An actual miracle product?!

Last year I had to change the type of contraceptive pill I take (yes straight in with personal detail) and it has wreaked havoc with my skin since. Suddenly, the acne that had been under control for nearly ten years was back with revenge. My spots were taking forever to heal and for every one spot that calmed down another five would crop up. They were everywhere, no discriminating and choosing one part of my face, oh no, they cropped up on my chin, nose, forehead, hairline and even my cheeks! My cheeks! 

My saviour!

I've never really believed in any products fixing spots after years of battling as a teen and finding for me that the only thing that helped were antibiotics or the pill. The main thing that seemed different this time was that my normally dry skin was feeling very oily by the end of the day, gross.

As a teen I tried some Clearasil pads, and yes, they absorbed excess oil, but they also absorbed most of the skin from my nose - I looked sunburnt from all the peeling, frightening.

I was in Boots last week and browsing the Good Things skincare range and picked up their Deep Pore Anti Blemish Cleansing Lotion. I've tried a fair few of their products before, I love their face wipes (fruity, refreshing, scrub all make up off yet gentle) and also use their face mask once a week and find it perks up my skin. The only product I didn't get on with was their face moisturiser, I found it a little too fruity and it didn't sit on my skin well. I also tried their Stop That Spot! gel and didn't see any improvement to my skin. Their body butters, however, are rich and fruity, so lovely to put on!

The best thing about this range is as well as being affordable (most products around £5) it has NO parabens or SLS, two things that really make my sensitive skin even worse. 

As there was a 3 for 2 I picked up the Deep Pore Anti Blemish lotion along with their facewipes and cleanser.

After just a week I can not believe the improvement in my skin.

I was wary of falling into the trap of overdoing removing my skin's excess oils and thus making it produce more, but actually it feels like it has it's balance back.

My spots have healed much faster and hardly any new spots have cropped up this week. Previously I was walking through the door, catching my reflection in the hall mirror and recoiling at the many, many gruesome new additions to my face. Now I walk through the door, breeze past the mirror and get on with my evening (much to the other half's delight too - I am also spending less time in the bathroom at night time inspecting my face, huzzah!)

Suddenly I feel more confident (especially as I am rubbish with getting really good spot coverage with concealer and foundation, so only having to wear this minimally again makes me happy) and I just feel more like myself. 

The only thing that took time to adjust to was following the advice to leave it on the skin. Normally I take my make up off, wash my face, then moisturise. It felt very odd leaving this on and not moisturising. At first  my skin felt really tight, but now I see that perhaps moisturising at night was just clogging my pores even more. It's also surprising seeing how much make up is comes off using this, even using this after taking my make up off normally (which also can't have helped my spots!) 

The final bonus is that it smells great too  - fruity but not sickly. You can find out more about it, including the full ingredients here.

Obviously, different products work for different people, but if you have problem skin, for £5 it is well worth a try, as I have never used anything so effective before.

Polka-Pretty: Simple but effective nail art

It's come to a point that I am struggle painting my nails one simple colour as I am so used to glitter top coats, different colours on one hand and so on!

I had an afternoon spare and had a little play - this look is simple and just takes a bit of patience and time.

To start I put on my base coat ( my nails are in much better nick since using it) then two coats of my favourite pink polish from George at Asda and Barry M's white polish on my ring fingers. The white spots were done with a Wah Nails Pen, and once you use it a few times you get used to how it comes out and is really to use. The pink spots were done with a dotting tool; this is slightly harder to use in terms of getting the right amount of polish on the end (I either had too much or not enough!)

To finish I popped on a top coat and was done! The time with this is just waiting to make sure each part of the nail is dry (don't want to smudge those spots with the top coat!)

It's a fun look and just makes me smile during this sudden cold weather!

So far I can only manage really, really easy nail art looks - do you have any fabulous

but simple nail art looks?

Accessorize wish list

I've loved Accessorize products for a long time before I worked for the company (and whilst working for the company opening the deliveries was like Christmas!)  I do think there is nowhere else like it on the high street. This season they have really upped their game and have got some great edgy products in, whilst keeping their unique brand style.

Every time I pop in to say hello to my old colleagues I'm always slightly distracted by the gorgeous new products (oops, sorry girls!) and I've been on their website and made a little wishlist....

Mari Tote in Red, £39

I already own this in tan and it is a fabulous bag, I use it loads, it is incredibly versatile: you can carry on your arm like a diva, tucked under your shoulder or across the body with the long detachable strap. It is super roomy, with a detachable inner bag with phone pockets.  I love this rich berry colour, it looks a lot more expensive than it is!

This is a true classic.

Andrea Statement Necklace, £15

Isn't this stunning! There are a few colour variations available (including red and turquoise) 

Normally I would have gone for the red, but I think the muted grey and cream stones make it much more versatile for everyday wear. I love that each necklace is slightly different due to the variations in the stones.

I am counting down the days till payday to pick this beauty up!

Pretty embellished ballerina shoes, £35

So these might not be the most practical autumn shoes, but look how pretty! They're like little princess slippers! 

I used to own similar shoes from a little boutique in Durham, so these really caught my eye.

They're not cheap, but the detail is lovely and I've always found Accessorize shoes last well and are really comfy.

Aaliyah Stone Ring, £14

I'm a total sucker for rings, they are my favourite jewellery accessory and the chunkier the better.

This is a lot more bling than my usual choice, but the gem stones have a vintage look to them and I love the swirl effect on the central stone. This also comes in grey. 

It would add some real glam to an evening outfit!

Melange Paisley Scarf, £19

Thanks to my years working for Monsoon and Accessorize my scarf collection is over flowing but I love how they can change up a simple outfit!

I really like the fresh colours in this scarf, it makes a nice change to the other Autumnal scarves in the shops at the moment.

Accessorize scarves are a little more expensive than other high street stores, but they are great quality and will last many years!







Icicle Drops Collar Necklace, £25

Accessorize have always done statement jewellery better than the rest of the high street and this season's collection of statement necklaces is just perfection!

The contrast of the blingy "icicles" against the tough black rope and gold loops looks fab - this would work really well on a plain tshirt or with a really glam dress.

Super Soft Slipper Boots, £19

These have always been a favourite product of mine, the material is just beautiful, I could sit and stroke them all evening!

I chucked out my slipper boots this spring (not so toasty with holes in the bottom it turns out...) and am currently living in ballerina slippers, which aren't quite warm enough now the nights are getting chilly.

These will be the perfect winter investment!

Have you got your eye on anything in Accessorize at the moment?

Beetle - mania: Models Own Beetlejuice polish

After spying this on the Model's own website I HAD to try it. Their whole nail varnish range is really fun and I like the way they put them into mini collections. I've also tried their Lip and Cheek Tint before and thought it was just as good as Benefit's and it lasted aaaages, as well as their Red Hot lipgloss which has the most impressive colour from a high street lipgloss I have ever seen.

I picked up Indian Ocean from the Beetlejuice Collection, which is clearly popular as there were only two left. My local Boots didn't have the full range, but I'm not hugely keen on all the colours available anyway. I do like the look of the Purple Blue, it reminds me of a nail polish I used to have from Accessorize that shone different colours, like the effect you get with spilt oil!

Indian Ocean is seriously pretty, shimmery blue with a purply pink shine when it catches the light, if feels very dreamy and Disney princess.

One coat of Indian Ocean

The final effect

Only downside is that it needs quite a few coats, and despite my best patience between coats and using a top coat it has made them a bit more prone to smudging, as the polish is so thick. A single coat doesn't look bad - as you can see in the pic, it would be good if you aren't looking for a dramatic effect but still want a polish on your nails.  I love any polish that creates an effect for you - I'm not great with nail art pens or dotting tools, so any polish like this or a simple effect top coat is always a winner! The final effect is lovely and I keep moving my nails to watch the colour change (simple things!) The pictures don't really do it justice in all honesty.

It just looks a little bit different and super pretty. I think it will also work well as a top coat over different colour polishes as the first coat is so light. I highly recommend it and will probably treat myself to another darker shade on payday.

Excited to try these!

It retails at £5, which isn't bad for a large bottle. Boots currently have an offer which is buy 2 Models Own products and receive a free Velvet Goth polish. I have been itching to try this in Absinthe after seeing a post on it by Charlotte over at Make Up By Candlelight.  I picked up the Mermaid Tears polish from their Splash Collection (so, so pretty - and the foil like particles look like a good replica of the Revlon Moon Candy range) and got the new Velvet Goth polish free! So three of their polishes for a tenner was pretty good going.

I can't WAIT to try these other two polishes! I have also noticed Model's Own have brought out a chunky "lip stix" range (a version of Clinique's Chubby Sticks by the looks of it) and I am also now keen to try out polishes from their other collections - in particular the Mirrorball and Fruit Pastel collections - the fruit pastel polishes are scented!

Have you used any Model's Own products? What do you think of their nail polish collections? 

This is a good hair product.

When your hair is very fine and very yellow blonde it can be hard to find the right product that will help smooth your hair without making it look greasy.

My sister introduced me to John Frieda's Gleam Creme a couple of years ago and it has become a staple beauty item for me ever since.

It describes itself as a "silkening creme" which "smooths dry, dull blonde hair". As you can see in the pics the product comes out a light creamy colour,

but I reckon you could get away with using it on all hair colours.


The best thing about it is how little product you need. I put a tiny blob on my finger, rub it over my hands and lightly smooth it over my hair once styled to tame those pesky fly away bits (again a very common annoyance of having fine hair - permanently having a fine-hair-strand-halo) I use it every single day, whatever hairstyle I have. It rocks.

It doesn't leave my hair greasy or sticky like serums do, in fact it doesn't feel like you have any product in your hair at all. It costs just £5.09, has a 12 month shelf life - and it really does last me 12 months, it is truly amazing value for money! Check it out here on the John Frieda website.

Disgusting yet delightful: Biore Deep Cleansing Pore Strips

Some people are good to their skin. They are patient, disciplined, leave it be.

I am not one of those people. I scratch, pick and squeeze. I know it can make my spots worse, I know it can damage the skin, I know it is disgusting, but surely I can not be alone with this?!

Once I am aware of a spot lurking in my skin I have to GET.IT.OUT.OF.MY.FACE. (Like Lady Macbeth, lolz. No? Anybody? "Out damn spot", y'know - a terrible Shakespeare related gag? No?)


Anyway, I tried a version of these a few years ago at uni and was a little disappointed, however, I now suspect in my excitement at seeing gunk exit my face I didn't leave them on long enough.

Two weeks ago I was in Sainsburys and ambled into the beauty section (like a magnet, honestly) and spotted the Biore ones for £2.40 for the pack of 6, so thought I should give them another try.

This time I left it on for a good 15 minutes and ohhhhh boy did some rubbish leave my nose! I really suffer with blocked pores on my nose, cheeks and chin so it was great to see my nose cleared without damaging the skin. In my excitement I popped one on my chin and it also did a good job here. The other half got a bit jealous of the fun I was having and also gave it a go - he too was impressed at the gory results.

I kept on using them every 3 days as recommended (even looking forward to nose strip day, the shame) and I have definitely noticed an improvement- my pores look a little tighter and less gunk is coming out of them now so I am super impressed that these seem to make a long term difference. 

When I was last in Boots I went to replace them and they were a shocking £7! Very poor value for just 6 strips, so I am praying my local Sainsburys still has them in.

What I am curious about now is whether it is just the Biore ones that are particularly good or whether all brands work? Have you tried these or other types of nose strip and had good results?

Accidental Festive Nails

Yes I hear you cry, it's barely the first week of sodding October, you do not want to talk about Christmas! Well tough.


A little while ago I picked up Barry M's red glitter polish on a Buy One Get One Half Price spree in Boots, thinking I would save it till Christmas time.

Well, I changed my mind this weekend as I was too excited to try it, and after a pimms and lemonade (you know the premixed ones in a can? I'm sophisticated like that) I thought to myself "Hey you - let's break the darn rules and paint our nails Christmassy - you are 26 years old - you can do whatever the hell you want!" Ahem.

Moving on, I painted a base coat of my new Barry M base and top coat in one (my nails are no longer stained, it's a revelation), then a coat of a lovely pillar box red by Max Factor; it's one of their dinky polishes, I think it was in a free gift set. I then applied a generous coat of the Barry M glitter, followed by the top coat.

And look how preeeeeeettttty they are! I keep sneaking a peek at them! The pictures don't quite do the product justice. I completely underestimated how tightly packed the glitter is in the Barry M polishes, they almost look like the Rockstar Gel nail polish, the effect is so good!

It's hard to believe such a great range of polish (I've nearly used up the Rose Quartz glitter) is just £2.99 and it's always on offer in Boots or Superdrug.


I can't wait to do these again, but I will play with the look a bit more, perhaps a ring finger in gold glitter, or gold glitter half moons to make them really festive!

It's the only thing making me look forward to the cold weather so far....

What do you think of the Barry M glitter polishes?

Revlon Heavenly Nail Polish: Review

I mentioned this product in my last post, a tad disappointed when I first tried it. I predicted it would be better on darker nails and do you know what...I was right! (Don't you love it when that happens)

I painted it over a dark navy blue Nails Inc polish (that was a Glamour magazine freebie!) and it looked super pretty. Against the dark blue the creamy glitter bits looked more green - I felt a bit like a mermaid (Ariel is a big hero of mine, yes I know she's not real, but come on, who doesn't love The Little Mermaid?!)

 It was pretty close to their normal moon candy and a friend noticed my nails right away saying they were "grown up glitzy", it's definitely a nice alternative to traditional glitter top coats.

The particles came out fairly evenly, I did had a couple of nails too thin / too thick with the glittery bits but the overall effect is super pretty. It is normally £6.99 but it currently has £2 off on the Boots website, so I highly recommend it for a cheap way of updating nail polished you might be bored of.

I put my new Barry M base coat, top coat and hardener polish over the top and it is GOOOOOOD! I've noticed my polish definitely lasts longer with it than my previous top coat (which was O.P.I) It's the best £2.99 you will ever spend on a nail product. I promise.

This polish is going to get used, and used, and used and used...It also has £2 off on the Boots website so it is well worth buying!