Olympia Beauty Show 2013

One of my favourite places to go is the beauty show, I go to Excel in February and Olympia in September. For those of you who don't know what it is, it's where beauty brands go to exhibit their products/makeup/nail polishes etc and you can buy them at trade prices or on special show offers. I love looking around at everything and having a girly day out with my friends! 

After getting the train and the tube, we arrived at Olympia at about 10.15am and were surprised that we could walk straight in as we usually have to queue up outside for ages. Once we had our name badges, first stop was NYX Cosmetics which was very quiet( glad we went there first as the queues for it were crazy the rest of the day). 

I bought a set of ten lipglosses, 2 eyeliners and a lipstick. The huge OPI stand is always in the middle of Olympia but we resisted going to it until after lunch as its always so manic, you need to get your elbows out to be in with a chance of actually getting to the polish stands! Although by the time we went there, I was getting so annoyed and tired of the crowds that I just adopted the same technique as most of the shoppers- just shove your way through and push people out of the way haha! I lost count of the amount of times someone tried to take me out with a swipe of their basket to the back of my knees or an elbow in the ribs! I bought a base coat, 5 nail colours, an Avoplex oil and a mango Avojuice. 

Two of the girls we went with needed to go to the S2 stand to stock up on Shellac but the queue was 3 hours long so they gave up in the end and bought OPI Gel Color instead. After a visit to the Eve Taylor stand for some facial wash and a massage candle, we went to buy some products at Australian Bodycare. We had decided to leave this one to last as we always buy litre bottles of their Skinwash and Hand and Body Lotion, I didn't fancy carrying them around all morning. 

We were disappointed that Leighton Denny wasn't there as I needed a new nail file and always like looking at his new polish collections. Big facial brands like Decleor and Guinot never go to Olympia as they exhibit at Excel every February and I'm already looking forward to going there! 

Bourjois Color Boost Lipstick

Everyone has been raving about these Color Boosts so I picked one up when I went to Boots a few weeks back. A lot of drugstore brands are now bringing these lipsticks out and I'm assuming they're modelled on Clinique Chubby Sticks as the packaging is very similar. One of the Clinique ones is sold every few minutes or something crazy like that, amazing when you think of it!! 

The colour of the packaging mimics the colour of the lipstick inside so mine is a peach colour as I bought 'Peach on the Beach'. It apparently lasts 10 hours which I don't think is necessary although I won't find out if it lasts that long as I'm constantly nibbling my lips and licking them! They do contain an SPF of 15 which is good for holidays etc as I like to have something pretty on my lips while I'm out and about in the sun. 

The colour pay off is good, I only need a few swipes of it across my lips to achieve the colour I want. I will probably only continue wearing it while the sun is still out as it's a summery colour and I tend to wear reds or darker colours in winter. 

Cowshed Grumpy Cow Uplifting Body Lotion

This was one of the products I included in my Drugstore and Tk Maxx Haul post and I finally got round to using it for the first time a few weeks ago. All the Cowshed products are Paraben, petrochemical and sulphate free and suitable for vegetarians. They do a whole 'Grumpy Cow' range which includes candles/room diffusers, bath and body oils/lotions and shampoos and conditioners. This is only the second Cowshed product I have tried but I would like the candles so might add those to my birthday list! 

The packaging has the trademark Cowshed label and design and is an almost see through bottle so you can see when it's empty. The combination of essential oils- red mandarin, petit grain and grapefruit make this a very fresh and light body lotion which soaks in almost immediately. I'm quite picky with body products as I hate it when I've put it on and it doesn't soak in properly or smells funny on my skin after a while. This body lotion is really nice because the smell doesn't disappear, it stays on your skin for hours and it also doesn't mix with my fake tan and create an awful biscuit aroma! (You know what I'm talking about). I've really been making the effort to moisturise my body before I go to bed as usually I do my face, neck and hands but can never be bothered to do the rest of me. Very lazy for a Beauty Therapist I know! This comes in a 500ml size which is perfect for a body lotion and it also doesn't have an annoying screw top which a few of the ones I own do have. 

Xx

Avon Maxi Tan - tan enhancing oil spray

I have recently got into using Avon products and I typically get addicted to flicking through the catalogue to find something else I can buy! I read about this product online when I searched for tan enhancing sprays. I still use my SPF but I just spray this underneath. The reviews for this product aren't very good online but I thought I would give it a go as I only paid £3.60 for it! 

I was pleasantly surprised by it on holiday, it was greasy but only if I used too much and I was only lying in one place most of the time :). I think it made a difference to my tan and I seemed to hold onto a decent colour for a while after I got back from my holiday. I have olive skin anyway though and my skin is quite tough in the sun, some people said they came up in a rash when they used this product but I have had no problems at all and will definitely use it on my next holiday. 

Facemasks I'm loving!

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I've always been really into my facemasks and will try any brands if they work. These are just 3 of my favourite ones I find myself going back to time and time again. 

Decleor 

I have two favourite facemasks from Decleor that I use on a weekly basis. I love Decleor products as they are the first brand I worked with when I started at my first salon aged 15 so I'm a bit biased. When I had facials at the salon, I would always have the Aroma Purete 2 in 1 Purifying and Oxygenating Mask applied to my skin as it is oily and a little bit congested along my t-zone. This mask has tiny beads in it that exfoliate dead skin cells away that could be blocking your pores, jojoba for hydration and bamboo to remove impurities and mattify the skin. I leave this on for ten minutes before adding a little water and using the beads to gently exfoliate. There is no tightness on the skin while this mask is on which is great as some masks for oily skin tend to dry it out. 

My next Decleor mask is the Hydra Floral Anti-Pollution 'Flower Essence' Moisturising Mask. Phew what a long winded name for a product! I love this mask on my cheeks where I sometimes get dry patches or eczema and on my neck (very important to use products down to your décolleté!). It has a very refreshing feeling to it and is very comfortable on my skin, I'm tempted to leave it on for longer than the recommended 5-10 minutes as it makes my skin feel so nice! 

Elemis Fruit Active Rejuvenating Mask- I bought this originally to use on my clients as I hadn't really decided which facial brand I wanted to use. I have since chosen Eve Taylor for my facials so now I get to use this mask on my skin! :) the description on the back of the tube says "ideal before special occasions to restore a glowing complexion, or when the skin is looking tired or dull". My skin tends to look dull this time of year and this mask is just what I need to get it looking healthy again. Some if the Elemis products don't suit my skin but this one seems ok along with the peels and exfoliators. I leave this one on for 10-15 minutes and rinse it off with warm water. 

Xx

Vichy Aqualia Thermal Roll-on Eye Gel

Anyone who knows me knows I have been going on and on about buying an eye cream, even my clients are sick of me moaning about my dehydration lines and dark circles! I had looked online at countless different brands but couldn't decide which one to buy. It wasn't until I went into Boots and looked at all the skincare available that I settled on this one from Vichy. I hadn't even thought about looking at Vichy products as I don't really know much about them but this one states that it reduces dark circles, puffiness and dehydration lines so is clearly the right one for me. 

All Vichy products are fragrance and paraben free, allergy tested and also tested on contact lense wearers (me being one of them) which I hadn't thought to check for when I was researching eye products. It contains thermal water, hyaluronic acid, dextran sulfate and escin( horse chestnut extract). Horse chestnut is used in a lot of eye creams and gels as it boosts circulation and thickens the delicate under eye area therefore reducing the appearance of dark circles. 

The thing I love most about this product is that it is a roll on. This is such a great idea, I don't know why all eye creams and gels don't have them instead of annoying screw tops that get messy. It's so much easier to take the lid off and roll the ball under my eyes, its so refreshing and feels like it instantly soothes and cools. Within a week of using this, the dehydration lines disappeared and my eyes didn't look as puffy. 

I definitely recommend this product and now want to try other products in the Vichy range. 

Xx

My First Glossybox!

Eeeeeek! I received my first ever Glossybox today! I was so excited when I looked at my emails yesterday to find one telling me the Glossybox had been dispatched and I should expect it in a few days. I had wanted to try them for ages as I know a few people that are subscribed to receive one every month but I was always worried about spending money on a luxury as opposed to a necessity. We have been trying to save as much as possible for our house fund (within reason-I still like my takeaways and clothes!) but Tom, my boyfriend, has very kindly bought a six month subscription for me as an early birthday present... Very early as its in November! I'm very grateful though as it means I can now not feel guilty about receiving a box every month as its a gift and I didn't buy it myself :). 

Look how gorgeous the box looks with its Union Jack print.. 

I was very excited to see it was wrapped in tissue paper, sealed with a sticker and a bow! 

After unwrapping what felt like a Christmas present (I don't get many these days), I was greeted with 5 products. I was pleasantly surprised to see I could and will actually use all of them. I received a pack of Eylure false lashes, Be A Bombshell eye liner in Onyx, a sample size of Elizabeth Arden Untold fragrance, Dr Lipp nipple cream for lips( have to say the name made me cringe a little) and I bottle of Toni and Guy Shine Gloss Serum. 

I am actually looking forward to using all of the items and I may create a blog post of a makeup look involving the lashes and the liner. Funnily enough it was only yesterday that I thought about buying a liquid eye liner as it dawned on me that I don't have one in my pro makeup kit so I hope this one performs as good as it looks! It looks like a sharpie marker pen with what looks like a sturdy tip for precision lining, can't wait to do a cats eye look! 

I'm also always moaning about my hair and how frizzy it has been recently, mainly because I expect it to just look good all the time without touching it but that's not the case with my lions mane. It will be interesting to see if the Shine Gloss Serum leaves my hair looking greasy or weighs it down as I find a lot of products do. I'm sure I will be featuring them all in a blog post somewhere down the line though! 

If you received a Glossybox this month I would love to know what you thought of your products! 

Xx

Drugstore and Tk Maxx Haul!!

I have been meaning to post these products for a few weeks now but only just got round to it! I went to Boots to pick up a few bits and pieces but ended up spending just over £100.. Oops! :) Then i went to Tk Maxx and my boyfriend kindly bought me some products.  In my defence, I will use everything I bought and quite a few of them have been on my wish list for months! (Desperately trying to justify spending so much in one go). 

From Boots:

Essie Nail Polish in Fifth Avenue- I would describe this as a coral red, although my boyfriend thinks its pink?? Gorgeous colour, easy to paint and lasted a week on my fingernails which is good for me considering I take off client's nail polishes every day. 

La Roche Posay Effaclar Mat and Thermal Water- I've been wanting to get a Thermal Water for a while now as my skin can sometimes feel tight before I put my makeup on. I just happened to see the Effaclar Mat while I was in Boots and decided to get it. I have oily/combination skin and La Roche Posay products are good for this, I can't wait to try them. 

Vichy Aqualia Thermal Eye Roll-On- I have needed an eye product for months but couldn't decide what to get. I have used so many eye creams and gels that haven't really done what I need them to. I have dehydration lines around my eyes and puffiness and dark circles which this gel claims to eliminate so fingers crossed! 

Hydraluron Moisture Booster- So glad I finally bought this! Skincare guru Caroline Hirons recommends this, as do a few other bloggers and YouTubers. I will use this under my moisturiser morning and night. 

Rihanna Reb'l Fleur Perfume- Bought this so I stop using my friends one when I go to her house! Love love love this, I'm usually really picky with perfumes as I don't like to be overpowered by fragrances but this one is perfect for me. 

L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes- I needed another one of these mascaras as my one is nearly all gone. I like the brush and how easy it is to build up. 

Bourjois Color Boost Glossy Finish Lipstick- I've seen people rave about these on YouTube so I'm looking forward to using it and reviewing it. I bought the shade 'Peach on the Beach'. 

Tangle Teaser- My hair is so long now that its ridiculously hard to brush all the way through. I dread brushing it as its really thick and I try brushing the ends first to stop splitting it but its still such a chore! I hope this will end my pain! 

Aussie Miracle Moist Conditioner- My conditioner ran out and I always seem to go back to this one every so often. I love the Aussie range of products and find they really suit my hair. 

Tk Maxx-

Cowshed Grumpy Cow Uplifting Body Lotion- always wanted to try the Cowshed products but have never treated myself. This smells really fresh. 

Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Daily Treatment and Argan Magic Restorative Hair Mask- randomly picked these up to tame my lions mane! 

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream SPF 50- Picked this up to use when I go away as I need to start looking after my skin in the sun. 

A bit of a boring post but I will be doing blog posts on most of these products when I get the chance to try them all out. Lets face it, I need to use them all religiously to rid myself of the guilt of spending so much eeeeek! 

Xx

Rae Morris Makeup The Ultimate Guide

I treated myself to this book as it had been on my Amazon wish list for months! I have quite a few makeup books now and I did think about doing a post about them all but they are packed away in boxes ready to be moved to our new house when we get it. They are mostly Bobbi Brown books and a few others but my friend lent me a Kevyn Aucoin book- Making Faces, which is one of my favourites! 

The reviews on Amazon for Makeup: The Ultimate Guide are full of positive comments so I couldn't wait to get it and have a read! Rae Morris is a very successful Makeup Artist and author and knows all there is to know about makeup. In this book she goes through techniques, brushes and tricks of the trade with amazing photos and step-by-step guides to make the looks easy to follow. Now I have read a lot of makeup books and picked up things along the way whilst I'm working on brides etc but this book has tips that I have never even thought to do, I find myself reading it and thinking 'oh yeah, what a great idea' and wondering why i didn't think of that before! 

The layout of this book is different to most makeup books which is refreshing and makes me want to read it more. Instead of the usual prep, foundation and concealing, powders/bronzers/blush, eyes and lips etc routine, this book starts with brushes and skin prepping, moving onto eyebrows, eyelashes and eyeshadows. This is because its better to do the eyes before doing foundation as its easier to wipe away fall down from shadows and the eyes are one of the main features of the face so why not spend more time doing them. The looks created in this book are incredible! The photos haven't been touched up, which goes to show how good Rae is at makeup. 

Comparing this book to other makeup books, I like how this one is set up as it is easy to read and follow. When reading the step by step guides, I can imagine actually putting them into practice and creating the looks. I also like that there is a tip accompanying the guides, as if someone is there teaching you in person and prompting you. I have so far read this book twice and keep going back to it again and again. I will definitely be keeping hold of it for years to come and re-creating the looks, in particular the over 40s section as I sometimes get stuck with this age group. Definitely get this book! 

Xx

Cowshed Soothing Bath and Body Oil

This was given to me by my sister recently and I already love it. It comes in a glass bottle, which automatically makes it look expensive and luxurious, with the trademark Cowshed label around it. The bottle looks lovely but the lid doesn't tighten very well on this one, although this isn't a problem for me as it will be sitting in my bathroom upright and may just be a fault with this particular bottle. It retails at £20.00 for the 100ml size from the Cowshed website, I have the 50ml size and if I like it a lot then I will probably purchase the bigger size. On opening the bottle I can definitely smell the jasmine but it is in no way over powering( yippee!). The main description on the front says it contains essential oils of jasmine, chamomile and sandalwood so it is very calming and relaxing. I looked at the rest of the ingredients in the Cowshed website and it boasts an impressive list of other essential oils- rose absolute, clary sage, lavender, ylang ylang and neroli to name just a few! 

This oil can be used in the bath as a fragrance oil, rubbed into skin after a shower/bath or used as a massage oil. Now I have tried a lot of oils over the years and I can happily say that this is one of the least greasy ones I have used. It soaks in effortlessly and left my skin feeling moisturised but not oily. 

Cowshed pride themselves on only using the highest quality essential oils from sustainable sources and all their products are free from parabens, petrochemicals, sulphates, artificial colours and fragrances and don't test on animals. Impressive hey! They opened their first spa in 1998 and you can now find them all over the world which is amazing. I was invited to go to their shoreditch house spa for a hen do two years ago but I couldn't make it and I definitely regret not going but the other girls said they had a great time and highly recommend their treatments. I'm already looking at going there for my 25th birthday in November as they also accommodate a group of friends for a pamper party in the evening. I'll also be adding a few of their products to my birthday and Christmas lists for sure! 

Xx