Long time, No Blog! ♥

Hididdly Ho Strangerino's! Long time no blog post. I know, *Slapped wrists* all round. I think it is purely because I am skint as a ducks backside, and I haven't being buying beauty products. My life in general probably isn't that interesting to read, so I don't bother posting about everyday details. Mind you, if you have seen that we are trying to buy a house, we are still waiting! It's so annoying, if any of you have been through it, you'll know what I mean. Wait, wait and more wait. But I suppose good things come to those who...

So I popped to Tesco yesterday (and Boots = lethal), and I got a few bits. Not all of it is shown here because there are things I've bought before like the cucumber cleanser and toner, which I LOVE. They are about 80p each and if I use them religiously my skin clears up like a dream. Yes, there are wondrous products out there for skin care, but these really work for me and I have re-purchased already, which I don't do very often!

Here we have Models Own Ibiza Mix, and Utopia which are on at 2 for £8.00 in Boots. Go, go GO! I really wanted a nude colour with a hint of something in it, and this was perfecto. I also wanted Ibiza mix to go over the top, as it's my birthday weekend this weekend. I reach the ancient age of 22 on Monday, which I'm pretty sad about because I had a great 21st year. Oh well, I'm going shopping with the Mama so should be a good day.

Next was a Tesco Nail Polish, I didn't catch the shade - I shall find it, but it was 99p! It's a gorgeous coral shimmery pink, and isn't too far off Models Own Tropical Sun, it's like a pink version of it. Then I got some Vivo lashes for my birthday, they were £2.00. And Tesco Vitamin E eye cream, that was also around £2.00, I'll let you know how it is!

99P Nail Polish, bit of a beaut colour if you ask me!

I am wearing Models Own Utopia at the moment, and that's another colour I love! Can't wait to top it with Ibiza Mix for my Birthday!

Thursday Thoughties has appeared to be non-existent at the minute, so I shall get onto that next week. I shall do a Birthday nails post and maybe a what I got for my birthday one too! Also I'm thinking Curvy Outfit of the day posts? What do you reckon?

Have you seen my Chubby Bunny Video? I couldn't breathe for laughing!

What Models Own Polish is your fave? Any recommendations? 

Ciao for now xxXxx

P.S I'm now on Tumblr! Click HERE to see all the piccies I love!

x

Vivo and MUA ♥

Hola Chiquitas! I have recently purchased a couple of items from the much loved brands Vivo and MUA, and thought I would share my thoughts with you! First up is Vivo, I first heard about this brand just over a month or so ago, and it is readily available in larger TESCO stores. It is extremely reasonably priced, and I now have quite a few items. To find my last blog post on Vivo click here. 

So now I have decided to jump on the BB Cream bandwagon, and give it a go. I usually wear a medium coverage foundation, but since I have been on holiday I have had a major freckle outburst, and I am peeling like mad so I haven't worn much foundation. I have been concealing the blemishes and then just going ahead with bronzer etc. So on the days now where I feel I need a little more, but I don't want to do my full on foundation routine, BB cream I feel is the way to go. I got it in the shade light, because although I have a freckly almost-tan, it fades pretty darn quick so I will be a few shades lighter. 

It has quite a thick consistency, and I used the real techniques buffing brush to buff it into my skin. I really could see the difference on the side of my face that I had covered. My skin does get red and blotchy when I have no make up on and the Beauty Balm really did seem to even it out, with still having all my freckles showing through. It was quick and easy to apply, and can also be applied with fingers like a cream, so it's handy to take around with you too. It lasted about 4 hours before it looked like I needed to re-apply, but I do rest my head on my hands for most of the day and touch my face a lot, so that is mostly my own doing. I would definitely recommend this to BB cream beginners, because for £4.00 it's a steal, and I was impressed! 

Secondly is the Shimmer and Shine Lip Gloss in frosted pink. OoO I love this product! I am looking forward to going back to Tesco to get all of them! It is a bargainous £1.50, and I just love it. The colour is a really lovely light pink with a shimmer to it, and reflects light perfectly, leaving your lips all shimmery and shiny. It lasted on my lips for a good couple of hours before re-applying and it isn't too sticky. It has the most AMAZING smell to it like watermelons nom nom nom! It also has a long doe-foot like applicator, so there's no missin' any part of that pout. It is now a staple in my make up bag for work, as it is shimmery, sheer and not too much!

Shimmer and shine lip gloss in Frosted Pink on my lips. Shine-tastic!

The Beauty Balm in shade light. The first swatch is as it comes out of the bottle, and the second is where I have blended it in, but not fully, so you can see it starts to merge into your skin.

Next is MUA. I am sure everybody will of heard of this brand but if you have been living under a rock and somehow haven't, here is the low down! It is a budget make up brand that lives in Superdrug, where all the basic products begin at £1.00. It is fantastic actually, and the majority of products I would re purchase over and over, because they are actually great quality. I decided to try their blushers most recently, so I got them in shade 1 - a baby pink with a light shimmer, and shade 4 - a peachy matte shade. I have tried out both on separate occasions and I don't have a bad word to say. This is a very positive review post day guys!

For one British pound, you get yourself a nice 2.4g of product, in nifty little packaging for your make up bag.  

They are both super pigmented, gorgeous colours which are buildable, so from a light dusting to a heavy colour block, it's up to you how you wear it. Here they both are swatched on my hand. I can't wait to go and get the rest of the collection! My opinions are 100% my own, and I can't give enough love for all the products mentioned in this post, especially because of the price!

I hope this was helpful for those of you that haven't had the pleasure of trying VIVO or MUA yet. If you have a spare couple of quid knocking around, I would go and treat yourself to a few products from these brands because you can really stack up your collection with great quality products! Enjoy, beauty heads!

Ciao for now XxX

Vivo at Tesco ♥

Calling all fellow bargain beauty hunters! A little treat for you! I had been hearing along the ever-growing grapevine about the new Vivo make up range in Tesco, and thought I would give it a go myself. I have 2 Tesco stores near me, and this was only available in the one so I think it is available in selected larger Tesco stores. SO here it is. I got 5 different things across the range to try out just to see if I like it first. I cannot remember the exact prices, but everything is under a tenner, which I think is great value. At the back of the picture is the baked bronzer which I think is around £4, the baked blusher is around £3, the eyeshadow palette is around £6 and the smaller concealer, and eyebrow palettes are around £3. Don't quite me on those but they are AROUND those prices, not much more!

Sorry again for the dodgy pictures, I am too lazy to use my SLR and upload them, it is far quicker on my Iphone. I shall use my SLR very soon for better quality! First up is the marbled eyeshadow and blush palette. I love love LOVE it. They are like little baked galaxies in a box and they are sooo pretty! Shimmery, pigmented and a range of wearable colours. There are a few other palettes, but I thought this would be the most wearable. The palettes don't seem to be named, but I think the packaging is very sleek and sophisticated, and look more expensive than they actually are. 

The colours don't show up very amazingly here but I'll just explain briefly. The blusher is to the left, and is a high pigment baby pink shimmer blush, use sparingly! A light dust on the cheekbone will be plenty, and its shimmery enough to act as a highlight too. The first shadow comes out like a very light sea green, and reminds me of mermaids! How simple am I sounding...Anyway...the second is a taupe to light brown colour and would be more suited to the eyelid than a highlight as it comes out quite dark. The third shade is a light khaki green which is also best for the lid, along with the final shade which is a taupe to mushroom colour - suitable for the inner corners. The palette actually does show on the back where to apply each colour, handy for beginners or young make up artists in the making! 

This is the baked shimmer blusher, in shade 4 'Rouge Shimmer'. It is a warm pink colour which is great, again dusted over the cheekbones. It isn't quite as bright as the blusher that comes with the eyeshadow palette, but it is a lovely more muted version. It doesn't have glittery flecks in or anything, its more of a sheer shimmer. I have used it for the last two days since I had it, and it gets the thumbs up from me!

This is the eye brow palette, with 3 colours to suit every little brow hair out there! These also double up as eyeshadows, come with a brow setting gel, an applicator AND a mirror! What more could you ask for in the bargain world? I actually really like this little compact, great for on the go and you don't have to find everything separate at the bottom of your handbag. For the price, it's a great buy, and one I recommend! There is a light colour for more blonde brows, a light brown that on the skin comes out quite a reddish tone, so more for red hair, and the darker brown for brunettes like moi! Although I have turquoise and black hair...they don't do a kit for that funnily enough.

This is the baked bronzer, which is really lovely! You only need a little bit again, and I would say this is more of a highlight bronze for the cheekbones, rather than a temple/contour/jawline bronzer. It is very bright and shimmery indeed, but nothing that a good blend wouldn't sort. This is shade 2, which is very gold toned. A great bargain, which I think will look great over a tan!

This is the concealer palette, my last product from Vivo. Again, a great little portable compact with 2 concealers and a setting powder, an illuminator pen, an applicator and mirror! Another bargain! This however, I don't think is something I would re-purchase at the moment. I haven't really given it that much of a good go, but that is because I cannot find anything to beat the Collection 2000 lasting perfection! Well, they are called Collection now aren't they? But anyhow, the creamy consistency of the concealers allow them to be used as eyeshadow primers too, but I have yet to try it. I personally think these concealers just sit on top of my skin rather than sinking in, but you can't have it all can you? 

Overall a great new brand, I shall definitely be purchasing some more of their cosmetics in the near future! Hope this helps and if anyone has any questions on these items, be sure to leave a comment and I shall get back to you!

Ciao for now XxX

Lake District & Stuff ♥

If you have read my previous blog, you will know that we had to go up to the Lake district briefly on business. We stay the one night on Friday, and it just wasn't long enough! We didn't get there until around half 8 on the night, so everywhere was pitch black and we didn't realise what view we had. We woke up to a fresh, crisp morning, everywhere frosted with thick ice, and all you could see were snow topped mountains. It was beautiful. The hotel was on a hill, so the view was great. We were so impressed with the hotel that we have now booked to return on pleasure so we can spend some more time there, and explore because I had to work the next day we had to return.

Do excuse the pictures, as they were all taken while we were driving!

The main view as you walked out the hotel.

The Castle Green hotel in Kendal. To have a better look if you are thinking of going to the Lakes, click HERE

Lake Windermere...and squirly tree! I can't wait to go back and take some proper shots in March. I am taking Ed for his birthday so we can have a nice relax and explore. The actual part we stayed in was Kendal, where Kendal Mint cake is made! So we could hardly come home without any! Yummy!

Also, coming back to my previous blog where I was trying out Tesco's facial cleansers and the maybelline foam mousse foundation...I take some of it back what I said. The foundation is very deceiving when you have it on your hand and doesn't look like its going to cover anything. It is very wet on your brush, but it really does cover any red patches and blotches. It is a light to medium coverage, but as it is dewy and wet, it is great for putting powder on top as it acts as a sticky base, then soon dries. So I'd give it a 8 out of ten for a light coverage foundation, if you are to cover over it with powder. Also, it is very quick and easy to apply, and when you are up at stupid o'clock for work, it comes in handy!

As for Tesco's cucumber facial range, I have been using it with the Witchstick and my spots are clearing up nicely. My face feels really fresh after using them, and for the money, they get  10 out of 10 from me.

I've also dyed my hair a bit. Put a bit of blonde in it, although it's more towards ginger especially in this picture! I will do it again soon so it's lighter, but there you go. That's what you get for paying a fiver and not £100 a go, but I'm not really bothered, at least it's a bit of dimension, I'm so bored with my hair.

I have also just completed my last ever weekend at work. I cannot wait just not have to get up in the dark now. Seems people there are dropping like flies now from what I hear along the grapevine, makes you wonder. 5 days to go, last ever Monday tomorrow! 

Ciao for now XxxX

Update & Tesco Cleansing Range Review! ♥

I appear to be slacking on this at the moment! It is purely due to no time, and not much excitement really. I'm sitting here with my head covered in foil at the moment, putting a few blonde streaks in. You have no idea how difficult it is, putting streaks in on your own! So if this turns out any good, it'll be a miracle! I'll probably put a picture up if it hasn't turned out too bad! Fingers crossed! We are off to Cumbria today on business so should be good! Booked the hotel last night and it looks lovely, right in the lake district. I guess there are some perks to working in the hotel industry, so I'm taking great advantage while I can in my last week!

A couple of days ago I wasn't feeling too well, so Ed had been looking after me and did me breakfast before I went to work at half 6 in the morning! It was so cute, mmm Marmite on toast and a banana to take! I absolutely love Marmite! 

The diet has appeared to have gone out the window...It is so hard. I went to Moms yesterday and bought us a strawberry pavlova each from Sainsburys. Oh my life they are amazing. It has strawberries on, so thats one of our 5 a day isn't it?! Haha! Plus I am taking cakes into work on Friday, so it's only right we try them out isn't it?

We also went for a chinese last night, which was really nice. Happy Chinese new year by the way! I just wanted to put this on because we were reading the dessert menu, and Toffee Apples and Toffee bananas aren't available Saturdays 8pm - 10pm! We thought it was hilarious. So at 7.45pm, it's still OK to have a toffee banana....Okey dokey then! 

We went for a shop round Tesco afterwards, and this is Ed with a little bird having a shop around! The poor birdie couldn't find the bread aisle, so Ed we helped him! Gotta love Eds face too hehehe <3

And Ed wanted a little go in Rupert the Bear's car. In a suit, it's just brilliant.

So I bought a couple of things to try at Tesco. I had seen a few people on youtube recommending Tesco's cucumber facial skin care range, so I thought I'd give it a go. It is an absolute bargain as every product in the range is under 80p! So I got each product in the range apart from the wipes, because I always use huggies pure because they are thicker. So I tried it last night, beginning with the face scrub. It felt really nice once lathered on the skin, and has ex foliating beads in, which got rid of a lot of my make up. My face felt refreshed from just using that alone. Then I used the cleanser and toner, which got rid of the remains of my make up, and finished off with the moisture cream. It absorbed into my skin very quickly, and it feels all soft the morning after! I think it's a total bargain, and is suitable for all skin types. All the ingredients are natural and it smells lovely and fresh. I'd definitely recommend it!

Also as you can see, I purchased the new Maybelline Air Foam foundation. I don't know whether it was Tesco, or Maybelline themselves but there was copious amounts of cellotape holding the lid on of the bottle. It took me absolutely ages to get into it, I bent my nails back, and sliced my thumb open with scissors trying to get into it! I wasn't a happy bunny, so that's the first negative. When I eventually got into it, I shook the bottle as instructed, and I pressed on the top to release the first blob of mousse. There is a plastic seal you have to break so you actually end up squirting out more than you need. Also the foundation came out white at first. It is literally the consistency of hair mousse, and I tried it on the back of my hand. It is extremely thin and quite sticky actually. It seems pretty see through, but I have yet to try it on my face. At the moment as it stands, for £6.99 I don't think it's going to be worth it. But I shall let you know as soon as I have tried It on my face I'll let you know!

So I've waffled on enough now, and I'm going to wash out my hair and see how that's turned out!

Ciao for now!xXxXx