The Indigo Hours | Beauty & Lifestyle

The Super Facialist by Úna Brennan range was on offer as I was browsing Boots recently, and looking for a new cleanser with a gift voucher to spend, I picked up the Vitamin C+ Brighten Skin Renew Cleansing Oil. Despite its absurdly long name, this sounded like a lovely little product, claiming to, "Reveal radiantly clear, thoroughly cleansed skin."
Una Brennan Skin Renew Cleansing Oil Review

Una Brennan Skin Renew Cleansing Oil Review

Presented in a clear plastic bottle with white writing and a white screw cap, this looks clean and minimalist. The label on the back of the bottle claims, "The ultimate cleansing experience for fresher, more revived skin starts with this unique lightweight cleansing oil. Infused with Vitamin C and nourishing Olive, Grapeseed and Rosehip oils, this highly soluble oil transforms itself, upon contact with water, into a light milky texture. Boosted with Rosemary oil, Vitamin E and soothing Cucumber oil, it gently dissolves face and eye make-up and removes daily impurities. Skin is left cleansed, refreshed and softer to the touch." Sounds pretty good, huh? I've been hearing a lot about Rosehip Oil lately so was pleased to see it listed on the ingredients list, along with Vitamins C and E and a whole host of other lovely-sounding oils.

Ingredients: Helianthus annuus (Sunflower) seed oil, Olea europaea (Olive) fruit oil,

Vitis vinifera (Grape) seed oil, Laureth-$, PEG-7, glyceryl cocoate,

Rubus idaeus (Raspberry) seed oil, Parfum, Citrus aurantium dulcis (Sweet orange)

peel oil, Passiflora edulis (Passionflower) seed oil, Rosa Eglentaria (Rosehip) seed oil,

Ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate, Cucumis sativus (Cucumber) seed oil, Tocopheryl acetate,

Citral, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Limonene.

Super Facialist Skin Renew Cleansing Oil Ingredients

The directions suggest that you, "Dispense onto hands and massage gently into the face. Add warm water to transform oil into a milky lotion and rinse off. Do not add water until ready to rinse off. Use as part of a double cleanse routine, and follow with a facial cleanser." It also claims to be suitable for all skin types, although recommends a patch test be carried out on sensitive skin.
My first thought is that although I like the packaging, I'd really like to see a pump dispenser, as it's almost impossible to "dispense onto hands" without getting oil everywhere, particularly whilst the bottle is full. I've found the best way is to hold the bottle flush against my palm, invert, and use what's left on my hand from this to massage into my skin, repeating to get a little more product if necessary. The first thing that hits you upon unscrewing the cap is the scent; a beautiful citrus scent which I'm inclined to think comes from the Orange Peel Oil, I absolutely love it, but it may be too strong if you're not a fan of heavily scented products. I haven't found it to irritate my skin at all, although it is rare for me to react to scents.
Super Facialist Skin Renew Cleansing Oil Review

Super Facialist Skin Renew Cleansing Oil Review

The oil is extremely easy to massage into the skin, which feels like a luxurious treat and has honestly made me look forward to removing my make-up of an evening. You can see the oil becoming discoloured as you work it around the face, and upon adding a little water it emulsifies easily into a milky liquid (shown below) which is quick and simple to rinse off. I've been following this with my Korres Cleansing Gel (which I'll be reviewing very soon!) to remove all last traces of makeup and dirt from my skin, and have found this pairing absolutely ideal for my oily, blemish-prone skin; my skin is left soft and clean, without being stripped of its natural moisture, as well as looking brighter, smoother and clearer. I definitely agree with the claims of radiance and brightening, as my skin can look dull despite being oily, but this just hasn't been a problem since the very first use. I wouldn't like to attribute the reduction in blemishes to this alone as I have recently switched my contraceptive pill and also started using the Korres Cleansing Gel, but whatever it is about this combination, my skin is currently very happy!
Review Una Brennan Skin Renew Cleansing Oil

Review Una Brennan Skin Renew Cleansing Oil

Overall, this is a lovely pre-cleanse product and definitely one I'd recommend to anyone who likes to follow a double cleansing routine. On that note, everyone should be double-cleansing; the difference it's made to my skin has been amazing and it's a little bit depressing to note how much you can remove even with the second cleanse - all dirt and grime that you'd previously just have left on your face! The oil smells gorgeous, feels really luxurious to use, and will last well as you literally only need a tiny amount for the whole face. I'd recommend it in particular to people with oily skin like mine; I know it feels counter-intuitive to put oil on oily skin but trust me, it works!
Super Facialist by Úna Brennan Skin Renew Cleansing Oil is available from Boots instore and online, priced at £10.99 for 200ml, thought it was 1/3 off when I bought mine at £7.99.
Have you tried the Skin Renew Cleansing Oil, or any other products from the Super Facialist range? Do you have any recommendations for me? Do you double-cleanse, or is your skin lucky if it sees a facewipe of an evening?

xo
This month's Featured Blogger is Sophie Jane - have a peek at her lovely blog for reviews, recipes, and more!

Summer is definitely my favourite season in terms of the weather, but for fashion I'm an Autumn lover through and through - lovely boots, deep colours and gorgeous cosy knits are some of my favourite things! I've put together a few of my favourite knitwear pieces for today's wishlist post, and I have to say Matalan have some right gems at the moment. I always love Matalan's ranges for really affordable basics as well as some more unusual pieces, and they're not letting me down this season!

1. Red Textured Sheep Motif Knitted Jumper, £19.99, New Look

2. Wool Blend Cable Jumper, £22, Matalan

3. Grey Stripe V-Neck Boyfriend Jumper, £28, River Island

4. Burnt Orange Honeycomb Stitch Boyfriend Cardigan, £19.99, New Look

5. Wool Blend Cable Cardigan, £22, Matalan

6. Cream Floral Print Jumper, £14.99, New Look

7. Super Soft Sweatshirt, £10, Matalan

8. Black Oversized Fluffy Knit, £34, In Love With Fashion

I love the super-cute sheep on #1 and have it in mind as a Christmas gift for a friend. Cable knit is always a classic and both #2 and #5 look so lovely and cosy, ideal for boots and skinny jeans for a shopping trip, or just to keep you cosy around the house. Stripes are another place you can't go wrong in my opinion, #3 has this down perfectly in a comfy boyfriend fit. Another oversized cardigan at #4, and a perfect colour for Autumn as well, I just love this! #6 shows that knitwear can still be pretty and girly with its delicate floral print, also available in a blue print on white which looks equally lovely. A bright pop of colour is always welcome on dull, drizzly days, and that's exactly what #7 will give! And finally, #8 made the list based on cosyness alone; I'm not actually a massive fan of these fluffy-looking jumpers but man, I bet they're warm!
Which are your favourites? What's on your knitwear wishlist this Autumn? How do you like to keep warm and cosy as the weather gets cooler?

xo
This month's Featured Blogger is Sophie Jane - have a peek at her lovely blog for reviews, recipes, and more!

I received the Aromatherapy Associates Hydrating Rose Face Mask as a magazine freebie in around April and honestly, completely neglected it until fairly recently as I didn't feel like hydration was something my skin was lacking; it's easy to forget that oily skin needs hydration too, and I wish I'd started using this sooner!
Aromatherapy Associates Rose Hydrating Face Mask Review

Aromatherapy Associates Rose Hydrating Face Mask Review

Described as "Moisturising and renewing", the Rose Face Masks claims to be suitable for all skin types.
The packaging is a nice, simple white tube with a screw cap, and gold and blue writing. According to the back of the tube, this is "A deeply hydrating mask to restore vital moisture to dry skin. Aloe vera and sodium hyaluronate, renowned for their hydrating properties, are combined with rose water, distilled from Bulgarian roses, in a cooling, transparent mask to bring radiance and vitality to dry complexions." From that description, it's easy to see why I wrote it off, but I actually agree with the claim that it's suitable for oily skin too (obviously I can't say for all skin types, as I don't have all skin types!) The directions instruct you to "Apply to face and neck after exfoliation, leave for ten minutes, then rinse off with warm water."
Ingredients Aromatherapy Associates Hydrating Rose Face Mask

Ingredients Aromatherapy Associates Hydrating Rose Face Mask

Ingredients: Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Benzyl Alcohol,

Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide,

Dehydroacetic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate.

The inclusion of Benzyl Alcohol (a preservative) seems a bit odd in a product aimed at dry skin, since alcohol does dry the skin out, but other than the ingredients list seems friendly enough to me.

The mask itself is a transparent, colourless gel which is easy to dispense from the tube and spreads nicely over the skin, leaving a cooling sensation. It has a beautiful rose scent; I'm not one for rose-scented products but this really is lovely! The mask leaves the skin slightly sticky to begin with but as it dries, it sinks in beautifully, leaving no residue behind. Although the instructions suggest ten minutes, I often leave this on for longer than that whilst watching a film, and I imagine you could leave it on overnight with no problems as once it's dry, you wouldn't know it's there at all. It's really easy to remove, I just use a muslin cloth soaked in warm water to rub it off, rinse and repeat to be sure of having removed all traces. My skin is left soft, smooth and glowing; it really does bring radiance and vitality to the skin, as well as hydrating beautifully to plump up the skin without leaving it oily or greasy. It might be aimed predominantly at dry skin, but other skin types can definitely benefit from this mask!
Hydrating Rose Face Mask Review Aromatherapy Associates

Hydrating Rose Face Mask Review Aromatherapy Associates

Aromatherapy Associates Hydrating Rose Face Mask is available to purchase direct from the Aromatherapy Associates online store, priced at £36 for 100ml, or I've also found it on FeelUnique for the same price, and LookFantastic at £34.50 for 100ml. I do think it's quite expensive, but it works well to really hydrate and brighten the skin, and is definitely a product I'll consider repurchasing once I have a steady income.

Have you tried this face mask, or any other Aromatherapy Associates products? Do you try products aimed at skin types other than your own?

This month's Featured Blogger is Sophie Jane - have a peek at her lovely blog for reviews, recipes, and more!

I've been trying to get back into a little bit of Nail Art lately, including a Rose Nail Art tutorial over on Cas's blog Serenity of Beauty, as well as a Rainbow Polka Dots Nail Art tutorial for Marijke at Viva Coco. Please do have a peek and leave a comment if you like what you see - and do check out Cas and Marijke's blogs, they're two very lovely ladies! By the way, I seem to get a lot of questions about my nails (ie, are they real?), so much so that I have a post over on PVBDaily about how I look after my nails; please do have a read if you'd like to know more!
Today I've got some Black & White themed nail art to share. I started with OPI Nail Envy as a base coat, followed by 2-3 coats of Models Own 'Snow White' on all nails - I really don't like this polish, it's so streaky and dries unevenly, but it's the only white polish I have and I'm trying to use it up! I then applied two coats of Barry M's Confetti Effects polish in 'Liquorice' to one nail, and two coats of L'Oreal Confetti Topcoat to another. On the remaining three nails, I used my Barry M Nail Art Pen in Black to do pinstriped, polka dot and a tribal design. I finished with a coat of Seche Vite to seal everything in nicely, smooth over the glitter, and give a glossy shine to my nails. I'm really happy with how these turned out and think they look quite unusual. My pinstripes are a little bit wonky but other than that I don't think I did a bad job ;D
NOTD Nail Art Black & White

What do you think? Do you like nail art, or do you prefer a plain and simple nail colour?

xo
This month's Featured Blogger is Sophie Jane - have a peek at her lovely blog for reviews, recipes, and more!

Please don't fall off your seat in shock. I know it's been a long, long time since this blog featured anything resembling an OOTD, and I doubt they're going to become regular features, but when Joe Browns got in touch and asked if I'd like a preview of their Autumn/Winter collection, I simply couldn't say no. I've loved the Joe Browns brand for around ten years now, have bought numerous items from them over the years, and really love their whole ethos. So, here are some not-very-good snaps of me in the beautiful Flocked Skater Dress in Grey/Black* - yes, I am aware I've beheaded myself in the best photo, and no, I didn't mean to. I really need a tripod!
Joe Browns Flocked Skater Dress OOTD

A bargain at just £39.99, this is a lovely, heavy fabric which feels like great quality and will keep you warm as the weather turns cooler. It's the perfect length for me, falling to just above the knee (although I do have very short legs, so it may be a little shorter on someone with normally-proportioned limbs!) and is just so comfortable and flattering to wear.
I asked for a size ten without knowing what I was being sent, and I have to admit to being a little worried when I saw how unstretchy the fabric is, as similar styles have ended up looking a little weird and distorted across the chest in the past. I needn't have worried, it fits like it was made for me; this is unusual as anything that fits right on my boobs is generally huge around the waist, but there we have it. The hidden zip makes the dress easy to put on, and the skirt is lovely and twirly - a proper princess dress, as my stepdaughter would put it. The flocked design is just gorgeous, and the washing instructions are easy and clear, which is another bonus! I teamed it with some ballet pumps from River Island which I bought last year, and black tights, seen below - not very exciting but I think the dress is pretty enough that it's best worn simply! I also loved the pretty tag - it's the little things!
OOTD Joe Browns Flocked Skater Dress

This dress is also available in a plum colour, which looks equally stunning. Whichever colour you prefer, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the Flocked Skater Dress, and Joe Browns in general - I've never had anything less than excellent customer service from them, they offer free returns, and have a wonderful range of men's and women's clothing, as well as gifts.
Have you ever purchased anything from Joe Browns? How would you style this dress? Do you prefer the Grey & Black style I have, or the Plum colour?

xo
[Please note this item was sent to me free of charge. This does not affect my opinion in any way; it really is just a gorgeous dress!]
This month's Featured Blogger is Sophie Jane - have a peek at her lovely blog for reviews, recipes, and more!

I've previously reviewed a Deborah Milano Shine Creator Lipstick, so I was thrilled when I was asked if I'd like to try another of the brand's products, and after some deliberation chose the Natural Blush in shade 5 'Cherry'*. According to the website, "Natural blush is enriched with precious gem dust: Amethyst, Mother of Pearl, Coral, Tourmaline, Amber, Jade and Ruby. Precious gems are bursting with the minerals and trace elements that skin needs, and are especially gentle on sensitive skin types. The unique formula blends flawlessly into the skin, leaving a luminous matte finish that lasts and lasts."
Deborah Milano Natural Blush Shade 5 Cherry

Deborah Milano Natural Blush Shade 5 Cherry

My first impressions of the packaging are split; on the one hand, I like the unusual shape and the pretty rippled effect in the powder itself. The clear plastic lid makes it easy to see which shade you have, and the packaging feels fairly resilient so I'd be confident travelling with it. However, the dark brown colour of the plastic just feels a little bit outdated to me - I'd have preferred something black, white, or chrome. Obviously, that's just personal preference and it does the job so I can't really complain! The compact also contains a small brush which I wouldn't use to apply the blusher to be honest - if I didn't have a proper blusher brush, I'd probably use my fingers over the brush provided as it's just too small. I think this is the case with most brushes included in similar products and isn't really something that bothers me, I just don't use the brush.
Deborah Milano Natural Blush Cherry Swatch

Deborah Milano Natural Blush Cherry Swatch

The blusher itself is lovely, really well pigmented, with only the tiniest amount needed to give a lovely flush of colour. It blends reasonably easily, although if you're too heavy handed it would take some working out! I think this is a shade that would work for most people; I'm really pale and it's quite striking on me, on darker skins it would be a more subtle but still pretty pop of colour.
Deborah Milano Natural Blush Cherry

[Also wearing: Natural Collection Shine Away Foundation in 'Porcelain';Soap & Glory Kick Ass Concealer in 'Light'; Collection Loose Powder; Elizabeth Arden Pure Finish Highlighter; MUA Pro-Brow Palette; Avon Super Extend Eye Accents Mascarain 'Black Steel'; Collection Extreme 24-Hour Felt Tip Liner in 'Black';Accessorize Lipstick in 'Vintage Rose']

You can buy Deborah Milano Natural Blush direct from the brand's website, priced at £6.90 for , and it's available in six shades so there should be something for everyone!
Have you tried any Deborah Milano products? What do you think of this blusher? Which is your favourite shade from the site?

xo
[Please note this item was received as a PR sample for honest review. As always, all thoughts are my own.]
This month's Featured Blogger is Sophie Jane - have a peek at her lovely blog for reviews, recipes, and more!

I decided to spend some of my ASOS vouchers which I won from etailPR's Shopcade competition on trying out some products that I normally wouldn't really be able to justify spending the money on; one of these was Korres Sage & Salicylic Acid Regulating Cleansing Gel For Oily Skin - whew that's a product name and a half! Since I suffer from extremely oily skin, I was drawn in by the promise of regulated sebum production and excess oiliness. I'm sorry about these photos, we had an extremely dark and cloudy few days and nothing I did seemed to make them any better.. Review Korres Sage & Salicylic Acid Cleansing Gel

Review Korres Sage & Salicylic Acid Cleansing Gel

I like the outer packaging, which is a white cardboard box with information in both Greek and English - not much use to me but I do like Greek letters! It has plenty of product information as well as an impressive list of ingredients it doesn't contain, including SLS, Mineral Oil, Parabens and Petrolatum/Paraffin, all things I try to avoid for the sake of my eczema. The full ingredients list is found on the bottom of the box. The bottle contained within the box is a tall, brown number with a flip-cap and a white label showing you the product information again, although no ingredients list which is a shame as I don't tend to keep outer packaging.
I'm not a massive fan of the bottle itself, and feel it would benefit from a pump, as the gel is quite runny and it's very easy to pour too much out into your hand, especially whilst the bottle is quite full. I tend to use around a 10p-coin-sized amount on damp hands, which I then massage into damp skin. It has a botanical scent, you can definitely smell the sage, and it is quite noticeable so may be off-putting to some. As you massage the gel into your face, it turns white and begins to foam ever so slightly, which I was initially worried would dry my skin out, but it doesn't seem to have done so. It does, however, leave my skin feeling soft and clean, which obviously I love! I'm not sure if I'd use this as a sole cleanser for removing make-up, but as a second cleanse following my Una Brennan Super Facialist Cleansing Oil, or for mornings, it's lovely and definitely a product I'll consider repurchasing.
Korres Sage & Salicylic Acid Cleansing Gel Review

Korres Sage & Salicylic Acid Cleansing Gel Review

So what about the oil-regulation? I'm thrilled to say, I have actually noticed a difference in my skin from using this product! Normally, if I'm not wearing make-up, my skin will begin to show a shine within an hour of washing, and within three hours my nose and forehead look like an oil slick. After washing my face with this of a morning, that just doesn't happen - by lunchtime, my skin has a very slight shine on the forehead and nose, of less than the standard I'd usually have after an hour or so. With make-up to help control the shine further, I really feel like I can get a full day's wear of almost-matte skin from this product - which really is remarkable for me and I'm so happy! I'd definitely, without hesitation recommend Korres Sage & Salicylic Acid Cleansing Gel to anyone who struggles with oily skin, it's a game-changer for me and I'm really looking forward to seeing how it works with my skin over the longer-term.Korres Sage & Salicylic Acid Regulating Cleansing Gel doesn't seem to be available from ASOS any longer, but you can purchase it from FeelUnique, Lookfantastic or Debenhams; it has an RRP of £13 for 250ml of product, which I think will last really well considering how little I need to use!Have you tried any of Korres' skincare? Do you have any recommendations? Do you have any "game changer" products that make a huge difference to your skin?
xoRemember to check out Sophie Jane, my Featured Blogger for the month, for lots of lovely reviews, recipes, and lifestyle posts.

With the bikinis and flip flops slowly being replaced by parkas and jumpers in the shops it can only mean one thing; the fall season has started. So here are some of the hottest trends for makeup during the fall of 2013.
Bold Brows
This has been a trend for much of the year but the thick, well shaped eyebrow is not going anywhere soon. If you haven’t started growing out your brows yet now is the time, ready for the Christmas party season. If you are unsure on how best to shape them, visit a beauty therapist who will be happy to thread them for you. Once they have created the initial shape you can pluck following the shape at home. If you are a makeup artist starting up a salon visit Nova Insurance for a salon insurance quote.

Natural
The natural “no makeup” look is going to be big this fall. The key is getting the right face makeup. The perfect base will create a feminine look and pink stained lips will enhance the prettiness of this fresh faced feel. Makeup artists tend to spend five times longer on the skin makeup compared with the rest of the face because the perfect skin amplifies natural beauty and the need for eye makeup is lessened.
Eyeshadow
For fall the best shades of eyeshadow to use are golds and caramel browns. These colours look great for all eye colours but if you want something a little bolder then opt for green, purple or blue. These shades are especially good for the party season.
Smokey Eyes
The smokey eye trend has been around for some time now but this season why not try a colour other than black or grey? Try a blue or green to do a smokey eye although if you are going for this look, pair it with a nude lip.
Lips
Dark “vampire” lips are this season’s trend. The dark berry and wine tones look hot and are great with all skin tones. A rose shade brings gentleness to the face and the darker plum and wine tones are less vibrant than a red but still striking and very on trend.

Blusher
When it comes to blusher the best colours to use for fall are peach or pink shades, although do remember not to go too overboard with these shades as you want to bring a fresh feel to your face rather than looking overdone. You can team this fresh face look with some long lashes, which also goes well with a nude lip.
Some of the best tips for fall and winter are to keep your face moisturised. It is a lot easier for your skin to dry out in the cold so using an oil free moisturiser will help combat this as well as a lip balm.

xo

[Please note this is a sponsored post.]

This month's featured blogger is the lovely Sophie Jane - have a peek at her blog for lovely reviews, recipes and more!

I've recently been making an effort to get through some of the mountain of samples I seem to have amassed from origins unknown, and thought it'd be a good idea to share some of my thoughts on my blog - along with whether I'd buy the full-sized product! So, here are the first six samples I've used up!
Six Samples 1

Pantene Pro V 2 Minute Deep Repair Masque I got two uses from this and did like it; it left my hair feeling soft and hydrated. I don't think it's something I'll buy a full-size of though, just because I have three hair masks I'm using already and if I wanted something of a similar price I'd probably repurchase Tresemmé Keratin Smooth Mask.
Dr Organic Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo I have so much hair that this 5ml sample wasn't nearly enough to wash my hair even once, so I ended up having to use some of my regular shampoo with it. Because of that, it's difficult to say whether I liked it or not, but it is something I'd consider buying in the future - but only because it's something I wanted to try previously, not on the basis of the sample.
Dr Organic Virgin Olive Oil Day Cream This was far too heavy as a day cream for my oily skin, but I did quite like it as a night cream - it got used this way, but it's not something I'd repurchase.
Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector BB Cream in 'Light' I've had a few sample sachets of Garnier's BB Cream now and have quite liked it; it gives a reasonable coverage and matched my skin quite nicely. It didn't last too long on my skin, although with powder over it it lasts as well as most foundations. I'd maybe buy it for light make-up days but it's not something I'd use on a daily basis.
The Smim Radiating Moisturizing Cream I had this for ages and wasn't really sure what it was but when I looked at the packaging properly, it became apparent that it was a moisturiser. It was actually really lovely to use, light with a pleasant citrussy scent which didn't linger but made it nice to apply. It left my skin soft and ready for makeup, and brightened nicely as well which I think is due to the pearlescent texture of the cream. This seems to be going for about £16 for 60ml on eBay, which is quite a good price and it is something I'd consider buying.
Deborah Milano 5 in 1 BB Cream This came as a sample with the Shine Creator Lipstick I was sent, and whilst I liked it (and it smelt amazing!) it was a bit too dark for me in the shade I received, which was '02 Beige'. I'd like to try this in a lighter shade.

Have you tried any of these products? What did you think? Do you have a Sample Mountain like me?

xo
This month's Featured Blogger is Sophie Jane - have a peek at her lovely blog for reviews, recipes, and more!

Jeans for Genes is a British charity raising awareness and funds for children with genetic disorders; today, September 20th, is their national fundraising day whereby people wear jeans to school/work in return for a donation. Now that I'm not at school, and not yet working, I decided that I'd like to show my support on my blog - with a denim-inspired NOTD post! Here, I've used one coat of Barry M's 'Denim' over one coat of OPI Nail Envy. I love 'Denim'; whilst it looks almost frosted in the bottle, it dries to a semi-matte finish on the nail and in my opinion, looks just like denim.
Barry M Denim NOTD

Once this was dry, I used an Allura Stamping Plate (P21) and a gold Technic polish to stamp on the zip details; my nails are slightly too long for the zips to fill the nails, which I think would have looked better, but nonetheless I'm pretty happy with how they turned out!
NOTD Jeans for Genes Day Nail Art

I then added a coat of Nail Envy as a top coat, but I kind of wish I hadn't as I much prefer how it looks matte as opposed to glossy - ah well, you live and learn! Which do you prefer?
Genes for Jeans Day Nail Art NOTD

If you are able to and would like to make a donation to Jeans for Genes, you can do so here; remember, every little helps so anything you can afford to give will make a difference!
Have you heard of Jeans for Genes Day before? Are you supporting it at school or work this year?

xo
This month's featured blogger is the lovely Sophie Jane - have a peek at her blog for lovely reviews, recipes and more!

The next in my Autumn-themed series is my favourite nail colours for heading into the cooler months; personally, I'm all for wearing bright colours and dragging the warm weather out as long as possible, but if you prefer to tone things down as the days get darker, here are my suggestions:
Autumn Nail Polishes

(L -R: Body Collection Crystal Suede Nail Lacquer 'Little Black Dress';

Khroma Beauty 'Fever Dream'; Look Beauty Nail Pop 'Kimono';

ELF Nail Polish 'Dark Navy'; Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine 'Blackberry')

'Little Black Dress' is a lovely glittery shade, but without all the hassle of removing glitter polish - love! I really like the textured finish of this polish, although it only lasts a day or two before it's worn down to a smooth, semi-matte finish.
Khroma Beauty Fever Dream

'Fever Dream' isn't as dark on the nail as it looks in the bottle, which is sort of a shame, but I kind of prefer it a little brighter so it's okay I guess! This is perfect for the burgundy/oxblood shades which are hot at this time of year.
Look Beauty Kimono

'Kimono' is a beautiful Autumnal multichrome, flashing orange, green and gold depending on the light. It reminds me of Autumn leaves and is seasonal without being too dark, which I like. I've had this ages and never properly worn it, but all that is going to change this season!
ELF Dark Navy

'Dark Navy' looks black on the nail at first glance, but on closer inspection it's exactly what the name suggests - a super-dark navy blue. In the bottle it looks to have a bit of shimmer to it, but sadly this doesn't seem to translate onto the nail.
Barry M Blackberry Plum

'Blackberry' is my favourite of the polishes I own from the Gelly Hi-Shine range and, although I wish it looked as bright on the nail as it does in the bottle, I'm not complaining as it's still gorgeous, with a glossy finish and a deep colour which does remind me of September afternoons blackberry-picking - although I believe Barry M have actually re-named this polish 'Plum'?
What are your favourite Autumn nail polishes? Do you own any of these polishes?

xo
Please check out this month's Featured Blogger, Sophie Jane, for gorgeous reviews, recipes and much more!

I'm a massive lover of natural skincare, so I was thrilled when the lovely Layla from LaylaD Beauty got in touch recently to let me know about the launch of her new natural skincare & make-up range, as well as the upcoming launch of her new Mango, Papaya & Cranberry range - how gorgeous does that sound!? The range will consist of the following four products:
Mango, Papaya & Cranberry Facial Cream Wash, 100ml: "This luxurious, deep-cleansing product will melt away make-up, re-energise skin and boost circulation for a beautiful radiant glow. Can be used as a cream cleanser or as a face wash."
Mango, Papaya & Cranberry Brightening Moisturiser, 50ml: "This miracle moisturiser is packed with firming, toning, hydrating and smoothing properties. It will soften, nourish and hydrate skin whilst helping to reduce the appearance of fine lines & wrinkles, and will keep skin feeling soft all day long. Say hello to gorgeous, glowing, radiant skin!"
Mango, Papaya & Cranberry Radiance Serum, 15ml: "This super-serum is absolutely jam-packed with toning, smoothing and anti-aging properties which will rejuvenate, nourish and smooth skin overnight for a healthy glow."
Mango, Papaya & Cranberry Smoothing Eye Cream, 15ml: "A lovely, soothing eye cream which contains brightening, lifting and soothing properties. This will help dark circles, smooth skin, and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles."

Layla D Beauty Mango Papaya & Cranberry Launch

The products are super-gentle, containing no parabens, no sulphates, no harsh chemicals, and nothing tested on animals, so you can have beautiful skin with a clear conscience! I for one love the sound of the Brightening Moisturiser and will definitely be ordering that as soon as I have some pennies!
Do you like the sound of these? Have you used any of Layla D Beauty's products in the past?

xo
Please remember to check out this month's Featured Blogger, Sophie Jane, for wonderful reviews, recipes and more!

Shopcade are holding a competition to win £150/$150 worth of vouchers for ASOS - the perfect way to get your Autumn wardrobe off to a flying start! There are a number of ways you can enter, from tweeting and following to creating a list of items from ASOS; you can find all the ways to enter on the Competition page (Terms and Conditions here). The competition closes in five days, so get a shake on if you want to enter! You can check out my list on my Shopcade profile (and remember to follow me there if you aren't already!), or see it in the snazzy widget below.

What are your favourite items from my list? Have you entered this competition? How would you spend £150/$150 at ASOS?

xo
Remember to check out this month's Featured Blogger, Sophie Jane, for gorgeous reviews, recipes and photography!

I've actually not been wearing nail polish for the last week; I just haven't got chance to paint my nails, what with starting my new job and looking after my step-kids. I finally got time on my day off yesterday and decided on a little bit of nail art; I started with OPI's Nail Envy followed by three coats of Barry M's 'Prickly Pear' from the Gelly Hi-Shine Range. Then, I used a small dotting tool to create a flower in the corner of each nail with Jacava London's 'Blueberry Muffin'*, before finishing off with Jacava London's Top Coat with UV Inhibitor* for a gorgeous glossy shine.
Blueberry Flowers NOTD

I think my dots would have looked better a little closer together, but I still like how this turned out; perfect for a subtly yet still girly look!
Have you done any nail art lately? What's your favourite nail art design?

xo
Check out the wonderful LaylaD Beauty for gorgeous natural skincare and cosmetics!

I'm back with the second installment of my mission to get rid of Sample Mountain! I refer to it as Sample Mountain but it's actually spread between my bathroom and my bedroom; it's really more of a mountain range than just one mountain.. Specifics aside, here are the next six samples I've managed to use up.
Six Samples 2

Clarins BB Skin Perfecting Cream (Shade 01 'Medium') This was far too dark for me, even mixed with copious amounts of moisturiser I'd struggle to look natural with it even in the depths of summer. On top of that, it felt kind of sticky on my skin like it didn't blend in or "set", and even powdered over it went shiny very quickly. Not for me!
Deborah Milano 5 in 1 BB Cream (Shade 01 'Fair') This suited my skintone almost perfectly. The sachet contained enough for one generous application, and I was very happy with the level of coverage it gave, covering unevenness in my skintone without feeling heavy on my skin. It had a semi-matte finish which powdered nicely to a matte finish and lasted well on the skin, and it also has a beautiful, sweet and almost floral scent which I really enjoyed.
Etude House Wonder Pore Freshner I ordered this sample size off eBay for about £1.50 including postage, and have been using it as a toner after cleansing in the evening. I don't feel like it's made the slightest bit of difference to my skin, to be honest, and won't be repurchasing this.
Caudalie Vinosource Moisturise Recovery Cream I'm not 100% certain where this dinky little sample tube came from, but I've really enjoyed using it of an evening; despite being aimed at dry skin, it's not made my oily skin feel greasy or congested, but has hydrated nicely with a beautiful scent. I wouldn't repurchase, but only because I'd prefer to try a product aimed more specifically for my skintype, to see just how good it can be!
A'Pieu Essential Source Collagen Skin Treatment

A'Pieu Essential Source Collagen Skin Treatment I'm not sure where this sample came from either, and I'm not entirely certain what it's supposed to do; the information on the sachet isn't very useful to me as I don't speak/read Korean(!) and I wasn't able to find much by Googling, either. I used it as a kind of serum of an evening, and didn't notice any effects, although I'm sure it would have helped to know what I was looking for! It's not something I'd buy again without knowing at least what it's supposed to do... I'm also intrigued to know what the 'Contains 38%' on the front means? Any suggestions, anyone!?
Glamglow Super-Mud Clearing Treatment I've previously tried Glamglow's Youthmud Mask and have to say I preferred that to this Super-Mud option, which just felt a bit.. bleh.. in comparison - there was none of the tingle which I really liked with the Youthmud, and the exfoliation was minimal; it's essentially just a glorified, over-priced mud mask in my opinion, and I don't think one sachet (= one use) is enough to notice any long-term effects from it, either. If I was going to buy a full-sized Glamglow mask, it would definitely be the Youthmud and not the Super-Mud! (Mud has stopped sounding like a real word now...)
Have you used up any samples lately? Have you ever tried one product from a brand, loved it, and then been disappointed when trying their other offerings?

xo
Remember to check out the wonderful LaylaD Beauty for gorgeous natural skincare and cosmetics!

I was recently contacted by the lovely people at Born Pretty Store to ask if I'd be interested in reviewing one of their Women's Watches. I hadn't known before that BPS sold watches, but after a quick browse through their site, it became clear that they do a whole host of lovely watches at great prices; eventually, I decided on the Hollow Star Style Dial Quartz Wrist Watch in white. The watch took about three weeks to reach me, which isn't bad considering it came from Singapore, and postage is free worldwide from the BPS store! As you can see below, it came all securely packaged, wrapped up in foam and in a lovely little gift box which would be perfect for giving as a present - especially with Christmas just around the corner! (There, I said it!) BPS Watch Packaging

Inside, the watch itself is much better quality than you might expect for its modest pricetag; it's quite heavy and doesn't look or feel cheap or flimsy in the slightest. The band isn't made of leather, but I wouldn't expect it to be for this price, and of course that fact makes it more vegan-friendly (not that I'm vegan; sorry, but bacon!). I have quite skinny wrists and the strap fits me well on the second hole, so it should fit a wide range of sizes with ease. It looks quite big on the wrist, which I like personally, but it doesn't seem too masculine because of the colour and the star dial.
BPS Watch Review

I really like the star shape of the dial, I've not seen anything else like it and think it's really eye-catching and unusual! The glass over the dial isn't domed like I expected but faceted, which you can kind of see below; again, I think that's quite unusual and I really like it. I'm also loving the rose-gold tone of the hardware, although I'm kind of disappointed that the buckle doesn't match - again, though, I'm not too put out given the price of this watch.
BPS Watch

The Star Style Dial Quartz Wrist Watch is available to purchase from Born Pretty Store, priced at £4.94 with free postage worldwide; it's available in five colours, including white (as shown), red, black, pink, or brown. I'd definitely recommend Born Pretty Store for great-value wrist watches, and they've very kindly offered readers a 10% discount code which can be used on all full-price items in the store; just enter the code JESSSC10 at checkout!
Did you know Born Pretty Store sold watches? What do you think of my choice? Have you shopped with BPS before?

Please note, this product was provided to me for the purposes of a review;

as always, all thoughts are my own and my review is 100% honest!

xo
Remember to check out the wonderful LaylaD Beauty for gorgeous natural skincare and cosmetics!

I often find myself wondering whether other bloggers have little habits and routines like I do, so I decided I'd put together a little post about my blogging routine, how I like to keep myself organised(ish), and the bits and pieces I have around my desk for while I'm blogging! I'm super-duper nosey, so if you've done a post like this (or post one in the future!), I'd love to see it - please do leave a link in the comments.
My Blogging Routine 1

I tend to blog from my desk, as years of University work mean this is where I can concentrate the best. I often light a candle whilst I'm writing, it's just nice to indulge every now and again; this isn't a fancy candle, I think it was from Poundland! A nice hot cup of tea is an essential for me, my house is freezing so I often cosy up in a blanket too. Is that weird?! An obvious essential for blogging is my laptop; I've had this since I was 17 and I have to admit it's developed some "quirks" recently - it's definitely seen better days! I'm trying to save up a little bit from my new job so I can afford a new one, and have been looking up some Acer laptop reviews for its replacement.
My Blogging Routine 2

I'm a massive lover of colour-coding and always have been, everything in my diary is colour-coded from hours at work, to to-do list items, phone & credit card bills, my boyfriend's days off, birthdays... Everything! I have a pad of sticky notes on my desk which I use to jot down ideas and things I need to remember to do - photos, sponsored posts, reviews, collaborations and guest posts - which, again, is colour-coded. I also have monthly planners on the wall above my desk so I can see what's happening and what I need to do at a glance - I love these fab bright ones from Tomkat Studios, and again I'm obsessive with my use of coloured pens... I like to write in my hours at work so I know when I'm free, as well as what posts I'm planning to publish when. Sometimes these are the same every month, for example I always publish my Empties posts on the last day of the month. It also helps make sure I'm not posting too many reviews, sponsored posts etc., as I can see at a glance what's been posted when.
My Blogging Routine 3

The top drawer of my desk contains things like products I'm currently reviewing, camera cables, and the wallpaper samples I use as backgrounds for my product photos - you can request these for free from B&Q's website, which is what I did! I also have a stack of magazines on the pull-out shelf of my desk, which I tend to use for inspiration; I don't think I'm a naturally fashionable person, so I need it! If I'm blogging about a particular product, I tend to have it on my desk so I can check ingredients and product information as I write, because I like to include as much information as possible about each product. I usually start writing a review as soon as I get a product, writing about its packaging, claims and ingredients. Then I add in first impressions as I begin using it, photos as I get chance to take and edit them, and longer-term thoughts after using the product for a few weeks. This means I usually have a good few half-written posts in my drafts, so I know what I'm supposed to be working on!
My Blogging Routine

Do you have any particular blogging routines or habits? Have you ever posted about your blogging routine or blogging area? I'd love to see if so, so like I said, please do leave me a link in the comments!

[*Please note this is a sponsored post.]

xo
Remember to check out the wonderful LaylaD Beauty for gorgeous natural skincare & cosmetics.

The lovely Emma from Supper In The Suburbs has organised a bit of a collaboration between a few bloggers, including myself, where we introduce you to our kitchens. It'll come as no surprise to regular readers that I spend a lot of time in my kitchen, as I love cooking, so I was well up for letting you all have a nosey round what is probably my favourite room in the house - the kitchen was what sold the house to me when we were looking for a place to live - I couldn't have coped with a tiny, poky little kitchen with no cupboard space! So, without further ado, meet my kitchen:
My Kitchen 1

I love that the room is really bright and open, meaning there's room for myself and my boyfriend to cook even whilst two small children want to "help" and/or just play somewhere close to us. There's loads of cupboard space behind the lovely white doors, and I had a great time deciding what would go where when we moved in. I've not taken photos of the contents of all the cupboards as a) most of it isn't very interesting, I'm sure everyone has pasta, and b) I really need to go shopping, there's not much in there at the moment... However, this is my baking cupboard. I love the silicon teacup cupcake moulds, although the silicone is ridged which makes them a nightmare to wash, so I usually use cupcake cases too! Ours were from B&M Bargains but you can find similar on Amazon.
My Kitchen 2

We have Scrabble tile magnets on the fridge, which we use for leaving notes, or more usually for playing word association games, which is what's happening here. We also have a few cute little magnets which I made, and on the side of the fridge is some of the kids' artwork. The awesome Union Jack bin was my boyfriend's housewarming present to me when we moved in - I love it! It was from TKMaxx but again, you can find similar on Amazon.
My Kitchen 9

I have an assortment of tea tins which came from various charity shops and junk shops, which house our rather extensive tea collection. My best friend decorated this teapot for me for Christmas last year, and the amazing hand-knitted cow tea cosy was a birthday gift from the same friend for my 21st - she's called Myrtle (the tea cosy, not the friend...)
My Kitchen 5

The Kitchen Devils knife block was a Christmas present off my parents last year, which I got rather over-excited by on Christmas morning, scaring my Nan just a little. In my utensil pot, you can see my wooden spoon Jess which was made, you guessed it, by my best friend. Also in this corner we have a marble slab which we rarely use (because it's too heavy to lift to clean it afterwards!), a lovely little spice rack which was a gift off Rob's grandparents, and a set of speakers because who doesn't love dancing round the kitchen to Fall Out Boy of an evening!? Oh, and yes, that is a real-life iPod Classic there, which does actually still work. I know.
My Kitchen 3

I have a little collection of cacti on the windowsill; I say collection, it's actually a pair these days - Nicholas and Carlos. They're kept company by my cow-shaped soap dispenser (gift from same best friend, can you tell why we're friends yet!?) and my Mr Potato potato brush, along with exciting things like washing-up liquid, kitchen paper and cloths. Also, a liquorice allsorts mug - it's amazing, but horrible to clean, so I'm intending to use it as a plant-pot holder. I did have some herbs on the windowsill in the summer, but they've sadly passed on now *sob*
My Kitchen 4

This wonderful baking pinny with a hen-shaped pocket and WOODEN SPOON HOLDERS was made for my 22nd birthday, from scratch, by hand, by the same wonderful best friend. I've been too scared to use it so far, but isn't it amazing!?
My Kitchen 7

On the wall, I have an Emma Ball weekly planner (source: same best friend) which I use to plan out our dinners for the week - I write down who'll be around each day, then fill in what we'll eat, so I know what I need to buy when I go shopping, and what I need to get out of the freezer in the morning.
My Kitchen 6

My recipe books don't actually live in the kitchen as there isn't much free counter space, so they live on the shelf in the living room. My favourites are the Dairy Diary Just One Pot Cookbook, the Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook, Cake Days, Home Sweet Home, and Curry. I also have a scrapbook which I use to keep random recipes together - cut from magazines, picked up on cards from the supermarket, or written down by various friends and family members for us.
So, that's my kitchen! I hope you enjoyed the little tour, and if you'd like to link up there'll be more details on Emma's blog at some point today! Please do link up if you've done a similar post as I'm really looking forward to having a peek at other people's kitchens and I'd love to see yours in there :)
What's your favourite room in your house? Are you a fan of handmade gifts?

xo
This month's Featured Advertiser is the wonderful LaylaD Beauty; check them out for gorgeous natural skincare and cosmetics!

I was recently sent a few bits and pieces to try and review by the lovely people at Xtras, one of which was W7's Rock & Roll Eye Shadow in the shade 'Terracotta'*. W7's Rock & Roll Eye Shadows consist of loose pigment powder eyeshadow, in an easy-to-use roll-on format; I tend to avoid loose pigments because of the mess I invariably make, so I was intrigued to see how I'd get on with this apparently fool-proof packaging innovation!
W7 Rock & Roll Eyeshadow Terracotta

W7 Rock & Roll Eyeshadow Terracotta Review

The packaging is simple but doesn't feel cheap or flimsy; a clear glass container with a black plastic screw cap and a plastic roller-ball applicator, meaning you can easily see which shade you've picked up, as well as how much product is left. W7 claim: "These foolproof roll-on eye shadows come in a wonderful range of shimmering metallic shades to complement any eye colour. Simply roll directly onto the skin, and blend to suit using your fingers, or a blending brush. Voila!"

I've been doing just that, rolling over my lids and using a blending brush to blend out so as to avoid harsh lines and uneven pigmentation. I'd expected that a powder product wouldn't be very easy to roll onto the skin, but I couldn't be more wrong on that front; the pigment dispenses easily and evenly over my eyelids with minimal pressure, making it quick and easy to apply. One swipe (top swatch below) gives a subtle, shimmery look, whilst the colour can easily be built up with multiple swipes (bottom swatch below) to achieve a more intense effect. My one complaint would be that I have experienced quite a bit of fall-out, but honestly I'd expect that with a loose pigment at the best of times.
W7 Rock & Roll Eyeshadow Terracotta Swatch

W7 Rock & Roll Eyeshadow Terracotta Swatch

I've not tried this over an eye primer yet and honestly, I don't feel the need to; even without primer, the pigmentation is excellent and the lasting power is one of the best I've ever come across. I've not experienced any creasing at all, and the colour looks just as it did when I applied it after ten hours' wear. That's pretty impressive, especially for me and my super-oily lids, which usually crease shadow within about thirty minutes! 'Terracotta' is a lovely mid-brown shimmery shade, which looks lovely with my hazel eyes but which would suit most eye colours and skin-tones well in my opinion. It's easily wearable both for everyday, and built up to a more dramatic look for night-time. (Please do excuse my brows which are in desperate need of some attention!)

[Ingredients: Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Dimethicone, Methylparaben,

Propylparaben, Tin Oxide. May contain: Mica, CI 77891, CI 77491,

CI 75470, CI 77510, CI 42090, CI 19140, CI 77742, CI 22007]

The ingredients aren't amazing, what with silicon (Dimethicone; notorious for blocking pores) and two parabens, but I wouldn't expect much more from such a budget brand and in honesty, I'm not too bothered as my facial skin is thankfully less sensitive to parabens than elsewhere on my body. Nonetheless, it is something to consider if you like to be careful about what you're putting on your skin!
Overall, I really like this eyeshadow; it makes loose pigment a lot easier to work with, the colour payoff is great and the lasting power is amazing! I'll definitely be looking to pick up a couple more shades of these. W7 Rock & Roll Eye Shadow is available from Xtras, priced at £1.99.

Have you ever tried a roll-on eye shadow? What's your favourite eye shadow format? Do you like this shade of eyeshadow?

[Please note this product was sent for my consideration for the purpose of a review.

As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own and 100% honest!]

This is a really simple NOTD where I fancied something a little different than just plain nails, but nothing time-consuming or complicated! I started with Nail Envy as a base coat, followed by two coats of Maybelline's 'Surreal', which I seem to have posted about a lot - probably because I love it! I then used a medium-sized dotting tool to make a border of dots around half of each nail, using Models Own 'Snow White'. I finished with a coat of Jacava London's UV Inhibitor Top Coat* to protect my design and give a shine, and this is how it looks:
NOTD Surreal Border Polka Dots

What do you think? Are you a fan of simple nail art? What's your favourite top coat?

xo
This month's Featured Advertiser is the wonderful LaylaD Beauty; check them out for gorgeous natural skincare and cosmetics!

Review: Super Facialist Skin Renew Cleansing Oil

Wishlist: Autumn Knitwear

Review: Aromatherapy Associates Hydrating Rose Face Mask

NOTD: Black & White

OOTD: Flocked Skater Dress*

Review: Deborah Milano Natural Blush in 'Cherry'*

Review: Korres Sage & Salicylic Acid Cleansing Gel

Top Makeup Trends for Fall 2013

Six Samples

NOTD: Jeans for Genes Day

Top Five Autumn Nail Polishes

LaylaD Beauty Mango, Papaya & Cranberry Range

Shopcade ASOS Competition

NOTD: Blueberry Flowers

Six Samples #2

Review: Born Pretty Store Watch*

My Blogging Routine

My Kitchen

Review: W7 Rock & Roll Eye Shadow in 'Terracotta'*

NOTD: Surreal Polka Dots