Barry M 'Pink Flamingo'

Hey guys, sorry I've been absent from my blog for past couple of weeks but life has been pretty cray, and I've had to put my energy into other things, but I should be back for a while now that I'm on study leave. Anyway enough of the ramble and lets get on with this review! I've had this shade in my collection for about a year now and I still can't put my finger on this colour because initially it looks like a coraly-pink and then in some lights it turns to a bright almost neon colour. I would definitely call it a Barbie Pink.

Formula wise it is quite thin so I did have to use two-three coats to get a fully opaque colour and on top I used my Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat, which made the polish have a nice shine to it. As I'm typing this, it's my third day of wearing it and it's showing minor signs of wear at the tips but it's nothing major. I think this colour just shouts spring/summer nails, and I think it will suit every skin tone. I'd say it took about five minutes for it to be completely dry as I used a top coat and a dry spray.

I love this shade as it's good quality for the £2.99 price tag which you can buy at Boots or Superdrug.

Do you like this shade?

Sam x

Nail Of The Day #8

Hey guys, today I thought I would do a quick post and tell you what's on my tips. On my nails today I have got Barry M nail paint in 'Pink Flamingo'. The colour is like an almost neon coral with more pink undertones than orange which I love as already I feel more summery.

What's on your digits?

Sam x

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Spring/Summer Nails

Hey guys, today I thought I would share with you my favourite nail trends for Spring 2014, I've seen a lot floating around, so I've narrowed it down to my top 5.

01. Lego Nails

This is a trend that was sported with Burberry and Prabal Gurung. It's all about the primary colours like red, blue, yellow and of course vibrant orange which are more popular than the usual neon shades.

02. Pastels
Of course I had to mention this trend, pastels are everywhere I go. But this time around they've taken a milky approach.

03. Natural Nails
The most elegant trend of the bunch I think. Keep your nails short and use a conditioning treatment and go 'naked' or if you have a light shimmer shade put that on your tips for a classy touch.

04. Stripes
I love me a striped nail whether it be a diagonal stripe, horizontal stripe or vertical stripe, I just love it. I think it's such a quick and easy nail art to achieve.

05. A Modern Mani
Out with the pink and white horizontal lines and in with the sheer nails and bold diagonal lines.

What is your favourite nail trend?
Sam x

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Wet To Dry Hair Care Routine

Hey guys, today I'm going to talk about my wet to dry hair care routine. I'm not going to mention the shampoo and conditioner I use as I've got a post coming up which will go into this. To start of with I wash my hair, put it into a hair towel and let it sit in the towel for five minutes which is long enough for me to moisturise and get dressed. 

So firstly, I put a couple of sprays of Tresemme Heat Defence Styling Spray in my hair, as you should always protect your hair from heat as it can damage your hair which isn't good! I love it as it smells amazing, and I have tried other heat sprays but they've left my hair greasy whereas this one doesn't no matter how many sprays you put in your hair.

Then after I've protected my hair, I put a little of the Toni and Guy Shine Gloss Serum in my hair so it controls any frizz that I have and it gives my hair a nice shine, when I apply this I do it from the mid section to the ends of my hair, avoiding the roots as it can make the top section of your head greasy.

Then once I've prepped my hair I blowdry my hair using the Revlon Cord Magic Hair Dryer, I've had this for about six years now and I don't think I'll be needing to replace it any time soon. It blow dries my hair so quickly, I don't do my hair in any fancy way, I put my head upside down and blow dry the ends of my hair then when it's dry, I then blow dry the top of my head.

What's your haircare routine?

Sam x

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Current Skincare Routine

Hey guys, today's post is going to be about my updated skincare routine. So about a month ago my skin was like 'girlfriend I hate the skincare and makeup products you've been using so I'm going to be spotty and make your face red and blotchy', so I cut out the middleman, no makeup and no toning, spot treatment or serum and see if my skin recovered, and it did after about a week, I made sure that I was drinking enough and sleeping well, which I think I made the healing process speed up which was definitely a bonus. I only used a cleanser and a moisturiser as I still wanted to have some kind of routine but not as heavy duty as what I had before. 

So for cleanser I have been using the Garnier Fresh Essentials Refreshing Cleansing Lotion which you can buy from Boots and most supermarkets. I love this cleanser because it removes all traces of makeup even waterproof mascara and I find that it doesn't leave my eye area irritated at all, it smells amazing, very refreshing and isn't overpowering at all. I have also noticed that a lot of people have started to compliment my skin saying how clear it is which is such a relief after dealing with almost the worst skin for 2-3 weeks. The texture of this product is light and smooth which made application really easy(I put a blob on a cotton wool pad and then massage it onto my face, these pads from Boots are the best ones ever)

And for moisturiser I have been using the Simple Kind To Skin Replenishing Rich Moisturiser. I love this because it makes my skin feel so smooth. As with all of the Simple products it's odourless. It is thick and white but becomes colourless when applied onto the skin and it takes 3-4 minutes for it to sink into the skin. And if you have any dry patches this will work really well for you, as it provides such a deep moisturisation. 

What's your skincare routine?
Sam x

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A Little Update

Hey guys, so I have a couple of things that I want to share with you so, I'd better get started..

First up my blog might be a little drier than normal for the next couple of months as it's coming up to the beginning of exam season which means sweating my bum off revising for Food Technology and finishing coursework for Art and Textiles, and I get very stressed when under pressure, so I just want to say that my blog will have to take a back seat for a while just so I can do the best I can.

Secondly, with the #NoMakeUpSelfie trending in the UK, I wanted to share my selfie with you and please donate anything you can, it can help research the cures for cancer so millions of people in the world don't have to lose their battle with cancer. You can donate here and find more about cancer here.

Have a good weekend and I'll put a post up when I can,

Sam x

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Favourite Pins #1 Saint Patrick's Day

Hey guys, today I'm going to talk about the love of my life at the minute and that is Pinterest, I'm obsessed with the architecture, interior design, fashion and of course the food. But as today is St Patrick's day, I thought I would share with you my favourite pins for this occasion.

Top Left: I love having quotes in photo frames as I think it has a really nice effect and I thought that was a really cute idea and I think it would look so good in a rustic frame as well.

Middle: A cheeky little cocktail that looks very nice and you can find the recipe here.

Top Right: How cute is that design?

Bottom Left: No words apart from gimme some!

Bottom Right: This would be such a good idea for children or as a good bag for a party.

All of these pins and a few extra are on my Saint Patrick's Day board which you can find here.

Have a good evening!

Sam x

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Empties #1

Hey guys, today I thought I would share with you my empties as I've used up a few products and I want to share them with you. 

L'oreal Hair Expertise Ever Sleek Shampoo and L'oreal Hair Expertise Ever Riche Conditioner 

(currently on offer at Superdrug!)

First up we have the shampoo, it smells amazing, and it's the perfect shampoo as it contains no sulphates or silicones, and doesn't strip the hair of natural oils. It lathers up like a beauty and my hair felt amazing and I could get away without washing it for three days but as I got further down the bottle it started to make my hair mega greasy on the first day of washing which wasn't good(but I'm not sure if it's from the shampoo or conditioner)

Next is the conditioner, which again it smells amazing, it smells like a concoction of vanilla, caramel and apricot, it has a really thick creamy texture and it feels that it's really conditioning my hair. But same as the shampoo it made my hair really greasy(but I'm not sure if it's from the shampoo or conditioner)

Next up is the Soap And Glory Clean On Me Clarifying Shower Gel

I love this shower gel and I will definitely repurchase it as it smells amazing (think of the traditional pink scent from them) and the scent does linger for about one-two hours. It lathers up nicely although I do use a lot so I get the foaminess I like, and it feels really moisturising like it adds another layer to my skin, which is good as I have eczema and it stops me from scratching my skin. 

So, the shower gel gets a thumbs up from me but the shampoo and conditioner not so much. Have you tried these products?

Sam x

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Nail Of The Day #7

Hey guys, so I haven't done a nail of the day post in a while so I thought today I would. On my nails today I have got Barry M Gelly nail paint in 'Dragon Fruit' and then I did an accent nail on my ring fingers using a nail art pen.

(P.S. Never attempt to do a heart in the dark, it might look shocking like mine..)

Have a good day/evening!

Sam x

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Wishlist: Jo Malone Peony & Blush Suede Collection

Hey guys, today I'm talking to you about my latest scent love which comes from Jo Malone and it's the Peony & Blush Suede Collection. I had a sample of this in a Vogue magazine which I've just got around to using, it contains notes of red apple, jasmine, rose and gillyflower and of course Peony. Now I'm not one for floral scents I prefer a fruity scent, so I'm surprised that I like it but I think I like it because of the red apple scent which is prominent in the fragrance that I'm now hooked. So if anyone has a spare £200 lying around I'd happily take it of your hands so I can buy the candle, body crème and cologne..

Do you like this fragrance?

Sam x

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Worth The Hype? Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat

Hey guys, so today I'm going to talk with you about the pros and cons of 'that infamous top coat' that every ones mother, brother and sister knows about. It retails for £9.00 at Boots and is acknowledged as the worlds most finest top coat. Seche say 'Its patented formula allows it to penetrate through the nail lacquer to the base coat forming a single solid coating over the nail plate for a much more durable finish which is guaranteed not to yellow.'

PROS:

- I did give a really nice glossy finish to my nails although I did notice that on the third/fourth day it had lost its shine and it had a semi-matte finish.

- It gave my nails a gel-like finish no matter how cheap or expensive the nail polish was.

- It made some nail polishes last a day longer (most nail polishes last around 3-4 days on me as I'm extremely hand heavy with taking A Level Art, Textiles and Food Technology, typing and doing housework)

- It does dry within seconds although the first 20-30 minutes are prone to wear marks.

CONS:

- I found that it did streak on some nails but maybe that was because I didn't use enough product (when using this you need a bubble to fall of on the end of the brush and then apply that to the nail, and as a result I have some blue nail polish in the bottom of my bottle)

- I found that it did shrink on some nails when I had to use more than three coats, which wasn't that noticeable but when I had noticed it did bug me.

- I have noticed that it has made my nail polish more prone to peeling. 

So overall, it's a nice product but I don't see why people are obsessed with it, but hey, each to their own. Have you tried this top coat?

Sam x

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Statement Necklace Storage

Hey guys, today I thought I would share with you where I keep all my everyday statement necklaces. I saw this on Pinterest and I thought it was a brilliant idea. At the minute it lives upright on my floor as I haven't had time to put it up on my wall, I'm also thinking of sticking a wallpaper pattern on the cork board and painting the border white or black, so it looks more nice and will fit in with my bedroom decor.

One of my favourites for spring.

How do you store your necklaces?

Sam x

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First Impressions: Glossybox January 2014

Hey guys, so today I'm going to be doing a first impressions/review of Januarys Glossybox.  Inside the box you get 5 samples of either beauty, nails, hair-care, skin-care or a fragrance. You also get a magazine and a little card saying what products you get and how much a full sized product is. It's £12.95 a month including post and packaging, you can check out more of their plans here.

Yu-Be Moisturising Skin Cream - £19.50 for full size

When I saw two tiny tubes of this I cried a little, why couldn't the company just make a bigger tube? And it made me feel prejudice towards this brand, but I read the information sheet it came with and thought ah that's why the tubes are so small. As the sheet says that a little goes a long way and you can use it on any dry areas, so I put a speck of it on my finger and rubbed it in my lips and I could almost instantly feel it sink in. So overall, it's not as bad as what I was expecting.

Balance Me Super Toning Body Wash - £10.25 for full size

I was intrigued by this as I've always wanted to try this brand but never have so it's nice to see this in there. The body wash smells fruity but it's also got something else in there which I like, the scent smells like it's something you would use in the evening time. So I'm excited to try this.

The Vintage Cosmetic Company Floral Slanted Tweezers - £8.00 for full size

When I saw this advertised on Glossybox's website I just instantly knew that it would be from the Vintage Cosmetic Company and I wasn't wrong, booyah! I really love the pretty vintage floral pattern and it has sharp ends meaning it can get all of those pesky hairs.

Anatomicals Puffy The Eye Bag Slayer Wake-up Under Eye Patches - £6.00 for three packs

Well wasn't that a mouthful! I haven't used it yet but I will when I need to de puff my eyes and it might even be a cheap alternative to Skyn ICELAND Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels.

Montagne Jeunesse Passion Peel Off Masque and Blemish Mud Masque - £1.00 per mask

As soon as I seen this it instantly reminded me of my secondary school years, when my friends and I would have have sleepovers and watch films, paint each others nails, give makeovers and all that jazz. So it'll be nice to put them on again and think of the memories.

Were you happy with this months Glossybox? Was there any different items in your box?

Sam x

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Hi, My Name Is Sam And...

... I'm a coffee addict. Yes I'm going to share my latest love with you all. I love Coffee. It all started when I was at Sixth Form and I had a free period and there's nothing to do at my sixth form and I had no work to do, so I strolled to Starbucks as a treat for myself. And a tradition was born. About a year ago I would go twice a week because of my timetable but now I only go every other week which is a big improvement, every time I went I would try something new, so one week I would have normal cappuccino, latte,  latte macchiato and the list goes on.. And then one day I got a caramel latte and oh my god I have never tasted anything better in my life and ever since that moment that is the only thing I get from there apart from their Caramel Frappuccino. And I've been trying to recreate their Latte ever since. Enter Caramel syrup and Nescafe sachets.

I always knew these sachets were around, I just never got around to buying them, until they were on offer and I thought why not. I first tried the Caramel Latte, which I loved and then I tried the Cappuccino which I didn't mind but it wasn't my favourite so I then bought Caramel syrup to have with it and it tasted amazing. And then by happy accident I picked up vanilla latte box and wow, I was literally in love. I often don't like vanilla tasting food/drink as it often tastes quite sickly but in the coffee there's only a subtle hint of it.

Are you on team coffee or team tea?

Sam x

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New Year Resolutions

Hey guys, today I thought I would share my new years resolutions with you all, I don't tend to start my resolutions until I go back to Sixth Form as I'm still in 'holiday' mood and I won't get out of it until  I go back, so my resolutions start today. I have three in total so lets get cracking!

01. Drink More Water And Less Diet Coke. 

During my last term at Sixth Form, every now and then I swapped my Diet Coke bottle with a bottle of flavoured water and I could feel the difference in my body and skin, so I really want to continue with that as my body will thank me for it later on. Now, I am a huge lover of diet coke and fizzy drinks, I could drink two bottles a day if I had the chance. And I know it's bad for my teeth and health and is probably prolonging me from having my braces taken off, which is why I want to cut back on the amount I drink, so from this day forward I will only drink Diet Coke if it's a special occasion like seeing family or going out for a meal etc. 

02.Switch It Up A Little.

I am stuck in a style rut, every morning I will pull out a pair of leggings(sometimes jeans), a jumper and a statement necklace and a pair of boots and I'm out the door, so this year I want to switch it up and wear skirts and dresses more often. Another thing I want to do is get out of my monochrome phase, I love wearing black purely because I think it suits me but I use the reasoning 'It goes with everything' which I can imagine is annoying to hear as it's annoying to say..

03. Do Some Exercise.

Ever since Sixth Form I'm more lazier than ever and super unfit, I can get out of breath just by running just 20 steps down my road.. So I'm going to start going swimming, I loved swimming as a child so I want to continue with it another thing I want to do is squats and sit ups which will help to tone my stomach and thighs.

What are your New Years Resolutions?

Sam x

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December Favourites

Hey guys, today I'm going to be sharing with you my December favourites, I have a mix of makeup, hair care, fragrance and box sets.

Lets start off with make-up, I'm particularly loving the Maybelline The Volum' Express Falsies Flared Mascara it just gives me the most winged out eyelashes ever, it also makes my lashes longer and thicker.

Another make-up item I have been loving this month is the Nuxe Rêve de Miel Lip Balm, given that the weather has changed my lips have been feeling the chilly weather and are chapped most evenings so I put this on before I go to bed and when I wake up I have soft lips and no dryness in sight. I have done a more detailed review here.

In terms of hair care I have been loving the Tresemme Heat Defence Styling Spray. It smells amazing, it's lasted me a long time and I've also seen a difference in the ends of my hair as I've been using it religiously for the past 6-7 months and only now I'm starting to reach the bottom of the bottle. I have tried other heat sprays but they've left my hair greasy whereas this one doesn't.

Moving onto nails, I'm particularly loving the Maybelline Forever Strong Nail Polish line, It applies beautifully although you do have to do two coats if you want a fully opaque wash of colour and it dries quickly. This colour in particular is one of my most used shades, as for me it's the perfect 'I-don't-know-what-nail-colour-to-wear-but-I'm-in-the-mood-to-wear-this' colour.

My next favourite is Katy Perry's Killer Queen perfume, I received a mini sample of this in a Glossybox and I have been hooked ever since and luckily when it ran out I had got given a bottle for Christmas. The scent is so soft, sensual and feminine, I do think it's more of an evening fragrance but I often wear it in the day and get compliments when I do.

My next favourites are two box sets, I received both of these as a Christmas present as I adore these with a huge passion. Ever since I went to the Harry Potter Studios back in July I have been hooked on watching the films but I've been borrowing my neighbours so my mum thought it was about time that I had my own set. Another thing that my mum got me was The Big Bang Theory box set, I love this so much, I watch it all the time and if I watched the first 5 minutes of an episode I could probably tell you what happened in the episode and have a guess as to what it is called too, yes I am one sad human being...

So these were my favourites, what were yours?

Sam x

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