She had discovered called Daisy Cupcakes and had some cupcakes made just for me!
I don't have a lot to say except they look amazing!! I don't want to eat them, they look so pretty!
Stay Beautiful
Jane xx
Thursday 30 June 2011
Daisy Cupcakes
Last night my best friend surprised me to my favourite thing.... cupcakes!!!
She had discovered called Daisy Cupcakes and had some cupcakes made just for me!
I don't have a lot to say except they look amazing!! I don't want to eat them, they look so pretty!
Stay Beautiful
Jane xx
She had discovered called Daisy Cupcakes and had some cupcakes made just for me!
I don't have a lot to say except they look amazing!! I don't want to eat them, they look so pretty!
Stay Beautiful
Jane xx
Friday 24 June 2011
Travel Makeup Essentials
You've seen what I packed as my beauty essentials and today it is my makeup essectials.
As I mentioned in my last post, work stuff filled alot of my suitcase space so I really had to take the bare minimum! (Now i look at this photo it doesn't look very bare minimum but it is I promise!)
First of all my pride and joy is my Paul Smith makeup bag. I have had this for years, I brought it when I sold Paul Smith in a previous job. I actually think this was a pencil case that I used for makeup! (If I am being honest I was/still am a little obsessed with the Paul Smith stripe and it matched my handbag, shoes, belt x 2 and underwear x2!). It's great for makeup as it is neoprene so stretches when you overfill it or have awkward shaped items.
Alot of my products I have talked about before so will be brief!
Skin
As it is Summer and I have a bit of a tan i have switched to my fav Laura Mercier Oil Free Tinted Moisturiser in Almond. I love this as I can keep a light coverage for day but build it up for an evening if I need to.
To go with it I have the Laura Mercier Under Eye Perfecter ( my bed is very uncomfortable so sleep is not easy, my under eyes are looking very dark!) and Laura Mercier Undercover Pot. This is great for travelling, it has the under eye concealer, secret camouflage and setting powder all in one little pot!
I watched GossMakeupArtist video on flawless skin before I left for my week away and have been trying it out this week. His tip about putting extra setting powder on and then buffing off is great! I had always been scared to overload but it works! My makeup looks so much better! I have been using a spare little sponge I had lying around to pat it on and then using my Boots No7 Powder Brush (see my post here for more info on the powder brush) to buff it off.
My highlighter is by Givenchy, it is the Mister Light Correcting Pen. I have had it for a few years and really it needs replacing but I keep spending my monies on other things! It isn't the greatest as it dries very quickly on my skin so I find it hard to blend in without looking cakey and I don't find it very highlighting on my skin. As I am typing I am wondering why I keep using it?!
Eyes
As I mentioned my makeup space is limited so my makeup has followed. Actually at the moment I am really loving the minimal look for my eyes so all I have been wearing is Urban Decay Primer Potion in Sin with Sand Stalkers on top and Moors Treasure on the crease from the Sleek Makeup Monaco Palette.
To finish the look I have been using GOSH brown or black Kohl eyeliner pencils with Collection 2000 XXL Mascara in black.
Tip: GOSH Velvet Touch Eyeliner pencils are my life saver! They are soft enough you can blend them and they are waterproof! If you have limited space I always take my brown eyeliner as I use it as eyeshadow or a base for shadow. They are also great for holidays as they give you a little bit of colour when you are by the pool and you know you won't look like a panda at the end!
Tip: Sleek Makeup Palettes are great for travelling as you can carry a selection of colours in one container. I am loving my new Monoco palette (see my post here on the new Mediterranean collection) as it has some matt colours for day and then I can update my eyes with some shimmer for evenings out.
Cheeks
If I had not been in a rush packing then usually I take my small Z Palette with my depotted Mememe blushes in, however, I was in a rush this time so took the 2 Sleek Makeup blushes that were already in my bag. You can see which ones they are and how I wear them in my Sleek Mediterranean post.
For a highlighter I have started using my Barry M Dazzle Dust (the code is rubbed off but I think it is Silver Irridescent). I dip my blush brush into the lid and sweep over the cheek bone. It is great as it is so small you can fit it anywhere. Plus if you are heading for a night out you can give your eyes a little sparkle too!
Lips
My lips are very simple at the moment as I am in love with two products Barry M Toffee Lipgloss and GOSH Velvet Touch Lip Liner. The gloss gives me a natural gloss look, plus keeps my lips feeling moist for ages! The GOSH liners again like the eye liner are great for blending. I pick shades that blend well into my lip so it gives a natural defination to them. They last for ages and cope with drinking and eating. At the end of the day or night whem everything has started to fade my liner is still there!
I hope this helps anyone packing for their travels, sorry lack of photos my time is limited while I am away!
Stay Beautiful,
Jane xx
As I mentioned in my last post, work stuff filled alot of my suitcase space so I really had to take the bare minimum! (Now i look at this photo it doesn't look very bare minimum but it is I promise!)
First of all my pride and joy is my Paul Smith makeup bag. I have had this for years, I brought it when I sold Paul Smith in a previous job. I actually think this was a pencil case that I used for makeup! (If I am being honest I was/still am a little obsessed with the Paul Smith stripe and it matched my handbag, shoes, belt x 2 and underwear x2!). It's great for makeup as it is neoprene so stretches when you overfill it or have awkward shaped items.
Alot of my products I have talked about before so will be brief!
Skin
As it is Summer and I have a bit of a tan i have switched to my fav Laura Mercier Oil Free Tinted Moisturiser in Almond. I love this as I can keep a light coverage for day but build it up for an evening if I need to.
To go with it I have the Laura Mercier Under Eye Perfecter ( my bed is very uncomfortable so sleep is not easy, my under eyes are looking very dark!) and Laura Mercier Undercover Pot. This is great for travelling, it has the under eye concealer, secret camouflage and setting powder all in one little pot!
I watched GossMakeupArtist video on flawless skin before I left for my week away and have been trying it out this week. His tip about putting extra setting powder on and then buffing off is great! I had always been scared to overload but it works! My makeup looks so much better! I have been using a spare little sponge I had lying around to pat it on and then using my Boots No7 Powder Brush (see my post here for more info on the powder brush) to buff it off.
My highlighter is by Givenchy, it is the Mister Light Correcting Pen. I have had it for a few years and really it needs replacing but I keep spending my monies on other things! It isn't the greatest as it dries very quickly on my skin so I find it hard to blend in without looking cakey and I don't find it very highlighting on my skin. As I am typing I am wondering why I keep using it?!
Eyes
As I mentioned my makeup space is limited so my makeup has followed. Actually at the moment I am really loving the minimal look for my eyes so all I have been wearing is Urban Decay Primer Potion in Sin with Sand Stalkers on top and Moors Treasure on the crease from the Sleek Makeup Monaco Palette.
To finish the look I have been using GOSH brown or black Kohl eyeliner pencils with Collection 2000 XXL Mascara in black.
Tip: GOSH Velvet Touch Eyeliner pencils are my life saver! They are soft enough you can blend them and they are waterproof! If you have limited space I always take my brown eyeliner as I use it as eyeshadow or a base for shadow. They are also great for holidays as they give you a little bit of colour when you are by the pool and you know you won't look like a panda at the end!
Tip: Sleek Makeup Palettes are great for travelling as you can carry a selection of colours in one container. I am loving my new Monoco palette (see my post here on the new Mediterranean collection) as it has some matt colours for day and then I can update my eyes with some shimmer for evenings out.
Cheeks
If I had not been in a rush packing then usually I take my small Z Palette with my depotted Mememe blushes in, however, I was in a rush this time so took the 2 Sleek Makeup blushes that were already in my bag. You can see which ones they are and how I wear them in my Sleek Mediterranean post.
For a highlighter I have started using my Barry M Dazzle Dust (the code is rubbed off but I think it is Silver Irridescent). I dip my blush brush into the lid and sweep over the cheek bone. It is great as it is so small you can fit it anywhere. Plus if you are heading for a night out you can give your eyes a little sparkle too!
Lips
My lips are very simple at the moment as I am in love with two products Barry M Toffee Lipgloss and GOSH Velvet Touch Lip Liner. The gloss gives me a natural gloss look, plus keeps my lips feeling moist for ages! The GOSH liners again like the eye liner are great for blending. I pick shades that blend well into my lip so it gives a natural defination to them. They last for ages and cope with drinking and eating. At the end of the day or night whem everything has started to fade my liner is still there!
I hope this helps anyone packing for their travels, sorry lack of photos my time is limited while I am away!
Stay Beautiful,
Jane xx
Wednesday 22 June 2011
Travel Essentials
This week I am away with work and with a limited amount of space I could only take my must haves with me. I thought I would do a post about my travel essentials.
To start with Boots are currently doing 5 for 4 on some of the travel sized products, great for getting ready for your hols!
Soap and Glory Hand Food - I love the scent of Soap & Glory products and have never really been in to hand creams but 1. my mum is obsessed with them and I always feel a little guilty that I don't use one, and 2. lots of people had been talking about this hand cream on Twitter and YouTube and as it was free as part of the offer so I thought I would give it a go.
I really like it mainly because of the smell, if I am being honest it doesn't moisturise my hands as well as some of the creams my mum uses but given that I don't need to use it that much it works for me.
This is now in my handbag at all times.
Tip: Its great to use as an emergency moisturiser on your travels. I forgot mine so have been using it sparingly where needed.
It is missing from the photo as I forgot it was still in the shower, but I have also taken with me my Soap & Glory Clean Me shower lotion. I am a little obsessed with Soap & Glory products but this was left over from my trip to Ibiza last year. I love smell as not only is it lush it always reminds me of Ibiza which is great on a rainy day like today.
FCUK Bodyspray - To be honest I don't normally like bodysprays and have never really owned one but after watching Sara Walkers May Favourites video where she had mentioned buying a bodyspray the idea was planted in my head that a bodyspray would be great for summer (not sure summer actually is coming but still!)
On my weekly trip to Boots, I was restocking on Soap & Glory products in another Boots offer ( I think it was 3 for 2 on skincare or bath products) and I needed one more product. This bottle was next to the Soap & Glory and it caught my eye. I had brought the FCUK scrub for my mum at Christmas and we both loved the smell! I had considered the Soap & Glory spray but I felt with a scrub, body butter and hand cream on I may start to smell a little OTT on the Soap & Glory scent!
I have ended up using the spray loads! I am currently selling my house so give it a little spritz before viewings and its great as a little pick me up during the day. It has become a permanent addition to my handbag.
Morrocanoil - I have been trying to find this products for ages after seeing Fleur de Force talk about it in one of her videos. I could not find it anywhere! Turns out my local beauty salon Esque have sold it for a while but have it at the back on the bottom shelf so I never saw it! I used it for the first time at the weekend and I love it! I was really scared it would make my hair greasy but it didn't. My hair dried quicker and with less frizz and was very silky after styling.
Liz Earle Moisturise & Hot Cloth Cleanser - As those who follow me on Twitter and here will know I can not live without my Liz Earle. The small tube cleanser was from a voucher in the Daily Mail (I think) last month. After a long day being stuck in one room all day I love going back to my hotel room and putting the hot cloth of my face for a couple of minutes to relax.
If you haven't herd of Liz Earle read my post here.
Phil Smith Sea Salt Spray - As I had a lot of work stuff to pack, my clothes and essentials had to take second priority so hairdryer and stylers had to be left at home. The only option to ensure I didn't look like a hairy monster and scare the customers was to go for the natural curl look. Which is where the Sea Salt Spray comes in. This is the only curl product I have found that actually enhances my curls (and I have tried alot!) without leaving it heavy, greasy or stiff. To find out more, read my post here.
Tresemme Shampoo & Conditioner - I am not sure if I was being silly but Tresemme is the only shampoo & conditioner I have used where you can't take the top off! I brought the big value bottles a while ago and was hoping to pour some of each into my travel bottles. As I couldn't get the tops off I had to buy the travel bottles (it does help my travel shelf look cute though!). Luckily I used the Boots 5 for 4 travel offer so it wasn't so bad! Again you can read more about why I love this shampoo & conditioner here but this has done wonders for my hair. If you have coloured hair this is a must for it as my colour has lasted so much longer!
So that is my travel essentials, let me know if you have any other suggestions or tips for traveling light but staying beautiful! I will do my travel essentials makeup tomorrow.
Stay Beautiful,
Jane xx
Friday 17 June 2011
Youngblood Makeup Event at Esqué
Youngblood was founded in 1996 by Pauline Youngblood-Soli, who, after working as a Medical Aesthetician with plastic surgeons and dermatologists, realised there was a need for makeup that could cover bruising and irritation caused by treatments. Pauline wanted the makeup to be able to give good coverage while still allowing raw or traumatized skin to breathe and heal.
From this Youngblood was born! Pauline worked hard to produce a high quality mineral powder and to this day she still inspects every batch of mineral foundation to ensure it meets her high standards.
All the makeup is paraben free, cruelty free, talc free, fragrance free and most importantly to me oil free.
Over the years Youngblood has become a favourite with celebs, such as Cheryl Cole, Kylie Minogue and Pamela Anderson!
Back to the event, all our tables had a selection of the products for us to play with and Gary and Sara showed the different products and how best to use them. I must admit I was a bit dubious at first, another mineral brand so what? Actually once I started playing with them I realised this wasn't just another mineral brand. The quality of the powders really are amazing. They are all so soft and finely milled, you don't get the grainy feel or look you find with other mineral powders. The pigmentation on them is great, I really didn't think a powder could give such good coverage.
At the end of the night we were all given a goodie bag with samples of the mineral foundation powder and mineral rice setting powder.
I could tell you about every product but I would be here for a while, so here are my top three:
Mineral Rice Setting Powder, £21.00
The powder uses rice starch, corn starch and minerals to produce a flawless and matte finish. The light powder is great for absorbing oil and Gary recommended it for those with an oily T-Zone. The powder is available loose or pressed and in 3 colours - light, medium and dark.
As this was in my goodie bag I have been testing this all week. I love it! It really is good at taking away the oil from the skin. I do suffer from a really oily t-zone, so try to not wear makeup at work to try and let it breathe. This powder has really helped to reduce the shine on my skin and as I know the minerals are good for the skin I have been wearing it all week to give it a little boost.
Mineral Radiance Moisture Tint, £32
As some of you know I am a big fan of the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser but this leaves a matt finish to the skin and I find it is quite drying on my skin if I haven't moisturised well before hand. This however was great, it goes onto the skin really easily to leave a slight glow to the skin. It felt much more moisturising on the skin, however, I only tried this at the event so have tried it long enough to test its lasting power or how my skin felt after a day of wear.
The Golden Sun shade is a gorgeous illuminator and reminded me of the Nars illuminators. It gave a great bronzed, glowy finish to the skin. This is my next purchase when I get paid so will review properly then.
Starlet Pressed Mineral Eyeshadow Quad, £32
The eyeshadow quad contains 4 mineral eyeshadows in complimenting colour. Each has a matte, pearl and shimmer shade that allows you to colour, define and highlight. The Starlet quad is a favourite with Kylie Minogue! The palette is great for achieving a smokey eye effect.
This palette surprised me the most, the pigment is amazing and it blends so easily. You only need a tiny bit to cover the eye which allows you to create a dramatic look without your eyes looking heavy with product. I swatched the silver and blended it with the black and the smokey effect it gave was beautiful.
Other products that deserve a quick mention are:
Lipgloss, £17 - great colour and gloss, they look like they should be sticky but there is no stickiness at all!
Liquid Mineral Foundation, £35 - I haven't seen another mineral brand do a foundation in liquid form. It contains over 20 ocean minerals so you know your skin is being looked after.
Mineral Radiance, £32 - Gorgeous bronzer and highlighter!
Youngblood really surprised me, but the proof is in the pudding, once you have tried it you can see they produce good quality makeup that is skin friendly. I will defiantly be visiting Esqué to make some purchases.
To discover Youngblood for yourseleves and find your nearest stockist visit www.ybskin.co.uk.
Before I finish, as I know this is abit of a long post, I wanted to just mention Esqué. If you are anywhere near the Warwickshire area treat yourself to some pampering here!
This is no local salon, this salon is one of the best, infact it has just won BABTAC & CIBTAC 'Salon of the Year' 2011. It prides itself on offering the latest beauty treatments available and instead of lying on the normal hard beds you find in most salons, all the treatments rooms have mini heated water beds which you won't want to get up from! (Watch out for a post on it soon!) Take a look at all the treats to pamper yourself with http://www.esquebeauty.com/
Thank you to the team at Esqué and Youngblood for a great evening.Stay Beautiful,
Jane x
 |
| www.ybskin.co.uk |
A few weeks ago I was tweeted in response to me talking about my dislike for mineral oil. The tweet mentioned a mineral makeup brand from USA that had come over here. The same day I was emailed by my local beauty salon Esqué about the same brand. The email was an invite to the launch of their newest addition at the salon - Youngblood!
On Monday night I attended the event at the Saxon Mill in Warwick, the Esqué team were joined by Youngblood's Managing Director Gary Baulch (he is a girls best friend! He knows alot about makeup and how to help make you look beautiful!) and makeup artist Sara Prue.
Before I tell you about the evening and the products, here is a little introduction to Youngblood.
Youngblood was founded in 1996 by Pauline Youngblood-Soli, who, after working as a Medical Aesthetician with plastic surgeons and dermatologists, realised there was a need for makeup that could cover bruising and irritation caused by treatments. Pauline wanted the makeup to be able to give good coverage while still allowing raw or traumatized skin to breathe and heal.
From this Youngblood was born! Pauline worked hard to produce a high quality mineral powder and to this day she still inspects every batch of mineral foundation to ensure it meets her high standards.
All the makeup is paraben free, cruelty free, talc free, fragrance free and most importantly to me oil free.
Over the years Youngblood has become a favourite with celebs, such as Cheryl Cole, Kylie Minogue and Pamela Anderson!
Back to the event, all our tables had a selection of the products for us to play with and Gary and Sara showed the different products and how best to use them. I must admit I was a bit dubious at first, another mineral brand so what? Actually once I started playing with them I realised this wasn't just another mineral brand. The quality of the powders really are amazing. They are all so soft and finely milled, you don't get the grainy feel or look you find with other mineral powders. The pigmentation on them is great, I really didn't think a powder could give such good coverage.
At the end of the night we were all given a goodie bag with samples of the mineral foundation powder and mineral rice setting powder.
 |
| Goodie Bag |
I could tell you about every product but I would be here for a while, so here are my top three:
Mineral Rice Setting Powder, £21.00
The powder uses rice starch, corn starch and minerals to produce a flawless and matte finish. The light powder is great for absorbing oil and Gary recommended it for those with an oily T-Zone. The powder is available loose or pressed and in 3 colours - light, medium and dark.
As this was in my goodie bag I have been testing this all week. I love it! It really is good at taking away the oil from the skin. I do suffer from a really oily t-zone, so try to not wear makeup at work to try and let it breathe. This powder has really helped to reduce the shine on my skin and as I know the minerals are good for the skin I have been wearing it all week to give it a little boost.
Mineral Radiance Moisture Tint, £32
This tinted moisturiser gives a light coverage while hydrating the skin to leave you with a dewy finish. It comes in 5 shades plus the illuminator Golden Sun. The moisturiser has so many added benefits I am just going to quote the website
'Ingredients/benefits: Features Seve Marine, a green algae that replenishes dehydrated skin, leaving smooth and supple. Packed with free-radical fighting anti-oxidents of Kiwi Extract and vitamin E. Licorice Root Extract calms redness and inflammation, while Menthol provides a cooling effect. Contains Youngblood's signature mineral blend of Ryodolite, Zincite, Hematite and Malachite to help protect skin cells and tissue. Ideal for normal to dry skin.' www.ybskin.co.uk
As some of you know I am a big fan of the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser but this leaves a matt finish to the skin and I find it is quite drying on my skin if I haven't moisturised well before hand. This however was great, it goes onto the skin really easily to leave a slight glow to the skin. It felt much more moisturising on the skin, however, I only tried this at the event so have tried it long enough to test its lasting power or how my skin felt after a day of wear.
The Golden Sun shade is a gorgeous illuminator and reminded me of the Nars illuminators. It gave a great bronzed, glowy finish to the skin. This is my next purchase when I get paid so will review properly then.
Starlet Pressed Mineral Eyeshadow Quad, £32
This palette surprised me the most, the pigment is amazing and it blends so easily. You only need a tiny bit to cover the eye which allows you to create a dramatic look without your eyes looking heavy with product. I swatched the silver and blended it with the black and the smokey effect it gave was beautiful.
Other products that deserve a quick mention are:
Lipgloss, £17 - great colour and gloss, they look like they should be sticky but there is no stickiness at all!
Liquid Mineral Foundation, £35 - I haven't seen another mineral brand do a foundation in liquid form. It contains over 20 ocean minerals so you know your skin is being looked after.
Mineral Radiance, £32 - Gorgeous bronzer and highlighter!
Youngblood really surprised me, but the proof is in the pudding, once you have tried it you can see they produce good quality makeup that is skin friendly. I will defiantly be visiting Esqué to make some purchases.
To discover Youngblood for yourseleves and find your nearest stockist visit www.ybskin.co.uk.
Before I finish, as I know this is abit of a long post, I wanted to just mention Esqué. If you are anywhere near the Warwickshire area treat yourself to some pampering here!
This is no local salon, this salon is one of the best, infact it has just won BABTAC & CIBTAC 'Salon of the Year' 2011. It prides itself on offering the latest beauty treatments available and instead of lying on the normal hard beds you find in most salons, all the treatments rooms have mini heated water beds which you won't want to get up from! (Watch out for a post on it soon!) Take a look at all the treats to pamper yourself with http://www.esquebeauty.com/
Thank you to the team at Esqué and Youngblood for a great evening.Stay Beautiful,
Jane x
Monday 13 June 2011
Sleek Makeup - Mediterranean Collection
Last Wednesday was an exciting day for me, the new collection from Sleek Makeup arrived in Superdrug. As I was at work with no store near me I sent my mum out to buy it. For those who have not come across Sleek Makeup yet, they are an amazing brand producing great quality beauty products for a very low price. The pigmentation in the shadows, lip colours and blushes is unbelievable and they are defiantly a big competitor to the high end brands.
This collection consists of a new 12 colour eye shadow palette - i-Divine Monaco, Bright Pink Blush - Santorini and a Pout Polish (Lip Gloss) - Monte Carlo.
This collection of course lives up to the high standard expected from Sleek Makeup, however at first I was a little disappointed with the strength of colour from the Pout Polish. It was not as strong as the Pout Polish from the Valentines collection. However, I did wear it for a couple of days and actually came to like it, you can build it up or just give a light covering. It is now a staple in my handbag.
Tip: I keep Monte Carlo and Sugar May (from the Avoir La Peche collection) in my handbag at all times. They are perfect for an emergency makeover. I rub a little on my eyes and cheeks and then a heavier coat on the lips.
The blush looks a little scary and be warned you need to be light handed with the brush to avoid looking like a clown. I use one stroke on each cheek and then blend it in. I thought it would be too bright for me but it looks great on tanned or darker skin tones. In fact I haven't stopped wearing it since!
Tip: I have been contouring my cheek with Sleek's Pomegranate (again from the Avoir La Peche collection) and then using Santorini on the bone and apple of the cheek.
Overall I love the new collection and am excited for the new Caribbean Collection due in July. If you haven't got your hands on the Mediterranean Collection be quick, Sleek's collections are limited editions and sell out fast!!
Stay Beautiful,
Jane x
This collection consists of a new 12 colour eye shadow palette - i-Divine Monaco, Bright Pink Blush - Santorini and a Pout Polish (Lip Gloss) - Monte Carlo.
Tip: I keep Monte Carlo and Sugar May (from the Avoir La Peche collection) in my handbag at all times. They are perfect for an emergency makeover. I rub a little on my eyes and cheeks and then a heavier coat on the lips.
 |
| Sleek Sugar May Pout Polish |
The blush looks a little scary and be warned you need to be light handed with the brush to avoid looking like a clown. I use one stroke on each cheek and then blend it in. I thought it would be too bright for me but it looks great on tanned or darker skin tones. In fact I haven't stopped wearing it since!
Tip: I have been contouring my cheek with Sleek's Pomegranate (again from the Avoir La Peche collection) and then using Santorini on the bone and apple of the cheek.
 |
| Sleek Pomegranate Blush |
Stay Beautiful,
Jane x
Thursday 9 June 2011
Lolas Cupcakes at Selfridges
I am obsessed with cupcakes!!
I love making them, decorating them and most of all EATING them!!
Now I have a blog I think it is my blogging duty to test any cupcakes I come across (I feel this is a good excuse and I am sticking to it!).
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| www.lolas-kitchen.co.uk |
Set up by Victoria Jossel and Romy Lewis as an online business, they now have a counter in Selfridges, Harrods, Topshop (Oxford Street) and Mayfair.
They have developed a menu of tempting and tasty cupcakes (click here to see the menu) that are available in mini and full size. We decided to have a Peanut Butter cupcake and a Strawberry cupcake in the full size! As there were no tables free and was a nice day we had them to takeaway. I love the little carry case!
In my official role as blog taste tester, they were good. A decent size cupcake with a good amount of icing. They taste was true to the description and not too sweet and sickly. I also thought they were a good price at £2.50 each.
 |
| Don't they look deliciously cute! |
As a cupcake lover, mine was delicious and I love the little sprinkle of nut on top. The counter looks so tempting with all the different flavours and decorations, I could have brought all of them!!
If your anywhere near Selfridges in London treat yourself!
Stay Beautiful
Jane xx
Tuesday 7 June 2011
Varnish of the Week - Boots No7 & OPI
We had both been on the hunt for a bright pink varnish for the summer and she beat me to it with this one.
Boot No 7 Hot Pink is really vibrant and we were both surprised that it didn't need a 2nd coat and that it dried quickly. Mum also commented on how well it lasted without chipping.
The varnish is not too expensive at £7 and is currently on the 3 for 2 offer Boots are running.
Yesterday I finally managed to pick up the OPI Shatter. I had wanted to try it for ages but was unsure. Whilst tweeting with EllyBellyBaybee she mentioned how good it was, so I forced myself to go out and buy it.
It is expensive at £10.50 (available at ASOS) but Mum and I both really like it. It works alot better then expected, and you can play around with how much you put on for different effects.
It does need to be on top of a deep or bright colour to stand out. Mum tried it on top of the Boots No 7 Hot Pink and it looked great. I had a shimmer colour on (Boots 17 Toasted Almond) and it just made my nail look dirty I think.
It drys very quick to leave a matt finish, which actually looks good for a 'rock chic' look. I think I would tend to put a high shine top coat over it. As we have both only had it for a day we can't comment on how long it lasts yet.
Just a little note, check out the OPI website for all the colours available but they also have a 'Try On' page that lets you see what they look like on. It even allows you to adjust the skin tone to match your own. If you have an IPhone they also do this as an app. I used to play with this and then take it to the shops to remind me which colour I wanted to buy next.
Stay Beautiful,
Jane (and Mum) x
Monday 6 June 2011
Bourjois Volume Clubbing Ultra Black Mascara
Hey guys, I just realised my very first post was my 3 for 2 Boots haul and I never reviewed the goodies I brought! So here is my first review from it.
I tend to use 2 mascaras one for 'everyday' which currently is Collection 2000 XXL Volume Sensation and a 'dressy' mascara which Collection 2000 Big Fake Lashes. They are both great mascaras but my Big Fake Lashes had dried out so I was on the hunt for a new one.
While mooching around Boots I came across this Bourjois mascara,
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| www.bourjois.co.uk |
At first I didn't like it because it was very thick and was very clumpy but I when I stood back and looked in the mirror I actually like the end effect. It made my lashes look amazing, almost as if I had false lashes on!
I've found if I want to tone it down a little I use a small headed mascara brush to take off some of the excess and separate the lashes more. This mascara isn't great on lower lashes so I tend to use my Collection 2000 XXL mascara for this.
Overall I do really like this mascara, but for me it is defiantly one to use for a night out and not for a dramatic day look.
Stay Beautiful,
Jane x
Saturday 4 June 2011
H & M Haul
I got paid and went shopping (very exciting been broke for ages) so this is what I brought!
(P.S My camera has broken so i have had to use the images from the web)
H&M is one of those shops that I like when it is a good store, but hate when it is a bad one. I have both where I live! Luckily I went to the good store and brought a few things for summer! Let me know what you think.
I am a only little, at just over 5ft, so I find maxi dresses really hard to buy. I like them to be floor length but I find normal length to long and petite length to short!! I also find if i try to shorten them you loose the shape and they look all wrong. Nightmare!! This dress has an elastic band meaning the dress can be tucked underneath. The nice thing about this dress is that it has a slip underneath. Soooo many dress I tried didn't, why do they do this?! On a cheap dress I could understand but when they are £40/£50 I don't expect a dress that is see-thru!! (sorry rant over!). Anyway I love this dress for summer and it is only £29.99. I am thinking of matching with a light pink nail varnish and a black shatter coat on top.
P.S I have just been tweeting EllyBellyBayBee (check out her blog its really cute) and she recommended OPI Black Shatter, so I am going to try and pick this up at the weekend
I love blazers they go with so much and can be dressed up or dressed down. This blazer is a gorgeous baby pink and looks great with light denim jeans and a killer pair of heals. I am thinking for summer I am going to team it with a pair of navy shorts. Again it is a great price of £29.99.
P.S I have just looked at H&M website to get image and link and noticed it mentions the jacket has a concealed drawstring at the back. It is so well concealed I didn't notice! Just had a look and it does, the nice touch is it is a pink ribbon instead of a cheap piece of thread. Must try it pulled back next time.
(P.S My camera has broken so i have had to use the images from the web)
H&M is one of those shops that I like when it is a good store, but hate when it is a bad one. I have both where I live! Luckily I went to the good store and brought a few things for summer! Let me know what you think.
 |
| H&M.com |
P.S I have just been tweeting EllyBellyBayBee (check out her blog its really cute) and she recommended OPI Black Shatter, so I am going to try and pick this up at the weekend
P.S I have just looked at H&M website to get image and link and noticed it mentions the jacket has a concealed drawstring at the back. It is so well concealed I didn't notice! Just had a look and it does, the nice touch is it is a pink ribbon instead of a cheap piece of thread. Must try it pulled back next time.
I'll be honest I am not a great fan of this jacket. I needed (wanted) a black blazer and it was cheap at £14.99 so I brought it. It does the job but is very thin, however, its great for summer. I wore this with a T-shirt dress and tights the other day and it looked great. This is defiantly a blazer to accessorise with otherwise it looks a little boring.
P.S It is currently in the sale for £7.49! Bummer for me but great for you!!
So that's my first haul post, let me know what you think or any ideas of what to wear with them.
Stay Beautiful,
Jane x
Friday 3 June 2011
Boots Advantage Card vs Superdrug Beautycard
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| Superdrug Beautycard |
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| Boots Advantage Card |
Superdrug have just launched their own loyalty card, to be honest i am surprised they didn't do it sooner! i really think Boots need to watch out, Superdrug really seem to be changing their feel on the high street. i always felt they were a bit cheap (sorry!!) but now I think they are becoming more credible and have a trendier feel then Boots. I kind of feel Boots is targeting the 30+ women and Superdrug 18+. If you haven't been to Superdrug lately go and have a hunt around, they have some good quality skincare products at great prices alongside an ever expanding makeup range. Even in makeup they have brands like Sleek and MeMeMe that are low priced but with luxury quality products.
I always used to head for Boots on a makeup haul but now Superdrug is my first stop!
So now to the important bit which card is the best,
Superdrug Beautycard - The Basics
- For every £1 you spend you earn 1 point
- 1 point = 1p
- You can redeem 100 points (£1) at a time and can use it as part payment. What is also good is you can choose how many batches of 100 points you use. E.g for a product at £5.00 you can choose to have £1, £2 etc off.
- You still earn points on products you redeem points on
- Points can be earned online but not spent
- If you forget your card you can't add the points later
- It has a mirror on it!!!!!
Boots Advantage Card - The Basics
- For every £1 you spend you earn 4 points
- 1point = 1p
- You can redeem any amount of points at a time but the points must cover the full value of the transaction
- You don't earn points on products you pay for using points
- Points can be earned online but not spent
- If you forget your card you can add points later
- It can become a registered Donor card
My Thoughts
Both have their advantages, Boots' earn you more points per £ but Superdrug allows you to earn points on products you redeem points on.
Boots does offer extra perks like Treat Street but Superdrug's has only just launched so hopefully it will develop more benefits.
If I am being honest you are likely to have both in your purse and so it makes no difference which is best. You could argue if you were to buy products that both stock, like Collection 2000, you may consider Boots first as you earn more points. In reality I think you will just buy in whichever shop you spot it in first, I have been know to buy products by the same brand in both shops on one trip!
Boots does offer extra perks like Treat Street but Superdrug's has only just launched so hopefully it will develop more benefits.
If I am being honest you are likely to have both in your purse and so it makes no difference which is best. You could argue if you were to buy products that both stock, like Collection 2000, you may consider Boots first as you earn more points. In reality I think you will just buy in whichever shop you spot it in first, I have been know to buy products by the same brand in both shops on one trip!
Stay Beautiful,
Jane x
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