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Beauty

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scentful perfume subscription

Review of the Scentful perfume subscription box

November 12, 2020

I own a grand total of three perfumes. The first is CK One, and yes, I have had it since the nineties! And the other two are by Britney Spears, and were presents from my daughters. So you may not think that I’m the target audience for a subscription perfume service, but actually it’s the opposite. And here’s why…

Review of Aztec Hotel and Spa, Bristol

A day at the Aztec Hotel and Spa

October 4, 2019

Oh my goodness, I have just returned from the most wonderful day out at the Aztec Hotel and Spa, just North of Bristol. Breakfast, a swim, a spa treatment, a masterclass with chef, Marc Payne and then an eight course taster meal from the new winter menu in the Curious Kitchen restaurant. Yes, I said eight…

Facial piercings

Approaching forty – Is it time to take out my piercings?

It has been on my mind for a while that maybe it’s time to take out some of the piercings in my face, and as I’m turning forty in a couple of days, I thought now would be a good time to do so! Over the years two other piercings have fallen by the wayside – I took out my belly-button ring when I was pregnant with Jude as it was getting in the way, and (rightly so) I felt my days of showing off my tummy in a crop top were over. Then about four years ago the ball on the end of my tongue piercing came off, and as I didn’t know what size to replace it with, I just took it out. Now don’t get me wrong; I’m a firm believer in wearing whatever the f**k you want, regardless of age, but there are a couple of reasons that have led me to think that it’s time for a change….

cath kidston beauty review

Cath Kidston gift ideas for Mothers’ Day

February 28, 2018

I was given this beautiful set of Cath Kidston hand creams and a lip balm for my birthday last year, and it occurred to me what a lovely gift anything by Cath Kidston would be for Mothering Sunday. Her products combine the two things that make the perfect present – something pretty and something practical….

Tarte eyeshadow palette review

A review of the Tarte Tarteist Amazonian Clay eyeshadow palette

November 14, 2017

I am constantly on the hunt for a matte eyeshadow palette, and if I see one, I will probably buy it! I honestly don’t know why they aren’t more popular, because I just cannot get on with an ordinary eye shadow! I had a little splurge on make-up a couple of years ago and talked about my issues with the No7 eyeshadows and the Maybelline eyeshadows that I bought. They simply do not look good on me and the pigmentation is rubbish. I decided it was about time I stopped faffing about with mid-range High Street make-up and actually spend some money….

Beauty blogger

Looking for the perfect base – Review of Boots No 7 day cream; Rimmel mattifying primer & Bare Minerals matt powder foundation

October 12, 2017

I’m sure I could be psycho-analysed about this; but I cannot run out of something unless I’ve already bought the thing I’m going to use next – even if I know that’s not for some time! During our recent trip to America, I planned on buying a few products that I regularly use so that I have them all set to go when I ‘hit pan’ on my current ones! The first of these is the No7 Protect and Perfect Day Cream. I stood in my local Boots a couple of months ago and couldn’t bring myself to spend £25 on the next one, so I thought I’d wait until I could get it slightly cheaper across the pond. The second item was Maybelline mineral powder foundation, but as they didn’t have that any more, I was tempted into buying the Bare Minerals matte powder foundation instead. The primer was an impulse purchase as I was drawn in by the ‘mattifying’ bit on the label. Yes, there is a theme here. And yes, if a matte moisturising day cream existed, I would buy that too!….

Boots No 7 LIFT & luminate Day cream review

For me there’s a fine line between looking young and dewy, and looking fat and sweaty. This is the problem of having a round chubby face, and I’ve always gone as matte as possible with my make-up to avoid the second scenario as much as possible. However, as Boots no7 changed the formula of their Protect and Perfect Day cream, and I wasn’t as impressed as I was with their older version, I thought I would try out this one, which is part of their new Lift & Luminate range…..

Negotiating lipstick with piercings and a wonky mouth!

I have never really worn lipstick. In my mind, it just hasn’t suited me – I have a very thin top lip and and a very fat bottom lip and overall my mouth is very lop-sided. I could happily go on being self-critical, but I won’t! I also think part of the problem is I was trying the wrong colours – brown was very much the fashion in the ’90s when I was playing around with make-up, and although I never really thought lipstick fashions were a thing, I have noticed that brown lipsticks are back….

Review of the L’Oreal Voluminous Superstar Mascara

February 15, 2017

On holiday in America in 2015 I bought the L’Oreal Beauty Tubes mascara. This was amazing, but when I went back last year, I couldn’t find it again. Instead, L’Oreal had this mascara, called Voluminous Superstar. It is one of those mascaras with two ends – a white coat first to lengthen your lashes and then the actual mascara to go over the top. This was just what I was looking for as I’ve liked those kind ever since I bought the Maybelline XXL volume mascara. (See my review here from 2005)……

Matte eye shadow palette comparisons and reviews – Boots No. 7, Ulta, e.l.f. & Hard Candy

January 22, 2017

I don’t know whether it’s my age or personal preference, but although I think shimmery eye shadow looks great on other people; I don’t feel it suits me, so I’m always on the look-out for eye shadow palettes in matte – particularly if they’re not nude colours. As make-up is usually a bit cheaper in America , when we were there on holiday in summer, I bought a few to try …..

The Beauty Bargain you need to know about today!

January 7, 2017

I am a fan of Boots No 7 beauty products – on the whole they work very well for my skin, so I was pleased to spot this gift pack in the Boots January sale called the No 7 Beautiful Skin Collection. Originally £14, it’s now half price at £7, which makes this a real bargain. It contains small size tubes and bottles of Radiance Exfoliator; Day Cream; Night Cream and Cleansing Lotion. But the main one to note is the full size bottle of Overnight Revitalising Eye Balm. The same size retails normally at £12, so if this is a product you’re likely to use, then the whole pack is an absolute steal. I’ve just bought two packs! My local Boots had stacks the other day, but only a few today, so get out quick to grab this while you can! Or I’ve just found it online. On a side note, they’re also doing a three for two on Boots No 7 beauty products in their usual price range at the moment and you’ve got one more day to use the £5 off beauty products and £3 off make-up vouchers they’re handing out at the till. (You’d have to work out if the three for two is better value as you can’t use both offers at the same time.) So there you are – just a very quick beauty tip I thought you might like to know about!

Is it time to start making an effort?

November 23, 2016

Fashion and Beauty are terms that generally go hand in hand, particularly when describing the genre for some bloggers. However, whilst I am always interested in what’s on the catwalk, I can’t honestly say I’m all that bothered about ‘beauty’. I like looking at the craftsmanship of couture clothing, but I’m not rushing out to buy the latest eyeshadow primer. I suppose my interest has increased in the last six months or so when I’ve started blogging and making You Tube videos and my image is out there a bit more; and it got me thinking about how I’ve thought about beauty products over the years and how it’s changed…..