Clinique: Supermoisture Make-up

So the other day I decided to buy some of this in the Debenhams 10% beauty deal. I have really dry skin and I find in the colder weather, that it's almost impossible to wear foundation because they're either not moisturising enough, or they cling to the really dry parts of my face. It retails at £21 but I got it for £18.50ish. It claims to be a sheer-medium coverage and it has a slight shimmer to it, but nothing really OTT. I'm looking forward to seeing what it looks like on properly. I'm a little unhappy with the size, given the price tag, but other reviews say a little goes a long way! Fingers crossed.

Thanks for reading!

-Grace-

Topshop Makeup Buys.

Top-Bottom: Topshop Velvet Underground Nail Polish (£5), Topshop Glow Highlighter (£9)

I love Velvet Underground so much! It looks very pretty in the light, although in the dark it looks pretty much black, that's ok though. I have some on in the picture but it was very hard to photograph in these light conditions, so I didn't bother. It's a very deep violet colour and I can't express how much I like it, even though my favourite colour is purple so perhaps I'm biased.

The second thing I bought was the creamy highlighter from Topshop. I've been reading more and more about the importance of highlighting and I have previously used Benefit's 'High Beam, so wanted to try someting new. I have done a tester on the back of my hand and it's lovely and subtle with just the right amount of shimmer. I hesitated at the till actually and the woman behind the counter told me that the people who make Topshop makeup range, are actually the same people that make MAC makeup and a few other high end brand. It kind of convinced me that the £9 I was paying was really worth it!

Anyone else tried either of these products?

-Grace-

Real Techniques: Core Collection

EEE I'm a lucky lady! Chris has bought me these and I'm very excited to try them out, after all the good things I've been hearing. Watch this space for a post about them!

-Grace-

Why I won't be using John Frieda's 'Go Blonder' Shampoo/Conditioner, again.

*Image taken from Google

If I could, I would use both of these products again. They make my hair so soft and really bring out my natural highlights (not that I'm vain enough to say I have many!). I haven't dyed my hair now in about a year and a half, after going from purple to red to almost black. I eventually decided enough was enough and I wanted my natural colour back, so with that I made the fatal mistake of doing a 'Colour-B4' job...oh jeez. I appreciate that 'Colour-B4' may have worked really well for some people, but it cost me £100 to get my hair rectified after using it. Not only that, it stinks of rotten eggs. So ladies and gentlemen pretty please, think hard before you decide to DIY, I would highly recommend letting a pro do it for you. 

Anyway back to the point. Over a few months my hair gradually started to grow out back to its natural colour and I think it helped that when I got my hair stripped, I opted for the non-bleaching method. This meant that my hair (fortunately) was left in a good condition. I started to use John Frieda's 'Go Blonder' when I went on a little holiday with my boyfriend Chris last year and was genuinely impressed with the results. I felt like my natural colour could do with bit of help and my hair felt shinier and softer after use. However, I started to wonder why I was getting acne type lumps and bumps on my face. If I'm honest, I thought it was just my skin being silly because it's prone to being really sensitive. Until a recent post by a lady on Blogger, I was completely unaware that it could have been my shampoo. She said it contained a type of gentle bleaching agent and as soon as I read that it was all making sense. I have stopped using both shampoo and conditioner and since doing so, the recent blotches on my face have (I think/hope), started to clear up. I think it's a shame because both products are fantastic, but they're just too chemically for my poor skin! If you're thinking about using these products then just have a little think harder if you have sensitive skin or are prone to breakouts of any kind.

Anyone else had similar problems with these?

-Grace-

Film Review: In to the Wild.

For those of you who don't know, my favourite film(s) is Lord of The Rings. I'm a geek when it comes to films and yes I was uber excited about the long awaited arrival of the first Hobbit installment! This film however comes very close and I could watch it countless times.

I was at home one evening and this film came on Film 4 at about 10:30pm. I wasn't going to watch it actually but it was one of those scenarios when you can't quite be bothered to go to bed yet and you know there's nothing else on any other channel. I ended up staying up and watching it all and a few days later buying the DVD, I enjoyed it that much.

Based on a true story and on the book, this film focuses on a young man called Christopher Johnson McCandless (A.K.A Alexander Supertramp) and follows his journey on finding and living a life of solitude- in the Alaskan wilderness. We see the people he meets a long the way and the effect they have on him. We see why he made the decisions he made and what influenced this life choice and journey. It is such a moving film, not depressing, just really moving. I remember almost crying at one (ok, several) scenes, but I'm going to leave it to yourselves to see. The soundtrack is thought provoking, uplifting and inspring and for that we have Eddie Vedder to thank- I am even going to recommend buying the soundtrack. Really people, give this film a go. It's not particularly old (2007) and it's just fantastic. You'll wonder why it's taken you this long to watch it.

-Grace-

My favourite Journal.

Oh Comely.

I subscribed to this lovely journal about a year ago after a friend showed me it. It's such a beautiful magazine and I will definitely be re-subscribing when this subscription is up. I love the layout and the pictures and I find that look forward to getting to the end of it (unusual I know), because it has cute little games to do like 'Take the quiz to find out what vegetable you would be'. It's not for everyone, but being quite artistically minded I just find it so lovely to look at and read. It has gorgeous illustrations and photographs in, interviews, recipes, games, fashion advice, life advice in general and various other things. I really recommend picking one up from WHSmith (£4) or any arty-journal shops. You won't regret it, it's the perfect accompaniment to a cup of tea and (if you're like me), several biscuits. I find I actually take care of them, it's not like a normal magazine, they're nice to look back over and I think I have about 6 or 7 now to do that with, which is nice.

Does anyone else read any similar journals?

-Grace-

My favourite dry shampoo.

Batiste 'Cherry' Dry Shampoo.

This has got to be my favourite dry shampoo EVER. I think it's largely down to the packaging, I love the sort-of vintage look to the can. Anyway if you haven't tried this yet I urge you to buy it. I think it was around the £2.50 mark from Boots which is a decent price and it's smells so lovely! It does a great job of reviving your hair and I often find that my hair looks shinier on a dry shampoo day, than on a 'just washed' day. These dry shampoo days are very rare for me because I am a hair washing sinner and I wash it everyday, usually. But for when I don't, this is the go to product for me!

-Grace-

Clarins 'One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser'

This stuff is fantastic and I couldn't recommend it more! Please excuse the 2nd picture of my post-cleanse face- eek, but I wanted to demonstrate what it does. It's a very gentle exfoliator and smells delish too, which is always handy. I rub this on my face (avoiding eyes) in a circular motion for a minute or two and then rinse and wash my face as normal. My skin feels so much cleaner and healthier once I've used this and as you might be able to see, it gives you a bit of a radient glow! I'm not sure what it retails at as it was a gift, but if you're feeling a bit of a splurge coming on I'd recommend putting this in your basket!

Anyone recommend any other facial exfoliators?

-Grace-

H&M Find

I have a sliiiiight obsession with skulls, anchors & swallows. This ranges from bedding, to dresses, to scarves, handbags and all sorts...it's probably unhealthy! Nevertheless I found this little beauty in H&M today and couldn't resist. I don't like things that are tight fitting so if Gok Wan ever came to peek at my clothes, he wouldn't be happy because everything has 'a bit of give', shall we say. It's always been the case and it's honestly down the fact I think people can see too much of me when something's a bit clingy and I'm very self concious. Anyway, I love the lace skull on the front and the jumper is really comfy so if you like things like this go get! It was £12.99.

Anyone else have any unhealthy obsessions with things? Or is it just me? :)

-Grace-

Boots No7 Classic Rose Lipstick

So I got this lipstick just after christmas in a free gift box, along with an eyeshadow, eyeliner & mascara! It was the best free gift I've ever received.It was a 'Buy 2 No7 beauty products and get a free gift worth £20'. I was unsure about wearing the lipstick because I've never been a big lipstick fan, but this has totally changed my mind. It lasts for AGES. Even when you drink it still stays on and it's not sticky. I think it's a really subtle colour and I don't feel like it's too garish when I wear it either. I'd quite like to try some other No7 lipsticks now, although I've read some great reviews on Mac lipsticks so perhaps that will be next...!

-Grace-

A little about Me!

So seen as how I am very new to all this, I thought I'd just do a post to say a little bit about me and perhaps introduce myself to the blogger world!

* I am currently in the final stages of a Fine Art degree.

* I work part-time at Next.

* I enjoy nature photography and I am currently on the save for a new camera.

* I have a little black car called 'Wilbert Winklestein' ...don't laugh!

* I say I have willpower not to spend money, but it's not true!

* I can't lie, I love soaps. Including Neighbours and Home and Away!

* I can't draw and this can be exemplified through the appalling life drawings I once had to do. 

* I can't go to bed with make-up on, ever. The thought of it makes me squirm. 

There's a bit more to me than this, honest! Just thought I'd give you a few random facts about myself.

:)

-Grace-