Nicoletta's beauty space

Sleek Mascara Review!

2012-03-11T11:41:00.000Z

I received the latest Sleek Mascara "Lash Out" a while back and i have been using it ever since.

The packaging is Bright pink with a type of graffiti look.

Available from Superdrug or online for £7.00 which is a very reasonable price in my opinion

The brush is rather large but it does do a nice job of separating the lashes and the colour is a really good Jet Black.

I was going to show you a photo of 1 and 2 coats but instead i thought I'd show you how it looks with 3 thin coats as that's how Ive been wearing it.

It's a great mascara for people like me who need a nice thick formula for added definition and it can go a bit clumpy at times if I'm not careful but overall the formula works really well and as i said before Ive been reaching for it everyday as its quick to apply and adds a nice amount of definition for my daily look

Have you tried this mascara out yet?

Running out of space!

2012-03-04T14:43:00.001Z

Since starting Marshmallow Blends i have gradually been taking over the house with products, ingredients and packaging which i decided i needed to get into some kind of order.

So this weekend i have been getting organised and now i have a nice little space all for my Stock which means its so much easier for me to see exactly what i want or need to make up without routing through cupboards and boxes :)

I thought I'd show you a sneaky peak.

Storage Unit from Ikea

Body Butters!

Soaps & Cupcakes!

Lip Butters & Massage Candles!

Sugar Scrub Cubes!

Bathbombs, Mini massage Bars & Gift Sets!

Bath Bombs!

Sugar Scrubs!

Its perfect for me right now. I can pop my new products on as i trial them as there is plenty of room and I've added all my tissue paper, boxes, ribbons, labels in this room too so everything is on hand.

Plus i think it looks really pretty with it all on show. I'm still working on various new products so hopefully these shelves will be a little more full in a few months time. Hope you are all having a lovely weekend and thanks for reading xx

Brighter than your average Pink!

2012-03-01T13:33:00.000Z

Just wanted to share my latest Bathbomb with you as i know you ladies appreciate a good bright pink when you see one :)

Marshmallow Blends Bubbling Bubblegum Bathbomb £2.75

These bath bombs turn the water a bright pink colour and add a nice light layer of creamy bubbles which gives the water a lovely silky feel.

I've been requested by Rocco my 4 year old to make a Blue Bath Bomb so I'm debating on Blueberry Muffins or Blue Raspberry next! What do you think?

I'm also so so excited to have been featured today over at The Makeup Advice Forum with the most amazing write up about some of the products Here

Hope you are all having a lovely day xx

Korres Wild Rose Brightening Mask!

2012-02-27T12:02:00.001Z

My skin has been rather shoddy lately. Due to a mixture of me not taking care of my skin as well as i should and lots of late nights and a lack of water. I've been looking dull and have a bit of an outbreak too. Grrrr i hate it when my skin looks like this.
I have however disovered a new Facemask which is just Amazing. I've only used it 3 times but each time it has left my skin feeling so much smoother, less congested and looking really bright.

Wild Rose Instant Brightening Mask

The mask feels amazingly creamy on the skin and smells beautiful. It doesnt set hard which i quite like and it isnt too heavy for my oily areas either. I can see this mask is one of the few that really works on all skin types.

Packed with gorgeous natural ingredients like Wild Rose oil, Shea Butter and Avocado Butter

I'm going to continue to use this hopefully twice a week for about 15 minutes as it really seems to be helping. I can see a visible difference immediately after use and my breakout seems to be clearing up too.

You can get this mask over at Bath & unwind for £16 here

Have you tried this mask before and do you like the smell of rose?

Mini Haul!

2012-02-19T12:43:00.002Z

It's been a while since i went clothes shopping and so last week i decided to treat myself to a few bits. I love looking at what other people have purchased so thought I'd show you my newbies:

I found this Lipsy top in one of the NEXT outlets and just had to have it.

Gold cross ring from BANK

Tan Skinny Jeans from Primark

Vest Top from BANK

I have a hen night in Liverpool soon and although i already brought a dress for the occasion, i saw this and really liked it. Besides it's a girls prerogative to have at least 2 choices :)

Miss Selfridge Dress

Back

I think it will look nice with some hot pink sky scraper heels and of course hot pink lips!

Hope you are all having a lovely weekend xx

Weekly Workings!

2012-02-16T14:10:00.003Z

This week i have been making lots of products to replenish my stock at marshmallowblends things are picking up nicely as word is getting out and more and more people are trying my products.

I've been working a new Vanilla & Brown sugar scrub which smells Amazing.

Oh and these Creme Brulee Shea Bath Melts

I was really excited to see my feature today in the Working Womans Magazine which can be found here if you fancy a read.

Apart from that Ive been trying to eat healthily, doing my weekly Zumba class and Wii Zumba and my clothes are getting looser so I'm feeling positive that i will fit into my bridesmaid dress in May if i keep up the good work.

Hope you are all having a good week xx

Grandma OCC & Bellapierre Blush!

2012-02-13T15:52:00.002Z

Today's Post is a FOTD to show off 2 new products that i was sent to review from an on line Shop which specialises in Organic and cruelty free products. I was shocked at all the gorgeous products they stock so don't blame me when you click on this link to cutECOsmetics if you find your wish list growing bigger by the second

I have a few OCC lip Tars already and love how pigmented they are. If i could afford it I'd happily own all the colours so this new shade i received in Grandma was a very welcome addition to my little collection. I have seen various swatches that are not very true to life so the below swatch is as true to life as i could get.

The shade is a gorgeous mixture of orange, coral, peach and red. I don't have anything like it at all. I plan on mixing it with a few other shades to show you some combinations at a later date. For now I'm in love with it just as it is :)

OCC Lip Tar Grandma

The lip Tars are really long lasting and fairly matte in texture. Obviously you can top with a gloss but i like to wear it without. Each little tube will last for ages as you need a tiny dot of colour on each application as its so pigmented.

The second product i got to try out was a mineral blusher from the Bellapierre range. Now i have heard lots about this range but this is the first time I've tried anything so i was quite excited.

The shade desert rose is a tan, peach shade with a soft sheen finish. Its quite strong in pigment so i needed to apply it with a light hand but it leaves a beautiful natural glow and lasts all day long.

Desert Rose £24.99

The product comes with a sifter which is less messy than a lot of the other mineral products Ive tried and although its a bit on the pricey side I'm sure it will last a seriously long time as i needed such a small amount.

The website itself sells lots of gorgeous products including Betty Hula, EOS and Lily Lolo. The prices are really competitive and there is even Free Delivery on UK orders.

What do you think of the products in this FOTD?

P.S I Love You Lush!

2012-02-11T19:52:00.001Z

Valentines day is just around the corner and that means LUSH have released another load of gorgeous products. I was sent the most gorgeous little gift set which would make an ideal present or of course a little treat for yourself. P.S I Love You!

P.S. I Love You Available from Lush RRP£16.95

I just adore the box, it has such a romantic vintage look to it and would look beautiful on a dressing table.

Inside the box is 4 gorgeous products that hint at sexy playful gestures and smell really soft and feminine.

Sweetheart Soap

Sensual Jasmine, Mandarin and vanilla.

I really like the smell of this and am looking forward to trying it out. It's a new one for me but anything pink and heart shaped always appeals.

Next up is the Soft Coeur Massage Bar.

This is my personal favourite from all the Lush Massage bars and one Ive repurchased a few times. Fragranced with Honey and chocolate it makes a lovely massage bar and if you cant blag a massage on Valentines day then when can you :)

Silky Underwear

A dusting of Jasmine, Vertivert and cocoa butter powder for silky skin. I have not tried this before but am pleasantly surprised. It feels lovely and leaves skin softly scented. Its not a product id personally use everyday but its a lovely addition to the box and something I'd use on special occasions ;)

It's Raining Men

One of my all time favourite shower gels from Lush.Honey and Toffee are the strongest scents in this and it feels very moisturising and sensual on the skin.

So start hinting now if you like the look of this. In fact sod hinting just go and buy it yourself lol.

Just before i finish this post i want to mention a Bath Ballistic which is a LTD Valentines newbie called The Leap Frog £2.75

This cute frog with the kissable lips was named in honer of 2012 being a leap year and that time when tradition says Women can propose.

Scented with Jasmine, Sandalwood and Rose.

Instructions for use: Pop on your brightest red lippy and run a bath big enough for two throw The leap frog in followed by your other half and jump in as well. Whoever said 3's a crowd was wrong.

OK so they are not the Instructions for use but it could be fun right?

So What are your plans for Valentines? Do you make a big fuss or does it pass by like any other day for you?

Well Hello Halo!

2012-02-06T16:23:00.001Z

Long hair will always be a girls best friend in my book and if I'm honest I'm a bit naughty when it comes to regular hair cuts as i like to have my hair as long as possible and I'm always scared the hairdresser will cut too much off. I've worn hair extensions on and off for years but as my hair is very fine i struggle as the clip in ones always show if I'm not careful which makes me paranoid about wearing them unless its in a dark nightclub lol.

So recently i was invited to try the Halo Hair extensions which are a little bit different as they don't have the conventional clips but instead its 1 waft of hair (Double thickness i imagine) that is held in place by an invisible thin band which sits on the crown of your head. Hence the name Halo!

I was sent the light brown shade

I coloured mine a little darker to match my own hair exactly but you can buy the hair to match your own with a wide choice of shades ranging from lightest blond to jet black

The clear wire is totally transparent and cannot be seen once its placed properly in the hair. Its really easy to apply you basically take the upper section of hair and place the weft onto the head and pull some of your own hair out over the top of the clear band until it sits right and feels secure.

It feels very lightweight and secure in the hair once its in and is a LOT easier to insert than regular clip in extensions.

I have had so many compliments on these extensions and all my friends want some now they have had a glimpse of these. I would wholeheartedly recommend them especially for ladies with fine hair.

My Halo is the 20" and costs £89.99. They are also available in 16" if you don't need them as long as this. The friendly people at Halo will even match your hair colour for you if you are unsure so makes the choice that much easier. I will do a You tube video at some point to show how easy these are to wear and maybe try some up do's etc. Check out the Halo website for more info.

Marshmallow Soap Fun!

2012-02-02T22:50:00.004Z

Tonight i decided on a whim to have a go at making soap. Ive never really thought too much about making soap as for some reason i didn't think soap was overly popular these days but anyhow i wanted to play and make something girly.

I decided on a Marshmallow Fragrance to fit in with my Marshmallowblends website and here's what i came up with:

Pink & White Girly Soap Slabs

I didn't even have a proper mold or anything but i just improvised and am quite pleased with my 1st attempt. Its made with an SLS free Shea Butter soap base and as i said its fragranced with a yummy marshmallow fragrance.

So my question is:

Do you use soap? Do you think of soap as being old fashioned or do you love to use soap? Thanks so much ladies xx

Last Weeks Beauty Buzz!

2012-01-30T21:36:00.001Z

Wow i am so behind on blogging so sorry ladies but life has just been so busy this last week or so. I thought id do a quick post just to tell you of all my beauty things that Ive been using last week and i will post properly about them as soon as i get a chance.

So firstly i got my Halo extensions for my hair. All i can say is OMG they are amazing. Why nobody has ever thought of the halo concept before is beyond me. The clear band is totally invisible and they are amazingly comfortable and secure to wear. They are my new best friend.

I have been really busy with the Marshmallow Blends products that i make. Last week was my busiest week so far on the website and I'm still creating lots of new ideas and recipes. This is my Pink Sugar Bath bomb which was made a couple of days ago. I knew id find the perfect use for my hand made pink sugar cubes :)

I tried and fell in love with the Korres Rose Wood Blackcurrant Cyclamen fragrance. Just in times for valentines day. I don't often rave about perfumes but this is so unique and beautiful. Ive been wearing it daily, sometimes even twice a day which is unheard of for me.

I also Discovered the shade Grandma in the OCC lip tars. I created a FOTD using this which i will show you later in the week. Its a stunning coral, peachy red shade which will amazing with a tan.

Whilst rushing about in our local town this little beauty caught my eye on a little market stall so i had to pick it up. This nail polish cost just £2.99 from W7 and is a complete bargain, full of dazzle. I cant wait to try it but lack of time means my nails are bare at the moment :(

I have also got some gorgeous LUSH Valentines products to show you and i also received my glossy box today so its been an exciting week or so for me beauty wise. Sorry its short and sweet. Let me know what you would like to see more of first? xxx

BM Beauty Lash Curling Mascara!

2012-01-26T15:35:00.000Z

I love a good Mascara, my lashes are really short, stubby and fine so mascara is a must have product in my makeup routine.

Recently i had the chance to try out the BM Beauty Lash Curling Mascara in Black and i wanted to show you the results.

The Mascara itself is infused with minerals and contains Beeswax, sunflower oil and vitamin E.

I always like to know whats in my products and this one luckily contains lots of natural, good for you skin friendly stuff.

The wand is a nice size and slightly tapered towards the end. I found it easy to control and managed to get a good full coating without any smudging.

Scary photo of my eye with zero mascara

Eyes with 2 coats of BM Beauty Mascara

I did find it curled my lashes nicely and the curl did last well. I would use this mascara for daytime use as it didn't have much thickening action going on but it did dramatically darken the lashes as the colour is a true dark black and it did make my lashes appear longer.

I am really impressed by the results on my lower lashes as it seems to have separated them and made them look a lot more defined.

Overall i like this mascara and lets be honest if it does this to my feeble lashes then I'm sure it will look fantastic on most people.

Priced at £12 and available directly from the BM Beauty Website here

Valentines Sugar Cube Gift Idea!

2012-01-23T16:58:00.000Z

Hi Ladies, I'm really excited about this cute idea which i stumbled across while looking for wedding favours for my friend and i thought these would be a lovely gift idea for Valentines Day.

Hand made sugar cubes!

All you need is caster sugar, a touch of food colouring, a mould of some kind or an ice cube tray and the tiniest amount of water

Basically pour out the sugar into a bowl add a tiny amount amount of water you only need about 1 teaspoon for a full cup of sugar and mix really well. If the sugar is too wet it wont work. Add a dot of food colouring and mix in well. Other pastel shades look really pretty too but i only had pink :)

You want the sugar to look like the above photo it does not look wet but it sticks together a little if you pinch it.

Press the sugar into the mould and press it down really hard with clean fingers or the back of a teaspoon

Carefully turn the mould upside down onto tinfoil and carefully tap the mould to release the shapes. ( If you have trouble then wipe the inside of the moulds with cooking oil to give them a helping hand.

Leave to air dry for about 10 hrs or overnight.

Da Daaar

Pretty Sugar Lumps which would be perfect for a cuppa in bed on Valentines day or just as a little surprise for someone.

I also made some with ice cube trays and popped a little sugar heart (The type that go on cupcakes) into the base before i pressed the sugar in and these are just as pretty in my opinion and i thought a lot of you will have an ice cube tray laying about.

I think its a great little project to do with the kids too, I'm sure little girls would love making these and they literally cost just pennies :)

If you give these a go let me know how you get on? Thanks for reading xx

Bright Eyes!

2012-01-20T00:17:00.001Z

I was recently looking back over some old photos and noticed that my eye makeup looked quite nice in some of the photos. It was then that it struck me that these days i have turned back into the neutral girl.

For some reason i have either been wearing just mascara and liner lately or a very neutral brown eyeshadow.

Partially because of lack of time and partially because I've just got into that habit.

So I'm going to force myself to wear something different at least once a week after all i have some gorgeous shadows just sitting there so its time to get creative again.

Here are a few of my previous looks that i really liked:

Are you a neutral eyed kind of girl or do you like to mix your shadows up?

A Day In The Life Of A Cake Maker! (Guest Post)

2012-01-17T19:41:00.001Z

A little while ago i came across a Facebook Page that really caught my eye. Its no secret that i love the odd cupcake and Nylah's page had me drooling at every photo.
The thing i found particularly intriguing is the fact that Nylah's Cupcakes specialises in Low Fat Cupcakes. All that delicious flavour but less calories than your traditional Cupcake. Which is a brilliant idea.
So I asked Nylah if she would like to write a little post about a day in her world:

7 days to make a wedding cake with only “I like chocolate”to go on... GO! As a result of only having 7 days to do it in, it means I havefree play on the design – YEAHY my favourite! (This was confirmed by the bride) Howeverthis also means I have to make the perfect three tiered wedding cake, withperfect decorations, for a bride who wants everything perfect for her perfectwedding day… IN 7 DAYS!!!!!

Don’t get me wrong – I’m excited, BUT I have neverdone it before. Usually I have months to research, sketch, send emails andphone calls back and forth about the finer details of the cakes and cupcakes.Not this time.

To break it down – I have 3 fair trade chocolate cakes tomix, bake, cool and slice in to two. Vanilla buttercream icing to make. Thenlayer each slice of cake with buttercream and strategically stack and cover infondant. I have to think about, sketch and make the decorations. OH and put itall together, take pictures (of course) and deliver it for the bride and groomfor their big special day.

This…with a 15 month old son who only wants to run around talk and scream to randomobjects in the house, touch things he should not be touching, scribble onstuff, throw things around and climb on to everything. Not to mention the factthat he managed to unscrew his highchair earlier last week.

5 days of full on work with 2 days to wait for things tocool and set later – this is what I came up with.

Luckily the bride and groom were pleased and had a brilliantwedding day.

Thanks so Much to Nylah for writing this post and you can see her yummy cakes over on her Facebook page here. Which includes some of my favourites that i have taken a shine too (Don't look if you are hungry girls)

Cupcake heaven :)

P.S Sorry to all of those who are on a diet this January but i just couldn't resist xxx