26/05/2013

OOTN // Peplum & Lace


 Oh hey there blog chums...guess who finally has the Internet sorted out...and a spare five minutes in between revision and nine hour long shifts 5/7 days a week...that's right...me! In light of this I thought I'd pop up a teeny OOTN, as it's on this year's bucket list (see my 213 in 2013 list on one of the pages above). I went out to our work's party this past Tuesday as my new store won a party for selling the most Large meals out of the little group of McRestaurants that we're part of. Any excuse for a drink and a dance, eh!


I went for a bit of a mismatch assortment for the evening as I'm still unpacking and sorting things out from the house move, and I don't have all of my precious handbags with me in this house yet. So I decided on pairing my fab peplum and lace embroidered white dress from River Island (a bargain in the sale for £15 at Christmas!), with some skin coloured tights, my rose gold triangle Topshop necklace and   another cheeky sale purchase in the form of my animal print clutch bag from Miss Selfridge. I'm in love with peplum dresses and tops at the moment because they seem to flatter and cover my tummy (which, like many girls I'm sure, is the one part of my body I hate the most). 

Make-up for the night was my usual routine of MAC BB cream for an under layer, followed by Benefit's Hello Flawless, and Bourjois Healthy Mix powder. My eyes were an explosion mixed colours from my Naked 2 palette, with my most favourite liquid liner (L'Oreal Superliner) to create some catty flicks, and Maybelline The Rocket mascara to coat my lashes. On this particular night I highlighted by cheeks with Nars Albatross and popped a dab of MAC Lovejoy blush on top for a healthy glow. On my lips I'm wearing the beautiful Viva Glam Nicki II, the lavender pink shade which I absolutely love, and finished with a spritz of Kim Kardashian to smell all sultry and glam for the evening. As the French would say, parfait! 

The night was a success, the DJ favoured all of the old classics like 5ive, Steps and the Spice Girls and I had a few little tipples (although not too many as I had to work a 6am-3pm the following morning, ever the sensible head). I hope you're all doing wonderfully, now that I'm a bit more settled into this flat here, and once my forensic Science exam is out of the way I can get back into my regular blogging routine. Wahoo! 

09/05/2013

Review // FaceB4

Just before I moved house I received a rather exciting looking silver bubble envelope containing two samples of new products due onto shelves in Boots (in fact they're probably out by now), Face B4's Daily Cleansing Foam and After Cleansing Serum (both retailing at £14.95 a piece). I was excited to try these, the serum more so, as I'm always after something to help my dry skin out. As ever, this review will be 100% honest, despite me receiving these two products for free. 
I'll begin by getting the negatives out the way. For a start the name 'Face B4' does not fill me with excitement, in fact I'm slightly worried that attempting to achieve a 'Face B4' will have me breaking out in spots thinking about what it is that the name of this product is supposed to bring to me. Face B4 what exactly? I'm stumped on this one. 

Moving on to my second negative, the packaging. To be perfectly blunt, what on Earth where they thinking? Don't get me wrong, it's not hideous, but it's just too busy for my liking. Face B4 doesn't strike me as something I'd want to pick up from a shelf and inspect/admire, it's a bit too clinical for me and the two people on the front look incredibly cheesy. If I'm being perfectly honest if I wasn't sent this to review I wouldn't have given it a second glance in Boots.While I'm always on the look out for new things to try, to me the packaging is important, although many would probably disagree! 
Looking past the packaging though this is a lovely little skincare duo. It's not amazing, but it's not terrible. Just nice, for want of a more exciting phrase. 

Daily Cleansing Foam What FaceB4 says: 'FaceB4 Daily Cleansing Foam is clinically proven to be the UK's most effective anti-bacterial facewash. FaceB4's unique dual-action blending system contains a patented ultra biocidal complex including Salicylic Acid that helps to remove impurities, so spots, blemishes and redness are reduced. FaceB4's dermatologically tested formula is safe and kind to use on all skin types, to help give you the spot-free skin you had B4'. 
I say: I'm not the biggest fan of foaming cleansers. If I want bubbles, I'll be the one to add them to my bath, they shouldn't just appear in my opinion. That said, this cleansed my face nicely. The dual nozzles were an interesting touch. One side contains a cleanser, and the other a toner, why they couldn't have mixed the two together to make the tube less bulky I don't know. But this cleanser didn't leave my skin feeling overly dry and tight as usually happens with other cleansers, it felt clean and wonderfully fresh. Win! I can't say, however, that it's done wonders for my skin yet, but then again I haven't given it a long trial run so it might do over time. I don't know what kind of skin I'm going to find from my 'skin I had before', though? Perhaps I was a pore free supermodel with a perfect complexion in a past life and that's all going to rush back to me...*I can dream*.

After Cleansing Serum What FaceB4 says: 'Helps maintain spot-free, clear skin', 'Vitamin enriched to moisturise, soothe and protect skin', 'Gentle formula for all skin types', 'Helps prevent blemishes'. 
I say: I was excited to see a serum in my parcel because I've heard good things about serums aiding the injection of moisture back into the skin in conjunction with a moisturiser. Having dry skin, a serum would benefit me greatly and to be honest this one has, but not too much at the moment. I still suffer with dry skin on my nose, but I can only hope that with continual use of this serum it'll help with that!

Overall I'm not convinced that the cleanser and the serum are worth £14.95 each, that seems a bit steep in my opinion, but perhaps with continued use I'll be able to find out why they are priced so. I'm a great believer that you get what you pay for, and to pay just shy of £15 for a cleanser, it has to be amazing in my opinion. This duo just doesn't quite cut it yet, but with continued use I may be persuaded to change my mind...I'll update you soon and let you know :) 

What's your favourite cleanser? Do you have a skincare routine?

05/05/2013

Sunday Snapshot

If you're a die-hard Confetti Letters fan you may have noticed that things have been a bit quiet round here of late. I'm not neglecting my little blog at all, let me just tell you my last week in great detail for this week's Sunday Snapshot and you'll find out why...

Monday: Today I travelled from Durham to Somerset, with two suitcases in tow, through London and on two different trains. It took 7 hours door to door. Not only did I have to navigate the new layouts of Kings X and Waterloo stations, but luggage space was at a premium and that caused me no end of a hassle.
The night was characterised by getting J's room packed away and chilling out.

Tuesday: J and I received the keys to our flat today. He had to work until 2pm so I set off to the library with the good intention of writing big chunk of my final uni essay due in on Friday. That didn't go to plan though as my friend had the day off work and we ended up in Costa! Once we'd received the keys to the flat we popped back to J's old house to gather his stuff and move in wardrobes etc. There are 42 stairs from the ground floor door to our front door!

Wednesday: Today saw me start work at the restaurant where I began my McCareer. I did an 8-4 over breakfast and lunch and then met J at the bank to open up a joint account. We then went back to his old house to get ready to go out, me for drinks with the girls and he to do whatever the boys like doing. I also got home to find that one of my uni essays had deleted itself. Cue major panic and me thinking I'd have to write it all again.

Thursday: Today saw us sitting in and waiting for our telly, and then once that had arrived we hopped on the train with suitcases in tow to go to my old home and start packing my room away. I still had a good 2500 words of essay to create so I ended up sitting and working on that from 9am until 1am and then went to bed.

Friday: Today saw me getting up at 5am to finish my essay and hand it in online in time for midday. I managed, thank God, but I wasn't great for my poor eyes to be looking at the computer screen for so long! Some of J's family came down in a van to take my bed and bookcase from Devon back up to Somerset and we followed them back on the train. Once we got back to the flat we unpacked and then got ready to go of for a celebratory dinner. Much wine flowed and I ended up agreeing to go out for drinks afterwards. I have no idea what time it was when I fell into bed, but J had gone back out again and I was out like a light!

Saturday: Today saw another 5am wake up to start the 9hr journey to Southport via Manchester. I recently found out that my Grandfather has terminal cancer so I went up to see him and my Mum as she's looking after him. We sat with him in hospital for a while and then went to stay at his house for the night. Grim :'(

Sunday: Another day, another train ride. Today I'm doing the 9 hour trip back home to Somerset. I'm exhausted and emotionally bottled up (I'm definitely the Iron Lady of the family). My Mum and I had a quick walk around Southport, went for lunch and then I got on the train, so it's been a whirlwind visit up north indeed!

So that was an insight into my week. I don't have any Internet yet either so I can't join in with #bbloggers chats :( All I want to do is sleep and be looked after...but I'll be back soon when everything is all up and running :)

Hope you're all well <3

02/05/2013

Where Louise Went // North East Body Shop Event


Last Friday night I attended a small get together at The Body Shop in Eldon Square, Newcastle, hosted by Maddie. It was lovely to see some familiar faces again, and to meet some new ones too! I hope I managed to say at least a hello to everyone!

Look at all the yummy body butters! 
Beautiful eyeshadows.


Mini chocolate flavoured love heart soaps and lots of candles

 #bbloggers enjoying themselves browsing around the shop.
Goody bags!

I had a fab time having a browse around the shop. I'm already familiar with Body Shop products as I can't live without at least one of their Mango shower gels somewhere in my stash, but it was nice to get familiar with some of their other products and try out some scents I didn't know so well. I've fallen in lust with 'Chocomania' and Strawberry, with Pink Grapefruit coming in a close third. I love that the body shop has everything you could possibly need in a range of scents. Like, if you're a fan of strawberries and want to have a body wash, body spray, body butter etc in that scent then you can, brilliant!

Maddie had kindly arranged for us all to have 50% off for the night so I indulged in buying a Mango body spray and a Honey bronzing powder that I've had my eye on for ages. (Yes I know I'm supposed to be on a spending ban. Whoops!) I could have bought so much more but I was good and didn't cave in to spending too much over my budget for the night. I spent £13 in total which was a bit of a bargain in my eyes. 

If you're not too familiar with The Body Shop then I suggest that you hot foot it down to you nearest store and have a browse, I love their products and guarantee that you will too!