Nails Inc for InStyle - Candy Orange NOTD!

Hey girls!

Lately I've been rocking this nail polish that I got free with InStyle magazine :)

I picked it up in the shade Candy Orange. There are two other shades available; Fashion Fawn (which is a nudey-beige colour - it looked very similar to Rimmel Lycra Pro in Beige Style which I already own) and Electric Teal (which I didn't think was very summery!)

Candy Orange is a bright yet creamy orange shade that I absolutely love. I don't have a huge range of Nails Inc colours so I can't pass judgement, but this one lasted 3/4 days without chipping, using Sally Hansen Diamond Shine as a top coat and OPI Nail Envy as a base coat :)

If you can't find InStyle in the shops and fancy a cheap dupe, Rimmel Lycra Pro in Orange Bliss is very similar (see my NOTD post featuring it here) and it's only £1 at Fragrance Direct at the moment. Buy yours here.

Did you pick up any of the free Nails Inc colours? What are you wearing on your nails today?

Love,

Sophia

xo

NARS Summer 2011 Mayflower lipstick review!

Hey ladies!

I've been lusting after the NARS Mayflower lipstick for a while now but couldn't justify its £17.50 price tag... eek. I went and swatched it in Space NK (fell in love) and proceeded to buy it on ASOS (free ND delivery + 10% student discount = slightly more justified!) It was an impulsive "I've finished my degreeI deserve a treat" type purchase that I'm not certain is worth its hefty price tag.

It arrived in its swish NARS packaging...

...the lipstick itself is actually TINY. It's 3.4g - FYI ELF's Mineral lipsticks are 3.8g - 6cm long and just under 2cm wide. It's more like a mini lipstick than an actual lipstick.

Here's what NARS say about the ltd edition Mayflower lipstick...

"Limited edition sheer lipstick by NARS from the summer collection. Enriched with vitamin E for maximum hydration, the lipstick contains long-lasting colour pigments in the translucent formula, adding a natural tint to the lips"

and here it is without flash...

and with flash...

The colour is described as sheer raspberry.

Here's my lips before...

and after...

I would definitely agree with the sheer raspberry description - it's spot on really!

Face shot...

When I first swatched this lipstick in Space NK I instantly fell in love. I had to have it. Now I've bought it, I don't think it's worth its price tag at all. Don't get me wrong, it's a lovely, natural looking lipstick but £17.50 is ridiculous. I bought a lipstick from MUA recently for £1 and I've worn it every day since - it's a lovely colour, super moisturising, long lasting, I know that's an extreme but £17.50 is just unjustifiable, especially when it's so tiny. Are all NARS lipsticks that small?! Unless you're made of money and willing to splash the cash (or can find it cheaper on eBay) I wouldn't pay full-price for this lipstick... Simple as.

You can buy this lipstick on ASOS here.

Would you buy this lipstick? What are your favourite lipstick brands?

Love,

Sophia

xo

Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Lip Protectant Sheer Tint in Blush!

Hey loverrrs!

I bought this baby after seeing it on Rachel's blog. Obsessed, me? No!

I already owned the Original 8 Hour Lip Protectant after buying it duty free and it's one of my favourite lip balms! I just love the 8 Hour smell, I can't describe it, it's kind of antiseptic-smelling, but it's addictive! I figured my favourite lipbalm with a summery blush tint would be perfect for summer!

It's quite a bright pink in the tube but it's more sheer on the lips :)

Here's my lips before...

and after...

Lovely glossy, sheer pink!

Elizabeth Arden say...

"Super-emollient Lip Tint to soothe chapped lips with the healing power of 8 Hour Cream by Elizabeth Arden. Enriched with emollients, protective sunscreen and vitamin E"

I say...

They're not wrong! I love it - it's the perfect pink lip balm AND it's got SPF15! Perfect for popping in your bag and taking to the park/beach!

Face shot...

Sorry I couldn't raise a smile! As you can see the coverage is very sheer, but it's right up my street :)

I bought this on eBay and got it shipped over from the States as it was the cheapest option, but Boots sell it for £18.38.

Have you tried this product? What are your fave summer lipbalms?

Love,

Sophia

xo

Bargain of the Week: Creightons Sunshine Blonde & L'Oréal hair masques!

Hey ladies!

Now you might recognise these products from my Top 10 Hair & Beauty Bargains Under £1 post, in which I talked about my love for the Creighton's Beautiful Brunette range. Now I'm a blonde (or should I say, bronde) I had to switch to the blonde range instead!

It's called Sunshine Blonde and the Shampoo and Conditioner are £1 each from Poundland.

These are fab for accentuating the blonde in my hair and giving it a good clean, but they don't give it enough of that glossy look I love. Cue next product...

L'Oréal Nourish & Shimmer Highlights Masque

This is a wonder product. Seriously. If any of you are wondering how I get my hair so shiny (or maybe you aren't!) it's down to this baby. I use it after the Creighton's Shampoo and Conditioner as a post-conditioning treatment. I love it, I use it every time I wash my hair! I leave it on for a few minutes, comb it through and my hair is so soft and silky! No sticky residue or anything like that. This one smells of royal jelly as well which I LOVE! If you've got blonde/highlighted hair you should definitely get this! If you haven't, you should use the L'Oréal Nutri Gloss Masque which is equally amazing and perfect for normal/brown hair! These retail for around £5 and believe me, they're the best fiver you'll ever spend!

Have you used these products? If not, what are your fave bargain hair treatments?

Love,

Sophia

xo

Sussex Bootcamps: 1st session!

Hey ladies!

Check out my new page about Sussex Bootcamps - I had my first session this evening and I'm knackered! I'm doing bootcamp for 4 weeks, with 3 classes a week... phew!

Simply click the Sussex Bootcamps tab at the top of the page or click here.

Love

Sophia

xo

Doughnut!

Hey!

Now I wish this post was about actual doughnuts (pass me a Krispy Kreme anyday, luv) but it's actually about the hair craze :) Bit of a random blog post but after it featured on Rachel's blog I had to go out and get me one! They're so cool! I picked up mine for £4.60 in Boots in the light brown shade but I've seen similar ones in New Look :)

It's perfect for creating an up-do bun, you simply tie your hair into a ponytail, thread the hair through the 'doughnut' and pin it in place. Takes about a minute but it looks like it's taken much longer!

Here's my shot at it...

Not bad! Not a look I'd perhaps rock in the day as it's too 'made-up' for my liking, but perfect for evening occasions when you cba to curl your hair :)

Have you tried the doughnut? Thinking about it?

Love,

Sophia

xo

My first MUA at Superdrug mini haul!

Hey lovers!

I hope you've all had a splendid weekend! Mine was spent shopping, of course! For those of you that don't know, Superdrug have their own range of make-up called MUA and every item is only £1! This post is about what I picked up recently :)

(lipstick in 11 and eyeshadow in 11)

Read on for reviews...

MUA Lipstick in Shade 11

This is one of those lipsticks that beauty bloggers seem to rave about! Figured it was worth a gamble for a quid, non?

Here it is without flash...

and with flash...

My lips before...

and after...

I'm actually very impressed with this product! It's a lovely, creamy consistency and the shade is a perfect, natural rose pink. Definitely one to try out for £1. See the bottom of page for face shot :)

Here it is swatched alongside the eyeshadow...

MUA Eyeshadow in Shade 11

I'd read that this shade was very pigmented and worth much more than its £1 price tag, and it looked like something I would definitely wear, so once again I gave it a shot :)

I thought it reminded me of Urban Decay - Smog which I wear on a daily basis, alas I was wrong...

(urban decay smog - top, mua shade 11 - bottom)

It's not quite as pigmented as Smog but it's definitely a shade I'd wear! In fact, I've been wearing it the past few days because it's easier to carry around than the whole Urban Decay palette!

and here's the obligatory face shot, using both MUA products...

(top - new look)

I am seriously in love with the lipstick!!! It looks so natural and gives just the right amount of colour :) It's perfect for popping in your handbag and touching up during the day!

Have you tried MUA before? What products do you love?

Love,

Sophia

xo

Summer nail varnish haul!

Hey lovelies!

Hope you're all well! At the moment I'm still rocking Barry M - Block Orange on my nails (as per my most recent NOTD post) but I went on a bit of a summer nail varnish splurge recently :)

From top left...

Bourjois So Lacque in Beige Glamour (£5.99)

NYC Quick Dry in Times Square (£1.79)

Star Gazer in 511 (£2.50)

Topshop in Delusion (£5)

H&M in Blue My Mind (£2.99)

From thumb clockwise...

Bourjois, NYC, Star Gazer, Topshop, H&M

All colours applied with OPI - Nail Envy as a base coat, and then 2 coats of each polish.

Bourjois:

Not a really 'out-there' shade but something that will just go with everything. I would describe it as a tea rose colour, not beige as the name suggests.

NYC:

For £1.79, you can't really complain, and I have a lot of love for the Quick Dry range of nail polishes. Manhattan and Canal Street are 2 of my winter staples, but this is the only one that stood out for me as a potential summer shade (that I didn't already have!) I would describe it as a pinky-red; an almost exact dupe of OPI - Color So Hot It Berns as seen in a previous post.

Stargazer:

I'm *very* impressed with the consistency of this £2.50 shade from New Look, it's thick and creamy and a lovely tomato red colour!

Topshop:

One of the most streaky out of them all, despite being one of the more expensive ones. Quite a 'blah' colour but I don't really have any mauve/lavender shades in my nail polish collection.

H&M:

Saving the best 'till last, I am LOVING the colour of the H&M one! I've never used H&M nail polish before but I picked this up on a whim as it was near the till! It's so bright and electric, perfect colour clash combo with orange! Fab consistency as well!

What summer colours have you been buying?

Love,

Sophia

xo

OOTD & FOTD: My last ever uni look!

Hey ladies!

Guess what... I've finished uni! Wa-hoo!!! Here's a sneak peek into one of my final looks as a student, haha.

Clothes...

• Stone blazer - Boohoo
• Stripe vest - New Look
• Jeans - New Look
• Tan suede moccasins - New Look
• Bag - Primark
• Pashmina - H&M

Make-up...

FACE

No7 Colour Calming Primer

Rimmel Lasting Finish 25 Hour Foundation in True Ivory (AMAZING!) (read my review)

Maybelline Pure Mineral Concealer in Natural

Nars Bronzer in Laguna (read my review)

Nars Blusher in Orgasm (read my review)

EYES

Urban Decay Baked e/s in Buck (all over lid) (read my review)

Urban Decay Baked e/s in Smog (on outer corners) (read my review)

Rimmel Exaggerate Liquid Eye-Liner in Brown

Avon Color Trend Double Ended Kajal Stick in Brown

No7 Exceptional Definition Mascara in Brown (read my review)

Mac Eye Brows in Lingering (read my review)

LIPS

Mac Lustre Lipstick in Syrup (read my review)

...and another shot!

I ♥ Nars!

So that's it! No more student looks... how depressing :( from now on it's going to be all pencil skirts and court shoes! I joke... that's not until I get a proper job!

Are any of you finishing uni now too? If so, good luck!

Love,

Sophia

xo

Blog sale buy: MAC Matte Lipstick in Russian Red

Hey girlies!

You'll NEVER guess what I picked up in a blog sale recently... Only the infamous Mac Russian Red lipstick! Lucky me!

Adorned by celebs including Gwen Stefani and Jessica Alba and having been on my make-up wishlist for a while, I forked out the £8 (inc P+P!) and it's been love at first swipe :)

Thanks Product Pixie!

Here it is without flash...

and with flash...

A true, classic Hollywood red :)

Here's my lips before...

and after...

Talk about pigment!!! I've never experienced anything like it! I lined my lips with Rimmel's Red Dynamite lip liner, and made the mistake of applying Russian Red straight to the lips, oh no! It went everywhere, so I tried again with a lip brush and it was perfect :) Only needed a really thin coat, and do you know the best bit? It stayed put all night!

Here's a face shot...

In my opinion, this shade would suit any skin tone! I applied a clear gloss to finish the look and it stayed put after a 2-course meal and many a pint of water :)

I'm on the hunt for a more wearable MAC shade now as I've found my holy grail red :)

Have you tried Mac Russian Red before? What's your favourite Mac lipstick?

Love,

Sophia

xo

NOTD: Barry M in Block Orange

Hey ladies!

Recently I've been rocking this super bright orange from Barry M, how fab is it?

I am OBSESSED with orange at the mo!!! Nail varnish, dress, clutch, shorts... if it's orange, I need it in my life!

I'm also super impressed with Barry M polish as well, it applied like a dream (used 2 coats but 1 would've been fine!) and it's lasted days with my Sally Hansen Diamond Shine top coat! WHICH by the way is only £1 at Argos at the mo - reserve yours now!!!

I reckon I'll be rocking this shade for a while yet, it's the perfect block orange shade and ideal to brighten up any outfit :) only £2.99 from Boots, Superdrug, etc!

Are you loving orange as much as me right now?!

Love,

Sophia

xo

My new summer skincare regime!

Hey loves!

I've totally overhauled my skincare regime in time for summer!

It's out with the old...

...and in with the new!

You can see my old skincare regime post here.

I used to use...

• Cleanser - Neutrogena Oil-Free Facial Wash
• Toner - none
• Moisturiser - Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisturiser
• Make-up remover - Neutrogena Oil-Free Make-up Remover
• Eye make-up remover - No7 Cleanse & Care Eye Make-up Remover

The cleanser was OK but nothing special, it didn't cleanse my skin deep enough I think. The moisturiser was fantastic (especially for my oily skin) and I would definitely repurchase! The make-up remover was efficient, nothing special, removes make-up OK and I didn't like the greasy texture of the No7 eye make-up remover, but it effectively removed heavy eye make-up!

and now I use...

• Cleanser - The Body Shop Deep Cleansing Wash
• Toner - none
• Moisturiser - Nivea Visage Oil Free Moisturising Day Cream
• Make-up remover - The Body Shop Cucumber Cleansing Milk
• Eye make-up remover - L'Oreal Gentle Eye Make-Up Remover

Breakdown of new products... :)

The Body Shop Deep Cleansing Wash - £7

I bought this for the first time in September, it lasted me ages and I loved it! I've returned to it after my using my Neutrogena one and I finally feel at home :) It's perfect, it goes lovely and frothy, smells clean and fresh and removes dirt and grime! Top marks! Definitely worth the £7 price tag, but keep an eye on The Body Shop website for money off/free delivery!

Nivea Visage Daily Essentials Oil Free Moisturising Day Cream - £3.99

I picked up this moisturiser as it has SPF in it which I think is important as this time of year! It's a similar creamy consistency to the Neutrogena one but it smells much nicer :) Would definitely recommend this for oily/combo skin types like my own!

The Body Shop Cucumber Cleansing Milk - £4

I wanted to buy the Seaweed cleansing milk to match the deep cleansing wash, but it was double the price of this one! This smells lush and does the job :) doesn't make my skin feel greasy and there's loads in the bottle as well - it's going to last me ages!

I picked up the eye make-up remover on a whim as I'd run out and it was the cheapest one in Boots! It's OK but my eyelids have started to become REALLY dry :(

My routine goes a little something like this...

In the morning, I use the Deep Cleansing Wash to wash my face and then apply moisturiser.

In the evening, I first use the L'Oreal eye make-up remover for my eyes, then I use the Cucumber cleanser to remove the rest of my make-up and anything left over from my eye make-up. I then apply my normal moisturiser, or a heavier moisturiser like my No7 Heavenly Hydration Mask and leave on overnight.

Twice a week, I'll use Avon's Clearskin Deep Cleaning Scrub (as featured in my Top 10 Avon Products post)

... and then once a week (usually Sunday's!) I'll apply a face mask, either a peel off one, or a clay mask as I find they work the best!

At the moment I'm not using toner because I don't really see the point. Do you? I'm not sure if I need it!

What's your skincare regime?

Love,

Sophia

xo

NOTD: Rimmel Lycra Pro - Orange Bliss

Hey ladies!

Today I've been rocking this lovely shade from Rimmel, that I bought for £1 from Fragrance Direct!

It's a creamy orange shade that applies like a dream! Seriously, love this range of nail colours, the brush is fat, the colours are thick, they last for days, can't go wrong really, especially for £1!

Check out £1 Rimmel Lycra Pro on Fragrance Direct here.

Have you tried Rimmel Lycra Pro before? Tempted?

Love,

Sophia

xo

Bargain of the Week: £5 New Look Dressing Gown!

Hey guys!

I've gotta show you my bargain of the week, only because I've been wearing it every day since I bought it!!!

It's this lemon yellow dressing gown from New Look. You may remember I got a lovely dressing gown from La Senza for Christmas but I bought this one as I needed a dressing down that was a bit lighter for summer! This is perfect, it's a gorgeous summery colour and a lovely light material to wear around the house. The best bit is that it's only a fiver (down from £10.99!) Don't forget, if you're a student you can still get 20% discount, so it's only £4... now that's what I call a bargain!

You can buy it in here in both lemon yellow and pink. I'm wearing mine right now :)

What bargains have you found recently?

Love,

Sophia

xo

ps. excuse the stolen pic, I started wearing this as soon as I bought it and now it's too "worn in" to take a pic!

FOTD & OOTD: Au naturel!

Hey gals!

This was a scheduled post for last week but with the whole Blogger problemos it's rather late! So here's a look I rocked last week, very natural, it's too hot to wear loads of make-up!

MAKE-UP:

FACE

No7 Colour Calming Primer

Bourjois 10 Hour Sleep Effect Foundation in 72 Rose Clair (read my review)

Maybelline Pure Mineral Concealer in Natural (on dark circles)

Benefit Boi-ing Concealer in 02 Medium (on blemishes)

ELF All Over Color Stick in Pink Lemonade (on apples of cheeks) (read my review)

Bourjois Delice de Poudre Bronzing Powder in 51 (to contour) (read my review)

EYES

Urban Decay Baked e/s in Buck (all over lid) (read my review)

Urban Decay baked e/s in Smog (on outer corners) (read my review)

Rimmel Exaggerate Liquid Eye-Liner in Brown

Avon Color Trend Double Ended Kajal Stick in Brown

No7 Exceptional Definition Mascara in Brown (read my review)

Mac Eye Brows in Lingering (read my review)

LIPS

Avon Luxe Lace Ultra Colour Rich Lipstick (Satin) in Pout (read my review)

Here's another shot...

I LOVE the look of the Bourjois bronzer! You can read my review here. It's very similar to Nars Laguna and Benefit Hoola!

OUTFIT:

Skinny jeans - Miss Selfridge (see my purchase)

Camel blazer - ASOS (see my purchase)

Cream pashmina - H&M

Tan suede moccasins - New Look

What do you think of my au naturel look? What's your natural look?

Love,

Sophia!

xo