it says on the bottle, watch as the paint magically cracks to reveal a funky take on an otherwise normal manicure. It took me a while to discover this product. I'd heard of it, seen friends wearing it, but didn't actually buy it till not long ago. Why you ask? Well, in all honesty, I'm not quite sure! I think I was a little sceptical at first as to how well it would work. However, after finally trying and buying, I do wish I'd invested in a pot sooner.

Seeing the success of the black crackle effect, Barry M have since diversified their 'nail effect' line, and have brought out a white version of the crackle, a magnetic effect polish, and a denim style effect, to name just a few. In times of recession, having nice nails is an in-expensive way of bringing your looks bang up to date. The crackle effect polish, priced at around £3.99 really is budget beauty.

The only thing I would advise, is a clear top coat over the top really makes the colour 'pop', and the manicure last much longer than it would do normally.

Over the past few weeks, I've been charting my love affair with this polish. I've used it on top of a variety of colours so you can see what it looks like. Below are some of the results of my experiments:

So, if you haven’t already invested, why not add some ‘snap, crackle and pop’ into your next manicure? ;-)

Until next time lovelies x

Monday 1 April 2013

Cuba Libre...

Happy Easter everyone! I hope everyone has had a nice long weekend, and eaten lots of chocolate! I think it comes a sign that I'm fast growing up, I was more excited by the four day weekend than the chocolate ;-)

I thought I would share with you some pictures of my recent holiday to Cuba. This holiday was a slightly special one, the first one I'd been on with my parents since I was about, oh 17! It was also a long time coming. We pretty much booked it a year in advance!

For those not in the know about Cuba, it is unlike any other place you will go to. A trade embargo operating on the country means that a lot of things you and I take for granted (toothpaste, tampons etc) aren't available. Cubans are masters at the phrase "make to and mend" - you name it, they have found a substitute for it. Politics aside, it is unlike any place you will go to because of the sheer fact it literally has everything, sea, beaches, mountains, countryside, and of course that wonderful Caribbean climate!

We stayed in the South of the island at the "Paradisus Rio de Oro" Resort and Spa Hotel in Guardelavaca, Holguin Province. (A must stay place; it really is a wonderful hotel.) Sadly, we were too far to visit Havana, but we still saw the two biggest cities after Havana.

They say a picture tells a thousand words, so here are some of my highlights of possibly the best holiday I've been on so far in my travelling life: