Recent Purchases #2

This month was supposed to be limited spending, however a trip to Superdrug and Boots soon changed this mindset (but all purchases were necessary... of course).

1 -  Revlon Photoready Foundation in 'Shell' - My MAC Studio Fix Fluid was running very low so I was desperate for a new foundation that was a little cheaper. I already had Revlon Photoready as my 'going out' foundation in a darker colour, however I wanted an everyday lighter one so I thought I would try this in this colour. I'm not overly keen on the colour.. it matches my skin tone but is a little too glowy and light! It is fab for photos though so I am going to mix it with a darker foundation which brings me on to my next purchase...

2 - Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation in 'Soft Beige' - I didn't try this foundation for ages, despite the hype, as for some reason I had the impression that it was for those with perfect skin who wanted a light coverage foundation with a glow. My impression was somehow very very wrong, as I noticed when I made my sister get it (whom has lovely skin) and hence tried it out. It's actually a medium/full coverage and has such a nice consistency. I love it!

3 - Tresemme Restructuring Deep Conditioning Treatment Masque -  Superdrug have amazing deals on hair products at the moment, hence this and the next purchase. It was down to £2.45 from £5 and has a whopping 200ml of product in it! I don't currently own a hair masque and this says its for hair breakage and split ends which sounds absolutely perfect for my hair type.

4 - L'Oreal Paris Thermo Curling Spray - This is a heat protectant for use when you are to blow dry or curl your hair. They do ones for straightening too but as my hair is so naturally straight, I never straighten it, so I thought it was better to get the curling one. I needed a new heat protectant as my Tresemme and Avon ones had run out and this was a bargain, again on a 'better than half price' deal!

5 - L'Oreal Paris Glamshine Stain Splash in 'Juliet' - I have being eager to try out one of these stains for a while, so I picked it up in this pink/reddish shade. It is such a good stain: it literally stays on all day and is even present when eating and drinking. I definitely recommend!

6 - Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer - a repurchase that I do not really need to elaborate on. I got it in 'Fair' instead of 'Light' this time though, as my skin is at it's palest due to the absolutely shocking weather. However best concealer in Boots/Superdrug/'drugstores' for sure.

7 - Rimmel Soft Kohl Eye Pencil in 'Sable Brown' - I love Rimmel's eye liners and I want to start wearing a brown eyeliner during the daytime as I feel black can be a little harsh.

8 - Rimmel Stay Matte Powder - I heard good things about this powder and my face is rather oily so I thought, why not?


Have any of you been spending on beauty this month? If so, what are your favourite purchases? And have you tried any of these? I'd love to know!

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Recent Purchases #1

1 - La Roche Posay Effaclar Mat' Moisturiser - This is my second repurchase of the stuff as I loved it sooooo much the first time round. It is a brilliant mattifying moisturiser to keep my oily skin at bay all day therefore acts as the perfect base.

2 - Soap & Glory's 'Hand Food' - Again, a repurchase which is the best handcream I have ever tried.. yet. It is not sticky at all, soaks in perfectly and smells amazing. I have tried many handcreams in my time and nothing has beaten this one. It is so moisturising yet non-greasy and sooo nourishing. It's about £5 from Boots which I think is pretty reasonable for its 150ml size.

3 - Nuxe Reve de Miel Lip Moisturising Stick - I already have the pot version of this lip balm and loved it so much, I knew I had to have it in stick form too! I got it on offer (and still is, I believe) for £3.66 on Escentual - link here - so it was an absolute bargain.

4 - La Roche Posay Physiological Micellar Solution - This is very similar to the highly raved Bioderma but with a better smell. It is Paraben-free which is a huge bonus to me when buying a skincare product and can be used on the face, eyes and lips. It dissolves make-up brilliantly, as does the Bioderma. I would say that at around £12 for 200ml, this is much more expensive than the Bioderma which I can get on ebay for £12-14 for 500ml. It's a nice micellar water but I don't think that it is much different from the Bioderma which I could just buy and save some much needed pennies.

5 - Nuxe Reve De Miel Hand and Nail Cream - Another hand cream.. I think I may have an obsession. I've wanted to try this for a while and thought that it was too expensive, but again I saw it on a deal on Escentual - link here - and thought it was the perfect opportunity to purchase it alongside the Lip balm. I never actually read how much was in it, but was pretty surprised to see it was only 75ml. Compared with the Soap & Glory one, this is half the size yet usually double the price. I have only used it once, so I can't say too much about it but it has a nice natural scent to it and is nice and moisturisng.

The Escentual nail file was just randomly thrown in there with my 2 purchases - a nice little added extra seen as I don't actually have a decent one.

I realise 4/5 products here are from French skincare brands, then a mention of Bioderma (another French skincare brand) has been thrown in for good measure. I gotta say, I sure love my French skincare brands! (yet I have never been to France!) I know if I were to visit anytime soon, I would be in those pharmacies half the time and my bank balance would suffer ALOT.

I have been buying a lot of stuff in the past couple of weeks so a recent purchases #2 is on it's way very soon....

Are there any products here that you want to buy or already have? Let me know...

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Review: Nuxe Reve De Miel

 NUXE Reve de Miel Lipbalm | £9.50 | Space NK

After hearing great things about this lip balm from every blog going, I decided that I must pop in to Space NK and see what all the fuss is about! Nuxe is always a brand I have never purchased from but am intrigued about and thought this was the perfect product to start my Nuxe exploration with.

The consistency is quite thick; something I'm not extremely fond of to be honest. However, for me, this does not matter as I absolutely LOVE the smell. It smells quite like honey and just very luxurious (so it should be at around a tenner may I add!)

It really does moisturise the lips and it's one of those products where you know its doing something rather than making them look shiny or whatever. This product doesn't really make your lips look like anything although mine look slightly paler when this is applied so I just apply it as sort of a lip treatment  before bedtime on a night.

Overall I would recommend everyone to try this and see if they like it. Most likely you will.. and you gotta endeavor into a luxury lip balm every now and then haven't you!

You can purchase this from 'Space NK' , 'Marks & Spencers' or 'Feel Unique' (online).

NOTE
On escentual.com they have a 1/3 off deal with NUXE... you can purchase it here for £6.33!!


Let me know if you've tried this product!
Love Alice xox

Natural Spring Peach Make-up

I fancied a real change in my make-up this week as last week provided some hope that Spring is on it's way as the sun gloriously appeared! After searching around through my make-up collection, I found some products to update my make-up to create a more natural 'no make-up' kind of look.


The Laura Mercier Mineral Foundation is different to my everyday liquid foundation; MAC's Studio Fix Fluid, as it has slightly lighter coverage and will be more sweat-proof he summer months (sounds lovely, doesn't it?) I applied this using the Real Techniques Buffing Brush which is ah-mazing for applying foundation - the best brush ever! However I do want to try Real Techniques offering of the 'expert face brush' to apply foundation whether it be liquid or mineral.

I paired this foundation with MAC's blush in 'Harmony' which is fabulous to contour cheekbones. Then I brushedSleek's blush in 'Life's a peach' over the apples of my cheeks to brighten up my complexion. This shade is such a nice colour for Spring/Summer as are most peachy blushes.

For my eyes I went really simple with a coat of the LOreal False Lash Telescopic. It is extremely lengthening and is the perfect mascara for a 'no makeup' makeup look. If you want to add a more defining structure to your eyes you could always blend some dark eye-shadow into the lash line.
I filled my eyebrows in with the GOSH brow pen, mine's in the shade '001 Dark Brown'. I usually use eyeshadow formulas on my eyebrows ie through the use of my MUA Pro Brow Kit, however as I was changing my make-up up I realised I hadn't used this is a while.

I wanted a soft nude lip for this kind of look so I opted for my MAC lip pencil in 'In Synch' which is a pinky nude colour. I didn't want anything too full on so I decided to not include a lipstick but rather switch to a lip gloss. My REVLON lip gloss called 'Peach petal' incorporated into this peachy makeup look nicely and gave a glossy nude finish over the matte lip pencil.

I hope you liked this selection of products and let me know what plans you have to switch up your make-up for Spring/Summer. I feel it will be a while until I will be wearing this make-up look again because looking out of my window right now gives me no hope that Spring is anywhere round the corner! It is foggy, cloudy and very dull at the moment. Boooooo.

Love Alice xox

Important...

This is just to let everyone know the reason why my blogposts have all being posted in one day..today..the 17th of March 2013 and also why they don't have any comments. This is due to the fact that I accidentally deleted all my blog posts I had done right up until May 2012, last year. I managed to retrieve the posts through google reader but unfortunately not the comments etc, so I have had to simply just copy and paste all the blog posts back in new posts. I did not want my work on my posts to just disappear hence why I have posted them back on.

xxxx

Percy&Reed + Glamour Mag [March 2013]

Whilst browsing the magazine isle on my lunch break, I was tempted by all the magazines this month that come with amazing free gifts. I was especially drawn to my usual favourite magazine 'Glamour' this month due to their incorporation of famous hair care brand 'Percy&Reed'. For those not familiar, this is a relatively high end hair care brand, so I was super excited to test out some of their products for free!

I opted for their 'Volumising hair oil for fine hair' as I am new to the world of hair oils and have extremely flat and fine hair, so this seemed perfect. You can also choose between the shampoo, conditioner and the finishing polish. What stood out to be the most about this months freebies were the sample sizes: I thought they were very generous!

 The hair oil is actually called 'No Oil Oil' ; "a multi-tasker nourishing and repairing hair, with pro vitamin B5 helping out with strength and heat protection. This little lifesaver containing violet extract gives you lovely locks which are smooth, sleek and shiny while also adding volume." - link here

I shall be reviewing this oil at a later date when it has been fully tried and tested to let you all know what I think! I may be picking some more copies up in order to get the shampoo and condition as I am intrigued as to what they are like.

You can pick the full sizes up of Percy & Reed hair care products in places like Space NK and Selfridges.

Have any of you picked up Glamour this month or tried this haircare brand before? Let me know!

Love Alice xox

The Perfect Tourist in London [February 2013]

I absolutely love the city of London, not only does it hold famous monuments like the Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and The London Eye, but it also holds every shop you can probably think of! This is what I would do to be the perfect tourist in the city of London:

LOCATION: I would stay in a hotel around the west side of London near Piccadilly Circus/Covent Garden/Soho in order to be near the nightclubs and shops and not too far from the famous attractions.























FOOD: I would eat breakfast at 'Bill's' and have casual lunch amongst the hectic shoppers and workers in the centre at  'Pret A Manger' (there is practically one everywhere you turn!). I would eat dinner at one of the many posh restaurants London has to offer such as 'The ivy' or 'Nobu'. If I wanted something a little more casual, I would visit Bella Italia or an Angus Steakhouse.

SIGHT-SEEING: I would definitely squeeze in a river cruise down the River Thames which would allow me to see many of the sights London has. Afterwards, I would discover the breath-taking views from having a ride on The London Eye. Other sight-seeing activities would have to include a visit to Buckingham Palace accompanying a picnic in either St James park or Hyde Park. I would visit Trafalgar Square to see the fountains before heading to the museum. 
After this central area of London had being discovered, I would travel west experiencing London's 150 year old tube train to Piccadilly Circus. This area fascinates me with its digital billboards and it's huge M&M's store and different restaurants!

PARTYING (only if 18+ obviously): I would visit a top London nightclub based around the Mayfair and Soho area for a good night out. Places to go if you possibly want to go star spotting may include clubs like 'Mahiki' or 'Funkybuddha'.

SHOPPING (!!) My perfect trip to London would obviously consist of lots of shopping; in particular those shops you cannot access in other parts of the UK or even in parts of the world.
shops I would visit:

OXFORD STREET - Has lots and lots and lots of shops including Topshop and Selfridges.

We all know Topshop is one of the best clothing shops EVER, don't we?! In this particular store, you won't know where to start. I get lost in here. Pure paradise.

FOREVER 21.
I am aware stores have popped up in Birmingham and Manchester now but I would definitely come here to find some bargains. I have never been so watch this space!

ABERCROMBIE & FITCH.
The only  Abercrombie store in the UK is in London so it is definitely worth having a little look in there. The store is near Picadilly so amongst all the amazing-ness! 

HARRODS.
Despite it's expensive nature, you can find make-up brands like NYX which cannot be found anywhere else in the UK! You can buy gifts in here to give as souvenirs or to keep for yourself; it is inevitable you will find something to remember London by!

COVENT GARDEN.
Down the quaint little streets lie mainstreet shops like H&M but also vintage clothing like in a store called 'Rokit'.

REGENT STREET.
'Liberty' the department store is an essential destination for beauty lovers on Regent Street, but it includes many other stores like 'Burberry' that are rarely found anywhere else.


So if you are visiting London, I hope this helps you find ideas on what to do and if you aren't, I recommend you do!! Hope you enjoyed this post, something a little different but still tying in with the idea of beauty/fashion (London being a shopping capital and all)...
Love Alice xox



... This post is for a competition which you can also enter here courtesy of VisitBritain. The prize consists of £500 or $790. Good luck to all who enter!! ...

Valentines Day Make-Up [February 2013]

I have always stayed away from pink and purple eye-shadows ever since my mum told me my eyes looked 'sore', but of course this was when I was younger and knew next to nothing about makeup, colours and blending. After digging through my palettes I found an MUA eye-shadow palette called 'Poptastic' that had being pretty much untouched, so I decided to get it out and give a valentines make-up look a bash. I know I am no make-up artist; this is my interpretation!! So here it is (excusr the stray eyebrow hairs)..

Products used: MUA Pro Brow Kit, Mac Select Cover Up Concealer in NW20, L'Oreal Telescopic Mascara, L'Oreal Superliner thin, MUA Poptastic eye-shadow palette, MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NC15, Rimmel bronzer in '025 Sun Glow', Collection 2000 sheer loose powder, Kate by Rimmel Lipstick in the shade '109', Natural Collection blusher in 'Peach Melba' and MAC's Cream Colour base in 'Pearl'.

January Favourites [2013]

Hey Everyone!
Apologies on the late nature of this post but I thought I would get this up after my skincare heaven/routine postas they make up the skincare subheading of my January favourites. I have completely changed my routine around since the start of 2013 and have been absolutely loving it and every single product that I use.

Bioderma, REN Clay Cleanser, Una Brennan Face Mask, La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo & Effaclar Matt

Now on to my other favourites...

Body: I'm loving my L'Occitane body lotion! It's not too thin and not too thick and hydrates your skin without being sticky. My other favourites for body/hands are Soap&Glory related; I am sucker for a good Soap&Glory product. Their hand food is the best handcream I've every used in my opinion as again it is not too thick or not too thin. It has been a staple in my handbag for over a year now but i have rediscovered my love for it after receiving quite a few for christmas. It seems only right to now mention the hand maid hand cleansing gel... alas a hand gel that doesn't make my hands cry and smell like vodka! Not too expensive and is great for travelling.
Finally in the body section is my favourite fake tan: Asda's essential care self tanning lotion. I personally prefer this to St Moriz and the other ones I've tried as it is a gradual tanner but gives quite a lot of colour at the same time and I have been using this for nights out recently. It is VERY moisturising and most importantly, extremely cheap (about £2/3)!!

Make-Up: I'll start off with my Real Techniques Buffing Brush that I am sure everyone and their mother has, therefore I shall say nothing more than it blends any foundation/base flawlessly and is generally amazing. Next is MUA's offering of a 'Pro-Brow Kit'. It has 3 colours to choose from, a gel to set them, a doubled sided angled brush and a pair of tweezers. All for £3.50! Amazing.

Next is the Rimmel Natural Bronzer in the shade '025 Sun Glow' that is just a nice bronzer, not exactly glittery but not completely matte. I needed a new bronzer, didn't fancy splashing my cash on one, so opted for this and it does a pretty good job. Lastly for make-up is my beloved carmex. Nothing too exciting but is a great product for your lips this winter.

Nails: I literally think I have a nail obsession - my nail polish collection is gradually expanding (or not so gradually). Despite this, I have a staple base coat and a staple top coat that I cannot imagine changing any time soon. I use Maybelline's Forever Strong Pro as a base coat as it contains calcium and other nail lovin' ingredients and it avoids the yellow nails problem after removing dark polishes. Seche Vite Top Coat is my top coat of choice and is extremely fast-drying and makes your nails very smooth and your nail polish last so much longer! It is honestly worth a little extra money to avoid having to paint your nails every 5 seconds! My final favourite is one of the Hi-Shine Barry M Polishes in 'Watermelon' which is extremely shiny on the nails. I love the texture of these polishes and I feel this colour is very wearable for this time of year. I shall be trying out some more (even though I don't need any more, hehe oops.)

So there are my favourites for the January, many are underrated in the YouTube/Blogging world so thought I better mention here in my own little internet space. Hope you liked it and tell me what your favourites are this month! 

Love Alice xox

Skincare Heaven! [February 2013]

Looking back at my old skincare post in the Summer, I realised that I often used cheap products for my skin. Since then I have forked out more money on more expensive skincare since realising that I was paying high prices for make-up and therefore I should be on what goes underneath.

I have always suffered with my oil/acne-prone skin and have never found a routine that doesn't break me out. But alas... I have found products that really combat my oiliness. HOORAH!

If your skin sounds a bit like mine, then I really recommend you try some of these products...

Bioderma Crealine H20: I use this to remove the majorty of my make-up on an evening and occasionally quickly swipe over my face with a cotton pad on a morning to make sure I have nothing at all on my face. I recently purchased the Sebum version but thought it wasn't as good as this one.

REN Clay Cleanser: I received this as a gift for Christmas after directing my mum in the direction of Space NK ;). She knew I really wanted a good cleanser that directly targets my blemish prone skin and this is one that does just that! I use this on a night after using my Bioderma and it makes my skin nice and clean. It's clay formula ensures that all the dirt comes out of my skin and removes any excess makeup left over.

Una Brennan Pore Purifying Clay Mask: I use this every Sunday and Wednesday night. It has being recently raved about on my blog if you want to check that out here. One word for this product though: AMAZING!

La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo: I was determined to try this product since Ruth (A Model Recommends) andTanya Burr (Pixi2woo) mentioned this on their blogs and on YouTube  They claimed it did wonders on their blemishes and spots. It is a spot treatment/moisturiser which I use before bed on a nighttime. Not sure on the verdict of whether it does anything yet.

La Roche Posay Effaclar Mat: It 2 for £15 on the La Roche Posay Effaclar range when I purchased the Effaclar Duo (I think this offer is still on and has been for a long while).so I decided to try this mattifying moisturiser. I use this every morning under makeup and it acts as the perfect base. I have definitely seen a change in the longevity of my foundation and facial oiliness throughout the day.

There's my skincare routine or know as my 'skincare heaven'. Nothing too fancy but I feel that too many products on my skin isn't good. As for eye creams, I am only 18, so don't feel it is completely necessary at the moment. However, I keep using my mum's Garnier one and have seen an improvement in the fine lines under my eyes so I may need to invest in one of these in the near future, especially after those heavy night outs, haha!

Hope you enjoyed this post and that it was helpful to you in some way or another. let me know of your favourite products down below in the comments section.

Lots Of Love,

Alice xox

Una Brennan's Clay Mask [January 2013]

I had never seen this brand before until Zoe (Zoella280390 on Youtube) mentioned this in one of her videos. The products she mentioned sounded perfect my oily/combination (mainly oily) skin type, so I thought I would pop in to boots and give the face mask a try. I have almost run out of my Soap and Glory pore face mask so I could justify buying it ( I attempted to ban myself from beauty products and make-up purchases this month month).

Anyway, moving on to the product.. It is a tea flower deep clean pore purifying mask: a detoxifying mask to unclog pores and restore skin balance. It clears your skin of dirt, excessive oils and toxins which lead to breakouts. It contains Salicylic Acid which is proven to be good for acne prone skin like mine; I have being looking for an affordable product with this ingredient in for a while. It also contains oil absorbing dead sea mud rich in magnesium calcium, potassium and iron for the perfect facial detox. Avacado oil is also included, rich in Vitamin A, D and E, alongside acacia honey which further helps the skin re balance itself.

The science-y bit out of the way and now comes my verdict.
After my first use of the produce, I woke up the next morning with clearer skin than the night before - no word of a lie! Redness on my face was reduced, as were blemishes and some spots had completely gone. One had got bigger but this shows that the dirt had being brought out from the clay and purifying ingredients. My skin felt soft after use and it really did feel like I had had a facial. For around £9, I think this product is amazing and affordable and everyone should try it out!

You can purchase this from Boots in-store or online here as well as the rest of the Una Brennan Skincare. They do eye creams, day creams, facial oils, cleansers- the lot. I am definitely considering trying some new products out for sure.

Let me know if any of you have tried this product or will be trying it.. Or even your favourite face masks!
Love Alice
xox

La Roche Posay Effaclar Boots Deal + Review! [December 2012]

After seeing on twitter that it was 2 for £15 on La Roche Posay and knowing I had around £15 worth of boots points to spend, I decided to purchase the newly-hyped 'Effaclar Duo'. People claim it is a miracle worker on spots and blemishes (which I have a lot of) so I thought this was the perfect opportunity to try it. As it was 2 for £15, I thought I may as well buy something else for the sake of £2 so I opted for the 'Effaclar Mat' which is a sebo-regulating moisturizer. I'm not too sure if I regret this decision as I could have chosen the clarifying lotion, the foaming gel or the breakout corrector too.
Either way, it was a really good deal for a mid-end brand (did I just make that word up?) and for products that really improve your skin!

The consistency of the Effaclar Duo

The moisturiser feels extremely refreshing when applied to a clean face and I do believe the efflaclar duo benefits your skin in terms of blemishes. It hasn't made such a difference to me personally as I have acne and have done for years.. But if you just suffer from blemishes and the occasional spot, then I reckon this will sort that out!

Go in to your local boots store or buy them online here if you'd like to try it. Tell me what you think!

Love Alice

xox

Affordable Partywear from Boohoo [November 2012]

As we edge nearer to Christmas, more and more parties and evenings out are bound to crop up. This is the case for me as well as having lots of friends who are soon turning 18! I have recently purchased two dresses from Boohoo.com for less than £20. It is an extremely affordable website to buy gorgeous clothing from; especially party dresses. 

I got asked to participate in a blogger competition to put together an outfit from Boohoo and I knew this would be fun looking through their huge collection. I can't believe I didn't see this dress before to be honest, I really want to get it as it is so simple but sexy. This is my outfit and it totaled at £69 which I don't think is bad  for an entire look!

This Hattie Glitter Cut Out Bodycon Dress can be found here for £20.
The shoes are the most expensive of the outfit at £35 but are such gorgeous wedges with a lovely detail! Grab them up here!
The cross necklace in this picture cannot be found on the boohoo website but I found one with gorgeous golden gem detailing here for £6.
I love triangles and especially in earring form. I think the gold colour goes with the flecks in the dress and details on the wedges and necklace making the whole outfit look tied together. They are only £5 and click the link hereto check them out.
I love wearing eyelashes when I go out and was surprised to see that Boohoo stocked some so I saw these onesfor a bargain of £3.


Hope you like my outfit and are feeling somewhat inspired!
If you want to enter the competition you can here..
Love Alice 
xox

Bioderma Sebium [October 2012]

by alicekatex

Now I'm sure you're all aware of the hype surrounding the brand 'Bioderma' and especially their Crealine H20 Micelle Solution (Cleanser/Makeup remover in a red bottle) but if your not its basically a french pharmaceutical brand who do amazing skincare products.

After doing some research I realised that the Sebium version was much better suited to my skin type than the Crealine Solution. The Sebium h20 helps reduce Sebum which is a major contributor to acne (which I have) so I thought it would be the perfect one for me.

What I love most about this product is that it takes your makeup off instantly when swiped across the face with a cotton pad, whilst refreshing your face and not being the slightest bit greasy.

You get a generous 250ml of product in the easy to apply bottle. I got it for around £10 on e-bay. Just type in 'Bioderma Sebium' and sort it with lowest price first.

And if you ever go to France I recommend picking it up as its much cheaper over there!!

Has anyone else tried this as opposed to the Crealine Solution?!

Love Alice xox

Seche Vite Topcoat: Bargain! [October 2012]

Seche Vite Topcoat is one of the most raved about nail products in the blogging/YouTube world (also a winner of the InStyle best beauty Buys 2012), so I thought I must  let you all know about the amazing deal I got on Urban Outfitters (of all places!) Many online stores sell it for around the £10 mark, making me hesitant as to whether to pay this much for what seems a clear polish. However, when I saw it for £5 on UO with free delivery, I thought I must try it out due its claims.

Don't know what Seche Vite is?
It is specially formulated to penetrate through nail lacquer to the base coat forming a single solid coating over the nail plate for a much more durable finish. Guaranteed to not to yellow whilst leaving nails silky, stronger and resistant to chipping and peeling.

Why I Love It!
- It gives a great glossy finish and almost brightens my nail colour perching underneath
- My nails have a smooth finish hence feeling stronger
- It dries super quick (I have no patience with waiting around for nail polish to dry and end up chipping them almost instantly)
- One coat is enough due to its thick consistency
- The bottle is pretty big (14ml) so will last a long time.

Hope you enjoyed this post and consider purchasing it from UO as it really is a brilliant deal and well worth it even for the full price!! You can purchase it here
Love Alice 
xox

La Roche Posay Facial SPF 30 Review [Sept 2012]

I know many bloggers review summer skincare products at the beginning of summer to give people time to buy/try them out, however I wanted to review this one when it had had my full use! All is good - in some countries summer is soon approaching and in many it is still very sunny and warm :)

Basically, I really needed a facial SPF to take on my holiday to Spain at the start of August, as my normal body sunscreen my mum buys is greasy on my face and breaks me out terribly. Many facial sunscreens I was seeing on blogs and you tube were SPF 50 and I didn't really want that as I love getting a tan.
As I searched every inch of Boots, I finally came across this one from La Roche Posay. The packaging explained that it was a 'matte extreme fluid' for oily to acne-prone skin. PERFECT.

It comes in a weird sort of bottle, but I love how the poury bit is small so no product goes to waste!

Nice creamy texture poured on to the hand

The product inside is not greasy nor sticky and is a nice creamy sort of texture. When applied, it made my face slightly matte which was a good thing. Despite this, I cannot claim that it kept my face matte all day. Sunbathing led to sweating (ew) and my face soon became oily. However it did keep my face protected from the sun and no breakouts appeared the whole holiday(!!)

The product was around £15 for 50ml which I thought was quite pricey as I never splash out on skincare.. ever. Although I do think it is worth it as opposed to using any old sunscreen and I think it would be a perfect to apply under makeup if you are doing daily activities during summer (shopping, walking etc) as opposed to sunbathing. I reckon your face would stay matte and oil free under makeup, as well as be protected from the suns harmful rays!!

If anyone has any favourite facial sunscreens, please let me know in the comments section below!
Love Alice
xox

House Of Fraser Blogger Style Challenge [August 2012]

I chose the Cherry Blossom Print Top found here as is is bright and colourful, so is great to add to any outfit. I felt it contrasted the simple denim shorts nicely and would be perfect to wear to a festival this summer.

The high waisted denim shorts (now on sale for £22.40 here) give a vintage feel to the outfit, therefore they are an essential for adding to the music festival vibe. Their vintage feel compliment the Ray ban wayfarer sunglasses which are a dark brown colour with lighter brown flecks.

The sandals are simple because I feel statement shoes would be too much alongside the bright top. They are from the brand Dune and are on offer for £20 at the moment on the house of fraser website; bargain.

I feel an outfit like this would require a bright lip so I chose a Lancome Le Rouge Absolue lipstick in the colour 134 Idole, found here.

I hope you like this outfit and feel free to comment with your suggestions! 

Love Alice xox