Haul - Westfield Hollister, River Island, Superdrug

Another rainy Bank Holiday Monday....what is a girl to do? Go to Westfield of course!

On reflection this was a bit of a schoolgirl error as it seemed like a chav convention was taking place but I battled on. After a short queue for Hollister and a ridiculously excessive queue for the changing rooms (you are trying on ONE item - how can this take over 10 minutes?????) I came away with 2 items:

A cute ruffled strapless dress with a polka dot belt, and another bottle of the Hollister cologne, which I love as a summer fragrance and had just run out of.

I was also a little amused by the sign in the Hollister changing rooms - I would like one of these for my bedroom door ha ha:

I then went to River Island. Why do the shoes in River Island always look tempting but smell of plastic? Yes I know the answer. Anyway, I picked up a black halterneck top (which no matter how I photographed still didn't come out clearly so no pic!) and a fawn coloured jersey dress with a thin brown belt:

Now - when I got to the counter to pay this dress came up as a "jersey top". I'm sorry this is WAY too long to be a top. I bought it as a dress and will be wearing it as such! Perfect with my as yet unworn tan wedges from Topshop.

I was almost defeated by the swathes of people at this point - especially the ones with pushchairs who used them as a battling ram. In addition I have one word for the fat girl in Aldo who pushed me out of the way so she could get to some vile multicoloured shoes - CANKLES!

However on my way out I passed Superdrug. How very convenient. Well - I meant to go via MAC but there was a queue. Really, a queue when the store is only half full? Anyway. Back to Superdrug. I came out with just the 4 items.

Now I have been reading LOTS about the Naked Truth range so I picked up the Intensive Care for Tired Eyes as I am a sucker for eye treatments. As I will be getting my legs out (hopefully) in shorts a little more often now it is officially summer I grabbed this Perfect Slim stuff as it was half price, and who doesn't love a bargain! And finally I felt like a little bling treat. As I can't afford any real bling at the moment I thought I would bling up my nails for summer with these Andrea Fullerton Stripe and Sparkle varnish kits:

Fun no?

So that was that - apart from a grande triple shot skinny caramel cappuchino to get me through the trip, and which I got for free as the queue was so long. Happy days!

Let me know if you have tried any of these products and what your thoughts are in the comments. I love comments!

Until next time.......XO

Haul of Happieness!

I couldn't leave my Blog on 1 3 posts - way too superstitious! So here is my little haul from today - minus that evil Batiste dry shampoo!

I am now back working in Canary Wharf. While I hate this part of London I cannot deny there are lots of lovely shops. So today I popped out to get some lunch and to look for some new structured workwear and I returned with:

my lunch - crab maki and an apple zinger from Itsu ....BORING!

AND MORE EXCITING 

bags of treats!

So - what goodies did I purchase in my sweep of the mall? 

Well we can ignore the Boots bag - we know what rubbish was in there (see photos of my "powdered wig" here: http://mygiltypleasures.blogspot.com/2011/05/batiste-dry-shampoo-light-and-blonde.html ) 

First I was walking past Body Shop and I noticed that their Honey Bronze collection was in. I had to pop in and pick up the Honey Bronze Dry Oil (it just smelt so yummy) and a couple of lip nectars. 

And as my lips were feeling dry due to air conditioning (and it was positioned right by the paydesk - what a sucker!)  I also grabbed a Shea Lip Butter. I actually tried this the minute I got back to the office and I am liking it so far

Then as I had to walk back past Space NK I was impelled to go in and lo - they had my favourite Kiehl'sCreamy  Eye Treatment with Avocado back in stock so I simply HAD to get one:

 but...thats it now! Product embargo back in place......PROMISE

hmmmmm.......until next time ;) .................xo

Batiste Dry Shampoo Light and Blonde Review HORROR

DISCLAIMER: THIS BLOGPOST CONTAINS PICS THAT MAY TURN YOUR STOMACH - THOSE OF A DELICATE NATURE SHOULD LOOK AWAY NOW!

Ok - so here's the thing. I am not a natural blonde. Well, I was born blonde but somewhere around 3 I kind of went mousy. Yuk. So I ensure I am blonde regardless with regular trips to my darling hairdresser. However he has rudely decided to go on holiday until next week and somehow my roots have sprung up like a flashing light on my head. Well, thats how I feel anyway.

So fed up was I of seeing my roots that I decided to try a new product. Something I have never tried before. However it was a product that had been well reviewed by gurus so I thought - how bad can it be. The answer is - WORSE THAN YOU EVER IMAGINED.

This was the product I chose: Batiste Dry Shampoo, a hint of colour light and blonde. (£3.99 Boots)

Looks harmless enough doesnt it?

And just for reference - and I cannot believe I am posting this but such is my devotion to honest blogging - here are my roots:

ps my hair doesnt normally sit like this - I specifically messed with it to make the roots really obvious....and this lighting is a bit green - my colour is pretty white blonde.

So I then started applying. They say you should shake vigorously then spray into roots about 30cm from hair, massage in with fingertips and then brush and style. Sounded easy enough.

Like a true OCD I followed the instructions to the letter.

And this was how I was rewarded. Are you ready?? Here we go then

This photo only goes SOME way to showing what this product made my hair look like. Yes it covered up some of my root colour. But - what it also did was make my existing white blonde hair look brassy and ....god forbid........orange. Or what a hairdresser would call "warm". YUK! 

They say the product "banishes oily roots and boosts body giving dull, lifeless hair the makeover it needs without water. A hint of colour complements light and blonde hair tones and helps blend in root re-growth of coloured, tinted or bleached hair". 

Er no. Only if your hair is orangey/warm blonde and only if you like a white residue in your hair. In addition it made my hair feel stiff and combing it was very difficult. The only upside of this product - for me - was that it smelled quite nice. 

It has taken two full shampoos for my hair to feel clean, and I am now sitting with my hair slathered in Moroccan Oil and Elemis Monoi Melt to try and make amends!

So - my conclusion is I need to make a diary note of when my hairdresser goes on holiday and if something seems wrong (dry shampoo) then generally it is! 

VERDICT: IN THE BIN!

let me know your thoughts on dry shampoo.....comment below!

until next time..................xo

MASCARA MONDAY!

"My name is Nicola and I am a mascara junkie"


I can't hide it any longer. It's too obvious. For years my quest for the perfect mascara has taken me from high end dealers to some questionable downtown budget mascara pimps. I don't think this search will ever truly end - I will always be looking for my next hit. More volume. More lift. Just that little bit blacker....

Most recently the fickle mistress of addiction led me to try 2 new "budget brand" products - one which has quite literally opened my eyes; and one which has been an overwhelming disappointment.

Aaaaaaaaaaaand in the winners corner we have:

RIMMEL GLAM'EYES LASH FLIRT IN KOHL BLACK

What they say: 

Kohl Black intensity, volume and lift mascara

What I say:


The thin plastic brush was a bit of a surprise as I generally prefer a giant old fashioned loo-brush style wand. But this mascara is <3 LOVE <3 . Blackest black, the brush provides much needed volume at the roots (when wiggled) and a divine hit of length and definition to my sparse lashes. I bent the brush slightly (see lower pic) to provide some extra lift - but I do this with all my mascaras. An extra bonus is no fall down - and it really seems to last (even through a day at work and the gym!). Despite this it still comes off reasonably easily with make up remover. I got this on a 3 for 2 deal at Superdrug with two other old fave Rimmel mascaras

Rating: 8/10

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand the biggest loser was??

COLLECTION 2000 BIG FAKE FALSE LASH EFFECT MASCARA IN ULTRA BLACK

What they say:

Double your lash size! Lash boosting technology plumps and stretches each lash. No clumping or smudging. Water resistant.

What I say:

YUK. Drier than Ethiopia in '84. I SO wanted to love this product. Beauty bloggers and Youtubers everywhere have been raving about it. I initially liked the oversized pack and giant brush. Very much like Benefit Bad Gal Lash mascara (an old fave) - well thats where the similarity ended. The formula is SO dry I thought I had got an old one (despite it being sealed when I bought it). The brush is unwieldy and excess dry product ends up on my lid making my shadow look messy. I have tried one layer, two even three. My lashes look nowhere near double the size. Messy, not user friendly and not even a lovely set of lashes to show for it. This Big Faker is going straight in the bin!

Rating: 0/10

If you want some mascara dash on less cash I would advise you to walk on past Collection 2000 and straight over to Rimmel

Let me know your fave "lower end" mascaras!

Until next time ..................xo

NARS Dogon vs NARS Rajasthan with swatches

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Two years in a row I have found myself lusting after a NARS Duo. Last year was Rajasthan...gorgeous teal with a golden taupe. This year - the divine NARS Dogon ... a raven's wing blue-black with a duochrome taupe.


Now - prior to purchasing Dogon this year I really did umm and ahh - would they be too similar? The answer in reality is an overwhelming no - so I thought it might help others to provide a compare and contrast!


Some photos in the pans...

Dogon on top and Rajasthan below

The differences between the taupes are clear here - the Dogon taupe has a beautiful duochrome. It does look similar to MAC Club (if I was going to be pedantic) but you can never have too many sexy taupe shadows. The Rajasthan taupe is far more golden. 

And to fully see the differences on the skin - here come the swatches (in cooler and warmer light top to bottom) 

l-r: Dogon dark, Dogon taupe; Rajasthan dark, Rajasthan taupe.

These photos doesn't really do the darker shades justice. Dogon has a lovely blue-black duochrome perfect for a smokey eye and for buildable colour. It's not quite as harsh as a pure black, like MAC Carbon, and looks fab on the lower lash line.  The Rajasthan teal has a complex layer of tones and the golden taupe provides the perfect foil. I actually like putting the Rajasthan taupe with the Dogon blue-black. I know - crazy talk! 

NARS shadows are extremely pigmented and really good quality. The only problem I have is I cannot wear them without my Urban Decay primer potion (or some other base to prime my eye) as without it they both crease. But that just may be my skin! 

Any product junkie should give in to temptation and buy buy buy!

Until next time...........xo

Sienna X Tan - Update

Well....it's been a week since my Sienna X tan review so it felt like a good time for an update.

Because I am a cup half empty girl I am going to start with a negative - but I would have to emphasise there really was only one! The smell. Despite the original gorgeous smell the fake tan aroma (biscuit smell) reappeared after about 2 hours and stayed for 2 days after application despite some intense showering. Weirdly by day 3 it was gone! HURRAH!

But I would have to say that was it on the negatives. The colour was truly brilliant - deep and natural. Yes after 5 days my knees did look a little "dirty" but I think if I had moisturised more this wouldn't have been so obvious AND my previous fave Xen Tan never lasted more than 3 days without looking so patchy I had to exfoliate!

My biggest fake tan test is the 4 day bare leg challenge. As mentioned above my usual tan is so patchy after 3 days that I simply wouldn't even consider wearing a skirt. Not so with the Sienna X. Wednesday morning dawned with bright sunshine and I went bare legged with no concern (and I had shaved my legs that morning!).

I can safely say this will be my new "go to" tan. It lasts longer, it wears better and best of all I don't have to double dip, as the colour comes up as good after one application as I was used to from 2 or 3 applications of my Xen Tan Dark Lotion.

Basically its a MASSIVE thumbs up. Plus a big thank you to Pixi2woo - I first heard about Sienna X on her Youtube tanning video

Until next time .........xo

Avene Haul !

To celebrate getting a new job last week I finally allowed myself properly off my product embargo and splashed out on some Avene items I have been wanting for ages. Here they are in all their glory!

From left to right: Eluage Cream, Ystheal+ Emulsion and Eluage Concentrate.

The Eluage "restructuring" cream is a combination of Retinaldehyde and HAF (Exclusive fragmented Hyaluronic Acid) which claims to stimulate collagen and elastin fibres synthesis within the dermis and regenerate. Yes it will rebuild my face!! Hurrah!  I have never tried this product but heard really good things so I was excited to try it last night for the first time. I will be using it sparingly every other night as my skin is pretty sensitive - but so far so good. The cream is not heavy and has a peachy colour and light fragrance and feels moisturising on the skin.

Ystheal+ is an anti-wrinkle, anti-oxidant cream. I have tried this before and loved it so it's made a comeback! It also contains Retinaldehyde but also Pre-tocopheryl (apparently this is the physiological precursor of Vit E - whatever that means!). All I know is my skin liked it. It is also a night cream so I will be mixing it up between Eluage and this. 

Eluage Concentrate: well I couldn't resist something that claims to correct wrinkles and deep lines especially crows feet (my biggest paranoid fear!). Its a gel you apply directly to the deep wrinkles and you can use over the Eluage cream. Can't wait!

Now - another little rave. I purchased these from a site called www.essentialslondon.com I hadn't used the site before but I did a price comparison on Google and the products came out £11 cheaper than the nearest online competitor so I gave it a go. The products arrived in 2 days (delivery was free as order was over £40) and they also sent me a lovely little pack of samples which was a very nice unexpected surprise: 

Yay! freebies and haul! Who could ask for more!

Let me know your thoughts on Avene......

until next time.....xo

Sienna X Tan Review

Joy unconfined - look what this little fake tan junkie got in the post on Thursday!!

I had only ordered this two days before from the official Sienna X website http://sienna-x.co.uk/retail.php so was very impressed with the swift service. I purchased shortly after the price hike so I got it for the sum of £21.00 (plus £1.99 p&p). I usually buy Xen Tan at between £28 and £35 depending on which product, so this didn't seem excessive to me. 

The bottle is an eye-catching Barbie pink and has a good pump dispenser, unlike the new Xen Tan Perfect Blend Custom Colour dispenser (but more about that in a later review).Oooh - teaser!

This self tan contains 8% DHA (the ingredient which makes your skin change colour). I generally "double dip" (apply twice) anyway as I like a strong colour. The added bonus is that it also contains an "anti-cellulite formula to help tone and smooth your skin". Well hello! Who wouldn't want a bit of that!

The product is what I would term a classic fake tan – you apply, leave on overnight and wash off in the morning.

Anyway, like any true product addict, I had to try this immediately! Sienna X recommend using rubber gloves to apply. I am used to using mitts, but I wanted to play by the book and get the max out of the product, so I snapped on my gloves and assumed the tanning position!

So, here were my initial post application thoughts:

• The consistency of the lotion is quite "wet", in comparison to say Xen Tan Dark Lotion or Xen Tan Dark Lotion Absolute Luxe which are both slightly thicker and browner initially. I would say it is probably a similar consistency to Famous Dave's Tan with Bronzer. This isn't a bad thing and may be due to the anti cellulite ingredient. It does feel moisturising when you apply the product on your skin.
• the smell is pretty strong - yet not unpleasant. Kind of like bubblegum I think, although  the official description is coconut vanilla. HOWEVER - after an hour this smell dissipated and it started to smell a little "fake tanny" (aka "the biscuit smell" or "wet dog" as one of my exes delightfully referred to it). I am used to fake tanning though so the smell doesn't put me off and I have smelt worse (L'Oreal Subllime Bronze you know who you are!)
• It needs a good rub in (as with most tans) but seemed to take longer to dry and stayed sticky for longer than I would have liked. Again this may be due to the wetter consistency. 
• Post application my skin had a nice deep colour and sheen, but this may be because it is remained slightly tacky almpst two hours after. Next time I will give myself a blast with the blow dryer! I did, somewhat recklessly, use it on my face (hmmm silly me - not like I have cellulite on my face!) but I probably wouldn't do that again as the colour is so dark. Although that does mean you only need a tiny bit!

Now - I did take a leg comparison shot (one leg tanned and one looking pasty) but on reflection I feel that might be a little inappropriate for public consumption. Suffice to say there was a considerable difference as this product has a guide colour so you get an immediate hit of the tan to come. 

NEXT DAY:

I wrote my original review on Thursday when Blogger went down so I now have the opportunity to post my final thoughts on Sienna X :

• the colour is very good - natural and deep. I personally wouldn't have to double dip unless I wanted to look like Katie Price. 
• The tan does transfer onto sheets - but thats standard for a "guide colour" fake tan. The hunt for one that doesn't transfer continues!
• If there was one negative it is the smell - despite the gorgeous original scent it ends up giving the usual "giveaway" fake tan smell even after two showers.

Overall I would definately say Sienna X is a really good fake tan - will see how it lasts. Xen Tan really only lasts 3 days max on me - if Sienna X has better lasting power I can see myself converting!

Let me know your thoughts on Sienna X.....

Until next time .............. xo

In and Out!

A little fun post of things I am loving ... and those I am not loving quite so much!

IN 


OPI NAIL POLISH

I'm back to natural nails and as such rediscovering the variety of nail colours I own. Whilst I am a true nail whore  and own over 100 polishes by Chanel, Orly, MAC, CND  plus the usual high street suspects - I would say OPI remains my favourite for quality and staying power. I am looking forward to getting out my pastels and hot pinks and oranges for Summer! Here are just a few from my collection:

L'OCCITANE HAND CREAM

Well if I am going to wear lovely nail polish I need to get my hands looking good and winter has left them a little war wounded. I recently re-discovered the joy of L'Occitane dry skin hand cream with 20% Shea Butter. Leaves my hands feeling soft, looking smoother and - big bonus - it smells divine!

L'OREAL BODY EXPERTISE NUTRILIFT (DRY TO VERY DRY SKIN)

Fake tanning, exfoliating and fake tanning again over and over to infinity means my skin takes a proper battering. I am not very good at remembering to moisturise but at my age I can't afford not to anymore. This body lotion is one of the best I have tried (even surpassing - for me - more expensive brands such as Clarins). It doesn't irritate my skin, absorbs quickly (so practical) and leave my skin looking and feeling better. Plus Superdrug have L'Oreal on 3 for 2. Who could ask for more?!

OUT


CLARINS BEAUTY FLASH BALM

Try as I might to love this product (and over the years I really really have tried) - I just doesn't seem to make any difference. I have applied it as a thin layer prior to make up, or as a thick layer as a mask then removed with toner (i.e completely as directed) and yet it never makes my skin look any better. I wish I was one of the people it worked for - I so wanted it to! Sad face.

LANCOME GENIFIQUE YEUX

Been using this consistently since November - and its another one that I had such high hopes for only to be sorely disappointed. I will use it to the end of the pot (mostly because it was REALLY expensive) but then I suspect I will go back to my beloved Kiehls Avocado Eye cream which has the heavy creamy consistency that seems to work much better on my type of skin.

L'OREAL STUDIO SECRETS SMOOTHING RESURFACING PRIMER

Broke me out. Massively. That is all. :(

OPI Mod About You

This week there was some seriously almost summer like weather in London Town. But I have been feeling a bit glum. One immediate way to lift my mood is painting my nails. Now I no longer have my French manicure acrylics on I can get back to a bit of experimenting with the 100 odd nail colours I have in my nail drawer and in the fridge. Yes - I keep my varnishes in the fridge. People always comment on this - they go in expecting to see food and immediately fixate on the Chanel nail varnish collection - like its something odd!

Anyway - I fancied something bright and pink. I reached for OPI's Mod About You - a colour I purchased inspired by Lollipop 26 - and have loved ever since. I never fail to get compliments on this cool bubblegum pinky/white. It is a bit of a pain to apply - I always need 3 coats as the first goes on pretty streaky and the second is never quite opaque enough. Plus you need a steady hand with this sort of colour - which I am not reknown for! Still its worth the effort - I think (ignore my shocking cuticles! Back to the Solar Oil for me!)

It looks pretty pink in this natural light - in other light it can look much whiter. Love love regardless!

What colour are you reaching for now the sun is coming out? Let me know.

Until next time..............xo

L'Oreal Youth Code Serum

During my Superdrug splurge last week I found myself drawn to the L'Oreal 3 for 2 offer. I was already purchasing my favourite body lotion - L'Oreal Body Expertise Nutrilift for Very Dry Skin (too much exfoliating and fake tanning and exfoliating again has left my skin a little lacklustre) so it seemed like a no brainer to pick up another couple of "gilty pleasures".

Immediately I saw the L'Oreal Youth Code Serum I found myself struck by the physical/aesthetic similarity to Lancome Genifique Youth Activating Concentrate - a product I have lusted after for a long time. Here is a little compare and contrast:

Apparently Lancome and L'Oreal are owned by the same company - and some intense Googling shows that, according to some, the ingredients are similar. I personally haven't tried the Genifique Concentrate but I have been using the eye serum since November last year and haven't been wowed. To be honest I haven't even been that happy with it at all (hence the slightly dusty lid!) I am really just using it up as I feel guilty at the cost despite purchasing at Geneva airport Duty Free! 

L'Oreal claim Youth Code "significantly diminishes the signs of aging" - well that's pretty general and I guess they would say that. Now - here's the science bit. Concentrate! They also state the secret to the formula is that it uses L'Oreal's "breakthrough" Pro-Gen technology (the "secret of genes") which includes 2 key ingredients: Biolysat (which acts at the epidermis level and tells genes to act faster in the recovery process) and adenosine (a molecule that is found in skin cells that acts at the dermis level to produce collagen).  Now I pretty much flunked biology but it all sounds pretty promising to me. Especially as it promises to transform my dull skin into something younger and more luminous! Hell yeah - count me in.

I have been using the serum as directed (nights and mornings on clean skin prior to moisturiser) for the last 5 days. It has a light scent but nothing too nause inducing. Plus it hasn't broken me out (as yet - touch wood!) or made my eyes stream (a la the L'Oreal Collagen cream)  which is always my biggest fear when trialling new products. No "wow I look 10 years younger" moments yet - but its a serum not a wizard!

I'll keep you updated on how I progress with it! 

until next time.............xo