Bumpits Bargain

Hey all!

I was in Wilkinsons recently and I spotted these in the Clearance section with 25% off!

Bumpits - £4.93 (25% off £6.57)

I've seen these retail for £10 in Boots so it's essentially half price! It was only in the clearance section because it had a bit of the cardboard packaging ripped, but it was hardly even noticeable! I've never really been sure how these work so I got my Mum to try one on in her hair and they're actually pretty good!

You simply slide the 'bumpit' into your hair and its little grips self-attach to your hair!

It comes in a pack of 3 - I'm hoping to use the smallest one on my fringe! I love voluminous, bouffant hair so I'm really looking forward to trying these!

Have you tried Bumpits before? Let me know what you think!

Love,

Style by Sophia

xo

Ps. What do you think of the new blog layout? Yay or nay?

NOTD: French Manicure

Hey everyone! How are you all doing?

Over the weekend I went home, and I spoilt myself to a professional French manicure. My Mum's friend, who's a hairdresser and beautician, did it for me and I was so pleased with the results! I think it looks really chic and timeless, and I felt 'made-up' every time I went out!

(my nails might look a bit blue - I get cold very easily!!!)

Here's how she did my French manicure at home:

• Removed my nail polish with nail polish remover
• Buffed and filed my nails
• Softened my cuticles
• Pushed my cuticles back
• Snipped off the dead cuticles (the white bits)
• Applied one layer of base coat (she got hers from beauty shop Sally's) & waited for it to dry
• Applied one layer of French polish (a natural, nudey-pink) & waited for it to dry
• Applied white tips with white nail varnish & waited for it to dry
• Applied one layer of top coat (again from Sally's)

... et Voila!

Sadly it chipped after about 4 days, so I've had to take it off now *sad face* but I loved it while it lasted.

What do you think? Do you ever get your nails done 'French'?

Lots of love,

Style by Sophia

xo

My New Skincare Regime

Hey guys! How are we all?

I don't know about you but I'm hating the cold weather... Bring on the summer, I say! :)

I just thought I'd let you know that I updated my skincare regime recently. You may recall a certain New Skincare Regime post from back in November, but unfortunately all those products ran out, and my Avon Clearskin moisturiser was discontinued so I thought I'd embark on a new regime!

I bought...

Neutrogena Oil-Free Facial Wash - £4.59, Boots.

I'd never tried this facial wash before but I'd read about it on Bubblegarm's blog, who loved it, and I was already a fan of the range's oil-free moisturiser (see below). I use this facial wash with The Body Shop's Facial Buffer in the mornings but in the evening I just use it on its own. It smells like soap and comes out a bit like crushed up jelly. It does clean my face but I'd definitely rate The Body Shop's Seaweed Deep Cleansing Wash higher. The Neutrogena facial wash takes a lot of water to lather up into a foam and doesn't remove eye make-up very well, whereas the Body Shop one foams up easily, removes every trace of make-up and smells lovely and fresh.

Neutrogena Oil-Free Make-Up Remover (old)

I already had this make-up remover from the oil-free range, but it didn't work for me in the past so it's just been in the back of my drawer for a while. I thought I'd team it with the facial wash and the moisturiser from the range to see if it worked better. I think my problem in the past was that I applied way too much of this product to the cotton pad. It comes out quite quickly, so I'd apply loads and my skin would just feel overly greasy. I apply less of it now and I don't have the same problem. However, I would say that my Aldi face wipes are better at removing make-up from your face, and my new No7 eye make-up remover is better at removing eye make-up! So it's OK, but there are better, cheaper alternatives available...

Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisturiser - £4.07, Boots

Now this is definitely the stand-out product for me from the range! I've used this product in the past, and loved it, and I love it this time around as well. It smells nothing like the other two products, it's lovely, and you only need the tiniest bit and it moisturises your skin so deeply. I have quite oily skin that's prone to the odd breakout, but this is just perfect for my skin. Love it!

No7 Eye Make-Up Remover - £7.75, Boots.

I've also been using this eye make-up remover from No7 (part of my Mini No7 Haul - don't worry, I used the voucher, I didn't pay 8 quid for it!) for when I've got a lot of eye make-up on and it just won't budge. What I tend to do is use my Aldi face wipes first and then remove what's left with this as it just saves using it all up at once... It is rather expensive, after all!

I haven't been using toner and I've been using my new No7 Total Renewal Micro Dermabrasion Exfoliator when my skin is feeling really grubby. You can read the full review of that here.

So, overall, the moisturiser is fab for oily skin but I'm waiting for the facial wash to run out so I can go out and buy The Body Shop's Seaweed Deep Cleansing Wash... You just can't beat it! Have a look for your yourself on the website, here :)

I hope you've enjoyed my review today!

What do you think of these products? What skincare products would you recommend?

Love,

Style by Sophia

xo

Review: TRESemmé Instant Refresh Dry Shampoo

Hey guys!

I've always been a firm believer in 'you get what you pay for'... until now. Enter TRESemmé's new Instant Refresh Dry Shampoo for Normal to Oily Hair.

I'd seen this new product advertised in various magazines over the past couple of months, coupled with the foam shampoo for finer hair, but I opted for this one for my thicker hair, instead. I waltzed into Superdrug on the hunt for this new dry shampoo, to find it was priced at around £5. Now I'd never had a problem with my trusty Batiste dry shampoo in the past, priced at around £2, but I thought no, I'm going to trust the adverts and splash out a bit more for this *quality* new dry shampoo!

How wrong I was.

This dry shampoo is awful.

I would literally rather leave my hair greasy than use this, and that's saying something. It's not often I buy something I really, truly hate but I could not NOT recommend this enough. In fact, I've already bought a new bottle of Batiste ready for the day this one runs out. Which I hope will be very, very soon...

What do you think? What's your experience with the new TRESemmé dry shampoo?

Leave me a comment or, of course, ask me an anonymous question on Formspring at http://www.formspring.me/smoir :)

Big love,

Style by Sophia

xo

UPDATE: Having spoken to representatives from TRESemmé, I would like to clarify that my dissatisfaction with the brand is an isolated incident and I am otherwise largely impressed by the TRESemmé haircare range. Thanks :)

FOTD & OOTD: Girls' Night Out

Hey guys,

I thought you might be interested to know how I achieved my look for a ladies night over the weekend :)

Hair & Make-up

Face: Benefit That Gal Primer, Benefit Some Kind-A Gorgeous Foundation (Original), Benefit Boi-ing Concealer (02), Benefit Dallas Bronzer, Avon True Colour Blush in Russet on apples of cheeks, Clinique Up-Lighting Liquid Illuminator in 02 Peach to highlight.

Eyes: Benefit Lemon Aid as eyelid primer, Urban Decay e/s in Naked all over lid, Urban Decay e/s in Creep in outer corners, Urban Decay e/s in Virgin in inner corners. Rimmel Exaggerate Eye Liner in Black along top lid, Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Zero along bottom waterline. Eyelure Naturalites false eyelashes (101) and Benefit That Gal mascara to finish.

Lips: Rimmel 1000 Kisses Lip Liner in 021 Red Dynamite smudged in with The Body Shop lip brush. Rimmel Colour Show Off Lipstick in Be Bold (applied with the same brush) finished off with L'oreal Kiss Proof Lipstick and matching Lipgloss in shade 513.

Nails: I went for a classic Hollywood red and opted for Rimmel Lycra Pro in Celebrity Bash.

Hair: Styled using GHDs to curl, hairsprayed throughout using L'oreal Elnett Very Volume Supreme Hold and brushed out with a flat paddle brush.

Fashion

Dress: ASOS Petite

Shoe boots: Missguided.co.uk

Belt: Vintage

Well that's it for this time! What do you think of my choices?

If you have any questions, just drop me a comment, or ask me a question on Formspring :)

Love,

Style by Sophia

xo

My First Ever Nars Haul

Hey bloggers!

I was a bit naughty in the New Year and made a teensy make-up splurge. I'd been working hard over Christmas and saving my money to buy something really special. Having read beauty blogs pretty much daily for the past year or so, I knew what the cult products were out there and the brands that are on everyone's lips are always Mac and Nars. I've never bought anything from either! But, I had a look on the Nars website and they was offering free delivery and a variety of holiday gift sets.

Here's what I bought:

Bronzing Blush Duo in Orgasm/Laguna

Wowzers. Uber chic posh black packaging emblazoned with the Nars logo. Love.

(Left: Blusher in Orgasm, Right: Bronzer in Laguna)

I had absolutely no hesitation in choosing this blush/bronze duo. Nars Orgasm blush is one of the most talked-about beauty products EVER. It's described on the website as a 'peachy pink with shimmer' blush and that's exactly what it is. It gives the apples of your cheeks a lovely, pretty glow (I apply it with my Avon angled brush!). Laguna is a shade I'd read about a million times of one of my fave blogs, Bubblegarm. Muhsine is a beauty and always seem to use Laguna in her FOTD's. She describes it as very similar to Benefit's Hoola, which is what I tend to wear during the day to give me a natural, bronzed look so I had no qualms in opting for it as the bronzing part of my duo. I would say it's slightly lighter than Hoola but I love it nonetheless. The two shades in the duo compliment each other perfectly. I have no regrets in buying it!

Plein Ete Mini Multiple Set

The infamous Nars multiple in a set of three minis. Each mini multiple is about 2 inches high and slips perfectly into your handbag.

(From L-R: South Beach, Orgasm, Copacabana)

I fell in love with this Mini Multiple set instantaneously. They can be worn on your lips, cheeks, eyelids, etc to accent and highlight. It's a creamy texture but glides onto your skin so effortlessly, like a powder. South Beach is described as a 'shimmering apricot' but it's more of a light, golden bronze. I love to use it on my cheeks as a golden highlighter! Orgasm is a multiple version of the famous blusher, so a 'peachy pink with shimmer' and Copacabana is described as 'glistening pearl.' It reminds me a lot of Benefit Moon Beam, and I use it just on my temples and upper cheek to highlight. South Beach is definitely my fave so far, but I won't be buying any more expensive make-up anytime soon, that's for sure!

What do you think of my first Nars purchases? Do you think I was right to splurge?

Don't be afraid to leave your comments :)

Lots of love,

Style by Sophia

xo

Mini No7 Voucher Haul

Hey girls!

If you're anything like me and visit Boots for toiletries as much as you visit Tesco for food, you can't have missed the £5 off No7 vouchers!

You might recall a recent post of mine (No7 Voucher Haul) where I went on a bit of a splurge! I loved the products I bought then, especially the Heavenly Hydration Moisture Mask (smells amazing and makes your skin feel so soft in the morning) and the Exceptional Definition Mascara in Brown (the most perfect daytime mascara!).

I have nothing but good things to say about No7 but sadly their quality is reflected in the price tag and it is slightly out of my price range. So, when the vouchers came back around this time, I set myself a budget of £10 :)

Here's what I bought:

Total Renewal Micro-dermabrasion Exfoliator

(£6 with voucher, £11 without)

This had one of the best reviews of any of the No7 products on the Boots website (see for yourself - click the link above!) Nothing entices me more than a decent customer review, if someone's gone to the effort of writing a positive review then it's gotta be good.

Face scrubs never seem to work for me. I never really notice any difference. This one promises 'smoother, more radiant skin in an instant.' It's got tiny little beads, almost like grains of sand, that you apply in circular motions to your face and I'm happy to say it really works. I used it when my skin was looking really awful; I'd just been on a night out, no sleep, stressed, tired, hungry but by bedtime I was stroking my face again... it was so soft :)

Cleanse & Care Eye Make up Remover

(£2.75 with voucher, £7.75 without)

Some of you may remember a little blog post I wrote slating a certain Body Shop eye make-up remover? Well I've been on the hunt for an eye make-up remover ever since. I'm a contact lens wearer and my eyes are quite sensitive. Again this product had fantastic reviews on the Boots website. It's a rather odd consistency, kind of oily, but miles better than my Body Shop one. I expect it will run out soon though, it's a very small pot and I'm not forking out the RRP for it!

Eyeshadow Blend and Contour Brush

(£1.64 with voucher, £6.64 without)

I have quite a funny story about this. I purchased this one day in Boots but when I came home I couldn't for the life of me find it anywhere! My boyfriend & I literally searched all over my room, the house, the road! We then found the empty bag in the bin... With a massive hole in it *d'oh* that explains it. I'd run out of £5 off vouchers so I had to go back to Boots the next day, spend £5 and buy this again. Frustrating! I haven't used it yet, I'm quite a big fan of my normal No7 eyeshadow brush, and to be honest I'm not really sure how you're supposed to use this one. But I'll let you know how I get on!

Total price: £10.39 (bargain!)

Next time the vouchers come around, I've got my eyes on the acclaimed Pore Refining Serum and a cream blush for the summer :)

What have you been spending your No7 vouchers on?

Lots of love,

Style by Sophia

xo