Coloristiq Manicure Box Review*

The company Coloristiq is an online nail polish rental service, however they've recently ventured out into producing a monthly manicure box (with polishes you get to keep), which includes a specific theme every month. Monthly beauty boxes are very popular these days, with companies such as Glossybox and Birchbox being popular amongst beauty bloggers. 

I received September's box called "Nails and the City", which includes four vibrant colours relating to "bright lights, shopping opportunities and stunning buildings" that can be found in the cities London, New York, Venice and Budapest. By having a specific theme, you can be sure of receiving a variety of polishes that complement each other.

There is no need to subscribe to this service, you can just buy one box if you like the theme/colours included. Buying this box allows you to try the newest polishes from a range of popular collections (and some up and coming British indie polishes). It works out a lot cheaper! This box is only £15.00, even though it's worth more than twice as much.

♥ Bluedapest by Danglefoot

"Handmade and mixed at home in Norfolk, these polishes use the best 5-free non-toxic ingredients to create amazing shades, shimmers and holographic effects." 

Danglefoot is the featured indie brand for the September box, and this gorgeous baby blue colour is a limited edition polish, just for this box! Although you need two coats to make it a solid colour, the gold shimmer makes it stand out and glides on the nail smoothly and consistently.

Inspired by Budapest's "thermal springs located in the city park" and "represents the beauty of Hungary's capital city. This indie polish has gold flakes and a scattered holographic finish". Check out their other nail polishes, there are plenty of other shimmery colours to choose from.

♥ My Gondola or Yours? by OPI

Everyone needs a black nail polish! You definitely need two coats AT LEAST with this polish, otherwise it remains a grey, transparent colour. If I'm honest, I've had better black nail polishes that more vibrant - this one is more charcoal, so if that's the type of colour you're looking for, this is perfect.

This polish is one of four mini polishes from OPI's latest collection. Inspired by Venice, the set includes "shimmery copper shades to pastel melon tones, each bottle exuberates elegance." 

♥ Fifth Avenue by Essie

This nail polish out of all of them is the most bold (and probably my favourite!) You only need one coat to get the most out of the colour, which is a gorgeous coral red. The wide brush helps the polish glide on easily, making sure to paste the colour onto every part of your nail.

Inspired by New York, this Essie polish stands out with its feminine, elegant shade.

♥ The Mall by Nails Inc London

I love the metallic finish of this polish. The colour is very solid, meaning you could get away with just applying one coat (which saves time!) However, I found that it does chip within a couple of days, but the colour is beautiful so definitely worth a buy.

This Nails Inc polish is inspired by London: "Inspired by the Royals, this midnight blue shimmer captures the rich culture that this capital city has to offer."

Overall, I found that every polish has a great application; the formula glides on easily without becoming sticky and dries fairly quickly.

You can buy the September Manicure Box here.

You can also browse the other boxes available here.

Thanks for reading!

Big Fat No! BlanX White Shock Review

I've been searching high and low for a good, reasonably priced teeth whitening treatment for months now so when I saw this in Boots, I couldn't help but pick it up as I was eager to try it. My teeth aren't particularly 'Hollywood white', I wouldn't even say they're white at all; they're verging on yellow, which I absolutely hate! I've cut down on coffee, fizzy drinks and teeth staining food, but I've found that it hasn't made much of a difference. It makes me self conscious to smile! After seeing the BlanX White Shock toothpaste on the shelf in between the other more expensive products, I decided to give this a go as a sort of starter, as I didn't want to spend too much.

Not only do you get a whitening toothpaste, but you also get a blue LED light which you screw onto the end of the tube, which is a sort of accelerator to help whiten your teeth. The light activates when you take the cap off, which you then use by squeezing the toothpaste onto your toothbrush. It's supposed to "multiply the whitening action". The Actilux which is present in the toothpaste formula is meant to remain on your teeth throughout the day, without the substances that can harm your teeth and gums as it doesn't contain peroxide. Not only is it non-abrasive, but you can use it like a normal toothpaste, without worrying about it being harmful to the surface of your teeth.

It claims to brighten your smile by being activated by the natural light present during the day, which means that "the more you smile the whiter your teeth will be". The Actilux naturally helps whiten your teeth by removing bacteria, making them feel clean throughout the day.

Now after using this for two-three weeks, I don't entirely understand the fuss. The tube is only 50ml, therefore I'm nearly out of it already and for £7.50, I don't think I'll be purchasing it again as it hasn't made as much a difference as I'd hoped. The toothpaste doesn't seem to lather up much (which fools me into having to use more!) I also don't like to use it on its own as it doesn't feel like it cleans my teeth as much as a regular toothpaste does. I find the LED light a bit of a gimmick (it doesn't seem to make much of a difference - plus I don't see how a light can whiten your teeth?! I don't know.)

It may work for you, as I've seen positive reviews on this from other people, but for me it's a big fat no! It only seems to work after being applied - it definitely doesn't last all day!

Have you tried this? Let me know what you think.

Also, are there any whitening products that you could recommend that work absolutely amazingly well?! Haha, like the strips you can buy or even another toothpaste (one that I won't end up wasting my money on!)

Leave a comment below; I'd love to know!

Thanks for reading!

Autumn Flowers: Appleyard Luxury Review*

A company based in London called Appleyard Flowers recently contacted me to see if I could write a review about their flower bouquets - I absolutely love flowers, so I jumped at the chance! Flowers can brighten any room, instantly make it smell fresh and lift your mood. I received a colourful bouquet from their new Autumn Flowers, which is out now!

The photographs above show the bouquet sitting in my living room - I received one called 'Rose Envy' which includes a mix of versilia roses, memory lane roses and deep red roses with a few glossy red berries and blue veronica nestled in between. You can order these Luxury Flowers in a variety of sizes (from standard, large to extra large) and you can also add a personal message that'll be included with your bouquet if you were to send them to someone special. There are a variety to choose from on their website, with flowers for any situation; you can shop by occasion, season, colour and price! 

Autumn Flowers

L-R: 'Cosy Cranberry', 'Hot Toddy' & 'Pumpkin Chutney'

They were dispatched very quickly and they arrived with some flower care instructions (which was lucky as I didn't have a clue how to maintain them and keep them fresh!) They also came with a little sachet of 'flower food' which you mix with some water in a vase. As you can see, the autumn bouquets are much darker than the other bouquets on their website - there's more greenery and darker flowers to tie in with the autumn theme; they look absolutely stunning in my living room!

The vase displayed in my photos was the only vase I could find, but I think the bouquet would look even better in a round, clear glass vase so you can keep the arrangement that the florist prepared. My living room is mainly filled with plain colours (nudes and beiges) so these flowers bring plenty of colour to the room and brighten it up.

Luxury Flowers - http://www.appleyardflowers.com/

Flower Care Instructions:

• Remove all packaging and trim the stems by 2-3cm, making a diagonal cut with a sharp knife or secateurs
• Remove any leaves that will be below the waterline
• Remove any discoloured guard petals from roses
• Place flowers in a clean vase filled with fresh cold water mixed with the sachet of flower food provided, following the guidelines on the reverse of the sachet. Do not use metal containers as they neutralise the effects of flower food
• Display the flowers in a cool, light location away from draughts, direct heat, sunshine and fresh fruit
• Keep the vase water topped up as necessary
• To refresh flowers after 2-3 days, remove from the vase and re-cut stems by 1-2cm and replace in fresh cold water in a clean vase

I recommend buying a bunch for your room this season for when the nights start getting darker; it will no doubt bring light into your room and will lift your mood when the winter blues kick in!

Check out Appleyard Luxury Flowers here: 

http://www.appleyardflowers.com/

Next Day Flowers:

www.appleyardflowers.com/next-day-flowers

Autumn Flowers:

http://www.appleyardflowers.com/autumn-flowers

Get a 33% discount with the code: GIFT33

Thanks for reading!

P.S... Christmas is almost here! How is your present shopping going? Don't forget to use your discount code BLOG40 to save 40% on Appleyard London's Christmas Flowers range! Save money this Christmas without compromising on luxury

Maybelline: The Rocket Review

Mascara is a main priority when it comes to my everyday makeup routine; it's the number one product that I couldn't live without (as my natural eyelashes are very blonde!) I need to make sure I coat each individual lash (without clumps!) For me, mascara is all about the brush as it determines what kind of lashes you will end up with. When I'm buying a mascara, I like to browse Boots, pulling each wand out of the tubes to see what the formula is like and the type of brush that comes with it. I hate it when I find a gungey one where the mascara is gloopy and clumpy on the brush - that mascara won't be making an entry into my shopping basket anytime soon! I want a fat brush to give me volume, that certainly doesn't smudge and that's completely waterproof - that's when I came across The Rocket Volum' Express by Maybelline.

If you have oily skin like me (especially on the upper lids and under the eyes) then having a smudge-proof mascara is a must! I've used mascaras in the past that leave black lines under my eye, making it look like I have bags! However, this mascara doesn't seem to do that - but I still make sure to apply a primer under my eyes just in case! The volume you get from it is amazing. It glides on easily and after curling my eyelashes, it gives the effect I have falsies on!

But if you want a more natural look, I wouldn't go for this as it's very black and you may not like the amount of volume it gives (especially to your lower eyelashes!) However I'm loving this mascara so far, after only having it for a week! I'm going to keep using it and see how I get on - you never know, it could become my new favourite mascara!

What do you think of this mascara? Have you tried it?

Thanks for reading!

LYDC Bag Review*

BUY IT HERE:

http://www.haveyouseen.com/4x47

I recently received the Axl Metallic Messenger Bag by Anna Smith in Black from LYDC. It's new for this year's summer collection and it's a very good quality bag. At £32.00, it supplies plenty of room if you were to use it for school or college and has plenty of compartments available (for pens, girly things and makeup!) There are two slip pockets at the front and a large pocket on the back. There's also two slip pockets inside the bag, another large zip pocket inside and a zip at the top of the bag, so it offers more security instead of just having the metallic flap fastened by a clasp.

The strap is adjustable and there's also a handle at the top, so there's a variety of ways in which you can choose to carry it. When I was choosing a bag, I had no idea that it had a metallic flap (even though it says in the title - what can I say, I'm not very observant!) The photo on the website made it look like it was a nude leather material, but in reality the bag has a rose gold coloured metallic flap, so the photos don't do the bag justice as it wasn't captured in the photography on the website. The metallic flap also means it can scratch easily too, but the choice of different types of bags shows there are plenty to choose from and you can decide the best bag for you! 

There may be (if possible) every style bag to choose from and bags suitable for different occasions. Take a look at their website here: http://www.lydc.co.uk/

I've put together five of my favourite bags from their website below:

1. The Lindee Tote Bag By DSUK In Tan - £36.00

2. The Carpenders Park Shoulder Bag By LYDC In Black With Cream - £33.00

3. The Milo Shoulder Bag By Anna Smith In Black And Cream - £30.00

4. The Edmondton Shoulder Bag By Anna Smith In Beige - £30.00

5. The Harlesden Mini Satchel Bag By LYDC In Black - £28.00

Thanks for reading!

Tips & Tricks: Itchy Skin After Shaving

If you follow me on Twitter, you may have seen a few of my recent tweets complaining about my incredibly itchy legs! It's been really uncomfortable and it always occurs a few days after shaving with a razor. I've tried various methods that I've found online and I've tried things that people in the beauty community have recommended on my Twitter. I'm going to compile a list of things that may help you if you suffer from this too, including the one thing that helps me. Many of these didn't work for me, but they might work for you so it's worth a try if it stops you from itching!

When I first complained about this, I got told to stop using a razor as I'm "obviously allergic to shaving with a razor". But I didn't want to stop as it's the closest shave I can get, pain free! That may be silly of me and sound like I'm causing it myself, which I guess I am to some extent, but I was keen to find a product out there that would give me some sort of relief, without giving up the razor and my smooth legs.

A fellow beauty blogger on Twitter recommended that I try Aveeno cream, as it's great for dry skin and eczema. It's a moisturising lotion with natural ingredients which helps soothe my skin when I apply it after shaving. The reason I like this is because it's full of natural ingredients, so it doesn't seem harmful to my skin and because it's fragrance free, it doesn't give me further unnecessary irritation. The lotion claims to "immediately relieve" the skin and moisturise it for 24 hours. It's formulated with shea butter and has a "unique active triple oat complex containing finely milled colloidal oatmeal, oat oil and oat essence" (which is one of the recommendations I found online; to find an oat-based moisturiser as it helps soothe and moisturise the skin.)

I'm not saying this has 100% made my skin better; I still get a little itchy, but it has dramatically improved the appearance of my skin - the red spotty rash has gone and the irritation is down to a minimum. It helps rehydrate my skin, providing moisture and has helped soothe my skin. Try this out if you have the same problem and let me know if it has helped you!

If this doesn't help, here are various other methods you could try to give your skin some relief after shaving:

♥ Try changing your razor - a blunt razor could be part of the problem, as it's dragging on your skin and catching it, causing dryness and irritation.

♥ Try swapping your shaving foam/gel for a conditioner, as you could find that it's more moisturising and easier to shave with.

♥ Don't use a scented soap after shaving, or a scented moisturiser as the added perfumes cause your skin to become even more irritated! Try to stick to natural ingredients, like aloe vera (which is supposed to be fantastic for your skin!)

♥ Try to shave at the end of your shower or bath, as your hairs have had time to soften and it'll help with a smoother shave.

♥ Exfoliate before and after shaving - it gets rid of dead skin and will hopefully reduce irritation. It unclogs your pores from the shaving foam/gel you've used and helps prevent razor bumps.

♥ Be gentle; use short strokes and don't press too hard - you don't want to get any cuts! You're only shaving your legs, not mowing a field of grass! There's no need to add pressure to the razor.

♥ You could try shaving in the direction of your hair growth; I know you don't get the same close shave as shaving in the opposite direction, but it could help reduce irritation.

♥ Rinse your legs with cool water afterwards, as this will help close your pores. Pat your legs dry with a towel afterwards - avoid rubbing!

♥ Try looking for lotions and shaving foams suitable for sensitive skin - they usually say on the bottle but if you're not sure, just ask a member of staff at Boots.

I'm in no way a skin expert, these are just some methods I found on the internet that may work for you. If you still get irritated skin, maybe it's time to ditch the razor and use an alternative method of shaving. You can also visit your doctor or dermatologist who'll be able to tell you what to do!

Let me know if any of these methods worked for you; leave a comment, as it may help someone else! Also let me know what you think of Aveeno cream - it worked wonders for me!

BUY IT HERE:

 http://www.haveyouseen.com/4x43

Thanks for reading!

OOTD: WalG Daisy Dress Review*

I recently received an absolutely stunning daisy chain collar dress from the brand WalG and I'm in love with it. It was so nice of them to send me a sample of clothing; it felt like Christmas morning when I opened it! The reason why I chose this dress is because I really liked the design; the floral print will look great this season and the collar makes it look very pretty and elegant. I don't usually buy collar dresses, but as soon as I saw this I knew that I'd love wearing it.

Not only will this dress look lovely in summer with a pair of flip flops or even converse, but I can also wear it in the autumn months with a pair of tights and boots (or brogues), which makes it versatile and worth the money if you get more wear out of it throughout the year. You could also team it with a leather jacket!

Not only that, it's also a really nice fit and very comfortable. I was worried when ordering as the sizes only come in small to large (no number sizes) so I was a bit concerned that it might not be a good fit - but I was wrong as it's quite a loose dress anyway; it's just right!

The chiffon material makes the dress feel very light when you have it on; even though it's chiffon, don't worry as it's not see-through! It has an under layer, which is always good. There's also a zip at the back, so there's no struggling to get into it. There's a button at the nape of the neck too, so it's secure and so that the collar sits snugly around your neck (but not tight like a choker! But be careful not to get your foundation on it hehe!) 

At £30.00, I definitely recommend this dress. It's available in a variety of different floral patterns and colours too. Overall, this brand was really easy to work with and supplied the dress very quickly. Check them out at http://walg.co.uk/ - for dresses and playsuits, to jumpers and knits, you're bound to find something you like!

Thanks for reading!

Mr Nutcase Review*

Sorry! I know you've probably seen enough of these recently. When Mr Nutcase contacted me offering me a custom phone case, I turned them down. However, then I got a new phone and changed my mind about doing a review, as I really needed a case for it! So I personalised my own on their website using photos I'd taken myself (which is great as you know you have a one of a kind phone case!)

From £14.95, you can choose whatever you want on your phone case; you can upload your own pictures or choose from a variety of designs on their website. You simply choose the type of device you have (either the model of your phone or even an iPad) and you can even choose the layout of your photos if you decide to have more than one.

You can also choose the type of case you want; I chose the "Ultra Light Weight Slimline" which simply snaps on to the back of your phone (it's also see-through on the side of the case, which is much more attractive!) There's also the choice of an "Executive Flip Leather Style" and a "Full Wrap Around Premium Edition". I've already told my friends about this website and I know that one of them has treated herself to one, as she really liked the look of mine. 

I think it'd also make a good Father's day present (15th June) especially if you include family photos - it adds a lovely personal touch!

If you decide to order one, you can get 10% off by using the code 'Thanku10'

Thanks for reading!

I'm Loving BB Cream: Rimmel Review

Yes, another Rimmel review (but this time it's a positive one!) If you read my blog posts, you might know that I've been on the lookout for a good BB cream ever since I tried the ever-so-expensive Big Easy by Benefit (which was the smallest sample ever!) I wanted a cheaper alternative, so I picked up the Rimmel BB Cream for £6.99 as I wanted a much lighter coverage than a foundation, especially now that the sun's starting to appear. My freckles have also started to make their annual appearance and by using this BB cream, I make sure they aren't covered up - plus I've found that my skin looks much better and less cakey!

I got it in the lightest shade ('Very Light') and I also love the fact that it's SPF 25 (I have an obsession with protecting my skin!) This gives the perfect amount of coverage to suit my skin's needs, so I'm really pleased with this purchase and will definitely be buying it again when I've used up the last of it. It also gives my skin a slight glow (but not too much; I've got quite oily skin!)

It also claims to be a '9 in 1' formula, helping you to perfect your skin by moisturising, priming, minimising pores, concealing, covering, smoothing, mattifying, brightening AND protecting (phew!) So you really can't go wrong, it has everything you need!

I only use a small amount and blend it in with my fingers; it sits comfortably on my skin and it doesn't have that 'sticky' feel (which I love!) It's perfect if you're having a good skin day, but if you have a few dry patches, I've found that it can stick to them unfortunately. But if you feel like you don't want to wear foundation, or if you're in a hurry - you can just slap this on and waa-la, you're good to go!

Have you tried BB cream; if so, what do you think?

Thanks for reading!

Rimmel Nail Polish: Never Again!

Okay so I'm going to be writing my first negative review, which is worrying as you can receive mixed views about a bad review - especially if you're slagging off someone else's favourite product, but everybody has their own opinion (which is what makes beauty blogging interesting!) 

I recently bought the Rimmel 60 Seconds nail polish as I wanted a dark red colour for my nails as I think it looks nice with my pale skin. I decided on the shade 'Rapid Ruby' and the colour is absolutely gorgeous. I also liked the flat brush, as it makes it easy to paint your nails in three sweeps without getting any on your skin. However, there is a downside to it - quite a few actually!

It claims to take '60 Seconds' to dry, but it seemed to take a good few hours until I could go about my day without smudging or leaving prints on my nails. However, it still stayed quite tacky even though I'd only applied two thin coats (it was also a bit tacky the next day!) As a consequence, it started to chip and eventually peeled off all in one go, which is a sign of a bad nail polish. When I was in the shower, it started to come away from my nail (which annoyed me as I'd only painted them the day before - I was going out that night!)

So not only did it last a day or two (at the most) on my nails, it took forever to dry and still remained tacky. I'm usually a fan of Rimmel products, but I think I'll give this one a miss in the future.

What's your favourite brand of nail polish?

Thanks for reading!

Argan Dew Miraculous Moroccan Argan Oil*

I recently received these free samples from Argan Dew and I couldn't wait to try them. I received three 10ml samples of the Replenishing Hair Mask and three 3.5ml samples of the Miraculous Argan Oil.  I was really interested to see how each treatment would leave my hair, as I had only tried one hair oil before (the L'oréal Elvive Extraordinary Oil) therefore I'm quite new to this kind of formula. Plus, the idea of putting oil on my hair when I suffer from oily hair anyway didn't really appeal to me - however, it's not as toe-curling as you may think!

What I like about Argan Dew (apart from the fact that they don't test on animals) is that they use natural products; they use one of the world's richest and rarest natural oils that can be found in the Argan nut, which grows in Morocco. It claims to prevent skin and hair damage, as well as keeping it moisturised and healthy. Described as being "nature's conditioner" these products help restore the natural elasticity of the hair and leave it looking shiny and feeling hydrated.

Replenishing Hair Mask
I was excited to use this as I love a good hair mask (especially as this one uses natural products). As soon as I opened the sachet, I noticed it had a similar consistency to a conditioner; thick and creamy. I used the full 10ml that was provided, as it seemed like a generous amount and it was enough to provide my hair with (as my hair is quite thick and long). The smell of the mask was very natural; it didn't have any chemical smells like some masks do - it had an almost 'nutty' smell (which makes sense as the main ingredient is extracted from the argan nut!) 

After shampooing, I massaged the mask into my hair, starting from the ends and working my way up to my roots. I was nervous about putting it in my roots, but it turned out to not be a problem. I left it on for five minutes before rinsing off and I could feel the benefit already, similar to how your hair feels after using a conditioner. After getting out the shower, my hair was easier to comb through and it was smelling nice and fresh.

After blowdrying my hair, I immediately noticed the shine and the soft feel it had. The next day, my hair was easy to brush through and it still appeared shiny and felt soft. My roots also felt surprisingly soft and 'clean' - they didn't feel oily, which I was expecting as I had massaged the mask into my roots after all.

My sister has long, thick hair and half of it is dip-dyed, so she was keen to try the mask to repair her dry ends. She told me that she loved the overall result; her hair felt much softer and didn't look as damaged, which she was pleased about.

Miraculous Hair Oil
I actually preferred the smell of the hair oil compared to the mask and this equally left my hair feeling soft. I only used half of the 3.5ml sachet, so it shows that you don't need a lot of the oil for it to benefit your hair. I used it when I got out of the shower before blowdrying my hair, as it isn't necessary to have to rinse it off. The oil is a thick, sticky consistency (a bit like syrup) but as soon as you start working it through your hair, it blends in nicely and provides your hair with plenty of nourishment. My hair felt soft and looked shiny and I also found that I didn't have as many fly-aways as I normally do, so the oil must have flattened them down and prevented any frizz.

Overall, there must be something special in Argan oil that helps protect and restore your hair, improving its appearance and texture. The company is based in Israel so their products take maybe a week or more to arrive, but they make sure to ship them quickly and get them overseas as soon as possible. You can request free samples on their website, which I recommend doing as the products are quite expensive, so it's best to try them out first like I did. I really like these products though; I love the way my hair felt and also the smell is lovely!

Have you tried these products? If so, what do you think?

Let me know in the comments below!

Thanks for reading!