BEAUTY: Lookfantastic haul

As the Starks of Winterfell are want of saying, winter is coming! Which can only mean one thing... No, not time to prepare for war with the Lannisters, but time to take extra skin care precautions! This year I have treated myself to a couple of things from Lookfantastic.com. If you haven't discovered this online beauty shop, CHECK IT OUT NOW! 

Lookfantastic have a great spectrum of affordable beauty products. The range is just immense. There are great  customer reviews of most of the products, which helped me decide if I was buying the right product for my particular skin. It's not the first time I have treated myself from their website and definitely won't be the last. Delivery was super speedy too. Brilliant!

Check out what I bought below . . .

 Magnitone Lucid in Sunshine Yellow

My skin has been causing me despair with regular breakouts of acne and dry and oily skin (urgh... why can't it be one or the other!). With this in mind, I decided to get a Magnitone Lucid. Basically, its a deep cleansing and exfoliation brush you use daily to give you a softer, smoother complexion (yes please!). The brush normally retails at £69.99 but I got it for only £35 on Lookfantastic.com . . . Bargino!

Clinique Liquid Facial Soap Extra Mild

My skin care regime has always been a bit hap hazard. Being in my (*ahem*; early) 30s I wanted a face wash that wasn't going to dry my skin out. This one from Clinique is fantastic. It's extremely light on the skin but still really efficient at removing make-up. It's not a particularly foamy wash and I think because of this it doesn't dry out your skin. However, because it doesn't lather very well, I wouldn't recommend it for using with the Magnitone Lucid. I've never really considered buying Clinique before as I always thought it would be out of my price range but was very pleasantly surprised that it only cost £11.

Sukin Sensitive Facial Moisturiser

I've been looking for a new moisturizer for a while and I think I've FINALLY found it! Sukin is a well known Australian brand with a mantra that reads 'Skincare that doesn't cost the Earth'. It's very affordable at £8.10 for 125ml bottle. It feels very light, yet extremely absorbing. A little bit goes a long way with this so just a small amount is enough for your face and neck. This paraben free, natural mix of shea butter and aloe vera with rosehip, sesame and jojoba oils is ideal for sensitive skin.

Lookfantastic Beauty Box

Every month Lookfantastic release a new beauty box containing at least 6 surprise items (worth £55). Luckily I got mine for free as Lookfantastic were offering a free box on all purchases over £50. You can buy these separately (£15) or sign up to a monthly subscription (£11.25).  Needless to say, I was just a little bit excited to see what I would get! 

In my mystery box I received . . .

• Travel size Bliss Fabulous Foaming Face Wash
• 60ml tube of Tanworx Tan Maintainer
• 50ml bottle of Professional Sebastian Shampoo
• 50ml bottle of Professional Sebastian Conditioner
• 30ml bottle Phytokeratine - an intense leave-in repair mask for your hair
• Sample of Vinosource Moisturizing Sorbet
• Sample of Vinosource SOS Thirst Quenching Serum
• 25ml tube of Codage Scrubbing Cream

I received 8 items in this box and I haven't had the chance to try all of them yet. So far I have loved the Bliss face wash and Sebastian shampoo and conditioner. I think these boxes are such a great idea as it allows you to try things that you wouldn't normally buy. The packaging gives a real sense of quality too and your hit with an amazing aroma from the goodies within when you open the box!

This past week my  routine has consisted of using the Clinique liquid facial soap to remove any dirt and makeup, and then I've been using the Bliss foaming face wash with the Magnitone Lucid, finishing off with the Sukin moisturizer. My skin seems to be coping well with this new regime, and is looking brighter and firmer in result. Keep an eye out for my next beauty post, The 7 day Magnitone Challenge, where I will be showing the results of my new gadget!

I would love to hear if you have any tips on how you cope with the colder months. Have you tried any of these products yet? Let me know in the comments below.

Big love!

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REVIEW: MatchNails

Hello lovelies! I hope that you all had a wonderful half-term and, like me, are now basking in the wonderful silence of a child free house! I had a fun, busy week with Molly but was ready and eager to get back to blogging this morning. I have some very exciting blog posts coming up... I met up with Brighton blogger, Sarah Harris, last week and got some great shots of her wearing THE dress I altered for her. So be sure to return later in the week for my post on that!

Have you heard of MatchNails? Let me introduce you .  .  .

Just before half-term I was invited to visit new nail bar, MatchNails, situated in the heart of the Laines. I jumped at the chance to have a little me time and this little haven was the perfect place for pampering. On the way to my appointment I almost couldn't find the salon as it's tucked away from the hustle and bustle above the handbag and shoe boutique, MatchBags. On arrival I was met by beautician, Verity, who led me up to the nail salon. I was notably distracted on the way up by beautiful Italian leather handbags, on sale on the first and second floor (see pics below on a few of my fave).

On entering the treatment room I was instantly met by the tranquil, light and airy atmosphere. There were two luxury massage chairs in front of an inviting fireplace and a small nail bar for those wanting a quick manicure. I decided to have a Basic OPI gel manicure which entailed nail shaping, cuticle care, hand massage and polish of my choice. This was my first gel manicure so I was excited to find out if it would really last 2-3 weeks with no chips.

The colour I went for was 'OPI on Collins Ave'. I love the red-orange tones! My current favourite lipstick is Mac's Morange and I thought it would compliment my new nails nicely. The service was really good as well, Verity made me feel instantly relaxed and expertly shaped and buffed my nails in prep for my first coat of nail varnish. Once painted, they were cured under a UV lamp. This causes them to dry and harden within seconds.

It's now been 2 weeks since I had my nails done and they've done pretty well considering the bashing they've been through. Baking, making, day trips and nights out - nothing has chipped away at this polish! Only one of the nails has a chip and you can see how much my nails have grown since the treatment too. I love the fact they still have their shine as well. Being a busy mother means I don't always find the time to paint my nails, especially when they only last a day or two, so I don't do it as much as I would like. So, this is the perfect lazy girl manicure for me! I'm just hoping this isn't going to be very damaging to my nails especially as the only way to remove the polish is by having a nail soak.

Have you had a gel manicure before?

Big love,

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BEAUTY: Retro hair on a bad hair day

Howdy peeps, and welcome to my first attempt at vlogging! Having made videos in the past, I was in two minds about dabbling in 'talkies' and the experience has definitely been a learning curve, with lots of cussing and tears when editing wasn't going my way. But I did it! WHOOP WHOOP!

In this little tutorial I show you a quick and easy way to style retro bangs and also how to tie a headscarf in true Rosie the Riveter style. It's a perfect up-do when your having a bad hair day. 

If you have any questions please comment below. 

Big love!

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REVIEW: Tai Hair & Beauty

Nestled in deepest-darkest Hove, there's a little secret safe haven amongst the hustle and bustle of Blatchington Road,where you can go and have some 'me' time. A suburban oasis where you can check all your baggage at the door, submerse yourself in luxury and forget all the woes of the daily grind. Tai Hair & Beauty have a fantastic team, offering you a range of treatments from manicures to waxes, cut & colour to massages. I was picked from a selection of bloggers to experience some of their treatments first-hand. It was an offer I couldn't refuse. 

Whilst pouring over Tai's available treatments I noticed they offered a Deluxe Crystal Clear Microdermabrasion and with new-found skin woes (thanks 30s!) I wasn't too sure what to expect. Perhaps this was the solution I'd been seeking? To compliment the microdermabrasion I also booked myself in for a one hour Hot Stone Massage. Divine! 

On arriving, I was pleasantly surprised by the friendly and relaxed atmosphere. Having gone through a refurbishment 2 years ago. The decor was modern, clean and slick. The place was buzzing with lots of happy customers having their hair done and nails polished to perfection on the ground floor hairdressers and nail bar. Upstairs was very tranquil by comparison and this is where the other treatments are performed.

RECEPTION

NAIL BAR & HAIRDRESSERS

My therapist for the day, the lovely Alicia, was waiting to greet me and after a brief consultation we started off my treatments with the Hot Stone Massage. For those that don't know, this treatment involves using smooth, round stones heated up to 60 degrees and then cooled in cold water to get them to the perfect temperature. The stones are then placed on certain parts of the body to relieve and warm aching muscles. Alicia deftly used these as an extension of her hands to massage and knead any problematic areas on my back, using a grape seed and geranium oil that smelt A-MAZING. I was in heaven! I found it SO relaxing I almost fell asleep!

So, with me all sleepy and relaxed we moved on to the microdermabrasion. This involved using Crystal Clear equipment that sucks and blows crystals on to the surface of your skin. This gently exfoliates the skin (removing the top 3 layers), reducing wrinkles and any open pores resulting in a fresh, rejuvenated finish. A setting mask is applied to cool, firm and nourish the skin. The mask is left on for 25min, allowing me time to give in to the sleepy feeling from my previous treatment and have a little cat nap, taking in the calming sounds being played in our treatment room.

MOROCCAN OIL

CRYSTAL CLEAR

A week on from my treatment and my skin is feeling and looking amazing. It looks a lot clearer and small lines around my eyes and mouth have been reduced. It's the first time in ages I've been comfortable not wearing make-up, so I will definitely make the time to have further microdermabrasion treatment in the future. Have you ever had a microdermabrasion or hot stone massage before?

Ta ta for now,

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REVIEW: Bésame Cake Mascara

I love experimenting with make-up but always seem to return to one look. The cat eye look. I've been wearing black eyeliner as everyday makeup for as long as I can remember and have experimented with different brands and products. I've gone from pencil to liquid to gel and have never been quite happy with the results. Now, I think I've discovered something better... it's called cake mascara!

Bésame Cosmetics have been making beautiful vintage inspired make-up in Southern California since 2004. They now have a new distributor in the UK, Vintage Hair Lounge, making it incredibly easy to get your mitts on their wonderful products and you don't have to pay the hefty shipping cost either!  

End of last year, Bésame, launched a new versatile product that was inspired by the solid cream form that was hugely popular in the 1930s and used by Hollywood actresses like Clara Bow. It has been recreated for the modern age, making it gentler on the eyes and much, much easier to remove! Available in either black or brown, you can use the cake mascara as an eyeliner, mascara or even as an eyebrow enhancer. It comes all packaged in a beautiful compact, with a handy dual sided applicator for mascara and eyeliner use. Making it very reasonable priced at £22.

Clara Bow

To use it as a mascara, dip the mascara-wand end of your applicator into some water and rub into the solid cream until you get the right consistency. Then, simply apply to eye lashes like a normal mascara. You can apply just one layer if all you want is a natural look or you can add layers for a more dramatic effect. To use as an eyeliner, simply do the same but use the brush end of your applicator, again, using layers to get the desired effect.

I quite simply adore this product! It's incredibly light on the eyes and doesn't irritate at all. The mascara doesn't clump together when applied, giving a very natural look. The applicator provided is easy to use and to clean, simply by rinsing in water after use. Making the product incredibly hygienic, as there is no risk of getting build up on your wand, which is common with normal mascaras. 

I was dubious about it being smudge proof as my skin can get quite oily, which usually results in me getting a smudge line in the crease of my eyelid. However, I was very pleasantly surprised and had none of this when I used the cake mascara. Even after a day of running around town picking up clothes for a shoot and collecting my daughter from school, everything was still where I left it! That is a clear winner for me!

Something else you can try, which is particularly effective for photo shoots, is to apply a small amount to your eyebrows. Bold eyebrows are quite on trend at the moment and have been wanting to give it a whirl for some time. You can see the before and after results above. It's going to take some getting used to but I think it's quite effective. Looking at these photos now, I think all I needed to complete this look is a small beauty spot!

Have you ever tried using a cake mascara before?

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PART 3: Christmas DIY Nails with Kerri Lown

WE USED: Professional Nail Art Pen + Brush in black, white and gold, Nina Ultra Pro in Cobalt, Louise Gray by Topshop in Junkyard, Nails by Topshop in Panther and 17 Fast Finish in Knock Out Red

 

1. Paint 2 coats of a dark blue nail varnish on your little finger. We used.... Then paint 2 coats of red on the rest of your fingers.

 

 2. Once your base colours are dry, apply a glitter nail varnish to the tips of your index, middle and ring finger. We used

3. Next we will be adding details of Santa's coat to the thumb. Use your nail art pens to do this; gold for the buckle, black for the belt and white for the buttons and trim. 

 4. Fill in the belt with the black nail art pen.

 5. With the black nail art pen write 'Ho' on the index, middle and ring finger.

 6. Using the white nail art pen, fill in the trim of Santa's coat.

7. Add detail of snow to the little finger

8. Once everything is dry, apply a clear top coat.

 ✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩

So that was the last design! Have fun with your nails this Christmas. Don't forget to take a snap of your Christmas nails and upload them to Instagram, along with the tag #HMOXmasNails. Also, thank you to Ella Turner for being my hand model, wasn't she fabulous? Will be doing more nail DIYs in the new year so watch this space :)

Merry Christmas everybody!

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