Nip + Fab Glycolic Cleansing Fix

I was doing my usual browsing of the aisles of Boots recently when I noticed they had 1/3 off selected Nip + Fab products. I was in the market for a new cleanser anyway so when this one tripped and fell into my basket I decided to let it stay there. True story.

Nip + Fab is a brand that's been on the highstreet for a couple of years now, but have become massive recently, mainly thanks to Kylie Jenner becoming an ambassador for the brand. I'd tried their Glycolic Fix Serum a while ago and really liked it, so I thought my skin and I would probably get on well with the cleanser too. Nip + Fab Glycolic Cleansing Fix (or Glycolic Fix Cleanser as it was previously known), is a foaming facial cleanser with 2% glycolic acid which aims to deeply cleanse skin whilst gently exfoliating to leave skin purified and radiant. I always seem to go for products containing glycolic acid, as it's an exfoliator which, with dry skin, is something I certainly need to incorporate into my daily routine. The formula itself is a gel like consistency that turns to foam when in contact with water. You really only need a small drop of this as it gets into a great lather once massaged into wet skin. When rinsed off, my skin feels SUPER clean to the point where it actually squeaks. I love how clean this makes my skin feel and how gentle, yet effective it is at removing any dead skin cells on the surface of the skin. Usually with cleansers like this, my skin feels really tight and uncomfortable afterwards, but this doesn't, as it's got olive oil which helps to keep the skin hydrated and smooth.

This retails for £7.95 but is currently on offer in Boots for £5.30 (here).

Next on my Nip + Fab wishlist? The Dragon's Blood Fix Plumping Serum.

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2 Affordable Naked 1 Palette Dupes ft. Makeup Revolution & MUA

The original Naked palette is arguably one of the most popular eyeshadow palettes out there. It's range of warm toned neutrals (2 mattes and 10 satins/shimmers) make it a fabulous allrounder and a great starter palette for any eyeshadow newbie. The only downfall about this palette is it's price. At £38 it's really not at the affordable end of the eyeshadow range. I got mine as a gift as there's no way on earth I'd be paying full price for this willy nilly. Anyway, there's 2 pretty much exact dupes on the highstreet/drugstore now at an absolute bargain £4 each. They come from the amazing budget brands Makeup Revolution and MUA, both of which you can find in most Superdrug stores and online.

Makeup Revolution Redemption Iconic 1 Palette - £4

At £4, this is honestly a fantastic palette. To be honest, if you haven't checked out Makeup Revolution as a brand, then you really need to. Yes it's cheap, but the quality is incredible and they do some great dupes for more luxe brands. As you can see in the pictures above, the shades are pretty much exactly the same as the Naked palette. Not only that, the formulas are amazing quality too. They are just the tiniest bit less pigmented than the Naked palette, but they're just as buttery and blend just as nicely. Bravo Makeup Rev, bravo!

MUA Undressed Palette - £4

I see what you did with the name there MUA. Like Makeup Revolution, MUA are another budget beauty brand situated within Superdrug stores. They do some amazing £1 lipsticks and a highlighter that's really popular amongst bloggers. Their version of the Naked palette is also £4 and contains the same shades again. I have to say, the quality of this one is nowhere near as good as the Makeup Revolution offering for the same price. The pigmentation isn't nearly as good (as you can see above), and the formulas are much less creamy. I think if I hadn't tried the Makeup Revolution one then I'd say this was a great dupe, but I'm afraid it's really been shown up on the dupe front. 

What do you think of these dupes?

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Elegant Touch Express Instant Press on Nails in Polished Bright Coral

After expressing my love on the blog a couple of times for the imPRESS Press-On Manicures (here), I decided I wanted to try some from a different, more accessible brand to see how they compared. Elegant Touch are one of the most popular and easy to find false nail brands in the UK, so I thought I'd pick up a packet of their Polished Express Instant Press on Nails in the shade Bright Coral.

Much like the imPRESS nails, these come with 24 nails in a variety of sizes, along with a cleansing wipe to prep the nails before application. All you need to do is wipe the nails, find the sizes you need, peel off the clear tab, adhere to the nail and you're done. I absolutely LOVE this colour and think it's great for summer. I found they look really natural and the sizes fit well to my nails. The only problem is with these they didn't last as long as the imPRESS versions. I got 3 days out of these before losing both index and ring fingers on the same day and they all had to come off. Slightly disappointing but nevertheless I still really like these and would certainly recommend them for an emergency quick mani fix for a night out or something.

Elegant Touch Express Instant Press on Nails retail at £7.99 and come in a variety of colours and nail art designs.

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KISS True Volume Lashes

KISS True Volume Lashes in Posh*. £4.99

False lashes are something I very rarely use, as I only feel comfortable in them if I'm going on a night out, and as I rarely go on wild nights these days I don't get to wear them too often. I was very kindly sent the KISS True Volume Lashes* a few weeks ago and they've been sitting just waiting to be used.

What do they say?

"Revolutionary Tapered End Technology delivers real-like lashes that blend seamlessly with your own lashes. Made with 100% natural hair, these easy-to-apply lashes are so lightweight, you’ll forget you’re wearing them!"

My word, I'm soooo bad at applying lashes. Seriously I need a crash course. Firstly I had to trim them down a bit to fit and then it literally took me about 20 minutes to get them to sit right, and even then they kept lifting at one side (as you can see at the photo). I dunno if that's down to the glue or my own tekkers. Honestly dunno how people wear them every day, so stressful, ha. Anyway, once I got them looking relatively ok, I was happy with them and they felt really comfortable to wear. I think I do prefer the more natural looking ones though as they are really long and fluttery. I'd like to try some other styles in the KISS range and see how they differ as £4.99 is a good price for a set of lashes.

What are your favourite falsies?

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Sale Bargains: Topshop Sheer Lips in Play With Fire & Nuclear

Hands up who loves a bargain? I was having a browse in Outfiit last week and noticed they had a little sale on the Topshop Makeup stand. I wouldn't usually bother looking at sale makeup as I always think it's usually tatty stuff people have fingered (lol). Anyway, for some reason I thought I'd have a little rake through and I was amazed to find that some of the stuff was actually in pretty good condition. Anyway, there was a bunch of their Sheer Lips Lipsticks and I managed to find the shade Nuclear for £3 (was £8). All the others were a really barbie pink that just wouldn't suit me so off I went to the till. Then a couple of days later I was in my regular Topshop in town and noticed they also had some in the sale so I had a little look and low and behold amongst the many barbie pinks was the shade Play With Fire all on it's lonesome. I absolutely love an orange lip so I grabbed it quick and ran to the till.

I'd never tried these lipsticks before but just looking at them reminded me of the MAC Pro Longwear lipsticks so I was intrigued to give them a go. I absolutely love the sleek, matte black packaging with the little stars. How cute?! The formula of these is honestly so so nice. They're sheer (obv), with a nice sheen & can be layered for deeper pigmentation, but what I love most about these is how moisturising they are on the lips. They don't cling to any dry patches and feel so comfortable to wear. Obviously, with all moisturising lipsticks, the lasting power isn't great, but since I have dry lips I very rarely find a lipstick that lasts all day as I have to opt for hydrating, creamy formulas.

Play With Fire is a beautiful bright(ish) orange which I have no doubt will look great with a tan. It does look scarily bright in the bullet, but because it's sheer, it applies onto the lips with the perfect amount of pigmentation for every day wear. I know I'm gonna get a lot of use out of this one during the Summer.

Nuclear is a bright coral pink and will probably suit most skintones. Again, the colour is sheer with a lovely sheen but is buildable if you want deeper colour and feels moisturising and not at all heavy on the lips. 

If I were you, I'd go and raid your local Topshop. You won't be disappointed with these ones.

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Another Rimmel/Kate Moss Collab - The New Nude Collection

Rimmel Lasting Finish Kate Moss Nude Collection. £5.49

I seriously can't resist a new collection, especially when it has my name on it! Seriously though, whenever Kate Moss collaborates with Rimmel and brings out a new collection, it never disappoints. Her new Nude Collection is no exception. It consists of 5 nail polishes, 5 lipsticks and a moisturising balm in the form of a lipstick. Kate wanted to design a nude collection with shades to flatter every skintone, with the lipsticks ranging from a pale, yellow-toned nude, to a rich berry tone, and I think there's certainly one for everyone. As much as I wanted to buy the FULL collection, I've only managed to get my hands on 2 of the lipsticks (for now), so I thought I'd give you a sneak peak. Some might say they look identical. And I must admit, they are VERY similar, but there's slight differences in the undertones of the two, even though when swatched on the paper above they are pretty much identical. My bad! I'll just have to go back and get the others ;-)

42 - Peachy Apricot Nude

45 - Pink Rose Nude

Really wish they had names!

As I've said, they are really similar, but I've actually found that mixing them makes the most perfect nude for my skintone, so it's all gooood! The formulas of these, as with all Rimmel Lasting Finish lipsticks is faultless. Rich and creamy with great pigmentation. However, the lasting power isn't great (ahem, lasting finish?), but I find that with all creamy lipsticks so I don't mind a quick top up through the day!

The lipsticks retail at £5.49, with the nail polishes coming in slightly cheaper at £4.49

I've deffo got my beady little eyes on the nail polishes - especially 'Soul Session' and 'Mystify Me'.
#soznotsoz

Have you tried any of Rimmel's latest offerings?

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An All Round Miracle Product: Dr PawPaw Original Balm

Oh England, how your fickle weather wreaks havoc with our skin. This 'Summer' has been an exceptionally crazy one so far. One minute it's blazing 30 degree heat, the next minute it's down to a measly 16 and soaking my washing on the line, humf! My skin doesn't know whether it's coming or going, and the Summer cold I've just got rid of was a right beast! Anyway, if there's one thing you need in your handbag this Summer as an emergency skin saviour, it's this little all-rounder! Dr PawPaw Original Balm* is a multi-purpose balm for pretty much anything you can think of. The formula itself is clear in colour and is really thick, making it great for even the driest of skin. A few uses for this yellow tube of goodness:

• – Lip Balm
• – Brow Tamer
• – Moisturiser
• – Spot Healer
• – Make-up finisher/primer
• – Nappy Cream

Basically - everything. I've been using it as a lip balm mainly, but I've found it works really well on the cuticles too. It's a really great lip balm as it's so thick that when applied overnight you can still feel it on your lips the next morning. #signofagreatlipbalm. Definitely a product I'll be keeping in my handbag for the foreseeable! 

Dr PawPaw Original Balm* is available on ASOS for £6.99.

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MAC Prep + Prime BB Beauty Balm Compact

Being a massive fan of a light, sheer base, especially in the Summer, I couldn't resist picking this up when I was at the Cosmetics Company Outlet store in York last month (especially with £7 off the £25 RRP). Seriously, if you've never been to a CCO I suggest you find your nearest store and get yaselves there! I'd never read any reviews or seen anyone speak about this product, but the words Beauty Balm & Compact just drew me in and I couldn't let myself put it back down once I'd had a little play with it. 

MAC Prep + Prime BB Beauty Balm Compact comes in 12 shades, has an SPF 30 and comes housed in a sleek black compact with a generous mirror and round white sponge. I got the shade medium which is a pretty good match for me. MAC say:

Face prepping and priming in a solid cream formula that perfects, protects, evens out and illuminates the compelxion for flawless results. Creamy emollients and optical pearl pigments blend with powerful SPF protection. Natural, semi translucent shades in a compact.

I find this best to apply firstly with fingers as I find the warmth from my fingertips helps to work it into the skin. I then go in with my Real Techniques Buffing Brush to really buff it in. I absolutely love the finish this gives on the skin. It looks so natural and has a wonderful dewy glow to it. It's definitely a sheer coverage so won't cover any hefty blemishes or skin problems, but it evens out skintone really nicely. I have to say though, the lasting power isn't great with this, so setting it with a lightweight powder is definitely the way to go. If you want a lightweight BB cream for the summer, then give this beauty a go.

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New Haircare Favourites

Since going back blonde and getting my cut into a bob again and getting a full fringe, I've had to completely switch up my haircare routine, and I've found a few that I'm really loving lately. The first is a Shampoo & Conditioner I was very kindly sent and absolutely fell in love with from the first use. Specially formulated for coloured hair, Maria Nila's Luminous Colour Shampoo* & Conditioner* is absolutely perfect for my hair. It leaves my blonde looking brighter with each wash, smells incredible and make my hair so soft & smooth. Because I have a bob, I like to have some grit and texture in my hair, and I've been loving the new John Frieda Beach Blonde Sea Waves Sea Salt Spray. It gives my hair the messy, lived in look without being crunchy. When I use it on my fringe before blow drying it really adds thickness and stops it going wispy. Plus it smells like a holiday - bonus! Something I've always needed a little helping hand with is adding volume into my hair. I always used to back comb around the crown to give some volume at the roots, but it's really not good on the hair. An amazing alternative to back combing is the Charles Worthington Volume & Bounce Root Lift Backcomb Powder. I've never used a root powder before and oh my! The volume it gives is absolutely incredible and it really stays put. You only need the tiniest sprinkle at the roots so this small pot should last me a while. In terms of styling tools, for the past year or so I've stayed loyal to my beloved Wet Brush, and to add to my collection I was sent the Wet Brush Squirt* - a mini, pocket version of the Wet Brush (the absolute BEST brush I've tried). I absolutely love this mini version, it detangles just as well as the full size and I find it perfect for my new short hair and great to keep in the bottom of my bag.

What are your haircare must-haves?

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The Body Shop Middlesbrough Seize The Summer Event

I was very kindly invited along to The Body Shop Middlesbrough a couple of weeks ago to their 'Seize the Summer' event, along with 7 other local bloggers to have a little look at their new Limited Edition Virgin Mojito Range for the Summer. I'm a massive fan of The Body Shop as a brand, I think their skincare is amazing quality and really affordable, and their Body Butters.. well I think they can speak for themselves.

When we arrived we were greeted by Clare and her lovely ladies with Hawaiian necklaces, cups of mojito and a table full of snacks, ice lollies and vanilla frappes. The whole shop felt so bright and summery, and if that wasn't enough, they came in a few minutes later with big strawberry slushes for each of us. Bonus! We got to have a good look around and chat with the staff about all the products that interested us and they gave us a talk through of the new Virgin Mojito range which, FYI, smells exactly like twister lollies. Yummehh! The range comes in the form of Shower Gel, Body Scrub, Body Butter, Body Sorbet & Body Splash. They were saying in the shop it's like Happy Hour for the skin. It smells so fresh and summery I reckon people are gonna be begging for it to come back every summer! I also had a chat with a couple of the girls about their skincare and what would work best for me and I got a sample of the Vitamin E Aqua Boost Sorbet & their new Drops of Youth Bouncy Sleeping Mask which I absolutely ADORE and need the full size asap!!

We then had a go of the lucky dip to raise money for the Teenage Cancer Trust. I put a donation in and picked out a little White Musk Minis set - cute!. To finish the day off, we were all given goody bags to take away which were housed in bright milkshake cups filled with some summery goodies and one of the new Mojito Body Butters. Clare and her team did the whole store proud and were so good to us.

Massive thanks to Clare and the team at The Body Shop Middlesbrough for the massive effort they put into the whole event. You'll be sure to see me back again soon.

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