A little fish in a BIG pond !

Wow Monday came round so fast. Today's post is prompted by a few conversations on twitter yesterday that i picked up on and also the huge number of bloggers that are out there.
Like the title says i am a little fish in a big pond.
I wonder if blogging makes people more confident? or less confident?
I keep reading things like i am far from beautiful and i don't have that many followers so?

This makes me a little bit sad. Personally i think if you have 19 followers or 1900 followers you can still have a valuable place in the world of blogging.

I don't think it matters what age you are, if you are considered or consider yourself pretty, if you are a highly paid trained makeup artist or somebody just starting out venturing into makeup,
Maybe i am naive?

Surely everyone looks for different qualities in a blog. I find myself following people for all sorts of reasons.
Because i like the way they write,
Because they have a similar colouring to me and i like to see what makeup they wear.
Because they comment on my blog
Because i like there style
Because they write interesting reviews
Because they do good makeup tutorials
Because i like there humour
The list goes on.

There are so many blogs out there that we can all start to feel a little inferior especially to some of the well known bloggers who have thousands of followers.
At the end of the day we all blog for free and should be enjoying it for what it is.
I love a lot of the well known bloggers, most of them give us inspiration and have worked damm hard to get to where they are.

We all have strengths and weaknesses and what floats one persons boat will not necessarily float anothers.

So be proud of your blog. No matter how Big or Small. It's a wonderful way to make friends and a definite learning curve.

Liz Earle Gentle Face Exfoliator

Today's review is for the Liz Earle Gentle Face Exfoliator. I have been using this product about twice a week for a few months now and am finding it a pleasure to use.

 

The pump dispense makes the product hygienic and i only need 1 pump to cover my face. The texture is thick and creamy with tiny little grains which feel lovely to massage into the skin.
The fragrance is typical of liz earle, slightly herbal and natural although the scent is very mild.

This leaves your skin instantly brighter and feeling refreshed.
I have seen an improvement in my nose and chin with less blackheads and congestion since using this.

The product contains a full list of gorgeous, skin boosting ingredients including purifying eucalyptus, softening cocoa butter and fine jojoba beads.
I think the price is brilliant as well just £12.50 for 70ml or £8.95 for 50ml

All in all this is a great gentle exfoliator packed full of healthy natural ingredients at a very competitive price.
For more info check out Liz Earle online

Have you tried this exfoliator? Are you a Liz Earle fan?

Lady Mucks my secret soap !

Morning lovely bloggers, i hope you are all having a great weekend. I'm a little jealous, OK really jealous of you lucky ladies that are going to IMATS today. I wish they held these things nearer me but anyway i want to share a secret.

I ♥ Soap. There i said it. Now for years i have shunned away from soaps believing that they are drying to the skin, that they will strip away my natural oils. Whenever anyone mentioned soap it would conjure up images of old ladies and lavender for some reason.

That was until i stumbled across Lady Mucks website

Lady Mucks sells a vast range of not only soaps but bath bombs, body scrubs, butter bath melts and the list goes on.

My latest purchase is the Almond Milk & Shea soap:

Free from SLS and packed with Shea butter makes this soap one of the most creamy nourishing shower products that i have tried. Add to that the fact that it smells totally Delicious think sweet almonds almost marzipan and you get the picture.
Priced at just £1.99 it's an absolute steal.
This soap leaves my skin so so soft and it is mild enough to use on even sensitive skins.

I could go on and on about a lot of these products. Another favourite is the Cherrylicious body scrub bar which seriously must be tried for a full on shower experience.

If you love handmade pampering treats then this is the website for you. Customer service is amazing and the products just speak for themselves.

Just wondering your thoughts on using soap? Have you come across lady Mucks before?

Keeping on track!

Yaay it's Friday. I have now been doing the 30 day shred DVD and keeping to my diet for 10 days. ( pat's myself on the back )
I have done the 20 min level 1 everyday without fail and tomorrow i start level 2. Eeek.
I have to say i am feeling a lot better already and i can see an improvement in my strength, i am toning up a little bit and i have lost just under half a stone in weight. :)

However i still have 20 days to go and i know that things are going to get harder.
Here's some inspiration for keeping on track:

My reasons may be shallow to some but it's what keeps me on track

I want to feel comfy in a bikini.

I want to have more energy so I'm not physically tired all the time from eating junk food.

Me in Jamaica 4 and a half years ago. I did it then i can do it again.


What do you use for inspiration if you are on a fitness or diet regime? xx

Too Faced Leopard Love !

This review is so overdue. I brought this little trio of treats when i was on holiday in Vegas and it has become one of my most daily used products.
I love the fact that it contains a bronzer, blusher and highlighter all in the one space and each individual powder is beautiful on its own or mixed with the others.

My Well used trio!

Peach Leopard: A soft peachy, bronze colour that is surprisingly natural even though it has a lovely glow.
Candy Leopard: A pretty Pink girly blush that gives a natural flush to the cheeks.
Pink leopard: A gorgeous highlighter speckled with bronze & pink which is just gorgeous.

I am wearing a dusting of the bronzer on my forehead, nose and jaw, the blusher on my cheeks and the highlighter over the top here.

Selling at ASOS for £24.50 here

If i go away anywhere this and my naked palette together make travelling light easy and the more i use these the more i like them. Have you tried any of these three products?

NYX FOTD

Yesterday i thought I'd dig out a few of my NYX pigments that I'd forgot about and do a pretty neutral eye look. I also tried out a different set of lashes just to give my eyes a little more definition. Here's how it turned out.

NYX Chrome eyeshadow in Oatmeal and Barely there. I love the fact that these are so easy to blend and so perfect for a quick and easy look.

Oatmeal : Highlighter
Barely there: Lid

Lashes from my favourite E Bay seller Jeremy lash 5 pairs for £4.68

Lashes SS2. Click here to check them out.

NYX Thalia Lipstick

I love thalia lipstick, its one of those colours that seems to go with everything and the formula is gorgeous and creamy. Have you tried this yet?

Xen Tan Dark Lotion !

Hello lovely ladies, i am really excited to tell you that i have managed to get my hands on a bottle of the Xen Tan Dark Lotion. Now i was so excited to try this as anyone who reads my blog will know i am a huge xen tan fan.
This new Dark absolute luxe has been over 4 years in the making and instantly appealed to me as it is advertised as the darkest, richest and most luxurious tan to date; one that offers a tan that will last longer than any other fake-tan product.

 I know a few of you may be a bit concerned with the words ultra dark but for me a deep tan is the look i am aiming for when i fake tan. I don't want a barely noticeable change i want to look brown.

Now the formula is coloured so you can see exactly where you are applying and the fragrance is vanilla which is 100% better than any other tanners I've used in the past. I found the tan developed quite quickly and when i washed off the instant colour i was left with a lovely deep, even, streak free tan.

 I even applied a little to my face but only very lightly as my skin is so unpredictable that i wanted to see how it reacted. Luckily it didn't break me out and just gave me a nice glow.
The best thing about this tan in my opinion is the fact that is seems to be taking ages to fade which means i can apply this once a week and be forever bronzed ha.

This tan is for those ladies who like to look like they have a good colour. There is no orange tones but a lovely olive colour. It's perfect for those who often have to apply 2 coats for a decent colour as you only need one application of this to get a great result.
The Xen Tan Dark lotion has knocked spots off my other tans and is sure to become a best seller in my opinion. Priced at £39.99 direct from Xen Tan

A few little Jewellery bargains & 1 week into the 30 day shred

Sometimes a little cheap and cheerful treat is all a girl needs for a little pick me up midweek. Last week i spotted these bargains in Dorothy Perkins sale and how could i say no at this price?

Charm bracelet £2

I Heart Paris necklace £2

I Heart Paris Earring £2

Love necklace £1


If you are looking for a bargain then pop down to your local store as they had loads and loads of jewelry reduced. I could of brought loads more easily.

On a different note Yaaaaaay I'm now on day 7 of the 30 day shred DVD and i have been sticking to just over 1000 calories a day.
RESULT I got on the scales this morning and i have lost 5 pounds :) I am chuffed to bits as I've never lost that amount in a week before.
I won't lie, i have found the DVD difficult as i didn't do any exercise before but the results are worth it.
I'm feeling positive xx

A little pot of luxury !

Today's post is about one of my latest discoveries the Green Grocery. I was sent this Avocado, Lemon & Shea Butter Foot Salve and a sample of the the Palma Rosa & Orange body balm and i was immediately impressed.

All the products are 100% organic, vegan friendly, environmentally friendly and hand made. But putting all this aside. The two products i tried were both amazingly effective, smell beautiful and very reasonably priced.

As you can see these two products are oil based with a balm that melts upon skin contact. I'm sorry that the photo shows slight usage but as soon as i opened the little pots i couldn't resist having a little dig in ha.

The avocado & Lemon foot balm is such a treat to use. The fragrance is a soft creamy lemon scent and the oils feels gorgeous and rich. You only need a little of this to leave your feet feeling pampered. I have been leaving this by my bed and applying a little at night. When i wake up my tootsies feel so soft and nourished. The best bit is the price. Just £5.99 which is a steal.

The Palma Rosa & Orange body balm is a gorgeous scented balm. A heavenly mix of exotic sweet orange and Turkish delight. Mmmm. As you can imagine, my sample has been used up ha.
The balm feels really pampering and although it contains a lot of oil there is no residue left as it absorbs quickly into my skin.
Apparently it is perfect for anyone suffering with eczema or psoriasis.
Priced at £13.99

Looking at the website they sell lots of other amazing sounding products including 4 solid scents. I have my eye on the Girls which is a chocolate and vanilla with a base note of ylang ylang. Sounds scrummy right?

Hope you are all having a great weekend xx

Vamp it up Denny !

Last week i was lucky enough to win a competition hosted over at Welshbeautyblog  Thanks so much hun, i love my prize :)

 I won 2 polishes and a Diamond VIP Nail Board

The red is beautiful, really rich and classic. Named Caught Red Handed.

My favourite though is the rich Vampy colour Forbidden Territory. I adore this colour.

I've never tried the Leighton Denny range before and i am really impressed. The application was effortless and as you can see the finish is beautiful and glossy. Have you tried this range before?

Mac Blusher Palette & Swatches !

I had a request about my blush collection so thought i would break it down and firstly show you my Mac Palette.

 As you can see I have 1 remaining gap to fill. I chose these colours simply because i liked the look of them. I wear pinks more than any other colour as i think they brighten my skin tone and make me look more fresh faced.

My favourite is Petal Point. Unfortunately it's limited edition. ( why do they make the best colours limited? )
Pink Swoon is my latest blush and its so pretty. I love the way its really sheer so you can have just a touch of colour or build it up for a pretty girly look.
I'm thinking of getting Dollymix to fill the last space. What's your favourite Mac Blush?

Burt's the Bee's Knees for baby's

Hi there lovely ladies, Today's post is for all the mamma's out there or anybody else that wants to listen really ha.
A while ago i was sent some of the Baby Burt's Bees products to try out on my little one.
I have always used products for sensitive skin on my son but he has always suffered with dry patches and itchiness which i am always trying to concur with various, lotions and potions. I have heard good things about Burt's Bees so was looking forward to using them.

 I used all three products together and have to say that i fell in love with them. First up is the Baby Bee Bubble Bath. This smells absolutely Divine. The products are a little expensive but they feel so luxurious that they are worth every penny.
The tear free formula creates lots of bubbles and is SLS free. The ingredients are natural and full of good moisturising skin friendly ingredients which is perfect for sensitive skins.

Then the shampoo and body wash which again is full of natural ingredients like Aloe Vera and oat flour. This leaves my little Rocco smelling gorgeous and his hair is super shiny and easy to brush through even without conditioner. The tear free formula works well and the silky texture feels gorgeous.

 Last but not least is the Baby Bee Apricot Baby Oil. This is a beautiful fragrant light oil that sinks into the skin really easily. I love using this on Rocco as it leaves him silky smooth and smelling delicious. You only need a small amount and it is non greasy. It seems to sooth him before bed and he loves trying to apply it himself.

Since using these 3 products on him there has been no dry patches or itchiness and his skin feels beautiful, just like a baby should do.
If you have a child with sensitive skin then this is definately worth trying. It has made the daily bedtime routine a bit more exciting as i look forward to using the products everynight. 10/10 Burts Bee's
If you would like to purchase any of these then take a look at the website here
Oooh and check out all the other gorgeous sounding goodies. I want to try the Buttermilk Bath Pint next. xx

30 Days starts today !

Good morning gorgeous girlies. I am back from a fab weekend break at centerparcs. The kids all had a fab time and us adults spent time eating, drinking and relaxing. Lots of laughing, playing Buzz the music quiz and a bit of a pampering session thrown in too.

Although i have had a great time these past few months. I have seriously been over indulging in the food and drink. I have put off weighing myself because i know i have put weight on. I have been trying to cut down for weeks but to be honest the motivation has just not been there.
Today is D Day. I got on the scales this morning and got straight back off. I have put on nearly a stone Arrrrgh.

So i plan on starting a strict eating plan for 30 days and following the 30 Day Shred DVD by Jillian Michaels. The DVD is just 20 mins a day which is perfect for me. I did my 1st session this morning and although it was hard work i feel really motivated and ready to bust the fat.
I plan on weighing myself once a week and drinking a protein shake for breakfast and lunch and a healthy dinner.
Wish me luck and i will be happy to update if anyone is interested. 30 days from now i will fit in those jeans. xx

Mac Pro longwear concealer !

Mac Pro longwear concealer is one of those products that i instantly wanted to try as soon as i saw it advertised. I love the foundation so had my fingers crossed that this would be just as amazing. I chose NC20 without swatching it and luckily it seems to be the exact shade for me.

 My eyes before concealer

I just dabbed it on so you could see how good the colour match was on me

 This concealer covers really well and it is quite a thin liquid which makes it easy to spread and blend but after a minute or two it seems to set. It works brilliantly for me and it didn't move all day. No creasing or signs of wear. It brightens up my eyes and feels lovely and smooth.

 Negatives: The only negative is the fact that is that its dispersed through a pump and one full pump is far too much for both my eyes. So it's a case of trying to gently squeeze the pump so it go's half way down. It's such a shame as i love everything else about it. Above is 1 pump.

Have you noticed postman pat waving in the distance ha.
All in all a fab concealer that lasts amazingly well and covers beautifully. Are you tempted by this concealer?

This morning I'm off to center parcs for a long weekend so catch up with you soon and have a great weekend xx

Shu Uemera Eyelash curlers & OOTD

Morning guys, i wanted to do a little post about my thoughts on my new Shu Uemera Eyelash curlers which i brought the other day. Now at just under £20 i was expecting great things. After all what could be so different about these?

I have to say that i am instantly impressed with these. I have tried so many eyelash curlers as i use them everyday to help my straight short lashes.

This is the first time that i have been able to get right to the base of the lashes to curl without pinching my skin. It doesn't help that i have heavy lids but i was getting sick of the pinch that my old curlers was causing.

My bare lashes. You can hardly see them :(

I curled my lashes which felt so much more comfortable than usual and the curl seemed perfect. No crimped edges and perfectly lifted.
I applied 2 coats of prestige my longest lashes.

I love the end result. I am so pleased i bit the bullet and purchased these curlers. After all what's £20 when you are using something everyday. Great value really.

Oh and a little OOTD. Please excuse my messy background. I purchased these over the knee boots from next in the sale. At 5ft 2 i think I'm pushing it a bit as i know they look better on taller girls but i love them anyway. I was just going shopping so wanted to be casual and comfy. 

What are your thoughts on the shu eyelash curlers? Do you think over the knee boots are Hot or Not?
Have a great day xx

Depotting step by step!

This is a little post about depotting eyeshadows and blushers. I am no expert in this field and there are lots of fab Utube videos which show you how to depot but anyway this is how i do it and it works for me :)

Equipment needed :
Straighteners
Tin foil
Small scissors
Pin board pin

Switch straighteners on and place tin foil on top the plate. This protects the straighteners 

 Get your blusher/ eyeshadow and place the pin in the groove and wiggle to create a little gap.

 Slide the scissors between the gap and gently prize open the blusher

 The blusher will pop out like this

Place the blusher onto the straighteners and wait a minute or so for the plastic to slightly melt and become soft. This is the part that you need to watch carefully. Time it takes will depend on the straighteners and what packaging you are trying to melt.

 You want the end result to be soft but not completely melted. It will look like this. Be careful it gets very HOT !

With the pin push through the middle. It should release the pan quite easily. If it doesn't then put it back on the heat for a little longer. 

 Turn the product upside down and tip out onto the tin foil ( don't touch the metal its hot.)

 If you need to use the scissors to gently separate the glue and ease it onto the tin foil.

Place the empty case sticker side down for bout 1 min until the glue from the sticker softens.

Gently peel of the sticker. This comes off really easily.

Place the sticker on the pan that you have just depotted so you have it labeled and wait for it to cool.

 That's it all done. Once you have done 1 or 2 it's easy.

 I also depotted more eyeshadows for my Z palette which now looks like this.

And i can throw away these.

I need a few more Z palettes to finish depotting my little stash but i am getting there slowly. The one piece of advice i can give is to ease the product out gently. If you have to force it out then the glue needs to be melted a little more. Forcing the product will end up in breaking the product or injury.

As for non Mac products. Just take a good look at the packaging. Remove as much outer packaging as possible before you heat and look for any tiny gaps where you can ease the product out ( often in the corners )
Good Luck and hope this helps xx