tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59228341838269420852024-03-21T20:11:16.682-07:00Better Ni than neverNaomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07036881663398586308noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5922834183826942085.post-7542774135041121322014-08-18T14:59:00.001-07:002014-08-19T01:57:28.535-07:00A Body Shop haul<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hello all! I don't like to start a post with a grovelling apology but I feel as though I owe it to those of you who take the time to check out my little corner of the internet.<br />
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As I've mentioned previously working full time and blogging doesn't always go hand in hand but this past month or so has been a little more crazier than usual... I won't talk work for too long but last Friday I left the weekly newspaper I've worked at for two years, as I've been offered a job at one of the dailies in the same company. On top of the job changeover, work was non-stop as ever. Oh and I even had the opportunity to interview the Prime Minister. Sorry, I had to drop that in there! ;) So now am I forgiven?<br />
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Anyway enough of my blabbering and grovelling... Time for some beauty!<br />
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I'm sure you were expecting a (belated) July favourites from me but if I'm honest, drawing up a July favourites list was a tricky one as I could only really think of two products that truly deserved a mention and I didn't want to force a post, so instead look out for a July/August favourites post in the coming weeks! So instead this post is centered around a little splurge I had in the <b>Body Shop </b>recently.<br />
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In recent months I've noticed the <b>Body Shop</b> garnering a real following in the blogging community. I know it's one of those shops that's been on our high street for years but I've never really given it too much thought until recently.<br />
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This splurge features a combination of skincare, body and even, a homeware product! Here are my (early) thoughts on my purchases.<br />
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<b>Body Butter </b>in<b> </b>Papaya - £13<br />
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As I'm sure most of you are aware, you can be stood like a kid in a candy shop trying to choose which <b>Body Shop Body Butter</b> you're going to leave the store with due to the immense choice available. On this occasion I opted for <i>Papaya</i>, simply because the scent screamed summer to me. It smells light, fruity and refreshing. Post use, I'm left smelling delicious and my skin is left hydrated and supple.<br />
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<b>Vitamin E Eye Cream</b> - £11<br />
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I've been after a good eye cream for quite some time as I suffer with dark under eye circles. While perusing the shelves I spotted this and thought I'd give it a whirl as I'd heard many a rave review on the <b>Vitamin E </b>range. Sadly I haven't found this to be overly effective for me. I've been using this daily and after a couple of weeks I haven't noticed a reduction in my dark under eye circles. I will persevere nonetheless and let you know if I notice an improvement.<br />
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<b>Vitamin E Face Mist </b>- £8.50<br />
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My friend/product enabler Clare swears by this stuff, so on her recommendation I had to pick up a bottle of this. It claims to be "instantly refreshing" and a "moisture boost". I have to say it is refreshing and has been welcome during the slighter warmer days of our British summer. It's great for this time of year and brilliantly I'm off to Italy later this week on holiday, so I'm sure this will serve me well over there!<br />
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<b>Elderflower Unperfumed Eye Gel</b> - £7<br />
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This is a lovely boost for tired eyes. Cooling and refreshing, a dab of this under each eye will certainly wake you up and revive you after a long day. The jar is perfect to pop in your bag on days when you know you'll be out for longer than usual.<br />
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<b>Facial Massager</b> - £6<br />
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I'm yet to try this but was intrigued after reading <a href="http://thatgracegirl.com/" target="_blank">Grace from TGG'</a>s glowing reviews of this tool. This massager has a nodular design to ensure an in-depth massage of the skin without dragging or damaging the skin tissue. You roll this in gentle upward movements across your face, after your nightly skincare routine. The massage is supposed to help stimulate circulation, improving the skin's natural radiance, and encourage better absorption of moisturiser. I will keep you posted on how I get on with this.<br />
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<b>Mandarin and Tangelo Body, Room and Linen Spritz</b> - £7<br />
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I love citrus scents and this is no exception. I've only used this as a room and linen spray, and it's proved to be a good purchase. After a spritz or two, the room smells lovely and fresh, without overpowering your nostrils. Lovely!<br />
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Thanks for reading folks, I now have my sights set on trying the <b>Body Shop's Camomile</b> range in the near future! What's your favourite <b>Body Shop</b> range?<br />
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Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07036881663398586308noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5922834183826942085.post-63159143877028523562014-07-14T13:05:00.001-07:002014-07-14T15:39:13.638-07:00Smoke Stop - An American style smokehouse in ShropshireSo last week my mum decided to book us all a table at Shropshire's newest (and first I believe?) smokehouse <b>Smoke Stop,</b> as we hadn't gone out for some food together as a family for a while and with us all being fans of a good smokehouse, we thought we'd give it a try.<br />
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Newly opened this month, <b>Smoke Stop</b> appears to be Shropshire's way of getting its BBQ ribs and pulled pork fix.<br />
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<b>Smoke Stop</b> - formerly English country pub <b>Ye Olde Cross Gates Inn</b>, is in Ford, a village just outside of Shrewsbury.<br />
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Prior to our meal last Thursday evening, we'd heard lots of social media chatter about this long-awaited smokehouse and we were all excited to see whether <b>Smoke Stop's</b> excellent sounding menu could materialise into mouth-watering <b>Man v. Food </b>style epic goodness.<br />
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From burgers and brisket to ribs and root beer, this place has a menu you can't help but read in Adam Richman from <b>Man v. Food's</b> voice because everything sounds larger than life and calorific, which is what you expect from a smokehouse.<br />
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To kick off proceedings, like any good American style smokehouse we were served a small helping of popcorn to see us through to our mains.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0lvY1cQnPTzDjFbLly_66nHda-Zw_JnEVsfk4QL3MCfldG9vgYU_flGjaTJdSEUEGnY0SdHuFm9dwIcb8aqW923Nh_3UogT9yKeYjoW1o-8n9arErnH6r5KG8Dtqsgtb3U-7csTMSgb4s/s1600/IMG_2953.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0lvY1cQnPTzDjFbLly_66nHda-Zw_JnEVsfk4QL3MCfldG9vgYU_flGjaTJdSEUEGnY0SdHuFm9dwIcb8aqW923Nh_3UogT9yKeYjoW1o-8n9arErnH6r5KG8Dtqsgtb3U-7csTMSgb4s/s1600/IMG_2953.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Popcorn.</td></tr>
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I ordered the <b>Notorious P.I.G</b> (great name) - a quarter pounder beef burger, topped with their smoked BBQ pulled pork, streaky smoked bacon and Monterey jack cheese. All of their beef burgers are served with lettuce, tomato, onions, and pickles, in a brioche bun, with skin-on fries and their deep south 'slaw. Now I'm not gonna hold back here... this was the best burger I've ever ordered at a restaurant. It was incredible, the smoked BBQ pulled pork and streaky bacon was a mouth-watering delight, oozing with smoky flavour. Now as incredible as the burger was, the real part of any smokehouse meal that matters to me is the 'slaw. I expect nothing less than a creamy, tasty 'slaw and did I get that at <b>Smoke Stop</b>? OH YES. It was superb. The fries were also tasty. All in all, this was the mightiest meal I've had in some time, so mighty I couldn't finish it all but trust me, me being unable to finish the meal was no reflection on it whatsoever.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikWhQ7pZ4rB8JrFBfWzHt0eYGNcw0gzm793LBT08UTDH-sjqEIi7er2ASjVHzszydS8fiy6YqnBj0cjnq-ZwLLEVEV6joTJ5-CANTh0dQvdZdX2Dyh4tnduZwrEedK2w79aa0vDN2yL4pp/s1600/IMG_4332.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikWhQ7pZ4rB8JrFBfWzHt0eYGNcw0gzm793LBT08UTDH-sjqEIi7er2ASjVHzszydS8fiy6YqnBj0cjnq-ZwLLEVEV6joTJ5-CANTh0dQvdZdX2Dyh4tnduZwrEedK2w79aa0vDN2yL4pp/s1600/IMG_4332.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Notorious P.I.G.</td></tr>
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My brother also ordered the same as me, except he opted for sweet potato fries, which were really delicious.<br />
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My mum went for the <b>Snoop Doggy Dog</b> (definite rap theme going on here) - a hotdog consisting of their home smoked pork sausages, topped with beef chilli, melted cheese, crunched up nachos, jalapeños and sour cream. The hotdog was also served with skin-on fries and 'slaw. Mum really enjoyed her meal but was slightly disappointed as the hotdog was missing the chilli and cheese, which was the main reason she chose the meal.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw57jkWjbcyUI-qWyhQE26NYlY9V5i47YY74WdCGUX4j-GBuLkSaKMITmTov_AeFtN9exF0ZwwRqoq4_xoReS1ZrLdb0j_6aTuz8Ln1Z43KALaGjTGxwEZ6_RnvvVsBRd30eYOkiZODw60/s1600/IMG_0694.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw57jkWjbcyUI-qWyhQE26NYlY9V5i47YY74WdCGUX4j-GBuLkSaKMITmTov_AeFtN9exF0ZwwRqoq4_xoReS1ZrLdb0j_6aTuz8Ln1Z43KALaGjTGxwEZ6_RnvvVsBRd30eYOkiZODw60/s1600/IMG_0694.jpg" height="238" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Snoop Doggy Dog.</td></tr>
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Finally, dad went for the <b>Smokin' Joe King's Special</b> - which comprised two beef patties, American cheese, smoked bacon, jalapeños, pickles and topped with beer battered onion rings, also served with the skin-on fries and 'slaw. Now I thought my meal was mighty, this was something else, this was the <i>Godzilla </i>of burgers! Dad really enjoyed his meal, and I've got to say the onion rings were excellent!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEjme-tzsh9jYhXlWozlvg1m8HQX9md52RVUQmyQmSkNtL9JMPNL8rgwO7wn_9y8bs-YqBG66wzCdrrJVQBLcaHbsIf251gVLvgMyHyK1ajfebbYFWYOrKpFtUdZoKPKNHQiK0oMRidwse/s1600/IMG_0453.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEjme-tzsh9jYhXlWozlvg1m8HQX9md52RVUQmyQmSkNtL9JMPNL8rgwO7wn_9y8bs-YqBG66wzCdrrJVQBLcaHbsIf251gVLvgMyHyK1ajfebbYFWYOrKpFtUdZoKPKNHQiK0oMRidwse/s1600/IMG_0453.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Smokin' Joe King's Special.</td></tr>
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Overall the verdict is a good one, I would recommend <b>Smoke Stop</b> to anyone. From families to couples, to groups of friends. This place has a fun yet relaxed atmosphere, with a friendly, accommodating group of staff. The portion sizes are also very good for a decent price.<br />
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A word of caution however for the couples out there - if you're at the early stage of your relationship I'd suggest giving your order some consideration - this is messy business! Although, it could prove an ice-breaker so maybe risk it if you're feeling brave!<br />
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Another plus I must mention - I was unfortunately the designated driver for the evening but mum ordered a fabulous looking and tasting mojito!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA4FK559eeSV9f98NIeF-LFdqPc2DmoWP63DBLRnuntAYGqPBSGlE6EQqX2MyHVh1sBs5V8PmWh8GiTn1iInExls10aU5OA7veESEztWgb07y5hRZlOB-FRoi_6a4Os1VtsV3l3veZsjIe/s1600/IMG_9191.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA4FK559eeSV9f98NIeF-LFdqPc2DmoWP63DBLRnuntAYGqPBSGlE6EQqX2MyHVh1sBs5V8PmWh8GiTn1iInExls10aU5OA7veESEztWgb07y5hRZlOB-FRoi_6a4Os1VtsV3l3veZsjIe/s1600/IMG_9191.jpg" height="320" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One fine looking mojito!</td></tr>
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My only gripes were the lack of chilli and cheese with mum's meal and as we went to order desserts, we were told the kitchen was all out. Now the dessert menu looks utterly excellent, so of course we were disappointed but the staff apologised profusely and in fairness, we were ordering after 9pm, so that's our fault for being latecomers!<br />
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All in all, based on our experience last week, Shropshire's newest smokehouse deserves all the buzz it's getting, I suggest you book you, your friends, your family, and anyone you love for that matter a table here! I will certainly be making a return!<br />
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To check out the website and their menu, click <a href="http://www.smokestopbbq.co.uk/" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07036881663398586308noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5922834183826942085.post-42030881868866660742014-07-08T12:30:00.002-07:002014-08-18T14:40:00.107-07:00June favourites<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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No introduction required surely? You know the drill. New month = last month's most reached for and loved products, here goes:<br />
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<b>Dior Forever Flawless Perfection Fusion Wear Foundation</b> - £32</div>
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This is a gorgeous product and my most reached for base throughout June, an odd choice really. Why you ask? Well it's a full coverage foundation for a start, and personally I prefer a light to medium coverage. Also, a full coverage foundation during the summer months, Naomi what are you playing at? But despite it being full coverage, this does not wear heavy on the skin at all. No cakeyness, just a natural looking, velvety finish. Also a perfect colour match for me, I use the shade 011, which I think is the lightest or next shade up. A lovely product and the kind of quality you would expect from <b>Dior</b>!<br />
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<b>Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow </b>in Bikini-tini<b> </b>- £15.50</div>
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Yes, I know this appeared in my May favourites post but this continued to serve me well throughout June. It adds that bit of something to every look and the reason it's made another favourites post is because I discovered another use of this already perfect product... Its champagney, gold colour means it can be used as a highlighter at the top of your cheekbones! Try it, you'll thank me later!<br />
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<b>Origins Make a Difference Plus+ Rejuvinating Moisturiser</b> - £34.50<br />
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This stuff has solved a lot of my skincare woes. I don't want to speak too soon but this could well be a lifetime favourite, not just a monthly favourite. At the start of June my skin was suffering, not only from a minor breakout but it was also pretty dehydrated. However between this and <b>Origins' Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask<i> </i></b><i>(I will get to this next)</i> - they've been a total godsend for me. This divine smelling moisturiser, featuring Nature's Rose of Jericho, plus a Lychee and Watermelon hydra-sustain complex claims to quench deep to help add moisture to dry, dehydrated skin. That it does and despite its lovely scent, it does not irritate my skin in the slightest. At the start of the month my skin was looking lacklustre to say the least, however using this product daily has ensured my skin is looking and feeling hydrated throughout the day. Thumbs up for this!<br />
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<b>Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask</b> - £23<br />
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Another June skincare saviour, as mentioned above. This is my first dabble with an overnight mask and my word, I will never look back. I used this once a week during June and each time I woke up with my skin appearing healthier and plump, and just looking better overall. I apply this fairly thickly after my <b>Avene Soothing Hydrating Serum,</b> and use this in place of my moisturiser. Overnight my skin "drinks it up" - as the name suggests. At first this is fairly sticky but don't be put off, it sinks in easily after a few minutes. Another bonus is its delightful, fruity smell - which is obviously down to it containing avocado oil, mango butter and apricot kernel oil. These ingredients also help to deeply hydrate the skin. I will review this product by itself in the near future, as it has worked wonders on my skin.<br />
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<b>Batiste Dry Shampoo Dark & Deep Brown</b> - £3.99<br />
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If you would've told me a few months back that a dry shampoo would make one of my favourites posts I would have probably laughed in your face. It's taken me a long time to feel comfortable with the idea of dry shampoo and June was the month when I actually became okay with it, well in fact more than okay. During June, I used this on a number of occasions as a hair texturiser more than anything. It added a bit of body to my hair, when it started to look a little lacklustre <i>(new favourite word, can't you tell?)</i> and it made all the difference, and added that necessary bit of <i>'oomph' </i>to my locks.<br />
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Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07036881663398586308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5922834183826942085.post-33356675449464122312014-07-05T02:26:00.002-07:002014-07-05T02:31:14.459-07:00The one where we went chocolate making.My name's Naomi and I'm a chocoholic.<br />
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Anyone that knows me, knows that I'm a total fiend for chocolate. Be it dark, milk, white, mint, orange, accompanied with peanut butter, you name it, I adore it, and despite thinking I was the ultimate chocoholic, I think I've been pipped to the post with that title...</div>
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I think my boyfriend actually loves chocolate more than I do... If that's even possible? Despite the idea of someone loving chocolate more than I do seeming a crazy notion, it's great because it meant I didn't have to wrack my brains too much when deciding what to get him for his birthday this year... I decided to book for us in to take part in a chocolate making workshop as part of his birthday present.<br />
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So the weekend before last we spent the afternoon chocolate making in Manchester. The chocolate making workshop we went to was run by a company called <a href="http://www.mychocolate.co.uk/" target="_blank">My Chocolate</a>. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Having a whale of a time being a chocolatier for the afternoon!</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.mychocolate.co.uk/" target="_blank">My Chocolate</a> host events for entertainment, team building, hen parties and birthdays and gift experiences, in London, Manchester and Brighton. The company uses only organic chocolate in their workshops. All ingredients are provided as part of the workshop, including all samples to try, as well as added extras to add your own personal touch to the chocolate you make, such as coconut and white chocolate flakes, and strawberry curls.</div>
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Our workshop was called <b>The Original Chocolate Making Workshop</b>, where we were given a basic introduction into chocolate making by a chocolatier, dscovering the process from bean to bar. Great... but really you want to get to the actual fun stuff don't you, you want to know what goodies we got to make and devour right?<br />
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We made a personalised giant chocolate button each. Then after a demonstration from the chocolatier, it was once again our turn to get stuck in. We made our own handmade dark chocolate ganache truffles, dusted in cocoa powder. SO messy but SO fun!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of our handmade truffles.</td></tr>
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At the start of the workshop I think the aim was for us to make around 15 to 20 truffles, however that didn't really work out for us... We made 6 in total. A pitiful effort from us but it was an entertaining one and amused everyone else at the workshop. Once finished we packaged our chocolates in ribbon tied boxes to take home with us.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Haha) Looking proud as punch with the finished product all boxed up.</td></tr>
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Throughout the duration of the workshop we got to try all manner of chocolate samples, including raw cocoa nibs (bitter!), dark, milk, and a number of excellent concoctions such as creamy milk chocolate orange and popping candy, as well as cherry chocolate, fudge, etc.<br />
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The real sampling delight for me though was a truly superb slab of chocolate called Gianduja. Gianduja is a chocolate spread containing hazelnut paste. It was invented in Turin, Italy, during Napolean's reign, when the Mediterranean was under a blockade by the British. At that time, a chocolatier called Michele Prochet increased the little amount of chocolate he had, by mixing it with hazelnuts. I found this story utterly fascinating because it's hard to believe something so delicious was created out of those kind of circumstances!<br />
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All in all, we had a brilliant time and I thoroughly recommend this as a gift idea for the chocolate lover in your life. It's something a little different and memorable. Visit <a href="http://www.mychocolate.co.uk/" target="_blank">My Chocolate</a> to find out more about their experience workshops and events.<br />
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Have you ever gifted someone a gift experience as a birthday/Christmas present or have you even taken part in one? Did you enjoy it?<br />
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Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07036881663398586308noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5922834183826942085.post-43132224006781478872014-06-22T02:35:00.000-07:002014-06-22T02:35:29.299-07:00Review of Eucerin DermoPURIFYER Cleanser<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Recently my skin has been somewhat more oil-prone than usual, I'm not entirely sure why but this oily spell came at a time when <b><a href="http://www.escentual.com/" target="_blank">Escentual</a></b> were offering bloggers the opportunity to try out a cleanser targeted at tackling oily skin, so of course I jumped at the chance to give it a whirl.<br />
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What arrived in the post a few days later was<b> <a href="http://www.escentual.com/eucerin/eucerindermopurifing001/?gclid=CjgKEAjw2pSdBRCc5Or_vuWw7TgSJAA5txZg1oQhJIewImArJhT6NPgDYwAwJpm_nBiIBjqO_vGClfD_BwE" target="_blank">Eucerin's DermoPURIFYER Cleanser</a></b> (RRP £9). I must admit what first struck me about the product was how 'basic' the packaging looked, superficial I know. However, on further reading up on <b><a href="http://www.eucerin.com/my/home/" target="_blank">Eucerin</a></b>, I soon realised this wasn't a brand you buy for how its packaging looked but rather its effective results. <b><a href="http://www.eucerin.com/my/home/" target="_blank">Eucerin</a></b> claims to be 'the dermatologist-recommended skincare brand based on honest skin science' that contains 'active ingredients' in order to create high quality, effective products.<br />
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This soap and fragrance free, gel type cleanser works by removing excess sebaceous-gland lipids and reduces growth of bacteria, while gently removing make-up and dirt.<br />
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I've been using this product for the past month now every night before going to bed and I can honestly say this product does remove make-up and dirt effectively, while being extremely gentle on the skin. I lather it with water, which creates a gentle foam.<br />
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Alongside the cleanser, I have stuck to my usual skincare routine which comprises of a micellar water before this cleanser, then followed up by a serum and moisturiser.<br />
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Post use I like how my skin feels, it leaves my skin thoroughly cleansed and feeling soft, and I have noticed a reduction in my skin's oiliness.<br />
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Those of you who suffer with oil-prone skin I can't recommend this enough and until June 30, <b><a href="http://www.escentual.com/" target="_blank">Escentual</a></b> is offering up to a 1/3 off French Pharmacy brands, so what are you waiting for?<br />
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Alongside this cleanser,<b> <a href="http://www.escentual.com/" target="_blank">Escentual</a></b> also kindly send me an array of other goodies and two that I'm looking forward to trying is <b><a href="http://www.eucerin.com/my/home/" target="_blank">Eucerin's</a> <a href="http://www.escentual.com/eucerin/eucerinevenbrighter001/" target="_blank">Even Brighter Day</a></b> and <b><a href="http://www.escentual.com/eucerin/eucerinevenbrighter002/" target="_blank">Night</a></b> creams. I will have to let you know how I get on with those.<br />
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Have you tried any <b><a href="http://www.eucerin.com/my/home/" target="_blank">Eucerin </a></b>products before? Were they effective for you?<br />
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Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07036881663398586308noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5922834183826942085.post-54302551800779926412014-06-18T12:52:00.001-07:002014-06-18T13:08:17.042-07:00My (uber belated) May favourites<div>
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I know, I know it's June 18th and I'm posting my May favourites. Poor effort from me but number one -working full time and blogging doesn't always go hand in hand, number two - my laptop went in for repair this month and number three - my OCD just wouldn't allow me to miss a monthly favourites post! Oh and Alix from <a href="http://www.icovetthee.com/" target="_blank"><b>I Covet Thee</b></a> only posted her May favourites the other day, so it must be acceptable! *wink Emoji*<br />
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So now I've done my explaining, I shall proceed with what beauty products in particular I enjoyed using throughout May. This is a slightly smaller favourites post than usual but as we get into the summer months, I try to use as little amount of products as possible... Nobody likes a hot mess!</div>
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Right, enough rambling, here are the products:</div>
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<b>Clarins The Essentials Eye Make-Up Palette</b> - £35</div>
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Ah, <b>The Essentials Palette</b>, or as I lovingly dub it: <i>"the <b>Naked Palette's </b>older, more sophisticated sister".</i> This came out last winter and I've tried my hardest to play down my love for this palette because I know it's going to end in tears...You see it's sadly limited edition and I don't think you can purchase this anymore *Sob*. On the surface this palette looks like your standard neutral eye palette but trust me it's so much more than that. This 10 shade palette is just divine, I adore the <b>Naked Palettes</b> I do, but this palette is just so much more chic, due to its sophisticated array of (mostly) metallic shades. All shades are extremely wearable day or night. I'm a shimmery eye shadow girl but I've got to say I even love the two matte shades here which is unlike me.</div>
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<b>Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow </b>- £15.50</div>
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Another neutral, metallic eye product Naomi, really? Yes really. Throughout May I reached for this little beauty, whether I was wearing this alone all over the lid or as a base for other eye shadows. It's a lovely product and the colour is gorgeous too. It's a champagney, gold colour with a frosted finish. This lasts all day on me. Lovely, lovely.</div>
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<b>Superdrug Coconut Oil</b> - £2.29</div>
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I picked this up from my local <b>Superdrug</b> in May after noticing <b>Coconut Oil</b> was doing the rounds in the blogging community and I decided I wanted in on the action! Despite <b>Coconut Oil </b>being renowned for being an excellent multi-use product I've only used it on the ends of my hair so far, post wash. It's keeping my ends looking, feeling and smelling great, and I'm hoping it delays my next trip to the hairdressers by at least another fortnight! Another added perk, it's cheap as chips!</div>
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<b>Barry M's Hi Shine Gel Effect Nail Paint </b>in Lychee - £3.99<br />
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I don't need to say too much about this product surely? If you're a regular reader of my blog you'll have seen this Nail Polish formula and this particular shade appear in a number of my posts. I painted my nails in <i>Lychee </i>a number of times in May. Overall, I love the formula, it leaves my nails looking glossy and it remains chip-free for a good number of days, and I love the colour, it's a highly wearable nude-grey.<br />
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<i>That was short and sweet but it's good to be back. I've got plenty of ideas lined up for upcoming posts, including some venturing into new <b>Better Ni than Never </b>territory... It won't all be beauty, look out for some fashion posts and maybe even a non-beauty favourites post soon! Thanks for reading!</i><br />
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Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07036881663398586308noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5922834183826942085.post-79385064697064812812014-06-02T14:04:00.000-07:002014-06-02T14:05:25.193-07:00Brand focus: Forever Living facial regime<br />
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Yesterday was my four month "blogiversary", however I've been avidly reading beauty blogs for a number of years now and I find the more I get into blogging, the more interested I become in finding the perfect skincare routine to suit my skin.<br />
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If you're a regular reader of mine, you may remember I reviewed the <b>Forever Living Aloe Scrub</b> just over a month ago and I'd also mentioned that I'd been given the opportunity to trial out a few other <b>Forever Living</b> products and as promised, I said I would report back my fndings.</div>
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I was kindly given a facial kit which consisted of an <b>Aloe Hand and Face Soap </b>(RRP £10.84)<b>,</b> the<b> Aloe Scrub </b>(RRP £12.92)<b>,</b> the<b> Aloe Activator </b>(RRP £11.53)<b>, </b>the <b>Mask Powder </b>(RRP £16.43) and the <b>Aloe Moisturising Lotion </b>(RRP £12.24).</div>
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In order to get the best out of the products, you are advised to follow the following routine two to three times a week:</div>
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<i>The instructions were as follows, wash your face with the <b>Aloe Hand and Face Soap</b>, use the <b>Aloe Face Scrub</b>, mix the <b>Activator</b> with the <b>Powder</b> to create a face mask, and finally moisturise with the <b>Aloe Moisturising Lotion</b>.</i></div>
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I followed this routine twice weekly for a month, which I feel gave me enough time to get a feel for the products and discover whether they were right for me. I will give you my verdict on each product individually.</div>
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First up is the <b>Aloe Hand and Face Soap</b>. I must admit I had my reservations into using the same product on my hands and face, and I was right to. As a hand soap, it's rich and moisturising, and left my hands clean and smelling lovely. However, as a facial cleanser, it just didn't suit my skin. It was a little heavy for my sensitive skin and broke me out for a number of days afterwards. This product is highly concentrated with aloe, which is probably what contributed to the breakout.</div>
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Next up is the <b>Aloe Scrub</b>, which I won't go into too much depth on as I reviewed this on its own in April, if you haven't seen that post already, check it out <a href="http://betternithannever.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/review-of-forever-living-aloe-scrub.html" target="_blank">here</a>. This is a lovely product that changed my negative outlook on using facial scrubs. It isn't harsh or gritty on my skin. After use, I'm left with bright and awakened looking skin. My favourite product of the bunch!<br />
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Now for the time consuming part of the routine, which comes in the form of the face mask, which is the <b>Aloe Activator </b>and the <b>Mask Powder </b>used in conjunction with one another. I've got to say despite this part of the process taking the longest, the results are worth the wait. To create the mask, mix one teaspoon of <b>Mask Powder</b> with one teaspoon of the <b>Aloe Activator</b> until the mixture has the consistency of a lotion. You then apply to your face and neck, before relaxing for 30 minutes, then removing and rinsing with warm water. The mask left my skin feeling soft but also tightened. Post use, I felt like I was unveiling a bright, new face. An added bonus of the <b>Mask Powder</b> for me, was that it contains Chamomile, which soothes and calms sensitive skin. I did get a little fidgety having to wait for 30 minutes but in fairness I was impressed with the results.<br />
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The <b>Activator</b> can also be used alone as a cleanser or freshener with cotton pads, however I didn't feel as though it did as much for my skin by itself, so I continued to use it with the <b>Mask Powder</b>.<br />
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The final step in the <b>Forever Living</b> facial regime was the <b>Aloe Moisturising Lotion</b>, which contains collagen and elastin, which keeps skin soft and smooth. This is a face and body moisturiser, and personally I preferred using this on my body rather than face. I found it too thick to use on my face. However on my arms, legs and the rest of my body, it left my skin in tip-top condition. I must also add I rather liked the product's scent - which I thought was a slight "banana-ish" smell... Maybe my nostrils were confused but I liked it all the same!<br />
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Overall, these are a good set of products and being fairly multi-use, if they didn't work for me one way, they certainly did another way. My quest for the perfect skincare routine is still ongoing but individually these are good products.<br />
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The products can be purchased at <a href="http://www.foreverliving.com/">www.foreverliving.com</a> or from your local independent distributor for<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.940000534057617px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><b>Forever Living</b>, mine is Susan Boag and her site can be found at <a href="http://bellavera.my.flpbiz.com/">bellavera.my.flpbiz.com</a>.<br />
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Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07036881663398586308noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5922834183826942085.post-87922397025852979602014-05-29T23:40:00.001-07:002014-05-29T23:40:03.884-07:00Summer blushin'<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9WtaPBgYSijXEti1HyjlquZoG5edCL1zmX6CS9k6IaDKU3_4fbV0I9w5jRT3Q-5tmoC7hk713XANASp73aAlZaJOTQmVro6s6ThCMNWVox0y81eVM3k7Vsq0cYKKc4m8jKaQgMhE-ZBhJ/s1600/IMGP5377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9WtaPBgYSijXEti1HyjlquZoG5edCL1zmX6CS9k6IaDKU3_4fbV0I9w5jRT3Q-5tmoC7hk713XANASp73aAlZaJOTQmVro6s6ThCMNWVox0y81eVM3k7Vsq0cYKKc4m8jKaQgMhE-ZBhJ/s1600/IMGP5377.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From left, Crochet, Guipure and Chantilly.</td></tr>
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Hello all - before I get started I must quickly apologise for being a bad blogger of late, I haven't blogged in just over a week and I have felt a little bit guilty about it but it's been a combination of me being extremely busy at work, accompanied with having an uninspired blogger blip - blogger's block, we've all had this from time to time, right?<br />
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Anyway, enough of my rambling and onto my latest post, <b>Summer blushin'</b>... The title probably gives away the fact that I'm having a 'I love Grease phase' and also the fact that I'm wanting to tell you all about a blush palette that's sure to get you in the mood for summer. It's not quite June yet but this palette really has me looking ahead to the summer months.</div>
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<b>Sleek's Blush by 3 Palette </b>in <i>Lace</i> (RRP £9.99) is a thing of orange-toned beauty. Yep, orange. Totally out of my comfort zone but I'm totally fine with it.</div>
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The palette contains, as you'd expect, three shades. These include: </div>
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<li><i>Crochet</i>: a matte orange</li>
<li><i>Guipure</i>: a warm, coral-toned pink with a metallic gold shimmer</li>
<li><i>Chantilly</i>: a matte, reddy coral</li>
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My favourite shade in the palette is <i>Crochet</i>, which comes as a total surprise to me, as I tend to stick to pretty pinks or shimmery corals. My love for this orange shade comes as a complete shock, especially as I'm so fair skinned but surprisingly it suits me, it totally warms up my complexion and teamed with a subtle contour, adds definition to my cheekbones.</div>
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<i>Guipure</i> is also a winner but that's because it's one of those pinky coral shades that I would usually go for. In fact, I think it's the exact same blush that's in <b>Sleek's Face Form Contouring and Blush Palette.</b></div>
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<i>Chantilly</i> is the only shade I'm not 100 per cent sold on... yet. On first application I looked like I'd been slapped, not good! It needed a great deal of blending out before I looked okay again. I plan to try this with my <b>Real Techniques Stippling Blush</b>, which should hopefully do the trick. *fingers crossed*</div>
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Despite my fair complexion I feel this palette actually works well for me, and as I've mentioned does wonders in warming up my pale face, so I have no doubt that this trio will look fabulous on darker skin tones.</div>
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As I've previously mentioned on the blog, <b>Sleek's</b> Blush offerings are up there with the best of them, the selection of colours is superb, the pigmentation and lasting power is excellent, and accompanied with the small price tag, they're a total winner and this palette is no exception.</div>
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What beauty products are getting you in the mood for summer?</div>
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Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07036881663398586308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5922834183826942085.post-67022577345850218662014-05-19T11:58:00.000-07:002014-05-19T11:58:05.092-07:00Beauty products that didn't live up to the hype<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim6jeIU-tu1kQrKBJ45bFCsVtu6LycOR-4pZ0NmXENhyphenhyphen035jf3GI7ZD-6fc5Z4jX5fndOUGD63185Gcd_jKXoP3ntyR67PRI5IqVx3pQxgLsZ8NKpyOgVr_85o8Is_29OsG5_2ivKKbQo0/s1600/IMGP5432.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim6jeIU-tu1kQrKBJ45bFCsVtu6LycOR-4pZ0NmXENhyphenhyphen035jf3GI7ZD-6fc5Z4jX5fndOUGD63185Gcd_jKXoP3ntyR67PRI5IqVx3pQxgLsZ8NKpyOgVr_85o8Is_29OsG5_2ivKKbQo0/s1600/IMGP5432.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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This post may come as a bit of a shock to some of you today, as I'm not bigging up products that I love like I usually do. Instead I'm going to give you the rundown on a few products that have disappointed me somewhat in recent months.<br />
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Before I get started, I just want to make it clear, that I'm not saying these products are dreadful, they just didn't work for me... Some of you are going to read this post and think: "NAOMI, WHAT THE HELL?!" because most of these products are adored by a multitude of beauty lovers and have a cult folloing but sadly they just didn't cut the mustard for me... That doesn't mean they won't work for you, everyone's different and I enjoy reading these types of posts, I find it interesting to discover what other bloggers just didn't "get on with". </div>
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Right enough rambling, here goes:</div>
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<b>NARS Blush in</b> Orgasm <b>- £21.50</b></div>
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Yep, your eyes aren't deceiving you people. This is probably the most talked about shade of blush around, it's "that blush with the funny name". <b>NARS </b>blushes are renowned for being just, well fantastic, and trust me it's not a bad blush by any stretch of the imagination. The formula is good, it lasts throughout the day, and <i>Orgasm</i> is a lovely peachy, golden pink shade but there's 501 cheaper alternatives out there. My favourite dupe being the blush in <b>Sleek's Face Form Contouring and Blush Palette</b>. That nifty trio contains a contour, highlight and blush, and the blush is VERY similar to <i>Orgasm</i>. The only difference being it's accompanied by the contour and highlight, and the overall product costs £9.99. Sorry <b>NARS</b>... <b>Sleek</b> wins it here for me this time.</div>
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<b>Maybelline Brow Drama Sculpting Mascara</b> in Medium Brown<b> - £4.99</b></div>
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After reading many a glowing review on this product, I thought I'd give it a go myself and boy, was I disappointed with this. I've read many posts where the reviewer claims it gives them a natural looking brow, I sadly cannot vouch for this. The strange ball brush just would not allow the product to apply neatly to my brows, it just made them look messy and odd. It's a no from me...</div>
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<b>Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner</b> in Black<b> - £12</b></div>
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I had a sample of this free with a magazine a few months back and I was SO excited to give this a whirl, especially as it's renowned for being the liquid eyeliner behind <b>Alexa Chung'</b>s famous cat flick and who doesn't love that look? I had such high hopes prior to using this but sadly I found that it smudged terribly. Instead of the cat flick, I got the panda flick... Not a good look! I'm just thanking the liquid eyeliner Gods for <b>Stila's Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner</b>!</div>
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<b>Maybelline Baby Lips Balm</b> in Pink Punch <b>- £2.99</b></div>
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Following its Stateside success, the UK launch of this product was a highly anticipated one. I couldn't wait to get my hands on these lip balms, being a total lip balm fiend. Once they landed in the UK I purchased <i>Pink Punch</i> and <i>Mint Fresh</i>. I love <i>Mint Fresh</i>, it's one of my all-time favourite lip balms, I love any mint flavoured lip products anyway but the formula is just so hydrating. However, <i>Pink Punch</i> does not feel like the same hydrating product to me, it dries my lips out terribly and I also don't like the hint of colour that this has. <i>Mint Fresh</i> applies clear, while <i>Pink Punch</i> goes on like a sort of bright pinky colour but sheer too, which is fine but perhaps it should be a more muted pink if it's a sheer lip product. In my opinion, <i>Pink Punch</i> can't decide whether it's a balm or a tint... Disappointing but thank goodness it was dirt cheap or I'd feel a lot worse about it.</div>
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<b>Benefit They're Real Mascara - £19.50</b></div>
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*gulp* I'm nervous about including this in the post but well... The UK's best selling mascara just didn't do it for me okay?! I'm sorry! Every beauty lover and their mother (poet and I didn't know it ;)) loves this mascara, and honestly I wanted to love this mascara so badly but I just don't... I find it so heavy on my lashes, so much so that it makes me feel uncomfortable and when I've had this on, I've felt paranoid of it smudging. The lash look that I tend go for is one that has the right mix of length and volume, but more so on the length side. This sadly has too little length for me, and far too much volume. I'm glad I've finally got this off my chest!</div>
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I hope you've enjoyed reading this post, it's good to mix things up a little every now and then, and it's a post I've contemplated doing for some time now. Like I said, just because a product doesn't work for me, doesn't mean the same applies for you, I just thought it may interest you to know what products I just haven't taken to. I'd love to find out what hyped up products didn't really float your bloat, let me know!<br />
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Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07036881663398586308noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5922834183826942085.post-57657260529140177282014-05-17T01:13:00.001-07:002014-05-17T01:13:27.830-07:00Pore blimey, you can't beat a good freebie!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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You can't beat a good magazine freebie every now and then, and this month <b>Elle Magazine</b> have really pulled out all the stops as they are giving away a free sample of the<b> POREfessional Pro Balm</b> by<b> Benefit</b>.<br />
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This freebie could not have come at a better time for me as I'm currently running out of my full sized <b>POREfessional</b> and despite being a total <b>POREfessional</b> devotee, at £24.50 for 22ml, I'd been putting off parting with my hard earned pennies, so <b>Elle's</b> "pricey for a magazine" £4 price tag really didn't sound so bad in comparison to that.<br />
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The magazine sample offering's size is 7.5ml which I think is pretty good, and will last me around two months.<br />
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This is one of the most talked about products in the beauty blogging world, it's a real "marmite" product - you either love it or hate it, as stated I'm a total devotee, I love it.<br />
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But why do I love it you ask? Well, first and foremost, it's described as a "silky, lightweight balm for translucent pore coverage and smoother-than-smooth skin", and I can confirm it does a sterling job in "blurring" the appearance of my slightly enlarged pores around my nose, which I think is largely due to it being a silicone primer.<br />
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<i>(FYI - Silicone primers provide a smooth base for your foundation, as the silicone fills in any pores and fine lines.)</i><br />
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As well as that, it's not heavy on the skin at all and applies ever so smoothly. This can be used over or under your foundation. I always use it under, as it smooths out my skin tone, giving me a flawless base, that helps my make-up to last all day/night.<br />
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When I first used this, I was a little taken aback as it does have a slight beige-y colour to it but fear not, as that disappears once you've blended it in.<br />
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For me this product does everything that it claims to do, and I do feel it warrants the hype that surrounds it.<br />
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I highly suggest you head over to your nearest newsagent and pick up this month's copy of<b> Elle</b>, if you haven't tried the <b>POREfessional</b> yet - this product should be on every beauty lover's list of products they must try!<br />
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I may even buy another copy of <b>Elle</b> for this...<br />
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I would love to hear what primers you swear by, as I'm in need of some suggestions. Thanks for reading!<br />
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Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07036881663398586308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5922834183826942085.post-41165672714197572962014-05-12T12:24:00.001-07:002014-05-12T12:25:31.417-07:00Having a moment with... Barry M's Hi Shine Gel Effect Nail Paints<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlWHMWDFwdVjPqgbzy00Rmeo5RU0LT7U1PQNH7sILgpHrd_VPL0vDhFnu9muCyz4WLqk-x6NZDvYzl14qtC4K1a2epmNpeKIqSlDhoDh_sPILvKx8X_XHsUN-ZGggx0bFRiH8iaYYLKx3r/s1600/IMG_5042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlWHMWDFwdVjPqgbzy00Rmeo5RU0LT7U1PQNH7sILgpHrd_VPL0vDhFnu9muCyz4WLqk-x6NZDvYzl14qtC4K1a2epmNpeKIqSlDhoDh_sPILvKx8X_XHsUN-ZGggx0bFRiH8iaYYLKx3r/s1600/IMG_5042.jpg" height="320" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My nails in Sugar Apple .</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ApX9y-Z49w0T-fE2P6EQjtsLJ5wa3eQutPkVWnqEMirt1our62Zs-MQ3DgWlKto2YPYSwN9Yr40NwXpZJo-fHiFhYsIdRS4yxzu7iXeyfeIaf_C0Hzy1rTvtTkZYfYm2MLj-TnWzdAVE/s1600/IMG_1932.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ApX9y-Z49w0T-fE2P6EQjtsLJ5wa3eQutPkVWnqEMirt1our62Zs-MQ3DgWlKto2YPYSwN9Yr40NwXpZJo-fHiFhYsIdRS4yxzu7iXeyfeIaf_C0Hzy1rTvtTkZYfYm2MLj-TnWzdAVE/s1600/IMG_1932.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My nails in Lychee *swoon*.</td></tr>
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Looking down at my brightly painted nails today something occurred to me... I'm having a real moment with <b>Barry M's Hi Shine Gel Effect Nail Paints</b>.<br />
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Last week I wore one of last year's shades, <i>Lychee</i> for a number of days. Anyone that knows me/reads my blog, knows my love of this beautiful nude-grey shade. It's incredibly versatile, it goes with just about anything. It's a practical daytime shade but it also adds that little something to a 'night out' outfit.<br />
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Moving on from the colour, I must now praise the formula because I've got to say it's up there with the best of them. In two coats, you get glossy nails that remain chip-free for at least four days.<br />
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After enjoying wearing <i>Lychee</i> again and resisting the new spring shades for SO long (well March BUT two months is a long time and hell of a lot of willpower for a beauty blogger *wink emote*), I decided to treat myself to one so I went for <i>Sugar Apple</i>, a bright yet muted (does that make sense?), pastel turquoise mint.<br />
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I've been wearing it since Saturday and it's still chip-free and looking lovely. I've now got my sights set on another spring shade, <i>Huckleberry</i>, which is a pale baby blue. I believe the summer shades are now out too, however I am yet to see those in the "flesh".<br />
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<b>Barry M's Hi Shine Gel Effect Nail Paints </b>can be purchased via all the usual outlets, such as <b><a href="http://www.boots.com/" target="_blank">Boots</a></b> and <b><a href="http://www.superdrug.com/" target="_blank">Superdrug</a></b>, and at £3.99 a pop, you can't really go wrong can you?<br />
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Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07036881663398586308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5922834183826942085.post-45298706475161071292014-05-06T12:47:00.000-07:002014-07-13T09:25:31.204-07:00Cafe Radio's Tapas night<div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6bhtIpRL0oLtGDsL61xIvWpZSy8LXfCTffL9T7tVLdRbs3jsg8TYZfB-1z8QMe2Go9hXoSM6aN4MJOriEQIhMIGh72N1Xs7HW0GycInCgoJ9c3GZIXfgjETfyyPuQyGAgxauNDN-JOz3C/s1600/IMG_6630.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6bhtIpRL0oLtGDsL61xIvWpZSy8LXfCTffL9T7tVLdRbs3jsg8TYZfB-1z8QMe2Go9hXoSM6aN4MJOriEQIhMIGh72N1Xs7HW0GycInCgoJ9c3GZIXfgjETfyyPuQyGAgxauNDN-JOz3C/s1600/IMG_6630.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Brace yourselves people, for this is my second post in under
a month that doesn’t involve me harking on about the contents of your local
<b>Boots</b>! <o:p></o:p></div>
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A few weeks back, my friends and I fancied a girls night
involving lots of good food, accompanied by a tipple, so we decided to poke our
heads around <a href="http://www.caferadio.co.uk/" target="_blank">Café Radio's</a> door in Oswestry and it just so happened it was tapas
night!</div>
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<b>Café Radio </b>is a fab, little place - by day serving an
excellent cup of coffee and good food, however every Friday and Saturday
night, the café holds a tapas night from 6.30pm to 10pm, when you can bring your own
tipple, which you have to pay a small charge for doing so.<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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For some time now I’d heard many a good review on their
tapas nights but never quite got round to trying it out for myself and I’ve got to
say I wish I’d have sampled their tapas sooner!<o:p></o:p></div>
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I believe the tapas menu changes every week – correct me if
I’m wrong…<o:p></o:p></div>
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There was a decent selection of tapas on offer, for the
mains in particular you are spoilt for choice!<o:p></o:p></div>
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We opted for the <b>Olives</b> and <b>Catalan Toast</b> as our starter. You
can’t really go wrong with <b>Olives</b>, so of course they were good. However, the <b>Catalan
Toast</b> was the highlight for me. It reminded me of bruschetta. It was delicious,
there was just the right amount of tomatoe-y topping, and it was extremely flavoursome.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2j74hOv0I2mNg_VsFlqxUvyV8MfPn5cq_P6mviSB-zjcA9JtAKIp8d7ghtlFc0vKFNOLdZc3ncbO129ZqvLdbwsqvMdt6FJoCT9OG-tCP_T_T2FfaAd_uXKhkkBDBm3NetqphN6lkjzZu/s1600/IMG_1835+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2j74hOv0I2mNg_VsFlqxUvyV8MfPn5cq_P6mviSB-zjcA9JtAKIp8d7ghtlFc0vKFNOLdZc3ncbO129ZqvLdbwsqvMdt6FJoCT9OG-tCP_T_T2FfaAd_uXKhkkBDBm3NetqphN6lkjzZu/s1600/IMG_1835+(1).jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olives.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Catalan Toast - apologies for the poor picture!</td></tr>
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For our main, we went for the <b>Bavette Steak</b>, which was
beautiful! It wasn’t tough at all. By that point, Clare had had a tipple (or
three) and she summed it up just perfectly: “It’s just SO MOIST!” – Clare
reminded Jade and I of this several times throughout the meal. </div>
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To accompany our
steaks, we had the <b>Patatas al Povre</b>, which is a tasty dish of thinly sliced, fried
potatoes with a few chillis. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our mains - the Bavette Steaks and the Patatas al Povre.</td></tr>
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Despite well and truly filling our boots, noticing that
<b>Chocolate Pots with salt and olive oil </b>was a dessert option, we simply could
not turn it down.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-T-0vzP0iGH1FhJXnY8YUkQ6dren7JVPtumTFwV3q-DRJZXpxcgBH_B6D-7KQXyVic3QEgo9JmYDObu0qZkVazZly6QKNnASqdQa9KhL3MwqQTwbYXXZ98gdzQxz57DRKBM-Va6746Umg/s1600/IMG_6434+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-T-0vzP0iGH1FhJXnY8YUkQ6dren7JVPtumTFwV3q-DRJZXpxcgBH_B6D-7KQXyVic3QEgo9JmYDObu0qZkVazZly6QKNnASqdQa9KhL3MwqQTwbYXXZ98gdzQxz57DRKBM-Va6746Umg/s1600/IMG_6434+(2).jpg" height="320" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chocolate Pots with salt and olive oil.</td></tr>
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Don’t get me wrong, dessert was delicious and the salt and
olive oil added an excellent kick to it but for me there was simply too much,
which meant it bordered on being a quite sickly, so I unfortunately couldn’t finish it. If it
was a smaller portion, it would’ve been perfect!<o:p></o:p></div>
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As well as there being plenty of good food to choose from on
the menu, I must also add that the overall atmosphere of the place is lovely,
and extremely relaxed. The staff are very attentive and
friendly. They were happy to chat and answer any of our queries.<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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Despite us being lucky and getting a table at the last
minute, I would suggest booking prior to the night to avoid missing out.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I think overall the tapas (starters, main and dessert) costed around £20 per person, which I think is excellent value for money.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I could not recommend<b> Radio’s</b> tapas nights enough and I intend to return in the very near future.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Thanks for reading! Let me know if you decide to try out
<b>Radio’s</b> tapas night for yourself based on my recommendation!<br />
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Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07036881663398586308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5922834183826942085.post-45892203687558021632014-05-03T03:46:00.000-07:002014-05-03T04:17:00.353-07:00April favourites<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKM_tuK7OIaGMmRToWk7CEoKsJLOktXqio-SMfQWfLi6FfWyNBaXfO4sLbhw97QaI35PF0qVbPWI2RGNtEMHy_Joc3hJT5KSt4F6UvN73K1p7WamS8ov0zUUT2k28zpn3Gf2yoA34BRuw4/s1600/IMGP5262i.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKM_tuK7OIaGMmRToWk7CEoKsJLOktXqio-SMfQWfLi6FfWyNBaXfO4sLbhw97QaI35PF0qVbPWI2RGNtEMHy_Joc3hJT5KSt4F6UvN73K1p7WamS8ov0zUUT2k28zpn3Gf2yoA34BRuw4/s1600/IMGP5262i.jpg" height="196" width="320" /></a></div>
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Despite April probably being the busiest month of the year so far, it was definitely my favourite month of 2014 yet. Lots of hard work was done but there were a couple of lovely birthdays celebrated, my best friend, Craig has gone to work in Mallorca for six months, despite feeling sad that he's gone, I'm thrilled that he's having a wonderful time over there, oh and there's been plenty of blog progress, including a lovely little revamp - thanks to the boyfriend for that. Oh and I'm sorry to be a total fangirl BUT... *cough* the wonderful <a href="http://www.essiebutton.com/" target="_blank">Essie Button</a> shared my blog with her 76k+ Twitter followers *cough* - she enjoyed my <a href="http://betternithannever.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/essie-button-made-me.html" target="_blank">Essie Button made me...</a> post! Win!<br />
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So yep, April was pretty good but now I shall hush up and crack on with my most loved and reached for beauty products of the past month, and I've got to say, it's quite a luxurious list. Here goes:<br />
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<b>Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette - £37</b></div>
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If I could use any<b> iPhone Emoji</b> to sum up my feelings on this palette, it would be the 'heart-eyes' one, you know the one! I've had this little treasure of a palette for just over a month now and I adore it. Throughout April I reached for this palette on a number of occasions to create some lovely night time looks. One look I enjoyed creating in particular, was a subtle shimmery eye teamed with some winged liquid eyeliner. This look finished off my outfit at one of my best friend's 21st birthday Gatsby party perfectly. The shades I used to create this look were <i>Dust</i> - an extremely shimmery, peachy pink with A LOT of glitter, <i>Buzz</i> - a glittery, satin rose, and <i>Nooner</i> - a matte taupe. I wore <i>Nooner</i> all over the lid and finished the look off with the shimmery, glittery shades and of course, the winged liner. (Apologies for not having any pictures of this eye look!) I know this is a favourites post but I do have one gripe with one shade in this palette and oddly enough, the shade is <i>Dust</i> - that I have just mentioned. There is far too much fall out in <i>Dust</i>! Other than that, it's a stunning palette.</div>
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<b>Ciate Paint Pot in </b>Pocket Money<b> - £9</b></div>
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This was another beauty product that finished off the Gatsby party look. It's a beautiful nude shade, that's somewhat pinkier than your typical nude nail polish. It's an extremely elegant shade and the formula is lovely. It lasted me a good four to five days without any highly noticeable chipping. This is a little pinkier than <i>Nooner</i>, in the<b> Naked 3 Palette</b>. Being a sucker for pretty packaging, I must say the bottle is presented beautifully with a lovely black ribbon to finish it off. <i>Trés elegant.</i></div>
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<b>Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet Luminous Matte Lipstick in</b> 33 La Distinguée<b> - £26</b></div>
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This is not just an April favourite, this is a lifetime and a day favourite. I reached for this little beauty a number of times in April and as always, it finished off any look, day or night, gorgeously.<i> La Distinguée</i> is a moderately dusty pink with a very subtle hint of peach. It's beautiful and my all time favourite lipstick shade. This isn't a Gatsby party themed post I swear, but teaming this with the <b>Naked 3 Palette</b> and <b>Ciate's Pocket Money</b> was just a dusty pink dream! Despite its matte formula, I don't find this drying at all. Look out for a post dedicated to this lipstick in future because as you can tell I adore it. </div>
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<b>Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner - £13</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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This product featured in my <a href="http://betternithannever.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/essie-button-made-me.html" target="_blank">Essie Button made me...</a> post. I've worn a winged eye a number of times this month and I've absolutely loved it. The pen makes the detestable liquid eyeliner application process somewhat less detestable for me - big praise indeed! As I've previously said, it's the perfect black liquid eyeliner for me and it does not budge all day/evening.<br />
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<b>La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo + Plus - £15.50 *</b><br />
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Its predecessor featured in my <a href="http://betternithannever.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/february-favourites.html" target="_blank">February favourites</a> and since using the revamped version over the past month, I'm smitten. This product reduces any redness that comes after any skin outbreaks and I've found its actually improved the overall redness of my skin, which has given me the confidence to go a number of days foundation-free during April! See <a href="http://betternithannever.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/la-roche-posay-effaclar-duo-plus.html" target="_blank">here</a> for a full review of this.<br />
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Have a fab May and lovely Bank Holiday weekend all - I'm off to watch <b>McBusted</b> tonight in Birmingham, so I'm a tad excited to say the least! Thanks for reading!<br />
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Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07036881663398586308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5922834183826942085.post-76055534735200678722014-04-27T11:13:00.002-07:002014-05-03T03:27:06.568-07:00La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo + Plus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpYJIhWLmafwn3gUtV3CaM6wqPGG_0D7eAWZWgaYgrWMn0rSd1v219J25o_NnL5wB50x1PJfgVtBZSreA0AU96bc51V3yOq9uJD1azaHZMXl14RdhMZ5RMS9x9TtBGe-geIrBm-vy70NBm/s1600/IMGP5221i.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpYJIhWLmafwn3gUtV3CaM6wqPGG_0D7eAWZWgaYgrWMn0rSd1v219J25o_NnL5wB50x1PJfgVtBZSreA0AU96bc51V3yOq9uJD1azaHZMXl14RdhMZ5RMS9x9TtBGe-geIrBm-vy70NBm/s1600/IMGP5221i.jpg" height="320" width="279"></a></div>
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I'm one of those people that lives by the old saying: "If it ain't broke don't fix it" - I had been a huge fan of <b>La Roche-Posay's </b>original formula, <b>Effaclar Duo</b> for around 12 months. I even repurchased the stuff - a beauty addict's way of saying: "this is some pretty good shizz". So at the start of the year when I'd heard that the much-loved spot treatment had been discontinued BUT replaced with a revamped version, the<b> Effaclar Duo + Plus</b> I've got to admit, I was a little anxious but I had heard it did everything that the original did, on top of helping to reduce and prevent scarring.<br>
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About a month ago, the kind people at <b>La Roche-Posay</b> offered me the chance to try out the new formula, which was fantastic as I was keen to see whether the <b>Effaclar Duo + Plus</b> lived up to its predecessor.<br>
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I've never really had particularly problematic skin but I found that using the <b>Effaclar Duo</b> daily helped to keep my skin clear. It claimed to 'reduce the appearance of imperfections and unclog sebum-blocked pores' - which it did.<br>
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Does the new version do this? Yes, it does. Like the original, it helps to keep breakouts at bay. It's a preventative treatment, so with that in mind, remember it won't clear up current outbreaks on first application but it will reduce the frequency of them in future. This is a product that you have to persevere with - but not for a terribly long period of time, I found it to be effective in around a fortnight.<br>
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Now for the 'newness' - this updated version claims to prevent red and brown marks.<b> La Roche-Posay</b> claim that the new formula not only targets blemishes, clogged pores and excess sebum, but it also eliminates acne marks from the moment they start to form, thanks to an exclusive anti-marks active ingredient called <i>Procerad</i>.<br>
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Do I believe this updated version does anything in tackling the marks that come after blemishes? Yes I do and in fact, I feel that the product has done wonders in reducing the overall redness of my skin, so much so that this month, I've gone many days without wearing any foundation at all! Don't get me wrong, my skin has always been okay but it's rare that I feel confident enough to leave the house without any sort of base on my skin.<br>
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Overall, I'm thrilled with the results of the revamped formula and like I did with its predecessor, I will certainly be repurchasing this stuff when it eventually runs out! The original<b> Effaclar Duo</b> was great, however the <b>Effaclar Duo + Plus</b> just goes that step further for your skin.<br>
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You can get your hands on <b>La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo + Plu</b>s (RRP £15.50), from <b><a href="http://www.boots.com/" target="_blank">Boots</a></b> or via online beauty and skincare hotspot, <b><a href="http://www.escentual.com/" target="_blank">Escentual</a></b>.<br>
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Thanks for reading!<br>
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<br>Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07036881663398586308noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5922834183826942085.post-34412416409318262252014-04-24T12:14:00.002-07:002014-04-27T11:14:40.268-07:00Essie Button made me...<span style="font-family: inherit;">The title of today's post speaks volumes about me. Firstly, I'm a beauty addict but an easily led beauty addict at that. A product can sell itself to me but occasionally I do need the gentle nudge of fellow beauty bloggers to inspire a purchase... or eight.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This post features eight products I bought largely off the back of glowing reports from one of my favourite beauty bloggers, <a href="http://www.essiebutton.com/" target="_blank">Est</a></span><a href="http://www.essiebutton.com/" target="_blank">ée from Essie Button</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">. If you don't know who Est</span>ée is, she's a Canadian blogger, vlogger and YouTuber, who lives in London. She blogs under the name of <b>Essie Button</b>. Her blog is a joy to read and her videos are equally brilliant to watch. She's utterly hilarious, has superb taste in all things beauty, skincare and life in general, oh and she's ACE! Right, enough of the <b>Essie Button</b> love fest and onto the products:<br />
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<b>Barry M Hi Shine Gel Effect Nail Polish </b>in Lychee <b>- £3.99</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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With their vast array of colours and reasonable price tag,
<b>Barry M's</b> nail polishes are some of the best offerings on the high street.
However, their <b>Gel Effect Nail Polish</b> formula really is something special. In
two coats, you get wonderfully shiny nails that don't chip easily. Last year,
Estée (and the rest of us, including myself) fell in love with the shade, <i>Lychee</i>, which is a lovely nude-grey shade.
Ideal for daily wear.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner - £13</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Like most women out there I have a real love/hate
relationship with liquid eyeliner. I hate applying it, however when it does go
on well, I love it. Who doesn't love a good winged eye after all? Estée has
sang this product's praises no end, she claimed it was the best liquid eyeliner
she's ever tried. With that kind of review, how could I leave <b>Boots</b> without
this? Unsurprisingly, this has lived up to her rave reviews. It's the perfect
black liquid liner, the pen makes for easy application and it doesn't budge
throughout the day! <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Lip Balm Stain</b> in Honey<b> - £7.99</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Estée’s readers know her love of <b>Revlon'</b>s range of lip
products. These <b>Clinique Chubby Stick</b> dupes took the high street by storm
around two years ago and I do see why I suppose. I found these products okay
but just that unfortunately, I have the shade <i>Honey</i> (Estée's fave), which is a
lovely, 'your lips but better' kind of pink. My gripe with this product is it
fades so easily, which is fine for some but I don't tend to reapply my make-up
too much throughout the day, so it's a little annoying for me. Thankfully this
kind of shade isn't too high maintenance, so it doesn't look silly once it has
faded but it is just as though nothing was ever there. A plus point however, is
the minty scent. I love mint scented lip products! <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter</b> in Strawberry Shortcake and
Tutti Frutti <b>- £7.99</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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More <b>Revlon</b> lip products here. The beauty blogging community
went mad for these, including Estée, of course and I can totally see why. These
are somewhere between a lip balm and a lipstick and they are lovely. They're
extremely hydrating and there are a brilliant variety of shades to choose from.
I opted for <i>Strawberry Shortcake,</i> which is another one of those 'your lips but
better' pinks, and <i>Tutti Frutti, </i>which is an orangey coral. These go on sheer,
which means their staying power isn't incredible but having such a balm like
formula, I was expecting that really.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Maybelline EyeStudio Color Tattoo 24hr Cream Gel Eyeshadow</b>
in On and On Bronze <b>- £4.99</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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A product that Estée and every other blogger adores,
including myself! This cream formula eyeshadow is excellent worn alone or as a
base for other eyeshadows - it makes a wonderful companion for <b>Urban Decay's
Naked Palette </b>I've got to say! Despite its low price tag, its longevity and quality mirrors
that of a high end branded product. Estée's signature shade is <i>On and On Bronze</i>
or <i>Bad to the Bronze</i>, as its named in the States and Canada. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Bobbi Brown Corrector</b> in Porcelain Bisque <b>- £18.50</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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I love this, Estée loves this... (Did you read that to the
tune of the<b> Barney the Dinosaur</b> theme tune...? No, sorry, I will carry on). I
love this little wonder, as you will know if you read my <a href="http://betternithannever.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/february-favourites.html" target="_blank">February favourites</a>
post. This works fantastically to combat that sometimes dark under eye area of
mine. Its slight pink tint cancels out the darkness and with it having a
creamier consistency than most concealers, it works a little better for me in
my under eye area. A total gem, thank you Estée for introducing me to this.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Dior Hydra Life BB Eye Creme - £30</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Last year, Estée and I had something in common, we ventured
into the wonderful - albeit expensive world of <b>Dior</b> cosmetics and we fell for
them, hook line and sinker. A BB eye creme sounds ridiculously extravagant and
quite frankly unnecessary, and yes it is BUT this is a lovely product. The
coverage is by no means heavy duty at all, which may not satisfy some but I'm
all about the no make-up make-up look and this works great for me. The price
tag is the product's only real snag but it's <b>Dior</b>, need I say anymore? (Poet
and I did not know it)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Hope you enjoyed reading this post. Are there any beauty
bloggers that inspired some of your beauty purchases? If so, what products were
they and what bloggers tempted you into those purchases?<o:p></o:p><br />
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Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07036881663398586308noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5922834183826942085.post-43785835399831994922014-04-19T06:51:00.002-07:002014-04-22T16:27:37.111-07:00Eat Up, Shrewsbury<div>
This post may come as a bit of a shock to you all as there isn't a mascara or cleanser in sight! Today's post centres around one of my favourite things to do in my sparetime - dine out!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpYgt4XD0Z9AkYOIeuYkfWKSx5QSP2yX14gApnyEZ0rL7phLRNIG_ezuBk3cLl7jarsIaXMk-b9cGmw0Quyza48Vs_3zBMzo19itfzEu8ihP2vRDA1viSBraQrHYSgbMDfCgJ1sgehovr2/s1600/IMG_1389.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpYgt4XD0Z9AkYOIeuYkfWKSx5QSP2yX14gApnyEZ0rL7phLRNIG_ezuBk3cLl7jarsIaXMk-b9cGmw0Quyza48Vs_3zBMzo19itfzEu8ihP2vRDA1viSBraQrHYSgbMDfCgJ1sgehovr2/s1600/IMG_1389.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One example of Eat Up's fun decor - the bike on the wall.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photographic evidence of how well my outfit suited the decor (haha).</td></tr>
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This week I've had some long overdue days off and one of my afternoons was spent window shopping and enjoying a late lunch with my boyfriend at a lovely restaurant in Shrewsbury called <b>Eat Up</b>.<br />
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He'd had lunch there not so long ago and really enjoyed it, so based on his high praise, this place had to be good surely? And was it? Why, of course.</div>
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The first thing that struck me about the venue was the fun and super cool decor. The restaurant is filled with big tables and benches, as well as other stand out features to add to the fun and relaxed atmosphere - such as a bike on the wall and the 'naughty table', which is packed with calorie-laden goodies.</div>
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Speaking of calorie-laden goodies, I shall get onto the important bit... the food.<br />
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After we ordered and were served our drinks (I went for the <b>Cloudy Lemonade</b>, Michael went for a <b>Beer</b>, of course), I ordered the '<b>Most Amazing Steak Sandwich</b>' (that's what it said on the menu), and it was actually the most amazing steak sandwich I've ever had! It was gorgeous! It was served alongside some salad leaves, on toasted bread, with red onions and unlike many steak sandwiches I've devoured in the past, the steak wasn't tough at all. Michael opted for the <b>Sweet Potato Falafel, Halloumi Crostini with Chantaray Carrots, Tzatziki, Houmous and Salad stuffed Pitta</b>, which he'd had before and once again really enjoyed. We also had a side of <b>Wedges</b> to share with sour cream and a sweet chilli dip. The wedges were BEAUTIFUL - I only wish we'd have had a bigger portion but that's just me being greedy!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH9uHexC0ospKMpvFf2iwYZTWYUbOtRyDr6MahlVo81IlHT6HdRfr12gIzNA4H5teDVyE1zvkdkmScvOmNxTvtSA8SZ9DtwrDt90sd6CM56eeq0Fr2a2kf2eip43-gEKgaOJnC9QpJamTC/s1600/IMG_8705.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH9uHexC0ospKMpvFf2iwYZTWYUbOtRyDr6MahlVo81IlHT6HdRfr12gIzNA4H5teDVyE1zvkdkmScvOmNxTvtSA8SZ9DtwrDt90sd6CM56eeq0Fr2a2kf2eip43-gEKgaOJnC9QpJamTC/s1600/IMG_8705.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 'Most Amazing Steak Sandwich' and the Wedges.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;"> </span><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The </span></span><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sweet Potato Falafel, Halloumi Crostini with Chantaray Carrots, Tzatziki, Houmous and Salad stuffed Pitta.</span></span></td></tr>
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Despite both being more than satisfied with our lunch, both having a real sweet tooth, we couldn't resist a visit to the 'naughty table' - it took me quite a bit of 'umm-ing and arr'ing' but in the end I went for a generous slice of <b>Carrot Cake</b>, while Michael opted for a slab of <b>Rocky Road</b>. The <b>Rocky Road</b> was superb!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjueY1YrmCH4BaRK960km_K6ZVPVi0DtVp6ho6hyphenhyphenciZZ-K7vvEgbTnJZgLwO5wHpvpqwcPxsb1_Ym1n_3c7kJWqGaZw_8EcpLn9R10rxuG3O6Dn5kZ2B4vWkRGd6Z4TPdDPsF1AZ1lUfb4D/s1600/IMG_4113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjueY1YrmCH4BaRK960km_K6ZVPVi0DtVp6ho6hyphenhyphenciZZ-K7vvEgbTnJZgLwO5wHpvpqwcPxsb1_Ym1n_3c7kJWqGaZw_8EcpLn9R10rxuG3O6Dn5kZ2B4vWkRGd6Z4TPdDPsF1AZ1lUfb4D/s1600/IMG_4113.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The desserts, back, the Carrot Cake, front, Rocky Road.</td></tr>
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Other points I must comment on are the friendly and welcoming service and the price, all this came to around £30, which I think is reasonable for both our lunches, desserts, drinks and coffee.<br />
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Delicious food, served in a fun and friendly atmosphere - what more could you ask for really? I will definitely be returning here!<br />
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To check out <b>Eat Up</b>'s menu, visit: <a href="http://www.eatupshrewsbury.co.uk/">www.eatupshrewsbury.co.uk</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.eatupshrewsbury.co.uk/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjfx-SLr1H9pd26KpL9m1ceIOSuuR3xwVZlT7HIejn2ZVyOSvpqvsQlmMvkmKlKY_t4NPkUs5LbqC9oB9dwrR0ffvqEEFyEbaIE7yr0Tkd_1D5-FsPiXWB7rBuxnkMfs5Xx40zlyLyl4Tg/s1600/IMG_1907.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Cloudy Lemonade looked too pretty not to take a snap of!</td></tr>
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Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07036881663398586308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5922834183826942085.post-29938345480398579872014-04-15T13:27:00.003-07:002014-04-23T03:39:01.109-07:00A naughty and wholly unnecessary drugstore haul<span style="font-family: inherit;">As the title suggests this is a bit of a naughty post. This documents a recent half an hour I spent in <b>Boots</b> and I just thought I would show you what ended up in my basket. After a busy working week not so long ago, I fancied a couple of cheap and cheerful drugstore pick-me-ups.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A number of these purchases are inspired by some of my favourite bloggers who have been raving about some of these products recently and a couple are products I've tried before. Anyway before I ramble on any further I will crack on with telling you what I bought:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijbLKX4Jus3qWjMxoiA8MFbHL3VvK_Kiy4C3Phkogww3KqtHFyVgFrk68tpJJeRiOg8zIt0IEtoiZ60w1rScyqRlAcCQmJCrEkETMyOI6Bs8VM8jy2R9kpnLwfeOglsjQ3pG1dM_0f2i5L/s1600/IMGP5163i.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijbLKX4Jus3qWjMxoiA8MFbHL3VvK_Kiy4C3Phkogww3KqtHFyVgFrk68tpJJeRiOg8zIt0IEtoiZ60w1rScyqRlAcCQmJCrEkETMyOI6Bs8VM8jy2R9kpnLwfeOglsjQ3pG1dM_0f2i5L/s1600/IMGP5163i.jpg" height="234" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Nivea In shower Body Moisturiser - £3.56</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I first tried this stuff ages ago but this is only the second time I've bought this. It's lovely, it contains almond oil, so it leaves my skin feeling extremely soft post shower. It smells delicious too. However, the real selling point for me is that it saves you moisurising after you've showered and as I'm sure I've probably stated on the blog before, I'm all for corner cutting products!</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation - £6.99</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I haven't tried this yet but this is a purchase inspired by the wonderful <b>Faye from <a href="http://www.fayesfix.com/" target="_blank">Faye's Fix</a></b>. She's been raving about this recently and I decided to see what the fuss was about. She likens this to <b>Laura Mercier's Silk Creme</b> <b>Foundation</b>. Ever since using and LOVING, I hasten to add, <b>Rimmel's Wake Me Up Foundation</b>, I'm more open minded towards drugstore foundations and expect big things following on from my recent <b>Rimmel</b> experience. <b>Rimmel</b> says this foundation is enhanced with <i>Sapphire Radiance</i> for an illuminating glow, which sounds pretty lovely to me. My only concern with this is I think I may have bought a shade that's too light for me! Yep, you read that correctly, a pale Prudence like me may have found a drugstore foundation too light for her. This is actually a big deal and even if this is too light for me, kudos to <b>Rimmel</b> for catering for paler complexions. FYI - I have this in the shade,<i> Light Porcelain.</i> </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> VO5 Smoothly Does It Tame and Shine Spray - £3.89</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is one of the few purchases that isn't a naughty one. This is just a really good heat defence spray and a product that I repurchase time and time again. Nothing more to say on this really.</span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Soap & Glory Peaches and Clean 3-in-1 Wash off Deep Purifying Cleanser - £8</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Another product that I'm yet to try but extremely looking forward to using is this creamy cleanser, which contains supposedly 'super' T-zone decloggers, antioxidant-rich <i>Peach</i> and <i>Gojuice extracts</i> and detoxifying <i>Oxyginseng technology</i>. This smells exactly how you'd imagine, peachy! I can't wait to get stuck in with this as my past experience with <b>Soap & Glory</b> skincare has been pretty good.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">L'Oreal Miss Manga Mascara - £8.99</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm looking forward to livening up my lashes with this mascara. This was mostly an impulse purchase but it was also partially inspired by my love of a<b> L'Oreal</b> mascara, the<b> False Lash Telescopic</b>, which is my holy grail mascara. The <b>Miss Manga</b> mascara is all about the volume, whereas I find the <b>False Lash Telescopic</b> to be more lengthening really, so this could mix it up a bit for me.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Simple Kind To Skin Purifying Cleansing Lotion - £2.99</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This may well be the unsexiest product you will ever find. That sentence may sound bad to you but trust me it isn't, this product has been good to me. This is a product I will always repurchase without a second thought, it's reasonably priced and does what it says on the bottle and it's kind on my sensitive skin. It's loyal to me and I will always return that loyalty by repurchasing. After all, you can't go wrong with a bit of <b>Simple</b> really can you?</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Maybelline Eraser Eye Concealer - £7.99</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I bought this in the shade <i>Light</i>. This was an <b><a href="http://www.essiebutton.com/" target="_blank">Essie Button</a></b> inspired purchase, so surely that means I don't need to elaborate any further? If she loves it, I'm sure it's excellent. I also like the look of the sponge applicator. I'm hoping this hides away those pesky dark circles of mine, which I do suffer from occasionally.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Collection Cream Puff Lip Cream - £2.99</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Cheap, cheerful and another <b>Faye from Faye's Fix</b> inspired buy. I have these in the shades <i>Cotton Candy</i>, which is a 'your lips but better' pink, and <i>Fairy Cake</i>, which is a bright but not too bright pink. Despite applying creamy, these have a matte finish, which I love and I don't find them to be too drying like many other matte formulas can be. Another plus point is how sweet these smell. Lovely!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Look out for full reviews of these products in the future!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Thanks for reading!</span><br />
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<br />Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07036881663398586308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5922834183826942085.post-81325565002011547552014-04-12T02:22:00.001-07:002014-04-12T02:22:45.372-07:00Review of Forever Living Aloe ScrubHello and happy Saturday all - today I will be reviewing <b>Forever Living's Aloe Scrub</b>.<br />
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Not so long ago I was kindly given a number of <b>Forever Living</b> products to review and one of the items that has really stood out to me while testing them out so far is the <b>Aloe Scrub</b>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOvriEDBIscut99VjS3xkUYJnmHFQk0bAPEgPbL2Xp5uOdzEJoKH9SAnJ7OGL7e3gEgkkQ5WWKKR1-FiPcvoUqKwRhDORJRtQmUQZfZqYeUjYWEX5a9NhUkm_RqqiSLRnWI5eGTD8kfzcy/s1600/IMGP5154ii.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOvriEDBIscut99VjS3xkUYJnmHFQk0bAPEgPbL2Xp5uOdzEJoKH9SAnJ7OGL7e3gEgkkQ5WWKKR1-FiPcvoUqKwRhDORJRtQmUQZfZqYeUjYWEX5a9NhUkm_RqqiSLRnWI5eGTD8kfzcy/s1600/IMGP5154ii.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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First and foremost, I've got to say I wasn't expecting to enjoy using this product much at all. I've had a few so-so experiences with facial scrubs in the past. I've found many of them to be much too harsh on my sensitive skin. I've always found that the beads in many facial scrubs irritate my face, leaving my skin sore and in a worse condition than it was prior to using them.<br />
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However, this scrub has totally changed my perception on using scrubs as part of my skincare routine.<br />
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<b>Forever Living's Aloe Scrub</b> contains 'micro-spheres' of jojoba oil suspended in pure aloe vera. These two natural ingredients are meant to clear the way for the skin's renewal process.<br />
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It claims to be gentle enough to use everyday, a statement I was dubious of based on my previous experiences with scrubs.<br />
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Despite, my reservations I decided to see whether I could use this product on a daily basis and I can confirm over the past week I've used this product everyday prior to moisturising and it's left me with bright and radiant looking skin. Result!<br />
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This scrub isn't harsh or gritty on my skin at all. It's cooling and extremely refreshing.<br />
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I apply it to wet skin, before gently massaging it for around two minutes in a circular motion, which 'transforms' the scrub's texture - I find that it becomes creamy once massaged in. A real plus point for me is the smell of the product, I think some people may find it perhaps a little too clean if that's possible but I like it, it smells wonderfully fresh.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKEokUqANVn-6WNdgJYvX_ZjQmkHfRuDytTQWitLbxKY0K7pmf-Plz5NTmRy9KWDqcExb92VEzVIWSc-judFSoCD48NgmYCEJ252tCNONip0kCaw40ZScEizFR9D3Pn-SifXXjqnnouGIR/s1600/IMGP5161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKEokUqANVn-6WNdgJYvX_ZjQmkHfRuDytTQWitLbxKY0K7pmf-Plz5NTmRy9KWDqcExb92VEzVIWSc-judFSoCD48NgmYCEJ252tCNONip0kCaw40ZScEizFR9D3Pn-SifXXjqnnouGIR/s1600/IMGP5161.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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I'm not left with any oiliness, dryness or redness, just soft, plump looking skin. Overall, a good product.<br />
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<b>Forever Living's Aloe Scrub</b> (RRP £12.92) can be purchased at <a href="http://www.foreverliving.com/">www.foreverliving.com</a> or from your local independent distributor for<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.940000534057617px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><b>Forever Living</b>, mine is Susan Boag and her site can be found at <a href="http://bellavera.my.flpbiz.com/">bellavera.my.flpbiz.com</a>.<br />
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<br />Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07036881663398586308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5922834183826942085.post-88714245917311659882014-04-05T03:32:00.000-07:002014-04-05T03:32:20.804-07:00Review of Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water and Express 2 in 1 Eye Make-up RemoverYou cannot step into a <b>Boots</b> or<b> Superdrug</b> these days without seeing a brand's take on micellar cleansing water. Over the past year or so, micellar water has started appearing from all corners. They're a super fast way to cleanse your skin and remove your make-up. They contain <i>micelles</i> which act like magnets that gently lift away make-up.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXs8RuFBAbo1iDwc5APNb0_xx0icpLeqLTT8K_iqFzd_gvwQNznS3yFOZtqCiBBfyQDvMdHJ4XDrt0pnEnw20UJMaULrFkXF-MRva_6GJWp6yLUKo7pLNQ1zc0JGKX0HBFwCRJtfJHCCf3/s1600/IMGP4890i.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXs8RuFBAbo1iDwc5APNb0_xx0icpLeqLTT8K_iqFzd_gvwQNznS3yFOZtqCiBBfyQDvMdHJ4XDrt0pnEnw20UJMaULrFkXF-MRva_6GJWp6yLUKo7pLNQ1zc0JGKX0HBFwCRJtfJHCCf3/s1600/IMGP4890i.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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The craze started with THE 'big mama' of micellar waters, <b>Bioderma</b>.<br />
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<i>(Forgive me for my sins, I have a bad beauty blogger confession to make: I've never tried <b>Bioderma </b>- </i><i>anyway moving swiftly on...)</i><br />
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With the cult following behind <b>Bioderma</b>, of course it was only a matter of time before drugstore brands caved and started producing their own versions as <b>Bioderma</b> hasn't always been the easiest product to get hold of in the UK. When <b>L'Oreal</b> brought out their version I was excited, I repurchased time and time again but a few bottles down the line my skin was starting to disagree with it. It ended up drying out my skin, as well as leaving it a little red, accompanied with a slight stinging sensation. Nicht gut! So when I heard that <b>Garnier</b> had released their version of micellar water I had to have it right away!<br />
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Firstly, the packaging of <b>Garnier's Micellar Cleansing Water</b> really drew me to the product. It's fairly similar to <b>Bioderma</b> with its round bottle and pink lid.<br />
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Secondly, it's excellent value for money. At 400ml it's double the size of<b> L'Oreal's</b> cleansing water but they're priced the same. (RRP - £4.99) However, I must say both <b>Garnier </b>and <b>L'Oreal</b> are on offer most of the time in <b>Boots</b> and <b>Superdrug</b>.<br />
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Now to the crucial bit, does <b>Garnier's</b> version work for me? And the answer is yes it does. I use this as my pre-cleansing step, before I use a cream cleanser. It removes the bulk of my make-up without drying out my skin. It's extremely gentle, soothing and hydrating. I'm thoroughly enjoying using it so far and intend to repurchase it. However, I do not use this for removing my eye make-up, which leads me onto <b>Garnier's Express 2 in 1 Eye Make-up Remover</b>. (RRP - £3.50)<br />
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This stuff is excellent. This biphase eye make-up remover is enriched with <i>Arginine</i>, which helps to care for your lashes - meaning I don't lose half my lashes while removing my mascara. Most other eye make-up removers (I'm looking at you <b>L'Oreal</b> <b>Absolute Make Up Remover Eye & Lip) </b>leave my eye area quite oily, whereas<b> Garnier's</b> doesn't. My only criticism is a 125ml bottle of this stuff does not last long, I'm going through it fast!<br />
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Overall, I must applaud <b>Garnier</b> on this new cleansing duo of theirs - both of these are brilliant products that require no harsh rubbing to remove your make-up, just simply hold down with a cotton pad for a few seconds and <i>voila</i> - make-up gone. I will certainly be repurchasing both of these in the future.<br />
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Have you tried this duo yet?<br />
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<br />Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07036881663398586308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5922834183826942085.post-91571694499039674502014-03-30T09:32:00.002-07:002014-04-23T03:38:50.646-07:00March favouritesThis post has come around way too fast. I know we all say it about every month but March has whizzed by, so of course what would the end/beginning of a new month be without me sharing with you what my most loved beauty products were throughout the month?<br />
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March has been a great month for me. This is the month I kicked off all this blogging shizz and I haven't regretted it one bit. It's something I've always intended to do but never quite got my act together in doing until now - so I must say, if you're thinking about doing something that you know you'll enjoy, do it. Don't think twice about it, just get on with it!<br />
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That's my advice for the month, time to crack on with these favourites.<br />
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<b>Seventeen Cheek Stamp Blush in</b> Made You Look<b> - £4.99</b></div>
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Ah, the product that kicked my backside into blogging. It's special to me for that reason but sentimental stuff aside, I've really enjoyed using this. Applied with no thought, you will look insane and I don't mean that in the 'insane, sick good' way - you will look like Aunt Sal if you don't blend it in properly. However, applied correctly this will give you a delightful pop of colour. I use my <b>Real Techniques Stippling Brush</b> with this and they make an excellent team. I bought three shades of this blush but this shade is my favourite by a country mile. I love the bright pink blush and fair skin pairing. <i>Made You Look</i> certainly lives up to its name. This blush still shows up on my cheeks come the end of the day, which I think is excellent for the price you pay for this. <a href="http://betternithannever.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/seventeen-cheek-stamp-blush.html" target="_blank">Click here for my for my initial thoughts on the product.</a></div>
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<b>Real Techniques Stippling Brush - £11.99</b></div>
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This isn't just a March favourite, it's a 'until the end of time favourite' but this month in particular it's served me well. I only ever use this for applying blush. As I mentioned previously, this and<b> Seventeen's Cheek Stamp Blush</b> make a good team but this brush works fantastically with all blush products of mine, powder or cream formula. Bright pink blush signifies the beginning of spring for me and this brush has enabled me to create the 'spring bright' look effortlessly.</div>
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<b>L'Occitane Shea Butter Subtle Violet Hand Cream (30ml) - £8</b></div>
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This little beauty's habitat is my desk at work. I've been using this for the past month or so and it's really improved the general condition of my hands. The harsh winter months took their toll on my hands, making me look as though I worked outside all day, doing manual labour! This isn't me saying there's anything wrong in undertaking some hard graft by the way but when you're a young woman who doesn't do manual labour, it isn't exactly the look you strive for. Anyway, enough of me rambling on about manual labour stricken hands. Basically, this product is rich and moisturising but without being greasy, plus the scent is lovely. It's not too overbearing at all. Just gotta put this out there: the best hand cream I've ever tried.<br />
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<b>Avene Soothing Hydrating Serum - £17*</b><br />
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Since being sent this product for review, it's become a staple part of my skincare regime, providing my skin with a welcome boost of moisture. Post use, my skin is left feeling soft and supple, without feeling greasy. So far this has been a joy to use. <a href="http://betternithannever.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/avene-soothing-hydrating-serum.html" target="_blank">Click here for my initial review on the product.</a><br />
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<b>Bourjois 10 Hour Sleep Effect Foundation in </b>71 Abricote Clair <b>- £9.99</b><br />
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This foundation is probably a blast from the past for some. This foundation isn't one that many <b>Bourjois</b> stands stock now but when I stumbled across this a while back something gravitated me towards it. I never got to try it back in the day, so I felt like I'd missed out in some ways I suppose. I've been using this throughout the month, as my previous everyday foundation (<b>Rimmel's Wake Me Up Foundation</b>) is running low. So far, I'm thoroughly enjoying it. It stays on my skin all day, the coverage is quite light, leaving me with a non-cakey looking face. I think this product could revitalise the dullest of complexions. A product that lives up to its name in my opinion - 10 hour sleep effect indeed.<br />
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Hope you've all had a wonderful March and have an even better April. I have a feeling April will be a cracking month (no Easter pun intended) but seriously the nights will be lighter and the chocolate eggs will be aplenty - what more could you ask for really?<br />
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<br />Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07036881663398586308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5922834183826942085.post-40349045281675541622014-03-29T02:57:00.001-07:002014-03-29T02:57:07.954-07:00Bath time with Lush's 'Buttercup' gift setI enjoy a bath as much as the next person but unfortunately I find them so time consuming. I shower daily but baths tend to be more of a bi-monthly occurrence for me (seriously)!<br />
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So when I do set aside time for a bath I really make an occasion out of of it - that's where Lush's 'Buttercup' gift set came in.<br />
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After 'Lush-ting' after a 'Lush bath' for ages, I decided to pay a visit to one of my local branches, and after a great deal of 'umm-ing and arr-ing', the 'Buttercup' set was what I came away with.<br />
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Priced at £7.95, you get a Butterball Bath Ballistic and 100g of Honey I Washed the Kids Soap.<br />
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My friend, Clare told me I needed to try a Butterball. She said having one in my bath would save me moisturising afterwards. If I can ever cut a corner in my beauty routine, trust me I will and this little wonder enabled me to do so!<br />
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Once dissolved the Butterball left me with a creamy, vanilla scented bath. My skin felt extremely soft post bath, due to the chunks of cocoa butter in it. The Butterball wasn't your typical Lush bath bomb spectacle, it didn't create any bubbles but the fact it allowed me to skip moisturising left me satisfied with it overall.<br />
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Honey I Washed the Kids was also lovely, not heavily scented and it lasts a while - I've still got a chunk of it left.<br />
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The set is brightly and beautifully packaged - overall one of Lush's less "showy" combinations but left me feeling and smelling good.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiToElxpi5c_sF2zt6n6OpPhuqS6Hj1fxZFQceEOy2J7EUGf3bawfkw4gV59WKtxGrDdMLW1NBQvC2SBsFotoxQ2mZ72ULSxAeuoSc_MiCsR10atmmfTaR-LX0vxvzt7Y3ni54T8zAbtNr2/s640/blogger-image--1557229509.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiToElxpi5c_sF2zt6n6OpPhuqS6Hj1fxZFQceEOy2J7EUGf3bawfkw4gV59WKtxGrDdMLW1NBQvC2SBsFotoxQ2mZ72ULSxAeuoSc_MiCsR10atmmfTaR-LX0vxvzt7Y3ni54T8zAbtNr2/s320/blogger-image--1557229509.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How the Butterball leaves your bath looking.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidjgULtAbAedgwzyIAD94vaLHxsASCrGya8Zti0J5iGrE9Lk81xfEmxC_8Uwty4F2kKnP4yPN-H9o_qQ7fGOP1MsISNagL1JITGE4Us6O8LgSBC47AoAsq3pT7zg64iwza1TfX2RD1G3Tm/s640/blogger-image-1669596762.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidjgULtAbAedgwzyIAD94vaLHxsASCrGya8Zti0J5iGrE9Lk81xfEmxC_8Uwty4F2kKnP4yPN-H9o_qQ7fGOP1MsISNagL1JITGE4Us6O8LgSBC47AoAsq3pT7zg64iwza1TfX2RD1G3Tm/s320/blogger-image-1669596762.jpg" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Butterball dissolving.</td></tr>
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<br />Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07036881663398586308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5922834183826942085.post-13195019590077836332014-03-23T13:01:00.000-07:002014-04-23T03:39:44.163-07:00No7 Spring 2014 CollectionAs we're finally bidding farewell to the dark, cold winter months, Boots' No7 line has launched a number of beautifully bright spring products which are sure to give us all a welcome boost.<br />
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This new season collection features plenty of on-trend brights, pastels and shimmers. <br />
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Recently Boots had 3 for 2 on pretty much EVERYTHING (make up, skincare, haircare, etc) and No7's spring collection happened to grab my attention at that time and I simply could not leave without making some naughty purchases.<br />
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I opted for the limited edition <b>Peony Petals Blush Palette</b>, the limited edition <b>Stay Perfect Nail Colour</b> in <i>Spring Meadow</i> and the <b>Pop and Glow Cream Blush</b> in <i>Rose Blossom</i>, which I believe isn't limited edition (YAY).<br />
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<b>Peony Petals Blush Palette - £12</b><br />
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There was no chance I was going to leave Boots without picking up this gorgeous Blush/Highlighter duo. This has a pretty blend of pinks and highlighting petals, which will help you achieve a radiant looking complexion. This is a fairly shimmery product but applied lightly, this guarantees to brighten up your look, rather than make you look like a disco ball. It's not overly pigmented but it is buildable. I couldn't wait to use this but at the same time I didn't want to touch it, as it sits far too gorgeously in the pan to be ruined! It saddens me that this is limited edition.<br />
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<b>Stay Perfect Nail Colour </b>in Spring Meadow <b>- £6</b><br />
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This is a lovely, glossy nail colour formula and it's what I'm wearing on my nails at the moment. It goes on fairly sheer, so you do need two coats of this. I think this looks a minty green shade in the bottle, whereas on my nails it looks somewhat turquoise-y green (but that could be my eyes?). Nonetheless, a great springtime shade. This is one of the two limited edition Nail Colours No7 have brought out for spring, the other being a pastel pink called <i>Pink Blossom</i>.<br />
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<b>Pop and Glow Cream Blush</b> in Rose Blossom<i> </i><b>- £9.95</b><br />
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This 'chubby stick-esque' packaged wonder is beautiful. This cream formula Blush gives you a real pop of colour and with it being highly pigmented, a little really does go a long way, so apply carefully or risk looking like Aunt Sally! I opted for the shade, <i>Rose Blossom </i>as this bright pink shade compliments my fair skin well. This also comes in two other shades, <i>Mango Sorbet </i>and <i>Classic Rose. </i>An added bonus is that this isn't limited edition (I think but correct me if I'm wrong).<br />
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I believe the limited edition products will be in Boots stores and online at <a href="http://www.boots.com/">www.boots.com</a> until around May time, so I suggest you pick them up fast to avoid missing out on such loveliness!<br />
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<br />Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07036881663398586308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5922834183826942085.post-68365699966351999072014-03-20T14:48:00.001-07:002014-03-20T17:19:22.915-07:00Avene Soothing Hydrating SerumBeing new to this whole blogging lark, I was extremely excited to have been sent<b> Avene's Soothing Hydrating Serum</b> (£17) from<b> Escentual</b> to try out and review.<br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga5GJlQK19FhmeZQgBJqbXzbQSCH2bHJ5XVOl_HUQGCAQZgf3LhffA2n7RsN6jezJdeewoM9q3i-fY08-uHMKkdvF2DhTkdkM98HoSeP7Qdgq9sASOSyPBspf_pz233HAmA9uw8Pwip_L4/s1600/IMGP4782.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga5GJlQK19FhmeZQgBJqbXzbQSCH2bHJ5XVOl_HUQGCAQZgf3LhffA2n7RsN6jezJdeewoM9q3i-fY08-uHMKkdvF2DhTkdkM98HoSeP7Qdgq9sASOSyPBspf_pz233HAmA9uw8Pwip_L4/s1600/IMGP4782.JPG" height="320" width="240"></a></div>
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Firstly I've got to say I've never used a serum before, nor have I ever considered using one, so I have nothing to compare this product to. However, I've used this product for a week and a half now and I'm thoroughly enjoying it so far.<br>
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This silky feeling serum sinks into my skin right away and doesn't feel greasy at all. I use this morning and evening after I've cleansed my face. I leave it for a few minutes before applying<b> La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo [+]</b> - expect a review of that soon.<br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5OTmC-z9e-SP0zcuTdolDexTebNNeKYs2qO5_uO0kjS5-XtWCCdPKrIxa3Rsdfki8dS8KAvGuJjOKRXmKzr1mJIqXl3l7dM3526II14VFYscE5P7jqGTCB7QpghKcL7_yj_ivig_DCaKA/s1600/IMGP4786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5OTmC-z9e-SP0zcuTdolDexTebNNeKYs2qO5_uO0kjS5-XtWCCdPKrIxa3Rsdfki8dS8KAvGuJjOKRXmKzr1mJIqXl3l7dM3526II14VFYscE5P7jqGTCB7QpghKcL7_yj_ivig_DCaKA/s1600/IMGP4786.JPG" height="240" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How the serum looks.</td></tr>
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Post use, my skin feels so supple and soft! If I had used this product during the colder months, my dry, winter ravaged skin would have been banished for sure.<br>
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The product, which is highly concentrated in <b>Avene Thermal Spring Water</b>, aims to soothe and moisturise even the most sensitive of skin. It also contains glycerin which improves the skin's hydration and suppleness.<br>
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Overall, despite never considering using a serum before, having been pleased with the results of using one so far, this will continue to make up part of my daily skincare routine. I can't wait to see the long term effect this serum has on my skin, I shall keep you updated on that.<br>
<br>In the meantime, while I'm raving about this product, why not try it out for yourself by visiting <a href="http://www.escentual.com/">www.escentual.com</a>, <b>Escentual </b>is the go to place to get your hands on a variety of French skincare brands including <b>Avene</b>, <b>La Roche-Posay</b>, <b>Vichy</b> and <b>Bioderma</b>, to name a few. What's more, <b>Escentual</b> are currently offering up to 1/3 off French Pharmacy brands until the end of March - so I suggest you have a browse now if you fancy mixing up your current skincare routine!<br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTjKpOa0dbCBiigp3BG4MimbiaMqLrTaEnwp1XK3rJGV_aP-fGUD-nLzujc5qMbsvrtU3KTPq7qRAdLmOOPSt6HULx4EO5l1vhcLXhqTW_o0OXQLqeyyyFC-zZJugOC3TeI5wtwtmC_LXl/s1600/IMGP4764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTjKpOa0dbCBiigp3BG4MimbiaMqLrTaEnwp1XK3rJGV_aP-fGUD-nLzujc5qMbsvrtU3KTPq7qRAdLmOOPSt6HULx4EO5l1vhcLXhqTW_o0OXQLqeyyyFC-zZJugOC3TeI5wtwtmC_LXl/s1600/IMGP4764.JPG" height="240" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NB - The box arrived dented.</td></tr>
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<br>Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07036881663398586308noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5922834183826942085.post-12024231422808228062014-03-12T13:06:00.000-07:002014-04-05T03:01:06.381-07:00Empties #1<span style="font-family: inherit;">My first empties post, a real blogger feat indeed!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I find empties posts interesting and I enjoy reading them, for two reasons:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">I feel they provide you with the most representative review of a product. If you've used up a whole bottle/tub/tube (etc), during that time you will have surely come to some sort of conclusion about the product.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Empties posts tend to reveal whether someone intends to repurchase a product again.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I've used up quite a few products since January and being the hoarder that I am I have kept them for my own blogging pleasure.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I did intend to start this blog in January, hence the backlog of products but as my blog name suggests... Better Ni than never. (Insert wink emote here)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So here's what I've used up:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuwuTN_SrDh-nI974NaeL4jVnBSK04qRNxDEWcKVizjy6HB-dPtIuWSAaIRzXhutlri7UGaWc7O_y1TyrqglfHcyhyphenhyphenXIHpmWaTu5igVHE9MQdvwRAKLNFMr6J5sgb0pcCAX0cPw59Fn3LX/s1600/IMGP4700.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuwuTN_SrDh-nI974NaeL4jVnBSK04qRNxDEWcKVizjy6HB-dPtIuWSAaIRzXhutlri7UGaWc7O_y1TyrqglfHcyhyphenhyphenXIHpmWaTu5igVHE9MQdvwRAKLNFMr6J5sgb0pcCAX0cPw59Fn3LX/s1600/IMGP4700.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Lush Angels on Bare Skin Fresh Facial Cleanser - £6.35</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I enjoyed using this cleanser, I used it most days for around three months until it ran out and it always left my skin feeling extremely soft after use. It promises to "even out skin tone, reduce redness and improve the health and appearance of your skin, giving a natural glow". I found it did improve the health and appearance of my skin, however I didn't notice it reducing any redness. The product contains chamomile blue and lavender oils, which promise to calm and soothe the skin. Soothing it sure is. I </span>never<span style="font-family: inherit;"> used this cleanser to remove my make up, I'd always use it on bare skin (no pun intended there). As instructed on the tub I would use a pea sized piece of this, put it in my hand, add some water, before mixing to a paste like consistency. I would then apply it over the face, then rinse it off with warm water, revealing baby soft skin. Yay! Another plus is that it smells good, in an earthy kind of way. Would I repurchase this again? Yes but not urgently.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>L'Oeal Lumi Magique Concealer in</b> Light - <b>£8.49</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This was nice... however I must say, that I use the word 'nice' to indicate that something isn't amazing but it's a tad better than okay. I wasn't blown away by this product. It made for a fairly good, brightening under eye concealer but it didn't do much in the way of covering up any blemishes. The product blended well and I enjoyed the brush applicator. It was also a good colour match for me. I also liked the look of the packaging, however it didn't last me long at all, I don't think it even reached the two month mark and I wasn't slapping this stuff on heavily either! Personally, I prefer Collection's Lasting Perfection Concealer by a country mile. The coverage is better, it lasts longer AND costs an amazing £4.19. Would I repurchase Lumi Magique again? No.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>VO5 Smoothly Does It Tame and Shine Spray - £3.89</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I repurchase this stuff time and time again. I'm not a massive haircare expert and I must admit I do kind of neglect my hair for the most part. I would walk over hot coals barefoot to maintain my fringe but the rest of my hair doesn't always get the TLC it needs really. Shame on me. However, I do use my hairdryer and straighteners and totally recognise the importance of a good heat defence spray and this is a good heat defence spray! I spray a small amount on dry hair after blow drying and before using my straighteners and I always find it protects my hair from the heat and keeps my hair smooth and fairly frizz free. I don't even need to ask whether I would repurchase this because I do and will, time and time again!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>No7 Quick Cover Blemish Stick in</b> Fair<b> - £7.50</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When my skin wasn't suffering from drier spells, this stuff was okay. However, it would cling terribly to any dry patches. The coverage was okay but generally I think there are better concealers out there. This took me ages to use up and I believe (correct me if I'm wrong here) that it's now been discontinued. I think its equivalent now is No7's Match Made Concealer. I doubt I will try that based on my experience with this product.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Balance Me Balancing Face Moisturiser - £24</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This was a joy to use. This is one of the best moisturisers I've ever used and I was sad to finish this. I think I got this sample free with a magazine. I haven't got round to purchasing a full size of this. The price does put me off a little as I've used good moisturisers for much less BUT it was something special, so maybe one day... The product claims to "soothe, calm and hydrate", I can definitely say it does. I applied this to cleansed skin and it always left my skin extremely hydrated and soft. The product is of 99 per cent natural origin and is formulated with meadowfoam, moringa, rice bran oils, vitamins and anti-oxidants, as well as pure neroli, bergamot, frankinense (AND MYRRH - jokes), petitgrain, lemongrass and spruce knot. Overall a lovely product. I must add, it did have a slight earthy smell but it wasn't offensive at all. Would I purchase a full size of this? Mmm, maybe, like I say the price puts me off a tad though.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.1200008392334px;">L'Oreal Skin Perfection 3 in 1 Purifying Micellar Solution - £4.99</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 16.1200008392334px;">I was a bit of a latecomer to the micellar water party but I'm glad I showed up in the end! This is L'Oreal's 'Bioderma dupe/micellar water offering'. I'm yet to try Bioderma as it's fairly difficult to get hold of in the UK, so of course seeing this dupe in the shops was exciting. This was my second or third bottle of this, which does indicate I like the product and I do. The product is supposed to act as a make up remover and toner in one. It removes all traces of make up, even mascara, however I do tend to use a separate eye make up remover now. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 16.1200008392334px;">You need to bear in mind this is a good make up remover but it shouldn't be your only cleansing step! To use this,</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"> I apply a cotton wool pad onto dry skin, hold over the skin for a few seconds then I just sweep away. One plus point is that this stuff is on offer ALL the time, so look out for that. Would I repurchase this again? Yes, however I'm looking to try other drugstore brands' micellar water offerings soon to see how they compare to this, that could result in a micellar water blog post soon so keep your eyes peeled for that!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>L'Oreal Absolute Make Up Remover Eye & Lip - £4.99</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">This stuff is okay. This is my second bottle of this and I'm starting to feel unsure, I will use it up but I have realised this formula is quite greasy, despite its claims of being 'non greasy', and doesn't remove make up as swiftly as it should. Just like the micellar water except you have to shake this product well before use, I apply a cotton pad onto my eye this time, hold over for a few seconds then I gently sweep away. However, it does take a few cotton pads before my eye make up is totally removed. Would I repurchase this again? Hmm, no, I'm now looking to try a different eye make up remover.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>L'Oreal False Lash Telescopic Mascara in</b> Magnetic Black<b> - £10.99</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">This stuff is absolutely excellent. This mascara proved to me that you don't need to spend £20+ for a good mascara. Big praise indeed but its my all time favourite mascara.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">L'Oreal says this mascara has 'infinite length effect fibers', meaning t</span><span style="background-color: white;">his mascara provides more length than it does volume but I don't mind that at all, as it doesn't give the type of length that screams 'spider lashes'. It separates my lashes well and the curl holds all day. My eyes can be quite watery and this stuff does not budge, which means no panda eyes, always a plus. Would I repurchase this again? Yes, yes, yes!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>After thought: If this blog post was an episode of Friends, it may well have been called: 'The one with all the L'Oreal products' - totally unintentional, of course.</i></span></span></div>
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Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07036881663398586308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5922834183826942085.post-71204642450128053192014-03-09T12:33:00.000-07:002014-04-23T03:39:22.928-07:00February favourites<div>
As we are now well and truly into March, what would the beginning of a new month be without a blogger telling the world what products they enjoyed using and reached for the most during the past month?</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY466R379Qh39JWrUYo3xy1V3HsQazY7kiVRQr7CfWqFV8bCqPxqFdpmqCX7I2wYKfjXLLnR7QbaU-DSG_oK-HFOra1YiMCo8yqcwVd2bkiVpT0LID2XC_PdGyKXewJOeDhtzPpHtFLKsq/s1600/IMGP4598.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY466R379Qh39JWrUYo3xy1V3HsQazY7kiVRQr7CfWqFV8bCqPxqFdpmqCX7I2wYKfjXLLnR7QbaU-DSG_oK-HFOra1YiMCo8yqcwVd2bkiVpT0LID2XC_PdGyKXewJOeDhtzPpHtFLKsq/s1600/IMGP4598.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My February favourites.</td></tr>
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<b>Urban Decay Naked Palette - £37</b></div>
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Usually I get the most wear out of this palette during the evenings. However, during February I used this palette a few times during the day, opting for a subtle daytime look using two extremely pretty shades, 'Sin' - a pale, champagne shadow, and 'Toasted' - a warm, bronze-y, pink(ish) shade. I wore 'Sin' all over the lids and 'Toasted' in the outer crease and I must say, they make a good shadow team! The look wasn't too heavy for the daytime and certainly brightened up my eyes. I adore this palette and I feel that I subconsciously went for the two pinkier shades in this palette because I'm (still) dying to get my hands on the third Naked Palette, which is all about the pinks and rose gold shades.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPw8sImlO8knJDvMF2G-T_C8Ssvj_EgbHOm438L8YWUYZ7XY2IZqCvrhofb4HKf2zgb2WB86sPMsknh8-7mdzGvviY7fR65Vm5Nkz69pGouSmWHhoIgXbvSLsVaJiKBgXZMJXrzd_oIz5M/s1600/IMGP4536.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPw8sImlO8knJDvMF2G-T_C8Ssvj_EgbHOm438L8YWUYZ7XY2IZqCvrhofb4HKf2zgb2WB86sPMsknh8-7mdzGvviY7fR65Vm5Nkz69pGouSmWHhoIgXbvSLsVaJiKBgXZMJXrzd_oIz5M/s1600/IMGP4536.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Sin' - a pale, champagne shadow. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTYHlNCT9HrqU0PRaS-V07kNVWGrcxWBP0vuiDJlu7Y9_1AK33wEl7EKdtUeYHFzukePqiyI1_fE5TRnCqQpLQT1K5pK269hJAylVQY6MkzVUS0hKQGd0kjjMRCMEUEYki0DLDp4Qz8nME/s1600/IMGP4541.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTYHlNCT9HrqU0PRaS-V07kNVWGrcxWBP0vuiDJlu7Y9_1AK33wEl7EKdtUeYHFzukePqiyI1_fE5TRnCqQpLQT1K5pK269hJAylVQY6MkzVUS0hKQGd0kjjMRCMEUEYki0DLDp4Qz8nME/s1600/IMGP4541.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Toasted' - a warm, bronze-y, pink(ish) shade.</td></tr>
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<b>Bobbi Brown Corrector in </b>Porcelain Bisque<b> - £18.50</b></div>
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This little beauty served me well during the past month. For those mornings when I woke up having not quite had my solid eight hours of sleep, this worked wonders in tackling a dark under eye. The product has a slight pink tint to it, in order to cancel out any darkness. I feel this product works better than a standard concealer for me as the consistency is so creamy, it blends in extremely well, doesn't crease and really brightens my under eye area.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIKh84MEH6pCTPoJ8YGf7my9baROrCUokBS3ZjrYSGWJiVH6kwpGYCnlDVnLkBslws9F3FnE3K9qyN7vd80f68ybaDDNOwpLw8lVcYK0sPBXMrr9AG3OdANpsjmeAbNtoq7Kf6nDtUZk_Z/s1600/IMGP4525.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIKh84MEH6pCTPoJ8YGf7my9baROrCUokBS3ZjrYSGWJiVH6kwpGYCnlDVnLkBslws9F3FnE3K9qyN7vd80f68ybaDDNOwpLw8lVcYK0sPBXMrr9AG3OdANpsjmeAbNtoq7Kf6nDtUZk_Z/s1600/IMGP4525.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bobbi Brown Corrector in Porcelain Bisque.</td></tr>
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<b>Sleek Blush in </b>Pixie Pink<b> - £4.49</b></div>
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A monthly favourite it certainly is, but I could go as far as to say this is one of my favourite blushers of all time. That's a big statement, as I LOVE blush. I reached for this pretty much everyday during February. It may look slightly daunting as it is very pigmented but applied with care and the Real Techniques Stippling Brush, it looks lovely on a fair complexion. A gorgeous, soft pink that makes for the perfect springtime shade and an added bonus is it's a great drugstore dupe for Nars' Gaeity, which retails at a pricier £21.50.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix1YIFSyODI2FekukA53qVmVPEy3ZvEZrn2BIkpnP2OG2xVeuMPEdChXNF7MIVjM41bn67Pgtqj4SRPrHGxKv3QaeQw0kmGOvvcMo1noZHxRzyaEcAjbthP08oE5WoSX-SpzZsxAByg5bs/s1600/IMGP4514.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix1YIFSyODI2FekukA53qVmVPEy3ZvEZrn2BIkpnP2OG2xVeuMPEdChXNF7MIVjM41bn67Pgtqj4SRPrHGxKv3QaeQw0kmGOvvcMo1noZHxRzyaEcAjbthP08oE5WoSX-SpzZsxAByg5bs/s1600/IMGP4514.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swatch of Sleek's Pixie Pink.</td></tr>
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<b>Bourjois Color Edition 24h Eyeshadow - £6.99</b></div>
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Another pink(ish), bronze eyeshadow here. I'm not 100 per cent sure but I think I have the shade 'Petale de Glace'. These are a cream to powder texture, which is what drew me to purchasing it. During a few days in February I wore it and it made for a lovely, neutral daytime eye look. The product is shimmery but not too shimmery for the day. The colour pay off is good and I didn't find it to crease at all. I am tempted to try a few other shades in the range, however they look deeper than this, so will probably work best in the evenings.<br />
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(nb -I NEED to say: product is spelt 'color', I haven't made an error :P)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVgAqRyVrWQYSah7xsmQST_DVRgLlWMgLoiiFfYlfju60bF0Ojtk5z22NycITV6rixhBaXWGrsVN8fQyFn2j0qM1ufF8sKu3j0RUxWU06pd0PsV6HFfUzQKhVmQ4f3O-3aq9n1U5rwGuwG/s1600/IMGP4500.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVgAqRyVrWQYSah7xsmQST_DVRgLlWMgLoiiFfYlfju60bF0Ojtk5z22NycITV6rixhBaXWGrsVN8fQyFn2j0qM1ufF8sKu3j0RUxWU06pd0PsV6HFfUzQKhVmQ4f3O-3aq9n1U5rwGuwG/s1600/IMGP4500.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swatch of Bourjois' Color Edition 24h Eyeshadow.</td></tr>
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<b>La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo - £12</b></div>
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This is my second tube of this stuff and I must say I'm still enjoying it. I stopped using this for about a month but got well and truly back into it during February and if used everyday, does work wonders for my skin. I don't have particularly terrible skin but I find using this everyday does keep my skin pretty clear. You don't need much of it at all. It's a corrective and unclogging treatment that I find to be gentle on the skin. On the back of the tube it says it 'reduces the appearance of imperfections and unclogs sebum-blocked pores', and I think it does. The only downside for me now however, is this product has been discontinued... but fear not, La Roche-Posay have brought out Effaclar Duo [+] Plus. I believe the only difference in the revamped version is that it helps to reduce and prevent scarring, as well as what it already does. (Correct me if I'm incorrect here someone.)</div>
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<b>Origins Clear Improvement Charcoal Mask - £22</b></div>
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Wow. Wow. Wow. This stuff. What a superb product. Sorry to sound over the top here but I cannot sing this mask's praises enough. I have never used a product that is so effective in such a short space of time, it makes a real difference right away. I never in a million years would have thought to have picked up this product, however I was perusing the Origins stand in Boots not so long ago and was given this sample by a lovely sales assistant. I didn't really pay it any attention and didn't use it until recently. However, a little while ago my skin was having lets just say 'a bit of a moment' and on reading up on this mask, I decided to take action fast. Many said the active charcoal in the mask draws out impurities right away and that it did! The charcoal acts as a magnet and brings those pesky impurities right to the surface. Prior to application you have to open up your pores with warm water. I apply it fairly thickly to any impurities, which mostly occur on my t-zone, I leave it 10 minutes, then rinse off with warm water. Right away my skin feels very clean and any breakouts are greatly reduced. When I eventually run out of this sample, I will certainly be purchasing the full size product. </div>
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<b>Stella McCartney Lily Eau De Parfum - £43.50</b></div>
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I had a 30ml bottle of Lily for Christmas and it's the only fragrance I've worn this year. My signature scent has been Chance by Chanel for years but I think this may well have stolen that title. I don't want to get the notes incorrect so here is how Ms McCartney herself describes it: "<span style="background-color: white;">Top notes evoke the rich, mineral freshness of truffle. Heart notes of green and luminous lily of the valley create an irresistible addiction. Base notes reveal the earthy warmth of oak moss." For a woman's fragrance, it has a masculine sort of smell to it but in an extremely pleasant way. I tend to prefer a lot of male scents and this kind of explains that. It's a fresh, earthy yet slightly floral scent. I love it, worn day or night it lasts ages on me. Stunning.</span><br />
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Naomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07036881663398586308noreply@blogger.com0