The Wonder Woman Tin of Beauty Samples

Thursday 30 August 2012


I have been a subscriber to various beauty boxes for about a year now, and whilst I love to try out new products all the time, sometimes there simply aren't enough hours in the day to do so!  So what happens to all of those samples that are eagerly awaiting their turn to be tested out?  They live in The Wonder Woman Tin of Beauty Samples of course!

August Books List

Wednesday 29 August 2012

This month, I took part in a Goodreads challenge to just read non-fiction for the whole of August.  The idea was to explore outside of your usual reading comfort zone and perhaps learn something new in the process too.  I really enjoyed it, though I had to sneak in one fiction book!  I think I'll definitely make more of an effort to try and read at least one non-fiction book a month now.

Top 5: Most Reached for Summer Products

Monday 27 August 2012


I've been enjoying watching the 'Most Worn Summer Items' videos on Youtube recently and decided to compile my own top 5 'Best of Summer' post for today.  Sadly we haven't had much of a summer in England this year (again!), but on the occasional hot sunny days, I have been reaching for these products.

NOTD: OPI - What's With The Cattitude?

Sunday 26 August 2012


Anyone else remember the Shrek Forever After collection that OPI released about two years ago?  I was having a rummage through my nail polishes this afternoon and stumbled across What's With The Cattitude?  I haven't worn this in ages but I absolutely love it.  I don't have many pale sky blues like this in my collection so I really should get some more use out of it!

What are you wearing on your nails this weekend? 

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Joliebox - August

Saturday 25 August 2012

 Joliebox (£10 + P&P per month, link)

I was about to pop into the shower this morning when a Yodel courier knocked on the door, looked briefly amused that I was in my dressing gown and then handed over my Joliebox.  I couldn't wait to open it.  It's a good one this month!

Beauty Debate: Natural vs Synthetic Make-up Brushes - Which do you use and why?

Friday 24 August 2012


If you're a make-up junkie, chances are you'll also have some kind of make-up brush collection, whether it's small, large, or somewhere in between.  I never used to have many make-up brushes, but as my cosmetics collection grew, I found myself becoming a lot more interested in brushes and discovering which ones I liked using and which ones I didn't for a variety of reasons. 

My Evening Makeup Removal & Skincare Routine

Thursday 23 August 2012


There are numerous rules that one can follow in order to have great skin, such as drinking lots of water throughout the day and eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables etc.  Whilst I try to do those, I almost always remember the golden rule of removing make-up before going to bed and doing a proper cleanse in the evening.

DIY Beauty: Using Green Tea to Soothe and Revitalise Puffy Eyes

Wednesday 22 August 2012


Here's a quick and easy DIY Beauty tip to try if youre eyes are feeling particularly puffy and irritated by hayfever or by spending too much time in the sun. 
You will need:-
2 cotton wool rounds/pads
1 green tea teabag
1 cup
Water

How to:-
1. Brew the tea and allow it to cool completely.
2. Soak the cotton wool rounds in the tea and place over closed eyes for 10-15 minutes.

How it works:-
Green tea has a high content of natural antioxidants which help to soothe and revitalise puffy or sore eyes.  It can also help with reducing the appearance of dark circles temporarily.

Let me know if you give this a go!

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Review: Essential Care Mineral Concealer in Fair

Essential Care Mineral Concealer in Fair (5g, £17.50)*

Earlier this month I found my new favourite nude lip shade in the form of Essential Care's Mineral Lipstick in Praline (review & swatches of that here), so when one of their new mineral concealers popped through my letterbox, I was more than eager to try it.

NOTD: Nails Inc Power Pink & Essence Disco Disco

Tuesday 21 August 2012


I'm feeling super girly today and decided to wear this combo of barbie pink and silver glitter.  The Nails Inc Pink Power polish was an InStyle mag freebie a few months ago and the glitter is called Disco Disco from Essence's range of Special Effect Toppers.

What are you wearing on your nails today?

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Review: Gwdihw Balms - Cherry Smoochy Lips, Orange & Lemon Smoochy Lips and Nail Wizard


If you saw my travel bag post, you'll already know that I have a fondness for anything with owls on.  So imagine my delight when this indie Welsh company called Gwdihw (pronounced goody hoo and means owl in Welsh) contact me asking if I'd like to try out some of their 100% natural balms.  Owls AND balms?!  Of course I had to say yes! 

Wet 'n' Wild Coloricon Eyeshadow Trio in Silent Treatment: Photos & Swatches

Sunday 19 August 2012


Words really can't describe how much I love this Wet 'n' Wild eyeshadow trio.  But for the purposes of this post, I'll try to come up with a few.

Review: Skin Salveation products for Eczema/Dry Skin

Friday 17 August 2012


I was recently introduced to Skin Salveation who specialise in products for people who have eczema and other dry skin issues.  They kindly sent me some of their range to try out as I've had eczema since I was a child, so I'm always interested to see what products are on the market that can help.

NOTD: OPI - We Ate Berries In The Canaries

Thursday 16 August 2012


We Ate Berries In The Canaries was one of the very first OPI nail polishes that I ever bought.  I love the brightness of the magenta pink combined with the purple undertones.  Although it is quite glossy in its own right, I added a coat of Seche Vite on top to give it that extra 'juicy' look.  It's one of my absolute favourite shades to wear in summer, and looks great on toes too!

What are you wearing on your nails today?

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Tried & Tested: Etat Pur Salicylic Acid 300mg

Wednesday 15 August 2012

Etat Pur Salicylic Acid 300mg (15ml, £12.20, link)

I had a couple of requests to do a review of the Etat Pur Salicylic Acid, that I received in last month's Joliebox.  As I have oily/combination skin that is prone to breakouts, I'm always on the lookout for products which promise to work their magic on unruly blemishes.

Budget Beauty: Dirty Works Bye Bye! Dark Circles Concealer: Photos & Swatches

Tuesday 14 August 2012

  Dirty Works Bye Bye! Dark Circles (2 x 4.5g, £4.99, link)

Sainsbury's isn't the first place I would normally look when it comes to buying make-up.  However,  when Sherrie told me about an awesome concealer from Sainsbury's own brand, Dirty Works range, I had to see if my local store stocked it. 

Czech Original Beer Cosmetics: Beer Hair Balm & Lip Balm


Whenever I go on holiday, I always like to have a mooch around the local drugstores in a quest to find wonderful products that you can't get in the UK.  Before I went to Prague, I asked some #bbloggers what I should be looking out for, and all of them recommended this fun Czech beer brand.

MAC Harmony Powder Blush - Photos & Swatches

Monday 13 August 2012

MAC Harmony Powder Blush (6g, £17.50, link)

The British summer weather has gone back to being its usual crazy, rainy self (again!), so I've been reaching for some 'help' in the summer glow department.  My current bronzer/contour of choice?  MAC's Harmony Powder Blush.

Tried & Tested: Liz Earle Brightening Treatment Mask

 Liz Earle Brightening Treatment Mask (50ml Pump Starter Kit, £14.25, link)*

Over the past four weeks I have been testing out this Liz Earle Brightening Treatment Mask.  Say hello to my new 'Monday Morning Quick Fix'.

Review: Real Techniques Your Eyes / Enhanced Starter Set

Sunday 12 August 2012

 Real Techniques Your Eyes / Enhanced Starter Set (£21.99, link)

I've wanted this brush set since receiving the Real Techniques Core Collection as a birthday gift back in June.  I popped into Boots yesterday to pick up some bits and I noticed that I had enough points on my clubcard to get this, so into my shopping basket it went!

Haircare: Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment & Deep Repair Masque

Friday 10 August 2012

 Macadamia Natural Oil Healing Oil Treatment (125ml, around £24, link)
Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Masque (250ml, around £18, link)

I was first introduced to the haircare brand, Macadamia Natural Oil, through beauty boxes and I loved using my samples.  I'd managed to accumulate a few more through swaps and eBay, but the time finally came to purchase the full sizes.

Swatched: NYX Powder Blush in Pinched


This NYX blush was one of the items that I requested in my recent US Drugstore Swap.  With such a great shade range to pick from, I had trouble deciding which one I'd like to try, so I let Betzy do all of the choosing and she sent me Pinched.

Amarya Organic / Natural Beauty Box - August

Wednesday 8 August 2012

Amarya box (£10 + P&P per month, link)

I was happy to see that the postie had delivered this month's Amarya box when I got home today.  I've been so busy this week that I had completely forgotten it was due!  Here's what was inside my August box:-

Review: Essential Care Summer 2012 Nude Lip Bundle: Photos & Swatches

Tuesday 7 August 2012

 Essential Care Summer 2012 Nude Lip Bundle (£30)*

This summer I have been enjoying wearing the nude lips trend, so when I was emailed about this kit from the organic, natural brand Essential Care being launched, I jumped at the chance to try it out.  The bundle consists of a lip balm, lip liner and a lipstick to help you create a gorgeous nude lip.    

Make-Up: What I Use for Defining Eyebrows

Monday 6 August 2012


Eyebrows are funny things aren't they?  They define and frame your face, but they can be so high maintenance.  Here's how I keep mine in check and what I use to define them further:-

Weekend Bargains: Stila and Burt's Bees

Sunday 5 August 2012


I picked up some great beauty bargains this weekend from Poundland and Boots that only cost me about £1 each!  Here's what I bought:-

Tried & Tested: MOOM Organic Hair Remover Kit

 MOOM Organic Hair Remover Kit with Lavender for Extra Sensitive Skin (£14.99)* 

These days there are a multitude of ways that you can pay someone to remove your unwanted hair, but your options are always limited if you don't have much tolerance for pain!  Needless to say, I'm not very adventurous when it comes down to hair removal.  I mostly stick with shaving the majority of the time, and sometimes endure a waxing session at my local beauty salon if I'm going on holiday.

Worth The Hype: Shu Uemura Eyelash Curlers

Friday 3 August 2012

Shu Uemura Eyelash Curlers (£20)

These beauties were a cheeky duty free airport purchase recently, and if you don't already own them, I'm sure the first question on your lips will be, "Are they worth it?".

The answer is a big fat YES!

I have had Shu Uemura Eyelash Curlers on my beauty wishlist for years, and of course the price always put me off.  In the back of my mind was always a little voice telling me that I simply didn't need to pay £20 for something that I can easily pick up an equivalent of for less than a fiver.  All eyelash curlers are the same right?

Wrong.  Oh, so, so, wrong.

There's a reason why so many beauty gurus rave about these and simply put, they are just the best eyelash curlers, ever.  They don't pinch (you might think your budget ones are fine, but after trying these, you'll understand the pinching thing), the design of the handle just makes them very steady to hold, and most importantly, they curl your lashes like they've never been curled before.  On top of this, the curl somehow STAYS PUT too.  Genius stuff.

So the next time your budget eyelash curlers break (it was this reason couple with the fact I was in an airport at the time and could get these tax free, that definitely sealed the deal for me), consider investing in a pair of Shu Uemura Eyelash Curlers, especially if you'll use them everyday like I do.  I'm hoping that these will last forever!

I also spotted on Tracy's blog that you can now get these in limited edition 24k gold, how luxe is that?!

If you have these, do you think they live up to the hype?  If you don't have them, are they on your wishlist? 

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Review: Inika Mineral Eyeshadow in Peach Fetish

Thursday 2 August 2012

Inika Mineral Eyeshadow in Peach Fetish (1.2g, £11.75)

When it comes to eyeshadows for everyday wear, I often stick with good old neutrals.  They're always easy to wear and when you're half asleep in the morning they make getting ready that much quicker.  I rarely stray away from my beloved Naked Palette, but this week I have been making good use of this Inika Mineral Eyeshadow in Peach Fetish from last month's Amarya box.   

The shade is a subtle nude peachy pink that has enough shimmer in it to brighten the eye area, but not enough to make you look like you're going out on the town.  When used dry, it's very, very subtle and sheer, giving just a hint of colour for a pretty everyday look.  As you can see below, when used wet, it's much more pigmented and gives an almost metallic finish.  This lasted on me for around 5-6 hours without a primer, and I didn't have any issues with creasing. 


Do you use mineral eyeshadows?

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July Favourites

Wednesday 1 August 2012


I can't believe that it's the 1st of August today and it's still raining here in England.  My July favourites reflect the weather a little and I have my fingers crossed for a sunny August!

Skincare wise I have been loving Lush Catastrophe Cosmetic Fresh Face Mask.  I have about another use out of this pot before it goes off so I'm going to treat my skin to a little pampering session this evening with it.  If you haven't tried this mask yet and you're skin is playing up, I highly recommend popping into a Lush store and asking the SA for a sample, and you'll see why so many bloggers are raving about it!

At night I have recently started to use Forest People Luminous Serum* which I received in my Organic & Natural Beauty Box from Betrousse UK.  It's quite a heavy serum so only the tiniest drop is needed and I use it under my eyes instead of a cream.  So far I've noticed that in the mornings my concealer goes on so much more smoothly now and my undereye area never feels dry.

The silly English weather has made by hands a lot drier than they usually are for this time of year so I'm keeping them happy with the sample of Jurlique Rose Hand Cream I received last month from Whats In My Handbag.com.  It has the most delicate rose scent, is super moisturising and absorbs into the skin like a dream.

For make-up, I have been enjoying using the two Revlon Lip Butters that came in my US Drugstore Swap.  The shades are Fig Jam and Sugar Plum, and both are easy to wear everyday shades.  On my cheeks I have been mostly wearing MAC Sheertone Blush in Coygirl which is also great for everyday use and looks so pretty.  A new foundation favourite has been found in the form of bareMinerals Original Foundation in Medium Beige.  This provides light-medium coverage which feels so soft and light on the skin, like you're wearing nothing at all.  

And last but not least, I had to give a mention to Essential Care Organic Rose Petal Tonic*.  Although I only used it on holiday for a week, I know I'll be using it more when the weather gets better!  It's very refreshing to use on the go if you've been in the sun a bit too much and want a cool down.

What are your recent beauty favourites?  Link to yours below!

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*PR samples

Tried & Tested: JASON Long & Strong Jojoba Shampoo and Conditioner


JÄ€SÖN Long & Strong Jojoba Shampoo (480ml, £6.29)*
JÄ€SÖN Long & Strong Jojoba Conditioner (480ml, £6.29)*

I have been testing out these two products from JĀSÖN's Long & Strong range for around six weeks now, and wanted to give them a longer trial run than usual due to the healthy hair growth claims.

This shampoo and conditioner work in conjunction to help strengthen long hair which is getting to that stage of being difficult to grow any longer.  I find that my hair happily grows quite quickly to around shoulder length level, but then begins to get very dry and brittle at the ends, and the growing speed shortens dramatically as a result.  As I dream of having Rapunzel style locks, I always look out for haircare which will hydrate my dry ends and make them happy again, and when my hair is happy it usually grows, hurray!

The Long & Strong Jojoba combo has a gorgeous slightly floral scent which makes your hair smell lovely and fresh.  The shampoo contains Naural Jojoba Seed Oil which helps to restore and replenish moisture in the hair, thoroughly hydrating it, whilst added Vitamin B5 and Wheat Protein aims to prevent breakage and split ends, in addition to improving the elasticity of the hair too.  I found that it foams well and gives your hair a decent cleanse without that tight squeaky clean feeling.  I had no issues with it irritating my sensitive scalp so I was able to thoroughly massage it in to test out the hair growth claims which comes from the Grapefruit and Yucca Filamentosa extracts.

The conditioner is even better and has a wonderfully thick formula which means that you only need to use a small amount each time after shampooing.  It made my hair soft and swishy and features the same natural extracts that the shampoo does.

So did they make my hair grow?  Honestly, I can't say I noticed a difference in the speed of my hair growth which probably doesn't grow very much in six weeks anyway.  I can say however that my hair definitely feels a LOT stronger than it did prior to using these two products, and I have noticed that I have less hair strands on my brush as a direct result of seeing less breakage.  I'll continue to use these both up and will add a final note about them in an empties post.  

If you're looking for new haircare products that will help to strengthen your hair, then definitely give the JÄ€SÖN's Long & Strong Jojoba Shampoo and Conditioner a go.  The bottles offer great value for money because they come in huge 480ml sizes (it still feels like I have loads of product left even though I've been using them for six weeks!) and are very reasonably priced at £6.29 each.  They are also paraben, SLS and phthalate free.

The full range of JĀSÖN haircare is available direct from their website.

Do you use any products to promote healthy hair growth?

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*PR samples
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