Salt Spray

I mentioned in a previous post that I had bought Umberto Giannini "Backcomb in a Bottle" and wasn't too impressed.  I also bought Umberto Giannini "Grunge Glamour Tousled Salt Spray" and "Silky Curls Smoothing Balm" in the 3 for £10 deal at Boots.

After trying the Backcomb in a bottle and finding out it didn't actually do what it said on the tin, I was a bit apprehensive about trying these other products.  So last night I applied the salt spray to damp hair and left it overnight.  The bottle said you could either leave it to dry naturally or dry with a diffuser.  I was expecting to wake up with gorgeous tousled hair, wasn't really the case, I couldn't even notice a difference.  Not impressed.

Since it was there, I added the curl balm to my natural curls and have to say it made my hair look more greasy than anything else.  I've come to the conclusion that Umberto Giannini is definitely not the brand for me.  I've now tried "Backcomb in a Bottle", "Grunge Glamour Tousled Salt Spray", "Silk Curls Smoothing Balm" and "Overnight Beauty Moisture Balm" and have to say that none of them worked for me at all.  On a brighter note though I do love my Umberto Giannini hair dryer! =)

 

Barry M

I may be a bit slow to catch on to the new crackled nail trend, but oooh am I loving it!  It's my birthday today, and for a wee gift I received the barry m instant nail effects nail polish.  I put on two coats of models own peach sherbet then added the barry m polish.  Wowzerz!! Sooo perdy!  My aunty came to visit tonight and asked which salon I'd got my nails done in.  Always a good sign!

 

Xen Tan

So I used to use Fake Bake as my tan of choice but a girl can want a change so I was on the lookout for a new fake tan.  I had read alot of reviews on blogs of xen tan and wanted to give it a go.  I went on the xen tan website trying to find the right product, lotions, mousses, light, dark ... all the choices!!  I decided to take the plunge and go for the dark tan.  I did have horrible images of mahogany girls off of snog marry avoid that scared me a little, but I was still going to give it a go!

I priced the dark lotion on line, in most stores it was about £28, it was a bit steep but I compared the amount of product in xen tan to fake bake and you do really get a lot more for your money!  I came across an amazing deal on feelunique.com that I just couldn't pass on.  You were getting the dark tanning lotion (236ml), body scrub (236ml) and a deluxe tanning mitt all for £28.94, BARGAIN! and free delivery!

 

So when products say they require a patch test, I have to admit I rarely do them, but I was so scared of this tanning experience going horribly wrong that I decided to tan 1 arm.  I wanted to wear the new tan for my birthday night out so it had to be perfect!  Well it didn't turn out too dark or orange, it was rather lovely ... (well if you excuse the white hand!)

So the night before my big night out I went for a bath and used the body scrub to take off any dead skin.  It smelt gorgeous, like spearmint!  Yumm but when I went on to using the tan, it smelt even better!  It's a mixture of cherry and almonds, I basically smelt like a big bakewell tart, which are one of my favourites!! It smelt good enough to eat!  The mitt was really helpful in putting the tan on, it did look a bit streaky but it evens out completely. 

The bottle says you can use it as an instant tan, but I'd really advise against it.  It's definitely an overnighter tan!  So in the morning after it had had time to settle, I have to say it looked really good!  The instructions advise you to shower in the morning to take off the excess tan.  I used to skip this part, but it really does even out your tan and makes it look a lot more natural.  I have to say the colour wasn't as dark as I would have liked, but my friends did comment on how natural it looked, probably because of it's olive based tones.  Over all I'm hooked! I'm a xen girl now!!

The Final Product, with flash

Hair

So another hair post.  Since I was just writing about brunette and blonde, I thought I'd make a wee post about how much I'm loving the gradient hair look just now.  It's so pretty and roots? What roots? 

Brunette to Blonde

So last August I decided to take the plunge. I had dark, dark hair that hadn't really been dyed before, well the odd flash here and there, so I decided I wanted to go blonde!

I didn't really know what to expect, for some reason I thought you could just go into the hairdressers brunette and come out blonde, but oh no!  I went for a consultation at Charlie Millers and was told I could achieve my blonde bombshell look with gradual highlights, going lighter and lighter each time.  I was booked in that week and I admit I did expect a drastic change but the first set of highlights were very natural looking, I could tell this was going to be a LOOOOOOOONG process!  

I returned every 4-5 weeks to go a bit lighter at the cost of about £100 a month.  I knew it would cost alot but what a change from paying hardly anything towards my hair to paying this amount every month!  I should have really took that into consideration, but what can I say, I just go for things!

I did search the internet before I started, looking for some kind of transition pictures, so I knew what to expect at each stage, but couldn't find any, so I thought I'd put together my own little hair tracking montage, hopefully it well help someone else =).

I have to say though that now I've gone blonde, I do love it!  The roots aren't the best, but a little dry shampoo covers that right up!  But it's true what they say, blondes definitely have more fun!!

Sugar StripEase

So I was browsing on the boots website, as you do, and was looking through the hair removal section, always trying to find something new!  On the last page I saw an item called Sugar StripEase, i was intrigued so decided to take a look.

It said it was a sugar based waxing kit which was super easy to use and cheap! only £9.99!.  The reviews were excellent, all mostly 5 stars, some even claiming that the waxing process was painless, I had to try it!

I went into my local Boots, and looked in the hair removal section but couldn't see it, I asked the woman and she hadn't even heard of it, so had no other option but to order it on-line.  I ordered it next day delivery, just because I'm so impatient!

When it arrived, the packaging was lovely!  Pink and girly, really nice.  It comes with 3 wooden spatulas, 2 regular and 1 small (for precise waxing, eyebrows) and around 15 waxing strips.  I decided to do my eyebrows first, I took the lid off the container and popped it in the microwave on medium setting for 60 seconds until it resembled runny honey.  I tested a small bit on my wrist to make sure it wasn't too hot and went on to tame my monobrow!  I cut one of the strips into smaller sections to make it more managable and away I went.

I think when people claimed it was painless they were exaggerating just a bit.  I would say it's probably on par with regular waxing.  The results were good, alot better than before!

Since it is a sugar based wax it breaks down in water, so if you make a mistake and put wax in the wrong place, you can simply wipe it off with water and you can also re use the strips by just rinsing them under the tap.  I have to be honest this was a complete selling point to me!  Really good for the environment too!

Over all I'm really happy with this product, I'll just have to withstand the pain for super smooth skin!

My tamed brows!

Backcomb in a Bottle

 So I've heard a lot of things about this and wanted to give it a go.  As soon as I heard the name, Backcomb in a Bottle, I thought this had to be a miracle product.  My hair doesn't seem to hold much volume and I feel like a beauty criminal backcombing it.  

I tried a few times to get this product but it was always sold out.  I was at the hairdressers today and nipped into boots, to get a yummy meal deal (hoisin duck wrap if you ask), and to my surprise there was the bottle just sitting there.

Boots had a deal on Umberto Giannini, 3 for £10 so I thought, what the hell, might as well give it a go!  The packaging looks lovely too, always a plus!  I've only tried a few Umberto Giannini products in the passed and neither loved them or hated them.

So I got home ready to use it, read the instructions and it just said to spray onto hair and jujj to get desired effect.  So I lifted sections of my hair up and sprayed onto the roots and jujjed away.  If I'm being honest, I was expecting an amazing volumised result but it only added a bit of lift.  

I'm not too sure what to make of this product, I know it's wrong but I think I'd have to back comb a little and then spray it on, which kind of defeats the purpose, so I think this is one I'm going to have to improvise with.  The jurys out I'm afraid.

Apricot

So I wanted to mix up my blusher collection, so decided to get a new bobbi brown blush.  I used to have bobbi brown blusher in apricot, only used it about twice and left it in a nightclub toilet, bad times!  So I thought the time had come for me to buy a brand spanking new one.  So I decided to give apricot another go as I think it's a lovely warm pinky shade, yum!

*Embarrassing Story* I went in to Jenners to buy it, the woman asked if I was in their system, I said I wasn't sure so she asked for my name, when she asked me to spell it, I kind of erm spelt my own name wrong!  I swear this new blonde hair-do has side effects! lol

Any who, the blusher is just as gorgeous as I remember!  It really gives me a warming glow and has a rich consistency.  I love it all over again!!

 

Me with Apricot cheeks =)

Valentines

How cute!  I picked up this adorable valentines card for my fiancé today, me just loooooves!!

Lush

I bought this product waaaay back before xmas but forgot to put up a post for it.  It's Lush's Bubblegum Sugar Lip Scrub!! 

This product is under £5 and I think will last a VERY long time!  As soon as I opened it and had a sniff, I loved it! BUBBLEGUM! Who doesn't love that!  Also I think it's the brightest pink I've ever ever seen!

My lips were a bit chapped and needed reviving, so I scrubbed this all over my poor lips and scraped off all that dead skin.  I washed it off and, voila!  Beautifully smooth lips, the perfect base for lovely lipstick!

Be warned though, it's far too tempting not too lick off!

 

Belle's Back!!

I'm soooo excited it's back, another series of Secret Diary of a Call Girl!!  I'm falling in love with it all over again!!

Mac Powder NC20

So I decided to try out a new powder.  I usually stick to my Chanel powder but thought I'd give MAC a go.  I was all excited buying my new make-up and braved the wind and the rain (which was torrential!) to go to Harvey Nics and visit the lovely MAC stand.

As soon as I went in one of the girls working there came over and decided to help me pick a shade.  I had fake tan on when I went, which was a bit silly, but I knew I needed a lighter shade.  The girl suggested NC20 or NC25 which has more of a yellow tone which suits me well but I thought they looked a bit dark for me.  I explained that I was wearing fake tan and wanted a powder that would work when I go au naturale.  I said I would opt for the NC15, which received a look of total disgust.  She said it would be far too light and would make me look ashy.  I presumed as she worked there, of course she'd know best so went with the NC20 that she suggested.

So I rushed home with my new goodies, took off my make-up to start a-fresh.  Put on my foundation and then started to powder with my new product.  I looked like an oompa-loompa!! I was gutted.  Total colour mis-match!  The powder itself was ok just the colour was so wrong.

I'm currently on the amazing www.makeupalley.com trying to swap it, hopefully I'll swap it for something fabulous, but I think I'll be sticking to my pale Chanel powder for the foreseeable future.

Obviously this is just my opinion, it seems to be a good product but I think the whole colour issue just put me off, I'm sorry MAC!

Eyelure Double Lashes

So I bought Eyelure double lashes again, I just love them!  When it comes to eyelashes, the bigger the better!  Since they're my fave falsies, I'm saving them for my birthday night out.  My birthdays 2 weeks today but think I'm heading out the weekend before to a gorgeous cocktail bar, can't wait!

I just love these lashes, they're so thick and luscious!  As they're eyelure the band which you glue is super thin making them so easy to apply.  Have to say I find them a bit on the expensive side at £7ish, but I suppose they are 2 pairs of lashes fixed together so hmmm.

Last time I wore these beauties was at halloween, so excuse the fancy dress costume, I swear I don't wear that everyday!

Boo

Aww my little cat Boo had a wee sore eye the other day, had to make a post about it because she looked so pathetic and adorable with her wee scrunched up eye.  She looks like a pirate lol, poor thing!

Not to worry though, it only lasted a day and then she was back to normal, causing havoc and acting like a diva, as you can see!

 

Movie Night

It was my fiancé's mum's birthday yesterday so I decided to make a little hamper for her birthday present.  I decided to make a "movie night-in" hamper and I must say I wanted it once it was all done!

How cute does it look!

Sorry for the bad quality pic, I love my phone to death but the camera ain't so fanastic, but hey ho!  Here's whats in the goody bag ...

Confessions of a Shopaholic DVD

Chocolate covered popcorn - Harvey Nichols

Strawberry lollipop - Harvey Nichols

Marshmallow and Toffee cupcake - Harvey Nichols

Parmaviolets - Candyjar

White chocolate and smarties bar - Candyjar

Rhubarb and Custard bon bons - Candyjar

SPLUUUURGE!!

Oh-oh! I kind of went on a spender bender today!  I was meeting my friend in town for a starbucks and decided to do a little bit of shopping, when I say a little I really mean alot!  I swear shopping is like a huge adrenalin rush to me, its safe to say it was a must!

Here's a little look at a few of the things I bought, I'll do reviews on most of them as I've bought some new goodies for me to try =D